Archive for September, 2005
Welcome AW Readers
Tuesday, September 27th, 2005Hello subversives from ages past. Welcome and thank you for visiting.
Check out the archives where you will find health-related research and links, thoughts on leadership and psychology, and essays examining the not-so-obvious side of human behavior.
Leave a hello if you know us.
Mary Mapes–Remember Her?
Tuesday, September 27th, 2005Mary Mapes, the producer for CBS who along with Dan Rather foisted forgeries on American voters and (for once) got caught red-handed defends herself. That these two still act like they are victims when their actions harmed more people than the president–can you say lost trust? Can you say cynicism? Can you say discredited? Journalists have nothing if they have zero integrity and don’t even try to look like they seek the truth.
Anyway, she’s on the prowl again. Let’s hope she stays unemployed. The more she talks the more she makes her case worse. Oy.
Thanks Instapundit, again.
President Bush Wants To Be Liked, Too
Tuesday, September 27th, 2005One criticism of the president is his steadfastly sticking to a point-of-view, not caring that eveyone disagrees. I don’t know about that. While he stays the course in Iraq, he seems way to concerned about what some people think about immigration (and won’t deal with it), about rebuilding NOLA (political suicide if he says let’s step back and look at the facts?), about cutting spending (keeping congress people happy at the expense of the tax payers).
My opinion? He cares what people think–just the wrong people. I didn’t mind if he p.o.’d Democrats. They didn’t vote for him. I do mind that he seems deaf to his voter’s opinions.
Katrina: News Coverage Exaggerated Reports
Tuesday, September 27th, 2005Well, I bought the Superdome Hype like everyone else and am embaressed to say so. I even reported some heresay, myself. It was third-hand and unverified [by me]. It is difficult to believe that a police officer would make stories up, but maybe he too didn’t have all the facts.
To give myself a teensy-weensy bit of credit, the thought about when the people were going to come forward to press charges popped into my head–but not long enough to stop me and get me critically thinking.
Ugh. Being a mindless rube is so embaressing. Watching the reporters salivate and animate annoyed me, but I swallowed the message hook, line and sinker. A lesson learned. The MSM will do and say ANYTHING for ratings. Truth takes a back seat.
Stuck on Stupid: Have You Seen This Yet?
Tuesday, September 27th, 2005Every once in a while I worry that no real leaders exist. And then…..this. Thanks to The Political Teen.
Lyndie England Convicted
Tuesday, September 27th, 2005Lyndie England meets justice Army-style today.
I have mixed emotions. When I think of torture, putting someone on a leash naked (while humiliating and degrading) doesn’t come to mind. Tasers, getting beat about the head and neck, losing a finger or two, head held under water until you almost drown, etc. come to mind. Her actions don’t seem to rise to the level of torture. In fact, to frame it that way minimizes the true torture that prisoners of war in wars past really endured. Hell it minimizes the torture kid-knapped workers and soldiers of this war endure at the hands of the psycho-Islamofascists. Lyndie’s stupidity seems to be small taters in comparison.
The real damage done by Lyndie and the other grinning idiots? Energizing the enemy. By never considering that these images would get out and never considering how the pictures would “inflame the passions”, the soldiers involved confirmed the “evil American” view. The whole thing was stupid and short-sighted.
These soldiers damaged their own sides efforts. They should know the images would shame Americans–’cuz we know better and do beter. They should know their actions would degrade the impression of the military and legitimize the cynicism the media and anti-war people already possess. In short, their actions were bad enough. Taking pictures of it? Beyond stupid.
And for that they all should be punished.
What Price Freedom?
Tuesday, September 27th, 2005The strongest democracies bled much on their way to freedom. It is difficult to read in history books. It is even harder to read in the news and know that today people suffer. Perhaps like Poland and other countries that took their fate into their hands, Iraq will emerge stronger than we think and surprise those of us who worry that sectarian violence will undo it all.
Rita: It’s Not Over Today
Tuesday, September 27th, 2005I spoke too soon. Today, not many posts. Did you notice that? Well, greater Houstonians are currently enjoying record-breaking heat (I can hear my relatives in Michigan and New York laughing right now: BUWAHAHAHAHA!!!!) in their non-air conditioned homes because of rolling black-outs.
Here’s the deal: Yesterday wires were down everywhere. Today, they are getting put back together. Yesterday, people were still in San Antonio, Austin, Dallas, etc. Today they have returned home and would like their electricity thank you very much. Yesterday the few lines carrying energy from Beaumont worked okay for those of us who still had power. Today, it’s not enough.
The result? Rolling black-outs until everyone is up.
Entergy began rolling blackouts north of Houston because of heavy demand on its damaged system. [emphasis added--we are north of Houston]
KHOU calls it “misery“. That is not a strong enough word for no A/C at 3:00 p.m. that lasts for hours.
