Pardon me while I link


Doc Biobrain on democracy and the Democrats:
At some point, people will realize that America?s policy alignment is not liberal v. conservative, but rather libertarian v. authoritarian. And long before that happens, I would like for the Democrats to be firmly aligned on the libertarian position. Because the distinguishing elements of this are not necessarily how much ?liberty? either side allows us; but rather involve the source of that liberty, and whether government power is wielded by a broad or limited group of people.

DNA evidence proves that Israelis settled North America 2,500 years ago. Duh.
"It's not that Mormons are not curious...They just don't see the need to reconsider what has already been decided."

Anti-liberal. Anti-free speech. Anti-science. Sound familiar? It's not who you think.
19.2.06 16:46


Peppered lawyer


Hey, what's the big idea about getting blasted with a shotgun, I mean, peppered with birdshot? Happens to everyone, right?
That doesn't seem to be quite true. According to the state of Texas's own analysis of hunting accidents (PDF link), between 1966 and 2005, there were 42.3 million annual hunting licenses were sold in the state, but only 2,616 accidents occurred. Leaving aside that there's no way of knowing how many people hunted without licenses, so we have no real idea of how many actual hunters were in the field in a during that time), that means that only .00006 percent of hunters were involved in accident during that time and that's only if the same idiot didn't make the same mistake more than once.

So the "it happens to everyone" meme is ridiculous, though it can hardly be blamed on the first person to toss it out, right? As far as I can tell it came from Katharine Armstrong first and she only served on the Texas Wildlife and Parks Commission for four years, two as Chairman (PDF link, see page 4). How could she know anything about it?
I'm still waiting for someone to first a 28 guage shotgun at a target 30 yards away, then compare the shot spread to the scars on Dick Whittington's face. Whattayawannabet they won't match up?
20.2.06 02:01


You have questions? We have answers!

All this freedom marching has Fafblog thinking.
Q. Why are we in Iraq?
A. For freedom! Recent intelligence informs us it is on the march.
Q. Hooray! Where's it marching to?
A. To set up a government of the people, by the people, for the people, and held in check by strict adherence to the laws of Islam.
Q. Huh! Freedom sounds strangely like theocracy.
A. No it doesn’t! It is representative godocracy, in which laws are written by the legislative branch, enforced by the executive branch, and interpreted by an all-powerful all-knowing deity which manifests its will through a panel of senior clerics.
Q. Whew! Is democracy on the march?
A. Democracy was on the march. Sadly, freedom and democracy were caught in a blizzard and freedom was forced to eat democracy to survive.
Q. It died as it lived: sautéed in garlic sauce with a side of scalloped potatoes.
A. Democracy is survived by sectarian violence and fanaticism. In lieu of flowers, please send a coherent exit strategy.
I think I understand now.
21.2.06 17:04


Oh no! They're losing Rush!


Rush Limbaugh says the Iraq War "cannot be totally won militarily, it's going to take allies."

Welcome to the club, fat ass. Now get in line.
23.2.06 16:55


Pop quiz


According to Fox News, which of the following human tragedies "could be a good thing"?

A. Civil war

B. Genocide

C. Famine

D. Brain sucking robot aliens
26.2.06 02:48


Stand up. Stand down. Fight fight fight.


Nearly three years after President Bush ordered the invasion of Iraq, and 18 months after Bush told a Presidential debate audience that Iraq had 100,000 battle-ready soldiers, the total number of fully-capable Iraqi battalions is - zero.
The only Iraqi battalion capable of fighting without U.S. support has been downgraded to a level requiring them to fight with American troops backing them up, the Pentagon said Friday.

The battalion, made up of 700 to 800 Iraqi Army soldiers, has repeatedly been offered by the U.S. as an example of the growing independence of the Iraqi military.

The competence of the Iraqi military has been cited as a key factor in when U.S. troops will be able to return home.

"As we see more of these Iraqi forces in the lead, we will be able to continue with our stated strategy that says as Iraqi forces stand up, we will stand down," President Bush said last month. (Full story)

The battalion, according to the Pentagon, was downgraded from "level one" to "level two" after a recent quarterly assessment of its capabilities.

"Level one" means the battalion is able to fight on its own; "level two" means it requires support from U.S. troops; and "level three" means it must fight alongside U.S. troops.
No word on how the battalions' freedom marching is coming along.
26.2.06 03:38


Sanctity of marriage


From the BBC:
A Sudanese man has been forced to take a goat as his "wife", after he was caught having sex with the animal.
The goat's owner, Mr Alifi, said he surprised the man with his goat and took him to a council of elders.

They ordered the man, Mr Tombe, to pay a dowry of 15,000 Sudanese dinars ($50) to Mr Alifi.

"We have given him the goat, and as far as we know they are still together," Mr Alifi said.

Mr Alifi, Hai Malakal in Upper Nile State, told the Juba Post newspaper that he heard a loud noise around midnight on 13 February and immediately rushed outside to find Mr Tombe with his goat.

"When I asked him: 'What are you doing there?', he fell off the back of the goat, so I captured and tied him up".

Mr Alifi then called elders to decide how to deal with the case.

"They said I should not take him to the police, but rather let him pay a dowry for my goat because he used it as his wife," Mr Alifi told the newspaper.
I blame gay marriage.
27.2.06 14:28


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