Sisters in arms


Here's a stunning photo essay on women in the Israeli Army. It really drives home the point that their's is a country under seige.
19.5.06 14:15


Grand Old Patriarchy



Republicans may split over immigration issue



From Chris at MYDD, a great analysis of why the immigration issue is such a loser for Republicans. A new poll shows that Hispanics favor Democrats on immigration issues by a 3 to 1 margin, and Hispanics are the fastest growing racial demographic in the US. If Bush stops talking about immigration, and tries to turn the nation's attention to something else (social security, Iraq, health care), the nativist wing of the GOP will go ape shit and bolt the party, as Richard Viguerie has promised. If Bush keeps talking about Mexicans sneaking across the border, he will only remind Hispanics why they should vote Democrat in the fall.

The only way out of this imbroglio is for the Republican congress to pass meaningful reform before November. There's no good reason to believe that will happen.
21.5.06 23:55


And now a word from the inventor of the internet


No, I'm not talking about Al Gore, because Al Gore never claimed to have invented the internet. Vint Cerf did:
As a graduate student at UCLA, Vint Cerf was involved in the early design of the ARPANET. He was present when the first IMP was delivered to UCLA. He is called the "father of the Internet." He earned this nickname as one of the co-authors of TCP/IP-the protocol that allowed ARPA to connect various independent networks together to form one large network of networks-the Internet.
It's important to revisit the whole "Al Gore is a serial liar" meme, because it just isn't so. Gore's detractors, and they are legion, will tell you that he claimed to be the inspiration for Love Story; and that he discovered Love Canal. These are stories invented by lazy journalists desperate for a story line, no matter how specious.

But let's turn our attention to Vint Cerf, the father of the internet. What does he say about Gore's role in developing the internet?
(Gore) really does deserve some credit for his early recognition of the importance of the Internet and the technology that makes it work. He was certainly among the first if not the first in Congress to realize how powerful the information revolution would be and both as Senator and Vice President he has been enormously helpful in supporting legislation and programs to help further develop the Internet - for example the Next Generation Internet program. I get to see a lot of this stuff because I am a member of the President's Information Technology Advisory Committee and we regularly review the R&D programs of the US Government and many have relevance to the evolving Internet.
And what did Gore really say? "?During my service in the United States Congress, I took the initiative in creating the Internet.?

Fair statement.

Gore will be taking plenty of flak in the coming weeks as his movie, An Inconvenient Truth, introduces a mass American audience to the science that dare not speak its name. Big Oil is gunning for Gore, and the truth, and it's up to anyone who buys gasoline to fight back. No matter what you think of Gore, and I have my doubts about the man, it's still worth standing up for truth. The truth is that global warming is real, and is caused by human activity. The evidence can not be disputed.

Hiatus

I'll be camping for the next three days with the Heraldblogettes. Have a safe and happy Memorial Day weekend!
24.5.06 01:31


A view from my window




Some other blog ran the picture before me.
24.5.06 02:12


Memorial Day, 2006


When we cease to take war seriously, when our leaders commit the nation's blood and treasure, but not the hearts of its citizens, then war becomes an even greater abomination. Remember this as you remember them.
29.5.06 19:19


The Truth About Malkin


Brave Little Michelle tell us the truth about the Haditha massacre today. Short version: All the facts aren't in; people who are against the war are using their America-hating brain waves to make the rest of us think that massacres are bad; and the terrorists kill civilians all the time. And then there's this:
I do not know the truth about Haditha. Neither do Murtha and the media outlets calling the alleged massacre a massacre before all the facts are in. It would be helpful if they could handle these grave charges without serving as al Jazeera satellite offices.
It would be helpful if Brave Littel Michelle could handle these grave charges without serving as George Bush's comfort woman.
31.5.06 21:30


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