CatHouse Chat

An "Oh, YES!!!" moment...

Sigmund, Carl and Alfred make me think a lot. And, sometimes, they put up a post which resonates so deeply that I cannot put my joy into words.  Such is their offering today: All God, All The Time.

There is another truth that needs to be reiterated. What distinguishes real believers is their reluctance to kill and their distaste for it. Irrespective of the cause, even a cause seemingly just, killing is never the goal. The cost of a military victory is understood. Eisenhower and other Allied generals visited the Death Camps and wept, and then went into the coldest rage a human can muster- unlike their German counterparts, who posed for pictures and laughed at the plight of the 30 million dead souls. The heirs to the Nazis, the Islamists have posed for pictures with the heads of those they have decapitated. Palestinians bare bloodied hands, some holding human entrails, of Israelis they have butchered. They have filmed themselves kicking a decapitated head about on a field, as if it were just another soccer field. All the while, mosques celebrate these barbarities with music and sweet pastries.

We do not kill with joy. We do not place civilians, or schoolchildren or the sick an infirm in harms way. We do not engage an enemy, hiding behind children. We develop weapons that are ever more accurate. Others develop weapons with labratory developed poisons that can be ever more widely dispersed- and they have used them.

To kill with joy and to celebrate death, is to disregard God. To commit terror and celebrate the deaths of innocents, is to dishonor God and to refute his Dominion. Those who disregard His message corrupt and debase His message. Those who find justification or apology for such acts, or blame the victim, disgrace themselves and their faith. In the assembly of believers, they accomplish nothing but to shame themselves and their communities.

This is the difference between Islam and Judaism/Christianity. Yes. The Judeo-Christian ethic is life, and the protection of it; to live honestly and openly, at peace with God and man; and to obey God Almighty in love and trust in His grace and mercy.

Go read the rest, especially the links SC&A have posted. Superb reading!

Yep, I love Big Lizards, too!

As Dafydd ab Hugh would say "slither hither, o wise," and see what he had up on Big Lizards yesterday: “The Anbar Effect”. He talks about the difference between the "beggar" politicians in Iraq and our "protégés," the Iraqi Army.

Far from being beggars, the Iraqi Army were trained by Americans, fight alongside the Americans, and have increasingly been in charge of battles, campaigns, and holding cities recaptured from the terrorists. Everything they now know about modern combat they learned from us. And they have learned extremely well: Bill Roggio, once and future proprietor of the Fourth Rail and now blogging from Iraq over at ThreatsWatch, who is currently in Husaybah -- say, wasn't that a combat zone just a couple weeks ago?  How (son of) flime ties -- described the performance of the Iraqi Army troops occupying Husaybah thus:  "Other than their uniforms, they were virtually indistinguishable from their Marine counterparts.  [Emphasis added {by Dafydd}]"

They take casualties -- and take cities.  They've earned their tremendous respect, not just in blood but in victories. The new Iraqi Army are not the recipients of American charity. Rather, they are our protégés.

He does, as always, an excellent job of describing and explaining the situation - Dafydd is a superb writer and a great teacher. So, I'd suggest you go on over and read it, if you haven't already, because there's lots of good information and interesting reading.

Virginia Blog Carnival

I've been remiss in not linking and promoting (much less submitting to) the Virginia Blog Carnival, started by our own Commonwealth Conservative. This week it's hosted over at Brandon Meyer's place, and you should all go over and check it out!

I've gotta get off my okole and start submitting to it (gee, where have I heard that before....?)!

Women having fun!

Darleen has posted the Cotillion Ball for this week over at her Place, and it's definitely an excellent round up. Lots of good, solid posts to get your brain in gear - and I really want to see how Beth's Badblog Awards turn out!

Geeze, I have to get off my okole and make sure I post something worthy of the Cotillion next week!

My Momma taught me not to swear

... but I'm thinking a whole lotta four letter words right now.

Go see why.

Ted Rall ought to be drawn, quartered, tarred, feathered, run out on a rail, hanged, shot, beaten, spat on, fired, lobotomized (oh wait, he'd need a brain for that...), castrated, scorned, shunned, disowned, disenfranchised, stripped of his citizenship, and sent to Iran in a pork skin suit!!!!!

And I'm being nice.

Traitor.

Interesting information

Betsy Newmark has a post up about the demographics of today's enlistees. She points to a wonderful article in USA Today by Tom Kane and James Jay Carafano, "Debunking the myth of the underprivileged soldier."

They all volunteered. The U.S. soldiers pitching in with hurricane relief along the Gulf Coast and those fighting and dying in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere decided, on their own, to serve their nation.

Or was the decision made so freely? Could it be that unscrupulous Pentagon recruiters duped them, taking advantage of their poverty, their lack of education and the bleak futures they share as members of the USA's urban underclass?

That's the view of some critics, such as New York Times columnist Bob Herbert, who writes that "very few" of the soldiers fighting in Iraq "are coming from the privileged economic classes," and that there would likely be no war if rich kids had to fight. According to Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., social equality demands reinstatement of the draft [WTF???!!! -ed, emphasis mine], which he justifies by asserting that "the most privileged Americans are underrepresented or absent." Herbert concludes that there is "something very, very wrong with this picture."

What's "very, very wrong" with the Rangel-Herbert picture is that it has no factual basis.

Gee, why am I not surprised? I don't think Rangel could recognize the truth if it came up and slapped him in the face and offered him a million dollars. [How about $5 million? -ed. Oh, shut up...]

However this seems to be pretty much par for the course with the most vocal anti-war Democrats. What the hell is wrong with them?! Why do they have to try to tear this country apart? Whatever their agenda is, it's not working very well. I'm sure you've all seen these stats from yesterday's WaPo:

Seventy percent of people surveyed said that criticism of the war by Democratic senators hurts troop morale -- with 44 percent saying morale is hurt "a lot," according to a poll taken by RT Strategies. Even self-identified Democrats agree: 55 percent believe criticism hurts morale, while 21 percent say it helps morale.

Hel-LO, Congresscritters! Catch a clue!

Betsy also links over to a de-bunk of ten myths from Viet Nam at Newsmax, which shows that this is not a new tactic. This is excerpted from Stolen Valor by B.G Burkett and Glenna Whitley, which is something I obviously need to read. (As an aside, Michael Medved has a fantastic discussion of this available on CD you can buy. I highly recommend it!)

I simply do not understand these... "people." They have no honor, they have no integrity, and they cannot have any intellectual honesty [probably because they have no intellect - ed. Shut UP!!!]

Dear Lord, please save me from living and serving in D.C.; it obviously fries the brain...

Oh, now, wouldn't this be something to consider?

Chris Muir does it again (gee, color me not surprised!). "Glass parking lots" are certainly looking a whole lot more... attractive, don't you think?

Goes pretty well with Cox & Forkum's comment, doesn't it?

Prayer for Kender

My dear blog brother, Kender, is currently in the hospital fighting fairly serious and on-going medical problems. I only found out about them tonight, thanks to Real Teen.

Real Teen echoed Gribbit in posting a prayer for Kender, and I will keep the prayer chain going.

Won't you join me?

Father in Heaven, I lift up my voice and my prayers to ask You to interceed and heal Kender. I know You are All-Sufficient and All-Powerful, and I know You are the True Healer.

I ask that You give wisdom to the doctors so that they may know what is wrong with Kender and figure out how to heal it. I ask that You give Your compassion and love to the nurses so they may care for and cheer Kender up as he is in the hospital. I ask that You give Kender your strength and Your peace as he goes through this trial.

Father, I know that nothing is impossible with You. I know that You work all things together for good to those who love You and are called by You. I know that You have a purpose in permitting this in Kender's life, and I ask that You give him a strong awareness of Your presence and Your love. Please be with him and give him and his family and friends Your comfort, and Your grace.

Please give us back our Kender, healthy and cheerful, as soon as Your Will allows. I ask this in Your Son's Name, amen.

Flogging a great blog

[Note: while Romeocat is on a limited blogation schedule—and instead acting as an accomplice (likely before, during and after) in family pranks—I'll post the occasional crosspost like this one from third world county. heh She never should have left the keys under the mat... :-) ]

Why Everyone Who Blogs "Important Issues" May Have to Quit Blogging

Nah, it's not because the FEC or some other government weenie bureaucraps might dump on ya that everyone who's an "issues" blogger might have to cut way back or stop. It's not even because NZ Bear might decide every link to Instapundit is worth 10 (or 100) links to anyone else (heh--just kidding Bear :-). No, It's because this guy is covering every single topic he touches better than anyone else.

Yep. Anyone.

In fact, linking to him in such a way as to open the link in a new window is probably an exercise in futility. You'll click the link, read posts like this one and never come back [to third world county, that is NOBODY would ever desert R'Cat! :-) ].

Oh. Wah.

Not that I'd feel the pain, cos if you did click on over there and get lost in the wealth of good blog and never come back here [to third world county] for my mediocre* stuff, I'd feel that I'd served you well and be pleased.

Seriously: that's one fine blog. I'd love for you to come back, but if I lose your readership [at third world county, that is] to someone like this, I'll feel that the service I've done you was well worth it.

Now that I've got that outa my system (and do go for a visit there!), when can we see R'Cat back on her regular blogation here? :-)

*N.B. Hey! "mediocre" ain't but half bad, ya know! ;-)

Thankfulness on Thanksgiving, redux

I posted this last year on Thanksgiving day, and this year it is all the more relevant. So I pray it will be edifying to my readers as this nation sets this day apart to express our gratitude to our Creator. Have a blessed day with your family and friends.

How wonderful that we, as Americans, have set aside a day specifically to give thanks. We have so much to be grateful for, and yet we rarely see a thankful attitude in our daily lives.

Psalm 100, verse 4 says, "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name."  Christians are called in Colossians 3:17 "... whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him" and in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, "in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (all verses NKJV)

So, on this day of Thanksgiving I offer my thanks first and foremost to my Lord and Savior for all the blessings He has so generously given me. He has blessed me with the mercy of His salvation and the promise of His presence forever. He has blessed me far beyond my needs, and has done so out of the abundance of His mercy and grace. He has proven Himself over and over in my life, and so I bow in gratitude and adoration to the God of all creation, who is merciful and all-knowing, whose love endures forever, who is patient and longsuffering, and who desires all to come to repentance through His beloved Son, Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior.

Father, I am thankful for my family (husband, child, parents, siblings, in-laws, nieces and nephews, cousins). I am thankful for our health, physical and mental. I am thankful for a house to live in, food on the table, and a reliable car. I am thankful for good friends and neighbors who encourage me. I am thankful for financial stability, and the opportunity to nurture my family at home. I am thankful for the work You have provided to each of us according to our needs.

I am thankful for a husband who loves me and our child. I am thankful for his humor, his patience, and his care of us. I am thankful for his leadership and his support. I am thankful for his work which interests and challenges him. I am thankful for all the things he knows and is able to do to help me. I am thankful for his courtesy and his dedication to our relationship. Most of all, I am thankful for how much he loves me, and how he shows it to me every day.

I am thankful for my child, who is bright, funny, and good-natured. I am thankful for her love of her parents, and her opinion that we're fun to be around. I am thankful that she loves snuggles, and adores tickle fights. I am thankful that she understands the necessity of discipline and knows that we do it out of love.

I am thankful for my child's school and for her teachers. I am thankful for the support staff of administration, food service, and maintenance. I am grateful that the whole team comes together to help nurture and educate my child so that she grows up to be a mature, well-balanced citizen. I am grateful that prayer and hugs are standard fare at her school, and that they are bestowed with a godly love which provides a wonderful example to follow.

I am grateful for a biblical church which teaches Your Word with no apologies. I am thankful that my church is involved with reaching out and helping people. I am thankful for our partnership with crisis pregnancy centers, recovery ministries, and community services. I am thankful for our bold leaders who train our congregation to worship God in every aspect of our lives: family, work, community, and church.

I am thankful for the protection You have given us from additional terrorist attacks, and from everyday accidents. I am thankful for the men and women in our Armed Forces who sacrifice daily to protect this great country. I am thankful that this country still stands for freedom. I am thankful that our President trusts You to guide him. I am thankful that You have blessed him with strength and courage, as well as a loving and supportive family.

I am thankful for the resources You have given this country. We are blessed with a vast territory, full of fertility, wealth, and beauty. From sea to shining sea, we stand in awe at the variety and diversity of this land and its people. We have people whose ancestors have lived here for millennia, people who can trace their roots to the American Revolution, and people who just became citizens this week. I am thankful for the vision of unity out of plurality. I am thankful for the freedom to worship - or not - according to my convictions and conscience.

I am thankful to have a say over who will lead this country, my state, and my local community. I am thankful that I may state my views without worrying about a knock on the door in the middle of the night. I am thankful for the right to protect my family and my property with a gun if necessary. I am thankful for the right of being assumed innocent until proven guilty. I am thankful for the right of a trial before my peers. I am thankful for men of old who knew Your Word and did their best to model the laws of this country on the Bible's wisdom.

I am thankful for so many things that I cannot begin to list here, but I will close with this:

I thank the families who have loaned this country their sons and daughters, husbands and wives, and fathers and mothers. They are the best America could ever give the world because of your support and love. You are the ones who taught them words like honor, duty, loyalty, faithfulness, courage, and dedication. This country's freedom cannot long survive without their service and example.

To the families whose loved ones have been killed in action or who are still missing or who were maimed, I send my prayers and even more profound thanks. I share a small part of your grief at the death or wounding of your loved one. I am sure that nothing I could possibly say could ease your grief or take away the hard road ahead. But I promise, I will never forget that sacrifice. I will not permit my child to forget it. I will pass on the rich and honorable heritage written in these men and women as an example of the true sprit of America:

Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. (John 15:13, NKJV)

Thank you.

Partners in crime!

Hubby and cuz after papering my sisters room for her 40th birthday - belated... I am damned, too

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Well, slap me down with a wet noodle...

The NYT publised an at least halfway sensible piece on... nuclear energy!

Stop the world. I wanna get off and see if it's just my head spinning or what.

Can Nuclear Power Become Just Another Business?

Well? Can it? Will loony left moonbats let it? And if it does, will some miniscule element of the Mass Media Podpeople's Army not shoot it in the back? Perhaps even an element with Momentary Sanity "Disorder" at the NYT?

Let's see:

Other countries, especially China and India, are likely to build more nuclear plants and to do so sooner. "People are talking about China building 20 to 21 new reactors," said David M. Schanzer, utility analyst at Janney Montgomery Scott.

Well, in a business piece (in a paper notoriously hostile to any business that doesn't toe its own political correctness line), this is about as good as it gets. Misses the critical information that the (many more than 20 or 21) nuclear power plants already being built by China are almost all of the ultra safe, ultra low waste pebble bed reactor type, which is also much less expensive and less technically demanding than traditional reactors of the type that Three Mile Island conjures up.

Why does the NYT article still play up the investment (and other) risks of nuclear power and ignore the safety, financial advantage and technical ease of building pebble bed reactors?

Maybe because their business section doesn't talk to their science/technology guys or even that their sci/tech guys aren't aware of pebble bed reactors. Heck, here's an MIT site devoted to modular pebble bed reactors. Downsizing even what the Chinese and others are now doing.

A little homework would have improved the NYT article, but then, research in areas foreign to its political agendas isn't exactly the NYT's strong suit.

I'm not even going to do your work for you, it's so easy. Just google "pebble bed reactor" now that you've heard about it from a long-in-the-tooth musician/comptechie.

;-)

Crossposted from third world county

A word from the 'Cat while she's out

Just heard this on Highway 16 (XM Satellite Radio's country station - one of them, anyway). This is what it's about, folks! And I thank the Lord God on high for all the incredible blessings He has heaped upon me...

Jamie O'Neal's "I Love My Life"

Her little blond [OK, mine's a brunette, but...]hair's blowin', she's swingin' while her daddy's mowin'
The grass, and the dog needs a bath
But he's chasing the cat up a tree
I'm lookin' out the window, happy just watching my world go round
And I think to myself, how lucky can a girl be

I've got everything, more than I ever dreamed
I love my life
I thank God for all I have
And that I love this man
Who loves his wife
I love my life
I love my life

Twenty kisses goodnight, turn the little butterfly night light on,
'til the monster is gone and she's finally fallen asleep
We tiptoe downstairs, cuddle up and we kiss in the big chair
and I smile and you whisper, now it's just you and me

I've got everything, more than I ever dreamed
I love my life
I thank God for all I have
And that I love this man
Who loves his wife
I love my life
I love my life

Blue and pink in the nursery
Gold and silver anniversaries
Dancing in the living room
Our little girl, and me and you

I've got everything, more than I ever dreamed
I love my life
I thank God for all I have
And that I love this man
Who loves his wife
I love my life
I love my life

Job was a piker

[NOTE: I am posting this "Thanksgiving" post in advance of Thanksgiving Day in hopes that it might help even just one person redirect their thinking as we approach a day set apart especially for giving thanks.]

The biblical story of Job is a story of faith in the face of extreme adversity.

You probably know the story well. Satan makes his appearance in the court of The Most High and suggests that he can turn even the most faithful of men, Job, away from faith in God. God gives Job over to Satan to afflict reserving only Job's life for Himself.

In the trials that ensue, Job loses his wealth, [almost all of] his family and his health. His friends counsel him to forsake his faith, and in one of the most famous lines of the Old Testament, his wife tells him to "Curse God and die."

Pretty darned bad, eh?

But, you may say, Job's just a myth, right? Right?

How about an historical example, well-known and verified?

It was the worst of times; it was the worst of times. (Not so Dickensian, but oh, so true.) War ravaged the land for 30 years. During that time, Martin had served as one of the pastors of a once-prosperous town that had suffered greatly in the war. Sacked three times. Saved from sacking once only by courageous negotiations with a conquering general/king by one simple pastor... but still ruined again economically at the end of the negotiations.

This simple pastor had also seen his family, friends, colleagues and thousands of townspeople and refugees killed by plague and hunger, and during the war years, when he was the sole remaining pastor of the town, he was called upon not only to conduct the funerals of his own wife and children, but also to conduct as many as 40-50 funerals a day for families of friends and neighbors—the townspeople he served so long and knew so well—and of those from the crowded masses of refugees from the war-torn countryside. All-in-all, he performed nearly 5,000 funerals during these years.

The war was the Thirty Years War (1618-1648). The town was Eilenburg, in Saxony. The man was Martin Rinkart. In response to all those years of affliction, he penned these words:

Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things has done, in Whom this world rejoices;
Who from our mothers’ arms has blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.

O may this bounteous God through all our life be near us,
With ever joyful hearts and blessèd peace to cheer us;
And keep us in His grace, and guide us when perplexed;
And free us from all ills, in this world and the next!

All praise and thanks to God the Father now be given;
The Son and Him Who reigns with Them in highest Heaven;
The one eternal God, Whom earth and Heaven adore;
For thus it was, is now, and shall be evermore.

(So that's where that old hymn came from!)

Be thankful for your blessings? Yes. But even when you cannot see any "blessings" be thankful still.

Crossposted at third world county.

basil interviews the Cotillion!

And I'm sure each and every one of you will go over and read it: we're a wild and crazy bunch! basil, I'm sure is prostrate with exhaustion after the mass-interview...

For "long time" readers of CHC, I'm sure you'll recognize me and my answers... LOL!

If this doesn't move you, then you need a heart and soul transplant.

[This is David, again, crossposting from third world county. R'Cat has the collection of these Flash presentations linked in her upper right-hand corner, but I felt they needed another plug to keep them up front—especially now.]

Just CLICK HERE or on the pic below. Honor, Sacrifice, Duty.

If viewing th video doesn't move you, I really don't want to know you. (R'Cat may be more generous, but she's not me, 'K? :-)

Trackback linked at: MacStansbury, TMH's Bacon Bits, Right Wing Nation and Soldiers' Angel

This about says it

Ace (well, Harry Callahan) stole it from lgf, so I'm stealing it from him:

Like I said, pretty much sums it up, doesn't it?

Fair Tax—a security issue?

I'm going to impose on Romeocat's generosity here and spend a wee tad of space plugging a book. One that I very strongly feel is an important book.

I have blogged at third world county off and on (here's the most recent) about an issue that might seem far from a national security issue, but which has national security ramifications often ignored: our current tax system.

I won't go into a lot of deatil here, but let me point you to some "lots smarter than I am" folks having an extended, on again/off again discussion over at Jerry Pournelle's place, Chaos Manor. This whole week's mail there has some good places to start in understanding a few of the underlying weaknesses of our economy (!), and plenty of links pointing to more. Search his site for more, or follow your nose on a Google hunt.

That said (and it's not much unless you go to Dr. Pournelle's site :-), the weaknesses in trade and manufacturing that are national security issues (as well as personal security issues... for your children and grandchildren!) that are picking up speed in the U.S. can almost all be slowed, averted or reversed by... the Fair Tax.

Basically, the Fair Tax (and here I'd encourage you to get The Fair Tax Book to get the details) would remove the biggest single millstone around our economic necks--both as a country and as individuals. Think: there is not one single solitary business in the country that pays corporate or business income taxes. Not one. So, where do those monies come from that corporations apparently do pay in taxes? From the end user of the goods and services they provide. This means that the goods and services YOU as a consumer buy include in the pre-sales-tax price the taxes the businesses and services must pay.

Hmph!

That cost to you is about 25% of the cost of the goods and services.

And it is a huge brake on the economy. Our businesses selling overseas must include those costs in their products. Result: higher prices, reduced competition against foreign markets. Many companies from foreign countries (think China's biggest trading partner is WallyWorld) selling goods to the U.S. don't have that price burden. Hence, they can more easily out-compete American companies and drive even the support structures for whole manufacturing classes offshore.

As a result, for example, more and more equipment for our armed forces is becoming foreign-manufactured equipment...

But it's even more. Listen to this correspondent at Pournelle's site:

"Any Great Power’s strength ultimately depends on its ability to project power. In an industrial age the ability to do that depend on industrial and financial independence and strength. The US is rapidly losing both of these key powers."

Let me simply urge you to bring the issue of these aspects of America's power at least to the back burner of your considerations, and to buy and read The Fair Tax Book. It is an important book. For more reasons than I have outlined here.

Again, thanks for letting me impose here, R'Cat. I really do think this is an issue—the Fair Tax—that should be getting a LOT more buzz. Please folks. Get the book. Heck, send one to each of your Congresscritters. Repeatedly ask them (well, their office) what they think of the proposal and why.

It is that important. Think ahead. Do it for your children and grandchildren.

What do our soldiers think of the war?

I think that ought to be a critical question - one whose answer should drive the actions of Congress far more than it has. It should be of paramount importance to citizens of whatever political stripe, so that they can make informed decisions to truly benefit our troops.

Unfortunately, for far too many people, it is more important to tear down this country, and sow division and discord, than to listen to what our men and women in uniform are saying. It is more important for them to bash Bush and to puff up their own theories of the right and wrong of this war than to listen to the people who are actually there.

And that attitude will lose us this war, and it will kill our servicemen - and that blood will be on the nay-sayers heads.

Euphoric Reality asks us to PASS THIS ON. Here is what our Armed Forces are saying (full letter below the fold) via SGT Hook:

My fellow countrymen and women, we are not overseas for our country alone but also another. We are here to spread democracy and freedom to those who KNOW the true taste of it because they fight for it everyday. You can see the desire in their eyes and I am honored to fight alongside them as an Infantryman in the 101st Airborne.

Freedom is not free, but yet it is everyone’s right to have. Ironic, isn’t it? That is why we are here. Though you will always have the skeptics, I know that most of our military will agree with this message. Please, at the request of this soldier spread this message to all you know. We are in Operation Iraqi Freedom and that is our goal. It is a cause that I and thousands of others stand ready to pay the ultimate sacrifice for because, Cindy Sheehan, freedom is worth dying for, no matter what country it is! And after the world is free only then can we hope to have peace.

Submitted to the Political Teen, Cao's Blog, TMH's Bacon Bits, GM's Corner, Stop the ACLU, Stuck on Stupid,
 

Deuce Four celebrates - and mourns

Michael Yon has got to be the best there is at reporting this war. He never fails to make our soldiers real to me. His reports of their courage and decency and diligence glitter with gems of truth which reveal the quality of our armed forces.

He has now posted The Punishers' Ball, recounting the party which celebrated the Deuce Four's return, and it is filled with details that make me so proud and thankful that America raises up such true sons and daughters.

Go read it, for I cannot even begin to tell you what part is best.

May God bless our brave men and women. May He bless them with His peace and strength, may He guide them and give them His compassion and purpose, and may He set His angels 'round about them to protect them, and bring them home to their families, safe and sound.

The Armed Forces of the United States of America: the best of the best. No greater friend, and no greater foe!

Trackbacked to Cao's Blog, TMH's Bacon Bits, GM's Corner, Conservative Cat,
 

How to catch a dirty Ogre...

Looks like Kender's giving away some of the super secret plots of the Wide Awakes: You May Notice a Slight Change......

Now, we all love Ogre, but he does need his twice-yearly bath - otherwise he gets pretty ripe, even for and Ogre. Go read Kender's account of Bathing Day - but remember, Kender left out the chains, black leather, AND Raven's steel-studded bra.

Just sayin'....

A lovely compliment

My dear blog brother, the Mary Hunter, pays me an enormous compliment! Thanks to another blog brother, David from Third World County, who e-mailed me to let me know.

I *really* hate being away from my broadband at home...

Nevertheless, I'm very flattered, and hope to continue doing my humble best to live up to 'Hunter's Kind words.

A change of pace

It's such a priviledge to post here.(Thanks R'Cat) Just thought I'd post something a little different. I've been reading/following events in the world, as I do so much, and sometimes, it's just too much. And I thought...

You know, sometimes when things around me are moving at a pace that challenges my sanity; when I'm just too darned tired for words; when the tintinabulation of the bells (the bells, the bells... ) in my ears beckons to the Edgar Allen Poe part of me, it's time to take a break and listen to the voice of Robert Louis Stephenson...

EVENSONG

THE embers of the day are red
Beyond the murky hill.
The kitchen smokes: the bed
In the darkling house is spread:
The great sky darkens overhead,
And the great woods are shrill.
So far have I been led,
Lord, by Thy will:
So far I have followed, Lord, and wondered still.

The breeze from the enbalmed land
Blows sudden toward the shore,
And claps my cottage door.
I hear the signal, Lord - I understand.
The night at Thy command
Comes. I will eat and sleep and will not question more.

I love the story of Stevenson's life; it is the story behind his poetry.

"Stevenson had a very uncomplicated view of art; he would have rewritten Horace to assert that it was better to entertain than to instruct...."

And yet. His words often do more than either entertain or instruct. I wonder if folks bound up in power games, "success at any cost" climbs up corporate or or bureaucratic or political ladders ever stop to consider The End. (And what lies beyond... ) No, really think about it. How many congresscritters or ladder-climbing backstabbers (a partial redundancy? :-) will be able to look at the end of their lives and say,

Under the wide and starry sky,
Dig the grave and let me lie:
Glad did I live and gladly die
And I lay me down with a will.

This be the verse you 'grave for me:
Here he lies where he long'd to be;
Home is the sailor, home from the sea
And the hunter home from the hill..

Linked at third world county, Choose Life!

Continuing to go International

Jane, a fellow Lady of the Cotillion who writes at Armies of Liberation, was interviewed on al-Jazeera: Hello (to the Gogglers) and I was on al-Jazeera (to the regular readers).

I want to extend my warm congratulations to her for a job that was - by all accounts - extremely well done! Not that I expected anything less; Jane knows her subject backwards, forwards, upside down and inside out!

The hardest part is your first five words. I did have an opening memorized but the host said to me: well you’re one of the most controversial guests we’ve had, since a Yemeni newspaper published an announcement of your appearance and we’ve recieved a flood of email condemning your appearence on al-Jazeera and denouncing you as anti-Arab, so welcome Miss Novak. And then he asked me a question. So my opening was, Its very strange that anyone would call me anti-Arab, since I spend so much of my time advocating for the human rights and civil rights of Arab people. (The Yemenis are Arabs last time I checked. So the regime tried to get me pulled from the show.)

I hope somehow we can get either a transcript or a video of the segment.

For a look at Jane's efforts on behalf of the Yemeni people, look here. It's not complete, but it will certainly give you a good idea of Jane's dedication, passion, and professionalism.

Congratulations again, Jane - keep pounding them onto the ropes!

Reconciliation in the Blogosphere

Jay at Stop the ACLU and Glenn Reynolds, the Instapundit, had a disagreement earlier this year. I mostly ignored it, since it was outside my sphere of major interest, but it is immensely gratifying that the two got together and found common ground: Stop The ACLU Interviews Glenn Reynolds (Instapundit).

This is a far better way to handle disputes than a bloody blog-war, or tossing snide comments back and forth. I also think the whole de-linking kerfuffle was a bit over done, but mainly because it's not my style. (And, of course, the whole world ought to do what I think is right, LOL!)

I'm very glad that Jay and Glenn have mended their fences and come to a better understanding of each other. This should be an example of civil disagreement and restoration for blogs which bicker uselessly.

Good for you both, Jay and Glenn!

(UPDATE - However, I must echo Michelle Malkin's oops, Bryan Preston's [why does no one cc: me these things?] concern about Glenn's "non-denial denial..." )

{grin}

The Cotillion goes international!

Posted at the Cotillion's home site, ana announced at Free Thoughts, this week's round-up of the Ladies is presented in English and Italian by the very talented Stefania!

Innocent Escapes

Ladies, courtesy of Cassandra (formerly of Villainous Company *grrrf!*), the Perfect Man.

I'm not sure whether to track him down and drag him home or die laughing!

Crosswalk

I was a little steamed when someone mentioned one of these was being considered for my street. (Heck, it's only 4 houses long... and I'm not THAT slow... am I? :-)

Crossposted from third world county

Culinary Decadance (Mmmmmm!)

The Carnival of Recipes #65 is up! I think I'm going to find a lot of nummy new recipes to stuff my cookbook, because everything looks delicious. Go read it over at Myopic Zeal, who has done an excellent job with the red, white, and blue theme in honor of Veterans' Day.

Oh, dear, I can just feel the pounds appearing!

Darn right "it's got legs!"

Media Lies points to a Washington Times article, "the End of Birthright Citizenship?" (registration required). 

The fundamental question is whether the benefits of U.S. citizenship should accrue to enemies of the United States, breakers of our immigration laws or those whose primary allegiance is to other powers. On all three counts, the answer seems to us to be no. In the most dangerous cases, like those of Mr. Hamdi and others who wish ill upon America, allegiance would be a better proxy than birth for people deserving of citizenship. But we await the debate, which should give us the details on which to ecide.

Oh, this is so needed! America is indeed the land of the free, and we welcome immigrants - so long as they come here legally. Let's close some loopholes, and return naturalization to hardworking, law-abiding people who follow the rules and who will truly love our country and contribute to our society.

Sunday Thoughts

Today I went to church with Mom. The Pastors of First Baptist of Orlando are going through the book of Philippians, and today Pastor Uth spoke on Chapter 2, verses 14-18. He focused the main part of his sermon on verses 14 and 15, which read:

Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world...

Oh, my. I suppose God really wanted to get my attention!

Aww, my heart bleeds for you!

Thank you, Raven, for this link: Democrats Losing Race For Funds Under Dean.

The Democratic National Committee under Howard Dean is losing the fundraising race against Republicans by nearly 2 to 1, a slow start that is stirring concern among strategists who worry that a cash shortage could hinder the party's competitiveness in next year's midterm elections.

Pooooooor BAY-bies!

Yeah, yeah, I know - "My Give-A-Damn's Busted!"

Short Winter Reading List

Here are a few books to put on your wishlist for Christmas...
The FairTax Book and








America's Best Kept Secret Fairtax: Give Yourself a 25% Raise

Those books could easily be a way to give America a great Christmas present: the abolition of the IRS.













It's in paperback, now! Michael Crichton's wedgie for eco-religionists:
State of Fear














Do As I Say (Not As I Do) :
Profiles in Liberal Hypocrisy












(Now, how about one on "Profiles in Conservative Spinelessness" featuring most of the Republican't Congresscritters?)


David Weber! Some new Honor Harrington (OK, so she' just does a cameo in "Shadow... ").

The Shadow of Saganami (The Saganami Island)




and

The Kat has left the building

While the Kat's away I get to play.  In appreciation of my new friendship with this woman of awesome quilting skills, a heart of goodness and grace and cooking skills that make you drool just reading the recipes I give you this:

                                            Fall Slips In

                                            Fall slips in on kitty paws
                                            It licks the land
                                            Washing its face with color
                                            Springing from tree to tree
                                            Then with a purr and
                                            A bit of static electricity
                                            It stretches out and
                                            Curls up for a long nap.

                               11/12/2005   3:30 am   The Red Queen


   

Kat, I know that you will be a real blessing to all while you are in FL. and that you will be missed at home.  Just remember this:

            "If I take the wings of the dawn,
             If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea.
             Even there Thy hand will lead me,
             And Thy right hand will lay hold of me."

                Psalm 139:9 & 10

Be richly blessed my friend.   The Red Queen

Veterans' Day, 2005

Today is the day that our country sets aside to give due honor and thanks to the men and women who have so faithfully served their country. Ever since our country was founded 229 years ago, men and women have stepped forward selflessly to stand for America.

They have left home, family and friends to walk on foreign soil. They have shed blood, suffered loneliness and isolation, and done hard work so that America can stand strong and safe. They have been drafted, spat on, ignored and villified - and yet they still step forward to serve in honor and courage.

And so, I stand and salute our men and women - and their families - who have done their duty. I give thanks to Almighty God above for them, and I pray His blessing on them.

Dear Veterans - thank you so much for the sacrifices you have made. Words can never express just how much this country owes you. I make this solomn vow that I will, to the best of my ability, always give you the respect you have earned. I promise that I will raise my child and her children to also give you proper honor.

In my house, your service will recieve gratitude and appreciation so long as I shall live.

God bless you all, and thank you from the bottom of my heart!

HAPPY VETERANS' DAY!!!!

Submitted to Cao's T.G.I.Free! Open trackbacks, Mudville, Outside the Beltway, TMH's Bacon Bits , Third World County, Stop the ACLU, Choose Life, Stuck on Stupid, basil's Blog, Conservative Thinking ...

Other links:

• the meaning of the thirteen folds of the flag
• a history of Veterans' Day
• don't forget the nurses!
• the Purple Heart Trail (thanks to Raven for the last three links!)
• LaShawn Barber reminds us of the oath that every service member takes
• bRight & Early has a story to tell
• PC Free Zone reminds us of Gen. John L. Hines, Sgt. Alvin C. York, Gen. Omar N. Bradley and Lt. Audie L. Murphy
• Don Surber quotes President Bush
• Soldiers' Angel asks, "How will you spend Veterans' Day?"
• the Right Track reminds us of how to say thank you!
• Overtaken by Events has a wonderful tale of a veteran he knew
• Below the Beltway posts moving pictures
• Castle Argghhh! just has the BEST!!!
• Emperor Misha keeps it simple
• Tidbits and Treasures posts the poem "We Stood for Freedom"
• Why are we free? Mrs. Media Matters tells us
• Sigmund, carl and Alfred ask "Are We Worthy?"

Thirteen Folds - how appropriate for today

The Confederate Yankee posts "Thirteen Folds", a beautiful description of what the thirteen folds of our flag mean, when folded properly.

Here they are:

1. The first fold of our flag is a symbol of life.
2. The second fold is a symbol of our belief in the eternal life.
3. The third fold is made in honor and remembrance of the veteran departing
   our ranks who gave a portion of life for the defense of our country to attain a peace throughout the world.
4. The fourth fold represents our weaker nature, for as American citizens trusting in God, it is to Him we turn in times of peace as well as in times of war for His divine guidance.
5. The fifth fold is a tribute to our country, for in the words of Stephen Decatur, "Our country, in dealing with other countries, may she always be right; but it is still our country, right or wrong."
6. The sixth fold is for where our hearts lie. It is with our heart that we pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it tands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
7. The seventh fold is a tribute to our Armed Forces, for it is through the Armed Forces that we protect our country and our flag against all her enemies, whether they be found within or without the boundaries of our republic.
8. The eighth fold is a tribute to the one who entered in to the valley of the shadow of death, that we might see the light of day, and to honor mother, for
   whom it flies on Mother's Day.
9. The ninth fold is a tribute to womanhood; for it has been through their faith, love, loyalty and devotion that the character of the men and women who have made this country great have been molded.
10. The tenth fold is a tribute to father, for he, too, has given his sons and daughters for the defense of our country since they were first born.
11. The eleventh fold, in the eyes of a Hebrew citizen, represents the lower portion of the seal of King David and King Solomon, and glorifies, in their eyes, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
12. The twelfth fold, in the eyes of a Christian citizen, represents an emblem of eternity and glorifies, in their eyes, God the Father, the Son, and Holy Ghost.
13. When the flag is completely folded, the stars are uppermost, reminding us of our national motto, "In God we Trust."

And this website offers a last thought (scroll to the bottom):

After the flag is completely folded and tucked in, it takes on the appearance of a cocked hat, reminding us of the Soldiers who served under General George Washington, and the Sailors and Marines who served under Captain John Paul Jones, who were followed by their comrades and shipmates in the Armed Forces of the United States, preserving for us the rights, privileges and freedoms we enjoy today.

Thank You, Lord, for our country which You have blessed so abundantly. May we be faithful to You and obey You, so that this beloved land may live in strength, honor, and freedom!

I'm quite comfy, thank you!

Today, for the hallowed ritual of catblogging,  CatHouse Chat presents Practically Perfect Princess Pixel an an array of relaxed poses. Princess Pixel is a cat who takes her comfort seriously, as you will see!

Happy Birthday to the United States Marines!

God bless "the few, the proud, the Marines!"

Today is the 230th anniversary of their founding. During their long history, they have earned the reputation of being the best of the best. No sane foreign power wants to go up against the Marines, because they will come in and coolly, professionally, and thoroughly blow things up and kill bad guys until the job is done.

May God bless each and every one of our brave men and women in the U.S. Marine Corps - past, present, and future!

Michael Yon on the Congressional floor!

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson (R- TX) quoted at length from Michael Yon's blog, and also displayed his famous picture of a US soldier carrying a mortally wounded little girl away for medical attention after a cowardly act of terrorism.

Michael is in the States briefly, and will be interviewed extensively over the next few days, I think.

Congratulations, Michael! Keep up the superior work of getting the real picture of our honorable troops out to the world.

Oh cool!

I thought that the water would come out from the 'gates' but it came out from in FRONT of them! Way cool...

UPDATE - adding the "rest of the story":

Here's a picture of the river downstream - very quiet and lazy, right?

It was really a lovely little area and it was good to look around while we waited for the release of the water. I *think* it happens every two hours, although my mother-in-law was insisting that it was every hour.

This is what downstream looks like as they are releasing the water. Notice how the lower walkway (a better view can be seen on my previous post) is under water. At the height of the release, the whole railing is under water!

And, I thought it was pretty cool how, although you're looking downstream, the water right there in the foreground is actually flowing upstream.

Hmmm, let me see if I can get a couple more photos from my cell phone...

See the water mark on the wall? Yes, the water came up that high. All that lower railing went underwater.

And here's a better picture of the area where the water was released. I was surprised: I thought those "gates" would open, and that the water would come boiling out there, but Beloved Husband says there's probably some sort of pipe that they use to let the water out.

I dunno - but it was fun, anyway. I do wish I'd had my proper camera, though, instead of just my little cell-phone! Maybe this'll teach me to always have my camera on hand, LOL!

Leesville Lake Dam

This is where I was Tuesday afternoon. My mom-in-law said it was a neat thing to see, when the water was released.

[*resigned sigh*]

Ah, well, you can't win them all.

I woke up this morning to hear that Tim Kaine has won the election for Governor of Virginia. Drat. However, Bill Bolling is the Lt. Governor-elect, and we're still waiting on the Attorney General results. Perhaps that race will require a recount, we'll see.

Am I disappointed? Well, of course! I think Mr. Kaine will raise taxes, be softer on death-penalty crimes, and at least slightly hostile to our Second Amendment rights. But, he's won fair and square, and we'll see what his actual term will bring to Virginia.

I'm pleased for Mr. Bolling, and I truly hope Mr. McDonnel wins Attorney General, but that hasn't been announced yet.

This is not the "End of the World!", although some may try to make it so. Life goes on, and things will, in many ways, continue as they have done. There will be a next time, and meanwhile it's my duty to go about my business as a good citizen, and not get mired in bitterness.

So, congratulations to Mr. Kaine on running a tight race, and I hope and pray that your Governership is a successful one. I will be praying for you and your family, for strength and wisdom and health. Good luck!

(Note to the looney-liberal-left: that is an example of how you lose graciously. Learn from it.)

Waltzing to the Cotillion's tune

This week's Cotillion Ball is up, hosted by Stacy of Not A Desperate Housewife and also posted at the Cotillion site itself.

The theme this wekk is, of course, our wonderful, brave, and honorable veterans! May God richly bless each and every one of them. I offer my profound thanks for their service and am proud of each and every one of them!

My daddy served in World War II; he was on Midway when the Japanese attacked it. My Beloved Husband just retired after 20 years in the Navy, and he served actively in the first Gulf War. My father-in-law also served in WWII, my sister-in-law and my brother-in-law bother served in the Army, as have my niece and her husband.

So, veterans are honored in the CatHouse. Please make sure you tell a veteran - or the family of a deceased serviceman/woman - how very much you appreciate the sacrifices they made to protect your freedom!

Today's Election Day!

President Bush stopped by Kilgore's campaign last night to rally the voters - Jerry Kilgore - Governor

You can bet I'm voting today!

Kilgore for Governor!
Bolling for Lieutenant Governor!
and
McDonnell for Attorney General

Patterico reminded me of this...

Yesterday (I read it this morning), Patterico had an interesting post up which quoted Patrick Henry (and Winston Churchill) and led me to google Henry's most famous speech - Patrick Henry: Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death.

... For my own part, I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery; and in proportion to the magnitude of the subject ought to be the freedom of the debate. It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at truth, and fulfill the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country. Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of treason towards my country, and of an act of disloyalty toward the Majesty of Heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings.

Mr. President, it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts. Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and, having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation? For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and to provide for it.

Oh, Lord, that You would give us such men and women as this again!

Henry's speech concludes, as you ought to know:

...The millions of     people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we     possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Besides, sir, we     shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of     nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is     not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we     have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from     the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged!     Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable--and let it     come! I repeat it, sir, let it come.    

It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace-- but     there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north     will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the     field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is     life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?     Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me     liberty or give me death!

 

What a fantastic idea!

Thanks to phin and my blog-brother, Seth, I'm alerted to a wonderful plan to use retired Navy ships to assist in disaster relief.

Beauchamp Tower Corporation Operations Enduring Service Overview

The National Emergency Urban Interface Program that Ward Brewer had been working on was complete. However there were several details still nagging at him. The difficulties of  housing and feeding the thousands of emergency responders that would be coming to this facility to train, building hardened facilities that could withstand extreme weather conditions, including flooding and tornados, could only  be addressed by problematic and expensive solutions.

As impractical as it may have sounded, the idea of using a ship like the USS Orion to deal with these difficulties began to develop. After several weeks of research, the numbers checked out. The restoration of the USS Orion would not  only solve several difficulties that had been encountered during planning, but would also augment the program with various unexpected benefits. Within two months it had decided, the Orion would be brought out of retirement and outfitted to support the company's emergency response personnel involved in weapons of mass destruction incidences. But it did not end there. After a few more weeks, it was established that the project would soon overwhelm the capabilities of even a ship of this size and capability. Looking at the Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet ships and those at James River, it was determined that the USS Howard W. Gilmore, though  in great disrepair, would be brought out of retirement with the Orion. As the Gilmore was moored beside Orion, the choice was simple and cost effective. Yet another Fulton Clas ship would return from retirement to service. History, it would appear, was not quite finished with these remarkable ships...

Like I said, what a fantastic idea! I really hate seeing old, honorable war ships put into "retirement," to rust away until sold for scrap. It's heartbreaking. It would be far better to do what we can to refurbish them when possible and give them new life with honorable duty.

I think, if ships have souls, that this is what they'd cry our for.

Time, however, is short. Per phin:

Beauchamp Tower Corporation has created Operation Enduring Service which will utilize obsolete military ships to provide emergency relief and disaster response at no cost to the taxpayers and a savings to the government of at least $100 million. (emphasis mine - R'cat)

Due to time constraints the legislation required to make this happen is dangerously close to falling by the wayside-in fact it has to pass before Congress ends this Session (less than 14 days). BTC has obtained the support of a number of Congressmen and Senators. Each of the senators has the ability to submit this legislation for Operation Enduring Service and should be contacted via phone, fax or electronically and encouraged to submit this legislation immediately.

Senator Cochran, (R-MS) (Chairman of Appropriations)
Phone: (202) 224-5054
Internet Contact Form

Senator DeWine, (R-OH)
Phone: (202) 224-2315
Fax: (202) 224-6519
Becky Watts has the legislation for his office
Internet Contact Form

Senator Shelby, (R-AL)
Phone: (202) 224-5744
Fax: (202) 224-3416
Ryan Welch has the legislation for his office
senator@shelby.senate.gov

Senator Sessions, (R-AL)
Phone: 202) 224-4124
Fax: (202) 224-3149
Stephen Boyd has the legislation for his office
Internet Contact Form

 

 

And I can't join! *sniff*

Aaron posts the Bloggers Anonymous Club - The Twelve Steps and The Rules.

And I am barred from joining, because I break the rules. Woe is me, I am undone!

(Nevertheless, go read it - it's very funny!)

Don't be jealous...

... but I got another top done today (just a wallhanging, but still!).

I guess I'm on a serious roll here - perhaps I simply want to get something tangible done before I go to Florida at help out my parents? I dunno... At any rate, I'm having a lot of fun, and I think the break from politics/current events is kind of nice.

Pictures, as usual, below the fold...

Yay! It's done!

I just finished the top I was working on last week.

Of course, I found out I didn't have quite enough yardage of the brown fabric, so I had to improvise a little on the final border. However, I think it really worked out beautifully!

Thanks so much for all your comments and suggestions, especially the Red Queen. She didn't care for the initial fabric I was displaying for the inner border, and her suggestions led me to choos another "neutral" which wasn't quite so "white." I think it looks great!

Pictures below the fold...

Ogre's Politics & Views: Happy Birthday RomeoCat!

Oh, I have such great friends, LOL!

It's my birthday weekend, and my buddies are being so sweet and silly while they wish me well. Ogre is outrageously flattering ("24" indeed!), Raven has found a purr-picture (no, I do NOT have braces!), and dear Kilo sends many hugs.

I've gotten quite a few e-cards, and lots of personal wishes - and it all reminds me that I am well and truly blessed by my many friends.

Thanks, guys - I love you right back!