CatHouse Chat

Virginia Blog Carnival is up and running!

James Martin over at the Virginia Progressive has done a magnificent job hosting this week. I am very pleased to see a good turn out from the other side of the political aisle - it's something I hope will continue!

Good weekend!

I was feeling icky this past Thursday, and Kender set up a fill-in for my time this week on WAR.

The Beloved Husband and the Darling Munchkin and I went out on a quiet RV trip, just us three, to Fairy Stone State Park, and we had a lovely time. I basically slept, read, cooked, and snuggled family, while Husband and Munchkin rode bikes, swam and hiked.

I feel much better now... I guess I really needed that downtime!

AG McDonnell on Catherine Crier today

Virginia Attorney General Bob McDonnell will appear on Catherine Crier's program on CourTV today, addressing the situation with Abraham Cherrix. AG McDonnell has filed an amicus brief on behalf of the family.

How cool is THIS??? (Fixed and bumped)

Rick Ottaiano has scored a major coup! He will be interviewing Robert Spenser tomorrow - oops! I got the date wrong - Robert Spenser will be on with Ric on Tuesday, 01 August at 11 a.m (um, that's Eastern time - 8 a.m. Pacific...) - on Wide Awakes Radio.

Mr. Spenser is the go-to guy for information on real Islam. He wrote the book The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam (and the Crusades), he's got two excellent anti-dhimmi sites, Jihad Watch and Dhimmi Watch, and the nutcase Muslims really hate him.

So make sure you tune in to Wide Awakes Radio tomorrow Tuesday, 01 August morning at 11 a.m. (ET), 8 a.m. (PT), and listen to what is going to be a fascinating interview!

(Thanks for letting me know, Ric - color me so embarrassed, LOL)

Posted with a SPEW warning

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

(HT to Mrs J. Goldbloom)

Chickens coming home to roost?

I don't know if embedding this video will help - I couldn't see the video - but listening to it is still worth a great laugh!

Fred Phelps (or one of his cronies) gains a fan....

Here's the link I followed, and a major HT to Ace - who always manages to come up with the most weirdly funny stuff...

(UPDATE: Oh, goody, the video is working! Oh. My. GOSH!!! That is toooo funny!)

Bill Whittle has the next one up!

... and, since it's Bill Whittle, I know it will be excellent! Chapter One of An American Civilization is up, titled "the Web of Trust."

Go. Read. NOW!!!

WHAT???!!! (UPDATED at the bottom of the post)

IMPORTANT BREAKING: Thanks to Jason Kenney in the comments, Abraham has been granted a stay. I wonder, however, whether it will do any good....

Ogre gave me a link to his story on this, and so I followed the links to the WorldNetDaily article as well as the Times Dispatch follow-up.

Ogre grabbed me with:

This case is another example of how difficult it is to fight socialism and the left in America today. This is the case, you may have heard of it, regarding Jay Cherrix. He is being told that he [sic., actually, Jay's son] will be taken by the sheriff with force and strapped down to a table and injected with drugs against his will. And no, he hasn't even come close to committing a crime.

Why would the state do this? Because Jay is "only" 16 and the state knows better how to treat him than he and his family does. You see, Jay is sick. No, it's not a sickness that's contagious and could affect others, it's cancer. Jay and his family want to treat his sickness as they desire. However, the state in it's infinite wisdom, is determined the treat him against his will.

He has some very good suggestions for Jay's father oops, I mean, "Jay, the father of Abraham, who Social Services is attempting to kidnap"... and I'm glad that I am a strong supporter of the Second Amendment, myself!

The WorldNetDaily article begins

The father of a Virginia teen seeking an alternative treatment for his cancer says a social worker has threatened to use force to take the boy away from the family for court-ordered chemotherapy.

Jay Cherrix of Chincoteague, Va., is concerned there could be an Elian Gonzalez-style showdown over his 16-year-old son, Abraham, who has already undergone chemotherapy for his Hodgkin's disease to no avail.

So this young man has already been treated with traditional chemotherapy for his cancer! It didn't work, and so he's interested in pursuing an alternative course of treatment.

Hodgkin's disease is a malignant form of cancer, and according to the National Cancer Institute,

Cancer research has led to real progress against Hodgkin's disease -- increased survival rates and improved quality of life. Most people diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease can now be cured, or their disease can be controlled for many years. Continuing research offers hope that, in the future, even more people with this disease will be treated successfully. Each achievement in laboratories and clinics brings researchers closer to the eventual control of Hodgkin's disease.

Treatments apparently include bone marrow transplant, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy among others. However, Abraham, as the article indicates, has apparently been through at least some of these treatments, which have failed. Now, Cancer.org posts these statistics:

The 1-year relative survival rate for all patients after treatment is 93%; the 5-year and 10-year rates are 85% and 77%, respectively. At 15 years, the relative survival rate is 68%. Certain factors such as the stage of the disease and a patient's age (older patients have lower survival rates) affect this. During the first 15 years after treatment, the main cause of death in these patients is recurrent Hodgkin disease. By 15 to 20 years after treatment, death due to other causes, such as developing a second type of cancer, usually caused by treatment, is more common.

So, if the treatment works, survivability apparently is pretty high. But Abraham's treatment hasn't worked, and he and his family want to try an alternative method of treatment. Sounds reasonable to me, right? But here's what the State (MY State, Virginia!!) has decided it's going to do, according to the WND article:

Appearing on Sean Hannity's national radio program yesterday, Jay Cherrix said, "When the social-service worker came and interviewed me, I told him how Abraham felt and about how we had met a person who had been cured by this [alternative treatment] and how we were supporting Abraham's decision. I said, 'What will you do with my little boy? Will you take him somewhere and strap him down and put duct tape on his mouth and pump full of this stuff if he doesn't want it?'

"He said, 'No, I will come to your house with a uniformed officer, and I will take your son by force if he resists. And I will take him to somebody who will do that.'

"And I said, 'I don't think I can let you do that.'"

He added there have also been other threats to take Abraham away from the family.

"They told Abraham that if he did not go and have an X-ray, they would put him in a juvenile detention center with drug dealers. They told him that if he did not do that they would put him in a foster home. ... We never thought that people could actually say that to a young fellow like that. We've been surprised by lots of stuff but we have a strong faith and we believe that we'll prevail. We think there will be a judge that will use common sense and compassion and grant a stay on that [mandated chemotherapy] order."

What???

And this is what Abraham has to say:

"I'm not going to receive chemotherapy no matter what," Abraham said on "Hannity & Colmes" last night. "This is my body, the body that God gave to me, and in the Bible it says for me to take care of this body. It's my temple. ... If you are not able to do with your body what you want to, then you have no rights whatsoever."

When asked to describe his previous chemotherapy treatment, the teen said, "It was worse than dying itself. It was more like torture."

Now, if this young man wanted to have sex with everything on two legs and risk his physical and mental health that way, Child "Protection" Services would, of course, have no objections whatsoever. But because this young man and his family wish to pursue another form of treatment, after having tried the traditional route, the government is getting into the act. (And, as an aside, I'm wondering if the family's apparent faith has anything to do with CPS's and the judge's attitude....?)

Today's Richmond Times-Dispatch says

A judge last week ordered him to be at Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters in Norfolk by today at 1 p.m. and accept treatment prescribed by doctors.

But a hearing is scheduled for today at noon in Accomack County Circuit Court to consider Cherrix's request to stay the judge's order.

Thank goodness our State Attorney General, Bob McDonnell, is supporting the family's rights!

The family remains resolved, and Abraham is steadfast:

"I'll fight until I do die. I'm not going to let it go," Cherrix told The Associated Press yesterday by phone from his home on Virginia's Eastern Shore. He said he was so weakened by three months of chemotherapy last year that at times he could barely walk. "I would rather die healthy and strong and in my house than die in a hospital bed, bedridden and unable to even open my eyes."

When Cherrix's cancer came back in February, he decided to pursue an alternative remedy.

Nevertheless, CPS is stubbornly holding to its self-righteous and meddling position:

An official with the state Department of Social Services said the agency agrees with the original judge's ruling.

"The responsibility of Virginia's Child Protective Services program is to ensure the safety and well-being of all children in the commonwealth," Anthony Conyers Jr., commissioner of the department, said in a statement.

"One of the most difficult decisions of the CPS program requires balancing the rights of the parents with the health of the child," Conyers said. "In this case, the Department of Social Services agrees with the final decision to order treatment made by the Accomack County Juvenile and Domestic Relations [District] Court."

**Gah!** Their smarm just oozes out of their pores: "We're only doing this for the good of the child!" Pfui! They simply want to control everything that's not in strict adherence to their rules and perceptions. They never should have meddled in the first place!

I am in full agreement with Ogre:

The judge is ordering police to seize this child. The police will obey him. The only way to stop the judge and the police is to resist. In this case, with violence. Yes, it really has come to this point.

And yes, if they do resist, they will certainly be killed. You see, there's more policemen than there are arms in Jay's house. And sure, the police will claim they were just following the judge's orders -- need I remind you that the Nazi guards were just following orders, too?

Every resistance has to begin somewhere.

And, of course, I'm really wanting to channel Misha here... Something about ropes and assembly....

UPDATE: My Old Dominion Blog Alliance brother, Doug has been following this case closely. In chronological order:

• The Nanny State vs. the Family
• Judge Holds Teen with Cancer in Limbo
• The Nanny State vs. the Family, Part II
• and today's post, It's D-Day for Abraham Cherrix

I strongly urge you to go read them all.

UPDATE AGAIN: This statement just released from AG McDonnell's office, via e-mail:

"This morning, I directed that an amicus brief be filed in the Circuit Court of Accomack County in the case of Abraham Cherrix. This amicus brief supports Abraham's parents' motion to delay the Juvenile Court-ordered chemotherapy treatment pending a new trial on his appeal in the Circuit Court.

All citizens are entitled to the right to appeal a district court case, and to have their case heard anew in the circuit court. If Abraham were forced to undergo the ordered medical treatment, before his appeal is heard in the Circuit Court, his case would be moot and his due process rights infringed. I trust the Circuit Court will endorse these procedural protections for Abraham."

... Which says, basically... nothing. This is disappointing; I would have hoped that AG McDonnell would have had a more decisive and assertive statement.

Doug links to Outside the Beltway (Steve Verdon) who is sceptical of the treatment, but supportive of the family's right to make these decisions. Very interesting article, I suggest you read it all.

Of course, it is tragic when somebody wants to do something like take an herbal tonic, eat only organic food and no sugar thinking it will somehow cure the Hodgkin's disease. The reality is that such a treatment will almost surely kill this kid. But, at the same time I think one should be allowed to make these decisions.

Calling Virginia bloggers!!

Have you noticed that BlogNetNews has redesigned and rolled out their Virginia blog aggregator? It looks wonderful: clean, professional, and easily read. You can also read blogs by political leanings and region, or you can search Virginia blogs on a particular topic. As a matter of fact, if you look down my right sidebar and find my roll for the Old Dominion Blog Alliance, you'll also see a little search box, which will accomplish the same thing.

Dave, who has very kindly kept me updated on BNN/VA, and all his crew (surel he must have an army of minions to do his bidding? LOL) have done an excellent job. I strongly urge all Virginia bloggers to ensure that their RSS feeds are linked at BNN, because it's an excellent service!

Oh, the torment!

BethC posted this link on the Cotillion bboard.

I've gotten to "13." Now I'm stuck.

How far can *you* get?

(Beth. You are an evil, EVIL woman!!)

UPDATE: OK, Beth, you said onlist that you're working to get past 20... I'm trying now to get past 17. ... And I still think the "13" wasn't fair: it didn't follow the pattern, grrrrrr.....

Further proof that the Nobel "Peace" Prize is a crock

Thanks to my friends at the Cotillion, and to Rick Moran, I see this little news article:

Peace prize winner 'could kill' Bush

Annabelle McDonald, July 25, 2006

NOBEL peace laureate Betty Williams displayed a flash of her feisty Irish spirit yesterday, lashing out at US President George W.Bush during a speech to hundreds of schoolchildren.

Campaigning on the rights of young people at the Earth Dialogues forum, being held in Brisbane, Ms Williams spoke passionately about the deaths of innocent children during wartime, particularly in the Middle East, and lambasted Mr Bush.

"I have a very hard time with this word 'non-violence', because I don't believe that I am non-violent," said Ms Williams, 64.

"Right now, I would love to kill George Bush." Her young audience at the Brisbane City Hall clapped and cheered.

Oh, no irony here, huh? A Nobel Peace Prize winner wants to kill the leader of the free world, and gets cheered by kids and called "feisty" by a clearly unbiased *spit* journalist *spit*

What about this "Peace Prize" Ms. Williams won?

Ms Williams was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize 30 years ago, when she circulated a petition to end violence in Northern Ireland after witnessing British soldiers shoot dead an IRA member who was driving a car. He veered on to the footpath, killing two children from one family instantly and fatally injuring a third.

Ms Williams's petition had tens of thousands of Protestant and Catholic women walking the streets together in protest. Now the former office receptionist heads the World Centres of Compassion for Children International, a non-profit group working to create a political voice for children.

I suppose she doesn't care much that more children are going to school, not having their parents and older siblings killed or raped in front of them (or suffering the same), and so on now that the United States of America, under the leadership of George W. Bush, has removed the tyrannical and terrorist regimes of Hussein and the Taliban, hmmmm?

Wrapping up the three-day forum yesterday, delegates agreed to a 26-point action plan.

"There can be no sustainable peace while the majority of the world's population lives in poverty," they said.

"There can be no sustainable peace if we fail to rise to the global challenge presented by climate change.

"There can be no sustainable peace while military spending takes precedence over human development."

How about, "There can be no sustainable peace so long as Islamo-fascist totalitarian murderous Allah-cratic regimes insist on killing and torturing everyone who stands against their goal of a world-wide Islamic state under the rule of Sharia law."?

That works for me...

The last (I think) pool-installation blogging

... although, I could of course be wrong... I suspect that future pool blogging will focus on us enjoying our beautiful new pool!

I felt the last post was getting a bit long, so I decided to post the most recent pics here.

The REAL reason to pool-blog

My little mermaid....

FINALLY - more pool blogging!

Yeah, yeah, I know - I've been derelict in my duties. But, I plead a somewhat stalled project until now: the rain we had recently delayed things significantly. However, the pool itself is now done, except for some cosmetic regrading! Woo-hoo!

It. Looks. BEAUTIFUL!!

(and this is going to be one of those update-as-I-write-posts, so it will be changing over the next hour or so...)

This week's Virginia Blog Carnival is up and running!

Make sure you go on over to Spark It Up!!!, where Kilo has posted the latest bloggy goodness from the Virginia blogosphere.

We had great participation this week, and I want to thank all the contributors for submitting such excellent articles. Kilo, of course, put together a great Carnival and (as always) did a superior job as our host.

So, what are you still here for? Go on over and read!!!

Visiting with family

Lounging around the pool at the Hilton Grand Vacation Resort at Sea World, Orlando. Very nice, lovely staff, excellent value - but I wish the Beloved Husband had been able to join us. Still, it's great to see Mom and Dad, and my 'little' sister and her whole crew. Home again tomorrow, though, which will be good, too.

Get those submissions in!

The Virginia Blog Carnival will be hosted next Monday by Spark It Up!! Your Master of Ceremonies, Kilo, is going to round up all the wonderful bloggy goodness from Virginia, so make sure you get your submissions in by Sunday at 6pm.

You may enter in any of these ways:

• e-mail Kilo directly (go to his blog for the addy)
• e-mail the Carnival directly at vablogcarnival -AT- gmail -DOT- com
• submit via the Conservative Cat's submission form
• submit via BlogCarnival.com's submit form - the link is also in my left sidebar. Look for the box "recent carnivals on the web" and click the "submit post" under the Virginia Blog Carnival.

Interested in hosting a future Carnival? Let me know! E-mail me at romeokat -AT- gmail -DOT- com, and I'll be happy to add you to the schedule!

Hey! I'm not even at home right now - I'm in Florida, visiting my parents! So, if *I* can remind you to get your entries in, YOU can certainly do so! ;-)

God's righteous wrath

... is waiting for the monster who did this.

A neighbor has been arrested in connection with the four deaths from Monday's house fire in Kirkland, which authorities Wednesday said was deliberately set in an apparent attempt to cover up the stabbing murders of all four victims.

...

The fire broke out just after 11:30 a.m. Monday in the home near Forbes Lake. Firefighters arrived to find smoke pouring from the two-story home.

It took fire crews about 30 minutes to get the fire out, and several hours to stabilize the building enough so that they could go inside.

Kirkland Fire Marshall Grace Steuart said that when investigators were able to enter the home they found the bodies of two adults and two children in an upstairs room of the house.

The Medical Examiner's Office today identified those who died as Olga Milkin, 28, Lyubov Botvina, 24, who also lived in the house, and Olga's two sons, Justin Milkin, 5, and Andrew Milkin, 3.

Olga's husband, Sgt. Leonid Milkin, 29, is a member of the 341st Military Intelligence Battalion, most of which is in Afghanistan, but has been on special assignment in Baghdad since September and is currently assigned to the 415th Military Intelligence Battalion.

MiLord Emperor, I would play Saul, and offer to hold the cloaks of those who bring this vile, evil creature to justice....

I pray God's peace and comfort on Sgt. Leonid Milkin, and I pray that he is surrounded by loving, compassionate friends. I pray that Sgt. Milkin gets justice for his family - in spades! It won't bring them back, but maybe - perhaps - it will be a small bandage on the gaping wound of his terrible loss.

And, on his behalf, I ask for God to intercede, and to bring His justice.

Psalm 94

O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongs--
Rise up, O Judge of the earth;
Render punishment to the proud.
LORD, how long will the wicked,
How long will the wicked triumph?

They utter speech, and speak insolent things;
All the workers of iniquity boast in themselves.
They break in pieces Your people, O LORD,
And afflict Your heritage.
They slay the widow and the stranger,
And murder the fatherless.
Yet they say, "The LORD does not see,
Nor does the God of Jacob understand."

Understand, you senseless among the people;
And you fools, when will you be wise?
He who planted the ear, shall He not hear?
He who formed the eye, shall He not see?
He who instructs the nations, shall He not correct,
He who teaches man knowledge?
The LORD knows the thoughts of man,
That they are futile.

Blessed is the man whom You instruct, O LORD,
And teach out of Your law,
That You may give him rest from the days of adversity,
Until the pit is dug for the wicked.
For the LORD will not cast off His people,
Nor will He forsake His inheritance.
But judgment will return to righteousness,
And all the upright in heart will follow it.

Who will rise up for me against the evildoers?
Who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?
Unless the LORD had been my help,
My soul would soon have settled in silence.
If I say, "My foot slips,"
Your mercy, O LORD, will hold me up.
In the multitude of my anxieties within me,
Your comforts delight my soul.

Shall the throne of iniquity, which devises evil by law,
Have fellowship with You?
They gather together against the life of the righteous,
And condemn innocent blood.
But the LORD has been my defense,
And my God the rock of my refuge.
He has brought on them their own iniquity,
And shall cut them off in their own wickedness;
The LORD our God shall cut them off.

At the airport

Going to see Meema - I never know how to spell that - and Papa, as well as Auntie and cousins!

"I find your lack of faith... disturbing.."

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

*gasp* *gasp* *snort* hehehehehehehehe *snicker*

*wheeze*

Oh, dear, that's twice I've linked to him today... *chortle* Go check it out *cough, cough* but make sure you have no computer-killing substances anywhere near you... I'll just sit here and laugh myself to death...

*giggle* *snerk*

hehehehehehmMWUHheheheBWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

Who is Sen. George Allen?

Chad sends me over to the American Spectator's website for an interesting and engaging article about Senator George F. Allen. It's an excellent read - I highly recommend it.

Reveille

David, over at Third World County, sends me over to this Google Video:

Thank you, veterans! God bless you!

Happy Anniversary - 20 Years

Twenty years ago, in Corpus Christi, TX, a young woman - just 22 years old - walked down the aisle on the arm of her beloved Dad. At the front of the little church on the Naval base, a young man - just 24 years old - waited for her. He was dressed in choker whites that had only a single, gold bar on the shoulder.

It was a small ceremony - just close family and a few friends who were in the area. The music played, and the minister said those old, old words over them, and the young man and woman pledged their lives to each other.

Dearly Beloved, we are gathered together here in the sign of God - and in the face of this company - to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony, which is commended to be honorable among all men; and therefore is not by any to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly - but reverently, discreetly, advisedly and solemnly. Into this holy estate these two persons present now come to be joined. If any person can show just cause why they may not be joined together - let them speak now or forever hold their peace.

K, do you take D to be your wedded husband to live together in marriage. Do you promise to love, comfort, honor and keep him, For better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health. And forsaking all others, be faithful only to him so long as you both shall live?

I will. And so began my married life to this wonderful young man.

Now it's twenty years later, and I still look back on that day with joy. I am still married to this young man. Oh, we've changed, of course - a little greyer, a bit heavier, a little wiser - but when I look at him, I still see that young Navy Ensign waiting for me at the front of the church.

Father in Heaven, thank You so much for giving this man to me. Thank You for his love and care of me. Thank You for all the rich blessings You keep showering upon us. Thank You for our beloved daughter, who is such an amazing mix of the two of us. Thank You for keeping us together through all of life's trials and tribulations, in uncertainty and joy, in travels and at home. Thank You, thank You, for this brave and honorable man!

Honey, thank you for being such a fantastic husband. I love you more now than I did twenty years ago, and I'm looking forward to at least another forty more. You are my hero, my lover, my friend, and my joy. You are the best possible man for me, and I am astounded and greatful for the way you compliment me and provide strentgh to my weakness and calm to my storm. There is no one in the world I would rather have to sleep by, to cook for, to raise a child with, to live with until death do us part - than you.

I love you, Beloved. Happy Anniversary!

Congratulations!

Ah, now this is news that makes me smile... Please go on over to Shaun Kenney's place, and wish him congratulations for becoming a Dad - again!

May the new Kenney be born healthy and strong, and may the Lord bless and guide this little one to grow up and stand strong in faith and firmly in the truth.

Virginia Blog Carnival is up!

Alton - God bless him - has been having issues with his broadband provider, but has, nevertheless, gotten this week's VBC up and running. From what I've seen of the submissions so far, it's a very good round up.

So, won't you join me over there for some excellent reading?

A symbol of gratitude to President Bush

Betsy Newmark and the Anchoress pick up this story from the Southern, a newspaper in southern Illinois:

photo credit: Steve Jahnke, the Southern

One of those friendships involved a Kabul rug merchant who pulled Gile aside before he left the country. The merchant told Gile the story of an elderly man, so overwhelmed with gratitude to the United States for its intervention in the conflict that he made a gift for President Bush - a gift that was a year in the making and made, given the conditions of the country, under penalty of death.

Gile was astonished when he saw the hand-knotted rug, a portrait of Bush, filled with Christian and Catholic symbolism. Filling the center of the rug is an incredible likeness of Bush, dressed in religious vestments, standing at a podium decorated with the official seal of the country and flanked by two waving American flags.

Directly above Bush is Jesus with a sacred heart and stigmata carefully knotted into the rug's pattern. The rug also shows cherubs and, apparently in an homage to both Bush and a fallen Northern Alliance leader, two lions.

"(Ahmed Shah) Masood was often called 'the Lion of Panjshir.' As one of the country's military leaders, he put some very, very heavy licks to the Soviets and then turned around and delivered the same to the Taliban," Gile said. "He was assassinated two days before 9/11."

One corner of the rug reads, "President George W. Bush," while the opposing corner has the words, "Number one champion."

Gile said he was impressed by the man's efforts.

"For this man to sequester himself away for a year to hand knot this rug speaks highly of his gratitude," he said. "And for an extraordinarily devout Muslim to have taken very strong Christian and Catholic symbology and incorporate them into the rug is amazing. He may come from a different religious culture, but he was respectful enough to do that, and that is very interesting and humbling."

Indeed. This really is the mission of America - to free people who are cruelly oppressed, while ensuring our national security. Yes, our security is the primary goal, but America has always had a big enough heart that it is never our only goal.

I truly hope that Grayson Gile, who recieved the rug and accepted the mission of presenting it to President Bush, is successful in his mission.

And somewhere in Afghanistan, a man who now lives free will have the satisfaction of knowing that the leader of the free world knows that someone is thankful for the strength and determination of the United States of America.

Just a LITTLE over-exaggerated, hmmm?

Wow. When they get it wrong, they really get it wrong!

Jon Henke pointed out this little gem this morning, from People's Daily Online (an English version of Chinese news)

American voters have shown little interest in picking candidates for the Nov. 7 elections that will determine control of Congress and elect more than one-third of the nation's governors, USA Today newspaper reported on Monday.

Of the 50 states, 26 held primaries in June. Sixteen of the 22 states that have certified figures or provided estimates to the newspaper recorded a lower turnout than in 2002, the last national election not in a presidential year.

Turnout has not cracked 40 percent in any state, and in most, primary participation was in the 20-30 percent range.

So far, the year's rock-bottom was witnessed in Virginia. In the June 13 Democratic Senate primary that was open to all Virginians, regardless of their party, only 3.5 percent of 4.5 billion eligible voters showed up to nominate former Navy secretary Jim Webb to face Republican Senator George Allen in November. (emphasis mine)

I hope they realize that Virginia's actual population is about 7 million, and that of the United States as a whole is about 295 million.

Hm. Perhaps they're counting the graveyard vote, the felons' vote, the dually registered vote, the illegal aliens' vote... Heck, I bet they're just assuming that anyone in the world has a right to vote in Virginia's elections!

Atlas was on Rush Limbaugh!

... And I think she outtalked him! Man, he was bemused! But that's our Pamela...

You've heard about people who talk a "mile a minute"? SHE talks a light year a minute!

(Thanks to Matt, of Weapons of Mass Discussion, for the audio!)

UPDATE: And here's Rush's transcript... I told you she was too fast for him, nyuk, nyuk! Atta girl, Pamela... Hey, and he got your link right, too!!! W00t! Here's Atlas' post about the rally... I'm so proud of her (in a "well-of-course!" sort of way - Pamela is just that awesome...)

Yay, Dub-YA!

Now THIS is the "W" I know and love....

"What they need to do it to get Syria to get Hezbollah to stop doing this shit."

Damn straight!

Them and the Paleoswinian Hamas...

Live, on Wide Awakes Radio!!!

Come on, people, get those streams up and running!

The one, the ONLY Jack Idema will be on LIVE in just ten minutes!

Click on the microphone right now! (WARNING: May contain some graphic and rough language. This man is a warrior, and deals with combat situations and barbaric conditions.)

(This offer expires at noon, ET... But Jack will be back next Monday, same WAR time, same WAR channel!)

UPDATE: Make sure you visit Jack's radio site, Rogue Radio!

Welcome to the GodDivas!

I know about them because one of them is a member of the Cotillion, and she let us know that this new blog launched today.

And Jody starts out with a bang - "The Thought"

"First of all, you don't have a random 'higher power'. You have a father, a comforter, a redeemer, a merciful God and a friend to help you. Jesus is not just an abstract thought. Second of all, even if you pray to Jesus 25 hours a day or fast 8 days a week, you're not guaranteed anything but His love and mercy. So yes, everything will eventually be great in heaven. But that certainly doesn't mean there won't be a storm or two or an entire Florida Hurricane season in your path or in Ev's path. Just know you've got God to hold on to and for Him to hold you when things get rough. And that's where your faith needs to be. Not in your 'instincts' or abilities as a parent but in Him and knowing that whatever you go through and whatever Ev goes through, He will still be there."

"Oh."

Oh. So even though I won't ever know it all, I do know He's there and He loves me and Ev. That doesn't always stop the panic or "the thought" but it does help. I know I won't be a perfect parent (I think I made ten mistakes within the first three hours of her birth…so yeah, my record is not very good at all) but it doesn't mean I'll stop trying.

Yep. Exactly.

And I think I might be able to work this in to my next "Sunday Thoughts" netcast somehow. It's just too right not to try...

More humor forwared by the Beloved Husband...

The Dearest Man just sent me this forwarded e-mail this morning. I sent it on to some of my groups-lists, and Beth immediately e-mailed back, "Are you going to post these?"

Oh. Yeah. [d'uh! smacks head] Well, I guess I could do that... Obviously, the coffee isn't being ingested quickly enough!

So, here is is:

The Washington Post's Mensa Invitational once again asked readers to take any word from the dictionary, alter it by adding, subtracting, or changing of one letter,and supply a new definition. Here are this year's {2005} winners:

1. Cashtration (n.): The act of buying a house, which renders the subject financially impotent for an indefinite period.

2.Ignoranus: A person who's both stupid and an asshole. (<---- And here's a great new word for the looney leftists!)

3. Intaxication: Euphoria at getting a tax refund, which lasts until you realize it was your money to start with.

4. Reintarnation: Coming back to life as a hillbilly. (I'm looking at Ogre, Terry, and maybe Basil, here, LOL)

5. Bozone (n.): The substance surrounding stupid people that stops bright ideas from penetrating. The bozone layer, unfortunately, shows little sign of breaking down in the near future.

6. Foreploy: Any misrepresentation about yourself for the purpose of getting laid.

7. Giraffiti: Vandalism spray-painted very, very high.

8. Sarchasm: The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn't get it.

9. Inoculatte: To take coffee intravenously when you are running late. (See? I haven't been properly inoculatte'd this morning!)

10. Hipatitis: Terminal coolness.

11. Osteopornosis: A degenerate disease. (This one got extra credit.)

12. Karmageddon: It's like, when everybody is sending off all these really bad vibes, right? And then, like, the Earth explodes and it's like, a serious bummer.

13. Decafalon (n.): The grueling event of getting through the day consuming only things that are good for you.

14. Glibido: All talk and no action.

15. Dopeler effect: The tendency of stupid ideas to seem smarter when they come at you rapidly.

16. Arachnoleptic fit (n.): The frantic dance performed just after you've accidentally walked through a spider web.

17. Beelzebug (n.): Satan in the form of a mosquito, that gets into your bedroom at three in the morning and cannot be cast out.

18. Caterpallor (n.): The color you turn after finding half a worm in the fruit you're eating.

Pretty fun, huh? So, there's your Monday morning laugh, courtesy of Mr.CatHouse Chat!

EX-cellent new series!

I just watched the first two episodes of Psych, from USA Network (yay, TiVo!) ... W00t! Excellent writing and byplay between characters, an amusing premise, and good acting.

I think I'm going to enjoy this series... ;-)

"Sunday Thoughts" premieres today on Wide Awakes Radio!

"Sunday Thoughts" has its first airing today on Wide Awakes Radio at 4:30pm, ET (3:30 CT, and 1:30 PT).

Today, I'll be talking a bit about my doctrine, using the Nicene Creed as an outline. This one is going to be a it heavy, but I believe that my listeners need to know where I stand. Future "Sunday Thoughts" will be a bit lighter in tone, generally speaking

So don't forget to tune in for my first show!

I won't be on live, so if you have any questions or comments, I encourage you to e-mail me at cathousechat -AT- gmail -DOT- com.

Next week, I'm planning to discuss the tiredness we often feel in the midst of our rat-race-crazy lives. Of course, God may have other ideas He wants me to talk about, so if He wants to change the schedule, I'm gonna listen to Him!

"American Pie" remixed for 2006

Emperor Misha (and have you listened to Him? 12-2 pm, Central Time, every Saturday, with Jay of Stop the ACLU) has posted a link to the most awesome song parody, at the Right Place... You *must* go read it, and make sure the song is playing in the background...

Here's the chorus:

So don't cry, Ms. American Spy
We'll get Libby for his fibby
And then Cheney will fry
And that smirking chimp will finally wave us goodbye
Singin', this'll be the day donkeys fly
This'll be the day donkeys fly

Like I said... GO. READ. IT!!!!!

(Thank You, o Dread Lord of the Sith...!)

Cat Foot Fetish

Smudgie is an odd cat... but she loooooves her DadCat.

Well, she loves his FEET, anyway... She is a very odd cat!

I think that annoying background sound is from my camera, which is rather puzzling, because I don't recall it ever doing that before...

Anyway, please don't forget to swing by the Modulator for the Friday Ark, and on Sunday, the Carnival of the Cats will be hosted at For the Junta.

Calling all Virginia bloggers!! (Updated)

Don't forget to send in your submissions for the Virginia Blog Carnival!

This Monday, the Carnival will be hosted at I'm Not Emeril oops, my bad! It will be hosted at Bad Rose's place !- Alton and Bad Rose did a wonderful job the last time they hosted, and I'm sure this Carnival will also be lots of fun!

Here is the guideline for submissions. You can contribute either by using the Carnival Submit Form, or e-mail vablogcarnival -AT- gmail -DOT- com directly.

So get those posts in!

Kender ROCKS!!!!

Oh, my gosh... Kender is LIVE on Wide Awakes Radio, LIVE right now!!!!

He is kicking butt and taking names.. and then SHREDDING them!!

Click the link, listen RIGHT. NOW.

Misha's in the thick of things again...

(and this is late, due to problems with TPad yesterday...)

... which is at it should be. In many ways, he puts words to my outrage and disgust at those evil vermin who killed our soldiers, and my frustrated displeasure with the recent ruling by the Supreme Court.

Am I in total agreement with

Five ropes, five robes, five trees.

Some assembly required.

No, of course not. Frankly, as Misha states later in the post, it's hyperbole, and not meant to be acted upon.

But his point nevertheless stands: this ruling allows monsters more rights than they ought to have. It allows enemies to present themselves as innocents, and to conceal themselves as innocuous bystanders. It hurts our national security for these men to be given the courtesy of our civil justice system: either they will go free to murder again because we couldn't use all the evidence against them, or sensitive/classified information will be revealed to convict them and harm our wartime operations.

Don't think that I take this position lightly - the Beloved Husband, for instance, disagrees with me on this subject on the most profound level.

But no one is better than Misha for reminding us all that America IS AT WAR. Not only that, but we are at war with monsters who use every opportunity to twist and pervert American honor and decency so they may gain any advantage over us.

Is America going to come out of this clothed in pristine purity? No. Not with an enemy like that. I'm proud that we try to hold fast to the honorable way, but we will occasionally falter. Let our troops do their job. Let them be the efficient killing machine they were trained to be, and I guarantee that their own individual honor will constrain them to act as decently as possible. Will there be bad apples? Yes. And the American military will dig out those infected pockets of pus and prosecute and convict them - because of the honor of American troops.

Fact: We are better than any of those vermin on every level.

And if America will grow up, quit whining and insisting on perfection, and knuckle down and do the job, we'll destroy the monsters, rebuild Iraq, and come home - and I bet we could do it within a year.

If.

As I said in my previous post: No mercy. Hunt them down and slay them like the rabid vermin they are, and rid the earth of this blight, this stain on humanity.

No mercy.

Words fail...

Rusty at the Jawa Report has stills and a video up of the insane, barbaric, and heinous crime the Islamic butchers perpetrated upon the two soldiers they'd kidnapped.

Please, do not go over there unless you are ready to see the true face of the monsters we hunt. I only looked at the stills, and my stomach is churning in nausea and absolute rage. These pictures confirm to me that we should have no mercy on these blights on humanity.

Should we revisit upon them all the torture, pain and humiliation which they inflicted? No. But we ought to shoot them down, coolly and efficiently, and treat them like the rabid dogs they are.

You know me - my thoughts and my philosophy run rampant all over this blog. You know me.

And you know how enraged, sickened, and infuriated I am to descend to saying "No mercy."

No mercy, no grace, no compassion, no kindness... NO PEACE until every last one of these monstrous savages lies dead and rots in hell.

Psalm 59:5, 11-13 You therefore, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel,
Awake to punish all the nations;
Do not be merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah ... Do not slay them, lest my people forget;
Scatter them by Your power,
And bring them down,
O Lord our shield.
For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips,
Let them even be taken in their pride,
And for the cursing and lying which they speak.
Consume them in wrath, consume them,
That they may not be;
And let them know that God rules in Jacob
To the ends of the earth. Selah

To the very last drop of blood, to the very last breath of life... This is WAR.

Camping rituals

Cousin Kyle lights the campfire - eventually. We're gonna have to work on that: all the guys in the Beloved Husband's family know how to play with fire...

On the move again!

Newest RV camping spot, at Staunton River State Park.

Re-launch!

Wide Awakes Radio re-launches tomorrow!

Our new server is installed, and we're ready to ROCK THE HOUSE!!!!

I believe Kender is setting up a varied schedule, so that those hosts who weren't able to chime in on the Fourth will be introducing themselves tomorrow. I really hope Misha can call in, because he's going to be brilliant "on air."

I won't be on the air, since we're doing an RV trip, but if I have connectivity on my cell phone, I'll try to call in and say "Hi" to everyone real quick. Also, I won't reactivate the "Listen Live" button in my sidebar until I get back on Monday, but I will put it in this post so you can use it to stream the audio.

Just remember - it won't be live until tomorrow at 9am ET!!!

New responsibilities

Well, Chad Dotson has very graciously allowed me to take over the organization of the Virginia Blog Carnival, and it's an honor I deeply appreciate.

Some of the changes I'm going to make are, first of all, a central site (also linked above) which will hold the schedule of upcoming hosts and any themes which may apply to the Carnival for a particular week; and second, a new e-mail for submissions to the Carnival. I've already e-mailed Bruce at the Conservative Cat, so the proper e-mail should be attached to the Carnival Submit Form as soon as he gets to it.

This Monday, Doug at Below the Beltway will be hosting the Carnival, and Alton has graciously stepped up for the following week (the 17th).

I would like to ask other Virginia bloggers to contact me (either romeokat -at- gmail -dot- com or at vablogcarnival -at- gmail -dot- com) if they'd like to host.

And finally - it took me about a week, but finally! - I've got my Fourth of July post recorded, as Alton had requested.

So, Alton, dear blog-brother, here ya go!  (mp3 file)

Victory for the Second Amendment

Right in my back yard.

Danville police say one of the men who tried to invade a North Avenue home has died.

[...]

The resident told police that four armed men forced open the front door of his house and started to come inside.

The resident fired several shots at the intruders, striking at least one who was found in the doorway. He died later at Danville Regional Medical Center....

Good. If armed men tried to force their way into MY home, I'd shoot them, too!

I must admit that I'm astonished at the effontery of these unnamed men - this is not the more cosmopolitan North Virginia. Most young men, from what little I've seen so far, grow up with guns, know how to use them, and are very aware that a goodly portion of homeowners do, too.

Well, apparently at least three men are still at large. Time to triple check the ammo and the firing mechanisms on our guns, and make sure that they are close to hand if necessary. 'Cause the Beloved Husband and I have a Darling Munchkin and ourselves to protect...

"One man left to tell the story..."

Yesterday when I was "on air" with Cao and Terry, I mentioned the fact that my father had stood at the foot of Ens. George Gay's bed, while Ens. Gay debriefed Dad's C.O. Mr. Gay was the sole survivor of Torpedo Squadron 8, at the Battle of Midway.

I couldn't remember the Ensign's squadron at the time, but that was fortunate. Very soon after I got off the air, I recieved an e-mail which gave me the needed info, and continued:

I first heard of him, from all places- In a poem on the wall of the Tribune Tower- while replacing the decking of one of the towers. Let me see if I can dig it up.

How delightful! I e-mailed our listener back and asked him to send me a copy of that poem if he had the time and opportunity. Today, my friend L.S. Mope, Imperial Liaison Officer, Imperial Pork Purveyor, and Master Infidel, has dug up a copy with the assistance of John Dewey of the Tribune Properties.

My deepest gratitude goes out to both men, and I reproduce it here in its entirety:

Victory at Midway

One man left to tell the story
Of Torpedo Squadron Eight
Splendid story of the glory
Of a rendezvous with fate.

Fifteen planes with thirty heroes!
(Twenty-nine were doomed to die.)
Plunging though a cloud of Zeros
Down the danger-ridden sky.

Twenty-nine, with proud devotion,
Ere the fatal flight was done
Vanished in the hungry ocean -
But the victory was won!

One man left to tell the story
Of a rendezvous with fate -
Tell the story of the glory
Of Torpedo Squadron Eight.

- Delos Avery

I don't know the circumstances which led to this poem being chiseled into the walls of the Tribune Tower - and I'm assuming it's this Tribune Tower in Chicago - but I am so glad that it was.

What have we become today, that there are no verses, no monuments, no visible honor given to the many, many heroes and heroines who so selflessly serve this country today?

Thank you, L. S. Mope, for putting another facet on the diamonds in my Father's memory!

Well, like I said...

WHAT-A-RUSH! and HO-ly COW!!!

Yesterday was a day full of excitement, promise, a bit of frustration, and a sense of... delighted bemusement...?

HO-ly COW!!!!

Actual traffic for our first day FAR exceeded Wide Awakes Radio projections...

THANK YOU!!!!

However, that means that our temporary server is a bit, um, steamy. Folks, it's smoking! You guys sent us so much support and traffic and interest that... Baby, the server just couldn't keep UP!!

So! The proper server for Wide Awakes Radio is scheduled to be installed Friday, (UPDATE: and active Saturday) (and yikes! UPDATE yet again: this is the proper post that ought to be linked for info) and from what I understand it's possible that we'll be down until that server is activated. I could be wrong, and I'll keep you updated...

But, WOW!!!! Your support and interest made this happen, and we'll be back as soon as God gives us the path.

Which - if I know Kender (which I *DO*) - just might possibly (not probably... just POSSIBLY!) be tomorrow... ;-) (Yep... I'm an optimist, and have boundless faith in our stupendous staff!)

Technorati tags: Wide Awakes Radio, Wide Awakes, WAR

WHAT-A-RUSH!!!!!!

I just got off my first session as a "live" host - On Air Talent - on Wide Awakes Radio. Cao and Terry Dillard were on with me, and right at the end, we got a quick check in with JACK IDEMA!

It was fun, we had a great exchange - Israel, Discovery, our beloved and honored troops - and I am charged UP!!!

Gee. Maybe I can do LIVE radio, after all ;-)

Virginia Blog Carnival: Fourth of July Edition

Our Virginia Blog-Daddy, Chad Dotson, has posted this special edition of the Virginia Blog Carnival.

It's "late" if you consider the normal schedule, but I'm very glad that Chad chose to post it today. How appropriate that "the Mother of Presidents" celebrates the Fourth of July with such joy and enthusiasm! Make sure you go on over and read all the excellent writing summarized by Chad.