CatHouse Chat

My cousins... Oh, dear God

UPDATE:  This post will stay on top for awhile.  This is Kender, and I have the keys while R'Cat is away taking care of business.  Please keep the prayers coming for her family, which has suffered a tremendous loss.  I have a son myself, and can't imagine losing him, much less the anguish that these girls dad must be going through.  Like I said, keep the prayers coming.  New posts (there are coming) will be below this post.

Thank you.

Three of my cousins died today - Mom and two beautiful, lovely girls...

Oh, God, oh, God... What do I say...?!

Dear GOD IN HEAVEN... WHY?

Oh Father, receive their souls, I pray... Let them enter into Your presence! Be with their father and comfort him. Uphold him in Your arms and give him Your strength and Your peace...

Oh... GOD>>>!

News here and here.

UPDATE: I would ask in particular for prayers for their Dad. He loved his family SO much! He needs strength and comfort and support. His two girls were beautiful, bright, and loving and to lose them and their Mom must be... I have no words.

God, oh, GOD, I know You are good and holy and loving, but

HOW COULD YOU TAKE THEM!!???

The family is unlikely to ask for donations - I will give information if they do - but I BEG you to pray for them and ask God to show His love and support and strength...

I, personally, am clinging to

Have you not known?   
      Have you not heard? 
      The everlasting God, the LORD, 
      The Creator of the ends of the earth, 
      Neither faints nor is weary. 
      His understanding is unsearchable. 
      He gives power to the weak,   
      And to those who have no might He increases strength. 
      Even the youths shall faint and be weary,   
      And the young men shall utterly fall, 
      But those who wait on the LORD   
      Shall renew their strength; 
      They shall mount up with wings like eagles, 
      They shall run and not be weary, 
      They shall walk and not faint.

El-Shaddai, Elohim, Jehovah Rophe, Jehovah Jireh, God our Savior - BE OUR ROCK!!

Roscoe Reynolds: Says one thing, and does another

The other week, I, along with other ODBA bloggers, posted this video of Roscoe not answering a question:

The caller asks about Senate Bill 1204, saying "... I find it interesting that you'd have that position and wondered why you came to that decision to support a bill that would allow an illegal alien to receive in-State tuition."

All right, first off let's look at SB1204. According to Richmond Sunlight, section ("subsection"?) A, paragraph one will be amended to add point ii, which reads:

individuals who are not citizens or nationals of the United States or are unlawfully present in the United States or do not possess a valid visa issued by the Department of Homeland Security to permit study in the United States shall not be eligible for in-state tuition rates at any public institution of higher education in the Commonwealth;

Oh, good! That's wonderful! People who are breaking the law, who haven't come here in the legally recognized way, certainly shouldn't be able to take advantage of the privileges reserved for legal citizens and residents of the Commonwealth.

However, look further down to the addendum of section D:

Are you AWAKE yet?!

No? Well, grab your coffee and then click this video. You'll be rockin' in NO time!

Thanks, Wild Thing!

Technorati Tags: tanks, explosives, pump it up

Can you find the RFOC*?

They really like the new curtains...

*Reasonable Facsimile of a Cat

Remember the timeline

I've got to offer my kudos to my blog brother, Ward Smythe. He's posted a clear, concise, and down 'n' dirty timeline of the basic sequence of events of Ben Tribbett's and Joe Stanley's unscrupulous acts of the last week.

Now, take a look at the posts in my "Virginia" category. Prior to my incensed response in August 18th, to Ben Tribbett posting private ODBA list e-mails on his blog, I want you to look at what I've discussed about Virginia and politics. Hm, there are a couple of blog conferences in there (yeah, Ben you're in one of those... So is Joe, now that I think of it, though I don't recall meeting him), the Bloggers Day in Richmond, VA Tech, irritation with Virgil Goode (oh, wait isn't he a Republican?!), irritation with Sen. Warner (isn't he a Republican, too? No, he's a RINO), Virginia wineries... yadda, yadda.

Yep. I was a powerful Republican operative - when I spoke, even Rove shook in his boots!

Wait, you say, what about your POLITICS category?! OK, well let's look at that... Mmm. Karl Rove, Virgil Goode (again - same post), national junk, blogging conference again, national, national... blah, blah, blah. Not much, really. I post more about My Life and Friends, or Travel, or Faith and Blessings...

Do you get an inkling of why I'm so irate with this foul tactic?

Now, Joe has family, too, from what I understand. That's great, that's wonderful! I hope they are all healthy and doing well in their lives, I really do. But that does not negate the fact that Joe, an elected representative from the Democratic Party of Virginia chose to link the ODBA with a vile site promoting pedophilia - because he didn't like the way we were exercising our First Amendment rights of political expression and opinion.

All of the ODBA members that I know of are private citizens. Some are more active and vocal in politics than others, but to my knowledge, NONE are elected officials.

So Joe Stanley decides he doesn't like our political opinions and the way we voice them. But instead of countering them issue by issue, point by point, he decides to take the low road (an LORD isn't that a euphemism!) and connect the group AS A WHOLE with N*MBLA.

He's unrepentant. His reasoning is this:

I pointed the domain to NAMBLA for specific reasons. NAMBLA is an organization that advocates a set of beliefs that turn my stomach. Through misinformation, prevarication, and a false sense of earnestness, they pursue a predatory agenda that brings direct harm to countless innocent individuals. Their primary defense is the first amendment.

It is my opinion that the ODBA conducts itself in much the same way. While the end product is far less repugnant than pedophilia, no fewer individuals are hurt by the organization. The main distinction I can make between the two organizations is that NAMBLA believes in the first amendment, and ODBA only believes in their right to free speech.

Not a prank. Not a joke. A malicious act, designed to smear and destroy. And *I'm* one of the people that Raising Kaine compares to using terrorist tactics?!

People, you guys have GOT to get off the moral ambivalence train. This is NOT about "tough politics." This is not about "standing the heat." This is about an elected party official believing it's justifiable to attack private, voting citizens whose opinion he doesn't like. A party official who uses a pedophilia site to make his point, and then makes the defamatory claim that those citizens conduct themselves in such a lewd and repugnant and ILLEGAL way.

As Charlie Fulgate, over at Good Sense, says:

Remember the phrase, "fighting words"? Maybe the phrase, "shouting fire in a crowded theatre" will ring a bell. When said speech infringes upon my good reputation and good standing in the community, that's when I have a problem with your exercise of free speech.

Are these the methods we want our political system, its parties, and its officials to devolve to?

Because Joe Stanley *IS* an elected official for the Democratic Party of Virginia, the DPV has a responsibility to step up to the plate and state clearly whether his apparently unilateral move is acceptable to the party. Roscoe Reynolds, Chap Peterson, and Eric Ferguson, as associates of Joe Stanley AND as elected members of the Democratic party to the Virginia General Assembly, have that responsibility as well.

Democrats: step forward and state for the record whether or not you believe that attacking voting citizens in this manner is or is not acceptable!

 

Technorati Tags: Joe Stanley, Roscoe Reynolds, Chap Peterson, Eric Ferguson, Democratic Party of Virginia, ethics

Ooooo! "Tactics of Terror"!

Applied to li'l ol' me? Aw, gee, thanks!

So, Raising Kaine thinks that the ODBA is using the tactics of terror, huh? Then having an elected Democratic Party of Virginia official (link via Kilo) comparing the ODBA to pedophiles is just fine, right? Because this DPV official says that -

I pointed the domain to N*MBLA for specific reasons. N*MBLA is an organization that advocates a set of beliefs that turn my stomach. Through misinformation, prevarication, and a false sense of earnestness, they pursue a predatory agenda that brings direct harm to countless innocent individuals. Their primary defense is the first amendment.

It is my opinion that the ODBA conducts itself in much the same way. While the end product is far less repugnant than pedophilia, no fewer individuals are hurt by the organization. The main distinction I can make between the two organizations is that NAMBLA believes in the first amendment, and ODBA only believes in their right to free speech.

So, the ODBA is guilty of the same type of despicable crime as pedophilia? Riiiiight.

The truth is that the ODBA was pointing up major flaws in Joe Stanley's (remember him? Chaiman of the Franklin County Democratic Party? An elected officiall of the Democratic Party of Virginia?) buddy, Roscoe Reynolds. You know, we posted video! Video that anyone who wanted to see that we were talking about could watch for themselves. Several other of the ODBA bloggers also posted recorded information from senate sessions, you know. Y'all can look those refernces up, too.

In other words, we posted facts, and expressed our opinion that Roscoe Reynolds should not be re-elected becaise he was the inferior candidate.

Then, since Joe Stanley's buddy was losing points, he purchased the OldDominionBlogAlliance -dot- com domain and in a fit of malicious pique pointed it at N@MBLA, because we were such awful-terrible-no good-opponants of democracy, and hurt thousands and thousands of innocent, defenseless people. Oh, the humanity!

Oh, please. That and a quarter won't even get you a cup of coffee anymore.

The big question is this: Does the Democratic Party of Virginia find it acceptable for one of their ELECTED OFFICIALS to use a campaign tactic which deliberately links private citizens exercising their First Amendment Rights to a site promoting pedophilia in a malicious attempt to smear their reputations?

Be honest, Democrats. Be HONEST! Tell me that you wouldn't be screaming for disciplinary action and charges of slander or libel or malfeasance against someone who did this and had an (R) after his/her name. Because if you really think that, then you're either deluded or incompetent.

Raising Kaine and Ben Tribbett are carrying water for a guy who deliberately set out to connect the ODBA to disgusting, immoral, and ILLEGAL activities - and got caught. Well, Joe, you did get caught, and now you have to take the consequences of your actions. That's life.

Will the Democratic Party of Virginia take the right stand and declare that these smutty tactics are unacceptable, vile, and completely beyond the pale? Will Joe Stanley's clients, like Roscoe Reynolds, Chap Peterson, Eric Ferguson, and Adam Tomer condemn Joe Stanley's actions and remove him from their payroll? Will the Franklin County Democratic Party call for Joe Stanley's removal from the Chairmanship?

Inquiring minds really want to know...

...

Oh, and if you're all upset about my "whoreson" epithet (see? I even linked the two posts so you can see for yourself), I was notified by an ODBA member that it was inappropriate, rude, and deserved an apology. I retracted and apologized within an hour after the post went up *AND* left an explanatory comment with an additional apology a day or so later.

If Joe is upset about that insult - and it was out of line - I will be happy, as I said, to send him a hard copy with my apology.

I admit, I'm wondering if he's a big enough man to do the same for comparing me to a pedophile.

Weekly Radio Show: August 31

Listen to The Gathering Storm Radio Show, which WC and I cohost. The show broadcasts live every Friday for one hour at noon, Pacific Time. 

The call-in number is (646) 915-9870.

Callers welcome!

If you are unable to listen live to the radio show, you can listen to recordings of the radio broadcasts later by CLICKING HERE.

Friday, August 31:

SPECIAL SHOW!

This week's scheduled guest for the entire hour will be Robert Spencer of Jihad Watch. He is the author of two the bestsellers The Truth About Muhammad and The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam (and the Crusades). Others of his books include Islam Unveiled: Disturbing Questions About the World's Fastest Growing Faith and Onward Muslim Soldiers: How Jihad Still Threatens America and the West.

I finally got around to my daily reading!

And, boy, I'm glad I did! Today's selections in the MacArthur Daily Bible are Ecclesiastes 3, Psalm 102:12-17, Proverbs 24:3-4, and 1 Corinthians 8.

Ecclesiastes 3 is the famous "To everything there is a season" passage - but that's only the first section of the chapter. If you look down to verse 14, it says:

I know that whatever God does,
      It shall be forever.
      Nothing can be added to it,
      And nothing taken from it.
      God does it, that men should fear before Him.

What God does is immutable - God accomplishes it with His infinite power, and He establishes it forever by that same power. Nothing and no one can resist what God chooses to do, and when men see the work of His mighty hand, they need to remember the awesome God who holds them in His palm.

You should read "Sinners in the Hand of an Angry God," preached by one of America's most godly and influential preachers. Jonathan Edwards preached this sermon in 1741, taking his text from Deuteronomy 32:35 - "Their foot shall slip in due time." He was warning his congregation that ungodliness and rebellion against their Creator left them dangling by the thinnest thread over the pit of Hell, protected only by God's mercy and patience.

Do you know Romans 2:4? "Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?" If God's patience runs out - and it is not limitless - the eternal destruction in the Pit waited for them as certainly as night follows day.  

Therefore, displays of God's power are meant to draw us to Him in holy fear and awe, so that we throw ourselves upon His grace and are brought into His family. Remember, God owes us nothing! We are the ones in rebellion against Him, and He would be completely fair to consign all of us to eternal damnation. But the glorious salvation He offers from His own just wrath should cause us to love Him and follow Him all the days of our lives.

One thing many people do not realize is that when the Bible calls someone a fool, it is not talking about intelligence as much as it is focusing on wisdom. It is a moral judgement when we read "The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God.'"

The second part of Romans 1 is a diatribe about the foolishness of man:

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,  because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,  because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.

Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality,wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

If you wilfully choose to go against Him, God will let you. And then, God will let you deal with the consequences. Wouldn't it be better to turn to Him and grasp hold of His outstretched hand? Wouldn't it be better for us to stop being fools, and learn to have a holy fear of God?

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

The promise of God to those who turn from foolishness to wisdom is laid out in today's reading from Proverbs:

Through wisdom a house is built,
      And by understanding it is established;
By knowledge the rooms are filled
      With all precious and pleasant riches.

I want to build and establish my house. And I cannot do it apart from Him. Therefore, I will let His power do its work and submit to Him in holy fear, and let God do a work which will last forever, unchanging.

Technorati Tags: Bible, forever, salvation, sin

Neat-O!!

Beth, the wonderful, crazy, magnificent Beth, pointed this little neat thing out: If you type the Cyrillic millions sign (U+0489), suddenly, you start typing BACKWARDS!

Let's see if it will work for me:

‫‬‭‮‪‫‬‭‫‬‭‮‪‫‬‭‮҉All right, I've done a copy/paste, and LOOK! I'm typing backwards! LOLOLOL

Pretty cool, huh?

Technorati Tags: cool, cyrillic millions sign, typing backwards

Franklin.com caves, too

Well, y'all may remember a few weeks ago that the book, Alms for Jihad, had been removed from publication. Cambridge University Press cravenly gave in to Khalid bin Mafouz (interesting results on the Google search, huh?) and recalled the book, destroying copies as they returned.

Sadly, libraries and bookstores all over America complied, until only the eBook format was available. Or so I thought.

I got a tip that Franklin.com had the book available for download. Franklin, you may recall, is a very popular manufacturer of pocket dictionaries and thesauruses in an electronic format. It was rather a nice surprise to see that they offered other products!

Well, I went to Franklin.com, and sure enough, the book was available - but only in very specific formats. Customers who wanted to purchase Alms for Jihad had to go to MobiPocket, to download their reader program. After installing the MobiPocket Reader, you could find your product ID and use it as a code at Franklin to activate the download for your book.

Problem was, MobiPocket was down for over a week; I only was able to access it yesterday for the download and install.

So, I just tried to get my copy of Alms for Jihad... But Franklin's download page erred out. Unfortunately, calling the customer service line only gave me the bad news that Franklin.com, too, has pulled the book.

Welcome to Islamofascist censorship, folks.

And BRAVO to all those brave bookstores and librarians and publishers who stood up for what was right and refused to allow it!

.... Oh. Right...

Technorati Tags: Alms for Jihad, Franklin.com, Mobipocket, Khalid bin Mafouz, censorship

Now this is interesting...

Getting back into the swing of things after a weekend can be a bit... busy. Especially when the Monday is the first day of school... Ah, well, that's been weathered and the Munchkin is already diligently doing her math (!!! Geeze, where the heck did this kid come from, and what did she do with my daughter? LOL).

So now that I've got time to actually READ my RSS feeds, I'm noticing that three of my blog brothers have kept on top of Joey-the-Jerk Stanley's associations.

Now I'm sure you remember the list of Joe's clients, right?

• Roscoe Reynolds, State Senator, Virginia's 20th district
• Chap Peterson, State Senator, Virginia's 34th district
• Al Weed for Congress
• Creigh Deeds for Attorney General
• Eric Ferguson for Delegate 2005
• James Webb for US Senate
• Ferguson for Delegate 2007
• Public Policy Virginia
• Change America Now
• Elmendorf Strategies, LLC
• Democratic Judicial Campaign Committee
• (Oh, here's a new one to me) Adam Tomer, candidate for the House of Delegates

Well, Kilo, Ward, and Scott have noticed another important position that Joey holds: Chairman of the Franklin County Democrats (go to Scott's post, and click on his picture to embiggen).

Now, am I correct in thinking that this is a bit of egg on the face of the Democratic Party of Virginia? To have one of their state party officials involved with this sordid affair must be rather embarrassing. I'm sure that virtuous Democrats of integrity and honor would immediately rise up in protest against Joe Stanley's actions and strip him of his chairmanship?

*crickets*

No, I don't hear any DPV officials condemning this action, either.

Like Roscoe Reynolds, Adam Tomer may want to hide his connection to Joey-the-Jerk, but I do notice that Joe's Yellow Dog Strategy link is there, though "hidden."

I am therefore still asking the question: Do Joe Stanley's clients and associates approve or disapprove of his actions in maliciously trying to smear the ODBA using a connection to pedophilia? Does the Democratic Party of Virginia condone Joe Stanley's actions? Will Democratic Party Chair Dickie Cranwell step forward and require Joe Stanley's resignation as Franklin County Chair?

Several days ago both Ward and James Atticus Bowden asked whether there were any Democrats who would step forward. James said:

All Democrat bloggers need to come forth now - condemn this action and disassociate yourself from Joe Stanley.

There have been a few. I thank God for the few!

But Ben Tribbett? *crickets*

Raising Kaine? *crickets*

When the Democratic Party of Virginia, the "big" Virginia Democratic blogs, and Joe Stanley's clients all make no effort to denounce his actions, all I can wonder is: are they really giving their tacit approval?

Technorati Tags: Joe Stanley, Yellow Dog Strategy, Roscoe Reynolds, Adam Tomer, Creigh Deeds, Eric Ferguson, Ben Tribbett, Democratic Party of Virginia, ethics

Living with an eternal perspective

This is for a dear friend who is currently very discouraged. And, most likely, also for me, considering the recent turmoil I've been dealing with.

God uses the craziest things to get my attention! And, of course, He often teaches me things when I'm driving in the car. Well, this morning being the first day of school, I had my radio tuned to WRVL, which is Liberty University's station, and Nancy Lee DeMoss' program, "Revive Our Hearts" came on. I haven't heard Nancy Lee all summer, because - of course - I wasn't in the car coming back from dropping my daughter off at school!

The verse which really caught my ear was 2 Corinthians 4:17 -

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory

I'm wondering. How many people out there are dealing with chronic illness? Marital strife? Rebellious and unruly children? Financial difficulties?  Unjust condemnation? Consequences for poor choices? Death of loved ones? Persecution?

Nancy Lee made the point that, when put up against the eternity which awaits us, the eighty or so years of life that we live is really a very short time. When we step back and look at where we are now, and what is to come, we are better able to call our trouble a "light affliction."

For example, Nancy Lee mentioned Joni Eereckson Tada. Joni grew up as a very active and outgoing young woman, until a terrible accident paralyzed her from the neck down. She has now been in a wheelchair for forty years, and is dependant upon others for the simplest things other people take for granted. Yet Joni is filled with joy and confidence, placing her faith in the Rock of her salvation, while the ocean of tribulation rages around her.

What did Paul write to the Corinthians before he mentions his "light afflictions"?

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.  We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So then death is working in us, but life in you. 

And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,”we also believe and therefore speak,  knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you.  For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Paul sets his mind, his confidence, on the risen Lord. All the afflictions he went through, Christ had already suffered. The physical death we fear has already been endured by Christ, and He utterly conquered it. His Resurrection is the seal of God's approval on His sacrifice, and proof of His power to fulfill His promises.

Therefore, I close with the words of James:

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.  But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

And the words of Peter:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

And may the God of mercy and grace dwell richly within you, renewing your heart and strength. May His peace, which surpasses all understanding, lift you up and place you on the solid Rock.

Courting the Muslim Vote

From this August 24, 2007 article in the Washington Post:

More than 50 candidates in this fall's elections are expected to appear in Reston tomorrow [August 25] at a political picnic organized by a group of Northern Virginia mosques, and organizers say the heavy turnout underscores the growing influence of Muslim voters in local politics.

The event, the group's seventh annual "family and civic picnic," has a dual purpose, organizers say. Through a voter registration drive, they hope to persuade more Muslims to become involved in local elections. In addition, they hope to show the candidates that "we're here, we care, and we do vote," said Shirin Elkoshairi, a spokesman for the Sterling-based All Dulles Area Muslim Society, which has more than 5,000 members.

"[The turnout] definitely shows that candidates feel that Muslims are voting and are a force at the polls," Elkoshairi said.

So far, nothing remarkable in the article.

What happens when...?

What happens when you combine Pokemon cards, a shopping excursion, an eBay auction, and a mom of six with a wonderful sense of humor?

This!

I'm selling a bunch of Pokemon cards.  Why?  Because my kids sneaked them into my shopping cart while at the grocery store and I ended up buying them because I didn't notice they were there until we got home.  How could I have possibly not noticed they were in my cart, you ask?  Let me explain.

And after you read and enjoy, make sure to check out her blog, BECAUSE I SAID SO... Which is now in my RSS reader!

(Thanks to my buddy, Sonnabend, who pointed this out to me)

You know it's a slow weekend when...

The Wall Street Journal Online is talking about lolcats! And when TechCrunch is asking if the Internet is dead and boring...

Technorati Tags: lolcats, internet

Buy the latest issue of Fine Cooking!

Because the recipe for the Rosemary Chicken Thighs with Sweet & Sour Orange Dipping Sauce (not too sure how long that link will last; it's to a "preview" of this month's issue) is worth it!

It's a very simple recipe and perfect for these last, hot days of summer. I grilled these lovelies up last night, and the Beloved Husband and the Darling Munchkin loved 'em.

Taunton's Fine Cooking Magazine often has good recipes that are flavorful but simple. I like the crisp layout of the magazine, too. So, for my fellow cooking-enthusiasts out there, go pick up the August/September 2007 issue!

(And, no, this isn't a "paid" ad - I really did like the recipe that much! If I remember, I'll come back and link to the recipe if it goes "live" on the Taunton website.)

Technorati Tags: Fine Cooking Magazine, chicken thighs, rosemary, orange, grilling

Whither Roscoe Reynolds?

Due in part to his own intemperance and condescension, but also due to his association with an unethical and immoral political strategist (hello, Joe Stanley - did you think I'd forgotten you?!), it seems that Roscoe Reynolds, whose website has developed by Yellow Dog Strategy, has decided to distance himself from Joe Stanley and YDS...

Of course, it's a rather inept attempt...!

Roscoe's website used to proudly claim at the bottom of his site that is was designed by Joe Stanley of Yellow Dog Strategy... But suddenly that claim and image are no longer there!

Heh. Roscoe-honey, you've GOT to get better webmasters, 'cause even though the text was gone, Kilo found the link was still there (for a full image, go on over to Kilo's!):

So, is Roscoe - or Joey? - trying to hide the association?

And if they don't want people to KNOW that they're connected... Why?

Roscoe Reynolds needs to publicly denounce Joey's tactics of smearing private, VOTING citizens to advance political agendas.

After all, I assume that Roscoe Reynolds doesn't want to be connected with N@MBLA... Right?

Technorati Tags: Joe Stanley, Yellow Dog Strategy, Roscoe Reynolds, Unethical

And here we go....

This morning, the Old Dominion Blog Alliance issued this press release: 

Live By “Macaca,” Die By “NAMBLA”

Top Virginia Democratic Strategist Linked To Pedophile Web Site

Richmond, Virginia. (August 25, 2007) – The Old Dominion Blog Alliance (“ODBA”), an organization of approximately 25 conservative Virginia bloggers founded on December 9, 2005, discovered on August 21 that someone registered the domain name of “olddominionblogalliance.com” on August 16 via GoDaddy.com’s Domains by Proxy service in order to conceal their identity. The domain was then set to forward to the web site for the North American Man-Boy Love Association ("NAMBLA"), an organization that promotes illegal activity between adults and children, including pedophilia.

Following this disclosure, the parties behind it were subsequently discovered to be Joe Stanley of Yellow Dog Strategy, a Democratic consultant who manufactured last year’s “macaca” gaffe by U.S. Sen. George Allen into an ex post facto racial slur, and produced the controversial anti-Harris Miller mailing, and Ben Tribbett who runs the Northern Virginian blog “Not Larry Sabato.”

Evidence in hand and a confession by Mr. Stanley show that he was the one who purchased the domain name and then set it to forward to the NAMBLA web site. Mr. Tribbett, who is close to Mr. Stanley, proceeded to peddle the story to another blog and then feigned outrage at this action apparently in order to further raise the story’s visibility while maintaining deniability over it.  Mr. Stanley undertook this action just two days after members of the ODBA began a concerted effort against state Sen. Roscoe Reynolds (D-20^th Dist.), a candidate for whom Mr. Stanley has done work and who is locked in a tight reelection battle with Republican Jeff Evans.  Sen. Reynolds advertises on “Not Larry Sabato.”

“Child sexual abuse is not a joke and certainly not a political tactic to be used in order to silence your political enemies,” said Kathryn Wilton of the blog CatHouse Chat, a member of the ODBA, the wife of a Navy veteran and mother.  “Pedophilia is a morally repugnant behavior and how Mr. Stanley or Mr. Tribbett could think this is humorous or fair game politically is beyond my comprehension.”

“Senator Reynolds needs to go on the record whether or not he agrees with these abhorrent tactics used on his behalf,” added Greg Letiecq of Black Velvet Bruce Li, one of the most widely read blogs in Virginia.  “Joe Stanley did this to benefit him.  Reynolds must either expressly condone or renounce these tactics used for his gain.”

Members of the ODBA are currently considering whether to bring any civil legal claims stemming from this defamatory act perpetrated upon them.  Should a case be brought and damages awarded, any proceeds will be donated to organizations that fight child abuse.

-- 30 --

And again, I ask what Joe-the-Jerk's clients -

• Roscoe Reynolds, State Senator, Virginia's 20th district
• Chap Peterson, State Senator, Virginia's 34th district
• Al Weed for Congress
• Creigh Deeds for Attorney General
• Eric Ferguson for Delegate 2005
• James Webb for US Senate
• Ferguson for Delegate 2007
• Public Policy Virginia
• Change America Now
• Elmendorf Strategies, LLC
• Democratic Judicial Campaign Committee

think of this despicable behavior. Do they want to be associated with someone who stoops to these unethical and foul tactics? Will Roscoe Reynolds, Chap Peterson, Creigh Deeds, and Eric Ferguson in particular come forward to denounce Joe Stanley and sever their professional ties?

I can understand going after a political opponent fairly ruthlessly, although I would not condone this type of base strategy. The ODBA, however, is mainly made up of private citizens who are active with the grassroots. Is it now acceptable to vilify private citizens to achieve political goals? Have our politicians drifted so far away from the people they are supposed to represent that they are willing to do whatever it takes to squelch political debate and discussion?

I think Roscoe has - don't forget his reaction to one of his constituents in a recent interview:

Roscoe, that body language might be okay during a radio interview, but that TV camera is picking up ever disdainful slouch and sneer. You're an elected official, you're supposed to be a servant of the people, even if they didn't vote for you - and even when they disagree with you.

You know, Roscoe's association with Joe Stanley could certainly explain a lot of his attitude - after all, "birds of a feather flock together," and "bad company corrupts good character."

So, Roscoe - are you going to step up to the plate and denounce the defamation-loving dastard?

Technorati Tags: Joe Stanley, Ben Tribbett, Yellow Dog Strategy, Roscoe Reynolds, Chap Peterson, Creigh Deeds, Eric Ferguson, unethical

Benny steps in it - AGAIN

Well, Ben Tribbett, of "Not Larry Sabato," climbed up on his high horse and roundly condemned the ODBA for "racist and jew-baiting" remarks last year (and, as Ward says, "Get your own link"). And then, he accuses United Conservatives blogger Flora McDonald of making racist remarks about Mrs. Obama:

See here where an ODBA (Old Dominion Blog Alliance) Blogger calls Michelle Obama a "Kenya Doll"

(UPDATE: In the comments at the UC post Benny links, DaveM lets us have a little more background about the "Kenya Doll" -

Five years ago [16 years ago - the article was written in 1996 - ed.], Tyco Toys launched its Kenya doll line. Today, Kenya stands as an example of African-American beauty for many young girls. The toy company says its newest Kenya doll, Hairplay Fun Kenya, is the ultimate African-American hairstyling doll. This soft, vinyl beauty comes with colorful beads, rubber bands, a special styling guide and magical hair lotion. Tyco also introduces Bedtime Kenya, a cuddly soft doll dressed in a comfy nightgown. Bedtime Kenya comes with a special book of poems and illustrations. After a tuck-in and a little bedtime reading, Kenya, who has eyes that open and close, and her bedtime pal are sure to get a good nights sleep.

So, maybe it's not as pejorative as Benny's insisting... /UPDATE)

Problem is, it wasn't Flora who posted that, but one of her co-bloggers, F22Strike. And, oh my gosh! He's also an african-american!!! You know, Benny, a simple flick of your eye would have saved you this bumble.

But Benny uses this as an excuse to refrain from condemning Joe-the-Jerk Stanley's attempt to smear the ODBA by associating us with N@MBL@ (see here, here, and here).

Goodness, I'd love to see the mental contortions he goes through to arrive at these rationalizations. I guess that's how he gets most of his exercise.

So, I left a comment:

Ben, if you want to climb up on your high horse, there's plenty of room to get indignant about both issues. Just because you prefer one wrongful action to another is no reason not to condemn the one YOU helped with.

Oh, and BTW, the ODBA has provided links and evidence for Joe Stanley's despicable action - and there is strong implication that YOU aided and abetted.

How about posting some links and evidence of ODBA's alleged racist and jew-baiting posts from last year? Just, you know, so we all know you're not talking out of your rear end.

And anon1:33pm, have you met F22Strike? I have. He's no "self hating african-american male." He is an intelligent, confident, and poised man who tells it like it is. It's too bad that you let his race color your perception of his opinion. Pot, meet kettle?

Why is it that when someone from inside the "oppressed minority" points out some truth that goes against the "oppressed" stereotype, he or she is immediately labeled "self hating" or a "traitor"? That sort of response only takes attention off the proper issue... Oh, wait! That's right, y'all can't argue the issue, so you set up straw men.

And Ben, if F22Strike were a racist, he would have claimed that Mrs. Obama was superior to Sen. Clinton, because african-americans are superior to caucasians. Let's do, please, get our terms correct. After, of course, making sure that you're accusing the right person.

Of course, I find it quite ironic that when Benny posted the link back to Whackette's post about Joe Stanley's redirect of the domain, he commented "Yuck." He also said "I'm outraged, and this needs to stop right away."

Guess he means that he's only outraged when he thinks he and his bosom-buddy won't get caught resorting to such underhanded and unethical tactics...

Oh, and I'm still wondering what

• Roscoe Reynolds, State Senator, Virginia's 20th district
• Chap Peterson, State Senator, Virginia's 34th district
• Al Weed for Congress
• Creigh Deeds for Attorney General
• Eric Ferguson for Delegate 2005
• James Webb for US Senate
• Ferguson for Delegate 2007
• Public Policy Virginia
• Change America Now
• Elmendorf Strategies, LLC
• Democratic Judicial Campaign Committee

all think of the tactics their little attack dogs are using. Are any of them willing to step forward and denounce these actions?

I doubt it.

Technorati Tags: Joe Stanley, Ben Tribbitt, Roscoe Reynolds, Chap Peterson, Al Weed, Jim Webb, Creigh Deeds, Eric Ferguson, Yellow Dog Strategy

CAIR: Free speech for me, but not for thee

A couple of articles a friend sent caught my attention this morning, so I thought I'd toss up a few links which display just how "fair" and "tolerant" CAIR is when it comes to our First Amendment rights:

A televangelist loses his show:

The controversial late-night Christian talk show host, known for his biting criticism of religious, political and pop culture figures, is going off the air. Keller, 49, says he ran afoul of the Tampa Chapter of the Council of American Islamic Relations. The group calls Live Prayer with Bill Keller a hate-filled broadcast that damages Muslims and Islam.

Earlier this month, CAIR asked CBS executives to remove Keller's nightly talk show from WTOG-TV Ch. 44, a CBS-owned station that airs the CW network locally. The group was upset about a spate of recent broadcasts by Keller that disparaged Islam and the prophet Mohammad.

Via my blog-sister, Wild Thing, CAIR Thugs on Islamophobia Patrol:

Three officials of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) in Ohio admit to going unannounced to a man’s home to confront him over a bumper sticker on his car – a testament, they claim, of their tolerance and moderation. The incident occurred last year, but the CAIR trio involved – Ahmad Al-Akhras, CAIR national vice chairman, Asma Mobin-Uddin, CAIR-Ohio president, and Abukar Arman, CAIR-OH board member – have recently recounted this incident to the local establishment media as an example of how they “invite dialogue”.

Others, however, believe the incident is additional proof that CAIR regularly resorts to threats, intimidation and demonization to silence its critics. Earlier this month, attorneys for CAIR sent a letter threatening legal action against the Young Americans Foundation if they allowed NY Times bestselling author and JihadWatch director, Robert Spencer, to speak at their conference on “The Truth of the Council on American-Islamic Relations”. This thuggery is reminiscent of CAIR’s 2004 lawsuit against independent journalist Andrew Whitehead of Anti-CAIR, a suit which was dropped by CAIR in order to avoid responding to required interrogatories about its historic ties to HAMAS and role in terror financing.

FrontPage Magazine reminds us of the Academic Prohibition:

In today's America, you can burn our flag but you can not mistreat the Koran. Burning the flag is freedom of expression, a form of allowable speech our courts tell us, but mistreating the Koran is a criminal felony punishable under hate-crime legislation. If you are a Moslem you can, together with your brothers, wave posters at public protests on college campuses calling for "Killing the Jews", "Destroy Israel" and declare "Jews are Sons of Apes". This our college administrators tell us is "free speech". However, you have no right, even in private, to demean a book if it is the Koran. If you do, you go to jail. This is a form of expression unallowable -- perhaps America's only remaining prohibition.

There are a lot of articles out there - you can start by simply using Google News to search for CAIR hate speech, for instance - but the more you read, the more you see that CAIR wants their "rules" to apply to everyone BUT muslims.

Gotta love bathing in hypocrisy.

Technorati Tags: CAIR, free speech

I can't believe I only hit 55%!

You Are 55% Bitchy

Generally, you're an average woman, with average moods. But sometimes... well, watch out! Sometimes, you let your mean side get the better of you. And you enjoy every minute of it.

How Bitchy Are You?

But then, I guess sometimes I just have to let the inner *itch come out.

Thus, so, therefore and because... Hey, Joe-the-Jerk, you wankering little whoreson ... (UPDATE - it has been brought to my attention that Joey's Mom is dead and certainly does not deserve this slur on her character, and therefore I retract and apologize for this insult) ... Joey you jerk-off little jackass (and now we return to our former rant) :

(Thanks to my ODBA blog-brothers for the image...)

So... *IS* Joe Stanley of Yellow Dog Strategy advising Roscoe Reynolds, State Senator for Virginia's 20th district, to use debased and foul tactics like smearing private citizens and local voters? Does Roscoe Reynolds approve of Joe Stanley's efforts to link the Old Dominion Blog Alliance with N@MBL@?

Do Joe Stanley's other clients:

• Al Weed for Congress
• Creigh Deeds for Attorney General
• Eric Ferguson for Delegate 2005
• James Webb for US Senate
• Ferguson for Delegate 2007
• Public Policy Virginia
• Change America Now
• Elmendorf Strategies, LLC
• Democratic Judicial Campaign Committee

enjoy being associated with a man who will attempt to vilify Virginia citizens and voters by linking them with pedophilia?

Oh, don't ask me... *I'm* just speculating. I'm just asking questions. I'm not making completely unfounded links as a "joke" or to display my disgust with the "other side's" tactics. Oh, no.

And I think that BlogThings poll may have been just a little too... lenient... for the way I'm feeling right now.

And, by the way... Joe Stanley is STILL a  jerk-off little jackass  wankering little whoreson ... (UPDATE - it has been brought to my attention that Joey's Mom is dead and certainly does not deserve this slur on her character, and therefore I retract and apologize for this insult) ...

See, honey? I can play, too.

Cretin.

Technorati Tags: Joe Stanley, jerk-off little jackass, Roscoe Reynolds, Al Weed, Creigh Deeds, Eric Ferguson, James Webb, liar, unethical, cretin

Joe Stanley "I did it 'cause you deserve it."

Sir, you are no gentleman. You need to really sit down and think about readjusting your moral compass before your own actions bring you to complete ruin.

Riley over at Virginia Virtucon posts Joe-the-Jerk's pseudo defense. Note this paragraph:

If you will recall, I told you then that you should make note of the date and time you said that to me. I am more than prepared for any fight the ODBA wants to have. Fortunately, our conversation turned a corner and before our call ended, I had redirected the domain to google.com.

Interesting. Riley's post about the call was dated the 21st of August. So, if you fixed the redirect "before [your] call ended," why was the redirect there for pretty much all of yesterday, hmmm?

Liar. And not just a liar, but a stupid liar.

Ward has a list of your political clients - do any of them really want to associate themselves with a proven liar, a lowlife, and a petulant little prick like you (sorry, Mom)?

You idiot, you don't even have enough character in your corpulent sack of skin to even give a proper admission of guilt! Yeah, yeah, you've got profound ideological and procedural disagreements with some members of the ODBA. But, instead of targeting them in an open and honorable fight, matching policies and candidates against each other, you decide to smear all of us without regard.

I'm a proud wife and mother. I am a Christian. I, personally, have done my best to post as honestly as I know how, and refrain as much as I can from personal attacks. I have been a voice of quiet and moderation in the background many of the political tussles in which the ODBA has been involved.

And YOU...! You associated MY NAME with the smut and cesspool that is that abominable group, simply because you had nothing to bring to the table by way of intelligent ideas and honorable candidates.

Well, you wankering little whoreson ... (UPDATE - it has been brought to my attention that Joey's Mom is dead and certainly does not deserve this slur on her character, and therefore I retract and apologize for this insult) ... Joey you jerk-off little jackass (and now we return to our former rant) my vocabulary has pretty much reached its limit for what I'm willing to post here. But don't you ever bloody well show your scabrous face in my presence you little maggot, because I will take great delight in spitting in your lying eyes.

As Riley says:

Not good enough, Joe. Your “specific reasons” for forwarding the ODBA domain name to NAMBLA don’t matter. It was done with malice. You and Ben Tribbett obviously thought this was funny in some sort of juvenile way. Child sex abuse is NEVER funny.  Neither is defamation.

"Not good enough." Indeed, it isn't.

Rot in Hell, you cretin.

Technorati Tags: Joe Stanley, Yellow Dog, Roscoe Reynolds, liar, Yellow Dog Strategy

Joe Stanley - j'accuse!

Of all the vile, base, sick and PERVERTED political tactics, this one has got to take the cake.

The Daily Whackjob has been a courageous supporter of the ODBA's investigation into the perpetrator of the disgusting "prank" played on us recently. As you may recall from my last post, someone purchased OldDominionBlog Alliance -dot- com domain from GoDaddy on 16 August - last week. They then set it up to redirect to a site which promotes pedophilia, the M@n-B0y Love Association (misspellings deliberate). (UPDATE - thankfully, it now redirects to Google)

Whackjob, when I contacted him via e-mail, was very helpful and offered many suggestions as to how we could discover the owner of the domain, and persevered even through insinuations by some members of the ODBA that the DWJ was involved. Last night - LATE last night - Whackjob discovered the culprit.

Joe Stanley, of Yellow Dog Strategy... or at least someone who works for him.

Joe Stanley is well known in Virginia as a political consultant - and one who has used mudslinging tactics in the past. He has now not only been caught in this fiasco, but he's been caught in a blatant LIE to one of our group members:

I just had a very interesting conversation with Joe Stanley.  He has stated that to date, the only thing he has done for Roscoe “Foot In Mouth” Reynolds is put up a website for him earlier this year at no charge.

Oh, really? Well, then, why would he or his consulting company resort to this juvenile attempt to smear the ODBA's character? Many of our members have been hitting on his buddy, Roscoe Reynolds, pretty hard recently - is Mr. Stanley so desperate, does he have such a bad candidate (d'uh! Remember these videos?)

Greg Letieq, over at Black Velvet Bruce Li, jumped on this almost as soon as Whackjob let us know about it, and says:

Hey Roscoe, are you really this despicable?  Or do you just have such terrificly bad judgment regarding the people you hire that you think hiring folks who smear your constituents as child molesters is a good idea?  Take a hint, and just resign, you knucklehead.

I'll second that.

And I join GregL in offering my thanks and appreciation to my friends over at DWJ for their hard work and investigative talent.

UPDATE: BTW, I just e-mailed Mr. Stanley this message -

Mr. Stanley, have you seen the investigative work that has been done by the Daily Whackjob?

http://dailywhackjob.com/index.php/2007/08/23/joe-stanley-is-the-nambla-bandit/#comment-30540

I would appreciate a full explanation. I am a member of the ODBA, and consider these tactics to be vile and disgusting. To smear citizens like this, no matter that it was a "joke," is foul and displays an incredible lack of character.

Please be advised that ANY e-mail you send, by the way, will be forwarded to the ODBA, and published at CatHouse Chat.

-- Kat Wilton
www.CatHouseChat.com
Charter Member, Old Dominion Blog Alliance

No, I do NOT approve!

Especially since I've been getting help from the "other side," which has been much appreciated.

To recap:

• Someone purchased the "old dominion blog alliance" -dot- com domain last week on the 16th, and set it up to redirect to a vile site which promotes pedophilia. Ben Tribbet (or is it "Tribbit"? I forget...), of Not Larry Sabato (not linking to him, because you already know I don't think much of his character), tipped Whackette to this, and she posted it over at the Daily Whackjob. Ben then posted his little snippet, with the obligatory-but-flip "I'm shocked! Shocked, I tell you!!" with a hat tip back to Whackette.
• The identity of the domain owner is not on the public record - in other words, we don't know who did this. Yet.
• I e-mailed Whackjob yesterday morning when the ODBA found out about this. I asked him if he knew who was responsible to please tell them to lay off: I would be less upset if the redirect were to an ADULT pr0n site which didn't attempt to take advantage of children. He very kindly e-mailed me back right away with the information in the first point, above, and offered several suggestions as to how I could find out who was responsible for this vile "prank." He was extremely helpful and supportive, and I'm not surprised at his irritation at some of the attacks on the crew at DWJ.
• The ODBA has sent in a letter to GoDaddy/Domains By Proxy, and we are waiting for their reply.

Those are the FACTS as we know them, and Riley and Ward probably have the most neutral write-ups (for which I thank them). Greg at Black Velvet Bruce Li also posted; he had some incorrect information, but immediately updated when I corrected him. Leslie Carbone only posted a gracious biblical reminder... And I think I will add another, to pass on to Kilo:

Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:29-32, NKJV)

I understand his disgust and anger with this situation - I share it! - but I think he's being hasty and unnecessarily combative. I've told him that. I also think he - and others - are going to call me an apologist for "the lying low-down liberals." OK, that's fine: however, just because I try not to use the same tactics, and prefer to remain cordial with people on the "other side," does not make me a patsy.

Whackjob has posted that he thinks the ODBA has a grudge against Ben, and I would concede the point to a certain extent. I would hope, however, that my Virginian blog-siblings would not let that drive them to descend to half-truths and innuendo. Whackette posted this morning, stating categorically that she had nothing to do with setting up the domain. While I don't think she was as wise as she could have been in her original post, I have no reason to believe that her involvement - or that of her husband - goes any further. Perhaps, as Whackjob amended his post to reflect, we will all be far more wary of any "tips" Ben hands out in the future.

I freely confess that I *DO* want to find out that one certain person is behind this, but I'm not going to sacrifice the truth to my petty desire for "revenge." Frankly, it's not worth the huge helping of crow I'd have to eat if I'm wrong. Therefore, I'm going to wait until we get solid information from GoDaddy, to start making accusations and demanding retractions and apologies.

On a side note, I purchased the olddominionblogalliance.net and olddominionblogalliance.org domains yesterday, and pointed them to the ODBA Tumblr aggregator (I would be willing to take over the -dot- com which is currently the center of the issue and point it to Tumblr as well). It was not difficult to do, and as I stated at BVBL, "lacks the technical skills necessary” is a pretty weak defense.

So, we will see what we will see - and remember: the Truth always prevails, even when it takes some time, and even when we don't see it.

Inviting In The Enemy

Our State Department is playing the dhimmi and endangering all of us. Requirements for visas have been relaxed so as to allow Wahhabist-trained imams to come into the United States.

From the August 14-20, 2007 edition of Insight Magazine (subscription required):

Hundreds of Islamic fundamentalist clerics have been allowed to enter the United States to take over mosques in major cities. The clerics come from countries such as Egypt, Jordan and Pakistan and have been influenced by al Qaeda. Many are fresh graduates from Saudi-financed Wahhabi seminaries....

According to the article, hundreds of these imams with radical training are already here and teaching in mosques in our major cities, including locations in New York, New Jersey, Michigan, and the Washington, D.C. area. Several of these imams are graduates of Cairo's Al Azhar University, which has ties to Al Qaeda, and of various seminaries in Pakistan. Furthermore, despite warnings from various law-enforcement officials and the National Intelligence Estimate, our State Department continues to pursue this import-the-imams agenda.

A3 Flyby Rota, Spain, 1989

(UPDATE, 05DEC07) I'm getting a few visits to this post from Virginia Beach - Hi, everyone, glad you're here! Would you mind e-mailing me [e-mail address over in the right column under "my" picture], to tell me how you found me?... I would really like to know!!

This comes from a video tape that's almost 20 years old, so please be forgiving of the video and sound quality. It was edited on an Amiga 2000 (now THAT's OLD!).

VQ-2, which is based in Rota, Spain, flew two different planes: the EA3B, a jet, and the EP-3, a four engine turboprop - and this made for  a somewhat schizophrenic squadron at times, LOL. Nevertheless, the late 80's were a wonderful time to be stationed at VQ-2.

At the time of filming, the A3's were on their way to retirement, and so this seven plane flyby is a rather special event. I hope that perhaps some of our old squadron mates stumble across this and enjoy remembering the Good Times we all had.

I also hope that this video serves as a reminder of a grand old warrior that served its country well.

Crossposted to the Wide Awakes

Pottery Barn ROCKS THE WORLD!!!

I cannot believe the absolutely incredible, fantastic, wonderful and cheerful customer service I just got! Pottery Barn's associates have just set the standard for how customer service ought to be done.

Last year in April, I ordered three sets of scrolled curtain rods for the windows in my dining room and living room. The Beloved Husband just finished installing the set in the living room, and we opened the box for the two sets that were going to frame the dining room windows... *GASP!* There was only one set in the box! What were we going to do?!

The Beloved Husband, wise man that he is, urged me to call Pottery Barn - after all, if we didn't ask, then the answer would definitely be "no," right? And so, with great trepidation and more than a little pessimism, I called.

Oh. My. GOSH!

I introduced myself as their "idiot customer for the day," and the associate laughed and asked if I had my order number handy. I did (yay, packing slips!), and she pulled my record up right away.

Oh, dear! Another problem: Pottery Barn no longer stocks these scrolled curtain rods... Hm.

The lady said not to worry, perhaps we could find something similar to use as an alternate, and started searching - and here's what she came up with. They will work beautifully in my dining room! How wonderful: we'll take two sets for the dining room, and return one of the scrolled sets (neither the Beloved Husband nor I were too enthusiastic about taking the living room set down, after all!). The Pottery Barn lady said she'd arrange for UPS to pick up the box on Monday, and that we should get the new rods by next Friday.

Um, but you know, the originals I ordered were $79 per pair, and the new ones are $109 each - how would she like me to handle paying the difference?

"Oh, no - no charge at all! It was our mistake in the first place, so please let us take care of this for you!"

[goggle eyes] [jaw hitting floor] [speechless with awe]

OK, folks, if you don't immediately place Pottery Barn at the front of the list for places to shop household goods, then you are absolutely CRAZY!

God bless Pottery Barn for their superior service, excellent products, and for showing me that there ARE still companies out there who emphasize fantastic customer service!

Technorati Tags: Pottery Barn, customer service

What he said... (note UPDATES and BUMPED)

Thanks, Riley:

...what will surprise you is this comment from Ben:

A lot of the conservative blogs are members of a group called the “Old Dominion Blog Alliance" [ODBA]. I usually just sit back and read the emails from that list with amusement…

Whether these emails are being forwarded to Ben via a mole in the group or one of the little noticed members of the group is actually him, this is perhaps the most unethical thing to have been perpetrated upon the Virginia blogosphere since its inception...

I'm not going to link to Ben - go on over to Virginia Virtucon and get to his blog via Riley's post. I have already been over there and expressed my disgust with Ben's unethical behavior. True to form, his echo chamber focused on a typo in my comment and my rather stilted and formal language instead of on the lack of integrity and honorable character which Ben displayed.

This started because Ben was outraged that members of the ODBA (conservatives, hel-LO!) were discussing strategies of getting a conservative, Jeff Evans, into the Virginia Senate, rather than the current incumbent, Roscoe Reynolds, who has shown a proven disregard and disdain for the concerns of his constituents:

Now, I don't care for character assassination from either side, and if any of my fellow ODBA members were to descend to that level, I would certainly call them on it. However, strategy discussions which I witnessed in NO WAY did that. Politics is a hard-hitting and frequently rough arena for people to play in, and if you can't take the heat, get the bloody hell out of the kitchen!

That's actually one of the reasons *I* haven't posted a lot of in depth political commentary: it's not my deepest passion, therefore it's not something I'm willing to fight about on a regular basis. But the base and underhanded way in which Ben received this information, the way he has twisted and slanted it, is simply beyond the pale.

It was disgusting, vile, base, unethical, dishonest and ignoble. And I would also apply those labels to the alleged ODBA member who may have forwarded that discussion, or given Ben access to our private list. I pray to God that is was a tragic bumble on that person's behalf, but current information suggests malicious intent quite strongly.

I confess that I almost wish we were in Victorian times, so that I might have the pleasure of giving Ben a slap on the face for behaving like a cad.

UPDATE(S): Other ODBA members expressing their scorn of Ben's actions:

• Leslie Carbone, who condemns him in exquisitely elegant words and then gives a lovely round up today
• SWAC Girl who notes that it's awfully quiet among those who like to talk "ethics" so much
• Kilo, who posts the e-mail which Ben twisted so dishonestly
• Jason Kenney posts some FACTS
• Jim Bowden reminds us that eavesdropping is not a virtue
• Scott, of Scott's Morning Brew, says that Ben went on the defensive
• Greg at BVBL isn't concerned - he states in the comments that the Yellow Dog group is pretty much radioactive in Roscoe's district (nevertheless, I'm still concerned about the breach of privacy)
• Over at Good Sense, Charlie asks why opposition research is so dangerous

(MORE UPDATES) MORE Virginians chime in:

• Ward Smythe (who's really ODBA anyway, IMO - thank goodness!) pokes at Ben's "I love me!" fest, and offers to hold him down for my slap.
• Now At The Podium says that Ben's got some explaining to do - um, d'uh?
• Virginia Oddsmaker has an amusing snark

Oh, and word comes to me that the mud is being tossed on me in Ben's comment section (oh, boo-hoo-hoo!). I haven't been over there since my second comment, so I really couldn't say. However, you note that none of the supporters of unethical behavior have come over here. I haven't gotten ONE hit from Ben's place (gosh darn!) from people looking to either see what the fuss is about OR to find out who I am and what my personal style is. I just love it when people make assumptions without doing even the most basic research...!

 

Technorati Tags: ethics, Roscoe Reynolds, Jeff Evans, Virginia Senate, Virginia elections

Music for a Saturday morning

The other day, I was listening to Radio CIA, and was re-introduced to a wonderful country/bluegrass/gospel artist, Ricky Skaggs. This morning while I was searching on Google for some video of Ricky, I came across a duet he did with one of my FAVORITE Christian artists, Carman (no, that's not a typo).

Ladies and gentlemen, "Step of Faith:"

I have three, maybe four, VHS tapes of Carman's videos that I need to transfer to my computer (now that the Beloved Husband has set the equipment up and I know how to use it). It will be wonderful to enjoy his wonderful music wherever I have my laptop!

Technorati Tags: Carman, Ricky Skaggs

On proper conflict resolution:

This is in response to what I believe (and if I'm wrong, I'll gladly apologize) is a deceitful and sarcastic request for prayer, published as a comment on another post. I've unpublished that comment, but have saved it in case my assumptions are wrong.

Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector. (Matthew 18:15-17, NKJV)

If you don't know what's up, don't worry about it and just ignore this post. Frankly, I can only think of perhaps two people who shouldn't ignore this post - and I doubt they'd understand it anyway.

Notice the progression:

• a sin is committed
• a personal and private request for repentance and resolution is made
• a second request is made, with one or two other witnesses
• an extended FAMILY request is made
• before, finally, allowing the unrepentant person to reap the consequences of his/her actions

Avenues of private resolution were well known - and unused. Also, the "offense" became known in such a base and underhanded way that I doubt it would be admissible in a court of law (were it that sort of situation, which it isn't).

So if this commenter is referring to the situation *I'm* thinking about, I have very little sympathy - which may not be entirely Christ-like, but Christians are not only called to be as "innocent as doves," but also "wise as serpents."

Prayers URGENTLY requested!

Ladies and gentlemen, I have a friend who is going through a terribly difficult time right now, and really needs your prayers. I cannot tell you more about the situation due to privacy issues, but God knows who this person is, and the prayers you lift up to the Throne on my friend's behalf will be much appreciated!

Father in Heaven, You know my friend inside and out. You know the trial that has come into my friend's life. You, Father, are Lord of all the Universe and there is nothing too difficult for You. You know everything, You know the hearts and minds of everyone.

I ask on behalf of my friend that You would smooth the way and make plain Your truth. I ask that You would guide this affair in a way that will honor You and glorify Your name. May minds be cleared of falsehood, and may hearts turn to You in repentance. May all wrongful actions be brought to light, and may Your perfect justice triumph.

I pray for each and every person involved in this situation, in each walk of life and profession. I pray that You would lead them to do Your good and loving will, that they would act in integrity and honesty. I pray that each person would work actively to right the wrongs and promote truth and safety.

Give my friend Your strength, and give the support group Your wisdom. Let us gather around our friend to offer encouragement and love. Help us to be Your visible angels, just as You have set Your holy angels around our friend.

Father, I am asking for one of Your "everyday miracles," and beg You to please protect and guide my friend. I pray that You would help my friend trust you and rest in You. I pray my friend will have confidence in You and that my friend will have an inner assurance that Your perfect will will be done and that You will bring the evil to naught.

In Your Son's precious Name, and for Your honor and glory, I ask this. Amen.

I'm so proud of myself!

I have now officially jump-started my first car! My mother-in-law was borrowing our little sedan to go to a doctor's appointment, and she couldn't start it up afterwards. So, she called me, and I ran over and actually jump-started it myself!

Now, y'all need to know that I do not like electricity! At least, I don't like anything more serious than resetting the switch in the fuse box, anyway - plug in electricity is just fine!  Usually, the Best Beloved Husband is home, so he deals with my squeamishness about getting shocked. But, I had the jumper cables in my car, and I really had NO excuse whatsoever. Thus, I took a deep breath, asked for God's help and protection, and... everything went perfectly! Not even a little wussy spark to make me jump.

Yeah, yeah, I know, it's a little thing, but out of such small triumphs comes a confident life, LOL.

Technorati Tags: jump start, jump cables, cars

I'm just gonna DIE laughing now. Die, die, DIE!!!

(h/t to IMAO, via the Puppy Blender)

Oh, I haven't laughed so hard in a LONG time!

Technorati Tags: George Bush, zombies

Watch this group!

Just heard on Radio CIA (... You're not listening?! Why not?!!!) Whiskey Falls' song, "Last Train Running:"

At the end of my life when I take that journey all alone
And I’m on my own and there’s no one there to save me
Oh when I look back at all the things that I’ve done wrong
You know I wasn’t always strong lord will you take me

Cause I been down as far as a man can go
I wanna be ready when I hear that whistle blow

CHORUS:
And I’m on the last train running and the devil’s coming
Hoping that my good outweighs the bad
And I’m heading for the station the final destination
Praying for the lord to take my hand
And I’m on the last train running

When I close my eyes and I’m holding on to my last breath
I don’t want my regrets to coming back to haunt me
When it’s far too late to ask forgiveness for my sins
I hope my enemies and friends can both forgive me

Will there be tears for me when I go
Or will I be just another name carved in a stone

CHORUS:
When I’m on the last train running and the devil’s coming
Doing all he can to take my soul
And I’m heading for the station the final destination
Praying for the lord to take me home
And I’m on the last train running
I’m on the last train running

You only get one shot
One chance against the clock and
You only get one life
One chance to make it right

When I’m on the last train running and the devil’s coming
Doing all he can to take my soul or lord won’t you come and take me home
On the last train running
When I’m on the last
On the last train
When I’m on the last train running

Now THAT'S Country Gospel!

OMG! This looks just like my Smudgie!

But it's not... Nevertheless, ICANHASCHEEZBURGER comes through with another LOLcat that makes me smile:

Technorati Tags: lolcats

The consequences of going wild...

Raven, my beloved and valiant blog-sister, has an excellent post up about the "Girls gone wild" phenomenon that everyone ought to read:

Is it pressure? Or free choice? I have three daughters of the age where it’s popular to do these things and they tell me of the pressure to “act out” (as they call it) and perform (again, their term) and do these things. When girls don’t become involved with this stuff, they are often ostracized and avoided. The party girls are popular, not the level headed, street smart girls who have some self respect. I think it is pressure that leads girls to make these poor choices.

And Raven has been-there, done-that; she knows whereof she speaks.

Moms and Dads, please give your daughters - and sons! - the firm foundation of love and discipline so that they will have the strength to refuse evil and choose the good. Train them up to treat themselves with respect and dignity, and to do the same to others. Each of us is created in the very image of God Himself, and for any of us to wallow and delight in such debauchery and hedonism is unspeakably disgusting. It cheapens and demeans us, and makes us no better than animals.

We are better than that.

Or, we should be.

Technorati Tags: girls gone wild, promiscuity, sex, sexualization

A voice from the past

I cannot imagine how I missed this one - but since it's only been on YouTube for a month, I guess I can forgive myself. It's very, VERY well done:

I wish - oh, how I wish! - that America would rediscover her intestinal fortitude. If we had gone into this war with the same resolve and steely-eyed determination that we entered World War II, the insurgents would have been history by now.

All this PC crap just maddens me! America is the world's whipping boy, even after all the generous and open hearted things we've done to help others, rebuild countries, and assist in relieving disasters. We are always the first ones there, and the most willing to help. And what do we get for it? We're called "stingy," "the Great White Satan," and all sorts of pejorative things.

Well, if we would only strike hard and decisively when our country is attacked, if we would only follow through and exact justifiable retribution to the bitter end, then perhaps the world would stop whining about us and instead treat us with respect and a healthy tinge of nervousness. And I wouldn't mind if terrorists of all stripes had to give fifth or sixth thoughts to butchering our citizens, either.

Ah, I wish we had more Patton-esque personalities organizing and planning our strategies today!

Oh, it's been a while!

I just "stumbled" across VH-1 Classics while looking for something on TV, and they're playing Rod Stewart's "Infatuation"!

I loved that video!

Dang, and just yesterday I heard T'Pau's "Heart and Soul" on XMRadio... I think I might need to immerse myself in the 80's again !

Somehow I can't get myself to care one way or the other

Karl Rove is resigning.

Yeah, the whole blogosphere is going to be yammering about this, so here's my obligatory post about it.

*sigh*

Technorati Tags: Karl Rove, resign, White House

Changing my mind

Joe Carter, over at the Evangelical Outpost, has a guaranteed way to change your mind. As he says, it's very, very simple - and most people will dismiss it. I can tell you, however, that it lives up to its promise - and I can vouch for that because even though I'm following the advice imperfectly, it's working for me!

For the one or two people who will find this useful, the four steps that will transform your worldview are:

1. Choose a book of the Bible.
2. Read it in its entirety.
3. Repeat #2 twenty times.
4. Repeat this process for all 66 books of the Bible.

Christians often talk about having a Biblical worldview yet most have only a rudimentary knowledge of the Bible. They attempt to build a framework without first gathering the lumber and cement needed to create a solid foundation. The benefits of following this process should therefore be obvious. By fully immersing yourself into the text you’ll come to truly know the text. You’ll deepen your knowledge of the Bible as a whole and be able to put each book into context.

See how simple it is? Still, my discipline is imperfect, although I'm working on it. As a matter of fact, I need to go read today's selections out of the MacArthur Daily Bible (Job 13 and 14, Psalm 94:12-19, Proverbs 22:26-27, and Romans 11). Hm, just skimming before I actually read it, this is what caught my eye:

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.

And, of course, I adore the book of Romans, so it is always edifying to read what God has to say via Paul...

Anyway, read the whole thing, including the comments. As a matter of fact, one of the commenters makes this very interesting point:

[Atheists] often talk about the inconsistencies and errors in the Bible, but we mostly have a rudimentary knowledge of it. I'm sure your method will help me be a better skeptic! Thanks!

So, you see? Everyone can get something out of reading the Bible regularly!

Oh! I also, via the comments, stumbles on to another fascinating-looking blog, Wonders for Oyarsa, which is going right into my RSS feeds!

Technorati Tags: transformation, change, Bible study, Bible

Quilting up a storm

Yep, I've been bit by the quilting bug again! I've been happily ignoring this blog in favor of whipping out some - if I may say so - beautiful work!

First, I've been doing a lot of hand piecing. Now, I've actually been working on this "charm" quilt (each one of the pieces is supposed to be a different fabric, but I'm cheating a little) off and on since last Thanksgiving, but in the past week and a half, I've made quite a bit of progress.

Good morning, glory!

Right outside my kitchen door

Teh bi-colored furr-purr

On a Pix pearch!

The Kat speaks...

*sigh*

I love ICANHASCEEZBURGER!

I do not change

My blog brother, Jerry Fuhrman, has a link to an interesting article about human evolution this morning and remarks:

We knew what we knew. Now what we know isn't what we knew. And what we're soon to know may be completely different from what we now know. But, by God, we're sure we're right.

Man's theories and opinions can ebb and flow like the tide. Even our most proven laws of physics and such are subject to further refinement as we learn more and acquire technology that helps us observe our world more closely.

And that's a good thing! God gave us minds to use in exploration, learning and worship. Even though our minds, along with our bodies and spirits, have been contaminated with sin (or "entropy,: if that makes you feel better), still we have been made in the image of our Creator. He wants us to use the faculties He has given us, to "think His thoughts after Him," so to speak.

However, we also need to be cautious - God has also given us His written Word, which has some very specific statements about how God created things. No, He doesn't go into exhaustive detail, but when it comes to the creation of the world and of man, God is quite clear on how it happened. After all, He was there - we weren't.

And so, I prefer to trust in the One who has always been there, who is perfect in all His ways, who knows everything, is omnipotent and omnipresent over the vacillations of fallible man, who is imperfect, weak, and not all-knowing.

As God says,

For I am the Lord, I do not change...

ELEVEN PERCENT?!!

Virgil Goode only got eleven percent on this?!

Buddy, you've got some 'splainin' to do...

Technorati Tags: pork, pork busters, club for growth, earmarks, government waste

Good reading

Yeah, I know, I haven't been posting - I have been sewing up a storm, though!

So, anyway, I thought I'd post some links that I liked from my RSS feeds today. Perhaps you'll find something interesting, too!

The Edmund Fitzgerald makes an appearance - new lyrics, even!

Media bias? What media bias?

I don't CAIR, either.

Thanks, Patterico:

Oh, definitely the mot juste! (And Raven has commentary)

...the Republicans (in John Stuart Mill's formulation, transposed from Britain) are "the stupid party" and the Democrats are "the evil party." Every once in a while they get together and hatch some policy that is both stupid and evil. This is called "bipartisanship," and the immigration reform bill was a spectacular example of it.

It was a massacre! Um, no, it wasn't... There's that media bias again.

That wonderful, tolerant and open Religion of Peace. Not!

Gotta love them illegal immigrants...

And to wrap this up, I think I need a nap, too! (You have been visiting I Can Has Cheezburger regularly, haven't you?)

Contra Hitchens, Dawkins, and Harris

Really, though, you must read the whole article, it's excellent:

The three books adopt a 19th-century view of history that posits a war between science and religion. Europe suffered through a dark age of a thousand years following the demise of Rome, broken only by the Renaissance and the subsequent victory of science during the 18th-century Enlightenment. Thinkers in the Victorian age exulted in science as the key to progress.

All that *I* have to say to this trio of fools is this:

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools

(HT to Hyscience, with deep gratitude!) 

Technorati Tags: Christopher Hitchens, Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, fools

Thankful

 How thankful are we, really? I admit that, although I try to cultivate an "attitude of gratitude," all too often I fail. I'll grumble or whine, moan and complain rather than remembering all the multitudes of blessings that surround me.

And so, I thought it would be good to post the lyrics for "Thankful" by Caedmon's Call:

You know I ran across an old box of letters
While I was bagging up some clothes for Goodwill
But you Know I had to laugh at the same old struggles
That plagued me then are plaguing me still

Oh, and aren't they just?! When will I learn the moral fortitude, the strength of integrity, to just walk away from areas I know are triggers for me?

I know the road is long from the ground to glory
But a boy can hope he's getting some place
But you see, I'm running from the very clothes I'm wearing
And dressed like this I'm fit for the chase

'Cause no, there is none righteous
Not one who understands
There is none who seek God
No not one, I said no not one

"No one. Not ONE." None who seeks after God. All our mouths are like open graves, and the poison of asps is in them.

So I am thankful that I'm incapable
Of doing any good on my own

'Cause we're all stillborn and dead in our transgressions
We're shackled up to the sin we hold so dear
So what part can I play in the work of redemption
I can't refuse, I cannot add a thing

And yet, there is One who does good, One who took all my sin and paid the price. And you know what He did then? He turned around and gave me all His perfection! All the infinite merit of His perfect and holy life, He gave to me! Just as He offered His redemption and His righteousness to me, so He offers it to all who will take Him at His Word.

'Cause I am just like Lazarus and I can hear your voice
I stand and rub my eyes and walk to You
Because I have no choice

I was dead in my sin. I was a rotten corpse, and could do nothing to save myself - nothing to move towards God. Even if I had been able to do something, I would not have wanted to: my sinful nature wanted to avoid and deny God at all costs.

But by God's sovereign grace, by His mercy and by His own plan, He reached down and called me out of the grave. Therefore I can sing and praise Him with this chorus:

I am thankful that I'm incapable
Of doing any good on my own
I'm so thankful that I'm incapable
Of doing any good on my own

'Cause by grace I have been saved
Through faith that's not my own
It is a gift of God and not by works
Lest anyone should boast

It is His power that works in me. It is His love and kindness that allow this powerless and unworthy sinner to proclaim the mighty predominance of the Living God.

Thus says the LORD:
      “ Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom,
      Let not the mighty man glory in his might,
      Nor let the rich man glory in his riches;
But let him who glories glory in this,
      That he understands and knows Me,
      That I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth.
      For in these I delight,” says the LORD.

Technorati Tags: redemption, grace, salvation, Caedmons Call, Bible, gratitude

More On H.R. 2265: FAQ's

Christine of The Center for Vigilant Freedom has written an important post, about something serious which is afoot in our Congress: H.R. 2265. The bill is being presented as a compassionate attempt to rescue Iraqi refugees. But the bill is much more than that!

Christine's article is brilliant. Make time to read it at Always On Watch.