« June 2005 | Main | August 2005 »

July 31, 2005

Sorta Blogless Sunday Pinup

Happy Sunday! One for the lovely ladies. Jody's blog, after all.

Posted by William Teach at 10:28 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

July 29, 2005

How Many Times Must This Occur?

Folks, when is the government, the Courts, and the Left, going to get it so this is minimized (there will always be bad people in the world) or stopped?

DURHAM, N.C. -- A registered sex offender has been arrested and charged with sexual assaults involving two teenage girls.

Santiago Bonee Elliott, 32, of Davinci Street in Durham, has been charged with two counts of taking indecent liberties with a child and two counts of statutory rape. He is in Durham County Jail under a $150,000 bond.

Elliott was convicted in 1991 of taking indecent liberties with a minor and first-degree sexual offense.

How many times a week are we hearing these stories? Heck, one a year is too many. It is 14 years since he was convicted last. Now he is out and doing it again. Did I mention the rest?

Elliott was first arrested on June 17 after officers stopped a car for a traffic violation on Holloway Street. When officers approached the car, they found marijuana and drug paraphernalia inside the vehicle, the police department said in a statement.

Investigators said that the officers also noticed that Elliott's pants were undone and that there was a 13-year-old girl in the back seat. Elliott was charged with one count of taking indecent liberties with a child and one count of statutory rape in that case.

This week, investigators charged Elliott in connection with a 2004 case involving a 14-year-old girl.

So, he is a convicted sex offender and under investigation for an offense from last year. What the HELL was he doing on the street? The Durham PD have some explaining to do.

Want more?

Michael Wayne Goldston already had a record of violent crime when Durham police jailed him last summer on his most serious charge yet: murder.

In March, nine months later, a man was walking on Gunter Street when he was attacked and robbed. One of the suspects was Michael Goldston. Police took him back to jail.

In April, investigators raided a house on Gunter Street and found crack cocaine. Police took Michael Goldston back to jail.

This month, a probation officer reported that his client didn't show up. Police took Michael Goldston back to jail.

That's where Goldston is today, unable to make $500,000 bail on his probation violation charges. Still, after being charged with murder in June 2004, Goldston, 23, has gotten out of jail three times, only to return on charges he has accumulated since then.

Ok, so I switched crimes a bit. I think this illustrates a system that is not working. Notice, same town. If they care so little for murder, what chance is there to protect kids from pedophiles?

Posted by William Teach at 08:03 PM | Comments (8) | TrackBack

why yes...

My computer is still a piece of crap and no, I still do not have consistent internet access... So rumors of my return were greatly exaggerated. ;)

Posted by Jody at 05:18 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Appearance or Qualifications?

I just read this article by Cheri Pierson Yecke about the ridicule high profile women receive from other women and men regarding their looks. Her examples include Katherine Harris, Linda Tripp and Condoleeza Rice.

Katherine Harris, the Florida secretary of state whose crime was correctly interpreting Florida law in the 2000 election, was described by Time magazine columnist Margaret Carlson as Cruella De Vil. An article about Harris in the New York Times was subtitled "Mascaragate 2000," and the Washington Post suggested that she "applied her makeup with a trowel."

On Condoleezza Rice, who she calls "one of the most powerful women in the world" she suggests:

Nonetheless, she has been mocked and ridiculed -- not for her intellect or knowledge of international diplomacy, but for her hair. It has been likened to that of June Cleaver, but her critics are not content to stereotype her as a dowdy relic from the supposedly subservient '50s. She has also been criticized as a "dominatrix" who oozes "sex and power" for wearing fashionable boots and a fitted black coat.

She compares the behavoir of the critics to a 7th grade bully she once taught and says that some people grow up while others refuse to grow up. Given the author's Republican leanings, she does make mention of the left seeming to be more apt to make remarks regarding appearance of women on the right. I say both sides are guilty of this.

Madeline Albright and Hillary Clinton received more than their fair share of "appearance bashing" during the Clinton years. If Hillary received a hair cut, it became a national news story and we heard from "both sides" of the hairgate. "Too short and manly" "Sophisticated and sexy"...

Our society has grown increasingly more appearance focused. Shows like "The Swan" would not have even been dreamt of ten years ago. Don't like your appearance? Go in for a full overhaul. Nothing a second mortgage and a few maxed out credit cards can't solve. Your self-worth can be increased with a nose job and a few strategically placed nips and tucks and implants of course.

Unfortunately this skewed sense of worth has bled over to every facet of society. Women and men feel more pressure to achieve a certain "look".

Who do you want as your physician? The one who looks like a model or the one who is experienced and professional? Who do you want as your child's teacher? The pageant winner or the college graduate? Who do you want as your next president? The beauty queen or the person with the best qualifications for the job?

While not always exclusive of each other, the answers are obvious. But if we as society allow our media to continue to judge people on their "June Cleaver" hair cuts and their make-up application techniques, we'll be the ones to lose out as a result. Turn off the station that mentions the candidates hair and clothing. Refuse to buy the paper that insults the "fashion sense" of the educator. Stop reading the blog with the continued references to appearance when arguing against a person's position.

Cheap shots about someone's appearance is easier and usually better read than well calculated arguments against their position. With the possibility of one or two candidates for 2008's presidential election being women, I think it might get very ugly. I say, we take a stand now in the blogosphere to refuse to degrade a woman or man on appearance and degrade them the right way. On their qualifications.

Anyone with me?

(HT: The Anchoress and Michelle Malkin.)

Posted by Jody at 10:03 AM | Comments (11) | TrackBack

Value the Individual?

Just a quick thought (which I darn near posted by accident on Little Miss Attila's site, which I had guest blogged on way back). How did the Democratic Party become the party of abortion, the party that demeans Christian religion, the party that is weak on defense and security, the party that supports gay marriage, the party that supports the rights of illegal aliens and criminals, and the party of hate?

Tell me I am wrong, but I have come to the conclusion that the Democratic Party puts the individual over the group, whether that group be the family, the community, or the Country. It is all about the individual to them, no matter what harm that does to the group. Now, do not misunderstand me, individual Rights are important. But the Dems have put the Rights of the Individual above any and all rights of the group. Half the time, it seems as if the Dems have forgotten that groups have Rights, too. If one person doesn't like the Pledge of Allegience being spoken in a school, but the rest like it, whose side do you think the Left takes? It is rather sad, and the Democratic stance destroys the group, from the family, to the Church, to the town, to the Country.

Are we really better as an individual when the group is fragmented and destroyed? Man is a social animal, who depends on bonds to others. All this "me, me, me" severs those bonds, weakening the whole. The Dems have come a long way from "Ask not what your Country can do for you, but what you can do for your Country."

Posted by William Teach at 08:56 AM | Comments (5) | TrackBack

July 28, 2005

Amazing the things one finds

I was looking at the Congressional Record, which, for the Dems, is the official record of Congressional business. Move On and the DU are not. Some of the tidbits for July 27 are:

• S.RES.215 : A resolution designating December 2005 as "National Pear Month".
• S.RES.217 : A resolution designating August 13, 2005, as "National Marina Day".
• S.1372 : A bill to provide for the accuracy of television ratings services, and for other purposes.
• S.1520 : A bill to prohibit human cloning.
• S.RES.158 : A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the President should designate the week beginning September 11, 2005, as "National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week".

Plus the renaming of several post offices. The last 2 are interesting. S.1520 was proposed by Dianne Feinstein. Sorry, Dianne, cloning is the way of the future. Just accept it.

And, S.Res.158, while nice, seems to be a. racist, and b. the wrong week. I personally do not have anything against having a "National Historic Black Colleges and Universities Week." Hey, if it makes people feel good, great! But what if they tried to pass that, replacing Black with White? Apoplexy would ensue. But the week of September 11th is very much the wrong week. No explanation needed, except to Lindey Graham, who proposed it.

One thing I noticed was the absence of John Kerry's name. Does he ever propose anything? 11 pieces of legislation passed in a 20+ year Senate career. Yeah, this guy needs to be President (sarcasm alert.)

Posted by William Teach at 09:04 AM | Comments (5) | TrackBack

Missing Girl in Marin County, CA

From ChristmasGhost, via Jay at Stop the ACLU; this girl is the niece of ChristmasGhost.

This is a photo of Cheryl Ann Magner.

She has been missing since the beginning of June. She was last seen in Marin County, Ca.

Please, anyone who has seen this 17 year-old girl please call 415-472-2994. This is her mother's phone number...please do not call unless you have information that would be helpful.

Or call the San Rafael police dept. @ 415-485-3000 or www.srpd.org.

Any information or help would be greatly appreciated by the family.

! Please help spread the word !

[Cross-posted at MVRWC , Cotillion, and .]

Posted by Beth at 12:39 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

July 27, 2005

Democrats Going Cannibal

Hey, y'all, this is Jebediah Murphy. Teach gave me the keys to Miss Jody's blog for White Trash Wednesday. I'm wondering if that purty Beulah Mae lady will show up? Welp, even so, yesterday Teach brought up Hillary Clinton, who shouldn't be discussed in polite company. But, since he started it, I reckon I can continue on with an update to it.

It looks like Cankle's comments are fixin to cause some issues in the Democratic Party. Today's Washington Post has a pithy story entitled "Clinton Angers Left With Call For Unity." ROTFLOL! (h/t Ankle Biting Pundits)

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's call for an ideological cease-fire in the Democratic Party drew an angry reaction yesterday from liberal bloggers and others on the left, who accused her of siding with the centrist Democratic Leadership Council (DLC) in a long-running dispute over the future of the party.

Long a revered figure by many in the party's liberal wing, Clinton (D-N.Y.) unexpectedly found herself under attack after calling Monday for a cease-fire among the party's quarreling factions and for agreeing to assume the leadership of a DLC-sponsored initiative aimed at developing a more positive policy agenda for the party.

Like Teach said, cannot have the Dems coming up with positive policies now, can we? The WP even mentions the same Daily Kosbat quote Teach did, and highlights the problems faced within the Party, namely, the loony left vs centrists and moderates. You know, those folks that you rarely hear from. As long as the centrists and moderate Dems are quiet, the GOP will continue winning elections.

I'd thank the Moonbats if they weren't destroying our country at the same time.

Posted by William Teach at 07:54 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

July 26, 2005

The Ladies of the Cotillion!

The Cotillion Babes (Jody's category, which I heartily agree with!) have their Tuesday, well, Cotillion going on. The four lovely ladies hosting the Cotillion today are:

Miss Sadie at Fistfull of Fortnights
Miss Beth at MY Vast Right Wing Conspiracy
Miss Claire at e-clair (Now Chocolate Covered!)
and Miss Denita at Who Tends the Fires

Go, read, enjoy.

Posted by William Teach at 03:28 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Clinton Calls for Party Truce

Ever the "centrist," Senator Clinton (who pisses of Chuck Schumer by over-shadowing him at all turns) has called for a cease fire within the Party factions:

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) called Monday for a cease-fire among warring factions of the Democratic Party, arguing that a united front is needed to reverse the party's recent electoral defeats and halt the advance of conservative Republican ideology.

Clinton was the marquee attraction among a procession of prospective 2008 Democratic presidential candidates who spoke at the annual summer meeting of the centrist Democratic Leadership Council (DLC) -- a group that was a springboard for Bill Clinton's first White House bid 13 years ago. She announced that she had taken a new position with the group aimed at winning back heartland voters.

Isn't that special? But, you know, on one hand she is right. She has said what right-of-center bloggers and pundits have been saying for quite some time, namely, that Bush Hatred will not win elections. You need plans and agendas other then hatred.

"We Democrats have not yet succeeded in isolating and defeating the far right, in part because we have allowed ourselves to be split between left, right and center," she said.

But it is the Far Left which has control of the Demoratic Party, which Hillary herself has been a part of. We have all seen her rhetoric, her condemnations, and she did it during the speech, as well. Those who are the center and right sides of the Demoratic Party are rarely heard from. And, as long as people like Dean, Kennedy, Durbin, Boxer, Pelosi, and yes, Clinton, aren't muzzled, the Demoratic Party will continue to be defined by the wacky Left.

Nor will the wacky Left listen to her. The Daily Kosbat has already taken shots at Hillary over this speech, especially since it was at the DLC conference.

Instead, she plans on working with the DLC to come up with some common party message yadda yadda yadda. Well, that effort is dead on arrival. The DLC is not a credible vehicle for such an effort. Period.

Wouldn't want to actually have messages other the "I Hate Bush" now, would we, Kos? BTW, here's a clue for the Leftazoids: Bush is not running in 2008. Anti Bush rhetoric won't cut it. Will the loony Left abandon Hillary if she continues on this path?

Posted by William Teach at 09:57 AM | Comments (5) | TrackBack

July 25, 2005

Jane, You Ignorant Slut

Sheeeeee's Back! John Fonda Jane Kerry will be touring the country (the USA, not Vietnam), reliving her glory days of spitting on US troops, though this time, it is over Iraq:

Actress and activist Jane Fonda says she intends to take a cross-country bus tour to call for an end to U.S. military operations in Iraq.

"I can't go into any detail except to say that it's going to be pretty exciting," she said. "It feels so good to be doing all those anti war things, spitting on troops, calling them baby killers. I cannot wait to hear what happens to the troops that have been captured. I so enjoy a good beheading of an American soldier."

Ok, so I added those last 3 sentances. But, in essence, that is what her ideals add up to. Undercutting US policy, weakening our stances, demeaning US troops. Why?

They plan to return to the Santa Fe area, where she was promoting her book, "My Life So Far" on Saturday.

So she is going to revist her Vietnam days, and all the attrocities against American troops that she herself caused, to promote her book? But she has decided that "she is coming out" in her opposition to the Iraq War. Funny on the timing, isn't it? Like we didn't know where she stood.

• 4/10/2003: "It's hard to imagine a happy ending to the US-led war in Iraq," said Fonda.
• 10/17/2004: Saying Bush's decision to go to war was based on "a lie," Fonda complained, "I agree with the military experts who say it's a quagmire."
• 4/6/2005: "I think the war is wrong. I think it's a mistake and I think that we should get out."

Will she go to Iraq and pose with terrorists as they behead a US Citizen or soldier? I have a few choice words for Hanoi Jane, but I will keep it PG. Bitch.

Cross posted over at Common Sense Runs Wild and the Pirate's Cove.

Posted by William Teach at 09:43 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack

July 24, 2005

Do you want the good post or the bad post?

In civil rights news:

Washington, DC - Hordes of Undead-Americans from District of Columbia-area cemeteries descended upon the nation's capital today to lobby Congress for equal protection under Federal laws which prohibit employers from engaging in discrimination during the hiring process.

"Under Federal law, it is illegal to discriminate, in regard to employment, against anyone because of their national origin, race, sex, sexual preference, religious preference, age or disability - but not because they have died and then returned from the grave. What kind of country protects those who are out of the closet, but does not protect those who are out of the casket?" complained Larry Wolnitz, an accountant who perished in a car crash in October 1978.

Now, if thouest dare, read more, but do not say I did not warn you:

Barbara Enser wasn't very comfortable at first with the idea of using maggots to clean the wound on her right foot. But if it meant saving it from amputation, she was willing to give it a try.

The 57-year-old Bay City woman was diagnosed with diabetes 40 years ago and subsequently lost her left leg to the disease. She also suffers from neuropathy, meaning she has no feeling in her foot or leg, and ulcers or wounds can develop from constantly putting pressure on the foot.

For the procedure, the maggots — about 2 millimeters each in size — are placed on the wound, then surrounded by an adhesive foam, clear tape, and a gauze bandage.

By July 8, the maggots had swelled to twice their normal size and eaten away part of the infection. When Dowling removed the bandages two days later, Enser's foot was looking better. Healthy, pink skin was replacing the dead tissue, and the swelling was down in her foot and ankle.

You're welcome :D)

Posted by William Teach at 07:35 PM | Comments (11) | TrackBack

July 23, 2005

Oooh, This is Interesting

I'll admit, I do not usually peruse Newsmax, but, every once in a while they come up with a diamond that the Left leaning MSM's completely ignore:

The Justice Department has launched a criminal investigation into whether Democratic Senators Dick Durbin, Jay Rockefeller and Ron Wyden leaked details about a secret "black ops" CIA satellite program last December in a move that may have seriously compromised national security, former Deputy Undersecretary of Defense Jed Babbin said on Saturday.

"The CIA made a request to the Justice Department to investigate and possibly bring criminal charges against these three [senators]," Babbin told WABC Radio host Monica Crowley. "My information is that investigation is ongoing."

You have to like the fact that there are no anonymous sources, which seem to be all that the Lefty media rely's on. Will the Left wing care, or will they just blow it off as "not about Rove?"

Posted by William Teach at 05:30 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Miss Jody Left Me The Keys

Mwahahahahahahahahhaha.

Ladies, this is the penultimate gift for any guy.

Except for the trigger being the off button, it is poifect. Nyuk, Nyuk, Nyuk.

Posted by William Teach at 05:07 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack

July 22, 2005

TJ's one man, get ready for the weekend, blogburst

Quickies :

... Forget Rove - until the investigations are complete, Nadagate is a useless distraction

... Roberts should be confirmed, there is no logical basis for not doing so and we are spending too much time on this!

... Mass Transit bag searches (a la NYC) are a good thing, but "random checking" is garbage. Profiling is OK, get over it.*

... We need to secure our borders - Mexico and Canada. Yes, Immigration is good - when it is LEGAL!

... Militant groups (including, but not limited to "Islamofascists") need to be arrested / prosecuted / jailed-deported *

... We need more surveillance cameras here in the US, for "post-incident" investigation **

... Social inSecurity needs private accounts and a raising of the retirement age, and yes - it is still a crisis

... Medicare / Medicaid is an even bigger financial fiasco than Social inSecurity

... What does the Dept of Agriculture do anyway, aside from paying farmers to not grow stuff? ***

... And how about some welfare reform, tort reform, and tax reform (think The Fair Tax) while I am ranting



* : there was never a good time for being PC, and now it can kill us. Get over it.
** : Free Speech isn't free. And it isn't unlimited. And there can be consequences.
*** : feel free to enlighten me here, if it's worth it

OK, NOW you can go have a great weekend! And Vote TJ for President in 2012.

(cough) Participating sites :

NIF

Steal the Bandwagon

ItsAPundit

The Bower

Euphoric Reality

... and good luck to Jody's busted computer.

Posted by trejrco at 09:28 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

the saga continues...

Yes, I am perfectly aware that this picture suggests that I am the dummy. And I think I am. No...computer problems not fixed yet. My husband will now be taking the awful thing to a friend who can "fix" anything wrong with computers. I hope he announces it DOA and I can get a new one. FAT CHANCE. Oh well.

Nope, not frustrated one bit. ARGH!

Special thanks to everyone who is helping to pick up my slack, even Beulah Mae. I guess something is better than nothing, right? Right?! :)

Posted by Jody at 10:25 AM | Comments (8) | TrackBack

July 21, 2005

Heh-heh-heh-heh

He said poop. Heh-heh. Heh-heh. Heh-heh.

[Pass it on.]

Posted by Beth at 08:39 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

July 20, 2005

WANTED

Posted by Beth at 10:24 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack

HAYYY!!!!

HAAAYYY!!! YALL'S!!

HAHAHAHA I STOLED THE KEY'S TOO MISS JODEY'S BLOGG!!!! AND LOOKY I PUTTIN THIS IN CELLEBRITY'S CATAGOREY CUZ IM A CELLEBRITY!!!

ME--BEULAH MAE!!!!! CUZ ITS WENSDAY AND ITS MY DAY FER BLOGIN YALLS!!! SO HAY MISS BETH AN MISS JANETTE CAINT THANK OF NUTHIN TOO SAY AND MISS JODEY AINT GOT NO COMPUTOR HAHAHAHA I AINT NO Y BUTT I THANK ITS FUNNEY CUZ I STOLED THE KEY'S AND IM GOONNA RITE HEAR!!!

OPPPS i fergot 2 tern off the cap's lock!!! LOLL!!! ne wayz i wuz wachin tv las nite an thair wuz this comercial fer some diet crap propolene er sum thang and this skankey gurl wuz showin this is wat 5 POUNDS OF FAT look's like!!! it wuz all most as nastey as her HAIR!!! OMG some won git her to a buety parlor!!!!!! HEAR's her hair stile butt this aint her i aint gott a pitcher of her butt this is jes like it:

x-cept its the same coler as her dang face so it look's all horibull!!!! BOARING!!!! it drive's me crazey ever time i see hur!!!

She need's hair like MINE LIKE THIS!!!

COARSE that aint how i ware my hair alla time its my speshel ocasion hair butt that gurls on TV so its a speshel ocasion!!!!

newayz u wuz prolly sayin SO WHAT butt that hair has bin bugin me an i jes hadda git that offa my chess yall's no what im sayin!!!

an speakin of hair MISS BETH tole me that Mister BUSH dun picked a nu guy fer some lawman thang an hes gonna work with a buncha old peeps an have u seen this ole lady!!!!

OH MY LAWDY LAWD!!!! I NEED 2 GIT 2 WORK ON THIS WUN!!!!! SUM BUDDY NEED'S 2 SAVE HER FROM THE HOMELY DEVUL!! jes cuz shes 95 year's old dont mean she caint be purty!!! I got's 2 go now and git 2 work on HER! so ill see yall's lator!!!

LOVE
BEULAH MAE!!!!!!!!!!

XOXOXOXOXOXO!!!!!!

PS I GOT SOME O MY FREIND'S U KIN READ TO YALL!!!

Posted by Beth at 03:22 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

July 19, 2005

Blog survey

OK, I know I'm lazy and doing cross-posting instead of new stuff right now; I've got the same blog apathy disorder that Janette has. ;-) So here's another cross-post for ya! Wheeee!

Here's a survey for you, that won't tell you what kind of tree you are!

Jack Lewis.net has a survey up:

The ultimate purpose of this survey is to analyze the difference between those who have well read or growing blogs and those who don't, but want to. There is a lot of advice about how to blog successfully, but so far I haven't really seen any thorough analysis of the blogging habits of the various bloggers. The more bloggers who participate, the more accurate the survey will be so encourage others to fill out the survey.

So go on, give the guy a few minutes of your time. I'm interested in the results, aren't you?

And if you like these kind of things, I've found another one that's right up my alley--Neuropolitics.org has one measuring brain dominance with political views. I loooooove political psychology stuff. Yes, I am a total geek. More research results from them HERE. If I weren't so lazy, I'd go back to school for this kind of thing; I'm determined to find out the cure for leftist politics, beyond the Cluebat™ (although I really think Thorazine or at least Prozac would do the trick--heeheee). ;)

Posted by Beth at 10:42 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

John Roberts nominated for SCOTUS

[Cross posted from MY VRWC]

By now everyone knows, of course. Here's an article from February about Roberts from law.com:

Yet those who know Roberts say he, unlike Souter, is a reliable conservative who can be counted on to undermine if not immediately overturn liberal landmarks like abortion rights and affirmative action. Indicators of his true stripes cited by friends include: clerking for Rehnquist, membership in the Federalist Society, laboring in the Ronald Reagan White House counsel's office and at the Justice Department into the Bush years, working with Kenneth Starr among others, and even his lunchtime conversations at Hogan & Hartson. "He is as conservative as you can get," one friend puts it. In short, Roberts may combine the stealth appeal of Souter with the unwavering ideology of Scalia and Thomas.

But this take on Roberts puts some of his biggest boosters in a quandary. They praise Roberts as a brilliant, fair-minded lawyer with a perfect judicial temperament. But can that image as an open-minded jurist co-exist with also being viewed as a predictable conservative?

Florida personal injury lawyer Dean Colson of Colson Hicks Eidson in Coral Gables, who has known Roberts since they clerked for Rehnquist together in 1980, side-steps the question.

Colson calls Roberts "the smartest lawyer in America," someone who will "approach the cases with an intellectual viewpoint. I don't view him as having an agenda to promote."

But does that mean conservatives can't count on Roberts? "I don't know the answer as to how he would vote on specific issues," says Colson. "I would never ask him, and I hope he never tells anybody what he would do."

Mark Levin, author of "Men in Black," a new conservative critique of the Supreme Court, sees no conflict and is a fan of Roberts. "In the short period he has been on the court, John Roberts has shown he does not bring a personal agenda to his work. He follows the Constitution, and he is excellent."

E. Barrett Prettyman Jr., a longtime Roberts fan and lifelong Democrat who worked with him for years at Hogan, says that if anyone can be both judicious and predictable, Roberts can.

"He respects the Court greatly, and would not ignore precedent," says Prettyman. "But if there's a loophole or a distinguishing factor, he'd find it."

An article from (his alma mater) Harvard University's Harvard Crimson:

Many in Washington speculate that Roberts may be a good choice if Bush wants to avoid a confirmation fight. The New York Times reported last week that members of both parties raised Roberts’ name in a favorable light.

More:
A roundup of some of his previous decisions at Free Congress Foundation’s Judicial Selection Monitoring Project

From the Committee for Justice, a press release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 19, 2005
CONTACT:
Sean Rushton

CFJ Congratulates President on Roberts Nomination

WASHINGTON, DC - The Committee for Justice, which promotes constitutionalist judicial nominees, today congratulated President Bush on nominating Judge John Roberts to the U.S. Supreme Court and called on the Senate to confirm him without delay.

“John Roberts has had one of the most distinguished legal careers in modern times,” CFJ Chairman C. Boyden Gray said. “His outstanding education and career, high character, and faithfulness to the Constitution make him an excellent fit for the court at this moment. His nomination is a solid first step towards returning the federal judiciary to its proper role in our system.”

Before becoming a judge on the powerful Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit, Roberts was possibly the finest appellate lawyer in the nation, arguing 39 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. After graduating with honors from Harvard undergraduate and law school, Roberts clerked for Second Circuit Judge Henry Friendly and Associate Justice William Rehnquist of the U.S. Supreme Court. He served as Associate White House Counsel, and as Principal Deputy Solicitor General. Roberts is 50, married with two children, and a Roman Catholic.

“While we know liberal senators will resort to hyperbole against Judge Roberts, we call on moderate and red state Democratic senators such as Ben Nelson (Neb.), Joe Lieberman (Conn.), and Mark Pryor (Ark.) to ensure a fair and respectful confirmation process,” Gray added. “It seems to us that a justice who will not use his power to redefine traditional marriage, strike under God from the Pledge of Allegiance, and undermine private property rights is well within the mainstream of American public opinion and legal thought.”

C. Boyden Gray was White House Counsel to the first President Bush.

To see more from the blogosphere about the Roberts nomination, N.Z. Bear has an aggregator.

See also: Bench Memos at NRO

The SCOTUS Nomination blog has "Selected Opinions by Judge Roberts" and "Elsewhere on the Information Superhighway."

Posted by Beth at 10:31 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Smile and pretend to care...

Gah. Yes. Internet is still down. I have narrowed the problem down to my DSL modem or my wireless card or my horrible awful disgusting computer who's only reason for NOT being in this morning's garbage is that I don't think my husband would be too terribly happy to replace it for me.

So. Please. Just bear with me.

I would like to think if I had consistent internet access I would be blogging up a storm of brilliant and creative posts, but we all know that no one is really missing much by my hiatus. And considering an awful stomach flu has stricken my family -- yes the baby too -- (never fun to have to hose down the car seat); I could pretty much guarantee non- blogging even if all my technical problems were resolved.

Oh. But do check out Cotillion. The girls (as always) have done a phenomenal job and deserve to be commended.

annika's journal
MY VRWC
Dr. Sanity
Girl on the Right

Posted by Jody at 05:46 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

July 16, 2005

This Is Blogapathy . . . She's Making Her Rounds Through The Blogosphere

[Yes, this is what happens when you ask me to blogsit. I have a case of blogger block, okay? At least I didn't thow a party and trash the place.]

Posted by Janette Stripling at 04:40 PM | Comments (19) | TrackBack

July 15, 2005

Just a few things...

Despite the flurry of activity this morning on my blog, there will be light blogging ahead from me. I have asked a few wonderful people to help pick up the slack until I can get some computer issues resolved (note to self: throwing the computer never "fixes" it...).

Sigh.

Oh and one more thing, Flying Space Monkey is having his annual Denigrate the Overblog. Go there and nominate the blog you think receives too much attention, too many hits and is too high in the ecosystem for the quality they spew out. I have MANY to list, but Space Monkey only allows 5. Just don't list me!

I actually have a list I have been working on that is the opposite concept. The blogs who don't receive the attention or the hits or the ranking in the ecosystem that SHOULD receive them. Any suggestions? I'll post it later on...

Posted by Jody at 10:22 AM | Comments (11) | TrackBack

Susan Torres Update

From the Susan Torres Fund mail group:

As of this morning, Susan and the baby are still doing well. The doctor's have decided, based on the most recent sonogram, that the baby will be 24 weeks old on July 18th, which is the earliest Susan can deliver.

After July 18, the doctors will be monitoring the baby's growth on a daily
basis and are hoping to give the baby as much time as possible to develop
before delivery.

We will continue to provide updates as they develop. Thank you all for
all your support.

Posted by Jody at 10:15 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Death Penalty Revisited

This posting was one of my first postings when I began blogging in January. Although I am not in the habit of "rerunning" my posts, I thought although my examples may be dated, this post is still on topic. This was the beginning of my decision that I can no longer personally support the death penalty, at the time I wrote this I was not sure but I am now.

During the contraversy surrounding Terri Schiavo, I made the decision that if I am going to fight so hard for the sanctity of life, no government entity should be able to pick or choose who is deserving of that life or not. Yes, it is difficult when I hear of the gruesome acts by people like Joseph Edward Duncan or the BTK killer. In my mind if anyone deserves death, it is these disgusting people. But I just personally can't justify death.

God can only give life, God should be the only one to take it away. We criticize liberals and call them hypocrites for their stand against the death penalty and their stand for abortion. "They can protect criminals, but not babies."... Well I think our position is a bit hypocritical too. If we argue that all life matters and is important, how can we allow government sanctioned murder?

As a good card carrying member of the Republican Party, I am pretty much in sync with most of the ideological values that the party represents. Having given that disclaimer let me venture onto a topic that, I’ll admit, has not been one that I have ever really given too much thought about until recently.

The death penalty.

At first it sounds great. Sure, you have so little regard to human life to take someone else’s life? Fine. Say hello to Mr. Sparky. And for most of my life this is how I have regarded the death penalty.

But I am beginning to wonder if putting to death anyone can fit into my personal ideology. I am adamantly against abortion and euthanasia. The act of willfully taking another’s life devalues human life. The story last month regarding the newborns being euthanized in a Dutch hospital made me shudder. Imagine where life is so unvalued that a doctor is allowed to take it?

The value we place on our lives not only reflects our death but it reflects how we live. The only way anyone can be abusive to others is to not value and appreciate that person.

Scott Peterson in my opinion is evil. He murdered two people because of his selfish desire to be free of any responsibility and commitment. He, in my mind, deserves to die. And it is his death sentence that has led me to question my beliefs.

Osama Bin Laden should die. Now. Any terrorist should.

Anyone who takes a life should have their own life taken. These are things I have known for as long as I can remember…

But. What about the giver of Life? If he is the ultimate decider of such things, then what would He do?

Saul, a religious zealot, persecuted Christians vengefully and watched as they died. He was there when Stephen looked up into the heavens and was savagely stoned. But on an ordinary journey, Saul was changed by God, and became Paul. Today we would try him at the very least an accomplice to murder and truly he was a terrorist. But God didn’t give up on his soul and he became the most prolific writer of the New Testament.

David had it all but he stopped looking up and saw her. He lusted and took her, and then she became pregnant. To cover up his sin, he begged her husband to come home from battle but when he refused because he didn’t want to abandon his duty, David murdered him. But this was David the king of Israel who after being shown his sin had a contrite heart and a repentant spirit. This was the “man after God’s own heart.”

We are God’s creation and he can take our evil, the wickedness of man and make us into something so much better. What right as a society do we have to destroy any creation that is God’s?

Posted by Jody at 10:03 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

July 13, 2005

Linky Love Wednesday!

Just a few links that you should check out:

Got Rove? The liberals think they do. But Tran Sient says no (an excellent post on this subject). So does Wizbang.

Michelle Malkin "Meets the Bloggers" in a great interview done by Stacy, Nettie, Darlene and Jeff H.

Ogre has some information about "The Alliance" in case you don't know about it. Maybe I will even join!

I will update the links today with anything interesting or fun. Yes, I have now suscribed to the lazy blogger's "how to post without having to think or write anything substantial"...isn't it fun?

Oh and I can't forget some linky love for my favorite linky lovin' blogs:
NIF and basil and of course Glenn Reynolds...ok, well maybe not that Glenn(like he needs my link!) hehe...

They take linky love to a whole new level. And who's heart doesn't skip a beat when they see a little linky lovin' from TJ or basil? What they do is not "lazy blogging", it is an art. And a great service to us lazy blog readers.

Oh and I now have the nifty trackbacks that show up right on the main post of the blog, so if you're so inclined, go ahead and trackback to this post to add yourself to my linky love (you MUST include a link to this post!)...and yeah, I know...no one will do this...

Posted by Jody at 08:40 AM | Comments (5) | TrackBack

July 12, 2005

HEY...you know what would be fun??

Link to my blog and tell all your friends that I've moved!!! :)

Posted by Jody at 11:11 PM | Comments (7) | TrackBack

If the shoe fits...

Yeah, we make these look very good. Our players today are Sisu who highlights her lovely warrior women. Villainous Company who lets the stars shine. And Feisty Repartee who dances the night away...

You, ladies, look beautiful tonight. As always please come to Cotillion for the afterparty. No. Autographs. Please.

Posted by Jody at 08:29 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

July 11, 2005

sick.

So. Not that I ever really want to understand the mind of psychopath or anything but can someone tell me why? Why?!

Joseph Edward Duncan III kidnaps two beautiful children, Shasta and Dylan Groene from their family's home only after slaughtering their mother, her boyfriend and their older brother. Because life is just not important to these disgusting perverts.

Shasta, miraculously is found two weeks later and a few days after this the remains of Dylan are found. 9-year old Dylan.

Yes, some sick person thought himself better than everyone else, thought of only himself and took away this little girl's innocence and her family. Because he wanted to. No morals. No right or wrong, just his way.

And the worst, scariest part of this whole disgusting ordeal?

Joseph Edward Duncan III is not an anomaly. There are so many people in this world who are too selfish and too depraved to care about anything other than their own needs.

Want proof? Most don't need it, read the headlines.

Like today...

Two children missing from Arizona home

Arizona authorities were searching for two young children Monday missing from a home where their grandparents and an uncle were found slain the night before.

Rodrigo Cervantes Zavala is believed to have killed them and taken his two children, Bryan Cervantes, 18-months and his 3-year old sister, Jennifer and may be headed to Mexico.

Yeah, because killing relatives is always a good way to show you're a fit parent.

Posted by Jody at 10:29 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

July 10, 2005

Muslims who fight against Terrorism

Janette from Common Sense Runs Wild reminds us that while there has not been as large as an outcry in the Muslim community against terrorism as many of us would like; there has been one and it is growing. Supporting the Muslims who stand up against the radicals of their religion is vital. Islam isn't going to go away and those angry young men who are being seduced by the power that terrorism brings need to be shown a healthy alternative to violence. Who is best to show them that? Me? A white Pentecostal girl in America? Or their brethren at their neighborhood mosque?

Think about it and go read Janette's hopeful post.

Posted by Jody at 04:50 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

Susan Torres

Susan Torres, a loving mother and wife, collapsed on May 7,2005. She was 17 weeks pregnant with her second child at the time. She was rushed to the hospital where she was diagnosed with stage four melanoma. She is essentially brain dead and being kept alive by machines in order for her child to have a chance at survival. On June 28th, the sonogram was able to determine that the baby is a girl. On July 6th, the doctors said that everything was still going fine but they did have to move back the first possible date they can deliver the baby from July 11th to July 18th due to a previous misestimated due date.

Susan's husband, Jason rarely leaves his wife's side although he knows there is no chance for her survival. He must bare the pain of knowing that at any moment he could lose the child that so many have worked so hard to save. There are no guarantees and I'm sure the not knowing has to be extruciating.

Jason and Susan also have a 2-year old son, Peter who wonders each day where his mommy is.

This is such a sad situation, please go to The Susan Torres Fund to donate to this family and find out more information regarding the Torres family. Jason has been unable to work and Susan and the baby's medical bills are astronimical. Any help that you can give them, I'm sure would be appreciated.

To see other articles I've written regarding Susan Torres, click here and here.

Posted by Jody at 04:22 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

July 09, 2005

On May 3rd, I asked a question...today I answered it...yay for me. :)

Posted by Jody at 11:58 AM | Comments (6) | TrackBack

Pardon the dust...

Yes...I am moving with the assistance of a skilled team of blog movers. Sadie, who helped set me up on MuNu and Tammy who helped import all my stuff from Blogger. Please make sure to update your links and come back and visit often. Hopefully I can figure out the new digs...it's so fancy. Now what will happen if I press this button...

Update: NEVER...EVER...Press that button!! NEVER!

Sigh...I am so lost.

Posted by Jody at 11:12 AM | Comments (6) | TrackBack

Now on to the important stuff...

I am sure all my readers, like myself, are waiting anxiously to find out if Britney Spears is carrying twins or not. Oh someone please confirm the rumor soon! I just don't think I'll be able to go on until I know the truth.

:::rolls eyes:::

Posted by Jody at 11:03 AM | Comments (4) | TrackBack

July 08, 2005

*New* and *Improved* Comment Policy

You may comment freely and all comments are appreciated. No three paragraph essays required; one or two sentences are perfectly fine (heck, one word responses work too). And no need to solve all of our political or socio-economic issues within my comment section. Because afterall this is just a blog. Plus there are plenty of other places in the blogosphere that seem to want that (um, okay) ...

If I disagree, you will be the first to know it. And if I think it's too stupid to even illicit a response, I'll either delete it or ridicule it...depends on my mood.

Carry on. :)

Posted by Jody at 03:43 PM | Comments (10) | TrackBack

Who do you blame?

Posted by Jody at 10:27 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Posted by Jody at 09:31 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

In the heart of little Beirut...

They eyed him warily, but one of them couldn't resist and blurted out aggressively, "It's Tony Blair's fault! They've killed 100,000 people -- it's like a boomerang." Later she repeated this, talking about "killing innocent people" and "invading other peoples' country . . ."

When we asked her the question about the calm, she shrugged too. "We're used to it," she replied. "Americans get patriotic over anything silly."

We were starting to see a pattern.

Charmaine Yoest has first hand accounts of some of the puzzling and disheartening reaction of some of those in London.

Posted by Jody at 12:41 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

July 07, 2005

London attacked

Why is Iraq a big deal? Why do we need to secure our borders? Why do we still worry about attacks on our land when so many seem to have forgotten? This is why.

"Whatever they do, it is our determination that they will never succeed in destroying what we hold dear in this country,"

Exactly.

Let's make sure to show our support to our allies. They were in solidarity with us during our time of need, we need to make sure we're there for them to.

News services have already updated the fatalities to number in the 'double digits'.

ITN reports at least 45 have been killed in the terror attack on London. The number of injured is said to be near 1,000 with 150 of those in critical condition. Police sources say now that three explosions hit the Underground and a fourth hit a bus. They attribute the larger numbers of reported explosions to the fact that all three Underground blasts hit between stations, giving the impression of two explosions where one had taken place.

MaxedOutMama has more. So does Beth from MVRWC.

Teach from Pirate's Cove finds the words I was looking for to describe the events: "Very Surreal"... unfortunately it is all too real...

FRW says "decorate your blogs with the British flag." (strong language warning!)

Posted by Jody at 08:37 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

July 06, 2005

As any blogger can tell

As any blogger can tell you, eventually blogging becomes a community and some bloggers become family. You look forward to seeing your favorites each day and hearing what they have to say. One of my favorites, An American Housewife, recently suffered the loss of her husband. Although we can't be there physically to hold her hand; we would like to help her family. Please click here to contribute:

Posted by Jody at 07:06 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

July 05, 2005

Never Grow Old Edition

You are only as young as you feel...and we ladies of Cotillion feel quite young and alive. Here are some of our babes in action. Enjoy the show and please make sure to visit my fellow hostesses, Little Miss Atilla, The Anchoress and Reasoned Audacity. And of course the party can always be found at Cotillion.

Kellipundit explains why she blogs and her ambitions regarding blogging and that she does not eat catfood:

I'm fully involved with a real job... Oh well, maybe one day I can spend my forty hours a week coming up with derogatory snips while coloring within the lines. One can only hope. Isn't it funny how this one little hobby gets under the skin of so many? I've learned in my short 35 years on this planet that folks with this attitude towards others are simply insecure, petty people.

Little Miss Attila tells why she respects April Winchell.

What I admire are comics who are able to come to terms with their pasts, and talented people who deal with their demons in the here-and-now.

Sure: it's good to share your talent with the world. But it's more important to be a human being.

Proud Aunt "Mamamontezz" of Mamamontezz's Mental Rompus Room (say that three times fast!) brags about her nephew, Milblogger Slaglerock. Who can blame her? We're proud of him and he's not even related to us!

He made the promotion lists and will assume his new rank soon. Not soon enough, as far as I'm concerned, but perhaps that's because I have a vested interest in this particular sergeant.

Merri Musings tell us "What I did on Summer Vacation." Sounds like she had a great time and apparently her husband is "lucky" to have such cheap date:

We stayed at a little resort that had cabins right on the lake. We had a bar right across the cove that we floated our boat over to a couple of times. They had these amazing drinks called Rum Runners. Let's just say I am a cheap date while drinking those things.

Beth from My Vast Right Wing Conspiracy writes about her "meeting of the minds" with Gun Toting Liberal. Now, I don't think we'll have to worry about these two "converting" each other to the other sides but we do have to worry if they join forces and plot against the blogosphere. We can only hope that they use their power for good instead of evil.

Stacy, Not a Desperate Housewife, talks about 72 virgins.

It was being reported that part of the motivation for the hijackers was the prospect of these virgins. I looked at my husband and said "Why would a man want 72 virgins? They don't know how to please a man. I can guarantee you that an experienced woman would please a man much more than 72 virgins." He laughed for quite a while and said that I was right.

Emily Beal of Portia Rediscovered sends us on an historical "Road Trip":

Not only is is worthwhile and completely necessary to recognize past achievements, it's also important to note that they are, in fact, dead. Meaning, the same will be of us someday too, hopefully later than sooner. While many great inventors and thinkers made quite a bit of money from their invention, it was their invention that lasted through the ages, not their money or lifestyle. The same, again, is true of us. What we do, who we are, who we impact will be the lasting effect on the world, not what house we had or how much money we made.

Charmaine Yoest of Reasoned Audacity seeks to give Payton a new home. Maybe this child is destined to become part of your family?

Payton is a cute, African American boy with black hair and brown eyes born in 1991. He is described as being quiet until he gets to know you. He likes competition when playing in a group. Payton enjoys drawing, playing football, kickball and is learning to play the guitar.

Right Thinking Girl tells us the story of Sean in Independence Day, a stunning, moving piece of one man's September 11th experience. You will read it and it will always remain with you.

"Okay," Sean replied. What do you say to that? When you start the day out with your wife and your 300 best friends, and suddenly you have ten people alive. What can you say?

Sondra K "reveals" the real reasons why she blogs... Strong language and brutal honesty warning.

Maxed Out Mama's Independence Day post is like all of her other posts: Absolutely brilliant.

Don't stint on the fireworks - we have a right to celebrate. But don't forget that what we're celebrating is not just the nation of today, but independence, i.e. the right of self-determination gained by armed struggle for those thirteen states by force of arms. The tree of liberty may have sprouted from and is still being watered now by the blood of patriots (See the Cotillion for a celebration of milbloggers) , but the tree of liberty looked to most the world then like a pretty anemic sapling. Self-determination was all we got.

Yes, this is Cotillion. A bit immature, a little bratty, awfully cute, totally endearing and always in need of presents. Who wouldn't want to be us?

Posted by Jody at 03:50 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

July 03, 2005

Debutantes in Boots?

Debutantes in Boots? What's that? It is every female who serves her country or every wife who lives the wild life of a military wife. They are tough and disciplined. They do their jobs well. They don't always take no for an answer and they are too stubborn to give up. But they are also women. Women who shine and love and care. They are elegant but they will kick your butt if they need to. Want to meet some of them? I thought so. Here on 4th of July, along with the July 4th Gala at Cotillion, we're honoring some of our female milbloggers. Here they are:

Click here to read an interview with Juliette from Baldilocks!

"Early on, most boys learn to co-operate in teams geared toward a stated goal. Most girls do not and when they become women and join some aspect of the workforce, it shows. Think of all the stupid games that are played in offices dominated by women. It's because many of us were never taught how to work together or that, sometimes, the goals of the organization to which we belong are more important than our desires and our egos."

Click here to read an interview from Kami Erickson of Risawn.

"Be prepared to make some sacrifices, whether you be a man or a woman. The military is not an easy lifestyle, and it is very much a lifestyle. Unfortunately, as a woman you are already on a lower rung in the ladder then your male counterparts, so you have that to overcome, but if you can, you will be respected that much more for it."

When the line "your mama wears combat boots is NOT an insult..."

• Florida Cracker
  

• Mamamontezz

• MY Vast Right Wing Conspiracy

Posted by Jody at 11:34 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Juliette, Baldilocks

I think most will agree that when you think of someone who always exemplifies quality and integrity when blogging, Juliette Ochieng, of Baldilocks is on that list. She's had an interesting life and has a unique and wonderful perspective on life. As yet another "Debutante in Boots" and a fellow Cotillion member, I sent her a few questions to answer and the results are below, I believe they speak for themselves:

Tell me about your military service. What made you decide to join the military?
I was always a little different and was always interested in things that few members of my various demographics were. I graduated from high school in 1978 at age sixteen. Though I had a few college offers, I wasn't sure that I wanted to take them. Having seen and listened to the yummy Marine recruiter who visited my high school, I thought I might like to join one of the services in general and USMC in particular. However, when I turned seventeen that summer my parents absolutely refused to sign the waiver needed for seventeen-year-olds to enlist, so I went to college and waited them out.

How did I choose the USAF? My step-dad had been in the Air Force during the Vietnam War and my grandfather (step-dad's dad) had retired from the AF. However, having been previously influenced by aforementioned yummy Marine, I had planned on enlisting in the USMC. So, at age nineteen, I made an appointment with the local Marine recruiter. I arrived on time and he wasn't there. So I waited and waited and waited. No call, no nothing, which as I found out later, was very unlike a Marine. (Perhaps, he thought that—being a female—that I would think better of enlisting and wouldn't show up either.) After an hour, I got up and walked over to the Air Force recruiter and the rest is history.

What challenges have you faced in the military? Do you feel they are different or similar than the challenges men face in the military? Why or why not?
My military service—like that of millions of other Americans—was the catalyst in my maturation. My maturation was similar but not the same as that of men, of course, for the same reasons that we humans of different sex are similar but not the same.

One thing that women in the military face that men do not is the constant attention from their opposite sex comrades-in-arms, especially in overseas locations. There, only the fugly girls aren't overwhelmed with attention and even they have one or two suitors. Vastly outnumbered, we girls start believing our own hype, when it's merely a matter of logistics and male laziness.

How do men treat you in general when they find out you're in the military?
Whenever my military service is discovered, men will often treat me with a little more respect and less like a bimbo. Because I don't look like a battle-hardened veteran—depending on what side of the bed I got out of--I sometimes get condescended to. My "command" voice will usually bring that to a screeching halt.

I don't get a lot of the abusive mail that some women bloggers report getting. Perhaps it's because some think I will hunt them down. I'm actually harmless. Mostly. ;-)

Do you have any advice for women who are thinking of enlisting?
My advice to women who might enlist is this: learn to work in a team setting and learn that the world does not revolve around you. As a matter of fact, my advice to parents of girls is to get your daughter(s) involved in some type of team activity—sport, girl scouts, brownies, whatever—to help prevent her from growing up to be a self-involved brat and inflicting herself upon the workplace, military or civilian. (Yes, I had to learn this as an adult in the military and, no, it isn't completely unlearned.) Early on, most boys learn to co-operate in teams geared toward a stated goal. Most girls do not and when they become women and join some aspect of the workforce, it shows. Think of all the stupid games that are played in offices dominated by women. It's because many of us were never taught how to work together or that, sometimes, the goals of the organization to which we belong are more important than our desires and our egos.

Why did you start blogging? What is your purpose or goal to achieve by keeping a blog?

As with many others, my blogging started as means of letting off steam, rather than yelling "BS!" or "F-you" at the TV all the time. This shows in my early blogging. Now, I'm less likely to put up a generic, all-purpose rant; my rants are more situational, and, therefore, less frequent.

Before I started, I had read and commented on several of the Big Bloggers' sites, especially on LGF and Gut Rumbles (quite an odd couple, there). After reading other sites, I said to my self "hey, I can do that," so I did it. I had a false start in July of 2003. A month later, I decided that I would make a commitment. After a decent interval, I sent my URL to Charles and to Rob. I didn't ask them for a link, however, but merely requested that they take a look. They both linked to me immediately. But, because Charles has a ton of blogs linked and Rob only has a few, I consider Rob my blogfather. Charles gets bloguncle credit.

Tell us something about you that we may not know by just reading your blog.
One thing about me that may not be readily apparent is that I'm a little overweight. Not in Oliver Willis territory, but I will never make fun of him about it. Taking weight off is hard. When I was thirty-four—ten years ago, I weighed 140 pounds and thought I was fat. Ten years and thirty additional pounds give one some perspective.

What are some things that you have learned by blogging?
Blogging has humbled me a bit. Occasionally, I will send an email note to a blogger or a commenter saying "great post/comment" and I will get a slight inkling of the celebrity treatment. When it happens, it's frightening because I know that I'm just some middle-aged fat chick with a modem and a big mouth.

What are your personal priorities in life? (What is most important to you?)

Personal priorities are God, country, family, education, in that order. To expound on a couple, I believe in and accept Jesus Christ as my Savior and have for some years, but I only recently started liking going to church. I don't know how it is with other religions, but Christians have to shop around for churches. I found and discarded several "Candy" churches until I found a "Protein, Fruits and Vegetables" Church, if you get my drift. I want to be constantly reminded how to be a Christian and why I should be one. I don't really care what the Top 40 songs are on the Inspirational charts nor do I want to hear the preacher speak in "tongues."

Taking care of the family seniors is very important to me. This July Fourth is my great-aunt's eighty-fourth birthday and, on this side of my family, that makes her the longest-lived. She stopped driving in 2002, so I'm the chauffeur and happy to do it.

I see old people behind the wheel who can barely see or walk and who have no business driving. I know that, sometimes, it's because they're too ornery to give up their license. However, I also know that it's because they have no one in the family who is reliable enough to help them get their errands done or get them to their appointments on time, if at all.

I also know that I might be old and require a driver one day. That day seems far off, but it will probably sneak up on me. So I'm racking up blessing points or, at least staving off just-desserts points.

On top of that, I love my great-aunt—I was partially raised by her--so I am merely honoring my parent as commanded.

Go visit Juliette at her blog, Baldilocks.

Thank you Juliette for taking time to answer these questions. More importantly thank you for your service to your country.

Posted by Jody at 10:28 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Kami Erickson (Risawn) of IncoheRANT

Kami Erickson (Risawn) of IncoheRANT Ramblings and Foxholes and Dogtags, is confident, talented, smart and not sorry. Currently stationed in Kosovo, Kami's blogs are a sometimes serious and not so serious account of daily life in the military. Tough, funny and sarcastic... definitely a "Debutante in Boots".Want to know a little more about Kami? Good. Because here is an interview she graciously agreed to do:

Why did you decide to join the military?
I joined the fall of 1999, just graduating from high school and finding myself in the humdrum of college life, not knowing what to do with myself. The recruiters just happened to find me at the right place at the right time (or the wrong place at the wrong time, however you want to look at it! ;) More here.

Where are you stationed and what is your assignment?
I'm currently stationed at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, serving in the KFOR Multinational peace keeping mission in the former Yugoslavia. It has been interesting at times, there is a lot about this region I didn't know about before coming here, but the situation in Iraq and Afghanistan has stolen a lot of our luster. Truth be told, it just isn't an exciting place to be anymore, people aren't getting shot at or blown up on a daily basis I guess. My job is a 91S, Preventive Medicine Specialist, which basically entails in short the Prevention of Disease and Non Battle Injuries. If it makes you sick and its preventable, its my job to prevent it.

What are challenges that you face by being in the military? Are they different than if you were a man in the military?
Being in the medical field, I have found that medicine is a lot more giving of women being in uniform then other fields. It is still very much a male dominated career field. I find that most women might find themselves a bit discriminated against when first joining a unit, but if they are able to show themselves to be a hard and capable worker and very proficient at their job, they are usually very quickly accepted by an otherwise male dominated unit.

What do you think a woman's role should be in the military? What is your opinion about women on the front lines?
If a woman can buck up and do the job with out playing the gender card (and unfortunately, there are plenty of women who do that) then I have no problem with them serving in any form in the military. I wish sex wasn't an issue, however unfortunately it is. This hasn't been more evident then lately since I've been on a deployment how much sex plays a role in the military. However, I've seen some very strong and capable women in the military who are very strong leaders. There are a lot of women who have what it takes to serve on the front lines, however that being said, there are also plenty of women who would cave under the pressure as well. It is a touchy subject that I have mixed feelings on, and I won't know for certain until the time comes where I find myself on the frontlines.

What do you enjoy most about being in the military? What do you disike?
The 'Hoorah' nature of being in uniform, the opportunities to see the world, the adventure involved, to name a few things. Being in the army has really given me a boost up in my view of myself at times as it is something I felt like I was good at. Things I dislike is how much of a role sex plays in the military, as mentioned above, among other things. Sometimes it can be a very stressful environment, rank plays a large role, and there is a lot of politics. But overall, I've been very satisified with my military career so far.

How do males treat you when they realize that you are in the military? How to male members of your troop treat you?
A lot of people when they first find out I'm in the military are a bit taken back by it, but as they come to know me, they find out that it fits me pretty well. I think a few guys seem a bit intimidated by it at first, but they seem to quickly get over that :) As for the members of my unit, they have always seemed to be accepting of me being in uniform, though I have found it difficult in the past to juggle my rank as a sergeant and in a position of leadership with trying to be taken seriously and at the same time not coming across as a complete (excuse my french) Bitch. Most of the time, they find that I'm a hard worker and trying to get the mission accomplished, and usually they will listen to me.

What is your longterm goal after your military service?
This is a topic that is constantly fluctuating for me. A part of me wants to serve my 20 years and do my part, but another part of me wants to seek out other career fields and see where I can go from there. The military is not the best thing to be in when thinking about things like family and kids. I don't think it is something I want to put children through if I come to that time where I decide to have some. I'm up for Reenlistment very soon, I have to make a decision of getting out or staying in here shortly.

Any advice to women considering joining the military?
Be prepared to make some sacrifices, whether you be a man or a woman. The military is not an easy lifestyle, and it is very much a lifestyle. Unfortunately, as a woman you are already on a lower rung in the ladder then your male counterparts, so you have that to overcome, but if you can, you will be respected that much more for it.

Why did you begin blogging? How long have you been blogging and what have you learned by blogging?
My beginning blogging was actually kind of a fluke, a friend I had met a few years back (Fall of 2001) had a blog, and I thought it was an interesting idea and so I've been doing it ever since. Its been something I did just for fun for a while, though my blog didn't take off until last Fall after the presidential election. That took me by slight surprise, to put it lightly. I learned a lot about writing from blogging, strangely I didn't like writing very much until the last five or six years.

Thank you, Kami, for taking the time to do this interview!

Posted by Jody at 01:12 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

In her own words:

In her own words:

I was a Russian linguist in the Army for five years. I was stationed in Wiesbaden, Germany, and served in the Gulf War.

You have to have females in the military for it to function. There just aren't enough male volunteers. As far as "front lines" go, the front ain't what it used to be. In general I would keep the gals as far away from combat as possible. There are great female warriors, but they are few and far between.

My time in the Army gave me the highpoints and lowpoints of my life. It gives me great pleasure to know that no matter how bad a situation is, I can always walk away from it. That wasn't a possibility in the Army.

I have loads of memories, but one that might be (mildly) interesting to others is the Goat Orchard we had on one side of our camp in Saudi. Our campsite was got from some Bedouins for a crate of ammo and some MREs. It was a traditional meeting site for them, and had hundreds of butchered goat carcasses under the sand that were always popping up. One popped up right underneath the cot of my Sergeant, Bob, after he'd had that spot a couple of weeks already. We dubbed that particular goat "Bob's Silent Companion." We called our camp "Rotting Goat."

Anyways, the guys gathered up a ton of little goat legbones and stuck them upright in the ground in straight lines, row after row, and put up a sign calling it the Goat Orchard. It still makes me smile to think of it. The guys were so funny.

Go find out more about Donnah at Florida Cracker.

Posted by Jody at 12:51 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

When did you serve

When did you serve ? How long? What branch of the military? What did you do?

June 5, 1985 - December 24, 1996, USAF. Medically retired as an E-6 (TSgt). What did I do? You know that could be a long story!
My job was in Accounting and Finance, but as you may know, military people also do a lot of other stuff in addition to the regular job. I did a LOT of work training others for deployment, working as an inspector/evaluator during military training exercises, as well as the dreaded "additional duties" we all get to do during exercises.

Your perspective on females in the military in general? What about on the front lines?

I was in the Air Force, so my perspective is sure to be far from what a Marine or whatever will tell you. Also, I worked in a job that had more women than many other jobs. That said, I never really gave it much thought--female/male issues weren't really "issues" in my experience. Sure, there are the sexual harassers and stuff like that, but from what I saw, far less than in the civilian world. FAR less. In general, I think most military men respect the women equally as long as the job's done. The military is a TRUE meritocracy.

Women on the front lines? They're already THERE, whether we choose to acknowledge it or not. My opinion is pretty simple: if a woman is capable by the SAME standards as men, then why shouldn't they be "on the front lines?" When I first enlisted, I wanted a fighting job, actually...and I also wanted to eventually go through the whole thing to fly fighters. Even twenty years ago, I was actually shocked that I couldn't. It was actually the first time I had EVER been told by anyone that I couldn't do something because of my gender--I'm fortunate to have parents who didn't see gender as an impediment or even make it an issue in any respect. So I guess that's where my perspective comes from--what's the difference if you can do the job?

I'm not naive about sexual tension, but I think the hysteria some have about the women getting "knocked up" if they're in combat is really kind of disingenous. That's going to happen anywhere.

You perspective on the military in general?

I don't even know how to answer that, really. I think everyone could benefit from service, but more importantly, it's about duty, honor, country. I also think most civilians have a grossly distorted view of who's in the military. Almost everyone I knew was well-educated and came from regular middle-class families. It's not the dropout, disadvantaged mob using the military as a "last resort" as the anti-war jerks like to proclaim, I'm living proof of that myself. People come from ALL walks of life into the military--which in itself is a benefit, in that you are exposed to all kinds of people. That brings better perspective to life itself.

One memory during your service that you'll never forget:

My TDY to Zakho, Iraq for Operation Provide Comfort. If you could have seen the Kurds there...you'd have absolutely NO hesitation whatsoever about the war we're in now. The Ba'athist apologists--those who call the murderers "insurgents"--are either evil, liars, or just completely and willfully ignorant. That vile situation alone was enough reason to invade Iraq, in my eyes. I won't ever give an inch on that point. Period.

And of course, I won't forget the Gulf War, but that pretty much goes for anyone. My ex-husband was in Saudi Arabia during it, and I begged to go too, but my commander didn't want to send both of us ("we can't afford to lose both of you," was his final answer). Whatever.

Go and visit Beth at MVRWC!

Posted by Jody at 12:36 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

When did you serve

When did you serve (husband serve)? How long? What branch of the military? What did you do?

My father is a 77 yr old 20yr retiree of the USAF, Ret Mstr Sgt Wesley John Albert. He enlisted in the Army during WWII and was on the troop ship on its way to Italy when the allies took Italy. He served there as part of the occupying force. Afterward, he returned home to his family farm in Caribou, Maine where he worked the farm and at the Doctors Pharmcy in town, many miles away. It was then that he realized that what he wanted to do with his life was not plowing and planting, but serving, so he re-enlisted, this time with the newly founded USAF. He was one of the first to wear the Air Force Blue.

He did well, worked hard, and ended up at Bacalar AFB outside of Columbus, Indiana. This was where he met his wife of 49 yrs, Hazel Claire Dake, a civil service worker who had worked at Camp Atterbury during the time when it served as a POW camp for both German and Italian POWs. Before they were married, his Major transferred to Mitchel AFB in New York, taking my Dad with him. Shortly after that, he returned for her, married her, and whisked her off to a life of short checks, base housing, and little reward. And being a depression era small farm girl, she thrived in it.

While stationed at Mitchell, both my younger brother and I were born, and during his next assignment at Hickham AFB, my younger sister was born. From there we were stationed at Dover AFB and in Santa Monica, California. He retired in 1968 after 20 years so that he would not have to leave us to deploy to Viet Nam, forgoing a pending promotion to Sr. Mstr. Sgt.

My husband served in Germany right after high school in 1972 and is proud to be able to claim the title of a Marne Man. He served one enlistment, leaving after dealing with a Captain with few people skills and less street smarts than most of the enlisteds.

You perspective on females in the military in general? What about on the front lines?

*perpares to step on toes now, put on your steeltoed boots please* I am a natural shot, faring better on the range than most of the trained shooters I know, even military and police shooters. I'm smart, think outside the box, and would have thrived in the discipline and structure of military life, having been raised in it and knowing what it entails. But I also realize that I have absolutely no business in a combat unit under any but an all female unit.

Men and women are not hardwired the same. Our Fight/Flight responses are flight first, fight second. To put the majority of women into a combat unit invites disaster. Also, men are hardwired to protect the female, even a scuffed up, battle weary, hard core woman with no socially redeming qualities, and that puts not only him but his entire unit in danger. It is unacceptable to place an entire unit in danger because of the way the primative brain in us all reacts to harm or threat.

Also, if a woman feels she should be considered for front line units, she should have to meet every requirement that the men in her unit does. No diferences. Period.

You perspective on the military in general?

Over worked, under serviced, under appreciated, and under paid. I believe that all of us should serve, even those who cannot under combat conditions, and that it is time for the return of the auxiliaries. Older, experienced people who can do support and training jobs should be allowed to enlist for that purpose to work stateside. I believe there should be incentives not only to join, but to stay. And I believe that an appreciation for the military should be started at a very young age. The thought that anti-mil teachers are in charge of the classrooms just sickens me.

Learn more about Mamamontezz at her wonderful blog!

Posted by Jody at 12:27 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

July 02, 2005

I'm not jealous...

Much. Charmaine Yoest, who is quickly becoming one of my favorite bloggers, has packed up and gone to the G8/Live 8 events in Scotland. As a good blogger, she has promised to live blog the events (Bono-blogging, anyone?) and as a good reader, I will be reading them. I must become friends quickly with her friends so next time I'll be on the plane to Scotland too...

To me the Live 8 events do seem a bit like the "we are the world" cheese fests of the 80's...I doubt some of the sincerity of the celebrity's involved: some just seem too egocentric to really care about others. But I figure if anyone is helped and any good comes from it, then it really doesn't matter the hearts of some of those involved.

Afterall to paraphrase the great philosopher, Joey (from Friends): "There are no selfless good deeds."

Posted by Jody at 04:30 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

July 01, 2005

From MSNBC: Three young men

From MSNBC:

Three young men were charged with murder in the disappearance of an Alabama teenager at the time they were arrested, more than three weeks ago, Aruba's chief prosecutor told The Associated Press on Friday.

The reasoning given behind not revealing this information was to protect the family of Natalee Holloway while they searched for Natalee's body, which has not yet been found. So they have known for this entire time that Natalee was indeed murdered and they withhold this information from everyone who was searching and worrying about this girl?

Very sad.

And yes, this will be my one and only Natalee post. I have felt for this family and was very pessimistic from the beginning of this outcome. With other bloggers doing a great job covering all the angles like Riehl World View and the MSM concentrating so much on this story; I didn't feel I had too much to add.

But I can't help but question the logic that the Arubian authorities have shown by withholding vital information from the Holloway family. It seems terribly insensitive and maybe a bit of a publicity technique to wait until the press died down to release the grim reality of the situation...

Posted by Jody at 05:41 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Feisty Repartee set the scene:

Feisty Repartee set the scene:

Two people are seated at a diner in the early hours of the morning. One passes the other an object under the table. Without touching their coffee, first one leaves, then the other. After the parties part ways, the recipient of the object is struck by a vehicle. Someone else retrieves the object...

Here goes my attempt to finish it:

He gasped to see the violence happen so close to him and the car seemed to have deliberately struck the woman on the desolate city street. Jason knew instantly that no one could have survived such an ordeal. He ran to the woman though, hoping maybe he could help. By instinct he checked her vital signs. Although he was a med student, he had never seen a body so bruised and broken like hers. She was petite, her suit a pale red color...or was that her blood soaked on her clothes? Gasping for air at the site of such a gruesome scene, he tried to find some way to identify her. Then he saw the tiny box clutched in her delicate hand.

He took it and looked up only to see the headlights of a car gunning toward him. Could it be the same car? He ran away from the street to safety in a small alleyway. There he saw the ambulance lights and policemen rush to the scene. Had he been imagining the car? Why did he feel so nervous? Shaken, he walked away, only after walking four blocks did he realize that he had the box still in his hand. What was it, he thought?

"Excuse me sir." An ominous voice said out of the dark. "I believe you might have something I need." A flashlight shone in his eyes then rested to reflect the badge the man was holding. It said F.B.I.

Jason stuttered. "What?"

"Were you a witness to an accident tonight, son?"

Jason's eyes widened. How could he have known? No one had seen him. The car?

He ran...only hearing in the background, the man's voice, "Don't son! They'll hurt you! Come back!"

Inside his tiny apartment, he felt safe for a moment. Opening up the package, he saw a small computer storage device that attached to a USB port. He turned on his laptop and attached the drive. Information began to flow. Information he instantly recognized as very sensitive and very important for his country's national security. The plans were intricately detailed of how to destroy major landmarks around the United States. His heart pounded deeply as he realized the implications if this information was not received by the C.I.A.

Suddenly though the computer shut off, the lights went dark. And the only thing to be heard in the apartment were two shots muffled by a silencer and the thud of Jason's body hitting the floor.

And of course, that deep ominous voice on his cell phone, "The situation has been contained, sir. Yes. No copies made. The plans can continue. Yes. We'll begin."

Posted by Jody at 11:42 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

I don't know which is

I don't know which is more shocking: her resignation or Kristol's accurate prediction.

This is to inform you of my decision to retire from my position as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, effective upon the nomination and confirmation of my successor. It has been a great privilege indeed to have served as a member of the court for 24 terms. I will leave it with enormous respect for the integrity of the court and its role under our constitutional structure.

So now who will be nominated to take her place? Since I'm sure this will become everyone's new favorite past time (well those who care); let's play "name that judge!"

Will it be Alberto Gonzales like Bill Kristol suggested?

Or Mel Martinez or Mike DeWine or Mike Crapo, named by Senator Harry Reid as a possible replacement? (Ok, I really like Mel Martinez, but is it wrong of me to become terribly suspicious when Harry Reid refers to this group as " people who serve in the Senate now who are Republicans who I think would be outstanding Supreme Court members"?)

Updated: What other bloggers are saying:

Rightpundit says it will be either Emilio Garza or Edith Brown Clement. Also see his great analysis here and here and here.

Malkin as always has an excellent round-up.

MVRWC quotes Reagan. And some of her commenters are suggesting a conspiracy...

Polipundit picks Judge Janice Rogers Brown, or Judge Priscilla Owen to replace O'Connor.

Oddybobo says "Pick me! Pick me!"

What do you say?

Posted by Jody at 11:18 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

My cool sidebar gadget called

My cool sidebar gadget called "Last Halo"? Not only does it show who made the latest and greatest comment on this site but if you slide your mouse over the person's name and it shows the comment text...isn't that nifty?

Posted by Jody at 12:11 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack