A funny thing happened on the way to....

I began my search for new and titillating news on "portgate". I read this, I read that, I got ill from all the political posturing. The MSM coverage is horrid. Blogdom is really the only space to go when searching for the truth. Needless to say the suffering I felt from my aquisition of the "political posturing and obfuscation" illness drove me to relenquish my attempt at another "portgate" post.

I began wandering aimlessly looking for solace and refuge in the far corners of blogdom. I went from Joe's Big Blog to Vox Popoli , to Normal Rockstar to The Crystal Lake Observatory. It was an interesting blog title so my curiosity was piqued. The page loaded, I glanced at his links. I think that personal links posted by bloggers can sometimes help to add a sort of substance to who they are and their opinions. Also it could be me wanting to give that substance to them. Either way, that's not the point I'm trying to make. Actually I'm not making any point. I just found a very interesting resource at Answers in Genesis. They provide in depth answers to many question's regarding creation, God, evolution, etc. The introductory article, Creation: 'where's the proof?', gives solid explanations and logical and rational arguments. It also exemplifies quite well, the general philisophical atmosphere of the articles. Usually it's logic that disipates when people with opposing viewpoints try 'persude' each other that their opinion is correct. I highly recommend a visit to the site.


Technorati links
apologetics, God, creation, evolution, Bible

The Left and Right Vie For Political Fodder on "PortGate"

Oliver North has an excellent article on the Washington Times Insider Page (requires free registration). He really cuts through the bias from both sides and lays out the details that are glaringly missing from most "news" reports. It is not as cut and dried as the talking heads and teleprompt readers make it sound. I must admit that my first reaction to hearing the story was, "what are these people smoking?". I highly recomend taking a moment to register and read Col. North's article.

Upon further investigation I've come to a different, albeit ambivalent, conclusion.

"Who really cares who the port facilities are owned by?"

It definitely was not the previous administration. Anyone for Chinese food?

In an article titled "At L.A. and Long Beach, a raft of security worries" from the 7/18/05 issue of Government Computer News, those ports are described as "landlord ports, which means all the terminals are leased by private companies, which provide their own security." The issue of who "owns" the ports and are they secure is not new. Watching the alphabet soup networks, one would think this is a groundbreaking first. Foreign ownership of port facilities? Balderdash! It's un-American!

Let me just say that I firmly believe portions of our port facilities should not be owned by terrorists, friends of terrorists, terrorist in-laws, cousin terrorsists, terrorist sympathizers, terrorist supporters, financiers of terrorists, be-frienders of said terrorists or terrorists aiders and abetter's. That having been said, I can safely say that the Dubai Port World company conforms to those requirements.

The "newsies" however, tend to use phrases like the ports are being "sold to a foreign power" or "turned over to" an "arab nation" to spin viewers' opinion. Anything is fair game in the promotion of the religion of Bush bashing. In reality the British firm, Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co., was bought out by the United Arab Emirates owned commercial entity, Dubai Ports World. They also run port operations in Australia, South Korea, India, Germany and China.

Hat tip to Crazy Politico's Ranting's, for commenting and linking to his blog. He has obviously punched a few more search buttons than I have.

With a deftly crafted headline bullet, the "newsies" have successfully manipulated public opinion. Most American's have neither the time nor the inclination to research headlines and verify media truthfulness. Coincidentally.....they know that!!! They can feed the sheeple what they think the sheeple need to know. Being one of the sheeple, you just eat it up and regurgitate what you've been fed.

"Yes, it's true, I saw it on the news!"


Technorati links
U.S. Ports, Dubai, portgate, DP World, Oliver North, CFIUS, Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, United Arab Emirates

Redesign and a little rambling (actually alot)

I got a bit bored with my previous template so i decided to try this one for awhile. It's actually more effort than I had hoped. It might remain like this for longer than I anticipated. All of the customization has to be methodically pasted and previewed for aesthetic quality of course. I had to use a new template on my buddy Joe's blog because there was some glitch messing up the sidebar formatting. I guess that inspired me to redesign my own. I do get the stink eye from my wife when I'm sitting in front of the computer for an excessive amount of time. Especially when there is painting and yardwork on the day's agenda!

In fact just yesterday I determined that I was not 20 years younger than I actually am. What I mean by that is I did some physically demanding work (the type I have not done for a long time). After I finished I had the sensation of having been hit by a bus and dragged a few hundred yards down the road.

I did this type of work all the time years ago. After leaving the military I worked for a plumbing contractor and a general contractor. Lots of hard work. Good work. There is definitely a distinct sense of accomplishment working with your hands, building things, creating. I think some of the most satisfying work I've done has been in the construction trades. Granted some types of construction jobs are much better (more satisfying) than others. For example, the laborer position is less fulfilling than the finish carpenter. I suppose this is rather self explanatory and boring. But you get the drift, anyway.

How this post went from blog redesign to construction worker is one of those wonders of blogdom. Fortunately I don't have to rely on this hobby to pay the bills!!

Job Promotion

What a huge responsibility! I've been added to my buddies blog as an administrator. Joe's Big Blog will hopefully take a flying leap, wait a minute, improve by leaps and bounds. That sounds better. I have been given the keys to the castle, the bar is open, it's a free for all, let's roll. This just may propel me into another tax bracket if all goes well. I'll be able to bilk several dollars worth of free gifts out of my employer in lieu of that astronomically high salary he is anticipating having to put up for the technical help I'm providing.

(insert evil laugh here)

I may be making too much of this "appointment" to such a position. Maybe not. It just seems like I can get a lot more mileage out of it if I play it up as something really huge. A step up on the social register, schmoozing ammunition, ego fodder. Call it what you will. Joe's Big Blog will never be the same. Don't look back, take no prosoners, full speed ahead, bombs away and whatever other cliche' you can think of.

Thanks Joe!




blogging

Ponderous, I must say

After reading the U.S. code Section 1802 cited as the law that President Bush is ignoring, I can seriously say with conviction that the political posturing and partisanship from the left is despicable. Why don't they just release a statement of support for terrorism? Where is the outrage and prosecution of the individual who leaked the story to the press about the classified surveillance program? Maybe if the anti-American leftists get really lucky we can uncover all the "secret" ways that the U.S. tries to thwart terrorists and publish them internationally in a handbook of sorts. This would seem to be a more efficient way of ensuring terrorists know our tactics. Everything will be out in the open and we can all sit with the Islamo-fascists and have a nice summit. We can talk with them about the desire we have for freedom not only for us but all people. Concluding, we could ask politely if they would please not kill our wives and children!? They would, of course agree since our attempts at understanding their religion of peace are so heartfelt and noble. Ahh, utopia. What a wonderful place!

Here is the text of the law that Bush and his evil henchmen are so wantonly breaking. I took the liberty of emphasizing a few areas.

(a)(1) Notwithstanding any other law, the President, through the Attorney General, may authorize electronic surveillance without a court order under this subchapter to acquire foreign intelligence information for periods of up to one year if the Attorney General certifies in writing under oath that -
(A) the electronic surveillance is solely directed at -


(i) the acquisition of the contents of communications transmitted by means of communications used exclusively between or among foreign powers, as defined in section1801(a)(1), (2), or (3) of this title; or


(ii) the acquisition of technical intelligence, other than the spoken communications of individuals, from property or premises under the open and exclusive control of a foreign power, as defined in section 1801(a)(1), (2), or (3) of this title;


(B) there is no substantial likelihood that the surveillance will acquire the contents of any communication to which a United States person is a party; and


(C) the proposed minimization procedures with respect to such surveillance meet the definition of minimization procedures under section 1801(h) of this title; and if the Attorney General reports such minimization procedures and any changes thereto to the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence at least thirty days prior to their effective date, unless the Attorney General determines immediate action is required and notifies the committees immediately of such minimization procedures and the reason for their becoming effective immediately.


(2) An electronic surveillance authorized by this subsection may be conducted only in accordance with the Attorney General's certification and the minimization procedures adopted by him. The Attorney General shall assess compliance with such procedures and shall report such assessments to the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence under the provisions of section 1808(a) of this title.


(3) The Attorney General shall immediately transmit under seal to the court established under section 1803(a) of this title a copy of his certification. Such certification shall be maintained under security measures established by the Chief Justice with the concurrence of the Attorney General, in consultation with the Director of Central Intelligence, and shall remain sealed unless -


(A) an application for a court order with respect to the surveillance is made under sections 1801(h)(4) and 1804 of this title; or


(B) the certification is necessary to determine the legality of the surveillance under section 1806(f) of this title.


(4) With respect to electronic surveillance authorized by this subsection, the Attorney General may direct a specified communication common carrier to -


(A) furnish all information, facilities, or technical assistance necessary to accomplish the electronic surveillance in such a manner as will protect its secrecy and produce a minimum of interference with the services that such carrier is providing its customers; and


(B) maintain under security procedures approved by the Attorney General and the Director of Central Intelligence any records concerning the surveillance or the aid furnished which such carrier wishes to retain. The Government shall compensate, at the prevailing rate, such carrier for furnishing such aid.


(b) Applications for a court order under this subchapter are authorized if the President has, by written authorization, empowered the Attorney General to approve applications to the court having jurisdiction under section 1803 of this title, and a judge to whom an application is made may, notwithstanding any other law, grant an order, in conformity with section 1805 of this title, approving electronic surveillance of a foreign power or an agent of a foreign power for the purpose of obtaining foreign intelligence information, except that the court shall not have jurisdiction to grant any order approving electronic surveillance directed solely as described in paragraph (1)(A) of subsection (a) of this section unless such surveillance may involve the acquisition of communications of any United States person.

Now what's so difficult to understand here?

Hellooooooo Infidels!

I love that line. It's one that radio talk show host Michael Savage uses. Anyone who is not a member of Islam is considered an infidel and must be killed (according to the Islamo-fascists). So...I am an infidel to the religion of peace! Check with the Michelle Malkin website to see the tsunami of bloggers who are posting all or some of the Muhammed cartoons that the Islamo-fascists are willing to kill people over. I chose the one that I felt was actually the most humorous. It also is shows the blatant hypocrisy of the Islamo-fascists (how many times am I going to use that word in one post?).