The Silent Scream of the Asparagus
Move over PETA and make way for PETP. This would be funny if it wasn't scary crazy. No. It's not a joke.The Silent Scream of the Asparagus: You just knew it was coming: At the request of the Swiss government, an ethics panel has weighed in on the "dignity" of plants and opined that the arbitrary killing of flora is morally wrong. This is no hoax. The concept of what could be called "plant rights"
Mon, 05 May 2008 22:52:17 -0500
Muslims Riot Over Exam Question
In a New Delhi university a riot broke out over the wording of an exam question on Mohammed's life for a graduate level history course. Fortunately the authorities quickly took stern actions:
Meanwhile, Jharkhand Chief Minister, Madhu Koda has directed Ranchi University Vice Chancellor, A A Khan to inquire into the question paper scandal. Koda said he would talk to the university authorities
Sat, 03 May 2008 11:32:35 -0500
Our Friend the Government
Accompanied by cheers from those who think you can never have enough government regulation of industry, let alone too much, the FAA issued a major smackdown to American Airlines this week. There was a familiar drumbeat in the media: another Evil Corporation shoving public safety aside in pursuit of Dirty Profits. [Of course, big media companies aren't like that; they're the Good Guys.] Stranded
Wed, 16 Apr 2008 00:39:52 -0500
Massacre Foiled by Gun Free Zone
Dozens of lives were saved today when a crazed gunman was turned away from an area shopping mall after seeing a "Gun Free Zone" sign at the door. Several witnesses reported seeing the man approach the mall carrying two assault rifles, bandoleers of ammunition, and a backpack. "He looked very angry, and I was sure they were in for trouble inside the store," said Tara Hertz, who saw the incident
Fri, 04 Apr 2008 20:30:24 -0500
Not a Brain-Dead Liberal
That's how David Mamet, playwrite and screen writer, describes his transition in thinking.
Best of the Web Today - WSJ.com: "'I took the liberal view for many decades, but I believe I have changed my mind. As a child of the '60s, I accepted as an article of faith that government is corrupt, that business is exploitative, and that people are generally good at heart.... [Now I] question my hatred
Sat, 22 Mar 2008 12:33:57 -0500
Clarence Thomas--My Favorite Justice
I've always admired Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. Now, thanks to this excellent article about him in the Wall Street Jurnal, I have even more reason to love him:
Commentary: The Weekend Interview - WSJ.com: "Upon entering his spacious office overlooking the Capitol Dome in Washington, D.C., the first thing to catch your eye is his Nebraska Cornhuskers screen saver. Mr. Thomas never
Fri, 21 Mar 2008 22:45:47 -0500
The Golden Compass
The movie, "The Golden Compass," has stirred up quite a controversy, including calls for a boycott by some Christian groups. "Viper" and I read the books together some years ago. Despite the strong hostility toward Christianity in the plot, the story is interesting and very imaginative and fun to read. Last Saturday there was a "sneak preview" at the Grand in Lincoln, so we decided to see it.
Wed, 12 Dec 2007 01:35:30 -0600
Test Your Civics Literacy
The Institute for Intercollegiate Studies has just published the test and and the results at 50 US colleges. Test your own "civics literacy" here with the same test.
My score: 58/60 (96.67%).
The average scores for seniors at 50 colleges are appallingly bad. Harvard seniors did the "best" with a D+ (just under 70%). In last place of the colleges studied are seniors at St. Thomas Univ. (FL) with
Tue, 18 Sep 2007 11:20:50 -0500
Iran Captures Squirrel Nest of Spies
The Iranian government actually arrested 14 squirrels for "spying." What's even more hilarious is that they admitted it. The Iranians, not the squirrels, although we're sure it won't be long before those Revolutionary Guards wring a confession out of those little rodents.
You can see in this video, just how dangerous squirrels can be.
Seriously, though, we can almost imagine some bored marines
Fri, 20 Jul 2007 22:22:29 -0500
Out of the Mouths of Babes
Back in May, Sen. Hilary Clinton visited the elementary school in Miami where Blake, the son of my niece, is a student. When Blake and his family were in Omaha last month, he mentioned the Clinton visit. This conversation ensued:
Me: "How do you like Senator Clinton, Blake?"
Blake: "Not very much."
Me: "Which presidential candidate is your favorite?"
Blake: "I like Black Omaha."
Mon, 09 Jul 2007 00:06:30 -0500
Energy Efficiency
This article by Charles Krauthammer makes good points about the inherent tradeoffs that must occur when we seek to change our energy usage. There are always costs and/or other unintended consequences of any new law, and the government has become very adept at hiding those costs and consequences (i.e. making sure someone else gets blamed).
The most efficient and honest way to reduce gas
Sat, 07 Jul 2007 12:08:37 -0500
Chris Draney
Some of you know that my "little brother," Chris, died suddenly on April 28th in Portland, ME. Here's a link to Chris' obituary in the Lincoln Journal Star. He was only 41, so it was quite a shock to all of us, particularly our mother (82). Here are some pictures of Chris over the years.
We're having a memorial service in Lincoln next Saturday (check the Journal Star or World Herald on Wed.
Mon, 28 May 2007 22:58:07 -0500
French Election Results
The results are mostly in from the first round of the French presidential elections. The top two candidates, Nicholas Sarkozy (center-right, UMP) and Ségolène Royal (socialist, PS), both advance to the second round, which will be in two weeks. Third place, and out-of-the-money, was center-right-left candidate, François Bayrou. The far right Jean-Marie Le Pen (FN), got just over 10% of the vote,
Sun, 22 Apr 2007 21:33:27 -0500
Root Cause of Terrorism
Dr. Tawfik Hamid, a onetime member of Jemaah Islamiya, an Islamist terrorist group, writes in OpinionJournal about the inherent propensity to violence in Islam. Dr. Hamid now lives in the West and describes himself as a Muslim reformer.
It is vital to grasp that traditional and even mainstream Islamic teaching accepts and promotes violence. Shariah, for example, allows apostates to be killed,
Tue, 03 Apr 2007 20:07:21 -0500
The Great Global Warming Swindle
The film at this link, which was aired on Britain's Channel 4, can really open your eyes. There's lots we haven't been told about the science behind the climate change hysteria, and much of what we have been told is wrong. This film includes commentary from many climate scientists and a co-founder of Greenpeace that rebuts the claims of the environmental extremists who are claiming that no
Sun, 01 Apr 2007 23:14:45 -0500
Saturday Night Warming
Actor John Travolta has taken a "courageous" stand against Global Warming. However, Travolta's "principles," don't seem to apply to his own behavior (H/T UnklB):
This is London: But although he readily admitted: "I fly jets", he failed to mention he actually owns five, along with his own private runway.
Clocking up at least 30,000 flying miles in the past 12 months means he has produced an
Sat, 31 Mar 2007 12:44:14 -0500
Nagging from Beyond the Grave
My brother sent this obituary along from the Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram:Sara Katherine Petterson Brouillard, 55
CASTINE -- Sara Katherine Petterson Brouillard, 55, of Castine passed peacefully at Eastern Maine Medical Center on Wednesday, March 21, 2007, following a brief, courageous battle with cancer and a long and aggravating marriage to Paul Brouillard.Wow. She really knows
Wed, 28 Mar 2007 19:58:00 -0500
Victory for Freedom of Speech in France
It's strange from an American perspective, but in France you can be sued, fined, and even imprisoned for offending people. In the thick of the Mohammed Cartoon controversy whipped up by some Danish imams on a tour of the Middle East, the French, satirical newspaper, Charlie Hebdo took a stand for free speech. They republished the cartoons and added another caricature of their own.
Some French
Thu, 22 Mar 2007 23:00:09 -0500
Sen. Hagel's Big Announcement
After a full weekend of bristly anticipation Sen. Hagel delivered the message we've all been waiting to hear:Facing a wall-to-wall lineup of TV cameras, Hagel told a crowded news conference he'll delay a decision on whether to pursue the presidency or seek re-election until later this year.
Wow! What a blockbuster. We're reminded of Mario Cuomo somehow.
Technorati tags: Hagel
Mon, 12 Mar 2007 22:34:45 -0500
Our Friends the Saudis
Lincoln resident Mohammed Siddiq was born in Medina. In a guest column in the Lincoln Journal Star he gives us a peak at life inside the Petro Kingdom:Just show your birth certificate:
In Saudi Arabia, birth is all that really counts. Those who are born to rank and wealth will rule while the vast majority will be ruled. What bed you are born in determines your position in Saudi society. This is
Sun, 11 Mar 2007 12:48:12 -0500
Fortenberry on Iraq
We admire Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, our congressman from Lincoln, for not singing onto on the House's "non-binding" resolution in favor of losing the war in Iraq. The Lincoln Journal Star criticized Fortenberry for not going along with it, and today they published his statement to the House as his rebuttal:Madam Speaker, this is a pivotal moment for our nation and a very grave and solemn policy
Sat, 24 Feb 2007 16:45:26 -0600
Like He Needs Any Help with That
Hugo "Fidel" Chavez is premptively blaming the US for the results of his policies on the Venezuelan economy. Because nationalizing everything in sight, squashing all dissent, and central economic planning has promoted prosperity and freedom whereever it has been tried before. The Irish Times carries this AP report: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has claimed that the US government is planning
Sat, 24 Feb 2007 11:54:36 -0600
Not the Sandmonkey
An Egyptian blogger, Abdelkareem Suleiman, was sentenced to 4 years in Egyptian prison for "insulting" Islam and "defaming" Mubarak. This article from the Daily Telegraph gave me a shock, reporting that this was Sandmonkey:
An Egyptian who enraged his government with outspoken views on Islam and politics expressed in his internet diary was jailed yesterday amid an international outcry.The 22-
Thu, 22 Feb 2007 23:35:16 -0600
Nuts and Bolts
I have taken the plunge and upgraded my Blogger account to the new version, albeit with some trepidation. It seems to be a oneway door, and even though reports from the other side were favorable, I wasn't sure I was ready. No turning back now...
So far I haven't switched to the new template system, which is supposedly the best part, although I did try it on a test blog. Essentially all the
Sun, 18 Feb 2007 20:23:30 -0600
Pat Sajak, Blogger
Back in the old days when we used to watch Wheel of Fortune, we always thought Pat Sajak seemed like a guy who would be fun to meet. Despite the fame he had garnered through the show, he never seemed to take himself (or the show for that matter) overly seriously.
That basic good sense is also evident in his blog, Sajak Says, He currently has on the main page two thoughtful posts on the Global
Sun, 18 Feb 2007 19:17:32 -0600
