Monday, January 30, 2006

Kerry's Folly And Kennedy's Apoplexy

Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts, fresh from schussing the Swiss Alps (and not falling, no doubt), writes an impassioned but futile plea for resistance against Sam Alito's confirmation as an Associate Justice of SCOTUS. One of Kerry's big problems here - and there are many - is that he shows in this editorial just how badly he misunderstands the conservative viewpoint of the role of the judiciary. He clearly sees the role of the judiciary in terms of righting what liberals see as wrongs, as opposed to interpreting law and precedent as regards the facts of the case. Let's take an example from his piece.

Kerry writes:


Will it matter if we speak up after the Supreme Court has granted the executive the right to use torture, or to eavesdrop without warrants? Will it matter if we speak up only after a woman's right to privacy has been taken away? Will history record what we say after the courthouse door is slammed in the faces of women, minorities, the elderly, the disabled, and the poor? No.

All well and good, perhaps, as excessive rhetoric. But there is no hint here of the particulars of the laws, precedents, and facts involved. For instance, I'm not a lawyer, but one who is cites chapter and verse on the NSA warrantless surveillance. That Sen. Kerry agrees with the NY Times is not surprising. That he gives no consideration to the case law that support the opposing viewpoint is embarrassing. And nobody is slamming courthouse doors in anyone's face. Your problem is not that Mr. Alito has been shown to be that kind of person; your problem is that he hasn't.

And speaking of embarrassing, the senior Massachusetts Senator went off on a rant today before the cloture vote took place, one that saw Mr. Alito move by 72-25 to a final confirmation vote scheduled for tomorrow. Senator Kennedy's complaint against Judge Alito is essentially that he's not an activist liberal judge. Well, duh.

James Taranto in last Friday's 'Best of the Web' referred to "Otter and Bluto, the Senators from Massachusetts." Bluto was in action today.

D-Day: War's over, man. Wormer dropped the big one.

Bluto: Over? Did you say "over"? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!

Otter: Germans?

Boon: Forget it, he's rolling.

Bluto: And it ain't over now. 'Cause when the goin' gets tough... [thinks hard] ... the tough get goin'! Who's with me? Let's go!

UPDATE: Well, somebody had to do it. (hat tip: Ace of Spades)

UPDATE REDUX: A must read on the failed Alito Borking - Dean Barnett of Soxblog.

Sunday, January 29, 2006

'Round the 'Sphere: 1/29/06

STEP RIGHT UP FOR THE CARNIVALS...

CARNIVAL OF THE CLUELESS #30
CARNIVAL OF CRAZY XIV
CARNIVAL OF THE VANITIES
CARNIVAL OF COMEDY #39
CARNIVAL OF SATIRE #18
CARNIVAL OF THE INSANITIES

UPDATE 1/30: CARNIVAL OF THE CLUELESS #31 is now up! Jack Bauer would read it, why wouldn't you?


THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO HMMMM...

Brainster has some thoughts on lefty blogs.

Will Franklin has a terrific post about taxes.

Dave Craddock at The Paladin Blog has a great piece about which party really is the focal point of the "culture of corruption".
[Hat-Tip: Anna]

Rick Moran has a superb article about what really may have happened to all those missing Iraqi WMD's.

Kerfuffles takes an in-depth look at the scourge that is Bush Derangement Syndrome

Our very own T.M. Ergin also blogs at his own place, Joust the Facts, as Giacomo. T.M. is a medical doctor in real life, and he has been watching a certain television commercial with a great deal of concern for the harm it may inadvertently cause.

Chris Short, like a lot of other bloggers, wrote a screed on the idiotic Joel Stein "I Don't Support the Troops" article. Unlike a lot of other bloggers, he actually got a response from Joel Stein!

David Drake, who dabbles mostly in satire like myself, has a very thoughtful serious piece this week about the upcoming Hamas led government in the Palestinian Territories.


OTHER PEOPLES' FUNNY...

Buckley F. Williams is all over the big "24" buzz with Little Known Facts About Jack Bauer and More Little Known Facts About Jack Bauer

Citizen Grim has a great image lampooning Google's caving-in to the Chinese goverment's demands for filters on its search engine.


NEW BLOGS TO TRY...

Potfry sent me an e-mail and asked me to check out his blog. I did - and I laughed out loud several times! You should check it out, too!

Camp Katrina Blog is dedicated to sharing the good works of the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces and showing how they help people all over the world. What a great idea!


MORE BLOG AWARDS...

Lyn Perry at Bloggin' Outloud would like you know about the Best So Far awards for January 2006.

Enlighten NJ has launched the The Walter Johnson Awards for the best of the right-half of the blogosphere.
[Hat-Tip: Pat Curley]

Friday, January 27, 2006

Captions Outrageous! [And the Camel They Rode in on Edition]




The above photo comes to us from AP Photo/Al-Jazeera/APTN, File via Yahoo!

I know it's old, but these invertebrate dung-eaters have been in the news again, so it's a great oppurtunity to let them have it! Just try and keep it PG-13 folks, now sock it to 'em!

This contest will last approximately one week.

Good luck!

******************************

I not only like to host photo caption contests, I like to play them, too! Be certain to check out the latest contests at these great blogs...

WILLisms
Outside the Beltway
Random Numbers
GOP and the City
Wizbang!
Bloggin' Outloud

And don't forget to check out the best caption blog in the business (where your suggestions are always welcome in the comments section, and can, if good enough, get promoted to the front page)...

Caption This!


UPDATE 1/29: Caption contest regular Charles Austin has started his own contest at Sine Qua Non Pundit!

******************************

MOST RECENT CAPTION CONTEST WINNERS:

Dorito Bandito Edition
Shadow of His Former Self Edition
When the Saints Go Mouthing Off Edition
The Face That Sunk 1000 Ships Edition
Surely You Jest Edition

******************************

Thanks for the links!

Lucky Dawg News
Castle Argghhh! [WARNING: Funny but NSFW image]
Blogmeister USA
THIRDWAVEDAVE

This post is proudly featured in...

OTB CAPTION JAM

******************************

UPDATE 2/3:

This contest is now closed...

WINNERS ARE POSTED HERE!

New contest is HERE!

Thank you all for playing!

Captions Outrageous! Winners [Surely You Jest Edition]

Announcing the winners of the 28th ever Right Place Photo Caption Contest!

Thank you to one and all who participated!

Presenting the top fifteen captions for this picture from REUTERS/Larry Downing via Yahoo!





#15: President Bush announces the new United Nations official logo.

Doc


#14: I'm happy to be here at the unveiling of President Chirac's official portrait.

Doc


#13: Presidential portraits: William Jefferson Clinton, and George W. Bush.

Dave Craddock


#12: Democrats abandon all pretense of civilized discourse and go for the "seltzer-down-the-pants" gambit.

D. Carter


#11: "Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right. Here I am, stuck in the middle with you."

walrus


#10: Since CNN got away with blasting an "X" over Vice President Cheney's face, they've become far more bold.

Son Of The Godfather


#9: Why all the funnery? Dean said he had my portait ready and I demand to see it!

spacemonkey


#8: I guess they DO have pictures showing Bush and Abramoff together!

Son Of The Godfather


#7: President Bush and Mayor Nagin discuss important issues facing New Orleans.

Steve O


#6: "It's tough getting down to serious business with Dr. Dean looking over your shoulder."

Stephen Johnson


#5: Democrats continue their disastrous policy of not taking George Bush seriously.

D. Carter


#4: Some ex-presidents go on speaking tours after office. If ours wants to host "Jokers Wild", so be it.

Son Of The Godfather


#3: Moonbattomiraphobia: The fear that somewhere, somehow, Nancy Pelosi is staring at you.

V the K


#2: "A Pepsi for me, and a Cask of Amontillado for Harry Reid."

D. Carter


And the winning entry for this Caption Contest...


#1: "So, what do say about my Mardi-Gras-vitas?"

JannyMae


Bravo! Bravo!

Encore! Encore!

Presenting:

Captions Outrageous! [And the Camel They Rode in on Edition]

Enjoy!


PREVIOUS PHOTO CAPTION CONTEST WINNERS:

Oh, Thank Heaven for 7/11 Edition
Fickle Finger of Fate Edition
Things Are Looking Up Edition
Rage in the Cage Edition
Not So Mellow Fellow in Yellow Edition
The Beards and the Beads Edition
Weapons of Mash Destruction Edition
You're Al I Ever Wanted Edition
His Cup Runneth Over Edition
The Eyes Have It Edition
Jeepers Veepers Edition
Huggermugger Edition
Ear's to You Edition
Heavy Medal Edition
Village of the Damned Edition
White on Rice Edition
Sunny Side Up Edition
Absentee Mallet Edition
French Tickler Edition
In Through the Out Door Edition
Frankenstein Meets Godzilla Edition
Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel Edition
Spirits of Christmas Present Edition
Dorito Bandito Edition
Shadow of His Former Self Edition
When the Saints Go Mouthing Off Edition
The Face That Sunk 1000 Ships Edition


And, in case you haven't yet seen it, here are the updated overall rankings for the first 20 caption contests!!!

******************************

Thanks for the link!

Lucky Dawg News

Wednesday, January 25, 2006

Hitchens Vs. The Times

One listened to the Osama Bin Laden tape of last week and concluded that it demonstrates weakness and Bin Laden's fear that the cause is lost; the writers at the other heard the same tape and got the same translation, and concluded that Al Qaeda is winning and Bin Laden is boosting the morale of his minions.

From Christopher Hitchens: Al Qaeda Is Losing

The conditions for this latest truce are of course impossible as well. All one needs, in order to earn Bin Laden's mercy, is to give up Afghanistan and Iraq. But this raises a more intriguing question. Why are formerly triumphalist jihadists using the language of "truce" at all? Not very long ago, God was claimed to be on their side and victory certain.


Daniel Benjamin and Steven Simon think they have the answer in The Times: Al Qaeda's Big Boast

Mr. bin Laden staked his claim to leadership of the Muslim world on 9/11, striking us as others only dreamed of doing. On the tape, he shows strength by taking credit for America's humiliation in Iraq and continues to do what we are not: fighting for the hearts and minds of the Muslim world.


America's humiliation in Iraq? With the successful elections? With the ratified constitution? With the continuously growing and training, and ever-strengthening Iraqi security forces? With Iraqis now fighting with foreign insurgents. With Sunnis now joining the government and working within the fledgling democracy? I think not, at least not yet.

Mr. Benjamin and Mr. Simon have already ceded the war to the terrorists, and for no reason other than the fact that Bin Laden claims he's winning and magnanimously offering a truce. They, of course, call for tail-between-our-legs withdrawal from Iraq. They write that there is "so much evidence that the jihadists are winning sympathy," ignoring the move of Sunnis - including leading clerics - away from the terrorists, and ignoring the more frequent occurrances of "red on red" attacks. They write that more Iraqis are joining the terrorists when the evidence is otherwise.

Perhaps Mr. Benjamin and Mr. Simon are simply covering for themselves and trying to sell their books. After all, they were the director and senior director, respectively, for counter terrorism with the National Security Council during the Clinton Administration. This Random House author profile paints an interesting picture.

Daniel Benjamin and Steven Simon began working on this book shortly after leaving the National Security Council, where, as director and senior director for counterterrorism, they watched the rise of al-Qaeda and helped coordinate America’s fight against Usama bin Laden and his organization.


I don't recall that they coordinated much of a fight against Bin Laden at all, despite numerous Al Qaeda-derived terrorist attacks during their tenure. They did, however, do a lot of watching. These are just two more people who can't be trusted with America's security - and it's sad that they were. While Hitchens' declaration of victory is premature, he's a lot closer to the right track than Benjamin and Simon.

******************************

Thanks for the link!

Freedom Folks

Tuesday, January 24, 2006

"I Don't Support Our Troops!"

I have mixed feelings - believe it or not - about this column by Joel Stein in today's LA Times:
I DON'T SUPPORT our troops. This is a particularly difficult opinion to have, especially if you are the kind of person who likes to put bumper stickers on his car. Supporting the troops is a position that even Calvin is unwilling to urinate on.

I'm sure I'd like the troops. They seem gutsy, young and up for anything. If you're wandering into a recruiter's office and signing up for eight years of unknown danger, I want to hang with you in Vegas.

And I've got no problem with other people — the ones who were for the Iraq war — supporting the troops. If you think invading Iraq was a good idea, then by all means, support away. Load up on those patriotic magnets and bracelets and other trinkets the Chinese are making money off of.

But I'm not for the war. And being against the war and saying you support the troops is one of the wussiest positions the pacifists have ever taken — and they're wussy by definition. It's as if the one lesson they took away from Vietnam wasn't to avoid foreign conflicts with no pressing national interest but to remember to throw a parade afterward.


Stein does *not* support the troops, and makes no bones about it.

Needless to say, I don't agree with Stein's opinion. But at least he's honest enough to give it. This is completely different from the lip service many leftists in academia, for example, pay to the troops, while trying to bar ROTC units from college campuses.

Over and over we hear from liberal Democrats that they can't get their message out, and that's what's behind their dismal showings in the latest round of elections. The truth of the matter is that the liberal message is getting out, in spite of their best efforts to fool the public that they're something that they're not. It's hard for an impartial observer to look at the NSA spying "scandal" and come away with the sense that the Democrats, if they were in charge, would do as much to thwart the Jihadists.

So, I thank Stein for breaking the silence for the left - and reminding us why they have no business leading the country in a time of war.

Extra! Hear Hugh Hewitt's radio interview with Stein here.

******************************

Thanks for the link!

Mark in Mexico

Monday, January 23, 2006

A Worthy Cause

Dave at The Paladin Blog has a post you should read.

******************************

Thanks for the link!

Freedom Folks

Sunspot Activity Causes Brief Interruption of Karl Rove's "Mind-Ray" - Democrats Claim Rare Moment of Sanity

For several odd minutes on Sunday afternoon, nearly every Democrat and prominent liberal celebrity or newsmaker in America was making a mad dash to find a camera and/or a microphone. Why? They all felt they had to let the world at large know that they truly are not as crazy as we have all been led to believe by their recent behavior!

"I don't know how long I have, so I will make this brief," said Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY), who earlier this week was calling the Bush Administration one of the worst in history and comparing the Republican run Congress to a plantation in an MLK Day speech to a predominantly African-American audience. "I need everyone that hears this message to help get the word out --- I'm not insane. Honestly, I haven't taken leave of my senses! I don't intentionally go around screeching angry diatribes in public, I have no choice! You see, it's all due to a vast right wing conspiracy... Oh, no!... can't stop it... Bush is Hitler! Bush is Hitler!" The former First Lady then clucked like a chicken and skipped away from the podium, flapping her arms.

Meanwhile, former Vice President Al Gore (D-TN), who has recently been critical of the President's policies regarding NSA wiretaps, even going so far as to call him a criminal, had this to say, "Oh, God! Please help us! You've got to believe me, no one could be as loony as I have been acting since I lost the 2000 Election! They're in my head... the voices... can't control... HE BETRAYED THIS COUNTRY! Bush is a fascist! A fascist I tell you!" With that, he knocked over the podium and ran away.

Another curious statement came from Mayor Ray Nagin (D-New Orleans), who took quite a bit of political heat this week after saying he wanted to make New Orleans a chocolate city again and suggesting God was sending hurricanes to punish America for invading Iraq among other things. "Hello? Is this thing on? People, help me, please! My mind is not my own! I don't know what is happening to me, I feel like I am being controlled... like I'm some kind of... puppet... aaaaaarrrrgggghhhh!!!... Bush hates black people! God will kill us all! New Orleans is going to be all chocolatey goodness, with a sweet caramel center and sprinkles on top! Wheeeeeeeee!!!"

Simultaneously, entertainer Harry Belafonte, who recently called President Bush the world's greatest terrorist while cavorting with Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez, and who subsequently went on to compare the Department of Homeland Security with Hitler's Gestapo, released a statement through his publicist saying, "God help me, I only want to sing and make people happy, I don't know where this insanity comes from, please make it stop! I only wanted to sing about counting bananas, not to literally go bananas!"

Howard Dean, head of the DNC, blamed the Democrats' bizarre behavior of late on none other than President Bush's chief political advisor, Karl Rove. "You must understand, no rational political party would ever behave this way! People understand that, don't they? Rove is manipulating us, making us seem like a bunch of bat-sh*t crazy lunatics, to consolidate the Republican grip on power! It's all done through the use of a 'mind-ray' located... Oh, God!... Not now!... I hate the Republicans and everything they stand for! YEEEEEEEEARRRRGGGHHHHHH!!!"

Similar statements flooded in from Rep. John Murtha (D-PA), Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV), Sen. John Kerry (D-MA), film director Michael Moore, former CBS News anchorman Dan Rather, anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan and thousands of others! Oddly enough, Sen. Edward Kennedy's (D-MA) office did not release a statement and, when contacted, replied that the Senator was not suffering from the effects of any mind-control device and was, quite simply, a complete fruitcake.

The Right Place contacted noted scientist Dr. Emmett Brown, who posited that some recent solar activity may have temporarily blocked the effect of the "Rovian Mind-Ray" (patent pending). "It is conceivable that a brilliant political strategist like Mr. Rove would possess such a device, and if, if mind you, there were such a device operating during the sun-spot eruptions we've seen of late, it is quite possible they may have disrupted its effects for a short period of time. The strange thing is, I have been hearing rumors about such a ray for years, and I have heard of people using tin-foil headgear in an effort to protect themselves from it, but I must warn against such a thing! You see, aluminum foil would only serve to increase the effects of a ray such as this, making the wearer even more vulnerable to it! Make certain you let people know that, or we'll all be subjected to more insane threads about Bush conspiring with bin Laden at the Daily Kos!"

The White House refused all comment on the subject, but we must admit the concept of a mind control device being used against the left does make some sense. It would, after all, go a long way towards explaining the decline of Democrat sanity and civility the past several years, wouldn't it?

[Hat-tips: Haximus, Lorie Byrd]

******************************

If you've enjoyed this post, you may also enjoy...

More Political Satire:
College Journalism Exam with Answer Key!
The Proper Care and Feeding of Moonbats
ACLU Seeks Ban on Christmas "Propaganda" from the Public Airwaves
Presenting: The DNC's "Sounds of the Season"
Democrats Fire Back, File Lawsuit to Stop Bush, Republicans from Using Their Own Words Against Them!
The Latest Mainstream Media "Poll" - Exposed!
Halloween Cavalcade of Horrors!
Ronnie Earle Indicts Much of Texas on Conspiracy Charges
U.S. Declares War on Smurfs, Hundreds Dead in "Shock and Awe" Style Carpet-Bombing Campaign
Angry Protesters Demand "U.S. Out of U.S. Now!"
New Orleans Rhapsody
Cindy Sheehan Files Suit Against God; President Bush, Israel Named as "Co-Conspirators"
The U.S. Constitution - A Liberal Interpretation
George W. Bush and the Holy Grail
The 9/11 Commission, Part 2 - Electric Boogaloo
Democrats Give up on Winning, Push for More "Spectacular" Losses
We Now Join the "Save Air America Radio" Telethon, Already in Progress...
Top Secret Democrat Party Strategy Meeting - Exposed!
The Far-Left's Favorite Soap Opera: Get Bush!
You Just Might Be a Moonbat...
Selections from the "Donktionary"
The Moonbat Song

The Hill-Orgy of Errors:
Hillary Clinton's Secret Love Affair Exposed!
Bigfoot Takes His Own Life!
The Right Place Stands By Its Story!

And a Filthy Lie:
Glenn Reynolds Copyrights the Word "Indeed," Threatens to Bill Much of Blogosphere Right out of Existence!

Or feel free to check out our Main Page or try your hand at our latest Photo Caption Contest. Thank you for visiting The Right Place!

******************************

Thanks for the links!

The Jawa Report
Leather Penguin
Basil's Blog
memeorandum
The Anti-Idiotarian Rottweiler
David Drake
Miriam's Ideas
Small Town Veteran
The Conservative Cat

This post is proudly featured in...

CARNIVAL OF THE CLUELESS #30 at Right Wing Nut House
CARNIVAL OF CRAZY XIV at File It Under...
CARNIVAL OF THE VANITIES at Blueprint for Financial Prosperity
CARNIVAL OF COMEDY #39 at Radioactive Liberty
(Or is that supposed to be the "Carnal" of Comedy???)
CARNIVAL OF SATIRE #18 at the skwib
CARNIVAL OF THE INSANITIES at Dr. Sanity

Sunday, January 22, 2006

Not So Wild About Harry




Or Hugo either:
If there was something different this time around is that the crowd showed a lot of anger, which I had not seen before in any of the opposition marches. The presence of cops, intelligence police helicopters and the simple mention of Chavez' name simply released a lot of anger from the people there. You could also see it on the posters, lost of swear words in them, something you did not see as much before. People are p....., you better believe it and they are very vocal about it. The best part was: no buses like those Chavez needs to bring to his marches and everyone was there out of their own will, this is a powerful base for December 2006.

There were a few speakers, young and old, old and new, some good like Alexandra Ruiz Pineda, others representing the old school of speeches that seem to scream at you, I could have done without Eduardo Fernandez and Ramos Allup, but nobody asked me anyway. This is a fisrt good step at mobilizing people in 2006, the crowd, the voters and the people are there, all they need is leadership. It felt good to march and end the day very tired again, with a feeling of accomplishment. Took lots of pictures.


While Harry Belafonte and the radical left in America declare solidarity with Hugo Chavez, a growing number of Venezuelan citizens are doing the exact opposite. Now, if we can bar Jimmy Carter as an observer this time, democracy in Venezuela will have a shot.

H/T - The Devil's Excrement, C/O Instapundit.

Asking the Wrong Question

Al Gore, no doubt with an eye on the 2008 Presidential election, said this last Monday:
A president who breaks the law is a threat to the very structure of our government. Our founding fathers were adamant that they had established a government of laws and not men.

This was in response to the growing furor over the NSA spying "scandal."
In a speech sponsored by two civil liberties groups, the American Constitution Society for Law and Policy and The Liberty Coalition, Gore frequently drew applause and standing ovations at DAR Constitution Hall by denouncing what he saw as abuses of power by the man he narrowly lost the presidency to in 2000.

So what else is new?

Moving beyond partisan matters - it that's possible - valid questions are raised: Did the Bush Administration break the law with the NSA's wiretap program, or was the program an appropriate use of constitutional powers granted to Bush as Commander in Chief?

While those are questions that could be raised, a better one is whether or not the FISA law itself is a help or a hinderance towards keeping us safe in a time of war. Someone who has the cred to speak about that is Victoria Toensing:
But the real issue is national security: FISA is as adept at detecting--and, thus, preventing--a terrorist attack as a horse-and-buggy is at getting us from New York to Paris.

I have extensive experience with the consequences of government bungling due to overstrict interpretations of FISA. As chief counsel for the Senate Intelligence Committee from 1981 to 1984, I participated in oversight of FISA in the first years after its passage. When I subsequently became deputy assistant attorney general in the Reagan administration, one of my responsibilities was the terrorism portfolio, which included working with FISA.

In 1985, I experienced the pain of terminating a FISA wiretap when to do so defied common sense and thwarted the possibility of gaining information about American hostages. During the TWA 847 hijacking, American serviceman Robert Stethem was murdered and the remaining American male passengers taken hostage. We had a previously placed tap in the U.S. and thought there was a possibility we could learn the hostages' location. But Justice Department career lawyers told me that the FISA statute defined its "primary purpose" as foreign intelligence gathering. Because crimes were taking place, the FBI had to shut down the wire.

FISA's "primary purpose" became the basis for the "wall" in 1995, when the Clinton-Gore Justice Department prohibited those on the intelligence side from even communicating with those doing law enforcement. The Patriot Act corrected this problem and the FISA appeals court upheld the constitutionality of that amendment, characterizing the rigid interpretation as "puzzling." The court cited an FBI agent's testimony that efforts to investigate two of the Sept. 11 hijackers were blocked by senior FBI officials, concerned about the FISA rule requiring separation.

Today, FISA remains ill-equipped to deal with ever-changing terrorist threats. It was never envisioned to be a speedy collector of information to prevent an imminent attack on our soil. And the reasons the president might decide to bypass FISA courts are readily understandable, as it is easy to conjure up scenarios like the TWA hijacking, in which strict adherence to FISA would jeopardize American lives.


As they say, read the whole thing. And then ask yourself if you would feel safer if FISA were rigorously - and bureaucratically - enforced?

Friday, January 20, 2006

Captions Outrageous! [Surely You Jest Edition]




The above photo comes to us from REUTERS/Larry Downing via Yahoo!

This contest will last approximately one week.

Good luck!

******************************

I not only like to host photo caption contests, I like to play them, too! Be certain to check out the latest contests at these great blogs...

WILLisms
Outside the Beltway
Random Numbers
GOP and the City
Wizbang!
The Nose On Your Face
Bloggin' Outloud
The Gone Rick Motel

And don't forget to check out the best caption blog in the business (where your suggestions are always welcome in the comments section, and can, if good enough, get promoted to the front page)...

Caption This!

******************************

MOST RECENT CAPTION CONTEST WINNERS:

Spirits of Christmas Present Edition
Dorito Bandito Edition
Shadow of His Former Self Edition
When the Saints Go Mouthing Off Edition
The Face That Sunk 1000 Ships Edition

******************************

This post is proudly featured in...

OTB Caption Jam

Thanks for the links!

Lucky Dawg News
Castle Argghhh!
Marathon Pundit
geosciblog

******************************

UPDATE 1/27:

This contest is now closed...

WINNERS ARE POSTED HERE!

New contest is HERE!

Thank you all for playing!

Captions Outrageous! Winners [The Face That Sunk 1000 Ships Edition]

Announcing the winners of the 27th ever Right Place Photo Caption Contest!

Thank you to one and all who participated!

Wow! Once again, the responses were overwhelming! There were too many good ones to reward them all, so make sure you check out the comments section of the original contest (linked above)!

Presenting the top twenty captions for this picture from AP Photo/Gerald Herbert via Yahoo!





#20: "Oh, God! Ted's humming In My Merry Oldsmobile again!"

D. Carter


#19: "Thing" from the Addams Family tries to stop the mouth from talking.....

Special Ed


#18: Senator Feinstein's claim that she had not, once again, put her foot in her mouth was seriously undermined by the outline of a bunion appearing on her right cheek.

D. Carter


#17: Oh, my God! I am starting to look like Helen Thomas!

joe-6-pack


#16: Slowly, the hand reached up from under the table... and dragged its victim down to her doom!

Special Ed


#15: Whatever you do, don't look directly into the Ark of the Covenant!

D. Carter


#14: A look of helplessness as the alien Moonbat creature attaches itself to the face of Sentator Diane Feinstein, creating yet another talking point spouting Dem-Pod Person.

Dave Craddock


#13: At that point, the blind man attempting to "see" Ms. Feinstein went into seizures.

Son Of The Godfather


#12: Dianne Feinstein prepares for life after the Senate, as she tries out for the role of The Cryptkeeper in a revival of Creepshow.

Pam


#11: "I'm melting! Melllltinnnngg! Oh, what a world, what a world!"

McGehee


#10: Dianne finally comes to grips with the hand of fate.

I. Ronnie


#9: "What's happening? Oh, my God! Someone must've destroyed the magical portrait which kept me from aging!"

V the K


#8: "Riiiiise, Lord Vader!"

McGehee


#7: "You will curse the day you did not do, all that the Phantom asked of you!"

Rodney Dill


#6: Darkman's mask begins to lose molecular cohesion at a most inappropriate time.

Son Of The Godfather


#5: Set 500 years after her landing back on Earth, a 531 year old Sigourney Weaver returns in the latest of the "Aliens" series.

Steve O


#4: "I am not an animal!"

V the K


#3: "And the ghost is actually..." Rips mask off... "Old man Johnson!"
"And I'd have gotten away with it too, if it hadn't been for those meddling kids and their dog!"

Son Of The Godfather


#2: "EMPTINESS!... PURE... ENDLESS... EMPTINESS..."
Ambassador Spock collapses after his final mind-meld.

Son Of The Godfather


And the winning entry for this Caption Contest...


#1: "SANCTUARY!!!"

John Ruberry [aka Marathon Pundit]
It just worked on so many levels!

Bravo! Bravo!

Encore! Encore!

Presenting:

Captions Outrageous! [Surely You Jest Edition]

Enjoy!


PREVIOUS PHOTO CAPTION CONTEST WINNERS:

Oh, Thank Heaven for 7/11 Edition
Fickle Finger of Fate Edition
Things Are Looking Up Edition
Rage in the Cage Edition
Not So Mellow Fellow in Yellow Edition
The Beards and the Beads Edition
Weapons of Mash Destruction Edition
You're Al I Ever Wanted Edition
His Cup Runneth Over Edition
The Eyes Have It Edition
Jeepers Veepers Edition
Huggermugger Edition
Ear's to You Edition
Heavy Medal Edition
Village of the Damned Edition
White on Rice Edition
Sunny Side Up Edition
Absentee Mallet Edition
French Tickler Edition
In Through the Out Door Edition
Frankenstein Meets Godzilla Edition
Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel Edition
Spirits of Christmas Present Edition
Dorito Bandito Edition
Shadow of His Former Self Edition
When the Saints Go Mouthing Off Edition

And, in case you haven't yet seen it, here are the updated overall rankings for the first 20 caption contests!!!

******************************

Thanks for the links!

Blogmeister USA
Lucky Dawg News
Marathon Pundit
geosciblog

Now That's the Way to Celebrate a Blogiversary!

Congratulations to Dr. Rusty Shackleford and everyone at The Jawa Report. Two years under their belt, one terrorist sympathizer fired from U.K. immigration and now, one potential terrorist JAILED in the U.S.A.!

Go... read!

Thursday, January 19, 2006

Probably Explains The Appeal Of The 3 Stooges

Men apparently enjoy when someone who cheats is subject subsequently to pain.

NEW YORK - Bill Clinton said he felt others' pain. But a new brain-scanning study suggests that when guys see a cheater get a mild electric shock, they don't feel his pain much at all. In fact, they rather enjoy it.

In contrast, women's brains showed they do empathize with the cheater's pain and don't get a kick out it.

[...]

During the brain scans, each volunteer watched as the hands of a "fair" player and a cheater received a mild electrical shock. When it came to the fair-player, both men's and women's brains showed activation in pain-related areas, indicating that they empathized with that player's pain.

But for the cheater, while the women's brains still showed a response, men's brains showed virtually no specific reaction. Also, in another brain area associated with feelings of reward, men's brains showed a greater average response to the cheater's shock than to the fair player's shock, while women's brains did not.

A questionnaire revealed that the men expressed a stronger desire than women did for revenge against the cheater. The more a man said he wanted revenge, the higher his jump in the brain's reward area when the cheater got a shock. No such correlation showed up in women.


This brings up a lot of topics for discussion. For instance, should juries be composed only of men, since the women may be less inclined to appropriately punish the guilty? Should female judges handle criminal trials? Are female lawyers better suited for defense work than prosecution? Finally, does it tell us something more about the former president that he "felt our pain?"

This should generate an interesting set of comments.

Wednesday, January 18, 2006

What Walks Down Stairs Alone or in Pairs...

...It's linkies, it's linkies! For fun it's a wonderful toy...

Our very own Anna has a great post about the ACLU's anti-NSA lawsuit at A Rose by Any Other Name.

Our very own T.M. Ergin has been busy blogging in his Giacomo costume at Joust the Facts. Watch him completely tear the New York Times a new one for their creative use of language in their latest Bush bashing attempt!

Elsewhere...

CARNIVAL OF THE CLUELESS #29 at Right Wing Nut House is finally up!

Mister Snitch has a very insightful article on the possible future of blogging. (Be sure to read the conversation taking place in the comments section, too!)

David Drake offers up some Al Gore soundbytes you may have missed.

Lyn Perry has entered the photo caption contest fray.

Attention Blogosphere: Allah is back!

Howie of Jawa Report fame has recently launched his own blog.

Buckley is on fire! I can't pick just one to link to, so just go on over and keep scrolling!

Brainster is "fisking" another victim of BDS.

Lorie Byrd got through to the Rush Limbaugh show today and got a question on the air with guest host Paul W. Smith and author Kenneth Timmerman about the differences between the intelligence situation in pre-war Iraq and present day Iran. She blogs about it here.

John Ruberry, who recently got himself a mention in the New York Times (congratulations... I think), shares the story of a man who really, really needed a name change!

Or you could check out the latest in Hurricane Katrina fashion, straight from Bourbon Street, courtesy of FIU!

Enjoy!

Monday, January 16, 2006

I Can't Imagine Why

Via Yahoo! News, it seems that Democrats are forcing a one week delay in the committee vote on Supreme Court Nominee Samuel Alito.

Democrats on Monday forced a one-week delay on a vote by the Senate Judiciary Committee on Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito, but the 55-year-old conservative was still expected to be confirmed by the full Republican-led Senate.

[...]

"The Democrats' decision to delay ... is unjustified and desperate partisan obstructionism," Frist said in a statement.

[...]

Bush has nominated Alito to replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, who has often been the swing vote on the nine-member Supreme Court on abortion and other social issues. If confirmed, Alito could move the high court to the right.



I'm sorry, I don't see it. What possible purpose could this serve? Perhaps it mollifies your base by throwing up the last roadblock you have. After all, they didn't think you slung enough mud during the hearings. Perhaps it's a sop to Sen. Kennedy, who seems to be the only one still swimming against the tide (irony intended). But ultimately you just look a fool, and a stubborn one at that.

Come on. Sen. Feinstein admits that a filibuster won't fly, so this thing will come to a vote. The NY Times, head in hands, rues the "success" of the Alito confirmation hearings; the Washington Post endorses Alito; the LA Times finds him both the type of judge you'd expect from Pres. Bush and a judge that doesn't merit a filibuster (hat tips: Ed Morrissey).

Alito would not have been our choice to replace Sandra Day O'Connor on the court. It is understandable that, unlike now-Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., he may not win many Democratic votes. Conversely, there are no legitimate grounds to entertain a filibuster of this nominee, or to be overly shocked that he is the sort of justice Bush would select.

There are a lot of battles that can be fought. The Democrats' fight has already occurred, however, and it's over. It's hard to imagine trying to continue a fight that has ended.

The Dream Lives On...


"When we let freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, 'Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!'"

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968)

Sources: Image; Quote

Friday, January 13, 2006

Captions Outrageous! [The Face That Sunk 1000 Ships Edition]




The above photo comes to us from AP Photo/Gerald Herbert via Yahoo!

This contest will last approximately one week.

Good luck!

******************************

I not only like to host photo caption contests, I like to play them, too! Be certain to check out the latest contests at these great blogs...

WILLisms, where Mr. Right got an Honorable Mention last week.
Outside the Beltway
Random Numbers
GOP and the City
Wizbang!
The Nose on Your Face

You can pick the winner of the Saddam Hussein Caption Contest at PUNCH, with a copy of Michelle Malkin's latest book going to the winner!

And don't forget to check out the best caption blog in the business (where your suggestions are always welcome in the comments section)...

Caption This!


UPDATE 1/18/06:

Lyn Perry at For Bloggin' Outloud has started a new contest of his own,
CHECK IT OUT!

******************************

MOST RECENT CAPTION CONTEST WINNERS:

Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel Edition
Spirits of Christmas Present Edition
Dorito Bandito Edition
Shadow of His Former Self Edition
When the Saints Go Mouthing Off Edition

******************************

Thanks for the links!

Castle Argghhh!!!
Lucky Dawg News
THIRDWAVEDAVE
Blogmeister USA

This post is proudly featured in...

  • OTB CAPTION JAM


  • ******************************

    UPDATE 1/20:

    This contest is now closed...

    WINNERS ARE POSTED HERE!

    New contest is HERE!

    Thank you all for playing!

    Captions Outrageous! Winners [When the Saints Go Mouthing Off Edition Edition]

    Announcing the winners of the 26th ever Right Place Photo Caption Contest!

    Thank you to one and all who participated!

    In honor of Friday the 13th... Presenting the top thirteen captions for this picture from AFP/Getty Images/Chip Somodevilla via "Yahoo!"





    #13: DRUDGE BREAKING: In a rare admission of fault today, President Bush declared that when he stated, "Harry Reid should be cannonized," he'd thought it had something to do with the business end of a Howitzer.

    Rodney Dill


    #12: "Wherever there is injustice, you will find us. Wherever there is suffering, we'll be there. Wherever liberty is threatened, you will find... The Three Amigos!"

    V the K


    #11: At the news conference, Harry Reid worked himself into such a hot rage that his head sprouted leaves in the dead of winter.

    D. Carter


    #10: Schumer and Leahy watch helplessly as Harry Reid's brain is sucked out.

    Doc


    #9: Democratic Senators Reid, Leahy and Schumer deny that they took any illicit funds in the latest lobbying scandal as they hold a press conference in the J.A. Abramoff Room of DNC headquarters.

    Hoodlumman


    #8: Reid's bore-waves only turn the living into cowardly zombies if they touch you. Luckily, they only extend a few feet.

    spacemonkey


    #7: "The MSM tell me that from that camera angle, it doesn't look like a tin foil hat at all!"

    Walter Clark


    #6: "...Therefore, in order to portray the proper image of Democrats, we've ordered a large number of these caps..."

    Mr. Snitch!


    #5: During a pre-news conference game of charades, reporters quickly guessed that the three politicians were doing, from left to right, Dracula, a palm tree and a sparrow mesmerized by a cobra.

    D. Carter


    #4: Senators Reid, Schumer and Leahy finally admit to what most have suspected: Home for them is their flying saucer, parked in an Area 51 hangar.

    John Ruberry


    #3: "Beam me up, Howard!"

    Doc


    #2: Is the main energy weapon about to fire? Oh, man, I am going to love the sequel to Independence Day!

    V the K


    And the winning entry for this Caption Contest...


    #1: "And if our demands are not met immediately, I will unleash the awesome powers of my Oversized Wheel Helmet of Doom!"

    Buckley F. Williams


    Bravo! Bravo!

    Encore! Encore!

    Presenting:

    Captions Outrageous! [The Face That Sunk 1000 Ships Edition]

    Enjoy!


    PREVIOUS PHOTO CAPTION CONTEST WINNERS:

    Oh, Thank Heaven for 7/11 Edition
    Fickle Finger of Fate Edition
    Things Are Looking Up Edition
    Rage in the Cage Edition
    Not So Mellow Fellow in Yellow Edition
    The Beards and the Beads Edition
    Weapons of Mash Destruction Edition
    You're Al I Ever Wanted Edition
    His Cup Runneth Over Edition
    The Eyes Have It Edition
    Jeepers Veepers Edition
    Huggermugger Edition
    Ear's to You Edition
    Heavy Medal Edition
    Village of the Damned Edition
    White on Rice Edition
    Sunny Side Up Edition
    Absentee Mallet Edition
    French Tickler Edition
    In Through the Out Door Edition
    Frankenstein Meets Godzilla Edition
    Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel Edition
    Spirits of Christmas Present Edition
    Dorito Bandito Edition
    Shadow of His Former Self Edition

    And, in case you haven't yet seen it, here are the updated overall rankings for the first 20 caption contests!!!

    ******************************

    Thanks for the link!

    Lucky Dawg News

    REPORT: Ted Kennedy Used Quote from SATIRE Piece to Attack Alito!

    Dinesh D'Souza, an editor of the Concerned Alumni of Princeton magazine during 1983-1985, which was used repeatedly by Sen. Edward Kennedy (Jackass-MA) to smear Judge Samuel Alito as a bigot by mere association during the Senate confirmation hearings this week, is quoted by ABC reporter Jack Tapper at his Down and Dirty blog as saying one of two articles used by Kennedy was a work of satire!

    The 1983 essay "In Defense of Elitism" by Harry Crocker III included this line, read dramatically by Kennedy: "People nowadays just don't seem to know their place. Everywhere one turns blacks and hispanics are demanding jobs simply because they're black and hispanic..."

    The essay may not have been funny, D'Souza acknowledges, but Kennedy read from it as if it had been serious instead of an attempt at humor.


    So --- now quoting satire out of context is fair game for attacking someone's character??? Good Lord am I ever in trouble!

    Now the question that begs asking is this: Did Kennedy knowingly use satire as part of his attack, or is he just the mindless dufus I believe him to be who took these notes from some staffer who got them from some frothing at the mouth left-wing blogger and just used them without checking into it? Hmmmmmm... Either way, he comes off pretty much just as bad!

    Meanwhile, since membership at any time in one's life with any group makes one personally responsible for any statements or actions by any other members of that same group in perpetuity (the new standard Sen. Kennedy himself would seem to like to establish), I hereby call Sen. Kennedy, by virtue of his membership in one Democrat Party, a bigot (Gov. George Wallace, among many others), a defender of slavery (Many Antebellum American Democrats) and Jim Crow Laws (Many Post-Civil War thru the 1960's Dems), a crook (U.S. Rep. Dan Rostenkowski, among others), a sexual deviant (U.S. Rep. Mel Reynolds, among others), a traitor (Clement L. Vallandigham comes to mind) and a general scoundrel (take your pick).

    Wow! This new standard is kind of fun! Thanks, Teddy!

    Hat-tips: Rush Limbaugh's radio show (Friday, 1/13/06) and Tim Graham at NewsBusters.

    ******************************

    Thanks for the links!

    Pat Curley at Brainster's Blog
    Dave at The Paladin Blog
    Allen Forkum at Cox and Forkum [WOW!] (Great cartoon, BTW!)
    John Ruberry at Marathon Pundit
    david drake
    Headmistress SondraK at Knowledge Is Power (Funny, but NSFW image alert!)
    Rodger Schlong at Curmudgeonly & Skeptical
    Mrs. Greyhawk at The Mudville Gazette
    W.C. Varones

    This post is proudly featured in...

  • CARNIVAL OF THE INSANITIES at Dr. Sanity

  • CARNIVAL OF THE CLUELESS #29 at Right Wing Nut House
  • Thursday, January 12, 2006

    Satire: Top Five Follow-up Questions Sen. Schumer will ask Judge Alito

    Senator Schumer's planned follow-up questions after his piercing questioning of Judge Alito on Tuesday:
    • 5: In reading your opinions, Judge Alito, it seems that you feel - and I can't quite understand why - that there are three relatively equal branches of government, set up for a sort of "checks and balances, as it were. Is there something in the reading of the Constitution that leads you to believe that this should be the case, given the transient nature of the Executive Branch, the inability to act unless called upon of the Judiciary, as opposed to the steady consistency, superior intellect and omnipotence of the Legislative?
    • 4. Again, I'm not sure I understand your argument here, but is there some evidence that you can point to in the Constitution or in the Bill of Rights that suggests the federal government should simply not rule supreme over the so-called "states," and assert control in whatever area it feels necessary?
    • 3. Given our superior intellect and omnipotence as Legislators, as I've already established, we have often chosen to restrict access to guns in the community, and yet courts have, at times, such as in Lopez, disagreed with us and rescinded those restrictions. Can you identify anything in any public document that might support such a brazen affront to legislative supremacy? Why can't we just take all the guns away? Are you that against public safety? What about the children?
    • 2. Did, in your opinion, the Eighteenth Amendment lead directly to the Great Depression, since it was ratified in 1919 and the Depression occurred just 10 short year later? I know I'd be depressed if I coudn't get a drink.
    • 1. What do you mean, abortion isn't mentioned in the Constitution? How about the Bill of Rights? The other Amendments? I was sure I read it there somewhere. Where's my research team?

    References: The United States Constitution, The Bill of Rights, The Amendments to the Constitution



    ******************************

    Thanks for the links!

    Hatless in Hattiesburg
    ROFASix
    A Rose by Any Other Name

    This post is proudly featured in...

  • CARNIVAL OF THE CLUELESS #29 at Right Wing Nut House
  • Alito 3, Democrats 0



    If this were a boxing match, the referee would stop it.

    The conventional wisdom going into the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the elevation of Samuel Alito to an Associate Justice position on the Supreme Court was that Alito was bright but lacked the smoothness and polish of John Roberts. Republicans worried that the attack-dog methods of Senators Kennedy and the other Democratic partisans on the committee might rattle Alito into committing a gaffe that could be used against him. But going into the fourth day, Alito is pitching a shutout, while his Democratic inquistors are in disarray. This low-key, thoughtful man stands in sharp contrast to his shrill, pompous and downright nasty interrogators.

    The mistake that the Democrats make is that they think that the appointment of judges is political. It isn't. To quote Michael Goodwin:

    While Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) tried to portray his rulings as evidence of a sweeping anti-liberty philosophy, Alito kept coming back to the facts of each case. If nothing else, the hearing illustrated how political ideologues differ from good judges. The former start with the result they want and ignore the facts, while judges like Alito apply the law to facts to reach a just conclusion.


    Bingo! That the Democrats, unable to win at the ballot box, have to rely on the judiciary to enact their agenda is an open secret.

    Most of the news broadcasts covering the hearings today led with Martha-Ann Alito crying during yesterday's proceedings. Opinion Journal weighs in on the matter:
    It's a sign of how little Democrats have on Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito that on Day Three of his confirmation hearings they were still pounding away on his membership in an obscure Princeton alumni group that flowered briefly at the judge's alma mater. They can't touch him on credentials or his mastery of jurisprudence, so they're trying to get him on guilt by ancient association.

    Senators Ted Kennedy and Chuck Schumer did their best yesterday to imply that Judge Alito was racist and sexist by linking the nominee with the views of some members of Concerned Alumni of Princeton, which back in the 1970s and 1980s took issue with university policies on coeducation and affirmative action. The questioning was mean enough that Judge Alito's wife left the hearing room after GOP Senator Lindsey Graham apologized for the comments of his fellow Senators. "Are you really a closet bigot?" Mr. Graham asked the nominee. "No, sir, you're not."


    This confirmation isn't about legal issues, it's about politics. At least as far as the Senate Democrats are concerned. Left wing organizations increasingly provide the money the Democrats need. Thus, the need for the spectacles that poor Samuel Alito has suffered through this week. Prisoners in Gitmo are treated better than he was. But this will all end soon. And the Miers debacle will be forgotten. Another good and able person will be on the Supreme Court.

    UPDATE: I've been discovered! Thanks SlantRight!

    Photo C/O National Review Online

    The Greatest Blond Joke... EVER!

    You have got to see this!

    Jimmy B at The Conservative UAW Guy has the goods!

    Pass it on...

    Wednesday, January 11, 2006

    'Round the 'Sphere: 1/11/06

    After falling WAY behind on my blog reading the last several weeks, I have been attempting to catch up! While I still have a long way to go, I thought I'd pause for a moment to share some of the better stuff I've found out there...

    CIRQUE DU CARNIVALE

    Carnival of the Insanities at Dr. Sanity
    Carnival of the Clueless #28 at Right Wing Nut House
    Carnival of the Vanities #173 at The Hip and Zen Pen
    Carnival of Crazy 13 at File it Under...

    OTHER PEOPLE'S FUNNY

    Buckley F. Williams at The Nose on Your Face presents...
    Not Quite So Bananas After All?

    Steve H. at Hog on Ice shares...
    My Plans for the Afternoon

    EVERYBODY LOVES CONTESTS

    The Nose on Your Face joins the photo caption contest bandwagon...
    Caption Contest: "I Got Jacked" Edition

    PUNCH has a book to give away, and you get to pick the winner*...
    ANNOUNCING THE FINALISTS FOR THE PUNCH CAPTION CONTEST!
    [*One vote per email account per day until midnight, Saturday January 14th. The winner will be announced on Monday January 16th.]

    POLITICAL COMMENTARY

    Dave at The Paladin Blog has a must read piece...
    Speaking Out Against Murtha's Sedition
    h/t to our very own Anna over at A Rose by Any Other Name

    Giacomo, aka our indispensible T.M. Ergin, offers some observations about the Alito hearings...
    Childish Games

    Rick Moran is his usual brilliant self this week...
    Damage to National Security as a Result of NSA Leak

    Rick continues his keen observations with this piece about the President's rising poll numbers (what, you mean the media isn't telling you all about that?)...
    Comeback Kid Redux

    Lorie Byrd has more on the resurgent Prez...
    Bush Continues To Push

    David Drake cranks up the snark-o-matic...
    The Current Political Climate According To The Left

    And be certain to check out this week's Pundit Roundtable at WILLisms.

    ITEMS OF INTEREST

    Pat Curley has this little tidbit...
    Kerry's Tire-Slashing Crew Goes On Trial
    And, apparently, you can watch the procedings, per John Ruberry...
    Court TV to air Dem tire slashing trial

    GOP & College has some strange coincidences to share (warning: ick alert!)...
    When Life Imitates Hollywood

    SUPPORT THE TROOPS!

    Lorie Byrd alerts us to a great idea...
    Cookies For The Troops

    While Anna has another...
    Share the Love

    BLOGGER NEWS

    Prayers are requested for Jeanette of Oh How I Love Jesus and her family. The last few months have been brutal for her. First, she lost her niece. Then, her husband suffered a health scare. Now, her daughter-in-law has been diagnosed with a very nasty form of cancer...
    Our Family Is Being Tested

    Kitty Myers received some relatively good news recently after a scare with her mother, but your prayers would still be welcome, as she is not entirely out of the woods yet...
    It's Not Cancer!

    On a much lighter note, Leslie the Omnibus Driver gives us the lowdown of a recent, successful blogmeet...
    Chartered Excursion -- Recap

    More later, time permitting...

    Monday, January 09, 2006

    Share the Love

    I received an email this evening with a request to let people know about this wonderful opportunity! It is a program to send Valentine cards to the troops! Now I realize that Valentine's Day is at least 5 weeks away, but with all things military post, it's best to be early!

    So, it you would like to send a Valentine wish to a special soldier you can do so using this link:

    Visit Operation: A Bit of Home, and click on the big red heart. We will send a valentine to a soldier in your name with your Valentines message. We are fundraising to send more boxes to the Freedom Rest R&R Facility in Iraq. Valentines are $1.00, but you can give more!
    There is more to Operation: A Bit Of Home than just Valentines. Here is more about this program and what they are doing for our men and women in uniform serving in Iraq.
    Our Troops In Iraq Need Your Help......
    Send them "A Bit of Home"
    Imagine being thousands of miles away from anything familiar... wearing full battle gear in incredible 140 degree heat, no family, no TV, nothing to remind you of home..... Or think about not being able to sleep in your own safe bed, instead, there are deadly bombs and mortars going off just yards away...

    This a normal occurrence for our American Soldiers in Iraq

    Operation: A Bit of Home is an organization founded in Rolesville NC, and has spread from the East Coast to the West Coast. Operation: A Bit of Home sends needed items to a Rest and Relaxation facility called "Freedom Rest ". Located in central Baghdad, the facility services approximately 150 different soldiers every day. The three day retreat is arranged for soldiers who have been in combat, on convoy duty, and under fire. It helps them to relax and recuperate in a safe resort-like atmosphere. While at Freedom Rest, soldiers receive high quality treatment and have access to clean linens, real beds, swimming pools, entertainment, movies, good food, and sports like basketball, football. This is very important to the well being of the soldiers mental, physical, and emotional needs. We also provide hygiene items to Forward Operating Bases, Called FOB's where soldiers frequently have to stay for the night unexpectedly, and have little or no access to any hygiene supplies. They are lucky just to get a cot!

    These facilities' needs are not supplied by the government, but by normal folks like us. They aren't supplied with soap, shampoo, deodorant or feminine products, books, movies, or entertainment items; thats where Operation: A Bit of Home comes into action.

    Operation: A Bit of Home sends several boxes of needed goods to our soldiers every day. Not only is postage expensive but gathering and boxing supplies is time consuming. That is why help is needed in so many ways. We can help you get started collecting and shipping your own items to the troops! Just e-mail us and ask! We can provide special mailing labels, certificates of appreciation, and great advice! Our supplies are used by troops at Freedom Rest, FOB's and are also taken by departing troops and spread to other soldiers in every corner of Iraq.

    So check out the site and if you've wanted to show your support for the troops but you weren't sure how...well, this is a really great way to do it!

    (Don't forget Adopt-A-Platoon and Soldiers' Angels, either!)

    Cross-posted at A Rose By Any Other Name

    ******************************

    Thanks for the link!

    Everything Under the Sun