tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33922192011-04-21T18:31:55.845-05:00Dangerous DanThoughts and musings as they come to me.Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3091100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-1094182606377114922004-09-02T22:28:00.000-05:002004-09-02T22:36:46.376-05:00Pack the Digital U-Hauls!
This blog is moving! Has moved, actually. Go to www.dangerousdan.us for the new location. I'm still doing some fine-tuning to the site, but it's ready for business.
I decided to make the switch from Blogger to Word Press for a few reasons.
A) I decided to get my own domain
B) I've grown increasingly disenchanted with Blogger. They've added "improvements" that make Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-1094165500404044742004-09-02T17:39:00.000-05:002004-09-02T17:51:40.403-05:00If the World Were One Big Dilbert Strip...
then if John Kerry is elected president, he'd be the pointy-haired boss. The proof is in this story. This deal being discussed is remarkably similar to the one agreed to with North Korea, and we know how that turned out. So, this sort of thing has failed horribly once and that means we... try it again!
This is a substantial misunderstanding of how to Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-1094095629752585442004-09-01T22:25:00.000-05:002004-09-01T22:27:09.753-05:00I've been keeping an eye on the RNC and watching the speeches. I have to say that they've been most excellent. Rudy especially was great.
I haven't commented on it more because I'm in the process of designing a new site for this blog. We're movin'!Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-1093753245952516782004-08-28T23:10:00.000-05:002004-08-28T23:20:45.953-05:00The Statues in Greece Aren't All That's Stone-faced
Can you stand another Olympics post? I was watching Bob Costas interview the Athens Olympics organizer, Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki (that's an impressive nine-syllable last name), and I realized this woman is probably the most thouroughly botoxed person I've ever seen. The only thing on her face capable of moving was her mouth. There was Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-1093405507726760252004-08-24T22:36:00.000-05:002004-08-24T22:45:07.726-05:00Yo, Yo, S'up, So-crates?
I've been a tad busy lately and haven't had time to post. I will, however, blog a short observation about the Olympics. Well... actually, it's more about Olympic commentary. The other day, NBC's Jim Somebody was doing one of the human interest stories about Greece that he was apparently assigned to do. When Bob Costas came back on, he said, "Props to you, Jim." Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-1092459175269949752004-08-13T23:51:00.000-05:002004-08-13T23:52:55.270-05:00Would Pericles Approve?
So I watched the opening ceremony for the Olympics tonight. They were ok. The entire time, though, I just kept thinking of how I’d pay good money if Bob Costas and Katie Couric would just shut the hell up. It’s as if they get nervous going more than 10 seconds without saying something and then they’ll bust out with an inane comment. Let the ceremony speak for itself, Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-1091755521956164972004-08-05T20:16:00.000-05:002004-08-05T20:25:21.956-05:00Soft Lob Over the Plate
A lot of people have been making hay over John Kerry's comments about he would have responded on 9/11 as compared to Bush. Few, though, have brought up the context in which he made them. I just happened to be watching CNN when they aired it live. Kerry was speaking to a conference of some group called Journalists of Color. Kerry made the comments in response to a Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-1091169254569778722004-07-29T23:26:00.000-05:002004-07-30T01:38:26.676-05:00Kerry, Kerry, Quite Contrary
I just caught Kerry’s speech at the DNC. (transcript here) Here are the points.
First, Max Cleland’s intro. I only saw the last few minutes of it, but he made sure to mention how we’ve alienated our allies. Why is it always us who has alienated them? Personally, I think they fairly well alienated me with their behavior. If I were Bush, I would’ve started hitting Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-1091042457853971672004-07-28T14:08:00.000-05:002004-07-28T14:20:57.853-05:00Kabbalahtastic!
If you head on over to Target, you can get yourself some Kabbalah string. That’s $26 for a little bit of red yarn. Just imagine what a Kabbalah sweater would cost!
You ever wonder if the folks at Scientology are planning a counter-attack against the Kabbalah people. After all, this new pseudo-quasi-Jewish rite is eating up all the Hollywood celebrities who previously bowed Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-1091034187210410652004-07-28T12:00:00.000-05:002004-07-28T12:03:07.210-05:00The Devolution of the Renaissance Man
This is a fun editorial… actually, wait… no this is supposed to be an actual news story in the Chicago Sun-Times Lifestyles section. It’s by Mike Thomas. He declares John Kerry to be a Renaissance Man and compares him to such luminaries as Leonardo Da Vinci, Benjamin Franklin, and ummm… P. Diddy, aka Puff Daddy, aka Puffy, aka Sean “Puffy” Combs. That Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-1091031863033671762004-07-28T11:23:00.000-05:002004-07-28T11:24:23.033-05:00He Served in Vietnam? Really?!
You’ve gotta be kidding me. Kerry is going to arrive at the convention by boat in order to illustrate his Vietnam War service. I can’t think of another candidate who has so brazenly exploited his time in the military. Bush Sr. was shot down over the Pacific Ocean and rescued by a submarine, but you didn’t see him parachuting into his conventions. Bush Jr. was an Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-1091029045436103602004-07-28T10:35:00.000-05:002004-07-28T10:37:25.436-05:00All Your Vote Are Belong to Us
Florida still can’t figure out how to run an election without controversy, according to this story. The solution to me seems rather simple. Touchscreen computers are the way to go. They’re quick, easy, provide fast results and there’s no question about voter intent. This is good because the idea of people sitting around looking at a ballot and trying to decide Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-1090991728034774042004-07-28T00:36:00.000-05:002004-07-28T12:35:56.720-05:00Bloodsport 4: Moore vs. O'Reilly
I caught The O'Reilly Factory tonight because I wanted to see O'Reilly and Michael Moore go at it. It was like a clash of the opinion media titans. I was waiting for the Kraken to rise up behind them in the Fleet Center.
What's interesting is that I first read the transcript of it on Drudge, and I thought that based upon that, Moore (unfortunately) got the Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-1090988773116284852004-07-28T00:12:00.000-05:002004-07-28T12:33:19.100-05:00Cananda Likes Photography (wink, wink, nudge, nudge, say no more)
I just saw this story on Drudge. Ummm... it's about strippers having to provide the Canadian government with photos spreads of them in the buff. Key line: "Immigration officers are having to pore through naked pictures of hundreds of exotic dancers to keep impostors out of Canada."
The possible comments and jokes one could Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-1090987899810316412004-07-28T00:05:00.000-05:002004-07-27T23:11:39.810-05:00We Come in Peace, Shoot to Kill!
The following is a post that I started back on April 15th, but for whatever never finished and therefore never posted. I just came across it and it seems pretty well done to me, so I'll post it now.
Osama released his proposed peace treaty to Europe today which amounted to “Stop helping the U.S. and we’ll leave you alone.” There’s plenty to say about this. Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-1090971193250724892004-07-27T18:31:00.000-05:002004-07-27T18:33:13.250-05:00After messing around with the html, I finally got the comments to work without having to go to a whole new template. So, if ya got something say, do so. All two or three of you that actually still look at this thing after almost a half year of inactivity.
Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-1090967997652317052004-07-27T17:30:00.000-05:002004-07-27T17:41:21.333-05:00I Don't Get It.
This is actually an update to my previous post about Ann Coulter's column getting spiked by USA Today. I said that after reading it I didn't blame them for doing so. That still holds true in a general sense. After looking over the comments their editor made, though, I do blame them for their specific reasons. You can read the column with the comments here. While it's Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-1090909041864042142004-07-27T01:14:00.000-05:002004-07-27T01:17:46.736-05:00Achievements in Journalism
On the first day of convention coverage, CNN has the hard-hitting stories that are the stuff of journalistic legend. Ernie Pyle… Walter Winchell… Walter Cronkite… Dan Rather… hang your heads in shame that you never authored stories such as this one.
Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-1090908709051017312004-07-27T01:09:00.000-05:002004-07-27T01:14:35.070-05:00Shock Comic
On other notes, it was in the news that Ann Coulter’s column was spiked by USA Today because it wasn’t funny and was offensive. After reading the column, I can’t blame them. It wasn’t funny and it was offensive. But that’s Coulter, I suppose, and they should have realized her acid wit is more acid and less wit. I don’t like her writings personally. I’m not a big fan of writers who Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-1090908014846525252004-07-27T00:43:00.000-05:002004-07-27T01:14:15.796-05:00Friends of Bill, Bow Down!
Ok, I’m back. I’ve been very lazy about my little blog, but after listening to Bill Clinton speak at the Democratic National Convention, I could hardly keep pace with the jaw dropping moments. Let’s take them point by point, but first I’ll start with Jimmy Carter whom I briefly caught speaking. Isn’t it a little odd that he’s blaming Bush for his handling of North Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-1081826726331856812004-04-12T22:25:00.000-05:002004-04-12T22:28:15.780-05:00"You may all go to hell, and I will go to Texas."
Here's a nice anecdote about Davy Crockett from an 1884 biography, courtesy of this column on OpinionJournal. It summarizes very nicely why government taxing and funding can a dangerous, corrupt thing when Congress exceeds its Constitutional mandates. Here 'tis:
One day in the House, a bill was taken up appropriating money for the benefit of aDan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-1081826199918060642004-04-12T22:16:00.000-05:002004-04-12T22:19:29.450-05:00Andy’s Losing It
I just read Andy Rooney’s column for today, which is entitled “Our Soldiers in Iraq Aren’t Heroes.” In it, he posits the following five questions which he’d like reporters to ask a group of U.S. troops in Iraq:
1. Do you think your country did the right thing sending you into Iraq?
My response: Just because they’re in the military, it doesn’t mean their brains or political Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-1080785475822157802004-03-31T20:11:00.000-06:002004-03-31T20:16:32.860-06:00The ICC Won't Let Me Be
Ok, so this is an interesting issue, fraught with potential peril. The International Criminal Court has ruled against the United States in that the U.S. “violated the rights of 51 Mexicans on death row to receive diplomatic help,” and the U.S. has been “ordered” to review their cases.
Issue 1: The ICC has as much legal jurisdiction over the United States as a tribal Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-1079467894854246802004-03-16T14:11:00.000-06:002004-03-17T23:54:06.576-06:00Conviction
From time to time, I consider a theory of mine that says that those without convictions will necessarily fall victim to those with convictions. What I mean by this is that a person who thinks positions A, B, C, etc. are all equally true (even though they may be contradictory and mutually exclusive towards each other) or are all equally false will sooner or later fall victim to the Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-1079410113037462322004-03-15T22:08:00.000-06:002004-03-15T22:10:54.716-06:00Still Around
Have ya missed me? Sorry for the long absence. I've had many other things to do which took some priority over blogging. Check in in the next couple of days, though. I'll be posting something good. Good and long.Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-1071417373373381962003-12-14T09:56:00.000-06:002003-12-14T09:57:03.043-06:00"Why Don't the Husseins Call Anymore?"
We got 'im!
Osama... where are you?!Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-1071210883341100902003-12-12T00:34:00.000-06:002003-12-12T00:35:30.140-06:00You Don’t Like My Art? Fine! Just Give Me Your Money And I’ll Go!
Artist Charles Bowden has decided that he’s upset his prize was taken away. You see, a drawing of his won second place in a Eureka, CA, art contest which meant that Bowden in turn was to receive a $300 gift certificate. The business owner sponsoring said prize, however, withdrew the award. The reason: Bowden’s art drawing in Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-1071210808566087992003-12-12T00:33:00.000-06:002003-12-12T00:34:15.373-06:00The Artful Blader
The above reminds me of a time in Austin, TX, almost six years ago. I was walking down the main street with all the book stores and such across from UT-Austin when this odd-looking on rollerblades rolled right up to me, gave me a small magazine with pictures of all sorts of modern art-ish looking thing and proceeded to discuss art with me. She was representing an art Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-1070859571444880962003-12-07T22:59:00.000-06:002003-12-07T23:00:13.873-06:00The Circle Of PeTA Life
This article helps describe why PETA is at best a fringe group. It discusses a billboard they erected in Rhode Island (which has the highest percentage of Catholics in the nation) that has the Virgin Mary holding a dead chicken with the words, “Go Vegetarian. It’s an Immaculate Conception.” In fact, you can also currently see it on their website’s main page. Just in Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-1070859420413906282003-12-07T22:57:00.000-06:002003-12-07T22:57:42.873-06:00All the Non-News That's Fit to Print
This article is a little old, but interesting nonetheless. Reuters reported last November that 26 House members were introducing a resolution urging President Bush to fire Rumsfeld. Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) trumpeted that he had 25 co-sponsors for the bill and the reporting makes it seem like this is a big deal. However, keep in mind that there are 435 Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-1070594710686074282003-12-04T21:25:00.000-06:002003-12-04T21:25:50.593-06:00A few days ago in Cincinnati, a 350 pound black man who had various weight-related ailments and who was high on cocaine and PCP at the time died after a brief but violent struggle with police. During the altercation, Nathaniel Jones attempted to grab the nightsticks and pistols of the six officers (five of whom were white, one black) wrestling with him. After pummeling the Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-1066428146308963012003-10-17T17:02:00.000-05:002003-10-17T17:02:26.436-05:00You probably knew that, Al Franken, that terribly clever guy, came out with his book, “Lies: And the Lying Liars Who Tell Them – A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right,” a couple of months ago. But did you know that it had comics in it as well? Yes, for the semi-literate in Al’s constituency or for those readers who can’t stomach a book without pictures, there are short comic strips in the book.Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-1063861864744084912003-09-18T00:11:00.000-05:002003-09-18T00:11:04.806-05:00Slaying Hydra, Diverting Rivers, Punching Holes in Paper and Other Feats of Hercules
So the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals out in beautiful San Francisco has decided that the recall should be postponed because up to 40,000 voters could be disenfranchised. More specifically, 40,000 minority voters may not be properly counted because of the whole punch card ballot issue. This has got to be one Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-1063861847001973782003-09-18T00:10:00.001-05:002003-09-18T00:21:23.613-05:00Clinton Speaks!
We haven’t had a Clinton item in a while (or any other item), so let’s lead off with that. He was speaking at Tom Harkin’s annual steak fry in Iowa this past weekend (whaddya wanna bet they also had veggie burgers?). The article doesn’t give his entire speech but it does provide some juicy quotes.
Among them: “Don't tell me about class warfare. I'm all for wealth and Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-106386182458309272003-09-18T00:10:00.000-05:002003-09-18T00:20:15.630-05:0010 Questions for Madeline Albright
Time magazine often has a piece in which they ask a notable ten questions… not nine, not eleven, but ten. Ten often silly questions with no follow-up. Maddy was no different. First read the actual article and then come back here and let me you give you the real meat of what her answers were.
Question 1: About the score settling.
Answer: I’d rather settle Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-1063042060769256822003-09-08T12:27:00.000-05:002003-09-08T12:27:40.780-05:00This is a complete and utter aside from the usual, but I found it extremely funny. My cat is having digestive troubles so I put a search into Google. This was one of the results. Note item number 1. I guess you really can find anything on eBay.Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-1062288396546402562003-08-30T19:06:00.000-05:002003-08-30T19:06:36.590-05:00This past Tuesday, Hillary Clinton chastised the EPA for, as she claims, declaring the air around New York ok after September 11th when it really wasn't. Furthermore, she says that the supposed lie was the result of a coverup that came straight from the White House. To quote, "I know a little bit about how White Houses work. I know somebody picked up a phone, somebody got on a computer, Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-1062026614163152722003-08-27T18:23:00.000-05:002003-08-27T20:17:58.053-05:00Once upon a time, there was a boy who wasn’t really a boy. Oh sure, he looked like a boy on the outside, but on the inside he was really a girl. So he asked his fairy godmother to change him and it was so. Now he’s a she, people talk about her not him, and everything that was his is now hers (well… not EVERYTHING). Such is the story of James/Jennifer Boylan.
I have some definite qualms aboutDan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-1062026533429697422003-08-27T18:22:00.000-05:002003-08-27T18:22:13.486-05:00I hesitate to bring this up, but if you’ve never heard or seen the Star Wars Kid, you should look him up. The poor portly guy was caught on tape doing what just about every male adolescent has surreptitiously done since Star Wars came out in 1977… he was imitating a light saber battle. More specifically, he was pretending to be Darth Maul from Episode I. He’s the ugly guy with the double lightDan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-1061352768097152692003-08-19T23:12:00.000-05:002003-08-19T23:12:48.130-05:00Not surprisingly, Iraq has become a hotbed of activity for Al Qaeda terrorists. They’re flowing into the country from other places in the region because, well, that’s where the Americans are. Most people will see this as a very bad thing because it may mean more American military casualties and in this respect they are right. However, it’s also very advantageous for us. Whereas these Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-1060748886242138282003-08-12T23:28:00.000-05:002003-08-12T23:28:06.256-05:00Thankfully, there are those in the black community who are working against the extortion racket run by Jesse Jackson. This is sorely needed. There are plenty of folks who have seen past Jesse's mafia mentality, but a scant few of them have been prominent black leaders. Since they're the only people who have any credibility in arguing against Jackson, that's a shame.
Here's the good part, Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-1060746669094910122003-08-12T22:51:00.000-05:002003-08-12T22:51:09.166-05:00One has to wonder why Fox News ever decided to sue Al Franken over the title of his book, Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right. Granted, Fox has a right to sue over it. However, nothing short of the pope's personal endorsement could have given this book better publicity. This likely lame tome was sure to suffer in relative obscurity or at least to bad Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-1060409420977543162003-08-09T01:10:00.000-05:002003-08-09T01:10:21.020-05:00I’m a little backed up so this article is actually from a while ago. It concerns John Kerry’s views on whom he would support as a Supreme Court nominee… or any other judicial spot, for that matter. While he says he doesn’t “believe in litmus tests,” he also says he’ll filibuster any nominee who is anti-abortion. Uh-huh. Maybe somebody should fill him in on what the term, “litmus test” means, Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-1060409370634166782003-08-09T01:09:00.000-05:002003-08-09T01:09:30.780-05:00This article is from early July. You have to get about 2/3 of the way down before you get to the really entertaining part. There’s a big brouhaha going on right now in Texas politics. The legislature is supposed to redraw the Congressional district map based upon the latest census data, but it isn’t going so well. The Democrats are up in arms about the map that the Republican ted Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-1060409049738383722003-08-09T01:04:00.000-05:002003-08-09T01:04:09.670-05:00If you’ve never heard of the Flat Earth Society, do take a look. I still haven’t figured out if this is a big put-on of if there really are folks out there who believe in it. I’m pretty sure it’s the former. Nevertheless, it’s still very funny. The absolute best part is this from their FAQ:
“20. Does Idaho exist?
No. The existence of Idaho is a lie, fabricated by a conspiracy of Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-1060408986279148012003-08-09T01:03:00.000-05:002003-08-09T01:03:06.173-05:00You have to check out this article in Middle Eastern Quarterly. It’s written by a former “peace” activist who was part of a group that opposed the war in Iraq. It’s fascinating reading as he recounts how blissfully ignorant are the people in the anti-war movement and how they suppressed any details of Iraqi misdeeds in order to preserve their access to the country. The account is long, but Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-1060408926193779502003-08-09T01:02:00.000-05:002003-08-09T01:02:06.053-05:00You gotta love North Korean saber rattling. They recently warned the U.S. to keep their little nuclear issue away from the UN. Specifically, they said, “The U.S. intention to bring up the nuclear issue on the peninsula for the discussion at the U.N. at any cost is a grave criminal act to hamstring all the efforts of [North Korea] for dialogue and escalate the tensions on the peninsula. Any Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-1060408787401707032003-08-09T00:59:00.000-05:002003-08-09T00:59:47.220-05:00While Al Gore has repeatedly stated that he’s not running for president in 2004, it isn’t stopping Mario Cuomo from trying to push Al into the race anyway. Cuomo’s reasons for doing so are… well… bad. He says, “Right now, the Democratic voice is not a single voice. It is not a chorus. It is a babble.” He wants Gore to join the race because there’s no single voice for the Democrats to rally Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-1060408656278010852003-08-09T00:57:00.000-05:002003-08-09T00:57:36.123-05:00For some truly frightening judicial activism, look to Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg. She openly admits that the Supremes are looking more at international law and the laws of other countries and taking them into consideration when forming their opinions. Since when do the laws of England, Belgium, or Luxembourg have any bearing on what is law in the United States? The Supreme CourtDan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-1060146833765128732003-08-06T00:13:00.000-05:002003-08-06T00:13:53.866-05:00I have been on the summer vacation, haven't I? So many good stories I could have commented on... lost. Oh well, I'll be back soon with some good stuff. Keep an eye out.Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-1056030559119012332003-06-19T08:49:00.000-05:002003-06-19T08:49:18.976-05:00Yesterday, I discussed some of the uproar surrounding the recent tax cut and how people who don’t pay taxes didn’t get it (at least at first). I forgot to mention this item from the Media Research Center. It concerns media coverage of a protest against House Majority Leader Tom Delay. This particular protest involved mothers pushing strollers as an illustration of the 12 million children that Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-1056030267106427022003-06-19T08:44:00.000-05:002003-06-19T08:44:26.980-05:00You may have come across this already. It’s a little Flash cartoon on the official website of the Democratic National Committee called Bush-enstein. In it, George Bush plays the mad scientist creating the ultimate extremist Supreme Court Justice. The monster judge then proceeds to destroy the Supreme Court building while declaring, “Civil Liberties Bad!” It’s really quite hilarious but not Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-1056030144718372182003-06-19T08:42:00.000-05:002003-06-19T08:42:45.570-05:00Could it be Condi vs. Hilary in 2008? I myself have wondered about such a match up and apparently there is some speculation about it. Condoleezza Rice is by far the superior potential candidate. Her academic, personal, and professional résumés are sterling. Hilary’s, by comparison, or maybe purely on their merit, are covered with mud. Riding your husband’s coattails to a carpet bagging Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-1055913193923515732003-06-18T00:13:00.000-05:002003-06-18T00:13:13.760-05:00You may already be familiar with the row that occurred recently over the child tax credit. As part of the overall tax cut package, the Republicans increased the credit for having kids by $400 per child. However, at the last moment, they decided to make this not apply to people who don’t pay taxes in the first place… families with incomes between $10,500-$26,625. If you have kids and fall into Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-1055823501593658402003-06-16T23:18:00.000-05:002003-06-18T00:12:54.990-05:00I’m a little behind in my blogging. In fact, there was a Washington Post story I was going to comment on but you now have to pay to access it. It concerned Bill Clinton’s continued influence in the Democratic party and how their various candidates are getting constant advice from Bill. As I recall, one of my favorite parts was a quote from one of the folks complimenting Clinton on his many Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-952210472003-06-02T22:49:00.001-05:002003-06-02T22:58:26.000-05:00So France (or is it Freedom?) is trying to improve its image in the United States. All the jokes, food name changes, and vitriol has gotten to them. So who do they hire as their PR man? Woody Allen. You’re already getting the urge for some Dom Perignon, aren’t you? In one of the new ads, he says the following, “I don’t want to freedom kiss my wife, I want to French kiss her.” This would be Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-952210662003-06-02T22:49:00.000-05:002003-06-02T22:54:10.000-05:00Check out this piece by Mark Steyn. He toured around Iraq and has come to the conclusion that things aren’t that bad. In fact, he found that the locals are more worried about NGOs (non-governmental organizations) than they are about Americans. And well they should be. These groups include Oxfam, World Food Program and others. They are essentially welfare organizations that go around “Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-949758162003-05-28T00:30:00.000-05:002003-05-28T00:30:46.380-05:00I know I said that I'd be posting new stuff this week. However, due to the sudden and tragic loss of my good friend, Claire Reynolds, that will be pushed off until next week. She was a great friend and an even better person. She will be missed.Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-947981952003-05-23T14:09:00.000-05:002003-05-23T14:09:43.686-05:00My apologies for the lack of posts recently. It's been almost three weeks! I've got plenty of stuff on tap, but unfortunately I won't be able to get to it until next week. It's Memorial Day weekend afterall... I shouldn't be blogging and you shouldn't be reading! Go to the lake or beach and visit family both living and deceased. For the latter, be sure to bring some flowers to lay down and Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-937739472003-05-04T20:57:00.000-05:002003-05-04T21:00:41.000-05:00It has recently been revealed that Bill Bennett, the Republican big-wig and author of The Book of Virutes actually partakes in a vice himself. He gambles. Not overly shocking. Certainly there are worse things to do. Bennett also says that he’s never bet “the milk money” and that he is perfectly solvent. How much money he actually wagers isn’t quite known, but it appears to be a great deal, Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-937739322003-05-04T20:56:00.000-05:002003-05-04T20:57:45.000-05:00Jacques Chirac and company are quite clearly aiming for a new cold war. It’s really rather stunning. Says Chirac, “Quite naturally a multi-polar world is being created, whether one likes it or not. It's inevitable. For balance to exist, there will have to be a strong Europe. Relations between the European Union and the United States will have to be a partnership between equals.” If Europe Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-935773442003-04-30T23:57:00.000-05:002003-04-30T23:57:51.963-05:00A favorite recurring theme: Bill Clinton. The occasion for this post is a speech he gave at a meeting of the Conference Board of New York on April 15th. The Weekly Standard provides an excerpt of the Most Empathetic One (more on it here). In the first part, he claims that a journalist honcho, who is unnamed and, frankly, questionable in existence, called up Bill and said he warned us about Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-933807962003-04-28T00:02:00.000-05:002003-04-28T00:02:11.730-05:00You really need to read this speech given by Tim Robbins at a National Press Club luncheon on April 15th. It’s mostly the usual woe-is-me whining we’ve been hearing so much from the left. In it, he mentions how many folks have come out and criticized him and how his relatives, including children, are getting cold shoulders from adults and teachers. Make no mistake, children shouldn’t be drawn Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-933807782003-04-28T00:01:00.001-05:002003-04-28T00:01:43.103-05:00Speaking of Cuba, you’ve probably read about how Fidel Castro took the opportunity to arrest and imprison 75 dissidents while the world was distracted with Iraq. Whose fault is it, though? According to Fidel, the U.S., of course! He says we’re stirring up trouble for him. That’s probably true. We were trying to promote democracy, human-rights, and free-speech on the island. So now all the Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-933807512003-04-28T00:01:00.000-05:002003-04-28T00:01:10.973-05:00Ah, good ole Al Sharpton. Despite the fact that he is by all appearances a presidential candidate and that he stated just that on multiple occasions, he is refusing to file a campaign finance report as mandated by law. He claims he’s just testing the waters, right now. The reports list who has contributed how much to the campaign. His balking can only be interpreted as there’s something shadyDan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-933807222003-04-28T00:00:00.000-05:002003-04-28T00:00:42.796-05:00The National Organization for Women’s Morris County chapter decided to get involved in the Laci Peterson murder case. It seems they didn’t like how murder charges were being filed on behalf on an unborn baby since they’re afraid such precedents could later be applied to late-term abortions. This is just another case of a group picking a really bad horse to get behind. Whether or not they validDan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-927594502003-04-16T23:39:00.000-05:002003-04-16T23:39:17.046-05:00The war is starting to wind down somewhat and with the predictable victory of the United States. The big questions now involve what happens to Iraq: how will it be rebuilt; who will be in charge, etc. The U.S. and the UK are actively putting together an intermediate military government that will give way to an Iraqi civilian government once the details and politics get worked out. It’s that Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-927593822003-04-16T23:38:00.000-05:002003-04-16T23:38:02.716-05:00The big news as of late was the looting occurring in Baghdad. It was all over the networks and liberal pundits came out of the corners in which they had been sulking to criticize the military for it. They decried how we had liberated them so they could steal. These are many of the same people who have been longtime apologists for the L.A. riots following the verdicts in the Rodney King trial.Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-927593322003-04-16T23:37:00.000-05:002003-04-16T23:37:11.216-05:00On a more personal note, a couple of weeks ago, I had a discussion with my father-in-law about what the perceptions of the Iraqi people would be after the war. My contention was that the Iraqis would see us as liberators and like us. He disagreed and said this wasn’t the case, that they wouldn’t see their attackers as liberators. Furthermore, he stated that the bulk of a population doesn’t Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-923391052003-04-09T23:38:00.000-05:002003-04-09T23:38:50.373-05:00I'll try to post more on Thursday or Friday, but one comment now.
Considering what we saw in Baghdad today... well... it's that sort of thing that just makes you proud to be an American.Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-918241042003-04-01T23:45:00.000-06:002003-04-01T23:45:08.920-06:00In case you ever forget about how misplaced the Palestinian Authority’s priorities, just refer to this story about the main square in Jenin. The PA saw fit to rename the square after the taxi bomber who killed 4 Marines in Iraq. Yeah, Arafat is a real man of peace.Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-918240402003-04-01T23:43:00.000-06:002003-04-01T23:43:59.903-06:00Remember how Jesse Jackson is trying to get into the battle zone around Iraq in order to check up on POW’s? Well, he’s also trying to find some missing reporters at their families’ behest. Just some more headline grabbing. Granted he’s had success in the past at securing the release of hostages, usually because the evil regimes enjoyed playing it up for big PR points, but what’s annoying is Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-918238982003-04-01T23:41:00.000-06:002003-04-01T23:41:40.030-06:00Not surprisingly, Madonna has decided to pull her new video, “American Life,” from the American market. She debuted it in Germany instead. Considering that it features transvestite soldiers, scenes of bombers and the flag interspersed with Madonna on the toilet, and her throwing a grenade into George Bush’s lap, you can see why she’s want to keep this in Europe where it will be lapped up and Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-918238682003-04-01T23:40:00.000-06:002003-04-01T23:40:54.373-06:00Speaking of music stars, the Dixie Chicks got props from none other than Al Gore himself. This falls under the category of “Don’t Do Me No Favors,” as Gore’s endorsement is unlikely to help the Chicks’ image with country music fans. Concerning lead singer Natalie Maines’s comment during a London concert that she’s ashamed Bush is from Texas, Gore had this to say:
“They were made to feel Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-918236222003-04-01T23:35:00.000-06:002003-04-01T23:35:46.450-06:00Peruse this article on Editor and Publisher concerning the media coverage of the Iraq War. Generally, it compares the present conflict to Vietnam. The best part of the piece is this: “Of course, it is absurd, on one level, to compare a war of less than two weeks with one that lasted decades. But still, many hear echoes, faint or strong, of Vietnam.” So, on just what level is it not absurd to Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-918234252003-04-01T23:32:00.000-06:002003-04-01T23:32:47.996-06:00You may recall a post here from last week decrying the influence of the Wahhabi sect on the Islamic religion as a whole. The good folks at the New York Daily News reviewed several common textbooks used in private Islamic schools in New York City and found the books contained many vile references to Jews, Christians, and other non-Muslims. To get a fuller accounting of what they say, make sure Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-918232442003-04-01T23:29:00.000-06:002003-04-01T23:29:04.606-06:00You may recall hearing about the Columbia University professor who stated his wish that a million Mogadishu’s be visited upon American troops in Iraq. He’s taken a lot of heat for it, but has written a letter to the editor of the school newspaper in which he states that his comments were taken out of context. From his letter, it appears that the context was that the U.S. is an imperialistic, Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-918231212003-04-01T23:26:00.000-06:002003-04-01T23:26:42.186-06:00Speaking of the academic world, make sure to check out the results of the 6th Annual Polly Awards. The awards “are given each year to universities to remind the public that political correctness, curricular decay, and violations of academic freedom and free speech remain an unfortunate reality throughout much of higher education.” They’re also fun to read about.Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-918230342003-04-01T23:25:00.000-06:002003-04-01T23:25:21.310-06:00One more thing, go and look at Lone Dissenter’s blog site. It’s written by a young woman attending high school in the Bay Area and is about her very interesting and amusing accounts of the liberalism she encounters.Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-917562482003-03-31T22:53:00.000-06:002003-03-31T22:58:47.000-06:00I’ve been considering lately what it is that makes people stick to a particular point of view so doggedly that they refuse to acknowledge facts, produce untenable arguments, concoct wild conspiracy theories, and go against normal ethics and values. You see such things all the time: anti-war protestors say it’s all about oil and that the CEO of Exxon is orchestrating events, the same folks say Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-915348962003-03-28T02:32:00.000-06:002003-03-28T02:33:32.000-06:00One of the things I keep reading from the anti-war crowd is that their demonstrations are patriotic. Barbra Streisand loves to crow about how her dissent is just that. Problem is… I don’t think it is patriotic. Most definitions I’ve come across define patriotism as a love of one’s country or a feeling inspired by the same. In that sense, then sure, you could maybe describe some dissent as Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-915348682003-03-28T02:31:00.000-06:002003-03-28T02:31:22.576-06:00Jesse Jackson, what a guy. Seems he’s calling for a truce in the Iraq war so humanitarian aid can get through. Is there no headline for which this guy will not grab? And on whose side is he working? Who thinks that the Iraqi forces would just sit back for awhile while aid was distributed? These are the same people who are using civilians as human shields and are firing mortars into the BasraDan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-915348312003-03-28T02:30:00.000-06:002003-03-28T02:30:23.233-06:00Speaking of Clinton, check out the book I’m reading right now… it’s called Dereliction of Duty and it’s written by an Air Force colonel who had the responsibility of carrying around the nuclear launch codes during several years of Clinton’s second term. Since he often had to be close by the president, he had the opportunity to observe many things. Things like Bill’s putting off the decision to Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-914672252003-03-27T01:55:00.000-06:002003-03-27T01:55:07.110-06:00By all accounts, the war is going well, although not as well as hoped. This isn’t too surprising, but many liberals and Europeans are pouncing on it as proof that we miscalculated. What they don’t realize is that our incredible restraint is what’s keeping things from moving faster. The politics of this war have mandated that we can’t be as loose with our use of force as would be most efficientDan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-914670102003-03-27T01:48:00.000-06:002003-03-27T01:48:37.780-06:00As you know, Mark Fidel Kools, aka Asan Akbar, threw grenades into the tents of his superior officers in Kuwait. The fact that he did so, no matter the cause, should warrant the death penalty… let’s be clear on that. His was a murderous, treasonous act in a combat zone. So while the cause should have no bearing on the ultimate punishment, it’s interesting nonetheless to examine what it might Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-914668842003-03-27T01:44:00.000-06:002003-03-27T01:44:59.983-06:00Now I’m not so sure that those on the left would agree with the above assessment about discrimination in the military. It’s an institution they don’t understand, don’t respect, and don’t like. Liberals are also often all aflame about how minorities make up the majority of the army and are always the ones who die, etc. Problem is, it ain’t really so. Ignoring the fact that America’s is a Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-914667122003-03-27T01:39:00.000-06:002003-03-27T01:39:30.950-06:00Few things are more frustrating than the attempts of Democrats to win at all costs. As seen in this article, the Democratic National Committee is urging its supporters to stand up for Democrats opposing the war and Bush. When the war has already started, when American soldiers are risking their lives and, frankly, when pulling up short in the war would be infinitely worse than total victory, itDan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-914666842003-03-27T01:38:00.000-06:002003-03-27T01:38:32.996-06:00This is really quite amusing. You know how the French love Jerry Lewis, right? Well, their president is apparently no exception.Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-914666562003-03-27T01:37:00.000-06:002003-03-27T01:37:44.996-06:00This is a frightening article. You may recall the episode from several weeks ago in which Jacques Chirac showed his true colors and said that the eastern European countries supporting the U.S. on Iraq would do well to shut up. That and other comments were a not so veiled threat that everybody needs to fall into line with France and Germany when it comes to foreign policy. Now the EU’s Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-914664482003-03-27T01:31:00.000-06:002003-03-27T01:31:33.920-06:00Speaking of Jacques Chirac, it’s not surprising that he isn't in favor of the U.S. and the UK administering post-war Iraq. He’s already on the record as saying he’d veto any such resolution in the UN because it would legitimize action he opposed in the first place. What’s really at stake here is that he doesn’t want France to be left out of the rebuilding. You can read some about that here. Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-914662562003-03-27T01:26:00.000-06:002003-03-27T01:26:07.060-06:00There are elements in the UN Security Council and the General Assembly that will be bringing up debates on resolutions mandating that coalition forces should pull out of Iraq, immediately and unconditionally. This is funny in a way. The UN couldn’t keep forces out of Iraq and now they want to pull them out once they’re there. Thank heavens morality isn’t based upon a majority. Keep in mind Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-914661632003-03-27T01:23:00.000-06:002003-03-27T01:23:51.153-06:00If you haven’t yet had enough proof of the sheer evilness of Hussein’s regime, then let me refer you to this article from Sports Illustrated. Sports Illustrated, you say? It concerns Iraq’s Olympic program and how it was brutally presided over by Saddam’s son, Uday. Let’s just say that Uday used the same motivational methods on athletes as his father used on those with suspicious loyalties. Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-914661262003-03-27T01:22:00.000-06:002003-03-27T01:22:47.843-06:00If you would like more info on how Iraqis truly see Saddam, check out this this account from a former human shield. He recounts some of his experiences in Iraq and how truly naïve he was concerning the situation there. I believe my favorite part was when he asked a taxi driver what he thought of everything. The driver’s response? “’Don't you listen to Powell on Voice of America radio?’ he Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-914660782003-03-27T01:21:00.000-06:002003-03-27T01:21:19.966-06:00You may have watched the Oscars on Sunday night. Never have they seemed so hallow. This was likely due in part to the war, but I can’t imagine that they would have been entertaining even in the war’s absence. Performances were flat and Steve Martin was awful. Bruce Villanch must have written most of those jokes because that wasn’t Martin’s schtick or timing at all. The monologue consisted ofDan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-914659822003-03-27T01:18:00.000-06:002003-03-27T01:18:45.340-06:00After giving it some thought, I have decided to remove The Onion from my favorite links. While it’s still a good humor site, its humor of late has been skewed very far to the left. I don’t at all mind poking fun at conservatives, the Bush administration, etc. I’d be disappointed if they didn’t. Their one-sidedness, however, has made them go from good, quality humor to loud liberal cynical Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-910381372003-03-19T22:39:00.000-06:002003-03-19T22:39:47.716-06:00It has begun.Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-910160312003-03-19T15:54:00.000-06:002003-03-19T16:14:45.000-06:00We all know and love Sheryl Crow, right? Of course we do (since we always trust celebrities)! And not just for her music, but also for her enlightened thoughts on world politics. Thus, I must direct you to a posting on her website concerning her latest elucidation for the masses. Actually, I like this treatise as I think it fairly well lays out almost every point that the anti-war movement Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-910158532003-03-19T15:51:00.001-06:002003-03-19T16:26:14.000-06:00Given the previous post, one of my concerns about post-Saddam Iraq is fundamentalist Islam. Right now, Islam isn’t terribly extreme in Iraq since the government has such strict control of all activities and extremist groups would be a threat to Hussein’s rule. With Hussein out of the picture, though, I imagine that religious groups in next-door Saudi Arabia will take the opportunity to move in Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-910158872003-03-19T15:51:00.000-06:002003-03-19T16:24:44.000-06:00I’ve been giving the topic of Islam some thought lately. I’ve stated in the past that I don’t particularly trust Islam because of its history and especially its invocation in recent terrorist activities. Now, there are good Muslims out there, to be sure. There are Muslims who believe the extremists are morally bankrupt and that their version of Islam is baseless and theologically heretical. Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3392219.post-910157962003-03-19T15:50:00.001-06:002003-03-19T22:36:14.000-06:00Ah, the Dixie Chicks. This goes under the category of, “What were they thinking?!” Seeing as how the Chicks’ primary fan base is Country and that the majority of Country fans are pro-Bush and pro-war, it was the peak of stupidity for Natalie Maines to say she was ashamed Bush was from Texas. The fact that she did it during a London concert was probably even worse… although imagine if it was Dan Ewertnoreply@blogger.com0