Telcom Welfare thwarted, for now.

The initial attempt enact Telcom Welfare (ie ending net neutrality) has been thwarted by a ridiculously narrow margin. We're not out fo the woods here and need to keep pressuring to prevent the Telcoms from enacting their own little welfare bill.

It'll be interesting to see if they're able to buy enough legislators to give themselves this windfall.

Which, naturally, will be borne on our backs.

It comes in pints?!

A hobbits exclamation in Bree, an Englishman's glee in Germany.

Makes me wonder how the pretzel business is going.

Curious about Lego?

I've always loved Lego, and it's still a guilty pleasure of mine. Over at How Stuff Works they give some great information on how those addictive blocks function.

'Nuh uh', foreign policy style.

Reading Daniel Bernstein's piece over at Volokh I find myself reliving a number of arguments I've had here at UCSB.

Read the whole thing.

No kidding.

Seems Rowlings may kill off Potter.

That'd be about as surprising as book seven being 500+ pages long.

Follow up to sportsmanship

As I mentioned yesterday, leading by example is a lost art.

Well, seems others have a sense of humor too.

Temper tantrum in front of a crowd: $1000
Scaring a poor batboy: 7 Days Suspension
Having your video broadcast across the web: Priceless.

Care to place wagers?

According to Rowling, two die in her volume 7.

<speculation>

My own speculation is either Harry or Voldemort buys it, as they both shouldn't survive. But as for the other, I'm not really certain...so many could or should buy it.

I'm really intriqued by her reprieve comment. I'll be interested to see if my hunch comes to pass.

</speculation>

Bill bin Keller strikes again.

If you've been following the news, it seems that Bill Keller and the NY Times decided to put all of us at risk in their never ending intelligence gathering role for al Qaeda.

Thanks guys.

Instapundit has been following it here, here, here, here, here, here, and here. *phew*

I for one have to say that I agree with the of the National Review and that the press credentials of the entire New York Times should be revoked as a sanction for their continued putting lives at risk.

And while Michelle Malkin's photoshoppers may be harsh, they're actually pretty accurate on where the NY Times has placed itself.

On the side of the people who brought down 1, 2, and 7 World Trade Center on that bright, sunny day just five years ago.

And speaking of anger-inducing refs.

Looks like I'm not the only one upset at the World Cup officiating. And you know it's bad when the body that runs world soccer issues a condemnation mid tournament.

I'll never grouse about lousy NFL calls again.

Good sportsmanship...

...starts with the manager, right? Of course it does, although someone should tell Joe Mikulik that, and maybe help the poor guy get some help.

Perhaps a side career in boxing?

En Guarde!

Looks like Arnie isn't actually all that interested in doing what's needed to stem the flow of illegals into California.

Not surprising actually, but sad that a man who campaigns on his 'tough' image isn't willing to do his job.

Hypocrisy Watch

So here's another example of how the old media works.

Some 60% of Americans disapprove of the Iraq front and thus the media hammers the president for keeping us in there because he's at odds 'with the public' and they are wise.

Now, according to ABC's own research 60% see no need for drastic or immediate action on the AGW hype. So the press hammers the President because he's in sync with the populace and that we people are ignorant.

But, of course, the media is against freeing oppressed people and also against economic opportunity here at home, so they apply those criteria to the news which then explains their position.

Once again put at risk by newsmen.

In the never ending battle to make more money at the cost of American lives and your safety, the NY Times and LA Times broke an expose on a anti-terror program that the NYT acknowledges is LEGAL.

All so the bin Sulzbergers can make a few quick bucks at the cost of our soldiers lives.

Okay, it's nerdy...

...but it's fun. And what's better than a philosophical look at Superman vs. others on a Friday morning?

Net Neutrality - 21 Century's Freedom of Speech

The neutrality of the internet is vital to everyone, not just those playing World of Warcraft. If staying informed and being empowered are things you like, visit www.savetheinternet.com and help all of us stop this assinine motion.

The favorite cheese for software developers?

Swiss apparently based on the number of highly popular, and highly vulnerable, software packages out there.

It's not called AOHell for nothin'

Geez, reading this makes you realize why AOL has its problems. The representative may have been fired but the real question is 'has AOL stopped this policy?'

'cause there's no way this was some rogue operator.

The problem of conspicuous wealth...

is often talked about. But some guys have a totally new spin on it.

Hawking's got taste, just not in his theories.

While I agree with Hawkings on his China comments, he's way off on his global warming hysteria.

Yes, he's a genius...at math and astrophysics. But he's simply not a qualified person when it comes to the great Anthropogenic Global Warming (AGW) scare. Yes he's an expert, and he's a scientist...but he's not a geologist, nor a paleoclimatologist.

It's akin to seeking out Dwayne Wade for advice on water polo. He's an expert and an athlete...but he's not in a position to give expert advice on water polo.

As a geologist I have to point out that the Earth's tectonic regime is vastly different than Venus', which means different rules are in play. Further, Earth's CO2 levels have been immensely higher in the past than they are now, and some of those times saw Earth colder than it is now.

Anyways, when it comes to AGW, yes the world is warming...because it's coming out of the little Ice Age from ~1300-1850. When temperatures were significantly colder than now, which isn't mentioned anymore.

Isn't it amazing that people can whine about the anti-science of 'creationism' but force the anti-science of AGW down our throats?

Hypocrites.

Snatching Defeat from the mouth of Victory.

I swear, every time the Dems have a chance of gaining ground they do something stupid like this. 149 voted to lose the war against terror/Islamofascism. 149...think about that.

On the record against:

Our way of life.
Our service members.
Our safety.
Our children.

That's pretty amazing. 73% of Congressional Democrats want bin Laden to win. Including our esteemed elitist Lois Capps.

For the record, here's the text of the resolution:

RESOLUTION

Declaring that the United States will prevail in the Global War on Terror, the struggle to protect freedom from the terrorist adversary.

Whereas the United States and its allies are engaged in a Global War on Terror, a long and demanding struggle against an adversary that is driven by hatred of American values and that is committed to imposing, by the use of terror, its repressive ideology throughout the world;

Whereas for the past two decades, terrorists have used violence in a futile attempt to intimidate the United States;

Whereas it is essential to the security of the American people and to world security that the United States, together with its allies, take the battle to the terrorists and to those who provide them assistance;

Whereas the Taliban, Al Qaeda, and other terrorists failed to stop free elections in Afghanistan and the first popularly-elected President in that nation's history has taken office;

Whereas the continued determination of Afghanistan, the United States, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization will be required to sustain a sovereign, free, and secure Afghanistan;

Whereas the steadfast resolve of the United States and its partners since September 11, 2001, helped persuade the government of Libya to surrender its weapons of mass destruction;

Whereas by early 2003 Saddam Hussein and his criminal, Ba'athist regime in Iraq, which had supported terrorists, constituted a threat against global peace and security and was in violation of mandatory United Nations Security Council Resolutions;

Whereas the mission of the United States and its Coalition partners, having removed Saddam Hussein and his regime from power, is to establish a sovereign, free, secure, and united Iraq at peace with its neighbors;

Whereas the terrorists have declared Iraq to be the central front in their war against all who oppose their ideology;

Whereas the Iraqi people, with the help of the United States and other Coalition partners, have formed a permanent, representative government under a newly ratified constitution;

Whereas the terrorists seek to destroy the new unity government because it threatens the terrorists' aspirations for Iraq and the broader Middle East;

Whereas United States Armed Forces, in coordination with Iraqi security forces and Coalition and other friendly forces, have scored impressive victories in Iraq including finding and killing the terrorist leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi;

Whereas Iraqi security forces are, over time, taking over from United States and Coalition forces a growing proportion of independent operations and increasingly lead the fight to secure Iraq;

Whereas the United States and Coalition servicemembers and civilians and the members of the Iraqi security forces and those assisting them who have made the ultimate sacrifice or been wounded in Iraq have done so nobly, in the cause of freedom; and

Whereas the United States and its Coalition partners will continue to support Iraq as part of the Global War on Terror: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) honors all those Americans who have taken an active part in the Global War on Terror, whether as first responders protecting the homeland, as servicemembers overseas, as diplomats and intelligence officers, or in other roles;
(2) honors the sacrifices of the United States Armed Forces and of partners in the Coalition, and of the Iraqis and Afghans who fight alongside them, especially those who have fallen or been wounded in the struggle, and honors as well the sacrifices of their families and of others who risk their lives to help defend freedom;
(3) declares that it is not in the national security interest of the United States to set an arbitrary date for the withdrawal or redeployment of United States Armed Forces from Iraq;
(4) declares that the United States is committed to the completion of the mission to create a sovereign, free, secure, and united Iraq;
(5) congratulates Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki and the Iraqi people on the courage they have shown by participating, in increasing millions, in the elections of 2005 and on the formation of the first government under Iraq's new constitution;
(6) calls upon the nations of the world to promote global peace and security by standing with the United States and other Coalition partners to support the efforts of the Iraqi and Afghan people to live in freedom; and
(7) declares that the United States will prevail in the Global War on Terror, the noble struggle to protect freedom from the terrorist adversary.

Good news on the Murtha front.

There are few possible victories in this war than the defeat of John Murtha. It's good to see that re-election troubles for uber-fifth-columnist Murtha. The point here is that anyone as intent on contributing to the harm and death of our soldiers as Murtha needs to be defeated.

So, support Diana Irey for congress. Not just to give better leadership in Washington, but to protect the lives of those in uniform.

Interesting assessment of Iran by al Qaeda.

I found this recovered document fascinating. But aside for their primary goal is using our media to win their war I found the following fascinating:

3. The possibility of acquiring new weapons from the Iranian side, either after the fall of Iran or during the battles.

I mean they want us to war with Iran, but they also expect Iran to fall. They've fought our forces, they've listened to the talking points about us being overstretched, and yet they expect not our loss and their looting our gear.

They expect an Iranian loss.

I wonder if Murtha's read this? Or if he's still on Zawahiri's mailing list?

93-6?

Makes you wonder when votes like this are going on what's the real game of the pro-terrorist Left is? I mean if they're working to be constantly ridiculed as hypocrits, they're good at it.

Tyranny is always descending on America and landing in Europe.

Hard to believe that this kind of thing would go on in a supposed western democracy.

Perhaps Belgium would feel better if home schooled children wore small, yellow stars?

I swear, you can't make this stuff up sometimes.

I knew there was a reason I like Rudy.

It's rare but refreshing to see a major political candidate speak truth to our energy problems. But that's Rudy for you.

It takes a lot of courage to stand up to Big Green, and if Rudy keeps that he'll be a powerful candidate in 2008.

What's worse?

That the Democrat leadership wants us to lose the war against Islamofascism?

Or that they work for that every single day?

Sheesh, I mean when you hear their constant bickering over how we need to lose (which they call 'setting a timetable') you'd think they got their talking points from Zawahiri. I mean an honest assessment of Iraq shows we're winning there, and rather decisively, and at a cost below what any other nation has ever paid for supressing a guerrila movement.

The only place where it appears we're losing is in the eyes of the Old Media, just as their masters in al Qaeda like.

But they file their stories from New York with their ledes already prepared before the story is actually written, so it's not really journalism but bin Laden propaganda.

Real scientists on global warming.

For those who actually study the subject, you've known that the man-made global warming hysteria is essentially a funding stunt by researchers. The mystery for me has been why climitologists have stayed silent with the never ending junk-science barrage being launched at the American public.

Well, I find this salvo a refreshing push back. And I hope we'll have more of them because it's bad for science and secularism what the fear-mongers like Gore are doing.

Good point on comparisons.

Considering that a cursory examination of Joe Wilson exposes him as an exaggerator at best, Jim Lindgren raises a valid point here.

CNNSI had the right headline for that loss.

"Reality Czech" reads the headline talking about our memorable performance to open this World Cup. Memorable for all the wrong reasons. We should at least make other nations work for it a bit.

Sheesh.

Dog bites man.

Looks like a tropical system is gathering towards Florida. While I understand the big business behind global warming hysteria, a large penninsula sticking into hurricane prone waters should be expected to get hit by storms.

What's next? "Blizzard buries the Yukon" headlines this December?

Looks like Norway isn't as boring as I've heard.

My friend Knut always makes Norway sound rather dull, but they can have a blast too.

I really hope they find some good chunks of that rock, it'd be great to study.

Boss gets 72 virgins, I get $25 million.

So, the human race was improved today with the bombing of al Zarqawi off the face of the earth.

That we got his #2 was a great benefit.

I'm just confused on one little point...based on my friends and colleagues, Iraq's only about oil. So what's Zarqawi doing there?

Scorecard on Iran.

Let's see...

1) Iran's threatening to wipe out a major developed democracy.
2) Has a 25+ year history of supporting terrorists.
3) Has significant oil reserves and thus directly influences world oil prices.
4) Opresses women and their rights.
5) Is ruled by a cadre of madmen.
6) AND is developing nuclear weapons.

This naturally means that the continued ethnic unrest throughout the country would get major headlines here in the US.

Right? You'd think.

So where are they?

...

I hope Karl Rove isn't paying attention...'cause this shows that one way Bush has of getting the press to cut him a break is to threaten to wipe out France while opening federal lands to oil drilling and turning the SEALs loose on other nations that disagree with us...and jailing random educated women wouldn't hurt too.