May they have better luck.

Than they did with the X-33. I'm a firm believer in space exploration and hope Lockheed Martin's guys are up to this task.

It's time we left the cradle.

Wow, bold move.

I consider CNN's decision to rebroadcast 9-11 quite bold as they've spent the last 5 years downplaying the event.

Bravo for CNN.

And then there were eight.

Buhbye Pluto, 76 years is a good lifespan in the big leagues.

Excellent article from Chrichton.

I really enjoyed this discussion on hubris and complexity, basically at least one person seems to understand that we don't understand what we're told to be afraid of by people who claim to understand.

I think the sage Homer Simpson...

...put it best. "In this house we obey the laws of Thermodynamics!"

But, people never seem to listen to poor Homer.

Barone hits the nail on the head again.

I often enjoy Michael Barone's work, and this column is an especially good, if short, read. There's a need to understand that elites on the Left aren't interested in defending this nation, they're actually desirous of our defeat.

And in their self-hatred they're willing to overlook everything that'd be lost should the West lose this war. I've been scoffed at for likening what we're going through to the "Barbarians at the Gate" period for Rome. But that's indeed what we're facing.

Hizballah, Iran, Hamas, Syria, al Qaeda, Chavez, the Taliban, Sudan, Eva Morales, Robert Mugabe, while not formally allied, are at the gates and are wanting to destroy the freedoms and ways of the West.

Gay marriage? Fuhgeddaboutit. Divorce? Gonner. Elections? Nope. Science and medicine? Nor to these Luddites.

I'd say it's time to wake up, but a sizable chunk in he West is in active denial. We will win this war with or without this chunk, or it simply won't matter.

The institutionalized theft known as Digital Rights Management

Why do I consider it theft? Simple reason, it pretends that you no longer have the right of ownership and that the original seller can take back your property at their whim. This is called theft when people without expensive lawyers and corrupt judges do it.

But we are expected to take it lying down.

So what starts me on this is I recently had to replace a dying motherboard. So when I fire up iTunes again...I have to reauthorize the songs I've bought directly from iTunes...for use on the same machine. So I've used two of the five authorizations generously given me for use of my property to play a song on just one machine.

Gee thanks iTunes.

And some will complain that I signed that away with their ToS. But you can no more sign your right to unlawful seizure of property (which is really what DRM boils down to) than you can sell yourself into slavery.

Now the real shenanigans come in retail stores. Buy software lately? I bet you haven't...because if you look at those half-baked EULA's, you didn't really _buy_ anything. You're just essentially leasing it. Sound like bait-and-switch? It should, and it needs to be exposed in my opinion.

Or at least they should be required to post the ENTIRE EULA on the box so you have the option to read it...like you would with any other leasing arangement.

/rant

More evidence that computer models aren't predictive.

They're just models after all, without the variables defined or understood. Case in point the horrible hurricane season we're having, as predicted last year. Global warming has the things churning the ocean like solar-heated butter.

Wait...what? It's quiet? The sea temperatures are below normal?

But...that's not possible. I was assured we were all doomed because we live a better and cleaner life than 30 years ago. All the nay-sayers keep harping about the better without any attention to the cleaner...or without any science done to prove man-made global warming is going on.

They demand it for creationism in the class room, they demand it whenever anyone tries to shrink government...but they accept man-made global warming on faith.

*sheesh*

Politicians against voters, again.

Reading about how Arnie is about to be named the hero-du-jur of the rabid Left, he's actually deciding to go against the welfare of the citizens of California. Grand, isn't it?

In exchange for unemployment, increased deficits, decreased opportunities, and killing our economy...Schwartzenegger will get a few moments of back-patting from SUV-driving, private-jet-flying elites.

Just has to sell us out to a bit of junk science. *sigh*

If he really cared for California he'd work to get money diverted to research to investigate whether or not man-made global warming is real...NO ONE has done this research yet.

"Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the War Room."

Just a little insanity for you, but when a peace protest breaks out in fisticuffs you know something screwy is afoot.

Terrorism on a roll.

Two major victories in a week for the forces of terror. Not only did Hizballah score a minor tactical and huge strategic victory against Israel, but now Judge Taylor and the ACLU won another battle for their side in Michigan.

Folks, this isn't a civil police action this is a full blown war. And no amount of self-delusions can change that. Our enemies realize that, want that, and work to win. Meanwhile large segments of our community fight to keep us FROM fighting.

People will die as a result of Taylor's anti-US decision, and freedoms will erode because of her doing the ACLU's bidding. If you want to preserve freedoms you'll hope to see this bad decision overturned.

This is a global war, a World War, and the US legal system is, like Iraq and Afghanistan, an active front in the war. We really need to start acting like that.

Airport Security

So I picked up two friends from LAX today and was thinking about this latest terrorist mess. No liquids, basically no carry-ons, no etc. May not have been able to kill anyone, but it sure makes us look silly so it's still a nominal victory for them.

Which leads to a greater point. By using signal intelligence Demos want to ban, and British internal security we simply don't have, we were able to stop one plot at the cost of some freedom and major disruptions all around. Aka, this is the face of the world the anti-war Demos want to live in...constantly eroding freedoms in a reactionary defense that tries to minimize lost life not prevent the loss of life.

Something to remember the next time you hear someone deluding themselves about this being 'a war you can't win militarily.' Not only is this a war that can be won with armies, it's one that MUST be won with armies over there if we're to preserve the freedoms inherent of liberal democracies.

Business Comma-tery.

This article illustrates the importance of minding your P's and Q's, a trait growing rare in the up-and-coming generation.

Hey Comrade Moore.

Reading this tripe from Mikhail Moore and I wasn't surprised by his continuing counterfactual history.

He lied in Roger and Me, and in Bowling for Columbine, and in Fahrenheit 9/11...so naturally he continues here.

The only reason Iraq is unwinnable is because wealthy and corrupt men like Moore revel in every serviceman's death while they endlessly repeat al Qaeda's talking points. If al Qaeda didn't see the effect Moorons are having here they wouldn't be trying this hard...they'd realize they've lost.

So Moore, I suggest you continue your purge. Like your spiritual forefathers in the USSR and Germany, purges did a great job preparing them for the main match. I'll be over here, with my popcorn, watching the party of hate eat itself.

As will the vast majority of America.

The Joy of Migraines.

Reading this article(Registration required) shows that a lot of progress has been made in figuring out migraines. And most of what we knew was wrong.

No real surprise as this happens all the time.

The most important advice is:

Perhaps most important in finding relief is seeing a doctor highly experienced in diagnosing and treating migraines.

As I went to the doctor and was told I had 'adult onset' migraines, when it seems it was just poor dietary constraints (too much chocolate too near bedtime).

Back.

Heh, life's been hectic but things should settle down a bit now. I should resume blogging normally as of today.