Ever the reliable partisan and Democrat company man, Beckel is left in the unfortuante position of trying to defend the Obama administration's mishandling of the Wikileaks fiasco. "What can you do?" pleads Beckel about the distribution of classified documents over the Web by Julian Assange and cohorts.
As if to punctuate the Democrat's plaintive plea of, "What can be done?" about the public distribution of U.S. Government secrets over the Internet, Ann Coulter asserts, “America is a helpless, pitiful giant because democrats are in the White House.”
Dana Loesch and Hugh Hewitt take apart Democrat strategist Bob Beckel on Hannity's Great American Panel
Comic Actor Leslie Nielsen Dead at Eighty-Four
Canadian born actor Leslie Nielsen passed away on Sunday morning at a hospital near his home in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Nielsen was best known for his abrupt career transition from serious leading man roles in Science Fiction and Crime drama roles to bumbling funnyman in hit comedies like Airplane, Police Squad and the Naked Gun. The eighty-four year old actor had been battling pneumonia for the past two weeks before succumbing to the illness. Nielsen's wife and friends were at his bedside at the time of his death.
Here is a young Nielsen as the leading man in the classic Science Fiction flick, Forbidden Planet.
The hilarious intro from the Police Squad series.
Leslie, appears in a cell phone commercial in Holland.
RIP, Leslie.
Here is a young Nielsen as the leading man in the classic Science Fiction flick, Forbidden Planet.
The hilarious intro from the Police Squad series.
Leslie, appears in a cell phone commercial in Holland.
RIP, Leslie.
Season's Greetings for a Griswold Family Christmas
One of the funniest Christmas movies ever made; National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. Note the slow build to the famous Clark Griswold flip-out sessions. Clark gets a telegram from work announcing his enrollment in the not-so-coveted 'Jelly of the Month Club' in place of his much needed Christmas bonus.
Priceless lines: Cousin Eddie, "Clark, that's the gift that keeps on giving the whole year round." "That it is, Edward." replies Griswold, "That it is, indeed."
Here's the full Griswold in complete bombastic mode as Clark goes into his most hilarious rant about his cheap boss who stiffed the employees with a lousy 'Jelly of the Month' club subscription instead of the much anticipated Christmas bonus.
"...and I want him brought right here, with a big ribbon on his head, and I want to look him straight in the eye and I want to tell him what a cheap, lying, no-good, rotten, four-flushing, low-life, snake-licking, dirt-eating, inbred, overstuffed, ignorant, blood-sucking, dog-kissing, brainless, d!ckle55, hopeless, heartless, fat-a55, bug-eyed, stiff-legged, spotty-lipped, worm-headed sack of monkey sh!t
he is. Hallelujah! Holy sh!t! Where's the Tylenol?"
Priceless lines: Cousin Eddie, "Clark, that's the gift that keeps on giving the whole year round." "That it is, Edward." replies Griswold, "That it is, indeed."
Here's the full Griswold in complete bombastic mode as Clark goes into his most hilarious rant about his cheap boss who stiffed the employees with a lousy 'Jelly of the Month' club subscription instead of the much anticipated Christmas bonus.
"...and I want him brought right here, with a big ribbon on his head, and I want to look him straight in the eye and I want to tell him what a cheap, lying, no-good, rotten, four-flushing, low-life, snake-licking, dirt-eating, inbred, overstuffed, ignorant, blood-sucking, dog-kissing, brainless, d!ckle55, hopeless, heartless, fat-a55, bug-eyed, stiff-legged, spotty-lipped, worm-headed sack of monkey sh!t
he is. Hallelujah! Holy sh!t! Where's the Tylenol?"
Laughing All The Way To The Polls
This is way too awesome. The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) was one of the main proponents of ObamaCare last year, donating millions to Democrats to push ObamaCare, and now in response to the health care bill passing has this to say;
“In addition, new federal health-care reform legislation requires plans with dependent coverage to expand that coverage up to age 26...our limited resources are already stretched as far as possible, and meeting this new requirement would be financially impossible.”
“In addition, new federal health-care reform legislation requires plans with dependent coverage to expand that coverage up to age 26...our limited resources are already stretched as far as possible, and meeting this new requirement would be financially impossible.”
U.S. South Korea Begin Military Excercises
Herow! Uncle Sam and South Korea begin military excercises in the South China Sea in the wake of Kim Jung Il's unprovoked attack on his southern neighbor.
Maybe Kim Jong Il is Ronery:
Maybe Kim Jong Il is Ronery:
Season's Greetings from Space
Enjoy and pass them along.
Grandma, Nonno, and Molly's visit -- night 5
Every 5 years or so, I put a white in the freezer to chill it fast, but then forget I put it in there and by the time I remember it has frozen solid. The cork typically blows out as the liquid expands (water expands when frozen, and wine contains lots of water). It happened again. Good thing it wasn't a screw cap wine. It was an excellent German dry Riesling I previously reviewed, and after thawing it actually tasted pretty good, though not up to the standard of the unneglected bottle I had a few months ago. It was a 2008 Schafer-Frohlich RIESLING Trocken "Bockenauer" (Nahe, Germany). I won't review the frozen bottle.
Next up was the 2001 Chateau Haut-Bergey (Pessac-Leognan), one of my sentimental favorite estates in the Graves region of Bordeaux (I used to sell this when I worked for Paramount Wines in NY back in the early 80s). It's way more expensive now, but it's also stepped up in quality. It had a dark black, brickish ruby color befitting a mature Graves, and sported an intensely fragrant smoky, spiced gravel, and sweet cassis nose. Rich and soft, with deep, ripe fruit, and a smoky, earthy, oaky finish. It would have preferred the oak to be a bit less overt, but still it was very, very good, and peaking. 89.
Grandma, Nonno, and Molly's visit -- night 4
Polpetonne alla Toscana with two great wines I have enjoyed before and wanted to share with M&D:
2005 Chante Cigale CHATEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE (Southern Rhone, France) -- I have reviewed this wine previously, and it remains very very good. Medium dark black ruby. Elegant, intensely minerally nose, with warm, dry gravel scents, incense, iodine, and dry blackberry extract. Dark and tannic, with deep-toned, iodine-rich blackberry fruit. Long finish coats the mouth with soft tannin on the physical side and clinging minerals on the taste side. Very nice. Drink in the next 2-3 years. 89.
2004 Renato Ratti BAROLO Rocche "Marcenasco" (Piemonte, Italy) -- Previously reviewed here, this remains a great Barolo. Dark black ruby with a hint of amber at the rim. Rich nose of dark cherries, cherry liqueur, and smoky earth. Soft, but with a dense concentration of dark cherry and dried cherry fruit. Fair amount of tannin in the back half of the palate. An excellent Barolo for drinking with special meals over the next 2-4 years. 91.
Grandma, Nonno, and Molly's visit -- night 3
2009 Hippolyte-Reverdy SANCERRE ROSE (Loire Valley, France) -- I think I've decided that the Pinot Noir roses from Sancerre are my favorites. This one was remarkable. Gorgeously light salmon color, gorgeously fruity nose of strawberries, cherries, and a light floral component. Perfumed as all get-out. Gorgeously light texture, but with intense yet vivacious fruit. Very nice acidity and a clean clean finish. Loved it. 90. $19.99 from B-21 Wines in Florida.
2005 Guigal GIGONDAS (Southern Rhone, France) -- Gigondas can be an unforgiving wine, sometimes too angular, lean, and/or rustic/coarse. But when it hits, it hits, and this one hit. Black ruby-garnet. Fantastic old-school spicy, gravelly-stony, dark berries and garrigue nose. Smells like the arid southern French countryside in a bottle. Dark, intensely rich, iodine-infused blackberry extract flavors. Full-bodied frame (just the teeniest bit of heat noticeable on the finish), and a fair amount of tannin. Very expressive and satisfying. Textbook Gigondas. 91. (Can't remember where I got this, but it wasn't in Houston).
2007 Domaine Weinbach RIESLING Schlossberg "Cuvee Saint Catherine L'Inedit" (Alsace France) -- this half bottle of late-picked Riesling (from a Grand Crus vineyard) was very backward at first, but then blossomed after about an hour. Extraordinarily pale gold color, and an amazingly rich, complex nose of deeply-spiced grapes and tropical fruit, brown sugar, and the sweetest minerals imaginable. Intensely flavorful, with earthy, spiced peach extract, ending in a long cling peach syrup and liquid mineral finish. Fairly full-bodied for a Riesling with a little heat in the long, long finish. Redunculous. 93. Was $46 per 375 ml at Houston Wine Merchant.
Grandma, Nonno, and Molly's visit -- night 2
2007 Darting Durkheimer Nonnengarten GEWURZTRAMINER Kabinett (Rheinpfalz, Germany) -- A relatively rare German Gewurz (Grandma's favorite grape?). A lilting and light nose of sweet, musky, tropical fruit, ripe pear and a teeny bit of Gewurz lychee nut. Gentler fruit (pear, grapefruit, guava) coats the mouth, but with a light texture, leaving a clean, lingering finish with the barest hint of bitterness. Slightly sweet, light bodied (only 9.5%). Terrific aperitif style Gewurz. 87. $20 at Spec's on Smith.
2006 Rainoldi SASSELLA Valtellina Superiore (Lombardy, Italy) -- Disappointing. In my view the main flaw in the Nebbiolo wines from the Valtellina is that they are frequently maddeningly thin. Like this one. Medium-light ruby garnet. With lots of airing, it exhibited a medium intensity nose of spiced cherries, balsa wood, and crushed stones. Medium-light bodied, with refreshing, focused, if somewhat thinnish flavors -- cherry fruit and an earthy, woodsy component. Still a little tannin present, which actually helps give the wine some textural interest. 85. Drink soon. $16.99 from Zachys.com (NY).
Ron Paul Calls for Boycott of Airlines over TSA Crotch Groping
More fun and games from the firm of Janet InCompetano and Associates. Texas Congressman Ron Paul talks with radio talker Alex Jones about the TSA's tacit admission of using harrassment and intimidation through groping of passengers to get the public into x-ray machines at airport terminals.
Parents Rally for School Choice in Chicago
Parents, fed up with the incompetence and indifference of the Public School System protest outside a Chicago School Board meeting.
Young Boy Describes Visit to Heaven After Surviving Emergency Surgery
Amazing story from a young fellow who has been on the other side. Everyone is at their prime in Heaven says the youngster who describes meeting deceased relatives he never knew on Earth.
Grandma, Nonno, and Molly's visit -- night 1
Grandma, Nonno, and our niece Molly are visiting. So we're breaking out the good stuff.2007 Leitz Rudesheimer Klosterlay RIESLING Kabinett (Rheingau, Germany) -- Outrageous nose of ripe grapes and peach, slate and sea shells, and a lightly floral component. Piercing up-front fruit coats the mouth, wrapped in a thin veneer of minerals. Light to medium-bodied, slightly sweet, but with very good balancing acidity. A long, lithe, ridiculously pure finish. 91. Was around $18 at Spec's awhile ago, so I am not sure they still have it. Imported by Michael Skurnick Wines.
2007 Herman Story Winery GRENACHE "Larner Vineyard" (Santa Barbara County, Cal.) -- From a teeny, weeny winery, this was a brooding but civilized monster. Completely saturated ruby purple. Intense nose of crushed rocks, gravel, and spicy raspberry syrup, as well as warm, just-out-of-the-oven baking spices. Huge body, with almost port-like richness, but dry. Deep favors of liquefied stony minerals, dried raspberry syrup. Long, long finish, with some peppery warmth from the alcohol (16.1%), but it's actually hidden well. 90. Was $39 at Spec's on Smith.
Swick's Black Ops Review
I picked up my copy of Black Ops the afternoon it came out (didn't want to be a part of the midnight mess) and have logged about 20 hours or so of multi-player game play in the past week. That has given me a chance to get a pretty good feel for the pros and cons of the games So with that, here they are;
Pros
1) Environment Visuals - If you have not seen the game in 1080p, you should. On a large screen (I have a 42") the environment is gorgeous, and very photo realistic. One of the things I did not like about Modern Warfare 2 was the "cartoonish" look of the scenery. A good thing that Treyarch needs to run with every time.
2) Difficulty - It was SO frustrating to start off initially with the game restricted to core with only the M16, a shotgun or a mule-kick LMG. This was very similar to World at War and I like it! MW2 was a very good pick up and play game. The M4 started off as my primary weapon from level 1 and it never changed. With that, there was no learning curve. This game had plenty of it.
3) ONLY Gun Kills for Killstreaks - This makes care packages worth the time. No more Predator, Harrier, Chopper Gunner combos.
4) Scavenger doesn't pick up equipment - No more Double coverage for snipers/campers. A big plus.
Cons
1) SPAWN ENGINE! - Countless complaints have emerged about this one. This to me is a MAJOR downgrade from WaW and MW2. Did it suck that you might respawn across the map from the enemies because of an AFK/camper? Yes, but it is much better than spawning 3-5 times in the middle of multiple enemies, or getting in a Spawn loop
2) Particle Effects - For items like dust, moths, and sparks, these items look rushed. Dirt in the air looks like an over-zoomed pixel in MS Paint. It looks like the deadline was coming and this was totally overlooked.
3) Enemy Footsteps - I'm an old school Counter Strike player. Footsteps in that game were amazing. You could tell the location and number of enemies through a wall with good headphones. MW2 and WaW you could at least hear one coming, but were unsure where from. In Black Ops, enemy footsteps have been silenced so much that what is the point? This makes the Ghost perk VERY powerful. At least in WaW and MW2 you had Dead Silence/Camouflage and Cold-Blooded/Ninja Pro that took up 2 perks. Stealth became a class in itself.
4) Massive Maps - Like World at War the maps are massive with lots of places to hide/maneuver. Unfortunately this can cause game play to get ridiculously slow (esp. in Hardcore) and encourages camping. MW2 had Derail, Estate,and Wasteland. Black Ops has Array, Crisis, Grid, and Jungle. Radiation isn't on the list but I would consider it a major camping map.
So there you have it. Overall the game is good, and with some quick patching it can be great.
Pros
1) Environment Visuals - If you have not seen the game in 1080p, you should. On a large screen (I have a 42") the environment is gorgeous, and very photo realistic. One of the things I did not like about Modern Warfare 2 was the "cartoonish" look of the scenery. A good thing that Treyarch needs to run with every time.
2) Difficulty - It was SO frustrating to start off initially with the game restricted to core with only the M16, a shotgun or a mule-kick LMG. This was very similar to World at War and I like it! MW2 was a very good pick up and play game. The M4 started off as my primary weapon from level 1 and it never changed. With that, there was no learning curve. This game had plenty of it.
3) ONLY Gun Kills for Killstreaks - This makes care packages worth the time. No more Predator, Harrier, Chopper Gunner combos.
4) Scavenger doesn't pick up equipment - No more Double coverage for snipers/campers. A big plus.
Cons
1) SPAWN ENGINE! - Countless complaints have emerged about this one. This to me is a MAJOR downgrade from WaW and MW2. Did it suck that you might respawn across the map from the enemies because of an AFK/camper? Yes, but it is much better than spawning 3-5 times in the middle of multiple enemies, or getting in a Spawn loop
2) Particle Effects - For items like dust, moths, and sparks, these items look rushed. Dirt in the air looks like an over-zoomed pixel in MS Paint. It looks like the deadline was coming and this was totally overlooked.
3) Enemy Footsteps - I'm an old school Counter Strike player. Footsteps in that game were amazing. You could tell the location and number of enemies through a wall with good headphones. MW2 and WaW you could at least hear one coming, but were unsure where from. In Black Ops, enemy footsteps have been silenced so much that what is the point? This makes the Ghost perk VERY powerful. At least in WaW and MW2 you had Dead Silence/Camouflage and Cold-Blooded/Ninja Pro that took up 2 perks. Stealth became a class in itself.
4) Massive Maps - Like World at War the maps are massive with lots of places to hide/maneuver. Unfortunately this can cause game play to get ridiculously slow (esp. in Hardcore) and encourages camping. MW2 had Derail, Estate,and Wasteland. Black Ops has Array, Crisis, Grid, and Jungle. Radiation isn't on the list but I would consider it a major camping map.
So there you have it. Overall the game is good, and with some quick patching it can be great.
Battle Cry of the Besieged Traveler: "You Touch My Junk, I'm Going To Have You Arrested!"
Friends, whatever happened to the Fourth Amendment? The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
The wording crafted by the authors of one of the world's most marvelous documents seems pretty straight-forward to me. Where's the probable cause that mandates a government official's obligation to grope around a traveler's genitalia simply because they are opting to board a commercial airliner for a long distance trip? Everyone wants security and freedom from worry in travel in the wake of 9/11, but the latest policy initiatives implemented by the TSA are way over the top.
Here is the full video of Tyner's close encounter with the TSA.
Here's what Red State has to say about Government at Work:
We cannot be perceived to be singling out a certain group. We must, therefore, waste time and resources using terrorism countermeasures against, you know, NON-terrorists. And we are to pretend that 90-year-old grandmas from Nebraska flew planes into buildings on September 11th.
The wording crafted by the authors of one of the world's most marvelous documents seems pretty straight-forward to me. Where's the probable cause that mandates a government official's obligation to grope around a traveler's genitalia simply because they are opting to board a commercial airliner for a long distance trip? Everyone wants security and freedom from worry in travel in the wake of 9/11, but the latest policy initiatives implemented by the TSA are way over the top.
Here is the full video of Tyner's close encounter with the TSA.
Here's what Red State has to say about Government at Work:
We cannot be perceived to be singling out a certain group. We must, therefore, waste time and resources using terrorism countermeasures against, you know, NON-terrorists. And we are to pretend that 90-year-old grandmas from Nebraska flew planes into buildings on September 11th.
School Officials Bow to 13 Year-Old's Display of Stars and Stripes
Thirteen-year-old Cody Alicea of Stanislaus County California was told by school officials that he could not fly the Stars and Stripes on the back of his bicycle because the children of illegal aliens attending U.S. public schools in California were offended by his display of national pride.Denair Unified School District Superintendent Edward Parraz said the school Cody attends experienced some tension over the display of Old Glory when some students displayed the Mexican flag, as others displayed American flags on campus on May 5th, a holiday known as Cinco de Mayo in Mexican history.
Cody endured suspension from his school over the display of national pride until the story went viral. Citizens from around the country and military personel serving around the world came to the aid of Cody Alicea who displayed Old Glory as a way to thank Veterans on Veteran's Day last Thursday.
Hundreds of riders joined Cody in his ride to school this morning. The school rescinded the suspension and promptly backed away from its decision to punish the youngster for displaying the national flag.
Kern River Pipeline Problem?
What's wrong with this story?
Let's remember what we're talking about here. The Kern River pipeline is a natural gas pipeline that received special permission to cut through the foothills above Bountiful and run along the south end of North Salt Lake to save 20 miles on its way to California, in so doing crossing the Wasatch Fault line 6 times and coming within 50 yards of residences in North Salt Lake. The company was granted and recently put into place an increase of delivery from 1200 psi to 1333 psi.
Since they aren't telling us the whole story, we can only read between the lines. Something went wrong. Something unexpected happened. But what?
Here in North Salt Lake, we were assured when the pipeline was originally built that it was extremely safe and not a threat to anyone. I didn't buy it then and I don't buy it now. Our representative at the time, Jim Hansen, was silent and refused to become involved -- I think because he thought it might stain his anti-environment/pro big oil reputation. But that's just my thinking. Despite huge public opposition, the pipeline easily won the government approval it needed.
The pipeline right-of-way is easily visible as a long straight scar across the mountains and foothills of Bountiful and North Salt Lake going south, and then turning west and running past the site of the defunct gravel pit currently being developed commercially. Looking at Google maps, it appears that houses may be even closer now with more recent construction.
I'd like to know more facts about this latest incident.
Also see an update to this post here. http://slcblues.blogspot.com/2011/02/kern-river-pipeline-work-closes-freeway.html
Portion of US-89 closed through MondaySomething tells me there's more to this story than we see here. What maintenance? How exactly did it undermine the road?NORTH SALT LAKE -- UDOT is closing a portion of Highway 89 over the weekend to work on repairs.The closure will affect the northbound stretch of highway between the Beck Street ramp in North Salt Lake and Eagle Ridge Drive. UDOT says the closure comes after word that maintenance work on the Kern River natural gas pipeline in the area may have weakened the roadway subsurface. UDOT expects to reopen the road by 6 a.m. Monday. Drivers are advised to take Interstate 15 to 2600 South to avoid the closure.
Let's remember what we're talking about here. The Kern River pipeline is a natural gas pipeline that received special permission to cut through the foothills above Bountiful and run along the south end of North Salt Lake to save 20 miles on its way to California, in so doing crossing the Wasatch Fault line 6 times and coming within 50 yards of residences in North Salt Lake. The company was granted and recently put into place an increase of delivery from 1200 psi to 1333 psi.
Since they aren't telling us the whole story, we can only read between the lines. Something went wrong. Something unexpected happened. But what?
Here in North Salt Lake, we were assured when the pipeline was originally built that it was extremely safe and not a threat to anyone. I didn't buy it then and I don't buy it now. Our representative at the time, Jim Hansen, was silent and refused to become involved -- I think because he thought it might stain his anti-environment/pro big oil reputation. But that's just my thinking. Despite huge public opposition, the pipeline easily won the government approval it needed.
The pipeline right-of-way is easily visible as a long straight scar across the mountains and foothills of Bountiful and North Salt Lake going south, and then turning west and running past the site of the defunct gravel pit currently being developed commercially. Looking at Google maps, it appears that houses may be even closer now with more recent construction.
Also see an update to this post here. http://slcblues.blogspot.com/2011/02/kern-river-pipeline-work-closes-freeway.html
Joe Scarborough: Top Senate Dems Tell Me 'Obama Doesn't Know What He Is Doing'
"You know damn well, which powerful Senators who run the United States Senate have been saying about Barack Obama for the past two years!" exclaims the host of Morning Joe. Toward the end of the video Scarborough says, "I sometimes will be sitting at home, the phone will ring and I'll pick it up and it's a Democratic chairman saying, 'Can you believe, what he (Obama) is doing today?'"
Dennis Miller Slams Obama-Care, Pelosi and Newsweek to Raucus Cheers On Tonight Show
Poor SanFran Nan can't buy a friend after the record electoral washout of Dems on November 2nd. Obama's move for total health care takeover and partisan rags like Newsweek (Newspeak)have also taken a drubbing from the public.
"I Led" the Sarah Palin 1.0 Assination says CNN's Kathleen Parker
Very interesting video interchange here between filmmaker John Ziegler, Kathleen Parker and Eliot Spitzer. Spitzer's characterization of the press being 'in love' with George W. Bush in the 2000 and 2004 elections is an absolute laugh out loud moment.
We Remember - Veterans Day 2010
Dwight D. Eisenhower's D-Day Speech, June 5th 1944.
Across the pond Britons stopped to commemorate Rememberance Day 2010.
Winston Churchill's "Never Was So Much Owed By So Many To So Few" Speech.
Even More Fuel To The Enhanced Pat-Down Debate
Via Prison Planet;
"As AirSafe News reports, “The current system of background checks may have allowed those convicted of rape and other sexually based offenses to join TSA.”
Indeed, back in March it emerged that TSA worker Sean Shanahan, who was employed at Boston Logan International Airport to pat down passengers, had been charged with multiple child sex crimes targeting an underage girl.
Given the fact that the TSA’s new policy allows workers to fondle breasts and genitals, expect a flood of sex perverts and rapists to eagerly sign up."
"As AirSafe News reports, “The current system of background checks may have allowed those convicted of rape and other sexually based offenses to join TSA.”
Indeed, back in March it emerged that TSA worker Sean Shanahan, who was employed at Boston Logan International Airport to pat down passengers, had been charged with multiple child sex crimes targeting an underage girl.
Given the fact that the TSA’s new policy allows workers to fondle breasts and genitals, expect a flood of sex perverts and rapists to eagerly sign up."
California Mystery Missile - No Missile Say Experts
James Oberg writes on the Mystery Missile Wasn't a Missile at All in Tech Talk. I am persuaded by the argument that what the CBS helicopter news crew saw and videotaped was only a commercial airliner's contrail under special viewing conditions.
There was no missile. There was no military oversight, or "oops" (accidental launch). It wasn't hobbyists or space commercializers or another country or cabal or terrorist cell. It was an ordinary phenomenon seen in unusual circumstances in a region where people had for years been trained to interpret cloud-streaks in the sky as missiles—and they were almost always right. Just not this time.The most impressive argument that airliner contrails can look like missile launches (and this video sure looked like one, to me and almost everyone else) is composed of videos where it's happened before.
Oberg enlists the contrails expertise of none other than “Cirrus Uncinus” (Curly Hooks) to make his case.
Here is a compilation of contrail anomalies left by airliners. Some of the trails look very much like the one made by the West Coast 'mystery missile'.
One fellow says it was US Airways Flight 808.
There was no missile. There was no military oversight, or "oops" (accidental launch). It wasn't hobbyists or space commercializers or another country or cabal or terrorist cell. It was an ordinary phenomenon seen in unusual circumstances in a region where people had for years been trained to interpret cloud-streaks in the sky as missiles—and they were almost always right. Just not this time.The most impressive argument that airliner contrails can look like missile launches (and this video sure looked like one, to me and almost everyone else) is composed of videos where it's happened before.
Oberg enlists the contrails expertise of none other than “Cirrus Uncinus” (Curly Hooks) to make his case.
Here is a compilation of contrail anomalies left by airliners. Some of the trails look very much like the one made by the West Coast 'mystery missile'.
One fellow says it was US Airways Flight 808.
Female Radio Host Says TSA Screeners Handcuffed Her To Chair and Tore Up Her Airline Ticket
Are airline passengers now regarded as criminals in the TSA playbook? Radio host Meg McLain says she was singled out by TSA agents for daring to opt out of a search by a full body scanner. After yelling "opt out" to the other screeners in their cadre, McLain says that because of her voiced reservations regarding the full body scanner, TSA agents physically pulled her to the side, subjected her to humiliation before other travelers, cuffed her to a chair, and ripped up her airline boarding pass.
TSA screeners are able to avoid screening as shown in this news story.
In this video a security expert demonstrates how this aggressive search method can easily turn into groping and fondling.
The Airline Pilots Union is advising its members to not submit to full body scanning and is pushing back on the TSA's new enhanced and aggressive frisking methods.
Scott Ott writes regarding the TSA's strip-and-grope policy, "Without regard for threat potential, airline passengers of all ages can now be forced to make the choice between baring their nakedness before a federal agent, or getting a full-body fingertip groping by another federal agent. The advanced imaging technology (AIT) scanners — AKA strip-search machines — now stand watch in more than 65 airports nationwide, with their numbers set to grow by more than 40 percent at year’s end, thanks to your federal stimulus dollars.
The procedure is so humiliating and so invasive that even flight crews are rebelling. The 11,000-member American Pilots’ Association just received a letter from its leader decrying the humiliation, radiation danger, and ineffectiveness at deterring terrorism of this strip-and-grope regimen."
AirSafeNews reports that you do have recourse if you feel you have not been treated with dignity or respect during an encounter with the TSA.
(Call) attention to anything that you think is unnecessary or (have) a TSA supervisor or law enforcement official present. You can also file a complaint with the TSA, with the AirSafe.com complaint process.
The article notes that the ACLU has received complaints of several types of common abuses:
•Unnecessary groping of passengers’ breast or genital areas
•Humiliating experiences including for disabled or transgendered passengers
•Lack of privacy during pat-downs
•Lack of respect for religious requirements.
If you feel that you have not been treated in a fair and professional matter, you can contact the airline. If you like, you can stop flying and write a letter to the airline telling them why you're not going to be flying anytime soon.
TSA screeners are able to avoid screening as shown in this news story.
In this video a security expert demonstrates how this aggressive search method can easily turn into groping and fondling.
The Airline Pilots Union is advising its members to not submit to full body scanning and is pushing back on the TSA's new enhanced and aggressive frisking methods.
Scott Ott writes regarding the TSA's strip-and-grope policy, "Without regard for threat potential, airline passengers of all ages can now be forced to make the choice between baring their nakedness before a federal agent, or getting a full-body fingertip groping by another federal agent. The advanced imaging technology (AIT) scanners — AKA strip-search machines — now stand watch in more than 65 airports nationwide, with their numbers set to grow by more than 40 percent at year’s end, thanks to your federal stimulus dollars.
The procedure is so humiliating and so invasive that even flight crews are rebelling. The 11,000-member American Pilots’ Association just received a letter from its leader decrying the humiliation, radiation danger, and ineffectiveness at deterring terrorism of this strip-and-grope regimen."
AirSafeNews reports that you do have recourse if you feel you have not been treated with dignity or respect during an encounter with the TSA.
(Call) attention to anything that you think is unnecessary or (have) a TSA supervisor or law enforcement official present. You can also file a complaint with the TSA, with the AirSafe.com complaint process.
The article notes that the ACLU has received complaints of several types of common abuses:
•Unnecessary groping of passengers’ breast or genital areas
•Humiliating experiences including for disabled or transgendered passengers
•Lack of privacy during pat-downs
•Lack of respect for religious requirements.
If you feel that you have not been treated in a fair and professional matter, you can contact the airline. If you like, you can stop flying and write a letter to the airline telling them why you're not going to be flying anytime soon.
2008 Bishop's Peak PINOT NOIR (Central Coast, Cal.)
A second label of Talley Vineyard (an excellent Pinot producer), this wine was a decent value as Pinot Noirs go, showing off mostly the earthy side of the grape.
Medium light ruby garnet. Rich nose of wet, earthy cherry syrup and cola, along with some sweet high-toned smoke. Soft, medium-bodied, and ripe, this wine had ripe, earthy, cherry flavors and a long, sandstone-infused finish. Low acidity makes for a broad mouthfeel, and there's a bit of heat on the finish. A pretty good example of the traditional, earthy, ripe California style of old. Was $19 at Spec's on Smith. 87.
2006 Chateau Patache d'Aux MEDOC (Bordeaux, France)
I used to drink wines from this chateau in the early 80s but haven't had it since. They were good, solid, inexpensive wines then. The 2006 was lacked fragrance and was thinnish.
Sedate black ruby. Very shy nose gives up little: some cassis, some gravel and some green bell pepper. Tannic and bone dry, with some scorched earth and dark cherry/cassis fruit, but not much. Lean, medium length, somewhat bitter finish. 74. $17 at Spec's on Smith.
2007 "Quatro Pasos" MENCIA (Bierzo, Spain)
A decent Mencia (a grape apparently indigenous to the Iberian peninsula).
Fully saturated, violet-stained bloody ruby. Earthy, sweaty, humus-like fragrance, with dried balsa wood and blackberry notes. Tannic, highly-extracted flavors of scorched earth, baker's chocolate, with blackberry extract taking a back seat. Long, peppery finish. An angular, earthy bruiser. 84. $13 and change at Spec's on Weslayan & Bissonnet.
2007 Peter Franus ZINFANDEL (Napa Valley, Cal.)
A big, ripe, but still-in-balance Zin.
Fairly saturated dark black ruby. Big, briary, spicy black raspberry "Zin" nose, with some sweet smoky scents and some chalky, powdered minerals. Deep, weighty, full-bodied, with flavors dark raspberry and baker's chocolate. Gobs of soft tannin and very good, fairly crisp acidity for its size. Massive, but not too ripe or heavy. Will keep another 2 years or so. 89. $24 at Spec's on Smith.
2007 Pierre Morey BOURGOGNE ALIGOTÉ (White Burgundy)
Not bad.
Very pale grey gold. Medium intensity nose of earthy minerals, toasted nuts, and crisp, citrusy apples. Bone dry, crisp, liquid minerals in the mouth, with some vague lemon lime notes and a tart, refreshing finish. A light-bodied, palate-cleansing sort of wine that would pair nicely with New Orleans Barbequed Shrimp or an Italian fish stew like a brodetto. 85. Was $18 at Central Market. Imported by Wilson Daniels.
Obama Administration Edited A Safety Report To Support Their Political Agenda?
Say it isn't so!
Now I'm not ignorant enough to think this has never happened before, but this is the second time in just a few months that reports surfaced about some one in or appointed by the Obama Administration used their power to edit a report.
Other complaints have been about the handling of the failed blow-out preventor. It was cleaned by Transocean back in September, but no other effort has been taken. This is vital to prevent corrosion, which could weaken the strength of the device.
"...The latest complaint from scientists comes in a report by the Interior
Department's inspector general, which concluded that the White House edited a drilling safety report in a way that made it falsely appear that scientists and experts supported the administration's six-month ban on new deep-water drilling. The AP obtained the report early Wednesday.
The inspector general said the editing changes by the White House resulted "in the implication that the moratorium recommendation had been peer reviewed." But it hadn't been. Outside scientists were asked only to review new safety measures for offshore drilling....After one of the reviewers complained, the Interior Department promptly issued an apology during a conference call, in a formal letter and during a personal meeting in June.
All seven experts asked to review the Interior Department's work expressed concern about the change made by the White House, saying that it differed in important ways from the draft they had approved."
Now I'm not ignorant enough to think this has never happened before, but this is the second time in just a few months that reports surfaced about some one in or appointed by the Obama Administration used their power to edit a report.
Other complaints have been about the handling of the failed blow-out preventor. It was cleaned by Transocean back in September, but no other effort has been taken. This is vital to prevent corrosion, which could weaken the strength of the device.
Mystery Missile Haunts California Coastline
Video of what looks like a missile launch reported to have occured 35 miles northwest of Los Angeles. A KCBS news chopper was in the air at the time of the incident and took this footage which has since gone viral. No one is claiming credit for the launch of any asset. Some are saying that it might be a jet or merely an optical illusion. Fat chance that.
Has anyone thought of asking these guys if they're missing any missiles?
Or these guys?
Meanwhile in the latest development surrounding the airborne anomaly, the Pentagon says the Mystery vapor trail is not likely from a missile. Pentagon spokesman Colonel David Lapan told reporters, "there is nothing at this time that leads the Department of Defense to believe this is a missile launch....The department and other U.S. government agencies with expertise in aviation and space continue to look into the condensation trail seen and reported off the coast of southern California on Monday evening," Lapan added.
Maybe the mystery vapor trail is from some kid's Fourth of July stash of bottle rockets, either that or somebody has a really fast weather balloon.
I've got to hand it to them for ingenuity, nothing to see here folks, just another mystery vapor trail forming a long arc in the sky and headed for space. I don't know, but that mystery vapor trail sure looks like a missile launch to my untrained eyes.
ZeroHedge has a good take on the official non-answer answer.
A. If you don't know what it was, how can you say it never posed a threat? Because it didn't hit a civilian aircraft?
B. No evidence it was a missile, but plenty of evidence that you have absolutely no intention of saying what it really was once you find out, that is unless you already know...
Enhanced Pat Downs
I was flipping through Drudge and stumbled across an article about TSA's new Enhanced Pat Downs. Short story is that if you are randomly selected for a pass through the millimeter wave imaging machine and decline it, instead of a palm away frisk, the TSA has enacted what they call "Enhanced Pat Downs."They are a palm forward once over of all areas of the body...ALL areas. For a woman wearing a skirt this includes a up-skirt run up the inside of both legs, and a bump in another area. For guys, the same. As far as I can tell right now there are no restrictions for same sex pat-downs and there are no limitations to the minimum age. I'm not even sure if you can request a different person to perform the pat-down.
I can sense lawsuits coming in the future for this and personally I am going to write my representative about the policy. Although I am ok with the scanner and would have one taken, I do feel this goes a bit too far.
It's Been A *Little* While
In the past couple years, as you saw I graduated, got a job, and got married. I haven't really blogged in the past year, mostly because I got sick of the crap being shoved down our throats by the Obama Administration and Dems in the Capitol Building.
But now we have our chance. But I have to disagree with conservatives who expect republicans to magically repeal ObamaCare. In order to do this, we need a little bit of legislation and a LOT of timing.
Part of the reason that we were able to gain this much ground was timing. The population was shown how Democrats don't care about what the country thinks with the passing of ObamaCare even though it was highly opposed and 60% of the country immediately wanted it repealed. Time allowed the fervor over that to subside a little bit. The Approval index soared to over 20 points, but then fell back to around 12 percent in September. The the question came back up about what to do about the tax rates instated by former President Bush. Democrats at first were planning on reverting all rates to the previous rates.
Needless to say, the electorate spoke, and suddenly it is back to the "promise" of "We're only going to soak the rich," from 2008. That wasn't enough and Republicans completely flipped the house and won 6 senate seats. But unfortunately that's not going to be enough to make massive changes quickly. The biggest chance are the 2012 elections where 21 Democrat seats are coming for reelection in areas where they are not well secured, compared to 19 this year that were in heavily liberal areas (East and West Coasts).
What we need is another case of good timing in September and October of 2012. Here's what we should do. I am not opposed to the idea of reverting the tax rates for income above $250,000 per year, under the strict stipulation that ALL budgets must be at or below their 2009 levels. If we are going to gain $700 Billion in tax income, it should ONLY go to paying down the principle on the national debt, not another stimulus. The other rates should extend for 2 more years.
The next and biggest thing that Republicans need to do is to do nothing on ObamaCare...for now. Very publicly try to make small changes to ObamaCare to remind people you are still looking out for them. But right away, very publicly announce that you will propose a bill in July of 2012 for a full repeal of ObamaCare. Put the democrats against the wall at the time where it hurts them the most. Make them choose their agenda, or their job...again.
This will put the reminder in people's minds about who Democrats really care about right before election time, and it will be before the major changes take affect.
But now we have our chance. But I have to disagree with conservatives who expect republicans to magically repeal ObamaCare. In order to do this, we need a little bit of legislation and a LOT of timing.
Part of the reason that we were able to gain this much ground was timing. The population was shown how Democrats don't care about what the country thinks with the passing of ObamaCare even though it was highly opposed and 60% of the country immediately wanted it repealed. Time allowed the fervor over that to subside a little bit. The Approval index soared to over 20 points, but then fell back to around 12 percent in September. The the question came back up about what to do about the tax rates instated by former President Bush. Democrats at first were planning on reverting all rates to the previous rates.Needless to say, the electorate spoke, and suddenly it is back to the "promise" of "We're only going to soak the rich," from 2008. That wasn't enough and Republicans completely flipped the house and won 6 senate seats. But unfortunately that's not going to be enough to make massive changes quickly. The biggest chance are the 2012 elections where 21 Democrat seats are coming for reelection in areas where they are not well secured, compared to 19 this year that were in heavily liberal areas (East and West Coasts).
What we need is another case of good timing in September and October of 2012. Here's what we should do. I am not opposed to the idea of reverting the tax rates for income above $250,000 per year, under the strict stipulation that ALL budgets must be at or below their 2009 levels. If we are going to gain $700 Billion in tax income, it should ONLY go to paying down the principle on the national debt, not another stimulus. The other rates should extend for 2 more years.
The next and biggest thing that Republicans need to do is to do nothing on ObamaCare...for now. Very publicly try to make small changes to ObamaCare to remind people you are still looking out for them. But right away, very publicly announce that you will propose a bill in July of 2012 for a full repeal of ObamaCare. Put the democrats against the wall at the time where it hurts them the most. Make them choose their agenda, or their job...again.
This will put the reminder in people's minds about who Democrats really care about right before election time, and it will be before the major changes take affect.
Pray For Our Country On This Election Day
This is an election like no other in U.S. history.
Pray that God will lead this great land and that we will be that City on a Hill, a shining beacon of freedom in a darkened world.
Ronald Reagan said it well in his closing remarks before the first Conservative Political Action Conference in 1974.
We cannot escape our destiny, nor should we try to do so. The leadership of the free world was thrust upon us two centuries ago in that little hall of Philadelphia. In the days following World War II, when the economic strength and power of America was all that stood between the world and the return to the dark ages, Pope Pius XII said, "The American people have a great genius for splendid and unselfish actions. Into the hands of America God has placed the destinies of an afflicted mankind."
We are indeed, and we are today, the last best hope of man on earth.
Pray that God will lead this great land and that we will be that City on a Hill, a shining beacon of freedom in a darkened world.
Ronald Reagan said it well in his closing remarks before the first Conservative Political Action Conference in 1974.
We cannot escape our destiny, nor should we try to do so. The leadership of the free world was thrust upon us two centuries ago in that little hall of Philadelphia. In the days following World War II, when the economic strength and power of America was all that stood between the world and the return to the dark ages, Pope Pius XII said, "The American people have a great genius for splendid and unselfish actions. Into the hands of America God has placed the destinies of an afflicted mankind."
We are indeed, and we are today, the last best hope of man on earth.
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