New Blogroll Entry

This one wasn't asked for and as a matter of fact, I don't think we've ever exchanged comments.  Check out the new blogroll entry S. Weasel when you get a chance.  Lots of good stuff and nifty looking site.  I've got a lot of exploring left to do there!

Posted by: Stashiu3 at 03:30:20 | No Comments | Add Comment
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Venezuela Finally "Disturbing" United States

I've written about the South American thug Hugo Chavez more than once and still believe there is a strong possibility he'll move on Colombia soon.  Although the State Department has now said that the information found on laptops used by FARC leaders was "disturbing", they're not ready to add Venezuela to the list of state sponsors of terrorism.

Let's recap a bit to see if we're feeling froggy.  First, Chavez buddies up with known sponsors of terror like Ahmadinejad and Castro.  Second, the FARC computers.  Third, constantly attacks the United States in speeches and at the United Nations, calling our President "the devil".  Fourth, gets really angry when a terrorist buddy is killed in another country... mad enough to cut off diplomatic relations and send troops to the border.  Fifth, threatens to cut off sales of oil to the United States even though nobody else will buy it.  Sixth, tries to nationalize a private company from the United States and refuses to consider any compensation for the theft.  Seventh...

Screw it, hell yes I'm feeling froggy.  I think I'll just go ahead and jump to the fat, juicy conclusion that this guy is a sponsor of terrorists, is a terrorist himself, and is probably impotent... ok, maybe I won't jump to that last one.  But, it would explain a lot, wouldn't it?  Put him on the list Condoleezza... make the jump, it's not that far.

Posted by: Stashiu3 at 03:01:48 | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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You Know They Want To

The Iranian government is refusing to officially endorse a candidate for President of the United States.

Not yet anyway.  Wait until just before the election though.  We'll be seeing their "endorsement" very clearly.  Why don't I think it will be for the guy who sang, "Bomb, bomb, bomb...bomb.bomb.Iran"?  I also don't think it will be a press release... just ask Spain.

Posted by: Stashiu3 at 22:57:30 | No Comments | Add Comment
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Detainee Wants To Boycott Trial

The Afghan detainee accused of throwing a grenade at U.S. soldiers, severely injuring them and an accompanying translator, wants to boycott his trial at Guantanamo Bay.

The judge told him that he could still be tried, convicted, and sentenced, even if he didn't attend.  There were, of course, the usual claims of torture, abuse, and being innocent... blah, blah, blah.  Maybe he'll be more compliant after he gets to call home? 

To hell with this punk.  Try him whether he's there or not.  Then lock him up for the rest of his natural life.  His place in Hell is already assured and he will never cease being a danger to the United States and our allies.  Never.  There are some there that might give up the fight... he's not one of them.

Posted by: Stashiu3 at 22:19:19 | No Comments | Add Comment
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Reason #28.7M Not To Use Banks

Two sisters in Japan are accused of trying to evade 28.7 million dollars worth of inheritance taxes by keeping the assets from their deceased father's estate in the garage.

So over one third is supposed to go to the government?  I'm definitely for getting rid of inheritance taxes now.  The government didn't do anything to earn that money and it's already been taxed by the Japanese government.  Why should any government profit from someone dying? 

You might think the guy would have planned better though... I mean, cardboard boxes in a garage?  Come on!!  I would have built my own bank and then let the government try to figure out my estate.  Heh.

Posted by: Stashiu3 at 18:02:14 | No Comments | Add Comment
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Another Case Of "Can This Possibly Be Real?"

A 35-year-old woman in Kansas sat on the toilet for two years and nobody called for help?  Even if the boyfriend was stupid enough to let it go on that long, does she not have any family that would have worried about her? 

More than "physically stuck"... apparently her skin had grown around the seat which had to be removed with a prybar so she could be taken to the hospital.  My wife thinks I sit around too much sometimes... wait until the next time she says something.  This is printed and just waiting as part of my defense strategy.

Posted by: Stashiu3 at 16:15:36 | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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Restoring Eyesight?

This is absolutely amazing and I hope it's as close as they make it appear.  If they can get successful animal testing done this summer, a couple of years before it's approved for humans is not out of the question.

My oldest daughter is blind in one eye and we were told as recently as last year that it wasn't something they could fix.  The doctor didn't even mention this, so I don't think the research is very common knowledge.  Our daughter's very good eye surgeon and I had discussed what advances were being made, and what more needed to happen, before we could reasonably hope my daughter's vision might be restored.  According to what we looked at, the medical science seemed to be between 10 and 15 years away, but now it's time to make another appointment I think.  Just to talk.

Posted by: Stashiu3 at 14:10:27 | Comments (21) | Add Comment
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Can You Hear Me Now? *UPDATED* *UPDATED X2*

Detainees at Guantanamo Bay are to be allowed regular phone calls to family.  This is a welcome surprise and I hope it's implemented soon.  As many of you may know, I don't have a lot of sympathy for the detainees.  The stories you hear about staff and guards being assaulted are true... if anything, they're under-reported.

So why is this a good thing?  Three reasons right off the top of my head. 

First, since most of them have been there for 4-6 years, contact with family may help them realize what they're missing.  This will encourage cooperation and reduce some of the rationally-based stress of confinement.  It won't do anything for the irrationally-based ones, but not much will.

Second, I'm sure these calls will be monitored and either the detainee or their family may let some valuable intelligence slip into the conversation.  It may even be that family members will provide new intelligence willingly in order to facilitate a detainee's release back to their own country.  They might still be confined there, but would probably be allowed family visits.  This could be a very strong incentive for cooperation.

Third, maybe the military folks there won't have to spend so much damn money on phone cards to talk with their own families.  If jihadis get to talk with their family for free, wouldn't it make sense to provide the same consideration for the hard-working guards and staff?  They have "Morale Calls" available now (or they used to), but I don't know anybody who used them because it was such a pain.  IIRC, it was two 15-minute (or portion thereof) calls a week which had to be made from a military phone, going through an operator, using an access code, when it worked.  It just wasn't worth it for 15 minutes or less, especially if you called and found out nobody was home.

There are probably many more (and better) reasons for this, these were just the ones that first came to mind.  I think the drawbacks are obvious and have already been considered if it's taken this long to approve.

*UPDATE*  Looks like I may be on the opposite side of the argument from a few folks.  Oh well, not the first time.
*UPDATE X2* Thanks to Patterico for the link!

Posted by: Stashiu3 at 21:41:22 | No Comments | Add Comment
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Last One of These (Unless dpu Escalates Of Course!)

Okay, doubleplusundead claims, "You lose, sucka!" in the Tron Wars^tm and I must respond:

Posted by: Stashiu3 at 19:57:52 | No Comments | Add Comment
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The Age-Old Question: Ginger vs Mary Ann

Most guys have asked or answered that question.  Now, Mary Ann has a new opponent:

So now it's "The State vs Mary Ann" and it looks like she lost.  The 69-year-old actress had several charges dropped as part of a plea agreement, including one for driving under the influence after she failed a sobriety test.  Talk about busted images.... sigh.

Exit question:  They have marijuana in Idaho?  Really?

Posted by: Stashiu3 at 19:35:57 | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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