Kofi Caught?

NewsMax.com brings us this:

U.N. investigators have turned over to Congress boxes of evidence on the Oil-for-Food program, including "proof" that U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan lied to the Independent Inquiry Committee probing the scandal, Fox News Channel reporter Jonathan Hunt said Thursday."One source close to the case told me that in those boxes is the ammunition to prove that Kofi Annan lied to investigators," Hunt told Fox News Radio host Tony Snow. "So this is a very dramatic development indeed." via Ace

Lovely. And just when Kofi thought he was going to get away with it.

Caption Time!!!

Charles from You Big Mouth, You! sent me this link of his regarding Holocaust Remembrance Day. He has pictures and a letter from an American soldier from 1945.

I saw a commercial today where they were interviewing young people on the street. They were asking them what the Holocaust was. One girl said it was when the Jews celebrated like Christmas with candles and things, but it wasn't Christmas...Oh. My. God. There were a few other stupid answers but none as bad as that. Then the commercial said the 53% of teenagers did not know what the Holocaust was about. I hope to God that figure is not true.

I was around 11 or 12 when I read "Anne Frank's Diary." I cried and cried. Such a beautiful soul she was. I also remember reading "The Hiding Place" by Corrie Ten Boom about the same time. That book was about a Christian family who hid Jews and then was caught and Corrie's whole family dies in the camps. She lives to tell the story. If you haven't read it, you should. It is an amazing book of faith.

Anyway, I pestered my Mom about how this could possible happen? The horror of it was just too much for me. I suppose that is where my passion for human rights and the sanctity of life began. The thought that we are not teaching this to young people is frightening to me.

The lesson of the Holocaust is that evil can creep up on us. It's footsteps are soft and hard to hear. It is upon us without us realizing it. It can also disguise itself in virtue. It can also hide it's true horror until it is too late for us to do much about it. We can also become use to evil. We can accept it and say that it is necessary. We can ignore it because it doesn't involve us, as so many did during that time. But in our hearts we know. Our conscience tugs at us like a small child that tugs at the shirt of it's mother.

Evil can wear a smile.

Let us remember those who suffered and died. Let us remember and ask ourselves, is there evil here? We honor those who died in the Holocaust by fighting evil and by not ignoring the tug our conscience gives us.

How could it have happened? Easy. It happens so easily.

"Texas House Approves Ban of Risque Cheerleading."

As a former cheerleader and the mom of one, all I can say is.....YOU HAVE GOT TO BE FREAKIN KIDDING???????????

Cheerleaders are the last thing we need to worry about now. How about we focus on making sure kids don't have access to porn. Let's try THAT first. Geeze!!!!

This from The Smoking Gun:

Another Counter-Coulter Bust

Lewd heckler arrested at conservative's Texas college lecture
MAY 5--Months after members of "Al Pieda" disrupted a campus speech by Ann Coulter, another appearance by the controversial conservative commentator has been disrupted by a protester. During a speech last night at the University of Texas in Austin, a 19-year-old UT student was busted after asking Coulter a lewd question, which he followed up with equally inappropriate hand gestures, according to the below police affidavit. The student, Ajai Raj, was arrested by campus police and hit with a misdemeanor disorderly conduct charge. The police affidavit notes that Coulter's lecture was attended by "several children under the age of ten," which probably made them particularly sensitive when Raj queried Coulter about the sexual proclivities of certain right-leaning men.

What are we becoming? I mean seriously. I heard on the radio though that Ann had said she wouldn't continue until some burly Republican guys calmed things down and suddenly the aisles were filled with just that.

Heh....You gotta love it.

Yay! I fixed Hello AND I got the pictures bigger (that was driving me crazy) Any pics I have posted that were too small that ya'll want to see again? Let me know.

I think I have the hello picture thingy fixed. Anyway, I almost forgot this was White Trash Wednesday. Caption if you like.

Courtesy Of Alexis Rockman
"Artist Alexis Rockman drew this for the cover of Peter Ward's book "Future Evolution." Titled "Neozoic Era" after the geological time we live in, the piece shows human trash buried by dirt that's become a habitat for super-rabbits that can run great distances, and for dandelions whose spores bombard Earth." (So that's where my socks disappeared to!) Read the article on the evolutionary future of the earth.

This is how one professor sees the future (and it's all because....you guessed it!! - Global warming!)

"..... the real rulers will be rodents — and snakes. The fossil record shows that they have the genetic capability of whipping out new species," says Ward, a biology professor at the University of Washington.

Ok, if this is the future I want off at the next bus stop. I have an idea though. Once we see rats and snakes are starting to "whip out" a new species, how about we go get the garden hoe and start some pre evolutionary chopping them dead.

Read the article and hear the theory of a British geologist who sees the future with no humans and led by a giant land-based squid. (Now, that's a movie idea right there!) How does a squid command power I wonder? Any ideas?

"I Punched Saddam in the Mouth"
Meet Samir, the St. Louis auto mechanic who pulled Saddam Hussein from his spider hole
BY Chad Garrison

This is a MUST READ folks. This was the first soldier to grab Saddam out of his spider hold. He had been a Shiite from the south and was part of the revolution against Saddam in 1991. He told Saddam that he had murdered his uncles and cousins. That he had imprisoned his father.

And then he punched him in the mouth.

A perfectly understandable thing to do. In fact I would have encouraged it. I think he showed restraint actually. But you need to read the rest to find out how he went from being a part of the revolution against Saddam in '91 to being a U.S. soldier and helping to capture Saddam. Also interesting is the Pentagon's reaction to the photos of this man with Saddam at the time of the Capture.

In one part he describes how he had not seen his family since 1991 and so when he finds himself at an airbase near his home his boss makes sure he is driven to his home:

"The next morning Samir hopped on a Humvee for the half-hour drive to his parents' home. The entire neighborhood, some 700 residents, poured into the streets to greet him.

"It was an awesome feeling," he says. "I felt like I was coming with the U.S. forces to free my family. It was the best feeling of my life."

Seriously, this story just ROCKS! Read It! via Beautiful Atrocities

This from Mudville:

FORT HOOD, Texas (Reuters) - A military judge asked on Tuesday if Army Reservist Lynndie England, a key figure in the
Iraq prisoner abuse scandal, wanted to withdraw her guilty plea after a witness appeared to indicate she might have trouble telling right from wrong.

So? We had a Democrat President for 8 yrs who couldn't tell right from wrong either and no one seemed to care.

Sorry guys. Flickr is replacing each photo with the most recent photo I post. ARRGGHHH! I am leaving the comments up so you can still comment though.

"We are tired and we have suffered a lot"

"CAPTAIN ED analyzes a captured letter which appears to harshly criticize terrorist leader Abu Musab al Zarqawi. Ed predicts that Zarqawi won't be able to hold out much longer." (Citizen Smash)

"Arabs understand and respect power, but they won't abide a coward or incompetent, and so far it looks like Zarqawi qualifies as both. He's killing Iraqis and Arabs instead of so-called infidels, and even the terrorists know that will spell certain doom for their efforts and themselves, and sooner rather than later." (Capt. Ed)


MORE -- The text of the letter (courtesy AP):

To the sheik Abu Ahmed, may God keep him: (Quranic verses)

I advise myself first and then advise you to fear God in private as in public and that you don't worry about blame from anyone. I urge you that you let nothing stop you from jihad (holy war) for the sake of God ... and that you take refuge in God in all situations, in easy times and in difficult ones. ....
The Islamic nation is waiting for the establishment of an Islamic state that rules by God's laws and carries out his punishments and is waiting for the men who can protect its honor, which is being violated every day. This is the path, but where are the men? We ask God to guide them. What has happened to me (and to?) my brothers is an unforgivable crime. ...

By God, the one and only God, you (will?) ask about what happened to us, because you didn't ask about the situation of the immigrants. ... But morale is weakening and there is (unclear word: either "exhaustion" or "confusion") among the ranks of the mujahedeen, and some of the brother emirs are discriminating among them. God does not accept such actions. ...
What happened is that he (not identified in the text) said: 'Either you carry out a martyrdom operation or you go back home.' We were told that there is an order from the sheik (presumably al-Zarqawi) for us to return. Some of the brothers have returned. Others have signed up to become martyrs. Still others were waiting for God's comfort, but this came after humiliation and rude treatment and many other things. Who can tolerate all this? ...

There are brothers that are oppressed, brothers that are persecuted and brothers that are helplessly jailed with no one to meet with them or to ask about them. The situation is not the way it used to be in Fallujah, when you used to come and visit us and we used to enjoy sitting with you. The situation has completely changed. Thanks be to God for everything.
The most important thing, oh sheik, is that you are there and that you remain a thorn in the mouths of the Americans and a thorn in the mouths of the apostates. May God keep you.

The most important thing is that you don't hear from (only) one side, even if it were the closest person to you. Hear from all sides so that the truth can become clear to you. We have found emirs who are not fit for leadership. We are not the ones who can determine who is fit and who isn't, but we are witnesses of God's people and we are the ones who have experienced and know them. ...

Oh sheik, test those who are below you. Some of them are ... oppressors and some of them are not so.

This is my last request: to meet you, because there are many things that are secret and the truth is that I no longer trust any person who says that he is coming from the sheik's side. We are tired and we have suffered a lot. Thanks be to God.

I ask the great God, the honorable God of the throne, to make his religion victorious and to raise his word and to strengthen his worshippers, the mujahedeen, everywhere and to humiliate all kinds of disbelief in God and to destroy America and its supporters soon without delay.

Abu Asim al-Qusaymi al-Yemeni

It us hard to believe I am reading a letter from 2005 and not some ancient time. These men who blow themselves up in car bombs are like members of a cult. This letter sounds like a cult member. But this is what we are fighting against. Those who clearly want to "destroy America." I hope that their numbers are diminishing, but our world will not be safe until this "thorn" is crushed. There is no doubt of that in my mind.

Runaway Story

Isn't this Runaway Bride thing getting a little out of hand? Good Lord! Fox News had Sean Hannity out in her hometown getting the "exclusive" from her fiancee. Linda Vester featured it on her show today. You can't turn on the news without hearing the "latest."

If I were her, I would run away now. She has already proven herself to be unstable. I suppose making a HUGE news story out of this will help that along, I'm sure. She is probably gulping down Prozac as we speak.

I'm waiting for the big Barbara Walters interview with her.

Enough already.

Wow, the power of the BlogGod. One mention from him and I noticed I got over 1500 hits on my profile in less than ONE DAY. I have no idea how many hits I got to my site since I don't have a sitemeter, but blogspot has some sort of automatic count on how many people actually click on my profile. Crazy, huh?

The Red and Blue of the Catholic Church

This is an excellent article by Chuck Raasch about the divide in the Catholic Church in America on the issues. Speaking of the present Pope (then Cardinal) Raasch says this:

"Last summer, the then cardinal stepped in the middle of a raging political debate in the United States. He declared it a "grave sin" for politicians to favor abortion choice or euthanasia, in effect backing bishops who advocated denying the sacrament to abortion rights supporters like former Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry. Benedict also has advocated "clear and emphatic opposition" to homosexual marriage and called homosexuality a sin. But he also urged that gay men and women be "accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity."

Isn't this exactly what Christ did? He made clear grave sin when he saw it, but he advocated compassion and forgiveness for that sin and for all of God's children. One may not like having a sin pointed out, as I am sure many in the New Testament did not, but if it leads us to a better place then it is important for those who wish to be faithful to know this.

It has long been clear to me that the divide in the Catholic Church in America runs along political "red and blue" lines as well. But the Church is not a democracy. It is a guide to our salvation. We should not expect it to be a "majority rules" kind of institution. This argument has been made well by many of the Southpark Republicans in the blogosphere. They understand that no one forces one to be Catholic. I certainly do not want anyone to leave my Church, but I also think they need to understand the role of the Church. It is to bring us to holiness, not win a popularity contest.

The article points out that for many Catholics in the world social issues such as women priests, abortion, or gay marriage are the last thing they think about. They think about how to feed the poor among them. They think about how to provide healthcare and shelter.

Believe it or not, American Catholics are but a small portion of the 1.1 billion Catholics in the world. Those who fight for change don't seem to see the big picture of the 'universal" Catholic Church.

For example, most Americans think that there is a world wide lack of Priests. They believe that the priesthood has been declining. That may be true in the United States (although even here it is getting better) But the truth is that during the papacy of Pope John Paul the vocation of the Priesthood rose over 10% worldwide. Where the teachings of the Church is taught in it's fullness there is no lack of vocations. But American Catholics seem to think of themselves in a bubble sometimes and that is too bad.

If the media would do it's job and report on this fairly, then both the Republicans and Democrats wouldn't have to spend so much freaking money doing this.

These are the kind of laws we need more of. Yay to Gov. Bush.

What If You Were Murdered?

As is stated in my profile, I am an avid reader. I read everything from politics to religion to literary fiction (my personal favorite) to science fiction. My mom, however, is crime/murder mystery fiction FANATIC. She sends me boxes of books every few months, so I read them as well.

I have noticed a theme in these books that got me to thinking (ohhhh... Such a dangerous thing!) The detectives on a murder case always search through the victims things to discover anything about their personal life that might be connected to their murder. I am sure you have seen the same thing on Law and Order, or CSI, or any of those crime shows that I don't watch. Anyway, it got me to thinking about what a detective would find out about me if I was murdered by going through my nightstand, closet, bookshelf, and computer. What would my friends and family say?

I think it would be an interesting experiment for all of you that are reading this to go into your rooms with a pencil and a paper and write down what is in your nightstand, what you read, what is hidden away in your closet, and on your computer. (yes, even the stuff you think no one knows about) Look at it when you are done and ask yourself what it says about you. I bet you might be surprised at how it might look to a stranger.

I won't bore you with everything I have, trust me....Nothing exciting. But I think the only "different"thing about me is that with all my makeup, bubble bath, bath and bodyworks stuff, and expensive perfume it would be obvious that I am a girly girl. But you would find no women's or beauty magazines in my house. Just political and religious magazines and National Geographic. Also, I have nice clothes but not a lot of clothes. I hate shopping. My closet is well organized because I keep ALL my clothes there. All seasons, all purses and shoes. I have no chest of drawers. I just don't have as much stuff as most women. I like simple things that rarely go out of style. I don't like clutter and I don't like having too much stuff.

I suppose if a detective really wanted to find out about me, all he would have to do is read my blog. Anyway, I thought it might be an interesting experiment if ya'll did it and comment here on what surprised you on how it would look to someone who didn't know you.

We really are never promised tomorrow. So even if you aren't murdered and you just die of natural causes or an accident, what would your relatives find? And what would it say about you? If you find things that make you a bit ashamed, then maybe it's time to get rid of them. Maybe it's time to reassess who you are and who you want to be.

I hope I am not sounding like Tony Robbins/Billy Graham here.....;-) Now go do it. Pencil and paper.....GO!

My Dream.

I have a reoccurring dream about my grandma. She is sitting on the front porch of her house, which is brilliant white set upon a brilliant white hill. I climb the steps and sit beside her on the front porch swing. She smiles at me and I take her hand and lay my head on her shoulder. I say, “I love you grandma.” “I love you too sweetie,” She replies. I look at her. “I miss you so much.” “I’m still here,” she says. “But it’s not the same.” I say sadly. “No. no it isn’t,” She says as she hugs me.

I close my eyes and see flashes of my childhood with her in brilliant color and texture. I see myself picking blueberries for breakfast in the early morning. I see me running through clean white sheets she is hanging on the line in the sunshine. I see me lying in bed beside her at night with the wind blowing the curtains in the window as she teaches me to pray.

Every child should have a person in their life like my grandma. I was so blessed to have wonderful parents. But to have another person who thinks you hung the moon, as my grandma did about me, causes a child to believe in oneself as never before.

I was one years old when my grandma’s husband died. She never re-married although still young and attractive. (She had had my dad when she was 15) She ran a “nursery” from her house that would be called a daycare today. There were two rooms attached to her garage and that is where the children ate and slept. She lived on a 10 acre playground. She had a big swing set, but nothing else. We played with old rubber tires, making up our games by building with them or rolling them or laying in them. We had trees to climb, dirt and ditches to play in. I don’t ever remember being bored. Imagination is a wonderful playmate.

It drove my dad crazy that she would hardly charge more than she spent. If a mother couldn’t pay one month, she would let it go. There was something so strong and independent about her. And there was love. Oh boy, was there ever love.

There were birthdays and Easter. There were Sunday dinners, Fourth of July, and any event she could celebrate, she did. Every Christmas Eve of my childhood was spent at my Grandma’s. First with just my family, my Aunt and Uncle, and later my cousins and nieces and nephews. We would start out with a big dinner with us kids itching to get it over with so we could open our presents. When given the go ahead, we would race to the living room and stand and marvel at our glittery presents as they reflected the brilliant lights of the Christmas tree. It was……magic.

Years later after my grandma had died and I was grown, I remember singing Christmas carols in a choir at a nursing home. As we were singing I noticed an old lady in a wheelchair crying. I left the stage and went to her and knelt down and took her hand. “Are you alright?” I asked. She said simply, “I miss Christmas.” I knew exactly what she meant. I said, “I do too.”

When my father died I was only 22 yrs old. My grandma was only 68. I spent 2 weeks with my mother, sleeping with her and comforting her. But during the day when everyone would come over, I drove to my grandma’s. As much pain as my mother was in I knew that there was no greater pain than losing a child. As usual though, my grandma was the one who made me strong.

My Grandma was never famous, never wrote a book, never won a Pulitzer, she never even finished high school, but she forever lives on through her love. She celebrated my life. She taught me how to celebrate it as well. Her love and her caring are a part of me that I give to my children and they will give to theirs. Generations from now my great great grandchildren will not know my Grandma’s name, but they will know her, because she will live in them by the love that she passed down. That is the legacy each of us is allowed to give. Who will remember what you did or the car you drove, or how much money you made? But love…that will be forever remembered and lived.

When I realized that I was losing my grandma to Alzheimer’s, I tried to tell her how much she meant to me before she forgot me. I stumbled on the words. How do you thank someone for giving you self confidence? For teaching you compassion? For loving you unconditionally? Words did not seem enough. I simply said, “Thank you for loving me so much.” With her usual way of making me feel like a princess, she smiled and said, “You made it easy.”

In my dream when I open my eyes I am alone on the porch swing. I look around for my grandma, but I can't find her. I close my eyes again and hear my heart beating in the quiet. And I realize that she is there, in every beat of my heart. In all the love that I feel.

She is there.

I missed the anniversary of the toppling of Saddam. But this one Iraqi blogger from Free Iraqi didn't. Here is his poetry. Beautiful.

Two years now and "they" still wonder
And "they" still ask
Was it worth it?
Was it right?
Two years and it seems to me Like it was yesterday
Two years and "they" keep trying
To silence the voice inside us
Yet it only grows louder

I was once free When I was a kid
But when I grew up
I couldn't be the man I am
I couldn't be the kid I was
And I couldn't flee
Two years since I finally became
The man in me, and the kid in me.
And "they" want to take this away?
"They" would have to kill them both first
The man and the kid
And turn the clock back around
And still "they" can't change me back
Two years since I stopped weeping
Inside of me, day and night

Two years since the widow
Found her husband's body
In a feast of death for the human death lord.
Two years since the orphan
knew
Where his father lied
And now they finally have peace
And they have a future
No matter how painful it is to go on
And their dreams still go on
Two years since I started dreamingDreams that have a chance
And are becoming true
Two years since I regained my heart
And then I found her...
And she found me...
And the world looked beautiful!
And "they" think they can separate us?!
Think again, or keep wishing.
"They" say we are being slaughtered
"They" say we are being abused
Am I blind or are "they" the ones who are sightless?!
As why can't I see what "they" see?
And the best "they" can offer of their view is Maybe I'm a CIA?
Or maybe the other "they",
that of their accusations is paying me?
But who is their accused and rumored "they"?
Oh, the accusers have so many names for this other "they".
Sometimes they're the CIA
Sometimes they're the NSA
Sometimes they're Bush and the gang
I say, yes they exist and they "pay" me, and I'm seduced.
I see with my own eyes this other "they"
And I call them simply, Americans.
What are they paying me?
Oh, you couldn't afford that!
Saddam couldn't afford it.
Sadr cannot afford it.
"They" think any of these can?
Could their "they" even try!?
Two years and some are still
Trapped in the past
And some cannot withstand the moment
And want to arrive without struggle to a better future
While others just enjoy what is already better now
And work to meet the future, bettered with them.
Two years and they ask Should I be grateful?
Am I?
Do I even need to answer that!?
YES, and to the last breath!
posted by Ali 7:41am

via Malung TVNews