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I am working on the template of this blog today in order to chase down some problems that have developed with my template and widgets.

Macon County Commissioners

Coverage of the meetings of the Macon County Board of County Commissioners.

Franklin Town Board of Aldermen

Coverage of the meetings of the Franklin Town Board of Aldermen.

Macon County School Board

Coverage of the meetings of the Macon County School Board.

Photoblog

Photos from my photoblog.

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About

Sunday, February 5, 2006

The "Religion of Peace" shows its' True Colors



D.C. Watson: Islam unhinged
The Gates of Vienna has several good posts on the affair.
The Winds of Change have a few as well, you'll have to scroll down to find them.


Commentary
I have been guilty of secretly hoping that there was a slight chance of being able to balance the bad Muslims with the judicious (is that a word?) use of the good Muslims. I now realize I was mistaken. It appears that the ignorant, hating masses FAR outweigh the good few. It is now time to comptemplate religicide.

Imagine what the Muslims of the world would do if they were given a real reason to practice their nihilistic desires. I mean this. Think about it.

Now come to the realization that this tendency, if you will, can be tripped into action by any government (ours, theirs, sadistic bystander) or even individuals willing to detonate these people into action...

I have no pictures in my collection suitably dark enough to accompany the train of thought I am currently riding. I would suggest a visit to Ready.gov, or even to United States Action to get the drift.

Saturday, February 4, 2006

Note to NASA in regards to man in space



Q from Star Tek: The Next Generation noted about space exploration, "If you can't take a little bloody nose, maybe you ought to go back home and crawl under your bed. It's not safe out here. It's wondrous, with treasures to satiate desires both subtle and gross. But it's not for the timid."

Friday, February 3, 2006

T.G.I.F. !!!


It's been a rough week.
Flight #93 movie review

Battlestar Galactica episode "Scar" is due tonight on the SciFi channel.

Wednesday, February 1, 2006

Thunder Pig goes to Asheville




This is one of my favorite landmarks in Asheville. I believe it is called St. Lawerence. I'd love to go inside and take some pictures of the place when I have more time, but yesterday I was on a tight schedule and didn't stray too far from the library on Haywood Street.



I took this picture on the main drag in downtown Maggie Valley as a Pave Low Chinnok flew right over me...really cool thing for a military entusiast like me. I took more, and later on, snapped a couple long-distance shots from the jobsite as a couple repeated their flyover of Maggie Valley. The Mexicans on the workcrew asked me why so many helicopters, and I told 'em we were practicing for the invasion of Iran, which has some mountainous terrain like WNC. Hey, a guy can hope can't he?



And here is one of the pix I took Monday morning (the 30th) ahead of the rain that came in about four hours later,terminating our workday.

I'll post more pix later, as time allows.

Tuesday, January 31, 2006

Linkagery


Images of mohammad...Zombie Time
Danish Food Fight
Islam's Nancy Boys

Glenn Reynolds I ain't.

I will be so happy when my place is repaired and I can live like normal people again. This boarding house thing really, really sucks. Unless I use a public terminal, my internet access is limited to when everyone else is asleep...forget about extra phonelines or satellite dishes, as they are forbidden. Oh, and did I mention that cell phones won't work until you travel two miles down the road.
Sorry for the rant, had to get that off my chest...at least I convinced the owners that a computer won't cause the place to catch on fire. ;-)

Monday, January 30, 2006

An interesting post...



A local blogger has an interesting post that is very well thought out and has handy links. The post concerns Arcata, California and the newly minted Sandy Springs, Georgia. Keep an eye on these two experiments in local government. And thanks to Tim Peck for noticing and caring enough to write about it.

Monday Links



Monday's Winds of War: 30 Jan 2006
by WoW Team Monday at January 30, 2006 05:47 AM

Welcome! Our goal at Winds of Change.NET is to give you one power-packed briefing of insights, news and trends from the global War on Terror that leaves you stimulated, informed, and occasionally amused every Monday & Thursday. Monday's Winds of War briefings are given by Peace Like a River and Security Watchtower...Grab a cup of Joe and read the rest.

Have you ever wondered what the neocons are up to? Go here for a taste of what some people are thinking. Full Disclosure: Since I used to be a member of the Democrat Party, and liberal, I am considered a Neoconservative. My views on this Fourth World War we are engaged in lead me to believe that the Bush 43 administration aren't warlike enough for my taste. Remember, I think Ghengis (hard g, Mr. Kerry) Khan is to the left of me. ;-p

I send out my prayers to the ABC co-anchor, his cameraman; and their family and friends. These guys aren't afraid to leave the green zone, and should be respected for their efforts to cover the story of the Iraqi Theater of WWIV.

Sunday, January 29, 2006

Sunday Contrails

Battlestar Galactica episode "Black Market"



No content spoilers, psychological spoilers only.

I hope this was an aberration. My personal nickname for this episode is "Saigon on a Freighter" and just, well, I dunno. Threw me for such a loop I forgot to continue recording after the 2nd commercial break. The deleted scenes for this episode better show an editing problem of biblical proportions. Too much new material to absorb at once, I guess I'll have to record again Monday night and watch it a few times.

Note to Ron Moore:

Please don't pull a "V"-style Elizardbeth with the hybrid Homo sapiens cylonensis. Please, man. I am begging you. Don't go there.

Saturday, January 28, 2006

A Question for The Legacy Media




Imagine these guys were Americans celebrating an election win.


Would the Legacy Media approach their coverage the same way?

Thursday, January 26, 2006

Hamas wins elections?



I guess the old adage that says the Palestinians don't miss an opportunity to mess up IS true.
I hope this finally beats it into some thick skulls in the Israeli electorate that the Palestinians are so driven by hate that they have forfeited any right (if they ever had any) to be regarded as rational people.
I heard the news from the BBC this morning, but didn't give any credence to it because of the Beeb's bias against Israel. Later, as I checked out the Top Stories on FOX, I saw a promo for the rebroadcast of Cavuto talking about a Hamas win. What? Has the world gone mad?
In my opinion, this makes war virtually inevitable. Whether it is a low-intensity conflict or a full-blown affair remains to be seen.


The one bright spot in this whole thing is I believe it improves the chances of Bibi Netanyahu being elected to the office of Prime Minister this spring.
Oh, and one more thing, maybe this will bring the stupid, misguided policy of the Bush 43 administration of trading land for peace to an end. It is folly of the highest order to assume that Palestinians, or their allies, are capable of being faithful to any agreement.
Pray for Israel, her people and her leaders, as well as our own. I see Dark Days ahead.
The Jerusalem Post has a story. I am sure the Blogosphere is inundated with similar stories and misgivings about the future.


I don't even have to check out The Gates of Vienna to know that an insightful analysis is soon to be, if not already, posted.
Another two sites to check are The Belmont Club and the Winds of Change. While I don't always agree with some of the crew at Winds, I am assured that they have thought things through from their point of view.

Wednesday, January 25, 2006

Strike Three for the Unfit Nations


What? A Scandal at the UN involving money?
The boys in Powder Blue ran away while people were being killed?

Wretchard has the details.
I just wish i could meet someone who works for the UN face-to-face, just one time, I'd laugh at him/her/it until it hurt.
I find myself beginning to believe they are far more dangerous to us than all our oher enemies because they provide shelter for them.


I guess the prefix their acronym spells out was a Freudian slip after all, at least The League of Nations had a ring to it, even if they were just as an incompetent bunch of boobs as the current bunch.

Tuesday, January 24, 2006

Why did Canada vote Conservative?


Because they didn't want our liberals moving there!

Since I didn't work yesterday (it was raining), I was fortunate enough to be ensconced in Hunter Library at WCU all day.
I got to hear the last few minutes of Ken Bagwell before 9 am on WZNNWZGM.

Later, I listened to a little Rush and then Take A Stand with Matt Mittan. Visited my very first Chat Room also during the show. It was different, hearing the host on the radio and seeing his words typed on the screen as he carried on conversations with the "Cave Dwellers". Found out wb means welcome back. ;-)
I had to google chat room abbreviations and print them out to get a better grip on what was happening.
It's too bad I'll be listening at work, OUTSIDE, and unable to see what's happening in the Cave. And Yes, What happens in the Cave, Stays in the Cave.
You can visit Matt's website here, and as a friendly warning: DO NOT PLAY THE PENGUIN GAME !!!
It is addictive and my best score is 298.4 Matt's is 324 or so...But we don't really know that do we? I think that is one reason he hasn't put his site up sooner, He wanted to boost his Penguin score to a number virtually impossible to reach. And since I can't play it very well on a 28k connect speed, I'll never beat him. (sniff)

Monday, January 23, 2006

Monday Briefing 01-23



Monday's Winds of War: 23 Jan 2006
by WoW Team Monday on January 23, 2006 05:21 AM

Welcome! Our goal at Winds of Change.NET is to give you one power-packed briefing of insights, news and trends from the global War on Terror that leaves you stimulated, informed, and occasionally amused...read the rest.



No work today...more rain.

Sunday, January 22, 2006

Sunday Blogger for 01-22-006



I found this blog whilst surfing. In particular, this article was my landing spot. Very nicely done, Ed. Oh, and he is located in NC as well. Add him to your favorites, or use my sidebar to visit him, you'll be glad you did.

Saturday, January 21, 2006

CLoud Pictures




Picture taken 01-21-2006 around 10am.

Lots of contrails all day long!

Fire on the Mountain



Yesterday, some contract workers tried to burn a brush pile without raking around it, and even worse, had no rakes or shovels with which they could've combated a breakout. WoW ! And to think we had a hard time keeping our piles going. Go Figure. Anyhow here are some photos I shot of the fire and the response...
















































About four brush trucks from the NC Forest Service and a truck from the Maggie Valley Volunteer Fire Department responded. They all left out the other way, so I didn't get to take their pix while leaving. I don't see how more than an acre could've been burnt. Since we left our fires after dark, I couldn't get a photo of the aftermath. I'll do that Tuesday, since Monday looks to be a rain-out and a day at Hunter Library.

The History Guy

My first Friday without the good Doctor Forstchen on the radio. Bummer. At least I had Dr. Walter Williams to listen to on the other station as he subbed for El Rushbo.

Battlestar Galactica

Oh.My.Freaking.Gosh. (!!!) Somebody slap Dr. Baltar.

Friday, January 20, 2006

Blue Screen of Death



I've restored emergency life-support and may have to abanbon ship.
I have demanded too much for too long from a 300 MHz chipset and cheated death with 32 Meg of RAM and under 4Gb of Hard Drive space.
This episode has beaten into my thick skull that perhaps it is time to get another ship. Maybe even leave Windows 98SE behind and switch to XP...
I have much to say this weekend, and will leave you a photo (should my system remain stable long enough) to ponder...




New Episode of Battlestar Galactica tonight !!!

Wednesday, January 18, 2006

American Civil Liberties Union



Does the ACLU stand for American Civil Liberties Union, or does it stand for All Criminal Liberties Union?



(Google Search) ACLU files lawsuit


(Google Search) ACLU files lawsuit against Bush



I think they stand with our enemies. I just haven't really decided if it is naive, stupid, or malicious.

Tuesday, January 17, 2006

Ha !!! Take THAT Lefties !


I found this post recently on Western World Politics:
emphasis mine



10 ways Nazis and Communist are both far left

"There is more that binds us to Bolshevism that separates us from it...I have given orders that...Communists are to be recruited into the party at once. The petite bourgeois Social Democrat and the trade union boss will never make a Nazi, but the communist always will" - Adolf Hitler


Read the rest here.

Blame Me...



They serve for me — blame me.
They were wounded for me — blame me.
They died for my freedom — blame me.


In my heart, every day is Memorial Day.


There is a lot of contention regarding the war on terror recently. I don't understand why. We're at war with people who would destroy us without thinking twice. I certainly respect the feelings of mothers who have lost children in the service of our country. In another way I also thank people like them, because the precious sacrifices of their children keep me free. God bless them, for they have offered up a priceless sacrifice. The anti-war activists among them do America great harm. They undermine morale at home and on the battlefield. They have gone too far for too long...

Click Here

Death of a Friend



My favorite radio station is changing its format to Fox Sports, and will change its call letters as well.


A brief Roll Call:
Local Show Top of the Morning with Brian O'Brien and Betsy O'Betsy
National Laura Ingraham
Local Shows No Apologies Radio (Brandon Randolph)
Mountain Guardian with Peter Dawes and Carri Hudson
Entrepreneurs' Edge with Elaine Robinson
Lifestyles Food and Wine with April Adams
The Tech Know Dude (Matthew Ledford)
The History Guy (Dr William R. Forstchen of Montreat)
Dennis Prager
Heads Up America with Ken Bagwell


I couldn't listen to the other programming because I live out of range of the signal and my internet connection too slow to get the streaming.

I wish all the talent at the station well, and hope the listeners will stay active in their communities. If there is one epilogue to WZNN, I hope it is an increased civic involvement.

More to come, as I gather my thoughts...I just found out about this as I updated my mirror of Kens' site.

Message to Brian O'Brien...Stay in touch here and via e-mail!

Bobby

Update Rained out of work, will probably post more and will check my email thunderpigblog AT yahoo DOT com or robertcogginsjr AT yahoo DOT com.

This too funny !!!

New Terror Tactics spread to Nigeria

John Robb, of Global Guerrillas, reports on new tactics used by MEND of Nigeria.
An excerpt from the article follows:



Monday, January 16, 2006

NIGERIAN EVOLUTION

"Our aim is to totally destroy the capacity of the Nigerian government to export oil..." from an e-mail sent by the new Nigerian guerrilla group, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Nigerian Delta (MEND), that claimed the recent attacks.

A series of high tempo attacks (four in the last five days) have deeply disrupted Nigeria's oil production -- attacks on oil platforms, a pumping station, and pipelines have already reduced the country's oil production by 10%. Shell has withdrawn 330 employees from the region, and shut down four pumping stations. Four Shell employees are currently being held hostage.

These attacks are substantially more sophisticated than previous efforts which were typically either riot/protests or bunkering gone awry. These new attacks include:

Swarm-based maneuver. The guerrillas are using speed boats in the Niger Delta's swamps to quickly attack targets in succession...(read the rest).



If it rains,I'll post more here today.

Monday, January 16, 2006

Monday Morning Briefing


Every Monday morning, I get my briefing at Winds of Change. This morning's article is entitled:
Monday's Winds of War: 16 Jan 2006, and it is good reading over a couple cups of coffee.

Sunday, January 15, 2006

Alito Poll from local ISP



If you had a vote, would you vote to confirm Judge Alito?

Yes 76.11%
No 23.88%

Go here to participate. No telling when they'll put another question up, so haste is of the essence.

We got snow!!! Ya Hoo! But, I'll still have to go to work tomorrow. Bummer. No MLK observation in the construction industry.

Friday, January 13, 2006

The Idiots' Guide To the Alito Confirmation, part one



Chair...The purpose of this hearing is to determine whether my colleages can trick you into taking their rope, tying a noose in it, then placing it around your neck and jumping off your chair on live television.

Alito...I'll try not to do that, sir.

Sen D...Here is some pretty rope. Do you want to hold it?

Alito...It sure is pretty. I'll pass.

Sen R...That was a bad rope Sen D tried to offer you. I am sure you know how to handle that kind of rope, and am glad you left it alone.

Alito...I know a bad rope when I see it.

Sen D...My rope is pretty. Far prettier than the other ropes. Hold it in your hands and notice how well it is made.

Alito...It sure is pretty, and smooth, too. But, I am not sure it is all that well made. Sure is pretty, though.

Sen D...Notice the length of that rope you are holding, and think of how easy it would be to tie it into a noose for me.

Alito...It sure is long, but I am not sure it would be appropriate for me to tie this rope into a noose. Thanks for asking, though.

Sen R...Here is a piece of rope. You don't want it, do you?

Alito...Sure don't.

Sen D...I think Alito has already had a rope in his hands before these hearings. In fact, I believe there is evidence that he tied the rope into a noose and jumped off a high place with the noose around his neck. I demand that my minions be allowed to prove this thing.

Chair...I don't think so, Sen D.

Sen D...I demand it !!!

Sen R...You are in no position to demand anything, Sen D. However, out of the goodness of my heart, I will allow your minions to pursue this red herring.

Time passes...

Chair...The minions of Sen D searched and searched, but they could find no red herring, nor were there ropes to be found.

Alito...I don't remember the piece of rope Sen D says I had. I never did anything with it, I just, well, I just flirted with it was all.

Sen D...I hope you do your job like I would.

Alito...I'll do the job as well as I can. If approved, that is.

Sen R...I hope you do your job like I would.

Alito...I'm not going to commit to that, either.

Sen D...I hope you do your job like the person you are replacing did. (sniffles)

Alito...That person did the job well, and I'm not sure I'll do as well. I'll just do what I can given what I run across during my tour...if approved, that is.

Sen R...Soon we will vote on you, and at how well we thought you avoided doing bad things with all the rope that was offered to you.

Sen D...I think you wanted to use the rope. I know I wanted you to do so... so that people like me could have your job.



Coming in part two...The Vote

Thursday, January 12, 2006

WWII Bomber captured midflight



Thanks to Defense Tech for the Heads Up.

Go here for the story

Wednesday, January 11, 2006

Political Quiz Results



Forgive me for posting two quizes so close together. I took this one last fall and lost the address. Thanks to the wonders of Google, I found it again. I plan on adding this to my sidebar AND in my bookmarks site. Here are my results, which are the same as what they were earlier. (No flip-flopper am I!)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Enterpriser
Based on your answers to the questionnaire, you most closely resemble survey respondents within the Enterpriser typology group. This does not mean that you necessarily fit every group characteristic or agree with the group on all issues.

Enterprisers represent 9 percent of the American public, and 10 percent of registered voters.

Basic Description
As in previous studies conducted in 1987, 1994 and 1999, this extremely partisan Republican group’s politics are driven by a belief in the free enterprise system and social values that reflect a conservative agenda. Enterprisers are also the strongest backers of an assertive foreign policy, which includes nearly unanimous support for the war in Iraq and strong support for such anti-terrorism efforts as the Patriot Act.

Defining Values
Assertive on foreign policy and patriotic; anti-regulation and pro-business; very little support for government help to the poor; strong belief that individuals are responsible for their own well being. Conservative on social issues such as gay marriage, but not much more religious than the nation as a whole. Very satisfied with personal financial situation.

Who They Are
Predominantly white (91%), male (76%) and financially well-off (62% have household incomes of at least $50,000, compared with 40% nationwide). Nearly half (46%) have a college degree, and 77% are married. Nearly a quarter (23%) are themselves military veterans. Only 10% are under age 30.

Lifestyle Notes
59% report having a gun in their homes; 53% trade stocks and bonds in the stock market, and 30% are small business owners – all of which are the highest percentages among typology groups. 48% attend church weekly; 36% attend bible study or prayer group meetings.

2004 Election
Bush 92%, Kerry 1%. Bush’s most reliable supporters (just 4% of Enterprisers did not vote)

Party ID
81% Republican, 18% Independent/No Preference, 1% Democrat (98% Rep/LeanRep)

Media Use
Enterprisers follow news about government and politics more closely than any other group, and exhibit the most knowledge about world affairs. The Fox News Channel is their primary source of news (46% cite it as a main source) followed by newspapers (42%) radio (31%) and the internet (26%).

Note: All descriptions and percentages are based on the national sample of adults surveyed by telephone in December. Based on your answers to the survey questions, you most closely resemble survey respondents within this group, even though you may differ significantly on one or more issues or traits.

In the overall typology there is a ninth group called “Bystanders” who are defined as adults who are not registered, who do not follow news about government and public affairs, and who say they rarely or never vote.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Here is what they say about other "types"...

What has happened to Thunder Pig ???



I have intended for this blog to be secular.
That is not working out for me.
I won't push my faith on anyone.
There has been self-censorship on my postings, being that I have conciously not posted things I have run across that are Christian-related.

No longer.


I found an interesting post here.

Here is an excerpt to get a taste to help you decide whether of not to follow the link:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


SECURITY BREACHES IN THE UNITED STATES

Shortly after 9/11, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pointed out that America’s freedoms could eventually destroy her. What did he mean? I believe he was alluding to something he saw in our national psyche. He realized that America was so concerned with protecting the civil rights of individual terrorists and other groups planning the destruction of America, that we were jeopardizing our own freedoms and nullifying our own rights.

We can see this occurring at the present. In Cuba, a detention center for alleged terrorist suspects is called “ Gitmo Bay.” Prior to the 2004 Presidential election, liberal politicians were jumping on the band wagon by saying that these men were being mistreated. Such alleged “mistreatment” included eating food that was against their religion, mishandling the Qu’ran, and keeping them in the heat instead of an air-conditioned building. The same cry is being raised again, as the left is raising opposition to the President for allowing wiretaps of terror suspects.

The brain-dead of the beltway establishment attempt to make the argument that “poor old grandmother is having her rights taken by the government invading her privacy.” First of all, a law-abiding person is not going to be wire-tapped. Secondly, if grannies are hanging around terrorists or people who have threatened to attack America, then by all means, expose the grannies’ plans before they happen.

It seems that some with short-term memory loss have forgotten that we have not had another 9/11 attack on American soil as of December 31, 2005. Wonder why? Could it be that the 3,000 people who have been arrested and deported were exposed BEFORE the attacks unfolded because of the surveillance and intelligence operations at work?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Monday, January 9, 2006

I never heard of this character !



I think while the Dhimmicrats and RINOs attempt to burn Judge Alito on the altar of abortion, I will ignore it today and post on the lighter side.
Which Winnie The Pooh character are you?

I took another quiz, and this result has me puzzled:


Take the 100 Acre Personality Quiz!


Who is kanga?

Oh, I get it, she is Kanga, and her child is Roo. I guess me forgetting all bout Pooh HAS been a blessing after all...

Sunday, January 8, 2006

NewsMax Poll on NSA "Comm Intercepts"

NewsMax continues to update its online poll. You can still vote - just Go Here Now.


NewsMax Poll: Bush Justified in Wiretapping

Americans overwhelmingly support President Bush's authorization to the National Security Agency to tap the private conversations of U.S. citizens to search for evidence of terrorist activity, an exclusive NewsMax.com poll reveals.

In one of the largest responses to a NewsMax poll ever, more than 150,000 people across the Internet have made their opinions known about this controversy.

And they resoundingly say that the President was justified in taking this action to protect America.

Here is a breakdown of the poll results for several key questions:

1) Has President Bush been justified in tapping the conversation of U.S. citizens?
Justified - 80%
Not Justified - 20%

2) Do you believe the President must have a court-approved warrant to conduct a wiretap?
Yes - 23%
No - 72%
Not Sure - 5%

3) Do you believe President Bush's claim that he undertook this action to protect America?
Yes - 83%
No - 17%

4) How would you rate media coverage about President Bush's actions?
Fair - 20%
Unfair - 80%


Saturday, January 7, 2006

Saddams' Terror Training Camps?



Pat Campbell of AM540 WFLA has blogged on PC540: Saddam's Terror Training Camps. it is worth a look.

Bobby

P.S. President Roslin Rocks!!! (BSG inside comment)

Friday, January 6, 2006

Battlestar Galactica Returns !!!



I promise this will be the last post of the day!!! (...and the crowd roars)

The last half of seaoson two of Battlestar galectica airs tonight at 10pm for most, 1am for me. (long story)

SciFi Channel Site

Bulletin Board

Another Site

Heads Up America guest schedule for next week




I just heard Ken give a list of expected guests next week on his show.
His Guest Page is here for more current updates.

I hope he doesn't get mad, but I'm gonna post it here:


Monday Thomas Woods The Politically Incorrect Guide to History
Tuesday Bob Terrell Local Writer (You don't want to miss this !!!)
Wednesday (was interupted) something about the ACLU
Thursday Richard Weikart From Darwin to Hitler
Friday Charles Liebert sixdaycreation.com

Monday link

Tuesday link

Thursday link

Friday link

Macon County not afraid of ACLU





Sharon not dead



Well, I guess I just got bit by rushing to publish instead of trying to get multiple sources to confirm. This is definitely a case I am glad to be wrong!

FLASH...Drudge Report says Ariel Sharon dead

Drudge

World Tribune Article

In the time it took to type this...Drudge steps back and says reports are conflicting. I hope Sharon makes it. My prayers are with him and his family, and his nation.

Bobby

Text of article follows:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ariel Sharon dies



SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Friday, January 6, 2006
JERUSALEM — Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, the most powerful Israeli leader in 50 years, has died. He was 77.

Sharon was declared dead by physicians at Jerusalem's Hadassah Hospital before 1 p.m. Israeli time [6 a.m. EST], Middle East Newsline reported. Authorities have already been notified of the death, and a government announcement was expected to be issued over the next hour.



The prime minister was felled by a massive stroke on late Jan. 4. A nine-hour operation failed to repair what physicians and officials termed was widespread damage to his brain and other vital organs.
A computed tomography scan taken on Friday morning showed little to no brain activity in Sharon. At that point, Sharon's son, Omri, called aides and senior officials to the hospital to prepare for an announcement of the prime minister's death.

Sharon was expected to be succeeded by Vice Premier Ehud Olmert, who is also the nation's finance minister. On Friday, Olmert met Sharon's political ally, former Prime Minister Shimon Peres, in an attempt to form a working relationship ahead of parliamentary elections on March 28.




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Copyright © 2005 East West Services, Inc.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Via The Corner

Congressman Taylor responds

I recently e-mailed Congressman Charles Taylor supporting his stance on denying citizenship rights to children born to illegal immigrations after I posted about it here.

You may e-mail him here.

I know it is a generic response, but hey, here goes!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Thank you for your kind words of support for my representation of the
Eleventh District of North Carolina. I appreciate hearing from you and
having the benefit of your views.

As your Member in Congress, I do my best to represent the voice and
interests of every citizen of the Eleventh District. It is always
encouraging to receive words of support such as yours, and to know that I am
meeting the challenge of representing the needs of Western North
Carolina. Please be assured that I will continue to stand up for the principles
upon which I was sent to Congress, and will strive to best represent
the people of the Eleventh District of North Carolina.

Again, thank you for contacting me. Should you need any assistance in
the future, please do not hesitate to call or write. Your thoughts and
comments are always welcome.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Miscellaneous links while away from work



WW IV Daily returns!
Northern Virginiastan remebers TWA 847 and murdered Navy Diver
Trackback test because I don't really understand how to use it yet and am conducting an experiment.

Friday Morning Links

Dymphna has an excellent post on the "youth problem" in the land of the lilly-livered...France.

Given my love of Science and Science Fictionn, this post over at Defense Tech on an apparently theoretically workable Hyperdrive. While I don't have schooling on the subject, I suspect it'll end up panning out like this: Workable only for vessels that are really really tiny on a microscopic or nanoscopic scale. Although that would make for a fast comm network with tiny "ships" delivering packets of info on an interplanetary or interstellar scale.

Wish I could say more, gotta get ready for work in the bitterly cold weather. The above link will give current forecast...the wind chills are forecast in the 20's or less. Brrr!! Good day to linger at a burning brush pile.

Bobby

UPDATE: Thank Goodness for copy & paste!

Here are a couple of things to show what today is expected to bring.

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
348 AM EST FRI JAN 6 2006

...LIGHT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS EXPECTED TODAY IN PORTIONS OF THE
NORTH CAROLINA MOUNTAINS...

NCZ048-051-052-058-061700-
/O.CON.KGSP.SN.Y.0001.000000T0000Z-060106T2300Z/
MADISON-SWAIN-HAYWOOD-GRAHAM-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...CHEROKEE...WAYNESVILLE
348 AM EST FRI JAN 6 2006

...SNOW ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EST THIS
AFTERNOON...

A SNOW ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON.

NUMEROUS SNOW SHOWERS WILL AFFECT THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES ALONG THE TENNESSEE BORDER THIS MORNING. SNOW
SHOWERS WILL TAPER OFF TO A FEW FLURRIES IN THE AFTERNOON.

BY THIS AFTERNOON...SNOWFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 2 INCHES ARE
EXPECTED OVER THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS AND LOCATIONS NEAR THE
TENNESSEE BORDER. LOCATIONS FARTHER AWAY FROM THE BORDER SUCH AS
ROBBINSVILLE...BRYSON CITY...WAYNESVILLE...CANTON AND MARSHALL
WILL SEE LOWER TOTALS...POSSIBLY AS LITTLE AS A DUSTING.

A SNOW ADVISORY MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW WILL CAUSE PRIMARILY
TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SNOW COVERED ROADS AND
LIMITED VISIBILITIES...AND USE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING.

$$
MCAVOY

AND THE WIND WILL BE BLOWING!!!

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
354 AM EST FRI JAN 6 2006

NCZ033-048>053-058-059-062>065-061700-
/O.CON.KGSP.LW.Y.0002.000000T0000Z-060106T2300Z/
AVERY-MADISON-YANCEY-MITCHELL-SWAIN-HAYWOOD-BUNCOMBE-GRAHAM-
NORTHERN JACKSON-MACON-SOUTHERN JACKSON-TRANSYLVANIA-HENDERSON-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...NEWLAND...SPRUCE PINE...CHEROKEE...
WAYNESVILLE...ASHEVILLE...SYLVA...FRANKLIN...BREVARD...
HENDERSONVILLE
354 AM EST FRI JAN 6 2006

...LAKE WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EST THIS
AFTERNOON...

A LAKE WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EST THIS
AFTERNOON.

GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS IN THE WAKE OF A COLD FRONT WILL CONTINUE
ACROSS MOUNTAIN LAKES TODAY. WIND SPEEDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH WITH
GUSTS TO AROUND 35 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE.

A LAKE WIND ADVISORY INDICATES THAT WINDS WILL CAUSE ROUGH CHOP
ON AREA LAKES. SMALL BOATS WILL BE ESPECIALLY PRONE TO CAPSIZING.

$$

NED

Wednesday, January 4, 2006

Illegal Immigration: Charles Taylor

.
U.S. House Representative Charles Taylor is supporting a bill to deny citizenship to children born to illegal immigrants. Please follow this link to let him know you support him in this issue.

Here are a couple of links on the issue:

Asheville Citizen-Times
The Olympian

BTW, Tom Bethell, author of The Politically Incorrect Guide to Science will be on Heads Up America at 3pm on WZNN at 3pm today.

Last Link before work:

Largest Prime number discovered.
Story
Warning! first link is a 9 Meg download file containing all the digits of the number. For folks like me, at 28.8 k, it would take a while to download.

The Phone Game in Real Life

.
The tragic death of 12 of 13 Miners, and the communications mixup which ensued reminds me of a somthing I learned right after becoming a volunteer firefighter in the late eighties, the phone game.
I believe we were in a communications class, and our instructor told all of us rookies to line up in a semi-circle. He had a message to deliver to the last person in line. There were between twenty and thirty of us betwwen him and the last person in line. He whispered his message, that person then whispered it to the next, and so on until the last person inline received the message.
Our instructor then asked that person to repeat the message. The instructor read the original message and confirmed it with the first person in line.

The instructor then proceeded to explain to us the vital importance in reducing uneccesary information from any communications we had while involved in a response to any call we had, and the equal importance of including unambiguous data in those comms with other firefighters and incident commanders.

That lesson also included the importance of correcting erronous reporting as soon as possible, which served our fledgling department well in the coming years. We learned from the mistakes of those who had come before us.

Here is a link relating the story:
Heartbreak in West Virginia

I hate that the miscommunication happened, but I sorely wish that the people in possession of the correct information had not waited so long.

My heart and prayers go out to the families of the miners, and to the surviving miner.

Monday, January 2, 2006

Why? Freedom.

Saturday, December 31, 2005

An early start on one of my New Years' Resolutions

One of my New Years' Resolutions will be to try to find, take, and post a quiz a week to this blog... wonder how long that will last?

Here goes:







Which internet subculture do I belong to? [CLICK]
You are a Trekkie!
It's a geek, Jim! You probably have a starfleet uniform and a tricorder. Bonus points if you speak klingon. One day you will walk down the aisle with your buttertroll trekkie partner, humming to the Voyager theme.
More Quizzes at Go-Quiz.com


I altered the above text to correct the spelling of Voyager...the ninny who typed in the code spelled it 'Yoyager', shesh...they aren't a Trekkie.


Guess what? I really do like Star Trek, but have not visited any Trek sites with any regularity. Battlestar Galactica sites are a different story, though.

BTW, new episodes begin airing next Friday night. Here are the episodes for January:

01/06/006...Resurrection Ship, part 1
01/13/006...Resurrection Ship, part 2
01/20/006...Epiphanies
01/27/006...Black Market


And I received the Season 2.0 (1st half) of BSG from amazon yesterday...

Thursday, December 29, 2005

It's too early to think of a title

Citizen Journalist, Michael Totten, has had one of his pieces published on the left coast. You may find it here.

More citizen Reporting can be found here and here.

Also, another General has geared up for the 2008 Presidential Elections.

More later if the "expected" snow develops, it ain't looking good for those who are working in Maggie Valley.

Bobby

Wednesday, December 28, 2005

Quiz pegs me as a ... Centrist?

I thought I was Conservative, but what really scares me follows below:

You can take the test here.

ACCORDING TO YOUR ANSWERS,

The political description that
fits you best is...

.

CENTRIST



CENTRISTS espouse a "middle ground" regarding government

control of the economy and personal behavior. Depending on

the issue, they sometimes favor government intervention

and sometimes support individual freedom of choice.

Centrists pride themselves on keeping an open mind,

tend to oppose "political extremes," and emphasize what

they describe as "practical" solutions to problems.



The RED DOT on the Chart shows where you fit on the political map.




Your PERSONAL issues Score is 50%.
Your ECONOMIC issues Score is 80%.
(Please note: Scores falling on the Centrist border are counted as Centrist.)

......................................................................

5,341,382

.

THAT'S HOW MANY TIMES THE QUIZ
HAS BEEN TAKEN SO FAR.

(Results are renewed after each submission.)

......................................................................

How People Have Scored


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Centrist 30.14 %


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Right (Conservative) 7.49 %


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Libertarian 34.88 %


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Left (Liberal) 18.86 %


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Statist (Big Government) 8.64 %


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

......................................................................

Other Political Philosophies

Right (Conservative)

Conservatives tend to favor economic freedom, but frequently

support laws to restrict personal behavior that violates "traditional
values." They oppose excessive government control of business,

while endorsing government action to defend morality and the

traditional family structure. Conservatives usually support a strong

military, oppose bureaucracy and high taxes, favor a free-market

economy, and endorse strong law enforcement.

Left (Liberal)

Liberals usually embrace freedom of choice in personal

matters, but tend to support significant government control of the

economy. They generally support a government-funded "safety net"
to help the disadvantaged, and advocate strict regulation

of business. Liberals tend to favor environmental regulations,

defend civil liberties and free expression, support government action

to promote equality, and tolerate diverse lifestyles.

Libertarian

Libertarians support maximum liberty in both personal and

economic matters. They advocate a much smaller government; one
that is limited to protecting individuals from coercion and violence.

Libertarians tend to embrace individual responsibility, oppose

government bureaucracy and taxes, promote private charity, tolerate

diverse lifestyles, support the free market, and defend civil liberties.

Statist (Big Government)
Statists want government to have a great deal of power over the

economy and individual behavior. They frequently doubt whether

economic liberty and individual freedom are practical options in

today's world. Statists tend to distrust the free market, support

high taxes and centralized planning of the economy, oppose

diverse lifestyles, and question the importance of civil liberties.

......................................................................

More links Pray for rain

Dymphna over at The Gates of Vienna points us to a good fisking.
Read her first, then follow her link to the action.

While he and I differ a bit on politics, Screwie Hoolie has an interesting post on the NSA eavesdropping program. I'm for it, he's nervous. Now I'm still for it, and nervous.

Note to self: Save this for next year.

Pray for rain out of this next system coming through...I hate freezing rain and icy conditions.
Well, in the time it took for me to post, the forecast HAS CHANGED. Yippee! And I'll still get a day off work. ;-)

Bobby

Rain at 10am!!! My girl has come through for me here. Link will probably only work until she posts a new article, so scurry!!!

Tuesday, December 27, 2005

Tuesday Linkagery

Appeasement in 1938, a blast from the past on the Belmont Club.

Huge Coalbed fond off Norway coast should move the Oil Peak back another couple of centuries, eh?

Hope your Christmas went well, and Happy Hannukah to my Jewish readers, if any.

Bobby

Saturday, December 24, 2005

Christmas Eve Picture

Billy took everybody out to eat yesterday for Christmas. We ate at a Chinese restaurant called New Happy Garden in Waynesville. We pretty well destroyed their Buffet Line. Thanks, Billy!

Are the Main Stream Media Treasonous?

Earlier in the week, the New York Slimes revealed the NSA program of spying on phone calls of suspected terrorists with other people in the United States of America. Duh. They better be doing that!

It bothered me, but did not surprise me that the NYT would expose these activities. I don't buy the paper from the few racks in WNC, and I make sure I berate anyone I see doing so. You should try it sometime. Nothing nasty, just a simple laugh does the trick. Not a horse laugh, just an expression of my amusement usually gets me the reward of an angry stare, or if (I suppose) the person is a native, they tell where I can go do my silly laughing. So far, I haven't been beaten up.

Enter the US News & World Report

Now a newsrag I still have a little respect for (only because a Muslim once told me it was run by the CIA and Jesse Helms) has outed an FBI program that has been monitoring radiation levels around mosques and other places frequented by Muslims near our nations' capitol. Double Duh!

If good ole Jesse Helms was running USN&WR, he'd have had a heart attack, or certain editors at the magazine would be pounding the pavement right about now.

Little Green Footballs has covered the story, which I first heard about an hour ago on the BBC via shortwave. I cut the radio off and connected to the internet to see what was going on.

Commentary

Pay attention, people! We are at war with a bunch of nuts who think their god is going to reward murder and mayhem with paradise. I am very likely preaching to the choir when I say people should go to prison for printing these stories exposing our efforts to monitor these whackos.
And as far as Mr. Speilbergs' entry into the 'Middle East Peace Process.' A movie that casts blame on Israel for going after terrorists after the massacre of their athletes in 1972 at the Munich Games. Even I can see the very thinly veiled comparison to our actions after 9/11/2001. I wonder if Michael Moore served in an 'advisory' capacity on the mockumentary. Puh-Leeze!

If so many innocent people wouldn't get killed, maimed and ruined, I would love to pull an 'Atlas Shrugged' on the Left. I would bet they wouldn't last a calender year without us.

In the spirit of the book,I will not provide a link for those who wish to know more.

Oh, yeah... Have a Merry Christ-mas Eve! If I go shopping today, I'm waiting in the truck with a good book...Atlas Shrugged.

Bobby

Friday, December 23, 2005

Night Before Christmas

The following was posted in a forum I am a member of:



Title and Author unknown


--------------------------------------------------------------------




The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.

My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.

Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.

The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.

My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.

In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.

Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,
Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.

My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.

Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.

A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.

Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!

Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..

To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,

I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night.
Sleep without fear as you turn out your lights."

"It's my duty to stand at the front of this line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.

No one has asked or begged or implored me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.

My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December,
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembered."

My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.

I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.

Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.

"I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.

I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.

I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..

Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."

"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."

"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you some money, prepare you a feast?

It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.

To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.

For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.

Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us.


--------------------------------------------------------------------

Thursday, December 22, 2005

World War IV

This is actually World War IV.

World War III was fought between The USA and the USSR from 1947 to 1989. Churchill warned us of in his Iron Curtain speech of March 5, 1946. Our acknowledgement and participation began on March 12, 1947, when President Truman enunciated the Truman Doctrine. The essence of the Doctrine was that "it must be the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressure." This was clearly an anti-communist doctrine. This amounted to an American declaration of war upon Communist Russia. President Truman followed his speech with massive military and economic aid to Greece and Turkey. (The communist guerillas were defeated by the American troops in 1948 in both Greece and Turkey.) This was our first victory in the war most people call the Cold War, but was, in fact, War War Three. It had been made Politically Incorrect to call it a real war due to the massive communist infiltration of our media and education systems.

World War Three included the battles with communist guerrillas in Europe, Berlin Airlift, the Korean War, Communist Infiltration of our media and educational systems, the Suez Crisis, the Communist Infiltration of Indochina, the Bay of Pigs, the Viet Nam War and the Soviet-sponsored anti-war movement in western countries that was successful in causing us to lose our will to fight. The Arab-Israeli Wars up until 1973 can be considered part of World War Three. The later wars are more properly part of World War IV due to the awakening of the Islamic Extremists by the Soviet Union and their break away from Soviet control during the Iranian Revolution that was led by Jimmy Carter's friend, the Ayatollah Khomeini. The Arab's loss of the 1973 war presaged the defeat of the Soviet Union and the Rise of Islam.

World War IV essentially began with the Islamic revolution in Iran in 1979. What followed after that was an Iranian sponsorship of acts of terror modeled on the previous Soviet Union model that used Muslims as cannon fodder against the west. The Muslims shed the control of their former masters and sought to establish their own empire of terror throughout the Middle East, Africa, Asia and South America. They also sought to infiltrate a militarily superior Europe and America using the methods taught to them by the Soviets. In the coming years in America and Europe we will see an increase of mosque-building, demonstrations and attempts to establish a separate but equal justice system based on Sharia Law. Mark my words. This will happen, and we cannot stop it due to a sympatheic media and education system. The progressives have paralyzed the Democrat party, and I suspect that they will attempt to use the anti-war libertarians in the Republican party to do the same there. I have some hope that we can stop them, but only time will tell.

Part of the Left's continued war against American Exceptionalism is the erasure of our history, because they know that if we can't properly remember where we've been, they can control where we are going. They fight any attempt to refer to the Cold War as a global war deserving of the title of World War III, and they will fight the acknowledgement that we are now engaged in another global war, called by many names (the Global War on Terrorism in currently the most pouplar) but, it is still War World IV any way you slice it.

What got me started on this tirade was an OpEd by Ohmyrus at FaithFreedom.


The following is a brief excerpt from an excellant post:

World War IV


By Ohmyrus

The War on Terrorism is actually World War IV. Most people don't appreciate this because of the asymmetrical nature of this war. Nation states are pitted against terrorist organizations and not against other states like in previous World Wars.

In a way, asymmetrical warfare is more dangerous because the enemy could be living amongst us. These men are eager to die so as to be rewarded with Paradise with its carnal pleasures. This is so unlike World War III (i.e. the Cold War) where the free world fought the repressive communists.

They wanted to live and can be deterred by Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD). Now we are fighting a bunch of medieval mad men who are not afraid of MAD. What if they get hold of a nuclear device?


The complete post is here.

It says so many of the things I have tried to say, but is much more effective and eloquent.

Also, Fjordman has left the blogosphere, but never fear, he will post on other blogs every so often. Goodbye, Fjordman, I will miss you.

Things at work have been rough. The cold weather has sapped my energy, and the slick and frozen ground have made using a chainsaw interesting at times.

Bobby

Monday, December 19, 2005

Monday Morning Briefing

.
Winds of Change has their Monday morning briefing on the progress of World War IV.

I just wish that The President would up the ante by letting the American people know that this war will last at least a generation. This coddling of the left has to stop. We need to get this internal war with the nihilist leftists over so we can proceed forthwith to the destruction of Islamo-fascism, and their enablers...Europe and Russia. Chew on them apples!




Here is what it looked like last Wednedsay morning at work.

Friday, December 16, 2005

Warning: Construction Zone

.
Over the course of the next few weeks, I intend to make several changes to the sidebar and try to streamline it for maximum efficiency, and add some buttons.
Maybe I've gone link-crazy. If I don't kill the blog, it might be fun to watch.

My goals are to make my blogs more closely match their mission statements(uh-huh), and provide useful links accordingly.

WNC Citizens Blog is intended to keep track of citizen activists and political events in West Carolina, with a wary eye cast toward Raleigh.

Thunder Pig Journal was my attempt to try to keep track of the Big Picture of World War Four, which is currently in progress.

And this blog, where everything else goes, with some overlap.

Feel free to leave comments what you'd like to see.

Bobby

Thursday, December 15, 2005

French bashing... it's so easy!



I found this at Demotivators.
The History Guy read a few on last weeks show, I forgot to look it up, and found a blog that had a few on it while hitting the random blog button in the upper right hand corner. Since the rally is off, I've decided to spend the rest of the day surfing randomly to see what I come up with since there are no time constraints.

Zombie Time photoblogs Tookie execution

Well, not really. The Zombie did photoblog the people who gathered outside San Quentin in opposition to and support of the execution. This is the type of thing I would love to do in Asheville during the protest season if I could get part of Friday off work.







Squinting for Utopia


This is just one of many fine photos. Be forewarned...a few of them show signs with a picture of one of Tookies' victims after meeing the man. You judge whether Tookie did the guy any favors.

Go here for the Gallery

TC Override has a commentary I cannot improve upon.

Rally Postponed due to Weather

This may be a double post, so I'll switch the words around. Blogger is acting funny.
The BlackOut Rally will not take place tonight due to the fundraiser itself being cancelled. We will try again when they try again. ;-)

BlackOut Rally Cancelled for Dec 15

Alas, Don Yelton has just announced that the BlackOut Rally has been cancelled and will be rescheduled when the Democrat Party fundraiser is scheduled.

Rain Day



Now, that is a cool picture of clouds!
Click on the picture to enlarge.
Here is where I found the clouds.















I proudly stole this picture from Dude, Where's the Beach? And yes, he stole it from someone else, too!













BlackOut Rally is still on for those who are able to despite the inclement weather. Remember, Safety First!

Tuesday, December 13, 2005

Cartoon Classics !!!




There is nothing like Calvin & Hobbes snowmen cartoons!

Rally is Thursday not Wednesday!

.
I goofed! Thanks for all the e-mails letting me know. Most days I only have a window between 3.30am and 5am to post, so sometimes it takes a while to correct a mistake.

People will begin gathering after 3pm Thursday.
Please go here to find out more.

Buh-Bye

.
Tookie Williams...Buh-Bye!
Arnold...I was worried about him, although he pulled through in the end, and did the right thing.

Monday, December 12, 2005

Monday Morning Updates

I only got to watch 20 of the 24 episodes from Friday to last night.
It exceeded my already high expectations. I hope they keep it up next season.

Winds of War Monday Briefing covers World War Four region by region.

An Aussie tells us about the race riots on Cronulla beach this weekend from a local perspective.

Check out The Northeast Intelligence Network, who is keeping the flu pandemic meme fed and spread, and has some coverage of the Oil Depot explosions this weekend.

Also, go to The Yahoo Group BlackOut to keep informed on the upcoming BlackOut Rally this Wednesday. I hope to see you there!

Bobby

Saturday, December 10, 2005

Sequestered Weekend

This weekend I will be watching ALL 24 episodes of "24" Season Four. I was not able to watch or record them, and had a harrowing time keeping away from spoilers. The only other show on TV today in the same category is the new Battlestar Galactica. And yes, Season #2 of that is already preordered.

"Narnia" is a movie I plan on watching maybe next weekend. I'll post a review then. I have never read the books, but did see a BBC TV series in the early 80's I thought was good. I have had a rough time of avoiding spoilers on this one, too.

Friday, December 9, 2005

BlackOut Rally on WNC Citizens Blog

On WNC Citizens Blog, I've posted on the upcoming BlackOut Rally planned nest week.

Thursday, December 8, 2005

Linking

History Lesson

Heath Shuler prepares to run for the 11th US District seat. Go back to Tennessee, carpet bagger! Or move your company to WNC... wait, that is the last thing we need, more Real Estate bidness.

Don't forget to check out Jim Black Must Go!

BlackOut has formed and ready for action.

Wednesday, December 7, 2005

Jim Black coming to Asheville Dec 15

Speaker Jim Black is coming to Asheville for a Democrat Party fundraiser.

Some people are planning to meet him. Click for Flyer.

Also, a local newspaper is using one of my photos on their website as background. Cool! The Mountain Guardian. It also has a radio show every Monday at 1pm on 1350AM WZNN and can be heard live here.

I've taken more pix, but the computers here at WCU have their CD drives disabled. It'll have to wait until the morning.

Monday, December 5, 2005

Long overdue link

Iraq Strategy is at the White House Website.

Three time loser




I saw this on the WCU Campus last week. In the faculty parking. No, sorry, in ADMINISTRATIVE parking. Figures.

I love the smell of links in the morning

In case you don't wander by The Gates of Vienna, you should.

As a history buff, I frequently visit The World History Blog, and found a reference there to theHistory Carnival XXI. I guess that shows a lot of history sites I've not been able to find using Google.

Another favorite blog I ride by is Al Fin.

Saturday, December 3, 2005

Clouds




A front moved in on Friday morning and I took this picture showing how straight the edges were. A caller in Madison to Top of the Morning mentioned the clouds. So, I wasn't the only one who noticed!



This shows a view a little after 5pm that same day. The whole sky was like that as they came through...then it was clear.

I'll be posting more pictures later. Right no, the forecast makes me hope I might be able to visit WCU and get some broadband time in. 28k sucks too, Fred.

Tuesday, November 29, 2005

Links To Share

I've found a website that stores bookmarks for those surfing from public terminals (which I do a lot of), or just want to share them with others. After much furious hunting, pecking, cussing, repecking, I got some of them up.

Then came the fun part. Getting the doggone thing linked from here. I just simply cannot get it to work in the sidebar. I suspect it has something to do with using a proxy server. I will put the link a couple of ways in this post to see if it works.
It works if I type the address in the address bar. Here goes:

Click Here

http://www.mybookmarks.com/public/Thunderpigfaves

http://www.mybookmarks.com

What's going on here? At least the top link works.

Ours is not to worry or wonder why,
Ours is but to link or die.
(with apologies to the original author.)

Monday, November 28, 2005

Hey! Look what I found!

I fell so very stupid. I have never had ANY formal training about the internet. And I just discovered the most amazing website, EVER!

I found it by following backward links from Project Rho, another great site I've been plaing with for the last couple of months.

Michelle Malkin on Top Of the Morning !!!

Get Thee Hence!!!

Sorry such a late notice, I just found out.

Update:9.34amOk, she's gone. If you missed it, too bad.

Thursday, November 24, 2005

Happy Thanks Giving !!!

Things I am Thankful for...
1. God
2. My Family
3. My nation
4. Those who have, are, and will serve in our armed forces.

Appropriately enough, William F. Buckely's 80th birthday falls on Thanks Giving Day, 2005.

This man had quite an effect on me in my teenage years, providing me with a firm foundation of political belief after President Ronald Reagan kindly pointed the way toward conservatism.

Reagan brought my attention to a "shining city on a hill," and Mr. Buckley taught me the basic principles I could use to get to that city. Others have helped along the way, but I look upon WFB as providing guidance at a critical juncture in my life, when I wavered between choosing Good or Evil. I made a few missteps, and whenever I was restored to my senses, WFB was there.

Less than a decade ago, I discovered he had a magazine, then still later, a website. I quit my subscription over the Ann Coulter dismissal, but still read the mag in the public library. The only way I would renew is for The National Review to print a full and complete apology for their actions in that incident.

I still remain fond of WFB, and will spend a part of my Thanks Giving day comptemplating the man and the ideas he has shared with me over the course of my life.

I thank God for WFB, and I thank WFB for using the gifts that God has given him.

Monday, November 21, 2005

Rain today means... No work and much posting!


I will be updating this post throughout the day instead of posting 150 times today.

Axis of Islam is associated with some good blogs, he comments on some and the following are the ones I ran into a few minutes ago:
Intelligence Summit
Musulman
Pedestrian Infidel

Cut-N-Run Vote, courtesy of CDR Salamander.

I found an interesting article posted on Heads Up America. The article is entitled: "The real secret to defeating Islam" by David Kupelian.

No Apologies Radio is on! Check out the links on Immigration Issues! updated at 12.04pm

Curious Developments in Israel and Eurabia

What is going on in Israel?

Ariel Sharon has left the party he helped form, and is forming a new party with Shimon Perez, and others. I hope this gives Bibi Netanyahu a shot, although I believe Sharon and Perez will be able to form a majority coalition government.

Others report and analyze better than I. Links are below. Please feel free to add others in the comments section.

Security Watchtower
Drudge Report has links to MANY online news sources.

On the EU front, Fjordman has a disturbing essay on the nature of Eurabia, the new European Empire that is emerging.

Sunday, November 20, 2005

New Websites Launched



The misty rain moves in on Campbell Mountain.


Pajamas Media has changed their name to Open Source Media, I guess making a play on the Main Stream Media. OSM v MSM. I prefer calling the MSM Legacy Media, implying they are outdated. Oh well.

Another new site is called Threats Watch. This promises to be a wealth of information and analysis.

Hat Tip to Baron Bodissey for the last site, and prob the first as well, I simply can't remember, and with a web connection of 28.8k, I don't have the time to check. Add both these websites to your web browser.

I will post more today from my great aunt's house. She has 56k. WoW!

Monday, November 14, 2005

Dr. Jerome Corsi to appear on HUA

Dr. Jerome Corsi will appear on Heads Up America tomorrow, (Tuesday for those in Rio Linda) at I guess 3pm to 4pm. I gather he is an expert on abiotic oil. For those who can't tune to 1350 kHz on an AM radio, listen here.

Middle Earth, Anyone?

Here is what I tested out as:

Rohirrim
Rohirrim



To which race of Middle Earth do you belong?

brought to you byQuizilla

To which I can only repeat the words of our great king:

"Ride! Ride for ruin! And the world's ending! Death!
Forth Eorlingas!"

Sunday, November 13, 2005

Early Morning on Jonathan Creek



Taken at 7am in early November 2005 looking northeastward from one of the top lots.

The difference in time between the posts shows how slow photo uploads are at 28 k.

More Pictures !!!



This is why I need a camera with a zoom lens! Falcons don't look as good to the eye as they do through a regular lens.

By the way...all these pix are taken with a disposable Kodak camera. WoW!

Friday, November 11, 2005

What a stupid picture to post!



This is my truck at work, hauling stuff so I don't have to. This lovely beast gets just 6 miles to the gallon of gasoline, and has sticks of various sizes crammed into the emission controls, and the previous owner performed other mods trhat are interesting, most notably, a 305 racing engine with entirely too huge fuel jets that make stomping on the gas pedal too expensive for me to do often.

Thursday, November 10, 2005

Asheville Election Results...Broad Analysis

There were serious errors in the Council Race Numbers in the third column. Thanks to a phone call, I've since corrected them. Hat Tip to Debbie.
Bobby 08:06 am 11/10/2005



These are preliminary numbers from the Board of Elections. I don't know if anyone else has done this, so here goes:

Mayoral Race

Candidate...................# Votes....%Votes....% Eligible Voters

Terry Bellamy...............10,534.....56.82.....19.10

Joe Dunn.....................8,004.....43.18.....14.51

Participating Voters........18,538.....33.62

Non-Participating Voters....36,609.....66.38

Just over 19 percent of eligible voters decided who the next mayor of Asheville will be. No matter who won the race, this is a sad statement.

City Council Race

Note that each voter can, but does not have to, vote for up to three candidates.

Candidate..................# Votes...% Votes....% Available...% Potential

Holly Jones................11,642.....24.03.....72.10.........21.11

Robin Capes.................9,737.....20.10.....60.30.........17.66

Carl Mumpower...............8,498.....17.54.....52.63.........15.41

Bryan Freeborn..............7,319.....15.09.....45.33.........13.27

Chris Pelly.................6,272.....12.95.....38.84.........11.37

Keith Thomson...............4,975.....10.27.....30.81.........09.02

Votes Cast.................48,443..............100.00.........29.28

Potential Votes not Cast..116,998...............70.72

Per Candidate..............16,147.67

The number of people staying away from the polls are sad here as well. No one was able to spur large numbers of people to the polls.

Note and Commentary

To avoid confusion, remember that there are 55,147 eligible voters, so in the council race, I multipied that number times three to get the potential number of votes that could've been cast. The available votes took the total number of votes cast and divided by three. That left 16,147.67, a number 2,390.33 less than the 18,538 who voted in the Mayoral Race. Not every one who voted in the council race chose three candidates. This had the effect of increasing their favorite candidate(s) odds of making the cut of the top three vote getters. I believe this is the tactic that allowed carl Mumpower to keep his seat on the council.

If any one losing campaign had managed to interest 5,000 voters, a mere 9 percent of eligible voters, their candidate would have been assured of a seat for their particulur race. That speaks volumes.

Why is it so hard to get people to vote?

Should a person should lose their franchise if they miss a certain number of elections in a row?

Or should we be glad these people don't participate because they either don't care enough to vote or know enough about the issues to vote?

Personally, I don't want people who don't care or are ignorant potentially canceling out my vote, there are alraedy too many ignoramuses voting.

Wednesday, November 9, 2005

Maybe they ARE French, after all !!!

Yesterday, to combat a growing wave of terror attacks, the French decided to impose curfews in the affected areas. Which resulted in the number of cars being burned being cut in half, proving that they are french-muslims, not muslim-french.

Here's how I imagine it went down:

Jean-Pierre Mohammed: "Mes amies, the police are planning to impose a curfew tonight. This will be our chance to show them who is in control!"

Ibrahim-le-Jardin: "A curfew! Mon Dieu! What time do we have to be back from torching trashbins and Car-BQing?"

Just like that, the French have peeled away the fun-loving terrorists from the serious. Wow.

City of Asheville Election results

.
Mayor

Terry Bellamy......10,534
Joe Dunn............8,004

City Council

1...Holly Jones.......11,942
2...Robin Capes........9,737
3...Carl Mumpower......8,498
4...Bryan Freeborn.....7,319
5...Chris Pelly........6,272
6...Keith Thomson......4,975

The top three vote getters will join ulta-liberal Brownie Newmamn and mostly middle Jan Davis on the Asheville City Council. Since terry Bellamy already had a seat on the council, the first order of business when the council next meets will be to select someone to replace Bellamy. the last time that was done, the council chose the 4th place finisher in the City Council race. This time, that would be Bryan Freeborn.

Commentary

Here are the political leanings of the City Council members as I understand them, painted with a very broad brush:

Ultra-Liberal
Brownie Newman
Holly Jones
Robin Capes

Standard Liberal
Terry Bellamy
Jan Davis

Conservative
Carl Mumpower

I understand that Bryan Freeborn is of the Ultra-Liberal stripe, since he accepted money last week from the Dmocracy Now PAC delivered by the person of Jim Dean, brother of the DNC Chairman, Howard Dean. If Bryan is chosen, that would make Brownie Newman the de facto mayor of Asheville. Let The Freak Show Begin!

Since I know little of the other candidate leanings, it may all be moot, at this point. One good thing to come out of this is the possibility of a backlash by the voters in 2009, a loooong way off in the world of politics.

Here are current voter registration numbers in the City of Asheville:

Democrat........28,117
Unafilliated....14,097
Republican......12,933

The only way for conservatives to advance is to conduct a long term voter registration drive to gain a few votes. By demographics, Asheville is a Liberal City. I'm just glad I live over 50 miles to the west, I can enjoy the show without having to deal with the repurcussions.

Sunday, November 6, 2005

Terrorist Attacks in France Day 10


Why are all these French-people so somber? Answers below. Why did I post it twice? Look hard. Do we have anything in common with them? How would people in your town react?


French citizens conduct a "silent march" in oprotest against the "riots". (I guess they're afraid to add their voices. The Muslims would get even angier, huh?)


As usual, the blogosphere has been the first to report on the terrorist attacks in France, with the Main Stream Legacy Media gradually turning to focus on the story, hoping against hope the french could bring things under control so they could credit the french with their 'enlightened european' approach.

The only 'enlightening' I've seen is by fire.

Even Fox News refuses to call it anything except rioting. Note: I've not seen the FNC coverage, so I'm just commenting about web coverage.

The BBC World Service (shortwave radio), reports "riots spread in France", and report the French as saying that "Gangs increasingly organized".

I was going to post about the inanity of the running count of cars set ablaze, trashbins torched, or the number of arrests, but The Belmont Club sorta beat me to it. There is other coverage on the site as well as thoughtful analysis.

At Winds of Change, there is reporting on a fiscal crisis as a contibutor to the problem.

More in line with my thinking, Little Green Footballs call it the "French Intifada Day 10, evoking images in my mind of Paleo-Stininan youths throwing rocks.

The Counterterrorism Blog also calls it an Intifada.

I will accept Intifada, but prefer to call it by its rightful name: Terrorism. Well, France has been under attack for ten nights, and still hasn't responded, except with policemen and firemen. Since the attacks have spread beyond the 'burbs of "Gay Paree", there is little excuse for not bringing out the troops. While there is little chance these thugs could gain control of the country, they can cause considerable harm to their infrastructure, but not their already tattered image.
In a way, the French are getting their just deserts for their policies of the past vis a vis (I always wanted to use that phrase) their Muslim Immigrants. It is also a picture of what may come our way with our illegal immigration problems.

Update: Fjordman has warmed the very cockles of my heart with a post reporting John Derbyshire's appellation. Dhimmis.
Have the French fallen into dhimmitude? I give then until Friday. If they don't make siginifant progress until then, I will considered France as under dhimmitude.

Wednesday, November 2, 2005

The Smell of Liberals


I had to resort to reading the instructions...should work now. Posted by Picasa

I never thought I'd be posting a picture of a bare-chested man, so here goes.

Update: Forgot to tell where I stole it from. Little Green Footballs.

This is why I HATE the legacy media...

I nearly burst a blood vessel this morning while listening to NPR. (I was involved in Signals Ops monitoring enemy comms).

I heard a story about a New York Slimes story on secret prisons for al-Qa'ida run by the CIA.

Another is here.

I found these two links from Drudge.

I am going to paraphrase Pogo... We have read the enemy, and they are in the Legacy Media.

I urge you to send hate mail to both these establishments forthwith.

Update: Make that three...don't want to leave out NPR. Silly me.