Bring Back the Idiot Box!

Campaign 2008 is and will continue to be full of inaccuracies on all sides. This is not to say "all" information is bad. Here's a humorous tidbit that shows a disingenuous Obama ad. I focus on Obama for reasons obvious at the top right of this blog. This comes from a writer I like named James Taranto (available at the "Best of the Web" link in the list at right). Check this short insight:

Obama decries the decline of the TV tube industry. What's next, buggy whips?

"A new television ad released Wednesday by Sen. Barack Obama's campaign highlights the closure of Corning Inc.'s plant in State College, Pa., and accuses Washington with Sen. John McCain's help of selling out the workers," the Associated Press reports.

So what did Corning make at the plant? The ad, which you can see here, does not say, but the AP story does: "glass tubes for television sets and computer monitors."

It's hard to remember now, but in the olden days TV sets and computer monitors used a technology called cathode ray tubes. A CRT consisted of an electron gun that projects an image onto a fluorescent screen. In most cases the gun had to be some distance from the screen, with the entire assembly enclosed in glass, which meant that TVs were bulky and boxy (hence the term "idiot box").

In modern times, the CRT has given way to superior technologies such as plasma and liquid crystal, which take up less space and provide superior picture quality. This is an enormous blessing to all Americans who watch TV or use computers.

It's hard to imagine a more backward-looking position than mourning the decline of the picture-tube industry. What'll Obama do next, promise to restore American supremacy in the manufacture of buggy whips, iron lungs and floppy disks? HF1

CENTCOM Coalition Reps In Solidarity Against Terrorism

On Friday, September 12th, Coalition military members lined Bayshore Blvd. at Bay to Bay Blvd., otherwise known as "Patriots' Corner" where a dozen volunteers wave U.S. flags at MacDill AFB workers headed home on Fridays around 5pm. The Coalition people came out to commemorate when NATO declared its solidarity with the U.S. on 9/12/01.

Hello Belgium and others!

New Zealand!

Not to get political, but dozens of Obama enthusiasts with signs hooted and shouted happily at the traffic. The community-organizer fans placed themselves on both sides of the Coalition troops. I'm happy they can exercise their rights to demonstrate in our country. I'll exercise my freedom of speech to call them self-important opportunist lemmings, unaware that the Coalition folks were there supporting our country in comemorating 7 years since 9/12/01, when NATO invoked its defense of a member clause for the first time ever. It looks like these folks understand history as well as their candidate speaks without a teleprompter.

One of the Coalition officers told me to stop by American Legion Post 139 on Dale Mabry Hwy where they all were headed for a BBQ cookout with the Legionnaires of Tampa. I enjoyed a cross cultural event, speaking to officers from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Poland, Ukraine, Turkey, Kazakhstan, and Italy. There were many others there too. I sat with these three gentlemen from Kazakhstan and one from Poland. Two of the Kazakhs had served in the Soviet Army in Afghanistan in the 1980s when Kazakhstan was part of the U.S.S.R. Talk about a fascinating conversation! I really felt proud to be part of Centcom with these folks working with us. What a great time! HF1

Obama Leads World Poll

I understand that a lot of journalists favor Obama for president. They sense an historical moment...and if they can assist a little, well, that's okay in their consciousness. I had to chuckle recently. CNN’s morning guy John Roberts slipped the other day by referring to the Obama campaign as “We” when he asked a guest what the campaign could do to regain the upper hand against McCain. See that video clip here.
I was trapped Monday in a waiting room running an errand. As the blaring TV projected John Roberts’ semi-cocky delivery, a "story” caught my attention:

ROBERTS: 20 minutes after the hour. Welcome back to the "Most News in the Morning." It has been said that politics is a popularity contest. And according to a new BBC Poll, Barack Obama is more popular among people overseas. CNN's Becky Anderson is looking at the poll results for us this morning. She is live right there by Carnaby Street in London.Good morning to you, Becky.

Last I checked, Americans vote for their president. Reporter Becky Anderson chimed in, almost giddy:

REPORTER: “You're absolutely right. An overwhelming majority of the 22,000 people who are polled across 22 countries around the world favor an Obama presidency. Now, let's be honest. Obama did have an advantage going into this campaign as far as the rest of the world is, was and will be concerned, John. It's ‘anybody but Bush.’ And by dent of association, therefore, ‘anyone but John McCain.’”

The two went back and forth with some banal dialogue before Roberts added, with absolutely no sense of irony:

“ We should point out, though, that only people in the United States, people who are Americans, get the opportunity to vote. But it's interesting to look at that worldwide opinion. Becky Anderson for us this morning. Becky, thanks very much.”

There's some hard-hitting invesitgation! Did he call an 8th grade civics student? In case there were any undecided voters, CNN wants to let them know that it's okay to vote Obama. "Everybody's doing it...it'll make you feel good. Henri in Paris, Rajiv in Mumbai and Abdul in London love him! Go ahead..." Sadly, this didn't turn out to be a Saturday Night Live skit. HF1

URL: http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0809/15/ltm.03.html

Which Palin is That?

If you're not a Monty Python fan, then this won't matter. Friday's Get Fuzzy comic nailed the same thing I thought of in an earlier post (see here). (Click the comic strip to increase the size)


Thanks to Steve for getting me hooked on this comic strip. HF1

Conspiracy Theories R Us!

The Democratic Party of Wisconsin offered this community event on their website, which was quickly removed on Friday afternoon. [Click the photo for a legible closeup] It's a wonder it ever got on there in the first place. See the archived link more closely here. HF1

Weekend Reading

Here are a few suggested links that I've run across this week in case you'd like to inform yourself of some interesting topics.

The New Yorker published a fascinating piece about the struggle going on within al Qaida itself about terrorism. I'll admit, I'm only a short way into it since I received the link earlier today. (Hat tip to NitWit in St. Paul for that.) You should print this one out and nibble at it this weekend. Click here.

Charles Krauthammer chimes in with some sensible thoughts in the whole environmental debate about carbon footprints and offsets and other items. Click here to read "Confessions of a Global Warming Agnostic."

"Got Airlift?" The new geographical command AFRICOM, which I mentioned here, continues its rush to be operational by 1 October. AFRICOM will need heavy amounts of airlift capability as it takes some of CENTCOM's and EUCOM's areas of responsibility, which John T. Bennett writes about here.

Speaking of airlift, Northrup Grumman continues its aggressive public relations campaign after winning the competition for billions to manufacture the Air Force's new tanker, the K-45. The new plane will replace the aging KC-135s, some of which are 50 years old. Boeing won the original contract with their KC-767. But an annoying Senator investigated the rampant corruption, cheating, and bribes that gave Boeing the deal. Senator McCain's actions probably resulted in a cancellation of Boeing's win and required a new competition. I don't think McCain would win Seattle & Washington State anyway, but I'm sure he'll try and avoid going near there for fear of a disgruntled Boeing employee somewhere... Click here to see Northrup Grumman's PR website.

And, for something lighter, try Google Maps new "Street View" function here. Just look at the map and find the "Street View" button and follow the directions. As you play with the capabilities, you will be amazed.

And finally, I'm going to try and get another look at a shuttle launch Wednesday afternoon (about 4pm CT). A couple of us may drive over to Melbourne, Fla. to see the spectacle. Cheers!

I'll be in touch this weekend. HF1

Gens. Petraeus & Odierno in DC

As Obamatoxicants drifted out of Tampa, Centcom's eyes were on the testimony of future Centcom commander Gen. David Petraeus and Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno who will take his place at HQ Multinational Forces-Iraq. Gen. Petraeus told the committee that he may announce troop reductions later this year if conditions continue to improve as they have for the past year. Funny, you probably haven't heard about improved conditions very much. Read more about today's hearing here.

Victor Davis Hanson wrote an interesting article today about the colonels that the Pentagon will promote to Brigadier General (one-star) in the next cycle. It covers how we should reward some heroes who didn't always follow mainstream military thinking and how it paid off. Check that here.

NPR's Daniel Schorr's daily drone on the drive-home news came before I could reach the pre-sets button. This could've been dangerous because his voice and simplistic viewpoints rapidly draw all energy and life out of my bones. He's like that prescription that advises no driving or heavy lifting for a while. In his own way, he hailed the new overtures by Iran for sweeping agreements on nuclear issues, drug interdiction, and peace in the Middle East while painting anyone remotely suspicious as warmongering, and I'll bet...red state NASCAR simpletons! Click here to listen, but only if you're in for the night. HF1

Political Update

They're "tiny!"

Barack Obama said the following recently: "Iran, Cuba, Venezuela — these countries are tiny compared to the Soviet Union. They don't pose a serious threat to us the way the Soviet Union posed a threat to us. And yet we were willing to talk to the Soviet Union at the time when they were saying, `We're going to wipe you off the planet.'" He simultaneously claims that Iran is more dangerous than ever because of current U.S policies. Is he for real?

Well, I don’t have enough time to get into why those comments are all I need to know about the “O” before running away, but I found his understanding on geography interesting.

But since candidate Barry Obama thinks nations like Iran, Venezuela, and Cuba are “tiny,” and therefore not much of a threat, he really owes it to the American people to let us know what map projection he’s using to make his judgments. This is like the old board game Risk, where as kids we used to judge lands based on their sizes and borders rather than real factors like international financing of terror, controlling large oil reserves, or supplying weapons to kill American soldiers.

For example, if the former community organizer is referring to an Eckert projection (above), the world’s nations look pretty much as they do in reality. The only exception is that Antarctica is huge (although its population of Emperor penguins probably isn’t hostile).

If the former Springfield legislator uses a Mercator projection (above), our State Department and military need to assess Greenland’s intentions for good or ill toward the U.S. This map makes Greenland HUGE. We need to confirm whether those few hundred fishermen in Godthab have any intention of besieging Thule Air Base in the north of that island, opening the way to Canada, which we probably need to defend against as well. And consider the Antarctic menace to the south!

I have to believe western Europe is hoping the Trinity UCC congregant is looking at this gnomonic projection (above), which places a great big serrated gap between the Islamic Republic and the shrinking societies of Old Europe. I’m not sure if nuke-tipped missiles could bridge the gap in the map.

Maybe the best hope is that B. Hussein Obama is referring to the rhombicuboctahedral projection (above), which has cuts all over the place. This model truly isolates the Middle East. USCENTCOM could simply station some troops in the white space to Iran's north.

Yes, if the “O” can demonstrate that this is the way the world is, I will swoon for him like much of the country appears ready to do. Yes, rhombicuboctahedral is for me. Vote rhombicuboctahedral this year!

"Obampa"

Tampa is aflitter ahead of the imminent rally for Obama at the St. Pete Times Forum downtown tomorrow. I'll be at work, chronicling more about the activities in tiny insignificant countries.

"Billary"

I'm no fan of the Clintons, but you almost have to feel sad watching this multi-week streak of denial. I just watched an orange sherbet-hued Bill telling reporters how great things are going with supporters in Oregon and the great sessions he just had on some call-in radio shows. The polling suggests Hillary is going to be clobbered, but I almost feel pity for someone so possessed by denial. On second thought, I feel okay. HF1

Monday Update

This is Ballast Point Park along Hillsborough Bay in South Tampa. I drive past it each day but finally took some time Sunday afternoon to take a stroll there. You can see downtown Tampa, the phosphate plants, cruise ships, freighter ships, and MacDill Air Force Base all from the pier at Ballast Point.

Here's me at Raymond James Stadium, home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Well, there it is. So what, Timm and Charlie? It's just the Bucs. For any football fans reading, Gruden has gotten all bad press so far. The fans are hungry and the team's PR machine seems to make all the wrong moves.

Greetings. Not much to report other than it's another week closer to coming home. Thanks for those of you sending emails and snail mails. There's nothing like a word from a friend or loved one.

I thought about changing the quote atop my blog recently. Despite its currency, it's been there for two years and other great snippets like "no liquidos caliente" (on my lawn chair) are out there. But then someone like the bishop in the Netherlands comes along last week. In something that could've come out of The Onion, the holy man urged Catholics to refer to God as "Allah" to ease relations with Muslims. Check it out here. Then check 2nd Peter chapter 2 for similarities.

Barack Obama's campaign announced it will cut back on debates and appearances. Bravo, in the sense that all this nonsense starts way too early now. I think the decision reflects that the more Obama talks, the more his numbers sink. He may be on the cover of GQ and appear on Vanity Fair's best dressed list. But it's what falls out of his mouth when he speaks that marks him as a novice who was working in Springfield, Illinois as an ineffectual state senator just three years ago. He recently characterized U.S. and NATO involvement in Afghanistan as nothing more than, "air raiding villages and killing civilians." Each day he proves himself more inaccurate and makes Hillary look more presidential. Think "Nobama '08."

Chevy has this ad running that brags about the new trucks that use "corn-based ethanol" like it's the be-all end-all of the energy crunch. Land sakes folks, ethanol is bad policy and it's showing more and more. We've driven the price of corn through the roof. Corn affects almost every processed food and is the most popular feed for livestock. Have you wondered why almost everything has gone up lately? Am I just cranky? Well, maybe, but read here. And now some experts believe Wisconsin, drunk with an ethanol buzz (soon to be a hangover), may be at the tipping point of too many ethanol plants. Read about that here. It can be boring reading, but this ethanol fad is bad in the strategic sense, to say nothing of the fact that it burns dirtier and reduces your mileage.

And Neenah made the TV news in Green Bay and in Chicago by way of a man who plans to make Elvis the theme at his funeral someday. Never mind focusing on the life of the person and God's presence. I have Elvis on my iPod, but I won't have "Devil in Disguise" playing as a theme at my funeral. And who says Americans aren't cultured? Go Neenah!

And fantastic news: My friend Rob, who I posted about on August 6th, has gone through two cancer removal surgeries and is doing better than expected. He began his new teaching job at Liberty University this week despite having surgery late last week. Thanks for all your prayers.

Have a good evening! HF1

Your Reading Assignment(s)

Here’s your reading assignment for the week. It’s a flexible one. You can read as little or as much as you wish. Read 4 for an A, 3 for a B, and so forth. All the essays have to do with the War on Terror, Politics in the War, or the latrines at Centcom (or the “heads” at Centcom…the commander is Navy). They go from least brain power to most.

Dan Ruth, WFLA's token liberal talk show host writes thrice a week for the Tampa Tribune. His column serves as a very formulaic combo of hyperbole and cutsie punch lines. I enjoy the column because it usually deals with banal issues, like the toilets at Centcom. Read Ruth's column about the toilets by clicking here.



Ralph Peters writes early and often about military issues including future warfare and societal survival. Check one of his latest pieces about the War in Iraq by clicking here.

Victor Hanson writes for a number of publications here and here. His latest piece about Iraq War criticism focuses on the hypocrisy flying about. He weaves together and interesting and quick walk down recent foreign policy history. Read the piece here.

Robert Kaplan writes fascinating books and essays about the third world and trends for the future. In this long article, he examines the growing divide between those who serve in the military and a society increasingly unfamiliar with its ways. Read this one in short bursts and concentrate. It's definitely worth digesting if you want to get beyond the headlines. Click here. HF1

Congress MEANS well, but...

Warning, this is about politics, jobs, and the economy. If those bore you, skip this post and click here.
Another example of good intentions gone wrong has popped up. I’m sure you’ve heard how it’s up-up-up for Toyota and foreign automakers’ sales and down-down-down for U.S. companies. In part, generous pensions assure that U.S. automakers pay more people who aren’t working than those who are.

It’s an easy target, but Congress is the problem this time. New minimum fuel mileage standards, which seem good, will likely hurt U.S. automakers and specifically put several hundred Wisconsin employees out of work.

Here’s how it works. Companies have to average a certain number of miles per gallon over all the vehicles they make. So, of course cars get higher mileage than SUVs and trucks. U.S. companies Ford and GM sell LOTS of trucks and SUVs. They do a good job and customers like it. Customers that like smaller cars often buy Toyotas, Hondas, etc.

If all the companies have to improve their average of mileage, what vehicles will they make less of? Trucks and SUVs of course. This won’t hurt Toyota, Honda, etc. because trucks and SUVs are small percentage of their fleets. Ford and GM on the other hand, do great business in trucks and SUVs. In fact, the best-selling Ford model is its F-150 truck followed by the Explorer SUV. These U.S. makers would have to cut the numbers of their best-sellers and still compete against Toyota & Co. See the disadvantage for our own automakers?
And this indirect attack on U.S. auto sales comes from our own Congress, bowing at the altar of recently fashionable green worship. And it gets worse for Wisconsin workers in Janesville’s GM factory. They make two of GM’s SUVs. So guess who will not have as much work if these standards become law? Wisconsinites.

Where is the United Auto Workers union to stick up for “Joe and Jane Sixpack?” If UAW doesn’t stick up for their people on this matter, then they’ve truly surrendered and allow the Democratic polyglot to wag them at will.

See, I told you it was political and economic. HF1

Diversity Activity from Iran

Not to poke too much fun at the Department of Euphoria and Happy Thoughts, but Breitbart.com reported about an interesting cultural focus by Iran's domestic law enforcement. The "Fashion Police" began roaming cities in search of "unislamic" looking women. Our schools could replicate this interesting celebration of culture.

For example, the policewoman role says, "Azizam (my dear), good afternoon, if possible could we have a friendly chat, please allow us to have a small chat? My dear there is a problem with your manto. Please do not wear this kind of manto. Please wear a longer manto from now on."

Then the role-playing, unislamic girl can act terribly frightened and cry, "I promise, I promise!"

And then the first person can herd the unislamic girl into a van to be carted off to a "center for combating vice."

Okay, at the risk of sounding very trivial, I'll stop. Every one of the quotes and Iranian terms I used above is actually true and appears in the article linked here.

Some cultural traits aren't worth celebrating.

One thing really worth celebrating is the appearance of Dumb and Dumber in Persian on YouTube. Maybe there's hope for Iran after all! Check it out here. HF1

With Peace Like this...

Previous Nobel Peace Prize winner Betty Williams recently ranted about President Bush at a speech in Dallas. Check this out:

"Right now, I could kill George Bush," she said. "No, I don't mean that. How could you nonviolently kill somebody? I would love to be able to do that."

[Brady: Maybe she could get the Russian killer who poisoned Alexander Litvinenko last year.]

About half the crowd gave her a standing ovation after she called for Mr. Bush's removal from power.

"The Muslim world right now is suffering beyond belief," she said.

[Brady: I wonder if it's because of George Bush or maybe terrorism, adherance to 7th century philosophy, or a similar item? Naw, must be Bush...well, and Cheney and Halliburton]

"Unless the president of the United States is held responsible for what he's doing and what he has done, there's no one in the Muslim world who will forgive him."

[Don't worry. I wasn't holding my breath. Maybe Ms. Williams could go over and 'reason' with those nice people struggling against the evil Mr Bush whom they can't forgive...]

When an audience member told Ms. Williams that Vice President Dick Cheney would become president if George Bush were impeached, she said, "Can't you impeach them both?"

"It's twisted. It's all wrong," she said. "There are so many lies being told. It's hard to be an American and go out into the world right now."

[Yes Ms. Williams. Try going out on the streets of Islamabad, Kandahar, or Baghdad as a woman. Again, must be Bush's fault]

Wow, I can't even make up stuff like that. What's worse, her longing for a dead president or her ignorance of presidential succession? Well, she's from Ireland. Cut her some slack on that. I've never really given the Nobel Prize for "Peace" very much thought. Certainly not like the Very Serious People in sophisticated circles. An organization that rewards Jimmy Carter's getting fooled by North Korea and itself gets fooled by gangster Yassir Arafat doesn't deserve much attention.

Oh, wait. I get it now. She means "peace" just like the folks that say Islam means "peace." The peace of having chosen to submit, that is. HF1

Live Earth

The NY Post's Roy Spencer made an interesting observation about the recent concert:

"When Al Gore told us that 2 billion people on seven continents might hear the concerts, he didn't mention that nearly 2 billion more lack electricity, let alone the Internet or TV. Where's the concert to campaign for electricity for all? Instead, folks in the developed world who feel guilty about pollution decide it's time to do something drastic - like throw a worldwide-rock concert."
HF1

Truly Chilling, Our Enemies

Reading the material for my work reports and reading the events in D.C. and on some blogs, it's truly a surreal world these days. As folks get worked up about carbon credits and organic produce, the pervasively evil nature of the world resurges. But of course, I, the American am completely to blame for the Islamist's foul cry.

I can't do proper justice to framing the topic of one particular Al Qaeda tactic the way Victor Davis Hanson does. There are no photos, but this link is not for kids. If you are an adult and doubt what's ahead in the new forms of warfare, read Hanson's brief comment here.

And then read an ironic blog entry by a fellow named Mark Snelling about the high-end pricey organic produce juxtaposed against the maddening starvation of a place like Mogadishu. It makes one wonder how fat and happy our society is to be able to worry oneself about organic or free range or the latest wonder product. Read Snelling here.

Oh well, you can tell I've had a bit much of the world situation, pols positioning for 2008, and to top it off I watched the futuristic "Children of Men" movie Sunday. Geez! I need some Dumb and Dumber really quick! HF1

How Am I Supposed To Explain That Here?

Oh boy, how am I going to explain this story to the folks who see me as a Cheeseheaded Yankee? Just when I've gotten into the local fabric, I'm shocked to see the guy in Little Chute carving the Mount Rushmore cheese statue! To be fair, it's a CBS News link so I, of course, questioned its validity. Then I remembered that Dan Rather moved on up to cable powerhouse HDnet. So, this story is legitimate. Even the Brits are on to this! Yikes! HF1

Lugar Speaks Prematurely

I'm trying to keep it light, but Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana made himself the most recent tool of Arab propaganda on al-Jazeera with comments that our new strategy in the war has failed. I want to make it clear that while we have freedom of speech, I'm exercising my own in expressing disappointment in Lugar, who usually is more savvy than this in defense matters. Whatever your opinion on the war, the extra troops have just begun full operations. How can we judge the new strategy in its infancy? You've read about more combat deaths, but that's because we've been engaging and clearing neighborhoods of al Qaida. It's not victory, but the Coalition has experienced a lot of success the past month. Really. Check blackanthem.com for military news collected from various sources. Predictably Sen. Harry Reid, who declared our defeat in April (keep in mind that he's got his reputation riding on our defeat) has used Lugar's comments to heap rare praise on someone from the opposite party (because it reflects his position). You can keep that kind of bipartisanship. You should see the people busting tail to make this work. I guess they have to keep plugging while the senators sacrifice by skipping tonight's cocktails to try and pass an amnesty bill to open the border. Okay, I'm peeved. G'night. HF1

A Mixed Bag on Friday

I awoke to another not-insanely-humid morning in Tampa and jogged down South Howard (SoHo) to Bayshore for a 5am run (I'm not kidding). It seems I have figured out that the right music can take one's mind off the activity at hand. [Note: Switchfoot's "Redemption" makes you run very fast if you can keep the beat.] I ran longer than planned as my mind wandered with good songs to keep going, eliminating enough time to brew coffee back at home.

On the way to MacDill, I stopped at the local Starbucks for a large coffee. Now, imagine me in the CENTCOM uniform of the day, which are the desert BDUs, walking through a well-attended early morning queue in an artsy part of town. The young man taking my order wouldn't accept payment this one time saying that he respected those in the military and appreciated our efforts. Taken aback, I thanked him and promised to return and patronize that store. (How 'bout that, Jim in Holmen?!).

I knocked a bunch of work out in the morning as well as a haircut that, well, is at the very least striking. I don't know if I'll send photos or not yet. Yikes. I should have said "Air Force" instead of letting it default to somewhere between "Marine Corps" and "putting green." Sam V. will like it, but geez! I enjoyed my weekly kaffeeklatsch with a German officer working in the Coalition Planning section of CENTCOM. I'm starting to scrape the rust off my conversational German. Toll!

After lunch I fought traffic and reached the Tampa VA Hospital for a Purple Heart ceremony for a young Army specialist from Mississippi. His Humvee and crew were felled by an IED in January. He'd been in a coma but recently began a tremendous turnaround allowing him to stand there in his uniform. Whatever your feeling about this war, I have to say that I've seldom felt as proud and, with wet eyes, so privileged to be part of this team at CENTCOM. I thanked my supervisor for allowing me to attend. Please pray for Spc. Brian White and his continued recovery. [I will write a post soon about the monthly dinner for wounded VA patients and their families that I attended on Tuesday. That event deserves more space than one sentence.]

Random Thoughts:
The Air Force lost an F-16 today in Iraq. Read about it here.
Bob Barker's final Price is Right episode aired today. What will Jarrod do now in the 932nd Command Post? More Dr. Phil?
Keep an eye on Pakistan. Believe it or not, an imploding Iraq or Afghanistan is less dangerous than an imploded Pakistan. Read about it here.
CENTCOM's boss delivered the tough love speech to Prime Minister Maliki. Read about it here.
Way to go Brewers! Geoff Jenkins hit a "salami" as Bob Uecker likes to say. See it here.
And read about how a mom with a baby monitor has better connectivity to space communication than Russian computers. Click here.
HF1

Cool Morning In Tampa!

Wow! A cool front swept in Wednesday evening with welcome relief. My Wisconsin blood has not thinned enough yet and really hates the heat. We endured this heat in '06 at Disney, but the sensory overload of all things Mickey kept my focus off the weather. I took my grad reading and found an outdoor Panera Bread shop to sit at. I didn't even have to use the air conditioning in the car this morning! (You can tell this is a big deal by the fact that I'm prattling on and on about the stinking weather.) Thanks again for your well wishes and prayers. I'm blessed by you all. The work is so fascinating I can't believe I get to do it. I'm heading in early Friday to bank some hours and then head to a purple heart ceremony at the Tampa VA Hospital in the afternoon. I'll let you know how that goes.

Random Thoughts:
Iraqi Leader Nouri al-Maliki, despite troubles, wrote a great article to us here.
The Czech president will soon be arrested for heresy. Read why here.
The Brewers won...again, as in two in a row! Read how here.
Ruth Graham, R.I.P.
Happy Flag Day! And look what people, many of us Centcom folks, get to drive home past on Fridays. Click here.
The Palestinians achieved a two-state solution...but not with Israel. Read how here.
Keep an eye on Lebanon, Gaza, Samarra, and AFRICOM.

Take care and God Bless!
HF1

Gore Makes Case Against Saddam...in '92

1992 VP candidate Al Gore criticized President George H.W. Bush for not focusing on Saddam Hussein's ties to terror. I guess a guy can change his mind. But still, this C-Span video presents a great case for removing Saddam. Watch it here.
HF1