Terrorists and Their Legal Rights

La La Land
This topic is a mess. It's like an attorney defending a guy he knows probably did the crime yet because of the dollar\pound\lira or whatever, he takes the case and tries to get the suspect off on some technicality. Pathetic!

The left wing, with regards to terrorists, feel as if they are the same as your average criminal and should be accorded due process and other rights your typical criminal receives. Excuse me, but a terrorist is WAY bad and has no morals whatsoever. They are driven by some devout, sick belief that really few Westerners can begin to understand, and to many of us, they are akin to what Satan might be like.

Yes, we are talking of women and men, boys and girls, who strap on those plastic explosives and pretend they are sweet and nice while they mix and get into position. The remote signal goes off and sudden mayhem and body parts go flying, families are destroyed, headlines flash across the world. Then some terrorist group claims this act in the name of alah! I see, alah, god wanted this to happen in order for somene to have 99 virgins for themselves. If the terrorist is a woman, what do they do with 99 virgins? do they have to be gay? Or does the award only apply to men? Hmm, what a strange God alah is. You mean, he is prejudice against women? Seems so.

Demi Lovato has a new song called, La La Land. Need I say more?

Of course, the right thinks they should only be given the most basic rights and conditions that even these despictable humans should have. That was the point to a prison on the fringe of Cuba, that will close soon.

All the nations who demanded it closed, none are willing to accept any of the 200 terrorists. Even within the US, no State wants them. Now what? Well, in the case of one, which happened to be UK citizen, a terrorist who killed freely, he is being shipped home. How nice. When he gets home, the UK authorities will not imprision him, only watch him. This is incredible! A known terrorist will be free to plan etc., another attack on UK citizens. How reassuring. Is anyone really thinking???

Terrorists do not, I repeat, do not , should not, get the same rights afforded to your typical criminal. Do I need to repeat why? Terrorists have multiple connections, cells, they continue planning and killing for sake of Alah. I do not think all terrorists are so devout in their beliefs. They use it to justify whatever real reasons they have. Typical criminals are usually in it for themselves or acted out of carelessness. Evidence usually will work against them, especially DNA.

Affording Terrorists the same laws is really quite stupid. They are not even from our culture, yet we reward them after killing us, our rights? La La Land. Why should they even be given a trial if they were caught and the evidence is solid. Why spend our money for the trial in attorney fees? What attorney in their right conscience would even take a case of a known terrorist who killed many? Where are the legal ethics for this? Is it still, every one has a right to counsel and their day in court?

Terrorists are the exception to this rule. Yet, the West, has this overly concern about giving them their rights. Hey, what about the rights of the slaughtered? The loved ones that need to pick up the pieces? Guess they do not count as much as the killer. Perverse sense of justice. La La Land.

Terrorists only deserve the most basic of anything. Food, water, a place to sleep. Depending on whether the evidence is either direct or circumstantial, the strength of the evidence, should they have a right to present their case through a pro bono attorney. No attorney fees should ever be awarded for defending a terrorists, if it must occur, a mininum rate. These are not glory cases.

Now we come to torture. In this society, where everyone is so sensitive about how they look, what they say, what they do, how it looks to another and on and on ad nauseum, we say we will not torture. The word alone conjures up all sorts of weird concepts in anyone's mind. It has been part of war since BC. It is not a crime. Just because a nation does not "declare" war, does not mean that a war does not exist. Semantics. The leftists think if you treat the terrorists with compassion and justice, they will respect you. La La Land. They will carry on what they think is for Alah, which is blowing infidels apart. Water boarding is a mild torture, if you must use the word. The bottom line is that they behead their captives and other horrendous things once they get the info they want. What do we do in the West? Give them their rights and basics in hopes they will provide data. Now we can only do what the Geneva Convention has instructed.

This convention remains for civilized, western type countries. The terrorists or no Islam nation I know of, is part of this accord passed after WW2. Hmm, funny, I thought the West is fighting a terrorist insurgency. So, logically, the Geneva Conventions does not apply as it is for a conventional style war. The West is really making it tougher on themselves by tieing their hands and expecting the terrorists will freely provide the info requested. La La Land.

Terrorists deserve no better than what happened to thier innocent victims: women, children, babies, men, students. I say, the West should shed their correctness and play as dirty as the terrorists. An eye for an eye.

Pakistan is allowing the US to base their remote attacking Drones at an airbase. The Drones fly to their targets and fire their missiles. Pakistani government remains silent because of the 20 million in US dollars. However, oddly enough, Pakistan forbids the drones to attack the top leader targets of the Taliband and Al-Qaeda! And.........for the money spent by the US to get Pakistan's support, it is ironic that the population now hates the US even more! What a quagmire. They hate us because of the drone missiles killing terrorists and innocents. In any war, throughout history, there is collateral damage not meant to happen. Nothing is perfect and fighting a counterinsurgency war is far from perfect. It is far more difficult than the days of Vietnam War, when the same kinds of attacks would happen in Saigon.

The whole effort is in la la land. Dealing with terrorists is in la la land. Dealing with Pakistan is in la la land.

Pakistan, the Taliban & Al Qaeda: A Dangerous Mix

Pakistan in Peril
Most Americans probably have not paid much attention to recent news from the Middle East area. Most could probably care less, but should. The two worst terrorist groups are the Taliban (some consider them even more extreme in their Islam beliefs) and Al-Qaeda. It seems only America and Barack Obama is fighting the war. Our European "friends" are only providing verbal support instead of military support, yet, already, the Germans and French are sending their ministers to Iraq to secure lucrative contracts since the US has now "secured" the country, without any help from either!

Not mentioned is that while both terrorist groups are on different strategies and goals, they are "tolerating" one another in the secure areas of remote Pakistan, where they thrive and the Pakistani Army has been unable to stand up to them. Why is this a problem to a nation thousands of miles away such as us?

Pakistan has over 100 nuclear weapons and rockets that can deliever them.

After one year of fighting and 12,000 Pakistani troops with tanks etc., the Pakistani army managed to only clear a small part of the Swat Valley and was unable to break the Taliban's hold on it. This is not a good omen for the Pakistani Army that has modern weapons. The Swat Valley, in northwest Pakistan's province Malakand, prior to the Taliban was a honeymoon mecca 100 miles from Islamabad, a renowned local resort area. The idyllic valley has gone really bad, its image distorted beyond recognition. Pakistan’s most popular tourist destination is now haunted by death and fear; few officials now dare to go and serve there. Up to a third of the valley's 1.5 million people have fled and the scenic area is now believed to be mostly under militant control. Some 2,000 militants are believed to operate in the valley, and yet, the Pakistani army and airforce refuse to wield their power to save their country! Amazing!

It seems that in 59 villages, the militants set up a "parallel government" with Islamic courts using sharia law. The region was largely under effective militant control as of January 2009 despite the presence of 20,000 Pakistani troops. Taliban enforcement of a complete ban on female education in the Swat district. Some 400 private schools enrolling 40,000 girls have been shut down.

The Taliban's strategy is to operate on whatever front is the most successful. Both the Afghanistan and Pakistan fronts are successful. It is far easier for them to operate on the fringe of Afghanistan and now that they have secured their onw province inside Pakistan because of this Accord, it is opening the door for much more infiltration of harsh islam law into Pakistan's secular government. Al-Qaeda's strategy seems to more more "gobal", Pakistan provides a free base to operate from, but their goals may not be the same as Taliban's. There is a chance that they have indeed joined forces, which remain separate, yet with the same goals. This too, is not a good mix for the West. Pakistan is not strong. It is Islam and Secular. It is not like Turkey, where the secular has a strong control over the system. Pakistan is corrupt and divided. It talk's the talk to fight terrorism, yet does not do the walk. This is to continue to receive the millions of aid from the US. And yet, US troops are forbidden to enter and take the terrorists out.

History shows that appeasing the enemy fails. France and Britain appeased Hitler by looking the other way as Hitler invaded and seized Poland, Austria, Czechslovakia. They tried other ways to appear Hitler, who was pleasant and smile and accepted, yet continued on with his ultimate plan. This is what is now happening in Pakistan.

Pakistan, realizing that they do not have the will to crush them have now signed an Accord allowing the Taliban to control a huge province and impose strict Islam practices not done anywhere else in the country. This is appeasement in hopes it "satisfies" the Taliban's and Al-Qaeda's hunger. There may be a pause, but it will not stop with this. It will continue until yet another and another province falls. Finally, the secular government will fail and is taken over by the extremists.

And what do you think will happen to the 100 nukes they have? Fire at India? Fire at Aghanistan? Fire at Iraq? Provide material to the Hamas in the Gaza? or Iran? and then Iran can fire at Israel?

This is the danger for everyone. It is not pie-in-the sky stuff. If a nuke goes off anywhere, the world will be changed forever again. It might start a regional nuclear exchange, yes, India has nukes also.

Even though Pakistan's President Zardari admits that the Taliban is trying to take over the country and secular Pakistan is in danger for its survival, he tries to appease! Many in Pakistan consider a "surrender" because the country is under two laws and this will eventually tear it apart. Disintegrate.

The handwriting is on the wall. The West should care and pay attention becasue our world will be impacted.

1965: THE PIVOTAL YEAR

Anyone who was between 8 and 20 yrs. in 1965 and was cognizant of the world around them knows instinctively 1965 was a turning point. It set the stage for how the world be in the USA. Trying to convey this to those who were not around is difficult. For 1965 was when the new replaced the old. Some of the items were simple every day things, others were style and culture.

Music
Anyone who liked Elvis was old. Elvis by this time had become the "Frank Sinatra" of rock, meaning, he was old school (greasy hair slicked back, silly rock songs that appealed only to those 20 yr and older, he was a crooner).

Tweeners and Teenagers only rocked to these bands:
The Beatles (Help, I'm down, The Word, Rain, Paperback Writer)
The Rolling stones (Satisfaction)
The Kinks (You really got me, All the day, All the night)
The Dave Clark Five (Bits and Pieces, Glad All Over)
The Supremes (Stop, In the name of Love, Baby love)

TV and other Media
This medium was in a state of transition. Most homes only had black and white TV because most TV shows were in that mode. However, staring in this year, many more shows were in color and began the demand for color TV. This transition to color broadcasting was completed by 1967, when nearly all shows were now in color and many more homes now owned a color TV, which cost $500 or more (this was a substantial sum when you consider that a new Chevy rear engine Corvair cost $2200, as did the Ford Mustang). Going to a friend's house to watch Hullabaloo in color was an "event", especially when The Beatles were on it!

Most popular shows:

Mission Impossible (Spy, action)
I spy (Spy)
Wild, Wild West (Action)
Man from U.N.C.L.E (spy)
Bewitched (comedy)
I Dream of Jeanie (comedy)
Outer Limits (scary)
Twilight Zone (scary)
One Step Beyond (scary)
My Three sons (single dad with 3 sons comedy)
Secret Agent Man (spy)
Bonanza (western)
Gilligan's Island (comedy)
Gidget (teenage sitcom)
McHale's Navy (comedy)
Shindig (rock show of top bands)
Hullabaloo (rock show of top bands)
Where the Action is (rock show of top bands)
Batman

Many of the shows created the sitcom formula still used today and most still remain quite good.
In other media, from Japan, small transistor radios, small tape recorders, hand held hair dryers, clock radios (8 track tapes and Cassettes were still many years away).

Culture
Tight jeans or bell-bottoms
Beatle hair cuts (meaning, dry hair with bangs, shaggy but not long, no grease, no Elvis look)
New words in the vocabulary: bitchin, boss, far out = very cool
Skateboards
Stingray bikes butterfly handlebars and knobby tires
Surfer shirts (collarless shirts)
Wide 2-3" belts
Peace signs
Bright colors
Paisley
Housing subdivisions with new homes for 20K on big lots.
Vietnam War (where every night one could watch combat footage on the news)
Marijuana and joints, lids
The slogan, "Don't trust anyone under 30" (meaning, anyone older will not be cool)
The phrase, "You really turn me on" "turn me on"
The start of the youth movement, where the world was defined by youthful things, the "now generation" (those 25 and under)
The start of instant communication with satellites across the globe

Cars
The hottest were:
Chevy Corvair, Stingray, Malibu
Ford Mustang
Ponitac GTO, Le Mans, Bonneville
Plymouth Barracuda
VW
Dodge Charger
AMC Marlin

Do the Jonas Brothers = The Beatles?

For those who are in the dark about this rock group (if you have children between 8-16, you know about them)the Jonas Brothers are brothers, cute, ages from 16-19, play guitars and write songs. Their vocals are limited but girls love the angst their voices blast out. The music is pop with edge and fairly decent tunes. They are a indirect product of the Disney pop rock machine that also produced Hillary Duff, Miley Cyrus (Hanna Montana) Demi Lovato, Selena Gomez, and more. All these performers are under 19. Their target audience is pre-teen and teen. They all make a lot of money for Disney (Miley alone makes up to 20 million a year).Unlike the others, the JB never had their own TV show that promoted the band.

There some similarities between JB and the Fab Four: All were good looking guys, both bands were popular in their originating country before being exported to other countries (The Beatles first attempt to conquer America was in 1963 on the Vee-Jay label, which totally failed as their LP sold only 5000 copies! Yet, in the UK and Europe, thousands of girls screamed at their concerts), and both had screaming girls.

JB seems to be a miniature version of Beatlemania 1964-66, on a much smaller scale. Girls scream at their concerts, seem to be mesmerized but it is tame, controlled. The Beatles caused chaos wherever they went and in concerts, girls went into a real frenzy, fainting, panic attacks and broke through police lines. The apex of this can be seen at the world's first rock concert at Shea Stadium in August 1965 and its 58,000 fans shrieked until the Beatles could not even hear themselves sing! Even today, it remains awesome to watch.

JB songs are about the same topics that The Beatles sang about, JB's best two songs remain SOS and Lovebug. Both have great riffs and melodies. Most of their other material is less original and more of "borrowing from other songs" and repackaged in their style and presented in the JB manner. As a band, well, only two of them really play guitars. They are backed up by professionals all playing bass, guitar and drums. So, it is difficult to see how talented they really are. Their backup band acts as "camouflage" for them.

It really is the screaming girls at their concerts that connects them to The Beatles. Other similarities include their hair, well, we all know where JB got the style- the Beatle cut, which permeates all men's haircuts ever since 1964. And movies. Disney is cashing in with a new release of the JB movie. Scenes from the film are directly taken out from TThe Beatles' Hard Day's Night, and updated--JB trying to escape from screaming fans and being chased down a street etc.

History does repeat. It may be happening again with JB. Fans of The Beatles will no doubt compare. But JB will never be a legend. They will be forgotten 20 yrs. from now. The Beatles will still be heard.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Movie

The movie is a very insightful look about how love changes, evolves between a man and a woman over time. The twist here is that Benjamin is born as a old man and gets younger until he dies as an infant. The woman he loves starts as a 10 yr old girl, but it is not until each is in their 40s does this love fully bloom and is expressed, yet they loved one another from the moment they met. In their prime, yet going in opposite directions on the timeline of life, they love and create a baby. As time moves on, Benjamin gets younger into his 20s, his wife, in her 50s. He leaves knowing it is the best, as if he stayed, he could not be a father in the normal sense. Years fly, and she is 60 and he is 17, Brad Pitt looks just like he did when he first arrived. She feels too old and yet still loves him. They love one last time. It is at this time when he meets his 13 yr old daughter. Time continues and now he is an unruly, confused 6 yr old boy. She is 65. Now she takes him in as an orphaned boy until he finally dies as a baby.

The makeup is excellent.How they age the actors is very real. How they make Brad look younger is also. His acting is low key, tender. Overall, the movie is well worth the 2.5 hrs and never gets boring. The movie begins in 1918 and ends with his wife dieing of very old age in 2004. We see how things change over decades, styles, music. It is a movie about everyone's life in a way. The emotions of life are the same, always the same but cloaked in different times of the decade. Sooner or later, we all experience it. A moving film.

Sex and the Chevrolet Corvair

In 1966, Chevrolet advertised its new rear engine air cooled Corvair model with an ad that has "implied" sex all over it. You know the story. The same old story of the middle aged guy, not so attractive caused by the ravages of age in sleek, cool, sports car-this time, a Corvair convertible! A long-legged, nicely shaped 20-something blonde graces her body on the Corvair body. The middle age man glances back at her. There is little doubt about what he is thinking or wants besides his new 1966 Corvair.

For 1966, it was a spicy ad that still holds up today.

President Elect Barack Obama

All campaigns have a defining moment for many voters, many of the undecided. For this voter, a McCain supporter, I switched sides during the last debate. The question was about health care. McCain indicated that is was not a "right" for every American, Obama said it was. McCain said his $5000 credit would be the answer. I laughed. Most anyone would laugh. $5000 is NOTHING when it comes to health care costs. In fact, a family of 3-4 pays $1100 for Kaiser coverage a month! McCain is obviously so rich he has no real clue about what the middle and poor classes really deal with. I was also sick of his bashing Obama about this or that. Bragging about his tour of duty in Nam. Hey, he was a pilot who was shot down, tortured and in the end, did talk! A true hero, I suppose, depending on your definition. What about the others that where there? I still like things about McCain, but overall, Obama has more to offer.

Sarah Palin and John McCain

The selection of Sarah Palin for the VP spot on the Republican ticket creates a whirlwind of news frenzy. Palin is such a normal person, mom, woman that it entices one to like her and dislike her simultaneously. She is like a "Rocky" figure, a normal everyday woman, struggling with issues of her kids and job, never intended this path that she has stumbled upon. A hockey mom, PTA, Mayor of a town with 8,000, then a Govenor of Alaska with only 650,000 (SF has more people!). Her husband a fisherman. Now, she is in the middle and must be thinking, "Jesus Christ"! how did this happen? Why me?
All of this is so likeable. Many of the middle of the roaders, identify with her, single Dads identify with her. The downside of all this is if McCain dies while in office, could she do the job? Many women say yes, many say no. Same applies to men. So, remove the gender issue. Does being a govenor for less than two years actually prepare one to be President? If so, how? Many list a host of items that she has accomplished, but the problem is that the length of time dealing with the same issues is much shorter, so she is still very inexperienced, even more than Obama, who has four years in the Senate. It is like a new law grad getting his first job and learning the ropes for two years in a firm, you just do not hand him a high profile legal case-that is a sure loser. You let the most seasoned lawyers handle it.

This is the position Sarah Palin is in. John McCain should have selected Joe Lieberman, or even Condolezza Rice.

Now of course, Palin's 16 yr old is due to have a baby. Her boyfriend, Levi Johnston, has stated in his blog, My Space, that: "I am just a fucking redneck....in a relationship...I live to play hockey..I don't want kids"

Sounds like your typical 18 yr old guy. The only reason why this is news is because Sarah Palin said they were going to get married. Think not. Does it matter? Not really.

John McCain's choice was done to show he is unpredictable, he can change, he wants the far right on his side but what about the large middle section of voters, which are and may decide the race? Prior to the selection, he was wooing this group.

The race will be close. But in the end, I think Palin will cause the White House to be Democrat. The experience or inexperience issue is really too serious for the VP spot. Biden can easily be President. Comparing Biden to Palin is comparing a seasoned professional to a rookie.

The scarey thing this time is that something could happen to either McCain or Obama, which is why the VP spot and choice is so important. It is not just window dressing this time around.

Panzer Schlacht, Hungary, 1944

In stock and available! Helion & Company Ltd June 2008 ISBN 978-1-906033-16-3 Hardback 305mm x 222mm 136 pages 8pp colour profiles, c 150 b/w photos, 18 maps
£29.95 ($60.00 US) (order online and receive a 10% discount!). Visit WWW.HELION.CO.UK or in the US at: Casematepublishing.com

'Panzerschlacht' covers in detail the unravelling of the southern sector of the Eastern Front during late summer and autumn 1944, which led to some of the largest and most vicious, yet unknown, tank battles of the Second World War.

Slammed by continuous Russian attacks that ripped the Romanian Front to pieces and by late August had caused Romania to defect to the Soviets, Germans forces were left threadbare. Only Hungary narrowly failed to defect to the USSR, and was coerced into remaining Germany's ally. Despite a gross imbalance in numbers, the German Army, and more notably, their Panzer divisions (some with only 30 AFVs) delayed, disrupted and destroyed much larger Russian units with successful counter-attacks.

As the Russians blitzed through Romania and neared Hungary in late August 1944, it was the Hungarian Army that stymied the Red horde. The Hungarian units pulled themselves together and in September conducted two very important and overlooked counterattacks: Arad and Torda. The Arad counterattack sent the defending Romanians reeling, forcing them to give up the city of Arad and beyond as the Hungarian 1st Armoured Division faced little opposition. At Torda, the Hungarian 2nd Armoured Division also made significant gains towards the mountain passes until the arrival of Russian armour. The book covers these in detail with maps so often missing in other accounts. Both battles temporarily put the 'brake' on the Russian blitzkrieg.

The Happening Movie & the End Times

The Happeningmovie is a thoughtful thriller. A cross between your zombie kind of movie and something tied to religious and scientific beliefs. It is not scarey of the "edge of your seat" genre, as I was genuinely scared only once. The basic premise seems to be rooted in what many believe are the end times, one of the early warnings that "these times" are upon us AND the effect that global weather patterns are having. In this case, the Bees have mysteriously vanished, no bodies, no nothing (that is a little too odd). The result being that some unexplainable biologic change also occurs to the human population, which basically turns the exposed into killer zombies dead in their tracks. These zombies only kill themselves, however. How nice.

Basically, the key characters run for thier lives and learn that by staying in small groups, the "virus" does not infect them. This virus is carried by the wind. So, whenever the wind shakes the leaves on the tree, danger is near!

That is about it. What is intellectual about this is that the natural virus is never explained, it just stops and starts suddenly. The only explanation is that it is a warning to mankind from mother nature (aka, God) that mankind is reaching the line of no return in harming our planet. This all ties into the belief of the End times as described in the Book of Revelations of the Bible.

It is there, clearly stating that in the early portion of end times, one of the early warnings will be frequent weather anomalies, topsy-turvey seasons, droughts, famine, ocean's dying etc. Look how these events are being explained-in a logical manner. The Bee's are vanishing-it really is for real. Yet, we hear the warning and shrug our shoulders and continue on with our daily lives, to bothered to be really concerned about it until it us personally.

The Happening should be seen. Think about what is currently happening in the world today, global warming and it's impact, extreme weather. Is this also a sign of the end times that Daniel spoke of in a vision over 2000 yrs. ago?

YTB Travel Cruises

YTB is a great way to make extra income to start and if you pursue it, like Mary Kay, one can easily allow you to retire. The system is easy and there is NO INVENTORY to buy or sell. Once you sign up, you are provided a website, a travel website that is as good as any Expedia, Travelocity, Orbitz and YTB prices are almost always 10-25% less!

As a Referring Travel Agent, you can promite your travel website that directly links and uses the travel search engines used by all. If you want to earn more, recruit additional people under you, just like Mary Kay.

Unlike Mary Kay, the appeal of this product is vast and across all incomes, as everyone does take vacations, travel, fly, take cruises, buy concert tickets, buy Disney tickets and so much more. Unlike MK, your only inventory is on the web- your travel website. Plus, you can write off the expenses as business at the end of the year!

YTB is a multi-million dollar travel giant based in Illinois and listed on the US Stock Exchange.

As an agent, you also may receive special vacation packages that are discounted even more so you can visit and sell the spot on your site.

If you are looking, one should consider this!

Is Obama the Antichrist?

Yes, have a good laugh. But consider this: his popularity is increasing, he appeals to all kinds of people, he provides the masses a message of change for the better, his position is one of a real socialist, the government will be in your life more and more if he is elected.

Ask any follower what he has accomplished to warrant him being president, their answers are elusive and vague as Obama's are when asked key questions. They cite accolades of his 2 yr experience as a Senator, they like his platfom in theory, he's black or he's also white, his youth.

In other words, the large crowds follow him due to his charisma. That is it. If one knows about the end days and the Antichrist, one knows that this person has to appeal to the masses with his charisma, at least for awhile. Obama certainly fills this, even the terrorist group, Hamas, support him!
The antichrist will appear as a friend to Israel and to others. Because Obama is really running his campaign on his charisma, it is food to think about.

It may be that even he is not aware of this as the Antichrist grows slowly into this being(whoever it is).

In the end days, the first early signs are changes in world weather patterns, and a slow yet increasingly steady rate of natural disasters that the world will brush off. As time goes on, they increase with intensity and destruction. However, the key thing is that there is instant worldwide communciation. Taken all together, there is little doubt we are entering the final days. The antichrist will be a person who plays all sides in order to gain world power through monetary means and banks.

Is Obama the antichrist, no one knows, as Jesus will come like a thief, but there are signs. Keep your mind open. It is a hard concept to fathom and beware! There is no real reason while Obama is so popular and no reason why he would make a good president of the world's most powerful nation!

Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr is so wrong for Barack Obama

Event to most liberal democrats or republicans, the words of Jeremiah Wright's anti-white, anti-America only serve to alienate Obama's most important voting block:  Non- black America. Wright's vicious self serving oratory is based upon his own life  and upon the injustices in his own life. They have no relation to Obama. Let's not forget Obama IS more White than not. He grew up in a White enivronment, had friends of all colors, he only embraced his Black culture after he entered into High School and later. Obama may be more radical than he looks and his lack of answering key questions regarding his personal relationships with characters like Wright and former members of the Weatherman Underground, a domestic terriost group in the early 70's, only makes him appear more suspicious.

 

Worse is the hypocrisy of Wright's oratory blasting America and Whites. Wright owns a $10,000,000 home situated along a golf course in a predominantly White area! So, here is a Reverend that, for show, for the media, screws up Obama's chances by his now famous, "Goddamn America" speech, where he rips into our nation and the majority of White America. I guess he forgot to recall Obama is 50% White. I think every Black voting for Obama should remember this. Obama is not black black. 

 

Wright's hypocrisy is this: without America, he would not be so successful being able to pursue his academics as he did, without White's, I am sure he would not have achieved as much as he has because there are key individuals that helped him that were White, without America, his personal success would not have allowed him to preach such BS that millions have heard, nor allowed him to have a 10 million dollar home in a White area.

 

In the end, his ego and rhetoric only alienates many of Obama's would be supporters of any color. Wright appeals to poor Blacks because he is radical but in reality, Wright is a very rich Black being supported by those Blacks far below him on the economic ladder. Obama's reluctance to really publically denounce him also turns off many voters.

 

I was an Obama supporter. No longer. I find him "too risky", "too vague", "question his ability to make the correct decisions without undue influence", "lacking personal fortitude".

 

For me, my vote, it's either McCain or Clinton. Obama has lost my vote and my respect. When Obama is asked tough questions, he stumbles or he defers and deflects his answer.He just cannot answer the question.

The 1965 Corvair Convertible

I recently found a unique 1965 Corvair Chevrolet Convertible in near new condition with only 47,000 original miles! There is little wrong with it. I bought it online from a noted Psychology professor, Ron Baenninger, who has written many textbooks. He bought it a few years ago, parked it in his garage and never drove it. As you can see, it is nearly new and for $3700.00, it was a deal I could not pass.

Corvair had a nine year life span, 1960-1969. It was a rear engine based upon the Porsche, but it was Chevrolet's economy car and sold for $1900-2300.00 in 1965. The thing about these cars is that you either love them or hate them. If you love them, you overlook their annoying issues (oil leaks). Even though the car is 40+ years, one can find all the parts and even rebuild it. Several places produce only parts for these cars-which is a testament about their popularity. One is Clark's Corvair Parts on the East Coast, and Corvair Underground, on the West coast. The parts are not that expensive. You can rebuild an engine for around $2000.00. The corvair engine is robust and currently is used in small light single engine aircraft.

The body style of the 1965-69 remains popular and has a sort timeless look, much as the Ford Mustang. The Corsa was the racing edition with four carbs and either 140 or 180 Hp.

While you can find the parts, the real issue is finding someone who knows how to work on them. The Chevy shop manuals are still available for the car and are the bible when working on them.

For me, I was lukewarm about the parent's 1962. It was not until the 1965 came out did I fall in love with them as a 4th grader. Corvairs rock!

ATO Releases Paukenschlag with Stunning Map!

After a year in development, my latest ATO game on the German U-boat operation off the US coast in 1942, is released.

Craig Grando's superb and innovative game map looks 3D and like a movie poster. Simply stunning! The game uses the actual German plotting system of WW2 to regulate movement. In addition, the great "what-if" is explored: The planned German long range bombing of the East coast. The combo make the game a sure winner with appeal on a variety of levels. The game design took a few weeks to develop and research.

Let the dice fly!

Definately Maybe is definately deceptive

From the movie ad on TV, the viewer is led to believe that this movie is a cute, funny kid type movie. The little girl is cute and a good actress. The scenes are family oriented and attracts many girls from 8 yrs. old and up.

Naturally, I took my 9 yr. old daughter who really wanted to see it. So, we went.

The film opens up with the uneasy parental topic at any age of sex. Sex education. The girl's school is in an uproar about teaching sex ed to 4th graders, so the scene has chaos, parents angry etc. Girls are coming into the scene using words like penis, vagina, sex, condoms (you get the picture). I'm talking girls 9 yrs old and older. As if that was not uncomfortable enough for us, the little girl in the movie is trying to force her 30ish dad to have a conversation about it as they stroll out of the scene! Totally inapproriate from the start. This was not Disney.

Liberal or not, it was a parent's nightmare. I was hoping it would get better. Where was the fast forward?

The cute girl is really a little too mature and obnoxious regarding this topic. So, her parents are getting a divorce. Now, she wants to know all the details of doing it. Finally, the dad has had enough (thank god!). So, the girl switches gears and wants to know how they met etc.

So, for the next 55 minutes or so, that is the movie. There is no girl or cute interaction with her Dad as seen in the ads. It is just your typical"how boy meets girl" thing. Some items were not even for PG-13 rating. Who rates these movies??

Boring. Seen it all before. Hints of her mom being a lesbian, hints of her mom being loose and is poking some 50 yr old writer because he's famous, not because she loves him. Not a nice picture for a girl to know.

So, for the first hour or so, it is boring and pushing the PG 13 limit. It was not funny, nor cute.

The deception is that why have a cute 9 yr old actress in a film rated PG-13, in a role that she barely appears in until the end.The film is not about a parent\child relationship or a dad and his daughter. A waste of money.

US Navy and Iran Clash at Hormuz Straits

A recent naval report indicated an ominous result further supporting the USN wargame in which USN were suddenly attacked and sunk by Iranian missiles. The report, dated several years ago, indicated that even though the C-802 missiles are of lower technology than what the USN has, Iranian missile attacks from shore or from their Houdong or CAT-14 platforms (ships)could overwhelm the AEGIS defense systems. In the scenario, when 6 or more C-802 missiles were fired at the same ship there is a high probability that at least 1 or 2 would impact the target especially when coordinated with numerous FAC attack from divergent directions simultaneously. If 8 or more were fired, it was a 90% chance impact would occur. The CWIS Phalanax can only handle so many targets simultaneously within a 3 mile range. Other USN defense systems, likewise, could handle 4-5 such incoming missiles with fairly safe consequences. Thus, the Iranian swarm tactics upon 1 or 2 USN ships could and would be successful, either crippling or sinking them. If you add to this scenario that the Iranian attack would have to be a "Pearl harbor" type, add their Mig-29, F4E with AS missiles, all happening suddenly and simultaneously, USN defenses could be overwhelmed. The worst thing the USN should do is to underestimate this threat and to be over confident in their ECM. Remember, David did bring down Goliath!

The Beatles Are Across the Universe

To date, there have been two movies with dedicated soundtracks of nothing but Beatle songs, I Am Sam and Across the Universe. Both, as movies, are excellent films for a variety of reasons. It is obvious that the generation that lived and breathed Beatles are now in command. Bill O'Reilly is a huge Beatles fan. NASA launched the band's, Across the Universe (1968), into space, so their presence is known. The issue and problem with either movie using only Beatle songs (or any movie using their songs) is that:
1. The Beatles'recordings from 1964-1969 remain vibrant and high quality. They have not dated that much.
2. Using their songs with them doing them costs more than making the movie in royalty fees etc. You seldom, if ever, hear their songs done by them in a movie or commercial.
3. Doing a cover of their songs (as in both movies)by other artists poses major problems to them, which they acknowledge. These are:

A. Why change something that is so good in the original?
B. How can the cover artist create a "better" song? They are all already very good.
C. Competing with the vocals of John and Paul is simply impossible as the listener will compare and the original will win.
D. Do they follow the original arrangement and song structure (which is usually the best)or divert and try a different approach with the risk of total failure?

Artists facing doing a cover of a Beatle song have these dilemmas. Some artists asked refused to cover The Beatles, knowing it is pointless to try out do them and whatever the end result is will be much lesser than the original. It is like trying to copy a Van Gogh.

Listen to the I Am Sam or Across the Universe soundtracks. Some take a new "modern" approach, which usually sounds stupid compared to the original. Other artists stick with the original only deviating occassionally. Some speed or slow down the song.
Sadly, the cover is always compared to the original. The cover is always worse. To Beatle fans, they are grateful for such a tribute, yet, laugh at how the covers are done. The only covers of Beatle songs that are any good are those which were written by Lennon & McCartney but never performed by The Beatles (I'm in Love, Mary Jane, Not Guilty, World Without Love, Bad To Me, are a few).

The oddest thing remains that while others cannot cover a Beatles' song, the Beatles always greatly improved on ANY cover they did ( Long Tall Sally, Kansas City, Please Mr. Postman, Chains, Boys, Roll over Beethoven and so many more). The Beatles remain on the same level as Beethoven-both revolutionized their own brand of music. They truly are legends and all others pale in comparision.

Upcoming Wargame Designs

The following are new designs slated for the first quarter of this year:

1. La Coruna Jan 1937 - A fierce battle between the Nationalists and Republicans for the highway from Las Rozas to Madrid. It was the last phase of the Nationalists offensive to surround and cutoff Madrid. Armed with German Panzer 1 and Italian CV-33tanks, the seemingly invincible Nationalists were met with stout resistance from the Republicans and their Russian T-26B tanks and I-16, SB-2 aircraft. What followed was a desperate battle to control this key road!

2. Rampage, August 1919- Using the well played and award winning system of the Russian Civil War Series, the game covers the last great cavalry offensive of the 20th Century! Mamontov's cavalry army attacked the Red line east of Voronzeh busting through with Mk V tanks. What followed was a deep rear raid on the Reds which were totally caught by surprise! During the two week attack, the Reds tossed everything they had, including aircraft. It was a very wild affair that ended with Mamontov almost being trapped!

3. Operation Sinyavino- August 1942- covers the dramatic Russian offensive to free Leningrad from the German blockade from two opposite directions! Includes the first use of the new Tiger tank!

4. Zolfaqar's Blow: Iranian Killing Fields - a future history game covering a surprise Iranian attack with fast attack boats, C-802 missiles, EM-53 mines, submarines upon oil tankers and US naval ships (incl. an aircraft carrier) in the narrow Straits of Hormuz.

Martin Luther King and the Reality of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

The recent comments by Hilary Clinton that King's call for racial equality was realized only with a president's action are correct, NOT incorrect. Hey, I hate to provide a reality check but without President Johnson's full support and backing and "pushing it through the legislature" at various tumes, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, would not have passed. Sure, maybe, it would pass in 1965, 66, 67 or whatever, but not in 1964. Anyone who thinks otherwise is making Martin Luther King a God-like creature. He could never have done it without the support and promotion by President Johnson and others. Without other key politcial figures in places of influence and power, and most were white then who agreed with Martin Luther King, the US Senate would not have passed it. It would never have reached President Johnson to sign into law. End of story.

It is not diminishing King's legacy, as he was instrumental in bringing to the public, galvanizing millions etc. But, he alone, could not create the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Give credit where credit is due. There is plenty to go around.......