With 250 posts having passed this way, I thought it might be interesting to try the new Beta Blog. It is One Man's View From Lansing, KS.
I guarantee that the quality of my postings will remain the same, mediocre at best. Although they will not be completely worthless.
It will be an interesting learning experience.
So, give it a try, and leave suggestions. Other than that not much else has changed. When it does the information will be at the aforementioned locale.
#250.1
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Saturday, October 21, 2006
Insults with class
"He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire." -- Winston Churchill
"A modest little person, with much to be modest about." -- Winston Churchill
"I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure." -- Clarence Darrow
"He has never been known to use a word that might send a reader to the dictionary." -- William Faulkner (about Ernest Hemingway)
"Poor Faulkner. Does he really think big emotions come from big words?" -- Ernest Hemingway (about William Faulkner)
"Thank you for sending me a copy of your book; I'll waste no time reading it." -- Moses Hadas
"He can compress the most words into the smallest idea of any man I know." -- Abraham Lincoln
"I've had a perfectly wonderful evening. But this wasn't it." -- Groucho Marx
"I didn't attend the funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying I approved of it." -- Mark Twain
"He has no enemies, but is intensely disliked by his friends." -- Oscar Wilde
"I am enclosing two tickets to the first night of my new play, bring a friend... if you have one." -- George Bernard Shaw to Winston Churchill
"Cannot possibly attend first night, will attend second.... if there is one." -- Winston Churchill, in response
"I feel so miserable without you, it's almost like having you here." -- Stephen Bishop
"He is a self-made man and worships his creator." -- John Bright
"I've just learned about his illness. Let's hope it's nothing trivial." -- Irvin S. Cobb
"He is not only dull himself, he is the cause of dullness in others." -- Samuel Johnson
"He is simply a shiver looking for a spine to run up." -- Paul Keating
"He had delusions of adequacy." -- Walter Kerr
"There's nothing wrong with you that reincarnation won't cure." -- Jack E. Leonard
"He has the attention span of a lightning bolt." -- Robert Redford
"They never open their mouths without subtracting from the sum of human knowledge." -- Thomas Brackett Reed
"He inherited some good instincts from his Quaker forebears, but by diligent hard work, he overcame them." -- James Reston (about Richard Nixon)
"In order to avoid being called a flirt, she always yielded easily." -- Charles, Count Talleyrand
"He loves nature in spite of what it did to him." -- Forrest Tucker
"Why do you sit there looking like an envelope without any address on it?" -- Mark Twain
"His mother should have thrown him away and kept the stork." -- Mae West
"Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go." -- Oscar Wilde
"He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts... for support rather than illumination." -- Andrew Lang (1844-1912)
"He has Van Gogh's ear for music." -- Billy Wilder
#250
"A modest little person, with much to be modest about." -- Winston Churchill
"I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure." -- Clarence Darrow
"He has never been known to use a word that might send a reader to the dictionary." -- William Faulkner (about Ernest Hemingway)
"Poor Faulkner. Does he really think big emotions come from big words?" -- Ernest Hemingway (about William Faulkner)
"Thank you for sending me a copy of your book; I'll waste no time reading it." -- Moses Hadas
"He can compress the most words into the smallest idea of any man I know." -- Abraham Lincoln
"I've had a perfectly wonderful evening. But this wasn't it." -- Groucho Marx
"I didn't attend the funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying I approved of it." -- Mark Twain
"He has no enemies, but is intensely disliked by his friends." -- Oscar Wilde
"I am enclosing two tickets to the first night of my new play, bring a friend... if you have one." -- George Bernard Shaw to Winston Churchill
"Cannot possibly attend first night, will attend second.... if there is one." -- Winston Churchill, in response
"I feel so miserable without you, it's almost like having you here." -- Stephen Bishop
"He is a self-made man and worships his creator." -- John Bright
"I've just learned about his illness. Let's hope it's nothing trivial." -- Irvin S. Cobb
"He is not only dull himself, he is the cause of dullness in others." -- Samuel Johnson
"He is simply a shiver looking for a spine to run up." -- Paul Keating
"He had delusions of adequacy." -- Walter Kerr
"There's nothing wrong with you that reincarnation won't cure." -- Jack E. Leonard
"He has the attention span of a lightning bolt." -- Robert Redford
"They never open their mouths without subtracting from the sum of human knowledge." -- Thomas Brackett Reed
"He inherited some good instincts from his Quaker forebears, but by diligent hard work, he overcame them." -- James Reston (about Richard Nixon)
"In order to avoid being called a flirt, she always yielded easily." -- Charles, Count Talleyrand
"He loves nature in spite of what it did to him." -- Forrest Tucker
"Why do you sit there looking like an envelope without any address on it?" -- Mark Twain
"His mother should have thrown him away and kept the stork." -- Mae West
"Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go." -- Oscar Wilde
"He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts... for support rather than illumination." -- Andrew Lang (1844-1912)
"He has Van Gogh's ear for music." -- Billy Wilder
#250
Corporate Ingenuity in America?
A Japanese company ( Toyota ) and an American company (General Motors) decided to have a canoe race on the Missouri River. Both teams practiced long and hard to reach their peak performance before the race.
On the big day, the Japanese team won by a mile.
The Americans, very discouraged and depressed, decided to investigate the reason for the crushing defeat.
A management team made up of senior management was formed to investigate and recommend appropriate action.
Their conclusion was the Japanese team had 8 people rowing and 1 person steering, while the American team had 8 people steering and 1 person rowing.
So American management hired a consulting company and paid them a large amount of money for a second opinion. They advised that too many people were steering the boat, while not enough people were rowing.
To prevent another loss to the Japanese, the American's rowing team's management structure was totally reorganized to 4 steering supervisors, 3 area steering superintendents and 1 assistant superintendent steering manager.
They also implemented a new performance system that would give the 1 person rowing the boat greater incentive to work harder.
It was called the "Rowing Team Quality First Program," with meetings, dinners and free pens for the rower
There was discussion of getting new paddles, canoes and other equipment, extra vacation days for practices, and bonuses.
The next year the Japanese won by two miles.
Humiliated, the American management laid off the rower for poor performance, halted development of a new canoe, sold the paddles, and canceled all capital investments for new equipment.
The money saved was distributed to the Senior Executives as bonuses and the next year's racing team was outsourced to India .
Author: Unknown
#249
On the big day, the Japanese team won by a mile.
The Americans, very discouraged and depressed, decided to investigate the reason for the crushing defeat.
A management team made up of senior management was formed to investigate and recommend appropriate action.
Their conclusion was the Japanese team had 8 people rowing and 1 person steering, while the American team had 8 people steering and 1 person rowing.
So American management hired a consulting company and paid them a large amount of money for a second opinion. They advised that too many people were steering the boat, while not enough people were rowing.
To prevent another loss to the Japanese, the American's rowing team's management structure was totally reorganized to 4 steering supervisors, 3 area steering superintendents and 1 assistant superintendent steering manager.
They also implemented a new performance system that would give the 1 person rowing the boat greater incentive to work harder.
It was called the "Rowing Team Quality First Program," with meetings, dinners and free pens for the rower
There was discussion of getting new paddles, canoes and other equipment, extra vacation days for practices, and bonuses.
The next year the Japanese won by two miles.
Humiliated, the American management laid off the rower for poor performance, halted development of a new canoe, sold the paddles, and canceled all capital investments for new equipment.
The money saved was distributed to the Senior Executives as bonuses and the next year's racing team was outsourced to India .
Author: Unknown
#249
Friday, October 20, 2006
Referral to another post...
David Brin has an important posting that is too long to copy here.
Please check it out, if you are so inclined. He has some very interesting things to say.
#248
Please check it out, if you are so inclined. He has some very interesting things to say.
#248
Thursday, October 19, 2006
A Poem about life
On October 19, 2006 at 1:59am -0700, NORMA COOPER wrote:
When an old man died in the geriatric ward of a small hospital near Tampa, Florida, it was believed that he had nothing left of any value.
Later, when the nurses were going through his meager possessions, they found this poem. Its quality and content so impressed the staff that copies were made and distributed to every nurse in the hospital.
One nurse took her copy to Missouri. The old man's sole bequest to posterity has since appeared in the Christmas edition of the News Magazine of the St Louis Association for Mental Health. A slide presentation has also been made based on his simple, but eloquent, poem.
And this little old man, with nothing left to give to the world, is now the author of this "anonymous" poem winging across the Internet:
BOY DOES THIS POEM TELL IT LIKE IT IS! FOR I AM GETTING THERE FAST!
Crabby Old Man
What do you see, nurses. What do you see?
What are you thinking..??....... When you're looking at me?
A crabby old man .........???.. Not very wise,
Uncertain of habit, ...???....... With faraway eyes?
Who dribbles his food. And makes no reply.
When you say in a loud voice, .. "I do wish you'd try!"
Who seems not to notice .......... The things that you do,
And forever is losing ............?.. A sock or shoe?
Who, resisting or not, ........?..... Lets you do as you will,
With bathing and feeding, ??... The long day to fill?
Is that what you're thinking? ?... Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes, nurse,?....You're not looking at me.
I'll tell you who I am .....??........ As I sit here so still,
As I do at your bidding, ...??.... As I eat at your will.
I'm a small child of ten . With a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters ...........??. Who love one another.
A young boy of sixteen .......?.....With wings on his feet
Dreaming that soon now. ?.........A lover he'll meet.
A groom soon at twenty ............. My heart gives a leap,
Remembering the vows. That I promised to keep.
At twenty-five now, ...........??... I have young of my own,
Who need me to guide ...??.... And a secure happy home.
A man of thirty, .......???........ My young now grown fast,
Bound to each other .....??...... With ties that should last.
At forty, my young sons ..??.... Have grown and are gone,
But my woman's beside me. To see I don't mourn
At fifty once more, .......??....... Babies play 'round my knee,
Again we know children, .?....... My loved one and me.
Dark days are upon me, ...?...... My wife is dead,
I look at the future, ....???....... I shudder with dread.
For my young are all rearing. Young of their own ,
And I think of the years???.... And the love that I've known.
I'm now an old man.......??....... And nature is cruel;
Tis jest to make old age .....?......Look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles, .......?..... Grace and vigor depart,
There is now a stone. Where I once had a heart.
But inside this old carcass ..??.. A young guy still dwells,
And now and again, ...??..........My battered heart swells.
I remember the joys, ................... I remember the pain,
And I'm loving and living.....?...... Life over again.
I think of the years ....??........... All too few, gone too fast,
And accept the stark fact. That nothing can last.
So open your eyes, people, ........ Open and see,
Not a crabby old man; ???...... Look closer.... see, ME!!
Remember this poem when you next meet an older person who you might brush aside without looking at the young soul within.....we will all, one day, be there, too!
#247
KNOW YOUR STATE MOTTO..........
Alabama
Hell Yes, We Have Electricity.
Alaska
11,623 Eskimos Can't Be Wrong!
Arizona
Yes, But It's A Dry Heat.
Arkansas
Lituracy Ain't Everythang.
California
By 30, Our Women Have More
Plastic Than Your Honda.
Colorado
If You Don't Ski, Don't Bother.
Connecticut
Like Massachusetts, only smaller.
Delaware
We Really Do Like The Chemicals In Our Water.
Florida
Ask Us About Our Grandkids
And Our Voting Skills.
Georgia
We Put The Fun In Fundamentalist Extremism.
Hawaii
Haka Tiki Mou Sha'ami Leeki Toru
( Death To Mainland Scum, Leave Your Money)
Idaho
More Than Just Potatoes...
Well, Okay, We're Not, But The Potatoes Sure Are Real Good
Illinois
Please, Don't Pronounce the "S"
Indiana
2 Billion Years Tidal Wave Free
Iowa
We Do Amazing Things With Corn
Kansas
First Of The Rectangle States
Kentucky
Five Million People;
Fifteen Last Names
Louisiana
We're Not ALL Drunk Cajun Wackos, But That's Our Tourism Campaign.
Maine
We're Really Cold, But We Have Cheap Lobster
Maryland
If You Can Dream It, We Can Tax It
Massachusetts
Our Taxes Are Lower Than Sweden's
And Our Republicans Are More Corrupt than Our Democrats
Michigan
First Line Of Defense From The Canadians
Minnesota
10,000 Lakes... And 10 Zillion Mosquitoes
Mississippi
Come visit And Feel Better About Your Own State
Missouri
Your Federal Flood Relief Tax Dollars At Work
Montana
Land Of The Big Sky, The Unabomber,
Right-wing Crazies, and Honest Elections!
Nebraska
Ask About Our State Motto Contest
Nevada
Hookers and Poker!
New Hampshire
Go Away And Leave Us Alone
New Jersey
You Want A ##$%##! Motto?
I Got Yer ##$%##! Motto Right here!
New Mexico
Lizards Make Excellent Pets
New York
You Have The Right To Remain Silent,
You Have The Right To An Attorney...
And No Right To Self Defense!
North Carolina
Tobacco Is A Vegetable
North Dakota
We Really Are One Of The 50 States!
Ohio
At Least We're Not Michigan
Oklahoma
Like The Play, But No Singing
Oregon
Spotted Owl... It's What's For Dinner
Pennsylvania
Cook With Coal
Rhode Island
We're Not REALLY An Island
South Carolina
Remember The Civil War?
Well, We Didn't Actually Surrender Yet
South Dakota
Closer Than North Dakota
Tennessee
Home of the Al Gore Invention Museum.
Texas
Se Hable Ingles
Utah
Our Jesus Is Better Than Your Jesus
Vermont
Too liberal for the Kennedys
Virginia
Who Says Government Stiffs And Slackjaw Yokels Don't Mix?
Washington
Our Governor can out-fraud your Governor!
West Virginia
One Big Happy Family...Really!
Wisconsin
Come Cut the Cheese!
Wyoming
Where Men Are Men... And The Sheep Are Scared
Home of Brokeback Mtn.
The District of Columbia
The Work-Free Drug Place
#246
Sunday, October 15, 2006
Vietnamese transportation
I received these photos in an email this morning. My friend commented that it reminded him of our times in Viet Nam back in the '60s and '70s. They do bring back memories of crowded streets.
It is absolutely amazing how people can adapt to their situations. These photos depict the reality of another culture.
Anyone ready for a Motor bike/scooter?
#245
Friday, October 13, 2006
Results of the first frost.
It was only a month ago when we were fortunate to receive the monthly P.R.I.D.E. yard award. Then last night the inevitable happened--the first frost. We looked out of the front window to discover those beautiful Impatiens bit the dust. They were so ugly I couldn't bring myself to take a photo of them. After lunch Maryann and I went out and took out the dead plants. The following two photos show the results of our labors. We can hardly wait until next Spring to plant more colorful flowers.
Since it is fall and nearing Hallowe'en we decided to decorate the front door for the occasion. Those are some beautiful 'mums and real pumpkin.
We even remembered to bring out the Hallowe'en banner.
After Thanksgiving we will start our Christmas decorating and will post the results.
Fall has fell, the flowers have died.
I wonder where the birdies flyed?
Everybody says that the birdies take to wing,
but that's absurd.
Everybody knows,
It's the wing that takes the bird.
As a blogging friend might say, "flap, flap, swoosh."
Happy birthday to all others who celebrate their birthdays today!
#244
Since it is fall and nearing Hallowe'en we decided to decorate the front door for the occasion. Those are some beautiful 'mums and real pumpkin.
We even remembered to bring out the Hallowe'en banner.After Thanksgiving we will start our Christmas decorating and will post the results.
Fall has fell, the flowers have died.
I wonder where the birdies flyed?
Everybody says that the birdies take to wing,
but that's absurd.
Everybody knows,
It's the wing that takes the bird.
As a blogging friend might say, "flap, flap, swoosh."
Happy birthday to all others who celebrate their birthdays today!
#244
Thanks to Mike T.
Mike is the web master for the Retired Military Police Officers web site. He is quick to send us updates and alert us to the status of our comrades. His sign off on his emails with the following message:
Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well-preserved body, but to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting "Holy Cow - What a Ride!"
#243
Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well-preserved body, but to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting "Holy Cow - What a Ride!"
#243
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Wine tasting weekend
The weekend trip began early Friday morning (0730). We motored East to the Warrenton exit on I-70. Our goal was to view the fall foliage and taste wines. Our itinerary took us through Warrenton where we had a delightful lunch at a place called J & D's on Main. The food was delicious. Their potato soup and steak chili are recommended.
Foliage at the rest stop along I-70. The wonders of the changing colors got better as we went along.
We began our wine tasting Friday afternoon.
George, Gale and Maryann at Blumenhof Vineyards in Dutzow, MO. It was the first of several on Saturday. The wine tasting was indoors. The weather was so nice we decided to sit, rest and listen to the music. It was not very loud and since there were only two guitarists, one of whom was a vocalist, it was very enjoyable.
We stopped and tasted some wines at the Balducci Winery. While the view was spectacular, the wines were not to our liking so we moved on down the road.
We also stopped at the Mount Pleasant Winery in Augusta. It was great. They bottle a great Cabernet Sauvignon. It was good enough to bring a bottle home, which I did.
Our last stop for the day near Augusta was the Montelle Winery. For some reason we never discovered, they were closing until we arrived. The winery, tasting room and Klondike Cafe are located on the top of a hill. The view is magnificent. They have a wonderful deck from which to view the surroundings while dining and enjoying the fruits of their vines. I only wish we could have done so. As you can tell from the photo above, the view is spectacular. Perhaps we will return. We left here and proceeded to our next stop which was dinner at Richards on the Riverfront in Washington.
The B&B we booked was the Thias House in Washington, MO. It was the only place that had rooms available at the time we booked. We learned only after arriving that the reason for a shortage of rooms was the annual Octoberfest in the area. Every weekend during the month of October there are activities at the wineries and breweries in the area.
It was quite an experience. What we didn't know earlier was that the B&B is also an antique shop. Just about everything in the place had a price tag on it. Even the lamp on the night stand beside the bed had a price tag. The only problem was that it was not plugged in, nor was there an electrical outlet anywhere near the bed. The bed was comfortable, but the night was full of noises that you would only relate to a large metropolitan area. Washington is not such a metropolis. The new coffee pot malfunctioned, the breakfast was not that tasty and so we set off to cleanse our palates with some wine. After all that was why we went there.
On Saturday morning, after that less than sterling breakfast we drove to Hermann, MO and stopped at a number of wineries there. First we did some browsing in the many antique shops in the area and had lunch prior to wine tasting. The wineries didn't open until 1100. So, a little bratwurst with mustard and sauer kraut and an Amber Bock helped fortify us for the wine tasting.
We began at the Hermannhof Winery. It was absolute pandemonium. It is difficult to imagine how many folks come to the area at this time of year. We then toured some of the historic sites. The most enjoyable site was the Deutschheim State Historic Site. The guide was extremely knowledgeable about the site and was further impressive in the manner in which she engaged the children who were on the tour. If you only go to Hermann for that, the trip will be well worth it.
The day was waning so our next stop was the Oak Glenn Vineyards and Winery. Because they had musical entertainment there was a $5.00 cover that had to be paid along the road at the parking lot entrance. There were two guys there asking for the money. I did ask the parking director as we got to the upper parking lot if he knew there were guys down there asking for money. He assured me that it was part of the plan.
At the Oak Glen Winery we enjoyed a bottle of their Vidal Blanc (Semi-dry white with fruity flavors, somewhat like Italian dry wines. Vidal's clean Citrus flavors create a nicely balanced wine.) The wine was quite good, but the band was loud. They subscribe to the idea that you don't have to be good as long as you have a beat and are not afraid to share with the surrounding counties. We had difficulty hearing ourselves talk. We knew the people who were there for the band, they were drinking beer.
We then headed to Jefferson City where rooms at the Jefferson Inn awaited us.
I couldn't resist taking this photo of the sunset on our way to Jefferson City.
Everything that was less than perfect at the previous night's stay was perfect here. The rooms had private baths. The breakfast was delicious. The Innkeeper and her family were cordial and helpful. Rachel even suggested a Arris' pizzeria for a light evening meal. It is right across the street from the Capitol.
Sunday morning we decided to go back to the Capitol and do the obligatory touring.
The state Capitol taken from the North side. One of our local TV stations used this one as a lead in to the 6 PM weather report.
This is a view of the Governor's Mansion taken from the South. We were not invited in for coffee. Maybe next time.
Another view of the Capitol from the gardens at the Governor's mansion. I just may send this photo to the TV station next week.
On the way out of Jefferson City we stopped by the Summit Lake Winery. They were picking the last of the Norton grapes.
We tasted wine here and bought a couple bottles of red. I particularly liked their red table wine known as Legend. (A medium-bodied red wine made from the Norton and Chambourcin grape varieties; fruity berry aroma with a touch of earthy/spicy complexities.)
Our last stop was at Le Bourgeois Winery in Rocheport. We had a nice, late lunch and then came home. Well that's the tour. We had a great weekend. Tasted some very nice wines and some not so nice. All in all it was fun. Next time Maryann should be off her meds and be able to taste some wines too. It was helpful to have a designated drive along. We had to use her services as such at least once.
#242
Foliage at the rest stop along I-70. The wonders of the changing colors got better as we went along.We began our wine tasting Friday afternoon.
George, Gale and Maryann at Blumenhof Vineyards in Dutzow, MO. It was the first of several on Saturday. The wine tasting was indoors. The weather was so nice we decided to sit, rest and listen to the music. It was not very loud and since there were only two guitarists, one of whom was a vocalist, it was very enjoyable.
We stopped and tasted some wines at the Balducci Winery. While the view was spectacular, the wines were not to our liking so we moved on down the road.We also stopped at the Mount Pleasant Winery in Augusta. It was great. They bottle a great Cabernet Sauvignon. It was good enough to bring a bottle home, which I did.
Our last stop for the day near Augusta was the Montelle Winery. For some reason we never discovered, they were closing until we arrived. The winery, tasting room and Klondike Cafe are located on the top of a hill. The view is magnificent. They have a wonderful deck from which to view the surroundings while dining and enjoying the fruits of their vines. I only wish we could have done so. As you can tell from the photo above, the view is spectacular. Perhaps we will return. We left here and proceeded to our next stop which was dinner at Richards on the Riverfront in Washington.
The B&B we booked was the Thias House in Washington, MO. It was the only place that had rooms available at the time we booked. We learned only after arriving that the reason for a shortage of rooms was the annual Octoberfest in the area. Every weekend during the month of October there are activities at the wineries and breweries in the area.It was quite an experience. What we didn't know earlier was that the B&B is also an antique shop. Just about everything in the place had a price tag on it. Even the lamp on the night stand beside the bed had a price tag. The only problem was that it was not plugged in, nor was there an electrical outlet anywhere near the bed. The bed was comfortable, but the night was full of noises that you would only relate to a large metropolitan area. Washington is not such a metropolis. The new coffee pot malfunctioned, the breakfast was not that tasty and so we set off to cleanse our palates with some wine. After all that was why we went there.
On Saturday morning, after that less than sterling breakfast we drove to Hermann, MO and stopped at a number of wineries there. First we did some browsing in the many antique shops in the area and had lunch prior to wine tasting. The wineries didn't open until 1100. So, a little bratwurst with mustard and sauer kraut and an Amber Bock helped fortify us for the wine tasting.
We began at the Hermannhof Winery. It was absolute pandemonium. It is difficult to imagine how many folks come to the area at this time of year. We then toured some of the historic sites. The most enjoyable site was the Deutschheim State Historic Site. The guide was extremely knowledgeable about the site and was further impressive in the manner in which she engaged the children who were on the tour. If you only go to Hermann for that, the trip will be well worth it.
The day was waning so our next stop was the Oak Glenn Vineyards and Winery. Because they had musical entertainment there was a $5.00 cover that had to be paid along the road at the parking lot entrance. There were two guys there asking for the money. I did ask the parking director as we got to the upper parking lot if he knew there were guys down there asking for money. He assured me that it was part of the plan.
At the Oak Glen Winery we enjoyed a bottle of their Vidal Blanc (Semi-dry white with fruity flavors, somewhat like Italian dry wines. Vidal's clean Citrus flavors create a nicely balanced wine.) The wine was quite good, but the band was loud. They subscribe to the idea that you don't have to be good as long as you have a beat and are not afraid to share with the surrounding counties. We had difficulty hearing ourselves talk. We knew the people who were there for the band, they were drinking beer.We then headed to Jefferson City where rooms at the Jefferson Inn awaited us.
I couldn't resist taking this photo of the sunset on our way to Jefferson City.
Everything that was less than perfect at the previous night's stay was perfect here. The rooms had private baths. The breakfast was delicious. The Innkeeper and her family were cordial and helpful. Rachel even suggested a Arris' pizzeria for a light evening meal. It is right across the street from the Capitol.
Sunday morning we decided to go back to the Capitol and do the obligatory touring.
The state Capitol taken from the North side. One of our local TV stations used this one as a lead in to the 6 PM weather report.
This is a view of the Governor's Mansion taken from the South. We were not invited in for coffee. Maybe next time.
Another view of the Capitol from the gardens at the Governor's mansion. I just may send this photo to the TV station next week.
On the way out of Jefferson City we stopped by the Summit Lake Winery. They were picking the last of the Norton grapes.
We tasted wine here and bought a couple bottles of red. I particularly liked their red table wine known as Legend. (A medium-bodied red wine made from the Norton and Chambourcin grape varieties; fruity berry aroma with a touch of earthy/spicy complexities.)
Our last stop was at Le Bourgeois Winery in Rocheport. We had a nice, late lunch and then came home. Well that's the tour. We had a great weekend. Tasted some very nice wines and some not so nice. All in all it was fun. Next time Maryann should be off her meds and be able to taste some wines too. It was helpful to have a designated drive along. We had to use her services as such at least once.
#242
American Suicide.........
Is this message coming true? I wonder.
Snopes says this is True. The only correction is: The author of
Mexifornia is Victor Davis Hanson. (You can also read an updated revision by Gov. Lamm at this site)
---------------
We know Dick Lamm as the former Governor of Colorado. In that context his thoughts are particularly poignant. Last week there was an immigration overpopulation conference in Washington, DC, filled to capacity by many of America's finest minds and leaders. A brilliant college professor by the name of Victor Hansen Davis(sic) talked about his latest book, "Mexifornia," explaining how immigration - both legal and illegal - was destroying the entire state of California. He said it would march across the country until it destroyed all vestiges of The American Dream.
-
Moments later, former Colorado Governor Richard D. Lamm stood up and gave a stunning speech on how to destroy America. The audience sat spellbound as he described eight methods for the destruction of the United States. He said, "If you believe that America is too smug, too self-satisfied, too rich, then let's destroy America. It is not that hard to do. No nation in history has survived the ravages of time. Arnold Toynbee observed that all great civilizations rise and fall and that 'An autopsy of history would show that all great nations commit suicide.'"
-
"Here is how they do it," Lamm said: "First, to destroy America, turn America into a bilingual or multi-lingual and bicultural country." History shows that no nation can survive the tension, conflict, and antagonism of two or more competing languages and cultures. It is a blessing for an individual to be bilingual; however, it is a curse for a society to be bilingual. The historical scholar, Seymour Lipset, put it this way: "The histories of bilingual and bi-cultural societies that do not assimilate are histories of turmoil, tension, and tragedy." Canada, Belgium, Malaysia, and Lebanon all face crises of national existence in which minorities press for autonomy, if not independence. Pakistan and Cyprus have divided. Nigeria suppressed an ethnic rebellion. France faces difficulties with Basques, Bretons, and Corsicans."
-
Lamm went on: Second, to destroy America, "Invent 'multiculturalism' and encourage immigrants to maintain their culture. I would make it an article of belief that all cultures are equal. That there are no cultural differences. I would make it an article of faith that the Black and Hispanic dropout rates are due solely to prejudice and discrimination by the majority. Every other explanation is out of bounds.
-
Third, "We could make the United States a 'Hispanic Quebec' without much effort. The key is to celebrate diversity rather than unity. As Benjamin Schwarz said in the Atlantic Monthly recently: "The apparent success of our own multiethnic and multicultural experiment might have been achieved not by tolerance but by hegemony. Without the dominance that once dictated ethnocentricity and what it meant to be an American, we are left with only tolerance and pluralism to hold us together." Lamm said, "I would encourage all immigrants to keep their own language and culture. I would replace the melting pot metaphor with the salad bowl metaphor. It is important to ensure that we have various cultural subgroups living in America enforcing their differences rather than as Americans, emphasizing their similarities."
-
"Fourth, I would make our fastest growing demographic group the least educated. I would add a second underclass, unassimilated, undereducated, and antagonistic to our population. I would have this second underclass have a 50% dropout rate from high school."
-
"My fifth point for destroying America would be to get big foundations and business to give these efforts lots of money. I would invest in ethnic identity, and I would establish the cult of 'Victimology.' I would get all minorities to think that their lack of success was the fault of the majority. I would start a grievance industry blaming all minority failure on the majority population."
-
"My sixth plan for America's downfall would include dual citizenship, and promote divided loyalties. I would celebrate diversity over unity I would stress differences rather than similarities. Diverse people worldwide are mostly engaged in hating each other - that is, when they are not killing each other. A diverse, peaceful, or stable society is against most historical precedent. People undervalue the unity it takes to keep a nation together. Look at the ancient Greeks. The Greeks believed that they belonged to the same race; they possessed a common language and literature; and they worshipped the same gods. All Greece took part in the Olympic Games. A common enemy, Persia, threatened their liberty. Yet all these bonds were not strong enough to overcome two factors: local patriotism and geographical conditions that nurtured political divisions. Greece fell. "E. Pluribus Unum" - From many, one. In that historical reality, if we put the emphasis on the 'Pluribus' instead of the 'Unum,' we will balkanize America as surely as Kosovo."
-
"Next to last, I would place all subjects off limits; make it taboo to talk about anything against the cult of 'diversity.' I would find a word similar to 'heretic' in the 16th century - that stopped discussion and paralyzed thinking. Words like 'racist' or 'xenophobe' halt discussion and debate.. Having made America a bilingual/bicultural country, having established multi-culturism, having the large foundations fund the doctrine of 'Victimology,' I would next make it impossible to enforce our immigration laws. I would develop a mantra: That because immigration has been good for America, it must always be good. I would make every individual immigrant symmetric and ignore the cumulative impact of millions of them."
-
In the last minute of his speech, Governor Lamm wiped his brow. Profound silence followed. Finally he said. "Lastly, I would censor Victor Hanson Davis's (sic) book "Mexifornia." His book is dangerous. It exposes the plan to destroy America. If you feel America. deserves to be destroyed, don't read that book."
-
There was no applause. A chilling fear quietly rose like an ominous cloud above every attendee at the conference. Every American in that room knew that everything Lamm enumerated was proceeding methodically, quietly, darkly, yet pervasively across the United States today. Discussion is being suppressed. Over 100 languages are ripping the foundation of our educational system and national cohesiveness. Even barbaric cultures that practice female genital mutilation are growing as we celebrate 'diversity.' American jobs are vanishing into the Third World as corporations create a Third World in America - take note of California and other states - to date, ten million illegal aliens and growing fast. It is reminiscent of George Orwell's book "1984." In that story, three slogans are engraved in the Ministry of Truth building: "War is peace," "Freedom is slavery," and "Ignorance is strength."
-
Governor Lamm walked back to his seat. It dawned on everyone at the conference that our nation and the future of this great democracy is deeply in trouble and worsening fast. If we don't get this immigration monster stopped within three years, it will rage like a California wildfire and destroy everything in its path, especially The American Dream.
#242
Snopes says this is True. The only correction is: The author of
Mexifornia is Victor Davis Hanson. (You can also read an updated revision by Gov. Lamm at this site)
---------------
We know Dick Lamm as the former Governor of Colorado. In that context his thoughts are particularly poignant. Last week there was an immigration overpopulation conference in Washington, DC, filled to capacity by many of America's finest minds and leaders. A brilliant college professor by the name of Victor Hansen Davis(sic) talked about his latest book, "Mexifornia," explaining how immigration - both legal and illegal - was destroying the entire state of California. He said it would march across the country until it destroyed all vestiges of The American Dream.
-
Moments later, former Colorado Governor Richard D. Lamm stood up and gave a stunning speech on how to destroy America. The audience sat spellbound as he described eight methods for the destruction of the United States. He said, "If you believe that America is too smug, too self-satisfied, too rich, then let's destroy America. It is not that hard to do. No nation in history has survived the ravages of time. Arnold Toynbee observed that all great civilizations rise and fall and that 'An autopsy of history would show that all great nations commit suicide.'"
-
"Here is how they do it," Lamm said: "First, to destroy America, turn America into a bilingual or multi-lingual and bicultural country." History shows that no nation can survive the tension, conflict, and antagonism of two or more competing languages and cultures. It is a blessing for an individual to be bilingual; however, it is a curse for a society to be bilingual. The historical scholar, Seymour Lipset, put it this way: "The histories of bilingual and bi-cultural societies that do not assimilate are histories of turmoil, tension, and tragedy." Canada, Belgium, Malaysia, and Lebanon all face crises of national existence in which minorities press for autonomy, if not independence. Pakistan and Cyprus have divided. Nigeria suppressed an ethnic rebellion. France faces difficulties with Basques, Bretons, and Corsicans."
-
Lamm went on: Second, to destroy America, "Invent 'multiculturalism' and encourage immigrants to maintain their culture. I would make it an article of belief that all cultures are equal. That there are no cultural differences. I would make it an article of faith that the Black and Hispanic dropout rates are due solely to prejudice and discrimination by the majority. Every other explanation is out of bounds.
-
Third, "We could make the United States a 'Hispanic Quebec' without much effort. The key is to celebrate diversity rather than unity. As Benjamin Schwarz said in the Atlantic Monthly recently: "The apparent success of our own multiethnic and multicultural experiment might have been achieved not by tolerance but by hegemony. Without the dominance that once dictated ethnocentricity and what it meant to be an American, we are left with only tolerance and pluralism to hold us together." Lamm said, "I would encourage all immigrants to keep their own language and culture. I would replace the melting pot metaphor with the salad bowl metaphor. It is important to ensure that we have various cultural subgroups living in America enforcing their differences rather than as Americans, emphasizing their similarities."
-
"Fourth, I would make our fastest growing demographic group the least educated. I would add a second underclass, unassimilated, undereducated, and antagonistic to our population. I would have this second underclass have a 50% dropout rate from high school."
-
"My fifth point for destroying America would be to get big foundations and business to give these efforts lots of money. I would invest in ethnic identity, and I would establish the cult of 'Victimology.' I would get all minorities to think that their lack of success was the fault of the majority. I would start a grievance industry blaming all minority failure on the majority population."
-
"My sixth plan for America's downfall would include dual citizenship, and promote divided loyalties. I would celebrate diversity over unity I would stress differences rather than similarities. Diverse people worldwide are mostly engaged in hating each other - that is, when they are not killing each other. A diverse, peaceful, or stable society is against most historical precedent. People undervalue the unity it takes to keep a nation together. Look at the ancient Greeks. The Greeks believed that they belonged to the same race; they possessed a common language and literature; and they worshipped the same gods. All Greece took part in the Olympic Games. A common enemy, Persia, threatened their liberty. Yet all these bonds were not strong enough to overcome two factors: local patriotism and geographical conditions that nurtured political divisions. Greece fell. "E. Pluribus Unum" - From many, one. In that historical reality, if we put the emphasis on the 'Pluribus' instead of the 'Unum,' we will balkanize America as surely as Kosovo."
-
"Next to last, I would place all subjects off limits; make it taboo to talk about anything against the cult of 'diversity.' I would find a word similar to 'heretic' in the 16th century - that stopped discussion and paralyzed thinking. Words like 'racist' or 'xenophobe' halt discussion and debate.. Having made America a bilingual/bicultural country, having established multi-culturism, having the large foundations fund the doctrine of 'Victimology,' I would next make it impossible to enforce our immigration laws. I would develop a mantra: That because immigration has been good for America, it must always be good. I would make every individual immigrant symmetric and ignore the cumulative impact of millions of them."
-
In the last minute of his speech, Governor Lamm wiped his brow. Profound silence followed. Finally he said. "Lastly, I would censor Victor Hanson Davis's (sic) book "Mexifornia." His book is dangerous. It exposes the plan to destroy America. If you feel America. deserves to be destroyed, don't read that book."
-
There was no applause. A chilling fear quietly rose like an ominous cloud above every attendee at the conference. Every American in that room knew that everything Lamm enumerated was proceeding methodically, quietly, darkly, yet pervasively across the United States today. Discussion is being suppressed. Over 100 languages are ripping the foundation of our educational system and national cohesiveness. Even barbaric cultures that practice female genital mutilation are growing as we celebrate 'diversity.' American jobs are vanishing into the Third World as corporations create a Third World in America - take note of California and other states - to date, ten million illegal aliens and growing fast. It is reminiscent of George Orwell's book "1984." In that story, three slogans are engraved in the Ministry of Truth building: "War is peace," "Freedom is slavery," and "Ignorance is strength."
-
Governor Lamm walked back to his seat. It dawned on everyone at the conference that our nation and the future of this great democracy is deeply in trouble and worsening fast. If we don't get this immigration monster stopped within three years, it will rage like a California wildfire and destroy everything in its path, especially The American Dream.
#242
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
The Cows at Union Station
Before our friends went back to Virginia, we took them to Union Station for lunch and a tour of the facilities there. Much to my surprise these cows were in attendance. Infinitesimal is not the only one to come across such critters.
There was also this model railroad display in the lobby. I believe it was N-gauge.
It was absolutely fabulous. We were sorry that we were not there to see it in operation.Our lunch at Pierpont's was great, too.
#241
Suicide Killers
This is a verbatim email that has been making the rounds. I checked Snopes and the report is true. Whether you choose to agree or not, it is a very provocative read. It is quite long and you might want to do other research to satisfy your own take on it. The quoted material is in italics. The Snopes citation gives more information about the author and related topics.
Suicide Killers A MUST READ!!! Some of you will read this and some of you will just blow it off.....
This is one the most clear and concise discussions I have seen on this subject. If it doesn't get your attention, nothing will. It should scare the hell out of you! Interesting comments re radical Islam Nazism, for which Bush just took a beating from the press and liberals. Every American should read this.
On July 15, MSNBC's "Connected" program discussed the 7/7 London attacks. One of the guests was Pierre Rehov, a French filmmaker who has filmed six documentaries on the intifada by going undercover in the Palestinian areas. Pierre's upcoming film, "Suicide Killers," is based on interviews that he conducted with the families of suicide bombers and would-be bombers in an attempt to find out why they do it. Pierre agreed to a request for a Q&A interview here about his work on the new film. Many thanks to Dean Draznin and Arlyn Riskind for helping to arrange this special interview.
Q: What inspired you to produce "Suicide Killers," your seventh film?
A: I started working with victims of suicide attacks to make a film on PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) when I became fascinated with the personalities of those who had committed those crimes, as they were described again and again by their victims. Especially the fact that suicide bombers are smiling one second before they blow themselves up.
Q: Why is this film especially important?
A: People don't understand the devastating culture behind this unbelievable phenomenon. My film is not politically correct because it addresses the real problem-showing the real face of Islam. It points the finger against a culture of hatred in which the uneducated are brainwashed to a level where their only solution in life becomes to kill themselves and kill others in the name of a God whose word, as transmitted by other men, has become their only certitude.
Q: What insights did you gain from making this film? What do you know that other experts do not know?
A: I came to the conclusion that we are facing a neurosis at the level of an entire civilization. Most neuroses have in common a dramatic event, generally linked to an unacceptable sexual behavior. In this case, we are talking of kids living all their lives in pure frustration, with no opportunity to experience sex, love, tenderness, or even understanding from the opposite sex. The separation between men and women in Islam is absolute. So is contempt toward women, who are totally dominated by men. This leads to a situation of pure anxiety, in which normal behavior is not possible. It is no coincidence that suicide killers are mostly young men dominated subconsciously by an overwhelming libido that they not only cannot satisfy but are afraid of, as if it is the work of the devil. Since Islam describes heaven as a place where everything on earth will finally be allowed, and promises 72 virgins to those frustrated kids, killing others and killing themselves to reach this redemption becomes their only solution.
Q: What was it like to interview would-be suicide bombers, their families, and survivors of suicide bombings?
A: It was a fascinating and a terrifying experience. You are dealing with seemingly normal people with very nice manners who have their own logic, which to a certain extent can make sense since they are so convinced that what they say is true. It is like dealing with pure craziness, like interviewing people in an asylum, since what they say, is for them, the absolute truth. I hear a mother saying "Thank God, my son is dead." Her son had become a shaheed, a martyr, which for her was a greater source of pride than if he had became an engineer, a doctor or a winner of the Nobel Prize. This system of values works completely backwards since their interpretation of Islam worships death much more than life. You are facing people whose only dream, only achievement is to fulfill what they believe to be their destiny, namely to be a shaheed or the family of a shaheed. They don't see the innocent being killed they only see the impure that they have to destroy.
Q: You say suicide bombers experience a moment of absolute power, beyond punishment. Is death the ultimate power?
A: Not death as an end, but death as a door open to the afterlife. They are seeking the reward that God has promised them. They work for God, the ultimate authority, above all human laws. They therefore experience this single delusional second of absolute power, where nothing bad can ever happen to them, since they become God's sword.
Q: Is there a suicide bomber personality profile? Describe the psychopathology.
A: Generally kids between 15 and 25 bearing a lot of complexes, generally inferiority complexes. They must have been fed with religion. They usually have a lack of developed personality. Usually they are impressionable idealists. In the western world they would easily have become drug addicts, but not criminals. Interestingly, they are not criminals since they don't see good and evil the same way that we do. If they had been raised in an Occidental culture, they would have hated violence. But they constantly battle against their own death anxiety. The only solution to this deep-seated pathology is to be willing to die and be rewarded in the after life in Paradise.
Q: Are suicide bombers principally motivated by religious conviction?
A: Yes, it is their only conviction. They don't act to gain a territory or to find freedom or even dignity. They only follow Allah, the supreme judge, and what He tells them to do.
Q: Do all Muslims interpret jihad and martyrdom in the same way?
A: All Muslim believers believe that, ultimately, Islam will prevail on earth. They believe this is the only true religion and there is no room, in their mind, for interpretation. The main difference between moderate Muslims and extremists is that moderate Muslims don't think they will see the absolute victory of Islam during their life time, therefore they respect other beliefs. The extremists believe that the fulfillment of the Prophecy of Islam and ruling the entire world, as described in the Koran, is for today. Each victory of Bin Laden convinces 20 million moderate Muslims to become extremists.
NOTE: According to books by ex-Muslims - They agree that your friendly Muslim at the Quick Stop or your neighbor across the street are Muslims first! Not Americans as we are - but Muslims - and if Islamic Law is the law of the land they will follow Islam to the letter of the law! Infidels are not in power - no freedom of the press - no wealth - etc!! )
Q: Describe the culture that manufactures suicide bombers.
A: Oppression, lack of freedom, brain washing, organized poverty, lacing God in charge of daily life, total separation between men and women, forbidding sex, giving women no power whatsoever, and placing men in charge of family honor, which is mainly connected to their women's behavior.
Q: What socio-economic forces support the perpetuation of suicide bombings?
A: Muslim charity is usually a cover for supporting terrorist organizations. But one has also to look at countries like Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Iran, which are also supporting the same organizations through different networks. The ironic thing in the case of Palestinian suicide bombers is that most of the money comes through financial support from the Occidental world, donated to a culture that utterly hates and rejects the West (mainly symbolized by Israel).
Q: Is there a financial support network for the families of the suicide bombers? If so, who is paying them and how does that affect the decision?
A: There used to be a financial incentive in the days of Saddam Hussein ($25,000 per family) and Yasser Arafat (smaller amounts), but these days are gone. It is a mistake to believe that these families would sacrifice their children for money. Although, the children themselves who are very attached to their families, might find in this financial support another reason to become suicide bombers. It is like buying a life insurance policy and then committing suicide.
Q: Why are so many suicide bombers young men?
A: As discussed above, libido is paramount. Also ego, because this is a sure way to become a hero. The shaheeds are the cowboys or the firemen of Islam. Shaheed is a positively reinforced value in this culture. And what kid has never dreamed of becoming a cowboy or a fireman?
Q: What role does the U.N. play in the terrorist equation?
A: The UN is in the hands of Arab countries and third world or ex-communists countries. Their hands are tied. The UN has condemned Israel more than any other country in the world, including the regime of Castro, Idi Amin, or Kaddahfi. By behaving this way, the UN leaves a door open by not openly condemning terrorist organizations. In addition, through UNRWA, the UN is directly tied to terror organizations such as Hamas, representing 65 percent of their apparatus in the so-called Palestinian refugee camps. As a support to Arab countries, the UN has maintained Palestinians in camps with the hope to "return" into Israel for more than 50 years, therefore making it impossible to settle those populations, which still live in deplorable conditions. Four-hundred million dollars are spent every year, mainly financed by U.S. taxes, to support 23,000 employees of UNRWA, many of whom belong to terrorist organizations (see Congressman Eric Cantor on this subject, and in my film "Hostages of Hatred").
Q: You say that a suicide bomber is a 'stupid bomb and a smart bomb' simultaneously. Explain what you mean.
A: Unlike an electronic device, a suicide killer has until the last second the capacity to change his mind. In reality, he is nothing but a platform representing interests which are not his, but he doesn't know it.
Q: How can we put an end to the madness of suicide bombings and terrorism in general?
A: Stop being politically correct and stop believing that this culture is a victim of ours. Radical Islamism today is nothing but a new form of Nazism. Nobody was trying to justify or excuse Hitler in the 1930s. We had to defeat him in order to make peace one day with the German people.
Q: Are these men traveling outside their native areas in large numbers? Based on your research, would you predict that we are beginning to see a new wave of suicide bombings outside the Middle East?
A: Every successful terror attack is considered a victory by the radical Islamists. Everywhere Islam expands there is regional conflict. Right now, there are thousands of candidates for martyrdom lining up in training camps in Bosnia, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Inside Europe, hundreds of illegal mosques are preparing the next step of brain washing to lost young men who cannot find a satisfying identity in the Occidental world. Israel is much more prepared for this than the rest of the world will ever be. Yes, there will be more suicide killings in Europe and the U.S. -------
Sadly, this is only the beginning. Be afraid. Be very, very afraid!!
#240
Suicide Killers A MUST READ!!! Some of you will read this and some of you will just blow it off.....
This is one the most clear and concise discussions I have seen on this subject. If it doesn't get your attention, nothing will. It should scare the hell out of you! Interesting comments re radical Islam Nazism, for which Bush just took a beating from the press and liberals. Every American should read this.
On July 15, MSNBC's "Connected" program discussed the 7/7 London attacks. One of the guests was Pierre Rehov, a French filmmaker who has filmed six documentaries on the intifada by going undercover in the Palestinian areas. Pierre's upcoming film, "Suicide Killers," is based on interviews that he conducted with the families of suicide bombers and would-be bombers in an attempt to find out why they do it. Pierre agreed to a request for a Q&A interview here about his work on the new film. Many thanks to Dean Draznin and Arlyn Riskind for helping to arrange this special interview.
Q: What inspired you to produce "Suicide Killers," your seventh film?
A: I started working with victims of suicide attacks to make a film on PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) when I became fascinated with the personalities of those who had committed those crimes, as they were described again and again by their victims. Especially the fact that suicide bombers are smiling one second before they blow themselves up.
Q: Why is this film especially important?
A: People don't understand the devastating culture behind this unbelievable phenomenon. My film is not politically correct because it addresses the real problem-showing the real face of Islam. It points the finger against a culture of hatred in which the uneducated are brainwashed to a level where their only solution in life becomes to kill themselves and kill others in the name of a God whose word, as transmitted by other men, has become their only certitude.
Q: What insights did you gain from making this film? What do you know that other experts do not know?
A: I came to the conclusion that we are facing a neurosis at the level of an entire civilization. Most neuroses have in common a dramatic event, generally linked to an unacceptable sexual behavior. In this case, we are talking of kids living all their lives in pure frustration, with no opportunity to experience sex, love, tenderness, or even understanding from the opposite sex. The separation between men and women in Islam is absolute. So is contempt toward women, who are totally dominated by men. This leads to a situation of pure anxiety, in which normal behavior is not possible. It is no coincidence that suicide killers are mostly young men dominated subconsciously by an overwhelming libido that they not only cannot satisfy but are afraid of, as if it is the work of the devil. Since Islam describes heaven as a place where everything on earth will finally be allowed, and promises 72 virgins to those frustrated kids, killing others and killing themselves to reach this redemption becomes their only solution.
Q: What was it like to interview would-be suicide bombers, their families, and survivors of suicide bombings?
A: It was a fascinating and a terrifying experience. You are dealing with seemingly normal people with very nice manners who have their own logic, which to a certain extent can make sense since they are so convinced that what they say is true. It is like dealing with pure craziness, like interviewing people in an asylum, since what they say, is for them, the absolute truth. I hear a mother saying "Thank God, my son is dead." Her son had become a shaheed, a martyr, which for her was a greater source of pride than if he had became an engineer, a doctor or a winner of the Nobel Prize. This system of values works completely backwards since their interpretation of Islam worships death much more than life. You are facing people whose only dream, only achievement is to fulfill what they believe to be their destiny, namely to be a shaheed or the family of a shaheed. They don't see the innocent being killed they only see the impure that they have to destroy.
Q: You say suicide bombers experience a moment of absolute power, beyond punishment. Is death the ultimate power?
A: Not death as an end, but death as a door open to the afterlife. They are seeking the reward that God has promised them. They work for God, the ultimate authority, above all human laws. They therefore experience this single delusional second of absolute power, where nothing bad can ever happen to them, since they become God's sword.
Q: Is there a suicide bomber personality profile? Describe the psychopathology.
A: Generally kids between 15 and 25 bearing a lot of complexes, generally inferiority complexes. They must have been fed with religion. They usually have a lack of developed personality. Usually they are impressionable idealists. In the western world they would easily have become drug addicts, but not criminals. Interestingly, they are not criminals since they don't see good and evil the same way that we do. If they had been raised in an Occidental culture, they would have hated violence. But they constantly battle against their own death anxiety. The only solution to this deep-seated pathology is to be willing to die and be rewarded in the after life in Paradise.
Q: Are suicide bombers principally motivated by religious conviction?
A: Yes, it is their only conviction. They don't act to gain a territory or to find freedom or even dignity. They only follow Allah, the supreme judge, and what He tells them to do.
Q: Do all Muslims interpret jihad and martyrdom in the same way?
A: All Muslim believers believe that, ultimately, Islam will prevail on earth. They believe this is the only true religion and there is no room, in their mind, for interpretation. The main difference between moderate Muslims and extremists is that moderate Muslims don't think they will see the absolute victory of Islam during their life time, therefore they respect other beliefs. The extremists believe that the fulfillment of the Prophecy of Islam and ruling the entire world, as described in the Koran, is for today. Each victory of Bin Laden convinces 20 million moderate Muslims to become extremists.
NOTE: According to books by ex-Muslims - They agree that your friendly Muslim at the Quick Stop or your neighbor across the street are Muslims first! Not Americans as we are - but Muslims - and if Islamic Law is the law of the land they will follow Islam to the letter of the law! Infidels are not in power - no freedom of the press - no wealth - etc!! )
Q: Describe the culture that manufactures suicide bombers.
A: Oppression, lack of freedom, brain washing, organized poverty, lacing God in charge of daily life, total separation between men and women, forbidding sex, giving women no power whatsoever, and placing men in charge of family honor, which is mainly connected to their women's behavior.
Q: What socio-economic forces support the perpetuation of suicide bombings?
A: Muslim charity is usually a cover for supporting terrorist organizations. But one has also to look at countries like Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Iran, which are also supporting the same organizations through different networks. The ironic thing in the case of Palestinian suicide bombers is that most of the money comes through financial support from the Occidental world, donated to a culture that utterly hates and rejects the West (mainly symbolized by Israel).
Q: Is there a financial support network for the families of the suicide bombers? If so, who is paying them and how does that affect the decision?
A: There used to be a financial incentive in the days of Saddam Hussein ($25,000 per family) and Yasser Arafat (smaller amounts), but these days are gone. It is a mistake to believe that these families would sacrifice their children for money. Although, the children themselves who are very attached to their families, might find in this financial support another reason to become suicide bombers. It is like buying a life insurance policy and then committing suicide.
Q: Why are so many suicide bombers young men?
A: As discussed above, libido is paramount. Also ego, because this is a sure way to become a hero. The shaheeds are the cowboys or the firemen of Islam. Shaheed is a positively reinforced value in this culture. And what kid has never dreamed of becoming a cowboy or a fireman?
Q: What role does the U.N. play in the terrorist equation?
A: The UN is in the hands of Arab countries and third world or ex-communists countries. Their hands are tied. The UN has condemned Israel more than any other country in the world, including the regime of Castro, Idi Amin, or Kaddahfi. By behaving this way, the UN leaves a door open by not openly condemning terrorist organizations. In addition, through UNRWA, the UN is directly tied to terror organizations such as Hamas, representing 65 percent of their apparatus in the so-called Palestinian refugee camps. As a support to Arab countries, the UN has maintained Palestinians in camps with the hope to "return" into Israel for more than 50 years, therefore making it impossible to settle those populations, which still live in deplorable conditions. Four-hundred million dollars are spent every year, mainly financed by U.S. taxes, to support 23,000 employees of UNRWA, many of whom belong to terrorist organizations (see Congressman Eric Cantor on this subject, and in my film "Hostages of Hatred").
Q: You say that a suicide bomber is a 'stupid bomb and a smart bomb' simultaneously. Explain what you mean.
A: Unlike an electronic device, a suicide killer has until the last second the capacity to change his mind. In reality, he is nothing but a platform representing interests which are not his, but he doesn't know it.
Q: How can we put an end to the madness of suicide bombings and terrorism in general?
A: Stop being politically correct and stop believing that this culture is a victim of ours. Radical Islamism today is nothing but a new form of Nazism. Nobody was trying to justify or excuse Hitler in the 1930s. We had to defeat him in order to make peace one day with the German people.
Q: Are these men traveling outside their native areas in large numbers? Based on your research, would you predict that we are beginning to see a new wave of suicide bombings outside the Middle East?
A: Every successful terror attack is considered a victory by the radical Islamists. Everywhere Islam expands there is regional conflict. Right now, there are thousands of candidates for martyrdom lining up in training camps in Bosnia, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Inside Europe, hundreds of illegal mosques are preparing the next step of brain washing to lost young men who cannot find a satisfying identity in the Occidental world. Israel is much more prepared for this than the rest of the world will ever be. Yes, there will be more suicide killings in Europe and the U.S. -------
Sadly, this is only the beginning. Be afraid. Be very, very afraid!!
#240
Sunday, October 01, 2006
A visit to Fort Leonard Wood, MO
On Thursday, September 29th, we were taken to Fort Leonard Wood to spend the day at the US Army Military Police School (USAMPS). Just about every retired officer had served at the USAMPS when it was at Fort Gordon, GA. Many of us had not seen the new facilities. We excitedly anticipated the visit.
The agenda included briefings from a young Captain, the Commandant of the school and the school's Command Sergeant Major. They reminded us of the primary duties of MP's.
It appears that there is a major change in how the Army is configured. It is becoming more mobile and flexible. The idea is to be able to design the force structure to meet the needs in the operational area.
There is a greater awareness that in the war on terrorism, Military Police are better suited than any other force. Consequently, more MP units are being added.
Our next event was lunch in the dining facility. We walked by the billets. I must say they sure are a lot different today than when I went through advanced training.
Typical MP trainee billets
USAMPS Dining Facility
Lunch was a unique experience. Upon entering the dining facility we were faced with the facilities to wash our hands before proceeding to lunch. The troops are fed very well. It was laid out typical buffet style and the variety was amazing. Everything from hot sandwiches to meat loaf, bar-b-q pork, potatoes, rice and vegetables. Then you came to a fantastic salad and dessert bar. Yes indeed, the troops are fed very well.
The afternoon was devoted to touring the training facilities. Below was the first of several we toured. It is known as the Mobile Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT) facility.
Here the trainees spend one day on crowd control, and the rest of the week learning how to deal with insurgents in an urban environment.
These are just a couple of views of the training location for MOUT. Here the trainees learn how to rely on and back up each other during these types of operations.
We were able to observe part of the training. It is amazing how well the perform. I witnessed a couple of them, one young man and one young woman carrying comrades who were designated as wounded. They do not leave comrades behind. Both of them had a heavy load and fulfilled that part of their mission in fine style.
It is safe to say that our Army is in good hands. All of these warrior police will do us all proud.
Everyone of the RMPO members were impressed with the work ethic and attitudes shown by these young people. We are proud of our Corps and know it is in good hands.
They are living up to the motto of the Corps--Of the Troops, For the Troops!
#239
The agenda included briefings from a young Captain, the Commandant of the school and the school's Command Sergeant Major. They reminded us of the primary duties of MP's.
It appears that there is a major change in how the Army is configured. It is becoming more mobile and flexible. The idea is to be able to design the force structure to meet the needs in the operational area.
There is a greater awareness that in the war on terrorism, Military Police are better suited than any other force. Consequently, more MP units are being added.
Our next event was lunch in the dining facility. We walked by the billets. I must say they sure are a lot different today than when I went through advanced training.
Typical MP trainee billets
USAMPS Dining FacilityThe afternoon was devoted to touring the training facilities. Below was the first of several we toured. It is known as the Mobile Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT) facility.
Here the trainees spend one day on crowd control, and the rest of the week learning how to deal with insurgents in an urban environment.
These are just a couple of views of the training location for MOUT. Here the trainees learn how to rely on and back up each other during these types of operations.
We were able to observe part of the training. It is amazing how well the perform. I witnessed a couple of them, one young man and one young woman carrying comrades who were designated as wounded. They do not leave comrades behind. Both of them had a heavy load and fulfilled that part of their mission in fine style.
It is safe to say that our Army is in good hands. All of these warrior police will do us all proud.
Everyone of the RMPO members were impressed with the work ethic and attitudes shown by these young people. We are proud of our Corps and know it is in good hands.
They are living up to the motto of the Corps--Of the Troops, For the Troops!
#239
Friday, September 29, 2006
Gone to Branson...
Every year for the past 31 years a group of us who are retired Military Police Officers have gotten together at various places to renew old friendships and make new ones. It is a time to reminisce, swap lies and war stories and remember fallen comrades. This year we met in Branson, MO. Having never been to Branson, my wife and I eagerly looked forward to it. We were fortunate to have a couple join us from Virginia. They stayed with us for two days on either side of the Branson trip. (There will be some photos of that in a future posting.)
The Military Police Regimental Association sponsored the weekend activities. It was a full four day series of events that were extremely well coordinated. If there were any glitches, we never knew about them. But what else can you expect when the MP's are on the job?
We arrived on Wednesday to the welcoming sign above. We stayed at the Grand Plaza Hotel. The list of events included a one day trip to the US Army Military Police School at Fort Leonard Wood on Thursday. Golfing, for those so inclined, on Friday.
The 12th hole at the Point Royale Golf Course in Branson.
Many of us went on the tour of the Stone Hill winery Saturday morning.
Wally was our tour guide. He was very informative about the history of the winery as well as the wine.
Bob showed us how they bottle Spumante Blush. It is quite an operation.
On Saturday evening we attended the usual banquet and dance.
Maryann and I had a great time. Too bad no one took a photo of us dancing. It is just as well. It would have to have been a moving picture to catch all of my most intricate moves. chuckle, snerx.
The Provost Marshal General, BG Johnson brought us up to date on the future of the Corps and how well we are doing given the circumstances under which the troops find themselves around the world. We can prevail over terrorists if the civilian leadership(?) will pay attention to the folks that know how to do it. I hope that is not just wishful thinking on my part - that the civilian leadership(?) will stay out of the way.
#238
The Military Police Regimental Association sponsored the weekend activities. It was a full four day series of events that were extremely well coordinated. If there were any glitches, we never knew about them. But what else can you expect when the MP's are on the job?
We arrived on Wednesday to the welcoming sign above. We stayed at the Grand Plaza Hotel. The list of events included a one day trip to the US Army Military Police School at Fort Leonard Wood on Thursday. Golfing, for those so inclined, on Friday.
The 12th hole at the Point Royale Golf Course in Branson.We could not have asked for a better day to play golf. It started out cool and never did get above 75 degrees.
After the day of golf many of us attended the Andy Williams & Petula Clark show. For an old guy he still puts on a great show. We were surprised and honored that he recognized us as a couple of hundred of his retired MP friends who were in attendance.
Maryann & I were in attendance. Here is the proof that we were there in front of the gift shop
Wally was our tour guide. He was very informative about the history of the winery as well as the wine.
Bob showed us how they bottle Spumante Blush. It is quite an operation.On Saturday evening we attended the usual banquet and dance.
Maryann and I had a great time. Too bad no one took a photo of us dancing. It is just as well. It would have to have been a moving picture to catch all of my most intricate moves. chuckle, snerx.
The Provost Marshal General, BG Johnson brought us up to date on the future of the Corps and how well we are doing given the circumstances under which the troops find themselves around the world. We can prevail over terrorists if the civilian leadership(?) will pay attention to the folks that know how to do it. I hope that is not just wishful thinking on my part - that the civilian leadership(?) will stay out of the way.#238
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