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2005 March 02 — Why Now?
On-line Opinion Magazine…OK, it's a blog
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What States Have You Been In?


bold the states you’ve been to, underline the states you’ve lived in and italicize the state you’re in now…

Alabama | Alaska | Arizona | Arkansas | California | Colorado | Connecticut | Delaware | Florida | Georgia | Hawaii | Idaho | Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Kansas | Kentucky | Louisiana | Maine | Maryland | Massachusetts | Michigan | Minnesota | Mississippi | Missouri | Montana | Nebraska | Nevada | New Hampshire | New Jersey | New Mexico | New York | North Carolina | North Dakota | Ohio | Oklahoma | Oregon | Pennsylvania | Rhode Island | South Carolina | South Dakota | Tennessee | Texas | Utah | Vermont | Virginia | Washington | West Virginia | Wisconsin | Wyoming | Washington D.C

Go HERE to have a form generate the HTML for you.

Edit: Stolen from Steve who stole it from Allan. The joy of being a military brat who joined the military.


March 2, 2005   Comments Off on What States Have You Been In?

Taking Credit


There is no doubt that the Bush administration will take credit for anything positive that occurs the Middle East and accept no blame for anything bad that happens.

This claim of spreading democracy in the region, usually by pointing to the Iraqi elections, would be a good deal more believable if a few of America’s allies in the region would hold some free and open elections after releasing the local media from its state-run status.

If Pakistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, etc. would show a little willingness to improve their standing on the State Department’s list of human rights abusers, and allow a little democracy for their citizens, I might think we were having a positive effect. If a few of them would advance from the 13th to even the 18th century, I might see something positive coming from this total disaster.

Personally, think the one individual who has the most profound effect on the possibility of some democratization of the Middle East was Yasser Arafat. His death resulted in a generally democratic election taking place in occupied Palestine. Now if Sharon would do the world a favor and die, we might see some peace in the area, as long as he isn’t assassinated.


March 2, 2005   Comments Off on Taking Credit

We’re In The Book


On All Things Considered today, Robert Siegel talked with Imad Moustapha, the Syrian ambassador to the United States.

Mr. Moustapha repeated the Syrian government’s position that they had sent troops into Lebanon at the request of the Lebanese government, and now that the Lebanese government has asked them to leave, they will withdraw the troops.

In response to a question about the recent comments by Condoleezza Rice and George Bush, Mr. Moustapha wondered why their concerns were made to the press and not to the government of Syria.

Asked about claims that the recent attack in Israel was aided by groups in Syria, he noted that such claims had been made in the past, but to date no evidence has been presented to the Syrian government to support any of the claims, and indicated that it would be nice if such things were handled in diplomatic meetings between governments instead of press conferences.


March 2, 2005   Comments Off on We’re In The Book

Mary E. Walker, MD


The only woman ever awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, she was a military doctor during the Civil War. The award was signed by Andrew Johnson, taken away under Woodrow Wilson, and reinstated by Jimmy Carter.

This page is a condensed version of her life.

Writing about Major General Rainville reminded me of Dr. Walker.

[Edit: Woodrow Wilson was a Virginian who thought D.W. Griffith’s The Birth Of A Nation was “fair and balanced”.]


March 2, 2005   Comments Off on Mary E. Walker, MD

Who Is The Terrorist


Maru, who recently returned from a “vacation” at an undisclosed location in the Caribbean, tells us that Yahoo has a story about the Canadian Minister of Defense, Bill Graham, was delayed at the airport, apparently because of a US watch list.

Assuming this isn’t more Bullshevik pique because the Canadians don’t want to play “Star Wars” with George, who is the William Graham on the list?

Perhaps it is the “star” of WWF: Superstar Billy Graham? No, the WWF has too much in common with NASCAR. Targeting an idol of their base wouldn’t be very Republican.

Perhaps it is Nixon’s favorite preacher: Reverend Billy Graham? No, see above.

It must be the concert promoter: Bill Graham. Just the thing: a Russian Jewish immigrant who fled the Nazis and made a pile of money in Rock and Roll. So similar to George Soros, that wingnuts would drool over any inconvenience. Even better, since he died in 1991, he can’t even sue. Yep, it must Bill Graham.


March 2, 2005   Comments Off on Who Is The Terrorist