Less than ideal venue for volleyball.

I do wish I'd have been there!

re: #1 Fenway_Nation

Less than ideal venue for volleyball.

NNNEEEIIINNN

re: #1 Fenway_Nation

Do you swim well?
Marco Polo?

re: #1 Fenway_Nation

Less than ideal venue for volleyball.

But perfect for nekkid fishing.

Mind the hooks, though. All joking aside, that ain't bait.

re: #4 Floral Giraffe

When I was in the Army, we had this drill where we were had to dive into a pool with while wearing our uniforms, boots, full LCE (load-carrying equipment) and a fake-but-weighty plastic rifle. Since we were getting ready to deploy somewhere, they said this was in case our flight had to make an emergency landing.

I dove in and stayed in, swimming to the bottom of the pool every time somebody dropped a rifle or helmet...

/by choice, mind you.

Self taught, visually impaired:

12 year old Conrad plays SRV

re: #6 Fenway_Nation

It's good to practise bad things that MIGHT happen, so you are prepared. IF they do happen.

Marco?

Something oceanic...

Love the ocean. Hope to fish there one day. For leisure, not money.

G'nite Lizards.

re: #9 Jimmah

Water flowing underground...

Whenever I found the time, never had the money. Love the Oregon coast too.
/crys

G'night, all.
Stay feisty!
Bite them back!
LOL!

And now for something completely different

WooHoo!

Happy Times Are Here Again!

re: #13 Floral Giraffe

G'nite, sleepy springbok!

Season 1 of Magnum PI is up at Hulu.

Watched the pilot from 1980.

re: #17 Gus 802

An oldie but goodie. Too bad people outside the US can't watch hulu.

re: #18 Timmeh

An oldie but goodie. Too bad people outside the US can't watch hulu.

Really? Those laws are weird.

Loved Magnum PI. Thought Tom Selleck was a hoot when I first saw him on Rockford Files (another great series) as Lance White.

re: #1 Fenway_Nation

No updates to the sports blog tonight?

re: #20 akarra

I actually did one a little earlier this afternoon. Not too many games to report on (altho' that Boise State/Tulsa game was better than expected), so just some musings over the Red Sox offseason and Limbaugh's attempt to purchase the Rams.

Air Force "Bugbots"

The Prime Minister announces the Afghanistan Surge Plan in Parliament:

The IEDs are a growing menace, more UAVs, more MRAPs, even some helicopters, and plan to train and fight with the new Afghan troops and pacify the country side.

British troops will grow to 9,500 and refuse to allow terrorists to take back the country and will prevail and finish the job.

Hansard

re: #21 Fenway_Nation

I submitted the link to the linkviewer here, and also to another site that might/might not bring traffic. Good luck!

re: #24 akarra

Heh...thanks!

/Pretty freakin' sweet that I got someone else pimpin' my blog now.

re: #23 Bagua

The Prime Minister announces the Afghanistan Surge Plan in Parliament:

The IEDs are a growing menace, more UAVs, more MRAPs, even some helicopters, and plan to train and fight with the new Afghan troops and pacify the country side.

British troops will grow to 9,500 and refuse to allow terrorists to take back the country and will prevail and finish the job.

Hansard

Oh wow! I'm certainly grateful: fighting the Taliban is no fun, and quite a few countries want nothing to do with it.

re: #24 akarra

Oh...and here's the sports one I posted earlier today.

re: #25 Fenway_Nation

It's not a problem: using the linkviewer is too much fun, I've flooded the thing with posts of mine.

If you need help promoting something, just ask. Can't guarantee I'll be a ton of help, but I'll see what I can do.

re: #23 Bagua

Canada has anywhere from 2800 to 3600 troops in Afghanistan. I'm not sure what percentage of their total armed forces that is, but I think they had been taking the highest (per capita) casualties of the Allied/NATO forces over there. It was lost in the hullaballoo of the elections last year, but I think one of the Canadian commanders publicly shamed some of the more reluctant NATO countries into sending additional troops.

re: #27 Fenway_Nation

Wow it's quiet. I might have no choice but to submit another link.

re: #28 akarra

Appreciate that- I guess just go ahead and promote it where you feel as thought a blog like that might be appreciated (as opposed to an online forum dedicated to haiku or the importation of tulips).

re: #30 akarra

That will probably make the thread even deader and chase off any remaining lurkers.

re: #31 Fenway_Nation

If you want to try promoting your own blog at another forum, there's [Link: footballoutsiders.com...] - they use advanced statistics to see who's for real and who's not, but their commentary on personnel, strategies and all the rest is quite excellent too.

re: #33 akarra

Most of the time, I'm only able to catch the games on the radio- not even hi-def TV. So I can't really bring any more insight than someone who's actually seen the game unfold on TV...

re: #34 Fenway_Nation

Even on better sports forums and sites, I wonder just how many people bring "insight" to the game. The worst sports forums definitely have a "best lack all conviction / while the worst are full of passionate intensity" feel to them.

re: #35 akarra

The train stuff would probably put people to sleep...

But then again, the title IS 'Not Another New England Sports Blog!'

Good Morning LGF.

re: #37 Spare O'Lake

Good morning!

re: #37 Spare O'Lake

Brother, can you spare a lake?

G'night y'all...

Just a reminder, you only have 71 more shopping days until Christmas!

re: #40 freetoken

Goodnight!

Dan Rather, Katie Couric and an Israeli sergeant were all captured by terrorists in Iraq . The leader of the terrorists told them that he would grant them each one last request before they were beheaded.

Dan Rather said, "Well, I'm a Texan, so I'd like one last bowlful of hot spicy chili."

The leader nodded to an underling who left and returned with the chili.

Rather ate it all and said, "Now I can die content."

Katie Couric said, "I'm a reporter to the end. I want to take out my tape recorder and describe the scene here and what's about to happen. Maybe someday someone will hear it and know that I was on the job till the end."

The leader directed an aide to hand over the tape recorder and Couric dictated some comments. She then said, "Now I can die happy."

The leader turned and said, "And now, Mr. Israeli tough guy, what is your final wish?" "Kick me in the ass," said the soldier."

"What?" asked the leader? "Will you mock us in your last hour?"

"No, I'm not kidding. I want you to kick me in the ass," insisted the Israeli.

So the leader shoved him into the open and kicked him in the ass. The soldier went sprawling, but rolled to his knees, pulled a 9 mm pistol from under his flack jacket, and shot the leader dead. In the resulting confusion, he jumped to his knapsack, pulled out his carbine and sprayed the terrorists with gunfire. In a flash, all terrorists were either dead or fleeing for their lives.

As the soldier was untying Rather and Couric, they asked him, "Why didn't you just shoot them in the beginning? Why did you ask them to kick you in the ass first?"

"What?" replied the Israeli, "And have you two assholes report that I was the aggressor?

re: #39 Fenway_Nation

Brother, can you spare a lake?

Yo, bro.
How much does a Fenway?

re: #43 Spare O'Lake

Depends on if it's a ballgame or Phish concert.

/

re: #32 Fenway_Nation

I got bored and posted a link:

Should Political Science Receive Money from the Federal Government?

re: #45 akarra

Is that your blog?

re: #46 Fenway_Nation

Yeah.

re: #47 akarra

Ah...ok then. I thought you were reccomending other blogs for lack of one of your own.

/that would've been me up until 2 weeks ago.

I'm bored - a couple of servers melted down in the colo cage last night. Been sitting in a boston-area datacenter since about 4:30am waiting while we copy the backups back into place.

re: #49 KernelPanic

Hmm. Well, what do you usually read / watch / talk about?

re: #49 KernelPanic

It is definitely not quiet in Lahore...

re: #51 Fenway_Nation

That's terrible. I remember reading something in Long War Journal that said many Pakistanis did not consider the Taliban a threat. Is that true, you think?

re: #52 akarra

I'm not sure where I read it, but somebody said that the Pakistanis consider the Taliban useful as long as they're killing foreigners in Afghanistan.

Now that they're biting the hand that's fed them- alot- I imagine their ourlook is beginning to change.

/Then again, there's also a history of the pendulum swinging between weak, ineffectual civilian governments and ham-fisted military dictatorships.

A shootout Tuesday between Saudi security forces and al-Qaida militants — some of whom were disguised as women and wearing explosives belts — left two of the militants and a soldier dead, the Interior Ministry said.

Another soldier was lightly injured in the clash at a checkpoint in the south of the country, near the border with Yemen, said ministry spokesman Brig. Gen. Mansour al-Turki.

The shootout was the first known confrontation between authorities and al-Qaida since a suicide bomber injured Assistant Interior Minister Prince Mohammed bin Nayef in the western seaport of Jiddah on Aug. 27. The attacker was a member of the Yemen-based al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula.

In Tuesday's attack, security forces at the checkpoint stopped a car carrying three men, two of whom were disguised as women, al-Turki said in a statement.

When a female inspector approached the car to check the identities of those dressed as women, the three opened fire.

SNIP

President Hugo Chavez's government said on Wednesday it was taking control of a landmark hotel run by Hilton on Margarita island, announcing another nationalization by socialist-run Venezuela.

The 280-room hotel last month housed the likes of Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe and Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi for a summit of African and South American leaders.

An official decree from Chavez said the hotel complex, which also has 54 suites and 154 timeshare suites, was being taken over due to "the need to boost tourism" on Margarita, one of Venezuela's prime Caribbean destinations.

re: #55 MandyManners

President Hugo Chavez's government said on Wednesday it was taking control of a landmark hotel run by Hilton on Margarita island, announcing another nationalization by socialist-run Venezuela.

Wonder if Venezuelans will be allowed to visit the structure when presidente-for-life-tHugo is done nationalizing everything within sight. The Castros didn't (and as far as I know, still don't) allow Cubans anywhere near the big resorts and hotels for foreigners...

/didn't want them getting any bourgeoisie ideas about vacations or treating themselves or their families to something nice.

I'm out everyone - work is calling.

Take care, thanks so much for talking!

re: #55 MandyManners

First time I'd heard of that island was during this video game called Mercenaries 2, where the player's character has to destroy the remains of a CIA aircraft that got downed there and rescue the pilots from a makeshift POW camp in that hotel's parking lot.

re: #54 MandyManners

Overplaps very nicely with my update from Lahore.

The Islamothugs have been busy today, no?

re: #57 akarra

Take care, akarra!

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party on Wednesday said it had accepted a proposal to hold new presidential and legislative elections next year as part of a broad package meant to end a bitter rivalry with the Islamic militant group Hamas.

Fatah official Mohammed Dahlan said the party had signed the Egyptian-mediated proposal and was dispatching an envoy to Cairo on Thursday to deliver the response. With Egypt seeking a response by Thursday, it remained unclear whether Hamas would accept the deal.

"We have accepted the Egyptian request. Fatah doesn't want to put any obstacles in the way of efforts for national reconciliation. Whoever doesn't respond positively to these efforts will be held responsible," Dahlan said.

SNIP

re: #56 Fenway_Nation

Wonder if Venezuelans will be allowed to visit the structure when presidente-for-life-tHugo is done nationalizing everything within sight. The Castros didn't (and as far as I know, still don't) allow Cubans anywhere near the big resorts and hotels for foreigners...

/didn't want them getting any bourgeoisie ideas about vacations or treating themselves or their families to something nice.

I hadn't thought about that.

'Hey, leave Hugo alone. It's true, Chávez may not be a good man. But he may well be a great one.'

Regards, Sean

[Link: www.thenation.com...]

re: #58 laZardo

First time I'd heard of that island was during this video game called Mercenaries 2, where the player's character has to destroy the remains of a CIA aircraft that got downed there and rescue the pilots from a makeshift POW camp in that hotel's parking lot.

You kids and your games...

re: #59 Fenway_Nation

Overplaps very nicely with my update from Lahore.

The Islamothugs have been busy today, no?

I'm not too concerned about the threat to the Saudis at this time. Once ShortShit gets his nuke(s) or once the terrorists get Pakistan's nukes, I'll be really concerned.

re: #62 MandyManners

Luckily Chavez's idealogical mentor did. I figure it's only a matter of time before he does.

/possible upside- Venezuela has a high per-capita rate of international beaty pagaent winners...so maybe I could sponsor some hawt refugees

re: #63 BigPapa

Though I believe Hitchens to be as principled as he is brilliant, he can be combative to the point of bullying, as he once was in severe comments made about saintly antiwar activist Cindy Sheehan.

/palm through face

re: #66 Fenway_Nation

beauty

PIMF

re: #63 BigPapa

'Hey, leave Hugo alone. It's true, Chávez may not be a good man. But he may well be a great one.'

Regards, Sean

[Link: www.thenation.com...]

Three people who were glad 0bama won the election.

re: #63 BigPapa

'Hey, leave Hugo alone. It's true, Chávez may not be a good man. But he may well be a great one.'

Regards, Sean

[Link: www.thenation.com...]

Great actor, stupid political analyst.

re: #66 Fenway_Nation

Luckily Chavez's idealogical mentor did. I figure it's only a matter of time before he does.

/possible upside- Venezuela has a high per-capita rate of international beaty pagaent winners...so maybe I could sponsor some hawt refugees

Remember he tried to shut down golf courses?

re: #71 MandyManners

I think that's a work in progress. Good lord...even Fidel realized that those foreigners carrying Euro, pound sterling, greenbacks or loonies might want to shoot 9 holes while in the tropics...

re: #72 Fenway_Nation

Some animals being more equal than others?

re: #73 laZardo

Well...y'know. 4 legs good.

2 legs bad.

re: #72 Fenway_Nation

I think that's a work in progress. Good lord...even Fidel realized that those foreigners carrying Euro, pound sterling, greenbacks or loonies might want to shoot 9 holes while in the tropics...

His own minions in the legislature protested!

re: #74 Fenway_Nation

Well...y'know. 4 legs good.

2 legs bad. better.

You don't want Bush Jones back, do you?

/ :B

re: #76 laZardo

Hell...president 0bama's made me nostalgic for Clinton.

I'm seriously bummed. Neiman Marcus no longer carries the stationery I use--blind-embossed sheets, folder-over notes, correspondence cards, gift enclosures and envelopes. I figured I could get a local stationer to do them for me but, several have closed down. I'm really hesitant about choosing something on-line because I have a good relationship with Neiman Marcus based on years of business in other areas; I trust them. Maybe I'll contact them to find out if they'll give me the name of the manufacturer of the stuff I useta' buy.

Sure to get play in the right-o-sphere:

Obama's New Pastor Views Islam as Violent Faith

re: #78 MandyManners

Embossed stationary? Elegant... but unusual these days I think. I can't even remember the last time I received some embossed stationary...

re: #80 freetoken

Embossed stationary? Elegant... but unusual these days I think. I can't even remember the last time I received some embossed stationary...

It's pretty typical around here. Thank you notes, invitations, wedding gifts (either in the box or containing a check), condolence notes, et cet..

Flouncer Vaporizer Status: Normal...

re: #82 MandyManners

Ah, yes I do remember getting some wedding invites that were embossed...

But I meant as normal writing paper, as in sending letters to friends and family. Do you have your own embosser?

re: #84 freetoken

Ah, yes I do remember getting some wedding invites that were embossed...

But I meant as normal writing paper, as in sending letters to friends and family. Do you have your own embosser?

Yes, but, it's just my initials and is not appropriate for the stuff I need.

I've gone to a few printers but, all they offer is business-sized letterhead. They've had a hard time figuring out what blind-embossed means, prefering to try to sell me on raised ink and colors and the like. Gak.

Not evey Crane's on-line site is helpful.

re: #85 MandyManners

Well, even the Notary Publics have dispensed with raised seals around here long ago... it's all just ink (or digitial watermarks.)

re: #87 freetoken

Well, even the Notary Publics have dispensed with raised seals around here long ago... it's all just ink (or digitial watermarks.)

i'm a notary public and I have another embosser for that, as well as one that uses raised ink.

Well, the ink's not really raised.

China, reluctant to isolate Iran in its standoff with the West over its nuclear program, will maintain cooperation with Tehran and foster "close coordination in international affairs," Premier Wen Jiabao said on Thursday.

Wen made the comments to the visiting First Vice President of Iran, Mohammad Reza Rahimi, in Beijing for a forum of Central Asian states, the official Xinhua news agency reported.

While the United States and European powers call for greater pressure behind demands that Tehran be transparent about its nuclear plans, Wen's comments suggested Beijing remained unwilling to risk its oil and investment ties with Iran by backing such demands.

Wen, quoted by Xinhua, said China was willing "to maintain high-level contacts with Iran, encourage mutual understanding and confidence, promote practical cooperation between the two sides and close coordination in international affairs."

Wen also said: "China is willing to continue playing a constructive role in promoting peaceful resolution of the Iranian nuclear issue."

SNIP

PUTIN'S WARNING

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, also in Beijing for the meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, warned on Wednesday against intimidating Iran and said talk of sanctions over its nuclear program was "premature.

Putin was speaking after U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton failed to secure any specific assurances from Russia on Iran during talks in Moscow.

SNIP

Whoa. Something's going on in Pakistan involving a school.

re: #91 MandyManners

Lahore, I believe.

I think it's either a police or military academy.

/See spinoff links under the 'Terrorism' category.

A large explosion was heard in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar on Thursday, police told the Associated Press.

Local media reported that there were casualties, but did not give a specific death toll.

Authorities did not immediately report what caused the blast, which happened at a school in the Gulshan Rehman colony on Kohat on the outskirts of Peshawar.

[Link: www.foxnews.com...]

re: #92 Fenway_Nation

Lahore, I believe.

I think it's either a police or military academy.

/See spinoff links under the 'Terrorism' category.

From what I've gathered, this is not that academy. That ended today with dead terrorists.

re: #90 MandyManners

At least the Chinese are upfront about being "all about the oil."

re: #95 laZardo

At least the Chinese are upfront about being "all about the oil."

Naked greed is refreshing at times.

re: #94 MandyManners

AFP Reported another attack in Lahore on top of the military academy seige and a car bomb within the last week.

But nothing about the explosion in Peshawar.

/What fresh hell is this?

According to this:

[Link: news.yahoo.com...]

It was the third incident in the area today.

Then shall our names,
Familiar in his mouth as household words-
Charles the Lizard King, Mandy and FBV,
Iceweasel and Sharmuta, Mich-again and Reine-
Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb'red.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered!

Good morning, everyone!

Jesus J-Damn Christ- is Pakistan trying to be the worlds first failed nuclear state?

re: #97 Fenway_Nation

AFP Reported another attack in Lahore on top of the military academy seige and a car bomb within the last week.

But nothing about the explosion in Peshawar.

/What fresh hell is this?

Fox is reporting it in No. 93.

Playing geopolitician, here's another good reason for bolstering our mission in Afghanistan and seeing it through to some sort of stable conclusion: Pakistani stability. If western nations leave Afghanistan it will naturally return to Talib control, and this would mean more trouble for Pakistan -- not less.

re: #99 SteveC

Holy Fuck! I made a poem!

re: #100 Fenway_Nation

Jesus J-Damn Christ- is Pakistan trying to be the worlds first failed nuclear state?

Should I miss Musharaf?

re: #102 Liberal Classic

Playing geopolitician, here's another good reason for bolstering our mission in Afghanistan and seeing it through to some sort of stable conclusion: Pakistani stability. If western nations leave Afghanistan it will naturally return to Talib control, and this would mean more trouble for Pakistan -- not less.

Remember BHO saying he would invade Pakistan or something similar?

re: #98 freetoken

From the link:

Peshawar police chief Ijaz Khan says the car bomb went off outside a home near a school Thursday evening in the city's Gulshan Rehman area. The school was closed at the time.

Work accident or warning?

re: #100 Fenway_Nation

Jesus J-Damn Christ- is Pakistan trying to be the worlds first failed nuclear state?

Survey says... YES!

If we had a White House with Intestinal Fortitude, you could make a good case for Nuclear Weapon Search and Seizure.

re: #104 MandyManners

Long answer 'No, if...'

Short answer 'Yes, but...'

re: #103 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Holy Fuck! I made a poem!

Watch your mouth! Poetry heroes don't talk like that! :)

Social Security to make it official: No COLA

Blame falling consumer prices for no automatic increase next year. By law, Social Security's cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, is pegged to inflation, which was negative this year, due largely to falling energy costs.

Yeah... right...

Natural gas costs are down due to a glut... which has knock on effect for coal... but I know personally that my disposable item costs have gone up. Notably those things which retired people spend their money on: food (at the retail level), clothing, and sundries, I have noticed some significant increases out here.

re: #107 SteveC

Survey says... YES!

If we had a White House with Intestinal Fortitude, you could make a good case for Nuclear Weapon Search and Seizure.

See No. 105.

re: #109 SteveC

Watch your mouth! Poetry heroes don't talk like that! :)

What makes you think poultry heroes don't talk like that?

re: #109 SteveC

Must I pull out the Nantucket Treatise?

re: #108 Fenway_Nation

Long answer 'No, if...'

Short answer 'Yes, but...'

He might've been a strong-armed bastard but, he seemed to keep the Jihadis in line better than the current government.

re: #105 MandyManners

Remember BHO saying he would invade Pakistan or something similar?

I do remember some tough talk regarding Pakistan from early in the campaign, but I don't recall his exact words. It left me kind of confused, because Pakistan is an ally against the Talibs in the region. Not a perfectly solid ally (due to sympathy for the Talibs among a certain percent of the population/army/government) but an ally nonetheless.

Now what did Burlington Coat Factory do to deserve this?

Funny if not so poopy.

re: #110 freetoken

Social Security to make it official: No COLA

Yeah... right...

Natural gas costs are down due to a glut... which has knock on effect for coal... but I know personally that my disposable item costs have gone up. Notably those things which retired people spend their money on: food (at the retail level), clothing, and sundries, I have noticed some significant increases out here.

Don't worry, Poppa Washington wants to send you $250 for your contributions as a productive citizen to ensure your vote for the Democratic ticket.

re: #113 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Must I pull out the Nantucket Treatise?

Is that what you kids are calling it nowadays?

re: #114 MandyManners

Yes...although I think both Mushaaraf and the current gov't are/were being undercut by the Interservices Intelligence Directorate (ISI).

re: #113 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Must I pull out the Nantucket Treatise?

That sounds like something I'd pull out of my -

Whoops! Well, guess I'll be in the comedy section, not high poetry! :)

//

re: #119 Fenway_Nation

Yes...although I think both Mushaaraf and the current gov't are/were being undercut by the Interservices Intelligence Directorate (ISI).

I'd be more at ease if Musharaf were still in charge.

re: #117 SteveC

That's the thing... I wish they would just drop the gimmickry and own up the fact that the COLA calculations are just absurd.

However, if the SSA actually adjusted annually the payments for the inflation that seniors do experience (and remember, retired people have different requirements than young people) it is likely the SS trust fund would go bankrupt much sooner than currently projected.

As a nation we just are refusing to look at the truth, and keep lying to ourselves.

re: #122 freetoken

As a nation we just are refusing to look at the truth, and keep lying to ourselves.

And we're not really good liars.

re: #122 freetoken

As a nation we just are refusing to look at the truth, and keep lying to ourselves.

Until that one day when someone says "Hello, Vinny. It's your Uncle Bingo. Time to pay the check!"

Shit, meet fan.

re: #121 MandyManners

Me too...but not by much.

I have absolutely nothing to prove this with, but opium/heroin flows out of Afghanistan and Pakistan and weapons, munitions and fighters flow in to the Taliban. The ISI was one of the earliest benefactors of the Taliban and I'm sure they make a nice chunk of change funneling narcotics out of and weaponry into the reigon.

And any Pakistani General or president who fucks with that dynamic will have hell to pay.

re: #105 MandyManners

Here's the quote:

"Let me make this clear," Obama said in a speech prepared for delivery at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. "There are terrorists holed up in those mountains who murdered 3,000 Americans. They are plotting to strike again. It was a terrible mistake to fail to act when we had a chance to take out an al-Qaida leadership meeting in 2005. If we have actionable intelligence about high-value terrorist targets and President Musharraf won't act, we will."

Source:
[Link: news.aol.com...]

I'm not sure of the source, but this one seemed to be ok.

I don't really consider this meaning as a wholesale invasion of Pakistan, but it is fairly tough talk that does involve violating their sovereignty. This was when he was running neck and neck with Clinton for the nomination and was wanting to show some foreign policy backbone.

My hope is that the increased attacks in Pakistan will help turn public (and parts of the government that are on the fence) against the Talibs. If the Pakistanis become 100% committed, and we renew our commitment to Afghanistan, then we have a solid hammer and anvil.

re: #125 Fenway_Nation

Me too...but not by much.

I have absolutely nothing to prove this with, but opium/heroin flows out of Afghanistan and Pakistan and weapons, munitions and fighters flow in to the Taliban. The ISI was one of the earliest benefactors of the Taliban and I'm sure they make a nice chunk of change funneling narcotics out of and weaponry into the reigon.

And any Pakistani General or president who fucks with that dynamic will have hell to pay.

Money trumps ideology and religion or, in the case of Islam, a combination thereof.

re: #125 Fenway_Nation

I don't have any proof either, but IMO that's a perfectly reasonable conjecture. Drug smuggling requires conduits through which money and drugs may pass. I wonder how much goes through Pakistan, and how much goes through the former Soviet republics?

According to the police in Peshawar, the nearby school was empty at the time of the bombing. I think that's the Taliban's way of sending a warning.

Gosh durn it!

Every Halloween, without fail, I fall victim to the Peanut Butter Kiss. I just finished off a bag that I bought Monday Night. And I'm driving into town again today.

I love/hate Halloween!

re: #126 Liberal Classic

Here's the quote:

Source:
[Link: news.aol.com...]

I'm not sure of the source, but this one seemed to be ok.

I don't really consider this meaning as a wholesale invasion of Pakistan, but it is fairly tough talk that does involve violating their sovereignty. This was when he was running neck and neck with Clinton for the nomination and was wanting to show some foreign policy backbone.

My hope is that the increased attacks in Pakistan will help turn public (and parts of the government that are on the fence) against the Talibs. If the Pakistanis become 100% committed, and we renew our commitment to Afghanistan, then we have a solid hammer and anvil.

Was that meeting in Pakistan's tribal areas?

re: #127 MandyManners

Well...if you wanna look at it this way, it's a win-win for the Taliban. The kuffirs send them money so they can poison themselves slowly with the H. Or they come to Afghanistan, where the Taliban has the opportunity to kill infidels or ascend to paradise as a martyr slain on the battlefield.

Makes sense in a backwards, misogynist, twisted way...

re: #128 Liberal Classic

As for the weaponry, I'm sure there's still a bunch left over from the Soviet invasion/Civil War- but that's gotta be approaching the end of it's shelf-life.

re: #132 Fenway_Nation

Well...if you wanna look at it this way, it's a win-win for the Taliban. The kuffirs send them money so they can poison themselves slowly with the H. Or they come to Afghanistan, where the Taliban has the opportunity to kill infidels or ascend to paradise as a martyr slain on the battlefield.

Makes sense in a backwards, misogynist, twisted way...

Got their bases covered.

Oh...fuck...me...

I hope this ain't true, but does anyone else remember fleabag commie harpie Giulia Sgrena?

This might be a Sgrena redux...that's already had disastrous consequences for our allies in Afghanistan.

So, AIG, the beneficiary of govt millions, announced a $20 BILLION fund for employee bonuses. Which I'm sure will cause rejoicing aomng those unemployed millions.

But, hey, capitalism benefits everyone, right?

Theoretically...

Next week is nostalgia week at The Kid's school. On 80s day, I'm letting him wear two of my buttons from the time after I dropped out of the CPUSA and joined the GOP. One has an American flag with the words "PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH" on it.

The other has a photograph of Lt. Col. Oliver North and the words, "I WAS CONTRA, WHEN CONTRA WASN'T COOL" under it.

I'm still looking for my "BOOKS NOT BOMBS" button.

re: #135 Fenway_Nation

Oh...fuck...me...

I hope this ain't true, but does anyone else remember fleabag commie harpie Giulia Sgrena?

This might be a Sgrena redux...that's already had disastrous consequences for our allies in Afghanistan.

I posted a link yesterday or Tuesday about a Libyan who tried to blow up an Italian military post in Italy but he was stopped and blew up bits of himself.

re: #137 MandyManners

Next week is nostalgia week at The Kid's school. On 80s day, I'm letting him wear two of my buttons from the time after I dropped out of the CPUSA and joined the GOP. One has an American flag with the words "PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH" on it.

The other has a photograph of Lt. Col. Oliver North and the words, "I WAS CONTRA, WHEN CONTRA WASN'T COOL" under it.

I'm still looking for my "BOOKS NOT BOMBS" button.

You're gonna start a riot! Can I come watch? :)

re: #136 JEA62

So, AIG, the beneficiary of govt millions, announced a $20 BILLION fund for employee bonuses. Which I'm sure will cause rejoicing aomng those unemployed millions.

But, hey, capitalism benefits everyone, right?

Theoretically...

Link?

re: #139 SteveC

You're gonna start a riot! Can I come watch? :)

This is a very conservative school.

Speaking of the devil, gotta' git.

re: #141 MandyManners

This is a very conservative school.

*pouts*

re: #136 JEA62

Yep...that other system worked out so well with the equality of grinding poverty...

Consumer Price Index up 0.2%

re: #138 MandyManners

Saw that...I hope this is just muckraking and speculation.

BUT the Italians paid to get Sgrena back...no telling how much Semtex or RPG's that brought Al Qaida in Iraq.

Jobless claims 514,000 - down 10,000, I think.

OK...hasta, lizards.

Here's an amusing story about the British National Party.

Constitutional change

Ah, the innocence of youth...wait, what?

Kid steals bike, other boy reports his bike stolen, first kid gets caught, so he decides to get his posse together and go pour alcohol on the boy and set him on fire for "snitching him out."

Honestly, isn't that just a little bit of an over-reaction, or am I just living in the past again?

[Link: abcnews.go.com...]

re: #150 ausador

Being the bitter, cynical post-teen that I am, I'm currently trying to find a Horatio Caine one-liner to fit the situation.

re: #151 laZardo

To the perp..
"Well now it seems you both got burned"!

re: #151 laZardo

Being the bitter, cynical post-teen that I am, I'm currently trying to find a Horatio Caine one-liner to fit the situation.

"I have a burning desire to put this posse in the hoosegow."

re: #151 laZardo
Well the way so called "kids" act these days
I'll be suprised if their not charged as adults!

re: #152 reloadingisnotahobby

Or...

[sunglasses]

...it's time to put whoever did this on ice.

re: #155 laZardo
Remember when a punch in the chops got the message across?

re: #156 reloadingisnotahobby

I tried that against a bully in school. Unfortunately the bully had rich parents.

Remember kids, don't stand up. It makes things worse.

MUSIK!

re: #140 MandyManners
My apoloiges, it was Goldman-Sachs. I also misstated the amount - it's TWENTY-THREE billion dollars:

[Link: www.publicradio.org...]

Meanwhile, in other great economic news, new unemployment applications are down to a MERE 514K this week:

[Link: www.publicradio.org...]

re: #159 JEA62

My apoloiges, it was Goldman-Sachs. I also misstated the amount - it's TWENTY-THREE billion dollars:

[Link: www.publicradio.org...]

Meanwhile, in other great economic news, new unemployment applications are down to a MERE 514K this week:

[Link: www.publicradio.org...]

Thanks!

re: #40 freetoken

:D

re: #45 akarra

I got bored and posted a link:

Should Political Science Receive Money from the Federal Government?

Speaking as a person with a degree in PS, who ended up in IT. NO! NO! NO! Not enough? HELL NO!

re: #110 freetoken

Social Security to make it official: No COLA

Yeah... right...

Natural gas costs are down due to a glut... which has knock on effect for coal... but I know personally that my disposable item costs have gone up. Notably those things which retired people spend their money on: food (at the retail level), clothing, and sundries, I have noticed some significant increases out here.

That's going to go over well with voting seniors.

//Yes, I think I have to sarc tag this, due to it being me.

re: #116 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Given the state of journalistic media, it's probably a viral marketing hoax.

If I won a fictitious lottery, buying dog coats at the BCF wouldn't be my first stop.

re: #164 gregb

No, it's real. Being reported more than one place.

I just received the most outrageous piece of hate mail that I've ever seen in my life. The sender took it upon itself to trash my fiance, trash my children, and trash my son who is serving. It also contained a frank personal threat that I'm not going to ignore.

Fuck it, I don't need a damned break.
The only way to deal with this kind of evil is to stand up to it, and keep standing up to it wherever and whenever the opportunity presents itself.

As for the people who have left this place to embrace insanity and make nice with the people who are doing these things, for the sake of their own personal comfort... the hell with them. They never were my friends, they were only here for their own selfish and self-centered purposes. And they don't deserve another second of my precious time.

Good morning, lizardia.

re: #165 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

No, it's real. Being reported more than one place.

And yes I know you want me to take a break.
Sorry, I'm not going to.

re: #85 MandyManners

My Mom used Neiman's for those as well but there's a place that does excellent work that I use now and they have a store at both ends of the state... they are pretty quick too...I don't know if we're supposed to post links to businesses here so google The Stovall Collection.