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Talk of sanctions on Iran premature: France
Today's Headlines
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Page 3: Non-WoT
15 00:00 Frank G [7] 
17 00:00 49 Pan [12] 
16 00:00 Filthy Onion [8] 
13 00:00 3dc [5] 
11 00:00 Redneck Jim [7] 
26 00:00 Aris Katsaris [11] 
9 00:00 Glenmore [6] 
0 [5] 
5 00:00 BigEd [8] 
16 00:00 xbalanke [10] 
Page 1: WoT Operations
16 00:00 macofromoc [16]
3 00:00 Kalle (kafir forever) [9]
5 00:00 Kalle (kafir forever) [13]
17 00:00 lotp [6]
0 [10]
28 00:00 6 [5]
9 00:00 MacNails [9]
10 00:00 lotp [5]
19 00:00 Nimble Spemble [5]
0 [4]
11 00:00 Darrell [6]
4 00:00 trailing wife [4]
1 00:00 CaziFarkus [5]
1 00:00 trailing wife [8]
1 00:00 CaziFarkus [5]
11 00:00 bk [5]
19 00:00 Redneck Jim [7]
Page 2: WoT Background
6 00:00 gromky [5]
0 [6]
0 [5]
2 00:00 Frank G [9]
8 00:00 Brett [7]
15 00:00 JosephMendiola [8]
15 00:00 Ernest Brown [6]
18 00:00 6 [6]
1 00:00 GK [6]
7 00:00 2b [11]
4 00:00 The Angry Fliegerabwehrkanonen [4]
5 00:00 trailing wife [4]
20 00:00 James [7]
4 00:00 6 [10]
4 00:00 john [3]
2 00:00 2b [1]
8 00:00 lotp [7]
14 00:00 Redneck Jim [4]
7 00:00 Perfessor [4]
Page 4: Opinion
5 00:00 Barbara Skolaut [6]
8 00:00 Steve White [11]
3 00:00 6 [4]
8 00:00 twobyfour [4]
-Short Attention Span Theater-
Seattle ark dealerships showing record profits...
People in water-logged Washington now have official confirmation of something they've been suspecting: It's been raining a lot. The city had its 26th straight day of rain Friday and was just a week short of the 1953 record of 33 consecutive rainy days.
Over half way to 40 days and 40 nights, are they? This wouldn't be happening if they were Episcopalians... Oh. Wait...
Daily rainfall records have already fallen in Seattle and Olympia. More seriously, officials worried about the potential for more landslides and floods, warning that the saturated landscape can't hold much more water. "What we need is blankets and tents from Pakistan a reprieve," Tony Fantello, maintenance and operations manager for Pierce County Water Programs in Tacoma, told The News Tribune. "Everything is just overtaxed.
Well, it is Seattle...
Even 24 to 36 hours of dry conditions really help take the heat off." No dice. Mostly light rain fell early Friday, and the weather service predicted more over the next 10 days. Meteorologist Danny Mercer said he thinks the rain will continue at least until Jan. 20, when Seattle would tie the 1953 mark. "We have a front coming in almost every single day, with very few breaks in between these systems," Mercer said.
Posted by: Fred || 01/14/2006 09:36 || Comments || Link || [12 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Meanwhile, in Arizona, we haven't had rain since October, the mountains are bare of snow. It's the driest year ever.

So, how 'bout a trade in February?
Posted by: Jackal || 01/14/2006 9:45 Comments || Top||

#2  How 'bout I come to camp for a few weeks in Arizona this winter? I'd like some dry warm weather for a change...
Posted by: Whutch Threth6418 || 01/14/2006 9:54 Comments || Top||

#3  I grew up in the seattle area and I am quite sick and tired of the rain. I'm growing webbed feet - and you try typing with webbed fingers!.

We don't tan here -- we rust.

Posted by: CrazyFool || 01/14/2006 10:03 Comments || Top||

#4  The great claim that Arizona is having the driest winter in centuries, sorta misses out on a few facts. That is, there are probably no meteorological records dating from before 1880, and even then, just local ones. Statewide records probably didn't begin until the 1930s.

Similarly, the dry Salt River in Phoenix flooded in 1968, for the first time in 70 years. They called it a "100 year flood", and dummies started rebuilding in the riverbottom. Four years later they had another flood. This one they called a "500 year flood, so go ahead and rebuild". Few did, which was fortunate, because a few years later there was another flood.

That's the thing about weather. So unpredicatble. Especially when you pull your statistics out of thin air.
Posted by: Anonymoose || 01/14/2006 10:19 Comments || Top||

#5  It appears that the water is actually needed a little further east. Maybe all that metro buildup in Seattle has created a micro climate that is making a man made barrier to proper flow. Time for some serious restrictions Kyoto style for the environmentally aware of the metroplex.
Posted by: Slatle Slinelet1894 || 01/14/2006 10:47 Comments || Top||

#6  I foresee changes in the weather over the next several months, but trust me, tomorrow is likely to be similar today - unless it's not.
Posted by: 6 || 01/14/2006 11:17 Comments || Top||

#7  Dig some drainage ditches. It's been done elsewhere.
Posted by: trailing wife || 01/14/2006 11:28 Comments || Top||

#8  looks like San Diego may get some rain late today - should be in AZ tomorrow - more storms behind it and jet stream's moved a little south, cross your fingers. We're dry here too
Posted by: Frank G || 01/14/2006 11:34 Comments || Top||

#9  Frank G: appreciate the rain, but the point is, why bother? Southern Arizona is a desert. Desert. It's not supposed to look like Virginia, no matter what some land developers promise.

And seriously, in past, that is what some developers have promised: "A little piece of Virginia in Arizona". Lots of lakes and golf courses. C'mon, get real.

Sooner or later the water will run down, if not out. Even thought they pipeline it in, it costs money and it just isn't natural. There is a point of diminishing returns with terraforming. 100 days without rain is not that unusual here.

Sure, it's fine to make a place more comfortable, but there are limits.

Trying to make Virginia out of a desert is just as silly as building your house on a frequent flood plain and expecting your insurance to pay for 20 years of flooding in a row.

Oh well. Eventually people will figure it out. Hopefully that will be the end of Tempe Town Lake.
Posted by: Anonymoose || 01/14/2006 13:09 Comments || Top||

#10  holds the dust down....
Posted by: Frank G || 01/14/2006 14:22 Comments || Top||

#11  Wasn't it some years ago when some beltway EPA guy proposed that Phoenix should reduce its particulate air pollution by "watering down the desert?"

(Fortunately, that brilliant notion didn't even make it out of D.C.)
Posted by: Anonymoose || 01/14/2006 15:11 Comments || Top||

#12  No rain yet today! Kind of Grey and threatening though...
And yes we are Over Taxed, it's crazy :(

The media just hypes the rain up every year, it's nothing new...it always rains alot besides they have little else to do.

No umbrellas and never turn your wipers on.
Posted by: bk || 01/14/2006 16:23 Comments || Top||

#13  I agree with you somewhat, 'mooose. Tucson is a little better than Phoenix in that most of our homes do not have grass yards (perhaps 1/3 do in the back, but very few have grass in front). I do have mostly LWU plants and don't have a pool. While we have too damn many golf courses (zero is the ideal number), many of them are "desert" courses.

Yes, yes, it's a desert. However, it's supposed to be the least desert-y desert in the world, with more percipitation than any other "desert."

Watch for lots of water restrictions on homeowners, who use maybe 10%, while few if any on the 60% used by agriculture (growing cotton??? though at least they no longer grow rice in the desert) and the 30% used by industry.

They're saying maybe perhaps there will be rain tomorrow. Or maybe not.
Posted by: Jackal || 01/14/2006 16:57 Comments || Top||

#14  The weather forcast is: seasonal with variations.
Bob and Ray
Posted by: Inspector Clueso || 01/14/2006 17:38 Comments || Top||

#15  #3: I grew up in the seattle area and I am quite sick and tired of the rain. I'm growing webbed feet - and you try typing with webbed fingers!.

Despite the Rainfall reputation that Seattle has, Mobile's annual rainfall average is greater, and we don't complain of webbed feet.
Frankly here on the gulf, webbed feet would be an advantage.
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 01/14/2006 20:35 Comments || Top||

#16  Its not freeeeezing cold in Mobile
Posted by: bk || 01/14/2006 23:44 Comments || Top||

#17  So bk, you back in Seattle? Or being washed down stream?
Posted by: 49 Pan || 01/14/2006 23:51 Comments || Top||


Arabia
Riyadh blames pilgrims for stampede
"Couldn't o' been our fault. Musta been theirs. Dumbasses."
Posted by: Fred || 01/14/2006 00:00 || Comments || Link || [6 views] Top|| File under:

#1  The religion of blame.
Posted by: 2b || 01/14/2006 0:22 Comments || Top||

#2  The Religious Policeman, in his Jan 13 posting, had some interesting observations as to the cause and suggestions to prevent this from recuring again and again. But why not just blame it on the the lunatics of the full moon?
Posted by: GK || 01/14/2006 0:30 Comments || Top||

#3  I'm shocked.

I thought they'd blame Allen (like last time)

Everything in the world is Allen's will, right?

Right?
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut || 01/14/2006 0:32 Comments || Top||

#4  I say they should have one every month , just like that religious policeman article suggests ..



Posted by: MacNails || 01/14/2006 1:57 Comments || Top||

#5  Since I knew this was coming, does that make me a prophet? Can I start my own religion? Can I have 11 wives and have other people give me lots of money? Can my followers lay waste Luxembourg and forcibly convert the inhabitants?
Posted by: Fred || 01/14/2006 9:31 Comments || Top||

#6  #3. Barbara you are correct. Crown Prince Sultan, after a thorough 48 hour investigation of the incident that took place at the entrance of the eastern Jamarat Bridge, issued a statement on Thursday saying "this has been predestined by Almighty Allah and no one can prevent fate." His Brother Nayif seconded the motion: ".....we all know the large number of security forces that were deployed this year, but some things are just above the ability of human beings. What happened was God’s will." From the Religious Policeman's Jan 14 posting.
Posted by: GK || 01/14/2006 10:13 Comments || Top||

#7 
Handover the luggage Liberty.

jeebus, the things we do for pilgrims.
Posted by: 6 || 01/14/2006 11:23 Comments || Top||

#8  His Brother Nayif seconded the motion: ".....we all know the large number of security forces that were deployed this year, but some things are just above the ability of human beings. What happened was God’s will."

Well that settles it. No need for litigation in the Magic Kingdom.
Posted by: The Angry Fliegerabwehrkanonen || 01/14/2006 13:51 Comments || Top||

#9  I thought for sure it was Bush's fault??? Isn't EVERYTHING? That's what the television always tells me.
Posted by: Glenmore || 01/14/2006 16:01 Comments || Top||


Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia
Mongolian government collapses
Mongolia's coalition government collapsed late on Friday after parliament voted to accept a mass resignation from the cabinet of Tsakhia Elbegdorj, the country's prime minister. Sanjaasuren Oyun, the leader of the minority Civil Will Party and a member of parliament, told AFP that parliament debated well into the night before ratifying Wednesday's mass resignation, a move that will lead to Elbegdorj's dismissal after less than two years in power. All 10 cabinet members belonging to the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP), which has dominated politics for most of the nation's 14 years of post-Soviet democracy, triggered the crisis when they resigned on Friday.

Hundreds of angry protesters took to the streets of the capital, Ulan Bator, on Thursday in support of the prime minister, although the situation had eased on Friday after the deployment of police and security forces.
Posted by: Fred || 01/14/2006 00:00 || Comments || Link || [11 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Would someone with a program like to elaborate upon this?

Don't all of the Mongolian stories usually come adorned with the comrade sportin' the Red Star cap?
Posted by: .com || 01/14/2006 2:27 Comments || Top||

#2  And if they do, I'd appreciate it and will be suitably impressed.
Posted by: phil_b || 01/14/2006 2:37 Comments || Top||

#3  IIRC there's been at least one Mongolian cadet among the foreign students at West Point. Impressive guy, thoughtful, smart and tough as nails.

It would be valuable for us to have an ally right about that place on the map.
Posted by: lotp || 01/14/2006 7:20 Comments || Top||

#4  I think in the long run most of the Stans are going to shift to China. Russia is just too damm weak and China is in near desperate straights to secure the natural resources that will allow them the ability to challenge the US. As it sits now the US would embargo blockade and the Chineese would crumble making a Tiawan offensive even succesfull too expensive. The Chineese I think are faking East but really looking west & North they need the natural resources and a weak Russia weaker Stans are ripe for pluking. I would not be surprised if this is found to have heavy Chineese fingers in it.
Posted by: C-Low || 01/14/2006 8:28 Comments || Top||

#5  The Chinese will go wherever they find weakness.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble || 01/14/2006 8:54 Comments || Top||

#6  Mongolia's gone from being a "fraternal socialist" country whose primary function was to provide a place for the Soviets to keep the 39th Army to a fairly enthusiastically pro-Western country. They remain stuck with their historical problems of lack of natural resources and being a buffer state between the Russers and the Chinese.

I hope they get their problem sorted out. They're a class above the 'stans, and if they get settled down great things will come of them.
Posted by: Fred || 01/14/2006 9:39 Comments || Top||

#7  Please save the ponies. Unlike horses they are smart. :P
Posted by: 6 || 01/14/2006 11:25 Comments || Top||

#8  Mongolian Government Collapses


Yeah, so?
Posted by: bigjim-ky || 01/14/2006 11:57 Comments || Top||

#9  Prime Minister Spemble....I like the sound of that
Posted by: Frank G || 01/14/2006 12:56 Comments || Top||

#10  Indeed a fiercely nationalistic Spemble might be just the ticket. Here's a ready-made acceptance speech.
Posted by: 6 || 01/14/2006 15:52 Comments || Top||

#11  I guess they couldn't afford the ponies they gave Bush last year.
Joking aside, I think C-Low has nailed it.
Posted by: Glenmore || 01/14/2006 16:04 Comments || Top||

#12  These people are very Pro Western, We would do well to support them as we are able.
Posted by: bk || 01/14/2006 16:27 Comments || Top||

#13  bigjim, How would you feel about, Mongolian Government Collapses; Chinese Troops to Provide Fraternal Assistance?
Posted by: phil_b || 01/14/2006 17:33 Comments || Top||

#14  "Yeah, so?"

The Mongols are probably affected. They are real people too, you know.
Posted by: Aris Katsaris || 01/14/2006 17:36 Comments || Top||

#15  no shit
Posted by: Frank G || 01/14/2006 17:54 Comments || Top||

#16  Frank> No, really.
Posted by: Aris Katsaris || 01/14/2006 18:07 Comments || Top||

#17 
Redacted by moderator. Comments may be redacted for trolling, violation of standards of good manners, or plain stupidity. Please correct the condition that applies and try again. Contents may be viewed in the sinktrap. Further violations may result in banning.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble || 01/14/2006 18:15 Comments || Top||

#18 
Redacted by moderator. Comments may be redacted for trolling, violation of standards of good manners, or plain stupidity. Please correct the condition that applies and try again. Contents may be viewed in the sinktrap. Further violations may result in banning.
Posted by: Aris Katsaris || 01/14/2006 18:19 Comments || Top||

#19  Okay, folks - this is already degenerating into namecalling. To avoid sucking up all Fred's bandwidth with a 100 comment post -- most of which consists of neener neener -- all comments that consist solely of insults and namecalling will be redacted. If you're going to snark at each other, take it up a level ....
Posted by: lotp || 01/14/2006 18:42 Comments || Top||

#20  lotp - IMHO - you redacted NS's comment in error
Posted by: Frank G || 01/14/2006 18:58 Comments || Top||

#21  Both contained personal insults. Let's get back to the original thread.
Posted by: lotp || 01/14/2006 19:23 Comments || Top||

#22  Give her matches tonight and its Fahrenheit 451 all over again.
Posted by: Darrell || 01/14/2006 19:28 Comments || Top||

#23  Like I said, the original thread please ..... although commenting about me is at least better than commenting about other posters here LOL
Posted by: lotp || 01/14/2006 19:30 Comments || Top||

#24  Hummm.... thread is a little like

Ludowici. :)
Posted by: 6 || 01/14/2006 19:45 Comments || Top||

#25  They are real people too, you know.

Unlike some of the artificial people who comment here.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble || 01/14/2006 18:15 Comments || Top||

#26  Nimble> Exactly. I mean I'm having a hard time believing someone would christen their child "Nimble".
Posted by: Aris Katsaris || 01/14/2006 18:19 Comments || Top||


Azeri oppn activist on hunger strike hospitalised
BAKU — An Azerbaijani opposition activist was hospitalised yesterday on the 16th day of a hunger strike after his health took a rapid turn for the worse.

Three colleagues vowed to keep up their action, which is intended to dramatise their demand to reinstate two of them, Turan Aliyev and Namik Feyziyev, in Baku universities where they had been studying. The demonstrators allege the two were expelled for their political convictions. A third hunger striker, Emin Huseynov, said before being taken to the hospital that he had lost 10kg, his head was spinning and his kidneys hurt, “but I am afraid that our doctors will do something that could worsen my condition.”

The demonstrators belong to the Yeni Fikir, or New Thought, opposition youth movement, two of whose leaders have been jailed on suspicion of conspiring to spark an uprising in Azerbaijan.

Police on Thursday prevented about 15 students who belong to the opposition Popular Front of Azerbaijan from approaching the Ministry of Education in Baku to demand the two students’ reinstatement. Ministry spokesman Bayram Huseynzade denied any political motive behind the students’ expulsion. Feyziyev was kicked out for failing six exams and Aliyev for violating discipline, Huseynzade said.
Posted by: Steve White || 01/14/2006 00:00 || Comments || Link || [5 views] Top|| File under:


Zhirinovsky: Rice's anti-Russian stance based on sexual problems
Considering how late it is, can this be rolled over into tomorrow so there's a full day of commenting?
Done. Fire away.
Hat tip: Gates of Vienna.
The US Secretary of State released a coarse anti-Russian statement. This is because she is a single woman who has no children.

Condoleezza Rice, the US Secretary of State, openly criticized the Russian government in connection with the gas conflict with Ukraine. Ms. Rice used quite a trivial technique of psychological pressure, which is mostly practiced in the field of education. According to Condoleezza Rice, Russia's actions towards Ukraine did not characterize it as a respectable member of the Group of Eight. The statement from the high-ranking US official sounded like a reprimand from a strict babysitter that was teaching its baby to behave.
Why yes, that's exactly what she did.
It goes without saying that the largest Eurasian power is not a baby.
I dunno, I've seen The Omen.
In addition, the geopolitical system in the world has undergone dramatic changes since the 1990s. The US Secretary of State, however, has seemingly lost the sense of time and reality. Ms. Rice's wish to exercise her political power became a surprise for both the Russian Ministry for Foreign Affairs and proponents of traditional liberal values.

Ms. Rice's criticism can be explained with the politician's personal peculiarities. Why is Condoleezza Rice so fond of her "strict teacher" role? Is it her technique that she follows to stay in the center of political attention? The unhinged leader of the Liberal and Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR), Vladimir Zhirinovsky, expressed his opinion on the matter in an exclusive interview with Pravda.Ru.

"Condoleezza Rice released a coarse anti-Russian statement. This is because she is a single woman who has no children. She loses her reason because of her late single status. Nature takes it all.

"Such women are very rough. They are all workaholics, public workaholics. They can be happy only when they are talked and written about everywhere: "Oh, Condoleezza, what a remarkable woman, what a charming Afro-American lady! How well she can play the piano and speak Russian! What a courageous, tough and strong female she is!
Our secretary of state can kick your foreign minister's butt ...
"This is the only way to satisfy her needs of a female. She derives pleasure from it. If she has no man by her side at her age, he will never appear. Even if she had a whole selection of men to choose from she would stay single because her soul and heart have hardened. Like Napoleon, Genghis Khan, Tamerlane, or Alexander the Great of Macedon Ms. Rice needs to fight and release tough public statements in global scale. She needs to be on top of the world.

"Ms. Rice was always interested in Russia. Now she needs to prove that she does have a certain amount of knowledge about Russia. Her goal number one is to observe USA's interest. If Russia rises, it means that the USA falls down. Europe has united, China is growing speedily and Russia possesses immense power in terms of fuel resources. The US administration cannot do anything about it.
Doom, gloom and Fairbanks ...
"The USA experiences the crisis of ideological and moral values. Americans try to talk about positive family values, although the actual state of things is disastrous. That is why they need to protect themselves with such public personas as Condoleezza Rice who gains pleasure from political commotions.

"The civilized world needs to think about a decision when single politicians are not allowed to stay in power. This was a common practice in the Soviet political system. The matter of international relations is very subtle and exquisite. One single word or phrase may play an extremely important role in politics. This is not the place, where one can sublimate their personal sexual problems.

"Complex-prone women are especially dangerous. They are like malicious mothers-in-law, women that evoke hatred and irritation with everyone. Everybody tries to Vladimir Zhirinovskypart with such women as soon as possible. A mother-in-law is better than a single and childless political persona, though.

"This is really scary. Ms. Rice's personal complexes affect the entire field of international politics. This is an irritating factor for everyone, especially for the East and the Islamic world. When they look at her, they go mad.

"Condoleezza Rice needs a company of soldiers. She needs to be taken to barracks where she would be satisfied. On the other hand, she can hardly be satisfied because of her age. This is a complex. She needs to return to her university and teach students there. She could also deal with psychological analysis.

"The true reason of Ms. Rice's attack against Russia is very simple. Condoleezza Rice is a very cruel, offended woman who lacks men's attention. Releasing such stupid remarks gives her the feeling of being fulfilled. This is the only way for her to attract men's attention," Vladimir Zhirinovsky said.
Expect protest from NOW:
5..4..3..2..1.....3....18....743....262144
Posted by: Jackal || 01/14/2006 00:00 || Comments || Link || [10 views] Top|| File under:

#1  In a few years Zhirinovsky will be begging to lick President Rice's boots.
Posted by: ed || 01/13/2006 23:48 Comments || Top||

#2  LOL, ed! President Rice... I like the sound of that - I wish she did, too, lol.
Posted by: .com || 01/14/2006 0:05 Comments || Top||

#3  *snicker* Go Condi. Your arrow must have really hit its mark. They are reduced to calling you a pooh-pooh face, who is single, without children and puffing, "do you know who I am". Somehow, I think those personal insults must play better in Russia than they do here.
Posted by: 2b || 01/14/2006 0:17 Comments || Top||

#4  in fact, it's too bad that they just didn't go ahead and call her a lesbian. It would have made our right feel indignant for her and it would have made our left feel even more conflicted and screwed up than they already are.
Posted by: 2b || 01/14/2006 0:20 Comments || Top||

#5  Ya know...
I've never heard Condi show interest in being President of the US
I've heard her say many times she would like to be commissioner of the NFL.

Sound like she likes tough men just not too interested in having kids.... What's Vladimir Zhirinovsky problem? He's not enough of a MAN for her?
Posted by: 3dc || 01/14/2006 1:33 Comments || Top||

#6  Russia's anti-Rice stand based on sexual frustrations i think ..

Personally I think she's rather saucy :)
Posted by: MacNails || 01/14/2006 2:00 Comments || Top||

#7  Zhironovsky is a well-known clown. Ten years ago I remember him saying that the Russian mafia would make Russia a great power again and Australian girls would faint with passion at the thought of sharing their beds with the new Russian mafia dons. He's got a thing about women either wanting too much sex or not getting enough of it.
Posted by: Apostate || 01/14/2006 5:08 Comments || Top||

#8  Wanna bet ol' Volodya has that picture of her in those boots up on his office wall?
Posted by: Desert Blondie || 01/14/2006 8:49 Comments || Top||

#9  Zhironovsky is a class act. I remember seeing a Russian talk show, and Zhironovsky threw a glass of water over one of the other guests and then started beating the crap out of him. His attitude to women is fairly common in Russia, where sexual equality (and gay rights) hasn't quite sunk in yet.
Posted by: Supersmurf || 01/14/2006 9:55 Comments || Top||

#10  Some of us create a future by having children & raising them; some of us, by fighting for it.
Posted by: Whutch Threth6418 || 01/14/2006 10:02 Comments || Top||

#11  public workaholics
First sign is working alone.
Posted by: 6 || 01/14/2006 11:30 Comments || Top||

#12  Given the spiralling-to-nothingness birthrate, out-of-control abortion rate, and awful general public health (aids, alcoholism) in Motherland, Zhirinovski should pay less attention to Ms. Rice's lack of children, and more on Russia's.
Posted by: anonymous5089 || 01/14/2006 15:16 Comments || Top||

#13  From
http://www.cs.indiana.edu/~dmiguse/Russian/vzbio.html

"Zhirinovsky praised Adolf Hitler's ideology of National-Socialism in an Izvestia article. One of his books, "The Last Thrust to The South", advocates military aggression against Russia's Southern neighbors as a way of achieving political stability in the region. Vladimir Zhirinovsky made headlines by threatening to take Alaska back from the United States, nuke Japan, and flood Germany with radioactive waste."
Posted by: Darrell || 01/14/2006 15:55 Comments || Top||

#14  "The Last Thrust to The South",

Heh, heh-heh-heh, heh - he said "thrust."

Secretary Rice needs Zhirinovsky like a bicycle needs a fish.
Posted by: xbalanke || 01/14/2006 18:42 Comments || Top||

#15  Ah yessss, Zhirinovsky:

"What Russia really needs is not socialism, not capitalism, not a social-market economy, but a sexual-market economy."

December 13, 2001: Russian nationalist Zhirinovsky calls for US-Russia friendship

Zhirinovsky, who visited Washington last week, said Russia should view the United States as a partner "in everything -- economics, culture, fighting terrorism. ... It all depends on America now."

"If everything goes as it should, I wouldn't be surprised if in about 30 years our countries (the United States and Russia) combine their resources and form a single North Atlantic state,"
Posted by: Rafael || 01/14/2006 22:40 Comments || Top||

#16  He makes Lyndon LaRouche look sane.
Posted by: xbalanke || 01/14/2006 23:17 Comments || Top||


Down Under
Enviromental group threatens to attack Japanese whaling ships
A HARDLINE environmental group has promised not to attack Japan's whaling fleet if Australia takes the Japanese to court to try to stop the annual slaughter.

Sea Shepherd, which has promised to "shut down" the whaling ship Nisshin Maru, today said it would give Australia and New Zealand two days to announce a legal challenge against Japan.

The group's founder Paul Watson, skipper of its flagship Farley Mowat in the Southern Ocean, earlier threatened to ram the Japanese whaling fleet. "If either New Zealand or Australia agrees to take Japan to court over the whaling issue, Sea Shepherd will agree to withdraw from confrontation for this year in order to allow an opportunity for a proper legal challenge," the group said.

"Captain Watson has agreed to not attack any Japanese fleet for 48 hours to give New Zealand and Australia an opportunity to act responsibly."

Mr Watson said Japan was in violation of the laws of the International Whaling Commission, the Antarctic Treaty and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.

The Sea Shepherd ship Farley Mowat, skippered by Paul Watson, is about 160km from the whalers. Environmentalists attached to groups Sea Shepherd and Greenpeace have been involved in high-seas harassment of a Japanese whaling fleet in the Southern Ocean. The Greenpeace vessel Arctic Sunrise was involved in the collision with the Japanese whale processing ship Nisshin Maru last Sunday, putting a 1.5-metre dent in the Sunrise's bow and bending its forward mast.

Australia has declined to take action against Japan, with Prime Minister John Howard insisting he has made his anti-whaling views known to the Japanese Government.
Posted by: Oztralian || 01/14/2006 04:55 || Comments || Link || [5 views] Top|| File under:

#1  that's great. But considering the slaughter that just occurred, you think these groups might have used this particular moment for a different type of protest.
Posted by: 2b || 01/14/2006 7:07 Comments || Top||

#2  Attack Japanese ships?
They could start with these...

Link
Posted by: john || 01/14/2006 7:48 Comments || Top||

#3  Hippy protestors against Japanese sailors? Are they serious? Where can I place a bet on this?
Posted by: Raj || 01/14/2006 8:25 Comments || Top||

#4  The last thing the Farley Mowat will hear will be "Tora! Tora! Tora!"
Posted by: Jackal || 01/14/2006 9:48 Comments || Top||

#5  The way around this whole problem is for the anti-whaling crowd to get creative for a change.

That is, come up with some otherwise unharmful bacteria, that when eaten by whales makes their flesh not just unpalatable, but loathesome to the taste, for the rest of their lives.

In just a few years, they could feed enough whales contaminated Purina Whale Chow, so that it would no longer be economically viable to harvest them. A few instances of entire restaurants full of Japanese gourmands puking their guts out would have a lasting impact.

Of course, the whale hunting nations would scream bloody murder about the whales being "ruined" for "research purposes", but who gives a damn?
Posted by: Anonymoose || 01/14/2006 10:32 Comments || Top||

#6  don't whaling ships usually have big ass harpoons on them?
Posted by: Jerelet Thineling2988 || 01/14/2006 11:34 Comments || Top||

#7  What is with the oriental blood lust for needing to eat anything on the verge of extinction?
Posted by: bigjim-ky || 01/14/2006 12:15 Comments || Top||

#8  Attacking a whaling ship by ramming it would fall into the accepted international definition of piracy, if the Japanese wish to push it. And that would allow them to conduct a drumhead tribunal and hang each and every one of the attackers immediately after the attack. Really stupid threat on the part of the whale-huggers.
Posted by: Shieldwolf || 01/14/2006 13:18 Comments || Top||

#9  "Really stupid threat on the part of the whale-huggers."


Are they not also in the same category of idiocy we find in tree huggers?

Save The Whale!
Posted by: The Angry Fliegerabwehrkanonen || 01/14/2006 14:00 Comments || Top||

#10  Nice shot of an F4 with Meatball John.
Semi-rare.
Posted by: 6 || 01/14/2006 16:01 Comments || Top||

#11  I liked the shots with the long line of warships.
Serious PR.
Shows whose navy is top dog in Asia (after the USN).

Posted by: john || 01/14/2006 16:20 Comments || Top||

#12  Can I have the popcorn concession? ;-p
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut || 01/14/2006 21:23 Comments || Top||

#13  I want live video of this!
Posted by: 3dc || 01/14/2006 23:49 Comments || Top||


Europe
Pope Gunman Doesn't Report As Required
The Turkish gunman who shot Pope John Paul II failed to report to a police station Friday — the day after his release from prison — and authorities said the military could ask for his arrest for draft-dodging.
Really, we don't make this stuff up. We couldn't. Maybe Scrappleface could, but not us...
Mehmet Ali Agca was required to report daily to a police station to allow authorities to keep tabs on him until at least officials decide on whether he should serve his military service. Istanbul Gov. Muammer Guler said Agca — whose whereabouts were unknown — had not reported to any police station by Friday evening. Guler said Agca was also required to report to a military hospital on Monday. "If he doesn't show up, he will be listed as a draft-dodger" and his arrest could be sought, Guler said.
Posted by: Fred || 01/14/2006 00:14 || Comments || Link || [7 views] Top|| File under:

#1  I'm hoping that he's had an "RAB moment" in the warehouse district...
Posted by: PBMcL || 01/14/2006 0:23 Comments || Top||

#2  cornered and taken out by the "Little Sisters of Mercy"
Posted by: Frank G || 01/14/2006 0:28 Comments || Top||

#3  Is anybody in the world surprised by this?

Vatican security better keep an eye peeled....
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut || 01/14/2006 0:30 Comments || Top||

#4  Convicted of a successful murder, attempted to assassinate the Pope, and he was allowed to not only continue breathing, but paroled.

I'm thinking this guy has been around too long, waay too long.
Posted by: .com || 01/14/2006 1:08 Comments || Top||

#5  Probably exfiltrated by the intelligence agency that sponsored him in the first place.
Posted by: Rory B. Bellows || 01/14/2006 2:07 Comments || Top||

#6  Bet they never find the body.
Posted by: Sock Puppet O´ Doom || 01/14/2006 3:00 Comments || Top||

#7  Not under all that snow.
Posted by: Grunter || 01/14/2006 3:27 Comments || Top||

#8  It's a brutal Turkish winter...
Posted by: Raj || 01/14/2006 8:27 Comments || Top||

#9  Da, tovarisch. Brutal.
Posted by: Grunter || 01/14/2006 8:57 Comments || Top||

#10  Coming soon to your mailbox: the "Little Sisters of Mercy" offer Mehmet Ali Agca relics for contributions of $20 or more.
Posted by: Darrell || 01/14/2006 13:27 Comments || Top||

#11  Wait, let me check my wallet.
Yes, I'll take ten boxes of canned Mehnet giblets, the roasted ones, my cat should love them.
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 01/14/2006 20:46 Comments || Top||


Polls give Conservatives strong lead
Blair. Bush. Howard. Sharon. Koizumi. And now Harper.
Two new polls gave the Conservative Party a strong lead in the run-up to the January 23 federal election, and a projection based on several surveys said they could be within three seats of a majority. A Strategic Counsel poll for The Globe and Mail and CTV News said support for the Conservatives held steady at 39 percent, while support for the ruling Liberal Party slipped by one point to 27 percent.

An EKOS poll for The Toronto Star and La Presse put the Conservatives at 37.6 percent and the Liberals at 28.3 percent. A previous EKOS survey put the Conservatives at 39.1 percent and the Liberals at 26.8 percent. "The race is now the Tories' (Conservatives') to lose, and their game looks pretty sound," EKOS President Frank Graves told the Toronto Star. "If (Prime Minister) Paul Martin and the Liberals are not able to disrupt this pattern in the next few days, the only remaining question will be whether it is a Conservative minority or a Conservative majority on election night."

The Globe and Mail said number crunching from several Strategic Counsel polls projected that the Conservatives would win 152 seats in the new Canadian Parliament, more than twice the 74 seats projected for the Liberals. There are 308 seats in Parliament, so a party needs 155 seats to win a majority.

The anti-Liberal backlash was especially strong in French-speaking Quebec, where they trailed behind the Bloc Quebecois, a party that backs Quebec independence and campaigns only in the province. But the Conservative resurgence has affected voting intentions in Quebec as well, and the Strategic Counsel survey put support for the Conservatives in Quebec at 23 percent, compared with 48 percent for the Bloc and 18 percent for the Liberals. The Conservatives have no seats in Quebec at present. "If they are going to have a breakthrough, it will be outside of Montreal and at the expense of the Bloc," pollster Allan Gregg told the Globe and Mail. Another key electoral battleground is Ontario, Canada's most populous province, and both pollsters said the Conservatives appeared poised for big gains there.
Posted by: Steve White || 01/14/2006 00:00 || Comments || Link || [8 views] Top|| File under:

#1  The race is now the Tories' (Conservatives') to lose.

So was the last one. Guess what? They did.
Posted by: Jackal || 01/14/2006 9:49 Comments || Top||

#2  When they say conservative, do they mean the same thing we do? Seems to me they have a somewhat different platform than American conservatives.
Posted by: bigjim-ky || 01/14/2006 11:59 Comments || Top||

#3  another Martin scandal popped up at a bad time per Captain Ed
Posted by: Frank G || 01/14/2006 13:01 Comments || Top||

#4  Yeah, by "conservative" they mean moderate-liberal Democrat. Like, oh, Senator Nelson (either one), or maybe some RINOs like the Maine sisters.

Does Canada use a "First past the post" system like Britain (and the US)? Or do they do that PR madness like Europe?
Posted by: Jackal || 01/14/2006 17:04 Comments || Top||

#5  RIGHT ON BRIAN HARPER

Keep on truckin dude!
Posted by: BigEd || 01/14/2006 22:57 Comments || Top||


Home Front: Politix
Gore To Deliver Speech Critical Of BushHitlerBurton Policies
Where's that pic of Fire Breathing Al?
Via Drudge

...

Former and still bitter Vice President Al Gore will deliver a major address Monday on the threat posed by policies of the Bush Administration to the Constitution and the checks and balances it created. The speech will specifically point to domestic wiretapping and torture as examples of the administration's efforts to extend executive power beyond Congressional direction and judicial review.

The Vice President (no bias here, really) will make the case that the country -- including the legislative and judicial branches and all Americans -- must act now to defend the systems put into place by the country's founders to curb executive power or risk permanent and irreversible damage to the Constitution.
Lemme guess, the main subject will be the NSA / FISA 'controversy', which wasn't a problem under your administration, was it, Mr. Gore? Side dish of Gitmo, coming up!
The extent of bipartisan concern over these issues is highlighted by former Republican Rep. Bob Barr's introduction of the Vice President next Wednesday, and by the organizations cosponsoring the speech.
That's hilarious - one former Republican congressman's mentioned and they label it a 'bipartisan concern'. What balls they have...
The Liberty Coalition brings together ideologically diverse organizations across the political spectrum, including liberal and conservative groups, to preserve the Bill of Rights, personal autonomy and individual privacy.
Um, care to mention any of the organizations, or is this Double Secret Probation time until the speech (looks like it's a RSVP only teleconference - details at bottom of article for you wedding crasher types).
The American Constitution Society for Law and Policy (ACS) is one of the nation's leading liberal progressive legal organizations. Founded in 2001, ACS works to ensure that President Bush is to blame for everything the fundamental principles of human dignity, individual rights and liberties, quotas genuine equality, and truckloads of liberal judges access to justice are in their rightful, central place in American law.
Posted by: Raj || 01/14/2006 08:44 || Comments || Link || [8 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Founded in 2001?
So obviously they have a long and rich tradition of protecting american rights.
The question that comes to mind is: Who asked ya?
Posted by: bigjim-ky || 01/14/2006 11:30 Comments || Top||

#2 
Redacted by moderator. Comments may be redacted for trolling, violation of standards of good manners, or plain stupidity. Please correct the condition that applies and try again. Contents may be viewed in the sinktrap. Further violations may result in banning.
Posted by: Filthy Onion || 01/14/2006 12:31 Comments || Top||

#3  'Cause he practices so much with Clinton?
Posted by: Nimble Spemble || 01/14/2006 12:36 Comments || Top||

#4  "...to preserve the Bill of Rights..."

Are they working hard to defend the Second Amendment ?
Are they ?
Last time I checked the Democutandruns were trying to make it null and void in every possibile way, at local, State and Federal level.

P-L
NRA Life Member
Posted by: Poitiers-Lepanto || 01/14/2006 13:10 Comments || Top||

#5  Gorebot and his ilk sure did not seem to be too concerned with the Constitution at Waco and Ruby Ridge : lied to get a drug warrant to use the military at Waco; and went through a whole bunch of Fed sniper teams until they found the one that would agree to abide by what the Justice Dept. finally admitted where illegal shoot-to-kill orders on visually-confirmed unarmed civilians.
Posted by: Shieldwolf || 01/14/2006 13:30 Comments || Top||

#6  God! I'm sooooo glad he lost.....
Posted by: Frank G || 01/14/2006 14:01 Comments || Top||

#7  watch the Chinese if he runs in '08....see if there's a shortage of dollars in China
Posted by: Frank G || 01/14/2006 14:02 Comments || Top||

#8  Hazegray makes first kill.

X
Posted by: 6 || 01/14/2006 16:06 Comments || Top||

#9 
Gore To Deliver Speech Critical Of BushHitlerBurton Policies
In other shocking and unheard-of news, water is wet.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut || 01/14/2006 16:48 Comments || Top||

#10  possibly the most bitter man in America. He had all the ducks set up, economy seemingly high (.com bubble wasn't biting yet), terorists had been bought off by admin inaction except for a couple cruise missiles....and he blew it. At least Kerry had a totally dislikeable personality to blame....uh..scratch that edge
Posted by: Frank G || 01/14/2006 16:57 Comments || Top||

#11  "He had all the ducks set up [...] and he blew it."

Any sane, normal, non-moonbat human in Algore's shoes, in those circumstances, would've garnered at least 55% of the vote, possibly close to 60%.

That he didn't, and that I (a Democrat myself at the time) would've crawled over broken glass and through machine-gun fire to vote against him, is entirely due to his being an absolute Roaring Asshole.

I don't even wanna think about what kind of a fix we'd be in now if he'd been elected President.

Posted by: Dave D. || 01/14/2006 17:11 Comments || Top||

#12  This one, Raj?

Posted by: .com || 01/14/2006 20:01 Comments || Top||

#13  This so rocks! Thanks
Posted by: 49 Pan || 01/14/2006 21:11 Comments || Top||

#14  .com scores again!

You rule, honey. :-D
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut || 01/14/2006 21:25 Comments || Top||

#15  That's classic.
Posted by: 2b || 01/14/2006 22:26 Comments || Top||

#16  Why does Gore look like he's ready to take a load from Peter North?
Posted by: Filthy Onion || 01/14/2006 12:31 Comments || Top||


Home Front: Culture Wars
WaPo Criticizes Alito's Family : For their Clothing
Posted by: Frank G || 01/14/2006 18:07 || Comments || Link || [7 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Possibly the second-most pathetic effort by Robin Givhan to be relevant to real nat'l events...Disgusting that the MSM let it go

Caught via Matthew Hoy at Hoystory
Posted by: Frank G || 01/14/2006 18:10 Comments || Top||

#2  Amazing - a completely irrelevant "reporter" digs to make herself even more irrelevant.

How do they do it?
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut || 01/14/2006 18:24 Comments || Top||

#3 
Redacted by moderator. Comments may be redacted for trolling, violation of standards of good manners, or plain stupidity. Please correct the condition that applies and try again. Contents may be viewed in the sinktrap. Further violations may result in banning.
Posted by: Frank G || 01/14/2006 18:33 Comments || Top||

#4 
Redacted by moderator. Comments may be redacted for trolling, violation of standards of good manners, or plain stupidity. Please correct the condition that applies and try again. Contents may be viewed in the sinktrap. Further violations may result in banning.
Posted by: Frank G || 01/14/2006 18:34 Comments || Top||

#5  Frank, I am redacting those comments. Knock it off!
Posted by: lotp || 01/14/2006 19:26 Comments || Top||

#6  lotp, I am redacting those comments, "the best of the best of the best...with honors..."

That is obvious. But why sp[ecifically? (beside the standard disclaimer). Inquiring minds want to know.

Also, some degree of good manners won't hurt, as would be reflected for instance in: "Frank, knock it of, please!"

;-)
Posted by: twobyfour || 01/14/2006 19:49 Comments || Top||

#7  arrrgh, need protein! am hungry...

..it of = it off
sp[ecifically = specifically

/end of butchering english errata
Posted by: twobyfour || 01/14/2006 19:52 Comments || Top||

#8  Okay, to all: PLEASE let's not get into a long thread of personal insults, or of trying to get in the last word.

No matter how obnoxious the other guys (or I) seem to be ....

I redacted the comments here because Frank brought that other thread over here to continue the incipient fight. It didn't add anything to this thread and it was intended as another neener, neener only this time at me rather than directly at Aris.
Posted by: lotp || 01/14/2006 19:54 Comments || Top||

#9  That was the most concentratedly unnecessary rudeness I've read in quite some time. Nipon instead of St. John? Mrs. Alito doesn't have the figure St. John designs for; wearing it would make her look like she was playing dress-up. And unlike the people the writer frequents, the wife of a Supreme Court Justice needn't try to impress anyone, and by rights dresses to please only herself and her husband (or vice versa, for Mr. Sandra Day O'Connor). What an embarrassment, and how appropriate to the entire tenor of the Washington Post that they encourage their fashion columnist to think on subjects beyond her ability to comprehend.
Posted by: trailing wife || 01/14/2006 20:43 Comments || Top||

#10  "Alito has been described as a nerd. (He took up juggling, after all.)"
She doesn't even comprehend nerds, tw. I've never juggled.
Posted by: Darrell || 01/14/2006 20:51 Comments || Top||

#11  "how appropriate to the entire tenor of the Washington Post that they encourage their fashion columnist to think on subjects beyond her ability to comprehend"

I don't think that applies to just their fashion "reporter," TW. ;-p
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut || 01/14/2006 20:52 Comments || Top||

#12  Darrell, LOL!
Posted by: 2b || 01/14/2006 22:18 Comments || Top||

#13  I've fwd'd my objections to Fred. Read the sink trap if you think Robin was in the right. I expect a public apology
Posted by: Frank G || 01/14/2006 23:36 Comments || Top||

#14  just like criticizing Nimble Spemble for their parents naming that (#18)?
Posted by: Frank G || 01/14/2006 18:33 Comments || Top||

#15  :-) checkmate
Posted by: Frank G || 01/14/2006 18:34 Comments || Top||



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Two weeks of WOT
Sat 2006-01-14
  Talk of sanctions on Iran premature: France
Fri 2006-01-13
  Predators try for Zawahiri in Pak
Thu 2006-01-12
  Europeans Say Iran Talks Reach Dead End
Wed 2006-01-11
  Spain holds 20 'Iraq recruiters'
Tue 2006-01-10
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Mon 2006-01-09
  IRGC ground forces commander killed in plane crash
Sun 2006-01-08
  Assad rejects UN interview request
Sat 2006-01-07
  Iran issues new threat to Europe
Fri 2006-01-06
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Thu 2006-01-05
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Wed 2006-01-04
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Tue 2006-01-03
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Mon 2006-01-02
  U.N. Seeks Interview With Assad
Sun 2006-01-01
  Syrian MPs: Try Khaddam for treason
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  Syrian VP resigns, sez Assad 'threatened' Hariri


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