Always On Watch Two

This Site Has Moved

2010-11-29T10:19:00.005-05:00

Please go HERE, then update your blogroll to the new URL.

Comments here are now closed.

I'm moving my site because I'm fed up with the Echo comments system, and Blogger and Echo don't offer a way to divest this site of the Echo system. In addition, Echo has increased its subscription service by over %1000! I refuse to pay that much money for a comments system that is giving me problems.

I have transferred over the following recently-published posts: "Meanwhile In New Jersey," "What Next From The Department Of Homeland Security?," and "Quantitative Easing Explained (Video)."

Apologies to all those commenters whose words here may be lost because I will be discontinuing my license with Echo comments next month.

Thanks to Warren his help in accomplishing this move.

[END OF THIS POSTING]

Meanwhile, In New Jersey

2010-11-29T08:21:00.001-05:00

A Muslim girl gets a non-Muslim boy suspended for saying "Taliban." Details from Creeping Sharia, citing this source (dated November 12, 2010), below the fold.

WAYNE — On one side, a Wayne Valley High school student claims that his use of the word “Taliban” was innocent, mentioned in a conversation about a video game, according to his mother.

But to a Muslim student who overheard it at school on Thursday, it was upsetting. And she had perceived that he had looked at her when he said it, Principal Robert Reis said.

Now the boy is facing a one-day suspension on Monday, because, Reis said, he continued to talk about the incident and it got back to the girl and upset her. Reis said she felt the boy was boasting that he’d gotten away with something.

“This has nothing to do with the fact that the boy used a word,” Reis said. “This has everything to do with the boy hurt a girl’s feelings.” And after the boy was told by administrators not to discuss what happened, Reis said, “He went back and hurt her feelings a second time.”

But the boy’s mother, Rosa Giordano, said the incident “is totally being blown out of proportion” and she plans to fight the disciplinary action.

[...]

Giordano claims her son was embarrassed by the incident. She said he told a friend “nothing happened” because he didn’t want to talk about it, not to brag that he got away with anything.

So, do you believe the principal's explanation?

And what about the Muslim girl's perception? Are going to discipline students because they "perceive" something, whether or not an incident, in this case a glance, actually occurred?

I've been trying to find more information about the context of the boy's use of the word "Taliban," but have so far not found more details. Commenters are encouraged to leave any such information.

What Next From The Department Of Homeland Security?

2010-11-28T18:40:00.002-05:00

(Hat tip to Bob Mack for the graphic and the link below)

Look at how the Department of Homeland Security is overreaching its original parameters:

The Department of Homeland Security’s ICE has launched a major crackdown on websites enabling copyright infringement or selling counterfeits of trademarked goods. In just the past few days ICE has seized at least 12 domains, TorrentFreak reports.

[...]

...[T]he sites were seized before the site’s owner heard any charges or had the chance to submit any counter evidence in court. The owners of the sites had their property seized without being allowed to defend themselves.

[...]

In the aftermath of 9-11, when the creation of DHS was being debated, would your opinion have been swayed if you knew that, within just a few years, the proposed agency would be seizing websites peddling fake purses? Did you imagine that the proposed agency would soon demand to take naked photographs of randomly-selected U.S. citizens? Or, insist on its authority to physically grope children?

Now, ask yourself this: What will the Agency be doing 10 years from now? Or, 20? In a little more than half a decade, DHS has morphed from protecting us from terrorists to protecting us from fake merchandise. Who is going to protect us from DHS?

Immediately following 9/11, I cheered the establishment of the Department of Homeland Security. Most Americans felt the same way.

But just think of the department's powers now in the hands of an administration which is ever trying to grab more power.

Quantitative Easing Explained (Video)

2010-11-27T23:00:00.000-05:00

Hat tip to Mustang of Social Sense:

A not-so-funny Sunday funny.

So, how can we prepare for the coming economic storm?

More Whining From Moslems

2010-11-26T16:02:00.004-05:00

Note: Another recent post (of a few minutes ago) below this one. Please scroll down.

The following (hat tip to Infidel Bloggers Alliance) shows how insane this Muslim whining has become:

My brief commentary below the fold:

So, enforcing safety regulations is now racism and religious discrimination?

Multiculturalism has led to a descent into madness!

And the Moslems keep pushing, pushing, pushing.

Who Cares What Cher Thinks?

2010-11-26T16:00:00.002-05:00

Via Weasel Zippers:

After Thanksgiving dinner yesterday, a former student and I were sitting around talking about how plastic surgery and other futile pursuits of lost youth make people into cartoon figures and caricatures of themselves.

Yes, Cher's name came up in the conversation.

Her idiocy in Cher's pursuit of youth is surpassed only by the stupidity that spews from her mouth.

This Week On The Gathering Storm

2010-11-26T04:00:00.004-05:00

(This post is a weekly announcement. Please scroll down)

Listen to The Gathering Storm Radio Show, hosted by WC and Always On Watch. The show broadcasts live every Friday beginning at noon, Pacific Time.

The call-in number is 646-915-9870.

Callers welcome!

Our scheduled guests this week are IQ al Rassooli and Warren.

-----------
Listen to the November 26, 2010 edition of The Gathering Storm Radio Show, live or later, by >CLICKING HERE.

UPCOMING SHOWS
December 3: Dr. Andrew Bostom
December 10: IQ al Rassooli
December 17: Midnight Rider
December 24: Christmas Eve - no broadcast.
December 31: Guest(s) to be announced.
January 7: Mark Alexander

Thanksgiving Blessings

2010-11-23T23:00:00.003-05:00

This year, Thanksgiving falls on November 25. A year ago, November 25 marked the day before Thanksgiving, the day that I brought Mr. AOW home after he had spent ten long weeks in two hospitals and a skilled nursing facility as a result of the brain hemorrhage he suffered on September 15, 2009.

I had to move heaven and earth to get Mr. AOW released from that nursing home. And life in this household was difficult in the extreme for the next several months. If not for The Merry Widow, who came up for six weeks to help us, I think that I would have collapsed from sheer exhaustion.

Yes, Mr. AOW has made phenomenal progress. Our living room is less like a hospital room now although we still have the hospital bed and the bedside potty chair in place. Mr. AOW simply cannot get out of bed without lift assistance, nor can he make the trek to our bathroom in time. Our new normal certainly is much unlike our previous normal. The isolation problem continues for both Mr. AOW and me.

As I think back to a year ago, however, I realize that I can count many blessings, only a few of which you can find listed below:

1. Mr. AOW is no longer incontinent. No more five loads of laundry a day! And let me tell you that I simply cannot handle "heavy" diaper changes well at all. I literally don't have the stomach for it.

2. Both of us get a full night's sleep every night since August.

3. Mr. AOW can use his cell phone with consistency and accuracy. Furthermore, his speech issues have resolved.

4. Mr. AOW can travel! Provided that he has assistance, particularly with getting his affected left leg inside the vehicle, he can get into and out of the car.

5. Eating across the table from Mr. AOW is no longer a nasty experience. He has certainly learned to use his one good hand, not his dominant hand taken way by the stroke, to feed himself without slopping up the entire eating space.

6. Mr. AOW is no longer a Weeble that falls down. In fact, these past few months, Mr. AOW has almost completely regained sitting balance and is getting close to achieving perfect standing balance. Balance is a big thing! It allows for him to do his own own scrubbing in the shower once I get him in there and turn on the water.

7. Mr. AOW's thinking processes and memory skills are his original normal. For example, if I need to fix a little something on the car, he can tell me how to accomplish the task, no matter how many steps are involved.

Certainly, Mr. AOW and I were thankful last Thanksgiving when he came home after those long ten weeks. During that time and the hardest days following his return home, we learned just how much we love each other. After over three decades of marriage, we had been taking each other for granted. We take nothing for granted now.

Mr. AOW and I are even more thankful this Thanksgiving as we count our many blessings from the Lord. We await more of His blessings.

A blessed Thanksgiving to all who stop by this site. And may you count your blessings! Believe me, even during the most trying of times, we truly do have bountiful blessings.

What If This Happened To Your Child?

2010-11-22T07:10:00.010-05:00

As one in my late 50s, I'm able to tolerate most any kind of examination of my body. That said, I think that the TSA has gone way over the line, particularly in the following video:

From the person who filmed the above video:

Lets get the facts straight first. Before the video started the boy went through a metal detector and didn't set it off but was selected for a pat down. The boy was shy so the TSA couldn't complete the full pat on the young boy. The father tried several times to just hold the boys arms out for the TSA agent but i guess it didn't end up being enough for the guy. I was about 30 ft away so i couldn't hear their conversation if there was any. The enraged father pulled his son shirt off and gave it to the TSA agent to search, thats when this video begins.

At Infidel Bloggers Alliance, Midnight Rider said the following:

America is becoming so cowed by government intrusiveness and invasion of our lives that we no longer even defend our children from what is tantamount to assualt, and sexual sssault at that. Afraid of what they might do. We're not even recognizing it as wrong. Numbed down and dumbed down to thinking THIS is the new normal and it's ok even though unsavory.

Thus far, Obama has deemed the TSA procedures necessary.

I say: Give the TSA a pass on doing this kind of thing for a few years, and many young people won't know that anything else was ever the norm.

Here's some snarky truth from Pastorius: we're having to endure all this
for the pleasure of living with all the nice Moderate Muslims we get the joy of sharing our lives with here in the USA.
So what do we do? Not take family vacations by air anymore? Not attend family funerals or other family gatherings in distant states or travel with our families to overseas destinations?

And what about this incident, in which a TSA search left the passenger soaked in urine? Again, the TSA was way over the line. Will the ADA step in on that case?

I Couldn't Resist Posting This Turkey

2010-11-21T09:30:00.002-05:00

Don't let it ruin your appetite for the coming day of Thanksgiving:

Hat tip to Ron Russell who commented as follows at his blog:

It will soon be that time again, the time to pardon the White House turkey; but the biggest turkey at 1600 Pennsylvania ave will not be pardoned by the American people for him its the chopping block in 2012!!!! We've had quite enough of his arrogant strut!!!

Note: This is not my Thanksgiving-holiday post.

Pat Condell: Human Rights Travesty

2010-11-20T08:00:00.009-05:00

Hat tip to Mark Alexander of A New Dark Age Is Dawning:

Another video below the fold.

Pat Condell's no-nonsense commentaries are not broadcast on the mainstream media.

Can you imagine how the world would change if all the major news networks in the West would broadcast Pat Condell's political commentaries?

Our Porous Southern Border

2010-11-19T14:00:00.001-05:00

More at Creeping Sharia.

The phrase "Asking for it" springs to mind.

Peace In The Middle East

2010-11-18T04:00:00.000-05:00

Sometimes, things really ARE simple (hat tip to Z):

All my life, I've heard detail after detail about how to achieve peace in the Middle East. I'm sure that you've had that same experience.

Yes, details are indeed important. But sometimes details overwhelm the bigger picture and the concepts themselves.

Do not be fooled! Israel DOES desire peace. It is the Arabs who won't stand for that peace.

This Week On The Gathering Storm

2010-11-17T02:00:00.001-05:00

(This post is a weekly announcement. Please scroll down)

Listen to The Gathering Storm Radio Show, hosted by WC and Always On Watch. The show broadcasts live every Friday beginning at noon, Pacific Time.

The call-in number is 646-915-9870.

Callers welcome!

Our scheduled guest this week is Midnight Rider.

-----------
Listen to the November 19, 2010 edition of The Gathering Storm Radio Show, live or later, by >CLICKING HERE.

UPCOMING SHOWS
November 26: IQ al Rassooli and Warren
December 3: Dr. Andrew Bostom
December 10: IQ al Rassooli
December 17: Midnight Rider
December 24: Christmas Eve - no broadcast.

Here's Your Daily Dose Of Insanity

2010-11-16T06:59:00.003-05:00

"Obama Advisor: He is Bored To Death And Just Too Talented to do What Ordinary People Do," via Weasel Zippers, citing the Pittsburgh Review-Tribune:

In his biography of Obama, “The Bridge,” David Remnick, editor of The New Yorker, quotes White House senior adviser and longtime Obama friend Valerie Jarrett: “I think Barack knew that he had God-given talents that were extraordinary. He knows exactly how smart he is. … He knows how perceptive he is. He knows what a good reader of people he is. And he knows that he has the ability — the extraordinary, uncanny ability — to take a thousand different perspectives, digest them and make sense out of them, and I think that he has never really been challenged intellectually. … So what I sensed in him was not just a restless spirit but somebody with such extraordinary talents that had to be really taxed in order for him to be happy. … He’s been bored to death his whole life. He’s just too talented to do what ordinary people do.”

There's no reaching those fully immersed in the Cult of Obama.

The comments at Weasel Zippers are priceless. Warning! Strong language!

More ObamaKare Waivers

2010-11-15T06:04:00.006-05:00

Also see THIS at Michelle Malkin. Brief excerpt:

Make no mistake: Team Obama isn’t granting the waivers out of bleeding-heart compassion for the affected workers, but out of a panicked urgency to avoid a public relations disaster.

Read it all!

So much for "liberty and justice for all," huh?

A little personal perspective on the above....

Back in January 2008, Mr. AOW lost his full-time job after nearly twelve years of working for that particular employer. In part, Mr. AOW's job loss was due to the economic slowdown. But something else played a larger part in the job loss, namely, the company's policy about employees carrying employer-based health insurance: enrolling in the health-insurance plan was optional. The result: only those employees with significant pre-existing conditions enrolled in the health plan, thereby making the plan more and more expensive.

As most of my readers must know, I do not support ObamaKare. That said, the realities of insurance involve having both low risk and high risk insureds in the same pool. Indeed, that very concept of a diversified-risks pool is the basis of all insurance.

So, just how is ObamaKare going to function with only higher risk insureds in the plan?

My Computers And I

2010-11-14T04:00:00.005-05:00

The woes are getting fewer and weaker, but I'm still having them.

This commercial sums up my agony over the past several weeks:

If only Travelers Insurance could do something about ALL of my woes, including but not limited to my never-ending computer woes!

Anyway, a homeschool dad has graciously been helping me with my laptop, the computer in the worse shape (as compared to my desktop). He's installing Ubuntu, so I'll have to learn a new interface.

Warren has been helping me with my desktop: teaching me how to disable unwanted toolbars, trimming down the applications running on start up, etc. But now that I've installed AVG 2011, that program is having some kind of conflict with my firewall. **sigh**

As the song in the video says, "Trouble, trouble, trouble" and "Worry, worry, worry."

FEATURED QUESTION: Our Economy

2010-11-14T02:00:00.001-05:00

(This FEATURED QUESTION stuck here for few days. Please scroll down for other postings)

HERE in the Washington Post you can read the highlights of the deficit-reduction proposals. They include the following:

-Overhaul individual income taxes and corporate taxes. For individuals and families, eliminate a host of popular tax credits and deductions, including the child tax credit and the mortgage interest deduction.Significantly reduce income tax rates, with the top rate dropping to 23 percent from 35 percent.

-Reduce the corporate income tax rate to 26 percent from 35 percent, and stop taxing the overseas profits of U.S.-based multinational corporations.

-Increase the gas tax by 15 cents a gallon to fund transportation programs.

Read this link to see the entire list.

On the list is a hot-button issue for every American I know. Maybe more than one hot button.

No matter how we look at this problem, the solution is going to be painful:

Voters who last week sent Washington a message to wrestle the spiraling debt under control have gotten a message back from the leaders of a White House budget commission: It'll hurt.

A proposal released Wednesday by the bipartisan leaders of President Barack Obama's deficit commission suggested cuts to Social Security benefits, deep reductions in federal spending and higher taxes for millions of Americans to stem a flood of red ink that they said threatens the nation's very future.

Interest groups on the right and the left squealed, predictably, about the plan, which would cut total deficits by as much as $4 trillion over the next decade - much of it from programs long considered all but sacred.

Besides Social Security, Medicare spending would be curtailed. Tax breaks for many health care plans, too. And the Pentagon's budget as well in a plan that attaches $3 in spending cuts to every $1 in tax increases.

For all the pain, the deficit still would approach $400 billion in 2015 under the proposal...

Surely, we all realize that something must be done about our deficit! If nothing is done, our entire economy could well collapse.

FEATURED QUESTION (in two parts): (1) How can the deficit be substantially and effectively reduced? (2) What will be the consequences for us as individuals and families if various methods of deficit reduction are put into place?

Musical Interlude

2010-11-13T04:00:00.000-05:00

Hat tip to Pastorius:

Information about Jason Reeves below the fold.

HERE at Wikipedia and HERE at Jason Reeves's official web site.

This Week On The Gathering Storm

2010-11-12T04:15:00.000-05:00

(This post is a weekly announcement. Please scroll down)

Listen to The Gathering Storm Radio Show, hosted by WC and Always On Watch. The show broadcasts live every Friday beginning at noon, Pacific Time.

The call-in number is 646-915-9870.

Callers welcome!

Our scheduled guest this week is IQ al Rassooli.

-----------
Listen to the November 12, 2010 edition of The Gathering Storm Radio Show, live or later, by >CLICKING HERE.

UPCOMING SHOWS
November 19: Midnight Rider
November 26: IQ al Rassooli and Warren
December 3: Dr. Andrew Bostom

Veterans Day

2010-11-11T06:41:00.006-05:00

Photo of soldiers in the United States Army taken in Afghanistan in 2005 and on display at our local VFW post:

These four soldiers are home now!
The sonnet below the fold was written a few years ago by then tenth-grade homeschool student "A.M."

A Soldier’s Farewell

Belovéd, do not weep for me today,
Nor sigh on the morrow when I depart.
For though I am from thine eyes far away,
My thoughts dwell on thee as the battles start.
Death’s cold embrace might appear a relief
From this hellish battlefield’s roiling sand,
Yet then I dream my death writ on a leaf
And with renewed spirit protect my land.
I shirk not my duty to my country
And will strive to bring liberty to all;
When peace and hope shine through the night ‘round me,
Homeward shall my steps delightedly fall.
For one’s heartstrings in his own country lie
And calls him with more force than battle’s cry.
--Contributed by A.M.
More poetry, some old and some new, for this solemn day

On this Veterans Day 2010, remember to thank a veteran for his service to our nation.

The Obamas And Diplomatic Etiquette

2010-11-10T05:12:00.011-05:00

Tifatul Sembiring shook Michelle Obama's hand. A "pious" Moslem shook the hand of a woman not his wife. Huge no-no!

She forced herself on him! Yeah, right.

The Obamas are hardly strangers to breaches of diplomatic etiquette:

Don't the Obamas listen to their coaches in diplomatic etiquette?

I'm no defender of Islam and its weirdo traditions and legalisms. That said, I see a bigger problem with the Obamas and their flaunting of protocol.

Furthermore, if a Republican First Family were making these mistakes, the mainstream media would excoriate the entire GOP.

Note: Michelle Obama did manage to conform to the dress code so as to visit Istiqlal Mosque (Click directly on the image to enlarge it):

More photos HERE at Weasel Zippers.

Prophetic Video

2010-11-09T04:00:00.006-05:00

Especially since the firing of Juan Williams by NPR (hat tip to Creeping Sharia) and the recent blacklisting of science fiction writer Elizabeth Moon, as well as the case of U.S. cartoonist Molly Norris:

The above video was made in 2007.

Check out this story about "Asian" sexual redators (hat tip to Karen). Mustn't use the word "Pakistanis" in the headline!

How far down the slides of dhimmitude and political correctness we have gone!

Obama The Orator

2010-11-07T06:05:00.005-05:00

Obama doesn't really qualify as an orator, of course. He needs the technological version of Dean Martin's cue cards. Of course, Dino never pretended to be an orator.

From the Hindustan Times:

Obama to use teleprompter for Hindi speech

...Obama will make history for more than one reason during the Nov 6-9 visit. This will be the first time a teleprompter will be used in the nearly 100-feet high dome-shaped hall that has portraits of eminent national leaders adorning its walls.

Indian politicians are known for making impromptu long speeches and perhaps that is why some parliament officials, who did not wish to be named, sounded rather surprised with the idea of a teleprompter for Obama.

"We thought Obama is a trained orator and skilled in the art of mass address with his continuous eye contact," an official [said]...

Pathetic.

Embarrassing.

I teach public speaking at the high school level and won't allow my students as much reliance on note cards as the President of the United States relies on the teleprompter's scroll.

Why Me?

2010-11-06T04:00:00.000-04:00

Verizon will have to pay yet another visit to get FIOS to work properly here at my house.

For whatever reason, the router-recognition software will not operate consistently for my desktop machine. One minute, the router is recognized; the next minute I have no Internet access. **sigh**

My laptop, a wireless-ready Toshiba Satellite, is having no problems whatsoever.

Verizon should have hardwired my desktop to the router in the first place! In fact, such was the plan, but the technician who did the installation didn't want to be bothered. He's leaving Verizon in a few weeks, anyway.

Obama Doesn't Admit The Meaning Of November 2

2010-11-05T07:19:00.007-04:00

So, our Blabber In Chief will be on 60 Minutes this weekend to say that his message hasn't gotten across.

I've seen a preview of the interview. Obama's pretended humility cannot cover up his blatant narcissism.

But, of course, CBS's Early Show this morning is heavily promoting the upcoming edition of 60 Minutes.

Kathleen Parker's recent essay in the Washington Post explains how pathetic Obama's analysis of Tuesday's election results is:

Blindsided by their own blindness

Two words: Narrative, schmarrative.

Democrats have talked endlessly about the importance of narrative - missing in President Obama's case. We've heard over and over about the lack of smart messaging and the president's failure to communicate. If only Obama could better express himself, all would be well.

Seriously? This is the same president whose soaring rhetoric once sent his ratings into the heavenly realm and who, after assuming office, never stopped expressing himself.

For months, he was everywhere. Talking, talking, talking. Admit it. How many times did you flip on the tube and say, "Omigod, he's talking again"? Several Teleprompters had to take early retirement from sheer exhaustion.

Here's a narrative: You can't sell people what they don't want, no matter how mellifluous your pitch. This is the clear message of the midterm elections...

[...]

Obama didn't need to be a better communicator. He needed to be a better listener. End of story.

Read Ms. Parker's entire essay HERE. Worth your time.

I'll watch Sunday's edition of 60 Minutes. Provided that I'm fortified with eggnog and brandy, that is.

Some music for when Obama is on the television screen:

You Can't Make This Stuff Up

2010-11-04T18:06:00.005-04:00

Obama's upcoming visit to India involves sending an armada of thirty-four warships, controlling the monkey menace, removing coconuts, and building an overground tunnel.

Huh?

Read the details HERE.

The cost of all the above?

According to a comment at the link above the fold: $2,000,000,000 for ten days in India, Indonesia, South Korea, Japan and China.

Is that figure accurate? I don't know.

But I do know that the plans for Obama's visit to India sound, well, strange.

Maybe along the lines of Sindbad's third voyage:

CAIR Drops The Mask

2010-11-04T07:08:00.004-04:00

Hat tip to Infidel Bloggers Alliance, citing this source:

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla., Nov. 3, 2010 — On Thursday, November 4, the Oklahoma chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-OK) will hold a news conference with religious and civil rights leaders in the State Capitol Building to announce the filing of a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of an anti-Islam ballot measure (State Question 755) passed in yesterday’s election. The measure amends the state constitution to forbid judges from considering Islamic law or international law when making a ruling.

In the post at Infidel Bloggers Alliance, Pastorius makes this very important point:

Let us be clear, it is not simply that they are religious zealots. Sharia law is the law of the land in Saudi Arabia and many other Muslim countries. When a person, or a group of people advocate for the replacement of our system of law with that of another country, that is called Sedition.

In effect, CAIR is advocating the subversion of our law of the land, the United States Constitution.

Read more about CAIR's real agenda HERE at Anti-CAIR. The information at that site has been available for years, yet our government continues to forge ties with CAIR. Why, why, why?

FIOS At Last!

2010-11-03T15:00:00.004-04:00

It took Verizon three tries and at least three technicians to get FIOS installed and up and running here at my house.

I actually felt sorry for the second technician. He arrived Monday afternoon around 3:30, pronounced how easy this job was going to be, and left, defeated, after 10:00. Apparently, Verizon installed the FIOS line on a pole in an unexpected location.

When I got home yesterday evening, the technician was in my upstairs office and working on getting my desktop to recognize the wireless router, which my laptop immediately recognized, by the way. After two more hours of agony with my desktop, the technician finally called in reinforcements, and I had two technicians working in my upstairs office at the same time.

In short order, this last technician corrected the glitch, whatever it was.

I'm up and running with FIOS and screaming along at high speed. Finally!

There's never been anything easy about modernizing this old house.

Video: How Liberals Argue

2010-11-03T04:00:00.007-04:00

Instead of posting about election results, I've decided to post the following video, which I spotted last week at Weasel Zippers:

Having had the experience of trying to have a rational argument with a liberal, the above video really struck a chord with me.

How many fallacies in argumentation can you spot in the above video? A list of fallacies can be found HERE.

In my view, our education has a desperate need for classes in policy debate. Lincoln-Douglas Debate teaches good skills too but is not as objective in approach.

This Week On The Gathering Storm

2010-11-03T02:00:00.000-04:00

(This post is a weekly announcement. Please scroll down)

Listen to The Gathering Storm Radio Show, hosted by WC and Always On Watch. The show broadcasts live every Friday beginning at noon, Pacific Time.

The call-in number is 646-915-9870.

Callers welcome!

Join us this week for a post-election discussion with Mustang (and possibly other guests).

-----------
Listen to the November 5, 2010 edition of The Gathering Storm Radio Show, live or later, by CLICKING HERE.

UPCOMING SHOWS
November 12: IQ al Rassooli
November 19: Midnight Rider
November 26: IQ al Rassooli and Warren
December 3: Dr. Andrew Bostom

Election Day

2010-11-02T01:00:00.013-04:00

With a hat tip to LA Sunsett for the video below:

Hold this Congress accountable at the ballot box!

And remember this, too (hat tip to Bloviating Zeppelin):

Vote 'em out on November 2.

Just as important: Remain vigilant so as to hold accountable those whom you vote into office!

My second Law of History: Never trust any politician.

Some Historical Perspective On Negative Campaigning

2010-11-01T04:00:00.005-04:00

From Ace of Spades:

Yes, America DOES have a history of ugly political campaigns. Read about the ten dirtiest political campaigns HERE.

Nightmare On Halloween

2010-10-30T23:00:00.005-04:00

Stay away from leftists on trick-or-treat night, or you'll get short-changed!

However you observe the day, have a safe Halloween.

Obama On The Daily Show

2010-10-29T06:12:00.004-04:00

I'm still quite ill, but I can't resist posting a few snippets from this essay by Dana Milbank:

On Comedy Central, the joke was on President Obama Wednesday night.

[...]

The Daily Show host was giving Obama a tough time about hiring the conventional and Clintonian Larry Summers as his top economic advisor.

"In fairness," the president replied defensively, "Larry Summers did a heckuva job."

"You don't want to use that phrase, dude," Stewart recommended with a laugh.

Dude. The indignity of a comedy show host calling the commander in chief "dude" pretty well captured the moment for Obama....

[...]

[A]s in his MTV appearance a couple of weeks ago, Obama didn't try to connect with his youthful audience. He was serious and defensive, pointing a finger at his host several times as he quarreled with the premise of a question.

[...]

[T]he president did not really quarrel with Stewart's notion that Obama has done some of his work in a "political manner that has papered over a foundation that is corrupt."

"I think that is fair," Obama granted.

But when Stewart moved, politely, to point out weaknesses in the health-care legislation, Obama pointed at him again. "Not true!" the president argued....

Read the entire essay HERE.

Meanwhile, these rumors about Obama's emotional instability and a possible pending political scandal are surfacing. Be sure to click on the embedded links to read the details.

Does Obama have a Deep Throat biding his time to come forward?

Sick!

2010-10-27T08:07:00.002-04:00

I have been felled by a nasty upper respiratory virus going around. I'm still slogging to work as my students have an essay-contest deadline to meet as well as mid-semester exams looming. I go to work, then come home to crash.

From others I know with this same or a similar ailment, the next several days will be miserable!

Prayers appreciated that Mr. AOW will not catch this virus. His physical condition remains fragile.

Mr. AOW's birthday is tomorrow, but we'll have to postpone that special dinner. **sigh**

I have a few posts queued up for these last few days before the November 2 election. Otherwise, blogging will be light.

This Week On The Gathering Storm

2010-10-27T02:00:00.000-04:00

(This post is a weekly announcement. Please scroll down)

Listen to The Gathering Storm Radio Show, hosted by WC and Always On Watch. The show broadcasts live every Friday beginning at noon, Pacific Time.

The call-in number is 646-915-9870.

Callers welcome!

Our scheduled guest this week is Az Zaqqum with Freaky Fatwa Friday, just in time for Halloween.

-----------
Listen to the October 29, 2010 edition of The Gathering Storm Radio Show, live or later, by CLICKING HERE.

UPCOMING SHOWS
November 5: Post-election discussion with Mustang and possibly other guests
November 12: IQ al Rassooli
November 19: Midnight Rider
November 26: IQ al Rassooli and Warren
December 3: Dr. Andrew Bostom

Quote Of The Day

2010-10-26T07:26:00.000-04:00

William Stout in a comment to this thread here at Always On Watch:

I cannot express the sadness and remorse I feel at the slide of our nation to the disease of socialism or the fact that millions of Americans voted for it. We didn't ask questions about the most Marxist man in politics. We never inquired about his terrorist ties. We never asked him to give us a detailed plan of what he wanted to do. All we got and all we accepted was some tenuous feel good crap about hope and change. Now we must deal with the results of our actions not only for ourselves, but for our children and their children as well. God help us.

We're stuck with Obama until January 2013. However, we can go to the polls next week and slow down this train of socialism even if the train cannot return to the station.

Vote 'em out on November 2.

FIOS To Arrive Today (Update: NOT!)

2010-10-25T11:00:00.007-04:00

Verizon is due to spend hours at my house this afternoon so as to install FIOS access.

Once I have FIOS, perhaps I won't be thinking so often about shooting my computers. My biggest issue with Internet access has been connection speed with DSL, and FIOS should correct that problem.

The Verizon technician is going to have a real challenge installing FIOS in this old house. The house has a strange design, to say the least.

FIOS Installation is estimated to take four to six hours. But I know from past experience that any upgrades to this house take longer than the norm.

And I'll be pitying that technician if he has to work in the fetid crawlspace, which some previous cats used as their litter box. Ewwwwwww!

It's going to be an interesting afternoon.

Update @ 6:26 PM EDT: Glitch! Something about somebody's already having used the available FIOS line for my house. Verizon will have to wire another line at the pole. **sigh**

Your Sunday Funny (Video)

2010-10-24T10:21:00.007-04:00

I've already posted one video today (See the post below). But I just couldn't resist posting another one! I love satire!

Hat tip to Indigo Red:

Can you name the actors in the above video? The one I most quickly recognized was Ed Ames, who portrayed Mingo in the television show Daniel Boone.

Attitude Is Everything

2010-10-24T05:53:00.005-04:00

(Hat tip to Infidel Bloggers Alliance)

In the following clip from Bill Maher's Real Time on HBO, you can see the left's unvarnished attitude toward the Tea Party Movement:

I wonder if Rob Reiner saw the ugliness of his arrogance when he watched the playback of the video.

Would YOU like to have an after-dinner discussion with any of those in the video, particularly with Rob Reiner? His arrogance is disgusting. Worse, the audience loved it.

A Politician Will Say Anything

2010-10-22T05:11:00.002-04:00

Especially in an election year.

Spew alert! Set down your beverage before watching the video below the fold (hat tip to Midnight Rider of Infidel Bloggers Alliance):

As Midnight Rider quipped in his post:

Obama is gonna be pissed! HE'S supposed to be the Messiah. . .

And after Obama has shown such willingness to help Harry Reid in his campaign, too. Heh.

What This Administration Hath Wrought

2010-10-20T04:00:00.012-04:00

(Graphic above from TOTUS)

Hat tip to Bloviating Zeppelin for the video below:

See Bloviating Zeppelin's information about the reality check for Obama and the increasing voter remorse.

Vote 'em out on November 2.

This Week On The Gathering Storm

2010-10-20T02:00:00.000-04:00

(This post is a weekly announcement. Please scroll down)

Listen to The Gathering Storm Radio Show, hosted by WC and Always On Watch. The show broadcasts live every Friday beginning at noon, Pacific Time.

The call-in number is 646-915-9870.

Callers welcome!

Our scheduled guest this week is IQ al Rassooli.

-----------
Listen to the October 22, 2010 edition of The Gathering Storm Radio Show, live or later, by CLICKING HERE.

UPCOMING SHOWS
October 29: Az Zaqqum with Freaky Fatwa Friday, just in time for Halloween
November 5: Post-election discussion, guest to be announced
November 12: IQ al Rassooli
November 19: Midnight Rider
November 26: IQ al Rassooli and Warren
December 3: Dr. Andrew Bostom

Nancy Pelosi's Priorities

2010-10-19T04:00:00.005-04:00

How can ANYONE have any respect whatsoever for Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives? She refuses to debate her opponent because "Time is money":

Pelosi's obvious priority is trying to hang onto her salary. Heh.

Is it any wonder that some Democrats are now campaigning against Moonbat Pelosi?

Well, they supported her earlier in the game, when they apparently believed that the Democratic Party had been elected to power for perpetuity and disregard the will of people time after time since the 2008 National Election.

Vote 'em out on November 2.

Obama's Phony Townhall Meeting

2010-10-18T05:15:00.000-04:00

Not only is Obama teleprompter-dependent. He has to pack the audience with screened and scripted actors. Pathetic.

From The Blogmocracy, citing Human Events:

Actors Called to Play ‘Young People’ at Obama Town Hall

The set is beautiful, the lighting perfect. The President is ready for his close-up at the taping of the MTV, BET, CMT town hall to mobilize the ‘Youth Vote’ for the November election. Called a “Conversation with President Obama,” the town hall will include 250 young people. Leaving nothing to chance, the ‘Youth’ asking questions will be actors.

On behalf of the President, casting website Backstage.com put out a casting call for “males and females 18+” to fill out a questionnaire to include “your name, phone number, hometown, school attending, your job and what issues, if any, you are interested in, or passionate about. Also provide a recent photo and short description of your political views.” This job will be strictly for exposure; there will be no pay. Wonder if SAG condones this union-friendly President getting actors to work for free.

The casting call for the “Conversation with President Obama” was sandwiched between “Bachelors for Dating Show” and “Landau Music, Cruise Ship Musicians”.

Commentary from The Blogmocracy:

They had to submit their questions at the audition so Obungler would know what they were going to ask and how to answer them, and they also had to state their political views, proving, yet again, that the dolt cannot do anything if it isn’t scripted or can’t be read off a TelePrompTer.

Obama - What a failure!

Harvard should be hiding under a rock, with a graduate such as Obama included in the school's alumni.

Muslim Has Tantrum On Disney World Bus

2010-10-17T11:43:00.001-04:00

Creeping Sharia has the story (text and video). Surreal.

[END OF THIS POSTING]

More Wackiness From Environmentalists

2010-10-17T04:51:00.000-04:00

(With a hat tip to Bigfoot of And Rightly So)

I think that we all recognize this image and the implicit satire therein:

Now comes this:

Do you know what it is? Continue reading below the fold.

The glacier embracing suit, of course:

This suit explores the avenue of “body” language and non-verbal communication. Intended for awkward introductory glacier encounters, it acts as an “ice breaker”, better enabling a person to lie prone on the surface of the glacier and give it a hug. Worn on the front of the body, the reflective padded material serves to mediate the difference in temperatures between the human body and the glacial ice....

Read about the adult summer camp where this suit was invented HERE, not an inexpensive camp to attend:

Individuals: $1600 (an $800 deposit is required after acceptance.)
Groups of 4 or more from the same organization: $1200 per person (use promotion code 200: name of organization).
ITP Alumni: $800 (use promotion code 100)

Complete payment is due by May 25 to keep your spot.

I'm at a loss for words except to say, You can't make this stuff up!

ObamaCare

2010-10-16T06:05:00.003-04:00

(With a hat tip to The Born Again Americans and thanks to Z)

Watching the video below may be the most important ten minutes you will spend today:

Is this the health care reform that the American people wanted?

Nancy Pelosi's words:

We're finding out.

Vote 'em out on November 2.

How Dangerous Is Revolution Muslim?

2010-10-15T07:02:00.002-04:00

One third of domestic terrorist cases are linked to Revolution Muslim. ONE THIRD!

Please read THIS POST over at Infidel Bloggers Alliance.

Do They Come Any Wackier Than Mr. Thrill-Up-The-Leg?

2010-10-14T06:59:00.006-04:00

Mr. Thrill-Up-The-Leg is Chris Matthews, of course (hat tip to Weasel Zippers):

Text below the fold.

CHRIS MATTHEWS: Okay let’s talk about what the…message to a lot of the people was. The message coming out of the Tea Party people, and lot of them are good people, is every man for himself, basically. “No more taxes, no more government, no more everything. No more safety net. No more health care for everybody. Everybody just get out there, make your buck, save it, screw the government, move on.” Right?

RICHARD TRUMKA: Yeah.

MATTHEWS: You know these people [the Chilean miners], if they were every man for himself down in that mine they wouldn’t have gotten out.

TRUMKA: That’s exactly right.

MATTHEWS: They would have been killing each other after about two days....

Connecting the Chilean miners with the Tea Parties is beyond ludicrous, especially in light of details about Luis Urzua, the foreman who refused to give up.

Surely, surely, Chris Matthews's viewers can see how stupid Mr. Thrill-Up-The-Leg's words are!

Additional reading about our so-called journalists: Mustang's essay "Media Scum."

Is It Any Wonder That Surveys Indicate That Many Believe That Obama Is A Muslim?

2010-10-13T05:40:00.003-04:00

Please see this list. Brief excerpt below the fold.

March 2009, Obama declares the "war on terror" is over despite a dramatic increase in jihad war ops.

[...]

April 2009, Dalia Mogahed, the first hijab-clad senior adviser to Obama on Muslim affairs says in an interview with terrorist- and jihad-supporting Sheik Yusuf Qaradawi's website, "Many have claimed that terrorists have 'hijacked Islam'. I disagree. I think Islam is safe and thriving in the lives of Muslims around the world. What the terrorists have been allowed to take over are Muslim grievances."

[...]

May 2010, Obama's Counterterrorism Adviser Calls Jihad "Legitimate Tenet of Islam."

Read the rest HERE at Infidel Bloggers Alliance.

Barack Hussein Obama says that he is not a Muslim. But he's behaving exactly like one in may respects. As Revere Rides Again stated:

Obama is a "Christian" in the sense that Muslims claim all Christians are Muslims, and vice versa. Obama is a Muslim by birth and early education, an NOI "Muslim" by racist inclination, a cheerleader for Muslim conquest out of hatred and resentment for Western Civilization, which dovetails nicely with his socialist politics, and seeing Islam as the best hope for downfall of the West.

Barack Hussein Obama is a Muslim in every way that counts with regard to the survival of this nation.

America continues to sleep and to be obsessed with stories about the bimbo of the week or whatever other distraction is available.

This Week On The Gathering Storm

2010-10-13T02:00:00.000-04:00

(This post is a weekly announcement. Please scroll down)

Listen to The Gathering Storm Radio Show, hosted by WC and Always On Watch. The show broadcasts live every Friday beginning at noon, Pacific Time.

The call-in number is 646-915-9870.

Callers welcome!

Our scheduled guest this week is October 15: Midnight Rider.

-----------
Listen to the October 15, 2010 edition of The Gathering Storm Radio Show, live or later, by CLICKING HERE.

UPCOMING SHOWS
October 22: IQ al Rassooli
October 29: Az Zaqqum with Freaky Fatwa Friday, just in time for Halloween

Islamophilia In America's Classrooms

2010-10-11T23:00:00.000-04:00

(With a hat tip to Infidel Bloggers Alliance)

Some reading below the fold:

Saudi-funded textbooks being used in America's K-12 classrooms.

Teaching, among other things, that Jesus was a "Palestinian," the state of Israel never existed, and that the Muslims discovered America before Columbus. At this rate, perhaps even Saudi grade-school textbooks, complete with jihadi and dhimmi declarations, will come to instruct American school-children.

ooo OOO ooo

"Public Schools Teach the ABCs of Islam," by Erick Stakelbeck for CBN News, October 9, 2008:

CBNNews.com - Several recent studies have shown that American students are alarmingly ignorant about U.S. history and world events.

Experts have contributed the problem to everything from failing schools to substandard teachers.

But what about content?

For instance, did you know that Muslims discovered America? Or that Jerusalem is an Arab city? That's just some of the "history" that students in America's K-12 classrooms have been taught in recent years--with the help of taxpayer money.

A new report by the non-profit Institute for Jewish and Community Research finds that American high school and elementary textbooks contain countless inaccuracies about Christianity, Judaism, Israel and the Middle East.

The Institute examined 28 of the most widely-used history, geography and social studies textbooks in America. It found at least 500 errors.

One book ignored the Jewish roots of Christianity, saying the faith was founded by a "young Palestinian" named Jesus.

Another stated as fact that the Koran was revealed to Mohammed from God.

Yet another said ancient Jewish civilization contributed "very little" to to the arts and sciences.

Textbooks like these are used by millions of schoolchildren in all 50 states. [...]

Harvard is one of 18 universities that receives government funding under Title VI of the Higher Education Act of 1965. To qualify for that funding, the universities are required to conduct outreach to K-12 teachers, helping them to shape lessons for schoolchildren. Elementary and secondary teachers have taken full advantage of the arrangement: after all, they believe they're getting expert insight on Islam and the Middle East from distinguished university scholars.

"You have a lot of politically naive teachers--well intentioned teachers who do want their students to learn more about Islamic history," says Stotsky. "It has not been well covered in most history courses they've ever taken, so they do genuinely want to learn more for themselves and teach their students more."

In some cases they may be getting more than they bargained for: the Saudi government has donated millions of dollars to Middle East Centers at universities that receive Title VI funding.

The Harvard Middle Eastern Studies Center--whose recommendations to the Massachusetts Board originally drew Stosky's concern--is one of them. As CBN News reported earlier this year, the Harvard Center received a $20 million donation from Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal in 2005. Georgetown University--another title VI recipient--also received $ 20 million from the Prince that same year.

It's through these Title VI university centers--all of them government-sanctioned and taxpayer supported--that Saudi-funded materials find their way into K-12 classrooms.

"Saudi donations to American universities should be seen in a much larger picture of Saudi promotion of a Saudi point of view," said Daniel Pipes, Director of the Middle East Forum in Philadelphia. "Whether it be Islamic or political, the Saudis have a point of view. And they have been very clever and very generous over the decades to promote that point of view."

Have you looked at YOUR child's textbooks? Do you know what's going on in YOUR child's school?

According to DawaNet:

Students are routinely exposed in their classroom to new information and opinions, hence they tend to be more receptive to new beliefs and ideas.

Schools are therefore fertile grounds where the seeds of Islam can be sowed inside the hearts of non-Muslim students....

[...]

Some aspects of Islam can be incorporated in school projects. For example, for a speech class, if there is freedom to choose a topic, an Islamic topic should be selected. Similar opportunities can be created in history, social science, writing and other classes.

Remember, it was the Will and help of Allah, Iman (faith) and Muslim creativity that won victories for the Muslims. Schools and campuses are no exceptions as places where Islam can be victorious....

The bottom line

We should use every opportunity to sensitize non-Muslim peers and school staff to Islam and to establish an environment in which everywhere a non-Muslim turns, he notices Islam portrayed in a positive way, is influenced by it and eventually accepts Islam with Allah's guidance, Insha Allah (if God wills).

More HERE.

I repeat: Have you looked at YOUR child's textbooks? Do you know what's going on in YOUR child's school?

Must-read additional information about the subversion of the Western education HERE at Trencherbone.

Recommended book for your home library: The Trouble with Textbooks: Distorting History and Religion.

Computer Woes

2010-10-10T07:57:00.002-04:00

I can't begin to tell you all the troubles I've been having the past few weeks! I actually dread turning on either of my computers and logging onto the Internet.

I have uninstalled and reinstalled various programs and have run various utilities, sometimes with improvement and sometimes to no avail.

The situation is maddening!

I think that part of the problem is my DSL connection speed, which has been inconsistent over the past several weeks.

That part of the problem should be remediated on October 25, when Verizon arrives to install FIOS.

At least, I hope that FIOS corrects the problems with connection speed.

Meanwhile, I'm limping along with blogging the best that I can manage with my grueling schedule of working and caregiving Mr. AOW.

Anyway, if I haven't been visiting your blog as regularly as usual, the reason is that I can't!

Weekend Video: I Want Your Money

2010-10-08T14:00:00.003-04:00

A stark contrast of two views of the role of the federal government:

More information about the film HERE.

This Week On The Gathering Storm

2010-10-07T14:00:00.004-04:00

(This post is a weekly announcement. Please scroll down)

Listen to The Gathering Storm Radio Show, hosted by WC and Always On Watch. The show broadcasts live every Friday beginning at noon, Pacific Time.

The call-in number is 646-915-9870.

Callers welcome!

Our scheduled guest this week is IQ al Rassooli.

-----------
Listen to the October 8, 2010 edition of The Gathering Storm Radio Show, live or later, by CLICKING HERE.

UPCOMING SHOWS
October 15: Midnight Rider
October 22: IQ al Rassooli
October 29: Az Zaqqum with Freaky Fatwa Friday, just in time for Halloween

A Threat To Obama's Second Run For The White House?

2010-10-07T05:00:00.001-04:00

(With thanks to Will)

The National Enquirer doesn't have much credibility. Except when it does.

Remember the National Enquirer's stories about John Edwards and his infidelity?

Anyway, there is now a story afoot that Michelle Obama will divorce her husband if he runs for a second term. You can read that story HERE.

Thus far, the story is mere rumor. But we have seen reports that Michelle Obama once stated that being First Lady is "hell." The White House officially denied that Michelle Obama said any such thing.

Come to think of it, that denial from the White House may mean nothing. How much credibility does the White House have these days? Heh.

Executive Order Power Grab

2010-10-06T08:24:00.006-04:00

Please see my post today over at THE ASTUTE BLOGGERS. Then scroll down for some lighter reading here at Always On Watch.

[END OF THIS POST]

Sometimes You Have To Smile

2010-10-06T05:50:00.009-04:00

Look where the bedbug epidemic is now.

The EPA and Customs and Border Protection have offices in the same building.

Poetic justice?

Pest control was due to deal with the problem yesterday, five days after the critters were discovered in the building.

In late September, a Maryland public library had an infestation of bedbugs.

Meanwhile, the invasion of stinkbugs continues apace. The six-legged, brown-marmorated variety of stinkbug. The two-legged stinkbugs are found mainly on the campaign trail now through November 2. Heh.

The Media's Selective Silence

2010-10-05T06:07:00.002-04:00

My workweek begins today, and I have a lot to do this morning before getting out the door. Please read the two links below the fold.

1. Geert Wilders's trial has begun.

2. The cartoonifada against Molly Norris is absent from the news.

My previous posts about Geert Wilders are HERE; watch Fitna HERE.

My previous posts about Molly Norris are HERE and HERE.

How To Silence A Blogger

2010-10-04T04:00:00.015-04:00

This essay from the Examiner should make your blood run cold, particularly if you value the First Amendment.

Brief excerpt below the fold:

Death threats and taxes: How one 'wealthy' blogger was silenced

Everyone has an opinion on taxes -- and usually it's a negative one. So a recent blog post by University of Chicago law professor Todd Henderson shouldn't have come as much of a surprise. But the resulting firestorm prompted such a negative reaction that Henderson pulled the post and abandoned blogging altogether....

Read the rest HERE and more HERE. Excerpt from the latter link:

...[A]lmost as soon as he hit the send button, a firestorm erupted.. Henderson says he was inundated with e-mails that divided along the lines of “die yuppie scum” and “thank you for saying what we couldn’t say.” He says the vehement tone of the responses -- he called it “an electronic lynch mob” -- and fears for his family forced him to delete the post and quit blogging altogether....

What would force you bloggers to shut up?

In my view, the threat of losing one's job already prevents many from exercising their First Amendment right to freedom of speech. In these trying economic times, exercising caution is a wise step, I think.

Many of us bloggers and commenters already use pseudonyms – for various reasons, of course. In my case, I use a pseudonym so as to protect the safety of my students. I admit that, at my age, I'm no longer much concerned with my own personal safety. I will also admit that, from day one of blogging, I have had some concerns about litigation consequences.

My question to you: Is the use of pseudonyms a form of self-censorship that we bloggers should avoid?

Your comments to the above question and to the news item itself are welcome.

Why I'm Absent From The Web Lately

2010-10-01T05:06:00.002-04:00

When Mr. AOW was stricken with brain hemorrhage on September 15, 2009, [updates on Mr. AOW's recovery HERE] he was in his huge man cave in one of our outbuildings. This man cave covered over 500 square feet!
-----------
Many of the items, both functional and broken, are items I can't even identify, i.e., tools, auto parts, and gadgets. Other items, such as wheels and tires, are easy to identify, but too unwieldy and heavy for me to move around on my own.

As one with the packrat gene in spades, over the past three decades, Mr. AOW accumulated so much in his man cave that the paramedics really tore up the place just to extricate Mr. AOW from the corner where he had fallen.

Over the past several weeks, a homeschool dad, an expert in yard saling, has been cleaning out the man cave: sorting, tossing, and pricing. More helpers are coming over today to assist with last-minute preparations for tomorrow's yard sale, the first of several such sales.

We're hoping to unload a lot in this first yard sale from Mr. AOW's man cave. Mr. AOW will, of course, be managing quite a bit of the selling of the items, as will I and numerous helpers.

Once tomorrow's sale ends, I hope to collapse and get some sleep. My back hurts already!

This Week On The Gathering Storm

2010-09-30T14:00:00.004-04:00

(This post is a weekly announcement. Please scroll down)

Listen to The Gathering Storm Radio Show, hosted by WC and Always On Watch. The show broadcasts live every Friday beginning at noon, Pacific Time.

The call-in number is 646-915-9870.

Callers welcome!

Our scheduled guest this week is Heidianne Jackson.

-----------
Listen to the October 1, 2010 edition of The Gathering Storm Radio Show, live or later, by CLICKING HERE.

UPCOMING SHOWS
October 8: IQ al Rassooli
October 15: Midnight Rider
October 22: IQ al Rassooli
October 29: Az Zaqqum with Freaky Fatwa Friday, just in time for Halloween

International Monitoring Of Islamphobia Proposed

2010-09-29T04:00:00.001-04:00

From Weasel Zippers, citing this source:

The Quran-burning controversy in the United States has prompted the Islamic bloc at the United Nations to revive its call for the U.N. to set up an “international monitoring mechanism” to track incidents of “Islamophobia.”

[...]

At the U.N. Human Rights Council this week, OIC members are also seeking support for a resolution condemning Florida pastor Terry Jones’ abortive call to burn copies of the Quran on September 11.

[...]

When it comes to a vote — before the Council’s session in Geneva ends next Friday [October 1] — the measure almost certainly will pass. The OIC controls more than one-third of the Council’s seats, and its resolutions are routinely backed by non-Muslim allies such as China, Russia, Cuba and South Africa.

Read the entire article HERE. Worth your time.

Islamic law as the new world order means saying goodbye to our First Amendment. As just one example of what can happen when Muslims perceive that shari'a is violated, even in a society which doesn't live under shari'a law, read about the situation in which Molly Norris has found herself.

The OIC wants all of us to live in fear of offending Islam.

Information about the OIC, from this 2006 article, "Islamic Assault on the First Amendment":

The Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), composed of 57 Muslim countries, formulated a resolution that Islam be protected from “defamation” even if factual. On April 12, 2005, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights passed a resolution by the vote of 31 to 16 that promotes “respect for all religions and their value system” superceding “respect for human rights”. Accordingly, accusing Islam of violating human rights is in itself an act of defamation of Islam.

Read more about the OIC HERE.

And note this information about the OIC's upcoming conference in Chicago. Pastorius of Infidel Bloggers Alliance says this about the conference, in which the OIC will lecture us about Islamophobic:

It’s nauseating the Islamic supremacists from the OIC will be lecturing us on “Islamophobia” while on American soil.

Just how far does Islamification have to go before the West cries, "Enough"?

Will Nancy Lose Her Gavel?

2010-09-28T07:38:00.002-04:00

From Fox News (hat tip to Karen of Eastern Right):

Even if Democrats retain a slim majority in the House this November, Speaker Nancy Pelosi could have an insurrection on her hands from moderate Democrats looking for a change in leadership.

Rep. Gene Taylor, D-Miss., who two weeks ago threw a colossal insult at his party by joining Republicans in a pledge to repeal the health care law, stepped out of line again over the weekend by telling a pair of Capitol Hill newspapers he wants someone other than Pelosi leading the chamber...

The day of reckoning comes around sooner or later, one way or another.

(crossposted at Infidel Bloggers Alliance)

The Pitfalls Of ObamaKare

2010-09-27T04:00:00.012-04:00

Please see this editorial from the Washington Examiner before reading any further in this post.

More information about the consequences of ObamaKare HERE.

And note this little gem about ObamaKare's abolishing lifetime limits on benefits from the Washington Post:

A plan can still put a lifetime dollar limit on spending for health services that the government does not deem essential.

This kind of debacle is what happens when Congress passes a bill into law and lets us find out later what's in it.

If ObamaKare remains in force, America will learn a very expensive lesson. At least, one HOPES [cough] that America will learn a lesson without millions of lives being upended, both literally and financially.

Vote the bums out in November 2010.

Imprinting Young Minds With "The Tolerance of The Teachings of Islam"

2010-09-26T07:23:00.001-04:00

Please see my post today over at THE ASTUTE BLOGGERS.

This ideological war has so very many fronts!

Your Weekend Graphic (Plus Video)

2010-09-24T14:00:00.008-04:00

From RP Free Speech of Another Thousand Words (Click directly on the image to enlarge it):

And what has to be the quote of the week (hat tip to Warren):

Let me put this bluntly: virtually no one in America gives a damn what Barack Obama says about anything at this point. What could be more predictable, and less interesting, than Obama’s opinion on any given subject? Who wants to contemplate the economic wisdom of a guy who looted the Treasury for a trillion dollars, with less benefit than we could have achieved by stuffing hundred dollar bills into random cereal boxes? Who’s excited to hear about the next plan to convert taxpayer dollars into Democrat campaign funds? Who’s hungry for another hour of tedious excuses about permanently broken markets and the titanic dead hand of George W. Bush? Who wants a lecture on ethical business practices from the titular head of the party that gave us Charlie Rangel and Maxine Waters? What use is another hollow foreign-policy speech from a man who sees no global adversary to rival the menace of Arizona? Even Obama’s supporters don’t hear anything he says any more. There’s nothing left to hear.

The following appeared this week (Thanks to Will, who emailed me the video):

Information about the video:

In 1984, the Reagan reelection campaign set the standard for modern political advertising with its fabled "Morning in America" series, which included one of the greatest political ads of all time -- "Better, Prouder, Stronger." The ad captured the zeitgeist -- America under President Reagan was coming back, full of optimism and confidence in the future.

Today, the zeitgeist is exactly the opposite. Americans are worried about their future, and about a government determined to implement policies that just don't work. But like its predecessor, "Mourning in America" offers a new hope -- if we can just get our government to return to time-tested policies that can spark a rebirth of liberty.

The results of the upcoming election in November will tell the tale.

Molly Norris Vs. Jorge Luis Aguirre

2010-09-23T06:48:00.002-04:00

Silverfiddle of Western Hero makes an excellent point in this post:

The FBI cannot protect an American citizen [Molly Norris] from Muslim murderers, but it grants asylum to a foreigner [Jorge Luis Aguirre] threatened by drug gangs.

Read Silverfiddle's entire post HERE.

My post about Molly Norris is HERE.

America has come to a sorry pass under the Obama administration.

Obama protests objections to the Ground Zero Mosque, condemns burning the Koran, yet remains silent about an American journalist's being forced into hiding by practitioners of the religion of peace.

Surreal.

This Week On The Gathering Storm

2010-09-22T02:00:00.000-04:00

(This post is a weekly announcement. Please scroll down)

Listen to The Gathering Storm Radio Show, hosted by WC and Always On Watch. The show broadcasts live every Friday beginning at noon, Pacific Time.

The call-in number is 646-915-9870.

Callers welcome!

Our scheduled guest this week is Bill Warner of Political Islam .

-----------
Listen to the September 24, 2010 edition of The Gathering Storm Radio Show, live or later, by CLICKING HERE.

UPCOMING SHOWS
October 1: Heidianne Jackson
October 8: IQ al Rassooli
October 15: Midnight Rider
October 22: IQ al Rassooli
October 29: Az Zaqqum with Freaky Fatwa Friday, just in time for Halloween

Obama's Omission

2010-09-21T06:57:00.002-04:00

With a hat tip to Leticia of My Daily Trek....Can you identify the words omitted?

Information about the words omitted below the fold.

As Leticia points out in her posting:

Obama said, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, endowed with certain inalienable rights: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

And of course the correct quote, as is found written within the Declaration of Independence reads: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
Listen for his "long pause" before he says, "endowed."

Maybe Obama wanted to say "endowed by Allah"? Heh. Never mind that Allah doesn't "endow" anything, much less equality or unalienable rights.

Modem Issues

2010-09-18T08:49:00.001-04:00

Please scroll down for my weekend video, a break from politics.

As if my life weren't busy enough, within the past week, on the heels of returning to work, I had to have Windows re-installed on my laptop because of a corrupted dll file. I barely got my laptop up and running, after hours of Windows updates as the re-installation was that of an old and outdated version of Windows XP, when my modem burned out.

As the saying goes, "If it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all."

I've found a slow neighborhood wireless connection (unsecured) and will post, make blog rounds, and respond to emails and comments as I'm able to do so. At least I'm now able to access the web!

I still have bookmarks to re-instate and passwords to recover. Finding time to get those tasks done is difficult. I have stacks of papers to grade.

Anyway, I'm still here, albeit a bit quiet.

You know, computers are wonderful tools. But only when they work properly! I admit that when my computer doesn't behave the way I tell it to behave, I want to shoot the confounded contraption.

Weekend Video

2010-09-17T15:30:00.002-04:00

(If you must have politics, please scroll down to other posts)

My favorite television commercial:

I'm partial to pigs, you know. Photos from another of my web sites below the fold.

As you enter the gate and walk on the flagstones leading to my front porch, you'll first notice a big planter. Every spring, I buy some annuals to fill the planter, which is at least years old and make of solid concrete. Talk about heavy! My aunt wanted to take the planter with her when she moved from this house, but the management at her apartment building said that it was too much weight for the balcony:

On the northeast side of the above antique planter sits a rain gauge. Isn't he a cute little fellow?

Mo and Osama:

Look who welcomes you at the entrance to my house!

I have more pig decor inside my house, in every room. Sorry, no photos of the interior swine yet available.

This Week On The Gathering Storm

2010-09-16T05:44:00.002-04:00

(This post is a weekly announcement. Please scroll down for other postings)

Listen to The Gathering Storm Radio Show, hosted by WC and Always On Watch. The show broadcasts live every Friday beginning at noon, Pacific Time.

The call-in number is 646-915-9870.

Callers welcome!

Our scheduled guests this week are Midnight Rider and Yoni Tidi.

-----------
Listen to the September 17, 2010 edition of The Gathering Storm Radio Show, live or later, by CLICKING HERE.

UPCOMING SHOWS
September 24: Bill Warner of Political Islam
October 1: Heidianne Jackson
October 8: IQ al Rassooli
October 15: Midnight Rider
October 22: IQ al Rassooli
October 29: Az Zaqqum with Freaky Fatwa Friday, just in time for Halloween

Draw-Mohammed-Day Cartoonist Changes Identity

2010-09-16T05:09:00.006-04:00

Never mind that Molly Norris had backtracked and disavowed the idea of draw Mohammed day as she never meant to insult Moslems.

Well, Moslems don't accept apologies for insulting their so-called prophet.

From Weasel Zippers, citing the Seattle Times (hat tip to Infidel Bloggers Alliance):

You may have noticed that Molly Norris’ comic is not in the paper this week. That’s because there is no more Molly.

The gifted artist is alive and well, thankfully. But on the insistence of top security specialists at the FBI, she is, as they put it, “going ghost”: moving, changing her name, and essentially wiping away her identity.

She will no longer be publishing cartoons in our paper or in City Arts magazine, where she has been a regular contributor.

She is, in effect, being put into a witness-protection program—except, as she notes, without the government picking up the tab.

It’s all because of the appalling fatwa issued against her this summer, following her infamous “Everybody Draw Mohammed Day” cartoon....

Another cartoonifada!

Once again, the religion of peace proves that it is not peaceful, nor does Islam allow for freedom of expression, particularly if that freedom of expression is perceived as insulting Islam, Mohammed, the Koran, Moslems. Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera, to the point of all things Islamic, including naming a nightclub "La Meca"; read the information about the night club at Tea and Politics.

Remember these words of Pastor Martin Niemöller (1892–1984):

They came first for the Communists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist.

Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.

Then they came for me
and by that time no one was left to speak up.

Faiz Khan: 9/11 Truther

2010-09-15T08:25:00.002-04:00

With thanks to Opus #6, the video is below the fold:

By a man's friends shall you know him.

Back To School

2010-09-14T04:00:00.007-04:00

Classes resume today. This 2010-2011 school term, I am teaching ten courses to groups of homeschoolers, many of those courses earning high-school credit. Courses this year include literature, composition, grammar, public speaking/policy debate, foreign language, and American Government. I also have private-tutoring sessions on the schedule. I have increased my work load as Mr. AOW is much improved now.
-----------
Posting may be lighter than usual until I settle into the schedule for this term. I will try to continue with Twitter updates on the sidebar. I don't know how valuable tweeting is per se, but Twitter serves as a convenient place to store banks of articles.

As time allows, I will make blog rounds even though I'm not posting regularly at my own site.

Meanwhile, I have several recent posts below.

School Answering Machine

2010-09-13T04:39:00.008-04:00

Spew alert! Set down your beverage.

Courtesy of commenter Speedy G:

9/11 Ground Zero Freedom Rally (With Addendum)

2010-09-12T06:18:00.006-04:00

Click directly on the photo to enlarge it:

Some 40,000 people assembled. Where was the media coverage?

More HERE (photos, links, and text) at Atlas Shrugs and HERE at Jihad Watch.

Addendum: See THIS at Eye On The World!

Never Forget

2010-09-11T00:01:00.006-04:00

Set to the music of Samuel Barber's "Agnus Dei" from Adagio for Strings:

Leftist though he may be, Bruce Springsteen's "You're Missing" reminds us of the personal devastation wrought by Muslim terrorists on 9/11:

Some reading below the fold.

For this ninth anniversary of 9/11, as Barack Hussein Obama and a whole raft of others try to sing kumbaya with the Islamic world, we see that the left would like for all of us to forget 9/11 and ignore the still-present threat of Islamic terrorism.

I won't.

Not ever.

No matter how much revisionism is tossed out there for the dhimmis to suck up:

We need to stipulate that those men who brought down the Twin Towers were not Muslims. - Anushay Hossain [biography here]

What to say to that nonsense? Ms. Hossain spins a kumbaya yarn with her blatant revisionism. Her very words are an attempt to desecrate those murdered on 9/11.

--------------

Read the names of the fallen.

Please take time to watch this excellent flash presentation on the web (hat tip to Mike's America).

And remember that people, particularly those emergency personnel who served on that terrible day, are still dying because of 9/11.

The 2010 9/12 March On Washington

2010-09-09T15:00:00.001-04:00

Information HERE on the upcoming march on Washington.

I plan to attend.

If you are a trusted friend and want to meet up with me, please contact me via my email address, which appears toward the top of the right sidebar.

This Week On The Gathering Storm

2010-09-09T14:30:00.001-04:00

(This post is a weekly announcement. Please scroll down for other postings)

Listen to The Gathering Storm Radio Show, hosted by WC and Always On Watch. The show broadcasts live every Friday beginning at noon, Pacific Time.

The call-in number is 646-915-9870.

Callers welcome!

Our scheduled guest this week is IQ al Rassooli. We will be discussing fatwas.

-----------
Listen to the September 10, 2010 edition of The Gathering Storm Radio Show, live or later, by CLICKING HERE.

UPCOMING SHOWS
September 17: Midnight Rider
September 24: Bill Warner of Political Islam
October 1: Heidianne Jackson

Going On A Staycation

2010-09-09T14:00:00.000-04:00

(This post, published on September 7, stuck here for a few days. Please scroll down for other postings)

Okay, the graphic here is deceptive. It depicts what I wish Mr. AOW and I could do for a vacation this year.

For many years, Mr. AOW and I have taken some kind of vacation, usually a road trip, the week of Labor Day. We chose that week because (1) hotel rates are lower, (2) attractions are less crowded than during summer months, and (3) the homeschool classes I teach begin the second full week of September.
--------------
Now, however, since Mr. AOW was stricken by a brain hemorrhage last September, taking such a trip would be difficult in the extreme. Furthermore, Mr. AOW needs a lot of rest as he continues his recovery. Finally, bathrooming issues on road trips can be stressful for both of us!

Therefore, this year, Mr. AOW and I are going on a staycation. We'll spend a few days visiting The National Museum of the American Indian and The National Museum of American History, both located on the National Mall.

Blogging will not be a priority for a few days. I may or may not find time to post.

In the meantime, I refer you to THE ASTUTE BLOGGERS, Infidel Bloggers Alliance, and The Other News (Will's link-rich site), as well as to other links in my sidebar.

This Year's Ramadan Scorecard

2010-09-09T05:57:00.005-04:00

The following tally is courtesy of Will:

As I have previously posted:

Ramadan 2010 began on or around August 11 and will end on or about September 10. Muslims, ever contentious about nearly every matter, even disagree among themselves as to when Ramadan should begin.

What does Ramadan really celebrate, particularly Eid ul-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan? If one understands the history of Islam and, especially, that of Ramadan, one will come to understand that such a commemoration, including iftar dinners at the White House, should be unacceptable to all those who oppose Islamic supremacism.

Ramadan involves more than prayers, fasting, and the giving of alms — all of which are part of the month long observance but which are also the outward signs of another message. By literal definition, of course, Ramadan commemorates Allah's "revealing" the Qur'an to Muhammad. But history clearly indicates that the "revelations" from Allah to Muhammad began around 610, some fourteen years earlier than 624.

Those earlier passages, sometimes referred to as the Meccan verses, are the oft-quoted peaceful verses in the Koran. Contrary to what one might expect, however, the last day of Ramadan does not celebrate the actual date of the earliest peaceful "revelations" of Allah to Muhammad but rather the Battle of Badr, the first significant military victory by the forces of Muhammad.

The Battle of Badr of March 17, 624, is one of the few military conflicts specifically mentioned in the Qur'an and holds a great deal of significance in Islam. Eid ul-Fitr, the final portion of Ramadan, has as its origin the aforementioned battle. Furthermore and most importantly, this battle marked the turning point for Islam, both politically and ideologically.

Having earlier fled to Medina along with followers who accepted him as their prophet whereas most of the tribes of Mecca did not, early on that morning in 624 Muhammad got word that a rich Quraish caravan from Syria was returning to Mecca. He therefore assembled the largest army he had ever been able to muster, some 300 men, with the original intent of raiding the caravan. After his men successfully overtook the caravan and brought back the booty, Muhammad then conveniently received a new "revelation" from Allah — a "revelation" which not only included rejoicing in having captured an enemy's caravan but which also called "proved" that Muhammad had been preaching the true way all along. Fulfilling Destiny, Muhammad and his forces proceeded to trounce the Quraish as punishment for having earlier rejected the prophet's teachings. From this source:

In the name of Allah, the Beneficient, the Merciful.

The battle of Badr was the most important among the Islamic battles of Destiny. For the first time the followers of the new faith were put into a serious test. Had victory been the lot of the pagan army while the Islamic Forces were still at the beginning of their developments, the faith of Islam could have come to an end.

No one was aware of the importance of the outcome of the Battle as the Prophet (S.A.W.) himself. We might read the depth of his anxiety in his prayer before the beginning of the Battle when he stood up supplicating his Lord:
God this is Quraish. It has come with all its arrogance and boastfulness, trying to discredit Thy Apostle. God, I ask Thee to humiliate them tomorrow. God, if this Muslim band will perish today, Thou shall not be worshipped.
[...]

This battle laid the foundation of the Islamic State...

In other words, victory at the Battle of Badr proved to Muhammad and his adherents that Islam should from that time forth take on a militant aspect because such is the will of Allah. From the day of the Battle of Badr on, the tone of the verses in the Qur'an changed. These more recent "revelations," sometimes referred to as the Medinan verses, abrogated the earlier and peaceful Meccan ones. Because preaching and tolerance had not brought Muhammad the following which he needed in order to establish himself and Islam as political forces to be reckoned with, Allah, via a military victory, showed the prophet a more effective way to spread Islam. Therefore, Muhammad's victory at the Battle of Badr symbolizes both the way to bring about the will of Allah and the will of Allah itself.

In sum, Ramadan is, in and of itself, a statement advocating submission to Islam and to the will of Allah. Ah, the dhimmitude and submission of all Western leaders when they send Ramadan greetings to the Islamic world!

Islam: The Religion Of Genocide

2010-09-06T04:00:00.004-04:00

(Hat tip to Infidel Bloggers Alliance for the graphic below)

From Reliapundit of THE ASTUTE BLOGGERS comes this must-read post. Excerpt:

More people are killed by Islamists each year than in all 350 years of the Spanish Inquisition combined.

[...]

Islamic terrorists murder more people every day than the Ku Klux Klan has in the last 50 years

[...]

270,000,000 [KILLED BY JIHAD]: THAT'S WAY MORE THAN STALIN, HITLER, MAO, POL POT, IDI AMIN, AND THE REST OF THE 20TH CENTURY'S GENOCIDAL SOCIALISTS!

Read the whole link-rich essay HERE at THE ASTUTE BLOGGERS. Worth your time.

The religion of peace continues its tradition of advocating murder with an Australian Moslem recently demanding the beheading of Geert Wilders.

Hat tip to Mark Alexander for the video below:

Weekend Video: I'm Taking Action

2010-09-04T07:58:00.003-04:00

(Hat tip to Western Hero)

Quite the rant and with excellent points about the necessity of the right pursuing political activism:

Vote 'em out in November.

Quote Of The Day

2010-09-03T04:00:00.002-04:00

The following spot-on comment was left by good friend Mark Alexander of A New Dark Age Is Dawning to this post about the Ground Zero Mosque's imam (emphases mine):

The more I read about Imam Rauf, the more disgusted I become! This man is deceitful by anyone's standards. But then that is par for the course by a Muslim trying to Islamize his adopted country, I'm afraid. Further, the more we read about B. Hussein Obama, the less we can trust him. There is no doubt in my mind that in Obama you have yourselves your first Muslim president. He is working hard behind the scenes to change the nature of American society; he's working hard to Islamize it. Anyone who cannot see this is a naïve fool. Sorry to be so crass.

In a few years, the United States will become unrecognisable. In a few years more, it will be Islamized. The way things are going, it's only a matter of time before Shariah law will be introduced there.

Rauf's comments when abroad about how similar America's constitution is to the Shariah is his way of softening up the people for the real change he envisions.

You people, just like the British and the French, have got a real problem on your hands. Trouble is, there are many dhimmi Westerners who are so happy and willing to become members of the army of Allah's little helpers and enablers. Bloomberg, of course, is chief among them. To add to this, there are few strong politicians prepared to make a stand. Almost all are prepared to give Islam a pass.

This is a sad time for liberty in the West.

More individual Americans are waking up to the threat of Islam and Islamification. But our leaders? They remain determined not to insult Islam and, therefore, promote the Islamification of America.

And not only our leaders? Check out this advice that we all celebrate Ramadan in a recent posting I did over at Infidel Bloggers Alliance!

HERE is what Ramadan really celebrates. I won't be joining in any Ramadan dinners or participating in any kumbaya fasting.

This Week On The Gathering Storm

2010-09-02T15:01:00.007-04:00

(This post is a weekly announcement. Please scroll down for other postings)

Listen to The Gathering Storm Radio Show, hosted by WC and Always On Watch. The show broadcasts live every Friday beginning at noon, Pacific Time.

The call-in number is 646-915-9870.

Callers welcome!

Our scheduled guest this week is Leslie Lynn King.

-----------
Listen to the September 3, 2010 edition of The Gathering Storm Radio Show, live or later, by CLICKING HERE.

UPCOMING SHOWS
September 10: IQ al Rassooli
September 17: Midnight Rider
September 24: Guest to be announced.
October 1: Heidianne Jackson

Revealing Capitalization

2010-09-01T17:27:00.008-04:00

From this source quoting James J. Lee, who invaded the Discovery Channel's building today in Silver Spring Maryland, fired shots, and held hostages until the police shot him:

"Nothing is more important than saving ... the Lions, Tigers, Giraffes, Elephants, Froggies, Turtles, Apes, Raccoons, Beetles, Ants, Sharks, Bears, and, of course, the Squirrels. The humans? The planet does not need humans.”

Read Lee's entire manifesto HERE.

And who awakened Lee to the plight of the Planet Earth?

Why, Al Gore, of course!

Lee said he experienced an ‘‘awakening” when he watched former Vice President Al Gore’s environmental documentary ‘‘An Inconvenient Truth.”

Gore awakened Lee, and Daniel Quinn's works were apparently the basis of Lee's activism.

Recent Graphics In Time Magazine

2010-08-30T04:00:00.005-04:00

Perhaps you've already seen the August 30, 2010 cover of Time Magazine:

Abridged cover article HERE.

But have you seen the other graphic in the August 30, 2010 print-edition of Time Magazine?

What does this graphic say to you?

Note how the depiction of the Twin Towers.

This graphic appeared on the final page of the August 30, 2010 print-edition of Time Magazine, attached to the article "Sacred Spaces" by Nancy Gibbs.

Read about Nancy Gibbs HERE, HERE (NewsBusters and HERE (Wikipedia).

So, here we are, nearly nine years after 9/11. We're witnessing the remaking of 9/11 in the image of Islam and the desecration of each one murdered in the Twin Towers by Islamic supremacists.

Note to visitors: Before you go, please watch the video in the post below his one. Thanks!

Pat Condell: Bad Faith At Ground Zero

2010-08-29T06:59:00.008-04:00

Wow! This is a gem, with plenty of arguments and facts to use on any who support the Ground Zero Mosque:

Weekend Video: Porky Pig in Ali-Baba Bound (1941)

2010-08-27T16:00:00.011-04:00

With a hat tip to Reliapundit of THE ASTUTE BLOGGERS, the colorized version of a classic cartoon:

No television network would show this cartoon today for fear of a cartoonifada. In addition to the cartoon's ridiculing of jihad, Porky Pig on Islamic soil is haram!

Frustration!

2010-08-27T06:21:00.003-04:00

While Verizon had me knocked offline yesterday and the day before, I spent a lot of time updating my record keeping, specifically, logging into Quicken medical bills and the like.

Believe me, keeping track of Mr. AOW's medical bills and medical miles is a Herculean task.

When I attempted to back up the financial data, no dice! Neither of my DVD/CD rewritable-drives would back up the information! I did print hard copies, just in case the entire Quicken program crashes.

Later today, after The Gathering Storm Radio Show, I'll haul in my desktop tower to a local repair shop. Being without that computer tower will consign me completely to my laptop, which hasn't been running well at all of late. Browser crashes like you wouldn't believe!

I won't fall completely silent here. I hope.

And I do have a few posts queued up to auto post.

But I may not be around as much as usual.

Please stand by.

Note to any of my students reading this post: Don't get your hopes up that I won't be ready for classes in September. I did all my start-up prep last week. **wink**

This Week On The Gathering Storm

2010-08-26T14:00:00.001-04:00

(This post is a weekly announcement. Please scroll down for other postings)

Listen to The Gathering Storm Radio Show, hosted by WC and Always On Watch. The show broadcasts live every Friday beginning at noon, Pacific Time.

The call-in number is 646-915-9870.

Callers welcome!

Our scheduled guest this week is IQ al Rassooli.

-----------
Listen to the August 27, 2010 edition of The Gathering Storm Radio Show, live or later, by CLICKING HERE.

UPCOMING SHOWS
September 3: Leslie
September 10: IQ al Rassooli
September 17: Midnight Rider

Who Wrote Obama's Cairo Speech?

2010-08-25T05:59:00.001-04:00

(With a hat tip to Infidel Bloggers Alliance)

Remember Obama's Cairo speech, delivered in June of 2009? In that speech, Obama stated:

I have come here to seek a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world; one based upon mutual interest and mutual respect; and one based upon the truth that America and Islam are not exclusive, and need not be in competition....

Now comes this information about the source of that speech:

The Shoebat Foundation has obtained a shocking audio recording of Rauf's own voice boasting in Arabic that Obama’s historic speech in Cairo was provided by the Imam's work with the Cordova Initiative in what the Imam called “The Blue Print” which, according to him, was the solution to the Islamic-American divide. Rauf claimed that Chapter 6 of the Imam’s work engineered by the Cordova Initiative was the construct for the entire speech...

In the recording dated February 5th, 2010 Rauf boasted that:
“We have to look at it [as] how to engineer solutions. At the Cordova Initiative we think of ourselves as an engineering shop. Yes. We have an analytical approach. Our work has been that. IN THE BOOK CHAPTER 6, I WROTE ABOUT THIS BLUE PRINT as to WHAT HAS TO BE DONE BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT, what has to be done by the Jewish community, what has to be done by the Christian community, what has to be done by the Muslim community, what has to be done by educators, what has to be done by the media. For example, IN MY BOOK IN THE ARABIC VERSION page 293, what did I write? WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT THE UNITED STATES NEEDS TO DO. IF YOU EXAMINE THIS CHAPTER YOU WILL FIND THAT THE OBAMA SPEECH IN CAIRO WAS ALL TAKEN FROM THIS SECTION [Section 6]....”

The story was even collaborated in a written article in an interview with Hani Al-Waziri of Egypt. The clue was revealed while Rauf was answering a question regarding President Barack Obama’s speech in which Rauf replied:
“The speech was wonderful and wise in his choice of words, the Prime Minister of Malaysia after the speech disclosed to me that it is now easy for any president of a Muslim country to establish good relations with America, and I AM NOT GOING TO HIDE FROM YOU THAT ONE OF THOSE WHO PARTICIPATED IN WRITING THE SPEECH, TRANSFERRED ENTIRE PARTS OF MY BOOK ‘A NEW VISION FOR MUSLIMS AND THE WEST’, which he referred to U.S. interests being compatible with top interests of the Muslim world”.

Rauf did not disclose the name of this speechwriter that included Rauf’s work in president Obama’s historic address to the Muslim world. It is crucial to note that the Arabic version of Feisal Abdul Rauf’s book was published in Malaysia titled “A CALL TO PRAYER, FROM THE WORLD TRADE CENTER RUBBLE: ISLAMIC DAWA (SUMMONS TO ISLAM) IN THE HEART OF AMERICA POST-9/11."

Read the entire article HERE. Please take the time to read the entire article.

Is Imam Rauf merely bragging? Possibly. Moslems have been known to lie and to take credit for things they haven't really done.

But what if Imam Rauf isn't bragging? That possibility should make every American sit back and ask, "Where do the loyalties of President Obama lie?"

Chapter Six of Imam Rauf's book What's Right With Islam is entitled "A New Vision for Muslims and the West," and the book is available in my local library. I've just put a reserve on the book. You know what I'm going to do once I have the book in hand: go straight to Chapter Six and compare the text thereof with the text of Obama's Cairo speech!

Mega Mosques In The United States

2010-08-24T04:00:00.001-04:00

Please watch the following video (hat tip to Creeping Sharia):

Another video and a link to some reading below the fold.

From the video: "A mosque is a seat of the government." The second colonization of America!

Additional stories about the Islamification via the building of mosques

Obama's Repeated Vacations

2010-08-22T05:49:00.004-04:00

Hat tip to Will, at whose site I found the following graphic:

And 2010 hasn't yet ended.

How many vacations do the Obamas need? Sheesh.

Well, at least while Obama is on vacation, perhaps we won't have to hear from him as Scolder-In-Chief. I, for one, am getting mighty weary of the tone he often uses when he speaks. He is supposed to be our elected public servant.

Now, about our national debt (also from Will's site):

Musical Interlude

2010-08-21T08:19:00.000-04:00

Peace for the soul (hat tip to Karen):

[END OF THIS POSTING]

What Is Ramadan?

2010-08-18T23:00:00.001-04:00

Ramadan 2010 began on or around August 11 and will end on or about September 10. Muslims, ever contentious about nearly every matter, even disagree among themselves as to when Ramadan should begin.

What does Ramadan really celebrate, particularly Eid ul-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan? If one understands the history of Islam and, especially, that of Ramadan, one will come to understand that such a commemoration, including iftar dinners at the White House, should be unacceptable to all those who oppose Islamic supremacism.

Ramadan involves more than prayers, fasting, and the giving of alms — all of which are part of the month long observance but which are also the outward signs of another message. By literal definition, of course, Ramadan commemorates Allah's "revealing" the Qur'an to Muhammad. But history clearly indicates that the "revelations" from Allah to Muhammad began around 610, some fourteen years earlier than 624.

Those earlier passages, sometimes referred to as the Meccan verses, are the oft-quoted peaceful verses in the Koran. Contrary to what one might expect, however, the last day of Ramadan does not celebrate the actual date of the earliest peaceful "revelations" of Allah to Muhammad but rather the Battle of Badr, the first significant military victory by the forces of Muhammad.
-------------
The Battle of Badr of March 17, 624, is one of the few military conflicts specifically mentioned in the Qur'an and holds a great deal of significance in Islam. Eid ul-Fitr, the final portion of Ramadan, has as its origin the aforementioned battle. Furthermore and most importantly, this battle marked the turning point for Islam, both politically and ideologically.

Having earlier fled to Medina along with followers who accepted him as their prophet whereas most of the tribes of Mecca did not, early on that morning in 624 Muhammad got word that a rich Quraish caravan from Syria was returning to Mecca. He therefore assembled the largest army he had ever been able to muster, some 300 men, with the original intent of raiding the caravan. After his men successfully overtook the caravan and brought back the booty, Muhammad then conveniently received a new "revelation" from Allah — a "revelation" which not only included rejoicing in having captured an enemy's caravan but which also called "proved" that Muhammad had been preaching the true way all along. Fulfilling Destiny, Muhammad and his forces proceeded to trounce the Quraish as punishment for having earlier rejected the prophet's teachings. From this source:

In the name of Allah, the Beneficient, the Merciful.

The battle of Badr was the most important among the Islamic battles of Destiny. For the first time the followers of the new faith were put into a serious test. Had victory been the lot of the pagan army while the Islamic Forces were still at the beginning of their developments, the faith of Islam could have come to an end.

No one was aware of the importance of the outcome of the Battle as the Prophet (S.A.W.) himself. We might read the depth of his anxiety in his prayer before the beginning of the Battle when he stood up supplicating his Lord:
God this is Quraish. It has come with all its arrogance and boastfulness, trying to discredit Thy Apostle. God, I ask Thee to humiliate them tomorrow. God, if this Muslim band will perish today, Thou shall not be worshipped.
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This battle laid the foundation of the Islamic State...