Mad Mikey's Blog

September 16, 2005

Seeking Validation & Relavance

SWWNBN seeks validity in a post-Katrina world:

I don't care if a human being is black, brown, white, yellow or pink. I don't care if a human being is Christian, Muslim, Jew, Buddhist, or pagan. I don't care what flag a person salutes: if a human being is hungry, then it is up to another human being to feed him/her. George Bush needs to stop talking, admit the mistakes of his all around failed administration, pull our troops out of occupied New Orleans [WTF?!] and Iraq, and excuse his self from power. The only way America will become more secure is if we have a new administration that cares about Americans even if they don't fall into the top two percent of the wealthiest.

TRANSLATION: I'm still here and now I'm a PAID tool of the left. I'm seeking to regain the spotlight that was stolen - STOLEN!! - from me by Bush and his super-secret weather machine that he used because he wouldn't meet with me again to hear my sorry-ass story.

Talk about trying to drum up business...

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News You Can Use, Part Deux

That's right - it's back! And you know you cannot live without it...

'Freedom Fighters' at it again in defending Iraqis.
Never thought I'd here President Bush attempting to legislating equality but there's a scramble happeing at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Does anyone really give a rat's ass about superfluous crap like this??
And people wonder why the government shouldn't just hand over money to people with zero accountability?
There should be more of this action happening except with more automatic weapons being utilized.
And more of this too because there are too many people that are clueless about the United States Constitution.
An interesting sequence of events about Louisiana's Kathleen Blanco...
Their nuclear facilities should be 'taken out' and here is why.

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September 15, 2005

To the Moon by 2018

Coolness!

NASA to unveil plans for 2018 moon mission

WASHINGTON — NASA briefed senior White House officials Wednesday on its plan to spend $100 billion and the next 12 years building the spacecraft and rockets it needs to put humans back on the moon by 2018.

[...]

That plan, called the Exploration Systems Architecture Study, was presented by NASA Administrator Mike Griffin, his space operations chief Bill Gerstenmaier and several other senior agency officials Wednesday afternoon to senior White House policy officials, including an advisor to Vice President Dick Cheney and the president's Deputy National Security Advisor J.D. Crouch.

NASA's plan, according to briefing charts obtained by Space.com, envisions beginning a sustained lunar exploration campaign in 2018 by landing four astronauts on the moon for a seven-day stay.

The expedition would begin, these charts show, by launching the lunar lander and Earth departure stage (essentially a giant propulsion module) on a heavy-lift launch vehicle that would be lifted into orbit by five space shuttle main engines and a pair of five-segment shuttle solid rocket boosters.

Once the Earth departure stage and lunar lander are safely in orbit, NASA would launch the Crew Exploration Vehicle capsule atop a new launcher built from a four-segment shuttle solid rocket booster and an upper stage powered by a single space shuttle main engine.

The CEV would then dock with the lunar lander and Earth departure stage and begin its several day journey to the moon.

NASA's plan envisions being able to land four-person human crews anywhere on the moon's surface and to eventually use the system to transport crew members to and from a lunar outpost that it would consider building on the lunar south pole, according to the charts, because of the regions elevated quantities of hydrogen and possibly water ice.

Supreme coolness!!

If possible, I'll try to get copies of those briefing notes from Space.com...

UPDATE: Here's the Crew Exploration Vehicle image from Space.com that I found this morning.

Looks pretty cool and the crew 'capsule' looks a lot like the Apollo capsule which stands to reason that it was a tried and tested design which I'm sure will be 'upgrade' to reflect 21st century technology.

Of course, bear in mind that this is a conceptual drawing and the difference(s) between what's envisioned and what makes it to the launch pad will differ.....just look at the conceptual and actual designs of both the Apollo vehicles and the space shuttle designs....

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Normal People 1, Eco-Psychopaths 0

House Passes Bill To Extend Border Fence
WASHINGTON -- The U.S House of Representatives has voted to pass a bill that would allow the extension of a border fence along the San Diego-Tijuana border.

The House pushed through a host of immigration measures that would have a big impact on California.

The House approved legislation Thursday that would make states verify they're not giving driver's licenses to illegal immigrants. California's law giving driver's licenses to illegal immigrants, which was signed by Democrat Gray Davis and repealed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, would not be allowed under the legislation. Democrats in the state legislature are still pushing a similar measure; it would be blocked.

The bill also would allow the completion of a fence along the U.S. Mexican border south of San Diego by waiving environmental hurdles. The fence is opposed by the California Coastal Commission, environmentalists and Democrats, but Schwarzenegger says he supports it.

The bill would exempt the fence from all existing federal and state laws and circumvent any environmental protections that would have prevented the extension from being constructed. Supporters of the bill argue that the fence, which would have motion sensors and would be brightly lit, would increase the border's security and help to keep illegal immigrants, drug smugglers and terrorists out.

Opponents of the plan say the fence would be harmful to the environment.

The bill would apply to the entire 1,933-mile border with Mexico and the nearly 4,000-mile Canadian border.

Read More of "Normal People 1, Eco-Psychopaths 0"

And check out how the local activists are having kittens over this and their way of protraying this fence building:

Homeland Security Signs Order to Finish Triple Border Fence and Bulldoze Endangered Species Preserve

From NBCSanDiego.com: The Bush administration said Wednesday that it will fortify the westernmost stretch of the U.S.-Mexico border over the objections of environmentalists and California regulators, who feared the project would harm a refuge for endangered birds.

The Triple Fence will require bulldozing major portions of the Tijuana Estuary, including a preserve for endangered plant and animal species [Emphasis mine. -Ed]. The No Border Camp and mobilization to stop the Minutemen this weekend will include protests and actions at Border Field State Park, the proposed construction site for the rest of the Triple Fence.

Such a move was made possible by the REAL ID act, which contained a small section in it which allows the Department of Homeland Security to waive all laws when building fences along the border.

[...]

Meanwhile, 2005 has become the deadliest year on record, with 385 recorded deaths to date – surpassing the previous record of 383 set in 2000. Over 3,300 people have died trying to cross the Mexico/US border. Tens of thousands have been incapacitated trying to cross. Millions of migrant people live their entire lives in hiding in the US.

Now here's where something I call a FACT comes into the picture: take a look at where the border is, where the fence will be, and the relative size of the Tijuana Estuary and Border State Park.

'Bulldozing major portions of the Tijuana Estuary'?? How does approxiamately 18 acres out of 4,000+ acres constitute a 'major portion'?? According to my trusty TI-86, this 'major portion' of the park resolves to be less than ONE HALF of ONE PERCENT (0.45%). I know that some people aren't great at math, but come on....

It is quite clear that they're talking out of their asses on this.

(Thank you to 'Real Patriot' who posted the border map)

All done with "Normal People 1, Eco-Psychopaths 0"?

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NYTimes Heading for Wall at Mach Four...

Matt Drudge threatens N.Y. Times

"I will yank the Times scribes if I can't find other outlets that are planning to carry them," Drudge told the New York Post. "The Internet is losing its innocence."

Beginning Monday, the New York Times will charge $49.95 per year or $7.95 per month for online readers to access 22 columnists including Maureen Dowd, Paul Krugman and Frank Rich.

I don't think that anything The New York Times has to offer is worth $49.95 a year or $7.95 a month is worth it - especially with such hacks as Maureen Dowd and Paul Krugman. The money is better spent on crack cocaine or flinging nickels at hookers on the street.

I mean, it really isn't any skin off my nose - it just means that instead of quoting the New York Times directly, I'll have to rely upon 'reproductions' of those columns or articles.

Personally, I think is has to do with 'amateurs' like me linking to the Times as opposed to 'professionals' doing the same thing; pros can afford the fees to link to articles - I cannot.

And that's okay cause my opinion of the New York Times will remain the same: they're a has-been paper that needs to be recycled into so-much confetti....

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September 14, 2005

UnConstitutional My Butt

This is insanity:

Judge: Pledge unconstitutional

A federal judge in Sacramento, Calif., ruled the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools is unconstitutional.

The pledge's reference to one nation "under God" violates school children's right to be "free from a coercive requirement to affirm God," said U.S. District Judge Lawrence Karlton.

A federal judge in Sacramento, Calif., ruled the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools is unconstitutional.

The pledge's reference to one nation "under God" violates school children's right to be "free from a coercive requirement to affirm God," said U.S. District Judge Lawrence Karlton.

Karlton granted legal standing to two families represented by Sacramento atheist Michael Newdow, who lost his previous battle before the U.S. Supreme Court.

The judge, nominated to his seat by President Carter in 1979, said he was bound by the precedent of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals' in 2002, which favored Newdow.

Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected Newdow's case 8-0 because he did not have legal standing to represent his daughter, who is under sole custody of her mother.

In January, however, Newdow filed a complaint in federal court in Sacramento, Calif., with eight new co-plaintiffs, seeking to remove "under God" from the Pledge of Allegiance on the grounds it violates the so-called "separation of church and state."

Last month, the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in a Virginia case that the pledge was constitutional, points out Mathew D. Staver, president and general counsel of Liberty Counsel, which filed a brief in the high court case.

Today's Sacramento ruling will be appealed to the 9th Circuit, Staver said, and if ruled unconstitutional, the U.S. Supreme Court likely will take the case and, this time, address the merits.

Is it that big of a horrendous thing to say or let alone hear those two little words in the Pledge of Allegiance?

You know - everyone is perfectly capable of saying the Pledge of Allegiance without saying 'under God' like everyone else.

I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands: one Nation under God, indivisible, With Liberty and Justice for all.

And don't tell me that reading it causing your eyes to bleed either. Get over it.

But if they insist upon hauling this back to the Supreme Court, then so be it.

But you realize that should the Court overturn these rulings and it is laid out that the two words 'under God' are not unConstitutional....well then, they themselves will be screaming about 'activist judges' and out 'it was a rigged case to begin with' with some 'Bush told the Court to rule against us!!' thrown in for flavoring.

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September 13, 2005

Invocation of Stupidity

That didn't take long:

Contentious start to Roberts hearings

In their opening remarks, the two top Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee invoked the tragedy as a reminder of the gap between rich and poor and the need for a Supreme Court that wants to close that gap.
"Today, the devastation, despair facing millions of our fellow Americans in the Gulf region is a tragic reminder of why we have a federal government, why it's critical that our government be responsive," said Sen. Patrick J. Leahy, Vermont Democrat and ranking minority member of the panel.

"We need the federal government for our protection and security, to cast a lifeline to those in distress, to mobilize better resources beyond the ability of any state and local government -- all of this for the common good."

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, the Massachusetts Democrat, said lessons should be learned from the hurricane.
"The powerful winds and flood waters of Katrina tore away the mask that has hidden from public view the many Americans who are left out and left behind," he said. "As one nation under God, we cannot continue to ignore the injustice, the inequality and the gross disparities that exist in our society."
Within moments, the office of Sen. John Cornyn, Texas Republican and member of the committee, issued a statement accusing Mr. Leahy and Mr. Kennedy of using the victims of the hurricane "in an attempt to score political points."

"I believe the American people will see this for what it is," said Mr. Cornyn, according to the statement. "We ought not to appropriate a national tragedy in a misguided effort to further a political interest of any sort."

Wendy Long, counsel for the conservative Judicial Confirmation Network, accused the Democrats of "exploiting the national tragedy."

"Reasonable, fair-minded Democrats should prevail on their more extremist Senate colleagues to back off these inappropriate tactics," she said. "Grandstanding, deception and cavalierly playing politics with the human tragedy wrought by the hurricane will not endear Senate Democrats to the American people."

The Cornyn statement went on to predict: "Others likely will make similar attempts in a bizarre effort to link Judge Roberts to the tragedies in the Gulf of Mexico. But Katrina victims should not be used to score political points."

These two gentlemen must be really desparate to make ANY political hay out of SCOTUS nominee John Roberts to invoke hurricane damage. Is there some obscure Senate Confirmation Hearing rule about invoking one's rights to stupidity??

What do you want to bet that the Katrina 'racist' issue (really a NON-issue to me) makes it into someone's political campaign ads for the 2006 Congressional elections? Place your bets ladies and gentlemen....

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September 12, 2005

'News You Can Use'

Reading up on Current Events while you're 'stuck' someplace... 'New You Can Use' is something that I dreamed up one afternoon when I wasn't really in the mood to discuss or opine about that day's current events, so I attempted to pull a slight ScrappleFace and make fun of the headlines.

Sometimes it was easy, especially considering how the Assocated Press likes to create headlines that 'draw your attention' and sometimes it's not.

Today, I'm bringing 'News You Can Use' back with a different approach: just make snide comments about the story and let the reader determine if they want to read it. The onus is placed upon you, the reader.

Enjoy!!

Using Hurricane Katrina for political fundraising? Doesn't surprise me one-little-bit.
Would you honestly expect anything else?
Al Gore (the one that lost the 2000 election) is showing signs of BDS and not being able to let it go....
Glad you got *cough* what you wanted....now let's see if it doesn't just turn into a 'free-fire' zone under your new management....
Anyone want to make a bet that Hurricane Katrina will be somehow tied to SCOTUS nominee John Roberts?
Nope - this nothing like the first item above....not a chance.
Cindy who? Maybe if she hovers out in the Gulf of Mexico she'll regain some strength...
Well of course they do...because Bush is the epicenter of bad things that happen.
This is coming as a shock. Can anyone say 'Eastern Airlines'?
Haven't heard the word 'BOO' about this anywhere....wonder why?

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September 11, 2005

New Attacks

Tape Released: American al Qaeda Member Warns of Attack
Sept. 11, 2005 — In an apparent Sept. 11 communiqué broadcast on ABC News, an al Qaeda operative threatens new attacks against cities in the U.S. and Australia.

"Yesterday, London and Madrid. Tomorrow, Los Angeles and Melbourne, Allah willing. And this time, don't count on us demonstrating restraint or compassion," the tape warns. "We are Muslims. We love peace, but peace on our terms, peace as laid down by Islam, not the so-called peace of occupiers and dictators."

American intelligence officials believe the man who appears on the tape to be Adam Gadahn of Orange County, Calif. Last year, Gadahn delivered a similar taped communiqué for al Qaeda. That tape was later deemed authentic.

On the new tape, delivered to ABC News, Gadahn's message contains a very pointed al Qaeda threat against Los Angeles and Melbourne.

[...]

"Don't believe the lies of the liars at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and 10 Downing Street," Gadahn insists. "They have dispatched your sons and daughters to die lonely deaths in the burning deserts of Iraq and the unforgiving mountains of Afghanistan."

I particulary like that bit about We love peace, but peace on our terms, peace as laid down by Islam....

That right there makes all arguments about those 'freedom fighters' doing what they do because the United States invaded Iraq. You know, those arguements about how we angered the Muslim world with our 'cowboy tactics'....the ones constantly pushed by those that conveniently forget about all those 'accidents':

the first World Trade Center bombing in February 1993 (six dead, over 1,000 wounded),
the bombing of the Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia in June 1996 (20 dead, 372 wounded),
the simultaneous bombings of the United States' Embassies in Tanzania and Kenya (12 dead, 85 wounded in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, 213 dead, close to 4,000 wounded in Nairobi, Kenya)
the bombing of the USS Cole anchored in Aden, Yemen (17 dead, 39 wounded)

So all this crap about 'we made them mad at us' goes right out the window and that window is nailed shut with this new pronouncement about peace on our terms, peace as laid down by Islam....

More and more I'm coming to realize that while most Muslims follow some variant of Islam that does not condone suicide bombings or terrorist attacks (unless it's against those evil Joooozzzz), but by them standing there and doing nothing overt to prevent these attacks from happening or not 'outing' them for law enforcement to deal with, well....they just as guilty as those screaming 'Allah Ackbar!!' and pushing a detonation switch or flying a plane loaded with people and jet fuel into a building.

Who knows - maybe all of this will come down to a global war of religion. Considing the severe lack of Muslims speaking out about the perversion of Islam, every day it looks more and more like it'll come to it.

I hope not, but this crap has got to stop. And if it won't stop by the hands of those tied into the so-called 'religion of peace' called Islam, then by the hands of Americans that seek to defend themselves, their families, and their country.

UPDATE: The Liberal Avenger just happens to be talking the same talk I am about this twerp hiding behind an abaya....

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Remember

Four years ago today:

Explosion from United Airlines Flight 175 crashing into Tower Two at 9:03am

United Airlines Flight 175 crashing into WTC 2

NYFD raising the Old Glory over Ground Zero in true American spirit

NYFD raising the American flag over Ground Zero

Never forget this day and never forgot those that gave their lives to save people from this barbaric act.

Remember it always for it has indeed shaped America into what it is today and will be for a long, long time.

God Bless the United States of America!

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About Me

Who is Mikey?

Mikey playing with digital camera
Mikey is a forty-something U.S. Navy veteran that is currently taking a break from being a full-time student at UC San Diego studying electrical engineering.

He's also a husband, a father, a former Independent/Democrat and is currently dealing with dialysis and getting on the national kidney transplant list.

The words written here are his opinions and his observations on the stupid things in life. If you do not like them or do not agree with them: tough squishies. In America, you're entitled to Freedom of Speech not Freedom to Not Be Offended.

Help Mikey by not being part of the problem and instead, be part of the solution so that he doesn't have to comment on your sorry actions.

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September 16, 2005

Seeking Validation & Relavance

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News You Can Use, Part Deux

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September 15, 2005

To the Moon by 2018

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Normal People 1, Eco-Psychopaths 0

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NYTimes Heading for Wall at Mach Four...

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September 14, 2005

UnConstitutional My Butt

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September 13, 2005

Invocation of Stupidity

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September 12, 2005

'News You Can Use'

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September 11, 2005

New Attacks

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Remember

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