Folk Hero D.B. Cooper: FBI Investigation Finds New Suspect In Forty Year Old Mystery

D.B. Cooper

D.B. Cooper was a mysterious flight passenger back in late November 1971.  He boarded a Northwest flight from Portland to Seattle on a cold, stormy night, wearing a suit, a cheap tie and dark glasses.  While in flight he hijacked the plane, claiming to have dynamite on board.  The FBI acceded to his demands and gave him a sack of money, $200,000 and four parachutes.  Cooper then demanded that the plane fly him to Mexico, but when in the air, he strapped on two of the parachutes and bailed out over southwestern Washington.

Cooper jumped out of the rear cargo ramp under the plane and disappeared into the howling storm and was never seen or heard from again.  From that time on, the D.B. Cooper mystery has captured the public's imagination.  There was once a D.B. Cooper's restaurant in downtown San Jose, complete with a dummy of D.B. hanging from parachute cords attached to the ceiling.  The establishment is no longer there.

Some believe Cooper did not survive the bail-out, perhaps dying on impact. If he landed safely, he may have died from the elements.  He was, after all, only wearing a suit, jumping into a freezing rainstorm. No bones or body was ever found in the forested wilderness where he jumped, though $5,880 in tattered bills from his cash was found years later (in 1980), buried in the sand beside the Columbia river.  The rest of the $200,000 was never located.

Forty years have passed, and now the FBI claims to have a new suspect in the case.  They have the hijacker's DNA from the many cigarette butts he left behind, and also from his tie, which he left draped over a seat.  They also have many fingerprints.  All of this is ample evidence to identify the perpetrator, if they can ever find him.

It is possible that the perpetrator is now dead, even if he survived the jump.  Forty years is a long time. Even so, the FBI would like to solve the case.  (The FBI has not disclosed whether their "promising new suspect" is alive or dead.)

Cooper's daring crime leaves many with the hope that he somehow survived; not because they approve of his crime, but because of his bravery.  I hope they solve the case, one way or another.  I'd like to know what happened to Dan Cooper.

Read more about it here, here and here.

Update:  News reports now say the new suspect is a man who has been dead for ten years.

Watch Part 1 and Part 2 of the "Unsolved Mysteries" episodes on D.B. Cooper:

Part 1
Part 2

"Targeting" Maps, Democrats Vs Republicans; Rebuttal to Steven Benson

"Steve Benson," if that is who he is, apparently concluded that Sarah Palin's "targeting" map was a call to violence, and that this is what triggered (excuse the term) Jared Loughner to shoot Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who was one of the "targeted."

It was  a great Democrat propaganda campaign.  It seems to have begun with the despicable Huffington Post in 2010 -- see that article here, "Sarah Palin's PAC Puts Gun Sights on Democrats She's Targeting in 2010."  The article complains about the alleged "gun sights" (which look like surveyor's symbols, not gun sights), and the "militant language" like "We'll aim for these races and many others," she wrote on her Facebook page. "This is just the first salvo in a fight to elect people across the nation who will bring common sense to Washington."

Perhaps Loughner read the Huffington Post article and decided to act on it.  If anyone is responsible for the Tucson shootings, it is the Democrats themselves.  It is they who published far and wide the monstrous lie that Palin was "targeting" Democrats for assassination.  Perhaps Loughner got the idea for his massacre by reading Democrat propaganda.  He was, after all, a liberal, so undoubtedly read liberal literature.  However, he might have gotten the idea from Gabrielle Giffords herself, who appeared on television claiming that Sarah Palin had put a gun sight on her district, thus endangering her life.  It is entirely possible that Loughner, an Arizona resident, saw that television spot.  It is far less likely that he visited Palin PAC's webite and saw the map.

So Loughner then went to a shopping center and shot Rep Gabrielle Giffords and several other people.  Giffords survived a head wound, but will never be 100% the same as she was.  Others died, including a little girl.

The left then exploded in rage (over a tragedy that they may have caused), blaming it on Palin's innocuous map.  But wait!  In the age of the internet, others soon found the Democrats had their own "targeting map," one  with the bold headline "Targeting Strategy" and the words "Behind Enemy Lines."  Talk about "militant language."  Of course, both of these maps were metaphors, nothing more,  but only Democrats are ruthless enough to endanger their own with a call-out to lunatics.  Republicans never said a word about the Democrat map (used in the Clinton years), because we understand the use of metaphors and because we are not soulless, Machiavellian leftists practicing the politics of personal destruction.

Here are the two maps, side by side.  You decide.  Which map employs the more militant imagery?  Palin's surveyor symbols or Clinton's bull eyes?

Please feel free to copy and desseminate this imagery as you see fit.

Steve Benson of the Arizona Republic Protests Saberpoint Article That Criticized Him

Steve Benson is objecting to the dressing down I gave him after he printed a cartoon showing Sarah Palin with a pistol for a mouth.  This was right after the Jared Loughner mass murder in Tuscon.  Benson was attempting to tie Sarah Palin's "targeted districts" map to Loughner's mass murder.  There was, of course, no connection.  His cartoon was slander in the extreme.

Apparently, he's a bit upset that I disdained the Pulitzer prize, since it is most often awarded to the most extreme political leftists, like him.  Unfair, Steve?  And your cartoon, was that fair?

He has already made two comments at my post located here.

It's nice to know that I got under his skin; that's exactly what I intended to do.

Check out the post and the comments if so inclined.

Update:  I cannot be sure that this commenter is indeed Steve Benson; it may just be another troll who is pulling my leg to waste my time.  However, my statcounter revealed numerous google searches for Steve Benson that originated from Cox Communications in Arizona.

Update 2:  I received another message from this commenter stating that he is indeed the right Steve Benson.

Cleaning Out the Ol' Blog Roll: In Pursuit of Those Who Value Truth Over Hit Counters

Today I cleaned out my blog roll, deleting those bloggers who have disappointed me, as well as their me-too hangers-on bloggers.  I also deleted some blogs that I just never read.

I have in particular some ill feelings towards bloggers who care more about their hit counters than they do their own integrity or to the pursuit of truth.  If hits are all you care about, become a copycat of National Inquirer or some skin magazine.

I am going to begin looking for a new blogger crowd to hang out with.  If I get a lot of hits, fine, but if I don't, then that's fine too.

Here's a poem from 19th-century German romantic poet Theodore Fontane, as published at Gates of Vienna:


NIGHT IN THE FACE OF DAYBREAK
I believe in truth.
To look for her, to search for her within us and around us
            must be our highest purpose. In that, we serve
            first and foremost yesterday and today.
Without truth there is no security and no continuity.
Be not afraid when the pack starts to scream and shout.
            For nothing in this world is more hated and feared
            than the truth.
Nevertheless, at the end of the day, any opposition to the truth
            will crumble like the night in the face of daybreak.

The Congressional Fight Over Debt Ceiling and Spending

Obama Wants More Fuel for the Fire

The Obama Administration spent trillions of dollars needlessly, running up the U.S. debt until it is close to the maximum allowed by law -- the "debt ceiling."  Obama is the stereotypical Democrat on steroids, with an obsessive, addictive and uncontrollable desire to spend, spend, spend, until Hell freezes over.

Obama has been sweating the debt ceiling, seeming to finally realize that his ruinous profligacy is endangering his chances for reelection.  This would be terrible, because if he is not reelected, how will he continue to destroy the financial future of generations yet unborn?

Ostensibly, the USA will default on its debts, for the first time in its history, on Tuesday of next week, unless the debt ceiling is raised.  If raised, then Obama can borrow more money to make debt payments and other payments.  If not raised, then  Obama may not be able to make payments, and people and nations holding US Treasury bills will be left holding paper they can't redeem.  China, foreseeing the incompetence of the Obama Administration, has been dumping its US Treasuries as fast as it can.

Of course, there are better solutions than allowing Obama to borrow even more money to continue his massive Ponzi scheme.  Obama could stop borrowing and slash spending.  All of the useless Departments (of Energy, Education, Agriculture, Labor, HUD, etc) could be ended and their budgets terminated.  To Democrats and some establishment Republicans, this would be like throwing a heroin junkie into a cell to go cold turkey, a sudden and painful withdrawal from his drug abuse.

So enters House Speaker John Boehner, Republican, who fastens together a bill that would allow immediate raising of the debt ceiling by $900 billion, coupled with spending cuts of $917 billion over some years into the future.  All House Democrats vote against it, because they already have their sleeves rolled up and the rubber tubing tied around their arms, and need their drug NOW.  More than 20 Republicans also voted against the bill, because they insist that the Democrat money druggies need to stop this abuse now, go cold turkey and slash spending.  Per the Washington Times:

Twenty-two Republicans joined Democrats in voting against the bill. Those Republicans argued that it didn’t go far enough in cutting spending, and was weaker than the version the House passed just last week.

“I cannot in good conscience vote for a bill that puts the future of my grandchildren and of generations to come in jeopardy,” said Rep. Paul C. Broun, Georgia Republican.

Boehner's bill passes the House by a vote of 218 to 210, in spite of this.  But it was all for naught, as the Senate quickly voted to table the House bill, effectively killing it.  The Senate is still controlled by Democrats.  The Dems are betting that, in a game of chicken with the Republicans, the latter will blink first.  Screw the future generations, the Dems are holding out for a better deal for themselves in the here and now.

So where do we go from here?  Well we can accede to the Democrats' blackmail and let them raise the debt ceiling to the skies.  This will allow American voters to see that the debt and spending disaster of the Democrats is also supported by Republicans, and thus cannot be used against the former in the national elections of 2012.  John Hinderaker of Power Line described the situation yesterday:

What the Democrats are trying to do, of course, is gain absolution for all of their fiscal sins by negotiating a cosmic deal with the GOP that, as I once put it, would put Republicans in the position of going over the waterfall holding hands with the Democrats. If Republicans are dumb enough to let that happen–which I doubt–then it will indeed be time for a third party.

Well said.  Sometimes I get the impression that the Republican Party is a giant conspiracy to elect Democrats.  If there is a way the establishment GOP can engineer a Democrat victory, they will find it.  Every one of those Republicans who support raising the debt ceiling should be issued a ceremonial mat and a hara kiri knife.

Meanwhile, the 22 Republicans who voted against Boehner's bill are heroes in my book.  They include Tom McClintock of California and Ron Paul of Texas.

Meanwhile, if you have a problem with any of this, please fill out the official complaint form here.

Related Post:  Declaring Victory?  Not Quite Yet

US Soldier Who Plotted Second Attack on Fort Hood Is A "Practicing Muslim"

This story has been out for several hours, but I waited to comment until I knew.  Now I know:  the would-be perpetrator of a new terrorist attack on Fort Hood is a practicing Muslim.  He was arrested with weapons, bomb-making materials and jihadi literature in his possession.

Pfc. Nasser Jason Abdo was AWOL at the time of his arrest.

This is but another example in many of why I oppose Muslim immigration into the United States, and why I oppose Muslims participating in the US military.  Muslims tend to be loyal to Islam, not to the countries in which they reside.  And Islam commands them to kill infidels.

Read more about it here.

No doubt General George Casey will be very worried about the army "losing its diversity," which as he has told us previously, would be a far greater tragedy than the deaths of a dozen plus soldiers.

Another Body Blow to the Global Warming Crowd

For a long time now, the anthropogenic global warming crowd has been telling us to ignore our lying eyes and believe their computer models instead.  A new NASA report shows those computer models have been wrong.  They are wrong in that they posit a much larger entrapment of heat in earth's atmosphere than actually exists.  Satellite data over a decade shows that a lot more heat is escaping into space than the computer models predicted.

James M. Taylor is senior fellow for environment policy at The Heartland Institute and managing editor of Environment & Climate News.   He explains the findings of this new study:

NASA satellite data from the years 2000 through 2011 show the Earth's atmosphere is allowing far more heat to be released into space than alarmist computer models have predicted, reports a new study in the peer-reviewed science journal Remote Sensing. The study indicates far less future global warming will occur than United Nations computer models have predicted, and supports prior studies indicating increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide trap far less heat than alarmists have claimed.

Study co-author Dr. Roy Spencer, a principal research scientist at the University of Alabama in Huntsville and U.S. Science Team Leader for the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer flying on NASA's Aqua satellite, reports that real-world data from NASA's Terra satellite contradict multiple assumptions fed into alarmist computer models.

Read Spencer's article here.

When I read Brian Sussman's book "Climategate," he stated that for decades scientists have been measuring the earth's temperatures with earth-bound measuring stations throughout the globe, and that these stations produce a lot of inaccurate data.  Sussman claimed that satellites from space could measure the earth's temperatures with far greater accuracy, and that global warming would be disproved when enough satellite data became available.  He was right.

Some pundits are saying that this new report is the death knell for the global warming movement. Let's hope so.  The left will have to invent a new fraud to accomplish "socialism by other means."

Norway Youth Camp - a Center for Leftist Indoctrination?

Glenn Beck was heavily criticized for saying that the Norwegian youth camp (the one targeted by the Norway shooter) resembled a "Hitler Youth Camp."  Beck may have been a bit too strong in drawing such a parallel, but he was partially right.  The purpose of the camp was to indoctrinate young people into leftist doctrines.  On the day before the shootings, the youth on the island displayed a large banner saying "Boikott Israel."

The leftist bent of the camp may be why the shooter selected it as a target.

Bare Naked Islam has the story:  Glenn Beck is Right!

Muslim Murders All Six Daughters Because Two Had Relationships With Boys

This is why many of us oppose Islam and Islamic culture and will continue to do so.

According to an unclear article in the Express Tribune, a man in Faisalabad, Pakistan, on finding out that two of his teen-aged daughters were in relationships with boys, called all six of his daughters into his room and shot them all dead.
Anyone who hates violence must hate Islam.  The two are synonymous.

The only thing sicker than Islam is those who defend it.

Gates of Vienna: Breivik Was a Psychopath (Like Muhammad?)

The Gates of Vienna attempts to pinpoint the correct term to describe the mental illness of Anders Breivik, the Norway shooter.  In their post "Not a Madman, But a Psychopath" They write:

A psychopath is not clinically insane. He is quite rational, often more rational and lucid than most people. He is able to stay calmly focused on his goals over a long period of time. His behavior is not erratic or capricious.

His reasoning and methodology are not impaired, but that does not mean he is not mentally ill. What makes the psychopath abnormal are his goals, which are to varying degrees violent, destructive, depraved, monstrous, and inhuman. His focused lucidity is directed towards deeds that lie beyond the pale of our common humanity.

The psychopath’s world contains nothing but himself, and all his actions are informed by a grandiosity that culminates in massive, murderous, bloodthirsty deeds that will glorify him forever in history, as presented on the stage of his own mind.

Read it all here.

Funny, while reading this, I noticed that the definition also closely describes the founder of Islam, the false prophet known as Muhammad.  Breivik hates Islam (and for good reason), but he has embraced what he hates:  a violent ideology born of megalomania and delusions of grandeur.

Robert Stacy McCain Sells Out for Hits: Claims Pamela Geller Was "Vindicated" in Smearing the EDL

Robert Stacy McCain stuck his foot in it this morning, with his post:  "Pamela Geller Vindicated Again..."  He writes:

And let me just remind you that, three weeks before the Oslo massacre, Pamela Geller was being criticized for going public with her concerns about neo-Nazi elements in the English Defence League. My defense of her at that time was simple: If Pamela Geller says you’ve got an anti-Semitism problem, you probably have an anti-Semitism problem.
Fast-forward to the aftermath of Oslo, and Breivik’s claims of “connections” with members of the EDL.

If this is true, don’t you kind of wonder if the EDL members who were buddies with the Norwegian terrorist were some of the same neo-Nazi types Geller was warning about?

This is my response to McCain, posted at his website in the comments section:

When you get it wrong, Stacy, you really get it wrong. Pamela Geller has not been vindicated, though I am sure your misinformed post will get you want, namely, a link and some more hits. "Hits before truth" appears to be the new watchword of "The Other McCain." Kissing ass for link favors is so unseemly, Stacy. You denigrate your reputation in so doing, and so does Donald Douglas. Both of you have lost credibility in my eyes.

Some of us are not so easily taken in, and I proved that Geller's buddy Roberta Moore slandered the EDL with the "neo-Nazi" smear as revenge for being kicked out of the EDL for her ties to a violent Jewish terrorist. Geller simply took Moore's word for it. Do read it here:

http://saberpoint.blogspot.com...

Geller then refused to provide any details of the alleged "neo-Nazi" ties of the EDL, because she couldn't. None exist. Further, Anders Breivik disdained the English Defence League because the EDL eschewed violence and terrorism and was dedicated to working through the democratic system. I have a complete post on Breivik's disdain for the EDL that was posted just last night and is based on my actual reading of Breivik's manifesto. Read it here and learn why you should actually research such an article before reaching dubious conclusions:

http://saberpoint.blogspot.com...

*****

Post script:  I suspect that Pamela Geller was quick to throw the EDL under the bus so she could start yet another Geller/Spencer organization, this time in Europe.  She saw an opportunity to expand her empire and acted recklessly, without doing the required research beforehand as to the truth.  She has not been vindicated in her smear of the English Defence League.  Indeed, as more information comes to light, the EDL is the one who is vindicated, not Geller. 


Meanwhile, it's hard to believe that R.S.  McCain was once a professional reporter -- that he is willing to trash a large group of European conservatives on the unproved say-so of one of his buddies [really great research skills there, Stacy].  I have long been utterly turned off by McCain's buddy-blogging and blog-whoring for links but today he reached a new low.  Having been slandered far and wide by leftists himself, you would think McCain would be a bit more careful before doing the same thing to other conservatives.


Update:  McCain got what he wanted for his unprincipled whitewash of Geller, a link from her here, and no doubt, lots of new hits.  Stacy, you sell your honor cheap.

Anders Breivik Denounced English Defence League For Eschewing Violence

I watched a video of EDL chief Tommy Robinson destroying a BBC propagandist at the following link.  In the interview, the BBC blowhard tried very hard to implicate the EDL as somehow having links to the Norway shooter.  In that attempt, the blowhard failed miserably and his glaring bias and agenda are obvious.  However, the film disclosed more comments by Breivik about the English Defence League that I missed in an earlier word search. [Read my earlier efforts here.] That's because I had searched for "English Defence League" and not "the EDL."  A word search for the latter reveals solid gold evidence that the EDL is a respectable organization.  Anders Breivik, the Norway shooter, denounced the EDL for its refusal to consider violence or terror in furtherance of its political goals.

Here are Breivik's opinions about the EDL, that is, the English Defence League (emphasis added by me):

Norwegian Intelligence Agency (PST) annual estimates - 2011

Feb 28th: The Norwegian Intelligence Agency (PST) just released its annual report on terror estimates in Norway. I have been waiting for this report for several weeks now. Apparently, it’s the same expectations as usual when it comes to Islamic terror; imminent danger.

However, they then specify that the largest right wing threat in Norway is that a subsidiary of English Defense League (EDL); Norwegian Defense League (NDL) is in the process of gaining strength. They also state, between the lines, that both EDL and the NDL are dangerous and violent right wing extremists that adhere to racism, fascism and Nazism.

They conclude that they will ensure that any attempt to further develop NDL in Norway will be harshly suppressed.

I am not surprised that PST makes statements like this as the report has been designed by the Norwegian Labour Party, and does not reflect the views of actual PST operatives. The head of PST, Janne Kristiansen has never even worked as an intelligence officer, and is nothing more than a planted Labour Party agent, placed to lead the PST, against the will of most PST employees.

I know that the above description is nothing more than vile lies, a part of their psychological propaganda warfare against all cultural conservatives. I know this for a fact as I used to have more than 600 EDL members as Facebook friends and have spoken with tens of EDL members and leaders. In fact; I was one of the individuals who supplied them with processed ideological material (including rhetorical strategies) in the very beginning. The EDL are in fact anti-racist, anti-fascist and anti-Nazi. They even have many members and leaders with non- European background (African and Asian). They have worked so hard, and continue to work hard, to keep National Socialists out of the organization, but yet they are strategically labeled as racist-fascist-Nazi-monsters by the multiculturalist authorities. The EDL, although having noble intentions are in fact dangerously naïve. EDL and KT principles can never be reconciled as we are miles apart ideologically AND organizationally. The EDL even rejects taking a stand against multiculturalism which proves that they are even more naïve than Sarkozy, Merkel and Cameron who have all admitted that multiculturalism has been a failure and a disaster for Europe.

KT [Breivik's organization] was formed back in 2002 as a revolutionary conservative movement because we had lost hope that the democratic framework can solve Europe’s current problems. The EDL, on the other hand, IS a democratic movement. They STILL believe that the democratic system can solve Britain’s problems… This is why the EDL harshly condemns any and all revolutionary conservative movements that employ terror as a tool, such as the KT. And this is why, we, the KT view the EDL as naïve fools, wasting all their energy monkey-screaming to deaf ears while they should instead have focused on means and methods that are meaningful in regards to achieving true political change, in regards to tearing down the multiculturalist regime known as Britain. Unfortunately, the only meaningful resistance at this point in time is to use military force. So instead of monkey-screaming, they should instead focus on strategically demolishing one of the many British nuclear power plants, which effectively would completely cripple the British economy, contributing to creating an optimal climate for significant political change.

These words have been available for several days now, yet the mainstream media ignores them and continues to try and draw links between the EDL and Breivik.  These ruthless and dirty tactics are what convinced Breivik that democracy and dialogue were hopeless.  It should be obvious that it is the mainstream media and liberal politicians who pushed Breivik over the edge.   They should be investigating themselves.

Politics Are Unbelievably Dirty, Rotten and Ruthless: How To Fight Back Peacefully

The Norway tragedy has really fixed in my mind just how dirty, rotten and ruthless politics have become.  Someone once said that "politics is war by other means," and the left and the Democrats have taken that concept to a new level.

Jared Loughner, a deranged individual, shoots and kills people in Arizona and his crime is blamed on conservatives and Republicans.  However, conservatives and Republicans had nothing to do with it.  The left, displaying a level of cynicism and ruthlessness beyond anything I've seen previously, exploit a tragedy to smear their political opponents.

Now Anders Breivik, a deranged individual, shoots and kills people in Norway and once again, his crime is blamed on conservatives and Republicans and Islamic scholars who have written about Islam.  Not only do the standard party rank and file repeat these smears, but they are printed as editorials in leading liberal newspapers like the New York Times and the Los Angeles Times.  If Breivik agreed with something an author wrote, then that author is responsible for Breivik's shooting spree.  Of course, Breivik also agreed with (and quoted) articles in both the New York Times and the Los Angeles Times, but this is not mentioned.

Breivik stated that he had become convinced that debate and democracy no longer worked, that violence was the only option for stopping the left's destruction of western civilization.  In this, he was partially correct:  debate and democracy only work when there is a fair and objective discussion of issues and alternatives.  When one side is as dishonest and as ruthless as the left/Democrats, when the well of public opinion is constantly poisoned by smear and the politics of personal destruction, then democracy doesn't work so well.  It is easy to see how many conservatives might despair at the current political environment and consider fighting fire with fire.  However, in order to fight evil, one must not become evil himself.

This is where Breivik was wrong was in his solution.  His mass murder and violence, over and above being evil, immoral and insane, only strengthens the left by giving them new propaganda to disseminate. Radical solutions may become necessary to escape the tyranny of socialism, multiculturalism and Islamization, but there are non-violent ways to do that.  Further, such solutions must be undertaken by large groups of citizens and their legislative representatives, not by individuals perpetrating violence.

State nullification of unconstitutional laws can be pursued. Secession of states and countries from unions like the European Union (and even the United States) can be pursued; companies can be moved to freer economies, taking their jobs and tax revenues with them; and by mass demonstrations (e.g. the Tea Parties) and even civil disobedience.  We, as private citizens, can simply refuse to go along.  That was the concept in the novel "Atlas Shrugged."  Those who produce and thereby feed the statist monster can starve the monster by refusing to produce.   There is much we can do to effectively fight the left and its propaganda, and none of it requires violence.

Norwegian News Videos Show Scenes of Massacre

You can view Norwegian news videos of scenes of the massacre at this link.

One of the videos shows Breivik walking among the dead at the edge of the island.  Click on the white-on-red arrow at the top of the bottom half of the screen, showing the island.  The video is very short.

Another video shows bodies floating in the water, and still another shows devastation from Breivik's fertilizer bomb.

Hat tip:  View From the Right

Norway Shooter Quotes the Los Angeles Times! Guilt by Association?

After the L.A. Times despicable editorial impugning guilt by association to various bloggers, I decided to do a word search through Breivik's manifesto, and sure enough, he also quotes from the Los Angeles Times!

Breivik quotes an L.A. Times article describing Muslim desecration of a Cathrolic church, the Hagia Sophia.  Et Tu, Brute?  Ah, the L.A. Times must have inspired mass murder with its truthful article about Islamic atrocities!

Will the Times now write an editorial impugning guilt to itself, and promising "introspection" as to its role in this tragedy?

Don't count on it.

Here is the quote by Breivik:

Raymond Ibrahim[31], a research librarian at the US Library of Congress, warns in the Los Angeles Times against giving in to Muslim supremacists:

"In the days before Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to the Hagia Sophia complex in Istanbul, Muslims and Turks expressed fear, apprehension and rage. ‘The risk,’ according to Turkey’s independent newspaper Vatan, ‘is that Benedict will send Turkey’s Muslims and much of the Islamic world into paroxysms of fury if there is any perception that the pope is trying to re-appropriate a Christian center that fell to Muslims.’ Apparently making the sign of the cross or any other gesture of Christian worship in Hagia Sophia constitutes such a sacrilege. Built in the 6th century, Hagia Sophia - Greek for Holy Wisdom’ - was Christendom’s greatest and most celebrated church. After parrying centuries of jihadi thrusts from Arabs, Constantinople - now Istanbul - was finally sacked by Turks in 1453, and Hagia Sophia’s crosses were desecrated, its icons defaced.”

Norway Shooter and the English Defence League

Now the U.K. Telegraph joins the riot of "guilt by association," claiming that Anders Breivik had "extensive ties" to the English Defence League (the EDL).  It is thus implied that the EDL and Breivik must have agreed on the need for violence.  Nonsense.

Last month, the EDL kicked out its Jewish section leader, one Roberta Moore, for her support of a violent terrorist, a Jew who was convicted of plotting to bomb Russian targets in the US.  This proves conclusively that the EDL disavows violence and distances itself from it.  In fact, the EDL was subsequently slandered by Moore in an effort to justify her departure and to get revenge, but the truth remains:  the EDL rejected any alliance with violent people.

Breivik hated multiculturalism and Islamic extremism and read from many sources on the subject.  However, none of these sources advocated violence against Muslims or anyone else.

So what does Breivik say about the English Defence League in his "manifesto"?  He describes it:

Organisations like EDL, doesn't [sic] have an official extreme political doctrine.

 And also:

Instead of condemning and rejecting organisations like EDL it is essential that conservative intellectuals contribute to help them on the right ideological path. And to ensure that they continue to reject criminal, racist and totalitarian doctrines.

Sure, they will always be labelled as racists by the MSM, but who aren’t labelled? Everyone who criticises Islamisation or multiculturalism and supports Israel are labelled as racists, fascists and Nazis anyway. Europeans are getting increasingly immune against the multiculturalist labelling techniques. More and more people understand that Islam is not a race, but a hateful political ideology. When they continue with the labelling techniques despite of this, it is actually the individuals labelling other groups who are perceived as intolerant bigots. People aren't stupid.

It is obvious that Breivik believed the the EDL to be non-racist, non-criminal and non-totalitarian.  So he endorsed it for that reason.  Of course, this position is very much at odds with Breivik's decision to mass murder innocents in Norway.  There is no logical connection.  But then again, Breivik is insane.  Logic or consistency in thought and action are not the hallmarks of a deranged mind.

The conclusions here are obvious.  Breivik was not influenced in his mad scheme by the EDL, and any attempt to connect the dots is doomed to failure.

Update:  Later I discovered that Breivik subsequently denounced the EDL for its refusal to use violence and terror in pursuit of political goals.  Read about it here.

Pitching Wu: Democrat Congressman Resigns Over Sex Scandal

I hate sex scandals.  They may reflect poor judgment of a specific individual, but they are born of a human need. The need for sex can make fools of us all.  Sometimes men cross the line from foolishness to abject stupidity and ruin their own careers.

USA Today reports:

Rep. David Wu, an Oregon Democrat facing an ethics investigation for allegedly having an unwanted sexual encounter with a young woman, said today he will resign from Congress.

Wu, the first Chinese-American member of Congress, said he is stepping down so he can take care of his two children as he fights these "very serious allegations."

Apparently, Wu is going through a divorce and may have psychiatric problems.  It is claimed that he emailed a picture of himself in a chicken suit.  But was he swinging from a chandelier by his feet? No.  Then what's the problem?  Chicken suits are harmless and may be kind of cute.

How Wu offended the woman in question is not disclosed.  Did he grope her?  Try to kiss her?  Or is the lady just imagining some offense in an innocent act, influenced by the Democrat-inspired frenzy of imagined sexual harassment?  Women have power like a loaded gun over the careers of men.  They simply have to allege an impropriety and a man's career is finished.  Such allegations should be made with extreme caution.  In this case, however, Wu seems to agree that he did indeed behave in an unacceptable manner.

I take no pleasure in this, nor do I impute sexual psychopathology to Democrats as a whole.  Nevertheless, Democrats should quietly engage in personal introspection to determine their role in this tragedy.  How many Democrat women have displayed a hint of cleavage in the office, or flashed a shapely thigh?  How many Democrats have argued that "it's only sex" and implied that sexual restraint is really a form of repression, typical of Republicans and Christians, devoutly to be ignored?

The Los Angeles Times' Specious Editorial on Anti-Jihad Bloggers

The Los Angeles Times displays its anti-logic regarding the alleged role of anti-jihad bloggers in the Norway shootings.  Their specious reasoning is as follows:

What Spencer failed to address is the fact that his site, and others cited by Breivik such as The Gates of Vienna, make a habit of blaming all Muslims for the actions of a minority of violent jihadists. As an example of Spencer's thinking, he wrote in November that the Transportation Security Administration should profile and give extra screening attention to Muslim males at airports, because this is the likeliest group to commit acts of terrorism. One could as easily argue that special attention should be paid to white males. In the wake of the Oklahoma City bombing, the Unabomber's reign of terror, the Tucson shootings and, now, the mass murder in Norway, this population also appears prone to terrorist violence.

This editorial is seriously lacking in fairness and logic. First off, the Gates of Vienna, Jihad Watch and many other sites are not remotely responsible for the actions of a lunatic. Secondly, the anti-Islam sentiments of these sites are grounded in irrefutable proof that Islam is a highly intolerant and violent religion, that mass Muslim immigration into the west is undesirable and dangerous and has many negatives and few (if any) positives. These sites have nothing to apologize for.

Third, the Times mischaracterizes their opposition, saying that they oppose all Muslims when only some Muslims are violent. What they oppose is an ideology, namely, Islam itself, which does indeed preach violence and even murder as necessary to enter heaven. Read the Koran and the Haddiths -- I did. Since it is the religion itself that is violent, any Muslim could become violent at any time by deciding to get serious about his religion.  Many have.

White males are decidedly not terrorism suspects in the same light as Muslims. The former do not believe that martyrdom will buy them a ticket to heaven, whereas the latter do. The L.A. Times writer's logic on this subject is decidedly shallow and specious.

The Los Angeles Times continues to embarrass itself:

Conservative pundits are getting back some of what they've been dishing out for years, finding themselves being unfairly blamed for the actions of those who share their ideology but take it to violent extremes. Will this inspire them to treat Muslims more fairly? A defensive post from Pamela Geller, who writes the anti-Muslim Atlas Shrugs blog (also cited by Breivik), points to the answer. While failing to acknowledge an iota of responsibility for spreading distrust of even moderate Muslims, she instead blames the "Sharia-compliant media" for attacks on her and her site. Opportunity lost.

Again, a very specious conclusion.  It ignores the fact that it is the religion itself that is violent, intolerant and hateful.  Further, distrust of Muslims is based on the actions of Muslims, not bloggers who point out the unpleasant truths about Islam.  There was, remember, 9/11, Beslan, Madrid, London, Mumbai and Fort Hood, to mention only a few Muslim atrocities that were committed in the name of Islam.  After those horrific mass murders (by Muslims against non-Muslims), no one needs a blogger to tell them how untrustworthy the "Umma" is.  It is a truth well established by Islam itself, both in its written words and its recent deeds.

Read the Times editorial here.

Hat tip to Reflecting Light for the quote about Islamic immigration having "many negatives and few positives."

Update:  I decided to do a word search through Breivik's manifesto, and sure enough, he quotes the Los Angeles Times!  He quotes an L.A. Times article describing Muslim desecration of a Cathrolic church, the Hagia Sophia.  Et Tu, Brute?  Ah, the L.A. Times must have inspired mass murder with its truthful article about Islamic atrocities.

"Reflecting Light" on Bloggers' Alleged Inspiration of Mass Murder in Norway

The blog "Reflecting Light" has but one post on the Norway murders, but it is worth reading.  In defense of anti-jihad blogs, the author writes:

Gates of Vienna, its frequent contributor Fjordman, Robert Spencer of Jihad Watch, "cultural conservatives" and many others who oppose the Islamization of the west are extremists only in the eyes of the leftist/Muslim united front. They ask us to face an uncomfortable truth: that there are almost no positives about Muslim immigration and many negatives; that Muslims will not "integrate," except in the most superficial ways, into Western cultures; and that Islam is an all-embracing politico-religious system stuck in a stage of intolerance that other cultures have long since gotten over.

The anti-jihad movement has nothing to apologize for.

Read it all here.

Anders Breivik Appears in Court; Denied Request to Wear Uniform; Begins "Propaganda Phase" of His Operation

Anders Breivik appeared in a Norwegian court today.  He admitted responsibility for the mass murder of Norwegian citizens but denied doing anything criminal.  Like the Islamists he pretends to oppose, Breivik apparently thinks one may murder anyone anytime, for any reason, so long as he believes it is in service of a high cause.

Now, according to Breivik's written manifesto, begins the "propaganda phase" of his operation.  He writes:

Post-operational phases – propaganda and consolidation

7a. Apprehension

If you for some reason survive the operation you will be apprehended and arrested. This is the point where most heroic Knights would call it a day. However, this is not the case for a Justiciar Knight. Your arrest will mark the initiation of the propaganda phase.

7b. Your trial offers you a stage to the world
See 3.63, 3.64 and 3.57-3.60

A Lunatic Smirks

The sections he cites, however, have nothing to do with "offering a stage to the world."  They relate to commemorating "martyrs" and blowing up nuclear power plants.

Breivik, perhaps in imitation of Napoleon, has invented a grandiose uniform for members of his newly reconstituted "Knights Templar," along with medals, all of which he appears to have awarded himself.  In his manifesto, he has a picture of himself wearing the uniform.  He appeared in a Norwegian court today and had requested permission to wear the uniform, but was turned down.  See photo above.

I saw this picture of Breivik in a police car as he arrived at court.  He has a proud smirk on his face, very much like the one on Lee Harvey Oswald's face after murdering President Kennedy.

There's nothing wrong with this boy that a long drop and a shorter rope won't fix.  However, the maximum prison sentence in Norway (even for murder) is said to be only 21 years.  Breivik will be out before you know it.

Breivik Describes Use of a Policeman's Uniform As a Disguise

I found a couple of passages in Breivik's "manifesto" in which he describes using a police uniform as a disguise for carrying out a terrorist attack.

Here's the first:

You may have to sleep under the stars for a couple of nights so consider adding a small, compact sleeping bag with some water protective material which will allow you to create an improvised tent. You must also include a back pack which will allow you to carry the above equipment and warm clothing/a disguise (a police uniform with forged police insignia/ID, mustache, glasses and a police cap/hat). If you encounter anyone it will be easy to explain that you are in pursuit of the suspect (the news story which explains that “you have escaped” will therefore act to your benefit as it will give credibility to your “cover story”. 

Here's the second:

a. Create and wear a police combat uniform replica. Make serious efforts in recreating credible insignias, ID and marks. Study media pics of SWAT agents from your country. This will create confusion and hesitation when engaging hostile agents and should buy you at least 1-2 extra seconds. These extra seconds will give you the edge you need in order to neutralise any potential threat (2 head shots). The police illusion will also act as a deterrent towards preventing potential civilian charges.

According to news reports, Breivik took his own advice.  He was wearing a policeman's uniform as he systematically murdered 76 people in a summer camp.  Many who confronted him no doubt thought he represented safety and came to him only to be shot dead.

Amanda Knox Moves Closer to Freedom: Prosecution's DNA Evidence Discredited

Shortly after the Amanda Knox conviction for murder in Italy, I changed my opinion in light of emerging evidence.  I had at first accepted the prosecution's tale of murder and intrigue, but soon thereafter concluded that Knox was innocent and that her conviction a disgrace to justice.

Today in Italy, Knox's appeal moved her another step closer to freedom.  ABC reports:

The family of Amanda Knox said that testimony today by DNA experts at the appeal of her Italian murder conviction was "huge" and put the American exchange student "another day closer to freedom."

The Knox family was buoyed by the testimony of court appointed experts who said the prosecution's collection, handling and interpreting of DNA on two crucial pieces of evidence used to convict Knox of killing her roommate was blatantly flawed.

The two DNA experts disputed claims made by the prosecution during the original murder trial:

Conti and Vecchiotti testified today that they found no DNA or blood on the blade of a knife found in Sollecito's kitchen that prosecutors claimed was the murder weapon. Prosecutors had claimed during the trial that the knife had DNA from both Knox and Kercher on it.

Read more about it here.

See Injustice In Pergugia for other articles dealing with these new developments.

Norway Shooter "Inspired" by Right Wing Bloggers and Writers?

Some leftwing ass blames Pamela Geller for inciting Breivik.  Wendy said...

You lost me at "lone psychopath". Your words (no matter how insipid, idiotic, or meaningless) unfortunately do matter. Who are you trying to convince with this post? The "sharia-compliant media"? Your readers? Yourself? You are part of this man's narrative. If I were you (and clearly, I am not, for any number of reasons), this would be the time to evaluate my life choices and the ideas I am presentingto the world. I suspect that sadly, you are not capable of such introspection.

I tried to respond to this idiot at Pamela Geller's site (defending her) but apparently Geller has banned me from commenting.  I rebutted Geller soundly (and deservedly) a few weeks back when she unfairly attacked the English Defence League.  Okay, Pamela can be small but she is NOT responsible for Breivik's mass murder in Norway.  Here's why, based on my actual reading of Breivik's manifesto:

Breivik quotes from numerous authors and references in his "manifesto," including:  John Locke, the Bible, the Encylopedia Brittanica, George Orwell, Thomas Hobbes, John Stuart Mill, Adam Smith, Edmund Burke, Ayn Rand, William James, Winston Churchill, Pope Urban II, King Richard I, Charles Martel, Vladimir Putin, Plato, Frederich Hayek, the Los Angeles Times, various middle eastern scholars and authors...among others.

So should all these people hang their heads in shame?  Shall we illogically conclude that the writings of these folks provoked Breivik's act of insanity?  Of course not.  Leftists like Wendy are neither logical nor fair and have no intention of being so.  To them, politics is "war by other means."  So perhaps they shouldn't be surprised when some nut decides to take "politics" to the next level.

Norway Shooter's Plan For Armed Insurrection and Violence

I am continuing to read the manifesto of the Norwegian shooter, Anders Behring Breivik.  In Section 3.16, he outlines his plan for armed insurrection and conquest of existing European governments.  He writes:

3.16 PCCTS - Purpose and objectives of re-founding
Short list - overview

The PCCTS, Knights Templar serve as an independent pan-European Military and Criminal Tribunal in the current Western European civil war. We have come to the conclusion that the democratical struggle to save Europe has been lost. Our purpose and goal is to defeat the cultural Marxist/Multiculturalist Alliance of Europe, seize political and military control of Western European countries and implement a cultural conservative political agenda.

PCCTS activities will continue in all three phases of the European civil war until our objectives have been completed.

Pretty ambitious goal for one man.  Talk about delusions of grandeur.  Later on, he describes "military objectives":

Military objectives

There have already been thousands of pre-emptive strikes from brave Europeans all over Europe. However, the majority of attacks have been impotent “poop in mailbox” operations with zero to little ideological effect. In order to successfully penetrate the cultural Marxist/multiculturalist media censorship we are forced to employ significantly more brutal and breath taking operations which will result in casualties. In order for the attack to gain an influential effect, assassinations and the use of weapons of mass destruction must be embraced. When employing such methods the Justiciar Knight becomes a force multiplier, he becomes a one- man army. The continuation of these “humiliating strikes” on the Multiculturalist system will contribute to destroy the cultural Marxist hegemony in Europe.

We are dealing with a maniac.

Breivik also describes
 weapons and how to make and use bombs and set targets.  He writes:

Identify high priority off shore targets in the following countries:
France, UK, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Spain

Focused targets:

· Industrial/petro/gas/energy installations (on shore/off shore)
· Crude oil tankers/LNG carriers close to coasts or close to off shore oil installations.

Choose targets wisely and ensure that the secondary effects will have devastating effects.

A one man cell will have limited capabilities. However, providing a truck/boat loaded with explosives is within the capabilities of any single individual. It might take 1-2 years to safely acquire (without causing suspicion) the materials needed for this bomb but the resource vs. effect ratio is magnificent. In theory a 50 000 Euro operation has the potential to cause economical losses for to our enemy in the range 1-3 billion Euro.

Also, keep in mind that tankers carrying crude oil are sectioned (they might not sink if only one section is compromised) so it is essential to hit a cross section (two sections minimum) during a blast (or to ensure that you have enough load). This can f example be achieved by using a fishing boat loaded with explosives. Study the different oil platforms. Know that the crude oil and/or liquid gas is always stored in the hollow foundations/pillars of the platform (the 1-4 supporting blocks). Know that according to EU regulatives all oil platforms have mandatory emergency rescue ships within a certain radius for the purpose of rescuing personnel in case of disaster so the civilian casualties will be minimal.

Breivik also lists a number of bombs and chemicals that can be used to make bombs.  He was a very determined revolutionary.  How strange that he became what he hated most:  a terrorist.  However, he was clear that only some European countries should be attacked:

Such devastating sabotage attacks, which have the potential to cripple a countries [sic] economy, should not be employed by resistance fighters in countries where there are realistic possibilities for a democratical regime shift or where the people have not undergone two decades of severe mental conditioning (brainwashing) and should therefore be limited to Western Europepan countries.

These types of economically devastating operations should be employed in countries beyond hope of saving through democratical means (due to decades of severe ideological brainwashing) such as:  Germany, France, UK, Sweden, Norway, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria etc.

Professor Chaos

Breivik appears to have no strategy beyond mass murder and destruction.  Were he not so repugnant and horrible, Breivik's strategy might resemble those of the blond and comically evil "Professor Chaos" of South Park fame.  There is no scenario by which the "Knights Templar" are to take power and begin governing the nations of Europe.  His screed begins logically and even reasonably before it veers off into madness.  It is as if he were building a reasonable math equation but whose final result is absurd, e.g., 2 + 2 = banana.


Note:  Breivik's manifesto contains detailed descriptions on how to make bombs out of fertilizers and other materials, and probably should be censored or banned lest it fall into the hands of violent people.

Norway Shooter Felt Democracy Offered "No Hope," Advocated Armed Struggle

Anders Behring Breivik

I obtained a pdf copy of the political manifesto of Anders Behring Breivik, the Norway shooter and mass-murderer of over 100 Norwegians this week.  I converted it to Word format and have extracted several key passages that shed light on Breivik's mindset.

Breivik's manifesto contains much truth about the advance of cultural Marxism and the brainwashing of the West with multiculturalism and mind control, i.e., "political correctness."  However, Breivik discloses a growing alienation from democratic processes, which he felt were too weak and too compromised to be an effective avenue for redress of conservative grievances.  He broaches the subject of violence this way:

War or armed resistance has traditionally always been used as a last resort, used when dialogue has proven to be ineffective. The justification for use of armed resistance against the European cultural Marxist/multiculturalist systems is tied to the outlook for cultural conservative political success. You have to ask yourself; is it remotely possible under the current conditions that a conservative, monocultural political party will ever gain substantial political influence? An increasing number of Europeans are opening their eyes to the reality that the democratical struggle through dialogue has been lost. The cultural Marxists have institutionalised multiculturalism and have no intention of ever allowing us to exercise any political influence of significance. In theory we, the cultural conservatives of Europe, have become slaves under an oppressive, tyrannical, extreme left-wing system with absolutely no hope of reversing the damage they have caused. At least not democratically..

To his question of  "is it remotely possible under the current conditions that a conservative, monocultural political party will ever gain substantial political influence?"  I have to answer, "no."  However, that terrible truth in no way supports Breivik's criminal solution, the mass murder of innocents.

Breivik continues his rationalization of violence:

It is meaningless to participate in the democratical process when you are not allowed to raise important issues without being subjected to political and social persecution through stigmatisation and ridicule. It is time to acknowledge that we, the cultural conservatives of Western Europe, are deceiving ourselves to believe that it is remotely possible to change the system democratically.

The continuation of the ongoing peaceful dialogue with the cultural Marxists/multiculturalists only serves to further diminish our demographical advantages. They are growing stronger while we are being weakened every year. It is counter-productive, even lethal to waste another five decades on meaningless dialogue while we are continuously losing our demographical advantage. We have never and will never be allowed to ever exercise any influence. The cultural Marxist/multiculturalist elites nationally and in Brussels have for the last five decades created a resilient system whose objective is to ridicule, persecute, harass and silence us. They will continue to systematically marginalise us until the day when we are no longer a threat to them.

The following arguments will further underline why any democratical or peaceful cultural conservative victory of significance is impossible...

After Timothy McVeigh blew up the federal building in Oklahoma, his violence was blamed on "right wing rhetoric."  However, his violence was really based on leftwing, governmental extremism at both Waco and Ruby Ridge.  This is not to justify his evil act, but to provide an accurate description of his motivations.

Now we have Anders Behring Breivik, another individual of McVeigh's ilk.  His violence will again be blamed on "right wing rhetoric," but once again his actions are based on leftist political activities and a feeling of hopelessness in bringing change through democratic processes.  Breivik's huge crime was largely caused by Gramscian  leftist political strategy, which has been highly successful in undermining western culture and institutions over the past 75 years.  Now, in response to that crime, we can expect more Gramscian propaganda and a continued feeling of alienation by conservative nationalists, who will be vilified once again for resisting the death of the West, and again painted as mad men bent on violence, of whom Breivik is but the most recent example.

Those on the left should resist the temptation to make political hay out of this tragedy. It is the politics of smear and personal destruction that are leading us to a place where some may see violence as the only possible way to bring about needed change.

The left manufactured Anders Behring Breivik.  It is they who should take a long look in the mirror.

Also see Donald Douglas's related article Anders Behring Breivik's Manifesto

Amy Winehouse Dies

The Late Amy Winehouse

Amy Winehouse, pop-artist singer from the U.K., died yesterday of an apparent drug overdose.

The U.K. Mail Online reports:

A source told The People that she was seen buying substances, believed to be cocaine, heroin, ecstasy and ketamine leading up to the hours before her death.

She is also thought to have been drinking heavily, which may have been the trigger of a lethal concoction of drugs and alcohol.

It was only a couple of weeks ago, in Serbia, that Winehouse appeared onstage stoned and barely able to stand.  She was booed off the stage, resulting in the cancellation of her tour.

Winehouse may have been dead for up to six hours when her body was found in bed yesterday.

A pop star dies of a drug overdose.  Who would have thought it?

Mass Murder In Norway

Very strange happenings this week. A reader and commenter at the respected blog Gates of Vienna committed mass murder in Norway.  Gates of Vienna reports:

The mass murderer at Utøya is now said to have been a Norwegian named Anders Behring Breivik. He is reported to have posted frequent comments at various anti-jihad websites up until sometime last year. The Scandinavians tell me that these comments showed mainstream counterjihad sentiments, with no incitements to violence or evidence of homicidal insanity.

Indeed, the shooter had revealed himself in public comments that he was pro-Israel, anti-Nazi, anti-racist and anti-Jihad.  He publicly disparaged "ideologies of hate" like Communism, Nazism and Islam.

In spite of his reasonable public statements, Breivik then dressed himself in a policeman's uniform and began to execute civilians at a summer camp in Norway, many of them children.  These people were not Muslims, as one might surmise.  They were children of the Center-Left labor party of Norway.

What on earth did Breivik hope to accomplish?  Around 100 people are dead, making this one of the worst mass murder episodes in recent history.  There is no rational explanation for these deeds.  They were acts of a deranged mind.

Crazy people come from all walks of life, apparently.  They can explode without warning and begin killing people.  There is almost nothing we can do to stop them, except possibly passing right-to-carry laws.  When the only one with a gun is mentally deranged, those without guns find themselves at a distinct disadvantage.  Like the dead in Norway.

Almost as bad will be the leftist/liberal hateful propaganda that will be born of this.  Pamela Geller had a worthy quote on this.  She said:

But this is war. And the left is vicious, amoral and depraved. They mean to win, and that is the only way they know how. 

Hat tip:  Gates of Vienna

Out of Town -- Slow Blogging Until Monday

I am out of town and blogging will be light until Monday.

Powerline Rebuts Daily Caller About Michele Bachmann's Headaches

Apparently the Daily Caller's story on Bachmann's "incapacitating" headaches is being refuted in many places.  One is from Powerline, who says the DC article was based on an anonymous source who may have exaggerated the facts.

Read the Powerline article here.

Okay, Michele, I still love ya.  I'd rather have a president with headaches than a president who is a headache.

Eight Films That Made Terrible Broadway Musicals.

No, "Springtime For Hitler" wasn't one of them.

Other films that didn't even make it to a Broadway musical include:

• The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
• The Exorcist
• Night of the Living Dead

Not sure why, however.

Read about it here.

Picasso Thief Caught; Had Many Stolen Paintings In Living Room

The thief who walked out of a San Francisco art museum with a Picasso under his arm has been caught.

Scroll down to see the original story.  This individual took a Picasso drawing off the wall where it was hanging, put it under his arm and strolled out with it -- in broad daylight.  A restaurant's video camera filmed him sauntering by with the Picasso, and this led to his arrest.  The suspect is one Mark Lugo of Hoboken, New Jersey.  Police found the stolen Picasso hanging prominently in Lugo's apartment.

Watch a video of the story here.

Remembering Marilyn Monroe and "The Seven Year Itch"

Marilyn Monroe

In Stockton, California, in 1955 my brother, our friend Peter and I caught the bus at the corner of W. Poplar Street and N. Yosemite and rode downtown to see a movie.  It was "The Seven Year Itch" starring Marilyn Monroe.  Monroe was a mega-sex idol in those days.  It's difficult to explain just how popular she was.

The film had a very sexy scene where Monroe's character is coming out of a movie theater with her date, the character portrayed by actor Tom Sewell.  There is a sidewalk grate over the subway tunnels below, and since it is a hot summer night, Monroe's character stands over the grate and lets the breeze from the trains below blow up her dress, ostensibly to cool her off.  The breeze floats her white dress up rather high, giving a great view of Monroe's stupendous legs.  I almost choked on my popcorn.  I was only 9 at the time, but I already knew I was a leg man.

Of course, the scene was designed to haunt young men's dreams, fire the agony of desire and drive guys completely nuts.  It worked.  People poured into the theaters to see Monroe's famous scene and fabulous legs.

Yesterday in Chicago's Pioneer Court, they unveiled a 26 foot statue of Marilyn Monroe in her famous subway grate pose, with her white dress billowing up.  Ah, the memories.

Marilyn Monroe was not the first person to ever make me aware of the striking differences between the anatomy of men and women.  The first time I ever saw cleavage is when a lady friend of my mom's came by the house.  She was wearing a low cut blouse and her lovely breasts were pressed together in a most pleasing way.  I was maybe three years old.

I then embarrassed my mom as only I could do, completely, thoroughly and profoundly.  I pointed to the lady's boobs and demanded to know "What's that?"  There was a lot of stammering and stuttering and gasps and sighs, but no straightforward answer was forthcoming.  Noticing that the subject matter was round with a crack in the middle, I observed, "It looks like a butt."

At that point a crack in the floor opened up and my mother descended into the nether regions of hell, simply to escape this abject humiliation.  Well, actually, no she didn't.  But she wanted to, believe me.  Personally, I was astounded to know that some women had butts on their chests.  A two-headed Martian would not have surprised me more.

Anyway, to return to Marilyn Monroe.  My friend Peter lived across the street from us in Stockton, and his father owned a 1954 calendar with the famous nude of Monroe, sitting on a red satin sheet, one arm locked over her head, an orgasmic expression on her face.  One day, when his father was off to work, Peter invited me over for a peek at the calendar.

I was thunderstruck.  It was the first time I had ever seen breasts.  I was utterly fascinated.  Hmm, so that's what a woman looks like, thought I.  I wanted one.

Read about the Monroe statute in Chicago here.

GOP Says No, Obama Leaves Meeting in a Huff, The New GM Green Car

Obama Leaving In A Huff

Barack Obama, like some 14 year old with his own credit card, has spent the country to the point of bankruptcy for projects and works that no one wants.  (Between taking office in January 2009 and September 2010, Obama increased the federal debt by $2.5 trillion, which is more than the cumulative total of the national debt held by the public that was amassed by all U.S. presidents from George Washington through Ronald Reagan.)

Now the angry 14 year old wants more goodies, and insists that the limit on his credit card be raised so he can continue his reckless spending.  Giving Obama additional credit is like giving a teenager the keys to the liquor cabinet and the car simultaneously.  Even the highly astute, quick-thinking GOP establishment has begun to think this is a bad idea.  "Huuuh?  Whaaat?  I dunno, maybe we should say no?"

Obama wants elected Republicans to vote with Democrats to raise the debt ceiling so the latter can waste even more while avoiding responsibility.  If he can persuade "the stupid party" to go along, they will then accept equal blame for the fiscal disasters that follow.  Per Rush and other pundits, that will take the heat off Obama in the 2012 elections -- he can then claim the tsunami of federal debt now swamping the economy is a "bipartisan" effort, and that the GOP agreed with it, etc, etc.

Obama was so angry about the GOP refusal to go along, that he threw down his pacifier and left yesterday's meeting in a Huff.  He was last seen pedaling the thing down a corridor of the White House, beeping the little rubber horn as he went.

A Huff, of course, is the new GM totally green car that was built with stimulus money and costs only $86,795 each.  Since the new car is propelled by pedal power, it will have no negative impact on the environment.  The economy?  Well now, that's another story.  If re-elected, Obama plans to be driven to his second inauguration in one.

Note to Republicans in Congress:  Keep saying no.  Or else.  We vote.  Or not.

See related, must read article at "Always on Watch."

...

Hideously Diverse Britain

Ah yes, we are made so much stronger by our "diversity."  Or so liberals like to say.  The less we have in common, the more we will cleave together as a society.  Also, up is down and right is left.

A report in the U.K. Guardian says:

Some 6,000 girls in London every year are taken abroad and subjected to genital mutilation. Yes, it's culturally sensitive but does that matter?

Of course, if we really want to "celebrate diversity," the Brits should have never prohibited the practice of suttee in India.  That was the "cultural tradition" of many Indians, which was to require widows to jump onto their dead husbands' funeral pyres so they could burn with him.  Ouch.  The Hindus gave up the practice when informed of the British tradition of hanging murderers (including those who enforced suttee).

Now it appears that genital mutilation of young girls is the new suttee.  Read more about this example of the wonderful diversity that makes us stronger here.

Only those who are "divisive" and "culturally intolerant" would object.  Count me in.

Hat tip:  Blazing Cat Fur (Be sure to visit the link and watch Pat Condell's righteous rant on the evils of Islam in western culture).

...

Tools For Curing Boredom: Free Kindle Books, Free Kindle Software

A couple of weeks ago I downloaded the PC version of Kindle from Amazon.com.  Kindle is actually a tablet that you can buy for use in reading books in digital format.  With a Kindle, you can download books instantly from Amazon and a few other sites, then read them on the tablet.  Alas, these Kindle tablets cost $139 to $189 (approximately) depending on the model.  However, you can download the Kindle software for free from Amazon.com, and read downloaded books on your laptop instead of an actual Kindle.

Along with the Kindle software, I automatically received three free Kindle books, Robert Louis Stephenson's "Treasure Island," Jane Austen's "The Pride and the Prejudice," and "Aesop's Fables."  I have downloaded three books from Amazon (that I paid for), but there are many that are available for free.  I have downloaded (for free) such books as:

• "Life on the Mississippi" by Mark Twain
• "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
• "The Art of War" by Sun Tsu
• "The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin" by Benjamin Franklin
• "The Life and Most Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe," by Daniel Defoe
• "Slave Narratives:  A Folk History" from the Works Progress Administration (1930's)
• "The War of the Worlds" by H.G. Wells

Here is a link to free Kindle books:  Classics and Others (you will be amazed at what's available...Dracula, Gulliver's Travels, and more)

I have found that it is easy to read Kindle books off of my laptop.  There is no eye strain and I complete books quickly.  Other features include:

• Automatic bookmarking, allowing you to resume reading at the place you left off
• Highlighting text digitally, for passages you want to revisit
• Dictionary for fast lookup of new words - you just highlight the word with your cursor and a dictionary definition will pop up

Of course, Amazon's gambit worked.  Now I want a Kindle, so it will be easier to read in bed, on the couch, or wherever.  There are many used ones available at Amazon and eBay, but I will probably opt for a new one, the cheaper version, at $139.  You can buy them at Staples (office supply) and one is right down the street...

My Favorite Pirate Joke

A pirate walks into a bar and, incredibly, he has a ship's steering wheel fastened to his crotch.

The barkeep says "Excuse me, cap'n, but did you know that you've got a ship's wheel attached to your groin?"

"Aye," says the pirate, "It's drivin' me nuts! Aaargh!"

Atlas Skids: "Pamela Geller Over-Eggs the Pudding and Presents It Half-Baked"

More Geller dissection, this time from the Frozen North.  A worthwhile read.

...

CNN: "Businesses Fleeing California In Droves"

Gee, why am I not surprised?  CNN tells the story:

Companies are "disinvesting" in California at a rate five times greater than just two years ago, said Joseph Vranich, a business relocation expert based in Irvine. This includes leaving altogether, establishing divisions elsewhere or opting not to set up shop in California.

"There is a feeling that the state is not stable," Vranich said. "Sacramento can't get its act together...and that includes the governor, legislators and regulatory agencies that are running wild."

Yes, California is finding, like Greece and Ireland, that liberalism is ruinous to an economy.  You really can't have something for nothing; someone has to pay the price.

Of course, I presume the Commiefornians will be happy to see the evil corporations go elsewhere, taking their capitalists, their jobs and their tax payments elsewhere.  Then Commiefornia can once again become the natural paradise it longs to be, Gaia be praised.

I'd follow those businesses out of this Marxist fantasyland, but truth be told, I'm too long in the tooth to start over someplace else.   Egad, I do envy the outward bound, however.  Go East, young man, go East!

....