File Under: Not all war is evil....

Afghan infant deaths fall by 40,000 a year since ousting of Taleban

This is wonderful on so many levels...

thanks to ACE for the link

The thing I like best about being a conservative is that I don't have to lie.

Great opinion piece by a Hollywood conservative; worth while reading. Teaser:

The thing I like best about being a conservative is that I don't have to lie. I don't have to pretend that men and women are the same. I don't have to declare that failed or oppressive cultures are as good as mine.

Nor do I have to say that everyone's special or that the rich cause poverty or that all religions are a path to God. I don't have to claim that a bad writer like Alice Walker is a good one or that a good writer like Toni Morrison is a great one. I don't have to pretend that Islam means peace.

thanks to PW for the link

It's comin'...

The Lakers Dilemma

Oh, my poor, poor, lakers.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., April 25 — A relentless, pounding anxiety permeates the Los Angeles Lakers’ training center. Phil Jackson senses it. Mitch Kupchak feels it. Kobe Bryant exudes it.

I just don't get why they aren't willing to trade Bynum or Odem to become a contender in the next few years. Doesn't make sense, and its frustrating all of us lakers fans. We don't want to rebuild, we have Kobe. We need to use him NOW.

New Planet Discovered

It orbits Gliese 581, a little over 20 light-years away.

It probably has a substantial atmosphere and may be covered with large amounts of water - necessary for life to evolve - and, most importantly, temperatures are very similar to those on our world.

The parent star would dominate the view from the surface - a huge red ball of fire that must be a spectacular sight.

This is why we should never give up funding for pure science. Becuase I really really really want to see that sunset...

Blue Angels

I dont know if you guys saw this over the weekend, but what a sad story. One of the blue angels crashed in a show in South Carolina on Friday. We've all seen them, and know what kind of danger they put themselves in for our enjoyment. My heart goes out to them...


Pilot Killed in S.C. Blue Angel Crash

SPRING!!!

It was really nice outside today... and I was able to cut the grass and do a whole bunch of "outside projects" that have been piling up all winter. got some sun. opened all the windows and got some fresh air in the house... I like spring :)

I finally took some pics of the new landscaping that I did... We dont have all the plants yet, but it has only just warmed up here so no one is selling them yet. we are going to put 4-5 black eyed susan's in front of the white bay window area and a clematis vine to climb up the trellis. And some random annuals in the pot and along the stairs. but you get the idea.


Before:

After:

at last

I got into HNGR!!! I finally found out this morning, and we start discussing placements along with how the entire process is going to go this Sunday. Just wanted to share that with you all. :]

Award

"In recognition of your ongoing efforts to prevent the issuance of visas to known and suspected terrorists and to other individuals posing threats to the national security of the United States. Since the attacks of 9/11, the officers of CA/VO/L/C have surpassed the significant milestone of having coordinated the review of one million Security Advisory Opinion requests."

A Cure for the World's Leading Cause of Death?

Johns Hopkins University scientists have cured malaria-infected mice with single shots of a new series of synthetic drugs modeled on an ancient Chinese herbal folk remedy, and have also developed several other compounds that defeated the febrile disease in rodents after three oral doses, says one source.

This has significant potential, since the CDC says malaria is the leading cause of death in the world! If you've ever read a description of death by malaria, it is an awful, painful, miserable death. If there is any truth to this news at all, Africa may never be the same!

The Decade of the 70's

I've just finished reading a book, How We Got Here - The 70's: The Decade That Brought You Modern Life - For Better Or Worse, by David Frum. I heard it recommended by Evan Sayet in his speech to the Heritage Foundation (which was not given much discussion here for some reason). The book takes a look at some of the major cultural and political events in the 60's, 70's and 80's that have shaped this country into what we are today. I found it fascinating, not just because the 70's was the decade in which I came of age, but because so much of what happened then explains what we see happening around us.

to read the rest....

Frum's basic working hypothesis is that the middle decades of the 20th century were marked by stability and cultural conservatism - caused by circumstances in the eary part of the century, such as war and mobilization for war, the heyday of heavy industry, a depression, and the birth of big social programs. These circumstances, he posits, convinced Americans to submit to "unprecidented direction and regimentation," thus resulting in stability and calm. In the 60's, the pendulum began to swing back as Americans chaffed at this control imposed upon them, and in the 70's the pendulum gained speed and reached for its maximum height. The self-indulgent, individualistic, fractious, restrictions-smashing movement we see in its maturity today thus was born.

Of course, Vietnam played a huge role in the day, and in a chapter called, "Our Inordinate Fear of Communism," Frum details some of America's actions in the final days of that war. I wasn't aware of much of what occurred, especially the pathetic cut and run we pulled off. I mean, I realized that we pulled out and left a disaster which eventually led to the slaughter of the Cambodians, but I didn't realize how political the decision was, and how heartfelt the pleas were to not abandon our friends. What we are experiencing today is eerily similar, and I cannot imagine how our politicians could not have learned from that disaster.

How did the war end? By congress cutting off funds to the military. As the North Vietcong closed in for the kill, congress reduced the military aid to South Vietnam from 2.1 million in 1973 to 700 million in 1975. When the Pentagon tried to shift some leftover funds to help South Vietnam out in 1973, Senator Edward Kennedy mobilized a 43-38 Senate vote to forbid the expenditure. Giving South Vietnam the money it needed to survive, he said, "would perpetuate involvement that should have ended long ago."

President Ford made some last minute appeals, especially for Cambodia, which fell on deaf ears. Finally, on April 12, 1975, the last of the Americans were helicoptered off the roof of the embassy - a picture we often see as depicting the evacuation of the Vietnam war. We offered to evacuate some of the leading figures in the Cambodian government at that time, but the vast majority of them refused. A former Cambodian prime minister declined in a letter:

"I thank you very sincerly for your letter and for your offer to transport me toward freedom. I cannot, alas, leave in such a cowardly fashion. As for you, and in particular for your great country, I never believed for a moment that you would have this sentiment of abandoning a people which has chosen liberty. You have refused us your protection, and we can do nothing about it."

The man was later shot in the stomach by the Khmer Rouge, and it took him 3 days to die a horrible death.

I have scanned this chapter so you all can read it. I hope you do. I would encourage you to get the book from the library and read it all. It will make you shake your head in wonder and amazement, and will also give a perspective to what we see going on around us today.

New job

The first 2 days at my new job have been really good. It will definitely be less stressful than my previous job. The hours are very flexible and I like the ladies I work with (my whole department is women). Plus, the 15 minute commute is nice.

Now the only problem is to figure out when I'm going to do with all my spare time!

Department of Peace and Nonviolence

A bold new idea from our liberal friends in the government....

So they want this new Cabinet level department, dedicated to "dedicated to peacemaking and the study of conditions that are conducive to both domestic and international peace." What exactly does the State Department do again?

(6) create and establish a Peace Academy, which shall--
(A) be modeled after the military service academies;
(B) provide a 4-year course of instruction in peace education, after which graduates will be required to serve 5 years in public service in programs dedicated to domestic or international nonviolent conflict resolution;

They'll call it Peace Point or something.

I mean, common, seriously. Do these congressmen (and congresswomen, Michigan included) really think this will help? Would the secretary be required to wear a raggdy tied-eyed tee shirt and sing Kum-Bay-Yah at the opening of all his meetings?

This stems from the idea that the Department of Defense (formerly the Department of War) is a war-hungry institution that needs to be balanced out. We don't need a department of peace and non-violence, we have hollywood and the U.N., which pretty much get the same point accross without spending another couple billions of dollars....

Happy Birthday, Elise!!!!!

Oxymoronic

According to Newsmax:

• The U.S. taxpayer annually gives the U.N. system over $5.3 billion.
• At least $2.24 million of this money goes to the U.N. Disarmament Commission.
• At least $18.28 million of this money goes to the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights which provides staffing and logistical support to the U.N. Human Rights Council.
• Less than half (46 percent) of the countries voting in the General Assembly are democracies accountable to their citizens.

I will concede that it is important that we are involved in this political body, for numerous reasons. However, I believe we should attach some basic stipulations to our funding, one of which is that Iran should have nothing to do with the governance of disarmament; and neither should Syria. Perhaps we could word it as "there can never be foxes put in charge of hen houses," or something like that.

Unfortunately, and incredibly, the U.N. Disarmament Commission re-elected Iran as its vice-chair this week and named Syria as its secretary. This, despite the fact that the U.N. Security Council itself has declared that Iran has violated the non-proliferation resolutions the Disarmament Commission is charged to promote.

Trouble With Byrd

Last night I stumbled upon a CSPAN airing of our venerable senate appropriations committee doing what they do best - bloviating; on this particular day, by calling pet food manufacturers and other interests groups to come and kiss their rings and be disabused for the pet food crisis gripping America.

What kept me watching, however, was the incredible performance by Senator Byrd. His slow and slurred speech, along with his nearly incoherent message, was the kind of thing that made you uncomfortable to watch, but the horror of what we were seeing made it hard to avert the eyes - kind of like roadkill. He rambled on about his dog, named Trouble (named, he told us, by his wife. He prefers to call it 'baby'. Nice to know, Senator Byrd; thanks!) It is simply unbelievable that this guy is still allowed to carry on the nation's business in the senate. Somehow we need to be able to put an end to the service of those too sick or senile to continue carrying on their responsibilities.

Wapo has more on what he was rambling on about.

UPDATE: “I will run in 2012, Lord willing.”
--Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.), chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, moments ago during the hearing. He also noted that next year will be his 50th year in the Senate.

Last day!

Well, today is my last day at Rowles & Company, LLP. How am I feeling? Very excited about leaving and my new job!!! I laughed as I drove in the morning rush hour for the last time. And I'm also very excited to have this Saturday...and every Saturday from now on...off forever! My most important decision of the day is where to be taken out for lunch :)

your mom goes to college

on a political note (which, for the record, I am not against!), what's with the Land of Mary dropping out of college? how do her residents feel about it?

Always winter and never Christmas

Which pic was taken today, 3 weeks into spring, and which was taken during the dead of winter?

for the answer...

Taken today, on our walk!!!












One unhappy dog - 'cause we're headin' home...






(btw, the pic on the right was the one taken today...)

Koyaanisqatsi

What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

In a fascinating piece (totally non-political, Eeesh), the Washington Post relates a cultural experiment performed in Washington, D.C. in the midst of the morning commute. How many times have you passed a street performer without giving him/her a second thought?

This particular street performer was a bit different...

100 posts!!!

just wanted to let you all know that we have 100 posts on this blog!

and still going strong!

Who's yer daddy?!
Unofficial - but true, nonetheless...

blast from the past

Someone put this on facebook and it made me smile. It's the tequio! I don't really ever remember looking like that though. Abby looks like me.

Also--notice how I'm the loner, pushing the bounderies, inching towards the edge just to get a glimpse of the horizon...

The smartest dog in the world

Check out "The Smartest Dog in the World" (But I'm sure there are other black dogs that are smarter)

Nearing the end...very slowly

I don't know if you've noticed by the frequency of my posts, but I've been pretty bored at work lately. They don't give you much to do when you're only going to be around for another week. Therefore, I get to surf the Internet like the rest of you :)

The great state of Michigan

An iPod for every child in Michigan...wow...that sounds like money well spent

A Felon?

It seems that there is this little law on the books, the Logan Act, which makes a felony of what our speaker of the House has done - usurping the constitutional authority of the executive branch by participating in rogue foreign policy negotiations with our enemies. Is the administration sufficiently tired of the Dems trying to wrest power from the executive branch to fire this shot across the bow? The 3 recess appointments the President just made would argue for that answer to be "yes." But I doubt it. Though it makes for interesting conversation, especially when I'm wearin' my W cap...

TU Makes the WSJ!

Not to be outdone by the numerous mentions Wheaton, dear old Wheaton, has received within the hallowed pages of the WSJ, our very own Taylor U made an appearance today. Of course, it was on the subject of the liberalization of divorce amongst evangelicals today, and specifically noted the change of conservative heart one professor, a Mr. William Heath, has had recently; but, never mind all that, at least they didn't put a Catholic historian out on the street...

Man changes name

I just read about a man who changed his name. Listen to his video and learn what he changed it to.

Happy Easter!

(If you don't know what a badonk-a-donk is you need to listen to more country music)

Faith and Reason

I always find these sorts of articles refreshing and uplifting.


ROCKVILLE, Maryland (CNN) -- I am a scientist and a believer, and I find no conflict between those world views.
As the director of the Human Genome Project, I have led a consortium of scientists to read out the 3.1 billion letters of the human genome, our own DNA instruction book. As a believer, I see DNA, the information molecule of all living things, as God's language, and the elegance and complexity of our own bodies and the rest of nature as a reflection of God's plan.

Reason #28 to never swim in the Congo river...

I think that is probably WAY worse than the parasites that swim up your urethra when you take a leak while standing in the water...

funny story...

I have to tell you all an awkward moment I had in my interview with Dr. Robinson, the director of HNGR. A little background on him--this was the prof our own Matt got into a debate with over whether you could be a Christian and a Republican. I think Dr. Robinson still doesn't think so. This is how it went:

Dr. Robinson: What else are you passionate about?
Elise: Well, my family is VERY political--we are constantly debating and throwing ideas at eachother, and so I grew up with a love for politics.
Dr. Robinson: (winks and says facetiously) Oh, and I bet your family are hard-core Republicans!
Elise: (silence) Um. Well. Um. Uh...
Dr. Robinson: (continues to laugh, not noticing Elise stumbling for how to keep from him that her family post pictures of Hillary making scary faces and call his favorite candidate Osama-Obama) I bet they're big Bushies at the Bryson household!
Elise: (recovers and smiles knowingly) Uh huh, they sure are...

So I didn't lie. But. Should I get into HNGR I'm sure at least at least dad will eventually meet him, and I'd appreciate it if you weren't wearing a Bush pin or anything...

Love you all.

Words fail me...

The Hill-da-beast lives

wow.

thats all i can say.


wow.

Is my face bovvered?

The old dog learned a new trick today. I'd never heard the term "boverred" before. Tracing its origins led me to Catherine Tate, a British actress and comedianette, and eventually to this clip she did with Tony Blair. He does a great job, too - at the :58 mark on the clip is simply hilarious.
Anyway, if you can help me understand bovvered a bit more, I'd appreciate it. In the meantime, I ain't bovvered!

Announcement

Well, we had to wait for the doctor's report before we could spill the beans...

Jannell and I are very excited to announce to you all that we will be having a baby!!


We dont know the exact due date yet, but it will be sometime in November. Needless to say, this will mean a lot of changes in all of our lives, so bear with us!

.

APRIL FOOLS!!!!!