Scalia on Confirmation Eyewear

This is why we need more Supreme Court justices like Antonin Scalia:

Speaking before a packed auditorium at Chapman University, Scalia said he was saddened to see the Supreme Court deciding moral issues not addressed in the Constitution, such as abortion, gay rights and the death penalty. He said such questions should be settled by Congress or state legislatures beholden to the people.

"I am questioning the propriety -- indeed, the sanity -- of having a value-laden decision such as this made for the entire society ... by unelected judges," he said. Scalia also railed against the principle of the "living Constitution," saying it has led the Senate to try to appoint so-called politically "moderate" judges instead of focusing on professional credentials and ability.

"Now the Senate is looking for moderate judges, mainstream judges. What in the world is a moderate interpretation of a constitutional text? Halfway between what it says and what we'd like it to say?" he said, to laughter and applause...

..."Each year the conflict over judicial appointments has grown more intense," he said. "One is tempted to shield his eyes from the upcoming spectacle."

Katrina and the Waves

Here are a few links for some incredible pics and videos of Hurricane Katrina and the aftermath:

NYT
Yahoo
NOLA

[HT: Brendan Loy]

Don't make Hugo Chavez "go it alone". Do your part to help our fellow Americans. Make a donation through Samaritans Purse. They have already started their effort to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

UPDATE!! - Another great organization to support would be Feed the Children. Donate to Feed the Children's Hurricane Katrina relief here.

Towers Are the Players

Some time ago on Solablogola, I directed you to a flash movie based on the Lord of the Rings film, "The Two Towers." The flash movie was called "Taters". If you haven't seen it yet, check it out. You'll either laugh or find yourself saying, "What is THAT?".

Since then, I've located two more flash movies. The first is titled "Hobbits". I'm particularly fond of the kazoo orchestra. I doubt Howard Shore had anything to do with the music.

The second movie is called Gollum Rap (Towers Are the Players). I love the Orc with the durag.

From Cliff Clavin to Hugo Chavez

It is a little known fact that we are all born with a extra bone in our heads. This bone serves a very important function. It helps us control what we say and whether or not we ought to say it. The bone slowly dissolves as we age and, eventually, the bone completely disappears. This explains why our more senior citizens often will make outrageous statements, seemingly oblivious or unconcerned with the possible ramifications. As examples, I cite the utterances from the likes of Jimmy Carter, Robert Byrd, Dick Durbin, Ted Kennedy and Pat Robertson.

Yes, I said Pat Robertson.

He's made some outrageous statements over the last few years, the most recent of which was:

"You know, I don't know about this doctrine of assassination, but if he [Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez] thinks we're trying to assassinate him, I think that we really ought to go ahead and do it," Robertson said. "It's a whole lot cheaper than starting a war ... and I don't think any oil shipments will stop."

In Robertson's defense, he didn't just pull the idea out of thin air. He was responding to Chavez's repeated claims that the U.S. has been planning to kill him - a charge which is clearly bogus. If the U.S. wanted him dead, he would be. Personally, if Chavez is acting to promote Islamofacist terrorism against the U.S., it won't bother me too much if he prematurely shuffles off this mortal coil - with extreme prejudice. Having said that, I would never publicly call for the assassination of the leader of a country with which we were not at war.

This admittedly meager defense does not excuse his irresponsible statement. Pat Robertson, like it or not, is a Christian leader. What he does and says impacts on every other Christian and Christian ministry in America. His thoughtless statements put other Christians in the position of either distancing themselves from Robertson or trying to defend him.

Robertson's statement was also outrageous because there is no up side to it. Sure, Robertson is getting attention, but it's all negative attention and that's one thing he already has in abundance. It also makes Chavez a more sympathetic figure by giving legitimacy to his paranoid claims. Worst of all, it ensures that what Robertson was advocating will not happen. Even if the U.S. was planning to assassinate Chavez, there is no way it could be done now, politically speaking.

When public figures start flicking lit cigarettes into the old growth forest of mass media, it's time to take away their smoking privileges.

Get a Bigger Hammer

Because the theory can't be wrong, they'll just have to make it fit.

Sir Galahad the Pure, Bastard

Sir Galahad according to Wikipedia:

Sir Galahad was one of the knights of King Arthur's Round Table in Arthurian legend. He was the bastard son of Sir Lancelot and Elaine of Corbenic, and he was renowned for his gallantry and purity. According to legend, Galahad was one of only three knights to find the Holy Grail (the others being Percival and Bors). After finding the Grail, Galahad is said to have been taken to heaven in divine standing.

Take the quiz: "Which Holy Grail Character Are You?"



Sir Galahad
Look, it's my duty as a knight to sample as much peril as I can.



Needless to say, I have mixed feelings about my results.

[HT: Q&O]

True For You But Not For Me

Jinx has an interesting question for our friends on the Left. Let the hair-splitting begin.

All the News They Won't Print

Before you read further, go use the restroom, make yourself a snack, grab your favorite sipping beverage, and make yourself comfortable. Ready? Okay, now you are ready to proceed.

Chrenkoff has an amazingly long account of good news from Iraq. Go ahead. Read it. Fox will repeat their coverage of the Sheehan saga every 15 minutes so you won't miss a thing.

You Can't Make This Stuff Up

Cleveland Police Officer: Did you see what he was wearing, ma'am.

Accosted Woman: Depends.

Another One Bites the Dust

Good news out of Iraq, via this BBC report:

United States officials say Iraqi forces have killed a senior aide to the militant leader, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. Officials said Abu Zubair was shot dead in the northern city of Mosul, in an ambush set by Iraqi forces. He had been wanted for his alleged role in several attacks, including a attack on a police station in Mosul last month, which killed five policemen.

Yes, it's good news whenever any of Zarqawi's trolls can no longer slaughter women and children. The good news in this case is not so much who was taken out as it is who took him out. The Iraqi forces are picking up the plow of freedom and weeding their land.

Chrenkin' Off on the Sheehan Saga

Arthur Chrenkoff is, once again, spot on. He manages to find some grieving parents that professional journalists like Maureen Dowd "inadvertently" overlooked.

Caught In the Act

Michael Fumento has pictures of his trip to Iraq. Of particular interest are the pictures he took of a couple of "insurgents". They were apparently disguised to look like foreigners, because we know they're all Iraqi freedom fighters, right?

Not In Vain

Iraq the Model has a "must read open letter to Cindy Sheehan. It helps all of us put the War in Iraq in perspective.

The 2008 Race Begins!

Look out, Hillary! Move over McCain! Here's the next POTUS! Impacted Wisdom Truth has more here.

[HT: Instapundit]

(The comments on IWT indicate this is bogus. It is entertaining, though.)

Except That One Guy

You can't die from playing video games . . . except that one guy.

The Father Gives, The Father Takes

The family of Marine Cpl. Robert P. Warns II has an excellent tribute website in his memory. There is a very moving video (please download before viewing). There are also some extremely cute baby pictures of Cpl. Warns' daughter Payton who was born on May 5, 2005 - almost 6 months after he fell in Iraq.

(HT: Blackfive)

The Last of the Mad Ghosts

Here's another moving account of one who has sacrificed much, courtesy of Mil-blogger Blackfive.

Godspeed Marine Staff Sergeant Chad Simon.

The Space Shuttle and Stem Cells

Michael Fumento explains what they have in common.

[Happy to Be] Walking In Memphis

Singer Marc Cohn dodges a bullet. Well, not quite.

The Cruel Shoes *

Friends don't let friends drive while wearing flip flops.

* Cruel Shoes

It's the Real Thing

Italy's urine test results were positive for cocaine. I think they're taking this whole drug testing thing way too far.

If We Knew Then What We Know Now . . .

Richard B. Frank's Weekly Standard article about Why Truman Dropped the Bomb is an interesting read.

Optimism? What Optimism?

Townhall.com guest columnist Michael Fumento exposes the blatant efforts by the MSM to undermine the war effort. Be sure to follow the links to Michael's other columns about Iraq. Things are going better than the MSM would have us believe.

Fatwa? What Fatwa?

Steven Emerson over at The Counterterrorism Blog explains why the Fatwa on Terrorism by the American Islamic leaders is not credible. I suppose you already heard about this from Brian Williams, NBC's news anchor. What? I'm shocked that NBC's resident terrorism expert hasn't reported on this.

When Hallmark Just Won't Do

Before you decide to use this service, make sure you're not just going off half-cocked.

A Warrior At Rest

I have been too busy to blog lately and don't really have the time right now either. However, if you don't read anything else this week, read this post over at Froggy Ruminations. I'll describe it in one word: poignant.