The Effects of Drugs on Web Design

And Then There Were Two

George Smiley of the blog In From the Cold reports that one of three remaining U.S. veterans from World War I has passed away. You can read the entire article here.

Iraqis Taking the Battle to AQI

Reuters reports that the Iraqi security forces have begun an offensive against al-Qaeda in Iraq.

HT: Pajamas Media

Lincoln on Preparation

"Give me six hours to chop down a tree and
I will spend the first four sharpening the axe."

BrainyQuote.com

The Origin of the Surge in Iraq

Fred Barnes of the Weekly Standard relates how President Bush decided on the now famous Surge strategy in Iraq.

Minnesotans for Global Warming

M4GW is a serious organization with a sense of humor. So, let's turn up the global thermostat and embrace the warmth. And now for you amusement . . .

The Global Warming Song

HT: NARN

Chesterton on Adventure vs. Inconvenience

"An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered.
An inconvenience is an adventure wrongly considered."

The Quotations Page

Thompson Exits Stage Right

Republican Presidential candidate Fred Thompson has given up his run for the White House. I still have not settled on a candidate yet, but Fred was high on my list. None of the Republican candidates are perfect. However, Thompson's positions seemed to be closest to my own. I did not catch many of the debates, but from what I did see, Thompson impressed me the most. With his departure, he will likely end up on the short list of possible running mates along with Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty.

As for the other candidates, I will comment on them when I am not so busy at the office.

A Look Inside al-Qaeda In Iraq

According to this Washington Post article, documents found in northern Iraq are providing some unique insights into the foreign insurgents in Iraq (that is, al-Qaeda in Iraq).  From the description in the article, at least some of the documents appear to be job applications. Here are a few things from the article that I found particularly interesting:  

• Based on the Sinjar records, U.S. military officials in Iraq said they now think that nine out of 10 suicide bombers have been foreigners...
  
• ...they assess that 90 percent of foreign fighters entering Iraq during the one-year period ending in August came via Syria...
• The extent of al-Qaeda in Iraq's ties to the wider al-Qaeda network has long been a subject of debate within the U.S. intelligence community and military. Although its membership is overwhelmingly Iraqi, it has been led by foreigners with direct ties to al-Qaeda central...
  

That All Men Are Created Equal

Dinesh D'Souza's article at Townhall.com explains who has been behind the abolition of slavery in the Western World.

The Obama We Don't Know

An Investor's Business Daily editorial entitled, "Obama's Church", illuminates some unlit recesses of Presidential hopeful Barak Obama's life. Not surprisingly, the Left-stream Media has little interest in reporting this disturbing background information on a leading Democrat candidate for President. After all, he's hansome and gives a good speech. What more do voters need to know?

A Mighty Gift

Brandi on YouTube

Turpentine ~ Brandi Carlisle

The Story (Live) ~ Brandi Carlisle

Chesterton on Books

"A good novel tells us the truth about its hero;
but a bad novel tells us the truth about its author."

The Quotations Page

Shipping Out - UPDATE

The Little Finger called me from the airport earlier today to inform me that he will be going to Fort Jackson, SC instead of Fort Benning. Everything else will go as scheduled.

By the way, we went to The Water Horse, which was pretty good. As for dinner, well, the "carnage" was fabulous.

Shipping Out

Well, the day has finally arrived. No, I am not talking about the Iowa caucuses. My male offspring (aka the Little Finger) will be shipping out to Fort Benning, Georgia for Basic Training. He joined the Minnesota Army National Guard last June. (Due to a scheduled family event, he was able to get his Basic Training delayed.) He will be at Fort Benning until March 2008 and then will move to Fort Gordon, Georgia to begin is 6+ month Advanced Individual Training. If you haven't done the math, that means that he will be gone for about 9 months. He's looking forward to the experience. I suspect he doesn't quite realize what he's going to experience. Well, I was about 3 years younger than he is when I went to Basic. If I was able to make it through, he should be fine. Well, we've got about 9 hours before I must entrust his care and feeding to the U. S. Army. We've got a movie to see and a steak dinner to eat.

Needless to say, I am a very proud father.

Ethereal Music

Harry's Game ~ Clannad