No news is not always good news...

How is it possible that an Israeli incursion into Syria generates so little news? On September 6, Syrians reported that they fired on Israeli fighter planes flying over their airspace. The air raid was witnessed by Turkey, and the United States confirmed knowledge of the mission as well. Although initially vociferous as expected, Syria quickly quieted. Since then, little more than rumors and small leaks have made it into the news. Why was Israel flying over Syria's airspace, and why was Syria remaining so quiet about it? Some rumors indicate that the target of the mission was nuclear material headed from North Korea, through Syria, on its way to Iran. Other rumors claimed that Israeli commandos were involved, and were supported by up to eight aircraft. This summer, North Korea publicly changed its position on its nuclear program. In the negotiations, North Korea was asked to provide information on any countries it sold any nuclear technology to. Did North Korea share information that lead to the Israeli incursion? While we can't be certain what happened, it is clear that it was something big. One Israeli advisor, Uzi Arad, has said, "I do know what happened, and when it comes out it will stun everyone."

Dave Ramsey is coming to Prime Time TV

Big news for Dave Ramsey fans: He'll be hosting a new prime time television show on the soon to be launched television station, Fox Business Network. For those not familiar with Dave Ramsey, he teaches personal finance, and has a daily radio show in which he helps listeners with their finances. Stop watching those idiots on TV who tell you how to maximize your credit score, and start listening to Dave, who will help you drop your credit score to zero, and laugh your way to the bank!

A nice video on the Michigan - ND game

Hopefully, I'm this satisfied after the Penn State game. The main reason I have hope: Penn State doesn't run the spread offense with a mobile quarterback.

Michael Hart - "I didn't get hit"

In the press conference looking forward to the Penn State game, Michael Hart was asked how he was feeling after carrying the ball 35 times against Notre Dame. He responded, "Thirty-five carries is a lot of carries, but I really didn't get hit too much... I got tackled, but I didn't get hit..."

It appears that Notre Dame's offensive linemen aren't the only ones on the team who are softer than Charlie Weis's belly.

When will Notre Dame get its first win??

With its next five opponents being Michigan State, Purdue, UCLA, Boston College, and USC, Notre Dame is facing the likelihood of starting 0-8. The Irish fans around here are considering this weekend's game against MSU a must win, because MSU is the most beatable of the group.

(Yes, I am dwelling on Notre Dame's misfortunes in the hopes that it erases the memories of upset losses for Michigan to Oregon and Appalachian State.)

When will the "offensive genius," Charlie Weis, realize that no offensive scheme will be successful until he finds five guys who can block? Is it too late to bring Ty back?

Criminal Minds

Another story of a criminal mastermind...

I'm hoping this guy reasoned that a jail cell was the best protection he could get from the organization who's drugs he had lost.

A New Terror Network?

Strange news coming out of the state of Nebraska: A state legislator has filed suit against God.

According to his claim, the Almighty is causing untold death and horror and threatening to cause more still. The legislator, Sen. Ernie Chambers, says that God has made terroristic threats against the senator and his constituents, inspired fear and caused "widespread death, destruction and terrorization of millions upon millions of the Earth's inhabitants." Senator Chambers says that God can be sued in Douglas County because "He's everywhere."

The lawsuit is intended to make a point that anyone can file frivolous lawsuits against anyone else. In particular, he is angered by a lawsuit brought by a woman against a judge, who barred the use of the words "rape" and "victim" in a sexual assault trial. He considers the lawsuit frivolous because the woman filed the federal suit after the Nebraska Supreme Court had already ruled on the matter.

In Senator Chambers's suit, he alleges that God has caused "fearsome floods ... horrendous hurricanes, terrifying tornadoes." He is seeking a permanent injunction against the Lord.

It is unknown at this point whether God will represent himself in court, or if he will venture into Hell to find a good attorney.

"They Hate Us Because We're Free"

On the sixth year anniversary of the terrorist attacks on 9/11/01, it's important that we look back and learn from the past. As I've tried to explain to some of my more "conservative" friends, the Republican spin on the September 11, 2001 attacks (that the terrorists hate us because we're free) is a load of crap. This article explains it quite eloquently. Although I don't agree with the entirety of the article, I agree with several points of it. I heard Michael Savage on the radio this evening giving his thoughts on the anniversary. To paraphrase his opening monologue, he believes there are times in a country's history when it must suspend civil liberties in order to survive. He believes that this is one of those times, and that the Patriot Act is being held up by a bunch of "liberals" who would rather defend civil liberties than protect our country from destruction.

A funny side note: If "they" really did "hate us because we're free," suspending our civil liberties would be a great strategy for combating terrorism, because they would have less reason to hate us. Unfortunately for the neocons, it isn't true. Osama bin Laden couldn't care less that we're "free."

Back to the point, though. Michael Savage has his facts skewed once again. The reason the Patriot Act is being held up is not just due to a bunch of wacky liberals who can't bring their heads out of the clouds. Much of the concern with the Patriot Act is rooted in obvious over-stepping of bounds by the current administration. Remember that Dan Ashcroft, the former Attorney General who was so conservative he had his people put drapes over the naked statues at the Department of Justice, would not override his subordinate's decision to stand against the warrantless eavesdropping program because it went too far in suspending civil liberties. It was Dan Ashcroft's staff who all threatened to resign if it was pushed through when he was in the hospital. The concern for civil liberties should be universal, but neocons would like to paint the opposition as a bunch of liberal nut-jobs.

Obesity Rates on the Rise!

This news came out a couple of weeks ago, but I thought it was relevant, for a reason that I'll explain in a minute... According the latest report, the obesity rate rose in 31 states, with Mississippi topping the scales. The continued rise in obesity across the nation has health officials worried about a crisis, while economists are hopeful that we can eat our way out of a potential recession. However, I think the report missed the mark, since it failed to account for the new definition of "fat"...

While she has earned plenty of criticism, and has failed all of the girls who looked up to her as a role model, anyone who ripped Britany Spears for being disgustingly fat (New York Post's headline: "Lard and Clear") should be ashamed of him/herself.


Think of the message we're sending to young girls when we call this unacceptable! Criticize the performance and the outfit all you want, but too many young girls already struggle to live up to an unrealistic ideal.

Climbing Mountains

Another picture from our recent trip. The mountain we climbed is nothing like Mount Everest, but I like this quote by Sir Edmund Hillary: "Nobody climbs mountains for scientific reasons. Science is used to raise money for the expeditions, but you really climb for the hell of it."

Lack of Posts

Things have been very busy for me lately. As result, I haven't been updating this blog frequently enough. Since the first week of July, I've worked out of my office a total of 13 days, which means I haven't been spending much time at home. Luckily, some of that time away from home was due to a vacation, in which my daughter and I, along with other family members, went on a three-day backpacking trip to the top of a mountain in Colorado (elev. 12,730 ft). Below is a picture from the trip. (The person in the photo is my brother.)


I'll leave for now with a promise and a quote. The promise is that I'll soon start updating more frequently. The quote is from Donald Rumsfeld:

You're going to be told lots of things.
You get told things every day that don't happen.

It doesn't seem to bother people, they don't—
It's printed in the press.
The world thinks all these things happen.
They never happened.

Everyone's so eager to get the story
Before in fact the story's there
That the world is constantly being fed
Things that haven't happened.

All I can tell you is,
It hasn't happened.
It's going to happen.

—Feb. 28, 2003, Department of Defense briefing