Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Latest on Israel and Hizbollah
Occasionally even a blind squirrel finds a nut...
The Clarion saw comments by Hezbollah leader, Sheik Hassan Nasrallah indicating that this war was indeed begun by a miscalculation. (as was our initial editorial speculation.) See that post
Nasrallah said he never would have authorized the kidnap that started this war if he had known the consequences that would follow.
The Clarion is willing to concede that Nasrallah's motives for making these comments are complicated and in part, definitely informed by internal Lebanonese politics. However, it is inarguably positive that he is expressing regret that this war occurred.
Israel and its neighbors need to treat War as if it will inevitably lead to mutual assured destruction. They need to step by from any and all brinks, as quickly as possible. De-escalation is essential to avoid future miscalculations with potentially even more horrible outcomes.
How many civilians died on both sides in this War?
Neither side benefited from this War. Both sides should publically state that, too.
Here is a link to an International Herald Tribune article with Hizbollah leader Nasrallah's comments to Lebanonese television.
Link to the Jerusalem Post article which includes the Israeli Prime Minister Olmert's reaction to Nasrallah's comments.
The Clarion saw comments by Hezbollah leader, Sheik Hassan Nasrallah indicating that this war was indeed begun by a miscalculation. (as was our initial editorial speculation.) See that post
Nasrallah said he never would have authorized the kidnap that started this war if he had known the consequences that would follow.
The Clarion is willing to concede that Nasrallah's motives for making these comments are complicated and in part, definitely informed by internal Lebanonese politics. However, it is inarguably positive that he is expressing regret that this war occurred.
Israel and its neighbors need to treat War as if it will inevitably lead to mutual assured destruction. They need to step by from any and all brinks, as quickly as possible. De-escalation is essential to avoid future miscalculations with potentially even more horrible outcomes.
How many civilians died on both sides in this War?
Neither side benefited from this War. Both sides should publically state that, too.
Here is a link to an International Herald Tribune article with Hizbollah leader Nasrallah's comments to Lebanonese television.
Link to the Jerusalem Post article which includes the Israeli Prime Minister Olmert's reaction to Nasrallah's comments.
Labels: Middle East, Politics
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
ESPN's phone
The ESPN mobile phone has got to be in the top ten worst business ideas of the last year. “Yeah, right Disney, everyone wants to buy your phone, simply because it can get scores.” It is not high tech enough for the uber-geeks, and not enough of your standard-geeks are sports fans. The crossovers (uber-geeks who like sports) have a phone that can get scores already, simply because it gets the internet. The niche ESPN-Disney is aiming at is way too narrow. It doesn’t help that they guy they had doing their initial ads was the most annoying commercial spokesperson since Crazy Eddie. Dude trying to break into the ESPN center at Bristol, what? Pul-leeze. "Get a life" was the common response and that is not what you want people thinking when they are considering purchasing your product. Evidence, ESPN-Disney is now offering $150 cash back to anyone who will sign-up to take one of the darn things.
Labels: ESPN, Pop Culture
Top of the home stretch, Baseball
More Baseball Takes
Well, before Jose Reyes showed homerun power, hitting three dingers in a game against the Phills earlier this month, the Clarion was thinking he was a triples opportunity. In this era, there are not that many triples opportunities. You see, weird baseball fetishists, here in our office, love the triple, also known as a double where the batter hustles the whole way out of the box, rather than glides. You think nobody is going to get Cy Young’s 512 wins or Nolan Ryan’s career strikeout record, how’s about Sam Crawford’s all-time triples record? At 312, it’s untouchable, the highest any player from the modern era is on that list is Roberto Clemente, who according www.mlb.com is 27th with 166. Triples list link Next from the modern era is Willie Wilson who is something like 57th with 147 triples. Of course, the Clarion is rooting heartily against cheater Barry Bonds, and would love to see Hammerin’ Hank hang on, but the triple, is different, a breed apart, it is a weapon of a bygone era, unlikely to be seen again in era where behemoths prosper and speed demons are few and far between. For Reyes’s season, he has 15 triples with about 40 games to go. Reyes is on pace for twenty…he had an outside shot at 22-23 for a while, but now has cooled off. It is not looking so much like its gonna happen, “Bummer” quoth the triples freaks at the Clarion. By contrast old Sam Crawford had five 20+ triples seasons including one of 26 and one of 25.
And how’s about the National League? (Again, think the Mel Allen t.w.i.b. voice, “How’s about?”) The Clarion is certainly rooting for the National League Wild Card winner to be under .500. We need one of our statistician friends to post and tell us if it is possible, but, truly, the Clarion would love to see both, the Wild Card and one of the division winners, end up under .500. Don’t see why it couldn’t happen, but a graduate stats student could tell us for sure. (The Clarion doesn’t dare hope for two division winners under .500??!) Bill Simmons has taken to referring to the National League as Quadruple A.
Simmons columns
If you are a regular reader, you know by now, that the Clarion Content is a huge MLB.tv fan these days. A large part of what makes MLB.tv so great is watching the local announcers broadcast of out-of-market teams. MLB.tv Most folks are used to only watching their home team’s broadcasters and the national network announcers. Seeing other team’s crews is a huge novelty and lotsa fun for perspective. Any Dodgers game that has Vin Scully is worth a moment. The Braves crew is terrific, especially the always forthright Don Sutton. The Clarion told you about the Texas Rangers announcers insight on A-Rod’s slump. Link to that Post
Several nights back, rather than pounding out more Content, the staff caught a late night Padres-Giants game that went to extra innings. This by the way is the curse of MLB.tv, there is always an out of market game to watch. But this one was another one of those moments, the Padres announcers were positively a hoot. They were straight out of Anchorman, needling one another, lampooning ala Saturday Night Live. It was reminiscent of Christina Applegate’s first broadcast of the evening news where Champ and Brian Fantana are going hog wild looney from just off camera with the antics trying to disctract her. These guys were literally doing the same kind of crap, high school locker room style. It must have been cracking the guys in the truck up because they were having a good old time of it. Switching to the back to the in the booth cam during pauses on the field to catch’em in the act. Both announcers had to do funky things with their scorecards because it was going extra innings; bend them around, flip’em over and use the back edges. As the telecast cut to a commercial, the two of them were literally waving them at each other and talking smack. Mlb.tv occasionally catches additional booth dialogue, possibly because it is getting a different feed of the broadcast. As they broke, mlb.tv viewers could clearly hear one of the two of them saying, “Mine’s better. Mine's better.” in that kinda, “Nanny, nanny, boo, boo…” twelve year old’s sing-song voice. It wasn’t even about the audience or showing off, but rather winning the goofy fifth grader argument amongst themselves. Wow.
Link to game recap
Well, before Jose Reyes showed homerun power, hitting three dingers in a game against the Phills earlier this month, the Clarion was thinking he was a triples opportunity. In this era, there are not that many triples opportunities. You see, weird baseball fetishists, here in our office, love the triple, also known as a double where the batter hustles the whole way out of the box, rather than glides. You think nobody is going to get Cy Young’s 512 wins or Nolan Ryan’s career strikeout record, how’s about Sam Crawford’s all-time triples record? At 312, it’s untouchable, the highest any player from the modern era is on that list is Roberto Clemente, who according www.mlb.com is 27th with 166. Triples list link Next from the modern era is Willie Wilson who is something like 57th with 147 triples. Of course, the Clarion is rooting heartily against cheater Barry Bonds, and would love to see Hammerin’ Hank hang on, but the triple, is different, a breed apart, it is a weapon of a bygone era, unlikely to be seen again in era where behemoths prosper and speed demons are few and far between. For Reyes’s season, he has 15 triples with about 40 games to go. Reyes is on pace for twenty…he had an outside shot at 22-23 for a while, but now has cooled off. It is not looking so much like its gonna happen, “Bummer” quoth the triples freaks at the Clarion. By contrast old Sam Crawford had five 20+ triples seasons including one of 26 and one of 25.
And how’s about the National League? (Again, think the Mel Allen t.w.i.b. voice, “How’s about?”) The Clarion is certainly rooting for the National League Wild Card winner to be under .500. We need one of our statistician friends to post and tell us if it is possible, but, truly, the Clarion would love to see both, the Wild Card and one of the division winners, end up under .500. Don’t see why it couldn’t happen, but a graduate stats student could tell us for sure. (The Clarion doesn’t dare hope for two division winners under .500??!) Bill Simmons has taken to referring to the National League as Quadruple A.
Simmons columns
If you are a regular reader, you know by now, that the Clarion Content is a huge MLB.tv fan these days. A large part of what makes MLB.tv so great is watching the local announcers broadcast of out-of-market teams. MLB.tv Most folks are used to only watching their home team’s broadcasters and the national network announcers. Seeing other team’s crews is a huge novelty and lotsa fun for perspective. Any Dodgers game that has Vin Scully is worth a moment. The Braves crew is terrific, especially the always forthright Don Sutton. The Clarion told you about the Texas Rangers announcers insight on A-Rod’s slump. Link to that Post
Several nights back, rather than pounding out more Content, the staff caught a late night Padres-Giants game that went to extra innings. This by the way is the curse of MLB.tv, there is always an out of market game to watch. But this one was another one of those moments, the Padres announcers were positively a hoot. They were straight out of Anchorman, needling one another, lampooning ala Saturday Night Live. It was reminiscent of Christina Applegate’s first broadcast of the evening news where Champ and Brian Fantana are going hog wild looney from just off camera with the antics trying to disctract her. These guys were literally doing the same kind of crap, high school locker room style. It must have been cracking the guys in the truck up because they were having a good old time of it. Switching to the back to the in the booth cam during pauses on the field to catch’em in the act. Both announcers had to do funky things with their scorecards because it was going extra innings; bend them around, flip’em over and use the back edges. As the telecast cut to a commercial, the two of them were literally waving them at each other and talking smack. Mlb.tv occasionally catches additional booth dialogue, possibly because it is getting a different feed of the broadcast. As they broke, mlb.tv viewers could clearly hear one of the two of them saying, “Mine’s better. Mine's better.” in that kinda, “Nanny, nanny, boo, boo…” twelve year old’s sing-song voice. It wasn’t even about the audience or showing off, but rather winning the goofy fifth grader argument amongst themselves. Wow.
Link to game recap
Labels: baseball
Friday, August 18, 2006
Reply to E-Mail of 8/14
Dear Sender,
Stuff like this is so embarrassingly inaccurate and jaundiced that it detracts from the Cause you are trying to support.
This is a link to how the EU spends its aid money to Palestine.
EU aid to Palestine
Propaganda and lies are supposed to the be the tools of the bad guys, don't indulge the people who think if "they" lie, its okay if "we" do, too.
People like that belong in the George Bush II camp for disassemblers and other lying, self-centered, egomaniacal political hacks with un-aired, un-debated, underlying views and motives. (that don't involve smiling, happy, peaceful Jews, but rather are themed more like the Book of Revelations and the Left Behind series.) The administrations willingness to distort the truth has empowered and strengthened everyone else's ability to do the same, from terrorists to conspiracy theorists.
Closely read the email that was forwarded is almost Orwellian in its distortions.
Europe "supports" a primitive Middle-Age Death cult??
Every time you buy a bottle of Evian or a Godiva chocolate "you are financing the next Muslim mass murderer"??
These kind of wild distortions are what allow others with hurtful intentions to do the same. Jews should be more aware and more vitriolically opposed than most to the harms of this kind of twisted truth. (See the Blood Libel, The Protocols of Zion…)
Please feel free to send this response along to the person who sent you this email and anyone else you forwarded it to.
Thanks.
Stuff like this is so embarrassingly inaccurate and jaundiced that it detracts from the Cause you are trying to support.
This is a link to how the EU spends its aid money to Palestine.
EU aid to Palestine
Propaganda and lies are supposed to the be the tools of the bad guys, don't indulge the people who think if "they" lie, its okay if "we" do, too.
People like that belong in the George Bush II camp for disassemblers and other lying, self-centered, egomaniacal political hacks with un-aired, un-debated, underlying views and motives. (that don't involve smiling, happy, peaceful Jews, but rather are themed more like the Book of Revelations and the Left Behind series.) The administrations willingness to distort the truth has empowered and strengthened everyone else's ability to do the same, from terrorists to conspiracy theorists.
Closely read the email that was forwarded is almost Orwellian in its distortions.
Europe "supports" a primitive Middle-Age Death cult??
Every time you buy a bottle of Evian or a Godiva chocolate "you are financing the next Muslim mass murderer"??
These kind of wild distortions are what allow others with hurtful intentions to do the same. Jews should be more aware and more vitriolically opposed than most to the harms of this kind of twisted truth. (See the Blood Libel, The Protocols of Zion…)
Please feel free to send this response along to the person who sent you this email and anyone else you forwarded it to.
Thanks.
Labels: Middle East, Politics
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
This was E-Mailed to me 8/14/06
The following is not from the Clarion Content. It was received as an email forward on 8/14/06
Selective Buying
Several weeks ago, Germany announced its decision to stop all arms sales to Israel. Since then, other countries have followed suit. In response, Israel has canceled its annual multimillion dollar contract for its nationwide DAN buses which were manufactured in Germany, and is looking at other bus suppliers in the US, and Japan. The Europeans and their Muslim allies should understand that boycotts works both ways. When we said NEVER AGAIN, we meant it. Europe is stuck in the mentality of 1933 and conditioned to thinking of Jews as defenseless entities. The reality is very different. As long as Europe adheres to and supports its primitive Middle Ages death cult, European products must be off limits.
We continue to call for a complete boycott of travel and products from the following countries France, Belgium, Spain, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, Norway, Denmark, Holland, and China, due to their support, sponsorship, and/or participation in global Islamic terror. The voting record of the above countries at the UN openly endorses Muslim terror.
Remember, every time you buy a bottle of Evian, a Carlsberg product, a Spanish melon, a Godiva chocolate, a Dior lipstick, a Gucci bag, or a German kitchen appliance, you are financing the next Muslim mass murderer.
The European Union gives over $10 million per month to the Palestinian Authority, knowing full well that the money is funneled to buy, import, and train Muslim terrorists and their weapons of mass murder. We strongly encourage everyone to buy American and Israeli products instead.
Buy Estee Lauder or Ahava instead of Chanel, Dior, and YSL. Tell the salespeople why. Educate the public when you shop.
Europe is underwriting the Arab war to exterminate the Jewish state. We cannot sit idly by while this happens. Make your voice heard and let them feel the sting in their pocketbooks. Let the Europeans know that supporting terror does not pay.
...Please send this to at least 10 like minded people.
Selective Buying
Several weeks ago, Germany announced its decision to stop all arms sales to Israel. Since then, other countries have followed suit. In response, Israel has canceled its annual multimillion dollar contract for its nationwide DAN buses which were manufactured in Germany, and is looking at other bus suppliers in the US, and Japan. The Europeans and their Muslim allies should understand that boycotts works both ways. When we said NEVER AGAIN, we meant it. Europe is stuck in the mentality of 1933 and conditioned to thinking of Jews as defenseless entities. The reality is very different. As long as Europe adheres to and supports its primitive Middle Ages death cult, European products must be off limits.
We continue to call for a complete boycott of travel and products from the following countries France, Belgium, Spain, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, Norway, Denmark, Holland, and China, due to their support, sponsorship, and/or participation in global Islamic terror. The voting record of the above countries at the UN openly endorses Muslim terror.
Remember, every time you buy a bottle of Evian, a Carlsberg product, a Spanish melon, a Godiva chocolate, a Dior lipstick, a Gucci bag, or a German kitchen appliance, you are financing the next Muslim mass murderer.
The European Union gives over $10 million per month to the Palestinian Authority, knowing full well that the money is funneled to buy, import, and train Muslim terrorists and their weapons of mass murder. We strongly encourage everyone to buy American and Israeli products instead.
Buy Estee Lauder or Ahava instead of Chanel, Dior, and YSL. Tell the salespeople why. Educate the public when you shop.
Europe is underwriting the Arab war to exterminate the Jewish state. We cannot sit idly by while this happens. Make your voice heard and let them feel the sting in their pocketbooks. Let the Europeans know that supporting terror does not pay.
...Please send this to at least 10 like minded people.
Labels: Middle East, Politics
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
25th Anniversary of the Personal Computer
On an interesting note, saw an article in The Economist citing the introduction of the IBM 5150 as the 25th anniversary for the personal computer. IBM 5150 anniversary
It is well worth a think on how much things have changed over that twenty-five year time and what that means. Kids today can only imagine. Those of us who can remember, should. For all that is disturbing in the status quo, this reflection ought yield an optimistic appraisal of what is possible.
It is well worth a think on how much things have changed over that twenty-five year time and what that means. Kids today can only imagine. Those of us who can remember, should. For all that is disturbing in the status quo, this reflection ought yield an optimistic appraisal of what is possible.
Labels: Pop Culture
Sunday, August 13, 2006
E-Mailed to me 8/12/06
Saturday, August 12, 2006 12:13 PM
Subject: Priceless ...
A liberal woman wrote letters to the White House complaining about the treatment of a captive insurgent (terrorist) being held in Guantanamo Bay.
She received back the following reply:
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, D.C. 20016
Dear Concerned Citizen,
Thank you for your recent letter roundly criticizing our treatment of the Taliban and Al Qaeda detainees currently being held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Our administration takes these matters seriously and your opinion was heard loud and clear here in Washington.
You'll be pleased to learn that, thanks to the concerns of citizens like yourself, we are creating a new division of the Terrorist Retraining Program, to be called the "Liberals Accept Responsibility for Killers" program, or
LARK for short.
In accordance with the guidelines of this new program, we have decided to place one terrorist under your personal care.
Your personal detainee has been selected and scheduled for transportation under heavily armed guard to your residence next Monday.
Ali Mohammed Ahmed bin Mahmud (you can just call him Ahmed) is to be cared for pursuant to the standards you personally demanded in your letter of complaint. It will likely be necessary for you to hire some assistant care-takers.
We will conduct weekly inspections to ensure that your standards of care for Ahmed are commensurate with those you so strongly recommended in your letter.
Although Ahmed is a sociopath and extremely violent, we hope that your sensitivity to what you described as his "attitudinal problem" will help him overcome these character flaws.
Perhaps you are correct in describing these problems as mere cultural differences. We understand that you plan to offer counselling and home schooling.
Your adopted terrorist is extremely proficient in hand-to-hand combat and can extinguish human life with such simple items as a pencil or nail clippers. We advise that you do not ask him to demonstrate these skills at your next yoga group. He is also expert at making a wide variety of explosive devices from common household products, so you may wish to keep those items locked up, unless (in your opinion) this might offend him.
Ahmed will not wish to interact with you or your daughters (except sexually), since he views females as a sub-human form of property. This is a particularly sensitive subject for him and he has been known to show violent tendencies around women who fail to comply with the new dress code that he will recommend as more appropriate attire.
I'm sure you will come to enjoy the anonymity offered by the burka over time.
Just remember that it is all part of "respecting his culture and his religious beliefs" -- wasn't that how you put it?
Thanks again for your letter. We truly appreciate it when folks like you keep us informed of the proper way to do our job. You take good care of Ahmed - and remember, we'll be watching.
Good luck!
Cordially, your friend,
Don Rumsfeld
Subject: Priceless ...
A liberal woman wrote letters to the White House complaining about the treatment of a captive insurgent (terrorist) being held in Guantanamo Bay.
She received back the following reply:
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, D.C. 20016
Dear Concerned Citizen,
Thank you for your recent letter roundly criticizing our treatment of the Taliban and Al Qaeda detainees currently being held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Our administration takes these matters seriously and your opinion was heard loud and clear here in Washington.
You'll be pleased to learn that, thanks to the concerns of citizens like yourself, we are creating a new division of the Terrorist Retraining Program, to be called the "Liberals Accept Responsibility for Killers" program, or
LARK for short.
In accordance with the guidelines of this new program, we have decided to place one terrorist under your personal care.
Your personal detainee has been selected and scheduled for transportation under heavily armed guard to your residence next Monday.
Ali Mohammed Ahmed bin Mahmud (you can just call him Ahmed) is to be cared for pursuant to the standards you personally demanded in your letter of complaint. It will likely be necessary for you to hire some assistant care-takers.
We will conduct weekly inspections to ensure that your standards of care for Ahmed are commensurate with those you so strongly recommended in your letter.
Although Ahmed is a sociopath and extremely violent, we hope that your sensitivity to what you described as his "attitudinal problem" will help him overcome these character flaws.
Perhaps you are correct in describing these problems as mere cultural differences. We understand that you plan to offer counselling and home schooling.
Your adopted terrorist is extremely proficient in hand-to-hand combat and can extinguish human life with such simple items as a pencil or nail clippers. We advise that you do not ask him to demonstrate these skills at your next yoga group. He is also expert at making a wide variety of explosive devices from common household products, so you may wish to keep those items locked up, unless (in your opinion) this might offend him.
Ahmed will not wish to interact with you or your daughters (except sexually), since he views females as a sub-human form of property. This is a particularly sensitive subject for him and he has been known to show violent tendencies around women who fail to comply with the new dress code that he will recommend as more appropriate attire.
I'm sure you will come to enjoy the anonymity offered by the burka over time.
Just remember that it is all part of "respecting his culture and his religious beliefs" -- wasn't that how you put it?
Thanks again for your letter. We truly appreciate it when folks like you keep us informed of the proper way to do our job. You take good care of Ahmed - and remember, we'll be watching.
Good luck!
Cordially, your friend,
Don Rumsfeld
Labels: Politics, Pop Culture
