Spam Challenge!


As I was cleaning up my inbox today, I found the following bit of spam forwarded to me by my sister:


Subject: Fw: Fw: Fwd: PLEEEEEASE READ!! It was on the news!

From: "kirt______" <____@netzero.net>
To: "travis" <________@earthlink.net>; "TODD ________"
<________@email.msn.com>; "tim _______" <_________@juno.com>; "stuart ______"; "Scott ________" <______@uswest.net>; "rachel _______" ; "mike_______" <________@______.net>; "jeremy_______" <________@yahoo.com>; "jeanette"
<________@yahoo.com>; "james _______" <_______@qwest.net>; "dave
_______" <_______@juno.com>; "_______" <_______@yahoo.com>; "alice"

Sent: Wednesday, November 20, 2002 7:49 PM

Subject: Fw: Fw: Fwd: PLEEEEEASE READ!! It was on the news!

>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Scott _______" <_______@uswest.net>
>> To: "kirt _______" <_______@netzero.net>
>> Sent: Wednesday, November 20, 2002 3:34 PM
>> Subject: Fw: Fw: Fwd: PLEEEEEASE READ!! It was on the news!
>>
>>
>
>>> >
>>> > ----- Original Message -----
>>> > From: michelle_______
>>> > To: <_______@earthlink.net>; <_______@juno.com>;
>>> > ; <_______@uswest.net>;
>>> > <_______@hotmail.com>; <_______@aol.com>; <______@hotmail.com>;
>>> > <_______@hotmail.com>; <_______@_______.com>; <_______@earthlink.net>;
>>> >
>>> > Sent: Wednesday, November 20, 2002 8:10 AM
>>> > Subject: Fwd: Fw: Fwd: PLEEEEEASE READ!! It was on the news!
>>> >
>>> >
>>
>>>> > >
>>>> > >
>>>> > >
>>>> > >
>>>> > >
>>>> > >
>>>> > >
>>>
>>>>> > > >From: "_______" <_______@allwest.net>
>>>>> > > >Reply-To: "_______" <_______@allwest.net>
>>>>> > > >To: "_______" <_______@bridgernet.com>,"_______"
>>>>> > > ><_______@_______.net>,<_______@_______.edu>,"_______"
>>>>> > > ><_______@_______.edu>,"_______"
>>>>> > > ><_______@juno.com>,"_______"<_______@allwest.net>,"Lana
>>>>> > > >_______" <_______@_______.com>, "Ann_______" <_______@juno.com>,"Gloria
>>>>> > > >_______" <_______@_______.com>,"Julie_______" ,"Scott
>>>>> > > >_______" <_______@msn.com>,"michelle _______"
>>>>> > > ><_______@hotmail.com>,"Brenda_______" <_______@_____.com>
>>>>> > > >Subject: Fw: Fwd: PLEEEEEASE READ!! It was on the news!
>>>>> > > >Date: Tue, 19 Nov 2002 22:58:37 -0700
>>>>> > > >
>>>>> > > >
>>>>> > > >----- Original Message -----
>>>>> > > >From: William _______
>>>>> > > >To: John _____; John _____ ; John _______; John _______
>>>>> > > >_______ ; _______;_______@_______.com ; Jo Ann ____

;

>>>>> > > >_______@gte.net ; _______; _______; _______
>>
>>> > _______
>>
>>>>> > > >; _______; _______; _______; _______@aol.com ;
>>
>>> >_______
>>
>>>>> > > >_______ ; _______; _______; _______ (ATLA)

>> ;
>
>>>>> > > >_______@cs.com ; _______; _______; _______
>>
>>> > _______
>>
>>>>> > > >; _______; _______; _______; _______; _______
>
>> _______
>
>>> > ;
>>
>>>>> > > >_______; _______@aol.com ; _______; _______

;

>>>>> > > >_______; _______@cs.com ; _______@cs.com ; _______

(.)

>> ;
>
>>>>> > > >_______; _______; _______@aol.com ;
>>>>> > > >_______@aol.com ; _______; _______

;

>>>>> > > >_______@dictionary.com ; _______; Dictionary.com Word of the

Day

>>>>> > > >Confirmation from Lyris ListManager ; _______; _______

;

>>>>> > > >_______ ; _______; ______@tdbank.ca ; _______; _______;
>>
>>> > _______
>>
>>>>> > > >_______; _______; _______; _______;
>>>>> > > >_______@r____.com ; ______@_______.on.ca ; _______;
>>>>> > > >_______r@juno.com ; _____l ; _______@libero.it ; _______
>
>> ______
>
>>> > ;
>>
>>>>> > > >_______ ; _______ ; _______ ; _______
>
>> _______ -
>
>>>>> > > >_______ ; _______ ; _______ ; _______ ; _______
>>
>>> > _______
>>
>>>>> > > >I_______ ; _______ ; _______ ; _______; _______
>> ;
>
>>>>> > > >_______ ; _______ ; _______@aol.com ; _______

;

>>>>> > > >_______ ; _______@kiwwi.cz ; _______ ;
>>>>> > > >_______; _______ ; _______; _______
>> ;
>
>>>>> > > >_______ ; _______ ; _______; _______
>>>>> > > >
>>>>> > > >; _______, _______ ; _______
>>>>> > > >Sent: Tuesday, November 19, 2002 7:42 PM
>>>>> > > >Subject: Fw: Fwd: PLEEEEEASE READ!! It was on the news!
>>>>> > > >
>>>>> > > >
>>>>> > > >
>>>>> > > >----- Original Message -----
>>>>> > > >From: _______
>>>>> > > >To: _______ ; _______ ; _______ ; _______ ; _______

;

>>>>> > > >_______ ; _______; _______ ; _______

;

>>> > >>
>>>>> > > >_______ ; _______@epamail.epa.gov ; _______ ; _______

>> ;
>
>>>>> > > >_______ ; _______; _______; _______@aol.com ;

>>>>> > > >_______ ; _______ ; _______ ; _______ ; _______

;

>>>>> > > >_______@home.com ; _______
>>>>> > > >Sent: Tuesday, November 19, 2002 9:22 PM
>>>>> > > >Subject: Fw: Fwd: PLEEEEEASE READ!! It was on the news!
>>>>> > > >
>>>>> > > >
>>>>> > > >
>>>>> > > >
>>>>> > > > -------Original Message-------
>>>>> > > >
>>>>> > > > From: _______
>>>>> > > > Date: Saturday, November 16, 2002 19:17:28
>>>>> > > > To: _______@earthlink.net; _______@aol.com;
>>
>>> > _______@ntelos.net;
>>
>>>>> > > >_______@prodigy.net
>>>>> > > > Cc: _______@bit-net.com; _______@aol.com;
>
>> _______@juno.com;
>
>>>>> > > >_______@cs.com;_______@worldnet.att.net; ______@hotmail.com;
>>>>> > > >_______@aol.com; _______@aol.com; _______@aol.com;
>>
>>> > _______@aol.com;
>>
>>>>> > > >_______@cs.com; _______@aol.com; _______@aol.com;
>
>> v@WEBTV.NET;
>
>>>>> > > >_______@hotmail.com; _______r@aol.com
>>>>> > > > Subject: Fwd: PLEEEEEASE READ!! It was on the news!
>>>>> > > >
>>>>> > > >
>>>>> > > >
>>>>> > > >
>>>>> > > >
>>>>> > > > Hey guys, I don't know if this is a scam or if it is for real.
>
>> All
>
>>>>> > > >you can do is try it. Can't loose anything. Who knows we might get
>>
>>> > lucky..
>>
>>>>> > > >
>>>>> > > > Holly
>>>>> > > >
>>>>> > > >
>>>>> > > >
>>>>> > > >
>>>>> > > >
>>>>> > > > From: "_______"
>>>>> > > > To: "_______" ,"_______" ,"_______" ,"_______" ,
>>>>> > > >"_______" ,"Christine _____" ,"_______" ,"_______",
>>>>> > > >"_______" ,"_______"
>>>>> > >>
>>>>> > > >"_______" ,"_______" ,"_______"
>>>>> > > > Subject: PLEEEEEASE READ!! It was on the news!
>>>>> > > > Date: Sat, 16 Nov 2002 18:56:11 -0500
>>>>> > > > ----- Original Message -----
>>>>> > > > From: _______
>>>>> > > > To: _______@aol.com ; _______@aol.com ; _______.

>>>>> > > >; _______@saraleecoffee.com ; _______@aol.com ;
>>>>> > > >_______@metrocast.net
>>>>> > > > Sent: Friday, November 15, 2002 8:54 PM
>>>>> > > > Subject: Fw: PLEEEEEASE READ!!!!! It was on the news!
>>>>> > > > ----- Original Message -----
>>>>> > > > From: Rena ______
>>>>> > > > To: James _______
>>>>> > > > Sent: Wednesday, November 13, 2002 6:55 PM
>>>>> > > > Subject: Fw: PLEEEEEASE READ!!!!! It was on the news!
>>>>> > > > ----- Original Message -----
>>>>> > > > From: Rebecca _______
>>>>> > > > Sent: Wednesday, November 13, 2002 5:11 AM
>>>>> > > > To: Diana _______ (E-mail); Paula_______ (E-mail); Rena
>>>>> > > >(E-mail); '_______@aol.com'; '_______@wwbh.org'; Beth _______;
>
>> Betty
>
>>>>> > > >_______; Bill _______; Leon _______; Robin _______; Christy

_______
>>>>> > > > Subject: FW: PLEEEEEASE READ!!!!! It was on the news!
>>>>> > > > Rebecca _______
>>>>> > > > Claims Analyst
>>>>> > > > _______ Industries, Inc.
>>>>> > > > ______, RI
>>>>> > > > (___) ___-____X___
>>>>> > > > E-Mail _______@_______.com
>>>>> > > > Okay you guys. I think this one is worth a try. I never do

these

>>>>> > > >things but who knows ?
>>>>> > > > Sorry , but I have to give this one a shot.
>>>>> > > > > > >
>>>>> > > > > > > > > OK....let's see if this is for real......
>>>>> > > > > > > > > It would be nice!
>>>>> > > > > > > > >
>>>>> > > > > > > > > To all of my friends, I try not to forward messages
>
>> like
>
>>>>> > > >this,
>>>>> > > > > > because
>>>>> > > > > > I don't think they will work, but this is from a friend of

a

>>>>> > > >friend,
>>>>> > > > > > _______,
>>>>> > > > > > and she really is an attorney. If she says that this will
>>
>>> > work -
>>
>>>>> > > >it
>>>>> > > > > > WILL work.
>>>>> > > > > > After all, what have you got to lose?
>>>>> > > > > > > > >
>>>>> > > > > > > > >
>>>>> > > > > > > > >
>>>>> > > > > > > > > SORRY EVERYBODY.....JUST HAD TO TAKE THE CHANCE!!!
>>>>> > > > > > > > > I'm an attorney, and I know the law. This thing is

for

>>>>> > > >real.
>>>>> > > > > > > > > Rest assured AOL and Intel will follow through with
>>
>>> > their
>>
>>>>> > > > promises
>>>>> > > > > >
>>>>> > > > > > > > > for fear of facing a multimillion dollar class

action

>>> > suit
>>
>>>>> > > > similar
>>>>> > > > > > to
>>>>> > > > > > > the one filed by PepsiCo against General Electric not

too

>>> > long
>>
>>>>> > > > > > ago.
>>>>> > > > > > > > >
>>>>> > > > > > > > >
>>>>> > > > > > > > > >
>>>>> > > > > > > > > > > Dear Friends,
>>>>> > > > > > > > > > > Please do not take this for a junk letter. Bill
>>
>>> > Gates
>>
>>>>> > > >is
>>>>> > > > > > >sharing his fortune. If you ignore this you will repent
>>
>>> > later.
>>
>>>>> > > > > > Microsoft
>>>>> > > > > > >and AOL are now the largest Internet companies and in an
>>
>>> > effort
>>
>>>>> > > >to
>>>>> > > > > > make
>>>>> > > > > > >sure that Internet Explorer remains the most widely used
>>>>> > > >program,
>>>>> > > > > > >Microsoft and AOL are running an e-mail beta test.
>>>>> > > > > > > > > > >
>>>>> > > > > > > > > > When you forward this e-mail to friends, Microsoft
>
>> can
>
>>>>> > > >and will
>>>>> > > > > > > track it (if you are a Microsoft Windows user) for a two
>>
>>> > week
>>
>>>>> > > >time
>>>>> > > > > > period.
>>>>> > > > > > >For every person that you forward this e-mail to,

Microsoft

>>>>> > > >will pay
>>>>> > > > > > you
>>>>> > > > > > > > $245.00, for every person that you sent it to that
>>
>>> > forwards
>>
>>>>> > > >it on,
>>>>> > > > > > Microsoft
>>>>> > > > > > >will pay you $243.00 and for every third person that
>
>> receives
>
>>>>> > > >it,
>>>>> > > > > > you will
>>>>> > > > > > >be paid $241.00. Within two weeks, Microsoft will contact
>
>> you
>
>>>>> > > >for your
>>>>> > > > > > > > address and then send you a cheque.
>>>>> > > > > > > > > > >
>>>>> > > > > > > > > > > Regards.
>>>>> > > > > > > > > > >
>>>>> > > > > > > > > > > Charles _______
>>>>> > > > > > > > > > > General Manager Field Operations
>>>>> > > > > > > > > > > 1/800-___-____ Ext. ____ or
>>>>> > > > > > > > > > > ___/___-____ or RNX ___-___
>>>>> > > > > > > > > > > Charles_______@csx.com
>>>>> > > > > > > > > > >
>>>>> > > > > > > > > > >
>>>>> > > > > > > > > > >
>>>>> > > > > > > > > > > I thought this was a scam myself, but two weeks
>>
>>> > after
>>
>>>>> > > > > > receiving
>>>>> > > > > > >this e-mail and forwarding it on, Microsoft contacted me
>
>> for
>
>>> > my
>>
>>>>> > > > address
>>>>> > > > > > and
>>>>> > > > > > > > within days, I received a cheque for US$24,800.00. You
>>
>>> > need
>>
>>>>> > > >to
>>>>> > > > > > respond
>>>>> > > > > > >before the beta testing is over. If anyone can afford

this

>>> > Bill
>>
>>>>> > > >Gates
>>>>> > > > > > is the
>>>>> > > > > > >man.
>>>>> > > > > > > > It's all marketing expense to him. Please forward this
>
>> to
>
>>> > as
>>
>>>>> > > >many
>>>>> > > > > > people
>>>>> > > > > > >as possible. You are bound to get at least US$10,000.00.
>>>>> > > > > > > > > We're not going to help them out with their e-mail
>
>> beta
>
>>>>> > > >test
>>>>> > > > > > >without getting a little something for our time. My
>
>> brother's
>
>>>>> > > > > > girlfriend
>>>>> > > > > > >got in on this a few months ago. When I went to visit him
>
>> for
>
>>>>> > > >the
>>>>> > > > > > >Baylor/UT game.
>>>>> > > > > > > > >
>>>>> > > > > > > > >
>>>>> > > > > > > > >
>>>>> > > > > > > > > She showed me her check. It was for the sum of
>
>> $4,324.44
>
>>>>> > > >and was
>>>>> > > > > > > > > stamped "Paid In Full". Like I said before, I know

the

>>>>> > > >law, and
>>>>> > > > > > >this is for real.
>>>>> > > > > > > > >
>>>>> > > > > > > > > Intel and AOL are now discussing a merger which

would

>>> > make
>>
>>>>> > > >them
>>>>> > > > > > >the largest Internet company and in an effort make sure
>
>> that
>
>>>>> > > >AOL
>>>>> > > > > > >remains the most widely used program, Intel and AOL are
>>
>>> > running
>>
>>>>> > > >an
>>>>> > > > > > e-mail beta
>>>>> > > > > > > > > test.
>>>>> > > > > > > > >
>>>>> > > > > > > > >
>>>>> > > > > > > > >
>>>>> > > > > > > > > When you forward this e-mail to friends, Intel can

and

>>>>> > > >will track
>>>>> > > > > > >it (if you are a Microsoft Windows user) for a two week
>
>> time
>
>>>>> > > >period.
>>>>> > > > > > > > >
>>>>> > > > > > > > >
>>>>> > > > > > > > >
>>>>> > > > > > > > > For every person that you forward this e-mail to,
>>>>> > > >Microsoft will
>>>>> > > > > > >pay you $203.15.
>>>>> > > > > > > > >
>>>>> > > > > > > > >
>>>>> > > > > > > > >
>>>>> > > > > > > > > For every person that you sent it to that forwards

it

>>> > on,
>>
>>>>> > > > > > >Microsoft will pay you $156.29.
>>>>> > > > > > > > >
>>>>> > > > > > > > >
>>>>> > > > > > > > >
>>>>> > > > > > > > > And for every third person that receives it, you

will

>> be
>
>>>>> > > >paid
>>>>> > > > > > >$17.65. Within two weeks, Intel will contact you for your
>>>>> > > >address and
>>>>> > > > > > then
>>>>> > > > > > >send you a check.
>>>>> > > > > > > > > I thought this was a scam myself, but a friend of my
>>
>>> > good
>>
>>>>> > > > friend's
>>>>> > > > > >
>>>>> > > > > > > > > Aunt Patricia, who works at Intel, actually got a
>
>> check
>
>>> > of
>>
>>>>> > > > > > >$4,543.23 by forwarding this e-mail.
>>>>> > > > > > > > >
>>>>> > > > > > > > >
>>>>> > > > > > > > > Try it, what have you got to lose????
>>>>> > > > > > > > >
>>>>> > > > > > > > >
>>>>> > > > > > > > >
>>>>> > > > > > Helene _______
>>>>> > > > > > National Account Executive
>>>>> > > > > > ___-___-____
>>>>> > > > > > FAX ___-___-____
>>>>> > > > > > VIACOM
>>>>> > > > > > OUTDOOR
>>>>> > > > > >
>>>>> > > > > > _____
>>>>> > > > > >
>>>>> > > > > > Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: Click Here <
>>>>> > > > > > http://g.msn.com/1_______/_______>
>>>>> > > > > >
>>>>> > > > > >
>>>>> > > > > >
>>>>> > > > > >
>>>>> > > > > >
>>>>> > > > >
>>>>> > > > >
>>>>> > > > >
>>>>> > > > >
>>>>> > > > >
>>
>>> > _________________________________________________________________
>>
>>>>> > > > > MSN Photos is the easiest way to share and print your

photos:

>>>>> > > > > http://photos.msn.com/support/worldwide.aspx
>>>>> > > > >
>>>>> > > > >
>>>>> > > > >
>>>>> > > >
>>>>> > > >
>>>>> > > >
>>>>> > > >____________________________________________________
>>>>> > > > IncrediMail - Email has finally evolved - Click Here
>>>
>>>> > >
>>>> > >
>>>> > > _________________________________________________________________
>>>> > > STOP MORE SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE*
>>>> > > http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail
>>>> > >
>>>> > >
>>
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>
>>
[EOF]

This has to be the biggest waste of bandwith I've ever come across. If anybody has received an email message with more addresses and names than this, I'd like to hear about it. But DON'T FORWARD IT TO ME!

Mark Steyn penned this admirable bit of clarity:
"Saddam has George Bush Sr to thank for these last 12 years; he shouldn�t be given another dozen by another Bush."

If Bush keeps trying to accommodate the Axis of Weasels he may find himself in the same boat as his old man. The people in all those red states are funny that way. I suppose that occupying the country without a war might be better than taking casualties, but Saddam would have to be like Idi Amin, never heard from again.

Mark Steyn penned this admirable bit of clarity:
"Saddam has George Bush Sr to thank for these last 12 years; he shouldn�t be given another dozen by another Bush."

If Bush keeps trying to accommodate the Axis of Weasels he may find himself in the same boat as his old man. The people in all those red states are funny that way. I suppose that occupying the country without a war might be better than taking casualties, but Saddam would have to be like Idi Amin, never heard from again.

Here's a nice piece of green propaganda, portraying the claims of local governments to established dirt roads as a threat to wilderness. The truth is that these lands shouldn't be called wilderness in the first place if regular use of motor vehicles in them is a disqualifier. What is really happening is environmental groups trying to ban motor vehicles from areas they've been using for the past 100 years by redefining "road" to eliminate dirt, or native surface roads. There are lots of those in the San Rafael Swell just to the East of me. I used to drive them when I had a 4X4. I was annoyed when I went out to visit a spot I had been to just a few months earlier and found that the BLM had dug a trench across the road I had used, because it had been listed as a Wilderness Study Area.


The local government and ranchers have tried to compromise, but the environmentalists' response has been to demand ever more public land for wilderness. I've read the claims by Heidi McIntosh repeated in this article before. Every time she mentions one case where an old road was washed out as though all these roads are ancient wagon trails. They aren't. Some should probably be abandoned, but most are used regularly, if seasonally.

The real kicker on all of this is that the local counties are expected to do search and rescue for these vast stretches when someone goes out and gets lost or injured. They aren't allowed to use motorized vehicles except helicopters, which we don't have. Yet we're going to have ever more hikers, river runners and backpackers going there. There is no way to police the use of these areas, either. There is one BLM ranger who is supposed to cover all of Southeastern Utah. Meanwhile the vast majority of the owners of these lands, will never see them, because they aren't into hiking and backpacking.

Big mistake! Blocking the TIA program that is. Personally, I don't give a hoot if my data gets screened by their computer. The paranoia of the civil liberties crowd is harming our safety. As I've said for a long time, the most important civil right is living.

I've heard the line from Ben Franklin that the man who trades freedom for security does not deserve nor will he ever receive either, but I think it's being misapplied here. We have given our government the task of protecting us from terrorists and other enemies. We shouldn't deny it the ability to do so. I understand Franklin to be referring to security in the sense of financial security, not national security.

Part of the reason we feel insecure now is because we have failed to take measures to protect ourselves. These are dangerous powers that need to be watched carefully, but if we kill measures like this before they can even be tested, we deserve to be endangered. Benjamin Franklin also said, "Make yourself sheep and the wolves will eat you." We have become so fearful of Big Brother that we forget that he is fiction. For all the warnings that our government is becoming Big Brother, we sure have a lot of protesting and lawsuits against him.

Glenn Reynolds writes about being a "pack not a herd." But that didn't stop the WTC from being blown up. The pack metaphor is fine, but if the pack doesn't use all means at its disposal, it may get bombed out of existence.

Michael Ledeen says it just right:

The French have always been a pain. DeGaul was a pain. Everybody since DeGaul has always been a pain. It plays well with French politics as in Germany. As we've seen, Chancellor Schroeder was re-elected largely because of his anti-American campaign and played well with their domestic politics also.. . .

But you know, the driving force, I maintain between French and British rage is that they have become irrelevant and they know it, and they hate it. And every time there is a modern war, they are exposed as being unable to participate.

Because they lack military technology. Because they right at the end of the Cold War, they opted for social services and welfare stateism all over Europe, and they opted out of defense. So, they don't spend any -- they spend 1 percent of their budget on defense, which is not even enough to pay the salaries of the people they have in uniform in most of the European countries. So, they can't fight a modern war.

Another reason why I never miss Brit Hume.

Fox News has picked up the Cubbage story.

Question: If God is great and powerful, and created the universe and all mankind, why does He need al Qaeda and suicide bombers to carry out His work? I mean, look at what He did to Sodom and Gomorrah. It seems that there is something illogical about the idea of jihad conducted through terror. How will suicide, which is forbidden by Quran, help to establish God's reign on earth?


Christians believe that Jesus will return in power at the end of time and cleanse the earth with fire. He won't need any help from the likes of UBL. The whole concept of jihad was fine as long as the Muslims were winning, but they've been losing for several centuries. Why hasn't God helped them? This thought has got to be in the minds of all Muslims, but they seem to be in denial.

I just read SayUncle's manifesto, calling himself a reformed Republican. I think that if you wait for a party or candidate to agree with you on everything, you'd never vote at all. Maybe that's why the turnout is so low. But expecting any politician to be a full-time statesman and do what he'd really like to, you're in danger of being dangerously naive, any further and you might become a Libertarian.


That is not to say libertarian. I don't know what I am exactly, maybe communitarian, but that depends of what programs they support. I don't buy into the Instapundit celebration of drugs, homosexuals, porn and "victimless" crimes in general, because I think that if you're not contributing, you're harming society. People who harm the family, or waste their lives on addictions are a drag on everyone else, so there are no victimless crimes, and I also believe that there are virtues and duties that are part of citizenship in a free society and inextricably connected with liberty. If you misuse your freedoms you'll lose them, it's that simple. I think we're living on the down hill side of American history, the bread and circuses phase, although we've still got a lot of good sensible hardworking people who keep things heading in generally the right direction. The biggest problem we have is that Americans today equate government programs with kindness and caring. Barry Goldwater wrote a long time ago that everything we get from government comes with strings attached, and when we start to look to government to meet our needs, we give up more of our independence. We're quite a way down that road now, which is why Republicans came up with the "Compassionate Conservative" slogan. They knew that if they stuck to the original principles of the founders of this experiment they'd be out of the running politically.


It's going to take a dramatic turnaround to save us. I'm not very optimistic.

Here's another good reason for going after Saddam.

Bjorn Lomborg responds to the Danish Committee for the Prevention of Vice and Promotion of Virtue--oops! I mean Committee for Scientific Dishonesty.

Bill Safire describes how Germany and France are moving to take control of the EU and make the UN Security Council irrelevant.

I wonder how this will affect Wilderness Areas. Could they become a haven for criminals?

Michael Novak points out why the ACLU's campaign against the 10 Commandments may be harming civil rights.

D'oh! And the first two were so good!

The Riverside County CA prosecutors are accusing a woman of murdering her baby boy by overdosing him with meth through her own milk. It doesn't look like they have enough evidence.

Great quote from Hillary! (via Best of the Web):

Yes, we want to be judged by the content of our character and not the color of our skin. But what makes up character? If we don't take race as part of our character, then we are kidding ourselves.

What the hell does that mean? It sounds a lot like: All of us are equal, but some are more equal than others.

So this is why Scott Ritter likes Iraq--you can marry a 12 year old there.

Oh dear! Microsoft expects to bring in ONLY $31.9 to $32.1 billion in this fiscal year. Civilization is ending!

Meanwhile, the scene in Iraq becomes more surrealistic.

Bill Whittle goes ballistic on current Hollywood celebrities, with very few survivors. Great writing! If there is ever a hall of fame for blogging, this deserves to be on prominent display.

Whenever I read anything by ex-military types, I am humbled and amazed by the clarity of their thinking. The warrior ethic we inherited from our Anglo-Saxon and other European ancestors rings out loud and true.

Alternate Headline: The U.N. has come to the end of its relevance.

Mirabile dictu, the LA Times actually publishes an article giving the police a fair shake, "What looks like profiling might just be good policing."

John Allen Paulos attacks the TIA program by comparing it to Minority Report. It's really a straw man argument, however, because he presumes (1) that the system would identify 1% of the population, (2) that the government would "swoop down on" and "arrest" all of that 1%, about 3 million individuals. I doubt that 1% would be fine enough to satisfy the people developing it, and I don't think it would spit out arrest warrants.

My presumption is that this system will only be used to narrow the focus of investigations. I haven't heard anyone advocate turning over judicial determinations such as probable cause to a computer.

Quote of the Day (so far): "Peter Singer, the most mysteriously prestigious thinker in America" - David Brooks


He's giving the Anti-SUV crowd the business:

So the anti-SUV crusade is part of a pattern, but there's also a more worrisome element. In centuries past, the armies of righteousness tended to at least fret about things that really matter: character, virtue, innocence, sin and depravity. These days moral energies are directed at health, safety and risk. Narcissism, dishonesty and promiscuity are regarded as mere lifestyle choices. But driving a car with trunk space is a sin worse than seven of the Ten Commandments. This is defining righteousness down.

Like many good writers, he's diffident in person. When he's on The Newshour each Friday, he's meek and lowly next to Mark Shields who's about as retiring as a drunk Irishman. But in writing, he shines.

Update: And then there's Jonathan H. Adler.

I record Brit Hume's show on Fox News Channel and watch it when I get home. Tonight, it was reported that Iraq has refused to grant consent for the U.S. to fly U2 flights over its territory, unless they were accompanied by the Iraqi air force!!! Jim Angle couldn't help laughing as he reported this story. My first thought was to wonder whether any of Iraq's planes could fly that high.

The Democrats are meeting in Iowa. From their statements, it should be an easy race for Bush. All of them but Lieberman are vying to be the most liberal, oppose war with Iraq, reverse Bush's tax cuts, yadda, yadda, yadda.


It's MLK's birthday. Colin Powell and Condi Rice support affirmative action and both benefited from it. That's fine. But at some point, American blacks need to realize that Bush is right when he talks about the bigotry of low expectations. It's like giving white basketball players 5 points each at the start of each game to that they can compete. It's insulting and demeaning, and they shouldn't stand for it. If you can't get in on your own merit, why would you want to take handouts? I have nothing against reaching out to groups who have been excluded in the past, but what good does it do if they then segregate themselves because they don't feel like they belong? All races need to open their minds toward each other, forget old grievances and quit looking for ways to take offense. Then, MLK's dream might be achievable. It is coming closer, but it may take more than a generation to happen.

An Indian company has been found to be shipping components of rocket propellent and biochemical weapons to Iraq. I think the first order of business upon entering Iraq will be to build and supply POW camps, while we're bombing their command and control out of existence. It's looking more certain all the time that we're going to have to move. I'm not sure that Bush can afford not to invade at this point. If he consents to a solution where Saddam is exiled, he will be at risk of the same backlash that hurt his dad. The only way we can be sure of anything is if we are given full access and we are able to clean out all the rats in the nest.

I record Brit Hume's show on Fox News Channel and watch it when I get home. Tonight, it was reported that Iraq has refused to grant consent for the U.S. to fly U2 flights over its territory, unless they were accompanied by the Iraqi air force!!! Jim Angle couldn't help laughing as he reported this story. My first thought was to wonder whether any of Iraq's planes could fly that high.

The Democrats are meeting in Iowa. From their statements, it should be an easy race for Bush. All of them but Lieberman are vying to be the most liberal, oppose war with Iraq, reverse Bush's tax cuts, yadda, yadda, yadda.


It's MLK's birthday. Colin Powell and Condi Rice support affirmative action and both benefited from it. That's fine. But at some point, American blacks need to realize that Bush is right when he talks about the bigotry of low expectations. It's like giving white basketball players 5 points each at the start of each game to that they can compete. It's insulting and demeaning, and they shouldn't stand for it. If you can't get in on your own merit, why would you want to take handouts? I have nothing against reaching out to groups who have been excluded in the past, but what good does it do if they then segregate themselves because they don't feel like they belong? All races need to open their minds toward each other, forget old grievances and quit looking for ways to take offense. Then, MLK's dream might be achievable. It is coming closer, but it may take more than a generation to happen.

An Indian company has been found to be shipping components of rocket propellent and biochemical weapons to Iraq. I think the first order of business upon entering Iraq will be to build and supply POW camps, while we're bombing their command and control out of existence. It's looking more certain all the time that we're going to have to move. I'm not sure that Bush can afford not to invade at this point. If he consents to a solution where Saddam is exiled, he will be at risk of the same backlash that hurt his dad. The only way we can be sure of anything is if we are given full access and we are able to clean out all the rats in the nest.

Cap'n DenBeste speculates about the effect the discovery of proof that Saddam was dealing under the table with France and Germany would have: "The first question our governments would face is whether to reveal it."

I don't think they would be able to keep it quiet. Those troops will have reporters with them. That kind of stuff doesn't stay covered up very long. Even if there isn't any proof, France and Germany won't be to popular in this country, and the U.N.'s stock will be worthless.

Apparently, the Segway scooter was overhyped. Surprise!