"This was the voice of moderation until 13 Sept, 2025"
Moe Lane The first RedState post of mine is up, where I reveal myself to be secretly the disembodied brain of Herbert Hoover… well, OK, not really. I have no idea how often I’ll be posting stuff over there; it’ll depend on the eventual tone of the place. I’m not an entirely serious sort of person, except … Read more
There must have been a real dearth of religion pieces in OpinionJournal’s slushpile, because today’s (Christian Teens? Not Very.) was blipping weak.
We’ll charitably pass over the author’s brag about his Sunday School class to get to the meat of the complaint:
Pejmanesque, of course, has been covering the 18 Tir demonstrations: as always, reports are vague, but it looks like the theocrats there have maintained control. What a bloodless phrase ‘maintained control’ is. As the official Voice of America statement notes This month brings the fifth anniversary of the July 9th, 1999, student uprising in Iran. … Read more
…by Bird Dog over at Tacitus; so good, in fact, that I’m just going to link (and this additional roundup by Rajan Rishyakaran, via Instapundit) and be done with it. We don’t link often enough to Tac’s place, what with half of us being regulars over there; never hurts to spread the linky goodness around. … Read more
(Editor’s Note: this was written by Katherine R, and for reasons that will shortly become obvious I’m rather sadly posting it on her behalf. I hope that I got the formatting right, and…. well, read.)
Author’s Note: This is actually by Katherine, and it will be my last post here. I’ve threatened (promised?) that before, I know, but this time I’m certain of it. No cosmic reasons–just a lack of time, a lot of things to do, a feeling that I’ve said what I have to say and have started to repeat myself, and the fact that the floppy where I stored my typepad password broke a week and a half ago. I chose to interpret that last one as a sign, so instead of asking Moe if I could set up a new account, I asked him to put up one final post for me.
Since I started writing here, I’ve focused more and more on one topic: U.S. human rights abuses towards people we suspect of terrorism. I thought I might close by explaining, on a more personal level than I have before, why this is.
It’s very long, probably too long, but I hope you’ll find it worth reading.
Thanks to all readers, commenters, linkers, and especially co-bloggers. This has been fun, and actually pretty useful in sorting out what I want to do with my career. (Whether I can actually do it is another question, but this is a start.)
(Another Editor’s Note: …and she’ll always have a place for her waiting here.)
… because I’m going to bed like, right now, the webblocking software’s back up at work and tomorrow night we’re going directly to Pittsburgh. This month it’s going to be lawn work day at my girlfriend’s grandmother’s place. I may be able to squeeze in a post or two; then again, I may not. Either … Read more
Things to remember about this development: Filipino Workers Barred From Going to Iraq CAIRO, Egypt – Armed Iraq (news – web sites) insurgents threatened to kill a Filipino hostage if his country does not withdraw from Iraq, according to a video that aired Wednesday. The Philippines responded by barring Filipino workers from traveling to Iraq. … Read more
Friday represents the fifth anniversary of the Iranian government’s most infamous crackdown on student dissidents. The current theocrats running that unhappy country are taking no chances; their methods are likely to be fairly brutal… and totally futile, in the long run. Pejmanesque will be covering things, obviously, and probably better than I could – but … Read more
To hell with it; I’m taking the rest of the night off. Talk amongst yourselves.
Primarily A Cappella has finally deigned to send to me the Da Vinci’s Notebook CD (The Life and Times pf Mike Fanning*) that I had ordered, like, weeks ago. I was starting to think that I might have gotten stiffed, but it arrived. Guess that I had better call off the ninjas, huh? I mention … Read more
I don’t know what rumors Tac’s hearing, but right now the Kerry campaign is keeping mum about the Veep pick. It’s almost certainly going to be announced soon; I still think that it’s going to be Rep. Gephardt.
I’ve been meaning to link to this site – Safety Sign Builder – as it’s a great way to while away rainy afternoons. Like this one, tanjit. The site requires registration, but it’s free, so why not? Wi’ a curse. Remember, the next International Talk Like a Pirate Day is September 19th, sink and scupper … Read more
When asked what the weather’s going to be like for the Fourth of July – a holiday that traditionally includes such things as cookouts and fireworks displays – the response of ‘intermittent thunderstorms’, while possibly accurate, does not generally include the concept of ‘over an inch of rain in a steady downpour that will make … Read more
I mean, it sounds pretty normal, all things considered*. Can’t understand what all the fuss is about.
(Via Pejman)
Yesterday it was reported that Cpl. Wassef Ali Hassoun had been murdered by radical terrorists; today, there was a retraction. AGHDAD, Iraq – An Iraqi guerrilla group denied on Sunday that it put out a statement a day earlier claiming to have beheaded kidnapped Cpl. Wassef Ali Hassoun, leaving the fate of the U.S. Marine … Read more
I was going to slap a big picture of the American flag up here, maybe a bald eagle or two, but then I said, “Moe, everybody’s going to be slapping up American flags and bald eagles. Give your readers something different.” So, here goes: the Mudcat Cafe, hosters of the Digital Tradition Folksong Database. Looking … Read more
Roger Simon has had a request made to him by the bloggers over at Free Iran: there are going to be protests next week* against the current theocracy ruling Iran, and they’d like some, well, support. As Roger notes, this isn’t a request for military assistance: what they want, and quite frankly need, is some indication that the rest of the world gives a damn. I’ve always thought that the Iranian regime is the best Middle Eastern candidate for being tossed out by a Velvet Revolution, and I hope to God that they succeed. I think that they might – not next week, to be sure, but before too many more years pass.
On the other hand, I’ve confidently – and incorrectly – predicted The Day on at least five different occasions, so my ability to forecast accurately on this topic may be open to question.
Moe
Moe
Senator Kerry’s going to announce his choice for the Veep spot… via an email message to everybody who subscribes to his campaign web site. It’ll be some time in the next three weeks, obviously, and the secret will supposedly be kept until then: “The folks who are going to learn first about my choice are … Read more
It’s the weekend of the Fourth of July – technically, today was the anniversary of the day that independence was declared, but that’s history for you – so a look-see for people around the world still yearning for freedom seems appropriate. First off… Hong Kong, where the populace is getting restless about the way their … Read more
So terribly, terribly sorry. (Via Centerfield, more or less)
I say ‘guardedly’ because King Abdullah II left himself a good bit of wiggle room, but he’s still showing public support for the new Iraqi government, including the possibility* of troops if necessary. In an interview Thursday with the British Broadcasting Corp. television “Newsnight” program, Abdullah said he wanted to support Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad … Read more
Yes, He does. How else to explain Ralph Nader? Ralph Nader Calls Israel a “Puppeteer” 12:30 Jun 30, ’04 / 11 Tammuz 5764 (IsraelNN.com) On Tuesday, as broadcast on the American cable network C-Span, independent presidential candidate and environmental crusader Ralph Nader said the following: “What has been happening over the years is a predictable … Read more
Constant Reader hilzoy made a post in comments which I liked so much that I’m putting it up here as a post of its very own. I’ve gussied up the layout a bit, but made no other changes. Moe About civility: I think C. S. Lewis gets it right. The real test is this. Suppose … Read more
Come on, with a title like this – Nader, Dean to Debate if Ralph Should Run – the answer’s bloody obvious, isn’t it? Nader says yes, Dean says no, Nader says yes and sneers, Dean says no and gets a little flushed, Nader screams Yes, Dean shouts No, Nader starts shoving metal spikes through a … Read more
Dan Drezner is commenting on various reactions to the possibility that Senator Kerry will pick Representative Gephardt as his running mate. My advice is of course highly suspect – I’m a Republican, after all, and we’re tricksey and sly, yes, yes, my preciouss – I think that my opinion’s still relevant, and my opinion is … Read more
I’m aware that Senator Hillary Clinton has been a special irritant for many of my side since her days of being First Lady / unelected co-President; I’m also aware that a case could be made that she deserves any little negative kharma that comes her way. Heck, I don’t even personally like the woman, based on what I’ve seen of her. But she was talking to a bunch of San Francisco Democrats about (in her opinion) necessary tax increases*; how did you expect her to frame the concept? In terms that the Cato Institute would have approved of?
So, no, I don’t think that she’s a Marxist or even a Socialist, just a Democratic politician (and, contrary to popular perception, the three concepts aren’t interchangeable) who was trying to explain a policy position of hers to a bunch of folks rather to the Left of her. The quote was pretty clear that she was telling her audience that they themselves were going to have to sacrifice for the common good – yes, yes, Ms. Rand, your loud and reflexive loathing of the very idea is noted for the record – and I’ve watched enough quotes from my side get mangled and/or taken out of context to be comfortable with assuming that a specific argument was meant to have universal significance. My personal opinions of the Senator from NY aside.
Mind you, if she starts talking like this in general, well, I’ll be less inclined to give her the benefit of the doubt…
(Via Tacitus: nothing personal, Bird Dog)
Moe
…in that special ‘Not’ way. Regular deadlines at work, you understand. So, time for a random link or two; well, this looks promising enough. Finnish Police Confiscate Forged Dali Artworks HELSINKI (Reuters) – Police raided a Salvador Dali centenary exhibition in Helsinki, confiscated a number of suspected forgeries and ended the show two days early, … Read more
…and in this particular case I won’t mind a bit: Three Turkish hostages ‘released’ THE extremist group responsible for beheading two foreign hostages was releasing three Turkish captives “for the sake of their Muslim brothers”, Al-Jazeera television said today. The Arab satellite station broadcast a videotape showing the three hostages kneeling in front of three … Read more
Just thought that I’d share. Moe PS: Open thread on, I don’t know, music. We haven’t had one of those in a while.
In a surprise move, sovereignty has been formally transferred to the Iraqi government two days early: BAGHDAD, Iraq – The U.S.-led coalition transferred sovereignty to an interim Iraqi government Monday, speeding the move by two days in an apparent bid to surprise insurgents and prevent them from trying to sabotage the step toward self rule. … Read more
…and it’s only Monday: Texans wary as polygamous sect moves in
The population of this drowsy West Texas town hasn’t done much but dwindle in recent years, so its residents grew pretty curious in March when a pilot shot some aerial photos showing construction of several huge dormitory-style buildings on a sprawling ranch just outside town.
The curiosity soon changed to concern when anti-polygamy activists from Utah showed up for a news conference to reveal the identity of the group that had bought the 1,600-acre ranch: the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or FLDS, a secretive Mormon sect that practices polygamy and marriages involving underage teenage girls.
Now, with construction on the buildings nearly complete and the first of an expected 200 church members about to take up residence, the 1,951 residents of Eldorado are trying to make their peace with new neighbors many regard as followers of a strange cult.
I’m given to understand that the polyamory folks* aren’t too thrilled with the FLDS, either – hey, these massive understatements are pretty easy, once you get into the swing of things**! – indeed, the FLDS is pretty much defined by their enemies, huh? Polyamorists, mainstream LDS, anti-polygamists, battered women’s networks, cult awareness groups, mainstream liberals, mainstream conservatives… the list goes on, and, with all due respect to the First Amendment, quite deservedly. I mean, I’m sure that the cult’s a fascinating sociological study and everything, but it’s a little hard to get past the entire “indoctrinate 15 year olds until they’re ready to be the fourth wife of some guy in his fifties” thing without getting squicked out, not to mention the controls put on the rest of the members.
I wonder how long that the FLDS will last at that ranch before they get evicted. Or the leadership gets indicted.
Moe
Somewhere out there in the blogosphere is a post indicating that Gov. Schwartzenegger, Sen McCain and former Mayor Guiliani are slated to speak at the Republican National Convention. All three are fairly obvious choices and on my own short list of people who should be given screen time*; I’m curious about who’s on everybody else’s … Read more
I have to agree with Steven Taylor: this Alliance of Digital Brownshirts thing is kinda creepy. Yes, I understand that former VP Gore’s* gone off into Barking Moonbat territory again with this ‘digital brownshirts’ thing; Hell’s bells, if you look at it the right way the man was accusing people like me (although it’s entirely possible that Jonah Goldberg’s assumption that Gore was talking about “a bunch of GOP flacks who email rebuttals to journalists” is correct).
Still. Not really funny, this. Adopting the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy tagline was one thing; it was a nicely vague descriptor, we could be all in your face about it and it’s kind of interestingly ironic these days, given the current policy positions of the junior Senator from New York. But I don’t like the vibe of this one. Too much specific anger, hate and fear towards my side of the spectrum came along with it, and I can go for entire years without feeling the need of having people trying to lay negative karma on me, thanks.
Just saying, that’s all.
Moe
Because it’s long since time that we started calling things like this by their true names, don’t you think? As always, my sympathies to the victims and their families: I wish that I could say that they will be released, unharmed, but of course that would be almost certainly a lie.
By now it should be clear to even the most foolish observer that kidnapping hostages and threatening to murder them if the terrorists’ demands are not met is not going to accomplish said terrorists’ goals. It didn’t work with us, it didn’t work with the Italians, it didn’t work with the South Koreans and it won’t work with the Turks. We are continuing to do what we deem necessary and appropriate, in a manner and timing as close to our own choosing as is humanly possible, and the multiple visions of groups of masked Islamist terrorists oh-so-courageously striking down one single helpless captive with knives is somehow failing to impress us with either their bravery or the inevitability of their victory. Indeed, they are doing their best to highlight the moral gulf between their cause and ours, to their detriment; I appreciate this, although I somehow doubt that they intended to do that for us.
They are also obviously not acting in the tenets of mainstream Islam, as even a cursory understanding of that religion would show. Yes, I am aware of the flaws in that faith; you will note that I am not an adherent myself, which should be diagnostic of my opinion of it. But it is not even remotely an pernicious belief system, it does not celebrate ritual murder and it does not permit the wanton acts of cruelty and evil that al-Qaeda routinely plans and carries out. I believe that my God and the Allah of Islam are One*; I find no such commonality between my Deity and al-Qaeda’s.
So, not geopolitics, not true religious belief… we’re left with maltheism and necromancy. I don’t know whether they think that they’re entered on this course of human sacrifice in order to appease or entice their god; either way it will avail them not. We’re still going to win.
And I think that the terrorists know it, too. Why else take the time-honored tactic of mountebanks everywhere and ‘call for’ protests that they knew full well would occur anyway, if not to give themselves wiggle room for when their sacrifices do not produce the desired effects?
(Via OTB)
Moe
…at 12:50 PM this afternoon, just after we found out that the one remaining RPG session left that a) we were interested in and b) wasn’t sold out was a game that required us to be at a prior session in order for us to play (a piddling little detail that should have been on the description), I slump down and start to massage my aching feet. My girlfriend looks at me, I look at her, she pulls out her cell phone and cancels the last night of our stay and we head for our hotel. One fifteen minute walk later (normally five, but there was a gay pride parade going on in Columbus that was paralleling our route*), we’re going through our hotel room like a NSA sanitation squad covering up that unfortunate complication for the Senator; by 2 PM we’re on the road, having discovered the way out of Columbus, City of the Shifting Streets, with only a minimum of SAN loss. Eight hours and three states later, we have arrived and I can begin to decompress from my blipping vacation.
Loopy? Disjointed? Rambling? Who, moi?
Anyway, I’m sure that the news I’ve read so far will seem far less surreal tomorrow. Well, no, I’m not, but a man can dream.
Moe
UPDATE: Got some sleep and cleaned up some of the babbling, but the news is still all surreal. Alas, alack.