Article 1The Purposes of the United Nations are: To maintain international peace and security, and to that end: to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace, and for the suppression of acts of … Continue reading →
…as a key to Caucasian stability and freedom from Russian hegemony, presented very well here at MESH. The author’s correct to cite Atatürk’s policy of neutrality (“Yurtta sulh, cihanda sulh.”) as a long-standing guidepost of Turkish diplomacy, but in the … Continue reading →
The democrats will learn someday that being petty, complaining about everything under the sun, and labeling everyone isn’t a winning strategy. After the McCain campaign aired the congratulatory ad, the Obama camp first responded to the naming of Gov Palin … Continue reading →
This is amazing. Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →He cheated on Téa Leoni. What the hell?! That’s Hugh Grant/Divine Brown-level mystifying. And enraging. If I were married to Téa Leoni. I’d have a sex addiction, too. An addiction to sex with Téa Leoni. My god, she’s smart, funny, … Continue reading →
Michelle Rhee, chancellor of the D.C. Public School System has told the teachers union local “It’s on.” Steven Pearlstein of the Washington Post pens a story that ‘Puter wishes he could write about his local school district. And, best of … Continue reading →
Perhaps these intrepid scientists can consult with those skateboarders to figure out why their brilliant experiments have come to naught. Via With Leather, America’s Idiots-Getting-Injured Leader®. Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →Gov. Palin has one new Scots-American’s vote? Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →…not only necessary as said, but possibly on-going. Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →…they could help the Turks out here with nuclear power expertise. Which would reduce Turkish dependence on Russian natural gas. Which helps everyone. (Except Putin.) Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →So here’s a hopeful-seeming trend for him. Everyone knows the more obvious specifics. Vatican II said Gregorian chant should assume primary place but instead we got pop tunes more suitable for a children’s playground than Mass. We were told that … Continue reading →
Dear God, the McCain camp got competent. They’ve been almost perfect for the last couple months. And the Palin pick is fantastic for a variety of reasons. A few: • She’s young (44), offsetting the McCain-old-guy issue to a degree.• … Continue reading →
GorT, much like Wile E. Coyote, is in fact a super genius. ‘Puter’s father has also been kicking around Gov. Palin’s name of late. ‘Puter thinks Gov. Palin is a strong, but not perfect, pick. She’ll remind moderate Democrat women … Continue reading →
In two separate family discussions over the last week, GorT has put forward the idea of Sarah Palin (pictured) as the best choice for McCain’s VP. It appears this morning that it has been proven true. It is my opinion … Continue reading →
Ah, college. ‘Puter remembers his halcyon days of higher learning well. However, ‘Puter doesn’t recall getting bombed with the president of his college though. Might’ve happened. ‘Puter’s relatively blank on 5.75 of the best 7 years of his life. Behold … Continue reading →
These days. My own sense is that, however vivid Turkish anti-Americanism is at the moment, serious Turks understand that it’s a whim they can indulge only in the absence of external threats. And for all Turkey’s dependence on Russian natural … Continue reading →
I was doing some light surfing today and came across this article. I’ve been to TR Island – it’s very enjoyable. I’ve been to many national parks and forests that are here largely in part to President Teddy Roosevelt. He … Continue reading →
I’m a big fan of telling people and the government to get out of the way of innovation. There is so much that can be accomplished when the bureaucrats don’t throw up roadblocks. Therefore, I present these two articles on … Continue reading →
If this American expat is right, the Biden pick may have alienated that 0.16% of the U.S. population. (And more seriously, it’s not welcome news to those of us concerned with America’s position in the Pacific.) Parenthetically, when it comes … Continue reading →
Volgi bait is what Puter’s gun post here is. Indeed, a 12-gauge is probably the best home-defense weapon you can get from an intimidation, as well as lethality, standpoint. However, your Volgi would argue that, in fact, a sawed-off 12-gauge … Continue reading →
For any archaeological or Meso-American nerds out there, this is huuuuuuuuuuuuuuge. And, um, wire-service folks, the Mayans didn’t believe in a “mythical underworld,” they believed a literal underworld—that’s what you’re looking at—was where the souls of the dead went. And … Continue reading →
Interesting post by Max Boot. Liberating Burma from SLORC (or whatever they’re calling themselves this week) is a very worthy cause, but not one that will gain widespread support these days. That said, if Thailand, India, and Malaysia were on … Continue reading →
About danged time. According to The Gun Shots, a blog over at Outdoor Life, folks in New Orleans are taking their hurricane preparedness a little more seriously this time around. While the AR-15 is a fine weapon (particularly if you … Continue reading →
…if you’re forced to do it. This is akin to the Left’s confusion of state action with private action, and the ensuing putative equivalence (or superiority) of paying taxes to donating time or money to charity. Except that, of course, … Continue reading →
George Will’s column today offers some fascinating statistics giving lie to the Democrats’ contention that Big Oil is sticking it to the Little Guy. Will writes: Obama thinks government is not getting a “reasonable share” of oil companies’ profits, which … Continue reading →
How ironic, and sad. Ms. Phillips would be better off following the advice offered by her 1970s sitcom’s title. Schneider should take Ms. Phillips into his janitor’s closet and beat some sense into her with his keys-on-a-retractable-chain. And Valerie Bertinelli … Continue reading →
…provided we don’t crush these types of experiments with some gigantic government-run rationing program like those in Canada and Europe: [City Journal] Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →Welcome back to school kids! It’s going to be a fun-tastic year here in good old Sodus Central School District in Upstate New York. Guess what? One of your teachers is going to be “transitioning genders!” Isn’t that great? No … Continue reading →
Once again, Russia is rattling sabers at Moldova. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Because I did. Transdnistria is the new South Ossetia. Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →Ok, the Olympics are over and done and it was a good time regardless of the rhythmic-synchronized-judged “sports”, fakery, propaganda, etc. But the drama continues. Kudos to the folks over at Stryde Hax on continuing to pursue this underage Chinese … Continue reading →
‘Puter intended to write about this editorial in the Wall Street Journal yesterday, but noting all the hullaballoo on the interwebs about the issue, decided not to do so. Thinking about it last night, though, ‘Puter got good and riled … Continue reading →
…the Russians say, “Bah, we are not intimidated by your puny warships. Behold our making-stuff-blow-up skills!“ Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →This columnist provides more evidence that Russian aggression in Georgia may be producing a re-thinking of foreign policy in Turkey that can only be welcome to NATO, America, and the West. Turkey is potentially one of the few large, capable … Continue reading →
Admittedly, I’m not a Clinton (Hillary or Bill) fan by any means and I tend to be rather disenchanted by the current slate of American politicians. I tend to believe that when “politician” became a career and not just a … Continue reading →
…Putin’s brutal new Russia and worries the West isn’t up to it. Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →Some reasonable speculations from Robert Freedman at MESH on the Middle Eastern repercussions of Russia’s invading Georgia. Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →Your Œcumenical Volgi has been trying to go easy on the foreign policy, as he knows that Russia’s invasion of Georgia has driven him mad and he’s gone a bit berserk in hijacking this fun little blog. However, if you … Continue reading →
So while all the talking heads blather on about the DNC in Denver, I thought I’d do a little reading. Luckily, I found this OpEd piece by a personal favorite, Dr. Thomas Sowell (a remarkable man). He raises a good … Continue reading →
Or not. “Say, guys, that Hurricane Fay has left a foot of standing water on the street! Let’s go tubing!” Meanwhile in an unnamed location, some skateboarders are still trying to use failure-analysis software to figure out what went wrong … Continue reading →
Must-read from the great Sebag. Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →‘Puter’s got an Atari 800 that he’s not using anymore. And check out his cool peripherals! What can ‘Puter get for that? And, do I have to report the sweet, sweet monkey-luvvin’ as payment in kind on my 1040? Just … Continue reading →
It’s nice to see the Roman Catholic Church hierarchy finally start enforcing Church doctrine. For too many years, Church leaders have stood idly by while nominally Catholic politicians have at best passively accepted abortion (see, e.g., Mario Cuomo) and at … Continue reading →
…but here’s a touching piece on the man who should have been the Redskins’ coach this year. Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →This will keep you up nights. Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →…says Dima Medvedev? I wouldn’t be surprised. But of course, you know that, as you read it here first. Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →Check out this little factoid via Megan McArdle of The Atlantic. Driving one million people (of 1.85 million total)out of your city in just 50 years is amazing. I don’t think even the Black Plague had that kind of kill … Continue reading →
‘Puter’s fortunate enough to have an office (ground floor) with a window that looks out onto a parking lot. As ‘Puter works in a building shared with a debt-collection agency, ‘Puter gets to see some wacky stuff. Today, there is … Continue reading →
Out of joy. Not all Democrats are willing to roll over for teachers’ unions anymore. Check out Mickey Kaus’ piece at Slate (h/t Instapundit) for details of a forum that took place — heart be still — at the Democratic … Continue reading →
‘Puter’s recently noted the astonishing similarities between Sen. Obama and Chance the Gardener, from Peter Seller’s great film Being There. Aside from the sameness in sartorial style, the two men’s political philosophies seem to be equally devoid of content. Both … Continue reading →
The Gormogons thank you for responding to our appeal. Everyone plan a vacation there now, please. Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →…makes good points here, but forgets anti-tank weapons. Javelins, Javelins, Javelins. Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →…but this is lapidary. Here’s a taste, but read it all. We Europeans seem to have forgotten our history. There were other times when we have stood by while a militaristic European power insisted that it had the right to … Continue reading →
…that Russia’s invasion of Georgia was a punitive expedition for their applying to NATO rather than a humanitarian gesture on behalf of their beloved South Ossetians, here’s a good bit of analysis from Pavel Felgenhauer (via David Frum @ NRO). … Continue reading →
Because, says veteran China watcher Gordon Chang here, the most likely result of China’s Olympic succès d’estime is going to lead to a more draconian police state at home, deep-freeze any reform ideas, and put the PRC’s post-2006 aggressive foreign … Continue reading →
In re Star Wars, about which every male born since, oh, 1965 or so, has a burning opinion he will share with you at the drop of a hat, Confucius* says: Every movie since the first has been worse. Lawrence … Continue reading →
As mentioned earlier, GorT and family went to the see Star Wars: The Clone Wars in the theater. My seven-year old son is fixated on Star Wars. As readers will probably learn over time here, I’m rather easy on most … Continue reading →
Because we didn’t have belt-fed machine guns. Via Toys Я Us. Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →…as B16 might say. The culture of death advances. “Wouldn’t be more convenient if I were dead, son?” “Yes, mom, if you really want to be.” Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →‘Puter thinks so. Russia’s lease on the Ukrainian port of Sebastopol on the Black Sea is up in 2017. Ukraine and Russia are about as friendly as fire and gasoline. ‘Puter’s betting Ukraine finds a way to not renew the … Continue reading →
GorT, call your office. An article in Time (dateline — Beijing (Peking, for you old timers)) is calling for the Olympics to dump two women-only sports: rhythmic gymnastics and synchronized swimming. Ms. Beech aptly states in reference to synchronized swimming … Continue reading →
‘Puter was a little surprised that the The Good Junior Senator from Illinois (D-IL) chose The Good Senior Senator From Delaware (D-DE) as his running mate. After all, Sen. Biden once referred to Sen. Obama as “the first mainstream African-American … Continue reading →
The Mount Rushmore State is the sole U.S. state not to have visited the Gormogons. Get with it, people. We promise we’ll pronounce Pierre “peer” and not “pee-air.” Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →Is for “nollij.”* ‘Puter has four simple choices for his boys when they reach 18: (1) state school; (2) scholarship; (3) Marine Corps; (4) priesthood. And not necessarily in that order. Now, thank goodness, the fine Cornhusker State has given … Continue reading →
…bad, bad, bad. Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →Why we want to transfer health care to the government? John Steele Gordon, blogging on Commentary online, noting this editorial from the New York Times, has this to say about Medicare. They’re both correct. The NYT is correct that Medicare … Continue reading →
…about inter-group reconciliation? Well, one step forward, one step back. On the other hand, as long as these things are fought out politically, rather than in the streets, that’s progress of a huge order. But, of course, one never knows… … Continue reading →
This is the funniest piece of satire I’ve read in a while. Why? Because the Notorious ŒV has met a whole bunch of these guys—with Obama signs—on State Street in Madison, Wisconsin. “I couldn’t be prouder of all of you … Continue reading →
Jody Bottom has written a brilliant piece on the decline unto insignificance of the once brilliant, sustaining, American Mainline churches. While welcoming the effective end of non-left-wing anti-Catholicism, no Catholics—not even Gormogons doing dances on the graves of our traditional … Continue reading →
…here, here, and here, Peter Pham has a very good piece in the National Interest on what the U.S. should do in the post-Musharraf era.* Anyway, here’s the kernel for those of you too tired to click. First, America must … Continue reading →
…that, amazingly, Iraq could end up with a decent government. Inter-group reconciliation is a heck of a good sign for a society that was for decades a tyranny of a single clan (the al-Tikrîtiyya) and then, not a couple years … Continue reading →
‘Puter’s typing hand is getting tired. Our latest entrant? Meet Ms. Autumn Leathers. Seriously. That’s not even her stage name down at the Klassy Kat, where she dances for the Canadian Ballet. And, as an added bonus, Ms. Leathers is … Continue reading →
Today’s WaPo online has an article concerning the Bush Administration’s new regulations regarding federally funded health care providers. The regulations require that recipients of federal funds allow employees who are opposed to abortion to opt out of providing such services. … Continue reading →
Not to obsess on the trumped-up nature of Russia’s invasion of Georgia, but this picture on Drudge caught my eye (I can’t figure out whom to credit—it’s hosted on Yahoo’s news servers, but I can’t find it in their index). … Continue reading →
…by a professor of Russian and Georgian of a new history of the Caucasus. Via aldaily.com. Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →So, while Usain Bolt and Michael Phelps are clearly the top stories of these Olympics, attention should be paid to the photogenic and charismatic Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh (pictured). Now, as little regard as the Notorious ŒV had for … Continue reading →
…cobbled together by European powers in the twentieth century, Pakistan is a front-runner for the most inherently unstable and, if you’ll pardon a soupçon of hyperbole, flat-out craziest. Given that it was stitched together from four major provinces with little … Continue reading →
What has the Volgi been telling you? Does it sound better à la française? The current crisis in the Caucasus does not mark the return of the Cold War, nor is it likely to mark the start of open warfare … Continue reading →
COPS…in Wisconsin! Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →…with Popobawa, then maybe I’ll let me kids watch The Secret Saturdays. GorT and family went to see The Clone Wars (stay tuned for my review of that movie) last night. One of the pre-previews (you know what I’m talking … Continue reading →
Check out this statement. Nice. GorTGorT is an eight-foot-tall robot from the 51ˢᵗ Century who routinely time-travels to steal expensive technology from the future and return it to the past for retroinvention. The profits from this pay all the Gormogons’ … Continue reading →
Confucius (that’s what 孔夫子 means) the Œcumenical Volgi assumes you’ve heard about Wu Tien-yüan and Wang Hsiu-ying, the two elderly women (79 & 77) from who were sentenced to a year of “reeducation through labor” because they asked for permission … Continue reading →
Well, a few more days have passed since GorT’s last Olympic update and it’s time for some more mocking. First, kudos to the folks over at Stryde Hax hacking around the ‘net to find out the truth at the bottom … Continue reading →
Right? Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →Part of a continuing series. See the disclaimer. Teachers are at it again. Let’s just hope the union representatives will get this fine lady her job back after she finishes her jail time. 'PuterAlways right, unless he isn’t, the infallible … Continue reading →
From reading Harold Meyerson in today’s WaPo. ‘Puter should know better than to read the musings of a proud bi-coastal progressive, but ‘Puter is weak. Meyerson puts forth a shocking, new Progressive theory: manufacturing losses hurt working class voters, working … Continue reading →
‘Puter likes to hunt and fish. Occasionally, we’ll have hunting and fishing stories of interest to ‘Puter. Here comes one now. Not for nothing, but ‘Puter’s willing to bet that Mr. Hayes has a good, long internal discussion with himself … Continue reading →
Putin: “Beginning immediately, my attorney will be explaining my Georgia policy, Frau Merkel.” (Title: Flawless Friendship—literally “friendship as clear as a loupe”) (That’s Gerhard Schröder, Putin’s Gazprom catamite, holding the phone.) Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass … Continue reading →
Interesting piece here. However, as always, remember that Ahmadinejad is generally a sideshow, if a consequential one. All real power is concentrated in the hands of Khamene’i, the Rahbar (that’s Persian for Duce or Führer [or Vozhd], seriously.), whose very … Continue reading →
While I admire the Poles’ realism and bravery, I doubt our resolve. Any bets on who’ll be the first to unironically revive “to die for Danzig?” Pat Buchanan? MoveOn? Also, what the hell is the supposed problem with missile defense … Continue reading →
Interesting points from Fred Kagan via John McCormack at the Weekly Standard. Sounds like a fairly clear victory for Russia at this point. Victor Davis Hanson on the West’s instinct to turn on itself first. A Cato Institute writer blaming … Continue reading →
More good first-person reportage from le BHL. Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →‘Puter stands with the Czech and Slovak peoples as they remember the fortieth anniversary of the brutal Soviet invasion of then Czechoslovakia. The Soviets believed emerging freedoms granted by First Secretary Dubček in what was called Prague Spring threatened the … Continue reading →
Great first-person reportage from Georgia by the estimable Michael Totten in City Journal. “They are burning the houses. From most of the houses they are taking everything. They are stealing everything, even such things as toothbrushes and toilets. They are … Continue reading →
…our actual policy of supporting democratic activists seems be defunct as well. Dammit. Hosni Mubarak has been pretty damn good at defanging what looked like a burgeoning pro-democracy movement in Egypt. Not only has Sa‘ad ed-Din Ibrahim been made an … Continue reading →
So, Russia’s got a substantially larger inventory of tactical nukes than we, and have been increasingly cavalier about brandishing them. That can’t be good. Gabriel Schoenfeld writes fairly persuasively on the topic in today’s WSJ: Yet matters are very different … Continue reading →
…to Mr. & Mrs. Ghettoputer on their nuptuals. Sounds like a blessèd event. Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →…NATO that she’s suspending cooperation? Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →Others can move on, but for those of the Church, I recommend Hugh Hewitt’s interview with Abp. Charles Chaput (OFM Cap) of Denver. Chaput has quietly emerged as the leading public intellectual in the American episcopate. Since, say, Fulton Sheen, … Continue reading →
Over at NRO‘s The Corner, there’s been an ongoing discussion about The Good Junior Senator From Illinois’ (“The GJSFI”) support for infanticide and the media’s reluctance to accurately report on this pro-infanticide position. This post by Yuval Levin makes the … Continue reading →
