The Magnificent Seven

In remembrance of STS 51-L

Do as I do, not as I Say

The left-leaning MSM frequently criticizes America's image abroad and, generally, they state such claims not by doing research but by invoking their "blame Bush" policy. I do agree America's image abroad is tattered and not by Bush or Iraq but by our businesses.

Google has set up shop in China and has complied with their government and will censor search results. MSN and Yahoo do this too. Generally, the claim is that they must adhere to the laws the country and whatnot. Hogwash. Adherence to laws is fine - no one wants a tax scofflaw or a company that engages in extortion or kidnapping or anything. But stifling the values and freedoms that we hold dear is simply wrong. These companies have no backbone. They take the easy way out and throw their hands up and say "we have to comply." The image abroad is that U.S. companies go into another country and care only for profits and not for the ideals we preach from our pedestal over here. Actions do speak louder than words. The freedom at which businesses operate in the U.S. have direct roots in these basic values we have based our society on.

I wonder if I'm the only person who thinks this is wrong. How can we bring Democracy to the world when our own companies shed these beliefs as soon as they set foot in another land? People aren't stupid. They know that these companies are run by people and these people make the decisions of the business.

Google had no problem taking a stand against the US government the other day (a move I applaud). Why didn't they stand up to China? The answer is easy. It's probably very hard to find a Chinese lawyer who will stand up to Beijing. I wonder why that is...

Searching

My web host has an application that enables me to check my website stats. I can see number of hits, visits, which browser is being used (way too much on the IE, people) , origin (country), entry points (like the index page, blog, or another page within my site), and even search terms used. I noticed this month someone found my site by typing "my name crime." Hmmm. My name is fairly common, albeit not like a John Smith or anything but still. I wonder if someone is actually checking into me or someone else. Perhaps a case of mistaken identity will arise?

Today's Laugh

Ah, yes, who needs the comic pages when you have the opinion pages. A local resident blames the surge in crime in Allentown on Bush; "Bushonomics" to be exact. The link is here but the paper removes it after about a week or so. You knew this would happen, too. The person also goes on to exult Clinton and basically theorize that more police officers equals less crime. First, she should remember local news. An Easton police officer was killed in the Easton police station by another officer's gun. Being surrounded by police didn't seem to help Officer Sollman.

Secondly, in blaming Bush for people resorting to crime because they can't get a job or implying that a low-end job is a dead end job, this person obviously has never worked in a position where one hires entry-level people. I have. I worked in restaurant management and the only thing you needed to get a job was the ability to walk in and fill out an application. You didn't even need to know how to spell or have a high school diploma. We couldn't keep the place staffed. Interestingly enough, I was surprised at how many in management started at the bottom washing dishes or bussing tables.

I also supervised newspaper carriers. Again, no real education or literacy was required yet I couldn't keep the routes filled. Jobs are out there and, regardless of education, companies will promote you if you work hard. I've had many supervisors who. I'm convinced, never completed high school. They certainly couldn't spell or do math, but they worked hard and knew how to manage people.

Rewarding the rich? Wake up woman. Rewarding those who work hard - how is that the root of crime?

The Perfect Omelette

three large eggs
splash of milk, maybe 1/8 cup
1 jalapeno pepper, diced
diced onion and diced green pepper (not much but equal to amount of meat you use, maybe 1/4 cup total for vegetables and meat)
diced ham (or meat of choice)
cheese (American, cheddar, Monterey jack, use all three, or any combo you choose or any cheeses you like)
salsa
sour cream (optional)

beat eggs, add milk and jalapenos, stir
add mixture to buttered non-stick pan, cover and cook under medium heat

on a separate plate, put ham, onion and green pepper and then cheese
microwave to melt cheese on top

flip the omelette
add the ingredients, cover and cook until done

add salsa to middle before closing omelette
top with Tabasco and sour cream

serves 1

Echelon

I found this article from the American Thinker today. What's interesting is that the Echelon program under Clinton failed to catch the 9/11 plotters who had been actively working in the U.S. before Dubya took office. Maybe Clinton spent the resources spying on his political enemies as opposed to American enemies.

Now, to be fair, I don't know what kind of priority the Bush Administration put terrorism under before 9/11 and I believe it wasn't enough. However, we really can't be sure what kind of priority Clinton put on it either other than if he was doing what Dubya is doing, it seems more likely that Clinton was the one spying on average Americans.

EAGLE SIX

I recently read A Soldier's Story by General Omar Bradley and I must say I learned a lot about WWII in Europe. I would say I knew more than the average person to begin with but Bradley's book is, obviously, quite informative and gives insight into the planning and politics of the U.S. involvement in N. Africa and Europe in WWII.

Here are a few of the themes. The U.S. was not perfect and there were many problems with logistics and supply; like ammunition rationing and a dearth of usable ports, even months after Overlord. There were the political squabbles between the British and Americans. There was even (gasp) censorship. The press wanted answers. One example:

By the middle of July ('44) we sensed the growing impatience of newsman who looked critically on the deadlock that seemed to have gripped our beachhead. Middleton's attack toward Coutances had ballooned their hopes, then flattened them even more abjectly. Those who awaited Monty's assault on Caen as the signal for an Allied breakthrough trooped back disheartened to the gloomy camps...

...For the moment we could do nothing but grin and bear it. For although COBRA was rapidly taking form, we dared not tell the newsman about it.

It's a great book and a must read.

By the way, EAGLE SIX was General Bradley's code name. EAGLE referred to the 12th Army Group, which he commanded. I don't know why six; the book just says that "standard signal procedure decreed as commanding general of the group I be listed as EAGLE SIX."

A U.S. Army Group generally refers to two or more field armies. On May 7, 1945 Bradley's 12th Army Group consisted of four armies which included 43 divisions and 1.3 million men. That is the largest single command a U.S. general has ever held.

X iv MMVI

10 Predictions for 2006

1. Windows Vista will be released before Christmas shopping season but it will be a rush job and VSP1 won't be released until mid-2008.

2. People will enjoy features like tabbed browsing and a built in RSS reader in IE7; not realizing, of course, that other browsers have had these features for quite some time.

3. Mozilla-Firefox reaches 15% of browser share.

4. The U.S. will reduce troop levels in and Iraq. Democrats will then criticize Bush's "cut and run" tactics.

5. Bush will be blamed for every natural disaster that happens (and not just those that affect the U.S.) including hurricanes, blizzards, earthquakes, and floods.

6. People who tout personal responsibility in order to prepare for those natural disasters will be labeled evil, mean, right-wing fascists [sic] by the ilk of those referred to in item seven.

7. Barbara S-------- will renew her Los Angeles Times subscription because she was unable to figure out to use the Web in order to search for and read liberal commentary and opinion.

8. OBL will not be captured.

9. The Bird Flu does surface in the U.S. but is controlled with very few people being affected. Remember SARS? Of course you don't and bird flu will fade like SARS did.

10. I will not have time to read 26 books again next year; maybe 15-20.