Freedom Of speech

Recently we have witnessed several different interpretations of freedom of speech . While it is a given that dictatorships to varying degrees prohibit this, it is amazing that we have extremes even in democracies.

The Moslem reaction to "the Danish cartoons," is an example of the type of freedom we here in the United States experience. Here, we have the freedom to make an ass out of ourselves, by inflammatory remarks or cartoons. While not necessarily in good taste, the Danish newspaper was within it's right to publish.

In another democracy, Austria, we have a horse of a different color. Frankly, I was shocked that a British Anti-Semite author, got a prison sentence of three years, for stating an opinion. That the opinion was grossly un-popular, untrue, and insulting to the victims of the holocaust, is not the point.

This may be the only country in the civilized group of nations that criminalize opinion and speech, however unpopular. Austria can, I'm sure find better ways to apologize for it's own Anti-semitism.

We here in Idaho have had our bad experiences with Nazis, but we defeated them with ridicule and derision, something that they couldn't tolerate.

Austria has taken a step backward that equals some of the historical sins of the past. Shame! Another freedom goes down. With the advent of "political correctness" invading our own country, will we all end up homogenized, with lesser freedoms? It would seem that many are chipping away...

With Some Help From Your Friends

Waiting for another sunny day
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After a year of blogging without a picture, I finally have one. My friends Cis & Toni inserted it for me. It was just too much for my poor ancient brain to deal with.

Thank you both...

Site Meter and Friends

The one thing that has bothered me since I began this blog" was the question, "If a tree falls in the forest, and nobody is there, does it make a sound?" I have known of site counters, but could never get them to down load to my blog.

Along come fellow bloggers, Mari Meehan and Cis Gors. Between the two more knowledgeable friends I was able to download it. What a wondrous change. Suddenly, I don't have to wonder, "did I write this to myself, or are others sharing it?"

After two days, I have over 60 site visits, and that's a week-end. They come from the Spokane, Post Falls, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho area, but I also have visits from five different areas of California, Utah, Oklahoma, Texas, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, New Jersey, plus Kennewick, Wallula, Wenatchee, Washington.

Foreign visitors appear from Zaragosa, Spain, England, and Toronto, Canada.

I am taking the time to acknowledge these folks, as without the feedback of knowing others are reading my stuff, it would just be a diary. Thank you very much, one and all, for your interest.

Bayview Herb

Trojan Horse

The news, if indeed it is news,is that we are about to turn over control of many key ports to a Country that is potentially an adversary is somewhere between dumb and insane.

Many centuries ago a great lesson was taught to the Trojans by the Greek invaders. The legend of the Trojan Horse apparently wasn't part of the education that "W" received from the Ivy League.

Let's see now. If I were heading up an Islamic Terrorist group that wanted to infiltrate a nuclear weapon into the United States, where would I go for access?

The U.S. Navy Base in Norfolk? The Port of Seattle? Wait! How about our buddies over at the UAE. "Hey, they have helped before, why don't we try them?"

This isn't the first occasion that we have catered to other Countries at the expense of security.

President Carter signed over control of the Panama Canal, which was promptly subleased to the Peoples Republic of China.

President Clinton signed over a lease of the now closed Long Beach Naval Base in California to...Guess who. The Peoples Republic of China.

Not to be outdone, President Bush is in the process of signing over control of the ports of New York, New Jersey, Baltimore, Miami, Philadelphia, and what's left of the Port of New Orleans.

Let's just take two examples. New York and Miami have been losing the drug war for years, as drugs are infiltrated through the ports. Take this one step further, and find the control and operations of these facilities in the hands of potential terrorists. One can only imagine the fun they will have.

The only ray of hope here, is that now we can return the nations airports to normal operations. Having opened most key ports to the enemy, we can concentrate on them.

It is time, not only to reject this crazy attempt at conciliation with our enemies, but to pass legislation banning the sale or lease of strategic facilities to any foreign interest. The Eisenhower Freeway system was created by legislation authorizing the facilitation of military movements within the country.

We are now faced with a situation where great convoys of war material headed for our key ports on the way to the Middle East, will arrive at our ports to discover that a sudden labor dispute has erupted and shipping is halted.

No Opinions Today

I have decided to proclaim today as "no opinion day." That doesn't mean that I don't have any, I'm just not going to be in everyone's face with them. This gives the unwashed, the ugly and the totally misinformed a day off without me bugging them.

Today only, I refuse to knuckle under to my base desire, which of course, is to set the World straight on as many issues as I have time for. You will not hear me say, "And when did you get you're lobotomy..." No...Today, I'm strictly a nice guy.

Most days, after reading the "Good Paper," I grind my teeth at our politicians for their incredible stupidity, curse at the slanted coverage of the reporters. Not today...I am the champion of love and understanding. I reek goodwill.

I better stay home today...Something is terribly wrong!

Blogfest II

When I was an insecure teen trying to organize a party, the fear that nobody would show up always reared it's head.

For the last two weeks or so, I attempted to put together a group of bloggers meeting socially, here in Bayview. After just getting 6 for sure we'll be there RSVP's, and talking to DFO, we decided to cancel. I sent an e-mail to all concerned, also saying that I would be there just in case someone didn't get the word. One by one, they all e-mailed me back, saying small is good, we'll be there.

Nine folks showed up, including our blogmeister, and we had a great time. We even started to call it the un-blogfest, since we were there in spite of ourselves. A great bunch of folks, that I'm proud to be associated with.

You may view pictures of this event at Gollygals.blogspot.com.

Terminal Gridlock

I drove over to Seattle for the week-end. It was a nice drive in beautiful weather. I got to I-405 at Factoria in about four hours, averaging 75mph.

That's when it got interesting. Now keep in mind, I was born and raised there, and know my way around. As I turned South on I-405, everything changed. First, stop and go traffic an hour before rush hour. Second, nothing looked familiar. It has built up so much that hovels are going for $200,000 plus, just because there aren't any building lots left within commuting distance.

Sunday, I drove to University Place, near Tacoma, to visit my Sister. Now I've made that trip many times. Down I-5 to Hwy 16, toward the Narrows Bridge, past Cheney Stadium, turn left at the next light then turn left again at the next major intersection, right? No way. They realigned hwy 16, changed the accesses and hid Cheney Stadium, somehow.

I ended up lost near the waterfront. I finally spotted something familiar and located my Sister, right where she had always been. It rained overnight, but cleared by morning and it was a great drive back, except I've noticed that as I grow older, the drive seems longer.

The last mile to Bayview caught me up to the storm that had passed in Seattle. I found snow near home. Great to be back where our daily life is not constant turmoil.

Moslem Radicals

Most people that try to be reasonable, will say that "we are not at war with the religion, just the radicals that don't represent the Moslems."

My perception is, that after seeing the totally irrational uproar over the Danish cartoon, if you still believe that, I have a bridge I'd like to sell you.

I have felt for some time, that the radicals of the Moslem world have captured and now control all the major Moslem counties, including those most closely allied with our Country. Our government is in denial, and will remain firmly in that position.

Oil, and other strategic necessities preclude our official response to this situation. I reluctantly have concluded that we are, or will be at war with the entire Moslem World before long. I don't like coming to that conclusion, but after spending 18 Months in Morocco, in my youthful days, These folks take Jihad seriously.

We haven't experienced blind patriotism in this country like this. The closest I can come to relating this to the past, would be Japan in the forties. Most people form impressions by putting themselves in the other's position, then tell themselves, "I wouldn't act like that." That won't fly in this case. None of you could possibly think that way, or identify with that kind of religious fervor.

It's not going to go away, and It's going to get a lot worse. If history is any guide, this won't happen until we retire the rest of our strategic air fleet. I can see it now. Battle tank..."Target...Camel...1800 yards...Fire!"

Vagina Monologues

Alright, already. What's up with the Spokesman-Review editorial staff now! First they become horrified at the Huckleberries Blog discussing the various gray areas of alledged rape. They didn't stop there. No! Today they announced a live showing of the Vagina Monologues in Coeur d' Alene. In that article, it was solemnly stated that they were offering discounted admission for single Mom's. This was justified by a pronouncement that the "vast majority" of divorced women were victims of spousal abuse.

I can certainly understand that many single Mothers have been abused, but what about women that are single because they were bitchy, or nags, or didn't keep up the home, or didn't buy beer on the way home. The vast majority were beaten? I don't think so.

But I digress. It appears to me that the Spokesman-Review editorial staff has a crotch obsession. I, for one, have never seen one that could talk. I have, however met a few that made me sit up and beg.

If we could just lift these p.c. wackos just a little above the waist. Perhaps they could obsess about navels. Now there is a thought. Why just the other day...