Night is Merely The Shadow Of the Earth

Night is Merely The Shadow Of the Earth.


My active blog is the Right Of The Star blog.  I post when I can, check it out!
DKK

Rockford Blogger Trek - 050208

I have updated the list of Rockford bloggers here on my Right of the Star blog.
DKK

Scientific-Technological Elite, A Warning For The Ages

Everybody remembers Eisenhower’s warning about the, “military-industrial complex,” shoot, it has become the siren call of some.

(Google video search. "Eisenhower's Farewell." 53 most 2 minutes or less of a 46 minute speech one of the full speech. Reagan's, "Tear Down This Wall," gets less then half at 26, JFK's inaugural, "Ask Not...," gets 7, and FDR's, "Pearl Harbor," gets 3 (and one is from Crooksandliars ripping Condi for a comment she made))

Few if any recall — and it is never repeated — the second of the two specific warning he made in that very same speech:

“The prospect of domination of the nation’s scholars by Federal employment, project allocations, and the power of money is ever present — and is gravely to be regarded.

Yet, in holding scientific research and discovery in respect, as we should, we must also be alert to the equal and opposite danger that public policy could itself become the captive of a scientific-technological elite.” (emphasis added)

The scientific-technological elite, Eisenhower truly was prescient. Read the speech, it could have been written today.
DKK

Update: Here are a few more quotes from Eisenhower's farewell (a speech about balance not about the war machine, by the way) that we really should heed:

[...] Crises there will continue to be. In meeting them, whether foreign or domestic, great or small, there is a recurring temptation to feel that some spectacular and costly action could become the miraculous solution to all current difficulties. A huge increase in newer elements of our defenses; development of unrealistic programs to cure every ill in agriculture; a dramatic expansion in basic and applied research -- these and many other possibilities, each possibly promising in itself, may be suggested as the only way to the road we wish to travel.

But each proposal must be weighed in the light of a broader consideration: the need to maintain balance in and among national programs, balance between the private and the public economy, balance between the cost and hoped for advantages, balance between the clearly necessary and the comfortably desirable, balance between our essential requirements as a nation and the duties imposed by the nation upon the individual, balance between actions of the moment and the national welfare of the future. Good judgment seeks balance and progress. Lack of it eventually finds imbalance and frustration. The record of many decades stands as proof that our people and their Government have, in the main, understood these truths and have responded to them well, in the face of threat and stress. [...]

To all the peoples of the world, I once more give expression to America's prayerful and continuing aspiration: We pray that peoples of all faiths, all races, all nations, may have their great human needs satisfied; that those now denied opportunity shall come to enjoy it to the full; that all who yearn for freedom may experience its few spiritual blessings. Those who have freedom will understand, also, its heavy responsibility.

For being so oft quoted (about 290,000 Google hits!) it is one of America's under appreciated speeches.

DKK

The Law Of Unintended Consequences, Destroying The Vulnerable In Society (One Hit At A Time)

Here's was the real catastrophe. If you look at all the real statistics on black Americans, everything was getting better, better, better, better, better and blacks were succeeding and then bam comes this cultural revolution.

You can not, if you were at the bottom of society, let it all hang out, tune in, turn on, drop out. That was an absolute recipe for failure and it was disastrous for Black America.

Myron Magnet
History Channel "Hippies".

One of the things that I have never been able to understand is why many in the counter culture (then and now) and the left are so willing to deny the reality of human nature and human history (except for, of course, those things we are supposed to feel guilty for doing to some repressed group). Utopia only exists when the population is one. Eventually people get jealous, greedy, or just irritated.

This was an outstanding program, catch it in rerun if you get the chance.
DKK

PS - Utopia, Population One - I like that, I think I will use that again.

Heroes Welcoming Heroes

I missed this earlier this month, but I have to highlight these guys. They are all heroes to me:

A welcome home before ‘home’
May 6, 2007
By Bob Schaper
ROCKFORD REGISTER STAR

ROCKFORD — A detachment of men and women from the U.S. Navy made a stop Saturday in Rockford, fueling their chartered jet before starting the last leg of their journey home from the Persian Gulf.

(...)

The Rockford layover was about 2½ hours long. Making the time pass faster was a mobile canteen from The Salvation Army, along with dozens of well-wishers from the Rockford chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America.

Mark Lawrence, an Army veteran of the Vietnam War, said his motivation for greeting the sailors was to show support for the troops.

“We didn’t get a welcome home from Vietnam,” he said.

John Lawrence, Mark’s brother, is an emergency disaster services coordinator for The Salvation Army. He said Saturday’s work, during which they offered snacks, coffee and mobile phones, was “hugely successful.”

“If we know about it, we’ll be here,” he said. “I’m just glad we can help.”

The unit was flying on a Ryan International Airlines 757-300. They left Kuwait at 1 p.m. Friday, Rockford time, and made fueling stops in Romania and Iceland before landing at Chicago/Rockford International Airport at 11 a.m. Saturday. (emphasis added)

DKK

Testing Complete, Maybe

Well, I made it through the week but I think I have to retest a couple of things at the end of this week so while I was on meds again for the weekend I may be off of them this next week. It is miserable, so if posting is light again that is the reason but I will be back.

I was tagged by Matt Walker of Thermidor Rising with a movie challenge but I wasn't able to get to it. It is on my list for this week.
DKK

Rockford Blogger Trek 05142007

Update -- I have updated and posted Rockford Bloggers my Right Of The Star Blog, here is a link to the category.

Well, I better get this in now since I may not get to it later.

Here is an update on the Rockford Area Bloggers. If you are a Rockford area blogger or know of one let me know so I can add them to these updates. I would encourage you to visit them all!

New to the list:

• One For The Road appears to be a lady from nearby in Wisconsin. She met with some bloggers in Rockford at Hooters the end of April. I am adding them all to the list although I am not sure they are all from the area.
  
• Drunken Wisdom I think he may be moving to CA.
  
• Tammi's World she has pictures of the get together here.
• Bad Example
• The Splatter Zone aka, Raging Mom.
• Smiling Dynamite, last updated February 12, 2007.

Those already on the list:

• Phil Pash seems a bit burnt out on blogging but he has updated since he said that. I like his thought process and his local updates.
• The Rockford Rascal this left leaning (oops, he leaned so far he tipped right over) blogger, "outed," himself this week on local radio but I missed it - too sick for early radio I'm afraid. I have to give him credit, he is right there with the left wing talking point each and every day.
• Notes In The Key Of Life is the blog of Cindy Swanson. She updates most days.
• Thermidor Rising has in depth conservative thoughts on varied topics including Republican candidates and Catholicism.
  
• In The Mind of Malar Local radio personality and stand up comedian.
  
• X-Ray Spex is a cartoonist, I think (Catwoman).
• SisterTalk liberal lesbian from S. Wisconsin.
• Power and Control is strongly supporting Democracy in Iraq and has a banner you can add to your blog here.
  
• Purple Medical Blog - Medical Info, some good stuff.
• T1Rex - Telecom Tech - some really great tech stuff.

I dropped the following this time due to inactivity: Rockford Area Affordable Housing Coalition, Miasmatic Review, Angry Republican Mom, Snug Harbor, Mrs. Blue, Ryan Packer, Phil's Observations, The Speed Shop - The Bodyshop Blog, and Brainspinning.

The list is mainly from searches but it is really hard to find them so if you are a Rockford area blogger or know of one let me know so I can add them to these updates.
DKK

Update: One For The Road was kind enough to give us the new address for Miasmatic Review. Thanks!
DKK

When Your In It You Can't See It?

The Anchoress (from the Updates):

Instapundit brings us a prime example of completely false, erroneous, history-revisionist bullcrap being passed off as “fact” by the press, and simply absorbed into the “truthy” narrative. I don’t even know how many times we’ve had to repeat the fact that the US (the whole congress, with not even house president Al Gore dissenting) rejected the treaty under PRESIDENT CLINTON. And oh, yeah, Bush has begun put something successful up in it’s place, dammit.

I’m starting to get really pissed off with the Bush Administration for their inability or disinterest in fighting their own battles. We should not have to be doing this over and over, setting the record straight again and again. The WH needed to get out in front of this stupid narrative right away, instead of letting it settle in like kudzu.

I know they have a mountain of disinformation to combat every day…but dammit, this is getting me really riled up, now. Doesn’t the WH have SOME responsibility for insuring that history doesn’t get re-written on their watch?

I have been saying this about more then this Kyoto reference for a LONG TIME!

Do you think the administration doesn't see what is happening or have they just given up? Like I said before they seem to have gone AWOL when we need them the most. I WILL be ready to give up if they do the summer vacation thingy again this year.
DKK

Tests and Sick

I had a doctors appointment on Tuesday and I was sick as a dog on Tuesday, just starting to feel better tonight.

Next week I have my regular set of tests which means I have to be off all meds for 4 or 5 days before. That means that all symptoms will come back full force. Hopefully I will be able to blog but no promises.
DKK

Report: Al-Qaeda in Iraq leader 'killed' - Updated Terrorists Deny

Red on Red?

BBC Reports

The interior ministry in Iraq says it has received intelligence that the head of al-Qaeda in Iraq has been killed.

Abu Ayyub al-Masri, believed to be an Egyptian, has led the group since June 2006 when Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was killed in a US air strike.

Al-Qaeda in Iraq is blamed for or has claimed some of the bloodiest insurgent attacks in Iraq since 2003.

According to Iraqi officials, al-Masri was killed in an "internal battle" between militants.

Update: BBC Reports that the terrorists deny this report:

Insurgents in Iraq have denied a government claim that the head of al-Qaeda in Iraq has been killed in an "internal battle" between militants.

The Islamic State of Iraq group, which includes al-Qaeda in Iraq, said Abu Ayyub al-Masri was alive, in an online statement which cannot be verified.

DKK

Internet Radio

From That Gay Conservative:

From Live365:

The future of Internet radio is in immediate danger. Royalty rates for webcasters have been drastically increased by a recent ruling and are due to go into effect on May 15 (retroactive to Jan 1, 2006!). Internet radio needs your help! H.R. 2060, The Internet Radio Equality Act was introduced by Representatives Jay Inslee (D-WA) and Donald Manzullo (R-IL) to save the Internet radio industry. Please call your congressperson to ask them to co-sponsor H.R. 2060 by clicking below.

Live365 and SaveNetRadio have tools available on their sites for contacting your representatives to support H.R. 2060.

I know Manzullo is one of the biggest supporters of small businesses but his support of internet radio is a big plus in my book.

I have long been disgusted by how the large entertainment companies have tried to criminalize the use of their products (music and movies). They could have gotten ahead of the curve and make it easy and affordable for consumers to legally access and use their products but instead they tried to limit and criminalize their customers. Digital Rights Management, spyware, lawsuits, their unwillingness to cooperate and offer their products (pre- and post I-tunes) have all done more to harm the long term prospects of their industry then file sharing ever could.

They are trying to stop the tides rather than use them.
DKK

PS - Let me add that I have never downloaded from or participated in P2P sites. As a matter of fact I have only downloaded one song ever that I bought from Walmart.com and it was lost when my last computer crashed.