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.

Former U.S. Sen Carol Moseley Braun Mugged

LA Times

CHICAGO — Two University of Chicago students were credited with thwarting a man attempting to rob former U.S. Sen Carol Moseley Braun.

Moseley Braun was attacked and injured shortly before midnight Friday outside her Hyde Park home on the city's South Side, according to police and eyewitnesses.

Rachel McFadden, 19, and Zachary Trayes-Gibson, 21, both biology students at UC, were heading to a party when they heard a woman scream. McFadden rushed to Moseley Braun's aid and Trayes-Gibson chased the would-be robber away.

"We just looked at each other and started running toward her," McFadden recalled Saturday, hours after what police described as an attempted robbery. "There were no second thoughts."

The Senator was treated and released from the hospital. I hope she is okay both physically and emotionally. Muggings can play hell on a person's emotions.

Update: 15:14 042907 - Keven Lampe, the Senator's spokesman stopped by the comments to thank me for my kind words. It appears the Senator broke her wrist but otherwise is okay. That is based on statements I found online.

Mr. Lampe found me through a Google blogsearch - great job as a spokesman/PR man!
DKK

One Says, "You Lie," One Doesn't Have Time

In an attempt to back up his assertion that we have lost the war in Iraq Harry Reid (D) now says he will stick his fingers in his ears and scream lalalalalalalala till all the generals go away!

I can't say it any better then this from Dean Barnett at Hugh Hewitt:

Harry Reid has said he will not believe David Petraeus if Petraeus reports progress in Iraq as he’s expected to do. In other words, in addition to his declaration of defeat last week, Reid has now in essence called General Petraeus a liar. Let us not forget that this is the same senator who nearly clucked with joy over the prospect of gaining additional Senate seats because the situation in Iraq would be less than satisfactory when the next election season rolls around.

Click over and watch the video. I guarantee it will anger the blood.

Then there is dear sweet Nancy Pelosi (D) who doesn't have time to attend an update (2nd time since the surge began) from General Petraeus. Isn't this the most important issue today, at least that is the impression the left has given:

ABC News

As the House and Senate prepare to vote this week on the final conference report on the $124 billion troop funding bill — which would also mandate that U.S. combat troops begin withdrawing from Iraq on Oct. 1 at the latest — Gen. David Petraeus is scheduled to come to the Hill tomorrow to brief lawmakers on the progress of the recent troop escalation.

ABC News has learned, however, that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., will not attend the briefing.

I guess that is better then showing up already declaring the General a liar.
DKK

Rockford Blogger Trek 042407

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

Wow, it has been some time since I last checked into or looked for Rockford Area Bloggers. It is clearly long overdue so here is an update to my previous Rockford Blogger Trek. 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, former newspaper reporters, Phil Pash has outstanding regular updates on the Rockford area and other issues of interest.

The Rockford Rascal who left a comment on my post here wishing me well (Thanks, that was nice), but then saying, "I also gather that you're quite conservative. Too bad about that. But, hey, it takes all kinds." (Seriously, would you ever say that to someone you walked up to or just met in polite company? I know I wouldn't, but to some it is okay to do on the internet. Worse yet, we have never actually met! Perhaps that is the cause or maybe just a symptom of today's political discourse.)

Well, let me thank him and welcome (late I know) his Rockford blogging - no "too bads" or anything the more voices participating the better.

He is clearly far left, appears to have worked for the Register Star (based on comments someone left) and from his comments here and on his blog I think I can guess who he is based on an Email exchange I had in the past.

Notes In The Key Of Life is the blog of Cindy Swanson who works for WQFL. This looks like a good read.

Thermidor Rising is a conservative Northern Illinois Lawyer.

X-Ray Spex - which states, "Promising penetrating insight, delivering cheap cardboard glasses." That is great!

Miasmatic Review closed in June 2005.

There is the Rockford Area Affordable Housing Coalition blog, it was last updated September 25, 2006.


Updated from my previous Rockford Bloggers post:

SisterTalk - Beloit/Rockford she is back (April 20, 2007) after 7 months off of blogging.
Angry Republican Mom is from Paw Paw. Dropped out of blogging in 2006.
Snug Harbor Byron IL. - Had a major family illness last April (2006), had to move in with family - no updates since. I hope they are okay. His wife has a site, Mrs. Blue, but it hasn't been updated since April 2006 either.
Power and Control - fairly well known blogger, with a libertarian outlook. He has some some really good posts.
Ryan Packer - Defunct, last I read he came out as Gay and then his site disappeared.
Phil's Observations - Updates in November 2005, appears defunct.
Purple Medical Blog - Medical Info, some good stuff
The Speed Shop - The Bodyshop Blog -403 forbidden error
T1Rex - Telecom Tech - some really great tech stuff.
Brainspinning - far left Roscoe, IL - Now defunct, gone.


So that is it for now, lost quite a few but added some as well!

Again, if you are a Rockford area blogger or know of one let me know so I can add them to these updates

UPDATE: Cindy Swanson (Notes In The Key Of Life), from above, was kind enough to leave a comment and point me to her radio co-host Darren Marlar's blog: In The Mind of Malar. Thanks Cindy!
DKK

Reid: We've Lost - Bush: I Give Up

Okay, Harry Reid declared that the war is lost and the surge has failed.

Of course he did, the War on Terror has always made the left uncomfortable. It is the antithesis of all that they believe. The only reason many on the left gave the appearance of supporting it is that after 9/11 they would have been ran out on a rail if they had actually said what they truly believed.

In the mind of many on the left the War is an over reaction - 9/11 was just a crime and there should be an arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators. Forget about any other terrorists or terrorist organizations, they weren't responsible for 9/11. Our over reaction is causing every ill in the world and this causes more angst then terrorists. Because of this there is no fear that terrorists might follow us home if we leave Iraq before the mission is complete because the terrorists are just freedom fighters reacting to our presence.

This combined with the left's global guilt over every action civilized man has committed over the millennia leads some to fall for the easy lines like, Bush Lied, Bush stole the election, or the entirely false Wilson/Plame issue.

With that said I have to share my greatest frustration with the Bush administration and it is a trait the President copied from his father. The utter surrender to the left and the leftist drive by media, and sometimes I can't blame him.

GWH Bush gave up after 3 years and lost the election because he was too Presidential to brag.

GW Bush gave up after 4 years when we need him the most and it has frustrated the hell out of me as I am sure the drive-by media frustrates the President.

There is no reason conventional (read: usually wrong) wisdom should be that the President lied us into war or that our troops did not have the proper equipment. In the real world, you DO go to war with the army you have, to paraphrase Rumsfeld, and that would have been reported as a fact not as another club to be used to beat a nation into submission.

So what is the solution, how do you get out a message when common sense is non existent in today's media and the left in the Democrat party?

The President and his team decided to give up, perhaps an attempt to gain from the unchallenged loons on the left? (Just as Clinton did during the Lewinsky scandal.) The left does tend to implode under it's own lunacy, however the administration needs to stop being so polite and call a spade a spade. Being Presidential is great, but our long term survival depends upon us getting this part of history right.

I don't know, all I know is that it has pissed me off!

More:

The NY Post takes Reid to task for his actions in a great piece :

The problem, said Reid, is that "George W. Bush is still the commander-in-chief - and this is his war."

And there's the real problem: From the start, Reid and the Democrats have seen the war in Iraq as a partisan opportunity.

They refuse to present a unified front to the rest of the world - especially to America's enemies - because, in their pinched view, to do so would be to weaken their own prospects for retaking the White House in 2008.

No, Reid didn't repeat his declaration of defeat during yesterday's speech from the Senate floor.

It probably has dawned on him just how big a political blunder he committed - witness Sen. Chuck Schumer's gentle contradiction of the majority leader over the weekend, insisting that "the war is not lost."

Then again, Reid didn't have to repeat his original remarks - because the imposed timetable he announced, if enacted, would bring about precisely the same result.

That is, a precipitous U.S. withdrawal from the region - if Reid thinks the bug-out would stop at Iraq, he's dumber than he sounds - followed by:

* A rapid, al Qaeda/Iranian-driven descent into regional chaos.

* Most likely, a general war.

* And, almost certainly, a Mideast nuclear-arms race as Saudi Arabia, Eygpt and (probably) Turkey rush to arm themselves in anticipation of an Iranian bomb.

At the very least, Reid has to understand that his rhetoric can only encourage short-run insurgent attacks on Americans in Iraq.

Their blood stands to be on his hands.

And that's a terrible price to pay for a political payday that's so tentative that even an instinctive gut-fighter like Chuck Schumer recoils from the risk.

Harry Reid needs to put a cork in it.

Today.

DKK

Why Isn't Everyone Saying It!

What should be the first thing you hear about the Virginia Tech story?

Here is my response to an excellent post by Granddaddy Long Legs:

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

The only thing I would add - every single broadcast should start by stating that this man was a reprehensible monster who committed a horrendous and completely unacceptable act against his fellow man.

Every child should hear that daily - this was not just unacceptable but was a repugnant abomination (thank you thesaurus - unacceptable is way to soft a term).

The only broadcast I have heard that comes close was on Glen Beck last night when a psychologist said that neighbors and community used to police kids telling them when they did unacceptable things but we don't do that anymore - another liberal, "don't judge me as right or wrong," attitude.

I understand that we all know this, frankly it is assumed, it is an accepted fact, it is a terrible act, but I am not hearing it stated in no uncertain terms and I think I should that over and over and over!

As Granddaddy says, "(T)he press continually refer to this event as a tragedy -- as though it were an accidental act of God -- rather than an intentional massacre."
DKK

After 27 Years He Still Got Caught!

Motorcycle stolen 27 years ago found unassembled in basement

By Chris Green
ROCKFORD REGISTER STAR

MACHESNEY PARK — How do you get away with stealing a new motorcycle? (LifeTrek note: This should really read, "How do you almost get away with...)

Disassemble it. Put the parts in three crates and store them in the basement of someone else’s house, never to be seen again.

That’s what the Northern Illinois Auto Theft Task Force said Darcy L. Corbin, 55, of Loves Park, did 27 years ago with a then-new 1980 Harley-Davidson.
“I have no idea why someone would keep a stolen motorcycle in storage for that long,” NIATTF Inspector James Kerns said Wednesday. “Obviously, you would want to wait until the heat dies down, but I think after 27 years, the heat is off.”

Twenty-seven years ago this month, a Machesney Park man reported to the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department that his new Harley-Davidson Low Rider had been stolen out of his garage.

(...)

Kerns said the motorcycle had been there since 1986. Before that, it was stored in crates in the attic of another Machesney Park home.

The guy was charged with unlawful possession of essential motor vehicle parts and destroying the vehicle identification number.

The original owner has died in the ensuing years.

The police acted on an anonomous tip. Think about this, the guy moved it! He could have sold or disposed it or left it at the old place, but he didn't do that. He moved it and let someone know he had it.

The motorcycle held it's value though, it is worth about the same today as it was then, $6700 maybe a little bit more and will be given to the insurance company that paid the original claim.
DKK

Lone Nut, My Ass!

Remember the mall bomber from right before Christmas, just another, “lone nut”:

Rockford Register Star

ROCKFORD — The man accused of wanting to kill holiday shoppers at CherryVale Mall has been linked to a man who allegedly supplied classified military information to London-based terrorists.

And authorities have used some statements made by alleged bomb-plotter Derrick Shareef to build their case against Hassan Abujihaad, who they say was the source of the leaked information.

According to a U.S. Justice Department affidavit,Abujihaad, who was arrested Wednesday, and Shareef were roommates in Arizona in 2004. (emphasis added)

Lone nut, right, and in WWII every spy or saboteur was a lone nut too, right? Every member of the French Underground were treated by the Germans as deranged followers of the Brie and Chardonnay club too! What fools we have become.
DKK

Cross posted at the Powerline Forum.

Update: I couldn't find any pic's of Derrick Shareef, but here is the AP's artist sketch.

Face Lift - Restart?

Well, the good news is I am alive and thinking - the bad news is that I have the hardest time thinking. The brain fog can be completely overwhelming sometimes.

Oh and spelling - forget it. I lost the ability to spell and I can't remember even simple words. Instead of "hardest time" above I was going to write "damnedest" but I couldn't spell it (is that even right?) I tried, damnedst, darnedst, damn-est, but the Firefox spell check highlighted them every time.

That sucks. Yesterday I tried to write aspirin on the shopping list and I got half way through and realized I had to look at the bottle to get it right.

It is noticeably worse lately. You know when you can't spell people think your an idiot.

Months (years?) ago I submitted a post I had written to Instapundit and he sent me a one line note back telling me it was, "whether not weather." I realized that I had completely brain fogged out and forgotten that there were two. Now, I am an educated guy but that point was stunning. It did cause me to try and improve and pause in blogging. But that didn't work.

Hopefully if I can get back into it I can keep the mind flexible and working. That is my hope anyway.

So here I am!

Nearly F'ed up everything when I tried to change the template (and it took hours to update), but here it is. Hope you like it!
DKK

Oh yea, I updated the links I read daily. There are a couple more I will probably add in a day or two. If you think I missed any let me know.
DKK