Not Fade Away

Proving that it's never too late to get back to your blog -

The Curmudgeon's back in town.

As Victor Laszlo said to Rick - "Welcome back to the fight. This time I know our side will win."

"Waitin’ For When The Last Shall Be First And The First Shall Be Last"

I've been staying up late the last couple of nights (and tonight, actually) watching "The Daily Show" and their series "Evolution Shmevolution". As an extra benefit, on Tuesday's show Jon Stewart interviewed Kurt Vonnegut. Well, it was more like Jon and us listening to some verbal gems from a still-cool old guy. Mr. Vonnegut had more thoughts, on a hand-written list he brought out that he called "Liberal Crap I Never Want To Hear Again", but they ran out of time on the show. However, they promised to post it on the Daily Show website, and they were true to their words. So, for those who need a reminder of the gap between our ideals and how we always seem to act in real life -

LIBERAL CRAP I NEVER WANT TO HEAR AGAIN

Give us this day our daily bread. Oh sure.

Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
Nobody better trespass against me. I'll tell you that.

Blessed are the meek.

Blessed are the merciful. You mean we can't use torture?

Blessed are the peacemakers. Jane Fonda?

Love your enemies - Arabs?

Ye cannot serve God and Mammon. The hell I can't! Look at the Reverand Pat Robertson. And He is as happy as a pig in s**t.

There's A Joke Here Somewhere, And It's On ...

There are some news stories where the punch line just jumps out at you -

Ft. Monmouth analyst faces spy charges

FBI says its own man was stealing U.S. secrets for Philippine officials

Tuesday, September 13, 2005

BY JUDY PEET AND JOHN P. MARTIN
Star-Ledger Staff

An FBI intelligence analyst who previously worked for Vice President Dick Cheney was charged yesterday with stealing classified documents at Fort Monmouth and passing them to high-level officials within the Philippines government.

Federal prosecutors said Leandro Aragoncillo, 46, a highly decorated former Marine living in South Jersey, downloaded at least 100 classified or secret documents from the fort's FBI computer systems between May and August and e-mailed them to officials in the Philippines

The full story is at this link.

A Filipino from Southern New Jersey, implicated in a larger spy ring? America must deal with this threat, but how? Maybe Michelle Malkin has a helpful suggestion?



(Ms. Malkin montage courtesy of Dr. Laniac's Laboratory)

Edited to add - Greetings to visitors from Tbogg and The Opinion Mill!

Shelter From The Storm

It's really overwhelming, isn't it? There is so much that is needed, and will be needed, by the people victimized by Hurrican Katrina. Like you (since you are reading this because you're on the internet) I've been stunned by the contrast, between (on the one hand) the sheer incompetence, or negligence, or callousness, which has contributed to the suffering, and (on the other hand) the heroic efforts made by individuals who stepped in to help their fellow human beings.

There will be enough to talk about regarding this disaster, those who contributed to or alleviated the suffering, and those who will try to use this (for good or ill) to advance a cause they believe in. But, for now, the only important thing is to contribute in some way, to help those who bore the brunt of this catastrophe.

There are so many ways to help, which is probably a testament to the good hearts of Americans. In addition to whatever ways to help you may find in your community, in your profession, or wherever -

The American Red Cross - That's a no-brainer.

National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD) - Seems to be a good clearing-house for legitimate charities providing aid in these circumstances, which was recommended by FEMA, at least until it changed its webpage (after the list with Pat Robertson's charity near the top, but before stressing the more military-minded USA Freedom Corps) - Pick a charity from NVOAD's list, and you probably can't go wrong.

One of the charities in NVOAD, which has a lot of connections in the affected areas - Catholic Charities USA

And, what the heck, the two ex-presidents' Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund

A little more out-of-the-way, but still worthwhile - the Jazz Foundation of America's Fund for New Orleans Musicians. As they point out on their webpage -

We will be addressing the longer term needs of these jazz and blues artists who will have just lost everything.

We will be raising funds and distributing money for the musicians to get a new apartment or room for rent: by giving a first month's rent, possibly more, for them to start over, a place to live. ...

As well, we will be attempting to help New Orleans musicians by replacing the thing that matters most and the only way they can ever work again: their instruments.
To those who lost their instruments, like drummers and bassists who could not carry their heavy equipment, and guitarist with their amps, we will be making an effort to work with manufacturers and music stores to replace those instruments for as many as we possibly can.

Remember, New Orleans was only "New Orleans" because of the musicians...

And, finally, you can contribute to disaster relief by purchasing one of these t-shirts, from a fellow from my locality. They feature some choice quotes, including "Brownie, you're doing a great job" and "I don't think anybody anticipated the breach of the levees".

But, however you contribute, in whatever way, it's needed, and every bit helps.