tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55919252011-04-22T00:41:00.177-05:00The Texas ImperialistPhilosophical, political, and random thoughts on issues and eventsSeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comBlogger2271100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1114803274584951262005-04-29T14:33:00.000-05:002005-04-29T14:34:34.586-05:00I agree that Hero was ChiCom propaganda- and with the rest of this article. War with China in 20 years or less- that's my prediction. Sleep well.Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1114789207699256392005-04-29T10:34:00.000-05:002005-04-29T10:40:07.700-05:00Yet another interesting article in TCS, this time about video games. My friends know that I am quite the connoisseur of video games, and, given half a chance, will launch into a detailed exposition of their value as compared to, say, movies. That's not to say I don't like movies; just that video games, as active entertainment, are far, far better.Really, they have a much greater potential for Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1114736175995603432005-04-28T19:49:00.000-05:002005-04-28T19:56:15.996-05:00Excellent Article......From TechCentralStation. Here ya go. It's about nuclear power- which is STILL the wave of the future. The environmentalists scotched it a few years ago, but the fact of the matter is that we'll almost certainly need to use it for awhile before alternative resources can be found. Nuclear energy is cheap, efficient, environmentally friendly- note in the article the quote Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1114117022300660382005-04-21T15:55:00.000-05:002005-04-21T16:00:23.886-05:00Ah, FranceFrom Instapundit: "Meanwhile, France is supporting preemptive war -- so long as it's by a major customer! During a state visit to China, French Premier Raffarin threw support behind a law allowing China to attack Taiwan and continued to push for a lift of the EU arms embargo. At the outset of a three-day visit to China, French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin said he supported Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1114106259987243572005-04-21T12:37:00.000-05:002005-04-21T12:57:39.990-05:00Intelligence and ChinaIf what Tom Clancy says is true (and it always is, right? I'm kidding, of course) then our Human Intelligence resources (i.e. spies) in China are limited. It seems to stand to reason- can't be too easy to infiltrate such a country...although perhaps there are some high-ranking Chinese passing information. I don't know, but the recent performance of the CIA doesn't inspire Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1114105069953239272005-04-21T12:29:00.000-05:002005-04-21T12:37:49.953-05:00So China signs a treaty with India, and I seem to remember a post a while ago on Instapundit speculating on an OOTB (Out Of The Blue) attack on Taiwan.I'm not an expert on China, but from what I understand, they're pretty intent on taking Taiwan. After all, they've got Tibet, they just got Hong Kong...I'm just saying.A lot of people don't realize that China is an expansionist empire, not a Big Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1114092768398263762005-04-21T09:10:00.000-05:002005-04-21T09:12:48.400-05:00Hi, kids! Remember me? I'm the guy who used to blog here. While I switched for a while to livejournal, I realized that's only useful for friends and family, not really for me. So I'll continue to blog about personal stuff there, and talk about 'portant stuff here.("Important" being relative; i.e. whatever I feel like talking about.)If anyone is paying attention, I'll get started today with a few Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1075485191491209752004-01-30T11:53:00.000-06:002004-01-30T11:54:47.793-06:00That reminds me, by the way. What the heck is up with this American tradition of ignoring the Russian part of World War II, also known as the European Part?
The Russians lost an estimated 20 million people during that war. Of the approximately 11 million Germans killed, probably 8 million or so fell fighting the Russians. Russia was all but conquered in the first few months of the war; they Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1075484232085465852004-01-30T11:37:00.000-06:002004-01-30T11:38:47.966-06:00I've noticed there has been a bit of hubbub over the Republicans comparing Orrin Hatch to Neville the Wimp; the Dems think this means that we're comparing them to Nazis.
Without mentioning the fact that Republicans are compared to Nazis all the time (trust me, I know), we'll analyze this.
See, people like to use World War II as an analogical resource for a few simple reasons, that apply to bothSeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1074713384623183492004-01-21T13:29:00.000-06:002004-01-21T13:31:11.576-06:00I know there are a lot of things one can say about file-sharing- including that recent actions by the RIAA are idiotic and will have a negative effect on their PR, but!
When you download a song, you are in effect gaining benefit from a person without recompensing that person. Now, we do this all the time- but this is in the context of an industry specifically designed to match artists with Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1074626565533298912004-01-20T13:22:00.000-06:002004-01-20T13:25:40.686-06:00THINGS I HAVE BEEN WRONG ABOUT THUS FAR-
-Saddam Hussein was not dead; nor is he now dead. Instead, it is being currently decided as to whether the Iraqi people will hang him, shoot him, or shoot him while he is hanging.
-Anton Chekhov is a superb writer. He is very close to being my favorite; turns out that all the elements that make Russian authors great are there, but that he uses a somewhatSeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1074624112493611632004-01-20T12:41:00.000-06:002004-01-20T12:43:18.420-06:00A word on Texas A&M, re: last semester.
I was fortunate enough to have a Marxist for a history professor. Why fortunate? Because I knew exactly what he was looking for on the tests. I simply asked myself- how would a Marxist answer this question? It worked especially well because this guy was as close-minded as they come. His way was right- if you disagreed, you were either a) misguided, b) Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1074623275354882952004-01-20T12:27:00.000-06:002004-01-20T12:29:21.390-06:00So, the good doctor came in 3rd in Iowa. Well, that's as might be expected. After all, when the primary locution of the candidate is "Bush bad!" there's going to be some point at which that wears thin.
I am somewhat surprised that Jean Kerry (accent on the second syllable of "Kerry") was the guy who made first showing. I rather expected Edwards (who is actually well-respected even by many Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1074622654719705562004-01-20T12:17:00.000-06:002004-01-20T12:19:00.856-06:00Wow. What a semester.
For the quick-witted among you, the fact that there were no posts for the last, uh, four months or so may have tipped you off that blogging wasn't a top priority. However, I assure you that now it will be up there on the old list, right below Keeping A Good GPR and Learning to Skewer Opponents (Also Known as Fencing).
Last semester, I was living off-campus, and I was also Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1067445924318115662003-10-29T10:45:00.000-06:002003-10-29T10:45:23.163-06:00This is funny (from a Yahoo! news story):
The somber statistic [116 KIA in occupation vs. 115 KIA in invasion) -- no reliable figures are available for the many more Iraqis killed in the conflict -- underlines the scale of the resistance that U.S. forces have stirred since they burst into Iraq more than seven months ago.
Oh, yeah. It's been tough. We've lost (in, what, six months?) two hundredSeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1067445532418622592003-10-29T10:38:00.000-06:002003-10-29T10:38:51.340-06:00Violence against war!
Yet another reason to pull out of South Korea.Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1063812614057335182003-09-17T10:30:00.000-05:002003-09-17T10:30:13.786-05:00Preliminary Review of Al Franken's Book
When I first saw Al Franken's new book (Lies and the Lying Liars that tell Them), I thought he was writing an autobiography.
If you think that was a cheap shot, then you shouldn't read this book. This book could be used to showcase the straw man form of argumentation; he attacks the worst elements of the Right (Ann Coulter and Bill O'Reilly, mainly), and Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1063156753172121942003-09-09T20:19:00.000-05:002003-09-09T20:19:13.243-05:00Sorry I haven't blogged recently, folks. Been incredibly busy all round. Starting sometime in the very near future, I'll be trying to blog once every couple of days, a big long post that will be no doubt very interesting. Until next time...Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1062525231530386732003-09-02T12:53:00.000-05:002003-09-02T12:53:51.530-05:00Well, everyone else has done it, but I'll jump in: Mark Steyn on Labor day. One of his best articles yet.Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1062519010143313542003-09-02T11:10:00.000-05:002003-09-02T11:10:10.190-05:00By the way, the reason I won't be blogging is because school just started. Since I need to spend most of my time practicing the Russian for, "Excuse me, but I can't speak Russian"- Izvinitye, no ya nye gavoryu pa-russki (RUSS 102), writing about obscure authors who wish they were dead (ENG 203-Intro to Literature), discussing the fact that the digital age is the end of the world as we know it (Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1062518644541200232003-09-02T11:04:00.000-05:002003-09-02T11:04:04.586-05:00Blogging will be somewhat sporadic, though I'll try to post at least one in-depth, thought-out post a day. Or at least crib off of someone else, and then claim that they stole from me! Yeah! After all, I could always go after the Puppy Blender that way!Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1062192028243713782003-08-29T16:20:00.000-05:002003-08-29T16:20:28.306-05:00One common defense by Cold War revisionists of the Soviet Union was that their "aggression" (their scare quotes) was designed only to defend the country against future attacks by Germany (or the US, depending on your source). Besides the obvious retort- that the very nature of Communist ideology called for aggression- there is the question of Finland.
Remember, Finland was attacked before the Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1062187159247863242003-08-29T14:59:00.000-05:002003-08-29T14:59:19.280-05:00The Feds nabbed the guy behind the "Blaster" worm that has given so many people (including me) so much trouble. Chalk up another one for the G-men.Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1062182235868485622003-08-29T13:37:00.000-05:002003-08-29T13:37:15.896-05:00From The Corner at NRO, quoting from Crisis magazine's letters page:
I was delighted to read the Manichaean ramblings of Danel Paden, director of the Catholic Vegetarian Society ("Letters," June 2003). It confirmed my theory that fanaticism in Western society alternates between nudism and vegetarianism, both of which contradict the order of grace.
As an optimist, I happily trust that Paden Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1062164811908702232003-08-29T08:46:00.000-05:002003-08-29T08:46:51.950-05:00Darn it. The Enemy beat me to this link on the FBI and the handling of the OK City bombing.
An excerpt (Burmeister is the crime lab's chief of scientific analysis):
Burmeister reversed course in late 1996, just before testifying at McVeigh's trial. ``I don't think he erred in any of these exams. ... I think he did an acceptable job there,'' Burmeister said.
In his 1995 interview, Burmeister Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1062163658998468772003-08-29T08:27:00.000-05:002003-08-29T08:27:39.023-05:00To finish with Mr. Hitchens:
It’s obviously too much to expect that a Bronze Age demagogue should have remembered to condemn drug abuse, drunken driving, or offenses against gender equality, or to demand prayer in the schools. Still, to have left rape and child abuse and genocide and slavery out of the account is to have been negligent to some degree, even by the lax standards of the time. I Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1062107329624825412003-08-28T16:48:00.000-05:002003-08-28T16:48:49.670-05:00I can't resist: Christopher Hitchens fisks the Ten Commandments (link via the Enemy- see, he even supports attacks against the Ten Commandments. For shame, tsk, tsk.). My fisking of his fisking follows.
JUDGE ROY MOORE is clearly, as well as a fool and a publicity-hound, a man who identifies the Mount Sinai orders to Moses with a certain interpretation of Protestantism. But we may ask ourselvesSeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1062081591536744002003-08-28T09:39:00.000-05:002003-08-28T09:39:51.560-05:00Alan Reynolds on scare-mongering about loss of manufacturing in the US.Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1062081123224441572003-08-28T09:32:00.000-05:002003-08-28T09:32:03.270-05:00More on the Patriot Act: from the FBI website-
A person's library records may be subpoenaed by a federal grand jury for a specific case. Special Agents of the FBI are also able to obtain records with a criminal search warrant in the course of an investigation. Now, under Section 215 of the U.S.A. Patriot Act of 2001 (which does not single out library records, but applies to "books, records, Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1062080582840535492003-08-28T09:23:00.000-05:002003-08-28T09:23:02.966-05:00Racist firing of the Dallas police chief? Let's look at some facts quoted in the article:
His four-year tenure as chief was marked by a fake-drug scandal, lawsuits by demoted commanders and controversy over hiring practices.
A recent federal crime report showed Dallas would have the highest crime rate among the nation's largest cities for the sixth year in a row if projections held true Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1062080003000153032003-08-28T09:13:00.000-05:002003-08-28T09:13:39.570-05:00Economy Watch: Check this out, from the Houston Chronicle.
Can you believe this, in the Chronicle?
Near rock-bottom short-term borrowing costs along with fatter paychecks and other incentives coming from President Bush's third tax cut should motivate consumers and businesses to spend and invest more, thus boosting economic growth.
Wow. A supply sider working at the AP? We can but dream...Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1062079576404415352003-08-28T09:06:00.000-05:002003-08-28T09:06:16.453-05:00Excellent article on China in the Daily Standard. I can't stress it enough- read this article.
Important quote:
Interestingly, in 2000, just before Clinton left office, the Pentagon produced a report on China's military power that suggested, if current trends in China's buildup continued, the balance in the Taiwan Strait would begin to turn in 2005 in China's favor, and could well be sealed by Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1062078509314844492003-08-28T08:48:00.000-05:002003-08-28T08:48:29.336-05:00Common sense on the Patriot Act.Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1062078317925379542003-08-28T08:45:00.000-05:002003-08-28T08:45:17.963-05:00I doubt many Californians read this blog (in other words, I doubt my reader is Californian), but just in case, a quick heads-up on Cruz Bustamante: he used to belong to a Latin American hate group called MEChA (the lowercase h is deliberate; it's actually Ch in Spanish). National Review Online mentions it several times.Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1062077880754779132003-08-28T08:38:00.000-05:002003-08-28T08:38:00.786-05:00From Jay Nordlinger's Impromptus in NRO:
You're used to my picking on the New York Times; you're perhaps not accustomed to my picking on the New York Post, Rupert Murdoch's lively and feisty tabloid. Some years ago, a person I knew described it as "the most entertaining read in America" — that it may be. And all of us right-leaners are especially grateful for it.
But I have a significant gripe Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1062006424486135242003-08-27T12:47:00.000-05:002003-08-27T12:47:04.350-05:00Good news. Secret budget is higher than ever.
Why is this good? Read this for yourself:
"This is an administration that likes to play I've got a secret," he [John E. Pike, director of GlobalSecurity.org] said. "The growth of the classified budget appears to be part of a larger pattern of this administration being secretive."
Why is that good? Because the present administration isn't blabbing Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1062000874288934172003-08-27T11:14:00.000-05:002003-08-27T11:14:34.363-05:00Why Corporate Entities have no Natural Rights
Where do I get my rights? Well, as a Christian (a Calvinist, Sovereign Grace Baptist, to be exact), I would say rights extend from the Word of God. For instance, the fact that we are admonished not to steal implies that I have a right to my property. If I were to rely only on secular principles, I would state that all rights extend from a basic rightSeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1061998333103798992003-08-27T10:32:00.000-05:002003-08-27T10:32:13.113-05:00Clarifying Government
As this seems to be a theme for today, let's look again at government.
Oftentimes, Mein Herr Uncle will refer to the perfidies of the "feddle gummint". The feddle gummint is responsible for this, or that, or so on, etc. Now, he understands that there's not a guy named Feddle Gummint out there confiscating guns and so on. He's actually referring to the ATF, or the FBI, or Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1061996574496164242003-08-27T10:02:00.000-05:002003-08-27T10:02:54.436-05:00The Great Ten Commandments brouhaha is over.
Once again, I don't care. Why don't I care? Well, first of all, removal of the monument is a symptom of the disease, not a cause. Forty years ago, no one would have questioned its presence; now, it cannot be abided. The reason is that people have changed; now, instead of a tendency to ignore something unless it is actively injurious to you, we feel Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1061995518841157542003-08-27T09:45:00.000-05:002003-08-27T09:45:18.760-05:00An interesting story on the crime rate in NRO.
Mr. Lehrer points out that a decentralized police force is excellent for fighting common criminals, but not so good for dealing with terrorists. I hesitate to note that the FBI is designed to fulfill this role; furthermore, the solution he suggests (regional and national police forces) have already been implemented; for instance, we have the Texas Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1061994408931016732003-08-27T09:26:00.000-05:002003-08-27T09:26:48.933-05:00Taken from NRO's The Corner:
TODAY IN HISTORY [Dave Kopel]
On this date in 1944, the great Charles DeGaulle led a march through the recently-liberated city of Paris, cheered by a million Parisians. After traveling the Champs-Elyses, DeGaulle--along with leaders of the French Resistance--concluded the march at the cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris. There, the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55), was sung, Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1061992175880978872003-08-27T08:49:00.000-05:002003-08-27T08:49:35.776-05:00Colombian drug kingpin sent up for 30.
Defense lawyers claim that there was prosecutorial skulduggery. They claim that he was only to be given a maximum of 12 years under the extradition treaty.
Wow. You know what this is, as Mein Herr Uncle would say? That's the sound of the world's smallest violin playing. I don't care if we dragged the bum out kicking and screaming. International law is Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1061928663206861972003-08-26T15:11:00.000-05:002003-08-26T15:11:03.296-05:00Ireland considering tax on fatty foods.
Folks in the office point out that if they taxed high-caloric foods and drinks (for example, Guiness) there would be a revolution. As is, taxing fatty foods may wipe out half the Irish cuisine.
The inevitable result? The IRA takes over; they repeal the fat tax, to the cheers of the Irish, then attempt to repeal the Protestants, to the annoyance of the Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1061921036453731382003-08-26T13:03:00.000-05:002003-08-26T13:03:56.423-05:00Why Baseball is the Best Sport, Ever
Earlier I mentioned that I am a baseball fan, though not really a fanatic. This is because baseball is the best possible sport. After it was invented by whomever really invented it, they could have just closed down rugby, cricket, and all that, and just played baseball.
Baseball rewards every possible skill. Can you jump? Go to the wall to pluck an almost Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1061918036810265862003-08-26T12:13:00.000-05:002003-08-26T12:13:56.873-05:00Top Ten Reasons it's Great to Be a Texan:
10) Everyone thinks that you're nuts. People tend to view you warily, as if any minute you might pull your six-shooters and start screaming "Yee-haa!" as you gun down passers-by. Which brings up the next point...
9) Everyone thinks you carry a gun. Or multiple guns. This makes it easier to get rid of muggers. Before you can say "Weeellll, pardner, I Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1061916656797939422003-08-26T11:50:00.000-05:002003-08-26T11:51:05.223-05:00Those damn yellow-dog Democrats are still chilling in New Mexico (chilling being a metaphorical term).
Look, I've bawled them out before, and I'll do it again. These people embarrass Texans everywhere with their shameful antics. Deal with defeat, you bums. The majority of Texans think that the Democrats are a bunch of whiny losers, and the only reason you folks are in office is because you Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1061916228849210932003-08-26T11:43:00.000-05:002003-08-26T11:43:48.796-05:00Unfortunately, the Dixie Chicks were nominated for both best album (for "Home") and best vocal group. Still, I won't begrudge them their talent.
I will fight against their idiocy, however.Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1061916068825895972003-08-26T11:41:00.000-05:002003-08-26T11:41:08.803-05:00Toby Keith leads CMA's.
Keith led all nominees, with nods for best entertainer, male vocalist, and album of the year for "Unleashed." "Beer for My Horses," a collaboration with Willie Nelson, was nominated for best song, single, music video and vocal event.
Cool. If you don't know, "Beer for My Horses" is a song that could definitely be construed as pro-war, and is certainly not liberal:
We'veSeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1061915690553589242003-08-26T11:34:00.000-05:002003-08-26T11:34:50.526-05:00Iranian reactor has weapons-grade uranium traces.
"It was there when we moved in," say Iranians.
That's only partly a parody.
Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1061914195837451902003-08-26T11:09:00.000-05:002003-08-26T11:09:55.950-05:00Watched a Bond movie a while ago, one of the Pierce Brosnan ones. Which one, you ask? Does it matter? Ok, ok, I really like the new ones, but they do seem to blend into one another. For one thing, the matriarchal M is always showing that she's a Tough Gal by constantly stating that she won't hesitate to send James Bond to his death. "Just so you know, James, I won't hesitate to send you to your Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1061908000789270582003-08-26T09:26:00.000-05:002003-08-26T12:19:30.143-05:00Uncle Ho Dean and Jean Kerry (accent on the last syllable of Kerry) are criticizing Bush on Iraq. They did it in Texas, which shows that they at least have courage, if not good sense.
Some quotes (and my rebuttals):
"I believe a lack of planning and the lack of candor with the American people have placed our men and women in uniform in increased harm's way." - Kerry
Ok. No specifics yet; Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1061906196115196442003-08-26T08:56:00.000-05:002003-08-26T08:56:35.973-05:00Saudis are cooperating with G-men in an anti-terror task force. Interesting quote:
U.S. and Saudi officials said the impetus for strengthening cooperation between the two nations came from al-Qaida's attacks in Saudi Arabia in May, when suicide car bombings of residential compounds in Riyadh killed 34 people, including nine assailants
I'm telling you, with enemies like this, who needs friends? Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1061905205174446692003-08-26T08:40:00.000-05:002003-08-26T08:40:05.133-05:00Blogger Alliance HQ.Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1061904852043508532003-08-26T08:34:00.000-05:002003-08-26T08:34:12.000-05:00James Lileks's Backfence: hilarious today (er, yesterday). Don't forget his Bleat too.Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1061902820380234202003-08-26T08:00:00.000-05:002003-08-26T08:00:20.346-05:00Taken from the Enemy:
A Chinese scholar who is also a key Communist Party member in Shanghai, has said Chinese President Hu Jintao through his top envoy informed North Korean leader Kim Jong-il of a possible United States invasion.
Shen Dingli, professor at Hudan University in Shanghai and who was visiting Korea for an international seminar, was quoted by sources as saying that Hu¡'s message Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1061902737886677692003-08-26T07:58:00.000-05:002003-08-26T07:58:57.723-05:00Don't forget your daily dose of Day By Day. Remember to scroll back if you missed some.Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1061902672085855862003-08-26T07:57:00.000-05:002003-08-26T07:57:51.930-05:00Naturally, I am a baseball afficianado (I can't spell it, but that's what I am). So, from Jewish World Review, here's a quick on-this-day-in-history:
* 1939, the first televised major league baseball games is shown on
experimental station W2XBS --- a double-header between the
Cincinnati Reds and the Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field. The Reds
win the first game, 5-2, the Dodgers the second, 6-1.
Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1061848395789138262003-08-25T16:53:00.000-05:002003-08-25T16:53:15.683-05:00I'm going through an archive of Ann Coulter's columns. I may not agree with her tone (she's more of a "preach to the choir" conservative), but I have to laugh at some of her lines.
March 31, 2000- If every American were forced to watch Sen. Chris Dodd while paying taxes, the government would have to turn over tax collection to the ATF.
April 25, 2000- The Times editorial page is like a Ouija Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1061838764603462642003-08-25T14:12:00.000-05:002003-08-25T14:12:44.640-05:00Jonah Goldberg's syndicated column.
I confess, I was a Clinton-hater. I'm not anymore; at the same time, I don't think very highly of him. He was the Richard Nixon of the nineties, though not quite as feared and hated as that man. For one thing, Clinton was apparently seen as a sort of "cuddly" president; he had charisma. Nixon, on the other hand, had a face like a bulldog-basset mix, and wasn'tSeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1061833529093845472003-08-25T12:45:00.000-05:002003-08-25T12:45:29.036-05:00This Fox News story about the heat wave that seems to be killing more Frenchmen then the Germans caught my attention.
Scariest sentence-
While many opposition leaders have criticized the center-right government for an allegedly slow response to the crisis, newspapers and editorial writers faulted French citizens in general.
The French government is center-right? Who is left-wing in their Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1061829602150045672003-08-25T11:40:00.000-05:002003-08-25T11:40:02.130-05:00Interesting story from Fox News, off of FrontPageNews's website. Interesting quote:
Brookes said Al Qaeda is also expanding its recruiting efforts in the United States. The network has begun going after disgruntled Americans to join its ranks — focusing on enlisting Latino Muslims on the Internet, African American Muslims in U.S. prisons, legal travelers and aliens who are living in the U.S. on Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1061827860068758732003-08-25T11:11:00.000-05:002003-08-25T11:18:15.566-05:00As always, George Will's column begs commentary.
At the beginning of her military campaign to reverse Argentina's 1982 seizure of the Falklands, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher said, "Failure? The possibilities do not exist." She was paraphrasing Queen Victoria: "We are not interested in the possibilities of defeat; they do not exist." Victoria said that in 1899, during "Black Week" in the BoerSeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1061824940438572012003-08-25T10:22:00.000-05:002003-08-25T10:22:20.473-05:00Bill O'Reilly is as...thought-provoking as ever. While making some good points:
Some clueless Democrats are still running around promising to solve everyone's problems with cash. This is a lie. It cannot be done. On the other side, Republicans say the "trickle-down" approach will revive the economy. This is debatable, but at least the Bush administration is giving back some money to the folks. Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1061823353954027922003-08-25T09:55:00.000-05:002003-08-26T16:07:28.583-05:00My birthday is in only three months: here's a possible gift.
Just trying to help.Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1061823199529462952003-08-25T09:53:00.000-05:002003-08-25T09:53:19.440-05:00"Sixty zippers were quickly picked from the woven jute bag"
What's interesting about this sentence? Go to Mr. Murdock's NRO column to find out.Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1061822862606661482003-08-25T09:47:00.000-05:002003-08-25T09:47:42.530-05:00Matt Labash, one of the best writers at the Daily Standard, has a typically tongue-in-cheek article about Bob Graham. Overall, Graham seems like one of the best possible Democratic candidates (that is to say, if I had to pick one to be president, he'd be in the running). He's nuts, of course, but not in the dangerous way Howard Dean is, or the loopy, pie-in-the-sky, Department of Peace Kucinich Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1061821256167013892003-08-25T09:20:00.000-05:002003-08-25T09:20:56.190-05:00From Jay Nordlinger's column in NRO:
I note, too, that when militants and their supporters held a rally in the Gaza Strip, they fired rifles into the air — which reminds me of a fact that I have never been able to get out of my head: When Israel ejected the PLO from Beirut, about 20 years ago, the gunmen fired their rifles into the air "in celebration" (as though they hadn't been routed). TheSeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1061816691355260142003-08-25T08:04:00.000-05:002003-08-25T11:23:27.350-05:00Check this out. US troops using AK's- and they like them better than the American rifles! While this will no doubt annoy Frank J., it's something Mein Herr Uncle and I have long suspected- that durability and reliability are more important to the average grunt than a fairly marginal increase in accuracy.
The AK-47, while very old (hence the -47 suffix), is known for being abused even by Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1061589652586263302003-08-22T17:00:00.000-05:002003-08-22T17:00:52.650-05:00No blogging on weekends, by the way, as we cancelled our Internet service (the service wasn't worth the $ we paid).Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1061558930536393322003-08-22T08:28:00.000-05:002003-08-22T08:45:31.970-05:00Frank J. has asked me to report on the wrongdoings of Glenn Reynolds, aka the Enemy, aka the Puppy Blender. I took the liberty of checking his blog, and found this posted at 6:06 AM, 22 August:
Quoting from a news article, he writes:
The Belgian lawyer who angered Washington by launching a war crimes case against the former US military commander in Iraq, Tommy Franks, said he was appealing Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1061556675840459202003-08-22T07:51:00.000-05:002003-08-25T11:23:03.376-05:00Up to 6 visits over the last one and a half days! Woo-hoo!
Mein Herr Uncle said that I was like Mel Gibson in Conspiracy Theory; I guess he's right.Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1061474718324207932003-08-21T09:05:00.000-05:002003-08-21T09:05:31.213-05:00Another senior Hamas varmint nailed. How many of those people are there? I mean, every time you turn around, another terrorist bites the dust. Seems like they'd be running out by now, but I guess that means promotion is fast in that organization. Looks like the truce is over- no surprise there.
Of course, how many will remember that it was a 20 fatality bus bombing that ended the truce, not the Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1061473914136727432003-08-21T08:51:00.000-05:002003-08-21T08:51:54.180-05:00What's up with the "pro-choice conservative" thing? I was reading Bill Whittle's latest essay where he mentioned that, noting that the dominant theme of the "new conservatives" is responsibility.
Hate to point out the obvious, but that's been the theme of conservatism since its inception. Pro-life arguments are completely logical in this context; people must take responsibility for their actionsSeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1061472692940535862003-08-21T08:31:00.000-05:002003-08-21T08:31:32.980-05:00Chemical Ali has been captured. Yet another of the Baathist scum put where they belong.Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1061471542085413872003-08-21T08:12:00.000-05:002003-08-21T08:12:22.130-05:00Tried to e-mail Mr. Lileks today; apparently he's very busy indeed, as the mailbox was full. Oh, well.Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1061399174088069172003-08-20T12:06:00.000-05:002003-08-20T12:06:14.173-05:00Investigators rule out "random sniper theory". It's interesting that the police were apparently unaware of the extent of the drug problem in the area; more incentive for the public to speak out. Remember, they really are on your side.Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1061398961384700242003-08-20T12:02:00.000-05:002003-08-20T12:02:41.360-05:00CAUGHT! Two bank robbers nabbed by G-men in South Africa; robberies in several states, including Texas.Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1061398847735035932003-08-20T12:00:00.000-05:002003-08-20T12:00:47.623-05:00FBI is investigating MCI fraud reports, requesting leads. Zip on over if you know anything.Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1061398756281988192003-08-20T11:59:00.000-05:002003-08-20T11:59:16.163-05:00Entry on Russia isn't bad; disagree partly with this characterization:
Stalin's labor camps and purges of perceived enemies, combined with the starvation that accompanied farm collectivization, annihilated more than 20 million citizens.
Those people weren't starved by accident- it was deliberate. And racist, too. Still, technically the sentence is true.
Odd that China gets a free ride. But weSeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1061398625241258102003-08-20T11:57:00.000-05:002003-08-20T11:57:05.190-05:00But Germany's entry mentions the Holocaust, sure enough.Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1061398503644375122003-08-20T11:55:00.000-05:002003-08-20T11:56:26.356-05:00Just read the National Geographic "MapMachine" entry on China. Though lauding Mao's sadly unsuccessful efforts to "rouse the economy", the deaths of between 20-35 million people wasn't considered important enough to make the index. Great.Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1061397496832066842003-08-20T11:38:00.000-05:002003-08-20T11:38:16.796-05:00Okay, lemme see:
Clinton has offered lukewarm support for the War on Terror; Gerald Ford has joined the Presidential Prayer Team; and no doubt Reagan would offer his support if able. And my guess is that Bush, Sr. thinks his son is doing a pretty good job.
Makes you wonder, huh? I mean, the people who would really be best informed about the job of president all seem to think that he's doing theSeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1061393440160857682003-08-20T10:30:00.000-05:002003-08-20T10:30:40.160-05:00Why we won't commit decisively to defend Taiwan
This is something that I've often wondered about, in an absent-minded way. Why don't we just come out and tell the Chinese that we will defend Taiwan, make it so plain that they can't think otherwise? We could encourage the Taiwanese to declare total independence, stop the unrealistic "one China" policy, and so on.
Actually, the answer is very Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1061390987944332672003-08-20T09:49:00.000-05:002003-08-20T09:49:47.860-05:00Interesting article in the Chronicle (Houston) today: Hollywood may not be getting away with massive marketing due to insta-word o' mouth. Read the whole thing.Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1061388680228271812003-08-20T09:11:00.000-05:002003-08-20T09:11:20.286-05:00Arnie runs a campaign ad.
Get this:
"I'm running for governor to leave a movement for change and give California back its future. I stand for fiscal responsible government. Rebuilding California's economic engine, putting the needs of children first and reforming our political system... so that the public interest comes before special interest."
As Schwarzenegger stands before a large wooden Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1061388268305615662003-08-20T09:04:00.000-05:002003-08-20T09:04:28.396-05:00More than likely, the recent "sniper" attacks were drug-related. Is this a relief, or a bad omen?Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1061387092854430622003-08-20T08:44:00.000-05:002003-08-20T08:44:52.793-05:00Excellent article at TechCentralStation on health care.Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1061386380791867252003-08-20T08:33:00.000-05:002003-08-20T08:33:00.763-05:00Game Review- An oldie but a goody
I've been playing a game called Independence War 2: Edge of Chaos. Basically, you're a space pirate. What more needs to be said? Seriously, the graphics are awesome and the gameplay is stellar. Even the story is rather good (graphics aren't top of the line in the cutscenes, but not bad either). I actually laughed out loud at one cutscene, when the main characterSeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1061385679033272842003-08-20T08:21:00.000-05:002003-08-20T08:21:19.060-05:00James Lileks with some sober words about a recent terrorist bombing in Israel:
The bomber was a father of two. A man who has children who walks down the aisle of the bus, looking at the children whose small short cheerful lives he is about to destroy, contenting himself with the knowledge that they are mere Jews - such a man has abdicated his humanity. The fact that he died in an instant and 100Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1061322026249202682003-08-19T14:40:00.000-05:002003-08-19T14:40:26.176-05:00Wretched Revolutionaries or Who Are These People and What Can We Do to Stop Them?
"When my father built this castle in the swamp, everyone laughed at him. But he built it anyway. And it fell down and sank into the swamp. So he built another one! And it fell down and sank into the swamp. So he built a third one! It caught fire, burned down, and sank into the swamp. But the fourth one..."
Monty Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1061308983373319642003-08-19T11:03:00.000-05:002003-08-19T13:39:05.096-05:00Zip on over to The Enemy (known by his allies and neutrals as Instapundit), loyal reader, to read some interesting news about the Baathist collapse in the Middle East. Just remember that the Dark Lord of the Net is recipient of our undying hatred. If possible, glare angrily at the screen as you read.Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1061308821692723002003-08-19T11:00:00.000-05:002003-08-19T11:00:21.610-05:00Bill O'Reilly on shutting down the Al Frankenmonster. Claims Fox News is not conservative. Look, I love Fox. I think it's great. But come on- it may not be Rush Limbaugh, but it ain't objective, either.
The fact is, there is no such thing as objectivity in the long run. Over time, a network, even as it tries to remain "Fair and Balanced", will inevitably take on the character and beliefs of Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1061243939691967612003-08-18T16:58:00.000-05:002003-08-18T16:58:59.526-05:00Texas schoolchildren now have to recite the Texas pledge.
Good quote: "I find it ironic that the pledge is a priority among legislators, instead of putting money into the schools," said Sarah Simmons, an English teacher at Hobby Middle School. "Ironic, but not surprising."
After all, throwing money at the school has worked so well before. That's why American schoolchildren consistently Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-106121695743906652003-08-18T09:29:00.000-05:002003-08-18T09:29:17.440-05:00We're number 4 on the most-likely-to-be-targeted-by-crazed-terrorist-scumbags list.
Note this quote:
"Another Sept. 11-style terrorist attack in the United States is highly likely," the report states. "Networks of militant Islamist groups are less extensive in the U.S. than they are in Western Europe, but U.S.-led military action in Afghanistan and Iraq has exacerbated anti-U.S. sentiment."
Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1061216522699902542003-08-18T09:22:00.000-05:002003-08-18T09:22:02.716-05:00The apparent sniper in West Virginia has met his match. Scroll to the bottom to see these paragraphs:
Outside the Shrewsbury Church of God, near one of the shootings, a sign outside the building read: "Hey sniper Jesus luvs u 2 repent and turn yourself in."
"We want to get the message across no matter what you've done, no matter where you come from, even if you're the sniper, Jesus will Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1061212288439845002003-08-18T08:11:00.000-05:002003-08-18T08:11:28.520-05:00"Millions return to work after power outage." What do they expect?
This would be news if it said "Millions refuse to work after power outage."Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1061212197791081892003-08-18T08:09:00.000-05:002003-08-18T08:09:57.850-05:00Cameraman shot dead by US. It's a tragedy, but the people who should learn here are the media, more so than the military. A camera can look very much like an RPG (which is what the troops thought it was); the soldiers are already antsy because of a deadly mortar attack, and poking around can be dangerous.
Hopefully, such incidents won't occur regularly.Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1060973277060918912003-08-15T13:47:00.000-05:002003-08-15T13:47:56.243-05:00Copycat sniper? Only time will tell, but it doesn't look good.Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1060963806272031062003-08-15T11:10:00.000-05:002003-08-15T11:14:26.580-05:00Iceland to resume whaling. Before enviro-nuts declare the end of the world, take note of the tiny numbers of whales they intend to harvest: 100 minke, 100 fin, and 50 sei whales. I haven't even heard of these whales; there are an estimated 43,000 of the minke whales in Icelandic waters; they are believed to reduce cod stocks by up to 20%.
Okay, remember all th hubbub over the drastic decrease inSeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5591925.post-1060962670973581102003-08-15T10:51:00.000-05:002003-08-15T10:55:31.470-05:00Thoughts on the power outage:
1) Very little looting and such, apparently. Darn, I'll have to revise my opinion of damyankees once again.
2) Everyone is worried that "the terrorists" will see this as an indication of our vulnerability. But frankly, we're so vulnerable that Captain Kangaroo could wipe out a bunch of us if he really wanted to. My suspicion is that the majority of al-Qaeda is on Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002717579690045330noreply@blogger.com