The Yemeni Press - Getting my butt in gear

Jane at Armies of Liberation has been my blogmother for about six months now. She's done some great articles in the past and has more recently trained her eyes on the censorship of the Yemen media. If you don't know what I'm talking about then you have obviously never been to her site. Every other post brings up more data on the things going on in Yemen. Well, she has been heard loud and clear by people other than ourselves.

The following is her entire post of the letter she recieved from Abdul Kareem Al Khaiwany, the journalist she's been trying to free from prison. Read the article, go back to Jane's site and read more about it. Go sign the petition. E-mail any big name bloggers you can get to. Maybe we can get her an instalanch, powerlanch or maybe even a let's do lunch.

Text:

**********BLOGOSPHERE EXCLUSIVE**************
************Dissident watch**************

(Dear Friends and Fellow Freedom Lovers,
I never thought I’d get to use the stars but we the blogosphere recieved the following letter from Mr. Abdulkarim al-Khaiwani smuggled out of the central prison in Sana’a, Yemen.

I have been advocating for his release since his imprisonment in September as I am convinced that he is a politcal prisoner. He is a newspaper editor, a pro-democracy advocate, and a Yemeni patriot. There are several articles on my sidebar that explain his case more fully.

Kindly read his letter, portions of which are deleted as he is already in jail for insulting the president. If upon hearing from him directly, you wish to stand in solidarity with this man, kindly sign this petition. Futhermore, please feel free to copy the letter to your site and link to the petition not to me.

The petition will close on March 20th. Please consider taking a stand in support of freedom and a free press. For a professional and objective view of his case, the sidebar at the petition site links both the World Association of Newspaper Editors February protest letter and the Amnesty International January Appeal page. The Amnesty page carries his photo. The poor guy thinks I’m a real journalist but lets see what the blogosphere can do here.)

Dear Ms. Jane Novack,
The American journalist and political analyst,

I hereby express my deepest gratitude and most sincere thanks from behind the bars of the central prison in Sana’a, the capital of Republic of Yemen, for your articles on the freedom of press issues including my imprisonment.

Your opinions have genuinely touched my and the reader’s conscience as you have expressed your commitment to support issues of rights and freedoms and emphasized the true understanding of the Middle East issue. Hence you know well that freedom, democracy, and equality are the key solutions to the region’s problems.

Ms. Jane,

Since fifteen years, we have experienced democracy and multi-party system as well as breathed the fresh air of freedom, all which are the achievements of Yemen Unification. Soon later, a regression occurred in this experience after the summer of 1994 civil war. These achievements were emptied from their core cause leaving a margin of press freedom through which we battled to defend democracy, freedom, human rights, equal citizenship, and independent judiciary system, all being conditions for a better future and means to combat corruption and absence of law.

############ force, power, and oppression####### neglecting concepts of separation of powers. The head of the judiciary system is the president of the republic############ Here I am, in a battle which can least be described as unfair. My crime is public humiliation of the president. ########## I was deprived even from my right to self-defense. ########### you can imagine how I was handled by prison and police officers.

Furthermore, solidarity with my issue was prohibited and people in solidarity were punished and even terrorized to visit me in prison or declare their solidarity. In addition, the journalists’ syndicate is falling under tremendous pressures. I believe in democracy, freedom, equality and rights and am willing to sacrifice for their sake simply because I do not wish my children to suffer dictatorship and I will strive to provide them with a better future.

Dear Madam,

Leaders in our region transform into Gods. They even become to believe in their fake holiness which we aim to shatter so that they know they are humans just like us. Democracy and freedom are not granted by a leader or a regime, it is a world-wide human achievement of all the free people on earth.

According to the official interpretation of what is considered criticism of the president - based on this fake holiness- my criticism of the president is a crime that can cost me my life , not necessarily through Justice, but probably in prison by a murder convict. This could be attempted again inside or outside prison at any time. Nevertheless, I am not occupied by this matter, but more occupied with deep-rooting the concept of freedom.

I am also concerned that all Yemeni journalist gain the legal commitment of not being prone to imprisonment because of their opinions. I am also concerned that no other journalist will be imprisoned after me and suffer all that I have suffered. This we can achieve through your support and the support of all democracy and freedom advocates in the world as individuals or organizations.

Dear Madam,

Democracy and freedom are the global language with which I address you, probably too intimately and in detail which might have inconvenienced you. But, my trust in your values and your openness encouraged me to convene this information on our reality and issues to you. I highly value your writings and your advocacy role to democracy and defending rights. ###########

I repeat my thanks to you Ms. Jane Novack, and apologize for consuming your precious time in reading this letter.

With my sincere regards,

Abdul Kareem Al Khaiwany
Central Prison- Sana’a
14/2/2005

(This letter was sent through ############)

(PLEASE CONSIDER SIGNING THE PETITION. It only says we support a free press. This guy deserves to hold his kids again. He has no advocate but us. If the free world does not throw its weight behind him, no one will.)

Yes, I know she doesn't want the credit for this, but she deserves it.

I'm echoing her words. Go sign the petition. Then go congratulate Jane on her diligence in this endeavor.

UPDATE: She's been Malkinlanched.

Images of hope 22

The humanitarian crisis in Sudan

The long running conflict in Sudan between the Government and southern opposition groups has resulted in over 2 million deaths, and forced about 4 million people to leave their homes and seek refuge elsewhere in the country (Internally Displaced People, IDPs). Many other people have also been compelled to flee across the border into neighbouring countries (refugees). A chronic lack of basic services has made large numbers of Sudanese people dependent on emergency relief aid. Despite the positive development of the cease-fire signed in October 2002 and the on-going peace negotiations, the humanitarian situation in large parts of Sudan remains precarious in both quantitative and qualitative terms. This is primarily due to the protracted character of the conflict combined with the frequent or prolonged occurrence of natural disasters such as floods and drought. The humanitarian crisis in Sudan is rarely reported in the international press, making it a ‘forgotten crisis’.

In the Government-controlled regions of Sudan, the most precarious humanitarian conditions generally occur in areas where active conflict is still common and humanitarian access is problematic (due to government restrictions on travel permits, transport difficulties, landmines). Recurrent displacement in these areas means that affected populations gradually become dependent on external assistance.

The European Commission is currently concerned about the looming humanitarian crisis in Greater Darfur. Other concerns include general food insecurity, protracted drought conditions in Red Sea State, conflict escalation in Eastern States, IDPs in Kassala State, insecurity and lack of access on the Ugandan border, a high incidence of transmissible diseases in Southern Sudan and a yellow fever outbreak in Eastern Equatoria.

Taken from Europa-Echo.

Cookie Cutter Cartoons

Watching the Oscars, okay not all of the Oscars, maybe a half an hour, I noticed that the movies out there fall in to two basic categories: really weird artsy stuff or cookie cutter style cinematography. Just pick a movie out there. I'm sure there's a movie out there that can help affirm this for you. If not, go look at Nickie Goomba's take on Million Dollar Baby. He calls it a cross between Old Yeller and Raging Bull.

Of course, me being the guy that I am doesn't really go to the movies. My life is relegated to the likes of Digimon, which is a Pokemon clone or DICE, which is a Gundam Warrior clone. If you can't tell, I have a seven year old son. We were all cartoon freaks at his age, and the cartoons were no better. There were no less than two Scooby Doo clones that I can think of: Speed Buggy and Captain Caveman. Captain Caveman even stole the mystery machine and repainted it!

The point I'm trying to make is that most cinematography is cookie cutter garbage that anyone can reproduce. I fail to understand the need for a whole host of awards shows to recognize the garbage being peddled today. Every year it seems like they keep trying to get bigger, better and more self important. It's high time we took this trade into our own hands and do it for ourselves.

Some of you out there in bloggerland may feel that I may be exaggerating the point a bit. I'm not doing that. If anything I'm under-inflating it. To really drive this home it appears I'm going to have to pull out the trusty old blogger way-back machine (ruthlessly stolen from Rocky and Bullwinkle) and show you an episode of a cartoon that could have been if bloggers were cartoonists. I'll leave it up to you to figure out who I'm cloning:

The first thing we need is an all star cast. So lets start the casting:

Ogre's Politics and Views - The Ogre [He's a big ogre with a club and an appetite for hoagies and anything that, well, doesn't fight back.]

American Warmonger - Ziggy [Ogre's long time buddy and pal. They love the joys of eating and just hanging out. The only problem is that doing this has had an effect on his waistline. Still, he doesn't really care as long as everything is still groovy]

News From the Great Beyond - Jessica [the redheaded bombshell that used to be a cheerleader but left the ditzy profession for a life of investigating mysteries. Maybe it was all of those Nancy Drew murder mysteries she used to read.]

SmarterCop - Brock [the former high school quarterback that blew his knee out in his senior year and seeing that he couldn’t get that football scholarship now he decides to follow in his father's footsteps and solve crimes. The only problem is the police won't let him in because of his bum knee so he has to to private work.]

Dr. Sanity - Louise [The really smart one of the group that has done nothing else in life but study. She doesn't have the nerd glasses, but she makes it up with her increased clumsiness. Even though she's got a great figure she's unsure about her body so she wears a big baggy sweater to hide her physique. Her claim to fame in all of this is her degree in criminal psychology]

And here is where we set the scene:

The sun is shining along what would be assumed to be the California coastline. The green machine screams down the highway as the pajama party crew searches the coastline for mystery, or fun in the sun, whichever comes first. Ogre has his head out of the roof with his trademark scarf and flying goggles. Life appears good. Off in the distance you see the big tops of a circus close to the beach. It is obviously their destination.

Cut to the green machine stopping in the dirt parking lot close to a big sign at the entrance saying "Happy Glenn's Circus".

(everyone steps out of the bus)

Brock: Well gang. It looks like we're here. Everyone ready for some fun?

Ziggy: I'll say, corn dogs, cotton candy, candy apples...

Ogre: can I eat the elephant?

Everyone: NO!

Ogre: Aaaw, I never get to eat the elephant.

[Enter Happy Glenn (not the evil Glenn we know today. This was before he went bad.) the proprietor of this establishment in full carnie regalia]

Glenn: Welcome! Welcome! Welcome to Happy Glenn's carnival of hobos. Yes, that's right, all of the carnies here are genuine Southern California hobos. You see, carnivals and hobos both travel around a bit and I figured "Hey, why not run a carnival with a bunch of hobos?" Of course, we had to blend everything out with some puppies. The cute little puff balls just make you want to gobble them up don't they?

Jessica: They sure do!

[cuddles with one roaming the grounds]

Jessica: Can we take one with us? Please?

Everyone: NO!

Happy Glenn: That's quite alright. We couldn't part with them anyway, we love them so much. Come right in folks and enjoy the show! If you'll excuse me I have some business to attend to at the public basketball court. It appears the Globetrotters have a problem with the rim height.

Louise: Did you say the Globetrotters are here?

Happy Glenn: Sure, didn't you see the billboard? It's right over the....

Happy Glenn: It was supposed to be over there. I'll have to talk to Barbara about that. She seems like a good hobo most of the time but she tends to be a little daft. I'll be needing to speak with her later.

Happy Glenn: Well, off to the court!

Louise: The carnival AND the Globetrotters in one day. Jinkies!

Everyone: GASP!

Louise: What did I say?

Brock: You know you're not supposed to say that "J" word anymore! Don't you remember that's a Hanna-Barbara copyright now?

Louise: Oops! Sorry, I forgot. These copyrights are just so ridiculous. What's next? Will the NCAA copyright March Madness?

[the gang enjoys their day at the circus. cut to five or six different scenes of Shaggy and Scoo...er..Ziggy and Ogre running around, eating food and getting into minor mischief. Fade to darkness and the whole gang in the front row at center court. Ogre is sitting on the floor so others can see.]

Glenn: Ladies and gentlemen! Before the big show I'd like to introduce the real stars of this show, the circus hobos!

[All of the hobos from the circus walk out onto the court. There's probably 100 in all. Then the lights go out with a crack!]

Some lady: What's going on! Help!

Louise: Ziggy keep your hands to yourself!

Ziggy: Hey! That wasn't me this time!

Janeane Garofalo: Sorry, that was me. I just love your hair.

Everyone: GASP!

[The lights come back on to a completely empty court. There is not a hobo to be found]

happy Glenn: Ladies and gentlemen, please don't panic. I'm sure they all just went to check on the lights together....I hope. Please, everyone remain seated while we get to the bottom of this.

[The pajama party crew approach with private detective credentials in hand.]

Louise: Have no fear! The pajama party crew is here! We know that someone kidnapped those hobos and we're going to get to the bottom of this. We owe it to you for showing us such a good time.

Happy Glenn: Thank you so much. I really don't know what you kids can do that the authorities can't do when they get here.

Brock: It will take the police hours to get here. By that time the hobo-nappers will be long gone. We're here now and can find out what's going on before the trail goes cold. Hey, what's that on the court over there?

Louise: Jink...sigh. It's a blue paw print!

Jessica: No, not that, that.

[She points to something shiny on the floor. Ziggy walks over and picks it up and walks back to the group.]

Ziggy: Hey! It's a bobby pin!

Brock: A bobby pin? What's a man doing with a bobby pin?

[Shakes head]

Brock: That doesn't matter now. We can figure out what it means later. We need to split up. Louise, you go with Ziggy and Ogre. Me and Jessica (wink) will be...umm...looking in the other direction. Yeah, that's it.

[Brock and Jessica head off towards the front of the circus and the parking lot, while the rest of the gang head the other way. Somewhere in the maze of tent's and closed up booths the "rest of the crew" sees a hobo ghost.]

Ziggy: Zoinks!...

Ziggy: Ha! That one's not copyrighted yet!...Ga!

[The standard chase by the hobo ghost ensues. Cut to scenes of legs spinning like wheels and arms outstretched running from the ghost. Queue the wacky chase music. Ziggy, being the heavy guy he is, has to stop.]

Ziggy: OGRE! Wait! Pant! Pant! Why are you running? Your like, four times his size! You could EAT him!

[Ogre stops mid-stride, turns around with a big smile on his face and cocks his head to one side.]

Ogre: Did you say....EAT?

[The reverse chase ensues the same as before, but this time it's Ogre that's chasing the ghost. Queue more dorky chase music. I think it has a trombone in it somewhere.]

[Ogre accidentally smashes through the wall in the only solid building in the circus. Somehow, the wall has landed on the hobo ghost who is dazed and barely conscious. Panning around the room they discover that the room is full of bound and gagged hobos.]

[Cut to Brock and Jessica strolling up to the building, laughing and giggling.]

Jessica: Hey! Way to go guys! You caught the bad guy!

[Cut to a bound and gagged hobo ghost, Brock and Ziggy untying the last of the 100 or so hobos, and the police arriving on the scene.]

Officer 1: Good job you kids! We'll take it from here.

Ziggy: Like, but who's the bad guy?

Louise: That, Ziggy, is obvious. None other than...

[She reaches over and victoriously and pulls off the ghost mask]

Louise: Happy Glenn Reynolds. You see, that blue paw print we found told me that the crook had to be someone that loved animals. Someone that just couldn't get enough of those cute and cuddly puppies.

Everyone: GASP!

Officer 2: But why would Happy Glenn want to capture all of his hobos?

Louise: Well, that's not all. You see...

[There is a thumping and mumbling sound from behind a full sized mirror on the opposite wall. Cut to a scene of the kids pulling off the mirror to reveal a bound and gagged Happy Glenn in his boxers and tee-shirt.]

Jessica: If that's Happy Glenn, then who is...

[All heads turn back to the fake Happy Glenn and Louise standing triumphantly over him. She pulls off the Happy Glenn mask to reveal...]

Everyone: Dan Rather?

Dan Rather: I would have gotten away with it too if it wasn't for you pajama partying kids!

Louise: Hmm.. That’s not right.

[Louise again takes off the next mask to reveal..]

Everyone: Hobo Barbara?

Barbara: That's Senator Boxer to you. You rotten kids have foiled my plans to brainwash all of California. These hobos were just going to be a test group. We were going to try it out on San Francisco, but all of the bums there already vote Democrat. This was the best the DNC could do. We'll be back I tell you! We'll be back!

[The officers take her away to the paddy wagon with her kicking and screaming the entire way. Brock turns to the real Glenn.]

Brock: So how long have you been stuck in that wall?

Glenn: She stuffed me in there about a week ago. It was really nice of her to keep feeding me those smoothies though. They were really delicious!

[Glenn sees a dead puppy under the busted wall's rubble]

Glenn: NOOOO!

[Glenn runs up to the dead puppy and holds it close. He has tears welling up and then something in him snaps. He inhales deeply the sweet smell of the dead puppy.* A slight smile comes on his face as he puts the puppy back on the ground.]

Evil Glenn: Well, thank you kids for coming in and saving the day. I'm sure you really must be going. As you can see we have plenty of clean up to do here so I must be going.

[Eye's dead puppy one more time.]

Evil Glenn: Say, do any one of you know where I could get a good blender?

Crossposted at BNN: LINK

*This line has been changed to retain my "G" rating.

Sloooooow Blogging

Please excuse the slow blogging. I've been tweaking templates and trying to get my KotB submission ready. I've still got the settings and storyboard left to write. I'll be burning the midnight oil on this one.

Blogger News Network

About a week and a half ago I was approached by Robert Hayes from Let's Try Freedom. He has started a project that has been a long time coming and well overdue. You see, many of the bloggers on the internet, okay most of the bloggers in the internet have a talent for the written word. Many of these people are published writers but remain unknown. Many others are working on improving their writing ability so that they can become published. Still others have just got a natural gift for writing and it shows.

This is where The Blogger News Network comes in. BNN is a site devoted to the exceptional articles and news reports written strictly by bloggers like you and me. It is a place for all of those who fall into the above categories to showcase their talents. His standards are not that high either. Heck, they let me in.

They do have some serious talent there as well. Being a blogger I'm prone to dropping names and such so here goes:

First off, I'd like to note that Dean Reese at Blue Glow Worm, one of my competitors for KotB is also a contributor. I'm sure if Michael McLees at Thoughts of Mike applied he'd be accepted as well. After the death threat, I've been delving a bit into his site and have found some pretty quality stuff. That would make an entire BNN staffed tournament!

Okay, enough with the obligatory sucking up. On to the other bloggers I'm familiar with:

John Burgess from Crossroads Arabia
William N. Kilarjian and Aaron Margolis from Pardon My English
Jane Novak from Armies of Liberation (My Blogmother)
Doug Payton of Considerettes
Mark Radulich from Progressive Conservatism
Stacy L. Harp from Mind & Media (I blogged about her a couple days ago.)

Pant! Pant! Okay, that's enough. I'm about halfway down the list. There's more people I know on the list, but I'm sure you get the point by now. If you want to read some good articles written by some good people BNN is the place to do it. If you want to be one of the bloggers getting your articles read BNN is the place to do it. Before the site was instalanched yesterday they were already taking in around 200 hits a day from a site no older than a couple of weeks. Now that the site has been instalanched there's no telling how much readership will happen.

If you haven't already followed one of the above links to Blogger News Network Here's another one: LINK

Images of hope 21

Ardamata Camp - Sorghum Distribution: Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Ardamata camp outside of Geneina in West Darfur receive sorghum provided by USAID through WFP.

Taken from GlobalSecurity.org

The King Returns!

('Cause "Return of the King" has been used and abused.)

Well, I have thanked you my minions of the blog. However, our battle has not yet been won. This week there are two more pretenders vying for my hard fought crown of glory. So all I ask of you is to vote and provide a trackback. One or two lines are enough. I'll even do the trackback for you if you fear the dreaded PING. Just let me know you wrote something and I'll throw the trackback in.

And if you really want to go that extra mile you can help schmooze the judges:

News from the Great Beyond
Ogre's Politics and Views
SmarterCop

Then of course there's always slander. One of the pretenders has already threatened to kill me with the melted down remnants of my own crown. Maybe someone should tell him that a pixel crown can't get melted down.

So go forth, get out the vote! Rock the trackback and watch the sparks fly...or pixels as the case may be.

VOTE KING WARMONGER!

Workfare - Fixing Welfare

Something that’s been in the back of my mind for a long time is welfare. I hate it. In its current state it is completely disrespectful to not only those who pay taxes and reap no benefits, but those that are forced into the program with no opportunity to escape. Many don’t want to escape. They are content to live off of you and me for as long as we keep giving them a handout instead of a hand-up. Many other people would like to kick those people in the backside for taking their hard earned tax dollars while giving nothing in return.

What I would like to propose is something that falls under the category of workfare. No, this is not the same workfare that makes you do 30 hours of community work a month in order to collect a check. All that does is make you feel like an indentured servant to the government, a government slave if you will. That’s not what I’d like to propose.

What I’d like to propose is a transitional form of welfare. One that gives you the career building opportunities that you need while still providing financial assistance for you to live on. It’s a hand up, a chance to graduate from poverty, a chance to succeed.

The reason people don't work under welfare is that they lose their benefits at the slightest employment. If you work at McDonalds you lose your benefits. That's not right. We need to fix that so people can work and continue to be productive members of society. Now here's the dig, instead of still receiving your full welfare check and what you collect from an underemployed job you collect the difference between your welfare check and your transitional job. In addition to that, you receive an additional half of what you are receiving at work as a workfare supplemental. The 50% number can be played with, depending on what level of incentive or savings the government wishes to extract, but this is the cornerstone of the concept.

For example, lets take Bob. Bob collects a welfare check every month for 1,000$. He sits on his rump, collects a check and eats Doritos all day. If he were to get a job at McDonalds for 500$ a month he would lose his 1,000$ welfare check and only collect 500$. Under workfare he could collect 500$ from McDonalds, 500$ from welfare and 250$ from his workfare supplemental. That's 250$ that he wasn't collecting while sitting on his couch, suckling the government piggy bank. That's also 250$ the government has just saved on the welfare system. It now costs the government only 750$ to provide Bob with 1,250$ worth of workfare.

So what happens to the additional 250$ that the government has just saved? Well, there is a plethora of under funded, hand-up, educational and service based programs within the welfare system that could definitely use that money. It could pay for classes, improved services, better accounting and maybe even free or reduced price psychological services for those within the system. It creates a win-win situation all around. I can see no losers in this endeavor.

Let me modify that last statement. There will be no legal losers in this endeavor. The only losers that I can foresee will be the illegal aliens that assume the jobs that regular Americans will not take because they can do better with welfare, sitting on their duff, eating Doritos. If the opportunities for migrant workers dry up in the United States word will get out and the influx of the undocumented will subside. I guess that makes this a win-win-win situation.

Now, I have thought about the fact that some people may believe this program discriminates against those less capable. That is simply not true. The less capable would be the individuals most likely to benefit from this program. They are usually the ones that would take these lower employment jobs but don't due to their long-term welfare status. It would also be giving them better services to make the less qualified more capable of rising from their underemployed status.

So what about those already trying to better themselves through the free or reduced college services available today? Aren't they going to get shafted by this? Well, normally yes. They wouldn't be working and collecting an extra check so they wouldn't be able to benefit. However, an option that has been used with other workfare plans is to include a partial payment system for those continuing their education. I would suggest a plan that worked by examining how much time you are dedicating to college. Say, for example, a full time student would receive 10% extra from welfare while a half time student would only receive an additional 5% supplemental. From the 25% government savings to the system pay equality would be a natural consequence. How many wins are we up to now?

Another benefit of employment is a sense of accomplishment. Even if your job is adding the big white mints to the toilets at Billy's Beanatorium you are still doing something that makes an effect upon society in a beneficial way. It gives people an improved self esteem. It gives them the drive to do better, to make something of themselves, to make something of America.

Cross-Posted at: The Blogger News Network under Education & Social Policy

NOTE: BNN has just been instalanched.

Images of hope 20

Air Force Capt. Brian Gilpatrick and 1st Lt. Nils Hallberg, 351st Air Refueling Squadron, 100th Air Refueling Wing, Royal Air Force Station Mildenhall, England, prepare for takeoff in a KC-135R Stratotanker. About 30 U.S. Air Forces in Europe members left for Kigali, Rwanda Oct. 21 to begin preparations for the arrival of two U.S. Air Force C-130 aircraft and about 120 airmen to support the deployment of African Union forces to the Darfur region of Sudan. Photo by Airman 1st Class Franklin J. Perkins, USAF

If you were wondering how any aid is getting to Darfur then wonder no longer. The U.S. is on the job again.

Correction on the glow worm

Ogre has been polite enough to tell me that it wasn't his fault last week. Something about a wardrobe malfunction:

It doesn't matter. We shall do battle on the field of Blog! Ready your keyboard!

Tweaking the template

Well, I've recieved some constructive criticism by the judges and am making the approptiate tweaks.

Lets see...Music has been silenced, but opens upon request, cut out a few language translations and put the other ones in their native tongue (I still want to put micro flags next to them), Moved the Llama to a better stable, added the king button and appropriate commentary. Looks like the only two things left to do are add more "about me" stuff and figure out a way to put better post separators in. I guess I'll be hunting through templates tonight for the answer.

I'd like to thank all three judges (News From the Great Beyond, SmarterCop and Ogre's Politics and Views) for their fair and balanced critiques of my submissions and template.

I would also like to thank Pat Santy, from Dr. Sanity for the hard fought match. I'll be voting for you when you compete in two weeks time, as long as it's not against me. You are truly blogging royalty.

I would also like to thank everyone who voted for me or did a trackback. I can remember Patty-Jo, Daisy Cutter, My Vast Right Wing Conspiracy, Pirate's Cove and Flight Pundit. Without your individual help I would not be in the place I am today...even though I was still beaten on trackbacks.

Again, thank you to everyone involved in this great production..oops! almost forgot: Nick Queen, without his foresight none of this would be in effect.

Now on to those that wish to dethrone me. (Jeez! You'd think they'd knock on the bathroom door first!):

Blue Glow Worm - You dropped out last week, but you cannot escape me that easily. This week we do battle!

Thoughts of Mike - I already know what you're thinking. You're thinking: "Dear God, what have I gotten myself into."

Will I be able to hold onto the coveted title for another week? Will I be able to hold on long enough to be retired? Only time, and the appropriate votes, trackbacks and proper schmoozing of the judges can tell.

(..and if you find somthing that needs improving let me know and I'll see what I can do.)

Images of hope 19

Darfur, western Sudan, is witnessing the latest episode in Sudan's long history of internal conflict.

Fighting has left thousands dead, and according to UN figures, up to 1,450,000 people have been driven from their villages to camps outside large towns in the region. Another 200,000 have crossed the border into Chad.

So why is this an image of hope? It is people like you and me that can make it one. Go here and send whatever you can.

You can change it into pictures like this:


Kerinding II Clinic

Islamic Relief has opened a primary care health clinic in Keriding II to serve over 4000 people. The clinic will provide vital healthcare to displaced families.

The clinic has received a donation of medicines from Al-Geneina Hospital and malaria treatment drugs from the WHO.

It's not much, but it's a start. I'll be doing sudan images all week. The images will probably not be as hopeful as usual. Remember that you can make that change, give to the above linked charity or many others like it. I'll be highlighting more as the days go by.

(The UN could do something as well, but we really don't have a say as to where they set up their next blood-for-oil program.)

King of Blogs directory

Those coming here from the King of Blogs tournament, let me direct you to the following three posts:

American Warmonger: A Guided Tour

Submission: Reflections of my military past - redux

Challenge: WAR!

Election reform announced in Egypt

First Afghanistan, then Palestine, then Iraq, then Saudi Arabia, and now this:

CAIRO, Egypt (AP) -- Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak ordered the constitution changed to allow multi-candidate presidential elections in September, making a surprise reversal Saturday that could mean he will face a challenger for the first time since taking power in 1981.

Has anyone ever heard of the dominoe effect?

Anyone ever played dominoes before? Well, I have so here goes:


DOMINO MOTHERF**ER!!!

Wichita police chief: 'BTK is arrested'

Well, it looks like after 30 years they finally have their man...maybe. This wouldn't have been the first time a serial killer (not cereal) has eluded police. However, the police chief sounded pretty convinced it was none other than some guy named Dennis Rader. I haven't really been follwoing the case that well, so that's all I got.

Just a thought: Wouldn't it be fitting sickness for the BTK guy to turn into a teacher for that 15 year old that just got sentenced to 30 years? Hopefully, the Rader will get the death that Terri Schiavo will not be afforded. Maybe Rader will get life...which Terri might not be afforded either.(Yes, I know I'm stretching for this one. Hopefully, I'm not stretching too far.)

The Editor is getting Hitched!

(And I'm not just talking about theat episode with the pick-up truck.)

He had the ring stuffed away on the 17th hole. I think that's the first time anyone's ever done something like that. I'd have given him a 10, but he'll have to settle for a 9.1 because he didn't invite anyone, or set the date yet. Go by and give him your congratulations!

The importance of reading

Most of us in the blogosphere have the inate ability to read. Most of us cn even read in English. Unfortunately, most of us are restricted by the almighty dollar from reading everything we want. Twenty bucks for a book is awfully pricey when you don't know if it's any good or not.

Today I was propositioned by Mind & Media to read and review books in my blog. Unfortunately, I am preoccupied with college at the moment and won't be able to startup until around June. Hopefully I can find the time to read something besides ugly tech manuals by then.

That being said, Stacy, the proprieter of Mind & Media has given me permission to plug her site and extend her offer further. Remember, since it is her site and her decision, she reserves the right to refuse anyone she feels. Mostly though, she's worried about the mongerlaunch (see instalaunch) that may occur at her site once I've posted this. Yeah right, my minions. That's funny.

Honestly though, she didn't tell me that in the e-mail, but I'm making sure to protect her rights. I'm not sure exactly how selective she is, but I'd like to think she can chose who she wants.

Anyway, here's the text of the e-mail she sent me:

Dear Jeremy,

I was reading your blog American Warmonger and decided that I wanted to take a moment to introduce you to a new blog I've created called Mind & Media - http://mindnmedia.blogspot.com

The reason I started this blog is because I just started a publicity company with the purpose of promoting authors, films and other media through the use of bloggers.

And since we are all bloggers I wanted to invite you to join me. I am currently in the process of selecting bloggers to review books and other things in the future, like film. I've already promoted Reagan; In the Face of Evil dvd, and now I'm starting with selected authors.

I need you to review these books and let your readers know about them.

This is how it works, I will send you a free book, and just ask in return that you link it on your blog with a review. You can blog as you read the book, or read the book first and then blog about it. But I would want the book graphic and the link I will provide on your blog the whole time you have the book - at least for a month.

If you are interested in joining me, please respond to this email by clicking the reply button and I will add you to my list. Then when I have a new book going out, I'll contact you.

You can also visit the website for the latest interviews and promotions I have going on.

Thanks!

Stacy L. Harp
Mind & Media

and also the blogger of E-Involved and MediaSoul
http://www.einvolved.org
http://mediasoul.typepad.com

She gave me her phone number too, but I'm not going to let that out. Yes, I know you can go to the library to check out free books, but you don't actually get the opportunity to write a review, or keep the book for an entire month. I checked the size of the ads she's requesting as well. Here is a sample:

I stole her bandwidth to present this to you. I felt it only fair to make the declaration under fear of being Austined.

Now you have all of the facts as I have them. It gives you an opportunity to read free books and provide an online repository of reviews from real people like you and me. If this sounds like an interesting proposition to you plese don't hesitate to e-mail her. What could it hurt?

Blogs for Bush: Learning From Terri Schiavo

Matt over at Blogs for Bush has the right idea about the lessons we can learn from the Terri Schiavo case no matter what happens to her.

Everyone who has taken the time to talk about or blog about this case should take the time to create a living will to make their wishes known to their family.

This is something I haven't doen myself but should. Hell, I'll do it right now. This is in print and should hold up in court. If any lawyers would like to let me know the truth I'm all ears:

I Jeremy H. Bol, being of sound mind and healthy body, am submitting to the world, this day, 25 FEB 2005, this document as my living will.

In the event of my incapacitation and inability to decide my fate for myself immediate decisions requiring urgent consideration should be relagated to my wife, Young-Mi Bol. In the event that she is not available for emergencies I authorize doctor's descretion for operations and other items requiring approval.

1) If I am under a long term incapacitation requiring more than a feeding tube I request that I be kept alive for six(6) months. At the end of these six months I hereby relagate the decision to a majority vote between Young-Mi Bol, Patty-Jo Bol, John Harley Bol and my grandmother, Beverly Hammer. If in the event that a deadlock agreement is made, I leave the deciding vote to my son, Brandon C. Bol to break the tie. If one or more of the above parties are dead or otherwise similarly incapacitated, the remaining parties will have authority to vote.

If the vote is deemed to keep me alive, then another vote will be made in three(3) months time. This three month interval will continue until I regain conciousness, a vote to end my mechanically permitted life, or three years time has been reached. At the end of three years time change the voting interval to annual.

If a death vote is reached I wish to be provided medically assisted suicide medication in lieu of the natural solution.

2) If I am incapacitated and surviving on the means of a feeding tube I request that all available brain scan tests be ran to determine my mental capacity. If it is deemed by a doctor that I am effectively brain dead then I wish for a medically assisted suicide.

If any the afforementioned persons requests additional tests be ran I request that they be honored, no matter how long this may keep me alive in a seemingly vegatative state.

A vote for continued existance can be requested by any party, at any time after six months of incapacitation by any of the above parties.

If any situation arises that is not covered above a vote will be made in the same style as has been previously noted.

This concludes my living will.

If there are any situations in which someone would suggest I add please feel free to make a comment.

MSNBC - Life-support case extended 3 weeks

MSNBC - Life-support case extended 3 weeks

Yep, that's right. Terri now has until the 18th of March. This is utterly rediculous folks. I just don't understand why the court won't allow any of the requested tests. Of course, state agancies are starting to look into this case now:

State officials also are trying to intervene in the case. Attorneys for the Schindlers said the state wants a 60-day stay to investigate allegations that she is being mistreated by being denied appropriate medical care and rehabilitation.

Originally, I heard they wanted 15 days to investigate. 60 days would put her into around the end of April.

Dear Alan Colmes (of Hannity and Colmes)

I've been a long time fan of the show and have noticed something going awry with the program. About a year ago, before the elections were in full swing, I used to watch intently for your intellectual commentary that could put Sean in his place.

Unfortunately, sometime during the election season your attitude changed. You stopped being intelligent with your commentary and became mean and snippy. You've gone from being a full partner on the program to being one that just waits until the end of everything and throws an irrelevant, or irreverent comment out as a means of saying that everything we had just heard is a lie. Much of the time you even ignore important facts about the case at hand.

Lets take, for example, yesterday's conversation with Mr. Dobson on the Terri Schiavo case. I agree with you on the point that people should have a right to die. I do not agree that the word of one man, especially her husband, should have any weight on this type of statute. You see, when the death of a family member is involved relatives do not think clearly, and are frequently found lying about things in order to get their way. I'm sure you could argue the same for her parents, but there is some very compelling evidence in their favor.

Have you actually sat down and watched the videos Mr. Colmes? Have you actually made a conscious effort to sit down and see for yourself what Terri is capable of doing? The video evidence is undeniable by any sane human being that understands any similar debilitating illness. Terri has nearly the same motor functions of Stephen Hawking, one of the greatest minds of our time. Hawking just has the benefit of some additional computer equipment and physical therapy. Would you condemn him to the same fate that we consider cruelty to animals?

(If you have not seen the full array of short videos please go here:
http://web.tampabay.rr.com/ccb/videos/Terri_Mum.rm
or
http://web.tampabay.rr.com/ccb/videos/Terri_Swab.rm
or
http://web.tampabay.rr.com/ccb/videos/Terri_music.rm
or
http://web.tampabay.rr.com/ccb/videos/balloon.rm
or
http://web.tampabay.rr.com/ccb/videos/Terri_Big_Eyes.rm
or
http://web.tampabay.rr.com/ccb/videos/hows_that_cold.rm

If you need reference footage of those with similar physical disabilities you can go here to see some palsy kids:
http://www.cpschoolnj.com/cp1b256k.wvx
or
http://www.cpschoolnj.com/cp1e256k.wvx

If the words of the doctor still bother you please remember that it was Michael Schiavo that has bought and paid for everything, including the doctor. There have been no independent entities to actually see Terri. Michael, the legal guardian, has forbid it. Now, can you tell me one good reason Michael would refuse a second opinion?

Anyway, I've prattled on about one particular case long enough. That wasn't the full intent of this letter. I was particularly interested in asking you on a personal level to stop being the obstructionist you appear to have become. It does nothing but put you on the quality level of Tucker Carlson. I do hope that this article does not appear to be mean-spirited or an attack against you personally. I just miss the old Alan Colmes that could make a statement without making a sneer.

Thank you for your time,

Jeremy H. Bol
Chesapeake, VA
http://americanwarmonger.blogspot.com
(Yes, I'm one of those dastardly bloggers.)

P.S. I'm sending this letter to Sean as well. If you delete this, maybe Sean will pick it up and be able to do something functional with it.