INSIDE BASEBALL AND NOT THE BOSOX

        Here in Massachusetts, the Dems control the state, even with a GOPer in the corner office (meaning Governor. There is no governor’s mansion here in Massachusetts). Though we’ve had a run of Republican governors, they’ve been either had one eye on a better job, or a head firmly up their butts. Most of the GOP establishment in the Commonwealth consists of what I call ‘Vichy Republicans’ who try to out Dem the Dems.

        Now with Mitt Romney seeming to revive the Mass GOP, plus dissatisfaction with the two Toms (Birmingham and Finneran) who essentially run this state, the Dems are getting desperate and nasty, trying to beat him in the court house and not the ballot booth (usual Democrat tactics). All I can say is the people who scream about Mitt’s working in Utah have driven many people to New Hampshire.

        At least is has been hurting them in the polls.

UPDATE: The panel has ruled the Romney meets the residency requirements! Now if we can only get democracy into the State House of Representatives and Senate.

ARRRRGGGGHHH!

        Bush tries to appease the jackals again. How many times will we fall for their bait-and switch before saying 'screw `em.' and leaving them to rot in their cesspool.

        One in his speech I found particularly risible.

The Palestinian people are gifted and capable...

        Yeah, but only when it comes to murdering children.

        Update: The Pals and their Arab bretheren are not happy with the speech, which, on second reading and more careful consideration was much better.then I had believed. More later. (Hopefully)

OVERDUE UPDATE

        Sorry, but between work and the bar review class, I've not been able to do squat. Sunday is my one free day and last Sunday I was comatose and this one I had a wedding (and the less said about that, the better...). Gomen, Gomen!

AN APOLOGY IN ADAVNCE

        Folks, blogging is going to be erratic at best, non-existent at worst for the next month or so. See, I'm studying for the bar. That means four hours of classes Monday through Friday 6-10 PM. Plus I work Tuesday through Saturday on the night shift 11 PM -7 AM. Sunday I sleep.

        One incident I should mention. The lecturer on Contracts is a blond guy from the University of Alabama who speaks with a broad southern accent. His name is David Epstein. I am not joking. Professor Epstein used some quintessentially Dixie illustrations as examples. Any time Uniform Commercial Code Section 2, which as we all know deals with the sale of goods, was discussed, the sale of grits would be involved.

        The problem was when he had to use an example for consideration with a preexisting statutory or contractual duty rule. He used a Kinky Friedman concert for his example. Now I'm not a huge fan of 'The Kinkster,' but I have heard of him. However, during a break, apparently (I saw the taped lecture), several people went up to complain about the example, convinced that he was using an anti-Semitic slur. The professor assured the listeners that the Kinkster was a real person. He also added that he was glad he did not mention the singer's backup band 'The Texas Jewboys.'

        Some people.

SKAKEL THOUGHTS

Even a Kennedy is not immune to justice, unless his last name is Kennedy. Then he’s scot free!

SINCE I CAN'T DO A REAL UPDATE...

Someone needs a leave desperately!

JEWS OUT IN SPACE! [2 point ref]

        A Jewish Astronaut is asking about Shabbos in orbit. Reminds me of the panel I attended at the Arisia S.F. convention whose topic was Judaism in SF. We soon digressed into questions of observance in space and SF settings. The only issue we discussed that I can recall in any detail was the Centauri brit. Let's not go there.

        Speaking of which, spoliers for Fantastic Four #56. (The current relaunch.)


SPOILERS….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

        So, the ever loving, blue-eyed Thing is Jewish. Heh. I once listed all the last names of the founding Marvel characters. (Founding Avengers, X-Men, and major independent heroes) at it read like a county club roster. Only Daredevil (Matt Murdock) had a remotely ethnic name. Of course, despite the names, Stan Lee imbued many of his characters with a New York Jewish sensibility- especially the neurotic Spider Man.


        Time for two lists. First the surnames of the original Marvels, including the major Golden age characters. The other list is of Jewish or half-Jewish superheroes and villians.

Founding Marvels Dr. David Banner- The Hulk Dr. Donald Blake- Thor Robert Drake- Iceman Colonel Nick Fury James Hammond- Human Torch (I) Jean Grey- Marvel Girl Benjamin Jacob Grimm- The Thing Henry McCoy- Beast Namor McKenzie- Sub-Mariner Matt Murdock- Daredevil Peter Parker- SpiderMan Dr. Henry Pym- AntMan/Goliath Reed Richards- Mr. Fantasitc Susan Richards (neè Storm)- Invisible Woman Steve Rogers- Captain America Anthony Stark- Iron Man Johnny Storm- The Human Torch (II) Dr. Stephen Strange Scott Summers- Cyclops Janet Van Dyne- The Wasp Warren Worthington III- Angel Professor Charles Xavier- Professor X

Marvel's Jewish Supers Justice Legion Magneto Quicksilver Sabra Doc Samson Scarlet Witch Shadowcat Songbird The Thing UPDATE! Achillies of the Pantheon Bermuda Schwarz Brightsword The Golem Iceman Moon Knight Sasquatch

ANOTHER HOMER FOR PIPES

        Daniel Pipes vivisects Foggy Bottom, accusing the sleazy Arabists of malfeasance by understating the breadth and depth of Islamofasict terror in general and Palestinian terror in particular.

State pretends the vast majority of Palestinian terrorist incidents simply did not happen. It defines "significant international terrorist incidents" as ones involving major property damage, abduction or kidnapping, loss of life or serious injury, or the foiled attempt at any of these, and in 2001 it found 123 incidents worldwide that meet this criteria. Of those, a mere 11 concerned violence against Israelis. But when the Independent Media Review and Analysis applied State's criteria to anti-Israel violence, its scrupulous research found 97 attacks on Israel that fit this definition. The U.S. government asserts that Palestinian atrocities against Israel made up just 9 percent of the world's serious terrorist incidents in 2001, but in fact they constituted 46 percent of them.

        Seems as though our Arabists want to place a disproportionate emphasis on non-Arab terror. Yes, we need to extirpate FARC. But they are not the true threat. Except for Sri Lanka, all cross-cultural conflicts involve an Islamic society as at least one of the protagonists. India vrs Pakistan, Israel vrs the Palestinians, Indonesia in the South Moluccans and East Timor, Abu Sayeef in the Philippines, Egypt against its Copts, the Sudanese regime against the Nubians and the Albanians against the Serbs in the Balkans.

        I know that Islam per se is not the enemy and all that PC garbage. Yes, the Turks are on our side, as is the Northern Alliance. Plus the Jordanian leadership does not seem to have its head up its ass.

        Meanwhile the State Department is busy sucking up the Saudi princelings. Colin Powell may know there is a war on. I'm not sure he knows precisely who our enemies are.

        Chris Hitchens does, however. He takes time off assailing American bureaucrats to slam Pakistan and the Saudi royals. He says a lot of unpleasant things about the State Department, but no one has ever accused them of patriotism! [4 point ref]

LOST PARIDISES

        A recent note in the Wall Street Journal's Tony & Tacky caught my eye.

NO GUNS, NO GLORY: The Clunes of "Frontier House"--the PBS "reality" miniseries chronicling three families attempting to live the life of 1883 Montana homesteaders--may not win any popularity contests. But patriarch Gordon Clune said things would have been better if public television had been more realistic about one of the biggest realities of pioneer life: guns. Not only did the producers turn down Mr. Clune's request to be allowed to hunt for meat to feed his family, they imposed strict limits on using guns to ward off hostile varmints. "We were supposed to give a predator two warnings," Mr. Clune told the Los Angeles Times. "'Excuse me, Mr. Coyote, please don't eat my chicken. Excuse me, Mr. Coyote, please don't eat my chicken.' Then, you were supposed to fire a warning shot."

        So, what does it mean beyond the chattering classes' prejudice against the 2nd amendment? In a sense it is the equivalent of a Freudian slip, revealing the underpinnings of intellectual thought. As far back as Roseau dreaming of the noble savage, liberalism has pined for an Eden before the corruption of modernity. Ever since there has been an effort to fabricate such paradises either by forging new societies like communes and kibbutzes or by false interpretation of history. Indeed Marx and Engels seemed to be harkening back to the earlier societies before the Middle Ages- supposedly before classes were formed. Using Native Americans as an example, Engels wrote…

The division of labor is purely primitive, between the sexes only. The man fights in the wars, goes hunting and fishing, procures the raw materials of food and the tools necessary for doing so. The woman looks after the house and the preparation of food and clothing, cooks, weaves, sews. They are each master in their own sphere: the man in the forest, the woman in the house. Each is owner of the instruments which he or she makes and uses: the man of the weapons, the hunting and fishing implements, the woman of the household gear. The housekeeping is communal among several and often many families. What is made and used in common is common property - the house, the garden, the long-boat. Here therefore, and here alone, there still exists in actual fact that "property created by the owner's labor" which in civilized society is an ideal fiction of the jurists and economists, the last lying legal pretense by which modern capitalist property still bolsters itself up.

        Liberalism's fantasies of the past are not harmless, despite, or perhaps even because of, their Utopian nature. The Golden age never existed and can never exist. Well, outside of comic books. Anyhow, attempts to forcibly create Utopia have been an engine for misery and destruction throughout the 20th century, with Hitler, Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot and Lenin. And it continues with Islamofasicsts trying to make the kingdom of Allah on Earth.

SPORTS NEWS OF THE DAY

        When I head the Germans were playing the Saudis, after the Kissinger ‘can’t they both lose’ moment of thought, I decided I wanted the Jerries to win over the Jihad screamers. I got my wish. Big time. In American football that’s danm near the 1940 NFL championship.

        Looks like the Arab sports highlight remains the 1972 Summer games.

NASTY THOUGHT DU JOUR.

        If I were not afraid of the fallout (literally!) I’d want an all-out war in the Kashmir so India could pound Pakistan’s jihad supporters flat.


        BTW, first was the massive upswing in terror against Israel. Then comes the increased tension in the sub-continent. If I were conspiratorially minded, I’d say the House of Sod is using its Al Qeada catspaws to distract everyone from their complicity in 9/11.

WILLOW THE VAMPY FLAYER

        A quick note on the 'Buffy' season finale. It redeemed this uneven season. Buffy has always been a show about ethics, choices and morality. There have been clunkers this season (aside from the musical episode) but the last 3 episodes gave it a meaning and set things up well for next year. Even Spike.

        BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!


        Let the implications hang menacingly.

DINNER AND MOVIE, PART DUEX

        Actually, it was movie and dinner. AA (a blind date I met via the Net) and I went to see Episode II. My opinion is... mixed. (Spoilers below)

 

 

 

        The Good: Ewan McGregor pulls off the complex task of portraying Sir Alec's youthful precursor. Christopher Lee rocks. Period. End of discussion. as Temuera Morrison Jango Fett was also fun.

        Then there was Yoda and the rest of the special effects. Yes, I cheered at his kung-fu pose before using the Force and his lightsaber to go upside Count Dooku's head. And of course there were the jaw dropping tableaus of massive armies, amazing planetscapes and fantastic cities come to life as never before possible.

        Just as important as the sweeping vistas are the slices of Star Wars Universe life the FX helped to create, from the BladeRunner like traffic jams of Couriscant. Remember the 'Creature Cantina?' Never mind what happened there… it was an alien bar… with a band!

        The Bad: Natalie Portman and Hayden Christensen are the acting equivalent of the Sphere of Annihilation. And neither the spirit or soul can be resurrected, even with a wish spell. (1 point ref) Their screen time positively sucks the life out of the movie. Yes, they positively suck. Never mind the implausibility of a princess falling in love with a whiny killer, I can't see his past passion surviving three minutes with her! Portman was wooden in EP1. As for Hayden, I know the surfer dude worked in 1977, but Luke was meant to be a tabula rasa. Anakin is supposed to have hidden depths- the darkness within seeping out. Chirstansen only manages petulance. Lucas should have cast Jonathan Rhys Meyers in the role instead. Witness his work in Gormenghast. Of course I still say they should have cast an older actor in Episode 1, but that's water under the bridge.

        Of course the emotional high points were all mishandled. The revelation that he killed the Sand People left me thinking how a better director would handle both the confession and the massacre themselves. Lucas is too enamored with the 'gee whiz' and forgets basic storytelling. I would have cut after showing Anakin activating the light saber and turning menacingly to the tent opening.

        Lastly, Threepio's presence on the farm raises the question WHY DIDN'T OWEN OR BERU recognize him in Episode IV?

        What Lucas needs is someone to tell him when the ideas are stupid. As glad as I am that he's independent from Hollywood, I wish he paid a bit more attention to other views

        The Ugly: I was one who missed the alleged racism in Episode 1. The whiners attacked Ep II. One idiot complained that Jango was Latino because he has a dark complexion. Never mind the actor is Maori. Delicate PC folks get the vapors at the thought of swarthy villains. Aren't all bad guys blonde haired and blue eyed?

        That having been said, I was bugged by Watto. The blue creature returns. But now he wears a Tommy style helmet and has what seems to be a two-day's growth of a beard. Unfortunately it all makes him look like a caricature from Der Strumer or WAFA.

        I doubt that intended deliberate offense. He is merely oblivious. Still, it points to the need for him to have other voices, even if it is his baby.

JUST ANOTHER BRICK IN THE MALL

        Now I'm pissed. The bastards have finally crossed the line. No, this is not the Middle East, nor the Taxachusetts kleptocracy that has me fuming. This is about toy stores and it's real personal.


        I read this article in today's Boston Globe.

The Children's Story will soon close. About a year ago, Imaginarium, an upscale toy store chain owned by Toys ''R'' Us, opened a few blocks away on Harvard Street in Coolidge Corner. In a scenario reminiscent of the Tom Hanks-Meg Ryan movie ''You've Got Mail,'' the big chain threatened the livelihood of the independent. And like the movie, the small bookstore tried, but simply couldn't compete.

        I love The Children's Story. In a world of cloned mall stores, it was nice to have this funky store that sold unique items. The proprietress knows me by sight (hey, three nieces and two nephews. Gotta indulge them!) and was always friendly and helpful. Oh, and the selection! They have a variety of wood toys and a brigade of plastic animals- especially dinosaurs. There are Groovy Girls, finger puppets and high-end plushies. I can spend hours there. Heck I HAVE! Just about every gift I've gotten (save for books) has come from that store.


        As for the Imaginarium, it's a mallrat's parody of an 'upscale' toy store. Though the floor space is far larger, the selection is not as good and I am not enamored with the items they do have. They have a poor selection of plastic animals and not much in the way of wood toys besides trains.


        There is one item they have that really angers me. They sell a prefabricated lemonade stand. Yep, instead of the tedious process of actually LEARNING how to use tools and writing the sign yourself, have Mommy and current Daddy load you up into the SUV and drive to the mall or the Harvard Street Imaginarium and buy the prefabricated lemonade stand. And in a week, it'll gather dust as you discover how unrewarding having something handed to you is. But hey, Mommy will find you some new creativity-stifling toy keep you distracted so she can tend to her busy social life.


        Normally I have little patience for those who scream about Walmarts moving in. Hey, root hog or die. However, to me the difference is that the Imaginarium may drive out the Children's Story, it will not replace it.


        Well, all I can do is buy as much stuff for their upcoming birthdays and next holiday season. Thankfully there are a few other stores around- mostly in Harvard Square- where I can find the unique gifts that make 'Uncle Totoro's' presents unique.

REPLY FROM GRAND MARNIER

        I wrote to Grand Marnier, writing why I would not be buying their product for a while. I received this reply.

Dear Sir, The only thing I can say is that I couldn't agree more with you! I'm ashamed by our politicians and their constant rambling about how the muslim extremists are not responsible for their actions. Believe me when I say that I am getting sick and tired of their so called politically correct statements which are always backed up by the brain washing medias. Unfortunately for us, we are governed by people most of us didn't vote for... I'm not trying to make you change your mind but only underlining the fact that although French, I've been ashamed of their international policy and their constant propaganda for quite a while now. PS: This situation is unfortunately not new as I recall clearly the same thing happening when the christians were slaughtered by the muslim extremists back in the Lebanon war and this with the blessing of the French governement and many others. Inaction should sometimes be consisered a crime... Sincerely, Gilles Coury Internet & Multimedia Director www.grand-marnier.com

        Being from Massachusetts, I can empathize with having a vote but not candidates.

        When I end to boycott, it’ll definitely be with a snifter of GM. And not on the rocks!

CRUMMY EXCUSE FOR AN UPDATE

        Two excellent pieces in the Boston Phoenix this week. The first, by David Brudnoy, the legendary WBZ talkmaster, tears apart the Israel haters in his genteel manner.

The simple principle that the victor in a war brought on by an attack against it has the full right and a moral obligation to pacify the enemy, including occupying territory from which the aggression was launched (and continues to be launched), makes scarcely a dent in the minds of folks who call talk shows, mine among them, or who trudge off to "peace" rallies. Nor does it influence those who take their cues from the manifestly anti-Israel news reporting on National Public Radio or the opinion pieces in many liberal newspapers and magazines - all of which view Israeli and Palestinian actions in terms of moral equivalence. With press coverage like this, it's not surprising that Palestinian sympathizers see the Israeli presence in the territories as "occupation" in the most illegitimate sense of the term.

       The second is a diary of an Israeli soldier, Adam Harmon.

When Israelis hear all the hoopla about Jenin, mostly coming from Europe and the Arab world, they shake their heads in frustration. Israelis figure that Europeans blame Israel for bad behavior because they want to create a sense of equivalence that will alleviate the guilt they feel about European atrocities committed during World War II. Most Israelis think that European leaders are hostage to Arab oil and money or are possessed by the residual anti-Semitism that has reared its ugly head over the last few weeks. Whatever the reason, the Europeans' eagerness to blame Israel is so knee-jerk that few Israelis take their comments seriously. When it comes down to it, Israelis care only what America thinks.

        Unlike most 'alternative' rags, the Phoenix is defying the lemming left with a pro-Israel editorial stance.

SCHADENFREUDE OD!

        After reading Uri Dan in today’s New York Post, one would have to have a heart of stone not to laugh. Arafat canceled his trip to Jenin because he would face a hostile audience. Here’s one reason why.

Sources said a major reason for anti-Arafat sentiment is allegations that 10 tons of donated food never got there.       Half of the food was allegedly sold by Arafat's Palestinian Authority to raise cash, and the other half went to Palestinian Authority stockpiles.

        Regrettably not included in the online version of the article is this fine whine from an unemployed construction worker named Ahmed Nawasrah. “We’ve lost our houses, we’ve lost our sons and we’ve gotten nothing.”

        Considering Jenin… sorry Jeningrad… was the launching pad for the human anti-shopper/ teenybopper missiles, I’d say Ahmed and company got the inevitable backlash. But they should treasure the big nothing they do still have. The one named Arafat.

        This was in also the article…

The tension in the camp was underlined when, shortly after Arafat left, two members of his Fatah faction argued about who had fought the Israelis more bravely - and one shot the other in the leg.

Absolutely priceless

OH SHUT UP.

        Boss Frog attacks messenger. Jack-off Chirac got snippy at Arik Sharon because Zionists don’t like his Vichy swabs.

During the telephone conversation Saturday with the Israeli leader, Chirac expressed his displeasure over "an anti-French campaign in Israel, aimed to present France as an anti-Semitic country," Chirac's spokeswoman Catherine Colonna said, in remarks printed in Monday's Le Monde newspaper.

        Here’s a hint. The perception isn’t caused by a sinister cabal of the Elders of Zion. It’s caused by reading about your government’s onanism towards the Adjacent Jew-Haters, Judeopathic remarks by clowns in your government, Le Pen and, oh yes, the upsurge in violence against Jews and Jewish institutions that have swept France.


        Maybe Daniel Bernard could help. Meanwhile, here’s a hint, Jack-off. Start booting jihad screamer glutes. Then maybe the perception will change.

        What a sphincter.

OPEN E-MAIL TO GREY GOOSE

Gentlemen,         I wish to tell you how much I have enjoyed your product. I never considered myself a vodka drinker before encountered your product. Indeed there is a half-empty bottle currently in my freezer.         Regrettably, it seems to be the last one I shall purchase in the foreseeable future. I am boycotting French products in protest of the anti-Jewish and anti-Israeli statements, actions and acts of nonfeasance in your country. While Jews are attacked in broad daylight and synagogues are desecrated and burned down, the French government criticizes those who call attention to the violence and only decry it in the most vague and mealy-mouthed terms. What is called for is strong law enforcement. The attackers are not Le-Pen supporters as many in France would like to pretend. They are the Islamic thugs of the suburbs. Their intrinsic political correctness should be no shield from law enforcement. Indeed France needs to learn the lesson of New York and how its crime rate plummeted. The inaction of law enforcement in your country to take corrective proactive measures casts France is a poor light.         Almost as bad is the French government attacking Israelis for responding to Palestinian terrorists murdering women and children in supermarkets discos and bat-mitzvahs. These murders are not a response to ‘occupation’ but a rejection of the peace overtures. And finally I am disgusted that French politicians discussing the subject of Jews and Israel in tones worthy of the black days of Vichy and L`affaire Dreyfus. How dare French politicians demand American Jews be silent and not defend their besieged co-religionists in French and Israel.         I look forward to the day when I can buy Grey Goose Vodka in clean conscience. Until then I shall stick to gin and rum and any and all other booze not made in France.

        I will be sending similar e-mails to the makers of Chambord, Grand Marnier, Cointreau and other spirits made in France.

        BTW, the Grey Goose Website is overdesigned and not user-friendly. It's too hip by half.

ZINGER OF THE DAY

From Rush and Molloy at the N.Y. Daily News.

It was celebrity wrestling at its finest Friday when Jon Stewart and Susan Sarandon grappled over politics and world affairs at Pace University. The activist actress urged Americans to try to learn what is behind the hate that leads to terrorist acts. "When you have a guy who thinks the best act is to blow himself up, along with others, you have to ask, 'What leads to that?'" she asked. "And is the response more violence? A cowboy shoot-'em-up?" Stewart immediately retorted: "Getting us to understand that is like asking black people to understand why the Klan puts on pointy white hats." He then called Sarandon a "pinko." Affectionately. We think.

Accurately, I say.