Coffee

6:30 was entirely too early to be awake this morning, especially when one needs to fight with her sister over the bathroom (she won, since she's still in school). Today's conversation revolved around the national tax, the pharmacist and the Bible study in San Diego, along with North Korea the world's shortest river (either the Roe in MT or Oregon's D) and the world's largest lake (Lake Baikal by volume, Lake Michigan by surface area). Just how far a person can see at sea level on a clear day is still up to debate.

Taxed to Death

As lawmakers toy with the idea of an across-the-board sales tax on just about everything, tax reform advocates are starting to drum up opposition with the same fervor they employed during last month's anti-tax tea parties.

The idea of a national sales tax was once unlikely. But now that the federal government is doling out billions in stimulus spending and bailouts, and looking for billions more for health care reform, the prospect could be gaining some traction.

The frenzy over the idea kicked up after a Washington Post article Wednesday reported that Congress is starting to pay closer attention to this largely academic proposal and that the Obama administration, though shushing speculation, is soliciting advise from supporters of the idea. . . .

The value-added tax, or VAT, as it is called, amounts to a tax-on-everything -- or TOE, for the acronym-inclined. It's a tax on goods that's applied in pieces throughout the chain of production and distribution and results in an increase in the cost of virtually everything you buy.

Some claim that this will replace the federal income tax. What if it doesn't? What if Americans are doubly-taxed? The thought of more government power is a disturbing one, especially since it stems from the stimulus package and bailouts.

Killing the First Amendment

Pastor David Jones and his wife Mary have been told that they cannot invite friends to their San Diego, Calif. home for a bible study — unless they are willing to pay tens of thousands of dollars to San Diego County.

"On Good Friday we had an employee from San Diego County come to our house, and inform us that the bible study that we were having was a religious assembly, and in violation of the code in the county." David Jones told FOX News.

"We told them this is not really a religious assembly — this is just a bible study with friends. We have a meal, we pray, that was all," Jones said.

A few days later, the couple received a written warning that cited "unlawful use of land," ordering them to either "stop religious assembly or apply for a major use permit," the couple's attorney Dean Broyles told San Diego news station 10News.

Whatever happened to freedom of assembly? Freedom of religion? Aren't those protected in our Constitution? Why should someone be forced to pay thousands of dollars to eat and fellowship with friends?

Pharmacist Who Shot Would-Be Robber Charged With Murder

Fifty-seven-year-old Oklahoma City pharmacist Jerome Ersland was charged with first-degree murder today, after shooting and killing a sixteen-year-old "would-be robber" (FNC). "Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater said in an afternoon news conference that Ersland was justified in shooting Antwun Parker once in the head on May 19. But Prater said Ersland went too far when he shot Parker five more times in the abdomen while Parker lay unconscious on the floor. Ersland's attorney, Irven Box, said Ersland was protecting himself and two women inside the pharmacy" (FNC).

Quite frankly, I think six shots is perhaps five too many to kill someone, especially if the first shot is to the head and the aggressor is already on the ground. Unconscious. And unarmed. Parker died of his abdomenal wounds, and was alive following the shot to the head. In my opinion, Ersland should have stopped after the first shot. The first shot was justifiable. The following six (shot from a second pistol, which Ersland retrieved after attempting to chase the second suspect) . . . not so much. Still, it's good that Ersland protected both himself and the customers; I suspect that there could have been a far greater number of casualties had Ersland allowed the second suspect a chance to use his weapon.

Happy Summer!

The semester ended almost a week ago, and fortunately I've yet to die of boredom -- mainly because my friends and I have spent time together almost every day in an effort to escape such a demise.
Unfortunately, that (and the tons of other things to do) has kept me from blogging, or even turning on my computer, so far this break. I will still try to blog, though I most likely will not be posting multiple times a day. Instead, posts may be brief or limited to links. However, I will still be going to coffee with my dad at 7:30 a.m. when time permits. I hope everyone has an enjoyable summer and had a pleasant Memorial Day!

N. Korea Warns of Strike Against S. Korea, U.S.

And to think I put so much hope in him.

Biden Aide Denies Vice President Leaked Classified Location of Cheney Bunker
. . . "an upstairs workspace?" What sort of upstairs workspace is that? And in that case, the real bunker must be even more super-secret and secure and undisclosed!

In Lieu of

Since it's finals week, I'm even busier than usual and don't have as much time to devote to blogging as I'd like. Still, I thought the below articles were particularly interesting. . . .

Biden Reveals Location of Secret VP Bunker
I have no words for this.
. . . Actually, I do.

Bloody Urban Battles Could Lie Ahead in Pakistan
+1000 Taliban fighters killed so far.

Treat for wounded soldiers: beach getaway
Americans are amazing.

I'm going to be a career college student.

Recently I've been posting more about my personal life, as opposed to straight politics, current events and my opinions of the aforementioned. I hope no one minds, not that I'll suddenly stop doing so if anyone objects.

I've begun the process of creating an ISP (Individualized Study Program), which will enable me to officially major in Political Science and History. I may even be able to change History to Middle-Eastern Studies, though I'm not entirely certain that I want to, as I'm rather fond of American history (with the exception of the Industrial Revolution and Reconstruction). Unfortunately, Communications (possibly Journalism) will be relegated to a minor, as I need five courses in two fields and four in the third. By the end of next semester, I will have two Political Science credits, possibly four in History (I'm debating adding Modern Middle East, as that will force me to take five classes, which apparently is rarely accepted here), and three in English.
While my Political Science adviser-to-be is encouraging me to create an ISP, my History adviser-to-be seems to be encouraging me to stick with co-concentrations and a few Communications courses.
I suppose my main concern at this point is not only what will make me most marketable, but also what will least affect my GPA negatively. Also, I want to be able to continue my education and earn a Master's degree as quickly as possible, so I still have at least another four years of schooling. And while, freshman year of high school, I would have said that that's quite a bit of time, I've recently realized that four years will pass far more quickly than I'd like (and perhaps in some respects, a lot more slowly than I'd like).

There is something terribly wrong with this country, isn't there?

While the truncheon may be used in lieu of conversation, words will always retain their power. Words offer the means to meaning, and for those who will listen, the enunciation of truth. And the truth is, there is something terribly wrong with this country, isn't there? Cruelty and injustice, intolerance and oppression. And where once you had the freedom to object, think, and speak as you saw fit, you now have censors and systems of surveillance coercing your conformity and soliciting your submission. How did this happen? Who's to blame? Well, certainly there are those more responsible than others, and they will be held accountable, but again truth be told, if you're looking for the guilty, you need only look into a mirror. I know why you did it. I know you were afraid. Who wouldn't be? War, terror, disease. There were a myriad of problems which conspired to corrupt your reason and rob you of your common sense. Fear got the best of you, and in your panic you turned to the now High Chancellor, Adam Sutler. He promised you order, he promised you peace, and all he demanded in return was your silent, obedient consent.

-V for Vendetta

When I searched for "Notre Dame University," the university's own description says, "the independent Catholic university in Indiana." When I searched for "Dr. Alan Keyes," his biography said that he was Roman Catholic. May I ask, then, why a Catholic reciting the rosary on a Catholic campus has been arrested?

By the Way . . .

I was remiss in checking the status of HR 1388, but today I received a forwarded e-mail stating that it had been passed. Naturally, I checked it via govtrack.us, since I rarely trust and never forward forwarded e-mails. HR 1388, involving mandatory volunteerism, was passed on April 21st.

Another Epic Fail

I heard about this story from Gateway Pundit. Wanda Sykes "accused Limbaugh of treason, compared him to Usama bin Laden and wished for his physical collapse as she roasted the favorite target of liberals Saturday night at the Washington Hilton" (FNC).

"Rush Limbaugh said he hopes this administration fails, so you're saying, 'I hope America fails,' you're like, 'I don't care about people losing their homes, their jobs, our soldiers in Iraq.' He just wants the country to fail. To me, that's treason. . . . He's not saying anything differently than what Usama bin Laden is saying," she continued, before addressing the guest of honor, President Obama. "You know, you might want to look into this, sir, because I think maybe Rush Limbaugh was the 20th hijacker. But he was just so strung out on OxyContin he missed his flight."

The crowd groaned, Obama smiled and Sykes may have noticed a little discomfort in the room.

"Too much?" she asked.

But then she piled it on:

"Rush Limbaugh, 'I hope the country fails' -- I hope his kidneys fail, how about that? ... He needs a good waterboarding, that's what he needs."

According to MSNBC, "former Vice President Dick Cheney was also a monologue target."

"Dick Cheney, oh my God, he's a scary man, scares me to death. I tell my kids, I says, 'Look, if two cars pull up, and one has a stranger, and the other car has Dick Cheney, you get in the car with the stranger.'"

Sykes also had former GOP vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin in her cross hairs. The Alaska governor canceled her dinner appearance after severe flooding hit her state.

She sent her husband, Todd, instead, but that didn't prevent a few jokes about her teenage daughter's out-of-wedlock pregnancy.

Wanda Sykes can say that to laughter, and yet golf analyst David Feherty apologized for his morbid joke:

"From my own experience visiting the troops in the Middle East, I can tell you this though. . . . Despite how the conflict has been portrayed by our glorious media, if you gave any U.S. soldier a gun with two bullets in it, and he found himself in an elevator with Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and Osama bin Laden, there's a good chance that Nancy Pelosi would get shot twice, and Harry Reid and bin Laden would be strangled to death" (FNC).

First of all, to even joke about 9/11 is completely reprehensible. It is tasteless and crude and completely ignorant. And accusing Limbaugh of treason . . . does anyone recall James Carville and Stanley Greenberg? Just minutes before news of the terrorist attacks disseminated the morning of September 11, 2001, Carville told Washington reporters, "'I certainly hope he doesn't succeed'" (FNC). Greenberg said, "'We rush into these focus groups with these doubts that people have about [Bush], and I'm wanting them to turn against him.'" Shortly thereafter, "as news of the terrorist attacks reached the hotel conference room where the Democrats were having breakfast with the reporters, Carville announced: 'Disregard everything we just said! This changes everything!' The press followed Carville's orders, never reporting his or Greenberg's desire for Bush to fail." Carville and Greenberg wanted Bush to fail, and yet when that information was finally belatedly released, they weren't deemed traitors. And yet Rush Limbaugh has been labeled treasonous and a terrorist.
Second of all, if Wanda Sykes may say that and receive laughter from Obama -- an encouraging response -- then why cannot David Feherty write with impunity? This nation was founded upon freedom of speech. If Wanda Sykes may say what she likes on national television in front of the president, then David Feherty should most definitely be permitted to write what he likes in a magazine.
Third of all, it seems to me that plenty of people have children out of wedlock -- Bristol Palin happened to be one of them. And doesn't having children out of wedlock imply pre-marital or extra-marital sex? And isn't chastity considered a more "conservative" value? Therefore, wasn't Sykes lambasting a more liberal way of life?
Fourth of all, I have a lot more to say but name-calling is ridiculous and would serve no purpose, anyway.

2009 Press Freedom (RSB)

19 Journalists killed
0 Media assistants killed
143 Journalists imprisoned
9 Media assistants imprisoned
66 Cyberdissidents imprisoned

Saberi to be Freed

Roxana Saberi's lawyer, Saleh Nikbakhat, "confirmed to Reporters Without Borders that she could be freed later today" (RWBfirst jailed for purchasing a bottle of wine -- consumption of alcohol is forbidden or haram in Islam. However, charges were later brought against her accusing her of spying for the United States. Saberi's father is Iranian-American, and her mother is Japanese-American. However, Iran refused to release Saberi earlier due to her Iranian citizenship. According to Reporters Without Borders, "'The short space of time between the original trial and the appeal, the length of the appeal hearing and the fact that her lawyers were allowed to speak in her defence are all encouraging signs . . . but we must not jump to conclusions as the Iranian judicial system often produces surprises."

Due Tomorrow

In a story completely unrelated to and far less entertaining than the above, "more than 110 students at Pueblo County High School were given two minutes to to come up with their history project" (FNC). What was their history project? "To plot an act of terrorism by a foreign government on American soil as part of a lesson on terrorism." Parent Gini Fischer, said that "'To ask them to use their creative energies to come up with a plot for an act of terrorism is very ludicrous.'" "The school superintendent told [TheDenverChannel.com] students may have misinterpreted the assignment."
. . . Just how does one "misinterpret" such an assignment? Just as ludicrous as the assignment is the superintendent's response. And what sort of an educator devised such an assignment? I studied terrorism last semester in International Politics, and not once did my professor require me to create my own terrorist plot.

If You Give a Man a Fish

They begin lining up even before the doors of the medical clinic open. Every day, dozens of Afghans from surrounding villages come seeking medical help at Camp Tillman in southeastern Afghanistan.
Often their ailments are not life threatening and can be easily treated with Tylenol or anti-diarrhea medicine. But without a local doctor around, simple medical problems can easily turn into life-threatening illnesses. . . .
In the past eight years, the U.S. military has tried to win the hearts and minds of Afghans with hundreds of infrastructure projects and outreach programs, and billions of dollars in international aid has been doled out.
The Obama administration has pledged to send more in the way of agricultural specialists, educators, engineers and lawyers to help the war-torn country "advance security, opportunity and justice."
"The idea was to win the hearts and minds of a people," explained one soldier. "Whatever the local village elders asked for, we tried to provide it."
If a village needed a well, they dug it. If they needed a school, the U.S. military built it.
But this approach to development has left Afghanistan's leaders ill-prepared to assume responsibility for running their war-torn nation. And military commanders are now beginning to re-think how they approach their jobs.
"If we keep doing what we've been doing, we will all be back here in five years doing the same thing," said Lt Col Peter Minalga, the Battalion Commander.
Military officials say now that instead of building a school that the village elders requested, they are trying to facilitate the project. This still means providing the funding, but instead of just paying locals to build it, they are trying to enable local companies to design, procure materials and build the structure. Military engineers are there to assist, not direct.
This approach is being replicated in training the Afghan National Army (ANA). U.S and Afghan troops regularly conduct joint patrols, but instead of American soldiers always organizing the missions, increasingly Afghan commanders are the planners and leaders. and U.S. troops there to assist, not direct.