The Habitant's Home Page looks interesting for those of a French Canadian genealogical bent.

An AP photographer seems to have caught on film the attitude that many in the military have towards the objective members of the press. Here it is before the AP, which is trying to pull the photo, gets it off of the Yahoo site from which I obtained it:

Sullivan on Bush in a column written to those in Britain working themselves into a mass hysteria in preparation for the President's visit with PM Blair.

Innocents Abroad plans to run a series of commentaries on how French "thinkers" of the day view their society. Should be interesting.

FOXNews.com - Top Stories - Weekly Standard: Intel Report Links Saddam, Usama. As if there were really any doubts. Anyway, this may just be the tip of the iceberg. It's a lengthy one, but, in this case, quantity does = quality.

Yahoo! News - Nader Blasts Democrats As 'Whiners':

"A media-sponsored review of more than 175,000 disputed ballots found that Gore would have won by a small margin if there had been a complete statewide recount. President Bush (news - web sites) won Florida, and thus the White House, by 537 votes out of more than 6 million cast. "

I don't remember that being the finding, anyone else?

Victor Davis Hanson on War on National Review Online has a good piece commenting on each of the now familiar arguments. With all of this mind, I wonder if the other shoe will drop, as Hansen seems to desire (as do I), when Bush gets reelected.

Found this in OpinionJournal - Best of the Web Today:

"'It's not difficult to understand why somebody might pick up an AK-47 against us. Maybe we killed his father in the first Gulf War, maybe in this Gulf War, maybe he's just a dick.'--Sgt. Reginald Abram, with the Third Armored Cavalry Regiment in western Iraq, quoted in the Asia Times, Oct. 24"

Bush on Democracy in the Middle East from Washingtonpost.com:

"The establishment of a free Iraq at the heart of the Middle East will be a watershed event in the global democratic revolution.

Sixty years of Western nations excusing and accommodating the lack of freedom in the Middle East did nothing to make us safe, because in the long run stability cannot be purchased at the expense of liberty.
As long as the Middle East remains a place where freedom does not flourish, it will remain a place of stagnation, resentment and violence ready for export.
And with the spread of weapons that can bring catastrophic harm to our country and to our friends, it would be reckless to accept the status quo.

Therefore the United States has adopted a new policy: a forward strategy of freedom in the Middle East. This strategy requires the same persistence and energy and idealism we have shown before and it will yield the same results.
As in Europe, as in Asia, as in every region of the world, the advance of freedom leads to peace. "

This could be a seminal speech in history...

Theory and History by Ludwig von Mises, just another thing to pass the time.

Got some time? Want to do some heavy reading? Are you sure? Try reading Bertrand Russell's Theory of Knowledge. Have fun!

Tom Curran's latest Patriots column has the following:

"The Patriots are closers. They're 21-0 since 2001 when leading after three quarters. They are 3-13 when trailing, which shows they come back once in a while. They are an astounding 6-0 when tied after four quarters, including the Snow Bowl win. They are 11-6 when the final margin is seven points or less. And they're 6-1 when the margin in three points or less. Lastly, they're 18-1 since '01 when leading at halftime, 5-10 when trailing, 3-3 when tied."

The above stats could dramatically alter the way I watch Pats games now. Knowing all of this, if they are leading a game at the half, I have to feel REALLY good, right?

David Frum's Diary on National Review Online has more on Virginia Postrel's book as well as a bit on Charles (The Bell Curve)Murray's new book Human Accomplishment.

George F. Will does a book review of Virginia Postrel's "The Substance of Style: How the Rise of Aesthetic Value is Remaking Commerce, Culture, and Consciousness." There is something in here that may help in doing History, perhaps even Psychohistory. When I get time, I may have to check it out.

Amazon.com: Books / Search Inside the Book. Sounds cool.

OpinionJournal - Best of the Web Today: "Cheers to blogger 'Frank J.' for this delightful bon mot (ellipsis in original):
There is now a Centrist Coalition blog. I hate moderates . . . much more than even liberals. I bet Satan is a moderate; the best way to get evil accepted is to package it with some good. That's what moderates do; they're always like, 'Oh! I'm so special because I don't take a firm stance on issues, and I see value in everyone's viewpoints.' I bet right now a moderate is reading this and partially agreeing with it. Damn you!"

www.AndrewSullivan.com - Daily Dish: "THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: 'For some reason or another, a series of enormously important issues — the future of the Middle East, the credibility of the United States as both a strong and a moral power, the war against the Islamic fundamentalists, the future of the U.N. and NATO, our own politics here at home — now hinge on America's efforts at creating a democracy out of chaos in Iraq. That is why so many politicians — in the U.N., the EU, Germany, France, the corrupt Middle East governments, and a host of others — are so strident in their criticism, so terrified that in a postmodern world the United States can still recognize evil, express moral outrage, and then sacrifice money and lives to eliminate something like Saddam Hussein and leave things far better after the fire and smoke clear. People, much less states, are not supposed to do that anymore in a world where good is a relative construct, force is a thing of the past, and the easy life is too precious to be even momentarily interrupted. We may expect that, a year from now, the last desperate card in the hands of the anti-Americanists will be not that Iraq is democratic, but that it is democratic solely through the agency of the United States — a fate worse than remaining indigenously murderous and totalitarian.' - Victor Davis Hanson, on a roll."

Just some random thoughts....

I've listened to most of the latest KISS with Symphony thing and I have to say, as a lifelong KISS fan, ahhhh, not gettin' it done guys. Some music just doesn't lend itself to full orchestral treatment. Yours is an example. Hope this means you haven't hit ROCK BOTTOM.

The Grady Little debate has officially exceeded its time allotment. Move on everyone. He's gone. Let's....*sigh*....wait 'til next year.

PC is going to have a good basketball team. Wonder if any of the players will be in my Grad. History classes ;)

I saw that TV execs are in distress and confounded because their ratings are down. They tried to blame Nielsen, the ratings service. One of the Nielsen people stated what seemed to me to be the obvious. Maybe it's the quality of the shows.

A guy in my office is worried that too many people are jumping on the Patriots bandwagon. He's apparently afraid that this means doom. We'll see. Ain't it great being a superstitious sports fan. Too bad there aren't that many here in New England...

I pay attention to politics, but even I'm not really paying too much attention to the Democrat Primaries. Political junkies beware, you are talking to yourselves, no one else cares right now.

In an odd irony, I'm enjoying my course in Historical Methodology more than the one covering the Civil War. I think I'm a geek, or at least a scientific method nerd. Must be my engineering background showing through. Though I have to admit I do enjoy research and Methodology is about good research techniques. I'm also just plain intrinsically interested in the Philosophy of History, (regular Philosophy too) which is something I never studied before, except on my own.

I am doing a research paper on the impact of the Civil War on French Canadian immigration (or would it be emigration) to New England. I have lots of sources, and am 1/3 of the way through the rough draft. A long way to go. And when I'm done, I'll be tackling a comparative book review on two works about Joshua L. Chamberlain. Fun.

That's it for now. Hope I didn't bore.

I can dream, can't I?

Variety.com - Gibson takes 'Passion' play to Newmarket(subscription required). This means the film will be distributed across the country. Good. Despite the hysterics of some paranoid people, this is a must see for me.

Gee, it looks like we were "losing the peace"....in 1946!

Yanks Beat Sox, Again: "Every year you know they'll probably lose, but every year they suck you back in, and every year they crush you like a tiny bug," said 25-year-old Aric Egmont, summing up the angst of being a Red Sox fan.

Paradise lost, again. Enough said...for now.

Again.

Being a "historian", with a minor in Medieval History, I felt obligated to at least give Masterpiece Theatre's Warrior Queen a chance. I lasted 20 minutes. When you have the Roman consulate telling the Celtic king (without a translator!) that the king better "play ball" or else, you have to just stop. I wasn't aware that baseball/basketball/football/soccer were around circa 100 A.D. This is called anachronism and is evidence of poor scholarliness on the part of the writers or whomever. I couldn't take it seriously after that. Yet, it was when the obligatory "Druid" showed one of the warriors a vision in the water (a la Merlin) that I finally turned it off. Bad history. I thought Masterpiece Theatre was supposed to be quality entertainment?

Rush Limbaugh Statement on Prescription Pain Medication Stories: "Press ReleaseSource: Premiere Radio

Rush Limbaugh Statement on Prescription Pain Medication Stories
Friday October 10, 2:55 pm ET
NEW YORK, Oct. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Rush Limbaugh today issued the following statement on his radio program:
'You know I have always tried to be honest with you and open about my life. So I need to tell you today that part of what you have heard and read is correct. I am addicted to prescription pain medication.
'I first started taking prescription painkillers some years ago when my doctor prescribed them to treat post surgical pain following spinal surgery. Unfortunately, the surgery was unsuccessful and I continued to have severe pain in my lower back and also in my neck due to herniated discs. I am still experiencing that pain. Rather than opt for additional surgery for these conditions, I chose to treat the pain with prescribed medication. This medication turned out to be highly addictive.
'Over the past several years I have tried to break my dependence on pain pills and, in fact, twice checked myself into medical facilities in an attempt to do so. I have recently agreed with my physician about the next steps.
'Immediately following this broadcast, I am checking myself into a treatment center for the next 30 days to once and for all break the hold this highly addictive medication has on me. The show will continue during this time, of course, with an array of guest hosts you have come to know and respect.
'I am not making any excuses. You know, over the years athletes and celebrities have emerged from treatment centers to great fanfare and praise for conquering great demons. They are said to be great role models and examples for others. Well, I am no role model. I refuse to let anyone think I am doing something great here, when"

Sgt. N.J. Todd has seen the results of genocide first hand. (Golf clap to Andrew Sullivan).

Another fine analysis of what is going on with regards to the reports coming out of Iraq, by Jon Rauch.

Ralph Peters on how the media not reporting everything going on in Iraq is shaping public opinion negatively. An excerpt (thanks to instapundit.com):

"Recently, I visited Germany to speak with our soldiers, many just back from Iraq. The situation depicted in the media was unrecognizable to them. They'd just left a country where every indicator of success was turning positive. Yet the media insist we are incompetent and failing.

The Kurds are prospering. The Shi'ites no longer live in fear. Even most Sunni Arabs feel relieved that Saddam's gone. The mullahs are behaving. Local markets are busy and full of goods. The electricity's back on - more reliably than before the war. Schools are open. Oil's flowing. The Iraqi media is booming, boisterous and free. The Governing Council has convinced previously hostile factions to cooperate. Iraqis provide more and more of their own local security. And the torture chambers are closed.

What do we hear from Iraq? Another soldier killed. The rest is silence. "

Gallup Poll Analyses - Are the News Media Too Liberal?. Yup, according to this poll. My only problem with it is that, according to the poll, 54% of the respondents have a "Great Deal/Fair Amount" of confidence in the media when it comes to reporting the news fully, accurately, and fairly. Shouldn't they have separated those two? In my opinion, there is a significant difference between a "Great Deal" of confidence and a "Fair Amount", isn't there?

The anti-American Obsession by Jean-Francois Revel is a well thought out condensation of a book by the same name and author, a Frenchman. It refutes many of the arguments of the anti-globalization, anti-free market, -anti-America crowd, but deals primarily with French attitudes towards the United States. The problem in a nut-shell:

"Giancarlo Pajetta, an important Italian Communist leader, once said: 'I have finally understood what pluralism is; it’s when lots of people share my point of view.' In that spirit, governments and elites almost everywhere have signed on to cultural globalism provided that their own countries are its source and model. In 1984, presenting a Projet culturel extérieur de la France, the French government said, with signal modesty, that this manifesto had 'no parallel in other countries.' All cultures are of equal value, conceded the authors of this official document (a statement erring on the side of simplistic political correctness), but our culture is predestined to be a universal mediator, for it is 'shared by people of every continent.' Touching optimism indeed, which naturally led up to the conclusion that 'the future of the French language in the world can only be as a promoter of cultural progress and is closely linked to the future of people everywhere.' Global homogenization of culture, in the illusions of these authors, is fine—provided that it emanates from France."

He concludes with:

"The real danger—conceivably a mortal one—for European culture is that anti-American and antiglobalist phobias might derail progress. Guy Sorman has shown the scientific and technological retreats this obscurantism has led to in his book Le Progrès et ses ennemis. And this isn’t some 'right-wing' or 'left-wing' thesis; it is a rational one. It is defended alike by the liberal-democrat Sorman and by the socialist Claude Allègre. The latter wages war against the idea that Europe should abandon nuclear energy, genetic engineering and research using embryonic cells. Should the pressure groups that agitate against progress win the day, in twenty years the European states will regress, he writes, 'to the level of the underdeveloped countries, in a world that will be dominated by the United States and China' (L’Express, February 7, 2002.) The anti-American fanatics will then have succeeded in making Europe even more dependant on the United States than it is today."

I guess some of the French get it.

As usual, Bill Simmons nails it. This is what I went through last night.

Rhode Island Government Unions (local and state) are banding together for a million dollar PR campaign. Edward Achorn of the ProJo tells us why.

Bring on The Evil Empire!

Rich Lowry on Democrats on National Review Online is a succint summary of what the Democrats believe.

Statement on the Interim Progress Report on the Activiteis of the Iraq Survey Group. Read it for yourself and see if you think that there is nothing to the charge of Saddam wanting WMD.

Rush Limbaugh Was Right - Donovan McNabb isn't a great quarterback, and the media do overrate him because he is black, By Allen Barra. All that needs to be said on this issue.

Space Station Stay Shows Humans Could Go to Mars

COOL!

Andrew Sullivan has a review of the just released Reagan letters book. I have to get this.

U.S. News: Michael Barone: Which reversals will prove to be historically significant?(10/6/03) A good column about how last weeks news was reported and what it might actually mean, from an historical perspective.

I'm In. The Red Sox have me, finally. I've tried to maintain my distance, to not get too close, to protect my heart, but that's over now. Todd Walker and David Ortiz blasted the lock on my heart last night in a stirring victory. The Sox, though not in officially, are rocketing into the playoffs. And I'm on board.

According to William Safire, it's simply that the Clintons Anointed Clark as their guy. Good read.

Simply put, if you want to know what Iraqi's are really thinking, go to IRAQ TODAY.

John Burns: 'There Is Corruption in Our Business', an engaging story about the observations about the media during the war in Iraq.

Country Music Legend Johnny Cash Dies at 71. The Man in Black has found his eternal home and is reunited with his wife once more. A legend.

John Ritter died of a heart ailment on the set of his show. He will always be remembered by my generation as Jack Tripper. He helped bring humor and T&A to a generation and he was a good physical comedian and actor.

Vatican approves of 'Passion' according to Drudge. Let's see what the Anti-Defamation League has to say...

Wow! You mean that the Lincoln Park dog track owners were trying to bribe a Rhode Island law firm run by the former Speaker of the House, John Harwood. No Way!

Well, the toesucker has weighed on on Bush's re-election vulnerability, specifically analyzing the likelihood of Hillary or Gore entering the race. Most interesting to me, however, is the reason Morris gives for Bush's falling poll numbers:

"Why is Bush falling so badly? The superficial reasons are the Iraq casualties, the failure to find WMDs and the continuing inability to round up Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden. But the real reason is that terror is receding as an issue, largely due to Bush's success."

The price of victory? Ironic. The solution?

"The solution for Bush is to put terrorism back on the front burner by high profile and aggressive action against Iran and/or North Korea. It's not necessary to wag the dog, but Bush should wag his tongue and raise the profile of these two remaining threats to our security."

What game on Sunday? The Pats didn't play the Bills. It's all in your imagination.

But the Red Sox did take 2 out of 3 in New York and are now 2 1/2 back from the Division and 1 1/2 ahead in the Wild Card.

Meanwhile, the President made a speech to the nation in an attempt to clarify and re-state our postion on the war on terror. A long, hazy summer has served as a platform for many to obfuscate what has really been going on. Overall, he did a good job. Though I did hear a local newsreader say the President didn't answer all of the questions, such as those asked by the families of our soldiers in Iraq. Specifically, "When are they coming home?" My first question is whether the newsreader, Lori Johnson on WPRO, actually had evidence to support her statement or whether she was editiorializing. She played no clips of such hand wringing comments by military family members. If some did say this, then they need a reality check. This is what your son or daughter signed up for, folks. They serve at the whim of the Commander and Chief. It's their job. Yeah, it sucks and you miss them and it's dangerous, I understand, but it's what your sons and daughter's volunteered to do. There is no draft, this IS still a VOLUNTEER armed forces, after all. So buck up and support your kids and their commander.

Finally, as Rush Limbaugh has pointed out, Watch Hillary to Gauge Bush’s Strength. Despite all of the wailing and gnashing of teeth by conservatives over Bush spending and by liberals over the War in Iraq, Bush is still strong. All of the hot air about a possible Hillary run masks the true import. If she doesn't run, then she doesn't think she can win. Which means, no Democrat can win. Keep an eye on HRC.

John Podhoretz has a more reasoned take on the Bush spending "problem." Best part of his statement:

"Now, Bush has not fought to control the size of government. His concern has been to do what he can to help the economy grow even as he tries to fight a War on Terror.

That's why he has staked his presidency on a tax-cutting program that has genuinely convinced liberals and leftists that he wants to use tax cuts to force the destruction of big government.

The most important task facing Bush is the War on Terror, and he doesn't want to fight on all fronts at all times.

In any case, politicians only take up the war on big government when it's politically expedient. Neither Ronald Reagan nor the Gingrich Republicans actually cut the size of government. At times, they spent like sailors on shore leave. At the end of the day, they were politicians, not ideological warriors.

The philosophical problem of big government is not really a politician's fundamental issue. Rather, it's a matter for op-ed pages and in magazines, in books and on radio programs like Limbaugh's."

A report by the CATO Institute reveals the scary amount of spending that the Bush Administration is overseeing. Not exactly a great example of fiscal conservativism! He better start reigning it in or some will abandon ship. It's already started with some, such as Limbaugh and Andrew Sullivan, getting nearly hysterical in their dismay. I agree it's a problem, but the alternative would be worse. Howard Dean prosecuting the war on terror? Yikes.

Back to school for me today. First class is the Civil War, another on Mondays in Historical Methodology. My path as a historian continues. I expect blogging to be relatively hit or miss, but I'll be around and will chime in on the Pats, Sox, school, current events as long as I am sufficiently inspired to take the time to do so.

Welp, pretty surprised to here that the Patriots released Lawyer Milloy and (surprise), the Bills are interested. Strange timing, regardless of whether it's for salary cap or performance reasons.

ESPN.com: NFL - New run-stuffers will make difference for Bills, Pats: "'The guy is a human eclipse, he's so wide, and he just camps in there like a squatter and dares people to try to move him,' New England inside linebacker Ted Johnson said. 'Getting him in here was huge, man, in every sense of the word.'" I just loved that quote..."Human Eclipse"....Ha!

Projo.com has a couple cool links to some sports "How To" articles. First is one on How to throw 5 baseball pitches and the second is how to calculate such things as ERA and QB Rating. For those who always wanted to know these age old mysteries, there you are. By the way, they require the Macromedia Flash Player.

Don't miss this excellent Op-Ed by Rush in yesterday's Wall Street Journal.

Zogby News! has a new poll on Pres. Bush out. This guy used to be pretty accurate, but right after 9/11, he seemed to take the War on Terrorism as declared by Bush as some sort of clandestine attack on all Arab Americans. Ever since, he's been whining all over the talk shows. Now, his latest polls show that, supposedly, a plurality would rather have someone else as President. Right. Although, I guess if I took a random poll of "likely voters" over a weekend in the middle of August, I'd get all sorts of average Americans who weren't out with the family or friends, right? Read the numbers for yourself and check them against your own experience. Just doesn't ring true, does it?

Ok, I'm back, the Sox are shaky but the Pats are on the Horizon, and this news that they just acquired the mammoth Ted Washington (365 pounds) to play nose tackle in their defense could mean big things. The pass rush and defense looks excellent while the run D still looks suspect. Washington will help. Meanwhile, earlier in the day, they signed Corbin Lacina to provide some much needed O-Line depth. It's all about the Lines in football, folks. The better you are at the lines, both Defensive and Offensive, the better the whole team is. Regardless of how successful both of these pickups are, it continues to show the proactive nature of Pioli in Belichick.

The light posting summer continues here at The Ocean State Blogger as I will be away for another week. Not that anyone cares...See ya!

Bill Reynolds says all I want or probably will say about the Kobe Bryant case, except for one point. The fact that Kobe is at the very least an adulterer is another example of one "evil" being eclipsed by the heinousness of another "evil", albeit an unproven one up to this point. Kobe backers are lining up and most seem to be dismissing his adultery as no big thing. A shame.

OK, if you are, or ever were a D&D geek, and have ever asked yourself what D&D Character you are? in real life, check it out. Also, the Southern New England Weblogs home is up and running, so if you're a local, check it out, or even join! Come on in, the water's fine, only a few sharks lurking, promise.

I decided to do my part for the economy by spending a portion of the tax rebate on a new computer. Actually, on computer components. I'm a semi-geek and began building my own systems a few years ago. Once you start, you have a hard time legitimizing to yourself buying anything off the shelf again. Anyway, here are a couple sights that I used to get the parts I needed. First, checkout Spoofee.com which has the inside track on ways to get great deals, as does Slickdeals. Also, comparison shopping is a must, try either Pricegrabber, Nextag, or Techbargains. They also include opinions on products from other consumers. Similarly, and finally, I have always found Epinions to be an invaluable resource in canvassing reviews from the Average Joe. Just beware of company "plants" and people who really don't know what they're doing but still offering opinions! Amazon also has good reviews, usually both "professional" and consumer.

I loved Paris when I visited. I am of French ancestry and am naturally interested in the history of France and its people. Yet, like many, I don't intend on going back any time soon as long as the government in France is as knee-jerk anti-American as it is currently. Many U.S. tourists are staying away from France. The best part? The French Tourism Ministry attributes the decline in the first half of 2003 to the weak dollar...um...yeah, right.

Cheney Speaks on Terrorism yesterday. It's always nice when the Veep speaks. He has a way of putting the picture back in focus.

Mel Gibson's 'Passion' elicits unfair conflict already, and it won't even be released for a year. Looks like Mel has his work cut out for him.

For the REAL STORY in Iraq, go to this letter from a soldier on the ground and see who you believe, him or the media.

Had a nice day in Boston on Saturday. Saw some of the historical sites along the Freedom Trail, though I missed the USS Constitution as it went to "sea" (actually, just Boston Harbor) to do a change of command ceremony. Just my luck, the ship doesn't move 363 days out of the year and I pick the one day, other than the traditional 4th of July turnaround, that it did. Oh well, good excuse to go back! It was nice walking the city. Saw the North End and South End more than I ever had. I particularly liked the old world feel of the North End. Maybe a dinner there will be in order someday. I recommend the Rock Bottom Brewery in the theater district. Food was good, beer was excellent. Wrapped up the night with a concert at the FleetBoston Pavilion by Big Head Todd and the Monsters and Hootie and the Blowfish. I've been a long time fan of the former; a band you really have to see live to appreciate. Hootie was pretty good too, though I am a bit sick of a lot of their overplayed "hits". They did a good job of covering Zeppelin's "Hey, Hey, What can I do?" though and also did good renditions of Aerosmith's "Sweet Emotion" and "Black Water" by the Doobie Brothers. They also did "Will The Circle Remain Unbroken", the classic country tune, pretty faithfully. Notice a pattern? I liked Hootie when they did other people's songs! Oh, they also did "Keep Your Hands To Yourself" by the Georgia Satellites for an encore. Again, pretty good! Anyway, there's nothing like walking around Boston on a mid-summers day, good time all around. Can't wait to go back, maybe even with the kids!

What an amazing speech by PM Tony Blair in front of Congress yesterday. Sometimes, he can do what our President cannot; present an eloquent and colorful argument for why we, the Brits, U.S. and our coalition are in the right. An excerpt:

"We are fighting for the inalienable right of humankind; black or white; Christian or not; left, right or merely indifferent, to be free. Free to raise a family in love and hope; free to earn a living and be rewarded by your own efforts; free not to bend your knee to any man in fear; free to be you, so long as being you does not impair the freedom of others. That's what we're fighting for, and it's a battle worth fighting. And I know it's hard on America, and in some small corner of this vast country, out in Nevada or Idaho or these places I've never been to but always wanted to go (laughter) I know out there, there's a guy getting on with his life, perfectly happily, minding his own business, saying to you, the political leaders of this country, 'Why me, and why us, and why America?' And the only answer is because destiny put you in this place in history in this moment in time, and the task is yours to do. And our job, my nation, that watched you grow, that you fought alongside and now fights alongside you, that takes enormous pride in our alliance and great affection in our common bond, our job is to be there with you. You're not going to be alone. We will be with you in this fight for liberty. We will be with you in this fight for liberty. And if our spirit is right and our courage firm, the world will be with us."

Smoke signals in Charlestown as the RI State Police "take down" the Narragansett "Indians" tax-free, and illegal, smoke shop. Sounds like the natives were looking for trouble to me, plus:

"The Narragansett Indians have refused to cooperate and have chosen instead to flout state law," said Carcieri. "They demanded that in return for closing the smoke shop that I must drop my opposition to a casino."

"That was outrageous," said Carcieri.

You bet it is. These guys have been grandstanding for years and are willing to go to any length to get a casino. Even if it means breaking the law along the way. The usual charges of civil rights violations and living in a police state are being made. Please. More from the article:

"Today's actions were precipitated by the Narragansett Indians and their flagrant violation of state law," said Carcieri, who was flanked by state police Col. Steven Pare and Atty. Gen. Patrick Lynch.

The troopers entered the property under a court-issued search warrant that he ordered be executed, the governor said.

"We do not take today's actions lightly," Carcieri said. "We deliberated long and hard before authorizing today's response."

Lynch supported Carcieri's action, saying the governor had been "remarkably patient" in the face of obvious lawbreaking by the tribe.

Lynch said the tribe's operation of an illegal, tax-free tobacco store was no different than if "Cumberland Farms," the convenience store chain, had decided to sell cigarettes without collecting state and federal taxes.

LIMBAUGH JOINS ESPN-TV AS FOOTBALL COMMENTATOR according to Drudge. This should be interesting!

OpinionJournal - Best of the Web Today led off with a bit about the continuing "controversy" regarding WMD in Iraq. Best part of the story was this quote from Rummy:

"The coalition did not act in Iraq because we had discovered dramatic new evidence of Iraq's pursuit of weapons of mass murder. We acted because we saw the existing evidence in a new light, through the prism of our experience on September 11."

That's what the Left and others keep forgetting. We, the average American led by our President, are no longer willing to take the risk of "diplomacy" (re prevacation and stalling) when on September 11 our picture of an America immune to terror was so quickly and brutally shattered.

The Governor said he'd do it, and now he has. The "budget" put forth by the General Assembly has been vetoed. Sure, it may be only a temporary thing as the Democrats easily have the votes to overturn the veto, but the message has been sent. From the article:

Carcieri said the Assembly has accomplished many good things this year, including passing separation-of-powers legislation, overhauling the state's fire codes and helping to keep GTECH in the state.

"However, there is one overriding issue that will smother that spirit . . . It's what I call a spending addiction," Carcieri said. "The General Assembly -- not all [members] -- has continued a bad habit of out-of-control spending that was born in the prosperous years of the late '90s. That party came to an end almost three years ago. But most of the General Assembly has refused to accept that fact."


Meanwhile, I saw that Rep. Sherlock tried again to play the "poor state worker" card and say that the Governor was really just attacking the little guy blahblah blah blah.

The problem is this:

To balance the past two budgets, the General Assembly relied on money from the settlement of a tobacco lawsuit. This year, $102 million in last-minute federal aid closed the gap.

"That's like cashing in the 401k to pay the mortgage and electric bill," Carcieri said.

Noting that these are one-time revenue sources, Carcieri asked: "What happens next?"

The state is projected to start this year with a $34.7-million surplus -- the last of the tobacco settlement -- and to end the year with a surplus of about $250,000. Carcieri predicts that in next year's budget, the state will face a deficit exceeding $170 million.

"Reasonable budgeting does not assume that the doors of the federal treasury will be open again next year," Carcieri told the Assembly in his veto message. "By increasing our operating costs on the basis of an unexpected windfall, we are simply creating a larger problem for next year."

Yup. And it has to stop. I believe when most people come up with a budget for their own family, they generally try to live within their means and don't plan on winning the lottery to pay for the SUV they want. Instead, they actually set money aside for emergencies, learn to live within their means and hope for some growth. That's not what has been going on here in the Ocean State, and it's time for some fiscal sanity to start. Finally, this editorial in today's ProJo really boils it down. The problem is the cost incurred by the state in employing its workers.

I'm back from vacation and thought I'd start with this link to the Open Government Information Awareness site, specifically to the Rhode Island Congressional delegation page. If you're interested in tracking your Congressman, here is the place.

Carcieri takes firm stand on changes to spending plan says todays ProJo. He's going to stand tough folks. Also, the Separation of Powers Bill may be finally moving again and the Legislature would like it on the Governor's desk befofe July 4 to sign. Cross your fingers, the moment when Li'l Rhody finally enters the 20th century politically is almost at hand. (Yeah, I know, it's the 21st century now...do you get the point?)

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I shouldn't do this, because it's too easy, but Howie Kurtz in his Reliable Source Column today has a blurb about the latest from our very own Patrick Kennedy. To quote Kurtz:

"As sometimes happens with Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.), he let his mouth race ahead of his brain Wednesday night at a gathering of Young Democrats at the Washington nightspot Acropolis. After presidential candidate Howard Dean spoke, Kennedy delivered an impassioned peroration against President Bush's tax cut. We hear that Kennedy told the crowd: 'I don't need Bush's tax cut. I have never worked a [bleeping] day in my life.' With that he got the audience's attention -- the dropping-jaws kind. 'He droned on and on, frequently mentioning how much better the candidates would sound the more we drank,' a witness told us. 'Finally, he had to be stopped by a DNC volunteer.' Kennedy's spokesman, Ernesto Anguilla, told us yesterday: 'He was talking to the crowd; it was a rally-the-troops kind of speech about the tax cut. He was energizing the crowd and got caught up in it and used an unfortunate word, which he regrets using. . . . And no one pulled him off the stage.' "

That's our senior Representative folks, proud do not have worked a day in his life. Good thing he's so in touch with the common man, huh?

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The Celtics drafted 3 players last night, highlighted by Point Guard Marcus Banks from UNLV. For more, go here.

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Finally, vacation time is here. Blogging may be non-existant or light. See you in a week!

Looks like Governor Carcieri has hit a nerve as the Rhode Island House leaders chafe at the governor's criticism that they are unduly influenced by labor unions. Truth hurts, huh? Carcieri has positioned himself as the "People's Lobbyist" and has taken to wearing the red badge of a lobbyist that all wear on Smith Hill. Clever. Here's an example of the tired pandering that Carcieri is facing (from todays ProJo):

"You know who really has the undue influence in this budget? It's the schoolteacher that's in a Providence classroom that's dealing with a classroom where 65 percent of that classroom is not speaking English. It's the firemen that have to go and save somebody from a burning building. That is the influence on our community," said House Deputy Finance Chairman Steven M. Costantino, D-Providence.

Mr. Costantino, spare us. Or, let's let the Guv have his say (again from the ProJo):

As he has argued before, Carcieri said compensation packages for state and municipal employees, including teachers, "bear no relation to what's happening in the real world today."

"This kind of pension benefit and other benefit costs is what brought Cranston to the brink of bankruptcy, it's threatening right now to bring Providence to the brink," he said. "And by the way, if we don't start doing something now, it's going to take the state to the brink."

The biggest check this Governor wants to send to the Legislature is the Reality Check.

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On the Iraq front, It may not be the smoking gun, but it sure looks like it's getting hot! Maybe it's not the weapons, but plans and other findings, both official and unofficial, seem to be coming up, finally.

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The Supreme Court has a few final decisions today and many are waiting with anticipation. Will one retire? Two? We shall see.

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I confess: I'll be checking in on Spike TV to see how it is. I am in the target demographic, after all.

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Finally, it looks like the "new" Blogger is being implemented as we speak. Error windows pop up and I can't seem to use the "Blog This!" feature. Oh well, a few growing pains I guess.

The Governor takes it to the people and some of us are listening. As the governor says in the article:

"I think what happens -- and what these people don't realize," Carcieri said of the state's overwhelmingly Democratic lawmakers, "and I realized shortly after I got here, is that what happens within the four walls of this building often bears little relationship with how people feel or what people care about outside this building.

"I don't know whether it is in the air or what it is. But what happens is they are only busy talking to each other -- or the lobbyists," he said of the army of suits and ties camped out across the marble divide.

Who are these people that have access? Again, from the ProJo:

They included teachers' union lobbyists, casino lobbyists, the father and son who represent local business interests, and the tie-less former senator who represents the insurer with a monopoly on the state employee health contract: Blue Cross.

To counter this we have:

In interviews earlier in the day, House Finance Chairman Paul V. Sherlock, D-Warwick, and Deputy Finance Chairman Steven M. Costantino, D-Providence, denounced the increase in pension contributions as a "tax on one segment of the Rhode Island work force . . . [the] people who take care of people in our hospitals, the people who teach our children in schools . . . all the people who are meeting the needs of the state."

Guess what Mr. Sherlock and Mr. Costantino? We, the taxpayers of Rhode Island, pay them, not some magical pot of gold! Right now we don't think we're getting enough bang for the buck AND we think they should kick in a little more for their own benefits, just like the rest of us. Spare me the sob story of poor hospital workers and teachers, the fact of the matter is, in tough times, we all have to cinch the belt, and that includes government workers. They have no more "right" to guaranteed increases in pay and benefits then we do. It is the height of arrogance to believe that those of us who are forced to subsidize more and more of our own pensions, health care, etc. should also be forced to pay for obscene increases in those very same benefits for those who work FOR us in the public sector. Hopefully, with the leadership of Governor Carcieri, those days will be behind us soon. Finally, I leave it to the Governor to wrap it up:

He (the Governor) also served notice that "come the next election cycle, I intend to point out who was with me and who was against me . . . We want a floor fight . . . I want people to know who's voting how."

We'll remember.

So now, the ACC is going after Miami and VIRGINIA TECH! A VaTech spokesman said he had no idea about such a plan. Hope not as his school is one of the plaintiffs in the case filed in Connecticut. I wonder how Boston College feels about now. Left at the altar, perhaps?

Baghdad Bob has been caught!

Major Issues Before the Supreme Court is an understatement. More on tap throughout the week. So far, they've already said that the ends justify the means in allowing a fundamentally discriminatory policy to stand at the University of Michigan Law School. Just because the outcome is desirable, doesn't make the way that outcome was achieved Constitutional. Apparently, the Equal Protection Clause isn't as important as making sure the right amount of the "right kind of people" graduate from school. It's not fair and it's an example of pandering and coddling.

Meanwhile, in Patriot Nation...Cloud will have to serve four-game suspension then start playing for the Pats. A local kid who may or may not deserve the benefit of the doubt, thought there was no prior indication of him being of shaky character. Just another in the mix in the Pats backfield.

Edward Achorn has it right in today's ProJo. When it comes to the now Harwood-less General Assembly, it still appears as if the new bosses are the same as the old.

I have to kiddies of my own and to think that I'd keep them out until midnight to buy a freakin' BOOK (which will be there in the morning, they shipped millions, folks) is lunacy. Another case of people across the world pathetically seeking to be "part of the story" or of the "big event". Why? So they can say that they stood in line until midnight or maybe so they can proclaim "aren't we cool parents?!" Nope, you're losers!

In a related event, apparently the Satanic Bible is a pretty hot seller.

Finally, a check of the calendar does indeed reveal that it's June. We all know what that means, right Sox fans? It's time for the swoon!

In a quick update on an earlier story, the Jane Roe appeal has been dismissed.

A little bit of reconfiguration today. There are plenty of blogs that emphasize current events and politics, so I think I'll start commenting on my true passion: L'Histoire. (At least that's my latest whimsical idea. It'll probably change.) I'll still offer my 2 cents on anything I want, but the Link section ----> has been modified to lead with History and Learning rather than my past emphasis on current events-related links. I also updated the "My Works" section with a couple more items. That's about it for now, have a nice weekend!

We'll see how far this attempt to overturn Roe v. Wade goes. It's interesting because the plaintiff is none other than the original Jane Roe, Norma McCorvey. She has been anti-abortion for 10 years and claims she was basically hoodwinked into the whole thing. We'll see...

The Big East/ACC imbroglio goes on, but Andy Katz at ESPN gives an update on possible moves in the making and headlines it all with the fact that Louisville is an option for Big East. Gee, ya think that Rick Pitino could be a factor?

Just a pure sports fantasy fluff piece, but hell, I enjoyed it...<Splendid outing for cagey Brady

Today's must reads:
Hoaxes, Hype and Humiliation by Krauthammer

USATODAY.com - Short conflict, less ammo kept war cost down...cool!

Golf, US Open led by Quigley...yeah, it's only the first round of the Open, but it's still nice when a local is in the lead.

This is ridiculous. Investment losses raise public costs of pensions is the headline, but it's about local taxpayers next year will be paying $60 million more for the pensions of Rhode Island state workers and teachers. Supposedly it's a result of the pension fund losses that have been incurred as a result of the recent stock market woes. Guess what? We've all felt the pain, and why should workers who rely on taxpayers for their wages also be any better off than us when it comes to their retirement. Let me get this straight, I have "lost" money as a result of the down market. So has Joe State Worker, but Joe State Worker will get bailed out by taxes paid by me. Where is my relief? Oh, just suck it up? Well, what's good for the goose...

Another old journalistic lion passes on. - Veteran Broadcaster David Brinkley Dies.

Today is decision day in the ACC/Big East fiasco. As usual, Kevin McNamara of the Providence Journal is all over the story.

This is a must read about Rape in a small town in Rhode Island. It's a tough, long article, but it details the unfortunate business that occurs in a place where everyone knows everyone else and the wagons are circled and a victim is made a pariah. Tough, but a necessary read.

Here are the links that have been axed. Sayonara!

World Net Daily

CNS News

NewsMax

The Weekly Standard

The Sports Guy on ESPN

FreshTabs Guitar Tablature

ESPN

GameSpot - PC Games

Ancestry Internet Genealogy

The Underdogs - "Abandoned" Games

Ain't It Cool News - Movie Gossip

OK, major site pruning will begin today. Time to do some belated spring cleaning. My philosophy is this: If I don't use the link myself too much anymore...it's gone! I suppose I'll make a not of all that I remove sometime soon, until then, get ready for some reduction in linkage over there to the right!

I urge all to read about the Right vs. Left on Satisfying Wants & Needs by Rush Limbaugh. It's simple, short and strait forward. Yes, Rush is a right-wing idealogue and all, but he does a pretty fair job of making both sides of the argument with relatively little haranguing.

Last week, I was heartened by the apparent progress in the peace process as exhibited by the meetings in Aqaba, Jordan (where I spent 3 lovely weeks back in my sailing days, incidentally). Yet, apparently progress to the degree I had believed has not been accomplished. First, a column by Max Abrahms on Mideast on National Review Online details the Roadmap for Peace while Charles Krauthammer, in a "Shades of Oslo" column certainly throws cold water on the whole week of meetings between the President and mideast leaders. Nonetheless, we must remember that we have a President who will stick with it and will not suffer dissemblers. If the Arab world thinks they can try to double-talk their way into the virtual elimination of Israel, I think THEY had better think again. Mr. Bush understands loyalty, honesty and strength and how to deal with those who don't abide by the same code. Just ask Saddam and the Taliban.

OK, one last indulgence before the weekend. Here is an awesome story on one of my fave's, Lisa Loeb, in the Honolulu Star-Bulletin Features page.

*NOTE: My obsession has been acknowledged and tacitly approved of by my significant other under the "devil-you-know is better than the one you don't" clause of the marriage contract. :)

As usual, good stuff at OpinionJournal - Best of the Web Today, but this snippet had me chuckling:

"From the Highlander, the student newspaper at the University of California, Riverside, comes a hilarious example of how diversity is actually practiced in higher education. It's a report on a student senate meeting:

At the meeting, the senate also voted to approve a mural to be placed in the Commons. There was some concern voiced by the senate about the contents of the mural.

"I see some pilgrim invaders here," said Elisa Haro, academic affairs director. "It kind of reminds me of my colonization, and I don't like that."

The artist of the mural said that the pilgrim invaders were meant to be Shakespearean actors and that he would try to make that more clear.

Other concerns with the mural included the depiction of white cranes, which the senate demanded be changed to color cranes.

They were also concerned with the lack of a same sex couple depicted, which the artist agreed to add. The senate voted to approve the mural in light of the adjustments being made."

The funny thing is that it exhibits the normalcy that those on the inside would ascribe to this discussion. They fail to see the inanity of their PC attitude. Wait until they get into the real world.

WOW, I've been lax lately, huh? Busy with school/work/family. FYI, the Baseball Amateur draft is going on now and if your as sick as me, go to the Baseball America - 2003 MLB Draft site for an update on the Red Sox picks.