Soldiers

I love this country and am so proud of the soldiers who defend it. When I read about this sniper attack I was unsurprised when I read this part:

As Tschiderer secured the terrorist with a pair of handcuffs, he gave medical aid to the wounded terrorist- the same one that tried to take his life.

(ht: Michelle Malkin) Unsurprised, because that is the character of the men and women who serve in the US Armed Forces.

O beautiful for heroes prov'd
In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved,
And mercy more than life.

America! America!
God mend thine ev'ry flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law.

Well, It's Not Going to Help the Box Office

Oliver Stone is one of the top 3 people I would not like to see a 9-11 movie from. (Are you wondering who the other two are? C'mon I know you are.) So of course he's making one. Look I saw JFK and watched parts of Nixon, and both are pretty terrible except that they cast good actors in the lead. (Kevin Costner? Really? Yes, Costner is good as a law enforcement type, cowboy or sports guy. He should stay far far away from science fiction.) John Podhoretz nails what is going to happen:

So the villains wouldn't really be bin Laden and his monstrous followers, but American officials too blind or lazy or turf-conscious to stop them.

Of course, he wrote that in general following a blurb on War of the Worlds and not about Stone specifically, but it's all too credible given Stone's track record. Mickey Kaus has damning excerpts from Oliver Stone's mouth about his personal views of 9-11. Take a minute. Breathe deeply. Just remember, he's got plenty of money to buy tinfoil for his hat.

So now we know the awefulness that is coming down the pike, let's indulge in a little wishful thinking. Who should make a 9-11 movie? In my world it would be either Ron Howard or M. Night Shyamalan. Both would bring different things to the project but wow.

Ron Howard has made some incredible films about America and the American experience. Apollo 13 anyone? He brings some emotional content but mostly focuses on the uplifting, the hopeful and the best of hard circumstances. His films would focus on the event. Someone in it, experiencing it, and overcoming in the midst of tragedy.

M. Night Shyamalan would be very different. 9-11 would be the catalyst not the main story. In Signs, Unbreakable, and The Village the culture shaking events are only a frame for the emotional dialogue. Shyamalan's could handle deftly the range of emotions expressed by Americans, the complex mix of shock, rage, sadness, bonding, love, and patriotism. Who would you like to see make a 9-11 movie?

Thanks to the ever valuable Basil's Blog for the open post.

UPDATE 7-15

The MaryHunter links (whoo-ho! just love it when I get linked) and suggests Mel Gibson. Gibson is a fine director but his movies have saga written all over them. Probably a lack in my own vision but I have a hard time picturing a Gibson 9-11 film.

Meatball Subs

These are about as guy a food as you can find. I make them every now and then when my husband wistfully asks for spaghetti and meatballs instead of my standard meat sauce. The excess meatballs go into the freezer to be resurrected as sub filling later in the month.

2 lbs of ground beef or turkey
1 large clove garlic minced
1/2 sweet yellow onion minced fine
2-3 slices of bread toasted and crumbed
1 tsp rosemary
1 tsp basil

Combine all ingredients then portion into balls. (a smaller ice cream scoop or the large end of a melon baller is about right. Freeze for later at this point) Bake at 350 for 20 minutes on a parchment lined cookie sheet. In crockpot or casserole dish combine:

12-16 oz tomato sauce
salt
pepper
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp coriander
2 tbsp grated parmegian cheese

When meatballs come out of the oven place them in sauce and return to oven (or crock on medium) for another 25 minutes. Warm hoagie rolls in foil for the last five minutes. Place meatballs and plenty of sauce in a split hoagie roll and top with grated motzerella or provolone. Serve with cold beer for best effect.

Haunting and Sad

The guys at Winds of Change have put together a flash presentation documenting 30 major terrorist attacks since the War began. Not since we declared war-since they did. Lest you forget or did not know, war was declared on us in 1998. By the time it got to Beslan, tears rolled down my face. After you have watched the presentation go read the commentary at Fourth Rail.

These are not freedom fighters, they are working for tyranny, death. No, not just death, annihalation and suffering. They would kill and then sow the earth with salt.

Valerie Plame - Not So Secret Agent

My kids love The Backyardigans, a cartoon featuring singing and dancing and fabulous make-believe adventures in the backyard. (of course) One of the songs the sing is about secret agents, trenchcoats and fedoras. This is the vibe I get with the Valerie Plame thing. She thinks that it is cool to be a CIA agent and have a spy mystique. Andrea Mitchell on MSNBC acknowleged that Plame was generally known to work for the Company. The incestous world of DC politics and reporters is not particularly shy and Tenet's agency seems to have leaked like a sieve. Heck, she was listed in the who's who bio with her husband, an ambassador. I don't think this story would have any legs if it weren't for the star power involved, and by star power I mean Karl Rove.

If secular human relativists have an anti-Christ it's Rove, whose Machiavellian planning has ushered in the armageddon of a Bible reading Jesusland person into the White House, and is planning on the dominion of the GOP for a thousand years. (Assuming of course the nation remains a republic and not a theocracy.) The whiff of Rove misdeeds have sent the pack a-baying. For a rundown on what we actually know, Tom Maguire has done the heavy lifting.

John Hawkins asks the question: Given what we know what should Bush do? He says:

But then you have to consider all the publicity this Plame has gotten. It would look bad if Bush hung on to Rove after it happened.

Conversely, if Bush got rid of Rove, who people know is his right hand man, that would look bad, too. It would confirm to the public that something "really bad happened" which the Democrats would use to try to tar the whole administration.

However, as a general rule, it's a good idea to even avoid the appearance of ethical impropriety -- especially when it might concern the safety of a CIA Agent.

Yet and still, I have this hunch that if no crime were committed and Bush sticks by Rove, he could probably weather this whole storm quite well.

What it basically comes down to is that it's a no-win situation at this point. Should Karl Rove be fired for what now appears to be a very minor, non-criminal offense or should Bush risk sustaining political damage by keeping him around?

What Bush should do and what Bush will do are two different kettles of fish. Assuming that nothing serious actually comes to light, Bush will stick by his man. Bush is loyal to those that are loyal to him. He also treat well political opponents who are disproportionatly nasty to him. Unless Rove did something real bad ethically or something criminal, Rove will be around. If Rove ever considered running for office himself though (those rumors of a Senate run) this will sink him. I think the President rarely considers the political cost when he sees a course of action that he thinks is right.

UPDATE 7/12: Heh. I wrote yesterday the pack was baying over Rove and today Michelle Malkin says: Woof, woof, woof about Scott McClellan under questioning from ABC's Terry Moran. Read Lorie Byrd too.

The Verbalist and Roald Dahl

The Verbalist suffers from avarice. It began by a discreet lobbying for a certain kind of product we were already purchasing, followed by requests of a modest nature and has evolved into demands for whatever takes his fancy. I did not do my duty curbing this attitude earlier and now dealing and correcting it has become a difficult chore. Small clashes have now come to a head over the desire for a Batmobile. So we have come to a common sense solution: he has to save up and buy his own Batmobile. Instead of buying a small item, for a few trips we will put aside the cost of the small item and then he may purchase the Batmobile. Saving and delayed gratification lessons well learned.
He is also learning another lesson about greediness, through the master tutor: Roald Dahl. We started reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory as part of our summer reading program. I had forgotten what a little morality play it was amidst the delightful weirdness. Grasping and demanding ruin the joy of candy and treats for those kids, parents who fall down on the job are subject to censure and accountability. Good children are rewarded. Good parents self sacrifice and hold thier kids to a standard. Lessons for us all.

London

The events in London demand a post, but I don't have any insight to give that doesn't seem trivial. My first thought was how glad I was to not see people jumping to their death. My second thought was relief for British subjects that the death toll was not going to reach the thousands that 9-11 did. So after a prayer for the fallen and the families of the fallen, my mind immediately jumped to the trivial.

The group claiming responsibility called themselves "The Secret Organization of the Holy War of al-Qaida in Europe Organization" in all the news accounts I have heard/read. Isn't that a little redundant? Do you have decoder rings from cereal boxes? Club houses modeled on Osama's cave and Saddam's little pit? I sounds as if these cowards are al-Qaida wanna-bees, like those copy cat killers who have no personality and get subsumed by someone with a more charasmatic personality. Evil is inherently stupid, it lacks creativity. It destroys because it can not create, perverts because it can not imagine. It delights in small, squalid nastiness as it does in burning buildings and exploding busses. I imagine it delights in sly digs and insidious hate mongering a la George Galloway.

Parfaits

This is a great summer time treat. Who doesn't like parfait? What I plan to do is give you a couple of basic recipes and then you can mix n' match and come up with your own creations. The first is real basic, because when I hear dessert I think chocolate.

Chocolate Mousse

9oz chocolate chips
1 cup cream
4 egg yolks

Grind chips in food processor. Boil cream and add hot cream to food processor. While cream is blending add yolks and continue blending for about 5 min. Refridgerate about 6 hours.

Fruit Compote

1lb of fruit (berries are excellent)
splash of lemon juice
3/4 cup sugar
1/3 stick of butter

Cook on high heat over stove until juice on bottom boils then add:

1/4 cup cornstarch
1/4 cup water

Stir until thick, remove from heat and let cool.

Crunch

1 cup oatmeal
1/2 cup flour
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butter

cut butter into mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs. Bake at 350 until browned.

Take any or all of these and layer them in a clear cup. If you have small children plastic cups are wonderful. Whip heavy cream or use cool whip for layers. Add a bit of extract or liquer to your chocolate or whip cream to give it a kick: bit o' brewed coffee, mint, orange, almond, or kahlua are big favorites. Here are some favorite combos: Chocolate, blueberry compote, whip cream. Coffee chocolate, mint whipped cream. Crunch, apple compote, almond whipped cream. (with apple compote add a little vanilla and cinnamon to the fruit as it cooks) Blueberry compote, whipped cream, fresh strawberries.

Update:
Ok you must check out this parfait in drink form: Utter Sin.

Nope Not Scrappleface

I thought this was satire, then I clicked the links. My favorite is number 2 because if you changed the word "liberal" to "left" you could most of that quote from The Corner. You try it, bold is me:

O'Connor is the swing vote, the one favoring compromise. Replacing Rehnquist and Stevens will seal for a generation, what Bush achieves by replacing O'Connor. Since FDR's court-packing scheme panicked the gilded Age SCOTUS in letting the New Deal go forward, liberalism (leftism) has depended on the court to confirm and support liberal progress (left agenda) as a matter of idealistic principle.

This person just made the argument that the only way leftists can forward thier agenda is thru the courts because they can't win legislative or executive victories. This disproves the claim that there are no "activist judges".

RINOs in the Outer Rim

John Hawkins at Right Wing News parses quotes by the Glam 14 about the likelihood of filibusters on SCOTUS nominees.

Which brings us to the real problem area (assuming Bush doesn't make the biggest mistake of his presidency by selecting Alberto Gonzalez): the squishy Republicans in the Senate on this issue. That would include the "gang of 7," John McCain, Mike DeWine, Lindsey Graham, Susan Collins, Lincoln Chaffee, John W. Warner, & Olympia Snowe. You also have to watch wimpy RINO Arlen Specter and Trent Lott who helped set up the whole compromise over the nuclear option.

I have been apprehensive over the compromise because the wording is so vague, not because of compromise itself. I think that the adminstration needs to show the same spine domestically as it does internationally and send nominees in the mold of Justice Thomas. The White House should tune out John Warner and the like who throw Bush's "Uniter not divider" rhetoric back at him. With outrage over the Kelo decision still high, now is the perfect time for Orginalist nominations. Back to John Hawkins:

In any case, Specter might vote -- I say might -- vote against the nominee (remember, he did vote for Thomas and Scalia), but perhaps he wouldn't vote against the nuclear option since that would be practically guaranteed to cost him his precious chairmanship. Still, you never know with a weak-kneed milksop like Specter...

I'm still looking for quotes from Chaffee, Lott, DeWine, & Collins. But, on the upside, Lott supposedly wants to be Majority Leader again. I seriously don't think that'll happen, but if it's true, he'll vote the right way. After all, you don't become majority leader by selling out a conservative nominee to the Supreme Court. DeWine seemed awfully defensive after the "gang of 14" deal and I'm inclined to think he'll pull the trigger on the nuclear option if the Dems filibuster as well. Collins and Chaffee, they're both "weak reeds," and are as likely to vote with the Democrats as not.

Still, reading the tea leaves here, my first guess would be that Lott, McCain, DeWine, and Graham would vote for the nuclear option and just about any conservative Bush puts up. Along with the 46 other reliable votes, I'm seeing the magical number there to get a candidate confirmed or for the nuclear option. Of course, any razor thin margin that includes McCain can never be considered to be reliable, but so far, so good. It's up to W. and Frist to solidify those 50 votes and to start padding the numbers just in case a Senator pulls a "Voinovich" and changes his mind at the last minute.

Well John, put Lott on you definite nuclear option list; here's his quote back when the 14 struck thier deal, and here's my post at the time. Lott's too bright to back off of that quote.

UPDATE

Michael Barone has an article at RealClearPolitics the gist of which says that a nasty nomination battle will hurt both parties. He says:

Democrats' all-out opposition to the Bush administration -- on issues from judges to Social Security and the nomination of John Bolton to be ambassador to the United Nations -- has resulted, Democratic pollster Stanley Greenberg concludes, in a weakening in Republicans' standing but an even greater weakening in the standing of the Democrats.

SNIP

In filibustering a Bush Supreme Court nominee, Senate Democrats will be fighting yesterday's battle at the behest of the lobbyists representing one of their core constituencies. In overcoming this filibuster, if they do, Senate Republicans will be satisfying larger but more inchoate core constituencies.

My own hunch is that the Democrats' posture of frenzied opposition won't get them where they want to go. But I'm not sure whether a battle over yesterday's issues helps Republicans, either.

Perhaps. However, unlike Mr. Bolton or Social Security, judges are a make or break issue with core constituencies. Kelo has illuminated to a broad swath of voters that you must have justices like Clarence Thomas. Social issues are important, but Roe's importance is the importance of federalism. To dissent with Mr Barone, federalism is not "yesterday's issue".

Holiday Weekend

Some last thoughts before shutting down for the holiday weekend. Unless you've been hiding on a cave in Mars with your fingers in your ears you know that Supreme Court Justice Sandra O'Conner has retired. Justice Emilio Garza is the name I keep hearing batted around as a replacement.

Nancy Pelosi has made a statement designed to give chills to small government types and those who prefer orgininalist justices. Money quote:

It is a decision of the Supreme Court. If Congress wants to change it, it will require legislation of a level of a constitutional amendment. So this is almost as if God has spoken. It's an elementary discussion now. They have made the decision.

Yeow! Someone give her a reality check. Full contact. I think someone needs to sit down with every senator and justice and make them do the 7th grade unit on the US Constitution and citizenship I did when I was in school. Then maybe they will figure out that service to the nation is a high calling but it is service none the less. Plus they can reaquaint themselves with the actual text of the Constitution.

Happy Independance Day! Thanks to the soldiers who keep our nation free. Remember, the greatest thing George Washington did was quit his job.

Heart Seizures in the DNC

Hugh Hewitt says:

Gee, I wonder if a Steyn-Michelle Malkin hosted show on MSNBC would do better than Keith O (that's O as in zerO ratings)?

From your lips to God's ears as the saying goes. I don't always agree with Ms. Malkin, she tends to be over the top, but she's gorgeous and an effective interviewer. Mr. Steyn is hands down the best columnist out there. Since Mr. Steyn doesn't like what most US papers are willing to pay for his columns, perhaps he could be lured back to the US with a TV show.

Echoes of Foghorn Leghorn

I can't see the accusation of "Chickenhawk!" without giggling a bit to myself. It smacks too much of the old Looney Tunes bit with Foghorn Leghorn. However with the strident anti-war crowd it is being trotted out once again. (I refuse to call these people peace protestors. You can refuse to support the war effort honorably, calling on soldiers to kill their officers is not the action of someone interested in peace or honor.)

Christopher Hitchens who is mostly exasperating to read has a good jab at deconstructing the meme. Pejman Yousefzadeh at Red State, has a novel solution to the chickenhawk arguement, get those who subscribe to it explain how they would pay for an army 60 million strong. He asks:

So what I want to know is how the propagators of the meme propose that we pay for a 60 million-plus person armed force. What programs should we cut to be able to afford to train, equip, feed, house, clothe, pay and insure all these troops? Education? Infrastructure? Anti-poverty programs? Social Security? Medicare? Medicaid? The welfare state as a whole? Foreign aid? And how much should we cut them? Even assuming that the armed force is not as large as 60 million (though it would have to be lest the remainder that stay civilians be subject to the "chickenhawk" insult), we're still talking about a lot of people that have to be admitted to the armed forces so that the polemical demands of a few misguided souls are satisfied. So again, I ask: How will all of this be paid for?

Jeff Goldstein has a good idea:

The bottom line is, the chickenhawk argument is an impediment to legitimate discourse and debate—and legitimate discourse and debate over national security is a necessity in a free society; and for that reason, those who raise the chickenhawk argument should be treated by everyone—right and left—as intellectual pariahs.

Jeff G. correctly zeros in on the fact that what really matters to these arguers is this:

Of course, in practice, non-military personnel such as those who are quick to use the chickenhawk argument are themselves permitted to express an opinion on the war—provided it’s the correct opinion, namely, that the war is illegal and immoral...

So I have a solution that employs a single fact and is guarenteed to shut up a chickenhawk screed. Agree that only military folks should have an opinion on the war and Bush as commander in chief, then point out the military went for Bush by roughly 80%.

It's ALIVE!

I refer to my tomato plant of course. Or plants as the case happens to be. The liveliness of the plants has to do with the fact that I have not had a whole lot of time to lavish care on them. I have begun the bi-annual Closet Overhaul. Children's clothes, toys, my clothes and books all get a thorough weeding. (My husband is stuck with his own closet, fortunately my beloved is not the kind to keep undergarments full of holes in them. Men-you know who you are.) Suddenly toys which had been as dust beneath their feet become precious commodities. Broken kid meal toys from the drive thru, sticker books with no more stickers, a container of desiccated Play-doh of indeterminant color all receive passionate defense. The judge is cold and heartless, sentences will not be commuted.

I am late overhauling this year, usually this event occurs in April. April ushered in the Infant, so I have been catching up. Just in time for the Lion's Club Rummage Sale. This is a Big Deal. For those souls who live in a city let me give you perspective on small towns. Our big theater has 3 screens, 3! Our sheriff hangs out at the video store shooting the breeze most nights. We have one intersection that merits a traffic light.

The Lions convert the cafetorium (that combination of cafeteria, gymnasium, and auditorium unique to elementary schools) into a heaven of used books, coffee mugs, small appliances, ancient LP's and other such gems. The parking lot holds treadmills, used barbeques, bicycles, and powertools; the breezeway used furniture. This is not the place where you will find an over looked antique; no, the treasures here are more apt to be a Far Side mug with weiner dogs on it and that hard to find copy of Jane and the Genius of the Place.

People begin to gather about 90 minutes before the event begins. The local boy scout troops sell doughnuts and coffee (later hot dogs and sodas). Jockeying for place begins. Small things first, a sidle towards the rope, a trip to the trashcan by door to try to peer into the dim interior of the building. Closer to the start, movement becomes less covert and more agressive. By 15 minutes to go, the crowd presses against the rope and watch checks become frequent. There is inevitably the one old guy in the yellow Lions' vest who becomes the focus of attention, the man with the bullhorn. He pulls out a massive pocket watch, as cliched as it becomes, and at last begins a countdown, 12...11...10......5....4...3...2...1 GO!
At GO! the ropes come down and the crowd rushes in like "there's gold in them thar hills". Two years ago I saw a lady fall and get trampled, before the Eagle Scouts could save her.

I like going to this event with my sister. She is a Class A scavenger. I mean this in the best possible sense. She finds gold among the dross with ease. I always head to the book tables first. Since I am a book junkie, the lure of 4 for a dollar paperbacks is as irresistable as catnip to cats and hyperbole to Maureen Dowd. (alright that was low, apt but low) I've got my scavenger money set aside and been practicing my elbow jabs, you never know when you need to elbow aside another enthusiast for that boxed set of Daphne Farquitt novels.

Coffeecake

Who doesn't like coffeecake? I love coffeecake with streusel and sometimes I stumble into the kitchen in the morning and make it. I made one this morning and my kids went nuts. Cake for breakfast!! (only after oatmeal, kid) Here's one I plan to make for the holiday:

Coffeecake

cake:

2 cups cake flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp baking soda
3/4 cup butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup sourcream
3/4 cup buttermilk

streusel:
1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
3 tbsp softened butter
1/2 cup coarsely chopped nuts (optional)

Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon. Cream butter, sugar and vanilla. Add eggs to sugar mix then slowly add buttermilk and sourcream. Gradually add flour mix. Pour into greased cake pan.

cut butter into first three streusel ingredients, then add nuts if you wish. take 1/3 struesel and swirl into coffeecake batter, then sprinkle the remaining 2/3 ontop of batter. Bake at 350 until knife comes out clean, about 35 minutes.

For a delish am treat more in line with a sweet roll, try these.

Hank Hill and Flag Burning

If you have not seen it yet read Matt Bai's piece about Hank Hill. (ht: Ann Althouse) A "How to talk to Red Staters" article, it looks at Mike Judge's show King of the Hill because a southern governor uses uses Hank Hill as a sounding board for how to talk to his consituency.

There is a kind of nuttiness about this. First, I am glad that Mike Easly (the governor) cares enough to frame his views so that they are accessable to the average joe. It is a little bit pathetic that his average joe is a cartoon character. Does Mr. Easly so out of touch that he doesn't know any regular joes? Is there no one in his circle of friends and aquaintances whom he could pitch to who could tell him if he is off base?

I know my politics lean towards the right. (ahem) Among my friends and family though (not even touching co-workers, church members, and book club correspondents) there is plenty of political divide. I find myself uneasy at the thought that a governor does not have diversity of thought and opinion among his circle of aquaintance. (No, I will not even touch on Washington's governor and the Locke legacy in Olympia.)

I am not in King of the Hill's basic demographic. I don't own a truck and I am not a guy, but Hank Hill's charm is his common sense, something you wish to see in all demographics. If Hank Hill is the average guy, let's apply the Easly test to the flag burning amendment.

Hank is a patriot, his father is a veteran, and one of his good friends is a marine (albeit a barber in the marines). I think we can safely say flag burning would not be condoned, but I don't think that Hank would say that there ought to be a law. Hank is a live at let live kind of a guy. He might be disgusted at the idocity of a flag burner, but would conclude there are better ways for police to be directing thier energy. I imagine he would have a few chioce words to say to the burners though.

Mark Steyn, not a cartoon character, also has some common sense things to say about flag burning. The boys over at The Corner are debating the arguments over flag burning also. Ramesh Ponnuru is less convinced by Steyn. Andrew Suttaford says it's a free speech issue. I think that it comes down to government intrusiveness. American flag burners would do well to experience life without the privileges of US citizenship and residency, before decrying the country as evil, but the flag after all is cloth and what burners hate and hoisters revere are the ideas embodied by the cloth and no governement should regulate what you should think.

Summer Fun

Summer is here and so begins the rounds of programs sponsered by the local library to keep kids engaged and parents happy. We went to a juggling show today - these guys. Heady stuff for the under twelve crowd and fun for the parents as well. At one point in the program my 4 year old tired of waiting to be chosen as a volunteer so he walked up and volunteered himself. Nothing throws these guys off.

Our Black Robed Masters

What, oh what are they thinking? What about the fifth amendment don't they understand? Heck, the 14th amendment. Look, I am not a big property owner, but in the words of my son, "Good, gosh golly!"

The founders were real big on that whole property thing. The Sons of Liberty, hotheads of the Revolution, used the slogan Liberty and Property. The First Continental Congress used the phrase life, liberty and property when defining the rights of man. That Uber-Icon, Jefferson, contemplated the phrase when writing the Declaration but the "pursuit of happiness" has more poetry to it.

It's in the Constitution twice. Two times in that short a legal document, hmmm. Look, there are plenty of arguements about the "greater good", "needs of the community", blah, blah, blah. I am a pretty bare bones kind of Constitionalist, shall I quote?

Amendment 14: "nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law"

Amendment 5: "nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation."

Twice, so you'd think that they wouldn't have reached this asinine decision. Proof once again that we need more judges like Justice Thomas.

UPDATE:
If you don't visit Michelle Malkin regularly, she has a good roundup going on.

A Song For Your Delight

Riding in the car is Song Time. For a few blissful months I got to choose the songs, exclusively. This was an eclectic mix of Beatles, Gillian Welch, Diana Krall, Jars of Clay, Third Day, Beethoven sonatas, and Gilbert and Sullivan operettas. (Everybody now! "I am the very model of a modern Major-General, I've information vegetable, animal and mineral; I know the Kings of England and quote the fights historical, from Marathon to Waterloo, in order catagorical...)

A few months ago the Verbalist suddenly realized that manners dicated everyone getting a choice if asked nicely. The Muralist immediately demanded "Princess Songs", ie. Disney Princess songs- "A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes", "A Whole New World", "Once upon a Dream, "Colors of the Wind" the list goes on. They both request Raffi, who can resist such classics as "Down By the Bay"? (...I'm very well aquainted to with matters mathematical, I understand equations both the simple and quadratical. About binomial theorum I'm teeming with alot o'news-- with many cheerful facts about the square of the hypontenuse...)

The Verbalist occasionally will demand we sing his song, which is an original verse or two in a meandering tune, that trails off into under the breath muttering. His latest was unveiled today:

Bears lots of bears
A million bears
too many for a boy to take care of

Bears need toys
Spiderman toys
for thier boys to play with

So then we went back to something we all liked, "When She Loved Me" from Toy Story 2. A song, I am not ashamed to admit, brings tears to my eyes as sung by Sarah McLachlan in her most ache filled voice. (Ok I'll finish it--- I'm very good at integral and differential calculus,
I know the scientific names of beings animalculous;
In short, in matters vegetable, animal and mineral,
I am the very model of a modern Major-General.

I know our mythic history, King Arthur's and Sir Caradoc's,
I answer hard acrostics, I've a pretty taste for paradox.
I quote in elegiacs all the crimes of Heliogabalus,
In conics I can floor peculiarities parabolus.
I can tell undoubted Raphaels from Gerard Dows and Zoffanies,
I know the croaking chorus from the "Frogs" of Aristophanes.
Then I can hum a fugue of which I've heard the music's din afore,
And whistle all the airs from that infernal nonsense "Pinafore."
Then I can write a washing bill in Babylonic cuneiform,
And tell you every detail of Caractacus's uniform;
In short, in matters vegetable, animal and mineral,
I am the very model of a modern Major-General.

In fact, when I know what is meant by "mamelon" and "ravelin,"
When I can tell at sight a mauser rifle from a javelin,
When such affairs as sorties and surprises I'm more wary at,
And when I know precisely what is meant by commissariat,
When I have learnt what progress has been made in modern gunnery,
When I know more of tactics than a novice in a nunnery;
In short, when I've a smattering of elemental strategy,
You'll say a better Major-General has never sat-a-gee.

For my military knowledge, though I'm plucky and adventury,
Has only been brought down to the beginning of the century;
But still in matters vegetable, animal and mineral,
I am the very model of a modern Major-General!)

Chili and Cornbread

Everyone has thier own chili recipe, for some it's out of a Nalley's can. Horrors. Chili is also one of those perfect meals that is good whatever the season. What is chili without cornbread? That's like Independence Day without fireworks. Chili, ho!

Chili

1/2 lb beef (ground beef, steak, whatever you want or have)
1 large onion
2 cloves garlic
1 small habenero minced
coarsly ground black pepper

saute and set aside. In large pot or crockpot:

1 lb of pinto beans
6 cups of water
2 bay leaves
2 tbsp salt

boil on low until beans are tender. Add:

onion/meat mixture
3 tomatoes diced
1 1/2 tbsp chili powder
1 tsp cumin
2 tbsp brown sugar

Stir throughout the day, letting it boil down to desired consistency. Salt to taste. To make vegetarian, just omit meat.

Cornbread

1 cup cornmeal
1 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 eggs
1 cup cream
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup melted butter
1/4 honey

Combine and bake in greased cake pan at 400 degrees for 30 minutes.