Mudville Gazette

Justice? We'll see

Death Sentences In Attack On Cole

CAIRO, Sept. 29 - A judge in Yemen sentenced two men to death and four others to prison terms of up to 10 years on Wednesday for the deadly attack in 2000 against the American destroyer Cole. The convictions were the first ones stemming from the maritime suicide bombing, which provided an early glimpse of the brazen nature of Osama bin Laden's global terror network.
<...>

Mr. Badawi said he would appeal his death sentence, and the five other defendants are also likely to seek to have the sentences overturned. They can take their cases to the Court of Appeals and eventually the Supreme Court. In addition, all death sentences, which are carried out by firing squad, need confirmation by President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

In previous political cases, the president has either annulled or reduced sentences and even pardoned some individuals, Mr. Allaw said, but he added that the president's ability to dismiss judges prevented them from making independent decisions.

Some how I get the feeling, those that are to see the firing squad, won't and those that are sentenced 'up to' 10 years, won't see 10 years. But let's hope that I'm wrong.

INDC Interviews the CBS Evening News

An interview of the anchor, producer and spokeperson regarding the draft story.

Update:

By the way, draftees aren't wanted or needed here, thanks.
GH

Must See

A great graphic illustrating why the Kerry campaign might be confident it can crush the Swift vets - or perhaps why they're so enraged that they can't.

Update: Billionaires for Bush? Self-funded? Good to see that myth hasn't died in the face of inconvenient facts.

About

In light of this I realize that perhaps it's time to reveal a bit of the about me stuff that many think a blog requires.

1. I'm pseudonymous, vice anonymous. One day I will gladly announce my identity. That day will be after I've left military service.

2. I've been in said service for quite some time. My "anonymity" is due to the fact that a lot of people "work for me", upon whom I will not impose my (non-military) views.

3. The reader will note that my opinion is mine, and is not a "military" opinion. See the side bar disclaimer for full details.

4. In my particular job I've been fortunate to work and train with every branch of the military, to include Guard and Reserve units and personnel.

5. Aspects of my job could be considered scientific. I have worked extensively with civilian counterparts. I have published peer-reviewed articles alone and as part of a group. I find hypertext-links in blog entries to fill the same roll as footnotes in such documents. I hope the similarities end there. But I note the comment section serves as a fine "peer review" forum.

6. It's not nice to ask if I've killed people.

More later.

Mudville's 'Greatest Hits' of 2003

I've been fortunate to have gained the attention of "the big blogs" over the past
year. I've thanked them in a previous post, and in a way this one is related, because their links (for the most part) made these entries what they were: those that were viewed by the most people. Perhaps not my personal favorites, but I'd be lying to deny pride in these entries, which I present here in chronological order.

Sacred Words
This post began as a comment in another blog, on the eve of the Iraq war. The follow up was added in May, and made a nice Memorial Day tribute. I note that the best part of this was not written by me. I still can't read this impassively. To me it requires a response. Tears.

Saving Hollywood
This David vs. Goliath story was my entry in the first ever New Weblog Showcase at TTLB. At that time there were 2,500 blogs in the ecosystem. Not that much time has passed, but now there are 6000+.

A long gap between "hits" as I worked on a long-term project. As it neared completion I thought the slight boost in readership it would bring my blog would provide a great opportunity to publish another project that was important to me, the story of Rick Rescorla. Ha! Within a few hours of posting 911 Remembered: Rick Rescorla was a Soldier my site was overwhelmed, my bandwidth exceeded, and only an effort by Mr. and Mrs. Du Toit kept the story up for a brief period until I was able to extend my bandwidth. (Thanks again to both, and we miss you Mrs. D.) I think the Gazette touched a lot of people this past 911, and that really surprised and pleased me.

The other project? Delayed. More on that a bit later.

I had to take October off, but I did manage to post a link to Chief Wiggles Toy Drive that month. I've always cheered when blogs accomplish good things.

I resumed blogging in November, and shortly before Veterans Day (holidays always inspire me, now that I think about it) while trying to keep my blogroll updated with all the other military blogs I was finding on the web, I gave up. Okay, actually I returned to an idea I'd had a couple months prior, had gone so far as discussing via e-mail with Sgt Hook, in fact. MilBlogs was born. I started sending e-mail on Veterans Day morning my time, people joined during the day, and by Veterans Day evening Instapundit time we were launched big time. From spark to fire in less then 24 hours. Less than 2 months later there are nearly 50 members and two dozen "friends". My sincerest thanks to all.

The Warrior Caste would not have existed without MilBlogs. The inspiration was another post (linked in the story) and later other MilBloggers joined the discussion. I appreciate the way elements of the hero story and personal reflection on how close to home it struck combined with an immediate interaction only possible in the blogosphere and created a compelling final product.

December was a "good month" for Mudville. Early in the month Bias created a bit of a murmur in the blog world. I really enjoy using pure quotes to display and expose media ineptitude and prejudice. Reading printed transcripts of television broadcasts is especially effective, as it demonstrates that such previously careless or thoughtless utterances are now subject to scrutiny. Expect more of this from Mudville '04.

In a previous post I mentioned Buck Fush! My protest sign-inspired lampoon of an imaginary left-wing talk radio program. When John F Kerry made his infamous career torching statement I couldn't help but remember it when the time came to fan the fires of his self-immolation. By strange coincidence, I had a filed picture I'd saved, thinking at some point I'd find some use for it. Voila! As the French say. Kerry: BUCK FUSH!

The Little Red seemed obvious to me. Google did the rest.

Saddam Captured. I was on this one early. My off-hand reference to the American Left was originally not meant to include a lot of folks who thought they were included. I almost said so, then realized they doth protest too much. Know what I mean? This post was huge due to the sheer number of Blogs that linked. Fun, though spoiled a little by some who wanted everyone to join hands and sing kum ba ya. My response to anything is to immediately asses the next threat. That's a built in by years of military service aspect of my personality, I suppose. I blogged the Saddam story around the same time it broke officially. I predicted a response. Within a few minutes my forecast was verified.

Dear Time Warner More reads in two days than any other post on this site. Five words, 25 trackbacks (countless other links), 75 comments on this site, lots more on others. (My posts often generate more comments on blogs that link them! Such is life, folks comment in their comfort zones.)

Operation Bob Hope Idea born on Dec 24th, grew out of the "Post Exchange" project we're developing for MilBlogs. I wish I'd thought of it sooner. Will redo this one next year.

The Grinch II Like most entries on this list, this one could only exist in the blogosphere. Let the Grinch hide in his bomb shelter, the rest of us will live our lives.

Again, obviously none of these would be on the list without being linked by other folks. They clearly get the credit. Further, the biggest were actually not linked by the biggest blogs, just lots of blogs. A lesson for those who yearn for such attention: keep doing what you're doing.

If you build it, they will come.

Things that Seemed Funny at the Time

Many months ago during the height of the war in Iraq I found myself increasingly trying to find the lighter side of the news. (Bear in mind that everytime I saw pictures of GIs at the front I was seeing faces of friends.) As time went on I shifted more towards "serious" topics. Still, back in the archives are some things I thought were funny at the time. Some are already painful to me now, but I'll toss them out in hopes that you'll laugh with me, not at me. (And if anyone out there has read all these before, thanks for being a "long time friend.")

In chronological order, a bakers dozen things that seemed funny at the time:

March:
Diddling around on blogspot, without a care in the world, I thought this would be a recurring series here. I did revive it (sort of) for a recent entry about John F. Kerry, pottymouth. Buck Fush!

Meanwhile, on another Blogspot blog, Ooglay Hussein was chronicling the war from his uniquely twisted point-of-view. Day one and later.

April arrived, and before the anti-war left could fully mobilize, Baghdad fell.

By this point in time most people were truly getting tired of reporters expressing their ignorance in press conferences. Just because you can talk the talk is no reason not to shut up.

And poor Ooglay! He had to hit the road. The US was rounding up his kinfolk, after all, using these high tech devices.

By May, Ooglay was safely in America, and blogging for the new, non-blogspot Mudville Gazette.

Just in time for the release of Hillary's book in June.

In the heat of August he returned to Baghdad. What sane person would do that?

Of course, history says the situation would be a quagmire.

And by the end of the year the protesters were finally re-energized enough to fizzle in Trafalger Square.

Top Googles

More lists for the New Year...

The shameful secret of most bloggers - it's hard to top Google for referrers! And the shameful secret part 2 is the (usually) weird things they come looking for...

Before I get to that I'll note with relief that Rick Rescorla is the most common search here. We're the top Google for that name. (A name held in very high esteem in these parts!)

And Greyhawk and Mudville Gazette account for a good number too. So lots of folks seem to come here on purpose.

But shortly after those come the inexplicable.

Why, for instance, does my fictional series on a former president's investigation into a terrorist organization draw so many hits?

And I swear I had no idea that this entry would put me at the top of the Google pile for "Hussein family pictures".

Score:
Hussein family: #20
Hussein Family Pictures #9
Sexy Hussein family pictures: #1

There are other variations on this theme.

How about this? Mudville is #1 for Bush is a big fat liar and #2 for Bush is a big fat idiot. Here's why.

And Mudville scores way too high on searches for news on this guy. And for whatever reason, folks still leave comments.

And the stuff Ooglay Hussein writes about (his tortured family history being what it is) really brings 'em home.

I wonder if Ooglay will return in the New Year?

Whiz Quiz

Trivia quiz:

According to Al Jazeera, Michael Jackson is not

a. A liar

b. A pedophile

c. A Muslim

d. A freak

The correct answer is "c".

Al Jazeera says Looey Farakhan's Nation of Islam...

...is regarded by mainstream Muslims as heretical because of its alleged racism and deviant theology.

And furthermore,

The Nation of Islam said on Tuesday it had "no official business or professional relationship with Mr Michael Jackson".

So now you know.

The Mudville Gazette... truth, however repulsive it may be.

Choosing Sides (Part III)

On the subject of choosing sides and massive demonstrations, be sure to see Mr Free Market's photos of recent mayhem in London's streets. Great comparison points.

His stats:

Population of UK 60,094,648

No. of people that protested against the Bill
To ban Foxhunting 407,791

No. of people that protested against the
Bush visit 30,000

No. of people that went to Heathrow Airport at
4a.m. to welcome the England team home 8,000

As the parade will pass under my office window, pictorial evidence will be posted. I am sure that the numbers will be interesting to compare with the above.

And indeed they are. Click here.

And now you know... the rest of the Story

"Attention shoppers, we have an attempted clean up, aisle seven..."

ORANGE CITY, Fla. -- A woman reported "trampled" last Friday by Wal-Mart shoppers desperate for $29.87 DVD players has a long history of claiming injuries from Wal-Marts and other businesses where she worked or shopped.

Patricia Vanlester, 41, was knocked unconscious and, her sister said, "trampled by a herd of elephants" by a stampede of shoppers reaching for DVD players that went on sale at 6 a.m. the day after Thanksgiving, according to Orange City police and the sister, Linda Ellzey.

The story was picked up by the Associated Press and carried in newspapers and other media as far away as Australia and China, an example -- some commentators have opined -- of American excess during the holiday shopping season.

I might not resist war fever!

Thankfully we've got plenty of docs in the MilBlogs ring, 'cause I think War Fever is a real threat to us all.

Your score shows you might not resist war fever. Your score for this survey was 33 out of a possible 52 points. Lower scores indicate less willingness to support acts of war.

The folks who put this together aren't kidding. Doc Russia has a post explaining the diagnosis process and you too should take the test to see if you're susceptable. (If his links aren't working you can get there by typing www.peacetest.org into your address bar).

I'm not a doc, but I think Idiotarianism is rampant here.

Maybe we can Blogathon for a cure.

Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen

I'll be taking the day off from Blogging today. (I try to once every week!)

Sixteen years ago today the now not-so-little middle hawk child was born. All these years later Im absolutely proud of my sweet sixteen, who has trooped aroud the world with dad, three continents, five states, and a hundred sad goodbyes.

Happy Birthday Baby!

ARMISTICE DAY

The eleventh month, eleventh day, eleventh hour, eleventh minute, and the war ended.

And the modern world began.

Armistice Day is now Veterans Day in America, but Armistice Day is still celebrated 'down under', though it seems even a day commemorating the end of war can be marred by misguided few.

It occurs to me I could do no more justice to Armistice Day then I did in the latest installment of Democracy, Whiskey, Sexy? So it's reposted directly below here (or linked here).

I hope to have something else veterans-related for you later, til then I hope you enjoy this brief story of a few generations of one family at war.

(I tried to fit some subtle connections to today in there too. Perhaps you can find them?)

Wishing a safe and happy Armistice Day to all...

Cat news from Foxnews

A study has shown that domestic cats infected with a parasite called toxoplasma gondii can actually alter the personalities of their human owners, turning women into ?sex kittens" and men into ?alley cats.?

?We found they [the infected women] were more easygoing, more warm-hearted, had more friends and cared more about how they looked. However, they were also less trustworthy and had more relationships with men,? Dr. Jaroslav Flegr, who conducted the study at Charles University in Prague, told London?s Sunday Times newspaper.

Infected men, on the other hand, became more aggressive, less well-groomed, undesirable loners who were more likely to be suspicious and jealous.

At first I wondered why such a study was being given any legitimacy, then I noticed there on the same page an add for a kitty litter box. Advertising disguised as news? Or are all such news stories automatically tagged with a related add? Either way the line is disturbingly blurred between news and advertising, and the credibility of the story and the study become questionable.

However, I would add that I've noticed that cat owners are driven to blog. And not just blog anything, they are driven to blog about their cats.

There are more out out there... there's no end of them...

Sinister, I tell you. Sinister.

Greetings Fellow Travellers

Welcome. Sit ye doon... a chill is in the air outside my door. Forgive me a moment and I'll throw a log on the fire.

You have arrived at the weblog of an American GI, who is currently stationed overseas (not on sandy soil at this time.. in fact you can visit my backyard just a few posts down) with his wife and family and a big dumb dog who also has a smaller dog all his own.

If you want to get acquainted you can read Democracy, Whiskey, Sexy? Posted just below. It's my partly autobiographical blog entry. I still haven't entered the final chapter, but I did just add one more to it. Compared to some people my life is quite mundane.

If you would like to meet a real hero visit Rick Rescorla just a bit further down. Be sure you add your name to the petition to get this man his Medal of Freedom.

I've also recently reposted (below) an earlier piece called Sacred Words in which you'll meet several heroic people. Those who wonder where my paypal link is (don't need one - not wealthy, but I'm okay) will find alternatives in that post. Make a donation to the fallen heroes fund or some of the other fine charities I've linked there benefiting the survivors of the fallen from the war on terror.

The color choice for this site is meant to evoke the red, blue, white, and grey colors of battle flags from both sides of the American Civil War. The one from the 1860's. Perhaps the last one we'll ever have. The logo at the top is a reminder not to take myself too seriously.

And if you want something light, try Ooglay Hussein's Diaries from the archives list in the right hand column.

Hope you enjoy your visit.

Oh, and should you want something inexplicable, visit the website of long-time ScrappleFace commenter Bambi Stokes-Hymington. Just don't ask me to explain it.

FRIENDLY FIRE?

Near the end of today's Brickyard 400 a multi-car crash eliminated seven drivers from the race. Mike Skinner, driving the #01 car, appeared to have successfully made his way through the carnage, a skilled bit of driving to be sure, coupled with incredible good fortune.

But just as it seemed he would put the mess in his rearview and continue to race, Ricky Rudd, spinning out of control in the #21 car, collided with him and ended his race.

Skinner's sponsor is the US Army. Rudd's, the Air Force.

Draw your own conclusions.

YOU CAN SHARE THIS WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND COWORKERS

I did a Google Search for "Gullible" - a word that is not in any dictionary of the English language, on-line or printed - and got the following interesting result.

So I guess maybe Google's not all that great a search engine.