A National Shame and a Regional Disgrace

Alabamians may soon have reached a new, modern low. This year there was a referendum to change the Alabama constitution. The idea was to get rid of relics out of the segregationist past such as:

"Separate schools shall be provided for white and colored children, and no child of either race shall be permitted to attend a school of the other race."

"To avoid confusion and disorder and to promote effective and economical planning for education, the legislature may authorize the parents or guardians of minors, who desire that such minors shall attend schools provided for their own race."

The opponents of the measure (which includes former Ala. Supreme Court Justice Roy Moore--by the way, why hasn't this guy's license to practice law been revoked?) can't come out and just say they want to cling to the racist language. The point to the lines dealing with education.

See, it also removes language that DENIES that the state's (compulsory) education system is a right of its citizens. Currently the statute denies that Alabamians had "any right to education or training at public expense." the Alabama Christian Coalition is one of the main supporters of keeping the language. They've worked to scare people into thinking that if the language was removed, attorneys could then somehow sue to raise taxes in Alabama. A cursory knowledge of civics would let you know this is a folly. None-the-less, this group, a true disgrace before the lord Jesus, is using lies about taxes to keep the racist language in the Alabama Constitution.

It is a shame on its face, and these people, claiming to be a coalition of Christians have truly turned their back on the lord. What Would Jesus Do? I think he'd have little patience with these modern day pharisees.

However, there is a ray of hope. the vote ended in a near tie. a recount is underway and it is possible that the side of right will prevail in this case, righteousness needs 926 more votes.

Let's Run the Numbers for Ashcroft.

'The objective of securing the safety of Americans from crime and terror has been achieved.'--John Ashcroft

Number of U.S. terror trials brought before a jury since September 11, 2001: 1
Number of terrorism convictions resulting: 2
Number of them dismissed due to a 'pattern of mistakes' by the prosecution: 2

Let's Run the Numbers for Ashcroft.

'The objective of securing the safety of Americans from crime and terror has been achieved.'--John Ashcroft

Number of U.S. terror trials brought before a jury since September 11, 2001: 1
Number of terrorism convictions resulting: 2
Number of them dismissed due to a 'pattern of mistakes' by the prosecution: 2

Speaking of Aviation...

You know, my first ride in an airplane was in one of these. The only difference was it was Yellow. got to wear the goggles and everything. Felt pretty cool at 5 years old.

The Aviation and a Self-Portrait

The Aviation is the Prince of classic cocktails. In the last 50 years it has become a pretty rare find. However one can generally be found by a thirsty visitor in one of two places: my house at any time of the day or night and The Rainbow Room in Rockefeller Center. (Note, Unlike the Rainbow Room, I will not lend you a jacket if you forgot to dress up).

It is not only my favorite Cocktail, but i believe it may be the best cocktail there is...and I've done some taste testing! There's no modern drink like it and you can usually assume the bartender knows his stuff if he even knows what it is.

The reason it's so rare is the Maraschino Liqueur that is used in the drink. I have no idea why it is so hard to come by, but I've never seen it outside of New Orleans. As a matter of fact, I held on to the recipe for 2 years after hearing someone rave about it. It took me that long to find the Maraschino, and now I always buy some more if it remotely looks like i'm about to run out! It's a clear cherry liqueur that is sweet, but not too sweet. It is nothing at all like the red chemical/syrup you find in a jar of cherries. If you order one, make sure they have the real goods or you'll get a syrup-y goo.

The strict recipe:

1.5oz of gin (and for god's sake, don't grab vodka for a substitute!)
1/2oz. of maraschino
The juice of one lemon
Garnish with a cherry

Shake it hard for 30+ seconds and served up (in a chilled cocktail glass, no ice).

You do that and you'll get a cloudy opaque (like a cloudy sky, thus Aviation). It should be cool and inviting, with a couple of chips of ice spinning on the surface. As with any cocktail served in a cocktail glass, you can know you shook it enough if there are little chips of ice floating in the drink after you strain it into the glass.

If you think you don't like Gin, this may be the one drink that surprises you. Most gin haters still love this drink! If you can't get one at a bar, just pay me a visit and I'll make you one.


The most wonderful thing about this drink? It makes you smarter. Trust us.

Not a Good Night.

WLBT - The National Weather Service says severe weather to the west of Jackson Tuesday evening is similar to the conditions of 1992. It was that year that a total of 12 people were killed in Rankin County, 10 of them in Brandon.

Meteorologist Jim Butch says, "We expect severe storms, hail and probably tornados. It would not surprise me that we would have several strong, to violent tornados, during the night time hours, and that is what really concerns us, they are coming at night similar to the Brandon tornado of 1992 that hit at midnight."

The Barn Door is Open.

As you can tell by this picture, Bush is trying to play it cool here with the big kids. I just think bush should ZIP HIS FLY when he's meeting with heads of state.

Bush HATES Activist Judges...But What ARE They?

An interesting article on Judges and the 'Judicial Activism' politicians talk about. This breaks it down into simple, digestible chunks below, but i say read the rest of it to see where we are. It's short.

What does President Bush mean, if anything, when he says that his kind of judge 'knows the difference between personal opinion and the strict interpretation of the law'? Every judge sincerely believes that he or she is interpreting the law properly.

Bush's complaint must be understood in the context of Republican Party history over the last half-century. Ever since Chief Justice Earl Warren and Brown vs. Board of Education (the 1954 school desegregation case), conservatives have complained about 'activist' judges and justices who allegedly imposed their own liberal dictates on the country with no legal basis. Taking up this rallying cry is one way Republicans won the South. Even Southern conservatives don't publicly complain about Brown anymore, of course. But denouncing activist judges is now Republican boilerplate.

[...]

George W. Bush may get to appoint as many as four Supreme Court justices, including the chief. But the complaint about liberal activism has been quaint for decades. All three chief justices since the "activism" fuss began were appointed by Republican presidents. Earl Warren, it's true, was a bitter surprise to Republicans, but Warren E. Burger was not, and William H. Rehnquist was a positive delight. Liberal judicial activism peaked with Roe vs. Wade, the 1973 abortion decision (which Burger supported), and has been in retreat now for longer than it lasted.

After talk of Brawls...

I thought this was funny after recent events.

Put a Kink in my Speakers

OK, Mr. Mooch and I are wanting a Kinks album. i like (but am over saturated by) All Day and All of the Night and Lola, but those albums may be good. i'm interested in an album, and maybe a greatest hits if that is the best route (and i don't think it is). so what album should i get if i want to get my Kinks fix? I like the Kinks songs i have (a handful) and they span the eras: Picture Book, Destroyer, Come Dancing, Nothing In This World Can Stop Me Worryin' Bout That Girl, and God's Children.

So, does anyone out there recommend a Kinks album for me?

Mr. Charley Spotted in the Wild.

Mr. Mooch's little known uncle, Mr. Charley, is caught sneaking a Nip behind the fern.

FBI: More than 7,400 hate crimes last year

Another rise in race-based crimes this past year. the number against black americans out pace all other races 2 to 1.

N.Irish 'Bloody Sunday' Probe Enters Final Phase

LONDONDERRY, Northern Ireland (Reuters) - The longest-running and costliest
public inquiry in British legal history -- into Northern Ireland's so-called "Bloody Sunday" -- entered its final phase on Monday.

The tribunal investigating the 1972 killing of 13 civilians by paratroopers began hearing closing speeches as some families of the dead expressed hope their loved ones would be declared innocent.

Bloody Sunday was one of the most traumatic events in the province's 30-year "Troubles," fueling suspicion of the authorities among the Catholic minority and prompting dozens to join the IRA's violent campaign against British rule.

Bush says Iran nuke claims must be verified

Now, if only he always showed this kind of restraint when it came to countries that DIDN'T have WMDs. It shows the cowardly depths of this administration when you watch how fast they rushed to war when then KNEW Iraqi had no WMD's. Now that the Nuclear threat looms in two of his "axis of evil" powers, he can't quit hiding from the issue.

Where's the brave action now that the threat is real?

Are your Civil Rights being PROTECTED?

Seems the answer is 'NO'.

While the number of complaints have stayed relatively the same since 1999, The Department of Justice has cut in half the number of criminal charges they've brought against offenders.

In addition, the number of times the FBI recommended prosecution in civil rights cases has dropped by 1/3. The leadership of these offices serve at the will of the President.

Republican Pork Barrel!

Next time you talk to someone claiming to be Republican because they are "fiscally conservative", drop this little nugget on them:

The Legislative Confrence Committee (the group that hash's out the difference between House and Senate versions of the same bill) can insert non-debatable points into a bill. this year a record 3,407 'pork barrel' spending projects were inserted into the budget.

Wanna know the number from 1994, the last year the Democrats controlled both the House and Senate?

94.

Pretty insane...Watch the Video if you didn't see it.

The Pacers and the Pistons were playing recently and one of the WORST fights in Professional (U.S.) sports history broke out between several players THEN spilled into the crowd where the players an FANS were fighting. pretty bad. about 7 players have been suspended, one banned from the game for the rest of the season (w/o pay).

A Deadly Dateline

This is some real reporting. some of the best stuff i've seen from Iraq.

If You Want Me to Stay...

Colin Powell claimed to only plan one term as Sec. of State. despite this, there are reports that he had second thoughts and perhaps wanted to stay on the job. He made a list of conditions under which he would remain, namely a more engaged policy with Iran and a harder tack against Ariel Sharon.

He was not asked to stay.

So far, of the 2 biggest architects of the Iraq blunders, one (Rice) has got a promotion and the other (Rumsfeld) is awaiting his fate. Now that's an administration anyone could work for. if you screw up, NO PROBLEM! (just don't contradict the boss).

Coalition of the Leaving

Another of Bush's "Coalition of the Willing" is calling it quits. You know, Bush is going to take it really hard if beloved Poland leaves too.