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Maybe David O. will bust out some vehement mailings and ads against Andre like he did against Atterholt. The DCCC can’t throw enough money at Andre to stop the infighting. Should be fun to watch.

I think it’s interesting that DCCC is providing financial aid to Andre Carson already. No one has brought up the possibility that maybe Jon doesn’t need the NRCC to help him.

Now, we all need to just make sure that that is true. :)

Actually, my Ward is starting to trend more Republican. Two of my precincts have gone R and another is starting to get closer to a 50/50 split.

There is hope... oh yes, there is hope. :)

Center Township

Jon Elrod is a very viable candidate. He has my vote when we go to caucus.

I saw this last night. It was awesome! I had trouble containing my excitement when the F-22s, CV-22 Osprey’s, AC-130s, etc. were first appeared on screen.

No Y chromosome, but I always liked playing with Transformers more than with Barbies as a kid. Now, if Barbie had a hot pink F-22, things might have been more interesting. :)

I was in DC on vacation this week and was walking around the Mall while this was being set up. I nearly laughed my behind off when I saw that the big stage had FANTA banners hanging from it. All I could think of was the Fantanas holding protest signs saying "Don't you wanna Fanta, Fanta?"

I've never seen a soft drink sponsor a protest before. I wonder if Coke or Pepsi would sponsor a nice troop appreciation rally. :)

The guy I'm dating is in the 3rd ACR, and just got back from Tal Afar. He said that the Mayor was trying really hard to convince the US to keep the Regiment there. I think the full letter involves a call to the President and the families of the 3rd ACR soldiers to allow them to stay beyond their deployment.

I was a Telecommunications major. (FYI - It's one of the top programs in the nation for film, radio, and TV production). So, I feel for this kid. But, that video just demonstrates why I never want to be in front of the camera unless it's for winning the lottery.

But, for all of those unacquainted with Muncie, Indiana, here's a very fun video that will help you out. http://www.break.com/movies/lazymuncie.html.

The DARPA Grand Challenge is all about finding the best autonomous ground vehicle. I saw a demonstration of one of the vehicles that competed in this past Grand Challenge and it was amazing.

The SUV-like vehicle was designed for rough, desert terrain and could basically go down a mountain. All you do is program the coordinates and path the vehicle is to take, and it drives itself.

The winner of the event gets some cash and a contract with the DOD, I believe. The cash isn't a whole lot, when you factor in the cost of research and development, but the car I saw got completed for only $400,000 or so, and was up and running in under a year. That's some pretty amazing turnaround time with a really low cost.

Anywho. Check out the DARPA site and take a look at the Grand Challenge information. It's pretty cool.

Can't we just report them to the IRS or something? Doesn't the law relating to religious organizations preaching politics and losing their tax status apply here?

I am in the middle of several books, but the last couple I actually finished were:

"Generation Kill: Devil Dogs, Iceman, Captain America, and the New Face of American War" by Evan Wright.

A friend of mine was part of the unit described in the book. He's pictured in the photo section, but isn't a main character, but Evan Wright sent all the guys a signed copy of the book.

"Holidays from Hell" by PJ O'Rourke

About 90% my friends in high school who ever said they were bi-sexual or gay changed their minds once they got just a little older and figured out who they truly were. Most of them are married (to the opposite sex) and working on having kids.

I'm actually surprised that 1) anyone from Lake County identified themselves as Hoosiers, and not just being from Da Region (ie wanna-be Chicagoans), 2) that there are any Democrats from Da Region who made bail to see Howard Dean, and 3) that the Democrats haven't realized that if they couldn't make Indiana a blue state while we had a couple of Democrat governors, a Democrat House of Reps, and a Democrat Senator, they'll never be able to.

We now have Mitch "The Blade" Daniels as Gov, and a Republican controlled House once again. Now we just need to boot out the pretty boy Bayh and dump a couple of Mayors and Congressman and we'll be all set.

Just and FYI, the Christian Chaldeans and not-exactly Christian Yezidis (a good majority of them live in the region near Tal Afar) have always been persecuted by their Muslim neighbors. Sadaam didn't just systematically kill a majority of them, he also took whatever land the survivors claimed, gave it to the Sunnis, and dumped them in the desert.

Both groups tended to root for occupying forces over those who ruled Iraq at the time. When the British originally had control, they sided with the occupiers. When the British left, they were slaughtered. They overwhelmingly support the current occupation.

The Sunnis (and to a point the Shi'ites) are scared to death of the Yezidis because they believe them to be a Satanic cult (they're not, but their story of the Fall is a little different from the rest of Christianity's). However, their seclusion and traditions have always made them targets.

When the Coalition forces came, (specifically the US Army and Marines) these groups in Tal Afar thought that it was a sign from God that their suffering was over. These groups are adamant Coalition supporters.

So, I know Christians in the Middle East get the shaft, but at least in this small area in Iraq, there is change taking place.

And, just on a side note, you'd think that Muslims would know better than to screw with the Catholic Church.

Just something I read a while ago. The point to the article was to put forward a worst-case scenario theory that showed how the situation could escalate.

I don't think it's a matter of whether a country's schedule is just too booked to participate in war. For example, aside from starving its people and trying to build nukes, really what does North Korea have on its agenda?

Now, some experts say that a strike attempting to render Iran uninhabitable would lead to an all out World War. Mainly due to agreements and back deals made by Iran, Russia, and China, with a few other countries thrown in for good measure.

There is one theory that says this would, in a way, look like WWI with its treaties and agreements drawing countries in to fight, albeit with some shift in who fights who. No matter who strikes Iran, Iran strikes Israel, which (if we aren't involved already) brings the US and most EU nations in. Russia and China defend Iran, which unleashes Japan against China. The Middle East becomes a big ball of secterian fighting. Syria attacks Lebanon in the frenzy. North Korea invades South Korea in the commotion as well. In essence, everything goes to hell fast.

Of course, this is just one theory. I think it was mentioned in one of the foreign affairs magazines. I thought it was interesting.