The Unnecessary Nuisance on the Hudson begins to take steps toward reform of the Security Council.The New York Times: U.N. Calls for an Updated Council

Old Europe discovers that China wants their lunch money, and every other meal as well. Telegraph: EU spells out trade threat from China

Throwing pickled animals at police in a police station(!) in order to recover other pickled animals confiscated during a domestic disturbance call that included the discovery of Cannabis plants on the premises. Wrong on so many levels, in so many ways. STUFF from New Zealand

A Maureen Dowd column that I can finally support--at least, her brother Kevin's contribution. The New York Times> Maureen Dowd: Blood Is Thicker Than Gravy

The Democrats are leaving no knives in the drawer in their post-election navel-gazing. In this column, Susan Estrich leaves no ketchup unspilled. Creators.com: Rehabilitation for Teresa Heinz Kerry

Poor Babs. She's still in denial, still believes that "Bush Knew!" What's worse, she still thinks that Richard Clarke is a credible source. Sad Babs; Babs sad... Barbra Streisand

Americans have many things to be thankful for on this Thanksgiving day. Unfortunately, the United Nations is not one of them. Belmont Club: The United Nations

Update: more details on UN crimes in the name of peacekeeping in the Christian Science Monitor, courtesy of Betsy's Page.

How brave those Pilgrims truly were, and how lucky we are that they successfully overcame their fears and a host of obstacles that opposed them. Here is a short recap of the events of 1620 AD. OpinionJournal - Featured Article

More Presidential proclamations of the National Day of Thanksgiving: Washington, Lincoln, and Bush. New York Post Online Edition

Capitalism triumphs early as the Pilgrims progress towards the republic we love today. A Holiday Tradition: The Real Story of Thanksgiving

I heard this read on the radio today, and I thought it would be useful to publish for anyone interested in knowing how Thanksgiving became a national holiday.

George Washington's first Thanksgiving Proclamation: General Thanksgiving

By the PRESIDENT of the United States Of America

A PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favour; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me "to recommend to the people of the United States a DAY OF PUBLICK THANSGIVING and PRAYER, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:"

NOW THEREFORE, I do recommend and assign THURSDAY, the TWENTY-SIXTH DAY of NOVEMBER next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed;-- for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish Constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted;-- for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge;-- and, in general, for all the great and various favours which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

And also, that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions;-- to enable us all, whether in publick or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us); and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.

GIVEN under my hand, at the city of New-York, the third day of October, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine.

(signed) G. Washington

Source: The Massachusetts Centinel, Wednesday, October 14, 1789

No governor yet, but we have a two-time winner. Apparently the Democrats will force a hand recount of their stronghold, King County (Seattle). If enough votes are found to change the winner, then the state would be forced to hand recount the entire state result. Thus, Washington could have no governor until after Christmas. Perhaps the anthem for this mess should be "No Sleep 'till Brooklyn!" The Seattle Times: Local News: Rossi wins in recount of governor's race

Dave Niehaus needs your support to win the Ford Frick award and join the Baseball Hall of Fame as a broadcaster. Read the nice tribute to Dave that follows. ESPN.com: Page 2 - Seattle's grand slam voice



Now, click here to vote for Dave.

Thankfully, more new technology is coming on line to save lives in Iraq from IEDs detonated by remote control. The terrorists use garage door openers, car alarms and even cell phones as remote detonators. Defense Tech: MORE ON WARLOCK'S TRICKS

Perhaps Walter Cronkite will cite this study in his NIMBY defense of his coastal view from his seafront property. Windmills may cause meteorological changes

A great ship named for a very great man, and a personal hero of mine. USS Winston S. Churchill

This policy shift makes sense. Someone finally realized that procurement simply takes too long, and that soldiers and commanders in the field should have the ability to act and ask for forgiveness later, or in the case of body armor, act and be repaid later. Defense Tech: PAYBACK, FINALLY, FOR ARMOR BUYS

I'm no fan of slow play, but a four hour round might be a world's record at this course. Yahoo! News: Distance no handicap for Aussie plan to build world's largest golf course



The Yahoo! News caption for the photo above reads, "In this handout photo taken 12 November 2004 shows the white sand dunes of Nullarbor National Park that will soon be the backdrop to the world's largest golf course spanning 1,400 kms along the desert highway. Authorities have unveiled plans to build one hole at each of the 18 towns and petrol stations dotted along the Eyre Highway, to be collectively known as Nullarbor Links. Motorists will stop at each petrol station, play a hole, then drive some 100kms to the next teeing off point.(AFP/Goldfields Tourism-HO/File)"

Just as homelessness was rediscovered under President Bush's watch, global warming histeria has increased as well. Or is that global warming research grant histeria? Investor's Business Daily: Bipolar Disorder

After watching the near riot that accompanied today's burial of Arafat the murderer, inspiration to UBL and his contemporaries, I noticed that a certain someone was apparently not present at the "ceremony". Of course, she has a lifetime income in Ter-ray-sa's league to spend back in Paris now. So many salons to visit, so many chocolates to eat... Jerusalem Post: Mrs. AraFAT gets her payday; Palestinians continue raggedy existence

Not Mary Mapes, but an interesting rapid fire decision to fire a news producer for interrupting a fiction crime drama. Broadcasting & Cable: CBS fires producer for preempting final five minutes of CSI: NY

Watching CNN International’s coverage of Arafat’s funeral was like watching a bizarro world rendition of the Reagan funeral. The commentator, the now thickened ultra lefty Christiane Amanpour, narrated an out of step undisciplined horse drawn cortege while using words like “statesman” to describe the old murderer. The Palestinian spokeswoman continues to blame Israel for their woes before the casket reached the Egyptian C-130 that would take the body to Ramallah for internment. The discussion of Palestinian elections without a Palestinian government added to the other worldly atmosphere of the event. Clearly the coverage didn’t belong on CNN; it should have been on Cartoon Network.

Then:



Now:

While he had no message, he had a crazy wife and some very strange outfits that he wore in his equally strange hobby photo ops. The New Republic Online: Bad Message

And no, I didn't mean this couple

Strap him up in a Full Metal Jacket, or maybe go R. Lee Ermey on him. New York Post Online: VINCENT D'Onofrio a D'Offrio with Criminal Intent...his co-stars, that is

Arafat, the old monster, is dead. He scammed untold millions--if not billions--in aid from the west into private accounts. He kept his wife in a life of Heinz-scale luxury in France while denying his countrymen hospitals, schools, and investment in an economy for the Palestinian demi-state. If his people truly saw what he had done, they would denounce him as one of the greatest demagogues the world has ever known. Statement by the President

Happy 229th to the USMC! Ooo-rah! Semper Fi! Power Line: Honoring the few

The red gets redder.

The President did better, actually, everywhere in '04 than in '00.

Take that, Zogby! 7-Eleven: "7-Election outcome reflects current actual election results"

This cracks me up:


Read the whole thing.

Butt-face, rendered nicely. HOG ON ICE: Infan-Tile

This is my favorite quote by Thomas Jefferson, "That government is best which governs the least, because its people discipline themselves."Thomas Jefferson Quotes - The Quotations Page

Barbra "Babs" Streisand, on the other hand, likes this one she found and published as part of a rant on her...blog. It is part of a letter Jefferson wrote to John Taylor Philadelphia on June 4, 1798. She conveniently ignores the entire thrust of the letter, which advises Philadelphia to stay the course--continue the struggle for independence from England as a united republic composed of the original 13 colonies. Jefferson writes, "But who can say what would be the evils of a scission, and when & where they would end? Better keep together as we are, hawl off from Europe as soon as we can, & from all attachments to any portions of it. And if we feel their power just sufficiently to hoop us together, it will be the happiest situation in which we can exist."

Perhaps all those Hollywood and media types who are screeching about secession from the U.S. can read Jefferson's advice and just--stifle themselves.

"Solar sails" have been popular concepts in science fiction for years. Finally, a solar sail experiment is in the works that may lead to the use of the technique in future missions to Mars.

"Love is stronger than hate", says Michael Barone of U. S. News & World Report. That may very well be the story of the 2004 Presidential election. USNews.com: Republican turnout makes for a 51 percent nation (11/15/04)

The Corner on National Review Online

The Corner opines on watering down good whiskey--it's a good thing, if the water is of quality. The Corner on National Review Online

The final electoral vote count: President Bush, 286; Senator Kerry, 252

Little Green Footballs has more, including the complete county by county map shown below.

Instapundit alerts us that the popular vote tally now exceeds 4 million votes in the President's favor, and that Iowa and New Mexico are officially part of Bush Country. The Electoral College totals are 286 for the President, 253 for Kerry. Yahoo! News - Elections

THE MESOPOTAMIAN

Salaam, a courageous Iraqi blogger, says, "All those who have been following my blog from the start should know how I feel towards El Bush, the Avenger, the Lion-Heart and I cannot hide my happiness for this outcome, purely from a personal feeling of gratitude for what he has done for us, despite all the pain and hardships that we suffered and still do." THE MESOPOTAMIAN

Bush Country

USATODAY.com: County map of the vote



Churchill said, speaking to the British on VE Day in May 1945: "We may permit ourselves a brief period of jubilation."

Well done, Mr. President, well done.

The first country that came into crisis with the U.S. speaks out just before the election--and speaks ill of the U.S. Made in China? Not in my house.