Merit-bound Alley

We need it and Norway has heeded our call!

Nils Olav, honorary colonel-in-chief of the King’s Guard, has been knighted. When asked about his reaction to this great honor, Sir Nils responded, “RAAAAAAAAAAAK”.

He’s a penguin.

Awesome!

Relationships have gotten a lot less personal in recent years. We have a tool that gives unlimited access to the thoughts and feeling of those that use it, but still we drift apart. I have to say that I’m upset.

I’m upset that although I know people read the article, not a single person left a note of encouragement or comfort about my family in Georgia. I’m upset that, even though I posted a story that everyone is allright, I’m certain that no one will offer any words of sympathy.

I know I’m not the most read blog in DE, but I know folks do read it, and I don’t know why no one has offered the simplest words of comfort. Maybe the elections are more important. I don’t know.

Just something I’m thinking about…

I just got a call from my sister-in law. They are back in Saudi and safe and sound. Her father is back in Tbilisi, but the capital is still sounds and safe. Her sister is staying in the Ukraine, just in case, but all of the family is safe.

I’m so relieved, I can’t describe it.

Both Sen. Obama and Sen. McCain have shown startling ignorance and blind loyalty in their reactions to the conflict in South Ossetia.

Sen. Barack Obama delivered a statement from Hawaii about the worsening crisis in Georgia, declaring of Russia’s aggression in the former Soviet republic, “There is no possible justification for these attacks.”

No possible justification except for the fact that Georgia moved into the are first in strikes to clear the area of South Ossetian separatists. I guess since Georgia is an ally, we should ignore the fact that they have once again thumbed their nose at the fragile cease fire in the region. This kind of blind loyalty is completely irresponsible on the world stage, especially at a point where the world opinion of the U.S. is so low. Our politicians should be denigrating Georgia’s lack of political ethics and reconsidering our positive relationship with the hotheaded Sakaashvili.

Like Sen. John McCain, Obama called for “active international engagement” to address the dispute, “including a high-level and neutral international mediator, and a genuine international peacekeeping force — not simply Russian troops.”

Gutterball! The peacekeeping forces in South Ossetia was comprised of Russian, Georgian, and South Ossetian separatists. Either both candidates are completely retarded, or they have to make serious decisions about replacing their foreign policy consultants.

As a bonus, let’s take a look at the media, who made no effort to even report the fact that the conflict was initiated by Georgia in the first few days. How did they end this article about the candidates views on this horrible conflict?

[Obama] sketched out his plans at a 4,000-person rally on the first day:
“I’m going to get a plate lunch. I might go to Zippy’s. I might go to Rainbow Drive-In. I haven’t decided yet. Get some Zip Min. I’m going to go get some shave ice. I’m going to go body surfing at an undisclosed location. I’m going to see my tutu — my grandma — and I’m going to watch my girls play on the beach, and once in a while I might go into the water. But mostly I’m going to watch them.”

“Obama’s presence caused a stir everywhere he showed up,” the paper reported, but one prominent resident wasn’t impressed — Hawaii’s GOP Gov. Linda Lingle. “This is not ‘American Idol,’” the McCain supporter said of the choice facing voters this year, according to the article. “This is making an important decision on who should lead our nation.”

Just cutting journalism Washington Post! Bravo on giving this war the solemn journalism it deserves. Brav-O!

Del Liberal has a thread going where some of the commenters seemed to be laboring under the misconception that Russia started aggression on Georgian soil. Not so, says this comment from some brilliant (and good-looking) commenter:

I think that some people are forgetting that Georgia started the aggression on the 8th by moving troops and armor into areas controlled by S. Ossetia. Wait, but isn’t S. Ossetia part o Georgia?

No, not really. South Ossetia declared themselves a sovereign Soviet Democratic Republic in 1990 and even held their own elections. The Georgian government didn’t allow the secession and declared S. Ossetia’s elections invalid.

After more violence in 1992 between Georgia and S. Ossetian separatists escalated, a cease fire was declared with the separatists retaining control of some areas and the separatists others.

A peacekeeping force of S. Ossetian, Russian and Georgian forces has been present in the region, but Georgia escalated their presence on the 8th to clear the area of separatists. It was this that caused Russia to move troops into S. Ossetia. It must be kept in mind that the majority of S. Ossetians are in favor of separation and identify more with Russia, using Russian as a primary language and Russian currency. If not for Georgia’s denial, there would be no conflict.

I wrote a series of articles a while back on the movie Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed. In the second article, I described some of the duplicitous tactics that the producers used to make their film. These included:

• Using a fake production company name
• Deliberately misstating the purpose of the film as a look at the division between science and religion and using a fake movie title to trick pro-evolution (also read, “smart”) scientists into interviews
• Editing these interviews to make the scientists seem sinister or inept

Keep those in mind, because now I’m going to jump to another film that will be out soon. Religulous is a film by noted skeptic and anti-theist Bill Maher is supposed to point out the absurd and ridiculous beliefs of some religious folks.

Now, I think Bill Maher is an asshole, but much like Keith Olbermann, that opinion does not lead me to dismiss Maher’s arguments or his undeniable talent at pointing out the absurd. Because of that, I was looking forward to this brilliant asshole’s movie. Until about 10 minutes ago.

10 minutes ago, I read an LA Times article about this movie, and I was surprised to see at the end of the article the following:

On how he got people to talk to him: “It was simple: We never, ever, used my name. We never told anybody it was me who was going to do the interviews. We even had a fake title for the film. We called it ‘A Spiritual Journey.’

On the element of surprise: …The crew would set up and at the last second, when the cameras were already rolling, I would show up. So either they’d be seen on camera leaving the interview and lose face or they’d have to talk to me.

On his encounter with Arkansas Sen. Mark Pryor, who tells Maher he believes the biblical account that Earth was created 5,200 years ago: “He’s not going to be happy with this movie. I suspect he’s going to say that the editing is not favorable to him [laughs]. And he’s not completely wrong about that.

Does that sound familiar? Oh yeah, it’s the same dirty shit pulled by the Expelled crew!

Thanks, Bill Maher, for stooping to the level of the people that you were poking fun of. Thanks for a notable lack of ethics in dealing with the religious. Thanks for enforcing the stereotype that non-theists will do anything to denigrate the other side. Thanks for publicly bringing us down a peg. I won’t be giving my money to a man who has used such contemptible deceit in it’s making.

You asshole.

Anyone who uses the internet is familiar with the Rick Roll. Well, I’m delighted to bring to the Delaware blog readers the next evolution in internet meme brilliance: The Barack Roll!

Major h/t goes to htmatkin, the creator of this hilarious video!

I’m relieved to say that my sister-in-law and family have landed safely in the Ukraine. They flew out of Georgia this morning, and were lucky enough to be on the last plane allowed to fly out of the airport. Their flight path took them over Gori, a town that had recently been bombed by Russian forces, but passed over the dangerous area without any problems.

My sister-in-law and most of her etended family are taking refuge in Ukraine, but it will be temporary for her. She and the kids will be on a flight back to their home in Saudi in a couple of days. This flight will have a layover in Moscow, but according to my brother, they will have no prblems there, even though she has a Georgian passport.

…and lied about it.

Stupid, weak bastard.

Delaware Liberal reports this as well.

There has been an escalation of aggression in the Georgian region of South Ossetia, whic declared an unrecognized separation in the 1990s. Russian forces have bombed a Georgian air base, and around 150 Russian armored vehicles have entered the region.

My sister-in-law and two nieces are visiting family in the Georgian capital of Tblisi, and because of the violence are flying out tomorrow through Moscow to the Ukraine. Please keep good thoughts, or prayers if you prefer, for their safe return home.