http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/columnists/13487511.htm
Posted on Mon, Dec. 26, 2005
AFTER 9/11
Fear destroys what bin Laden could not
ROBERT STEINBACK
rsteinback@MiamiHerald.com
One wonders if Osama bin Laden didn't win after all. He ruined the America that existed on 9/11. But he had help.
If, back in 2001, anyone had told me that four years after bin Laden's attack our president would admit that he broke U.S. law against domestic spying and ignored the Constitution -- and then expect the American people to congratulate him for it -- I would have presumed the girders of our very Republic had crumbled.
Had anyone said our president would invade a country and kill 30,000 of its people claiming a threat that never, in fact, existed, then admit he would have invaded even if he had known there was no threat -- and expect America to be pleased by this -- I would have thought our nation's sensibilities and honor had been eviscerated.
If I had been informed that our nation's leaders would embrace torture as a legitimate tool of warfare, hold prisoners for years without charges and operate secret prisons overseas -- and call such procedures necessary for the nation's security -- I would have laughed at the folly of protecting human rights by destroying them.
If someone had predicted the president's staff would out a CIA agent as revenge against a critic, defy a law against domestic propaganda by bankrolling supposedly independent journalists and commentators, and ridicule a 37-year Marie Corps veteran for questioning U.S. military policy -- and that the populace would be more interested in whether Angelina is about to make Brad a daddy -- I would have called the prediction an absurd fantasy.
That's no America I know, I would have argued. We're too strong, and we've been through too much, to be led down such a twisted path.
What is there to say now?
All of these things have happened. And yet a large portion of this country appears more concerned that saying ''Happy Holidays'' could be a disguised attack on Christianity.
I evidently have a lot poorer insight regarding America's character than I once believed, because I would have expected such actions to provoke -- speaking metaphorically now -- mobs with pitchforks and torches at the White House gate. I would have expected proud defiance of anyone who would suggest that a mere terrorist threat could send this country into spasms of despair and fright so profound that we'd follow a leader who considers the law a nuisance and perfidy a privilege.
Never would I have expected this nation -- which emerged stronger from a civil war and a civil rights movement, won two world wars, endured the Depression, recovered from a disastrous campaign in Southeast Asia and still managed to lead the world in the principles of liberty -- would cower behind anyone just for promising to "protect us.''
President Bush recently confirmed that he has authorized wiretaps against U.S. citizens on at least 30 occasions and said he'll continue doing it. His justification? He, as president -- or is that king? -- has a right to disregard any law, constitutional tenet or congressional mandate to protect the American people.
Is that America's highest goal -- preventing another terrorist attack? Are there no principles of law and liberty more important than this? Who would have remembered Patrick Henry had he written, "What's wrong with giving up a little liberty if it protects me from death?''
Bush would have us excuse his administration's excesses in deference to the ''war on terror'' -- a war, it should be pointed out, that can never end. Terrorism is a tactic, an eventuality, not an opposition army or rogue nation. If we caught every person guilty of a terrorist act, we still wouldn't know where tomorrow's first-time terrorist will strike. Fighting terrorism is a bit like fighting infection -- even when it's beaten, you must continue the fight or it will strike again.
Are we agreeing, then, to give the king unfettered privilege to defy the law forever? It's time for every member of Congress to weigh in: Do they believe the president is above the law, or bound by it?
Bush stokes our fears, implying that the only alternative to doing things his extralegal way is to sit by fitfully waiting for terrorists to harm us. We are neither weak nor helpless. A proud, confident republic can hunt down its enemies without trampling legitimate human and constitutional rights.
Ultimately, our best defense against attack -- any attack, of any sort -- is holding fast and fearlessly to the ideals upon which this nation was built. Bush clearly doesn't understand or respect that. Do we?
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Thursday, December 22, 2005
RwR meter 10/11/05
Ramblin with Roger
-- Site Summary ---
Visits
Total ........................ 1,841
Average per Day ................. 42
Average Visit Length .......... 1:07
This Week ...................... 293
Page Views
Total ........................ 2,948
Average per Day ................. 57
Average per Visit .............. 1.4
This Week ...................... 402
--- Visits this Week ---
Day
Hour 10/5 10/6 10/7 10/8 10/9 10/10 10/11 Total
---- ----- ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ -------
1 1 1 0 0 2 3 1 8
2 0 1 0 1 0 0 3 5
3 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 2
4 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 2
5 1 0 0 3 1 1 2 8
6 1 0 0 0 2 1 1 5
7 2 0 3 0 2 2 1 (10)
8 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 2
9 2 3 1 3 1 2 4 (16)
10 2 6 4 2 0 3 2 (19)
11 1 3 3 1 2 3 4 (17)
12 3 1 1 0 0 0 4 9
13 3 2 0 1 3 3 2 (14)
14 4 3 4 3 2 3 4 (23)
15 4 6 2 1 1 3 3 (20)
16 5 4 1 1 1 8 4 (24)
17 0 4 2 1 1 5 1 (14)
18 6 3 2 2 3 4 2 (22)
19 2 2 2 0 0 3 1 (10)
20 4 (11) 0 1 1 2 5 (24)
21 0 1 0 0 5 3 1 (10)
22 0 2 3 0 1 0 3 9
23 3 2 3 0 0 2 2 (12)
24 1 1 0 3 1 1 1 8
------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ -------
47- 57- 31- 23- 30- 53- 52- 293
--- Page Views this Week ---
Day
Hour 10/5 10/6 10/7 10/8 10/9 10/10 10/11 Total
---- ----- ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ -------
1 1 1 0 0 2 4 1 9
2 0 1 0 1 0 0 5 7
3 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 2
4 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 4
5 2 0 0 3 1 1 2 9
6 1 0 0 0 6 2 1 (10)
7 3 0 4 0 2 3 1 (13)
8 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 2
9 2 3 1 6 1 2 6 (21)
10 2 7 4 4 0 3 2 (22)
11 2 3 3 1 3 4 4 (20)
12 3 5 1 0 0 0 5 (14)
13 3 3 0 1 3 4 2 (16)
14 4 4 5 4 3 4 6 (30)
15 9 6 2 1 1 3 3 (25)
16 (16) (13) 1 1 1 (22) 6 (60)
17 0 6 2 1 1 6 1 (17)
18 (13) 7 2 2 4 4 2 (34)
19 2 7 2 0 0 3 1 (15)
20 5 (12) 0 1 1 2 5 (26)
21 0 1 0 0 6 5 1 (13)
22 0 2 3 0 1 0 3 9
23 4 2 3 0 0 2 2 (13)
24 1 1 0 4 1 3 1 (11)
------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ -------
77- 85- 33- 30- 38- 78- 61- 402
-- Site Summary ---
Visits
Total ........................ 1,841
Average per Day ................. 42
Average Visit Length .......... 1:07
This Week ...................... 293
Page Views
Total ........................ 2,948
Average per Day ................. 57
Average per Visit .............. 1.4
This Week ...................... 402
--- Visits this Week ---
Day
Hour 10/5 10/6 10/7 10/8 10/9 10/10 10/11 Total
---- ----- ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ -------
1 1 1 0 0 2 3 1 8
2 0 1 0 1 0 0 3 5
3 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 2
4 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 2
5 1 0 0 3 1 1 2 8
6 1 0 0 0 2 1 1 5
7 2 0 3 0 2 2 1 (10)
8 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 2
9 2 3 1 3 1 2 4 (16)
10 2 6 4 2 0 3 2 (19)
11 1 3 3 1 2 3 4 (17)
12 3 1 1 0 0 0 4 9
13 3 2 0 1 3 3 2 (14)
14 4 3 4 3 2 3 4 (23)
15 4 6 2 1 1 3 3 (20)
16 5 4 1 1 1 8 4 (24)
17 0 4 2 1 1 5 1 (14)
18 6 3 2 2 3 4 2 (22)
19 2 2 2 0 0 3 1 (10)
20 4 (11) 0 1 1 2 5 (24)
21 0 1 0 0 5 3 1 (10)
22 0 2 3 0 1 0 3 9
23 3 2 3 0 0 2 2 (12)
24 1 1 0 3 1 1 1 8
------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ -------
47- 57- 31- 23- 30- 53- 52- 293
--- Page Views this Week ---
Day
Hour 10/5 10/6 10/7 10/8 10/9 10/10 10/11 Total
---- ----- ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ -------
1 1 1 0 0 2 4 1 9
2 0 1 0 1 0 0 5 7
3 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 2
4 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 4
5 2 0 0 3 1 1 2 9
6 1 0 0 0 6 2 1 (10)
7 3 0 4 0 2 3 1 (13)
8 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 2
9 2 3 1 6 1 2 6 (21)
10 2 7 4 4 0 3 2 (22)
11 2 3 3 1 3 4 4 (20)
12 3 5 1 0 0 0 5 (14)
13 3 3 0 1 3 4 2 (16)
14 4 4 5 4 3 4 6 (30)
15 9 6 2 1 1 3 3 (25)
16 (16) (13) 1 1 1 (22) 6 (60)
17 0 6 2 1 1 6 1 (17)
18 (13) 7 2 2 4 4 2 (34)
19 2 7 2 0 0 3 1 (15)
20 5 (12) 0 1 1 2 5 (26)
21 0 1 0 0 6 5 1 (13)
22 0 2 3 0 1 0 3 9
23 4 2 3 0 0 2 2 (13)
24 1 1 0 4 1 3 1 (11)
------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ -------
77- 85- 33- 30- 38- 78- 61- 402
Holiday Greetings (from MAK)
Dear Clients and Friends,
I really wanted to send out some sort of holiday greeting but it is so difficult in today's world to know exactly what to say without offending someone. So I met with my attorney yesterday, and on her advice I want to say to all of you:
Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress, non addictive gender neutral, celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasions and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all.
I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling, and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2006, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great (not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country or is the only "AMERICA" in the western hemisphere), and without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith, or sexual preference of the wishes. By accepting this greeting, you are accepting these terms:
This greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal. It is freely transferable with no alteration to the original greeting. It implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for her/himself or others, and is void where prohibited by law, and is revocable at the sole
discretion of the wisher. This wish is warranted to perform as expected within the usual application of good tidings for a period of one year, or until the issuance of a subsequent holiday greeting, whichever comes first, and warranty is limited to replacement of this wish or issuance of a
new wish at the sole discretion of the wisher.
So Happy Whatever, and Best Wishes!
Chris K. Ringel
I really wanted to send out some sort of holiday greeting but it is so difficult in today's world to know exactly what to say without offending someone. So I met with my attorney yesterday, and on her advice I want to say to all of you:
Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress, non addictive gender neutral, celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasions and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all.
I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling, and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2006, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great (not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country or is the only "AMERICA" in the western hemisphere), and without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith, or sexual preference of the wishes. By accepting this greeting, you are accepting these terms:
This greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal. It is freely transferable with no alteration to the original greeting. It implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for her/himself or others, and is void where prohibited by law, and is revocable at the sole
discretion of the wisher. This wish is warranted to perform as expected within the usual application of good tidings for a period of one year, or until the issuance of a subsequent holiday greeting, whichever comes first, and warranty is limited to replacement of this wish or issuance of a
new wish at the sole discretion of the wisher.
So Happy Whatever, and Best Wishes!
Chris K. Ringel
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Washington Post annual word definitions
Once again, The Washington Post has published the winning
submissions to its yearly contest, in which readers are asked to
supply alternate meanings for common words.
And the winners are:
1. Coffee (n.), the person upon whom one coughs.
2. Flabbergasted (adj.), appalled over how much weight you have gained.
3. Abdicate (v.), to give up all hope of ever having a flat stomach.
4. Esplanade (v.), to attempt an explanation while drunk.
5. Willy-nilly (adj.), impotent.
6. Negligent (adj.) describes a condition in which you
absentmindedly answer the door in your nightgown.
7. Lymph (v.), to walk with a lisp.
8. Gargoyle (n.), olive-flavored mouthwash.
9. Flatulence (n.) emergency vehicle that picks you up after you
are run over by a steamroller.
10. Balderdash (n.), a rapidly receding hairline.
11. Testicle (n.), a humorous question on an exam.
12. Rectitude (n.), the formal, dignified bearing adopted by proctologists.
13. Pokemon (n), a Rastafarian proctologist.
14. Oyster (n.), a person who sprinkles his conversation with Yiddishisms.
15. Frisbeetarianism (n.), the belief that, when you die, your Soul
flies up onto the roof and gets stuck there.
16. Circumvent (n.), an opening in the front of boxer shorts worn
by Jewish men
submissions to its yearly contest, in which readers are asked to
supply alternate meanings for common words.
And the winners are:
1. Coffee (n.), the person upon whom one coughs.
2. Flabbergasted (adj.), appalled over how much weight you have gained.
3. Abdicate (v.), to give up all hope of ever having a flat stomach.
4. Esplanade (v.), to attempt an explanation while drunk.
5. Willy-nilly (adj.), impotent.
6. Negligent (adj.) describes a condition in which you
absentmindedly answer the door in your nightgown.
7. Lymph (v.), to walk with a lisp.
8. Gargoyle (n.), olive-flavored mouthwash.
9. Flatulence (n.) emergency vehicle that picks you up after you
are run over by a steamroller.
10. Balderdash (n.), a rapidly receding hairline.
11. Testicle (n.), a humorous question on an exam.
12. Rectitude (n.), the formal, dignified bearing adopted by proctologists.
13. Pokemon (n), a Rastafarian proctologist.
14. Oyster (n.), a person who sprinkles his conversation with Yiddishisms.
15. Frisbeetarianism (n.), the belief that, when you die, your Soul
flies up onto the roof and gets stuck there.
16. Circumvent (n.), an opening in the front of boxer shorts worn
by Jewish men
Friday, December 02, 2005
RwR meter 10/4/05
-- Site Summary ---
Visits
Total ........................ 1,550
Average per Day ................. 44
Average Visit Length .......... 1:49
This Week ...................... 311
Page Views
Total ........................ 2,550
Average per Day ................. 66
Average per Visit .............. 1.5
This Week ...................... 465
--- Visits this Week ---
Day
Hour 9/28 9/29 9/30 10/1 10/2 10/3 10/4 Total
---- ----- ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ -------
1 0 2 2 0 0 2 3 9
2 1 0 0 1 2 2 3 9
3 1 0 0 0 1 3 0 5
4 0 6 1 0 0 1 0 8
5 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 4
6 0 0 1 0 1 4 0 6
7 2 2 0 0 1 0 2 7
8 0 0 2 1 0 1 3 7
9 2 4 0 1 2 0 1 (10)
10 5 2 4 1 2 2 3 (19)
11 3 3 2 0 0 1 3 (12)
12 4 6 1 0 0 8 3 (22)
13 4 1 1 3 0 (12) 1 (22)
14 6 1 1 0 0 2 2 (12)
15 4 2 3 3 4 4 7 (27
16 1 1 1 4 3 3 7 (20)
17 5 4 0 0 3 4 6 (22)
18 2 1 3 2 0 1 1 (10)
19 7 3 0 1 2 3 2 (18)
20 1 2 2 1 1 3 3 (13)
21 4 1 1 1 2 3 1 (13)
22 1 2 5 1 1 2 3 (15)
23 2 2 2 3 1 2 0 (12)
24 2 1 0 0 1 2 3 9
------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ -------
57- 46- 32- 23- 27- 67- 59- 311
--- Page Views this Week ---
Day
Hour 9/28 9/29 9/30 10/1 10/2 10/3 10/4 Total
---- ----- ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ -------
1 0 2 2 0 0 2 5 (11)
2 1 0 0 1 3 5 3 (13)
3 1 0 0 0 3 4 0 8
4 0 7 1 0 0 1 0 9
5 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 4
6 0 0 1 0 3 5 0 9
7 2 2 0 0 1 0 6 (11)
8 0 0 2 1 0 1 4 8
9 2 5 0 3 4 0 2 (16)
10 (10) 2 4 1 2 5 7 (31)
11 3 3 5 0 0 1 3 (15)
12 5 (14) 1 0 0 (20) 3 (43)
13 4 3 1 6 0 (16) 2 (32)
14 8 2 1 0 0 5 5 (21)
15 7 2 3 3 5 7 (10) (37)
16 1 1 2 4 4 8 (28) (48)
17 6 4 0 0 3 4 8 (25)
18 3 1 3 2 0 6 4 (19)
19 9 4 0 1 5 4 3 (26)
20 1 3 3 2 2 4 4 (19)
21 4 1 1 3 3 3 1 (16)
22 1 2 6 1 1 3 4 (18)
23 4 2 2 3 1 3 0 (15)
24 2 1 0 0 1 4 3 (11)
------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ -------
74- 61- 38- 31- 41- 113- 107- 465
Visits
Total ........................ 1,550
Average per Day ................. 44
Average Visit Length .......... 1:49
This Week ...................... 311
Page Views
Total ........................ 2,550
Average per Day ................. 66
Average per Visit .............. 1.5
This Week ...................... 465
--- Visits this Week ---
Day
Hour 9/28 9/29 9/30 10/1 10/2 10/3 10/4 Total
---- ----- ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ -------
1 0 2 2 0 0 2 3 9
2 1 0 0 1 2 2 3 9
3 1 0 0 0 1 3 0 5
4 0 6 1 0 0 1 0 8
5 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 4
6 0 0 1 0 1 4 0 6
7 2 2 0 0 1 0 2 7
8 0 0 2 1 0 1 3 7
9 2 4 0 1 2 0 1 (10)
10 5 2 4 1 2 2 3 (19)
11 3 3 2 0 0 1 3 (12)
12 4 6 1 0 0 8 3 (22)
13 4 1 1 3 0 (12) 1 (22)
14 6 1 1 0 0 2 2 (12)
15 4 2 3 3 4 4 7 (27
16 1 1 1 4 3 3 7 (20)
17 5 4 0 0 3 4 6 (22)
18 2 1 3 2 0 1 1 (10)
19 7 3 0 1 2 3 2 (18)
20 1 2 2 1 1 3 3 (13)
21 4 1 1 1 2 3 1 (13)
22 1 2 5 1 1 2 3 (15)
23 2 2 2 3 1 2 0 (12)
24 2 1 0 0 1 2 3 9
------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ -------
57- 46- 32- 23- 27- 67- 59- 311
--- Page Views this Week ---
Day
Hour 9/28 9/29 9/30 10/1 10/2 10/3 10/4 Total
---- ----- ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ -------
1 0 2 2 0 0 2 5 (11)
2 1 0 0 1 3 5 3 (13)
3 1 0 0 0 3 4 0 8
4 0 7 1 0 0 1 0 9
5 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 4
6 0 0 1 0 3 5 0 9
7 2 2 0 0 1 0 6 (11)
8 0 0 2 1 0 1 4 8
9 2 5 0 3 4 0 2 (16)
10 (10) 2 4 1 2 5 7 (31)
11 3 3 5 0 0 1 3 (15)
12 5 (14) 1 0 0 (20) 3 (43)
13 4 3 1 6 0 (16) 2 (32)
14 8 2 1 0 0 5 5 (21)
15 7 2 3 3 5 7 (10) (37)
16 1 1 2 4 4 8 (28) (48)
17 6 4 0 0 3 4 8 (25)
18 3 1 3 2 0 6 4 (19)
19 9 4 0 1 5 4 3 (26)
20 1 3 3 2 2 4 4 (19)
21 4 1 1 3 3 3 1 (16)
22 1 2 6 1 1 3 4 (18)
23 4 2 2 3 1 3 0 (15)
24 2 1 0 0 1 4 3 (11)
------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ -------
74- 61- 38- 31- 41- 113- 107- 465
Thursday, December 01, 2005
Free Ivy League education
HARVARD'S TUITION ANNOUNCEMENT - Harvard is offering free tuition for students that have a family income below $40,000. If you are a mentor or have nieces and nephews who might be interested, please give them this information. If you know any one/family earning less than $40K with a brilliant child near ready for college, please pass this along.
Harvard's Tuition Announcement Highlights Failure of Prestigious Universities to Enroll Low-Income Students (March 1, 2004.)
Harvard University announced that from now on undergraduate students from low-income families will pay no tuition. In making the announcement, Harvard's president Lawrence H. Summers said, "When only 10 percent of the students in Elite higher education come from families in lower half of the income distribution, we are not doing enough. We are not doing enough in bringing elite higher education to the lower half of the income distribution." If you know of a family earning less than $40,000 a year with an honor student graduating from high school soon, Harvard University wants to pay the tuition. The prestigious university recently announced that from now on undergraduate students from low-income families can go to Harvard for free...no tuition and no student loans! To find out more about Harvard offering free tuition for families making less than $40,000 a year visit Harvard's financial aid website or call the school's financial aid office at (617) 495-1581.
***
Beginning next year, students at the Yale School of Music will no longer have to pay tuition, due to a recent $100 million anonymous donation. Read the article.
Harvard's Tuition Announcement Highlights Failure of Prestigious Universities to Enroll Low-Income Students (March 1, 2004.)
Harvard University announced that from now on undergraduate students from low-income families will pay no tuition. In making the announcement, Harvard's president Lawrence H. Summers said, "When only 10 percent of the students in Elite higher education come from families in lower half of the income distribution, we are not doing enough. We are not doing enough in bringing elite higher education to the lower half of the income distribution." If you know of a family earning less than $40,000 a year with an honor student graduating from high school soon, Harvard University wants to pay the tuition. The prestigious university recently announced that from now on undergraduate students from low-income families can go to Harvard for free...no tuition and no student loans! To find out more about Harvard offering free tuition for families making less than $40,000 a year visit Harvard's financial aid website or call the school's financial aid office at (617) 495-1581.
***
Beginning next year, students at the Yale School of Music will no longer have to pay tuition, due to a recent $100 million anonymous donation. Read the article.
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