Der Parson's rant

Just when you though Hollywood made some pretty bad movies.

Guess who's coming to diner | The Journal Gazette

Owner Nabi Faghihi realizes using his small diner on the city's southwest side as a venue for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's visit to Fort Wayne today is somewhat odd.

“The menu's three times bigger than the restaurant,” Faghihi joked Thursday.

Inside the front door of Sara's Family Restaurant, a smiling picture of George W. Bush greets customers above a list of specials - the Reuben sandwich platter and French onion and vegetable beef soups Thursday.

Hillary comes to Fort Wayne, probably to make sure Bill didn't leave any stains behind when he was here a few weeks ago.

On another note, The Obama campaign is openining a office here in Fort Wayne on Saturday around 10am. (I couldn't find links for more info though) I might try to get up and drive down there a take some pictures and maybe see what kind of information they have.

Mixing Memory : Defending Hillary Clinton From a Memory Researcher's Perspective

Let's look at what might have happened. In Germany, Clinton got on a plane that was used specifically because of its ability to maneuver during landings to avoid incoming fire. Undoubtedly, they were told that this was the reason for using the plane. They had flak jackets and Clinton was put into the armored cockpit for the descent, again as a precaution against incoming fire. Add to this the fact that there were credible threats, meaning she was probably rather anxious, and we all know that stress doesn't make for better overall memory, even if it makes us remember perceptual details better. Hell, maybe even Clinton and her entourage were rushed, after the meeting on the tarmac, to their cars because they were on a tight schedule (not because of the threats), and you get a situation that's easily distorted by the reconstructive processes of memory into something like the version that Clinton told. In fact, I'd bet that they even told Clinton or someone on her team that in the case of incoming fire, they would have to be rush to their cars with their heads down, instead of having the scheduled ceremony on the tarmac. All this could easily add up to a memory in which the threat, the fear, the flak jackets, etc., add up to a difficulty in remembering what actually happened and what she was afraid might happened. And the fact that Clinton seems to remember it so vividly, contrary to being evidence that she's lying, is likely just a product of her brain filling in the gaps and building a coherent representation of the episode, just like it's supposed to do.

This is a interesting post that defends Clinton's "memory". The complete article is pretty interesting. It's still doesn't exactly make it ok for her to bend the truth so much.

I don't mean a Burger King whopper either. Seems there are some memory lapses I would expect that from the 71 year old running for president.
Cafferty File:Why would Clinton not tell the truth about her 1996 Bosnia trip?

On two different occasions, Senator Hillary Clinton has described a trip she took as first lady to Bosnia in March of 1996.

To hear her tell it, she was lucky to escape with her life, landing in a hail of sniper fire. She said they were forced to cut short the greeting ceremony at the airport and, “run with our heads down to get into the vehicles to get to our base.”

But apparently there was time to stop and visit at the airport with an 8-year-old girl who greeted Mrs. Clinton on the tarmac when she landed and read her a poem.

The military commander on hand to greet Clinton at the time, Major General William Nash, told the Washington Post he was unaware of any sniper threat to Clinton during her 8-hour stay.

This is from the Washington Post

Hillary Clinton has been regaling supporters on the campaign trail with hair-raising tales of a trip she made to Bosnia in March 1996. In her retelling, she was sent to places that her husband, President Clinton, could not go because they were "too dangerous." When her account was challenged by one of her traveling companions, the comedian Sinbad, she upped the ante and injected even more drama into the story. In a speech earlier this week, she talked about "landing under sniper fire" and running for safety with "our heads down."

There are numerous problems with Clinton's version of events.

There is video on YouTube, apparently it wasn't too dangerous for that little girl to read a poem and give Hillary some flowers.


Haven't politicians figure out yet they need to stick closer to the facts? With all the other people on the flight, the internet and sites like Youtube. Just the fact that MSM is going to have archived footage that is easily dug up and put on the internet. Why stretch the truth like this? Are we suppose to think she some great war hero? If it was so dangerous why did she take her daughter in the first place? Maybe when Chelsea runs for senate or president she can use the same "courage under fire" story.

I think I have to agree with this,

The Pinocchio Test
Clinton's tale of landing at Tuzla airport "under sniper fire" and then running for cover is simply not credible. Photographs and video of the arrival ceremony, combined with contemporaneous news reports, tell a very different story. Four Pinocchios.

You can read more fun facts about Hillary's foreign policy experience here, FactCheck.org

City of Fort Wayne - Report a Pothole

If your driving in Fort Wayne and see a bad pot hole you can go to the above website and fill out a form with a few question to get it fixed. I've been lucky enough never to have hit a pot hole that did any damage to my vehicle, but I've I have seen story in the newspapers about some bad tire damage this past year.

I seen this on MSNBC this morning and it's on Doonesbury.com today.

It's common knowledge and has been reported in the media that al-Qaeda is going back into Iran and receiving training and are coming back into Iraq from Iran, that's well known. And it's unfortunate."
--Sen. John McCain

"I'm sorry, the Iranians are training extremists, not al-Qaeda."
--Sen. McCain, a few moments later, after Sen. Joe Lieberman whispered in his ear

If McCain becomes president, I swear it's going to be like that Hot Shots part Deux were Lloyd Bridges plays the president, or Scary Movie 3 and 4 with Leslie Nielsen as the president, but as we have found out with good Ol' George Bush, it's not funny in real life when the president is a complete buffoon.

Obama confronts U.S. legacy of racial division | The Journal Gazette

In fact, a similar anger exists within segments of the white community. Most working- and middle-class white Americans don’t feel that they have been particularly privileged by their race. Their experience is the immigrant experience – as far as they’re concerned, no one’s handed them anything, they’ve built it from scratch. They’ve worked hard all their lives, many times only to see their jobs shipped overseas or their pension dumped after a lifetime of labor.

They are anxious about their futures, and feel their dreams slipping away; in an era of stagnant wages and global competition, opportunity comes to be seen as a zero sum game, in which your dreams come at my expense. So when they are told to bus their children to a school across town; when they hear that an African American is getting an advantage in landing a good job or a spot in a good college because of an injustice that they themselves never committed; when they’re told that their fears about crime in urban neighborhoods are somehow prejudiced, resentment builds over time.

Like the anger within the black community, these resentments aren’t always expressed in polite company. But they have helped shape the political landscape for at least a generation. Anger over welfare and affirmative action helped forge the Reagan Coalition. Politicians routinely exploited fears of crime for their own electoral ends. Talk show hosts and conservative commentators built entire careers unmasking bogus claims of racism while dismissing legitimate discussions of racial injustice and inequality as mere political correctness or reverse racism.

Just as black anger often proved counterproductive, so have these white resentments distracted attention from the real culprits of the middle class squeeze – a corporate culture rife with inside dealing, questionable accounting practices, and short-term greed; a Washington dominated by lobbyists and special interests; economic policies that favor the few over the many. And yet, to wish away the resentments of white Americans, to label them as misguided or even racist, without recognizing they are grounded in legitimate concerns – this too widens the racial divide, and blocks the path to understanding. This is where we are right now. It’s a racial stalemate we’ve been stuck in for years.

This is just a section of Obama's speech. It's like he read the mind of this white blue collar worker, of course I can't say it because then I'm racist, or a woman hater because I just don't get this warm fuzzy feeling from Hillary.

FortWayne.com : Fort Wayne news, sports, jobs, homes, cars

Democrats preparing for Bill Clinton visit From staff reports

Former President Clinton is coming to Fort Wayne on Tuesday, according to messages posted on Hillary Clinton’s official campaign Web site.

No one yet seems to know when or where he will appear to campaign on behalf of his wife, though, not even Allen County Democratic Party Chairman Mike Bynum.
“Right now, I’m trying to find out the details,” Bynum said. He learned about it earlier today when he heard about the visit on a radio broadcast.

Early this afternoon, phones were ringing constantly at Allen County Democratic Headquarters, 1920 Bluffton Road. A sign-making party is scheduled there from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Monday – again, according to a message posted on the Hillary Clinton campaign site.

Because Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are still battling for the party’s nomination, Indiana’s May primary has uncommon importance. Obama was in the state Saturday, and Hillary Clinton is scheduled to appear in Terre Haute and other cities Thursday.

I think I might be coming down with something and will have to take a sick day tomorrow. I hope to find out more info as to when and were he's going to be in town.

update:

Former President Bill Clinton is visiting the Grand Wayne Center at 6:45 p.m. Tuesday.

The Clinton campaign on Monday afternoon announced that he will visit Indiana tomorrow, attending events in Lawrenceburg, Richmond and Fort Wayne.

Yeah, may have to be a sick day tomorrow, of course it will probably be a madhouse, trying to park and security.

Photos Of Eliot Spitzer's Hooker - March 12, 2008: "Photos Of Eliot Spitzer's Hooker
Meet 'Kristen,' the 22-year-old woman who brought down the governor"

Yay!! The Smoking Gun didn't let me down, they have photos of the girl that "serviced" client #9. She's a pretty enough girl. I am not sure it worth $5,000.00 though. Especially if it would also cost your good job, something that pays well and has good benefits. You know something like GOVERNOR. You have some serious issues if your so horny that as a governor (and former prosecutor) you think it's a sound idea to use a call girl and think no one will ever catch you.

I have to say though Spitzer has better taste then Bill Clinton when it comes to women.

Clockwork chaos | The Journal Gazette

Published: March 10, 2008 6:00 a.m.
Clockwork chaos
Springing ahead trips up more than a few
By Abby Slutsky
The Journal Gazette

Benjamin Franklin is believed to have been the first person to come up with the idea of daylight saving time.
So really it's his fault that Megan Urschel was 48 minutes late to work Sunday morning.
Well maybe not all his fault.

Sunday morning was that special time of year that confuses most Hoosiers. It was time to move clocks one hour ahead. Apparently a lot of Hoosiers are going to burn in hell now because they missed or were late for Sunday service. How do you miss setting your clocks ahead or back? In todays modern world computers, cell phones, and cable boxes automatically change the time when needed.

In 2005, Gov. Mitch Daniels proposed statewide compliance with daylight saving time, and Indiana began observing daylight saving time in 2006, bringing the phrases, “spring forward” and “fall back” to parts of the state not already observing time changes.

I find it funny that it took a Republican governor kicking and screaming into the 20th. century.

Still think I'm cute? One year on, cuddly Knut has turned into a 22st killing machine | the Daily Mail: "Still think I'm cute? One year on, cuddly Knut has turned into a 22st killing machine

From ALLAN HALL in Berlin - More by this author � Last updated at 23:49pm on 2nd March 2008
A year ago, he was a cute and cuddly ball of white fur who captured the hearts of millions worldwide.

But Knut the polar bear has grown up fast - as this startled young visitor to Berlin Zoo discovered.
Knut now weighs 22 stone and has six-inch claws and a fearsome set of fangs to match.
And he seemed to be particularly keen to test them on the three-year-old boy lying on the ground next to his enclosure."

That cute little polar bear isn't so little anymore.

Gary Gygax, 'Father of D&D,' Dies at 69 | The Underwire from Wired.com

Gary Gygax, 'Father of D&D,' Dies at 69
By Lore Sjoberg Email

Gary Gygax, one of the co-creators of the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, died Tuesday morning at his home in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, according to Stephen Chenault, CEO of Troll Lord Games.
Gygax designed the original D&D game with Dave Arneson in 1974, and went on to create the Dangerous Journeys and Lejendary Adventure RPGs, as well as a number of board games. He also wrote several fantasy novels.

Some of my best memories are playing D&D with my friends, from teenage years all the way up to present day. I'm glad Mr. Gygax had the imagination to create such a great game that would last all these years and inspire so many other games. Thank you Mr. Gygax for all the fun and memories.

News-Sentinel.com: "Plagiarism 'all my fault': Goeglein

News-Sentinel found at least 27 guest columns used others' material."

Further investigation by The News-Sentinel has found evidence of plagiarism in seven more guest columns from former White House aide Timothy S. Goeglein.

Contacted Sunday, the Fort Wayne native attributed the plagiarism to shortcomings in his character: "Pride. Vanity. It's all my fault. It's inexcusable. What I did is wrong. I categorically apologize."

Former Fort Wayne resident and reporter Nacy Nall originally put the pieces together to expose the fraud Goeglein has been pushing off as journalism. Nacy even has a article on Slate.com about how things happened.

Last night I was watching good ol' Keith Olbermann and I heard "Fort Wayne Indiana"


(I like the quality of the videos NBC lets you embed)

It seems to fit this Goeglein guy would end up working for the Bush Whitehouse and end up resigning in shame.

It's bit exciting I guess to hear about your town and a blog you read regularly getting a mention in MSM and some national new sources.

FOX Sports on MSN - NFL - Favre decides to call it a career: "Favre decides to call it a career

by Jay Glazer
Updated: March 4, 2008, 1:19 PM EST 1807 comments
The most storied quarterback career in NFL history is coming to a close.
The Green Bay Packers have confirmed a story first reported by FOXSports.com that Brett Favre, the NFL's all-time career passing leader, has decided to retire."

Talk about some bad news. In a way it's good Brett can retire in good health from such a punishing game. I know there has been rumors almost every year about him retiring but this time it seems to be serious.

I would really like to see Brett on one of the sports football shows. He could replace one or 2 of those guys on Fox, they get annoying at times.

If this site isn't on your daily reading list, it should be. Vic can really write some good stuff.

The Pragmatist's Corner Views from the middle

Here is a good example, in case anyone has forgotten about Burma, Vic writes a bit about the Rambo film but mostly about what really goes on in Burma.

BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Jagger 'escaped gang murder plot'

Rolling Stones frontman Sir Mick Jagger escaped an assassination attempt at the hands of Hells Angels in 1969, a BBC Radio 4 documentary has claimed.

I found this on the BBC website, supposedly the Hells Angels tried to kill Jagger because he fired their security people after a fan was stabbed at the Altamont Concert.

Here is another article from the Telegraph that seems to help support what the wkik article says.

Ron Paul 2008 — Hope for America

I was curious if ol' Ron was still running for president. I haven't heard much about him lately. I don't think he has had any descent showing in any of the primaries. I was just reading his website and they are begging for precinct leaders to make phone calls and such. I would guess he is circling the drain. I just don't see him making some big come back, especially against neocon golden boy McCain.