The Razor

2005: Year in Review by Lileks

Administrator — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 17:39:34 +0000

Lileks has an interesting piece on 2005 in American Enterprise Online:

Pope John Paul II dies. To the horror of many, his successor turns out to be Catholic.

Hehehehe…

What Iraqis Think & Why It Matters

Administrator — Mon, 12 Dec 2005 18:28:12 +0000

The Iraqis recently told us what they think about things in a poll located here. While there is much to be happy about for those who oppose the war and those like me who continue to support it (half of Iraqis say it was wrong for the US and the coalition to invade while preference for democracy has soared and an Islamic state fallen), there is something being missed by the media:

Plurality

Plurality - difference of opinion - is always a good thing. If you want to guage how healthy a nation is, check out how much plurality and dissent it has. Dictatorships never grokked this point: if you want to rig an election and have it appear fair, don’t invite it St. Jimmy Carter’s platoons of bootlickers to “observe” the election - have the dictator win by a s percentage or two. Instead we have witnessed 100% or 99.7% elections victories by dictators from Kim ilSung to Saddam to Castro. These elections are farces - and everyone knows this except St. Carter’s Apostles.

Iraqis haven’t had this much political freedom in at least two generations - possibly longer. It doesn’t surprise me that they express opinions which I don’t like, but I am happy that they do express them. Doing so shows that Iraqis are cottoning on to a greater truth that has been hidden from them for so long - that Democracy works.

In the meantime they will fuss and fight and whine just like a bunch of Democrats - just with more spine.

Afghans Happy US Ousted Taliban

Administrator — Thu, 08 Dec 2005 17:35:15 +0000

Source: ABC News:

…87 percent call the U.S.-led overthrow of the Taliban good for their country. Osama bin Laden, for his part, is as unpopular as the Taliban; nine in 10 view him unfavorably.

Think about that for a second: Those numbers are probably higher than any you would find in all but the reddest parts of this country - and the opposite you would find in such outposts of fascism as Berkeley.

Maybe it’s time we sent troops to liberate UCB.

Chainsaw Pic of the Day

Administrator — Wed, 07 Dec 2005 15:31:40 +0000

Source: Wheelers Forest Products

Marble Madness

Administrator — Tue, 06 Dec 2005 21:55:37 +0000

This guy needs marbles for a prank.
Lots of marbles.

I’m looking for three milliion marbles. Your eyes are not deceiving you, we’re in need of three million. A group of friends of mine play practical jokes on one another and it’s time for some Marble Madness. We’re planning to fill my friend’s 1750 sf house to the top (or as much as poss.)with marbles. After some very unmathematical estimating, we’re guessing 3 mil should be good. We expect the biggest expense to be shipping so the closer to Chicago, IL, the better.

Don’t play tricks on this guy. Nope. A must read…

Chainsaw Pic of the Day

Administrator — Tue, 06 Dec 2005 17:20:55 +0000

Now this is a chainsaw…

Source: Hotsaw.com

5 Years of Sobriety

Administrator — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 00:08:46 +0000

I write about it here at Dean’s World
For those of you who knew me before then, you’ll understand what an accomplishment this is.

Banility Fair

Administrator — Wed, 23 Nov 2005 01:52:43 +0000

What liberal media?
This liberal media…

Link for larger pic

That took 2 hours of Photoshop, but it was worth every minute.

Semper Fi

Administrator — Thu, 10 Nov 2005 13:51:39 +0000

Happy Birthday to the United States Marine Corps.

The following comes from the link Marine Corps Humor:

La Republique francaise Islamique

Administrator — Fri, 04 Nov 2005 17:54:52 +0000

France continues to burn - for a 7th day. Yesterday the French Minister of Social Cohesion Jean-Louis Borloo “said the government had to react “firmly” but added that France must also acknowledge its failure to have dealt with anger simmering in poor suburbs for decades.”

Minister of Social Cohesion? Minister of Equal Opportunities?

I have a suggestion to France: Stop creating government posts that have absolutely no power to improve life.

If they still must create jobs for political sycophants, how about useful jobs like a “Minister of Stop Trashing the Place or We’ll Deport Your Ass back to Algeria”? Or a Minister of Stop Burning Cars or We’ll Make Sure You Never Ever Own One”.

Minister of Social Cohesion? What’s next: Minister of Silly Walks?

The New York Sun nails the situation in today’s editorial:

It’s a barely kept secret that Mr. Chirac led the opposition to the Iraq war out of fear of how his Muslim population would react. This fear is a big part of why France portrays itself as America’s counterweight and why it criticizes Israel at every turn and coddled the terrorist Yasser Arafat right up to his death. This doesn’t elicit thanks from Muslim radicals in France. It turns out to project an image of weakness. Unsurprisingly when faced with some unhappiness they believe they can pressure the French state into submission.

The riots may eventually burn out, but the problem remains: A French political elite that believes it can appease its foes (exception: The United States - it will stand against us at all costs).

Coming to an EU near you: The Islamic Republic of France.