Blogging Resumes

Well, gentle readers, I have returned from my extended vacation and am excited to be blogging once again. In the past few weeks, I have been following the Japan news, as opposed to our own events, but as the campaign season picks up steam and becomes nastier, I expect there to be great opportunities for those of us who do not rely on the Drive-By Media for our news.

Japan has been following the Olympic torch's progress obsessively, and they are documenting the progress and the protests that have accompanied it throughout the world. One of the most fascinating moments came as they showed the North Korean progress, and compared it with the scene in japan. It merely reinforces how totalitarian nations, such as China and North Korea, can control and stage-manage their populations, as in North Korea, the torch was almost entirely unescorted, and the people cheered. In most other nations, on the other hand, groups opposed to China's heavy-handed aggression, such as their decades-long occupation of Tibet, and their threatening posture towards Taiwan have managed to stage large and often violent protests as the torch passed through.

I think that China may have made a mistake with their pursuit of the Olympics. They were expecting to be able to stage-manage the Olympics to present their desired picture, just as Hitler did in 1936. However, the world is not possible to control as they might wish, and they may be discovering that sometimes being in the public eye is not as pleasant as it is when one controls the media as they do in their own country. A free media is a two-edged sword, and despite the world media's tendency to give China a pass most of the time, they may be forced to actually see some of the Chinese state's less savory factors as the Olympics bring the society into focus. At least we can hope so.

I'll be keeping an eye on this as it develops. In the meantime, I hope that all of my readers are enjoying the onset of May as summer approaches. It's good to be back!

Baby Left Bound While Parent Party

People like Mitch Laputka and Rachel Anderson are the reason why social services exist in America. Anyone would be horrified and appalled after reading the story of what they did to their baby out of pure selfishness. What did they do? According to Wisconsin's WISN 12 News,

A Glendale couple said they couldn't afford a baby sitter, so they strapped their 14-month-old son in his stroller at home while the couple went out, police alleged.

Rachel Anderson and her live-in boyfriend, Mitch Laputka, were ordered to stand trial Thursday on charges they neglected baby Gabriel so badly that his body was covered with diaper rash, his body temperature was 12 degrees below normal and he stopped breathing, requiring 21 minutes of CPR to revive him. Police said the couple admitted to leaving the boy home alone because they wanted to party.

These people should be sterilized, in my opinion. They have proven that they are not worthy of the responsibility that parenthood brings. I have a just-barely-two year old son. While his presence brings with it a definite curtailment in my social life, he is worth ever second I spend with him. I cannot understand how someone would willingly treat a human being this way for simple selfish pleasure, yet that is precisely what baby Gabriel's parents did.

Fortunately, these idiots were caught and will stand trial for their criminal mistreatment of their helpless baby. I hope and trust that little Gabriel find a loving foster or adoptive family who will cure his injuries and give him a loving atmosphere. But remember- this is government. The odds are that Gabriel will be returned to his birth parents, no matter how badly they have already injured this poor little boy.

Fluff of the Day

I have seen some ridiculous things on the Internet. But stiletto high-heel racing definitely takes the cake. I have to agree with Manolo, who says,

"It is still madness!"

Yes it is. But fun to watch.

Hat tip to little green footballs.

StoneHeads Revisited

Well! It is good to be back in the blogging saddle....I have been taking an extended sabbatical from posting for some time due to two developments in my life that have severe4ly crimped by ability to post regularly. I had determined that I would continue the sabbatical, but with the year fast drawing to a close, it seemed to require some comment on the year that passed, thus I have returned to blogging, though I fear that I shall be unable to keep a daily log as has been my wont.

I was not going to comment on the results of the November elections, since a wise man once said that people receive the government they deserve. Since the American people decided that the Democrats should receive their chance, far be it from me to demur- especially when the Republican majority was doing their best to cover themselves with shame. Though I do wish our 'fair and balanced' media would report in the same manner when Republicans are in power as they do when Democrats hold the reins.

However, I cannot help but to comment how now that the Democrats have safely taken both Houses of Congress, we are beginning to discover that:
A. Democrats are no more ethical than Republicans (and in some cases, much less so- see the Alcee Hastings case for evidence)
B. Democrats and their media allies were well acquainted with the Mark Foley affair (which to my knowlege was entirely legal- though morally repugnant) far in advance of the election and chose to delay their announcement until it could do the Republicans the greatest damage
C. Now that Democrats are in power, the wonderful economic performance of the last six years is beginning to see some light in the mainstream media

Maybe as we move into the Democratic reign, we will discover even more about how the United States has REALLY been over the last six years, now that their own have managed to take power, however temporarily.

More to follow....

Stupid College Tricks, Part One

There have been a number of wonderful Top Ten lists since David Letterman introduced the phenomenon back in the 1980s. However, one of the best I have read is curently to be found on TownHall.com. The irrepressible Dr. Mike Adams, a criminology professor at University of North Carolina-Wilmington, put together his Top Ten Stupid Conspiracy Theories list. A sample taken from the list is as follows:

10. “911 was a conspiracy planned between the Bush administration and the Jews. They wanted an excuse to attack Arabs and the ignorant public bought into it.” (from a now-deceased college professor).

Hilarious stuff. I highly recommend reading the entire list. Unless you are one of the unfortunates with Bush Derangement Syndrome who inhabits the fever zones of the Daily Kos, I can guarantee your enjoyment. The sad part is that all of the theories on the list were propounded by eeither college professors or college students. And that is all the more eveidence of how the Left's stranglehold on public (and private) education has ruined our educational system in this country. A pity.

Garlic & Gastronomy

As I happen to live in the (very blue) San Francisco Bay Area, Mrs. Gankomon and I, accompanied by another couple attended the annual Gilroy Garlic Festival, held (as one might suspect) in the city of Gilroy, approximately 45-60 minutes south of San Jose and two hours south of San Francisco. While the food and beverages were well up to my high standards, I found the trip down to be wearing, as traffic moved at about 2 miles per hour for a good portion of the journey. I might suggest that Gilroy give some thought to expanding the access roads, particularly the Monetery Street exit off from Highway 101.

That being said, I found the food, especially the garlic ice cream and the stuffed mushrooms to be delicious. And we were extremely grateful for the cooling spray in the wine-tasting tent. the walnut-flavored champagne was an eye-opener as well. i cannot remember the maker, but will post if I do. The music and entertainment, provided by apparently local groups, was determined, and was at least not annoying. And there was a plethora of things to observe, not least the other attendees of the Festival! I have not seen that many short skirts (not that I am complaining) in quite some time.

After we partook of the offerings at the festival proper, we moved over ot the nearby Outlet center, containing a large number of name-brand shops offering merchandise at low prices. Mrs. gankomon and I were able to secure some apparel for the coming addition, and our friends found some things as well. We topped off the day by eating taiwanese noodles at a small shop not far from our domicile. All in all, it was a very rewarding day, and I highly recommend it to any passers-by who have any interest at all in garlic and good food, drink and an all-around fun time.

Red State Housing

I have not been able to post for some time, due to family complications. Mrs. gankomon is barely two months away from delivering our first child, and we have understandably been absorbed in activities connected with that event. We are also in the process of joining the ranks of homeowners in California, as we are about to buy our first house. However, that brought on a fit of cold feet, and we have been rather uncomfortable with the overheated nature of the California housing market, as we have both been through the collapse of the Bubble economy in Japan.

However, I happened across Rich Karlegaard's very fine article on Forbes Online regarding the differences in Red State and Blue State housing. He comments that although most Blue Staters turn their oh-so-sophisticated noses up at anything not in California or the East Coast (but not the South!) there are very definite advantages to living in red states- especially the price! Karlegaard writes "The last publicly expressible prejudice in the U.S. is that of Blue State sophisticates sounding off about Red Staters. The Red Staters, comfy in their $400,000 five-bedroom homes on two acres, don't much care." Great quote, and highly applicable to the current situation.

I close by admitting that we are buying in that same San Francisco area, but would cheerfully exchange the borderline treason and highly offensive air of superiority displayed by so many Bay area lefties for the more down-home and certainly more patriotic attidtudes of the interior. Even if good Asian food is a little more difficult to come by!