The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

Brain Candy, Coyote, a Dragon and Zombies

Posted on | August 7, 2014 | 24 Comments

— by Wombat-socho


This week I want to talk about books that don’t necessarily have a Deep Message or Big Idea – or if they do, are well-written enough that the author and his characters aren’t beating you over the head with it every few paragraphs. One series of these books is Jack Campbell’s Lost Fleet series, which begins with The Lost Fleet: Dauntless and has since split into two spinoff series, Beyond The Frontier and The Lost Stars. I spent a few days this week with Beyond the Frontier: Invincible and Beyond the Frontier: Guardian, in which the legendary Admiral “Black Jack” Geary leads his weary fleet home through systems full of hostile aliens and Syndics seemingly determined to carry on the war with plausible deniability, only to find Alliance politics may prove at least as deadly as the genocidal aliens. I don’t want to give the impression that these are simple space operas; there are a mess of subplots and complications that in the hands of a lesser author (or lazier editor) could have bloated these books into doorstop size. As it is, they’re tightly written tales that will keep you engaged, yet at the same time qualify as fairly light reading.


Allen Steele’s Coyote Rising, on the other hand…not so much. This is a novel that wears its libertarian colors on its sleeve, which was pretty much guaranteed from the get-go since the struggle between the socialist rulers of Coyote’s biggest colony and the refugees from the Alabama who fled into the forests to escape them takes up most of the book. Steele does a good job allowing his characters to tell the story from their own, individual perspectives, and does a better job of it than in the original Coyote, for what my opinion is worth.


Long before Frank Herbert gained fame and fortune (and set upon us a seemingly endless parade of sequels, thanks to his son) with Dune, he wrote a chilling little Cold War psychological thriller, The Dragon in the Sea. In a different future from ours, the Cold War has turned hot, and to keep the war machine running, the US Navy has taken to stealing oil from the Eastern Bloc with submarine tugs – but the last twenty subtugs have all been lost. Ensign John Ramsey of BuPsych is put aboard the Fenian Ram as the electronics officer to find out if there’s an East Bloc sleeper agent in the crew, or something else betraying the subtugs. Herbert does an outstanding job conveying the claustrophobic nature of submarine operations, played out in an environment where not only the enemy, but the sea itself is trying to kill you. Most of Herbert’s novels I can take or leave, but I think The Dragon in the Sea is every bit as good as Dune – and a damn sight shorter. 🙂


As much as I liked its predecessor, John Ringo’s Islands of Rage and Hope is EVEN BETTER, and I say this as someone who, as you know, has a complete distaste for the whole zombie apocalypse genre. Perhaps this is because Islands of Rage and Hope, like its predecessors Under a Graveyard Sky and To Sail a Darkling Sea aren’t so much about the zombies as they are about how a ragged band of survivors, stiffened by a handful of military personnel, adapt, react and overcome despite the problems presented by the ad hoc nature of the “Navy” and “Marine” forces, and the arguably deranged teenage women leading those forces. Contains extremely graphic descriptions of zombie (and human) deaths, royalty, horrible ethical dilemmas, porn stars (well, the next best thing), spec ops legends in deep cover, royalty, massive maternity issues, ballistic missile submarines, Gurkhas, and Dutch Marines. Does not contain: dull moments, frothing about GLBTWTFBBQ issues, or anything else likely to get this book a Nebula nomination. Highly recommended if you like zombie stories, carnage a la John Ringo, or just plain good action.


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Category: Books

#ObamaCare River of Lies Rolls On

Posted on | August 7, 2014 | 9 Comments

by Smitty

So, after all the Individual Mandate faffing about, Hot Air reports that as many as 90% may not get nicked with a penalty (for now):

The Obama administration has provided 14 ways people can avoid the fine based on hardships, including suffering domestic violence, experiencing substantial property damage from a fire or flood, and having a canceled insurance plan. Those come on top of exemptions carved out under the 2010 law for groups including illegal immigrants, members of Native American tribes and certain religious sects…
. . .
Critics have assailed one exemption for people who “experienced another hardship obtaining health insurance” as too broad. That exemption asks for documentation if possible but doesn’t require it.

To summarize, Obama is taking your liberty and training you to accept being spared the whip as an ersatz liberty substitute.
In defense of Obama, if the American people are retarded enough to stand for this, then DOOM ON US.

Category: Barack Obama, Democrats, Health Care

TRUTH ON TRIAL

Posted on | August 7, 2014 | 26 Comments

Today in Montgomery County Circuit Court, I watched convicted bomber Brett Kimberlin get away with lying about me, claiming that I had said and done things I have not done. Before the court was the defendants’ motion for summary judgment in the Maryland case Kimberlin v. Walker, et al. In the end, the judge denied the motion, so that we’re going to trial Monday.

This is madness, and the details will be discussed later. But long story short, I’ll spend the next four days preparing for trial. Your prayers are earnestly requested, and please remember the Five Most Important Words in the English Language:

HIT THE FREAKING TIP JAR!

 

 

UPDATE: John Hoge has more on the case at Hogewash.

 

Category: The Kimberlin Files

LIVE AT FIVE: 08.07.14

Posted on | August 7, 2014 | 6 Comments

— compiled by Wombat-socho


TOP NEWS
Israel, Hamas Lay Out Demands On Gaza

Gazans take advantage of the truce

72-hour truce holding up as indirect talks begin in Egypt
Obama urges enduring ceasefire in the Gaza Strip
Israel Backs Extension Of Ceasefire; No Reply From Hamas

Liberia Declares State Of Emergency Over Ebola
WHO estimates death toll in West Africa now 932

Sixth Circuit Hears Four States’ Gay Marriage Cases
More appeals by states coming to Seventh and Ninth Circuits later in the year



POLITICS
Texas Reinforces Border Patrol With Its Own Police

Troopers from the Texas Dept. of Public Safety patrol the Rio Grande

Game wardens, Texas Rangers pressed into service to help seal a porous border


Government Watchdogs Unite In Letter Slamming Administration “Transparency”


Missouri Approves Right-To-Farm Amendment By Slim Margin

Speculation Builds Over Future Of Sen. Walsh (D-MT) As Campaign Nixes Events

Former Chief Of Staff Describes Maureen McDonnell’s Rages

MS GOP Won’t Hear McDaniel Runoff Election Challenge

Homeland Security Contractor Reports Computer Breach



THE ECONOMY, STUPID
Asian Crude Up Slightly From US Close On Inventory Info: WTI $97.08, Brent $104.80
Bank Of America Reportedly Nearing $17 Billion Mortgage Settlement
Feds To Sell $67 Billion In T-Bills, Notes Next Week
Euro Steady Ahead Of ECB; Aussie Slides On Weak Job Data
Wall Street Ends Flat As Russia Concerns Linger
Wheat Declines After Biggest Gain Since April
How Hackable Is Your Car?
Uber, Lyft, Sidecar Announce New Carpooling Services
Pew Study Shows Split Views On Whether Robots Will Cost Or Create Jobs
Checking Out The New Foursquare
YouTube Buys Directr App And Makes It Free



SPORTS
M’s Chris Young Gets Run Support For Once In 7-3 Win Against Braves

Teammates congratulate Logan Morrison (center) on his 3-run dinger in the fourth

Atlanta’s skid reaches 8

National Guard Ends Sponsorship Of Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Royals Edge Snakes 4-3

Red Sox Squeak By Cardinals, 2-1

Phillies Pound Astros 10-3

Fish Fall To Pirates, 7-3

Reds Rout Tribe, 8-3

Jays Snap Skid With 5-1 Win Against O’s

Fister Makes Quick Work Of Mets In 7-1 Rout



FAMOUS FOR BEING FAMOUS
Katie Holmes Talks About Life After Tom Cruise

“I never really look back”

Trying her best to be a good mom for Suri

Warner Brothers Sets Dates For DC Films

Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting Talks “Big Bang Theory”

Alexis Bledel, Vincent Kartheiser Secretly Wed

Mischa Barton Regrets Doing “The O.C.”

This Week, Kevin Spacey And Julia Louis-Dreyfus Swap POTUS Places

Christian Borle To Play Smee, Mr. Darling In Live-Action “Peter Pan”

“Teen Mom” Star Catelynn Lowell Pregnant Again

Benjamin Walker Scores Title Role In “American Psycho” Musical

“Kickboxer” Reboot Punches Up Cast With Scott Adkins, Tony Jaa

NBC, Sony TV Close Deal For Bill Cosby Comedy Project



FOREIGNERS
Obama Says Ukraine Doesn’t Need US Military Aid
Cambodia Tribunal Sentences Former Khmer Rouge Leaders To Life In Prison
Russia Issues Sanctions Of Its Own Against The West
China Quake Toll Climbs To 600; Volunteers Told To Stay Away
Dutch Premier Calls Halt To Search For Remains At Malaysian Airliner’s Crash Site
Boris Johnson To Stand For Parliament
Five Teens Arrested Over Anti-Semitic Attack On Sydney Schoolbus
Tens Of Thousands Of Yazidi Refugees Trapped By Islamic State In Iraq
Rahul Gandhi May Get His Debate On Communal Violence, But Will He Speak?
Kurds, Islamic State Clash Near Irbil



BLOGS & STUFF
Doug Powers: Honest Mistakes, To Be Sure – Government “Transparency” Website Missing At Least $619 Billion
Twitchy: Jesse Jackson Wants To Amend The Constitution Because You’re Racist
American Power: Illinois Professor Salaita Sacked For Anti-Israel Tweets
American Thinker: Corporations Fleeing Obama’s Notion Of “Economic Patriotism”
BLACKFIVE: Book Review – LTC Brad Taylor’s “Days Of Rage”
Blackmailers Don’t Shoot: Rudimenary Peni Radio Interview From 1988
Conservatives4Palin: Michelle Malkin – The Environmental Corruption Agency
Don Surber: Political Scoreboard, August 6
Joe For America: Minimum Wage – If Democrats Didn’t Have Double Standards, They Wouldn’t Have Any Standards
JustOneMinute: Back On The Border, What Price Compassion?
Protein Wisdom: Predator 3 – Sarah v. Jesse
Shot In The Dark: War, War, War
STUMP: Detroit Bankruptcy Watch – What, Exactly, Is Up? Down? Whatever?
Gateway Pundit: Jimmy Carter Bashes Israel, Calls On US To Recognize Hamas
The Jawa Report: The Price Of Honor
The Lonely Conservative: JournoList 2.0
This Ain’t Hell: Out – MARSOC, Back In – Marine Raiders
Weasel Zippers: Obama Defends His Use Of Executive Orders
Megan McArdle: Mr. President, You Can’t Do Whatever You Want


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Category: Live at Five

‘They Found a Rape Kit in His Car’

Posted on | August 6, 2014 | 47 Comments

Do you think #YesAllWomen will notice stories like this?

“The restraining order was granted for a period of three years, this was August 2011. . . . He found me at Dartmouth, at my sorority, he found me at my family’s new home that they moved to. He found me through LinkedIn, Facebook, everything. I tried to delete things, he still found me. He hired a private investigator. . . . I got back to my parents’ house at 1:30 a.m. flying in from Dartmouth and at 8:30 a.m. the next morning he was knocking on my front door. . . When he was arrested by the police, they found what they like to call a rape kit in the back of his car. It consisted of a sweatshirt, firewood, maps of the area, duct tape, a rope tied into a slip noose, hunting knives and various other items.”

Liberal feminists don’t give a damn about the rights of women like Dartmouth student Taylor Woolrich. Liberals want to deprive her of the only real security for women like her whose lives and safety are jeopardized by violent criminals. You see, Taylor Woolrich told her story yesterday at the annual conference of Students for Concealed Carry, and liberal feminists hate the Second Amendment.

 

Category: Constitution, Crime, Feminism

Pageant Judge Was Lesbian Predator; Sexually Assaulted Pre-Teen Girl

Posted on | August 6, 2014 | 17 Comments

Lesbian pedophile Charlotte Holl, 25, was convicted of “grooming” and “sexually assaulting” a girl under the age of 13. The British news accounts of her sentencing hearing are strangely vague:

A female beauty pageant judge groomed and sexually assaulted a young girl, plying her with cigarettes and alcohol.
Charlotte Holl, 25, sent 1,200 texts and social media messages to her victim — who is under 13-years-old — and dreamed of living with her in Florida, Ipswich Crown Court heard.
Holl, of Newmarket, Suffolk, touched the girl’s inner leg over her clothes, kissed her and put her arm around her waist.
But Holl has been spared jail — and was given an 18-month jail sentence suspended for two years after she admitted four sexual assaults on a girl and being an adult who met a girl following grooming.

This is obviously confusing: Was the touching and kissing the “four sexual assaults”? Also, how many beauty pageants did she judge? But don’t worry, she promises it won’t happen again:

Duncan O’Donnell, defending, said she had been ‘vulnerable and immature’.
He said smitten Holl was ‘ashamed’ of her actions.
Mr O’Donnell told Ipswich Crown Court: ‘Throughout these proceedings she has indicated she has been horrified by what she did.
‘She acknowledged in (police) interview what she did.
‘These are offences that are never going to happen again.
He added: ‘She has pleaded guilty and indicated her full horror over what she has done.
‘While the custody threshold has been passed in the circumstances of this offending behaviour it is a custodial sentence that falls within the bracket that could be suspended.’

Hey, suspended sentence! All she did was “groom” a pre-teen girl and plan to take her pubescent lesbian crush to Florida:

[Judge Rupert Overbury] told her: ‘It’s plain to me, as it was to the probation service, you certainly did have the intention of going further than kissing.’
Judge Overbury said Holl had carried out the attacks for her own ‘sexual satisfaction’.
Messages between the two indicated Holl was thinking of living with the girl and taking her to Florida, the court heard.

Oh, these silly judges! When will society listen to feminists and stop “forcing heteronormative assumptions” on young girls?

 

Category: Crime, Feminism, Gays, Great Britain, Sex

Hey, Moms: Feminists Think They Know What’s Wrong With Your Children

Posted on | August 6, 2014 | 158 Comments

Dana Sitar is a 28-year-old writer who works as a barista in a bookstore coffee shop to pay her bills. Divorced and childless, she is perhaps not the role model of happiness and success to whom America’s mothers usually turn when they need parenting advice, but being a feminist entitles her to tell you what you’re doing wrong. Quite frankly, she’s decided that your parenting is too heteronormative:

Your Toddler Might Be Gay
. . . In a world where we’re finally making some progress on understanding non-straight identities as deserving of recognition, respect, and equal rights, forcing heteronormative assumptions on yet another generation is a huge step away from an inclusive and tolerant society. . . .
If we keep talking to that little girl for the next 10 years as if it’s her destiny to fall in love with a man (put a pin in the implied sexism and other layers of bigotry for another conversation), how will she react to herself and others if she finds herself attracted to the girls around her, not the boys? Or to both? . . .
How will she treat herself when she realizes she wants to kiss the girl down the street, not the boy next door? . . .
Not being a bigot is a huge first step, and I thank you for it.
But it’s not enough to quietly believe in equality. We have to actively practice tolerance and become aware of the presumptions we project. We have to let our kids see a world where their identities are all treated as normal and acceptable, regardless of the odds.

Perhaps you didn’t notice that she used the phrase “our kids,” although Dana Sitar has no children herself, so that her use of the first-person plural implies that this feminist coffee-shop waitress is asserting her proprietary interest in your kids. Yes, mothers of America: Your expectation that your daughter will grow up to be normal — even in 2014, about 98% of U.S. women are heterosexual — is a sort of prejudice, just one step removed from “being a bigot.”

Feminists condemn you for “forcing heteronormative assumptions” on your girls, thus impeding “progress” toward “an inclusive and tolerant society.” You’re a homophobic hater, mom. Your little lesbian toddler is already being oppressed — by you! (You’re probably showing her heteronormative Disney cartoons, aren’t you?)

How is America supposed to make progress toward an inclusive and tolerant society, if mothers keep brainwashing little girls into thinking it’s quote-unquote “normal” for them to like boys? If we are ever going to achieve the kind of equality feminist theory demands, mothers must put an end to this intolerant oppressive heteronormativity. Only then can your daughters be free to grow up as completely confused as Rollins College sophomore Bekki Charbonneau:

I am a queer woman. I flip-flop between identities. I have been “straight,” then “bisexual,” then “pansexual,” then a weeping puddle in the middle of the floor (which has occurred frequently enough to be considered an identity, in my opinion).
I often feel “not gay enough” to hang out in queer spaces; I feel like an intruder or a wannabe. I have had friends “jokingly” tell me that I should just “pick a side already.” And sometimes I actually contemplate it: I would just be happier being straight, and I wouldn’t have to deal with homophobia as frequently! Besides, some men are hot. I could deal with being straight.
But then I see a really pretty girl, so I think, “I’ll just be a lesbian. Many men don’t bother learning about social justice because of their privilege, and I don’t want to date someone I have to educate. It’s too much work. And some girls are just lovely.” . . .
I often get concerned about how many of the qualities I’m attracted to in a person are a result of growing up in a heteronormative, patriarchal society. I am often attracted to masculinity (either in cisgender men or in male-identifying persons, and occasionally in women with masculine characteristics). Am I attracted to masculinity simply because I have been raised in a society that places on a pedestal and reveres all things male?

Feminists must celebrate Bekki Charbonneau’s self-described “queer” sexuality, ignoring concerns about the schizophrenic tendencies manifest in such confusion. The difference between feminism and insanity is simply a matter of perspective.

By the way, mom: Seen any good cable TV shows lately?





 

 

THE ‘SEX TROUBLE’ SERIES:

 

Category: Feminism, Gays, Sex Trouble

LIVE AT FIVE: 08.06.14

Posted on | August 6, 2014 | 7 Comments

— compiled by Wombat-socho


TOP NEWS
Israel Pulls Out Of Gaza As Truce Takes Hold

A Palestinian boy amidst the rubble of Gaza

Same cease-fire plan Hamas rejected three weeks ago
44% of Americans polled say Israel’s actions in Gaza justified


Whining Begins Over Treatment Of Infected Americans With Experimental Ebola Drug
Liberian authorities pressured by patients’ relatives

Ukraine Continues Offensive, Keeps Wary Eye On Russia
Yasnyuvata railway junction recaptured by rebels



POLITICS
Roberts Rallies Past Wolf In Kansas GOP Senate Primary

Sen. Pat Roberts greets a crowd of cheering supporters

With 60% of precincts in, Roberts has 48-41% lead

Michigan Split For Tea Party: Rep. Amash Wins, Bentivolio Loses

Missouri Transportation Tax Defeated


Dem Lawmaker Uses Luftwaffe Uniform To Depict Navy Veteran In Campaign Mailer

Alabama Abortion Law Ruled Unconstitutional

HHS Faces Massive ObamaCare Backlog

Utah Files Gay Marriage Appeal With Supreme Court

VA Scrambles To Create Private Care Alternative For Vets



THE ECONOMY, STUPID
Asian Crude Slides On Tepid US Demand: WTI $97.65, Brent $104.92
Walgreens Reportedly Considering Inversion-Free Merger With UK’s Boots
Big Banks’ “Living Wills” Get Failing Grade From Feds
CVS Beats Earnings Estimates On Pharmacy Growth
Groupon Stock Slumps Despite Revenue Gain
Disney’s Earnings Boosted By Marvel
Navdy – Like Google Glass, But For Your Car
Russian Hackers Steal 1.2 Billion Passwords
Sprint Ends Pursuit Of T-Mobile, Replaces CEO
Apple, Samsung Agree To Drop Overseas Litigation Ax
Timex Enters Smartwatch Category. No Phone Needed.



SPORTS
O’s Extend Lead In AL East With 9-3 Pounding Of Jays

Jonathan Schoop celebrates his solo dinger with Manny Machado

Norris notches first win in three starts; O’s now lead AL East by 5

Nothing Goes Right For Tribe In 9-2 Loss To Reds

Phils Edge Astros 2-1 In 15 Innings

Fish Rally In Eighth To Beat Pirates 6-3

Price K’s 10 In Tigers Debut, Avila Homers In 12th To Beat Yankees

The Big Donkey Takes The Mound As Rangers Pummel Pale Hose 16-0

Cards Edge Red Sox 3-2

Chrissy Teigen Throws Out the First Pitch At Dodgers Game

Parra’s First Hit As Brewer Beats Giants, 4-3

Twins Power Past Padres 3-1

Wheeler Shuts Down Nats, Mets Win 6-1



FAMOUS FOR BEING FAMOUS
“Texas Chainsaw Massacre” Star Marilyn Burns Dies

Played lone survivor of Leatherface’s rampage in cult horror classic

Found dead at Houston home, aged 65

Murdoch Withdraws $80 Billion Bid For Time Warner

James Corden To Replace Craig Ferguson On “Late Late Show”

“Frozen” Director Jennifer Lee To Adapt “A Wrinkle In Time” For Disney

Olivia Wilde Breastfeeds Son Otis For Glamour’s September Issue

Megan Fox Reveals Her Best On-Screen Kiss

“True Detective” Plot Details Emerge

“Pride And Prejudice And Zombies” Resurrected



FOREIGNERS
US General Killed On NATO Base
Putin Orders Retaliation Against Western Sanctions
Man Held In UK Over Plane Bomb Threat
Britain’s First Muslim Cabinet Minister Resigns Over Gaza Policy
Argentine Rights Activist Reunited With Son After 35 Years
Key Leaders On Either Side Of Scottish Independence Clash In Debate
Indonesian Court Hears Subianto’s Challenge To Election Results
US, South Sudan Prod Rebels As Peace Talks Sputter
Iran Seeks Alternative To Maliki
Costa Rican Authorities Arrest Two Men Trying To Smuggle $1.2 Million Into Country



BLOGS & STUFF
The Quinton Report: Pope Lifts Suspension Of Priest Who Served In Sandinista Regime
The Camp of the Saints: Liberty Or Slavery
Michelle Malkin: Murder In Rio Grande Valley – Coming Soon To A Town Near You
Twitchy: White House Pulls Plug On Press For Lionel Richie At African Leaders Dinner
American Power: Labour Party’s Ed Miliband Slammed For “Pathetic”, “Distasteful” Wreath Message
American Thinker: A Mixed Message About Same-Sex Marriage
BLACKFIVE: Afghan Kills US General In Green-On-Blue Shooting
Conservatives4Palin: Governor Palin On Joe Carr And Tennessee’s Clear Choice
Don Surber: Political Scoreboard, August 5
Joe For America: Drone Spots Taliban Fighters F*cking A Goat (NSFW)
JustOneMinute: Waddya Mean, “American”?
Protein Wisdom: CBS’ Gayle King Says “Unless Illegal Immigrants Are Doing Something Illegal, Leave Then Alone”
Shot In The Dark: That Joyous Moment…
STUMP: Public Pension Watch – Living High On The Hog In New York
The Gateway Pundit: Sunday’s UNRWA School Bombing Was Completely Staged
The Jawa Report: Illegal Aliens Murder Border Patrol Agent On R&R Fishing Trip With His Family
The Lonely Conservative: Poll Finds American Pessimism At An All-Time High
This Ain’t Hell: Thirteen Marines Named Perez Arrested At Border
Weasel Zippers: Race Hustler Al Sharpton And His Businesses Owe $4.7 Million In Taxes
Megan McArdle: Is New York The Next Detroit?


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Category: Live at Five
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