This Isn't . . .

. . . your daddy's Christian Coalition anymore.

Pakistan

Let's turn down the lights for a moment.

About three weeks ago, my subscribed issue of Newsweek arrived with the cover story being about Pakistan. That country doesn't cross my mind on a regular basis. But the weekly magazine proclaimed Pakistan the most dangerous country in the world over Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan with the following freaky foreshadowing:

Today no other country on earth is arguably more dangerous than Pakistan. It has everything Osama bin Laden could ask for: political instability, a trusted network of radical Islamists, an abundance of angry young anti-Western recruits, secluded training areas, access to state-of-the-art electronic technology, regular air service to the West and security services that don't always do what they're supposed to do. (Unlike in Iraq or Afghanistan, there also aren't thousands of American troops hunting down would-be terrorists.) Then there's the country's large and growing nuclear program. "If you were to look around the world for where Al Qaeda is going to find its bomb, it's right in their backyard," says Bruce Riedel, the former senior director for South Asia on the National Security Council.

The conventional story about Pakistan has been that it is an unstable nuclear power, with distant tribal areas in terrorist hands. What is new, and more frightening, is the extent to which Taliban and Qaeda elements have now turned much of the country, including some cities, into a base that gives jihadists more room to maneuver, both in Pakistan and beyond.

Over the weekend, all hell broke out in Pakistan. Hold your breath. They have The Bomb.

"Get In My Belly!"

Kansas has amazingly gone undefeated thus far in college football, but my fascination with the team is the size of their head coach, Mark Mangino.

Stunt Plane

I saw a stunt plane over Decatur around dusk. Complete with fancy smoke coming out of it as it did some loops. Alas, no pictures. Which makes this bland post much more bland.

Might Have Another

Wednesday Afternoon Pick Me Up

I'm Torn

A Senator bears down on Kenneth Copeland ministries wanting the organization to pretty much open the books to him.

Sheesh. I hate Robert Tiltons of the world, but I also think government should butt out of any religious organizations inner workings.

(Image of Copeland's place in southern Wise County.)

WWJD?

Stumbled on this over at BagOfNothing.com Ya know, a good "Come on in and worship" just doesn't do the trick any more.

My Faithful Reader Photographer . . .

. . . came across this major accident tonight at US 287 & CR 2264. From what he wrote, this one looks "bad."

Video Fun Time

Ok, this certainly isn't the greatest video in the world, but it does have its redeeming qualities: - A tricked up beer bong shared by adults isn't something you see every day (other than at the Bridgeport Country Club on a really good Thursday night.) - Neither of the two guys with "Green" on their jerseys are me although it might be a tribute to me - The redheaded guy that never heard an "official 'go'" even though the starter screamed "go" looks like strangely like an ugly Tony Romo - I think that girl at the end might have been wife #5 before she discovered stuffed crust pizza.

One Year From The Presidential Elections

With Hillary and Rudy leading in the polls for their respective party nominations, ABC World News Tonight (which I always TIVO) took a look at what polls looked like one year before the last two elections.

One year before the 2000 Election, it was dead on (but, sheesh, how in love was everyone with W):



But one year before the 2004 election, it wasn't so clear (obviously, their was no dispute about the Republican nomination - although their should have been.)

Advertising and News

People in the metroplex media have pointed out this web page all day. The mixture of advertising and news is sooooo coincidental.

Jackie Murphree

A photo gallery is here. A myspace page to update folks on her condition is here.

Background for those not familiar with the story, is here.

Wise County Clouds Predicting Weather

The submitter wrote that the clouds indicate that it is about to turn colder. I don't know if that's true or not - taken around 2:40 p.m. today.

Edit: Yep, the original headline read, "Wise County Weather Predicting Clouds." My wheels were off.

OK, I Take It All Back

We need to ramp up the War On Drugs.......fast!

Deposition Humor

A faithful reading Wise County attorney just tipped me off to this. Sometimes I think the practice of civil law is crazier than criminal law.

Meet Josh McNeil: Man Among Boys

Story. Now I can't be condoning such behavior, but it's definitely blogworthy. Heck, it's almost worth creating a Liberaly Lean Hall Of Fame. But how does this guy answer the question, "Did you have a good weekend?", "Did you have fun this weekend?", or "Did you have a crazy weekend?"

No Justice. No Justice Of The Peace

Dateline: Abilene. Let's see, if a guy is riding in the back seat of a vehicle and accidentally fires a hunting rifle through the front seat killing the driver and causing a head on collision that injures five people, do you think an autopsy might be in order?

Not according to an Abilene Justice of the Peace who said there "wasn't enough evidence" to warrant one.

Huh?