The Right Spin

As many as 100,000 Israelis have walked away from their families and jobs in the last few days to march to the Jewish community of Gush Katif in an attempt to save it from Israeli bulldozers.

The confrontation threatens to turn Israel upside down and draw the country into a civil war.

In exchange for "peace" Areil Sharon is forcing Jews out of Gaza and the West Bank in order to hand it over to Palestinians. This is outragious!

And make no mistake about it, that is the only reason the Jews of Gush Katif and other communities in Gaza and the West Bank are being forced out – because they are Jews.

Imagine this happening in any other part of the world. Imagine any other religious or ethnic group being told they have to abandon their homes and businesses because a budding new government has no use for them. Imagine any other peaceful group of people being forced off their land because of appeasement to a terrorist enemy.

These Jews have a legal and historical right to be there.

Understand that these Jews took no one's land. They developed an arid wasteland unused for decades and made the desert bloom.

Anyone who knows the history of the region know that it was indeed an arid wasteland, producting no crops, sparsly (and I use the word loosely) populated by nomadic tribes with no interest in the land other than to pass through it. Slowly, over much time, Jewish families began to buy this land and greatly inflated prices from their Arab owners, drained malaria filled swamps, worked the land and turned it the lush egion it is today. The Jews did not "steal" the land. They bought it from Arab merchants who though they were pulling one over on these Jewish fools. Then, once Jews make it prosperious again and declair their own nation, do the perposterious claims of theivery and oppression begin. The Arab owners realized that it was they who got the raw end of the deal.

Now, a policy of appeasement is taking hold in the nation of Israel. And it threatens to throw the country into civil war.

Appeasement never works. Unilateral withdrawals in the face of terrorist aggression are a recipe for more terrorist aggression. Israel should have learned this lesson from its previous evacuation of military forces in southern Lebanon. It was seen by the terrorists as a military victory – not as it was intended, a goodwill gesture by civilized people.

Once you give terrorists an inch they'll expect the entire city. Why shouldn't they? You've already given in to their demands for that inch. They've an endless supply of suicide bombers and news networks broadcasting their hateful ignorant message as truth around the world.

Unfortunately it seems many people feel you can negotiate with these kinds of villians. Every conflict becomes an oppertunity for appeasement. Hell, I'd be unsurprised if some on the left would blame England for the German bombings of London during World War 2 because they dared to participate in the Normandy invasion. England brought it upon herself because she attacked the Nazi machine. Nevermind the fact that is was appeasement that allowed Hitler to become the monster history remembers him to be. And these appeasers viciously attacked those who called to meet Hitler with strenght. Everyone remembers Churchill for his strength and uncompromising grit. Beyond Chamberlin, can you name any of the other appeasers in Parliment? I know I can't. History remembers strength and vision. We catagorize history by these people. We don't hear much about the appeasers and negotiators.

The choice facing Israel is clear today. If it wants to shatter its own national cohesion and rip its civil society apart – Jew against Jew, civilian against military – continue with plans to destroy Gush Katif. If it wants to exchange terrorist rocket attacks on an outpost in Gaza for terrorist rocket attacks on Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, continue with plans to destroy Gush Katif. If it wants to hand the fanatical, murdering Islamic terrorists a victory, continue with plans to destroy Gush Katif.

And the ruins of Gush Katif will become a platform to launch attacks against the heart of Israel. History tells us this. Why wouldn't it? Do we have any signs that Palestinians will take that land and make it prosperious? History again tells us it's not likely.

Aside from the terrorist threat the threat of civil war is equally real. In the Old Testament Israel split in two because the rulers in the south treated the citizens in the north as slaves. It was this infighting that also allowed smaller nations to grab larger portions of Jewish land.

The chaos in Israel serves terrorist purposes and I'm sure they're aware of this. It's quite a brilliant plan. They're forcing the Israeli government to fight a two-front war. While terrorists gain the ability to strike the heart of their hated enemy (with the blessings of that enemy) they also create a situation in which their enemy must fight their own. This will thin resources across the board and make terrorist victories all the more simplier.

This is a very bad sign and the Sharon government is making it happen.

LUNAR, an RPG first appearing on the undersupported Sega CD, was my first introduction into the worlderful world of video game RPGs. It's been my favorite "series" ever since. I say "series" because it pretty much only consists of two games (the made it to the U.S. anyway); LUNAR: The Silver Star and LUNAR: Eternal Blue. Both games were incredible. Then the PlayStation came out and both games were retooled and released for that platform as LUNAR: Silver Star Story Complete and LUNAR: Eternal Blue Complete. Most of the retooling was done to the first LUNAR with the addition of many more anime cutscenes, characters and content. LUNAR 2, while getting upgrades of its own, stayed pretty close to the Sega CD version. Eventually LUNAR: Silver Star Story Complete we retooled again and released on the GameBoy Advance as LUNAR: Legend. Two additional LUNAR games were released in Japan, only the first being a true sequel, and the second simply being a remake of that sequel.

It's been over a decade since a truly new LUNAR content has made its way to America's shores. Many were hoping it would be the much rumored LUNAR 3, something talked about since the Sega CD days. However, it's not. But that's not a bad thing! This game will take place 1000 years before the events of the first LUNAR and introduce a whole new cast of characters! Unfortunately, it's coming out for the Nintendo DS. I sat that because now I'm going to have to shell out $150 for that thing when the game is released in September of this year.

Anyway, head on over to LunarNET to learn more as they are the internet hub for all things LUNAR in addition to being the official site for this new chapter in the LUNAR saga; LUNAR: Dragon Song.

Ok, maybe that didn't happen by apparently Rockstar Games did lie. The issue that's got everyone upset, even Hillary Clinton, is this "Hot Coffee" mod for the PC version of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. GameSpot has an article the pretty much sums up everything.

The mod, which is available on numerous Web sites, adds a bonus sex minigame as a reward for the numerous "girlfriend" missions in San Andreas.

Previously, when game hero Carl "CJ" Johnson successfully wined and dined one of several girlfriends a certain number of times, she would ask him into her house for "coffee." After entering, the game shows an external shot of the house with muffled sounds of a couple emitting moans in flagrante delicto. PC versions of San Andreas with the "Hot Coffee" mod installed show what goes on inside the house, treating players to a sexually graphic minigame of CJ fornicating with his girlfriend.

According to its creators, the Hot Coffee mod merely unlocks hidden, preexisting code inside San Andreas.

Anyone who knows anything about PC games knows that these games are often modded by eager gamers beyond what the publisher intended. Of course, the publisher cannot be held responsible for what these modders create with their property.

"So far we have learned that the 'Hot Coffee' modification is the work of a determined group of hackers who have gone to significant trouble to alter scenes in the official version of the game," the company said. "In violation of the software user agreement, hackers created the 'Hot Coffee' modification by disassembling and then combining, recompiling and altering the game's source code."

Rockstar's statement also claimed that the mod was the product of complex technical tampering.

That's entirely possible. Many companies try to make their games tamper proof for many reasons and making it difficult for modders to alter their product is one reason.

However, Rockstar Games' argument has been undermined by an increasing number of reports that claimed the sex minigame is in the PlayStation 2 version of San Andreas. Since the PS2 version comes on an unmoddable DVD, it cannot have any content added to it, although cheat codes--created either by the publisher or third parties--can unlock preexisting code on the disc.

Now we have a problem. If this minigame is appearing in the PS2 version of the game that means that Rockstar themselves created and imbedded it within their product.

After acquiring the "Uncensored Hot Coffee" codes from the respected tech-blog Kotaku, we entered them into an easily obtainable Action Replay Max cheat device...

After saving, our test editor had Carl visit the house of his nearest girlfriend, Denise... we completed a fourth date... after which she invited us into her house for "coffee."

The next screen proved that the PlayStation 2 edition of the game does indeed include a sexually graphic minigame, which plays almost exactly the same as the Hot Coffee mod.

God of War for the PS2 also has a sexually graphic minigame. It too has a Mature rating as GTA: SA had but I think that as the developers didn't try to hide it that must be considered. GameStop closes with:

Given that the minigame is about as raunchy as an episode of Sex and the City, cannot be accessed without entering a long string of cheat codes, and takes several hours of effort to access, charges that San Andreas is "pornographic" may seem extreme to some. However, its existence does appear to contradict Rockstar Games' carefully worded statement blaming hacker mischief for the existence of the Hot Coffee mod.

It's seems that Rockstar intended to place the minigame into their product at one time and changed their mind. I'm cool with that. And knowing what complications could arise by ripping out the code for the minigame I'm cool with the fact that they made it impossible to access it without the use of cheat codes. But that Rockstar lied shows that they feel guilty about something. I think it would have been far better for them to admit, "Yes, the minigame is there, we intended for players to be able to access it at one time but reconsidered. Removing the code would have been too difficult so instead we made it that the player couldn't access it outside of playing the game in a way we never designed it to be played."

I think had they said this the game wouldn't have been slapped with a new Adult label and yanked off the shelves of rental stores.

As Tycho at Penny Arcade notes:

It's unfortunate that in order to defend videogames, it usually means you're defending Rockstar specifically.

Did you know there are athiest, agnostic and liberal pro-lifers out there? Here I thought the whole pro-life movement was an animal only belonging to the radical-religious-right who are adamant about turning the United States into a theocracy!

Color me surprised. Anyway, check out some of their stuff here. You'd think this would have been covered by the weekly memo we members of the vast right wing conspiracy get. Someone is gonna lose their job over this!

Steven Malcolm Anderson linked to this article by Ann Coulter on Dean's site. The discussion on Dean's site was about Supreme Court nominee, John G. Roberts (so unknown Frank J. quips "... President Bush nominates someone no one has even heard of... probably not even him.") and his position on Roe vs. Wade.

As usual the only issue Democrats and the Left in general seem to care about is abortion. Will Roberts help overturn Roe v Wade or not? Liberals forget that true conservatives value a concept called "Stare Decisis". This puts us at a disadvantage when it comes to repealing laws. Roberts seems to put stock in the concept so I'm not holding my breath hoping that Roe v. Wade gets overturned soon.

So the discussion goes to talk about why Roe vs. Wade will/will not be turned over and why/why not. It's a good discussion and everyone should check it out. My opinion? I think Roe vs. Wade should be overturned but not for the reasons you think (not entirely anyway). I think it was an issue that should have been left to the states and as there is no constitutionally defined standard as to when life begins the Court should have stayed mute on the subject. It's for that reason I believe it should be overturned. But, what does this have to do with Ann Coulter? Well aparently the Drudge Report has a piece about Coulter feeling Roberts will betray conservatives. You can read her whole article here (I couldn't find it on Drudge - worst organize site ever!) SMA tracked read this article on her site and then checked out her archives and came across the article linked above. He states:

"[I] looked at her archives and saw this piece on what the government won't allow (the Ten Commandments or any mention of God) vs. what the government spends your tax money on (blasphemy, abortion, and treason). She puts her case very powerfully, and I agree with her completely here. She has style."

I read the article myself and became sick to my stomach. I knew that, for exmaple, Ward Churchill, Planned Parenthood and Bill Moyers were all nuts. I wasn't aware of the ignorant Smithsonian exhitits but that wasn't what got me. It was what the National Endowment of the Arts sponsered. What I paid for!

— A photo of a woman breastfeeding an infant, titled "Jesus Sucks." — NEA-funded performance

— A photo of a newborn infant with its mouth open titled to suggest the infant was available for oral sex. — NEA-funded performance

— "F—- a Fetus" poster showing an unborn baby with the caption: "For all you folks who consider a fetus more valuable than a woman, have a fetus cook for you, have a fetus affair, go to a fetus' house to ease your sexual frustration." — NEA-funded performance

She lists more but you get the point. This... this trash is not art and anyone who thinks so is an idiot. Sure, art can be subjective but this is the worst sort of garbage and there is no uplifting value to it. That is what real art is suppose to do, uplift the individual viewing it. This NEA sponsered trash is sick. And how many times have we heard that displaying the 10 Commandments (something 85% of the nation say they adhere to) is offensive?

That's the America you live in! A country founded on a compact with God, forged from the idea that all men are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights is now a country where taxpayers can be forced to subsidize "artistic" exhibits of aborted fetuses. But don't start thinking about putting up a Ten Commandments display. That's offensive!

Ann Coulter then heads off 1st Amendment aficionados with her usual flare:

I don't want to hear any jabberwocky from the Court TV amateurs about "the establishment of religion." (1) A Ten Commandments monument does not establish a religion. (2) The First Amendment prohibits Congress from making any law "respecting" an establishment of religion — meaning Congress cannot make a law establishing a religion, nor can it make a law prohibiting the states from establishing a religion.

It doesn't get any clearer than that. I hear many leftists quoting the so-called "seperation of church and state" in defense of their bigotry than the actual 1st Amendment itself. They can't because they know that the Constitution doesn't read that way. So, instead, they quote a letter by Jefferson written to a church assuring them that no Christian denomination would gain undue influence over the government. Never was it intended that Christianity (the faith in Christ Jesus) would cease to influence government. But that no denomination (organized religion) would. Additionally, anyone familiar with the history of the letter also knows that Jefferson used it to, put it politely, ruffle the feathers of his political opponents. The version published actually had to be toned down at the urging on Jefferson's advisors. The history behind that letter is really quite interesting and casts the whole "seperation" thing in a different light.

It's simply amazing that, with one hand, the far left will claim that the 10 Commandments are offensive and wish it to be torn down from public viewing while, with the other, rant about the importance of the National Endowment for the Arts to fund "Jesus in a vat of urine." It's sick. Just sick.

I oppose the use of tax dollars to finance art, literature, speech or actions. I support the elimination of the National Endowment for the Arts.

Doohan died at his home in the Seattle suburb of Redmond, Washington, of complications from pneumonia and Alzheimer's disease, about a year after he was diagnosed with the degenerative neurological illness, manager Steve Stevens said in an interview.

Dean has a bit here. I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Doohan at a Star Trek convention in the Detroit are a few years back. Well, a number of years back. He seemed genuinely pleased to be there and happy you sign whatever you handed him. I had him sign a few things. He seemed warm and friendly. Many across the world will miss him.

Penn and Teller, known for their stage comedy and magic routines, have a program on Showtime entitled, Bullsh*t! It's something I've caught on occasion only long enough to shake my head and turn it off. I knew that Penn and Teller tended to be conservative in their views but some of the things they advocated never sat well with me. Then a commentor on Dean's page confirmed that they were libertarians. Now everything made sense. While I agreed with them on some issues, any issue that touch on Chrtianity or a Christian ideal I vehimently disagreed. Most libertarians I've come across seem to get red-faced when the topic of religion comes up. I don't know if the party has always been like that but I do know that the Constitution Party was established by by former libertarians who felt their party had grown hostile to Christianity. (If the Constitution Party were larger I'd register with them in a heartbeat.)

Looking over the episode list for their show it becomes apparent that their views and Christian ideals would quickly butt heads. It's unsurprising, then, that their opinions always come up on top. They've already prejudged the faith and found it lacking. That's fine, but when you title your show, Bullsh*t!, with the idea of calling out snake oil vendors and their ilk, and you toss in the Bible into this mix, your objectivity comes into questions. And if you're not trying to be objective, as Sam Muldia states on Dean's blog, then you're just decieving yourself. That you feel you can prove any idea or belief is bullsh*t by simply calling it that is absurd. They say they present facts on their behalf but the problem is is that people can derive different conclusion from the same facts. Look and the evolution vs. intelligent design debate. There are experts in the scientific community who look at the same "facts" and come to vastly differing conclusions. That you present so-called facts on your behalf doesn't mark it case closed. While thet may bolster your case as conclusion from those facts must be forthcoming.

Being openly hostile to an ideal in the first place, then producing "facts" to back up your hostility, isn't fair or objective. Any idiot can do it. It takes a real dedicated individual to look at the facts and allow them to speak for themself - and then adjust your opinion accordingly. Penn and Teller do not do this. They have a hypothesis they wish to advance and seek out friendly "facts" to support it while calling anything that contradicts it - Bullsh*t!

I wonder if Penn and Teller realize that they're guilty of shoveling the same Bullsh*t! they accuse everyone else of?