Southwest Virginia Blogs

I seems that the quality of education at Washington State University hasn’t changed since I attended. The sentiments shown here by Professor Streamas are very similar to those I heard being taught in the late 80’s and early 90’s.

“he (Prof. Streamas) argues that a person of color cannot be racist, by definition, because racism also defines a power differential that is not usually present when a person or color is speaking.” - The Volokh Conspiracy

A similar theme was present in the Women’s Studies program when I attended WSU. Any suggestion that a woman could be sexist was loudly and aggressively shouted down. It was taken as fact that no woman, by definition, could be sexist. I would have considered the theory that it’s less likely in women, but impossible? That’s just ridiculous.

Professor Streamas’ theory is just as absurd. While in his statement he says that the power differential is “not usually present” when a person of color speaks, this somehow turns this into an absolute when defining racism. Racism unusual in people of color? Sure, I’d accept that. Rare? No problem. A person of color cannot be racist? That’s an absurd argument.

Maybe Prof. Streamas isn’t aware of it, but “people of color” aren’t in the minority everywhere in the world. Is he arguing that because people of color were oppressed on some areas, they are incapable of racism in other areas? Has he considered the behavior of one minority race towards other minority races right here in the US? I somehow doubt it. The fact that Prof. Streamas used this idea as a defense, when he himself was accused of racist language, is when this story gets bizarre. According to him, he couldn’t have had any racist intent when calling a student a “white shitbag”. He’s a professor, the student is in an inferior position, and Streamas used racial terms to define his verbal attack… How is this not racist? I think the official reprimand was entirely appropriate.

h/t Instapundit.com

In the news, a British citizen’s ” phone was bugged by US intelligence agencies… …without the permission of the British secret intelligence services.

Authoritative leaks say the extraordinary revelations will be published this week by Lord Stevens and is bound to raise fresh questions…

In the era of the Patriot Act, this shouldn’t come as a big surprise. Our government has been caught yet again spying on someone inappropriately. Yet another black mark on the civil rights record of George W. Bush… Except of course, this wasn’t during his Presidency. Apparently President Clinton’s administration played fast and loose with the rules too. I can hear the cries of moral outrage from here. People taking to the streets to protest the Clinton administration’s treatment of Princess Diana… Sorry, my mistake, those were crickets outside my window.

In the news, a British citizen’s ” phone was bugged by US intelligence agencies… …without the permission of the British secret intelligence services.

Authoritative leaks say the extraordinary revelations will be published this week by Lord Stevens and is bound to raise fresh questions…

In the era of the Patriot Act, this shouldn’t come as a big surprise. Our government has been caught yet again spying on someone inappropriately. Yet another black mark on the civil rights record of George W. Bush… Except of course, this wasn’t during his Presidency. Apparently President Clinton’s administration played fast and loose with the rules too. I can hear the cries of moral outrage from here. People taking to the streets to protest the Clinton administration’s treatment of Princess Diana… Sorry, my mistake, those were crickets outside my window.

Now here is some quality reporting. The second quote is attributed someone other than the reporter, but that’s the best quote they could get?

The first amendment provides the right to bear arms, but should every household have a gun?

First Amendment, Second Amendment… whichever. Is that the new math? You’d think a reporter of all people would be at least marginally familiar with the First Amendment.

Cherry Tree resident Robert Gray said, “If everyone owned a gun, then it would definitely a deterrent someone think twice.”

h/t Cam Edwards - Time To Play “Fire The Reporter”

U.S. Marshals sweep apprehends 10,733 fugitives - CNN.com

In all, Gonzales said officials caught 10,733 fugitives — including 1,659 sex offenders, 364 gang members and thousands of others sought on kidnapping, robbery, burglary, carjacking and weapons charges. More than 230 weapons were seized.

The USS Wahoo (SS 238) has officially been found. The Wahoo was lost during late September or early November of 1943.

…the Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet declared today that the sunken submarine recently discovered by divers in the Western Pacific is, indeed, the World War II submarine USS Wahoo (SS 238).

“After reviewing the records and information, we are certain USS Wahoo has been located,” said Adm. Gary Roughead, the U.S. Pacific Fleet commander. - Pacific Fleet Online

The USS Wahoo (SS 238) has officially been found. The Wahoo was lost during late September or early November of 1943.

…the Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet declared today that the sunken submarine recently discovered by divers in the Western Pacific is, indeed, the World War II submarine USS Wahoo (SS 238).

“After reviewing the records and information, we are certain USS Wahoo has been located,” said Adm. Gary Roughead, the U.S. Pacific Fleet commander. - Pacific Fleet Online

I see in the news that songwriter Marijohn Wilkin has passed away at 86. The Long Black Veil is one of my favorite songs. I have recordings of it by several artists. Mick Jagger singing it with the Chieftains is my favorite. A great songwriter and a woman of faith.

“It’s OK,” she said. “I have my faith. I am ready to go. Don’t be sad for me.” - CNN

In a moderately humorous story, two PETA workers have been charged with abducting a hunting dog. The humorous part is where the owner of the dog was the animal control officer that pulled them over. Try talking your way out of that! They claimed that they thought the dog was lost, but you’ll note that they removed the dog’s radio tracking collar when they picked it up.

A witness alerted the county animal control officer - who happened to own the dog. The officer stopped the vehicle soon after and, finding his dog inside, turned the case over to a colleague, Morris said.

The dog’s radio tracking collar had been removed and was found near where the women reportedly picked up the animal, Morris added.

A sniper team was caught in Ghazaliya today. It may not seem like much, but it cheered me up to know that one more team isn’t going to be sniping our troops.

Press Releases - IA SOLDIERS FIND, DETAIN SNIPER TEAM IN GHAZALIYA

The soldiers stopped the vehicle with three suspects to conduct a preliminary search, which produced a pistol, expended 7.62mm rounds of ammunition and a video camera mounting bracket.

It seems that criticism of the study released by the Lancet medical journal isn’t confined to GOP shills.

In the light of such extreme and improbable implications, a rational alternative conclusion to be considered is that the authors have drawn conclusions from unrepresentative data. In addition, totals of the magnitude generated by this study are unnecessary to brand the invasion and occupation of Iraq a human and strategic tragedy. - Iraq Body Count

Maybe I’m just trying to reinforce my “political/ideological/ego trip*, but it seems the study doesn’t hold up well under criticism.

h/t Say Anything Blog

*In the comments

How safe are our borders? Raj Peter Bhakta, running for the House of Representatives in Pennsylvania decided to test it. He rode an elephant into the US from Mexico, with a Mariachi band for accompaniment.

Brownsville Herald

“If I can get an elephant led by a mariachi band into this country, I think Osama bin Laden could get across with all the weapons of mass destruction he could get into this country,” Bhakta said.

The mariachi band was not immediately available for comment.

h/t Hot Air and Instapundit.com -

Clayton Cramer’s BLOG

the Lancet, the top British medical journal, has just published a paper claiming that we have caused the deaths of 2.5% of the population of Iraq…

Short of setting concentration camps, or intentionally spreading disease, or carpet bombing cities, I’m not sure that we could do that even if we were trying.

There comes a point in every statistical study when you need to do a sanity check.

“Gee, is it really true that birds can’t fly?”

“Wow! I had no idea that every third Californian is psychotic!”

“At this rate of growth, by the year 2050, every American will be named Miguel!”

I might argue that the Californian comment is provable, but the rest of his post is quite good.

My opinion of the statistics isn’t worth writing when Omar at IRAQ THE MODEL says it so much better.

To me their motives are clear, all they want is to prove that our struggle for freedom was the wrong thing to do. And they shamelessly use lies to do this…when they did not find the death they wanted to see on the ground, they faked it on paper! They disgust me…

This fake research is an insult to every man, woman and child who lost their lives.
Behind every drop of blood is a noble story of sacrifice for a just cause that is struggling for living safe in freedom and prosperity.

h/t Adam’s Blog and Fausta’s blog.

CNN is reporting a small plane hit a high rise building.

CNN.com - Breaking News

A small aircraft has crashed into a high-rise residential building at 72nd Street and York in Manhattan

Update:
FOXNews.com is reporting:

Flames could be seen shooting from windows on two upper floors of the 50-story building, near the East River. Burning debris fell from the tower, and a column of gray smoke rose over the city.

“There’s huge pieces of debris falling,” said one witness who refused to give her full name. “There’s so much falling now, I’ve got to get away.”

Fire Department spokeswoman Emily Rahimi said the aircraft struck the 20th floor of the building, located at 524 East 72nd Street.

A city prosecutor is in trouble for getting caught on security cameras walking around the office nude. Nude? Why would someone think that this is a good idea?

Naked prosecutor caught on camera

HAMILTON, Ohio (AP) — A city prosecutor was charged with indecency after a security camera caught him walking around naked in a government building after business hours.

OK, that’s funny, but it gets better…

Blauvelt’s lawyer, Michael Gmoser, said in a statement Tuesday that his client was seriously injured in a 2005 car accident, suffers from mental illness and is on medication for seizures.

“Scott Blauvelt is an American with a disability,” he said.

Remind me again, what disability is it that makes you take off your clothes and run around the office?

Senator John McCain is guest blogging at the Captain’s Quarters. He pulls no punches about how things should be done, and how they’ve been done in the past.

Time for Decisive Action on North Korea

They have missiles, and now they claim to have tested a nuclear device. Eventually they will have the technology to put warheads on missiles. That is a grave threat to South Korea, Japan and the United States that we cannot under any circumstances accept. North Korea also has a record of transferring weapons technology to other rogue nations, such as Iran and Syria.

The President is right to call on the Council to impose a military arms embargo, financial and trade sanctions, and, most importantly, the right to interdict and inspect all cargo in and out of North Korea. I hope the Council quickly adopts these sanctions, and that all members enforce them.

Now, we must, at long last, stop reinforcing failure with failure.

North Korea has entered a New Era! Yes, peace and prosperity are now at hand, because they have joined they have joined the ranks of the nuclear powers.

Oh wait, I forgot. North Korea is broke, starving and their leader is insane. They’ve spent every last dime on funding their nuclear program. Not only that, but they’ve risked contaminating the ground water of the entire Korean peninsula by setting off an underground nuke. The only good news I see here is that they apparently didn’t manage to destroy themselves or their neighbors outright in the test. We’ll have to wait and see if they’ve managed to contaminate their country. While we wait it’s apparently starvation as usual for the North Korean people.

Cam Edwards title, Speaking of Ironic, is particularly appropriate. A parent in Texas has requested that Fahrenheit 451, a book about banning and burning books, be banned. Not only that, but he made the request during Banned Books Week, a celebration of freedom of expression. Particularly interesting, I thought, was his admission that he hadn’t read the book. It’s actually one of my favorite books, though I haven’t read it in years. I’ll have to dig up a copy and reread it.

Houston Community Newspapers Online

Alton Verm’s request to ban “Fahrenheit 451″ came during the 25th annual Banned Books Week. He and Hines said the request to ban “Fahrenheit 451,” a book about book burning, during Banned Books Weeks is a coincidence.

Alton Verm filed a “Request for Reconsideration of Instructional Materials” Thursday with the district regarding “Fahrenheit 451,” written by Ray Bradbury and published in 1953. He wants the district to remove the book from the curriculum. “It’s just all kinds of filth,” said Alton Verm, adding that he had not read “Fahrenheit 451.”

On an only marginally related note, I read a book this weekend that used to be popular with the book banning crowd. Catcher in the Rye. Yawn. Not even worth reading, much less banning. The characters were actually interesting, but the story really didn’t go anywhere. More like the beginning of a good story, rather than an actual completed novel.

Sounds like it should be the lead in to a joke, but it’s not. My prayers are with them.

The Army met it’s recruiting goals, and in the news we hear… silence.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Army is ending its best recruiting year since 1997 and expecting similar success in 2007 - Associated Press