I mentioned earlier in the week that I would be out taking pictures on Saturday. I have decided to head to the zoo with animals in cages (at Asheboro) instead of the zoo with animals outside their cages (the "impeach Bush" rally in Freedom Park, Charlotte, NC).

Sorry for those of you hoping I would go to the more entertaining zoo -- this weekend I decided to head for a nicer, calmer zoo with more reasonable and rational animals.

Posted by: Ogre at 02:32 PM | Comments (8) | Add Comment
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This little fellow is named "Smokin Rock." He comes from a lovely llama farm in Oregon called Rain Dance Ranch Llamas. I assume that it was either Ken or Celia, the owners of the ranch, who named him "Smoking Rock."

Now, my good llama readers, I have to ask: is that an appropriate name for such a fellow? I mean does this guy REALLY look like a "smoking rock" to you? Maybe it's just because I live near Charlotte, NC, but "smoking rock" makes me think of crack cocaine and other such nasty stuff.

Now I'm not saying Smokin' isn't a good llama. And I'm not saying that if you see this image and you're in Charlotte that you're NOT smokin' crack. But I just think this fellow looks a little more like a "Tim" or "Larry." Heck, maybe even a "Harvey". But Smokin' Rock?

I dunno. Anyone else think he looks like something other than Rock?

Posted by: Ogre at 04:03 PM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
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1 He's definitely a Harvey! I'm happy to see silliness on your blog, there's certainly only "baiting" going on at mine! He's baaaaaaaaaaack! I can hardly wait for the next round! ;-)

Posted by: DagneyT at September 29, 2006 08:19 PM (pFR9u)

2 BTW, thought I'd share a bit of outfitter humor from my home state of Colorado; "Do you know the best way to pack a llama?" "One on each side of a mule." LOL

Posted by: DagneyT at September 29, 2006 08:21 PM (pFR9u)

3 I'd started to say that it looked like a "Harvey," but then I noticed that it looked too intelligent. I'd say "Tim," or perhaps, "Roger, The Shrubber."

Posted by: That 1 Guy at September 29, 2006 10:27 PM (A3OUN)

4 Huh. And here I thought he kinda had a "joe" look to him. ;-)

Posted by: Tammi at September 30, 2006 01:07 AM (3UQTn)

5 That's one goofy lookin ostrich.

Posted by: richj at September 30, 2006 05:34 AM (Dhoqw)

6 Perhaps I should contact his owner and suggest he be renamed. And Rich, you're just asking for more lessons!

Posted by: Ogre at October 01, 2006 09:00 PM (QmGzr)

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Whee! Now that looks like fun, doesn't it? Anyone here want to head out and do some ostrich racing? And yes, you DO have to do it without a saddle or stirrups. Come on, why not?

And yes, it is time for silly Friday, a bit early today. It's been a tough, depressing week in the world of freedom, so we're just letting it all hang out today. Time to relax, laugh, and pretend, at least for a little while, that all the evil in the world that's trying to destroy America and destroy freedom (including those inside the country) isn't there.

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In the current trial, of course, Jim Black (Democrat Speaker of the NC House) is not actually on trial. Instead, Kevin Geddings, the person Jim Black appointed to run the state gambling institution (aka The Lottery) is on trial for fraud. There appears to be a very large amount of evidence that shows that Jim Black did know that Geddings was an employee of Scientific Games.

They even have testimony from a waiter that clearly shows that Jim Black had dinner with two employees of Scientific Games, and a receipt showing that Scientific Games paid for the dinner, on the same night that Mr. Black chose Kevin Geddings for that post.

The strange news is that if Geddings is found not guilty of fraud, that will mean that Jim Black is guilty. Be sure to watch The Meck Deck, as Jeff there seems to always have the latest on this trial -- and he's waiting for the feds to really get serious about this and go RICO on the Democrat corruption in Raleigh.

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This is a llama:

This is NOT a llama:

Posted by: Ogre at 05:43 PM | Comments (7) | Add Comment
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1 Uh. Did someone confuse the two??? LOL

Posted by: Raven at September 28, 2006 10:15 PM (jTjxk)

2 I'm just trying to educate people here. Sometimes on politics, sometimes on llamas.

Posted by: Ogre at September 28, 2006 10:56 PM (QmGzr)

3 Okay, so the bottom picture is a llama, and the top picture is a furry flat tire, right? Or, is the bottom picture Don Knotts, and the top is a really hairy mechanic?

Posted by: Steev at September 28, 2006 11:26 PM (LfL8N)

4 Heheheh... if you've ever seen "Dude. Where's my car," you'd know why you have to show the difference. "Get away from me you crazy llama!!!" *to an ostrich*

Posted by: That 1 Guy at September 29, 2006 12:25 AM (A3OUN)

5 Steev? You worry me. And see? As T1G notes, such education is a public service!

Posted by: Ogre at September 29, 2006 09:16 AM (QmGzr)

6 I heard that a large group of affluent alpacas where touring with the Stones. The tour bus had a flat so they used a llama for a jackstand. The story also said, they had a perfectly fine jackstand in the bus, but that's just the way Alpacas are.

Posted by: Tomslick at September 29, 2006 12:23 PM (RpnNu)

7 I've heard that about Alpacas...

Posted by: Ogre at September 29, 2006 01:15 PM (oifEm)

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Or perhaps the title should read, "the LACK of Human Rights in the EU." As Principled Discovery reports, the European Court of Human Rights has ruled that there is no such thing as parental rights. In other words, children are wholly and completely owned by the state, not the parents.

Now while the EU Convention claims that parents have religious freedom with such statements as "the State shall respect the right of parents to ensure such education and teaching in conformity with their own religious and philosophical convictions," the Court decided to "interpret" that to mean that the state gets to decide what religious activities shall be permitted by the parents.

At issue, specifically here, was homeschooling in Germany. In Germany, it's illegal. Your children will be taken away from you and you will be fined if you attempt to teach your own children. In Germany, that is the sole province of the state and the state will use it's monopoly on force to destroy any who attempt to challenge their rule in this area. The EU Court just agreed with Germany.

So while every day we lose freedoms here in the United States, and we are really no longer a truly free society, things are worse elsewhere in the world. The EU Court said that "Parents may not refuse the right to education of a child on the basis of their convictions." In other words, you have ZERO religous freedom in Germany.

Tell me again why we should revere and respect the EU?

Read more details and analysis at Principled Discovery.

Posted by: Ogre at 03:30 PM | Comments (11) | Add Comment
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1 Thank God for America! Our own left would love to ban homeschooling too, but have so far been unsuccessful! In California they tried to pass a law saying that only an accredited teacher could home school...it failed! BTW...He's baaaaack! I don't believe al-antar has read my blog except for responses to his comments, or he'd be having a cow about my most recent post. So far no comments there.

Posted by: DagneyT at September 28, 2006 08:30 PM (pFR9u)

2 Homeschooling is one of the very few places where we're not losing freedoms in America -- and that is truly a good thing.

Posted by: Ogre at September 28, 2006 09:19 PM (QmGzr)

3 Spoke too soon! At least he did not have a cow, and even thanked me!

Posted by: DagneyT at September 28, 2006 10:02 PM (pFR9u)

4 Wow. I didn't know this about Germany...but it makes sense for that part of the world where socialism is the THING. We wouldn't want our kids to grow up thinking it's good to EARN and WORK for the things we value.

Posted by: Raven at September 28, 2006 10:18 PM (jTjxk)

5 They openly admit in this decision that people should NOT have differing views of society. They clearly state that the State should make everyone think the same, and that's just damn scary.

Posted by: Ogre at September 28, 2006 10:56 PM (QmGzr)

6 I couldn't quite figure out how the right of the parent to educate their child according to their convictions necessitated regulation by the state and therefore meant basically the exact opposite of what that would appear to mean. If you are interested, last night I finally found the text of the actual decision and talk about it (and link to it)here: http://gottsegnet.blogspot.com/2006/09/new-petand-its-demise.html

Posted by: Dana at September 29, 2006 03:24 PM (rH6Vz)

7 ok, that's what I get for multi-tasking. That's about my son and THIS is about the court decision: http://gottsegnet.blogspot.com/2006/09/european-court-of-human-rights-rules.html

Posted by: Dana at September 29, 2006 03:26 PM (rH6Vz)

8 You really should let people like me edit their comments so I don't fill up your comment box with my own stupidity. http://gottsegnet.blogspot.com/2006/09/parents-right-to-educate-by-its-nature.html

Posted by: Dana at September 29, 2006 03:30 PM (rH6Vz)

9 Hehe. Don't worry about it. I suspect (although I'll go now and read you comments about it) that they found that the parents don't really HAVE that right.

Posted by: Ogre at September 29, 2006 03:31 PM (oifEm)

10 Yeah, something like that. They have an interesting view of what a right is. I'm all for "state's rights" but that means something drastically different here than this decision hands down : ) Anyway, thanks for your patience with my links. I am a product of the public schools, after all, where guess and check is the primary problem solving skill taught.

Posted by: Dana at September 29, 2006 05:12 PM (JEbUC)

11 In a free country, individual rights trump states' rights. And you learned actual skills in public school? You must have gone to one of them thar "good" schools. We don't have time for teaching skills in schools in NC.

Posted by: Ogre at September 29, 2006 09:16 PM (QmGzr)

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Crossposted from Stop The ACLU:

In case you haven't heard, a group of dissenters from the ACLU are rebelling and calling for a change in the current leadership of the main organization. The summary of things this new group is fed up with is hypocrisy and the ACLU is full of it. Purging the ACLU of its hypocrisy is bound to be a goliath task.

Where do we even begin with the ACLU's hypocrisy? How about its odd stance on the Second Amendment? They have decided that the term "the people" that is contained in the Second Amendment does not apply to "the people" as it does in all of the other rights contained in the Bill of Rights. They defend even the most radical in free speech for individuals, but somehow have adopted the opposite position on the Second Amendment. Surely it couldn't be that the Second Amendment doesn't fall within the boundaries of their liberal agenda! Could it? more...

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Well, you really have to be from the south to get this one, but it IS a serious site. Every 12 years there's no "big" offices listed on the ballots in NC. In fact, in my polling place, there's NO election at all, except for the judges. No governor, Senator, or president means LOW turnout. Y'all Vote is a site that's North-Carolina based that's trying to encourage people to get out and vote this year.

There's links to all the elections this year. Find out who you CAN vote for and decide who you want to vote for. An informed voter is a good voter. Go get informed and then vote.

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How about some confusion for your eyes?

Afterimage Illusion

Don't worry, I promise it's not the old monster-jumps-out video. It's just pretty neat. Just don't try and stand up and walk for a few seconds after viewing this one...

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This week Wictory Wednesday presents Max Burns for the US Congress for the 12th District of Georgia. He is running a tight race against Democratic incumbent John Barrow.

The Israeli war in Lebanon has shown what will happen if we pull out of IraqÂ… the terrorists will claim victory and emerge even stronger and more emboldened. Max Burns understands this and supports the troops to complete their mission. We should live in a society that respects and supports those who risk their lives for our benefit. Sadly, we don't live in that society.

Max Burns understands that immigration doesn't require reform; it requires actually enforcing the laws on the books. Not enforcing the law has led to lawlessness and before any question of guest workers can be introduced, law and order needs to return to that segment of society.

The infamous "Bridge to Nowhere" has shown us that even a GOP lead Congress can still waste money. That is why earmark reform and a line item veto is all the more necessary. When pork can be put into budgets without debate (earmarks), the line item veto allows voters to put the heat on the President to bring sense back to Congressional spending. The GOP has gotten half of the equation right in lowering taxesÂ… now they need to cut spending. Max Burns supports this in the form of a balanced budget.

Families waste days and weeks each year trying to figure out their "fair share" of taxes. Not even the IRS can figure out the tax codeÂ… a book that is over 12 times larger than the Bible! Max Burns supports cleaning up the tax code so that families can clearly understand what the oweÂ… and the IRS can even figure it out too.

Please consider donating or volunteering to the Max Burns campaign. Help turn this blue seat red!

This has been a production of the Wictory Wednesday blogburst. If you would like to join Wictory Wednesday, please see this post or contact John Bambenek at jcb (dot) blog [at] gmail {dot} com. The following sites are members of the Wictory Wednesday team:

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by TD of The Right Track

A quick and dirty search through Google News for articles, news, and editorials revealed no less than 14 pieces written in the last month regarding the FairTax. Fully 1/3 of those were editorials agreeing with the need for the FairTax.

A sampling:

From the Denver Daily News, an editorial titled "FairTax, not flat tax, needed to fix nationÂ’s taxation woes":

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Okay, so that's not really news, is it? Of COURSE the General Assembly wants to spend more money. The current members honestly see that as their job. They seriously measure their success by how much money they spend, and on nothing else. If they spend MORE one year than the last, no matter on what, they consider themselves a success.

Once again, they're trying to use the taxpayers' money as a tool to buy some votes. They're trying to buy votes of policemen, firemen, and bleeding heart taxpayers. Under the guise of "safety," they want to spend at least $30 million more each year to PAY policemen and firemen NOT to work.

Sounds like a federal program, doesn't it? Currently, most policemen in North Carolina, when they retire, receive close to 100% of their previous pay. I'm not saying you're going to get rich as a policeman, and I certainly respect those who do serve in that job. However, the government wants to reduce the time of service from 30 years to 25 years to get that 100% benefit. Why? To buy those votes, plain and simple.

And yet again, if this passes, the legislature will pass on the costs to the counties -- forcing the counties to spend that money. This is the standard way that the government operates in North Carolina. Taxes WILL have to be raised to pay for this benefit. However, the legislators will say, with a straight face, "Gee, WE didn't raise taxes." At the same time, the county commissioners will say, "Gee, we were FORCED to raise taxes, we didn't have a choice."

And meanwhile, it's the taxpayer, once again, in the name of buying votes, that gets the shaft.

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I've a tough decision to make this weekend. I'm planning on taking some pictures and experimenting with some new settings and filters on my camera. I was hoping that I could do that in the NC mountains with some fall colors, but it's not been cold enough yet to get the leaves turning.

Next, I thought I might head out to the NC Zoo and take some shots of some wild animals. However, I recently found out (thanks to Teach and The John Locke Foundation) that there will be some world socialists who openly advocate the overthrow of Bush having a "rally" in Charlotte on Saturday. This is the same group that rioted partied rallied in uptown Charlotte last Saturday that led to confrontations with police, tasers, and other such exciting times.

So I have to decide whether I want to take pictures of animals or animals. I guess it's with or without cages...

Posted by: Ogre at 06:00 PM | Comments (8) | Add Comment
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1 Always film the Democrat "animals" first and foremost. They are much more interesting as a subspecies. Maybe you'll even get a shot of these wild creatures doing something that the 'other' media will use.

Posted by: Denny at September 26, 2006 06:37 PM (31cy1)

2 One vote Alpacas.

Posted by: Tomslick at September 26, 2006 07:37 PM (RpnNu)

3 I'm leaning towards the animals without a cage, but I do fear for the safety of my camera. I am going as an "independent" photographer, so hopefully I won't be a target. And Tomslick, I'm going to a REAL zoo...

Posted by: Ogre at September 26, 2006 08:02 PM (oifEm)

4 Ahh got to the human rally. Get pictures. It'll be fun...

Posted by: Raven at September 26, 2006 08:43 PM (zxvKi)

5 I'm looking forward to seeing the Rally Animals. They always out the donk party for what it is! Very revealing, and infinitly more educational than caged zoo animals!

Posted by: DagneyT at September 26, 2006 09:51 PM (pFR9u)

6 Well, no matter which one you go to, the zoo or the rally, you know there will be poo flinging. Literally.

Posted by: William Teach at September 26, 2006 10:37 PM (IRsCk)

7 Personally, I'd go to the zoo.

Posted by: Butch at September 26, 2006 10:56 PM (vaeaV)

8 I think it might be fun either way, Raven. And yes, Dagney, I'm sure the pictures from the rally animals will be infinitely more entertaining for the readers of this blog. And Teach, you are SO right. Butch, yes, but WHICH zoo is the question! Thanks for stopping along, everyone.

Posted by: Ogre at September 26, 2006 11:08 PM (QmGzr)

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Well, let's throw up a bit of controversy here and see what happens, shall we? How about we introduce the two things that you're not supposed to talk about in polite company: religion and politics -- and let's mix them up. Here's my theory:

You cannot have politics and government without religion

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I'm shocked. An appeals court in Minnesota actually ruled that their state Constitution cannot be overruled by a majority vote of a city council -- even if the law is only to raise money for safety.

This is just one of the numerous lawsuits regarding so-called "red-light cameras." This is the first one I've seen, however, that actually made the clear ruling that people are innocent until proven guilty. You see, in nearly every case where red-light cameras have been added, the person is considered guilty and must prove their innocence. But this does clearly violate due process for subjects citizens.

In some states like North Carolina, it was even worse. I once received a red-light camera ticket and the letter the private company sent (because the state didn't even bother with enforcement, they contracted it out) actually said that they had more pictures that they were refusing to show me that would prove I was guilty. I tried to enter an "innocent" plea, but they said I had to pay $50 to enter that plea -- and by paying $50, I was admitting guilt.

Fortunately, North Carolina really lost the cameras when the judges ruled that the money "raised" from the cameras had to go to school system (per state law). When the cities found out that the red-light camera program would not net them any cash, they stopped the program dead in it's tracks.

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I blogged once about Senator Smith speaking in Iredell. He's got a new video for his re-election campaign for his Senate seat. Go check it out -- he may be the Republican candidate for governor of NC in 2008.

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Yes, it's that time once again. This week's Tarheel Tavern has been posted at Poetic Acceptance.

The Tarheel Tavern is a weekly round up of blog posts from and about North Carolina. Good stuff. You can read it now!

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This Blogburst is also available as a Podcast.

by Toni at Bear Creek Ledger

All of these stories were found in the last couple days posted to Lucianne.

'Border Baby' boom strains S. Texas - There's a picture with the story of an illegal alien who's given birth to her fourth child on American soil at American taxpayer expense who thinks it's owed to her!

Of course the real story is how 'anchor babies' are breaking the backs of South Texas hospitals.

Posted by: Ogre at 05:06 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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1 Why not report those illegals giving birth at public hospitals? Not that it matters I guess, when someone who is an illegal immigrant can have their face splashed all over a newspaper but not get deported.

Posted by: oddybobo at September 25, 2006 05:46 PM (mZfwW)

2 She's says it's fair compensation for stuggling for this country, making it what it is. You want to "struggle" for our country? Sign your ass up for the military and struggle for real for the country, then we will see about giving you a green card. Their making this country what it is my ass. Michigan has a problem with middle easten mothers coming over here, giving birth and then skipping out on the bills with their "american citizen" middle eastern kid. When we start hearing of "american citizens" commiting terrorist acts within the US in 15 years we will know how that came about.

Posted by: Quality Weenie at September 25, 2006 07:56 PM (BksWB)

3 You two are both just so cold-hearted. Have you no feelings? These are just poor people who want a better life for themselves (at your expense). Who are you to demand that your money be spent on you and not given away to every non-citizen that wants it?

Posted by: Ogre at September 25, 2006 09:35 PM (QmGzr)

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The big news today is that retired officers are testifying in front of the "Senate Democratic Policy Committee." In case you were (intentionally) mis-led by the title of the committee, this is a Democrats-ONLY committee. It's not a general Senate committee.

As you might imagine, the testimony is all about bashing Bush and anyone in his administration. But why? For what purpose? This committee was formed to

providing research and legislative support, publishing reports on important legislation and policy issues, tracking roll call votes, differentiating Democratic policy positions from Republican positions, and promoting Caucus unity and cohesion.

And

conduct oversight investigations and hold public hearings to ensure accountability in government; and 2) develop cutting-edge policy ideas through the creation of a “new idea network” with state and local government officials, think tanks, academics, and policy experts around the country.

Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., the committee chairman, told reporters last week that he hoped the hearing would shed light on the planning and conduct of the war. He said majority Republicans had failed to conduct hearings on the issue, adding, "if they won't ... we will."

Is he trying to lead a coup against the president? Is he trying to subjugate the Constitution and take power over the military? Will factions of the military follow him? Is America now a third-world nation whose government will change based on the alliances forged with the military and political leaders? What other purpose could Mr. Dorgan have when he's trying to attack the current administration while wooing the military? He's clearly lined up military officials up on his side. For what purpose? This is certainly how other dictators have seized power in the past.

The ONLY real purpose of this publicity event is to drum up hatred for the current administration. That's all, literally nothing more. Well, if the mainstream media won't call them on it, I sure will.

How about some unity, Mr. Dorgan? How about some bipartisanship? Isn't your party the one that's always claiming to want to reach "across the aisle?" Isn't it the Democrats who claim they want to move America forward, not backwards?

This committee has zero power. They have only a partisan political agenda and purpose. They cannot dictate war policies. They have NO oversight of the military in any way, shape, or form.

Mr. Dorgan, how about doing your damn job as a U.S. Senator and focus on defeating our enemies instead of increasing your own personal political power at the expense of American lives?

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Once again a misguided federal rule has horrible unintended consequences. this time, the Fish Wildlife Service threatened a town that it might declare their town a federally protected area for a bird. So the residents of the town did they only thing they could when threatened by the federal government.

The town now has almost no trees. Over 368 logging and lot-clearing permits were issued in the past 7 months so people could cut down trees. People cut down every tree they could find. Why? Because if the bird was seen in a tree, the federal government would effectively seize every inch of land from people, making it unusable. The only way people could retain any value on their land was to completely clear-cut it before the feds could take it.

Nice job, federal government. Explain to me why we have a Fish and Game Service? Oh, right, to ensure people clearcut trees.

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