Not a Hiatus

Solaman is on a short vacation. Posting will resume in a couple days.

Shut Up and Haj*

Little Green Footballs has THIS post on the washed-up-artist-formerly-known as Cat Stevens towing the "party line".

Note to DHS: Keep Yusuf Islam on the "no fly" list.

*

Competence vs. Incompetence

Jason at Generation Why? compares and contrasts the evacuations of Houston and New Orleans. The pictures say it all.

[HT: MM]

Simon Wiesenthal, 1908 - 2005

Announcement

News Release

Biographical Information

Simon Wiesenthal Center

National POW/MIA Day

Argghhh! has a tribute to those who should not be forgotten. Here's an excerpt:

To each family of a POW or a MIA, regardless of how many have been captured or are missing in a conflict, the fate of their loved one brings with it worry, anxiety and pain. Each family prays that their loved one is being treated well if captured and will be released soon to return to a grateful nation and a joyous family. For those missing, the family hopes the loved one makes his or her way back to friendly forces or has the status changed to one of more certainty, as an acknowledged POW or as an identified killed in action.

On POW/MIA Recognition Day, we remember the courage of our fellow Soldiers and servicemen and women as they endured captivity. We also remember the equal courage of their family members as they also endured their loved one’s captivity or the agonies of not knowing their fate. We remember and we hope for a conclusion to those trials.

Amen.

So That's What 'Green' Refers To

The BBC reports:

Taxpayers could be paying an extra billion pounds a year to subsidise green energy projects like wind farms, according to a group of MPs. The Public Accounts Committee said in some cases the government is paying out twice as much as the wind farm companies need to break even.

Devon Wind Power spokeswoman Rachel Ruffle said:

"I don't think people mind paying a small subsidy for clean, green electricity. [My emphasis]

A billion here. A billion there. Pretty soon we're talking real money.

Why It Is the Way It Is

Between Two Worlds summarizes John Piper's reasoning for why the world is the way it is. You can read Piper's sermon, "The Supremacy of Christ in an Age of Terror" here. There's also an audio link if you prefer or need to listen instead.

It's a Major Award!

But it's not Italian.

Captain Ed's blog, Captain's Quarters, has received the dubious honor of being named one of five top political blogs by the grandaddy of all men's magazines, Playboy. No need to worry. I'm reasonably certain that the good Cap'n only reads the interviews.

Wealth of Nations

The Belmont Club on the real wealth of nations which seems to be in short supply in Gaza.

"Paging Noah Webster"

The Counterterrorism Blog reports that the United Nations diplomats have given up trying to define the word terrorism. How can we expect them to bring about world peace if they can't even agree on the definition of ONE WORD!!? Is it too late to get our money back?

Chrenkin' Off Into the Sunset

The day has finally arrived. Arthur Chrenkoff, blogger extrordinaire, has submitted his Last Post.

Arthur also submitted his last Good News post. Future Good News posts can be found at Good News from the Front.

Fare well, Arthur. The blogosphere will be lessened with your departure.

Creation, Evolution and I.D. Down Under

Between Two Worlds links to a pdf download of the August 2005 issue of the Australian Presbyterian. The J.P. Moreland interview is on pages 4-8. Some of the other articles are interesting, too. There's also a little Piper "fix" on the last page.

All the Good News You May Have Missed

Chrenkoff has made it convenient to find all of the Good News from Afghanistan and Iraq in one place. Now you have no more excuses for not knowing what's really going on.

Trouble In River City

Mondocognito of Around the World in 80 Days has another word that starts with "T" to describe the Big Easy. He also highlights why the "Crescent City" is (was?) in a league of its own.

The Least of These...

** This post has been bumped to the top. See new posts below. **

Give early, give often. Even if you can only give a few dollars, every little bit will help. Check with your employer to find out if they match charitible donations. Avoid "Calamity Scams" by giving to established relief organizations. Here are a few you can trust:

Natl. Assn. of Evangelicals World Relief - DONATE HERE!

Salvation Army - DONATE HERE!

Samaritans Purse - DONATE HERE!

Feed the Children - DONATE HERE!

Soldiers' Angels Operation Katrina - DONATE HERE!

Matthew 25:34-40

Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'

Technorati Tags: flood aid & hurricane katrina

Gates of Fire

Michael Yon is an independent photo-journalist and blogger currently imbedded with the 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry (also called the "Deuce Four") in Mosul.

In his post, Gates of Fire, Michael's up close and personal journalism style gets a little too close for comfort. If it wasn't for his "middle of the action" photos, I might have found the story too amazing to be true. If this story doesn't end up on "the BIG screen", I will be very surprised.

Be sure to go here and read his past posts. It will give you a better sense of what's going on in Mosul than you'll get from the Left-Stream Media.

Lessons Learned

10 Things I learned From Hurricane Katrina.

Indeed.

[HT: Bogus Gold]

Only the Name Was Changed

Well, I finally decided to drop the "ola" from my blog title. It's not a major change since the URL remains the same. Hola.

Katrina Response Timeline

Rick Moran at Rightwing Nuthouse has a non-partisan timeline of the local, state and federal governments' response to the disaster. Everything is documented and he has asked for those who disagree with the timeline to provide links to whatever sources they have. Well done, Rick.

Louisiana 1927

I happened to see Aaron Neville singing Randy Newman's song Louisiana 1927 on NBC's Concert for Hurricane Relief the other day. It was particularly moving, especially in the aftermath of Katrina. Muzzy included a link to the lyrics in his Music Monday post last week. I provide it for you here.

Chrenkin' Off On Iraq

Chrenkoff has a couple posts which provide some news you won't see on the Alphabet soup media. First, an interesting poll which indicates Iraqis are much more optimistic about their developing constitution than we're being led to believe.

The second is Chrenkoff's isGood News From Iraq, part 34. Yep. More stuff the professional journalists can't seem to find the time to report.