Weekend Workout

Two Cows

{Warning: One of These is Not Safe For Work}

Canadian:



Texan:

Dhimmitude

Under Sharia (Islamic law) a Jew or Christian is known as a 'dhimmi'. This status affords the person some protection under the law. Pagans, for example, may be summarily killed. A dhimmi has to be tried. Unfortunately, their testimony is inadmissible in an Islamic court so it isn't necessarily a fair trial, but there you are.

Ever since I finished Tom Kratman's rather good novel Caliphate (And blogged on it twice), I've been reading up on Muslim-non-Muslim relations. I had been somewhat skeptical about how messed up an Islamic state could be. Unfortunately, he has soft peddled how illiberal Islam truly is.

I still do not believe that there will be a wave of jihads or that most Muslims want such a thing. But if they win the reproduction race in Europe, then Sharia may be a reality for some or all of Western Europe.

I also still believe that freedom is corrosive to tyranny. One of the reasons that you only find Commies in Cuba and Ann Arbor is that prolonged exposure to the marketplace of ideas tests the merits of any ideology. The Soviet Union collapsed because of the vision of two men and the destruction of its underlying ideology.

Unfortunately, Europe is in the grip of the negative ideology of post modernistic despair. This has led to a massive erosion of liberty there (and less so, here) as well as enervating the will of Europeans to resist bad ideas. Lacking any real sense of community (because nationalism is bad) and with less of a sense of family (because the State has assumed those functions) than previously, the Europeans have been rendered atomistic, with little desire to work for the benefit of others, and narcissistic.

Demographically then, Europe is doomed. However, there is always the possibility that the demographics may turn around. On a primal level, women have babies because of hope. If Europe rediscovers hope, then there may very well be more children.

Visit Your Happy Place

For My Wife

Camerone Day

Today is the 145th anniversary of the battle of Camerone.

Creepy Britishness

Orwellian is the word that comes to mind.

{H/T Samizdata}

Even More Monday A Capella Madness

Durufle: 'Ubi Caritas et Amor' by the Suspicious Cheese Lords

Big Musical Shout Out to Goodwin & Procter

Monday A Capella Madness

More A Cappella Monday Madness

Once again Finland leads the way! Is there no end to Finnish musical talent?

They Call The Wind Sharia

Following up on my reading of Tom Kratman's book Caliphate as well as a worthwhile non-fiction account of people who have ceased being Muslim, I came across an excellent article by Bruce Bawer detailing how certain elements in the West (BBC anyone?) are cravenly caving in the face of Muslim protests in accurately portraying Islamic doctrine and practise.

I believe in being fair. I believe in it very strongly. I also believe in freedom of speech and freedom of the press. I believe in these things because first and foremost I believe in the truth. In our modern world, lying on a sustained basis (the 'Big Lie' technique) has become problematical. If I were a member of the mainstream media, I would be worried by these three writings. The Bawer article in particular will be read. It will be read by people that matter. And the more the MSM is shown as having soft-peddled or flat out lied on this subject, the more it is discredited on everything else.

Also, being a Western kind of guy and a lawyer to boot, one of my working postulates for life is that if you mention something to someone and they start hollering, odds are they really lack the courage of their convictions and know, deep down, that the Truth isn't on their side. That postulate has worked pretty well for me for over twenty years. Being an optimist (Christians tend to be), I can not help but think that in the long run Islam is doomed. And that maybe they know it.

As for anyone who is wishing to declare fatwa against me, I am a seven foot tall Chinese woman with flaming red hair (natural). I live in Nome, Alaska. Really.

And the Fun Begins

It looks like the Episcopal Church and it's creation, the new Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin, are now suing the Anglican Bishop of San Joaquin, John-David Schofield. (link is to a PDF)

Apparently we have not had enough litigation already. We need more.

Led Zeppelin needs to re-write their biggest hit to honour our Presiding Bishop:

"And she's suing her way....into heaven"

And oh my Lord, they are proud of themselves for doing it.

Friday Afternoon Cool

The Nearest Place to Paradise

Is the Czech Republic. Once again the Czechs show they have a grasp on what is truly important.

Priorities- Woulda Coulda Shoulda

If instead of giving to the Episcopal Church, I had saved all that money, I could afford to pay cash for a fully tricked out one of these. And have a good bit left over for the exorbitant fuel, insurance and tax bills that would ensue. What on earth was I thinking?

NY Times Openly Disses Episcopal Bishop

Their headline reads: "Gay Bishop Plans His Civil Union Rite". Why can't they just honour his wishes and leave this simple country bishop be? The press in this country just keep getting worse and worse..........

Addendum: Hills of the North says it funnier.

Yes Mustangs Are Nifty, But Can They Do This?

Attack of the meme-

Tam and Robb have self tagged themselves with this meme. Since I wanna be one of the cool kidz as well, I'm tagging myself with it. [addendum: I'm never, ever live blogging one of these again. This blog is Not Safe For Work as a result].

Here is how it works:

1. Pick up the nearest book of 123 pages or more. No cheating!
2. Find page 123.
3. Find the first five sentences.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people.

1. Caliphate by Tom Kratman.
2. done
3. done (oh dear)
4. yikes!


"Some girls were not so lucky. Each of the new girls was then assigned to an experienced, older houri for training."

I am so not posting the next sentence here. It will be in the comments, as I do not know how to do a 'below the fold' post. The book is not porn. Not by any stretch. But the next sentence states just how truly awful the situation the POV character (Petra, a twelve year old German girl) is in. It was hard for me to read it this past Monday.

I am never liveblogging again. Not ever. Unless I get really really drunk. So I might be liveblogging come Election Day.

Robert Peel on Police

I was browsing Lawdog's blog and saw the following. I think it is well worth reposting:

Peel’s Nine Principles of Policing

1) The basic mission for which the police exist is to prevent crime and disorder.

2) The ability of the police to perform their duties is dependent upon the public approval of police actions.

3) Police must secure the willing co-operation of the public in voluntary observation of the law to be able to secure and maintain the respect of the public.

4) The degree of co-operation of the public that can be secured diminishes proportionately to the necessity of the use of physical force.

5) Police seek and preserve public favor not by catering to public opinion, but by constantly demonstrating absolute impartial service to the law.

6) Police use physical force to the extent necessary to secure observance of the law or to restore order only when the exercise of persuasion, advice, and warning is found to be insufficient.

7) Police, at all times, should maintain a relationship with the public that gives reality to the historic tradition that the police are the public and the public are the police; the police being only members of the public who are paid to give full-time attention to duties which are incumbent upon every citizen in the interests of community welfare and existence.

8) Police should always direct their action strictly towards their functions, and never appear to usurp the powers of the judiciary.

9) The test of police efficiency is the absence of crime and disorder, not the visible evidence of police action in dealing with it.

Here's a bit more about Sir Robert Peel. A very wise man, that bloke.