I awoke in the wee hours of the morning to the sound of the Iraqi Minister of Health speaking at a press conference. It took only a minute or so for my Bullshit Meter to begin beeping furiously. It peaked when he charged that Americans were “targeting civilians.” Surely he knows that if the US were truly interested in “targeting civilians,” there wouldn’t be very many of them left alive in Baghdad today. Perhaps it’s wishful thinking on my part, but, I had the sense that this man was having a difficult time spewing the ridiculous party line. I wonder if, before the press conference, the Health Minister set his Bullshit Meter to “vibrate.”

Baghdad.
A customizable map of Baghdad City Limits. Link via The Presurfer

Speechless
Sorry. I tried to write something funny, but I can’t. I tried to read other people’s thoughts, but that’s not working either. The thing is — this photograph ruined my day. I was rendered speechless. Was it anger or sadness? It was probably a generous helping of both. Link via Balloon Juice.

And Now for Something Really Important.
Somehow this really HUGE story got lost amidst the war coverage. The Fox Newtork has announced that, that woman, Ms. Lewinsky, will be hosting a new “reality” show. Put a sticky on your TV screen to remind yourself to tune in once the real reality subsides. Fortunately, I’m fresh out of stickies. Link via My So-Called Blog.

Balloon Juice posted the Final Vote Count in the House of Representatives for House Congressional Resolution No. 104, Expressing the Support and Appreciation of the Nation for the President and the Members of the Armed Forces Who are Participating in Operation Iraqi Freedom. 392 representatives voted “yes,” Eleven voted “no” (none of those names would surprise you). MY Congressman (10th District, NJ) was one of the twenty-two creeps who voted “Present.” The following letter will be placed in the mail tomorrow. (Pardon the poor formatting here. It is correct in the letter.)

March 21, 2003

Congressman Donald M. Payne
House of Representatives
2209 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

Re:House Congressional Resolution No. 104, Expressing the Support and Appreciation of the Nation for the President and the Members of the Armed Forces Who are Participating in Operation Iraqi Freedom

Dear Mr. Payne:

I just learned that you are among the 22 Members of the House who chose to vote “Present” on the above-referenced Resolution.

Quite simply, you are a disgrace. You have effectively spit in the eyes of those in your district with friends or loved ones serving in the military. Do you think so little of your constituents to assume that we would not notice? Maybe, at the moment, many of people in your district are too worried about their loved ones to pay attention to your utter disrespect. However, I assure you that, starting today and through the day you run for re-election, I intend to remind them and others, including the veterans in your district, of your shameful vote today.

Very truly yours,

Wednesday evening at 8:00 p.m., like many other people, I wanted to be seated in front of the television to see what, if anything, might happen in Iraq when the President’s deadline to Saddam Hussein ended. However, I had to forego television viewing at eight o’clock and for a couple hours thereafter, as I had made a previous commitment to my American Legion Post to serve as a judge to select delegates to New Jersey Boys’ State. While driving to the Post, I found myself thinking, Damn, why does this have to be tonight? I’m going to have to miss something important.

When I arrived at the Post, I saw the eleven boys, each having been selected by their respective high schools, who were there to seek to be among the five delegates that our Post will be sending to Boys’ State. Each boy was accompanied by at least one family member, and in some cases, three or four family members. The boys sat in the front row of chairs, with their family members seated behind them in the audience. The boys and the audience faced the front table, at which the five judges sat.

Those five who would be selected as delegates will be sent, at the Post’s expense, to a college campus in New Jersey this summer to spend several days learning about state government by actually “doing” government. The boys from all over New Jersey are broken up into “cities,” and from there, they form governments and hold city elections. The city governments gather together to form county governments and ultimately choose a state legislator and a state “governor.” Two delegates are chosen by their members to serve later in the year in Washington D.C. to represent New Jersey in “Boys’ Nation.”

Each of the boys had to select a question from a bucket full of questions, all of which had been written in advance by the judges. The questions are designed to be open ended, such that there is no “correct” answer. Some questions are easier than others (e.g. “What is your favorite subject in school and why?”), while some are a bit more weighty (e.g. “Do you favor laws that limit the amount a person may contribute to an election campaign? If so, why? If not, why not?”).

If a boy chose a question he did not feel comfortable answering, he could return that question to the bucket and choose another one, and continue choosing until he found one he wanted to answer. The bucket contained numerous slips that said, “Choose another question,” so that the audience and the judges would not know whether the boy was blowing through many questions or was picking “Choose another question” slips.

After selecting a question, each boy had to walk to a podium that faced the five judges and respond to the question extemporaneously. The boys were judged based on their speaking ability, the clarity with which they expressed themselves, and their persuasiveness.

I recall reading a survey somewhere that showed that the only thing many people fear more than death is public speaking. So, it is not surprising that all the boys were predictably nervous, particularly since they had to speak, in front of an audience of parents and their peers, to a panel of Vietnam-Era guys wearing American Legion Caps. However, each boy was supportive of the others, and all of them rose to the occasion. Judging was not easy.

Afterwards, we mingled a bit with the boys and their family members, and it was obvious that each of the boys was blessed with a caring and supportive family. While the boys and their families covered the spectrum of races and, quite likely, more than a few religions, what bound all them together was a love and respect for the United States and a desire to learn about American government by actually participating in the governmental process. It was a pleasure and an honor to meet them.

I realized that I had been very wrong earlier that evening. Sure, I missed some television news, but I got to participate in and witness a small slice of this country’s greatness. I cannot imagine a more fitting thing to have been doing at the time the deadline ended.

San Francisco Pukers. I just heard on the radio that protesters have taken to vomiting in front of a federal building in San Francisco to demonstrate that war makes them sick. If that is true, no further comment seems necessary.

Update. Details on the “Vomit In.” via a small victory

A Bit of the Blahs. I sat down intending to help Sgt. Steele prepare for an upcoming torts class, but I ended up spending most of the time reading other people’s stuff. I think that my increasingly frequent thoughts about the impending war tend to occupy large amounts of space in the part of my cruller that is necessary to write anything worth a damn. I did, however, find that playing a little bit of electronic Trivial Pursuit provided a pleasant diversion. You might want to give it a try, if you think you too could use a short respite from wondering what the next few days will bring. (Trivial Pursuit link via Newmark’s Door)

The Things People Say. Un-great minds think alike. Check out Hollywood Halfwits. A sample – Julia Roberts’ Deep Thoughts: “Republican comes in the dictionary just after reptile and just above repugnant. I looked up Democrat. It’s of the people, by the people, for the people.” via Attu Sees All.

Update a Small Victory has the details on the “Vomit In.”

Linkage. The other day I added three new links to my blogroll (I’m still learning the jargon). Within a week’s time, one of them, Phact Patterns, decided to pack it in. That wasn’t the first time my linking to a site was followed by its demise. Shortly after I linked to The Spoons Experience, a well-written, no baloney blog, the author closed up shop. (I have since de-linked his site, but I will happily add him to the list again, should he decide to resume blogging.) I was beginning to think I was the creator of jinx links when literally, the day after I got around to finally linking to Rachel Lucas, she said that she was taking an extended vacation (happily, she has already returned). It certainly could not have been something I said, as I never communicated directly with any of them (except for being one of a zillion people responding to Rachel’s request for suggestions for a new name for her blog). What’s up? Gott-damned spooky, if you ask me.

I suspect (but I am not certain) that I treat links like many people do. That is to say, I link to blogs that I like to read and that I think that those people who read my blather might also like to read. Almost always, I read them for some time before I add them to the list (I sense that de-linking someone is serious business). I have about three times as many sites bookmarked as those in the blogroll that I look in on just about every day, some of which I will eventually add to the list.

Anyway, for what it’s worth, and because I am too fried from the week to do any heavy mental lifting, I thought I would share some thoughts about each of the blogs listed in my blogroll, understanding completely that none of them needs an introduction from me.

Twisty: TJ and I are most definitely related. Indeed, I will be the proud father-of-the-bride proudly walking her down the aisle in a month or so. So, is should not be surprising that she gets top billing, and I make no apologies for that. As it happens, she writes well enough to occupy that spot anyway. In addition to working and closing in on a Master’s Degree, she’s also a talented singer and actress. She and I (I’ve been banging around the music business all my life) have been known to tear up a Karaoke bar or two just for shits and giggles. In fact, one time on a cruise ship, we did a couple duets on “talent” night, and the people in the audience thought we were members of the ship’s stage show cast pretending to be passengers. Shows you what a couple extra-dry martinis can do.

Jack Bog’s Blog and Yakety Yak. As many of you know, Jack and I are cousins. Last Fall, I sent him a few post-election political rants and, an e-mail, prompted by a post he wrote about the 50’s and 60’s group, the Coasters, describing an opportunity I had to play drums one time behind the Coasters. I suspect that he got tired of hearing from me, so he suggested I do a blog. Blame him. He is, and always was, scary smart. How else could one be a tax law professor? He also writes his ass off, and, as a Jersey native who has not lost his Jersey edge, Jack keeps the politicians of Portland grinding their teeth.

Ultimate Insult. One of the first link-portal sites I ran into when I started the blog, and I’ve been reading it every day since then. Great stuff.

How Appealing. The definitive appellate law blog. Having had the good fortune to have served as a law clerk in a federal appeals court, I find this site to be extremely interesting and informative. I do, however I wonder where Howard Bashman finds the time!

Instapundit. THE blog. We’re not worthy!

Ipse Dixit. A lawyer-blogger who is always interesting as hell. One of these weeks I’ll win the damned caption contest. I just know it.

Attu Sees All. Another link portal site, this one originating from outside the U.S. Arthur always manages to find interesting and offbeat things. I also must compliment him on his eye for excellent looking women.

Hanlonvision. Leigh Hanlon is nice guy and a talented writer from Chicago, with a keen artistic sense and who regularly, and in a most engaging way, calls our attention to things worth thinking about. He also takes great photos.

The Presurfer. The third link-portal site on the list, also from outside the U.S. I often wonder how he finds all those things. Great place to spend time.

Res Ipsa Loquitur. Rita is just plain special. She is an Arkansas lawyer who spends most of her time rescuing abused and neglected children from their “dysfunctional” parents or guardians. She then represents the interests of the children in ensuing court proceedings. When she is not doing that, she manages to find time to write an extremely interesting and entertaining blog. Definitely a class act.

Rachel Lucas. This is one smart, talented, take-no-prisoners woman who lives in Texas and has a bullshit tolerance of zero. I figure I am but one of zillion people who link to her site.

mtpolitics. Really sharp guy from Montana, who is politically perceptive, and who is the proud owner of a big sky sense of humor.

a small victory. Another well-known, ass kicking female blogger. The East Coast’s answer to Rachel Lucas, she’s not one to be trifled with. She is linked to by a cast of thousands.

i hate stupid people. An obviously very bright law student, who writes extremely well. As she is about to complete law school, she reports having learned the most important lesson – “don’t be an asshole.” (Sounds like she could be one of Sgt. Steele’s students.) That basic lesson is lost on too many members of the profession. I have no doubt that she will do very well.

Phact Patterns. Another seriously smart law student, who writes particularly well. What I really admire most is how he and “k” from “i hate stupid people” disagree on difficult issues in a most civil way. There is not enough of that going around. He’ll also do well after graduation. I’ll keep him on the list a while, in hopes that he will blog a bit when time permits.

Life After Fifty. I learned of this site from Rita’s blog and, after reading a particularly touching post, I linked to his site right away. Besides, I figure that the author and I were born in the same decade, and, as bloggers go, we are a both little long in the tooth and, therefore, a bit of a rarity. He also served in the Army and, in the touching post, related a story about a stuttering drill sergeant. What’s not to like?