Round One

And, John, I — you’re absolutely right that presidents have to be prudent in what they say. But, you know, coming from you, who, you know, in the past has threatened extinction for North Korea and, you know, sung songs about bombing Iran, I don’t know, you know, how credible that is. I think this is the right strategy.

There is no deeper meaning....

credits:defamer

... to this juxtaposition:

Published in Women's Sports & Fitness, it detailed the orgies of Olympics past. Not only were they handing out condoms, but from "one former Olympic swimmer who earned the nickname Plunge King, and not for his aquatic performance: 'There are the most beautiful women I've ever seen. I love the synchronized swimmers. Very, very flexible. They point their toes and the whole thing.'"

Dispatches from QC’s Dan caught in war-torn Georgia (pls repost)

Please repost. This is from a college classmate who -- godspeed -- is getting evacuated out of danger. You can read his dispatches on Facebook and he's asking for all this to get passed on...

This is being prevented from being posted on official Georgian governemnt sites because of a cyber war by Russia. Please repost this in emails and on Facebook and or Myspace ...

Russian Invasion of Georgia

Update
August 8
1:30 pm EST

Background
During the last 24 hours military forces of the Russian Federation in coordination with the Russian-supported and supplied South Ossetian militia launched combined air and ground attacks on Georgian territory. This act of aggression is tantamount to an invasion and declaration of war against Georgia and comes at a time when Georgia has been trying to integrate itself with Euro-Atlantic institutions and strengthen its democracy and free market economy.

Ground attacks by Russian and South Ossetian military forces have taken place in Tskhinvali while Russian air strikes on Georgian villages include Marneuli, Gori, Oni, Bolnisi, and Vaziani.

The Georgian air base at Marneuli and Vaziani located just outside the capital of Tblisi has sustained heavy damage from Russian strikes that have killed Georgian military personnel as well as civilians and destroyed Georgian military aircraft.
Russian military forces—mechanized tank and infantry units are moving from the Russian federation into South Ossetia in blatant contravention of international agreements.

Russia is refusing to meet with Georgian officials to prolong the attacks and prevent diplomatic actions that can bring a halt to the Russian offensive. Russian President Medvedev is seeking to justify Russian actions by creating the illusion of threats to Russian citizens living in Georgia's conflict zones. Georgia is committed to a non-violent solution to the Abkhaz and South Ossetian conflict regions and its peace plan offered over a year ago provides for the widest possible autonomy and the full rights of all Georgians under the constitution. The safety and security of all people, regardless of ethnicity, living in these areas is paramount.
NOTE: Russia is also launching cyber attacks to disable and take down Georgian news and government web sites.

Casualties
At this point casualties are unclear. It is known that Georgian civilians and military personnel have been killed.


What We Have Done
Following the initial attack by Russian-South Ossetian forces and an exchange of fire, Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili ordered Georgian forces to not respond to the hostile fire in an attempt to contain the conflict. However, As shelling intensified against Georgian villages and civilian deaths mounted, he was forced to order defensive strikes to prevent additional civilian casualties and deaths. Georgian military and police units are deployed in a defensive posture only.

The president has opened a "Safe Corridor" for civilians in the conflict zone between Georgia and South Ossetia to escape and flee to safety. Refugee camps are being established and Georgia is in the process of seeking assistance from the International Red Cross to provide immediate assistance.

Georgia is demanding an immediate cease fire and halt to Russian and South Ossetian military attacks and a complete withdrawal of Russian forces from sovereign Georgian territory.

Georgia is asking the EU and OSCE to immediately call for a halt to these attacks, force a Russian withdrawal, and condemn a blatant use of military force on a sovereign country. Georgia is calling on the UNSC to issue a similar condemnation of the attacks.

As a precautionary measure, the president has announced the call up of all Georgian Reserve units.

Previous Russian Military Action During the Past Year

The attacks now taking place follow an ongoing series of hostile Russian acts of military aggression that since October 2006 have included Russian bombings of Georgian villages in Kodori (October 2006 and March 2007), and a subsequent bombing of a village in South Ossetia (August 2007). Just two months ago a Russian fighter shot down an unarmed, Georgian observation drone flying a reconnaissance mission over Abkhazia—sovereign Georgian territory and a direct violation of the UN cease-fire agreement. Moreover, during this period Russian forces have provoked Georgian police and other units monitoring the conflict line between both South Ossetia and Abkhazia in an effort to increase tensions and create armed conflict.

Russia is committed to an ongoing effort to destabilize Georgia economically and politically in an attempt to subjugate Georgia and keep the country in Russia's "Near Abroad" political sphere.
Russia's economic intimidation and coercion of Georgia includes an embargo of Georgian products to cripple Georgia's economy and cutting off energy supplies usually during winter months.
Russia has also carried out a policy of "Forcible Eviction" of Georgian nationals and those having Russian citizenship.

Why and What Drives Russian Actions

The Georgian people are dedicated to establishing a democratic society based on individual freedoms, human rights, freedom of speech and the rule of law. The Georgian people are set on an unalterable course for joining western institututions that include the European Union and NATO. These member states share the values Georgians' cherish—and Russia views this as a threat.
By using military force and attacking Georgia, Russia is sending a message to all the countries on its borders and to Europe as well: "Bend to our will or you will also face our force."
This aggression must be stopped by the collective will of free states—or they will be next.

Judges

This really just speaks for itself...

credit: Discourse.net, who got it from .... there's a long line here

Rest in Peace George Carlin

RIP George Carlin
And just woke up, saw this.

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Acerbic standup comedian and satirist George Carlin, whose staunch defense of free speech in his most famous routine "Seven Words You Can Never Say On Television" led to a key Supreme Court ruling on obscenity, has died.

Carlin, who had a history of heart trouble, went into St. John's Health Center in Santa Monica on Sunday afternoon complaining of chest pain and died later that evening, said his publicist, Jeff Abraham. He had performed as recently as last weekend at the Orleans Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas. He was 71.

This one was my guy as a little girl.

I had this record, the kind you play with
a need. He was playing pool and his own head was one of the balls.....

Listened to it a thousand times.

Free speech baby. Free speech. ( FCC v. Pacifica Foundation)

So: Thank you, you motherfucker.

For this: Shit. Piss. Fuck.

And a whole lotta : Cunt. Cocksucker. And tits. (Which nicely got replace over time with twat.)

Thank you.

Classy

Scotty holds his own against Bill

Not bad.