One of my absolute favorite writers, Steven Plaut, has written a piece that reflects what I posted Wednesday. In his article, Tough!, Plaut emphasizes the clear moral differences between Arab aggression and Israeli retaliation.

Unfortunately, far too many people in the world understand enough of the situation to fully recognize the folly of moral equivalency. It's very easy for an outsider to fall for the propaganda that emanates from leftist circles. Especially when much of it comes from Israeli leftists and Arab sympathizers.

To quote Plaut:

Not a single innocent Palestinian has been intentionally killed by Israel during the past two decades of intifada violence. But every single one of the hundreds of Jewish civilians killed was an intentional act of Palestinian murder.

Sure, plenty of guilty Palestinians have been killed, and these include murderers, leaders in terror organizations, rank-and-file terrorists, and people setting up rocket launchers to fire at Jewish civilians. And sure, there have also been innocent Palestinian civilians who were killed or injured when the Jews shot back. These are people who were killed in the same Israeli anti-terror operations necessitated by Palestinian terrorist aggression and atrocities.

This, of course, has been proven to be true. The only ones who argue this are the same people who refuse to believe that the Jenin massacre was a myth

There is a fundamental difference, however, between Palestinian civilians getting killed in anti-terror operations and reprisals by Israel, and Israeli civilians who are killed by Palestinian Islamofascists. The Palestinian dead are unintended collateral damage from operations aimed at stopping rocket attacks and other terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians. True, Israeli anti-terror operations are not so "surgically exact" that only guilty terrorists get killed in them. I am quite sure that if and when such a precise military technology is invented, for killing only guilty terrorists when they hide among innocent civilians, Israel will be the first country on earth to adopt it. However, until then, when Palestinians intentionally target and murder Jewish civilians, innocent Palestinian civilians may suffer the consequences of Arab terror.

Jewish civilians, however, are always the target of Palestinian terror. Israeli soldiers hurt by the terrorists are generally the unintended collateral damage.

That last line says it all. In fact the whole article does. But what Mr. Plaut leads to is simple:

Israel suffers from a fundamental strategic problem, which damages its ability to defend itself; namely, the fact that modern Hebrew does not have a linguistic equivalent to the American slang expression, "Tough!" True, it has some words for "what a shame," but they do not quite convey the same meaning. As a result, Israeli politicians generally fail to respond to whines from the world about Palestinian civilians getting hurt in counter-terror operations by saying, "Tough!"

When I was a kid, whenever something seemed unfair to me, I was always told "tough", or "too bad", or even the occasional "get over it". While it didn't make me feel all that much better at the time, I later grew up and realized that just because something doesn't go the way YOU want it to, that doesn't mean it's unfair, or even wrong.

Continues Plaut:

When Palestinian civilians are killed by an Israeli shell, then the moral responsibility for those deaths rests squarely on the shoulders of the Palestinian terrorists who necessitate Israeli return fire. These are the same terrorists who have fired thousands of rockets and mortar shells into Israeli civilian areas, even after Israel completely withdrew from the Gaza Strip. These are the murdering Islamofascists who have turned the Negev town of Sderot, well inside Israel's pre-1967 borders, into the Israeli equivalent of Guernica, under daily bombardment. Sderot's low-income civilians live in bunkers, afraid for their lives.

Why don't some people get this???

Plaut gets to the point he's trying to make:

Don't want Palestinian civilians killed when Israel shoots back? Simple. Stop the rocket attacks on Sderot. Don't like Israeli reprisals? Simple. Stop the terror atrocities committed by Palestinians against Jews.

You want Palestinians to move about freely without being searched at checkpoints? Simple. Stop the campaign of bombings, suicide mass murders and atrocities by the Palestinians. When the Palestinians stop murdering Jews, no one will have to check their cars. When Palestinian ambulances no longer carry explosives and murderers, no one will stop them for inspection.

You want the Palestinians to earn decent wages, have a comfortable life? Simple. Suppress Palestinian terrorism. Stop Palestinian rocket aggression. Then, they can even hold day jobs in Israel if they want. They are welcome to shop in Israel and get Israeli medical treatment.

But as long as the terror continues, don't expect Israel to respond by turning the other cheek and abandoning self-defense. Don't like it? Tough!

As Plaut says, and I really agree, there is only one effective way to prevent Palestinian civilian casualties, and that is to stop Palestinian terrorist aggression against Israel. There is no "cycle" of violence - that's just another propaganda tool employed by leftist and other Arab sympathizers. Anyone who knows anything at all about the conflict understands that. However, far too many simply follow the soundbites emanating from the bowels of the mainstream media - and therefore the "intelligentsia" of the liberal mindset.

Until 1967, Israel was the darling of the left. A socialist-driven society succeeding against all odds to survive. But once Israel became strong enough to protect her own, she became the target of those very same leftists. It didn't matter that Israel became strong out of necessity in order to simply exist. No, it just mattered that they were no longer the "victim".

And as we all know, liberalism is all about victimization. The left has never met a victim they couldn't protect, even if the victim deserved their own fate. Should a "victim" attempt to free themselves of their victimhood and no longer need the liberal who "freed" them, they are labeled an Uncle Tom,or an embarrassment.

If you truly want to know my problem with liberalism and Islamofacism, there it is in a nutshell. Kudos to Steven Plaut for eloquence.

Update from Hot Air:

FoxNews is reporting, via the AP. Arutz Sheva has an item up:

The IDF is searching the West Bank for the second kidnap victim, an 18-year-old kid whose ID was displayed this morning by the filth who took him. There was a report earlier that 30 Israeli jeeps had rolled up in front of a building complex in Ramallah but there are no details yet about what they found.

Contra Debka, the IDF has intelligence indicating that Gilad Shalit hasn’t been moved to another country but is still in Gaza. Israel’s interior minister says it was Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal who ordered the kidnapping — and that’s why Israel’s going to kill him.

Meanwhile, international lawyers wring their hands.

Update: Ynet has more on the third missing person.

Update: Just over the wire at Fox: IAF planes have buzzed Bashar Assad’s house in Syria. Remember, Ynet reported yesterday that Syrian troops had been sent to protect Mashaal in Damascus. Sounds like a shot across the bow.

Update: The AP says the planes flew over his summer home — and yes, he was there at the time.

Update: Meanwhile, the reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas is proceeding in keeping with Palestinian tradition.

Today may witness two turning points in the world.

As I type this, I'm following the news in Israel where the IDF has begun its incursion into Gaza in response to the kidnapping of an Israeli soldier. Instead of the usual "thank you sir, may I have another" attitude that has permeated the halls of the Knesset in the last 13 years, the Jewish government said "ENOUGH!"

It's about time.

Now comes word that another soldier has been kidnapped by The Popular Resistance Committees (PRC) terrorist group.

I can't speak for the Arabs, but I have to wonder what the hell they're thinking. With the first kidnapping - okay, I get it. Not that I, G-d forbid, approve of it - but it's the Arab response to the hated Jewish presence. But now that you have seen that Israel has taken notice, what idiot thought up kidnapping another Jew?

Once again proving - for the 100 billionth time - that the PA and Hamas and all the rest of them are liars, criminals and psychopaths. Their claims have no validity and they have nothing to offer to the world other than hate and death.

Prime Minister Olmert apologizes to the Arabs for the killing of a family by an errant missile - keeping in mind that there remains a number of investigations that question whether it was staged by the Arabs - and what does the "religion of peace" members do?

Understand that there would have been no errant missile - and I again stress there's excellent reason to suggest there wasn't one then either - had Hamas not been lobbing Kassam rockets into Sderot.

As Reuters and other trash rags fall all over themselves with stories of "cycle of violence" rhetoric, it shouldn't be hard to understand which is the good side.

The second turning point is about who the bad guys are.

The New York Times has finally gone over to the dark side (they had been putting there toes in the water for a long time, but never jumping completely in).

We (meaning all of us who don't spend our days caring about the latest Bradgelina or TomKat rumor) have long recognized the huge liberal slant in their reporting - that is on the rare happenstance that it's actually factual). We've long known that stories that put the White House in a positive light have been ignored completely or relegated to page 31, while even the most ludicrous rumors and half-truths that attack the Administration are front page headlines.

But it seems that any last beacon of hope that the Times could pull back from the brink of sanity has now been laid impossible.

Their disclosure last week of a secret program to investigate and track terrorists through an international database was nothing more than treasonous. To make matters worse, did anyone read Bill Keller's response (he's the executive editor of The Times)?

"Most Americans seem to support extraordinary measures in defense against this extraordinary threat, but some officials who have been involved in these programs have spoken to the Times about their discomfort over the legality of the government's actions and over the adequacy of oversight."

Say what??? That's his reason for spilling the beans?

Excuse me, Mr. Roosevelt, but I question the oversight and legality of invading Normandy, so I just had to tip off my friend Adolf!

Treasury Secretary John Snow said in a letter to the York Times that over the past two months he and other administration officials had engaged in a "vigorous dialogue" with reporters and editors at the newspaper trying to persuade them to refrain from revealing the program:

"In choosing to expose this program, despite repeated pleas from high-level officials on both sides of the aisle, including myself, the Times undermined a highly successful counterterrorism program and alerted terrorists to the methods and sources used to track their money trail."

But Keller countered with a brilliant comeback:

"I believe they genuinely did not want us to publish this. But I think it's not responsible of us to just take them at their word."

I am astounded by Keller's logic.

The fact that John Murtha criticized the "newspaper of record" shows just how utterly clueless Keller is. On Monday night, the Los Angeles Times Web site posted a letter explaining its rationale for reporting the story. Editor Dean Baquet wrote:

"We considered very seriously the government's assertion that these disclosures could cause difficulties for counterterrorism programs. ... In the end, we felt that the legitimate public interest in this program outweighed the potential cost to counterterrorism efforts."

Basically, that means "If it sells papers, we don't give a f*** if it causes more American deaths.

This, I believe may just be the two turning points in the war against terror. First, the Israeli's say "ENOUGH" and second, the New York Times finally proves its allegiance. We will look back at this day as the "Day The World Woke Up".

Or, it could all blow over tomorrow. I guess all we need is for Tom Cruise to show off how intelligent he isn't (again).

I had visions, I was in them
I was looking into the mirror,
To see a little bit clearer,
The rottenness and evil in me,
Fingertips have memories
Mine can't forget the curves of your body,
And when i feel a bit naughty,
I run it up the flagpole and see,
Who salutes(But no one ever does)

I'm not sick but I'm not well,
and I'm so hot, cause I'm in hell!

Been around the world and found
That only stupid people are breeding,
The cretins cloning and feeding,
And I don't even own a TV
Put me in the hospital for nerves
And then they had to commit me,
You told them all i was crazy,
They cut off my legs now i'm an amputee,
(Gawd damn you)

I'm not sick but I'm not well,
And I'm so hot, cause I'm in hell
I'm not sick but I'm not well
And it's a sin to live so well

I wanna publish zines,
And rage against machines,
I wanna pierce my tongue
It doesn't hurt, it feels fine,
The trivial sublime,
I'd like to turn off time
And kill my mind,
You kill my mind,

Paranoia paranoia!
Everybody's coming to get me,
Just say you never met me,
I'm runnin' underground with the moles,
(Digging holes)
Hear the voices in my head
I swear to God it sounds like they're snoring!
But if you're bored then you're boring,
The agony and the irony, they're killing me

I'm not sick but I'm not well
and I'm so hot cause I'm in hell
I'm not sick but I'm not well
and it's a sin to live this well

I had a number of different thoughts about today's TOP 10 list, but none of them struck me as something worth sharing. That is, until I read today's comics page in the newspaper. Also, my friend, Neil, is getting married tomorrow and since he's a comic book writer/artist, I decided to dedicate today's list to him.

Unfortunately, due to unfortunate circumstances, I had to cancel my plans to be there. But I want him to know that I'm very happy for him and for his soon-to-be-wife, Laurie. So, in honor of their pending nuptuals, here is this week's list.

Top Ten All-Time Favorite Comic Strip Characters
(comic books and newspapers)

10. Dean (Liberty Meadows)
The resident male-chauvanist and, of course, pig. He’s a hero to men and a punching bag for women. Just like most guys.

9. Marvin (Marvin)
A chubby baby. Is their anything cuter than that?

8. Sid (Ernie, Piranha Club)
The sleaziest character of them all. He’d sell him mama for dinner. Oh wait, he already did that.

7. Hobbes (Calvin and Hobbes)
Say what you want about this strip. But my impression was that Hobbes was the real one. Everyone else didn’t exist.

6. Zonker (Doonesbury)
It takes incredible characters to make strip last for over 30 years. Zonker was definitely a “character”. Howard Hessman once said that his portrayal of Dr. Johnny Fever was based on the Zonk.

5. Zebra (Pearls Before Swine)
Zebra may well go down in history as the last uneaten prey of his herd. Of course living next to those crocs makes it easy.

4. Asok (Dilbert)
Another punching bag. You have to wonder why Asok stays with the company. It can’t be the experience.

3. Betty (Archie Comics)
Betty was the prettiest and I always hated Archie for drooling over Veronica. Veronica may have the most money, but Betty has the best everything else.

2. Sherman (Sherman’s Lagoon)
A shark so dumb as to have a Dorito stuck in his brain and have no one notice. He makes Peter Griffin look like a Mensa member. If not for Megan and Hawthorne, he’d be a tuna platter.

1. Opus (Bloom County)
Far and away the greatest comic strip character ever created. Ever since the “two dips and a dad”, “Pear pimples for hairy fishnuts and, of course, “Dan Fogerburp’s butt”, I’ve been privileged to read every Bloom County and Outland strip ever written. I have missed a number of the current strips, but that aside, Opus is, was and always will be the best.

Other comics considered:

Linus (Peanuts)
Frances (Momma)
Harry L. Dinkle band guy (Funky Winkerbean)
Grimmy (Mother Goose and Grimm)
Chief of the Poohawks (Tumbleweeds)
Jeremy (Zits)
Preacher Will B. Dunn (Kudzu)
Snuffy (Snuffy Smith)

Interesting article from wsoctv.com in Charlotte, South Carolina.

Organ Transplants In The U.S.

Organ transplantation is the removal of a diseased organ and replacement with an organ from a deceased donor. In some cases, like kidney transplants or partial liver transplants, the organs can come from healthy donors.

Last year, the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network says 28,112 organ transplants were performed in the U.S. Nearly 2,300 were done so far this year. But there aren't nearly enough donor organs available to meet the requests of those who need them. As of May 31st, there were 92,271 candidates on the waiting list for an organ transplant. The Coalition on Donation estimates about 18 people die each day due to a lack of suitable donor organs. The organs of highest demand are the kidneys, liver, lung, heart and pancreas.

Surviving an Organ Transplant

Survival rates after an organ transplant are increasing. For heart transplants, for example, 86.4 percent of male recipients and 84.6 percent of female recipients are alive after one year. For five years, survival rates are 72.1 percent for males and 68.5 percent for females. Survival rates are even higher for kidney transplants - 95.3 percent of males and 96 percent of females at one year and 84.6 percent of males and 86 percent of females at five years.

One of the biggest advances in the survival of transplanted organs is the use of immunosuppressive drugs. Normally, when a person receives a transplant, the recipient's immune system perceives the donor organ as "foreign" tissue and mounts an attack against the invader. Ultimately, that can lead to a rejection or destruction of the new organ. In 1983, doctors began using cyclosporine, a new drug to suppress the immune system, and hopefully prevent rejection of transplanted organs. Since that time, several other immunosupressive medications have been developed. Doctors may use one or more drugs to prevent rejection of a transplant.

Downside of Immunosuppressive Medication

While immune-suppressing medications are life-saving treatments for many transplant patients, the drugs come with a price. Cyclosporine can raise blood sugar levels, cholesterol and blood pressure. It can also cause kidney problems, swollen gums, headache and excessive growth of body hair. Other immunosuppressants can cause similar problems plus bone loss, weight gain, acne, mood changes, fever, sleep problems, anemia, diarrhea and nausea. And since the drugs suppress the immune system, patients are at increased risk for infection and some types of cancer.

Building Tolerance for Donor Organs

Some transplant patients are able to stop taking immune suppressing medications and show no signs of rejection. Researchers say these patients have developed a "tolerance" for the new organ. Transplant tolerance doesn't mean the body has necessarily accepted the donor organ. Instead, the recipient's immune system has chosen not to initiate a destructive response to the transplant.

Scientists don't know why a few patients develop transplant tolerance. However, it would be an ideal goal for all transplants because patients could avoid the side effects of immune suppressing drugs.

At Baylor Transplant Institute, researchers are studying the role of dendritic cells in the development of immune reactions to organ transplants. Dendritic cells are specialized immune cells that identify foreign substances and signal the release of other immune cells to destroy the invader. In the current study, patients are given strong medications prior to the transplant to destroy most of the body's immune system. The transplant is done with the immune system in a weakened state, hopefully reducing the body's ability to react to the donor organ. As the body rebuilds its immune system, doctors are hopeful the new organ will be more likely accepted as an "original" body part. Patients continue to take lower doses of immune suppressing medications after the transplant. Eventually, doctors hope to completely wean the patient from immune suppressing medication.

Doctors will measure the immune response through a blood test. A drop of blood is placed in a special machine (called a microarray machine) which looks at the activity levels of 50,000 different genes. The gene activity is displayed on a graph showing bars of different colors, creating a "signature," or pattern, of immune system activity. Depending upon which patterns show up, doctors can determine if the immune system is starting to reject an organ or mount a defense against an infection or cancer - all before the patient shows any signs of problems. The blood test will also show doctors which patients may not need to take immunosuppressive medications (because the immune system shows no activity against the organ).

Researchers say less than one-third of organ transplant patients are able to eventually stop taking immune suppressing medications. But monitoring immune response may help doctors find clues that can help them develop ways to increase the number of those who become tolerant to their transplants. Even if patients can't stop taking the medications, some may be able to at least reduce their dosages, and hopefully lower the risk of side effects from the drugs. The blood test may also be useful to help doctors identify patients in early stages of rejection - when they may be able to take steps to halt the process and save the organ. That may reduce the number of patients who experience chronic rejection and require another transplant - making more organs available for those who need an initial transplant.

For general information on organ transplantation:

Coalition on Donation
Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network
United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS)

What does it take to finally rid ourselves of John "Flipper" Kerry?

Now some of you might say that I should get over myself and give the guy a break - after all, he was the loser in the last election.

But as long as he continues to prove how ridiculous he is, I'm gonna keep at him (not that I think he cares, mind you).

So what brings up the most liberal senator in America?

appeared on Imus in the Morning the other day and objected to the most common characterization of his proposal for surrender in Iraq:

"Stay the course" is not a plan. And what this administration wants is to have a fake debate, as usual. Uh, they're--you hear the drumbeat on every television show from every commentator, cut and run, cut and run, cut and run, cut and run." That's their phrase. They've found their three words, they love to do that, and they're gonna try to make the elections in November a choice between "cut and run" or "stay the course." That's not the choice. My plan is not "cut and run." Their plan is "lie and die."

But Kerry was singing quite a different tune before the last selection. This is from a Dec. 3, 2003 Kerry speech before the Council on Foreign Relations:

I fear that in the run-up to the 2004 election, the administration is considering what is tantamount to a cut-and-run strategy. Their sudden embrace of accelerated Iraqification and American troop withdrawal dates, without adequate stability, is an invitation to failure. The hard work of rebuilding Iraq must not be dictated by the schedule of the next American election.

As James Taranto, of the Wall Street Journal's opinonjournal.com points out:

Kerry was right then to oppose a cut-and-run strategy. He is wrong now to support it, just as he was wrong then to accuse the administration of doing so.

Kerry, who by the way served in Vietnam, is the same man who said he voted for the war before he voted against it. Known for his self-contradictions, he has often proven to be either a terrible liar or a complete idiot.

I never understood how anyone - forget about any hatred someone may have for George Bush - could want this man elected President. The Democrats utter animosity of the President manifested itself into Kerry's nomination. Millions of people voted for him because he was the best they had.

If anything else, that tells you what is really wrong with the current Democratic Party.

I bet Kerry is still wondering how he lost the election.

Rep. Steve King , R-Iowa, was discussing the June 7 death of terrorist leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi on Saturday when he mentioned 85-year-old Helen Thomas, who has covered the White House for nearly 50 years and is a columnist for Hearst Newspapers.

"There probably are not 72 virgins in the hell he's at," King said about al-Zarqawi, in a recording transcribed by Radio Iowa. "And if there are, they probably all look like Helen Thomas."

You make the call. For me, it's enough to never sin again.

courtesy from Yahoo.com

The Mavericks lost. Ugh.

Still, the fact they had made it as far as they did gives me reason to appreciate the incredible season they had. In what was billed as building year, where they were expected to make the playoffs and nothing more, turned into one of the best NBA post-seasons ever. I will readily admit that Miami - or at least Dwyane Wade - deserved to win, I guess I'm happiest for Alonzo Mourning. Mourning, as some of you may know, had a kidney transplant in 2003.

It's a tough enough to compete in the NBA when you're healthy. But to come back from an organ transplant? Unreal.

The Mavericks had their opportunities, but it seemed that midway through the third quarter they just accepted their fate. Still, they came real close.

So now, it's on to baseball and the Texas Rangers. Oy veh!

At least they're in first place. I guess that when they falter (usually in August) it will be just in time for the Cowboy's training camp to begin.

Anyway...

How would you like to be this guy?

Or this guy?

Or him?

Or even this guy?

I guess it would be a lot better than being this guy!

Been listening to Boz Scaggs a lot lately...

Best of friends
Never part
Best of fools has loved forever
From the bottom of his heart

So why pretend
This is the end
You'll have to find out for yourself
Go on ask somebody else

Why can't you just get it through your head
It's over, it's over now
Yes, you heard me clearly now I said
It's over, it's over now

I'm not really over you
You might say that
I can't take it, I can't take it
Lord, I swear I just can't take it no more

(Go away) go away
(Far away) so far away
It's too late to turn back now
And it don't matter anyhow

'Cause you were right
I'm to blame
Can't go on the same old way
Can't keep up the same old game

Why can't you just get it through your head
It's over, it's over now
Yes, you heard me clearly now I said
It's over, it's over now

I'm not really over you
You might say that
I can't take it, I can't take it
Lord, I swear I just can't take it no more

I love this article...

The Apple Core and the Toilet
By Tom Purcell
http://www.JewishWorldReview.com

I don't know what I was thinking. Nonetheless, in 1974, I flushed an apple core down the toilet, an action I would come to regret.

As it went, my father the Big Guy had remodeled our basement into a family room. He installed the inexpensive pine paneling common to the times. He also built a small bathroom, which would be the bane of his existence.

The Big Guy, always looking to save a buck — he had six kids to feed, after all — bought the cheapest toilet he could find. It never did work right. He spent much of his spare time unplugging it.

Armed with this knowledge, then, it is remarkable I did what I did.

One Sunday morning, after chomping on a large Washington apple, I lay on the family room couch, too lazy to go upstairs to the kitchen to dispose of it. (The Big Guy warned against throwing apple cores in the basement garbage can, as they would draw ants.)

About then I noticed, some 12 feet away, that the toilet lid was up. In a moment of insanity, I aimed the core at the toilet and flicked my wrist. The core floated majestically in the air, a perfect trajectory, and landed in the center of the bowl with a satisfying "kir-plunk!"

I later flushed it and never gave it another thought.

Six months later, another clogging was reported. As fate would have it, this happened on a Sunday morning. I lay on the couch, holding another Washington apple. I watched television, while the Big Guy fought to free the plug.

But nothing would free it. The plunger failed, but not before the Big Guy was soaking wet. Two jars of Drano had no effect. Even the plumber's snake, which the Big Guy always borrowed from the Krieger's when all other measures failed, was unable to dislodge the blockage.

In a fit of rage, the Big Guy unbolted the toilet from the floor. In one mighty heave, he lifted it off its mount and set it in front of the television. My mother was there by now, desperately trying to calm him. I walked over for a closer look, horrified by what I was about to witness.

The Big Guy knelt before a black hole in the floor. Despite mother's protestations, he reached his mighty paw inside it, then his forearm, then his biceps. His head was now pressed against the damp floor, the veins in his temples ready to explode.

His eyes lit up. He had something. He carefully removed his biceps, then his forearm, then his paw. He was on his knees now staring at his clenched fist. He unpeeled his fingers slowly. In the center of his palm was a black, rotten apple core.

I could go into detail about the Big Guy's incredible reaction — how he ran through the house shouting, "Who the hell flushed an apple core down the toilet?" I could describe the shock and horror he felt when he discovered that I, his 11-year-old son and only hope in carrying on the family name, was the imbecile who did it.

But I won't. I will tell you I was paralyzed with fear that day, a fear born out of respect. The Big Guy loved me and wanted the best for me, I know now. He wanted me to master basic virtues — certainly to master common sense — and I'd failed him.

At the time, it would have been great if he were a father like the hapless idiots portrayed on television these days. But I'm glad he was a man. Unlike too many fathers today, he was firm and strong and unafraid to confront me and discipline me in the unpleasant challenge of preparing me for life.

The hard feelings the apple core incident caused have long been forgotten. Still, every Father's Day, as we reminisce, the Big Guy asks me why I did it.

The truth is I still don't know.

Father’s Day. Or as most of us men prefer to call it…Shaft Day. The day that fathers all over the country get the shaft. How many of us go all out to celebrate Mother’s Day for our moms and wives? What about Valentine’s Day, anniversaries, birthdays and what-not? But on Father’s day, do we get breakfast in bed? Cool presents? No. If we’re lucky, we get the opportunity to take the kids out to their favorite place, burn ourselves making a barbeque and end up spending more money that you had.

Some day.

Actually, mine wasn’t so bad. I worked this morning and since my kids had friends over, went into the bedroom to watch a movie. Unfortunately, it was a lousy movie. To top it off, my car decided to inform me that I need to check my engine soon. That’s nice. There’s nothing like knowing that you are going to need to sell a limb in order to pay for car repairs.

All-in-all, it could be worse. I could be a Dallas Maverick fan. Oh, wait…I am. Talk about frustration. I would be willing to law odds on the fact that if Shaq or Dwyane Wade had been called for the foul, they would not have been suspended. I can understand the suspension on Jason Terry during the Spur’s series and, although it was for a very good reason, D.J. Mbenga shouldn’t have gone into the stands. But to suspend Jerry Stackhouse for a hard foul on Shaq – the same Shaq who had given Stackhouse a crushing elbow in Game one that required 4 stitches – well, that’s just not right. It has been years since I’ve been a cry-baby about sports. Like all “homers”, I’ve had my share of times screaming “no fair” when I thought my team was cheated. But as I’ve grown older, I’ve learned that it’s just not worth the aggravation (unless of course, we’re talking Dallas Cowboy games). So I must really be mad about this call by the NBA.

Ah, well. I am still sticking to my original prediction of Dallas winning in 6 games.

Anyway, in honor of Shaft, er I mean, Father’s Day, I present my latest TOP 10 list. I have never been considered a “well-read” individual, but I have enjoyed the occasion book. When I began rehabbing and started my blog, I began to appreciate the ability of certain writers to spin a tale, whether true of fiction. So today, in honor of writers everywhere, here is my latest list:

TOP 10 FAVORITE WRITERS
(Authors, columnists…)

10. Lewis Grizzard
Before there was the Blue Collar comedy tour, there was Lewis Grizzard. His columns and his books brought me back home the South no matter where I may have been. More than anything, his book titles were a thing of beauty, including such titles as They Tore Out My Heart And Stomped That Sucker Flat, My Daddy Was A Pistol, And I'm A Son of a Gun and the immortal Elvis Is Dead, And I Don't Feel So Good Myself.

9. Steven Plaut
Without a doubt, Plaut is the most sensible columnist to write about the Middle East. An Israeli and an orthodox Jew, Steven Plaut has a front row seat to all that goes on there. His ability to cut through the insanity and convey the feelings of the Israeli right (and middle) makes him a must-read.

8. Charles Krauthammer
A former speech writer for Walter Mondale, Krauthammer understood what liberalism was doing to this country and soon began a transformation to conservatism. While his writings and opinions are considered more centrist than to the right, his stance towards the State of Israel has never been stronger. He is one of the most read columnists of one of the world’s most popular newspapers (the Washington Post).

7. J.D. Salinger
When I was in High School, we were forbidden to read The Catcher in the Rye. So obviously, I did. While I can’t say it changed my view of the world, I can say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Far from being a “one hit wonder”, Salinger wrote a number of books I loved – most notably “Nine Stories”.

6. John Grisham
I loved A Time to Kill, I loved The Pelican Brief and I loved The Firm. I probably would have been okay if Grisham had stopped there. Not that his later works were poor, just in comparison to his first 3 books, they were. But the first three were wonderful. I was really upset that he changed the ending in the movie version of The Firm, but it was still enjoyable.

5. Carolyn Hax
I have no doubt that most of you have no clue who Carlyn Hax is. She is one of the advice columnists for the Washington Post. Generally, I find advice columnists to be incredibly shallow and at times (see the “new” Dear Abbey), downright dangerous. Hax is different. While she doesn’t have the following of some of the better known ones, she makes up for it with incredible common sense and intelligence. She’s never mean or condescending and just seems very “real”.

4. Ann Coulter
Coulter is the 3 B’s of journalism; bravery, bravado and brains (well, 4 B’s if it weren’t a family blog). Oh, and she’s blonde and bold, too. As the poster child for all things evil, Ann coulter may well be the most vilified Republican on the planet. Personally, I find her to be over-the-top at times, but one thing she isn’t is wrong. As far as I’m concerned, those who have criticized her haven’t read her. If she’s guilty of anything, it’s of saying the things most people want to say, but are afraid to.

3. J.K. Rowling
10 years ago, no one had any idea who Harry Potter, or J.K. Rowling were. Now, you would be hard pressed to find anyone who hasn’t. It wasn’t until the Prisoner of Azkaban that I finally succumbed and read a Harry Potter book. But once I did, I was hooked. A fan of the books more that of the films, I really loved every one. If I had to pick a favorite, it would be The Goblet of Fire. If asked to name my least favorite, it would be The Chamber of Secrets.

2. Jeffrey Archer
Being imprisoned aside, Jeffrey Archer simply wrote the finest novel I have ever read – Kane & Abel. In fact, I can’t think of a single Archer book that I was able to put down. His storytelling is superb and in depth and his knowledge of law and social issues make him very entertaining. In addition to his many novels, he is also a proficient author of short stories.

1. Thomas Sowell
A good writer is not someone who uses words to his advantage. A good writer is someone who uses words to help others understand the point he’s making. Thomas Sowell is a great writer. He’s also the most intelligent man in America. Raised in poverty in North Carolina, Sowell eventually became a Marine and after his service became an academic. He books and articles so such incredible insight and range that it’s hard to believe no one has thought of them first. His latest book, Black Rednecks and White Liberals is lesson on the origins of slavery in America and is a must read.

A man buys some fencing at a Home Depot and uses it to keep intruders out of his house. One night, after a number of incidences, an intruder cuts open the fence for the purpose of breaking in. Unfortunately, he becomes stuck and cuts himself severely in the process. As a result, he bleeds to death.

The family of the intruder not only sue the homeowner, but sue the manufacturer of the fencing.

Now it should be noted that there was nothing wrong with the fence. It was entirely the fault of the intruder that caused the death.

Sounds crazy, no?

While it sounds outrageous to you and me, it's precisely what has taken place here in Chicago. While admittedly there is no lawsuit pending, what happened here is eerily similar to what took place yesterday at the Caterpillar, Inc. annual shareholder's meeting.

As many of you are aware, a young, naive, misguided woman was crushed to death by a bulldozer while using herself as a human shield. Rachel Corrie, was a member of the International Solidarity Movement, a communist-anarchist group who openly support Palestinian terrorism. To give you some details from the incident, noted professor, author and Middle East expert Steven Plaut, had this to say:

Corrie set up shop in the Gaza Strip, where she and her ISM comrades spent their days trying to harass and provoke Israeli troops and interfere with Israel's anti-terrorist military operations. They would set up obstacles on roads to prevent Israeli troops and otherwise assist and defend the terrorists. The ISM is probably the campus organization most upfront about its support for the Palestinian "right" to engage in terrorism, and that is saying quite a lot these days!

In one confrontation with the Israelis, Corrie was trying to block an army bulldozer that was knocking down homes of terrorists and buildings hiding tunnels through which weapons and explosives were being smuggled into Israel. These tunnels brought weapons from Egypt to the Gaza city of Rafiah. One of these homes might have been that which Corrie's parents describe as that of an "innocent pharmacist." Corrie and her ISM comrades wanted to help protect the Gaza smuggling tunnels. Rachel Corrie put herself in a position where the bulldozer driver could not see her, and she was dragged under the heavy machine. She died in a PLO ambulance or hospital shortly thereafter. The ISM then issued a host of "eyewitness" reports about the accident, which turned out to be fabrications. The simple fact of the matter was that Corrie had figured the Israeli bulldozer driver could be cowed into backing off if he saw her blocking his access to the terrorist house; she probably figured correctly, except that he did not see her from his limited-visibility window in the rig.

Yesterday, during their annual meeting, Craig and Cindy Corrie, the parents of the young, not so innocent girl, and other supporters of Palestinian murderers, crashed the party in order to persuade the company into divesting in Israel. Advocates of the sales cutoff said the easily recognizable "Cat" equipment has become a symbol of human rights violations in the occupied territoriCertaintain religious groups have criticized the company for continuing to sell Israel the bulldozers and have promised to divest their shares.

Basically, what this really means is that they want Caterpillar to pay for Corrie's death. They want Caterpillar to fall to her knees and admit that their daughter's actions didn't cause her death, Caterpillar did. Like the intruder above, it must have been the fence tkillediled him. Or how about the State of Israel? How dare the try to protect themselves? Destroy a terrorists house? Not on my watch. Forget about the fact that this particular home was used for the smuggling of weapons uto toi target innocent Israeli civilians!

In an act of courage - something rarely seen nowadays - Caterpillar told them to basically "piss off". Caterpillar Chairman James Owens put it bluntly, expressing "heartfelt sympathies and concerns" for casualties in the Middle East conflict, "(but) we corporately cannot resolve it."

I'll tell you what, it takes a lot of nerve to not buckle under pressure from terrorist sympathizers. At least you know he probably won't be voting Democrat in the next election! I am so impressed by it all, I may actually consider a Caterpillar as my next vehicle. Maybe I can get one of those bumper stickers that read, "I don't brake for young, naive, misguided terrorist sympathizers."

FEMA Funds Spent on Divorce, Sex Change

Does this surprise anyone?

Yeah, I know I'm a day late. I'm also a dollar short, so what? Today, I'm changing the topic ever so slightly and am bringing to you my TOP 10 Favorite Movie Quotes. I have no doubt that the minute I post this, I will remember countess more. But for the meantime, here are ten that are on the top of my head (as opposed to the bottom of my feet).

TOP 10 FAVORITE MOVIE QUOTES

10. (tie) "I'm funny how, I mean, funny like I'm a clown? I amuse you? I make you laugh?" -- Goodfellas
Yes, this came from a movie that wasn't considered a comedy, but Joe Pesci always cracks me up. The Animaniacs take on this is priceless.

10. (tie) "Yeah I called her up, she gave me a bunch of crap about me not listening to her, or something, I don't know, I wasn't really paying attention" - Dumb and Dumber
I wasn't a huge fan of Harry and Lloyd, but I always loved this line. It, like, speaks to me in a "guy" way.

9. "Licensed to kill gophers by the government of the United Nations. Man free to kill gophers at will." - Caddyshack
There are a lot of lines I could have used from this movie, but this was one of my favorites.

8. "Life is pain, Highness. Anyone who says differently is selling something." - The Princess Bride
Maybe THE most quotable movie ever. This quote, however, portrayed the essence of the humorous dialogue.

7. "Don't mind her. She's just upset that someone dropped a house on her sister." - Beetlejuice
Great movie. Great line.

6. "The sportos, the motorheads, geeks, sluts, bloods, wasteoids, dweebies, dickheads: they all adore him. They think he's a righteous dude." - Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Another oft-quoted flick. This quote speaks for all the 80's, John Hughes' films. Like, totally!

5. "The central message of Buddhism is not: 'Every man for himself'." - A Fish Called Wanda
Maybe the most underrated movie in cinematic history. I thought of a few of Kevin Kline's classic lines, but instead chose one that made fun of his character instead.

4. "It's an .88 Magnum. It shoots through schools." - Johnny Dangerously
I take that back. Johnny Dangerously was the most overlooked film ever. It was the best work Joe Piscopo ever did.

3. "Where am I gonna find a piece of metal, here, in space, at this hour?" - Airplane II: The Sequel
So many good quotes, so little space. Surely, Airplane and it's sequel were the most hilarious duo ever produced. And please, don't call me Shirley.

2. "I see your Schwartz is as big as mine." - Spaceballs
For pure silliness, Spaceballs was a good movie to watch - especially with a group of your closest old friends. This line, however, cracks me up every time I just think about it - no matter who I'm with.

1. "Now, I don't have to tell you good folks, what has been happening here in our beloved little town: sheriff murdered, crops burned, stores looted, people stampeded, and cattle raped." - Blazing Saddles
If you can get past the visual, you're halfway there. Mel Brooks had a run of three incredibly funny movies starting with his first two - The Producers and Young Frankenstein - and culminating in his finest one, Blazing Saddles. There were a few other quotes from them that I adored as much as this, but this is a family blog.

Outside the rain begins
And it may never end
So cry no more on the shore a dream
Will take us out to sea
For evermore..

Close your eyes and dream
And you can be with me
'Neath the waves through the cave of hours
Long forgotten now
We´re all alone..

Close the window calm the light
And it will be alright
No need to bother now
Let it out let it all begin
Learn how to pretend

Once a story´s told
It can´t help but grow old
Roses do lovers too, so cast
Your seasons to the wind
And hold me dear..

Close the window calm the light
And it will be alright
No need to bother now
Let it out let it all begin
All´s forgotten now
We´re all alone..

Just read that Billy Preston just died today. For those who don't know who he was, he was often called the "fifth Beatle" for his work on the "Let It Be" album, which included the piano riff on "Get Back". In addition, Preston had some hits of his own, including "Will It Go Round in Circles" (1973), "Nothing from Nothing" (1974) and "With You, I'm Born Again" (1980) with singer Syreeta.

Preston died from complications of malignant hypertension that resulted in kidney failure. He had a kidney transplant in 2002 and had been a coma since November of last year. He was 59 years old.

Much, much too young.

On a similar note, today would have been my father's 82nd birthday. My dad died in 1998 and was a pretty strong guy for as many years as I remember him. I can't imagine what he would have looked like, had he not died of cancer. Would he still be active? Would he still be a practicing Rabbi in some form or another? I suppose everyone dies when they are supposed to and that's why I can't picture what life would have been like.

I have no doubt that any of y'all who have lost someone fell any differently. As little kids, we can't fathom the idea of being without a father or mother (although many are unfortunately forced into that position). We grow up in the belief that "it can't happen to me" and live life without fear. Then one day - you may be 10 years old, or you could be 36 like me - and it's over. You know longer feel that sense of security. My father was misdiagnosed 4 years earlier. He had the unfortunate luck of living in Florida, where most people are either murdered by killed by HMOs. Because of the doctor's error, when the cancer was finally found, it was too late. I remember the last lucid conversation with him as if it were just yesterday. It was at that moment that I realized he wouldn't be there anymore.

As I reflect on it now, 8 years after, I find myself wondering "what if". Would my mother have deteriorated as fast as she has? Would my heart ailments been too much for him to bear? What if, what if, what if...

I remember as a child thinking it was so cool that my father's father was born in 1894. Wow, 1894! The last century! I would try to imagine what his life must have been like as a child. Unfortunately, he died when I was about 5, so I never really had the chance to know him. Of course now, he'd have been 112!

I wonder...

All four of my children were born in the 1990's, the last of whom (my twin boys) in 1998. Will it be the same for their grandchildren? Will they think it was cool that their grandfather (or grandmother in my daughters case) was born before the turn of the 21st century?

It's amazing the things we think of when we're reminded of death.

I just received an update on Yechiel Mael, the young boy who was hit by a car last week. He is still in the ICU at Children's Medical Center, here in Chicago, but they hope to move him to a regular room very soon. He is awake now and is beginning to remember and recognize things and people.

Yechiel was hit while crossing the street on Touhy Avenue. Unfortunately, he crossed in the middle of the block and was not seen by the elderly woman who was driving. Please, it can not be emphasized enough, make sure your children know when and where it's safe to cross the street. I realize accidents will happen, but there are many drivers who are either incapable, or unable to be aware of where YOUR child is at all times.

Thankfully, Yechiel is getting better. We continue to pray for his complete recovery.

On a lighter note, our team lost the consolation game on Sunday and finished in last place at 3-4. Maybe it wouldhave helped if I knew the game had been resceduled to yesterday - prior to yesterday! So, I missed the game. There's always next year!

Here's a keeper: A primary school in Midlothian, Scotland, changed the names of its two first-grade classes from "1a" and "1b" to "1ar" and "1ap," making each class "1a" plus the initial of the teacher's surname, because the school feared pupils in a class called "1b" might suffer from feelings of inferiority relative to pupils in class called "1a."

I kid you not.

Well, at least none of them are this guy.

First of all, let me start by saying that I never expected to see the Dallas Mavericks to win a conference championship. After 26 long years, after watching the drama that was Kiki Vandeweghe, Mark Aguirre, Roy Tarpley, Uwe Blab, Adrian Dantley, Richie Adubato, Doug Smith and Randy White, the “triple-J’s, Quinn Buckner, Ross Perot, Jr., Shawn Bradley and Dennis Rodman, after watching former players like Jason Kidd, Steve Nash, Sam Perkins, Detlef Schrempf and Dale Ellis thrive after leaving Dallas, Maverick fans finally have an opportunity to see something only seen in these parts by Dallas Cowboys and Dallas Stars fans; championship games.

For me, it gives me hope that just maybe, the Texas Rangers are not that far away. Considering the fact that the Mavericks finished the season with a 60-22 record, the Stars won the Pacific Division, the Rangers are in first place in the AL West and the Cowboys are expected to be in the playoff mix with new acquisition Terrell Owens, I guess it really is a good time to be a fan of Dallas sports. And if you count other sports, the Texas Longhorns won the NCAA championship in football, were in the Elite 8 in basketball and are the defending baseball champions, FC Dallas (formerly the Dallas Burn) of the MLS is in 1st place and last, but certainly not least, the Dallas Desperados of the Arena Football League are currently one win away from appearing in Arena Bowl XX, with the best record in the AFL, I guess you could say it’s a GREAT time to be a Dallas fan.

It’s one of the best things about growing up in Texas – even when you move away, you never grow apart.

I’d say “eat your heart out, Chicago”, but I kinda like Ozzie Guillen and you know, that whole Michael Jordan thing..

So now that I’m back to being at least a little happy, I feel secure enough to post my latest TOP 10 list. Continuing with the music theme, I made up the following list during my recent bout of depression and melancholia, but for reasons of not wanting to wallow in misery, I decided to wait until my moods improved before posting it.

So here goes…

The TOP 10 Songs That Make Me Cry
Songs that have either sad lyrics, melodies or imbue bad memories

10. (Tied) The Times of Your Life - Paul Anka
Traces - The Classics 4
Similar idea. Memories. Lot's and lot's of memories. For a melancholy guy like me, it's what makes us whole. You could probably throw "Good Riddence" by Green Day and Billy Joel's "Souvenir" in there too.

9. For No One - The Beatles
The saddest song by the Fab Four. And that says a lot. The line "You think she needs you", rips my heart out every time I hear it.

8. End of the World - Skeeter Davis
The innocence in Skeeter Davis' voice moved me, a mere child of 2. Maybe I don't remember it from then, but it wasn't long after.

7. Superstar - The Carpenters
That voice could make Satan melt. So soulful, and yet so tragic.

6. Cat's In The Cradle - Harry Chapin
The same guys who later cried watching "Field of Dreams" cried when they heard this song back in the day. C'mon, you know who you are.

5. At This Moment - Billy Vera
Even Alex Keating had a tough time with this one. The timing couldn't have been any worse for me, or better. After all, what CAN you say? I chose nothing.

4. Downbound Train - Bruce Springsteen
When I heard that long whistle whine, I dropped to my knees, hung MY head and cried.

3. Even Now - Barry Manilow
He may be a master showman, but he's also a very gifted lyricist. This song has pushed me near the ledge more than once.

2. Alone Again, Naturally - Gilbert O'Sullivan
This song killed me when I was 10. The poor guy was left at the alter, his Dad died and his Mom soon after. Who wouldn't cry? It's not easy feeling alone at such a young age. Trust me.

1. Whiskey Lullaby – Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss
This song only came out a year ago, but it hands-down the saddest song I’ve ever heard. Some people I know have wept for hours after hearing Alison Krauss’ mournful voice. Whenever it comes on the radio, I either have to pull over if I'm driving, or sit down when I hear it. Usually, I just tear up.

There were, of course, a bunch of others that didn't make the cut, and I suppose, at any given time, the listy can change. Here are some of the other songs I considered - tell me what I missed:
Seasons in the Sun - Terry Jacks
Everybody Hurts - REM
Don't Cry Out Loud - Melissa Manchester
All By Myself - Eric Carmen
Hallelujah - Leonard Cohen
Brick - Ben Folds Five
Windows And Walls - Dan Fogelberg
Run, Joey Run - David Geddes
Seargent Darkness - America
Sylvia's Mother - Dr. Hook
Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon and Garfunkel
The Last Kiss - Pearl Jam
Ain't No Sunshine - Bill Withers
(There's Got to Be) a Morning After - Maureen McGovern
Killing Me Softly - Roberta Flack
Here I Am - Air Supply
Vincent - Don McLean
Think of Laura - Christopher Cross
Hazard - Richard Marx
Only Love Knows Why - Peter Cetera
I Won't Hold You Back Now - Toto
Just Once - James Ingram
Songs About Rain - Gary Allan
Our Last Farewell - Dan Fogelberg
Wasted Time - The Eagles
The Smile As Left Her Eyes - Asia
Space Oddity - David Bowie
I Go Crazy Paul Davis
Tears In Heaven - Eric Clapton
You Can Have Me Any Time - Boz Scaggs
My Eyes Adored You - Frankie Valli
At Seventeen - Janis Ian
You're Only Lonely - J.D. Souther

Please continue to pray for Yechiel Mael. He had brain surgery yesterday and is not conscious, but is expected to by tomorrow. There is no way to tell if there has been any brain damage at this point.

Although I'm not the litigious type, I do have a new hero - Sgt. Peter Damon. Damon, an American who served in Iraq is suing Michael Moore for $85 million for allegedly using television interviews with Damon without his permission in the anti-war documentary "Fahrenheit 9/11" and gave a false impression that he opposed the war.

Damon, who's a strong supporter of President Bush, claims Moore misused the footage to portray him "in a false light" and as "disagreeing with the president about the war effort and as disagreeing with the war effort itself."

Well it's about time someone stood up against Moore's accusations. He has taken great license with the facts and has been protected Hollywood under the guise of "Freedom of Speech". Moore himself has stated that he sometimes fabricates the facts in order to present a better movie. But by winning the award for top documentary, the movie has been treated as fact, which is one of the criteria for the award itself.

Moore has become larger than life (no pun intended). Because he has been so vocal in his criticism of the President and the war in Iraq, he shouldn't be surprised that this would happen. I'm just surprised it took so long.

Moore's antics take the cake (pun intended this time).