Take it on faith

Posted by Lex, on November 4, 2007

 

People of all religions are often asked to accept some plainly contradictory things. For those unwilling to reconcile the irreconcilable there has always been the “spiritual but not religious” path, which for many – but by no means all – offers at least a kind of feel-good metaphysical gravitas without all of that hierarchy, organization and obligation.

For those unwilling to go even so far as that, there has at least been Global Warming, which offers them not just the chance to feel righteous about themselves, but also – and this is crucial for your true zealot – to feel superior to someone else. And that’s before the right-thinking set gets all weak in the knees at the notion of first world to third world transfer payments.

Sort of like purchasing an indulgence.

Yes

Posted by Lex, on November 5, 2007

Yes, this is one of those days.

 

Update: I didn’t have the heart nor the time to tilt at HuffPo windmills during my leave o’ absence. Fortunately for all of us, Noonan was not so constrained.

I think there was a tacit presumption all the way around that one of the market advantages of blogging was that the writer, having to actually write things down – as opposed to beerily barking at passersby from a dimly lit barstool somewhere – would be held accountable for the things that  he’d, you know: Written. And that such accountability would necessarily force him to do some research if the field he was wandering onto was not an area of special expertise.

Not so much.

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Good clean fun

By lex, on September 8th, 2007

Back in March 2006, the RAAF bubbas got a chance to practice their maritime dominance mission while (whilst?) putting paid to a drug smuggling ship, the North Korea-registered Pong Su.

The Pong Su was seized by federal police in 2003 carrying 125 kilograms of heroin.

An Air Force F-111 yesterday bombed the vessel, sending it to the bottom of the ocean, 140 kilometres off the south coast.

Mr Ruddock says this sends a clear message to people involved in transporting drugs.

An even clearer message would have been sending that puppy down with the smugglers still on board, but we are a little more evolved than that. Alas.

The video is pretty cool:

2000 pound laser guided bombs are not to be trifled with – and observant readers will note the “bat turn” one of the LGB’s makes on the FLIR video as it flies towards the Pong Su. I have to admit, for your true efficiency in sending scrap iron to the ocean floor (and don’t tell the submarine guys I said this) you’d sooner let the water in from the bottom rather than letting air in from the top.

Still. That’s the kind of thing a man could take a great deal of professional satisfaction from.

 

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Gathering of Eagles

Posted by Lex, on November 5, 2007

 

If you’re on the east coast you’ve got a special opportunity coming up this weekend – a gathering of American heroes from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq at the Renaissance Washington Hotel. In attendance:

You keep saying “modern”

Posted by Lex, on November 7m 2918

I do not think it means what you think it means:

Sign of hope

Posted by Lex, on November 7, 2007

The Lord moves in mysterious ways:

But the enemy is always waiting, too.

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Page 19 news

Posted by Lex, on November 8, 2007

 

Sour news today in for the New York Times **:

American forces have routed Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia, the Iraqi militant network, from every neighborhood of Baghdad, a top American general said today, allowing American troops involved in the “surge” to depart as planned.

There, there, fellahs – try to focus on something positive *.

* 09-18-2018 Link Gone; no replacements found – Ed.

** 09-18-2018 Original link gone; replacement found – Ed.

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