HPTF2006: Close

At the closing bash listening to Hootie & the Blowfish - great to hear them live, as I've loved their music for years!

The conference was great, but I'm ready to head home. Brain full, brain full.

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HPTC2006: Day 1 Summary, begin Day 2

Day 1 ended after I had attended a bunch of sessions that could have been better. Highlight of the day was the smoked NY strip steak at the Technology Showcase reception. YUM!

Day 2 began with a great, 4-hour session on installing Windows on HP Integrity Servers. I think I know what I'm doing with that now.

HPTF2006: General Session

Thought Mark Hurd was great, and the combination of his presentation with Randy D. Mott, the EVP/CIO, goes to show how HP internally is "eating their own dog food". I just wish they'd do it with all of their integrated product solutions! (e.g. no ProCurve switch in blades, et al.)

Al-Qaeda in Iraq: we're "doomed"

Supposedly a spokesman for al-Qaeda in Iraq has said that the West is "doomed" and that they will "destroy the cross" and convert all to Islam.

In the words of our President: "Bring it on!" and "We will not tire, we will not falter, and we will not fail."

In the words of Churchill: "You may ask, 'What is our aim?' Victory. Victory at all costs. Victory in spite of all terror. Victory no matter how long and hard the road may be. For without victory, there is no survival."

Make no mistake - the mainstream, worldwide Islamist view is conversion by the sword.

I pray that the Holy Spirit will touch the hearts of our enemies and bring them to Freedom in Christ.

In the meantime, "We shall fight them in the streets and in the fields - we shall never surrender." (also WSC)

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HPTF2006: Great Mark Hurd quote

Said with toung planted in cheek: "We've found that when we spend more time with our customers, we get more business."

If there's one common complaint among all my customers it's that their HP reps tend to be invisible, except when there's a pending order.

I hope he means it. As an HP partner, the more we can get from them in influence, the better.

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HPTF2006: Rainy morning in Houston

Looks like it's going to be raining most of the day. Opening General Session just started...great to have Mark Hurd, HP President and CEO, as the keynote speaker, unlike the 2nd team that always kicked off under Carly.

5,200 attendees - going to be a big, and great, event!

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HP Tech Forum 2006: Off to Houston

I'm on my way to attend the 2006 HP Technology Forum in Houston, TX. I'll be blogging that event as well as my usual rants and raves. If you're going to the event, see y'all in Houston!

I Support the Pope

Michelle Malkin has a great round up detailing why we all should be behind Pope Benedict XVI. If you're not on the side of the Pope - whose remarks aren't being correctly reported, in order to make the Islamofascists look like the victims - you're on the side of the enemy. Period. End of Story.

I am not a Roman Catholic, but Pope Benedict is in my prayers.

Never, never, forget that our Islamofascist enemies want to kill us. They can not be negotiated with. If they have the chance, they will kill us all in the name of their "religion". Take the Churchill quote in the title block to heart - Upon this battle depends the survival of Christian civilization. And here's the face of the "new dark age":

(Update: more from Michelle Malkin)

"Dog" in the Pound - Updates

Earlier today I posted about Duane "Dog" Chapman, the famous bounty hunter, his son Leland, and "brother" Tim Chapman being arrested in Hawaii by U.S. Marshals on the request of Mexican law enforcement. This article by MSNBC's Rita Cosby brings up an interesting angle: Dog thinks he and the others are part of some quid pro quo conspiracy with the Mexican government.

I'm not a big fan of conspiracy theories, but considering that it's been three years since Dog and his team apprehended Andrew Luster in Mexico, one wonders...

TMQ, NFL Week 1

Gregg Easterbrook, as always, hits several nails on the head in this week's Tuesday Morning Quarterback. Here are some of my favorite excerpts:

In other football news, before Sunday's Arizona-San Francisco contest, many Cardinals players experienced anxiety attacks...It seems Cardinals players were disoriented and frightened to look up and see the home stands full of people.

One of the questions on the Eagles cheerleaders bio pages is, "What can you never say no to?" The most common answer is "Chocolate." Strangely, not a one of the cheerleaders responds, "Football columnists."

Sweet Play of the Week No.3: Game scoreless, Pittsburgh goes for it on fourth-and-1 on the Miami 39...4 yards and the first down, and the Steelers record the game's first touchdown on the possession.
[I predicted TMQ's reaction to that play as it happened]

TMQ also agrees that Note Dame's fake punt called when they were already hammering Penn State 27-3 late in the 3rd quarter was bad football karma. Beware ye who will offend the football gods by running up the score! Notre Dame will get theirs, just wait...

Read the whole of TMQ here.

Free the Dog!

As reported by this USA Today article, as well as elsewhere, Federal Marshals in Hawaii have arrested the Champion of Fugitive Retrieval (a.k.a. "bounty hunting") Duane "Dog" Chapman, his "brother" Tim Chapman, and son Leland Chapman on the behalf of Mexican officials who claim that the team's apprehension of Andrew Luster, a convicted rapist, in Mexico amounted to kidnapping. Mexico is asking for the three Chapmans to be extradited. What a crock!

Hey Mexico, if you cared about law and order we wouldn't have to send Americans to apprehend our criminals!

John Bolton: Confirm Him!

John Bolton is completely qualified to be the United States' Ambassador to the United Nations; our Nation deserves, and for that matter, requires an Ambassador that will clearly state and drive forward the interests of the United States and not some form of internationalist agenda.

Their Finest Hour has joined "Blogging for Bolton", an Internet effort begun by Senator Bill Frist's VOLPAC. The Democrats' obstruction of Mr. Bolton's nomination is a disgrace. Please visit the website (linked from the icon on the right also) and call or email the senators blocking the process.

The United Nations should really be called the "Disunited Nations" or the "Dysfunctional Nations". Frankly, I think it should be abolished, but I'll accept an ambassador who will represent the United States, our President, and our Secretary of State without question or quarter to any anti-American domestic or international pressure.

The UN needs a complete rework if it expects to maintain any relevancy in the 21st Century. Take for example, the UN's Human Rights Council - a body on which, incredibly, the United States does not sit. Of the 47 nations that are HRC members, 22 of them - 47 percent - are cited by Human Rights Watch's published 2006 World Report (PDF file) as hardly the paramount of human rights.

John Bolton is the President's choice to represent our interests before the UN, and I wholeheartedly support him. The United Nations should be supporting the cause of Freedom, instead of allowing despotic or tryrranical nations defining the course of diplomacy.

If Mr. Bolton is confirmed and continued as our UN Ambassador, the cause of Freedom will be driven forward. If he succeeds in reforming that disfunctional body, it could be his finest hour.

Radio isn't about content...

...it's about content that folks want to listen to, and therefore other folks (those with money, and other products) will want to buy advertising slots on. Air America is rumored to be declaring bankruptcy (thanks again to Drudge). What's laughable about the article is the quote, "The right wing is sure to seize on Air America’s financial woes as a sign that progressive talk radio is unpopular."

If it was popular, there would be listeners. If there were listeners, there would be advertisers. If there were advertisers, there would be revenue. If there were more listeners, and then more advertisers, then the network could charge more for advertising, hence more revenue. Revenue = no bankruptcy. Duh.

I know economics is tough for liberals, particularly since they hate the free market, but if you're hocking a product that nobody wants to buy and/or sponsor - IT'S A BAD PRODUCT. Again, Duh.

Good job, Nancy Grace

As linked by Matt Drudge, I really don't care what anybody says but Nancy Grace is beyond a vulture - this time, there's blood on her hands.

1 of 2,996: Firefighter Gregory M. Stajk

On the morning of September 11, 2001 I was at home. My first appointment of the day wasn't until 10:30, so I was checking e-mail and listening to KDKA radio when the news bulletin came over the air that a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center. Like most, I assumed initially that it was probably some freak accident with a small plane. A few minutes later, when I turned the television on, assumption turned to disbelief. Not long after, disbelief turned to horror as I watched the second plane hit WTC2 live.

While all this was unfolding before us, New York's finest of the Fire Department and Police Department were beginning the largest rescue in history. Among them were the fire fighters of Ladder Company 13, who share a fire house at 159 E. 85th Street with Engine Company 22 and Battalion 10.

With the gallant fire fighters of Ladder 13 was my honoree, Gregory M. Stajk. FF Stajk was 46 years old. According to published sources Mr. Stajk, a bachelor, was beloved by his comrades - he was always willing to work holidays and extra shifts, to give other fire fighters with wives and children time with their families. FF Stajk was a 19-year veteran of the FDNY.

All five members of Ladder 13 who responded on that infamous morning were lost. The others with Gregory Stajk were: Captain Walter Hynes, FF Thomas Hetzel, FF Dennis McHugh, and FF Thomas Sabella. Four members of Engine 22 also gave their lives to save others: FF Thomas Casoria, FF Michael Elferis, FF Vincent Kane, and FF Martin McWilliams. (links are to the 2,996 Project sites for those individuals' tributes).

On this, the fifth anniversary of 9/11, please pray for our Nation, the victims of the attacks, and for all the fire fighters, police officers, EMTs, paramedics, soldiers, sailors, Marines, airmen, and coastguardsmen who daily risk their lives for the safety of the rest of us, and our way of life.

God Bless you Greg. For your sacrifice, I am forever grateful. 9/11 was your finest hour.

Please visit as many of the 2,996 Project Memorial Pages today as you can. The complete list of names and sites is found here. Also, as timeless as ever, I recommend to you Winston Churchill's words in "You Do Your Worst - and We Will Do Our Best."

This will be my only posting today. The memory of Firefighter Gregory M. Stajk, FDNY and the other 2,995 souls taken on September 11, 2001 should stand alone.

An American Heroine - Margaret Johnson

This story from CNN illustrates the benefit of being a law-abiding, armed citizen. Memo to those who aren't: practice your 2nd Amendment rights. To quote the movie True Romance, "If there's one thing I've learned this week is that it's better to have a gun and not need it than to need one and not have it."

Who is the enemy?

The political cartoon in today's USA Today by Mike Shelton I think cuts right to the core of the difference between Republicans (that is to say, Americans) and Democrats (that is to say, anti-American Communists). Our President correctly identifies our enemy; Senator Reid & Representative Pelosi see Donald Rumsfeld as the enemy.

God help our Nation if these people get back in power.

ABC's "The Path to 9/11"

Jason over at Texas Rainmaker does a great job of dissecting all of the liberal whacko furor over the upcoming ABC mini-series "The Path to 9/11".

What's even more appalling is that this television program is the top issue over at the Democratic National Committee's website. I missed the Commandment in the Book of Exodus that said "Thou shalt not criticize Clinton", I guess.

I am sorry more than ever that I voted for that sleazy, lying, megalomaniac, self-centered, add-your-own-insult-here ex-President in 1992. Thank God I had my conservative awakening a few years later!

Steelers Analysis/Recap, Game One

Overall, I'm real pleased with the Steelers' performance last night. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Gerry Dulac has posted his Game 1 Steelers Report Card; I think he's overly critical. While he doesn't get down to "grading" per se, the PG's Ed Bouchette paints a rosier picture in his game summary article.

The Miami Herald's article on the game has a title that looks like they're about to start whining - "Steal Curtain" - but actually spends more time criticising the Dolphins rather than trying to claim that the game was stolen from them. I always love reading the opposition press after a favorite team's win. (On a side note, three or four years ago I think after a particular Steelers' demolition of the Cincinnati Bengals the local beat writer commented that, "The Bengals next opponent is bye week, and the early line on the game has them as seven point underdogs.")

Thoughts on the game:

1) It was great to hang in Tulsa with the local congregation of Steelers Nation. The wings though at the Fox & Hound weren't the best - overloaded with sauce, and a few of them even had some bone chips in them. The tortilla soup gets the thumbs up. It's great to be ~1,000 miles from home in a bar/restaurant, and see the Terrible Towels wave!

2) I don't play fantasy football, but if you do and you don't have Heath Miller as one of your TEs, get your head examined. I thought about taking the fantasy plunge this year and Miller would've been one of my picks.

3) In my live blogging last night, I didn't highlight the fine play of Hines Ward really at all, except for his touchdown. Hines didn't show any rust at all from sitting out the whole preseason, and as usual, made the big catches when he had to.

4) While overall the special teams didn't do very well, if 1st round pick Santonio Holmes is going to continue as a punt returner, somebody has to bang into his head when to let punts fall. At least two of the ones he caught deep and then returned for little gain or fair caught probably would have bounced into the end zone for touchbacks.

5) 11 days off until the next game. Gives Big Ben plenty of time to get back into the mix. Next two games are key, at Jacksonville and home vs. Cincinnati. If we come out of that stretch 3-0 (and into the early bye week, which is unfortunate), things will be looking real good.

Steelers Final Score, 28-17

Steelers are running out the clock. Our defense stood up when they had to, and the offense did very well under the temporary care of Charlie Batch. Here we go Steelers, HERE WE GO!!!!!!!!

Put it in the win column, TOUCHDOWN!!!!!

Joey Porter grabs Culpepper's second pick of the night after a missed FG by Reed and takes it to the house. Steelers 28, Dolphins 17 with 2:59 remaining.

Intercepted!

Troy Polamalu gets his first pick of the season. Steelers take back the ball with now 4:30 and counting...

TOUCHDOWN!!!!

Charlie Batch passes to Heath Miller, who then gets massive yards after the catch. Nick Saban tries to challenge, but doesn't get the flag out before Reed kicks the PAT. Steelers 21, Dolphins 17 late 4th.

(UPDATE: Saban got the flag out in time, but the offcials didn't see it. His own fault though. He threw it behind the ref, when he should have run out on the field, as he's allowed.)

NOOOOOOOO!

Steelers fumble the hand off after an impressive 82y drive to 1@G at the 2. First Cowher chin sighting of this nascent season. Fingers crossed for a quick turnover...

Pfffft...MIA scores

Steelers almost pick off Culpepper in the end zone, but the Dolphins score on the next play; we're down by just 3, 14-17.

Halftime, PIT 17 MIA 10

Dolphins score a late figgie after a great defensive stand by the Steel Trap - MIA had 1@G from the PIT 8 and went 3 and kick.

Random thoughts:

1) Is it just me, or does Big Ben look better post-breaking his face?

2) The Steelers need to stop attempting the dive tackles; letting MIA gain more than they should.

3) Got to love Dick LeBeau, and he loves Troy Polamalu. It's not often you see a SS up as an interior lineman. IMO, if you had to pick a single reason for the SB XL win, it should be Coach LeBeau returning as the DC.

4) I'm glad the Bus isn't using Michael Irvan's tailor for his on air wear; he looks good. Cris Collinsworth looks like he's been embalmed.

5) This season continues with a near total lack of (IMO) obvious holding penalties called against the opposing OL.

6) Who cares about the 0-4 preseason now? Defense has been good, offense solid; things will only look up when Roethlisberger gets back on the field. I think the Steelers are looking at 12-4 or maybe 13-3 this year...

TOUCHDOWN!!!

Batch to Ward on the slant, Reed's kick is good, 14-7 Steelers!

Wilson gets the PI call this time!

1st and goal from the 8. If the Zebras hadn't called that one, then they all should be fired. Batch throws the ball away after rolling left under pressure; 2nd & goal, 2 minute warning called @ 1:56.

Fast Willie on the move!

What a run! Steelers driving...

TOUCHDOWN!!!!!

Great pass - Batch to Washington.
Steelers 7, Dolphins 0. Early in 2nd qtr.

Steelers robbed

Dolphins score after Steelers forced to punt after what clearly should have been a pass interference call, not to mention some borderline blocks that broke a good return to about the PIT 15. 7-7, 5:14 remaining 2nd qtr.

The Football Gods will smile!

Steelers 4th and 1 from the Miami 40, Fast Willie Parker on the pitch, FIRST DOWN!

TMQ will be proud.

Steelers live blog: tonight's Maddenism

Drink when you hear Madden say "double bubble"...

Live blogging the Steelers, 1st Quarter

I'm in Tulsa, OK on a business trip and am watching the NFL kickoff special - Steelers vs. Dolphins - at the Fox & Hound, which the net has told me is the home of the local Steelers fan club!

No score, about 10:00 left in the quarter. It's great to be watching real football again!

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"Scholars for 9/11 Truth" = "Enemies...Domestic"

Way back when I raised my right hand and said, "I do solemnly swear to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign or domestic...", I should think that the deplorable, no make that treasonous group calling themselves "Scholars for 9/11 Truth" certainly qualifies as the latter.

I'm all for free speech, but free speech doesn't include sedition.

Thanks to Sister Toldjah for pointing them out.