So I've gone through the stages of grief since Calin made the announcement that Bloghi was shutting down.  Now that I've accepted the facts, it's time to invite you all over the new digs.  Soccermom is archived (thanks to Elmer's Brother) over at wordpress.  I don't anticipate writing on that page, it will simply be an archive accessible from the 2 other blogs I plan on maintaining - my personal blog which I had already started just for fun over at townhall.com and a joint venture with some fellow bloghiers at Band of Bloggers. 

My last post on Bloghi will be Sept 11th as I have committed to post a memorial to one of the 9/11 victims. 

Thanks for stopping by and hanging out on my virtual doorstep.  I've loved all of the conversations - and have learned much from everyone who's added their voice.  It's been fun!

*****************Bloghi is sticking around and so am I for now.  My other blogs are still running and there will be lots of overlap but you are welcome to come and hang out at any of my online homes.  Mi casa es... well, you know the rest ;-) *******************

Reuters is covering a fashion show at a Toronto AIDS Conference in which the outfits are made of (cough) condoms.

Who needs this many pockets?

For the person who just likes to collect quarters...

For the young mother, a diaper genie you can wear!

Don't they know pleats make you look heavy?

I think they stole that blue design fom J Lo.

How about this thought:  If they'd really "worn" a condom, they probably wouldn't have AIDS in the first place!

The media.  It's increasingly under fire in this country.  That's distressing considering the arguably noble intent with which the founders sought to protect our press.  Aside from having the opportunity to become the initial chroniclers of history, standing on the periphery of earth's bloody battlefield with pen in hand these writers could have recorded the churning upheaval that is humankind.  In America, they could have maintained a preeminent social position by standing guard as the people's watchdog over a government, that like all buearacracies, inherently seeks more power.

There was a time in the nation's early history that the dailies were known for their political leanings.  Everyone knew which papers, and which editors, leaned Republican and which leaned left.  The middle ground, if you cared to find it, was found amid reports from every side.  Over time, presumably in an attempt to professionalize the occupation, journalism became a job of "do not try this at home" proportion.  Information once passed over the wires was suddenly acquired by on-the-spot reporters and overseas correspondents.  And of course, the claims of objectivity followed.  As the trade developed into the work of "professionals", reporters were suddenly endowed with the superhuman ability to put aside all bias and report from a position of near divine neutrality.  Only, as any honest observer of human behavior will admit, we mere mortals just aren't equipped to stand apart from the fray, no matter how many college credits supposedly attest otherwise.

Once the American news peddlers began buying into the supremacy of their own written accounts, they truly became Carlyle's fourth estate.  The status infused it's constituents with a misguided, though undoubtedly for some well-intentioned, sense of noblesse oblige.  Oh, how the American media seeks to care for the ignorant masses.  Protecting us from our own interpretations of the day's events.  Sheltering us from the hard work of thinking for ourselves.  And now, when technological advances provide a medium that undermines the elitism of the pen, there is backlash against the citizens who point out that the watchdog needs watching.  The response of the AP to bloggers who question the veracity of released reports can only be compared to the disgust of a master with the slave who doesn't know his place.

As the press drives more and more wedges between other sources of information and the public, it's own credibility is undermined.  Like an alluring companion, the media has drawn many Americans away from a simple trust in government and social institutions.  Unfortunately for the industry, this is proving a fatal attraction as more and more citizens become disillusioned with the seduction of a press desperate to sell information with reckless disregard for truth or public interest. The result is an American public that is increasingly characterized by Fox Mulder cynicism.  It's as if our mantra with respect to information outlets is "Trust no one."

The media would better serve itself if they pulled back the curtain and revealed the simple truth that behind the multibillion dollar business are men and women with their own ideas and agendas.  Consider the popularity of Fox News Channel among the cable media outlets.  Does it have more to do with the obvious slant of the commentators or the deference shown for viewers by not trying to hide behind the thin veil of objectivity?  I would argue the latter.  Interestingly, FNC's newest catchphrase could be the title for this post and an indictment of the American media in general: We put the world in context. 

To which I can only respond, "Thanks, but no thanks."

It's all over the blogs.  The media is playing God with the facts about the middle east conflict but my guess is that average Americans have no idea how manipulated the news is.  With photographers earning cash bonuses for producing the best war pics, there is plenty of apolitical motivation for Jason Blair shutterbugging.  Not to mention the liberal anti-American (aka anti-Israel) mindset that appears to be a job requirement in the MSM...

Check out this concise expose by aish.com

Remember Jerry?  He was the Mel Gibson character in Conspiracy Theory.  If you've got a little Jerry in you, and face it, we all do, I invite you to join the freepers over at FreeRepublic in trying to solve the mystery of Green Helmet Guy.  GHG is mysterious rescuers that appears in so many news photos that showcase the horrors of Hezbollah's suffering in Southern Lebanon.  Interestingly, he was exposed years ago and EU Referendum has video of him being exposed a director of macabre theatre for the rolling cameras.  Who is this helmeted man?  How is he always on the scene in front of the cameras and holding dead children just as the bulbs flash?  Watch the video of this Lebanese rescuer ordering that the body of a dead child be removed from the morgue truck, uncovered and placed on another litter so that cameras can zoom in and get better footage. 

And then for a laugh, check out what the spoofers have done at GreenHelmetGuyblog.

then how in the heck do you explain Cynthia McKinney?  She lost by a much wider margin that the CT Senator and she is as far-left as it gets. (Click on the link to see her singing an anti-Bush song) Oh yeah, that's right... those darn voting machines. ROTFLMBO.  BTW, if "reutered" is new political speak for altered photos or "spun" news, then will "McKinneyed" become synonymous with getting hammered at the polls for being a dumba$$?

Aaah, the things that make you go hmmm.... 

*************McKinney supporters the New Black Panther Party fought with the press after McKinney's disgraceful concession attributing her loss at the polls to Israel and Jews***************

Remember this is the woman who uses the race card to get her parking validated {sarcasm} You don't suppose she could be a {gasp} racist?  Wonder if she'll get the same public excoriation that Mel Gibson has gotten?  Probably not.  People don't expect anything better from her.

Have you seen this yet?  If not, it is a must examine for traditional family values supporters.

Beyond Marriage would better be named Beyond Decency. In their own words: (my comments are in red)

Beyond Same-Sex Marriage: A New Strategic Vision For All Our Families and Relationships Executive Summary (click here to read the full statement) The time has come to reframe the narrow terms of the marriage debate in the United States. Conservatives are seeking to enshrine discrimination in the U.S. Constitution through the Federal Marriage Amendment. But their opposition to same-sex marriage is only one part of a broader pro-marriage, “family values” agenda that includes abstinence-only sex education, stringent divorce laws, coercive marriage promotion policies directed toward women on welfare, and attacks on reproductive freedom. Moreover, a thirty-year political assault on the social safety net has left households with more burdens and constraints and fewer resources. Meanwhile, the LGBT movement has recently focused on marriage equality as a stand-alone issue. While this strategy may secure rights and benefits for some LGBT families, it has left us isolated and vulnerable to a virulent backlash. We must respond to the full scope of the conservative marriage agenda by building alliances across issues and constituencies. Our strategies must be visionary, creative, and practical to counter the right's powerful and effective use of marriage as a “wedge” issue that pits one group against another. The struggle for marriage rights should be part of a larger effort to strengthen the stability and security of diverse households and families. To that end, we advocate:  Ø   Legal recognition for a wide range of relationships, households and families – regardless of kinship or conjugal status. Ø   Access for all, regardless of marital or citizenship status, to vital government support programs including but not limited to health care, housing, Social Security and pension plans, disaster recovery assistance, unemployment insurance and welfare assistance. (First of all, when is this not the case already? A few pen strokes in front of a lawyer and notary can create legal relationships WRT health care and financial matters.  Notice that these people want all government programs extended to all regardless of citizenship - so you and I bear the financial burden for supporting the world.  Think redistribution of wealth - Think communism!) Ø   Separation of church and state in all matters, including regulation and recognition of relationships, households and families.  (i.e. churches would no longer marry people - marriage would be defined strictly by the new anything goes government policy.  This is a strike at the heart of most religions.) Ø   Freedom from state regulation of our sexual lives and gender choices, identities and expression.(Keep in mind that they already won freedom - remember the sodomy laws case?  They want legitimization and acceptance not "freedom".) Marriage is not the only worthy form of family or relationship, and it should not be legally and economically privileged above all others. A majority of people – whatever their sexual and gender identities – do not live in traditional nuclear families. They stand to gain from alternative forms of household recognition beyond one-size-fits-all marriage. For example: (This is a blatant attempt at confusing the real issue - there are plenty of legal exceptions made for most of these groups.) ·     Single parent households ·     Senior citizens living together and serving as each other’s caregivers (think Golden Girls) (Wills, Living Wills, and Powers of Attorney would cover most of the needs in a case like this.) ·     Blended and extended families (Hello, McFly!  A blended family is a marriage.) ·     Children being raised in multiple households (huh???)  or by unmarried parents (Biology is the law!  Ever tried to take a child out of an abusive family? Parent relationships aren't established by "marriage".  Again this is an attempt to confuse the issues and blur the cause - they don't want you to know that all they want is the complete and utter acceptance and dominance of homosexuality and sexually deviant lifestyles.) ·     Adult children living with and caring for their parents (A few pen strokes...) ·     Senior citizens who are the primary caregivers to their grandchildren or other relatives (see last comment...) ·     Close friends or siblings living in non-conjugal relationships and serving as each other’s primary support and caregivers (They want college roommates to be "married" under the law?  How do you divide the mutual property upon graduation? A divorce?) ·     Households in which there is more than one conjugal partner (Read this closely: POLYGAMY! The next step will be pedophilia because all marriage definitions will be considered arbitrary and all sexual limitations will also be considered a gray area.) ·     Care-giving relationships that provide support to those living with extended illness such as HIV/AIDS. (Again, a few pen strokes...) The current debate over marriage, same-sex and otherwise, ignores the needs and desires of so many in a nation where household diversity is the demographic norm. (Dishonesty seems to be the norm do we legitimize it?  You know, mistreatment of trees is the norm - we actually cut them down to build houses and buildings - even such trivialities as paper! Gasp!  Perhaps we should all move into caves... Right and wrong isn't defined by popular vote.  If we want the deviant to define the norm, we'll review the Kinsey report.) We seek to reframe this debate. Our call speaks to the widespread hunger for authentic and just community in ways that are both pragmatic and visionary. It follows in the best tradition of the progressive LGBT movement, which invented alternative legal statuses such as domestic partnership and reciprocal beneficiary. We seek to build on these historic accomplishments by continuing to diversify and democratize partnership and household recognition. We advocate the expansion of existing legal statuses, social services and benefits to support the needs of all our households. We call on colleagues working in various social justice movements and campaigns to read the full-text of our statement “Beyond Same-Sex Marriage: A New Strategic Vision,” and to join us in our call for government support of all our households.

There you have it.  They want to change the world. Now, they are really out of the closet.  If you needed proof of an agenda - here it is.  Visit the site and read it for yourself.

Today, the Senate voted to allocate nearly $2 billion to begin building a 370 mile fence and 500 miles of 'vehicle barriers' along our Southern border.  According to the article in the Washington Times , Senators have been hearing from constituents about the issue. I guess all those threats on conservative talk radio paid off.  I can't count how many times in the past 8 months I have heard pundits and talk show hosts hold their votes hostage to this issue.

Personally, I still think that the better option is to turn off spigot that is draining tax-payers while offering a free ride to illegals.  No more free education.  No more nautalization if you are born to and illegal on our soil.  No more free medical (other than emergency care).  No more handouts without citizenship or legal residency. Nothing. Zip. Nada. You'd see more people get into line to enter through the system if they knew the grass weren't quite so green over here.  But, I suppose the fence is a start. 

Here's a question:  If a Mexican can save enough money to pay a "coyote" to smuggle him across the border,  why can't he save enough money to convince immigration that he can buy a bus ticket back home when his visa expires?  You hear all these sob stories about people waiting in line for months only to be refused entry because they can't show they have the money to return home after their "trip to Disneyland" (I believe that's the lie would-be Mexican immigrants were using in the Newsweek article I read). Just wondering...   Cate

If you haven't seen this commercial (click picture below), you should. 

And then check out the website www.theotheriraq.com 

The United States has never wavered in its quest to help Iraqis build a democracy that rewards compromise and consensus. The ever generous American people have paid a tragic price, the lives of their finest men and women, to advance the banner of freedom and democracy, a sacrifice for which we are profoundly grateful.

H.E. Masoud Barzani, President, Kurdistan Region in Iraq

Mary Katherine Ham has an excellent review of "progressive" (which I think stands for 'progressing toward idiocy') radio.  It's a hilarious piece that exposes the naivete and immature thinking of the far left (in their own words, no less). 

Enjoy it here: MKH - A week with the Left

Here's a tip.  If your spouse isn't "putting out" calling the cops on him is not an effective arousal technique.

Ah, this should certainly put him in the mood...

Thu Aug 3, 2006 8:04am ET

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Police in the German city of Aachen received an unusual call for help late Wednesday when a woman telephoned to complain her husband was not fulfilling his sexual obligations.

After the couple had been sleeping in separate beds for several months without intimate contact, the 44-year-old woman woke the husband, 45, in the middle of the night and demanded he satisfy her needs, police spokesman Paul Kemen said Thursday.

When her advances were refused, a row broke out and she called the police and asked them to intervene, he added.

"The police officials did not feel able to resolve the dispute, let alone issue any kind of official order," Kemen said.

"And because no crime or infringement could be identified, all they could do was file a report in case intervention might be required at a later date," he added.

© Reuters 2006. All Rights Reserved.

Liberal propaganda lovers in New York will be forced to adjust their antennas if they want to hear Air America.  The far-left's scandal ridden flagship radio station couldn't muster enough cash to pay for WLIB.  With such intellectual heavyweights as Jerry Springer and Al Franken,  New Yorkers may be left bewildered by the move from 1190 AM to the much weaker (but apparently less expensive) 1600 spot on the dial.  If only sardonic, ill-informed repartee and trailer park incest could turn more of a profit... {sarcastic expression accompanied by a huge eye roll}

LEFTY NET OFF WLIB

August 3, 2006 --
RADIO

THE liberal Air America radio network is going to be harder to hear in New York.

Next month, it is switching stations - to a weaker AM station, WWRL (1600 AM).

Al Franken and his lefty colleagues are leaving WLIB (1190 AM) apparently because they couldn't come up with enough cash for the owners, former Manhattan Borough President Percy Sutton and his son, Pierre.

Starting Sept. 1, Air America will be on WWRL, at the top of the dial where AM signals are weakest - especially at night, when greater FCC restrictions apply.

As The Post reported last March, the ratings-challenged liberal network failed to renew its two-year lease with the Suttons.

Relations between the Suttons and the network's execs were rocky from the start and only got worse after the network's shaky finances became known and a scandal broke out involving loans to Air America from a Bronx charity.

WLIB's future after Sept. 1 is not known, although radio industry heavyweight Randy Michaels - the builder of 1,200-station Clear Channel - has expressed interest in leasing the station as a base for a new talk-radio network.

Michaels declined comment yesterday and the Suttons didn't return calls.

Who says the Democrats don't have a sense of humor?  According to Drudge the Democratic Senatorial Committee has launched a website called the Fudge Report that, by their own description, attempts to expose the "lengths the GOP will go to to 'fudge' the truth".  Does anyone see the irony here?  These Dems are creating a knockoff media site to spin anti-GOP stories and they think the GOP is fudging?

How exactly is capitalizing on Matt Drudge's success and telling versions of the news that even the liberal MSM doesn't find fit to print constitute exposing the truth?

There's a load of something dark brown piling up over at The Fudge Report but it doesn't smell like chocolatey goodness, if you know what I mean.  PU!

You'll notice the PC disclaimer (shown below) at the bottom of Fudge designed to shield politicians and candidates from responsibility for this piece of e-toilet paper.  The tactic of anonymous attacks filtered out to liberal blogs and spread through the WWW without accountability is not new - expect to see quotes from Fudge coming soon to liberal blogs near you.

There is local story that illustrates just how sad and corrupt our political system has become.

Michael Decker took $50,000 from the Democrats to change parties so that the Dems could maintain power in the state house.  A Republican was so corrupt that he took cash and a job offer (for his son) to change parties and throw support to the Dem house leader and A Democrat House leader met with Decker to make the deal offer and then another unnamed Dem lawmaker deliverd the money ($38,000 in checks and $12,000 in cash).  Now aren't you dying to know whose names are on those checks?  And while there is a real argument to be made here that the worse offense was committed by the Dem house members since their actions involved multiple participants, among whom were several elected officials, giving the appearance of institutional corruption,  Decker deserves the public disgrace of any Benedict Arnold.  Not to the party he sold out - but to the people who voted him into office in good faith.

Read the story in the Raleigh rag.

To everyone involved... (in my best Gomer Pyle voice) Shame! Shame! Shame!

See this guy.  He is fast becoming public enemy number one for the pseudo communist American Left.  He stands for family values, colorblind laws, a tough border and security policy and is a straight shooter who is everything the left fears... An articulate African American USAF vet who's a social and fiscal conservative.  He's the son of a nurse and a Tuskegee Airman, an Eagle Scout who graduated from the Air Force Academy with a degree in Middle Eastern Affairs and then went on to get his MBA.  Married to the same woman for 23 years with three children (2 adopted after their mother died of cancer).  How the left must absolutely hate (spelled F-E-A-R) this guy. The people for the American Way are desperately trying to paint this guy as a bigoted hate monger but if you read through their articles about him, most of the quotes they use to support their condemnation are not verifiable.  In one case, they refer to a news article in which his opponent is quoting an unnamed ambiguous source.  Basically, to substantiate their claims they link to a report where his opponent says 'they said this about him'... Uh-huh (eyes rolling) just where are those accuracy in media folks when you need them?

Check out Robinson's tv spot here.  And see the comparison to his opponent here. Whether or not you agree with him, this guy is tapping into the frustrations of Americans who are seeing the constant erosion of traditional values.  Check out his radio ads here. 

My only advice for Vernon is that he should have closed with the Andy Griffith theme instead of Leave it to Beaver- I mean, it is North Carolina, after all... ;-)