Over at Hans Bricks there is an incredible post giving some background on the famous sex researcher, Alfred Kinsey. Of course, his story is the subject of a recent Hollywood biopic. What they don’t tell you about the man is the better story. You won’t want to miss learning the dark side about this hero of the left. Read it here.

I’m sure Dr. Kinsey has a special place in hell alongside his Nazi contemporaries.

I had an interesting discussion with my son this weekend about the fair tax initiative that would do away with federal income tax (and the IRS) and replace it with a value added tax of as much as 23% on most purchases . I wasn’t able to articulate all the reasons this sounds like a great idea, other than it really is the fairest way to tax (you have control over ALL your hard earned dollars, how you choose to spend them determines how much you pay in taxes). In fact, it makes so much sense, I can’t imagine Congress would even considering passing the necessary legislation.

Anyway, this article over at The Wide Awakes explains it all in an easily understood fashion. Please read it and let me know what you think–why this would or would not work and whether you would support legislation to make it happen.

Back from South Carolina safe and sound. Not a bad drive, did hit some light snow the last 50 miles or so.

So, more good-byes today. Kevin and Lynn set their wedding date for July 30. So that is something to look forward to.

All tuckered out now, I will try and find something interesting to post tomorrow.

No really. I am no friend of France, but this report of France’s utter incapability to deploy a single helicopter in support of tsunami relief is just, well, pitiful.

It makes me ALMOST feel sorry for them. Almost. Read the sad tale here.

Of all the places I have lived, I must say none was more laid back than South Carolina. The living is easy here. Just a comfortable place to be in the world.

It is such a trip to see my “little girl” walking around in maternity clothes. I mean, I haven’t gotten any older and here she is with child at the tender age of 29. What’s going on with that? And Kevin is getting married on July 30. So, I guess the first thing I will do when I start my new job in Korea is ask for some vaction time. Love it!

Have an appointment to put the deposit on the lot tomorrow. Mom and Dad are going to love living here and we are going to make the move for them as easy as possible. So stop worrying Dad!

Carol has an “emergency” at work, so we will leave tomorrow afternoon so she can go to work on a federal holiday. It’s a crock in my view, but if she feels the need to be there she will be there. Anyway, I am not going to let it spoil my visit now. Which reminds me, why am I up here when I should be downstairs being socialable? No, I am not addicted. I am not addicted. I am not addicted.

And one last thing. Have you noticed how I can switch from a political rant to folksy family news without missing a beat? Yep, you just never know what to expect next at LTG.

Later.

Now when was the last time you saw common sense and Democrats in the same sentence? Maybe there is still hope for my old party yet. While I was saying “amen” throughout the stirring speech by Zell Miller at the Republican National Convention last year, the chattering class was mocking ol’ Zell and insinuating that he had lost his mind.

Now, from the ashes of defeat it looks like at least some Democrats are seeing that Zell was not so crazy after all. Least they are saying the same things today that Zell has been trying to get across for years. Go read this article at NRO and tell me if you don’t agree.

Of course, for Republicans this may be cause for some concern. If the Democrats would ever take the necessary steps to become mainstream again, the Republicans might have a run for their money. Obviously this would require the Democratic Party to purge its support of lunatics like Michael Moore, moderate its anti-war views to at least recognize that national security will at times make war necessary, and be willing to acknowldege that folks who think partial birth abortions are infanticide may have a legitimate point of view. Hmm, maybe the Republicans don’t have anything to worry about after all.

As for me, I haven’t changed all that much. I still hold the same beliefs and values I held when I consistently voted for Dems. I just don’t see any Dems lately that share those values. I could be brought back into the fold but calling me an ignorant red stater is not the way to do it.

It should be interesting to see if there are enough thinking Dems left in the party to save it from extinction. I wouldn’t bet on it, but stranger things have happened. Like me voting Republican for example. Proudly I might add.

Hat tip: Instapundit

We are leaving for Columbia, South Carolina this morning and will spend the weekend there visiting the children (well, they are grown-ups but they are still my children). Depending on traffic, its about a 7 hour journey.

I’m also going put the deposit to hold a lot in a new subdivision where my parents will be building a house this spring.

I am really looking forward to this visit. We always have a good time when we are together. Its my last weekend in the USA for awhile, and there is nowhere I would rather be than with them.

I’m going to carry my laptop, but posting will be intermittent at best. We’ll be back in Virginia on Monday.

A couple of years ago, I made the mistake of subscribing to a British online publication called openDemocracy. Week after week I have been subjected to the most vile anti-American viewpoints from the world’s foremost liberal elites. These “intellectuals” have had nothing but scorn for our efforts in Iraq and have displayed an almost mocking disdain for President Bush in general. They are apparently oblivious to the irony of being Islamofascist apologists and blind supporters of tyrants and dictators in a journal that includes the word “democracy” in its title. I don’t know why I have kept reading it week after week; I guess it’s the not being able to avert your eyes from the train wreck syndrome. Or maybe I’m just a masochist.

So this week’s edition just hit my inbox, and the lead story is a hopeful piece entitled “How al-Qaida can win”. (Ok, to be fair I didn’t read this article. I found the headline alone was enough to raise my blood pressure to dangerous levels). My eyes were however drawn to another article called “Hope and Humour in Afghanistan”, and subtitled “The photographs of Keirón Allen and Rupert Edis depict a country where American soldiers encounter local people as human beings not enemies”. [UPDATE: I just noticed there is yet another title to this piece: Humanising a beast – the American military]

That it is considered “news” that AMERICAN troops can actually treat the locals as human tells you all you need to know about openDemocracy and its view of the world. My daughter is now midway through her second tour of duty in Afghanistan, and her reports of the contribution our troops are making as the Afghani people build the foundations for a future of peace and prosperity are very encouraging. [You can read more about Hillary here.] So I just couldn’t resist reading OD’s take on the situation.

And I was astounded. This is the first time I have seen any endeavor undertaken by the USA given a positive spin by these America-haters. Oh, the apparent shock and awe of the writer as he discovers that American troops are about more than destruction and torture is cause for some bemusement. But overall it does honor to the men and women who are doing important work under difficult circumstances. I encourage you to have a look at this article.

Man, I can’t believe I just linked openDemocracy. Well, there is a first time for everything I suppose. And since I have gone through years of hell to find the one worthy article they published, I feel an obligation to make sure you see it also. Enjoy!

UPDATE: Ok, I broke down and read “How al-Qaida can win”. It was presented as a farce, but it still pissed me off. As I said, a good article in openDemocracy is the rare exception. Still, it is good to remember that there are lots of people hoping we lose this fight, and they are not all radical Muslims.

A couple readers have asked what it is that I am doing (a question I frequently ask myself BTW). I realized that for those of you who are relatively new visitors to LTG, I have not really explained about my future plans. I have been meaning to post an explanation on my “about me” page, but I just have not had a chance to do so as yet. I think my very first blog post (way back on December 12) says what needs to be said. So, for those who are interested you can read it here.

Well, that title might be a tad overly dramatic. But today is my last day at the United States Department of Education. They threw a very nice farewell party for me yesterday afternoon and I was reminded that I really have met some wonderful people in my four years at ED. I have some pictures to upload, but right now I have to get ready to go and catch that train to DC.

This whole transition from one life to another is almost surreal. Closing doors and saying goodbye does not get easier with age. And lord knows, I have had lots of practice.

So, it looks like I don’t act my age…..

How old do you act?

Hat tip: Outwit.Outblog.Outsnark.

Loved this post over at Tim Blair’s place……

Of course it’s wonderful to see the human race rallying to the aid of disaster victims, but it’s the inconsistency that has me foxed. Nobody is making this sort of fuss about all the people killed in Iraq, and yet it’s a human catastrophe of comparable dimensions.

Of course, many did make a fuss about all the people killed in Iraq. Subsequently, the dictator who was killing them has been removed.

All right, the blogfather linked to this post from IowaHawk today, so its not exactly news. But it is damn funny! Just in case you missed it:

Farewell, My Producer

Excerpts from the new Inspector Dan Rather mystery by David Burge

It was a quiet cold Monday at Black Rock. Too quiet, I thought, slowly polishing the lens on my trusty Sony VC6809. New York is not the kind of town that likes to keep secrets, and my tingling senses told me that somewhere in Gotham somebody was spilling some beans. And in my line of work, you get to know deep down in your gut those beans have a habit of being silent – but deadly.

My name is Rather. And I’m a dick.

I had just finished the final teleprompter read-through on the Alberto Gonzales caper (Dan Rather #31: The Sadist Wore a Sombrero) when a familiar figure sauntered into the studio.

“Look what the cat drug in,” I smiled. “What brings you down to the salt mines, Captain Moonves?”

Moonves and I were once tighter than two cousins in a Kentucky hayloft. I helped show him the ropes at Black Rock back when he was a green rookie straight out of the programming academy, but lately I sensed tension between us after the release of the Nielsen Report (Dan Rather #29: The Case of the Missing Viewers).

“Can the wisecracks, newsreader,” he sneered. “You’ve got a little date with Commissioner Thornburgh downtown.”

Read the rest here…….

via Instapundit

See them here.

Hat Tip: Instapundit

Then make it a point to read this blog daily.

And then you can go read this one.

These guys are Iraqis who give the straight scoop and don’t pull any punches. No, everything is not roses, but they, better than any of us sitting here safe and warm in the USA, know what life was like under Saddam. And they can envision a future of peace and freedom. The election is just over two weeks away. They know having hope is already better than living in tyranny ever was, and they are optimistic that things are going to continue to improve.

All of us have a stake in this, and while the future is always unknown, a successful outcome depends on all of us on the homefront not losing the will to stay the course. Don’t depend on our “friends” in the media to paint a full and complete picture of the transformation that is taking place in Iraq. Yes, you can get the latest car bomb news on CNN. Listen to these Iraqis if you want to understand the real story. There’s a lot more happening than murder and mayhem folks.

The problem with comments is resolved. Thanks, Lisa!

Now a challenge for my readers: Everyone who has had the pleasure of working with her knows that Lisa at blogs-about.com is the best dang blog host in the business. In an earlier post I called her my blog mistress. I was thinking in terms of the feminine version of blog master. My wife didn’t seem to care for me calling her that (heck, maybe Lisa didn’t like it either and was just to gracious to say anything). So, what would be the appropriate honorific for the person behind the scenes of this and many other (and better) WordPress blogs?

Now that my comments are working again, I am open to your suggestions.

I remember in high school how my girlfriend and I would mark the anniversary of all kinds of things….the months since our first kiss, first date, months we had been going steady, etc.. And yeah, I know anniversary’s are normally measured in years, but a year is a long time when you are young and in love.

Rest assured that I will NOT be marking such milestones here at LTG. At least not on a strictly monthly basis. Still, today marks one month in my journey as a blogger. I haven’t had a lot to say of significance perhaps, but I am confident I will find my voice soon–so hang in there! LTG was and is intended to document my adventures in Korea and I won’t be leaving until January 22. Geez, that’s only ten days away, and the closer it gets the louder that voice in my head is screaming, “What in the hell were you thinking?”. I always respond, “Shut up”. So anyway, I should have some unique things to write about once I arrive overseas, above and beyond those conversations I am having with myself.

This has been a great experience and I have already discovered some wonderful people and talented writers I would not have otherwise “met”. I am also looking forward to being an active participant in “The Wide Awakes”. You will be hearing from us!

Finally, the best part has been spilling my guts and having readers actually drop in and have a read. Thank you and please keep coming back. Feel free to leave comments and share your views, even if it is to disagree. I love a good debate, and I don’t yell nearly as much on here as I do in real life. 🙂

Speaking of which, I notice my comments worked overnight, but they appear to be down again this morning. I am working to get that resolved.

Thanks to all of you. I look forward to sharing my adventures with you and hearing what you think about these interesting times in which we live.

Hey, I just learned that my comments are showing as closed. Don’t know what’s up with that, but as soon as I get it figured out I will let you know. I love comments!

Hopefully tomorrow.

I was surfing while I ate lunch today and came across this post at AZ Perspective. I found it very funny. Hope you enjoy it too:

When I was a kid, I loved show-and-tell. So I always have a few sessions with my students. It helps them get over shyness and Usually, show-and-tell is pretty tame. Kids bring in pet turtles, model airplanes, pictures of fish they catch, stuff like that. And I never, ever place any boundaries or limitations on them. If they want to lug it to school and talk about it, they’re welcome.

Well, one day this little girl, Erica, a very bright, very outgoing kid, takes her turn and waddles up to the front of the class with a pillow stuffed under her sweater. She holds up a snapshot of an infant. “This is Luke, my baby brother, and I’m going to tell you about his birthday. First, Mom and Dad made him as a symbol of their love, and then Dad put a seed in my Mom’s stomach, and Luke grew in there. He ate for nine months through an umbrella cord.” She’s standing there with her hands on the pillow, and I’m trying not to laugh and wishing I had my camcorder with me. The kids are watching her in amazement.

“Then, about two Saturdays ago, my Mom starts saying and going, ‘Oh, oh, oh!’ Erica puts a hand behind her back and groans. “She walked around the house for, like an hour, ‘Oh, oh, oh! Now the kid’s doing this hysterical duck walk, holding her back and groaning. “My Dad called the middle wife. She delivers babies, but she doesn’t have a sign on the car like the Domino’s man.” “They got my Mom to lie down in bed like this.” Then Erica lies down with her back against the wall. “And then, pop! My Mom had this bag of water she kept in there in case he got thirsty, and it just blew up and spilled all over the bed, like psshhheew!” This kid has her legs spread and with her little hands are miming water flowing away. It was too much!

“Then the middle wife starts saying ‘push, push, and breathe, breathe.'” “They started counting, but never even got past ten.” “Then, all of a sudden, out comes my brother. He was covered in yucky stuff, they all said was from Mom’s play-center! , so there must be a lot of stuff inside there.” Then Erica stood up, took a big theatrical bow and returned to her seat. I’m sure I applauded the loudest. Ever since then, if it’s show-and-tell day, I bring my camcorder, just in case another Erica comes along.

Kids are great.

I am not going to make a career out of writing on this issue, but it is big news whenever the MSM is exposed for what they are. The guys at Powerline were on top of this story from the beginning and really demonstrated how a blog could break a major story and keep the heat on a major news organization. Today’s post captures my views on the matter completely and if you have any interest in the behind the scenes political agenda of CBS News, you will won’t won’t to miss reading this.