more the engrish!

THE ACME OF HYPOCRITICAL DOUBLETHINK GALORE IN SCANDAL FORM, by way of this video (hat tip to Brilliant @ Breakfast) as should be seen to be understood and appreciated in context:

Any questions?

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EEN DING RASISTE EN WIT-SUPREMACISTE NET KAN NIE WAG: Rosetta Stone ("The Fastest Way To Learn a Language ... Guaranteed!") coming out in Afrikaans, and expecting same to snap it up rather quickly "out of solidarity for our oppressed White Afrikaner Brethren in South Africa."

Especially ahead of the Day of the Vow anniversary on 16 December.

Too, maybe it was time to ask for evidence of the current South African Government "oppressing" or otherwise "undermining" the Afrikaner Peoples, let alone pandering to racist feelings for raising funds towards their "evacuation" as will be mysteriously diverted to "more pressing needs" @ the last minute.

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AND SO MUCH FOR THE NOTION THAT BARACK OBAMA'S "LIPSTICK ON A PIG" CRACK WAS SEXIST AND GENERALLY CRASS: The following video confirms that John McCain, who made the distractionary charge in question, actually used the remark himself earlier this year:

What say you now, Senator McCain?

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WITH GOP VICE-PRESIDENTIAL PICK SARAH PALIN TELLING ABC NEWS REPORTER CHARLIE GIBSON LAST EVENING that she is prepared to assume the Presidential role if and when required, ready to "achieve reform in Washington and victory in [the ur-RAHOWA Against Terrorism]," Your Correspondent has to wonder if Ms. Palin was using what amounts to "dog-whistle" messages for her droogs in the heretically deviant "Latter Rain" movement--especially so the "Dominionist" and "Joel's Army" components thereof.

(Just to save time, Your Correspondent, with some help from the Assemblies of God's position paper on the subject, explained yesterday why such teachings as are part of the overall "Latter Rain" doctrine are heretically deviant and should be approached with caution.

(But will the hard-wired Zealots and True Believers in this "end-times" theology listen to reason for once?)

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NOT MANY KNOW THIS, BUT THE SO-CALED "PROSPERITY GOSPEL" IS A PART AND PARCEL OF THE LARGER "LATTER RAIN" MOVEMENT, as ought to be subject to the same level of skepticism as the likes of "Dominionism," "Joel's Army" and "Fivefold Ministry;" the same position paper thus finds fault with "Prosperity Gospel" teachings:

The preaching of a prosperity gospel has increased giving to some programs, both legitimate and less than legitimate. God does bless faithfulness, but the blessing is not always financial gain. There are spiritual principles of sowing and reaping, but to draw money from the poor to support an affluent personal lifestyle is unconscionable. If we one day will have to give an account of every idle word (Matthew 12:36), it seems reasonable that we will have to account for every dollar solicited by dubious methods. A biblical teaching should be applicable in every neighborhood, culture, society, and country of the world.

(Too, you also have the prospect of some overzealous adherents to "Prosperity Gospel" thought using PayPal-based "gifting clubs" in the "Christians Helping Christians" vein towards such suspicious ends.)

In the end, some advice is issued to local churches of more mainstream denominations and faiths of "warning signs" to look out for in response to reports of major spiritualist revivals:

As you hear unprecedented revival reports from other churches, it is natural to wonder why God is moving in such a spectacular way elsewhere but not to the same degree in your church. It is natural to wonder, "What is wrong with our church?" "Haven’t we prayed and asked God for revival?" "Are we for some reason being bypassed in what God is doing today?" More dangerous is the response, "We have been experiencing God’s presence and don’t want or need anything more." You are called to be faithful where you are, keeping your eyes on Jesus, not on the public attention others are experiencing. Keep the following advice in mind and heart as you seek in unity with your congregation to be the church God wants you to be.

1. God may be accomplishing the spiritual growth He desires for your church at this time. He loves every individual for whom He sent His Son to die and the Father desires that every member of your congregation draw closer to His Son.

2. Out of envy or feelings of less worth, don’t criticize churches experiencing visible revival activity. Be patient and faithful to your call. God is able to move in His way, at His time, and where He chooses. Be open and preparing for His supernatural move.

3. Be faithful in preaching the Word and encouraging membership to expect God’s presence and power in a greater way. Every believer should desire and seek a closer walk with our Lord.

4. Don’t allow those who have visited other scenes of God’s seemingly spectacular move to persuade you or your people to merely copy the activity observed elsewhere. Seek God for His special move according to the needs of your church. A carbon-copy "revival" is likely to be man-made.

5. Use caution in publicizing supernatural healings or other miracles that cannot be authenticated. Pentecostals know for certain that God can and does heal. We know that faith is encouraged and strengthened by testimonies of supernatural healing. But when a claim of healing is made and critics prove later that no significant and lasting change followed, the cause of Christ suffers. Charges of fraud, lying, and deliberately misleading in order to enhance one’s ministry only hurt the Christian witness. If a person sincerely testifies of personal healing and then suffers a setback, the premature testimony cannot be charged to the pastor or evangelist, which would reflect negatively on the testimony of the church in the community.

6. Do not invite speakers to fill your pulpit out of a desire just to see "manifestations." There has been enough manipulation that casts doubt on the genuine work of the Spirit. Choose your pulpit guests wisely. Going outside the list of recognized Assemblies of God credentials holders can bring undesired teachings and example.

7. Do not point accusing fingers at those who may not heed these admonitions.

8. When you do observe and confirm the presence of wrong doctrine and/or practice, you have a responsibility to speak out in the right way. Concern should first be expressed to those involved in the error. If the concern is rejected or not answered, district leadership should be made aware of the situation. "In a multitude of counselors there is safety" (Proverbs 24:6, NKJV).

Some of the teachings and human responses described in this paper as concerns of the Church will in a few years, if the Lord delays His return, be forgotten or remembered only as passing fads. Some will reappear under new names. And there will likely be new teachings like these that begin with a kernel of truth but then move to extra-biblical excess. Discernment is needed, not so much on the labels and names, as on the actual teachings and human responses. The Lord is faithful to guide and protect His people as they seek only to build His kingdom and to give all the glory to Him, refusing to take any for themselves.

Reports of souls saved and lives changed should never justify wrong theology and practices. Yet Paul said about the false prophets who were causing him and his ministry frustration, "Christ is proclaimed in every way whether out of false motives or true; and in that I rejoice" (Philippians 1:15-18). But Paul obviously wanted Christ to be proclaimed from right motives and with biblical integrity. So do we.

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FIRST, IT WAS PET FOOD INGREDIENTS ... THEN TOOTHPASTE ... FOLLOWED BY TOYS ... and now comes word of the latest potentially lethal Chinese export product:

Infant formula contaminated with a component used in plastics manufacture which, if ingested, can cause kidney stones to form.

To date, reports from China have it that @ least eight infants have fallen ill from said baby formula, and as a precaution (although no Chinese-manufacture infant formula has been discerned in especially dollar stores), nursing mothers are being advised to avoid any and all Chinese-made infant formula brands when nursing their young.

And instead, consider breast feeding if medically feasable, resorting to reputable brands of infant formula only as a last resort (e.g., if your doctor feels that breast-feeding is impractical in your particular circumstances).

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FOX PROLEFEED IS CERTAINLY GOING TO BE DROOLING OVER THIS STORY'S COMING OUT ON THE 9/11 ANNIVERSARY; by way of WLS-TV Chicago, as broke the story:

A Chicago public school student says his teacher used him as an example of a terrorist [in] class.

The child is an Arab-Muslim and says he was intimidated and isolated from classmates after the incident. On Thursday the boy, his family and Muslim leaders met with school officials about the complaint.

The incident happened last spring at the Brentano Math and Science Academy in the Logan Square community.

The teacher is no longer at the school. But the boy's family says school officials must do more to keep situations like this from happening again.

It was more than a year ago that his sixth grade teacher made the comment in class. But 13-year-old Saleh Choudhary's family is still pursuing a resolution.

It was in a history class at the Brentano Math and Science Academy in Logan Square that the teacher allegedly described a hypothetical situation in which Saleh would carry a bomb aboard a plane and blow it up.

"Saleh is the only Muslim, the only Arab in the classroom. And in using that example, she basically gave the go-ahead to all the students to begin harassing," said Christina Abraham, Council on American Islamic Relations.

His family says the boy came home from school with tears in his eyes as he described the painful harassment he faced from other students immediately afterward.

They went to the school's principal at the time, Georgette Watson, asking that the teacher be disciplined. Watson passed away later that year before she was able to resolve their concerns. Now, the family and American-Islamic leaders were meeting with the school board and a mediator to come up with a resolution. They said they want the teacher fired.

"I believe that's the most serious and harshest punishment given out and should be given out," said brother Mohammed Fahad Choudhary.

"Either she did it willingly or just completely irresponsibly. Either way, it reflects negligence to the extent that she should not be teaching in the Chicago Public Schools," said Abraham.

The family is also hoping the school will provide counseling to Saleh and sensitivity training to teachers. Late Thursday afternoon, Chicago Public Schools CEO Arne Duncan responded.

"It's very disturbing that this kind of thing would happen, and I just appreciate the family so much for stepping forward and talking to us about that, that takes courage to do that. And the only way we can make sure these things never happen again is by addressing them openly and honestly," he said.

The teacher is still working for the Chicago Public Schools but is no longer at the Brentano academy. Duncan says the board is working with the mediator to resolve the concerns. The next meeting is scheduled for late next month.

In any case, expect Fox Prolefeed to be all over this case, suggesting that school districts conduct North Korean-stylee "Loyalty Drills" all the more in the name of True Patriot Love in All Thy Sons Command targeting especially Arabs, Muslims, Jews and other "deviants."

(And speaking of North Korean "Loyalty Drills," you have to wonder if Pyongyang is in the process of carrying out an especially vehement such in the face of "Great Leader" Kim Jong Il not being seen in public for nearly a month's time--as in finding out whether the North Korean people will show the proper degree of mourning once the current "Great Leader" snuffs it, probably within measurable distance.)

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CONCLUDING @ THS TIME WITH THE PENTULTIMATE EDITION OF THE COMPLEAT SCOOP FROM THE MINNESOTA STATE FAIR DAILY NEWS on the pentultimate day of this year's such:

To the Bonaders: All your State Fair friends are pulling for Len. Please tell him we are all thinking of him. Keep the faith! KF

A big wow to long-time vendors in the Grandstand, the Tow Arnettes of Collis Curve Toothbrushes. They have not one, not two but THREE sons playing for the U of M football team this year! That's a first for the Gophers!

Percy the Fine Arts Flamingo invites everyone to come up to the Fine Arts Building and wish Superintendent Robert Meyer a Happy Birthday! Word has it that he's as old as the building!

Happy "B" Day Nikki. Koppy Admissions. 17 straight years.

Happy Birthday to the Stovetop Grill lady in the Merchandise Mart. You could sell ice to Alaskans!

Thank you Peggy at campsite window for helping the strawberry man from Winnipeg and strawberry smiles to her helpers including the RV park it fella.

How about the tram drivers moving through the crowds. Patience with pleasantness--tremendous.--Peter the Strawberry Man.

To Florian at Modern Living: We hope you're at the fair in 2009--we'd miss you! Dawn is such a gm. Thanks for the surprises--you make our 12 days!--Brienna.

The only friend Kermit and Buzz boys Bob and Perr have was running around telling people how nice these guys are. He was caught and returned to the locked hospital ward where he escaped.

The food vendors are having a record year. That's because Mary is spending more on food than she will earn this year.

T.T. Have a great day 12.

Word on Bird is that he's a "nice boy."

Deanna and Cassie: Happy five year anniversary as Big Farm Hands. Thank you for all you do!

Who wants to sleep because I knew we all do down here!

Karl: thank you so much for all of your help yesterday. You really helped us out of a bind and we are eternally grateful for it!

We really need to pick up the speed on these golf carts ...

Who else is feeling as if they have gained some lbs. at the fair...?

AH thank you for being the best fiance a gal could ask for. Two presents in one day, how you spoil me!

Teflon how much would it take for you to talk in the creepy voice for the rest of your life?

Those mascots are tricky little fellows.

Dawn, it was so great to meet you! Florian and you are a wonderful couple!

BD when are we getting the floats?

BES if you know of anymore Brits coming be sure to send them my way!

One more day!! Make the absolute best of it!

The whole concludes tomorrow.    

THOSE AMONG YOU OF A CERTAIN AGE MAY RECALL A DUET WHICH WENT BY THE NAME OF MILLI VANILLI, AS HAD SOME SUCCESS ON THE POPDISK CHARTS in the late 1980's until around 1990, when it emerged that the two were lip-synching virtually all of their hits with intent to deceive or mislead all the while.

Your Correspondent couldn't help but recall Milli Vanilli in coming across this piece from Larry Persily for The Huffington Post's "Off The Bus" campaign coverage:

The national press is reporting on the remarkable level of control the McCain campaign people are exerting in handling vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin's interactions with the press and with the public as well. AP reports that Palin has given no interviews and in campaign trail appearances is sticking strictly to a "greatest hits version of her convention speech," repeating the same lines that millions watched her deliver a week ago in St Paul. Those lines, AP reports, "are all anyone has heard from her publicly, and her only interaction with the media was a brief conversation with a small group of reporters on her plane Monday -- off the record at her handlers' insistence."

Given that convention speech snippets may be all voters can expect to hear from Palin in the coming days and perhaps beyond, it may be worth reviewing again some of the assertions she made to the Xcel Center crowd.

PALIN: "I fought to bring about the largest private-sector infrastructure project in North American history. And when that deal was struck, we began a nearly $40 billion natural gas pipeline to help lead America to energy independence. That pipeline, when the last section is laid and its valves are open, will lead America one step farther away from dependence on dangerous foreign powers that do not have our interests at heart." 

There is no deal to build a natural gas pipeline from Alaska. All that the governor obtained for her $500 million in state cash assistance is a promise from TransCanada that it will try to obtain federal licensing and financing to build the pipeline - nothing more than a pledge to try. At best, the first gas through the pipe is 10 years away.

PALIN: "Starting in January, in a McCain-Palin administration, we're going to lay more pipelines, and build more nuclear plants, and create jobs with clean coal, and move forward on solar, wind, geothermal, and other alternative sources."

But Palin in 2007 vetoed funding for a wind turbine project to provide clean electricity for the Anchorage area (she later approved funding the next year). And the 10-year-old, $300 million clean-coal power plant sits idle at Healy, built with state and federal dollars yet it has never produced a single kilowatt hour. Though she inherited the problem from two previous administrations, Palin has done little to put the idle plant into operation. She is no mover and shaker on the energy front.

PALIN: "And I thought we could muddle through without the governor's personal chef, although I got to admit that sometimes my kids sure miss her."

She got rid of the cook at the Governor's House in Juneau because she doesn't live there - so there is no need for a cook. Unlike all past governors who moved to the state capital in Juneau and took up full-time residence in the Governor's House just a few blocks from the Capitol, Palin and her family tried Juneau for a few months and then decided to return home to Wasilla. Palin works in the Anchorage office and commutes from her Wasilla home. She generally stays in Juneau only when the Legislature is in session, and even then not full time. She essentially moved the governor's office to Anchorage for her and her family's convenience.

PALIN: "We suspended the state fuel tax and championed reform to end the abuses of earmark spending by Congress. I told the Congress, 'Thanks, but no thanks,' on that Bridge to Nowhere."

Alaska had the lowest state motor fuel tax in the nation -- 8 cents a gallon -- until it was suspended just this past week. Speaking of gasoline, West Coast drivers might be interested to know that all of Alaska's oil goes to West Coast refineries, and that when they fill up with gasoline made from Alaska oil, almost $2 of that $4 pump price goes to the Alaska state treasury in taxes and royalties. Thank you, California.

From Rudy Giuliani's intro speech to Palin:

"I didn't know about this vote 'present' when I was mayor of New York City. Sarah Palin didn't have this vote 'present' when she was mayor or governor. You don't get to vote 'present.' It doesn't work in an executive job. For president of the United States, it's not good enough to be present."

Not quite. Palin essentially voted "present" this year when she allowed a bill to become law without her signature. Senate Bill 202 prohibits the state from spending any money to implement provisions of the federally mandated Real ID program. Rather than take a position on the controversial Real ID program in Alaska, the governor voted "present" and let the bill take effect without her signature.

Other thoughts: The governor in last month's special legislation session successfully pushed for a $1,200 energy rebate to Alaskans. Palin's bill would have effectively protected the $1,200 checks from garnishment for child support, student loans and other debts. The legislature overruled the governor and removed the garnishment protection, proclaiming that someone who owes child support should not receive free money from the government.

Perhaps it was time to ask whether McCain/Palin campaign appearences, given their predictable, cookie-cutter format of essentially the same speeches and the same appeals to G-d and Country, are actually lip-synched against the possibility of Palin's having a sudden nervous breakdown and/or McCain's collapsing on stage.

more the engrish!

PERFECT TIMING FOR THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNFORTUNATE EVENTS OF 9/11, YET SHOULD BE WATCHED @ YOUR OWN RISK, come to think of it--especially among those of you hard-wired in your patriotic delusions, and then some:

As James Boswell, biographer of Samuel Johnson, forever reminds us, "patriotism is last criticism of the scoundrel."

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INTERESTING INSIGHT ABOUT THE PICTURE @ THE HEAD OF THIS ITEM, AS IN THE "RELIGION FREE DVD PLAYER" found on some store shelf:

The Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) in Great Britain wants us to note that there is no such thing as an "all regions" DVD format for movies or other video presentations, what with the wide differences in television and video transmission standards globally between NTSC (used in North America), PAL (used across Europe, the Middle East and Japan) and SECAM (used largely in Asia), dictating region-specific versions for video releases:

1. United States, Canada and Northern Pacific Islands region
2. Western and Central Europe (including European Union states), Near and Middle East, South Africa and Japan
3. Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Taiwan and the so-called "Union of Myanmar"
4. Latin America (including MERCOSUR states), Australia, New Zealand and Southern Pacific Islands region
5. Former Soviet Union, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bhangladesh and much of Africa (except for Egypt and South Africa, as are in Region 2)
6. People's Republic of China, including the Hong Kong and Macau Special Administrative Regions

(Come to think of it, the notion of an "all regions" DVD is the pipe dream of film and video pirates, in some cases with connexions to the weird and unwholesome element seeing in video piracy a cheap and cheerful way to finance criminal or terrorist activity. Hence, such an offer should be avoided--and reported to the proper channels posthaste.

(Especially if the price looks suspiciously cheap ... if the title is still showing @ your local multiplex ... if you find you're getting two films on the same disc [not standard Hollywood, Bollywood or Wardour Street practice, come to think of it] to create the illusion of getting value for money ... if you find references to DivX, DVD-R or MPEG-2 formats on the outer sleeve ... and you notice all manner of spelling, typographic or other erratum, references to other films not in the original package, as well as certain essential details such as full title, producer, director, stars, ratings/Consumer Advice Note and copyright information missing, misspelled or otherwise truncated, usually on poor-quality paper or cardboard stock.

(Also be wary of such being sold door-to-door or @ flea markets by juveniles or others of dubious appearence, who will oft be used by video pirates to avoid attracting suspicions by shifting blame onto the sellers in case the police start getting nervous. Another warning sign: Unwittingly getting pornographic material with your purchase, especially the sort involving children, animals, BDSM and corpses, and it's not mentioned in the packaging by deliberate design.)

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EVIDENCE SUGGESTS THAT MOST, IF NOT ALL, OF THE MANY "PHISHING" SCAMS INVOKING THE NAME AND REPUTE OF WELL-KNOWN AND HIGHLY-RESPECTED COMPANIES has connexions to a Russian-based cybercrime ring styling themselves as "RockPhish."

How do we know that "RockPhish" isn't secretly being financed by the Our Russia movement of President Dmitri Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin for the sole purpose of obtaining hard currency for the Russian regime "by whatever means necessary," no matter how depraved or perverted?

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SOUTHWEST AIRLINES HAS BEEN RUNNING TV ADVERTS OF LATE MAKING NOTE OF THEIR FARES BEING WITHOUT HIDDEN "GOTCHAS" OTHERS HAVE BEEN CHARGING OF LATE for checking additional baggage, making reservations over the ameche, buying tickets @ the airport ticket counter, all manner of frivolous excuses to cover for increased costs of jet fuel and overhead. (In all fairness, they do note in on-screen smallprint that fares are subject to local departure taxes, security-related fees and other charges.)

Now, it's emerged that later this year, Southwest will be cutting back on the number of flights operated every day while still maintaining its existing route network and commitment to keeping fares all the lower.

Which has Your Correspondent wondering if one reason Southwest Airlines' fares are as cheap as they are (as low as $69 single, plus requisite fees and taxes) is because of an overzealous pursuit of mail contracts to carry time-sensitive letterposts, Priority Mail and Express Mail on their flights--especially within Texas and between points in Texas and neighbour states--and to milk the mail contracts for maximum benefit, in turn using the proceeds to subsidise fares.

Especially if the value of said mail contracts turns out being more than fair and reasonable thanks to "hardball" tactics on Southwest's part that they're hesitant to acknowledge openly.

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NO WONDER DOUBLETHINK IS HIGHLY AND DEARLY VALUED AS A CONSERVATIVE PROPAGANDA TACTIC ... and if you'd like a good example thereof, read this article from ConWebWatch as illustrates, and @ once exposes, WorldNetDaily's hypocritical doublethink vis-a-vis Indecision 2008 which holds where:

• on the one hand, the voting public are being advised to consider third-party Presidential candidates as a show of protest against the prevailing state of affairs in the November elections; but,
• on the other hand, routinely publishes articles critical of Barack Obama and yet hagiographically glowing about John McCain.

Notice the inherent doublethink?

So where does WorldNetDaily REALLY stand on Indecision 2008? Or what prevents their explaining their real stand--money? 

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THE McCAIN/PALIN'S PATSY ABOUT BARACK OBAMA'S "LIPSTICK ON A PIG" REMARK BEING NOTHING MORE THAN SUBTLE DOG-WHISTLE SEXISM targeting Ms. Palin, methinks, is pure and unadulterated "pashimmel," to use a mock-Viennese expression of Schultz (as played by Hans Conreid) on the radio comedy Life With Luigi, delivered in a comedic Vienna accent, to expose something or someone being ridiculous.

(Schultz, for the ininitiated, was one of Luigi Basco's night school classmates, along with a Jewish emigré named Horowitz and a Scandinavian named Olsen. And, for the record, was the class clown, as it were, what with his absurd and oft hilarious answers.)

Not to mention, while staying on Life With Luigi for the moment, reminding us of spaghetti-joint properitor Pasquale (Alan Reed) almost constantly insiting that Luigi (J. Carroll Naish) marry Pasquale's daughter Rosa, settle down and have some children for once, thinking such might be best for Luigi's mind.

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NOW, IT'S EMERGED THAT "LIPSTICK ON A PIG" IS NOT A NEW EXPRESSION COLLOQUIAL: Your Correspondent hath it that Amazon.com has several books available which have "lipstick on a pig" or variants thereof in the title; some as are available for purchase include:

(If you'd like to purchase them online, I'd greatly appreciate it. Find out about how certain titles can be ordered for pickup @ selected local bookstores, if you'd rather not wait for delivery.)

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NO WONDER THE McCAIN/PALIN CAMP SEES IT PERFECTLY MORAL TO "USE WHATEVER MEANS NECESSARY" TO INFLUENCE VOTERS, no matter how corrupt or perverto it may be--even if it means violating others' copyrights, as led to a McCain campaign video being pulled off YouTube late yesterday after CBS complained, for one.

As if that weren't good enough, there's also the possibility of McCain's preening Sarah Palin all the more to assume the Presidency all the sooner, to let her "change America" based on a model of Dominionist theocracy dominated, unfortunately, by the weird and unwholesome hiding behind His Name and Authority. Such, no doubt, a concern of the Assemblies of God in their overall objections to "Latter Rain" teaching, as their position paper on the subject elaborates:

The thought that God’s kingdom can come on earth with a little help from humankind is intriguing to those who advocate this approach to impacting society. Rather than scoffing at the promise of Christ’s imminent return (2 Peter 3:3,4), this errant theology says that Jesus will not return until the Church takes dominion of the earth back from Satan and his followers. By taking control, through whatever means possible, of political, ecclesiastical, educational, economic, and other structures, Christians supposedly can make the world a worthy place for Christ to return and rule over. This unscriptural triumphalism generates other related variant teachings.

One of which, it turns out, is "Joel's Army," a/k/a "Manifest Sons of God;" objections by the Assemblies of God thereto are these:

Manifest Sons of God and Joel’s Army. These are some of the names used to describe those who have caught the vision of the Kingdom Now and are actively at work seeking to overcome the opposition and declaring Christians who hold a biblical understanding of Christ’s imminent return at any time to be cowardly for not joining the "anointed," as they sometimes call themselves. Without question, the Old Testament Book of Joel includes many endtime references. But the great and powerful army in Joel 2 is one of terrible locusts, an instrument of judgment on Israel. After Israel’s repentance, the army of locusts is destroyed by the Lord. Only after this destruction of the instrument of judgment does the promised revival come. "And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people" (Joel 2:28). It is a complete misinterpretation of Scripture to find in Joel’s army of locusts a militant, victorious force attacking society and a non-cooperating Church to prepare the earth for Christ’s millennial reign.

Come to think of it: How sure are we that Sarah Palin isn't secretly on some class of amphetamines, so explaining her overzealous perkiness as may conceal psychopathic tendencies?

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FROM THE "IT'S A SMALL WORLD, AFTER ALL" DOSSIER, ULTIMATELY VIA THE BBC, comes this approriatly-timed item (as in the anniversary of the Unfortunate Events) making note of how our Indonesian brethren prefer to deal with Islamist terror threats:

Indonesia's head of counter-terrorism says Western governments have made it harder for moderate Muslims to tackle terror in their own countries.

Ansyaad Mbai told the BBC that Indonesia's own fight against terrorism relied on a much softer approach.

He suggested other countries should also apply similar tactics alongside military force.

Indonesia has had striking success in tackling terrorism on its soil in the past few years.

Mr Mbai said each country faced a unique situation in its fight against terrorism, and that there was no one-size-fits-all.

But he said that there needed to be a balance between force and negotiation, and that war - as pursued by America in Iraq and Afghanistan - was not an effective strategy against terrorism.

"Muslims see this strategy as destructively attacking Muslims, as attacking Islam... This is not the solution," he said.

"The use of war against the militants in the Middle East doesn't stop the terrorists and radicals."

[***]

[I]n the past few years, Indonesia has managed to halt those attacks and break down the country's main terror network.

It has done it using a softer and sometimes controversial approach.

For example, it has used former militants to negotiate with radical cells, and spread a more moderate message.

And that is something that Mr Mbai said Western governments had made harder.

"The situation in Iraq and Afghanistan makes it more difficult for us, for moderate Muslims, to convince the radicals that the war in Iraq is not an attack against a Muslim country," he said.

Indonesia has focused a great deal on trying to de-radicalise its hardline groups.

But it is hard to assess how successful that has been.

Much easier to count are the hundreds of arrests, including the capture earlier this year of several key members of the radical Islamist network Jemaah Islamiah.

But new cells have also been discovered, and police say the existing networks have become smaller, more mobile and harder to track.

(Cf. American extremists' increasing use of "lone wolf" cells after the Oklahoma City Incident in 1995, the better to avoid attracting suspicions on the part of law enforcement while creating all along the aura of being a battle-ready force once the Kampfruf is sounded.)

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AND BEFORE I FORGET, HERE'S THE COMPLEAT SCOOP FROM DAY 10 OF THE MINNESOTA STATE FAIR, as recorded in that feature of the Minnesota State Fair Daily News:

Mrs. Brooke Crunch ... has a good ring to it. Now if only we could see the man under the mascot ...

Keri--Happy "Golden" Birthday! Love, Mom

Please, no more squirrels, sleepers or rhinos.

To moron and putz, be nice to each other, wives have had enough.

Saclett and all the folks at the Old Iron Show sure love the cookies from "The Cookie Lady," (Evelyn). Rachel needs an electric broom she has ruby red sandals.

Yea! Sara B. is back at Gate 5.

Sconeboys: time and place?!?! FYI we're really good dancers!

As the fair goes by, the old timer's in Gate Ticket Sales want to welcome any new folks on staff this year. Of special note is NASCAR Miss T who went from a big bus to a toy van! GTS Ext 2213

Love you MARV!!! Gate 5 at night says: may the Schwartz be with you!

So much to count so lttle time!

Day 10 Day 10! Two more days to get all the fantastic fun out of the way!

BES your cool points are out the window!

Congrats to MSF All-Star Shauntell H. for the birth of her new baby!

Teflon I don't even know what I am going to do without you!

Robot parade! We love Rock-It!

KF we totally support you taking the one name road. You can pull it off!

Thanks for being so awesome transportation! The fair couldn't run without you!

To Lyle: One radio on the desk plus one radio on the hip equals two radios. Should we go over that again? One plus one equals two. Once more?

Fairchild ... it is on!

Two more days of this particular featurette, folks....   

  

more the engrish!

AS OTHER THINGS WERE PREOCCUPYING YOUR CORRESPONDENT'S MIND EARLIER IN THE BLOGGING DEPARTMENT, he forgot to include The Compleat Scoop from the Minnesota State Fair Daily News of Day 9 earlier.

So, lest complaints and angry e-mails ensue, he will now comply:

The Education Superintendent says that Patty makes the best chocolate chip cookies in the world!

Well, you can tell Kermit is a little slower since his 80th birthday. Now it takes him an hour and a half to watch "60 Minutes."

The three wise men on Machinery Hill want you to know about "Grumpy's Grill," look for the sign.

Vicky was seen wearing a 100-year-old MSF pendant given to her by Al.

A big 'dill-lightful' thank you to all my picklettes in the Gedney booth! Until we meet again--relish the days!!--Debra

Dude! I can only read abbreviations!--Matt from the Fish & Chips in the Food Building.

Teflon looking good!

Blue tag people make the mistakes so black tag people can take awards away. Payback.

Where or when is my bride to be?? Saw you in the parade though ... you drove the golf cart very well!

BD when are we ever going to get that apple stuff?

Jess--we know we are crazy, but did you have to go to Japan to hide from us?

DB--today is your day and only today is your day.

BES you are like an iceberg that can't melt you're so cool!

De'Anna has hypnotized me with her beauty.

BM thank you for ll of the food! I actually feel like I ate something healthy for the first time in about two weeks!

Happy 64th birthday to "peg leg" Cheryl Ann in the Magnet Booth. We love you.

The 2008 MSF Marketing staff rules!

Carie: have a great time at school, we know you will do so well! We'll miss having you for the next few days down here but we know you're going to have a blast!

KF someone thinks that you are the cat's pj's....

Loving the stuff in Heritage Square ... all should go and check that out!

Day 9 Day 9! Where has the time gone, we had all better start living it up here at the fair!

Barb: welcome to marketing! we are oh so happy to have you here! Just hope you can put up with us.... 

Hopefully, things out to be back to normal tomorrow.

*************

IN CASE ANYBODY ASKS ABOUT THE SIGNIFICANCE, HOWBEIT REMOTE, OF THE IMAGE @ THE HEAD OF THIS BLOG ITEM, allow me, in a way:

People For the American Way wants you to know The Inconvenient Truths About Sarah Palin, over and above the fact than an overzealously charismatic display of perkiness can easily conceal psychopathic intentions (as numerous studies down the years will attest).

As if that weren't enough, Right Wing Watch makes note of the latest attempt @ bizarre Religiopolitical Right meme explaining why the Great Unwashed fail to see the proverbial forest for the trees vis-a-vis Sarah Palin:

Kevin Burke, co-founder of something called Rachel’s Vineyard - a “post-abortion healing ministry” run by the right-wing group Priests for Life - offers his explanation of why people might not like Sarah Palin.  It turns out that they are all traumatized by the “collective grief, pain and guilt” they feel over their pro-choice views:

The very personal and often uncharitable criticism of Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin and her family evident in recent media coverage, and the lack of support from many feminist and child advocacy groups, may have a relationship to the collective grief, pain and guilt from personal involvement in the abortion of an unborn child.

When an issue strikes at a deeply repressed sensitive wound in a person, often the initial reaction is anger.

…

Seeing the Palin family, in a very visible public forum, with an uncompromising and public pro life philosophy arouses deeply repressed feelings in post abortive parents, as well as media members, counselors, health care professionals, politicians and others who promote abortion rights, especially the abortion of children with challenges such as Down syndrome.

These powerful repressed feelings of grief, guilt and shame can be deflected from the source of the wound (i.e., abortion) and projected onto an often uncharitable focus upon the trigger of these painful emotions…the Palin family.

And all this time I thought it was because she was a one-term unknown whose sole qualification for John McCain’s ticket was her appeal to the GOP’s right-wing base.

Come to think of it: Haven't we had enough of the anti-abortionist meme about abortions causing psychoemotional grief, trauma and guilt when studies are extant disproving any perceived connexions? 

Mr. Jerome Corsi
c/o WorldNetDaily.com
PO Box 1087
Grants Pass, OR 97528-1017

Dear Mr. Corsi:

It's well-known and well-established that you've produced a highly-specious and laughable farce of "investigative journalism" whose purpose and intent is to undermine the Presidential campaign of Democratic candidate Senator Barack Obama by questioning his racial, religious and moral fitness against various "tests" lacking any serious credibility.

However, it's emerged that you've also published attacks in the "swift boat" vein against Republican Presidential candidate John McCain, howbeit during the primary season (in case you've forgotten about them by deliberate ignorance or otherwise, may I refresh your memory) by making equally specious claims against Senator McCain such as those suggesting that:

• McCain's fortune has direct connexions to criminal syndicates;
• the McCain Presidential campaign is receiving substantial support from al-Qaeda-affiliated organisations;
• Mcain is secretly receiving money from George Soros;
• McCain has serious credibility problems vis-a-vis lobbyists; and
• McCain's advancing a "Mexico First" agenda on international trade.

Which, in either case, is lacking any semblance of substantiation, let alone credibility.

And, IIRC, said atacks are designed (by your own admission) to serve the campaign of the Constitution Party's Presidential candidate, Mr. Charles (Chuck) Baldwin by name.

The fact of which, and the interconnexions thus raised, raises some serious questions which we Right-Thinking Americans want to ask of you:

• What assurances have we that your claims are sincere, genuine and in good faith, knowing (un)consciously all the while that these same claims you present as authentic are false or misleading?
• How do we know that your sources don't include certain weird and/or unwholesome types whose credibility is traditionally regarded as dubious or suspicious, among them:
• alcoholics?
• drug addicts?
• chronic spendthrifts and gamblers?
• those with known police records?
• sex fiends and maniacs?
• those with histories of mental and/or emotional disorders?
• racists, white-supremacists and bigots?
• veterans with Bad Conduct, Dishonourable, Less than Honourable or Section 8 discharges from the military?
• Have you done any careful and cautious background checks on your sources for the sake of credibility? If not, what prevents you from so doing--were you "only following orders" not to question their credibility, and accept their stories @ face value without question or reservation?
• What prevents your conducting careful and thorough research and cross-checking of claims made in these works prior to publication, online or otherwise, including careful and thorough substantiation from @ least two independent and impartial sources?
• Did you offer your sources any consideration, in cash or in kind, to supply such information, knowing full well their credibilty cannot be challenged because you were "following orders"? If so, what was offered, how was such paid, and were they instructed to keep the details quiet?
• Is the Constitution Party and/or the Chuck Baldwin Presidential campaign paying you to advance these rather incredulous (absent credible substantiation) attacks? If so, how much? How often were you paid? In what forms?
• Are your paymasters in the Constitution Party and/or the Baldwin Presidential campaign (if such be the case) asking you to keep quiet about any and all payments for the sake of advancing these unsubstantiated smears and attacks? What reasons are they giving you for such silence?
• Who exactly are these paymasters with the Constitution Party and/or the Baldwin Presidential campaign as are asking you to smear Barack Obama and John McCain for the sake of the Constitution Party's efforts and endeavours?
• Are you now, or have you ever been:
• an alcoholic?
• a drug addict?
• a gambler?
• a chronic and habitual spendthrift?
• a spousal and/or child abuser?
• a sex fiend, degenerate or maniac?
• a coprophile (in the sense of being addicted to pornographic or otherwise obscene materials)?
• a sufferer of a loathsome mental or emotional disease or disorder?
• a sufferer from veneral disease?
• known to the police (in other words, had a police record)?
• on probation or served time in prisons or mental institutions?
• discharged from the military on a Bad Conduct, Dishonourable, Less Than Honourable or Section 8 such?
• unemployable for extended periods for reasons other than because of illness, incapacity or disability?
• a card-carrying member of a known and notorious subversive or otherwise conspiratorial organisation(s)?
• Have you no sense of Decency, Sir, @ long last?
• Have you left no sense of Decency (let alone Morality)?
• What stands in the way of your providing clear, honest and logical answers to the preceding? Money?

We are entitled to an explanation of these issues thus raised, and based solely on facts rather than on carefully-scripted and -manufactured bromides and platitudes such as you're probably being advised to use. Until then, we cannot expect to reagrd your claims as authentic, credible or sincere.

sincerely,
ILUDIUM PHOSDEX
(die egte artikel--aanvaar geen plaasvervangers)