'Eer Fans Celebrate Football Victory, Some Overdo It

The fans of West Virginia football have been known to occasionally go overboard, doing such things as throwing batteries and burning couches to celebrate a significant victory.  This past Saturday, the Mountaineers upset Oklahoma State, who had been heavily favored.  The resulting celebrations included 10 fires and an overturned car.  Of course, not every 'Eer is a potential couch-burner, battery tosser or car-flipper, but sometimes the bad ones among them can get really bad.

Read the story at College Football and SB Nation, the latter including video.

Senator Cruz On Immigration Reform

In response to a question from one of his constituents (you know, the people Congress is supposed to represent) Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) tells us what he has tried to do about immigration reform.  I don't necessarily agree with all of his proposals, but just after the six-minute mark, he hits the nail on the head with regard to amnesty.  Via Barracuda Brigade, and posted on YouTube by SooperMexican.

Papa Bigfoot 1928-2013

I have stepped away from blogging for the past week to travel to Virginia and pay my last respects to my father, who passed away a week ago after spending some time in a nursing home and the hospital.  A week ago yesterday (Thursday), one of my brothers called me at work and explained that Dad would probably not last through the following night.  However, after the hour-long commute back home, some hurried suitcase packing and a four-hour drive to my parents' house in Virginia, I found that my family's plan was to visit him the next day.  On Friday, we all said our goodbyes to him.  He would pass later that evening, at the age of 84.

We had two viewings the following Tuesday and the funeral on Wednesday, for which I served as pallbearer.  For the viewings, we were able to find about 20 photos from Dad's life.  A set of old black and white shots included some from his and mom's wedding, some from their early years of raising a family, and one of Dad's parents.  The viewings and funeral were attended by some people who knew my father, others who had worked with him or one of my siblings, several out-of-town relatives, and some old friends and neighbors whom I had not seen for a long time, some literally for decades.

Music Break - Some Cover Versions

Every once in a while, someone brings back a song and does a good job of it.  Sometimes it's only a short time after the original comes out, other times it's decades later.  Sometimes it sounds very similar to the original, other times it's given a different feel.  Sometimes it's part of a tribute album, other times an artist simply incorporates someone else's song into their repertoire.  Here are a few that I've come to enjoy.

First up is comedian and actor Adam Sandler's version of the Warren Zevon song Werewolves of London, which appears on the multi-artist tribute to Zevon entitled Enjoy Every Sandwich.

More On The Navy Yard Shooter

Some more information has come out about the man who went on a shooting rampage yesterday at the Washington Naval Yard, and about the media coverage thereof.

According to the New York Post, he had problems with his Navy bosses.

However, Fox News reports that he had "glowing evaluations" during his time in the Naval Reserve.

From CBS DC, he had been "hearing voices" and suffering from mental problems.

From Breitbart's Big Government, he was a liberal Obama supporter.  (via Weasel Zippers)

From the Washington Times, he passed two background checks to buy a shotgun.

From Naked DC, one major media network reported the gunman's weapon as a type that in reality doesn't exist.

And to finish, Legal Insurrection reports on some of the inaccuracies in the reporting of the Navy Yard and Sandy Hook shootings.

Shooting Rampage At Navy Yard Leaves At Least 12 Dead

This morning in Washington, D.C., a gunman entered the Washington Navy Yard and shot at least 12 people dead, wounded 12 others, and was killed in a shootout with police.  The dead suspect was identified as 34-year-old Aaron Alexis, a military contractor from Texas who had previously been discharged from the Navy after a "pattern of misconduct".  His motive and whether he had an accomplice (who would still be at large) are unclear.

Read more at CNN, CBS News, the Washington Post, WJLA, the Washington Times and America's Navy.

Zimmerman's Wife Arrested After Domestic Incident

The continuing story of George Zimmerman, the "white Hispanic" neighborhood watchman who was acquitted of a murder charge after killing black teenager Trayvon Martin in self-defense, has taken a strange turn.  After he was detained by police resulting from a complaint of domestic violence by his wife Shellie and her father, the police arrested her after video retrieved from her iPad showed her to be the aggressor.  She now faces charges of domestic battery, resisting arrest and obstruction of justice.

Read the story at National Report.

Flash Floods Hit Colorado

At least 6 inches of rain fell on the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado during a 19-hour period ending today, resulting in flash floods ranging from Estes Park in the north to Colorado Springs in the south.  Three deaths have been reported so far.  The worst damage appears to be in Boulder County, including the small town of Lyons being cut off from the outside world.

Read more at CNN, the Weather Channel, the Denver Post, USA Today, KDVR and NBC News.

The Other 9/11 Massacre

On September 11, a bunch of violent attackers carried out a brutal massacre of innocent Americans in the name of their religion, one which sanctioned polygamy and often saw non-members as enemies.  The religion was founded by a self-proclaimed prophet who claimed to have been given divinely revealed scripture, who freely engaged in polygamy, and who was not always above using violent means to achieve his goals.  After his death, most of his followers fell in behind a new leader, but others did not, thus creating a separate sect that at times experienced tension with the majority.

Yes, we remember what happened in 2001, but that was the second time that the above paragraph became true.  The first time came about many years earlier, and is remembered as the Mountain Meadows Massacre.  On September 11, 1857, after besieging a party of emigrants from Arkansas for four days, a militia consisting of Mormons, with the aid of some local Paiute Indians, killed most of the emigrants, allowing some children among them to survive.  In the aftermath and over time, the Mormons eschewed both violence and polygamy, making such behavior from them today very far-fetched indeed.  In this sense, they have become very different from those who carried out this century's 9/11.

Read more about Mountain Meadows here, here, here and here.  Four years ago, I was in southwestern Utah and visited the memorial at Mountain Meadows.  From a viewing area, the site may be seen, including the memorial itself.

They Came, They Rode

In some places, they even had a police escort.  The Right Scoop has several videos and a few photos of bikers riding to or in D.C.  Below is one video, of bikers going through Stafford, VA, which is about 40 miles south of D.C.  See all of them here.

Also, the Washington Times has a report on the "2 million bikers".

Tuesday Links

Instead of a Monday Links post, this week it's Tuesday.  So here we go:

The Weekly Standard opines that with his proposal on Syria's chemical weapons, President Putin did not save President Obama, but beat him.

From the Mail Online, Putin wants Obama to call off striking Syria before Russia would back plans to have Syria turn over its chemical weapons.

From Talking Points Memo, Obama suggests that the Senate delay their vote on the possible strike against Syria.

From The Brenner Brief, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) gives a speech in opposition to striking Syria.

According to the Last Resistance, Obama's decision on Syria could mean death for its Christians.

CNET presents the new iPhones from Apple.

From Catholic News Agency, an Italian priest donates a used car to the Pope.

From Reading The Score, a quote that sums up conservatism.

From the Washington Post, declassified court documents reveal the NSA's violation of court-approved privacy rules.  (via Techcrunch)

From the New York Post and the stupid criminal department, two men use a Taser to rob a man of his iPhone.  While fleeing, one of the thieves then dropped his own cell phone, thus providing the police with lots of clues.

From Life News, California is set to enact legislation that allows nurse practitioners (NPs), certified nurse midwives (CNMs) and physician assistants (PAs) to perform "aspiration" or suction abortions during the first trimester of pregnancy.

And from Freedom's Lighthouse, although denied a "no-stop" permit by the National Park Service, the Two Million Bikers to D.C. will go ahead with their rally tomorrow, which is a counter-protest to the Million Muslims March.  As reported by Twitchy, the bikers will get some help from the D.C. police.

One Lefty Turns Against Obama

A few days ago, I reported how Buzzfeed noticed that a bunch of antiwar celebrities, who had been quite vocal before and/or during the invasion of Iraq, have been MIA with respect to President Obama's possible military strike against Syria.  This does not mean, however, that his plans aren't garnering any opposition, and not just from the right.  In fact, there is one notable leftist who calls the threatened Syria strike “dumb and rash," and is someone whom Obama knows all too well.

Read the story at World Net Daily to find out who it is.

Conservatives Win In Australia

In Australia, a coalition led by the Liberal National Party has ousted the Labor Party from power, bringing in Tony Abbott as the new Prime Minister.  The Labor Party had been in power for six years, under Prime Ministers Bob Hawke, Julia Gillard and Kevin Rudd.  Abbott had previously been a boxer, a Rhodes scholar and a seminarian.  In his victory speech, Abbott announced, "From today I declare that Australia is under new management and Australia is once more open for business."  Meanwhile, Rudd stated in his concession speech that he would be stepping down as his party's leader.

I realize that the terminology may be somewhat confusing, because the party with "liberal" in its name, or the coalition of which it is part, is regarded as conservative.  Read more at USA Today, Reuters, BBC News, The Guardian and Sky News.

Where Did The Anti-War Celebrities Go?

Remember about a decade ago when the United States under President Bush the Younger was contemplating going to war against Saddam Hussein's Iraq, and then actually went through with it, and all kinds of celebrities came out against the war?  Those philosophers from the acting and music industries came out and gave us their words of wisdom, such as:

I think war is based in greed and there are huge karmic retributions that will follow. I think war is never the answer to solving any problems. The best way to solve problems is to not have enemies.

and

You can’t beat your enemy anymore through wars; instead you create an entire generation of people revenge-seeking.

and

War is failure! When you are at war, you have failed!

The people who said those things don't seem to be around these days as President Obama contemplates launching a strike against Syria.  In fact, Buzzfeed thinks that they "may have been kidnapped."  Click the link to find out who provided the three quotes above, along with 11 other MIA anti-war celebrities.

Broadband To The Moon

When I read that term, in the title of this article by Mashable, I wondered, "Why bring broadband to the moon?  No one lives there."  As it turns out, the broadband will be the method of communication, via laser, between the LADEE satellite and earthbound communication stations.  The LADEE (Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer) will be launched from Virginia tomorrow, to be placed into lunar orbit.  Read more at the above Mashable link, which includes the video below the fold, and at Universe Today.

Ariel Castro Hangs Himself

Convicted kidnapper and rapist Ariel Castro, who kept three women locked in his house for up to 11 years, for which he was given a prison sentence of life plus 1000 years, committed suicide yesterday evening by hanging himself with a bedsheet.  After prison medical staff tried to save his life, he was transported to the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 10:52 p.m.

Read more at USA Today, NBC News, Fox News, the Chicago Tribune and The Guardian.

British Rapist Might Get More Than He Bargained For

In Great Britain, a 27-year-old man named Richard Thomas has admitted to raping a woman in her home, and was sentenced to 5 years and 4 months in prison.  The prison term, however, might be the least of his worries, because the victim had earlier been diagnosed as being HIV-positive.

Guys, if you stick it where it shouldn't be, this could happen to you.

Read the story at The Independent, the New York Daily News, Fox News and the Raw Story.

Diana Nyad Completes Swim From Cuba To Florida

Long-distance swimmer Diana Nyad, in her fifth attempt, has successfully swum from Havana, Cuba to Key West, Florida.  She is the first to make the entire 112-mile crossing using neither a shark cage nor a wetsuit, but did use a silicone mask designed to protect her from jellyfish.  Her swim took just under 53 hours.  One other remarkable aspect of Nyad's accomplishment is that she did this at age 64.

Read more at ABC News, NBC News, USA Today and Time.

Syria Bought Chemicals From British Firms

Via The D.C. Clothesline:

With the looming possibility of an American strike on Syria due to their government's alleged use of chemical weapons against al Qaida-aided rebels, the question arises as to where those weapons came from.  Could they possibly have come from Iraq, after being smuggled out in the run-up to the invasion of that country?  In any event, the Daily Record points to a very different possible source.

BRITAIN allowed firms to sell chemicals to Syria capable of being used to make nerve gas, the Sunday Mail can reveal today. 

Export licences for potassium fluoride and sodium fluoride were granted months after the bloody civil war in the Middle East began. 

The chemical is capable of being used to make weapons such as sarin, thought to be the nerve gas used in the attack on a rebel-held Damascus suburb which killed nearly 1500 people, including 426 children, 10 days ago.

Read the full story.