Monthly Archives: August 2006

Psy ops II

Posted on August 6, 2006 | Comments Off on Psy ops II

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What do you do when your war photo isn’t dramatic enough to produce the desired outrage? A Reuter’s wire service photographer added some buildings from a previous photo of Beruit to this new Israeli airstrike shot, and then cloned the smoke to spread it out. Only he got caught by these professionals and Charles Johnson’s Little Green Footballs and, a few hours later, al Reuters retracted the photo. The photographer, Adnan Hajj, has been suspended fired.

UPDATE Another fake-a-roo from the prolific Mr. Hajj, and 918 others under scrutiny. And soon thereafter, the phenom spread to the NYTimes and its staffer Tyler Hicks. The blogosphere is on the case. And finds that Hicks says he didn’t write the cutlines which make his work suspicious. Then Ynet weighs in with a piece on what is being called Fauxtography.

 

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Posted in Blogosphere

Today’s pretty picture

Posted on August 6, 2006 | Comments Off on Today’s pretty picture

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View from a Chilean mountain, Cerro Tololo. 

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Posted in Space

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Normal Texas summer (hot).

Posted on August 5, 2006 | Comments Off on Normal Texas summer (hot).

There’s nothing quite like a brutal Texas summer. Hot summers are the norm, and when the norm disappears for a few years, I miss it. Some benefits: The heat and normally accompanying drought help cut down on the mosquitoes and other pesky bugs. The sunsets are prettier with more dust in the air. Californians and others stop moving here in such great numbers. You can’t really appreciate the mild Texas spring and fall without a brutal summer in between. With a swimming pool, the blazing sun heats the water, making it inviting all summer, rather than Barton-Springs-frigid as last summer and the summer before. And, of course, you have the inevitable return of cool summers to look forward to.

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Posted in Weather/Climate

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Superman

Posted on August 5, 2006 | Comments Off on Superman

The backpack war is over, and Mom won. No Thing, but Superman, instead. Mr. Boy tried a last-ditch manuevar for Wolverine, presumably for the super hero’s shocking stileto-bladed fingers, but gave in more or less gracefully. 

Basketball camp ended Friday, and there’s just one more week before first grade begins, because of the wretched early start in Texas. Time flies. 

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Posted in Mr. Boy

Tat for tit

Posted on August 5, 2006 | Comments Off on Tat for tit

This might help the boy problem in terms of regaining their attention. Now all the Arlington Independent School District needs do is be sure its new student dress code also applies to the teachers.

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Posted in Scribbles

Tit for tat

Posted on August 5, 2006 | Comments Off on Tit for tat

Human Rights Watch, which has already condemned Israel, interestingly now condemns Hez. About time.

“’Lobbing rockets blindly into civilian areas is without doubt a war crime,’ said Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch. ‘Nothing can justify this assault on the most fundamental standards for sparing civilians the hazards of war.’  
 
"Hezbollah claims that some of its attacks are aimed at military bases inside Israel, which are legitimate targets. But most of the attacks appear to have been directed at civilian areas and have hit pedestrians, hospitals, schools, homes and businesses." 

Good Update links on the war via the Hashmonean: "On Israel, and many Jewish bloggers covering the situation, at the Truth Laid Bear which is also highlighting the other side, and at Pajamas Media. Soccerdad consistently does HQ round ups as well."

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Posted in Israel

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Tiptoeing around Mookie

Posted on August 5, 2006 | Comments Off on Tiptoeing around Mookie

Omar at Iraq the Model wonders why American generals in Iraq seem to want to tiptoe around Mookie–who has recently come out in strong support of his master Iran’s other protege, Hezbollah–simply because he has a constituency:

"Saddam enjoyed the same, if not more, popularity than Sadr does today (yes, Saddam was popular among more or less a million Iraqis not to mention popularity among other Arabs) and the same applies to Nesrallah, Ahmedinejad and Bin Laden who have millions of supporters among Arabs and Muslims, however we didn’t find it difficult to "demonize" them, right? I mean should we allow the bad guys to grow more powerful just because they are popular?! This is totally absurd…

"Will you stand with those who believe you came to help them, or will you let Iran remain free to push Iraq to doom?"

Indeed, since the long-feared civil war in Iraq seems not to be in the future, as the generals are telling Congress, but already underway, according to some field- and a few company-grade Army officers patrolling Baghdad and environs.

Colonel Brian Jones, commander of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team of the 4th Infantry Division from Fort Hood, disagrees, says it’s more complex than that, in wide-ranging briefing Friday at the link.

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Posted in Iraq