RIP William F Buckley

The New York Times and Fox News Channel are reporting that William F. Buckley passed away today at the age of 82. According to National Review online, he was at home in his study in Stamford, CT, at the time of his passing. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family, friends and colleagues.

http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=MTE4NGRlOGM1NmYxYjdmNjk1MjliOTE2MTYxOWZkZjc=

My mother was a huge fan of William F. Buckley. She was a loyal subscriber to National Review and voraciously read his books both fiction and non-fiction. When I was around 10 years old or so, she bought me my first "grown up" book to read -- "God and Man at Yale". I became an instant fan -- both of the ideas presented and the way those ideas were expressed. There is no doubt that the clarity and genius of Buckley's writing influenced me tremendously as a conservative. For several generations of activists, he defined the meaning of conservatism and to be frank, the loss of Mr. Buckley at this time is yet another blow to the movement.

Although perhaps now, with his passing, those who were once devotees of his ideas but perhaps who strayed from the cause may now have an opportunity to review the body of his work as his life is examined in the coming days. Perhaps those stray lambs will come home to the principles that once made the conservative movement great.

One can only hope.

Indiana Jones is BACK!!!

For 19 years we waited for some sign, some hope that Indiana Jones would don his tattered fedora, take up his whip and slide on his worn leather bomber jacket and return to us for at least two action filled hours.

Oh, I had heard the rumors. But I have been let down before. And frankly, this is Indiana Jones we are talking about here, friends. This isn't just any ordinary wanna-be sequel.

So here it is. The JUST RELEASED trailer for......"Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull."

No doubt this is true.

At least I.....think it is....but I can't remember....
http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/conditions
/02/05/pregnancy.memory/index.html

Year of the Rat, indeed.

Happy Chinese New Year!!! It is the Year of the Rat -- traditionally a favorite in China. According to every Chinese placemat I have ever seen, I was born in the Year of the Horse.

So what does the Year of the Rat mean to those of us who are holding our breath convulsively until November?

With the exception of 1984 (Reagan's landslide and reaffirmation of conservatism), Chinese Calendar's Year of the Rat (starting every 12 years on New Moon in February) has not been kind to Republicans - 1948 ("Dewey Wins!"), 1960 (JFK-Nixon), 1972 (Nixon's Watergate begins), 1996 (Bob Dole), 2008? (Bob Dole, part 3 1/3 ?).

Sigh.

Readings for the Year of the RatNation Multimedia Group
(Bangkok's Independent Newspaper) ^ December 29, 2007
Eugenia Last

The Year of the Rat is for the opportunist, the proactive, the profiteer and the politician.
This, indeed, will be a year to keep a watchful eye on those who run the world financially, intellectually and dictatorially.

The Rat year is also one of change, reform and the year to put
well-thought-out strategy to work.

Worldwide, it's a time when security will count and when political
giants will want to protect what's theirs.

As for the average Joe, the Year of the Rat means 12 months to
turn losses into gains and instability into security. It will be a time
to enjoy the simple pleasures and to be confident enough to be a
contributor to the Rat revolution.

Rat revolution???? Mao Tse Rat?