According to Wikipedia:

Don’t ask, don’t tell is the common term for the policy about homosexuality in the U.S. military mandated by federal law Pub.L. 103-160 (10 U.S.C. § 654). Unless one of the exceptions from 10 U.S.C. § 654(b) applies, the policy prohibits anyone who demonstrate(s) a propensity or intent to engage in homosexual acts from serving in the armed forces of the United States, because it would create an unacceptable risk to the high standards of morale, good order and discipline, and unit cohesion that are the essence of military capability.

While I’m an advocate for human and constitutional rights, I believe the author of that law was dead on.

When I was in college, I had the misfortune to sit between two openly homosexual males. I don’t mean two guys who just admitted to being gay. I’m talking about two blatantly open gays who felt it necessary to communicate back and forth before and during class about their homosexual activities in graphic detail. Personally, I found it offensive — as offensive as it would have been had it been two heterosexual males or females. But more important, it was distracting… to the point where I decided I’d had enough and left class after explaining to the instructor why I could no longer participate.

If you believe that our military personnel are in danger only during times of conflict or when serving in a war zone, think again. My brother has scars covering 90% of his body from the third degree burns suffered during a training exercise that resulted in a helicopter crash. Members of our Armed Forces are constantly in situations that require total concentration… all day of every day of every year, no matter where they are.

The fact is that homosexuals are a minority and most heterosexuals are uncomfortable when exposed to homosexual content. I’m not saying that’s right, but it’s just the way it is. Congress has as much of a responsibility to protect the members of the military as they do to protect the constitutional rights of all Americans. In this particular case, those two responsibilities are simply incompatible.

In his decision to repeal the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell law, President Obama has unfortunately decided to place the satisfaction of a limited few above the physical safety of the 300 million men and woman who serve in the Armed Forces, Reserves and National Guard. Why is it okay to ban a moment of silence from public schools because it makes people uncomfortable, but not okay to ban behavior that’s the subject of such an emotional debate?

It would have been better to propose amendments to the law to make it clear that homosexuals could be subject to consequences if their public behavior is deemed to be a distraction or danger to their unit.

References:
Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell

I’ll be honest: I don’t like President Obama. I didn’t vote for him. I don’t agree with his policies and I think he’s bad for America… but I’m going to try to not let that influence how I really feel about him being awarded the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize.

The whole of my remaining realizable estate shall be dealt with in the following way: the capital, invested in safe securities by my executors, shall constitute a fund, the interest on which shall be annually distributed in the form of prizes to those who, during the preceding year, shall have conferred the greatest benefit on mankind. The said interest shall be divided into five equal parts, which shall be apportioned as follows: one part to the person who shall have made the most important discovery or invention within the field of physics; one part to the person who shall have made the most important chemical discovery or improvement; one part to the person who shall have made the most important discovery within the domain of physiology or medicine; one part to the person who shall have produced in the field of literature the most outstanding work in an ideal direction; and one part to the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses. The prizes for physics and chemistry shall be awarded by the Swedish Academy of Sciences; that for physiology or medical works by the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm; that for literature by the Academy in Stockholm, and that for champions of peace by a committee of five persons to be elected by the Norwegian Storting. It is my express wish that in awarding the prizes no consideration be given to the nationality of the candidates, but that the most worthy shall receive the prize, whether he be Scandinavian or not.

— Excerpt from the last will and testament of Alfred Nobel

The last time I looked, a will was a legally binding document by which a person declares how their estate is supposed to be managed and disposed of upon his death. I suppose it’s possible that Mr. Nobel’s will has been challenged at some point, but I’m going to assume it is currently deemed to be valid since these awards have been given to deserving individuals since 1901.

What I have a problem with is that the NNC has deliberately ignored the guidelines set forth in the will:

… and one part to the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.
… in awarding the prizes no consideration be given to the nationality of the candidates, but that the most worthy shall receive the prize…

I’m not aware of anything President Obama has actually done to promote peace. Perhaps what he hasn’t done is better than what the other 204 candidates actually did? Or maybe all of the 205 candidates were being considered because of their hopes and promises instead of recent accomplishments?

That said, I have to give credit where credit is due. Had the Swedish Academy decided to give President Obama the Nobel Prize in Literature, I’d have no issue whatsoever. One only needs to listen to a few of his many speeches to know that our President is quite skilled at spinning a captivating yarn.

References:

Excerpt from the Last Will & Testament of Alfred Nobel
The Norwegian Nobel Committee

Buy a Mac.

Seriously… some spammer just sent me an email with that subject line advertising a product that will identify and eliminate errors, restore performance and stabilize Windows.

Here’s what I really don’t get.

Say you go spend your hard-earned cash for a new oven… or a new washing machine — doesn’t really matter what it is. But it’s manufactured by Acme, Inc. and every six months it starts giving you trouble… and every six months, you need to go through some routine to eliminate problems that should never have occurred in the first place.

Next time you need a new oven or washing machine, are you really going to buy another Acme? Do you really believe you’re stuck with Acme because you don’t know how to operate another brand?

Wake up people… if it hurts when you bang your head against a wall, stop banging your head against the wall.

How come Acorn is allowed to endorse presidential candidates and keep their federal funding?

If you criticized George Bush, it was called freedom of speech. If you criticize Obama, they call it racism.

I can’t believe anyone would actually consider doing this. Studies show that texting while driving is as dangerous as driving with a blood alcohol level twice the legal limit.

When you get behind the wheel of a car, you should be concentrating on driving. If you feel the “need” to text, get off the road. If you can’t resist the urge to text and drive, you should probably seek professional help.

Introduce a new restriction in the 2010 elections barring all incumbents from running for re-election.

Prior to the 2004 Presidential election, the law in Massachusetts required unexpectedly vacated Senate seats to be temporarily filled by choice of the Governor. John Kerry’s seat would have been vacant if he were elected President, so the Massachusetts legislature simply changed the law — preventing Republican Governor Mitt Romney from possibly appointing a Republican.

Shortly before the late Senator Edward Kennedy’s death, he asked the state legislature to change the law back to what it was — allowing current Democratic Governor Deval Patrick to possibly appoint a Democrat.

In the weeks before Senator Kennedy’s death, he argued that the state of Massachusetts deserved to be fully represented in the U.S. Senate. I agree completely. But the Senator was diagnosed with brain cancer in May, 2008. If he was so devoted to Massachusetts, why didn’t he pressure the legislature to hold a special election in January, 2009 at which time he would step down?

The good justice better damn well be sairy for what’s he’s done. Did he stop to think for even a second how dispassionate his actions would be to the families and friends of those who lost their lives over Lockerbie, Scotland on December 21, 1988?

I have house guests coming this weekend so I’m freshening up the guest rooms. When I was laying out the towels, I grabbed my favorite set just like I always do… and I spent a few seconds checking for frays — just like I always do.

You see, my favorite set of towels is 21 years old. I bought them when I purchased my first home. I fell in love with them as soon as I saw them, but I couldn’t afford them — so I bought one set out of one paycheck and another set out of the next one. For ten years, they were used daily and went in the washer and dryer weekly. They’re Martex Liberty of London, just in case you’re curious.

Since then, they’ve been used by guests several times a year. I’m sure they’ve faded a little, but they still look brand new.

I’ll bet you my favorite set of towels there isn’t a manufacturer out there today — including Martex — who’d promise their towels would last for 2 years, let alone 20.