Woke up at about 4 this morning and couldn't sleep. So I already had my coffee and read much of the WSJ when I saw the newst alert that finalized this country's return to September 10.

Yes, the mainstreaming of Kaleid Sheik Whatshisname. I think I can illustrate the absurdity of today's news headlines. Play along:

Imagine it's 1941 and the Pacific Fleet has just been destroyed at Pearl Harbor. Further, imagine that one of the Japanese bomber pilots has been shot down and captured in the raid. Does anyone doubt how that pilot would have been treated, either then or now under today's prevailing laws?

Right: the pilot would be a POW. Pearl Harbor was a military installation, not civilians in a workplace. As a POW the pilot would have no right to a criminal trial or a court review, but would instead be subject to captivity until the end of hostilities. Not a bad beef, given the body count.

Now suppose Pearl Harbor had been bombed not by uniformed pilots flying flagged aircraft. Imagine instead that the U.S. fleet had been destroyed by non-uniformed saboteurs. And further imagine that the attack specifically targeted civilians as well as military personnel. If some of those saboteurs had been captured would we grant those prisoner more or less procedural protection than the POWs mentioned above?

Think carefully before you answer. If you want to be a nice guy and grant more protection (habeas corpus, right to counsel, jury trial, etc.) would that not incentivize illegal war methods? And by encouraging such methods of attacks, do we not endanger the very non-combatants that the POW rules (and all laws of war) are designed to protect?

Which brings us to today's absurdity: had KSM obeyed the laws of war, worn a uniform, bore arms openly as a soldier, and not targeted civilians he would still be in a POW camp with no access to civilian court. Instead, he operated as a stealth combatant, waging war in a way that maximized civilian casualties... so he gets rewarded with a civilian trial and a defense lawyer. And extensive security protection. Paid for by me. And you.

World domination has been achieved. By idiots. I read about it today, before the sun even rose.

Turducken for the holidays? Or its evolutionary superior?

Whatever it is, I concur.

This Halloween thing is getting a little too close to reality. While I was out storming the doorsteps of Middletown with Stephen and Kayleigh, Cookie was out taking care of all family business here in Berea. He looked good -- reminded me of another well-dressed fellow.



Got back here Tuesday night after a weeklong stay at and around the office. A long time to be living out of a bag; a long time to be away from Da Chimpz.

I've been taking my Voltaren much more regularly in the last couple of months -- sort-of conceding defeat and accepting that without the stuff I'm going to be miserable. And maybe even with the stuff, as it seems to have a diminishing effect on the ragged edges of my sacroiliac.

Heh. I like to say sacroiliac.

I also like to say Voltaren. Makes me think of Voltron. Defender of the universe!