I'm taking another wonderful trip to my parent's neck of the woods for the next few days. Hopefully something interesting will happen on this trip.

Victor Davis Hanson argues in this piece in National Review Online that we need to stop supporting autocracies and dictatorships because we don't really need to anymore. He selects Musharraf's Pakistan as a prime example of a government that we should not support. Being of the pragmatic mindset when it comes to international relations, I think that he makes quite a few valid points. However, I think it may be a bit too much at this point in India/Pakistan relations for us to do such a thing. If India sees us pulling all support on Pakistan's government, there will be even less of a reason for India to try to avoid war. At this point we can not afford to have a Pakistan in shambles(it would be even worse then it is presently for finding Al Qaeda and their ilk).

The Courier-Journal has another one of those rare moments on their editorial page, they actually made some sense. Commenting on the recent decision by the UofL Board of Trustees to raise tuition in order to help bail out athletics, they few it as it should be: dirty tricks.

In the decision to end a decades long practice of keeping the athletics at UofL seperate from the academic corporations, they have come to the point of forcing students to subsidize athletics. The students recently had a petition stating that they would not support the University financially if this type of thing came to pass. I know I'm never giving them another dime once I finish my degree.

Take a look at these two articles on the same subject of the Democratic primary for the US Senate: Courier-Journal and FOX News.

The Courier in it's normal friendly attitude for all things McConnell and it's ties to the Democrats does as expected and dismisses the fact that Weinberg's opponent didn't concede the election. Her opponent, former U.S. Rep. Tom Barlow, spent less then $6,00 and still came within a thousand votes. Knowing how things run in this state, I'd side with Barlow if he choose to contest the election. But take a look at the Fox News article for a more balanced approach.

Kevin Guilfoile writes an interesting piece asking the simple question, "What Are You, Drunk?" He takes an interesting look at the problem with all of the recent college drinking studies and how they are generally off base and miss the point.

KY is getting great press in the UK. The BBC is reporting on the recent violence in KY elections. Well, at least they hear about the KY Derby as well.

I've been spending the past few days at a friends house just south of Pittsburgh, PA. It's been an interesting weekend so far in going out to clubs, to an Irish pub and just in general goofing around. Seen several friends that I haven't talked to in awhile. It's so great to relax. (Well, for the most part.)

New things appearing everyday in genetics. Hopefully this one will deliver the promised cheaper, leaner chicken.

Google is running an interesting banner logo this week that features Dilbert. Go to Google's website to see Google and Dilbert Doodle.

"The safest road to Hell is the gradual one -- the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts." --C. S. Lewis

Ozzy's wife has said that she'll castrate Ted Nugent. This was done after Nugent made a comment that Ozzy was a "blithering, hopeless idiot." I don't see anything incorrect about Ted's statement. Maybe he needs to amend it some. He should have said that the whole Osbourne family are blithering, hopeless idiots.

George Will's syndicated column today discusses Campaign Finance Reform. He makes some good points concerning the real motives behind CFR.

"By explaining why they should have standing to defend in court the constitutionality of BCRA--why overturning it will injure them--McCain et al. reveal that the supposed concern about corruption is itself a sham, a form of corruption that the First Amendment should prevent. BCRA's aim is the convenience of its enactors, incumbent lawmakers."

The first trailer for The MATRIX: RELOADED is now online.

A Lexington, KY doctor has told Congress that he plans to impregnate a woman with a cloned fetus in a few months. This is while they're trying to prevent such an act from ever occuring. I hope the laws get in place first.

Found this one through InstaPundit.Com. Steven Den Beste has discover another front in the war against Islamicism. Hey, whatever works.

Beer is good for you — no, really

I knew I liked beer for a reason.

There are those who believe that to acknowledge the Creator as the source of freedom is to diminish our freedom. But I believe they misinterpret, they invert, and they turn around that which is right. We acknowledged God as the author of our freedom and when we have, we affirm the dignity and worth of every human being. We are blessed to live in a nation that protects the rights of all precisely because we acknowledge that we are not the grantors of these rights, that God grants rights – we seek to guard them and guarantee them, but they are of a source greater than our own.
- Remarks of Attorney General John Ashcroft, Commencement Address at CUA

In Defense of Elitism - Jonah Goldberg

A good piece going over how elites are different then snobs and why they are needed and exist in this society. Plus some discussion on whether some cultures are better then others.

Our wonderful, and fortunately former, President Jimmy "Never met a Dictator I didn't Like" Carter is at it again. While in no position to dictate foriegn policy, he travels to states that have been enemies of the United States and their own people and attacks his countries stance on how we handle them. His recent trip to Cuba is providing Castro a chance to deflect critcism, especially with Carter dismissing Cuba's terror links. The man simply amazes me. He was an ineffective President and now he wants to drag all the rest of us down into his private hell.

The current leading party in Israel, the Likud party, ignored pleas from Prime Minister Sharon today in their vote to oppose the formation of a Palestinian state. This does not bode well for Mr. Sharon's continued leadership of the Likud party or the country in general. This party decision, supported by former prime minister Netanyahu, will simply cause the chances for full-scale war to increase. I am far from a fan of the PLO/PA/et al. However, the original decision to create Israel from the British controlled mandate included the formation of the state for Palestinians. As Sharon states, it is inevitable that one will be formed if peace is ever to be achieved in the region. Here's hoping that cooler heads will rule the day in the end.

I had this summer completly off from classes. I didn't have to take anything or couldn't at least that would go for my degree. But now, I'm taking a class anyway. However, I wouldn't put this class in the area of it's going to kill me mentally, may physically though. That's right, I'm taking a PE course in college. Weight training to be exact. Let's see if I can keep my own and actually utilize what I learn in this class.

Well, it's the Thursday before the KY Derby. For those of you that don't know about the Derby, it basically turns this town into one big party. And I'm not ready for it. Well, I guess I'll just stay not ready.

I've made the trip to Morgantown, KY today. It really is an interesting small town. I'm really trying to convince myself of that. Well, at least Bowling Green (which is really close) is remotely interesting. I'm down here visiting my parents for the night. What gets me is that everytime I come down here I end up at Barnes & Noble and buy a bunch of books. I'm headed home tomorrow with four new titles this time. As things aren't too exciting, I'm off.