'Your kids will meditate in school...'

I used to jokingly play this song back in the days when California was about to reelect Governor Jerry Brown to another term as the state's chief executive. But I don't think I've been seriously reminded of Moonbeam's supreme kookiness until yesterday, with his signing of the idiotic and disgusting bill allowing more than two parents to claim custody of children.

See the Los Angeles Times, "Brown signs bill to allow children more than two legal parents."

Megyn Kelly Returns to Fox News

She was on O'Reilly's on Thursday. Her new primetime debut is scheduled for next week.

A great lady.

Samantha Lewthwaite Spells Out Her Need to Murder Disbelievers and Incites Others

At Blazing Cat Fur, "The White Widow's 'Jihadi children'."

Sarah Michelle Gellar

She's returned to network television.

LEAKS REVEAL: Obama Preparing to Destroy the Separation of Powers

At Director Blue.

Mountain Lion P-22

A great story, at the Los Angeles Times, "Scientists track cougar's wild nightlife above Hollywood."

#Dodgers Lose Game 2 of #NLDS

At LAT, "Dodgers come up short, again and again, in 4-3 loss to Braves":

Say Hey! We have ourselves a series. http://t.co/VDl2a8Brjv #NLDS pic.twitter.com/uF2NDrU6Ch

— MLB (@MLB) October 5, 2013

One day after almost everything went right for the Dodgers, precious little did.

They received a strong outing from Zack Greinke and Hanley Ramirez had three extra-base hits, but otherwise little fell into place Friday in their 4-3 loss in Game 2 of their National League division series with the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field.

The Atlanta victory evened the best-of-five series at a game apiece. Game 3 is scheduled Sunday at Dodger Stadium.

The Dodgers could never come up with the big hit Friday, bouncing into three key double plays. And then there were the seven runners left on base and managerial decisions by Don Mattingly that largely seemed to backfire.

Greinke pitched well, but left trailing 2-1 after six innings.

The Braves wanted to turn this series into a battle of bullpens, and despite giving up a two-run homer to Ramirez in the eighth, their bullpen was the difference.

Here's an inning-by-inning recap of Game 2...

Continue reading.

Santa Ana Winds Warning

It was very windy today.

At one point, around 2:00pm, the 5 Freeway nearly came to a stop as leaves from roadside trees were shaken down onto the highway.

At LAT, "Santa Ana winds: Red flag warnings issued across Southland," and "Santa Ana winds batter Southern California; fire danger high."

Teen Predator Kaitlyn Hunt Accepts Plea Deal

From the Palm Beach Sun-Sentinel, "Kate Hunt accepts plea deal from state."

The Sun-Sentinel report continues the "innocent little Kate" propaganda.



And also at the Other McCain, "Thug Family Values: Kaitlyn Hunt Plea Deal Prompts Bitter Rant by Her Father."

Plus, "Kaitlyn Hunt’s Father Threatens Violence: ‘F–king Beat Him Till He Can’t Function’," and "When ‘Balanced’ Journalism Is Bad."

Võ Nguyên Giáp,1911–2013

A very significant historical personality.

An obituary at the New York Times, "Gen. Võ Nguyên Giáp, Who Ousted U.S. From Vietnam, Is Dead":

Vo Nguyen Giap, the relentless and charismatic North Vietnamese general whose campaigns drove both France and the United States out of Vietnam, died on Friday in Hanoi. He was believed to be 102.

The death was reported by several Vietnamese news organizations, including the respected Tuoi Tre Online, which said he had died in an army hospital.

General Giap was among the last survivors of a generation of Communist revolutionaries who in the decades after World War II freed Vietnam of colonial rule and fought a superpower to a stalemate. In his later years, he was a living reminder of a war that was mostly old history to the Vietnamese, many of whom were born after it had ended.

But he had not faded away. He was regarded as an elder statesman whose hard-line views had softened with the cessation of the war that unified Vietnam. He supported economic reform and closer relations with the United States while publicly warning of the spread of Chinese influence and the environmental costs of industrialization.

To his American adversaries, however, from the early 1960s to the mid-1970s, he was perhaps second only to his mentor, Ho Chi Minh, as the face of a tenacious, implacable enemy. And to historians, his willingness to sustain staggering losses against superior American firepower was a large reason the war dragged on as long as it did, costing more than 2.5 million lives — 58,000 of them American — sapping the United States Treasury and Washington’s political will to fight, and bitterly dividing the country in an argument about America’s role in the world that still echoes today.

An "implacable enemy."

Well, perhaps he was in the 1960s. The Democrat Party today would be hugging the dude, talking about global Communism's threat to America reflects some terrible --- terrible! --- "misunderstanding."

More at that top link.

Vicious Obama #Democrats and Risks of #Shutdown

The Dems want this shutdown and they'll spare no pain to enforce it.

Here's the lead story at Memeorandum right now, from WSJ, "White House's Hard Line on Shutdown, Debt Ceiling Has Risks Attached":

The two quotes from Washington today that all Americans should be aware of. pic.twitter.com/MAYDzNOR1Q

— Kathleen McKinley (@KatMcKinley) October 4, 2013

President Barack Obama is sticking to his stance that he won't negotiate with Republicans over the government shutdown or the higher-stakes fight over the federal debt ceiling.

The question, for Republicans and White House allies alike: How long will that resolve last?

Mr. Obama spoke Thursday at a construction company just outside Washington and held fast to his view that Republicans must not attach conditions to bills that underpin the functioning of government.

"There is one way out," he said: Republicans must relent and reopen the government.

White House officials believe they have the upper hand, citing evidence that some Republicans are buckling under public pressure. Mr. Obama invited the four congressional leaders to the Oval Office Wednesday, and despite the show of engagement made no concessions, according to people familiar with the meeting.

House Speaker John Boehner (R., Ohio) left the White House and said Mr. Obama "reiterated one more time tonight that he will not negotiate."

Terry Holt, a longtime Republican strategist, said Mr. Obama's strategy rests on a cold-eyed calculation that Republicans are the ones with the most to lose. "As long as the president thinks his poll numbers are going to be good, I don't expect the government to reopen," he said.

Said a senior administration official: "We are winning...It doesn't really matter to us" how long the shutdown lasts "because what matters is the end result."

White House allies, however, say a long shutdown could make the White House's position less tenable. Mr. Obama is the most visible symbol of the U.S. government, they say, and will inevitably share in the blame as hardships mount and people weary of the infighting.

Already, the shutdown has produced images of inconvenience, lost pay, and disruptions in wedding and vacation plans. The Republican National Committee has offered to cover the cost of keeping open the World War II memorial for the next month after a group of veterans toured the site even though it was closed due to the shutdown.

"To the extent that any blame washes onto the Democrats and the president, it's going to be from the sense that this town is just completely dysfunctional and it's everybody's fault," said Matt Bennett, senior vice president of Third Way, a center-left think tank.

Brendan Buck, a spokesman for Mr. Boehner, said: "Ultimately, politics in Washington is a reflection of the president's leadership. People expect their president to be the grown-up in the room, and he's not even in the room."

Mr. Obama said Thursday people should resist the impulse to blame both sides equally.

Also at Legal Insurrection, "Democrats trapped by their seething hatred of Tea Party."

Scores Die as Migrant Ship Capsizes Near Italy's Shore

At the New York Times, "Migrants Die as Burning Boat Capsizes Off Italy":

ROME — Having floated for at least two days in the choppy Mediterranean Sea to reach Europe, a rickety trawler overstuffed with African migrants fleeing war and poverty was nearing a Sicilian island, not even a quarter-mile away. But it was still dark and no one had yet spotted them. So to signal their position, someone set a match to a blanket.

But rather than sending a signal, the fire brought tragedy when flames from the burning blanket ignited gasoline. Nearly 500 people are estimated to have been on board — including children — and the blaze created a panic that capsized the boat. So close to reaching land, the migrants were now tossed into the sea. Many could not swim.

The accident, which occurred before dawn on Thursday within easy eyesight of the island of Lampedusa, is one of the worst in recent memory in the Mediterranean: at least 111 people were reported dead, with up to 250 still missing. At least 150 others survived, and Italy’s Coast Guard was continuing to search for more survivors.

The grisly deaths again underscored the dangerous, desperate efforts by many migrants from Africa and the Middle East to reach Europe by sea, while also renewing criticism of European immigration policy. Immigration is a politically volatile issue in Europe, so much so that Greece recently completed a nearly eight-mile fence blocking its border with Turkey, an attempt to shut down a major land migration route.

But some experts say that making it harder to slip into Europe by land has only pushed many migrants to try the more perilous route by sea. With conflicts raging in the Middle East and Africa, the number of asylum seekers and migrants arriving by boat in Spain and Italy has spiked this year. According to statistics released by Save the Children, 21,780 migrants reached Italy during the first nine months of this year, including 4,000 children.

Lampedusa, an Italian island barely 70 miles from northern Africa, has become a gateway to Europe for migrants. In some seasons, boats filled with migrants and asylum seekers arrive almost daily.

Pope Francis, who visited the island in July to draw attention to the plight of migrants, expressed sadness and outrage over Thursday’s fatal accident.

“The word disgrace comes to me,” the pope said during an audience, calling for prayers on behalf of the dead and their families. “Let us unite our efforts so that similar tragedies do not happen again. Only a decided collaboration among all can help to stop them.”

For Italy, the flow of migrants across the Mediterranean has become an enormous operational and humanitarian challenge. Italian Coast Guard boats are sent almost daily on dangerous rescue missions. Migrants assume huge risks to reach Europe and pay thousands of dollars to smugglers and middlemen, often in Turkey, Egypt and Libya. The smugglers load people onto a large boat for a trip into Italian waters. There, the migrants are usually transferred to smaller boats, some barely seaworthy, and left to float in the current. Then the smugglers flee back to Africa.

It was unclear if the migrants in Thursday’s accident were delivered by smugglers and then transferred to a smaller boat, or if they made the entire journey from Libya in the same trawler. It did seem clear, though, that they were completely unprepared.

Plus, "Italy Suspends Search for Shipwreck Victims."

Woman Killed in Capitol Hill Chase Was Fixated on President Obama

Well, support for Obama is a mental health issue, but this certainly is extreme.

At LAT, "Woman shot in D.C. chase had fixation on President Obama":

WASHINGTON -- The woman shot to death after a police chase from the White House to Capitol Hill had been suffering from mental health issues, according to federal law enforcement officials, including postpartum depression after her daughter was born and a troubling fixation on President Obama.

Miriam Carey’s declining mental stability, the sources said, developed into a belief that the president was “controlling" her life, which may explain why she appeared Thursday afternoon next to the White House and then led Secret Service agents and Washington police on a two-mile, three-minute chase down Pennsylvania Avenue. Along the way, two officers were injured.

"She thought that the president had her apartment under surveillance," Rep.  Michael McCaul (R-Texas), chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, told the Los Angeles Times. "That must have prompted her trip to Washington and her attempt to visit the White House."

Carey’s sister, Amy, told CNN’s Anderson Cooper on Friday, "We will never know what Miriam was thinking in those last hours before she died. We can only speculate."

She said her sister experienced postpartum depression "with psychosis … which came along with treatment and medication and counseling…. She had her challenges as a new parent. I am a parent. I have two children. … There was nothing out of the ordinary.  She didn’t appear to be unstable."

But Amy Carey also asked, "Was there some other way that she could have been helped so it didn’t end tragically?”

McCaul said, however, that the police "didn’t really have much of a choice, given the way she was driving."

"At the time, they don’t know who she is, what her motivation is," he said. "When I talk to the FBI or Secret Service, they’re just amazed that she could drive at 80 mph down Pennsylvania Avenue and not hit a car…. When you’re traveling like that, and you’re erratic … there’s plenty of pedestrians that could be killed.

"Plus, the threat to the White House raises the stakes. And then this car was seen around the Capitol grounds. That raises the stakes even higher."

Also at Expose Liberals, "Miriam Carey Facebook page and profile."

And from yesterday at Twitchy, "Reports: All shots fired by police; Pathetic lefties continue to blame NRA and Tea Party."

Plus, "But of course! Actress Nancy Lee Grahn uses Capitol shooting to smear House GOP," and "Vile haters wish Ted Cruz and Tea Partiers were shot during the Capitol Hill lockdown."

Lying Democrat Liar Chad Henderson Not 'Enrolled' in #ObamaCare

Ezra Klein and company have been once again outed as ridiculous clowns with their latest #ObamaCare cheerleading. It turns out Wonkblog-ger Sarah Kliff spent the day yesterday touting a guy named Chad Henderson as perhaps the only person to actually get through the online #ObamaCare exchanges to buy health insurance.

I found one!! Meet Chad Henderson, who has in fact bought health insurance on the federal marketplace. http://t.co/HOoxbcOsAL
— Sarah Kliff (@sarahkliff) October 3, 2013

Seriously. It's like her first orgasm.

This idiot Henderson's become a celebrity overnight, although as always with the leftist-Democrat-state media, it's all a lie.

First of all, the idiot's an OFA activist and local Democrat Party club leader. See Ed Morrissey, "What a coincidence: Single ObamaCare success story is … OFA volunteer."

And now today it turns out that the dude's dad was interviewed saying that Chad in fact hadn't enrolled in a healthcare program yesterday. It was all a scam.

See Twitchy, "MSM enablers promote lying liar’s Obamacare fable, fail to issue corrections."

Ms. Kliff has updated:

And so the saga continues: Spoke with Chad Henderson again, confirms he hasn't bought coverage, argues he didn't lie. http://t.co/dylVMmhXl1
— Sarah Kliff (@sarahkliff) October 4, 2013

Check Memeorandum for more.

And note that Henderson did in fact lie:

enrolled in #Obamacare just now! Looking forward to having affordable healthcare for the first time! @newschannelnine @WRCB @TimesFreePress

— Chad Henderson (@ChadHenderson) October 1, 2013

Heidi Klum Blast From the Past

She's a frisky lady.

Blast from the past: Remember this shoot 4 @VictoriasSecret w the amazing Dominique Issermann! pic.twitter.com/eQaMn6GpXC

— Heidi Klum (@heidiklum) October 4, 2013

Clayton Kershaw Strikes Out 12 in NLDS Opener in Atlanta

I watched baseball last night, and then hit the sack early.

The Dodgers cruised to an easy win over the Braves, surprisingly easy. I hope they do it again today.

At LAT, "Dodgers' ace trumps Braves in postseason opener, 6-1":

Feat of Clay: Kershaw guides @Dodgers to commanding Game 1 win in Atlanta. http://t.co/zQvWcfYEgo #NLDS pic.twitter.com/wHJUUoS1p5

— MLB (@MLB) October 4, 2013

ATLANTA — If Clayton Kershaw continues to pitch the way he did Thursday night, the long-term contract to which the Dodgers intend to sign him this winter could cost them even more than they expect.

That's fine with minority owner Magic Johnson, who was at Turner Field to watch Kershaw overcome early control problems to lead the Dodgers to a 6-1 victory over the Atlanta Braves in Game 1 of their best-of-five National League division series.

"We already know we have to give him a lot of money," Johnson said. "What's a few more zeros?"

Backed by five runs in the first four innings, Kershaw earned his first career playoff victory by limiting the Braves to a run and three hits over seven innings.

His 12 strikeouts were the most by a Dodgers pitcher in a postseason game since Sandy Koufax struck out 15 New York Yankees in Game 1 of the 1963 World Series.

The most incredible aspect of the performance was that Kershaw couldn't throw the ball where he wanted.

"It was more fastball command than anything," Kershaw said.

He threw 19 pitches in the first inning, which included a 10-pitch at-bat by Justin Upton. He threw 77 pitches through four innings and 91 through five. He walked three batters.

"That was our game plan," Braves Manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "Make him pitch a little bit. When you look up and you see 77 pitches in the fourth inning, you feel like you have a chance. But he is what he is. He turned it up the next three or four innings and we didn't really get good swings at him."

Once Kershaw gained a feel for his curveball in the fifth inning, the Braves were finished.

Kershaw struck out nine of the last 11 batters he faced, including six in a row in one stretch.

"As soon as we got on the same page and figured out the off-speed pitch, that was the ticket," catcher A.J. Ellis said. "Those fifth, sixth and seventh innings, he rolled through and got all those strikeouts. That was amazing."

Also at AJC, "Kershaw strikes out 12 as Braves, Medlen lose Game 1."

Tom Clancy, 1947-2013

He was just 66 years old.

At the New York Times, "Tom Clancy, Best-Selling Master of Military Thrillers, Dies at 66":

Mr. Clancy’s debut book, “The Hunt for Red October,” was frequently cited as one of the greatest genre novels ever written. With the book’s publication in 1984, Mr. Clancy introduced a new kind of potboiler: an espionage thriller dense with technical details about weaponry, submarines and intelligence agencies.

It found an eager readership. More than 100 million copies of his novels are in print, and a remarkable 17 have reached No. 1 on the New York Times’s best-seller list, including “Threat Vector,” released last December. Prolific until his death, Mr. Clancy had been awaiting publication of his next book, “Command Authority,” set for Dec. 3.

The impact of his books has been felt far beyond the publishing world. Some were adapted by Hollywood and became blockbusters starring Harrison Ford, Alec Baldwin and Ben Affleck as Mr. Clancy’s hero protagonist, Jack Ryan. Mr. Clancy arranged for his thrillers to be turned into video games that were so realistic, the military licensed them for training. And on television, fast-paced espionage using high-tech tools in the Clancy mold found a place in popular shows like “24” and “Homeland.”

I read a few of Clancy's works, but nothing compared to "The Hunt for Red October."

First saw the news of his death yesterday on Twitter. I was a little shocked.

Britney Spears' 'Work Bitch' Video

I'm always down for some Britney.

At London's Daily Mail, "Hit me baby one more time! Britney Spears dons leather underwear as she wields a whip in racy bondage-inspired new video for Work B****."

Obama: Petty, Petulant, and Puerile

From Nile Gardiner, at Telegraph UK, "US government shutdown: Barack Obama looks like a bitter, petty and partisan president":

Cursing political opponents will do Obama no good and smacks of arrogance and desperation from a White House that has lost its grip on reality. The legacy of President Obama will be the relentless rise of big government and a large expansion of government dependency, the strangling of economic freedom, a huge increase in the national debt, and the implementation of hated health care reforms that carry with them a $1.85 trillion price tag. The Obama presidency will also be remembered for its bitter partisanship, and its relentless vilification of political opponents, emanating from an administration that would rather engage with a terrorist sponsoring regime in the Middle East than talk to elected US lawmakers three miles down the road.

RTWT.

S.E. Cupp Loves Her Some Ted Cruz

A hero of the Senate.