Darren McGavin--Rest in Peace

The movie "A Christmas Story" is one of our favorites around the hanger. It's usually played back-to-back for 24 hours on Christmas eve on the USA network.

The hilarious Dad in that hilarious movie, Darren McGavin, passed away yesterday. Here's a rundown of his long career. (I first became aware of him on the creepy, short lived "Kolchak: The Night Stalker" series which I loved when I was a kid.)

I don't know about Mr. McGavin's spiritual condition but hopefully he is in the process of receiving "a major award." View image

National Pride...Swelling...

The U.S. curling team has won our nation's first-ever olympic medal in that thrilling sport. A curling superpower is on the rise... Details here.

The Future of Book Publishing

I'm talking about real books you can hold in your hand. Rick Brookhiser has some thoughts.

Bond Bomb

In a world...

that struggles to deal with terrorist threats... global warming... natural disasters... and the dwindling funny-ness of David Letterman, comes a real controversy: The New James Bond.

Look at him

Yes, he looks British... but looks British to the degree that Pee-Wee Herman looks American. Of course, this is probably the worst picture ever taken of the poor man in order to make a point.

Then there's the most recent Bond.

Now that there's a Bond.

Anyway, there's a website dedicated to blocking this new Bond issue. And, hey, they may have a point. Remember the last bomb Bond? I know I do...

And we should look back because those who refuse to remember the past are doomed to repeat it (or something like that). Still, in the spirit of fair play, even Timothy Dalton has fans.

Bear Bryant Cartoons Spark Riots in Alabama

More of the shocking cartoons and the rage they've triggered on the Crimson Tide "street"?here.

Posted Without Comment...

A new bumper sticker:

New McProphet Sandwich Sparks Riots in Islamobad

You Can't Make This Stuff Up

Well...you could but no one would believe you.

A Welsh flagmaker is now issuing an urgent saftety warning on it's website to Muslim customers who are ordering Danish flags in order to burn them. According to a British newspaper...

"We have experienced a rise in orders for the Danish colours," owner Robin Ashburner confirmed. But he warned, "It has to be pointed out though that a number of modern flags are now made largely of polyester and when they burn they melt. That means if they are whirled around by a protester, his or her fellow protesters could be splashed by flying pieces of burning material. If it got into the eye it could do serious damage so we are about to issue a warning to this effect on our website."

Sure, flag burning rage and rioting is all fun and games until someone loses an eye...

And another thing...

U.N. Sec. Gen Kofi Annan just offered his thoughts on this whole muslim rage thing. In encouraging muslims not to riot and kill becuase someone hurt their feelings...

"I understand and share their anguish. But it cannot justify violence, least of all attacks on innocent people,"

...he couldn't be bothered to say a single word for freedom of the press. He shares the "anguish" of the rioters. But apparently the rights of free people in free nations to express their ideas without fear of violence doesn't merit a mention.

More on Muslim Rage

The brilliant Mark Steyn weighs in...

Muslim Cartoon Rage

Here's a little something to put all the current rage in the the Arab "street" in perspective. Musilim papers continously publish cartoons like this one...

Here's an index of similar cartoons from Arabic newspapers.