Libyan Protesters Pay a High Price, but Gain Benghazi

New York Daily News reports that many demonstrators have been killed by machine-gun and anti-aircraft artillery fire, but, with the help of military forces in sympathy with them, have taken Benghazi, the second largest city in Libya. Reuters has more information about this escalating uprising against Muammar Gaddafi.

UPDATE1: The Sydney Morning Herald ran an AFP article describing fighting in the Libyan capital of Tripoli, where the opposition has seized control of some military bases and tanks.

UPDATE2: The Daily Mail (U.K.) says that Gaddafi has fled the capital, and that protesters have torched the parliament building. An Associated Press article says that action is being taken to evacuate foreign workers.

UPDATE3: BBC News reported that Gaddafi appeared on state television to tell the public that he had not skipped the country to seek political asylum in Venezuela and was still in Tripoli. How long he can maintain his grip on power remains to be seen.

Outnumbered but Defiant

Power Line Blog provides some of the best coverage of the pro-Gov. Walker rally organized by Americans for Prosperity and other conservative organizations in Madison, Wisconsin today. The picture on the right is that of Andrew Breitbart addressing the crowd.

Personal Memoir of a Teacher's Strike in Arizona

Beverly Gunn at American Thinker has just described her own experience as a substitute teacher when the NEA went on strike in Sierra Vista, AZ in 1980. This article is particularly timely in light of the ongoing wildcat teacher's strike in Wisconsin.

Czars Take Note: Peasant Revolt in Sector 2

House Votes to Dethrone Obama’s Czars

Source: Newsmax.com

Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.), the architect of a daring GOP attempt to strip congressional funding for nine executive branch “czars,” says it’s only the first salvo in a much larger battle to reverse “radical policies” promulgated by the Obama administration. “Under President Obama, we’ve seen a proliferation of czars,” he told Newsmax the day after the House passed his amendment to block spending any federal funds on nine “special presidential advisers....”

UPDATE: Human Events reports that this amendment passed the House by a vote of 249 to 179.

Rep. Womack Suggests Defunding Obama's Teleprompter!

Is nothing sacred? asks the Politico article:

A blizzard of House amendments aimed at cutting $100 billion from the federal budget included one from Rep. Steve Womack, an Arkansas Republican, to cut funding for President Obama's beloved teleprompter.

Womack told Fox News that it's about tough love: "We're asking people to do more with less. And I think the president ought to lead by example. He is already a very gifted speaker. And I think that's one platform he could do without," Womack said....

Womack later pulled his amendment from consideration, saying he couldn't get a read on how much it would save.

Wisconsin Teachers Cram Capitol to Protest Anti-Union Bill

FOX News reports that "Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, a Republican, called on the 14 Senate Democrats who fled the state instead of voting on a controversial anti-union bill, to return and do their jobs. They may be hiding out in Rockford, IL, and have just enough people to deny the state senate of a quorum.

"Wisconsin's measure would end collective bargaining for state, county and local workers, except for police, firefighters and the state patrol. Unions still could represent workers, but could not seek pay increases above those pegged to the Consumer Price Index unless approved by a public referendum. Unions also could not force employees to pay dues and would have to hold annual votes to stay organized."

See more coverage of the demonstrations at Hot Air and Pajamas Media.

UPDATE: The All Politics Blog of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel announced that a counter-demonstration is scheduled for Saturday.

Steve Jobs' Days Are Numbered, Say Doctors

CNews reports that Steve Jobs, Apple co-founder and visionary leader who revolutionized the computing, telecommunications, and music industries, has terminal cancer. One doctor said that he may have only 6 weeks to live.

Why the Deafening Silence on "Project Gunwalker?"

"You guys in the media, this is 2011. This is not 1995 or 1980. You're dealing with a public that is far more informed than you think they are because they know what you're not reporting." ~ Rush Limbaugh

Gun Rights Examiner has been one of the few news sources to report on a story that could put Attorney General Holder's job on the line.

"We reported that ATF whistleblowers had a story about management “allowing” guns to be walked to Mexico. Now a United States Senator is investigating just that, and has produced strong documentation to bolster that claim...."

More details are to be found at the Sipsey Street Irregulars blog.

Brown Family Reveals Dark Side

The 5 Browns, a talented piano quintet, has been dazzling audiences by reviving the old tradition of presenting music on multiple pianos. Sadly, their wholesome image has been marred by revelations that their father, Keith Brown, has been sexually abusing 3 daughters. The Salt Lake Tribune reported the sisters could remain silent no longer when they learned their father had plans to manage child musicians.

UPDATE: Deseret News reports the breaking story that Keith Brown, 55, pleaded guilty to charges of sexual abuse on his own children in a Provo court today [17 February].

Now It's Time to Worry About the Muslim Brotherhood

When ex-President Jimmy Carter vouches for the Muslim Brotherhood, which is in the process of organizing a political party in Egypt, I get suspicious. Check out the video featured at Glenn Beck's The Blaze.

Another Reason Why You Can't Trust Your Life to GPS

Hat tip: Reader's Digest

Uh-Oh! FBI Says There Is a 100% Probability of WMD Attack

NewsMax is running this story, but not many other news sources.

"The probability that the U.S. will be hit with a weapons of mass destruction attack at some point is 100 percent, Dr. Vahid Majidi, the FBI’s assistant director in charge of the FBI’s Weapons of Mass Destruction Directorate, tells Newsmax.

"Such an attack could be launched by foreign terrorists, lone wolves who are terrorists, or even by criminal elements, Majidi says. It would most likely employ chemical, biological, or radiological weapons rather than a nuclear device...."

ATF's Gangsta Behavior

More disgusting news from Moonbattery:

ATF Gives Guns to Mexican Drug Cartels to Undermine Second Amendment

Posted by Van Helsing at February 15, 2011 2:09 PM

Oh what a tangled web bureauweenies weave when they attempt to use their power to acquire still more power by supporting statist canards with phony data. This time we're not talking about NASA and the global warming farce, but the ATF's practice of smuggling guns across the border so that it will look like the Second Amendment's fault that Mexican drug cartels are violent:

A brewing scandal at the Department of Justice involving an illegal scheme to pad statistics on U.S. guns in Mexico threatens to erupt as U.S. Senator Charles Grassley of the Senate Judiciary Committee begins an investigation. ATF agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives — a DOJ agency — allegedly smuggled U.S. guns into Mexico in order to bolster the Department's disputed contention that Mexican drug cartels are armed primarily with U.S. guns. Whistleblowers within the ATF contend that one of these guns was used to kill Border Patrol agent Brian A. Terry in December of 2010.

Readers will remember Terry as the underarmed Border Patrol agent killed while providing free police protection to the illegal aliens colonizing Arizona.,,,

G. Norman "Buddy" Bishop Obituary

We regret to inform you that one of our staunchest supporters, G. Norman “Buddy” Bishop, Jr. passed away on February 4th, 2011 at Bay Medical Center in Panama City, Florida. He was 75 years old. Buddy was the son of the late George Norman Bishop and Louie Johnson Bishop of Athens.

He is survived by his wife, Debbie Wood and their children Norman Ray “Tho” Bishop, Tyler Johnson Bishop and Tiffany Jem Bishop of Panama City, FL.

Buddy is also survived by his loving daughters Anne Bishop Gay (Edward) and Carolyn Bishop Miller (Craig) and their mother, Kathleen Bishop; Grandchildren: Kate May (Robert), Amber Miller, Megan Miller Low (Tad), Ben Miller, Hamilton Miller, Mallory Miller, Alex Miller, Carson Miller; Great-Grandchildren: Anne Elizabeth, Lucy and Carolyn May.

Buddy’s illustrious life began in Elizabethton, Tennessee, but his heart was always in Athens with his “brother”, Col. Merritt Pound, where he graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in Journalism. The former U.S. Air Force pilot covered the Civil Rights movement for NBC before entering into politics, working on Bo Callaway’s 1964 Congressional Campaign. Buddy would go on to become Communications Chairman for the GOP in 1972. His most recent position was as Consultant for Congressman Spencer Bachus, Chairman for the Committee on Financial Services.

Pursuits outside of politics included a devotion to the Episcopalian Church in which he waged a 3 decade campaign in support of the 1928 Book of Common Prayer. With his passion for causes such as attempting to rescue POWs left behind in Vietnam, bringing democracy to the Central American country of Belize, fundraising efforts for medical research to eliminate Alzheimer’s, honoring our “Greatest Generation” – World War II veterans, his life personified a quote from Virgil: "Tu ne cede malis sed contra audentior ito. / Do not give in to evil but proceed ever more boldly against it".

Brits Lead the Way in Creating Rights for Criminals

The Telegraph (U.K.) has this sad tale:

After shredding the long-standing doctrine that a man's home is his castle, the British government continues to coddle criminals by warning homeowners to avoid using wire mesh to improve security in their storage sheds, lest they invite lawsuits by burglars!

Thomas Cooper, of Tatsfield, Surrey, used wire mesh to protect three of his garden sheds after two break-ins over the past four years. He decided to take action after reports of a rise in garden raids in the area.

Mr Cooper said: “I reinforced my shed windows with wire mesh, but was told by the police I had to be very careful because thieves can actually sue you if they get hurt. It is ridiculous that the law protects them even though they are breaking it.”

Reader reactions range from "Britain is the most spaztard nation on earth. why don't you all just kill yourselves??" to "In this particular case the advice given probably was wrong, but it's only advice and the PC never claimed to be a solicitor. If you want good legal advice, pay for it from a solicitor [lawyer]. If you won't do that then you are free to ask the police, the CAB or a randon stranger in the street but there isn't much point in complaining if it turns out the advice is wrong."

Kevlar Underwear Enhances Blast Protection

FOX News has an article about Blast Boxers, which have been made in the U.K. for the past 6 months and will now be manufactured in the United States. This is expected to become a hot item for our Soldiers and Marines in Afghanistan and Iraq.

A New Chapter in the History of Borders Bookstores - Chapter 11

MSN Money is the bearer of this bad news: Borders Group Inc. is struggling to stay alive in the face of the e-book revolution, it has been delisted from the New York Stock Exchange (which does not deal in penny stocks), and the firm may be forced to close 200 stores.

There Is Only One F-150, Declares Ford

Cleveland.com has the tale of a lawsuit filed by Ford Motor Co. against Ferrari, which was about to call its latest race car the F-150. Now Ferrari has decided to call this model by its full name, the "Ferrari F150th Italia," to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy.

Saudis Give Obama His Marching Orders

This just in from the Times of London:

...In a testy personal telephone call on January 29, King Abdullah told President Obama not to humiliate Mr Mubarak and warned that he would step in to bankroll Egypt if the US withdrew its aid program, worth $1.5 billion annually. America’s closest ally in the Gulf made clear that the Egyptian President must be allowed to stay on to oversee the transition towards peaceful democracy and then leave with dignity. “Mubarak and King Abdullah are not just allies, they are close friends, and the King is not about to see his friend cast aside and humiliated,” a senior source in the Saudi capital told The Times.

UPDATE1: FOX News says that Hosni Mubarak will resign sooner rather than later, perhaps as early as tonight (10 February). A military junta will run Egypt until further notice.

UPDATE2: MSNBC News describes a speech by Mubarak, in which he said he would delegate some of his powers to Vice President Suleiman, but has no plans to step down anytime soon. He also announced his intention of remaining in Egypt.

UPDATE3: A FOX News article reports the latest wrinkle in the convoluted story of the crisis in Egypt. Mubarak has resigned after all, and left control of the country to the military.

Super Granny to the Rescue!

This YouTube video shows a 75-year-old woman, armed only with a handbag, driving robbers from a jewelry store in Northampton, England.