Why am I not surprised?

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070830/D8RBARRG2.html

An elementary school has banned tag on its playground after some children complained they were harassed or chased against their will.

"It causes a lot of conflict on the playground," said Cindy Fesgen, assistant principal of the Discovery Canyon Campus school.

Running games are still allowed as long as students don't chase each other, she said.

Fesgen said two parents complained to her about the ban but most parents and children didn't object.

In 2005, two elementary schools in the nearby Falcon School District did away with tag and similar games in favor of alternatives with less physical contact. School officials said the move encouraged more students to play games and helped reduce playground squabbles.

I hear the latest acceptable game is to sit in a circle, say nurturing and encouraging things to the person next you including a nice compliment, and then move on the next.

The second NWBloggers.com link-o-rama will be tomorrow.  Sorry!

First one: http://nwbloggers.com/2007/08/22/1st-ever-nwbloggerscom-link-o-rama/

Update: 2nd NWBloggers.com Link-O-Rama…

AP is reporting that Muqtada al-Sadr has issued a statement announcing a 6 month suspension of his Mahdi Army's activities as an armed militia hostile to "occupiers" and other factions.  The stated aim is to restructure and "rehabilitate" itself into a faction that can be acceptable within an Iraqi political framework.  The AP story has changed three times within the last 45 minutes, so this story is still breaking with new details being added.

What is ironic is that I heard another angle to this same story on the radio this morning.  I'll tell you about that in a moment.

First though, LGF brings us Time Magazine and their latest headline:

TIME Magazine in Full BDS Mode

The TIME Magazine headline reads: Bush Motorcade Kills Cop.

So the evil neocons must have run over this poor cop with their gas-guzzling limousines, right?

Well, not exactly.

The 40-year-old Rio Rancho officer, whose name was not released pending notification of relatives, crashed at the Albuquerque airport at a point where a road enters an underground parking garage, said Trish Hoffman, a spokeswoman for the Albuquerque Police Department.

Yes, the truth will indeed set you free.  This is another example of the bias in the media, in a week that is rapidly filling up with them.

Is this coincidence or is this a scheme to 'launder' campaign donations?  I believe it is a carefully arranged way to direct money to campaigns, bypassing campaign donation limits, and not a coincidence.  And likely, perfectly legal, in a wink nudge way.

The WSJ story caught my eye:

Big Source of Clinton's Cash Is an Unlikely Address

One of the biggest sources of political donations to Hillary Rodham Clinton is a tiny, lime-green bungalow that lies under the flight path from San Francisco International Airport.

Six members of the Paw family, each listing the house at 41 Shelbourne Ave. as their residence, have donated a combined $45,000 to the Democratic senator from New York since 2005, for her presidential campaign, her Senate re-election last year and her political action committee. In all, the six Paws have donated a total of $200,000 to Democratic candidates since 2005, election records show.

Namely skepticism towards public displays of piety as I first read at Orbusmax.com.

This "I'm upset with myself, and, you know, through this situation I found Jesus and asked him for forgiveness and turned my life over to God. And I think that's the right thing to do as of right now" from Michael Vick I have my doubts.  You know, if he really "found Jesus" or "turned my life over to G*d" he'd either return the signing bonus money plus any money after the 2006 season to the Atlanta Falcons… or donate it to anti-animal cruelty forces.  And do it quickly, promptly and professionally.  But that's me, who doesn't go to a place of worship, after reading this timeline of Bad Newz Kennels.

Comment away, you all.  I could use some enlightment - seriously, not sarcastically.

It appears that an American soldier was caught stealing a baby out of a dumpster.  Just when you think you've seen and heard it all, you've got an actual group of American soldiers admitting to the crime of stealing a baby right out of a pile of garbage.  Who decided that they have the right to decide what is and is not garbage?  Obviously, they should be prosecuted.

Democrats have so heavily invested themselves in a policy of defeat that recent news out of Iraq has them feeling sort of like a bank robber who peeked at his pile of money just as the dye-pack exploded.  Progress in Iraq means trouble for Democrats,  and they're keenly aware of that fact.  Accordingly, their leadership is - despite the fact that many of the membership have acknowledged that the "surge" has been achieving success - assembling a set of so-called "talking points" that are designed to belittle any supposed successes.  It appears that they intend to "extend and embrace" their politics of defeatism, in the fervent hope that they can sell the package to the American voters.

"Limited military success", they argue, "doesn't mean that the surge has worked".  Pelosi claims that  "The American people have already judged the president's war in Iraq as the wrong war at the wrong time, and are ready for our troops to come home." 

Colma, in the San Mateo County area, has banned a business that doesn't appear to exist there.  So-called "medical" marijuana dispensaries will not be permitted.  At the meeting, council members did not debate the issue during the public hearing, nor did anyone in the public speak for or against the dispensaries described by police as "dangerous enterprises."

Wait.  What?  "Dangerous enterprises?"  That's just ridiculous.  While we may agree that the term "medical" marijuana is for the most part just a ruse to semi-legitimize copping a buzz, it must be recognized that "dispensaries" are no more dangerous than your basic Fred Meyer pharmacy.  In fact, unlike a pharmacy, "dispensaries" may actually enhance the local business climate - assuming there are largish concentrations of Burger Kings, Taco Bells, and the like in the immediate area.