Greetings, loyal minions. Your Maximum Leader loves etymology. He particularly loves his Oxford Dictionary of the English Language because of its extensive etymological entries for words. Just as fascinating as word origins are the origins of idoms or idiomatic expressions. It is always fun to read about the history of a phrase. It is espcially fun when the history is written out in a major national newspaper. To wit: see the history of “Who’s Your Daddy?” in the Washington Post.

Carry on.

Greetings, loyal minions. Your Maximum Leader was saddened by the result of last night’s (Nokia) Sugar Bowl. The Virginia Tech Hokies (or the Virginia Tech Fighting Gobblers for those alums pre-1960-something) were fairly defeated by the Auburn Tigers last night. The Hokies could have pulled it out if they hadn’t dropped an (almost) TD pass and had hit two field goals. Your Maximum Leader was quite surprised that the Hokies were able to shut down the Auburn running game. The Tigers have those two absolutely studly running backs. So the fact that the game stats were close is something the Hokies should be proud of.

And there is always next year.

Carry on.

Greetings, loyal minions. Your Maximum Leader, sadly, has come to this. A blog dump of interesting headlines and blog entries.

Yahoo! News - Michelangelo’s David to be protected by ‘wall of air’ Let your Maximum Leader get his mind around this… They are going to blow lots of air around the statue of David to keep dust away. What about all those poor visitors with asthma? Or allergies? Trying to keep them away too? Art snobs.

Bad news for Ally, Annika, and Sadie. Brainy women are likely to end up spinsters. Your Maximum Leader has always been attracted to smart women. But, he has also been attracted to dumb women who happen to be good looking. Well, not attracted really. Not attracted in “long-term” way. Mostly attracted in a hormonal way. If men had to choose between the smart and attractive woman and the only attractive woman, it would be no choice at all. The smart and attractive woman would be the choice. Your Maximum Leader supposes the problem is that most normal men would choose the attractive dumb woman over the unattractive smart woman. Problem for the men that is. Better to be single than to live with an idiot.

New home business opportunities! Make thousands from home! Be your own boss! Franchises available now in your area!

Big star puts her money where her mouth is. Bravo Sandra Bullock. Your politics may not be aligned with your Maximum Leader’s, but you are willing to pay for what you believe in.

Somehow, your Maximum Leader doubts that the Poet Laureate will be picked up by the Food Network any time soon.

Back to stories that satisfy your Maximum Leaders more libidinal tendencies… Tampa radio station fined for offering breast implants to listeners. Not all listeners. Just the 13 of 91,000 who wrote the best essay. Let your Maximum Leader tell you something. He, at one point, had to read essays written by college freshmen. As he remembers, he might have had to read these essays in batches of 300 or so. IT WAS HELL. The very thought of reading 91,000 essays written by women of, he suspects, dubious epistlilary talent about breast enlargement makes your Maximum Leader physically sick, yet strangely turned-on all at the same time.

And speaking of women of obvious epistlilary talents… Ally speaks kindly of your Maximum Leader in this post. Perhaps sometime your Maximum Leader should organize somthing like a “Meet your Maximum Leader” event in DC. It would probably involve drinking, dancing girls, servile fawning over the person of your Maximum Leader, and more drinking… Humm… Sounds like a Jawja Blogger meet!

And your Maximum Leader (as well as countless minions) anxiously await part deux of Sexy (Sexy, very sexy) Sadie’s Interview with your Maximum Leader. He knows that many of his minions are having trouble sleeping at night because of their compulsive checking of Sadie’s site looking for part two. Then they have to go and re-read part one again and again.

Speaking of Sadie, your Maximum Leader thought of her today while driving around in the 75-friggin-degrees-hot-in-January-bright-sunny-day weather he’s been having. He was listening to a “mix CD” and the song “Summertime” by the Sundays came on. (Yes, yes. Silly poppish tune. But it is kinda catchy…) And for some reason your Maximum Leader kept thinking “Harriet Wheeler” and “Sexy Sadie” all in the same mental breath. He doesn’t know what to make of this.

Well… He’ll let you all ponder this for a while. He must leave and watch the VA Tech v. Auburn game.

Carry on.

Greetings, loyal minions. Your Maximum Leader wishes you all a very happy New Year. His long weekend was spent playing with the Villainettes (playing Uno in fact - they love it), playing with the dog, playing games on the PC, and watching all three Lord of the Rings movies. “Fellowship of the Ring” with Mrs. Villain on Friday night. “The Two Towers” with Mrs. Villain on Saturday night. (Mrs. Villain fell asleep about 1/2 way through.) And “Return of the King” last night. Wow! Viewed together they have catapulted into the top 5 of your Maximum Leader’s favourite movies. (Others include: “The Lion in Winter,” “Lawrence of Arabia,” “Bridge on the River Kwai,” and “Blade Runner.”)

Your Maximum Leader also took a break from reading e-mails or blogs for three days. So, today will likely be a catch-up day.

Your Maximum Leader, because he is all about sharing, will share with you the only “resolution” he’s made. To buy “Rome: Total War” and waste and entire day of his life learning to play it.

New Years resolutions are silly. If you want to make a change in your life, decide to do it and get going. Don’t wait for some arbitrary date that comes with the baggage of “no-one-really-keeps-resolutions.” Of course, if you are Fallen and resolve to shag a lot - well, that might be an exception.

Carry on.

from www.misleader.org, 8/5

President Bush has promised to prosecute those who leak sensitive classified information, saying, “We can’t have leaks of classified information.”[1] Attorney General John Ashcroft said, “leaks of classified information do substantial damage to the security interests of the nation.”[2] Ashcroft promised swift prosecution of leaks, saying, “Until those who, without authority, reveal classified information are deterred by the real prospect of productive investigations and strict application of appropriate penalties, they will have no reason to stop their harmful actions.”[3] But according to a new report, the Bush administration is refusing to prosecute a top Republican who leaked classified information. As the Washington Post reports, “Federal investigators concluded that Sen. Richard C. Shelby (R-Ala.) divulged classified intercepted messages to the media when he was on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.” The Post also reports, “Though the FBI and the U.S. attorney’s office pursued the case, and a grand jury was empaneled … the Justice Department decided to forgo a criminal prosecution.”[4]

Also, AP reports Rep. Katherine Harris (R-FL) apparently divulged classified information about how many terrorist attacks have been thwarted, and about a terrorist threat on an Indiana community.[5] Harris is the woman who as Florida Secretary of State helped deliver the election to President Bush. There is no word on whether the Bush Justice Department will investigate Harris.

Sources:
1. “German Leader Reiterates Solidarity with U.S.,” Whitehouse.gov, 10/09/2001.
2. “ATTORNEY GENERAL ASHCROFT ANNOUNCES INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE TO REVIEW WAYS TO COMBAT LEAKS OF CLASSIFIED INFORMATION,” U.S. Department of Justice, 12/14/2001.
3. “Letter from Attorney General John Ashcroft to The Honorable J. Dennis Hastert,” Federation of American Scientists, 10/15/2002.
4. “Investigators Concluded Shelby Leaked Message,” Washingtonpost.com, 8/05/2004.
5. “Woman at centre of Bush 2000 Florida win sorry about non-existent terror plot,” CNEWS, 8/04/2004.

Here’s an article about Redskins Linebacker Lavar Arrington. I’ll draw your attention to the third paragraph.

Last year, after Arrington served under his fourth defensive coordinator in four years, the linebacker posted a description of the Battle of Thermopylae — where the Greeks made a heroic stand against the Persians in 480 B.C. — to mark the start of a new era.

Who knew he was a history buff. How many linebackers think Greece is something that comes out of bacon when you cook it?

Wow… I have been laughing my ass of guys, this is great stuff. Unfortunately, I don’t think the bulk of the readership really knows what good friends you two are.

I am to the point that I don’t even argue gun rights anymore especially with the M of A. The way I reckon’, soon as he kilt his firsz deer owhn hiz frunt porch wid a gun, the argmunt was over!

But I still like to hear the arguments being made and you two do a fine job!

I tend to agree with the ML I think that the pre-Clinton Democrats kept trying to go for the whole ball of wax at once (Like Feinstein banning them all) and realized that it wouldn’t work. The Clinton and Post-Clinton gun strategy is to do it incrementally. They start with “Assault Weapons” and move from there. Its a good strategy (for their purposes) but doesn’t address the issue as “Assault Weapons” are used in a fraction of the deaths.

Speaking about Deaths
All gun deaths (Murders, suicides and accidents) accounted for 29,573 Americans in 2001 (could not find 2003 data so deal with it) and its interesting to note that about 16,000 , over half, were suicides.

The reason I bring this up is that it seems to me, the good folks on the other side of the isle are really concerned with American dieing needlessly. That is good thing and I don’t knock em for it.

I am just curious as to why they don’t go after the low hanging fruit? Do they not realize that in 2003 the National Highway Transportation and Safety folks report that 43,220 people died in 2003 in auto-related incidents?

Why does Diane and Co write legislation to reduce all speeds to 10MPH and ban any car that goes over 50. It would save a lot of lives.

Each year about 400,000 people die of Smoking related cancers and other complications.

Yet politicians talk out of both sides of their mouthes about Tobacco because both sides receive huge sums of money from the Tobacco lobby!

If Diane Feinstein and Charles Schumer really cared about people so much why aren’t they distancing their Parties from Tobacco and writing legislation to ban cigarettes?

That’s all

No wait…

ML you are not kidding! every time the M of A mentions that Laffer Curve I do get scared (intellectually). I keep thinking, “isn’t that some Hall of Fame pitcher’s famous throw” that I should have heard about.

Back to the Trenches…

Greetings, loyal minions. Your Maximum Leader admires bloggers who are true advocates for a cause. (And without meaning to be too glib, it is easier to admire those bloggers who advocate causes with which your Maximum Leader agrees.) Bloggers like Charles Johnson who have suffered personally for their tireless advocacy respected by your Maximum Leader.

Another blogger who is a tireless advocate for Americans taken hostage is our blog-pal, Rusty Shackleford of the Jawa Report.

Rusty first started writing about Roy Hallums last November. Shortly after Roy was abducted in Iraq. Roy’s family has contacted Rusty frequently and will sometimes contribute information and comments on Rusty’s site.

Your Maximum Leader recommends that you go over to The Jawa Report and read the updated entry concerning the release of a video of Roy Hallums. Rusty was far ahead of the mainstream media on this, and he continues to report all the information available.

And pray for Roy Hallums and his family.

Carry on.

Greetings, loyal minions. Your Maximum Leader wanted to let his loyal minions know that he will be taking a long weekend from the blog beginning immediately. He shall return next week.

But before he goes he cannot pass up the opportunity to make an observation.

Oh how Ally teases your Maximum Leader. First she says how much she adores your Maximum Leader. And just a few paragraphs before she mentions her “physical abundances.” How she teases your Maximum Leader. And all the while she denies that she is a tease…

And for Outer Life… Hey! This is notice that there will not be much posted here for the next few days.

And while there is certainly more tht should be said, your Maximum Leader will just leave for a few days. He will likely be watching all of the Lord of the Rings movies this weekend… That means he will not have much time to blog…

Happy New Year my minions. See you in 2005.

Carry on.

Greetings, loyal minions. Your Maximum Leader has been, as have we all, horrified at the scope and scale of the destruction caused by the earthquake and resultant tsunami in the Indian Ocean. As so many others have noted, the loss of human life is so staggering as to be nearly unfathomable. One person killed, or two, or three, or perhaps a few tens of people we can grasp mentally. But when you start to talk about numbers going over 100,000 - and possibly more than 200,000 when the final counts are done - the numbers become just a statistic. A number on a page.

Your Maximum Leader and his family have made a contribution to the International Red Cross. Your Maximum Leader also encourages minions to donate to the organization of their choice. Other charities are UNICEF, Oxfam, and this comprehensive list at The Command Post.

Your Maximum Leader fears that the final death toll from this disaster will be over 250,000. When one considers that many small islands around Sumatra and along the Indian coast haven’t yet been heard from; and the full extent of damage and loss from areas that are accessible hasn’t been fully assessed the toll can only increase dramatically. And one would have to figure that privation and disease will start to take their toll as well.

This may well be the most horrible natural disaster to strike in your Maximum Leader’s life. He is hard-pressed to recall any disaster as widespread, or as lethal.

Your Maximum Leader’s prayers are with those who suffer in Asia as a result of this catastrophe. And his hopes are with those who bring relief.

Carry on.

Greetings, loyal minions. Your Maximum Leader has read a number of articles all talking about the “sixth sense” wild animals may have concerning natural disaters While over 100,000 people have been killed by the tsunami, very few wild animals have been killed.

Your Maximum Leader wondered what the animals know that he doesn’t. Interestingly enough, the Velociman wondered the same thing. Albeit from a perspective your Maximum Leader couldn’t replicate.

Carry on.

Greetings, loyal minions. Your Maximum Leader, aside from the feelings of compassion for the victims and survivors of the Asian Tsunami, has some other comments to make on this disaster.

Some of the science concerning what has happened is fascinating. The Earth’s rotation itself may have been affected. And islands around the earthquake area may have actually moved.

Scientists also are reporting that while there will be aftershocks, they do . One hopes this is a minor blessing.

And, outside the science of the tsunami there is the politics. Much hay has been made concerning the “stingy” comment from Jan Eegeland of the United Nations. At the time the comment was made the US had contributed $15 million to disaster relief. At the time the comment was made, that $15 million represented the largest donation from a western nation to date. The US has now donated $35 million to relief. President Bush pledges more money and other aid.

Your Maximum Leader was stung by the “stingy” comment. As were many others. That comment showed a number of things. First off it showed the insularity of the world in which so many UN officals live. They don’t understand anything outside their organization, and they only see the UN as an altruistic world-government-in-waiting that only needs more money from rich countries to solve the world’s problems. The second thing it showed was a stupendous ignorance of how the US appropriates money. In case you didn’t know, the President or Secretary of State don’t just take money out of the Treasury and spend it. It is appropriated by Congress. It can only be appropriated by Congress. Every year the Congress appropriates money for the USAID (United States Agency for International Development) for disaster relief. Money is also appropriated for other departments to be spend for disaster relief. It is this previously appropriated money that is being spent now. Additional funds will need to be voted on and approved by Congress. And in case commentators didn’t know it, Congress is not in session right now. Our nations law-makers (and money appropriators) are on holiday and will not be back until around January 10. This limits the amount of money the United States has to allocate to relief at this point.

Do not fear, we will donate more. We will be the leader in this effort. Just as we always are. In 2004 nearly a quarter of all money given in relief for natural disasters came from the US. We are the largest donor in these situations. We may have been a little slow to act, but we are in it for the long haul.

And all this talk of relief by governments doesn’t even begin to count the millions that will come from normal Americans donating their own money from their own pockets to help those people around the world they’ve never met, seen, or in some cases heard of before. We are the most generous people in the world, and we rarely get credit for it.

Now your Maximum Leader mentioned that we may have been a little slow on the uptake. Well, your Maximum Leader feels that President Bush was too slow in making some sort of statement of compassion. He doesn’t feel that the President doesn’t feel compassion for the suffering (as was implied by Matt Lauer on the Today Show this morning). The President and his staff probably wanted to wait and get more information before speaking publically about what the US response would be. While that may be a smart move tactically, it was not a smart move from the perspective of image-building. The President should have made some brief remarks sooner and said that details of the US response would be forthcoming.

Your Maximum Leader does not doubt that the role of the US will be great in this relief effort. He only hopes that the full role of the US will be appreciated when all is said and done. Unlikely, but he still hopes.

Carry on.

Greetings, loyal minions. Your Maximum Leader, in his never ending quest to bring you all the Elvis news that is fit to print, presents for you this article from today’s Washington Post: Elvis, One for the Money.

The opening part of the article is the best part. The new owner of Elvis Presley Enterprises (EPE), Robert Sillerman, plans on increasing marketing efforts in “under-Elvised” areas of the world. Your Maximum Leader loved that. “Under-Elvised” As far as your Maximum Leader is concerned, the whole world is a little “under-Elvised.” We need more Elvis. Young Elvis. Leather-clad Elvis. Fat Elvis. Elvis-the-dad. Elvis-the-Karate-student. Elvis-the-lover-of-many-women. You name it, we need more of it.

Of course, you should read the second part of the article which deals with Elvis the “sellout.” As with so many things about him, Elvis was the first great sellout. Of course, he was also the first great rock star. The first “A” list performer to do Vegas regularly. He was the first in so many things, it somehow seems appropriate to remember him as the first great sellout.

But Elvis is a complicated figure. A complicated tragic figure at that. Your Maximum Leader heartilly recommends Peter Guralnick’s fabulous bio of the King. (Vol 1 and Vol 2) If you read them, you can make up your informed mind on Elvis.

Carry on.

Greetings, loyal minions. Your Maximum Leader was pleased to learn that someone out there is still reading this blog. Ever since he asked the porn site to de-link Nakedvillainy your Maximum Leader has seen his inflated traffic numbers drop back to their normal levels… It was nice to dream.

Anyway. Your Maximum Leader wrote yesterday concerning a misleading headline about Stone Age stores. Today he sees he got a note in his villainous e-mail from minion Norm over at Quantum Thought. Norm writes:

Ifthere are indeed Old Stores just coming to light then serious problems now exist. I am of course talking about back taxes. Do these Ancient Peoples think we are fools. There is no escaping the compounding of taxes that will have to be calculated and appropriate penalties computed. This slacking of fiscal policy cannot be tolerated. Please forward a complete listing of all “Stores” involved, square footage, inventories, and present ownership with complete address and tax identification numbers to Quantum Thought Internal Revenues, Egyptian Dept. Middle Eastern Enforcement Division.

Norm, your Maximum Leader salutes you for the vigour with which you keep up with tax collection laws. In the Mike World Order there is surely good work in “store” for you.

And dear minions, don’t forget to check out Norm’s blog, Quantum Thought. The Chinese Monkey Dancer is sure to entertain.

Carry on.