Where is a schattenjager when you need one?

Do you ever wonder about the one to five percent of the world that scientists cannot even fathom? Since the beginning of recorded time there have been stories of animals and substances falling from the sky and other weird phenomenon which confuse those who try to understand it.

Weird instances have been happening all the time. In New York a strong, sweet smell has been haunting Manhattan. Los Angeles has recently been a victim of a weird, blackish goo which forced evacuations of several buildings. A strange humming sound has been heard in the Taos, New Mexico region for years. And even though cattle mutilations may not be the work of aliens, something is killing farmers’ animals with impunity.

Most investigations end soon after they are started with statements like "Boy, that was weird," and talk of such things dies away. Investigations should still continue however. This could be man-made or natural but either way it is worthy of study. The Japanese discovered the phenomenon of belts of wind known as Jet Streams. They put it to "good use" by launching their Fire Balloon attacks in World War II against the American mainland. These phenomena could be harmless or used to hurt us but either way it is happening. Throwing away all the scientific and defense reasons aside; would it not be fun just to find out the mystery behind this world?

Category: Miscellaneous

Update: Keep the Pressure Up!

I feel like a general in the Civil War. I can see the troops fighting but all I can do is yell encouragement. That said, "Keep the Pressure Up!"

I called for Iraqis and Muslims to unite against terrorism. It looks like it is happening. Unity protests are breaking out across the world. Strangely; however, very little press coverage.

Geography and the Downfall of the Anglican Church

In a time long ago; the Anglican Communion was strong and proud. It traveled the seas and followed English settlers to new lands across the world. It spoke out against slavery at a time when the Catholic Church remained silent, it forced the British government in India to ban widow burnings because it knew all life was sacred, and its missionaries worked all across the world spreading Christianity and preached equality to the powerless.

Time has been a cruel mistress to the Anglican Church as geography has divided the Church into various moral camps. The public issue dividing the church is homosexualism but the underlying reason is a question of bedrock beliefs and faith versus social issues. This war has turned the church from strong and proud to just proud.

How bad is the situation? The Anglican Communion is in such bad shape that the best words to describe the situation are "Civil War." The Episcopal Bishop of Pittsburgh has setup his own Anglican church network which bypasses the leadership of the Episcopal Church USA (ECUSA) with approval of the head of the Anglican Church, Archbishop Rowan Williams. Anglican Bishops from the third-world have recently visited the United States and encouraged secession from the ECUSA. Last year at a meeting of the Anglican Church 14 out of the 35 attending Primates refused to take Holy Communion because "their provinces' decisions to partially or completely break communion with the US and Canadian churches."

The Civil War reached a boiling point when the Episcopal Church national convention appointed homosexual Gene Robinson as Bishop of New Hampshire. Robinson was married with children but left for his family for a male lover. Critics said this would be no different then leaving a family then having repeated sex out of marriage but this claim was ignored. Conservative Episcopalians claimed Robinson was appointed merely because he was homosexual.

A deeper issue of beliefs is also a cause for concern. Rowan Williams himself is a member of a quasi-pagan Druid group. This seems to be a running problem for the Anglican Church. Meanwhile in San Franciscan Anglicans can pray to Saint Malcolm X and others. Finally, the Anglican Church seems busy commending the United States for keeping terrorists locked-up and removing mass murders from power.

The base problem with the Anglican Church is geography. In the first-world (United Kingdom, United States, and Canada) the church is known for being white, blue bloods that are too high and mighty to be active with middle and lower class citizens. Church attendance is down to the point in Britain more people go to Friday prayers (Muslims) than hear the Book of Prayer on Sunday. Compliancy has become the nature of the Church. Blue Bloods are so full of pride that they do not believe in seeking salvation because they “know” they will be saved. This has caused the church to become more involved with social issues rather than faith. The church readily supports abortion, homosexualism over punishing extra-marital affairs and boycotting Israel but is fearful to make decisions dealing with saving souls/universe/cosmos. It is so bad former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey said he was ashamed to be an Anglican.

Some will claim nationalist pride combined with King's lust doomed the Anglican Church from the start. Others will say the Newman's conversion Roman Catholicism was the death blow. However, I believe with the Anglican Church would have been less Anglo-centric it would have flourished in the first world. In places like Nigeria and Singapore, where membership is not Anglo, the church is prospering. Periodically on the news one will hear about African missionaries traveling to Britain to convert Englishmen to the Anglican Church. However; these are mere drops in the bucket compared to the sea of blue blood.

Category: Religious Geography

Aftershocks of Samarra

The situation in Iraq became more concerning with the attack on the Al Askari Mosque in Samarra.

The backdrop is complex. Iraq would have been a complete success if it was not for al-Anbar and the other provinces with Sunni majority populations allied with foreign terrorists. Foreign groups like al Qaeda in Iraq have been a constant problem while native Shia terrorists like Moqtada al-Sadr's Al-Mahdi Army have been pacifiable.

Samarra is a historic city in Salah ad Din province which is well-within the Sunni zone of control. The area is known to be a trouble spot for Coalition troops. The Mosque had importance to Sunnis but was greatly valued by the Shia.

The recent attack has caused many to fear a civil war. Violence has erupted in several areas and early reports seemed to support fears of civil war.

Like the Jordanian hotel bombing, al Qaeda has attacked Muslims. Thomas Friedman claims accurately that the latest attack shows al Qaeda is losing the war. Direct and indirect attacks against the Coalition military have proven to be extremely risky. The only means the terrorist have is to attack weak targets (civilians) in such a way that their attacks garner media attention. The terrorist realizes there is no way they can defeat the Coalition leviathan so they must play on the weaknesses of the people's impatience and lack of resolve.

Now is the time for all Iraqis interested in peace to unite. The insurgency cannot be defeated completely by military means alone. The base must withdrawal support. Without roots the terrorist will fade into history. But as long as ties between local communities and terrorists remain, so will the insurgency remain.

The situation is much like Germany after World War II when the Allies fought SS units known as the Werwolf. The Allies continued military operations until 1948, sometimes to the extent of shelling villages with Werwolf snipers. The insurgency ended in 1948 after protests against terrorist actions gave the clear message that the Germany people wanted to move on.

Rumors of civil war in Iraq are old. Fortunately it seems many sides are tired of the bloodshed. Al Sistani has called for calm. Al Sadr has united with Sunni groups in order to protect the peace. Native Iraqi Sunni insurgent groups are trying to negotiate a favorable peace settlement and the Islamic Army has waged battles against al Qaeda in Iraq. If the foreign radicals can be expelled by the Sunnis then peace is very probable. The Secular Sunnis are fighting for their "rights" and have little interest in a pan-Islamic State sold by Osama bin Laden.

Internationally, Muslims also have a huge role to play. They must show greater anger at the destruction of one of their holy mosques than they did because cartoons depicted Muhammad. They must demonstrate and go into the streets. If protests do it occur it shows al Qaeda has lost a huge battle for Muslim hearts and minds. If protests do not occur the West will once again be validated in the thought that Arab and Muslim cultural are inferior, violent, and not worth effort to cooperate with.

We must all pray and work towards peace.

Category: War on Terrorism

Figjam, we all talk uniquement

In the spirit of Y'all tock funny, ya hear? I have found some unique slang from different dialects from around the world, give it a burl why don't cha?

Oy! There's a Dingo Eating My Baby!: Australia is like the Midwest if it spilt off from the rest of the country and world. As such they have their own dialect and slang which never ceases to amaze me.

Chargez Le Char Avec Le Gasoline: The Department of French Studies at Louisiana State University does not teach Formage; Formage (cheese) being slang for "proper French." Rather they teach Cajun French. The department has provided a good introductory website tutorial to get down all the basic for one to enjoy Zydeco.

This One is Pretty Duff: General Patton, and everyone else who ever wanted to be funny by saying the same joke over and over again, remarked how the American and British people were separated only by a common language. Now; however, we Yanks will be able to understand "Get your arse off me round!" and other classics. A secondary English translation site is here.

Category: Languages

Everything's Better in Texas

I know I have linked to map libraries in the past but this one takes the cake!

The University of Texas is host to the Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection. The bulk of the collection is the usual standard fare with maps of the world, continents, historical maps, and on and on and on.

But it is two features that really appeal to me. One feature is a link list of other sites loaded with maps from the world to street level. The thing that caught my eye; however, is on top of the main page. Maps of Current Interest has links to maps or images that are in the news. Things like a satellite image of the al-Askari Shrine, Turin Olympics Map, and Latin American elections map prove timely.

Category: Maps

Korea: Are They Worth It?

South and North Korea are remnants of a bygone era. Tens of thousands of Americans and others were killed in the First Korean War, Second Korean War, and periodic border incursions defending South Korea. United States and United Nation troops invading Inchon led by General Douglas MacArthur saved South Korea from certain defeat.

Originally both countries were more or less equal on GDP and other factors. However, North Korea has isolated itself from the rest of the world and is known as the hermit nation. Famine and oppression are the order of the day. While South Korea is now one of the Asian Tigers, democratic, and Christianity is the plurality (if not majority) religion.

North Korea has regressed while South Korea is free and open. What is the West's reward for bleeding for these people? Hatred and despise are its reward. Nearly half of South Korean youths would back North Korea against the United States. Police need to protect a statue of MacArthur at Inchon because South Korean protesters have threatened to bring it down. South Korea's government has the "Sunshine Policy" which orders the arrest of anyone who tells the truth of the horrible situation in North Korea. The policy and North Korean propaganda has allowed communist sympathizers to gain greater strength.

If a Third Korean War breaks out the use of high power weapons like compression bombs and artillery will annihilate any ground formations quickly. It would be best for the United States to withdrawal its remaining troops from Pusan (and the troops "we do not have" at the DMZ) and offer air support in case of hostilities. Aggression on our part should only be considered on our part if Japan, a true ally, is threatened. Maybe forcing South Korea to deal with North Korea completely will make people realize what they are dealing with. Or maybe it will not. Either way, American lives will be safer from horrible decision made by hostile enemies.

Category: Geopolitics