The definition of myth: a person or thing having only an imaginary or unverifiable existence.

The definition of propaganda: ideas, facts, or allegations spread deliberately to further one’s cause or to damage an opposing cause

Now, my reason for that title for this entry?

Well before the dust had settled, the siege of Jenin had become a symbol of Israeli brutality throughout the Arab world and beyond.

<sarcasm>Of course, there has to be a symbol of Israeli brutality, everyone knows Palestinians are not brutal people.</sarcasm>

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said Israeli soldiers had committed “despicable crimes” in Jenin.

Of course.

The correspondent for The Independent of London accused Israel of “a monstrous war crime.”

Of course.

Amnesty International called for an immediate investigation into “the killings of hundreds of Palestinians.”

Of course, but wait:

About 50 bodies have been found in the rubble. Israel says that perhaps 80 Palestinians were killed in all, and that most were armed fighters, not civilians.

Just as I thought.

Early reports that said the Israelis had levelled Jenin appear to have been exaggerated. Aerial photographs show that the devastated vistas described in news reports represent an area about 100 metres square, a small corner of the camp.

A picture is worth a thousand Palestinians. Ewps. Did I say that? Oh well, if the shoe fits… Oh yeah, and my absolute favorite line from this article:

It is the Palestinian militants who turned Jenin into a terror base and, when the Israelis came to get them, hid among civilians for protection.

Of course.

I found this link, “Human For Sale” on another website, and I just couldn’t resist finding out how much I was worth. ahaha… Yeah, seriously though, did you know the average male goes for $1,895,519.00? WOW. The average female goes for $1,634,849.00. Yeah right, everyone knows women cost more than men. haha.

What was my worth you ask? $2,249,460.00 according to this website.

It seems the Saudi’s are trying to “smooth” things over, but our national cable networks are pretty smart.

At least nine national cable networks have turned down a potentially lucrative — though controversial — ad schedule from the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia. No national cable networks are known to have accepted the ads.

Turning down ad money in today’s economy because of principal? WOW. There is a concious somewhere in the media world.

Both 30-second commercials feature print on a screen, music in the background and voiceover narration. One features a quote by President George W. Bush, the other a quote from Secretary of State Colin Powell. The ads demonstrate misperceptions about Saudi Arabia by showing statements about the desert nation that at first appear to be negative and then transform into what were actually positive remarks by either the president or the secretary.

Misperceptions? A terrorist (or those who harbor them) by any other name (you know who you are) is still a terrorist (or those who harbor them).

Okay, Okay. I will get to the point. Anyone who knows me, knows I love Taco Bell. Why you ask? I have NO IDEA. As a kid, I did not like it too much, but for some UNKNOWN reason, as an adult, I love the place. Heck, my wife even helped me celebrate one of my birthdays at our closest Taco Bell. Our closest Taco Bell. Damn them. Why do I damn the place I love so munch?

THEY DISCONTINUED THE TOSTADA. The what you ask? That crunchy corn tortilla topped with beans, lettuce, cheese and sauce. YUM.. I didn’t eat one every time, but most every time for sure. The perfect addition to the 2 mexi-melts, 2 tacos, enchirito, and mexican pizza. Ahhhh. The perfect combination of tastes and textures. Gone… Damn them all.

I admit, it might not be forever, since they DID discontinue the enchirito too (for several years I might add). But, I shall miss my tostada fix. Damn them all.

NOTE: I was told the reason for this “discontinued” item was because it represented less that 1% of the sales for that location. Well damn. Who the hell eats the FAKE STEAK TASTING items on the menu? Get rid of the crud and bring back MY crud! : )

Please take the time to read this article by Robert X. Cringely, who lost his son Chase to SIDS.

Chase Cringely was my son. He died this week after 74 days of life, a victim of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). He literally stopped breathing lying in my lap while I did e-mail. There was no sound, no struggle. I just looked down and he was no longer alive.

Who knows what can happen, if we all work together.

Whoa. If CBS did this, I bet even I would watch.

No doubt, CBS’ ratings-starved morning show needs a big name replacement. But is it really possible America could soon wake up to “The Early Show” with Bill Clinton and Jane Clayson?

Just who the hell does this guy think he is? First he gives us a stern warning about supporting Israel, and now this.

Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah’s representatives asked that women be barred from air traffic control duties when he traveled Thursday to Central Texas for a summit with President Bush, several Texas aviation officials say.

The really bad part is, the request was honored on portions of his flights between Houston and Waco.

Stupid, Stupid, Stupid. When we go to another country, we might not agree with their customs and laws, but we must abide by them while we are in their country. Right? Well. When anyone one is here from another country, they can just live with OUR customs and laws, or GET THE HELL OUT! Geeeeeeeez. I cannot believe ANYONE actually thought, “Oh okay your royal pain in the ass, we will bar any woman from doing the job she is just as qualified to do, just so you can feel better about yourself by placing idiotic demands upon US, in our OWN COUNTRY!

He should have been told, “If you do not want womem working in the air traffic control towers, then GO HOME, you are not welcome in Texas, nor anywhere else in the United States.

“Oh mother, please be happy with me,” wrote Youssef. “I ask you to pray to God to make my martyrdom operation a success.”

Who do you think wrote that note?

Even militant Palestinians were shocked yesterday by the latest suicide bombers ? three 14-year-old boys who were shot dead after school as they tried to attack an Israeli settlement with pipe bombs.

Isn’t that wonderful? I am sure in that region of the world there are a majority of teenagers who will actually make something of their lives. Who knows, the next leader of the Palestinian people “could” be right there, right now. Of course, this makes me wonder who was helping them. It’s not like kids that age have ready access to those sorts of weapons. Then again,

Youssef’s mother blamed Israeli soldiers for her son’s death.

Now ain’t that the pot calling the kettle black.

Note to the mother of Youssef Zaqout: Your son is responsible for his own death. The Israeli soldiers are only responsible for possibly saving the lives of INNOCENT people, and if you want things to change, get rid of Arafat.

Did you see the news this morning? Three (or four) people dead, and 12 others seriously injured in what police are calling “Motorcycle Gang Warfare“.

After seeing the news when we got up today, I called my dad (who lives in Arizona, near Bullhead City) to see what the skinny was. Seems some “Hell’s Angels” decided to leave the comfort of the Flamingo Hotel and go in search of trouble with the Mambos (I am not sure of the spelling, he just told me the names) at Harrah’s. Of course, the news here just tells us “members of a motorcycle gang” were causing trouble.

Of course this will center attention now on the “terrible motorcycle gangs” that meet each year in Laughlin, and in Sturgis, South Dakota. What people don’t realize is events like these have gone on for years (20 in Laughlin, and over 50 in Sturgis) with very few “acts of violence”. Let’s hope the media does not “hype” this like they do everything else. The last thing I want to see on the news for the next week is hairy men wearing leather riding motorcyles in the desert.

Whoa. It totally blows my mind to think the Chernobyl accident was 16 years ago already.