Sneakeasy's Joint

Book Burning Leads to Book Rescue Effort in Missouri

When I 1st read this an hour ago, it pissed me off on several levels:

Tom Wayne has amassed thousands of books in a warehouse during the 10 years he has run his used book store, Prospero's Books.

His collection ranges from best sellers, such as Tom Clancy's "The Hunt for Red October" and Tom Wolfe's "Bonfire of the Vanities," to obscure titles, like a bound report from the Fourth Pan-American Conference held in Buenos Aires in 1910.

But when he wanted to thin out the collection, he found he couldn't even give away books to libraries or thrift shops; they said they were full.

So on Sunday, Wayne began burning his books in protest of what he sees as society's diminishing support for the printed word. "This is the funeral pyre for thought in America today," Wayne told spectators outside his bookstore as he lit the first batch of books.

This is sad, disgraceful, and frightening!

Burning books is a horrible way to drum up support for the printed word!

There are thousands of people, all over the world, who if given the chance would relieve him of his burden. They are called BookCrossers.

We are defintely not the only ones upset over this either.

Well, when a BookCrosser posted a link to his website I discovered an apparent change of heart.

Jack Angers Carl With Stake in Behind

In a hilarious new commercial the ever fascinating pitchman character for Jack in the Box implies that THIS is as close to a Piece of Ass that I am likely ever to get in my lifetime ( Watch it! ).

Carl's Jr. is NOT AMUSED that their $6 Burgers, such as this delicious Guacomole Bacon Burger are, in their view, having their genes sullied by their rival .

The Adfreak Blog has an amusing take on this Burger Battle. ;-D

Making friends around the world thru BookCrossing

In 2004 BookCrossing Member Mojosmom wrote an article;

Yes, it's true. For too long, I dithered around, wanting to study Italian but never signing up for a class. Then I found BookCrossing, and now I am happily learning la lingua d'amore. What's the connection? The Italian language forum! One of the reasons I put off taking a class was that I had no place to practice; now I hang out in that forum, and on the Italian Mirror Site as well, reading and occasionally even posting. What a warm welcome I've had there! No one laughs at my mistakes, but, knowing I'm a student, they politely correct me. And so I learn.

This is just one of many examples of BookCrossing's contributions to international friendships and understanding. Whether or not this was in Ron's mind when he created the site, for me it has been an unlooked-for pleasure. I have learned so much about other countries ( who knew what "root" meant in Australia! ), and have made new friends and sent my books all over the globe.

Read: STUDIO L'ITALIANO CON BOOKCROSSING! - Making friends around the world through BookCrossing.

MY BOOKSHELF.

If you are inspired to join use SNEAKEASY as your referrer. ;-D

BookCrossing Good for Authors

In 2004 Author, and BookCrosser, Kathryn Lively, wrote an article:

During my time BookCrossing, I have followed a number of threads in the forums about authors who disparage the concept of "freeing" books, claiming that potential revenue is lost if people don't buy the books outright. Since my books are not published by any Giant New York Publishing Houses, I am happy for even the slightest notice, even from a BookCrosser who happens to find my book in a coffee shop or a bus terminal. If the person rescues and reads the book, there's the possibility he/she will recommend it to others, etc. I believe the authors who disparage BookCrossing.com are missing the point of the site's concept - to promote literacy, and in turn promote authors. As a BookCrossing.com member, I have been introduced to a number of authors I had not before read, and I have since bought other titles by them. I am sure I am not the only BookCrosser doing this.

To any authors who may read this, do not look upon BookCrossing.com as theft, but as something with the potential to bear fruit for your careers....

Read: BOOKCROSSING A BOON, NOT BANE, FOR AUTHORS - Authors need not fear the karma of free books.

MY BOOKSHELF.

If you are inspired to join use SNEAKEASY as your referrer. ;-D

Serendipity and BookCrossing

In 2004, BookCrossing member Amy Coxe wrote an article:

The value of the media coverage that has helped BookCrossing membership explode recently cannot be overstated. Infinitely more inspiring and enchanting, however, are the stories of the serendipitous discovery of this wonderful online library and community. The people that find out about BookCrossing by actually catching a wild release are truly fortunate. What follows is only one of these stories....

Read: GOT KARMA? How I discovered BookCrossing.

MY BOOKSHELF.

If you are inspired to join use SNEAKEASY as your referrer. ;-D

Pew Study on American Muslim Community a Mixed Bag

An extensive survey that exposes the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, of the Muslim Community in our midst, in America.

The Pew Research Center conducted more than 55,000 interviews to obtain a national sample of 1,050 Muslims living in the United States. Interviews were conducted in English, Arabic, Farsi and Urdu.

FROM THE INTRO:

The first-ever, nationwide, random sample survey of Muslim Americans finds them to be largely assimilated, happy with their lives, and moderate with respect to many of the issues that have divided Muslims and Westerners around the world.....

But there are some extrememly disturbing elements:

Muslim Americans reject Islamic extremism by larger margins than do Muslim minorities in Western European countries, however...

More than half of Muslim Americans believe that the U.S. government singles Muslims out for extra surveillance.

More than half of Muslims overall hold a very unfavorable view of al-Qaida -- but only 36 percent of African-American Muslims do.

Relatively few Muslim Americans believe the U.S.-led war on terror is a sincere effort to reduce terrorism.

Only one in four Muslims believes that Arab men conducted the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Younger Muslims are more likely to say that suicide bombing in defense of Islam can be, at least some times, justified.

One-quarter of Muslims under age 30 said suicide bombing is legitimate on some occasions.

That compares with 6 percent of older Muslims.

Thus the "Good News", supposedly, is that "Nonetheless, absolute levels of support for Islamic extremism among Muslim Americans are quite low, especially when compared with Muslims around the world."

I am just soooo relieved! NOT!

Until there is a Million Muslim March on Washington to show support for the fight against terror, support Israel's right to exist, and the assimilation of the Palestinians into the already existing Muslim Countries, as should have been done in the 1950's, support Democratic, Free, and Modern, Governments in the Middle East, support equality, and freedom from "slavery" for Women, denounce "Radical" Islam and ALL elements of the Koran that require the conquering, and conversion, of the "Infidel" ( That's everyone who is not Muslim. ) by any means at hand, from Deception, Lying, and Propaganda, to Violence, and Killing, and declare their intention to support, unequivocably, complete assimilation into the Western, Modern World  [ Rooting out Terrorist Cells, and Terrorist Support, and Apologist Organizations, and the Islamofascists that have infiltrated U.S. Communities, Mosques, and Schools ( Madrasses, and the like. ), would be a great place to start this Modernization. ] ......

I refuse to believe that there is such a person as a "Moderate" Muslim, and that Islam is a "Religion of Peace."

The article: Pew Research Center: Muslim Americans: Middle Class and Mostly Mainstream.

Read the full report in PDF Format.

My Recommendations for Books to Read.

Liberals and Clocks

God, this is brilliant!

In order to maintain their power and position within society, articulate intellectuals must convince the larger population that they really do have a superior understanding of the issues they study. The do so using a parliament of clocks. By enforcing rigorous conformist standards on their members, they seek to create the illusion of accuracy by making it appear that all people knowledgeable in a particular field all reach the same conclusion. If all the supposed experts in a particular field all tell the same story the lay people are much less likely to guess that none of the experts know what they are talking about.

You can see this effect quite clearly in the herd mentality of journalists.......

Contemporary Leftism is the politics of the articulate intellectual and it is clear that Leftists care more about creating the appearance of their own infallibility than in telling the time.

Read the whole essay!. ;-D

A Parliament of Clocks

MPAA to Pass Judgement on Cinema Smoking

Smoking, however unhealthful, has always been a part of our Cultural output, in films, and books.

Smoking will be a bigger factor in determining film ratings, the Motion Picture Association of America said Thursday, but critics said the move does not go far enough to discourage teens from taking up the habit.

MPAA Chairman Dan Glickman said his group's ratings board, which previously had considered underage smoking in assigning film ratings, now will take into account smoking by adults, as well.

That adds smoking to a list of such factors as sex, violence and language in determining the MPAA's G, PG, PG-13, R and NC-17 ratings.

Film raters will consider the pervasiveness of tobacco use, whether it glamorizes smoking and the context in which smoking appears, as in movies set in the past when smoking was more common.

Some critics of Hollywood's depictions of tobacco in films have urged that movies that show smoking be assigned an R rating, which would restrict those younger than 17 from seeing them.

Think of all the great films of the 20's thru the 60's, and how this new way of considering the actions of characters, in rating a film, would affect who could, and could not, watch them, and how they were made.

Think how this would have impacted morale during WW 2 as many of the most important films of the Era would have had their audience restricted, been made differently, or even made not at all.

Look, I don't smoke, and never have, but this decision is utterly ridiculous, and unneccesary, and another sign that, as a friend of mine said, upon learning of this, "The Left is eating thier own."

Faster Please...preferably in time for the 2008 Elections to be swept by Republicans.

Congress Has New Plan on Illegal Immigration

And so far I ain't impressed:

Key senators in both parties and the White House announced agreement Thursday on an immigration overhaul that would grant quick legal status to millions of illegal immigrants already in the U.S. and fortify the border.

The plan would create a temporary worker program to bring new arrivals to the U.S and a separate program to cover agricultural workers. Skills and education-level would for the first time be weighted over family connections in deciding whether future immigrants should get permanent legal status. New high-tech employment verification measures also would be instituted to ensure that workers are here legally.

I have serious concerns about this, as reported in the article, and so will wait, and see what more comes out in the days to come.

I mean, what part of ILLEGAL don't people understand?

Thanks Ma, I Miss You!

Giorgio Kundurazieff, his wife Mary, and yours truly, 1961. ;-D

Those were happy days for this new family.

Dad had been in the US for 10 years, and had a job he loved, as a Groundskeeper at Pomona College, in Claremont, CA.

Little did anyone know the tragedy that was to come 8 years later.

MARY ALICE WELLS KUNDURAZIEFF -- 1929 TO 199O

Taken just a few years before her death, in 1990, this image shows the humor, and spirit, of a courageous, and energetic, woman, who had spent the 70's and 80's, raising 3 children on her own, as a stay at home Mother, after her husband suffered a mental breakdown.

She gave me my love of books, and the movies, my curiosity, my love of the outdoors, and my sense of humor.

Most important she gave me my sense of the importance of Family, and sticking together through the tough times of life.

Somehow, all that she gave me sustained me through the difficult years after her death, and helped me have the strength, and courage, to finally take steps to change my life between 1998 and 2002, that played important roles in who I am today.

Thank You Mom!

I love you, and I miss you.

When Cats and their Humans get Sidetracked

Nikita, and I wish to apologize for the intermittent posting of late.

Nikita, especially, wants to assure everyone that he will be continuing his report about the Pet Expo soon!

I've been busy, and Nikita has been busy watching me being busy. ;-D

How to Write A Fictional Blog

This is interesting:

How to Write a Fictional Blog

Most people are familiar with the concept of a weblog, which tends to reveal something about a writer's daily life or hobbies, his or her interest in celebrities, politics, or other matters, or some other chronicle of real-world events. But blogs are also increasingly being used as a new format for fiction, ranging from an imagined account of the life of a favorite character from books or television (fan fiction), to a completely original storyline created within the conventional format of the blog. Writing a fictional blog is a fun and easy way to practice your creative-writing skills within a readymade forum where your friends and peers can read and comment on your work.

It was only a matter of time. ;-D

As someone who, in recent years, has discovered a talent for Short Stories, Poetry, and other forms of Creative Writing, I find this concept quite intriquing, and wish those who tackle it the best of luck. ;-D

Republicans for Hillary?

So, let me get this straight.

Conservatives are supposed to think things through, and conclude, before the campaign gets to the Convention, that there is no Republican Candidate, currently running, or undeclared, that could win in 2008, and choose to support the most Conservative Liberal battling it out for the Democratic Nomination....

Hillary Clinton????

What the Sam Hill has this columnist been smoking????

President Embraces MilBloggers

The Prez addresses the 2007 Conference of MilBloggers!

Stick THAT up yer nose, and snort it, MoveOn.org! ;-D

Perhaps this will cool any call, by some in the the higher echelon, for shutting down active duty Milbloggers...

Doing that would be shooting themselves, and the fight we are in, in the foot, as it is an important channel for positive news.

It's possible that without Milblogging the surrender bill might have overridden the Presidential veto as there would have been less far less support for the mission.

Mickey Muslim

And Jimmy Carter thinks the Israeli's are the bad guys?

A Mickey Mouse look-alike named Farfur is teaching Palestinian children the ABCs of terror on Hamas' official television station, Al-Aqsa TV.

This is disturbing, and disgusting.

Wonder if there is anything the Disney Co. can do about this blatant, and very obvious, copyright infringement?

Read the story, and watch the video clip.

Sharia Law Comes to Great Britain

This is seriously scary.

MUSLIM radicals have established their own draconian court systems in Britain.

Controversial Sharia courts have been set up in major towns and cities to impose Islamic law and enable Muslims to shun the legitimate British legal system.

Last night religious leaders and politicians expressed outrage that Sharia law is gaining an increasing foothold in our society.

Critics insisted that the Govern­ment is allowing a two-tier legal system to flourish in the name of political correctness and that the authority of UK justice is being undermined.

Today the United Kingdom, Tomorrow America!!

WAKE THE HELL UP, PEOPLE!!

Read the whole, disturbing, report from the Daily Express.

Send a Message to Harry Reid: Resign

Mata Harry Reid must resign now! Right now!

( Image from the wonderful Townhall.com website of Editorial Cartoonist Michael Ramirez! )

Send the Senator an email now, like I have.

Click the link below and let 'er rip.

You will feel so much better for it. ;-D

Go here.

Dear Mr. Reid:

Your recent statements about the Liberation ( I call it that because that is what we are doing - freeing them from tyranny so they can rule themselves Democratically ) of Iraq, a major front in the ongoing battle against Terrorism, and Radical Islam, were a disgrace to your constiuents, your office, the American people, and the Troops.

My answer to people like you, in the See No Muslim Evil, Hear No Muslim Evil, Appeasement Brigades who ignorantly, and blindly, fail to understand that the West has been in a fight for its survival with Islam since at least the 60's, a battle that non-Muslims have been forced to periodically fight since the light-bulb went on over the head of Muhammad....

is to say WAKE UP! WAKE UP before it is too late for all of us.

You Sir, need to resign for the good of the country, and its future.

Then you should spend some of that campaign cash of yours on some of the most important reading material any American can read in this time of danger and then, Harry, READ, READ, READ!! ( Pun Most Definitely, Intended! )

I know, barring enough pressure being applied, you will not resign, so all I can do, as a concerned citizen, is encourage you take up this list, and do as I suggest.

Maybe you will learn something, and evolve in your thinking.... before it's too late.

( Here I Include the posted List of Books I link in my sidebar. )

Sincerely Yours, Kiril Kundurazieff

Santa Ana, CA.

Did George Bush Write A Bio Of Mohammed?

One that describes the Prophet as an "imposter", and Muslims as "locusts"???

Yes! Hee, hee!

It was a Bestseller, too!

It was, and IS, controversial!

It was reprinted 3 times ( Actually 4, since it was re-issued in 2002, but I didn't see a link on Amazon. ).

In recent years the folks in the Middle East have been wrasslin' over what to think of the book, and the author, and even whether to publish the book!

Original Edition. #2. #3. #4.

Muhammadanism.org has the scoop, and even a PDF VERSION.

Bush was the grandson of Timothy Bush, thus a first cousin four times removed of President George H.W. Bush, and a cousin five times removed of President George W. Bush. ( Website has link to Wikipedia Bio. )

Fascinating. ;-D

The Barbers of Iran

Well, guys, and gals, too, as you know, here in the lands of The Great Satan the freedom to cut your hair into any style your ego, and vanity, demands, to let it grow, and grow, and GROW, or to even ban it permanently, or just for a while, from your pretty little head, is one of those rights enshrined in the 9th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution:

#9: The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

In Iran it's quite another story...

Iranian police have warned barbers against offering Western-style hair cuts or plucking the eyebrows of their male customers, Iranian media said on Sunday.

The report by a reformist daily, later confirmed by an Iranian news agency, appeared to be another sign of the authorities cracking down on clothing and other fashion deemed to be against Islamic values.

Radical Islam wants to bring the genius of the Prophet to the rest of us, remember, and so there goes your prescious eyebrow plucker, and your Mach 3000 razors.

It came a week after police launched a crackdown against the growing numbers of young women testing the limits of the law with shorter, brighter and skimpier clothing ahead of the summer months.

Under Iran's Islamic Sharia law, imposed after the 1979 revolution, women are obliged to cover their hair and wear long, loose-fitting clothes to disguise their figures.

How dare those Ladies wear something comfy!

Violators can receive lashes, fines and imprisonment.

For this?

The student news agency ISNA quoted a police statement as saying: "In an official order to barber shops, they have been warned to avoid using Western hair styles and doing men's eyebrows."

Iranian young men have in recent years started paying more attention to the way they look and dress, especially in affluent parts of the capital Tehran. Spiked up hair, by using gel, is known as the Khorusi (Rooster) style and some also use make-up.

Several hairdressers for men in Tehran offer cuts in the style of Hollywood movie stars and other Western celebrities. Clients can also have their eyebrows plucked.

Well there ya go! Signs of a budding Democracy Movement being snipped in the bud, cut off at the pass, shorn of .....

Barbers who do not follow these rules might be closed down for a month and even lose their permits to operate, Etemad quoted him as saying.

"Currently some barber shops apply make-up and use (hair) styles that are in line with those in European countries and America," Eftekharifard said.

He added: "An official order has been sent to the union ... not to apply make-up on men's faces (or) do eyebrows ... and hence the barbers are not allowed to do these things."

As word of this travesty spreads I fully expect to see Western Barbers, Hairdressers, Salonista's, male, and female, Gay, and Straight, Conservative, and Lib, well, Ok, maybe mostly Conservative ( To show any displeasure with the Muslims would be to against the tenents of Diversity, and give the impression that the Moonbat Wing of Liberalism supports America's Democratizing actions in Iraq, and the Middle East! ), marching in the streets in solidarity with their fellows in oppressive Iran.

Iran bans Western-style hair cuts: Police also warning barbers against plucking male customers' eyebrows.