I love the internet.  In a single day people can get more information than what was available to people in a lifetime roughly thirty years ago, let alone 300 years ago.  Sure, that can lead to information overload if one is not careful; however, that also creates a situation where everyone can have access to news the mainstream press doesn’t seem to report on… like this: Israel seizes ship in Mediterranean carrying more than 3,000 rockets

More than 3,000 rockets were apparently being smuggled aboard the ship Francop, which was captured in the Mediterranean Sea by Israel Navy missile boats and naval commandos late Tuesday night in an operation dubbed Operation Four Species.

So where were the rockets heading?  It sounds like the end destination was Lebanon. The scary part of this story is the unspoken.  Just think about how many ships actually make it – to any port of call – that have items that can be used as weapons.

U.S. Politics

New Jersey, Virginia, and New York had elections for state governors yesterday. What is so special about this race?  Not much and everything.

In NJ and VA the Democrats lost the governor seats to Republican candidates.  NJ is a historically Democrat state and VA went to the Democrats in both the Presidential and Congress races.  This situation is causing political pundits to warn the current political climate is hostile to Democratic candidates in the 2010 mid-term elections.

Unlike some, I would not say that the results from yesterday were not referendums on President Obama and the Democrats as they were on the health-care debate.  That has really been the focus of the general public for the last several months.  One could make the case the health-care debate may carry forward and take down other Democrat candidates, but so many other things can between now and then as well.

However, what last night does show is the argument “Blame Bush” is no longer effective.  Both of the Democrats had a healthy does of Bush bashing and suffered because of it.  As the political defense of the last year has taken that approach, yesterday should serve as warning for political strategists to find another approach.

There are some that manage to have a positive view of what took place yesterday (why, I’m really not sure).

Turkey (the country, not the food)

Turkish Prime Minister, Tayyip Erdogan, gave a clear sign to the world as to where Turkey comes in on the Israeli belief that Iran should not have nuclear weapons.

“… those who criticize Iran’s nuclear program continue to possess the same weapons,” said Erdogan, according to an advance copy, carried by state-run Anatolian news agency, of a televised address he was scheduled to make at 8 p.m.

“I think that those who take this stance, who want these arrogant sanctions, need to first give these [weapons] up. We shared this opinion with our Iranian friends, our brothers.”

If there comes a time where Israel takes a military approach to Iran it is clear Turkey will not support such an event.  What will be interesting to watch is what will Turkey do when it comes down to oil pricing.  Will they support the Dollar? They Euro? A basket?

Pot (the drug, not the cooking type)

It’s about time a community stood up and took a stand – Breckenridge, Colorado legalized marijuana and marijuana paraphernalia.

Breckenridge voters passed Measure 2F, which removes criminal penalties from the town code for the private possession of up to one ounce of marijuana by adults 21 and older. The ordinance also removes criminal penalties for the possession of bongs, pipes and other drug paraphernalia.

It was an avalanche “yes” vote, passing 73 percent to 27 percent.

I have never once used Marijuana in my life. Ever. That said, I firmly believe that we cannot truly say we live in a free country if people cannot put whatever they want in their bodies.

Gay Love (not the good kind)

Much like I don’t feel we should be told what we can/cannot do with our bodies, I think it is morally unjustified for one to tell another who they can/cannot be wed to.  Unfortunately, that is once again what happened in the state of Maine yesterday as voters repealed they states gay marriage law.

Democracy has both positives and negatives, no?

And a cute cartoon (really, just a cute cartoon)

And let us end the day on a really cute add for the Belgian public transport company De Lijn.

Really, how cute was that!

Before I start, I want to establish one thing – If a contract was broken on the part of Carrie Prejean, yes, the crown should be taken away from her. Trump determined that this was not the case.

Trump regarding Prejean’s comments and views on gay marriage:

“If she were a very nice looking young woman, if she were an average woman, if she were an average man, if she were a great looking man, it wouldn’t have mattered, nobody would have cared because this subject has been discussed by everybody from politicians, presidents, everybody. If Carrie weren’t so beautiful, this would never have come,” said Trump. “Carrie is totally beautiful, and her answer, because of that, took on greater importance. Unfortunately, that’s the way the press works. You should be ashamed of yourselves.”

Trump also defended the answer Prejean gave at the April 19 Miss USA pageant. She was asked her view of marriage by blogger Perez Hilton. Prejean said she believes marriage is between a man and a woman.

“It’s the same answer the president of the United States gave,” Trump said. “It’s the same answer many people gave. She gave an honorable answer. She gave an answer from her heart, and I think for that she has to be commended.”

Look past the beauty comments and you’ll see Trump is right – it IS the same answer that the President of the United States gave. Frankly, if the answer was such a political hotcake, and if there was ever a person to go after for making such a comment would be the President, wouldn’t it?

Oh, no, that’s right… the media doesn’t go after people they favor.

Bottom line – All along I’ve maintained that the attention Carrie Prejean has received was based on her views on gay marriage and nothing to do with semi-nude photos. The media/people with agendas were making attacks while hiding behind guise of “freedom of speech” in order to limit Prejean’s freedom of speech. Yes, Prejean is a public figure and is open to the attention that comes with such a status, but there is questioning what one has and then there is attacking…

I asked it before and I will ask it again – Do we want to let a segment of the population rip others apart simply because they do not agree with what was said? If what someone says isn’t criminal speech, why do we, the general public, allow such behavior to take place?

While I do not support Prejean’s views, the manner in which the press acted, in my view,  is deplorable.