There, I've said it.

Yep, Legos are evil. When kids play with Legos in school, they learn (be strong) the values of a capitalist society. When kids play with Legos in school, they do things like build bigger buildings than a less creative kid. They build different buildings. They argue over the cool pieces. For the love of all that's good and decent, five to nine-year-old kids are learning individualism!

Thank goodness a Seattle school learned this. Thank goodness they re-educated students by taking the Legos away until these kids learned social justice. Thank goodness they smothered evils like creativity and individual expression, and made sure that moving forward, all Lego creations will be a standard size. (Bravely, they've now returned the Legos - now that the "re-education" of these young rebels is complete).

Goodness knows we don't want a bunch of creative, intelligent kids out there.

That would be far too American.


Think I'm kidding? Don't you wish.

Labels: opinion, political correctness

News of Note
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Iraqi Shiite Cops Go on Killing Spree
Bush Repeats Veto Threat on Iraq Withdrawal Timetable Bill
Congress to keep heat on Bush for Iraq withdrawal
Bush demands clean war funding bill
Military.com Exclusive: Drowning Pool Rocks Iraq

Homeland Security / War on Terror / Hamas-Hezbollah Happenings
Bulldozers Clear Sewage From Gaza Town
Arab leaders to relaunch peace offer to Israel
Potential windfall seen in Guantanamo for Hicks - Video

Troops on Trial
Naval Academy Probes Lewd Behavior

Fallen Heroes
Tillman case could bring punishments

Other Military News
Worries grow over mental health of U.S. soldiers
Black airmen honored for fighting Nazis, racism
U.S. wraps up Persian Gulf maneuvers
Critics Target Dolphin Defense Plan

Worldwide Wackos
Iran: The Lady Will Be Freed - No word on 14 other captured British personnel
Blair: Time for Action in Iran Detainee Case
U.S. says not escalating tension with Iran - Video
Iran puts detained British sailors on television - Video
Iran: Britain must admit navy trespassed
Fidel Castro is in good shape, older brother says

Politics / Government
Lawmakers back keeping 2009 digital TV date
Gore searches for new venue for climate concert
Bush offers Putin olive branch over shield-Kremlin - Video
Economist urges caution on U.S. approach to China
Ex-Gonzales aide regrets how firings handled
Ill. law change discounts tests

In the Courts / Crime and Punishment / Law and Order
Arizona Police Search for Serial Child Rapist Suspect
Georgia Police Hunt for Missing 911 Dispatcher
Misdemeanor Dropped Against Chicago Cop Accused in Bartender Beating
Wynonna Judd Seeks Divorce After Husband Arrested on Sex Charges Involving a Minor
Officials Have Doubts Over Texas Mom's Mutilated Baby Story
Colorado Police Say Gunman Sexually Assaulted High School Girls While Holding Guns to Their Head
Japanese Man Gets Death for Internet Murders
Autopsies Awaited in Case of Slain Md. Family
Judge: Man Can't Become 'Peyton Manning'
Suburban shepherd charged with cruelty
N.Y. woman guilty of poisoning husband
Weiland's wife blames rage on disorder

Adventures in Political Correctness
Kiwis March Against 'Anti-Smacking' Bill
Urbina sentenced to 14 years in prison

U.N. News
U.N. recommends male circumcision to prevent HIV

Media in the Media / Bloggers in the News / Watching the Web
As Cathy Seipp Lay Dying, Her Nemesis Took His Parting Shot on the Web (Yep, those libs are just peaceful people...)
Web-watching the widget way
In unusual step, Bush cites Iraqi bloggers

Science / Medicine / Technology
American Astronaut Stuck in Space
After dinosaur demise, mammals late to the party
China details Mars exploration with Russia
U.S. loses top spot in global tech study

Mother Nature
Geologist: Mount St. Helens Now an 'Open System' Volcano
Montana Town Buried in Tumbleweeds
Burger King to Switch to Cage-Free Eggs, Pork
S.F. Leaders OK Ban on Plastic Grocery Bags

News from My Neck of the Woods
Massachusetts Couple Pleads Not Guilty to Killing Daughter, Mental-Illness Scam

Oddities
Your Honor, I Divorced Her Not Him
Woman Says Dog Saved Her by Performing Heimlich Maneuver
No hash matzos?
Daredevil condemned for escalator stunt

Fox News
Microsoft Debuts Souped-Up Xbox 360 'Elite'
NEWS IN PICTURES: Train Crash in Thailand
Pope: Hell Is a Real Place Where Sinners Burn in Everlasting Fire
Reality Check: Hair-Raising Performances on 'American Idol'

Reuters: Top News
Zimbabwe detains opposition chief ahead of summit - Video
Major powers stress shared need for peace in Kosovo
At least three dead in Sydney harbor ferry crash
Google seeks world of instant translations
Study finds children deluged by food ads
Dialing for Idols; impatient fans turn to Internet
Historians lose "Da Vinci Code" plagiarism appeal
US STOCKS-Wall St indexes drop on Bernanke, data, oil - Video
Oil rises more than $1 on Iran concerns
China's Country Garden eyes $1.66 bln HK IPO: sources
Dollar accelerates losses vs yen after Bernanke
Risk-aversion rises on Iran, Bernanke
Commentary on Bernanke
Bernanke says uncertainty has increased
Leaning on mortgage lenders
Bernanke on subprime tightening
Citigroup expands in China
Toyota plans standards for in-car software: paper
AmBev to invest $2.4 billion in Brazil over 5 years
Bernanke allays subprime fears as Beazer faces probe - Video
New Century cuts Freddie Mac tie
Durable goods weaker than expected

AP World News
Circuit City to cut more than 3,500 jobs
'Pacman,' Henry to face NFL discipline
Stocks fall amid inflation concerns
Children unfazed during Manila bus siege
Phelps breaks 200-meter butterfly record
Poles march to demand total abortion ban
Bernanke: economic expansion isn't over
Weak `Idol' wannabe gets online support
Oklahoma's Paris an All-American again
LG to add Google functions to phones
Kobe slips as Lakers fall to Grizzlies

Military.com
Read a Good Book Lately?
Blog: They Just Don't Get It
Op-ed: Policing Terror
Def Tech: Future Navy Motors
Sgt. Shaft: Retro Dough for Vets
The New Warfighter's Forum

USJFCOM
"Jointness matters" -- USJFCOM commander speaks before Senate Armed Services Committee - podcast
Marine Corps commandant visits U.S. Joint Forces Command - podcast
USJFCOM signs cooperative research and development agreement with Alion - podcast
More about cooperative research and development agreements

DefenseLink
Bush to Veto if Bill Includes Troop Withdrawal - Story
Security Crackdown in Baghdad Shows Progress - Story
Long-Term Iraqi Stability Requires Rule of Law - Story
Reopened Iraqi Factories Take Aim at Insurgency - Story
Missile Defense System Protects U.S., Allies - Story
Troops Inspire Inspector General Nominee - Story
Intelligence Nominee Envisions Role in Policy
Nominee Brings Patient's Perspective to Job

More Headline News
Defense Officials Emphasize Employee Safety
U.S.-Turkey Relationship Vital to National Security
Enlisted Advisor's Presence Highlights NCO Role
Hicks Pleads Guilty to Terror Charge at Hearing

Military News
U.S. Marines Thank Lebanese Military for Efforts
Commentary: Take Time to Thank Unsung Heroes
USS Stennis Now Operates in Persian Gulf

War on Terror
Australian Detainee May Get Sentence By End of Week - Story
Officials Condemn Attack
Panjshir Province Progresses
Coalition Captures 19 Terrorists

America Supports You
First Lady, Military Leaders Praise USO for Troop Support - Story
'Salute Our Services' Helps GIs - Story
Photos: USO Honors Servicemembers
Arizona Group Honors Soldier
Sewing Group Draws Accolades

Transformation
Army Tests Parachute System
Soldiers Bring Chow to Outpost
Soldiers Armor Up Vehicles
Command Welcomes C-130J

Face of Defense
Soldier Follows Family Tradition - Story
Chief Reflects on Career, History
Pilot Flies Rescue Missions
Mechanic Takes Pride in Her Job

DefendAmerica
NEWS UPDATES
Afghan, Coalition Forces Arrest Six - Story
For Top News Visit DefenseLink

ON THE GROUND
Multi-National Chaplains Visit Camp Liberty - Story
Independent TV, Radio Launches in Iraq - Story
Iraqi Police Train in Law and Human Rights - Story
Program Sends Soccer Balls to Iraqi Children - Story

IN IRAQ
Wounded Soldier Re-enlists in Hospital Bed
U.S.Troops Help Return Kidnapped Victims

IN AFGHANISTAN
Team Rebuilds Afghanistan One School at a Time
Combat Engineers Turn Dwellings into Homes

IN DJIBOUTI
Security Company Stands Watch in Djibouti
Forecasts, Updates Assist in Naval Planning
Well-drilling Team Helps Save Girl’s Arm, Life

BACKGROUND
IRAQ
Renewal In Iraq
Iraq: Security, Stability
Fact Sheet: Progress and Work Ahead
Report: Strategy for Victory in Iraq
Iraq Daily Update
This Week in Iraq
Multinational Force Iraq
State Dept. Weekly Iraq Report
'Boots on the Ground' Audio Archive
Weekly Reconstruction Report (PDF)
Iraq Reconstruction
Maps

AFGHANISTAN
Afghanistan Update
Maps

WAR ON TERRORISM
Fact Sheet: Budget Request
Fact Sheet: Terror Plots Disrupted
Waging and Winning the War on Terror
Terrorism Timeline
Terrorism Knowledge Base

Weather
Afghanistan
Bost/Laskar Ghurian Herat Kabul Qandahar

Germany
Ansbach Aschaffenburg Berlin Berlin-Tempelhof Berlin/Schonefeld Bremerhaven
Darmstadt Frankfurt Frankfurt/Main Freiburg/Breisgau Garmisch
Garmisch-Partenkirchen Geilenkirchen Gelnhausen Giessen Kitzingen
Hanau Am Main Heidelberg Mainz Mannheim Nurnberg Stuttgart Trier
Wiesbaden Wurzburg

Gitmo

Guam
Agana Agana Heights Agat Andersen AFB Asan Barrigada

Iraq
Al Azamiyah Al Basrah Al Hillah Al Karkh Al Kazimiyah Al Kut
An Nasiriyah Baghdad Baqubah Mosul Najaf Nineveh Tall Kayf

Japan
Kadena Air Base Okinawa Tokyo Yokohama

Today in History
1535 - Bloemkamp Abbey (Oldeklooster) attacked & destroyed
1556 - Karel V's son Philip II crowned king of Spain
1738 - English parliament declares war on Spain (War of Jenkin's Ear)
1774 - Britain passes Coercive Act against Massachusetts
1794 - Louvre opens to the public (although officially opened since August)
1797 - Nathaniel Briggs of New Hampshire patents a washing machine
1799 - New York State abolished slavery
1804 - Ohio passes law restricting movement of Blacks, 1804
1834 - Senate censures President Jackson for taking federal deposits from Bank of US
1845 - Mexico drops diplomatic relations with US
1849 - Dutch princess Marianne & Prince Albert of Prussia separate
1854 - During the Crimean War, Britain & France declare war on Russia
1862 - Skirmish at Bealeton Station, Virginia
1885 - US Salvation Army officially organized
1905 - Paramaribo-Dam railway opens in Suriname, never used
1910 - 1st seaplane, takes off from water at Martigues France (Henri Fabre)
1917 - Jews are expelled from Tel Aviv & Jaffa by Turkish authorities
1920 - Thomas Masaryk elected President of Czechoslovakia
1922 - 1st microfilm device introduced
1929 - Democratic constitution goes into effect in Ecuador
1930 - Constantinople & Angora changes names to Istanbul & Ankara
1935 - Goddard uses gyroscopes to control a rocket
1939 - Dutch hunter shoots English bombers down
1939 - Spanish Civil War ends - Madrid falls to Francisco Franco
1941 - Sea battle at Cape Matapan: British fleet under Cunningham defeats Italy
1942 - 234 RAF bombers attack Lübeck; British naval forces raid Nazi occupied French port of St. Nazaire
1944 - Astrid Lindgren sprains ankle & begins writing Pippi Longstocking
1945 - Last German V-1 (buzz bomb) attack on London
1959 - 11 days after Tibet uprising, China dissolves Tibet's government & installs Panchen Lama
1960 - Scotch factory explodes, burying 20 firefighters (Glasgow Scotland)
1962 - Military coup in Syria, President Nazim al-Kudsi flees
1967 - UN Secretary General U. Thant makes public proposals for peace in Vietnam
1977 - Morarji Desai forms government in India
1979 - British government of Callaghan falls; Major nuclear accident at 3 Mile Island, Middletown, PA (no deaths)
1982 - J.N. Duartes christian-democrats win elections in El Salvador
1985 - International Cometary Explorer measures solar wind ahead of Halley's Comet
1985 - STS 51-D vehicle moves to launch pad
1986 - Extremist Sikhs kill 13 hindus in Ludhiana, India; John N. McMahon ends term as deputy director of CIA
1990 - President Bush awards Jesse Owens the Congressional Gold Medal
1993 - Conservatives win French parliamentary election; Type II supernova detected in M81 (NGC 3031)
1994 - Armed Zulus demonstrate in Johannesburg, over 53 killed; Italy's right-wing alliance under Silvio Berlusconi wins election

Birthdays
1468 - Charles I Duke of Savoy
1515 - Theresa of Avila/Teresa de Jesus, Spanish mystic writer/saint
1615 - Pieter de Groot, Dutch regent/diplomat
1660 - Georg Ludwig, German monarch of Hanover/King George I of Great Britain
1727 - Maximilian III Jozef, Elector of Bayern (1745-77)
1750 - Francisco A.G. de Miranda, Venezuelan freedom fighter
1760 - Thomas Clarkson, English abolitionist (Negro Emancipation)
1806 - Ludolf A.J.W. Sloet van de Beele, Governor-General of Netherland Indies (1861-66)
1818 - Wade Hampton, Confederate Lieutenant General
1840 - Mehemed Emin Pasja German explorer/Governor (Equatoria)
1859 - Joséphin Péladan French writer/founder (French Rosicrucians)
1862 - Aristide Briand, French premier (1909-22) (Nobel 1926)
1872 - José Sanjurjo y Sacanell, Spanish General (Morocco)
1910 - Ingrid, Queen Mother of Denmark
1914 - Edmund Sixtus Muskie (Senator-ME), US Secretary of State (1980)
1920 - Gene Chappie (Representative-CA, 1981-86); Lord Butterfield
1928 - Zbigniew Brzezinski, national security advisor (Carter)
1933 - Frank Murkowski (Senator-AK)
1942 - Neil Kinnock, leader of the British opposition (Labour)
1945 - Hans Brunhart, leader of Liechtenstein (1978-93)
1948 - Wubbo J. Ockels, astronaut (STS 22)
1953 - Nydia M. Velazquez (Representative-NY)

Passings
0193 - Publius Helvius Pertinax Roman Emperor (192-93), assassinated
0593 - Guntram French, King in Burgundy, dies at about 67
1134 - Stefanus Harding, 3rd abbott of Cîteaux/saint
1285 - Martinus IV [Simon de Brion], Pope (1281-85)
1566 - Siegmund Freiherr von Herberstein Austrian diplomat, dies at 79
1799 - Etta L. J. "baronne" Palm-Aelders, Dutch adventurer/spy, dies at 55
1801 - Ralph Abercromby, English army commander (North Holland), dies at 66
1863 - James Cooper, US attorney/senator/Union-Brigadier-General, dies at 52
1868 - James Thomas Brudenell, 7th earl of Cardigan, dies at about 70
1887 - Ditler G. Monrad, Danish bishop/premier, dies at 75
1942 - Herman A. van Karnebeek, Dutch foreign minister (1918-27), dies at 67
1944 - Rabbi Chayyim, Most Maggid of Kovono, killed by Nazis
1965 - VAA Mary, English princess, dies at 67
1969 - Dwight D. Eisenhower, 34th President/General (WWII), dies in Washington, DC at 78
1973 - Hakuun Yasutani, Zen teacher/co-founder (Sanbo Kyodan), dies
1984 - Kenneth Whitty, 1st Secretary at British Embassy in Athens, shot dead
1994 - John Logan Gorlay, journalist, dies at 74
1995 - Jack Regan broadcaster, dies at 53
1996 - Charles Barnet "Roscoe" Harvey soldier, dies at 95; Shin Kanemaru Vice President of Japan (1986-87), dies at 81

Reported Missing in Action
1968
The following US Army SF personnel reported MIA after extraction failed following ground action:
Boyer, Alan Lee, (IL)

Brown, George R., (FL)

Huston, Charles G., (OH)

Also reported MIA this day in 1968:
Archer, Bruce R., USMC (NY); CH46A shot down (w/Montague), released by PRG March, 1973 - retired as a Major - alive as of 1998

Graham, Dennis L., USAF (KS); F111A shot down (w/MacCann)

Grosse, Christopher A., US Army (TX); seen wounded in ground action

MacCann, Henry E., USAF (MA); F111A shot down (w/Graham)

Montague, Paul J., USMC (KS); CH46A shot down (w/Archer), released by PRG - alive as of 1998

Wallace, Michael W., USN (UT); RF8G shot down - remains returned March, 1989

1969
Belcher, Robert A., USAF (LA); F4D shot down (w/Miller), KIA, body not recovered

Miller, Michael A., USAF (AZ); F4D shot down (w/Belcher), KIA, body not recovered

Labels: Headlines, History