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When it was announced that CBS’ “Survivor” was going to feature different ethnic groups and whites pitted against each other, I didn’t immediately criticize it.
I reserved judgment. I felt it could be an interesting show, and that it all comes down to the way it is presented. With reality TV, everyone knows that comes down to the editing room–and what is left on the “cutting room floor.”
After watching last night’s first installment, I find it–so far–to be the most entertaining “Survivor” ever. After 12 seasons, it was a bore. Who says 13 can’t be a lucky number?
Of note, while we don’t see the different groups telling racist or bigoted jokes against each other, within the groups, we hear things you or I would never get away with saying and enacting behavior that fits ethnic stereotypes. To wit:

* One member of the Hispanic tribe says they will do very well in this game because they’re from tropical environments and can withstand the climate. Remember the outrage when baseball’s Dusty Baker–who is Black–said that Black athletes could withstand the heat better than others because of their heritage? Same difference.
* The Black team, in the end, was very stereotypical–the Sistahs vs. the Bruthas. And since there were more women than men on the team, the Sisters voted the first Brother out, and will probably take the second one out the next time they must eliminate a team member. Not the way to win the game. Who could get away with observing that this unfortunate gender dynamic is taking place on a large scale in contemporary Black America, without being called a racist?
* On the Asian team, Cao Boi (pronounced “cowboy”), a former Vietnam “boat people” refugee, tells all kinds of jokes about Asians not weighing much, being small people, and eating a lot of rice. But rest of his team doesn’t like it. Previews for next week’s episode show them ever more perturbed by it. Cao Boi is portrayed as some magical Asian medicine man, who instantly heals headaches through massage. Not a stereotype, right? (Wish I had a guy like that around to relieve my constant migraines.)
Still, I think Cao Boi, a hippie who runs a nail salon, is the most interesting character on the show. Most obtrusive among his multiple tattoos and jewelry is a large, gold Jewish Star of David necklace charm. Not stereotypical. Is he “representin'” for my peeps–the Jewish people–too? (Some Black people wear the Star of David because they believe it is good luck. But Asian people? I was not aware.)

Stereotype?: Survivor’s Asian, Cao Boi, Wears Jewish Star
Again, I find this to be the most interesting season of “Survivor” ever. I found it to be a silly show and haven’t watched since the second season when two people from my suburban Detroit gym–Keith Famie (chef who couldn’t make rice) and Mike Skupin (the guy who burned his hands)–were on the show.
And again, this is based on just one episode. But I’m far less concerned about the entertaining, Ethnocentric “Survivor” than I am about the likely propaganda for the
The entire episode is available online, here (click “video” and “watch now”).

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Some of the best writer/researchers on the truth about extremist Islam and jihad didn’t start out that way.
One is Joan Peters, who wrote “From Time Immemorial: The Origins of the Arab-Jewish Conflict Over Palestine,” an excellent book that answers Israel’s critics. The book is so well done that Alan Dershowitz plagiarized Peters’ research for his rehash of it in “The Case for Israel.” Peters originally set out to write an anti-Israel, pan-Arabist tome, but her research showed her the opposite view was the correct one.
Then, there is Oriana Fallaci, the Italian writer. When I was growing up, Fallaci’s unwavering leftism put her among Israel’s most vocal, vicious non-Arab critics in journalism and one of the Islamists’ best friends in the world of the printed word.

Oriana Fallaci, RIP
Then, one day, she finally saw the late–perhaps, way too late. But she certainly did try to make amends for it, in a couple of books and countless articles on extremist Islam.
Fallaci’s essays, columns, and articles over the last several years were so spot on and well written that my father would constantly send them to me, even though we knew that before this new era of her enlightenment she was the Islamofascists’ useful idiot in friendly interviews with the likes Yasser Arafat–she called the terrorist murderer “charming” (though, at least, in an interview with Ayatollah Khomeini, she attacked Islam’s lack of women’s rights). Fallaci’s newer work was the truth she had denied for so long.
For that, Islamofascists repeatedly tried to silence her, stop the publishing of her material in countries like France, and she was put on trial. They don’t have the free speech in Europe that we have here.
It’s ironic because Fallaci–at the age of 10 in 1939–joined her father in the anti-fascist freedom fighter resistance against the Nazis. She lived to see them defeated early in her life. But she did not live to see the new Nazis–Islamofascists–defeated. And she warned that they may win, in her books, “The Rage and the Pride,” and “The Force of Reason.”
Unfortunately, in the era of her best work–her exposes on Islam’s extremist takeover of Europe–Fallaci was not only on trial for her work, her health went through its own trial. She was struck with cancer.
Sadly, today, Oriana Fallaci passed away at 77. Oriana Fallaci, Rest In Peace.

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He’s fat, but gives diet advice. He cheated on his first wife, but chastises all other cheaters (besides him) on his silly daytime talk show. The annoying Dr. Phil is bad enough.
Unfortunately, now, Bride of Phil a/k/a Mrs. Phil a/k/a Robin McGraw is dishing out advice. And what are her qualifications for this? Well, she’s married to Dr. Phil. And that’s about it.
Today’s USA Today Life section has a half-page ad for Mrs. Phil’s new book, “Inside My Heart.” Are you really interested in what is inside Mrs. Phil’s heart? Tough. The ad tells you anyway, featuring this pyschobabblish quote:

Please Go Away: Dr. Phil & Mrs. Phil

I am on a mission to get you excited about your life, excited about being a woman in this day and time [DS: Translation, guys this book ain’t for you–even the ones who actually watch Dr. Phil or Oprah.] My goal is to help you see your life as I see mine: a vast array of choices that can bring you closer to the person you long to be. Your life is waiting for you to claim it. It’s all in the choosing.

Puh-leeze. This woman lucked out and married a guy who lucked out by meeting Oprah. Not exactly advice the common woman can emulate.
Taking bets on how many weeks ’til it’s in the dollar bargain bin at Barnes & Noble.

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My favorite board games are Monopoly, Risk, and Mastermind (Checkers, too).
The old-fashioned metal tokens used as Monopoly are part of the game’s charm and kitsch. But Hasbro, which can’t come up with any new games to math the time-tested real estate game, decided to ruin it–by remaking the tokens, with a liberal, commercialized edge. The new “Here and Now” version of Monopoly (expected to replace the original in the future) is out today.
Remember the classic race car? It’s been replaced by a politically correct Toyota Prius. The old-school boot? It’s now a New Balance running shoe. Even the dog got an extrem makeover and was re-shaped. Other new and not-improved game pieces include McDonald’s Fries, Starbucks Coffee (well, at least it’s not terrorist-allied Caribou Coffee), and a Motorola Razr cellphone.
Classic Monopoly Tokens . . .

Extreme Makeover Monopoly Tokens . . .

Was this really necessary? No. Nor is the renaming of Boardwalk and Park Place, which will soon take place. If it ain’t broke . . . .
For those of us who like the original tokens, our version from the Depression days–as invented by Charles B. Darrow in 1934–will still be available. And at a more classic price–$12-$20, compared with the new “Here and Now” edition, which will cost a whopping $30.
When remakes of the same thing are all the game and toy world can do, it’s a decline of America’s creativity. And the decline of America’s creativity is a symptom of the decline of capitalism and freedom.
Monopoly “Here and Now” is emblematic of that. First, . Now, Monopoly. What’s next? Classic Coke. Oops, they tried that already. And it was a disaster.

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Check out this story on Michigan ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agents from Detention and Removal Operations arresting illegal aliens in western Michigan. Watch the video, too.
The Deportation Officers found illegal aliens living in a Habitat for Humanity house. We wonder how many other Habitat for Humanity homes are not housing poor U.S. citizens, but illegal aliens who take advantage of the generosity of Americans who charitably built those homes?.

Habitat for Illegal Alien Humanity
More from Grand Rapids, Michigan’s WZZM13/ABC:

In one instance 3 members of an El Salvadorian family living in a Habitat for Humanity house in Holland are found at home. All are fugitves. The agents don’t usually take children, and do not want to take the mother, leaving the kids alone. So they arrest the father and transport him to jail, where he will sit for several weeks until being flown back to El Salvador.

Apparently, Habitat for Humanity is now Habitat for Illegal Aliens.

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Yesterday, we wrote about how gathered for a funeral in Afghanistan. The excuse for not killing these murderers in the sites of our drones: Pentagon rules of engagement prohibit attacks on funerals and cemeteries.
But, last night, NBC’s Kerry Sanders–the reporter who broke this story–reported that, in fact, the rules of engagement did allow the attack. Based on Sanders’ report, that makes America’s lack of will to attack the funeral even more disturbing:

The military can waive its rules of engagement if a target is considered of such value that its destruction outweighs concerns about collateral damage or cultural sensitivities. Officials tell NBC News that was the case when a U.S. airstrike killed Al-Qaida in Iraq leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in a June 7 airstrike. Military commanders had no idea who else may have been in the house where Zarqawi was believed to be located when they ordered the strike. Zarqawi and several al-Qaida operatives were killed along with three women.

Rules of Losing: Drone View of Taliban Leaders @ Funeral

Defense Department officials have said repeatedly that while they try to be mindful of religious and cultural sensitivities, they make no promises that such sites can always be avoided in battle because militants often seek cover in those and other civilian sites.

That our military leaders did not feel this kill would outweigh “concerns about collateral damage or cultural sensitivities” is incredible. Incredibly stupid.
NBC military analyst retired Army Col. Jack Jacobs told MSNBC:

The reason for these rules of engagement is that we’re not engaged in a full-out war, where we have unconditional surrender as the objective. In that case we would bomb everyone and sort it out later on. You have a very heavy political component here, and that’s why (the rules of engagement) are difficult to change.

Our men are being blown to bits in Afghanistan, every day. If this is not a “full-out war,” what is? Time to wake up.

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**** SCROLL DOWN FOR UPDATE ****
Liberals constantly tell me I’m a “neanderthal.”
Well, now there’s evidence that it’s not as much of an insult as they thought–that Neanderthals weren’t as base, simple, and brutish as originally believed.
Scientist Clive Finlayson of the Gibraltar Museum writes in the journal, Nature (full version is subscription only, that charcoal samples from Gorham’s Cave–near the southern tip of Spain–show that Neanderthals were far more advanced than earlier thought and may have co-existed with humans for a long period of time.
They say the evidence and research shows Neanderthals were expert toolmakers, used animal skins for warmth, and may have cared for each other (caring for others?–isn’t that the exclusive domain of libs?):

Neanderthal Man’s Craftsmanship

The dig there has so far unearthed 103 items, including spear-points, knives and scraping devices, bearing the marks of Neanderthal craftsmanship.

Sounds like Neanderthals may not have been so “neanderthal,” after all.
**** UPDATE: In his book, “Buried Alive,” Dr. Jack Cuozzo claims that Neanderthals were not that different from us, but just lived longer. Thanks to reader Bob A. for the heads up.

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Check out my column on TracFonistan in today’s Washington Examiner.
Remember the five multiple TracFone buyers in the Midwest? There’s far more to the story than you read in the press whitewash. Read how PC forces in the FBI, U.S. Attorney Stephen Murphy’s office, and the Michigan State Police pressured prosecutor Mark Reene and then bungled the case when they took it from him.
As for , the two suspects from Dearbornistan, their case is not over. A grand jury hearing on the matter was held in Ohio, last week.
When they were first arrested, I got a torrent of e-mail defending them from their Muslim friends in Dearbornistan. Among the most interesting was one from Houssaiky’s friend, Hady Basha, claiming Houssaiky is not religious and doesn’t care about Islam, so he couldn’t possibly be linked to terrorism. (Abulhassan was also charged with drunk and disorderly conduct once in Windsor, Canada.)

TracFone Suspect Ali Houssaiky’s Islam Tattoo
But several of the 19 hijackers gambled and drank alcohol–haram (forbidden) in Islam–before the 9/11 attacks (not to mention the prostitutes they “visited”). For a guy who doesn’t care about Islam, why did Houssaiky have halal meals for his week behind bars in Ohio? And why does he have a tattoo, pictured above, featuring a cedar tree with a koran atop it and a banner bearing the word “ISLAM” above it?
The e-mail went on to say that all Houssaiky cares about is becoming the first Arab drafted by the NFL, so that also somehow rules out his involvement in a terror plot. Well, Ali Houssaiky is a few decades too late. There have been many Arabs (and Muslims, too) drafted by the NFL, who’ve had long careers, including Jeff George, Bill George, and Doug Flutie. And there’s my good friend, Palestinian American Tarek Saleh (he’s Catholic; middle name Muhammad is his father’s), an all-around good guy (even if we don’t always agree). He spent five seasons in the NFL as a Fullback for the Carolina Panthers and Cleveland Browns.
Get the picture?

Tarek Saleh: Arab Who Played in the NFL
A very abridged version of Houssaiky’s friend’s e-mail is below (punctuation not his strong point):

— hady basha seven_35@hotmail.com wrote:
From: “hady basha” seven_35@hotmail.com
To: dschlussel@yahoo.com
Subject: hello
Date: Sat, 12 Aug 2006 19:03:35 +0000
i can tell u alot about ali who is a close friend, Ali has a
dream 2 be the first american-arab 2 get drafted 2 the NFL, the kid does nothin but work out and football practice, ali as u say doesnt even practice islam, he doesnt pary or go 2 a mosque or anythin, he focus on his study , girl friend and football, and he once
mentioned that he would love 2 have his own buisness before he is 25 . now ali never ever cared about no terrorism or anything of that , and trust me he never done druggs in his life , coz he really seriously wanna be a football star

Again, read my column on TracFonistan for the full picture.

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If I were Black, I’d be angry at Hollywood.
Not because of the alleged lack of Black roles. But because of trash marketed specifically to the Black community.
Friday, “Gridiron Gang” opens nationwide. But the movie had weeks of heavy marketing targeting Black America. Black radio stations across America held free screenings.
That’s objectionable because “Gridiron Gang” is based on the true story of violent juvenile criminals in a detention facility, who get to play football on the outside. Their recidivism and mortality rate are so high that prison counselor Sean Porter (played by Duane Johnson a/k/a “The Rock”) develops a football team to give inmates self-esteem.
Is there anything peculiar to America’s Blacks that Tinseltown should sell them a movie portraying prison as fun summer camp?

Well, actually, with a large percentage of adult Black males in prison in America, Blacks should be especially perturbed that “Gridiron Gang” is being directed at them with laser focus.
The movie’s messages should disturb Black parents.
One of those messages is that killers are people, too, and they deserve to date your daughter. A Black father–rare enough in contemporary Black families, mostly headed by single mothers–is ridiculed for protecting his daughter and being a good moral influence in her life. Apparently, father doesn’t always know best.
Because Dad does the responsible thing and keeps his daughter away from her convicted murderer boyfriend housed in the facility, The Rock visits his place of business for a lecture. In the end, father does “the right thing,” and lets his girl reunite with the murderer. Not the lesson parents and kids from any ethnic group in America need.
“Gridiron Gang’s” detention facility for hardened juvenile offenders is fantasy. The kids bunk together, have a swimming pool, and their prison guard is rap star Xzibit. Their packed schedule of gridiron games against local high schools is complete with cheerleaders from a girls’ detention facility. They nearly win the high school championship.
Take it from an attorney who’s represented juvenile offenders. This isn’t reality. Tour Macomb County, Michigan’s juvenile detention facility–dark, cold, and scary. With no outside play, a breath of fresh air from the outside is rare. No football teams, swimming pool, or counselor with movie star looks who gives a damn. It’s rough, tough, and scary. Definitely not fun.
Kids who see this glorious action-packed football film don’t see that. They don’t really see why these kids are in the pen, either.
There’s mention of a character stabbing an old lady for her purse. But the murder in the opening scenes is one of defense. A teen kills his mother’s boyfriend to stop him from beating her. Reality check: most kids are in juvenile detention centers for violent crimes that were simply violent and simply criminal. They weren’t heroes saving their mothers from the clutches of death.
Moviegoers see sympathetic characters who just want to be loved and just need something to live for. That’s the view put on by every defense attorney in America, desperate to get his or her youthful–and not so youthful–offender client acquitted for a heinous act. Rarely true.
The film’s “moral” is that youthful thugs who play football have enough self-esteem to stay clean when they get out. That’s a specious claim based on one detention facility where The Rock’s real-life character works. There’s little data to suggest football–already available in most public high schools in America–prevents anyone from committing crimes. If anything, statistics in several books by attorney Jeff Benedict show just the opposite. Football players in college and the NFL are more likely to be violent felons.
Finally, there is the issue of the protagonist’s race. “Gridiron Gang” plays with that, too. The real-life Sean Porter, who gave incarcerated juveniles the chance to play football, is White. But this movie makes a big deal of portraying him–via The Rock (who is biracial in reality)–as a Black man. Another shameless Hollywood ploy to elicit Black audiences to identify with this story.
“Gridiron Gang” is well executed. It tugs at the heart strings, and, incredibly, evokes feelings for violent criminals who don’t deserve sympathy.
But overall, it is just one thing: irresponsible.

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I’m scheduled to be on the nationally syndicated Michael Savage Show at 7:30 p.m. Eastern, Tonight.