Just who the hell does liberal media writer Neil Gabler think he’s fooling with the phony beard color? Is it a fashion statement to make his whiskers match his shirt? WTF?

Damsel and I were watching Fox Newswatch today and noticed that Gabler’s beard was reminiscent of the toy where a magnetic wand is used to position iron particles on a clown face enclosed in a transparent plastic bubble. We saw the same clown face without the bubble, and the same phony-looking iron-filing gray beard. Oh, and the shirt too - same color. Of course, Gabler may be competing for visual attention since he sits next to Cal Thomas, whose conservative opinions are often not heard because of Cal’s deafening shirt-tie combinations - but then, I digress . . .

Coincidentally, Gabler’s silly-looking beard is compatible with his ridiculous liberal viewpoints. And do you think it’s also a coincidence that Gabler resembles the world’s most famous clown?

Apologies to Emmett Kelly Jr. for any implied comparison.

The President discussed events of 2005 in his weekly radio address this morning:

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. 2005 has been a year of strong progress toward a freer, more peaceful world and a more prosperous America. This year we watched the Iraqi people defy the terrorists and suicide bombers and hold three successful elections, voting to choose the only constitutional, democratic government in the Arab world. We also saw the people of Afghanistan elect a democratic parliament in a nation that only a few years ago was ruled by the Taliban.

President Bush reviewed progress in the War on Terror, homeland security, the economy, and recovery from a year of natural disasters. He concluded with the following:

In 2005, America grew in prosperity, advanced the cause of freedom and peace, and enhanced our security. Our duties continue in the new year, and I’m confident that our nation will meet the challenges that lie ahead.

Thank you for listening, and happy New Year.

Read the entire transcript of the President’s Radio Address.

This powerful QuickTime presentation shows many of the facets of the Army’s activities in 2005; The Call to Duty. You may have to install the QuickTime plug-in application in your browser, but it’s definitely worth the effort.

THE YEAR IN PHOTOS 2005

This annual year-end special features the best of Army.mil’s feature photos, drawn from a variety of Defense Department sources. These photos capture the essence of our Soldiers, living the Warrior Ethos and answering the Call to Duty.

Check it out at Army.mil - The Year in Photos.

via DEFEND AMERICA

It seems to me that the person(s) who leaked information about secret NSA surveillance operations to the media should be charged with treason. Also, The New York Times and big media in general, should be held culpable as well. I believe that in a time of war, the administration has every right, and indeed the responsibility, to conduct this sort of covert surveillance. People who have nothing to hide should have no problem with this concept; only those who seek to protect criminal and enemy operatives seem to have a problem with the surveillance.

Justice Department Opens NSA Spy Leak Probe

WASHINGTON — The Justice Department has opened an investigation into the leak of information to the media about a domestic eavesdropping program run by the National Security Agency, senior Justice Department officials confirmed Friday.

Officials have confirmed to FOX News that the FBI is involved in the investigation, but did not comment on whether other agencies were involved, or when the investigation began. One official has said the referral for the probe came from the NSA.

More information from FOXNews.com - Politics - Justice Department Opens NSA Spy Leak Probe

Buildings along the shoreline in Long Beach, California, reflect the light in curves and angles.

Permanently on display in the Port of Long Beach, California is the RMS Queen Mary. Alongside her is the Russian Submarine, Scorpion. I took this shot today from the wharf adjacent to both vessels while we were visiting the area.

The March of the Penguins documentary about the Emperor Penguins in Antarctica - Awesome! Damsel and I watched the feature first and then the behind-the-scenes footage on how they shot this amazing film. The following is a comment from sam-650 via IMDB, which closely echoes our sentiments:

This is perhaps the most amazing animal documentary ever. The footage was gathered in what truly must be “the harshest place on earth”. It is barren, cold beyond cold and then there is the endless night of winter. The underwater footage was my favorite, but every single frame is magnificent. I can’t wait for the DVD, so I can see how the filmmakers did this.

The narration is less objective than it is romantic - making it less a true documentary than a story, but that is fine in this case, and Morgan Freeman does a great job. You really should make the effort to see this on the big screen - it is absolutely stunning!

You may notice a couple of new things in the right sidebar - a section for military links and a new graphic for DEFEND AMERICA, the Department of Defense’s official news and information site for the War on Terror. I consider their site a daily read and that’s why I’m making it a point to pass it along to our readers.

I’m also encouraging other websites to lift the graphic (an animated .gif file, 80kb or so) for use as a link to DEFEND AMERICA. Just right click on it and select save. Then enclose the image in a hyperlink to http://defendamerica.mil/.

One of many succulents imported to the Southwest from the African continent, this glossy, floret-producing plant thrives in the Southern California climate, especially after a light morning drizzle.

Photo taken by me late this morning, California time. Sky overcast, temperature 59° F. (15° C.).

Wall Street Journal contributor James Bone explains why the UN Secretary-General accused him of not being a “serious journalist.”

Where Is the Car?

UNITED NATIONS–Kofi Annan, U.N. secretary-general and Nobel peace laureate, is normally the meekest of diplomats. He is so accommodating he once described Saddam Hussein as a man “I can do business with.” These days he spends a good deal of time on the phone with Syria’s Bashar al-Assad. Yet he seems to have problem with me.

It was with some amusement that I found myself the target of a decidedly undiplomatic tirade by the U.N. chief at a news conference last week. The usually mild Mr. Annan erupted in an ad hominem attack, calling me “cheeky” and belittling me as an “overgrown schoolboy.” Although I have covered the U.N. in minute detail for The Times of London since 1988, and have known Mr. Annan for almost all that time, he suggested I was not a “serious journalist.”

Read the rest of Where Is the Car? at Opinion Journal.

Read why we believe this miscreant diplomat is dangerous to America here.

A little light mist this morning left this delicate and fragrant gardenia quite photogenic.

Since Damsel is getting more involved in our weblog, we have decided to add her to the title block. She provides her viewpoints and photographs that add a “lighter” set of features as opposed to presenting hardcore opinion and politics. We like having fun too.

We also transitioned to our New Year’s theme, which will likely be active for a week or two. We’re also trying out a new header that features a flash animation - this a prototype for the permanent banner that will show up after the holiday sometime. If it’s too distracting or annoying, let us know so we can consider alternatives.