Hat tip: CJ

New York City — A police lieutenant swings his baton at Occupy Wall Street activists. Hundreds of activists with a variety of causes spread out over New York City on International Workers Day, or May Day, with Occupy Wall Street members leading a charge against financial institutions. PHOTOGRAPH BY: Mary Altaffer / Associated Press

LATimes:

If you think May Day is a spring festival for dancing around some pole while throwing flowers and hoping to see a fantastic creature like a unicorn, you’re in the wrong century and probably the wrong dimension.

I dunno…some of these protests look like they came straight out of “the wrong dimension…and even involve unicorns:

Occupy Web Site Features Bloody Graphic of Decapitated Cop Being Attacked By a Unicorn:

An Occupy Wall Street protester holds a sign during a demonstration on April 13, 2012 in New York City. In preparation for massive May Day demonstrations, Occupy Wall Street protesters continue to hold weekly "Spring Training" demonstrations. Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Michelle Malkin:

It’s May Day. I’m occupying my job, how about you?

The Occupiers are out wreaking havoc, breaking windows, cursing at cops, and telling everyone else not to work.

In other words: Just another day at the office. I mean encampment. Or streets. Or parents’ basement. Or whatever.

ABC News:

Protest organizers said they intended to show the “1 percent” what life without the “99 percent” would look like, as they encouraged workers and students to take a day off in solidarity against income inequality and “unjust” corporate practices.

Call me crazy, but I would have thought the beard would be a dead giveaway:

U.S. military commanders in Afghanistan have assigned ‘guardian angels’ – troops who watch over their comrades even as they sleep – as part of a series of increased security measures to protect troops against possible rogue attacks.

The added protections are part of a directive issued in recent weeks by Marine General John Allen, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, to guard against insider threats.

And they come in the wake of a spike in attacks on U.S. and coalition forces by Afghans, including the point-blank shooting deaths of two U.S. advisers in Afghanistan’s Ministry of Interior.

The lengths the Taliban are prepared to go to in order to gain access to coalition forces was illustrated yesterday when local police arrested seven men dressed in women’s clothing in Mehterlam, Laghman province, east of Kabul.

Not that this cross-dressing tactic hasn’t been tried before…

In this July 4, 2011 file photo, Taliban militants, who were arrested by Afghan Border Police, stand over their guns while they are presented to the media at the Afghan Border Police headquarters in Jalalabad, Nangarhar province, east of Kabul, Afghanistan. All of them were dressed as women and at least one was strapped with an explosive vest. The border police confiscated six AK-47 rifles. Five of them men were Pakistani and two were Afghans. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul, File)

…Maybe they learned this from al-Qaeda (in Iraq)?

Also blogging:
Gateway Pundit
The Blaze

Angelic Face Of A Sixteen Year Old Homicidal Maniac

Black Teenager Shawn Tyson found two White British tourists walking drunk through the wrong neighborhood, stripped them of their clothes, forced them to their knees, and had them beg for their lives before shooting them repeatedly.

Although their families have asked our president to respond to this senseless crime of wanton violence in three different letters, he has ignored their pleas and has focused on the Martin shooting; presumably, to gain political traction in the upcoming election, since the Martin shooting fits the template of Blacks being victims rather than killers.

The two best friends were on a holiday from Britain and failed to realize the danger of Whites walking in a Black neighborhood. Thus they paid for their mistake after a night of drinking with their lives. Their valuables were left at the scene and we can only assume that Tyson killed them for the sadistic joy of committing murder and mayhem.

The parents of these young men and the people of Britain are asking why this post racial president is only concerned with the shooting death of a Black youth, but not the senseless killing of Whites by a Black youth. The president could have a son that resembles Shawn Tyson, the world is waiting for him to embrace this misguided homicidal maniac like he embraced the young Martin. Then maybe he could enlighten the world on this senseless violence based on race.

Treyvon Martin, Quasi-Stepson of Obama, Salutes America

Tyson tipped his hand with a taped phone call to his brother:

Shawn Tyson called his half brother from prison saying police had found bullet casings connected to the shooting, the Florida courtroom heard today.
Here is Tyson’s recorded telephone conversation with his half brother, who has not been named, from Sarasota County Jail:
Tyson: ‘What’s up, bro?’
Brother: ‘What’s up, lil’ man?’
Tyson: ‘S***.’
Brother: ‘What them crackers talkin’ about?’
Tyson: ‘S***. I don’t even know right now. I don’t know why they talkin’ about.’
Brother: ‘Yeah, I don’t know what them crackers talkin’ about. S***, like. You was in the house, like.’
Tyson: ‘I know… that’s what I keep on… these crackers talkin’ about that somebody say they seen me out there or some s***.’
Brother: ‘Them crackers trippin’, man.’
Tyson: ‘Hell yeah.’
Brother: ‘S***, you’re chate, through. You know what I’m sayin’ like? You ain’t got no guns or nothin’. Like f*** them crackers talkin’ about.’
Tyson: ‘Only thing is, they found the bullets, though.’
Brother: ‘Huh?’
Tyson: ‘They found the bullets.’
Brother: ‘Oh. Damn!’
Tyson: ‘That’s the only thing that’s gonna f*** me up.’
Brother: ‘They found them in the house?’
Tyson: ‘M-hm-mm.’

Tyson Looks His Best To Receive His Life Without Parole At 17

It’s too bad Tyson has sacrificed so much and yet, it is of dubious political value for Obama and his reelection, but one thing is for sure, the families of James Cooper (left) and James Kouzaris (right) are becoming a presidential embarrassment and they don’t realize what a tough election this is going to be. The Russians are willing to be patient so that Obama can talk tough about defense and then sell out the American people and their defense systems, but these damn Brits worrying over the deaths of their loved ones are going to hurt him in the polls, don’t they realize, he is limited in what he can say. His Department of Injustice is not programed to worry over injustice to Whites: they are in office to reverse the effects of Critical Race Theory. Otherwise the New Black Panther Party could not put a price on a man’s head in a form of vigilante justice. Come on people, this is the Age of Obama, learn to accept inequality under the law, The Law of Obama.

Shawn Tyson Sneers While Friends And Family Of The Victims Talk Of Their Loss

The Being Conservative team saw this heart-wrenching yet sobering reminder of our troops’ sacrifice and wanted to share. This is a photo of Landon. His father, Marine LCPL Andrew Carpenter, was killed in Afghanistan a month before he was born.

Lance Cpl. Carpenter was killed in Afghanistan February 19th of this year.

Marine Lance Cpl. Andrew Carpenter, a member of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, was shot in the neck while on patrol in southern Afghanistan. The bullet severed his spinal cord. His heart stopped and it took officials 43 minutes to revive him. Medical officials later declared the 27-year-old brain dead.

~~~

Father Kevin Carpenter spoke with The Daily Herald on Saturday from Germany, where his son was hospitalized. He and his wife flew there last week to spend time with their son.

“We got to tell him we love him. We got to see him. And even though he wasn’t there, we got to hold him,” he said.

The Marine’s father said officials tried their best to keep his son alive and considered flying him back to the U.S. to let his wife see him, but they believe he would have died during the flight.

Crissie Ponder could not fly to Germany because she is pregnant and expecting to give birth in less than two weeks.

Andrew Carpenter joined the Marines in 2007 and was serving his second deployment in Afghanistan. Kevin Carpenter said his son was due back sometime this spring. He married Ponder in 2010.

She declined comment to the newspaper, but wrote on her husband’s Facebook page: “You will always be my soul mate and my best friend forever. … I look forward to seeing you in Heaven one day, baby.”

Cpl. Joseph Davis, who has known Carpenter since childhood, will escort the Marine’s body back to Tennessee once he reaches U.S. soil.

Davis said his friend was always happy wherever he went.

“He lived a full life,” Davis said. “He loved doing what he was doing. He was glad to serve.”

A section of street in his hometown of Columbia Tennessee was named in his honor.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Hat tip: Skye Puppy

Occupy L.A. is finally over:

“They were like storm troopers. They encircled us,” said protester Cheryl Aichele, who was sitting in the middle of the south lawn in a circle with other protesters when police first entered the camp.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times

Toward the end of the operation, a large group of protesters that had locked arms in the middle of the south lawn chanted to police making arrests: “You’re sexy. You’re cute. Take off your riot suit.”

Thankfully, most of this was peaceful (love the free hugs offers from smelly 21st century hippies) and I think the LA police did a great job of controlling the temperament of the occupying squatters.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times

The conclusion of the raid marked the end of a two-month tent city that the City Council initially welcomed, with then-Council President Eric Garcetti telling protesters they could “stay as long as you need.”

But city leaders began withdrawing their support as the demonstrators seemed determined to stay indefinitely.

By 5 a.m., the protest site was in shambles, and what was left of the tents was strewn across the ground.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times

*UPDATE* 08:45

Gotta include this video clip of Treehouse Guy (Emmanuel Freeman):

Click here to view the embedded video.

And another brilliant, Well-Reasoned Occupy Guy:

Click here to view the embedded video.

The inaugural Warrior Open golf tournament, presented by the George W. Bush Presidential Center, was held at Las Colinas Country Club Oct.10-11, 2011. Photo by Eric Draper

President Bush talks with warrior Dale Beatty and his son Lucas, who was also his caddy, during the practice round of the Warrior Open, Sunday, October 9, 2011. Photo by Grant Miller.

President Bush played a few holes during the practice round with warrior Dan Nevins on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2011. Photo by Eric Draper — at Las Colinas Country Club.

President Bush will host the Warrior Open golf tournament in Dallas, Texas October 10-11. To learn more and to apply, visit http://warrioropen.com/. Photo by Grant Miller

President Bush and Dan Nevins walk to the next hole during the practice round of the Bush Center inaugural Warrior Open Golf Tournament, Las Colinas Country Club, Irving, Texas, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2011. Photo by Eric Draper

President Bush celebrates a warrior's putt during the practice round of the inaugural Warrior Open Golf Tournament on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2011. Photo by Eric Draper

HuffPo:

the former commander-in-chief tells The Associated Press there’s one aspect of his presidency he still misses: interaction with U.S. troops. And Bush, who sent them to wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, says that despite his desire to remain largely out of the public eye, he wants to make sure veterans and military members know they still have his support.

“I was a little concerned that our veterans don’t think that I still respect them and care for them a lot,” Bush told the AP. He added later, “There’s nothing as courageous in my judgment as someone who had a leg blown off in combat overcoming the difficulties.”

Bush is hosting next week’s Warrior Open golf tournament in suburban Dallas, an event featuring members of the U.S. Armed Forces wounded while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, including those who lost limbs and suffered brain injuries. Bush joined more than a dozen wounded military members in the Warrior 100 – a 62-mile mountain bike ride he hosted in West Texas last spring.

These public appearances are the exception to the lifestyle Bush has led in his post-presidency.

After leaving office two years ago, Bush and former first lady Laura Bush bought a house in Dallas and started work on the George W. Bush Presidential Center, slated to open in 2013. He has attended select events relating to the center, as well as a ceremony with President Barack Obama marking the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. But he has largely remained out of the public eye.

Bush said he doesn’t want veterans to mistake his private nature with a lack of appreciation for what they’ve done on the battlefield.

“They hadn’t seen me and they hadn’t seen me with the troops,” he said. “So therefore I am using mountain biking and golf to stay connected with the military, people who served during my presidency.”

Military members and veterans groups have generally held Bush in high regard, despite the nationwide protests and international controversy that grew more fervent as the American death toll grew in Afghanistan and Iraq under his command.

~~~

Bush, who since leaving office also has made appearances at events for organizations that benefit troops, said he gets inspiration from meeting members of the military who have overcome serious injuries. He said there’s not much he misses about the presidency, but added he does miss being commander-in-chief because he has “great respect for those men and women who wear the uniform.”

Brian “Ski” Donarski, 43, is among the veterans Bush has invited to the two-day golf tournament that starts Monday. The Army first lieutenant was seriously wounded when a mine blew up in Iraq in 2006 and spent 13 months rehabilitating from a traumatic brain injury, a fracture in his neck, bulged disks in his back and undergoing shoulder surgery.

Though Bush has spent most of the past couple of years out of the limelight, Donarski never doubted the former president’s commitment to the troops.

“I know he didn’t forget us,” he said.

David Hartley, police chief of the small southeast Texas town of Hempstead, also supports Bush, even after losing his 25-year-old son, Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Lee Hartley, in 2008 in Iraq. For the last two years, the chief has organized the Watermelon Run for the Fallen in Hempstead to raise money for organizations that help veterans and their families. Hartley, whose last run drew about 3,500 people, also said he’s never doubted the Republican president’s commitment to the troops.

“The man literally cares for our troops and I have the upmost respect for him,” Hartley said. “Everything he does, he does from his heart.”

Besides interacting with veterans and service members, Bush plans to stay involved in public policy through his already-active institute, which focuses on education reform, global health, human freedom and economic growth.

But, he makes clear, “I don’t miss the fame.” He said he and Laura are content with their life back in Texas, where he served as governor for six years before winning the presidency.

This is the latest popular image that seems to be making its rounds amongst my liberal friends on Facebook…

Conquests and Cultures:

Another cliché among the American chattering class is that the European discovery of the Western hemisphere was an unmitigated disaster for the native peoples. Columbus Day is now an occasion for mourning and self-flagellation. But, Sowell points out, there were benefits as well as costs. Diseases that ravaged the natives were spread by whites—ruthless conquistador and benevolent missionary alike—but so was the ability to combat all disease. Liquor led to much drunkenness, but European manufactured goods, such as cloth, were superior to the products the Indians could produce themselves, and they gladly traded to get them. There certainly was inexcusable brutality against the Indians, but, given the degree of brutality that had existed among Indians for centuries, establishing the Western idea of the rule of law undoubtedly reduced the prevalence of violence in the long run.

The fact that cultural contact gave some benefits to the Indians is no justification for forced resettlements, reneging on treaties, or massacres. Sowell makes no such argument. He merely observes that history is a very mixed bag of causes and effects.

It’s no longer politically correct, and hasn’t been for decades, but…Happy Columbus Day!

In fairness, Columbus was an exceptional sailor and entrepreneur who was obsessed, as so many were at the time, with finding a quicker and more cost-effective route from Europe to China and India. He bumped into America because it was in the way.

So Columbus’ motivation was self-interest. He did not explore to improve humanity, but he didn’t do it to inflict catastrophe either.

I’m not even sure why we celebrate/recognize Columbus Day at all since it only peripherally has anything at all remotely to do with North America…