Blog Latkovich

I've been using Google's search history beta since it was released. Hadn't really seen the benefits of the tool until now. The Googlers have added an analytics tool called Trends. Pretty sweet.

It has been more than a year, but I'm back! I will begin posting regularly again after the holidays are over.

Microsoft to release three versions of Xbox 2

Xbox Next and Xbox Next HD are planned for Autumn 2005, whereas the Xbox Next PC is pencilled in for Autumn 2006.

Peggy Noonan is still happy about the election result.

The face of the modern battlefield.

"The raiding party wants us to scan across the river," Cpl. Robert Daniels said, reading a chat-room message that had popped up on his computer monitor. "Someone's firing."

"Take us east," Neumann said over his shoulder. "Shift from white-hot to black-hot."

Behind him, the pilot of the UAV adjusted the flight path as his partner tightened the zoom on the plane's camera. The images on the screen jumped slightly and focused on two black spots hopping from place to place behind an earthen berm.

"I confirm weapons," said Sg. Jenifer Forman, an imagery analyst. "Watch their right arms when they run. They're shooting across the river."

When the black spots bobbed together, the screen suddenly bloomed white, then settled back into focus, showing a thick gray cloud and a scattering of small black spots, like someone in the cloud had thrown out a handful of rocks.

"Tank gun got them," Neumann said. "Picked them up on their thermals. They're scratched. Scan up the street."

Konfabulous!

Victor Davis Hanson: American Exceptionalism

Despite losing the majority of state legislatures and governorships, the U.S. Congress, the presidency, and soon the Supreme Court, our anointed elite still doesn't quite get it. Middle America can be amused by, but still despise, Michael Moore. It can be uneasy with the pessimistic reporting from Iraq, but still be very much willing to finish the war and win at all costs. It may enjoy a trip to Europe, but does not wish to emulate the French, Germans, or Greeks.

The Economic Times: Bobby Jindal set to be the only Indian-American in US Congress

Indian-American Bobby Jindal was making history a year ago, running in a tight race for Louisiana governor, on the verge of overturning an old colour line in the Deep South as the region's first non-white post-Reconstruction chief executive.

Today, Jindal sits in an austere campaign office on a featureless strip, making history in a quieter way.

BBC: Sarin 'Gulf war syndrome cause'

The New Scientist journal has reported a leak of a US inquiry into the ill-health of veterans of the 1991 war.

Peggy's back!

November 11th: A day to remember those that have paved the path.

LOL. The Club For Growth: The Indecision ad

Google fires another salvo in the Search War. You can now Google your desktop.

Gen. Tomy Franks (retired), Former commander of USCENTCOM: War of Words

On more than one occasion, Senator Kerry has referred to the fight at Tora Bora in Afghanistan during late 2001 as a missed opportunity for America. He claims that our forces had Osama bin Laden cornered and allowed him to escape. How did it happen? According to Mr. Kerry, we 'outsourced' the job to Afghan warlords. As commander of the allied forces in the Middle East, I was responsible for the operation at Tora Bora, and I can tell you that the senator's understanding of events doesn't square with reality.

Lets hope this is true... James Dunnigan: Al Qaeda Without Al Qaeda

Al Qaeda no longer exists. Al Qaeda means 'the base' in Arabic. It's an accurate name for an organization that sought to replace the Cold War era terrorist sanctuaries and support services that made possible the first wave of Arab terrorism in the 1960s and 70s. Back then, the Soviet Union established training camps, and university level instruction, for Arabs wishing to commit terrorist acts in the West. The Soviets also provided sanctuary. In addition, the Soviets helped Arab nations, like Syria and Iraq, establish terrorist training camps, and provided advice on how to support terrorism without getting caught by the victims. For about ten years, Al Qaeda replaced the former Soviet terrorism support. But now, without a sanctuary to operate from, 'the base' is no more.

Blackfive posted I Only Hang With Sheepdogs, an essay written by Lieutenant Colonel Dave Grossman, U.S. Army (Ret.).

If you have no capacity for violence then you are a healthy productive citizen, a sheep. If you have a capacity for violence and no empathy for your fellow citizens, then you have defined an aggressive sociopath, a wolf. But what if you have a capacity for violence, and a deep love for your fellow citizens? What do you have then? A sheepdog, a warrior, someone who is walking the hero's path. Someone who can walk into the heart of darkness, into the universal human phobia, and walk out unscathed.

And a paratrooper responds.