Today is the sixty-fifth anniversary of the German invasion of Poland, which set off the greatest conflict of the twentieth century. The beginning and (especially) end of this war won’t seem quite so clear cut to history. I agree with John Hillen that:

The president should define the goals in the war on terrorism ad nauseum – it will lend strategic and moral clarity to the debate – in much the way that FDR’s Cassablanca conference declaration of unconditional surrender put a cap on what was then a murky WWII alliance strategy. In the meantime, Republican policy makers should grab a copy of Reagan defense official Fred Ikle’s “Every War Must End” and start figuring out how this applies to the war on terror and the way in which this should be put to the public.

This is simultaneously funny and sad.

…has to be one of the most effective ones in history, in terms of watchability and effectiveness in selling the product. At least if you’re a (heterosexual) male.

There are a lot of ads that are interesting, entertaining, but ineffective in terms of making the viewer (or listener–there are many that have only music as the audio, which provides no cue or clue as to what the product is to those who only listen to the television while doing other things, and aren’t watching it) aware of the product and interested in purchasing it. But this one compels healthy males to watch, and hammers the product into their reptilian brains.

[Wednesday update]

I’m curious to know how effective this ad is for women. I suspect that it might be, though not for the same reasons. I’d be interested in the opinion of any female readers who’ve seen it.

There are reports that two Russian airliners have gone down, almost simultaneously. Sounds like bombs with timers.

Here’s an interesting interview with Brit Hume, with an extensive discussion of his take on media bias.

The incompetence of reporting continues to amaze me. This story says in its headline that one of Kerry’s crewmates is upset about the Swift Boat ads, but when one reads the story, it turns out to be about Rassman, the Green Beret that Kerry pulled out of the water (hint, reporter Robynn Tysver, Kerry’s “crewmates” were in the Navy).

It’s a minor thing, but it’s just another example of reportorial sloppiness (and sloppiness that somehow always, always, redounds to the benefit of Kerry).

[Update a few minutes later]

Whoops, spoke a little too soon. The dam may really be starting to break. Newsweek has a piece on the Kerry’s Bronze. It’s the first investigative piece that I’ve seen that actually discusses what happened, instead of who is making the charges. In fact, they refreshingly point this out themselves:

Obscured by all the political maneuvering is the truth of what really happened 35 years ago.

Yes, heaven forbid anyone actually dig into that.

As Ed Morrissey points out, this story is problematic for Kerry’s narrative, because his helmsman is now admitting that he can’t remember whether there was fire from the shore when they pulled Rassman out of the water. The Swift Boat Vets all claim that there was not. This is a key element on which the award of the medal was based. Ed also points out other inconsistencies with the Kerry version about boat damage, and says that Kerry and Edwards are hypocritically squealing like schoolgirls over this.

In case anyone’s looking for a project car. It’s a BMW 2002 tii that I’ve had for over twenty years. I need to get rid of it before I can leave California.

Belated congratulations to Mrs. Earthling and her pathetic husband (who only got to participate in the fun part of the process), and also to John and Anna Carmack, who apparently aren’t only birthing rockets. May the new arrivals have the opportunity to live on other worlds, perhaps ones that they forge themselves.

Woodstock ended thirty-five years ago today. I remember it very well.

That’s probably because I wasn’t there. And you’re really showing your age if you understand the post title.

Well, I guess that this post was a little premature. While it’s possible that it could regain strength, Earl has been downgraded to a nameless tropical wave. If it restrengthens to become a storm again, does it get a new name, or does it get to be called Earl again?