Poland on Edge as Russia Carves Up Ukraine

So I guess I'm not the only one making World War II analogies in light of Russian aggression in Ukraine. If anyone would know the consequences of appeasement, it'd be the Poles.

At the Times of Israel, "Poland on edge 75 years after Hitler and Stalin carved it up":

Memories of World War II have been bubbling to the surface since Russia seized Ukraine’s Crimea peninsula in March.

WARSAW (AFP) — Poland marks the 75th anniversary of the outbreak of World War II Monday with one eye on Russia, which invaded it during the war and is now throwing its weight around in neighboring Ukraine.

From the very first German shells fired at a Polish fort in Gdansk in the early hours of September 1, 1939, to the final days in 1945, Poland suffered some of the worst horrors of the war, chief among them the extermination of most of its Jewish population by the Nazis.

Nearly six million Poles, or about 17 percent of the population — including around three million Jews — died in the conflict.

Memories of the era have been bubbling to the surface since Russia seized Ukraine’s Crimea peninsula in March, and a fierce conflict began in the country’s east.

“To use military force against one’s neighbors, to annex their territory, to prevent them from freely choosing their place in the world — this provides a worrying reminder of the dark chapters of Europe’s 20th-century history,” Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski said in a newspaper opinion piece ahead of the anniversary.

Polish historian Andrzej Friszke meanwhile recalled the infamous Munich agreement that Britain and France signed with Nazi Germany in 1938, allowing it to annex swathes of Czechoslovakia in a failed bid to avert war...

More.

Coco Crisp Scratched from Starting Lineup for Tonight's #Angels-#Athletics Game

Via Susan Slusser, at the San Francisco Chronicle:

#Athletics Drumbeat: Crisp, Doolittle, Jaso updates: Melvin on the possibility of more "small ball." http://t.co/sIXEQvst3j

— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) August 31, 2014

And here's the video from last night's game:



PREVIOUSLY: "#Angels Beat #Athletics 4-0 in Spectacular Rivaly Match at Anaheim Stadium."

High Expectations, New Traditions for #USC Football

Fresno State faces the Trojans at the Coliseum, starting in a couple of minutes.

At the Los Angeles Times, "USC's Steve Sarkisian hopes fans can embrace break with tradition":

There is a certain traditional look to USC football.

Traveler, the white horse, races down the sidelines during home games, right past the iconic USC song girls. The Trojans marching band performs "Fight On" after every USC first down. And fans need a program to identify the Trojans because they are the only players in major college football who have never had names on the back of their jerseys.

But change will be obvious the first time USC has the ball Saturday when the Trojans open the season against Fresno State at the Coliseum.

New Coach Steve Sarkisian has hit the fast-forward button on USC's offense.

Get ready for no huddles. For a quarterback mainly in the shotgun formation. Coaches relaying signs to players like baseball third-base coaches. Sideline staff holding giant cards featuring NFL team helmets, colors and various patterns and symbols.

ere is a certain traditional look to USC football.

Traveler, the white horse, races down the sidelines during home games, right past the iconic USC song girls. The Trojans marching band performs "Fight On" after every USC first down. And fans need a program to identify the Trojans because they are the only players in major college football who have never had names on the back of their jerseys.

But change will be obvious the first time USC has the ball Saturday when the Trojans open the season against Fresno State at the Coliseum.

New Coach Steve Sarkisian has hit the fast-forward button on USC's offense.

Get ready for no huddles. For a quarterback mainly in the shotgun formation. Coaches relaying signs to players like baseball third-base coaches. Sideline staff holding giant cards featuring NFL team helmets, colors and various patterns and symbols.

More.

First NFL Homosexual Michael Sam Cut by Rams

Heh.

You gotta love it, at Bleacher Report, "Michael Sam Cut by Rams: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction."

Plus, on Twitter:

Pro-tip: if you set up a ball player as the next Jackie Robinson, make sure he plays well, first. #MichaelSam

— Aaron Worthing (@AaronWorthing) August 30, 2014

#MichaelSam liberals once again proving it's not really about "equality" or "football abilities". They demand special treatment. #whatajoke

— Beanfrompa (@BeanfromPa) August 30, 2014

Michael Sam, the first openly gay player selected in the NFL draft, was cut Saturday by the St. Louis Rams http://t.co/WJqEzfoJLO

— Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) August 30, 2014

Hot Anais Zanotta Bikini Pics

At Barnorama, "Anais Zanotti Shows Off Her Love For France In A Hot Bikini." (Via Linkiest.)

Anais Zanotti + French Bikini = Amazing!! http://t.co/M8WOGjfPYx pic.twitter.com/eDh1WIkXmB

— WTF Facts (@WTFfactx) August 30, 2014

John Kerry's Demand for 'Global Coalition' Signals Cowardice, Weakness, and Appeasement

It's almost like a bad joke, although sadly this is for real.

The headline of Secretary Kerry's op-ed at the New York Times says it all: "To Defeat Terror, We Need the World's Help: John Kerry: The Threat of ISIS Demands a Global Coalition." (Via Memeorandum.)

Kerry proclaims the need for "a broad coalition" nearly a half a dozen times. And he tries to lend authority to his case by calling on the memory of "the first President George Bush and Secretary of State James A. Baker III," who raised a truly broad international coalition behind 500,000 American troops to evict Saddam Hussein from Kuwait in 1991. The U.S. today would be lucky to get 500 "special advisers" in Iraq to coordinate the precipitous withdrawal of all American diplomatic and humanitarian personnel.

Kerry's essay is the modern equivalent of the "peace in our time" diplomacy of British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain in 1938. It's a statement of avoidance-at-all-costs foreign policy that is the hallmark of the Obama presidency.

Pamela Geller has more, "Hiding From Behind: “Global coalition needed to stop Islamic State”":

More weakness and cowardice from the jihad sympathizer in the White House.

In the wake of Obama’s catastrophic failure in Iraq and Syria, the Obama administration is laying off on everyone else. The “Junior Varsity” team has conquered whole swaths of the Middle East and there is no stopping them. At least not while Hussein is in the White House.

Obama’s Secretary of State John Kerry, a NY Times editorial, which I am sure the Islamic State reads every morning over the pile up of heads and corpses,  is a “global coalition using political, humanitarian, economic, law enforcement and intelligence tools to support military force.” Obama has no global coalition. He has alienated every ally we had. Unlike George Bush who had a “Coalition of the Willing” of 48 countries.

This is just another embarrassing example of Obama’s impotence. The rise of the Islamic State is a direct result of Obama’s foreign policy — the disengagement and dismantling American influence and power in the Middle East and the world. The spread of jihad is the symptom of a vacuum. Whenever jihad wins, it is only by default: by the moral failure of those who evade the fact that there can be no compromise on basic principles (paraphrasing Ayn Rand).

We have the military, cultural, and moral superiority to defeat jihad. We choose not to. A global coalition needs a leader. Has anyone called Stephen Harper?

And don't miss Tom Maguire, "Save It For The Funny Papers, Or, The Long Slow Flip-Flop Into Light."

(Via Memeorandum.)

BONUS: Fox News reports, "Kerry: The Threat of ISIS Demands a Global Coalition."

The Science is Settled and You're Racist

Andrew Klavan is hilarious.

Andrea Tantaros Tells the Leftist Speech Nazis to Get Bent

At Twitchy, "Andrea Tantaros: I will not apologize for criticizing radical Islamic jihadism."

I will not apologize for speaking the truth about radical Islamic jihadism. Period.

— Andrea Tantaros (@AndreaTantaros) August 30, 2014

I sent that along to a couple of leftist Nazis. These are disgusting people and Ms. Tantaros towers over them in moral clarity, to say nothing of intelligence.

.@pcheung630 Yo, Andrea Tantaros told you and your leftist speech censors to take a hike: https://t.co/ADaQdCy8RG cc. @MMFA #Outnumbered

— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) August 30, 2014

.@joannarothkopf Miss, Andrea Tantaros won't be apologizing to speech Nazis like you: https://t.co/ADaQdCy8RG Nor should she. Get a clue.

— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) August 30, 2014

Terrorist Attack 'Highly Likely' in Britain

It's Kabuki theater.

Here's British Home Secretary Theresa May making her announcement on the elevated threat level in the U.K.:

The UK terror threat level has been raised to severe, meaning that a terrorist attack is "highly likely".

Theresa May, the Home Secretary, stressed that there was no information to suggest an attack was imminent.

She said the decision was taken as a result of the involvement of British fighters in the conflicts in Iraq and Syria.

It is the first time the threat level has been at “severe” since 2011 when it was reduced to “substantial”.

PREVIOUSLY: "'Severe' Terror Threat in Britain Amid Increasing Fears of U.K. Jihadists."

George Galloway Beaten Up — Left With Smashed Jaw

At Blazing Cat Fur:

The notoriously anti-Israel and anti-West Member of Parliament George Galloway has reportedly been beaten up on a London street tonight, with one news outlet reporting that Galloway has suffered a broken jaw at the hands of his attacker.

And Instapundit snarks, "COULDN’T HAPPEN TO A NICER GUY..."

Emma Kuziara Naughty Striptease

At Egotastic!, "Emma K. Poses for Sexy Photoshoot."

'Severe' Terror Threat in Britain Amid Increasing Fears of U.K. Jihadists

I think we're reaching the "overblown" phase of the latest threat about now.

That's not to say there isn't one. Only that while David Cameron continues to thread the multicultural needle, and President Obama admits he's got no strategy to defeat the terrorists, the opportunistic mass media has decided this is a good time to pump up the dangers of global jihad.

We'll probably die of political correctness first.

At BCF, "UK terror threat level raised to "Multicultural" - Jihadist attack now 'highly likely'."

And at Telegraph UK, "Britain facing 'greatest terrorist threat' in history":

David Cameron warns that Isil have made 'specific' threats against Britain as the terror threat level is raised.

Britain faces the “greatest and deepest” terror threat in the country’s history, David Cameron warned as he pledged emergency measures to tackle extremists.

The UK threat level was raised to “severe” — its second highest — meaning that a terrorist attack is “highly likely” in light of the growing danger from British jihadists returning from Iraq and Syria.

The Prime Minister said that the risk posed by Isil (the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) will last for “decades” and raised the prospect of an expanding terrorist nation “on the shores of the Mediterranean”.

He disclosed that Isil had made “specific” threats against the UK and did not rule out military action to tackle the growing problem.

More than 500 Britons are believed to have gone to Iraq and Syria and at least half have returned, with some feared to be planning attacks here. One major plot has been foiled.

The warning came as it emerged that a laptop seized from Isil in Syria contained research on how to make a biological bomb and religious justification to use it against civilians.

On Monday, Mr Cameron will unveil a number of “uncompromising” measures to help tackle British jihadists and fill the “gaps in our armoury”.

They will include stopping British fanatics from travelling to or returning from the war zones by making it easier to seize their passports.

#Angels Beat #Athletics 4-0 in Spectacular Rivaly Match at Anaheim Stadium

I mentioned the playoff atmosphere in my post yesterday before the game, "Angels-Athletics Rivalry Has 'Playoff Feel'."

And there were no disappointments.

Mike DiGiovanna reports, at the Los Angeles Times, "Angels get A's for effort in 4-0 victory":

Ball squirted out of Coco Crisp's glove and over the wall. It's a 2-run HR for Iannetta for 2-0 #Angels lead, but what an effort by Crisp.

— Mike DiGiovanna (@MikeDiGiovanna) August 30, 2014

That was #Angels C Chris Iannetta's first HR since May 25 vs. #Royals.

— Mike DiGiovanna (@MikeDiGiovanna) August 30, 2014

Oakland center fielder Coco Crisp risked serious injury when he crashed into the wall in a gallant effort to rob Angels catcher Chris Iannetta of a two-run home run in the fifth inning Friday night.

Angels left fielder Josh Hamilton hurled his body into foul territory to make a superb diving catch of Alberto Callaspo's fifth-inning popup with two on, to which center fielder Mike Trout responded: "That's what I'm talking about, baby!"

Trout raced into the left-center-field gap and caught Stephen Vogt's drive before slamming into the wall to save a run in the fourth. And Angels ace Jered Weaver pumped his fist violently and screamed an obscenity into the air after getting Josh Reddick to fly to left with the bases loaded to end the sixth.

What the Angels-Athletics rivalry might lack in name-brand recognition or a decades-old history of bitterness, it is making up for in on-field intensity.

Emotions ran high again Friday night, as Weaver gave up three hits in seven shutout innings to lead the Angels to a 4-0 victory before an energized crowd of 41,177 in Angel Stadium...

More.

In an all-around phenomenal game, the Coco Crisp effort to snag Iannetta's home run was particularly dramatic.

I picked up tickets yesterday afternoon, so our seats were way up on the top level, almost all the way down the third base line. From my angle, the center-field fence was parallel with my view. I was talking to my son and not paying close attention when Iannetta came up to bat, but I saw him get some good wood on the ball and was wondering if it was going to go out of the yard. And then here come the outfielders to try to make a play. It took me a second to remember that Crisp was playing center, but as soon as he went up I knew, and he slammed into the wall hard. It looked like he robbed Iannetta of the homer, but we were too far away to see the ball pop out of the glove. And then Crisp jumped up and clutched his abdomen, finally doubling over in pain. I saw an usher or groundsman behind the center-field wall go over and pick up a ball, so I thought then that Crisp wasn't able to hold on. But the scoreboard hadn't recording the home run, and I didn't see the umpire signal the score. Pretty intense baseball, that's for sure. And so different watching it at the park than on television.

In any case, here's the Athletics home page with the video, "Crisp exits after crash into wall on stellar effort."

VIDEO: Review of #ISIS Social Media Messaging Reveals Intent to Sneak Across U.S.-Mexico Border

At Fox News, "Online posts show ISIS eyeing Mexican border, says law enforcement bulletin."

Also, from Brandon Darby, at Breitbart, "EXCLUSIVE: BREITBART TEXAS VERIFIES ISIS BORDER THREAT WITH LEAKED DOC."

And picked up at local CBS News Los Angeles:

Angels-Athletics Rivalry Has 'Playoff Feel'

I'm heading out in a few minutes for Game 2 of the Labor Day weekend series between the Angels and Athletics at the Big A.

The Los Angeles Times reports, "Angels-Athletics is becoming a real rivalry."

This four-game series with #Athletics and #Angels is really setting up nicely for some great drama this weekend. Playoff feel

— Sean Cunningham (@News10Sean) August 29, 2014

Putin Denies Russia Sent Troops Into #Ukraine

More on the story out of Russia, at LAT, "Putin denies invading Ukraine, warns West 'not to mess with us'."

PREVIOUSLY: "Putin Lashes Out at Kiev."

Eiza Gonzalez

At WWTDD, "Eiza Gonzalez Is No Miley Cyrus."

The Concept of Western World Order in Crisis

A magisterial essay, from Henry Kissinger, at WSJ, "Henry Kissinger on the Assembly of a New World Order."

Dr. Kissinger has a new book coming out as well, World Order.

Homosexual Daniel Ashley Pierce Violently Disowned by Family During Profanity-Laced 'Intervention'

Huffington Post has the story, via Memeorandum, "WATCH: Family Has Horrifying, Violent Reaction To Son's Coming Out As Gay (GRAPHIC CONTENT)."

"How not to react" is right.

BMW X5 Security Plus Bullet-Proof Car

A little out of my price range, although I could sure use one.

At WSJ, "BMW Unveils Bulletproof Car: Moscow Plays Host to Launch of Cars That Can Withstand AK-47 Fire."