Is thirteen a lucky number?

Of late, it seems I have been unable to catch even a slight break, orthopedically speaking.

Leaving personal matters out of the mix here, I am literally unable to write much or for very long.

On December 18th of last year I had right shoulder surgery #10 and it was a bit of a gamble as most surgeries are and to say that my right shoulder is ABNORMAL after 10 surgeries, is an understatement worthy of the current Obama regime. The only reason my right shoulder still functions at all is due to three excellent orthopedic surgeons since 1983 who were able to repair and restore the joint integrity after the first two 'surgeons' severely, permanently damaged the joint due to their incompetence. Recovery is slow, I am old(er) and this last surgery was strictly to buy me time and to please the god's at Workman's Compensation before a total joint replacement is approved, down the road. Hopefully, years down the road or I am called home. I am very grateful for the WC coverage, lifetime medical on both shoulders and my claim was settled after a long, nasty fight, under the old rules before 1992, when said rules and regulations were 'overhauled' to the detriment of injured workers. I settled for $18,000 and lifetime medical over a one time, lump sum settlement of $88,000 and five years of medical coverage. I Had the best attorney who greeted you with a cigar and a glass of Port if you were so inclined. It did not matter if it was a 7:30 AM appointment or later in the day. We got along extremely well and thankfully he started stocking whiskey after I lodged a snarky complaint with his drop dead, beautiful office manager. I knew he would not listen to me and I was correct.

If it was just this, I would not be grumbling BUT of course, there is more. A week after shoulder surgery I developed Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in the left hand and wrist. Of joy of joys, now both arms are fubared enough that I am unable to type or write much. Chalk it up to working too many years in the woods, doing hard factory, machine shop work, pulling on the green chain in old growth mills, fighting fires, even years of being an optician, mix in hard contact sports, too many fights and brawls when I was young, foolish and never thought my body would tear down. Add the above to the three spinal fusions and well, here I am at number thirteen. Treatment is ongoing and the carpal tunnel is severe and surgery is looming. Just an annoyance and something to add to my list. I got my orthopedic surgeon's attention when I told him I had dropped two glasses and a coffee mug out of my left hand. The coffee mug hit my left foot and broke two toes, go figure. I go barefoot as much as I can as I hate shoes, always have and this drove me Mum crazy when I was a little kid. Thankfully, the coffee mug did not break as it is my favorite. I may be getting a program that does voice to text here in the near future if Voc Rehab helps with the program. After years of getting injured, whacked on to the tune of now thirteen orthopedic/spinal procedures and being officially disabled (no, not mentally disabled as some of you are obviously thinking) since 2000, I now qualify for Voc Rehab services. No tears please, I have literally earned this one and just do what I and so many others seem to do best; keep making the best lemonade ever with the lemons that seem to grow on my trees. I planted apple, peach, pear trees and they all seem to grow lemons. I have a magical touch with roses and maybe it is the thorns?

Anyway, just a quick update of sorts and I am typing and writing bits and pieces for future use. I will do an occasional post when symptoms settle down enough or I am just so pissed off about it all I just will not give a damn about how it makes me feel pain wise, later on. But this is the attitude that has gotten me into trouble when I reflect back on much of my past. Damn it to hell, I hate it when that happens. Pain is awesome teacher if we listen. I just listened too late, meh.

Remember this, no matter how tough or hard things are for you, somewhere in the world, your country, your neighbourhood, your block, there are people who would GLADLY trade places with you and think your life, my life be paradise. Just one of the reasons why I have always tried to pay it forward even when I do not have any extra to really spare. Attitude is key in this life.

I am always, your most obedient and humble servant. PatriotUSA

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Tags: Attitude, Lemons, Lemonade, Trees, Roses, slightly sniveling or grumbling. To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the Patriot's Corner. Thanks

The "Root Causes" of Islamic Terrorism?

Gary Fouse
fousesquawk
http://garyfouse.blogspot.com


This first appeared in Eagle Rising.


Deputy State Department Spokeswoman Marie Harf has had a rough week. First she talked about jobs as a way to fight the ISIS ideology. Then, when she became the laughing stock of the nation (at least among those who pay attention), she doubled down and dug herself deeper by expounding on the "root causes of violent extremism" (poverty, lack of opportunity, lack of freedom etc).

Of course, Harf is merely a mouthpiece for her president and her boss, John Kerry. These are the silly platitudes that they are mouthing while steadfastly refusing to mention the term, "Islamic terror". They prefer "violent extremism. Thus, they hold a silly 3-day conference at the White House, moderated by Joe Biden and invite America's top Islamists to participate.

But back to Harf. If I may inform her as to the most direct root cause of-not violent extremism- but Islamic terrorism:

Ms. Harf, I invite you to read the Koran. I invite you to read the hadith, which are the recorded sayings of the Prophet Mohammad. I invite you to read the biography of Mohammad.

As to the Koran, one has to know how to read and interpret it. That is because the Koran is not recorded chronologically, rather from the longest suras (chapters) to the shortest. (Sura one is an exception. It is only seven verses long and is recited multiple times a day by Muslims during prayers.)

It is important to know which suras were from Mohammad's earlier Mecca period, in which he was merely preaching the new religion, and which were from his Medina period, in which he was leading armies of conquest, taking captives, executing prisoners, taking booty, and taking their women and children as slaves. It is in the Medina suras that the language becomes hateful and violent.

Muslim leaders in the West love to quote the earlier verses, which appear peaceful and tolerant. What they don't tell us is that over the centuries Muslim scholars have agreed that in case of contradiction, the latter verse in time will abrogate that written earlier. The final major sura in time (Sura 9) is arguably the most violent and thus would abrogate anything written earlier that is in disagreement.

Back to Sura one. It ends with a plea to Allah to guide one along the straight path, not the path of those who have incurred His wrath nor that of those who have gone astray. According to the Hadith, Mohammad was asked by one of his followers who that referred to. Mohammad answered that the former were Jews and the latter were Christians.

Of course, there are thousands of hadith and Islamic scholars, who to this day study them in a complex effort to determine which are factual and which are not ("Strong hadith vs weak hadith"). Much of it is concerned with the line of testimony from one person back to another all the way back to the mouth of the Prophet. The two most trustworthy sources of the hadith are considered Bukhari and Muslim, named after earlier scholars who compiled and studied them.

This brings us back to ISIS, its followers, the lone wolves in the West who carry out their wishes, not to mention Al Qaeda, Hamas, Hizbollah, Boko Haram and all the others. To say that they are non-Islamic is absurd. They are carrying out their deeds in the name of Islam and they have solid textual basis for their actions. The killing of Christians and Jews is commanded in the Koran if they will not convert or submit to dhimmi status and pay the jizya tax. . Behead people? That's how Mohammad and his armies killed their captives. Take women and girls into sexual slavery? That is precisely what Mohammad and his armies did with the wives and children of the opposing soldiers they killed. Look for the phrase in the Koran that refers to "those which your right hand possesses". That refers to captives and slaves. Child brides? That goes back to the example of Mohammad, who took Aisha as his bride at the age of 6 and consummated the marriage when she was 9 and he was in his 50s. Of course, this was common practice in the 7th century and Mohammad was hardly unique in that regard. However, when you see it in practice today in some quarters of the Islamic world, it can be justified because it was done by Mohammad-the most perfect man, whom all Muslims should seek to emulate. Thus, should the world be so shocked when ISIS and Boko Harem take young girls captive and marry them off to their own fighters?

It is true that the Christian and Jewish texts have violent verses, yet they were left in the dust centuries ago and are not practiced today. It is also true that most Muslims in the world today do not engage in these practices or terrorism because they prefer to merely get on in their lives, raise their families, and live in peace with the rest of the 21st century global community. Yet, they are in a very weak position should they try to engage in a debate with the jihadists because they cannot win such a debate based on Islamic texts and the life of the Prophet. The fear factor is, of course, another deterrent. They risk being called apostates and killed. Apostasy is a capital offense under sharia law. What does that tell you?

I fully understand that no American president or secretary of state can publicly say what I have written above. That would set the entire Muslim world against us even though they know amongst themselves that it is all very true. Even George W Bush understood that. It is much better to enlist Islamic countries to help fight the war on terror-even take the lead on the ground since it is they who are most immediately threatened. Today, Egypt and Jordan understand that. At the same time, however, it serves no useful purpose to mislead the public as to the threat we face and to pretend that it can be defeated with a jobs program, or more education, or by installing democracy. The jihadists of today cut across all spectrum. Many are educated including the leader of ISIS, who holds a PhD in Islamic studies. Many are wealthy including none other than Usama bin Laden. There are thousands of ISIS fighters in Iraq, Syria and now Libya, who arrived from the West. At the same time, there are hundreds of millions of people in the world who are poor, uneducated and living under dictatorships. They don't resort to terrorism.

To fight and defeat this enemy requires honesty and strength something the West today sorely lacks. It has become a tired phrase, but it is nonetheless true. We can't defeat an enemy if we cannot identify it. And yes: The Islamic State is definitely Islamic.

Salam al Marayati at WH Summit

Gary Fouse
fousesquawk
http://garyfouse.blogspot.com



Salam al Marayati



Yesterday, it was reported that the terrorist-breeding Islamic Cultural Society of Boston was an invitee to the big White House summit on "Countering Violent Extremism", which is being hosted by Joe Biden.

"That's a big f-----' deal."


Today we learn that Salam al Marayati, director of the Muslim Public Affairs Council, is also participating.


http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/02/18/muslim-leader-who-called-israel-suspect-after-11-attends-white-house-summit/

In addition to what is written above, I can add that Marayati is one of the nation's leading dissemblers and propagandists. MPAC is nothing more than an arm of the Muslim Brotherhood. Marayati has consistently condemned every attempt by the FBI and local police to fight homegrown terror and identify terrorists in our midst.

In addition, Marayati is one of some 200 leading Muslim figures in the US who are recipients of the Freedom Pledge letter from Former Muslims United in 2009 and 2012, which asked them to sign a simple letter to the effect that Americans who have left Islam should not be harmed. To date, only two have signed and Marayati is not one of them. I personally asked him about this in December 201,2 and he told me he would not sign because there is no death penalty in Islam for apostasy-a blatant lie.

As things are shaping up, no doubt this conference will conclude with a joint statement that ISIS has nothing to do with Islam, that terror in general has nothing to do with Islam, that there are many other non-Muslim terror groups out there that are a greater threat to our national security, and that Israel must stop building new settlements, stop their intransigence and end "the occupation and Palestinian suffering."

Have I left anything out?

Dear Reader. Not only has the camel gotten his nose under the tent, he is the tent.

"That's a big f-----' deal."

Violence in Middle East and Islamic PR in the US

Gary Fouse
fousesquawk
http://garyfouse.blogspot.com


This first appeared in Eagle Rising.


Saturday morning, we awoke to the news of another Islamic terror attack in Europe, this time in Copenhagen. The target? Swedish Mohammed cartoonist Lars Vilks and fellow panelists at a free speech event. Thus, Charlie Hebdo comes to Denmark. Where will be the next attack? By the time we find out, hundreds more people will have died in senseless and horrific attacks all over the Middle East.

And as we await the next Boston Marathon-style attack in the US, the Islamist lobby here is in full PR swing. Not only do they react with each foreign attack with hastily-arranged events in which speakers condemn the latest attack, but insist that it has nothing-absolutely nothing- to do with Islam. They know that their audiences will be filled with many gullible non-Muslims who are only too eager to gobble up the words of peace but too intellectually lazy to read the Koran in depth or study the life of the Prophet Mohammad in order to make sense of it all. If they would just do some background research on the speakers they are listening to instead of blindly believing that they are "bridge-builders". The only bridge these much-ballyhooed speakers want to build is a bridge to an Islamic caliphate under sharia law.

But there is more. February is Black History Month. The cynical opportunists have latched onto this to link it with their favorite charge of Islamophobia. They are trotting out Ferguson, Treyvon Martin and other police shootings and linking them to the charge  that America is racist against blacks and racist against Muslims-even though Islam is hardly a race. Add to that the recent tragic murders of three Muslim students near the University of North Carolina campus by a deranged jerk who was in a rage over a parking space. As I write this, there is nothing to show that this was an act of someone who simply hated Muslims. The guy apparently hates everybody.  No mind. There is an agenda here and a narrative that must be presented to the public and the world that America is Islamophobic and Muslims in America are not safe.

Instead of celebrating people like Martin Luther King, the radicals in academia are trotting out Malcolm X, a man who did nothing to help bring about integration in America. Left unsaid will be the fact that Malcolm was murdered by Nation of Islam members on the orders of Elijah Mohammed because Malcolm had left the Nation of Islam and was exposing the corruption and sexual abuses of the "Honorable" Elijah Mohammed. Audiences will also hear implications that Malcolm was instead a victim of some murky white conspiracy.

Universities are lining up speakers and panels all over the country to explain to their students all the things that are evil in the world, America, capitalism, Israel-you name it. They will use power point presentations to explain how there is a link between how Israel treats Palestinians to the shootings of Michael Brown, Treyvon Martin, and the choking death of Eric Garner by the NYPD.

This, Dear Reader is what higher education in America has degenerated into.

Killing Jews Is Hardly Way to Show "Outrage" Over Cartoons

Gary Fouse
fousesquawk
http://garyfouse.blogspot.com




-The Federalist Papers


First Cartoonists then Jews. The pattern in Copenhagen was similar to that in Paris. After opening fire at a free speech event in Copenhagen featuring Swedish Mohammad cartoonist Lars Vilks, the gunman struck after midnight at a synagogue killing a Jewish man guarding the entrance before later being killed himself by police.

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2015/02/15/denmark-shootings-copenhagen-police-say-killed-person-interest-in-shootout-at/

So is this the "outrage" we see over cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammad-shown by killing Jews? Is this the pattern we can now expect- the new one-two punch?

Either form of retaliation is sick. You don't kill people because you are offended by cartoons. Nor do you lash at and kill Jews over cartoons they had nothing to do with either.

Israel = no meetings with White House; Muslim Brotherhood = Meetings with White House

by Eric Odem, ARRA News Service: Several days ago we reported that a 4-Star General is saying the Muslim Brotherhood has infiltrated all levels of Federal Government, including senior level positions. Muslim Brotherhood is, without question, a terrorist organization and it’s shocking enough to learn they met with State Department officials. But it gets worse now that a member of the Muslim Brotherhood is saying a White House official also attended the meeting.

Via Free Beacon.
A Muslim Brotherhood member who recently was hosted at the State Department along with several of the Islamist group’s key allies now claims that a White House official also was present in that meeting, according to recent remarks.

Abdel Mawgoud al-Dardery, a Brotherhood member and former Egyptian parliamentarian, was in the United States late last month along with a delegation of fellow Brotherhood leaders and allies.

The Brotherhood-aligned delegation caused an international stir after the Washington Free Beacon revealed that it had been hosted for a meeting with several State Department officials.

Another member of the group, a Brotherhood-aligned judge in Egypt, posed for a picture while at Foggy Bottom in which he held up the Islamic group’s notorious four-finger Rabia symbol.

While the State Department initially misled reporters about the meeting, it was eventually forced to admit that several Obama administration officials — including a deputy assistant secretary for democracy, human rights, and labor—and State Department officials met with the delegation.

Al-Dardery now claims that in addition to these State Department representatives, a member of the White House also participated in the sit-down.

“The trip started for the [Egyptian] community in New York and New Jersey,” al-Dardery said in a recent interview with the Arabic language pro-Muslim Brotherhood El Sharq TV. “Then during the trip we undertook to meet with some from the ‘establishment,’ the administration, in the United States. And we met at the State Department and there was a representative there from the White House.”All of this happening while several Democrats in Congress are refusing to attend a joint session where Israel’s Prime Minister will speak.

Israel = no meetings with White House. Muslim Brotherhood = Meetings with White House. Any more questions?
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Eric Odem (@ericjodom) is Managing Director of LibertyNews.com where this was first shared.

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Tags: Muslim Brotherhood, White House, official, Ste Department, Eric Odem, Liberty News, ARRA News Service To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the Patriot's Corner. Thanks!

Another far left moonbat murder-Craig Stephen Hicks

It did not take long for Muslims to scream Muslim hatred, Islamophobia, and that Craig Hicks hated those he murdered because they were Muslims. Being Muslims, the father whom I do indeed feel sorry for, have compassion for after such a tragic loss, wasted little time in playing the crybaby Muslim. CAIR being CAIR, of course jumped right into the clown car of hatred against us who are the Counterjihad.

This guy Craig Hicks, was a total progressive moonbat who just happened to be an atheist and rant all over social media to any and all who might listen for more than five seconds. His neighbors could have been any religion but sadly for the counterjihad they were Muslims and now it will turn into somewhat of bloodbath that is going to have to run it’s course. Since when has the lapdog, lying LSM ever bothered to wait a bit for FACTS to come out? Rarely. This country and the greater west is so cry baby sensitive to anything like this, now the hydra with multiple heads of multiculturalism, diversity and political correctness will be free to roam and maim for a time. The Christian Counterjihadists and the atheist Counterjihadists will both have to take their shots. The Counterjihad, overall will be taken to task, branded as what we are NOT and it is critical that this not be allowed to divide the Counterjihad as was done Anders Behring Breivik. 

Hicks followed and liked many far left progressive sites, blogs and 'sources' which included the Southern Poverty Law Center. Quite revealing what a far left, moonbat screwball he was. The left must be crushed no AR-15 or large capacity clips were used in the crime, at least as far as what is currently known.
 
The Council on American Islamic Relations said Hicks described himself on Facebook as an "anti-theist" and has posted condemnations of all religions. One post, a picture from United Atheists of America, asks "why radical Christians and radical Muslims are so opposed to each others' influence when they agree about so many ideological issues."

"Based on the brutal nature of this crime, the past anti-religion statements of the alleged perpetrator, the religious attire of two of the victims, and the rising anti-Muslim rhetoric in American society, we urge state and federal law enforcement authorities to quickly address speculation of a possible bias motive in this case," Nidal Awad, the council's national executive director, said in a statement. "Our heartfelt condolences go to the families and loved ones of the victims and to the local community."

On Twitter, Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., the first Muslim to be elected to Congress, said, "My thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of those senselessly murdered in Chapel Hill last night #MuslimLivesMatter."

CAIR and Muslims, still riding, still stealing on the hatred the Black grievance industry heaped upon the nation after Travon Martin and Michael Brown.

A Facebook profile bearing Craig Hicks' name and photo paints a picture of a vehement atheist who shared anti-Muslim and anti-Christian posts and links. Yet CAIR and Ellison want this pushed as a hate crime against Muslims. Source.

ALL LIVES MATTER. Not just white, not just black, not just brown, not just yellow, all lives matter. 

Where where they when the butcher of Ft. Hood, Nidal Hassan murdered and maimed so many? I could site so many more examples of murderous, cruel, sick, senseless jihad waged by Muslims, Islam to put CAIR's accusations into the toilet but I am in extreme pain and tired. Those who tread here know the score about Islam, sharia law and that so many Muslims support the violence that fundamentalist Islam wages with such hatred and impunity.

Gates of Vienna has captured the sentiment and climate that this crime will quite possibly spew and vomit.

Thanks for stopping by. I am as always, your most obedient and humble servant. PatriotUSA

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Tags: Counterjihad, Islam, Fundamentalist Islam, Sharia, Jihad, Craig Stephen Hicks, Moonbat liberal progressives, Murders by the Far Left, Chapel Hill, Atheists, Christians, Jews, Mormons, Amish, Cultural Marxism, Political correctness, Diversity, Crybaby Muslims, Ellison, Nidal Hassan, Fort Hood. To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the Patriot's Corner. Thanks!

End Of The Line-Traveling Wilburys

"End Of The Line" 

Well it's all right, riding around in the breeze Well it's all right, if you live the life you please Well it's all right, doing the best you can Well it's all right, as long as you lend a hand.

 You can sit around and wait for the phone to ring (End of the Line) Waiting for someone to tell you everything (End of the Line) Sit around and wonder what tomorrow will bring (End of the Line) Maybe a diamond ring.

 Well it's all right, even if they say you're wrong Well it's all right, sometimes you gotta be strong Well it's all right, As long as you got somewhere to lay Well it's all right, everyday is Judgment Day.

 Maybe somewhere down the road aways (End of the Line) You'll think of me, wonder where I am these days (End of the Line) Maybe somewhere down the road when somebody plays (End of the Line) Purple haze.

Well it's all right, even when push comes to shove Well it's all right, if you got someone to love Well it's all right, everything'll work out fine Well it's all right, we're going to the end of the line Don't have to be ashamed of the car I drive (End of the Line).

I'm glad to be here, happy to be alive (End of the Line) It don't matter if you're by my side (End of the Line) I'm satisfied

Well it's all right, even if you're old and gray Well it's all right, you still got something to say Well it's all right, remember to live and let live Well it's all right, the best you can do is forgive.

Well it's all right, riding around in the breeze Well it's all right, if you live the life you please Well it's all right, even if the sun don't shine Well it's all right, we're going to the end of the line 

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Tags: Traveling Wilburys, Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty, 1988, 1989 To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the Patriot's Corner. Thanks!

British Muslims Warn Britain on Offending Prophet

Gary Fouse
fousesquawl
http://garyfouse.blogspot.com


Hat tip Breitbart and Gates of Vienna




About 10,000 Muslims gathered on Downing Street in London today to warn Britons about the dangers of publishing offensive cartoons. The above speech by someone identified as Abu Tahir makes it clear that freedom of speech that leads to the insulting of the Islamic prophet leads to freedom of action by Muslims (read: violence), and that the British Parliament must pass a law that would criminalize the criticism of the Prophet Muhammad.

http://gatesofvienna.net/2015/02/freedom-of-speech-has-boundaries/

Here is more from Breitbart.

http://www.breitbart.com/london/2015/02/08/thousands-of-muslims-protest-downing-street-over-mohammed-cartoons/

We are in a vicious circle. Horrific acts of terror perpetrated by Muslim jihadists around the world lead to public outcries. Serious scholars search for answers in the Koran and the life and sayings of Muhammad. Many of their findings are troubling. Satirists use humor to make their point. Muslims are offended and protest-often violently. Acts of violent retribution are carried out-sometimes in horrific fashion.

Solution? The Islamists say that criticism of Islam and the Prophet must be silenced-by criminal law, no less. Than there will be peace. Non-Muslims in the West say that we cannot and will not give up our freedom of speech and expression, and if certain immigrants don't like it, they can leave and go back where they came from.

You see the vicious circle?

I vote that we never surrender our freedoms. Those who don't want to live in a country with freedom of expression can go elsewhere, where the laws they wish are enforced. There are forces at work today that simply do not go together and never will.

"Hamas and Sharia Law Have Taken Over UC Davis"

Gary Fouse
fousesquawk
http://garyfouse.blogspot.com


Hat tip Pro-Israel Bay Bloggers




Those are not my words. Those are the words of a UC Davis student government leader upon the
passing of  the anti-Israel divestment vote this week at UC Davis. It has been a troubling week at UC Davis with this insidious measure that has become an annual ritual on so many American university campuses. Saturday morning, a Jewish fraternity house was defaced with two swastikas. Coincidence? Hardly.



Pro-Israel Bay Bloggers has more background on the weeks's events including a student leader involved in the divestment vote who made the above proud proclamation on her Facebook page.


http://proisraelbaybloggers.blogspot.com/2015/01/uc-davis-dirty-dark-core-where-bds-and.html

http://proisraelbaybloggers.blogspot.com/2015/01/meet-uc-davis-student-who-celebrates.html

Is it any wonder that swastikas are spray painted on a Jewish frat house at UCD?

I want to see how Chancellor Katehi and UC President Janet Napolitano tackle this incident. Katehi has made a statement condemning the act. The question I have is whether this incident has any legs or will it be quickly forgotten and brushed aside just as the 2010 incident with David Horowitz at UC San Diego was quickly forgotten when a female member of the Muslim Student Association endorsed the Hizbollah leader's statement that Jews should all gather in Israel so that the job of hunting them down would be made easier. Yet, during the same general time frame, UCSD was turned upside down over the Compton Cookout and the library noose incident. So will Chancellor Kethi and her vice chancellor leader a campus protest chanting, "Not in our community"? Let us see.