talkturkey

States with Most Expensive Cars

source: forbes.com

The big three luxury car brands in the U.S. are Lexus (153,809 units sold annually nationwide), followed by BMW (144,472), and Mercedes-Benz (131,146).

Preaching Peace and Violence

Why is it that converts to Islam seem to be more 'Muslim' than Muslims by birth? In this case, an American Jew who lived in Israel before converting to Islam, Al-Khattab "would like to see a mushroom cloud" over the Jewish state.

As CNN reports, Al-Khattab and his brothers of the 'Revolution Muslim' are part of the group spreading violent messages outside a New York City mosque, while the Imam preaches against terrorism inside.

What I mean by 'Muslim' when referring to the degree of one's 'Muslim-ness' is the America's and the West's recent obsession of the 'perceived' Islam. Such as today's Fort Hood shooting incident. The gunman's religion took precedence over his dastardly intentions, as is usually the case with 'Muslim' terrorists. Justifiably so sometimes, since his motive(s) most likely had to do with his 'Muslim-ness.' But nevertheless, why should the entire Muslim demographic have to be embarrassed by the actions of the (loudmouthed) few, who don't represent Islam, at least according to the majority of the people who practice Islam, no matter what side of the argument you are on about Islam's 'peacefulness'?

I even watched a reporter on one of the networks mentioning the Fort Hood gunman's neighbor's revelation that a 'Muslim' inscription was hanging above the man's door at his house. And what do you think the 'reporter' was insinuating as he delivered this 'shocking' discovery? I know of many Muslims and Turks who have Islamic verses such as 'Bismillahirrahmanirrahim' ('Besmele') hanging on their walls, or in their cars, Just like Jews with the Mezuzah, or Christians with a Latin inscription of 'Jesus is Great!' What does this 'revelation' really prove?

Now that the gunman has not been killed (the US Army at first gave the wrong account to news media all day - maybe they thought he was dead, only to discover he somehow survived, and now they can't 'just kill him'), I wonder what other 'revelations' will be discovered or debated in the public eye in the coming days/weeks? Any conspiracy theorists out there?

Republican Strategy

via news.bbc.co.uk

Sometimes one step back, two steps forward can be a great strategy. In the game of give-and-take, one side always ends up with the better of the two deals, even if it's a win-win for both. The Republicans knew that they were not going to end up in the White House last year; after eight-years of perceived, if not real, failures. So they sacrificed the one they thought would be the least damaging to the party, and himself. It was John McCain in 2008, as was Bob Dole in 1996. And yesterday, the game plan set into motion a couple of years ago showed its first signs of success. The Republicans, once thought to be left for dead, by the victory drunk liberals, are baacckk!

Now, if they can get rid of the neo-cons and allow the 'real' and true conservatism, laden with Libertarianism and individual liberties, and less control by the government of not only the people but the world, take over the Republican party, I can already see a Republican in the White House in 2016, if not in 2012. The national mood swing is in motion. And that was part of the game plan. Come back better than ever. Hopefully, in this game of political chess, the people are not the ones getting screwed, as we watch these moves from the sidelines, instead of on the front lines. Get involved! Your lives and your future is at stake!

Windows 7 and Halloween

I make no qualms about my affinity of Apple, makers of both software and hardware, who thereby can't point the finger at each other.

But is it any wonder Microsoft is releasing Windows 7, the prerequisite to Windows 8, on Halloween? Is Windows 7 cursed from the start?

Here's what esarcasm.com is saying about some of Microsoft's wackier marketing gimmicks:

Microsoft seems willing to do anything — and we mean anything — to get you to buy Windows 7. Microsoft is hoping 7 is its lucky number. Desperate to make up for earlier mistakes with Vista — namely the decision to release the thing in the first place — Microsoft is pulling out all the stops in a Windows 7 marketing blitzkrieg featuring dorky launch parties...

The Home-Wrecking Channel