Myanmar Rocked by 6.6 Quake

A 6.6 quake struck Myanmar, Sunday morning.

It was followed by several strong aftershocks.

At least one person is dead, dozens have been injured, and a dozen more are missing.

Bridges, roads, and buildings were all damaged by the quake.

Despite the local claims, the official state media noted the quake, but did not mention any injuries or damage.

Auraria Officer Injured, Assailant Killed

An Auraria Campus officer is in the hospital after he was attacked by a man with a sword.

Saturday morning, reports came into police that there was a man with a sword wandering Auraria Campus, in Denver, Colorado.

When the first officer found the man, he was attacked with the sword.

In self defense he shot and killed his assailant.

The officer is in critical, but stable condition at the hospital, after suffering an injury to his hand, including the loss of at least one finger.

Lakewood Police Identify Officer Killed Friday

The Lakewood, Colorado Police officer, who was killed early Friday morning, has been identified as James Davies, thirty-five, a six year veteran.

Davies and other officers were attempting to apprehend suspects who had been shooting random shots off their porch.

When the officers approached, they were set upon by three pit bulls.

Attempts to control the dogs failed, and officers shot at them in hopes of scaring them off.

Unfortunately, in the confusion Davies was hit by a bullet from another officer's gun, killing him.

It marks the first time that a Lakewood Officer has been killed in the line of duty.

Colorado Police Apprehend Man Who Shot at Police

Colorado police have apprehended the suspect in two incidents of shots being fired at officers during routine pull overs. Larry Gomez, thirty-three, is being charged with multiple counts of assault on an officer, attempted murder, and other charges.

Tuesday morning a man was pulled over, shot at two Denver officers when they approached, and then sped off. The situation was repeated Wednesday morning, for a Westminster officer.

Gateway High School and Jewell Elementary, in Aurora, were placed on lockdown, Friday, after the car involved in both shootings was found near East Mississippi Avenue and South Sable Boulevard. The area was searched for around eight hours, and the lockdown wasn't lifted, til nearly 5pm MST.

Friday night, Denver police received a tip on the location of a suspect in the cases. When they arrived a man took off and refused to pull over, leading to a chase. Eventually a Denver officer used his car to stop the suspect's vehicle near I-225 and Iliff Avenue, in Aurora.

The suspect then tried to flee on foot, and then proceeded in his attempts after being shot. Witnesses say he then fought with police once they caught him and were trying to cuff him. One Denver officer was treated for minor cuts to his hands, that he received during the struggle.

4.3 Kentucky Quake Rattles Mideast

A 4.3 earthquake struck eight miles west of Whitesburg, Kentucky, Saturday.

People from all across the US, between the Mississippi River and Appalachian Mountains reported feeling the quake.

No damage or injuries were reported due to the tremor.

It mostly served as a reminder, to people in the region, that earthquakes can and do happen there.

IDF Soldiers Wounded, Gazans Killed in Attacks

During a patrol on Saturday, Israeli Defense Forces were fired upon with two antitank rockets.

Four soldiers were injured in the attack, which came from Gaza.

The IDF swiftly responded, shelling at the area from which the firing came.

According to reports from Gaza, four people were killed and twenty-five injured, by the shelling.

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, one of the smaller factions in Gaza, has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Recent weeks have seen an increase of violence against IDF forces, along the border.

Israel said that it will hold Hamas, the leading faction in Gaza, responsible for any attacks which come from the area.

From the Mouth of Matuszak: All Apologies?

I began pondering this essay a few weeks ago. With the presidential race in a statistical tie, I accepted the possibility of Obama's re-election. I actually fought against those thoughts, attempting to not let them deter my efforts to do what I could.

One of my current projects is the book I am writing documenting how my political philosophy developed over the decades and the influences and events that brought me to believe what I do today. The effort is one that hopes to share something with future generations how and why ideals similar to mine come to be. This election cycle will likely encompass at least one chapter of that book. But I wanted to leave a more personal note for somebody to find.

The original title of this essay was going to be "Do No Look For Me. Do Not Look For My Property, Intellectual or Physical. I Am Retired. I Have 'Gone Galt' Until The Country Ends Its Mid-Life Crisis and Grows Up." The problem is that I am a warrior to my very core. I cannot stop fighting those fights that need to be fought.

At this juncture, we can only extrapolate and interpolate what will become of our great republic. If left unchecked, socialism will destroy it. The republic will find itself like Rome in its final century, or like Greece in modern times.

These past few days I've been second-guessing my efforts. Could I have done more?

Perhaps.

That led me to think I might owe some apologies.

To my children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews -- I tried. I worked as hard as I could without sacrificing something else I highly value, my time with you. Maybe I should have better explained how important this election could be  to the future and asked you to understand -- and spent more time out there campaigning and working. 

To my wife -- You supported me with understanding. I pushed your patience and tolerance. I asked you to give up some evenings with me to give me latitude to do what I could. I promised you that I had a necessary and hard fight that I needed to engage in. It turned out to appear as a folly. 

To my friends who have supported my efforts, seeking what they thought to be wisdom -- It seems I may not have really known as much as I thought. 

To Andrew Breitbart, Matt Kibbe, Tabitha Hale, Neal Boortz, Sean Hannity, Erick Erickson, Tony Katz, Adam Baldwin, Kurt Schlichter, Dana & Chris Loesch, Mary Chastain, Brandon Darby, Katie Pavlich, and all the others who inspired my voice to boom and my body to action -- I...

What were Andrew's words? "Apologize for what?"

I DO NOT APOLOGIZE FOR A DAMNED THING!

I know several undecided fence-sitters my words and answers inspired to vote, and vote for the republic and against socialism.

I know the despotic lovers of socialism whose evil and oppression I exposed, leaving others to question the lies they were told/taught.

I know the time, effort, sweat, and money I gave (and more than many would say I could have afforded) to support the fight.

I will do it all again. I will take what I have learned and redouble my efforts. I will not be silent or silenced.

This was just one battle and it was fought to a stalemate. 

Now more than ever, we must defend the ideals we hold so dear, the truths we thought self-evident, though there are many indoctrinated to not see them.

Experience is the best teacher. I will bastion my family against the socialist tide, and prepare myself to help educate those it drowns. 

#WAR

Essay originally published at P-G Matuszak's Mental Aikido.

MP From Pakistan Survives Assassination Attempt

A Pakistani MP from Pakistan Muslim League-Q party survived a shoe bomb attack last Friday, while attending mosque prayers.

Ahmedan Bugti had left his shoes outside, as is the custom for Muslims going in for prayers.

Someone planted explosives in his shoe, and detonated it as he was outside putting his shoes back on.

His leg was badly wounded as were twelve other people, who were nearby.

Violence has been on the increase in the Baluchistan area with separatist's demanding more autonomy, greater gas revenue sharing, Islamic militancy, and the fighting between the Sunni majority and the Shiite minority.

CIA Director Petraeus Resigns

CIA Director David Petraeus has resigned from the CIA.

The White House has accepted the resignation.

Petraeus has been the head of the CIA since September 2011, following his role as General in charge of allied forces in Afghanistan.

The following was released to staff at the CIA:

Yesterday afternoon, I went to the White House and asked the President to be allowed, for personal reasons, to resign from my position as D/CIA.  After being married for over 37 years, I showed extremely poor judgment by engaging in an extramarital affair. Such behavior is unacceptable, both as a husband and as the leader of an organization such as ours. This afternoon, the President graciously accepted my resignation.

As I depart Langley, I want you to know that it has been the greatest of privileges to have served with you, the officers of our Nation’s Silent Service, a work force that is truly exceptional in every regard. Indeed, you did extraordinary work on a host of critical missions during my time as director, and I am deeply grateful to you for that.

Teddy Roosevelt once observed that life’s greatest gift is the opportunity to work hard at work worth doing. I will always treasure my opportunity to have done that with you and I will always regret the circumstances that brought that work with you to an end.

Thank you for your extraordinary service to our country, and best wishes for continued success in the important endeavors that lie ahead for our country and our Agency.

With admiration and appreciation,

David H. Petraeus

The White House issued a statement from President Obama:

David Petraeus has provided extraordinary service to the United States for decades. By any measure, he was one of the outstanding General officers of his generation, helping our military adapt to new challenges, and leading our men and women in uniform through a remarkable period of service in Iraq and Afghanistan, where he helped our nation put those wars on a path to a responsible end. As Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, he has continued to serve with characteristic intellectual rigor, dedication, and patriotism. By any measure, through his lifetime of service David Petraeus has made our country safer and stronger.

Today, I accepted his resignation as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. I am completely confident that the CIA will continue to thrive and carry out its essential mission, and I have the utmost confidence in Acting Director Michael Morell and the men and women of the CIA who work every day to keep our nation safe. Going forward, my thoughts and prayers are with Dave and Holly Petraeus, who has done so much to help military families through her own work. I wish them the very best at this difficult time.

The Director of National Intelligence released a statement as well:

Today, CIA Director David Petraeus submitted his letter of resignation to the President. Dave’s decision to step down represents the loss of one of our nation’s most respected public servants. From his long, illustrious Army career to his leadership at the helm of CIA, Dave has redefined what it means to serve and sacrifice for one’s country.

Since he took over as Director in September of last year, he and I have worked together to tackle some of the most challenging issues faced by the Intelligence Community in more than a decade. Under his leadership, the CIA remained instrumental in providing our policy makers decision advantage through the best possible intelligence. I’m particularly thankful for Dave’s unwavering support and personal commitment to my efforts to lead the Intelligence Community and integrate our intelligence enterprise.

Whether he was in uniform leading our nation’s troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, or at CIA headquarters leading the effort to generate intelligence used to keep our nation safe, Dave inspired people who had the privilege of working with him.

I have spent more than five decades serving our country–in uniform and out–and of all the exceptional men and women I have worked with over the years, I can honestly say that Dave Petraeus stands out as one of our nation’s great patriots.

On behalf of the entire Intelligence Community, I thank Dave for his service, his support and his continued friendship.

James R. Clapper

Tranformers 4 Release Date and Logo Unveiled

On Wednesday, Michael Bay confirmed that Transformers 4, would be happening.

Over Thursday, he added a little bit more to the information that we already knew.

Yes, Mark Wahlberg will be starring in it, as a completely new character.

It seems Wahlberg will be playing a father of a teen who, if the movies keep coming, will take over the starring role.

A release date was given of June 27, 2014.

Bay also unveiled the logo for the film.