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August 26th, 2005 Iraq-elections-constitution
No one should be shocked other then the Republican party about Iraqis being deadlocked and negotiations failing. Can we blame the Iraqi's for not reaching an agreement, thus disrespecting Bush , or is it a sign that Iraqi's are exercising democracy? Should we blame ourselves for creating a failed state, and now feel content, by denying Iraqi women their rights in society and politics? After all women had more rights under Saddam then the new constitution we are blessing. Have we created a stronger Iran by invading Iraq? It is so easy to label Iran as one the axis of evil states. What are we going to call the Shia's of Iraq who have very close affinity to their fellow shia in Iran? It stands to reason and logic that Iran will have a big say and influence on Iraqi Shia community. It so seems, that we want to leave Iraq but Iraq does not want to leave us. Even before we invaded Iraq, voices of reason warned that this will be another Vietnam. Wish that one could today say with pride, 'mission accomplished' by the soi disant champions of freedom and democracy in the world in general and middle east in particular and Iraq specifically.  As of today there are 1872 graves of US soldiers, who died for a Bush nostrum to save our liberty.

Cyndi Sheehan's movement is snowballing .... time shall tell will it melt away or turn into a voice that shall echo from coast to coast. Every life lost in war is sacred, and being anti war does not mean being unsupportive of the soldiers and their sacrifices. Unfortunately some of the grief stricken parents are so brain washed that they are unable to distinguish between the two .

We cannot leave Iraq prematurely hoping  there shall be a proper form of Government in Iraq. In the event ballots are replaced by bullets or Iraqis are forced to elect a dictator 'democratically'. We all know that Bush is looking for an excuse to exit Iraq now. We went in to find WMD's but now the chant is that we are there to bring democracy. The mission in Iraq has to, ... should be completed at all cost, regardless of the reason we faked for this war ...... when all is said and done what would be the human cost of this excursion based on whims rather than facts?

August 24th, 2005
5:38 pm - If you are like many of the people who has sent us emails inquiring about where to get the Google Talk and IM feature, here is a link for you folks to get started.
5:19 pm - Pat Robertson's apology is lame and reason for making such a statement lame like the man himself. Pat stop parsing what you said, we all heard you loud and clear and according to the Patriot act you aught to be indicted even for even for articulating the removal of a world leader, and don't forget you are the same man who talked about nuking the pentagon.
4:49 pm - Does Ariel Sharon really want peace? - Ariel Sharon is not a man who is an honest broker of peace and sincerely wants tranquility in the region. Two hours ago the Israel ordered Palestinian land to be seized. This seizure would isolate the Palestinian from Jerusalem, the disputed city as new settlements are being built. Sharon's policy will certainly lead to violence in the region, which will adversely affect the powers of the Palestinian Authority or Abu Abbas. The world should pay less attention to Iran and more to Israeli conflict. Now the Sharon has put himself on a collision course with the US, will Bush do anything or will be lame as usual. Will Condi come out and make a statement? link => Sharon vows to continue West Bank expansion

August 23, 2005 Pat Robertson is a terrorist/criminal
10:38 pm - Belgium Nun reprimanded for dancing. You know screw religion if it forbids one from the simple joys of life. I would rather be in the company of a happy nun with joie de vivre then an imbecile like Pat Robertson, or Osama bin Laden invoking the name of God. How much I loathe soi-distant God's salesmen/women aka preachers. Mother Superior for heavens sake, Nun Vertommen  was only dancing not fornicating in public. If its any solace to the church she was dancing with another missionary. Hmmm hope they had plans of checking out the missionary position ( written with an evil grin ) This world would be such a boring place if young acted as old fools. This nun is only 29 years old give her a break. Hats off to nun Vertommen, go break a leg sister and you shall still go to heaven.
7:07 pm - Pat Roberton's Fatwa -Why is the Bush machinery pussy footing about Pat Robertson's comments about killing Hugo Chavez? Is it because they believe in what he is saying? Pat Robertson should be imprisoned, for he openly advocated nuking the Pentagon. To our understanding of the Patriot act he should be incarcerated. His comments are anti American and incite violence and intolerance. State Department's statement was pathetic, that Robertson was a private citizen and his comments do not reflect their policy. But Robertson has preached violence with in the USA. Go figure how the news media would had covered the same news if an Arab or a Black leader had spoken the same words.  
11:47 am Why is Pat Robertson walking free, when he is openly supporting the killing of a leader of a sovereign country, in this case Hugo Chavez. Doesn't Pat Robertson's statement tantamount to terrorism. If we are fighting a war on terrorism sincerely and honestly then people like Pat Robertson should be thrown in jail. The only difference between Pat and Osama Bin Laden, one wears a suit the other a turban. Other then their sartorial differences they have the same mentality and they both preach hatred and violence. They are both dangerous people.

August 22, 2005
12:15 am - Larry King should be fired and replaced by Bob Costas, who seems to have more journalistic integrity and common sense. Bob who has been hired by CNN as a fill in for Larry King, refused to host Thursday night show of Larry King on grounds that it was primarily about Natalee Holloway. Aruban's need to kick Twitty's ass out of Aruba for defying court orders. She was instructed by the Judge not to approach Depak and she had the temerity of going to his place of work. What arrogance..... 

August 20th, 2005 Bush - Bike - Armstrong
1:00 am Have a fun and safe bike ride Mr Prez. You are hell of a partying man and fun to be around where no responsibility is involved. The dudes in Afghanistan and Iraq is another story ...... its their job to be there because of a directive. Let the biking fun begin. Cyndi Sheehan is gone back to California :), to make sure that the dog (family pet that she can put on leash or kennel) does not elope too after all one dog has served her with divorce papers. But unfortunately its not about the dogs. Cyndy's mother is very sick. We wish here well.

August 19th, 2005
1:00 pm - Pat thank you for reading and writing your comments. which we produce at the end of this reply. I am sure many of our readers share your views and we hope they are in minority. The media is not Twitty’s private publicity company and for CNN to contribute to the million dollar reward goes beyond the scope of journalistic involvement. Don’t you have kids missing in your neighborhoods? Why is there so little coverage about them? Now if Twitty has some insider clairvoyant information then she better put it out or shut up. The FBI has been assisting in the search for Natalee and those guys are professionals and, w e have yet to hear them criticize the Arubans. We do sympathize with Twitty’s motherly pangs. She has to differentiate between facts and her personal accusatory demons based on pure hunches. Courts and law agencies do not convict people based on motherly hunches. Law is based on facts. Every time Twitty is on air, which is too often, she accuses the Deepak brothers, simply because they did not make eye contact with her. Did it occur to Twitty that there could be cultural issues involved. Depaks seem to be of Indian origin and according to eastern culture eye contact is considered rude especially when made with someone who is older. We however do not know if that is the case with the Depaks but they should certainly get benefit of doubt. We would love to see the pain and anguish of soldiers coming home wounded and in body bags. Do you mean to say those mothers are suffering less? Don’t forget Natalee disappeared while partying. God forbid more people should be like Twitty ........  Lets keep things in perspective. Did you really want to know how BTK committed his murders? That is why we have the court system to listen to those details. Broadcasting a criminals "projects" as BTK put it is nothing but voyeurism. Serves no social purpose. Should the media cover the news .. absolutely ... should it be in such detail ... the jury is out on that but probably the verdict will be NO. There are greater issues to cover then spending few hours out of 24 hours covering BTK. We still believe that the media is moving fast towards tabloid journalism. Seems you are very cold to the anguish of Cindy Sheehan?

Pat's comments - 
I was kind of surprised by your foo foo attitude towards these headline events going on right now.   The BTK killer, is interesting because he had put on such a nice guy, churchgoing front for so many years, yet no-one knew the devil he really was.  A cold, calculating sociopath who fooled so many.

I applaud Natalie Holloway's mother, who is fighting a losing war against a government who doesn't seem to want to solve this case.  Being a mom, I would do the same thing.  Until I had my child, or my child's body, I would not leave that island.  I watch everynight for some new evidence.

The same with the young newlywed, missing from the cruise ship.  It's a botched investigation and we are at the mercy of a foreign government to investigate it.

No...the Arubans are not bad people, and I don't think anyone believes they are.  We are talking about corrupt gov't coverups, much like the ones we have here in our own country.  America does not hate Iran.  The American gov't and Iranian gov't hate each other.  Iranians are very friendly people.

I was really taken back by your description of these cases as "tabloid news".  It is interesting, people do care, and do want these cases solved.   I hardly think the  pain the families of these victims have endured is "tabloid news", and if you don't want to see it.....turn your tv off.   I will continue to watch until I see some justice done.

Lucky for you....you won't have to worry about watching news on the BTK killer anymore....his butt is gone.  Why are you being so cynical?  Are you pms-ing???? 

As for your blog on Israel....I agree completely.  The USA has always had their nose stuck up Israel's butt....for our own interests, I'm sure. 

It's all government, crooked politics, and leaders who are not leading but implementing their own ideas and not those of the people.

So take a chill pill and get off Beth Twitty's case.  She is making herself heard.  That's why this case is getting attention.   More people should be like her.   Pat H. in Virginia

August 18th, 2005 Auld lang syne when journalism was journalism
BTK killer (Dennis Rader ), the media has nothing else to cover but grizzly details of his case. His heartless cruel words like, ‘you will go to heaven this evening and meet others who are waiting for you’. While there is lot more going on around the world to cover. Then is  Natalee Holloway case. Natalee was/is a irresponsible girl who decided to leave the group and wander off into an unknown land amongst unknown people. One million dollars reward has been put up for any information leading to Natalee’s fate. We all know, the Halloway family does not have sufficient resources to put up a one million dollars in reward money. CNN is complicit in contributing to this million dollar reward, probably in return for rights to her interviews first. Does one have to die in a distant land for our media to be riveted on any case? Every day many kids are missing right here in our backyard, yet there is no coverage or rewards put up. Those missing kids are just statistics, unless our media can get some ratings out of an abduction, murder, or missing child story. Twitty Halloway is openly blasting Arubans, criticizing their legal system and their investigative techniques and expects the Arubans to listen to her. Frankly, Arubans have been very polite and gracious hosts to her. We all know that American journalism has turned very voyeuristic, including our television programming. Our journalism fails miserably when it comes to bringing real time coverage to viewers on important issues, like the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. American media decides to take censorial role by sanitizing information and images that are projected over the airwaves. Better purposes would be served if our media could beam real time images of atrocities from both sides in this war on terrorism and let people make up their minds, also it would fall within the parameters of reality television, which is hot these days. Its not journalist responsibility to sanitize or spin any coverage. Watching CNN seems like a long drawn out drone hour after hour on same beaten up tabloid themes. Larry King would be a real king covering yellow journalism. Shame on Aaron Brown and Anderson Cooper, two fine journalist falling for tabloid journalism. We thought they had some standards for some of their coverage was outstanding. Wolf Blitzer at times his coverage is rounded and then there are bad days. Hats off to Lou Dobbs for doggedly pursuing issues of national and international interests and not cowering to anyone and being even handed. Guess if standards at CNN keep dropping one would be better off watching Fox cable where at least one knows from the outset that the coverage is biased. Guess good journalists have either retired or died, auld lang syne. .............Peter Jennings. Sigh ......

August 16th, 2005 Babies on no fly list - Bravo - Security? - Israel
8:00 pm  - Cindy Sheehan, first she looses a son, now her marriage. What a dominoes effect of heart breaks, that started with a war that was based on a lie. Guess next would be her dog eloping with the next door poodle.... poor woman, but a brave woman. There should be more women like Cindy to bring home the boys.
Israel - Why should American Tax payers money be spent in removing illegal Israeli settlers in Gaza? Mere occupation of Palestinian land by force does not legitimize the claims of those settlers. US never asked those settler to occupy that part of Gaza so its ludicrous that now our politicians are spending tax payers money to resettle displaced Israelis. CNN says each displaced Jewish settler would get from $200,000 to $500,000 in compensation of US money. Why can't our politicians give the same money to about 9,000 families in the USA and alter their lives for better? On a human level, regardless of nationality, color, creed or relgion, no one should have to abandon or leave their homes, due to bad political decisions.
Babies on no fly list - Bravo - Security? - Bravo for vigilance to the Airlines and whoever compiles the notify list. Come to think of smelly, poop laden diapers, can be so "poop fumeish" that they could render the whole airline crew aboard to become dysfunctional, disoriented, and pose a security hazard. (blogged with a smirk) That is what happens when politicians get involved in security and don't let the professionals do their jobs. Sadly politicians have their fingers into the national security apparatus so much, that politicians aught to be declared a security risk. Simply denying someone boarding privileges because they have a familiar name is asinine. We bet "Pink panther" aka Peter Sellers tops that list of dangerous passengers. If anyone of you has a tail, pink panther ears or even pink stockings, shoes, leotards or pants be warned you are hazardous. Those of you who are pink because of suntan burns,  beware. Its ridiculous to write about this stuff. SW suggests, let the Home Land professionals do their jobs and the politicians should be told to shut up. We would not had gone to war if the politicians had not tempered with the security briefings about Iraq and tried to sell a doctored document as truth. Politicians do have an important role, in governance and authorization but not in the day to day operations of information gathering and data sifting.
Beware there is a virus worm going around that is automatically shutting down computers. New York Times and CNN computers have been infected. The message you shall find on your screen, the computer is shutting down and please save your work. We never blog about computer virusus but we are making an exception to warn and protect our readers. You are vulnerable if you are using Windows 2000. In the event you are infected please visit the site of your antivirus program and follow directions. Go to Symantec and read further. Also visit Microsoft for more information. The worm is infecting computers and fast spreading worm. Name of the worm is called Zotob. Some of the latest virus threats are listed below. Protect yourself.
W32.Randex.EUS  
W32.Zotob.D
W32.Bobax.AF@mm
W32.Esbot.A
W32.Zotob.C@mm
W32.Zotob.B

August 12th, 2005 Cindy Sheehan - A new movement?
Will Cindy Sheehan's protest at Crawford, Texas turn into a nation wide movement, where all grieving mothers will join hands across the country to protest the illegal war in Iraq? Will this group of grieving mothers save more soldiers from dying for a lie? Is an attack on Iran imminent and just a matter of time? After all we have our troops deployed in Iraq and our armada in the Persian Gulf? Our own track record is so bad that we seem silly in our effort to convince Iran not to develop Nuclear technology, when we refuse to sign the NPT (Non Proliferation treaty ). Taking on Iran, would it weaken the USA, since Russia and China seem to be closely allied with the Iranians on the issue? Even though France, Britain and Germany are allied on keeping Iran from acquiring nuclear technology, yet its doubtful that they shall support any military intervention. This matter shall be kept out of the security council. At the moment the only country not doing business with Iran is the USA. France, Germany and England have massive project/contracts in Iran, a source of revenue for their countries. Why would they want to jeopardize those contracts, after having been denied any lucrative contracts in Iraq by the USA? We need to closely examine our foreign policy. While we denounce the proliferation of nuclear technology in the Indo Pakistan region, yet the USA signed a defense contract with India to support and provide assistance in the development of nuclear technology. Pakistan our biggest ally in the fight against terrorism once again felt snubbed and betrayed. Seems in retaliation Pakistan tested a cruise missile, followed by a statement, which basically said, that USA can sell patriot missiles and support India in the development of nuclear technology,....... Pakistan is prepared. Our policies are encouraging the creation of a nuclear flash point in the region. There is no putting back the nuclear genie back into the bottle. The only viable solution would be, approach the issue of nuclear technology, not through threats but through dialogue. Sanction and isolating countries that refuse to dance to our tunes, makes them dangerous. We need a policy of engagement and rapprochement.

Its been only a few days that the world mourned the dead in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Yet we are using depleted uranium with impunity in Afghanistan, twice in Iraq and not to mention Yugoslavia.

The president must meet Cindy Sheehan otherwise the mothers of fallen heroes in Iraq and Afghanistan will turn into a political albatross around the current presidency and will tarnish its legacy. Had the president met Cindy the first day she came knocking at his ranch, this whole thing would not had made any headlines. Republican spin masters are misinforming the president. The street today understands the meaning of patriotism. The street knows that opposing war policies in no way diminishes the sacrifices of our soldiers. Condi and Rumsfield, need to be fired, they have no utility to president Bush, but a drag that shall eventually effect how history writes about GWB. The military expedition into Iraq must be completed at all costs but in the process GWB listen to the sobs of broken hearts and families who sacrificed for his word, even though they were  lies. Cindy has her own webpage now.

Is anyone listening to what the world is saying what the sub culture of the street is screaming about the war in Iraq. Who is listening to Mick Jaggers lyrics about war ? ..... "You call yourself a Christian, I call you a hypocrite/ You call yourself a patriot. Well, I think your are full of sh*t!... How come you’re so wrong, my sweet neo-con."

August 10th, 2005 Now Dana Reeves wife of superman - Cancer
12:12 am - Cancer when those words are uttered out of a doctors mouth, suddenly everything seems mute. One can hear pins ringing in a fury of fear in ones ears. One is deaf suddenly for one does not say what were the other words that poured out the doctors mouth. One feels sorry, angry, sad, mortal and immortal at the same moment, thinking one could kick it. There is hardly any turning the verdict back, just delaying the final outcome. There is no stopping one from taking the journey of pain and sorrow. Yet our Tobacco companies continue to market the potent cancer causing agents fancily packaged. Smoking is advertised as being part of the good life, related to success. Branding of cigarettes is craftily done to allure the innocent and tempt the sane. Sadly we know and are aware of the hazards of smoking yet we succumb to the temptation. Yes that word "temptation", that even cost Adam and Eve paradise. Is living on the edge worth it despite the thrill?

The contradiction of political values is such that the congress feels impotent to control the sale of cigarettes  …….. It’s because political campaigns are financed by tobacco companies.  

Wouldn’t it be sweet justice that anyone who is afflicted or diagnosed with cigarette related health issues, the cure and burden of treatment should reside with tobacco companies? It is pointless for the court system to award millions in damages to people who can take tobacco companies to court. Why can’t tobacco be classified as a drug? One can’t get a drug without a doctor’s prescription yet if one has five bucks one can choose ones poison.

Are our politician’s honest brokers for the welfare of the people who put them in office? We talk about quality of life yet fail to provide it. Today Dana Reeves wife of Christopher Reeves, announced she was suffering from lung cancer.

August 9th, 2005 Nagasaki - Second Atom Bomb - USA
Guess one bomb was not enough and even today we seem not to have learnt the horrors that a nuclear bomb causes. Time may have marched on but the anger and hatred continues to choke Japanese emotions. The Mayor of Nagaski lashed out probably representing the sentiments of Japanese. Mayor of Nagasaki, Iccho Itoh said, “To the citizens of the United States of America: We understand your anger and anxiety over the memories of the horror of the 9/11 terrorist attacks,” he said. “Yet, is your security enhanced by your government’s policies of maintaining 10,000 nuclear weapons.” 
Is George Bush listening or will he continue to pursue developing a small nuclear device to bust bunkers in the middle east? Why are we exerting so much pressure on Iran when we are not willing to sign the NPT?
12:01 am - ABC news What a shame that yesterday the only Television media that gave less coverage to Peter Jennings was ABC. Last evening the darn football game was more important for ABC's ratings then honoring the hero and legend of their network. Kudos to CNN which devoted most of the evening to legend. Those of us who saw Peter Jennings broadcasts in person are the lucky ones others shall read about him for years to come. Peter Charles Jennings born in Toronto 1938, will be deeply missed by StreetWhispers.

August 8th, 2005 Peter Jennings dies of lung cancer 1938-2005
9:33 pm - Peter Jennings was a news mans newsman. Peter is getting the coverage worthy of a statesman. His eulogies keep flowing. His elegy if written today would turn into a towering headstone. Peter is gone and two more giants still stand in retirement i.e. Dan Rather and  Tom Brokaw. Tom Brokaw and Dan Rather were generous and very gracious in their comments. We wonder why in the world did Larry King invite Barbara Walters along with Tom and Dan.
12:01 am - Peter Jennings succumbs to lung cancer. He was not only a good looking journalist but also personified in depth and honest journalism. He did not sanitize  news but presented it the way the events unfolded. His passing will leave a void in the world of journalism. " Today's journalism has turned into pop journalism" .... said Jeff Greenfield in television interview on Jennings life. He leaves behind very big shoes to fill. Mr. Jennings died at his New York residence. The world of journalism across the world shall feel his loss.

August 7th, 2005 'Why did you kill my son? What did my son die for?"
Ms. Sheehan you and the rest of 50 million people who did not vote for Mr Bush want to know why we went to war and why are we still in Iraq getting our children killed and killing children of other nations? All soldiers like Ms Sheehan's son are heroes even though they died fighting a war based on lies. Their deaths were honorable, but their lives along with those serving Iraq have been marginalized based on a lie.  Lofty words that they died for a noble cause ring hollow in the edifice of history. Only if one could hear the pain and the stench of burning hearts that lost their loved one's? Mr. Bush console Casey's mom, look into her eyes and soul and tell her, that her son died for a noble and just cause ........ if you truly believe so? Since the war began 1827 soldiers dead and 13,559 wounded as the cost of war mounts beyond 185 billion dollars.

Netanyahu quits over Gaza pullout. Mr. Netanyahu has no intentions of peace in the region. He is on a personal vendetta against the Palestinian people for the death of his brother, which he blamed on Yassir Arafat in particular and the Palestinian people in general.

August 06, 2005 Hiroshima - Nuclear Bomb

Today 60 years ago, we the USA used an Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima. At 0815 hours, the B-29 "Enola Gay", piloted and commanded by Colonel Paul Tibbets dropped the nuclear bomb called, "Little Boy"over the central part of Hiroshima. The Atomic bomb exploded 2,000 feet above the city, with a blast equivalent to 13 kilotons of TNT killing an estimated 80,000 civilians instantly.
Hearing in the press that the Bush administration is planning to use a small nuclear bomb in Iran to reach weapon storage facilities 300 feet underground  is chilling. At the same time scientists warn that there would be a massive radiation fall out killing at least 3 million people in Iran, Pakistan and India instantly. Is anyone in the Bush group paying any attention to what the experts have to say?  Our talk and policy of using nuclear technology so irresponsibly is what motivates the rest of the world to pursue nuclear technology with a passion. Hope we can go through the the remaining few years of the Bush presidency in peace. When the senate comes back let us hope Ted Kennedy's proposal to divert funds for nuclear technology succeeds. What a contradiction, we are dragging our heels when it comes to stem research and the non sense of pro life groups, yet we do not even pause to consider the ramification and the value of human life when it comes to snuffing life in a flash (nuclear bomb). The reasons for using the Atom bomb on Japan seems very similar to the justification provided to us today, with so called bunker bursting nuclear bomb.

Its sad that there is no official word of condolence issued by us to the Japanese people this day. The horrific news of our deeds 60 years ago seems to be marginalized by the media. Nuclear technology if not contained shall one day be humanity's death knell.

At a ''Peace Declaration,'' Hiroshima's outspoken Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba vowed to never allow a repeat of the tragedy and gave an impassioned plea for the abolition of nuclear weapons, saying the United States, Russia and other members of the nuclear club are ''jeopardizing human survival.''

''Many people around the world have succumbed to the feeling that there is nothing we can do,'' he said. ''Within the United Nations, nuclear club members use their veto power to override the global majority and pursue their selfish objectives.''

August 02, 2005, King Fahed
King Fahed was buried in an unmarked grave, his body carried by his eight friends. Prince Charles represented the British and the French French President Jacques Chirac went himself as did so many Heads of State. Why did Bush not go? He issued a statement that Fahed was a great friend of America. Lets show our sincerity by being present there rather then sending words and an entourage.
August 01, 2005 We are back from Vache Country
We apologize to our readers for not being able to access this site. Being in Vache country i.e Iowa the home of the best beef, our servers malfunctioned. We are back and all our servers are mooing back again. We shall keep you regularly updated with some pictures that we took on the trip of traffic jams and sunsets in the corn fields of Iowa.

King Fahed of Saudi Arabia is dead, the Ambassador to the US Prince Bandar has been recalled back, after having served for over 20 years as the ambassador. What are the changes going about in the house of Saud?
Will the changing of the guards bring democracy to this Saudi Kingdom.

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YOUR FEEDBACK


Peter Jennings
1938-2005


Be aware

Speak out

Who wipes his tears?

Who hears her terror?

Trying to eliminate Saddam, extending the ground war into an occupation of Iraq... would have incurred incalculable human and political costs.

Had we gone the invasion route, the United states could conceivably still be an occupying power in a bitterly hostile land

George H. W. Bush
World Transformed 1998

Cyfiawnder a Heddwch Bro Emlyn for peace and Justice