Saturday, April 30, 2011
Rulon Gardner Walks Away from "Biggest Loser"
The Deseret News reports that Olympic gold medal wrestler Rulon Gardner who lost 188 pounds on the popular reality show, has decided to discontinue his part in the competition, citing "personal reasons."
You might be a left head, if ...
Courtesy of James Lewis, American Thinker:
Remember redneck jokes? Blonde jokes? Polish jokes? So --- why don't we have leftie jokes? The United States is infested by out-of-control lefties swarming around the media like body lice. Why don't we scratch where it itches?
To start making up for our humor deficit, here are a few starting ideas. Please add your own. Extra points for funny.
"You might be a left head if...
You can't tell "it's" from "its."
Your mind cuts out after one tweet a day.
You think "like" is part of English grammar.
You believe Jerk Rap is better than Mozart.
You feel sure that 2 + 2 equals 5 in some cultures.
You think snowstorms prove global warming.
You believe God is dead but Karl Marx lives.
You secretly think human history started when you woke up in high school.
You've had at least twelve years of education, but you can't read, write, add, subtract, multiply or divide, or make any sense.
Your eyes glaze over when somebody talks facts and logic.
You never liked history because it has too many dates.
You're twelve years old and feel ready to have a baby.
You think undocumented immigrants lost their documents someplace.
You think blacks can't be racists.
You consider Al Sharpton to be a spiritual leader.
You want to spend your life doing good for humanity, but you can't stand math, science, business, accounting, agriculture, economics or engineering. Or work.
You think the Nazis were conservatives.
You're sure you're a Progressive but can't explain what that means. If anything.
You believe Karl Marx gave human rights to women, blacks, and gays.
You think the Soviet Union was a good idea.
You think the most intellectually stuck president in history is a genius.
You think ObamaCare will balance the budget.
You think Bill Maher is funny.
You think race baiting is a perfectly good political argument.
You believe anything in the New York Times. Anything. A-n-y-t-h-i-n-g.
You know in your heart that people who don't agree with you are evil, racist, sexist, gay-hating, and Islamophobes.
You think America deserved 9/11.
You're scared about Islamophobia, but not about suicide bombers with nukes.
You believe Christians should not be allowed to criticize Muslims.
You think it's OK for Hamas to kill families in Israel, but it's not OK for Israel to strike Hamas.
You think that all drugs should be legalized, because people will use less of them if they're cheap and legal.
You think Christians are evil, but Muslim terrorists deserve more sympathy and understanding.
You think the media tell the truth.
You think Obama never tells a lie.
Here are a few that I can add:
You are convinced of your superiority, but can't explain why you're better than everyone else.
You believe that 98% of the population can become prosperous by plundering the upper 2%, even after government takes its cut.
You accept Al Gore's claim to have invented the Internet and to have become an expert on climate change, but can't believe a single word that comes out of the mouth of George W. Bush.
You don't accept the idea that national defense is a constitutionally mandated government function, and constantly look for ways to cut defense budgets.
Foreign law, personal opinion, Shari'a law, federal and state constitutions, case law, and Saul Alinsky's "Rules for Radicals" are all the same to you, so they should be given equal weight when deciding cases in a courtroom.
You have at least one Che Guevara T-shirt in your collection, and would like to see Fidel Castro in Havana, Cuba while he's still alive.
You are smugly confident that no conservative anywhere has said anything of value at any time.
You have evolved to the point where you now consider the U.S. Constitution obsolete, and would rather do away with the hassle of elections and legislative give-and-take.
You have a highly romanticized vision of unions as the worker's best friend.
To you, every immigrant is a potential leftist sympathizer, regardless of how they came to this country, and should be pandered to under all circumstances.
It's not inflation if you call it something else, like "quantitative easing," and keep the presses running day and night.
You believe it's a sign of sophistication when the President of the United States bows to foreign rulers and apologizes to them for any past misdeeds.
Remember redneck jokes? Blonde jokes? Polish jokes? So --- why don't we have leftie jokes? The United States is infested by out-of-control lefties swarming around the media like body lice. Why don't we scratch where it itches?
To start making up for our humor deficit, here are a few starting ideas. Please add your own. Extra points for funny.
"You might be a left head if...
You can't tell "it's" from "its."
Your mind cuts out after one tweet a day.
You think "like" is part of English grammar.
You believe Jerk Rap is better than Mozart.
You feel sure that 2 + 2 equals 5 in some cultures.
You think snowstorms prove global warming.
You believe God is dead but Karl Marx lives.
You secretly think human history started when you woke up in high school.
You've had at least twelve years of education, but you can't read, write, add, subtract, multiply or divide, or make any sense.
Your eyes glaze over when somebody talks facts and logic.
You never liked history because it has too many dates.
You're twelve years old and feel ready to have a baby.
You think undocumented immigrants lost their documents someplace.
You think blacks can't be racists.
You consider Al Sharpton to be a spiritual leader.
You want to spend your life doing good for humanity, but you can't stand math, science, business, accounting, agriculture, economics or engineering. Or work.
You think the Nazis were conservatives.
You're sure you're a Progressive but can't explain what that means. If anything.
You believe Karl Marx gave human rights to women, blacks, and gays.
You think the Soviet Union was a good idea.
You think the most intellectually stuck president in history is a genius.
You think ObamaCare will balance the budget.
You think Bill Maher is funny.
You think race baiting is a perfectly good political argument.
You believe anything in the New York Times. Anything. A-n-y-t-h-i-n-g.
You know in your heart that people who don't agree with you are evil, racist, sexist, gay-hating, and Islamophobes.
You think America deserved 9/11.
You're scared about Islamophobia, but not about suicide bombers with nukes.
You believe Christians should not be allowed to criticize Muslims.
You think it's OK for Hamas to kill families in Israel, but it's not OK for Israel to strike Hamas.
You think that all drugs should be legalized, because people will use less of them if they're cheap and legal.
You think Christians are evil, but Muslim terrorists deserve more sympathy and understanding.
You think the media tell the truth.
You think Obama never tells a lie.
Here are a few that I can add:
You are convinced of your superiority, but can't explain why you're better than everyone else.
You believe that 98% of the population can become prosperous by plundering the upper 2%, even after government takes its cut.
You accept Al Gore's claim to have invented the Internet and to have become an expert on climate change, but can't believe a single word that comes out of the mouth of George W. Bush.
You don't accept the idea that national defense is a constitutionally mandated government function, and constantly look for ways to cut defense budgets.
Foreign law, personal opinion, Shari'a law, federal and state constitutions, case law, and Saul Alinsky's "Rules for Radicals" are all the same to you, so they should be given equal weight when deciding cases in a courtroom.
You have at least one Che Guevara T-shirt in your collection, and would like to see Fidel Castro in Havana, Cuba while he's still alive.
You are smugly confident that no conservative anywhere has said anything of value at any time.
You have evolved to the point where you now consider the U.S. Constitution obsolete, and would rather do away with the hassle of elections and legislative give-and-take.
You have a highly romanticized vision of unions as the worker's best friend.
To you, every immigrant is a potential leftist sympathizer, regardless of how they came to this country, and should be pandered to under all circumstances.
It's not inflation if you call it something else, like "quantitative easing," and keep the presses running day and night.
You believe it's a sign of sophistication when the President of the United States bows to foreign rulers and apologizes to them for any past misdeeds.
Not News: Teens Don't Need Parents as "Drinking Buddies"
From a Seattle Post-Intelligencer article:
Parents who let their kids drink when supervised – because they think it's safer than an outright ban on underage drinking – may want to rethink their approach due to a new study in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.
Co-authored by University of Washington professor Richard Catalano, the study found that teens who drank with adult supervision had more drinking-related problems than teens raised with a zero-tolerance attitude.
"Kids need parents to be parents and not drinking buddies," Barbara McMorris, the study's lead researcher, said in a statement. McMorris is a senior research associate at the School of Nursing at the University of Minnesota....
Parents who let their kids drink when supervised – because they think it's safer than an outright ban on underage drinking – may want to rethink their approach due to a new study in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.
Co-authored by University of Washington professor Richard Catalano, the study found that teens who drank with adult supervision had more drinking-related problems than teens raised with a zero-tolerance attitude.
"Kids need parents to be parents and not drinking buddies," Barbara McMorris, the study's lead researcher, said in a statement. McMorris is a senior research associate at the School of Nursing at the University of Minnesota....
Friday, April 29, 2011
Jimmy Carter Works Hard to Keep His Place in the "Blame America First" Crowd
Who would have guessed that this conservative blog would give ex-President Carter credit for working hard at anything? But this Breitbart story grabbed our attention:
Does Jimmy Carter Have No Shame?
Former President Jimmy Carter was just in Pyongyang, North Korea and blames the United States largely for the situation in the country. The United States and South Korea have chosen “to deliberately withhold food aid to the North Korean people because of political or military issues not related” and this amounts to a “human rights violation.”
Carter is on the Korean peninsula with former Irish President Mary Robinson and former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari. The three call themselves “the Elders.” A better name might be “the Seniles” because their view appear to be so off-base. They made their visit to North Korea but neither Kim Jong-Il nor his son and heir Jong-un met them....
UPDATE: Not surprisingly, CNN reports that the State Department has issued an official denial. "The blame for North Korea's food shortage belongs to the North Korean government," a State Department official said.
Does Jimmy Carter Have No Shame?
Former President Jimmy Carter was just in Pyongyang, North Korea and blames the United States largely for the situation in the country. The United States and South Korea have chosen “to deliberately withhold food aid to the North Korean people because of political or military issues not related” and this amounts to a “human rights violation.”
Carter is on the Korean peninsula with former Irish President Mary Robinson and former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari. The three call themselves “the Elders.” A better name might be “the Seniles” because their view appear to be so off-base. They made their visit to North Korea but neither Kim Jong-Il nor his son and heir Jong-un met them....
UPDATE: Not surprisingly, CNN reports that the State Department has issued an official denial. "The blame for North Korea's food shortage belongs to the North Korean government," a State Department official said.
Final Launch of the Space Shuttle Endeavour
FOX News and many other sources have been covering the final mission of the Space Shuttle Endeavour today. Much interest has been focused on the fact that Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, wife of shuttle commander Mark Kelly, is well enough to attend. Incidentally, President Obama and his family also plan to be there - he is the first sitting President to make a personal appearance at a shuttle launch.
UPDATE: A heater failure has forced NASA to delay the shuttle launch by 3 days, according to a report on MSNBC. This comes as a disappointment to many, but the safety of the spacecraft and crew overrides all other considerations.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
How Militant Islam Rewards Countries that Bend Over for Them
Muslim group claims royal wedding is legitimate terror target
By Victoria Ward, Telegraph (U.K.) 1:57PM BST 27 Apr 2011
The royal wedding is a “legitimate target” for a terrorist attack because of Britain’s foreign policy and the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan, a radical Islamic group has claimed.
Muslims Against Crusades, which had its application to protest on Friday turned down by police, yesterday urged Muslims to stay away from central London when Prince William marries Kate Middleton and to avoid all means of public transport due to the heightened risk of an attack.
Assad Ullah, leader of the extremist campaign group, insisted that it had no “inside knowledge” but was simply repeating security fears that have already been widely reported.
“There is a legitimate Islam opinion that those who have been attacked have the right to retaliate,” he said....
No wonder the British government has tightened security for tomorrow's wedding.
By Victoria Ward, Telegraph (U.K.) 1:57PM BST 27 Apr 2011
The royal wedding is a “legitimate target” for a terrorist attack because of Britain’s foreign policy and the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan, a radical Islamic group has claimed.
Muslims Against Crusades, which had its application to protest on Friday turned down by police, yesterday urged Muslims to stay away from central London when Prince William marries Kate Middleton and to avoid all means of public transport due to the heightened risk of an attack.
Assad Ullah, leader of the extremist campaign group, insisted that it had no “inside knowledge” but was simply repeating security fears that have already been widely reported.
“There is a legitimate Islam opinion that those who have been attacked have the right to retaliate,” he said....
No wonder the British government has tightened security for tomorrow's wedding.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Storms Leave a Trail of Death and Devastation Over Large Area
This is a breaking story. Alabama has been particularly hard-hit by a cluster of tornadoes, which have also visited Mississippi, Georgia, and Tennessee, and a full count of the dead and injured hasn't been completed yet. In Choctaw County, Miss., a police officer from Louisiana died trying to protect his daughter from a falling sweetgum tree. Flooding has been reported in other areas, such as Branson, MO, Illinois, and Vermont.
Reports from:
FOX News
ABC News
CNN
An Explanation of Our Blog
For the loyal readers who have been visiting "Bloodthirsty Warmonger" day after day, a heartfelt thank you.
Lately one visitor has been inserting some comments without being fully informed as to the process that drives this blog. I plow through a large volume of news sources so that you don't have to; for every news story we run, we typically reject dozens. Some news sites, such as the Daily Kos and the New York Times can safely be dismissed, since they're quite partisan and biased, even on non-political subjects. But I will read liberal-friendly sources such as Slate, Politico, and MSNBC.
We make no apologies for our unabashedly conservative bias, believing that this is what are readers are looking for an antidote to the liberal bias of larger news outlets. We are almost unique in our commitment to cover the latest in toilet technology, and in championing the cause of homeless people and the mentally ill. Our vetting process has been effective to where I rarely have to issue corrections, although some breaking news stories will have one or more updates.
Here's an entertaining exchange from my Facebook page, from Wisconsin/Michigan conservatives:
Stacy M. Swimp [President, Frederick Douglass Foundation of Michigan] Reflecting on the radio interview I just did, progressives usually never represent the facts accurately, rarely stay on task when speaking of a topic, and most of all, almost never propose a merit based argument. Am I the only one seeing this trend?!
Eric D. Jessup nope
Lou D'Abbraccio Debating liberals is like trying to nail jello to the wall. They'll start to lose, then predictably jump around throwing all their favorite canards at the wall hoping something sticks. I love to make side bets ahead of time for how long it will take them to get to Bush, Cheney, or Halliburton.
Roy Sims Reflect on your own post & you'll see a conservative dialogue that strays from the task; it was your post about: The word democracy does not appear in the U.S. Constitution. The U.S. is a Republic. Constitutional illiteracy elected Obama... This conversation sounded very progressive to me??? :)
Stacy M. Swimp Eric, isn't it comical?! Lol!@Lou, you hit the nail on the head, Brother. I could have not said it better myself. Lol!
Laura Thelen Barnes Stacy, I have always found that to be true..it's like talking to a guilty child...you question him where he's been and he switches the subject...if you tell him you know where's he's been, he tells you that you are unfair and lying.
Lately one visitor has been inserting some comments without being fully informed as to the process that drives this blog. I plow through a large volume of news sources so that you don't have to; for every news story we run, we typically reject dozens. Some news sites, such as the Daily Kos and the New York Times can safely be dismissed, since they're quite partisan and biased, even on non-political subjects. But I will read liberal-friendly sources such as Slate, Politico, and MSNBC.
We make no apologies for our unabashedly conservative bias, believing that this is what are readers are looking for an antidote to the liberal bias of larger news outlets. We are almost unique in our commitment to cover the latest in toilet technology, and in championing the cause of homeless people and the mentally ill. Our vetting process has been effective to where I rarely have to issue corrections, although some breaking news stories will have one or more updates.
Here's an entertaining exchange from my Facebook page, from Wisconsin/Michigan conservatives:
Stacy M. Swimp [President, Frederick Douglass Foundation of Michigan] Reflecting on the radio interview I just did, progressives usually never represent the facts accurately, rarely stay on task when speaking of a topic, and most of all, almost never propose a merit based argument. Am I the only one seeing this trend?!
Eric D. Jessup nope
Lou D'Abbraccio Debating liberals is like trying to nail jello to the wall. They'll start to lose, then predictably jump around throwing all their favorite canards at the wall hoping something sticks. I love to make side bets ahead of time for how long it will take them to get to Bush, Cheney, or Halliburton.
Roy Sims Reflect on your own post & you'll see a conservative dialogue that strays from the task; it was your post about: The word democracy does not appear in the U.S. Constitution. The U.S. is a Republic. Constitutional illiteracy elected Obama... This conversation sounded very progressive to me??? :)
Stacy M. Swimp Eric, isn't it comical?! Lol!@Lou, you hit the nail on the head, Brother. I could have not said it better myself. Lol!
Laura Thelen Barnes Stacy, I have always found that to be true..it's like talking to a guilty child...you question him where he's been and he switches the subject...if you tell him you know where's he's been, he tells you that you are unfair and lying.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Politicians Mourn Death of Man Who Invented the TelePrompTer
The Note, an ABC News blog, reported that Hubert J. “Hub” Schlafly Jr., inventor of the TelePrompTer, passed away in Connecticut on the 20th of April.
President Barack Obama, is hailed by supporters as a gifted orator. But he has been lambasted by critics for his reliance on the teleprompter. In truth, every President since Dwight D. Eisenhower, excepting Nixon, has used one for major speeches in Congress.
Schlafly, a TV engineer, developed the device in the 1950’s to help soap opera actors remember their lines, according to the Washington Post. For more on Schlafly, read the Post's obituary.
President Barack Obama, is hailed by supporters as a gifted orator. But he has been lambasted by critics for his reliance on the teleprompter. In truth, every President since Dwight D. Eisenhower, excepting Nixon, has used one for major speeches in Congress.
Schlafly, a TV engineer, developed the device in the 1950’s to help soap opera actors remember their lines, according to the Washington Post. For more on Schlafly, read the Post's obituary.
Before You Rush to Judgment...
Here's what Matt Parkhouse, one of Colorado Springs' leading experts on homelessness, has to say about this book:
The following is something I found on the AOL News site.....
I'll follow this with an essay on the "Rich vs Poor" issue - it's about the best writing I've run across on this important issue in our country....
-Matt
(I'm kind of surprised Walmart still allows "camping" in their Southern California parking lots!)
Brianna Karp tells the story of how she got off the streets in "The Girl's Guide to Homelessness."
Brianna Karp thought she had it all together. At 23, the Orange County, Calif., executive assistant was employed, making $50,000 a year, and living in a cozy cottage with her mastiff, Fezzik.
But she would soon face a downward spiral.
"I was laid off in July 2008, along with over half of my company," Karp tells ParentDish. "For the next six months, I struggled to stay afloat on unemployment, which didn't cover rent and food. I searched for work every day; I signed up with several temp agencies and took as many opportunities as I could. This was at the peak of the recession, and nobody was hiring."
No longer able to pay her rent, Karp says she attempted a short-term stay with her mother and stepfather, "which really was a last resort, as there's a very toxic history there."
She writes of her family situation in her new book, "The Girl's Guide to Homelessness," (Harlequin) released today, and of how she soon found herself without a home. A partial transcript of her interview follows.
ParentDish: Where did you end up staying, after leaving your mother's house?
Brianna Karp: I ended up living in my deceased biological father's camper in the middle of a Walmart parking lot -- taking advantage of their policy allowing travelers and campers to stay overnight on their lots for free. It wasn't fun, but you do what you have to in order to sort of eke out an existence and try to find a sustainable routine.
PD: You had no electricity or running water.
BK: I showered at a nearby mom-and-pop gym where I purchased a membership for $9.99 a month. If I needed to use a restroom in the middle of the night, there was a 24-hour gas station on the same block. I'd learned from a book I'd read years before that you can boil water on a car radiator to cook food. I purchased a large high-powered flashlight that I shone at the ceiling of the trailer at night, and it would give me enough light to read by. There were many other homeless people staying on the lot in campers and cars: a married couple in their 60s, a former doctor, a man who spoke four languages. I was by far the youngest. Many of them had lost their jobs and homes in the recession, as well.
PD: What did you learn about other homeless people from your experience?
BK: It was a topic I'd never really thought about until it happened to me, as I suspect is usually the case for most people. It did force me to take a look at the personalities and stories behind the labels and stereotypes. What I found is that these are really just people, and that there is no basis for the automatic presuppositions that I hear over and over: "Homeless people are all druggies/mentally ill/dirty/lazy/unloved."
I found a warm, supportive network of people that did their best to help one another out, even if all they had to offer was encouragement despite their personal circumstances. In my experience, I've found that there's as many reasons and causes behind homelessness as there are homeless people. No one should be pigeonholed. I believe all homeless people need help. Shelter is a basic human need and right, as far as I'm concerned.
Brianna's story ended happily, as she did find work at South Coast Repertory, a local theatre in Orange County.
PD: What advice do you have for young people who may find themselves homeless?
BK: As "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" would put it, don't panic. Be as savvy as you can with the resources you have available to you. Technology and social media are your friends, so use them. With them, a world's entire wealth of information is at your fingertips....
Spydra's Web, a Blog
And now, a word from fellow conservative & former mayoral candidate Mitch Christiansen:
Melinda is a aspiring blogger. She is a conservative and says what she thinks. She is in need of donations to help her keep going. Her husband works at a low wage job as it was all he could find. She does not work as nothing that fits is available. (like 30,000 others in Colorado Springs) She started her blog [Spydra's Web] as a way to supplement her family's income.
If you can help her out with $10-20-30-50 or more it would be appreciated and help keep a conservative on line asking questions. Email her at Melinda Lawson.
Thanks for your time and considering this person
Mitch Christiansen
Christiansen Enterprises Inc
Melinda is a aspiring blogger. She is a conservative and says what she thinks. She is in need of donations to help her keep going. Her husband works at a low wage job as it was all he could find. She does not work as nothing that fits is available. (like 30,000 others in Colorado Springs) She started her blog [Spydra's Web] as a way to supplement her family's income.
If you can help her out with $10-20-30-50 or more it would be appreciated and help keep a conservative on line asking questions. Email her at Melinda Lawson.
Thanks for your time and considering this person
Mitch Christiansen
Christiansen Enterprises Inc
Monday, April 25, 2011
Mass Escape from Afghan Prison
Over 450 prisoners, many of them Taliban, escaped through a 1,050-foot (320 meter) tunnel dug by the Taliban to the main jail at Kandahar, Afghanistan, according to FOX News. This represents more than one-third of the inmate population at Sarposa Prison. And it is not the first time such a mass breakout has occurred; in 2008 a Taliban attack freed 900 prisoners.
"Some of the prisoners have already been recaptured," said Gov. Tooryalai Wesa of Kandahar Province, although he did not give a specific number.
"Some of the prisoners have already been recaptured," said Gov. Tooryalai Wesa of Kandahar Province, although he did not give a specific number.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Former President Bush Joins Wounded Warriors for 100-km Bike Ride
On Monday, 25 April, former President George W. Bush will be joining wounded warriors for the 3-day, 100-kilometer Warrior W100 Ride in the Big Bend area of Texas. This will be a milestone for many a service member wounded in Iraq or Afghanistan, who may have been convalescing in a hospital only a few months ago.
Obama's NLRB Bursts Its Bounds with Boeing
The following news item appeared in American Thinker:
From the Chicago Tribune editorial page we read:
This week, the National Labor Relations Board filed a complaint over Boeing's plans to open a plant in South Carolina. It plans to open a second production line of its 787 Dreamliner plane there. The plant has been built.
Boeing executives have acknowledged that they were reluctant to expand in Washington state because of the risk of a labor strike. Boeing's workers in Washington belong to the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. Its plant in South Carolina would be nonunion.
Boeing is not being alarmist. Workers in Washington went on strike for nearly two months in 2008. The company said it couldn't reach a deal with the union to expand operations at Puget Sound, Wash., for the Dreamliner.
Seizing on the words of Boeing executives, the NLRB inferred that the decision to choose South Carolina was retaliation against the union. The labor board demands that Boeing open the second production line in Washington. [Emphasis added]
From the Chicago Tribune editorial page we read:
This week, the National Labor Relations Board filed a complaint over Boeing's plans to open a plant in South Carolina. It plans to open a second production line of its 787 Dreamliner plane there. The plant has been built.
Boeing executives have acknowledged that they were reluctant to expand in Washington state because of the risk of a labor strike. Boeing's workers in Washington belong to the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. Its plant in South Carolina would be nonunion.
Boeing is not being alarmist. Workers in Washington went on strike for nearly two months in 2008. The company said it couldn't reach a deal with the union to expand operations at Puget Sound, Wash., for the Dreamliner.
Seizing on the words of Boeing executives, the NLRB inferred that the decision to choose South Carolina was retaliation against the union. The labor board demands that Boeing open the second production line in Washington. [Emphasis added]
Saturday, April 23, 2011
So Long, Saleh
The Daily Mail (U.K.) reports that Ali Abdullah Saleh, who had ruled Yemen for 32 years, has agreed to step down within 30 days, on condition of being granted immunity from prosecution.
Department of Defense to Drop Social Security Numbers from ID Cards
This just in from American Forces Press Service news:
Beginning June 1, Social Security numbers on military identification cards will begin to disappear, said Air Force Maj. Monica M. Matoush, a Pentagon spokeswoman.
The effort is part of a larger plan to protect service members and other DOD identification card holders from identity theft, officials said.
Criminals use Social Security numbers to steal identities, allowing them to pillage resources, establish credit or to hijack credit cards, bank accounts or debit cards.
Currently, the Social Security number is printed on the back of common access cards, and on the front of cards issued to dependents and retirees. Beginning in June, when current cards expire, they will be replaced with new cards having a DOD identification number replacing the Social Security number, officials said. The DOD identification number is a unique 10-digit number that is assigned to every person with a direct relationship with the department. The new number also will be the service member’s Geneva Convention identification number.
An 11-digit DOD benefits number also will appear on the cards of those people eligible for DOD benefits. The first nine digits are common to a sponsor, the official said, and the last two digits will identify a specific person within the sponsor’s family.
Social Security numbers embedded in the bar codes on the back of identification cards will remain there for the time being, and will be phased out beginning in 2012.
The department will replace identification cards as they expire.
“Because cards will be replaced upon expiration, it will be approximately four years until all cards are replaced with the DOD ID number,” Matoush said.
The identity protection program began in 2008, when DOD started removing Social Security numbers from family member identification cards.
Beginning June 1, Social Security numbers on military identification cards will begin to disappear, said Air Force Maj. Monica M. Matoush, a Pentagon spokeswoman.
The effort is part of a larger plan to protect service members and other DOD identification card holders from identity theft, officials said.
Criminals use Social Security numbers to steal identities, allowing them to pillage resources, establish credit or to hijack credit cards, bank accounts or debit cards.
Currently, the Social Security number is printed on the back of common access cards, and on the front of cards issued to dependents and retirees. Beginning in June, when current cards expire, they will be replaced with new cards having a DOD identification number replacing the Social Security number, officials said. The DOD identification number is a unique 10-digit number that is assigned to every person with a direct relationship with the department. The new number also will be the service member’s Geneva Convention identification number.
An 11-digit DOD benefits number also will appear on the cards of those people eligible for DOD benefits. The first nine digits are common to a sponsor, the official said, and the last two digits will identify a specific person within the sponsor’s family.
Social Security numbers embedded in the bar codes on the back of identification cards will remain there for the time being, and will be phased out beginning in 2012.
The department will replace identification cards as they expire.
“Because cards will be replaced upon expiration, it will be approximately four years until all cards are replaced with the DOD ID number,” Matoush said.
The identity protection program began in 2008, when DOD started removing Social Security numbers from family member identification cards.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Sen. McCain Visits Libya in Support of Rebels
FOX News describes how Arizona Senator and former Republican presidential candidate John McCain has gone to Benghazi, Libya and declared that the rebel forces are his "heroes."
McCain said he was in Benghazi "to get an on the ground assessment of the situation" and planned to meet with the rebel National Transition Council, the de facto government in the eastern half of the country, and members of the rebel military.
Texas in Flames!
This series of photos from The Atlantic really brings the news reports out of Texas to life. (click on photo to enlarge)
Twelve Years After the Columbine Massacre, Another Ominous Threat
The Denver Post has an article about a "person of interest" who is being sought by police in Littleton, Colorado who may have planted a propane-tank bomb in a shopping mall just two miles away from Columbine High School.
UPDATE1: The Denver Post reports that Earl Albert Moore, 65, is wanted by the police, who released the mugshot on the right.
UPDATE2: Suspect Earl Albert Moore has been captured, according to an article in the Colorado Springs Gazette.
Spending a Lot of Money to Attend Brown Univ. Doesn't Mean You'll Be Surrounded by People with Class
Business Insider reports: Emma "Hermione Granger" Watson Quits Brown After Being Taunted By Fellow Students
Apparently, Emma Watson's desire to just be "normal" didn't go as planned.
According to the Daily News, the Harry Potter star has taken a leave of absence from Brown University that may turn out to be permanent....
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Scraping the Bottom of the Barrel
Liberals attack Paul Ryan because his father died young, resulting in survivor benefits
Source: Washington Examiner | 04/20/11 | Hans Bader
At the age of 16, Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., suffered the death of his 55-year-old father. Because of his father’s early death, the government made survivor payments for a few years to Paul Ryan’s family – including for Paul Ryan himself. Ryan collected benefits for two years, until he turned 18. The net effect of the death of Paul Ryan’s father was likely to reduce taxpayer expenditures on Ryan’s family, since retirees typically collect at least a decade’s worth of benefits....
Source: Washington Examiner | 04/20/11 | Hans Bader
At the age of 16, Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., suffered the death of his 55-year-old father. Because of his father’s early death, the government made survivor payments for a few years to Paul Ryan’s family – including for Paul Ryan himself. Ryan collected benefits for two years, until he turned 18. The net effect of the death of Paul Ryan’s father was likely to reduce taxpayer expenditures on Ryan’s family, since retirees typically collect at least a decade’s worth of benefits....
Big Agribusiness Flexes Its Muscle
TakePart.com has the following chilling story:
If a new Minnesota bill eventually becomes law, anyone caught going undercover to document animal abuses at a factory farm could be sentenced to 5 years in jail....Anti-whistleblower laws have already passed in Kansas and Montana, and Iowa and Florida are considering similar bills.
If a new Minnesota bill eventually becomes law, anyone caught going undercover to document animal abuses at a factory farm could be sentenced to 5 years in jail....Anti-whistleblower laws have already passed in Kansas and Montana, and Iowa and Florida are considering similar bills.
Birthers Receive Boost from Newest Corsi Book
This blog has avoided the controversy surrounding Barack Obama's birth and other records, as we lack the resources to break new ground on the subject, but now others with the capability have jumped into the fray. Donald Trump started beating the drums, and now it's the man who derailed John Kerry's presidential campaign. Drudge Report has a story about Jerome Corsi's forthcoming book, "Where's the Birth Certificate?"
UPDATE: Gov. Neil Abercrombie of Hawaii says he knows that Barack Obama was born in the islands, as he got to see the future president and his parents a few days after birth.
UPDATE: Gov. Neil Abercrombie of Hawaii says he knows that Barack Obama was born in the islands, as he got to see the future president and his parents a few days after birth.
Cure for Union Excesses
Sen. Rand Paul sent me an online petition from the National Right to Work Committee. It comes as no surprise that this dyed-in-the-wool conservative believes that unions have corrupted our government, priced entire industries out of the world market (remember when the American steel and automobile industries were the envy of the world?), and turned racketeering and extortion into a fine art. The solution is to knock them off their high horses with right-to-work laws so that they have less money at their disposal to buy political influence.
A Genuine Feel-Good News Item
After being subjected to a steady diet of natural disasters (such as the triple-whammy in Japan) or man-made disasters like Charlie Sheen, it is refreshing to read about Zackary Bird in Deseret News.
Zack's back and with all the energy a 7-year-old can muster. Last year, Zackary Bird's lemonade stand in Provo, Utah, raised enough money for one wheelchair (see video below). He donated the money to LDS Charities.
Zack got the idea at his school, Wasatch Elementary, where classes were raising money for wheelchairs following the Haiti earthquake. This year, sales increased tenfold, and Zack raised enough money for 10 wheelchairs — all in a single weekend.
"He'd been bugging me for weeks, asking when it would be time to set up his lemonade stand," said his mother, Nancy Bird. "He kept saying, 'Put everything on Facebook.' This morning, he got up and said, 'Is it time? Let's get the cookies made!' He could hardly contain himself. He even said, 'If we get enough, maybe we'll even buy a (clean water) well.' I told him that we should just focus on one thing at a time."
"We put the fundraiser details on Facebook," said Nancy. "I sent the information to everyone I was friends with, and they sent it to their friends — about 500 people in all. Before we even set up the stand, we had received about $150 in the mail from people who couldn't come."
"One hundred and seventy-eight dollars," corrected Zack, with all the enthusiasm of a budding entrepreneur. "And one was as far away as Alaska!"
Monday, April 18, 2011
Woman, Wear This Veil, or I Keeelllll You!
(Above) Achmed the Dead Terrorist
NewsMax reports that Islamic militants in England have an opponent that's easy to defeat:
Muslim extremists keen to impose Shariah in Britain are threatening to kill women who refuse to wear the veil, according to the Daily Mail in London. Even non-Muslim women are being targeted in the east London borough of Tower Hamlets, the Daily Mail reported.
Taliban members told one pharmacy worker in the area that the store would face a boycott if she did not wear a veil, according to the newspaper. When the 31-year-old went to the press with her story, a man went back to the pharmacy and told her: "If you keep doing these things, we are going to kill you...."
Tree-Huggers Interfere With U.S. Border Patrol
Judicial Watch's Corruption Chronicles describes how the Department of the Interior has been interfering with the Border Patrol's attempts to secure our southern border by charging Homeland Security millions of dollars to enter areas known to be infested by smugglers. This article is important enough to be quoted in its entirety.
For the third time in a few months a federal report exposes how the U.S. government prioritizes environmental preservation over national security by keeping Border Patrol agents out of wildlife refuges that are heavily transited by Mexican drug and human smugglers.
Among them is a popular smugglers’ corridor, the 2,300-acre San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge, used by an illegal immigrant who murdered an Arizona rancher last spring. For years, Border Patrol agents have been prohibited by the Interior Department and the U.S. Forest Service from actively patrolling such areas because it threatens natural resources.
Motorized vehicles, road construction and the installation of surveillance structures required to adequately secure the vast areas are forbidden because it could endanger the environment and its wildlife. In the meantime, Mexican drug cartels and human smugglers regularly use the sprawling, unmanned and federally protected land to enter the U.S. The areas have become the path of choice for illicit operations that endanger American lives and, ironically, cause severe environmental damage.
Adding insult to injury, Interior officials charge the Department of Homeland Security millions of dollars for conducting preapproved Border Patrol operations on its land. Since 2007, Homeland Security has paid the Interior Department more than $9 million to mitigate the “environmental damage” of protecting the border.
Despite two recent congressional reports (check them out here and here) documenting the obstacles Border Patrol officers face in these dangerous areas, little has been done to remedy the situation and improve security. An overwhelming majority of Border Patrol agents told congressional investigators that “land management laws” continue to limit their access to federal lands along the treacherous southwestern border.
The federal officers surveyed most recently by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the investigative arm of Congress, say they continue to encounter “delays and restrictions in their patrolling and monitoring operations” on federally protected lands. In one enraging case, land managers took more than four months to conduct the required “historic property assessment” before granting the Border Patrol permission to move surveillance equipment.
The situation is so dire that a group of lawmakers have introduced legislation to prohibit any federal agency—especially the Department of the Interior—from using environmental regulations to hinder the Border Patrol from securing the area. The measure would essentially ensure that Border Patrol, not federal land managers, have operational control of the nation’s borders.
For the third time in a few months a federal report exposes how the U.S. government prioritizes environmental preservation over national security by keeping Border Patrol agents out of wildlife refuges that are heavily transited by Mexican drug and human smugglers.
Among them is a popular smugglers’ corridor, the 2,300-acre San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge, used by an illegal immigrant who murdered an Arizona rancher last spring. For years, Border Patrol agents have been prohibited by the Interior Department and the U.S. Forest Service from actively patrolling such areas because it threatens natural resources.
Motorized vehicles, road construction and the installation of surveillance structures required to adequately secure the vast areas are forbidden because it could endanger the environment and its wildlife. In the meantime, Mexican drug cartels and human smugglers regularly use the sprawling, unmanned and federally protected land to enter the U.S. The areas have become the path of choice for illicit operations that endanger American lives and, ironically, cause severe environmental damage.
Adding insult to injury, Interior officials charge the Department of Homeland Security millions of dollars for conducting preapproved Border Patrol operations on its land. Since 2007, Homeland Security has paid the Interior Department more than $9 million to mitigate the “environmental damage” of protecting the border.
Despite two recent congressional reports (check them out here and here) documenting the obstacles Border Patrol officers face in these dangerous areas, little has been done to remedy the situation and improve security. An overwhelming majority of Border Patrol agents told congressional investigators that “land management laws” continue to limit their access to federal lands along the treacherous southwestern border.
The federal officers surveyed most recently by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the investigative arm of Congress, say they continue to encounter “delays and restrictions in their patrolling and monitoring operations” on federally protected lands. In one enraging case, land managers took more than four months to conduct the required “historic property assessment” before granting the Border Patrol permission to move surveillance equipment.
The situation is so dire that a group of lawmakers have introduced legislation to prohibit any federal agency—especially the Department of the Interior—from using environmental regulations to hinder the Border Patrol from securing the area. The measure would essentially ensure that Border Patrol, not federal land managers, have operational control of the nation’s borders.
Another Example of "Edifice Complex"
Maybe it's not a coincidence that NATO has a spiffy new $1.3 billion headquarters under construction at a time when more and more people are wondering what it's good for. What is becoming obvious is that the United States cannot afford to support the lion's share of its missions while other members get a free ride on defense expenditures. Fred Kaplan in Slate asks some of these questions in "NATO's Last Mission?"
Sunday, April 17, 2011
While 45 Americans Are Killed in Tornadoes, Obama Goes Golfing
Human Events is on top of this story:
While Southern states reeled from a massive tornado outbreak that killed several dozen people, Barack Obama played his 64th round of golf as president today. The White House pool reporter filed reports on Obama's departure for the links at Andrews Air Force Base and on his return to the White House. However there are no reports by the media informing the public about Obama's golf outing.
Meanwhile, Politico.com reports that the tornadoes that swept North Carolina and five other states "nearly moved her [the governor of North Carolina] to tears."
Philadelphia Orchestra Forced to File for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection!
An AP/Yahoo News article describes how the world-renowned Philadelphia Orchestra board members "made a nearly unanimous vote Saturday to file for reorganization in a federal bankruptcy court in Philadelphia after a 'long meeting, thoughtful meeting, emotional meeting'."
Leftists and Union Members Show Their True Colors at Madison, WI Tea Party Rally
They dared to boo the "Star-Spangled Banner."
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IURPRHVuqvM
At the same rally Andrew Breitbart & Sarah Palin stand up to the mob. American Thinker has the account.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IURPRHVuqvM
At the same rally Andrew Breitbart & Sarah Palin stand up to the mob. American Thinker has the account.
It Doesn't Pay to Link Up With Savages
Clarice Feldman in "Did We Hitch Our Wagon to a (Death) Star?" has this to say in American Thinker:
An Italian pro-Palestinian activist was killed by Palestinian Islamic extremists who had kidnapped him in Gaza on Thursday.
Gaza police on Friday found the hanged body of Vittorio Arrigoni when they stormed an apartment in Gaza City where he was being held.
Hours earlier, his kidnappers, a group inspired by Al Qaida calling itself "Monotheism and Holy War," had posted a video showing Arrigoni, 36, blindfolded and with cuts on his face....
Further down in the article we read:
"Angelo Frammartino, an Italian, was killed by stabbing in eastern Jerusalem in August 2006 by someone affiliated with Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
Juliano Mer-Khamis, who appears to have been an Israeli citizen, killed in early April 2011 in Jenin by persons unknown."
In the same vein Western women who travel to Gaza to throw in their lot with the Gaza residents are routinely sexually abused and raped and the practice hushed up by the organizations that sponsor their work there.
While Western civilization seems ever more determined to preserve in the gene pool those who like these volunteers haven't the slightest survival instinct or talent for intellectual discrimination, the rest of the world seems to operate under a more atavistic scheme....
An Italian pro-Palestinian activist was killed by Palestinian Islamic extremists who had kidnapped him in Gaza on Thursday.
Gaza police on Friday found the hanged body of Vittorio Arrigoni when they stormed an apartment in Gaza City where he was being held.
Hours earlier, his kidnappers, a group inspired by Al Qaida calling itself "Monotheism and Holy War," had posted a video showing Arrigoni, 36, blindfolded and with cuts on his face....
Further down in the article we read:
"Angelo Frammartino, an Italian, was killed by stabbing in eastern Jerusalem in August 2006 by someone affiliated with Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
Juliano Mer-Khamis, who appears to have been an Israeli citizen, killed in early April 2011 in Jenin by persons unknown."
In the same vein Western women who travel to Gaza to throw in their lot with the Gaza residents are routinely sexually abused and raped and the practice hushed up by the organizations that sponsor their work there.
While Western civilization seems ever more determined to preserve in the gene pool those who like these volunteers haven't the slightest survival instinct or talent for intellectual discrimination, the rest of the world seems to operate under a more atavistic scheme....
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Another Reminder that "TEA Party" Stands for "Taxed Enough Already"
Part of the audience that showed up yesterday
Jeff Crank, who hosts a talk show on Saturday mornings
Friday, April 15, 2011
Last-Chance Tour
This American Spectator article has a heartwarming collection of photos of World War II veterans being offered the opportunity to see the memorial built in their honor through the "Honor Flight Network."
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Smoke and Mirrors Again
Allahpundit at Hotair.com has this eyebrow-raising report:
The Congressional Budget Office estimate shows that compared with current spending rates the spending bill due for a House vote Thursday would pare just $352 million [not $38 billion] from the deficit through Sept. 30. About $8 billion in cuts to domestic programs and foreign aid are offset by nearly equal increases in defense spending…
UPDATE: The editors at National Review are quick to register their bitter disappointment with the budget deal.
The Congressional Budget Office estimate shows that compared with current spending rates the spending bill due for a House vote Thursday would pare just $352 million [not $38 billion] from the deficit through Sept. 30. About $8 billion in cuts to domestic programs and foreign aid are offset by nearly equal increases in defense spending…
UPDATE: The editors at National Review are quick to register their bitter disappointment with the budget deal.
Experienced Hands Abandoning CIA
History repeats itself, according to this Newsmax article:
...The paper [Washington Post] said at least 91 of the CIA’s managers have left for the private sector in the past 10 years, with several different managers filling high-level posts during that period.
All five of the division chiefs who were in place at the time of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks are now gone, the Post said.
And as veterans leave, they are replaced with younger officials with less experience...
We have seen this pattern before, when Jimmy Carter was President.
...The paper [Washington Post] said at least 91 of the CIA’s managers have left for the private sector in the past 10 years, with several different managers filling high-level posts during that period.
All five of the division chiefs who were in place at the time of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks are now gone, the Post said.
And as veterans leave, they are replaced with younger officials with less experience...
We have seen this pattern before, when Jimmy Carter was President.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
BOHICA [Bend Over, Here It Comes Again!]
The Wall Street Journal has a scathing review of President Obama's latest speech on the federal budget.
With the title, "The Presidential Destroyer: Obama's toxic speech and even worse plan for deficits and debt," you can expect a two-thumbs-down reaction.
Was the election moved to next month, or June? We ask because President Obama's extraordinary response to Paul Ryan's budget yesterday—with its blistering partisanship and multiple distortions—was the kind Presidents usually outsource to some junior lieutenant. Mr. Obama's fundamentally political document would have been unusual even for a Vice President in the fervor of a campaign.
The immediate political goal was to inoculate the White House from criticism that it is not serious about the fiscal crisis, after ignoring its own deficit commission last year and tossing off a $3.73 trillion budget in February that increased spending and lifted the 2012 deficit to a record $1.65 trillion. Mr. Obama was chased to George Washington University yesterday because Mr. Ryan and the Republicans outflanked him on fiscal discipline and are now setting the national political agenda.
Mr. Obama did not deign to propose an alternative to rival Mr. Ryan's plan, even as he categorically rejected all its reform ideas, repeatedly vilifying them as un-American....
UPDATE: Allahpundit at HotAir.com records Rep. Paul Ryan's reaction: “Rather than building bridges, he’s poisoning wells.”
Dr. Charles Krauthammer at NewsBusters is less than delighted by the speech. "I thought it was a disgrace. I thought I’ve rarely heard a speech by a president so shallow, so hyper-partisan, and so intellectually dishonest, outside the last couple of weeks of a presidential election where you are allowed to call your opponent anything short of a traitor...."
Once again the New York Times licks Obama's feet.
Vice President Biden sleeping during Obama speech
Winnetka, Illinois Raises the Bar for Affordable Housing
The Chicago Tribune described a rather heated meeting in the village of Winnetka, a ghetto for the rich, which describes "affordable housing" as housing that is affordable to families making $75,000 a year!
"Housing is affordable to the people who can afford it. That is a simple thing," [Northfield resident June] O'Donoghue said. "I think you need a referendum for people to vote to see if they want to go through all this social engineering."
In recent weeks, the plan's opponents have said it amounts to "hand-outs" for people with lower income that could result in Section 8 housing, decreased property values and increased crime. Supporters have lashed out at the opposition as bigoted, arguing that the plan would allow teachers, clergy and other employees to live in the community in which they work.
The North Shore community of 12,000 reported a median home price last year of $1.1 million, while median household income is $201,650, according to data.
The proposed plan would apply to new developments, in which 15 percent of owner-occupied units must be affordable to households earning at least $75,000 per year, while 15 percent of rental units would be affordable to those earning at least $45,000.
A Recovering Liberal's Facebook Experience
The following account is excerpted from Robin of Berkeley's latest contribution to American Thinker:
There is a fascinating article from the UK about teenagers going through withdrawal when their wiring was removed for a day. Even though the kids had a landline phone and a book, they still suffered like any addict. They all had overwhelming cravings; one youngster reported itching like a crack head.
Of course, it's not just teens who are hooked these days, but people of every age. While the ever present wiring is altering brain cells, what's more disturbing is the effect on society.
Human beings are not designed to be busy all of the time. I heard a spiritual teacher once say that wisdom is found in the moment between two thoughts. It's only during those blessed moments of quiet when we hear God....
When I finally succumbed and got DSL, I couldn't believe how fast a computer could be -- and all the junk out there. The crap on YouTube -- OMG; a real title: "Watch me lance a boil!" And then there are web sites with violent porn that would make the Marquis de Sade blush.
I have stayed far away from any social networking site for as long as I could. From what I was gathering, incessant Facebooking was turning many minds to mush (not to mention inciting riots and insurrection). But a couple of months ago, I signed on to see what all the fuss was about it.
Facebook makes it super simple to register and within minutes I was one of the gazillion members. Then it happened -- suddenly, out of nowhere, a ton of smiling pictures appeared.
There were old friends, new friends, neighbors, and people of unknown origin. How in the world did Facebook accomplish this strange feat?
Then I realized to my shock and horror that the site had accessed all of my email contacts. I was aghast; had I forfeited my right to privacy the minute I signed up?
My eyes fixed on a photo of Susan, an old, dear friend who stopped talking to me during the presidential election. We had an email fight about Obama, and I never heard from her again. And yet there was Susan smiling at me, reminding me of the destruction that election wrought.
And I saw Leslie, a close family member who, for no good reason, has recently stopped talking to my husband and me. I've tried to reason with her, but she remains in a huff. Yet Leslie was happily hugging her cat, an in-my-face reminder of something that upsets me every time I think about it (thanks, Facebook!).
It was like a walk down memory lane -- a really bad and unpleasant walk. It felt like one of those nightmares where you're in your pajamas amongst a large gathering of people. I wasn't expecting to see Susan or Leslie or any of them for that matter. And yet, through the wizardry of Facebook, there they stood.
And then I had an even more horrifying thought: not only was I getting their info, but they were getting mine. At this very moment, dozens of people were learning that I was now on Facebook.
I would soon be deluged with offers to be friended by my friends and by my friends' friends. Given that I have spent my entire life learning how to set boundaries with people, the idea of all these humans flooding my life was more than I could bear.
And that's when I did something that may never been done in the history of Facebook. I frantically searched around, and found my way to a wondrous link that read: Delete account permanently. And this is exactly what I did, five minutes after beginning. And just like magic, all of the smiling faces disappeared....
There is a fascinating article from the UK about teenagers going through withdrawal when their wiring was removed for a day. Even though the kids had a landline phone and a book, they still suffered like any addict. They all had overwhelming cravings; one youngster reported itching like a crack head.
Of course, it's not just teens who are hooked these days, but people of every age. While the ever present wiring is altering brain cells, what's more disturbing is the effect on society.
Human beings are not designed to be busy all of the time. I heard a spiritual teacher once say that wisdom is found in the moment between two thoughts. It's only during those blessed moments of quiet when we hear God....
When I finally succumbed and got DSL, I couldn't believe how fast a computer could be -- and all the junk out there. The crap on YouTube -- OMG; a real title: "Watch me lance a boil!" And then there are web sites with violent porn that would make the Marquis de Sade blush.
I have stayed far away from any social networking site for as long as I could. From what I was gathering, incessant Facebooking was turning many minds to mush (not to mention inciting riots and insurrection). But a couple of months ago, I signed on to see what all the fuss was about it.
Facebook makes it super simple to register and within minutes I was one of the gazillion members. Then it happened -- suddenly, out of nowhere, a ton of smiling pictures appeared.
There were old friends, new friends, neighbors, and people of unknown origin. How in the world did Facebook accomplish this strange feat?
Then I realized to my shock and horror that the site had accessed all of my email contacts. I was aghast; had I forfeited my right to privacy the minute I signed up?
My eyes fixed on a photo of Susan, an old, dear friend who stopped talking to me during the presidential election. We had an email fight about Obama, and I never heard from her again. And yet there was Susan smiling at me, reminding me of the destruction that election wrought.
And I saw Leslie, a close family member who, for no good reason, has recently stopped talking to my husband and me. I've tried to reason with her, but she remains in a huff. Yet Leslie was happily hugging her cat, an in-my-face reminder of something that upsets me every time I think about it (thanks, Facebook!).
It was like a walk down memory lane -- a really bad and unpleasant walk. It felt like one of those nightmares where you're in your pajamas amongst a large gathering of people. I wasn't expecting to see Susan or Leslie or any of them for that matter. And yet, through the wizardry of Facebook, there they stood.
And then I had an even more horrifying thought: not only was I getting their info, but they were getting mine. At this very moment, dozens of people were learning that I was now on Facebook.
I would soon be deluged with offers to be friended by my friends and by my friends' friends. Given that I have spent my entire life learning how to set boundaries with people, the idea of all these humans flooding my life was more than I could bear.
And that's when I did something that may never been done in the history of Facebook. I frantically searched around, and found my way to a wondrous link that read: Delete account permanently. And this is exactly what I did, five minutes after beginning. And just like magic, all of the smiling faces disappeared....
First Republican Out the Gate: Gov. Pawlenty Announces He Will Run for President
CNN has an article and video about former Minnesota governor Pawlenty officially announcing the launch of his presidential campaign.
Another Bubble Burst: It's Not True That Women Earn Less than Men
The Wall Street Journal ran an article that's quite interesting:
Tuesday is Equal Pay Day—so dubbed by the National Committee for Pay Equity, which represents feminist groups including the National Organization for Women, Feminist Majority, the National Council of Women's Organizations and others. The day falls on April 12 because, according to feminist logic, women have to work that far into a calendar year before they earn what men already earned the year before....
The unemployment rate is consistently higher among men than among women. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 9.3% of men over the age of 16 are currently out of work. The figure for women is 8.3%....
Men have been hit harder by this recession because they tend to work in fields like construction, manufacturing and trucking, which are disproportionately affected by bad economic conditions. Women cluster in more insulated occupations, such as teaching, health care and service industries.
Feminist hand-wringing about the wage gap relies on the assumption that the differences in average earnings stem from discrimination. Thus the mantra that women make only 77% of what men earn for equal work. But even a cursory review of the data proves this assumption false.
The Department of Labor's Time Use survey shows that full-time working women spend an average of 8.01 hours per day on the job, compared to 8.75 hours for full-time working men. One would expect that someone who works 9% more would also earn more. This one fact alone accounts for more than a third of the wage gap.
Choice of occupation also plays an important role in earnings. While feminists suggest that women are coerced into lower-paying job sectors, most women know that something else is often at work. Women gravitate toward jobs with fewer risks, more comfortable conditions, regular hours, more personal fulfillment and greater flexibility. Simply put, many women—not all, but enough to have a big impact on the statistics—are willing to trade higher pay for other desirable job characteristics.
Men, by contrast, often take on jobs that involve physical labor, outdoor work, overnight shifts and dangerous conditions (which is also why men suffer the overwhelming majority of injuries and deaths at the workplace). They put up with these unpleasant factors so that they can earn more.
Recent studies have shown that the wage gap shrinks—or even reverses—when relevant factors are taken into account and comparisons are made between men and women in similar circumstances. In a 2010 study of single, childless urban workers between the ages of 22 and 30, the research firm Reach Advisors found that women earned an average of 8% more than their male counterparts. Given that women are outpacing men in educational attainment, and that our economy is increasingly geared toward knowledge-based jobs, it makes sense that women's earnings are going up compared to men's....
Tuesday is Equal Pay Day—so dubbed by the National Committee for Pay Equity, which represents feminist groups including the National Organization for Women, Feminist Majority, the National Council of Women's Organizations and others. The day falls on April 12 because, according to feminist logic, women have to work that far into a calendar year before they earn what men already earned the year before....
The unemployment rate is consistently higher among men than among women. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 9.3% of men over the age of 16 are currently out of work. The figure for women is 8.3%....
Men have been hit harder by this recession because they tend to work in fields like construction, manufacturing and trucking, which are disproportionately affected by bad economic conditions. Women cluster in more insulated occupations, such as teaching, health care and service industries.
Feminist hand-wringing about the wage gap relies on the assumption that the differences in average earnings stem from discrimination. Thus the mantra that women make only 77% of what men earn for equal work. But even a cursory review of the data proves this assumption false.
The Department of Labor's Time Use survey shows that full-time working women spend an average of 8.01 hours per day on the job, compared to 8.75 hours for full-time working men. One would expect that someone who works 9% more would also earn more. This one fact alone accounts for more than a third of the wage gap.
Choice of occupation also plays an important role in earnings. While feminists suggest that women are coerced into lower-paying job sectors, most women know that something else is often at work. Women gravitate toward jobs with fewer risks, more comfortable conditions, regular hours, more personal fulfillment and greater flexibility. Simply put, many women—not all, but enough to have a big impact on the statistics—are willing to trade higher pay for other desirable job characteristics.
Men, by contrast, often take on jobs that involve physical labor, outdoor work, overnight shifts and dangerous conditions (which is also why men suffer the overwhelming majority of injuries and deaths at the workplace). They put up with these unpleasant factors so that they can earn more.
Recent studies have shown that the wage gap shrinks—or even reverses—when relevant factors are taken into account and comparisons are made between men and women in similar circumstances. In a 2010 study of single, childless urban workers between the ages of 22 and 30, the research firm Reach Advisors found that women earned an average of 8% more than their male counterparts. Given that women are outpacing men in educational attainment, and that our economy is increasingly geared toward knowledge-based jobs, it makes sense that women's earnings are going up compared to men's....
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Environmentalists Strike Again, This Time in Bolivia
Count on a leftist news source such as the Guardian (U.K.) to report:
Bolivia is set to pass the world's first laws granting all nature equal rights to humans. The Law of Mother Earth, now agreed by politicians and grassroots social groups, redefines the country's rich mineral deposits as "blessings" and is expected to lead to radical new conservation and social measures to reduce pollution and control industry.
The country, which has been pilloried by the US and Britain in the UN climate talks for demanding steep carbon emission cuts, will establish 11 new rights for nature. They include: the right to life and to exist; the right to continue vital cycles and processes free from human alteration; the right to pure water and clean air; the right to balance; the right not to be polluted; and the right to not have cellular structure modified or genetically altered....
Bolivia is set to pass the world's first laws granting all nature equal rights to humans. The Law of Mother Earth, now agreed by politicians and grassroots social groups, redefines the country's rich mineral deposits as "blessings" and is expected to lead to radical new conservation and social measures to reduce pollution and control industry.
The country, which has been pilloried by the US and Britain in the UN climate talks for demanding steep carbon emission cuts, will establish 11 new rights for nature. They include: the right to life and to exist; the right to continue vital cycles and processes free from human alteration; the right to pure water and clean air; the right to balance; the right not to be polluted; and the right to not have cellular structure modified or genetically altered....
150 Years Ago Today, the Civil War Began
National Review observes the 150th anniversary of the day Confederate artillery fired on Fort Sumter, SC, which the federal government interpreted as an act of war. Undermanned and poorly equipped, the commander of the fort, Maj. Robert Anderson, was forced to surrender on 14 April. Four years to the day after this event this officer had the satisfaction of raising the Union flag once again over Fort Sumter.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Why Barack Obama Could Never Be Mistaken for Abraham Lincoln
Although he is one of Lincoln's successors in the presidency, and would love to wrap himself in the mantle of the Great Emancipator, you will not hear him say things such as:
Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.
Our defense is in the preservation of the spirit which prizes liberty as a heritage of all men, in all lands, everywhere. Destroy this spirit and you have planted the seeds of despotism around your own doors.
You cannot build character and courage by taking away a man's initiative and independence.
How many legs does a dog have if you call the tail a leg? Four. Calling a tail a leg doesn't make it a leg.
Don't interfere with anything in the Constitution. That must be maintained, for it is the only safeguard of our liberties.
If once you forfeit the confidence of your fellow-citizens, you can never regain their respect and esteem.
It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt.
Let not him who is houseless pull down the house of another, but let him work diligently and build one for himself, thus by example assuring that his own shall be safe from violence when built.
Our defense is in the preservation of the spirit which prizes liberty as a heritage of all men, in all lands, everywhere. Destroy this spirit and you have planted the seeds of despotism around your own doors.
My dream is of a place and a time where America will once again be seen as the last best hope of earth.
Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves.
The probability that we may fail in the struggle ought not to deter us from the support of a cause we believe to be just.
We the people are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts, not to overthrow the Constitution but to overthrow the men who pervert the Constitution.
Read more: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/a/abraham_lincoln_6.html#ixzz1JDvqJ9Qr
Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.
Our defense is in the preservation of the spirit which prizes liberty as a heritage of all men, in all lands, everywhere. Destroy this spirit and you have planted the seeds of despotism around your own doors.
You cannot build character and courage by taking away a man's initiative and independence.
How many legs does a dog have if you call the tail a leg? Four. Calling a tail a leg doesn't make it a leg.
Don't interfere with anything in the Constitution. That must be maintained, for it is the only safeguard of our liberties.
If once you forfeit the confidence of your fellow-citizens, you can never regain their respect and esteem.
It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt.
Let not him who is houseless pull down the house of another, but let him work diligently and build one for himself, thus by example assuring that his own shall be safe from violence when built.
Our defense is in the preservation of the spirit which prizes liberty as a heritage of all men, in all lands, everywhere. Destroy this spirit and you have planted the seeds of despotism around your own doors.
My dream is of a place and a time where America will once again be seen as the last best hope of earth.
Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves.
The probability that we may fail in the struggle ought not to deter us from the support of a cause we believe to be just.
We the people are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts, not to overthrow the Constitution but to overthrow the men who pervert the Constitution.
Read more: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/a/abraham_lincoln_6.html#ixzz1JDvqJ9Qr
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Apple's Steve Jobs to Release "Authorized" Biography
On 17 February we reported that Apple's Steve Jobs wouldn't have much longer to live, according to some doctors. Since then he seems to be beating the odds, and, according to a Yahoo/AP article, he announced his intention of publishing an authorized biography early next year. Walter Isaacson's "iSteve: The Book of Jobs" will be the first book that has the personal approval and cooperation of its subject.
Unrepentant Racism Is Alive and Well in Union Circles
A Redstate.com article, "Unions & Racism: An Age-Old, Institutional Problem Continues Unabated," reminds us that unions, especially in the construction trades, have been getting away with excluding minorities, especially blacks, for many years. Democrats don't dare speak out against this injustice owing to the fact that their party depends heavily on union contributions and manpower, as a junkie depends on his or her drug dealer for heroin, meth, or cocaine.
Indicator of Desperation
Blogs for Victory refers to recruiting posters like these as "Liberal Astro-Turf."
"...And so it is with most liberal ideas – no one volunteers to protect pornography, vile popular culture, high taxes, wasteful spending. You either have to dupe people in to coming out for you, or pay them…this ad shows that at least in the abortion debate, our liberals have opted for cold, hard cash to raise the troops."
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Sore Losers
Free Republic reports that DEMOCRATS in Wisconsin are complaining about voting irregularities for a change:
MADISON, Wis. -- Democratic Rep. Tammy Baldwin has sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder asking for a federal investigation into the questionable handling of vote records in Waukesha County.
"Following this week’s election for the Wisconsin Supreme Court, numerous constituents have contacted me expressing serious doubt that this election was a free and fair one," Baldwin said in the letter. "They fear, as I do, that political interests are manipulating the results."
A message left by The Associated Press at Holder's office Saturday wasn't immediately returned....
Frenchman Designs Portable, Biodegradable Toilet
France24.com describes how France's Dr. Laurent Helewa designed a compact portable toilet that can be distributed during emergencies to prevent outbreaks of diseases such as cholera at the 39th International Exhibition of Inventions, on April 6, in Geneva.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Patient Requires Major Surgery; Doctors Give Him Band-Aid
This FOX News article doesn't describe a hospital case, but rather the ongoing drama in Washington, DC, where congressional leaders worked out a compromise continuing resolution to take the federal government to the end of the current fiscal year. This compromise features $38.5 billion in spending cuts, but spares Planned Parenthood for the time being.
Conflict-of-Interest?
A MercuryNews.com/AP article describes how recently-retired Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker, who struck down Proposition 8 [gay marriage ban] has come out of the closet.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
First They Came for My Happy Meals in San Francisco, and I Said Nothing, 'Cause I Don't Live in San Francisco...
Now there's a New York Post article describing how a New York City councilman, Leroy Comrie of Queens, is trying to cover up a guilty pleasure (eating calorie-laden junk food when he's away from home) by pushing a bill that would require fast-food restaurants to remove toys from McDonald's Happy Meals or any other children's meals with more than 500 calories.
Florida Pastor Knows What It's Like to Be Wanted - by Hezbollah
CBS Los Angeles ran a story about Quran-burning pastor Terry Jones, who said he has received 400 death threats and has a $2.4 million price on his head by Hezbollah. He plans to go to Dearbornistan [Dearborn, MI] for a demonstration outside the nation's largest mosque.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Franken Maneuver in Wisconsin?
Gateway Pundit reports that 500-600 votes have been "found" in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, where 73% voted for Prosser.
Several precincts near Milwaukee reported “undervotes” in yesterday’s election where hundreds of people cast ballots but did not vote in the high-profile race.
In a related development, Pundit Press reported today that the City of Mequon was destroying ballots....
UPDATE: KQDS FOX 21 News reports that a corrected count in a conservative county was enough to put Judge Prosser over the top with a 7,500-vote lead and no need for a recount.
Several precincts near Milwaukee reported “undervotes” in yesterday’s election where hundreds of people cast ballots but did not vote in the high-profile race.
In a related development, Pundit Press reported today that the City of Mequon was destroying ballots....
UPDATE: KQDS FOX 21 News reports that a corrected count in a conservative county was enough to put Judge Prosser over the top with a 7,500-vote lead and no need for a recount.
Obama Takes Ownership of Budget Problems
Yes, I realize I'm late for April Fool's day, but the following commentary [author unknown] has been circulated on FOX News Insider and many other conservative sites.
The Washington Post babbled again today about Obama inheriting a huge deficit from Bush. Amazingly enough,…… a lot of people swallow this nonsense. So once more, a short civics lesson.
Budgets do not come from the White House. They come from Congress, and the party that controlled Congress since January 2007 is the Democrat Party. They controlled the budget process for FY 2008 and FY 2009, as well as FY 2010 and FY 2011. In that first year, they had to contend with George Bush, which caused them to compromise on spending, when Bush somewhat belatedly got tough on spending increases.
For FY 2009 though, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid bypassed George Bush entirely, passing continuing resolutions to keep government running until Barack Obama could take office. At that time, they passed a massive omnibus spending bill to complete the FY 2009 budgets.
And where was Barack Obama during this time? He was a member of that very Congress that passed all of these massive spending bills, and he signed the omnibus bill as President to complete FY 2009....
"Barnes Dance" to End in Denver
The Denver Post is the bearer of bad news: the option of being able to cross an intersection diagonally will end soon in the city of its origin.
...It's an end of an era for Denver, where the "Barnes Dance" or "pedestrian scramble" was invented 60 years ago by the city's first traffic engineer, Henry Barnes, who came to Denver from Flint, Mich., in 1947 to unclog the city's tangled traffic problems.
Barnes came up with the idea of stopping all traffic at intersections and allowing pedestrians to cross in any direction.
Denver became a model of urban traffic management as the system was adopted worldwide, and Barnes went on to tackle gridlock in Baltimore and New York. He died in 1968.
One of the top reasons for the changes in the system is because RTD will be moving to four-car light-rail trains from the current three to accommodate increased ridership. That means the trains will need slightly longer blocks of time to get through the intersections....
EDITORIAL NOTE: Copyright restrictions prevent us from using their illustration, so you'll have to visit the Denver Post Web site to see the picture and the full article.
...It's an end of an era for Denver, where the "Barnes Dance" or "pedestrian scramble" was invented 60 years ago by the city's first traffic engineer, Henry Barnes, who came to Denver from Flint, Mich., in 1947 to unclog the city's tangled traffic problems.
Barnes came up with the idea of stopping all traffic at intersections and allowing pedestrians to cross in any direction.
Denver became a model of urban traffic management as the system was adopted worldwide, and Barnes went on to tackle gridlock in Baltimore and New York. He died in 1968.
One of the top reasons for the changes in the system is because RTD will be moving to four-car light-rail trains from the current three to accommodate increased ridership. That means the trains will need slightly longer blocks of time to get through the intersections....
EDITORIAL NOTE: Copyright restrictions prevent us from using their illustration, so you'll have to visit the Denver Post Web site to see the picture and the full article.
Government Shutdown Around the Corner; We Say, "Let It Flow"
FOX News reports that "The White House and congressional leaders are locked in a game of brinksmanshhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifip over a spending impasse that increasingly is looking like it will force the government to shut down by weekend...."
Pertinent questions: Will the Democrats try to exploit this impasse? Will the Republicans wash their hands of all responsibility? Are both parties to blame? Will the earth continue to revolve on its axis? The answer to all four is a resounding YES! It's about time Congress carried out its constitutional responsibility of drawing up and passing a budget.
UPDATE: The Washington Times mentions one government operation many citizens will not miss in a shutdown: IRS audits! Sadly, people who mailed in paper tax returns may experience delays in receiving refunds.
Pertinent questions: Will the Democrats try to exploit this impasse? Will the Republicans wash their hands of all responsibility? Are both parties to blame? Will the earth continue to revolve on its axis? The answer to all four is a resounding YES! It's about time Congress carried out its constitutional responsibility of drawing up and passing a budget.
UPDATE: The Washington Times mentions one government operation many citizens will not miss in a shutdown: IRS audits! Sadly, people who mailed in paper tax returns may experience delays in receiving refunds.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Dr. Thomas Sowell Schools the Rest of Us on "Political Statistics"
Thomas Sowell at National Review tells it like it is. Here's the beginning of his article:
When someone gives you a check and the bank informs you that there are insufficient funds, whom do you get mad at? In your own life, you get mad at the guy who gave you the check that bounced, not at the bank. But, in politics, you get mad at whoever tells you that there is no money.
One of the secrets of the growth of the welfare state is that politicians get a lot of mileage out of making promises, without setting aside enough money to fulfill those promises....
When someone gives you a check and the bank informs you that there are insufficient funds, whom do you get mad at? In your own life, you get mad at the guy who gave you the check that bounced, not at the bank. But, in politics, you get mad at whoever tells you that there is no money.
One of the secrets of the growth of the welfare state is that politicians get a lot of mileage out of making promises, without setting aside enough money to fulfill those promises....
God Is Never in Trouble - but We Are
Diane Schrader at NewsRealBlog has some choice words from Dennis Prager at "Why You Better Pray that God is Not Dead – Dennis Prager Diagnoses America’s Disease." Here are some excerpts:
I’ve got a few weighty things on my mind that I’m about to unpack on you. But let’s ease into it gently, courtesy of Rush Limbaugh:
Q: What do God and Barack Obama have in common?
A: Neither has a birth certificate!
Q: What is one difference between Obama and God?
A: Leftists love Obama!
Q: What’s another difference between Obama and God?
A: God doesn’t think he’s Obama!
Heh heh. El Rushbo tells a good joke. And that’s a lighthearted introduction into a heavy topic – a topic that talk show host and nationally-syndicated columnist Dennis Prager opted to take on as the final keynote speaker at this weekend’s David Horowitz Freedom Center retreat in Rancho Palos Verdes, California.
God, according to Prager, is in trouble.
Of course, God is not really in trouble. We’re the ones who are really in trouble, because of what we as a society are doing to God. For the purposes of this discussion, it really doesn’t matter if you’re an atheist – the ramifications apply to us all. But Prager thinks he knows why atheism might be more attractive to a lot of people right now, and he outlined a number of reasons.
The first is the evil that people are doing in God’s name. And no, he’s not talking about the Westboro crazies (although they’re definitely in the running for consideration). He’s talking about Islam. Every time someone yells Allahu Akbar as they blow something up, or slit someone’s throat – they’re claiming to act for God. This, no doubt, is a turnoff to many.
What’s perhaps an even greater turnoff is what Prager calls the “pathetic response” to this evil from (mainstream) Judaism and Christianity. The fact that only Orthodox Jews and evangelical Christians are consistently speaking out against Islam’s crimes (a good deed for which they are roundly condemned as “Islamophobic”) is indeed a sad commentary on the state of those who claim religious faith in this country....
I’ve got a few weighty things on my mind that I’m about to unpack on you. But let’s ease into it gently, courtesy of Rush Limbaugh:
Q: What do God and Barack Obama have in common?
A: Neither has a birth certificate!
Q: What is one difference between Obama and God?
A: Leftists love Obama!
Q: What’s another difference between Obama and God?
A: God doesn’t think he’s Obama!
Heh heh. El Rushbo tells a good joke. And that’s a lighthearted introduction into a heavy topic – a topic that talk show host and nationally-syndicated columnist Dennis Prager opted to take on as the final keynote speaker at this weekend’s David Horowitz Freedom Center retreat in Rancho Palos Verdes, California.
God, according to Prager, is in trouble.
Of course, God is not really in trouble. We’re the ones who are really in trouble, because of what we as a society are doing to God. For the purposes of this discussion, it really doesn’t matter if you’re an atheist – the ramifications apply to us all. But Prager thinks he knows why atheism might be more attractive to a lot of people right now, and he outlined a number of reasons.
The first is the evil that people are doing in God’s name. And no, he’s not talking about the Westboro crazies (although they’re definitely in the running for consideration). He’s talking about Islam. Every time someone yells Allahu Akbar as they blow something up, or slit someone’s throat – they’re claiming to act for God. This, no doubt, is a turnoff to many.
What’s perhaps an even greater turnoff is what Prager calls the “pathetic response” to this evil from (mainstream) Judaism and Christianity. The fact that only Orthodox Jews and evangelical Christians are consistently speaking out against Islam’s crimes (a good deed for which they are roundly condemned as “Islamophobic”) is indeed a sad commentary on the state of those who claim religious faith in this country....
Monday, April 4, 2011
How Are the Congressional Budget Negotiations Coming Along?
Bradley Blakeman at FOX News has identified the name of the game: "Hey, Republicans -- Let's Play Chess Not Russian Roulette On the Budget and the Government Shutdown."
Senator Jim DeMint of South Carolina is sharp enough to understand what's going on in his column for the Washington Examiner, "We Must Balance the Federal Budget, or We Will Go Bust."
President Obama Launches Billion-Dollar Re-Election Campaign
Tony Lee of Human Events reports:
President Barack Obama launched his reelection campaign with a web video. While at first blush the timing of the announcement may be puzzling because the optics imply that Obama is more focused on politicking instead of being serious about the budget and Libya, I think his announcement this week is a brilliant piece of political strategy. Obama has been getting some unfavorable coverage from the mainstream media, so now that he has officially announced his candidacy for reelection, the mainstream media and the White House press corps will surely put on their Obama jerseys again and give him favorable coverage. MSM men will get tingles up their legs and women will get all hot and tingly over the Big O’s speeches and optics.
With this bias and tilted playing field in mind, it is more imperative for prospective GOP presidential candidates to be effective messengers. I suggest that each candidate listen to 9 innings of legendary Dodgers announcer Vin Scully to learn how to better communicate with voters. Here’s my piece on the lessons the GOP can learn from Vin Scully.
President Barack Obama launched his reelection campaign with a web video. While at first blush the timing of the announcement may be puzzling because the optics imply that Obama is more focused on politicking instead of being serious about the budget and Libya, I think his announcement this week is a brilliant piece of political strategy. Obama has been getting some unfavorable coverage from the mainstream media, so now that he has officially announced his candidacy for reelection, the mainstream media and the White House press corps will surely put on their Obama jerseys again and give him favorable coverage. MSM men will get tingles up their legs and women will get all hot and tingly over the Big O’s speeches and optics.
With this bias and tilted playing field in mind, it is more imperative for prospective GOP presidential candidates to be effective messengers. I suggest that each candidate listen to 9 innings of legendary Dodgers announcer Vin Scully to learn how to better communicate with voters. Here’s my piece on the lessons the GOP can learn from Vin Scully.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Let Us Turn to the 6th Chapter of Ephesians...
David Limbaugh in Human Events has written a plea to parents to inoculate their children against the wiles of worldly academics in "Equipping Children with Spiritual and Political Armor."
Who Is Martin Cooper, and How Did He Revolutionize Our Lives?
CNN reports that on this date in 1973, Martin Cooper, age 44, made the first cell phone call from New York City to a landline telephone at Bell Labs. This is known as "rubbing it in," as he proved that Motorola had beaten Bell Labs in the race to develop the first workable cell phone. Now billions of cell phones have been sold, and cell phones have become popular in countries that up to now lacked the infrastructure to support a landline network.
Dr. Dean Off His Meds Again
Check out this video from Glenn Beck's The Blaze: "DEAN SCREAM PAYBACK: RIGHT RUNNING THINGS IS A THREAT TO COUNTRY & EQUIVALENT TO BURNING DOWN BUILDINGS; TEA PARTIERS HAVE DEEP PROBLEMS; FOX IS PROPAGANDA & MSNBC IS FACTUALLY CORRECT"
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Socialized Medicine, Coming Soon to a Hospital Near You
NewsBusters cites a Wall Street Journal article about the fate of one patient in the U.K.:
Long Wait for Operation Fells UK Health Director
By Tim Graham | April 02, 2011 | 18:18
James Taranto at the Wall Street Journal editorial page caught this story about Britain's National Health Service.
"A former NHS director died after waiting for nine months for an operation--at her own hospital," London's Daily Mail reports:
Margaret Hutchon, a former mayor, had been waiting since last June for a follow-up stomach operation at Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford, Essex.
But her appointments to go under the knife were cancelled four times and she barely regained consciousness after finally having surgery.
Her devastated husband, Jim, is now demanding answers from Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust--the organization where his wife had shttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.giferved as a non-executive member of the board of directors.
He said: "I don't really know why she died. I did not get a reason from the hospital. We all want to know for closure. She got weaker and weaker as she waited and operations were put off."
It would be cruel to put this down to karma, so instead we'll just note that it can't possibly be true. After all, as New York Times star columnist Paul Krugman has observed, "In Britain, the government itself runs the hospitals and employs the doctors. We've all heard scare stories about how that works in practice; these stories are false."
James really knows how to let Krugman have it.
Long Wait for Operation Fells UK Health Director
By Tim Graham | April 02, 2011 | 18:18
James Taranto at the Wall Street Journal editorial page caught this story about Britain's National Health Service.
"A former NHS director died after waiting for nine months for an operation--at her own hospital," London's Daily Mail reports:
Margaret Hutchon, a former mayor, had been waiting since last June for a follow-up stomach operation at Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford, Essex.
But her appointments to go under the knife were cancelled four times and she barely regained consciousness after finally having surgery.
Her devastated husband, Jim, is now demanding answers from Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust--the organization where his wife had shttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.giferved as a non-executive member of the board of directors.
He said: "I don't really know why she died. I did not get a reason from the hospital. We all want to know for closure. She got weaker and weaker as she waited and operations were put off."
It would be cruel to put this down to karma, so instead we'll just note that it can't possibly be true. After all, as New York Times star columnist Paul Krugman has observed, "In Britain, the government itself runs the hospitals and employs the doctors. We've all heard scare stories about how that works in practice; these stories are false."
James really knows how to let Krugman have it.
Selective Morality: Where's the "No Blood for Oil" Chant?
Debra J. Saunders at SFGate.com writes:
"No blood for oil" was a popular slogan chanted by the left in opposition to President George W. Bush's push to send U.S. forces into Iraq. Now that President Obama has authorized Operation Odyssey Dawn in Libya, I have been waiting to hear chants of "no blood for oil." I am happy to report, I don't hear them....
"No blood for oil" was a popular slogan chanted by the left in opposition to President George W. Bush's push to send U.S. forces into Iraq. Now that President Obama has authorized Operation Odyssey Dawn in Libya, I have been waiting to hear chants of "no blood for oil." I am happy to report, I don't hear them....
Friday, April 1, 2011
Favoritism to the Max
These stories have a common thread:
1. From Bloomberg: Arab Banking Corp., the lender part-owned by the Central Bank of Libya, http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifused a New York branch to get 73 loans from the U.S. Federal Reserve in the 18 months after Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. collapsed....
2. WKOW.com in Madison, WI reports that "26-year-old Katherine Windels sent disturbing emails to 16 Republican senators, repeatedly threatening to kill them.
"Windels, of Cross Plains, faces four charges including using a computer to send a threat and creating a bomb scare...." [no mention of her union membership; also, she is not in custody at this time]
3. Media Research Center reminds us how much slack the dinosaur media are giving President Obama for intervening in the Libyan civil war. Andrea Mitchell of NBC has said, “This intervention could wind up being Barack Obama’s finest hour. His intentions are pure — this is a humanitarian mission, not blood for oil. We’ve got a coalition with us, the United Nations, the Arab League. And the diplomacy has truly been masterful — future military planners will surely use Obama’s Libya template as a guide.” She was not so patient and forgiving when President George W. Bush went to war in Iraq to overthrow Saddam Hussein.
1. From Bloomberg: Arab Banking Corp., the lender part-owned by the Central Bank of Libya, http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifused a New York branch to get 73 loans from the U.S. Federal Reserve in the 18 months after Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. collapsed....
2. WKOW.com in Madison, WI reports that "26-year-old Katherine Windels sent disturbing emails to 16 Republican senators, repeatedly threatening to kill them.
"Windels, of Cross Plains, faces four charges including using a computer to send a threat and creating a bomb scare...." [no mention of her union membership; also, she is not in custody at this time]
3. Media Research Center reminds us how much slack the dinosaur media are giving President Obama for intervening in the Libyan civil war. Andrea Mitchell of NBC has said, “This intervention could wind up being Barack Obama’s finest hour. His intentions are pure — this is a humanitarian mission, not blood for oil. We’ve got a coalition with us, the United Nations, the Arab League. And the diplomacy has truly been masterful — future military planners will surely use Obama’s Libya template as a guide.” She was not so patient and forgiving when President George W. Bush went to war in Iraq to overthrow Saddam Hussein.
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