Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Politicians - Jumping the gun? - Again!
It should be clear to all of us by now that our politicians are so anxious to get credit for something that they are passing laws to "help" us, without taking the time to consider the facts, science, opposing views, or unintended consequences...
A recent Wall Street Journal begins:
"The ink is still moist on Capitol Hill's latest energy bill and, as if on cue, a scientific avalanche is demolishing its assumptions. To wit, trendy climate-change policies like ethanol and other biofuels are actually worse for the environment than fossil fuels. Then again, Washington's energy neuroses are more political than practical, so it's easy for the Solons and greens to ignore what would usually be called evidence.
The rebukes arrive via two new studies in Science, a peer-reviewed journal not known for right-wing proclivities. "
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Free Speech? - Not here!
Everybody seems to have a video these days, or a counter-video.
The problem is that someone can apparently make a judgement as to what is "acceptable" and what is not...
The problem is that someone can apparently make a judgement as to what is "acceptable" and what is not...
This article at the CatholicNewsAgency.com describes an example:
"On Monday morning, American Life League (A.L.L.) was informed by YouTube that one of its exposé videos on Planned Parenthood was evicted from their for its 'inappropriate nature.' Strangely enough, the ad that the A.L.L. was criticizing remains on YouTube.
The banned report explains how a Planned Parenthood commercial helps encourage recreational sex, which A.L.L.’s Michael Hichborn told CNA, 'helps their bottom line'."
Politicians - and their pardons
Considering that President Clinton didn't have to do anything at all, one almost has to conclude that it WAS done for a purpose, as the writer describes...
In the Wall Street Journal, Debra Burlingame writes:
"Given all this, why would Bill Clinton, who had ignored the 3,226 clemency petitions that had piled up on his desk over the years, suddenly reach into the stack and pluck out these 16 meritless cases? (The New York Times ran a column with the headline, 'Bill's Little Gift.')"
Only in America - Pardons
This is a pretty impressive list.
I know that all Presidents do this, but that doesn't make it right...
I know that all Presidents do this, but that doesn't make it right...
From the official website of the Department of Justice:
"PARDONS GRANTED BY PRESIDENT CLINTON"
In Our Schools - Duke University
Considering their recent history, how in the world can they explain their thinking on this?...
At the NationalJournal.com, Stuart Taylor, Jr. exposes them:
"So, some might be surprised to learn that on this year's Super Bowl Sunday, Duke University played host to a group of strippers, prostitutes, phone-sex operators, and others in a 'Sex Workers Art Show' to display their 'creativity and genius.' The university spent $3,500 from student fees and various programs to pay the performers and cover expenses."
Meanwhile - In Nevada
So, how do you define "park"? ...
Joshua Longobardy reports on the Las Vegas Weekly website:
"It had been conceived in the ’80s, planned in the ’90s, secured, discussed, voted on and approved at the turn of the millennium, two years before the Carmel Canyon community of homes was built, in the fashion of a peninsula, at the very northwest end of Jones Boulevard, a mere half-mile from the shooting park. When pilgrims from all over the country moved into Carmel Canyon, no one—neither the three municipalities that surround the area nor Lennar, the home-builder—notified them of the grandiose shooting park ready to be erected next door."
Global Warming - Watching the Sun
Could it be that we may soon get pulled in the other direction?
Maybe, everyone should keep quiet until they REALLY know what's going on...
Maybe, everyone should keep quiet until they REALLY know what's going on...
Investors Business Daily reports:
"Back in 1991, before Al Gore first shouted that the Earth was in the balance, the Danish Meteorological Institute released a study using data that went back centuries that showed that global temperatures closely tracked solar cycles.
To many, those data were convincing. Now, Canadian scientists are seeking additional funding for more and better 'eyes' with which to observe our sun, which has a bigger impact on Earth's climate than all the tailpipes and smokestacks on our planet combined.
And they're worried about global cooling, not warming."
Justice - in Iran
Don't want to be hung or stoned? How about this?...
Jon Leyne reports for the BBC:
"To add to this challenging list of punishments, the Iranian Nobel peace prize winner and human rights lawyer, Shirin Ebadi, has warned of a revival of the practice of amputation.
She said that several criminals in the remote province of Sistan-Baluchistan had recently had hands and legs amputated.
The violation of human rights in Iran had found new dimensions, warned the group of lawyers that she heads."
Monday, February 11, 2008
What if you had to decide?
I like this. In a perfect world, we all can take an idealistic approach; however, this writer's questions cause us to think about real situations. .
In the New Media Journal, Lee Boyland asks:
"Today’s question is: How does one equate the value of American lives to the “rights” of terrorists? Take a few minutes to take a short quiz. Carefully read each of the following scenarios. Note your answer before reading the next one. Answer truthfully, for only you will see your answers"
Meanwhile - In New Jersey
Looks like there's trouble brewing in the Garden State...
I found this posted by Paul Mulshine at NJ.com:
"Over the course of these 'town meetings' on his multibillion-dollar toll-and- spend scheme, our governor has undergone a personality change. The first few sessions featured docile crowds that were willing to sit back and absorb the wisdom of a Wall Street whiz who spoke with great authority on matters of high finance. But once the crowds wised up, Gov. Jon Corzine started to look like the bumbler he was when he first entered politics eight years ago.
The lovefest was clearly over by the time the former farm boy made a trip to the Jersey Shore. A crowd in Toms River booed and shouted throughout his presentation. The results weren't much better in Monmouth County a few nights later. This was a tough crowd. When Corzine talked about the need to raise money to fund care for the developmentally disabled, he no doubt expected to generate the same warm, fuzzy feeling that such a cause generated in prior audiences.
'Stop the scare tactics!' some guy yelled as a chorus of boos arose."
Bill Clinton - and Jane Doe #5
I guess articles like this will soon be making the rounds again...
I found this in an NBC transcript posted at ShadowGov.com:
"She became known as Jane Doe Number 5. Her story was well known to independent counsel Ken Starr, to House impeachment managers, to Washington insiders and Capitol Hill reporters. A month ago, she gave an interview to NBC News correspondent Lisa Myers. Since then NBC News has been carefully investigating this story — combing through state records, court documents and newspapers, cross-checking dates and events, talking to more than 80 people, and repeatedly requesting information from the White House."
Politicians at work - Governing Healthcare
It appears that politicians are not the "cure"...
Victoria C. Bunce and J.P. Wieske discuss the issue in the Wall Street Journal:
"For almost every health-care product or service, there are at least two groups that want insurance to cover it: those who sell the products and services so they can get more business, and those who use the products and services to lower their out-of-pocket costs. Both of these highly motivated groups push state legislators -- and increasingly members of Congress -- to require insurance to cover the care. As a result, government interference in and control of the health-care system is steadily increasing -- and so is the cost of health insurance."
Hillary Clinton - Secret Service says...
This certainly sounds ugly.
Doesn't Hillary know that they vote?...
Doesn't Hillary know that they vote?...
At NewsMax.com, Ronald Kessler writes:
"Guarding presidential candidates 24 hours a day, Secret Service agents know better than almost anyone what they are really like. Among Secret Service agents, no protectee evokes more disdain than Hillary Clinton.
Secret Service agents assigned at various points to guarding Hillary during her campaign for the Senate were dismayed to find her two-faced and perpetually angry."
Politics - Meet Howard Krongard
The government can be a really tough place to work...
The Wall Street Journal reports:
"Howard Krongard worked his last day at the State Department recently, having learned a hard lesson in the ways of modern Congressional 'oversight.' To wit, if you don't follow Henry Waxman's orders, he'll try to ruin you.
Comfortable after four successful decades in private life, Mr. Krongard thought he'd do a turn in public service by taking a job in 2005 as State's Inspector General, a supposedly 'independent' role. Little did the political rookie realize that Congressional barons like Mr. Waxman think that the IGs work for them."
Protecting Our Troops?
I have to think that government contracts are lucrative enough on their own without having to cheat...
I found this on the Military.com website, but it's from the New York Post:
"Two whistleblowers claim that a $1.9 million fine leveled against their former bosses - who allegedly underweighted the bulletproof material in combat helmets to save money - is too measly and part of a Pentagon cover-up.
Jeff Kenner and Tamara Elshaug, who worked at the Sioux Manufacturing Corp. in North Dakota, had charged that their company was involved in the 'underweaving' of the bulletproof fabric in more than 2 million 'P.A.S.G.T.' helmets handed out to National Guardsmen, Army Soldiers and Navy Sailors across the country."
Exxon's 2007 Profits and Taxes
I like these kinds of comparisons because they really put things in perspective.
Secondly, they provide an insight that our news media fails to give us...
Secondly, they provide an insight that our news media fails to give us...
On the SeekingAlpha.com website, Mark J. Perry states this:
"Conclusion: In other words, just one corporation (Exxon Mobil) pays as much in taxes ($27 billion) annually as the entire bottom 50% of individual taxpayers, which is 65,000,000 people! Further, the tax rate for the bottom 50% is only 3% of adjusted gross income ($27.4 billion / $922 billion), and the tax rate for Exxon was 41% in 2006 ($67.4 billion in taxable income, $27.9 billion in taxes)."
The Kennedys - Meet "Jack"
Here's the latest Kennedy clan story...
At the GlobeAndMail.com website, Marsha Lederman quotes "Jack":
"'This isn't a story about the fairly silly, trivial 'discovery of JFK's illegitimate son,' ' he stated on Friday, 'although it appears that way.' He said the information he will reveal could have a 'potentially profound impact.'"
Thursday, February 07, 2008
United States Climate Summary
This just in...
... from the National Climatic Data Center:
"The average temperature in January 2008 was 30.5 F. This was -0.3 F cooler than the 1901-2000 (20th century) average, the 49th coolest January in 114 years. The temperature trend for the period of record (1895 to present) is 0.1 degrees Fahrenheit per decade."
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Government at Work - the F.D.A.
The Food and Drug Administration needs help.
How about diverting some of that frivilous pork project money?...
How about diverting some of that frivilous pork project money?...
I found this on the, Wall Street Journal editorial page:
"'The mission of getting safe and effective drugs to patients in a timely manner is currently threatened by inadequate expertise and capabilities,' the Science Board notes.
Particularly in complex and specialized fields like genomics and biotechnology medicine, the FDA lacks the basic competence 'to understand the impact of product use, to maintain ongoing currency with their evolution or to evaluate the sophisticated products produced' and 'to support innovation in the industries and markets that it regulates.'"
Never underestimate your opponent
A bluff is a bluff, no matter how high the stakes, and Saddam obviously lost this one.
Interestingly, he apparently always did intend to eventually re-institute those ugly weapons programs. To me, that justifies our intervention, even if it's not popular...
Interestingly, he apparently always did intend to eventually re-institute those ugly weapons programs. To me, that justifies our intervention, even if it's not popular...
The bluff is discussed in a New York Post opinion column:
"At the same time, Saddam never really expected a full-scale US attack: If Washington thought Iraq was hiding WMDs, he figured, the worst it might do is launch something like the four-day pinprick bombing President Bill Clinton OK'd under similar circumstances in '98.
Saddam could live with that.
It turned out otherwise, but who's to blame him for thinking so, given the US record - not just in Iraq, but in other places where Washington's response has been heavily tempered?"
Politicians - Sen. Jay Rockefeller
I've read a lot of things about Sen. Rockefeller and haven't found much to like about him.
This article just adds to that opinion...
This article just adds to that opinion...
In his New Media Journal article, Paul R. Hollrah begins with a little biography:
"Senator John Davison Rockefeller IV, otherwise known as “Jay” Rockefeller, is a four-term member of the U.S. Senate from West Virginia and a great-grandson of oil tycoon John D. Rockefeller. He is the youngest in a long line of prominent politicians and financiers, including former Vice President Nelson A. Rockefeller, former Arkansas Governor Winthrop Rockefeller, and. banker David Rockefeller. The only Democrat in what has always been a staunchly Republican family, he is also the son-in-law of former Republican Senator Charles H. Percy, of Illinois.
Rockefeller currently serves as Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, a position he held from 2002-03, and one he reclaimed when Democrats regained Senate control in 2006."
In Our Schools - It's movie time
I happen to know that this happens elsewhere, also.
Now, does anyone want to discuss our student rankings in math and science?...
Now, does anyone want to discuss our student rankings in math and science?...
Copyright allows me to only provide the Link to the story:
The Media - The beat goes on
I am almost a total skeptic about everything reported by our media, and here's one of those articles I can use to justify my opinion.
The media's behavior borders on deplorable, as this brief description of history shows. Unfortunately, it seems to have become even worse since then...
The media's behavior borders on deplorable, as this brief description of history shows. Unfortunately, it seems to have become even worse since then...
Arthur Herman writes about them in the Wall Street Journal:
"Their own panic deeply colored their reportage, suggesting that the communist assault had flung Vietnam into chaos.
Their editors at home, like CBS's Walter Cronkite, seized on the distorted reporting to discredit the military's version of events. The Viet Cong insurgency was in its death throes, just as U.S. military officials assured the American people at the time. Yet the press version painted a different picture."
