Friday, April 30, 2010
Good Riddance! -- Thomas Sowell
Even though I saw this article some weeks ago, it's still relevant...
At GOPUSA.com, Thomas Sowell doesn't think much of Justice Stevens. Here's one of his reasons:
"Justice John Paul Stevens wrote the Supreme Court opinion that expanded the Constitution's authorization of seizing private property for 'public use' to seizing private property for a 'public purpose.' And who would define what a 'public purpose' is? Basically, those who were doing the seizing. As Justice Stevens put it, the government authorities' assessment of a proper "public purpose" was entitled to 'great respect' by the courts.
Let's go back to square one. Just who was this provision of the Constitution supposed to restrict? Answer: government officials. And to whom would Justice Stevens defer: government officials. Why would those who wrote the Constitution waste good ink putting that protection in there, if not to protect citizens from the very government officials to whom Justice Stevens deferred?"
Wallison: Fannie and Freddie Amnesia - WSJ.com
Politicians are despicable.
They DIDN'T pass legislation that could have prevented this problem, and now they're at it again, claiming they will rescue "us".
I'm not fooled for one minute. I won't say they don't know what they're doing; but, I will say that you and I are NOT at the forefront of their existence..
They DIDN'T pass legislation that could have prevented this problem, and now they're at it again, claiming they will rescue "us".
I'm not fooled for one minute. I won't say they don't know what they're doing; but, I will say that you and I are NOT at the forefront of their existence..
Peter J. Wallison writes in the Wall Street Journal:
"The story is all too familiar. Politicians in positions of authority today had an opportunity to prevent this fiasco but did nothing. Now—in the name of the taxpayers—they want more power, but they have never been called to account for their earlier failings.
One chapter in this story took place in July 2005, when the Senate Banking Committee, then controlled by the Republicans, adopted tough regulatory legislation for the GSEs on a party-line vote—all Republicans in favor, all Democrats opposed. The bill would have established a new regulator for Fannie and Freddie and given it authority to ensure that they maintained adequate capital, properly managed their interest rate risk, had adequate liquidity and reserves, and controlled their asset and investment portfolio growth."
Thursday, April 29, 2010
"Whose country is this?"
Hopefully, it still belongs to the citizens (emphasis on citizens).
Illegals and elected officials that support them should be shown the door.
Hurray for Arizona!...
Illegals and elected officials that support them should be shown the door.
Hurray for Arizona!...
Pat Buchanan offers this and more at WorldNetDaily.com:
"'We in Arizona have been more than patient waiting for Washington to act,' said Gov. Jan Brewer. 'But decades of inaction and misguided policy have created an unacceptable situation.'
We have a crisis in Arizona because we have a failed state in Washington.
What is the response of Barack Obama, who took an oath to see to it that federal laws are faithfully executed?
He is siding with the law-breakers. He is pandering to the ethnic lobbies."
The Media - "Maddow Worries McVeigh's 'Voice from the Grave' Echoes, as She Plays His Old Interviews"
The liberal media seems obsessed with trying to link the Tea Party with violence and racism.
Here's a prime example...
Here's a prime example...
Jeff Poor writes about MSNBC's Rachel Maddow it at NewsBusters.org:
"'Nine years after his execution, we are left worrying that Timothy McVeigh's voice from the grave echoes in a new rising tide of American anti-government extremism,' Maddow said. 'On this date, which holds great meaning for the anti-government movement, the McVeigh tapes are a can't-turn-away, riveting reminder.'"
GM’s True Lies - Grand Rants
Truth in Advertising is probably one of the most wishy-washy laws we have.
It's so easy to say things that sound one way, while the whole story and/or truth never sees the light of day.
It's really sad...
It's so easy to say things that sound one way, while the whole story and/or truth never sees the light of day.
It's really sad...
This was recently posted by [cricket] on the GrandRants blog:
"CEO Ed Whitacre is telling us the truth, but not the whole truth. What about the other $45 billion that American (and Canadian) taxpayers gave General Motors last year, which was originally part of that loan? Why doesn’t he mention that still-outstanding amount as he so proudly touts the payback of less than 14% of GM’s unsettled debt? When do we get that money back?"
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
The Media - USA Today
Our media outlets are really bad.
Just read this story and try not to laugh at the obviously biased, agenda driven USA Today column...
Just read this story and try not to laugh at the obviously biased, agenda driven USA Today column...
At BigJournalism.com, Warner Todd Huston correctly picks it apart:
"This is the way the Old Media fans the flames of a story to spin it to their agenda:
De Lollis created a false premise in which she wanted to believe. She then found a few stray comments from people who represent nothing greater than a momentary opinion, anecdotal evidence which, we all know, is no evidence at all. And then she spun that anecdotal 'evidence' into 'proof' of her false premise.
Voila, now we have a 'backlash against Arizona’s travel industry'!"
"Immigration Reform? Let's Try Mexico's Immigration Law!"
As long as we're talking about immigration, it might be worthwhile to see how another country handles it.
As they say, truth is stranger than fiction...
As they say, truth is stranger than fiction...
John Lillpop posted this a while back in the Canada Free Press:
"Mexico has a single, streamlined law that ensures that foreign visitors and immigrants are:
# in the country legally;
# have the means to sustain themselves economically;
# not destined to be burdens on society;
# of economic and social benefit to society;
# of good character and have no criminal records; and
# contributors to the general well-being of the nation.
The law also ensures that:
# immigration authorities have a record of each foreign visitor;
# foreign visitors do not violate their visa status;
# foreign visitors are banned from interfering in the country's internal politics;
# foreign visitors who enter under false pretenses are imprisoned or deported;
# foreign visitors violating the terms of their entry are imprisoned or deported;
# those who aid in illegal immigration will be sent to prison."
Global Warming - U.N. Climate Researchers get an 'F'
World governments continue to make life-changing decisions based upon this flawed report.
Could they really be that uninformed or are they lemmings?
I can't imagine anyone pushing forward while so many opposing views are present...
Could they really be that uninformed or are they lemmings?
I can't imagine anyone pushing forward while so many opposing views are present...
Gene J. Koprowski recently reported this at FoxNews.com:
"A group of 40 auditors -- including scientists and public policy experts from across the globe -- have released a shocking report card on the U.N.'s landmark climate-change research report.
And they gave 21 of the report's 44 chapters a grade of 'F.'"
After the Crash, a Crashing Bore - WSJ.com
I read this a while back and thought how refreshing it would be if honesty and accountability would somehow be present in our elected officials...
Peggy Noonan has some fun in her Wall Street Journal column:
"The testimony of Charles Prince, former CEO of Citigroup, a too-big-to-fail bank that received $45 billion in bailouts and $300 billion in taxpayer guarantees, was riveting. You've seen it on the news, but if you were watching it live on C-Span, the stark power of his brutal candor was breathtaking."
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
EDITORIAL: "Arizona to Obama: Do your job"
This editorial explains that the new Arizona immigration law IS legal, and kind of exposes that the rhetoric against it it pretty much without merit.
Unfortunately, the media would have us believe that Arizona was governed by crazy people with crazy ideas, when they are basically trying to protect themselves and their state...
Unfortunately, the media would have us believe that Arizona was governed by crazy people with crazy ideas, when they are basically trying to protect themselves and their state...
The Washington Times closes their editorial with:
"Rather than lecturing states on what they cannot do to mitigate the growing crisis of illegal immigration, or loosing the Justice Department on Arizona in search of phantom civil rights violations, Mr. Obama would better serve America by enforcing the laws that are on the books or helping draft new laws more to his liking. It would help if he started by admitting that he is a big part of the problem Arizona is trying to solve."
"Tea Partiers Fight Obama's Culture of Dependence"
The Tea Party folks seem to be my kind of people...
Michael Barone writes at Townhall.com:
"The Obama Democrats see a society in which ordinary people cannot fend for themselves, where they need to have their incomes supplemented, their health care insurance regulated and guaranteed, their relationships with their employers governed by union leaders. Highly educated mandarins can make better decisions for them than they can make themselves. That is the culture of dependence.
The tea partiers see things differently...
... they recognize, correctly, that the Obama Democrats are trying to permanently enlarge government and increase citizens' dependence on it. And, invoking the language of the Founding Fathers, they believe that this will destroy the culture of independence which has enabled Americans over the past two centuries to make this the most productive and prosperous -- and the most charitably generous -- nation in the world. "
Along the Border: A Report From Camp Vigilance"
As this writer says, the reporting of our southern border situation leaves everything to be desired. Most of America has no idea what is really going on and how bad it really is...
At BigJournalism.com, Jake Boot writes about it and concludes:
"I urge you to make the trip and see the conditions at the border. The fence that stops. The holes illegals can walk through. Go down there and you will want to help."
Monday, April 26, 2010
Barack Obama - Top Contributors
This is NOT small change.
Do you think they expect anything for this money?
Just kidding!...
Do you think they expect anything for this money?
Just kidding!...
OpenSecrets.org has the numbers:
"This table lists the top donors to this candidate in the 2008 election cycle."
Politicians - "Our Dysfunctional Congress"
I think this writer is absolutely correct.
Our elected officials have lost sight of their true purpose.
Their primary focus (just watch C-Span) is to play to the public, take credit for everything good, avoid being accountable for anything bad, and, of course, to get reelected...
Our elected officials have lost sight of their true purpose.
Their primary focus (just watch C-Span) is to play to the public, take credit for everything good, avoid being accountable for anything bad, and, of course, to get reelected...
Rhis is part of a Kevin Portteus article at BigGovernment.com:
"Unable to deliberate, and unwilling to take responsibility for making policy decisions, congressmen are reduced to engaging in fruitless partisan warfare and public grandstanding.
To solve the problem, it is imperative to restore Congress as a legislative institution. Congress must deliberate about public policy problems and enact laws that make tough choices about what policies the nation ought to follow."
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls - Rasmussen Reports™
I always find this weekly report to be interesting...
RasmussenReports.com reports on what Americans are thinking:
"What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls"
Politicians - Clinton Body Count
Every once in a while, I come across a reference to this site...
This one is at zpub.com. Actually, there are several others:
"http://www.zpub.com/un/un-bc-body.html"
Politicians - N.J. Governor Chris Christie
Here's a politician that looks like he's making necessary choices.
Taxpayers who are carrying the financial load will appreciate him.
The "takers" probably will not.
It will be interesting to see how it plays out...
Taxpayers who are carrying the financial load will appreciate him.
The "takers" probably will not.
It will be interesting to see how it plays out...
I found this video at theHopeForAmerica.com:
N.J. Gov. Chris Christie appears on "Morning Joe".
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Meanwhile - on the college campus
This seems unreasonable to me.
And, why in the world are students involved in it?...
And, why in the world are students involved in it?...
"Liberty Chick" posts about it At BigGovernment.com:
"So let me get this straight. Students all across the country have suddenly all taken a collective interest in the economic performance of their university’s cafeteria? So, instead of attending classes like grateful students excited to learn, they’re sitting in the middle of a busy intersection at a red light, arm in arm, donning their SEIU-provided purple shirt, blocking traffic and taking cops away from important things – like responding to emergencies. And last week, 20 were arrested for doing this at Ohio State University.
Well, there must be a perfectly good reason, right? Not really. If you follow the 'research' SEIU publishes, you’d think that Sodexo is trying to kill off innocent Americans by tainting the food supply. That’s more an organizing tactic than it is factual information that supports a real safety issue. They’ve been doing that for months with the grade school cafeteria workers. And if you listen to the protesters, the reasons, if they can offer any, are a bit of a stretch. Here, they’re protesting in part that Sodexo isn’t offering full-time work to stadium employees. Students in the second video disrupt a basketball game to make their point. While in the first video, workers and students joined together to rally “for justice.” As one gentleman in the first video explained, the company only gives him hours to work during football season and basketball season. But he wants full-time hours and feels that Sodexo should give him that.
Have these college kids not noticed that they go home on long breaks throughout the year? Are they aware that stadiums have downtime? No students, no events. No sports season, no events. No spectators, no events. No events, no full-time hours. Maybe they should explain that to the workers."
Americans Are More Skeptical of Washington Than Ever - WSJ.com
Survey says!
Americans are getting wise to the out-of-control proliferation of government.
Hopefully, they make their voting voices heard in November...
Americans are getting wise to the out-of-control proliferation of government.
Hopefully, they make their voting voices heard in November...
Andrew Kohut writes about it in the Wall Street Journal:
"Just 22% say they can trust the government in Washington almost always or most of the time, among the lowest measures in half a century.
Opinions about elected officials are particularly poor. Just 25% have a favorable opinion of Congress while 65% have an unfavorable view—the lowest favorable ratings for Congress in more than two decades of Pew Research center surveys.
Favorable ratings for federal agencies and institutions have fallen since 1997-98 for seven of 13 federal agencies included in the survey. The declines have been particularly large for the Department of Education, the Food and Drug Administration, the Social Security Administration, as well as the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As in the past, poor performance is the most persistent criticism of the federal government. But increasingly Americans say that government has the wrong priorities and that has a negative effect on their day-to-day lives. Sixty-two percent say that government policies unfairly benefit some groups, while nearly as many (56%) say that government does not do enough to help average Americans."
Friday, April 23, 2010
National Journal Magazine - Palin Is No Puppet
As long as the media is biased, certain personae will always be belittled and disrespected.
Fortunately, as history clearly shows, the majority of Americans have always been able to overcome that bias...
Fortunately, as history clearly shows, the majority of Americans have always been able to overcome that bias...
At NationalJournal.com, Paul Starobin reminds us of the past, and cautions us about judging Sarah Palin:
"Evidently, there is something about Palin that drives her critics crazy. But if they can pause for breath, they might take a lesson from history as to the wisdom of mocking a political figure for a supposed lack of intelligence. The caricature of Eisenhower as Donald Duck did not stop him from twice defeating, in Electoral College landslides, the cerebral Adlai Stevenson, the darling of the intellectual crowd. The Georgetown set's view of Reagan as 'an amiable dunce' did not keep voters from giving the Gipper landslide wins over Jimmy Carter, a nuclear engineer known for his propensity to micromanage, in 1980, and Walter Mondale in 1984. And Bush won re-election over John Kerry in 2004 despite being pilloried as Cheney's puppet.
Whereas Democrats tend to criticize GOP figures as dolts, Republicans tend to criticize prominent Democratic politicians, from Gore to Kerry to Obama, not as dummies but as reincarnated Stevensons -- elite, egghead types out of touch with mainstream America."
Illinois is going under - Who to Blame?
Once again, we seem to have the media failing to identify the real culprits.
Instead, they have all pinned it on ex-governor Blagovich...
Instead, they have all pinned it on ex-governor Blagovich...
Rich Trzupek discusses the issue at BigJournalism.com:
"The Prairie State – my state – sits atop the transportation crossroads of America, has a rich, diversified economic base and a multi-talented workforce. Less than a decade ago, the state had money in the bank, unemployment was low and the outlook was bright. Illinois even managed to shrug off the mini-recession that followed 9-11 with barely a pause. Then, in 2003, Democrats took over complete control of state government, brimming with progressive policies that – cross their hearts and hope to die – wouldn’t hurt the state’s budget or damage its economy one little bit. Happy days, the bedazzled citizens of Illinois were told, were here again.
Seven years later, the Illinois’ economy is lies in smoldering ruins thanks to the progressive policies foisted upon its citizens by a cabal of Democrats that included then-state senator Barack H. Obama. Illinois ranks forty eighth in the nation in job loss, with over 200,000 jobs lost in 2009 alone and unemployment over eleven per cent. Our leading exports used to be corn and soybeans. Today, our number one export is college graduates, because young adults can’t find jobs in the state that gave them their education. In 2000, Illinois debt basically matched revenues. Now, the state’s total debt totals over $100 billion, almost four times annual revenue."
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Government at Work - on clean air
Meanwhile, volcanoes spew gazillions of particles into to the atmosphere without restriction...
Michelle Breidenbach has much more about this at Syracuse.com:
"The U.S. government passed new emissions standards that required new diesel-powered cars and trucks to use the filters. New York state government helped Corning build the new plant. Then, the state passed its own emissions law that forces owners of old diesel vehicles used on state contracts to install the filters — an upgrade that could cost as much as $30,000 each."
...
The private business owners who drive old diesel trucks have the government to blame.
To them, the filter represents the heavy hand of a reckless state government that writes laws without carefully considering the consequences."
Starting Jan. 1, every truck that shows up on a New York state work site will have to carry a sticker that says it has passed the new emissions test. That includes the hundreds of private businesses that contract with New York to build roads, bridges and buildings. It even includes the subcontractors who deliver concrete or haul away debris."
The Media - the N.Y. Times' Maureen DowdHow Low Can MoDo Go? - Big Journalism
This is an opinion inspired by a recent N.Y. Times article in which columnist Maureen Dowd compares Islam to the Catholic Church.
It seems to be right on the mark...
It seems to be right on the mark...
At BigJournalism.com, Warner Todd Huston presnts his case and concludes:
"Maureen Dowd is the best evidence we have of how far journalism has fallen."
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
"Only a brave few acknowledge an entitlement crisis"
Whether we like it or not, there are hard choices ahead for entitlement programs.
It will be interesting to watch elected officials (who don't want to displease anyone) try to deal with those choices.
In the past, their answer has invariably been to kick the can down the road...
It will be interesting to watch elected officials (who don't want to displease anyone) try to deal with those choices.
In the past, their answer has invariably been to kick the can down the road...
George Will writes about it at WashingtonPost.com:
"...flinching from the facts of the coming entitlements crisis is the default position of all but a responsible few..."
"Some N.J. teachers are educated, but not smart..."
It's better to have people think you're stupid, rather than open your moouth and prove it.
In this day and age, anyone can write anything on the Internet.
That being said, it doesn't allow one to hide from themselves...
In this day and age, anyone can write anything on the Internet.
That being said, it doesn't allow one to hide from themselves...
At NJ.com, Kevin Manahan writes about it:
"New Jersey teachers are using Facebook to attack Gov. Chris Christie over cuts to state education funding."
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
More from Eyjafjallajokull - The Big Picture - Boston.com
"Progressives can't get past the Knowledge Problem"
The reality seems to be that no one can or even could possibly understand the complexity of U.S. Laws and Codes.
Unfortunately, that doesn't prevent our elected officials everywhere from adding to the problem, and invariably, creating unintended consequences...
Unfortunately, that doesn't prevent our elected officials everywhere from adding to the problem, and invariably, creating unintended consequences...
This thought is only one of many in Glenn Harlan Reynolds excellent post at WashingtonExaminer.com:
"The United States Code -- containing federal statutory law -- is more than 50,000 pages long and comprises 40 volumes. The Code of Federal Regulations, which indexes administrative rules, is 161,117 pages long and composes 226volumes.
No one on Earth understands them all, and the potential interaction among all the different rules would choke a supercomputer. This means, of course, that when Congress changes the law, it not only can't be aware of all the real-world complications it's producing, it can't even understand the legal and regulatory implications of what it's doing."
Prominent Environmentalist Calls the Prius “A racist hate machine of imperialist oppression”
If this is true, it can be filed along with so many other environmentally correct products that are actually NOT so...
PRE-LINK TEXT Kip Hooker reports at TheVitaminPress.com:
"Initially reluctant to elaborate on his new found views Pinebrush was eventually coaxed into better explaining his feelings on the matter and finally informed the incredulous crowd that after a careful review of all the facts in attendance he had come to the conclusion that the amount of pollution produced in the creation the lithium-ion battery that powered the car’s electric engine could only be offset by the car’s fuel efficiency if the car were driven for around 300 thousand miles. Making such a proposition even more precarious is the fact that the lithium-ion battery has to be replaced every 100-150 thousand miles."
Monday, April 19, 2010
Government at Work - Green Washington Wants Less-efficient Fuel
Go ahead. Try to convince me that the government should be in charge of almost anything...
This was recently posted by Henry Payne at National Review Online:
"On April 1, the Obama administration’s EPA issued final rules forcing automakers to increase their vehicles’ fuel economy by 40 percent in five years. The next day, the very same EPA favorably reviewed an ethanol fuel mandate that would force autos to get up to 5 percent worse fuel economy.
You can’t make this stuff up."
Barack Obama - as Professor Obama
For whatever it might be worth, I think Americans have a "lemon"...
This is the lead of a Jim Hoft post at Gateway PUNDIT blog:
"Chicago Law Prof on Obama: 'The Professors Hated Him because he was Lazy, Unqualified & Never Attended any of the Faculty Meetings'"
Sunday, April 18, 2010
"Why Do Conservatives Still Love the Drug War?"
This is definitely a tough one.
35 years without success is quite a non-accomplishment; but, wrapping your head around making drugs legal is no easy task.
We've all seen the drug issue in only one way for most of our lives, so changing our thinking would be a monumental task.
Still, 35 years without success is quite a non-accomplishment...
35 years without success is quite a non-accomplishment; but, wrapping your head around making drugs legal is no easy task.
We've all seen the drug issue in only one way for most of our lives, so changing our thinking would be a monumental task.
Still, 35 years without success is quite a non-accomplishment...
Jacob Hornberger writes at CampaignForLiberty.com, and concludes:
"For decades, conservatives and liberals have been using the drug war as an excuse to assault freedom, free enterprise, privacy, private property, civil liberties, and the Constitution. They have brought nothing but death, violence, destruction, and misery with their 35-year old failed war on drugs. There would be no better place to start dismantling the statism that afflicts our land than by ending the drug war."
Business Taxes - the U.S. vs. elsewhere
So, where would you take your business...
The chart at 2.b.blogspot.com may help with your answer:
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Want it? Just Print It!
Now, if was only voice activated...
Sarah Parsons reported this at Inhabitat.com:
"Imagine a 3-d printer so large that it can spit out entire buildings made from stone. Sounds science fiction-y, right?"
Friday, April 16, 2010
The Media - "Get Ready To Shiver..."
Here's a nicely written article about how the media portrays certain things VERY inaccurately.
They accept the word of certain groups as absolute truth without verification; while, at the same time, disregarding and disparaging other groups who don't fit their agenda.
If they continue to disappoint those of us with the money to buy their products, they will lose us.
And I doubt those that survive on entitlements can pick up the slack...
They accept the word of certain groups as absolute truth without verification; while, at the same time, disregarding and disparaging other groups who don't fit their agenda.
If they continue to disappoint those of us with the money to buy their products, they will lose us.
And I doubt those that survive on entitlements can pick up the slack...
Dr. Gina Louden includes these paragraphs in her writing at BigJournalism.com:
"Why is there no accountability when the media reports such things about real people? Why is there no outcry for photos, or video proof of all they say? And why is there no critical eye cast on the group making baseless accusations? And why is there no MSM follow up when what was errantly reported turns out to be false?"
"Consumers are indirectly responsible for this double standard in journalism. If audiences don’t demand accountability, this problem will get worse because the left will know they can get away with making baseless accusations, and will continue their yellow journalism.
Whether or not consumers demand honesty, one thing is for sure. There is a growing, grumbling, surging group of conservatives out there who are not going away. Their passion is billowing, and their conviction propels them. They won’t back down. They are defiantly committed because they believe their country is wounded. They are training and learning and multiplying each day. They have cameras sprouting out of pockets like straw on a scarecrow."
Oil Production helps the environment
Here's an old press release from the University of California that basically says that drilling for oil under the sea reduces pressure that in turn reduces seepage which pollutes the ocean.
It's a significant amount, so ironically, by preventing oil drilling, seepage just continues to pollute.
Go figure. And don't expect the media to ever report this...
It's a significant amount, so ironically, by preventing oil drilling, seepage just continues to pollute.
Go figure. And don't expect the media to ever report this...
It's all in this University of California report:
"We've done a good piece of science," said Luyendyk. "We've developed a good understanding of a natural process. It's all public data; it's all straightforward. If I thought the study was compromised I wouldn't be involved in it."
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Billboards - Signs of the Times
This billboard thing is pretty interesting.
It's low tech and apparently reasonably affordable...
It's low tech and apparently reasonably affordable...
Christian Boone of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports this:
"Nine anti-Obama billboards are up around the metro area and more are on the way, said Tommy Newberry, spokesman for Billboards Against Obama, started by a group of local businessman. A sample message from a sign on Spaghetti Junction: 'Now It's Personal! America's Coming For You Congress! Vote Liberals Out in 2010!'
'It's a great way to use the free market to stop socialism,' said Newberry, a Vinings entrepreneur. 'Several hundred donors have contributed today alone, donating from $1 to $3200.'"
Odds Are, It's Wrong - Science News
This article got my attention because so many advertising claims use studies and statistics.
Now, we all know that "stretching" is likely when it comes to extolling the virtues of a product; however, I doubt many know the true reliability of the "facts" that is based on.
Caution: this is a fairly long article...
Now, we all know that "stretching" is likely when it comes to extolling the virtues of a product; however, I doubt many know the true reliability of the "facts" that is based on.
Caution: this is a fairly long article...
Tom Siegfried writes this among many things in an informative post at ScienceNews.org:
"Nowhere are the problems with statistics more blatant than in studies of genetic influences on disease. In 2007, for instance, researchers combing the medical literature found numerous studies linking a total of 85 genetic variants in 70 different genes to acute coronary syndrome, a cluster of heart problems. When the researchers compared genetic tests of 811 patients that had the syndrome with a group of 650 (matched for sex and age) that didn’t, only one of the suspect gene variants turned up substantially more often in those with the syndrome — a number to be expected by chance.
'Our null results provide no support for the hypothesis that any of the 85 genetic variants tested is a susceptibility factor' for the syndrome, the researchers reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
How could so many studies be wrong?"
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
The Media - Chris Matthews
Talk show hosts should get their facts right.
Here's an example of one who didn't...
Here's an example of one who didn't...
At WashiongtonExaminer.com, Byron York discusses Chris Matthews, and concludes:
"Oops. Perhaps Joe McCarthy never called the U.S. government a regime, but Chris Matthews did. And a lot of other people did, too. So now we are supposed to believe him when he expresses disgust at Rush Limbaugh doing the same?"
Minnesota Gipper Billboard and the “Marxist” Billboard North of Kansas City
This is somewhat amusing to me.
I wonder if it's ever happened before...
I wonder if it's ever happened before...
Pictures are at AllAmericanBlogger.com:
"First came the 'Miss Me Yet?' bill board in Minnesota. Now, a billboard with the Gipper has appeared."
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
"America's Quiet Anger"
November could be a VERY interesting time...
James P. Gannon begins his AmericanSpectator.com post with:
"There is a quiet anger boiling in America.
It is the anger of millions of hard-working citizens who pay their bills, send in their income taxes, maintain their homes and repay their mortgage loans -- and see their government reward those who do not.
It is the anger of small town and Middle American folks who have never been to Manhattan, who put their savings in a community bank and borrow from a local credit union, who watch Washington lawmakers and presidents of both parties hand billions in taxpayer bailouts to the reckless Wall Street titans who brought down the economy in 2008.
It is the fury of the voiceless, the powerless, the ordinary nobodies of Flyover Country who are ridiculed, preached to, satirized and insulted by the Celebrity Loudmouths of the two Left Coasts..."
Barack Obama - Home Country?
A slip of the tongue; or, perhaps it depends on the meaning of "home country"?...
Monday, April 12, 2010
In Our World - Home sellers beware
Private transfer fees.
The devil is always in the fine print.
I have to say this is a new one for me. How about you?...
The devil is always in the fine print.
I have to say this is a new one for me. How about you?...
Jennifer Hiller has this and the whole story at MySanAntonio.com:
"The fee, written into neighborhood restrictions, would encumber the property for 99 years and throw 1 percent of the sale price back to the developer — or his or her estate or another investor — and Freehold each time the home changes hands.
It's an idea that's drawn the attention of some state legislatures and real estate trade organizations, which are fighting to stop the transfer fees from gaining a spot in the market.
Critics say such fees could taint entire neighborhoods, making it difficult to sell homes, and could complicate title records for decades. If the fee is not paid by the seller, a lien is placed on the property and the title becomes muddy."
Opinionated & Illiterate? :: Accuracy In Academia
If you wonder why things are the way they are, you might want to think about the results of this study.
Also, there are several interesting findings within the article context...
Also, there are several interesting findings within the article context...
Natalia Angulo reports at Academia.org:
"In the past studies, ISI has administered civic knowledge tests on topics such as American history, government, and economics, and has found that the average college freshman, as well as the average college senior has failed the test. Students from some of the top ranking schools across the Nation failed, including East Coast Ivies.
This time, ISI also extended testing to American adults. In a random pool of approximately 2,000 persons, both those with and without college degrees, 71% failed the exam."
Sunday, April 11, 2010
In Our World - 'Schools taking fingerprints of pupils without their parents knowing'
Yes, it's true. In the U.K.
The school officials obviously were quite over the top in their implementation; however, I'm sure the original idea was well-intended.
This technology, like all technologies, has both a useful side and a possibilities for abuse...
The school officials obviously were quite over the top in their implementation; however, I'm sure the original idea was well-intended.
This technology, like all technologies, has both a useful side and a possibilities for abuse...
In the U.K. Daily Mail, Laura Clark begins her news article with this:
"A school has provoked uproar after taking children's fingerprints without permission from their parents.
Pupils were 'frogmarched' to be fingerprinted so they could use touch screens in the canteen to have money deducted from their account, thereby speeding up lunch queues.
Capital City Academy in Brent, north London, was later forced to apologise and wiped all prints it obtained before asking for consent."
Health News - about bacon and cheesecake
So, to keep us from hurting ourselves; will governments ban them; or tax them?...
Recently Sharon Kirkey of the Canwest News Service reported this:
"Bacon and cheesecake can alter the brain in ways similar to heroin and cocaine, according to scientists who say they have found the most compelling proof yet that high-fat foods rewire the brain and drive the development of compulsive eating.
When rats raised on regular chow were suddenly given unrestricted access to a high-fat diet, they lost complete control over their eating. Not even mild foot shocks kept them from compulsively feasting on chocolate bars, cream-stuffed cakes, sausage, frosting and other highly palatable human foods. Within 40 days, their body weight had increased 25%."
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Meanwhile - against Israel - Rocket attacks continue
Try to imagine having to put up with this...
I found this at AlertNet.org In a story about a rocket killing a migrant Thai farm worker in Israel:
"Armed groups in Gaza have fired approximately 147 rockets into Israel since the end of major Israeli military operations in Gaza on January 18, 2009, most of them during the two months after the conflict. The rockets are invariably indiscriminate when fired at populated areas because they lack any guidance mechanism and cannot be aimed accurately at military targets."
Flying Assassin Robots
It's only a matter of time.
Think about a mini-missile homed-in on your cell phone...
Think about a mini-missile homed-in on your cell phone...
Jeremy Hsu has this at PopSci.com:
"Air Force's Flying Assassin Robot Enters Final Development Stage"
Friday, April 09, 2010
Why I Changed My Mind About School Reform - WSJ.com
This is about how our schools continue to fail our society.
I have the opinion that school systems have become good at making the government's "bogey".
Unfortunately, that is selective, and done at the expense of a broad based "real" education..
I have the opinion that school systems have become good at making the government's "bogey".
Unfortunately, that is selective, and done at the expense of a broad based "real" education..
In the Wall Street Journal, Diane Ravitch finishes her writing with this:
"On our present course, we are disrupting communities, dumbing down our schools, giving students false reports of their progress, and creating a private sector that will undermine public education without improving it. Most significantly, we are not producing a generation of students who are more knowledgable, and better prepared for the responsibilities of citizenship. That is why I changed my mind about the current direction of school reform."
Government at Work - Free energy saving bulbs
This is different. And NUTS, I might add...
Harry Wallop writes about it in the U.K. Telegraph:
"More than 200 million free energy-saving light bulbs have been sent to households over the last two years by energy suppliers. The mass mail-out was caused by gas and electricity suppliers trying to hit Government targets to reduce carbon emissions.
However, Which?, the consumer watchdog has calculated that each household has ended paying £45 each through higher energy bills to fund the scheme, even though many consumers objected to being sent the bulbs. Many complained about having to go to the Post Office to collect what they thought was a parcel, only to find it was a bulb that did not even fit any of their lamps.
'Consumers unwittingly paid for them to help energy companies avoid fines,' the Which? report said."
Thursday, April 08, 2010
Meanwhile - in the U.K. - KFC
Try to wrap your brain around this...
Katherine Faulkner reports for the U.K. Daily Mail:
"A diner was left fuming after a KFC restaurant took his favourite meal off the menu because it breached their new halal regulations.
Alan Phillips was told he would have to travel five miles to another branch if he wanted the Big Daddy, a chicken burger, topped with bacon, cheese and salad.
The branch, in Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire, is one of 86 KFC restaurants which is running trials of a scheme where they sell nothing other than halal meat
Trial: This KFC in Burton-on-Trent is one of 86 stores to be selling nothing other than halal meat during the next few months
The company has taken the burger off the menu because Islamic dietary law forbids Muslims to eat anything which has been prepared on the same premises as pork, which is itself strictly forbidden."
The Dignitas Clinic
A sad story; and possibly a sign of future times...
Laura Topham reports in the U.K. Daily Mail:
"To the casual observer, they must have seemed like all the other families dining in the elegant riverside restaurant in Zurich that night.
Laughing and joking, a strikingly attractive woman was evidently revelling in the company of her sister, mother and father as they ate risotto and shared a bottle of wine.
Throughout that cool, clear August evening in 2006, the family enjoyed animated conversation before sharing a late-night gin and tonic. So far so ordinary, except for one extraordinary detail: they all knew this would be their last meal together."
Wednesday, April 07, 2010
The Media - The New York Times
The root of this issue is a column accusing Sarah Palin of using militant "crosshairs" to incite disruptive behavior.
It has since been shown that they were NOT "crosshairs"; instead, they were surveyors symbols for designating locations on a map.
So much for the "worldly" knowledge of the biased columnist...
It has since been shown that they were NOT "crosshairs"; instead, they were surveyors symbols for designating locations on a map.
So much for the "worldly" knowledge of the biased columnist...
Now, at BigJournalism.com, John Sexton identifies true "target" symbols having been used by liberals in the past, which was apparently OK:
"Granted these are bulls-eyes instead of gun-sights, and the targets are states not individual congressmen. But we’re really splitting hairs at this point. This map and the language it uses (Behind enemy lines!) are, if anything, more militant than what Palin used in her Facebook posting."
Personal Income Drops Across the Country - WSJ.com
This seems ominous to me.
Less income equals less spending and less tax revenue.
Is anybody listening?...
Less income equals less spending and less tax revenue.
Is anybody listening?...
This was recently reported by Sara Murray in the Wall Sreet Journal:
"Personal income in 42 states fell in 2009, the Commerce Department said Thursday."
Government at Work - 10 Million Acre land grab
That's a nice chunk of land.
I wonder why the mainstream media isn't on this? [smile]...
I wonder why the mainstream media isn't on this? [smile]...
Senator Jim DeMint recently called attention to this in the Washington Times:
"A secret administration memo has surfaced revealing plans for the federal government to seize more than 10 million acres from Montana to New Mexico, halting job- creating activities like ranching, forestry, mining and energy development. Worse, this land grab would dry up tax revenue that's essential for funding schools, firehouses and community centers.
President Obama could enact the plans in this memo with just the stroke of a pen, without any input from the communities affected by it."
Tuesday, April 06, 2010
"The real anti-Americans"
In this article, Pat Buchanan discusses the current controversies surrounding the "Tea Party" movement.
He makes points that the comparisons to Nazi Germany, etc. are way over the top, as there aren't even arrests being made; and, also, that the media has apparently conveniently and totally forgotten the left-wing violence of times past.
He also reminds us that the desire to reign in immigration trancends ethnic lines...
He makes points that the comparisons to Nazi Germany, etc. are way over the top, as there aren't even arrests being made; and, also, that the media has apparently conveniently and totally forgotten the left-wing violence of times past.
He also reminds us that the desire to reign in immigration trancends ethnic lines...
Pat Buchanan writes about it at WND.com:
"Given the rise in ethnic consciousness among all Americans, Rich may be right. But it is not just white folks who want illegal aliens deported and legal immigration curtailed, while 25 million of our own are out of work or underemployed.
A Zogby poll for the Center for Immigration Studies found that 56 percent of Hispanics, 57 percent of Asian-Americans and 68 percent of African-Americans think legal immigration is too high.
If the tea-party folks think it is leftist elites who detest and wish to be rid of the America they grew up in and love, they are right."
Government at Work - New York chases back taxes
I have to wonder if it will be cost effective to administer this.
I say that because someone likely made just that choice many times in the past.
Sate and local governments are obviously desperate for income...
I say that because someone likely made just that choice many times in the past.
Sate and local governments are obviously desperate for income...
Recently, Michelle Breidenbach reported this at Syracuse.com:
"New York state has unearthed billions of dollars in unpaid taxes as old as the 1950s in an attempt to shake money from the pockets of some taxpayers.
In January, the state dug into its archives and mailed a list of outstanding bills to 700,000 people — everyone who has a debt older than three years on the state’s books."
Barack Obama - "the Progressive’s Perfect Trojan Horse"
A white person could not write these things.
Fortunately, there are blacks in AMerica who see what's going on and have the courage and wherewithall to get it published...
Fortunately, there are blacks in AMerica who see what's going on and have the courage and wherewithall to get it published...
Lloyd Marcus writes at BigJournalism.com:
"Democrats say their mission is to give all Americans health care. They’re lying. Signing Obamacare into law against both our will and the Constitution is tyranny and step one of their hideous goal of having as many Americans as possible dependent on government, thus controlling our lives and fulfilling Obama’s promise to fundamentally transform America.
I keep asking myself. How did our government move so far from the normal procedures of getting things done? Could a white president have so successfully pulled off shredding the Constitution to further his agenda? I think not.
Ironically, proving America is completely the opposite of the evil racist country they relentlessly accuse her of being, progressives used America’s goodness, guilt and sense of fair play against her.
In their quest to destroy America as we know it, progressives borrowed a brilliant scheme from Greek mythology. They offered America a modern-day Trojan Horse, a beautifully crafted golden shiny new black man as a presidential candidate. Democrat Joe Biden lauded Obama as the first clean and articulate African American candidate. Democrat Harry Reid said Obama only uses a black dialect when he wants.
White America relished the opportunity to vote for a black man naively believing they would never suffer the pain of being called racist again. Black Americans viewed casting their vote for Obama as the ultimate Affirmative Action for America’s sins of the past."
Monday, April 05, 2010
"A tale of two time-stamps: Smoking-gun proof"?
I've been watching this story for several days now,
It seems somewhat fishy to me.
The timelines are revealing, and having so many "things" happen in such a short time, seems remarkable.
We may never know for sure, but I'm guessing this was, at least, partially contrived in advance...
It seems somewhat fishy to me.
The timelines are revealing, and having so many "things" happen in such a short time, seems remarkable.
We may never know for sure, but I'm guessing this was, at least, partially contrived in advance...
Doug Ross has reports and updates on his blog:
"Why did Pelosi, Frank and members of the Congressional Black Caucus take the long walk directly in front of the Tea Party protests, as opposed to using the tunnel as they do 99.9% of the time?
It appears that it was a conspiracy.
In 90 minutes, a press release was crafted by Cleaver's office, McClatchy and HuffPro 'reporters interviewed a half dozen individuals, wrote lengthy articles, referenced each others material (despite it not having been published) while receiving and incorporating said press release.
This appears to be nothing less than a criminal scam -- a mashup effort by Congress and sympathetic media -- designed to promote racial hatred in order to advance a radical Democrat agenda."
"Top Senate Dem Admits Un-American Health Bill Was to Address 'Mal-Distribution of Income'"
Caution; this may get your blood pressure up...
Kyle Olson reports at BigGovernment.com:
"According to FoxNews.com, Baucus said:
'Too often, much of late, the last couple three years, the mal-distribution of income in American is gone up way too much, the wealthy are getting way, way too wealthy and the middle income class is left behind,” he said. “Wages have not kept up with increased income of the highest income in America. This legislation will have the effect of addressing that mal-distribution of income in America.'"
"History Shows CBO Is Partisan"
It's really NOT funny when the media continues to report the Congressional Budget Office as NON-partisan...
Brian Domitrovic takes the time to educate us at RollCall.com:
"When news of the CBO forecast came in over the airwaves, invariably the reports noted that the CBO is a 'nonpartisan' institution.
It’s funny that public radio and the mainstream newspapers have a reflex making them call CBO nonpartisan, because a little knowledge of the CBO’s founding and history would dispel this myth right away."
Sunday, April 04, 2010
The Media - the Seattle Times
So you believe the media, do you?
Well, try this one on for size...
Well, try this one on for size...
Glenn Reynolds has this on the InstaPundit Blog:
"AN IMPLAUSIBLE REPORT IN THE SEATTLE TIMES: 'A rock was thrown through the window of Driehaus’ Cincinnati office Sunday.'
Justin Binik-Thomas emails from Cincinnati that Rep. Driehaus’ office 'is on the 30th floor of a skyscraper downtown.' He also says that he spoke to Driehaus’ office today and they said this never happened. Which is too bad, in a way, as the Reds could use a guy with an arm like that . . ."
"Rapid Rise in US Budget Deficit Projection"
Front Page NEWS!
Well, if we could trust our media, it would be...
Well, if we could trust our media, it would be...
This is part of a Steve Liesman post at CNBC.com:
"CNBC, working with the Congressional Budget Office, found that the 10-year outlook for the nation's deficit has deteriorated by almost $8 trillion. In effect, every man, woman and child in the United States has taken on an extra $25,000 in debt, CNBC has learned.
Comparing the CBO's outlook in 2008 to the current forecast, CNBC found that what was once a projected $247 billion surplus for the years 2009 through 2018, is now an estimated $7.4 trillion deficit."
Saturday, April 03, 2010
"Daily Gut: Anger is a Right"
The term "racist" gets used a lot these days.
It's used for almost everything and everyone who disagrees with the Obama administration's policies.
The reality is that people don't like the "POLICIES". That's it!...
It's used for almost everything and everyone who disagrees with the Obama administration's policies.
The reality is that people don't like the "POLICIES". That's it!...
Greg Gutfeld offers this at BigHollywood.com:
"For two hundred plus years we’ve kicked ass, and we’re now choosing the belief system of the idiots whose asses we’ve kicked.
So that’s why I’m angry. And why you’re angry too.
And when jackasses try to take away your right to be angry – by calling it racist or extremist – tell them they’re the racists. Because it’s those tools who assume that anger can only be about race. And if they disagree with you, then clearly they’re not just racists – but probably homophobic cannibals, too."
Government at Work - Freezing Jobs?
I guess it depends on the meaning of "absolutely essential".
Elected officials are SO corrupted, and the voters are SO gullible, and the media is SO biased, that ANYTHING can be said, and there's very little risk that they will ever be held accountable...
Elected officials are SO corrupted, and the voters are SO gullible, and the media is SO biased, that ANYTHING can be said, and there's very little risk that they will ever be held accountable...
Delen Goldberg reports on the Syracuse.com website:
"Gov. David Paterson ordered a “hard” hiring freeze in state government nearly two years ago, declaring that only 'absolutely essential' positions be filled.
But state officials hired 51,464 people at a cost to taxpayers of more than $1 billion in salaries, plus fringe benefits, since that decree on July 30, 2008.
The hires include sons of elected officials, a close friend of the governor’s and a slew of highly paid political appointees."
Friday, April 02, 2010
In Our World - "Spring Holiday"
This has been rescinded; however, it does serve notice that traditions are being attacked on all fronts.
That being said, try to imagine that you could possibly make a decision like this...
That being said, try to imagine that you could possibly make a decision like this...
Russell Goldman recently reported this at ABC News:
"Taking a recommendation by the Davenport Civil Rights Commission to change the holiday's name to something more ecumenical, City Administrator Craig Malin sent a memo to municipal employees announcing Good Friday would officially be known as 'Spring Holiday.'"
Government at Work - National Health Care in the U.K.
So, how DOES government run health care REALLY work?...
Jon Swaine and Holly Watt recently reported this in the U.K. Telegraph:
"The sick would be urged to stay at home and email doctors rather than visit surgeries, while procedures such as hip replacements could be scrapped.
The plans have emerged as health chiefs draw up emergency budgets that cast doubt on pledges by Gordon Brown to protect 'front line services' in the NHS.
Documents show that health chiefs are considering plans to begin sacking workers, cutting treatments and shutting wards across the country."
The Economy - about those housing prices
It's hard to buy into any argument that the economy is improving when the value of major assets continues to decline...
At SeekingAlpha.com, Prieur du Plessis posted this and the graph that really tells the story:
"For some perspective of the all-important U.S. real estate market, Chart of the Day provided the graph below, illustrating the U.S. median price of a single-family home over the past 40 years."
Thursday, April 01, 2010
Barack Obama - Promises NOT Kept
April Fool on us!
I believe this president, like so many politicians, will say anything, at any time, on any subject, with no intention of following through on what is said...
I believe this president, like so many politicians, will say anything, at any time, on any subject, with no intention of following through on what is said...
At NationalReview.com, Jim Geraghty posts more than enough examples to prove my point:
"By popular demand, a comprehensive list of expired Obama statements..."
The Media - and the language
This article brings to light the media's biased criticism of conservative's use of the language, and also reminds us of the inflammatory language of liberals that goes unquestioned.
It's just more evidence of the media's unequal coverage of things...
It's just more evidence of the media's unequal coverage of things...
Doug Giles includes this in his posting at Townhall.com:
"It’s called hyperbole, Slingblade … y’know, an extravagant statement or an exaggeration not intended to be taken literally. Did you morons not get that memo in junior high? Maybe you were out that day smoking the devil’s lettuce and watching the Young and the Restless."
Meanwhile - in San Jacinto, CA
Perhaps this doesn't fit the exact definition of a cult; but, it sure seems to have similar characteristics...
The Associated Press' Gillian Flaccus reports at NewsVine.com:
"At the edge of arid foothills far outside Los Angeles, hundreds of Scientology followers live on a gated, 500-acre campus and work long hours for almost no pay reproducing the works of founder L. Ron Hubbard and creating the church's teaching and promotional materials.
The church says its 5,000 so-called Sea Organization members are religious devotees akin to monks who are exempt from wage requirements and overtime. But two lawsuits filed by two former Sea Org members, as they are known, allege the workers are little more than slave laborers, forced to work 100-hour weeks for pennies and threatened with manual labor if they cause trouble."
