Saturday, April 30, 2011
"Manipulating morals: scientists target drugs that improve behaviour"
Perhaps you thought picking the gender of your child was overboard.
Now, you can think about this...
Now, you can think about this...
Amelia Hill recently reported this in the U.K. Guardian:
"A pill to enhance moral behaviour, a treatment for racist thoughts, a therapy to increase your empathy for people in other countries - these may sound like the stuff of science fiction but with medicine getting closer to altering our moral state, society should be preparing for the consequences, according to a book that reviews scientific developments in the field."
Friday, April 29, 2011
"Sun News Network rises today"
Hmmm. Competition for CNN in Canada.
Does this sound like a "Fox News" to you...
Does this sound like a "Fox News" to you...
Kevin Conner recently reported this at LFpress.com:
"There is a new Sun rising and you’ve never seen anything like it.
Sun News Network hits the television airways Monday at 4:30 p.m. from coast to coast.
Sun newspapers have risen in Toronto, Ottawa, Calgary, Edmonton and Winnipeg and today they’ll be joined by Sun News.
Sun Media is the largest newspaper chain in Canada and Sun News plans to capitalize on that."
Thursday, April 28, 2011
"7 Ways Politicians Mislead The American Public"
These are things we ALL know.
The media knows, too, but they just continue to play the game.
Number 2 has always been a pet peeve of mine...
The media knows, too, but they just continue to play the game.
Number 2 has always been a pet peeve of mine...
John Hawkins recently wrote about all 7 at Townhall.com:
"Government has become too damn big, too damn intrusive, and too damn lucrative for the good of the country. That's why so much of the political class in this country is comprised of con men, sociopaths, and fortune hunters. Quite frankly, most of these people would rather that you didn't understand their motives, what they really want to do, or the policies that they're implementing because what's actually good for the country is a much smaller consideration than what's good for them personally. Since this is the case and the mainstream media has become little more than a tool of the Democratic Party, the average person has to know the tricks of the trade if he wants to figure out what's really going on. Towards that end, here are some of the many, many ways that D.C. pols mislead the public about what they're trying to do."
"Relationshiffft APP – Automated Person Purge from Kodak"
The veracity of this is questionable to me.
After all, it WAS posted on April Fool's Day...
After all, it WAS posted on April Fool's Day...
Paulette Brandes posted this at 1000words.kodak.com:
"Our unique three-pronged technology approach helps you remove a person who is no longer in your life from your photos and videos all with one touch simplicity. Let us explain…
First, we have our facial recognition software that can identify anyone throughout all of your photos and videos. Our algorithms are highly sophisticated and will hunt down that person you dumped with astonishing accuracy."
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
"Immigration group takes issue with Montana’s proposed referendum"
More of the same.
Illegals want the same benefits as legal citizens...
Illegals want the same benefits as legal citizens...
Michael Noyes wrote about this at Watchdog.org:
"A proposed referendum to require proof of citizenship to receive some state services in Montana has drawn the attention of a national immigration organization.
On Thursday the Immigration Policy Center, a research and policy center headquartered in Washington, D.C., issued a media release that said such a move would be 'costly and unworkable.'"
"Obama out of depth in troubled times"
I guess this means he's an "empty suit"...
Jennifer Rubin writes about President Obama in the Washington Post and makes comparisons:
"Obama and his defenders whine that these are tough times, tougher than any mortal could be expected to manage. But that’s poppycock. Reagan faced a collapse of American confidence, a sky-high 'misery index' and an emboldened Soviet Union. George W. Bush faced the worst attack on American soil in 60 years. All presidents face challenges. The question is do they have the character, the depth of knowledge and the skill to manage them. In Obama’s case there is reason to doubt that he does."
"Illegal immigrants sucking the life out of our welfare system (and our wallets)"
I wouldn't be surprised if this is only the tip of the iceberg...
Bridget writes about it in a post at HillBuzz.com:
"The states where overall welfare use by immigrant households with children (legal and illegal) have the highest welfare use rates are Arizona (62 percent); Texas, California, and New York (61 percent); Pennsylvania (59 percent); Minnesota and Oregon (56 percent); and Colorado (55 percent)."
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
"Another overhyped global warming claim bites the dust"
This is kind of sad.
So many helpful intentions seem to end with unintended consequences.
We really have to be careful when we try to "fix" environmental things...
So many helpful intentions seem to end with unintended consequences.
We really have to be careful when we try to "fix" environmental things...
Anthony Watts has the story at WattsUpWithThat.com:
"Now it appears that assertion of a link between global warming and penguin deaths is dying faster than the penguins themselves. In what appears to be a manifestation of the observer effect problem in science (the act of observing changes the outcome) we have this article from the science journal Nature that says the act of tagging penguins so they can be tracked by researchers, seems to have a significant side effect on their life expectancy (mortality) and ability to reproduce."
Meanewhile - in the U.K. - Pay it back; then get it back
This couldn't happen in America, or could it?
Trust me, that was written with tongue totally in cheek (TIC).
Politicians/elected officials are the same the world over...
Trust me, that was written with tongue totally in cheek (TIC).
Politicians/elected officials are the same the world over...
In the U.K. Telegraph, Rosa Prince reported on these shenanigans by U.K. elected officials:
"Dozens of MPs who repaid money amid public outrage at their expenses claims were quietly refunded under a secret deal with the Commons authorities, it has emerged."
Monday, April 25, 2011
Paul Ryan and His Critics - WSJ.com
Granted, Medicare is a big issue for all of us.
That should make us receptive to changes that will allow it or something similar for the future.
If there's a way to do it that is financially sound, and with reduced government bureaucracy, we should pay attention...
That should make us receptive to changes that will allow it or something similar for the future.
If there's a way to do it that is financially sound, and with reduced government bureaucracy, we should pay attention...
The Wall Street Journal comments on Congressman Paul Ryan and his detractors:
"These attacks amount to false fronts for the real objection, which is over the role of government. Mr. Ryan's critics understand very well that he wants to substitute markets for bureaucratic central planning. What he would dismantle isn't Medicare, but its system of one-size-fits-all coverage and price controls. The liberal answer to runaway costs, passed as part of ObamaCare, is the Independent Payment Advisory Board that will decide how much the government will pay for what treatments and was deliberately shielded from Congressional supervision.
Medicare 'as we know it' will change because it must. The only issue is how. Mr. Ryan is offering Americans a reform rooted in consumer choice and private competition, rather than political control and bureaucratic rationing. This is why he is under such ferocious liberal assault."
"As Prosser Wins, the Dems Get the Blame for Wisconsin"
We don't need any more examples that our election systems can't be trusted in close elections.
Unfortunately, our main political parties don't seem very anxious to do what is necessary to fix that problem...
Unfortunately, our main political parties don't seem very anxious to do what is necessary to fix that problem...
Michael Thielen reports on how it is in Wisconsin at PajamasMedia.com:
"Now that Wisconsin’s recent judicial election has at long last been settled in Prosser’s favor, there is no doubt who is really to blame for the problems that resulted in erroneous reporting which gave a narrow lead for the defeated liberal candidate. In the only truly non-partisan, non-ideological study of its kind, a special task force of the Milwaukee Police Department concluded that massive fraud and incompetence existed in Wisconsin’s election system. Republicans were eager to reform the system, but most Democrats refused to even discuss it. Despite the Democrats’ failure to act, no Democrat or liberal ever refuted the substance of the study, nor did they make any effort even to address the incompetence issue.
Why would the Democrats want to allow the incompetence in the system to stand? A cynic would say it would allow fraud to continue. In the police study, the police task force found that 16 staffers for the Democrat presidential campaign and a liberal allied group committed felony vote fraud and engaged in an 'illegal organized attempt to influence the outcome of an election in the state of Wisconsin.'
Yet not one was prosecuted."
Sunday, April 24, 2011
2011-04-24 - Happy Easter
Saturday, April 23, 2011
"New engine shakes up auto industry"
History tells us that, more often than not, technological innovations have solved many of what seemed to be earth threatening problems.
I'm optimistic that it will continue...
I'm optimistic that it will continue...
At MSNBC.MSN.com, Nic Halverson recently gave this heads up on what might be coming:
"... researchers at Michigan State University have built a prototype gasoline engine that requires no transmission, crankshaft, pistons, valves, fuel compression, cooling systems or fluids. Their so-called Wave Disk Generator could greatly improve the efficiency of gas-electric hybrid automobiles and potentially decrease auto emissions up to 90 percent when compared with conventional combustion engines."
Meanwhile - in the U.K. - "Bin police"
The Brits have decided to reign in the "bin police"...
Melissa Kite and Alastair Jamieson write about it on the U.K.'s Daily Telegraph website:
"In a major victory for campaigners, ministers say they are to limit local authorities' power to impose 'immoral' charges and fines for minor mistakes to do with recycling and rubbish.
Councils will no longer be able to fine people for failing to close a bin lid; leaving bin bags next to a bin; putting a bin out on the wrong day; failing to move it back inside the boundary of a property; or making minor mistakes with recycling.
Only the most severe cases of fly-tipping will be subject to penalties.-"
Friday, April 22, 2011
"The New York Times paywall leads to plummeting readership"
This represents an interesting problem.
As newspapers become more outdated, we turn to the Internet; but, we don't want to pay.
I'm sure they'll eventually figure out how to get our money; however, I don't think it will happen anytime soon...
As newspapers become more outdated, we turn to the Internet; but, we don't want to pay.
I'm sure they'll eventually figure out how to get our money; however, I don't think it will happen anytime soon...
Lawrence Latif recently had this on theInquirer website:
"Web analytics firm Hitwise reports that The New York Times' daily readership figures fell between five per cent and 15 per cent for the 12 days following the paywall's installation. Of greater concern are Hitwise's page view figures, which show declines of up to 30 per cent, with most days showing close to a 20 per cent drop in page views on The New York Times' website."
"Study finds routine periodic fasting is good for your health, and your heart"
If you read this, see if you might think what I'm thinking.
Prior to a blood test for cholesterol, we are asked to fast. Hmmm...
Prior to a blood test for cholesterol, we are asked to fast. Hmmm...
Jess C. Gomez posted this and more on the Eurekalert.org website:
"... this new research recorded reactions in the body's biological mechanisms during the fasting period. The participants' low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C, the 'bad' cholesterol) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C, the 'good' cholesterol) both increased (by 14 percent and 6 percent, respectively) raising their total cholesterol – and catching the researchers by surprise.
'Fasting causes hunger or stress. In response, the body releases more cholesterol, allowing it to utilize fat as a source of fuel, instead of glucose. This decreases the number of fat cells in the body,' says Dr. Horne. 'This is important because the fewer fat cells a body has, the less likely it will experience insulin resistance, or diabetes.'"
Thursday, April 21, 2011
"Does Hawaii ever release long-form birth certificates?"
Oh Boy!
Talk shows (like Bill O'Reilly) say you CANNOT get a copy.
And then, there's this. Apparent documentation, including a receipt, for exactly what you "CAN'T" get.
This issue is the epitome of a conspiracy theorist dreams...
Talk shows (like Bill O'Reilly) say you CANNOT get a copy.
And then, there's this. Apparent documentation, including a receipt, for exactly what you "CAN'T" get.
This issue is the epitome of a conspiracy theorist dreams...
Bob Unruh has this at WorldNetDaily.com:
"A former official with the Hawaii Department of Health says the short-form "Certification of Live Birth" displayed by the Obama campaign in 2008 to demonstrate the candidate's constitutional eligibility as a 'natural born citizen' to occupy the Oval Office is the only document the state releases.
But the experience of others who have received copies of original long-form birth certificates by request contradicts Chiyome Fukino, former head of the state agency in charge of birth records, including those that may reveal details of Barack Obama's 1961 birth.
It was in an interview with MSNBC that Fukino asserted that the state issues only short-form Certifications of Live Birth."
"Hawaii Democratic Party Did Not Certify Obama’s Eligibility"
To some, this may be new news; however, I remember reading about it way back when.
Nothing is normal when it comes to Obama's background...
Nothing is normal when it comes to Obama's background...
The Fellowship of the Mind blog is calling attention to this:
"What the Democratic Party of Hawaii’s 2008 Certification of Nomination left out are these words:
“of the United States Constitution and are the duly chosen candidates of both the state and”
In other words, by omitting the above words, the Democratic Party of Hawaii (DPH) was signalling the following:"
"Hawaii elections clerk: Obama 'caught fibbing'"
The media majority continues their reluctance to give credibility to this "birther" topic.
They may be right; BUT, they may be wrong.
The World Net Daily website has no such reluctance and continues to publish everything and anything that they consider worthy of questioning...
They may be right; BUT, they may be wrong.
The World Net Daily website has no such reluctance and continues to publish everything and anything that they consider worthy of questioning...
Joe Kovacs has their latest:
"The former Hawaii elections official who maintains there's no long-form birth certificate for Barack Obama in the Aloha State is now saying the president and his aides have been 'caught fibbing' about Obama's background, and the 'embarrassing' situation is making it difficult to fess up to the truth.
Tim Adams, who was senior elections clerk for the city and county of Honolulu during the 2008 campaign, made the statements in a two-hour interview with a group looking to disprove claims made by so-called birthers, those challenging Obama's legal qualification to be president."
Global Warming? - "Glaciers growing on Mt. Shasta"
Interesting, heh?...
Robert Felix reports on it at IceAgeNow.com:
"Although the media has done a great job of covering this up, the inconvenient fact is that all seven glaciers on California’s Mount Shasta are growing. This includes Whitney Glacier, the state's largest.
Yes, growing. Not melting"
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
"I'm not American" "My Birth Place is Kenya"
True, false, fact, fiction?
Make sure your sound is on, and then try to deal with this...
Make sure your sound is on, and then try to deal with this...
"Catch 22"
I guess we should not be surprised by this.
Projects to help save the environment are being blocked by environmentalists...
Projects to help save the environment are being blocked by environmentalists...
John Rossomando recently reported on it at DailyCaller.com. Here's part of his writing:
"'Often, many of the same groups urging us to think globally about renewable energy are acting locally to stop the very same renewable energy projects that could create jobs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions,' Bill Kovacs, senior vice president for environment, technology and regulatory affairs with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, wrote in the introduction of the group’s recent 'Project, No Project' report. 'NIMBY activism has blocked more renewable projects than coal-fired power plants by organizing local opposition, changing zoning laws, opposing permits, filing lawsuits, and using other long delay mechanisms, effectively bleeding projects dry of their financing.'
Recent examples include environmentalist lawsuits seeking to block construction of a solar power plant in California’s Mojave Desert due to threats to the endangered desert tortoise and environmentalists suing to block the construction of a 75-wind turbine project in Nevada due to threats to local wildlife."
"Scotland's wind farms 'often able only to boil 6,667 kettles'"
One by one, it seems that countries are reporting similar results.
It sure is beginning to look like wind farms are NOT the solution that was sold to us...
It sure is beginning to look like wind farms are NOT the solution that was sold to us...
John Ross reported this at Scotsman.com:
"Wind farms are much less efficient than the industry claims, according to new research.
A report produced for the conservation charity the John Muir Trust (JMT) says turbines are producing below 10 per cent of capacity for more than a third of the time.
It claims that for extended periods, all the wind turbines in Scotland linked to the National Grid produce less than 20MW of energy - just enough power for 6,667 households to boil their kettles."
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
"What Wisconsin's Judicial Election Means"
This writer sees Wisconsin as a sign that conservatives are waking up to the understanding of where the liberal agenda is trying to take the country...
At AmericanThinker.com, Bruce Walker discusses and summarizes:
"We grasp what is happening. We have stopped listening to the chatterbox phonies of the leftist establishment media. We see the inner workings of the left and its minions. We know now that a senator who votes for cloture on a bad bill but votes against the bill on the Senate floor (where it passes easily) is trying to trick us -- but we will no longer be tricked. We comprehend that the dreaded 'government shutdown' means nothing when Congress and the White House before the election never even passed a budget. We see from our children's textbooks and the unruly behavior of their teachers that the regime of public school reeducation must be defeated and reformed.
The left has been winning because we have not fought the battles which we must fight. Now, we are fighting back. That ultimately is the key. We were unwilling soldiers at first, preferring to live in a civil society in which we could live in friendly peace. The Wisconsin judicial election, which forces the highest notions of impartiality -- judges -- into the war of ideology, and our response to players like Kloppenburg show that we are now fighting the war that we must fight, and the fight which we shall win."
"CBS News Sandbags Tea Party in Madison - Their Video Gives It Away"
So, you believe what the main stream media shows and say, do you?
Well then, I have a bridge to sell you.
The media is mostly liberal, and they work hard to promote their cause, even crossing the honesty line, if it will enhance their agenda...
Well then, I have a bridge to sell you.
The media is mostly liberal, and they work hard to promote their cause, even crossing the honesty line, if it will enhance their agenda...
comps4spice posted this as proof at FreeRepublic.com:
"I caught the CBS News evening report tonight for the first time in about 2 decades. They led off with a report of Sarah Palin's speech in Wisconsin, and they of course provided liberal spin.
They claim there were far more liberals (i.e. union thugs) than Tea Partiers (claiming the thugs surrounded the smaller Tea Party crowd).
But something caught my eye during the report, specifically when they did a pan of the "liberal crowd"...but they pulled a Dan Rather by using video footage from some liberal rally prior to the April 5th Wisconsin Supreme Court election.
How do I know this? Well, if you go have a look at the video in the link above, pay close attention at the 18 second mark. There is a campaign sign being held by a liberal saying to "Vote Klappenburg on April 5th"."
Monday, April 18, 2011
FactCheck - "He Lied and Lied a Lot"
I think we all know by now that politicians stretch the truth.
Lately, however, it seems to have reached new levels.
I'm sure they knowingly take the risk that what they say that sounds so "good" will not get "checked", and even if it does, like a newspaper correction, few will ever become aware of it...
Lately, however, it seems to have reached new levels.
I'm sure they knowingly take the risk that what they say that sounds so "good" will not get "checked", and even if it does, like a newspaper correction, few will ever become aware of it...
Anyway, on the PunditPress blog, Aurelius points out that things DO get checked, and the result is not pretty:
"Not that anyone would need a third-party to check on the President's clearly laughable speech this past Wednesday, but it's nice to see that someone other than conservatives is monitoring President Obama. Enter FactCheck.org, which analyzed the President's speech. Their conclusion:
"President Barack Obama misrepresented the House Republicans’ budget plan... and exaggerated its impact on U.S. residents during an April 13 speech on deficit reduction."
That's their opening sentence. Probably not what the President wanted to hear, especially when he is trying to fool his audience. But wait, there's more."
"Illegal aliens set to tilt Yakima, Wash. election scales by being included in district headcounts"
I can't conceive that illegals could or should be able to influence anything in America.
Apparently, there are other opinions...
Apparently, there are other opinions...
Caroline May offers this story at DailyCaller.com:
"Since last year, the United States Department of Justice has been arguing that illegals in districts throughout the city of Irving, Texas can be counted to determine district lines. Under the one-man-one-vote principle, the pursuit has resulted in the dilution of actual citizen’s votes – for by drawing districts using total population rather than the population of citizens, the districts have been drawn unevenly.
In other words, if each district hypothetically were required to have 10,000 people (both illegal aliens and citizens) then a district with only 8,000 citizens would have the same number of council members as a district with 10,000 citizens."
"In St. Louis, a protest sign meets government arrogance"
Eminent Domain is a double-edged sword.
It CAN be used for good, and it can be abused...
It CAN be used for good, and it can be abused...
George F. Will recently wrote about this one in the Washington Post. He begins:
"A dialectic of judicial deference and political arrogance is on display in St. Louis. When excessively deferential courts permit governmental arrogance, additional arrogance results as government explores the limits of judicial deference. As Jim Roos knows.
He formed a nonprofit housing and community development corporation that provides residences for people with low incomes. Several times its properties have been seized by the city government, using 'blight' as an excuse for transferring property to developers who can pay more taxes to the seizing government."
Sunday, April 17, 2011
2011-04-17 - Words of Wisdom
Saturday, April 16, 2011
"World's largest volcano in Yellowstone National Park to wipe out two-thirds of US?"
If you are short on things to worry about, here's one to add to your list...
This came from Daniel Bates at the U.K. Daily Mail:
"The super-volcano beneath Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming has been rising at a record rate since 2004
It would explode with a force a thousand times more powerful than the Mount St Helens eruption in 1980.
Spewing lava far into the sky, a cloud of plant-killing ash would fan out and dump a layer 10ft deep up to 1,000 miles away.
Two-thirds of the U.S. could become uninhabitable as toxic air sweeps through it, grounding thousands of flights and forcing millions to leave their homes."
Friday, April 15, 2011
"New RAF helmet allows pilots to shoot down enemy jets by looking at them
Clearly, many sci-fi ideas are getting closer to reality.
Here's one of them...
Here's one of them...
U.K. Daily Mail recently reported on this:
"It looks no more high-tech than any other fighter pilot helmet.
But this £250,000 headset allows RAF pilots to shoot down planes simply by looking at them.
The ‘Striker’ Integrated Display Helmet marks one of the biggest leaps forward in attack capabilities in military history."
Thursday, April 14, 2011
"Painful Lessons for Wind Power"
Didn't anyone know this beforehand?
The proponents of alternative energy don't want to face stories like this.
Of course, the majority of the media won't publish them anyway...
The proponents of alternative energy don't want to face stories like this.
Of course, the majority of the media won't publish them anyway...
Brian Sussman reports at HumanEvents.com:
"Tired of the constant chopping sound, pained residents decided to lawyer up. This month a deal was struck with the town to disengage the turbine when winds exceed 23 miles an hour. This is problematic because giant windmills such as Wind One operate at optimum efficiency at about 30 miles an hour."
"Can One Wrong Death Bring Down Corrupt Las Vegas?"
Here's a sad story.
I think it reflects on a society that has become so hyper that common sense and intelligent thinking are becoming non-existent...
I think it reflects on a society that has become so hyper that common sense and intelligent thinking are becoming non-existent...
Mike McDaniel has the complete story about this at PajamasMedia.com:
"On July 10, 2010, Erik Scott and his girlfriend, Samantha Sterner, were shopping at the Summerlin Costco in Las Vegas. Store employees noticed Scott’s concealed handgun when his shirt rode upward as he stooped to inspect merchandise. Alarmed by this, and by what they thought was some unusual behavior, they told him that concealed weapons weren’t allowed in the store, despite the fact that no signs were posted to notify the public. Scott told them that he was licensed and several employees spoke with him. None actually asked him to leave.
Shai Lierley, store security officer, called 911, and the chain of events leading to Scott’s death began. Lierley and the dispatcher to whom he spoke made serial mistakes, escalating the situation in the minds of responding officers far beyond any reasonable response. What should have been handled by a single officer merely approaching and speaking with Scott turned into a massive police response that included a helicopter. Despite having more than sufficient time to employ reasonable, smart tactics — tactics that would be employed by any professional, competent law enforcement agency — the Metropolitan Police behaved as rank neophytes incapable of using common sense or proper tactics."
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
"Water, Water Everywhere...Except for California's Farms"
I saw this a while back and nothing has changed.
In fact, I think I just read about a court case that makes it worse.
I wonder if the fruits and vegetables can sue?...
In fact, I think I just read about a court case that makes it worse.
I wonder if the fruits and vegetables can sue?...
This is from Congressman Tom McClintock's website:
"California’s precipitation this season has gone off the charts. Statewide snow water content is 198 percent of normal; in the all-important Northern Sierra snowpack is 174 percent of normal. This is not only a wet year – it is one of the wettest years on record.
Yet yesterday, we have this announcement from the Department of the Interior: that despite a nearly unprecedented abundance of water, the Bureau of Reclamation will only guarantee delivery of 45 percent of the California Central Valley’s contracted water supply south of the Delta. This is the same percentage they received last year with barely average rainfall.
This is of crucial importance to the entire nation, since the Central Valley of California is one of the largest producers of our nation’s food supply. California produces half of the U.S.-grown fruits, nuts and vegetables on the nation’s grocery shelves and the prices you pay are directly affected by the California harvest. "
"America’s Marxist Media"
"Cockroach Media"
Sounds heavy duty, but wait until you read...
Sounds heavy duty, but wait until you read...
David B. Jenkins points out whay's apparently been going on for quite some time:
"Why do some conservatives wait and hope for the media to change their tone, to begin to treat the conservative viewpoint with at least some small amount of respect or fairness? We will wait and hope in vain. They cannot even acknowledge that conservatives have a viewpoint that is worthy of consideration because they are Marxists, and to a Marxist truth is whatever advances the cause of Marxism. Whatever does not advance the cause of Marxism is an untruth, not to be refuted but suppressed and stamped out.
This is not new news: in fact, we’ve known this about Marxism for many decades. But normal, reasonable people have difficulty receiving the truth about Marxism, even with multiplied evidence, because Marxist reasoning is so foreign to us that we cannot imagine someone thinking that way.
And what is all this talk about civility? Civility, as they define it, only means that conservatives have to be civil to leftists. Leftists are free to say whatever they want about conservatives, because after all, they are right and we are wrong."
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
"Judge Richard Goldstone’s Stunning Re-evaluation of His Own Report"
The United Nations is not high on my list of competent organizations.
Many of their member nations are openly anti-Israel...
Many of their member nations are openly anti-Israel...
Ron Radosh writes about the Goldstone Report at PajamasMedia.com. It's quite condemning:
"Now, Goldstone asserts, 'We know a lot more today about what happened in the Gaza war of 2008-09 than we did when I chaired the fact-finding commission.' Poppycock! As Goldstone’s numerous critics pointed out as soon as the report was issued, its many vulnerabilities were known at that very moment. One could look no further than the lengthy and devastating critique by Moshe Halbertal that appeared in The New Republic, or the many commentaries on it by Alan Dershowitz. As Dershowitz wrote at the time: 'It is far more accusatory of Israel, far less balanced in its criticism of Hamas, far less honest in its evaluation of the evidence, far less responsible in drawing its conclusion, far more biased against Israeli than Palestinian witnesses, and far more willing to draw adverse inferences of intentionality from Israeli conduct and statements than from comparable Palestinian conduct and statements.'
Mr. Goldstone may prefer that we forget all this, but savvy readers will have no problem finding many sources that pointed to the report’s many flaws in 2009. Nevertheless, it is refreshing to find today that Goldstone now says: 'That the crimes allegedly committed by Hamas were intentional goes without saying – its rockets were purposefully and indiscriminately aimed at civilian targets.' As for serious crimes against civilians that resulted from Israeli defensive action, Goldstone now writes that 'civilians were not intentionally targeted as a matter of policy' by Israel."
With Air Force's Gorgon Drone 'we can see everything'
I always like to caution that military capabilities are likely to be UNDER reported...
Ellen Nakashima and Craig Whitlock reported this a while ago on the Washington Post website:
"... the Air Force is set to deploy to Afghanistan what it says is a revolutionary airborne surveillance system called Gorgon Stare, which will be able to transmit live video images of physical movement across an entire town."
Monday, April 11, 2011
Hybrid Air Vehicles Ltd - For Persistent Surveillance and Heavy Lift Logistics
I have to think these things have substantial potential. Maybe even as airborne cruise ships.
Of course, UFO reports will probably skyrocket...
Of course, UFO reports will probably skyrocket...
Hybrid Air Vehicles is the company that makes them:
"The Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV) team have re-examined the basic principles behind lighter-than-air science and applied modern technology and materials to this 100 year old concept..."
Pennsylvania: Bridges worst in nation - mcall.com
I understand that truckers rate Pennsylvania's roads the worst, too.
There is no political pizazz in fixing bridges and roads. In fact, it gives each party a chance to blame the other.
Obviously, money that could have been used for repairs went elsewhere, most likely into a crony or relative's pocket or to garner favor and votes from some special interest.
This is the cumulative fault of elected officials of both parties....
There is no political pizazz in fixing bridges and roads. In fact, it gives each party a chance to blame the other.
Obviously, money that could have been used for repairs went elsewhere, most likely into a crony or relative's pocket or to garner favor and votes from some special interest.
This is the cumulative fault of elected officials of both parties....
Jon Schmitz's recent article was published in the Allentown PA Morning Call:
"'The Fix We're In For: The State of Our Nation's Bridges' was released by Transportation for America, a Washington, D.C.-based coalition of 500 groups seeking reform of national transportation policy.
According to the report, 5,906 of Pennsylvania's 22,271 bridges (26.5 percent) are structurally deficient, meaning at least one of three components — the superstructure, substructure or deck — was rated "poor" by inspectors. The next-closest state was Oklahoma at 22 percent"
Sunday, April 10, 2011
2011-04-10 - Words of Wisdom
Saturday, April 09, 2011
"Navy intercepts ship with Iranian arms bound for Hamas"
Events like this go unreported in the American media.
Now, if the Israelis had blown the ship up, it would be a different story...
Now, if the Israelis had blown the ship up, it would be a different story...
This was posted by Yaakov Katz on the Jerusalem Post website:
"The Israel Navy seized a cargo vessel early Tuesday morning in the Mediterranean Sea that was carrying advanced weaponry, including anti-ship missiles that could alter the balance of power in the region.
Israel believes the weaponry originated in Iran and was destined for Hamas and other terrorist groups in the Gaza Strip."
Friday, April 08, 2011
"Crooks Can Guess Digits in Your Social Security Number"
Almost as easy as pie...
Tom Barlow explains at WalletPop.com:
"Since its inception, there has been a pattern to the issuance of numbers. The first three indicate the state in which you lived when you received your number. The two in the middle, called group numbers, are assigned in a known sequence. The final four are also assigned sequentially, 0001 to 9999."
Thursday, April 07, 2011
"Military Satellites Achieve 'Holy Grail' of Missile Defense"
Unless I'm mistaken, this is a precursor to Ronald Reagan's Strategic Defense Initiative known as "Star Wars"...
It was recently reported at Space.com:
"So-called birth-to-death tracking of a ballistic missile launch had never been done before from space and is the most significant achievement to date for the Space Tracking and Surveillance System (STSS) spacecraft, said Doug Young, Northrop Grumman’s vice president of missile defense and warning programs.
'It’s the Holy Grail for missile defense,' Young said during a media briefing here."
Government at Work - On welfare reform
Here we go again.
Want to bet on the results?
Want to buy a bridge?...
Want to bet on the results?
Want to buy a bridge?...
John Rossomando brings us up to date at DailyCaller.com:
"When former President Bill Clinton signed the landmark 1996 welfare reform law, it was supposed to 'end welfare as we know it.' Despite that pledge, spending on the 77 welfare programs administered by the federal government and the states has skyrocketed over the past 15 years."
Wednesday, April 06, 2011
Meanwhile - along the Mexican Border
I think it's obvious that our elected officials really don't want to fix this.
As to the reason why, you can be sure it's some combination of politics and political correctness.
The scary part is that if a plague were to break out in in Mexico, we couldn't stop those infected from entering our country...
As to the reason why, you can be sure it's some combination of politics and political correctness.
The scary part is that if a plague were to break out in in Mexico, we couldn't stop those infected from entering our country...
Terence P. Jeffrey has the statistics at CNSnews.com:
"Richard M. Stana, director of homeland security and justice issues at the Government Accountability Office (which is responsible for “auditing agency operations to determine whether federal funds are being spent efficiently and effectively”), told the Senate Homeland Security Committee yesterday that the federal government can actually prevent or stop illegal entries into the United States along only 129 miles of the 1,954-mile-long U.S.-Mexico border.
That leaves 1,825 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border where the Border Patrol cannot prevent or stop an illegal entry."
"Bradley Manning P.R. Flak Admits Deliberate Lie; Refuses to Correct Deceptive Press Release"
Perhaps you heard about this issue in the news.
Seems like it wasn't exactly true.
Reading this may change the way you think about public relations and/or press releases...
Seems like it wasn't exactly true.
Reading this may change the way you think about public relations and/or press releases...
Susan Katz Keating has this story to tell on her blog:
"Do publicists ever lie on purpose? Do they ever admit to lying, but then refuse to correct their misinformation?You be the judge.
To help you make your decision, I will present evidence in the form of a dialogue between myself and an actual publicist."
Tuesday, April 05, 2011
"Two Charged in Tea Party Election Fraud"
Election fraud is a big deal.
The method used here is sneakier than most...
The method used here is sneakier than most...
Charlie Langton recently posted this story at MyFoxDetroit.com:
"Former Oakland County Democratic Chair Mike McGuinness and former Democratic Operations Director Jason Bauer face up to 14 years in prison if convicted."
"2 men claim to be victims of DUI scam"
There's a new scam, con, or trick born every minute.
Is this justice served or just plain ugly? You decide.
Of course, some are more prone to temptation than others...
Is this justice served or just plain ugly? You decide.
Of course, some are more prone to temptation than others...
Michael Macor reported this recently at SFgate.com:
"David Dutcher says his drunken-driving arrest in 2008 was a setup. His case is similar to the ones a deputy allegedly made as part of a scheme to discredit husbands."
Monday, April 04, 2011
"How Google shifts profits to Bermuda to shrink taxes by billion"
Some pay, some don't...
Tirsina Radu tells about it at TGdaily.com:
"The parallels, differences and ethical considerations of tax avoidance versus tax evasion have been the subject of debate for decades. ..."
"Kessler Syndrome"
Not to worry. A person can't get it...
Daniel Bates explains on the U.K.'s Daily Mail website:
"Nasa fears ‘Kessler Syndrome’, where there is too much space junk for it to be safe to fly out, leaving us trapped on Earth
Nasa is considering using lasers to deflect space junk around Earth and stop it colliding with satellites.
Lasers similar to those used for welding in car factories would be fired through telescopes to ‘nudge’ piles of rubbish left in orbit.
The gentle movement would stop them from taking out communications satellites or hitting the International Space Station."
Sunday, April 03, 2011
"Let the kids play"
We just can't protect everyone from everything...
Connie Woodcock recently wrote this and more in the Toronto Sun:
"If you’re a kid, you can’t walk to school by yourself. It’s too dangerous. You can’t ride your bike to the store. You might be kidnapped. You can’t even ride in the front seat of the car. Way, way too dangerous.
You can’t have playground equipment in your schoolyard. Someone might get hurt. You can’t touch anyone. Touching, as we all know, leads to poking and poking leads to punching and punching leads to … well, we can’t have that. You can’t even play soccer during recess. Again, someone might get hurt.
There are no sandboxes anymore in parks and playgrounds. Cats pee in them. And don’t even think of picking up a snowball. I think that might call for something approaching the death penalty. Best to go home, turn on mom’s Wii Fit program and play the virtual snowball fight game. No actual exercise involved, of course, but much, much safer.
And now, the snow police."
2011-04-02 - Words of Wisdom
Saturday, April 02, 2011
About that "Great Garbage Patch"
I guess the previous reporting was a little off...
This recent Investors.com article included this:
"After years of alarming claims about a "Great Garbage Patch" of plastic bottles and bags floating around the Pacific in a space twice the size of Texas, an Oregon State University professor of oceanography, Angelicque White, found the actual size of the supposed horror was "grossly exaggerated." Instead of taking up two Texases, the floating landfill's size was about 1% of that state's bulk.
Claims that the ocean was filled with more plastic than plankton, and that the garbage patch was growing tenfold each decade since the 1950s, were also found to be rubbish."
Peek-a-Boo
Did you hear something buzzing outside your window?
Probably not yet, but...
Probably not yet, but...
This came from CBS Miami's website. Here's the teaser:
"Police admit the MAV, if flown low enough, has the ability to look into people’s home, but that is not its intended purpose."
Friday, April 01, 2011
"Food shoppers face five-a-day nagging at tills"
The U.K. is even more "nanny" state inclined than we are.
Unfortunately, America seems to be doing our best to catch up...
Unfortunately, America seems to be doing our best to catch up...
Daniel Martin had this in the U.K. Daily Mail:
"Shoppers will be bombarded with messages at supermarket check-outs about eating fruit and vegetables, under plans being considered by Ministers.
Trolleys could even come with a painted line marking where customers should put their healthy produce as part of the proposals which critics will see as an expansion of the nanny state.
Unhealthy options – such as crisps and pies – may be placed on higher shelves than low-calorie and high-fibre foods to dissuade shoppers from buying them."
"Oprah's Long History Of Sketchy 'Experts' And Endorsements"
With power comes responsibility.
In cases like this. it's the support staff that really does the vetting.
Even though they're driven by a need to satisfy, the boss bears the ultimate responsibility...
In cases like this. it's the support staff that really does the vetting.
Even though they're driven by a need to satisfy, the boss bears the ultimate responsibility...
Tracie Egan Morrissey recently made this point at Jezebel.com:
"With the news that Dr. Melvin Levine—who appeared on Oprah repeatedly over the course of several years as a childhood education expert—committed suicide on Friday, the same day that 40 of his former patients filed a medical malpractice and sexual abuse suit against him, it raises the question of whether O is doing enough vetting of the authors and experts to whom she chooses to lend her credibility.
The number of recent scandals that have emerged — and we're talking about scandals that go beyond Dr. Phil not being a 'real doctor,' or Rachael Ray not having any formal culinary training, or her own falling-out with Iyanla Vanzant, or even the whole James Frey debacle — is troubling. Seeing as how Oprah's most successful 'product' these days is cultivating and grooming personalities into credible and trusted sources, a great deal of responsibility comes with that task."
