Mark Steyn has a great column today on what he calls "Thomas Jeffefakery," meaning the oft mistaken attribution of "dissent is the highest form of patriotism" by high ranking members of the Democratic Party and leftoid columnists. He also points out that, in the case of Democrats, they really don't have much to add except dissent for the sake of dissent:
It's not what you're for, it's what you're against. Their current denunciations of Big Oil have a crudely effective opportunism but say to them "OK, what's your energy policy?" and see what answers you get: More domestic oil? Ooh, no, we can't disturb the pristine ANWR breeding ground of the world's largest mosquito herd. More nuclear power, like the French? Ooh, no, might be another Three Mile Island. Er, OK, you're the mass transit guys; how about we go back to wood-fired steam trains? Ooh, no, we're opposed to logging, in case it causes global warming, or cooling, or both.
Dissent for its own sake is like the Democrats' energy policy: We're opposed to any kind of energy; we prefer to be mired in enervated passivity.
Dissent is the closest thing to a platform that the Democrats have right now. Do not expect them to give it up lightly. That would force them to actually fashion solutions to the problems the world faces today.
Sunday, April 30, 2006
Saturday, April 29, 2006
Pay No Attention to This One
Powerline catches an error in a Reuters story:
The marchers demanded an immediate withdrawal of troops, the same day news organizations noted April as being the most deadly month for US troops in Iraq, with at least 69 killed.
Hinderaker notes that it should read "most deadly" since November of 2005.
Just a small thing. Not something to be concerned about really. Just a couple of years worth of history is all.
The marchers demanded an immediate withdrawal of troops, the same day news organizations noted April as being the most deadly month for US troops in Iraq, with at least 69 killed.
Hinderaker notes that it should read "most deadly" since November of 2005.
Just a small thing. Not something to be concerned about really. Just a couple of years worth of history is all.
Thursday, April 27, 2006
White House Watches the Wrong Channel
**UPDATED AT BOTTOM**
The White House Press Corps, for the first time, leaves me speechless:
Q It's come to my attention that there's been requests -- this is a serious question -- to turn these TVs onto a station other than Fox, and that those have been denied. My question would be, is there a White House policy that all government TVs have to be tuned to Fox?
MR. McCLELLAN: Never heard of any such thing. My TVs are on four
different channels at all times.
Q Because you have four different TVs. But every time I've ever been --
MR. McCLELLAN: Every TV in the White House also has channels every --
has a split screen, where they can --
Q Well, they always seem to be tuned to Fox, and there's been requests,
and these are paid for by taxpayer dollars. And my understanding is that
you guys have to watch Fox on Air Force One. Is that true?
MR. McCLELLAN: First time I've ever heard of it. First time you've
brought it to my attention, meaning the first time the press corps has
brought it to my attention. In fact, I've watched other channels on here.
Q There's one --
MR. McCLELLAN: Hang on, Jim, come on. I've watched other channels on
here, so I don't know where you're hearing that. But it's the first time
anyone in the press has raised that question with me.
Q You've watched other channels other than Fox?
MR. McCLELLAN: On here, yes, sure.
Q I've never seen -- they're always turned to Fox, which a lot of people
consider a Republican-leaning network.
Q Scott, is it one -- on the airplane, is it one for all? I mean, if
it's tuned for Fox here, is it Fox everywhere?
MR. McCLELLAN: I think that certain areas may be interconnected, but
I'll have to double-check which.
Q Is yours off, wherever you are?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, the conference room, or the senior staff office,
the staff office, they're different TVs, and you can switch to different
channels. I'm not sure if some of these in the back are connected to
some of the others that are watching right here, right now. It doesn't
look like it to me. I've never known anyone that's raised a complaint
about a request from back here to watch a different channel.
Q I'm officially raising it and officially complaining about it.
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I'm going to go see if we can change the channel
for you. Have you called up?
Q I was the Fox victim, and I was told -- the quote was, "No," when I
asked for CNN.
MR. McCLELLAN: I don't know who you talked to, so -- it didn't come to
my attention. You don't know who you talked to either?
Q Well, the magic people at the other end off the phone.
MR. McCLELLAN: The magic people at the other end of the phone. Well,
I'll see if this cabin is --
Q I was told, "We don't watch CNN here, you can only watch Fox."
MR. McCLELLAN: As I said, it's hard to respond to something when I don't
know who it is you talked to.
Q I used the phone back here.
MR. McCLELLAN: I find this all quite amusing, to tell you the truth. I
mean, there are a lot of people on this plane that do watch that channel.
Q I've never been told, no. They're such nice guys up there.
MR. McCLELLAN: First time you brought it to my attention. I'll go see
what we can do on it.
* * * * *
MR. McCLELLAN: We just called up. They're going to be changing it, at
your all's request, to the channel that you requested, which is CNN --
from the press corps.
Q Thanks, Scott.
Seriously, I simply don't know what to say.
UPDATE: Captain Ed does not suffer from my case of appalled silence. He offers this about Jim VandeHei, the reporter responsible for the hissyfit.
Bush appeared at a Habitat for Humanity construction project, visited a tent city to bolster the spirits of people clearing debris and also building houses, and put out a call for more volunteers to help restore the city. VandeHei, on the other hand, whined about the television programming in the cushy environs of Air Force One.
I wonder if Vandehei acts like this at home when his wife is watching Lifetime. Then again, I get the impression Vandehei probably likes Lifetime.
The White House Press Corps, for the first time, leaves me speechless:
Q It's come to my attention that there's been requests -- this is a serious question -- to turn these TVs onto a station other than Fox, and that those have been denied. My question would be, is there a White House policy that all government TVs have to be tuned to Fox?
MR. McCLELLAN: Never heard of any such thing. My TVs are on four
different channels at all times.
Q Because you have four different TVs. But every time I've ever been --
MR. McCLELLAN: Every TV in the White House also has channels every --
has a split screen, where they can --
Q Well, they always seem to be tuned to Fox, and there's been requests,
and these are paid for by taxpayer dollars. And my understanding is that
you guys have to watch Fox on Air Force One. Is that true?
MR. McCLELLAN: First time I've ever heard of it. First time you've
brought it to my attention, meaning the first time the press corps has
brought it to my attention. In fact, I've watched other channels on here.
Q There's one --
MR. McCLELLAN: Hang on, Jim, come on. I've watched other channels on
here, so I don't know where you're hearing that. But it's the first time
anyone in the press has raised that question with me.
Q You've watched other channels other than Fox?
MR. McCLELLAN: On here, yes, sure.
Q I've never seen -- they're always turned to Fox, which a lot of people
consider a Republican-leaning network.
Q Scott, is it one -- on the airplane, is it one for all? I mean, if
it's tuned for Fox here, is it Fox everywhere?
MR. McCLELLAN: I think that certain areas may be interconnected, but
I'll have to double-check which.
Q Is yours off, wherever you are?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, the conference room, or the senior staff office,
the staff office, they're different TVs, and you can switch to different
channels. I'm not sure if some of these in the back are connected to
some of the others that are watching right here, right now. It doesn't
look like it to me. I've never known anyone that's raised a complaint
about a request from back here to watch a different channel.
Q I'm officially raising it and officially complaining about it.
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I'm going to go see if we can change the channel
for you. Have you called up?
Q I was the Fox victim, and I was told -- the quote was, "No," when I
asked for CNN.
MR. McCLELLAN: I don't know who you talked to, so -- it didn't come to
my attention. You don't know who you talked to either?
Q Well, the magic people at the other end off the phone.
MR. McCLELLAN: The magic people at the other end of the phone. Well,
I'll see if this cabin is --
Q I was told, "We don't watch CNN here, you can only watch Fox."
MR. McCLELLAN: As I said, it's hard to respond to something when I don't
know who it is you talked to.
Q I used the phone back here.
MR. McCLELLAN: I find this all quite amusing, to tell you the truth. I
mean, there are a lot of people on this plane that do watch that channel.
Q I've never been told, no. They're such nice guys up there.
MR. McCLELLAN: First time you brought it to my attention. I'll go see
what we can do on it.
* * * * *
MR. McCLELLAN: We just called up. They're going to be changing it, at
your all's request, to the channel that you requested, which is CNN --
from the press corps.
Q Thanks, Scott.
Seriously, I simply don't know what to say.
UPDATE: Captain Ed does not suffer from my case of appalled silence. He offers this about Jim VandeHei, the reporter responsible for the hissyfit.
Bush appeared at a Habitat for Humanity construction project, visited a tent city to bolster the spirits of people clearing debris and also building houses, and put out a call for more volunteers to help restore the city. VandeHei, on the other hand, whined about the television programming in the cushy environs of Air Force One.
I wonder if Vandehei acts like this at home when his wife is watching Lifetime. Then again, I get the impression Vandehei probably likes Lifetime.
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
If Everyone Who Reads This Gave Just One SUV...
Via Tim Blair, Florida Cracker catches the latest "Beware the wrath of Gaia" speech:
As climates collapse, water scarcity widens, more species vanish, and sea levels rise to where whole regions fret about drowning - Bangladesh, the Nile delta, the Maldives, Miami, the Jersey Shore - a global chorus demanding change will one day soon rise in a green tsunami of outrage.
Is Mike Weilbacher, executive director a local land trust (and therefore an unimpeachable scientific source) saying we should build...an arc?
We should probably load two of every species aboard too? That would halt the "unconscionable wave of extinction" happening right now! Better yet, if we appease Gaia with offerings of sacrificial SUV's we might yet quiet The Angry One.
Gaia is apparently a fan of SUV smoke.
As climates collapse, water scarcity widens, more species vanish, and sea levels rise to where whole regions fret about drowning - Bangladesh, the Nile delta, the Maldives, Miami, the Jersey Shore - a global chorus demanding change will one day soon rise in a green tsunami of outrage.
Is Mike Weilbacher, executive director a local land trust (and therefore an unimpeachable scientific source) saying we should build...an arc?
We should probably load two of every species aboard too? That would halt the "unconscionable wave of extinction" happening right now! Better yet, if we appease Gaia with offerings of sacrificial SUV's we might yet quiet The Angry One.
Gaia is apparently a fan of SUV smoke.
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
"Kiss My Fat Shrapneled Jordanian Ass"
At long last Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi has found the time to once again guest blog at Iowahawk. It has been almost six months since he asked us to stop comparing him to the American left, questioning their dedication when push comes to shove:
...soon as you need some volunteers to take out a grade school full of collaborators, they’re like, “sorry dude, I’ve got to run off some International ANSWER fliers at Kinkos.”
In his latest, The Zarkman reports he is still getting irritating fan mail from Koskids and academia, like this one:
Hey Zarkman!
OMG u r teh ROXOR! Its like u r total Che Guervera and Fidel and Malcom X plus System of a Down!! Good luck against the Zionist neocon occupiers!!!! Ya,, SCREW those mercenaries!!! Everybody here at UCLA Ed school thinks u r total l33t HARDCORE!!!
Fight teh POWER bro!!!
Dr. Peter McLaren
Professor, Graduate School of Education
University of California at Los Angeles
There are many more emails from subordinates and al Qaeda upper management that have conspired to create a hostile work environment. Al-Zarqawi, as he has done in the past, wonders how Allah could have allowed America all the luck:
...how come all those badass hard muthafuckin’ Wu Tang infidels end up on Team Satan, and Zarkman gets stuck with the dipshits too stoned to tune their stupid guitars?
Be sure to look for Executive VP for Strategic Foresight Ayman Zawahiri's endearing and uplifting e-mail sign-off when you read the latest guest blog from the senior VP, Iraq division. As usual he is witty and poignant without coming off as elitist. Just the humble revolutionary we have come to know and love.
...soon as you need some volunteers to take out a grade school full of collaborators, they’re like, “sorry dude, I’ve got to run off some International ANSWER fliers at Kinkos.”
In his latest, The Zarkman reports he is still getting irritating fan mail from Koskids and academia, like this one:
Hey Zarkman!
OMG u r teh ROXOR! Its like u r total Che Guervera and Fidel and Malcom X plus System of a Down!! Good luck against the Zionist neocon occupiers!!!! Ya,, SCREW those mercenaries!!! Everybody here at UCLA Ed school thinks u r total l33t HARDCORE!!!
Fight teh POWER bro!!!
Dr. Peter McLaren
Professor, Graduate School of Education
University of California at Los Angeles
There are many more emails from subordinates and al Qaeda upper management that have conspired to create a hostile work environment. Al-Zarqawi, as he has done in the past, wonders how Allah could have allowed America all the luck:
...how come all those badass hard muthafuckin’ Wu Tang infidels end up on Team Satan, and Zarkman gets stuck with the dipshits too stoned to tune their stupid guitars?
Be sure to look for Executive VP for Strategic Foresight Ayman Zawahiri's endearing and uplifting e-mail sign-off when you read the latest guest blog from the senior VP, Iraq division. As usual he is witty and poignant without coming off as elitist. Just the humble revolutionary we have come to know and love.
Monday, April 24, 2006
Job Security for the Little People
Got back from Red Wing on Sunday night after a great trip. I got to thinking that most places are lucky to be famous for one thing, be it a landmark or an important native son or daughter. Red Wing is famous for two things. Pottery and, of course, shoes. On top of that it is also a Mississippi River town that has gone to great lengths to protect its heritage while not abandoning industry. Better yet, they still have smoking sections in their restaurants and smoking rooms at their hotels. At some point on Saturday mydearlybefuddled and I decided that Red Wing and Goodhue County must be Republican country. Sure enough, we were right on target.
Today is the first chance I have had to get on the computer for pleasure's sake. I was led to this Hugh Hewitt column via Power Line, which is an interesting read on the state of the newspaper business. Among other things he makes this observation:
The republic is safe as far as news-gathering and reporting, debate and analysis can make it safe. But newspapers and their employees, well, think stagecoach drivers and clipper-ship captains. There are a few of each still around - as conversation pieces.
Hewitt is refering to The Big Boys of course, international dailies that find it harder to compete with 24-hour cable news and the ease of a largely free internet. What's amazing about it though is that more people are likely getting their news from the written word than at any time since, I would suppose, television became an easy and reliable source. An example of reader erosion due to television might be the disappearance of the evening edition.
But now, because of the internet, people are returning to the written word in droves. It is a one time opportunity to foster the rebirth of the written word as news. Unfortunately, the majors have not found a way to capitalize on that opportunity. In no small part that has been aided by their exposure as idealogues from the very same sources whose existence those same papers have stubbornly refused to acknowledge until recently.
If there is an exemption from Hewitt's prediction of extinction I believe it will be community newspapers. Weekly editions that report local news too unimportant for metro TV. There are too few efficient ways to get that city, county, and school district news. My company has come up with some very creative ways to take advantage of its unique market and opportunity. I would love to tell you what some of those are...but then I would have to kill you.
Today is the first chance I have had to get on the computer for pleasure's sake. I was led to this Hugh Hewitt column via Power Line, which is an interesting read on the state of the newspaper business. Among other things he makes this observation:
The republic is safe as far as news-gathering and reporting, debate and analysis can make it safe. But newspapers and their employees, well, think stagecoach drivers and clipper-ship captains. There are a few of each still around - as conversation pieces.
Hewitt is refering to The Big Boys of course, international dailies that find it harder to compete with 24-hour cable news and the ease of a largely free internet. What's amazing about it though is that more people are likely getting their news from the written word than at any time since, I would suppose, television became an easy and reliable source. An example of reader erosion due to television might be the disappearance of the evening edition.
But now, because of the internet, people are returning to the written word in droves. It is a one time opportunity to foster the rebirth of the written word as news. Unfortunately, the majors have not found a way to capitalize on that opportunity. In no small part that has been aided by their exposure as idealogues from the very same sources whose existence those same papers have stubbornly refused to acknowledge until recently.
If there is an exemption from Hewitt's prediction of extinction I believe it will be community newspapers. Weekly editions that report local news too unimportant for metro TV. There are too few efficient ways to get that city, county, and school district news. My company has come up with some very creative ways to take advantage of its unique market and opportunity. I would love to tell you what some of those are...but then I would have to kill you.
Thursday, April 20, 2006
How To Properly Use Your Children
I'm going to be dedicating the next couple of days to fun and frolic so this blog will be a ghost town until Sunday night. In the meantime though, Liberal Larry notes the unselfishness of gay and lesbian parents attending the Easter Egg Roll at the White House.
By using their own children as weapons in the war against the Christian Right, same-sex couples make the world a better place for all of us. Hetero couples, on the other hand, procreate for purely selfish reasons and their offspring serve no political purpose whatsoever.
If only all the babies of the world had gay mommies and daddies. But mother nature is a cold-hearted bitch, and out of pure spite she made it a cinch for heterosexuals to reproduce and practically impossible for same-sex couples to do so. Spermatoza doesn’t grow on trees, you know. You have to put an ad in the paper, or catch David Crosby during one of his infrequent lucid spells.
Larry takes the opportunity to unveil the first item in a new line of clothing for parents who want to make their unselfishness a bit more obvious. Be sure to head over and check it out.
By using their own children as weapons in the war against the Christian Right, same-sex couples make the world a better place for all of us. Hetero couples, on the other hand, procreate for purely selfish reasons and their offspring serve no political purpose whatsoever.
If only all the babies of the world had gay mommies and daddies. But mother nature is a cold-hearted bitch, and out of pure spite she made it a cinch for heterosexuals to reproduce and practically impossible for same-sex couples to do so. Spermatoza doesn’t grow on trees, you know. You have to put an ad in the paper, or catch David Crosby during one of his infrequent lucid spells.
Larry takes the opportunity to unveil the first item in a new line of clothing for parents who want to make their unselfishness a bit more obvious. Be sure to head over and check it out.
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Aaaah...The Left on Display
When liberals act like...well...liberals, it behooves us to put a bright a light on it as possible. What has been happening with Michelle Malkin over the course of the last couple of weeks is a prime example of the hypocricy of the left on holy-shit issues like racism, free speech, tolerance, and civil discourse. Let's face it, what has become of classic liberalism, of which I used to be a proud supporter, is a pathetic example of a political doctrine's implosion.
It started when Malkin posted excerpts from a public press release from the free-speech haters at UC Santa Cruz who forced the removal of a military recruiter from campus. The excerpts included the names and phone numbers of Students Against War (SAW) leadership. SAW promptly removed the contact information from the press release and proceeded to lie about making it public in the first place.
Based on that lie, SAW proceeded to recruit the hate-o-sphere to engage in civil discourse with Malkin over the issue. Here are some excerpts:
From: Joe Smith joejoe90211@yahoo.com
Date: Apr 17, 2006 7:48 PM
Subject: You belong in prison.You are a disgusting waste of oxygen.
You WILL burn in hell you disgusting cunt.
***
From: NorthCentralGuy@aol.com NorthCentralGuy@aol.com
Mailed-By: aol.com
Date: Apr 17, 2006 7:47 PM
Subject: TIP
Someone ought to sew your cunt up with barbed wire. Not that it gets any use, you facist, hate spewing, disgraceful piece of shit.
***
Michael McPherson michaelmc123@comcast.net
6:42 pm (1 hour ago)
You are a fucking slanty-eyed cunt.
Have a nice day
***
From: outorsafe@adelphia.net outorsafe@adelphia.net
Mailed-By: adelphia.net
Date: Apr 17, 2006 6:31
you miserable cunt... too bad your parents were not killed in a war...
It's always refreshing when someone shows their true self isn't it? Or for that matter, when an entire movement displays its stripes.
In retaliation for posting information from a public press release available to all on the internet, the hate-mongers have been spreading very personal information about Malkin online. Malkin responds:
...if you think I'm going to stop blogging/writing/making a living because you've plastered my family's private home address, phone numbers, and photos and maps of my neighborhood all over the Internet to further your manufactured outrage and pathetic coddling of a bunch of lying, anti-troops punks at UC Santa Cruz...
...you better think again.
The left hates free speech. They hate any speech that doesn't jibe with their world view. Any speech they disagree with they shout down by having it removed from our midst or intimidating it into silence. In order to do this they have no problem using racism - "slant eye" - sexism - "cunt" - or wishing violence and even death upon you.
It isn't a political doctrine, it's an army of dimwitted jackbooted thugs who can't get elected and have decided to force their message down our throats by any means necessary.
The rate of deterioration over the last four years has been staggering. Really. At this rate it won't be long before they are resorting to terrorist acts. Than again, they kinda already are.
Nice party they got there, don't you think?
It started when Malkin posted excerpts from a public press release from the free-speech haters at UC Santa Cruz who forced the removal of a military recruiter from campus. The excerpts included the names and phone numbers of Students Against War (SAW) leadership. SAW promptly removed the contact information from the press release and proceeded to lie about making it public in the first place.
Based on that lie, SAW proceeded to recruit the hate-o-sphere to engage in civil discourse with Malkin over the issue. Here are some excerpts:
From: Joe Smith joejoe90211@yahoo.com
Date: Apr 17, 2006 7:48 PM
Subject: You belong in prison.You are a disgusting waste of oxygen.
You WILL burn in hell you disgusting cunt.
***
From: NorthCentralGuy@aol.com NorthCentralGuy@aol.com
Mailed-By: aol.com
Date: Apr 17, 2006 7:47 PM
Subject: TIP
Someone ought to sew your cunt up with barbed wire. Not that it gets any use, you facist, hate spewing, disgraceful piece of shit.
***
Michael McPherson michaelmc123@comcast.net
6:42 pm (1 hour ago)
You are a fucking slanty-eyed cunt.
Have a nice day
***
From: outorsafe@adelphia.net outorsafe@adelphia.net
Mailed-By: adelphia.net
Date: Apr 17, 2006 6:31
you miserable cunt... too bad your parents were not killed in a war...
It's always refreshing when someone shows their true self isn't it? Or for that matter, when an entire movement displays its stripes.
In retaliation for posting information from a public press release available to all on the internet, the hate-mongers have been spreading very personal information about Malkin online. Malkin responds:
...if you think I'm going to stop blogging/writing/making a living because you've plastered my family's private home address, phone numbers, and photos and maps of my neighborhood all over the Internet to further your manufactured outrage and pathetic coddling of a bunch of lying, anti-troops punks at UC Santa Cruz...
...you better think again.
The left hates free speech. They hate any speech that doesn't jibe with their world view. Any speech they disagree with they shout down by having it removed from our midst or intimidating it into silence. In order to do this they have no problem using racism - "slant eye" - sexism - "cunt" - or wishing violence and even death upon you.
It isn't a political doctrine, it's an army of dimwitted jackbooted thugs who can't get elected and have decided to force their message down our throats by any means necessary.
The rate of deterioration over the last four years has been staggering. Really. At this rate it won't be long before they are resorting to terrorist acts. Than again, they kinda already are.
Nice party they got there, don't you think?
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
No Child Left Behind. Well...Almost Nobody
Captain's Quarters has a buzz-kill development in the No Child Left Behind Saga. The feds, states, and schools are conspiring to leave children behind.
Overall, AP found that about 1.9 million students — or about 1 in every 14 test scores — aren't being counted under the law's racial categories. Minorities are seven times as likely to have their scores excluded as whites, the analysis showed.
There is follow up on Congress reaction here.
With 100% compliance just a few years away, this kind of bureaucratic undermining is likely just the beginning. Obviously we aren't going to have a revolution that returns control of public education to districts and parents anytime soon. Just more and higher taxes.
I wish we would get serious about vouchers already.
Overall, AP found that about 1.9 million students — or about 1 in every 14 test scores — aren't being counted under the law's racial categories. Minorities are seven times as likely to have their scores excluded as whites, the analysis showed.
There is follow up on Congress reaction here.
With 100% compliance just a few years away, this kind of bureaucratic undermining is likely just the beginning. Obviously we aren't going to have a revolution that returns control of public education to districts and parents anytime soon. Just more and higher taxes.
I wish we would get serious about vouchers already.
Monday, April 17, 2006
Better Than Cutting Down a Tree With a Herring
I'm starting to think the theory of environmentalism as a religion is starting to pick up some steam. The latest column on the subject is from Cathy Young for the Boston Globe and includes this conclusion:
...for many, environmentalism has become a secular religion with its own fanatics. Some speak of nature's wrath in transparently religious terms. Vanity Fair essayist James Wolcott has rhapsodized on his website about the destructive power of hurricanes as payback for ''the havoc mankind has wreaked upon nature," concluding, ''The gods are not pleased."
Has anyone tried offering a shrubbery? Anyone?
...for many, environmentalism has become a secular religion with its own fanatics. Some speak of nature's wrath in transparently religious terms. Vanity Fair essayist James Wolcott has rhapsodized on his website about the destructive power of hurricanes as payback for ''the havoc mankind has wreaked upon nature," concluding, ''The gods are not pleased."
Has anyone tried offering a shrubbery? Anyone?
Friday, April 14, 2006
Inappropriate Touching Leads To Tax Shelters
With Spring comes the rediscovery of the depth of ones feelings for their precious darlings. We who are used to this annual awakening rejoice with a sense of fraternity for the newly enlightened, like The Elder:
This time last year, I was once again lamenting the reaming that we were experiencing at the hands of the tax man. The 2004 return was a particularly painful one and to this day I still have disturbing flashbacks about the inappropriate touching of my wallet perpetrated by the Revenuers.
What a difference a year, and the birth of my son, make.
If he wants to see something crazy, he should have three more. Of course, it takes a special person to be that dedicated to lowering his taxes. It's a long term investment. The first years of a new tax shelter's life are heavily dependent opon the lives of others. But they generally prove to be highly adaptable, resilient, and easy to care for. They can also be helpful with some of the more backbreaking household chores, if you're lucky.
Combined earning potential should also be a factor as they will likely, in my case, be carrying my ass in old age. In this area our carefully nurtured write-offs are progressing nicely. Plus, female tax shelters offer the opportunity to extend that future responsibility to potential son in laws. Personally, I will have three opportunities to put that course of action into effect.
In the meantime, throw in The Boy and mydearlybefuddled and I've got a complete line with a goalie.
Think about that.
This time last year, I was once again lamenting the reaming that we were experiencing at the hands of the tax man. The 2004 return was a particularly painful one and to this day I still have disturbing flashbacks about the inappropriate touching of my wallet perpetrated by the Revenuers.
What a difference a year, and the birth of my son, make.
If he wants to see something crazy, he should have three more. Of course, it takes a special person to be that dedicated to lowering his taxes. It's a long term investment. The first years of a new tax shelter's life are heavily dependent opon the lives of others. But they generally prove to be highly adaptable, resilient, and easy to care for. They can also be helpful with some of the more backbreaking household chores, if you're lucky.
Combined earning potential should also be a factor as they will likely, in my case, be carrying my ass in old age. In this area our carefully nurtured write-offs are progressing nicely. Plus, female tax shelters offer the opportunity to extend that future responsibility to potential son in laws. Personally, I will have three opportunities to put that course of action into effect.
In the meantime, throw in The Boy and mydearlybefuddled and I've got a complete line with a goalie.
Think about that.
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Screw You Guys. I'm Going Home...
Malkin, of all places, is your go-to place for South Park fallout, including an admission from Comedy Central that they did indeed edit the motoons. They might have missed a couple though, as a matter of fact.
Of course, Comedy Central never thought to edit the depiction of Jesus covered in feces. As of yet I have heard no reports of angry rioting Christians so it looks like they dodged a bullet.
Personally, I thought the episode was funnier than most people seem to think and my highlight was the depiction of the White House press corps. They found that whole "free speech" thing very suspicious. The parallel to the NSA program was unmistakable. Sadly, the South Park version and the real thing are way too close for comfort.
Once again Parker and Stone dare to go where few others will and the country is better for it. If it weren't for them I would have never seen Sodom Hussein going love monkey on Satan or Rob Reiner stuffing donuts in his oversized cakehole.
If it weren't for them I wouldn't watch Comedy Central at all, although Mind of Mencia is getting pretty good. Did anyone see his take on immigration last night?
Of course, Comedy Central never thought to edit the depiction of Jesus covered in feces. As of yet I have heard no reports of angry rioting Christians so it looks like they dodged a bullet.
Personally, I thought the episode was funnier than most people seem to think and my highlight was the depiction of the White House press corps. They found that whole "free speech" thing very suspicious. The parallel to the NSA program was unmistakable. Sadly, the South Park version and the real thing are way too close for comfort.
Once again Parker and Stone dare to go where few others will and the country is better for it. If it weren't for them I would have never seen Sodom Hussein going love monkey on Satan or Rob Reiner stuffing donuts in his oversized cakehole.
If it weren't for them I wouldn't watch Comedy Central at all, although Mind of Mencia is getting pretty good. Did anyone see his take on immigration last night?
Monday, April 10, 2006
Steaming Mexicans Not Enough to Raise Temperatures
Despite the "hot under the collar" demonstrations of millions of people who don't have the courage to protest their own government's inability to provide jobs, it appears as though temperatures are falling. In fact, since 1998 the global temperature has actually dipped slightly. Bob Carter characterizes the likely response:
In response to these facts, a global warming devotee will chuckle and say "how silly to judge climate change over such a short period". Yet in the next breath, the same person will assure you that the 28-year-long period of warming which occurred between 1970 and 1998 constitutes a dangerous (and man-made) warming.
In other news, there is a growing hybrid backlash in California.
If you want to get Global Warming back on track, read yesterday's column from Mark Steyn. It will make you hot under the collar.
In response to these facts, a global warming devotee will chuckle and say "how silly to judge climate change over such a short period". Yet in the next breath, the same person will assure you that the 28-year-long period of warming which occurred between 1970 and 1998 constitutes a dangerous (and man-made) warming.
In other news, there is a growing hybrid backlash in California.
If you want to get Global Warming back on track, read yesterday's column from Mark Steyn. It will make you hot under the collar.
Friday, April 07, 2006
Championship Game Safe From Ice Melt, Scientists Say
Via Tim Blair, 60 scientists are asking Canadian leadership to open climate change and Kyoto for debate.
Global climate changes all the time due to natural causes and the human impact still remains impossible to distinguish from this natural "noise." The new Canadian government's commitment to reducing air, land and water pollution is commendable, but allocating funds to "stopping climate change" would be irrational.
Their statement is relatively short and worth reading. Blair has related links.
Looking for something lighter? Hockey chatter continues at Fraters.
Global climate changes all the time due to natural causes and the human impact still remains impossible to distinguish from this natural "noise." The new Canadian government's commitment to reducing air, land and water pollution is commendable, but allocating funds to "stopping climate change" would be irrational.
Their statement is relatively short and worth reading. Blair has related links.
Looking for something lighter? Hockey chatter continues at Fraters.
Thursday, April 06, 2006
Last Game No Matter What
Wisconsin vs. Boston CollegeTwo Hobey Baker finalists, one each side. On one side a prolific goal scorer, Chris Collins. He had a hat trick for BC today.
On the other the quickest goalie in the league, Brian Elliott. (photo source)
Someone once told me never to bet against a hot goalie. Elliott is eternally hot. Rarely out of position, he routinely makes second and third saves look easy. Disciplined...that's the word I'm looking for.
Last college hockey game of the year, Saturday at 6pm central. Always a bittersweet occasion.
But I Thought Things Were Getting Worse, Not Better
The Brookings Institute (pdf) has the latest figures on Iraq deaths and the trend is downward in all categories. In some cases significantly.
My election Analysis has the pertinent details:
81, 76, 50, 49, 43, 25
What are these numbers? This week’s Powerball winners? A safe deposit combo? New numbers to torment those poor b*stards stranded on the island in Lost?
No, they’re the number of troops that have died in hostile actions in Iraq for each of the past six months. That last number represents the lowest level of troop deaths in a year, and second-lowest in two years.
But it must be that the insurgency is turning their assault on Iraqi military and police, who are increasingly taking up the slack, right?
215, 176, 193, 189, 158, 193 (and the three months before that were 304, 282, 233)
Okay, okay, so insurgents aren’t engaging us; they’re turning increasingly to car bombs then, right?
70, 70, 70, 68, 30, 30
Civilians then. They’re just garroting poor civilians.
527, 826, 532, 732, 950, 446 (upper bound, two months before that were 2489 and 1129).
Things continue to improve in Iraq at the very same time the media tells us things are getting worse.
My election Analysis has the pertinent details:
81, 76, 50, 49, 43, 25
What are these numbers? This week’s Powerball winners? A safe deposit combo? New numbers to torment those poor b*stards stranded on the island in Lost?
No, they’re the number of troops that have died in hostile actions in Iraq for each of the past six months. That last number represents the lowest level of troop deaths in a year, and second-lowest in two years.
But it must be that the insurgency is turning their assault on Iraqi military and police, who are increasingly taking up the slack, right?
215, 176, 193, 189, 158, 193 (and the three months before that were 304, 282, 233)
Okay, okay, so insurgents aren’t engaging us; they’re turning increasingly to car bombs then, right?
70, 70, 70, 68, 30, 30
Civilians then. They’re just garroting poor civilians.
527, 826, 532, 732, 950, 446 (upper bound, two months before that were 2489 and 1129).
Things continue to improve in Iraq at the very same time the media tells us things are getting worse.
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
It's All Fun and Games...
You really do got to hand it to the crew over at Fraters. What they do, it works for them. From the endearing "only elitist foreign beers for me" theme to campy tee-hee reviews of legitimate books from commentators who actually matter.
Ya...they crack me up sometimes. Like movies about high school do.
And that's all well and good, until one of the infantile turds posts this.
The class clowns have finally hit rock bottom.
Ya...they crack me up sometimes. Like movies about high school do.
And that's all well and good, until one of the infantile turds posts this.
The class clowns have finally hit rock bottom.
Monday, April 03, 2006
Smug Alert: Hollywood
Hollywood is the gift that just keeps on giving these days. Paul Verhoeven's excuse for the bomb that is "Basic Instinct 2" is classic. I get the feeling we're going to start hearing this one a lot:
"Anything that is erotic has been banned in the United States," said the Dutch native. "Look at the people at the top (of the government). We are living under a government that is constantly hammering out Christian values. And Christianity and sex have never been good friends."
There is so much absurdity here it is hard to know where to begin. Somebody introduce this guy to the internet, first of all. If anything, the American market suffers from erotic overkill, making a Hollywood peekaboo remake more a novelty for the discerning eroticist.
Secondly, there is the implication that conservatives make sexual decisions based on being in the majority. In other words, before Bush was elected those same Christians were somewhere more free of Christian oppression.
Lastly, it is hard to argue that Christianity, thousands of years old and thriving, hasn't made some kind of peace with sex. For their part, Republicans are happier people all around, if you believe polls. Rest assured, that happiness has nothing to do with a lack of physical love.
Advice for Paul: MAKE BETTER MOVIES! Would it be so hard?
I wonder if Verhoeven had his eyes closed when he vomited up this latest statement. Face it people, America just isn't ready for hybrids.
"Anything that is erotic has been banned in the United States," said the Dutch native. "Look at the people at the top (of the government). We are living under a government that is constantly hammering out Christian values. And Christianity and sex have never been good friends."
There is so much absurdity here it is hard to know where to begin. Somebody introduce this guy to the internet, first of all. If anything, the American market suffers from erotic overkill, making a Hollywood peekaboo remake more a novelty for the discerning eroticist.
Secondly, there is the implication that conservatives make sexual decisions based on being in the majority. In other words, before Bush was elected those same Christians were somewhere more free of Christian oppression.
Lastly, it is hard to argue that Christianity, thousands of years old and thriving, hasn't made some kind of peace with sex. For their part, Republicans are happier people all around, if you believe polls. Rest assured, that happiness has nothing to do with a lack of physical love.
Advice for Paul: MAKE BETTER MOVIES! Would it be so hard?
I wonder if Verhoeven had his eyes closed when he vomited up this latest statement. Face it people, America just isn't ready for hybrids.
Sunday, April 02, 2006
Hot Air Saves Planet From Ice Age!
George Will has an excellent piece this weekend in response to the Global Warming fear mongering of late. Along the way he reminds us just how far we've come in 35 years.
Science magazine (Dec. 10, 1976) warned of "extensive Northern Hemisphere glaciation." Science Digest (February 1973) reported that "the world's climatologists are agreed" that we must "prepare for the next ice age." The Christian Science Monitor ("Warning: Earth's Climate is Changing Faster Than Even Experts Expect," Aug. 27, 1974) reported that glaciers "have begun to advance," "growing seasons in England and Scandinavia are getting shorter" and "the North Atlantic is cooling down about as fast as an ocean can cool." Newsweek agreed ("The Cooling World," April 28, 1975) that meteorologists "are almost unanimous" that catastrophic famines might result from the global cooling that the New York Times (Sept. 14, 1975) said "may mark the return to another ice age." The Times (May 21, 1975) also said "a major cooling of the climate is widely considered inevitable" now that it is "well established" that the Northern Hemisphere's climate "has been getting cooler since about 1950."
Perhaps the trend was reversed by the hot air we have been subjected to from the scientific community over the last few decades.
Science magazine (Dec. 10, 1976) warned of "extensive Northern Hemisphere glaciation." Science Digest (February 1973) reported that "the world's climatologists are agreed" that we must "prepare for the next ice age." The Christian Science Monitor ("Warning: Earth's Climate is Changing Faster Than Even Experts Expect," Aug. 27, 1974) reported that glaciers "have begun to advance," "growing seasons in England and Scandinavia are getting shorter" and "the North Atlantic is cooling down about as fast as an ocean can cool." Newsweek agreed ("The Cooling World," April 28, 1975) that meteorologists "are almost unanimous" that catastrophic famines might result from the global cooling that the New York Times (Sept. 14, 1975) said "may mark the return to another ice age." The Times (May 21, 1975) also said "a major cooling of the climate is widely considered inevitable" now that it is "well established" that the Northern Hemisphere's climate "has been getting cooler since about 1950."
Perhaps the trend was reversed by the hot air we have been subjected to from the scientific community over the last few decades.
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