"A Delta High School teacher who allegedly gave his students permission to beat a classmate who was late for class has been charged with child abuse."
Monday, March 31, 2008
I still say if you want to keep up with
dumb things, the US educational system is the place to start.
I'm glad this is settled.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - Chelsea Clinton returned Monday to North Carolina, telling college students that the world will "breathe a sigh of relief" once President Bush leaves office. Clinton spoke Monday during a town hall meeting with students at North Carolina State University. She later moved on to Peace College in Raleigh to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Yes sir. No doubt. Chelsa has spoken and the subject is decided. It is always so nice to have the voice of knowledge and experience weighing in.
Link to Chelsea's blatherings.
Unintended Consequences
One of the questions asked by shrinks in job or promotion interviews was what would happen if mankind suddenly cured all diseases, resulting in much longer life spans.
The answer was, of course, shortages in food supplies as production ramped up to feed the larger population. This could lead to instability and perhaps war. Which would reduce the population.
I was told that if you noted the food problem you got through the gate. If you noted the possibility of war then the discussion became centered around "war" and how it should be conducted. I was also told that if you wanted to act unilaterally versus using the UN you were judged to aggressive. If you wanted to use the UN then you were too much an organizational man and lacked leadership qualities and would thus be slotted to remain in middle management until the end of time.
I guess the "war monger" became a CEO. I say guess because I went the war route and I never became a corporate chief. So much for psycho babble, eh??
I think of the above every time I hear that the success of the Third World in improving their life styles is increasing the demand for oil which is driving up the price, which eventually will cause the economies of the world to collapse. This could lead to instability and perhaps war. Remember it was a shortage of raw materials that drove Japan to invade first China and then SE Asia and the US.
Science Fiction has always loved such future predictions. A man made virus escapes from the lab and destroys mankind has been used time and again, or a mutant bacteria... Or .... gasp!.... Global Warming destroys civilization. Note that in these it is mankind using technology that destroys man.
It is very unusual for technology to be the savior, despite the fact technology has always been the savior. Cars cause pollution. Okay. Have you ever thought about cities in which horses pulled wagons and buggies??? Can you imagine the smell? The flies feasting off the horse manure? The diseases transmitted by the flies?
Can you imagine a city that had no natural gas? No electricity??
People have always loved to be frightened. From the carnival's "House of Horrors" to the County Fair's "Roller Coaster" to pollution created mutant spiders....
But it was all good clean fun. People believed in the future. People believed that technology would improve our lives. And it did.
But then a funny thing happened. Some people started selling fear to develop political power. Of course it is for the "people's" own good. As Dr. Stephen Schneider said:
Nuclear power has never been known to kill or harm a single person in the US, yet we continue to use coal, oil and natural gas, with some water/damn generation thrown in to produce electric power. The first three pollute, the water/damn generation does not, so it is only natural that the environmental wackos are demanding that we discontinue water/damn generation. Is that stupid or what?? A tiny amount of wind power is being generated, and the lack of high voltage transmission lines from the point of generation is causing a problem. The electric utilities are hesitant to build new ones fearing a law suit over "cancer being caused" as well as any number of unimportant birds, snakes, frogs and plants that will be used as the next cause to be celebrated on TV by the environmental wackos and their hand maidens, the MSM as well as many on the Internet whose claim to fame is that they majored in a field that qualifies them to ask, "Wanna biggie size that?"
In short, the radical environmental wackos have stymied power production, road building and airport construction all in the name of protecting the environment against mostly mythical dangers. And they have done it by selling fear to a generation that was raised on "science evil," "Executive branch" bad. All "journalists" trustworthy, all "business executives" bad.
In the meantime, to turn back to the beginning, life expectancy is increasing and food demand is increasing yet we haven't built a new nuclear power plant or oil refinery in over 30 years. Technology improvements have been limited to mostly communication improvements and entertainment and with three TV's, two computers, and various DVD's, etc., power consumption has not kept up.
Folks, it is time for us to remove our collective heads from our collective rear ends and understand that life proves one thing. You either grow or die. For years we grew in scientific knowledge, improved infrastructure and power distribution/generation.
We are no longer growing.
The answer was, of course, shortages in food supplies as production ramped up to feed the larger population. This could lead to instability and perhaps war. Which would reduce the population.
I was told that if you noted the food problem you got through the gate. If you noted the possibility of war then the discussion became centered around "war" and how it should be conducted. I was also told that if you wanted to act unilaterally versus using the UN you were judged to aggressive. If you wanted to use the UN then you were too much an organizational man and lacked leadership qualities and would thus be slotted to remain in middle management until the end of time.
I guess the "war monger" became a CEO. I say guess because I went the war route and I never became a corporate chief. So much for psycho babble, eh??
I think of the above every time I hear that the success of the Third World in improving their life styles is increasing the demand for oil which is driving up the price, which eventually will cause the economies of the world to collapse. This could lead to instability and perhaps war. Remember it was a shortage of raw materials that drove Japan to invade first China and then SE Asia and the US.
Science Fiction has always loved such future predictions. A man made virus escapes from the lab and destroys mankind has been used time and again, or a mutant bacteria... Or .... gasp!.... Global Warming destroys civilization. Note that in these it is mankind using technology that destroys man.
It is very unusual for technology to be the savior, despite the fact technology has always been the savior. Cars cause pollution. Okay. Have you ever thought about cities in which horses pulled wagons and buggies??? Can you imagine the smell? The flies feasting off the horse manure? The diseases transmitted by the flies?
Can you imagine a city that had no natural gas? No electricity??
People have always loved to be frightened. From the carnival's "House of Horrors" to the County Fair's "Roller Coaster" to pollution created mutant spiders....
But it was all good clean fun. People believed in the future. People believed that technology would improve our lives. And it did.
But then a funny thing happened. Some people started selling fear to develop political power. Of course it is for the "people's" own good. As Dr. Stephen Schneider said:
"To capture the public imagination,we have to offer up some scary scenarios,make simplified dramatic statements and little mention of any doubts one might have. Each of us has to decide the right balance between being effective,and being honest."
Nuclear power has never been known to kill or harm a single person in the US, yet we continue to use coal, oil and natural gas, with some water/damn generation thrown in to produce electric power. The first three pollute, the water/damn generation does not, so it is only natural that the environmental wackos are demanding that we discontinue water/damn generation. Is that stupid or what?? A tiny amount of wind power is being generated, and the lack of high voltage transmission lines from the point of generation is causing a problem. The electric utilities are hesitant to build new ones fearing a law suit over "cancer being caused" as well as any number of unimportant birds, snakes, frogs and plants that will be used as the next cause to be celebrated on TV by the environmental wackos and their hand maidens, the MSM as well as many on the Internet whose claim to fame is that they majored in a field that qualifies them to ask, "Wanna biggie size that?"
In short, the radical environmental wackos have stymied power production, road building and airport construction all in the name of protecting the environment against mostly mythical dangers. And they have done it by selling fear to a generation that was raised on "science evil," "Executive branch" bad. All "journalists" trustworthy, all "business executives" bad.
In the meantime, to turn back to the beginning, life expectancy is increasing and food demand is increasing yet we haven't built a new nuclear power plant or oil refinery in over 30 years. Technology improvements have been limited to mostly communication improvements and entertainment and with three TV's, two computers, and various DVD's, etc., power consumption has not kept up.
Folks, it is time for us to remove our collective heads from our collective rear ends and understand that life proves one thing. You either grow or die. For years we grew in scientific knowledge, improved infrastructure and power distribution/generation.
We are no longer growing.
One promise of the Internet
was that it would enable more voices to join the discussion. Blogs have done that. Another thing it did was vastly expand self book publishing, also known as Publish On Demand. (POD) And, like most new technologies, the natural tendency is for the larger companies to want to eat the smaller ones. This, of course, leads to fewer companies and, if followed to the natural end, a new status quo.
Meet the new boss. Just like the old boss.
Such is the case with Amazon.
Link to article.
Read the article. It should give us all pause for consideration.
Meet the new boss. Just like the old boss.
Such is the case with Amazon.
Clear so far? Good. It’s different now; between the Internet, the development of POD, or print-on-demand technology, and the big-name publishing houses becoming risk-adverse, unadventurous and stodgy. Rather like Hollywood and the music industry, come to think on it: stuck on established big names, carefully constructed sure-fire blockbuster hits and guaranteed big returns. The quirky, original, eccentric and genuinely creative will likely never be invited in the door – even if they are talented, too. The result has been an explosion in the numbers of writers who have gone ‘indy’ – just like filmmakers and musicians, because the technology has allowed it. Getting in through the doors of the big-name publishing houses is no longer the only game in town.
Print on demand technology allows a printer to print up copies of a particular book as they are ordered from a formatted electronic text file. Because they are usually printed in small batches, not in 10s of thousands at a whack, the cost of the individual copy is higher, but not all that much. And because they are printed to order, the matter of warehousing thousands of copies doesn’t come up; all very ecologically sound. It allowed writers who couldn’t or didn’t want to publish through a traditional publisher and couldn’t afford to pay for a print run from a so-called vanity press to pay a small set-up fee for their text and cover, which would be available to the printer. Whenever orders came in for their book, the printer could run off as many copies as needed and drop-ship them to the customer.
Sensing an opportunity, a whole host of new publishers sprang up or morphed from their previous incarnation...
So last Friday’s action by Amazon.com, demanding that POD publisher, Publish America now and henceforward have their books be printed by Booksurge, or else their authors books would not be sold directly through Amazon comes as a rather thuggish slap in the face. (Publish America’s news release is here.)
Link to article.
Read the article. It should give us all pause for consideration.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
More on Hillary's heroism
."Anyhow, I corkscrewed the C-47 down from eight miles high to evade the sniper ground fire. If anybody who has ever been on a snipe hunt, you know how difficult that can be.
I made a perfect four-point landing. The crew called me "Slick." I thought it was nice to be compared to that singer from The Jefferson Airplane."
This is one of the best descriptions of Hillary's military expertise. Her description on how she got the venerablle C47 down is of no interest. Anyone can do that.
I just want to know how she got it 8 miles up.
My thanks to Peoples Cube and GOC in Atlanta.
You think??
This is the latest reverberation from the continuing decline in revenues and circulation of major print publications around the world—most of it attributable to the impact of the Internet. Newsweek is the third major news organization to offer buyouts to scores of staffers this year,
No. I don't. I think the problem is content that is determinedly leftist and always finds America to be in the wrong.
People have grown tired of such nonsense and have just quit spending money to have their beliefs insulted by poorly written attack pieces, excuses for illegal aliens, and any other thing they can use."
LA Times
Link
Believe it or not.
"For years, I've been complaining (including in New York Post columns) about the absurd outreach by the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan to extremist Muslims in the Detroit area. As I've repeatedly noted, a monthly "BRIDGES" group meeting hosted by FBI award revokee and "former" Islamic terrorist, Imad Hamad, and U.S. Attorney Stephen Murphy III a/k/a "Abu Porno," consisted of extremist Muslim leaders bitching and federal officials pandering to them, apologizing for their agents and prosecutors trying to doing their jobs against Muslim terrorists and other criminals.
Now, we see the fruits of this absurd "outreach." The entire U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan has recused itself from the case against Iraqi spy Muthanna Al-Hanooti, indicted on Wednesday. The case must be tried by lawyers from Washington, who will have to fly in, eat out at nice restaurants, and stay at nice hotels . . . courtesy of the taxpayers."
Evidently Bush didn't fire enough AG's. Of course it still isn't too late.
As a person who believes that he who
dies with the most toys wins, I have never been able to understand such things as why we can't find the cultural sohourners - aka illegal aliens - in the US.
Here we have some examples.
Here we have some examples.
Years ago
...actually more than years ago.... we were graced by a new Navigator on the crew. He was a nice guy, presented himself well and was generally liked by the crew. And, as a navigator he did a passable job of getting us from point a to b.
There was just one problem. One bump and he was air sick. He soon became known for keeping a well used barf bag by his side. And there is nothing quite like the smell, and the sounds, of someone puking away a few feet from you. I can tell you honestly that I have never been airsick, or puked, in an aircraft, but on some of the flights he was with us I came close.
Part of the job of the navigator was to do plots using input from various pieces of equipment that would guide us to an area in which we would do Mad Traps.
Now a Mad Trap is done by trading altitude for airspeed, and coming across a certain spot at say, 50' above the water, then pulling the nose up trading airspeed for altitude while making a hard turn, come back across, but slightly ahead, the same location again trading altitude for airspeed, etc. This was called doing cloverleafs, and if successful you could pinpoint the location of the submarine. But it was tough hard work and could lead to such things as stalling the aircraft at such a low altitude that the results usually were fatal.
On this one particular exercise we were enjoying a fair degree of success when the sub gave us the slip. At that point the Patrol Plane Commander (PPC) said:
"Navigator, give me a heading to come back across where he was."
To which the reply was: "I don't know, sir."
I will leave the PPC's comment for history. Let's just say it was:
"Why in the &&^*))(*(*( not?"
The answer was: "I've been sick, sir."
That was his last flight with us.
And now you know why I have been "lost" for the past two days.
I hope that you stick around longer than the Navigator.
There was just one problem. One bump and he was air sick. He soon became known for keeping a well used barf bag by his side. And there is nothing quite like the smell, and the sounds, of someone puking away a few feet from you. I can tell you honestly that I have never been airsick, or puked, in an aircraft, but on some of the flights he was with us I came close.
Part of the job of the navigator was to do plots using input from various pieces of equipment that would guide us to an area in which we would do Mad Traps.
Now a Mad Trap is done by trading altitude for airspeed, and coming across a certain spot at say, 50' above the water, then pulling the nose up trading airspeed for altitude while making a hard turn, come back across, but slightly ahead, the same location again trading altitude for airspeed, etc. This was called doing cloverleafs, and if successful you could pinpoint the location of the submarine. But it was tough hard work and could lead to such things as stalling the aircraft at such a low altitude that the results usually were fatal.
On this one particular exercise we were enjoying a fair degree of success when the sub gave us the slip. At that point the Patrol Plane Commander (PPC) said:
"Navigator, give me a heading to come back across where he was."
To which the reply was: "I don't know, sir."
I will leave the PPC's comment for history. Let's just say it was:
"Why in the &&^*))(*(*( not?"
The answer was: "I've been sick, sir."
That was his last flight with us.
And now you know why I have been "lost" for the past two days.
I hope that you stick around longer than the Navigator.
Friday, March 28, 2008
He he
Not that I care...
If the reporter or Pelosi think that is an "implied" threat then they need some improvement in their communication skills. Pelosi, who is arguably the worst Speaker of the House in its history, doesn't understand the concept of Superdelegates. They are supposedly "Independent." If they aren't, why have them?
Link
Worse, Senator Nelson of FL has opined:
Evidently Nelson has never heard of the Republician Party and how they do it. Instead, he decides the Constitution should be turned on its ear, all because the Demos are too dumb to fix their problems. And their problems are simple.
Having made the rules they don't want to enforce them. For a party that is full of members who "voted for the war before I voted against" that is really not a shock.
Having excluded FL and MI they now don't have the nerve to make it stick.
If they can't run themselves, how can they run the country?
Angered that Pelosi wants Democratic insiders to follow the will of voters when they cast their own "superdelegate" votes in the nomination race, 20 of Clinton's top fund-raisers issued a veiled threat to Pelosi and warned her to change her tune. .....
Sources said Pelosi was infuriated by the implied threat the donors would quit giving cash to the committee.
The House speaker was not backing down, however, and is still insisting that superdelegates respect "the decisions of millions of Americans who have voted," her aide Brendan Daly said.
If the reporter or Pelosi think that is an "implied" threat then they need some improvement in their communication skills. Pelosi, who is arguably the worst Speaker of the House in its history, doesn't understand the concept of Superdelegates. They are supposedly "Independent." If they aren't, why have them?
Link
Worse, Senator Nelson of FL has opined:
"My fight has been based on the principle that in America every citizen has an equal right to vote," he said. "It is based on a belief that we all deserve a say in picking our presidential nominees."
Evidently Nelson has never heard of the Republician Party and how they do it. Instead, he decides the Constitution should be turned on its ear, all because the Demos are too dumb to fix their problems. And their problems are simple.
Having made the rules they don't want to enforce them. For a party that is full of members who "voted for the war before I voted against" that is really not a shock.
Having excluded FL and MI they now don't have the nerve to make it stick.
If they can't run themselves, how can they run the country?
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Ah the sweet smell of dirt..
The morning was overcast and 6oish but I re-cultivated part of the garden. The smell of fresh dirt brings back memories... I managed to set out my cabbage, onions and bell peppers.
The cabbage and onions should do nicely even if Global Warming retreats. But the bell peppers will be iffy should it turn cold. Oh well, gambling is nothing new to a poker player, eh?? I have two rows of sweet onions, set with 3 across and 4 inches apart. You pick the two outside rows for the young green onions and leave the center row, letting them grow for winter use. I would guess I will have about 50 pounds for the winter. In a few weeks I will set out some Spanish yellows for onions with some zest..
Okra, aka Candy, won't be planted for three weeks, and after last years tomato killing freeze the last week of March, first of April, tomatoes will be another 10 days, although I may gamble with some early ones.
Then the day turned clear and warm, a perfect afternoon for doing anything. I watched Grandson practice baseball. There is nothing better.
Not being able to resist, I just had to do some news sweeps... Hussein is going to save the economy through regulation and taxes while Hillary wants to retrain us. It looks liked the MSM will give her a pass over her fibs regarding combat although I am sure the Repubs are taking notes. Why either Hussein or Hillary would want to to start talking military service with McCain is beyond me.
In Iraq al-Sadir is causing problems, again. We have wasted several chances tokill this guy and will live to regret it. Heck, we have lived to regret it.
In the stupid is as stupid does category a woman was made to remove her nipple rings before boarding a flight from Lubbock to Dallas. In somewhat an understatement she noted that she never knew nipples were a weapon... Obviously she discounted the many problems caused by the American Male's over fascination with the female breast.
At least they weren't box cutters.
Enough. I go to suckle at a Stoly on ice...
The cabbage and onions should do nicely even if Global Warming retreats. But the bell peppers will be iffy should it turn cold. Oh well, gambling is nothing new to a poker player, eh?? I have two rows of sweet onions, set with 3 across and 4 inches apart. You pick the two outside rows for the young green onions and leave the center row, letting them grow for winter use. I would guess I will have about 50 pounds for the winter. In a few weeks I will set out some Spanish yellows for onions with some zest..
Okra, aka Candy, won't be planted for three weeks, and after last years tomato killing freeze the last week of March, first of April, tomatoes will be another 10 days, although I may gamble with some early ones.
Then the day turned clear and warm, a perfect afternoon for doing anything. I watched Grandson practice baseball. There is nothing better.
Not being able to resist, I just had to do some news sweeps... Hussein is going to save the economy through regulation and taxes while Hillary wants to retrain us. It looks liked the MSM will give her a pass over her fibs regarding combat although I am sure the Repubs are taking notes. Why either Hussein or Hillary would want to to start talking military service with McCain is beyond me.
In Iraq al-Sadir is causing problems, again. We have wasted several chances tokill this guy and will live to regret it. Heck, we have lived to regret it.
In the stupid is as stupid does category a woman was made to remove her nipple rings before boarding a flight from Lubbock to Dallas. In somewhat an understatement she noted that she never knew nipples were a weapon... Obviously she discounted the many problems caused by the American Male's over fascination with the female breast.
At least they weren't box cutters.
Enough. I go to suckle at a Stoly on ice...
Pope Algore is being given
the 60 Minutes pulpit to BS us some more about Global Warming.
Seeing as how most folks I know wouldn't swap nickels with any of these folks I have to assunme that Pope Algore is totally out of touch with reality. Heck. We all knew that. And, of course, this group has such a wonderful education in science...
As for 60 Minutes.....the last time this organization had a claim to make it was touting a fake memo....
CBS
Some of the ads will feature unlikely alliances to drive home the message that people of all stripes are concerned about global warming. These include the Rev. Al Sharpton and the Rev. Pat Robertson, Toby Keith and the Dixie Chicks, and Nancy Pelosi and Newt Gingrich.
Seeing as how most folks I know wouldn't swap nickels with any of these folks I have to assunme that Pope Algore is totally out of touch with reality. Heck. We all knew that. And, of course, this group has such a wonderful education in science...
As for 60 Minutes.....the last time this organization had a claim to make it was touting a fake memo....
CBS
I can get it for you wholesale
Once upon a time when Ma Bell went on strike the network was manned by "management." Mostly engineering, market and sales types. The joke was, "The voice with a smile will be gone for a while. The man with the balls will answer your calls...." Sorry for the vulgarity, but facts are facts.
And the facts also were that the telephone company was a regulated monopoly that had zero competition and made a nice safe return on investment as it boldly strode into the future at a stately three miles per hour. It was a great place to work with great benefits, good if not great pay and a retirement plan that was the envy of many other worker bee types. And since the network could not be let go down, it was staffed at about 1.5 times the number of people needed just to keep it functioning during strikes and other emergencies. Universal service was the goal and it was met. Heaven help the CO Supervisor that had his exchange crash.
Then came the Carterphone FCC decision, interconnect, lawsuits by ITT and the Feds for restraint of trade and Judge Green decided that Ma Bell must become seven Baby Bells. ATT was left to the long distance market and eventually Western Electric and Bell Labs became a step child's step children. Pacific North West Bell, Northwest Bell and Mountain Bell became US West and so on. There were early outs, get outs and don't come backs. Sixty five thousand employees became 50,000 and people were moved and I haven't even touched the Qwest buy out and the other six new companies... But the results were the same. Employment went south, and as technology brought in fiber and the Internet fewer people were required to do more. Productivity improved but the "voice with a smile" wasn't just gone for a while.....it left the country. The new voice had an accent that was almost impossible to understand.
Then a funny thing happened. People started becoming angry that they couldn't get help within a reasonable time and when they did, they couldn't understand it. Further angered by "Press One" for English every time they called a business, songs such as this became popular.
But the kicker was that outsourcing carried with it its very own problems and hidden costs. Language and cultural differences caused problems, not to mention that if you want a 9AM conference call to India, guess what time it is in Chicago? Change orders become guesses and if you need hard copies.... Well, you get the idea.
So now the companies that sent the jobs out, want to bring some of them back.
Okay. But maybe Stephenson needs to check the price he is willing to pay. He also needs to understand something else. If you spend 15 years firing people there will not be a pool of people just fighting to get into the business. People are rational. If they see an industry shrinking, they won't be interested.
If you have a culture that glorifies lawyers, doctors, nurses and journalists... Don't be surprised when the market produces lawyers, doctors, nurses and journalists.
He does make one good point.
That of course is the 800 pound gorilla in the corner. The school system has collapsed and won't recover until we get vouchers that let any student go to any school that will accept him or her. AT present we have a school system that is by the education establishment and for the education establishment. The students can each cake.
But he is wrong on the following.
That assumes a stable international situation. Pakistan has nukes. One bomb in India and all of the advantages, read "cheap," that Bangalore brought are gone. And so are companies that can no longer bring new products and services to the market. And there remains the language/cultural problems I mentioned.
So instead of complaining and speaking of "grants," the head of ATT should pick the phone up and start pushing for vouchers for the education system. After all, he does believe in competition.
Doesn't he??
Link
And the facts also were that the telephone company was a regulated monopoly that had zero competition and made a nice safe return on investment as it boldly strode into the future at a stately three miles per hour. It was a great place to work with great benefits, good if not great pay and a retirement plan that was the envy of many other worker bee types. And since the network could not be let go down, it was staffed at about 1.5 times the number of people needed just to keep it functioning during strikes and other emergencies. Universal service was the goal and it was met. Heaven help the CO Supervisor that had his exchange crash.
Then came the Carterphone FCC decision, interconnect, lawsuits by ITT and the Feds for restraint of trade and Judge Green decided that Ma Bell must become seven Baby Bells. ATT was left to the long distance market and eventually Western Electric and Bell Labs became a step child's step children. Pacific North West Bell, Northwest Bell and Mountain Bell became US West and so on. There were early outs, get outs and don't come backs. Sixty five thousand employees became 50,000 and people were moved and I haven't even touched the Qwest buy out and the other six new companies... But the results were the same. Employment went south, and as technology brought in fiber and the Internet fewer people were required to do more. Productivity improved but the "voice with a smile" wasn't just gone for a while.....it left the country. The new voice had an accent that was almost impossible to understand.
Then a funny thing happened. People started becoming angry that they couldn't get help within a reasonable time and when they did, they couldn't understand it. Further angered by "Press One" for English every time they called a business, songs such as this became popular.
But the kicker was that outsourcing carried with it its very own problems and hidden costs. Language and cultural differences caused problems, not to mention that if you want a 9AM conference call to India, guess what time it is in Chicago? Change orders become guesses and if you need hard copies.... Well, you get the idea.
So now the companies that sent the jobs out, want to bring some of them back.
"We're having trouble finding the numbers that we need with the skills that are required to do these jobs," AT&T Chief Executive Randall Stephenson told a business group in San Antonio, where the company's headquarters is located.
So far, only around 1,400 jobs have been returned to the United States of 5,000, a target it set in 2006, the company said, adding that it maintains the target.
Okay. But maybe Stephenson needs to check the price he is willing to pay. He also needs to understand something else. If you spend 15 years firing people there will not be a pool of people just fighting to get into the business. People are rational. If they see an industry shrinking, they won't be interested.
If you have a culture that glorifies lawyers, doctors, nurses and journalists... Don't be surprised when the market produces lawyers, doctors, nurses and journalists.
He does make one good point.
Stephenson said he is especially distressed that in some U.S. communities and among certain groups, the high school dropout rate is as high as 50 percent.
"If I had a business that half the product we turned out was defective or you couldn't put into the marketplace, I would shut that business down," he said
That of course is the 800 pound gorilla in the corner. The school system has collapsed and won't recover until we get vouchers that let any student go to any school that will accept him or her. AT present we have a school system that is by the education establishment and for the education establishment. The students can each cake.
But he is wrong on the following.
"We're able to do new product engineering in Bangalore as easily as we're able to do it in Austin, Texas," he said, referring to the Indian city where many international companies have "outsourced" technical and customer support workers.
That assumes a stable international situation. Pakistan has nukes. One bomb in India and all of the advantages, read "cheap," that Bangalore brought are gone. And so are companies that can no longer bring new products and services to the market. And there remains the language/cultural problems I mentioned.
So instead of complaining and speaking of "grants," the head of ATT should pick the phone up and start pushing for vouchers for the education system. After all, he does believe in competition.
Doesn't he??
Link
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
The following has been kicking around the Internet
for several years. Many think it is not PC and shouldn't be read and/or circulated. And even I thought about it. But it is also true.
And if anyone is offended they should remember that. It is true.
....all so that they won't be guilty of "profiling."
Is that dumb or what? Now I know that some, perhaps many, good, peaceful, honest Muslims might be offended by being "profiled." But to that I can only say, so what? It is sad to say, but the problem is a problem that exists within Islam as a violent subculture that has killed thousands and there is no end in sight.
Perhaps it is time for Muslims all over the world to seize control and start a zero tolerance program against those who preach hate and plot to kill.... and yes, I know that many have. But in many countries not near enough.
And if anyone is offended they should remember that. It is true.
A lot of Americans have become so insulated from reality that they imagine America can suffer defeat without any inconvenience to themselves.
Absolutely No Profiling! Pause a moment, reflect back:
These events are actual events from history. They really happened! Do you remember?
1. 1968 Bobby Kennedy was shot and killed by a:
Muslim male extremist between the ages of 17 and 40.
2. In 1972 at the Munich Olympics, athletes were kidnapped and massacred by:
Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40.
3. In 1979, the US embassy in Iran was taken over by:
Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40.
4. During the 1980's a number of Americans were kidnapped in Lebanon by:
Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40.
5. In 1983, the US Marine barracks in Beirut was blown up by:
Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40.
6. In 1985 the cruise ship Achille Lauro was hijacked and a 70 year old American passenger was murdered and thrown overboard in his wheelchair by:
Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40.
7. In 1985 TWA flight 847 was hijacked at Athens, and a US Navy diver trying to rescue passengers was murdered by:
Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40.
8. In 1988, Pan Am Flight 103 was bombed by:
Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40.
9. In 1993 the World Trade Center was bombed the first time by:
Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40.
10. In 1998, the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania were bombed by:
Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40.
11. On 9/11/01, four airliners were hijacked; two were used as missiles to take out the World Trade Centers and of the remaining two, one crashed into the US Pentagon and the other was diverted and crashed by the passengers. Thousands of people were killed by:
Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40.
12. In 2002, and since then, the United States fought a war in Afghanistan against:
Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40.
13. In 2002 reporter Daniel Pearl was kidnapped and murdered by:
Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40.
No, I really don't see a pattern here to justify profiling, do you? So, to ensure we Americans never offend anyone, particularly fanatics intent on killing us, airport security screeners will no longer be allowed to profile certain people. They must conduct random searches of 80-year-old women, little kids, airline pilots with proper identification, secret agents who are members of the President's security detail, 85-year old Congressmen with metal hips, and Medal of Honor winner and former Governor Joe Foss....
....all so that they won't be guilty of "profiling."
Is that dumb or what? Now I know that some, perhaps many, good, peaceful, honest Muslims might be offended by being "profiled." But to that I can only say, so what? It is sad to say, but the problem is a problem that exists within Islam as a violent subculture that has killed thousands and there is no end in sight.
Perhaps it is time for Muslims all over the world to seize control and start a zero tolerance program against those who preach hate and plot to kill.... and yes, I know that many have. But in many countries not near enough.
Bits and pieces
Global Warming made a big time come back yesterday, for which I offer thanks. Much work was done on the yard here at the Palatial Retirement Compound,including the removal of the white oak tree leaves that hang on during most of winter and then drop in early spring. Messy they are and if the pair in the front yard keep offending me I think they will meet with Mr. Chain Saw.
In other non-news I noticed that a US Airways flight lost a piece of wing covering that hit a passenger window, producing a crack and (surely) a fair amount of consternation in the passengers. The plane landed safely so the news coverage was brief and limited, death and destruction being the usual requirement for extended talking head attention.
This reminds me of the Boeing 737 that had the top of its fuselage peel off during an inter-island flight in Hawaii. Southwest Airlines apparently has been ignoring the inspections the FAA mandated after the Aloha 737 structual failure. Given that a Flight Attendant was sucked out of the aircraft during the Aloha incident I would say they are lucky that passengers haven't discovered a hidden meaning in "You are now free to move about the country." If all passengers were shown pictures of the Aloha 737 surely there would be no grumbling about keeping their seat belts fastened while seated....
Returning to the Aloha 737, I can only tip my hat to the crew. Somehow the aircraft held together and the pilot landed it safely.
I was also reminded of a Navy P5M seaplane that had its starboard engine catch fire on a flight from PR to Norfolk. The fire did not go out and the pilot made a rapid descent and landed in the water....The rapid descent and sea water on landing put the fire out and the crew then taxied several hundred miles to Key West with a large crack in the wing. To those of you who think landing on water is "soft" I remind you of what you may have learned in high school physics. Water does not compress. Dirt does.
There is, of course, lots of politics going on but I feel that I have been too focused on Hussein. If the country doesn't know now what a disaster he will be as a President I fear that the stupidity epidemic is advanced to the terminal stage.
However, I note that Hussein's ex-minister the Reverend "God Damn America" Wright has cancelled his planned appearance at a church in Texas because of death threats.
I am sure both the Hillary and McCain campaigns are rushing agents and other protective measures to his side. The Reverend is far too valuable to both to let some nut remove him from his mortal coil.
In other non-news I noticed that a US Airways flight lost a piece of wing covering that hit a passenger window, producing a crack and (surely) a fair amount of consternation in the passengers. The plane landed safely so the news coverage was brief and limited, death and destruction being the usual requirement for extended talking head attention.
This reminds me of the Boeing 737 that had the top of its fuselage peel off during an inter-island flight in Hawaii. Southwest Airlines apparently has been ignoring the inspections the FAA mandated after the Aloha 737 structual failure. Given that a Flight Attendant was sucked out of the aircraft during the Aloha incident I would say they are lucky that passengers haven't discovered a hidden meaning in "You are now free to move about the country." If all passengers were shown pictures of the Aloha 737 surely there would be no grumbling about keeping their seat belts fastened while seated....
Returning to the Aloha 737, I can only tip my hat to the crew. Somehow the aircraft held together and the pilot landed it safely.
I was also reminded of a Navy P5M seaplane that had its starboard engine catch fire on a flight from PR to Norfolk. The fire did not go out and the pilot made a rapid descent and landed in the water....The rapid descent and sea water on landing put the fire out and the crew then taxied several hundred miles to Key West with a large crack in the wing. To those of you who think landing on water is "soft" I remind you of what you may have learned in high school physics. Water does not compress. Dirt does.
There is, of course, lots of politics going on but I feel that I have been too focused on Hussein. If the country doesn't know now what a disaster he will be as a President I fear that the stupidity epidemic is advanced to the terminal stage.
However, I note that Hussein's ex-minister the Reverend "God Damn America" Wright has cancelled his planned appearance at a church in Texas because of death threats.
I am sure both the Hillary and McCain campaigns are rushing agents and other protective measures to his side. The Reverend is far too valuable to both to let some nut remove him from his mortal coil.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
To help us get an even better view of
who Hussein really is, I offer two sterling examples. The first is by Chrustopher Hitchens in Slate. And it is priceless. Referring to Husseins feckless attempt to explain away Reverend Wright:
And to provide desert for that hearty comment, who else but Jackie Mason could condense it down to this:
If all of this wasn't just so damn serious.
Link
You often hear it said, of some political or other opportunist, that he would sell his own grandmother if it would suit his interests. But you seldom, if ever, see this notorious transaction actually being performed....
Looking for a moral equivalent to a professional demagogue who thinks that AIDS and drugs are the result of a conspiracy by the white man, Obama settled on an 85-year-old lady named Madelyn Dunham, who spent a good deal of her youth helping to raise him and who now lives alone and unwell in a condo in Honolulu. It would be interesting to know whether her charismatic grandson made her aware that he was about to touch her with his grace and make her famous in this way. By sheer good fortune, she, too, could be a part of it all and serve her turn in the great enhancement.
And to provide desert for that hearty comment, who else but Jackie Mason could condense it down to this:
Obama's speech, however, was brilliant for a different reason. He gave a speech about race when race was not the issue. It would be like President Bush addressing Congress and making a speech about crabgrass.
If all of this wasn't just so damn serious.
Link
If they can nail a Demo Gov...
they can nail anybody.
Heck, most 93 year old men would be bragging.
Heck, most 83 year old......
MANATEE COUNTY - Prosecutors are moving ahead with a case against one of two 93-year-old men picked up during undercover prostitution stings.
In the case of Frank Milio, prosecutors have issued subpoenas and plan to take him to trial in April.
Milio, according to police records, tried to pay $20 in November to an undercover officer on 14th Street West.
Milio recently told the Herald-Tribune he was only flirting with the woman.
Heck, most 93 year old men would be bragging.
Heck, most 83 year old......
Well duhhhhh
Researchers at Harvard say that publicly voiced doubts about the U.S. occupation of Iraq have a measurable "emboldenment effect" on insurgents there.
Periods of intense news media coverage in the United States of criticism about the war, or of polling about public opinion on the conflict, are followed by a small but quantifiable increases in the number of attacks on civilians and U.S. forces in Iraq, according to a study by Radha Iyengar, a Robert Wood Johnson Scholar in health policy research at Harvard and Jonathan Monten of the Belfer Center at the university's Kennedy School of Government.
Really? You think?
UPI Link
Now comes the spin.
Erica Chenoweth, a postdoctoral research fellow studying terrorism and insurgency at the Belfer Center and a specialist in the statistical analysis of violent events who has read the study, told UPI that it was "a good one."
"They have picked up some important and interesting data," she said. "I would say the findings are preliminary, and they need to be made more robust."
I wonder how they would do that? Wait for Harry Reid to declare the war lost?? Code Pink to attack a Marine Recruiting? Maybe some demos in the Bay area?
The researchers conclude that the increases in attacks are a necessary cost of the way democratic societies fight wars and say they are concerned that the research may be seized upon by the Iraq war's supporters to try and silence its critics.
"We are a little bit worried about that," Mr. Monten said in an interview. "Our data suggests that there is a small, but measurable cost" to "anything that provides information about attitudes towards the war."
I wonder how small they think the death and injury of a US military person is.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Who he is
In a post below this one I noted that we don't know who Hussein really is, but gave a few clues. This makes the picture clearer.
Who he is?? I think we know. Don't you?
Link to source article.
Like everyone else, I have my own political principles and beliefs; and I feel very strongly about them. But when I began fighting for anti-Islamist Muslim journalist, Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury [see AT Sunday edition], I knew that I could not be successful if I garnered support from only one political party or philosophy. The fact is, Shoaib was in prison, being tortured, and risking his life. He still is; which is why we have not stopped fighting. Clearly this was a matter of human rights, of basic American principles, and everyone with an ounce of human decency should support us.
In fact, I approached about 15 percent of the House and a handful of Senators: Democratic, Republican, left, right, moderate; you name it. And every one of them reacted with support; every one of them, that is, except one. Who was the one lawmaker that took a pass on saving the life of an imprisoned US ally and opponent of Islamist extremism? That's right, my own Illinois Senator Barack Obama.
... I brought Obama's staff extensive documentation of the injustice, as well as other evidence of Shoaib's activities; we spoke for quite a long time, but they never called back. In fact, they ignored all my subsequent follow-up contacts. But it was, after all soon after his election; perhaps early disorganization was to blame.
Yet, I spoke personally with Obama 13 months later...I spoke with to both him and Obama, who at his best moments looked quizzical and confused. While Durbin later sent a formal protest to the Bangladeshis, Obama never responded; nor again did he or his staff reply to my subsequent entreaties..
I spoke with Obama one other time about Shoaib's case, less than six months later. I reminded him or our last encounter, gave him an update on the case, and asked for his support in one of any number of ways. He hesitated a moment then held out his hand and said, "Well, we're sure happy for all the work you are doing." Propriety prevents me from verbalizing what I was thinking then. I offered to send him more information, which he asked me to do. And, guess what, I never heard back despite the reams of evidence I did send.
Who he is?? I think we know. Don't you?
Link to source article.
Oil Oil.... who's got the oil?
Maybe we do.
Wouldn't you just love to tell OPEC to kiss our shiny metal V8 ass??
In the next 30 days the USGS (U.S. Geological Survey) will release a new report giving an accurate resource assessment of the Bakken Oil Formation that covers North Dakota and portions of South Dakota and Montana. With new horizontal drilling technology it is believed that from 175 to 500 billion barrels of recoverable oil are held in this 200,000 square mile reserve that was initially discovered in 1951.
It was not until 2007, when EOG Resources of Texas started a frenzy when they drilled a single well in Parshal N.D. that is expected to yield 700,000 barrels of oil that real excitement and money started to flow in North Dakota. Marathon Oil is investing $1.5 billion and drilling 300 new wells in what is expected to be one of the greatest booms in Oil discovery since Oil was discovered in Saudi Arabia in 1938.
Wouldn't you just love to tell OPEC to kiss our shiny metal V8 ass??
Why am I not surprised?
(IsraelNN.com) Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama is currently hiding his anti-Israel views in order to get elected, according to a well-known anti-Israel activist. The activist, Ali Abunimah, claimed to know Obama well and to have met him on numerous occasions at pro-Palestinian events in Chicago.
In an article he penned for the anti-Israeli website Electronic Intifada, Abunimah wrote:
The last time I spoke to Obama was in the winter of 2004 at a gathering in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood. He was in the midst of a primary campaign to secure the Democratic nomination for the United States Senate seat he now occupies. But at that time polls showed him trailing.
"As he came in from the cold and took off his coat, I went up to greet him. He responded warmly, and volunteered, 'Hey, I’m sorry I haven’t said more about Palestine right now, but we are in a tough primary race.
'Hey, I’m sorry I haven’t said more about Palestine right now, but we are in a tough primary race.'
I’m hoping when things calm down I can be more up front.' He referred to my activism, including columns I was contributing to the The Chicago Tribune critical of Israeli and US policy [and said:] 'Keep up the good work!'"
Link
Hussein is proving more and more to be a typical old line Demo politican. Want a black? He's your man. Want an anti-Israeli/Jew? He's your man.
The question, of course, is which one of these is the real Hussein. Perhaps his refusal to wear a flag pen, his association with a church that has radical views and his association with American radicals tell us the answer.
Bits and pieces
Easter egg hunting is over and has been cancelled for next year due to the death by exposure to cold of the Easter Bunny. And in spite of the claims by Pope Algore’s minions that man made Global Warming continues to advance we have snow this morning on Tennessee’s Cumberland Plateau and below freezing temperatures in the western part of the state.
Perhaps weeder gander will drop by the local utility and explain that my utility bill has been impacted by only local temperature deviations, and even if the world wide average has been lower or flat for the past 10 years, mmGW remains the single greatest threat to mankind. My guess though is that the utility will just note that it is a local utility serving local customers. But I digress.
As noted below in another post, the Hussein campaign released financial information further connecting Hussein to Rezko, the person currently being tried for corruption in Chicago. The release has timed for minimum exposure. This tried and tired strategy may actually backfire since people are starting to recognize it for what it is.
In totally unrelated news, my dream of the Vols playing the Tigers for the national championship remains, although both will have to play better than they did yesterday to get there. But winning close games provides experience and confidence, two important traits.
And the DJIA is up 195 points… Have we reached the bottom and are now rising?? Time will tell.
Burt Prelutsky has finally come forth with his Oscar comments and makes some excellent points. The best being that in today’s world not many care who won… And may I say the contestants deserve worse.
But that got me thinking about where, and when, I had seen the movies that became my favorites….I do love games that keep the mind from becoming bored… Especially as someone who has spent hours and hours in commercial and military aircraft, I thoroughly understand that flying is about hours and hours of boredom mixed with moments of stark terror… Just kidding folks. Your valiant crew is never bothered by the fact that the starboard engine is on fire and the flight controls are locked.. But I again digress…
“Gone With the Wind” – Strand Theater with my Mom and two aunts. The audience undoubtedly transferred their hostility from The DamnYankees to the Japanese. My Dad didn’t attend, being otherwise occupied on some islands in the Pacific.
“A Place In The Sun” – I can’t remember where, or when, but I do know that I fell deeply in lust with Elizabeth Taylor. It was also the first time I realized people do dumb things and that bad results can happen for unexpected reasons.
“Patton” – Downtown Chicago circa 1971. George C. Scott was Patton. By then I knew that war wasn’t glory, but that sometimes death and destruction is required. I also loved Patton because he wanted to win as quickly as possible using whatever weapons necessary, thereby making the sacrifices of the troops mean something, and that winning quickly saves lives.
Too bad we lost our way in Vietnam, and to a degree, in Iraq.
But enough. Time to review my garden’s soil condition. At some point Global Warming will arrive.
Perhaps weeder gander will drop by the local utility and explain that my utility bill has been impacted by only local temperature deviations, and even if the world wide average has been lower or flat for the past 10 years, mmGW remains the single greatest threat to mankind. My guess though is that the utility will just note that it is a local utility serving local customers. But I digress.
As noted below in another post, the Hussein campaign released financial information further connecting Hussein to Rezko, the person currently being tried for corruption in Chicago. The release has timed for minimum exposure. This tried and tired strategy may actually backfire since people are starting to recognize it for what it is.
In totally unrelated news, my dream of the Vols playing the Tigers for the national championship remains, although both will have to play better than they did yesterday to get there. But winning close games provides experience and confidence, two important traits.
And the DJIA is up 195 points… Have we reached the bottom and are now rising?? Time will tell.
Burt Prelutsky has finally come forth with his Oscar comments and makes some excellent points. The best being that in today’s world not many care who won… And may I say the contestants deserve worse.
But that got me thinking about where, and when, I had seen the movies that became my favorites….I do love games that keep the mind from becoming bored… Especially as someone who has spent hours and hours in commercial and military aircraft, I thoroughly understand that flying is about hours and hours of boredom mixed with moments of stark terror… Just kidding folks. Your valiant crew is never bothered by the fact that the starboard engine is on fire and the flight controls are locked.. But I again digress…
“Gone With the Wind” – Strand Theater with my Mom and two aunts. The audience undoubtedly transferred their hostility from The DamnYankees to the Japanese. My Dad didn’t attend, being otherwise occupied on some islands in the Pacific.
“A Place In The Sun” – I can’t remember where, or when, but I do know that I fell deeply in lust with Elizabeth Taylor. It was also the first time I realized people do dumb things and that bad results can happen for unexpected reasons.
“Patton” – Downtown Chicago circa 1971. George C. Scott was Patton. By then I knew that war wasn’t glory, but that sometimes death and destruction is required. I also loved Patton because he wanted to win as quickly as possible using whatever weapons necessary, thereby making the sacrifices of the troops mean something, and that winning quickly saves lives.
Too bad we lost our way in Vietnam, and to a degree, in Iraq.
But enough. Time to review my garden’s soil condition. At some point Global Warming will arrive.
Shari Law continues to advance.
The radical Muslims attempts at imposing Shari Law on the world continues.
Source: Reuters
AMSTERDAM, March 23 (Reuters) - A U.S.-based web service, which Islam critic and Dutch right-wing lawmaker Geert Wilders planned to use to show his film critical of the Koran, said on Saturday that it had inactivated the site due to complaints.
"This site has been suspended while Network Solutions is investigating whether the site's content is in violation of the Network Solutions Acceptable Use Policy," the company said on the site www.fitnathemovie.com.....
Wilders' film has triggered fury in the Muslim world. The Dutch government has distanced itself from Wilders' views, fearing a backlash against the country in the Muslim world, similar to that against Denmark in 2006 after newspapers there published cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad.
Network Solutions probably wishes they never heard of this, but their shutting down the website doesn't bring any belief that they will tell the protesters to study the US Constitution and flip the switch back on.
The Internet's claim to fame is that it will replace newspapers and magazines as information providers. Given that many newspapers wouldn't publish the Danish cartoons it appears that Network Solutions will seek equivalence instead of superiority.
Pity. For a time there I thought freedom of speech was an important concept.
Source: Reuters
AMSTERDAM, March 23 (Reuters) - A U.S.-based web service, which Islam critic and Dutch right-wing lawmaker Geert Wilders planned to use to show his film critical of the Koran, said on Saturday that it had inactivated the site due to complaints.
"This site has been suspended while Network Solutions is investigating whether the site's content is in violation of the Network Solutions Acceptable Use Policy," the company said on the site www.fitnathemovie.com.....
Wilders' film has triggered fury in the Muslim world. The Dutch government has distanced itself from Wilders' views, fearing a backlash against the country in the Muslim world, similar to that against Denmark in 2006 after newspapers there published cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad.
Network Solutions probably wishes they never heard of this, but their shutting down the website doesn't bring any belief that they will tell the protesters to study the US Constitution and flip the switch back on.
The Internet's claim to fame is that it will replace newspapers and magazines as information providers. Given that many newspapers wouldn't publish the Danish cartoons it appears that Network Solutions will seek equivalence instead of superiority.
Pity. For a time there I thought freedom of speech was an important concept.
Do you remember Bob and Ray?
Their humor was satire, but not really cruel. Never vulgar or in bad taste it was part of a nicer and earlier world. Even better, it required the listener to use their brains. Something I sometimes think would be difficult for the current generation who have grown up listening to Shock Jocks and comedy that never gets above the belt or below the thighs.
Bob and Ray audios"
My thanks to In From the Cold.
Enjoy.
Bob and Ray audios"
My thanks to In From the Cold.
Enjoy.
It is always helpful to follow the money.
Such is the case of Hussein’s association with Rezko.
It is amazing how these politicians think they can associate with people and not be tainted by it.
The real estate transaction is especially troubling because the sellers’ offer included the adjacent landscaped lot and was to be sold with the house. Hussein evidently couldn’t purchase the home and the lot. By Mrs. Rezko stepping in and buying the lot Hussein was able to buy the house.
Folks, that’s a huge favor. I mean HUGE. The kind that are not forgotten. The kind that require no explanation.
And don’t you just love it when they release such information on a Sunday holiday PM? Makes me wonder what they are trying to hide.
the documents included the finance committee for his 2004 U.S. Senate bid. That list included Antoin "Tony" Rezko, a longtime friend and fundraiser now standing trial in Chicago on federal corruption charges, as well as Rezko's wife, Rita.
In a real estate transaction that has dogged Obama, he and his wife bought a South Side mansion on the same June 2005 day that Rita Rezko and her husband purchased an adjacent landscaped lot.
It is amazing how these politicians think they can associate with people and not be tainted by it.
The real estate transaction is especially troubling because the sellers’ offer included the adjacent landscaped lot and was to be sold with the house. Hussein evidently couldn’t purchase the home and the lot. By Mrs. Rezko stepping in and buying the lot Hussein was able to buy the house.
Folks, that’s a huge favor. I mean HUGE. The kind that are not forgotten. The kind that require no explanation.
And don’t you just love it when they release such information on a Sunday holiday PM? Makes me wonder what they are trying to hide.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Given the demonstrated close relationship
between Hussein and Rezko, I find this as even more reason for Hussien not wanting to be identified by his obviously Muslim middle name, "Hussein."
Chicago Tribune
Tony Rezko, who is standing trial on federal corruption charges, was sued Friday by a former business partner and son of Nation of Islam founder Elijah Muhammad, who is accusing Rezko of taking ownership of Muhammad's house without his consent.
The lawsuit by Jabir Muhammad accuses Rezko of persuading Muhammad and his wife to put their home into trust with Rezko.
The suit goes on to say that Rezko then took legal control of the home, which is in the Kenwood neighborhood.
Chicago Tribune
Krugman goofs
My old bud Larry P sent me an email with this article by Paul Krugman.
I read it with low expectations. Over the years Krugman has proven to me that he is not a disinterested observer, and Left Wing economists turned columnists have a habit of seeing the result, but never the cause. He did not disappoint.
Ordinary recessions do not have stock market crashes like Black Friday. And the cause was the purchase of stock on margin, as low as 10%. Once the fall started buyers couldn’t cover the margin without selling which further dropped the price which increased the margin call which increased the selling…. I’m sure you get the point.
The bank runs were the result of panic and rumors that the banks, like the stock market, were over leveraged. That many were didn’t help the situation.
Krugman also suffers from selective memory, failing to remember the Carter years and the Savings and Loan crisis, which Congress did nothing to fix, all its new laws came too late. The crisis, simply put, was caused by the S & L’s having too many low interest rate loans outstanding. When the rate of return became too low to pay the interest rates demanded by the Carter years inflation, people moved their money elsewhere and quit saving. The S & L industry collapsed. With little money to loan interest rates went out of sight, the housing industry collapsed and we had both inflation and recession.
I well remember taking a transfer based on “take it or be laid off,” having a house for sale that I left about $40,000 in and trying to purchase another when interest rates were in the 16-18% range for a 30 year fixed rate loan.
The solution then, and my salvation, was a negative Adjustable Rate Mortgage . It allowed me, and millions of others, to buy a house. With the Fed squeezing inflation out of the economy and the Stock Market recovering due to Reagan’s tax cuts I was able to re-finance and move forward.
Now, what’s happened? Krugman opines:
Again Krugman confuses cause and effect.
The system described exists because it became socially acceptable. In fact, many on the Left ranted over “red lining” and other bank practices used to keep the bank from making bad loans. People who had demonstrated they couldn’t manage money and who couldn’t afford to pay back a conventional loan were serviced by the so-called sub-prime market. If the government turned a blind eye to the situation, and it did, the reasons were that lots of money was being made and it was the politically correct thing to do.
And while it was the Demo Left calling the tunes, the Repubs get no kudos for trying to prevent it.
The acceptance of people into the system who should have been left out has yielded the result.
That the players on the finance side took every opportunity to become rich I have no doubt. I also have no doubt that I would be happy to see some of them put in jail. But after observing the do-nothing Demos and their “oversight,” I get nervous whenever they start to micro manage.
The Feds have stated they “have our back.” Under the Bush administration they have done more to try and fix the situation than any time in history.
And what has the Demos done? Call for more tax cuts as Reagan did? As Bush did?
No. The Demos call for tax increases. That is a sure way to make the problem worse.
But Krugman failed to mention that. But then I believe he is a Demo.
Link
I read it with low expectations. Over the years Krugman has proven to me that he is not a disinterested observer, and Left Wing economists turned columnists have a habit of seeing the result, but never the cause. He did not disappoint.
Contrary to popular belief, the stock market crash of 1929 wasn’t the defining moment of the Great Depression. What turned an ordinary recession into a civilization-threatening slump was the wave of bank runs that swept across America in 1930 and 1931.
Ordinary recessions do not have stock market crashes like Black Friday. And the cause was the purchase of stock on margin, as low as 10%. Once the fall started buyers couldn’t cover the margin without selling which further dropped the price which increased the margin call which increased the selling…. I’m sure you get the point.
The bank runs were the result of panic and rumors that the banks, like the stock market, were over leveraged. That many were didn’t help the situation.
Krugman also suffers from selective memory, failing to remember the Carter years and the Savings and Loan crisis, which Congress did nothing to fix, all its new laws came too late. The crisis, simply put, was caused by the S & L’s having too many low interest rate loans outstanding. When the rate of return became too low to pay the interest rates demanded by the Carter years inflation, people moved their money elsewhere and quit saving. The S & L industry collapsed. With little money to loan interest rates went out of sight, the housing industry collapsed and we had both inflation and recession.
I well remember taking a transfer based on “take it or be laid off,” having a house for sale that I left about $40,000 in and trying to purchase another when interest rates were in the 16-18% range for a 30 year fixed rate loan.
The solution then, and my salvation, was a negative Adjustable Rate Mortgage . It allowed me, and millions of others, to buy a house. With the Fed squeezing inflation out of the economy and the Stock Market recovering due to Reagan’s tax cuts I was able to re-finance and move forward.
Now, what’s happened? Krugman opines:
For example, in the old system, savers had federally insured deposits in tightly regulated savings banks, and banks used that money to make home loans. Over time, however, this was partly replaced by a system in which savers put their money in funds that bought asset-backed commercial paper from special investment vehicles that bought collateralized debt obligations created from securitized mortgages — with nary a regulator in sight.
As the years went by, the shadow banking system took over more and more of the banking business, because the unregulated players in this system seemed to offer better deals than conventional banks. Meanwhile, those who worried about the fact that this brave new world of finance lacked a safety net were dismissed as hopelessly old-fashioned.
Again Krugman confuses cause and effect.
The system described exists because it became socially acceptable. In fact, many on the Left ranted over “red lining” and other bank practices used to keep the bank from making bad loans. People who had demonstrated they couldn’t manage money and who couldn’t afford to pay back a conventional loan were serviced by the so-called sub-prime market. If the government turned a blind eye to the situation, and it did, the reasons were that lots of money was being made and it was the politically correct thing to do.
And while it was the Demo Left calling the tunes, the Repubs get no kudos for trying to prevent it.
The acceptance of people into the system who should have been left out has yielded the result.
That the players on the finance side took every opportunity to become rich I have no doubt. I also have no doubt that I would be happy to see some of them put in jail. But after observing the do-nothing Demos and their “oversight,” I get nervous whenever they start to micro manage.
The Feds have stated they “have our back.” Under the Bush administration they have done more to try and fix the situation than any time in history.
And what has the Demos done? Call for more tax cuts as Reagan did? As Bush did?
No. The Demos call for tax increases. That is a sure way to make the problem worse.
But Krugman failed to mention that. But then I believe he is a Demo.
Link
WG's blather continues
weeder gander wants to keep talking about me calling Hussein, Hussein. His comments are quoted, with my mine below.
Actually, parsing is generally not consider a nice trait, given that it is usually associated with people who want to duck and dodge. Kinda like being considered a smart crooked politician... Oh, didn't mean to bring up Jefferson Clinton that is....
If that was true, why didn't you just leave it alone??
I didn't say that anyone had brought Tall Cotton to your attention. I wrote that I have seen the same complaint before.
Ah, so it is coincidence that you made the same comment that other Lefties have made. Including one who does comment on TL.
I never said I was mentioned. Is this claim another reading problem or just a typical attempt at changing the subject. And do you deny that using "Hussein" in conjunction with Hussein the Demo Candidate is a politically radioactive thing to do?
And why do you think that is true?
Heh, to steal a favorite from one of TL's author's.
Are you now claiming that we must have permission to use a person's middle name??
As for you calling me a racist, I was waiting for that and you didn't disappoint me.
Nothing like declaring something and running off, eh?
I gave you an answer. That you can't understand it is your problem. I will repeat it.
I just resent being told that I can't call Hussein, Hussein. I think it an attempt by Hussein to tell me what to write and what to think.
BTW - As you know, calling someone a racist, as you did me, is a no-no at TalkLeft.
I prefer to let you get away with it because I haven't made a racist statement. Hussein did. Your support of him defines you.
(I had written)Parsing doesn't become you because unlike Hussein you don't have an adoring fan base to let you mouth words and walk away
(wg)I'm sorry you feel threatened enough to disparage my parsing ability because of an insecurity about your own, but you really aren't making sense now.
Actually, parsing is generally not consider a nice trait, given that it is usually associated with people who want to duck and dodge. Kinda like being considered a smart crooked politician... Oh, didn't mean to bring up Jefferson Clinton that is....
(I had written)You had a motive, call it reason if you like, to decide to make a rather typical comment about my using Hussein.
(wg wrote)Yes, I said I was curious, and the comment wasn't pro or anti BHO, and was mostly an observation which you responded to with honesty and snark, much more of the latter than the former.
If that was true, why didn't you just leave it alone??
(I had written) so I know that it wasn't original with you, but a "talking point" from Hussein's camp and camp followers.
(wg wrote)Sorry, I might know some folks who are BHO supporters, but none of them brought your usage to my attention.
I didn't say that anyone had brought Tall Cotton to your attention. I wrote that I have seen the same complaint before.
(I had writen)Tell me. Did you read it on KOS? MoveOn? Some other Leftie blog?
(wg wrote)I saw your blog comment and the usage was so unusual that I felt the necessity to remark and satisfy my curiosity about it. I do not frequent either site, but I have been known to lurk at a Leftie blog you've commented at, FWIW.
Ah, so it is coincidence that you made the same comment that other Lefties have made. Including one who does comment on TL.
(wg wrote)I don't think you're mentioned in either website, but like most people who demonstrate paranoid behavior, you lack a sense of proportion about common human behavior.
I never said I was mentioned. Is this claim another reading problem or just a typical attempt at changing the subject. And do you deny that using "Hussein" in conjunction with Hussein the Demo Candidate is a politically radioactive thing to do?
And why do you think that is true?
(I wrote)The post asked if Hussein is a racist. I used his words and the definition of racism for comparison. I didn't even mention his 20 year association with a Minister that a reasonable person would have rejected 19 years and 11
months ago. I didn't need to.
(wg wrote)I didn't know that being a racist entitled you to use the middle name of said racist in refering to them.
Heh, to steal a favorite from one of TL's author's.
Are you now claiming that we must have permission to use a person's middle name??
As for you calling me a racist, I was waiting for that and you didn't disappoint me.
(wg wrote)The things I've learned on the internets!
(I wrote)You know, whatever language I speak you can't answer the question.
(wg wrote) I just did.
Nothing like declaring something and running off, eh?
Of course, the fact that you didn't have a logical or reasonable answer to my question should be overlooked because?????????????
I gave you an answer. That you can't understand it is your problem. I will repeat it.
I just resent being told that I can't call Hussein, Hussein. I think it an attempt by Hussein to tell me what to write and what to think.
BTW - As you know, calling someone a racist, as you did me, is a no-no at TalkLeft.
I prefer to let you get away with it because I haven't made a racist statement. Hussein did. Your support of him defines you.
This is beyond outrageous
Get this: Right in the middle of the hottest presidential primary in decades, both Obama and Hillary are sending their foreign policy honchos to Damascus. These advisors are people who have a chance of running US foreign policy in the next administration.
They aren't shy. They are taking over our foreign affairs right now, because they are entitled to. They know better than our elected officials.
Guess they are trying to get the pole position for The Surrender Race.
Damascus has also been the transit point for thousands of jihadis going to Iraq to commit suicide-murders against Americans and Iraqis. If you want to talk to Al Qaida and the gang, Damascus is your place. Syria's President Assad is also Iran's best buddy in the Arab world. (Iran is the State Department's biggest terror-sponsoring state.) So Assad is the go-to guy for all the terror sponsors.
Link
These are your candidates, dear Demos. Enjoy them. Declare your agreement with what they are doing.
Stupid things and schools
Proving again that no group of organizations top what we find in schools:
SEASIDE, Calif. — A 15-year-old girl who stopped an out-of-control school bus she was riding on was handed a Saturday detention instead because she was skipping school.
Marina High School student Amanda Rouse was on a bus with 40 elementary school students Wednesday morning when the driver fell out of her seat after a turn and hit her head.
Rouse jumped up and applied the brakes, bringing the bus to a halt after striking two parked cars. No one was injured.
But Rouse said she was punished because she wasn't supposed to be on the bus.
Rouse said she fell ill on the way to school, but instead of calling in sick, she asked the bus driver for a lift back to the bus yard before the accident happened. She must attend Saturday school as punishment for failing to call in sick that day.
"She is in trouble with school because she made the wrong decision," said Rouse's grandmother, Sally Correll. "But I can't help but believe that she was where God wanted her to be."
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Standby for riots
VATICAN CITY - Italy's most prominent Muslim, an iconoclastic writer who condemned Islamic extremism and defended Israel, converted to Catholicism Saturday in a baptism by the pope at a Vatican Easter service.
Link
Theories and theories
weeder gander has a disaagreement re global warming. He opines:
I see that now that we know Global Warmig is a hoax, you have decided to call it "temperature change."
As for science, shall we look at your qualifiers?
"Some uncertainty remains.." Do tell.
"but it looks like..." Oh, really?
"In the judgment of most..." Why am I not surprised?
"consensus of the..." Is that the same consensus that, at one time, stated that the earth was flat??
" The Sun is once again less bright as we approach solar minimum, yet global warming continues...." Not true..as the head of the IPPC acknowledges.
Link
And then: "American Meteorological Society: "The nature of science is such that there is rarely total agreement among scientists."
This is, at best, total horseshit to keep money flowing to people vested in studies and the politics of transfering wealth from the haves to the have nots.
I repeat. A theory is a theory no matter how many people believe in it. The temperature increase has stalled at the same time man is pumping more carbon d into the air.
That's game, set and match.
Weeder Gander said...
(I had written)I see that you engage in the usual blather of the know nothing Left when you can't answer a question...
I did, but you choosing to ignore my answer doesn't mean it didn't exist.
(I had written)Shorter, the politically correct answer is that it was warm enough for Greenland to be green, and without any cars to blame, it has to have been a "local" thing.
What part of
"records that do exist show is that there was no multi-century periods when global or hemispheric temperatures were the same or warmer than in the 20th century".[2]
don't you understand?
(I had written)"I'll stick with the sun. Waxing and waning as it has done for millions of years...
Try Occam's Razor.
It slices your argument."
Not if you actually understand the science:
Some uncertainty remains about the role of natural variations in causing climate change. Solar variability certainly plays a minor role, but it looks like only a quarter of the recent variations can be attributed to the Sun. At most. During the initial discovery period of global warming, the magnitude of the influence of increased activity on the Sun was not well determined.
Solar irradiance changes have been measured reliably by satellites for only 30 years. These precise observations show changes of a few tenths of a percent that depend on the level of activity in the 11-year solar cycle. Changes over longer periods must be inferred from other sources. Estimates of earlier variations are important for calibrating the climate models. While a component of recent global warming may have been caused by the increased solar activity of the last solar cycle, that component was very small compared to the effects of additional greenhouse gases. According to a NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) press release, "...the solar increases do not have the ability to cause large global temperature increases...greenhouse gases are indeed playing the dominant role..." The Sun is once again less bright as we approach solar minimum, yet global warming continues.
This is almost a year old:
“Recent estimates (Figure 9.9) indicate a relatively small combined effect of natural forcings on the global mean temperature evolution of the seconds half of the twentieth century, with a small net cooling from the combined effects of solar and volcanic forcings”
Here's a list of the fly-by-night lefty organizations that believe in AGW with their reasonings:
A question which frequently arises in conveying the scientific opinion to a broader audience is to what extent that opinion rises to the level of a consensus. Several scientific organizations have explicitly used the term "consensus" in their statements:
American Association for the Advancement of Science: "The conclusions in this statement reflect the scientific consensus represented by, for example, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and the Joint National Academies' statement."[23]
US National Academy of Science: "In the judgment of most climate scientists, Earth’s warming in recent decades has been caused primarily by human activities that have increased the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. ... On climate change, [the National Academies’ reports] have assessed consensus findings on the science..."[36]
Joint Science Academies' statement, 2005: "We recognise the international scientific consensus of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)."[37]
Joint Science Academies' statement, 2001: "The work of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) represents the consensus of the international scientific community on climate change science. We recognise IPCC as the world’s most reliable source of information on climate change and its causes, and we endorse its method of achieving this consensus."[38]
American Meteorological Society: "The nature of science is such that there is rarely total agreement among scientists. Individual scientific statements and papers—the validity of some of which has yet to be assessed adequately—can be exploited in the policy debate and can leave the impression that the scientific community is sharply divided on issues where there is, in reality, a strong scientific consensus. ...IPCC assessment reports are prepared at approximately five-year intervals by a large international group of experts who represent the broad range of expertise and perspectives relevant to the issues. The reports strive to reflect a consensus evaluation of the results of the full body of peer-reviewed research. ... They provide an analysis of what is known and not known, the degree of consensus, and some indication of the degree of confidence that can be placed on the various statements and conclusions."[39]
Care to apply Occams' razor to this?:
Oreskes, 2004
A 2004 article by geologist and historian of science Naomi Oreskes summarized a study of the scientific literature on climate change.[40] The essay concluded that there is a scientific consensus on the reality of anthropogenic climate change. The author analyzed 928 abstracts of papers from refereed scientific journals between 1993 and 2003, listed with the keywords "global climate change". Oreskes divided the abstracts into six categories: explicit endorsement of the consensus position, evaluation of impacts, mitigation proposals, methods, paleoclimate analysis, and rejection of the consensus position. 75% of the abstracts were placed in the first three categories, thus either explicitly or implicitly accepting the consensus view; 25% dealt with methods or paleoclimate, thus taking no position on current anthropogenic climate change; none of the abstracts disagreed with the consensus position, which the author found to be "remarkable". According to the report, "authors evaluating impacts, developing methods, or studying paleoclimatic change might believe that current climate change is natural. However, none of these papers argued that point."
March 22, 2008 4:09 PM
I see that now that we know Global Warmig is a hoax, you have decided to call it "temperature change."
As for science, shall we look at your qualifiers?
"Some uncertainty remains.." Do tell.
"but it looks like..." Oh, really?
"In the judgment of most..." Why am I not surprised?
"consensus of the..." Is that the same consensus that, at one time, stated that the earth was flat??
" The Sun is once again less bright as we approach solar minimum, yet global warming continues...." Not true..as the head of the IPPC acknowledges.
She replied: "No, actually, there has been cooling, if you take 1998 as your point of reference. If you take 2002 as your point of reference, then temperatures have plateaued. This is certainly not what you'd expect if carbon dioxide is driving temperature because carbon dioxide levels have been increasing but temperatures have actually been coming down over the last 10 years."
Duffy: "Is this a matter of any controversy?"
Marohasy: "Actually, no. The head of the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) has actually acknowledged it. He talks about the apparent plateau in temperatures so far this century. So he recognises that in this century, over the past eight years, temperatures have plateaued ... This is not what you'd expect, as I said, because if carbon dioxide is driving temperature then you'd expect that, given carbon dioxide levels have been continuing to increase, temperatures should be going up ... So (it's) very unexpected, not something that's being discussed. It should be being discussed, though, because it's very significant."
Link
And then: "American Meteorological Society: "The nature of science is such that there is rarely total agreement among scientists."
This is, at best, total horseshit to keep money flowing to people vested in studies and the politics of transfering wealth from the haves to the have nots.
I repeat. A theory is a theory no matter how many people believe in it. The temperature increase has stalled at the same time man is pumping more carbon d into the air.
That's game, set and match.
The man who would be king
and this is how he plans to "listen" to us.
But, I admit it is "change."
My thanks to Mike L!
Dumber and dumber
On March 16 I posted this, which was essentially some comments on the failures of the CIA. As part of that, I linked to this WSF article.
Now comes Anonymous who writes:
Now in the context of the article, I really don't know. But since the fact that 9/11/01 was during Bush's first term, the snarky intent of the know nothing question is clear. I would mention that Clinton was President for 8 years, and Bush had been President for not quite 8 months, but such facts never seem to penetrate the minds of someone who ask such dumb questions, so I must resort to facts and links.
In case Anon has forgotten, Clarke was Clinton's NSA, so I think he would know. And that point is very damning, don't you think? No plan after 8 years, WTC I, US embassies being blown up, USS Cole hit...etc.....????? But let's go on.
So Clinton had no plan, but they had a strategy. Now remember. A strategy is not a plan. They did have a policy. And the Bush Administration decided immediately to pursue that policy. And...
So here we have the Bush Admninistration taking action within two weeks that the Clintons had let lie for 8 years. Do you like that?? No? I thought you would be grumpy. Have some more.
The above come from this article/
Now, much has been made of the PBA of 8/8/01 in which Bush was told about the threat, but in which he appeared to pay little attention. Did you ever think it was because he already knew about it? Read the following. It quotes Condi Rice:
Well, well. Thirty four days before 8/8/01 and about two months before 9/11, we have Bush's NSA calling all the troops together and given them a warning of a clear and present danger.... Did it work? No.
But don't give me this sh*t that Bush's administration, and Bush, wasn't doing anything. And no charge for the education.
And if you really want to scratch your head, we have this March 1997 interview with bin Ladin by CNN's (then) Peter Arnnet. It follows.
That is as clear a declaration of war against the US as could be, yet the Clinton Administration chose to ignore it. Why such gross ignorance??
That is the question, dear Anon. Why such ignorance??? Both then, and now by those
on the Left who think we can do business with such people.
Now comes Anonymous who writes:
"bin Laden determined to strike"..............
That was ignored when WHO? was President?
Now in the context of the article, I really don't know. But since the fact that 9/11/01 was during Bush's first term, the snarky intent of the know nothing question is clear. I would mention that Clinton was President for 8 years, and Bush had been President for not quite 8 months, but such facts never seem to penetrate the minds of someone who ask such dumb questions, so I must resort to facts and links.
RICHARD CLARKE: Actually, I've got about seven points, let me just go through them quickly. Um, the first point, I think the overall point is, there was no plan on Al Qaeda that was passed from the Clinton administration to the Bush administration.
In case Anon has forgotten, Clarke was Clinton's NSA, so I think he would know. And that point is very damning, don't you think? No plan after 8 years, WTC I, US embassies being blown up, USS Cole hit...etc.....????? But let's go on.
(Clarke) And in January 2001, the incoming Bush administration was briefed on the existing strategy. They were also briefed on these series of issues that had not been decided on in a couple of years.
And the third point is the Bush administration decided then, you know, in late January, to do two things. One, vigorously pursue the existing policy, including all of the lethal covert action findings, which we've now made public to some extent.
And the third point is the Bush administration decided then, you know, in late January, to do two things. One, vigorously pursue the existing policy, including all of the lethal covert action findings, which we've now made public to some extent
So Clinton had no plan, but they had a strategy. Now remember. A strategy is not a plan. They did have a policy. And the Bush Administration decided immediately to pursue that policy. And...
(Clarke)And the point is, while this big review was going on, there were still in effect, the lethal findings were still in effect. The second thing the administration decided to do is to initiate a process to look at those issues which had been on the table for a couple of years and get them decided.
So, point five, that process which was initiated in the first week in February, uh, decided in principle, uh in the spring to add to the existing Clinton strategy and to increase CIA resources, for example, for covert action, five-fold, to go after Al Qaeda.
So here we have the Bush Admninistration taking action within two weeks that the Clintons had let lie for 8 years. Do you like that?? No? I thought you would be grumpy. Have some more.
(Clarke)And then (Bush)changed the strategy from one of rollback with Al Qaeda over the course of five years, which it had been, to a new strategy that called for the rapid elimination of Al Qaeda. That is in fact the timeline.
The above come from this article/
Now, much has been made of the PBA of 8/8/01 in which Bush was told about the threat, but in which he appeared to pay little attention. Did you ever think it was because he already knew about it? Read the following. It quotes Condi Rice:
(Clarke)"At the special meeting on July 5(2001) were the FBI, Secret Service, FAA, Customs, Coast Guard, and Immigration. We told them that we thought a spectacular al Qaeda terrorist attack was coming in the near future." That had been had been George Tenet's language. "We asked that they take special measures to increase security and surveillance. Thus, the White House did ensure that domestic law enforcement including the FAA knew that the CSG believed that a major al Qaeda attack was coming, and it could be in the U.S., and did ask that special measures be taken."
Well, well. Thirty four days before 8/8/01 and about two months before 9/11, we have Bush's NSA calling all the troops together and given them a warning of a clear and present danger.... Did it work? No.
But don't give me this sh*t that Bush's administration, and Bush, wasn't doing anything. And no charge for the education.
And if you really want to scratch your head, we have this March 1997 interview with bin Ladin by CNN's (then) Peter Arnnet. It follows.
REPORTER: Mr. Bin Ladin, will the end of the United States' presence in Saudi Arabia, their withdrawal, will that end your call for jihad against the United States and against the US ?
BIN LADIN: The cause of the reaction must be sought and the act that has triggered this reaction must be eliminated. The reaction came as a result of the US aggressive policy towards the entire Muslim world and not just towards the Arabian peninsula. So if the cause that has called for this act comes to an end, this act, in turn, will come to an end. So, the driving-away jihad against the US does not stop with its withdrawal from the Arabian peninsula, but rather it must desist from aggressive intervention against Muslims in the whole world.
That is as clear a declaration of war against the US as could be, yet the Clinton Administration chose to ignore it. Why such gross ignorance??
That is the question, dear Anon. Why such ignorance??? Both then, and now by those
on the Left who think we can do business with such people.
I wonder why
On Wednesday I wrote:
Last night:
Well, to be fair, we don't know what Bush has been saying to the Sheiks of Arabia and the Castro Wannabee in Venezula, plus Cheney's trip. But we still don't know. So the question is fair enough. But since Bush isn’t doing what this unknown Leftie wants, I wonder why he doesn't call Harry “The War is Lost” Reid and cover some of the following points.
Why doesn't Hussein and Hillary come out demanding that these robbers on camels cut prices and/or increase prodcution? After all, Hussein told Canada that NAFTA wasn't going to change and to pay no attention to what he was saying in Ohio.
And why did the Demo Congress dither and blather about the "recovery plan checks" rather than just pass it?
And why hasn't the Demo Congress passed a law extending the current tax cuts?
Uncertainty over them is hurting the markets.
And why hasn't the Demo Congress "cut" the Federal Gas tax .40 cents/gallon, thus saving the tax payer $6.00 on every 15 gallon fill up?
Why hasn’t the Demo Congress demanded that Bush open the Strategic Reserve?
The facts are that the Demos believe that a poor economy helps them win elections, so they have no reason to try and help the economy.
Nice people, eh???
One year ago:
1) Consumer confidence stood at a 2 1/2 year high;
2) Regular gasoline sold for $2.19 a gallon;
3) the unemployment rate was 4.5%.
Since voting in a Democratic Congress in 2006 we're seen:
1) Consumer confidence plummet;
2) the cost of regular gasoline soar to over $3 a gallon;
3) Unemployment is up to 5% (a 10% increase);
4) American households have seen $2.3 trillion in equity value evaporate (stock and mutual fund losses);
5) Americans have seen their home equity drop by $1.2 trillion dollars;
6)1% of American homes are in foreclosure.
America voted for change in 2006, and we got it!
Last night:
Anonymous said...
Why doesn't the President "jawbone" the OPEC countries, as he suggested for President Clinton to do in the 2000 Campaign?
Well, to be fair, we don't know what Bush has been saying to the Sheiks of Arabia and the Castro Wannabee in Venezula, plus Cheney's trip. But we still don't know. So the question is fair enough. But since Bush isn’t doing what this unknown Leftie wants, I wonder why he doesn't call Harry “The War is Lost” Reid and cover some of the following points.
Why doesn't Hussein and Hillary come out demanding that these robbers on camels cut prices and/or increase prodcution? After all, Hussein told Canada that NAFTA wasn't going to change and to pay no attention to what he was saying in Ohio.
And why did the Demo Congress dither and blather about the "recovery plan checks" rather than just pass it?
And why hasn't the Demo Congress passed a law extending the current tax cuts?
Uncertainty over them is hurting the markets.
And why hasn't the Demo Congress "cut" the Federal Gas tax .40 cents/gallon, thus saving the tax payer $6.00 on every 15 gallon fill up?
Why hasn’t the Demo Congress demanded that Bush open the Strategic Reserve?
The facts are that the Demos believe that a poor economy helps them win elections, so they have no reason to try and help the economy.
Nice people, eh???
Friday, March 21, 2008
Is Hussein a racist?
Let's look at the definition of racism:
Now, let's examine what Hussein said.
So he is judging all white people based on his belief that they all fear blacks.
Re-read the definition.
The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others.
Discrimination or prejudice based on race.
Now, let's examine what Hussein said.
610 WIP host Angelo Cataldi asked Obama about his Tuesday morning speech on race at the National Constitution Center in which he referenced his own white grandmother and her prejudice. Obama told Cataldi that "The point I was making was not that my grandmother harbors any racial animosity, but that she is a typical white person. If she sees somebody on the street that she doesn't know (pause) there's a reaction in her that doesn't go away and it comes out in the wrong way."
So he is judging all white people based on his belief that they all fear blacks.
Re-read the definition.
Poorly said
Yesterday morning in a low level rant about the ignorance of man made Global Warming in general, I wrote:
That's like saying that bank robbers create banks. Not true.
I should have noted that a nation of know-nothings is creating scare merchants, who are all busy filling their bottles of snake oil telling us that they are ready to save us from having to know anything and think for ourselves. All that is required is that we give them our money and give up our free will.
I wish I could say that I think they will fail, but looking at the current state of our education system, I don't see the Calvary coming over the hill. What I see is a mass of graduates from K-12 who have massive self-esteem, but no education in science, math or logic. We have equipped them for failure.
And, unless the student opts for a "hard" science type of higher degree, they wind up owing Uncle Sam thousands of dollars for a degree that too often qualifies them only for employment that has "Do you want to biggie size that?" in its job description.
What I worry about is that the scare merchants are creating a nation of know-nothings.
That's like saying that bank robbers create banks. Not true.
I should have noted that a nation of know-nothings is creating scare merchants, who are all busy filling their bottles of snake oil telling us that they are ready to save us from having to know anything and think for ourselves. All that is required is that we give them our money and give up our free will.
I wish I could say that I think they will fail, but looking at the current state of our education system, I don't see the Calvary coming over the hill. What I see is a mass of graduates from K-12 who have massive self-esteem, but no education in science, math or logic. We have equipped them for failure.
And, unless the student opts for a "hard" science type of higher degree, they wind up owing Uncle Sam thousands of dollars for a degree that too often qualifies them only for employment that has "Do you want to biggie size that?" in its job description.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
McCain still has problems in knowing
who his friends are.
Link
And note that no one says that the contents aren't accurate.
A McCain campaign aide actively pushed an incendiary, racially-charged video that uses the controversial words of Barack Obama's pastor to tar Obama as unpatriotic -- despite the fact that McCain himself has suggested that Obama shouldn't be held accountable for Wright's views.
The aide, Soren Dayton, who works in McCain's political department, has been suspended from the campaign, a McCain spokesperson, Jill Hazelbaker, confimed to me.
Link
And note that no one says that the contents aren't accurate.
MSNBC has revealed that Hussein's passport
file has been breached.
And, naturally, Hussein's minions are in high dungeon.
The State Department is blaming three low level staffers.... I don't know...
Can anyone confirm Sandy Berger's location?
And, naturally, Hussein's minions are in high dungeon.
The State Department is blaming three low level staffers.... I don't know...
Can anyone confirm Sandy Berger's location?
Global Warming fails to defend Chicago!
Continuing its year long retreat, Global Warming has abandoned Chicago to the clutches of a spring snow storm of 6 to 8 inches.
But the planet, according to Pope Algore and his cadre of climatology for dummies, must be saved.
In related news many expect Hussein's Spiritual Advisor, aka Reverend Wright, to note that America is to blame for AIDS, crack cocaine and Global warming.
But the planet, according to Pope Algore and his cadre of climatology for dummies, must be saved.
In related news many expect Hussein's Spiritual Advisor, aka Reverend Wright, to note that America is to blame for AIDS, crack cocaine and Global warming.
If you don't drive and don't give a flip about
the economy...
Vote Democratic!!!
As for those who say they would pay more for gasoline to fix a NON problem, all I can say is that the Stupid Epidemic is worse than I thought.
Link
Vote Democratic!!!
Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., wants to help cut consumption with a gas tax but some don't agree with the idea, according to a new poll by the National Center for Public Policy Research.
The poll, scheduled to be released on Thursday, shows 48 percent don't support paying even a penny more, 28 percent would pay up to 50 cents more, 10 percent would pay more than 50 cents and 8 percent would pay more than a dollar.
As for those who say they would pay more for gasoline to fix a NON problem, all I can say is that the Stupid Epidemic is worse than I thought.
Link
A correction
In the interest of accuracy I note that the picture shown below was taken the first week of April last year when we were in the throes of a full fledged Man Made Global Warming attack. Having beat back the attack, the picture to the far left was yesterday. The snow shot was about a week ago. I believe it is safe to say that Mr. Squirrel was happier while being ravaged by GW. I know I was.
In the meantime, people keeping asking hard questions. Here is one from Dr. Roy Spencer.
2) And regarding those observational estimates of (somewhat) positive cloud feedbacks: How do you know that the cloud changes that have been observed during temperature changes really are “feedbacks”? In other words, how do you know that the temperature changes caused the cloud changes, rather than the other way around?...
The fact that we don’t have a good enough understanding (or observations) of cloud changes, or precipitation efficiency changes, on decadal time scales to document such potential mechanisms seems like pretty weak justification for blaming all of our recent warming on mankind. And if you say, “well, the IPCC doesn’t claim that ALL of the warming is manmade…”, then tell me: About what percentage of the warming IS natural, and how did you come up with that quantitative estimate?...
I fear that the sloppy science that too many climate researchers have lapsed into could, in the end, hurt our scientific discipline beyond repair. The very high level of certainty (90%) claimed by the IPCC for their manmade explanation for warming can not be justified based upon the scientific evidence, and is little more than an expression of their faith that they understand the causes of climate variability – which they clearly don’t.
It's not the scientists that I worry about. The bad ones will eventually get washed out merely because facts and natural laws do not change. What I worry about is that the scare merchants are creating a nation of know-nothings.
I think it is counterintuitive for us to believe we can pollute and create emissions and not expect nature to be messed up. Its like saying dumping toxic chemicals in the water won't cause mutations of frogs in river deltas, or that top soil erosion is not happening.
The fact that carbon dixiode was taught as a natural cycle and is not a pollutant was taught in the 9th grade when I went to school. Evidently it is not being taught that now. Such failures in education has led to several generations who can not think for themselves, and thus believe any thing they are told.
And that's scary.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
In case you missed this.....
One year ago:
1) Consumer confidence stood at a 2 1/2 year high;
2) Regular gasoline sold for $2.19 a gallon;
3) the unemployment rate was 4.5%.
Since voting in a Democratic Congress in 2006 we're seen:
1) Consumer confidence plummet;
2) the cost of regular gasoline soar to over $3 a gallon;
3) Unemployment is up to 5% (a 10% increase);
4) American households have seen $2.3 trillion in equity value evaporate (stock and mutual fund losses);
5) Americans have seen their home equity drop by $1.2 trillion dollars;
6)1% of American homes are in foreclosure.
America voted for change in 2006, and we got it!
My thanks to Jimmy M and about 10 others who also sent it. It is just too ironic not to post.
Rain rain go away
I wouldn't say we have had too much rain, but all the yard critters are lining up 2 x 2....
A squirrel has discovered the bird feeder but still remains shy. In Denver they became so accustomed to a free lunch they would face the bay window and chatter their demands should the tray be empty. I soon understood they were good Leftists.
Did you know that squirrels eat only the soft end of the corn kernel? The hard husk is dropped to the ground making a terrible mess. Like teenagers they don't pick up after themselves.
The pear trees have broken into full bloom, the tulips and buttercups are blooming and the other trees are budding. It is now do or be dug up for the Japanese maples who suffered so from the late freeze last year and the dry summer. If they must be replaced perhaps Pope Algore will pay the freight since his global warming failed. Should I hold my breath?
The strawberries are in a horrible mess having been flooded by cold water for most of the winter. My plan to move them to higher ground will be executed as soon as I can walk without sinking into mud. This will disappoint not only the squirrels, but the rabbits. Both enjoy green strawberries. Don't ask me to explain. But the picture is proof of the squirrel's evil ways.
I shall spend the next hour planning my garden. It is a fun thing to do. Almost as much fun as cranking up the big digger and churning the dirt.
Rain rain go away..... for at least a week!
Bump and update.... If you want a closer look, click on the picture.
By golly Slate gets it
Doesn't Obama mean Rev. Wright's comments were 'not only divisive but wrong,' rather than the other way around? Isn't it worse to be wrong than "divisive"? Is unity the overriding virtue for Obama?
Well yes. Yes indeed. You see, only by voting for Hussein can we have true unity and prove that the are sorry for the sins of the past.
From the beginning this race was about race, although no one would mention the 800 pound gorilla munching leaves in the corner. Now it is out, and it is Hussein who has brought it out.
Slate Link
It's my party and I'll complain if I want to...
The Florida Demos have this problem.
They gave a primary and millions came. Problem is, Daddy DNC had told them not to, and that the punishment would be their votes wouldn't count. Now they're stamping their feet and demanding the rules be changed, just for them.
Aren't these same people who designed a ballot the elderly south Florida Demo base couldn't figure out in 2000 and then kept demanding recounts even after recount time had expired? And aren't these the same people who didn't want absentee military votes counted??
You have to wonder if Alzheimer's is contagious.
They gave a primary and millions came. Problem is, Daddy DNC had told them not to, and that the punishment would be their votes wouldn't count. Now they're stamping their feet and demanding the rules be changed, just for them.
Aren't these same people who designed a ballot the elderly south Florida Demo base couldn't figure out in 2000 and then kept demanding recounts even after recount time had expired? And aren't these the same people who didn't want absentee military votes counted??
You have to wonder if Alzheimer's is contagious.
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