Monday, December 18. 2006
Disney tells J D Worley (photo) he cannot go to Disney World looking like that. He must shave, because Santa is a Disney character! Moonbattery. My opinion? This guy should be busy with his elves in the North Pole two weeks before Christmas, and not hanging out with all of the fat Americans at Tinsley World. (Image borrowed from Moonbattery) What happened to the bird flu scare? An update. (h/t, Junk Science) Update on the unraveling of the Episcopalians. Is this really all about homosexuality? I doubt it. NYT. I suspect that was just the final straw. YouTube and copyright laws. It all sounds fuzzy, but one probably shouldn't post copyrighted stuff on YouTube. This year's war on Christmas. From a piece by Steyn: Seattle Airport could certainly put up a menorah. And maybe a commemoration of Eid, and Kwanzaa, and something for solstice worshippers, and perhaps something for litigious atheists. But to do that is to turn society into a kind of greater airport departure lounge -- to say it's no more than an assemblage of whoever happens to be in it at any particular time. Successful societies (unlike plastic trees) have deep roots: Nobody should be obliged to believe Jesus is the son of God, but likewise nobody should take such umbrage at trees and tinsel and instrumental versions of "Silent Night" that he would deny the reality of the land he lives in to the vast majority of his fellow citizens. Because the logic of that leads not to a diverse secular society but to an atomized ersatz non-society. And, as those other touchy types the Islamists well understand, once you put reality up for grabs, all kinds of pathologies suddenly become viable. On which note, God rest ye merry. It's tougher than you'd think.
From a piece by Fjordman on Alexander Boot's book, How the West was Lost: Is Islam compatible with democracy? This is a question I address elsewhere. We also have to ask ourselves, however, whether the conditions needed for a properly functioning democratic system are currently present even in the West. I’m not always sure about that. In a functioning democratic state, the state passes laws in accordance with the wishes of the people, and also strives to uphold these laws. In Western Europe in particular, the state does neither, as most laws are passed by unelected EU bureaucrats and not elected national parliaments, and as the streets are increasingly ruled by gangs and criminals.
Sunday, December 17. 2006
 Don't forget a couple of our favorite web shopping sites: Sierra Trading Post, and, of course, Cabela's.
Also, for the gentry, Kevin's.
Vilmar, a blog pal who ran Right Wing Howler, is throwing in the towel. We erroneously noted last week that he had been shut down by complaints from CAIR, but that is not exactly the story. We'll miss his reckless and irreverent sense of humor...and his links! God bless, Vilmar - and good luck! A propos of the Dylanologist's piece last week, The Elusive Benefits of Diversity,, is a piece on race-neutral alternatives to affirmative action, at The Debate Link. (I forget who linked this piece.) Atlas of the new money, at WSJ. Love the quote from Greenwich, CT's hedgie Mr. Ray Dalio about the new mega-homes - palaces, really - being built: "Yuck. It's like flashing diamonds." Time Magazine names boring, ignorant, web-surfing, kinky porn-addicted, skirt-chasing, sex-intoxicated, beer-addled, blues-listenin', under-educated, opera-goin', ballet-watchin', gun-totin', gal whistlin', Jesus-lovin', government-hatin', red-neck tractor-drivin' parrothead Yankee libertarian money-likin' capitalist, and an utterly confused and inconsistent - both philosophically and morally - lazy unshaven and un-bathed, pajama-wearing, low-life, tatooed blog editor slacker, and Dylan fan... as Person of the Year. Who'd a thunk it? A lousy choice, Time Magazine. There have got to be better candidates out there. How about Ahmadinejabajaba? More your type? DA Nifong is in deep doo-doo. It's comforting to know that, in the US, even DAs are supposed to obey the law.
 Luke 3, 7-18
7John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 9Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” 10And the crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” 11In reply he said to them, “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.” 12Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?” 13He said to them, “Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.” 14Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what should we do?” He said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.” 15As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, 16John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” 18So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.
Image: Bachiacca's late Renaissance (c.1540) Madonna and child, with the young John the Baptist
Saturday, December 16. 2006
 Linked by Dr. Bliss below, but here, again. One heck of a speech.
"We dare not tempt them with weakness...." This is my sort of Democrat. I remember watching this, on black and white TV. "We shall pay any price..."
Bolivians march for freedom from the oppressive Morales government.
 LaShawn has often compared the Duke lacrosse players' case to the Scottsboro Boys.
It brings new meaning to the term "railroaded." The Scottsboro Boys were literally railroaded to court. Indeed, injustice is horrifying - regardless of color. But slowly, justice may be victorious in this sad tale of the corrupting temptations of power. Wouldn't it be a fine thing if all these guys go to law school, after learning first-hand about injustice? Image: Charles Weems was one of the Scottsboro Boys
White Christmas. Wow - best I have every heard. and a Happy Chanukah to our Jewish readers.
Friday, December 15. 2006
CAIR's latest, at Powerline.
From a Samuelson piece - Farewell to Pax Americana - in WaPo, quoted at American Future: The trouble is that strength—measurable and impressive—does not translate directly into power. Power is the ability to get others to do what you want. Here, America is weaker.
Our pal, Right Wing Howler, has been shut down by CAIR. Mock Christians and Jews all you want, but do not touch the religion of peace or you will be beheaded. Quick - get the ACLU's phone number...
Barbecued Christmas pig, Cuban style, in Miami, via Bobby Flay. Video at Babalu. Oink.
 Image of healthy, low-fat, low carb breakfast from Mr. Free Market
The aurora? We had too much fog and cloud cover here. BB King goes to the White House. It's about time. NY Sun Does light rail accomplish anything? The Commons. Sadly, no. Yoga = $. Col. Journalism Review Jamie Oliver will take on road kill cooking. PJ O'Rourke studied The Wealth of Nations, so you won't have to. His new book. Private schools are more integrated than public schools, and generally, the private tend to do lots of thing better. From a quote from a piece by Coulson at TCS: ...the most significant educational benefits to private schooling tend to be enjoyed by African American students, both in achievement and graduation rates. Economist Derek Neal has found that African American students attending urban Catholic schools are vastly more likely to complete high school, be accepted to college, and complete college than similar students who attend public schools. And a review by Harvard University researcher Paul Peterson and others finds that the academic achievement gains to students attending private schools under voucher programs are greatest among black students.
Labor markets, and helping the poor, made simple. From a piece by Clayton Cramer: Teachers may not want to believe this, but there's a reason that plumbers get paid better than teachers. Teachers don't climb around under houses, in the dark, fighting with spiders, loosening and tightening the pipes coming out of your toilet. I've done just enough of this work when I was young that if I had the choice of being a plumber, a teacher, a software engineer, or a lifeguard, all for the same pay--well, let's just say that not many people would be lining up to be a plumber. The line to be a lifeguard or a teacher would run all the way around the block and perhaps into the next county.
Labor rates are a way of adjusting supply and demand to reflect fluctuating needs. If plumbers are in short supply, in a free market, wages will rise to reflect that scarcity. If the wages get high enough, people will become plumbers. If the supply of plumbers start to exceed the number of jobs, wages will drop, and send those who aren't keen on spiders and sewage into other jobs.
Thursday, December 14. 2006
Most people may have heard this one, but, if not, it's worth a giggle.
Don't forget to check the sky tonight, mainly in the northern US. Here's the polar view of the areas involved, from NOAA.
 Got muskrats? There's a hot new market for their fur: China
Indian scams. Let's call them what they are. Con-men, if you ask me, preying on the guilt of idiots. Let's start by sterilizing Dr. John Reid. Pass the scalpel. Goldman Sachs and those rich bonuses. Read the comments, too, at EconLog. If you don't think they earn it, you should meet some of them sometime: they aren't ordinary people. IQ, and an unusual abundance of ego strengths. Thinking about Russia and autocracy. Daily Pundit. One quote: Russia long ago chose to barter liberty for security. The only reason the Communists were overthrown there was that they ceased to provide security (or food, or shoes…). But there is small cultural thirst for liberty in Russia. Otherwise, Vladimir Putin would not be establishing his New Russian Autocracy today.
 My Back Pages (1964)
Crimson flames tied through my ears
Rollin' high and mighty traps
Pounced with fire on flaming roads
Using ideas as my maps
"We'll meet on edges, soon," said I
Proud 'neath heated brow.
Ah, but I was so much older then,
I'm younger than that now.
Half-wracked prejudice leaped forth
"Rip down all hate," I screamed
Lies that life is black and white
Spoke from my skull. I dreamed
Romantic facts of musketeers
Foundationed deep, somehow.
Ah, but I was so much older then,
I'm younger than that now.
Girls' faces formed the forward path
From phony jealousy
To memorizing politics
Of ancient history
Flung down by corpse evangelists
Unthought of, though, somehow.
Ah, but I was so much older then,
I'm younger than that now.
A self-ordained professor's tongue
Too serious to fool
Spouted out that liberty
Is just equality in school
"Equality," I spoke the word
As if a wedding vow.
Ah, but I was so much older then,
I'm younger than that now.
In a soldier's stance, I aimed my hand
At the mongrel dogs who teach
Fearing not that I'd become my enemy
In the instant that I preach
My pathway led by confusion boats
Mutiny from stern to bow.
Ah, but I was so much older then,
I'm younger than that now.
Yes, my guard stood hard when abstract threats
Too noble to neglect
Deceived me into thinking
I had something to protect
Good and bad, I define these terms
Quite clear, no doubt, somehow.
Ah, but I was so much older then,
I'm younger than that now. Here's a 1998 You Tube, His ultimate poltical song. Image: Dylan and Robbie Robertson, Chicago, 1965.
These people are, like, in, like, you know, college? I pity their parents, if they are paying the, you know, bills. Especially if a parent is a, like, police officer. From Students Honor Cop Killer: “If you look at it at face value and think about what she did, it might seem wrong, but I think you really have to, like, look beyond the whole thing with the cops to really understand, like, where she’s coming from,” said Orlando Ayala, a 24-year-old senior.
and Sophomore Carlos Badilla, 20, of the Bronx, wanted to know why the center was named after Shakur. “If it had nothing to do with killing the cop, it’s alright,” he said. “You have to think why she did it, cause cops are known to mess with some people, you know. If she had a reason to do it then I have no problem with it.”
It's Christmastime. Must be the traditional time for atheists and the terminally intolerant to complain about church bells.
 Thanks to Jimmy Buffett for providing some of our titles this week. This below quoted from a piece about tribalism (a subject which we recently discussed), which addresses freedom, Iraq, Vietnam, Thomas Friedman, etc, from Shrinkwrapped:
...his theory was that the people who live between thirty degrees north and south parallels of latitude (the Equatorial Region) are different than those who live in more temperate climates. In that region it is relatively easy to wrest a living from nature through hunting, gathering, and subsistence farming. There are also abundant materials for building crude shelters from the elements. Because the temperatures are warm, the main purpose of shelter is protection from rain or hot sun. On the other hand, nature is very strong in these latitudes. Insects and the elements attack any structure as soon as it is put up. Periodically typhoons/hurricanes, tsunamis, and earthquakes occur, destroying shelters and lives. As a result the people develop a philosophy that they can’t fight nature. Therefore, they don’t spend much time, money, or effort on building shelter. And since food is readily available they don’t see the necessity to plan ahead for their food supplies or to save up for a possible famine. He believed the people of the tropics were very resistant to the ideas of democracy and capitalism because they were still too close to the old ways of tribalism. This meant the tradition of strong or big-man leaders, not building lasting infrastructure, and living in the moment rather than planning and investing for the future.
A coronal mass ejection should hit us tonight - a little gift from Mr. Sun. Could be a nice aurora, in Yankeeland. 
All of Mozart, online. Wow. Chequerboard Baby-killing for stem cells. S. Mom Finally, an answer to the flying imam mystery. Captain Ed. You have seen the video already, right? Pigouvian taxation. Read it and learn something about Pigou and externalities. Big Lizards
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