Tuesday, June 3. 2008
 Both Andrew Coyne and Ezra Levant are live-blogging the BC kangaroo court today.
How volunteerism became un-American. Pajamas. Only right-wing nuts volunteer for things, of course, such as for the armed forces, etc etc. Emotional trauma: talking about it doesn't help. Well, maybe for some it does, but apparently not for most. Is the UN a haven for pedophiles? Iowa sells votes for ethanol subsidies - that ethanol which ruins our lawn-mower and brush-wacker and chain saw engines. Now swing state Florida has its own plan to extract our money from pandering pols. Disgusting. The Death and Life of Bushwick, Brooklyn. Malanga at City Journal. Fascinating. It's partly the story of government policies gone wrong - as usual. One quote: As race riots ripped apart other cities, including Detroit and Newark, unscrupulous real-estate agents and speculators tried to frighten white Bushwick residents—a practice known as “blockbusting.” Homeowners would find ominous messages in their mailÂboxes—“Don’t wait until it’s too late!”—as well as encouraging ones: “Houses wanted, cash waiting.” In a massive scandal reminiscent of today’s subprime-mortgage meltdown, speculators bought homes from Bushwick residents for an average of $8,000 apiece, and then, using fraudulent appraisals and a Great Society federal mortgage program that insured home loans to low-income buyers, sold them to poor blacks and Puerto Ricans at prices that they couldn’t afford— on average, about $20,000 per home. Many defaulted, abandoning their homes and massively depressing local property values. By 1972, in one city estimate, some 500 Bushwick buildings stood empty because of the bad loans; others, not part of the federal program, also emptied as housing prices plummeted and buyers balked at investing in the neighborhood.
Hillary wants VP slot. I guess anything is possible, but if I were BHO, I'd stay clear of the toxic Clintons and look for a fresher face. On the other hand, if I were BHO, maybe I might use her to help get elected, then throw her under the bus with all the other inconvenient people. It's getting a bit crowded under that bus.
A right to bestiality discovered in Constitution. Does it include insects?
Obama say's he'll remove the wage ceiling for Social Security taxes (without increasing benefits). What states' workers get hit hardest? I read the WaPo Sunday editorial about winning the war in Iraq, but I just noticed the last line: "Now he (Obama) needs a plan for success." Don't count on it: the Left has much invested in American weakness and failure. Glenn says: THOUGHTS ON BIGOTRY AND DESTINY from Eric Scheie. All I know is that if Obama isn't President, it'll be because of racism. And if Hillary isn't President, it'll be because of sexism. And if either one somehow does manage to get elected in spite of all the bigotry, that will nonetheless be a sign that the federal government needs to redouble its efforts to extirpate whatever bigotry is still out there.
Related to above: Dem Party "tolerant and inclusive no more" Obama's Marxist political ties
From our friend Ed Driscoll. Good stuff. If this is interrupted for some reason, go to Driscoll's site.
Few family lines can claim wealth and influence in a straight line from the 12th Century to today. Usually, decadence, disease, dilution, war - and taxes - take their toll. Here's a brief history of the family through 1652, from the family's rise in Tuscany, to their power in Milan, to their landholdings in Lombardy. I do not know what their current status is, but they do own at least three islands in Lago Maggiore, including Isola Bella with its palace and remarkably ornate Italian gardens (which are studied in all garden design classes, I am told, even though they may look vulgar to today's spartan Yankee eye). Such things were designed to impress as much as to delight. All of the soil was brought in by boat: 
The family even has a family website, but I don't want to try to struggle with the Italian. I'll be there in a week or two, mainly to do some Alpine hiking, some eating, and to see a medieval village or two, and I like to know what I am looking at.
The Iraqi Army is finally dealing with the reality of Iran's proxy war in Iraq.
Section 7.1 of the British Columbia Human Rights Code states, re a "hate" offense accusation: ...innocent intent is not a defense, nor is truth, nor is fair comment or the public interest, nor is good faith or responsible journalism.
Apparently there is no defence, since taking offense is a subjective experience or, more likely, a manipulative power play out of the Al Sharpton handbook. MacLean's blog is live-blogging the Mark Steyn/MacLean's tribunal show trial. The Canadians are playing with fire.
Shorpy's comment: September 1940. "Mountaineer trying to change tire with a fence post as a jack. Up south fork of the Kentucky River, Breathitt County." 35mm nitrate negative by Marion Post Wolcott for the Farm Security Administration. 
Monday, June 2. 2008
Good grief: Senate votes to begin global warming debate. I have a much better idea for those guys and gals: Begin your summer vacations now. Leave Washington. Enjoy America - it's really a nice place full of tons of good people, even if it is a bit warm in the summertime.
 Conservatives: More generous, and now more honest, too. What does all that mean?
For liberals, soldiers are victims. Am Thinker. Not to me. To me, it's a remarkable service to me, my family, and my country. More on Bishop Michael Azir-Ali, at Sisu. In the UK these days, maybe you have to be named Azir-Ali to speak the unvarnished truth. Want to be rich? Don't get too happy. More on how Sarkozy lost France. WSJ. What a pity. A master blog post: "Barack Obama's Song of Himself," by Scott Mirengoff. READ IT. How Obama won the nomination, and why it feels hollow An Aussie stands up for America. Tiger. I'd like to hear more of that from Americans. A longer solar cycle. Cooler years ahead. No recession in Iowa. As we have said, the only recession is on Wall Street. Mr. Free Market says: I have to say that it is to Britannia’s credit that we take it upon ourselves to import so many people that are unskilled, don’t share our traditions & values or even speak our language … just so that we can give them huge amounts of the taxpayers money. It makes me proud to be British.
Happiness, for only $2.50. Help you make friends, too. Pin-up on loan from friend Theo's collection of fine art.
The below came over the transom, but I see that the facts were extracted from this article in the WSJ: She graduated from Southern Cal and was a special-needs teacher.
After her Dad died, she became involved with his beer-distributing firm and is now the chairwoman. Sales have doubled since she has taken over from her father.
They have a marriage prenuptial agreement, her assets remain separate.
She is involved around the world clearing land mines - travels to these countries on a detonation team and serves on their board.
They have a 19-year-old serving in Iraq, another son in the Naval Academy, a daughter recently graduated from Columbia Univ., an adopted daughter in high school, and a son who is the finance guy at the beer firm.
Raised kids in Phoenix, AZ rather than Washington DC. (Better atmosphere) He commuted.
In 1991, Mrs. McCain came across a girl in an orphanage in Bangladesh. Mother Teresa implored Mrs. McCain to take the baby with severe cleft palate. She did so without first telling her husband. The couple adopted the girl who has had a dozen operations to repair her cleft palate and other medical problems.
They have a Family Foundation for children's causes.
She is active with "Halo Trust" - to clear land mines, provide water and food in war ravaged and developing countries.
She will join an overseas mission of "Operation Smile", a charity for corrective surgery on children's faces.
She has had two back surgeries and became addicted to pain killers. She talks openly about it, which she says is part of the recovery process.
I am surprised the media is so quiet about her attributes.
Krauthammer on the warming craze, at Moonbattery. One quote: Just as the ash heap of history beckoned, the intellectual left was handed the ultimate salvation: environmentalism. Now the experts will regulate your life not in the name of the proletariat or Fabian socialism but — even better — in the name of Earth itself.
Waiting for - or planning? Jules has a dandy summary, Audacious Hopefulness. If that mystery tape comes out on YouTube, it might be time for Obama to throw Michelle under the bus too. I've lost track - has he already thrown Farrakhan under it yet, or not? (The MSM didn't tell me that Obama used Pfleger as a counselor. Sheesh.)
Advocates for the "disabled," however defined, want them "mainstreamed" and "normalized" while, at the same time, they advocate for special treatment and "accommodations" for the disabilities. How can you have it both ways? In the UK, the Disabilities Discrimination laws define "disability" as: ‘A physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on a person’s ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities’.
Everybody has strengths and serious weaknesses, and deserves respect for their efforts and for their humanity despite their frailities or unappealing characteristics. A nice cheerful young gal with Downs bags my groceries every week at my market. Meanwhile, I have patients with reasonably-controlled bipolar disorder who hire lawyers to help them get on Social Security Disability. (I do not approve of that one bit. I do not approve of "working the system," nor do I think it is good for them: it is terrible for them and for their dignity.) Anyway, you may read a short essay at Spiked here which addresses these issues. Editor's note: Dr. Bliss' post leads to a typically-fine post by David Thompson on modern socialistic ideals titled Details, Details. Quoted by Thompson in his post: Well, I’m not aware of a British political party that wants to abandon the welfare safety net – the “social state” as Bauman prefers to call it – let alone abandon “human solidarity,” and the arguments I’ve heard tend to centre on whether long-term welfare dependency is a desirable state of affairs for any human being. It’s one thing to rail against the “rule of capitalism” in abstract and fanciful terms; it’s something else entirely to address particulars – such as those of a soused, if amiable, woman drinking beer by the road. Is Bauman suggesting that this woman should be steered away from her morning refreshments? These do, after all, affect her employment prospects, finances and health, and thus make her one of society’s “weakest members”. Or does the professor believe that she should be compensated indefinitely by the state for being an unemployable alcoholic and not terribly bright? How, I wonder, is her life to be brought closer into line with mine or yours? Does she have a say in the matter? Do those of us who would have to pick up the tab?
I do not enjoy picking up her tab, but I would never leave her to die in the gutter. I'd be inclined to give her an educational kick in the butt and a few weeks in a drunk tank. Still, such questions keep life interesting, and force us to clarify our thinking. However, I have yet to be convinced that government is the best agency for human mercy. Small "d" democratic government is about votes, jobs, money, perks and power - regardless of the virtue or venality of its practioners.
"Like an old door, every man past a certain age comes with historical warps and creaks of one kind or another, and a woman who wishes to put him to serious further use must expect to do a certain amount of sanding and planing."
- Joseph O'Neill, in Netherland
This should be interesting, although Obama's life has already crippled him for a national election. Why go to work? Academia: A closed shop. No diversity, please. Neoneo The AP sticks like glue to the Dem narrative. The sky is falling, but if we elect Obama, all will be well. Hillary to be offered "dignified exit." Duh. Yes, let's put her in charge of our medical treatment again. She's a doctor, right? Related: What the heck is Bill Clinton all about, besides babes and drinks and money and hacker golf and lowlife nouveau-riche jet-setter pals? Not an adult yet, methinks. McCain trusted more. Duh. Does Sex in the City make you hungry for sex in the city - or to act like it? Driscoll. Never saw that show. Something on TV with boob jobs? Reap as ye sow, Father Pfleger. That is one angry priest with a heart overflowing with contempt. He is well-known to Obama, I see. The EU has Milk Quotas? Are they the Soviet Union, redux? Swiss citizenship update. Not so easy to become Swiss. Easier than becoming a Japanese citizen, though. Impossible without being Japanese. Microsoft should renew bidding for Yahoo AVI considers the topic of Christian Environmentalism. When churches get involved in politics, they lose their authority, in my opinion. Dem activists determined to get rid of Bush and Cheney. GE to sell its appliance division. I guess they have bigger fish to fry. The NYT made an effort to be an apologist for Black Liberation "Theology." Failed, but got it in print first, and that's what matters. Powerline Is Christian evangelism hate speech in the UK? Dems: Global warming will bring war! Is that a promise? Sheesh. Related: For many years, environmentalists have been in favor of higher oil and energy prices, and their policies - no drilling, gas taxes, no nuke plants, etc. - have been part of it. But now that prices are up, they do not sound pleased. Blogger Jon Swift wondering what to do. I think his spouse wants him to get a job. In that case, he should. A quote: ...frankly there is nothing quite so satisfying as getting paid little or nothing for one's work.
Yes, it is fun to fart around uselessly on these internets.
A close-up of a bit of the shade border, yesterday. Yes, our azaleas are in bloom now up here. 
Sunday, June 1. 2008
Richard Wiseman of Quirkology seeks the funniest jokes in the world. Of course, Monty Python already addressed this subject:
 Women often can be heard adopting the passive-aggressive victim posture, and bitching about how easy and good men have it in life. Fortunately, there are plenty of wise women out there who appreciate how tough it is for a boy child to become a man: it is so tough that many never manage to do it.
Think about it: we women have far more latitude in how we can be, and in our respectable choices in life. From the Daily Mail, a book review: The Return of Real Men: Ladies, get ready to meet Mr. Retrosexual. They're back? I didn't know they ever went away. Let's bring some politics into this, just for fun. McCain is the Retrosexual: he knows guns, wouldn't back away from a fight and can use his fists, bait a hook, and can mess with an old Chevy carburetor. Obama: pure Metrosexual, with clean nails, probably never used a chain saw or shot a handgun in his life, and probably hires illegal Mexicans to do his gardening. "I'll have a chardonnay spritzer, please, when you have a chance." Photo: Atticus Finch, a portrayal of a real American man.
 A quote from a Cindy in the Wind Amazon review of Shelly Lewis' Five Lessons I Didn't Learn From Breast Cancer (And One Big One I Did):
Have you received a breast cancer diagnosis? Got a friend who has? Before you make another move, read this funny and truthful lowdown from Shelley Lewis, whose emotional viewpoint matches mine so precisely I can't shake the feeling that I should've written it myself (after all, I went through this a year before she did). Unlike just about every other book on the breast cancer "experience," with its pretty pink cover and its crapola about how dealing with breast cancer will make you a "better person" (just like it supposedly made its author!), Lewis gets down to the real nitty-gritty. Namely: Breast cancer, at least for some people, isn't a "spiritual growth program," a "journey" or a "gift." It's not the ultimate opportunity for the perfect boob makeover. It's not necessarily going to turn you into Lance Armstrong and an inspiration to everyone. It's just a DISEASE--a scary, upsetting DISEASE that makes you hope you can get through the treatment so you can get back to your life--if at all possible.
A friend who has had breast cancer sent some quotes from the book, with the comment: "I Finally Found My Club! Good laughs @ all the BC bullshit. Thought this book might be helpful if you know others who aren't using their B.C to accomplish a spiritual makeover... & don't expect B.C. to fix what's wrong w/ them." "My only growth was the one removed by the surgeon."
"Its completely life affirming to want to remain who you essentially are, good...and bad, rather than make permanent accomodations for a disease that you have to believe is just passing through."
"Lots of us decide we don't have to stop our lives to have cancer with all the trimmings - support groups, chat room visits... You don't see a lot of TV or magazine stories about those of us trying to keep b.c. impact to a miniumum."
"I felt about the Cancer Club the same way I did when I got my first invitation to join AARP."
"I draw the line at "Cancer was a gift"... You hear it a lot"
"B.C. wasn't a journey that led me to anywhere worth going...."
"Wherever you go on b.c. web sites somebody is trying to sell you an angel...I hate to say it but if you had a guardian angel before you got b.c., apparently that angel was a fuckup....(or) a slacker..and not just angels, fairies too. I don't know where fairies land on the spiritual ladder ...(but) it seems that those of us who battle serious diseases are practically being overrun with them. If Lou Dobbs weren't so concerned with Mexicans sneaking across our borders, he'd probably do a big expose about fairies..."
"Pink Ribbon Barbie" should be stripped, head shaved, (one-breasted) & forced to replace her pink tulle dress with a green hospital gown...."
"I was happy in Healthyville. Couldn't I just get a short-term sublet in b.c.world briefly then move back to my old place..? I felt pressured to go into the Pink Ghetto, but I couldn't stay there, I couldn't breathe... I couldn't wait to get the hell out of there..."
I tend to agree with Ms. Lewis. Bad disease is a plain bad deal. Scary (if you like life), with little redeeming about it.
"Only in France." France to regulate country and western dancing. Ya can't make this stuff up. Hybrid sales are booming, especially the Pious. Aussie website tells kids when to die to save the earth. Supply and demand with body organs. 2 posts on the subject at Cafe Hayek Is AQ disintegrating? This sounds delicious These people are sick, but not in the way that they think they are. Some sanity coming to Canada? Ezra Levant. Also, RCMP to investigate Human Rights Commission. The Steyn show trial this week should be interesting. What does Obama stand for? This is at Wesleyan last week:
Here's one guy who won't be showing up for church this morning. Good grief. I don't think much of Obama's church, but what does it say about a guy that he would throw his church overboard for political power? Isn't that a Faustian deal?
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