Sunday, December 26. 2010
 Sad but true, at Slate. We would be ten years behind, with the rent-seekers and the power-seekers in control of it all.
The intertunnels are a lesson in what a truly free market and a free world can do. Watch all governments try to f- it up for their own purposes.
But don't worry. They care deeply about the common good. I have never met Mr./Mrs. Common Good, but I'm sure he, she, or it, is a very fine human being and deserving of special government attention and care.
Government, and government's client and business allies, are "special interests."
Heck, all I really want is some good free porn anyway. The world is full of Lonelyhearts and sometimes I am one of them. So sue me.
We reportedly have a blizzard arriving today on the Snowball Express. That's fine with me, except that the Lad and his charming Mrs. are airport-stuck in Birmingham (with the Memphis Blues again?). Well, not really stuck - they are there with loving family.
Don't be surprised if we lose power, though. We usually do, with good strong storms. This one looks to be a winter Nor'easter. Think I'll feed the birds this morning.
Lovely winter post from The Englishman:
Mrs E awoke me at 2:30 to alert me to the ducks quacking outside the window. We lost one to Mr Fox a week ago when he crept across the ice to them. So it was on with Uncle Percy's overcoat over the dressing gown and out I went with the Marlin underlever to try and deliver some 357 Magnum 125 Grain Full Metal Jacket Flat Christmas Cheer to our visitor.
He scuttled off the through the fence too quickly and by the time I was over the road he had headed for the hills. But the moon was out, the snow was crisp and his tracks were trackable.
I failed to catch up with him but the armed stroll up onto the downs on such a night was worthwhile. Not a soul apart from me was stirring, miles across the valley street lights sparkled but otherwise I was only in the company of the friendly ghosts who have trod these ancient hills on thousands of winters in the past pitting their wits against the weather and wild animals.
Prager: Want To Raise a Good Person? Stop Nurturing Your Child's Self-Esteem
A cheerful humility is the best and most realistic attitude.
EPA moving unilaterally to limit greenhouse gases
An attempted end run around Congress
Hands-only CPR. You need to know this.
But a medical friend of mine saved a 90 year-old lady who had cardiac arrest on the sidewalk. She got a lawyer to sue him. She claimed her time had come, and that she should have been left alone. He was protected by Good Samaritan legal protections, but his legal costs to get to that point were considerable. You can be sued for not helping, too.
A new website to me: Jews for the preservation of firearms ownership
Green Lake, Austria. Cool vid
KUHNER: Radical Islam vs. Christianity - The cross is near extinction in the ancient lands of its origin
Environmental groups sue to block wind farm
I'm with them. Wind farms are a scam on the taxpayer - regardless of the bats. Did I say "bats"?
Voters elected Republicans to end Obamaism, not expand it
School food Nazis:
Evidently the message is that children’s bodies are a collective resource that needs to be managed by agents of the state for their own good and the good of society, regardless of what they or their parents think.
It’s not like schools have anything better to do.
I can understand parents' not wanting schools to feed their kids candy, but what's with the salt?
Basic instinct: Women take just three minutes to make up their mind about Mr Right
Driscoll: Where Unions Are, Americans Aren’t
Ice Age 6
We have been warning about this apocalypse for years.
Those who blame the U.S. for all the world’s ills
It would take serious shrinkology to understand why somebody would hate as free and noble a nation as the USA. Probably displacement from conflicts with Mom, right? It's always the Mom, right?
The Year of Stupid: Potsdam Climate Institute Now Says To Expect “Warmer Colder” Winters!
San Francisco May Vote on Circumcision Ban Next November.
Abortion OK, Briss not OK. Why Christians do brisses is beyond me. But a hand on my boy's dick? That is definitely the domain of a San Francisco government...
Speaking of brisses, more on Tutu and the Jews
Taxes and the Top Percentile Myth - A 2008 OECD study of leading economies found that 'taxation is most progressively distributed in the United States.' More so than Sweden or France.
Muslim moderation in Britain:
Around a third of young British Muslims favour killing in the name of Islam, according to a survey revealed by the WikiLeaks' publication of U.S. diplomatic cables.
A survey of 600 Muslim students at 30 universities throughout Britain found that 32 per cent of Muslim respondents believed killing in the name of religion is justified.
Just like the IRA...but not.
Do you think your taxes are too low? Make a contribution to the US Treasury.
Byron York: Smiling Dems will soon cry 'Washington is broken'
It's "broken" when they cannot do whatever they want.
Saturday, December 25. 2010
 AVI pointed out that we might be in error in passing on the theory of the relation of Christmas to Saturnalia: How December 25 Became Christmas.
It sounds like there is numerology involved.
Christmas breakfast was Cranberry pancakes and bacon. (Put those berries into the batter frozen, not thawed - same as you should with Blueberries. Otherwise, they disintegrate during cooking.) Lots of bacon and lots of pancakes, but no numerology.
Mrs. BD was nice enough to give me a trip as a present - one that was on the top of my bucket list. It will require a new camera. While I'd rather accumulate cool experiences than cool pix, pix are fun souvenirs - and cheaper than buying stuff.
And if you happen to be retarded and a victim of Alzheimer's, like me, the pics help you remember what you did and where you went.
In 2011, the Jew stands before corrupted international judges, the judges loyalties to eliminating the Jews revival of faith and nationhood, by its very being a reflection on pervasive oppression throughout the lands of the majority of judges and others who bow to their rulers. That mirror cannot be tolerated.
In 1948, a foreign army conquered Jerusalem and surrounding areas. Until 1967, the Jew could find no shelter there and was forbidden to visit his sacred sites. Many of the holy sites were destroyed or desecrated by the foreign army, and the international judges – distributors and recipients of thirty gallons of oil – turned away and said nothing. The residents of the conquered areas lived in poverty. Now, all faiths have access to their holy sites, and the Jew increased the residents standards of living. But, the international judges want to find the Jew guilty of defending that freedom of worship and benefits to existence, in favor of those who reject peace and cooperation. Many who share the Jews values hide or turn away; many of them are persecuted and slaughtered as they try to worship in some of the lands of those who reject peace. After two-millennia of reflection, will the story end better this time?
 Luke 2:1-14, (15-20)
2:1 In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered.
2:2 This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.
2:3 All went to their own towns to be registered.
2:4 Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David.
2:5 He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child.
2:6 While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child.
2:7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
2:8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.
2:9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
2:10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see--I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people:
2:11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.
2:12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger."
2:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,
2:14 "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!"
2:15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us."
2:16 So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger.
2:17 When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child;
2:18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.
2:19 But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.
2:20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
Friday, December 24. 2010
Tonight with NYC finance genius and present-wrapping daughter, and the Judds' Christmas record on the record player. Yes, the record player. A fine, if old, Denon. I have tons of favorites still on vinyl, including around 40 operas and most of my favorite Christmas records, now unavailable on CD.
Candlelight service later - after cocktail hour.
 Just had to say that Rush is so kind and good and understanding with his Lib callers. He has a bigger heart than any angry or chronically-depressed Lib, and is full of encouragement for those who want to do things in life instead of sitting on their butts with excuses and complaints, on ye olde pity pot. He is positive and cheerful, the way proud, free Americans, with their heritage of amazing opportunity, ought to be.
He's on 770 on AM radio up here. He is a genius at handling hostile calls with grace, good humor, and even affection. He needs more of those callers. (Call me a fool, but I am wrapping and listening, like the ignorant clinger that I am, and preparing for cocktail hour. Christmas music then.)
A Merry Christmas to good old Rush! He keeps me amused and encouraged whenever I need it.
I know everybody is doing their Christmas shopping today, but I have some links anyway if you have time. I am heading up to MA to see the family, with my sack of goodies for them.
Cal Thomas: What if the Christmas story is true?
Kimball: ’Tis the Season to Be Politically Correct.
If we cannot defend our culture, we are doomed to lose it.
Gerald goes to WalMart
Wind power? It's a scam. The rent-seekers are all over it.
Counterfeit diplomas
How Democrats gave up on religious voters
It’s official: Polar bear not an endangered species
He knows what is best for you. All about Cass Sunstein: A Czar is Born
45 people lynched amid Haiti cholera fears. Haiti's real problem is cultural.
Iran Just Shipped Missiles to Venezuela. Hello? Is This Thing On?
Buying up the entire Western world at discount prices: Fresh humiliation for eurozone as China says it will bail out debt-ridden nations
I can't wait to have some kids to teach to hunt and fish, but by then fishing poles will probably be banned. GUN CONTROL AS CHILD ABUSE
Malpractice costs and defensive medicine costs, in NY
Pajamas: American Leftists Refuse to See the Handwriting on the Wall in Europe -Our domestic lefties have been pushing for decades to turn us into the type of society that is now crumbling before our eyes in Europe.
Not All Global Warming Skeptics Are Crackpots?!?
Slate: Whose Internet Is It, Anyway?
Let's drive 'em all out of business: UAW’s King Announces 2011 Goals: Target Foreign-Owned Auto Plants. No, they'll just move their factories to Mexico.
After predicting a mild winter, the British weather service is profoundly embarrassed by the current deep freeze
Uncle Sam Will Help Buy You an Alpaca - How the government produces negative unintended consequences
News Flash: Christmas is "Evil", "Depraved" and "the Path to Hellfire", According to Ultra-Tolerant British Muslim Group
Q&O: Is access to the internet a “civil right”?
Driscoll: Global Warming Died; Women, Children, AlGore Hardest Hit
Other McCain: Class Warfare vs. Economic Facts
Neptunus on ROTC:
As for the Ivies, it appears the rest of us have decided that, when it comes to building and defending our nation, we might just have to do it without them.
Obama Administration Admits Polar Bears Are Not ‘Endangered’ But Sets Aside 187,000 Miles For Them Anyway. Very scientific.
Pilot exposes TSA baloney, gets in trouble:
"As you can see, airport security is kind of a farce. It's only smoke and mirrors so you people believe there is actually something going on here," the pilot narrates.
Video shot in the cockpit shows a medieval-looking rescue ax available on the flight deck after the pilots have gone through the metal detectors. "I would say a two-foot crash ax looks a lot more formidable than a box cutter," the pilot remarked.
We misunderestimated him: Bush's memoir sells 2m copies in a month - nearly as many as Bill Clinton's sold in six years
The Krautman says something people don't want to hear: Obama's new start
Matthew 18:1
1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"
2 And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them
3 and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Joseph and Jesus, Guido Reni, 1635
Thursday, December 23. 2010
Slow-Growing Population? Great!
I agree! There's no shortage of people in this world, and far too many control freaks, nuts, slimeballs, and idiots.
 Looks like it. Love it. Santa loves it, too, and we love Santa - so we give thanks for Globalistical Cooling.
We hate hot weather (well, some of us do, but our authorship has expanded well beyond chilly Yankeeland over the years). Warmth makes me feel lazy and unproductive, and that is not the Yankee Way Of Life.
Yesterday I spoke with my mother-in-law in Dusseldorf, where she’s snowed in and may not reach her mother for Christmas eve. She saw on CNN that San Diego was suffering from torrential rains, as TV news searches for exaggerations to fill airtime.
Actually, San Diego got from several inches to over ten-inches of rain, varying by spot. That’s very unusual in our semi-arid location, where sunny days are usual and average temps range along the coast from winter 60s to upper-70s in summer (today’s newspaper editorial calls our usual weather “bland”). Still, as most of our soil is sand and roads get flooded, there are commute difficulties and some small landslides (the Coaster rail is blocked for several more days). We have tickets to the Poinsettia Bowl tonight. We’ll have to go hours earlier and stall in heavy traffic; bummer. At Qualcomm, next to the overflowed San Diego River (usually a trickle), pumps are removing over 2,200 gallons of water a minute from the flooded stadium (I guess that favors Navy, versus San Diego State University).
On the way back from the movies yesterday to see Narnia #3 (good, especially with 3D, but #2 was best), Jason and I stopped at Sports Authority for a quick purchase. Instead, we spent over an hour in the baseball glove aisle helping confused parents choose gloves for their sons (we sold over 20; should have been on commission). Almost all the buyers departed wishing us Happy Holidays; not one Merry Christmas. This is not a Jewish neighborhood (nor Muslim), so I thought that unusual, even bland.
For those to whom Christmas is something special, two items in today’s emails tell of their deep loss.
A fellow Vietnam veteran sent me this artist rendering of a photo taken at the Wall in D.C. These and other veterans never got to celebrate another Christmas.
Another friend sent me this AP clip that Iraqi Churches cancel Christmas festivities because of Al Qaeda threats, following increased but hardly new brutalities and murder against them by Islamists, a million Christians having left Iraq since 2003. Christians in most all Muslim countries suffer violence and death at the hands of Islamists.
Wherever you are, whatever your weather, whichever and however your faith, whenever you pause, give thanks for the freedom to celebrate Christmas in America, compared to the alternatives, and remember when it wasn’t Blandmas or an invitation to be slaughtered.
 It's never a good idea to go through an Advent without watching this version of A Christmas Carol.
To state the obvious, the story is a metaphor, using Christmas as the setting, in which a man is reborn in Christ by the mystical power of the Holy Spirit (as represented by the "spirits,") transforming his soul from a grouchy, self-centered drudge into a loving, generous, and joyful creature.
Many Christians, as I do, pray for some bit of that transformation and rebirth in our souls each Advent, as we remember and celebrate the birth of Christ.
 The experts were wrong: Carbs are the problem - not fat
You can now eat all the fat you want. Eating fat doesn't make you fat.
Where germs breed on airplanes
Bishop Tutu Is No Saint When it Comes To Jews
Driscoll: Mega-Consumers against Consumerism
John Fund: The Net Neutrality Coup - The campaign to regulate the Internet was funded by a who's who of left-liberal foundations. A quote:
The net neutrality vision for government regulation of the Internet began with the work of Robert McChesney, a University of Illinois communications professor who founded the liberal lobby Free Press in 2002. Mr. McChesney’s agenda? “At the moment, the battle over network neutrality is not to completely eliminate the telephone and cable companies,” he told the website SocialistProject in 2009. “But the ultimate goal is to get rid of the media capitalists in the phone and cable companies and to divest them from control.”
A year earlier, Mr. McChesney wrote in the Marxist journal Monthly Review that “any serious effort to reform the media system would have to necessarily be part of a revolutionary program to overthrow the capitalist system itself.” Mr. McChesney told me in an interview that some of his comments have been “taken out of context.” He acknowledged that he is a socialist and said he was “hesitant to say I’m not a Marxist.”
Armies always used to take control of the radio stations first
Obamacare is a government takeover
Happy Kwanzaa, Commies, Racists, and Psychopaths
Obama Supported Ousted Honduran Thug Zelaya to Appease Chavez
School Requires Permission Slips for Pledge
Wednesday, December 22. 2010
Stolen in full (because it is so well-said) from Never Yet Melted's Van Jones Urges Young Supporters “To Pretend” EPA Regulations Are Needed:
Leftism originally created political movements by agitating the masses through a combination of flattering their desires and exaggerating their grievances, but Capitalism baffled the Left by transforming the needy Proletariat into a prosperous Middle Class, while Socialism in the countries where it fully achieved power impoverished everyone outside the Nomenklatura. Socialism consequently collapsed while Capitalism thrived, so the Left went back to the drawing board.
Absent economic grievances, the Left with remarkable ingenuity decided to hitch its wagon to the rising Environmental Movement, and to replace obsolescent economic themes intended to inspire animosity and class division with new, entirely imaginary problems requiring the concentration of power and wealth in the hands of the State.
Van Jones, the Communist run out of his White House advisor position via the exposure of his political background by Glenn Beck, refers indiscreetly to trying “to pretend” that EPA interventions are required by market failure.
Rush has been making accusations about this for years, and so have we. It's good to hear somebody confess the scam in public. The innocent, ignorant, and sanctimonious Greenies are the useful idiots in this game.
 Stopped by my local jewelers at lunchtime today (to pick up a repaired watch - not shopping). The place was packed, and I had to wait a while despite there being 8 salespeople.
The lady who retrieved my watch showed me a $285,000 watch. Used. It doesn't look fancy or flashy at all. She told me they would sell it this week, already sold one just like it earlier in the week. I admired it, but I prefer my old Accutron that my wife gave me the first year we were married (and my Timex Explorer for banging around). She also showed me a pretty bracelet, $60,000. She said they had had five of them three weeks ago, now down to this last one.
They have an armed rent-a-cop on duty full time.
When I finally got my watch delivered from the repair and jewelry construction area upstairs, she handed it to me and said "No charge. It was a simple repair, just a cleaning and oiling. Merry Christmas."
Rasmussen: Majority of Voters Say Protecting Individual Rights Is Government’s Chief Role.
That's a good sign. Lots of folks, it would appear, have taken Bastiat to heart. Unsurprisingly, Liberals do not see it the same way.
It's money. At The American. One quote:
In the eminent domain context, the problem is that landowners are not being paid enough. The standard of “just compensation” is usually interpreted as the market value of the property as determined by dueling appraisers. This standard can be unfair, as Loyola Law School Professor Gideon Kanner has long argued. It skimps on costs of relocation and upset, and excludes consideration of damage to businesses, which can considerably outweigh the value of the real estate. Tenants, especially businesses, are often seriously short-changed.
Pay them the real value. Makes sense to me.
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