Sunday, October 19. 2008
 Hot Hardware has gone video
Wealthy teen nearly experiences consequences Obama betrayed his message on race. Krauthammer The Pelosi-Obama-Reid economy. The carbon offsetting biz is still doing fine. At first I thought this was a satire. Alaska glaciers are growing again Finally, drilling off the coast of Florida: maybe we'll be able to buy that oil from Cuba. McCain compares Obama to European Socialists Just some guy who lives in my neighborhood? Obama's lead slips Quoted from a piece at Dino: We’re not sure to what extent we agree with the analysis by Sam Schulman in the Weekly Standard. He asks: “Why is Bill Ayers a respectable member of the upper middle class and Sarah Palin contemptible?” His answer: social class. Maybe he is on to something. Those rather condescending interviews by Katie Couric and Charlie Gibson (as contrasted with certain earlier Couric and Gibson interviews) suggest that there is a ring of truth in Schulman’s argument.
Thanks for all of the interesting comments on our Influential Books post.
Matthew 22:1-14 22:1 And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, | 22:2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, | 22:3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. | 22:4 Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. | 22:5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: | 22:6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. | 22:7 But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. | 22:8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. | 22:9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. | 22:10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. | 22:11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: | 22:12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. | 22:13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. | 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen. |
Saturday, October 18. 2008
Thought I'd never see the day when our Comrade Sipp did Politics! Who knew that he was a closet pundit? I happen to drive over the Sippican River on the way to Cape Cod. Here's Leonard's Pond on the East Branch of the Sippican River: 
Here's Brigg's Marsh (looks good for ducks) near the outlet of the Sippican River. There is nothing on earth as lovely as a brackish salt marsh (except for a pretty girl and, in duck season, it's a toss-up): 
We posted part of the McCain speech at the Al Smith dinner yesterday, but this is the entire thing. It's a kick - guaranteed, and it would make a heck of a campaign ad:
 Obama: "I will change the world." Good grief. If I said that, they'd send the guys in white coats to take me away.
Who knew that the US Supreme Court defined "vegetable" in 1893? Is a pumpkin a vegetable, then? More press lies perpetuated. We expect this from politicians but not from the press. Well, I guess we expect it from the press now. How would Obama do with this questionnaire for national security positions? Quoted at Marginal Rev: The Bush administration, having entered office as social conservatives, leaves office as conservative socialists, proprietors of the most sudden large expansion of the state's role in the US economy since mobilisation for the second world war.
Credit indicators show progress. Good. That's the fuel for the economy. Obama mocks plumbers. Is that smart? Everybody appreciates plumbers. NYT digging deep for dirt on Cindy McCain. That is infra dig. Why do it? Is there no infra to their dig? Mark Steyn on David Brooks' "elite cocoons" and "conservative cocoons." One quote: ...any PBS-watching inbred stump-toothed knuckle-dragging plaid-clad mountain man not yet face down in the moonshine or enjoying a bunk-up with his sister might think that Mr Brooks' bizarre metaphor gives the game away: the "conservative cocoon" is somewhere you drive through en route to the hiking trip.
 Why is the Left and the press going after Joe the Plumber so hard? Because the moment with Obama captured something important. As Cardinalpark at Tiger puts it:
Obama probably hurt himself with Joe the Plumber. If you think about it, Obama has done a brilliant job articulating exceedingly liberal political and economic philosophy in a fashion which sounds acceptable and fair and not altogether different from McCain. However, when he responded to Joe the Plumber about the inherent value of "spreading the wealth", it rang an alarm bell. Most Americans, especially aspirational Americans, like reading Robin Hood, but don't want his philosophy put into practice. This may be the moment that the distinction between Obama's political philosophy and McCain's is finally made clear in a fashion the press can't edit out. The media - even the in-the-tank leftist media - can't resist Joe the Plumber.
We must remember that Robin Hood was a thief. That's what Joe is reminding the voters.
Exactly. Joe doesn't want somebody else's wealth: he wants to make his own. Betsy says "Think of the film of Obama's photo op on Joe's street as Obama's macaca moment." Yes, somebody picked the wrong street. Interesting comments on Dr. Bliss' Influential Books post. I'd like to read more comments to that post from our readers.
Emily Dickinson's life was not as isolated or loveless as had been thought. How's this for seduction, spiritual or otherwise?
 He fumbles at your spirit
He fumbles at your spirit
As players at the keys
Before they drop full music on;
He stuns you by degrees,
Prepares your brittle substance
For the ethereal blow,
By fainter hammers, further heard,
Then nearer, then so slow
Your breath has time to straighten,
Your brain to bubble cool, --
Deals one imperial thunderbolt
That scalps your naked soul.
Friday, October 17. 2008
Men go abroad to wonder at the heights of mountains, at the huge waves of the sea, at the long courses of the rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motions of the stars, and they pass by themselves without wondering. Saint Augustine
The MSM has done more investigations into Joe the Plumber in 24 hours than they’ve done on Barack Obama in two years. . A Maggie's Farm commenter last night. Related: Anchoress discusses Going after Joe Plumber. The political message is that if you stand up, they will destroy you. It's funny though, because the issue wasn't Joe: the issue was Obama's arrogant mini-lecture to Joe.
That Ayers ghost-wrote Obama's memoir. But why would he?
Thursday, October 16. 2008
 They say that our Flicker numbers are decreasing, but we have tons of them around here. A couple of years ago, we had two young dumb ones decided to plunge down our chimney, and it was tough catching them and putting them outside. Sharp beaks.
I heard one calling this morning. "Flicka flicka flicka." They migrate, unlike most woodpeckers, but these guys do more pecking in the earth than they do in trees. They love to eat ants, and suburbia doesn't seem to bother them. You can read more about these birds here.
This is the very perfection of a man, to find out his own imperfections. Saint Augustine
Wednesday, October 15. 2008
Heard on 770 radio, post-debate, from a caller: If you want to vote for an American Idol, vote for Obama. If you want to vote for an American president, you'll vote for McCain.
 We concluded our most recent planning meeting for our local Ducks Unlimited event by consuming a bottle of delicious, smooth, and healthful Liquore di Mirto (aka "Mirto") which the Dylanologist was kind enough to bring us back from Sardinia this summer.
It is apparently the national drink of Sardinia. They like it in Corsica too. This bottle was from Oristana. The rosso is like a port, with the extremely pleasant and unique fragrance of Myrtle. It's too precious and tasty to waste on debate-watching. We recommend shots and beer for that.
Bruce Kesler emails this post: Many Republicans are outraged that the major media has not delved into Barack Obama’s track-record of ties to radicals and crooks and of baldly denying his own prior words and actions, or ignoring Joe Biden’s gaffes, especially while devoting major resources and space to – often exaggerating – any deemed peccadillo by John McCain and Sarah Palin. While this is entirely legitimate ire, it is also so that almost all who are concerned about the deceptive self-presentation by Obama and Biden are aware of it. What is lacking is the major media imprimatur on their duplicity that provides it with greater impact upon the choice for president. However, as the election nears, the possibility has risen of Barack Obama being elected which stimulates some in the major media to reflect more on his background and programs. This increased attention, while likely being far from what is needed, will still reduce his margin. But, what is far more pressing on most voters’ minds is naturally the economy. It will do McCain little additional good to harp on Obama’s associates. Surrogates can handle that. The economy should be stressed. It provides little reassurance to honestly say we’re in uncharted territory. Most of the public expects government action. More reflection or restraint is not accepted, because of expectations developed by decades of government promises and interventions, no matter how hollow or unproductive, and by validation from both political parties that government still has ready remedies that will avoid pain.
Continue reading "McCain's opportunity"
An email from our WS friend: BUY MUNIS. Tax-exempt bonds pricing at 6.25? You'd be insane not to in this market. Plus, with Dems likely to take over, Muni rates will drop significantly because everyone expects taxes to go up. The value of your 6.25 coupons (aka bond price) will increase when market yields drop. (Market yields for Munis have spiked to over 10-yr highs in the past week, by the way.) When rates fall, you can either keep you tax free 6 percent or cash out. If rates don't fall, 6.25 still isn't bad... Its a win-win. New York City is in the market today and we are all placing bids! Gotta run -
Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you. Saint Augustine
Mrs. Bird Dog attended this event last night. She and her companions said hi to John and Sarah. She appreciates these two fine folks very much, but she came home feeling discouraged about the election. They raised $9 million, but how to spend it? All I got was an XL McCain-Palin t-shirt. Where can I wear that?
Rants are sometimes therapeutic, aren't they? Vanderleun caught our friend Dr. Bob's recent jeremiad. Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose. I think we (slightly) grey hairs were saying such things in the cave-man days...not that such things do not need to be said.
An odalisque is a Moslem's slave concubine, but all guys could use a bunch of them around the place, as long as they have sweet and agreeable temperaments and are willing to give the wife a hand with the chores. Plus no burkhas required when they are lounging around ye olde wood-stove-heated New England harem. Ingres' Odalisque (1814). 
The modern version: 
Tuesday, October 14. 2008
This is worse than a friggin' divorce. I've lost half my net worth and I still have my wife. Mike Cuccurillo at Lehman/Barclays
 It's been a terrible year for butterflies in Yankeeland, and I have never seen so few Monarchs migrating through our gardens. (I blame global cooling.)
But I did see a stunning and feisty Orange Sulphur on my woodpile this morning. It's their flight season. This one had wide black margins like the one in the photo, but their coloration is variable. It looked like an orange autumn Maple leaf, taking flight.
 What the Obama people really want
Clinton official says Dems and Obama advisors share blame for bank crisis. Check out this warning letter from 2006 Obama: "I want to spread the wealth around." It would seem that Obama believes that the government owns the money this entrepreneurial hard-working plumber made. It's the zero-sum fallacy of wealth. Here's more on what "cutting taxes" really means Demography: "No Democrat has won a majority of the white vote for president in my lifetime..." Outside the Beltway Repubs and blue-collar voters. Front Page Why Obama's socialism matters. Am Thinker Howard Stern interviews Obama supporters. Unbelievable! Neoneo: Obama the soft socialist How to steal Ohio Messianic quotes re Obama. Suckers.
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