Growing daisies ... well, Daisy Mae.
Saturday, May 09, 2009
"REBRANDING" GLOBAL WARMING
"With a number of studies now showing there has been no global warming over at least the last 10 years and that the Earth is actually cooling, environmentalists are looking to re-brand their message."
"The Denver Examiner reports 'global warming' was found to be too political and polarizing, so 'climate crisis' is recommended. The group urges the use of 'pollution' instead of 'carbon'; [and] 'new energy jobs' instead of 'green jobs'."
New bottle, same whine.
"The Denver Examiner reports 'global warming' was found to be too political and polarizing, so 'climate crisis' is recommended. The group urges the use of 'pollution' instead of 'carbon'; [and] 'new energy jobs' instead of 'green jobs'."
New bottle, same whine.
Friday, May 08, 2009
NO MORE YARD SALES
”Th[e] ... Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reminds the American people that, thanks to the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, the government is totally in charge of your yard sale:”
“Selling old kids books, anything with metal, paint, or plastic that a kid might use, old clothes or shoes with metal components that a kid might wear? You know, any of the stuff people routinely sell at yard sales? Technically, you could be on the hook for thousands of dollars worth of fines.”
Do you have your ObamaCare permission slip?
via Instapundit.
This [28-page] handbook will help sellers of used products identify types of potentially hazardous products that could harm children or others. CPSC’s laws and regulations apply to anyone who sells or distributes consumer products. This includes thrift stores, consignment stores, charities, individuals holding yard sales (emphasis mine), and flea markets.
“Selling old kids books, anything with metal, paint, or plastic that a kid might use, old clothes or shoes with metal components that a kid might wear? You know, any of the stuff people routinely sell at yard sales? Technically, you could be on the hook for thousands of dollars worth of fines.”
Do you have your ObamaCare permission slip?
via Instapundit.
OBAMACARE
SHOE, by Chris Cassatt & Gary Brookins (Washington Times, 7 May 2009)
Says it all, doesn't it?
FROM MY EMAIL
I called my stockbroker yesterday and asked him, "What are you buying?"
His answer: "Canned goods and ammunition."
His answer: "Canned goods and ammunition."
Thursday, May 07, 2009
HERE WE GO AGAIN
Does the Obama administration vetting process require them to be crooks?
I’d almost rather it be so; the only other explanation is a frightful degree of arrogance and/or incompetence.
How many tax cheats and crooks has Obama nominated so far?
President Obama's choice for the government's No. 2 housing job is embroiled in the largest fine in U.S. history for "blatant violations" of open records laws ... [T]he Washington State Supreme Court found the actions of Mr. [Ronald] Sims' office to be so "egregious" that they scrapped a lower court's order of a $123,780 fine - the largest ever assessed in a public records case - and recommended that the penalty be increased to as much as $825,000.
I’d almost rather it be so; the only other explanation is a frightful degree of arrogance and/or incompetence.
How many tax cheats and crooks has Obama nominated so far?
ALL THE NEWS ... (AGAIN)
On Tuesday, the D.C. City Council voted overwhelmingly (12-1) to approve a bill to recognize same-sex marriages performed elsewhere. The lone dissenter, Council Member Marion Berry was accused by a fellow council member of bigotry for his vote. It was worthy of a 17-paragraph above-the-fold front-page placement in the Washington Post.
On Wednesday, there was a school choice rally (reported by Instapundit; follow his links) on Pennsylvania Avenue across the street from the D.C. City Council. The rally had an attendance estimated at over 1000.
Of course, there was no news story ... nothing! ... in the Washington Post this morning. In a separate Metro-section story on President Obama's D.C Voucher compromise proposal, there was one sentence referring to the protest in a 17-paragraph story.
Gay rights and bigotry – newsworthy. School choice – not newsworthy.
All the news that’s fit to print. Right.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Post Script: I was hopeful the Washington Times, D.C.'s conservative newspaper, would do better. Sadly, I was wrong.
On Wednesday, there was a school choice rally (reported by Instapundit; follow his links) on Pennsylvania Avenue across the street from the D.C. City Council. The rally had an attendance estimated at over 1000.
Of course, there was no news story ... nothing! ... in the Washington Post this morning. In a separate Metro-section story on President Obama's D.C Voucher compromise proposal, there was one sentence referring to the protest in a 17-paragraph story.
Gay rights and bigotry – newsworthy. School choice – not newsworthy.
All the news that’s fit to print. Right.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Post Script: I was hopeful the Washington Times, D.C.'s conservative newspaper, would do better. Sadly, I was wrong.
QUESTIONING THE VALUE OF REGULATION
ObamaCare in a nutshell:
Yes.
“Fundamentally, the regulatory approach is focused on the lowest common denominator: the person who needs a warning sign to ensure that he doesn’t spill hot coffee on himself or who shuns any responsibility for his own decisions. Acting in his name, regulators restrict everyone’s choices and freedoms.”
Yes.
HEARD ON THE RADIO
The World Health Organization is afraid that “even more people will be susceptible to the next flu pandemic” because the current swine flu pandemic turned out to be a dud.
Well, yeah. Has anyone at WHO ever read about the little boy who cried wolf? After weeks of yelling “The swine flu is coming! Panic! You’re gonna die! News at 11 ... and at 10 ... and at 9 ... and at 8:45 ... and at 8:40 ... and at ...,” of course people are going to ignore you.
So what’s the typical reaction of the Nanny Statists? “Next time we have to yell louder.”
[Update] Don Surber comments, with more links.
Well, yeah. Has anyone at WHO ever read about the little boy who cried wolf? After weeks of yelling “The swine flu is coming! Panic! You’re gonna die! News at 11 ... and at 10 ... and at 9 ... and at 8:45 ... and at 8:40 ... and at ...,” of course people are going to ignore you.
So what’s the typical reaction of the Nanny Statists? “Next time we have to yell louder.”
[Update] Don Surber comments, with more links.
WHY GOVERN WHEN YOU CAN BULLY?
Amity Shlaes: "In the past, politicians and policy thinkers tended to be magnanimous in victory. They and their friends focused, post-victory, on policy and strategy -- not on trashing individuals."
But now ... according to posts on three left-leaning blogs:
Shlaes attributes the nastiness to a combination of the internet, historical ignorance, and Democrat discomfort with power.
I’m not as generous. To me it’s arrogance born of certainty and a firm belief that anyone who dares dissent must, of necessity, be evil. Secular extremism, if you will.
But now ... according to posts on three left-leaning blogs:
"Michele Bachmann’s version of history is 'from another planet.' Bobby Jindal, the Republican governor of Louisiana, is 'chronically stupid.' And Eric Cantor of Virginia, the second-ranking Republican in the House, is 'busy lying constantly.'
[T]he magnanimity isn’t there. Indeed, the closer the Democrats get to total power, the nastier the commentators friendly to them have become.
Shlaes attributes the nastiness to a combination of the internet, historical ignorance, and Democrat discomfort with power.
I’m not as generous. To me it’s arrogance born of certainty and a firm belief that anyone who dares dissent must, of necessity, be evil. Secular extremism, if you will.
CASH FOR CLUNKERS
[The] Obama administration says it will stand behind deal struck by House Democrats to push forward legislation to stimulate car sales.
This is really a matter of getting the camel’s nose into the tent. The goal is to get Americans into “green” transportation by the simple expedient of offering only “green” vehicles for sale and removing "non-green" vehicles from the resale market.
I suspect the only effect of this legislation will be to increase the resale value of used cars.
The Obama administration has signaled its support for a congressional effort that aims to boost the troubled car industry by subsidizing new cars sales for consumers who scrap old ones.
Under the so-called cash-for-clunkers legislation, consumers with old, gas guzzlers could get $3,500 or $4,500 in government vouchers to use toward the purchase of new cars that get gas mileage that exceeds [that of] the old cars.
This is really a matter of getting the camel’s nose into the tent. The goal is to get Americans into “green” transportation by the simple expedient of offering only “green” vehicles for sale and removing "non-green" vehicles from the resale market.
I suspect the only effect of this legislation will be to increase the resale value of used cars.
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
COMBATING THE RIGHT
At the City University of New York:
Hmm. At a taxpayer-funded public University. When, do you think, will we see CUNY sponsor a first annual conference on “Leftist Movements"? About the time airborne swine droppings hit the pavement, I suspect.
Follow the links above and check out the participants.
THE RIGHT IN THESE TIMES:
UNDERSTANDING AND COMBATING CONTEMPORARY SHIFTS TO THE RIGHT
Second Annual Conference on "Rightist Movements"
Friday, May 1, 2009
The Graduate Center, City University of New York
Hmm. At a taxpayer-funded public University. When, do you think, will we see CUNY sponsor a first annual conference on “Leftist Movements"? About the time airborne swine droppings hit the pavement, I suspect.
Follow the links above and check out the participants.
ON CONSERVATISM
Don Surber gets it.
Read it all.
Republicans and the nation need to get back to the Ronald Reagan principles of less government and more individual freedom.
Conservatives will return to power when they give the nation what it needs — upfront and without apology.
Read it all.
SOAK THE RICH?
Think again.
Here’s an interesting factoid: in 2006, the most recent year for which information is available, the average tax rate for the working rich was 22.8%; that same year the average tax rate paid by the super-rich - the 400 filers with the highest incomes - was only 17.2%.
Read the whole article.
And let me put a plug in for my own profession: politicians make a business of slicing pies; engineers make a business of creating more pies.
There is one thing that soaking the rich will do effectively, and that's redistribute wealth .... Let's just understand that reslicing the pie to give the rich a smaller piece doesn't make the pie any bigger - and won't get us out of the recession any faster.
Here’s an interesting factoid: in 2006, the most recent year for which information is available, the average tax rate for the working rich was 22.8%; that same year the average tax rate paid by the super-rich - the 400 filers with the highest incomes - was only 17.2%.
Read the whole article.
And let me put a plug in for my own profession: politicians make a business of slicing pies; engineers make a business of creating more pies.
TO CATCH A THIEF
Use a thief.
The administration Arrogance Machine in action.
President Obama: "The Treasury Department and the IRS, under Secretary Geithner's leadership and Commissioner Shulman's, are already taking far-reaching steps to catch overseas tax cheats ...."
What, is Geithner telling the IRS, "Look for these signs, because that's how I did it"?
[A]t least the president only praised one tax cheat ... oh, wait:
"These problems have been highlighted by Chairmen Charlie Rangel ...."
Geithner and Rangel thanked for helping crack down on tax cheats? What's next, a ceremony on the importance of accurate information in public-health communication, thanking Joe Biden?
The administration Arrogance Machine in action.
TELECONFERENCING TO GO
A humanoid robot that looks like the love child of a Segway scooter and the animated Disney robot Wall-E is poised to add a new dimension to teleconferencing.
Telecommuting is looking better and better.
Telecommuting is looking better and better.
REDUCE CO2; BREATHE SLOWER
There are about 7 billion humans on earth, and each of us generates roughly 600 lbs of carbon dioxide per year.
So now that the EPA has declared CO2 a pollutant and environmental hazard, will Congress enact “breathing standards” as they did mileage standards for automobiles? Will they be “fleet-wide”, so to speak, or age-adjusted?
Will athletes be exempted?
When will "complete yoga breathing," a style of respiration that encourages slow breathing at a rate of about six breaths per minute be required?
Congress will be exempt, of course.
So now that the EPA has declared CO2 a pollutant and environmental hazard, will Congress enact “breathing standards” as they did mileage standards for automobiles? Will they be “fleet-wide”, so to speak, or age-adjusted?
Newborns ------------- 44 breaths per minute
Infants -------------- 20–40 breaths per minute
Preschool children --- 20–30 breaths per minute
Older children ------- 16–25 breaths per minute
Adults --------------- 12–20 breaths per minute
Will athletes be exempted?
Adults during strenuous exercise 35–45 breaths per minute
Athletes' peak 60–70 breaths per minute
When will "complete yoga breathing," a style of respiration that encourages slow breathing at a rate of about six breaths per minute be required?
Congress will be exempt, of course.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)