HURRICANE ON SATURN.

Some 1,250 miles across, the startlingly large storm was revealed in first views of the ringed planet's northern pole as seen by the spacecraft this fall. The clouds whirl around the planet's northern pole at 330 miles-per-hour.

The article (with links to more photos) is here.

OBAMACARE FAIL (AGAIN):

Washington has a bipartisan tradition of overspending in the current year while enacting spending cuts and tax increases that will take effect in later years. Those “out-year” measures make the ten-year budget figures appear more responsible than they would if current-year policies were continued. When the out-year spending cuts and tax hikes are due to take effect, Washington rescinds them, and the cycle begins again. Congress has postponed planned cuts in Medicare physician payments every year for the past decade. This year, Obama rescinded cuts the PPACA would make to private Medicare plans, and both parties are lining up to repeal the law’s medical-device tax and the board it would create to reduce Medicare spending.

I'm reminded of J. Wellington Wimpy: "I'll gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today."

DEMOCRATS LOVE GUNS. No, really. Stop laughing.

I'm amused by the 'correlation is not causation' argument. That's true, but remember the complete statement: "Correlation does not imply causation, but it sure as hell provides a hint."

UNEXPECTEDLY. Obama Walks Back 'Red Line' Stance On Syria Chemical Weapon Attacks. Good thing it was drawn in the sand; it's much easier to erase.

NOW OBAMA wants your pension. And why not? After all, the government is going to take care of all your needs. Remember the 'Life of Julia'?

[NOTE: the 'Julia' ad itself appears to be gone from the internet. I wonder why.]

TROUBLING QUESTIONS: Benghazi is back in the news.

And Fox News, at least, is reporting it. Other news networks (CNN, MSNBC) are studiously avoiding it.

DAN HOLLER: The Elite Media Hates You. The feeling is mutual.

I COMPLETED my ObamaScare weapons buy with the purchase of this beauty yesterday.



It took an extra day because in addition to the 'proof of identity' requirement to complete the NICS background check, I also needed proof of citizenship. Apparently only citizens and criminals are allowed to possess 'scary' guns. Er, ... excuse me, 'assault weapons'.

THE 'PROFESSIONALLY OFFENDED' industry is in high dudgeon -- again: Native Americans incensed over pro-gun rights billboard in Colorado. You can have only one opinion -- ours. Even if the facts disprove the opinion.

“THE TSARNAEV BROTHERS were state-supported terrorists. The state was Massachusetts.”

Follow the links.

GREEN SUPREMACY: the viciousness of the 'environmentally righteous'.

I’D CALL THEM GHOULS, but that’s unfair to ghouls everywhere.

COLLEGE: What's the Point?

Via Meadia is far too kind on the value of a liberal arts degree: "Employers want people who can write, who can intuit what others are thinking, who can learn from others." That's true. But try to find a recent college graduate who can do even one of the above....

NEWT GINGRICH:

President Obama often speaks of the need for a “balanced approach” to reducing the deficit. But when his administration defends air traffic control disruptions and half-million-dollar electric lemons in the same week, you have to wonder about his sense of “balance.”

Read it all.

VICTOR DAVIS HANSON: Why Read Old Books?

So we can understand today?

PRESIDENT OBAMA IDENTIFIES HIMSELF.

President Obama walks into the Bank of America to cash a check. As he approaches the cashier he says, "Good morning Ma'am, could you please cash this check for me?"

Cashier: "It would be my pleasure sir. Could you please show me your ID?"

Obama: "Truthfully, I did not bring my ID with me as I didn't think there was any need to. I am President Barack Obama, the President of the United States of America."

Cashier: "Yes sir, I know who you are, but with all the regulations and monitoring of the banks because of impostors and forgers and requirements of the Dodd/Frank legislation, etc., I must insist on seeing ID."

Obama: "Just ask anyone here at the bank who I am and they will tell you. Everybody knows who I am."

Cashier: "I am sorry Mr. President but these are the bank rules and I must follow them."

Obama: "I am urging you, please, to cash this check."

Cashier: "Look Mr. President, here is an example of what we can do. One day, Tiger Woods came into the bank without ID. To prove he was Tiger Woods he pulled out his putter and made a beautiful shot across the bank into a cup. With that shot we knew him to be Tiger Woods and cashed his check.

Another time, Andre Agassi came in without ID. He pulled out his tennis racquet and made a fabulous shot whereas the tennis ball landed in my cup. With that shot we cashed his check.

So, Mr. President, what can you do to prove that it is you, and only you, as the President of the United States?"

Obama stands there thinking, and thinking, and finally says, "Honestly, my mind is a total blank ... there is nothing that comes to my mind. I can't think of a single thing. I have absolutely no idea what to do and I don't have a clue.

Cashier: "Will that be large or small bills, Mr. President?"

From my email.

THE REAL REASON ammunition is in such short supply.

I'm prepared, though I'd prefer to have a few hundred more rounds available.

THE SPENDING CUTS CAME and no one noticed.

[G]overnment programs aren't tools for improving the country. They're tools for acquiring the main goal of the political class: more power, which leads to more patronage, more graft (legal and otherwise) and a boost to their all-encompassing sense of self-importance.

So cut more. Much, much more.

VIRGIN GALACTIC'S SpaceShipTwo makes history with first rocket-powered flight. I'd sign up to fly if I had the $200K fare to spend....

GUN MAKERS head for greener pastures.