Need I say more?
Monday, March 30, 2009
A BRILLIANT IDEA
Don Surber solved the global warming crisis: "Hey, maybe we can fill our tires with carbon dioxide."
And at 32 psi per tire, that’s a lot of carbon dioxide.
The California Air Resources Board adopted a resolution requiring auto repair shops to check tire pressure every time drivers bring in their vehicle for maintenance, oil changes and smog tests.
With 120 million cars and pickups on the road, that’s 480 million tires.
And at 32 psi per tire, that’s a lot of carbon dioxide.
TENT CITIES
In an earlier post I referred to a New York Times article (pictures here) on homelessness in California.
Homelessness is sad anywhere, but just to put those pictures in context, here is a reminder of the sacrifices our military are making in Iraq and Afghanistan.
This is one of the Times' pictures.
This is the interior of the trailer I lived in during my 2008 deployment.
Here is a second Times photo of a homeless "village."
This is our "village" in Iraq. The shelters are cargo containers.
And I would end by pointing out that these are the high–dollar quarters for senior military and civilian – basic quarters are nowhere near as nice.
Homelessness is sad anywhere, but just to put those pictures in context, here is a reminder of the sacrifices our military are making in Iraq and Afghanistan.
This is one of the Times' pictures.
This is the interior of the trailer I lived in during my 2008 deployment.
Here is a second Times photo of a homeless "village."
This is our "village" in Iraq. The shelters are cargo containers.
And I would end by pointing out that these are the high–dollar quarters for senior military and civilian – basic quarters are nowhere near as nice.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
FIGHTING TAXES
Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota caused a little controversy by saying we should all be “armed and dangerous” on the issue of energy taxes.
Frank J. Fleming agrees:
Fleming continues by offering tips on fighting back, to which I would add one more from Lazarus Long: “Get a shot off fast. This upsets him long enough to let you make your second shot perfect.”
Frank J. Fleming agrees:
I’ve never met a problem that couldn’t be solved by proper firearm usage, and taxes are certainly no exception.
[T]ake a look at California. It’s one of the most difficult states for a law-abiding citizen who wants to own a gun. It also has some of the worst taxes. In fact, taxes have swarmed the entire state and rendered it nearly uninhabitable by human beings; they writhe on it like maggots on a corpse.
Fleming continues by offering tips on fighting back, to which I would add one more from Lazarus Long: “Get a shot off fast. This upsets him long enough to let you make your second shot perfect.”
WHAT? ME WORK?
Glenn Reynolds: “'More than three decades of research shows that a focus on effort—not on intelligence or ability—is key to success in school and in life.' Hey, I’ve got an idea — why don’t we organize society so that it rewards hard work! We could even see that people who work harder and do better make more money! And then their efforts would pay off in more general societal prosperity, making life better for everyone! And we could . . . Naaaah."
OBAMACORPS?
Volunteer for America -- or else!
From the DC Examiner:
Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education, my aching ass.
The bill text can be found here.
From the DC Examiner:
Lurking behind the feel-good rhetoric spouted by the measure’s advocates is a bill that on closer inspection reveals multiple provisions that together create a strong odor of creepy authoritarianism.
Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education, my aching ass.
The bill text can be found here.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
DUMB AND DUMBER
California to reduce carbon emissions by... banning black cars?!
Just how much energy does the state think it will save? Enough to cover the regulatory costs?
Every time I think the state of California can't possibly get any stupider, it proves me wrong.
California Air Resources Board figures that the climate control systems of dark colored cars need to work harder than their lighter siblings – especially after sitting in the sun for a few hours. Anyone living in a hot, sunny climate will tell you that this assumption is accurate, of course.
When we first heard of this issue, an internal debate immediately began as to whether this might be an elaborate early April Fool's joke, but it isn't.
Just how much energy does the state think it will save? Enough to cover the regulatory costs?
Every time I think the state of California can't possibly get any stupider, it proves me wrong.
THE BIG 3-5-0
A milestone of sorts. I just published my 350th post, with three more still scheduled. I'm still in a bit of shock about that - I never dreamed I'd be writing so much or so often.
When I first started Shadow's World, it was simply going to be a mechanism to communicate with family and friends while I was on my first tour of Iraq. It didn't work, of course; in 2006, internet communication from a war zone simply didn't exist.
Well, that's not quite true. It did, but "commercial" internet was in its infancy in Iraq, slow and intermittent at best.
On my second tour in 2008, I was smarter and didn't take a computer - only to find out that I was wrong again. Even the CHU's (Coalition housing units, or quarters) were wired with high-speed internet. (One of my co-workers used to watch football games from his CHU via webcam with his father in the States.)
Now Shadow's World has morphed into sort of a semi-political blog, and I've morphed into a pajamas-clad (gasp!) blogger, flinging unwashed opinions into the ether from a darkened basement (well, not quite: the computer I'm at is actually in a bedroom).
To paraphrase someone, I'm not sure who, "we live in interesting times."
When I first started Shadow's World, it was simply going to be a mechanism to communicate with family and friends while I was on my first tour of Iraq. It didn't work, of course; in 2006, internet communication from a war zone simply didn't exist.
Well, that's not quite true. It did, but "commercial" internet was in its infancy in Iraq, slow and intermittent at best.
On my second tour in 2008, I was smarter and didn't take a computer - only to find out that I was wrong again. Even the CHU's (Coalition housing units, or quarters) were wired with high-speed internet. (One of my co-workers used to watch football games from his CHU via webcam with his father in the States.)
Now Shadow's World has morphed into sort of a semi-political blog, and I've morphed into a pajamas-clad (gasp!) blogger, flinging unwashed opinions into the ether from a darkened basement (well, not quite: the computer I'm at is actually in a bedroom).
To paraphrase someone, I'm not sure who, "we live in interesting times."
CHARITY IS COMMUNITY PROPERTY
In an earlier post, I suggested that possibly the Obama administration’s proposal to reduce the charitable deduction for the wealthy was a ploy to fund his social engineering programs and, at worst, buy votes.
I worried that I might be “attributing malice to that which could be explained by stupidity.”
I needn’t have worried. Here’s Joel Berg, executive director of the New York City Coalition Against Hunger, in today’s Washington Post:
Well, it’s their money, isn’t it? Berg doesn’t appear to think so.
It doesn’t seem to occur to Mr. Berg that “the rich” also pay the majority of taxes that build these roads, bridges, ports, and public schools.
In other words, Berg’s priorities outweigh the priorities of those who are actually supplying the funds.
Wealth is, or rather should be “community property.” Is it any wonder why the wealthier among us are “going John Galt?”
Wasn’t it Karl Marx who said “From each according to his ability, to each according to his need”? Why yes, yes it was.
[UPDATE] The Washington Times agrees: “Mr. Obama, his administration and allies seem to see charity and charitable giving in a different light.”
I worried that I might be “attributing malice to that which could be explained by stupidity.”
I needn’t have worried. Here’s Joel Berg, executive director of the New York City Coalition Against Hunger, in today’s Washington Post:
When the wealthiest Americans donate to charities, they are most likely to give to universities, hospitals and cultural institutions from which they and their families may benefit.
Well, it’s their money, isn’t it? Berg doesn’t appear to think so.
First, such tax deductions are a highly inefficient way to fund social programs.
Second, voluntary private charity is a less equitable way to solve community problems. While many people assume that the rich amass their wealth on their own, the truth is that their business interests are almost always aided by public efforts such as roads, bridges and ports through which they ship their goods or public schools that educate their workforces.
It doesn’t seem to occur to Mr. Berg that “the rich” also pay the majority of taxes that build these roads, bridges, ports, and public schools.
Given that even the wealthiest benefit greatly from this modern "public commons," it is wrong to give them unilateral power to decide whether their taxpayer-subsidized donations should go ....
In other words, Berg’s priorities outweigh the priorities of those who are actually supplying the funds.
It is fashionable these days to say that "the community," not government, should solve social problems.... In America, the government is the most legitimate voice of the entire community.
Wealth is, or rather should be “community property.” Is it any wonder why the wealthier among us are “going John Galt?”
Wasn’t it Karl Marx who said “From each according to his ability, to each according to his need”? Why yes, yes it was.
[UPDATE] The Washington Times agrees: “Mr. Obama, his administration and allies seem to see charity and charitable giving in a different light.”
LIGHTS ON, PEOPLE
Don Surber:
Celebrate progress. Keep the lights on and the furnace warm.
On Saturday, [the Left] will celebrate Earth Hour by shutting off the lights from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. A whole bunch of cities and corporations will also turn down the lights to show their political correctness.
We had plenty of Earth Hours in Western Europe from 500 AD to 1000 AD.
We called it the Dark Ages, a time when the Western World regressed and abandoned all the cultural and scientific achievements of the Roman Empire.
Nice going, ancestors.
Instead of Earth Hour, I shall celebrate Human Achievement Hour by leaving on my lights and maybe turning on the air conditioner regardless of the temperature.
The furnace can always warm me if it gets too cold.
Celebrate progress. Keep the lights on and the furnace warm.
THERE’S NO JOY IN MUDVILLE TONIGHT ...
Thursday, March 26, 2009
WHEN OBAMA HANDS YOU A LEMON
Make lemonade. At least that’s what I think is happening. Consider the chart below. It shows the percentages changes in Dow Jones Industrial Average, NASDAQ, and my retirement accounts, as of last Friday, all normalized to January 1, 2009. The dashed lines are second-order least-squares curve fits to the data points and the trend lines are clearly on an upward trajectory.
What does it mean? One plausible explanation is that the bubble has burst, the market collapse is complete, and the present value of the market indicators is the “real value” of the stock market.
I don’t think that’s true, however. I think the stock market – and business in general – has taken a careful look at Congress and the Obama administration and found them wanting. Some states have refused to accept stimulus money; business are appearing more and more inclined to refuse federal “assistance”; and some financial institutions are actively seeking to give back stimulus funds they had previously accepted.
It appears that business and financial institutions would rather take their chances in a less regulated economy and risk bankruptcy in a well-ordered court process than risk the whims of an obviously incompetent administration and Congress.
What does it mean? One plausible explanation is that the bubble has burst, the market collapse is complete, and the present value of the market indicators is the “real value” of the stock market.
I don’t think that’s true, however. I think the stock market – and business in general – has taken a careful look at Congress and the Obama administration and found them wanting. Some states have refused to accept stimulus money; business are appearing more and more inclined to refuse federal “assistance”; and some financial institutions are actively seeking to give back stimulus funds they had previously accepted.
It appears that business and financial institutions would rather take their chances in a less regulated economy and risk bankruptcy in a well-ordered court process than risk the whims of an obviously incompetent administration and Congress.
NO MORE WAR ON TERROR?
The Obama administration has decided to forgo the War on Terror for a “kinder, gentler” term: Overseas Contingency Operation.
So now Jihadists are now overseas contingency “operatives."
And so now we are engaged in a great Overseas Contingency Operation, testing whether that nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated can long endure. And be assured: if the Overseas Contingency Operatives succeed in pulling off another Contingency Operation on American soil on the scale of 9/11, or more than one, we will indeed be sorely tested -- and utterly unprepared to meet the multifaceted cultural, military, political, and spiritual challenge the enemy presents.
So now Jihadists are now overseas contingency “operatives."
DAMN, THAT’S ONE BIG BUS
Wall Street gave to Barack Obama and other Democrats only to be thrown under the bus when the going got rough.
via Don Surber.
via Don Surber.
THIS IS A SURPRISE?
[NYC mayor Michael] Bloomberg said "51, 52 percent of our taxes come from people making $500,000 or more."
"Five thousand people back in 2006, it's probably a little more diverse today, but in 2006, 5,000 people paid 30 percent of the taxes in New York City.
"If only 1,500 of that 5,000 people move to Connecticut, that would cut 10 percent of our tax base, that's another $3.5 billion," added Bloomberg, who has repeatedly warned that higher income taxes will damage the city's already reeling economy.
"Five thousand people back in 2006, it's probably a little more diverse today, but in 2006, 5,000 people paid 30 percent of the taxes in New York City.
"If only 1,500 of that 5,000 people move to Connecticut, that would cut 10 percent of our tax base, that's another $3.5 billion," added Bloomberg, who has repeatedly warned that higher income taxes will damage the city's already reeling economy.
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