Oil and Unions

Turning Oil into Salt: R. James Woolsey & Anne Korin write we need to not just become imported oil dependent but make oil like salt. An important commodity, but not something countries go to war over. The authors solution is plug in hybrid and ethanol from bio mass. Basically a pipe dream. Unless there is a major breakthrough in battery storage technology and or ethanol manufacturing we won't be replacing oil or making oil as common as salt.

More on the UAW, GM and the effects on the State of Michigan.

George Soros a threat to democracy? Don't know I would go that far. . . .

Steve Laffey and his new book and his future plans.

New Jersey, most people think Democrats corrupt in State but will vote for them anyway. Why?

"...they lost."

Lt. Col. Mike Silverman, commander of the 3rd ID in Anbar Province was asked by Michael Totten, "What’s the most important thing Americans need to know about Iraq that they don’t currently know?” His answer is this (emphasis mine)

“That we’re fighting Al Qaeda,” he said without hesitation. “[Abu Musab al] Zarqawi invented Al Qaeda in Iraq. The top leadership outside Iraq squawked and thought it was a bad idea. Then he blew up the Samarra mosque, triggered a civil war, and got the whole world’s attention. Then the Al Qaeda leadership outside dumped huge amounts of money and people and arms into Anbar Province. They poured everything they had into this place. The battle against Americans in Anbar became their most important fight in the world. And they lost.”

Totten and Silverman have a great interview that discusses the outcome of Anbar, insights into the conflict there, and how it became a victory. Baghdad may not be brimming with great news, but this is a good sign of what can be if the US plays smart and remains committed to success.

O Columbia, Where Art Thou?

Apparently hiding behind a black backdrop. Speaks volumes to me.

Biofuel, famine, unrest, war

Hope you all had a good weekend. Spouse had a friend down and they went to the UCLA-Wash game on Sat. Friend is a Huskey alum. So it turned out to be a pretty good weekend for all. UCLA beat Wash Yeah, USC beat Wash State, well that was a boo and a yeah. UCLA wants USC to lose to everyone (and vice versa) while Friend was glad Wash St lost. Ok, that's not quite true. Folks from Wash rarely think of Wash St, ignoring them is better then getting angry at them. But fun was had by all.

UAW is striking GM. Does this make any sense? The Union says they want better job security. But the company is losing money, going BK is looking more likely which will void all contracts and the union is demanding more job security? How about helping the company getting profitable again with a profit sharing provision so you will enjoy the fruits of your labor? And remember UAW, if GM goes bk, all your retirees pensions and health care are either gone or at best reduced 50 to 70%. I don't know if retirees still vote in UAW elections but I wouldn't want to explain to them the Unions actions cost them their pension.

Iran has confirmed its shelling Kurdish positions in Iraq. Uhhhh, isn't that an act of war? Just asking.

Bio-fuel is the current hot ticket. However, as more food is diverted to fuel, the safety stocks of food are getting smaller. If there is a crop failure in the US or other large food producing countries, urban poor in China, India, Mexico could see major food costs increase which could lead to unrest.

Anti-war movies don't seem to be doing well in the box office. Capitalism still works.

Is Disney bowing to political pressure in not releasing a show on DVD? I thought this was the US and not Russia.

Have a good day.

What was she thinking? What were they thinking?

MIT student walks into Logan airport with a circuit board on her sweatshirt looking much like a terrorist.

"She said that it was a piece of art and she wanted to stand out on career day," [State Police Maj. Scott] Pare said at a news conference. "She claims that it was just art, and that she was proud of the art and she wanted to display it."

The device had wires connected to a battery, allowing it to light up, he said. Simpson [the student]also had Play-Doh in her hands, he said.

Play-Doh?? Yeah, okay, this sounds a little stupid considering our current conflict. I'd have to ask what WAS she thinking? If at all. Is this a publicity stunt? Some sort of statement? Just a silly oversight? I'm looking forward to see how how this develops. (and why do college students feel the need to go out of their way to be controversial in the most stupidest of ways? Push the boundaries; don't jeopardize the public.)

On the other hand, if I were a terrorist, the last thing I would do would be to strap a bomb to my sweatshirt. I'd wonder what the cops are thinking at this point in time. Of course, in the heat of the situation, you can't analyze the situation--better to err on the side of caution. A little analysis would have helped defuse the situation, but you'd have to have somebody familiar with circuits (like an EOD tech). Perhaps police departments should be trained in electrical engineering.

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My Kingdom for a Broomstick!

Imagine being able to fire up your PSx, and hopping up on your broomstick controller. I thought it was kind of amusing, although I would feel like a complete tool playing a game on this thing.

Quidditch anybody?

No Academic Freedom for You!

The UC Regents declined to have dinner with President of Harvard, Lawrence H. Summers, under pressure from liberal professors. Summers apparently served a controversial term, but if Columbia University can provide a forum for those who deny the Holocaust and sponsor state run terrorism, certainly the Regents of the University of California could share a meal conversation with "a former treasury secretary, university administrator, and respected economist". As the Harvard Crimson pointed out:

...the unrestricted marketplace of ideas that must form the heart of any university worth the name is being poisoned by a perverse pressure to conform truth to political agenda and stifle any speaker who espouses uncomfortable or invonveneint (sic) opinions.

It would seem that academic freedom only extends to the political left.

(hat tip: Instapundit)