Stuff - mainly news

The NY Times must be wishing for a Ministry of Truth and the Memory Hole (see George Orwell's 1984)so we mere mortals wouldn't be able to see what they said in 2006 and 2007 and what they were forced to report in 2008.

Stories on Sarah Palin and why the Democrats are going nuts with her selection for VP.
Here
here
here and here.

Monday Roundup

Well the Olympics are over. My wife watched the closing ceremonies, said it was too long and carnival like, the opening was much better.

If someone wrote a book that was widely publicised and later turned out to be 100% false (ok maybe was only 99.9999999999997% false) and it was his area of specialty, one would think this person would not be considered an expert worth listening too. Especially if this person insists that the original premise is still valid. Well think again.

Liberal protesters in Denver try to recreate Chicago in 1968 (by provoking the police into responding to them). However, as much as they tried to goad the police into attacking the demonstrators (who did have a permit), they were not successful. I guess there were too many video cameras around so the protesters couldn't start a riot by throwing bottles or something and then blame the police.

Mother nature has a sense of humor.

Senator Obama says we should think of the community and not just ourselves in how we live our lives. Will he follow his own advice when it comes to HIS family?

News Roundup

Who will win in November? Good question, but most likely the "experts" will be wrong again. They were for McCain then said he was dead politically and now he is the Republican nominee. Clinton was the Democratic nominee the pundits said and Obama was only testing the waters or looking for a VP slot. Now he is the likely nominee. It will be interesting to watch.

Obama takes a cheap shot at McCain on the Senate floor. Of course the bill being voted on didn't need Obama's vote to pass, its popular legislation. The more controversial bills where his vote could make a difference are a different matter.

As the 1970's theme song goes "Don't do the crime if you can't do the time". Poor little boy is whining he doesn't like jail and doesn't know how he will survive 8 months of it.

A reminder on who said there were WDM in Iraq and when.

Have a good weekend and remember Monday is Memorial Day, make it more then just a day off work or school. Remember why we have the day and who made the day and our country possible.

Tanker Deal

Article in the Seattle Times saying the reason Boeing lost the tanker deal is their proposal was inferior to Airbus in all aspects. If Boeing expected to be handed the contract, well they have been given a rude awakening. While I would rather Boeing win then Airbus, I really do want the best contract to win and so far it looks like Airbus' was the best contract.

Our computers are mainly safe

Have you seen the news stories that its possible for bad guys to read your encryption keys on your computer? Well as usual, a true story has been turned into a crisis to sell papers with the NY Times leading the charge. Our data is safer then the NY Times realize.

Illegal Immigration

How to fix it?

1. Well, building a wall is a good idea because it will slow down future illegal immigration. It doesn't have to be perfect to be effective, but just make it harder for people to enter this country illegally.
   
2. Enforce the current laws, that only people who are in the US legally can work and hold employers accountable for it. The US Government now has E-Verify, which the employer takes the applicants name, date of birth and SSN, enters it into a web page and gets an answer if the SSN is valid or not. If not valid, then the employer tells the applicant to go to the SSA and get it fixed. Notice I did not say call the police.
   
3. Most illegal's in this country are economic immigrants so make it harder for them to get jobs, they will move to where they can, or return home. Its working in Arizona right now.
   

This will not end illegal immigration, but it will reduce the number that will come each year and will also reduce the number here as many will go home because they can not find work here.

It's Star Power

I'm watching the Clemens-McNamee hearings right now and I can't believe one Senator had the audacity to ask Clemens,

A colleague of mine wants to know what uniform will you wear into the Hall of Fame.

Is it me or was that just inappropriate at this time? Two men's reputations are on the line, as well as the integrity of an industry and the honorable Senator was stargazing. I will grant the followup questions were in line, but the one quip speaks volumes.

Perhaps Clemens has a chance.

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No Training for You!

Nothing exciting today, just the usual disrespect of the US Marines by the government they protect. It seems to be in vogue as of late with the mayor of Toledo deciding to bar a reserve unit, A Co, 1/24th from conducting "urban patrol exercises" in downtown Toledo as well as using a vacant building there. The police knew, but apparently the mayor did not who then promptly threw the Marines out on their ear in a hissy fit.

"The mayor asked them to leave because they frighten people," said Brian Schwartz, the mayor's spokesman.

"He did not want them practicing and drilling in a highly visible area."

This despite the fact these activities have been performed in years past and announced by local media. According to the Mayor (who apparently acted unilaterally), that's too bad, even in the face of one Iraq vet's experiences:

Lance Cpl. Brandon Bukrey-McCarty, 22, recalled taking part in the company's 2006 urban patrol exercise in downtown Toledo.

He said he learned skills during that exercise that proved useful during the unit's deployment to Fallujah, Iraq, in 2006-2007.

"It was extremely helpful," Corporal Bukrey-McCarty said.

The training "got me used to looking up on rooftops, looking around every alley, every open door."

Good thing he's hearing about it. Citizen Brian Thompson summarizes (emphasis mine):

"My perception now is that Carty feels it is OK for Marines to die in Iraq, but just don't come to Toledo," said the 13-year Marine Corps veteran. "The better trained the men and women are, the better chances that they'll come home alive."

To wit, the mayor has an axe to grind against this nation's foreign policy, perhaps even motivated by partisan politics (Finkbeiner is a Dem). Tragically, Mayor Finkbeiner is far too willing to sacrifice readiness for a political statement, a statement that will be paid not by him, but by the blood of the reservists.

Simply unacceptable.

(hat tip: Blackfive who has the scoop from the Instapundit)

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WWGD?

Another half point today? After a three quarters point cut less than a month ago? 125 basis points in less than a month makes it sound like somebody hit the panic button. It almost seems as if the Fed was asleep at the switch when the economic train thundered by with the words "Recession Express" stamped on the side. Seriously, did the FOMC wake up and just realize this? And just how does one "fix" an economy perceived to be ailing because of credit problems? Allow consumers to borrow more? As I remarked to Kalvin today:

"As a dog returns to its vomit...so will a fool return to sub-prime, securitized mortgages."

The signals are mixed right now, GDP grew a bit last quarter, not much, but it was still growing--despite expectations of worse for high energy prices and a slumping housing market. But is there enough there to justify such an adjustment?

Part of me wonders what would Greenspan have done (WWGD!), his reign as Fed chair seemed to be more measured, more thoughtful. Greenspan led. Bernanke (so far) has come across as a market appeaser at best, un-observant at the worst. He follows. One has to believe there is a better way to influence markets than this; in fact, one might make the case economies must contract every so often and macroeconomic factors are just out of our influence. We might be able to ease the pain, but the pain must be felt.

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Let the Pork Begin!

It sounds like the tax rebates promised to us won't arrive anytime soon as Senate Democrats intend to puff up the existing economic stimulus plan with MORE free money. In other words, this bill has become a free ticket for politicos to stuff it with voter-pleasing gifts such as:

• Free cash to senior citizens on Social Security, meaning less rebate for the rest
• More unemployment benefits, possibly extending it by 13 to 26 months
• Extra home heating subsidies
• Raising food stamp amounts
• More money for public works
• Business being allowed to reclaim past taxes

In other words: Don't expect the $600 / couple + $300 / child formula to stand up after the House is done with it.

This is a golden chance for the Dems to be able to get in a little extra wealth redistribution and just-in-time-for-election-year perks. Who says you can't buy votes?

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Church and State Separation

Very interesting article whereby a pastor openly endorses Obama, who was visiting the church.

the pastor of the Pentecostal Temple Church of God in Christ, speaking from the pulpit, advocated for Obama, possibly breaking the law. Pastor Leon Smith told the congregation that "the more he (Obama) speaks, the more he wins my confidence, and ... if the polls were open today, I would cast my vote for this senator.

Of course, the MSM doesn't follow up on this.

As much as the article doth protest, I think that we take separation of church and state too far in this country in that never the two shall mix in any context. This, to me, is a duality that I cannot support. If faith is true, then faith must inform politics. What then does separation of church and state mean? It means we must abide by the principle set by the framers: no religion should be excluded from public discourse or made verboten.

I found this comment by the pastor more disturbing:

[Pastor Leon Smith] urged them to [vote] the same, saying, “If you can’t support your own, you’re never going to get anywhere."

One blog commentator sums it up:

"In other words, blacks should always vote for blacks in order to “get anywhere,” which must mean that as President Obama is expected to favor blacks over whites in signing legislation, in awarding positions in government and in giving out lucrative contracts. He will not be the President of all the people, but of one slice of America. Note too that Obama apparently didn’t have any problem with that remark. Judging by his silence, that’s apparently what he intends to do." (emphasis mine)

I'm just as alarmed as he is, although I'm not quite ready to tar Obama with motives not yet proved out.

(hat tip Mark Stricherz at getreligion.org)

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Thompson Plans to Withdraw?

Looks like it from the "Breaking News" banner over at FoxNews.com. Booo! I so wanted to vote for the guy who said,

Plan? Son, the Russians don't go to the bathroom without a plan."

Alas, another actor bites the dust. Seriously, though, I don't really like many of the remaining choices at all. Could this be the year I don't vote the party line? It may very well be.

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Hitler Rooted for the 'Boys

Funny video mashup of Hitler getting a wee bit upset about the playoffs (the clip used is from a movie portrayal; NOT the real deal). It's a hoot!



ETA: It appears the video has been made private and yanked from public access. Methinks the PC police are at it again...

(hat tip: Blackfive)

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Do Your Part...Spend!

It appears that some form of "tax rebate" will be in the works for us this year as part of President Bush's economic stimulus plan.

Congressional aides said the White House plan is looking at rebates of up to $800 for individuals and $1,600 for married couples...

I have little background in economics, but it seems to me that giving money directly to people just isn't enough to change a macroeconomic environment brought about by years of senseless housing prices, lending irresponsibility, and irrational spending. As a result, a family who bought into the golden riches of million dollar homes are suffering from the weight of an adjusting mortgage now. It also means that $1,600 may only cover a housing payment.

Years of such reckless abandon in the housing markets cannot be corrected though what amounts to a 10% coupon on this year's mortgage payments.

Markets must correct. We have to pay the piper, as it were. Can $1,600 per family shift the direction of the economy? Soften the blow? I don't know. I will say it will be nice to see $1,600 of my money again and it is our duty to see that the money will be put into the economy; rather than salting it away for a rainy day (because I do have money set aside). I will do my best to spend this $1,600. Not a tough task, for I am an American.

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The Dissident Frogman

Gives us all a firearms lesson. Watch and learn, grasshopper. Watch and learn.

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Happy birthday to me

Yes today is my birthday and I have to be at work, how sad is that. Oh well. Did learn one interesting trivia fact today, listening to a biography on Ben Franklin and his birthday is also January 17th 1706. He's only 260 years older then me. Doesn't mean anything but is interesting trivia.

In the news today:

Reagan was a man of the possible, not a saint. Victor Davis Hanson reminds us the former President made a lot of decisions that were not popular at the time and would mean he would not be electable today. It doesn't take away from the accomplishments of President Reagan to say he was not perfect, nor was he a saint, but rather it reminds us in choosing our leaders today, look for those who can get things done and stand fast, rather then ideology purity.

Alicia Colon writes why she likes Fred Thompson. I can only agree with her.

WSJ's John Fund looks at government issued photo ID requirements are embraced by Democrats when it is in their interest.

Finally, from NRO Corner, a look at the Taliban in Pakistan and the numbers of people under arms they have for operations. If these reports are correct, Pakistan will need more help from the US, supplies and equipment rather then troops to destroy the bad guys.

Have a good day.

Another Hollywood Split

Peter Parker and Mary Jane are splitting up--a deal with the devil--to save her life. Synopsis at marvel.com:

"Peter...awoke to a world where his marriage never took place, and his relationship with Mary Jane broken."

This is a heavy blow, I like the Peter Parker character, he is the average guy doing his best despite his frailties, gifted extraordinarily. He is the geek who was able to marry the model (Amazing Spider-Man Annual #21)! Now, alas, it is no longer to be.

Say it ain't so, Petey and MJ! Say it ain't so! What next? Superman marries Lana?

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Tuesdays happenings

Tuesdays happenings

First off, child trafficking in America. The money quote from the article

This is a war in which millions of ordinary Americans “need to be willing to get their hands bloodied in battle,”

Read the whole thing.

No bias reporting here, A ship in international waters has unauthorized people board it, the crew tries to repel the boarders and then ties them up. The boarders were not law enforcement or military personnel. Sounds like the crewman were fighting off pirates. Well the crewman are being called pirates because their ship is a whaling ship and the boarders were anti-whaling activists who were unhappy they were tied to the mast of the ship and were not comfortable. Maybe these folks will learn that their actions have consequences. While I'm not keen on whaling, I find it hard to be sympathetic to people who try to board a ship on the high seas without permission with the rise of piracy on the oceans. The exception is when the boarders are military or coastal law enforcement personnel, who have clearly identified themselves.

Another look at replacing our energy dependence on fossil fuels with other options and how big that task really is.

Finally, today is the Michigan primary, this site has updates through out the day on the turn out there and other information, no information on who is winning, that will be decided after the polls close.

Have a good day.

Giving Government Employees a Bad Rap

Six city employees are being fired for their failure to respond to a social workers pleas for action concerning four girls who were allegedly murdered by their mother. What I find appalling is the response to the school social worker trying to raise the alarm:

"she expresses frustration at being transferred among several departments." (emphasis mine)

That sounds like the typical bureaucratic nightmare coupled with rampant pass-the-buckism. The employees and their departments are not stated and that's a shame because it would make for interesting reading. Judging by the city's response, the Powers-that-Be were not impressed with these six civil servants' work ethic. I have dealt with the usual DMV/city hall crowd and I also work with a good number of government engineers. Sadly, my experiences inform me I should not be surprised with the events leading up to the death of the children. To be sure, as in any workplace public and private, there are those who work hard and those who don't. There are those who take their jobs seriously and those who are in early retirement. The difference is you can't fire the lazy ones from the government.

Sadly, I'm predicting a wrongful termination lawsuit within days.

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The value of war games and other stuff

NY Times (Yes, I am linking to a NY Times story, for positive not negative reasons) has a very good article about the Iranian boat incident and comparing it to the 2002 war games that the Pentagon put on. In the war game, a red team consisting of a number of small craft plus cruse missiles swarmed against the blue team which had expensive and very capable navy ships. The red team one. Blue team lost cruisers, destroyers, aircraft carriers and amphibious ships. OUCH.

What the war game showed was how the US cannot let Iran or anyone else set the rules for the engagement and if they threaten the Navy, the Navy needs to shoot back sooner then later.

If Iran keeps trying to provoke the US, they will succeed because the Navy would rather have to explain why it took out Iranian ships who were threatening US ships then why US ships are damaged or sunk.

Mark Steyn has another great article comparing the true master of change (capitalism) compared to the want-a-be change agents (politicians).

Have a good day.