Interesting Fact:
Senator Daniel Akaka's (D-Hawaii) birthday is 11th September.
6 months ago
Sunday, March 31, 2002
Not his finest hour
Quote from Arafat: "We will never surrender"
Fella, you may be many things, but you are no Churchill.
Quote from Arafat: "We will never surrender"
Fella, you may be many things, but you are no Churchill.
I'm Baaaack
Well, I just got in a few hours ago. Over the break I decided to start "Daily Features" to the blog. Here's the plan:
Mondays: 5 Bible verses.
Tuesdays: A joke from Baude's Treasury of Wit and Humor for all Occasions.
Wednesdays: Song Stream. A full song available for streaming over the Internet.
Thursdays: 5 Vocabulary words. I try to pick quirky and unusual words for your edification and mine.
Fridays: End of the week quotes. Soundbites from the news or classic sayings.
Feel free to suggest any verses, songs, words, or quotes. Just e-mail me.
Well, I just got in a few hours ago. Over the break I decided to start "Daily Features" to the blog. Here's the plan:
Mondays: 5 Bible verses.
Tuesdays: A joke from Baude's Treasury of Wit and Humor for all Occasions.
Wednesdays: Song Stream. A full song available for streaming over the Internet.
Thursdays: 5 Vocabulary words. I try to pick quirky and unusual words for your edification and mine.
Fridays: End of the week quotes. Soundbites from the news or classic sayings.
Feel free to suggest any verses, songs, words, or quotes. Just e-mail me.
Thursday, March 28, 2002
Those evil execs
This from War Liberal:
"Documents Reveal Energy Head Met No Environmentalists
Lots of energy execs, though. Is anyone, anywhere, surprised by this?
I'd like to see a reasoned defense, anyway. I can't think of one myself, but I'm biased. "
Ah, yes, we better watch out for those Evil Energy Executives whose sole purpose in life is to make sure everyone breathes dirty air and drinks dirty water. Thank Gaia for those environmentalists who bravely and nobly trudge foward in their quest for a clean world.
Seriously, though, the Bush Adminstration DID seek the input from Greenpeace, Sierra Club and other such groups but they DECLINED to meet with the task force. Read here for further information.
Further reading:
Tuesday's Los Angeles Times carried a column by Greenpeace co-founder Patrick Moore where he takes the current environmentalist lobby to task.
This from War Liberal:
"Documents Reveal Energy Head Met No Environmentalists
Lots of energy execs, though. Is anyone, anywhere, surprised by this?
I'd like to see a reasoned defense, anyway. I can't think of one myself, but I'm biased. "
Ah, yes, we better watch out for those Evil Energy Executives whose sole purpose in life is to make sure everyone breathes dirty air and drinks dirty water. Thank Gaia for those environmentalists who bravely and nobly trudge foward in their quest for a clean world.
Seriously, though, the Bush Adminstration DID seek the input from Greenpeace, Sierra Club and other such groups but they DECLINED to meet with the task force. Read here for further information.
Further reading:
Tuesday's Los Angeles Times carried a column by Greenpeace co-founder Patrick Moore where he takes the current environmentalist lobby to task.
Free Constitution and Declaration of Independence
The Cato Institute is offering to send a free copy of the U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence. Did I mention it's free?
The Cato Institute is offering to send a free copy of the U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence. Did I mention it's free?
Death Penalty for Moussaoui
The U.S. Justice Department has decided to ask for the death penalty against terrorist Zacarias Moussaoui. And of course France (where Moussaoui is a citizen) has asked not to seek the death penalty and "noted that U.S.-French judicial agreements would exempt France from having to cooperate with U.S. authorities on the investigation if capital punishment is involved. France has long opposed the death penalty." Bad cheesing eating surrender monkeys! Bad!
The U.S. Justice Department has decided to ask for the death penalty against terrorist Zacarias Moussaoui. And of course France (where Moussaoui is a citizen) has asked not to seek the death penalty and "noted that U.S.-French judicial agreements would exempt France from having to cooperate with U.S. authorities on the investigation if capital punishment is involved. France has long opposed the death penalty." Bad cheesing eating surrender monkeys! Bad!
Radio Free Mississippi
For your listening pleasure here is Jar of Clay's song, Flood (Windows Media Player).
For your listening pleasure here is Jar of Clay's song, Flood (Windows Media Player).
Another tragedy
A lone gunman in France killed 8 and wounded around 30 people in a town council meeting Thursday. France recently has seen its crime rate sprial upward, despite all the gun control laws American leftists love to brag about. Maybe, allowing law abiding citizens to carry firearms to protect themselves might make murders like the gunman think twice. Just a thought...
A lone gunman in France killed 8 and wounded around 30 people in a town council meeting Thursday. France recently has seen its crime rate sprial upward, despite all the gun control laws American leftists love to brag about. Maybe, allowing law abiding citizens to carry firearms to protect themselves might make murders like the gunman think twice. Just a thought...
An atrocity
In Israel Wednesday, a suicide bomber blew himself up, killing 19 and injuring at least 120. The bomber entered a hotel in the city of Netanya where a group of Israelis were partaking of the Seder meal to celebrate Passover. Of course, the PA when through its usual litany of how it condemns the attack and will crack down on those involved, blah, blah, etc., etc. But are we going to hear denounciations of the attack from Palestinian society in general? Don't hold your breath...
In Israel Wednesday, a suicide bomber blew himself up, killing 19 and injuring at least 120. The bomber entered a hotel in the city of Netanya where a group of Israelis were partaking of the Seder meal to celebrate Passover. Of course, the PA when through its usual litany of how it condemns the attack and will crack down on those involved, blah, blah, etc., etc. But are we going to hear denounciations of the attack from Palestinian society in general? Don't hold your breath...
Wednesday, March 27, 2002
Bona Fide Augustinian
I took this philosophy quiz to see which philosophier I agreed with the most:
1. Augustine (100%)
2. Aquinas (95%)
3. Aristotle (83%)
4. Plato (81%)
5. Spinoza (78%)
6. Ockham (76%)
7. Kant (72%)
8. Mill (70%)
9. Bentham (60%)
10. Hume (52%)
11. Prescriptivism (49%)
12. Rand (49%)
13. Sartre (45%)
14. Epicureans (41%)
15. Nietzsche (41%)
16. Stoics (33%)
17. Cynics (27%)
18. Hobbes (27%)
19. Noddings (27%)
I took this philosophy quiz to see which philosophier I agreed with the most:
1. Augustine (100%)
2. Aquinas (95%)
3. Aristotle (83%)
4. Plato (81%)
5. Spinoza (78%)
6. Ockham (76%)
7. Kant (72%)
8. Mill (70%)
9. Bentham (60%)
10. Hume (52%)
11. Prescriptivism (49%)
12. Rand (49%)
13. Sartre (45%)
14. Epicureans (41%)
15. Nietzsche (41%)
16. Stoics (33%)
17. Cynics (27%)
18. Hobbes (27%)
19. Noddings (27%)
Super Coolness
From Mark Byron's "Midday Musings" post:
I’m adding Patrick Carver, the Old Miss Conservative to the Augustinian Posse. He’s one of a growing number of good collegiate bloggers, attending Oxford (MS) but not inhaling.
Thousand blessing upon you, my friend.
From Mark Byron's "Midday Musings" post:
I’m adding Patrick Carver, the Old Miss Conservative to the Augustinian Posse. He’s one of a growing number of good collegiate bloggers, attending Oxford (MS) but not inhaling.
Thousand blessing upon you, my friend.
And they call us Southerners stupid
Here's a video clip courtesy of the Media Research Center from MSNBC on the Stuyvesant High School (New York City, near the WTC) students who were like, you know, totally tired of the, like, hate speech and, you know, like, the all the "God Bless America" signs, you know?
Here's a video clip courtesy of the Media Research Center from MSNBC on the Stuyvesant High School (New York City, near the WTC) students who were like, you know, totally tired of the, like, hate speech and, you know, like, the all the "God Bless America" signs, you know?
Tuesday, March 26, 2002
CFR, Patrick's way
Sean M. Davis has a great post today on campaign reform where he goes over the Buckley v. Valeo decision.
His post got me thinking on how campaign finance should be:
(1) Allow any U.S. citizen, company, or organization to give as much money as they want to any candidate or party.
(2) Any money received by a candidate must be reported and the list of donors and the amount of contributions must be accessible to anyone upon request.
(3) That’s it.
If you don’t like what organizations, businesses, etc, that are contributing to a candidate, then you don’t vote for him! For example, let’s say you despise the soda industry for whatever reason. Candidate X is running as a candidate for your area’s Congressional seat. Curious on who has contributed to Mr. X, you write a letter to Mr. X’s campaign requesting his donor list (or if you are not still stuck in the Stone Age, you decide to check the Internet). You are shocked to find out that Pepsi, Coca-Cola, and Dr. Pepper have given millions of dollars to Mr. X. Obviously (in your mind, at least), Candidate X is a tool for Big Soda and does not deserve your vote.
So you see, there’s no need to illegally rewrite the First Amendment to let a citizen’s voice be heard.
Sean M. Davis has a great post today on campaign reform where he goes over the Buckley v. Valeo decision.
His post got me thinking on how campaign finance should be:
(1) Allow any U.S. citizen, company, or organization to give as much money as they want to any candidate or party.
(2) Any money received by a candidate must be reported and the list of donors and the amount of contributions must be accessible to anyone upon request.
(3) That’s it.
If you don’t like what organizations, businesses, etc, that are contributing to a candidate, then you don’t vote for him! For example, let’s say you despise the soda industry for whatever reason. Candidate X is running as a candidate for your area’s Congressional seat. Curious on who has contributed to Mr. X, you write a letter to Mr. X’s campaign requesting his donor list (or if you are not still stuck in the Stone Age, you decide to check the Internet). You are shocked to find out that Pepsi, Coca-Cola, and Dr. Pepper have given millions of dollars to Mr. X. Obviously (in your mind, at least), Candidate X is a tool for Big Soda and does not deserve your vote.
So you see, there’s no need to illegally rewrite the First Amendment to let a citizen’s voice be heard.
I guess great minds think alike
Matt Friedeman , talk radio host, says the following about the state quarter
State Quarter
And this from the Mississippi state quarter front…some are disappointed in the design our governor has chosen for our 25 cent piece to be in circulation in October. A magnolia! Booorrrrrring. Asked the radio audience what they would prefer and one guy said how about the Mississippi river and a church (since we do have the most churches per capita than any state in the nation). Yes. That would educate the nation a bit on the buckle of the Bible belt…and Musgrove does still go to one of those churches, does he not?
Matt Friedeman , talk radio host, says the following about the state quarter
State Quarter
And this from the Mississippi state quarter front…some are disappointed in the design our governor has chosen for our 25 cent piece to be in circulation in October. A magnolia! Booorrrrrring. Asked the radio audience what they would prefer and one guy said how about the Mississippi river and a church (since we do have the most churches per capita than any state in the nation). Yes. That would educate the nation a bit on the buckle of the Bible belt…and Musgrove does still go to one of those churches, does he not?
Mississippi Quarter
There's Mississippi's state quarter bearing the image of two magnolia flowers. Of the 2002 state quarters, Mississippi's is the most boring I'm sad to say. Heck, Ohio has an astronaut (Ohio is the home of Neil Armstrong and John Glenn) and the Wright Flyer; while Indiana's bears the image of a race car!
There's Mississippi's state quarter bearing the image of two magnolia flowers. Of the 2002 state quarters, Mississippi's is the most boring I'm sad to say. Heck, Ohio has an astronaut (Ohio is the home of Neil Armstrong and John Glenn) and the Wright Flyer; while Indiana's bears the image of a race car!
Hollywood is the Pentagon's Slave
This just in from LewRockwell.com a site that styles itself as pro-market put's this link to a socialist article on their page:
Murderwood
The film industry has long been a propaganda arm of the Pentagon. Article by Joseph Kay.
That's right, Hollywood: home of right wing military propagranda.
This just in from LewRockwell.com a site that styles itself as pro-market put's this link to a socialist article on their page:
Murderwood
The film industry has long been a propaganda arm of the Pentagon. Article by Joseph Kay.
That's right, Hollywood: home of right wing military propagranda.
Monday, March 25, 2002
NSCS
The National Society of Collegiate Scholars sends a weekly e-mail newletter called the “Scholar Connection” to members (such as me) on what projects and events members can become involved in. The last issue urges students to “Get Involved in Passing the Young Americans Act.” The bill’s goal, according to the NSCS is to:
“establish a national policy for America's youth by saying there are certain core resources that all young people ages 10-19 should have (i.e., places to go when school is not in session, relationships with caring adults, etc), and by providing communities with the funding to fulfill these resources. By enabling communities – especially youth – to come together, identify their own needs within the broad framework of core resources, and fill them, it has the potential to be a landmark bill for America's youth.”
The Senate version of the bill, introduced by Jim “Gosh, I had no idea until 2001 that the Republican Party was a conservative party” Jeffords, basically champions a taxpayer funded $500 million plan to create new bureaucracy and increase government meddling in society.
More to come on this topic soon.
The National Society of Collegiate Scholars sends a weekly e-mail newletter called the “Scholar Connection” to members (such as me) on what projects and events members can become involved in. The last issue urges students to “Get Involved in Passing the Young Americans Act.” The bill’s goal, according to the NSCS is to:
“establish a national policy for America's youth by saying there are certain core resources that all young people ages 10-19 should have (i.e., places to go when school is not in session, relationships with caring adults, etc), and by providing communities with the funding to fulfill these resources. By enabling communities – especially youth – to come together, identify their own needs within the broad framework of core resources, and fill them, it has the potential to be a landmark bill for America's youth.”
The Senate version of the bill, introduced by Jim “Gosh, I had no idea until 2001 that the Republican Party was a conservative party” Jeffords, basically champions a taxpayer funded $500 million plan to create new bureaucracy and increase government meddling in society.
More to come on this topic soon.
Saturday, March 23, 2002
A Reasonable Suggestion
Good magazine slogan from Mark Byron:
Reason-Standing Athwart History Yelling "Yee-Haw"
(with appologies to the Happy Fun Pundit)
Good magazine slogan from Mark Byron:
Reason-Standing Athwart History Yelling "Yee-Haw"
(with appologies to the Happy Fun Pundit)
Ready for a good irony?
Blogger.com, the web tool that makes this site possible, was developed by a group of people at Pyra Labs a few years ago. Being the Curious George that I am, I wondered what political persuasions that merry band has. So I clicked on the “about” link on the Blogger.com page to go to those people’s personal blogs and here’s the results:
Meg Hourihan—“This is a fascinating map of election results by county throughout the US. I have to say, I'm proud of Massachusetts, it's all blue, every county!”
Paul Bausch—
“I'm still sick. But it won't stop me from voting for Ralph Nader. I'm not looking forward to the effort that will be required to actually go outside, but what else can I do? Go out and vote! It's your only obligation as a citizen of this country (beyond taxes and obeying laws), and it doesn't take very long. Plus, you have the satisfaction of saying things like: Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos. [9:59 AM]”
His site also has a “Quotes” section with snippets of wisdom from Bertrand Russell, Jean-Paul Sartre, Eugene V. Debs (socialist U.S. Presidential candidate), Noam Chomsky, and Friedrich Nietzsche.
Matt Hamer—Has a website, but nothing on it content-wise.
Matt Haughey—
“Texas Set to Break Own Execution Record. Ugh. Nov. 14, 2000 #”
“Bush team plans policy to prevent power supply crises
Here's the keeper, a quote from Cheney:
"The federal government's main role should be to facilitate more energy production, he said."
I suppose conservation, increasing efficiency, and continuing to protect the environment are beside the point. Build more plants, yeah right, that's always the answer.
January 29, 2001 #“
"Those wacky greenpeace kids are at it again. I think we all know that "protest" is going to be a big word over the next four years. It'll be interesting to see if all these calls to action bear fruit, and bring some understanding and unity on the part of the new president, or if they polarize the country more.
I do hope the Alaskan Wilderness survives unscathed, it seems to be the will of most Alaskans I know, though a real or perceived energy crunch could turn it into an oil field overnight.
January 18, 2001 #”
"Does anyone not think this new found money [ed: referring to rebate checks] is just a way to pay off the majority of americans into letting the richest 1% get a huge break? And didn't the 80's prove "trickle-down" doesn't work?
March 27, 2001 #"
Jack Saturn—
“6:39 PM: honestly, i just have a hard time getting worked up about this year's presidential campaign. i knew going into the affair that the man i want to win [ed: referring to Nader] would not win.. but it was still a matter of voting my conscience, since i do not believe in the atrocity that is the "lesser of two evils" idea. i'm not even going to enter the debate-- it's too late in the game at this point. suffice it to say that the most spot-on voice of concern came when ryan contacted me at around five o'clock this afternoon.
"jack," he said, "i'm starting to worry that buchanan isn't going to win." [link]”
Evan Williams—“Well put: SharedVoice.org 10:38 PM «” The link goes to a petition to stop the bombing in Afghanistan.
And last but certainly least, Mr. Powazek:
Derek Powazek—(oddly, his site is powered not by blogger.com, but by greymatter)
“my personal opinion
This is a personal page. I am a personal, uh, person. I have personal opinions. If you know me (or any of my sites) at all, you know I have a hard time not saying what I think. I see no reason why I should censor myself on my own site. So here's what I think.
I think Bush is a frat boy. He's a dunderheaded, village idiot who shouldn't be let near the oval office. My political awakening was in the 80s with his father, the one-term wonder, who threatened to send me to the gulf when I turned 18. I can't believe anyone has been duped into taking this little smirking weasel seriously.
I think that Gore is well-meaning but boring as a rock and that's why he's gonna loose. I fall asleep when I hear him speak, and I'm predisposed to like him. All those people who are still angry about what his boss did for the last 8 years will never allow him in the White House.
And Nader? Oh, Nader. Wanna hate me? I voted for Nader. There. I said it. I voted for Nader because I decided to let my idealism win out over my realism. Do I regret it? No, because Gore took California. Would I regret it if I lived in Florida? Absolutely. The truth is, Nader is an intellectual. He's an idealist who, unfortunately, has no place in the corrupt world of American politics. And that's probably the biggest shame of all.
So there you go. Those are my personal opinions, here, posted on my personal page. Don't agree with me? That's great! Maybe you should say what you think on your personal page. + 11:47 AM ”
So, the political diversity ranges from Nader to Gore. Now, I don’t have a problem with their political expressions, but I just love the fact that Campus Nonsense, a tracker of loony leftists in academic life (and where I post), is powered by software designed by such leftists.
Blogger.com, the web tool that makes this site possible, was developed by a group of people at Pyra Labs a few years ago. Being the Curious George that I am, I wondered what political persuasions that merry band has. So I clicked on the “about” link on the Blogger.com page to go to those people’s personal blogs and here’s the results:
Meg Hourihan—“This is a fascinating map of election results by county throughout the US. I have to say, I'm proud of Massachusetts, it's all blue, every county!”
Paul Bausch—
“I'm still sick. But it won't stop me from voting for Ralph Nader. I'm not looking forward to the effort that will be required to actually go outside, but what else can I do? Go out and vote! It's your only obligation as a citizen of this country (beyond taxes and obeying laws), and it doesn't take very long. Plus, you have the satisfaction of saying things like: Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos. [9:59 AM]”
His site also has a “Quotes” section with snippets of wisdom from Bertrand Russell, Jean-Paul Sartre, Eugene V. Debs (socialist U.S. Presidential candidate), Noam Chomsky, and Friedrich Nietzsche.
Matt Hamer—Has a website, but nothing on it content-wise.
Matt Haughey—
“Texas Set to Break Own Execution Record. Ugh. Nov. 14, 2000 #”
“Bush team plans policy to prevent power supply crises
Here's the keeper, a quote from Cheney:
"The federal government's main role should be to facilitate more energy production, he said."
I suppose conservation, increasing efficiency, and continuing to protect the environment are beside the point. Build more plants, yeah right, that's always the answer.
January 29, 2001 #“
"Those wacky greenpeace kids are at it again. I think we all know that "protest" is going to be a big word over the next four years. It'll be interesting to see if all these calls to action bear fruit, and bring some understanding and unity on the part of the new president, or if they polarize the country more.
I do hope the Alaskan Wilderness survives unscathed, it seems to be the will of most Alaskans I know, though a real or perceived energy crunch could turn it into an oil field overnight.
January 18, 2001 #”
"Does anyone not think this new found money [ed: referring to rebate checks] is just a way to pay off the majority of americans into letting the richest 1% get a huge break? And didn't the 80's prove "trickle-down" doesn't work?
March 27, 2001 #"
Jack Saturn—
“6:39 PM: honestly, i just have a hard time getting worked up about this year's presidential campaign. i knew going into the affair that the man i want to win [ed: referring to Nader] would not win.. but it was still a matter of voting my conscience, since i do not believe in the atrocity that is the "lesser of two evils" idea. i'm not even going to enter the debate-- it's too late in the game at this point. suffice it to say that the most spot-on voice of concern came when ryan contacted me at around five o'clock this afternoon.
"jack," he said, "i'm starting to worry that buchanan isn't going to win." [link]”
Evan Williams—“Well put: SharedVoice.org 10:38 PM «” The link goes to a petition to stop the bombing in Afghanistan.
And last but certainly least, Mr. Powazek:
Derek Powazek—(oddly, his site is powered not by blogger.com, but by greymatter)
“my personal opinion
This is a personal page. I am a personal, uh, person. I have personal opinions. If you know me (or any of my sites) at all, you know I have a hard time not saying what I think. I see no reason why I should censor myself on my own site. So here's what I think.
I think Bush is a frat boy. He's a dunderheaded, village idiot who shouldn't be let near the oval office. My political awakening was in the 80s with his father, the one-term wonder, who threatened to send me to the gulf when I turned 18. I can't believe anyone has been duped into taking this little smirking weasel seriously.
I think that Gore is well-meaning but boring as a rock and that's why he's gonna loose. I fall asleep when I hear him speak, and I'm predisposed to like him. All those people who are still angry about what his boss did for the last 8 years will never allow him in the White House.
And Nader? Oh, Nader. Wanna hate me? I voted for Nader. There. I said it. I voted for Nader because I decided to let my idealism win out over my realism. Do I regret it? No, because Gore took California. Would I regret it if I lived in Florida? Absolutely. The truth is, Nader is an intellectual. He's an idealist who, unfortunately, has no place in the corrupt world of American politics. And that's probably the biggest shame of all.
So there you go. Those are my personal opinions, here, posted on my personal page. Don't agree with me? That's great! Maybe you should say what you think on your personal page. + 11:47 AM ”
So, the political diversity ranges from Nader to Gore. Now, I don’t have a problem with their political expressions, but I just love the fact that Campus Nonsense, a tracker of loony leftists in academic life (and where I post), is powered by software designed by such leftists.
Magazine Slogans
Over Spring Break, I thought of a few short comments that I feel best describe certain magazines (yes, I was that bored):
National Review: standing athwart liberalism and yelling "WHAT A BUNCH OF NONSENSE!!!"
The Weekly Standard: pretty good, but beware, McCainiacs work and lurk there
The American Prowler: the magazine that takes the liberal magazines' lunch money (and that's a good thing)
The New Republic: center-left, but with brief moments of lucidity
The American Prospect: believe we can achieve utopia if only we had a 90% marginial tax rate
The Nation: they think Stalin didn't mean to kill all those people; he just wanted to scare them.
LewRockwell.com: humourless paleolibertarians, oh wait, I'm being redundant...
Salon.com: "Hey! We've got porn!"
If you've got some funny magazine comments that you want to share, e-mail me and I might just post them.
Over Spring Break, I thought of a few short comments that I feel best describe certain magazines (yes, I was that bored):
National Review: standing athwart liberalism and yelling "WHAT A BUNCH OF NONSENSE!!!"
The Weekly Standard: pretty good, but beware, McCainiacs work and lurk there
The American Prowler: the magazine that takes the liberal magazines' lunch money (and that's a good thing)
The New Republic: center-left, but with brief moments of lucidity
The American Prospect: believe we can achieve utopia if only we had a 90% marginial tax rate
The Nation: they think Stalin didn't mean to kill all those people; he just wanted to scare them.
LewRockwell.com: humourless paleolibertarians, oh wait, I'm being redundant...
Salon.com: "Hey! We've got porn!"
If you've got some funny magazine comments that you want to share, e-mail me and I might just post them.
Friday, March 22, 2002
Alas, poor Maggie
Magaret Thatcher's office announced today that she will not be making public speeches any more due to ill health. She has suffered a series of small strokes, the lastest ones occurring last Tuesday. Mrs. Thatcher started her 11 year term as PM in 1979 and was a resolute voice advocating liberty and freedom. Her accomplishments? Well, let's see: steered the UK away from being a complete welfare state, told the Argentines to get their grubby mitts off the Falklands, and was a staunch leader in the battle to end communism in Europe. Not bad, not bad at all.
Magaret Thatcher's office announced today that she will not be making public speeches any more due to ill health. She has suffered a series of small strokes, the lastest ones occurring last Tuesday. Mrs. Thatcher started her 11 year term as PM in 1979 and was a resolute voice advocating liberty and freedom. Her accomplishments? Well, let's see: steered the UK away from being a complete welfare state, told the Argentines to get their grubby mitts off the Falklands, and was a staunch leader in the battle to end communism in Europe. Not bad, not bad at all.
Kudos
A special thanks to Dawson for mentioning this 'umble blog on his site. He also pointed out a spelling error ("nuggets" not "nudgets") on the first official blog, which has been corrected. You know, when I go back to edit previous post, I sort of feel like Big Brother in Orwell's 1984 (We are at war with Eastasia, we have always been at war with Eastasia.......I did not misspell "nuggets", I have as always correctly spelled "nuggets").
A special thanks to Dawson for mentioning this 'umble blog on his site. He also pointed out a spelling error ("nuggets" not "nudgets") on the first official blog, which has been corrected. You know, when I go back to edit previous post, I sort of feel like Big Brother in Orwell's 1984 (We are at war with Eastasia, we have always been at war with Eastasia.......I did not misspell "nuggets", I have as always correctly spelled "nuggets").
Tony Blair and his Polish friend
The London Spectator has a good piece concerning Tony Blair and his friendliness to the new premier of Poland, a former communist.
The London Spectator has a good piece concerning Tony Blair and his friendliness to the new premier of Poland, a former communist.
Thursday, March 21, 2002
Shameless Self Promotion
Thanks to a copious amount of flattery and flagrant use of bribes, I am now a poster at CampusNonsense, a website for tracking leftist nonsense on college campuses (hence the name). Thanks to Josh for inviting me to join.
Thanks to a copious amount of flattery and flagrant use of bribes, I am now a poster at CampusNonsense, a website for tracking leftist nonsense on college campuses (hence the name). Thanks to Josh for inviting me to join.
NAACP
Here's a great little column in the Clarion-Ledger which includes the great quote concerning Judge Pickering by Charles Evers, brother of slain civil rights activist Medger Evers: "The NAACP and the Klan are the only two organizations that are against him in Mississippi right now."
Here's a great little column in the Clarion-Ledger which includes the great quote concerning Judge Pickering by Charles Evers, brother of slain civil rights activist Medger Evers: "The NAACP and the Klan are the only two organizations that are against him in Mississippi right now."
Trotskyites
The paleoconservative website LewRockwell.com has on its front page today the following link: "Abduction, Murder, Torture: Another day in the life of the State" What's peculiar about the link is that goes to an article on the World Socialist Web Site which is published by the Trotskyites of the International Committee of the Fourth International. Over the last few years, the LewRockwellites have often accused the National Review (especially NRO editor Jonah Goldberg) of being, well Trotskyites and that they were the true defenders of individual liberty.
The paleoconservative website LewRockwell.com has on its front page today the following link: "Abduction, Murder, Torture: Another day in the life of the State" What's peculiar about the link is that goes to an article on the World Socialist Web Site which is published by the Trotskyites of the International Committee of the Fourth International. Over the last few years, the LewRockwellites have often accused the National Review (especially NRO editor Jonah Goldberg) of being, well Trotskyites and that they were the true defenders of individual liberty.
Wednesday, March 20, 2002
A great day for the Republic (yeah, right)
The McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform bill passed the Senate by a 60-40 margin today. And what will this glorious reform bring? Well the core provision is that any issue ad purchased by a poliical party or an interest group 60 days before an election and 30 days for a primary will be banned. Believe an incumbent up for an election has done something wrong and want to run an ad critising him? Too bad! Now, the last time I checked my Bill of Rights the First Amendment says: "Congress shall make no law...prohibiting the freedom of speech, or of the press."
Here's a list of how the senators voted.
The McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform bill passed the Senate by a 60-40 margin today. And what will this glorious reform bring? Well the core provision is that any issue ad purchased by a poliical party or an interest group 60 days before an election and 30 days for a primary will be banned. Believe an incumbent up for an election has done something wrong and want to run an ad critising him? Too bad! Now, the last time I checked my Bill of Rights the First Amendment says: "Congress shall make no law...prohibiting the freedom of speech, or of the press."
Here's a list of how the senators voted.
Michael Moore, Gentleman of the People
And now a precious jewel from National Review Online's blog, "The Corner":
"MICHAEL MOORE, GENTLEMAN OF THE PEOPLE: A Corner reader took offense at Michael Moore's nasty behavior, as reported in yesterday's San Diego Union-Tribune, and wrote Moore to complain about it, calling himself a "former fan." Former Fan forwarded me the e-mail he received from Moore (mmflint@aol.com), reproduced here verbatim (except for the profanity): dear former fan, glad you are former! 'casue i don't need any fans who would believe that scummy anti-union paper! that pr--k who wrote that column is best friends with the guy who was married to my sister and abandonned her and the two kids there in san diego. so f--k him, f--k you. everything he wrote was a lie, and i plan on taking action. mike"
And now a precious jewel from National Review Online's blog, "The Corner":
"MICHAEL MOORE, GENTLEMAN OF THE PEOPLE: A Corner reader took offense at Michael Moore's nasty behavior, as reported in yesterday's San Diego Union-Tribune, and wrote Moore to complain about it, calling himself a "former fan." Former Fan forwarded me the e-mail he received from Moore (mmflint@aol.com), reproduced here verbatim (except for the profanity): dear former fan, glad you are former! 'casue i don't need any fans who would believe that scummy anti-union paper! that pr--k who wrote that column is best friends with the guy who was married to my sister and abandonned her and the two kids there in san diego. so f--k him, f--k you. everything he wrote was a lie, and i plan on taking action. mike"
Battle of the Bulge
According to the Daily Mississippian's "Slice of Life" section, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz is encouraging the residents of his part of the Big Apple to go on a two month diet. Corpulent Brooklynites who partcipate in the diet can go to weigh-in stations at Brooklyn hospitals and government offices. Of course, when it comes around to trimming any government's waistline, Democrats, like Mr. Markowitz, aren't so eager to act.
According to the Daily Mississippian's "Slice of Life" section, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz is encouraging the residents of his part of the Big Apple to go on a two month diet. Corpulent Brooklynites who partcipate in the diet can go to weigh-in stations at Brooklyn hospitals and government offices. Of course, when it comes around to trimming any government's waistline, Democrats, like Mr. Markowitz, aren't so eager to act.
Monday, March 18, 2002
Happy Canberra Day!
According to my Far Side desk calendar, it's Canberra Day, the holiday celebrating the 1913 birth of the Australian capital city. Beers are often colored green for St. Patrick's Day, so I wonder what color they dye the Foster's (Australian for "drunk out of one's gourd") for this glorious occasion.
According to my Far Side desk calendar, it's Canberra Day, the holiday celebrating the 1913 birth of the Australian capital city. Beers are often colored green for St. Patrick's Day, so I wonder what color they dye the Foster's (Australian for "drunk out of one's gourd") for this glorious occasion.
A thought on the Pickering nomination
Sadly, last Thursday, President Bush's nominee to the 5th Circuit Court, Judge Charles Pickering, was defeated by a party-line vote (10-9) in committee. Sen. Pat Leahy (D-VT), chairman of the Judiciary Committee, declared that Pickering "repeatedly injects his own opinions into his decisions on issues ranging from employment discrimination to voting rights."
If this is the case, then why isn't there a move by the Democrats to impeach Pickering from his current position as U.S. District judge? I mean if the judge's conduct is unacceptable for a circuit court, why is it allowed now in a lower level district court?
Sadly, last Thursday, President Bush's nominee to the 5th Circuit Court, Judge Charles Pickering, was defeated by a party-line vote (10-9) in committee. Sen. Pat Leahy (D-VT), chairman of the Judiciary Committee, declared that Pickering "repeatedly injects his own opinions into his decisions on issues ranging from employment discrimination to voting rights."
If this is the case, then why isn't there a move by the Democrats to impeach Pickering from his current position as U.S. District judge? I mean if the judge's conduct is unacceptable for a circuit court, why is it allowed now in a lower level district court?
Allende, Chavez, and Aued, Part Deux
And now part II of my commentary on Blake Aued’s love letter to two South American leftist presidents.
In 1998 Hugo Chavez became the president of oil-rich Venezuela. According to Mr. Aued, “Chavez is not your typical liberal, nor your typical Marxist,” and “Chavez’s reforms are on the whole, solid, and he needs time to see them through,” and also, “His style of government is, in contrast to the populism of old, friendly to business and foreign investment.”
Au contraire. Chavez has said that Cuba and Venezuela are “swimming together toward the same sea of happiness.” Aued also mentions that Chavez has privatized the steel and mining industries; a step into a free-market economy, right? Well, considering capital flight is around $500 million to $1 billion a month and that Chavez gives speeches where he hopes to deliver “the knock out punch to the counterrevolution,” a little bit of privatization could help calm investors’ justified nervousness.
Yes, Mr. Chavez is doing such a wondrous job with the economy that on 6th March “An unprecedented alliance of top labour, business, church and political leaders signed today a 10-point plan to drive Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez out of office.”
Mr. Aued also makes the point that Venezuela could be a steady source of non-Arab oil for the U.S. Well, the thing is, Venezuela is not only a part of the Arab dominated OPEC, it presently chairs of the cartel. In fact, in a recent interview, President Chavez proudly announced how he literally went to the ends of the earth to cut oil production to boost prices, to the benefit of Arab states like Iran, Iraq, and Islamic fundamentalist factory, Saudi Arabia.
Good gracious, the ignorance…
And now part II of my commentary on Blake Aued’s love letter to two South American leftist presidents.
In 1998 Hugo Chavez became the president of oil-rich Venezuela. According to Mr. Aued, “Chavez is not your typical liberal, nor your typical Marxist,” and “Chavez’s reforms are on the whole, solid, and he needs time to see them through,” and also, “His style of government is, in contrast to the populism of old, friendly to business and foreign investment.”
Au contraire. Chavez has said that Cuba and Venezuela are “swimming together toward the same sea of happiness.” Aued also mentions that Chavez has privatized the steel and mining industries; a step into a free-market economy, right? Well, considering capital flight is around $500 million to $1 billion a month and that Chavez gives speeches where he hopes to deliver “the knock out punch to the counterrevolution,” a little bit of privatization could help calm investors’ justified nervousness.
Yes, Mr. Chavez is doing such a wondrous job with the economy that on 6th March “An unprecedented alliance of top labour, business, church and political leaders signed today a 10-point plan to drive Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez out of office.”
Mr. Aued also makes the point that Venezuela could be a steady source of non-Arab oil for the U.S. Well, the thing is, Venezuela is not only a part of the Arab dominated OPEC, it presently chairs of the cartel. In fact, in a recent interview, President Chavez proudly announced how he literally went to the ends of the earth to cut oil production to boost prices, to the benefit of Arab states like Iran, Iraq, and Islamic fundamentalist factory, Saudi Arabia.
Good gracious, the ignorance…
Sunday, March 17, 2002
Tennessee Senace Race
On the 8th of March, Senator Fred Thompson (R-TN) announced that he is declining to run for re-election thus casting open the field to replace him. On the Republican side, two time Presidental candidate and former Tennessee governor Lamar Alexander declared his intent to hold the seat for the GOP. However, he can now potentially lose the primary due to the endorsement of current governor Don Sundquist. As you may know, Gov. Sundquist, a Republican, proposed a state income tax two summers ago breaking a 1998 reelection pledge not to enact one. Obviously, this did not sit well with rank and file Republicans. The endorsement could be the best news that Lamar's challenger Ed Bryant, U.S. Representative for TN's 7th district, has gotten. The likely Democratic candidate is Bob Clement, U.S. Representative for Nashville. Alas, Tipper Gore stated today that she would not run. She must still be light-headed from that kiss her alpha male gave her at the 2000 Democratic convention.
On the 8th of March, Senator Fred Thompson (R-TN) announced that he is declining to run for re-election thus casting open the field to replace him. On the Republican side, two time Presidental candidate and former Tennessee governor Lamar Alexander declared his intent to hold the seat for the GOP. However, he can now potentially lose the primary due to the endorsement of current governor Don Sundquist. As you may know, Gov. Sundquist, a Republican, proposed a state income tax two summers ago breaking a 1998 reelection pledge not to enact one. Obviously, this did not sit well with rank and file Republicans. The endorsement could be the best news that Lamar's challenger Ed Bryant, U.S. Representative for TN's 7th district, has gotten. The likely Democratic candidate is Bob Clement, U.S. Representative for Nashville. Alas, Tipper Gore stated today that she would not run. She must still be light-headed from that kiss her alpha male gave her at the 2000 Democratic convention.
Thursday, March 07, 2002
Watch out, they may become more capitalist than we are
Learned today that Russia has had a flat tax of 13% since the beginning of last year, and recently slashed its coporate tax rate from 35% to 24%. According to Democrat economic theory espoused by Mr. Daschle and company, Russia's economy should be finished collapsing right about.......now. In fact, Russia's GDP grew by 5% in 2001, tax revenue is 28% more than expected, and tax compliance has increased. Guess ol' Mr. Steve Forbes was right.
Learned today that Russia has had a flat tax of 13% since the beginning of last year, and recently slashed its coporate tax rate from 35% to 24%. According to Democrat economic theory espoused by Mr. Daschle and company, Russia's economy should be finished collapsing right about.......now. In fact, Russia's GDP grew by 5% in 2001, tax revenue is 28% more than expected, and tax compliance has increased. Guess ol' Mr. Steve Forbes was right.
Allende, Chavez and Aued
In his op-ed in yesterdays Daily Mississippian (DM), Blake Aued goes through the typical liberal lamentations of how gosh-awful the U.S. treated Chile's socialist president Salvador Allende during the 1970's and how Venezuela's equally communist president Hugo Chavez is just dandy today. Oh mercy, where to begin. Well, how about here:
"Take Chile in the early 1970s. In the throes of a recession and unhappy with conservative leadership, voters elected Salvador Allende to the presidency. For two years Allende made strides in improving the Chilean economy, but the Nixon administration became scared that his socialist politics would lead to Soviet influence in the region (despite Allende's strong support of democratic institutions)."
In 1970 Mr. Allende of the socialist coalition Poplar Unity received 36.65% of the vote, right-wing Jorge Alessandri 35.27%, and centrist Radomiro Tomic 28.08%. Since no candidate won over half the vote, the Chilean congress had to select the winner from the two front-runners, with Allende winning the necessary votes in the end.
During his tenure Allende did make strides in the economy, only in the wrong direction. The economy of Chile was in a harsh state in the late 1960s with unemployment rising, but Allende's policies did not alleviate the situation, if anything he made things worse.
Price freezes and government decreed raises in wages were implemented with the intended goal of income redistribution
Allende and his supporters forcibly took over many farms and factories. Agricultural land redistribution sounded like a good to many people; after all, shouldn't landless farmers own their own land? But in reality the farmers ended being less efficient that the evil large landowners, and as a result food shortages occurred. The nationalized industries lost money at a tremendous rate, forcing the government to pay factory employees with hastily printed and unbacked money, sending inflation, at one point, to the astronomical rate of 600%.
Ah yes, Allende was doing such a good job that 56% of the electorate voted in a conservative coalition in the March 1973 to the Congress. I guess the Chilean people were just ungrateful to the wondrous new economy Allende wrought.
Given the facts that (1) Allende had communists and socialists in his political coalition (2) Allende was implementing communistic wealth redistribution programs (3) Cubans maintained a very large military mission and supplied communist forces in Chile (4) with the USSR's expansionist policies in around the world, especially in Africa and Central America, it's no wonder Nixon was concerned with the threat of Soviet influence in Chile.
In Mr. Aued's column, he states that the CIA organized Allende's assassination and foisted General Augusto Pinochet upon the poor Chilean populace. According to a website rather sympathetic to Allende, Allende shot himself in Independence Hall (11th Septermber of all dates) while the military attacked the presidential palace; there is even a photograph of sofa where he committed suicide. Augusto Pinochet was commander-in-chief of the Chilean armed forces after he replaced Allende loyalist General Prats before the coup. Elements of the Chilean government pressed Prats into early retirement allowing Pinochet, Prats chief of staff, to succeed him. The military junta in place after Allende's death placed Pinochet in charge.
During Pinochet's reign, many people were arrested or simply disappeared if they were just thought to be socialist or communist supporters. What Pinochet did was to turn the communists own tactics around on them. In the USSR, China, Cuba, Vietnam, East Germany, and in any other communist country that has existed, how many people disappeared into nothing for being enemies of the state? Yet there are hardly any large movements on the Left to try in a court of law those communists responsible for such horrors. Pinochet did some pretty deplorable acts during his rule, but he did save Chile from becoming another Cuba (and we all know what a huge success story it is).
Part II will appear soon.
In his op-ed in yesterdays Daily Mississippian (DM), Blake Aued goes through the typical liberal lamentations of how gosh-awful the U.S. treated Chile's socialist president Salvador Allende during the 1970's and how Venezuela's equally communist president Hugo Chavez is just dandy today. Oh mercy, where to begin. Well, how about here:
"Take Chile in the early 1970s. In the throes of a recession and unhappy with conservative leadership, voters elected Salvador Allende to the presidency. For two years Allende made strides in improving the Chilean economy, but the Nixon administration became scared that his socialist politics would lead to Soviet influence in the region (despite Allende's strong support of democratic institutions)."
In 1970 Mr. Allende of the socialist coalition Poplar Unity received 36.65% of the vote, right-wing Jorge Alessandri 35.27%, and centrist Radomiro Tomic 28.08%. Since no candidate won over half the vote, the Chilean congress had to select the winner from the two front-runners, with Allende winning the necessary votes in the end.
During his tenure Allende did make strides in the economy, only in the wrong direction. The economy of Chile was in a harsh state in the late 1960s with unemployment rising, but Allende's policies did not alleviate the situation, if anything he made things worse.
Price freezes and government decreed raises in wages were implemented with the intended goal of income redistribution
Allende and his supporters forcibly took over many farms and factories. Agricultural land redistribution sounded like a good to many people; after all, shouldn't landless farmers own their own land? But in reality the farmers ended being less efficient that the evil large landowners, and as a result food shortages occurred. The nationalized industries lost money at a tremendous rate, forcing the government to pay factory employees with hastily printed and unbacked money, sending inflation, at one point, to the astronomical rate of 600%.
Ah yes, Allende was doing such a good job that 56% of the electorate voted in a conservative coalition in the March 1973 to the Congress. I guess the Chilean people were just ungrateful to the wondrous new economy Allende wrought.
Given the facts that (1) Allende had communists and socialists in his political coalition (2) Allende was implementing communistic wealth redistribution programs (3) Cubans maintained a very large military mission and supplied communist forces in Chile (4) with the USSR's expansionist policies in around the world, especially in Africa and Central America, it's no wonder Nixon was concerned with the threat of Soviet influence in Chile.
In Mr. Aued's column, he states that the CIA organized Allende's assassination and foisted General Augusto Pinochet upon the poor Chilean populace. According to a website rather sympathetic to Allende, Allende shot himself in Independence Hall (11th Septermber of all dates) while the military attacked the presidential palace; there is even a photograph of sofa where he committed suicide. Augusto Pinochet was commander-in-chief of the Chilean armed forces after he replaced Allende loyalist General Prats before the coup. Elements of the Chilean government pressed Prats into early retirement allowing Pinochet, Prats chief of staff, to succeed him. The military junta in place after Allende's death placed Pinochet in charge.
During Pinochet's reign, many people were arrested or simply disappeared if they were just thought to be socialist or communist supporters. What Pinochet did was to turn the communists own tactics around on them. In the USSR, China, Cuba, Vietnam, East Germany, and in any other communist country that has existed, how many people disappeared into nothing for being enemies of the state? Yet there are hardly any large movements on the Left to try in a court of law those communists responsible for such horrors. Pinochet did some pretty deplorable acts during his rule, but he did save Chile from becoming another Cuba (and we all know what a huge success story it is).
Part II will appear soon.
Wednesday, March 06, 2002
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