We are screwed.
via Instapundit.com
Jan 31, 2010
Jan 30, 2010
Jan 28, 2010
Busted
Andrew Wakefield, the doctor who started the MMR scare, found guilty of dishonesty and "a callous disregard" for the health and suffering of children.
Equal Rights for Foreign Transnationals!
So Obama disparaged the Citizens United decision in part because it would allow, in his misreading, foreign corporations the ability to contribute to campaigns.
Wait wait wait...don't we want to grant foreigners the same rights all Americans hold dear?
Wait wait wait...don't we want to grant foreigners the same rights all Americans hold dear?
We don't need your stinkin' tax credits
Bruce Ackerman and David Wu want to give everyone a $50 tax credit to combat "the disproportionate influence of big money" on political campaigns in the wake of the Supreme Court's ruling on Citizens United v. FEC.
Didn't whatshisname--you know the guy who took the hallowed Kennedy seat--raise a boatload of money from a boatload of little guys within hours of his debate appearance? And all of those people decided to make a contribution without first waiting for the government to give them their yearly campaign allowance. Imagine that.
Also, were "corporate interests" so much more powerful prior to the 2002 McCain-Feingold Act? Have we ordinary citizens truly been living in a special-interest free paradise lo these past eight years?
I'd really love this idea if I were a political candidate. In fact, should this measure come to pass, I'm running for office. I don't really care which office--county sheriff, US Senate, Queen of the Internet--any will do. And, because I really care about all you little people out there, I'll start accepting your democracy dollars immediately.
You're welcome.
Each American should get a refundable federal tax credit of $50 that they can use to make contributions to federal candidates during presidential years, and a suitably smaller sum during off-year federal elections.
Each American should be allowed to claim a $50 refundable tax credit when filing an income tax return. Oregon and other states already do this. It's time to bring this plan to the rest of the nation.
Modern technology provides opportunities for enhanced convenience and access. Donations to campaigns could be made electronically, with the money automatically refunded to each citizen's credit card or bank account. Call these electronic transfers "democracy dollars."
About 120 million Americans went to the polls in 2008. If each citizen also had a chance to contribute democracy dollars, their donations would overwhelm the sums that corporations are likely to spend under the recent Supreme Court decision.
Didn't whatshisname--you know the guy who took the hallowed Kennedy seat--raise a boatload of money from a boatload of little guys within hours of his debate appearance? And all of those people decided to make a contribution without first waiting for the government to give them their yearly campaign allowance. Imagine that.
Also, were "corporate interests" so much more powerful prior to the 2002 McCain-Feingold Act? Have we ordinary citizens truly been living in a special-interest free paradise lo these past eight years?
I'd really love this idea if I were a political candidate. In fact, should this measure come to pass, I'm running for office. I don't really care which office--county sheriff, US Senate, Queen of the Internet--any will do. And, because I really care about all you little people out there, I'll start accepting your democracy dollars immediately.
You're welcome.
Jan 27, 2010
"Lady al Qaeda" Trial
A nice preview of the KSM circus to come.
Just a reminder as to the solid reasons, grounded in our legal tradtion, we are trying terrorists as civilians.
Just a reminder as to the solid reasons, grounded in our legal tradtion, we are trying terrorists as civilians.
Jan 26, 2010
Weird
"Ellie Light" revealed. I'm glad we can put this national emergency behind us and build up a new nation from the wreckage it left behind.
Jan 25, 2010
Comment of the Week
"Mesquito" is the winner!
re: Gitmo: "I still say he should close it, wait about an hour, rename it “Camp Snugglebunnies,” and move the terrorists back in."
re: Gitmo: "I still say he should close it, wait about an hour, rename it “Camp Snugglebunnies,” and move the terrorists back in."
Jan 24, 2010
I wondered what had happened
The Little Green Footballs meltdown.
During my longish hiatus from blogging, I didn't do much blog reading either, with the exception of the Fug Girls, Project Rungay and my beloved Manolo. I was pretty much done with politics, so outside of a weekly perusal of the Corner, I wasn't really paying attention to the rest of the blogosphere.
Then a couple of months ago I followed a disparaging link to LGF from some reliably right-wing blog--I forget which one--and was amazed at what had become of the place. Now I know, sorta.
Like Ann Althouse I was always vaguely repelled by LGF and only read it when others linked to it. But I can't say I'm flabbergasted by this turnaround. LGF was always sort of an echo chamber with all those "lizards" kissing the blog proprietor's ass. Not surprising, then, that Charles Johnson would start delinking when he came across people who disagreed with him.
But the Belgian stuff is kinda weird. Or oddly prescient.
During my longish hiatus from blogging, I didn't do much blog reading either, with the exception of the Fug Girls, Project Rungay and my beloved Manolo. I was pretty much done with politics, so outside of a weekly perusal of the Corner, I wasn't really paying attention to the rest of the blogosphere.
Then a couple of months ago I followed a disparaging link to LGF from some reliably right-wing blog--I forget which one--and was amazed at what had become of the place. Now I know, sorta.
Like Ann Althouse I was always vaguely repelled by LGF and only read it when others linked to it. But I can't say I'm flabbergasted by this turnaround. LGF was always sort of an echo chamber with all those "lizards" kissing the blog proprietor's ass. Not surprising, then, that Charles Johnson would start delinking when he came across people who disagreed with him.
But the Belgian stuff is kinda weird. Or oddly prescient.
Jan 23, 2010
Biden in Baghdad
What could go wrong? He's "not interfering" but he's also ensuring the Sunnis and Shiites get along for the next election. Seriously, what is Joe Biden doing there? Lowering the bar for democracy so the Iraqis don't feel too badly about their elected leaders? I think the White House instructed him to just go there and "shoot the breeze" to appear productive. The conversation probably went something like this:
In fact, if you think of Joe Biden as an extended Fred Willard sketch, it makes a lot more sense. Don't see the similarities?
The grande finale:
In fact, if you think of Joe Biden as an extended Fred Willard sketch, it makes a lot more sense. Don't see the similarities?
The grande finale:
Jan 19, 2010
Jan 18, 2010
MLK Day 2010
I have not seen very many of postings today about MLK day, even given that we have the first Black president in history (if you were not aware). Is MLK day now consigned to regular holiday status like Labor Day or Presidents' Day where the original meaning has been diluted and people are just happy about a three day weekend? Was the ink exhausted on this topic last year and there is nothing more to say? Or is everyone just befuddled that the first Black president has not done more to improve race relations? (Whatever "race relations" means these days.) Whatever the reason, not a lot out there today besides the Coakley/Brown showdown, which has kind of a "Their Eyes Were Watching God" hurricane scene feel to it. And of course Haiti. An insightful 5000 word essay is in there somewhere, but I am going to go enjoy the day off.
Update: At least one politician was talking about MLK day. Might have been better to take the day off.
Update: At least one politician was talking about MLK day. Might have been better to take the day off.
Jan 17, 2010
Jan 15, 2010
Comment of the Week
Winner!
Update: The Coakley campaign cleared all of the comments, yet apparently you can still post comments. Anyway, the comment I linked to:
"The time has come," the Walrus said,
"To talk of many things:
Of shoes--and ships--and sealing-wax--
Of cabbages--and kings--
And why the sea is boiling hot--
And whether pigs have wings."
Unfair comparison perhaps. You be the judge:
Update: The Coakley campaign cleared all of the comments, yet apparently you can still post comments. Anyway, the comment I linked to:
"The time has come," the Walrus said,
"To talk of many things:
Of shoes--and ships--and sealing-wax--
Of cabbages--and kings--
And why the sea is boiling hot--
And whether pigs have wings."
Unfair comparison perhaps. You be the judge:
Jan 14, 2010
Well
This is one way to proteset the airport bodyscanners. Possibly NSFW.
In a similar vein, I've been raising awareness about obesity by eating at Wendy's and McDonald's.
In a similar vein, I've been raising awareness about obesity by eating at Wendy's and McDonald's.
Miscellany
Amateur hour: Magazine without models.
Love child
Big fat liar: Physics fraud.
Ten words you need to stop misspelling.
Love child
Big fat liar: Physics fraud.
Ten words you need to stop misspelling.
Jan 13, 2010
Pat Robertson
Not a "fool for Christ", just a fool. via Drudgereport.
Go away, Pat Robertson. Get thee behind me. You are not an oracle for God. You have no idea why an earthquake hit Haiti and what part of God's plan it fulfilled. My dad has been a missionary there. There are missionaries there now (perhaps have been killed or seriously injured) doing good work for a poor people. If you spent less time pontificating about natural disasters and more time showing the Love of God, you might be worth a damn. How much money did 700 club raise this week? How much is going towards helping people rather than building monuments to yourself?
Update: Mike Potemra has a more thoughtful response at the Corner. Same result though.
Update II: Though I also liked this comment at Althouse's blog. The problem is, he has a television show and a fairly sizeable following.
Go away, Pat Robertson. Get thee behind me. You are not an oracle for God. You have no idea why an earthquake hit Haiti and what part of God's plan it fulfilled. My dad has been a missionary there. There are missionaries there now (perhaps have been killed or seriously injured) doing good work for a poor people. If you spent less time pontificating about natural disasters and more time showing the Love of God, you might be worth a damn. How much money did 700 club raise this week? How much is going towards helping people rather than building monuments to yourself?
Update: Mike Potemra has a more thoughtful response at the Corner. Same result though.
Update II: Though I also liked this comment at Althouse's blog. The problem is, he has a television show and a fairly sizeable following.
Jan 12, 2010
Too late for Christmas
Playmobil Security Check Point
Customer review (one of many):
Via Veronique de Rugy
Customer review (one of many):
I was a little disappointed when I first bought this item, because the functionality is limited. My 5 year old son pointed out that the passenger's shoes cannot be removed. Then, we placed a deadly fingernail file underneath the passenger's scarf, and neither the detector doorway nor the security wand picked it up. My son said "that's the worst security ever!". But it turned out to be okay, because when the passenger got on the Playmobil B757 and tried to hijack it, she was mobbed by a couple of other heroic passengers, who only sustained minor injuries in the scuffle, which were treated at the Playmobil Hospital.
Via Veronique de Rugy
'He was a populist with no faith in the populace'
Gore Vidal's description of his grandfather could serve as a description of most any Democratic politician of recent vintage who aims to force health care down the throats of the ignoramuses in the hinterland clinging to their guns and religion.
Via this Hitchens essay on the bitter old queen.
Thanks to Jonah Goldberg.
Via this Hitchens essay on the bitter old queen.
Thanks to Jonah Goldberg.
Jan 11, 2010
Even If We Win, We Lose
Trial of KSM to cost between $400 and $600 million.
How many years of operating costs for Gitmo does that equal?
How many years of operating costs for Gitmo does that equal?
Jan 10, 2010
Jan 9, 2010
Actuaries have more fun
Top jobs of the year, according to these criteria.
Perhaps you'd prefer a more physically challenging line of work?
Almost anything sounds better than churning out Wikipedia entries for $50 a pop. That is if you could cobble enough such assignments together to even earn a living.
Perhaps you'd prefer a more physically challenging line of work?
Almost anything sounds better than churning out Wikipedia entries for $50 a pop. That is if you could cobble enough such assignments together to even earn a living.
Jan 8, 2010
It's a Start
20 Muslim imams issue "fatwa" against terrorists.
Update: Yeah, we might need a few more to come around.
Update: Yeah, we might need a few more to come around.
Jan 7, 2010
Captain Underpants creates converts
Defense lawyer Gerald L Sharger no longer believes we can treat terrorists like common criminals.
In the days since Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab's arrest in the Christmas Day plot to blow up Northwest Flight 253, many of my long-held moral and legal assumptions shifted. It's not that I've lost confidence in the ability of the civilian courts to resolve these cases. Rather, prosecuting terrorists who commit crimes against United States nationals, at home or abroad, is a burden that American courts should not have to bear. These terrorist offenders are, in every sense of the word, soldiers. Soldiers in an openly declared holy war against American "infidels." These soldiers, like our soldiers, are highly trained. They too can strip and clean weapons while blindfolded. They too, are experts in explosives and guerrilla tactics. Their skill set is similar to the most elite of our forces. They are tough. Like our CIA agents, they too are required to endure torture so that they may be taught to resist it.
Jan 6, 2010
Since we've never tried it
How about training TSA personnel before we throw our hands up in the air and declare the situation hopeless?
Yeah, "your average TSA screener seems to be a working stiff, blindly following some not-too-complex screening algorithm in a three-ring binder ..." cuz that's what we told him to do. Hell, the restaurant/bar where I work nights has bouncers who do a better job of screening out undesirables, the underaged and the overintoxicated than the current screeners do. And they aren't well-educated guys who have to "pass a series of exams and ... a several-month course" before they man the door. They may, however, get cited by the liquor board and be held personally responsible for paying the fine for letting the wrong person in the door.
Yeah, there's a problem of scale, but singling out young men--of any ethnicity--and one-way travelers and people who have visited Yemen for educational purposes for further scrutiny makes more sense than randomly selecting every 12th, 100th or 221st person in the line for a full body scan.
Yeah, "your average TSA screener seems to be a working stiff, blindly following some not-too-complex screening algorithm in a three-ring binder ..." cuz that's what we told him to do. Hell, the restaurant/bar where I work nights has bouncers who do a better job of screening out undesirables, the underaged and the overintoxicated than the current screeners do. And they aren't well-educated guys who have to "pass a series of exams and ... a several-month course" before they man the door. They may, however, get cited by the liquor board and be held personally responsible for paying the fine for letting the wrong person in the door.
Yeah, there's a problem of scale, but singling out young men--of any ethnicity--and one-way travelers and people who have visited Yemen for educational purposes for further scrutiny makes more sense than randomly selecting every 12th, 100th or 221st person in the line for a full body scan.
A man without glamor muscles
Tiger Woods:
[T]he great athlete looks so different from those Men's Health-type torso models who work their muscles solely for the purpose of getting their muscles to look the way people these days want to see muscles looking and who squeeze out the excess fat so we can get the best look at those muscles. By contrast, Tiger looks slightly porky and squishy. That's not a criticism. That's a suggestion that, knowing the functionality of the torso we're gazing at — and I'm including the sexual functionality — we ought to adjust our taste in male beauty.
Jan 5, 2010
Intelligence
In any way you care to define it, is the missing ingredient in airport security. We don't act on the information that we have and we make no attempt to gather intelligence on the ground. Instead, we implement all-or-nothing policies in the hopes that no one on the ground will have to think too hard.
Captain Underpants a) paid cash, b) bought a one-way ticket, c) carried no luggage; and d) traveled alone. Any one of these factors--coupled with his age and gender--should have been enough for some enterprising airport security worker to pull him aside for a little chat. And that doesn't even take into account his surname, religion or skin color.
That's the reason I don't like the notion of zeroing in on travelers from certain countries. Because once we've confirmed that the granny traveling with her extended family from Yemen has indeed had a hip replacement and that their infant's orifices are emitting only the usual substances, we can safely ignore the 21-year-old from London who's mumbling prayers under his breath and won't look anyone in the eye.
It may be impractical for us to fully implement the Israeli model given the sheer numbers of people who travel through our airports daily. But can't we do something with the information we have?
The Israelis make a point of talking to every passenger before he or she boards. When was the last time an airport security worker even looked at your face? They're too busy eying your purse as it goes through the scanner.
The Israelis single out people who buy one-way tickets and people who pay cash for their tickets. The 9/11 terrorists all bought one-way tickets to paradise.
In fact, terrorists have been and are still buying one-way tickets on planes they plan to bomb. That should tell us something. Because terrorists have to change their game plans when we figure out ways to circumvent those plans. The fact that the jihadis don't even bother to shell out the cost of a round-trip ticket nine years after 9/11 tells us that they know our security policies are stupid.
UPDATE: The sytem at work: Joan Rivers not allowed to board and milblogger Michael Yon handcuffed at gate.
Captain Underpants a) paid cash, b) bought a one-way ticket, c) carried no luggage; and d) traveled alone. Any one of these factors--coupled with his age and gender--should have been enough for some enterprising airport security worker to pull him aside for a little chat. And that doesn't even take into account his surname, religion or skin color.
That's the reason I don't like the notion of zeroing in on travelers from certain countries. Because once we've confirmed that the granny traveling with her extended family from Yemen has indeed had a hip replacement and that their infant's orifices are emitting only the usual substances, we can safely ignore the 21-year-old from London who's mumbling prayers under his breath and won't look anyone in the eye.
It may be impractical for us to fully implement the Israeli model given the sheer numbers of people who travel through our airports daily. But can't we do something with the information we have?
The Israelis make a point of talking to every passenger before he or she boards. When was the last time an airport security worker even looked at your face? They're too busy eying your purse as it goes through the scanner.
The Israelis single out people who buy one-way tickets and people who pay cash for their tickets. The 9/11 terrorists all bought one-way tickets to paradise.
In fact, terrorists have been and are still buying one-way tickets on planes they plan to bomb. That should tell us something. Because terrorists have to change their game plans when we figure out ways to circumvent those plans. The fact that the jihadis don't even bother to shell out the cost of a round-trip ticket nine years after 9/11 tells us that they know our security policies are stupid.
UPDATE: The sytem at work: Joan Rivers not allowed to board and milblogger Michael Yon handcuffed at gate.
Jan 4, 2010
Full Body Swimsuits: Banned
So rules FINA for all competitions.
I can't get too exercised about this one way or the other.
Via Lucianne.com
I can't get too exercised about this one way or the other.
Via Lucianne.com
Jan 3, 2010
I Love Glenn Reynolds
But I can't say I agree with the gist of this post. Are mandatory strip searches by religion extreme? Yes, and we should not implement the idea. But is it reasonable to search people from the countries that have the mode of the people who want to attack us? Absolutely. And if "irritating" someone, especially regarding airport security, leads someone to become a terrorist, I would think they would be well on their way already. And we would have a lot more American terrorists as well. Flying to the U.S. is a privilege, and if we cannot enact even these common sense ideas, we would be better off banning international flights from these countries altogether. Besides, as Glenn likes to point out, video conferencing is always an option.
Glenn, still love ya. But you are dead wrong on this and others will just be dead if we do not take immediate, sensible steps such as the ones the TSA now proposes for focusing on certain countries.
Update: Bill Quick also disagrees with Glenn.
Update II: The profiling of nations.
Glenn, still love ya. But you are dead wrong on this and others will just be dead if we do not take immediate, sensible steps such as the ones the TSA now proposes for focusing on certain countries.
Update: Bill Quick also disagrees with Glenn.
Update II: The profiling of nations.
We Are Not as Screwed as I Thought
Economics professor, Tyler Cowen, on why the past decade has been pretty good worldwide.
via Instapundit.com
via Instapundit.com
Jan 2, 2010
Jan 1, 2010
Missing in action
Hillary Clinton.
The White House should send a search party to track down Hillary Clinton. America’s foreign policy chief has been missing from the world stage for several days, and has become as elusive as the Scarlet Pimpernel at the height of the French Revolution. I wrote earlier in the year that Clinton had become the invisible Secretary of State, and her current absence certainly reinforces that impression.
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