Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Lawrence H. White on Transitioning to a Gold Standard

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Why is the Economy Growing So Slowly?

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Cherry Tree: American Stories for Kids

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Loophole Day

Friends; prepare yourself for Loophole Day. How many times have you been told that you are responsible for, or should do something, 24/7-365 or 'all 365 days a year'? If you thought that meant you were doomed to oblige every day for the rest of your life or disappoint someone, you were wrong. Every once in a great while, or just about every fourth year to be exact, you are granted a one day pass. Some call it a Leap Day, I prefer Loophole Day. Loophole day or February 29th is the 366th day in a year, despite it being temporally toward the beginning. Thus, anything you are required to do 365 days a year, or 24/7-365, you are not required to do on February 29th. Just beware that the same applies to everyone else.

Monday, February 27, 2012

Kathy Hochul (D) on HHS Mandate - "Basically, We’re Not Looking to The Constitution"

Video embedded below.



"Hochul tried arguing that Congress has decided that people should get access to free health care and that’s the end of that question as far as Hochul is concerned, but clearly it wasn’t with this crowd. As another constituent reminded Hochul, the First Amendment takes precedence over Congress. In fact, the First Amendment explicitly states that it takes precedence over Congress: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof[.]“ Hochul then tries to claim that she’s defending freedom of religion by, er, telling Catholic organizations that they’re not actually religious organizations any more."

Why Are Young Women Opting for Single Parenthood Over Marriage?

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Governor Luis Fortuño on Puerto Rico's Future

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The Economics of Wal-Mart: Does the Nation's Largest Retailer Create Jobs and Help Consumers?

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Sunday, February 26, 2012

Afghanistan Nato Officers Shot Dead in Kabul Ministry

Proof that some culture are superior then others. One culture riots at the news that one of their holy books, which had been desecrated by terrorists and turned into a tool to try and kill as many people as possible, was burned. As part of that riot, they find people that had in no way any part of that action and kill them. The other culture would not do that. Which one do you think is superior?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17163322

"Two Nato officers have been killed in the interior ministry in the Afghan capital Kabul, coalition officials say.

Nato said an "individual" had turned his gun on the officers but denied earlier reports he was a Westerner.

Afghan security officials said those killed were an American colonel and major. Local media reports suggest the incident followed a "verbal clash".

Nato commander Gen John Allen said all Nato personnel were being recalled from Afghan ministries on security grounds.

A UK embassy spokesperson had earlier said all British civilians were being withdrawn from the ministries in what was hoped would be a temporary measure.

The shootings come amid five days of deadly protests over the burning of copies of the Koran by US soldiers.
"

State Department Quietly Warning Region on Syrian WMDs

Everything old is new again, except this time I would be the liberals do not take to the street in droves. Wars only seem to be a negative for liberals when a Republican is in the White House.

http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2012/02/24/exclusive_state_department_quietly_warning_region_on_syrian_wmds

"The State Department has begun coordinating with Syria's neighbors to prepare for the handling of President Bashar al-Assad's extensive weapons of mass destruction if and when his regime collapses, The Cable has learned.

This week, the State Department sent a diplomatic demarche to Syria's neighbors Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia, warning them about the possibility of Syria's WMDs crossing their borders and offering U.S. government help in dealing with the problem, three Obama administration officials confirmed to The Cable. For concerned parties both inside and outside the U.S. government, the demarche signifies that the United States is increasingly developing plans to deal with the dangers of a post-Assad Syria -- while simultaneously highlighting the lack of planning for how to directly bring about Assad's downfall.

Syria is believed to have a substantial chemical weapons program, which includes mustard gas and sophisticated nerve agents, such as sarin gas, as well as biological weapons. Syria has also refused IAEA requests to make available facilities that were part of its nuclear weapons program and may still be in operation.
"

Toronto Father Arrested After Child Draws a Picture of a Gun in School

Video embedded below.

US to Announce Aerial Blockade on Syria?

What exactly is that going to do? Declaring the country a no-fly zone would be much more effective; if the government was not using ground troops to massacre their people.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4194506,00.html

"US readies for possibility of intervention without UN resolution, Asharq Al-Awsat reports, citing US military official; plan to include humanitarian aid to Syrian refugees on Turkey's border

The Pentagon is readying for the possibility of intervention in Syria, aiming to halt Syrian President Bashsar Assad's violent crackdown on protesters, the newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat reported Saturday, citing a US military offical.

According to the official, the intervention scenario calls for the establishment of a buffer zone on the Turkish border, in order to receive Syrian refugees. The Red Cross would then provide the civilians humanitarian aid, before NATO crews would arrive from Turkey and join the efforts.
"

Friday, February 24, 2012

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Hillary Clinton Wears a Lime Green Shirt For G20 Photo When Everyone Else Wore White

Whoops...

Call it 'smart wardrobe diplomacy'.

Picture embedded below.

Raise your hand if you feel left out: U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was a stand out member at the G20 foreign ministers meeting in Mexico. While everyone else opted for white, she donned a lime green shirt

No Shovel For Obama at Smithsonian National Museum of African American History Groundbreaking

The White House released a statement saying that this was all agreed upon beforehand, but you can tell in the clip that if it was no one bothered to tell Obama. It looks super awkward. I do not think it is all that unreasonable for Obama to assume that when a president is invited to a ground breaking of a National museum, let alone the first African American president to an African American History museum, that they would be included in the ceremony.

Full blown snub, oversight, or did reasoned conclusion?

Video embedded below.



"It was a rather odd sight: as an array of museum officials, including former first lady Laura Bush, took up shovels at the groundbreaking for the first national museum dedicated exclusively to African-American history and culture, the nation's first black president sat watching, no shovel in hand.

President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama attended the ceremony Wednesday for the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, and he delivered remarks.
...
When he finished and returned to his seat, a call was put out for groundbreakers to gather at the front of the stage. Obama then stood, buttoned his jacket and prepared to join in. But an official whispered something to him and he sat back down as museum officials and members of the museum's advisory council, including the former first lady, picked up shovels for the ceremonial turning of the dirt. The Obamas remained on stage.

Protocol does not seem to have played a role. Turns out, presidents throughout history have wielded shovels for groundbreakings.

White House officials said that only museum officials and advisers were scheduled to take part in the shoveling. They said that was part of the agreed upon plan between the White House and the museum.
"

Tolls, Not Taxes: How Americans Want to Fix Traffic Jams

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Biden to Travel to "Road Island"

As tempting as it is to slap a 'Biden did it again' theme on this, he almost certainly had no part in writing or editing the press release. You would think the VP would have a better copy editor though.

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/off-to-road-island-biden-camp-misspells-state-in-press-release

"We’ve all made errors.* But this one is just too ironic to ignore. In a press release announcing Vice President Joe Biden’s schedule for the week, the name of the great state of Rhode Island was misspelled to note the gaffe-prone VP would be campaigning in “Road Island” on Thursday.

“On Thursday, the Vice President will travel to Boston, Massachusetts, Manchester, New Hampshire and Providence, Road Island to attend campaign events,” the memo sent out to journalists said
"

Religious Liberty: Obamacare's First Casualty

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Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Supreme Court Extends ObamaCare Arguments

I do not know what they think they are going to hear that is going to change their minds from all the papers they are going to get and the rather lengthy argument time already, but I guess some of the Justices are really on the edge.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/blog/inside-politics/2012/feb/21/supreme-court-extends-health-care-arguments

"The Supreme Court has announced it will allow a full six hours for oral arguments over constitutional challenges to President Obama's health care law, granting the case the longest hearing in recent history.

The justices said Tuesday morning they would lengthen the hearing by an additional 30 minutes, after both the administration and parties challenging the law had asked the court to spend not 60 but 90 minutes on a tax law known as the Anti-Injunction Act.
"

Obama Sings Some Blues

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Afghans Furious Over Koran Burning, US Apologizes

The story seems to be that materials that were left behind by prisoners, including "extremist literature", were disposed of by burning them. Caught in those materials was a (few?) Koran. The uproar and backlash that followed was predictable.

Not 'smart power' and not wining the hearts and minds of the Afghan people.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/21/us-afghanistan-korans-idUSTRE81K09T20120221

"U.S. helicopters fired flares to disperse hundreds of angry Afghans who massed outside the main U.S. military base in Afghanistan on Tuesday after hearing staff there had burned copies of the Koran.

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta issued an apology for "inappropriate treatment" of Islam's holy book at the base to try to contain fury over the incident - a public relations disaster for Washington as it tries to pacify the country ahead of the withdrawal of foreign troops in 2014.

White House spokesman Jay Carney later echoed his remarks, telling a briefing, "We apologize to the Afghan people and disapprove of such conduct in the strongest possible terms."
...
A senior U.S. official, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said staff at Bagram had decided to remove "extremist literature" and other materials left in a library in the base's detention block.

"They (the materials) were taken out of the library for good reason but they were being disposed of in a bad way," the official said.

"There was a breakdown in judgment in this matter but there was no breakdown in our respect for Islam," the official added.
"

Supreme Court Will Consider Challenge to Affirmative Action at University of Texas

The case gives them a chance for a revisit from the 2003 case. In my opinion, favoring someone based on their skin color is just as racist as discriminating against them. People should be judged on their merits, not the way they look.

http://news.yahoo.com/supreme-court-consider-challenge-affirmative-action-university-texas-152159065.html

"The Supreme Court will once again confront the issue of race in university admissions in a case brought by a white student denied a spot at the flagship campus of the University of Texas.

The court said Tuesday it will return to the issue of affirmative action in higher education for the first time since its 2003 decision endorsing the use of race as a factor in admissions.
"

Jeffrey M. Lacker Speaks at Cato Monetary Conference

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Sunday, February 19, 2012

Yosemite Waterfall Turns to 'Flowing Lava'

Very cool optical effect.

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Schultz (D) - 'Religious Groups Should Not be Imposing Their Values on Employees, But The Government Can'

The church does not force anything on anyone, people make a conscious choice and are allowed to change their mind after the fact if they want. The government does not offer the luxury of choice or real free will, which is why the government was never supposed to expand in scope as much as it has.

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Obama - 'I Have Not Changed Washington, But I Created Made Web Access to Government Sites Easier'

The 'change we can believe in' he was talking about in his campaign?

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Former MTV VJ Kennedy on Her Libertarian Evolution

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American Narcissist? Obama Personality Cult Grows Bigger and Stronger

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Friday, February 17, 2012

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

"List All Dependents"

http://www.theospark.net/2012/01/my-tax-return.html

"IRS sent my Tax Return back!
AGAIN!!!

I guess it was because of my response to the question:
"List all dependents."
I replied -
"12 million illegal immigrants;
"3 million crack heads;
"42 million unemployable people on food stamps
"2 million people in over 243 prisons;
"Half of Mexico
and
"535 fools in the U.S. House and Senate.”
Apparently, this was NOT an acceptable answer.
"

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Senator Lee (R) Fights Back Against Obama's Unconstitutional "Recess" Appointments

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Justice Breyer Robbed by Machete-Wielding Intruder

Dude!

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/02/13/justice-breyer-robbed-at-west-indies-vacation-home

"Justice Stephen Breyer was robbed last week by a machete-wielding intruder at his vacation home in the West Indies, a Supreme Court spokeswoman said Monday.

The 73-year-old Breyer, wife Joanna and guests were confronted by the robber around 9 p.m. EST Thursday in the home Breyer owns on the Caribbean island of Nevis, spokeswoman Kathy Arberg said. The intruder took about $1,000 in cash and no one was hurt, Arberg said.

She said the robbery was reported to local authorities, but she did not know if an arrest has been made. The U.S. Marshals Service is assisting local authorities and the Supreme Court Police with the investigation, Marshals Service spokesman Jeff Carter said."

Clinton - 'We Need Assad's Consent to Put Troops in Syria'

Sounds like a green light to Syria to massacre their own people, not that they seem to need much encouragement.

http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2012/02/13/clinton_no_troops_in_syria_without_assad_s_consent

"Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu had a clear and unified message coming out of their meeting in Washington, D.C. Monday: They are looking for a political solution in Syria and won't consider putting international troops there unless the Syrian regime agrees.

Clinton and Davotoglu spent the afternoon preparing for the upcoming inaugural meeting of the "Friends of Syria" group this weekend in Tunisia. Following the meeting, they both urged the international community to support the Arab League's recommendations for Syria following their Sunday meeting in Cairo, which included a request for a U.N.-Arab peacekeeping force in Syria. But Clinton said Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who the State Department accuses of murdering civilians, would have to agree first.
"

Tough Love or Bad Dad? Father Shoots Daughter's Laptop and Posts Video on Web

Video embedded below.

Monday, February 13, 2012

Mr. President: When you make a promise, you're expected to keep your promise

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Attack Watch Returns as "Truth Team"

Do they not remember how this has gone down before? Oh well, I am up for another round of ridicule/humor aimed at the administration. What is the over-under on how long this latest reincarnation will survive. I would say it is DOA with no one taking it seriously who is not supporting Obama already with the site likely doing more damage than good.

http://hotair.com/archives/2012/02/13/obamas-attack-watch-returns-as-truth-team

"Last September, AP predicted that the much-derided Attack Watch would remain in place because, as Mary Katherine Ham tweeted at the time, “#AttackWatch is metaphor for Obama 08 vs. 12. Same product, subtract style, sprinkle desperation.” You can still smell the desperation in the new Truth Team effort, which incorporates Attack Watch as one of its components:

President Barack Obama’s reelection campaign announced early Monday that it is launching a new site to enable supporters to promote Obama’s successes and “hold Republicans accountable.”

The new site incorporates the AttackWatch brand, which was met by ridicule from the GOP when it was announced last year, and encourages Obama supporters to “report” attacks from Republicans.

“The goal is to ensure that when Republicans attack President Obama’s record, grassroots supporters can take ownership of the campaign and share the facts with the undecided voters in their lives,” said Deputy Campaign Manager Stephanie Cutter in a release.

The campaign is also setting up “truth teams” in swing states this week, receiving help from allied unions.

What a shock! I’m sure those “allied unions” include the SEIU, AFSCME, and the NEA, the three unions that have the most to lose if Republicans make good on their pledges to shrink the actual size and cost of government. Given their level of success (and honesty) in fighting Scott Walker in Wisconsin, at least so far, I’m not sure that this will do the Obama campaign much good anyway.
"

Moody's Downgrades Nine European Sovereigns

This is going to make it harder for Europe to clime out of their debt crunch; though the Euro was really already doomed before this move.

http://www.moodys.com/research/Moodys-adjusts-ratings-of-9-European-sovereigns-to-capture-downside--PR_237716

"As anticipated in November 2011, Moody's Investors Service has today adjusted the sovereign debt ratings of selected EU countries in order to reflect their susceptibility to the growing financial and macroeconomic risks emanating from the euro area crisis and how these risks exacerbate the affected countries' own specific challenges.

Moody's actions can be summarised as follows:

- Austria: outlook on Aaa rating changed to negative

- France: outlook on Aaa rating changed to negative

- Italy: downgraded to A3 from A2, negative outlook

- Malta: downgraded to A3 from A2, negative outlook

- Portugal: downgraded to Ba3 from Ba2, negative outlook

- Slovakia: downgraded to A2 from A1, negative outlook

- Slovenia: downgraded to A2 from A1, negative outlook

- Spain: downgraded to A3 from A1, negative outlook

- United Kingdom: outlook on Aaa rating changed to negative

Please see the individual country specific statements below for more detailed information relating to the rating rationale and the sensitivity analysis for each affected sovereign issuer.
"

Israel Struck by Simultaneous Embassy Attack

Make no mistake, Israel and Iran are in an undeclared state of war. That may be nothing new, but the cold war has been heating up for a while. This is just the latest biol over. Still, an attack on an embassy should be roundly condemned.

http://news.yahoo.com/israel-says-bombs-target-embassies-india-georgia-115811231.html

"Israel accused arch-enemies Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah of being behind twin bomb attacks that targeted Israeli embassy staff in India and Georgia on Monday, wounding four people.

Tehran denied involvement in the attacks, which amplified tensions between two countries already at loggerheads over Iran's nuclear program, and accused Israel of carrying out the attacks itself. Hezbollah made no comment.

In the Indian capital New Delhi, a bomb wrecked a car taking an Israeli embassy official to pick up her children from school, police said. The woman needed surgery to remove shrapnel but her life was not in danger.

Her driver and two passers-by suffered lesser injuries.

Israeli officials said an attempt to bomb an embassy car in the Georgian capital Tbilisi failed, and the device was defused.
"

Markets Not Capitalism

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Sunday, February 12, 2012

The Inside And Outside of CPAC 2012

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Speaking of AstroTurf Occupy Protesters;

http://dailycaller.com/2012/02/10/occupy-cpac-protesters-paid-60-for-the-day

"Protesters at Friday’s “Occupy CPAC” event, organized by AFL-CIO and the Occupy DC movement, told The Daily Caller that they were paid “sixty bucks a head” to protest outside the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, D.C.

One protester told TheDC that all the “Occupy” activists were being paid to protest, and that his union, Sheet Metal Workers Local 100, approached him about the money-making opportunity.

“I have nothing nice to say about Local 100. … They just told me ‘you wanna make sixty bucks? So c’mon,’” the protester said.
"

Pelosi (D) Violates Campaign Finance Laws?

Laws apparently are for the little people...

http://hotair.com/archives/2012/02/10/did-nancy-pelosi-just-violate-campaign-finance-laws

"CNN is reporting that, during remarks to reporters on the Hill, Nancy Pelosi suddenly tossed out an unscripted comment which could, in theory, land her in some hot water.

Did House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi inadvertently cross a legal line by asking for political contributions while on federal property?

At a Capitol Hill press conference Thursday, Pelosi was making the case for campaign finance reform and said Democrats will disclose donors to their political groups, even when the law doesn’t require it.

During her comments, she said “by the way we’re asking people to contribute to us if they want to elect more reformers to Congress so we can do away with super PACs – we can do away with secret contributions.”

So technically, asking for donations or doing any sort of fundraising on federal property is a pretty big Bozo No-No. But it’s also not something that frequently winds up being punished in a serious way for some reason. You may remember way back in 1997 that Al Gore was found to have made numerous fundraising phone calls to donors from his office in the White House. What happened to him? He had to write a check for $24.20 to cover the cost of the long distance calls.
"

Head to the source for her explanation/excuse, though I doubt you will buy it.

US Working Around UN to Organize 'Friends of Syria' Meeting

China and Russia vetoed our efforts through the UN; another great example of the 'smart power' this administration has show. Now, noted Nobel Peace Prize winner and opponent of unilateral action could be gearing up for another go it alone 'kinetic military action' against a Muslim-Arab nation. You would think a Republican was in office or something. That and liberals do not care about military action as long as a Democrat is at the helm.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/02/09/us-working-around-united-nations-to-organize-friends-syria-meeting

"The Obama administration is working to help organize a so-called "friends of Syria" meeting as part of what the State Department says is a push to work "outside the U.N. system," after the Security Council shot down a resolution against Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Russia and China vetoed the anti-Assad measure despite a new wave of violence in Syria, including a massacre in the city of Homs in which hundreds reportedly were killed. The disappointing weekend session has left the United States and other countries mulling their options to prevent the bloodshed from spreading further.
"

Samuel L. Jackson - "I Voted For Barack Because he Was Black"

Voting for someone just because of the color of their skin is the same as not voting someone because of their skin color; unquestionably racist. If a famous actor has said they voted for McCain because he was the white candidate there would he a firestorm of controversy. I have a feeling Jackson is going to more or less get a pass on this.

http://www.tmz.com/2012/02/11/barack-obama-samuel-l-jackson

"Barack Obama's politics meant nothing to Samuel L. Jackson because the "Pulp Fiction" star only voted for the president for one reason and one reason only ... because he's black.

In an interview with Ebony magazine, Jackson explained, "I voted for Barack because he was black. 'Cuz that's why other folks vote for other people — because they look like them ... That's American politics, pure and simple. [Obama's] message didn't mean [bleep] to me."

Jackson then went on to drop the N-word several times when discussing Obama
"

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Romney Wins CPAC Straw Poll And Maine Caucuses

With those victories, Romney snaps any momentum Santorum was building with his earlier sweep.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/feb/11/romney-wins-washington-timescpac-straw-poll

"Mitt Romney won The Washington Times/CPAC Presidential Straw Poll on Saturday, and also nipped Rick Santorum as the top choice of conservatives nationwide, according to a new version of the poll conducted for the first time this year that suggests Mr. Romney retains strong support among self-identified conservatives.

Mr. Romney won 38 percent of the straw poll, which counted the votes of 3,408 activists gathered for the Conservative Political Action Conference, which ran from Thursday through Saturday at a hotel in Washington.

Mr. Santorum was second with 31 percent, Newt Gingrich was third with 15 percent and Rep. Ron Paul was fourth with 12 percent — far below his showing the last two years, when he won with 31 in 2010 and 30 percent in 2011.
"

http://articles.cnn.com/2012-02-11/politics/politics_pol-maine-wrap_1_maine-caucuses-straw-poll-mitt-romney

"Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney ended what had been the worst week of his campaign with a quick one-two Saturday -- winning the Maine caucuses hours after placing first in a closely watched straw poll of conservative leaders and activists.

In Maine, Romney squeaked out a tight win over Texas Rep. Ron Paul in that state's Republican presidential caucuses, taking 39% of the vote to Paul's 36%. He had gone 0-for-3 in Tuesday's contests in Minnesota, Colorado and Missouri, which all went to former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum.
"

Whitney Houston Dies at the Age of 48

She died well before her time and she will be missed.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_OBIT_WHITNEY_HOUSTON

"Whitney Houston, who ruled as pop music's queen until her majestic voice and regal image were ravaged by drug use, erratic behavior and a tumultuous marriage to singer Bobby Brown, died Saturday. She was 48.

Beverly Hills police Lt. Mark Rosen told reporters outside the Beverly Hilton that Houston was pronounced dead at 3:55 p.m. in her room on the fourth floor of the hotel. Her body remained there and Beverly Hills detectives were investigating.

"There were no obvious signs of any criminal intent," Rosen said.

Houston's publicist, Kristen Foster, said the cause of death was unknown.

Rosen said police received a 911 call from hotel security about Houston at 3:43 p.m. Saturday. Paramedics who were already at the hotel because of a Grammy party unsuccessfully tried to resuscitate the singer, he said.
"

Jobs Return to the US Thanks to Falling Wages and a Weaker Dollar

Video embedded below.

Satellite Spots Tanks in Syrian City

They are preparing for a massacre, one that is likely already going on. Time to ask ourselves once again if we are going to sit by and watch or try and stop it.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_SYRIA_SATELLITE_PHOTOS

"Satellite image provider DigitalGlobe Inc. released photos Friday that appear to show Syrian army tanks and other armored vehicles in the city of Homs.

DigitalGlobe said the images were taken late Friday morning Syrian time by the company's WorldView 2 satellite from about 480 miles above the Earth.

Stephen Wood, director of DigitalGlobe's analysis center, said the photos show tanks, armored personnel carriers and other armored vehicles in the southern part of the city, some of them near apartment buildings.

The satellite images show an increase in the level of army activity in and around Homs from the previous 24 hours, Wood said.
"

Economic Warfare: The Battle between Wealth Takers and the Wealth Creators

Video embedded below.

Friday, February 10, 2012

Whiter Than White?!? The White People at MSNBC Play Race Card on Romney

Video embedded below.

NRC Approves Construction of New Nuclear Power Reactors

It is the first in more then three decades and long overdue.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/nrc-approves-construction-of-new-nuclear-power-reactors-in-georgia/2012/02/09/gIQA36wv1Q_story.html

"The Nuclear Regulatory Commission on Thursday approved a construction and operating license for new nuclear power reactors for the first time since 1978, giving Southern Co. the green light to build two new units at its existing Vogtle site in Georgia.

The commission voted 4-1 in favor, with NRC Chairman Gregory Jaczko casting the sole vote against granting the license. Jaczko said later that he wanted binding assurances that the new reactors would be modified to meet recommendations made by the agency’s task force on the disaster at Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant last year.
...
Southern, which filed its license application in March 2008, said it expects the project to cost about $14 billion. It will use Toshiba’s AP1000 reactors, the design of which the NRC certified in December, and it hopes to bring them online in 2016 and 2017.

The new reactors, however, are no longer seen as the start of what the industry once predicted would be a nuclear renaissance. Virtually all of the 31 plants that had been proposed by 2009 have been shelved as a result of cheap natural gas, high construction costs, weak electricity demand and safety concerns following the Fukushima Daiichi disaster in Japan.

Ten anti-nuclear groups have vowed to file suit against the NRC if it approves the license as expected. The groups said they would argue that the agency broke the law by failing to consider the full lessons of the Fukushima disaster, in which a string of four reactors were badly damaged in an earthquake and tsunami.
"

Why we Suck

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Obama Budget to Miss Deficit Goal

This is just the projected miss, the reality will unfortunately likely be worse.

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2012/02/obama-budget-to-miss-deficit-goal/1

"President Obama's proposed 2013 budget will forecast a $901 billion deficit for next year, falling far short of his goal to halve the deficit in four years.

The budget, an outline of which was released by the White House Friday night, will show a higher deficit this year than in 2011, up from $1.3 trillion to $1.33 trillion.

In addition, the projected decline to $901 billion in 2013 is dependent on enactment of the president's policies, including spending reductions agreed to last summer and ending George W. Bush's tax cuts for the wealthy at the end of this year.
"

The Obama Fairness Quiz

Video embedded below.

Thursday, February 9, 2012

FBI Issues Warning About 'Right Wing Extremists'

Can you believe that there are people who actually think the government should not control every aspect of your life, that taxes are to high, and that Global Warming people may have no idea what they are talking about. Forget about terrorists, these people are the real threat.

Way to keep your eye on the ball...

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/07/us-usa-fbi-extremists-idUSTRE81600V20120207

"Anti-government extremists opposed to taxes and regulations pose a growing threat to local law enforcement officers in the United States, the FBI warned on Monday.

These extremists, sometimes known as "sovereign citizens," believe they can live outside any type of government authority, FBI agents said at a news conference.

The extremists may refuse to pay taxes, defy government environmental regulations and believe the United States went bankrupt by going off the gold standard.
"

http://blogcritics.org/politics/article/fbi-warns-that-americans-are-now2

"Following the pattern of other provocative statements about potential domestic terrorist threats from the Obama Justice Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation has issued a statement exposing the threat of "hundreds of thousands" of "sovereign citizens" who can turn violent "at the drop of a hat" during encounters with the police.

Citing three specific cases in three years and a trend of an increase in arrests of believers in individual sovereignty from 10 to 18 cases per year, mostly for non-violent crimes, the FBI declared law enforcement to be "inundated" with threats.

This may be the most exaggerated and offensive example of specious fearmongering to come out of an administration which has been promoting irrational fear of generally harmless groups of citizens for three years. The FBI is taking aim at a huge body of citizens who are increasingly angry about government abuse of power and irresponsibility and attempting to turn them into a movement of dangerous potential terrorists.

These dangerous "extremists" hold such horrific views as "outrage at tax collection," defying environmental regulations and believing that "the United States went bankrupt by going off the gold standard." The FBI is identifying them as "sovereign citizens" and is defining them as a members of a movement, though they provide no evidence of organized or coordinated activity beyond just being angry with the government, a characteristic shared by about half the nation's population.
"

Canada And China Reach Deal on Oil And Uranium

Obama blocked the US from buying it by scudding the pipeline. Did anyone really believe that the Canadians would just not bother selling because we were not the buyers. This is a real strategic blunder by the Obama administration. Forget 'Smart Power' this was 'just don't say no and we win power' that the administration managed to botch.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/business/China+Canada+reach+deals+uranium+travel/6125940/story.html

"The development came as China and Canada declared Thursday that bilateral relations have reached "a new level" following a series of multibillion-dollar trade and business agreements to ship additional Canadian petroleum, uranium and other products to the Asian superpower.

The two countries have agreed that a joint economic study being conducted will be completed by May 2012, "after which Canada and China will proceed to exploratory discussions on deepening trade and economic relations."
...
Harper and the Chinese leadership said Thursday the economic co-operation agreements — and billions of dollars in new private-sector deals — signed by the two countries over the past few days are unprecedented and will open the door to additional trade and investment.

The new deals further solidify a "strategic" partnership between the countries, particularly in terms of natural resources, with China's top political leaders calling for "more large-scale co-operation" with Canada on oil and gas to feed China's seemingly insatiable energy appetite.

Harper announced Thursday, following meetings with Chinese President Hu Jintao and Vice-Premier Li Keqiang, that the countries have struck an agreement that will allow Canadian uranium companies to "substantially increase exports to China."
"

The 535 - Comparing Economic Power

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I Scream, You Scream: How Government Kills Jobs And Destroys Business

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Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Russians Reach Lake Vostok

We will have to wait another year for the findings, but they should be worth waiting for.

http://news.discovery.com/earth/they-did-it-curent-status-on-russian-lake-vostok-120206.html

"The unofficial comment came this morning in my inbox from the American office of the Russian Embassy: They did it!!! :)

Attached was a link to the state-sponsored Russian news agency RIA Novosti, which quoted an unnamed source as saying:

Yesterday, our scientists stopped drilling at the depth of 3,768 meters and reached the surface of the sub-glacial lake.
The news came as a huge relief after weekend speculation grew over the current status of the Russian drill team as they raced against time to reach Antarctica's 20 million-year-old, ice-covered Lake Vostok or be forced to wait another year to try again.
...
here is much to be concerned about over the techniques and environmental consequences the Russians have taken in using kerosene and other drilling fluids first and a melt drill second in order to reach their goal of breaking the waterline. But these arguments were raised in 1998, two years after the discovery of the lake, and the drilling was suspended for two years in order to better address the situation. Other investigations into subglacial lakes have the foresight now in order to commence drilling using only melt drill technology.

The physics should come into play as predicted and push the lake water into the drill/melt hole where it can freeze over the next 10 months, without causing contamination in the lake itself.

I for one am looking forward to the results of what they may find next year. Of course in the meantime we can all speculate on what may be lurking in the lake water, hidden from all humanity -- until now.
"

School Choice Victory: Indiana Court Rejects Challenge to Scholarship Program

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Britain Had to Plead With US to Take Part in Iran Flotilla

Two big issues here. The first is the deterioration of relationships the United States has with countries that are supposed to be close allies. The second is the chilling prospect that our allies may be falling significantly behind us to the point of being a hindrance to our efforts. That means that if Obama succeeds in stepping us down militarily, our allies will not be able to pick up the slack.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/9064697/Britain-had-to-plead-with-US-to-take-part-in-Iran-flotilla.html

"Defence sources have revealed that the Americans only relented and allowed a Royal Navy frigate to join the mission following an intervention from Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president.

The revelation that US defence chiefs saw little military value in UK participation will raise new questions about Britain’s international clout after Coalition defence cuts.

Amid rising tensions in the region, the Royal Navy last month deployed HMS Argyll, a Type 23 frigate, to the Gulf.

The ship accompanied a US carrier strike group made up of an aircraft carrier with a full complement of fighters, a heavy cruiser and several destroyers.
"

Liberal Bill of Frights: Justice Ginsburg Trashes US Constitution on Egyptian Television

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Tuesday, February 7, 2012

A Santorum Sweep?

Santorum has Minnesota and Missouri in the bag, and a lead in Colorado which is to early to call but looks promising. If he can pull it off, this could seriously shake up the race. Gingrich has been creeping his way into the anti-Romney candidate slot passing Santorum in that position. This would catapult Santorum right back into that spot.

For Romney there would be good and bad. The good is that Gingrich and Santorum are going to stay in the race splitting the anti-Romney vote. The bad is that Romney just does not seem to be able to pull in the nomination as smoothly as he would hope given his 'presumptive nominee' status.

Half Time in The 2012 Election? The Dirt on Dirty Harry's Chrysler Super Bowl Ad

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Obama Releases New Housing Program

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"Basically, it sounds like an extension of the bailout, only now for people who bought high and had to watch as values dropped. The reach of the program would not keep people at risk from losing their homes, but simply allow people to lower their interest rates on the existing principle in most cases, which means it doesn’t make them any less underwater, either. In fact, it might make matters worse:

To be eligible, borrowers would have to be current on their mortgages, not having missed a payment in at least six months. They need a credit score (FICO) above 580, must be employed, and must have a conforming loan (between $271,050 and $729,750 depending on their location). No appraisal would be necessary, according to officials.

Estimates are that the plan could help 3.5 million borrowers in addition to the 11 million expected to qualify for the existing refinance program for those with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans (HARP). The one sticking point could be the mortgage insurance premiums charged by the FHA. If rolled into the loan, they would put a borrower further underwater.

“To use taxpayer dollars to bail out the few who are current and don’t need payment assistance but are underwater is ludicrous and worsens their equity position,” says JT Smith of Aristar Funding.

Note that I said most cases. When the principal is more than 140% of current home value, the program would force lenders to write down the principal to 140% … which still leaves homeowners underwater and reduce assets for lenders, making it more difficult for them to lend money. The administration will argue that this helps the lenders by getting rid of “risky” loans. They’re only “risky” if the homeowners can’t make the payments, though, and even if that were true, lenders could simply choose to do this on their own. Not only that, but because FHA — an outright government agency — would take on the loan instead of Fannie/Freddie or a completely private lender, taxpayers would also on the hook for that same “risky” loan for which taxpayers had no prior risk at all.
"

Whale Slavery?!

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Obama's "Jesus" Taxes!

I thought liberals were worried that Republicans were a not so secret theocracy. Apparently it is not the theocracy they do not like, just Republicans.

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Monday, February 6, 2012

Freedom House's Arch Puddington on How 2012 Will Be Like 1989

Transformational for sure, hopefully for the better.

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The GOP Race Continues; Is Romney Inevitable?

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Super Bowl Draws Record 111.3M Viewers

117.7 million people during the last 30 minutes. And what would a Super Bowl be without a little bit of controversy, call it a 'hand gesture malfunction'.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/F/FBN_SUPER_BOWL_RATINGS

"For the third consecutive year, the Super Bowl set a record as the most-watched television show in U.S. history.

The Nielsen Co. said Monday that an estimated 111.3 million people watched the New York Giants beat the New England Patriots on Sunday night. That narrowly beat the 111 million who watched Green Bay's win over Pittsburgh last year.

NBC was blessed by a competitive game between two teams that played in one of the Super Bowl's most memorable contests four years ago, with one of them representing the largest media market in the country.

The game wasn't over until Tom Brady's last-second heave into the end zone dropped onto the turf. That play itself had the biggest audience of any play in the game, according to the digital video recorder maker Tivo. Nielsen said 117.7 million people were watching during the last half hour of the game.
"

Another Day Older & Deeper In Debt: Federal Deficit to Top $1 Trillion for Fourth Year

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Sunday, February 5, 2012

Reid (D) Announces Democrats Will Not Bring a Budget to The Floor This Year

Not to surprising given they have not done so for more then 1,000 days. It is not like there is a law requiring them to submit a budget or anything though; oh wait, there is.

http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/budget/208593-reid-this-years-budget-is-done

"Senate Democratic leaders on Friday said they do not intend to bring a fiscal 2013 budget up for a floor vote.

"We do not need to bring a budget to the floor this year — it's done, we don't need to do it," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) told reporters on Friday.

Reid and Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) argued that the debt-limit agreement in August directs spending for the next year and said Senate Appropriations Chairman Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) has already asked the heads of the subcommittees to write their appropriations bills for fiscal 2013.
...
House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), who is working on his own budget plan, tweeted Friday that Senate Democrats "‪confirm they’ve given up on budgeting. What a disgrace. Reid's refusal to budget is a recipe for crisis.‬"

Ryan has said that Democrats should be embarrassed to claim the debt deal as their blueprint because it "fell far, far short of solving this country’s fiscal problems."

“It’s been more than 1,000 days since Senate Democrats have offered a budget plan to the American people," Jeff Sessions (Ala.), the ranking Republican on the budget committee, said in a statement. “Now, once again, the Senate’s ineffectual Democrat majority balks at the task of leadership.”

Sessions argued Senate Democrats don’t want to spell out a long-term budget plan for fear of public scrutiny.
"

Daniels (R) Signs Right-to-Work Bill in Indiana

This seems one of those 'no-brainers' in our free market system. If you do not want to join a union, you should not be forced to join a Union and have dues automatically deducted from your salary. This does not prevent you from joining a Union if you want to, just gives you a right to say no. If the Unions really add value for workers, instead of just funneling money to Democrats, they should have no problem convincing workers to join.

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-02-02/indiana-becomes-right-to-work-state-as-daniels-signs-bill.html

"Governor Mitch Daniels made Indiana the nation’s 23rd right-to-work state by signing a bill exempting nonunion employees from paying dues when working alongside their unionized colleagues.

Daniels enacted the measure today about four hours after the state Senate gave it final passage on a 28-22 vote, ending a contentious debate over a law that Republicans view as a cost- cutting, job-creating tool, while Democrats call it a wage- lowering union buster.

“This law won’t be a magic answer but we’ll be far better off with it,” Daniels said today in a statement from Indianapolis. “No one’s wages will go down, no one’s benefits will be reduced, and the right to organize and bargain collectively is untouched an intact.”

Twenty-two states, mostly in the Deep South and the Rocky Mountain West, had already enacted right-to-work laws. Most recently, Oklahoma passed its law in 2001. Republican gains in the 2010 elections prompted legislation in states including Wisconsin and Ohio aimed at restricting bargaining rights for government workers’ unions.
"

Justice Ginsburg to Egyptian TV - 'You Probably Don’t Want to Use Our Constitution as a Model'

Jump to 9:25 if you are in a hurry.

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Giants Beat Patriots 21-17 in Super Bowl XLVI

And what a game it was. I am happy the Giants won and think all games should end the way this one did. If the outcome is not in doubt in the final five minutes, it is not an exiting game. This was a phenomenally exiting game.

Friday, February 3, 2012

Unemployment Rate Drops to 8.3%

The drop in percentage seems good, especially paired with some solid job growth numbers. There is a fairly disturbing number in the report though, 1.2 million people dropped out of the labor force. That means we are discouraging our way out of the recession. It also means that the recovery, when it happens, will be slightly masked by the numbers moving in the other direction. We will know the economy is getting better when people start joining the workforce, once again hopeful that their job search is not in vain. That will increase the unemployment rate, but for positive reasons.

http://hotair.com/archives/2012/02/03/unemployment-rate-drops-to-8-3-243k-jobs-added

"The US economy had a good month for job creation in December, according to the new report this morning from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. We added 243,000 net jobs and the unemployment rate fell two-tenths of a percent to 8.3%:

Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 243,000 in January, and the unemployment rate decreased to 8.3 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Job growth was widespread in the private sector, with large employment gains in professional and business services, leisure and hospitality, and manufacturing. Government employment changed little over the month.
"

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/record-12-million-people-fall-out-labor-force-one-month-labor-force-participation-rate-tumbles-

"A month ago, we joked when we said that for Obama to get the unemployment rate to negative by election time, all he has to do is to crush the labor force participation rate to about 55%. Looks like the good folks at the BLS heard us: it appears that the people not in the labor force exploded by an unprecedented record 1.2 million. No, that's not a typo: 1.2 million people dropped out of the labor force in one month! So as the labor force increased from 153.9 million to 154.4 million, the non institutional population increased by 242.3 million meaning, those not in the labor force surged from 86.7 million to 87.9 million. Which means that the civilian labor force tumbled to a fresh 30 year low of 63.7% as the BLS is seriously planning on eliminating nearly half of the available labor pool from the unemployment calculation."

China and Transportation: What We Can Learn In The United States

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The Grand Jihad

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Occupy Condoms? Plus, Biden Insults India

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Occupy's Moral Argument: We're Killing People, We're Camping Out. Plus, Crackers and Super-Racists

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Thursday, February 2, 2012

Laser Guided Bullet

Technology like this can let an average, barely trained soldier, compete with top marksmen. It is much easier to keep a laser dot on a target then to judge wind, distance, rotation, temperature, and a host of other factors, not to mention the need to anticipate your targets motion. If they can perfect the technology it could be a real game changer.

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Sandia Labs' bullet doesn't miss: krqe.com



"Engineers at Sandia National Laboratories have invented a bullet that guides itself to the target.

Sandia has wide expertise at miniature technology, and the bullet works like a tiny guided missile.

The patented design doesn't shoot straight. Instead of a spiral rotation, the bullet twists and turns to guide itself towards a laser directed point. It can make up to thirty corrections per second while in the air.
"

Racial Code Words? Decoding Juan Williams False Charges of Racism

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The Coin of The Realm

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Romney Crushes Gingrich in Florida Primary. Is the GOP Race Over or Just Starting?

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