Wednesday, November 24, 2004
Mmmm...
So far, the jackbooted thug of socialism has been fairly benign. Good food and eats. The Celtic fans had invaded the city en masse. They were a bit disappointed in their tie, but so far have failed to blame it on the writings of Karl Marx. Apparently jackbooted islamofascist socialism manages to provide great food and great wine at good prices, even with the sadly declining dollar. Weird.
border control
There are two sides to every border. If U.S. forces can't stop the infiltration of foreign fighters crossing between Syria and Iraq, why does the Bush Administration think that Syria can?
When Red State Values Collide
CBS MarketWatch reports:
Bosses Fret Okla. Law Allows Guns in Cars
11/24/2004 7:16:00 PM
OKLAHOMA CITY, Nov 24, 2004 (AP Online via COMTEX) -- A new state law allowing employees to keep guns in their locked cars on company property has alarmed some of Oklahoma's biggest corporations and pitted them against gun enthusiasts.
The law was passed by the Legislature earlier this year and was scheduled to go into effect Nov. 1, but a federal judge blocked its enforcement while he considers a challenge brought by companies fearful that guns at work could lead to bloodshed.
Employers say the law interferes with their right to restrict what happens on company property.
Williams Cos., the Tulsa-based energy company, and oil giant ConocoPhillips Inc., with offices in Bartlesville and a refinery in Ponca City, are suing to stop the law from taking effect. The State Chamber, which represents some 2,000 businesses in Oklahoma and 26 other states, has also filed briefs against the law.
"We have cases all the time where there are fights on the property. That's where we're coming from," said David Strecker, attorney for the State Chamber. He added: "If somebody got mad they wouldn't have far to go."
The measure was adopted after a paper company in Oklahoma fired several employees when guns were found in their vehicles during a drug sweep. Workplaces can still prohibit people from entering businesses with guns.
Democratic state Sen. Frank Shurden, a co-author the law, said Oklahomans need guns for protection. "You get out in the dark in rural Oklahoma, you better be armed and ready for action," he said. "There's no telling what's going to happen."
As for the potential for workplace shootings, he said: "These are decent and responsible people. "We aren't going to have any shoot-outs like the Old West every time someone gets mad."
Whirlpool Corp., which employs 1,500 at a Tulsa plant, was the original plaintiff in the case. The appliance maker said it asked to withdraw this week after being assured by the state attorney general that the new law would not override an Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulation or Whirlpool's existing ban on weapons on company property.
U.S. District Judge Sven Erik Holmes has heard arguments in the case, but said Tuesday said a higher court must first decide whether the penalty for violating the law is criminal or civil.
******************
Bwhahahhaha!
Bosses Fret Okla. Law Allows Guns in Cars
11/24/2004 7:16:00 PM
OKLAHOMA CITY, Nov 24, 2004 (AP Online via COMTEX) -- A new state law allowing employees to keep guns in their locked cars on company property has alarmed some of Oklahoma's biggest corporations and pitted them against gun enthusiasts.
The law was passed by the Legislature earlier this year and was scheduled to go into effect Nov. 1, but a federal judge blocked its enforcement while he considers a challenge brought by companies fearful that guns at work could lead to bloodshed.
Employers say the law interferes with their right to restrict what happens on company property.
Williams Cos., the Tulsa-based energy company, and oil giant ConocoPhillips Inc., with offices in Bartlesville and a refinery in Ponca City, are suing to stop the law from taking effect. The State Chamber, which represents some 2,000 businesses in Oklahoma and 26 other states, has also filed briefs against the law.
"We have cases all the time where there are fights on the property. That's where we're coming from," said David Strecker, attorney for the State Chamber. He added: "If somebody got mad they wouldn't have far to go."
The measure was adopted after a paper company in Oklahoma fired several employees when guns were found in their vehicles during a drug sweep. Workplaces can still prohibit people from entering businesses with guns.
Democratic state Sen. Frank Shurden, a co-author the law, said Oklahomans need guns for protection. "You get out in the dark in rural Oklahoma, you better be armed and ready for action," he said. "There's no telling what's going to happen."
As for the potential for workplace shootings, he said: "These are decent and responsible people. "We aren't going to have any shoot-outs like the Old West every time someone gets mad."
Whirlpool Corp., which employs 1,500 at a Tulsa plant, was the original plaintiff in the case. The appliance maker said it asked to withdraw this week after being assured by the state attorney general that the new law would not override an Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulation or Whirlpool's existing ban on weapons on company property.
U.S. District Judge Sven Erik Holmes has heard arguments in the case, but said Tuesday said a higher court must first decide whether the penalty for violating the law is criminal or civil.
******************
Bwhahahhaha!
At the Movies
So at my house on Thanksgiving, after we eat ourselves silly, we go to the movies. This year, I'm thinking about going to see Finding Neverland or National Treasure . Any recommendations?
No Liberal Media
While the WaPo may be able to find justifications for printing it's anti-gay supplement (which was filled with things which were explicitly untrue, and any time false propaganda is served up in support of bigotry, red lights should go off), but the degree of cluelessness they show in defending their decision should put to rest the notion that any of these liberal media titans have given more than 3 seconds of thought to the issue of gay rights.
Continue writing. Calling. Screaming. It's sadly the only they listen to obviously. Well, other than money.
Continue writing. Calling. Screaming. It's sadly the only they listen to obviously. Well, other than money.
Sorry to Report
But the death of Irony has now been officially confirmed. Please bow your heads for a moment of silence .
Third Day of Protests
Sounds as if they take election fraud seriously in Ukraine
Interesting discussion concerning whether any position of power is worth a single human life. Too bad Lame Duckie made exactly the wrong decision on this issue. In fact, his seizure of power has been based on the expenditure of human lives, both American and foreign. I believe we call people like that sociopaths.
"Shortly after his rival's offer, Yanukovich also hinted at compromise by saying that he was not interested in a "fictitious" victory and that "no position of authority, no matter how important, is worth a single human life." "
Interesting discussion concerning whether any position of power is worth a single human life. Too bad Lame Duckie made exactly the wrong decision on this issue. In fact, his seizure of power has been based on the expenditure of human lives, both American and foreign. I believe we call people like that sociopaths.
"Shortly after his rival's offer, Yanukovich also hinted at compromise by saying that he was not interested in a "fictitious" victory and that "no position of authority, no matter how important, is worth a single human life." "
Haters of Freedom
Well, I've arrived here in Barcelona. Free WiFi in the hotel room, so I won't be entirely absent. I plan to spend my time here learning about what it's like to live under the jackboot of socialism in a country which hates freedom, loves islamofascism, and embraces gay rights.
Or something like that.
Or something like that.
Tuesday, November 23, 2004
MEMRI SLAPPS Cole
MEMRI, an organization I am mostly familiar with because of its inaccurate arabic translations, sent a SLAPP letter to Juan Cole.
Professor Cole reprinted the letter on his site. Go read the letter and Professor Cole's response to the letter. If you are so moved, send a polite letter protesting their threats to memri@memri.org.
Hell, if Duncan gives me a big megaphone, I might as well use it.
Professor Cole reprinted the letter on his site. Go read the letter and Professor Cole's response to the letter. If you are so moved, send a polite letter protesting their threats to memri@memri.org.
Hell, if Duncan gives me a big megaphone, I might as well use it.
Chat Away My Sweet Bitches
Sometimes things don’t go, after all,
from bad to worse. Some years, muscadel
faces down frost; green thrives; the crops don’t fail,
sometimes a man aims high, and all goes well.
A people sometimes will step back from war;
elect an honest man; decide they care
enough, that they can’t leave some stranger poor.
Some men become what they were born for.
Sometimes our best efforts do not go
amiss; sometimes we do as we meant to.
The sun will sometimes melt a field of sorrow
that seemed hard frozen: may it happen for you.
-- Sheenagh Pugh, “Sometimes”
from bad to worse. Some years, muscadel
faces down frost; green thrives; the crops don’t fail,
sometimes a man aims high, and all goes well.
A people sometimes will step back from war;
elect an honest man; decide they care
enough, that they can’t leave some stranger poor.
Some men become what they were born for.
Sometimes our best efforts do not go
amiss; sometimes we do as we meant to.
The sun will sometimes melt a field of sorrow
that seemed hard frozen: may it happen for you.
-- Sheenagh Pugh, “Sometimes”
CSIS report
The Center for Strategic and International Studies has issued an updated report on progress in Iraq (the original report is here).
The CSIS evaluated the progress of the U.S. and the Iraqi provision government in six different areas and sounded a dismal note for every single one: security ("far from the tipping point"), governance ("not reached the tipping point"), economic opportunity ("overall, the U.S. efforts to improve the economic situation in Iraq have made little positive impact"), services (noting improvement in transportation, "a downward trend" for communications, fuel supplies and water services, and no noticeable change for electrical power. Sanitation also registered no change, remaining in "dire condition"), education ("not yet passed the tipping point"), and health care ("regressed considerably"). The problems mostly are attributed to the insurgency against the U.S. occupation of the country.
At some point we will have to address whether our presence in Iraq is really helping or hindering the country.
(study and graphic found via ntodd)
Fins Aviat
Off to Barcelona for a bit. I've recruited a couple of new guest bloggers who will be popping in and out, holiday time and other conflicts permitting, and I'll be dropping by now and then as well. For all of my former guest bloggers who still have access, feel free to chime in if you have something to say...
National Organization of Witches
Since no one in the media pays much attention to the kind of values that the good Reverend Falwell preaches week after week, Media Matters has decided to do the Lord's work and pay attention.
Bye Bye Dan Rather
Maybe some day someone will explain how the "liberal media" thought Rather's guard doc screwup was more important than the deliberate fabrications of Gerth, Vlasto, Myers, Greenfield...
Free Market Follies
This is funny. Though not actually "ha ha" funny.
-
Homeowners say a Brevard County homebuilding company is bullying, threatening and even suing homeowners for complaining about inferior construction.
A NewsChannel 2 investigation -- part of our Building Homes: Building Problems series -- found Mercedes Homes actually filed a lawsuit against a woman for telling her neighbors about severe leaks in her home.
Jay Ann Contardi couldn't imagine a problem any worse than the deluge of rainwater pouring into her leaking home. That is, until she ran afoul of the aggressive lawyers representing her builder, Mercedes Homes.
"It has changed my life. I'm afraid to talk to my neighbors. I'm afraid to walk my daughter to the bus stop. I'm afraid to talk to you right now," she told NewsChannel 2 reporter Dan Billow.
She's not the only one. Other Mercedes homeowners asked us to protect their identities.
"I feel like I'm in a police state. I can't do anything. I have no avenues. I have nowhere to turn," one homeowner said.
That's what it feels like when you're sued for talking to your neighbor.
In the company's plush corporate offices, executives hatched a plan to make buyers sign away their First Amendment rights.
"It's there in black and white. The customer should read his or her contract thoroughly before they enter into it," said Patrick Roche, Mercedes Attorney.
Max Speak
Max has more on crazy Republican budgeting plans. He makes important points:
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For academics, this will be a grand experiment in neo-classical fiscal policy, founded on the premise that anything that doesn't change inter-temporal budget constraints has no effect on behavior. Yuk yuk. By this logic, if the Gov borrows to pay me a billion dollars today and simultaneouly passes the Revenue 3000 tax act, which levies a wealth tax on the inhabitants of Jupiter in the year 3000 to offset the accumulated debt, everything is hunky-dory. Don't laugh. These people are running the country!
There is verbiage -- don't call it argument -- that this is acceptable because the borrowing is an investment that pays for itself. I recall similar arguments made for the Reagan tax cuts, defense spending, and the savings and loan bailout. There were allusions to the business-like logic of capital budgeting.
EPI recently published a study on the benefits of early childhood health and education. Similarly there is literature on the merits of public investment in infrastructure, and in research and development. The only problem with the capital budgeting talk, aside from the fact that it is idiotic, is that it is not applied to actual investment in public capital.
A Cunning Plan
I do believe Baldrick is running things:
It's "good" so we don't have to count it. These people are crazy. We are truly fucked. The scary thing is that in order for this to work in the short term they're going to have to do double-secret-stupid accounting. Money borrowed from the trust fund will be used to reduce the deficit, as it is now, but then reductions in money borrowed from the trust fund to fund their fantasy plan will not be counted as increases in the deficit.
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Republican budget writers say they may have found a way to cut the federal deficit even if they borrow hundreds of billions more to overhaul the Social Security system: Don't count all that new borrowing.
As they lay the groundwork for what will probably be a controversial fight over Social Security, Republican lawmakers and the Bush administration are examining a number of accounting strategies that would allow the expensive transition to a partially privatized Social Security system without -- at least on paper -- expanding the country's record annual budget deficits. The strategies include, for example, moving the costs of Social Security reform "off-budget" so they are not counted against the government's yearly shortfall.
It's "good" so we don't have to count it. These people are crazy. We are truly fucked. The scary thing is that in order for this to work in the short term they're going to have to do double-secret-stupid accounting. Money borrowed from the trust fund will be used to reduce the deficit, as it is now, but then reductions in money borrowed from the trust fund to fund their fantasy plan will not be counted as increases in the deficit.
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