Saturday, April 04, 2009

For the love of... Bill Ayers publishes his first childrens book




Derivative markets... an understandable explanation


Ben sent this one in.

Heidi is the proprietor of a bar in Detroit. In order to increase sales, she decides to allow her loyal customers - most of whom are unemployed alcoholics - to drink now but pay later. She keeps track of the drinks consumed on a ledger (thereby granting the customers loans).

Word gets around about Heidi's drink now pay later marketing strategy and as a result, increasing numbers of customers flood into Heidi's bar and soon she has the largest sale volume for any bar in Detroit .

By providing her customers' freedom from immediate payment demands, Heidi gets no resistance when she substantially increases her prices for wine and beer, the most consumed beverages. Her sales volume increases massively.

A young and dynamic vice-president at the local bank recognizes these customer debts as valuable future assets and increases Heidi's borrowing limit.

He sees no reason for undue concern since he has the debts of the alcoholics as collateral.

At the bank's corporate headquarters, expert traders transform these customer loans into DRINKBONDS, ALKIBONDS and PUKEBONDS. These securities are then traded on security markets worldwide. Naive investors don't really understand the securities being sold to them as "AAA-rated secured bonds" are really the debts of unemployed alcoholics.

Nevertheless, their prices continuously climb, and the securities become the top-selling items for some of the nation's leading brokerage houses.

One day, although the bond prices are still climbing, a risk manager at the bank (subsequently fired due to his negativity), decides that the time has come to demand payment on the debts incurred by the drinkers at Heidi's bar.

Heidi demands payment from her alcoholic patrons, but being unemployed, they cannot pay back their drinking debts. Therefore, Heidi cannot fulfill her loan obligations and claims bankruptcy.

DRINKBOND and ALKIBOND immediately drop in price by 90%. PUKEBOND performs better, stabilizing in price after dropping by 80%. The decreased bond asset value destroys the bank's liquidity and prevents it from issuing new loans.

The suppliers of Heidi's bar, having granted her generous payment extensions and having invested in the securities are faced with writing off her debt and losing over 80% on her bonds. Her wine supplier claims bankruptcy, her beer supplier is taken over by a competitor, who immediately closes the local plant and lays off 50 workers.

The bank and brokerage houses are saved by the Government following dramatic round-the-clock negotiations by leaders from both political parties. The funds required for this bailout are obtained by a tax levied on employed middle-class non-drinkers.



Death March


Ask not for whom the bell tolls, Bill Keller. It tolls for thee.

The decrepit New York Times Company is threatening to "shut down" The Boston Globe unless the newspaper's unions immediately agree to $20 million in additional concessions. John Hinderaker points out the obvious hypocrisy.

The Times endorses Big Labor's legislative agenda pretty much down the line, but when it comes to its own business operations, it can't help noticing that antiquated union contracts threaten its very existence. We've advocated bankruptcy for GM and Chrysler for exactly that reason. Maybe the Times, too, should take advantage of Chapter 11 to rid itself of unsustainable union contracts. And then maybe the Times' owners, managers, editors and reporters should re-think their commitment to the destructive left-wing agenda of the labor unions

Dare to dream, John, dare to dream. Times Editor Keller is going down with his ship.

The Sun-Times Media Group -- which owns the venerable Chicago Sun Times and nearly 60 other newspapers -- filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Tuesday.

Last week, The Washington Post announced that it will seek an unspecified number of voluntary buyouts. Despite thousands of requests from disgruntled readers, Richard Cohen has -- thus far -- declined to accept the offer.

Also last week, after a series of unsuccessful efforts to shore up finances, The New York Times laid off 100 workers, slashed salaries by 5% and announced plans to require two-week unpaid vacations (i.e., furloughs). That measure came after a sale and lease-back of its newly-constructed, 52-story Manhattan headquarters; a suspension of its quarterly dividend; and acceptance of a $250 million loan from Mexican financier Carlos Slim.

The McClatchy Co. -- owner of The Miami Herald -- announced it would cut 1,600 jobs (15%) and slash its dividend in an attempt to regain its economic footing.

The recent announcements are only the latest in a series of newspaper closings. Denver's Rocky Mountain News, Seattle's Post-Intelligencer and The Christian Science Monitor have completely shut down print operations. The Denver paper has ceased operating altogether.

Late last year, the Tribune Company, which owns The Los Angeles Times and The Chicago Tribune, filed for bankruptcy protection; it was a capitulation to a monstrous debt burden of $12 billion.

Liberals are having a hard time determining why their newspapers are going out of business, why their radio shows fail to attract audiences, and why their cable stations -- combined -- can't muster an audience to match that of Fox News.

APRIL 1 2009 CABLE NEWS VIEWERSHIP
Total Viewers: (L +SD)
Total day: FNC: 1381 | CNN: 599 | MSNBC: 430 | HLN: 337
Prime: FNC: 2687 | CNN: 909 | MSNBC: 991 | HLN: 635

Is Bill Keller really that stupid?

No. Just like Barack Obama, Keller is an ideologue, not a businessman.

By December 1, 2009, the print version of the Times will have joined the cavalcade of defunct New York city newspapers. You can mark that in your calendar. And report on it, if any pro journalists are reading along with us.

Update: How does the New York Times review the best-selling book in the country?


By ignoring it. In the two paragraphs of the "review", there was nary a mention of anything in the book.



Larwyn's Link Kerplosion: Democrat Corruption at Fannie

Have a great link you'd like me to review? Drop me an email!

No illegal alien left behind: Malkin
Exile: the past is prologue: Anchoress
Dems own the budget: Fausta

Democrats encouraged Fannie corruption: Judicial Watch
Democrats toss out Military ballots (again): Corner
What Does PIMCO know?: MoneyRunner

Nightmare on Pennsylvania Ave.: Dr. Sanity
Out of Gas: GoV
Why You Can't Find a Cop in Gaza When You Need One: TI

Bruni cold to Obama?: Surber
What not to wear: the Cardigan: Fausta
A teleprompter-less President in Europe: Flopping Aces

Unlike MSM, Aussie media reports on bow row: Gateway
Did Obama check his bow to Abdullah?: Anchoress
Card Check Measure Threatens Jobs, Democracy: BMW

The club Obama can't wait to join: S, C & A
Sounds like a threat to me: MoneyRunner
"How do you defend yourself against a man with two d***os?": Sun

Friday, April 03, 2009

Has Hyundai's coupe stolen the mojo of the 240Z and the G?


Autospies asks the critical question: "Has The Hyundai Genesis Coupe STOLEN The Soul And Mojo Of The Original 240z And Infiniti G?"

You can buy a Genesis Coupe with a four-speed manual, four-cylinder engine starting for $22K. The four generates a cool 210 horsepower. The six -- brace yourself -- pumps out 306 ponies.


RED ALERT: Bill Ayers scheduled to speak to college students on Monday


Pitzer College has scheduled our favorite terrorist, Bill Ayers, for a speech on "civil activism and education". Pitzer is a California institution and -- apparently -- uses the appellation "College" loosely.

Ayers' speech is a part of a series called "Dining with Democracy". Although what Ayers has to do with Democracy is a mystery for anthropologists of the future to figure out, as Ayers and his wife are very vocal and quite open about their Communist leanings.

Due to vocal opposition, Ayers' recent trips to speak at Naperville High School in Illinois, an indie bookstore in the same town and at Boston College have all been canceled.

By the way: does it seem like Ayers is trying to get out of house a lot these days?

But if you were married to the despicable shrew Bernadine Dohrn, you'd be heading out on weekly road trips too.

Let's get out the word: here's a Pitzer College Contact Form, the President's email address, President Laura Skandera's phone number: (909) 621-8198 and Director of Institutional Events Andrea Olson's phone number: (909) 621-8198.

Call or email... and politely express your opposition to the likes of Ayers indoctrinating our youth with their tripe.


Linked by: Jawa Report. Thanks!

Did anyone else notice that President Obama is dressing differently while he's in Europe?


And he keeps referring to himself with a term I hadn't heard before.

"President-for-life Hugobama"?

Larwyn's Link Kerplosion: The guns to Mexico myth

Have a great link you'd like me to review? Drop me an email!

Map of Tax Day Tea Parties: Ibrahim
The 'U.S. Guns in Mexico' Scam: Fausta
Congress awards millions in bonuses: WSJ

How A Single Nuke Could Destroy America: FSM
Global Warming: A Classic Case of Alarmism: JoNova
House passes Obama Budget without a GOP vote: Gateway

Hamas gets pwnt by Stringer missile technology: W-T
A tale of two giftings: American Digest
Avigdor Lieberman's Brilliant Debut: Pipes

The president is keeping 'score': Rove
Is it legal?: Surber
Moyo to Bono: To help Africa, end aid now: S, C & A

The hypocrisy of Jon Stewart: Iceman
More things change, more they stay insane: American Digest
More ACORN voter fraud: now in Missouri: MOGOP

Taliban captured on camera flogging 17-year old girl: London Daily Mail
Nice. Obama's Gift to Queen Made By Chinese Women Making Slave Wages: Gateway
NYT Reporter to ACORN Whistleblower: Bosses Ordered Her to "Stand Down" on Obama/ACORN Story: Ace

Under New Management: United States Toxic Weblog Recovery Administration: IowaHawk
Boys will be boys week: Mitchieville
Blago at WDW: LastBestPlace

Thursday, April 02, 2009

Democrat Fist Bump


The Obama fist bump... in reality.


Image: Personal Litmus, hat tip: Bob McCarty.

Card Check: Bringing GM's success to small business


Union bosses directed hundreds of millions in donations to Democratic candidates in 2008. And now it's payback time.

Current labor law dictates that if a significant proportion of a company's employees sign "authorization" cards seeking union representation, then a labor organization can petition the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to hold an election. In the current formulation, the election is conducted via a secret ballot and overseen by neutral federal regulators.

Under the Democrat-supported Employee Free Choice Act's (EFCA) rules, the union would seek certification without a secret ballot once a majority of targeted employees have signed cards.

They may also seek a government-mandated labor contract on wages, benefits and working conditions. Union bosses -- not members -- favor EFCA because the "cards are often signed under coercive or intimidating circumstances and do not represent informed intent."

Organizations representing small businesses -- like the National Restaurant Association -- vehemently oppose the EFCA, and for good reason.

Because of NLRB safeguards, employees can cast their vote confidentially, without peer pressure or coercion from unions or employers... If Congress passes the Employee Free Choice Act, employees effectively lose their right to private-ballot elections. The bill would establish a so-called “card-check” union organizing system, in which a majority of employees simply sign a card in favor of union representation.

Recent polls show strong majorities of the public want to keep the current protections in place. Numerous editorial pages across the country also have expressed support for keeping the private ballot.

Status: The House passed the Employee Free Choice Act, H.R. 800, in 2007 by a 56-vote margin – 241 to 185. The vote was largely along party lines; only 13 House Republicans voted for the bill and only 2 House Democrats voted against it. Supporters haven’t been able to get S. 1041 through the Senate yet. On their last try, they achieved only 51 of the 60 Senate votes they needed. 2009 could be a different story, which is why we need to educate lawmakers now.

The EFCA would be an utter and complete disaster. If you're a small business owner -- one of the many who create 75% of American jobs -- you need to be aware of this legislation and fight it every step of the way.

Because you're the target.

Click on any of the images to visit the analogous UnionFacts web page.


Wikio releases its new Top 100 Blog List


Wikio sent me an advance look at the new Top 100 list... check out #76. That must be a typo. As far as I can tell, I have four regular readers and one of them is Mom. Maybe she just clicks the "reload" button a lot.

1The Huffington Post
2The Corner
3TechCrunch
4Think Progress
5Gizmodo
6Boing Boing
7Political Ticker - CNN
8Political Punch
9Michelle Malkin
10Gawker
11The Daily Dish
12The Conscience of a Liberal
13Engadget
14Talking Points Memo
15The Caucus - New York Times blog
16Firedoglake
17NewsBusters
18Political Animal
19fivethirtyeight
20Daily Kos
21Power Line
22Instapundit.com
23Crooks and Liars
24The Official Google Blog
25ReadWriteWeb
26Mashable!
27The Consumerist
28White House.gov Blog Feed
29Washington Wire - WSJ.com
30Kotaku
31Calculated Risk
32Lifehacker
33The Plank
34Deadspin
35AMERICAblog
36Balloon Juice
37Marginal Revolution
38Reason Magazine - Hit & Run
39Threat Level
40Bits - New York Times blog
41Greg Mankiw's Blog
42Swampland
43CrunchGear
44Chicago Breaking News
45Neatorama
46The Big Picture
47Political Radar - ABC Blog
48Wired Science - Wired Blog
49Jezebel
50Michael Goldfarb - The Weekly Standard
51Grasping Reality with Both Hands
52io9
53Gadget Lab - Wired Blog
54VentureBeat
55GigaOM
56The Volokh Conspiracy
57Official Gmail Blog
58Kottke
59xkcd.com
60The Boy Genius Report
61Eschaton
62naked capitalism
63Althouse
64Wonkette
65DealBook - New York Times blog
66Valleywag
67Lynn Sweet
68/Film
69Real Time Economics
70Freakonomics - New York Times Blog
71Seth Godin's Blog
72Political Wire
73Atlas Shrugs
74Pharyngula
75Trading Goddess Stock Blog!
76Doug Ross @ Journal
77I Can Has Cheezburger?
78The Jawa Report
79PerezHilton.com
80jon.smajda.com/blog
81Deadline Hollywood Daily
82Just Jared
83Full Comment
84Geekologie
85Jihad Watch
86Ross Douthat
87Redstate
88Cato-at-liberty
89Jalopnik
90Pam's House Blend - Front Page
91The Next Right
92Inhabitat
93iowahawk
94SlashGear
95MyDD
96Obsidian Wings
97George's Bottom Line
98SimpleBits
99Towleroad
100Smashing Magazine

Ranking by Wikio.



There's a Fraud in your Future!


Well, at least he didn't kiss his feet


I call this picture "The President of the United States prostrating himself before Saudi royalty".

I wonder if the rocket scientists on the left will complain. They certainly spent enough energy yapping about Bush and the Saudis (funny, they never bothered to mention B. J. Clinton and the Sultan of Dubai or the tens of millions of Saudi funds that went to the "Clinton Library & Private Dance Club").

Clarice Feldman calls it "unbecoming".

I call it pathetic.

And, besides, doesn't the Hopenchanger-in-Chief believe in green energy? Why would he worry about kowtowing to the Saudis?


Linked by: Wizbang, Memeorandum and Porcupine Rim. Thanks!


Blago Indictment Highlights


The Chicago Sun-Times has the complete dossier on this afternoon's indictment of Rod Blagojevich and other members of the "Chicago Machine". The charges are packaged as a racketeering conspiracy (under federal RICO laws), which gives the justice system wide leeway in attaching the ill-gotten gains.

Blago faces 16 felony counts, including the racketeering conspiracies, wire fraud, extortion conspiracies and lying to federal agents. The government seeks financial penalties of $188,370 from Blago himself and will try to seize his Ravenswood Manor home (pictured below, as photographed from my chopper) if need be.

The RICO conspiracy count alleges that Blagojevich personally, the Office of the Governor of Illinois and Friends of Blagojevich were associated and, together, constituted the “Blagojevich Enterprise,” whose primary purpose was to exercise and preserve power over Illinois government for the financial and political benefit of Blagojevich, both directly and through Friends of Blagojevich, and for the financial benefit of his family members and associates.

...in late August 2003, Rezko directed to Blagojevich’s wife a payment of $14,396 in connection with a real estate transaction involving property at 850 North Ogden Ave., Chicago, even though Blagojevich’s wife had not performed any services;

...from approximately October 2003 to May 2004, Rezko, through his real estate development company, gave Blagojevich’s wife payments of $12,000 a month, purportedly for real estate brokerage services;


...in January 2004, Rezko directed to Blagojevich’s wife a payment of $40,000 purportedly for brokerage services in connection with the sale of property at 1101 West Lake St., Chicago, even though Blagojevich’s wife had provided few, if any, services relating to that sale;

[In exchange for Obama's vacated Senate seat, Blago attempted to secure:]

* presidential appointment of Blagojevich to high-ranking positions in the federal government, including Secretary of Health and Human Services or an ambassadorship;

* a highly-paid leadership position with a private foundation dependent on federal aid, which Blagojevich believed could be influenced by the President-elect to name Blagojevich to such a position;

* a highly-paid leadership position with an organization known as “Change to Win,” consisting of seven affiliated labor unions, which, in a transaction suggested by Harris, could appoint Blagojevich as its chairman with the expectation that the President-elect would assist Change to Win with its national legislative agenda;

* employment for Blagojevich’s wife with a union organization, lobbying firm, or on corporate boards of directors;

* a highly-paid leadership position with a newly-created, not-for-profit corporation which Blagojevich believed could be funded with large contributions by persons associated with the President-elect; and

* substantial campaign fundraising assistance from individuals seeking the United States Senate seat and their backers, including from Senate Candidate A, whose associate Blagojevich understood to have offered $1.5 million in campaign contributions in return for Blagojevich's appointment of Senate Candidate A.

...[11/7/08] namely a phone call between ROD BLAGOJEVICH and HARRIS, in Chicago, Illinois, and Advisor A, in Washington, D.C., in which ROD BLAGOJEVICH, HARRIS, and Advisor A discussed financial benefits which ROD BLAGOJEVICH could request in exchange for the appointment of Senate Candidate B to the United States Senate...

...[11/10/08] a conference call between ROD BLAGOJEVICH, John Harris and others, in Chicago, Illinois, and various advisors in Washington, D.C., and New York City, in which they discussed financial benefits which ROD BLAGOJEVICH could request in exchange for the appointment of Senate Candidate B to the United States Senate...

...[11/12/08] namely a phone call between ROD BLAGOJEVICH, in Chicago, Illinois, and Advisor A in Washington, D.C. (Sessions 533 and 535), in which they discussed a proposal where, in exchange for the appointment of Senate Candidate B to the United States Senate, a not-for-profit organization would be set up where ROD BLAGOJEVICH would be employed when he was no longer governor...

...[11/12/08] namely a phone call between ROD BLAGOJEVICH in Chicago, Illinois, and a labor union official in Washington, D.C. (Session 541), in which ROD BLAGOJEVICH proposed that, in exchange for the appointment of Senate Candidate B to the United States Senate, a not-for-profit organization be set up where ROD BLAGOJEVICH would be employed when he was no longer governor...

...[11/12/08] a phone call between ROD BLAGOJEVICH in Chicago, Illinois, and a labor union official in Washington, D.C. (Session 546), in which ROD BLAGOJEVICH informed the union official that it was a very real possibility that Senate Candidate B could get the United States Senate appointment, and again raised his interest in employment by a not-for-profit organization...

...[11/13/08] namely a phone call between ROD BLAGOJEVICH in Chicago, Illinois, and Advisor B in Michigan (Session 624), in which they discussed presenting to United States Congressman A a proposal by ROD BLAGOJEVICH that a not-for-profit organization be set up and that the connection between setting up this organization and the awarding of the U.S. Senate seat would be "unsaid"...

...[11/13/08] ...namely a phone call between ROD BLAGOJEVICH in Chicago, Illinois, and Advisor B in Michigan (Session 627), in which ROD BLAGOJEVICH asked Advisor B to call Lobbyist A and ask Lobbyist A to present to United States Congressman A ROD BLAGOJEVICH's proposal that a not-for-profit organization be set up and that, while it would be unsaid, this would be a "play" to obtain a benefit for ROD BLAGOJEVICH in return for the awarding of the United States Senate seat...

...[12/4/08] ...namely a phone call between ROD BLAGOJEVICH and Deputy Governor A in Chicago, Illinois, and Advisor A in Washington, D.C., in which ROD BLAGOJEVICH said that if he gave the Senate seat to Senate Candidate A, there would be "tangible political support . . . specific amounts and everything . . . . some of it up front"...

Which conversations did Rahm (a.k.a. "Al Capone") Emanuel have with Blago?

What did the labor union official -- reportedly SEIU president Andy Stern -- offer Blago and with whom in the White House did he talk prior to making the offer?

That information has yet to be released.


Linked by: Memeorandum. Thanks!


Larwyn's Link Kerplosion: Job Killer

Have a great link you'd like me to review? Drop me an email!

What a Difference a President Makes: R&R
Somebody please say 'April Fools'!: IBD
There is no freedom without Capitalism: Patterico

Dying old media demands affirmative action from Google: Malkin
Obama's child labor corps: CF
Growing Cap-and-Trade on the Tax Farm: PJM (Zubrin)

No SUVs Around During the Roman Global Warming ‘Crisis’: PJM (Patterson)
First Obama tax hike hits Middle America: Patriot Room
Obama's Job Killer: Morris

Ayers confronted by activist, hides behind police: Examiner
By any definition, Barack Obama is a Socialist: BMW
Ted Stevens Conviction Reversed, But What About The Election?: LegalIns

Cavuto crushes very creepy looking, Communist Congressman: YWL
'New York Times' Spiked Obama Donor Story: Bulletin
Ayers says canceled appearance teaches 'terrible lessons': Daily Herald

You've Got to Be Kidding: Obama Gives The Queen an iPod?: JWF
Crittenden’s Boutique Right-Wing Warmonger Bookshop & General Store: Crittenden
Today's Roll-over Fun: SondraK

Wednesday, April 01, 2009

You're such a Naiman!


Robert Naiman unintentionally produced the funniest April Fools Day story of the year. Unfortunately, it was published at The Huffington Post on Monday and it was supposed to be a real opinion piece. And it's funnier than delivering an atomic wedgie to a Mullah.

I would love to put Naiman on the streets of Tehran for an afternoon. Not to see that he gets hurt, of course, but as a simple experiment. I would call it Reality confronts naivete. It would get ugly and, if he survived, he'd come back with an IQ at least 35 points higher. But I digress. Naiman's story at PuffHO asserted that only his twelve-step program could heal U.S. relations with Iran. Hush! Let's listen in:

Establish a US interests section in Tehran. - That worked out well for our hostages -- oops, I mean our Embassy officials -- after the fall of the Shah. It took 444 days and the election of a President with a spine to secure their release. And there are at least three Americans who are currently missing in Iran.

Tell you what, Naiman: I nominate you to head up that section. And I promise to lend my full support. I'll even put up a free banner ad on my blog for you.

Guarantee multiple entry or expedited re-entry visas for Iranian students and scholars - Cunning! Steven Salinsky, writing in The New York Sun, reports that DHS already has its hands full monitoring all of the Iranians who appear to be performing reconnaissance for terrorist attacks here in the U.S.:

It was reported that America expelled two Iranian security guards employed by Tehran’s U.N. offices on June 29, after the mission was repeatedly warned against allowing its guards to videotape bridges, the Statue of Liberty, and New York’s subway system. This was the third time the Iranians have been caught in such activities, which could be connected to the sites mentioned in potential plans to attack America.

Naiman also had this delightful brainstorm:

While we're at it, we could authorize direct airline flights between Tehran and New York.

I am not making this stuff up. Flights from Iran to New York with hundreds of passengers cheering "Death to America!" It's the super-happy-fun-terror charter!

Acknowledge Past Misdeeds - In other words: apologize, appease and simper. I just have two questions: do Democrats understand how laughably pathetic that makes them look, year after year? And: do they really think that looking weak will -- for the first time in history -- inspire a round of Kumbaya, group hugs and free unicorn rides... thereby bringing peace?

Demonstrate U.S. Innocence of Iranian Accusations ("The belief is widespread among Iranians that the U.S. instigated Saddam Hussein to invade Iran in 1980. If it's not true, let's show that it's not true. Perhaps Jimmy Carter, who was President at the time, could put this matter to rest."): Consider -- Jimmy Carter, who couldn't convince Iran to release our hostages after it invaded our sovereign territory, will now convince Iran we're "innocent" of all charges. He's convincing, that Carter!

Affirm no U.S. policy of "regime change" - and they'll believe it! Because Robert Naiman said so!

Affirm that Iran has the right to the peaceful enrichment of uranium - Okay... we'll give 'em uranium. And we'll let 'em fly planes straight to New York City. I really can't see how that strategy could go wrong.

Affirm that the US has no problem with Hamas or Hizbullah if they become nonviolent political parties. - HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHA!!! This has gotta be some of the best satire I've ever read! It's gold, Jerry, pure gold!

...our leaders look silly in the Middle East when they accuse Iran of "supporting terror," when it's obvious to Middle Eastern publics that the practical definition of "terror" in this context is "people we don't like." Obviously, it's tautologically true that Iran "supports terror," since it "supports" Hamas and Hizbullah and we've issued fatwas that these are terrorist groups. But the same logic would make Pakistan, the United States, Israel and Colombia "state sponsors of terror." The description is arguably accurate in each case, but it's no way to begin a conversation.

Naiman -- you're starting to bore me. The old moral equivalence play. It's tired, it's stupid and it's been debunked by every great philosopher throughout history.

You're saying that Iran -- which hangs homosexuals, flogs women for displaying their hair, and promotes suicide bombing of civilians throughout the world -- is morally equivalent to the country that defeated Nazism, Communism, Baathism and slavery, thereby freeing hundreds of millions of people to pursue their dreams.

Yeah. Those countries sound equivalent.

Hey! I've got a new word for an ignorant, uneducated putz: a "Naiman".

Yep, he's a real Naiman, alright.


Unbelievable video of attempted rescue of suicide jumper


Caution: graphic.



Hat tip: Soph.

Gee, I can't wait for Obamacare and Socialized Medicine


Check out some of the recent headlines from the U.K. and its "National Health Service" (NHS). This is the type of system that Obama and the Statists intend to implement. Feel better yet?

NHS 'failings' over elderly falls: 3/25/2009 [BBC]
Learning disabled 'failed by NHS': 3/24/2009 [BBC]
Cancer survivor confronts the health secretary on 62-day wait: 3/21/2009 [The Scotsman]

Culture of targets prevents nurses from tending to patients: Patients Association, 3/21/2009 [Telegraph UK]
Children being failed by health system, says head of watchdog: Sarah Boseley, 3/21/2009 [Guardian Unlimited]
Our cancer shame: Survival rates still lag behind EU despite spending billions: 3/20/2009 [Daily Mail(UK)]

Failing hospital 'caused deaths': 3/17/2009 [BBC]
Health gap drive 'wasted money': 3/14/2009 [BBC]
Longer GP opening hours branded wasteful 'PR exercise' by doctors: 3/13/2009 [The Scotsman]

"Political meddling" threatens general practice, warns GP leader: 3/13/2009 [Management in Practice (UK)]
Children at risk through lack of training for doctors and nurses, report warns: 3/13/2009 [Telegraph UK]
Chocolate should be taxed to control obesity epidemic, doctors are told: 3/13/2009 [Telegraph UK]

1,000 wait for a dentist after just one NHS practice opens: 3/10/2009 [Daily Mail(UK)]
Study proves the folly of NHS Alzheimer's drug ban: 3/7/2009 [Daily Mail(UK)]
NHS charges to rise in England: 3/5/2009 [BBC]

Disabled children wait up to two years for wheelchairs: 3/4/2009 [Guardian Unlimited]
NHS under fire over waiting times: 2/25/2009 [The Scotsman]
Specialist nurses 'vastly overworked': 2/20/2009 [Harwich & Manningtree Standard]

Hundreds of operations cancelled at Lothian hospitals: 2/19/2009 [The Scotsman]
Stop asking for antibiotics to cure coughs and colds, Government tells patients: 2/17/2009 [Daily Mail(UK)]
Stroke services are 'UK's worst' : 2/17/2009 [BBC]

Hospitals curb caesarean births: 2/15/2009 [The Times]
Only five out of 51 hospital trusts pass hygiene test, say inspectors: 11/24/2008 [Guardian Unlimited]
Top doctors slam NHS drug rationing: 8/24/2008 [The Times]

Heart patients dying due to poor hospital care, says report: Sarah Boseley, June 8/2008 [Guardian Unlimited]
NHS dentistry loses almost a million patients after new dentists' contract: David Rose, 6/6/2008 [The Times]
Private healthcare managers could be sent to turn round failing NHS hospitals: 6/4/2008 [The Times]

Cancer patients ‘betrayed’ by NHS: Sarah-Kate Templeton, 6/1/2008 [The Times]
NHS scandal: dying cancer victim was forced to pay: Sarah-Kate Templeton, June 1/2008 [The Times]
Pensioner, 76, forced to pull out own teeth after 12 NHS dentists refuse to treat her: 3/26/2008 [Daily Mail(UK)]

Dental patients face care lottery: 3/26/2008 [Metro(UK)]
Lung patients 'condemned to death as NHS withdraws their too expensive drugs': 3/24/2008 [Daily Mail(UK)]
Women in labour turned away by maternity units: 3/21/2008 [Guardian Unlimited]

Health inequality has got worse under Labour, says government report: 3/13/2008 [Guardian Unlimited]
Angry GPs reluctantly accept plan for weekend and evening surgeries: John Carvel, 3/7/2008 [Guardian Unlimited]
NHS chiefs tell grandmother, 61, she's 'too old' for £5,000 life-saving heart surgery: 2/28/2008 [Daily Mail(UK)]

Patient 'removed' from waiting list to meet target: 1/31/2008 [The Scotsman]
NHS patients told to treat themselves: James Kirkup, 1/4/2008 [Telegraph UK]
NHS is 'failing patients' despite record funding: 10/4/2007 [Telegraph UK]

NHS rationing rife, say doctors: 9/24/2007 [BBC]
One in eight patients waiting over a year for treatment, admits minister: 6/8/2007 [Guardian Unlimited]
Audit Office asked to investigate record £500m NHS underspend: John Carvel, 5/30/2007 [Guardian Unlimited]

The drugs the NHS won't give you: 5/11/2007 [Telegraph UK]
UK lagging behind on cancer drug access, study finds: 5/10/2007 [Guardian Unlimited]
One in six trusts is still putting patients on mixed-sex wards: Daniel Martin, 5/10/2007 [Daily Mail(UK)]

Specialist stroke care 'lottery': 5/9/2007 [BBC News]
Smokers and the obese banned from UK hospitals: 5/2/2007 [Healthcare News]
Cancer patients told life-prolonging treatment is too expensive for NHS: Lyndsay Moss, 2/13/2007 [The Scotsman]

UK health service "harms 10 percent of patients": 7/7/2006 [Reuters]
5,000 elderly 'killed each year' by lack of care beds: 6/26/2006 [Telegraph UK]
Pay for nurses and surgeons doubles NHS overspend: 4/23/2006 [Telegraph UK]

The money addicts: it's your cash they are gambling with: 4/23/2006 [Telegraph UK]
NHS chiefs get luxury car deals: 4/9/2006 [The Times]
Secret NHS plan to ration patient care: 4/7/2006 [The Times]

British Healthcare To Be Rationed: 4/7/2006 [UPI]
British body rejects EPO drugs for cancer patients: 3/17/2006 [Reuters]
National Health Service - Grappling with Deficits: 3/9/2006 [Economist.com]

Hundreds wait to register as another dentist quits the NHS: 9/23/2005 [The Herald (Scotland)]
Life-saving cancer drugs 'kept from NHS patients by red tape': 9/20/2005 [The Times]
NHS slides into the red despite record increases in health care spending: 9/20/2005 [Telegraph UK]

Alzheimer's sufferers hit by further delay in NHS approval for vital drugs: 9/18/2005 [Telegraph UK]
We all pay a price for our 'free' NHS: John Smith, 8/19/2005 [The Scotsman]
2,000 British doctors out of work: 8/14/2005 [The Washington Times]

UK health 'unsustainable': 8/14/2005 [Finance24]
NHS faces rising bill for negligence claims: 8/8/2005 [Financial Times]
British boy to go to India for operation: 8/5/2005 [United Press International]

NHS failed to stop doctor raping scores of women: 7/31/2005 [The Times]
Top crimewriter funds drugs for cancer victim refused by NHS: 7/8/2005 [Telegraph UK]
Report says NHS is mired in huge debts: David Simms, 6/25/2005 [ABC Money (UK)]

U.K. set to restrict smoking: 6/21/2005 [The Associated Press]
NHS ‘fund bias’ against men cost 2,500 lives a year: 6/19/2005 [The Times]
Doubts on funding NHS 'monuments': Nicholas Timmins, 6/10/2005 [Financial Times]

17 million reasons why we must improve hospital meals: 6/7/2005 [Cambridge Evening News]
Figures show more patients waiting for operations: 6/3/2005 [Guardian UK]
Scarcity of NHS dental treatment is revealed: Celia Hall, 5/19/2005 [telegraph.co.uk]

Why NHS Opposes 'Treatment by Demand' for the Dying: 5/18/2005 [Scotsman]
800 queue for NHS dentists: 5/5/2005 [telegraph.co.uk]
Hundreds more heroin addicts to be given a fix on the NHS: Nic Fleming, 4/25/2005 [telegraph.co.uk]

British health service facing nurse exodus: 4/25/2005 [United Press International]
About 400 patients a year in Scotland succumb to MRSA: 4/25/2005 [Scotsman]
NHS debts soar to over £1bn: Karyn Miller, 4/24/2005 [telegraph.co.uk]

British taxpayers foot $26.5 million bill for abortion tourists: 4/18/2005 [Catholic World News]
U.K. Liberal Democrats Would Raise Taxes to Pay for Health Care: Reed Landberg, 4/14/2005 [Bloomberg]
Number of NHS Bureaucrats 'Rising Faster Than Health Staff': 3/22/2005 [Scotsman]

'£500m hole' in hospital budgets: 3/21/2005 [telegraph.co.uk]
1,000 Scots desert NHS every week: 3/5/2005 [Scotsman]
British NHS facing financial crisis: 3/3/2005 [Washington Times]

NHS drugs regulator to withdraw approval of Alzheimer's treatment: Nicholas Timmins, 3/2/2005 [FT.com]
NHS waiting list rises: 2/11/2005 [Guardian UK]
Tumour patients hit by NHS shortages: 2/6/2005 [Guardian UK]

NHS financial crises set to outlast winter: 2/4/2005 [Yorkshire Post]
NHS 24 'priority' callers wait four hours for advice: 1/14/2005 [Evening Times (UK)]
'No strategy' on NHS waiting time: 1/14/2005 [BBC]

Output figures show NHS decline: John Carvel, 10/19/2004 [Guardian UK]
Heart patients die on waiting lists: 10/18/2004 [Manchester Online]
£25bn overspend feared for NHS computer network: 10/12/2004 [telegraph.co.uk]

Gaps in care cost £7bn, says charity: 10/4/2004 [Guardian UK]
NHS excluding poor people, UK: 9/15/2004 [Medical News Today]
Smokers 'should not get NHS care': 9/6/2004 [BBC News]

Waiting list row blights Brighton: 9/4/2004 [Guardian UK]
Patients are denied the last rites under data protection law: 7/25/2004 [telegraph.co.uk]
Shortage of dentists to double by 2011: 7/24/2004 [Guardian UK]

Britain's stiff upper lip gives way to a snarl: Sarah Lyall, 7/18/2004 [The New York Times]
Hospital Overcrowding A Cause of Superbug Infections: John von Radowitz, 7/1/2004 [Scotsman.com]
Hospital Crisis: Fallen Angels: Lindsay Mcgarvie, 5/23/2004 [Glasgow Sunday Mail]

Via: LibertyPage.

Larwyn's Link Kerplosion: Four Pounds of Anthrax

Have a great link you'd like me to review? Drop me an email!

10 Tax Facts for Tax Day Tea Party: Gateway
Dems attack small farms and produce stands: Ace
The government wants to set your salary: DC Examiner

Four Pounds of Anthrax: American Digest
Dennis Gartman on GM: MoneyRunner
CFL Replacement Available — Only $119.95:BMW

Liberal bloggers need to study history: LegalIns
It's the climate warming models, stupid!: AT (Young)
The Cassanos: Market Ticker

The People's Sheriff: PBS (NOW)
The despicable scumbag sometimes referred to as Bernadine Dohrn: AWL
Head of P&G blasts Obama tax proposal: Yahoo!

Outrageous federal power grab: AT (Feldman)
Billions for ACORN while defense budget is slashed: Gateway
Impact of Obama's Charity Tax Ten Times Worse Than Current Recession: CampaignSpot

Did symbol on old American outhouse doors indicate hate for the Barbary Pirates: BMW
Ten cars that killed Detroit: Flashback
A Ride Through the Streets of Barcelona in 1908: Freedom Plow

Breach of Contract? Paid to do it, but fails to impregnate his friend’s wife after 72 attempts: S, C & A
Top Ten Volcanoes: Discovery
John Calipari isn't Kentucky's best choice: Bozich

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

We need a new name for the 'War on Terror'


Don't you feel safer already?

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Monday the Obama administration had dropped "war on terror" from its lexicon, rhetoric former President George W. Bush used to justify many of his actions.

"The (Obama) administration has stopped using the phrase and I think that speaks for itself. Obviously," Clinton told reporters traveling with her to The Hague for a conference on Afghanistan, which Bush called part of his "global war on terror."

The term "war on terror" was coined after the September 11, 2001 attacks against the United States, which were planned in Afghanistan by the militant group al Qaeda.

The phrase was strongly criticized by human rights groups who said it was used to justify many actions, such as the opening of the Guantanamo Bay prison for detainees held without trial at the U.S. Naval base in Cuba.

Internationally, the phrase was seen by critics as a "with-us-or-against-us" philosophy, overly dependent on military force and what many Muslims decried as an attack on Islam.

In the interest of political correctness, may I suggest some alternatives?

    • Global Conflict Against Exploding Annoyances

    • Man-made Disaster Avoidance Program

    • Operation Please don't kill the Infidels

    • Yee-Had!

    • Global War on George W. Bush

Update: More from IMAO and commenters:

    • The War of Northern American Aggression

    • Negative Reinforcement in a Supportive, Nuturing Environment

    • Operation Sparkly Unicorn

    • Anthropogenic Global Jihadening

    • Operation Teleprompter Messiah

Hat tips: Ben and DebbieKinIL.