Friday, August 19, 2011

It's just that simple [Papa B]

Papa B:


"And thus, dear students, we have arrived at the formula for understanding women!"



Tales from the Obamaconomy: The Burger King was just handed a pink slip

Nothing's quite as tragic as seeing royalty hit the skids.

...USA Today reported that Burger King is “dethroning the creepy King character.” Today’s media reports about the company owned by investment firm 3G Capital focus on the loss of the “Barry Gibb-Lookalike Mascot” but the company itself was more tactful, announcing that its next ad campaign will focus on food...

...Burger King’s senior marketing vice president Alex Macedo told USA Today “there are no plans to bring the King back anytime soon.” This wording seems to provide some chance of a return in the distant future, which would be good news for those of us who value texture in burgers and in burger ads.

By my estimation, the President has now saved or created a negative 2,500,001 jobs since he took office.



Top 10 Military Robots That You Wouldn't Want to See Near Your House

A tradeshow in Washington called "Unmanned Systems" features the latest in military robotics. The Wall Street Journal features a slide-show of the latest robots and drones. My ten favorites:










Does it ever seem to you like we're getting closer and closer to SkyNet?

Check out the entire slide-show at the Wall Street Journal.



'Day of Rage': Oh, How I Wish These Leftist Kooks Would Try This Crap In a Red State

John Schroy at @CapFlowWatch alerts us to an "Uber-Left plan 'Day of Rage' on Wall Street in September... [an attempt] to collapse the system, a la Cloward & Piven".

The invaluable NoisyRoom explains:

A movement is suddenly springing up from nowhere (ah-huh) to take on the free enterprise, “capitalist” system. In America, they are especially targeting Wall Street, a place still somewhat constitutionally sovereign to the U.S.A. and not thoroughly controlled yet by authoritarian global collectivism.

That is a Wall Street which has already been damaged by the Cloward-Piven orchestrated mortgage meltdown and stemming from that was assailed by the protorevolutionary Obama-Peloisi-Reid government, which brought boa constrictor regulation — by “reform” with loopholes wide enough to fit Brinks trucks for large and coordinated hedge fund manipulators, and which shielded a Securities & Exchange Commission gone dark from the kinds of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) inquiries that uncovered Bernie Madoff. Cloward-Piven government, indeed...

...A “U.S. Day of Rage” is scheduled to start an “Occupy Wall Street” camp-out on “17/9/2011″ (which would denote orchestration by those who use the British means of writing dates)... that is no surprise to those who have looked into the updated mode of Marxist revolution stemming from the Gramsci and Trotsky schools and historically, even the days before Marx and Engels. Revolutionary proponents likes to hide behind the non-American ideal of democracy (as in permanent rule of the proletariat majority, forget about a republic) along with nebulous and mysterious anarchistic labeling...

...The term “Day(s) of Rage” is the product of Chicago’s Weathermen, led by Obama workmate Bill Ayers and cohabitants... This Day of Rage speaks of non-violence, yet plays up the violent terrorism of the current rioting proceeding in Great Britain.

Here's hoping New York's finest spare no expense in deploying water-cannon, rubber bullets, batons, cattle prods, and tasers to keep the Leftist kooks in check.

Y'all ready to ride the lightning???



Larwyn's Linx: A Lawless Administration Halts Deportation of Illegal Aliens

Have a great link you'd like me to review? Drop me an email. Bloggers: you can install a Larwyn's Linx blog widget!

Nation

A Lawless Administration Halts Deportation of Illegal Aliens: GWP
I Refuse to Obey the Law: RS
Court rejects White House secrecy: visitor logs subject to FOIA: JW

After DOJ Threats, Controversial Mosque Wins Approval: Creeping
Obamacare Heads to the Supreme Court: AmSpec
Obama's tour bus never stopped in black communities: RWN

Big Donor to Democrats Appointed to Obamacare Policy Panel: RWN
Oh Boy: Obama Orders End to Deportation of Illegal Aliens: Ace
Ugh: Greta, Sarah rally behind Tea Party poser Orrin Hatch: Malkin

Economy

Regulation Business, Jobs Booming Under Obama: TexasInsider
Business owners struggle with regulations, Obamacare: PJM
As US Credit Rating Falls, Florida’s Rises: RWN

If this is “halfway there,” imagine what “there” will be...: LI
Obama faces worst-case 2012 scenario: Pethokoukis
"Not a Minor Complication": Mish

The Community Reinvestment Act Comes Full Circle: Driscoll
Atlas Is Sorta Shrugging: Hanson
Wisconsin Politics: Chicago Boyz

Gunrunner

HAHHAHAHHAHA: Holder requests Fast and Furious docs from Issa, Grassley for ‘independent’ investigation: DC
ATF Whistleblower: Gunwalker Officials Being Shielded: Owens
ATF denies it promoted Fast and Furious supervisors: LAT

Climate & Energy

Obama MPG Regs Can Cause Vehicle Cost Increases of Over $11,000 : CNS
Bureaucrats Use Environmentalism to Choke Off Colorado Resources: RWN
NASA Report: Rising Greenhouse Emissions May Provoke A Pre-Emptive Alien Attack: WZ

Media

War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, The Stimulus is a Narcotic: Driscoll
When you've lost Politico... (Obama's Unhelpful Advice): Politico
The FTC's Internet Kill Switch: RS

Variations on a theme of media bias. "These Fourth Estate Fifth Columnists.": Sipsey
So How Is That "Summer Where We Just Sit Back and Appreciate the Splendor of Obama" Working Out?: Ace
“Liberal Media Bias Is A Myth” Alert: CBS News Sells Obama Merchandise On Its Online Store: WZ

Coburn: Obama Likes Dependency Programs Because Obama Has Benefited From Them: Ace
Barack Obama's Martha's Vineyard vacation looks like an act of presidential hara-kiri: Gardiner
Janeane Garofalo Is A Racist: Glob

World

Why the Tea Party should resist gutting defense: Bolton
Chinese Carrier Shi Lang At Sea: DefTech
Rick Perry and Islam: Knish

Obama Demands Israel Apologize To Islamist Erdogan For Stopping Terror Flotilla…Or Else!: LI
New Phase in War as Terrorists Cross Egypt-Israel Border, Many Dead: BRubin
Support Your Local 'Plant-a-Pig'!: Reaganite

Iran's Enablers in Latin America: PJM
Al Qaida Attack In Israel! Seven Dead, Terrorists Infiltrated From EGYPT: BigPeace
Muslims urged to bomb military funerals as new way to bring terror to America: Atlas

Sci-Tech

Nissan Adding QR Codes on All 2012 Vehicles: CMOsite
APT Attackers Hiding In Plain Sight: Dark Reading
It’s Official: HP Kills Off webOS Phones And The TouchPad: Crunch

Cornucopia

This is What You Get For a 1000 Bucks a Night: iOTW
Obama bus tour finally stimulates something: More photoshop mockery: Malkin
Bulk up without getting kicked out: ‘Natural’ supplements can help you build muscle, stay clean: ArmyTimes

Image: Sipsey Street Irregulars
Today's Larwyn's Linx sponsored by: Please support the Senate Conservatives Fund

QOTD: "In yet another demonstration of contempt for the rule of law and the separation of powers, the Obama administration has announced that it will no longer enforce our immigration laws. Secretary of Homeland Insecurity Janet Napolitano proclaimed in a letter to the Senate that she will suspend deportation proceedings and grant amnesty to those who ostensibly fit the criteria of the Dream Act – a bill that was defeated with overwhelming bipartisan support of Congress. Hence, Obama is publicly declaring that he will ensure our laws are not executed faithfully.

This unprecedented abdication on the part of the president begs the question... if the president is above the law, then why should any of us be compelled to adhere to laws that we regard as undesirable or unfair?" --Daniel Horowitz

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Meltdown Replay? "It Sure Looks Like 2008"

Tony Pallotta of MacroStory:

When you think of it in the short term markets are nothing more than a group of people trying to process data and understand what others are doing all under the stress of losing personal wealth... At times like these markets are more about human psychology and less about technical and or macro data...

I believe it is time to fast forward to the fall of 2008. Once again the 2008 market is a road map of how human emotion reacts when credit events happen. When economic data deteriorates at an exponential pace. When the unthinkable becomes reality...

Once again markets are pricing in the unthinkable. In 2008 history witnessed the failure of Lehman, AIG and the GSEs. Today history is bearing witness to sovereign nations on the brink of failure. In 2008 there was the threat of bank runs. Today there is the threat of currency runs. In 2008 there were government bailouts. Today there are central bank bailouts.

Through it all market participants have not changed. They are still a group of individuals trying to process data and understand what others are doing all while real money is on the line. As history has proven once again they will get it wrong. Once again leverage will destroy balance sheets. Denial will get in the way of rational thought. History truly does repeat and the patterns are present in the charts.

Excuse me. I think I have to go to the bathroom now.


The 8 Most Terrifying Holes on Earth

Kimberley Big Hole - South Africa: Apparently the largest ever hand-dug excavation in the world, this 1097 meter deep mine yielded over 3 tons of diamonds before being closed in 1914.

Glory Hole - Monticello Dam, California: This is the 'Glory Hole' at Monticello dam, and it's the largest in the world of this type of spillway, its size enabling it to consume 14,400 cubic feet of water every second (note: a glory hole is used when a dam is at full capacity and water needs to be drained from the reservoir).

Bingham Canyon Mine, Utah: This is supposedly the largest man-made excavation on earth. Extraction began in 1863 and still continues today, the pit increasing in size constantly. In its current state the hole is 0.75 miles deep and 2.5 miles wide and covering 1,900 acres.

Great Blue Hole, Belize: This incredible geographical phenomenon known as a blue hole is situated 60 miles off the mainland of Belize. There are numerous blue holes around the world, but none as stunning as this one.

Mirny Diamond Mine, Serbia: I'm pretty sure most people have seen this one. It's an absolute beast and holds the title of largest open diamond mines in the world. At 525 meters deep, with a top diameter of 1200 meters, there's even a no-fly zone above the hole due to a few helicopters having been sucked in.

Diavik Mine, Canada: The mine is so huge and the area so remote that it has its own airport with a runway large enough to accommodate a Boeing 737. It looks equally cool when the surrounding water is frozen.

Sinkhole in Guatemala: These photos are of a sinkhole that occurred in Guatemala. The hole swallowed a dozen homes and killed at least three people.

The most terrifying hole of all: This is the famous 'Rat Hole' that you've read so much about lately. It is capable of swallowing trillions upon trillions of U.S. dollars from the real economy each and every year.


Hat tip: Dave W.

Just as successful as Cash-for-Clunkers: Obama MPG demands will add $11,000 to the price of the average car

You didn't have to be Kreskin to see this coming:

The Obama Administration’s new fuel economy standards will result in the retail price of average motor vehicles to increase over $11,000, according to a study conducted by the Center for Automotive Research.

“A fuel economy standard of 37.6 mpg is associated with a price increase of $5,244, 18.1 percent higher than the 2009 National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) average price of $28,966. A fuel economy standard of 40.8 mpg is associated with a price increase of $6,770, 23.4 percent higher than the 2009 NADA price,” says their report called, “The U.S. Automotive Market and Industry in 2025.”


“A fuel economy standard of 44.8 mpg is associated with a price increase of $8,214, 28.4 percent higher than the 2009 NADA price. The fourth fuel economy standard of 49.6 mpg is associated with an $11,290 increase in retail price. It is assumed that manufacturers and dealers will pass on the cost increase in fuel economy and safety technology to the consumer, at a retail price equivalent.”

The Obama administration’s new fuel economy standards would require automakers to produce cars and light trucks with an average fuel economy of 54.5 mpg by 2025. The Center for Automotive Research says their study is “the result of 11 months of effort and investigation by researchers at CAR in 2010-2011.”

...“The Obama administration’s latest fuel economy mandates are an aggressive step away from consumer choice and towards government control,” [Thomas Pyle, the president of the Institute for Energy Research] said in a USA Today op-ed... "Every day, Americans are seeing the negative consequences of the administration’s increasingly aggressive meddling in the economy—more government control and less consumer choice..."

Of course, the President does have one successful jobs program he can claim.

It involves hiring government bureaucrats and regulators, and we simply have to give these people something to do, right?


Hat tip: TrendingRight.

Thought Experiment: Obama's Tragical Misery Bus Tour Visits the Inner City

Of course, in real life, President Obama and his advisers would no more have the cojones to visit real inner cities than they would to visit Abbottabad, Pakistan.

But imagine, for a moment, if the Obama 2012 campaign I Feel Your Pain bus tour actually made stops in the inner cities of, say, Detroit and Philadelphia.

You can just imagine the topics of the President's speech:

36 percent of Michigan children had no parent employed full-time in 2009, which is almost certainly the insidious side-effect of ATMs on society.

In July, the unemployment rate of African-American teens was 39.2 percent, a direct result of the tsunami in Japan.

Overall unemployment of African-Americans was 17 percent, which can be traced back to the riots and economic upheaval in Greece.

Flash mobs are swarming urban centers, destroying retail establishments and assaulting passers-by, the inevitable result of the Internet on civility.

Poor, inner-city kids are locked in horrible public school systems with no way out -- not because of the ACLU and the teachers' unions' repellent war against school choice and vouchers -- but because of the global uncertainty unleashed by the "Arab Spring" revolts.

In addition, the President will continue to blame the overall economic downturn on a string of "bad luck", as all presidents do in tough times.


Hat tips: Mark Levin and Sandy.

Larwyn's Linx: Liberals aren't funny, they're a riot!

Have a great link you'd like me to review? Drop me an email. Bloggers: you can install a Larwyn's Linx blog widget!

Nation

Liberals aren't funny, they're a riot!: Coulter
Are Black Flash Mob Attacks Obama's Fault?: Marcus
Obamacare Far, Far Worse Than Imagined: RWN

Essential Reading on Governor Perry: Ace
Palin Calls Out Obama’s Absurd Comparison to Lincoln: C4P
Perry Doubles Down: Calls For Fed To Open Its Books: WZ

Washington: A paradise for parasites: AT
Obama: forcing people to buy insurance isn't controversial: RWN
5 lessons Palin learned from Hillary's campaign: HillBuzz

Economy

Super-committee Dems wants more Stimulus spending: WZ
Ben's Promises are Empty: Asia Times
Income is not wealth: BSF

IL Goes Down Down Down in that Burning Ring of Debt: Commune
Obama: let's address debt to pay for jobs programs now!: Malkin
Labor Department's 'Unemployment Insurance Hall of Fame': Malkin

SEC destroys 9,000 fraud files on nation's biggest banks: Mish
If You’ve Got Auto Stocks, Sell Them Quickly: HayRide
Success of Texas Public-Sector Employment Reflects Fiscal Conservatism: AmSpec

Climate & Energy

Rick Perry, Jon Huntsman and the AP on Global Warming: Power Line
500 million of your tax dollars given to India for Solar projects: Fire Andrea Mitchell
Good News! Thousands Sign Up To Be Arrested For Climate Change: RWN

Media

Levin: I’m starting to think these Repubicans would prefer Obama over a conservative Republican: ProWis
It's going to be a long, ugly campaign: Exam
Why Obama Press Secretary Jay Carney Needs To Go: Mr. Media Training

Since Obama won't release any of his transcripts, etc. ...: Colossus
Whither goest thou? "Only a living thing can go against the stream": sisu
Allen West: I’m Here As The Modern Day Harriet Tubman To Lead People Away From The Plantation: WZ

“On Day 938 of his presidency, Obama says he’ll have a jobs plan in a month or so”: ProWis
Liberal Media’s Jihad on Conservatives: ConBlkChk
Flim-Flam Man Without A Plan On The Lam: HillaryIs44

NBC Frets Over Tea Party's 'In-Your-Face Tactics' and 'The Politics of Anger': MRC
Flash mobs, grievance-stokers, and RAAAAAACISM!: Malkin
CBS Comes to Obama’s Defense on Vacation Time After They Ask for HIs Predictions on Economy: NB

World

Obama Administration Sides With Hamas – Tells Israel to Apologize to Turkey or Else: GWP
Israel will not apologize to Turkey for taking out the jihad flotilla: JihadWatch
Outrage after Palestinian camp attacked in Syria: NowLebanon

Barack Obama and Valerie Jarrett: Brought Together by Fickle Fate, or Something More?: Loudon
Founder Of The Muslim Canadian Congress Says Muslim Brotherhood Has Infiltrated White House: Nice Deb
10 hurt, 'several dead' in Israel attacks: Maktoob

British Degeneracy on Parade: CityJournal
A Child Prodigy Under the Welfare State: RWN
Bad Checks in Greece Soar 43% as Credit Dries Up; Greek Unemployment Rate Hits Record High 16.6%: Mish

Sci-Tech

Amazon releases secure cloud for government: CNet
IBM says new chip mimics the human brain: CNet
Insulting Restaurant Staff On Twitter While You're Still In The Restaurant Might Get You Kicked Out: Consumerist

Cornucopia

It's Hard to Believe...: RightTruth
Caption This...: WZ
Amazing Computer-Generated Simulation of Sullenberger's Flight and Landing in the Hudson: C&S

Image: Obama halo photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images.
Today's Larwyn's Linx sponsored by: Allen West for Congress

QOTD: "Perry wrote yet another letter to the President respectfully requesting an additional 1,000 federal agents to help secure the Texas/Mexico border. Since previous letters to President Obama got no response, Perry attempted to hand deliver this one directly to the President. The two met briefly on the tarmac as the President de-planed in Austin, Texas in August of 2010. With the whole incident caught on video, Obama refused to personally accept the letter and Perry was forced to hand it to presidential adviser Valerie Jarrett. There was already no love lost between Perry and Obama, but to publically rebuff the governor of Texas (or any governor) by refusing to accept a hand delivered letter? What other President would show so little class as to do that? None, except Obama." --"Why Rick Perry should be our next President"

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

The Presidency hits its all-time economic nadir: Obama blames Internet and ATMs for high unemployment

Following up on his assertion that ATMs cause unemployment, the President today claimed that the Internet is behind the nation's rampant unemployment.

One of the challenges in terms of rebuilding our economy is – businesses have gotten so efficient, that, uh, when was the last time somebody went to a bank teller? Instead of using an ATM. Or, used a travel agent instead of going online. A lot of jobs out that that used to require people now have become automated.

Apparently you have to be an economic illiterate to be a Democrat.

Since the dawn of recorded history, scientific and industrial advances have raised the average standard of living, not lowered it.

• In 1712, the invention of the steam engine touched off the Industrial Revolution, providing an inexpensive mechanical power source to replace manual and animal labor.

• In 1733, the invention of the flying shuttle allowed a weaver to produce a wider band of cloth. This facilitated faster production of textiles for fabric, clothing and other uses.

• In 1769, James Watt added a crank and flywheel to other steam engine improvements, providing efficient rotary motion for a wide variety of industrial uses.

• In the early nineteenth century, the invention of the power loom -- a steam-powered, mechanical cloth-making machine -- allowed women to replace men in many textile manufacturing facilities.

• In 1830, the invention of the sewing machine facilitated the "ready-made clothing" industry.

All of these advances created brand new industries and began to free mankind from routine, manual labor. The sewing machine, for example, required hundreds of parts. These parts, made of many different materials, had to be manufactured and machined, often by dozens of suppliers. New companies arose to source these parts, new industries -- like repair services -- were created, and massive economic value was achieved through the creation of end products.

Such is also the case -- multiplied by orders of magnitude -- with ATMs and the Internet.

It's truly a shame and an outrage that we have leaders in Washington who no more understand general economic principles than they do quantum physics.

Fortunately, the American people know what's going on: a new low of only 26% approve of Obama's handling of the economy.


Related: "The Progressive and the Pencil".

Image hat tips: The Corliss Engine.

How did we survive?

I am one of the baby boomers, born between 1946 and 1964. I sometimes wonder how we survived our childhoods. Consider:

Our mothers smoked and/or drank while pregnant.

They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can and didn't get tested for diabetes.

Then after that trauma, we were put to sleep on our tummies in baby cribs covered with brightly colored, lead-based paints.

There were no childproof lids on medicine or special locks on cabinet doors.

We we rode bikes, we wore baseball caps, not specially engineered helmets.

As infants, we rode in cars without car seats or booster seats, no seat belts and no air bags. Sometimes, as tots, we rode in small moving boxes packed with blankets and toys.

We rode in the back of pickup trucks and no one was arrested or cited.

We drank water from garden hoses, not from plastic bottles.

We shared a single bottle of Coca-Cola with three friends -- and no one died.

We ate cupcakes with food coloring, white bread, real butter and bacon. In fact, we drank Kool-Aid mixed with tablespoons of real sugar.

Yet we weren't overweight, because we were always outside playing.

We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when dusk fell. And no one was able to reach us all day. And: we were okay.

We'd spend hours in the forest with Daisy rifles, or building go-carts without brakes, or sledding with wooden and steel monstrosities that could sever a limb.

We did not have Playstations, Nintendo's and X-Boxes. There were no video games, no cable television, no DVD players. There were no computers, no web, no Facebook, no Twitter.

We had friends and we went outside and found them... without cell phones or text messages.

We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no lawsuits resulting from these accidents. We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever.

We were given BB guns and knives for our birthdays, made up games with sticks and tennis balls, played lawn darts and, although we were told it would happen, we did not put out many eyes.

We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just walked in and talked to them.

Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment.

The boomers and their parents have produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers, inventors and entrepreneurs ever.

The last 50 years have seen an explosion of innovation and new ideas.

We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned how to deal with it all.

We had the good fortune to grow up as kids in America, before the government regulated so much of our lives "for our own good".

Give thanks, for such an age will never occur again.


Hat tips: How Beautiful We Were (American Digest), Contrairimairi and AdClassix.