Archive for December, 2004

From John Derbyshire: http://www.nationalreview.com/derbyshire/derbyshire200412300915.asp Hanging out at the mall. Speaking of ugly: We did some last-minute Christmas shopping at the humongous Smith Haven Mall out here on suburban Long Island. What a depressing experience! I have heard about the teenage pastime known as �hanging out at the mall,� but I had never... »

I’m sure most have read this and the associated trash. Have you read this? “We are doing very little at the moment.” The UN can’t be bothered with actually helping people while the United States is going the real footwork. If the UN can’t be bothered to get their crap together... »

http://www.heritage.org/research/features/socialsecurity/ This gives you an idea if you will get Social Security and at what benefit level / rate of return based on average contributions, etc. It doesn’t apply much to me as I’m a state employee and I contribute to that pension in lieu of Social Security, but it makes for... »

The New York Times is at it again. This time, in an editorial, they claim that America is “stingy” with its foreign aid. The editorial is here, if you want to bear witness to idiocy, not to mention take the time to register. “Stingy”? The United States spent $15.8 billion for “official developmental assistance” to... »

2005 Predictions. More of the same; the vitriol that has been heaped upon Bush in western Europe, Canada, Berkeley, etc. will continue to shift to the American people until we can’t travel to these alien worlds without a disguise and a poorly faked French accent. Michael Moore’s new film on the evils of the drug industry... »

I wound up needing to get into a locked cabinet today. On a hunch, I tried one of the keys on my half-pound key ring. When the very tip was inserted, the lock turned and I was able to get in to the cabinet. The lock is kind of old, and it may... »

Discussion continues in an online forum. Some of the items raised are very interesting. The first post deals with the process of thermal depolymerization, by which any organic matter can be turned into oil. Apparently, right now, the quality is up to that of diesel fuel. Links are provided to Wikipedia, A copy of an... »

How the hell is this again? Wal-Mart Workers Accused of Shooting Cat Now let me get this straight – and I am a cat person myself, please bear in mind: We have a stray, feral cat, more than likely with no vaccinations, so subject to rabies, living in a storage trailer. When it... »

Iraqis living in the United States will be permitted to vote in the Iraqi elections in Chicago and four other US cities, if they qualify for Iraqi citizenship. Iraqi citizens in the United States are getting a taste of the hope–and the logistical headaches–created by the upcoming Jan. 30 elections in Iraq with the... »

This story, at the News and Observer, speaks for itself. A very telling fact was that the mother was despondant over not having custody of her children. Well, there’s a familiar story, isn’t it, guys? Now, what is going to happen is that sick and twisted Feminazis and their allies will try to put the... »

What’s causing Osama bin Laden to suddenly begin releasing so many messages that, if this continues, soon he’ll be giving out recipes and pointers for getting stains out of carpets? Can he be hearing footsteps, or is it simply desperation to stop democratic elections in Iraq, since it could lead to the beginning of the... »

If you’re one of the good hearted people who want to donate money for disaster relief in Asia, please be careful, as their are ongoing scams to bilk donors out of their money. On eBay, sellers are hawking Pez dispensers, a gold necklace, a stuffed mouse, and a “hand-carved” Buddha statue with the promise that... »

Jeff Jacoby gives his yearly synopsis of the slanderous and hate-filled rhetoric directed at the GOP by their opposition in the year 2004. And while Republicans certainly speak very badly at times about Democrats, the vitriol that comes from the Democrats is not even in the same ballpark. As in years past, Republicans were almost... »

300 votes out of 115,000 – 120,000 or so. Let me get my calculator out. .0025, or 1/4 of 1%. The Green and Libertarian parties blew over a hundred grand, and cost the State of Ohio’s taxpayers about a million and a half bucks for THIS?!?!?!?! And I love the title, too. “Ohio Recount Ends, Shows... »

Orson Scott Card has some observations about science. The first observation is that neither of the two major parties is the “pro science” or “anti science” party. Both the Right and the Left in America are pushing political agendas that assail science on every side, banning whole swathes of research and treating other areas... »

Starting on Tuesday, January 4th, I’ll have a column addressing pop culture, family, and sexual issues at Caffimage.com, which is a very comprehensive site and worth a visit. The column will run every other Tuesday, and should be a good deal of fun to write. The first column will be about the quandary faced by... »

A top aide to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan is under fire for numerous anti-Israeli statements he has recently made. Secretary-General Annan fire his top adviser, Lakhdar Brahimi, for his anti-Israel tirades. Mr. Brahami recently likened Prime Minister Sharon to an assassin, adding to a series of statements that embarrassed the secretary-general, who is trying to position... »

Bloggers are more on top of the tsunami story than the mainstream media. (hat tip Luciannne) If you want to find out more information about this week’s tsunami of biblical proportions in Southeast Asia and how you can help the victims, the best place to go is a new blog in the Indian Ocean region... »

2005 Predictions: I predict Fire will continue to post photos, which I predict I will continue to enjoy. I predict the failure to enforce immigration laws by the administration and the Republicans will tear the Republican Party apart and better Hillary’s chances in 2008. I predict this issue will make any discussion of “taking the battle... »

Large amounts of private donations are pouring in from United States citizens to help in the relief effort for the tsunami victims. Gut-wrenching images on television of dead children, mourning survivors and inundated villages have triggered an extraordinary response among charitable organizations, faith-based groups, businesses and communities of U.S.-based... »