Randomly Walking

The Answer to Yglesias' question is a resounding NO!

2012-01-29T01:13:00.000-05:00

King of Bain: Was Mitt Romney a “looter” or a “corporate raider”? - Slate Magazine:

"At Bain Capital, Mitt Romney was a cold, ruthless destroyer of jobs and families. Does America need someone like that in the White House?
"

'via Blog this'

On The irrelevance of Politifact

2012-01-28T17:14:00.001-05:00

Daily Kos: PolitiFact devolves into absurdity:

"To acknowledge that there were Republicans on the ballot, but call Mitt Romney's claim "half true" because there weren't Republicans on the Democratic ballot Romney specifically asked for? That may be the single most ridiculous ruling among PolitiFact's growing history of ridiculous rulings."

'via Blog this'

Dumbest Comment of the day - Balloon Juice Edition

2012-01-28T16:06:00.000-05:00

Balloon Juice » The Evil That Men Do:

"But the Truth is that SAT, IQ or other objective test outcomes is the best predictor of intellect."

'via Blog this'

I love that the person writing this is under the illusion that SAT and IQ tests are objective tools for measuring something other than the skills involved in taking tests and cultural norms.

On Ron Paul, Racist Douchebag

2012-01-28T08:38:00.000-05:00

Ron Paul signed off on racist 1990s newsletters, associates say - The Washington Post:

"Ron Paul, well known as a physician, congressman and libertarian , has also been a businessman who pursued a marketing strategy that included publishing provocative, racially charged newsletters to make money and spread his ideas, said three people with direct knowledge of Paul’s businesses.

"

'via Blog this'

On Kitten Nazis

2012-01-27T21:54:00.000-05:00

Hullabaloo:

"The best thing to do is just lie. Say that someone is always home and that they will never, ever go outside and that you won't ever feed them table scraps --- whatever they want to hear. These people's hearts are in the right place but they've gone terribly wrong somewhere. Best to thank them for their generosity, grab your kitten and run.

"

'via Blog this'

Recipe - Tortilla-less Tortilla Soup for the Sick Person's Soul

2012-01-27T20:37:00.000-05:00

Tom's Kitchen: A Spicy-Hot Soup to Crush Your Cold | Mother Jones:

"Ingredients
1 medium onion, chopped*
Olive oil for sauteing
1 head garlic, cloves separated and chopped fine
3-4 small hot chile peppers, chopped (fresh are best, but dried ones like chipotles and chiles de arbol work great, too. Just rehydrate them in hot water for a few minutes before chopping. )
1 tablespoon dried oregano and/or thyme*
1 28-32 oz can or jar of organic whole tomatoes or tomato puree (I use home-canned tomatoes)
1 can garbanzo beans (cook them from scratch by all means; but if you're doing poorly, don't be shy about opening a can), drained*
Sea salt

Garnishes
Limes—enough for half a lime for each serving
Some good but not fancy melting cheese—I use Organic Valley Sharp Cheddar—grated, about ¼ cup per bowl of soup
1 bunch of something green—preferably cilantro, but parsley works well too—chopped
Chopped red cabbage, about 1 cup*
Avocado slices*

* Optional ingredients

Sounds yummy, go on over to see how to put it together

'via Blog this'

Is Larry Pittman A Bloodthirsty Fool?

2012-01-27T20:34:00.000-05:00

Cabarrus lawmaker calls for public hangings :: WRAL.com:

"A Cabarrus County lawmaker wants to bring back public hangings in North Carolina as a deterrent to crime, and he says doctors who perform abortions should be in the line to the gallows.

Republican Rep. Larry Pittman, who was appointed to the District 82 House seat in October, expressed his views in an email sent Wednesday to every member of the General Assembly."

'via Blog this'

Survey says YES!

via Think Progress and Lawyers, Guns and Money

Mitt Romney might not be a disingenuous toad

2012-01-27T20:12:00.000-05:00

Romney: Actually, I Kind of Pay 50% Tax | Talking Points Memo:

"Romney’s argument is that even though he pays only 13.9%, he’s really paying something like 45% to 50% because the investment income he lives on comes from corporations. And those corporates also pay taxes. The nominal corporate tax rate is 35%, though of course many pay much lower. But if you add Romney’s rate together with this completely unrelated corporate tax he doesn’t pay, you get 50%, which Romney is now saying is real tax rate. In other words, he’s claiming he pays both taxes.

'via Blog this'

but it sure seems likely

tbogg on Sarah on Newt

2012-01-27T19:26:00.001-05:00

Attack Of The Angry Attack Muffins Who Attack | TBogg:

"Gone to seed cougar Sarah Palin, who may be the next Mrs. Newt Gingrich if Callista gets a head cold or possibly her period at an inopportune time, is out defending Newt Gingrich from those mean old Republican elites who dated Sarah back in ’08 and then they never called or returned her long weepy drunken voicemails or angry texts and then there was the restraining order issued following that ugly scene in the Taco Bell parking lot…"
'via Blog this'

and yes I need brain bleach to get the image of Sarah on Newt out of my head now

Why I am not worried about Twitter Censorship

2012-01-27T18:54:00.000-05:00

How Not to Get Censored on Twitter - Technology - The Atlantic Wire:

"It seems Twitter made a simple work-around on purpose. This new policy is more about getting governments to leave them alone, than actually censoring tweets.
'via Blog this'

Tyler Perry Might not be Hacktastic

2012-01-27T18:27:00.000-05:00

Tyler Perry Defends Casting Kim Kardashian In His Film 'The Marriage Counselor' - Deadline.com:

"And lastly, because I believe that my films speak from the inside out, why wouldn’t Kim Kardashian be invited into a film about Faith, Forgiveness and the healing power of God? What is wrong with that?

'via Blog this'

Yeah, he is.

On Crime and Punishment

2012-01-25T18:32:00.000-05:00

U.S. News - Man spends 2 years in solitary after DWI arrest:

"A New Mexico man who said he was forced to pull his own tooth while in solitary confinement because he was denied access to a dentist has been awarded $22 million due to inhumane treatment by New Mexico's Dona Ana County Jail.
Stephen Slevin was arrested in August of 2005 for driving while intoxicated, then thrown in jail for two years. He was in solitary at Dona Ana County Jail for his entire sentence and basically forgotten about and never given a trial, he told NBC station KOB.com Tuesday night.
"'[Jail guards were] walking by me every day, watching me deteriorate," Slevin said. "Day after day after day, they did nothing, nothing at all, to get me any help."
Slevin's medical problems extended beyond his dental issues, he said. His toenails started curling around his foot because they were so long, he told KOB.com. And his countless requests to see a doctor for depression medication were ignored, he said."

'via Blog this'

via Balloon Juice

Joseph Maturo Might Not Be Clueless

2012-01-25T17:16:00.001-05:00

But he surely sounds like it

On Corporate Ownership of Campaigns

2012-01-23T20:43:00.000-05:00

Daily Kos: RNC Decides to Finish Destroying Democracy: "I try -- I really try -- to be charitable to Republicans most of the time. But this is one of the most dangerous ideas any so-called political party has ever come up with, and it deserves to be shouted down by people from every side of the aisle.

"

'via Blog this'

I believe Tim Thomas is a fool

2012-01-23T20:32:00.000-05:00

Thomas statement on White House absence - NHL.com - News:

""I believe the Federal government has grown out of control, threatening the Rights, Liberties, and Property of the People.
"

'via Blog this'

Remind me again about civility

2012-01-23T19:34:00.000-05:00

Blue Arkansas » Blog Archive » Ken Aden’s Campaign Manager Comes Home To Find Cat Killed; “LIBERAL” Written On Its Corpse:

"Last night, I got the most chilling phone call I have ever received. It was Jake Burris, Ken Aden’s campaign manager. Last night, Jake and his four kids had come back to their Russellville home. As they were getting out of the car, one of his children discovered their family cat dead on the front porch. One side of the animal’s head had been bashed in and an eyeball was hanging out of its socket. But there was something even more horrifying to be found on the corpse.

Written across the animal’s fur in black marker was the word “LIBERAL“."

'via Blog this'

Rick Santorum Might Not Be a Gutless Douchnozzle

2012-01-23T18:38:00.001-05:00

At Florida Town Hall, Rick Santorum Cowardly Panders To Woman Who Alleges Obama Is ‘An Avowed Muslim’ | ThinkProgress:

"At a Rick Santorum town hall meeting in Lady Lake, Florida moments ago, a woman stood up to declare that she doesn’t like to refer to “President Obama as president because, legally, he is not.” While the audience gasped and clapped at the comment, Santorum restrained himself, refusing to utter a critical word.
"

'via Blog this'

but damn he acts like one ...

This About Sums Up Romney's Pitch

2012-01-22T21:33:00.000-05:00

Mitt: I Can Dog Whistle Too | Talking Points Memo:

"So President Obama, the self-made man, has never had a job before, unlike Mitt Romney, the guy born into the highest realms of wealth and power. That’s where we’re going.

"

'via Blog this'

On Behalf Of All Canadians I apologize for Mark Steyn

2012-01-22T20:33:00.000-05:00

The Sinking of the West - Mark Steyn - National Review Online:

"Today the wealthiest nations in human history build cruise ships rather than battleships, vast floating palaces dedicated to the good life — to the proposition that, in the plump and complacent West, life itself is a cruise, sailing (as the Concordia’s name suggests) on a placid lake of peace and harmony. Since the economic downturn of 2008, the Titanic metaphor — of a Western world steaming for the iceberg but unable to correct course — has become a little overworked, the easiest cliché for any politician attempting to project urgency. But let’s assume they’re correct, and we’re heading full steam for the big ’berg. When we hit, what’s the likelihood? That our response will be as ordered and civilized as those on the Titanic? Or that we will descend into the hell of the Concordia?"

'via Blog this'

On the Proper Place Of Banking

2012-01-22T18:06:00.000-05:00

Hullabaloo:

"If the chief executive turned down his bonus it would “demoralise” staff members and would send a signal that they now effectively “worked for an arm of the civil service or a utility, rather than for a bank”.

'via Blog this'

I think we would be much better off as a society if banking acted much more like a utility.

On States Rights

2012-01-22T17:58:00.003-05:00

A question to the followers of Ron Paul and other extreme States Rights believers.

If one of the states was to declare that it was ok to have slaves as long as they had never been US citizens would that be ok with you?

Bon Gets The Immigration Question Right

2012-01-22T16:04:00.000-05:00

Zandar Versus The Stupid: Local Stupidity: Ozark Minutemen:

"I don't need them to save me from the invaders. I need for our country to devise a strategy to allow immigrants to flourish here while setting (and enforcing) an expectation that they will contribute back to the system that supported them. That's right, that's fair, and that's worth working towards. The rest is bigotry barely masked with false concern.
"

'via Blog this'

On the No Fun League and why we should Love Bill Belichick

2012-01-22T15:53:00.000-05:00

Charles P. Pierce on the New England Patriots and Denver Broncos divisional playoff game - Grantland:

"For years now, the undeniable fact about the National Football League has been that the whole operation is grimly determined to combine the unpredictability of an Amway seminar with the giddy good humor of the North Korean army. This problem has grown especially acute under the recent stewardship of Commissioner Roger Goodell, who seems to imagine himself on a balcony in Buenos Aires, tossing money to the peasants. There was a time, and not so long ago, when the NFL was full to its gunwales with entertaining miscreants of all varieties. Then the Collective assimilated the American Football League, and the steady march toward corporate sports nirvana — i.e., authoritarian tedium on which you can bet — went to the double-quick. Which is why all those people who spend so much time complaining about the No Fun League should embrace Bill Belichick, because Bill Belichick is the NFL's last real anarchist.

"

'via Blog this'

On The Death of Joe Paterno

2012-01-22T12:34:00.000-05:00

Et tu, Mr. Destructo? // Joe Paterno Is Dead: Real Death Edition:

"Like the last decade of watching journalists and policymakers trying to decide if torture is “okay” or preemptive warfare permitted without evidence, this was one of those baldly self-evident challenges posed to an adult in society, and those who have refused to meet it should have the odium of their failure linger next to their name, into the grave and onward. Their winning percentage elsewhere is immaterial: when you add that loss to the equation, all else plummets toward zero. They failed."

'via Blog this'

On Mitt Doing His Own Laundry

2012-01-21T18:58:00.001-05:00

Give me a fucking break.

Is David Brooks Naive or Disingenuous?

2012-01-21T18:37:00.000-05:00

Can I See Your Tax Return? - NYTimes.com:

"The people calling for Romney to release his taxes say the public has a right to know where his money comes from. I’m not the closest student of the Constitution, but did I miss something? Which amendment is this right mentioned in? Perhaps it’s a natural right. I don’t think it’s in the Old Testament. The Book of Mormon, maybe?"

'via Blog this'

I know my guess..

Ed Brayton On Content Theft

2012-01-21T18:26:00.000-05:00

Peter Grant Steals from FTB | Dispatches from the Culture Wars:

"Oh yes, if we were only more respectful of his violating the law and stealing our content. If only we would show more appreciation of him for doing it. What an asshole. I have already talked to my lawyer about this and he is ready to take action if Grant does not back down and remove the content.

"

'via Blog this'

On Using the coolest new technologies

2012-01-21T18:01:00.000-05:00

Your users don't care if you use Web Sockets - Scott Hanselman:

"The 10,000 people on the planet that care about Web Sockets are not your customers, and while using Web Sockets might get you mentioned on TechCrunch, supporting only Web Sockets is a great way to cut your potential audience in half.

"

'via Blog this'

Fuckery In Georgia

2012-01-21T16:03:00.000-05:00

Georgia judge orders Obama to appear in court for hearing on attempt to keep him off ballot | StarTribune.com:

"ATLANTA - A judge has ordered President Barack Obama to appear in court in Atlanta for a hearing on a complaint that says Obama isn't a natural-born citizen and can't be president.

'via Blog this'

These people need to be put on an ice floe and set adrift in the North Atlantic

on Romney's Ancestor's Hardships

2012-01-21T14:15:00.000-05:00

David Brooks Wealth Issue Column - Our Mr. Brooks Climbs the Romney Family Tree - Esquire:

"It is a story of relentless effort, of recovery and of being despised (in their eyes) because of their own success. Romney himself experienced none of this hardship, of course, but Jews who didn't live through the Exodus are still shaped by it."

'via Blog this'

Yes, he really did write this bilge.

Huckabee is Birther Friendly

2012-01-21T13:26:00.001-05:00

On The NCAA Cartel

2012-01-21T12:45:00.000-05:00

Guilty Until Proved Innocent - NYTimes.com:

"When the N.C.A.A. investigates an athlete for breaking its rules, not only is he presumed guilty but his punishment begins before he knows what he’s accused of. He is not told who his accuser is. The N.C.A.A. will delve into the personal relationships of his relatives and demand their bank statements and other private records. And it will hand down its verdict without so much as a hearing. Reputations have been ruined on accusations so flimsy that they would be laughed out of any court in the land. Then again, the N.C.A.A. isn’t a court of law. It’s more powerful."

'via Blog this'

On Debt paranoia

2012-01-21T09:58:00.000-05:00

Does Debt Matter? - Robert Skidelsky - Project Syndicate:

"As with “the specter of Communism” that haunted Europe in Karl Marx’s famous manifesto, so today “[a]ll the powers of old Europe have entered into a holy alliance to exorcise” the specter of national debt. But statesmen who aim to liquidate the debt should recall another famous specter – the specter of revolution.

"

'via Blog this'

Companies I like - Part 1

2012-01-21T09:37:00.000-05:00

Redstar Films Limited - Redstar Films:

"Redstar Films is a film and television production company located in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Founded in 1999, Redstar has produced a wide variety of film and television programming, including the television series The Classical Now and Ghost Cases, the documentaries Best Evidence: Top 10 UFO Sightings, Denise Djokic: Seven Days Seven Nights, and Stanton T. Friedman is Real, and the feature film Eternal Kiss.

"

'via Blog this'

This is my college friend Paul Kimball's company. I tease him a lot about UFOs and such but he does good work. Watch his films. Make him rich so he will buy me lobster when I visit Nova Scotia. Or at least a Tim Horton's coffee.

Why It Matters That Newt Gingrich Has Been Unfaithful

2012-01-21T09:25:00.000-05:00

Because he says things like this ...

Defending Marriage. As President, I will vigorously enforce the Defense of Marriage Act, which was enacted under my leadership as Speaker of the House, and ensure compliance with its provisions, especially in the military. I will also aggressively defend the constitutionality of DOMA in federal and state courts. I will support sending a federal constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman to the states for ratification. I will also oppose any judicial, bureaucratic, or legislative effort to define marriage in any manner other than as between one man and one woman. I will support all efforts to reform promptly any uneconomic or anti-marriage aspects of welfare and tax policy. I also pledge to uphold the institution of marriage through personal fidelity to my spouse and respect for the marital bonds of others.

He is now on wife #3. He cheated on BOTH of his previous wives and if we are to believe wife #2 it is possible that marriage #3 is (or was at some point) an open marriage.

Newt, Marriage and the USA

2012-01-21T09:06:00.000-05:00

Newt Gingrich's Three Marriages Mean He Might Make A Strong President -- Really | Fox News:

"Conclusion: When three women want to sign on for life with a man who is now running for president, I worry more about whether we’ll be clamoring for a third Gingrich term, not whether we’ll want to let him go after one.
"

'via Blog this'

I have no words... go read the whole thing

On Perfection

2012-01-21T08:13:00.000-05:00

Thanks to my friend Marcia Pagliuso for this one. You can find her here

Romney v Gingrich Cage Match

2012-01-21T07:30:00.000-05:00

Booman Tribune ~ A Progressive Community:

"I'd say that I still lean towards Romney winning by default, but he's really such a bad candidate that he's not creating much room between him and the ridiculous candidates. Maybe he sucks so much as a politician that Newt Gingrich is actually more electable. I'm beginning to entertain that idea. And I think a lot of Republicans are, too.

"
'via Blog this'

If Newt is the nominee this will be a win for Obama of historic proportions. If Romney wins it will be a fight but his inability to connect with anyone that isn't insanely wealthy will doom him against Obama. Short of the economy completely falling off a cliff I do not see how Obama loses to either of these two clowns

Peter G. Palumbo on Jessica Ahlquist

2012-01-15T20:00:00.000-05:00

Peter G. Palumbo Needs to Get Some Emails (and Voted Out of Office) | What Would JT Do?:

"Sadly, asking a politician to appreciate honesty is like asking a thief to appreciate surveillance. Peter G. Palumbo, the Democrat in the RI House from the Cranston district, has no rebukes for the Jesus-loving liars, bullies, or thugs. He has nothing negative to say about the people who felt they were above the Constitution and lied to subvert it. He did, however, have something to say about Jessica. Palumbo said, sarcastically that she is “An evil little thing.” That may have bee said sarcastically (there is debate over whether or not that line was sarcastic, but I’m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt), but the line “I think she’s being coerced by evil people” was most assuredly not. She is not being coerced, and her cause is not evil."

'via Blog this'

He is a twerp

Good Question - I shall ponder it

2012-01-15T17:47:00.000-05:00

The Complete Guide to Snapping the @#$% Out of It:

"Here is my suggestion: If you had a TED talk, or some other grand idea, how would you present it? Think about it. This is your one chance. How would you use it?
"

'via Blog this'

I should have known that poll was an outlier

2012-01-15T17:41:00.000-05:00

Before Citing a Poll, Read the Fine Print - NYTimes.com:

"On Saturday, a survey came out showing Mitt Romney with a large, 21-point lead in South Carolina. The poll is something of an outlier relative to other recent polls of the state, all of which show Mr. Romney ahead, but by margins ranging from 2 to 9 points.

The poll, conducted by Ipsos for Reuters, has already attracted more than 200 citations in the mainstream media. Most of these articles, however, neglected to mention a key detail: in a break with Ipsos’ typical methodology, the survey was conducted online."

'via Blog this'

And I have a bridge to sell you

2012-01-15T17:02:00.000-05:00

Assad offers 'amnesty' for opposition - Middle East - Al Jazeera English: "Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has offered amnesty to anyone accused of crimes in connection with the last 10 months of anti-government unrest and resulting violence.

"

'via Blog this'

Good Advice On Getting Good Customer Service

2012-01-15T14:54:00.000-05:00

Zandar Versus The Stupid: Practical Stupidity: Navigating Customer Service Calls:

"The golden rule for getting good customer service is simple: don't be a dick. Don't talk to the agent like a servant. Show basic respect and cooperate with them. Do your homework, such has having a bill in front of you. Answer their questions honestly so they can get to the bottom of the matter quickly. You may disagree with the company, but know the person who is trying to help you is not responsible for the situation that has upset you. Show a little grace before you demand it from them. I know many agents who do the minimum required to help customers, but don't go above and beyond for those who start screaming and demanding right off the bat. And why should they?
"

'via Blog this'

All You Need To Know About Right Wing Israelis

2012-01-15T14:27:00.000-05:00

WOMEN'S LENS - Un coup d'oeil féminin: Veteran Israeli settler says democracy is obstacle:

""We didn't come here to establish a democratic state," Katzover said in an interview with The Associated Press. "We came here to return the Jewish people to their land.""

'via Blog this'

Ubuntu TV - Interesting

2012-01-14T21:22:00.000-05:00

Experience | Ubuntu:

"Beautiful simplicity is the driving force behind Ubuntu TV. It integrates broadcast, time shift, online box office, personal cloud, apps and disk media experiences - all without wires, connectors or more boxes. It really is just the TV."

'via Blog this'

NASA joins the Open Source World

2012-01-14T21:13:00.000-05:00

The Plan for Code - open.NASA:

"Today we are launching code.nasa.gov, the latest member of the open NASA web family. Through this website, we will continue, unify, and expand NASA’s open source activities. The site will serve to surface existing projects, provide a forum for discussing projects and processes, and guide internal and external groups in open development, release, and contribution.
"

'via Blog this'

More On Folks that shouldn't marry

2012-01-14T20:03:00.000-05:00

Infertile people can't marry says Catholic Church - URBAN METER:

"From Archbishop Cruz’s latest statement about the issue of marriage from an interview on GMA news, Archbishop reiterated the Catholic Church’s stance that marriage along with sex is ONLY for procreation, That those who cannot procreate or decide to procreate is committing a mortal sin in the eyes of God.
"

'via Blog this'

One More Reason Rick Santorum Is Unqualified.

2012-01-14T18:55:00.000-05:00

Santorum: Obama Wants Constitutional Amendment to Redistribute Wealth | Video Cafe:

""You see, I don't believe that," Santorum continued. "I believe America was born great. ... What makes the saying on the Great Seal -- e pluribus unum -- true? Out of many one, what is the one? It is that, that we are a people who are children of God.""

'via Blog this'

We are another chosen people? Really? Does he really want to go down that road?

On Tone Deafness

2012-01-14T18:17:00.000-05:00

Camera Lucida: "Music is about bringing us all together- it should never be a vehicle for division.":

"Putting a majority (or a large number) of Asians in a western orchestra will invariably make it more Asian. Musicians like Mary Lee, who allow this to happen, have at some point to concede the inferiority of this type orchestra compared to that with a majority of whites, and either close off their eyes to this reality (as does Mary Lee), or perform grudgingly until better situations hopefully present themselves.
"

'via Blog this'

I don't even know what to say about this.

Condoms as evidence of intent

2012-01-14T18:04:00.000-05:00

Daily Kos: Arrested for Carrying Condoms?:

"There is a disturbing trend happening across the country,and we can now add one more casualty to the list of Things-That-Shouldn’t-Be-Illegal-But-Are: condoms. Though condoms themselves are not illegal,in many cities they can be used as the basis for police harassment and arrest or as evidence of prostitution in court. In New York City, Washington DC and San Francisco, police are using the number of condoms women are carrying to justify profiling them as prostitutes, and even to bolster an arrest on charges of sexual solicitation."

'via Blog this'

On "50 Words For Snow"

2012-01-14T16:34:00.000-05:00

Kate Bush: not your average bonkers pop star - Telegraph:

"The Telegraph’s critic called it “quietly beautiful” and suggested that it “should be heard standing at icy window panes, gazing out”."

'via Blog this'

Banned in Tucson?

2012-01-14T16:28:00.000-05:00

Who's afraid of "The Tempest"? - Books - Salon.com:

"“The only other time a book of mine was banned was in 1986, when the apartheid government in South Africa banned ‘Strangers in Their Own Country,’ a curriculum I’d written that included a speech by then-imprisoned Nelson Mandela,” said Bigelow, who serves as curriculum editor of Rethinking Schools magazine, and co-directs the online Zinn Education Project. ”We know what the South African regime was afraid of. What is the Tucson school district afraid of?”"

'via Blog this'

#1 Conservative Movie of All Time

2012-01-14T15:08:00.000-05:00

Yeah, I know that is a cheap shot but hey .. politics ain't beanbag

Great Moments In Legislating Science - Indiana PI

2012-01-14T09:07:00.000-05:00

The Indiana Pi Bill:

"that the ratio of the diameter and circumference is as five-fourths to four; "

'via Blog this'

errrr .. no it isn't.

This bill didn't pass.

Science Education, Missouri Is Doing It Wrong

2012-01-14T08:24:00.000-05:00

Part of a new law under consideration in Missouri

(c) If scientific theory concerning biological origin is taught in a textbook, the textbook shall give equal treatment to biological evolution and biological intelligent design. Other scientific theory or theories of origin may be taught;"

'via Blog this'

Nice Job Missouri. You are going to make Alabama look forward thinking

Ron Paul's Path To Victory

2012-01-14T08:00:00.001-05:00

I think that the only way Ron Paul wins the GOP nomination is if Romney releases his tax records before Super Tuesday. If that happens the disgust at confirming what everyone suspects is in there (10+ million a year income, 15% or less effective tax rate) will be such that Romney's electability will evaporate overnight.

If I were Ron Paul I would be beating the "release the tax records" drum as loudly and often as I could.

This is also the only chance anyone else has so why they are not hitting him with it at every opportunity is mystifying to me.

The top 10 conservative movies of the modern era – Telegraph Blogs

2012-01-11T18:11:00.000-05:00

The top 10 conservative movies of the modern era – Telegraph Blogs:

"Two years ago I produced a list of the top 10 conservative movies of the last decade, which sparked a good deal of debate among film fans on both sides of the Atlantic. I’ve produced a sequel, a list of the ten best conservative films of the last half-century, from the 1960s onwards. I plan to eventually write a list of the top ten conservative films of all time, where the likes of On the Waterfront (1954) and High Noon (1952) will certainly be leading candidates for inclusion.
"

'via Blog this'

Anyone that watches Deer Hunter and thinks it is not anti-war needs testing to see if they are competent to look after themselves

Romney on Wealth Distribution

2012-01-11T17:45:00.000-05:00

Political Animal - Pushing worthwhile questions into ‘quiet rooms’:

"LAUER: Are there no fair questions about the distribution of wealth without it being seen as envy, though?

ROMNEY: I think it’s fine to talk about those things in quiet rooms and discussions about tax policy and the like. But the president has made it part of his campaign rally."

'via Blog this'

Call Center Unions - Good Luck With THat

2012-01-08T21:59:00.000-05:00

Daily Kos: Call centers: The sweatshop of the modern era:

"In many ways call centers are the sweatshops of the modern era. Workers in one Asheville, North Carolina call center are trying to organize; however, company officials at Sitel, which runs the call center, are making it difficult for workers to join a union.

"

'via Blog this'

Video - On Random Number Generators

2012-01-08T19:54:00.000-05:00

Gordon Gekko For President

2012-01-08T18:32:00.002-05:00

I mean really, what is the difference between Gekko and Romney?

A Creationist on Taxonomy

2012-01-08T18:07:00.000-05:00

Also, the sharks are smarter than Eric Hovind | Pharyngula:

"I wonder if they ever considered that when you stand back and look at them, they are all sharks. That means they are the same kind of animal. That is not evolution taking place; there is no changing from one kind of animal into another kind of animal happening here. We started with a shark and now we have a shark. That is not evolution!

"

'via Blog this'

How not to make a good impression as a CEO

2012-01-08T15:49:00.000-05:00

Jordan S Zoot CPA.CITP.CISM.CGEIT – Customer Feedback & Ideas for Hootsuite:

"Permit me to share a thought…unlike most of the posters that WHINE AND BITCH LIKE LITTLE KIDS…i am the Managing Director and CEO of a consulting firm..we are three offices..Manhattan, Evanston IL [Chicago] and San Francisco [SOMA] 35 professionals mixed CPA’s and IT….we recruit at five schools UC Berkley, UI Urbana, UM Ann Arbor, NYU and Wharton….gross rev..candidly btw $$7-10MM,,,I don’t have partners or bank debt…having said that I can’t justify a $1k/month spend for your enterprise product….we have 2 seats and spend what it costs…if the shitty little kids would STFU some of us appreciate what you do at a corporate level and would gladly pay for G+ pages..and for each and every whiner that has bitched and whined…straight up and IN YOUR FACE JAM IT….this company does good work…and rather than WHINE like a little kid let the develop and if you aren’t paying for it..STFU and respect a roll out. If you don’t like me too bad give me a link and I will aggressively contact your cxo team..STRAIGHT UP AND IN YOUR FACE..MOCKING LITTLE KIDS."

'via Blog this'

Dear Mr Richard Branson! - The BEST passenger complaint letter in the world? | Monkey Review

2012-01-08T14:15:00.000-05:00

Dear Mr Richard Branson! - The BEST passenger complaint letter in the world? | Monkey Review:

"Ironically, by the end of the flight I would have gladly paid over a thousand rupees for a single biscuit following the culinary journey of hell I was subjected to at thehands of your corporation.
"

'via Blog this'

You really must click through and read it all

If anyone from WXXA is listening

2012-01-08T13:03:00.003-05:00

Put on a real HD signal and stop being a bunch of fucking whiners

Mitt Romney Speaks A Sad Truth

2012-01-08T12:58:00.000-05:00

No More Mister Nice Blog

Mitt Romney recounted some advice from his father, former presidential candiate George Romney, in Sunday's NBC/Facebook debate about running for office: make sure you're set for cash already.

"I happened to see my dad run for governor when he was 54 years old," Romney said. "He had good advice to me. He said never get involved in politics if you have to win election to pay a mortgage. If you find yourself in a position when you can serve, you ought to have a responsibility to do so if you think you can make a difference, and don’t get involved in politics when your kids are still young because it may turn their heads."

And no, it does not hurt Mitt Romney because that is how most people already think. They KNOW that you have to be independently wealthy to run for high public office. They also know that having kids while being a politician is horrible hard on them This is a problem with our system, it is not Romney's fault.

America's Most Wanted?

2012-01-07T19:51:00.000-05:00

Minor Offenses on N.Y. Subway Can Bring a Ticket, or Handcuffs - NYTimes.com:

"Mr. Peppers had put his feet up on a subway seat, and that, the officer informed him, was a crime — one that in his case would lead to his arrest. He spent 12 hours in jail before he saw a judge, and was released after pleading guilty."

'via Blog this'

The Canada Party - Election 2012

2012-01-07T18:36:00.000-05:00

A little amusement

What Kind of Douchebag does this?

2012-01-07T18:33:00.001-05:00

I know that Dr Paul's campaign, to its credit, has decried this piece of shit but what would posess anyone that was supporting him to make it and think that it would be of use? I halfway suspect ratfucking.

Ezra Klein on Innovation

2012-01-07T18:28:00.000-05:00

Can we cut the military budget without harming innovation? - The Washington Post:

"That said, it is convenient for many in both the health-care and military sectors to try and protect their funding by pointing to their innovations. But ultimately, if we want to spend money encouraging innovation, we should do that directly. We shouldn’t just shovel money to bloated sectors in the hopes that some of it ends up funding innovations."

'via Blog this'

Retaliate? Who, me?

2012-01-04T19:37:00.000-05:00

Accused Of Retaliation, Sheriff Joe Wants DOJ To Name His Department’s Alleged Victims | TPMMuckraker:

"Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office — the same law enforcement agency accused of retaliating against political opponents — wants the names of “each and every” resident interviewed by Justice Department officials who accused the MCSO of racial discrimination and other civil rights violations.

"

'via Blog this'

Gingrich wins Iowa in a shocker!

2012-01-03T20:19:00.002-05:00

Naw, just fucking with you

On Echo Chambers

2012-01-02T15:02:00.001-05:00

The biggest danger on the right or the left is getting sucked into an echo chamber and never venturing out into the real world to engage the other side except to mock them.

You never learn to properly understand the fundamentals of your position if you only surround yourself with like minded folks.

Cenk Uyger on Ron Paul on Election Finance Reform

2012-01-02T11:00:00.002-05:00

Opinions Wanted - Sonos

2012-01-02T10:57:00.001-05:00

I am pondering getting a Sonos wireless system and am wondering if anyone has any experience with it.

Superbowl Prediction

2012-01-01T16:28:00.002-05:00

New Orleans over New England : 49-42

Newt Knows All

2012-01-01T15:41:00.000-05:00

Newt says there's insufficient evidence for climate change, citing his expertise as "an amateur paleontologist" | ThinkProgress:

" At a town hall in Atlantic, Iowa, Saturday afternoon, Gingrich gave an unusual reason for his present denial of man-made global warming. “I’m an amateur paleontologist,” Gingrich said. “I spend a lot of time looking at the Earth’s temperature for a very long time. I’m a lot harder to convince than just looking at a computer model.” "

'via Blog this'

It has been said that Newt is a stupid person's idea of what a smart person sounds like ... this is more evidence.

Krys Barch might not be a dumbass

2012-01-01T14:42:00.000-05:00

Report: Panthers' Krys Barch ejected after racial slur - NHL - SI.com:

"SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) -- Panthers forward Krys Barch was ejected after reportedly directing a racial slur at a Montreal player Saturday night, and Florida coach Kevin Dineen said it was now a matter for the NHL to investigate.
"

'via Blog this'

But he is sure sounding like one

Ron Paul on Workplace Harassment

2012-01-01T13:53:00.000-05:00

‘The Die Has Been Cast’: Ron Paul Makes Closing Argument Ahead Of Iowa | TPM2012:

"And the Texas congressman is sticking to his Libertarian guns. He doubled down on statements from one of his books, downplaying the need for sexual harassment laws in the workplace. “But because people are insulted by, you know, rude behavior, I don’t think we should make a federal case out of it,” Paul said on FOX News Sunday, saying that unless there is a threat or act of violence, a sexually harassed person could choose or not choose to work at the offending location.

"

'via Blog this'

Minister: Egypt tourism down 30% in 2011

2012-01-01T10:55:00.000-05:00

Minister: Egypt tourism down 30% in 2011 | Al-Masry Al-Youm: Today's News from Egypt:

"The number of tourists who visited Egypt in 2011 was one-third less than in 2010, Egypt's Tourism Minister Mounir Fakhry Abdel Nour told Al-Masry Al-Youm on Thursday. He said there were around 10 million tourists in 2011, around 32 percent less than in 2010.

"

'via Blog this'

Frankly I am shocked it is only down 30%

Stay Classy Newt

2012-01-01T10:45:00.000-05:00

Newt says Obama seeks to steal elections with ID ruling | McClatchy: "Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., used a stop in Council Bluffs, Iowa, to accuse the Obama administration of trying to "steal elections" in the wake of the Justice Department's rejection of South Carolina's voter identification law.

"

'via Blog this'

Fearless Predictions for 2012

2011-12-31T21:00:00.001-05:00

I have never done this before but why not ...

Mitt Romney will be the GOP nominee
President Obama will win re-election but with less than 50% of the vote due to a 3rd party run by someone, probably Ron Paul but maybe Evan Bayh.
The Eurozone will NOT collapse. It might wobble and might even lose a country or two but it will still be alive at the end of 2012
GOP will hold the House and take control of the Senate
Joe Biden will not be Obama's running mate.
New England Patriots will win the SuperBowl
Toronto Argonauts will win the Grey Cup (Hey, I am Canadian)
Miami Heat will defeat the Clippers in the NBA finals

Check back next Dec 31

Mitt Romney Might Not Be a Pandering Asshole

2011-12-31T20:44:00.000-05:00

Livewire | TPM: "In Iowa Saturday, Mitt Romney said as president he would veto the Dream Act if Congress sent it to his desk. A version of the Dream Act that almost passed Congress last December would provide a legal pathway to citizenship for immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally by their parents as children. “The question is, if I were elected and Congress were to pass the Dream Act, would I veto it? And the answer is yes,” Romney said.

"

'via Blog this'

If Life Begins at Conception

2011-12-31T17:36:00.000-05:00

Balloon Juice » Can’t have both: "Conservatives and libertarians can seat as many round tables as they care to, but they can’t dodge this simple truth: if a fertilized egg has constitutional rights, women cannot have equal rights with men."

'via Blog this'

Obama vs Paul

2011-12-31T17:33:00.000-05:00

What’s Challenging About Paul? : Lawyers, Guns & Money: " If you want to say that Obama/Paul is a clash between lesser and greater evils I don’t have any objection to that, but Paul is very much more evil, and it’s not close."

'via Blog this'

Mitt Romney's Effective Tax Rate

2011-12-30T19:39:00.000-05:00

My guess is that it is well under 20%.

When he releases his tax returns he is fucked and he knows it. I am guessing that he is going to try to delay long enough to get to Super Tuesday.

Sexually harassed? Quit your job!

2011-12-30T13:27:00.000-05:00

So says Ron Paul.

"Employee rights are said to be valid when employers pressure employees into sexual activity," Paul wrote. "Why don't they quit once the so-called harassment starts? Obviously the morals of the harasser cannot be defended, but how can the harassee escape some responsibility for the problem? Seeking protection under civil rights legislation is hardly acceptable."

Really?

Asshole.

Ron Paul Wants To Abolish the Fed

2011-12-30T13:24:00.002-05:00

What should it be replaced with? You cannot simply shut down a country's central bank without creating chaos.

Analogy Fail

2011-12-25T09:37:00.000-05:00

Newt Gingrich Compares His Failure To Make The Virginia Ballot To The Pearl Harbor Attack | ThinkProgress: "Gingrich, who fashions himself as an historian, frequently employs Peal Harbor analogies and anecdotes. In fact, he has co-authored an historical fiction book about Pearl Harbor, which literary critics blasted for its shoddy quality.
"

'via Blog this'

On Why Liberals Should Support Ron Paul

2011-12-22T10:44:00.002-05:00

I got nothin'.

Is there any reason that someone like me should have anything other than contempt for Ron Paul as a possible President?

Comment of the day - Politico Edition - For the irony challenged

2011-11-27T09:44:00.000-05:00

Black Friday shopping takes a dark turn - Associated Press - POLITICO.com:

"These lowlifers were educated in our public schools, the only solution to this problem is too shut the doors of these schools and burn down the buildings in order to keep these braindead animales from gathering in one place and they should all be spayed or nuterd so they cant breed any more."

'via Blog this'

Back To Blogging Soon

2011-11-24T09:28:00.001-05:00

The world has intruded and kept me a little short of blogging time over the last while. Should be rounding back into shape over the next couple weeks and certainly after the new year.

Lots of changes and maybe some new topics to blog about.

Stay tuned

Matt Yglesias Has Lost His Mind

2011-10-30T15:59:00.000-04:00

Let Children Vote | ThinkProgress: "Via Jonathan Bernstein, Sally Kohn writes about a campaign in Lowell, Massachusetts to let seventeen year-olds vote in local elections. More power to them, but I say let any American citizen vote in any American election he or she wants to"

'via Blog this'

Money Laundering?

2011-10-26T20:47:00.000-04:00

Daily Kos: Perry campaign laundering money through big donors' children?: "Barry, Marijane, and their son Wyatt, a sophomore at Texas A&M University, donated the maximum allowed, $2,500, according to campaign finance disclosures. Their only daughter, who appears to be of middle school age judging from her dad's campaign website, also donated $2,500. And one of her brothers, who is a junior in high school according to his Twitter feed, donated $1,000. Smitherman declined to respond to questions from The Huffington Post about whether the money belonged to his children or to him.

"

'via Blog this'

Read The Comments

2011-10-23T21:24:00.000-04:00

Ron Paul: End U.S. student loans - Associated Press - POLITICO.com: "WASHINGTON — Republican presidential contender Ron Paul said Sunday he wants to end federal student loans, calling it a failed program that has put students $1 trillion in debt when there are no jobs and when the quality of education has deteriorated.

"

'via Blog this'

Time Warner Cable - A Great Place To Work

2011-10-23T20:55:00.000-04:00

Balloon Juice » Time Warner Ordered Employee to Stop Administering CPR to Dying Co-Worker and Get Back to Work: "A Time Warner customer service representative, Julia Nelson, died at her desk at a Time Warner customer call center in Garfield Heights, Ohio last month. It turns out that a Time Warner employee (who refused to be interviewed on camera) began to administer CPR to the dying woman, but was ordered by a supervisor to stop, and to get back to work. The employee also said that another boss told her that she could be held liable in the event that something went wrong as a result of the potentially life-saving treatment that see was performing on Nelson.

"

'via Blog this'

On #OWS

2011-10-23T13:47:00.000-04:00

Daily Kos: Occupy Wall Street is not difficult to understand: "The message is very straightforward. It is not difficult to understand. If it is difficult to understand, or if it seems like socialism or communism to you, or if these pleas for basic fairness in the way governments treat their citizens sound radical to your ears, then the fault is yours and yours alone. Those demands were not outrageous in previous decades, so demands to return to similar policies can hardly be considered radical now. If you have your head so very far up a rich man's ass that you think "not a penny more charged to the rich because that would be socialism" is a reasonable statement, but "repair financial regulations whose dismantling helped lead to economic collapse" is in fact the more crazy of the two statements, then there is no hope for you. Perhaps you are merely an oligarch.

"

'via Blog this'

What The FIlibuster "saved us from"

2011-10-22T22:06:00.000-04:00

Opinion: How I Learned to Love the Filibuster - WNYC:

"Obama and company would have likely been able to go much farther than the vast majority would have wanted them to in regards to health care reform and passed actual socialized healthcare legislation, without the filibuster, as well as not needed to pay for the program without moderates pressing that issue.

Without the filibuster, the stimulus package Obama passed would have been much more wasteful and directed even more so at special interest groups beholden to the left, just as the stimulus package Bush passed would have been the mirror opposite"

'via Blog this'

Solomon Kleinsmith wanks away at his "aren't we great in the center" BS again.

There is no possible chance that there were 50 votes for "socialized health care legislation". That is just fucking fantasy. Further, President Obama has shown no tendency in that direction, ever.

As for the stimulus package ... if it would have been a 1.5 trillion dollar package that consisted of simply hiring people to dig and then fill in holes in the ground for 2 years then it would have increased aggregate demand and folks would have bought things and companies would have been looking to hire folks.

And people ask me why I think these soi disant centrist types are a bigger danger to our country than the GOP.

Grr

Comment Of The Day - PJMedia Edition

2011-10-22T12:23:00.000-04:00

The PJ Tatler » A Comment About Bizarre neo-swastika reminiscent of “The Great Dictator” used as power symbol by OWS leaders: "First they came for the #s,
and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a #.

Then they came for the @s,
and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a @.

Then they came for the /s,
and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a /.

Then they came for :.
and there was no one left to speak out for :."

'via Blog this'

Andrew Breitbart is still an idiot

2011-10-22T10:40:00.000-04:00

» ** UPDATE: White House Denies **Was President Obama Really Sitting in Front of an Assembly Line in this Video? - Big Government: "President Obama delivered his weekly address to the nation from Detroit, Michigan this week after visiting workers at a GM assembly plant. When the video hit at Breitbart.tv, our tip box suddenly became very active with people claiming that the President was actually sitting in front of a green screen and the background image was really a composite image of an assembly line.
"

'via Blog this'