Vacation All I Ever Wanted...

For the next couple weeks, I will be away on vacation (12/1 through 12/14). We're taking the kids to Disney World for a couple days and then we're taking them on a Disney cruise on this thing ==>

Where I will attempt to steal this -->

I cannot wait for this! It's going to be amazing. :)

Anyways, while I'm gone, I've set up articles to post regularly (one is a tad controversial), and Bev and Kit will still be here doing what they do best! So never fear, we aren't shutting down. So keep reading and keep commenting! Have a nice couple weeks. I'll be back soon!

20 Words They Apparently Can't Say At Huffpo

HuffPo had an article about 20 words that people use “to try to make themselves look smart” but which make them look stupid because they misuse them. Now, let me start by saying that anyone who thinks using these words will make you “look smart” is a raving moron. These are basic, simple words which dumb people just mistake for other words. Here’s the list.

● Accept v. Except
“Except for morons, most people get that liberalism is bullshit.”

● Affect v. Effect
“The corrosive effect of liberalism will affect us all.”

● Lie v. Lay
“Bill Clinton is always up for a good lie... or a good lay.”

● Bring v. Take
“Bring us your money, or we will take it.” (IRS Manual)

● Ironic v. Coincidental
“It’s ironic that liberals, who claim to worship science, can’t tell the difference between coincidence and causation.”

● Imply v. Infer
“I infer from the stupidity you are trying to imply that you are a liberal.”

● Nauseous v. Nauseated
“Liberals are nauseous creatures, whose hypocrisy nauseates me.”

● Comprise v. Compose
“Liberalism comprises a whole lot of hateful pet peeves, which all together compose their idiotic ideology.”

● Farther v. Further
“Luke, I am your further.”

● Fewer v. Less
“The less I think, the fewer problems I see with liberal solutions.”

Nice work, Huffpo. Aim high.

Anyways, as you can see, these are not words people use to sound smart unless they are raving morons. But there ARE words that morons use to try to sound smart and they misuse them badly. Here are just a few off the top of my head:

● Investment. Liberals think this word means “spending.” It does not. It actually means using one’s money in a way that is likely to generate more money.

● Millionaire. Liberals think this word means anyone who earns more than $200,000 a year. It actually means anyone who possesses more than a million dollars.

● Poverty. Liberals think this means anyone in the bottom 15% of the nation’s income base. It actually means living in really shitty conditions because you are poor. See e.g., Africa, Venezuela, the Middle East, any other place where socialism worked its wonders.

● Revenue. Liberals think this means whatever money the government can take from its citizens. This word actually means money you “earn” from providing your labor or selling your assets.

● Universal Coverage. Liberals think this means covering all but 15% of the population. It actually means covering everyone.

● Climate Change. Liberals think this means evil billionaire industrialists driving around with smokers and pick axes trying to destroy the world with pollution, over-mining (like on Praxis), child labor, a low minimum wage, racism, lack of gun control, religious terrorism (Christian only), harsh language directed at college students, freedom of choice in education, uneven earning potential, and all around meanie-ism. It actually means changes in the Earth’s climate brought about by vast forces far beyond our control... like the sun.

● Racism. Liberals think this means being white. It actually means acting against a person on the basis of their race.

● Free Speech. Liberals think this means making sure that everyone has appropriate thoughts. It actually means letting people speak their own thoughts, whatever they are, without punishment.

● Free Speech. Liberals think it means having the right to force other people to listen to you on your terms. It actually means only having the right to speak, but without any promise that others will listen.

● Nazism. Liberals think this is an ideology akin to libertarianism. It’s actually just one flavor of socialism... like progressivism.

● Terrorism. Liberals think this means GOP elected officials disagreeing with Obama. Under no circumstances does it mean Islamic radicals torturing and murdering women, children, gays or Christians. It actually means... you know what? Forget it. They will never understand this one.

Thoughts?

Happy Thanksgiving To All

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

It has pleased Almighty God to prolong our national life another year, defending us with His guardian care against unfriendly designs from abroad and vouchsafing to us in His mercy many and signal victories over the enemy, who is of our own household. It has also pleased our Heavenly Father to favor as well our citizens in their homes as our soldiers in their camps and our sailors on the rivers and seas with unusual health. He has largely augmented our free population by emancipation and by immigration, while He has opened to us new sources of wealth and has crowned the labor of our workingmen in every department of industry with abundant rewards. Moreover, He has been pleased to animate and inspire our minds and hearts with fortitude, courage, and resolution sufficient for the great trial of civil war into which we have been brought by our adherence as a nation to the cause of freedom and humanity, and to afford to us reasonable hopes of an ultimate and happy deliverance from all our dangers and afflictions:

Now, therefore, I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, do hereby appoint and set apart the last Thursday in November next as a day which I desire to be observed by all my fellow-citizens, wherever they may then be, as a day of thanksgiving and praise to Almighty God, the beneficent Creator and Ruler of the Universe. And I do further recommend to my fellow-citizens aforesaid that on that occasion they do reverently humble themselves in the dust and from thence offer up penitent and fervent prayers and supplications to the Great Disposer of Events for a return of the inestimable blessings of peace, union, and harmony throughout the land which it has pleased Him to assign as a dwelling place for ourselves and for our posterity throughout all generations.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the city of Washington, this 20th day of October, A.D. 1864, and of the Independence of the United States the eighty-ninth.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

By the President:

WILLIAM H. SEWARD,

Secretary of State .

Stone Cold Turkey

So now we have an interesting problem. A Turkish F-16 shot down a Russian jet fighter (a Sukhoi Su-24) today that had intentionally flown into Turkish space. The Turks warned it away several times, but it didn't leave. So they blew the thing out of the sky. Then some rebels killed the pilots as they parachuted to the ground. Now have a massive diplomatic problem. Here are my thoughts.

● Russian Equipment Sucks: Let me say again, that once more this proves that Russian equipment sucks. For the Russians to lose a fighter plane to a Turkish F-16 is quite an embarrassment. This time there isn't even the excuse that their crappy equipment was being driven by second raters. This was a genuine Russian pilot. And he was shot down by the Turkish Air Force. Russian technology keeps proving itself deficient in major ways.

● Time To Walk The Walk: Putin has largely gotten along by talking tough and beating up nearby international midgets. So far, he has been lucky that he's never had to back down because his enemies were wimps like the Germans or dysfunctional basket-cases like the Ukrainians. This time, he's facing a country that has a genuine military and isn't afraid to use it. What's more, the Russians are too stretched to do anything about Turkey. So it will be interesting to see how Putin responds to save face.

As an aside, this was entirely avoidable, except that Putin kept flaunting the airspace issue for weeks. Now he has a crisis he could have avoided with absolute ease.

● The Peanut Gallery: Also interestingly, the world seems to be on Turkey's side at the moment (except for Drudge). Generally, I put little faith into "the world" because most of it is run by people with no backbones who are looking only to make it sound like they are principled. This time, however, may be different. With Russian equipment proving to be crap... again. With the price of oil collapsing (and thereby the Russian economy). With Russia showing itself a pimp more than a gangster. I suspect that the world may finally take this moment to slap Putin down. That will be very interesting to see how that plays out.

● All That Said: It's too bad that Putin did this because it sounds like he and the French were actually blowing the crap out of ISIS, something Obama's "stern letter" campaign wasn't doing at all.

● Nuke 'em If You Got 'em: The one thing I don't see happening out of this is any sort of direct conflict between the US and Russia. It seems rather clear that Putin and the US have been careful enough to orchestrate the dance so that they don't step on each other's toes in such a way that a military exchange is needed. So while I'm sure talk radio will accuse Obama of bringing us to the brink of NUCLEAR WAR (buy Fallout 4!) it strikes me that "the system" has shown itself to be much more carefully arranged than that, even with two total douche bags in running the White House and the Kremlin. That's kind of a relief actually.

Warning: Avoid Earth

I am not sure exactly what we are supposed to make of this other than to take it at face value. The State Department issued a travel warning yesterday which as best as I (and many others) can determine, basically warns us all to avoid the Planet Earth until February 24, 2016 and then it will all be better.

The good news is this means the WH (Pres. Obama) and the State Department (John Kerry) might just be taking this whole "terrorist threat" stuff a bit more seriously. The bad news...well there's nothing like going from giant-yawn/nothing-to-see-here/they-are-contained to complete hysteria-inducing THEY-COULD-BE-ANYWHERE messaging to get the Holiday season off to the right start. Let's discuss...

Just in case you missed the travel alert, here is the full text [emphasis added]:

Worldwide Travel Alert
LAST UPDATED: NOVEMBER 23, 2015

The State Department alerts U.S. citizens to possible risks of travel due to increased terrorist threats. Current information suggests that ISIL (aka Da’esh), al-Qa’ida, Boko Haram, and other terrorist groups continue to plan terrorist attacks in multiple regions. These attacks may employ a wide variety of tactics, using conventional and non-conventional weapons and targeting both official and private interests. This Travel Alert expires on February 24, 2016.

Authorities believe the likelihood of terror attacks will continue as members of ISIL/Da’esh return from Syria and Iraq. Additionally, there is a continuing threat from unaffiliated persons planning attacks inspired by major terrorist organizations but conducted on an individual basis. Extremists have targeted large sporting events, theatres, open markets, and aviation services. In the past year, there have been multiple attacks in France, Nigeria, Denmark, Turkey, and Mali. ISIL/Da’esh has claimed responsibility for the bombing of a Russian airliner in Egypt.

U.S. citizens should exercise vigilance when in public places or using transportation. Be aware of immediate surroundings and avoid large crowds or crowed places. Exercise particular caution during the holiday season and at holiday festivals or events. U.S. citizens should monitor media and local information sources and factor updated information into personal travel plans and activities. Persons with specific safety concerns should contact local law enforcement authorities who are responsible for the safety and security of all visitors to their host country. U.S. citizens should:

-Follow the instructions of local authorities.

-Monitor media and local information sources and factor updated information into personal travel plans and activities.

-Be prepared for additional security screening and unexpected disruptions.

-Stay in touch with your family members and ensure they know how to reach you in the event of an emergency.

-Register in our Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).

Foreign governments have taken action to guard against terrorist attacks, and some have made official declarations regarding heightened threat conditions. Authorities continue to conduct raids and disrupt terror plots. We continue to work closely with our allies on the threat from international terrorism. Information is routinely shared between the United States and our key partners in order to disrupt terrorist plotting, identify and take action against potential operatives, and strengthen our defenses against potential threats.

ISIS Losers

There’s a picture that I’ve seen several times now and it strikes me as a rather strange photo. Ostensibly, the photos is of a group of ISIS clowns trying to look impressive, but wow this thing is a joke... they are a joke. Check this out and tell me you don’t laugh!

This thing is clearly meant to make them all look cool. It’s meant to be like a regimental photo where you get a bunch of tough looking military guys standing at attention looking all military and whatnot. In fact, that’s become such a tradition that every real or imagined military institution will do those photos. This photo above is meant to be that, but it comes across more like some muscle bound loser from New Jersey who poses in Speedos, holding a pistol, and with a bird on his shoulder.

I love too how they’re all looking in different directions, like they don’t know where they’re supposed to be looking. Didn’t anyone give instructions before this photo was taken? Apparently not as they are resting on different knees and using different arms to hold up the flags... except for the kickline in the front. The kickline are all using the same legs. Of course, they can’t hold their guns the same either.

Dipshits on parade.

Do you wanna bet there isn’t a typo in one of those flags too? "Allah is grape!"

Speaking of the flags, it sure seems like they’re struggling to hold the flags in place, doesn’t it? I guess they were rushed and couldn’t wait for the wind to change to get the picture right. Must have been Virgin Goat Night at the sex tent... gotta rush for that.

And what about that tough guy in the front. Tell me that’s not a fake beard. And why is the guy next to him blurred out? Is he an informant for the cops? Hey, that’s not Mohammed1497, that’s Bill Peters Mecca PD! He’s deep undercover!

Of course, from what I’ve seen, these guys are a bunch of weirdo losers to begin with -- all the pictures they show are of super ugly dudes... tragically ugly dudes. That's why most of them cover their faces in the ski masks.

And WTF is up with this hat?

Did he escape from the Renaissance Fair?

We’re Number 1! Wooo! Go Cougars!!!

Losers.

The Nazis? They were sharp. They were scary. The Soviets? Inhuman killing machines. Resistance is futile, you will be absorbed. These guys? Pizza delivery guys gone wrong. I don’t know. This feels like we’re fighting the undercard this time, doesn't it?

We should just pay a couple street gangs to go get rid of these punks for us.

Our Syrian Refugee Problem

We seem to be in a Constitutional crisis over Syrian refugees. 31 State governors have openingly defying the Federal Government in refusing to allow any of the 100,000+ Syrian refugess into their states.

Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

It runs the gamit of requesting guarantees from Homeland Security that they will be thoroughly vetting each refugess before allowing them in the country to outright refusals to allow it for any reason. I understand the sentiment, but I am not sure what I think about the heavy-handedness of our Republican Governors.

On the otherhand, President Obama's shocking tone-deafness on immigration in general and Islamic terrorism specifically leaves all of us at risk. He has managed to create such an atmosphere of distrust with just general immigration issues on our Southern borders that how can we believe that the Feds are going to be responsible with Syrian immigrants?

Of course there is always a middle ground, but no one seems to have ideas. Just a lot of blustering rhetoric from both sides. (Big surprise...) It doesn't need to be a crisis. If the pledge poem on the Statue of Liberty means anything, we are must do something. Despite all of the rhetoric, we have not always welcomed immigrants with open arms and unfettered entry.

I remember the tales of my own grandparents who came over in the early 20th Century and landed at Ellis Island. They too were escaping tyranny and pogroms. But before they could leave Ellis Island and take that final boatride across New York Harbor, they were given health exams, extensive interviews, had to have a sponsor or family already here, a place to live, and proof of some kind of employment opportunity. And from what I know, my grandfather had to check in with Immigration every month before he became a citizen. I don't think that it is unreasonable to request something similar for these immigrants...any immigrants, for that matter.

On a side note on that: Elections have consequences and the Dems are by now realizing that losing so many states to the Republicans is a huge consequence.

As always, let's discuss

The Wednesday Article

Between the Great Blizzard of 11/17 AM (which was all but gone by 11/17 PM) and my mom going through open heart surgery (all went well :)), I didn't get a chance to write much today. There are a few items worth mentioning, however.

● Another One Bites The Dust: Bobby Jindal has suspended his campaign. That's really no surprise as he was DOA from the get-go. Jindal is a smart and wise man who would make an excellent President, but we have a system in place to keep deserving and qualified people like him from winning the office. So there! On with the circus!

● Looking At You, Krauts!: I'm pretty sure the Germans are next for a big terrorist attack. The Islamists seem to be working their way around Europe, starting with Spain and Britain and now France. So I'm thinking Germany is next.

● I'm Calling Bull: Have you noticed how many companies are having their Black Friday sales plans "leaked" online? I'm calling bull on this. This is just the latest marketing gimmick to get their sales noticed. It's the click bait version of advertising done by big companies.

● Priorities: Honestly, there is something wrong with the world (media) when France gets attacked by terrorists, then France and Russia start bombing the crap out of ISIS in response, and the lead item in all the news blogs and shows everywhere is Charlie Sheen having HIV. Seriously? That, perhaps more than anything, tells us all we need to know about the media and their values.

● Testify, Brother!: Alan Dershowitz blasted all the student protesters today rather interestingly. He noted that they don't really want diversity. They use that word to mean "more of us." He also noted their lack of respect for the rights of others. I get the feeling that these kids have worn out their welcome, even on the left at this point.

Thoughts?

Crazy NYC stuff...

Speaking of crazy stuff, let's start with this. Last week Reuters published an article claiming that said 1 in 5 people in NYC have mental health issues. By "mental health issues", they mean depression, substance abuse, suicidal thoughts or other psychological disorders. When I polled my friends, they all thought that the 1 in 5 sounded generous. [On a personal note: Just for the sake of wanting to fit it, I want to proudly claim that I am "the 1" in that 5. I want to have t-shirts made "Stay Calm. I am the 1 in that 5!".]

But seriously, what makes this kind of perplexing is that a few years ago, reports were published in the papers about how the NYC drinking water had been found to have trace amounts of Prozac and other anti-depressants. You'd think that it would make everyone more sane. Guess not.

Other NYC news: So our dear Mayor DeBlasio has been ignoring issues in NYC like the dramatic rise in homeless panhandlers and murder rates to widen his profile on the national political stage. Unfortunately, no one already on the national political stage seems that interested. He initiated a Progressive Agenda Committee to rally the DNC in a cohesive progressive message with a forum schedule for December 6 in Iowa. Unfortunately none of the presidential candidates were interested, so the forum has been cancelled. So much for progress. Now maybe he can get back to NYC and do some mayor-ing for awhile.

And on the college dystopian front: Hunter College in the heart of the Upper East Side of Manhattan staged their "Million Student March" or "walkout" is more to the point on Thursday. About 60 students filled the sidewalk outside of the building holding signs for Black Lives Matters cop haters, Free Tuition, and some girl was wrapped in the flag of Israel. Interestingly, the signs that they held were mostly professionally printed. They chanted and rallied and made their voices heard, but no one could really make heads or tails of what they really wanted. I sidled up to one of the cops assigned to rally and asked him if they had asked for herds of unicorns yet. He laughed and we chatted for a minute. We decided that they were no great threat to democracy and probably weren't going to riot. Since I don't talk to police officers ever, I took a moment to let him know that he had my support for which he was very appreciative.

So other than terrorist attacks and general mayhem, let's continue in an open forum...

Morons With Microphones

Some thoughts on ISIS and the Democrats.

Let me start by saying that I am not a simpleton, like so many in our chattering classes, who believe that ISIS or radical Islam can be stopped easily. You can't kill it with bombs. You can't contain it with good wishes. You can't police it away. And you can't ignore it into leaving you alone. Stopping radical Islam is a complex problem that will require much more brutal military power than we like to use, a greater use of psychology to break its will, dealing with moderates to narrow the problem, and a pretty heavy investment to change the nature of the Middle East, which currently feeds radical Islam.

So I don't buy any solution from blowhards who say we just need to drop more bombs. Nor do I buy any of the liberal solutions, which typically amount to click our heels together and hope it goes away. Nor do I believe in playing "gotcha" with this issue as so many talking heads do. There is no simply answer, so the only stupid answer really is that there is a simple answer.

But that brings me to Obama and Hillary.

Obama: Friday before the attack, Team Obama made the claim that ISIS is "contained." Then the attack happened. Naturally, the timing of the attack has made that particular quote an embarrassment and everyone is jumping on it. Basically, the attack is taken as proof that Obama is either lying or such a fool that he didn't realize that ISIS was not "contained." To me, the problem with this quote is slightly worse. To me, the problem is the idea that ISIS can be contained at all. Too many in our political class still view groups like ISIS and al Qaeda as if they were governments with borders. They think that if they can surround the areas these groups control, then they are "contained" and can be dealt with. But that's not how terrorists work. Terrorists specifically eschew that strategy because they know they lack the power to fight in that manner. Instead, they spread out and try to blend in, so they can attack the other side seemingly at random. The idea that you can "contain" a group like that is nonsense, just as the idea that you can "degrade" their capabilities by killing their members or shutting down their bank accounts is wrong-headed. As long as there are idiots with guns or homemade bombs willing to die to make a statement, these groups will continue to exist and continue to thrive no matter how many others you kill. Terrorists don't need an infrastructure.

Hillary: Hillary keeps putting her foot in her mouth. She was asked about ISIS and she actually said, that fighting ISIS "cannot be an American fight." Way to put your head in the sand, idiot. This statement pretty much disqualifies Hillary from any foreign policy authority. And as of this writing, she is being blasted by everyone on the left and right for being an idiot. She also refused to condemn radical Islam, which is even worse.

It makes sense when the Democrats say "we aren't at war with Islam, but only radical Islam." I think that's a bit naive, but it makes sense. For her to now refuse to condemn radical Islam is really delusional. It is like the Democrats spent all this time saying, "We aren't at war with the German people, we are only at war with Hitler and Nazism," and here comes Hillary and says, "Nope we're not at war with Hitler or Nazism either." So if radical Islam is not the problem, then who does Hillary think is doing all the killing?

Thoughts?

UPDATE: Hillary, who last told us that this "cannot be an American fight," has flipped around and is now trying to deny ever saying that. She's saying, "This is a worldwide fight, as I said, I know America has to lead it, but we cannot and should not do it alone." So there! She isn't a total moron after all! //shakes head Interestingly, she got Bill out of the brothel to sit on stage with her to make her look competent. So apparently when a "strong woman" gets in trouble, she tries to remind you that you liked the man on whose coattails she rode. You can't make this sh*t up.

Kit's Weekend Thoughts: Paris

This afternoon I went for a brief walk at a local park. When I came back to my apartment I checked Facebook and saw a message from my Mom asking if I knew about Paris. I replied "No" and went to google. At the top of the search was a headline mentioning several attacks in Paris and 35 dead with several held hostage at the Bataclan theater.

now, CNN has the death toll at 153, with over 100 of those occurring inside the theater, and, with over 50 seriously injured, that number is likely to go up. France has since been placed under a state of emergency and Paris has a mandatory curfew for the first time since 1944. We have some reports that a few of the gunmen at large while others say all were killed.

There is so much we as of yet do not know. While there is much in the news that ISIS was responsible, I must remind you that it is at times like this, in the midst of a chaotic event, that rumors fly. We have heard from some that it was carried out by ISIS, I have seen at least 3 different death tolls (120, 153, 158). We don't know if they were refugees or if they came from the cités around Paris. It will be at least 24 hours before we know much of the details of who was behind it, who the men were that carried it out, and the ultimate death toll.

What is clear is that this was not an attack by a deranged quack or a lonely duo of losers; this was well-planned and well-orchestrated terrorist attack. This was not Fort Hood, this was not Boston, this was Mumbai.

Some have said ISIS, if they were truly behind this, wants us to strike back. They want us to strike back. Well, in response to that sentiment I quote William T. Sherman:

"War is the remedy our enemies have chosen. Other simple remedies were within their choice. Yon know it and they know it, but they wanted war, and I say let us give them all they want; not a word of argument, not a sign of let up, no cave in till we are whipped or they are."

I will post updates as the story develops.

Update (9:58am): ISIS has claimed responsibility. LINK

Update (1037am): Death toll has been lowered to 127.

Update (2:49pm): Death toll now at 129, including 1 American. 352 injured, over 90 "critically". Arrests in Brussels.

Update (5:24pm): A good article on the topic and what France can do going forward, as well as the problems they face: LINK

Update (12: pm): Evening mass at Notre Dame (may be winding down), LINK* while French law enforcement hunt for a person involved.

*Yeah, it's a Russia Today affiliate, but it was the only one I could find. Sorry.

More of (Not)Kit's Thoughts

I believe Kit has been taken away for testing. So I'm going to take his spot tonight and share some thoughts that I'm pretty sure Kit feels deep down, but won't share because he's far too sensible.

● WTF NFL?: Why was the NFL experimenting with both teams wearing solid colors tonight? It looked like an arena bowl game, only without the dignity. Anyways, Dr. Pepper beat Sprite in a rather dull game in New Jersey. Actually, Nike was behind this. That is a company that should be nationalized so it can be shot into space with all of its employees.

● Missouri Loves Company: Oooh, that's clever! Anyways, I find it funny that all the minority students are now freaking each other out about racists seeking revenge for blah blah blah. Whatever. News flash... no one cares about the U. of Missouri. Seriously, it's a worthless school in the middle of nowhere without even a decent football program. The world does not care about your invented problems. Frankly, I'd like to see the whole school year crash and burn as a lesson to other schools about letting the inmates have their way.

● Sing It Sista: Sista Souljah has declared that Hillary's campaign reminds her of "the plantation," with Hillary being "the White wife of the White Master." That is stupid hyperbole with absolutely no awareness of the reality of slavery, but I'll run with it. Heck, Hillary also reminds me of "the Third Reich" with Hillary being Hitler's Minster of Curmudgeoning Heinrich Grumpler.

● Lookout Below: So the stock market is beginning its annual fall. Your best bet is probably to have invested in 1981. This game is rigged.

● Dude Looks Like A Dude: Caitlin Jenner, f.k.a. Bruce Kardashian, is now getting protested by "trans people" who accuse IT of being "an insult to trans people." First of all, let me say that I think it's funny that "trans people" are now being pulled into the Kardashian empire. There is no escape from that black hole, my friends. Secondly, let me ask, what makes one a "trans person"? Do you need to own a TransAM? Fly TWA? Cross the continent using the TransContinental Rail Road? Come on, there must be more than just wanting to mutilate your genitalia? What kind of sh*tty club is this?

● Liar, Liar (Part 1,007): Hillary now claims she tried to join the Marines, but was rejected. This is so obviously a lie that even the MSM is looking into it. This is truly a disappointing lie. There is no art to this whatsoever and there isn't even the possibility of this being true. It's like Hillary just doesn't care. Sigh.

Thoughts?

Keen Political Nuggets

Well, we’re still struggling to find something interesting to write about. I guess that’s just the summer fall holidays. Actually, I think it’s just that our political system has entered a loop and is stuck. Here are some thoughts though.

● The Carson Problem: The media is firing its best shots at Ben Carson right now and they can't seem to dent him. The problem is they are using the wrong material. If you want to bring down a candidate, you either need to catch them in a major, substantive lie of the type that makes people cringe ("that was the first time I did blow off the belly of a dead hooker!") or you need to catch them in a thousand little cuts that play into a negative personality trait or stereotype.

For black males, the way to sink them is sexual misconduct. Line up a couple white women, get them to swear that said black gentleman fondled them or left public hair on their cokes, and that’s usually enough to bring down a black dude. No such allegations have been made against Ben Carson. Instead, the media is obsessing over verbal technicalities from when he was a teenager about whether he was a a great guy or just a good guy. Even more stupid, they are attacking the idea that Carson was a bad boy when he was young. “Ha! I have found you out! You were always a decent kid... you monster!” Yeah, that will sink you with America. Idiots. Until they start trotting out the hos he date raped on the bodies of unconscious patients, they won't lay a glove on him.

● Obama Loses Again: Yet another court has struck down Obama’s attempts to rule by Executive Fiat. This time it was his vaunted immigration amnesty. The court even used his own words against him where Obama stupidly admitted that he was changing the law with his order. At this point, not a single attempt by Obama to circumvent the Congress has worked. The Imperial Presidency has turned into a dud and waste of seven years.

● Petty Minds and Irrelevance: Here are issues that have set the GOP world afire. Hillary Clinton laughed when someone said they wanted to strangle Carly Fiorina. The media is being unfair to the Republicans. Starbucks no longer puts “Merry Christmas” on their cups (which they never did, by the way... this is all made up and the guy who made it up has since admitted he was wrong). That’s fine if that’s what gets the GOP insiders all hot and bothered, but does anybody really think that the public cares about this? Has it dawned on anyone that the way to win the public is to tell them how you will get them jobs, how you will improve the value of their money and assets, and how you will help improve their kids’ education? Nah, keep attacking the red cups.

● Keystone Favor: It strikes me that Obama just gave the GOP a pretty big helping hand in the Rustbelt and Midwest by killing the Keystone Pipeline. Think of all the union jobs that just vanished in a puff of smug.

● The FBI Wants You: This FBI probe of Hillary is getting rather interesting. When it happened, I saw two possibilities. Either, Obama wanted to burn Hillary and this was his way of dragging her down and possibly even locking her up. Alternatively, he was going to run a quick and dirty “investigation,” and then declare her clean and saintly. Right now, it’s starting to look like the FBI is serious. That is not good news for Hillary.

● Cold Turkey: I hear there's going to be a turkey shortage this Turkey Day. Am I the only one who is starting to get skeptical of all these shortages on key days?

Enough Whining Already...

When did we become such a society of whiners and ingrates? We used to be country that solved problems with humor and conquered big, grand things like air and space flight with pride and industry. We used to have pride in our accomplishments. But now we are just a bunch of whiners.

Maybe my frustration comes from the book I am reading right now - The Wright Brothers by David McCullough. It is the story of how two young men decided to conquer the problem of flying. Not for any other reason than to solve the problem. Not for personal aggrandizement or out of any kind of arrogance. Certainly they did not do it for personal wealth though they were smart enough to insist on being the sole owners of their patent. They did it for the shear desire to solve a problem that most said could not be solved. And they did by starting with the basics - studying and observing birds.

So on the 8th day of the 8th month of the 8th year of the 20th Century (August 8, 1908) in a field in Le Mans, France, they proved to the world that they had indeed conquered the skies with motorized, controllable airflight. All of the people who said it couldn't be done were amazed at what they witnessed that day. And these two men changed the world forever.

Wilbur and Orville Wright were from a humble home and modest means in Dayton, Ohio. They spent their childhood days studying and building stuff. Their father was a modest travelling minister who raise his children (4 boys and 1 girl) to be curious about everything. They did not have fancy furniture or clothes, but their father filled their house with books. He allowed his children to explore the world through books and stretch their intellects without limits. Interestingly, the only one of the Wright children to attend college was the daugher, Katherine who actually became the first American woman to fly in an airplane.

Many, many were trying to solve this problem. You could say there was a race on to be the first. The US government had paid $20,000 for Samuel P. Langley to build and test his much publicized glider, but on December 8, 1903 with thousands to watch, he failed miserably. But only 10 days later (December 17, 1903) on a lonely beach in Kitty Hawk, NC, after thousand of tests, failures, re-building, re-engineering, and in front of a few witnesses, Wilber and Orville proved to themselves that they had conquered controlled glider flight. And they did without fanfare and for just a $1000 of their own funds earned from their Dayton bicycle shop, what Langley could not with government funds.

It is most inpiring biography written by a most inpiring biographer and I highly recommend the book to read if for no other reason for a much-needed dose of inpiration in what humans can accomplish through ingenuity and hard work.

Sadly, what we have in November of 2015 are Yale and Missouri University whiners who can't get too many safe spaces to whine. But I know that there are kids out there just ike Wilbur and Orville who will solve the next big problem without fanfare just for the shear pleasure of conquer a problem that everyone said was unconquerable.

Silence From The Left... Again

Imagine it is the 1980s. The left hates Ronald Reagan. They accuse him of being a warmongering in the thrall of the right-wing military industrial complex. They see Russia as peaceful. Russia is just a country who loves everyone... ignore the military doctrine they discuss openly about first strikes and destroying America. Now imagine Reagan's Secretary of Defense gave this speech:

The speech in question happened at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and the Secretary begins by actually having the nerve of accusing Russia of "endangering world order." Can you believe that, the left squeals? They demand to know when has Russia ever threatened the United States, and they shout down every attempt to answer. Many even point out that the US is pointing thousands of nuclear missiles at Russian cities even after the Russians agree in the 1990s to de-target their missiles (something symbolic which can be undone in seconds).

The Secretary says that Russia is undertaking "challenging activities" at sea, in the air, in space and in cyberspace. He claims that "Moscow's nuclear saber-rattling raises questions about Russia leaders' commitment to strategic stability, their respect for norms against the use of nuclear weapons, and whether they respect the profound caution nuclear-age leaders showed with regard to the brandishing of nuclear weapons." Wow is that paranoid, says the left. Putin has never once said he would nuke the US, though he has a couple times made indirect threats to destroy the US and his generals have spoken openly about nuking the US, but that doesn't matter. We are still the only country to use nuclear weapons, the left reminds us, and until the Russians actually do it, they are innocent.

What's more, we are asked to think "critically" about the provocations cited by the Secretary and to realize that they are a pretext. DOD is upset that the Russians are sending their navy out to defend their interests. So it's fine when we "police" the world's oceans, but it's not fine when someone else chooses to do the same? Besides, Russia's navy is sclerotic. DOD is upset that Russia is flying more long-range air patrols off US shores. Well, that is legal and the US does it too. They are upset that Moscow is reopening 10 Soviet-era bases along the Arctic that were closed in 1991. How are the internal workings of other countries our affair? Besides, we still operate bases from the Cold War, are we being aggressors?

This Secretary is clearly just looking for a reason to go to war, right?

The Secretary claims that Russia is "stirring trouble" in Europe and the Middle East. In that, he claims the Russians invaded Ukraine and Georgia and are trying to "intimidate" the Baltic states, despite the fact that Russia can show that it was asked to intervene in each instance, despite the fact that each is a former Soviet territory and should be within the Russian zone of influence -- not ours, and despite the fact that each country has sizable parts of their populations who are ethnic Russians and want to join Russia.

The Secretary claims Putin is "throwing gasoline on an already dangerous fire" in Syria, without even asking if that isn't exactly what the US has done in Iraq, Afghanistan and by creating ISIS! The Secretary attacks China too.

He then critically admits that neither Russia nor China can actually challenge the world order, yet he uses their challenge to the world order as a basis for making this threat:

"We do not seek a cold, let alone a hot, war with Russia. We do not seek to make Russia an enemy. But make no mistake; the United States will defend our interests, our allies, the principled international order, and the positive future it affords us all."

You can't really get a more aggressive statement than that, short of a declaration of war. Indeed, he admits that US policy will be aimed at stopping Russia and China:

"We are adapting our operational posture and contingency plans as we - on our own and with allies - work to deter Russia's aggression, and to help reduce the vulnerability of allies and partners."

This is preparation for war, screams the left! And if you need further proof, here are some of the things the Secretary says are being undertaken as preparations: the U.S. is modernizing its entire nuclear arsenal — not only the submarines, bomber aircraft and land-based missiles that are armed with long-range nuclear weapons, but also the weapons themselves. "We're investing in the technologies that are most relevant to Russia's provocations, such as new unmanned systems, a new long-range bomber, and innovation in technologies like the electromagnetic railgun, lasers and new systems for electronic warfare, space and cyberspace, including a few surprising ones I really can't describe here.

Damn you war monger Ronald Reagan!!! But this isn't Ronald Reagan... this is Obama and it's his Secretary of Defense, and not a single leftist is out there rioting in the streets or trying to bring down the warmonger Obama.

My point in presenting this article is sixfold. First, it is to point out to you why foreign policy always seems more difficult under conservative presidents. Had Reagan or Bush(s)'s Defense Secretary given this exact same speech, there would be leftists whining in the streets about the warmongers in the White House trying to destroy us all, building weapons at the behest of defense contractors, and destabilizing the world with another round of sabre rattling and an arms race. Yet, since it is a leftist administration, the left remains silent... just as they've stopped complaining about every other "war crime" they used to bitch about every single day under Bush/Reagan (the immorality of war itself, the immorality of nuclear missiles, drones, land mines, Gitmo, phosphorus weapons, "aggressive" war, lack of proportionality, fighting for oil, etc.). This silence shows that the left's arguments are not principled, they are opportunistic. They are applied only to hurt the right, not to create some set of genuine values.

Secondly, this shows that Obama has not made the world any better than when he found it. To the contrary, it seems that things have gotten worse. There is an out-of-control war in the Middle East, where there had been an uneasy ending to the wars when Obama took over. Russia and China are rising up and causing problems, with no respect for the US. Ukraine, Georgia and Eastern Europe remain in the same tense state as when Obama took over, if not worse.

Third, this shows that Obama has finally come around to the real world. It has taken him forever during his administration, but he's finally given in to the reality that plastic reset buttons, bowing to terrorists and clowns, and wishing problems away just don't work. Obama is now starting to implement the same doctrines as "evil" people like Reagan and Bush.

Fourth, this shows that Obama indeed has no policy in the Middle East except "hope they all run out of things to kill."

Fifth, it shows that Hillary didn't fix a thing as Secretary of Drunk Texting.

Sixth, it shows that we're in for an interesting period where Russia will try to fix the Middle East by force and by supporting different partners. At the same time, Obama apparently plans to contain China. They even sent an American cruiser to challenge China's territorial claims the other day. That's called gun boat diplomacy, and the left has railed against that since 1945.

What a world!

Thoughts?

Free Form Open Thread...

I don't really have anything for tonight, so feel to free your minds to free-associate freely. I hear they did this in the '60's with great success...

Ug... Blahg... Njaaah... Drool

So I'm not dead. That is the good news... I suppose. In fact, I'm healthy enough to actually write an article. But then another problem arises: there's nothing to write about!

It looks like the Republican won the governorship in Kentucky despite everyone being sure he would lose. That's a bad sign for the Democrats. Kentucky is still one of the few southern(ish) states that leans Democratic. But apparently, Democratic voters are on strike. For the longest time, it looked like the Democrats were going to recapture the US Senate, but now I'm having my doubts. After things like Kentucky, it seems that the left is just too demoralized to turn out. Moreover, the Dems are using a bad strategy in places like Virginia where Bloomberg is determined to make the Senate contest about gun control. Good luck with that, fool.

A word on black quarterbacks. The search for the world's first great black quarterback has become a sort of Holy Grail quest for liberal sports journalists. The way this translates is rather ironic. First, it means that THOU SHALT NOT criticize the latest great black hope. Even to offer very legitimate criticism gets attacked as racist. And when these guys show some talent in their first year, well break out the Papal robes because they get anointed as divine. But the moment they stumble, these same journalists who sought to shame away all the critics turn viciously and often unfairly against these guys. Their attacks go beyond talent and far into personality. RG3 and Colin Kaepernick have both been savaged now by journalists for being lazy, entitled and rude. They are described as rude and selfish. And many of these articles are downright gloating, mocking and intentionally insulting. It is an amazing display only a liberal could excuse. How can it be racist to offer legitimate criticism that, if corrected, could help these guys succeed, but the moment the Messiah robes turn to ash, it becomes fair game to destroy them as people?

I'm not entirely sure what Putin is doing, but after the Russian plane got shot down in Egypt (and with more no doubt coming), I think Putin is about to start his own Vietnam in Syria and Iraq. It will be interesting to see if Putin can eliminate his problem by simply killing enough people. History says he can't, but he seems like he's willing to try. Anyways, my prediction is this... look for a joint Russian/Iranian invasion of ISIS held Iraq in the near future.

Thoughts?

Random Silly Thoughts and Revelations

Just a couple of random thoughts and revelations. Not "revelations" with a capital "R", as in the End Times, but just random stuff, not too heavy, to discuss for today while Andrew heals from his child-induced plague and Kit gets through his studies

Case #1: As a follow up to the revelation by Rachel Dolezal. You may remember her as the former head of the Seattle branch of the NAACP and professor of Black Studies at Eastern Washington University who was outed as...well...not being the least bit a "person of color" from this summer. Well, after months of controversy, she finally had to admit when pressed by a Fox News panel of actual Black women that she, in fact, is a 100% white person with two white, Caucasian parents and that the person that she claimed was her "son" was really her adopted brother. Well, now that is settled, we can move on.

Case #2: Big news about Stonehenge. Yes, THAT Stonehenge where scientists, archeologist, and random Druids have speculated for generations about the reason they set up at this particular spot at that particular time. Was it some ancient astronomical calculator? Was it an ancient sacred religious ceremonial site for human sacrifice? Did an alien species use it as a landing site? Well, now the big news is that the people who frequented Stonehenge had big barbecues. Imagine.

This brings me to my theory of the mystery of Stonehenge. Having walked among these giant stones in April, there really should be no mystery as to why they ended up in the middle of nowhere. Honestly, humans haven't changed that much in thousands of years, so commen sense would say that these people had been dragging giant stones across Salisbury Plains forever and they just got tired. Finally one of them was brave enough to say with an oddly old man Yiddish accent said "Oy, I am tired of dragging these stones around. Can't we just stop with this mishegas already? My arms hurt. My sandal are worn to a nub. This looks like as good a place as any to set up these stupid stones. Maybe we could set up here? We can set them up with a pretty view of the stars at night. Maybe invite some of people over to have a giant nosh with these cows that are following us around. Eh, why not. We gotta eat, right?" Invitations were sent out, people came, and hence, the first known disgruntle employees and barbecue joints were born. See, mystery is solve.

By the way, I have the same theory about why the stone carvers of the Mayan calendar stopped at 12/21/2012. There should be no great mystery or revelation as to why it ended since the world did not actually end on 12/21/2012. Maybe, just maybe, one of the stone carvers with[oddly] the same old man Yiddish accent just got tired and bored like artists and craftpersons have done forever. Finally he (or she in our new PC world order) finally took a stand, stood up and shouted "Oy, I am tired of carving the same thing year after year. Just once, I want to carve something else! Maybe a pretty naked lady with no arms or nice naked boy. Anything other than this stupid circle!" It really could have been something as simple as that.

Anyway, I don't have a Case #3, but I am sure you can fill it in with some current or relevant topic...except for the Mets. Don't mention the Mets...the team that blew it when they lost the 2015 World Series in five games. Just don't do it unless you have to.