[ Note : URL in picture no longer links to canibalism story. It is for a dancing gorilla? ]
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Death Penalty for being Christian
In Iran, Yousef Nadarkhani, a Christian, is sentenced to hang because he is rejecting an Islamic education for his Christian children.
Obviously they are ignoring Article 13 of the Iranian Constitution :
Obviously they are ignoring Article 13 of the Iranian Constitution :
Zoroastrian, Jewish, and Christian Iranians are the only recognized religious minorities, who, within the limits of the law, are free to perform their religious rites and ceremonies, and to act according to their own canon in matters of personal affairs and religious education.[ insert snide remark about "Religion of Peace" here ]
Monday, July 25, 2011
Are you really going to say that?
Remember when Pelosi said "...we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it...?" Well the general director of the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) has said something similar, "We know everything about the Higgs boson except whether it exists."
Granted, probing the depths of particle physics is a lot more difficult that reading a law before you decide to pass it, so we can give him a pass. In the end we will learn something about the atom, and the effects of passing laws you don't read.
What complaints could you have about Captain America, a movie based on a comic book? How about it is historically inaccurate?
Civil rights blogger Adam Serwer complains that the troops shown in the Captain America movie were not segregated.
Maybe next time a war movie is made we can leave the black troops out just to make him happy. Wait, that's racist, but that is what he wants to see, isn't it?
The Internet is an addiction. Really? What is wrong with people?
Granted, probing the depths of particle physics is a lot more difficult that reading a law before you decide to pass it, so we can give him a pass. In the end we will learn something about the atom, and the effects of passing laws you don't read.
What complaints could you have about Captain America, a movie based on a comic book? How about it is historically inaccurate?
Civil rights blogger Adam Serwer complains that the troops shown in the Captain America movie were not segregated.
Maybe next time a war movie is made we can leave the black troops out just to make him happy. Wait, that's racist, but that is what he wants to see, isn't it?
The Internet is an addiction. Really? What is wrong with people?
Get Me a Violin
The Burrs live in Bossier and have put up a sign in their front yard supporting their son's service in the Marines. Now they are being sued for it.
This sounds awful except for the fact they agreed not to do this. The Burrs belong to a homeowners association at the Gardens of Southgate. When you join an association like this you sign away some rights. The Burrs willingly went along.
You can read the comments on the story of how awful it is that they are getting sued, but this is just tugging at the heart strings. The environmentalists do the same thing to push the issue of "global warming" by talking about the poor polar bears.
It is great to see support for the troops, but don't put anything in writing that prevents you from doing so!
This sounds awful except for the fact they agreed not to do this. The Burrs belong to a homeowners association at the Gardens of Southgate. When you join an association like this you sign away some rights. The Burrs willingly went along.
You can read the comments on the story of how awful it is that they are getting sued, but this is just tugging at the heart strings. The environmentalists do the same thing to push the issue of "global warming" by talking about the poor polar bears.
It is great to see support for the troops, but don't put anything in writing that prevents you from doing so!
Friday, July 22, 2011
Green Disincentives
Hybrid and electric car purchases have increased enough that the incentives to buy one are disappearing. Tax credits are gone and now, in California, the incentive hybrid owners could use the car-pool lane without car-pooling is gone.
The increase in plug-in vehicles is not only losing incentives but will eventually affect us all. They add a burden to the power grid.
Now they may provide a reason for the government to watch us. The decline of gas purchases means the loss in revenue in gas taxes needs to be recovered. Oregon has experimented with a GPS mechanism that can track how many miles a driver travels and charging the owner per mile.
This is insane! Why a GPS system? You odometer counts your miles. Why do we need to be tracked?
Doesn't matter. GPS systems are part of your car now, by law. Can't do anything about it. They will watch you.
The increase in plug-in vehicles is not only losing incentives but will eventually affect us all. They add a burden to the power grid.
Now they may provide a reason for the government to watch us. The decline of gas purchases means the loss in revenue in gas taxes needs to be recovered. Oregon has experimented with a GPS mechanism that can track how many miles a driver travels and charging the owner per mile.
This is insane! Why a GPS system? You odometer counts your miles. Why do we need to be tracked?
Doesn't matter. GPS systems are part of your car now, by law. Can't do anything about it. They will watch you.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Learning Teaching is too Hard
NOTE : Some links require a free sign up to PJTV, for now. The links will disappear soon without a subscription.
Government regulations are a burden on private industry. It costs money and can make no sense. If you defy the government you get fined or go to jail.
But if you are employed by the government, you just might defy their regulations; that is, government defies government. It turns out that teachers in Idaho feel it is unreasonable to get 100% proficiency in math and reading, so they simply will not do it.
This should not be surprising. To get lazy about teaching would be to make most of the learning happen at home, with homework. How does it get worse than that. Don't assign homework so that it does not get figured into part of the grade.
Don't teach in school. Don't teach at home. Are there no standards?
Believe it or not, there is hope, and in the most hopeless city: Detroit. The citizens voted that there could be no preferential treatment for college admission based on race, sex, or national origin. Basically, in Detroit, smart is smart. Dumb is not elevated on non-cerebral qualities; the same qualities behind previously mentioned topics. But the government is fighting the public will because it considers it unfair for one race to be as smart as another.
These are muddy waters. Throw in unions and what have you got? Unions have become parasitically destructive instead of symbiotic. The recent noise in Wisconsin shows how the unions are destructive to education by supporting seniority over quality.
Weed out the federal government and unions from education. Keep politics local. What a novel idea; the neighborhood interest is the neighborhood's interest.
Government regulations are a burden on private industry. It costs money and can make no sense. If you defy the government you get fined or go to jail.
But if you are employed by the government, you just might defy their regulations; that is, government defies government. It turns out that teachers in Idaho feel it is unreasonable to get 100% proficiency in math and reading, so they simply will not do it.
This should not be surprising. To get lazy about teaching would be to make most of the learning happen at home, with homework. How does it get worse than that. Don't assign homework so that it does not get figured into part of the grade.
Believe it or not, there is hope, and in the most hopeless city: Detroit. The citizens voted that there could be no preferential treatment for college admission based on race, sex, or national origin. Basically, in Detroit, smart is smart. Dumb is not elevated on non-cerebral qualities; the same qualities behind previously mentioned topics. But the government is fighting the public will because it considers it unfair for one race to be as smart as another.
These are muddy waters. Throw in unions and what have you got? Unions have become parasitically destructive instead of symbiotic. The recent noise in Wisconsin shows how the unions are destructive to education by supporting seniority over quality.
Weed out the federal government and unions from education. Keep politics local. What a novel idea; the neighborhood interest is the neighborhood's interest.
Inspiration
Just a wonderful piece to watch. Thank you Bill Whittle.
The idea of inspiration prompts me to remind you of this speech. You may not like his politics, but you have to love his service to the country.
The idea of inspiration prompts me to remind you of this speech. You may not like his politics, but you have to love his service to the country.
Weather Warriors
This can cause much trouble in the world and the U.N. is considering doing something about it.
A quote from Concept Note for the Open Debate of the Security Council on 19 July 2011
The Secretary-General´s report of 2009 identified sea-level rise as the “ultimate security threat” for some small island states, with some possibly set to “disappear over the next 30 years”.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Protest Affordable Food
California grows tomatoes. Trader Joe's in California sells tomatoes from Florida. Californians are protesting at Trader Joe's to raise prices on tomatoes. Is this protectionism? No. The protesters feel the farmers do not make enough money. The idea is to make the point of purchase charge more. The extra money can then go back down the purchasing chain to the farmers. There's no chance that the POP or anyone else in the supply chain will want to keep the money for themselves, is there? |  |
Surprise! Green Fail
A car company to produce green electric cars in Salinas California has folded. The company has received $540,000 from the city of Salinas and $187,000 from the California Energy Commision. They ultimately had to close due to a lack of investors.
Electric cars are not a new idea. They have been around since the 1800s. Cars used to come in three flavors : electric, steam, and petrol. Once oil was found to be plentiful in Texas in the early 1900s, cost of fueling and production of the cars became the most affordable and popular option.
The electric car is of course gaining popularity, or at least being thrust upon us through green guilt. After all, who wants to see more CO2? So it must have impressive performance, right? It can make a trip from London to Edinburgh in four days! However, a horse drawn stagecoach makes the same trip in two days.
Are you better off getting a horse? In Europe you are. They are banning cars in the city.
Electric cars are not a new idea. They have been around since the 1800s. Cars used to come in three flavors : electric, steam, and petrol. Once oil was found to be plentiful in Texas in the early 1900s, cost of fueling and production of the cars became the most affordable and popular option.
The electric car is of course gaining popularity, or at least being thrust upon us through green guilt. After all, who wants to see more CO2? So it must have impressive performance, right? It can make a trip from London to Edinburgh in four days! However, a horse drawn stagecoach makes the same trip in two days.
Are you better off getting a horse? In Europe you are. They are banning cars in the city.
Petty Power
The DMV in Nevada is petty in its politics. A driver desiring a "GOPALIN" or "PALIN12" license plate was denied his request because it expressed political views. However, plates with "GOGREEN", "AL GORE", and "DMOCRAT" were deemed acceptable.
A little person with a little power will be a tyrant.
The case has been taken to court. The details and full story are here.
A little person with a little power will be a tyrant.
The case has been taken to court. The details and full story are here.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Circular Problem
So you may have heard the phrase "you need to spend money to make money." This speaks of investment. But what about "you can not reduce spending if you want to reduce spending." How does that work? It must be Obamanomics.
There is more on this story at PajamasMedia and The Hill.
There is more on this story at PajamasMedia and The Hill.
Fiscal Fairyland
I endorse this editorial at Investor.com.
The subject is about the debt ceiling. Democrats claim every election cycle that Republicans want to cut Social Security to scare experienced voters to the Dark Side. However, it was Clinton that levied taxes on Social Security and now Obama threatens no Social Security checks because he can not guarantee there will be money in the coffers.
Isn't the reason there is a discussion of raising the debt ceiling because we already do not have money in the coffers? Isn't this just an argument of how many bad checks we agree to write? Or is this an argument of how much more money will be printed to cover the bad checks?
The subject is about the debt ceiling. Democrats claim every election cycle that Republicans want to cut Social Security to scare experienced voters to the Dark Side. However, it was Clinton that levied taxes on Social Security and now Obama threatens no Social Security checks because he can not guarantee there will be money in the coffers.
Isn't the reason there is a discussion of raising the debt ceiling because we already do not have money in the coffers? Isn't this just an argument of how many bad checks we agree to write? Or is this an argument of how much more money will be printed to cover the bad checks?
Religion Mocked by Austrian Driver's License
Austrian Niko Alm won the right to wear religious headdress in his driver's license photo and then mocked the religion! Niko claims he is a Pastafarian but wore a colander on his head. Blasphemy!
I know as a Pastafarian I should remember we embrace contradictions, don't take ourselves seriously, and we have no strict rules, but what of the beautiful pirate regalia? After winning such a legal battle why choose an accessory that is not recognized as a part of our garb? Is he mocking us?
Just as the cross was used to crucify Christ, can't the colander be used to trap and dry out the creator? Why would you turn to a symbol that destroys your center of faith as a symbol of strength? That makes no sense! ( I AM TRYING to embrace the contradiction. )
Maybe I am too conservative and want to hold onto traditional values. Maybe I just fear change.
I know as a Pastafarian I should remember we embrace contradictions, don't take ourselves seriously, and we have no strict rules, but what of the beautiful pirate regalia? After winning such a legal battle why choose an accessory that is not recognized as a part of our garb? Is he mocking us?
Just as the cross was used to crucify Christ, can't the colander be used to trap and dry out the creator? Why would you turn to a symbol that destroys your center of faith as a symbol of strength? That makes no sense! ( I AM TRYING to embrace the contradiction. )
Maybe I am too conservative and want to hold onto traditional values. Maybe I just fear change.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Obama is a Time Traveller
Many people think Obama is the greatest president ever. What could possibly make him more awesome? He is a time traveller.
How else can you explain the fact that he gets his own daughter's age wrong and doesn't know when his birthday is, even though a party is being planned right now? Time travelers can have great difficulty keeping track of what day it is.
Why else do you think he says "uh" all the time when he is not on a teleprompter? He is avoiding tainting of the time line by keeping future knowledge secret.
He may have hurt unenployment, the used car market, health care, and more, but the space time continuum is in tact. And for that President Obama, I thank you.
How else can you explain the fact that he gets his own daughter's age wrong and doesn't know when his birthday is, even though a party is being planned right now? Time travelers can have great difficulty keeping track of what day it is.
Why else do you think he says "uh" all the time when he is not on a teleprompter? He is avoiding tainting of the time line by keeping future knowledge secret.
He may have hurt unenployment, the used car market, health care, and more, but the space time continuum is in tact. And for that President Obama, I thank you.
Are you kidding?
Police shut down little girls' lemonade stand. They didn't have a business license. Now they are doing chores and yard work. Do you need a business license for doing yard work, or only when you call it landscaping?
With both hands a woman grabbed and twisted the breasts of a TSA agent. She now faces sexual abuse charges. TSA agents grope thousands a day at the airport without consequence, usually. Isn't that serial molestation? And this woman did it just once, or twice depending on how you view it.
And you know the planking craze? How about owling? Why are these cool? Oh yeah, I don't get it 'cause I'm old.
With both hands a woman grabbed and twisted the breasts of a TSA agent. She now faces sexual abuse charges. TSA agents grope thousands a day at the airport without consequence, usually. Isn't that serial molestation? And this woman did it just once, or twice depending on how you view it.
And you know the planking craze? How about owling? Why are these cool? Oh yeah, I don't get it 'cause I'm old.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Class Warfare
Good old moveon.org is trying to promote class warfare with a poster/picture that they found at faireconomy.org. It is titled "11 Things The Wealthiest 400 Americans Could Buy Their Country." At first I thought it was going to be a cool list like a space station the size of a football field or the country of Mexico ( because that would solve some problems ). No. It is a deceptive title. It is really billions of things the rich could buy for other people, like buy everyone a car or pay their rent.
One of my favorites on the list is "a $10,000 dollar bonus to every single worker in the country." What about those people without jobs? Are they promoting three sided class warfare? The rich, the workers ( but the rich do work ), and the jobless?
One of my favorites on the list is "a $10,000 dollar bonus to every single worker in the country." What about those people without jobs? Are they promoting three sided class warfare? The rich, the workers ( but the rich do work ), and the jobless?
Friday, July 15, 2011
Marilyn Monroe's White Lace Panties
In Chicago a 26 foot tall statue of Marilyn Monroe was erected recreating the subway scene from "The Seven Year Itch." It looks like it is beautifully done, but nothing is left to the imagination.
If you do a search on the web you can find several examples of other artists recreating this scene as a statue and yet still keep the tease factor intact. Does a tease factor keep a piece exciting? Even after you have checked a piece to find out you do not get to see what is hidden, do you come back to the piece to get teased?
The 26 foot Marilyn just puts it all out there. Since you get to see what is usually hidden does this statue become a bore? Does it lose its enticement after the first view? Would you rather be teased?
If you do a search on the web you can find several examples of other artists recreating this scene as a statue and yet still keep the tease factor intact. Does a tease factor keep a piece exciting? Even after you have checked a piece to find out you do not get to see what is hidden, do you come back to the piece to get teased?
The 26 foot Marilyn just puts it all out there. Since you get to see what is usually hidden does this statue become a bore? Does it lose its enticement after the first view? Would you rather be teased?
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