Caturday Night Special, Episode XX

No political lolcats this week. I drove back today, and did Voxiversity afterwards, which wiped me out (and I can't seem to break the 90% curse).

Food for thought, but not much else

It appears that "tightening our belts" may take a more literal meaning:

Food prices will rise next year, prompting a revival of protectionism from food-growing nations and risking a renewed bout of rioting, according to Jochen Hitzfeld, an analyst at UniCredit SpA in Munich.

“Agricultural commodities will outperform the broad commodity indices in 2009,” Hitzfeld wrote in a research note this week. “If key crop-producing countries then impose export bans again and speculators drive up prices via physical stockpiling and futures contracts, new food unrest is even conceivable in the second half of 2009.”

While it might seem a bit absurd to think that the production of food may become a problem in the coming years, a quick look at some of the contributing factors indicates that the absurd may have a firm foundation in reality:

Retail prices for flour, potatoes, cheddar cheese and apples showed the largest increases in the quarter. A 5-pound bag of flour cost $2.62, up 37% from a year earlier, while 5 pounds of potatoes rose 32% to $3.38. Prices for cheddar cheese and apples surged 21%.

Vegetable oil rose 17%, a dozen eggs jumped 13%, pork chops were up 6.8% and hamburger cost 5% more, the federation said.

Corn futures surged 70% on the Chicago Board of Trade during the quarter from a year earlier, wheat increased 11% and live cattle rose 8.2%.

Food-price inflation may run as high as 6% this year, the highest since 1980, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said.

Coupled with rising inflation across the board*, while a single food crisis alone would not be enough to cause a serious panic domestically, a number of mutually-magnifying crises affecting the food-market might be enough to cause more serious problems both domestically and abroad.

It has been observed that the difference between civilization and barbarism is a week without food; I pray we don't get to test the hypothesis.

* An inevitable step, in my opinion; with skyrocketing national debt, the only available option to a government that evidently has no intention of paying honestly is to monetize it, causing massive, nay, titanic inflation.

Happy Thanksgiving

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Psalms 23:1-6

May your day be filled with joy. That is all.

This is getting out of hand

Barack Obama: Son of Promise, Child of Hope... Seriously, put down the damn Kool-Aid and slap yourselves.

And no, for those local to me, this would not be a good gift for me, even as a gag. I'm not kidding.

Without accounting for interest...

A billion here, a billion there, pretty soon you're talking about real money.
- Everett McKinley Dirksen

Via the Lew Rockwell Blog:

Thanks to Steve Berger:

If we add in the Citi bailout, the total cost now exceeds $4.6165 trillion dollars. People have a hard time conceptualizing very large numbers, so let’s give this some context. The current Credit Crisis bailout is now the largest outlay In American history.

Jim Bianco of Bianco Research crunched the inflation adjusted numbers. The bailout has cost more than all of these big budget government expenditures – combined:

• Marshall Plan: Cost: $12.7 billion, Inflation Adjusted Cost: $115.3 billion
• Louisiana Purchase: Cost: $15 million, Inflation Adjusted Cost: $217 billion
• Race to the Moon: Cost: $36.4 billion, Inflation Adjusted Cost: $237 billion
• S&L Crisis: Cost: $153 billion, Inflation Adjusted Cost: $256 billion
• Korean War: Cost: $54 billion, Inflation Adjusted Cost: $454 billion
• The New Deal: Cost: $32 billion (Est), Inflation Adjusted Cost: $500 billion (Est)
• Invasion of Iraq: Cost: $551b, Inflation Adjusted Cost: $597 billion
• Vietnam War: Cost: $111 billion, Inflation Adjusted Cost: $698 billion
• NASA: Cost: $416.7 billion, Inflation Adjusted Cost: $851.2 billion

TOTAL: $3.92 trillion

Are you beginning to feel the heat?

Quick! Use a bigger mallet!

Ah, Mighty Obama! We offer a sacrifice unto thee!

Congress will send President-elect Barack Obama an economic stimulus package the day he takes office Jan. 20, two Democratic lawmakers said today.

Senator Charles Schumer of New York said on ABC’s “This Week” program that the package will be between $500 billion and $700 billion. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, of Maryland, said on “Fox News Sunday” that he believed the Inauguration Day goal would be met, but he declined to put a price tag on the bill.

Let's pretend for a minute that it wasn't Schumer that was talking, and that his keepers hadn't taken an early lunch and left the keys within reach of his cage: with what authority do they dare do this again?

Congress is quite literally throwing trillions, that's trillions with a bless-ed 'T', at this cluster-screwed example of what happens when the mob elects representatives born of mothers that drank heavily (but not nearly enough) while pregnant.

Everyone in this nation doesn't deserve what's coming, but the majority do, and they deserve it good and hard. Unfortunately, since we make a practice of licking the boots of universal suffrage and its High-Holiness "Democracy", we all get to drink from that poisoned well, then fight to the death over the antidote.

Caturday Night Special, Episode XIX

Once the servant, now the master

The government powerful enough to give you everything is also powerful enough to take it all away:

Argentine stocks fell and the Merval posted the biggest weekly decline among global markets as the state seizure of the nation’s biggest shareholders undermined investor confidence and threatened to spur an equity sell-off.

The Argentine Senate last night approved President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner’s plan to nationalize about $24 billion in private pensions, a move opposition parties called a cash grab and the government said is a way to protect retirees from the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression.

I've said it once, and I'll say it again: the government has no business providing "services" to anyone beyond the fundamental reasons for the establishment of the State; namely, the protection of life, liberty and property. It is most definitely not a retirement-fund, and I'm revolted by the idea that some seem to think that this great secular god-being referred to as "The State" should be offering a teat to anyone that happens to wander within our borders.

Like the genii of The Arabian Nights, the State will seemingly honor wishes from its "little masters", but revels in the mayhem that results in the perverse execution of said wishes. The greater the greed in the wish, the more license the executor takes in its fulfillment.

And yet, we continue to act surprised when this happens.

Hammer & Sickle All-Star Line-Up 2008

Old socialists don't die, they just get moth-balled for a while:

Another notable name is joining Barack Obama's Cabinet -- former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle will be Health and Human Services secretary pending Senate confirmation, FOX News learned Wednesday...

As Health and Human Services chief, Daschle will be responsible for helping set health care policy. He supports a government-funded insurance program for the nation's uninsured.

Daschle has also been the head of the health care working group in the Obama transition team. Democratic officials shied away from a term some are throwing around -- "health care czar" -- but say Daschle "is likely to play a leading role in the passage of health care reform and the strategy to implement it."

Upcoming predictions for the cabinet-positions:


Secretary of State: Hillary Clinton

Secretary of the Treasury: Karl Marx's Mummy, with guest puppeteers from "Avenue 'Q'"

Secretary of Defense: N/A; this position is to be subsumed by Secretary of Homeland Security

Secretary of the Interior: Saruman; has experience with forest management policy beneficial to the aims of the State

Secretary of Agriculture: Robert Mugabe; expected to accept after having exhausted Zimbabwe's resources

Secretary of Commerce: Paul Krugman; expect a lot of "use a bigger mallet" theory

Secretary of Labor: Mola Ram; an equal-opportunity employer of children, followers strikingly similar to Obama-volunteers

Secretary of Health and Human Services: Tom Daschle

Secretary of Housing and Urban Development: The Borg Collective

Secretary of Education: Ted Turner; infrastructure for mass-programming already in place

Secretary of Energy: Tinkerbell; provides an endless and renewable source of pixie-dust

Secretary of Veterans' Affairs: TBA; "Veteran" implies turnover in enlistment

Secretary of Homeland Security: The Smiths; 'Nuff said.

Predictable, yet abhorrent nonetheless

Obama is nothing if not consistent; a verifiable rogues' gallery is assembling to infest the White House:

Washington attorney Eric Holder is President-elect Barack Obama's top choice to be the next attorney general and aides have gone so far as to ask senators whether he would be confirmed, an Obama official and people close to the matter said Tuesday.

Holder, a former U.S. attorney who served as the No. 2 official in the Justice Department under President Bill Clinton, would be the nation's first black attorney general...

On the last day of Clinton's term, Holder was asked whether the president should pardon Rich, a wealthy commodities dealer who had spent years running from tax charges. Holder said he was "neutral, leaning towards favorable" on the pardon. Clinton later cited that as among the factors that persuaded him to issue the pardon.

So much for a reputation as a "tough and aggressive foe of public corruption."

If anything, Holder's appointment confirms the fears of those rushing to purchase firearms before the Obama administration takes office in January... But I'll let Holder speak for himself:

"As most of you know, I have served as a judge, as the chief prosecutor for the District of Columbia, and for the past two years as the Deputy Attorney General of the United States. I know the harm that guns can do - to individuals, to families, and to communities. My concern about easy access to guns in our society is built on my professional experience and the tragedies I have encountered in my work day life. But even more important, I am a father, and I want to be sure that we here in Washington do everything we can -- everything in our power -- to make our communities, our schools and our nation a safer place for our kids.

"Five years ago, Congress came together in a bipartisan way and passed one of the most important gun control measures ever -- the Brady bill. Yesterday, the President announced that since this law went into effect, more than 400,000 criminals and others who are not legally eligible to have guns, have been stopped from buying guns.

"Four hundred thousand. That's a lot of guns. Particularly if those guns were in the hands of fugitives or felons.

"But while the Brady law has done a lot to make this country safer, the law has a dangerous loophole that criminals and others who cannot legally buy guns at a licenced gun shop exploit. While everyone who buys a gun through a licenced dealer must undergo a background check to determine if they are eligible to buy a gun, the current law allows unlicenced sellers at gun shows to sell to anyone -- with no questions asked.

"It's not hard to see what kind of message that sends to criminals."

I'm guessing that message is, "We're disarming the sheep-dogs for the disadvantaged thugs, and we'll pardon the rest of you."

Let me remind you all that the latest proposed ban leaves the determination of what constitutes an "assault rifle" to the Attorney-General:

(L) A semiautomatic rifle or shotgun originally designed for military or law enforcement use, or a firearm based on the design of such a firearm, that is not particularly suitable for sporting purposes, as determined by the Attorney General. In making the determination, there shall be a rebuttable presumption that a firearm procured for use by the United States military or any Federal law enforcement agency is not particularly suitable for sporting purposes, and a firearm shall not be determined to be particularly suitable for sporting purposes solely because the firearm is suitable for use in a sporting event.

I shouldn't have to say it again, as it's beating a dead horse at this blog, but I will: Get a battle-rifle while you can.

"We have forgotten God. That's why all this has happened."

The Solzhenitsyn quote seemed particularly appropriate considering our present state of affairs. These are merely the last rattling gasps of the Republic-That-Should-Have-Been. (Burr should have pulled the trigger on Hamilton a number of years earlier, in my opinion. Good riddance to bad rubbish.)

Anyway, while this has been making the rounds on the Internet, it, and the news of late, reminded me of this poem (in a particularly beautiful rendition by Loreena McKinnett):

Lullaby, by William Blake

O for a voice like thunder, and a tongue
To drown the throat of war! - When the senses
Are shaken, and the soul is driven to madness,
Who can stand? When the souls of the oppressed
Fight in the troubled air that rages, who can stand?
When the whirlwind of fury comes from the
Throne of God, when the frowns of his countenance
Drive the nations together, who can stand?
When Sin claps his broad wings over the battle,
And sails rejoicing in the flood of Death;
When souls are torn to everlasting fire,
And fiends of Hell rejoice upon the slain,
O who can stand? O who hath caused this?
O who can answer at the throne of God?
The Kings and Nobles of the Land have done it!
Hear it not, Heaven, thy Ministers have done it!

That thing's operational!

Hat-tip to Vox for letting us know the balloon went up.

And people ask me why I don't support universal suffrage... With McCain vowing support for Obama's policy in the Senate and his primary opponent as Secretary of State, do you suppose that this might be a shell-game?

I never thought that I'd see the day when I viewed a fiery economic apocalypse as the easy way out.

When in doubt, buy extra clips and ammo

- “Anyone looking for the G-20 to issue a mea culpa on the global financial crisis will be sadly disappointed,” said Kenneth S. Rogoff, a professor of economics at Harvard. The leaders “curiously downplay the huge culpability of the political leadership in the U.S. and Europe.”

- Ron Paul shares his thoughts on "Bretton Woods II: Attack of the Keynesians".

- Records of mortality amongst organisms in a similar niche to the Norwegian Blue parrot extend further into antiquity than previously thought.

- "We have a large amount of hope-change in Kenya that we need to move out of the country..."

Caturday Night Special, Episode XVIII

Also, the fifth calendar month shall be henceforth known as... "Obamay"

Mind you, Obama has only been the president-elect less than a week:

Plans are being made to promote a national holiday for Barack Obama, who will become the nation's 44th president when he takes the oath of office Jan. 20.

"Yes We Can" planning rallies will be at 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. every Tuesday at the downtown McDonald's restaurant, 1100 Kansas Ave., until Jan. 13. The goals are to secure a national holiday in Obama's honor, to organize celebrations around his inauguration and to celebrate the 200th birthday of President Abraham Lincoln, who was born on Feb. 12 1809.

Dress-code will be sweat-suits; bring change for hope and the public transit. Marxist tracts and Big-Macs will be provided.

Also, in honor of Obama's shuffling, mindless hordes, hands outstretched in search of the property of the living, I have introduced a new tag: Kool-Aid Korps.

Caturday Night Special, Episode XVII

Yet another problem with reading comprehension

"A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."

Straight from the prospective Obama administration's website for the occupation of the White House:

Address Gun Violence in Cities: As president, Barack Obama would repeal the Tiahrt Amendment, which restricts the ability of local law enforcement to access important gun trace information, and give police officers across the nation the tools they need to solve gun crimes and fight the illegal arms trade. Obama and Biden also favor commonsense measures that respect the Second Amendment rights of gun owners, while keeping guns away from children and from criminals who shouldn't have them. They support closing the gun show loophole and making guns in this country childproof. They also support making the expired federal Assault Weapons Ban permanent, as such weapons belong on foreign battlefields and not on our streets.

Utterly predictable, but outrageous nonetheless. I expect the proposed legislation to be similar in form to the recent H.R. 1022 (Assault Weapons Ban and Law Enforcement Protection Act of 2007), which expands the definition of an "assault weapon" (a pejorative term applied to garner sympathy from the ignorant) to the following:

(30) The term `semiautomatic assault weapon' means any of the following:

(A) The following rifles or copies or duplicates thereof:
(i) AK, AKM, AKS, AK-47, AK-74, ARM, MAK90, Misr, NHM 90, NHM 91, SA 85, SA 93, VEPR;
(ii) AR-10;
(iii) AR-15, Bushmaster XM15, Armalite M15, or Olympic Arms PCR;
(iv) AR70;
(v) Calico Liberty;
(vi) Dragunov SVD Sniper Rifle or Dragunov SVU;
(vii) Fabrique National FN/FAL, FN/LAR, or FNC;
(viii) Hi-Point Carbine;
(ix) HK-91, HK-93, HK-94, or HK-PSG-1;
(x) Kel-Tec Sub Rifle;
(xi) M1 Carbine;
(xii) Saiga;
(xiii) SAR-8, SAR-4800;
(xiv) SKS with detachable magazine;
(xv) SLG 95;
(xvi) SLR 95 or 96;
(xvii) Steyr AUG;
(xviii) Sturm, Ruger Mini-14;
(xix) Tavor;
(xx) Thompson 1927, Thompson M1, or Thompson 1927 Commando; or
(xxi) Uzi, Galil and Uzi Sporter, Galil Sporter, or Galil Sniper Rifle (Galatz).

(B) The following pistols or copies or duplicates thereof:
(i) Calico M-110;
(ii) MAC-10, MAC-11, or MPA3;
(iii) Olympic Arms OA;
(iv) TEC-9, TEC-DC9, TEC-22 Scorpion, or AB-10; or
(v) Uzi.

(C) The following shotguns or copies or duplicates thereof:
(i) Armscor 30 BG;
(ii) SPAS 12 or LAW 12;
(iii) Striker 12; or
(iv) Streetsweeper.

(D) A semiautomatic rifle that has an ability to accept a detachable magazine, and that has--
(i) a folding or telescoping stock;
(ii) a threaded barrel;
(iii) a pistol grip;
(iv) a forward grip; or
(v) a barrel shroud.

(E)(i) Except as provided in clause (ii), a semiautomatic rifle that has a fixed magazine with the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds.
(ii) Clause (i) shall not apply to an attached tubular device designed to accept, and capable of operating only with, .22 caliber rimfire ammunition.

(F) A semiautomatic pistol that has the ability to accept a detachable magazine, and has--
(i) a second pistol grip;
(ii) a threaded barrel;
(iii) a barrel shroud; or
(iv) the capacity to accept a detachable magazine at a location outside of the pistol grip.

(G) A semiautomatic pistol with a fixed magazine that has the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds.

(H) A semiautomatic shotgun that has--
(i) a folding or telescoping stock;
(ii) a pistol grip;
(iii) the ability to accept a detachable magazine; or
(iv) a fixed magazine capacity of more than 5 rounds.

(I) A shotgun with a revolving cylinder.

(J) A frame or receiver that is identical to, or based substantially on the frame or receiver of, a firearm described in any of subparagraphs (A) through (I) or (L).

(K) A conversion kit.

(L) A semiautomatic rifle or shotgun originally designed for military or law enforcement use, or a firearm based on the design of such a firearm, that is not particularly suitable for sporting purposes, as determined by the Attorney General. In making the determination, there shall be a rebuttable presumption that a firearm procured for use by the United States military or any Federal law enforcement agency is not particularly suitable for sporting purposes, and a firearm shall not be determined to be particularly suitable for sporting purposes solely because the firearm is suitable for use in a sporting event.

(b) Related Definitions- Section 921(a) of such title is amended by adding at the end the following:

(36) Barrel Shroud- The term `barrel shroud' means a shroud that is attached to, or partially or completely encircles, the barrel of a firearm so that the shroud protects the user of the firearm from heat generated by the barrel, but does not include a slide that encloses the barrel, and does not include an extension of the stock along the bottom of the barrel which does not encircle or substantially encircle the barrel.

(37) Conversion Kit- The term `conversion kit' means any part or combination of parts designed and intended for use in converting a firearm into a semiautomatic assault weapon, and any combination of parts from which a semiautomatic assault weapon can be assembled if the parts are in the possession or under the control of a person.

(38) Detachable Magazine- The term `detachable magazine' means an ammunition feeding device that can readily be inserted into a firearm.

(39) Fixed Magazine- The term `fixed magazine' means an ammunition feeding device contained in, or permanently attached to, a firearm.

(40) Folding or Telescoping Stock- The term `folding or telescoping stock' means a stock that folds, telescopes, or otherwise operates to reduce the length, size, or any other dimension, or otherwise enhances the concealability, of a firearm.

(41) Forward Grip- The term `forward grip' means a grip located forward of the trigger that functions as a pistol grip.

(42) Pistol Grip- The term `pistol grip' means a grip, a thumbhole stock, or any other characteristic that can function as a grip.

(43) Threaded Barrel- The term `threaded barrel' means a feature or characteristic that is designed in such a manner to allow for the attachment of a firearm as defined in section 5845(a) of the National Firearms Act (26 U.S.C. 5845(a)).

Keep in mind that this was introduced to the House of Representatives by Rep. Carolyn "Barrel-Shroud" McCarthy [D-NY], who is demonstrably and willfully ignorant regarding the content of her own bill and the design and function of, I daresay, all the affected firearms.

Nevermind that "assault weapons" have no placing in the BATFE's "Top Ten" list of models most-frequently used in crimes. In fact, none of the firearms in that list qualify as "high-capacity" under the 1994 Assault Weapons Ban.

I think the pertinent question would be, "What exactly are they planning that requires law-abiding citizens to surrender their arms, but largely ignores the cause of the crime that "assault weapons" purportedly encourage?"

I promise that you will not like the answer.

Don't cry for us, Argentina

From each, according to their ability...

RALEIGH — Democrats in the U.S. House have been conducting hearings on proposals to confiscate workers’ personal retirement accounts — including 401(k)s and IRAs — and convert them to accounts managed by the Social Security Administration.

Triggered by the financial crisis the past two months, the hearings reportedly were meant to stem losses incurred by many workers and retirees whose 401(k) and IRA balances have been shrinking rapidly.

The testimony of Teresa Ghilarducci, professor of economic policy analysis at the New School for Social Research in New York, in hearings Oct. 7 drew the most attention and criticism. Testifying for the House Committee on Education and Labor, Ghilarducci proposed that the government eliminate tax breaks for 401(k) and similar retirement accounts, such as IRAs, and confiscate workers’ retirement plan accounts and convert them to universal Guaranteed Retirement Accounts (GRAs) managed by the Social Security Administration.

Sound familiar?

It is a mistake to think that the Marxists will hesitate to strike while the iron is still hot. It has been less than forty-eight hours since Obama claimed the crown, and already the distant ring of hammer on anvil is heard daily, forging the shackles that we elected ourselves to wear.

The first steps are the most difficult

I signed up for a class with the Log Home Builders Association and booked the flight and the rental car for that weekend. I do believe it is one of the many (hopefully) good decisions made recently regarding the direction of my life.

Regarding the class, I decided some time ago that I do not like home construction and ownership as it is commonly packaged and sold: drywall and matchsticks on a tiny lot in some satellite-suburb, where you spend your weekends mowing the law, cleaning the gutters and weeding the flower-bed. Oh, and let's not forget painting the house every few years.

Screw that.

My concept of an ideal home includes a solidly-constructed building (more here) on many acres, both of which exist as an extension of my means of production; a prolific garden, space for livestock, timber growth, and a house that requires an absolute minimum of upkeep. Furthermore, it should be financially-efficient to build and operate. Anything else is creating busy-work for yourself, and I am wholeheartedly against that mindset.

My conscience is yelling from the Great Society Bar, "You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here."

We can't see the clock, but I can tell you it's close to last-call for this pig-sty. So, I'm getting my jacket, finishing my pint, and leaving for home. Where that is, I ain't sure yet, but it sure ain't here.

Or, why I love The Onion

Ask not for whom the road tolls

It tolls for thee:

This, however, is the same type of arrangement called for in the Infrastructure Bank Act that is a key part of the agenda of President-elect Barack Obama (D). Obama hopes to establish the bank to provide $60 billion for infrastructure projects with "a preference for projects which leverage private financing, including public-private partnerships" (view details). Moreover, Senator Obama in March endorsed New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's idea to charge a $9 toll on cars and a $22 toll for trucks that enter downtown Manhattan during working hours.

"I think Mayor Bloomberg's proposal for congestion pricing is a thoughtful and innovative approach to the problem," Obama told WNYC radio in March. "The basic notion that we should do what we can to reduce congestion, to reduce pollution, to reduce consumption of foreign oil and to then to reinvest dollars into our infrastructure in mass transit."

Excellent. Less than twenty-fours hours after the fact, the conversation drifts to taxation.

It's nice to have another Roads Scholar in the White House.

Time to watch it burn

- You're fooling yourself if you don't think that the Federal government will renew its efforts to renew a highly-aggressive version 1994 "Assault Weapons" Ban. For those that are unaware, Joe Biden was driving force behind that bill, and Obama has supported related legislation in the past (surprise!). With a democratic majority in the House and Senate and Pelosi at the helm, look for heavy taxes on ammunition, "scary features" bans, and licensing/registration/State-issued identification for firearms-owners.

- Not one, not one person I talked to that supported Obama could articulate the reason supporting their vote for Obama beyond "the lesser of two evils" argument, or, worse yet, the "Hope-Change-Magic-Fairy-Dust!" argument. Yes, this is anecdotal evidence. I believe the vast majority of his supporters may not consider themselves Marxists, but tacit support is still support.

- I'm still expecting trouble regarding Obama's inauguration... It's just a suspicion at this point. The birth-certificate issue is still not fully resolved, although that may not be the catalyzing event.

- Just when I think I've reached the bottom of my estimation on the critical-thinking skills of the American public, something both fresh and horrible assaults my sensibilities, and I am forced to reconsider it. P.T. Barnum had this place figured out a long time ago.

ПЕРЕМЕНА!

"No, there is too much, let me sum up."

Are you feeling cheated yet?

Regarding ends and means

It may not be true, but I suspect it is. If it is, I sincerely hope they're caught by the people involved, and something awful transpires.

I could care less about the Prop 8, by the way. The State has no business being involved in the marriage contract, period.

Via PostSecret.

Caturday Night Special, Episode XVI

These might be the droids you're looking for

I'm sure they're nice people and all, but assurances do not a legal document make:

State officials say there’s no doubt Barack Obama was born in Hawaii.

Health Department Director Dr. Chiyome Fukino says she and the registrar of vital statistics, Alvin Onaka, have personally verified that the health department holds Obama’s original birth certificate.

... She says state law bars release of a certified birth certificate to anyone who does not have a tangible interest in it.

I believe applying for a job as the President of the United States both gives any arbitrary voter reason to claim "tangible interest", as per Berg's case, and raises additional questions about how Obama obtained his current occupational position without said verification.

They're talking, but all I'm hearing is, "Stand aside, plebeians! We are on Imperial business!"