News of the Week
Election 2012 *************** Republican to revive light-bulb war A House Republican is planning in the coming weeks to revive the GOP offensive against federal light-bulb efficiency standards. *************** “Julia”: Obama marketing machine fail In the days since the unveiling of the Obama campaign’s cartoon Julia, critics on both the left and the right have laughed off the cradle-to-grave depiction of life with Big Brother handling everything for “its women” *************** Libertarians Gone Wild: 'None of the Above' Voted Party Chairman; Mayhem Ensues *************** Anarchy at the Libertarian Party Convention *************** It’s rather strange that Obama’s composite girlfriend matches Bill Ayers’s real one Much is being made of the fact that it’s finally becoming big news that Obama, in Dreams From My Father, “compressed” a girlfriend. *************** Monty Python’s ‘Life of Julia’ Yuval: surely, this is already a parody; why, I doubt that even David Kahane could have created its combination of myopia, stupidity, mendacity, effrontery, and misandry so artlessly — although I suspect he will soon give it a go. “Julia” appears to have no males in her life — certainly not a husband when, at 31, she “decides to have a child” after disporting herself sexually consequence-free in previous years, thanks to the wonders of Obamacare. *************** The Life of Julia I don’t think I have ever seen a cultural artifact that so desperately begs to be parodied and ridiculed, and is so ill-suited to the audience it is intended to reach, as the Obama campaign’s “Life of Julia.” If you haven’t seen it yet, you really need to. *************** Obama Praises Nazi Sympathizer in Honor of Jewish-American Heritage Month In yet another gaffe, President Barack Obama, in a "Presidential Proclamation" about Jewish-American Heritage Month, yesterday praised Nazi sympathizer Gertrude Stein. *************** Why it matters that Obama dated a composite and ate a dog *************** Who the hell is "Julia," and why am I paying for her whole life? In the new Barack Obama campaign piece The Life of Julia, voters can "Take a look at how President Obama's policies help one woman over her lifetime -- and how Mitt Romney would change her story." It is one of the most brazenly statist pieces of campaign literature I can ever remember seeing. *************** The Campaign 2012 Meme du Jour: ‘Composite’ *************** Team Obama has omitted a few milestones from the life of Julia *************** Mitt Romney Makes Fun of Obama Campaign Slogan During High-Dollar Fundraiser Mitt Romney this evening, speaking to a group of high-dollar donors at the Ritz-Carlton hotel, poked fun at President Obama's newly unveiled campaign slogan, "Forward," remarking, "Forward, what, over the cliff?" *************** Vorwärts! Vorwärts! -- The NAZI origin of Obama's #Forward? *************** The Lonely Life of Julia In Obama's ideal world, men are replaced by bureaucrats. *************** Indian lore will play OK in Elizabeth Warren’s ‘tribe’ There’s an old saying in the Indian Nation: When accused of being a fake Indian, go on the warpath. *************** New Obama slogan has long ties to Marxism, socialism The Obama campaign apparently didn't look backwards into history when selecting its new campaign slogan, "Forward" — a word with a long and rich association with European Marxism. OccupyWallStreet *************** Bill Ayers roots for the decline of America *************** Occupy Wall Street Twitter Hacked by Spammers, Followers Confused by Tweets About Credit Scores *************** Neo-Nazi #Occupy Phoenix Protester Goes On Shooting Rampage – 5 Dead *************** "Occupy" Movement Was Infiltrated By FBI Informant In Cleveland Bridge Bombing Probe The federal probe that resulted last night in the arrest of five purported anarchists for allegedly plotting to bomb an Ohio bridge began last year at an Occupy Wall Street rally in Cleveland that was infiltrated by an informant who was directed to attend the event by his FBI handlers. *************** Occupy’s Totalitarian Temptation Occupy’s top-down vision of utopia doesn’t resonate with normal Americans. *************** Occupy Wall Street Blotter *************** Former ’60s Activist Bill Ayers Among May Day Protesters Occupy protesters have amped up May Day labor demonstrations across the country with a wide range of partnering organizations and individuals. Former 60s anti-war activist William “Bill” Ayers is among those protesting in Chicago on Tuesday. *************** Protesters hit streets for May Day rallies; violence flares in Oakland, Seattle *************** Windows broken, pepper spray at Seattle May Day protests *************** May Day Eve Quickly Turns Ugly In San Francisco *************** On Occupy’s ‘Free University’ *************** FBI arrests 5 accused of plotting to blow up Ohio 82 bridge in Cuyahoga valley *************** Victims of Communism Day *************** Occupy group ushers in May Day with disturbing image threatening violence against…Rebecca Black? Why any American of goodwill, much less the political party currently occupying the White House, would want to support or be affiliated with the violent, anti-capitalist occupy movement in any way is beyond me. But this…now this has to be the last straw. *************** Occupy Oakland May Day General Strike *************** Decolonize Oakland May Day Occupy Rally *************** ‘Anarchy Isn’t Easy’ *************** Stinging gas sends May Day protesters fleeing Hundreds of activists across the U.S. joined the worldwide May Day protests on Tuesday, with Occupy Wall Street members in several cities leading demonstrations and in some cases clashing with police. *************** Occupy Wall Street: They're Back, But Does Anyone Care? After spending 2011 near the top of the news headlines, Occupy Wall Street finds itself in a struggle to regain relevance as a grassroots protest against corporate greed and Washington corruption. *************** Meet the New Farm, Same as the Old Farm? Occupy Seizes Berkeley’s “Gill Tract” Obamacare *************** Doris, 95, was left on a hospital trolley for 28 hours - and when her son asked where she was, doctors didn't have a clue... Hospital 'lost track' of frail pensioner after she injured her leg in a fall She was left in a room and forgotten as son frantically searched for her Staff only found her after son threatened to file a missing person report *************** Solyndra Not Dealing With Toxic Waste At Milpitas Facility Three months ago, CBS 5 caught Solyndra tossing millions of dollars worth of brand new glass tubes used to make solar panels. Now the bankrupt solar firm, once touted as a symbol of green technology, may be trying to abandon toxic waste. "Hide The Decline" *************** Greenland glaciers not set to cause disastrous sea level rises - study Another blow for hippy doomsayers *************** New Evidence Released in Fakegate Global Warming Scandal The Heartland Institute today released more evidence that Pacific Institute President Peter Gleick was the likely author of a fake “climate strategy memo” that Gleick originally claimed came from a “Heartland insider,” and later said he received “in the mail” from an anonymous source. *************** Wind farms may have warming effect: research Large wind farms might have a warming effect on the local climate, research in the United States showed on Sunday, casting a shadow over the long-term sustainability of wind power. War & Terror *************** Admin drafted memo to shield Obama if OBL raid failed The Obama Administration drafted a “highly lawyered” memo to shield the president from blame if the mission to kill or capture Osama Bin Laden failed, former Attorney General Michael Mukasey told Sean Hannity of Fox News Friday. *************** Gov't seeks more than 1,700 secret warrants WASHINGTON (AP) - The Justice Department made 1,745 requests to a secret court for authority to wiretap or search for evidence in terrorism and espionage investigations last year. *************** Russia warns on missile defence deal with Nato and US Russia says it is prepared to use "destructive force pre-emptively" if the US goes ahead with controversial plans for a missile defence system based in Central Europe. *************** No-Fly Zone To Be Enforced By Shoot-To-Kill Order During NATO Summit A new report reveals plans to keep residents and dignitaries safe during the NATO Summit include a no-fly zone, with a shoot-to-kill mandate for those who break the ban. *************** Documents reveal al Qaeda's plans for seizing cruise ships, carnage in Europe *************** Military Secrets Leak From U.S. Universities With Rules Flouted For 15 days in late 2009, Internet users in 36 countries, including China, Russia, Iran and Pakistan, viewed sensitive information about U.S. weapons technology that was supposed to be for American eyes only. *************** SEALs slam Obama for using them as 'ammunition' in bid to take credit for bin Laden killing during election campaign Serving and former US Navy SEALs have slammed President Barack Obama for taking the credit for killing Osama bin Laden and accused him of using Special Forces operators as ‘ammunition’ for his re-election campaign. National *************** Parents: Rule’s half-baked State’s junk food ban could take bite out of school fundraisers *************** Restore the Law’s FOCUS Striking a blow against overcriminalization *************** Space weather expert has ominous forecast Mike Hapgood, who studies solar events, says the world isn't prepared for a truly damaging storm. And one could happen soon. *************** CONTEMPT: Issa Moves Against Holder on Fast and Furious House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) is moving forward on contempt charges against Attorney General Eric Holder *************** Rep. Issa circulates contempt resolution against Attorney General Eric Holder Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) has circulated a draft copy of a resolution that would hold Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress. *************** 'Cinco de Mayo' - plenty of beer, little history *************** CCSD universal-breakfast program has more sugar than ‘a 32-ounce Slurpee’ Parents say new program usurps their rights, and teachers note program reduces teaching time *************** US should return stolen land to Indian tribes, says United Nations UN's correspondent on indigenous peoples urges government to act to combat 'racial discrimination' felt by Native Americans *************** DOE says test shows potential for natgas hydrates The Energy Department on Wednesday announced a breakthrough in research into tapping a possibly vast fuel resource that could eventually bolster already massive natural gas reserves. *************** Blind Golden Retriever befriends dog at hospital who becomes his guide Tanner, born blind and suffering from seizures, is led on leash by fellow pooch, Blair, at Okla. clinic *************** Energy Committee Warns EPA Official He’ll be Hauled in to Testify Lawmakers warned the head of the EPA’s Dallas office that he will soon be invited before a congressional committee — and warned they’ll implement all means available to ensure his appearance — to answer for a 2010 video in which he talks about “crucifying” oil and gas companies. Economy
& Taxes *************** Europe Wasn't Destroyed In A Day Just like Rome wasn’t built in a day, the Eurozone won’t be destroyed in a day, but it is on a path that leads to eventual dismantling. What day will historians choose to pick as the day that the Euro died? *************** Wave of Nationalizations Spreading Across South America For the second time in two weeks, a Spanish company operating in Latin America has been nationalized by a populist government looking to score political points. Last week, Argentinian President Cristina Fernandez, following the advice of her Marxist adviser, nationalized YPF-Repsol, a Spanish energy company. Now the FT reports that the leftist Bolivian President Evo Morales has nationalized Red Eléctrica, another Spanish energy company active in his country. As in Argentina, the rhetoric justifying the move comes straight out of the 1970s *************** Another Energy Company Nationalized As Bolivia Follows In Argentina's Footsteps; More Pain For Spain *************** Why U.S. House Prices Won't Recover Hough: Taking inflation into account, U.S. home prices are down to 1895 levels. *************** Is Automation the Handmaiden of Inequality? The odd coincidence of stagnating wages and a measure of productivity that excludes machines. *************** International *************** Greek neonazi leader gives Hitler-style speech after the elections *************** A Kurdish Majority In Turkey Within One Generation? Turkey is emerging as an economic superpower in the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East with greater influence in regional politics. Promoting itself as a “model Muslim democracy,” and widely admired by other Middle Eastern nations, Turkey now faces a novel problem that Europe has long contended with: a falling birth rate. *************** Race fear cops ban POLICE chiefs have banned IT staff from using the word blacklist over fears it is RACIST. The computer term whitelist — used to denote a list of acceptable contacts — has also been outlawed. In an email, Scotland Yard warned staff the words were no longer “appropriate”. *************** Cameron hardens stance on UK web filth block PM to hold talks with broadband barons on 'default' smut filters *************** Merkel loses power in state election German Chancellor Angela Merkel's centre-right coalition lost power in the state of Schleswig-Holstein, first estimates showed Sunday, after a vote that could presage national elections next year. *************** Chavez reelection bid in doubt President Hugo Chavez's repeated trips to Cuba for cancer treatment and the government's silence about his health are fueling rumors that he will name a successor to run in October presidential elections. *************** Socialist Francois Hollande wins French presidency *************** "The Dictator" Congratulates Francois Hollandaise On His Victory *************** Greek voters punish ruling coalition, reward far left Voters angry over austerity delivered a blow to Greece's ruling parties on Sunday, with neither the conservative New Democracy nor the Pasok socialists winning enough votes to form a government while far-left Syriza took second place. *************** Previewing The First Of Many Greek ElectionsThis weekend the Greeks will go to the polls - and with support for the two main parties (New Democracy - center-right; and PASOK - socialist) at historical lows (and the share of protest and extremist votes at historical highs) - is Greece about to become Belgium. *************** Dutch rethink Christianity for a doubtful world The Rev Klaas Hendrikse can offer his congregation little hope of life after death, and he's not the sort of man to sugar the pill. *************** A Child of the North Korean Gulag Shin Dong-hyuk flees Camp 14 in search of meat. *************** 'Europe' alienates us all - as foretold 40 years ago With chilling candour, a paper from a senior government official laid out the difficulties that Britain would face in the proposed Common Market. *************** England: It was Fun While It Lasted *************** Opinion *************** Europe, R.I.P. *************** Papers? We Don’t Need No Stinking [Federalist] Papers! One of my most contentious contentions is that if you want to learn about the Constitution, taking constitutional law at a law school is the last place you should do it. But undergraduate political science and history curricula are hardly better. Among other things, as Peter Berkowitz observes today in the Wall Street Journal, American higher education neglects what I call the “Owners Manual” of the Constitution—the Federalist Papers *************** All Fall Down The temple of postmodern liberalism was rocked these last few weeks, as a number of supporting columns and buttresses simply crashed, leaving the entire edifice wobbling. *************** Capitalism Ain’t for the Soft and Weak Hot Air had a post yesterday with a video of Sean Hannity interviewing some Occupy weanie. It was not a great interview in terms of coherence or information, but we are able to glean that the Occupier’s big beef with capitalism is that it’s not working for his generation. I.e., he and his buds can’t get a job. *************** What comes after the higher education bubble? I've written here in the past about the higher education bubble -- how the costs of college and graduate or professional school have been inflated by the availability of cheap federal money. This has created a situation in which there are many more indebted graduates than there are jobs capable of paying off the loans. *************** Jon Will’s gift *************** From Lima to La Paz While Peru has become more like Chile, Bolivia has become more like Chávez. *************** Go west, young man, go west! …Unless you’re into being successful *************** The Pseudoscience of Economics Modern economics is obsessed with modelling. An overwhelming majority of academic papers on the subject work like so: they take data, and use data to construct formal mathematical models of economic processes. *************** Lessons from Byzantium The empire fell but didn’t have to. *************** In Defense Of The Corporation Today, the government of the USA is in an accelerating transition. For the first 100 years (with a few exceptions) the government of the USA existed to set man free from men. The rights of the people were respected by the law and by the courts. And it is no coincidence that the USA grew from a small agrarian society in the 18th century to a wealthy superpower barely a century later. *************** Around the World in 80 Basis Points And now for news of fresh Blue State disaster, both home and abroad. *************** |
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