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December 01, 2008
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Bush singlehandedly to blame for housing mess
So says the AP which probably feels it'd better hurry up and get as many "bash Bush" stories out there ... before he's gone!
The administration's blind eye to the impending crisis is emblematic of a philosophy that trusted market forces and discounted the need for government intervention in the economy. Its belief ironically has ushered in the most massive government intervention since the 1930s. (Link.)
*Yaaawn* I'm not here to defend Bush of the GOP for their role in the crisis. The fact of the matter is, Bush did warn about the problems in the lending industry; the NY Times reported back in 2003 the following: "The Bush administration today recommended the most significant regulatory overhaul in the housing finance industry since the savings and loan crisis a decade ago." But, y'see, the GOP was still in control of Congress in '03, so clearly blame falls on them at that time for not acting on these proposals.
The Bush administration has noted its efforts on its website.
Of course, it really didn't matter when the Democrats came to power in early '07 since most of their big guns didn't think there was anything to worry about! And then there's this little bit of inconvenient history.
Funny how the AP neglected all that. No it's not.
November 30, 2008
Epitome of a billionaire nutjob
Ted Turner is at it again. Check it out this time:
Kudos to "Meet the Press" host Tom Brokaw for calling Ted out (at least) on the Afghanistan comparison:
BROKAW: But, Ted, don't try to go there in terms of justifying that. I mean, it is, the fact is that the Russians, it was a naked aggression-
TURNER: Why can't I try and justify it?
BROKAW: It was naked aggression on the part of the Russians at the time.
TURNER: Well, going into Iraq was naked aggression on the part of the United States.
BROKAW: Yeah, but big power politics and changing big power politics requires everyone to come to the table, and that includes the Russians, not just the United States.
On Delaware education
Dave Burris has a couple posts up about reforming education right here in Delaware, to which the Energizer Bunny Perry has responded. Perry writes:
Say what? Why do away with local control? I always fail to grasp the "progressive" infatuation with top-down control, in this case from one state superintendent downward. What, precisely, is so anathema with having local superintendents, who're much more attuned to their population and district needs? If the issue is saving cash, each individual school district can cut plenty of fat at the central office level.
And what is meant "continued segregation according to class and race?" You mean ... since desegregation? Is it the growing propensity for parents to take advantage of choice -- whether it be public or charter schools? How precisely is this a bad thing? Unfortunately, the only thing I can think of is the usual predilection of "progressives" like Perry to engage in the bigotry of low expectations; in other words, if choice is open to everyone, what does it actually matter if economic and/or racial proportions are disparate? ("Disparate" meaning based on the "progressive" notion of "proportionate representation." The usual crapola.) Y'see, for "progressives" like Perry, equal opportunity is insufficient. Equal outcomes are of primary importance. If, in Delaware, it is a majority of more affluent and/or white parents who are taking advantage of the state's school choice law, then ... something's wrong with the law. Poor[er] people might not utilize school choice. Therefore, we cannot allow the decision of where to attend school to be in parents' hands.
Perry then goes on to make a comparison to Fairfax County, VA's district:
* Takes advantage of economy of scale.
* Costs $13.4K per student, about 18% less than DE.
* Average SAT score: 1654
* Much smaller number of charter and private schools than DE.
* Has an extensive teacher in-service training system.
* Well organized teacher orientation.
* High standards for teacher hires.
* Pays good salaries/benefits.
* Extensive AP and IB offerings.
* Thomas Jefferson HS of Science and Technology, world class.
* Gifted and talented program available at all schools.
* Extensive adult education offerings.
He writes "good comparison of our school system can be made to the Fairfax County Public School System." But what, precisely, is the "good" comparison? Why is having less private and charter schools "good?" Who says DE districts don't pay well and offer good bennies? Who says DE districts don't have extensive in-service and teacher orientation? What constitutes "good" teacher in-service and orientation? Who says DE districts don't have high standards for new hires?
He then asks,
Perhaps because, like too much in education today, much of what you say is undefinable fluff. How easy is it to say "We need high standards for teachers." Or, "we need high standards for students." It continually amazes me when education "think tanks" or "study groups" remarkably come up with ideas such as these. I mean, how long does it take a task force to come up with such these "terrific ideas?"
I've had a few conversations with Dave Burris about education reform. While I always note my suggestions are far from a universal panacea, I believe common sense measures include:
Feel free, as always, to chime in with your own ideas.
November 29, 2008
My daughter is only a few years from college ...
... and I'm dreading what sort of utter detritus she'll have to deal with there. Thankfully, I can say with almost utter certainty, she'll not be attending school in Canada:
Queens University in Kingston, Ontario, has trained six students to listen in on conversations around campus and correct speakers who voice slurs and other opinions that women, gays and minorities might consider objectionable.
Certainly there are obvious slurs that various [ethnic] groups will find objectionable. I don't see a hassle with anyone speaking up and saying something like "Excuse me, but that's inappropriate" to someone asinine enough to utter one. But the authoritarian aspect of this silliness is apparent based on two facets -- one, these "trained students" have as their job to listen in on other people's conversations. Not only is this an invasion of privacy, but if something like that is someone's "job," you can be sure they're bound to "find" something objectionable. This is the second facet -- these "trained students" alone will determine what gays and minorities might find off-putting. Because, we all know, that gays and minorities are all of like mind and all believe in the same things! Right?
As for the cystic fibrosis nonsense, that is just so ridiculous as to defy description. As article author John Leo notes,
Yeah. Biology sure is a pesky thing. It's always somehow immune to politically correct bone-headedness.
Dopey Philly Daily News Letter of the Week
Philly's Walt Berg asks some "persnickety questions:"
Let's see, Walt ... maybe because the damage from a hurricane to oil rigs is immediate and will thus have an immediate impact on gas prices? Whereas when it comes to new [oil] drilling, companies have to research where to drill, and then construct a rig or drilling platform to get that oil. This takes years, hence the price effect of this new incoming oil takes ... years.
Maybe because most of the latter can't legally do so and ... want to?
It's a tried and true marketing gimmick, Walt. It's akin to some supermarket item being priced at "$6.99." Why not just make it an even "$7.00?" Because your mind sees that "6" first and determines that there's a "big" difference between "6" and "7." Even though there really isn't. So when the gas price says "$1.85 and 9/10ths," think "$1.86," natch.
Joe M. was right -- Batman did pass away
And the obit didn't even appear until today. Pretty clairvoyant of you, Joe!
Rasmussen reports
Rasmussen on The Pledge:
1) Should school children say the Pledge of Allegiance every morning at school?
77% Yes
13% No
9% Not sure
2) Should children be able to opt out of saying the Pledge of Allegiance every morning at school?
44% Yes
47% No
9% Not sure
3) Is the United States truly a land of liberty and justice for all?
46% Yes
42% No
13% Not sure
4) Should the words “Under God” be removed from the Pledge of Allegiance?
14% Yes
82% No
4% Not sure
5) Are people too worried about being politically correct these days?
72% Yes
19% No
9% Not sure
Seventy-seven percent (77%) of U.S. voters say school children should say the Pledge of Allegiance every morning at school, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.
Eighty-two percent (82%) say the words "under God" should remain in the Pledge as well. Fourteen percent (14%) think the phrase should be dropped from the Pledge, and just four percent (4%) have no opinion.
Voters are closely divided over whether students should be able to opt out of saying the Pledge of Allegiance every morning. Forty-four percent (44%) say they should be allowed to do so, but 47% disagree. Nine percent (9%) are not sure.
Support for saying the Pledge is slightly higher than in a survey for July 4 this year in which 75% of voters said they were proud of American history and nearly as many said the world would be a better place if more countries were like ours.
Men and women are in near agreement on saying the Pledge every day. Eighty-four percent (84%) of African-American voters think school children should say the Pledge daily, compared to 77% of whites.
While 91% of Republicans and 75% of unaffiliated voters say students should say the Pledge every morning, just 67% of Democrats agree. Half of Democrats (50%) say children should be able to opt out of saying the Pledge, but 58% of GOP voters say they should not be able to do so.* Unaffiliateds oppose opting out by a six-point margin.
The phrase "under God" which was added to the Pledge in 1954 has been challenged in the courts in recent years, prompting Congress to consider legislation making use of the phrase mandatory under law. The legal challenges have been unsuccessful to date.
Ninety-three percent (93%) of Republicans, 80% of unaffiliated voters and 74% of Democrats say "under God" should not be removed from the Pledge of Allegiance.
Even those who characterize themselves as politically liberal support the phrase by a two-to-one margin.
Again, support is stronger among African-Americans (92%) than among whites (82%).
Seventy-two percent (72%) of voters also say people are too worried about being politically correct these days. Only 19% disagree, with nine percent (9%) undecided.
Eighty-one percent (81%) of conservatives and 73% of moderates say there is too much concern about political correctness, but just 56% of liberals agree. Seventy-six percent (76%) of white voters share this view, compared to 59% of African-Americans.
Forty-six percent (46%) of voters say the United States is truly the land of liberty and justice for all, but 42% disagree. Thirteen percent (13%) are not sure. These findings are virtually identical to those in July.
Most men believe America is a land of liberty and justice for all, but a plurality of women (45%) disagree.
While 62% of Republicans say the country is fair to all, 53% of Democrats say it is not. Unaffiliated voters are closely divided on the question, giving a slight edge to the more positive view.
Whites by a 49% to 40% margin say the United States is a country with liberty and justice for all. But just 20% of black voters agree. Sixty percent (60%) of blacks say America is not fair to all.
Two days after Barack Obama became the first African-American to be voted into the White House, the percentage of black voters who viewed American society as fair and decent jumped 18 points to 42%. Just a month earlier, only 24% of black voters viewed U.S. society as fair and decent.
* "Opting out" of saying the Pledge of Allegiance is a settled matter of First Amendment rights. The issue was resolved 65 years ago in the SCOTUS West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette case. Some Jehovah's Witnesses had brought the case, and the Barnette decision had overturned a SCOTUS ruling from a mere three years prior which held that compelling students to recite the Pledge was constitutional.
November 28, 2008
Watcher's Council results
Unbelievable. Guess who won?
First place in the Council category was The Colossus of Rhodey with Culture of Whine (a rant).
First place in the non-Council category was Serendituous Altruism with American troops in Afghanistan through the eyes of a French OMLT infantryman.
Full results can be seen here.
We should have a "very muted" inauguration
Who says so? Why, all those "progressives!" From prior to President Bush's 2004 inauguration:
... Critics insist that with U.S. troops dying daily in Iraq, the tone surrounding this year’s inaugural celebration should be more modest.
“I would have hoped they would have followed the traditions of President Wilson and President Roosevelt, who at a time of war had a very muted celebration,” said Democratic Representative Robert Menendez, speaking on CNN.
“I think when young men and women are dying we should think about the reality of how we conduct ourselves here at home.”
His comments echoed those of Democratic Representative Anthony Weiner, who, in a letter to Bush, urged the president to redirect some of the $40 million “towards a use more fitting to these somber times — bonuses or equipment for our troops.”
Here is a copy of Weiner's entire letter. Michelle Malkin asks:
Will Democrat Rep. Weiner demand that Obama go the “cold chicken salad and plain pound cake” route (as FDR did in 1945) and redirect all the money Obama’s Chicago team is raising to the troops, too? Or has he stopped caring about the brave men and women he exploited in 2005 to score Bush-bashing points with the nutroots?
Will billionaire Mark Cuban, who demanded that Bush donate his inauguration funds to Indonesian tsunami victims, call on Obama to fork over the inaugural funds to victims of the Mumbai terrorist bombings or to distressed American homeowners under water on their mortgages?
Where are all the anti-Inauguration critics now?
Just wondering.
She's not really wondering. Michelle knows. Anything associated with "progressives" and/or liberals is "good" and hence cost is never a factor. It goes to the "good." It is just plain "good" that Barack Obama -- The Messiah -- was elected, and no amount of money is too little to celebrate this event. Nuclear war? No worries. Giant asteroid heading our way in a few months? Big deal. Sagittarius A* sucking in the Milky Way to oblivion? Feh.
Some things just never change
Pistons punish Iverson after missing practice.
Yeah, that little thing called "practice":
November 27, 2008
I'm thankful for ...
... still being able to laugh my ass off. This has to be one of the best baseball bloopers of all time, and it couldn't have happened to a bigger douche:
Comics films update
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It looks like the trailer for "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" will debut before the upcoming film "The Day the Earth Stood Still" on December 12th.
Hugh Jackman (at left) returns as the Canuck mutant. My wife thinks he's "beyond hot." Gee, I can't see why. He's only devastatingly handsome with a perfect physique. Bastard. The ironic thing is that in the actual X-Men comic, Wolvie is quite short, and frequently gets ribbed about it by teammates and enemies alike (who're all pretty stupid, really, to risk Wolvie's short temper!).
Superhero Hype has the following film description:
Victor Creed is Sabertooth, who we last saw in the first "X-Men" film. 'Tooth and Wolverine have many of the same abilities; indeed, both were part of that mentioned "Weapon X" program. (If you're wondering why Wolvie impaling 'Tooth numerous times in their pitched battle on top of the Statue of Liberty didn't outright kill the latter in "X-Men," it's 'cuz 'Tooth has the same fast healing ability as Wolvie.) The flashbacks Wolverine had in "X-Men" and "X-Men 2" were indeed those relating to the "Weapon X" program. His battle with Lady Deathstrike in "X2" took place in the bowels of a Weapon X lab, possibly where Wolverine was given his adamantium skeleton and claws.
As noted in "X-Men," it is virtually impossible to determine Wolverine's true age as his healing abilities retard aging. Thus, it'll be interesting to see how far back in time the movie will take Jackman in his origin. The comics (with which I gave up trying to keep pace long ago) have Wolvie's origins all over the place, but it's now generally accepted canon that he was born in 19th century Canada.
"X-Men Origins: Wolverine" is due in theaters May 1, 2009.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Dopey Philly Daily News Letter of the Week
Ann Townson of Philly is a perfect demonstration of the typical Obama voter:
Need I say more?
No. Please -- don't. As you said, "unless I've lost my mind..." It's gone, Ann. Let me fill you in on one "small" tidbit: Reagan was governor of the most populous state in the Union for eight years.
Happy Thanksgiving.
November 26, 2008
Change you can believe in
ABC News is reporting that Susan Rice will be Obama's Ambassador to the United Nations. Here's some "change you can believe in" -- Rice's view on the US acting unilaterally without UN approval:
After swift diplomatic consultations, the United States should press for a U.N. resolution that issues Sudan an ultimatum: accept unconditional deployment of the U.N. force within one week or face military consequences....
The United States, preferably with NATO involvement and African political support, would strike Sudanese airfields, aircraft and other military assets. It could blockade Port Sudan, through which Sudan's oil exports flow. Then U.N. troops would deploy — by force, if necessary, with U.S. and NATO backing.
If the United States fails to gain U.N. support, we should act without it. Impossible? No, the United States acted without U.N. blessing in 1999 in Kosovo to confront a lesser humanitarian crisis (perhaps 10,000 killed) and a more formidable adversary....
Others will insist that, without the consent of the United Nations or a relevant regional body, we would be breaking international law. Perhaps, but the Security Council recently codified a new international norm prescribing "the responsibility to protect." It commits U.N. members to decisive action, including enforcement, when peaceful measures fail to halt genocide or crimes against humanity.
How many times did we hear from BDSers ("Bush Derangement Syndrome-ers") that George Bush was breaking international law for "unilaterally" going into Iraq -- without UN approval? Wasn't Bush just committing the US to "decisive action, including enforcement" of all the UN sanctions that Saddam Hussein had broken since 1991? Didn't "peaceful measures fail to halt genocide or crimes against humanity" in Iraq?
Hmm. Yes and yes. As I told Maria Evans on DTR this morning, this isn't "change you can believe in." It is "change you've been suckered into believing." The only difference is who's in power. It'll be OK to ignore the UN now because The Messiah will be president. He's "better" than George Bush. He's "not evil" like George Bush. Etc.
November 25, 2008
Hube on DE Talk Radio tomorrow
Delaware Talk Radio's Maria Evans just confirmed it -- I'll be on with her at 9:00 am tomorrow "assisting" her with her Weds. morning show. You can catch the live stream here.
Maria and I go all the way back to junior high school, yo. I may actually bring some of those old memories up ... ;-)
This Thursday ...
1. Turkey or Ham? Turkey!
2. Cranberry Sauce or Stuffing? Stuffing!
3. Pumpkin Pie or Apple Pie? Pumpkin!
4. Warm apple cider or hot cocoa? Irish coffee!
5. Cook the meal yourself or go to someone's house to eat? Someone's house!
6. After eating do you...collapse on the couch in front of the tv or go for a walk? Collapse on the couch watching football!
(h/t: Randomness.)
Try this question on for size:
When you first met your current main squeeze (husband, wife, boyfriend, girlfriend, significant other, sex partner, WHATEVER!), what were you thinking?
My answer: "How freakin' unbelievably hot her friend was!!" (That would be the second week of February, 1986, at the University of Costa Rica's "Pretil" -- the hangout in front of the campus library.)
Mutual aid vs. welfare
David Beito of the University of Alabama discusses his book From Mutual Aid to the Welfare State during a four-campus swing through North Carolina.
David graciously invited me to attend a seminar about a similar topic almost two years ago. Talk about stretching one's brain!
Impeach Bush now!!
In order to "save the economy," so says a columnist of the Detroit Free Press. Check out my latest Newsbusters post.
The web: Most reliable news source
Also revealed:
• 39.3% of those surveyed trust FOX News most for the issues they consider most important, followed by CNN with 16% and MSNBC with 15%.
• 72.6% believe the news they read and see is biased.
• 88.7% Republican and 57.5% Democrat respondents describe the news media as biased.
Little surprise here, really ...
November 24, 2008
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"Change" you can believe in
Or not. Obama Attorney General nominee Eric Holder on terrorists and the Geneva Convention:
As Dave Burris has been saying, welcome to "realism" Mr. Obama.
November 23, 2008
I don't see a problem with this
... naming a school after Barack Obama that is. Yeah, that's right. I said I don't see a problem with it. (Volokh disagrees, to whom the h/t for this story goes.) Naming an elementary school is a fairly paltry matter in the whole scheme of things, and the mere election of Obama is historic in itself. Besides, if Obama ends up a total loser of a chief exec, the school can always be renamed again!
This is a far cry from wanting a national holiday for the guy. Now that is a big deal and, in my opinion, requires the demonstration of a superb tenure as president.
Top 25 Comic Battles
Comic Book Resources has a list of the "Top 25 Comic Battles" of all-time. The one's I've read are in bold. I've added some needed comments where necessary, natch.
#25: Fantastic Four vs. Galactus. The "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer" movie was loosely based on this battle.
#24. Batman vs. the Leader of the Mutant Gang. From the classic "Return of the Dark Knight" by Frank Miller.
#23. Invincible vs. Omni-Man.
#22. X-Men vs. the Marauders.
#21. The Ultimates vs. the Chitauri. This Avengers revamp is high-powered action all the way. Also, two straight-to-DVD animated flicks are based on this saga.
#20. The Avengers (and friends) vs. Korvac. There may be no greater "everything is at stake" comics yarn ever. Comics master Jim Shooter at his finest writing.
#19. The X-Men vs. the Hellfire Club. Part of artist extraordinaire John Byrne's run on the X-Men.
#18. The Avengers vs. Ultron. Kurt Busiek's magnum opus of volume 3 Avengers.
#17. Deathstroke vs. the Justice League of America.
#16. Batman vs. Guy Gardner.
#15. The Superheroes of the DC Multiverse vs. the Anti-Monitor.
#14. Wolverine vs. the Hulk.
#13. Hulk vs. the Thing. The Thing never wins against the Hulk. Never.
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#12. X-Men vs. the Shi'Ar Imperial Guard. "X-Men 3" was loosely based on this tragic tale of the "death" of Jean Grey. Original cover at left.
#11. Spider-Man vs. the Green Goblin. Goblin kills Spidey's girl, and Webhead is out for revenge. The original "Spider-Man" film is based on this classic two-part comic set.
#10. Elektra vs. Bullseye. Like #11 above, much of the "Daredevil" movie is based on this battle. In fact, many of the lines spoken by Colin Farrell (Bullseye) were verbatim from this double-sized comic.
#9. Avengers vs. the Masters of Evil.
#8. Spider-Man vs. Juggernaut.
#7. The Ultimates vs. the Hulk.
#6. The Sinestro Corps War. I'm not a big DC Comics fan, but my buddy Brent loaned me this series, and all I could say afterward was "Wow."
#5. Practically all of Marvel's Superheroes vs. Thanos.
#4. Miracleman vs. Kid Miracleman.
#3. The Final Battle in “Kingdom Come." An alternate version of the DC Universe, and painted (yes, painted) by artist supreme Alex Ross. Not to be missed.
#2. Superman vs. Doomsday.
#1. Batman vs. Superman. The last segment of Frank Miller's "Return of the Dark Knight," Bruce Wayne has high-powered armored to take on the Man of Steel. Great stuff.
Always nice to be interviewed by a sympathetic ear
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Former Weather Underground dude and Barack Obama pal Bill Ayers on the show "Democracy Now!"
It is accurate that the W.U. was not directly responsible for the deaths of anyone, they were responsible for a prodigious amount of property damage. Ayers himself "participated in planting a bomb at a statue dedicated to riot police casualties in the 1886 Haymarket Riot confrontation between labor supporters and the police." Three of Ayers buddies accidentally offed themselves when the nail bomb they were assembling accidentally detonated. They had planned to plant this bomb at a Fort Dix social dance. Not exactly the "never intended" to kill that Ayers stated in that interview, eh? And this doesn't even get into Ayers' involvement in the bombings at the Pentagon, the Capitol Building and New York City Police HQ in 1970-72. Years after the W.U. dissolved, a few of Ayers' former pals were involved in a bank robbery and ended up murdering a security guard and two police officers.
Nevertheless, in the warped mind of radicals like Bill Ayers, it is somehow not "terrorism" to wantonly destroy property. As long as the "intent" wasn't to kill anybody, it somehow is not terrorism."
Uh-huh.
The "new" Star Trek
Check out the latest "Trek" trailer:
I read somewhere (and I'll be damned if I can find it again) that time travel is involved in the plot (Rotten Tomatoes, after a Google search, has a decent synopsis of what I originally read). This would make sense, actually, since a lot of what I've seen of the film is contrary to much of Trek canon. For instance, the main villain (Eric Bana) plays a Romulan -- but Kirk and co. didn't even encounter the Romulans until well into The Original Series. And that's just for starters. Nevertheless, R.T. notes that the "original" Spock (played by Leonard Nimoy, yes!) pursues a rogue Romulan (Bana) back in time due to the latter's plans to "erase" James T. Kirk.
As could be expected, "Trekkies" (or "Trekkers," as I believe they prefer to be called) are up in arms; however, the whole "canon" issue was pretty much shot to hell with the addition of the prequel show "Enterprise."
Screen Rant has a TON of great posts and images of the upcoming Trek film. And h/t for the trailer above goes to BW Media Spotlight.
November 22, 2008
Caliendo does Barkley
I love great impersonations, and Frank Caliendo doing Charles Barkley always gets me bagging up royally:
Public or private?
Last week Duffy had a brief, albeit thought-provoking, post about the Obama's choice of school for their daughters. He writes:
I will not listen to a single word against vouchers or charter schools from people who do not send their kids to public schools. That goes double for teachers of public schools and triple for anyone in elected office.
I actually don't think the security concerns are "crap;" in fact, I think they're quite legitimate. However, I'm totally with Duff on his second point. I mean, if Obama is fortunate enough to be able to send his children to an elite private school, why would he oppose that choice for someone else -- someone less fortunate? Indeed -- if you oppose that very option for someone else, yet YOU act ON it, I don't wanna hear from you. At all. Ever.
My daughter didn't attend public school until the middle school years. That choice was largely due to my wife's religion (Catholic). But I wouldn't fall into Duff's "Don't Wanna Hear From 'Ya" category for the main reason: I'm all in favor vouchers and charter schools.
The "official" Obama school announcement was yesterday. Their daughters will attend the elite Sidwell Friends School, the same school Chelsea Clinton went to. Newsbusters' Michael Bates tells us why this announcement occurred so late on Friday afternoon.
November 21, 2008
Dictionaries have updated the term "racist"
From Peter Kirsanow:
Watcher's Council results
First place in the Council category was Joshuapundit with The Afghanistan Blues. (Colossus finished in 2nd with this post.)
First place in the non-Council category was American Thinker with How the Academic Left Elected Obama.
Full results can be seen here.
Comics films update
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The writers of "Captain America" have been named -- they're Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely of "Chronicles of Narnia" fame. Since I didn't see any "Narnia" flicks, I cannot comment. I can comment on what appears to be the basis for the film: It'll take place during World War II, which makes sense since this is where Cap was "born." For those not in the know, Cap became a superhero via one Steve Rogers volunteering for an experiment to create a "super soldier." After the program's success, a Nazi agent killed the genius who created the formula, making Rogers the only beneficiary of his efforts. (The scientist never committed all of his notes to paper, thus his formula could not be duplicated.)
Cap came to our present era due to a freak accident: in the waning days of WW II, he and partner "Bucky" Barnes jumped onto a Nazi missile aimed at the US in an effort to disarm it. Rogers was thrown clear into the freezing waters below, but Barnes was (supposedly) killed. Rogers was thrown into suspended animation by the incredible cold, and some twenty years later he was discovered by the super-group The Avengers.
In the late 70s there was a "Captain America" TV show. It's beyond cheesy, but Reb Brown sure was, at first glance, a great fit to play the hero. He's a huge blond, blue-eyed dude who, if he could actually act, would be the perfect hero! Then, in 1990, an awful straight-to-video flick featured the equally awful Matt Salinger as Cap. Salinger's physique ain't in any way muscular, and he's not all that tall; in other words, he was laughable as a superhero. And his arch nemesis the Red Skull was turned into -- wait for it -- an Italian!! Sorry, but the Skull is a German Nazi -- only.
Given the political climate of today, it'll sure be interesting to see the "tone" of the Cap flick. After all, will it be politically correct to have a guy running around in a suit covered in Old Glory, even if it was during WW II? Will we see Cap engage in a 20/20 hindsight moralizing (like he did in some of his comics) about incidents like the Dresden firebombing and the dropping of the A-bombs?
The film is supposedly going to set up the goods for "The Avengers" film, in which Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man) and Edward Norton (The Hulk) have supposedly agreed to star. The complete Avengers team (where Cap first appeared) actually did not include the Hulk (he quit the team after only one issue), but was comprised of Iron Man, Thor, Giant Man and the Wasp.
Legitimate fear?
Insty has a link about Obama Attorney General nominee Eric Holder's views on gun rights:
Holder, along with other former Clinton admin. officials filed an amicus brief in the Heller case supporting Washington DC's handgun ban. In oral arguments before the Fifth Circuit in United States v. Emerson, Holder told the panel that the Second Amendment was no barrier to gun confiscation, not even of the confiscation of guns from on-duty National Guardsmen.
Is this worrisome? Sure it is, especially based on Obama's past opinions on gun rights. Back in April he refused to answer a question about the Washington DC then-upcoming handgun ban SCOTUS decision. He had previously voiced support for the ban. The questionnaire for potential employees of his incoming administration specifically asks if you own a gun, and inquires about its registration information:
Fortunately, in Heller, the SCOTUS affirmed the individual right to own a gun. But if Obama gets a chance to appoint several SCOTUS justices, for how long will this right remain?
November 20, 2008
'Ya don't say
Man, wish I could get paid to write these sort of "opinions": Opinion: Cancer's not the only smoking risk.
Lack of excrement and Watson's partner come to mind ...
What -- me be "ordinary?"
'Ya gotta love politicians (and their spouses):
That purchase came as Gov. David Paterson was ordering state agencies to cut spending and warning of dire economic hardships to come as budget deficits mount to $2 billion this year alone.
The Times Union of Albany reports Thursday that Office of General Services records show the 10-foot-by-15-foot custom-stitched rug was shipped July 31. An OGS spokesman said the purchase was part of routine maintenance.
Critics say government should cut waste before asking citizens to sacrifice.
Elsewhere, the Texas House of Representatives recently ordered about $140,000 in items for its lounge, including antique chandeliers and big screen televisions. (Source.)
Then there's the wife of Iowa Governor Chet Culver who thinks only the "little people" have to follow the laws her hubby gladly signs into law:
Oh, and guess what -- neither news story labels Paterson nor Culver as ... Democrats. Surprise!!
(h/t to Shirley for the Paterson/TX House story!)
But that would be elitist, they tell me
Xrlq: My question to readers: if every ballot had a few questions like Ziegler’s, and the ballot was voided if fewer than half of these questions had been answered correctly, would we ever see another Democrat in the White House?
Ziegler is John Ziegler, who runs the site HowObamaGotElected.com. He recently did an experiment not unlike that of Howard Stern whereby numerous Obama supporters were asked basic [civics] questions.
I've previously written about making it "harder to vote" here.
Further evidence of civilization's decline
A seventh grader tries to rape a teacher. A freakin' SEVENTH GRADER.
What is that called again? The "First Amendment?"
The well-known eHarmony Internet dating website has been sued -- a gay man got miffed that the company refused to hook him up with another gay man. eHarmony decided to settle (a common tactic in these overly litigious days) due to cost and "unpredictability" concerns.
But he couldn't. When he tried to enter the site, the pull-down menus had categories only for a man seeking a woman or a woman seeking a man. "I felt the whole range of emotions," McKinley said. "Anger, that I was a second-class citizen."
But instead of just surfing over to a dating site that admits gay lonely hearts, he contacted the New Jersey civil rights division to file a complaint.
The settlement also calls for EHarmony to pay $50,000 to the state for administrative costs and $5,000 to McKinley.
This "second-class citizen" claim is nonsense. See what I bolded above. I'm surprised McKinley didn't sue for the "added time it would take to surf over to gays-only dating site." This precedent is dangerous. Simply put, it means that specialized businesses had better be on the lookout for litigants demanding that companies change their business model to suit what these litigants want. Period.
Michelle Malkin ponders:
She later adds: "Perhaps heterosexual men and women should start filing lawsuits against gay dating websites and undermine their business. Coerced tolerance and diversity-by-fiat cut both ways."
Yes, it does.
November 19, 2008
Now it's offensive!
The Associated Press has jumped all over a comment by the al Qaeda #2 jihadist for referring to Prez-Elect Obama as a "house Negro":
Speaking in Arabic, al-Zawahri uses the term "abeed al-beit," which literally translates as "house slaves." But al-Qaida supplied English subtitles of his speech that included the translation as "house Negroes."
It's mighty nice of the AP to mention Condi Rice and Colin Powell now, eh? The term wasn't AS offensive when ONLY those two were the targets of such vitriol -- and from their own [African-American] countrymen! Former prez contender and all-around hack Al Sharpton was recently caught referring to Rice and Powell as "HN's" just like al-Zawahri, not to mention nouveau Communist Harry Belafonte.
This isn't to mention
... the Democrat bloggers who posted a doctored photo of Michael Steele on the Internet, depicting him as a “Simple Sambo” with a Jim Crow-era “black face,” nappy hair and thick red lips ...
... Democrat [cartoonist] Pat Oliphant drew Dr. [Condi] Rice as a big-lipped, buck-toothed squawking parrot ...
... Democrat [cartoonist] Ted Rall referred to Dr. Rice as President Bush’s “House [N-word]” ...
... Democrat John Sylvester characterized Dr. Rice on his radio talk show as a stupid, servile black woman, calling her an “Aunt Jemima” ... (Source.)
The only places I recall reading about these incidents was on conservative blogs. The AP didn't seem very interested in these outrageous instances of blatant racism.
Does that really surprise anyone?
Culture of Whine (a rant)
Shirley at DE Curmudgeon has a terrific post which hit me at just the right moment today. I had just finished with what has to be the friggin’ WHINIEST class I’ve had in years. After spending some three days on a topic, I assigned a few pages from their workbook. First, about ten students didn’t even HAVE the workbook with them. This, despite me telling them the day before to bring it AND making a similar announcement over the school PA system this morning. Then the real “fun” started …
“I don’t get this.” (This question despite me asking numerous times over the last three days “Any questions?”) “We didn’t do this.” (Um, where WERE you the last three days?) “How are we supposed to know how to say this?” (By what we learned the last three days, perhaps? Have you looked at your notes?) “I don’t remember this.” (Maybe the fact that you kept talking to your neighbor that one day, and that you kept reading that pleasure novel the other day in class has something to do with it?)
My classes are supposed to be “honors” level. That’s right – “honors.” You might expect an “honors” level class to do their homework regularly, not get ridiculously irate by mildly difficult work, come prepared to class everyday, and get this – actually pay attention when there’s a lesson going on. This year, out of all my many years in the classroom, has demonstrated what a knee-slapper the term “honors” has become. Don’t get me wrong – there are still many students who rightfully deserve the label “honors.” But I feel bad for these students because they, like me, have to deal with the knuckleheads who shouldn’t be in their class.
Why are these kids in “honors” classes? One way to get in is to have mom or dad merely complain about it. You’ll get in an “honors” class, no problem. Grades? Test scores? Not a problem. The other reason there are kids who don’t belong in “honors” classes is because of what Shirley wrote – we don’t “want to hurt anyone’s feelings.” Y’see, those that aren’t in “honors” classes might feel … “left out.” “Stigmatized.” It’ll “hurt their self-esteem.” Then, there’s that tried and true belief (/sarcasm) that the real honors students might serve to “lift up” those who are not actual “honors” students in those “honors” classes. Yeah, uh-huh. In actuality, the typically worse behavior of non-“honors” students usually “rubs off” on the “honors” students.
Some “honors” students think they’re soooo smart that this somehow exempts them from actually doing any work. “I got As on my tests,” they’ll argue. “But,” I’ll retort, “you neglected to turn in those two papers, didn’t do that oral presentation, and you skipped five homework assignments.” In other words, “honors” means more than just smarts. It also means work ethic.
Perhaps this dilemma will get better next year. My field of endeavor, after all, has its ebbs and flows like anything else. (My group last year, for example, was one of -- if not the -- best group of kids I've ever had.) Perhaps. Just perhaps. But as a whole, I believe what Shirley noted is too rapidly becoming the norm. Kids want things easy. They want things to come to them easily. Effort? How come? If they don't do well, it couldn't possibly be THEIR fault, could it? "Why did you give me a 'D,' Mr. Hube?"
Yep, that's a classic line. The classic retort to which is "I didn't 'give' you anything. I merely wrote down what you 'earned.'"
Cry me a freakin' river
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Gotta love James Taranto's highlighting of these "hard luck" stories disseminated by our illustrious MSM:
Debra, who did not want her last name to be published, bought a home in the East New York section of Brooklyn for more than $600,000 in 2006. The house has plenty of room for herself, for her son and for tenants. She thought that with the help of rental income and refinancing her mortgages that she could carry the load.
"People tell you that you can refinance and get a better deal," Debra explained--an all too common assumption during the housing boom. After a few months, her tenants started to pay their rent late--and sometimes not at all. Without that income, she was stretched too thin. "Your mortgage is your priority," Debra explained, "so you pay your mortgage and wait on the other bills." She fell behind on those bills, then on the mortgage itself.
Yeah, it sure is "tough" being able to afford a house that costs over $600 grand. So, what's the supposed problem with the "refinancing and getting a better deal" bit? I refinanced years ago and got a terrific deal. I'll have my house paid off in a fraction of the time our original mortgage stipulated. Ah, but 'ya see, my wife and I don't rely on fortunes of others to assist us in paying our mortgage and other bills. We actually -- wait for it -- rely on ourselves and our own fortunes (or misfortunes). Reminds me of why I always hated waiting tables and bartending during my college years -- I had to rely on the generosity of others.
One of the hardest decisions was to tell her granddaughter that she could no longer take horseback riding lessons because they couldn't afford it.
"She loved those horseback riding lessons," Gentile said.
Yeesh, how often did these folks go to the movies and out to dinner that they had to "cut back?" And cripes -- horseback riding lessons?? Gentile was probably later quoted as saying "It really hurts now, not getting picked up by our limo service. Taking a taxi sure can be tiring, you know, holding up your arm constantly trying to flag down a driver."
Tony would be a good candidate for any school: He's a straight-A senior at Bowie High School and captain of the football team, with near-perfect SAT scores. He's not interested in playing college football; instead, Tony talks about majoring in computer science or engineering.
"I'd like to have my own business someday," he said. But the plunging stock market has made their stock options worthless and crushed the D'Addeos' Ivy League dreams.
I sure hope Tony's folks aren't Ivy League graduates, 'cause it ain't all-too bright putting their kid's college fund in stock options! But that aside, c'mon -- are we really supposed to wipe away a tear because a kid may not be able to go to an Ivy League school? Especially when so many MORE folks (like me) are wondering if they'll be able to afford college for their kid AT ALL without drowning in debt or breaking the bank?
November 18, 2008
Stan the Man
The Master of Comics, Marvel's Stan Lee, has won the National Medal of Arts.
Excelsior!
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