Tea partiers

They were the people who were doing the important things right -- and who are now watching elected politicians reward those who did the important things wrong.

from the WSJ - titled: The Real Culture War Is Over Capitalism


We were looking into refinancing yesterday because we're in an ARM and I'm nervous about the inflation that's almost sure to arrive when the economy starts recovering and finds itself awash with lots of shiny new dollars. We weren't finding very attractive rates for our particular situation so Gerri called a friend who used to be a mortgage broker. His advice - quit paying your mortgage for three months. Banks will be throwing themselves (and money) at your feet.

We're not going to do that, but that's the environment that the new administration has created. Behavior that is rewarded is repeated. When money is available for people who don't pay their mortgage, then people won't pay their mortgages. Obviously.

interesting

The Cancun airport is the first in Mexico to install 50 new heat thermometers to detect passengers with elevated fevers. The thermometers are set to be put into use tomorrow for both departing and arriving travelers. Cancun and Quintana Roo have yet to officially report a confirmed case of swine flu, maintaining that there are zero infected people in the state. And that's it for the good news.

I just hadn't heard of that technology. Kind of cool. Kind of Big Brother.

From here. 

simple math ...

 If the government increased the top tax rate from the current rate of 35% to 100% (yes, that's right 100%), it would only collect an extra $400 billion this year. In other words, confiscating all the income that is currently taxed at 35% would not raise enough revenue to cover any of the annual deficits projected in the next 10 years. 

from Forbes

Bad news for Nike, et al.

Barefoot runners suffer fewer injuries.

French response to piracy:

France's policy is to refuse to accept acts of piracy and avoid having French citizens taken ashore as hostages, 

Makes sense to me.  

Really? We're actually NEGOTIATING with pirates?

That seems likely to encourage more piracy. Hard to believe a couple of SEALs couldn't manage to get the captain off. Where's Rambo or Jason Bourne when you need them? 

No liberal bias to see here. Move along.

The curious case of 200 nearly identical MSM headlines 

An ACORN-funded organization sends out a press release and it's dutifully rolled out to newspapers around the country. Follow the link for a discussion of other numbers representing 'uninsured' Americans. (again, via Instapundit.)

libertarian perspective

being libertarian does not mean you have to have a cold heart. You can be a bleeding heart, but you show it by what you do, not what you advocate forcing other people to do.

 (via Instapundit)

Phages kill antibiotic resistant bacteria ... but not here, thanks.

In use in Eastern Europe since the early 1900s, phages are viruses that attack bacteria. Considered as safe and reliable as aspirin over there, the FDA has reservations that make their use rare and last-ditch here.

 

studies published over the past several decades, based on trials conducted at Eliava and elsewhere in Eastern Europe, have shown that phage therapy has an 80 to 90 percent success rate against bacteria likely to show antibiotic resistance, such as Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. In contrast, many antibiotics fail outright against the evolved forms of these pathogens.

 

That's 80 - 90 % success against bacteria that we can't kill - the so-called flesh-eating bacteria. 

(via Instapundit)

Race and the 2008 Election: What the Exit Polls Showed

This is interesting, and I doubt if it's surprising to a lot of people. But I don't necessarily think it's quite as ominous as some might portray it. I think that during the campaign Barack Obama did a good job of portraying himself as a centrist interested in bipartisan efforts - much like John McCain. Given the choice between two essentially (seemingly at least) similar candidates, I imagine a lot of people would have picked Obama on the basis of race in an effort to move beyond discussions of race and - ironically - to demonstrate the nations evolution away from race-based politics. (via Instapundit)

Kindle v. tOuch 2

Josh Marshall follows up with his impressions on the battle as well as the future of books.

Efficiency in government

There's a place for efficiency in government. That place is at the DMV or the building inspection office or police headquarters. Making law and enacting policy and especially raising taxes, however, are government activities where I don't mind considerable inefficiency. 

Sarcasm from USA Today?

Headline: Obama heads overseas to tackle world economy

Guess they didn't have room for the first half of the statement: "Now that he's got the US economy all fixed up, ... "

kindle v. tOuch

Glenn Reynolds http://pajamasmedia.com/instapundit/75036/reviews his Kindle2. I got one for Christmas and while waiting for it to show up - three months later - I decided that an iPod tOuch would be a better choice. There's an ebook reading app that's available (free) and it's quite a bit more versatile than the Kindle. I also decided I wasn't crazy about the size of the Kindle - too big for my pockets and I'm not a Murse guy (though I've given it some thought).

It also seemed like the Kindle was more aimed at getting me to spend money at Amazon than enabling me to read whatever I wanted - like all the free ebooks that are available. I've been reading For Whom the Bell Tolls lately and enjoying it quite a bit. 

I suspect the Kindle might have a better - more paper-like - screen for reading, but I do fine with the tOuch. I haven't tried it outside much, but I've mostly been able to read it fine. Currently I've got it set to a black background with light grey text.

Having just gotten back from vacation I did decide that neither device is necessarily the best if you're vacationing at a hotel or other crowded location like the beach. It's not like you'd be well advised to leave your Kindle or tOuch unattended on your chair when you decide to take a dip in the pool or freshen your cocktail at the bar. A paper book is less likely to go for a walk than either high-tech alternative.

I'm not really a Duke fan

but it's hard not to agree with this from Coach Krzyzewski:

as much as I respect what [the president]'s doing, really, the economy is something that he should focus on, probably more than the brackets

Hamas for genocide everywhere, not just Israel

At least we didn't elect them to lead our government.

Stranger Danger?

Here 's an interesting commentary on Amber Alerts. 

There are only about 115 stranger abductions per year. The vast, vast majority of cases where a child is abducted involve either family members (200,000 - most custody related) or other people who the child knows (80% of 58000 according to the article). 

Definitely suggests we don't need to worry so much about our kids 'talking to strangers'. 

I know I'm a little overprotective as a parent, but I try to let kids be kids without being too paranoid.

Wisdom of crowds

And what it says  about the President's economic policies.

The president plans to raise taxes

on the wealthy - except, I guess for his administration many of whom haven't been paying all their taxes, anyway. Can anyone say 'appearance of impropriety'?

Big earners better start earning a lot more

if they're going to have to pay for the president's plans . 'Cuz right now they don't make enough to do the trick.