Author: admin

Oh, dear God . . .

“The economy is in a much stronger position to handle” rising oil prices, Tim Geithner said today during a Bloomberg Breakfast in Washington. “Central banks have a lot of experience in managing these things.”

From Bloomberg via Zero Hedge.[*1]

We Are So Screwed.

Recall, if you will, Timothy Geithner is the guy who was unable to comprehend the nuances of TurboTax.

Pardon me if my confidence in central bankers and central planners to competently manage the entire world’s economy–despite centuries of evidence that central planning inevitably results in disaster–pardon me if my confidence in these modern mandarins is somewhat lacking.

Want to earn more? Go out to a bar and raise a pint!

Op-ed: Raise your glass to some good news on alcohol[*1] .

Holding everything else equal, we found that someone who drinks earns 10 percent more on average than someone who does not. We also found that men who reported going to a bar at least once in the last month earn an additional 7 percent. That’s 17 percent more money than people who don’t go out or drink.

There are some people, like my Snookums, who can easily slide into social interactions with strangers without requiring the “social lubricant” of alcohol. And then there are the rest of us.

St. Helena to get airstrip

Snookums and I loved St. Helena–supposedly the most remote island on Earth, whose only connection to the rest of the world was the once-monthly British Mail ship, the St. Helena.

According to this article[*1] , St. Helena is getting an airstrip.

Jamestown, St. Helena

On the one hand, bully for them! On the other hand, I hope it doesn’t ruin the beautiful, simple charm that the village of Jamestown had when we visited it a couple of years ago. The Saints–residents of St. Helena–will be delighted, though. They really, really, really resented the decision of the previous British Government to cancel plans to build the airport.

The Whip

While the spoiled children in Wisconsin and their union/Democrat enablers continue their temper tantrum over actually being asked to pay for a portion of their retirement and medical care (horrors!), putting up to 12 thousand Wisconsin state employees’ jobs at risk,[*1] you may have missed a few other happenings:

Iran is sending ships through the Suez Canal to further menace Israel.[*2]

Meanwhile, high speed rail will SOLVE ALL OUR PROBLEMS!![*3] (Oops, sorry, no, it won’t. It’s a silly-ass idea. Works in Japan. Won’t work in the USA.)

(Economic) bubbles are bursting around the world . . .[*4] has our golden age ended? Only if we do not change— and I’m not referring to the Soros/Obama-cling-bitterly-to-Nineteenth-century-“progressive”-collectivist/statist-public-policy-solutions kind of “change.”

And yes, unions ARE thuggish organizations.[*5] They really can’t help it. It’s what they are. Their primary weapon is intimidation. When that fails, they start the violence.

Fire ‘em all and institute vouchers.[*6] Sounds like an excellent plan to me.

Wisconsin doctors sacrificing their careers to keep spoiled children spoiled.[*7]

On a rare cheery note, Nathan Fillion wants to buy Firefly.[*8]

The price of oil is going up.[*9] The price of everything is going up.[*10] Have you noticed?

A good question: After Wisconsin, how do Democrats argue against a GOP government shutdown?[*11] Glenn Reynolds replies: “”shamelessly” would be my guess.”[*12] Yeah. That word should be a part of the official name of the Democratic Party–er–the Shameless Democratic Party.

Depressed yet? No? Then you don’t understand what’s going on. Sigh.

Thought For The Day

Don’t make life harder than it already is for people, and maybe just maybe do something to make it easier for people every once in a while.

-Me, in an e-mail conversation earlier this week with a friend.

Glenn Reynolds channels Warren Zevon

IN WALKS THE VILLAGE IDIOT, AND HIS FACE IS ALL AGLOW. He’s been up all night listening to Mohammed’s radio.[*1]
I HEARD THE GENERAL, WHISPERING TO HIS AIDE DE CAMP: “Be watchful for Mohammed’s lamp.”[*2]
EVERYBODY’S DESPERATE, TRYING TO MAKE ENDS MEET. Work all day, still can’t pay the price of gasoline and meat.[*3]
YOU’VE BEEN UP ALL NIGHT, JUST LISTENING FOR HIS DRUM: Hoping that the righteous might just, might just, might just, might just come.[*4]

The way things are going, the Sage of Knoxville will have more of this . . .