Category: Uncategorized

Weekend Whip, April 9-10, 2011

Opponents of Gun-Free Zones at Universities Find Unlikely Hero in Nevada Woman [*1]

“I know, having been the first victim, that Brianna Dennison would still be alive, had I been able to defend myself that night.”

Gun-free zones kill. And rape. Preventing people from defending themselves is evil. Gun-free zones are evil. They are the triumph of naked, mindless fear over common sense. Those that demand campus gun-free zones basically held this woman down for the rapist–and tied the rapist’s other victim to a post and let him kill her. That is the result of all of the compassionate concern. Death and mayhem. You gun-prohibitionists removed their ability to defend themselves. The responsibility for their safety could have been theirs. You took that from them. And in result, you took the rest. I hope all you who want to ban guns are very, very happy with yourselves about this. Because you are not angels. You are monsters. Well-intentioned monsters. DEMOCRAT/”PROGRESSIVE” VOTE FRAUD, CORRUPTION, ABUSE, AND INTIMIDATION
Or: “The appearance of corruption is in itself corruption.”
Union Thuggery: Playing Hardball in Wisconsin [*2] — featuring the now de rigueur death wishes against Republican elected officials. No, you “progressives,” Republicans, libertarians, and people on the “right” do not customarily wish death on the elected officials of the other party. Tar and feathers, occasionally, but not death.

THE OBAMA DISASTER featuring but not limited to Obamacare, Keynesian economics, and other relics of 19th Century “Progressivism”
Apparently there is a budget deal [*3] — It’s a start. At least the discussion has shifted to how much we will cut from government. It’s not nearly enough, though. We need an across-the-board 10% or 20% cut in the Federal Government. Yes, including the military. Yes, including “entitlements.” There are better ways of serving the retired, poor, and elderly, if only we would be allowed to do them.

Washington vs. America–D.C. doesn’t doesn’t act like there’s a deficit problem [*4]

Landslide! It looks like Waterloo in Wisconsin for government unions. [*5]

Let Them Buy New Cars [*6]

This week President Obama replied to a man who told the president that he is hard-pressed to buy gasoline for his van that he ought to trade it in for a new car with better mileage. Obama assured him he’d probably get a great deal these days—from GM, Ford, or Chrysler, he added. The Associated Press first reported this incident and then scrubbed it from its story; most of the media did not care about it at all, because Obama is awesome.

And if you actually find the video or audio of this, you hear clearly Obama’s mocking disdain for the questioner. He doesn’t think he’s President. He thinks he’s king. And the last time Americans were ruled by a king, it–caused difficulties.

Is Boehner our Sun Tzu? [*7] — This strikes me as being somewhat hyperbolic . . .

Eat the Rich [*8]

THE ECONOMY, TEETERING ON THE BRINK OF DISASTER–or WE ARE SO SCREWED
Worse Case Scenario For Oil Prices? [*9] — Oil at $175 a barrel? Worst case? Heck, it’s well over $100 now. What makes $175 a ceiling–who says it can’t go higher? Unless Obama and the Democrats get off their asses and allow pretty much unlimited exploitation of American energy reserves, it probably will go higher. Are you ready for $10/gallon gas? Can you afford that?

IT’S A DANGEROUS WORLD
Man Gives Wife World’s First Mosquito-Borne STD [*10] — Oh, joy. One more thing to worry about. Hey, I have an idea! Let’s keep DDT banned!

My Plan on How to Fight the Next Middle East War [*11] — out of the mouths of humorists:

If you can go to a country, blow stuff up, and leave unscathed, that sounds like success. If someone came and burned your house and walked away, you wouldn’t say you won because the guy left. So why shouldn’t we in a future conflict in a Middle Eastern country just blow up stuff, declare victory, and leave?

In other words, if you plan to speak softly and carry a big stick, you kinda have to be willing to actually use the stick. Effectively. “Don’t piss us off or we will f*ck you up” is a defense policy that may offend certain tender sensibilities, but few will seriously debate that it is an effective policy. It works in just about every single bar I have ever been in, after all.

Johann Hari: We’re not being told the truth on Libya [*12] — Oh. Goody.

http://www.kansascity.com/2011/04/09/2788386/five-kc-pitchers-silence-tigers.html [*13]

HIGHER EDUCATION
On a personal note, one of my very best friends has been informed by her university employer that her contract will not be renewed for next year. This has bummed me out far more than I would have expected it would. If the bubble’s bursting has begun reaching her university, then higher education really is in for very, very hard times all around the country. Now, it’s true that the state where her university is has not traditionally been the strongest possible supporter of higher education–which will probably actually wind up being a blessing–for those in the system whose jobs survive the turmoil. I’m just glad I got out ten years ago. But if anybody needs a good IT manager with a sociology Ph.D., well-versed in much of the worst a bureaucracy can throw at a person, let me know and I’ll pass it on . . .
Sunday Reflection: Now comes the ‘Lower Education Bubble?’ [*14] –yes, it’s not higher education, but the symptoms are the same . . . and so is the disease . . .

ELECTION 2012: IF NOT SARAH PALIN, THEN WHO?
A Good First Step; FY2012, Here We Come [*15] — The possibly fatal flaw in the American system of government is that all of this kabuki theater in Washington, DC is posturing and positioning for the 2012 election, and not (except apparently for Paul Ryan) a serious attempt to deal with the issues and problems that this country faces.

THE COLLAPSE OF THE “ANTHROPOGENIC GLOBAL WARMING” CONJECTURE
Why eat corn when you can burn it? [*16] — Well, it’s true corn is loaded with deadly carbohydrates, but in moderation, I understand that some people can actually ingest them safely . . .

Facebook Treating Skeptic Blog Articles as “Abusive” [*17] — Or: If you’re losing the argument, just silence the opposition . . . this is what “progressiveism” looks like.

Why are we so bad at long range weather forecasting? [*18]

SPORT
Five KC pitchers silence Tigers’ bats in 3-1 Royals win [*19]

NEWS YOU MAY OR MAY NOT BE ABLE TO USE
DVR box is dying, Woz’ wisdom and other cool things learned at SNW [*20]

So How Well Does An Airbus A320 Handle When The Control System Fails? [*21]

Mo. Lawmakers May OK New Cell Phone Tax [*22] — Oh. Goody.

Uh, oh…the clash of ice and warmth brings storms [*23] — Oh. Goody.

How to Tell if Your Neighbor is a Bombmaker [*24] — Oh. Goody.

SCIENCE FICTION–READIN’, WRITIN’, WATCHIN’
11 films and TV shows that tried to be Star Wars [*25]

The current shape of Doctor Who series 6 [*26]

Epic Fantasy [*27]

Author Personas: Living a Charmed Life [*28] — “Writers are told to write what they know, but what happens when you don’t really know anything?” Heh. Indeed.

Writing Advice: Getting Stories from Your Imagination to the Page [*29] — I really, really need this advice . . . the good news is it sounds like I’m on the right path . . . the bad news is that I have to get off my butt (or get on my butt, if you take my meaning) and actually do it . . .

Online presence for writers [*30]

Book covers have been telling us to fear extraterrestrial visitors for over a century [*31]

The 100 Greatest Things About Doctor Who [*32]

11 mostly practical ways to travel between planets [*33]

Nautilus-X could be NASA’s first manned deep-space explorer [*34] — Chances are NASA won’t build it, of course . . .

What’s your Favorite Frederik Pohl novel, James E. Gunn?[*35]

Nautilus-X update [*36] — Can I have one, dad? Can I have one?

DEEP, MAN, REALLY, REALLY DEEP
Hume on Intellectual Property and the Problematic “Labor” Metaphor [*37] — Is “intellectual property” actually “property” at all, properly understood?

The Whip, April 8, 2011

The Whip returns, as basketball season has ended (well, college basketball season, which is the only one that really matters now isn’t it?) and things are–for a little while–beginning to settle down a bit. So, let’s get started:

TODAY’S FEATURE ARTICLE
How to Eliminate Social Security and Medicare [*1] — There are ways out of the mess we’ve made. All that’s needed is the fortitude to do what must be done–what will be done, one way or another. We can do it the hard way, or we can do it the easy way. Waiting is the hard way. Doing it now and taking the hits and pain that will come is actually the easy way. Think about that for a while. You know it’s true. DEMOCRAT/”PROGRESSIVE” VOTE FRAUD, CORRUPTION, ABUSE, AND INTIMIDATION
Or: “The appearance of corruption is in itself corruption.”

Wisconsin DOJ Open Meetings Expert Secretly Gave Advice To Fleeing Dem Senators [*2]

The GOP, Democrats and why Taxpayer funded planned parenthood & NPR matters[*3]

Facebook event: Let’s dump trash at Boehner’s pad [*4]

What Althouse saw [*5] — Personally, I think that Wisconsin county official purposefully withheld those returns in order to smoke out the usual Wisconsin Democrat vote-stuffing, and then trump it with real honest votes. Well-played, I say.

Maxine Waters, your scandal is showing [*6]

THE OBAMA DISASTER featuring but not limited to Obamacare, Keynesian economics, and other relics of 19th Century “Progressivism”
US Going Same Route as Greece, Portugal: Economist [*7]

The Attack of the Cash Register [*8]

The People’s Budget [*9] — The main takeaway:
“if you want to get the budget under control without meaningfully cutting into entitlements, you’re going to need to hike taxes substantially on the middle class. I’m waiting for the first politician to say this out loud.”
This in reference to the following:

What liberal deficit reduction would look like [*10] — One word: Taxes. Another word: MORE.

Shutdown Upside: Planes Falling From Skies, Earth Prey to Alien Invasion, Cats Marrying Dogs or, Howard Gleckman (Yes, That Howard Gleckman!) Oughta Get Out More! [*11] — Government shutdown! Aieeee!

THE ECONOMY, TEETERING ON THE BRINK OF DISASTER–or WE ARE SO SCREWED
The Case for Frugality [*12] — How many times have you been told: “Moderation in all things?” Turns out to be just as correct in financial matters as in anything else.

The Anticapitalistic Bias of American Intellectuals [*13] — It’s deep, and obvious to anyone who actually sits down and listens to almost any “intellectual” for more than 30 seconds. It stems from the natural, arrogant belief of smart people that they know better than you how you should run your life. They are, of course, wrong, but that has never in human history stopped them from trying.

DOOM!…and other discontents [*14] — If you’re not reading Ace of Spades HQ, you should be. Funny AND informative. And delightfully grotesque cat pictures. DOOM!

IT’S A DANGEROUS WORLD
Ivory Coast: UN air strikes show West’s new appetite for military action [*15] — Is the UN making the world more dangerous?

Gen.: U.S. troops not ideal, but may be considered in Libya [*16] — Why US troops? Why not German troops? Why not French troops? Why not British troops? Oh, yeah, they don’t have any. We’re paying for their defense. Or, in this case, their neo-colonial war.

THE COLLAPSE OF THE “ANTHROPOGENIC GLOBAL WARMING” CONJECTURE
Freedom of Information? Fifteen Months Waiting for Four Blank Pages [*17] — “If it looks like corruption, then it is corruption.”

SPORT
Breaking down the Royals’ hot start [*18]

Royals notebook | Appier voted into club’s Hall of Fame [*19]

http://www.mitchellrepublic.com/event/article/id/51620/group/homepage/ — Mitchell sophomore verbals to South Dakota State.

Missouri changing high school football playoff format [*20]

Escobar relishes highlights at shortstop [*21]

Spring football update 4/8 [*22] — South Dakota State football update.

SCIENCE FICTION–READIN’, WRITIN’, WATCHIN’
(A lot of links here. I decided to go back and catch up, for my own future reference.
Friedrich Hayek and American Science Fiction [*23]

Libertarianism and Science Fiction: What’s the Connection? [*24]

Some Further Notes on Libertarian Science Fiction [*25]

Come and see the violence inherent in the system! [*26]

How To Write A Generic SF Novel [*27]

NOMINEES: 2011 Prometheus Award [*28]

Revisions: your story isn’t you [*29]

The Misinformation Age: What Happens When A Headline Goes Viral [*30]

Why don’t authors switch genre? [*31]

Sarah Herbe: Focusing on a Theme [*32]

Real Life Diagnostics: We Need to Talk: Bringing Out Emotions in Your Scene [*33]

Why I Write Fantasy [*34]

Blood Work [*35]

If You Build It, They Will Come: Worldbuilding in Urban Fantasy [*36]

Worlds Apart [*37]

The Two Tolkiens [*38]

You can’t be a fan of SF and lament the rise of ebooks [*39]

Liking science fiction and fantasy makes you a genius [*40]

From New Wave to SciFi Strange [*41]

The Better Mash-Up: An Exoneration of a New Literary Genre – Part I [*42]

Wednesday Worldbuilding Workshop: Orienting by marking insiders vs. outsiders [*43]

The 10 Most Awesome Non-Human Discworld Characters [*44]

Doctor Who: Season 6New Season Coming This Spring [*45] — Auto-playing video . . . be warned . . .

Your Better Half: What Happens When One POV is Better? [*46]

Lindsay Graham is a Republican. And a jackass.

Via Pajamas Media[*1] comes this de-pantsing of Senator Lindsay Graham by American Citizen Ann Barnhardt, followed by yet another delightful Koran-burning session:

Oh, and all of the above does not mean that Pastor Terry Jones–or Ann Barnhardt, for that matter–is not also a jackass. Burning books pretty much automatically makes you a jackass. But again, that’s pretty much the point of the First Amendment, isn’t it? Even jackasses have freedom of speech–otherwise freedom of speech is a meaningless phrase.

So I guess I’m saying you have the freedom to say pretty much anything you want, except for saying that people can’t say what they want.

(The use of bacon as a Koran bookmark is especially insulting, isn’t it? Completely protected not only as free speech but freedom of religion. Sorry, Lindsay . . . )

(And note, I personally make no judgments one way or another about the Koran or Islam here. I don’t have to. I’m an American. That’s a big part of what being an American means. And that’s why a lot of radical Muslims hate America, by the way. Personally, I wouldn’t burn a Koran, as I have known many Muslims who have been and are worthy of my respect. But I’ve known Hindus and Buddhists, too. Doesn’t mean I have to convert to their religions, either. Not in this country, anyway.)

Thought For The Day

View with suspicious optimism a revolution led by housewives, shopkeepers, shipbuilders, or mine workers.

Their Fair Share

Via Carpe Diem[*1] comes this nugget of info from the Tax Foundation[*2] , reporting income distribution and taxation figures collected by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD):

The share of total market income of the richest 10% of Americans: 33.9%

The share of total taxes paid by the richest 10% of Americans: 45.1%

Exit question: If paying 11.2% more than would be “fair” (i.e. if everyone paid the same percent of their income in taxes) isn’t enough for the rich to pay, how much more would be enough?

Look at the numbers again:

Income: 33.9%;

Taxes: 45.1%.

If these numbers were talking about the poorest 10% . . . or the poorest 50%, most people would be outraged. “The rich should pay their fair share!!!”

So, when you hear that the rich should pay their fair share, the first question to your lips should be “OK, then, what’s fair?”

The ponderous ship of science begins to turn . . .

. . . away from the increasingly dubious extreme claims of “anthropogenic climate change” and towards honestly looking at the available data–that’s all of the available data–as is required to do good science:

From Anthony Watts’ Watts Up With That blog:

The British government’s chief scientific adviser, John Beddington, has called for more openness in the global warming debate. He said climate scientists should be less hostile to sceptics who questioned man-made global warming. He condemned scientists who refused to publish the data underpinning their reports. He also said public confidence in climate science would be improved if there were more openness about its uncertainties, even if that meant admitting that sceptics had been right on some hotly disputed issues.

This being part of a call for interested scientists to participate in increased online peer review of not only the findings of climate scientists but also a peer review of all of the data underlying those findings. As we are increasingly finding out, those data, when considered in total, do not in fact support the findings that some scientists have asserted that they do.

Needless to say, this isn’t how science is supposed to be done.

More science, less politics, please.