Watcha Reading?

Finished up Zombie Maelstrom by Bryan Cassiday, as well as the 2nd book in the series, Zombie Necropolis. Both of them bogged down a bit, way to much constant explanations of what individual zombies look like. There wasn’t all that much progression into character development, and lots and lots of repeating the same thing (like when the main character, Chad Halverson, explains to himself that he can’t tell them he’s CIA, again and again and again). That said, I’ll give it 3 out of 5 stars. Hed off on reading the 3rd book, Sanctuary in Steel, because the latest from Glenn Bullion, Demon’s Doorway (Damned and Cursed) , was released.

Bullion is one of the better fantasy writers out there, and, heck, for $2.99, you cannot beat the entertainment. I’d easily pay up to $7 for his books (that’s about my limit, especially when they come out in paperback). This one meshes characters from several of his books, Jack Kursed, Victoria the vampire, Alex from Demonspawn, and Kevin from A Witch To Live, and does it very well. There’s something special for each of these characters throughout the book, from a wedding, to finding love, to simply going to sleep (see Jack Kursed for that background).

Finished that one too sweet, and on to The Icarus Void by CK Burch, started Saturday. We’ll see how that goes.

Also, as I’ve mentioned for the past few weeks, I’ve also been slowly reading The Mad, Mad, Mad World Of Climatism. I finally finished it, and will provide a longer review/synopsis on my next day off, so as not to rush it, but, let me say that this should be the one book that every Warmist, and those on the fences, should read. Heck, even if you do not buy into “climate change”, you should read it. The facts and figures, along with the history, of “climate change” is put in an excellent format that anyone can easily understand. I should finish it this week, not that much left. You should buy it. Still haven’t gotten around to reviewing it. My Bad.

Read: Watcha Reading? »

Obama Pledges To Waste $7 Billion For Energy For Africa

More US taxpayer money flushed down the toilet to appease, well, I bet he has lots of campaign donors who’d like to get their hands involved with the schemes

(CNN) U.S. President Barack Obama pledged $7 billion Sunday to help combat frequent power blackouts in sub-Saharan Africa.

Funds from the initiative, dubbed Power Africa, will be distributed over the next five years.

We know this means “green” energy, and what energy poor Africans really, really need is expensive energy which is unstable and takes up hjuge swaths of the landscape, damaging the areas where animals and birds live.

We also know this because Power Africa, which obtains huge sums of funding from the World Bank, is pushing the “sustainable” and “clean” energy memes. None of these people or entities want poor Black people to have the same benefits that 1st worlders have.

Read: Obama Pledges To Waste $7 Billion For Energy For Africa »

If All You See…

…is a horrible fossil fueled vehicle being washed with precious non-renewable water, you might just be a Warmist

The blog of the day is Conservatives 4 Palin, with a post highlighting Sara Palin’s latest Facebook post.

Read: If All You See… »

Sorta Blogless Sunday Pinup – Pre July 4th!

Happy Sunday for this Independence Day week! Yeah, this is a few days early, yet, it is never too early to remember what our Forefathers fought and died for. The pinup is by Randall Meco, with no help added.

What is happening in Ye Olde Blogosphere? The Fine 15

  1. Wake Up America wonders what tyranny would look like in America
  2. The People’s Cube features the most expendable apparatchik
  3. The Other McCain has he face of cowardice
  4. The Lonely Conservative features the Obamacare data hub
  5. The Camp Of the Saints has Bert And Ernie and the culture of death
  6. small dead animals has….sustainable steak?
  7. Sister Toldjah discusses the Paula Dean backlash
  8. Rhymes With Right discusses an unpleasant subject for some
  9. Raised On Hoecakes mentions an immigration story that boggles the mind
  10. Pundit Press has climate change and Obamacare!
  11. Patterico wonders about Obama collecting gun data on citizens
  12. Maggie’s Notebook notes that crime pays in the amnesty bill
  13. Joshuapundit has the idiot RNC head pushing amnesty
  14. Jammie Wearing Fools notes that Obama wants voter ID…in Kenya
  15. And last, but not least, Flopping Aces has an open letter to all 18 year olds

BTW, I trying The Old Reader instead of Google Reader for this episode, to see how easy it is, what with GR shutting down (bastards). So far so good. I like how it gives standard URLs for those with Feedburner feeds.

As always, the full set of pinups can be seen in the Patriotic Pinup category, or over at my Gallery page. While we are on pinups, since it is that time of year, have you gotten your “Pinups for Vets” calendar yet? And don’t forget to check out what I declare to be our War on Women Rule 5 and linky luv posts

Anyone else have a link or hotty-fest going on? Let me know so I can add you to the list. (BTW, since someone asked, the reason I leave links for the previous week up (or you might see a *) is because they are place holders for later in the day or for next weeks. Easier than rewriting all the time. Also, the listing order has to do with how they are added over time, not how good a post is. I just copy and paste from the previous week, then edit. If you see one of the *’s, go ahead and check out the blog anyhow, see if there is an update. I cannot update with my Android during the day.

The posts do take a long time, so, if you want to send me your links for Rule 5 babeage or links, use ye olde email in the header bar (remove the NOSPAM part). Preferably, create the html link so I can copy and paste how you want it to read.

Read: Sorta Blogless Sunday Pinup – Pre July 4th! »

Atheists Build Monument In Florida, Promise 50 More

I’ve often said that I have no problem with the 10 Commandments being on public property: the religious clause is about government establishing a nation religion, not against the government displaying religion. The clause was in response to how much the Church of England was involved in government pre-revolution. That said, I’ve also stated that if other religions would like monuments on government property. Fair is fair. Of course, while most atheists are decent people who just don’t believe, there are those who are militant, and instead of putting up a respectful monument, they drive down the road towards Denigration

(The Blaze) A group of atheists on Saturday unveiled a monument to their unbelief in God…and it sits alongside a granite slab that lists the Ten Commandments.

American Atheists President David Silverman said that the organization has plans for 50 more monuments at public sites across the country, notes Raw Story.

“When you look at this monument, the first thing you will notice is that it has a function. Atheists are about the real and the physical, so we selected to place this monument in the form of a bench,” said Silverman. (snip)

“We reject outsiders coming to Florida—especially from outside what we refer to as the Bible Belt—and trying to remake us in their own image,” said Michael Tubbs, state chairman of the Florida League of the South. “We do feel like it’s a stick in the eye to the Christian people of Florida to have these outsiders come down here with their money and their leadership and promote their outside values here.”

So, it wasn’t really the business of the carpetbaggers. But, fine, they put their display up

At another point, Eric Hovind, 35, of Pensacola jumped atop the peak of the monument and shouted his thanks to the atheists for giving him a platform to declare Jesus is real. Atheists shouted at him, and he stepped down after about a minute. One man yelled that religion is a fairy tale.

Very tolerant people, these Atheists, wouldn’t you say? There’s a photo down at the end of The Blaze story showing Silverman standing on the 10 Commandments display, without being shouted at or denigrated. Here’s a photo of the monument, which, instead of being respectful, is meant to be insulting to Christians (more at their Twitter feed)

And, of course, instead of being graceful over their “win”….

While Silverman said he believes religion is wrong and teachings in the Bible are violent, he said he welcomes non-Christian religions to follow the atheists’ example and put in their own monuments in free-speech zones.

“I will back them because it will be their right,” he said. “This is one of the tricks that Christians have used, because they go up and call it a free-speech zone, and then they’re unopposed. They get their government legitimization because nobody else calls their bluff and puts something in.”

The momument includes “a list of Old Testament punishments for violating the Ten Commandments, including death and stoning”. Interestingly, these militant atheist groups never seem to want to insult Islam, because they aren’t stupid, and know that the hardcore Islamists still practice those types of punishments and could get really violent against atheists.

Crossed at Right Wing News and Stop The ACLU.

Read: Atheists Build Monument In Florida, Promise 50 More »

Climate Change Would Fail In the Private Sector

PJ Media’s Tom Blumer makes an interesting point about Hotcoldwetdry

Failure Deniers: Climate Change and Public-Sector Science

Tuesday afternoon, as I was reading Barack Obama’s Georgetown University speech on “climate change,” it occurred to me that the biggest and perhaps most consequential difference between the government and the private sector is how each reacts when reality doesn’t behave as expected.

The public sector does not have a monopoly on people who become irrationally wedded to ideas and programs which have become outmoded, obsolete, redundant, or worthless. The difference is what happens to such people — and in some cases, their firms — in the private sector when they stubbornly stick to their guns.

At a private firm, if a new product or idea loses — or is on track to lose — serious amounts of money, or if a research project is going nowhere, it gets killed (see: the Ford Edsel, New Coke, Apple Newton). Those who fall in love with these flame-outs and blindly defend them even when the handwriting is on the wall get fired. If a bad product or idea isn’t terminated quickly enough, it has the potential to jeopardize entire companies, even large ones (see JCPenney’s three-tier pricing plan and HP’s 2011 Touchpad debacle).

But within government?

If a new idea or product is failing or initially seems destined to fail, bureaucrats, their corporate beneficiaries, and their cronies work to get them underwritten or subsidized. The fact that the government is even involved likely indicates that the private sector knows better than to touch it without putting taxpayers on the hook. This explains why the Obama administration has had losers like Solyndra, A123 Battery, Beacon Power, and so many others in its energy “loan” portfolio.

Heck of a point. The private sector on its own would abandon so many of these hotcoldwetdry projects in a heartbeat. However, when government is throwing money around, they’re more than happy to take the money. Most of the pro-AGW research and findings comes at the hands of government grants, not solely private sector cash (except for few that have deep pockets donors such as George Soros, who fails to practice what he preaches).

Make sure to read the whole thing.

Meanwhile, Obama is flogging his “climate change” announcement during this week’s Weekly Address, which is funny considering that he is in the midst of a massive fossil fueled trip to Africa, putting out more “carbon pollution” during this trip than some countries put out in a year. I’m not going to excerpt it, because there is simply just way too much stupidity.

Also, I hate defending Obama, but there’s a meme going around that he said not to vote for anyone who doesn’t believe in Hotcoldwetdry

President Barack Obama is trying to frame climate change as a make-or-break political issue, urging Americans to vote only for those who will protect the country from environmental harm.

I’m sure he feels that way, but that is NOT what he said during the Weekly Address, but simply wishful thinking, and, let’s face it, biased and shoddy journalism by the AP and Washington Post.

Read: Climate Change Would Fail In the Private Sector »

If All You See…

…is a horrible CO2 infused beer causing Bad Weather, you might just be a Warmist

The blog of the day is Fire Andrea Mitchell, with a post on the silence of the national media.

Read: If All You See… »

Senators Look To Revamp Tax Code Blank Slate Style

Not to get too far ahead, they tried this in 1986 with the Tax Reform Act, and that turned into the behemoth we have today (read Showdown at Gucci Gulch for the details)

(Washington Post) The Senate’s chief tax writers plan to scrap the entire code and start from scratch in their push for tax reform, and on Thursday they gave lawmakers a month to make a case for preserving some of the $1.3 trillion in breaks on the books.

In a letter sent to all 98 of their colleagues, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and his Republican counterpart, Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (Utah), said they would take a “blank slate” approach to the tax code that assumes the elimination of thousands of popular perks, including such sacrosanct policies as the deduction for mortgage interest, the child credit, and the lower rate for dividends and capital gains.

They had a nice flat rate set up in 1986, and then someone said “what about the interest deduction on people’s first mortgage”. Snowballed after that.

However, the letter says, “the tax code is also littered with preferences for special interests. We plan to operate from an assumption that all special provisions are out unless there is clear evidence that they: (1) help grow the economy, (2) make the tax code fairer, or (3) effectively promote other important policy objectives.”

That brings several problems to mind. First, taxation should not be based on the whims of the elected class who come and go but leave their garbage behind. If the policy is not described in the Constitution specifically, it doesn’t belong.

Second, the only thing that makes the code “fairer” is everyone paying the same percent. Of course, what they mean is sticking it to “the rich”, ie, successful people.

Third, if they truly want it to be fair, it should not pick winners and losers in terms of “growing the economy”, since Congress and the President look at this mostly from political terms.

Read: Senators Look To Revamp Tax Code Blank Slate Style »

Congressman Steve Stockman Says Senate Amnesty Bill Is Unconstitutional

Not that many elected officials actually care about that pesky Constitution thingy

(Washington Times) Rep. Steve Stockman, a Texas Republican, said Friday that the Senate immigration bill is a revenue measure, which makes it unconstitutional because all revenue bills must start in the House.

“Not only is the Senate amnesty bill an abuse of taxpayers and immigrants, it’s utterly unconstitutional,” Mr. Stockman said. “The Senate cannot invent its own amnesty taxes.”

He called on House Speaker John A. Boehner to officially reject the Senate bill as unconstitutional using what’s known in Congress as the “blue slip” process, which is when the House informs the Senate that one of its bills contains taxes or spending and therefore must come from the House.

Blue slip procedures are considered privileged motions and can be brought quickly to the chamber floor for debate and a final vote.

I’d mention that Article 1, Section 7, Clause 1, but Democrats and some Republicans have amnesty on their minds and won’t be dissuaded by the ultimate legal document of our Republic.

Meanwhile, here’s Robert Menendez (D-NJ) on voting for the amnesty bill with its pesky border security portions

“It was painful to me, and not only in the sense that I believe that it’s a bad policy, as chairman of the Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee, I believe that it’s a bad policy regarding neighboring countries,” said Menendez in an interview with Univision, according to a transcript.

Yet, he still voted for it, since he knows that, at worst (for his side), the federal government will take some token steps to show that they are Doing Something to secure the border.

Read: Congressman Steve Stockman Says Senate Amnesty Bill Is Unconstitutional »

Horrified Bird Watchers See Rare White Throated Needletail Whacked By Wind Turbine

But, as we’ve seen, most Warmist supporters forget that they’re cult is supposed to be based in environmentalism, and tell us that a few bird deaths are no big deal, not when we’re saving Gaia from catching a fever and having Bad Weather

(UK Daily Mail) There had been only eight recorded sightings of the white-throated needletail in the UK since 1846. So when one popped up again on British shores this week, twitchers were understandably excited.

A group of 40 enthusiasts dashed to the Hebrides to catch a glimpse of the brown, black and blue bird, which breeds in Asia and winters in Australasia.

But instead of being treated to a wildlife spectacle they were left with a horror show when it flew into a wind turbine and was killed.

The last time one was seen in the area was 22 years ago. What does a spokesperson for the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) have to say?

‘Wind energy makes a vital contribution towards mitigating the impacts of climate change, which is the biggest threat to our native birds and wildlife.’

Good grief. Do I really need to point out that birds have survived all the hot and cold periods during this inter-glacial, many which were much warmer than this current warm period? That they’ve been around for tens of millions of years?

The same RSPB was having a hissy fit over a bird cull at an airport the other day, yet has no problem with huge numbers of birds being killed by wind farms. James Delingpole notes (in an article I’ve had sitting in my Instapaper account) that the RSPB tends to care more about the wind farms than birds, in relationship to this same issue of the white-throated needletail

Perhaps if this goes on the RSPB should consider a name change. Royal Society for the Prevention of Birds.

Perhaps Warmists should be called “anti-environmentalists”. Wind turbines kill almost 600,000 birds a year in the United States alone, many of them necessary birds of prey and/or protected birds. Worldwide, that estimate can get as high as 40-50 million around the world, which will continue to rise as more are built. Good job, Warmists. Nature haters.

Crossed at Right Wing News and Stop The ACLU.

Read: Horrified Bird Watchers See Rare White Throated Needletail Whacked By Wind Turbine »

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