His wife, Alice, died two days after giving birth to their daughter. May you have a much nicer day, and remember those who don't.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
The saddest Valentine's Day ever
Teddy Roosevelt's diary, February 14, 1884:
His wife, Alice, died two days after giving birth to their daughter. May you have a much nicer day, and remember those who don't.
His wife, Alice, died two days after giving birth to their daughter. May you have a much nicer day, and remember those who don't.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Mirror
Visiting a foreign land is like looking in the mirror for the first time. The absence of the familiar, and the presence of the unusual causes us to think on our own land, our own society. This is why travel is such a gift to the intellect.
A visitor from a remote land can do this for us, in the comfort of our own homes. Like this:
Compare and contrast. Who better to make this comparison between the USA and the EU, between our Constitution and theirs, between our government and theirs than a Member of the European Parliament. Watch the whole thing.
A visitor from a remote land can do this for us, in the comfort of our own homes. Like this:
Compare and contrast. Who better to make this comparison between the USA and the EU, between our Constitution and theirs, between our government and theirs than a Member of the European Parliament. Watch the whole thing.
Inflation roars back
Having suffered through the inflation of the 1970s and early 1980s, this is ugly. Gasoline - even faced with weak demand - is headed to $4.00 a gallon:
Inflation.
The Fed printed a ton of money with their Quantitative Easing #2, and the folks who sell us oil aren't idiots. Since there are more dollars for the same US GDP, each dollar is worth less. And so the (nominal) price of oil goes up. The real (inflation-adjusted) price is likely flat, or a little down.
So what is the real price of oil? We don't know, because the price of energy is helpfully excluded from the CPI. Don't look to your government to tell you any data here. The fact that they won't tell you is all you need to know.
As the weekly Lundberg survey shows, in the week ended February 10, gas rose by 11.57 cents to $3.5101, the highest since September. The latest price is also 12% higher compared to a year earlier. What is troubling is that as the attached chart shows, the trend of gradual gas price declines has now firmly ended, having touched a low of $3.20, and has been replaced by a steady climb over the past 2 months. In other words, the US consumer's retail spending has been far weaker than expected in November and December, and soon to be discovered in January, primarily due to gas purchases, which have already plunged as discussed recently, once again taking up a substantial portion of the discretionary spending basket (on credit at that). And what is worse, is that as the LTRO #2 is about to add another several hundred billion to the ECB's balance sheet, which will ineivtably be followed by more Fed printing, the Gasoline trendline has only one way to go. Expect the recent highs of $4.00/gallon to be taken out shortly, and to lead to yet another GDP roll over once again. Alas, none of this will be a consolation to European readers, who a few days ago just saw gas hit all time highs.Of the face of it, this seems to violate the law of supply and demand - when demand falls, so must price. We're seeing prices go up even when demand is down. Why?
Inflation.
The Fed printed a ton of money with their Quantitative Easing #2, and the folks who sell us oil aren't idiots. Since there are more dollars for the same US GDP, each dollar is worth less. And so the (nominal) price of oil goes up. The real (inflation-adjusted) price is likely flat, or a little down.
So what is the real price of oil? We don't know, because the price of energy is helpfully excluded from the CPI. Don't look to your government to tell you any data here. The fact that they won't tell you is all you need to know.
The Blue Social model
Shown here at night.
Madrid and Lisbon are next. So when do Chicago and Los Angeles light up the night sky?
Greece no longer has anyone to subsidize them, and so Athens is burning. As Captain Capitalism likes to say, enjoy the decline!
Madrid and Lisbon are next. So when do Chicago and Los Angeles light up the night sky?
Sunday, February 12, 2012
I'm doing something right
#1 Son wanted me to pick up a sixpack, to have a beer with me. Cool, I thought. Pick it out, I said.
He'd seen the Superbowl commercials, and picked out Bud Light platinum. No, that's not what I'm doing right.
He didn't like the beer - Almost tastes like water, he said. Yup. That's what I'm doing right. Life's too short to drink bad beer.
He'd seen the Superbowl commercials, and picked out Bud Light platinum. No, that's not what I'm doing right.
He didn't like the beer - Almost tastes like water, he said. Yup. That's what I'm doing right. Life's too short to drink bad beer.
Emmanuel Chabrier - España
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| Image via Wikipedia |
He has a certain Internet cachet because a 1910 Pathe recording of his España is up on Youtube, played on a period Gramophone. As near as I can tell, this is the oldest recorded classical music that you can hear in its original form, from an orchestra that met to record it over a century back.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
You have no chance to survive. Make your time.
The Czar of Muscovy brings some good points about the election (although I'd like him to show his work a bit more; then again, I'm an amateur quant). Alas, I'm not sure that I quite agree with his conclusions. First, to the easy bit:
1. He is entirely correct that Romney would make a much better (not to mention less dangerous) POTUS than Obama II.
2. He is entirely correct that Romney would likely make a better POTUS than either Santorum or Gingrich, although they would either of them be an upgrade from Obama II.
3. He is correct that a Republican Congress will be hard pressed to restrain Obama II, and that Congress may even flip back Democratic in 2014.
Here's the problem: it's not Obama, it's Obama's world view. He's just particularly ruthless in pushing it aggressively. Obama isn't alone: he has the entire Intelligentsia on his side, the MSM, the European Elites, the international Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). They're all in the same tribe, which believes that things should be run by them, with a strong, interventionist government in charge (run by them, 'natch), and with the peons givering deference where it's due (to them, 'natch).
Romney's in that tribe. So's Newt, and probably Santorum. And 60% of the Republican Party. Only Ron Paul explicitly rejects that world view.
Essentially, it's the Blue State model - although we need to recognize that all of Europe is deeper Blue than even Massachusetts. Here's the crisis: the Blue model is collapsing.
It's falling apart all over the world as the State finds that it's spent too much on the wrong things, and that buying off the proles to keep them in line has gone as far as it can. There has been massive deficit spending for a long time, and now whole chunks of the Progressive Edifice are simply starting to fall off - indeed, Greece will leave the Eurozone in a matter of months, declare a massive default on their government bonds (likely losing 80% of their nominal value), and return to the Drachma.
Of course, then there will be no more deficit spending (who on earth would buy their bonds?) and the Blue Paradigm will join the Aeropagus as obscure Greek history trivia. Greece, of course, will be joined by others in Europe, and the United States. What's the over/under on when Illinois defaults on their State bonds? California?
The problem with the GOP is that they have been junior members of the Blue tribe for the past quarter century. The crises of the next four years are crises of this Blue model:
So the question is, who is the best man for the job of POTUS, if our long term goals are (a) change this Blue world view to something sane) and then (b) fix entitlements before we join Greece?
I think that the answer is that we want Barack Obama to be in the Oval Office as the Blue Model comes crashing down.
You see, Romney will roll up his sleeves and try to fix things, but his fixes are likely to be at least a little sane, and so he'll get savaged by the Intelligentsia saying Paul Krugman sez we need a 3 Trillion dollar stimulus!!eleventy!
And so when the bottom inevitably falls out, Romney will take the blame, not Obama. And we'll go back for another round of Blue Model on steroids, because nobody will want to trim Social Security and everyone will be invested in stupid Romney screwed everything up.
If the O-Man is there another 4, they won't have this - particularly if he rules via regulation, not legislation (as is entirely likely).
And so, we have no chance to survive, until the Left decides that maybe this isn't such a good idea. If we're lucky, they'll figure this out as Europe and a couple States crater but the rest stagger on.
My view is that we are better off (long term) taking the massive hit that will be another Obama term, getting it over with, and then picking up the pieces of the collapsed Blue (Democrat and GOP) statist model. We need to make our time, or perhaps Zig for Great Justice.
Your mileage may vary, void where prohibited, do not remove tag under penalty of law.
1. He is entirely correct that Romney would make a much better (not to mention less dangerous) POTUS than Obama II.
2. He is entirely correct that Romney would likely make a better POTUS than either Santorum or Gingrich, although they would either of them be an upgrade from Obama II.
3. He is correct that a Republican Congress will be hard pressed to restrain Obama II, and that Congress may even flip back Democratic in 2014.
Here's the problem: it's not Obama, it's Obama's world view. He's just particularly ruthless in pushing it aggressively. Obama isn't alone: he has the entire Intelligentsia on his side, the MSM, the European Elites, the international Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). They're all in the same tribe, which believes that things should be run by them, with a strong, interventionist government in charge (run by them, 'natch), and with the peons givering deference where it's due (to them, 'natch).
Romney's in that tribe. So's Newt, and probably Santorum. And 60% of the Republican Party. Only Ron Paul explicitly rejects that world view.
Essentially, it's the Blue State model - although we need to recognize that all of Europe is deeper Blue than even Massachusetts. Here's the crisis: the Blue model is collapsing.
It's falling apart all over the world as the State finds that it's spent too much on the wrong things, and that buying off the proles to keep them in line has gone as far as it can. There has been massive deficit spending for a long time, and now whole chunks of the Progressive Edifice are simply starting to fall off - indeed, Greece will leave the Eurozone in a matter of months, declare a massive default on their government bonds (likely losing 80% of their nominal value), and return to the Drachma.
Of course, then there will be no more deficit spending (who on earth would buy their bonds?) and the Blue Paradigm will join the Aeropagus as obscure Greek history trivia. Greece, of course, will be joined by others in Europe, and the United States. What's the over/under on when Illinois defaults on their State bonds? California?
The problem with the GOP is that they have been junior members of the Blue tribe for the past quarter century. The crises of the next four years are crises of this Blue model:
- Social spending (entitlements) approaching 80% of government revenue.
- Trillion dollar a year deficits as far as the eye can see.
- Slow business investment due to massive uncertainties (tax policy and the strength of the financial markets will play a major role here).
So the question is, who is the best man for the job of POTUS, if our long term goals are (a) change this Blue world view to something sane) and then (b) fix entitlements before we join Greece?
I think that the answer is that we want Barack Obama to be in the Oval Office as the Blue Model comes crashing down.
You see, Romney will roll up his sleeves and try to fix things, but his fixes are likely to be at least a little sane, and so he'll get savaged by the Intelligentsia saying Paul Krugman sez we need a 3 Trillion dollar stimulus!!eleventy!
And so when the bottom inevitably falls out, Romney will take the blame, not Obama. And we'll go back for another round of Blue Model on steroids, because nobody will want to trim Social Security and everyone will be invested in stupid Romney screwed everything up.
If the O-Man is there another 4, they won't have this - particularly if he rules via regulation, not legislation (as is entirely likely).
And so, we have no chance to survive, until the Left decides that maybe this isn't such a good idea. If we're lucky, they'll figure this out as Europe and a couple States crater but the rest stagger on.
My view is that we are better off (long term) taking the massive hit that will be another Obama term, getting it over with, and then picking up the pieces of the collapsed Blue (Democrat and GOP) statist model. We need to make our time, or perhaps Zig for Great Justice.
Your mileage may vary, void where prohibited, do not remove tag under penalty of law.
A self-indulgent and sanctimonious luxury
This is epic:
Russia's main gas-company, Gazprom, was unable to meet demand last weekend as blizzards swept across Europe, and over three hundred people died. Did anyone even think of deploying our wind turbines to make good the energy shortfall from Russia?Why are the Environmentalists trying to get so many people killed? Using their own beloved "Precautionary Principle" - the idea that even a chance, however small, justifies taking even heroic measures to guard against them - we should immediately put a lid on solar and wind power and rush some new coal fired plants. I mean, just imagine how many deaths could be averted!
Of course not. We all know that windmills are a self-indulgent and sanctimonious luxury whose purpose is to make us feel good. Had Europe genuinely depended on green energy on Friday, by Sunday thousands would be dead from frostbite and exposure, and the EU would have suffered an economic body blow to match that of Japan's tsunami a year ago. No electricity means no water, no trams, no trains, no airports, no traffic lights, no phone systems, no sewerage, no factories, no service stations, no office lifts, no central heating and even no hospitals, once their generators run out of fuel.
Fisking Spam
There seems to be a wave of spam going around. "Joann J.Prado" (who seems to be, like her friends, curiously short of white space after her middle initial) spams to say:
Hiya,Hya.
I am really glad I've found this info.I'll bet.
Today bloggers publish only about gossips and web and this is really irritating.I hate it when they publish web. That stuff stinks.
A good web site with exciting content, that's} what I need.Well, and perhaps a spell check?
Thank you for keeping this site, I will be visiting it.Oh, sweet Jesus, please don't.
Do you do newsletters? Can't find it.Check under the tag Spammers should die screaming in a fire. It's all there.
Pistol Annies - Boys From The South
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| (Image source) |
Miranda Lambert is familiar to Country music fans, and the group had its genesis when she and long time friend Ashley Monroe began writing songs that didn't quite fit either of their acts. But they liked the songs, and kept writing. After a couple of years, they had quite a selection of music, and when Angaleena Presley entered the mix, the idea of a girl band sprang to life.
I hope they keep putting out music - although all three are still pursuing their own solo careers (and Lambert is the newlywed Mrs. Blake Shelton now). Unlike their delightfully gold digging song Hell On Heels, this is filled with southern sentimentality and is entirely safe to listen to with your kids.
Boys From The South (Songwriters: Miranda Lambert, Ashley Monroe)
Maybe he's in Texas, maybe this town
Maybe Oklahoma plowin' up some ground
Southern Carolina, somewhere on the coast
Maybe Alabama drivin' through Montgomery
Right now, there's somethin' 'bout a boy from the South.
Maybe he's in Florida, somewhere in the pines
Maybe on the delta throwin' out a line
Maybe he's in Georgia, starin' at the stars
Maybe Tennessee pickin' on a guitar
Right now, there's somethin' 'bout a boy from the south
Yea, the first time I felt it I was only 16,
And he kissed me underneath the chinaberry tree.
Said "Goodnight darlin," with a sweet southern drawl.
Man, I think I might just have to love them all –
The boys from the South.
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Maybe in Kentucky, workin' in the mines
Maybe down in Little Rock, just to pass the time
Maybe he's somewhere in New Orleans,
Livin' it up in the Big Easy
Right now, there's somethin' 'bout a boy from the South
Yea, the first time I felt it I was only 16,
And he kissed me underneath the chinaberry tree.
Said "Goodnight darlin," with a sweet southern drawl.
Man, I think I might just have to love them all –
the boys from the South
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Maybe he's in Texas, maybe this town.
My boys from the South
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Oh yeah, yeah!
Friday, February 10, 2012
Now where is that Sarah Palin woman?
One mustn't allow the colonials to forget their place, mustn't one?
Ban lead ammunition to save the wild birds!
I mean, just look at the suffering!
Oops, sorry - that was Progressive Approved™ "environmentally friendly" power generation. Nothing to see here, move along.
And ZOMG BAN LEAD AMMO!!!one!!!
Oops, sorry - that was Progressive Approved™ "environmentally friendly" power generation. Nothing to see here, move along.
And ZOMG BAN LEAD AMMO!!!one!!!
Maybe I can make a slide deck that describes the situation ...
I have crazy ninja PowerPoint skillz. Just sayin'.
Hey Minister - Hold mah beer ...
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| (Image source) |
Aside from the whole they have a bar in the Houses of Parliament well that sort of explains things astonishment, this makes me think that someone needs to do a Pelosi Bitters or some such.
Family-run Staffordshire brewer Slater's revealed it has seen sales jump since one of its ales upset a MP Kate Green and attracted headlines around the world last week.
Slater's sales director Fay Slater announced that the firm has been bombarded with phone calls and emails from landlords wanting to get their hands on barrels of Top Totty.
The welcome boost for the popular ale comes after the four per cent beer was removed from sale at the Strangers' Bar, in the Houses of Parliament, after shadow equalities minister Ms Green said the pump clip, which features a half-naked lady, was offensive.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Heh
So all y'all just chill out ...
Comedy Central's new show Key & Peele is pretty funny.
I did NOT say that ...
Otto von Bismark's voice
It seems that it was recorded. It was lost, but it seems that it's been found again:
Tucked away for decades in a cabinet in Thomas Edison’s laboratory, just behind the cot in which the great inventor napped, a trove of wax cylinder phonograph records has been brought back to life after more than a century of silence.No MP3 (yet), but I would love to listen to that.
Thomas Edison, seated center, sent Adelbert Theodor Edward Wangemann, standing behind him, to France in 1889. From there Wangemann traveled to Germany to record recitations and performances.
Adelbert Theodor Edward Wangemann used a phonograph to record the voice of Otto von Bismarck.
The cylinders, from 1889 and 1890, include the only known recording of the voice of the powerful chancellor Otto von Bismarck. Two preserve the voice of Helmuth von Moltke, a venerable German military strategist, reciting lines from Shakespeare and from Goethe’s “Faust” into a phonograph horn. (Moltke was 89 when he made the recordings — the only ones known to survive from someone born as early as 1800.) Other records found in the collection hold musical treasures — lieder and rhapsodies performed by German and Hungarian singers and pianists at the apex of the Romantic era, including what is thought to be the first recording of a work by Chopin.
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