Inoffensive to our enemies

Posted on May 21, 2008 by ChrisA

As Instapundit states, “Not only do the Democrats need to relearn this lesson“, I think “and fast” should be tacked on.

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Airline stocks

Posted on May 21, 2008 by ChrisA

Well the market is open today, have you sold your airline stocks? Oil’s up around $4.65/barrel, have you sold your airline stocks?

Let’s review the relationship between oil and airline stock performance…


(click to enlarge)

The green trace is the Oil ETF (USO) and the red trace is the American Stock Exchange Airline Index (^XAL on Yahoo, XAL–X in TC2000)

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Vitamin D

Posted on May 21, 2008 by ChrisA

Very informational article on Vitamin D in January (2008) issue of Scientific American.

Key Concepts:

Vitamin D, long associated only with its role in bone formation, is actually active throughout the human body, powerfully influencing immune system responses and cell defenses.

It can be obtained from food or manufactured by human skin exposed to sunlight. Measures of vitamin D levels show, however, that many people have too little of it circulating in their blood to protect health.

Clear associations between low vitamin D levels and cancers, autoimmunity, infectious diseases and other conditions suggest that current daily intake recommendations for this critical nutrient need revision.

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CFL’s, turn them off when you leave the room

Posted on May 21, 2008 by ChrisA

This Scientific American article on energy usage of flourescent lights, answers a question I had heard regarding the power surge of CFL’s (and regular flourescents) when switching them on…

Turns out, however, that power surge is so brief that its energy draw doesn’t amount to much: the equivalent of a few seconds or so of normal operation, according to U.S. Department of Energy estimates. In other words, from a strict energy-conservation standpoint, it’s almost always beneficial to shut off fluorescents when leaving the room—the start-up energy is offset by the power saved in even the briefest outages.

The basic conclusion, turn any light off when you leave the room.

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Southerner’s aren’t Stupid

Posted on May 21, 2008 by ChrisA

Jennifer Moses, a transplanted Northeasterner criticizes liberals for stereotyping the South. I consistently see this attitude from the know it all liberals in Boulder. For example…

The common thread, of course, is that the South is a vast breeding ground for imbeciles, and therefore, anyone of my superior educational and intellectual background must be bored silly.

But the truth is just a slightly bit more complicated

Head’s up, y’all: The South is a huge and vast swath of the United States, extremely varied in its landscape, attitudes, accents, and architectural styles and – here’s a real shocker – it’s filled with intelligent, well-read, thoughtful people.

and of course there is some truth to the stereotyping…

It’s also filled with less intelligent, less well-read people. Funny thing, but neither group enjoys being condescended to by, for example, presidential candidates.

…

But try telling that to almost anyone who lives in one of the coastal power centers – especially someone in my own liberal tribe. Not that the Republicans don’t condescend like crazy, but they’re much better at covering it up.

I think you could include Boulder in “coastal powers”.

There’s an 8 minutes audio interview with Jennifer as well.

Posted in Boulder is stoopid, the South | Leave a comment

Only $500,000 per family

Posted on May 20, 2008 by ChrisA

The cost of government entitlement programs according to this USA today article.

Taxpayers are on the hook for a record $57.3 trillion in federal liabilities to cover the lifetime benefits of everyone eligible for Medicare, Social Security and other government programs, a USA TODAY analysis found. That’s nearly $500,000 per household.

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What did Warren do?

Posted on May 20, 2008 by ChrisA

These two articles (here and here) examine what portfolio moves Berkshire Hathaway made in the first quarter.

The most insightful comments came from value hedge fund manager Mohnish Pabrai:

It turned out to be a fairly quiet quarter in the market for Berkshire, with Buffett reporting no new stakes and made moves in only a handful of others. Mohnish Pabrai, a prominent Berkshire disciple and hedge fund manager, pointed out to Bloomberg that Buffett’s “energies are totally focused on acquisitions and the debt markets right now. There’s a lot of opportunity on the debt side because of liquidity drying up.” The implication is that Buffett prefers these types of opportunities to those he’s seeing in the stock market right now. Berkshire’s role in candy bar maker Mars’ takeover of gum maker Wrigley (NYSE: WWY – News) is also an example of the firm’s ability to take part in deals not available to other investors.

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Leave my wife alone

Posted on May 20, 2008 by ChrisA

Obama apparently believes his wife is above criticism. If be truly believes that, my recommendation is not to send her out on the campaign trail.

Rachel Lucas shares with us her opinion of Obama’s thin skin and “threats”.

First his “threat”, for those of you who have reached your (daily, weekly, monthly or yearly) limit on listening to political BS…

“If they think that they’re going to try to make Michelle an issue in this campaign, they should be careful, because that I find unacceptable — the notion that you start attacking my wife or my family,” he said.

“For them to try to distort or to play snippets of her remarks in ways that are unflattering to her I think is just low class and I think they — most of the American people would think that as well,” he said. “I would never think of going after somebody’s spouse in a campaign.”

to which Rachel responds, as only Rachel can…

So I just want to know what happens if Republican’s aren’t “careful.” Is he gonna give them karate? Write a strongly worded letter of disapproval?

What a dickhead. He can’t possibly believe that things his wife says at political campaign rallies are immune from criticism. As Hot Air pointed out, Barack himself has criticized Bill Clinton in the exact same way. And I will give each of you five trillion dollars if Cindy McCain ever says anything massively stupid and inflammatory on stage at a public McCain campaign event, and the Obama campaign ignores it because she’s the wife, not the candidate. No shit, five trillion dollars. See, I can promise that because I know it’s not physically possible for that scenario to ever occur.

Watch out Rachel, Obama’s coming after you next!

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Back to global warming

Posted on May 20, 2008 by ChrisA

The Diplomad does a take down on Prince Charles,

We have Britain’s number one believer, the otherwise never employed and unemployable, Prince Charles reportedly warning us that.

and then wondering

Oh, Lord, where to begin? But, first, does that “Prince” title come with a PhD in meteorology or any other science?

The he take on Prince Harry for being escorted around London at 100mph.

and if that’s not enough, he points out the recent news that global warming is not responsible for the jump in Hurricans in the Atlantic.

All finely done in Diplomad style.

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Farm and subsidies

Posted on May 20, 2008 by ChrisA

Disgusting…

When the current farm bill was proposed in February 2007, Bush wanted to provide subsidies only for farmers with incomes under $200,000 per year. The bill that just passed the House would provide subsidies for farmers who make up to $750,000 annually, $1.5 million for couples.

Read more about subsidies, both agricultural and energy, and good questions to ask your representatives here or here.

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Didn’t hear about it, imagine that

Posted on May 20, 2008 by ChrisA

From the editorial page of IBD today…

Climate Change: Nearly 32,000 scientists sign a petition that says they reject the claim that humanity is causing global warming. The media, who are heavily invested in the Gore Consensus, yawn.

but let’s bow down to leaders who have drank the kool-aid…

But a British royal, no scientist he, says we have 18 months to save the rain forests or we will face a climate disaster, and the media are fascinated.

That same royal, Prince Charles, heir to the British throne, has also said that the fight against global warming is much like the war his predecessors fought against the Nazis.

and of course the United States has our own special kind of royalty…

Al Gore, naturally, gets the same reverential treatment. He’s no scientist, but the media dutifully report all the crackpot statements he makes about climate change, including his assertion that the deadly cyclone in Burma was likely due to global warming.

It’s bunk, of course. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in a newly released study, says that warming will actually cause fewer hurricanes, not more.

and of course you’ve heard about this?

Meanwhile, Arthur Robinson of the Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine released Monday at the Press Club in Washington a petition signed by 31,072 Americans with university degrees in science, including 9,021 with doctorates, who reject the notion that greenhouse gas emissions will cause catastrophic heating of the planet.

Just because scientist disagree does not mean there is or isn’t global warming. What it does mean is that the “united front” presented by the main stream media is garbage.

Posted in Boulder is stoopid, global warming | Leave a comment

Red light camera’s and right hand turns

Posted on May 19, 2008 by ChrisA

Is it all about the money? Well, mostly anyway.

Would Boulder do such a thing with their red-light cameras? I tend to think not, but they’re obviously a city looking for money when they’re busy taxing free cups of coffee.

Hat-tip to Instapundit.

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Boulder County and Rocky Mountain Christian Church

Posted on May 18, 2008 by ChrisA

Boulder County should hope they don’t get this judge. I don’t believe he would have much sympathy for the County’s previous arguments.

Posted in Boulder is stoopid, land use, religion | Leave a comment

Pictures from the landgrab picnic

Posted on May 18, 2008 by ChrisA

Talk about timely reporting, these picture are from the landgrab picnic on the Kirlin’s property. They were taken on Oct 13, 2007.

Speaks for itself, doesn’t it?


Long after the height of the festivities (I was late to the party as usual)


Appropriate bumper stick from the Land Use Coalition. (click to enlarge any of these pictures)

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Down with Judge Klein

Posted on May 18, 2008 by ChrisA

“Greystonewest” as he/she is known on the Daily Camera website is apparently mounting an active compaign to have people vote against Judge Klein in the November election. From the comments section of the story reporting on Judge Kleins second ruling…

No on Klein.

I have been working with lawyers and activists for the past two days to set up an educational committee.

We will run the 60(b) motion in full page ads.

We need $50k. We need $50k.

Average price in the DC is 5k per full page, well placed ad.

I figure that I can get the best and greatest of the 60(b) up in ten full page ads.

I have never run a campaign without an opponent, but this is straight up lame.

Judge Klein sited the wrong law in his latest ruling. I am not a lawyer and I know law better than that Republican appointed judge Klein.

To outright dismiss the truth of people you can’t pick out of a line up is not justice Klein.

I’m still looking at either 527 or 503c educational committee.

The choice will be made best on protecting the donor list, as many lawyers want to donate $1000. and leave their fingerprints off it.

Game on Klein!

Game On.

Obviously Greystonewest has some homework to do. I fully support Greystone’s efforts.

While Judge Klein may be a Republican appointment, making the issue one of politics seems detrimental to me. People of all political persuasions are outraged by the series of decisions. Of course, sticking a finger in the eye of Republican’s in Boulder won’t hurt his cause very much either. Talk about a rare and endangered species!

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Pioneer 10 and 11 off course….

Posted on May 17, 2008 by ChrisA

Fascinating.

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What an idea, domestic oil exploration

Posted on May 17, 2008 by ChrisA

After being rebuffed by Saudia Arabia in his quest for more oil on the world market, President Bush calls for more domestic exploration.

“Our problem in America gets solved when we aggressively go for domestic exploration,” Bush said. “Our problem in America gets solved if we expand our refining capacity, promote nuclear energy, and continue our strategy for the advancement of alternative energies, as well as conservation.”

Domestic exploration has a number of benefits, including keeping our dollars closer to home. Of course, it does help to be able to explore where we know there’s oil; the outer continental shelf and ANWR in Alaska. I’m sure finding reasons NOT to drill is easy, here are 10 reasons to proceed.

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Cool factors of math and science…

Posted on May 17, 2008 by ChrisA

Interesting article about math and science competition in the Christian Science Monitor.

“I think we have a generation where math and science became uncool,” says Dr. Jim Hamos, program director of the Math and Science Partnership Program at the National Science Foundation in Arlington, Va. “People are wondering what’s the galvanizing moment [for math and science education], and competitiveness may be that galvanizer. It’s one way to make science and math cool … as opposed to abstract and minimalist.”

Well, it all starts in elementary school where students don’t learn the multiplication tables. Then they get “Every Day Math” and get confused, don’t really learn anything and give up. Math and science are challenging, but can be rewarding.

Also, stop calling tests “assessments” but what they are, tests.

Posted in Education, math, science | Leave a comment

and then there’s Trickle Down economics

Posted on May 17, 2008 by ChrisA

which according to Charles Jeff Steg letter to the editor, has mislead everyone.

Sadly, many Americans have been misled into believing there’s a short cut and given enough corporate tax cuts and incentives, prosperity will subsequently trickle down to the middle class. Even after a plethora of ill-conceived business failures, schemes, bailouts, and corporate tax breaks, big business politicians tell us to stay the course and it will all turn around for the middle class.

If Jeff believes that you should work hard and think for yourself, I’m all for it. He apparently doesn’t believe middle-class America can figure that out, and who knows, he may be right.

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Another sane person in Boulder

Posted on May 17, 2008 by ChrisA

Ross Kaminskey from Nederland “takes down” both the City and County governments in this letter to the editor (scroll down). Here’s his concluding paragraph.

Environmental extremists may think that what Boulder needs is fewer humans and more prairie dogs, but most rational people don’t agree. While the City Council and the county commission both claim to care about a long-term prosperous and sustainable future for Boulder, almost every action they take seems derived from a complete lack of understanding of economics and a misguided contempt for successful businesses and successful people. When Boulder’s economy begins to stagger, we should all remember who gave it the punch in the gut.

If only it weren’t so damn easy. Hopefully, Ross is only trying to lower his own blood pressure!

Posted in Boulder is stoopid, breath of fresh air | Leave a comment