You Stay Classy, President Obama

So, for the record:

• Illinois Senator Obama voted against a bill that would require infants born alive to be given life-saving medical treatment.  And he later said he would have voted for it if it ever came up for a vote.

• President Obama is using Air Force One to bring family members of dead children to Washington D.C. to dance in the blood of the children, attempting to advance a legislative agenda.

Right.

Good job, America.  Way to pick a great guy for President.  Again.

Gun Control: The Key Word Is Control

From someone who used to support gun control laws until they dug into the statistics, here is a very interesting page full of statistics about how gun control laws do not work to make people safer and reduce crime. At least half of it is graphs, so even YOU won't be bored by numbers!

 Hat tip: Instapundit

Poverty in the United States

Understanding Poverty in the United States: Surprising Facts About America's Poor

Click it.  Read it.

TIA.

AMAZINGLY Bad Vetting.

Well, considering the man himself is (debatably) not qualified to hold the office, it should hardly come as a surprise, but . . .

You know how the leftist press formerly-known-as-mainstream is trying to puff up the story of how Mittens Romeney was, himself, personally handing out pink slips to men laid off in favor of cheap chinese labor while Romney was personally running Bain Capital heading up the Olympic Committee?

Yeah, well, maybe if by Mitt Romney they mean one of President Obama's chief fundraisers laid those people off. And if by "Romney" profiting from offshoring jobs to China they mean "Obama" (himself, personally) profiting from jobs going to China.

Leftists and Democrats (but I repeat myself) have a particular foible wherein they project their own failings onto their political and ideological opponents and then attack said failings. In the case of attacking Mitt Romney for sending jobs to China while he ran Bain Capital, this appears to be the case.

Hat tip: Instapundit

The World Is In Denial

The radio news said The Red Cross has decided that Syria is engaged in a civil war. They have said it is now inappropriate for the government to attack civilian targets. Well let me tell The International Community something:

The Syrian government is fighting the same war the United States government is fighting, on a different front. Egypt and Iran have already lost, along with at least 1/4 of Africa. Our common enemy has one name for the war: Jihad.

This is not a war where one can separate civilians from soldiers, combatants from non-combatants. This is not necessarily a war between two organized foes. This is a cultural war, of Islam versus the rest of the World. How's this for a prediction: by the time The International Community comes to realize that this is fourth-generation warfare, the civilized world will already be at a huge competitive disadvantage.

Our enemy does not wear a uniform on his breast. This uniform is IN the breast. The combatant and the non-combatant ARE the same people. The difference is where they point their guns.

This is not spears
This is not trenches
This is not tanks
This is a guerilla activity. FOURTH generation warfare. This is not your father's war - it is an entirely new paradigm. You will not win until you realize it. You will not win unless you take the INCREDIBLY politically-incorrect step of NAMING your enemy. And you will not win unless you are willing to to horrible things to people without uniforms.

You WILL bomb civilian areas.
You WILL target non-combatants. Intentionally.

Unless the world stands ready to firebomb Hamtramck, Michigan into submission . . . well, I hope you don't mind paying Jizyah.

Thanks for Scaring Me

A month ago I was in El Paso with family, and there was a sandstorm. Not much of a one as sandstorms go, but it was the first one our children had ever seen. Brown sky, low visibility, bit of thunder. I went out to close the windows on our Bad Robot, brought down some tipsy-looking flower pots from on top of a low wall, and went into the house and had an idea. I took #2 out into the enclosed front porch to see the sandstorm up close.

He has a hangup about bad weather. He was scared for the first half-minute or so we were out there. His mommy sensed terror and tried to recall the child inside during my lecture explaining what was happening outside. I think she was scared of the storm also, and it didn't help that she said in front of the boy that they were not allowed onto the porch when there was lightning/thunder (when she was a child). I finally managed through sheer obduracy to shoo her back inside and keep #2 out on the porch with me. He was as freaky as ever about the dusty wind and thunder, but I kept explaining to him what was going on, and ended up telling him that, after the sand there would likely be at least a light rain and then everything would be covered in mud.

#2 went in. #1 came out and was almost entirely uninterested and unperturbed. She likely just wanted to see what all the fuss had been about with Mommy. She went back in, and after a moment or two I went back in. I went in to the room where #2 was watching a movie and right out of left field he thanked me for explaining to him what was going on. He said he felt much more relaxed. I about did a back flip and told him to go tell his mother what he'd just told me. He did, as my mind tried to recover from the shock of such immediate and obvious results.

Later, we had a sprinkling of rain, just enough to cover everything in muddy water spots.

Hatred and Fear have the same mother: Ignorance.

Man Rules

There was a mother/daughter dinner at our church. My Darling Wife made a cake that was generally well-received. #2 was there helping serve the ladies (for a change) and she asked him how he had liked her dessert. He said he didn't taste it.



I told him this was a very important piece of advice for him to remember for the rest of his life: If your mother/sister/girlfriend/wife makes a dessert, you have to taste it. Have. To. Taste. It. Even if it's just a little bite, you have to taste it.

#1 and #2 are old enough to be thoroughly grossed-out by the prospect of being/having boyfriends and girlfriends, so we're still on track, but you have to make sure to start teaching them the important things before they need to know . . .

Peace In Our Time

I walked in to the room where my Darling Wife was watching the idiot box. On screen there was a night-time gun battle between deck mounted heavy machine guns on two boats headed toward each other. Tracers flying both directions, men being shot, and then boats colliding, one exploding.

This is the reality of unfortunate people in other places and other times. I thank God when I remember, we are very blessed to have peace here and now.

Imagine driving to the grocery store and the pavement is chewed up in front of your car by a string of warning shots. Imagine responding to a cell-phone robocall and bringing your rifle to a battle in your neighborhood park. Your neighbor from two doors down ends up dead, riding a the swingset on his belly like a little kid but dripping blood out the exploded top of his head. You're at work and the parking lot blows up. The electricity is cut for hours every day because sappers keep cutting the lines. By jumping on them.

These are some of the possibilities of living in a war zone. Now consider that the worst hassle in your day is that some jerk cut you off and slowed down in front of you on the way to work, and then you had to call IT Buddy when the networked printer told you PC LOAD LETTER.

You people should thank God every day that you don't hear shots fired in anger. It's a blessing, and it's not a guarantee. The USA started in a local war, and there have been several "small" wars here since then. Now, the closest you get to a war is downtown ("gun free") Chicago on a weekend.

So, thanks Jesus.

Obama is Hitler!!!!1!

Boortz made an interesting point today. You will recall with what liberty the Democratic-leaning press repeated the charge that George W. Bush was like Hitler - and nevermind the pesky near-total lack of similarities! Well, Boortz said, during the Year of Speaking Dangerously we draw a different comparison with a different circumstance:

President Obama is very like Adolf Hitler in many ways, according to a personality profile of Herr Hitler made for the United States' Office of Strategic Services. The informed consumer of news will have little difficulty with this. The Obama voter will hardly notice as it bounces well off of his thick head.

I skimmed the profile. Most of what I read was at least close to The Obama enough to be disturbing, but I did notice one difference: Hitler didn't do much entertaining. The Obamas have made themselves a spectacle with frequent parties. Another difference: Hitler was a genuine warrior, whereas Obama might wet himself during a battle.

You people really should start listening to Boortz. Yes, he is abrasive. Deal with it, or miss bleeding-edge stuff like this.

HyundaiAftermarket > GenCoupe

HyundaiAftermarket.org is better than GenCoupe.com

I frequent HA and have heard horror stories from "former" members of GC about how the site staff make it an unenjoyable experience, treating members like they are expendable and supporting disreputable vendors. If anyone is looking for a Hyundai-related message board, HyundaiAftermarket is where you want to be. Trust me on this. None of the others have the same combination of helpful staff, family-like camaraderie of the members, and a very deep treasure of accumulated wisdom. If you are currently on HyundaiPerformance and think it's too commercial and the staff are too close to the "nazi mod" attitude, go to HyundaiAftermarket instead of Gencoupe. If you miss the in-depth knowledge of the 97-01 Elantra/Tiburon (and similar year Accent) platforms since RDTiburon.com (and FXtreme) closed, know that the forum databases and knowledgeable members were both folded in to the forum at HyundaiAftermarket. All the other boards are smaller, more model-specific, and generally less hip than HA.

Things You Don't Want To Know . . .

For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow -Ecclesiastes 1:18

You don't go on vacation expecting to kill the guy who suddenly decides to throw your girlfriend off a bridge . . . but you should at least be aware of what you might have to do with your knife*, should it come to that.

Speaking the truth in love, the Dark Arts for Good Guys series continues with The Right To Knife. You owe it to the ones you love to read the whole thing.

********
Rule #2: Always have a knife.

Humility and Honesty: Most Musicians Could Use Some Improvement

I spent a few minutes with a pianiste tonight, recording her playing first her part, then my part. Now this lady is the best piano player I know personally and that is saying something. Not only can she play as-written music, she can play what she thinks you wanted to hear, and she can pick up like nothing happened when a partner or even the Conductor stumbles. She's no slouch at the keyboard. She doesn't like to be recorded because her playing is, as she says, "bad."

Little known fact: a good musician thinks they are not as good as you think they are. You can't tell when they wince and give themselves facepalms during every performance. THEY know what they have got wrong; YOU have no idea. I know this from personal experience. Yes I am talented thanks God. I'm humble also, and also frankly honest. I know I'm good at singing, but I also don't like performing or being recorded, because I know how it ought to sound. I was recently (literally) applauded for a performance when I was not altogether pleased how it came out. The Conductor said afterward that I had done well. I told him I had done well for a first sight-reading, but that I knew he heard the little bits here and there that I also didn't like. With tact, he didn't answer but only smiled. He's good, too.

Quote of the Day 12/02/2011

"The political story of the year is how many directions Republicans are willing to go, to avoid going in Romney's direction" -George Will, today on Laura Ingraham's show

They were talking about how each of the Republican candidates has had a huge runup in the polls until something came along to sink them. Each except Mitt Romney, who is laying low hoping to pick up the nomination by default.

***

Runner-up for QOTD is from Michael Savage, by way of a caller who said it back to him. She said he changed her life a while back by saying that . . .

"The general state is Morose. The rest is just a bonus"

That is to say, if you are not walking around with a stupid grin on your face all day every day, you are normal. Most people are at least a little bit "down" most of the time. You don't need a pill or a head shrinker to fix you, because you are not broke.

***

Then there is the second runner-up and I didn't hear if it was said by Newt or Mitt. If it was from Newt that makes it the winner; from Romney it's just true. They were talking about how "smart" Gingrich is, and somebody says . . .

"What you really want is somebody wise enough to avoid the BIG mistakes"

And I thought, oh really? Big mistakes like THREE failed marriages? Or is that somehow not an indication that you suck at life and fail as a human being?

I looked it up. Apparently he's still only on three marriages. Given his track record, however, it is only a matter of time until he's on four marraiges and three divorces. Just wait until a year after his third wife is diagnosed with some horrible illness, then check again.

VFD!

What? That's his pattern!

I Hope The Next Thing Is Good.

It occurs to me that, barring unforeseen involvement by the Good People of the land, America is doomed. It is hypothetically possible that God Himself will intervene, but nations have come and gone before. I hope that it breaks up instead of devolving into one large tyrannical state, because one might be able to find a more-free new country in the remnants of the old Union. Escaping Battlefield America might prove more difficult.

And the alternative to tyranny or breakup, failing true reform, is battle. A civil war in America (a fourth one). Not cool, dudes.

So, uh . . . good luck with that.

********

IF (and that's a mighty big "if") the people with their heads screwed on straight enough to prefer quiet family life to public service decide that public need outweighs familial bliss, they might change things. Get enough reasonable people into high elected office and see how the country could be changed. But who wants to put up with what they are doing to Herman Cain, instead of living peaceably at home while that is still an alternative?

Daniel Larison Hits A Home Run

The mission in Libya has succeeded, goes the popular narrative. Daniel Larison hit the nail square on the head and drove it home in one blow. If you don't understand why I don't like what just happened, here are several of the reasons succinctly laid out.

Now if you'll excuse me I'm off to see if this Larison person has written anything else of merit. I may have someone else to follow here.

********
Update, later: As if I didn't have enough to read, I just bookmarked Larison's blog: Eunomia.

Man Is Murdered, CIA Whistles, Looks At Sky

He was captured alive and wanted for trial in the International Criminal Court. He was murdered by his captors before his trial could bring out any interesting secrets.

Street justice, or foreign intelligence agency intervention? Does your answer change when you realize there was a French fighter jet AND a United States' Predator drone flying overhead when he was captured?

Oh, and here's a fun bit of sarcastic consideration for you: We spent $1.1B and got our less-preferred head of state killed without putting any "boots on the ground." We were able to do this, because the boots worn by CIA operatives in uniform is called Tactical Footgear, 1 Each; and the footwear worn by CIA agents in deep cover in Libya are SANDALS.

Boots on the ground, if it means uniformed troops walking around, is exactly ZERO different from flying a predator drone in from Nevada. The United States, under the 'leadership' of President Obama, has committed unprovoked war against a foreign nation, and aided the murder of that nation's leader. By way of contrast, in President Bush's war, we had a straight-up war, caught the guy, then he was duly tried for his crimes and killed by his own State.

Is this the change you were hoping for?

You're So Good!

Here is a handy little guide to show you just how great a person you are. There is some actual Science behind it, and the scale may be off a bit, but you get the idea. The main reason most people think they are hot snot is that they don't know how pitiful they are.



This has direct application not only to your spiritual/religious life, but probably to your academic, job, and family skills as well. Deal with it.

Despised by the Despicable

Yes, I think he just called the Secretary of State a despicable person. But I'm pretty sure she already knows what he thinks about her. MBV laughs at the prospect of President Obama's Secretary putting him on a kill list.

If justice and liberty are dearer to his heart than his own life, there is no terror for the enemy of the State . . . especially if he is the enemy of the State because he seeks to instill justice and liberty IN the State!

Still, you might say a few prayers for his ongoing health and safety . . . .

I Earned It, It's Mine

Image: Instapundit

Elizabeth Warren is apparently quite a fool. Unfortunately for our nation, there are many like-minded fools out there, including crazy-eyed Lucy Madison who manages to turn fascist ranting into a campaign-trail positive trait insider her twisted "reporter" head.

The answer to those who think they know better than you what to do with your money is: Get your filthy hands off my life! I refer those of you unfamiliar with the concept of personal property to this excellent essay on the topic.

Bag Mah Groceries, Biches!

I have never, ever, not once ever used a self-checkout stand at any store. Not at the grocery, not at the mega-lo-mart, nowhere. If I want to check out my own stuff I'll go to nowhere, because I don't want to check out my own stuff. Part of the cost of doing business as a retailer is hiring a minimum wage monkey to work the cash register and ring up your customers' purchases, but (and here's the killer for me):

Part of buying a bunch of stuff, as a customer, is the convenience of having somebody else put that stuff in a conveniently-transportable situation. If I buy online, the retailer ships straight to my door. If I buy a bunch of jars of baby food, the retailer [deleted] better put that [deleted] in a bag for me. And if they don't tie the handles of the bag together so the jars don't fall out if the bag tips over, they fail at retailing.

Self-checkout aisles suck the soul out of the shopping experience. Therefore, I am glad that stores are abandoning their use.

Hat tip: Instapundit.