Saturday, February 27, 2010

Study joke

I need to figure out how to get someone to pay me to do a study like this one. I predict that my study will find that everyone who has the proper respect for golf and the Minnesota Vikings is smart, and everyone else is dumb.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Olympic downhill

Experience it here.

Self-parody

There is nothing better.
The Tea Party's choice in the Florida Republican primary, Marco Rubio, began his address to a crowd of conservative conventioneers by taking a shot at President Obama for reading from a teleprompter. He did it while standing in front of two easily visible teleprompters.

Do as I say, not as I do

I generally like the work of Tom Friedman. And, I think that he makes some rational arguments about climate change issues in this particular column. But I do have to say, he would have more credibility if he reduced his own carbon footprint by living in a Georgetown rowhouse instead of here.


Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Global warming

I think that global warming is a serious concern but that the quality of knowledge in the area at this point is about equal to what we knew 300 years ago about properties of the moon. Krauthammer has stated it well.

I’m not a global-warming believer. I’m not a global-warming denier. I’m a global-warming agnostic who believes instinctively that it can’t be very good to pump lots of CO2 into the atmosphere, but is equally convinced that those who presume to know exactly where that leads are talking through their hats.

But I do have to laugh at people who instinctively blame every natural disaster of any type that have been occurring for millions of years on something we don't really understand at this point. Here is a perfect recent example from a CNN talk show.
ENSLER: Well, I just think the idea that she [i.e., Palin] doesn’t believe in global warming is bizarre.
BEHAR: Every scientist at every note believes in it but Sarah Palin doesn’t believe in it.
ENSLER: And I think we just kind of have to walk around the world at this point and look at what is happening to nature and earthquakes and tsunamis.

So only an idiot would not understand that global warming is causing earthquakes and tsunamis? Words fail me.

Monday, February 08, 2010

Being There II: The Woman from Alaska

Does this description of Chauncey Gardiner remind anyone of a certain person who is making the talk-show and lecture circuit these days?
Rand is also the confidant and adviser of the U.S. President (Jack Warden), whom he introduces to "Chauncey." Chance's remarks about how the garden changes with the seasons are interpreted by the President as economic and political advice, relating to his concerns about the mid-term unpopularity that many administrations face while in office. Chance, as Chauncey Gardiner, quickly rises to national public prominence. He becomes a media celebrity with appearances on television talk shows, and is soon on the A-list of the most wanted in Washington society. Public opinion polls start to reflect just how much his "simple brand of wisdom" resonates with the jaded American public.
The original "Being There" with Peter Sellers was a comedy that I thoroughly enjoyed. The sequel is a reality show that I find unbearable to watch.

Saturday, February 06, 2010

Astonishing

"Snowstorm puts W.H. press corps in danger"

So, there is a winter storm happening on the East Coast and the national news coverage is hysterical. And, now, we get a story with this point -- the reporter is scared because a tree branch snapped, and that in itself is a story that should be on the front page. Everybody panic!

These people are serious candy-asses.