My arrogant opinions about politics, culture, science fiction, and whatever else I feel like talking about.

More on Pop-Up Stopper

        Firefox wasn't working for me on this old computer.  Now that Pop-Up Stopper is gone, it performs just fine.

Posted by: saintonge at 13:07 | link | comments

A Suggestion for You'll

        If you have "Pop-Up Stopper" installed on your computer, try turning it off.  Getting rid of it has speeded up my computer's performance nicely, and the pop-up stopping built into Windows is doing that job quite satisfactorily.

Posted by: saintonge at 11:59 | link | comments
miscellaneous

An Interesting Statement

        From a "progressive" website:

        As a Liberal, I have concerns about nuclear energy. . .

        Apparently, "Liberals" can't tell the difference between engineering and politics.

Posted by: saintonge at 09:41 | link | comments (2)
politics, liberals, leftists, incompetence, reality, competence

Stupidity and Superstition in Everyday Life

        In California, where the "Greens" influence politics to a very unhealthy degree, they've managed to convince people that generating electricity is a sin.

        Now, faced with prospect of either building new power plants, or admitting that they prefer brownouts, the "enviornmentalists" are proposing a desperation measure: "year round" daylight savings time, with people getting up two hours early in summer, and one hour early in winter.

        We've been through this nonsense before, back in 1973, and the results were predictable, predicted, and tragic — children going to school in the winter darkness were killed in traffic accidents.  Said accidents led to the stupid idea being repealed.

        I wonder how many children we'll kill this time?

Posted by: saintonge at 05:31 | link | comments

Madness in Britain

        A fourteen year old school girl, assigned a group science project, was arrested for asking to be transferred to a group that spoke the same language she did, namely English.

Posted by: saintonge at 04:22 | link | comments
culture, idiots, insanity, not satire, stupidity springs eternal, britain

Irony Time

        The Democratic Party's public relations machine, otherwise known as the MSM, has spent years spreading lies about police harrassing black voters to steal the elections for Republicans

        Now, the Donks are worried that their lies may lower the number of black voters, costing them elections.

Posted by: saintonge at 04:19 | link | comments (1)
msm, democrats, elections, dishonesty, not satire

Unbelievable

        Mike Nifong, the "lead investigator" on the alleged Duke rape case, decided to prosecute without ever interviewing the accuser, or having any of his assistants interview her.

        This admission should itself be enough to dismiss all charges against the defendents, and prevent Nifong from ever practicing law again.

Posted by: saintonge at 04:18 | link | comments
politics, incompetence, race

Captain Ed on the MSM

        After reviewing the media's economic coverage, he says: "No industry can be that incompetent by accident.

        I disagree.  I think the MSM can be that incompetent by accident.  Their stupidity seems equal to the task from where I sit.

Posted by: saintonge at 03:55 | link | comments
politics, msm, stupidity springs eternal

Dishonesty That Makes Me Tired

        Here's one example of egregious lying, from Slate, arguing for cuts in "greenhouse gas" emissions:

        There's no longer any real doubt about it: Global warming is happening. The average temperature of the Earth's surface has risen about 1 degree Fahrenheit over the past hundred years, and overwhelming evidence suggests that most of the increase is due to greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide released by humans.

        The truth is, the uncertainty in the measurements of temperature are enough to make that alleged warming doubtful.  And the figures that supposedly show warming all indicate most of it happening in the first half of the twentieth century, while most of the CO2 was released in the second half.  The author of the piece just lied, brazenly.

        Here's another example of outright lying, on the "gay marriage" issue:

        Just because two men or two women vow to spend the rest of their lives together in a loving, caring relationship doesn't mean a man and a woman can't do the same thing.

        Nowhere in the United States is there a law forbiding the right of two adults of the same sex, or the opposite sex for that matter, "to spend the rest of their lives together in a loving, caring relationship."  What there are, in 49 states, are laws saying that the legal relationship "marriage" is something that can only take place between two people of the opposite sex.  The people who support "gay marriage" want to end this legal relationship, but they don't admit it (usually).  To disguise their aim, they propose to apply the word "marriage" to some other concept, the concept in question being something they refuse to be explicit about.

        A forthright admission that the destruction of marriage is the aim comes in the idea of Michael Kinsley that we should end the institution of marriage. . . government-sanctioned marriage, which Glenn Reynolds also favors..  In all societies, marriage carries legal rights and obligations.  Now this is to be done away with, because . . . well, they aren't going to tell you why.

        The usual pseudo-argument is some sort of libertarian blather about not involving government in private lives.  Somehow, though, there are lots of other aspects of private life that people pushing this line will allow interferance in.  Kinsley is for compelling you and your employer to contribute to Socialist Insecurity, and against allowing you and your employer to put the same amount of money into a private retirement plan.  Reynolds wants to force his anti-"gun control" policy preference on people who disagree with him (for the record, I also despise "gun control."  But I don't think the fact that "gun control" is idiotic means my fellow citizens shouldn't be able to enact it.  Reynolds apparently does) .

        There may be good arguments in favor of cutting emissions of CO2 and abolishing marriage.  But apparently, their advocates don't think they can convince us honestly.  As the title says, it makes me tired.

Posted by: saintonge at 03:31 | link | comments

Zinger.

        Mickey Kaus on MSM practices:

The Fence and the Kitchen Sink: John Pomfret's Oct. 10 WaPo article, "Fence Meets Wall of Skepticism," has gotten a good deal of Web attention.  Pomfret makes no attempt at balance — it's a straight "let's let fence critics piss all over the idea" piece.  That's fine — advocacy journalism is finding a home in the MSM as newspapers try to woo a generation of younger readers!  I must have missed the equally provocative story in which WaPo let one of its conservative reporters make the case for the fence--but never mind.

        'Never mind.'  That should be the MSM's new motto.

http://www.slate.com/id/2151609/&#nonewjaguars

Posted by: saintonge at 21:46 | link | comments
msm, bias, border security

Today's MSM Propoganda

        The French welfare state is glorified by The Washington Post, which tries to sell you the idea that the reason France has the second highest birthrate in Europe is because of their generous subsidies for children.

        Somehow, the words "Muslim," and "immigrant" never get mentioned once in the story.

        They must really hold their readership in contempt, to think that the omission won't be noticed.

        There are many other logic errors in the piece, but I leave their uncovering as an exercise to the reader.

Posted by: saintonge at 14:03 | link | comments
europe, france, msm, bias, wishful thinking

Surprise, Surprise

        A Democrat is suspected (hat tip: Glenn) of leaking about the National Intelligence Estimate to The New York Treason.  And the alleged reason was to influence the election.

        Wow.  Who'd a thunk it?  What next — 'Sun rises in the East?'

Posted by: saintonge at 08:04 | link | comments
msm, democrats, elections, intelligence, war with jihadism

Bush Derangement Syndrome Observed

        At The Nation:

        When I heard the news flash that a plane had crashed into a Manhattan apartment tower, I didn't think, how horrible.  I said to myself: those rotten bastards in the White House.

        I wasn't thinking terrorists.  I was thinking the Bush regime had gone to new extremes in its search for a believable "red alert."  That tactic is worn out, it's been used so many times in election seasons.  Instead, why not blow up a chunk of New York City to remind folks how scary life can be in these United States?  Okay, that thought is irrational (also slanderous).  But office conversations the next day told me I was not alone.

        And I bet they sincerely wonder why the country thinks they're bozos.

        Hat tips: Tigerhawk and Instapundit.

Posted by: saintonge at 07:51 | link | comments
leftists, bush administration, stupidity springs eternal

Disinformation?

        A story in The Daily Mail claims that internally, the BBC acknowledges it has a left-wing bias, though they won't admit it publicly.

        Is any organ of the MSM really that honest, even confidentially?  I find it hard to believe.

        Hat tip: Glenn, who appears to be sleeping in this morning.

Posted by: saintonge at 07:39 | link | comments
msm, bias, britain, uncertain information

Sad News

        I will be down, more or less, for the next week or so.  I managed to break a key on my laptop, so it's in the shop being fixed, and I am stuck using Kaye's clunky old desk top.

        My regrets.

Posted by: saintonge at 22:12 | link | comments
annoyance

Pretty Much My Sentiments

        Eric at Classical Values sums it up nicely:

        I have long been disgusted with the Republicans — so much so that I'm almost tired of holding my nose when I go to the polls.  Yet I plan to vote for them again, despite my disgust.

I haven't been disgusted with the GOP for a long time, but I am disgusted with them.  Still, the Democrats are worse.  So I'll vote for the Republicans.

        But if the Democrats take either of both Chambers of Congress, I won't feel very bad.  And if every member of the GOP leadership was at the bottom of the ocean, it would be a good start.

Posted by: saintonge at 09:01 | link | comments (1)
democrats, republicans, elections

The EU Gets Tough!

        How tough?  Listen to this, courtesy al-Reuters:

        Diplomats said the EU's 25 foreign ministers were due to discuss possible incremental measures targeted initially at individuals and materials involved in Iranian uranium enrichment activities, which the West suspects is aimed at making a bomb.

        "The most important thing is to have a united response as we showed with North Korea.  We must show Iran that the international community is completely determined to remain united," European External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner told reporters.

        "We have shown great patience . . . [ellipsis in original]  We offered a very attractive package which could be beneficial for Iran, but up to now we have not received an acceptance," she said.

        Spanish Secretary of State for European Affairs Alberto Navarro said sanctions would be gradual because Europe, unlike the United States, needed Iran as an oil supplier. . . .

        The statement will express deep concern that Iran has not yet suspended enrichment activities and say the EU has no choice but to support talks in the United Nations on measures on the basis of resolution 1696, but that the door remains open to negotiations.  [Second ellipsis and all emphasis mine — St. O.]

        <sarcasm>Wow, I can just see the N. Koreans and Iranians shaking in their boots over this.</sarcasm>

Posted by: saintonge at 05:55 | link | comments
stupidity springs eternal

Not Nearly Enough

        Terrorist supporter/attorney Lynne Stewart is sentenced to 28 months in jail for abetting terrorism, but will be free while she appeals.

        Judge John Koetl is responsible for this sick joke.  He makes an excellent argument against life-time judicial appointments.

Posted by: saintonge at 19:46 | link | comments

Transparent Lying

        Lots of MSM outlets are eager to cover the Foley story, while reluctant to cover the Reid story.  Why?

        Because Foley is a Republican, and Reid is a Democrat, so covering the Foley scandal and ignoring the Reid scandal will help the Democrats in the elections.  But saying that out loud would embarrass them, so they come up with lame excuses as to the difference.

        The Anchoress shoots said excuses down.  As she notes, the MSM played down the Lewinsky story, and the Chandra Levy story.  Most of them were eager to not inquire into Big Bill's sex life when he was governor of Arkansas, or a presidential candidate too.

        We might also note the contrast between the Sandy Berger story and Plamegate.  Richard Armitage accidentally reveals that Valerie P. Wilson works at the CIA — it's a scandal, and a special prosecutor should be appointed to investigate this administration plot!  Sandy Berger steals documents from the National Archives, and then destroys them, so making sure that the hand-written annotations are lost forever?  Ho-hum, nothing to worry about, nothing to report, just an accident by Berger, we have nothing to say about this because it's not interesting.  The fact that the MSM liked Clinton, and hate Bush, is immaterial.

        Yet the MSM really think they're fooling people with this nonsense.  Is there a brain damaging chemical in their water coolers?

Posted by: saintonge at 05:29 | link | comments
politics, msm, democrats, bias, republicans, bush administration, dishonesty, plamegate, annoyance

Non-Breaking News

        While Mo'town was down yesterday, I found out that "Air America" had declared bankruptcy.  It will be interesting, seeing what excuses liberal fatcat Al Franken uses for NOT returning any part of the high salary he was paid to the investors.

        Meanwhile, Harry Reid claims his acts were completely legal, and therefore ethical, so no one should inquire into them or criticize him.  This is to be distinguished from the acts of Mark Foley, which all seem to have been completely legal, but completely unethical.  We take Harry's word for it, because he used to be the senior Democrat on the Senate Ethics Committee, so he cleared himself.

        You know, sometimes I get the sneaking suspicion the Washington situation isn't intended to be black comedy.

Posted by: saintonge at 04:29 | link | comments

Why Does Anyone Pay Attention to the United Nations

        The UN is annoyed with N. Korea, and says that the Current Worst Place on Earth^® can't buy anything from or sell anything to any to anyone else, except where it can.  Also, the UN "demands" that N. Korea keep its previous promises about nuclear weapons, or the Security Council will hold its breath till it turns blue.

        BFD.

Posted by: saintonge at 04:14 | link | comments

I Get Tired of Answering This

        In Peggy Noonan's latest column, she notes that many on the Left don't like free speech.  She then says:

        It is about something so obvious it is almost embarrassing to state.  Free speech means hearing things you like and agree with, and it means allowing others to speak whose views you do not like or agree with.  This — listening to the other person with respect and forbearance, and with an acceptance of human diversity — is the price we pay for living in a great democracy.  And it is a really low price for such a great thing.

        We all know this, at least in the abstract.  Why are so many forgetting it in the particular?

        They aren't forgetting it.  As I've pointed out before, the "Left" has always believed in virtue, rather than liberty.  You don't have a right to your own opinion, much less to express said opinion.  You have a duty to think the proper thoughts, and do the right things.  And if you say you don't want to live that way, well, you're wrong.  Deep down inside, you really want to do what the Left wants you to do.  Since freedom consists, in the opinion of Leftists, of doing what you 'really' want to do, when they make you behave they are enhancing your freedom.

        Yet again, I tell you, go read Jacob L. Talmon's The Origins of Totalitarian Democracy to get the whole dismal story.

Posted by: saintonge at 10:15 | link | comments

But In the Good News Column

        We may actually be realizing we are at war (PDF warning).

Posted by: saintonge at 21:57 | link | comments (2)

Another Left Wing Conspiracy

        How the forces of reaction intend intend to censor the internet.  (Hat tip: who else)?

Posted by: saintonge at 21:48 | link | comments

Election News

        St. Louis Democrats show their devotion to one of their party's most hallowed traditions: election fraud.  (Hat tip: Instapundit).

Posted by: saintonge at 21:17 | link | comments

"If They Liked It Once, They'll Love It Twice," or "A Logical Lapse"

        Welcome, fellow Instapundit readers.  Look around, kick the tires, leave comments, and generally make yourselves at home.  And remember to threaten everyone you know with cooties if they don't read me daily.

        Additional Update:Jane Galt points to some of the statistical problems with the study, Ckayton Cramer summarizes how absurd the whole thing is.

        You've probably heard of the Johns Hopkins/Lancet "study" Election Tampering: The Sequel (PDF warning), in which the people who brought us the 2004 lies about 100,000 Iraqis dying now attempt to convince us that 654,965 Iraqis have died as a result of the Iraq War, plus or minus 274,828½, eight to eighteen times what other researchers have found using "direct methods," such as body counts and official figures.

        The coup de grâce to this pitiful attempt to get a Democratic Congress is given by David W. Pittelli, of Adams Massachusetts, a commenter at Medipundit, who took the nonsense seriously so that we wouldn't have to.

        According to the phony survey, they recorded 629 deaths since the start of the war (p4 of the PDF).  In 545 cases, they bothered to ask for death certificates, and for those 545 requests, 501 times they were shown the death certificates.  So Mr. Pittelli notes, at least 80% of all the deaths in the sample (501/629), and possibly as many as 92% (501/545) were recorded by the government.  Let's repeat that: According to the anti-war propagandists who are responsible for this blatant dishonesty, 80 to 92% of all deaths in their sample were recorded in the Iraqi government's own official figures.

        What this means, as Pittelli points out, is that the official death figures should record at least 80% of the deaths since the Iraq war.  Taking the bogus figures at face value, simply for the sake of argument entertainment, I calculate the estimates based on official figures should be between 314,000 and 867,000.  They aren't.  The "official figures estimate" is about 49,000.

        To take the Johns Hopkins/Lancet figures seriously, you have to believe that the Iraqi government recorded deaths occurring since the invasion with an accuracy of at least 80%, but then suppressed 85-94% of those recorded deaths when releasing official figures, with no one blowing the whistle on them.  You also have to believe that 85-94% of the dead bodies were unnoticed by the MSM, the funeral homes, and everyone else trying to keep track of the war casualties..

        Alternatively, you have to believe that the Iraqi govt. only issues death certificates for 6-15% of all deaths, but this random sample got 80% certificate hits by pure chance.

        Can you say bogus?

        A hat tip to Glenn, for pointing out the Medipundit discussion, and big, big kudos, to Mr. Pittelli, for spotting this fraud.

        As a side note, the MSM falls down again.  The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and The New York Treason all had stories on this intellectual atrocity, but not a single one bothered to link to the study.  Thank you, Sydney Smith the Medipundit, for doing providing us with the URL of original source.

Posted by: saintonge at 21:09 | link | comments (4)
iraq, msm, treason, elections, dishonesty, illogic, war with jihadism

The Wisdom of the Manolo

        Given the history of Congressional sexual (mis)behavior, the Manolo, shoe-lover extraordinaire, has come up with the solution: voluntary spaying and neutering for Congresscritters.

        Now why didn't I think of that?

        Hat tip: the Blogfather

Posted by: saintonge at 18:05 | link | comments

Bad Ad

        I am honored to have my first guest blogger, Br'er Rabbit, who says:

        Let me add my voice to the chorus telling you that no decent person would watch or link to this ad.  It's vile and disgusting and totally unfair and makes hair grow on your palms.  I only forced, FORCED myself to watch it because I had to be able to warn you good people.

        And if you laugh at this, it means you're going straigh to Hell.  Trust me on this one.

        So whatever that nasty video is about (and of course, I haven't watched it), stay away.

Posted by: saintonge at 03:54 | link | comments

Stupidity

        Thomas Barnett thinks that if Bush would just embrace Russia, China, and India as "key allies," well, they'll be allies.

        This makes me to tired to respond at any length, but consider Stalin's USSR, and today's France, and wonder what planet Mr. Barnett lives on.

Posted by: saintonge at 03:28 | link | comments

And Now For Something Completely Unbelievable

        OK, you've seen a woman dance.  You've seen one do acrobatics.  But have you ever seen one do either while twirling a hula-hoop?  With her foot?  Which is over her head?

        Go to You tube for video.  And thanks, Gerry L., for pointing me at this.

Posted by: saintonge at 23:02 | link | comments