#1
One of the best things that happened to the world in the 30s was this clown hooking up with his American bimbo and getting tossed out on his ass because of it.
Think it would happen today?
#2
It's been rather curious, over the last 30-40 years or so, to watch the general opinion of the Duke and Duchess slide, especially as stuff like this comes out. At one point everyone's opinion of them was tilted toward the "romantic and tragic" angle, but now it's more like "arrogant traitorous and self-centered, and we were lucky to be rid of them!"
About the most cutting quote I ever read about the Duke of Windsor was along the lines of "Such a decline - from Admiral of the British Fleet ... to third mate aboard an American tramp!"
Posted by: Mullah Richard ||
07/11/2009 21:16 Comments ||
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#5
Ya' want remorse?
I'm sorry we haven't already bombed the existence out of your sorry "country."
There - I said I was sorry....
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
07/11/2009 21:17 Comments ||
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#6
Sometimes Barbara wields her scalpel, sometimes her overlarge sledgehammer, the one that doesn't have any pretty ribbons at all. (Although after it's been thoroughly cleaned it returns to its beautifully knitted sledgehammer cozy. A variety of designs are available for sale at Barbara's website.)
#1
What was not mentioned in the article is the cyclical nature of China. Each Emperor was classified and taught from birth his place in the cycle.
The first Emperor of the cycle would rebuild China from scratch in all ways. The second Emperor would take what had been built, maintaining and troubleshooting. The third Emperor would allow everything to fall apart, just preventing anyone from maintaining or improving the country.
And then the fourth Emperor, the Water Emperor, would wipe everything out, destroying China so that it could be built anew.
This cycle did not substantially change with the communists, any more than it did for numerous foreign invaders. Emperors had no choice. Mao was assigned the role of Water Emperor, which explains his murderous and destructive reign.
When Mao died, his short lived replacements were at first tasked as builder Emperors, then maintenance Emperors, including the current guy, Wen Jiabao.
But the cycle is asserting itself again. Whoever gets the job next will likely be a "decadent" Emperor, whose job will be to pull the tentacles of the government back to Beijing, and let the country start falling apart, socially, economically, ethnically and culturally.
This means the major provinces will be on their own, and likely restive.
#2
Each Emperor was classified and taught from birth his place in the cycle.
Do tell! Is there a special school? Do they get letters? Is it pass fail? This is huge news, I expect Hillary is keeping this shit under deep cover along with the swine byrd flue vectors.
#3
'And then the fourth Emperor, the Water Emperor, would wipe everything out"
Very interesting remarks about China's cyclical Emporer-ships.
Uh oh. The "water" emporer, because water is unpredictable? I wonder just how bumpy that roller coaster ride will be? (will the USA be flying off the tracks on the rickety old roller coaster tethered to the Chinese one? Stay tuned, folks.
Via InstaPundit
Are current government policies causing the U.S. to lose competitiveness in the global race for capital, prosperity, and growth?
Fortune magazine recently reported that the number of U.S. companies in the worlds top 500 fell to the lowest level ever, while more Chinese firms than ever before made the list. Thirty-seven Chinese companies now rank in the top 500, including nine new entries. Meanwhile, the number of U.S. firms has fallen to 140, the lowest total since Fortune began the list in 1995. This is not good.
China also surpassed the U.S. as the worlds biggest automaker in the first half of 2009, with June sales soaring 36.5 percent from a year earlier. The Chinese registered 6.1 million car sales for the first half of the year. That way outpaced American sales, which were only 4.8 million.
And China has no capital-gains tax. It only has a 15-to-20 percent corporate tax. The U.S., on the other hand, is raising its cap-gains tax rate to 20 percent. Its also increasing its top personal tax rates.
In fact, the scheduled income-tax hike, plus the much-discussed health-care surtax, will balloon the top U.S. tax rate all the way to 51 percent. Compare that to the OECD average of only 42 percent. When those tax-hikes kick in, the top U.S. tax rate will rank above that of France, Germany, and Italy. That cant be good.
Incidentally, our 40 percent corporate tax rate is already almost 15 percentage points higher than the corporate rates in most of Europe.
Washingtons enormous expansion of the governments spending share of GDP to over 40 percent including Bailout Nation, TARP, and government takeovers in numerous industries is eerily reminiscent of Old Europes old policies. In a twist of irony, Europe seems to be moving toward a lower-tax-and-spend-and-regulate, Ronald Reagantype approach, while we in the U.S. are regressing to the failed socialist model of Old Europe. This makes no sense.
Heres the clincher: Year-to-date, Dow Jones stocks are off 7 percent, while China stocks are up 71 percent. The world index is up 4 percent. Emerging markets are up 25 percent. Theyre all beating us. None of this is good.
Were going the wrong way. Thats why stock markets are not voting for the United States anymore.
Posted by: ed ||
07/11/2009 18:48 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
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MSNBC's David Shuster and Tamron Hall labeled the circulation of a photo of President Obama allegedly glancing at a teenager's posterior a "right wing smear," and singled out Fox News and Drudge as culprits. They brought on a Media Matters spokesman, who accused these sites of being motivated by a "racist stereotype of an oversexed black man being a predator." They let this accusation go unanswered (audio clip from the promos and the segment available here).
Shuster and Hall promoted the segment on the Obama picture from the start of the 4 pm Eastern hour of MSNBC's live coverage. A graphic on-screen at the top of the hour pondered, "Right Wing Smear?," as Shuster read the first teaser: "Plus, smearing President Obama- some on the Right went crazy over this photo they claimed shows President Obama with a wandering eye. But check the tape- the actual video shows a far different story- why the Right was so wrong with this one."
The MSNBC anchor echoed his "why the Right was so wrong" phrase during the second promo at 19 minutes into the hour: "Up next, what the Right did wrong with that President Obama photo that was splashed all across some conservative websites. Why didn't they bother to check the tape before making false accusations?" Right before the commercial break which preceded the segment, Hall broke back in with the final promo: "And when pictures do not say a thousand words- heck, when pictures right out deceive- why this misleading photograph was very popular on conservative blogs and conservative papers."
#1
And no one knows more about using photographs and images to deceive than does the MSM. See: Iraqi stringer fauxtography, Hezbollah / Lebanon fauxtography, Mohammed Al-Dura affair staged as an Israeli atrocity, Green helmet guy ghouls, etc.
#2
Oh for the love of ... I think the MSNBC news-critters are the most angry that the One being is poked fun at, by us feeelthy peasants. And isn't the picture all over the foreign press, as well?
One of the funniest and most vicious comments I saw was (and I am quoting from memory) was "Hey, at least it shows he is a red-blooded male ... and considering what he has to go home to...!"
#3
...President Obama just went up a few notches in my eyes because checking that chick's butt out is the most HUMAN thing he's done since he took office. May be hope for him yet.
Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski ||
07/11/2009 9:24 Comments ||
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#4
"Wow, they come in regular sizes too?"
/O
Posted by: Frank G ||
07/11/2009 9:38 Comments ||
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#5
"racist stereotype of an oversexed black man being a predator"
No, its a married guy checking out a nice ass in public, just like Sarkozy at the same time - Sarkozy was a bit better at it.
#11
What MikeK said. For the first time I actually find myself in agreement with Obama. And the age is not obvious - nor even a problem as long as it's nothing more than an admiring look. Once again the media seems to have the problem - perhaps because they could not see any reason for the admiring look (hmmmm.)
So? Sixteen year old girls these days are fully aware of what they are doing. Besides, no law against looking, and in France, it would not surprise me if the age of consent was 16.
I have no doubt that the young *lady* deliberately strolled by just to give the lads an opportunity.
The talking heads at MSNBC are unhinged. Their accusation reveals their inner thoughts. Liberals always reveal their inner beliefs by the manner in which they attack. To bad we don't take advantage of that.
#16
My wife and I have a deal.
look all you want, touch and she'll break my hand. seems fair to me.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
07/11/2009 14:19 Comments ||
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#17
So y'all wouldn't mind if it were your daughter being ogled by one of your colleagues from work?
And no, most sixteen year olds are not all that savvy about adult sexuality, no matter what the tv shows and movies may show, or the teens themselves may believe, in France as elsewhere. Just like you-all are not the ignorant, fat money-obsessed Ugly Americans so much of the world would like to think... again despite what films and television show.
#18
Several of us were on our way to lunch a few weeks ago when someone strolled across in front of the vehicle. Steve said, "That's someone's daughter." I felt a bit ashamed. Somebody grumbled.
Not Ed. He said, "She's not MY daughter!"
Posted by: Bobby ||
07/11/2009 16:05 Comments ||
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#19
tw, well...I don't have a daughter, but if I did, and some guy was checking out her butt....I wouldn't get that worked up over it.
Touching it, however, might earn the offender a visit to the ER.
Hey, most young girls will get similar attention if they aren't so scary they will chase off werewolves. That doesn't mean that the, um, admirer is gonna act on his, um, appreciation for God's handiwork....
I do think that some of the more rabid commentators at MSNBC would have preferred that President Obama was checking out a young male's posterior, however. I think it would have given certain ones there "hope". ;)
#20
it was no big deal....until:
1) the Obots/MSM said he wasn't looking when the pics and (IMHO) the vid clearly show it
2) They proclaimed Sarkozy was worse, when I think he was laughing at the O-shuffle's glance
3) We are all derided as ignorant racist losers for noting what was clearly demonstrated: he's a guy.
F*ck them and their lying agenda. It's become "a thing". I hope he caught a lamp upside the head from the Wookie when he got home
Posted by: Frank G ||
07/11/2009 17:19 Comments ||
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#21
Kelly: "...and having to deal with all those guys whistling at me and yelling at me 'Hey you cheap bimbo..."
Al: "sorry, pumpkin, we didn't know that was you..."
#22
I watched the video and it looked more like he was turning back to offer his hand to lady behind him, not to check out the chick in the dress. But hey maybe that was intent.
The world's most powerful media moguls are "very bearish" on the economy, but they don't seem to be blaming President Obama for the tough times, Rupert Murdoch says. They have to wait an appropriate amount of time between casting him as The Savior and then The Antichrist in order to pump sales.
Apart from Fox News and the Wall Street Journal, both owned by News Corp., the media "remains very supportive of him, perhaps not of all of his policies," Murdoch told Stuart Varney of Fox Business Network.
Speaking during an interview with Varney on Thursday at the Allen & Co. conference in Sun Valley, Idaho, the News Corp. chairman and CEO also criticized the stimulus bill that was supposed to have juiced the U.S. economy. "Some of the stuff he had to do and is correct," Murdoch said. "But basically the methodology, which is saying, well, here is $800 billion or whatever, let Congress work out how to spend it. I think that's crazy. I think that leads to tremendous waste."
Murdoch said he was "shocked" at the sour mood media executives are in regarding their own businesses and the economy in general. Some, he said, are predicting "five years at least" before seeing real economic growth return.
Optimists ...
They see the nation's economy through the lens of their own industry, which will not recover in the same form, impacting the probability they will still be working, five years out.
He predicted that, positive press not withstanding, opinions among Americans about Obama could sour significantly by year's end if the economy doesn't improve. "When the mood of the public sees unemployment go above 10% before Christmas, things like that -- if the bad things happen that are predicted -- I think it's inevitable the public mood will change."
According to the Rasmussen daily tracking poll, as of Thursday, 30% of Americans "strongly approve" of the way Obama is performing as president while 38% "strongly disapprove." The stage has been set. Cue The One.
#1
We'll be lucky it it's only 10%. If gasoline prices or taxes start up, or we become bogged down with a military adventure using only smiles and pistols, his gig is up. Barry's assclown VP is already making excuses and taking the hits for their collosal failures.
Good to see old Rupe coming out of his slumber. I hope others follow.
#2
They made him. He's their creation. If they turn on him, they only validate the newer media while substantiating their own failure and shortcomings. They go down with him. They're stuck.
#4
TEOTWHWKI I purdy much got it figured as January 28, 2014 around 15 hundred gmTZ. That's when the byrd flue slams into peek oilz and steals all our kittuahs. Gold will go for $12 a pound and Jack Daniels 12K a quart, womens will become hateful and childrens like snakes. I'm just hoping global warmering doesn't collide with the Gore-Minimum and produce gawd's own frontal passage of doom.
Hackers who commandeer your computer are bad enough. Now scientists worry that someday, they'll try to take over your brain.
In the past year, researchers have developed technology that makes it possible to use thoughts to operate a computer, maneuver a wheelchair or even use Twitter -- all without lifting a finger. But as neural devices become more complicated, and go wireless, some scientists say the risks of "brain hacking" should be taken seriously. "Neural devices are innovating at an extremely rapid rate and hold tremendous promise for the future," said computer security expert Tadayoshi Kohno of the University of Washington. "But if we don't start paying attention to security, we're worried that we might find ourselves in five or 10 years saying we've made a big mistake."
Hackers tap into personal computers all the time. But what would happen if they focused their nefarious energy on neural devices, such as the deep-brain stimulators used to treat Parkinson's and depression, or electrode systems for controlling prosthetic limbs?
According to Kohno and his colleagues, who published their concerns July 1 in Neurosurgical Focus, most devices carry few security risks. But as neural engineering becomes more complex and more widespread, the potential for security breaches will mushroom. "It's very hard to design complex systems that don't have bugs," Kohno said. "As these medical devices start to become more and more complicated, it gets easier and easier for people to overlook a bug that could become a very serious risk. It might border on science fiction today, but so did going to the moon 50 years ago."
Some might question why anyone would want to hack into someone else's brain, but the researchers say there's a precedent for using computers to cause neurological harm. In November 2007 and March 2008, malicious programmers vandalized epilepsy support Web sites by putting up flashing animations, which caused seizures in some photo-sensitive patients. "It happened on two separate occasions," said computer science graduate student Tamara Denning, a co-author on the paper. "It's evidence that people will be malicious and try to compromise peoples' health using computers, especially if neural devices become more widespread."
In some cases, patients might even want to hack into their own neural device. Unlike devices to control prosthetic limbs, which still use wires, many deep brain stimulators already rely on wireless signals. Hacking into these devices could enable patients to "self-prescribe" elevated moods or pain relief by increasing the activity of the brain's reward centers.
Wireheads.
Despite the risks, Kohno said, most new devices aren't created with security in mind. Neural engineers carefully consider the safety and reliability of new equipment, and neuroethicists focus on whether a new device fits ethical guidelines. But until now, few groups have considered how neural devices might be hijacked to perform unintended actions. This is the first time an academic paper has addressed the topic of "neurosecurity," a term the group coined to describe their field.
"The security and privacy issues somehow seem to slip by," Kohno said. "I would not be surprised if most people working in this space have never thought about security."
Kevin Otto, a bioengineer who studies brain-machine interfaces at Purdue Universty, said he was initially skeptical of the research. "When I first picked up the paper, I don't know if I agreed that it was an issue. But the paper gives a very compelling argument that this is important, and that this is the time to have neural engineers collaborate with security developers."
It's never too early to start thinking about security issues, said neural engineer Justin Williams of the University of Wisconsin, who was not involved in the research. But he stressed that the kinds of devices available today are not susceptible to attack, and that fear of future risks shouldn't impede progress in the field. "These kinds of security issues have to proceed in lockstep with the technology," Williams said.
History provides plenty of examples of why it's important to think about security before it becomes a problem, Kohno said. Perhaps the best example is the Internet, which was originally conceived as a research project and didn't take security into account.
"Because the Internet was not originally designed with security in mind," the researchers wrote, "it is incredibly challenging -- if not impossible -- to retrofit the existing Internet infrastructure to meet all of today's security goals." Kohno and his colleagues hope to avoid such problems in the neural device world, by getting the community to discuss potential security problems before they become a reality.
"The first thing is to ask ourselves is, 'Could there be a security and privacy problem?'" Kohno said. "Asking 'Is there a problem?' gets you 90 percent there, and that's the most important thing."
#1
It's called "Propaganda" origin unknown, but by now an ancient system, NOT NEW.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
07/11/2009 4:43 Comments ||
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#2
The problem is not only that brains are like snowflakes, with no two alike, but that they are like comparing snowflakes with oranges. There have been documented cases of people with as little as one cm of brain tissue, as a shell around fluid, yet still had all major physical and cognitive functions into adulthood.
Add to that the substantial capability of some brains to radically repair function, if not physicality, after severe injury. Some individuals have had more than half of their brain removed and still been at least partially functional.
While it is true that some parts of the brain are *associated* with specialized functions, this dependence varies considerably between individuals, as functions "brain storm" with other parts of the brain as well as with the associated part. So the other parts of the brain can to some extent mirror the specialized part.
#5
Scientists so understanding the mind that they can control it seems little different than so completely understanding it (statistically) that they can predict it to the point they don't even need to control it.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
