Change? Guess not...

Plenty of Blame

Hold Them Responsible

Wonder what his rebuttal would be...

My Head is Spinning

OK, so the NY Times finally decides to do a little vetting of Obama, and shares for the first time that a terrorist helped launch Obama's political career. Then, they explain that is more or less no big deal as Obama didn't know. When that gets no traction, the AP says that Pailin is racist for saying that Barack pals around with terrorists. A good look at the issue here.

Hard Hitting

In case you were wondering who was telling the truth...

Wow! From the Atlantic no less!

Betting on John McCain

Ties toSpecial Interests

Treason?

Read this and then you decide.

No Wonder he is afraid to attend Town Hall meetings with McCain

Copied from http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/09/15/obamas-teleprompter-hits-the-trail/






(CNN) — It appears Barack Obama's teleprompter is hitting the campaign trail.

The Democratic presidential nominee has never tried to hide the fact he delivers speeches off the device, though normally he doesn't use one at standard campaign rallies and town hall events.

But the Illinois senator used a teleprompter at both his Colorado events Monday — making for a particularly peculiar scene in Pueblo, where the prompter was set up in the middle of what is normally a rodeo ring.

What a game!!

McCain Vs. Obama - Partisanship

This article quantifies what most political junkies already know - McCain has a much greater record of bipartisanship than Obama. McCain is "barely partisan" in my opinion. He is not loved by the far right. I think that is why it took the Palin selection to get Republicans excited about him. McCain has greater appeal to the middle than Obama. Obama, on the other hand, in his short tenure in public life has shown he is loved by the far left.

It appears that the key to this election will be keeping your base energized and appealing to the middle. The Palin selection has turned the race upside down. Prior to that, Obama was looking like a shoo-in. His campaing acted like it to, but who could blame them? 19 months of campaining, and his base loved him, and the middle saw an attractive new face. Post-Palin, the GOP base is now as energized as the Dems. McCain, who truly is a Maverick, now can win this race without negative campaigning. He just needs to show the comparisons between his accomplishments and Obama's. It is a stark difference.

It looks like McCain will win, but I suspect that while the Dem base will be apoplectic, (what do they do now with those countdown bumper stickers?) the middle will be happier with the result than the GOP base.

Desparation

The tension and feelings of helplessness from the left are palpable. The blathering about Gov. Palin being a "deer in the headlights" to Charlie Gibson has been laughable.

Someday historians may look back and collectively define for us "The Bush Doctrine". At this point in time however, it is a media fabrication designed and used to make those with pancake makeup appear more bright.

Instead of trying to play "gotcha", perhaps Gibson should have first shared what he beleives the "Bush Doctine" to be, and then asked the Governor her stance on it.

This post shows that there is not universal agreement on what that doctrine is.

BTW - Charlie is getting smoked on his Facebook page
http://www.new.facebook.com/topic.php?topic=5165&post=19266&uid=6489353671#post19266

An Interesting View From Across the Pond

This writer seems to have some insight into the new dynamic in the election.

RealClearPolitics - Articles - Print Article

Quoted from http://www.realclearpolitics.com/printpage/?url=http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/09/words_obama_will_regret.html:

Words Obama Will Regret

By Ken Blackwell

On Monday, Senator Obama uttered one sentence that could haunt him until Election Day. He said of Senator McCain and Governor Palin telling voters they would bring change, "they must think you're stupid." Given his stances on the surge, social issues, and his past, Mr. Obama will regret those words.

Let's start with social issues like Second Amendment freedoms. Mr. Obama denies that he's ever supported banning handguns, right after the landmark Heller case where the Supreme Court struck down Washington D.C.'s handgun ban.

When a 1996 questionnaire surfaced that had asked if Mr. Obama supported banning all handguns, his one-word written answer was "yes." He said an unnamed staffer must have filled it out without his knowledge. Then another copy surfaced -- this one with his handwriting on it. He says he must not have read that particular question. Sure.

On the hot-button issue of abortion, last month saw a growing concern over Mr. Obama's opposition to the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act, which states if an abortion is botched and a live birth results, the baby is entitled to medical care. The federal version of this law unanimously passed the U.S. Senate.

However, when a version of this bill came to the Illinois Senate, Mr. Obama opposed it. When confronted last month with the fact that the federal version of this bill had been supported by the likes of Ted Kennedy and Barbara Boxer, Mr. Obama said the he would have supported the federal version. Those suggesting otherwise were lying, he said. Then it was revealed that a second bill was introduced in the Illinois Senate, and this one was identical to the federal version. Mr. Obama opposed that bill as well. He has yet to come up with an explanation on that one.

And there are Mr. Obama's associations. Let's start with the infamous Reverend Jeremiah Wright. Mr. Obama expressed shock that Rev. Wright would say things like "God damn America" and say the American government created AIDS to commit genocide against black people. Yet he belonged to that church for 20 years. He was married by Rev. Wright, had his children baptized by him, and even took his book title from one of the good reverend's sermons.

When Rev. Wright's outrageous diatribes surfaced, Mr. Obama refused to renounce him. Then when Rev. Wright repeated the same statements at the National Press Club, and Mr. Obama had clinched the nomination, suddenly he denounced him. Why? He said Rev. Wright's statements in D.C. were unlike anything he had heard before and he was shocked. But those statements had been in the news for months. Are we to believe that Mr. Obama had not read or heard any of the news for weeks? Or that he never heard anything similar in more than 20-years of listening to Rev. Wright's sermons? Hmm.

Bill Ayers is another stunner. Mr. Ayers bombed a police station and the Pentagon, and recently said he wished he had done more. He is an unrepentant terrorist, but is popular among the ultra-left in Chicago. When Mr. Obama was asked about Mr. Ayers, he implied that he barely knew him.

But once again facts have surfaced. We now know that Mr. Ayers hosted a fundraiser for Mr. Obama. They served for years together on a board with only a few people, and they worked closely on financial matters during those years. Does that sound like someone he barely knows?

And then we have the Iraq war. Congress authorized war against Iraq in 2002. The vote in the Democrat-controlled U.S. Senate was an overwhelming bipartisan majority of 77-23. The intelligence provided to Congress was profoundly flawed, but based on the intelligence presented, Congress voted for war. That is why those voting for the war included John Kerry, John Edwards, Hillary Clinton,and -- yes -- Joe Biden.

Yet Mr. Obama, who was in the Illinois Senate at the time and thus had no vote, opposed the war. He says that this shows his superior judgment, and that those voting for the war, like John McCain, lack the judgment to be president. But his vice presidential pick Joe Biden voted for the war, and Mr. Obama says Mr. Biden has the judgment to be president. How do you reconcile that?

And finally we have the surge. Mr. Obama opposed it, saying it was doomed to fail. Yet the troop surge has succeeded brilliantly, and all but the most dedicated diehards admit it. Now Mr. Obama acknowledges that it succeeded, but does not admit his predictions of failure were wrong. How were they not wrong?

These actions have made a pattern. Mr. Obama has changed his position on numerous occasions, cannot explain why he has done so, and yet his campaign expects us to believe that he never changed his mind on any of those issues.

He must think we're stupid.

Mr. Blackwell is a senior fellow at the Family Research Council, the American Civil Rights Union and the Buckeye Institute in Ohio.

Obama and Biden - not so different after all.

Huh

It may not be a real job title, but codeword for Black? How do you figure? I thought it meant someone who stopped casinos or international bridges from being built.

Career Counseling Conundrum

I have been a Career Counselor for just about 20 years, and have taught Vocational Counseling in a Master's program. In that time I have become fairly familiar with the Dictionary of Occupational Titles - a resource that catalogs somewhere near 20,000 different jobtitles to help individuals in their career exploration.

In that time, I have never seen an entry for "Community Organizer"

I take it all back

I was in error when I said Obama didn't have an energy plan.

McCain Camp ‘Rescues’ Flags From Obama Rally - America’s Election HQ

Please Don't question their patriotism

Thoughts on McCain's Speech

This is the most coherent take on McCain's speech I have seen.RealClearPolitics - HorseRaceBlog - Thoughts on McCain's Speech

This is What Blogging is All About!

Props to Alan Bedenko and Chris Smith for breaking this open. It shows the power of citizen journalism and my hat is off to them.

Makes Quayle look like an elder statesman...

Cheaters Never Win

New Claim of Taping Emerges Against Patriots - New York Times

Good Bye Marv

He seems like a nice guy, but he is about as good a GM as Larry Quinn. The glory years of the Bills were a result of Bill Polian's skill, not Marv's.The Canadian Press: Reports: Marv Levy ready to step down as Bills general manager

Fred Thompson Speaks to Iowa

CNN Is PLanning a Coronation

Marc Ambinder (November 16, 2007) - "Diamond v. Pearl" Student Blasts CNN (Updated With CNN Response)

Your Privacy Is An Illusion: Bank intern busted by Facebook

Props to Buffalo Pundit for spotting this.Your Privacy Is An Illusion: Bank intern busted by Facebook

Hillary "Town Hall"

Student describes how she became a Clinton plant - CNN.com

I am sooooo surprised!

Lynn Sweet: Sweet blog special: Harvard's Shorenstein Center and Project for Excellence in Journalism study finds Obama gets the most positive press treatment.

BNP stays on sidelines this election - Business First of Buffalo:

I am not sure that anyone really cares.BNP stays on sidelines this election - Business First of Buffalo:

No Wonder Keane won't take the Pledge!

What a hack!

No Negative Ads?

Be sure to watch until the 28 second mark - for those young boomers out there - which one is Link, Pete or Julie?

What a Stroke of PR Genius!

Original Harry Reid/Rush Limbaugh Smear Letter - (eBay item 260170172469 end time Oct-19-07 10:00:00 PDT)

Running on her record

Check out Kathy Hochul's Bio here

Advertising

wcbstv.com - Bill Clinton, Eatery At Odds Over Chelsea Photo If it was me, I would take down the picture and hang up the letter.

Who said cheaters never win?

ESPN - Some Eagles question Pats' tactics in Super Bowl - NFL

SJCI 14 Frontier 6

 

New Collins Ad

Move On

Has MoveOn hit the tipping point?

County Executive Debate

Coming in to the home stretch, and nothing too dramatic yet, but I have to wonder if Clark paid for the ad by Pepco Energy that mocked business as usual...

SJCI 27 - Clarence 24

 
 

Stay Tuned Sunday . . .

Looks like Hannity will make Sen. Craig look consistent..

Chris Collins Commercial

Boy, sure rises above the other two.

Poor in America

While this report does not ignore the fact that there are truly people in this country and in our area who suffer the hardships of true poverty, it does help give perspective to the press reports of increases in poverty in the area.

Keane Gets Desparate

You can tell that the Keane camp is nervous when they start outright lying about their opponent. This guy is just wrong for so many reasons . . .

GOP Consumes its Own

Well-placed GOP sources: Craig likely to quit soon - CNN.com Can anyone explain why a GOP Senator is forced to step down for playing footsie in a stall, while Barney Frank, whose prostitute boyfriend was on his gov't payroll continues to hold a leadership position?

Let's Make it a Race!

Thompson to Tell Supporters He's In Today

SWEEP!

Curt who? And how much did they spend on "Dice K"?

College Freshman Attitudes

Business Council's new 'Economic Growth Index' -- 8/30/07

Business Council's new 'Economic Growth Index' -- 8/30/07

Hypocrisy?

OK - So John Edwards will call on Americans to sacrifice their SUVs. I don't have an SUV, so I don't have a dog in this fight, but I have driven one in the past. My question though, is this the same John Edwards who has the 102 acre 29,000 square foot home?

What Was Up Last Night?

At first I thought it was just a result of the eclipse, but it turns out that Bill & Hillary were in town for a party. No word yet on the 200,000 new jobs for Upstate...

Where Was the Press Conference Held?

It's official: Erie Canal ends at Buffalo. Sam Hoyt got his first "meaningful" piece of legislation through both houses and signed into law. It would have been great to see them hold the press conference at the terminus of the canal, except for the fact that IT ISN"T THERE!

All Your Bases are Belong to Us

I rmember playing a similar game at Crystal Beach. My favorite quote has to do with the faulty instructions. Reminded me of this

APB!

Anyone know what the deal is with Raspberry Pop Tarts? Wegman's doesn't even have a space for them on the shelf anymore.

Privacy Concerns?

In both today's New York Times and today's Buffalo News decry the use of technology to fight crimes. To make their case, they cite privacy issues.

First of all, there is no "Right to Privacy" to be found anywhere in the Constitution that I have ever seen. Secondly, what presumption can I make about my privacy when I am walking out of a liquor store or into a sporting event?

While no one has seemed to notice, we already spend a fair amount of our day passing by cameras - at ATMs, in stores, even at the gas pump. You don't have to be a fan of "24" to know that there is no "privacy" in public.

On the other hand, if that technology can either help deter crime or help investigators put those responsible behind bars, isn't that a good thing?

Huh?

I am not sure I fully understand this legisaltion. In fact, I have not read the bill. But regardless of whether this bill becomes law you cannot change the facts that the Erie Canal does not extend to Buffalo, nor can you change the fact that it once did.

In a state that is bleeding population and hemorraghing jobs, is this what our state officials should be spending their time on?

Sanchez

Donn Esmonde has something that he abhors more than Bass ProDonn Esmonde: Punishment for Sanchez seems lacking. I am going to have to re-read it, but somewhere between the lines I think I found an argumnet for the death pernalty....

More Warming

Let me preface this by saying that conservation in general, and energy conservation in particular is a prudent course of action. It is becoming clearer and clearer however, that the hysteria that Gore and others have whipped up is not necessary. The left can no longer hide behind the claim that not everyone who is not running around claiming that the sky is falling works for Halliburton.

IS it hot in here?

Must have been all those Model T SUVS back the...

Tight Formation

Air Show

Brain Drain

Dr. Richard Deitz, a respected economist with the Federal Reserve, has posited a theory that WNY out migration is not as big an issue here as we might have been led to believe. He makes a distinction between "Brain Drain" and "Brain Gain" as representing out migration of educated workers and in-migration of educated workers, respectively.



His research is based on census data from 2000 and census projections from 1995. Given that the census questionnaire is anonymous, (and therefore difficult to track individuals, as opposed to communities) I am not sure how you can track those who have moved. There may be a question relating to immigration on the form, but I don't remember answering it seven years ago.

It is all basically an academic exercise, however. The fact is that there are fewer "brains" here, and we are losing them at a faster rate than many parts of the country.

The area is losing people at a troubling rate. (Apologies for the tables)

Erie County Population
1990 ```````2000``````2001 (est)`````2002 (Est.) `````2003 (Est.)
968,532 ````950,265 ``````946,209 ````942,794 ```````941,293
````````````-18,267 ```````-22,323 ````-25,738 ```````-27,239
[i] Bureau of the Census http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/36/36029lk.html

While this is, in itself, a problem; drilling down a little further we see the problem is far worse.


Population Decline among 20-34 year olds (Bureau of the Census)

``````````1990 `````````2000 ``````Net Change
20-24 ```61,162 ```````57,441`````````` -3,721
25-34 ``159,712 ``````119,168````````` -40,544

Total ``220,874 ``````176,579 `````````-44,265

So, while we are bleeding population, we are hemorrhaging young people.

The underlying problem to this, I would suggest, is the paucity of "good jobs". While some would argue that our loss of people in the 20-34 age bracket indicates those without a great deal of education or training, I can only respond rhetorically - what group is more likely to be lured away to Arizona or North Carolina - those whose education and skills are in high demand, or those who do not have this advantage?

I have seen firsthand the eagerness of employers from the far reaches of the country as they look at our Nursing, Engineering, Accounting and Education graduates.

Unfortunately, the fact that we have had anemic growth in employment (in the good times - outright decline overall through much of the past 25 years) is exacerbated by the perception that things are even worse that they truly are. Some employers struggle to find talented workers right here in WNY.

To fill those positions, employers have three choices: 1) Hire people who are currently here in WNY, 2) Lure people originally raised or educated here to repatriate, or 3) Convince strangers that everything (unflattering) they have heard about Buffalo is untrue.

Clearly option 1 is the cheapest and probably most effective way. Marti Gorman, Chris Smith and others have shown that option 2 is viable as well.

To plug the "brain drain" or accelerate the "brain gain" we first need to create an environment where jobs can be created (selling out for pennies on the dollar in boondoggle money from the power authority didn't help) and then work to help options 1 and 2 above occur.

Economics 101

Saw an interesting post on WNYMEDIA.net. It links to a site whose name implies it is close to the tinfoil hat crowd.

The post is interesting in a JK Rowling kind of way, but not in a Adam Smith kind of way.

At the risk of using facts, let me state an historical fact - lowering tax rates, the way Reagan did in the 80's and Kennedy did in the 1960's stimulates the economy and increases tax revenues.

Budget deficits grow when the government spends more than it takes in.

Every budget that Reagan presented to Congress was increased by that Congress under the leadership of Tip "Big Dig" O'Neill.

Reagan's economy saw an increase in real family income.


Reagan's tax policy resulted in more of the tax burden being borne by wealthier Americans.



These are facts, not opinions.

Where is the fairness?

So, Don Imus should lose his job because, surprise, he is an idiot, but let's hold our judgement of Michael Vick?

Here is the chair of the NAACP Legal Redress team on the Duke Lacrosse case - seems like he is trying the case in the court of public opinion, doesn't it?

And I was stuck doing boondoggle...

Times have changed for summer camp.

What a Surprise!

The Buffalo News: 24 Hour Breaking News: Plame lawsuit dismissed in CIA leak case Let's hope case of the brat from the Pepsi Center sees the same fate.

Where is the Downstream Media on this one?

Patient in life-support fight awakens An interesting twist to the Terri Schiavo case that captivated the media a while back.

C' Ya!

Mayor Bloomberg bids farewell to the Republican Party - Los Angeles Times Maybe he can take "Republican" Giambra with him!

Mr.Mayor, Can you say that again?

When 165 illegal immigrants were arrested the Mayor of Portland said "I certainly understand why federal officials executed criminal warrants against three individuals who stole and sold Social Security numbers. But to go after local workers who are here to support their families while filling the demands of local businesses for their labor is bad policy."

Really? It would seem that when 165 Portland residents break the law, they would be arrested n'est ce pas?

With a 5% unemployment rate in Portland you would think it would be good policy to open up those 165 jobs to the residents of Portland who we assume are legal resident of the community.

Let's go aggressively after those who facilitate this type of illegal activity, but lets go after all of those who break the law.

Finally

A plan to bring some meaningful jobs to upstate New York

Labor Shortage.

Senator Clinton is partially right however she and many of our employers are missing an important part of the picture. When there is a true labor shortage we will see significant upward pressure for wages for those positions. Those wages will begin to attract more people into that field. Raising the H1B cap will help, but only in the short term. For a longer term solution, the wages have to rise enough to put more people into that skill pipeline. Once they are in the pipeline, the need for additional H1Bs will dissipate.

Another public policy solution is to incent study in the areas where we can expect the most severe shortages. Our higher education system provides the same incentives to people like me, who studied political science, as they do who study things that we actually need more of - nurses, engineers, etc. By providing more significant grants to people who enroll in these subject areas and pledge to work in that field for a period of time (or else pay back the grant) would also help fill the pipeline.

Having said that, I recognize that as a society we need and benefit from liberal arts majors. In fact, the senator could use help from some, as a closer look at the sign above will show....

Another Scientist Speaks Out

The lone voices are turning into a chorus. I suspect that we will hear the usual Greek Chorus "they are bought and paid for" without any proof of any conflict of interest at all,but that is typical of the intellectually bankrupt.

The fact is that there are different theories regarding the arth's temperature including (I hope you are sitting down) changes in activity on the sun.

So much for Reform

This article from Politico shows that like the GOP before them, and so on down the line, the Dems have abandoned any pretense of reform.

Global Warming

It looks like more scientists are asking tough questions about the assumptions behind Gore's efforts.

A Sad Chapter for this Community Comes to an End

WBEN 930 : SANCHEZ PLEADS GUILTY

Bring back the games to MSG!!

If for no other reason than this commercial!: ""

Obama of the Right

It seems that just as there are folks on the left who have jumped on the Obama bandwagon without a deep understanding of what he stands for or what his record is, there are a lot of folks on the right who are supporting Fred Thompson under similar circumstances. I haven't jumped on fully yet, but I like what I see so far.Here is his response to Michael Moore's recent publicity ploy.

DWI

This story is further evidence that our DWI laws, our judges, and our system are all a tragic joke. There should be mandatory jail time for DWI. In fact, there should be minimum mandatory sentences for everything, because our judges can't seem to exercise judgement in these matters.

Budget News

I don't expect this story to be widely reported, but it shows once again that cutting taxes spurs economic growth. Instead of a decline in revenue (there is often a short period of downturn after a tax reduction, but only because there is a lag in impact), tax cuts actually increase tax revenues over the long term.

The bad news is that both the President and the Congress have allowed spending to get out of control (Iraq is partly, but only partly to blame).

The Buffalo News: Power Failure

I am amazed at how hard the News, and particularly Donn Esmonde try to prop up Brian Higgins.The Buffalo News: Power Failure Higgis bellied up to the public trough and sold his bully pulpit for pennies on the dollar that will go toward government waterfront boondoggles rather than to any true economic development activity.

But "Higgins leads the charge"? I would say Jim Heaney is leading the charge. And good for him. This is the kind of reporting that the community could use more of!!

American Prospect Online - Can Block Clubs Block Despair?

Here is an interesting article on Block Clubs with a look at Buffalo.

You need to subscribe to see the full article, or you can see it in the University at Buffalo Holdings.

Thanks Cindo!

SABRE RATTLING By LARRY BROOKS - Rangers - New York Post Online Edition

It is interesting to see the NY perspective. Especially how they perceive the hits on Jagr,and our checks overall.

The Rest of the World Gets It

Australian PM says US Congress vote on Iraq aids Al-Qaeda When will Congress put domestic politics below national interest?

Does anyone honestly believe that the political theater in Washington does not give hope to those who wish to kill or maim our soldiers?

Choose Responsibility

Back in the day, the drinking age was 18. There were still people who broke the law and drank before they were "legal" , but my guess is that the percentage of people who drink beofre they reach legal age has grown. In an effort to curb drunk driving as a major force behind it, legislation was passed in NY to raise the age to 19 and then to 21. I never thought that was a good idea.

Personally, I find little difference between a drunk driving 18 year old and a drunk driving 40 year old. I feel the better solution is tougher (mandatory) penalties for DUI. There are WAY too many repeat offenders out there.

Here is a link to an effort to fix our drinking laws, led by a former college President. It is worth a look, I think.

Who do you trust more - the Control Board or the Elected Officials?

A recent post by Cindy Locklear raises some valid points about the Erie County Control Board. In fact it is hard to get too excited about this group, with its makeup almost a political recycle bin.

But in a county whose bond rating is the lowest in the country, with a nearly bankrupt city at its core, and with a County Executive and Comptroller (representing both parties) who can't seem to find the value in using the Board as a way of financing borrowing (and thereby saving taxpayers about $4 million) it is pretty obvious that we are not ready to shed the board.

BTW, to her credit, Locklear avoids hypocrisy by avoiding the Dem's own Open meeting problems.

Questions for Al Gore

Former Vice President Al Gore will visit the University at Buffalo area tomorrow.

Is it possible that the earth's temperature is more effected by the sun than any man made activity?

How much were emission reduced during 8 years of Clinton/Gore?

Does it seem at all hypocritical to call for reduction of energy consumption when in 2006 your home consumed over 220,000 Kwh - more than 20 times the national average?

Isn't it true that the incremental increase in our planet's temperatue predates factories and automobiles?

Help a skeptic - whom should we believe about a complex subject like this? A politician with a BA in Government, or a distinguished faculty member from the University of Pennsylvania?

Click here for some additional questions from someone far smarter than me.

Don't let Your Head Explode

I know that nothing is more challenging for some folks than having facts that don't reconcile with whatever Olberman, Matthews or the rest of the downstream media have sold them. Bush lies! A mantra, that some beleive can become true by repeating it over and over again.

If this is a problem for you, or if anyone you disagree with is "another O'Reilly or Hannity", perhaps this will help. Either that, or it may make your head explode.

Check out this progressive site, and perhaps then you will believe what I said about the President.

They still don't like him, but they acknowledge that the President leaves a more modest carbon footprint.

Green House

Before any reaction, be sure to check out the veracity at snopes, urban legend or truth or fiction.

YOU won't find this in the downstream media outlets, but it is true.

LOOK OVER THE DESCRIPTIONS OF THE FOLLOWING TWO HOUSES AND SEE IF YOU
CAN TELL WHICH BELONGS TO AN ENVIRONMENTALIST.

HOUSE # 1:
A 20-room mansion (not including 8 bathrooms) heated by natural gas.
Add on a pool (and a pool house) and a separate guest house all heated
by gas. In ONE MONTH ALONE this mansion consumes more energy than the
average American household in an ENTIRE YEAR. The average bill for
electricity and natural gas runs over $2,400.00 per month. In natural
gas alone (which last time we checked was a fossil fuel), this property
consumes more than 20 times the national average for an American home.
This house is not in a northern or Midwestern "snow belt," either. It's
in the South.



HOUSE # 2:
Designed by an architecture professor at a leading national university,
this house incorporates every "green" feature current home construction
can provide. The house contains only 4,000 square feet (4 bedrooms) and
is nestled on arid high prairie in the American southwest. A central
closet in the house holds geothermal heat pumps drawing ground water
through pipes sunk 300 feet into the ground. The water (usually 67
degrees F.) heats the house in winter and cools it in summer. The
system uses no fossil fuels such as oil or natural gas, and it consumes
25% of the electricity required for a conventional heating/cooling
system. Rainwater from the roof is collected and funneled into a 25,000
gallon underground cistern. Wastewater from showers, sinks and toilets
goes into underground purifying tanks and then into the cistern. The
collected water then irrigates the land surrounding the house. Flowers
and shrubs native to the are! a blend the property into the surrounding
rural landscape.



HOUSE # 1 (20 room energy guzzling mansion) is outside of
Nashville,Tennessee. It is the abode of that renowned environmentalist
(and filmmaker) Al Gore.


HOUSE # 2 (model eco-friendly house) is on a ranch near Crawford,
Texas. Also known as "the Texas White House," it is the private
residence of the President of the United States, George W. Bush.

Toliet paper Part (not Number) 2

WHile Sheryl has even been ridiculed by Rosie O'Donnell, the Smoking Gun has some info on Sheryl's tour requirements.

BTW - someone asked me if I saw an inconvenient truth. The fact is, I don't typically go to science documentaries by politicians or celebrities. Although, I am looking forward to the Tonya Harding movie on nanodynamics.

Iraq a Touchy Subject

I have not commented too much on the Iraq situation as it is unlikely that I (or commenters) can add much to the discourse. I received a lot of comments to my drawing attention to Reid's stance on the issue.

Oddly enough, none of the posters took issue with any of the substance of my comment that Reid is a defeatist that would have bailed out at Normandy.

One pointed out that war is unpopular. No big surprise there. A war like this one is even harder to grasp, and therefore unlikely to be as popular as responding to a nearby agressor. I don't beleive that Rasmussen should dictate when it is time to pull out. I trust in the generals and the people with their boots on the soil. Drudge has an intereting email from a purportedly from a soldier reacting to Reid's stance.

Another person drew a comparison to Viet Nam. That may be a better analogy. How did things go for the South Vietnamese when we pulled out?

We are in this war. You can debate all you want how we got there, but two presidents and a majority of both houses of congress believed that Iraq had WMDs and Bush and the two houses acted on that information. The most important question to be asking now is: should we pull out now (or in October or Arbor day or whatever).

In that context, when did we pull out of Germany? Japan? What would happen to Iraq if we left tomorrow?

Reynolds and the AMY

Reynolds leading the charge against the Alternative Minimum Tax.

But What Does Emo Philips think about Global Warming?

Sheryl Crow has a solution to Global Warming - using 1 square of toilet paper per visit "except in those pesky situations where 2-3 are necessary". The best line is where she compares a visit from Algore to a visit from your Dad on Sorority weekend. Talk about taking the wind out of Al's sails!

D is for Defeatist

Generally speaking, the leaders of the Democratic Party are a bunch of defeatists.if Harry Reid had been in office back at Normandy, one assumes that he would have stood on the floor of the senate and ordered the men back to the boats. Clearly we were not "winning" then.

The good news is that he has finally put the lie to the whole "support the troops but not the war ruse". This was clearly a kick below the belt to our troops.

A Simple Question

Who was the officer assigned to be with the mayor on the date in question, and was he in fact in fron of the mayor's house at the time of the accident? Until we know the answer to that question, we don't know all of the facts.

NBC Should be Ashamed

The public gained nothing ,but NBC saw a ratings spike. There was absolutely no value from giving this disturbed young man a posthumous platform for his twisted worldview. Clearly they could have chosen to summarize the tapes as the final act and disturbing images of a tragically sick young man.unfortunately they could barely hide their disappointment that the tragedy did not occur during a sweeps period. Thankfully, they may now pay a price. That price will pale though in comparison to the harm that they have caused, both to the families and loved ones of the victims, as well as from the fallout of other twisted minds that may feel that there is a new ticket to their 15 minutes.

Virginia Tech

There is little to add to this story. A couple of observations though. First of all, this could happen anywhere. The criticism of the school is, in my opinion, premature. Hindsight is 20-20, but it appears that as soon as they knew that there was a continuing danger, they acted to spread the word. When all the details emerge, then one can form an informed opinion.

A second point is that an event like this, and more importantly , the way it is reported, tells us a great deal. Check back hereWBEN 930 : Local News : On-Demand Audio to see if they post the liveline interview with the CBS reporter on the scene. This guy was unbelievable. First he goes on about how puzzling it is that this "foreign student" could do anything so "american" as committing mass murder. This of course is based on his amazing knowledge of the correlation between playing "cowboys and indians" and "cops and robbers" with homicide.

He also showed how out of touch he is when he pointed out that before the university sent out the mass email that they were text messaging students, but that "it's not like students can check their text messages during class" Helloooo?!

Note - most of the above quotes should have "air quotes" because, the link has not yet been posted, so I can't quote him verbatim. Once it is posted (if) then we can see how close I was.

Life on Campus