As of tonight, I am on the other side of the world. Actually, most people would say I blog like someone on from a completely different world. But in this case, it’s literally true: I’m back in Australia. As a result of preparations and travel, I’ve missed the biggest news stories of the week. So I’ll go through them quickly in a weekend roundup form to hopefully start a few (well-reasoned) fights.
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First, Indiana … Read more
Has to be what happened to cause this:
A 33-year-old man who struck customers with light sabers at the Toys R Us at Hayden Island has been sentenced to 45 days jail and possible mental-health treatment. David Allen Canterbury told Judge Kenneth Walker that he is already seeking mental-health treatment. Canterbury also apologized to his victims.
That, or the dude is playing with a deck that is short a few cards. May the force be … Read more
Check green this nonsense out:
Oil companies will pay $6.8 million in fines for not meeting federal quotas for blending in cellulosic biofuels – those produced from grasses, wood and plants – even though there weren’t enough of those biofuels available for use, the New York Times reported. Those fines are likely to rise in 2012 because the cellulosic biofuel quotas that refiners have to meet will rise more than 30 percent to 8.65 million
Thinking about the anti American sentiment as shared by some around the world (still not convinced it is as prevalent as put forth) that we talked about in the Knee Jerk post, it is clear that we bring some (and still not convinced that the “some” equals “most”)of this on ourselves. When your sphere of influence is the largest, when a good portion of the world looks to you for guidance/protection/financial support, and when you … Read more
Risk/reward, success/failure, supply/demand, capitalism and the free market system is not fair, does not play favorites, and does not redistribute wealth. It exists in a predatory state whereby you either sink or swim, no treading water allowed. And nobody or no company is exempt from it’s affects, unless government steps in with it’s Too Big To Fail nonsense, but this post in not about that.
Some rather big companies are in the news lately concerning … Read more
That’s Michele Bachmann out of the Presidential race; not Marcus out of the closet. It makes sense. Iowa was supposed to be a stronghold or her. If she came in sixth there, she’s toast.
Perry is reconsidering his campaign. Given how much money he spent, I think a withdrawal is imminent. Newt should pull out but he won’t.
Realistically, is is now down to Romney and Santorum, unless the conservative wing suddenly discovers John Huntsman. … Read more
The first official vote of the 2012 race is today in Iowa. It looks like the result will be a near tie between Paul, Romney and … I can’t believe I’m typing this .. Santorum. Perry and Gingrich are likely to finish a ways back. Bachmann and Santorum are likely to be way back.
This thing has already dragged out over a year and I think I’ve made my opinions of the candidates clear. I … Read more
A couple off weeks ago, the SEC indicted a number of executives from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac for fraud. A detailed look at the indictment is here. Money quote is a long one, but I think you have to read it:
The SEC’s complaint against the former Fannie Mae executives alleges that, when Fannie Mae began reporting its exposure to subprime loans in 2007, it broadly described the loans as those “made to
Private Bradley Manning’s Article 32 hearing, the military’s equivalent of the preliminary hearing, where evidence is presented (not too much, btw, just enough to show cause for a trial) started last week, for a primer:
Next year the military will try both Manning and Major Hasan. Each trial will naturally have different elements since the charges are vastly different, but I am struck at the similarities of the defenses presented, or will be presented.
Much … Read more
In honor of the death of a brutal dictator who reduced his people to starvation while his neighbors became an economic powerhouse, I ask you to remember that Lil’ Kim was so very ronery:
You will rarely see such a contrast in the obituaries as you see now between Vaclav Havel and Kim Jong Il. One was an eloquent playwright who led his people to freedom in a bloodless revolution. The other was a Stalinist … Read more
