"Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in!"

... not happening ...

When I think of "Global Warming"/"Climate Change", I think of the above quote from "The Godfather: Part 3" (it's the most memorable thing about that movie - outside of the bravura performances by Sofia Coppola and Andy Garcia ... heh, heh, heh).  Just when I want to leave this subject behind me, more stupid, ignorant, dumb, obnoxious news comes out about it.  This subject is what's known as "a target rich environment".

For the dedicated environmentalist or "Greenie", this is the rallying point around which you all can wring your hands and chant "the sky is falling ... we're all gonna die".  Not really too bright, but at least sincere.

For Al Gore and Michael Moore, along with all of their business partners, this is a great opportunity to make scads of cash based on absolutely nothing, other than conjecture, rumor and innuendo.  In fact, I'm jealous that I didn't hop on the windmill and sun panel bandwagon far sooner ... I might be a millionaire by now, even though neither one of these products offers a viable solution to the non-existent energy "crisis".

For the politicians, it gives them something to draw your attention away from real issues like a disastrous economy, loss of international prestige and government intrusion into our private lives.  It also gives them a great tool to further rape our wallets ... just tell our "under-informed" voters that we will all soon die from CO2 unless we tax the stuff to death.  Viola!  Carbon Credits (aka: tax)!

For our educational elites, it gives them a tool to talk about a lot of meaningless mumbo-jumbo that even they don't fully understand (just look at the brilliance of their computer "models").  In that way, they can look down their noses at us rubes, while they indoctrinate our kids who we send to college at a hugely inflated cost to learn stuff they will never be able to turn into income.  What a racket!

Finally, it gives the media (you know ... all of those unbiased reporters and editors) red meat to feed their insatiable appetite for "news", regardless of how undocumented that is.  It also gives them a chance to lie by omission, which is exactly the point of the following article:

http://newsbusters.org/blogs/pj-gladnick/2013/12/28/msm-glosses-over-irony-global-warming-scientists-trapped-antarctic-ice#ixzz2ovITxKYv

By the way, you have got to read that article if for no other reason than to read about a bunch of global warming scientists trapped on a boat in the ice that is, by the way, the product of a record year for ice pack growth in Antarctica.

For another chuckle, read about what's happening in the Arctic:

http://guardianlv.com/2013/09/arctic-ice-cap-growing-at-tremendous-rate/

Why would anyone trust the mainstream media, which is really just a political tool?

Hey Chicken Little! Is the sky really falling? You bet your ass it is.

I'm not the only "doomsday prophet".  I'm not a sophisticated investor, but this market is going to pop - especially with the current political regime in power.  But, don't worry!  All of the big investment firms and "lords of finance" will be protected (they'll whine about loosing millions or even billions and then continue their opulent lifestyle anyway while the common schmuck looses everything.)

Here's a recent article from the Washington Examiner

Be prepared: Wall Street advisor recommends guns, ammo for protection in collapse

A top financial advisor, worried that Obamacare, the NSA spying scandal and spiraling national debt is increasing the chances for a fiscal and social disaster, is recommending that Americans prepare a “bug-out bag” that includes food, a gun and ammo to help them stay alive.
David John Marotta, a Wall Street expert and financial advisor and Forbes contributor, said in a note to investors, “Firearms are the last item on the list, but they are on the list. There are some terrible people in this world. And you are safer when your trusted neighbors have firearms.”
His memo is part of a series addressing the potential for a “financial apocalypse.” His view, however, is that the problems plaguing the country won't result in armageddon. “There is the possibility of a precipitous decline, although a long and drawn out malaise is much more likely,” said the Charlottesville, Va.-based president of Marotta Wealth Management.
Marotta said that many clients fear an end-of-the-world scenario. He doesn’t agree with that outcome, but does with much of what has people worried.
“I, along with many other economists, agree with many of the concerns expressed in these dire warnings. The growing debt and deficit spending is a tax on those holding dollars. The devaluation in the U.S. dollar risks the dollar's status as the reserve currency of the world. Obamacare was the worst legislation in the past 75 years. Socialism is on the rise and the NSA really is abrogating vast portions of the Constitution. I don't disagree with their concerns,” he wrote.
In his latest note, he said that Americans should have a survival kit to take in case of a financial or natural disaster. It should be filled with items that will help them stay alive for the first 72-hours of a crisis, including firearms.
“A bug-out bag is a good idea depending on where you live even if the emergency is just power outages, earthquakes and hurricanes. And with your preparedness you will be equipped to help others who might be in need,” he wrote. “Be prepared. Especially because it keeps you from being scared.”
He provided a list of items and even a link to bug-out bags on Amazon.
Paul Bedard, The Washington Examiner's "Washington Secrets" columnist, can be contacted at pbedard@washingtonexaminer.com.

Here is my "Different Point Of Reference" -  I'm just looking at this from the view of a common schmuck with nothing but common sense on my side.  No fancy computer programs, no sophisticated political analysis, no Harvard degree.  I find it interesting that this guy says he thinks it will be a "long and drawn out malaise" (isn't that comforting?) rather than a "precipitous decline", right after he advises loading up on guns and ammo.  Typical Wall Street Guru - hedging his bets.

The Obama administration, and the Washington elite in general, have no idea about the realities of finance - or even life for that matter.  They live in a lala land where you can spend as much as you want, print as much paper moony as you want, tax as much as you want and violate the Constitution as much as you want without any consequences.  Couple these clueless idiots with a hugely greedy (yes I said that and I'm a capitalist) financial "community" that is accustomed to financially raping America and the world, pretty much without consequence, and you have the recipe for financial Armageddon.  

Well, as unpopular as he was at the time, Rev. Jeremiah Wright had a point when he said "America's chickens are coming home to roost".

The scary part for me is that I'm a right winger and I agree with Jeremiah Wright, albeit from a different point of reference.

Hey Al, Who Did You Have In Mind When You Wrote The Book?

Now that you are one of them, what are your thoughts on this subject?

Talk about whoppers:

http://nypost.com/2013/12/25/new-obamacare-fees-coming-in-2014/

What do you call a guy who tells you that you can keep your healthcare plan but knew all along you couldn't?  What do you call the same guy who said that you could keep your doctor but knew all along you couldn't?  What do you call a guy who says your medical costs won'y go up but knew all along they would?

What do you call people who tell you four Americans were slaughtered, including an American ambassador, because of some stupid internet video that no one even knew existed when they knew all along Al Qaeda was behind the mayhem?  What do you call people who tell you that they are not spying on you even while the evidence piles up daily?  What do you call a man who says "I did not have sex with that woman, Ms. Lewinsky"?  What do you call people who sell weapons to members of Mexican drug cartels and then deny they did it when those weapons are used to kill US police?

Well, you know what they are, but what do you call people who voted for this scum?

The sky is falling! What can we do?

Every vote counts, so vote, even if you are in a pathetically blue state like New York.  You also have the power of the pen ... all of those phone calls. faxes, letters and emails do have an impact on politicians if they get enough of them.  Also, open your dusty wallets and donate to those politicians and groups who can actually do something about this.  Our forefathers shed their blood building this miracle called America.  If you can't vote, make a few phone calls, write a few letters and donate a few bucks, don't bitch about the problem because you are the problem.

The less you participate, the worse the problem will become.

The Unbiased Media

You know, as I indicated in my last post, there are far more important issues than "Duck Dynasty" for the media to be in a tither about.  Don't get me wrong ... free speech, religious freedom, left wing fascism ... these are all important subjects.  But with the economy a wreck (yes I said wreck), the glorious "market" inflated to the point where if someone sticks a tiny pin in it it will make The Depression look like a garden party, the Obamacare train wreck, the new nuclear Iran, etc., it does seem that there are more immediate issues.  But, for whatever reason, the media just won't let go of the Phil Robertson story.

In that spirit, I will dedicate one more post to this subject.  This one is not really about Phil's right as an American to say what he pleases and believe whatever he wants and being oppressed for it by a very vocal, fascist minority who has the ears of our weak corporate "leaders" and politicians.  Nope.  This is about our ever diligent media geniuses who are going out of their way to portray this incident as a violent act against the LGBT community (did you look that term up yet?) AND minorities!  Read this report:

http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2013/12/20/many-question-under-armours-ties-to-duck-dynasty-amid-controversy/

Here's a segment of that article:

"This week, A&E suspended Robertson, the reality show’s patriarch, for comments he made about gays and blacks to GQ Magazine."

Now let's look at this little comment from a different reference point ... mine.

I don't remember EVER reading about Phil making any racist comments, which of course the reporter meant when she threw in "and blacks".  I also don't remember A&E ever stating that Phil was being suspended for "racist remarks".  So, I went to the GQ article and here is what I found (directly from the interview)"

Phil On Growing Up in Pre-Civil-Rights-Era Louisiana
“I never, with my eyes, saw the mistreatment of any black person. Not once. Where we lived was all farmers. The blacks worked for the farmers. I hoed cotton with them. I’m with the blacks, because we’re white trash. We’re going across the field.... They’re singing and happy. I never heard one of them, one black person, say, ‘I tell you what: These doggone white people’—not a word!... Pre-entitlement, pre-welfare, you say: Were they happy? They were godly; they were happy; no one was singing the blues.”
http://www.gq.com/entertainment/television/201401/duck-dynasty-phil-robertson?currentPage=1

On using this as a reason for A&E's suspension of Robertson, I checked as many sites as I could looking for one single statement by the network regarding Robertson's "black" comments and I could not find one (if you can, please let me know and I'll post it).  I did find a whole bunch such as this one:

"Phil Robertson was placed “under hiatus from filming indefinitely” A&E said in a statement Wednesday according to Deadline. “His personal views in no way reflect those of A+E Networks, who have always been strong supports (sic) and champions of the LGBT community,” the statement said.

Read more: 'Duck Dynasty' Star Phil Robertson Suspended for Anti-Gay Remarks | TIME.com http://entertainment.time.com/2013/12/18/duck-dynasty-star-suspended-for-anti-gay-remarks/#ixzz2oKXgheGo

So, I think we can pretty much agree that Mr Robertson's statements, while I think naive, were definitely not racist.  So why would our ever honest and vigilant media try to portray this as a LGBT AND race issue?  Well, very simply because our liberal media is trying to bury Phil.  There's really not enough of a "LGBT" base out there to carry this particular vendetta, but if you throw in the race card, then just bar the door.

Of course, you can't really accuse this man of being a racist, so you begin by obliquely implying that somehow there was a link to A&E's reaction and racism.  Then, as you gradually increase this myth by mentioning it over and over, it spreads into "social" media and from there it becomes the de facto "truth".  Now, Robertson doesn't just believe that homosexuality is wrong based on his religious beliefs.  No sir!  Now he is a major racist.

This is how the media manipulates our perceptions and focuses the national debate, none of which is really the purpose of any news organization.  Really, with the exception of editorials or dedicated political programming, the job of a news organization is to report the news factually and truthfully, without coloring it with their opinion.  Well, at least that is what I expect.  How about you?

Nonsense such as this merely fans the flames of racism and perhaps even more importantly, damages the image and reputation of a fine man.  If this can happen to Phil, it could just as easily happen to you.


UPDATE:  I wrote the above the day before Christmas.  Since then, look at where this has gone ...

http://www.politico.com/story/2013/12/jackson-duck-star-white-privilege-101533.html

It's About The Economy, Stupid (or health care, Afghanistan, unemployment or just about anything OTHER than your dumb ass "sexual orientation")

...until I get my way.

Let me preference this by saying that your preference is vastly unimportant UNLESS it involves doing something that is not conducted among consenting adults.

A&E Suspends Duck Dynasty Star ...

Really, when is enough enough?  How much of this "it's all about me" crap do we need to put up with?  If you are GLBT (I had to look it up - I didn't have a clue what it meant), do you REALLY think anyone gives a fat damn about your sexual preference?  Of course not, because that is irrelevant to our daily lives.  Not only do I not care about what you do with your private parts, I don't even want to know what your "preference" is.  Really, what your sexual life consists of is so unimportant to me (and most Americans), I wonder why there is a media feeding frenzy every time someone has the "nerve" to state their personal beliefs (but only if those beliefs don't agree with a certain agenda).

The "GLBT "community" is outraged when people don't agree with them.  Boo-hoo - you don't prefer sexual encounters with members of the same sex!  I'll show you!  I'll call for action from businesses that will harm you financially because you don't agree with me!

How about this.  You do what you want and everyone else will do what they want.  If you don't like the patriarch of "Duck Dynasty" stating that he does not approve of your lifestyle, don't watch the program.  There is an off switch on your TV.  If you want to boycott a sponsor, shut the hell up and just don't buy their product.  Just don't attempt to tell me what to do.  Who the hell do you think you are, telling people what they can and can't think and say?  Who the hell made you (or the media or the government for that matter) the official thought police.  What is the difference between your ilk and say Stalin, Hitler, Putin, Mussolini, Castro, etc.?  Nobody is telling you what to do or say ... you have the FREEDOM to live your life, so why are you so intent upon imposing your will on others?  For instance, my personal opinion is that Two and a Half Men is just unfunny, sexual trash talk packaged as a hit sitcom, so, I don't watch it.  Get my drift?

Here's what I think.  It is certainly your right to call for a boycott.  However, when you call for a boycott of a business (or person) for stating their opinion as free Americans, you are attempting to do financial harm to them.  Now, thank God I'm not a lawyer BUT if I were, I'll bet I could find a way to sue the snot out of you for this, because you are seeking to cause harm to someone, not just stating your opinion.  Also, when you try to silence your critics, your are doing EXACTLY what you won't allow to happen to you.

For a different point of reference on this issue, read the attached interview with Camille Paglia, a liberal and a lesbian ... she gets it whereas all of you "advocates" who are "boycotting" "Duck Dynasty" are really clueless.

http://dailycaller.com/2013/12/19/paglia-duck-dynasty-uproar-utterly-fascist-utterly-stalinist/?onswipe_redirect=no

For the rest of us, who believe that free people are guaranteed the right by the US Constitution to think what we please and be able to state those beliefs openly, I suggest that you write to A&E, opposing their actions to censor the "Duck Dynasty" cast and be sure to tune in to Duck Dynasty, even if you are not a fan.  You know, kind of like a "reverse boycott" targeted at defending a point of view not tearing it down. In short, don't let any thugs take away your right to think what you wish and state those beliefs openly.

What would you call this crime? (also, EXTREME malware warning)

The media dubs this one: ransomware.  Not "good" sounding, but not as sinister as it really is.  I call it extortion or even terrorism.  Why?  Well, clearly these thugs are extorting money from the victims.  In it's worst form, this bug could take out millions of computers, causing irreparable financial harm to our country or even the world.  What do we call that?

To quote a journalist quoted in the article:
“This is a criminal operation. They are holding your folders and files ransom. We call this ransomware because that is exactly what it is. You need to pay in order to have access to them once again.”

http://boston.cbslocal.com/2013/12/18/cryptolocker-ransomware-being-described-as-the-perfect-crime/

Further into the piece we read that "the FBI tells WBZ-TV they are very worried about this spreading in 2014."  Really?  Well, let me view this from a different point of reference.

Our government is spending BILLIONS on intruding into the lives of it's citizens.  From the TSA strip searching grandmothers, to the huge proliferation of cameras mounted everywhere but inside of your home, to the FBI implementing all of the loopholes in the Patriot Act that make such trivial details as a search warrant irrelevant, to the NSA keeping track of EVERY cell phone call made in the US every day, to my new personal favorite ... the FBI spying on people through their webcams (http://www.dickmorris.com/fbi-spy-through-webcams-dick-morris-tv-lunch-alert/?utm_source=dmreports&utm_medium=dmreports&utm_campaign=dmreports), I find it very hard to believe that we can't stop these cyber terror attacks from occurring.  I mean, what the hell?  Track a couple of million less calls per day and take that money to fund the same geniuses you employ to design this intrusive surveillance software.  You mean to tell us that you really can't stop this from happening and we, as the citizens who fund all of your surveillance efforts, must just sit by helplessly and be victimized?  How is this "protecting us"?  If this is the best you can do, why do we need you?

Here's my alternative view to the FBI being "very worried" about this.  Get off your collective government asses, employ our best and brightest to track these thugs and end this.  How do we end this if, as stated in the article, these terrorists are located overseas?  Isn't that what we have Seal Team 6 for?

By the way ... feel that the government isn't tracking you?  I've still got that bridge in Brooklyn for sale.  Remember, the question to ask isn't "why would I care when I have nothing to hide?" but rather "why do they need to know?".

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What Car Wreck? - OR - How To Run A Car Company ... Washington Style!

What car wreck?  This is the "New" GM

Do the math ...

I've attached a link to a USA Today article that has the following last paragraph:

"This will bring the four-year total of investments in our U.S. plants to more than $10 billion," Outgoing GM CEO Dan Akerson said. He said about 7,500 people already work in those five plants and today's announcements will create or retain more than 1,100 jobs.

OK - let's do the math.

7,500 current jobs + 1,100 retained (how does that differ from current?) and created jobs = 8,600 jobs.

"more" (could be a lot more) than $10,000,000,000 spent on improvements that resulted in these retentions or new jobs.

So, that's $10,000,000,000 invested that resulted in 8,600 jobs (assuming absolutely 0 would have been saved if we didn't just piss away $10 billion).  So, for each $1,162,790 invested, we gained one whole job!  Now this is the kind of forward looking leadership that will turn this economy around!  By the way, let's don't forget that the "invested" money was a gift from the US Government (translated: our money) that will NEVER be repaid.  This is enough to warm the cockles of any UAW thug's heart.  And, just think of the tax revenue all of these jobs will generate.  Let's see ... how about a mean salary level of $100,000 (probably high, but hey, just like the government, I'm feeling generous with my numbers).  Let's figure in all taxes (federal, state, local, sales) these folks pay - 50% or $50,000 (maybe not so generous ... probably a little low).  At that rate, the taxpayer will recoup their investment in just over 23 years ... well, not quite, because if we INVESTED the money in something that actually generated a profit, it would be worth a lot more in 23 years.  Also, let's don't adjust for that pesky little detail called 'inflation".  By the way, if we just fired these folks and gave them each $1,000,000, we'd only be out $8,600,000,000 and we would have gotten at least 1/2 of that back immediately in taxes, but then I'm sure we would not realize all of the benefits we gained from what are undoubtedly huge infrastructure improvements ...   Meanwhile, Toyota, Nissan, Ford, etc. continue to compete, reinvest in physical plant, create jobs and turn a profit without any Bush or Obama (aka: taxpayer) subsidies.

The best part is that this "Captain of Industry" is actually bragging about this circus act!  Really, what an idiot ... but then again, he's smiling all the way to the bank.

The entire article provides an insightful view into the benefits of having government involved in business, including direct access to interest AND principal free loans. Incidentally, those of you still interested in purchasing shares of that bridge I own in Brooklyn, please contact me.  No?  How about a Chevy VOLT?

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2013/12/16/general-motors-gm-bailout-repayment/4043607/

Global Warming - From A Different Point Of View

The Inaugural Post - What could be more appropriate on this balmy December day than "Global Warming" - sorry, "Climate Change".  Here are a couple of photos to illustrate the point:

Global Warming is a real problem ... and then there's this.  The quantities of ice at both poles are growing rapidly and overall, the earth is experiencing much cooler temps (did you see those pictures of snow in Cairo, Egypt?).

In order to combat this disturbing trend in our climate, President Barrack Hussein Obama has signed an Executive Order, bypassing the entire Legislative Branch of the US Government, ordering the immediate implementation of a carbon deficiency tax.  If a business or individual is found to be emitting too little CO2, they will be heavily fined until they step up and do their duty as citizens of the world. After all, there are millions of people in the third world who are freezing at night and it is our job to provide for them.  It is expected, mostly by the mainstream media, that Obama will be awarded a second Nobel Peace Prize for his good intentions.

In a related story, Al Gore has firmly denounced the right wing lunatics and global cooling deniers for having duped him into believing we were in fact facing global warming.  He noted that he has carefully examined the proof and "the science is now settled" on global cooling.  It is here and it is going to kill us all unless we do something like build more coal fired power plants.

India, China and Russia have declared that global cooling is a capitalist power grab and have vowed to cut C02 emissions as much as possible.

We reached out to Michael Moore for comment but he was unavailable as he was busy eating lunch.

Meanwhile, this writer is still freezing his ass off, no matter what we choose to call this.