June, 2008 archive
Disconnect 0
While listening to the coverage of the Current Federal Administrator’s trip to Europe, I found myself amazed that the reporters speak of his activities as if he still has any influence, credibilty, or moral authority.
Bushomonics 2
It cost me $64+ to fill up the tank of my little yellow truck today.
That was 16 gallons at $4.03 9/10s.
A while ago, when I first started this blog, I tracked gas prices at local gas stations. Prices were going up and down and up and down (I lost the category when I imported my database to the new server and haven’t taken the time to restore the categories for posts that are over two years old–and I’m probably not going to).
I’m not going to start tracking gas prices again. What made it fun then was that they went up and down and up and down.
Now they are just going up.
Wonder who helped Vice President Cheney formulate this wonderful energy policy?
Gasoline prices are up almost $1 from a year ago, heaping pressure on a U.S. economy beleaguered by falling home values, a sagging dollar and an anemic job market. Oil prices have risen six-fold in the past six years and are up 40 percent since January.
British Lenders Learn from the Yanks 2
Upside down on the other side of the pond:
Falling house prices mean the amount borrowed could be greater than the value of their properties.
The data from the Council of Mortgage Lenders comes as figures show the housing market is slowing down further.
Separate housing figures suggest the number of transactions per estate agent has hit a 30-year low.
And there is no doubt it is highly likely that they took out these 100% mortgages because their estate agent or lender or both told them it was a good move to make.
This credit crunch or whatever you want to call it is worldwide and long-term.
Terrorist Fist Jab 0
Phillybits has uncovered startling, incontrovertible evidence that there is such a thing as a terrorist fist jab. You owe it to yourself to go here and see it for yourself.
And then follow the link in his post for even more evidence of terrorist body language.
Drinking Liberally 0
Tomorrow, Tangier Restaurant, 18th and Lombard, Philadelphia, 6 p. m.
Somehow, I don’t think persons will be dining al fresco. In fact, I doubt Al will even show up. It’s too hot.
John McCain Is a Conservative Hack 0
Will Bunch, commenting on a column in today’s local rag, makes the case.
Support the Troops, Bushie Style 0
Millions for Halliburtion and Swampwater, but no cents for tributes. From ASZ:
From the Army Times:
The sound of a gun salute at funerals for Rhode Island veterans could soon be heard less frequently, due to a federal funding cut.The Rhode Island National Guard has informed funeral directors that it can only supply firing squads for certain veterans, including those killed in action, Medal of Honor winners, general officers or those who served at least 20 years.
Local vets are livid over the new restrictions. But a National Guard spokesman blamed a cut in federal money for the military honors program — from $1.16 million to $775,000.
(ASZ Comments) Rhode Island state law requires a firing squad and a bugler for any honorably discharged vet, so long as the request has been made by the vet’s family. It looks like the Bush Administration has decided this isn’t a very good law.
“Move Along, Now. Nothing To See Here.” 0
Certainly no solutions. More on the ethanol scam:
But to the surprise of the industry and its supporters, the cost of making biodiesel has outpaced the rise in fossil-fuel prices.
Soybean oil, the main raw material for U.S. biodiesel, nearly doubled in price — partly because the consumption of soy has risen globally, and partly because U.S. farmers have been switching land to more profitable corn crops, from which ethanol is made. Demand from biodiesel producers has also lifted prices, and other biodiesel crops such as canola and palm oil have quickly caught up in cost.
It now costs about $4.66 to buy enough soybean oil to make a gallon of the renewable fuel. After adding manufacturing expenses and subtracting a $1-per-gallon tax credit, a gallon of nearly pure biodiesel retails at local stations for close to $6.
Conventional diesel, meanwhile, currently sells for about $4.80 per gallon.
H/T Bill for the link.
Racism 6
Now that Senator Obama has secured the nomination, the racists are coming out from under their rocks.
Not that I am surprised. The ugliness is always there. Some folks think it is a card to be played for electoral gain.
It can be, and it has been a card, sometimes by implication, sometimes by blatant appeal.
But it has also been death and lynching and murder and the shame of this Republic.
And I fear we shall see more of it, blatant and disgusting. It’s the last refuge of a bankrupt ideology.
Link to Sadly, No! via Phillybits.
The Terrorists Win 0
Phillies 6, Braves 2.
Horseless Carnage 0
Ride, Sarah, ride:
The girl, Sarah Friedson, 17, walked her chocolate-colored pony, Cocoa, to the school Friday, to celebrate the last day of classes before final exams. She held sign that read “Save Gas” on one side, “Staples 2008” on the other. Her father, Ronald, drove behind them with his blinkers flashing.
The school called police, saying they were concerned for the safety of students.
Westport police said in a written statement that the girl had ignored a security guard and earlier warnings not to bring the animal on school property.
Ronald Friedson said the pony is docile, 20-years-old, and blind in one eye.
“Overkill would be an understatement,” Friedson said Friday night. “This is a 25-year-old pony, who is only dangerous to a carrot.”
Morning Scene 0
It’s not a great picture: the sky was cloudy at 6:30 this morning, and I couldn’t get close to them, but here are my companions for my morning cup of coffee, behind the fence, trying to figure out how to eat my roses:
The Terrorists Win 0
Phillies 4, Braves 3.
Bushie Values 0
The dogs get visas (oh, yeah, and try diagramming the first sentence below):
The black puppy with white legs and white spots — named Iraqi by Leitheiser — was one of 24 dogs flown from Baghdad to Newark International Airport in New Jersey this week by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals International.
The dogs are set to be reunited with U.S. soldiers who adopted them.
But to hell with the people:
There are close to 10,000 translators in Iraq alone — but until now, only 50 special visas to the U.S. have been available each year for both Iraq and Afghanistan.
For interpreters, like “Timmy,” whose real name CBS News can’t reveal, that lack of special visas is almost a death sentence.
“When we sign the contract, we say, ‘Sign the contract for death, for executing,'” Timmy says.
Speaking of Baseball 0
Radio Times had a great interview yesterday with a veteran of the WWII women’s league and a player in the new women’s National Pro Fastball League. From the website:
Go to the website and search for June 5, 2008, or listen here (Real Audio).
The Philadelphia Phillies Are Terrorists 0
or racists, or something. When someone comes back to the dugout after making a good play, the team does this with the someone:
Links via Phillybits.