Archive for 2013
November 11, 2013
I THINK THEY SHOULD GET HARRISON FORD TO DO THE ADS for the Nissan Bladeglider.
A NEW MATERIAL FOR higher-efficiency cheap solar cells?
SEE THE VIOLENCE INHERENT IN THE SYSTEM: Democratic Operative Attacks GOP Election Observer In Fairfax.
SO I GOT MY NEPHEW this Trebuchet kit for his 9th birthday. It looks cool; I’ll let you know how it turns out.
LEARNING TO DRIVE enormous earthmovers.
OBAMA’S GALLUP JOB APPROVAL: 54% disapprove, 40% approve.
UPDATE: 2009 Flashback: “I pledge to be a servant to our President.” Now it’s just as creepy, but ten times as pathetic.
ANOTHER UPDATE: Health-Law Rollout Weighs on Obama’s Ratings, Agenda: Approval, Personal Favorability Polling Sags, Creating New Complications for Second Term. The thing is, Obama may not care so long as he gets his way. But vulnerable Dems — and vulnerable Republicans — care, and he needs them. Also, as he becomes uncool even the loyal press will begin to cover more bad news.
21ST CENTURY RELATIONSHIPS: Study: More men than women faking orgasms.
FROM MY COLLEAGUE BRIANA ROSENBAUM: Sentence Appeals in England: Promoting Consistent Sentencing through Robust Appellate Review. Download it early and often!
TAXPROF: The IRS Scandal, Day 186.
PETER INGEMI: Where were Chris Christie’s coattails in New Jersey?
SAYS A LOT ABOUT TODAY’S ECONOMY: Zombie Apocalypse Stock Portfolio Triples In 3 Years. “That zombie stocks have been doing so well may be a harbinger of the end of the world. But that’s no reason not to take advantage of investment opportunities now.”
THE RISE OF THE OBAMACARE SCAMS.
Here’s the most unintended, and inevitable, result of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: the new opportunities it’s created for scammers. As a regular consumer of cable news, I’ve seen hundreds of ads that strenuously imply that the crap medical discount plan they’re selling is part of the new health-care law. But since the law took effect, the fraudsters seem to have stepped up. At least one enterprising fellow set up a website designed to fool people into thinking that it was the official government exchange (the government took it down). People are also repeatedly calling around and offering to “help” people enroll for $100, after which the victims are not only out $100, but also their Social Security numbers and other vital information.
This is not in any way the Barack Obama administration’s fault; it’s just the inevitable result of a big, new government program. But it’s worth emphasizing, on this lovely Friday, that you should use HealthCare.gov to find your state exchange. If HealthCare.gov isn’t working, then you should wait until it does, not Google around for “help” that may be anything but. And remind your friends and neighbors to do the same, particularly the elderly ones. The elderly are the most vulnerable to scams at any time, but that’s going to be particularly true with something like this, which requires them to use technology they may find intimidating.
Too bad no one could have foreseen this and done something to avoid it.
BLUE STATE UPDATE: Town Official Wants To Inspect Gun Owners’ Homes. It’s pretty clear that what they are really after is just submission.
HAS AMERICA hit Peak Office?
All is proceeding as I have foreseen.
AT AMAZON, take an extra 20-30% off on select Pet Supplies.
Also, Electronics Gifts Under $100.
And, today only: HMDX Jam Plus Portable Bluetooth Speaker – Two Pack, $59.99 (50% off).
Also today only: Vivere Double Hammock with Stand in Tropical Color, $94.90 (41% off). If winter is coming, can spring be far behind?
VICTOR DAVIS HANSON’S MILITARY HISTORY QUIZ, Round Two.
PROFESSOR JACOBSON: Not just Brown: The long history of liberal and anti-Israel campus shout downs.
“SMART DIPLOMACY:” Iranian Leader Mocks Obama:
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani told the National Assembly that Tehran would not be intimidated by any country’s “sanctions, threats, contempt and discrimination,” according to Iran’s student news service. “For us there are red lines that cannot be crossed.”
I dunno, the last guy to make a big “red line” pronouncement wound up eating his words.
IT’S COME TO THIS: James Carville’s Advice for Obama: “I think the best thing he can do is take a toke on the mayor of Toronto’s crack pipe.” Well, Rob Ford is polling better.
ED DRISCOLL ON OBAMA’S FAUX-POLOGY: Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word.
DIVERSITY: Meet the seemingly unfireable female firefighter.
Despite failing a required FDNY running test five times, Wendy Tapia was allowed to graduate from the Fire Academy and become a firefighter. On Dec. 2, she is taking the test for an unprecedented sixth time.
Tapia was one of only five women among 285 new firefighters who graduated from the FDNY’s Randall’s Island training academy on May 17.
The class was hailed as the most diverse group of rookies ever, all of them EMTs or paramedics seeking promotion to firefighter. She joined a group of just 35 women among the 11,000 Bravest.
But Tapia, 31, has yet to work a shift at her firehouse, Engine No. 316 in East Elmhurst, Queens, where she was assigned May 18.
At the end of 18 weeks of probationary training, Tapia failed to run 1¹/₂ miles in 12 minutes without gear, as required by the academy. She blamed a foot injury.
The FDNY let her graduate anyway — and gave her five more deadlines over the past six months to pass the running test.
She failed all five times, insiders said.
Normally, probationary firefighters who fail the running test at the end of academy training don’t graduate — period. They flunk out but can join the next academy class, start over and get another chance to pass the course.
Tapia’s treatment has inflamed male and female colleagues alike.
It’s almost like it’s about quotas over qualifications or something.