Althouse Blog's Photos

Ann Althouse, law prof and excellent blogger likes to take pictures. I especially like the pics she takes of snow in her hometown of Madison, Wisconsin which has had more snow this winter than the prior 100 or so years!

Tank the Horse

This is a big and aptly-named horse. The groom walking alongside Tank was a girl who was at least six-feet tall.

It's Our Money They Are Spending

Today, there was news about a foreign aid bill Senator Obama is proposing. According to the news accounts, the bill will cost us $845 Billion MORE than we are spending today. That means it will cost every man, woman and child in the country $2,817 EACH to pay for the Senator's bill. Think about that for a second. If there are four pepole in your family, the bill costs your family more than $10,000. Or two nice vacations to Disneyland or one year's college tuition at a state college or five year's worth of IRA contributions or the entire cost of leasing a midsize car for four years! In other words, it amounts to real money to an average American family.

If it passes, I may refer to it as the Ginormous Economic Stimulus Package since it is more than FIVE TIMES the size of our own economic stimulus package!

For you skeptics, here is my math: $845,000,000,000 divided by 300,000,000 Americans = $2,817 each.

Cool But ....Where Will The Debris Land?

The Pentagon has decided it will attempt to shoot down a satellite before it re-enters the earth's atmosphere (should I capitalize 'earth'?).

This is cool news especially since I put a new HD TV in my office with cable in December. Why just last week I was complaining because there have been no big catastrophes to watch while I am working (that is what I call it anyway).

Oh and to get back to the satellite...where will the debris land? Back in space where it might hit and maybe cripple other satellites and then we will have to shoot them down or here on earth on someone's head?

My New Back Yard

Phils Add Another Arm....

....but check out the new arm's wife and especially her legs. Anna Benson- wife or former wife of new Phils pitcher.

USS Forestal Disaster

John McCain survived this disaster which started when another pilot accidentally shot McCain's plane on the deck of the aircraft carrier USS Forestal in 1967.

Hattip to the commenters on the great blog www.althouse.blogspot.com

Can't Wait To See How The Philly Inquirer Plays This

Governor Fat Eddie Rendell suggests Dems should vote for Clinton because many white voters are not ready to vote for a black candidate. Fat Eddie goes on to say that is one reason he beat Lynn Swann by 22 points in the last governor's election.

Jeez- I don't recall Fat Eddie bringing up his "racial advantage" during the campaign.

[Hattip to Instapundit and Ace of Spades.]

Patti Solis Doyle ........

..........is the youngest of six children and her parents are illegal immigrants from Mexico! She grew up in Chicago, is married to a Harvard Law Schoolgrad, has managed a presidential campaign and is only 43 years old. What a great country we live in ! ...Then how come all we ever do is bitch and moan?

That is what Wikipedia says. I am not making it up. Just click on the post title to go to Doyle's Wikipedia entry.

Dittoes To This Columnist

Click on the post and read this OPED by Melanie Scarborough re college costs.
She asked a good question- why should the government continue to give big dollars to colleges when the colleges have ginormius endowments?

For example, Harvard has $35 BILLION in its endowment and even the University of Delaware has $1 Billion.

Under My Thumb - The Stones

Fun At Confession

Funny funny YouTube video!!

Drunkensteins

I think this is a great name for a bar!

And the bastards turned down the guy's application to open a bar with that name in Tempe, Arizona. No wonder he was pissed.

Shouldn't The Media Be Asking For Candidate's Tax Returns?

I see Obama is asking that Hillary release her tax returns- Obama said he released his own already. Isn't that the media's job to scratch and claw and ask for that kind of stuff?

Penguin Joke

Check out this Penguin joke as told by monkeys in a bar (If that does not get your interest, I give up).

Scrappleface Pleads For Rebate Checks For Hillary's Campaign Staff

This guy Scott Ott is funny. Click on the post where Ott aka Scrappleface reports Harry Reid is trying to expedite the economic stimulus package because Hillary Clinton's campaign staff needs the money!

Heath Ledger- Sad But Dumb

The story says Ledger died from an accidental overdose of SIX different prerscription medicines. Sad story BUT JUST FRIGGING STUPID.

Is That Like Being A Little Pregnant?

A Little Exuberant...this is what Hillary Clinton replied when she was asked if she regrets making a promise to add 200,000 new jobs to western New York state. Clinton made this promise in her first senate campaign in 2000. Here is the money quote from the news story today.

START OF STORY: February 4, 2008 BRIDGETON, Mo. — Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton conceded Sunday that she “might have been a little exuberant” when she predicted she could bring 200,000 jobs to Western New York as a senator but stressed that she would do a far better job on economic issues than her chief rival for the Democratic presidential nomination, Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois.

In an interview with The Buffalo News after a town hall meeting on economic issues in this St. Louis suburb, the New York senator blamed Republicans for getting in the way of her economic plans and criticized both Obama and the GOP presidential front-runner, Sen. John McCain, for their approach on economic issues.

Asked if she regretted her 2000 campaign pledge, Clinton said: “Well, I might have been a little exuberant, but I thought we could do it.” END OF STORY.

Will Dem Voters Be The New Racists?

I predict Clinton will beat Obama and win the majority of tomorrow's Democratic party primaries. Will the MSM paint the Dem voters as the "New Racists" for choosing a white woman over a black man?

Afterall, that is how the MSM paints Republican voters when they tend to have an almost all-white slate of candidates. Guess we will see if my prediction is correct and Clinton does win tomorrow.

Terrelle Pryor .......Future Super Bowl QB

Great picture from the Philly Inquirer's Photog, Ron Cortes!

Chester's Rahlir Jefferson drives to the basket between Jeannette's Terrelle Pryor (left) and Shaw Sunder. Jefferson scored nine points in the Clippers' 80-70 win over the Hawks, despite 21 points by Pryor, a two-sport star.

FYI- Pryor is the number one football recruit in the country. OSU, Michigan, Penn State, etc are hot to get the 6'6", 225 Lb. QB to come to their school.

Wing Bowl

One of these years, I will go to see Wing Bowl in person. Why? Because I think it is just a Philly event which you should see at least once. You know like the Mummers Parade.

I'd Prefer We Give The Money To Our Own Needy Citizens

Click on the post title. The recession relief bill may include giving rebates to some illegal immigrants. That just ain't right- I would rather it go to our own needy citizens.

Senate Fossil Unearthed - Endorses Obama For Change

Senator Ted Kennedy, the Senate's 2nd oldest fossil awoke from a nap yesterday, wiped the drool from his lip and endorsed Senator Obama.

Senator Kennedy described Obama as the best candidate to bring meaningfull change to Washington. Unnamed sources suggested Obama accepted Kennedy's endoresment and in return Obama promised his sweeping changes will not affect ancient relics like Kennedy.

Obama & Change

Obama has been endorsed by so many of the long-serving Dem dinosaurs, I find it hard to believe Obama will actually change much.

Here are some of the veteran Dems who have endorsed Obama: Leahy, Kerry, Daschle, Kennedy, Nelson. Including Daschle who is not in the Senate anymore, I estimate these five have been in the Senate an average of 20 years or more! Will be hard for Obama to get these guys to change.

Ebay Sells All Kinds Of Stuff

Click on the post and see what Ebay is selling.

Where Did They Find The Time For Sex?

The Detroit Free Press looked at 14,000 text messages on the mayor's city-issued pager. The messages covered a four month period (two months in 2002 and two months in 2003). Do the math, that is an average of 3,500 messages per month or more than 100 per day!

When the fluff did the married mayor find the time to have sex with his married assistant when they were so busy sending and receiving text messages?

Lastly, what the heck did all these text messages cost the city? I get charged $0.25 per message on my Verizon plan.

You Know Your Campaign Is Toast .....

.....when one of your biggest supporters is the actor who played Cooter on the old Dukes Of Hazard TV show.

This link is from a local blogger who fancies herself a big-time blogger. She loves John Edwards because he espouses the most disdain for America.

Here the blogger is touting what "Cooter" said at an Edwards campaign rally. (To be fair to Cooter, he left his acting career behind and is now U.S. Congressman, Ben Jones).

Oceans 11 ?

Wonder if this could be a robbery in progress?

You know set a fire, evacuate everyone then scoop up cash and other valuables left behind?

Billary

Our next prez?

Tell Us Somthing We Don't Know

Inky trots out a study from the PU Foundation. The study found the costs of benefits (pensions, helath insurance, etc) for government workers are taking a bigger and bigger chunk out of the city's budget! And there is no end in sight. I am shocked at this news!

Eagles Jersey .....Nice

These Perps Are Lucky New Jersey Did Away With The Death Penalty

Two New Jersey men were arrested for murdering a young mother over a debt and /or drug deal. Plus they left her 3-week old baby on the street (thankfully she was found unharmed by a passerby).

I think they should get the death penalty- but New Jersey eliminated that penalty last month. Ain't they lucky!

Social Security Was Designed As A Supplement To Your Retirement

I just heard a guy on C-Span say that. He is a financial writer for USA Today named John Waggoner.

Jeez- why are we paying 12% of our earnings to something called a "Supplement"? And how is the average American supposed to save much more than 12% for their retirement? This situation is the cause of the economic anxiety felt by many of us.

I bet 99% of financial planners would tell you your retirement will be frigging secure and wonderful if you consistently put away 12% of your earnings each year.

The GOOD NEWS is the average American does that via social security "contributions" in conjunction with their employer. The BAD NEWS is the Congress and our government has been spending that money as fast as they can.

Schadenfreude is Chris Scatullo Relegated to Saturday's Columnist

Former Inquirer editor and current pompous, presumptious lameduck,Chris Scatullo, is now writing columns for the Inquirer's Saturday edition. Oh how far the once-mighty has fallen! The creator of the blowhard-dominated Great Expectations circle jerks is surely on his way out at the Inquirer. Chris, nothing personal, but I say it is about frigging time.

Bad Economy ?

From an OPED today by columnist, Ron Brownstein.Let me paraphrase what he reported ....from 2000 to 2006, the number of households with annual income of $75,000 increased from:

• 16% to 24% in Iowa and
• from 26% to 38% in New Hampshire.
• FYI - that is an increase of 45-50% from 2000 to 2006 and
• Certainly does not seem to indicate household incomes have beem stagnant under the Bush administration. Here is the actual money quote:

"Some of the increase among high-end voters can be explained by the simple reality that there are more of them. From 2000 through 2006 (the most recent year for which figures are available), the share of Iowa families earning at least $75,000 increased from about one-sixth to nearly one-fourth, according to Census Bureau figures. In New Hampshire, the rise over the same period was from 26 percent to 38 percent. "

Was Wolf Blitzer Even Paying Attention ?

Ok s0 I am watching CNN yesterday and Jack Cafferty is explaining to Wolf Blitzer that there is a proposal to raise the federal gasoline tax by 40 cents over the next five years. The increased tax revenue will be used to pay to repair highways, infrastructure, etc..... and Wolf responds "well that is better than giving the money to Saudi Arabia"! Was Wolf even listening to Cafferty ?

BTW, I hear, in England, they refer to their news anchors as "news readers" which is certainly what they are. And don't ask me why I was watching Jack Cafferty's show - I must have misplaced the remote control.

Ringing Endorsement For Obama (NOT)

Read this Las Vegas newspaper endorsement for Obama in the Democratic primary. It is certainly not a ringing, stirring endorsement of the young Illinois senator. It is more like "vote for Obama, his is not as bad as Hillary and Edwards".

I suspect this newspaper is NOT left-leaning and so it is way out of step from its MSM brethren.

Bad Economy?

I ask you - is the economy as horrible as polls and surveys indicate ? I have my doubts if people can afford to pay others to walk their dogs!

Check out this Philadelphia Inquirer story about dog-walking services in Philly by clicking on the post title above.

I know I know - this could be a "Haves vs. Have Nots" issue but still it suggests the economy ain't that frigging bad. Just a week or so ago, there was another story about a company that rents out dogs to people for the weekend.

Pick The Quarterbacks With The Five-Letter Names

Nough said- these two will face off in the Super Bowl which will be a good one. I pick the team that is known for playing on the frozen tundras in an upset! Heh - figure that out.

Well - I told you who my picks were this weekend and only two of four won BUT BUT remember I said if you must bet TAKE THE OVER!

If you had taken that advice, you would have won three out of four of your bets! Not bad huh?

Just call me Emperor For Life.

Favre, Brady & Manning - Frigging Great Passers!

I have never seen three more accurate passers in the three games so far this weekend. Favre, Brady & Manning have been unbelievable (as I type this Manning came close to throwing an interception on the potentially game-winning drive with only 2 minutes left).

And now it looks like the Bolts are going to pull off an upset of the Colts. BTW, this game is a rematch of the game I attended earlier this year in San Diego on a Sunday might. The Bolts beat the Colts in that game too.

And David Garrard is an up and coming damn accurate passer too. He could join this trio someday IMHO.

Letter To The Editor

Below is my letter to the editor at the Philadelphia Inquirer. It was published this morning Sunday 01/13/2008:

Dear Editor (I don't call them 'Idiotor"to their face heh):

Your Diversity?
I saw the Tom Ferrick column on the building trades and its lack of diversity (Inquirer, Jan. 6). A few weeks ago, I also saw a story about the increasing "whiteness" of the state police ("Pa. troopers' ranks getting less diverse," Dec. 23).

Ironically, also on Dec. 23, in the first edition on the same page as the state police story, The Inquirer was touting its "12 must-read columnists." I happened to note all 12 of the columnists mentioned are white.

How does The Inquirer reconcile its own apparent lack of diversity versus other organizations with which it finds fault? Talk about the pot calling the kettle black!

A.J. Lynch

Little Late But Here Are My NFL Picks

New England, Green Bay, Dallas & Indianapolis. No Upsets this weekend and since the lines are so large, I suggest you bet the "Over" if you must bet.

Sorry for making my picks so late but just saw Hube's picks at www.colossus.mu.nu and it reminded me I forgot to post mine.

And after seeing Brett Favre in the early game, I am leaning to picking Green Bay to win next week in the NFC championship- they have a very good offense and a very good defense (maybe the best defense of the remaining 4 NFC playoff teams!)

Global Warming

Got my PECO bill this week. For the 2nd month in a row, average temperatures were significantly lower than the same period last year. Here are the stats:

Average Temp this year per my billing period was 37.
Average temp last year per my billing period was 43!

We have had colder than normal temps since November IMHO.
This is what I posted last month after I got my PECO bill:

http://theringleader.blogspot.com/2007/12/global-warming-is-problem.html

Why Governor Corzine Believes There Is No Limit To Tolls & Taxes

U.S. & WORLD NEWS: NJ tops US in number of millionaires

New Jersey has the most millionaire households in the country, according to a marketing company's fifth annual ranking. The Garden State moved up from No. 2 in 2005 and 2006 to No. 1 last year on the index, compiled by Phoenix Affluent Marketing Service, which does research for companies that sell luxury products, investments and the like to the wealthy.

According to the service, in 2007, 7.12 percent of New Jersey's 3.2 million households had a total of $1 million or more liquid or investable assets. That includes items such as savings, stocks and bonds, precious metals, the cash value of certain life insurance policies and retirement accounts not controlled by employers, but not equity in homes (The Associated Press)

My Iowa / New Hampshire Democrat Primary Meter

Here is what I see based on Iowa / New Hampshire:

1. Obama can win states that are liberal like Iowa. These include NJ,WI,MN,IL,MD, MA, MI, CA, OR and WA.
2. Hillary can win states that are more moderate like New Hampshire. These include PA, OH, VA, FL, MO, TX, and the other western states.
3. New York could be up for grabs.
4. My election scale is based on this observation...Obama got almost 40% in a very liberal state while Clinton beat him by 3% in a fairly conservative state. So if a state is more liberal than New Hampshire, I predict an Obama victory. If it is as conservative or more conservative than New Hampshire, I predict Clinton will win. Basic, simple, primitive analysis and I could be wrong.
5. If my Iowa/ New Hampshire meter is accurate, the race will be back and forth with Hillary eking out a win over Obama (who becomes her running mate for VP).

Call it my Iowa/ New Hampshire meter.

John Edwards .....Bubble Boy...Separated at Birth?

John Edwards is ignoring reality - he just got less than 20% of the Dem vote in New Hampshire, a middle of the road state, after finishing 2nd in the very very liberal state of Iowa.

I say his campaign is doomed. It is apparent to me that so far voters will support the moderate candidates as the primaries moves from a very liberal state to a moderate state. That means Edwards has seen his best finish in Iowa and it is probably downhill from here for Edwards (and may not be great news for Obama either).

John Edwards & Bubble Boy ...separated at birth?

A Face Made For Radio?

Dana Bash....How'd this mug get on TV?

Ten Reasons Why Hillary Is Struggling To Win

Voters did not like:

1. The tawdry, distracting parts of the Clinton years
2. Blaming marital problems on "Vast Right Wing Conspiracy".
3. Her inability to prove her claim of extensive experience.
4. Her expectation that she is next in line for the nomination.
5. Same old, same old advisers and talking points/ no fresh vision.
6. Vague promise of "change" - lacks specific plan or platform for substantive change
7. Screechy voice and ghastly laugh.
8. Too tightly scripted - gave very little access to media questions.
9. Weirdness of Bill Clinton hovering in and out of the campaign.
10. Thought of fighting same battles from 60's to the 90's again.

The bad news for Hillary is she can only fix or address # 5, 6 and 8; all the others are carved in the history books or hard-coded in her DNA.

The Philadelphia Inquirer & Race

BELOW IS A COPY OF AN EMAIL I SENT TO THE INQUIRER

Dear Mr. Ferrick:
I saw your column yesterday on the building trades and its lack of diversity.
Two weeks ago I saw a story about the increasing "whiteness" of the state police. Ironically, the same day and on the same page, the Inquirer was touting its "12 can't -miss columnists". I noted all 12 were white.
How does the Inquirer reconcile its own apparent lack of diversity vs. other organizations with which it finds fault? Talk about the pot calling the kettle black!
Best Regards,

Screw Health Insurance, Everyone Would Have A Bike....If I Was Emperor

Belated post...

Merry

Christmas to my niece,

Chrissy. This is her new bike and she can't wait to try out her new Trek Cruiser in NYC's Central Park.

My Football Picks

San Diego, Tampa Bay & Ohio State.

I had Seattle yesterday and in the college bowl season, I had winners in Penn State, West Virginia, Alabama, Mississippi State, New England (over 30 points vs. NYG) and Maryland (I think Maryland was a winner).

My losers were Connecticut and Boston College and Dallas Cowboys (last game of season vs. Redskins). [Can I say Redskins in the blogosphere or is not PC anymore?]

Keep in mind, I was in Vegas over the holidays so most of these were "real" bets. It's nice to win or even break even. [Idiotor's note "Well that is a No shit statement"]

Rock The Vote

Thought for the day....................

CNN and others have tried to stir the young to vote in past years by establishing lame programs such as "Rock the Vote". I call them lame because I felt few young people would respond to programs from an establishment group like CNN. It would be unnatural and dare say uncool. I know my generation would never have responded to a get out the vote program from CBS or NBC, etc.

My prediction is that it appears Barack Obama could be a natural force to TRULY Rock The Vote and he could single-handily increase the number of young voters IF the Dems are smart enough to nominate him and IF the Dems are smart enough to eschew STUPID FAUX MOVEMENTS LIKE THE AFOREMENTIONED ROCK THE VOTE! IMHO.

More Good News From Iraq

The Belmont Club reports three month death toll is at lowest ever since Iraq War began. Click on post title to see data. This is very good news! I can't wait til all the troops are back home.

Ralph Peters ....Best Foreigh Affairs Columnist in the USA

Ralph Peters is my favorite foreign affairs columnist. He writes a regular column for the NY Post and the link provided is to a blog that points out the smart stuff in Peters' latest column where he says 2007 was a turning point in the war on terroe and in Iraq. Keep in mind, Peters has been a vocal critic of the Iraq Qar plan in recent years but is a fan of General Petraeus' surge tactics. Peters is a retired Army officer so he knows what he is talking about.

Here is a money quote from the Peters article. I think the quote depicts perfectly the "attytood" of most Dems and Libs in this country..." We should have learned the utility (value) of fighting, instead of letting liberal-elite America-haters inflict their defeatist agenda on our country and on the world".

This One Is For You.....Go Illinois ...Beat USC

My good friend is an Illinois grad and diehard fan. She is attending the Rose Bowl game today. And I say "Go Fighting Illini...Beat USC!".

Have fun Kiddo at the Parade and at the Game!

(Picture at left is Illinois QB, Juice Williams, an exciting but unpredictable underclassman QB).

Ice Hockey Outdoors on New Years Day

Is this a great country or what! I know it is only a hockey game but Americans love traditions because we are sentimental and a little corny and are satisfied with simple pleasures like a hockey game in the frigid outdoor cold. I hope this game becomes a great, American tradition.

Think about this ....we have not been good at introducing new traditions in recent years. Almost all of our traditions were born in the years of 1900-1960 or even before that. Wonder if that indicates our society is a bit stale? or stagnating a bit? So if you are reading this - I say go and start some new traditions - they are good for you!

Happy New Years- I will be watching on TV my first ice hockey game in many years and it is being played outdoors in front of a record crowd.

(Blogger's note- when the hell did the Penguins change their colors to Blue and white? For years, all of the Pittsburgh team colors were black and yellow..Steelers, Pirates and Penguins. This proves how long ago I paid attention to hockey).

Too Tired To Write A Good Year-ending Post About The Incompetent San Francisco Zoo

This is my 176th post of the year - that was my goal because I noticed I did 176 posts in both 2005 and 2006 so I made that my goal for 2007 too. Make sense to you? Well I made it and was hoping to write a post criticizing the San Francisco Zoo and its regulatory body (The Associatio of Zoos And Aquariums which apprently inspected the SF Zoo in the last three years BUT NEVER FOUND FAULT WITH THE TIGER WALL WHICH IS 4 to 5 FEET LOWER THAN THE RECOMMENDED NATIONAL STANDARD) but I am too tired to research and document the failings and contradictions and I will do it next year heh.

Click on this post's title if you want to read a news account of the zoo issue. Bottom line is the zoo must be incompetent if it allows visitors to enter a park with deadly animals in unsecure cages. I await the NY Times story exposing all the other zoos that are also unsafe for the visitors.

Happy New Year to all. Have fun and be safe!

My First You Tube Video..Click Here

Las Vegas At Night - More Vacation Pics

Great Screen Saver

This is a photo I am using for my screen saver. It is my favorite photo of 2007 and I took it in Ricketts Glen State Park in northeastern Pennsylvania. The park has about 17 waterfalls and a well-marked hiking trail on which you can see each waterfall.

The hike is maybe 3-4 miles and of low/moderate difficulty.

I highly recommend for a weekend diversion in the summer.

I Never Knew This

I am watching the Emerald Bowl being played in San Francisco. Did you know this bowl is sponsored by Emerald Nuts? I never knew that but it is true that you can learn something new every day!

Vegas Vacation...Room With A View

My Bowl Picks

I diverted to Sin City for a few days to end the year and it is great - I can bet on the College Bowl games while I am here. Here are my picks :

• Texas
• Boston College
• Maryland
• Connecticut
• Mississippi State
• Penn State
• Alabama
• Illinois
• West Virginia

Now don't go wasting your own hard-earned money on my picks. I am no expert and am only making small wagers on some of the above games. I just placed my first bet on Texas about 2 minutes before kickoff. I had to lay 2 & 1/2 points to the ASU Sun Devils.

This Would Suck

More famous last words..."hey let's go to the zoo" ........and get killed by a tiger. I am referring of course to the news from San Francisco that one of the tigers at the city zoo escaped from its cage and killed a zoo visitor.

I guess you just never know how your day is going to turn out.

Favorite Websites & Blogs

Here is a list of my favorite blogs and websites and regular internet oases:

• www.althouse.blogspot.com
• www.instapundit.com
• www.realclearpolitics.com
• www.realclearsports.com
• www.philly.com
• www.drudgereport.com
• www.nba.com
• www.colossus.mu.nu
• www.sharpshooters.blogspot.com

And this is one I visit to see what the self-loathing, America-loathing nutroots are saying:

• http://www.susiemadrak.com/

Cliff Tan

The AP ran a story today that says the credit card debt and delinquency rate in the USA is a growing disaster. They quoted a visiting scholar at Stanford Univeesity named Cliff Tan.

I am ususally skeptical about the MSM experts so I googled Mr. Tan. Below is his CV from the university website.

IMHO, based on the info provided by Stanford's website, Mr. Tan may be an expert but not about American credit. I wonder why and how Mr. Tan was selected by the AP to comment on their story?

Beginning of CV:

"Cliff Tan is a Visiting Scholar at the Stanford Center for International Development. Prior to SCID, Mr. Tan headed up local markets strategy and research in fixed income and foreign exchange for Citigroup in Asia. In 18 years of research on Asia and Japan, Mr. Tan also worked as FX/Interest Rate Strategist and acting cohead of Asian Economics for Warburg Dillon Read (now UBS), Japan and Asia Economist for Wellington Management Company, and proprietary trading/credit risk economist for Bankers Trust Company. Mr. Tan has been recognized as a top five currency strategist by Asiamoney (including a #1 ranking in 2003), and has been cited for work as both an economist and strategist by The Asset magazine.

Before entering financial markets, Mr. Tan was an economist at the US Federal Reserve Board covering Greater China, a Lecturer at the University of Hong Kong's School of Economics and Finance, and Visiting Fellow at the Korea Development Institute.

Mr. Tan received MPhil and MA in Economics from Yale University, and an AM in East Asian Regional Studies from Harvard University. He holds an AB (magna cum laude) from the University of Southern California."

END of CV

Post Number 166 in 2007

I have had this blog for three years now and noticed I made 176 posts in both 2005 and in 2007. So 176 posts is now my goal for 2007.

This is my 166th so I have ten more to go to reach 176. I may have to take my laptop on my Vegas vacation to make 176.

Cost of living from 1952

You have to click on this picture to enlarge. It has great stuff...tuition to Harvard was $600 per year while the average annual income was about $4,000. Today Harvard tuition tops $40,000 and the average income is about $48,000. So tuition rose by over 6,000% while income rose by only about 1,100%. Big difference there.

Merry Christmas to Sean and his new little brother, Luke

Pennsylvania State Police Getting Whiter (or more like the Inquirer)

The story is about the racial composition of the State Police force - jeez do they have the same illness as Michael Jackson? No seriously - "State Police Getting Whiter" was the actual headline to the article in the paper's print edition.

I bet they could write this same story about the Philadelphia Inquirer editorial staff. In fact, how about I count the mumber of white columnists in the same paper?

They make it easy for me because on the Front Page, the paper is heralding it has "12 Must-Read Columnists" to read in this edition.

Here are their names : Dave Boyer, Monica Yant Kinney, Jonathan Last, Craig Laban, Jonathan Storm, Mark Bowden, a twofer of Satullo/Auth, Carlin Romano, Lisa Scottoline, Michael Smerconish, Bob Ford and Dick Polman.

I am not familiar with the first, Dave Boyer, but I know for a fact the other 11 are all white!! Could the Inquirer get whiter? Doesn't seem to be possible.

Big Frigging Mofo

Sign of the Apocolypse

This is a good blog so just click on the post title to see what the apocolypse refers to.......FYI- Ithaca is little two-college town (Ithaca and Cornell) but the these police cars may be a bit much even for a place likely run by tree-hugging hippies.

On the other hand, variety and diversity make for a great and interesting country. Right?

Koala Bear at San Diego Zoo

I don't think I posted this photo last month- I was looking again at my pics from San Diego and thought this one was a keeper too!

Will America Put This Family In The White House?

If so, will the kitchen have to be enlarged?

I would vote for this candidate if they ran this ad!

Great campaign video (spoof?).

Hat tip to the Blogfather, Glenn Reynolds, at http://www.instapundit.com/

Karen Heller Takes Down Alycia Lane

Below is the commentary from one of the Philly Inquirer's best writers, Karen Heller, re the Alicia Lane "crack-up". Lane was paid $700,000 per year to be co-anchor and was not even the top banana on the news program (Larry Mendte is #1 anchor). I don't understand why the program directors don;t scrap these overpaid talking heads and use college kids who are majoring in TV? Hell even if ratings drop a bit, they would still save millions in salary costs!

START OF HELLER STORY

Alycia Lane: Stunning beauty but where's the common sense?
By Karen Heller INQUIRER STAFF WRITER

We know why Channel 3 hired Alycia Lane. It's because she's car-crackup beautiful, a size two and the camera adores her. Which is fitting for her second career as a tabloid cover girl.

When defenders argue that someone is actually smart, you know that intelligence has little to do with the $700,000 salary. It no longer matters if Lane is actually smart - smart people never require the "actually" business - because what she clearly lacks, and hasn't shown since her arrival in Philadelphia, is one iota of common sense.

Lane is famous for her bikini pics, 55 jackets in her closet, her boyfriends and breakups, inappropriate emails to married men, Dr. Phil confessions and, since last Saturday, her alleged shameful language and a felony charge for punching a New York City cop.

What Lane has not gained a reputation for is her reporting. She once text-messaged a print reporter during a break in the newscast. To paraphrase Ruby Dee speaking to her drug lord son in American Gangster, we know you've done all sorts of wrong things but you just don't hit a cop.

Then Lane phoned Gov. Edward Rendell "to tell her side of the story," according to her a spokesman. In journalism, this is worse than hitting a cop. Reporters, even exquisitely lit television anchors, are supposed to cover politicians not hit them up for assistance. If Channel 3 is truly in the practice of journalism, the managers shouldn't have a qualm about saving $700,000 next year.

Check the calendar. It's 2007 and local television still resembles a Trumpian world with middle-aged men holding onto their duchies for life yet an ever-changing America's Next Top Trophy Anchorwoman. On WIP, the men are schlubs and Rhea Hughes is a blond babe many years their junior, though she knows and talks sports more than they do. And that's on radio.

In politics, people still comment on Hillary Clinton's pantsuits, her hair, her makeup though nobody seems to notice Bill Richardson's heft or Mitt Romney's immobile hair. (OK, I just did.) Then people have the temerity to complain that Clinton is too smart, as if this was a bad thing.

There is no such thing as too smart. When I finally landed a reporting position at a big city paper, my grandmother turned to me and said "That's all well and good, dear, but why couldn't you be on television like that nice Diane Sawyer person?" Because nobody looks like Diane Sawyer, I told her, not even Katie Couric, and that's not for lack of trying.

Once, on a layover en route to a national political convention, I was stuck in a waiting area with almost a dozen anchorbots, all size 2, beauty-queen gorgeous and constantly primping, though no one was paying them much attention. They were only locally fabulously famous.

Lane, however, has put an end to that. Now, she is nationally notorious. She was hired for people to look at her. Channel 3, and other television stations that do the same, can't be shocked when those same women prove to be attention junkies off-camera as well.

Women were supposed to have gotten further by now, to be judged for their work, not primarily their looks, unless they're strippers or something.

Girls are hooked on America's Next Top Model, I'm sorry to report, the No. 1 show among young female viewers. Girls at Monday night's Hannah Montana concert were preening in blond wigs and sequins.

Alycia Lane has big problems. But the bigger one is why businesses keep hiring women because they're car-crackup beautiful instead of being smart and imbued with common sense.

END OF HELLER STORY

Chris Matthews' Brother is a RINO

This story makes it clear I was right when I hesitated in voting for Jim Matthews for county commissioner. He is a Republican In Name Only and the story shows him sucking up to a far-left liberal Joe Hoeffel (the county's minority and Democrat commissioner) while Bruce Castor the other Republican commissioner is left in the dark. BTW- Castor is future star for the Republican party in the state and maybe nationally. I predict Castor could be governor one day.

And be careful if you decide to trust a pol like Jim Matthews or his brother, liberal wheeny and MSNBC nitwit, Chris.

Tom Friedman's Carbon Footprint

No surprises here - Tom Friedman, NYT OPED columnist, writes from Bali that its too late to ask if it is too late to take steps on global warming while Friedman, himself, lives in a 11,000 square foot home on The Beltway. (hattip to my favorite blog via www.Instapundit.com)

To be fair, Friedman also has a wife and two college-age daughters. So he needs alot of room.

My New House

8th Grade Exam (from 1895)

Remember when our grandparents, great-grandparents, and such stated that they only had an 8th grade education? Well, check this out. - - -

This is the eighth-grade final exam from 1895 in Salina , KS , USA. It was taken from the original document on file at the Smokey Valley Genealogical Society and Library in Salina , KS , and reprinted by the Salina Journal.


8th GRADE FINAL EXAM

Grammar (Time, one hour)
1. Give nine rules for the use of Capital Letters.
2. Name the Parts of Speech and define those that have no Modifications.
3. Define Verse, Stanza and Paragraph.
4. What are the Principal Parts of a verb. Give Principal Parts of. lie, lay and run
5. Define Case, Illustrate each Case.
6. What is Punctuation? Give rules for principal marks of Punctuation.
7. Write a composition of about 150 words and show therein that you understand the practical use of the rules of grammar.

Arithmetic (Time, 1.25 hours)
1. Name and define the Fundamental Rules of Arithmetic.
2. A wagon box is 2 ft deep, 10 feet long! , and 3 ft. wide. How many bushels of wheat will it hold? < BR>3. If a load of wheat weighs 3942 lbs., what is it worth at 50cts/bushel, deducting 1050lbs. for tare?
4. District No. 33 has a valuation of $35,000. What is the necessary levy to carry on a school seven months at $50 per month, and have $104 for incidentals?
5. Find cost of 6720 lbs. coal at $6.00 per ton.
6. Find the interest of $512.60 for 8 months and 18 days at 7 percent.
7. What is the cost of 40 boards 12 inches wide and 16 ft. long at $20 per meter?
8 Find bank discount on $300 for! 90 days (no grace) at 10 percent.
9. What is the cost of a square farm at $15 per acre, the distance
around which is 640 rods?
10. Write a Bank Check, a Promissory Note, and a Receipt.

U. S. History (Time, 45 minutes)
1. Give the epochs into which U. S. History is divided.
2. Give an account of the discovery of America by Columbus .
3. Relate the causes and results of the Revolutionary War.
4. Show the territorial growth of t he United States.
5. Tell what you can of the history of Kansas .
6. Describe three of the most prominent battles of the Rebellion.
7. Who were the following: Morse, Whitney, Fulton, Bell, Lincoln, Penn, and Howe?
8. Name events connected with the following dates: 1607, 1620, 1800, 1849, 1865.

Orthography (Time, one hour)
1. What is meant by the following: Alphabet, phonetic, orthography, etymology, syllabication?
2. What are elementary sounds? How classified?
3. What are the following, and give examples of each: Trigraph, sub vocals, diphthong, cognate letters, linguals?
4. Give four substitutes for caret 'u! '.
5. Give two rules for spelling words with final 'e.' Name two
exceptions under each rule.
6 Give two uses of silent letters in spelling. Illustrate each.
7. Define the following prefixes and use in connection with a word: bi, dis, mis, pre, semi, post, non, inter, mono, sup
8. Mark diacritically and divide i nto syllables the following, and name the sign that indicates the sound: card, ball, mercy, sir, odd, cell, rise, blood, fare, last.
9. Use the following correctly in sentences: cite, site, sight, fane,
fain, feign, vane, vain, vein, raze, raise, rays.
10. Write 10 words frequently mispronounced and indicate pronunciation by use of diacritical marks and by syllabication.

Geography (Tim e, one hour)
1. What is climate? Upon what does climate depend?
2. How do you account for the extremes of climate in Kansas?
3. Of what use are rivers? Of what use is the ocean?
4. Describe the mountains of North America .
5. Name and describe the following: Monrovia, Odessa, Denver,
Manitoba, Hecla, Yukon, St. Helena, Juan Fernand ez, Aspinwall & Orinoco.
6. Name and locate the principal trade centers of the U.S.
7. Name all the republics of Europe and give the capital of each.
8. Why is the Atlantic Coast colder than the Pacific in the same latitude?
9. Describe the process by which the water of the ocean returns to the sources of rivers.
10. Describe the movements of the earth. Give the inclination of the earth.

Also notice that the exam took five hours to complete.

Gives the saying "she/he only had an 8th grade education" a whole new meaning, doesn't it?

What happened to us? It is kind of humbling, isn't it?

Nun Gets An Obituary

Ever notice how priests are routinely written in the obits section of the newspapers but nuns almost never get a write-up? Well, yesterday, the Philly Inquirer published a nice obit for a nun that just passed away. Here it is below

Posted on Sun, Dec. 16, 2007
Educator in region for half a century
By Sally A. Downey Inquirer Staff Writer

Sister Anna Josephine Bennis, 90, an educator in Philadelphia-area schools for 50 years, died of heart failure Nov. 22 at St. Joseph Villa, a retirement residence in Flourtown for the Sisters of St. Joseph.

Sister Anna Josephine taught in elementary schools in Philadelphia and Wilmington for 13 years before becoming a teacher and an administrator in Philadelphia Archdiocese high schools.

In 1973, she became the first female high school principal in the archdiocese, at Archbishop Prendergast High School in Drexel Hill. She inspired her faculty to strive for excellence, said Alice Guerin-Cronin, a former teacher at Prendergast. "God gave Sister as a gift to the world," Guerin-Cronin said.

In 1978, Sister Anna Josephine supervised the building of a new athletic facility at Prendergast after fire destroyed the gymnasium. That year she was named one of the most effective principals in the United States by the National Association of Secondary School Principals.

Before becoming principal, Sister Anna Josephine taught English and religion at John W. Hallahan Catholic Girls' High School in Philadelphia from 1951 to 1955; led the English department and was activities director at West Philadelphia Catholic High School for Girls for nine years; directed activities and the English department at Cardinal Dougherty High School in Philadelphia for six years; then was vice principal and summer school principal at Cardinal O'Hara High School in Springfield, Delaware County, from 1970 to 1973.

From 1980 until retiring in 1985, she coordinated continuing-education programs for the Sisters of St. Joseph.

Sister Anna Josephine grew up in Germantown as Bernadette Bennis. She entered the Convent of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Philadelphia after graduating from Hallahan in 1935. She earned a bachelor's degree from Chestnut Hill College and a master's degree in English from Columbia University. For 25 years she taught Saturday English classes at Chestnut Hill to nuns earning bachelor's degrees.
Sister Anna Josephine often taught creative writing in the high schools where she was assigned and advised the newspaper and literary magazine staffs. She illustrated and wrote verses for greeting cards that the recipients cherished, said a friend, Sister Rita Michael Scully. Her handmade Christmas cards for this year were ready to be mailed, Sister Rita said.

When asked how she would like to be remembered, Sister Anna Josephine wrote:
"I hope to take and leave these five senses for here and hereafter: Love, Prayer, Humor, Beauty, People. These treasures fly on my mystical carpet between heaven and earth."

She is survived by a sister, Madeleine Degnan, and nieces and nephews. A Funeral Mass was said Nov. 27 at St. Joseph Villa in Flourtown.

A Letter From Hillary

I like to know what the enemy is saying so I got on the emailing list for Hillary Clinton's campaign. Below is the latest email from her camaign. Hillary now says she will sign every bill Bush ever vetoed. I see a lot of desperation in her email and can picture her slowly shrinking while shrieking "I'm melting, I'm melting!". IMHO, that is a pretty picture.

START OF EMAIL:

"Dear AJ,
Running for president means asking a lot of people to put their faith in you -- and putting your faith in a lot of people. You've never let me down, and my promise to you has always been this: if you put your faith in me, I will fight for you every day when I'm president.

When I get to the White House, I'll end the war in Iraq and bring our troops home. I'll stop the cowboy diplomacy and Bush's war on science. I'll reverse the attacks on our Constitution and civil liberties. I'll ask the Congress to send me everything that Bush vetoed, like stem cell research and the Children's Health Insurance Program.

From day one, I'll be fighting for you, because America needs a clean and decisive break from seven years of George Bush. Not one of the Republican candidates is capable of making that happen. They're all promising four more years of the same failed policies. They see Bush's failure in Iraq and want to continue it. They see failure of leadership on the economy and want to repeat it. They see his assault on civil liberties and the disgraces of Guantanamo and want to carry them on. We need a candidate who can beat them. Will you put your faith in me today and make a contribution so I can take on the Republicans in 2008? Make a contribution today. So much is on the line. We'll lose so much that we believe in and care about if we let the White House stay in Republican hands.

That means we have to nominate a Democrat with the proven ability to take on the tactics of the Republican attack machine and win. And we need someone with the strength and experience to lead America in a positive new direction. I know I'm that candidate. That's why I'm in this race, and that's why I'm asking for your help today. Make a contribution to help me win in 2008. I want to thank you for having faith in me, and I promise to fight for you every day.

Sincerely,Hillary Rodham Clinton" END OF EMAIL

I bolded some parts of the email I found interesting (she has veered left and is embracing far-left talking points like Guantanamo and civil liberties bullcrap).

IRAQ STUDY GROUP (remember that?)

Wow the one-year anniversary for the report by the Iraq Study Group came and went with no notice or hoopla from the MSM.

The report was released on December 6, 2006 and recommended a phased withdrawal. As you may recall, President Bush considered it and told everyone he would announce his decision in mid - January which he did.

In January of 2007, Bush basically said ..."stick your report, I am going to add troops not reduce troops". Well, the MSMwent nuts and it turns out so far Bush and especially General Petraeus were right.

Let's hope and pray they can wind this war down and bring the troops home safe and soon!

Global Warming Is A Problem ?

Just got my heating bill. It is not even winter yet and my bill was about 50% higher than last year BECAUSE the temperature (for this billing month) was an average of 7 degrees colder than last year!!

That is right- last year the average temp was 52 degrees and this year it was 45 degrees. What happened to Global Warming? I say bring it on if my heating bills are lowered!

Wow - Listen to what the parents of Megan Kanka Say

The state of New Jersey is about to outlaw the death penalty.

New Jersey is of course one of the most liberal states and its very liberal governor provided the impetus to this move. I have been following it half-heartedly but today I read a story about the parents of Megan Kanka and how they felt about losing out on seeing the rapist/killer of their littel girl get what he deserves: The Death Penalty!

Read the whole story - it is heartbreaking to hear the mother and father say they want the killer to die and deservedly so IMHO. And keep in mind the judge and jury sentenced the killer to death.

Pole Volter ?

From the Philly Inquirer online edition this morning:

"Jocelyn Kirsch, a Drexel senior, often claimed to be an Olympic caliber pole volter. She is one-half of the "Bonnie and Clyde" couple, sprung from jail yesterday by grim-faced parents who posted bail. "

Pole Volter ??? Is that a new name for the girls that gyrate and dance around the vertical poles in gentleman's clubs? ....they will give you a charge? Jeez - where are the editors?

Why Put A Debate On Cable?

The Patriots game the other night drew 17,500,000 viewers and that made it the most watched program in the history of cable TV.

If true, I wonder why the major political parties would want a prez debate to be "resticted" to cable TV viewers?

Jocelyn Kirsch

I really hope Jocelyn Kirsch and Edward Anderton get long jail terms for their crimes!

Ed Snider --- Good at not winning titles

Mr. Snider may be good at making money but he is not good at winning champioships if recent history is any proof!.....When you consider all current owners of major sports teams, I believe Ed Snider, the longtime owner of both the Philadelphia 76ers and Flyers is the current holder of this title ...

"Greatest Number of Years Since My Team Won A Championship"...........

the 76ers last won in 1983 (24 years ago) and the Flyers in 1976 (31 years ago). IMHO, Snider is made of teflon cause he hardly ever gets blamed for these exceptionally long droughts!

Lofa Tatupu - Is He Invisible To Eagles QB?

Philadelphia Eagles QB threw 3 interceptions today to Seattle Seahawks linebacker, Lofa Tatupu. The last interception was on the 5-yard line when the Eagles were about to win the game with only a minute left.

Right after that, the announcer, Moose Johnston exclaimed that Tatupu must be "invisible" to Feeley because the 3 interceptions were so frigging bad. Feeley had to see Tatupu on each throw hence the invisible comment.

Full disclosure- I am and Eagles fan but Coach Reid and Mcnabb must go- they are joined at the hip and are dragging the team down. The city and the fans need a fresh start. Send them both packing. Reid is the worst clock manager in the league (did you see the end of the 1st half?) and McNabb is over the hill.

Snark seems appropriate for my 500th posting to this blog

"If the dudes from Dubai can make our waterfront look like the picture, I say let's turn the Philadelphia city government over to them.Let's see what kind of city contracts the unions get when they have to negotiate with guys with swords."

Editors note- I "borrowed" the quote above from a comment posted on the blog called Attytood.

Kaola Bear In Tree (not a rare occurrence I am told)

San Diego - More Pictures

San Diego Zoo - Pictures I Took

Luckyoldson AKA LUCY

Fantastic News For Coble Family

I am in San Diego and saw this story in the paper this morning:

From The San Diego Union Tribune on November 8, 2007 .....

MOURNERS AWAIT TRIPLETS
An Orange County couple whose three children died in a big-rig crash just six months ago is expecting triplets.

Lori Coble is seven weeks pregnant with two girls and a boy, who are expected in May. The 30-year-old mother had the three embryos implanted following in vitro fertilization.
“We had a 1-in-10 chance of them sticking, and they all three did,” Chris Coble, 36, told the Orange County Register.

“It's kind of a two-sided coin,” he said. “We feel amazed that it's happening but at the same time we're still mourning Kyle, Emma and Katie. Nothing will ever replace them. We feel joy for what's happening but we're crying and missing the kids.”

Kyle, 5, Emma, 4, and Katie, 2, were killed May 4 when a tractor-trailer rig slammed into the back of the family minivan on Interstate 5 in Mission Viejo.

UN Flies To Bali to Stop Global Warming

Read this story about the corrupt UN having a 10-day meeting in Bali. The topic - Global Warming.

This is the kind of two-faced crap that makes it impossible for me to take global warming seriously. Am I wrong?

Dreamalee Brotz

First question - Who the hell names their daughter "Dreamalee Brotz" ? I guess her parents were hippies who changed the world, man.

And according to the Philly Inquirer, in an article about how evil and unjust bottled water is, they quoted this lady, a teacher named Dreamalee Brotz, who was no longer using bottled water.

Well, that is your choice lady! Dreamalee- let me say this - you probably support - no you probably demand free choice for women's reproductive rights. And in turn, I demand to make my choice to drink whatever and however I want and to drive the biggest or smallest car I want. Hell, if I so choose, I will use a 16-wheeler just to go to my office.

So stop already you control-freak idiots - stop trying to make Americans do whatever you believe is the latest fad to spring from your incredibly small, far left and fascist-like brains.

Make A Donation to This Policeman's Family

Please consider making a donation to the family of Officer Cassidy - he was shot two days ago in a robbery and died this morning.

Click on the title above to see how you can make a donation to this policeman's family. He had three kids still in high school and even with life insurance, etc his wife and family could probably use a little extra money. So why not dip into your Xmas fund and send them a check.