Whimzical Wizdom

The President's Speech In Ten Key Points

2009-09-10T12:06:00.002-04:00

by Marc Ambinder

Lifting up from the political goals of the speech, here's the news that the president made:

1. He called for a bill that includes an individual mandate to buy insurance, along with a hardship waiver.

2. He give a spirited defense of the public option but was clear that there were other options, like a trigger for the future or a co-op.

3. He endorsed a plan that would cost about $900 billion ... but said he wouldn't sign a plan that added to the deficit over 10 years. The $900 billion figure might pin down Democrats later on.

read more...

A few nice quotes

2009-09-04T00:17:00.002-04:00

I thought I would bring you a few nice quotes I've run across lately. I hope you like them. Let me know what you think.

I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that his justice cannot sleep forever. — Thomas Jefferson

If you're going through hell, keep going. — Winston Churchill

A word to the wise ain't necessary, it's the stupid ones that need the advice. — Bill Cosby

If you cannot do great things, do small things in a great way. — Napoleon Hill

America will never be destroyed from the outside If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves — Abraham Lincoln

Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment. — Jim Rohn

Courage is found in unlikely places. — J. R. R. Tolkien

All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them. — Walt Disney

It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog. — Mark Twain

Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one. — Thomas Paine

All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent. — Thomas Jefferson

Government is best which governs least. — Thomas Paine

Beware the greedy hand of government, thrusting itself into every corner and crevice of industry. — Thomas Paine

Stimulus Not So Stimulating

2009-07-31T14:54:00.005-04:00

In fairness, the stimulus isn’t stimulating much of anything these days, but since American infrastructure renewal was a key theme of Obama’s recovery song-and-dance back in February, it’s worth paying extra attention to the bust in this area. more...

Friggin' American!

2009-07-16T17:57:00.001-04:00

Coyote is one American that stands for most of America's view on this UnAmerican bailout .

Stop the Judge

2009-07-16T17:30:00.007-04:00

http://www.stopthejudge.com/ just launched a high-tech website opposing the nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor.

The website asks viewers to sign a statement declaring "I stand with the majority of Americans and Lady Justice: justice must be blind. Equality before the law is a fundamental principle of society. Judge Sotomayor's words leave me to believe that she will let emotion, gender, and race unduly influence her judicial decisions."

The website emphasizes the often repeated comments of Judge Sotomayor that cast doubt on her underlining judicial philosophy. In one speech, for example, she said "I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would, [as a Judge] more often than not, reach a better conclusion."

For more information, to sign the petition, or to get involved, visit http://www.stopthejudge.com/

Sotomayor Poll

2009-07-14T12:05:00.003-04:00

Will Sotomayor "apply the law" or "make policy" if confirmed to the US Supreme Court? Take the poll at http://htxt.it/rmvE.

Invent, Invent, Invent

2009-06-29T22:39:00.003-04:00

By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN

Published: June 27, 2009

I was at a conference in St. Petersburg, Russia, a few weeks ago and interviewed Craig Barrett, the former chairman of Intel, about how America should get out of its current economic crisis. His first proposal was this: Any American kid who wants to get a driver’s license has to finish high school. No diploma — no license. Hey, why would we want to put a kid who can barely add, read or write behind the wheel of a car?
continue reading...

Global Warming Study Censored by EPA

2009-06-29T11:48:00.003-04:00

The Public Shouldn’t Be Kept in the Dark by an Agency Supposedly Committed to Transparency

by Richard Morrison

Washington, D.C. — The Competitive Enterprise Institute is today making public an internal study on climate science which was suppressed by the Environmental Protection Agency. Internal EPA email messages, released by CEI earlier in the week, indicate that the report was kept under wraps and its author silenced because of pressure to support the Administration’s agenda of regulating carbon dioxide.

continue reading...

Walpin-gate opens wider

2009-06-22T10:32:00.004-04:00

Washington Times EDITORIAL, Walpin-gate opens wider, FBI investigation embarrasses the White House: http://bit.ly/m6TJ3

Boycott ABC Television

2009-06-19T15:48:00.003-04:00

Boycott ABC Television -- here's why: http://bit.ly/6rkfo

Show support for democracy in Iran

2009-06-18T13:13:00.003-04:00

#helpiranelection - show support for democracy in Iran add green overlay to your Twitter avatar with 1-click - http://htxt.it/v9Gc

It was made in...

2009-06-17T17:34:00.003-04:00

John Smith started the day early having set his alarm clock (MADE IN JAPAN) for 6am. While his coffeepot (MADE IN CHINA) was perking, he shaved with his electric razor (MADE IN HONG KONG). He put on a dress shirt (MADE IN SRI LANKA), designer jeans (MADE IN SINGAPORE) and tennis shoes (MADE IN KOREA). After cooking his breakfast in his new electric skillet (MADE IN INDIA ) he sat down with his calculator (MADE IN MEXICO) to see how much he could spend today. After setting his watch (MADE IN TAIWAN) to the radio (MADE IN INDIA) he got in his car (MADE IN GERMANY) filled it with GAS (from Saudi Arabia ) and continued his search for a good paying AMERICAN JOB.

At the end of yet another discouraging and fruitless day checking his Computer (MADE IN MALAYSIA), John decided to relax for a while. He put on his sandals (MADE IN BRAZIL) poured himself a glass of wine (MADE IN FRANCE) and turned on his TV (MADE IN INDONESIA), and then wondered why he can't find a good paying job in AMERICA.

AND NOW HE'S HOPING HE CAN GET HELP FROM A PRESIDENT MADE IN KENYA!

Note: this was sent to me via email and I don't know who the original creator is.

Florida Senator Bill

2009-06-15T14:14:00.002-04:00

Florida Senator Bill Nelson speaks out against Gulf drilling: http://bit.ly/O3w4z

Some people are like

2009-06-05T23:37:00.001-04:00

Some people are like slinkies.. they're really good for nothing... but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.

Dirty Car Art http:/

2009-06-01T23:08:00.002-04:00

Dirty Car Art http://htxt.it/SBMT

Bong! Big Ben rings

2009-05-29T21:01:00.002-04:00

Bong! Big Ben rings in its 150th anniversary: http://htxt.it/IwIM

UK's attempts to stop swine flu called flawed

2009-05-21T16:45:00.001-04:00

UK's attempts to stop swine flu called flawed

LONDON – Flu experts are looking very closely at Britain — and some have decided that the U.K.'s swine flu-fighting tactics are seriously off the mark and may be hiding a much larger outbreak.

Since Britain has the most confirmed swine flu cases in Europe, how the outbreak develops here will have a significant influence on whether the World Health Organization decides to raise its flu alert to the highest level — a pandemic, or global epidemic.

British authorities have relied on an aggressive strategy to try to snuff out the virus before it spreads, blanketing suspect cases and anyone connected to them with the antiviral medication Tamiflu.

But experts criticize the strategy for wasting valuable medicine and say there's little point trying to contain swine flu, which is more infectious than regular flu.

Technorati Tags: Swine Flu,Britain

FBI chief worried about Gitmo detainees in U.S. - Guantanamo- msnbc.com

2009-05-20T15:18:00.001-04:00

FBI chief worried about Gitmo detainees in U.S. - Guantanamo- msnbc.com

Wordle Tag Cloud

2009-04-27T13:39:00.003-04:00

Just found the Wordle website and decided to feed this blog into it. Here's what it spit out:

Click the picture of the tag cloud above to see it enlarged. You can also create your own tag clouds there. Post in the comments your own tag cloud. I'd love to check it out.

Susan Boyle... This is an Epic WIN!!!

2009-04-22T22:49:00.010-04:00

You just gotta see this to believe it. I don't want to give anything away. Just click and enjoy. I guarantee you won't be disappointed: Susan Boyle on Britain's Got Talent.

After watching the video, read Why we're fascinated by Susan Boyle.

Obama’s Outrageous Sin Against Our Kids

2009-04-22T00:05:00.003-04:00

by Juan Williams

As I watch Washington politics I am not easily given to rage.

Washington politics is a game and selfishness, out-sized egos and corruption are predictable.

But over the last week I find myself in a fury.

The cause of my upset is watching the key civil rights issue of this generation — improving big city public school education — get tossed overboard by political gamesmanship. If there is one goal that deserves to be held above day-to-day partisanship and pettiness of ordinary politics it is the effort to end the scandalous poor level of academic achievement and abysmally high drop-out rates for America’s black and Hispanic students.

Continue reading the rest of this story...

Court to weigh state's duty to English learners

2009-04-20T17:03:00.002-04:00

The Supreme Court will hear a case on monday that could limit federal court power to tell state's to spend more money: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30311738/

Hatchet, scalpel, or hammer & sickle?

2009-03-11T23:54:00.003-04:00

I just fired off an email to Bill O'Reilly at Fox News. I wonder if he'll read it on the air? Here's what I wrote:

"During the debates, then-candidate Obama chastised Senator McCain for his idea on freezing spending -- he (Obama) said it was like using a hatchet where a
scalpel was needed. I haven't seen the scalpel YET! Perhaps it's being replaced with a Hammer and Sickle?"

If you watch O'Reilly and he reads it on the air, please let me
know.

Have you gotten a CLUE?

2009-02-16T18:38:00.004-05:00

Let see here...

Which state is the most liberal in the union? California, right?

Which state has one of the highest tax rates? California, right?

Which state is running a $42 billion deficit? California, right?

Have you gotten the yet?

Big Brother forcing your ISP to snoop on you?

2009-02-12T11:28:00.007-05:00

Looks like some of our elected officials in Washington, D.C. want to force your ISP to snoop on you. It's called deep packet inspection and it is when your ISP reads everything you send and receive through them. An amendment to the stimulus package (how does this stimulate the economy???) would require your ISP to implement the deep packet inspection and filter out "bad" content. It sounds like it is aimed at copyright infringement, but where does it stop?

You can read more at Public Knowledge and on Download Squad.