Rallying.

Because the interest-rate hikes are ending.

Hopefully this will mean and end of all this talk of an "inversion," which makes me happy, because 1, it will lead to higher growth and 2, I have absolutely no frigging idea what an "inversion" means.*

* Actually, I do, smarty-pants.

Posted by: Ace at 12:26 PM | Comments (12)
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From Books, Inc.:

I have myself heard in the newsroom comments about blogs that actually did sound, in Michelle Malkin’s phrase, “thoroughly unhinged.”
But it really isn’t blogging in general that bothers the MSM. It’s only the political blogs. The MSM doesn’t care about lit blogs or cooking blogs or knitting blogs — or even tech blogs or science blogs (except to the extent they might be useful in advancing some editorial viewpoint).

Blogs have challenged the MSMÂ’s self-designated right to shape political debate by choosing what to cover and how to cover it.

Oh, wait, I did say that:

Reporters believe they have to provide "context," to explain to the audience what information means. They know full well, as they were taught this in J-school, that there are several narratives -- several slants, several "stories" -- that can be written about the same kernel of facts -- but they don't like having the slant they've chosen challenged by anyone else. They have a monopoly on the gathering of information, which is not in jeopardy-- you have to be on a salary to do that sort of work.

But their monopoly on the "contextualization" of information is threatened, and they're pretty annoyed about that.

Via Instapundit.

Posted by: Ace at 12:15 PM | Comments (3)
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For some, not a sunrise could warm nor a flower bloom without praising Clinton for his infinite wisdom.

Same thing with Bush, but in reverse. There's just no death or calamity that somehow isn't due to his insidious machinations.

Question: Does anyone suspect this guy wrote this unhinged post knowing it was unhinged? Only to whore for links (including links by conservatives)? How pathetic is that? To make such an absurd claim just to goose your traffic for a day and a half?

The Divine Miss M has more on the tragedy.

Also... The AP isn't content to refuse to call terrorists what they are. Apparently it's actually using the terrorists' preferred terminology-- martyrs.

Perhaps we should begin calling the murder victims "collateral martyrs" or "involuntary ad-hoc martyrs" while we're at it.

Posted by: Ace at 11:57 AM | Comments (23)
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Chris Klein wants to expand his horizons. So he's resolving to "read more novels. Spend more time in books." -- Winnipeg Free Press

Reading pubescently, he'll first tackle Catcher in the Rye.

Question: Does anyone think Chris Klein will read more novels? How about one novel?

He doesn't need to impress with novels, man. He just flashes a smile and some friendly conversation. That immediately lets girls know this isn't a John Updike situation, it's a predator-prey situation.

Meanwhile... Grammar advice, using Klein's butchery of the English language as the Goofus to the writer's Gallant.

Thanks to Allah.

Posted by: Ace at 11:51 AM | Comments (33)
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I'm not so sure about the "force" part, but whatever:

President Jacques Chirac is being written off as a spent force as he embarks on what will almost certainly be his last full year in power. Even lawmakers in his own camp accept that France is ready for change at the top.

For the 73-year-old conservative leader, 2006 could hardly be worse than 2005. Last year, a suspected minor stroke, a referendum defeat, three weeks of riots in depressed suburbs, and jockeying to succeed him left Chirac looking marginalized and increasingly unlikely to seek a third term in 2007.

But Chirac shows no intention of going gently into the good night of retirement after four decades in politics. On Tuesday, in his 11th traditional presidential New Year address to his Cabinet, Chirac called for renewed efforts to tackle unemployment — still hovering at close to 10 percent — and France's ballooning debt.

He also cautioned would-be successors not to let their ambitions distract them from the government's mission — a warning seemingly aimed at Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy, who makes no secret of his desire to be the next resident of the presidential Elysee Palace.

Sarkozy's dueling for supremacy with Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin, put on temporary hold while they rallied together during the suburban rioting in November, is expected to grow in potentially destabilizing intensity in 2006.

Princeton could use a man like Sarkozy.

H/t Allah.

Posted by: Ace at 10:38 AM | Comments (20)
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She still believes in their cause... she's just upset they were a little rude about abducting her.

H/t Allah.

Posted by: Ace at 09:03 AM | Comments (15)
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The dude who posed as a girl to do the Article III Groupie blog rumored to be taking over as the new Wonkette. Who I guess is retiring, or moving on to better things.

The NYT pans Wonkette's novel, or "blovel," basically a very thin fictionalization of the only interesting thing that ever happened to her -- outing Washingtonienne.

I still think I should have been the one to land the book deal.

Via Allah.

Posted by: Ace at 08:58 AM | Comments (12)
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The Picard Rap, via Von Kreedon.

It's not just the men in Brokeback Mountain who are gay, but also the sheep. This is a legitimate, real article that uses BBM as a jumping off point to discuss ram-on-ram ramming. Thanks to Slublog.

David Hasselhoff lookin' all fierce for a Pepsi ad. Thanks to someone whose tip I can't find at the moment.

Video compilation of soccer violence. You can pretty much stop watching after about one third of the way in, after a Bruce-Lee-esque kick to the chin. Although there is a good sucker punch at the end.

At Beautiful Atrocities, an interview with Feisty Republican Whore. Strong Language/Sexual Content Advisory.

And... a "sick joke" makes a Talking Elmo book ask children "Who wants to die?". From Me Too Then.

Posted by: Ace at 08:53 AM | Comments (10)
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Amazin' levitatin' dog!

Amazin'. Levitatin'. Dog.

Thanks to John.

Posted by: Ace at 09:13 PM | Comments (11)
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Its only Baden-Wuerttemberg, but its still a start.

A German state, Baden-Wuerttemberg, said Friday it will tighten its rules on Muslims seeking German citizenship because it doubts whether some are sincere in their oath to democracy.

The new handbook contains 30 questions asking an applicant's views on equality between men and women, the September 11, 2001 plane-hijack attacks on New York and Washington, religious freedom and whether violent revenge is acceptable behaviour.

The 9/11 attacks were:

A) A good start.
B) A Zionist conspiracy.
C) What happened on 9/11?
D) I couldn't see the TV clearly through my Burka.
E) The reason for leaving behind my former country.

Posted by: Tanker at 06:18 PM | Comments (13)
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