Sheesh. I just noted that my attempted link to these accidentally pointed to a very, um, unsanitary portion of a Mickey Kaus-Robert Wright Blogging Heads segment.

Seriously, he linked that today. See "classy" in one of his recent posts. I guess I accidentally copied that link.

Anyway, here's the real "real" ghost pictures.

Posted by: Ace at 03:04 PM | Comments (14)
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Waging peace, but only from the safety of Foggy Bottom.

Posted by: Ace at 02:56 PM | Comments (13)
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First, the background. He said he hasn't heard of this rumor "in this form" before, meaning it's already out there.

This is already out there, of course.

Billionaire Belinda Stronach insists there is nothing true about the rumors she and former President Clinton are having an affair, adding that it's all a Republican plot.

The ultra-wealthy member of Canada's parliament, who switched from the Conservative to the Liberal party, told the Montreal Gazette that the rumors upset her and she doesn't know whether to laugh or cry about the global hullabaloo over her alleged role as Cinton's latest squeeze.

Echoing Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's famous allegation of a "vast right-wing conspiracy," Stronach told the Gazette she suspects the rumors have been spread by Republicans.

But it wasn't Republicans who reported last year that she was spotted all over New York with Clinton last year - it was the media.

New York Daily News columnist Ben Widdicombe told ExtraTV.com: "She's blonde, she's ambitious and she's in politics, but she's not Bill Clinton's wife. It's Belinda Stronach, his friend from Canada who's been visiting Bill in New York this week.

...

Wrote ExtraTV.com: "And Belinda is no stranger to the limelight either. She's divorced from Olympic champion speed skater Johan Olaf Lass and currently has romantic ties to another politician. Still, there have been rumors of a romance between Belinda and Bill since they met five years ago at a charity event."

So there's that. What could be the not "in this form" twist? Well, I hate to speculate (ahem) but it could be They're in love and Bill and Hillary plan on divorcing as soon as the elections are over.

It should also be noted Clinton has been linked to socialite Lisa Belzberg. Against this rumor: It seems to have been over for a while. In favor of this rumor: She's reportedly "busty."

And so she is. Nice. And they look real, too. /sarcasm.

MTT, incidentally, says he knows -- as in knows-knows -- that the Belzberg fling is back on:

Again, it's Lisa Belzberg.

And yes, they did have a fling (or are still having it.)

I know this to be true.

Don't ask me how.

Except, a good friend of mine used to date her and he told me about Clinton a LONG time ago.

Just sayin'.

MTT, by the way, seems to be the sort of guy who could move in such circles, or at least have friends in such circles. He's also not a lunatic.

Rosenbaum seems to suggest it's not necessarily about a candidate herself, but about her "marriage:"

It raises all sorts of ethical questions. What about private sexual behavior is relevant? What about a marriage belongs in the coverage of a presidential campaign? Does it go to the judgment of the candidate in question? DidnÂ’t we all have a national nervous breakdown over these questions nearly a decade ago?

Further, he seems to be talking about someone poised to win:

And what about timing? They, meaning the DC elite media, must know if it comes out before the parties select their primary winners and eventual nominees, voters would have the ability to decide how important they felt it to the narrative of the candidate in question. Aren’t they, in delaying and not letting the pieces fall where they potentially may, not refusing to act but acting in a different way—taking it upon themselves to decide the Presidential election by their silence?

A commenter, Jon, states he hears it's about Bill's affairs. And Rosenbaum seems to indicate that's exactly what it's about.

[Jon:] A few friends of mine belong to the media elite and they tell me that the sexual "scandal" involves Bill Clinton cheating on Hilary, with the ethical problems being:

1. Everyone already knows he is a cheater, and;

2. He is not the candidate.

It could be that the media would have run with this aleady if it were a Republican, but I think the ethical problems are valid.

[Ron Rosenbaum:] I'm glad you agree the ethical problems are valid. i've taken a position of not confirming or denying any of the guesses and I think afte this I'm just no longer going to post "guessing game" type comments.

I would like to take this opportunity--since I've been accused of being pro Clinton ("part of the Clinton smear machine' and anti Clinton (a "wingnut"), that I have endorsed Hillary for President, that I'm a liberal and that neither has anything to do with the ethical dilemmas I'm writing about.

He seems to say that those particular "ethical problems" are valid, and, by implication, they're the exact "ethical problems" he's fretting about.

What does any of this mean? Well, all I know is the last time Bill publicly humiliated Hillary she got a Senate seat out of it. I'm not sure if I'm more worried this will be buried, or that this will be printed.

But is this really that "juicy," as Rosenbaum claimed? I dunno. I hate the Clintons and I'm not sure I can manage to give a shit about it, even if I try real hard. The only thing that would make it somewhat juicy is if there is a secret understanding that they will divorce in January 2009, but I don't know that even that's so earth shattering. Isn't that pretty much what we all expected anyhow?

On the other hand... This is juicier.

From the Michael Musto gossip column linked in the above article:

As I recently said on MONICA CROWLEY's radio show, whisper campaigns are claiming that HILLARY CLINTON is GAYLE KING–ing her aide de camp, the glamorous HUMA ABEDIN, an Indian/Pakistani goddess from Kalamazoo, Michigan. In other words, Hillary may be putting Huma out there in the press and purposely making her more visible as a pre-emptive strike that amounts to her hiding in plain sight. This way, no Republican can later say, "Who is this gorgeous babe who spends so much intimate time with Hillary that the Observer called her Hill's 'body person'? Was GENNIFER FLOWERS's book right about Hillary's sexual taste?" And does either of this couple have the balls to bottom?

Of course that whole scenario can't possibly be true, since Bill and Hill have been so lovey-dovey lately for the cameras, and besides, whenever he's been serviced by an intern—or by anyone—he's clearly been thinking of his wife. (They're that close.) But suddenly, Huma—a sort of Muslim SALMA HAYEK—has that spread in Vogue and the accompanying write-up notes that she "oversees every minute of Senator Clinton's day." Every single minute? Even Gayle King takes a break now and then! (PS: If I called for comment, Hillary's camp would surely say, "Just because two powerful women are closer than sardines doesn't make them dykes." And that's so true. Look at MATT and BEN. But now that Crowley has dubbed me the head of Huma Resources, I'm going to pursue this story with every cojone I've got.)

That story is from August, so the timing makes sense, at least.

Then again, 1) gays think everyone is gay, 2) gossip columnists think everyone is gay, and 3) gay gossip columnists think even industrial robots are gay.

Gennifer Flowers claimed it was true:

"There's something you need to know. I've been hearing tales around town that Hillary is having another thing with a woman." I watched his face to see his reaction, and couldn't believe it when he burst out laughing. I was stunned! I asked him what was so funny. "Honey," he said, "she's probably eaten more pussy than I have."

Bill said he had known for a long time that Hillary was attracted to women, and it didn't really bother him anymore. His first clue came from her lack of enjoyment of sex with him. She didn't like to experiment and insisted on the missionary position and nothing else. Because she wasn't enjoying herself; neither was he. Sex with her became a duty; nothing more."
-- Gennifer Flowers, Passion and Betrayal, p.42]

Then again, that's quoting Bill Clinton. I'm sure he had a lot of excuses for cheating on his wife, including "she's a dyke," "she's a man," and "she died fourteen years ago, God bless her soul, Oh God, I miss her more every day that passes."

Oh The Huma-nity: This NY Observer article clears up absolutely none of the mystery surrounding Hillary's "glamorous" Gal Friday.

HillaryÂ’s Mystery Woman: Who is Huma?

Senator ClintonÂ’s closest aide, Ms. Abedin never sweats; Oscar de la Renta wants to dress her

...

Which gets at another facet of the cult of Huma: SheÂ’s something of a mystery, even to the people who have worked in her proximity for years.

Very little is publicly known about her, which of course leaves plenty to talk about. And the rumors abound. According to various accounts from Huma acquaintances interviewed for this story: SheÂ’s Lebanese, sheÂ’s Jordanian, sheÂ’s Iranian, sheÂ’s 26, sheÂ’s 36, she has two children, she lives with the Clintons.

“No one knows anything about her,” said one political aide. “She’s like Hillary’s secret weapon.”

...

“I don’t really know much about her history,” said Mr. [Oscar] de la Renta, “because Huma is not such a talkative girl.”

Other political players with Clinton connections were just as effusive—and just as vague on the personal details.

...

Ms. Abedin recently bought an apartment in the vicinity of 12th and U streets in Washington, D.C. When she comes to New York, she stays with her sister, who has an apartment in Manhattan—not, as one popular rumor has it, in Chappaqua with the Clintons. She has no children and has never been married. She’s single.

...

This is a particuarly damning quote:

According to a friend, her favorite designers are Mr. de la Renta, Catherine Malandrino, Charles Nolan and Prada. “And she has a weakness for Marc Jacobs bags,” said the friend. “She is known for her bags.”

Ouch! Hillary can't be happy with that reference.

...

A Special Category

...

“Huma is an example of why more people, particularly in Washington, need to understand the rest of the world, need to recognize what an asset it is to have cross-cultural experiences,” wrote Queen Noor of Jordan in an e-mail. “She is loyal, intelligent, diplomatic, energetic and brings a broader understanding to the table—one that I wish there was more of in the world. It is this sensibility that has contributed to her being an enormous asset to Hillary in Washington and New York and now in this next endeavor, and I am proud of her.”

And so, apparently, is the boss.

Eh.

Posted by: Ace at 01:41 PM | Comments (100)
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This reads like total crap to me. Like the guys who produce oil from chicken gizzards.

But it's a big grabby story, so whatev's.

“Check it out. It's actually a jet engine," says Johnathan Goodwin, with a low whistle. "This thing is gonna be even cooler than I thought." We're hunched on the floor of Goodwin's gleaming workshop in Wichita, Kansas, surrounded by the shards of a wooden packing crate. Inside the wreckage sits his latest toy--a 1985-issue turbine engine originally designed for the military. It can spin at a blistering 60,000 rpm and burn almost any fuel. And Goodwin has some startling plans for this esoteric piece of hardware: He's going to use it to create the most fuel-efficient Hummer in history.

...

Goodwin leads me over to a red 2005 H3 Hummer that's up on jacks, its mechanicals removed. He aims to use the turbine to turn the Hummer into a tricked-out electric hybrid. Like most hybrids, it'll have two engines, including an electric motor. But in this case, the second will be the turbine, Goodwin's secret ingredient. Whenever the truck's juice runs low, the turbine will roar into action for a few seconds, powering a generator with such gusto that it'll recharge a set of "supercapacitor" batteries in seconds. This means the H3's electric motor will be able to perform awesome feats of acceleration and power over and over again, like a Prius on steroids. What's more, the turbine will burn biodiesel, a renewable fuel with much lower emissions than normal diesel; a hydrogen-injection system will then cut those low emissions in half. And when it's time to fill the tank, he'll be able to just pull up to the back of a diner and dump in its excess french-fry grease--as he does with his many other Hummers. Oh, yeah, he adds, the horsepower will double--from 300 to 600.

"Conservatively," Goodwin muses, scratching his chin, "it'll get 60 miles to the gallon. With 2,000 foot-pounds of torque. You'll be able to smoke the tires. And it's going to be superefficient."

He laughs. "Think about it: a 5,000-pound vehicle that gets 60 miles to the gallon and does zero to 60 in five seconds!"

This is the sort of work that's making Goodwin famous in the world of underground car modders. He is a virtuoso of fuel economy. He takes the hugest American cars on the road and rejiggers them to get up to quadruple their normal mileage and burn low-emission renewable fuels grown on U.S. soil--all while doubling their horsepower. The result thrills eco-evangelists and red-meat Americans alike: a vehicle that's simultaneously green and mean. And word's getting out. In the corner of his office sits Arnold Schwarzenegger's 1987 Jeep Wagoneer, which Goodwin is converting to biodiesel; soon, Neil Young will be shipping him a 1960 Lincoln Continental to transform into a biodiesel--electric hybrid.

His target for Young's car? One hundred miles per gallon.

What say the car enthusiasts? Bullshit... or Not?

Man, I wish Halloween was every month.

Posted by: Ace at 12:45 PM | Comments (52)
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Sweet.

Alas, their assets consist solely of a $13,000 worth of hardcore gay pornography and six serpents they handle in their various rituals.

Update: The snakes, all male, say that Fred Phelps and family routinely molest them. They are also planning a lawsuit.

Posted by: Ace at 12:37 PM | Comments (22)
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Story runs with an obligatory cheesecake picture of her -- Not Quite Safe For Work, but probably worth being fired over.

Killed three people. Just killed them. Trying to kill herself.

I'm sure there's no way a model could have gotten her hands on a large quantity of prescription pills or anything.

Posted by: Ace at 12:33 PM | Comments (20)
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John Hawkins once again gets a list completely wrong in noting the supposed "Top Ten Horror Villains."

Many of you might remember Korla Pundit's classic post showing Democrats as separated-at-birth from monsters featured on magazines like Fangoria or Monsters of Filmland.

Well, he's done a sequel, just in time for Halloween.

And I'm sure it will surprise none of you learn that Hillary Clinton has been determined to be the scariest political mask this Halloween.

Awesome: Dumb ghost pictures. So why is it awesome? Because I remember a lot of these from my childhood, from In Search Of and all the various "real ghosts!" books in the school library.

Thanks to Hot Air.

Also Hot Air reminded me of this, my favorite "re-cut trailer" clip of all time. I've posted it before -- twice, I think -- but no one seemed as jazzed about it as I was. I think it's brilliant.

It's frickin' scary.

Posted by: Ace at 12:16 PM | Comments (13)
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Ron Rosenbaum's tease may have been an attempt to be responsible -- even while airing, sort of, dirty laundry of an anonymous person in need of cleaner clothes -- but the practical effect is now every single candidate who can be charitably called a "leading" candidate is now being gossiped about.

I floated 20 year old rumors about John McCain yesterday, for example. (Readers tell me he's admitted many of these, and apologized for them, in his books, so this seems like a drier hole than it seemed even before, and it seemed pretty dry already.)

So. For what it's worth, and this is all so shaky I really should say nothing at all, but whatever. If this is what the MSM is gossiping about, why not have it out there?

From one guy I hear Edwards, but not THE Edwards rumor. Another one. How good is this tip? Not terribly good; it's third-hand, and I can't get a firm vouching for the guy next along the telephone line, and besides that, his only source is the South Carolina rumor mill.

From someone else I hear Bill Clinton. Which would hardly be the surprise of the decade, now would it? We pretty much know he's been dating (dating, yeah, while married) a wealthy Canadian broad, or "canoodling" with her at least, as Page 6 might say. This particular rumor jibes with the LAT's questions about the "relevance" of the rumor, as Bill himself is not quite running, but does suggest something about the "judgment" of Hillary, which is the story hook the LAT would hang the story on, if it ran it all.

It would also jibe with Rosenbaum's caveat that he hadn't heard the rumor in this form before. Which is him saying that it's already out there, mostly; it's just in a somewhat different form, with different details, than previously run in the tabloids.

Finally it could sort of explain Rosenbaum's mention of the oddly-distorted coverage of the Bill factor in Hillary's campaign.

I don't have anything even close to firm for either of these. Caveat emptor.

Ron Rosenbaum: Confess. Your attempt to say something while not saying is actually stirring up more rumors.

Posted by: Ace at 12:04 PM | Comments (18)
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...and the claim goes that Giuliani only does better where he's only going to lose less dramatically, in true-blue states like NY and CA.

The McCain boomlet continues.

Posted by: Ace at 11:42 AM | Comments (11)
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Pretty much true.

For what it's worth, I got pulled over speeding in Connecticut from Boston to NY a couple of nights before Thanksgiving. The roads were pretty dense with traffic and, per my custom, I was speeding, but speeding less than most people in the left lane.

The cop was black. I got a ticket, despite many cars flying by 10 or 15 or 20 miles an hour faster than me.

Yes, I did immediately decide he gave me the ticket because I was white. Despite the fact that there was a better reason: I had out-of-state plates.

Furthermore, whether or not I was one of the stealth speeders, I was, in fact, doing almost 80 on 65 road.

It's a pretty common response for everyone to spring to the defense of bias and selective enforcement when they get pulled over by a cop, or ticketed for, say, having an open container while walking down the street. Sometimes there may be bias involved. Most often, I'm thinking, there's not, and it would behoove us to keep in mind that whether there are worse offenders out there or not, we wouldn't have gotten hasselled if we weren't in fact breaking the law.

And yeah, as Sowell notes: Attitude has a lot to do with whether you get a ticket or a warning. Or just a semi-friendly reminder. You don't have to kiss a cop's ass, but dealing with the situation in calm way makes the cop's night easier, and in turn, hell, he might make your night easier too.

Posted by: Ace at 11:36 AM | Comments (36)
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