Sometimes it helps to get an outsider’s opinion to get a more accurate picture of yourself. Of course, it helps to have an informed and well intentioned person doing the viewing. Too often when it comes to the US, the people doing the critiquing can’t get past their own biases and only see ‘torture’ and doom for this country.

Gerard Baker, the US Editor for the Times of London takes stock of America on this Thanksgiving weekend and says the reports of our demise are greatly exaggerated.

The pundits have finally run out of bad news to report from Iraq, where, unmolested by the morbid fascination of misery-seeking reporters, the locals actually seem to be belatedly enjoying the first fruits of their liberation. So attention has turned again, as it has tended to do from time to time these past 50 years, to the inevitable collapse of the American economy.

…For the historically short-sighted, let's remember we have been here before. Between 1985 and 1995, the dollar declined by 43 per cent against the world's big currencies — somewhat more than it has in the past six years. That period was also marked by dire proclamations of the end of US economic power. But it turned out that in those years the foundations were laid for the strongest period of US economic growth in the past 35 years.

…If you're still sceptical, ask yourself this: is it probable that the shift in the relative value of the dollar and the euro represents a bet by the world's investors that Europe — strike-torn, productivity-challenged, demographically doomed Europe — is the world's economic future, rather than the US, or, let's say, China?

From here Baker takes on the charges that public and private debt are going to sink us (they’re not) and that Americans don’t save much compared to the rest of the world (we don’t but why would we when that money can generate so much wealth in other ways?).

It’s nice to see someone who is both a foreigner and journalist so bullish on the US. Outside of Mark Steyn, those two cohorts aren’t exactly known for their balance, yet alone, pro-American sympathies.

A smart Republican candidate for President or two may want to take a look at this column and start incorporating some of Baker’s points and tone into their talking points.

Posted by: DrewM. at 10:41 AM | Comments (11)
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I'm tucking this under the fold due to questionable taste. She's only wearing a bra and pants, but it's really not that part that's disturbing.

She's definitely comfortable with her body. The difficult question presented is Should she be?

Don't blame me, blame dri. more...

Posted by: Ace at 09:57 AM | Comments (12)
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A Taiwanese lingerie company requested that all their female employees show up one day for work in only their undies.

And they actually did it.

"We have been waiting for this day all month. Today, we are super high, and don't know where to put our eyes," salesman Cai Mingda said.

I'm going to assume that there were some discriminatory hiring practices that made that day so enjoyable for the guys.

From eddiebear.

Posted by: LauraW. at 09:57 AM | Comments (6)
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It seems Al Qaeda didn't take to heart that whole spiel about winning hearts and minds.

The once-dreaded Al Qaeda in Iraq stronghold of Amariyah has a new boss, and he's not shy about telling the story of the shootout that turned him into a local legend and helped change the tenor of the Iraq war.

Earlier this year, Abul Abed, a disgruntled Sunni insurgent leader, began secret talks with the Americans about ending Al Qaeda's reign of terror in this run-down, formerly middle-class Baghdad neighborhood, renowned as one of the city's most dangerous. He had been gathering intelligence on the group for months.

One day in late May, he said, he decided it was time to act.

He hailed the car carrying the feared leader of Al Qaeda in the neighborhood, a man known as the White Lion, on one of Amariyah's main streets. "We want you to stop destroying our neighborhood," he told the man.

"Do you know who you are talking to?" said the White Lion, getting out of his car. "I am Al Qaeda. I will destroy even your own houses!"

He pulled out his pistol and shot at Abul Abed. The gun jammed. He reloaded and fired again. Again, the gun jammed.

By this time, Abul Abed said, he had pulled his own gun. He fired once, killing the White Lion.

Posted by: Ace at 09:48 AM | Comments (16)
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Howdy, all. As I awoke from my l-tryphtophan coma yesterday afternoon to see the Cowboys punking the hapless Jets, I realized that we Americans have it better than we can imagine. There has never been a time or place where living was easier than it is right here, right now. Instead of complaining about how Democrats want to surrender in Iraq, Republicans want to gorge themselves on government pork while debating how many abortionists can fit on the head of a pin, and Hollywood wants to teach 13-year old girls the pleasures of DVDA, I thought I'd try to make a short list of reasons I'm thankful this holiday season. more...

Posted by: Russ from Winterset at 08:18 AM | Comments (7)
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In a bizarre variation on the Schrödinger's cat thought experiment, some loons are claiming that man's observation of the cosmos is destroying it.

...Prof Krauss says that the measurement of the light from supernovae in 1998, which provided evidence of dark energy, may have reset the decay of the void to zero - back to a point when the likelihood of its surviving was falling rapidly. "In short, we may have snatched away the possibility of long-term survival for our universe and made it more likely it will decay," says Prof Krauss...

Posted by: Purple Avenger at 08:03 AM | Comments (36)
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Ever since it's demise to an imported fungal blight nearly a century ago, breeders have been trying to revive the majestic American Chestnut.

Reaching just around 100 feet tall but quite often more than ten feet in diameter, the American Chestnut was among the grandest and most useful trees known to Eastern North America.

The chestnuts provided forage to wild animals and livestock, and food for people. The timber was straight, handsome, and rot-resistant and used for both outdoor structures and fine furniture.

A small grove could be a real wealth producer for a poor Appalachian family. But when the blight came, all the surviving trees that could be reached were harvested as soon as possible. The landscape of the Eastern U.S. was changed for the worst, seemingly forever.

A few surviving sprouts persisted and still managed to produce flowers and nuts, which were used for breeding stock by selfless people who will never live long enough to see the results of their work, if any.

The American Chestnut Foundation began a tree-breeding campaign in the late 1980s in a quest for trees that could ward off the fungus.

First, the towering American species with its picturesque form was crossed with its blight-resistant but squat Chinese counterpart. The resulting trees were a 50-50 mix of American and Chinese chestnut genetics.

Those trees are then selectively bred with surviving American chestnuts in a process called "backcrossing." The nuts produced by each successive backcross are planted and eventually pollinated with pure American chestnut trees, making each generation slightly more American.

Within the next few years these (hopefully) resistant hybrids will be planted out by the US Forest Service.

Cross your fingers.

Posted by: LauraW. at 07:34 AM | Comments (24)
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I've posted this before but it is Thanksgiving, and for some reason the movie isn't actually on.

Thanks to Warden for the reminder.

Posted by: Ace at 05:56 PM | Comments (10)
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He never received the publicity here that Tony Blair did after 9/11 but in many ways, AustraliaÂ’s John Howard was as strong or even stronger ally to America.

Tomorrow (or today, with the dateline thing) Aussies are going to the polls and it looks like Howard and his Liberal Party are in trouble.

The resurgent centre-left party led by Kevin Rudd would beat Howard's conservative coalition in a landslide by 57 percent to 43 percent, according to a Nielsen poll of more than 2,000 voters for the Sydney Morning Herald.

If these figures were translated into votes in the polling booths, Labor would win an extra 46 parliamentary seats -- 30 more than it needs for victory -- including those of Howard and several of his top ministers.

A Morgan poll of more than 1,600 voters showed Labor with a winning but narrower 54.5 percent of the vote against 45.5 percent for the coalition, while a Galaxy poll gave the government a chance of snatching victory.

The Galaxy survey of 1,200 voters showed Labor with 52 percent against 48 percent for the coalition -- a lead of just four percent where it needs a swing of 4.8 percent to win power.

But Howard's campaign for a fifth term in office received a body blow Friday when several major newspapers endorsed Labor.

Of course, they said the same thing in 2004 but this time there are polls showing that Howard may not even keep his own seat.

I gather Iraq, immigrant assimilation and other post 9/11 issues are playing a part but the simple fact is Howard is going for an unprecedented 5th general election victory and the oppositions cry of “It’s Time” for a change is resonating with the voters.

Of course, itÂ’s never over until itÂ’s over, so keep a good thought for a true friend of America in his hour of need.

Posted by: DrewM. at 04:55 PM | Comments (21)
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How to have a green Thanksgiving, and by "green," I mean sucky:

The pilgrims didn't get their meal from the freezer case at the local supermarket. Why should you?" asked the Arlington-based Nature Conservancy.

Ummm... because I'm not a fucking farmer? Is that a good enough reason, ass-face?

Actually the group is whining about the need to be "locavores," a made-up fake word which is supposed to mean "only eating the crap locally grown or raised in your immediate area," which means a lot of Thanksgiving favorites are off the table for most of the country.

I'm just guessing here, but I don't think there are nearly enough turkey farms near the average city to actually satisfy demand. Which means you have to find some sort of local meat for a substitute, like, I don't know, railroad hobos.

Posted by: Ace at 04:23 PM | Comments (58)
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