December 22, 2011
— Monty
PSA: The Daily DOOM will be going on hiatus until after New Year's, my groovy babies. Do your best to ignore the foolishness and outrage, and focus instead on friends and family. I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas.
Jobless claims drop yet again, yet still GDP growth drops to 1.8%. We all know what this means: there is some job growth, but most of the "drop" is due to a number of other factors, like discouraged workers and retirees leaving the workforce altogether. Much of the actual job growth is probably due to seasonal work that will tail off after the holidays, but we'll see. I suspect that financial writers are going to be breaking out the "unexpectedly" adjective once again in the first quarter of next year to explain why jobless claims shoot back up.
Hollywood liberals can spout off about the rights of the poor and oppressed and then hide in their hillside mansions and gated communities when the sun goes down. Other people have to live in the world these liberals brought about. This is less a "California is boned" story and more an eyewitness report from a citizen who lives on the frontiers of the Empire and has to deal on a daily basis with the barbarian hordes. Let VDH speak:
The city of Fresno is now under siege. Hundreds of street lights are out, their copper wire stripped away. In desperation, workers are now cementing the bases of all the poles — as if the original steel access doors were not necessary to service the wiring. How sad the synergy! Since darkness begets crime, the thieves achieve a twofer: The more copper they steal, the easier under cover of spreading night it is to steal more. Yet do thieves themselves at home with their wives and children not sometimes appreciate light in the darkness? Do they vandalize the street lights in front of their own homes?In this case, the encroaching darkness is both metaphorical and literal. This is what becomes of a bankrupt and morally dead government: an inability to protect its citizens or maintain its infrastructure, but retaining the bureaucratic power to annoy and impose upon the law-abiding.
Ultimate statism equals ultimate poverty. This applies not only to Communist regimes, but to any overbearing Statist regime. Centralized control over something as complex as a national economy is doomed to failure, and this has always and forever been the case. This is simply a example of Hayek’s “knowledge problem”...only with real-world suffering, misery, and death.
I agree with Hertzel and Kling that a liquidity crisis is a completely mythical creature, at least when you are talking about sovereigns who have a monopoly over the issuance of fiat legal tender. I also argue that inflation, in real terms, has been badly understated in the current downturn. Inflation is not low; it is just hidden.
Er...about that “voluntary” write-down of Greek debt....
Mark Faber: the derivatives market will go to zero. (Faber also predicted that the US dollar would go to zero, and we're not there yet, so take this with a large grain of salt.) IÂ’ve always been uncomfortable with how derivatives have evolved in world markets in the past several decades. Rather than playing their intended role as risk-management instruments, they are being used instead as speculative instruments to increase leverage. Not all derivatives are bad -- in fact many, like futures, are highly valuable -- but many either serve no useful purpose or actually increase the risk they are supposed to be laying off. You can argue that this is a failure of use rather than design, I guess, but shouldn't risk-abatement instruments be designed in such a way as to make such misuse more difficult? (I think Faber is talking about the problems in valuing derivatives, not in the role of derivatives themselves, but it amounts to the same problem: if derivatives canÂ’t be accurately valued, they canÂ’t be traded, hence their value is essentially zero.)
Average total compensation for a public-sector California employee: $102,000. Average total compensation for the taxpayers who sustain them: $57,000. I'm sure the private-sector pack-mules won't mind slaving a bit longer to sustain their masters...right?
If it comes down to paying pensioners or bondholders, bondholders are going to be first in line. No state is going to kill their ability to borrow from the capital markets, which is what a default would do. But pensioners? Ultimately, they'll take whatever the state offers, because...what choice do they really have?
As horrible as we thought the housing bust was in the years after 2008...it was actually about 14% worse.
Tax policy either enrages me or puts me to sleep, but the fact is that prosperity demands a stable tax policy. Sometimes even a bad policy is better than a chaotic one; at least a company can plan around a bad policy that is consistently enforced.
As a rule, "face-ripping" is not the adjective you want to see next to the word inflation.
PIMCO's Mohammed El-Arian: The new international economic disorder. I highlight the following paragraph to draw attention to how El-Arian and many of his cohort misunderstand the world economy:
This change in sentiment was catalyzed by the financial crises in Asia, Eastern Europe, and Latin America in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, and by what many in these regions regarded as the West’s inadequate and poorly designed responses. With their trust in bilateral assistance and multilateral institutions such as the International Monetary Fund shaken, emerging-market economies – led by those in Asia – embarked on a sustained drive toward greater financial self-reliance.Perhaps the West's responses were "inadequate and poorly designed", but this doesn't obscure the fact that the crises of these periods sprouted from deeply dysfunctional regions of the world -- regions that remain dysfunctional to this very day. To the extent that the East has risen economically, it's done so by turning itself into a giant factory exporting cheap gizmos to a Western world drunk on easy credit. Now that the West's appetite for cheap consumer goods is drying up, the East is finding that it still has no clue as to how to move forward: there is no domestic market to pick up the slack in most places, no real rule of law, no real political freedom, and demographic pressures that will shortly cause major social upheavals. Japan and South Korea's engines are starting to lag, and China's growth has been almost exclusively in the form of drafting along behind the US and Europe. Now that it's being called upon to pull ahead, China is finding that their engine is too weak to even keep themselves going, much less anyone else.
Standard & Poor's to Hungary: BAM! At least Hungary is not part of the Eurozone, so they can default and devalue the Forint if they have to.
Bank of America agrees to a $335M settlement to African-American and Hispanic borrowers for discriminatory practices on the part of Countrywide Financial. Boy, that acquisition just keeps paying dividends, doesn't it, guys? A stroke of sheer genius.
Dan Klein on the "invisible hand" in economics.
Dan argues that we should evaluate public policy the way we evaluate art or movies. Hang on, I know this sounds ridiculous, but what he means is that we donÂ’t use a formula or equation to evaluate art or to assess the best movie to watch tonight or our favorite novel. We donÂ’t pretend that those kinds of aesthetic evaluations are remotely scientific or amenable to an equation or statistical estimation. So why should we evaluate the minimum wage or trade policy that way?
UPDATE 1: AllenG sends word that all the happy talk about Christmas retail numbers may be...well, let's say misguided. Customers may have felt a bit of giddiness at the approach of the holidays, but the giddiness is wearing off.
UPDATE 2: Government Motors' Cruze heading into Flopsville. Part of the role of the Volt was to act as a bait-and-switch mechanism to get buyers into new Cruzes, but apparently that strategy has failed. The bad reliability reports coming in about the Cruze might have something to do with it too.
Posted by: Monty at
04:47 AM
| Comments (335)
Post contains 1373 words, total size 11 kb.
Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) says 'No' to RINO Romney at December 22, 2011 04:53 AM (8y9MW)
Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) says 'No' to RINO Romney at December 22, 2011 04:55 AM (8y9MW)
Posted by: smitty at December 22, 2011 04:55 AM (OOa+c)
In the wine (in the wine)
Make me happy (make me happy)
Make me feel fine (make me feel fine)...
Get back to work peons.
Posted by: Preznit Nerf at December 22, 2011 04:55 AM (N2yhW)
Posted by: chemjeff at December 22, 2011 04:58 AM (s7mIC)
Morning, all!
Has the SCOAMF joined SCOAMFette in Hawaii yet? Or is he still in DC, weepily singing "Blue Christmas?"
Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Hobbit at December 22, 2011 04:59 AM (4df7R)
I'm sure I'll think of something.
Posted by: GnuBreed at December 22, 2011 04:59 AM (ENKCw)
Monty, they didn't really have a choice. Somebody was going to be stuck with Countrywide, and BofA drew the short-straw.
I was working, at the time, for a company that provided some administrative services to Countrywide, so I know a little more than the average citizen. It wasn't pretty, and BofA was not happy about that purchase- whatever their press releases say.
Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) says 'No' to RINO Romney at December 22, 2011 05:00 AM (8y9MW)
Posted by: Lincolntf at December 22, 2011 05:02 AM (hiMsy)
Posted by: GnuBreed at December 22, 2011 05:02 AM (ENKCw)
Posted by: Ben at December 22, 2011 05:02 AM (wuv1c)
More likely he's singing "Oh Happy Day" that she's half a world away.
Come to think of it, SCOAMF ought to send Congress a big thank you.
Posted by: Retread at December 22, 2011 05:03 AM (ALZZ7)
Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) says 'No' to RINO Romney at December 22, 2011 05:05 AM (8y9MW)
Does it count as DOOMy that Jimmy Carter has offered his condolences to Kim Jong-Un over the death of his father, and wished him "every success" in the future? Or is that just par for the course for the Democrat party's elder statesman?
I suspect the latter.
Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Hobbit at December 22, 2011 05:06 AM (4df7R)
Posted by: The terrorist Hobbit formerly known as Donna at December 22, 2011 05:08 AM (X4EXc)
Does it have to be an either/or situation?
Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) says 'No' to RINO Romney at December 22, 2011 05:08 AM (8y9MW)
When contacted by The Washington Times for comment, the Carter Center provided an email contact to a spokeswoman who is out of the office until the New Year.
He doesn't seem to interested in refudiating the story, does he?
Posted by: Retread at December 22, 2011 05:09 AM (ALZZ7)
Honestly, why should he? It's not like anything he does actually harms the Democrat party (however much it should), and he's not running for office.
I'm much more interested in getting a media machine that can really hang Jimmuh Cahtah on the necks of the Democrats.
I'm likely to get that just after the Trump of Doom sounds, though. The real one. Not one of Monty's posts.
Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) says 'No' to RINO Romney at December 22, 2011 05:11 AM (8y9MW)
Posted by: brak at December 22, 2011 05:13 AM (5UjA8)
When contacted by The Washington Times for comment, the Carter Center provided an email contact to a spokeswoman who is out of the office until the New Year.
He doesn't seem to interested in refudiating the story, does he?
Posted by: Retread at December 22, 2011 09:09 AM (ALZZ7)
*rolling eyes* That is just so typical. Given Carter's tendency to say very stupid things on a fairly regular basis, you'd think they'd have a backup spokesperson to cover for the incumbent when she's on vacation.
I know Carter has been sucking up to the Norks for years, but really; this is ridiculous.
I'm much more interested in getting a media machine that can really hang Jimmuh Cahtah on the necks of the Democrats.IF. ONLY.
Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Hobbit at December 22, 2011 05:18 AM (4df7R)
Posted by: Waterhouse at December 22, 2011 05:18 AM (rOPwp)
Someone on the ONT the other night had the catalytic converter stolen off their truck in their driveway. This too is becoming a common problem. The police? Sorry. Property crimes are at the bottom of their enforcement list.
And so it goes.
Oh, and fuck Carter.
Posted by: GnuBreed at December 22, 2011 05:18 AM (ENKCw)
Posted by: Vic at December 22, 2011 05:19 AM (YdQQY)
Gah, I hate that. That's why I always run one vinegar/water mix and about three pots of plain water through any new coffeemaker before I use it for coffee. The internal gaskets and seals often leave a really nasty taste if you don't clean the internal mechanism first.
Another thing: I only use filtered/purified water to make coffee. We have really hard water around here, and it leaves a coppery taste in your mouth if you use it straight out of the tap (even with a water softener system).
Posted by: Monty at December 22, 2011 05:21 AM (FC+dS)
Posted by: Vic at December 22, 2011 05:21 AM (YdQQY)
"Average total compensation for a public sector CA employee: $102,000. Average total compensation for the taxpayers who sustain them: $57,000. I'm sure the private-sector pack-mules won't mind slaving a bit longer to sustain their masters...right?"
hHarry Reid says... MORE UNIONS! Get to work, pack mules.
Posted by: Lemon Kitten at December 22, 2011 05:21 AM (O7ksG)
I need my daily dose of DOOM to go with my morning coffee.
Enjoy the family. We will be rested and ready when you come back Monty.
Posted by: Pecos, Perry all the way at December 22, 2011 05:22 AM (2Gb0y)
Posted by: TheQuietMan at December 22, 2011 05:22 AM (1Jaio)
Inflation is like everything else this adm says, it is a lie. Most experts say inflation is greater than 10%. I think it is actually higher than that.
Posted by: Vic at December 22, 2011 05:24 AM (YdQQY)
Posted by: Jean at December 22, 2011 05:24 AM (5HAgy)
It makes me even more sure we have a zombie (where zombie = looters and assorted other malcontents) apocalypse coming.
Remember, use the right tools for the right jobs, so make sure you've got stuff to defend yourself at long, middle, and short range, folks.
Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) says 'No' to RINO Romney at December 22, 2011 05:25 AM (8y9MW)
Posted by: NC Ref at December 22, 2011 05:25 AM (WCQp7)
Chávez’s comments came in the wake of Obama’s Monday written interview with the Caracas paper El Universal, where the U.S. president questioned Venezuela’s connections to those countries. Chávez hit back strongly at Obama on state TV Monday, according to The Guardian, saying the president gave the interview only to “win votes” in the 2012 election.
“Focus on governing your country, which you’ve turned into a disaster,” Chávez said, according to The Guardian.
Barry must be very upset that his comrade is taking shots at him. Maybe the Republicans can hire Hugo to make ads for them that point out the disaster that is Barry
Posted by: TheQuietMan at December 22, 2011 05:27 AM (1Jaio)
Posted by: Swanny at December 22, 2011 05:27 AM (zT3MH)
http://tinyurl.com/7m2f67d
Explosions Rock Baghdad
Dozens of people were killed and wounded Thursday in a series of coordinated explosions that struck several neighborhoods in the Iraqi capital, the deadliest bombings since the eruption of a political crisis that has brought renewed fears of sectarian and ethnic warfare.
The attacks, which numbered at least 12 and involved mostly car bombs and improvised explosive devices, started at about 6:30 a.m. local time and lasted for about two hours, according to an official with the Ministry of Interior and the special security task force for the capital.
The spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, Ziad Tariq, said the preliminary toll was at least 57 killed and 176 wounded.
Posted by: Chi-Town Jerry at December 22, 2011 05:28 AM (UTq/I)
Posted by: nevergiveup at December 22, 2011 05:28 AM (i6RpT)
I suspect those job numbers are like everything else this adm puts out, a damn lie.
I know someone who works for a small high tech/scientific company that just had some layoffs. In their line of business they did a lot of work for the government, but the owner came in last week and said they were done doing government work because there were too many regulations and hassles and it just wasn't worth it because it was actually costing them money. They ended up laying off 40% of their employees on Christmas week. From what I was told, they asked the owner if they could wait until after Christmas; he said that if they waited he would have to close the entire company down and lay off everyone.
Posted by: Ghost of Lee Atwater at December 22, 2011 05:29 AM (JxMoP)
AllenG, the info I heard was the Obamnites forced them to buy it because at the time BOA was thought to be in good shape and had the most assets. Then Countrywide drug them down.
I keep waiting for one of these banks to crack and start singing loud and clear about all the shit that goes on under the radar that the press never covers.
Posted by: Vic at December 22, 2011 05:31 AM (YdQQY)
Boy, that's a pot-kettle-Marxist situation given how poorly Chavez has done in Venezuela.
Posted by: Ian S. at December 22, 2011 05:33 AM (Lpdzt)
Posted by: maddogg at December 22, 2011 05:33 AM (OlN4e)
They can't. Legally. HIPAA (which mostly covers your Doctor, Hospital, and Insurance company) also covers banks (little known fact), in addition to a few other "confidentiality" regulations courtesy of the Fed. That means they have to keep completely mum about certain classes of transactions, and I'm virtually certain that these forced acquisitions (which all of them were) were set up specifically to fall into one or more of those classes.
Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) says 'No' to RINO Romney at December 22, 2011 05:34 AM (8y9MW)
Which is why the intense demonization of banks; it's battlespace prep in case one or more do start singing. Kinda like Sensenbrenner pointing out that Michelle's ass is the size of the Death Star while she tells us all how to eat.
Posted by: Ian S. at December 22, 2011 05:34 AM (Lpdzt)
Posted by: Vic at December 22, 2011 05:37 AM (YdQQY)
Someone on the ONT the other night had the catalytic converter stolen off their truck in their driveway. This too is becoming a common problem. The police? Sorry. Property crimes are at the bottom of their enforcement list.
Posted by: GnuBreed at December 22, 2011 09:18 AM (ENKCw)
Our neighbor's SUV had both of its catalytic converters stolen while it was parked at a local mall. Apparently this crime was happening quite often along the US202 corridor in DE & PA and vehicles with high ground clearance were the most common targets. They arrested somebody for such acts about three weeks later, but I wouldn't be surprised if another "entrepreneur" (in the Pelosi sense) takes up the cause soon.
Posted by: Jeremiad was a Bullfrog at December 22, 2011 05:38 AM (Og1Kk)
That would be nice, yes.
Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) says 'No' to RINO Romney at December 22, 2011 05:38 AM (8y9MW)
Massachusetts will try harder to lead the nation on that front. What is this right to work you speak of too?
Posted by: Blue Falcon in Boston training for the ONT mudwrestling match at December 22, 2011 05:41 AM (ijjAe)
Our economic problems are so large that they can only be fixed by a technocratic moderate who distrusts large change, unless it is expands government.
Romney/Delusion 2012!
Posted by: Responsible Republican at December 22, 2011 05:42 AM (IvlIt)
You expect the lapdog media to actually print this? They only do so when Republicans are involved or there is some sort of harm to be done to the country at large.
Posted by: Blue Falcon in Boston training for the ONT mudwrestling match at December 22, 2011 05:43 AM (ijjAe)
Posted by: Vic at December 22, 2011 05:44 AM (YdQQY)
Posted by: Rondinellamamma at December 22, 2011 05:44 AM (pBmkX)
Posted by: nevergiveup at December 22, 2011 05:45 AM (i6RpT)
I am sure some of the MFM already knows about this and are sitting on it. That is why I said mail it to every news organization in the country.
If they think they will be "scooped" they will cover it and try to "slant it" shades of Fast and Furious.
Posted by: Vic at December 22, 2011 05:46 AM (YdQQY)
We have a series of pumps that channel water through our neighborhood in the form of streams. All the copper parts were stolen this year.
Posted by: Lemon Kitten at December 22, 2011 05:46 AM (O7ksG)
Posted by: Vic at December 22, 2011 09:44 AM (YdQQY)
One of the happiest days of my life was the day I left California 35+ years ago amd promised myself I would never be back. Moved to New Mexico. I loved New Mexico at that time, still do.
Posted by: maddogg at December 22, 2011 05:47 AM (OlN4e)
Posted by: maddogg at December 22, 2011 05:48 AM (OlN4e)
Posted by: Peter North at December 22, 2011 05:49 AM (I2LwF)
Posted by: Vic at December 22, 2011 05:49 AM (YdQQY)
We should replace items stolen and provide incentives to keep them from being stolen again. Why not start a program that rewards criminals for stealing less valuable items?
Only one candidate can use the language of capitalism to expand government by supporting counterintuitive programs.
Romney/Sophistry 2012!
Posted by: Responsible Republican at December 22, 2011 05:49 AM (IvlIt)
Posted by: MFM at December 22, 2011 05:49 AM (O7ksG)
Posted by: nevergiveup at December 22, 2011 05:50 AM (i6RpT)
Don't a lot of these things have a quantum value e.g. {n, 0}. They're worthless under lots of circumstances that don't have knowable distributions. Do "the smart guys" use quantum math?
Do they ripple the zeroes out to "oops we just blew up the company"?
Ok, are they at least switching to quantum & chaos modeling
Posted by: DaveA at December 22, 2011 05:50 AM (GH3uG)
Perhaps if we set up Midnight Basket ball that would make them nicer.
Posted by: Bill "I'm Black" Clinton at December 22, 2011 05:51 AM (YdQQY)
Posted by: Truck Monkey at December 22, 2011 05:51 AM (jucos)
Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Hobbit at December 22, 2011 05:52 AM (4df7R)
I don't think the people who fence the copper are asking those questions, MWR.
Posted by: Truman North at December 22, 2011 05:54 AM (I2LwF)
OBL's letter after 9/11 said nothing about avoiding future attackes if we would all convert to Islam and change our wicked ways (drinking, fornication, etc) ... we were just attacked for being mean to muslims
Posted by: Ron Paul at December 22, 2011 05:55 AM (GvYeG)
Thieves were recently caught here when they tried to sell name plates from graves to a scrap dealer. That was too much for the scrap dealer. He ratted them out.
BTW, not only did they get charged with theft, but grave desecration as well which is a much more serious crime.
Posted by: Bill at December 22, 2011 05:55 AM (YdQQY)
Merry Doom-mas to all, and to all a good night!
Posted by: Insomniac at December 22, 2011 05:56 AM (v+QvA)
Posted by: IreneFingIrene at December 22, 2011 05:57 AM (JNqU9)
Posted by: Truman North at December 22, 2011 05:58 AM (I2LwF)
Posted by: Blue Falcon in Boston training for the ONT mudwrestling match at December 22, 2011 05:58 AM (ijjAe)
Wait, what?
Posted by: Alexandre Dumas at December 22, 2011 09:57 AM (rOPwp)
That's Doom-mas, not Dumas. Dumbass.
Posted by: Insomniac at December 22, 2011 05:58 AM (v+QvA)
Posted by: Scott J at December 22, 2011 05:58 AM (KC2BE)
Littering your property with trophies sometimes is the best deterrent in a post-apocalyptic world.
Posted by: Fritz at December 22, 2011 05:59 AM (/ZZCn)
Sorry ... this not my campaign thread ... oooops!
Posted by: Ron Paul at December 22, 2011 05:59 AM (GvYeG)
Increased licensing fees on scrap metal dealers would pay for more criminal incentive programs and push unscrupulous scrap dealers out of the market.
Ignore the fact that this proposal will increase fees, place regulatory strain on private industry, and increase programmatic costs and employment for the government. Instead, focus on the word incentive. It signals economic knowledge and a first-rate temperment.
Romney / Deception 2012!
Posted by: Responsible Republican at December 22, 2011 05:59 AM (IvlIt)
Posted by: Fritz at December 22, 2011 09:59 AM (/ZZCn)
Word.
Posted by: Colonel Kurtz at December 22, 2011 06:00 AM (v+QvA)
We donÂ’t pretend that those kinds of aesthetic evaluations are remotely scientific or amenable to an equation or statistical estimation. So why should we evaluate the minimum wage or trade policy that way?
Hey, if you think a one dollar bill is prettier than a hundred, we can work something out.
Posted by: Mama AJ at December 22, 2011 06:00 AM (XdlcF)
VDH needs to set up some of those Auto Sentry guns from Aliens. Those are real, right?!?
Posted by: IreneFingIrene at December 22, 2011 09:57 AM (JNqU9)
Actually, those probably wouldn't be too hard to set up with motion detectors and infrared sensors, servos and software/hardware to process/coordinate the data. In Suctionfornia, the state would send you up for life for setting booby traps for their coddled criminals.
Posted by: maddogg at December 22, 2011 06:01 AM (OlN4e)
Posted by: alexthechick at December 22, 2011 06:03 AM (VtjlW)
Posted by: IreneFingIrene at December 22, 2011 06:04 AM (JNqU9)
MICKEY KAUS: “For the record–before it becomes the CW–let me note that the Feiler Faster Thesis suggests that, should the economy improve, Obama can recover more rapidly than previous Presidents seeking reelection at the tail end of recessions. In other words, an unemployment drop can come later in his term than before and still be enough to reelect him. It’s not that people will quickly forget the previous 3-plus years of joblessness. But they will forget it more quickly than they did two decades ago. … The incumbent could have more time than optimistic Republicans think.”
Posted by: Jimmuy at December 22, 2011 06:05 AM (hh/BN)
Somewhere in the neighborhood of "on topic", there's a computer game I've played with the kids that has been useful for teaching some basic economics.
It's called Insaniquarium. You feed fish, collect money and fight aliens. So, you know, like any Tuesday, am I right?
Anyway...
You buy little guppies, you buy other things that eat them, and yet more things that eat the ones that eat the guppies.
Making decisions about what to buy, what not to buy. Oh, there's a challenge mode where prices go up, so we talk about when to buy things.
It's available for download at a couple sites and you can get the cd from Amazon.
If you play it and have questions, just ask me, because I've been playing it for years. My son has even started re-writing some of the entries on the wiki for it.
Posted by: Mama AJ at December 22, 2011 06:10 AM (XdlcF)
You know what would solve the whole "stealing wiring from public utilities" thing, and cost little-to-nothing?
The manufacturers of the wiring could very easily roll a stamp die down one side of the wiring as it rolls onto the spools, giving every batch of wiring a serial number.
Public utility writes down the serial numbers of the spools they buy.
Lights go out because someone helped themselves to the wiring? Start checking the scrapyards for conspicuous rolls of wiring, and check the serials.
Obviously, there are ways to circumvent this...the theif or a shady scrapyard owner could simply melt down the wiring, but that takes effort, and cuts into profits from the theft...
OR - how about in order to sell more than two feet of copper wiring to a scrapyard, I have to show my electrician's license? Or even just a photo ID? Shit, I can't drop more than four tires off at the city dump within a six-month period, and they know this because I have to show my drivers' license whenever I take stuff there... The city dump runs a tighter ship than scrapyards?
Honestly, this shouldn't be any more difficult than an average citizen going to the cops after a break-in with the serials to their TV and computer, so they can alert the pawn-shops. SOMEHOW, the police and pawn shop owners seem to work together pretty well on this for the most part. How hard would it be to foster that same relationship between police and scrapyard owners, assuming the wiring was marked?
Posted by: reason at December 22, 2011 06:13 AM (q/kmn)
Oddly enough the company is actually owned by a venture capitalist out of China. A big metals company (that supplies raw material to this venture). They wanted to get into the toolmaking market in America and bought up a bunch of US brands to get around the "made in China is crap" stigma. Bundled those together and spun them off into their own company.
Everything was going wonderful until right at the end I was asked if I was flexible on my salary. I'm already a bit out of my comfort zone thinking of relocating for the same money. Not sure I can handle doing it for less.
Posted by: Scott J at December 22, 2011 06:13 AM (KC2BE)
Posted by: Mama AJ at December 22, 2011 10:10 AM (XdlcF)
There was a game like that called a while back called Gazillionaire. You were basically an interplanetary commodities dealer. You started off small, bought small quantities of things and would try to sell them to turn a profit. You had to figure in the cost of going to other planets to pick up resources, decide whether to flip quickly or store and wait for the prices to go up, and things like that. Great game, and lot harder than one would think!
Posted by: Insomniac at December 22, 2011 06:14 AM (v+QvA)
Oh hells yes, I used to LOVE Insaniquarium, Mama.
Back when I was a nobody with an overbearing boss who almost never gave any of us on the team anything to do because he had to do it all himself, there were quite a few lunch hours spent shooting fish-eating aliens.
Posted by: reason at December 22, 2011 06:14 AM (q/kmn)
Posted by: Scott J at December 22, 2011 06:14 AM (KC2BE)
Posted by: Truman North at December 22, 2011 06:17 AM (I2LwF)
Posted by: Truman North at December 22, 2011 06:18 AM (I2LwF)
Posted by: brak at December 22, 2011 06:18 AM (5UjA8)
If it were only this easy...I'm in the trades (now) and speak from experience. Home stripouts are so common that most repossessors will change out all of the H2O copper to PEX quickly...wire doesn't have the same ease of removal and weight at the yard...pipe is the highest dollar and quickest to remove.
Posted by: billygoat at December 22, 2011 06:20 AM (xTmUr)
Posted by: Honey Badger at December 22, 2011 06:20 AM (GvYeG)
Good luck, Scott! Nothing wrong with standing firm on your salary. If you're not making enough, you are only going to feel like you're wasting your time there, anyway. And if the company's only criteria is "who will fill this position for the least amount of money," then that may not be a company worth working for in the first place.
So do they actually make the tools in China, or just source the raw materials there?
Posted by: reason at December 22, 2011 06:20 AM (XiVKO)
Posted by: brak at December 22, 2011 10:18 AM (5UjA
Molon labe, muthafugga!
Posted by: King Leonidas, with a dash of Samuel L. Jackson at December 22, 2011 06:20 AM (v+QvA)
Posted by: Honey Badger at December 22, 2011 10:20 AM (GvYeG)
So is a Colt 1911. Just sayin'.
Posted by: Insomniac at December 22, 2011 06:21 AM (v+QvA)
We're had countless hours of fun with that game. The kids were too little to play it alone when we first got it, so I'd play with the baby in my lap and the other two sitting next to me.
Real sense of humor from the makers, too. They have silly little stories for each of the pets in the story...except for one, where they say "he doesn't have a story; he's a made up character for the game".
Duh.
Posted by: Mama AJ at December 22, 2011 06:23 AM (XdlcF)
70
There are unscrupulous scrap metal dealers that don't care. That is an industry (at least in Ohio) strongly dependant on voluntary compliance. Law enforcement agencies don't usually have the resources to inspect the scrap yards.
Posted by: Retired Buckeye Cop at December 22, 2011 06:23 AM (M0NzJ)
Posted by: billygoat at December 22, 2011 06:24 AM (xTmUr)
Raw material and capital come from China. Everything else is domestic and the intent is to stay that way.
They showed me lots of empty space where new tap & die lines are coming in (moving from a union state HA!) and where the plating operations that have been outsourced will also be coming in.
The home shopping is the depressing part. We're looking at a price point 10K below what we owe on our current house. In that range we really only like one. It's tied up in a short sale and not in nearly as nice shape as the pics indicated. The short sale means we cannot write a contingency contract until our house sells.
Posted by: Scott J at December 22, 2011 06:24 AM (KC2BE)
Just remember that "flexible" can work both ways. Don't be afraid to push them on offsetting benefits -- flexible work hours, better office, better benefits package, and so on. And sometimes interviewers will throw that "flexible" line out to see if they can get you to accept less than they're really willing to pay. If you really need X to make ends meet, never offer X as your minimum requirement -- then you'll have nowhere to go if they won't pay X. If they won't pay what you need to make ends meet, you face a hard choice: accept the lower offer and downsize your life to fit, or look elsewhere.
Just remember that an interview is a negotiation, not an interrogation. You're there to assert your own interests, and good employers will understand that.
Posted by: Monty at December 22, 2011 06:24 AM (FC+dS)
Wouldn't be too hard to stop the thefts. Problem is, the authorities have no interest in doing it.
Posted by: Heorot at December 22, 2011 06:25 AM (Nq/UF)
RBC -- where are you in OH?...two bro's in law enforcement and many friends...
Posted by: billygoat at December 22, 2011 06:25 AM (xTmUr)
I gave my recruiter a bottom dollar and it is more than my bottom dollar were I not relocating.
Posted by: Scott J at December 22, 2011 06:27 AM (KC2BE)
Posted by: reason at December 22, 2011 06:27 AM (XiVKO)
Wouldn't be too hard to stop the thefts. Problem is, the authorities have no interest in doing it.
Posted by: Heorot at December 22, 2011 10:25 AM (Nq/UF)
If property owners were allowed to pop a couple of 12-gauge rock salt rounds into the punks stealing their copper wiring, I bet we'd see a dropoff in thefts really quickly.
Posted by: Insomniac at December 22, 2011 06:28 AM (DrWcr)
That would allow me to take a larger cut locally without it being a crusher. Would make it easier to escape the current gig.
Posted by: Scott J at December 22, 2011 06:29 AM (KC2BE)
If property owners were allowed to pop a couple of 12-gauge rock salt rounds into the punks stealing their copper wiring, I bet we'd see a dropoff in thefts really quickly.
Posted by: Insomniac at December 22, 2011 10:28 AM (DrWcr)
Easier still would be to 'boobytrap' the pipe with electricity...I denounce myself for this cruel thought.
Posted by: billygoat at December 22, 2011 06:30 AM (xTmUr)
Best I can say is, "you'll never sell your bike on craigslist for $600 if you list it for $400."
Posted by: Jimmuy at December 22, 2011 06:31 AM (hh/BN)
Oh noes! Hard-return thieves stole all the enters out of my post!
Someone check the nonprintable-character-yards!
Posted by: reason at December 22, 2011 06:31 AM (XiVKO)
Posted by: billygoat at December 22, 2011 10:25 AM (xTmUr)
I live in a small suburb northwest of Dayton. Dayton and the city I used to work for are crime-infested sh!tholes. The city where I live is still pretty small and it was a big deal when it got upgraded from a village to a city.
Posted by: Retired Buckeye Cop at December 22, 2011 06:31 AM (M0NzJ)
Jumping in late on this (sorry)....if you've never been to a yard I'd suggest a field trip...an interesting subculture of America.
Posted by: billygoat at December 22, 2011 06:32 AM (xTmUr)
How Barack Obama intends to spend his quality time with Reggie Love now that the family has been banished to the Islands.
Posted by: Carnac the Magnificent at December 22, 2011 06:34 AM (/ZZCn)
I have occassional interaction with the beat cops in my area (Neighborhood Association stuff). My takeaway from shooting the breeze over copper thefts is: the beat cops in my area go home at night and pleasure themselves to fantasies of catching someone stealing wiring out of a stoplight.
Posted by: reason at December 22, 2011 06:35 AM (XiVKO)
I can only imagine; Dayton is one are of OH that I've very limited knowledge of...one bro is with a 'tony' burb of Columbus and another is with a large Ohio power company (N-security). Many friends within forces of CLE area and surrounding burbs.
Posted by: billygoat at December 22, 2011 06:35 AM (xTmUr)
In a reasonably well ordered society that would work. As it stands now, most likely they'd just come back with a few buds and burn your house to the ground. You can't stand guard 24/7/365. There's no remedy as long as government is actively working to destroy civilization.
Posted by: Heorot at December 22, 2011 06:36 AM (Nq/UF)
Anyhey, bands of chil'ren were taking them and returning them to the local HD for store credit cards...ho, ho, ho. Doom, babies.
Clever little fuckers.
Posted by: reason at December 22, 2011 06:37 AM (XiVKO)
...plus the legal action(s) against you...
Posted by: billygoat at December 22, 2011 06:38 AM (xTmUr)
Posted by: reason at December 22, 2011 10:13 AM (q/kmn)
I see the promise of your suggestions, and it's good creative problem solving, but they're stop gaps. Catching people after they strip wire is no use. They are slapped on the wrist and set free to steal more, and warned to be more careful about getting caught.
No - the solution is as obvious as it is unlikely to be applied. We need to punish crime consistently and harshly. Property crime in the US is now a no-big-deal thing (unless it has to do with failure to pay tax).
When a person is caught stealing wire, they should be strung up by that wire, upon that very lamp post they were stealing it from. Leave some theives swinging in the breeze and all of a sudden folks will get serious when determining whether they REALLY need to steal. The whole problem with our culture of idiocy is the commitment to mommy-like do-gooderism and all the weakness of mind and will that come with it. It's sickening to see the limp-wristed response we have to every damn thing, and it contaminates everything we do from top to bottom. Hell - we can't even kill enemies any more if there some risk that little baby Mohammed might get caught in the cross fire.
People will say that harsh punishment for property crimes is unjust. I say that letting civil order fall into dust is an even greater crime. We used to have a society that looked down on crime, and expected that people not do it, and that it be punished. Now we live in a land with ethnic no-go zones, where mere theft is beneath the attention of the police. It's unsustainable. Where civic virtue has failed, utterly draconian brutality must step in to restore order. The sooner, the better.
Posted by: Reactionary at December 22, 2011 06:38 AM (xUM1Q)
Posted by: Scott J at December 22, 2011 06:39 AM (KC2BE)
Notice also this related archived piece at AT for background.
This stuff is just bubbling below the surface and they are trying to run out the clock before the election.
Posted by: ontherocks at December 22, 2011 06:41 AM (HBqDo)
There was a house in a neighborhood a couple miles away from me that had gone into foreclosure and was sitting vacant, and bank-owned. Sat that way for maybe a couple months, before someone gave the bank a nibble on buying it. When the buyer & bank went to tour the home, they went inside to find that the ENTIRE HOUSE had been stripped of wiring and plumbing. Didn't bother to take any of the drywall down, just beat lines in the walls to yank it all through.
People lived in the houses surrounding the foreclosure, and none of them had ANY CLUE that someone was even visitng the house, let alone stripmining it.
Posted by: reason at December 22, 2011 06:42 AM (XiVKO)
Dayton is one are of OH that I've very limited knowledge of...
Posted by: billygoat at December 22, 2011 10:35 AM (xTmUr)
You aren't missing anything. The Dayton area is a big narcotics transportation hub and is a battleground for two black criminal street gangs fighting for supremacy. I'll occaisionally catch the local news and see some news clip about some "innocent" youth getting himself murdered that I know from prior arrests. However, the news reporter will never mention said youth's background.
Posted by: Retired Buckeye Cop at December 22, 2011 06:43 AM (M0NzJ)
This doom post here at HQ is perhaps the best daily economic news roundup on the web.
Congratulations on making yourself indispensable. Can't start the morning without my daily doom, though I wish it weren't so.....
Posted by: Derak at December 22, 2011 06:43 AM (8tAhu)
Posted by: Truman North at December 22, 2011 06:45 AM (I2LwF)
People will say that harsh punishment for property crimes is unjust. I say that letting civil order fall into dust is an even greater crime. We used to have a society that looked down on crime, and expected that people not do it, and that it be punished. Now we live in a land with ethnic no-go zones, where mere theft is beneath the attention of the police. It's unsustainable. Where civic virtue has failed, utterly draconian brutality must step in to restore order. The sooner, the better.
Amen, Reactionary.
Crime used to be bad.
Now, all of a sudden, it's turned into some fucking cry for help that must be tended to with a band-aid and a lollipop.
Posted by: reason at December 22, 2011 06:45 AM (XiVKO)
Posted by: Heorot at December 22, 2011 10:36 AM (Nq/UF)
Indeed - the lone citizen is at a disadvantage when dealing with criminal tribes. It's one against many, and the one has his hands tied while the many have high paid lawyers from the ACLU on retainer.
One day, once the pretense of law and order is fully collapsed in the larger cities, I think that it will be necessary for neighbors to band together in their own 'gangs' of sorts, and for them to be willing to carry out reprisals on those who prey upon them. It would sure be great to see the criminal underclass get what's coming to them. They want to steal the middle class blind? Wait until the smarter, more disciplined, and generally better armed property-owning folk decide it's time to take matters in hand. Our ranks are going to be filling, in time, with guys who have a LOT of experience fighting insurgencies in urban zones.
Posted by: Reactionary at December 22, 2011 06:46 AM (xUM1Q)
Posted by: nevergiveup at December 22, 2011 06:47 AM (i6RpT)
Clever little fuckers.
Posted by: reason at December 22, 2011 10:37 AM (XiVKO)
Tip of the iceberg...and the 'parents' don't give a shit.
Posted by: billygoat at December 22, 2011 06:48 AM (xTmUr)
Reactionary: What you are saying. It's correct, I think. But it's also what cultural dispair looks like.
You sound like a soldier in the IRA in some respects.
You no longer look forward to a day when we're doing well by doing right. You are looking forward to a day when we are safe because we're good at fighting. Not the military or the police, but you and me.
How dreadful that it's come to this.
Posted by: Truman North at December 22, 2011 06:49 AM (I2LwF)
We disagree.
Posted by: United Auto Workers at December 22, 2011 06:50 AM (iMY1U)
Posted by: Retired Buckeye Cop at December 22, 2011 10:43 AM (M0NzJ)
Yeah...you barely need to scratch the surface of an urban area to find that nasty underbelly...yet most who visit the urban areas are totally unaware of what lurks so closely to them...
Posted by: billygoat at December 22, 2011 06:51 AM (xTmUr)
Posted by: billygoat at December 22, 2011 06:52 AM (xTmUr)
How dreadful that it's come to this.
Posted by: Truman North at December 22, 2011 10:49 AM (I2LwF)
Invest wisely...silver, gold and liberal amounts of brass and lead.
Posted by: billygoat at December 22, 2011 06:54 AM (xTmUr)
Now, all of a sudden, it's turned into some fucking cry for help that must be tended to with a band-aid and a lollipop.
Posted by: reason at December 22, 2011 10:45 AM (XiVKO)
Indeed. And this is why I believe that mere conservatism is not enough. There is not enough left to merely conserve. What we need is REACTION - a turning back of the clock. Things don't have to fall apart and be ruined. It can still be turned around, but it will get ugly before it gets good again.
What I find especially frustrating is that our current social policy is geared to making the problem worse through a sort of reverse-eugenics. Instead of the state trying to breed a master race of the best people, we instead overcompensate by setting up a system that punishes the best people for having children, while rewarding society's losers for breeding as many brats as possible. Yet, when I say that social welfare (as opposed to unemployment insurance payments) should come with the precondition of sterlization (which is largely reversible) suddenly I'M the evil eugenicist bastard. It's a crock.
The only thing keeping it even slightly in check is the fact that so many of the underclass do not want any responsibility, so they abort their children in high numbers in spite of the economic incentives to do otherwise. Abortion is evil, in my view, and should be illegal. But there's a reason crime started to rapidly decline roughly 18 years after Roe v Wade. The new crop of criminals was a bit thinner.
Posted by: Reactionary at December 22, 2011 06:55 AM (xUM1Q)
???And those missiles came from where?
Mission Accomplished, bitches! Pack your bags and be out of Iraq by 5pm!
Posted by: Barack Obama at December 22, 2011 06:55 AM (+hPIb)
Posted by: Lincolntf at December 22, 2011 07:01 AM (hiMsy)
This just in from a Reuters headline..."Consumers Cheeriest in Six months"
Well, I guess technically it would pass a PolitiFact check. Comsumers have gone from openly wailing and gnashing their teeth to ignoring their financial despair and enjoying the endorphin rush of a good sale. They'll crash in January and go back to sobbing in the streets like a Nork with a state-news camera in his face...
Being less obvious about your misery than you were last month, is, technically, cheeri-er than you were before. Still a long way from actually being cheery, but hey...
Posted by: Barack Obama at December 22, 2011 07:03 AM (+hPIb)
Posted by: Truman North at December 22, 2011 07:05 AM (I2LwF)
Posted by: billygoat at December 22, 2011 10:52 AM (xTmUr).
Barry doesn't need to campaign. The MFM is doing it for him
Posted by: TheQuietMan at December 22, 2011 07:08 AM (1Jaio)
69 missiles don't "walk off the base"
I heard they were full of copper!
I only did it because 99 weeks of unemployment bennies weren't enough!
MAH BABY NEED SHOES! HELP ME, AL SHARPTON!
Posted by: Ganky McCopperPants at December 22, 2011 07:09 AM (+hPIb)
Dollars to donuts Reuters doesn't advertise next month's consumer sentiment. At least not without huge apologistic caveats.
Consumer optimism low due to looming tax-cut expiration at hands of Republican-controlled House!
Posted by: 1Q2012 Reuters Finance Headline at December 22, 2011 07:11 AM (+hPIb)
Posted by: Waterhouse at December 22, 2011 07:11 AM (rOPwp)
Posted by: Truman North at December 22, 2011 07:12 AM (I2LwF)
Posted by: MFM at December 22, 2011 11:11 AM (O7ksG)
I really do dislike (my Mum discouraged our use of the word hate) this SCOAMF...
Posted by: billygoat at December 22, 2011 07:12 AM (xTmUr)
Posted by: Truman North at December 22, 2011 07:14 AM (I2LwF)
Posted by: billygoat's mom at December 22, 2011 07:14 AM (+hPIb)
Posted by: laceyunderalls at December 22, 2011 07:18 AM (pLTLS)
Posted by: Ben at December 22, 2011 07:18 AM (wuv1c)
I find him hard to actually hate. He's so utterly empty, with all the depth of a soap bubble, there's nothing there to maintain a good hate. It's like hating a cartooney villain in a badly written novel. Contempt and derision, now those are easy.
Posted by: Heorot at December 22, 2011 07:19 AM (Nq/UF)
Good grief, that man just can't be "in touch" if he wanted to. (reference - Drudge lead photo)
"Hey, Getty Images guy, got any good ideas for how I can look a little more man-of-the-people?"
"Bring home some pizza?"
"Good idea! But try not to take any pictures when I fly in my own personal chef from out-of-state. This'll be a great optic! Let's see...try to keep this realistic...I'm the only one that likes anchovy and arugula...M'cel needs an ultimate pepperoni with stuffed crust all to herself...then the kids..." *grabs three empty pizza boxes*
We're livin' large when we have room in the weekly cash-flow for pizza at my house.
Posted by: reason at December 22, 2011 07:23 AM (sPO/s)
Posted by: Lincolntf at December 22, 2011 07:25 AM (hiMsy)
Posted by: Truman North at December 22, 2011 07:25 AM (I2LwF)
Posted by: Retired Buckeye Cop at December 22, 2011 07:25 AM (M0NzJ)
I have no problem hating evil.
"For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill, the eyes of all people are upon us; so that if we shall deal falsely with our God in this work we have undertaken, and so cause Him to withdraw His present help from us, we shall shame the faces of many of God's worthy servants, and cause their prayers to be turned into curses . . ."—John Winthrop, aboard the Arbella, 1630.
Those that seek to destroy this city I know are evil. We are the world's last great hope. Those that seek to bring it down are truly bad. Drudge had the potential downgrade of the US again......
Posted by: dagny at December 22, 2011 07:26 AM (y5GTB)
Wikipedia says a lot of countries operate Patriots.
Posted by: Waterhouse at December 22, 2011 07:26 AM (rOPwp)
We're livin' large when we have room in the weekly cash-flow for pizza at my house.
I won't pay the $30 anymore. It's store bought or homemade but no more restaurant pizza. Too pricey.
Posted by: dagny at December 22, 2011 07:28 AM (y5GTB)
Posted by: Ron Paul at December 22, 2011 09:53 AM (GvYeG)
And I'm not wearing pants!
Posted by: RAWN PAUL!!!!111!!! at December 22, 2011 07:28 AM (RD7QR)
I've been stockpiling cats as a hedge against inflation
Might I suggest making the males into jerky, and keeping the females alive. You can milk the females daily, until they die, and then use them as fresh meat for a special treat.
Posted by: Kim Jong-Batali at December 22, 2011 07:30 AM (sPO/s)
Posted by: dagny at December 22, 2011 07:31 AM (y5GTB)
http://preview. tinyurl.com/27bo6ux
repeatedly
NORK Juche Dance Party relink
Posted by: DaveA at December 22, 2011 07:32 AM (GH3uG)
Posted by: Lincolntf at December 22, 2011 07:32 AM (hiMsy)
Posted by: Truman North at December 22, 2011 07:32 AM (I2LwF)
Posted by: Truman North at December 22, 2011 07:33 AM (I2LwF)
A trident is an elegant weapon ...
Posted by: Honey Badger at December 22, 2011 10:20 AM (GvYeG)
So is a Colt 1911. Just sayin'.
Posted by: Insomniac at December 22, 2011 10:21 AM (v+QvA)
Just a personal view, but I've never thought of Ol' Slabsides as being "elegant". Boner-Inducingly Awesome Sledgehammer Of Righteous Justice however........ 
The Browning High Power, THAT'S elegance, deadly elegance.
Posted by: IllTemperedCur at December 22, 2011 07:34 AM (G+B5p)
Is this one of the stupidest trademark lawsuits ever, or is that just my wacky opinion?
Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Hobbit at December 22, 2011 07:38 AM (4df7R)
Posted by: billygoat's mom at December 22, 2011 11:14 AM (+hPIb)
HEH!...makes me feel young again!...Mum's a good, conservative farm-girl from Canada...she's pretty...'reserved' when it comes to language. She likes Mitt though...can't quite figure that one out; course she is 89 y.o. which proly plays in somehow........
Posted by: billygoat at December 22, 2011 07:38 AM (xTmUr)
Posted by: Kim Jong-Batali at December 22, 2011 07:39 AM (sPO/s)
Posted by: The Greys at December 22, 2011 07:39 AM (NRygI)
Posted by: Retired Buckeye Cop at December 22, 2011 11:25 AM (M0NzJ)
Yeah...despise and loathe...both good for the SCOAMF...
Posted by: billygoat at December 22, 2011 07:39 AM (xTmUr)
Posted by: dagny at December 22, 2011 11:28 AM (y5GTB)
Dagney, I buy store brand frozen pizza and bags of mozzarella cheese and peperoni. Allow the frozen pizza to thaw, coat it with extra fresh pepperoni and cheese and then cook it. It is as good as most restaurant pizza and cheap as hell.
Posted by: Vic at December 22, 2011 07:40 AM (YdQQY)
Posted by: Heorot at December 22, 2011 11:19 AM (Nq/UF)
Well written / well said.
Posted by: billygoat at December 22, 2011 07:40 AM (xTmUr)
Note where the cat's front paw is at. I'd want hazard pay to play that cat.
Posted by: GnuBreed at December 22, 2011 07:41 AM (ENKCw)
Posted by: Ms Choksondik, hoping for a Perry miracle at December 22, 2011 07:41 AM (fYOZx)
Dagney, I buy store brand frozen
pizza and bags of mozzarella cheese and peperoni. Allow the frozen pizza
to thaw, coat it with extra fresh pepperoni and cheese and then cook
it. It is as good as most restaurant pizza and cheap as hell.
Posted by: Vic at December 22, 2011 11:40 AM (YdQQY)
I'm with you, Vic...I buy the DiGiornos brand and dress it up with extra meat (BACON!) and sausage...mushrooms, too...way cheaper and pretty tasty. How're you feeling, btw?...better I trust?
Posted by: billygoat at December 22, 2011 07:45 AM (xTmUr)
Posted by: Truman North at December 22, 2011 07:45 AM (I2LwF)
My street last year was also included in "gang territory" in our PD's helpful gang map. Now, call me crazy, but if the PD can map the gangs why can't they arrest and incarcerate them?
Posted by: PJ at December 22, 2011 07:46 AM (DQHjw)
Well, here's some fresh, piping hot DOOM for ya.
Confessions of Perjury Within DOJ (Big Government)
The genesis of (DOJ Staffer) Ms. GyamfiÂ’s perjury is apparently rooted in political attacks on the Bush Justice Department. Throughout 2005-2007, numerous attorney-client privileged documents, confidential personnel information, and other sensitive legal materials were leaked from inside the Voting Section to the Washington Post and various left-wing blogs. One of the most prominent leaks involved the Voting SectionÂ’s privileged, internal analysis of the 2003 Texas congressional redistricting plan, which had been submitted to the Civil Rights Division in October 2003 by the State of Texas for review under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act. As many readers may recall, the contents of the Voting SectionÂ’s internal memorandum appeared on the front page of the Washington Post on December 2, 2005, to great fanfare from Democrats on Capitol Hill and their surrogates in the liberal blogosphere.
...
According to numerous sources, Ms. Gyamfi had been asked in two separate interviews whether she was involved in the leaking of confidential and privileged information out of the Voting Section. Each time, she flatly denied any knowledge as to who was responsible for the leaks. In a third interview, she was once again questioned about her role in the leaks. At first, she adamantly denied involvement. Then, however, she was confronted with e-mail documents rebutting her testimony.
Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Hobbit at December 22, 2011 07:47 AM (4df7R)
Now call me crazy, but if the PD can map the gangs, why can't you carry hardware for self-defense?
Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) says 'No' to RINO Romney at December 22, 2011 07:48 AM (8y9MW)
Posted by: The Greys at December 22, 2011 07:48 AM (NRygI)
Without my #40dollar donation, ace wouldn't have been around to break Weinergate.
Posted by: reason at December 22, 2011 07:48 AM (sPO/s)
Posted by: WalrusRex at December 22, 2011 07:48 AM (jUZRg)
The S&W revolver is elegance.
But the 1911 is my favorite bottom feeder.
Posted by: Scott J at December 22, 2011 07:49 AM (KC2BE)
Posted by: nevergiveup at December 22, 2011 07:50 AM (i6RpT)
Posted by: Wall_E at December 22, 2011 07:51 AM (48wze)
It's becoming mandatory. Murder #6 this year in our sleepy little backwater town just happened. This time the perp is the County Sheriff. We are asking ourselves if it's possible he is responsible for some of the other unsolved murders this year.
Posted by: Bob Saget at December 22, 2011 07:52 AM (SDkq3)
Posted by: Wall_E at December 22, 2011 07:52 AM (48wze)
Posted by: Truman North at December 22, 2011 11:45 AM (I2LwF)
It's a South Park reference. Silly- yes but I have the sense of humor of a 13 year old boy.
Posted by: Ms Choksondik, hoping for a Perry miracle at December 22, 2011 07:52 AM (fYOZx)
Posted by: reason at December 22, 2011 07:53 AM (sPO/s)
Why don't you do something about the energy policy that causes that you SCOAMF?
Posted by: Scott J at December 22, 2011 07:53 AM (KC2BE)
Posted by: Truman North at December 22, 2011 07:53 AM (I2LwF)
I pretty much carry any time I am outside my home or office.
Posted by: Scott J at December 22, 2011 07:54 AM (KC2BE)
Posted by: Truman North at December 22, 2011 07:55 AM (I2LwF)
I'm feeling pretty good today. What is funny about those doctored up frozen pizzas is that I started doing that because delivery around here was so slipshod.
Now that is about all the pizza I eat. On a rare occasion if I am in town with my wife around lunch time we will go by Pizza Hut for the lunch buffet. But that is rare.
Posted by: Vic at December 22, 2011 07:55 AM (YdQQY)
On a rare occasion if I am in town with my wife around lunch time we will go by Pizza Hut for the lunch buffet. But that is rare.
I knew you were old, but I didn't realize just how old!
Posted by: Truman North at December 22, 2011 07:57 AM (I2LwF)
And far better than anything frozen.
Posted by: Scott J at December 22, 2011 07:58 AM (KC2BE)
We have several local industrial office buildings left over as General Motors abandoned our city. One 4 story office bldg served as a local managment center until it was closed down as well. It remained vacant for almost 4 years before a local police officer noticed an illegal immigrant getting off a public bus and walking into the back of the building. Turns out there were no less than 5 families of illegals living in the building. They had been there for months tearing all the copper wiring and utility fixtures out of the building one at a time and selling them to the local recycling center. They had 1 truck between them all and were pretty much working full time to take everything from structural steel members down to bath room fixtures in for recycling. They were all eating and sleeping in a ground floor area that used to include cooking facilities as part of their conference area, but it was determined that the majority of the building had been structurally weakend to the point of immanent collapse. They had managed to re-connect all the city utilities that had been turned off, including busting into a 5 inch water main and letting the excess water run out the back of the building into a storm sewer drain, which they also used as their personal sewer and trash dump.
We remain blessed with a Democratic Administration (thanks to the UAW members who used to work in this area) who went on record as "having removed them from the building (for their own safety), having the building condemned for public occupation, and referring the illegals all to appropriate social services."
GM, on their way out the door, had donated the building and land back to the city rather than continue to pay taxes on it. The local city can't afford to have the building pulled down. You can currently identify it by it's smell if you come within about 1/2 mile of it.
Posted by: MrObvious at December 22, 2011 07:58 AM (2uovW)
Posted by: Truman North at December 22, 2011 08:00 AM (I2LwF)
Good to hear, Vic -- and delivery is the same reason I did the pizza doctoring!
Posted by: billygoat at December 22, 2011 08:00 AM (xTmUr)
Posted by: A Twitter Feed at December 22, 2011 08:01 AM (I2LwF)
The DOJ voting rights section and EEOC are completely staffed with the "social justice" crowd. Section V of the VRA is blatantly unconstitutional on two different fronts and when passed was only supposed to be "temporary".
All of the above needs to be terminated with prejudice. (meaning eliminate the jobs, fire them all, and prohibit them from ever having a government job again.)
But I will lay odds that this individual, if prosecuted at all, will never receive any meaningful punishment. She will most likely be sheilded with blackdemocratium.
Posted by: Vic at December 22, 2011 08:01 AM (YdQQY)
Posted by: Truman North at December 22, 2011 11:55 AM (I2LwF)
I think the difference is 13 year olds pepper their conversations with more sex jokes along with fart and poop jokes as opposed to mostly fart and poop jokes for 9 year olds. Of course when you're in your 40s, you learn the hilarity and horror of farting during sex and it all comes full circle.
Posted by: Ms Choksondik, hoping for a Perry miracle at December 22, 2011 08:03 AM (fYOZx)
I just noticed that Van Halen's opening drums in Hot For Teacher is a total ripoff of Radar Love.
How'd I miss that?
Posted by: soothsayer at December 22, 2011 08:03 AM (sqkOB)
LONDON (AP) -- The convicted Lockerbie bomber claimed Thursday to have new evidence about the 1988 terrorist attack on Pan Am Flight 103 that he said could clear his name.
In case anyone was still wondering.
Posted by: GnuBreed at December 22, 2011 08:04 AM (ENKCw)
I knew you were old, but I didn't realize just how old!
Posted by: Truman North at December 22, 2011 11:57 AM (I2LwF)
OK, I'm game, why is that a sign of "old"?
Posted by: Vic at December 22, 2011 08:07 AM (YdQQY)
Posted by: Alex at December 22, 2011 08:07 AM (JCa8R)
Posted by: Scott J at December 22, 2011 08:09 AM (KC2BE)
Posted by: Scott J at December 22, 2011 11:58 AM (KC2BE)
Actually I did use to make homemade pizzas but cleaning the mixing bowls for pizza dough was a real pain in the ass. Those doctored up ones ARE just as good and the only thing needing cleaning is the pizza pan.
(not only am I cheap but I am lazy too)
Posted by: Vic at December 22, 2011 08:10 AM (YdQQY)
Posted by: MrObvious at December 22, 2011 11:58 AM (2uovW)
It's a shame it was only to the point of immanent collapse. Had it fallen in on them it would have rid the city of a few more vermin, and served as an excellent cautionary tale.
We allow the under class to gnaw away at society, hollowing it out to feed their insatiable appetites. It's a cancer that should be cut out.
Posted by: Reactionary at December 22, 2011 08:11 AM (xUM1Q)
Posted by: nevergiveup at December 22, 2011 08:11 AM (i6RpT)
OK, I'm game, why is that a sign of "old"?
All right, don't take this negatively. Let me lay it out:
1) Certain restaurants' clientele just skew old. The only thing I can think of that they have in common is that they use low levels of lighting. Among them, Pizza Hut, Sizzler, Pondarosa, some others...
2) Eating with your spouse at lunchtime usually means you're both free, but more importantly, you're both morning people. And the older you get, the more likely you are to be a morning person.
3 Young folks don't like buffets as much as old folks do. I don't know why. Maybe because young folks are accustomed to someone quickly handing you your food rather than a leisurely stroll past the food, while you get it for yourself. I like buffets usually.
Add up Pizza Hut, lunch with your spouse, and a buffet, and you get a really old demographic!
Plus I'm just ribbing you. No matter what our different demographics may be, I am awfully fond of you and your curmudgeonly news in the morning.
Posted by: Truman North at December 22, 2011 08:12 AM (I2LwF)
Posted by: Scott J at December 22, 2011 08:12 AM (KC2BE)
I have never been a morning person (although I've been faking it since my boy now catches an 06:45 bus to school).
My mom tells me that once you get old you become one because everything hurts so much you can't stay in the bed any longer.
Posted by: Scott J at December 22, 2011 08:14 AM (KC2BE)
Posted by: Truman North at December 22, 2011 08:15 AM (I2LwF)
Posted by: Alex at December 22, 2011 12:07 PM (JCa8R)
That's probably wise - in many areas the police do regard all armed citizens with enough balls to stand up for themselves as their enemy.
Posted by: Reactionary at December 22, 2011 08:15 AM (xUM1Q)
LOL, I just wanted to know the connection there. I do know the are a LOT of "retirees" in the local burger joints in the morning if I go in for a sausage biscuit.
Posted by: Vic at December 22, 2011 08:15 AM (YdQQY)
Well I like them just as good.
Posted by: Vic at December 22, 2011 08:15 AM (YdQQY)
Posted by: Scott J at December 22, 2011 08:16 AM (KC2BE)
How'd I miss that?
Posted by: soothsayer at December 22, 2011 12:03 PM (sqkOB)
I like dragracing...to me that solo always reminds my of TF rails at idle...!
Posted by: billygoat at December 22, 2011 08:16 AM (xTmUr)
It came from years/decades of shift work.
Posted by: Vic at December 22, 2011 08:17 AM (YdQQY)
And I'm not really a drag racing fan per se but there's just something about that 0-320 in less than 4 seconds that is simply astounding.
Posted by: Scott J at December 22, 2011 08:19 AM (KC2BE)
The 'rising crust DiGiornos is pretty good, Scott...but no, doesn't compare to the real deal...
Posted by: billygoat at December 22, 2011 08:19 AM (xTmUr)
Posted by: Twitter Shitter at December 22, 2011 08:19 AM (jucos)
This is worthy of a sidebar mention at least. In CA the legislature used to draw its own districts. The brand new "non-partisan" citizen's redistricting commission that was supposed to limit the gerrymandering in CA has been gamed and completely rolled by the Democrats. The gerrymandering is worse than ever and the Dems stand to pick up even more seats because of it. The boning will accelerate to warp speed as previously scheduled
It just makes you wanna scream.
Arnold's legacy is truly tarnished to shit, every last bit of it.
How Democrats Fooled CaliforniaÂ’s Redistricting Commission
This spring, a group of California Democrats gathered at a modern, airy office building just a few blocks from the U.S. Capitol. The meeting was House members only — no aides allowed — and the mission was seemingly impossible.
In previous years, the party had used its perennial control of CaliforniaÂ’s state Legislature to draw district maps that protected Democratic incumbents. But in 2010, California voters put redistricting in the hands of a citizensÂ’ commission where decisions would be guided by public testimony and open debate.
The question facing House Democrats as they met to contemplate the state’s new realities was delicate: How could they influence an avowedly nonpartisan process? Alexis Marks, a House aide who invited members to the meeting, warned the representatives that secrecy was paramount. “Never say anything AT ALL about redistricting — no speculation, no predictions, NOTHING,” Marks wrote in an email. “Anything can come back to haunt you.”
In the weeks that followed, party leaders came up with a plan. Working with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee — a national arm of the party that provides money and support to Democratic candidates — members were told to begin “strategizing about potential future district lines," according to another email.
The citizensÂ’ commission had pledged to create districts based on testimony from the communities themselves, not from parties or statewide political players. To get around that, Democrats surreptitiously enlisted local voters, elected officials, labor unions and community groups to testify in support of configurations that coincided with the partyÂ’s interests.
When they appeared before the commission, those groups identified themselves as ordinary Californians and did not disclose their ties to the party. One woman who purported to represent the Asian community of the San Gabriel Valley was actually a lobbyist who grew up in rural Idaho, and lives in Sacramento.
Posted by: Wm T Sherman at December 22, 2011 08:19 AM (w41GQ)
My brother prefers second shift and any time he gets off it his sleep patterns get all out of whack.
Posted by: Scott J at December 22, 2011 08:20 AM (KC2BE)
Posted by: nevergiveup at December 22, 2011 08:20 AM (i6RpT)
Nothing quite beats the thrill of being so close to that much (5000+) hp...smell of nitro, eyes burning...very visceral.
Posted by: billygoat at December 22, 2011 08:21 AM (xTmUr)
Posted by: Scott J at December 22, 2011 08:22 AM (KC2BE)
LOL. Yo moma speaks the truth. I get up when my backache drives me from bed.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, get off my lawn.
Posted by: Retread at December 22, 2011 08:23 AM (ALZZ7)
Posted by: Truman North at December 22, 2011 08:24 AM (I2LwF)
It's a cool tune to drive to.
Posted by: soothsayer at December 22, 2011 12:17 PM (sqkOB)
Whilst we wait for a new thread...a few for me include:
Deep Purple -- Hush and Highway Star
Doors -- LA Woman and Roadhouse Blues
Allmans -- One Way Out
Posted by: billygoat at December 22, 2011 08:24 AM (xTmUr)
It's funny. I was talking to my husband and he was telling me how difficult it is for boys like my sons to balance money and women. He said that when he met me and I was potentially more frugal (cheap) than he was although I had to reason to be, he fell in love (and I thought it was my sparkling and cheerful personality and large breasts). Anyway, I noticed while christmas shopping last week that it was making me nauseated. So I still must be the girl of his dreams. I'm a horder but only money.
I can easily afford the pizza but the mere idea of giving those muslims (all the local pizza delivery joints) $30 makes my skin crawl. Anyway, when I doctor one up I add green peppers and onions and mushrooms and broccoli if I have them. Nice.
Posted by: dagny at December 22, 2011 08:25 AM (y5GTB)
I decided that meant I was officially old.
Posted by: Scott J at December 22, 2011 08:25 AM (KC2BE)
Always been a morning person, since I was little. ....It was my job to get everyone up in the morning, because for some reason, I would always sit straight up at around 5am. .....I love to watch first light, creeping in to overtake the darkness.
Don't pick on Vic. ....He's cool. I love his morning linkies.
Making a pizza at home is easy.....if you've got a roll of Pillsbury pizza dough, a jar of marinara sauce, and whatever topings you like. .....Oh, and some olive oil to coat your pan. .......Smear the olive oil on your pan, then while your hands are oily, smush the dough out on the oiled pan.
Posted by: wheatie at December 22, 2011 08:26 AM (wJ+Nv)
Posted by: Truman North at December 22, 2011 08:27 AM (I2LwF)
She also had the character to be hoofing it to TWO part time jobs to afford her apartment rather than move back in with mom & dad. I knew then I'd probably found my soulmate.
Posted by: Scott J at December 22, 2011 08:27 AM (KC2BE)
266 Jeez! Who knew! Someone should tell girls that if they say "don't buy me dinner, we can make it for far less" that the men fall in love. I had no idea that he was so delighted with that until the other day and we've been married 25 yrs. He said that he is actually afraid to buy me an expensive present. That sounds stupid but if he did I would probably take it back and yell at him the whole time.
LOL 25 years of me yelling "Close the damn door, that heat costs money".
Posted by: dagny at December 22, 2011 08:31 AM (y5GTB)
Women.
Some want to own you. Some want to stone you.
If you're lucky, there's a one-in-seven chance you'll find a woman who's a friend.
Posted by: soothsayer was runnin down the road trying to loosen my load at December 22, 2011 08:31 AM (sqkOB)
Posted by: soothsayer was runnin down the road trying to loosen my load at December 22, 2011 08:32 AM (sqkOB)
best music to work on your car with: Lynrd Skynrd
Posted by: soothsayer at December 22, 2011 12:26 PM (sqkOB)
'specially if your car's a pick up truck and you've got a hound dog in the driveway!
Posted by: billygoat at December 22, 2011 08:33 AM (xTmUr)
That usually gets us to thinking "your place or mine" which gets us to thinking about sex (more that the baseline level anyway) and then the rest of the processing capacity sort of just goes by the wayside
Posted by: Scott J at December 22, 2011 08:33 AM (KC2BE)
Been patiently waiting to grow old, since 1941,actually. Not entirely convinced that old age isn't a myth.
This attitude is not well received in some circles I frequent.
Posted by: irongrampa at December 22, 2011 08:33 AM (SAMxH)
Posted by: wheatie at December 22, 2011 12:27 PM (wJ+Nv)
...ditto
Posted by: billygoat at December 22, 2011 08:34 AM (xTmUr)
Posted by: Waterhouse at December 22, 2011 08:35 AM (rOPwp)
Posted by: Julie at December 22, 2011 08:35 AM (O/fK8)
LOL, as I said on one of these threads this morning, wifey and I are celebrating 30 years on Saturday.
Posted by: Vic at December 22, 2011 08:35 AM (YdQQY)
16 years for us on 12/30. Glad to see another couple who did the December wedding thing.
Posted by: Scott J at December 22, 2011 08:37 AM (KC2BE)
Posted by: Julie at December 22, 2011 12:35 PM (O/fK
Ummmmmmmmm, nitrous -- good times in my misspent youth....
Posted by: billygoat at December 22, 2011 08:38 AM (xTmUr)
I was just reminiscing about 1981 the other day in a thread.
No, wait, it was December 1980.
How nice it was to look forward to a new president and be getting rid of a lemon in the White House.
Posted by: soothsayer was runnin down the road trying to loosen my load at December 22, 2011 08:38 AM (sqkOB)
280......wifey and I are celebrating 30 years on Saturday.
Congratulations, Vic. ....You got married on Christmas Eve? Smart. ....Easy to remember. ....I've always thought it would be smart to get married on Valentines Day -- how could you forget that!
Posted by: wheatie at December 22, 2011 08:39 AM (wJ+Nv)
Here's wishing next December can be as nice.
Posted by: Scott J at December 22, 2011 08:39 AM (KC2BE)
Posted by: thatcrazyjerseyguy at December 22, 2011 08:39 AM (MbeR6)
Posted by: soothsayer was runnin down the road trying to loosen my load at December 22, 2011 08:40 AM (sqkOB)
Posted by: soothsayer was runnin down the road trying to loosen my load at December 22, 2011 08:40 AM (sqkOB)
LOL 25 years of me yelling "Close the damn door, that heat costs money".
Posted by: dagnyMom? I didn't know you knew about AOSHQ!
Posted by: Retread at December 22, 2011 08:42 AM (ALZZ7)
The ONE advantage of living in NJ is we have a pizza joint every 1/4 mile...
And in between the pizza joints are hair salons.
Posted by: soothsayer was runnin down the road trying to loosen my load at December 22, 2011 08:42 AM (sqkOB)
Posted by: soothsayer was runnin down the road trying to loosen my load at December 22, 2011 08:42 AM (sqkOB)
Posted by: nevergiveup at December 22, 2011 08:42 AM (i6RpT)
Posted by: Waterhouse at December 22, 2011 08:43 AM (rOPwp)
Posted by: soothsayer was runnin down the road trying to loosen my load at December 22, 2011 08:43 AM (sqkOB)
....the Carter years were truly depressing...never thought I'd see them again...
Posted by: billygoat at December 22, 2011 08:43 AM (xTmUr)
Ummmmmmmmm, nitrous -- good times in my misspent youth....
Stay away from the Hippie Crack, boys and girls.
Posted by: garrett at December 22, 2011 08:44 AM (L50xb)
289 But Reagan is too old!
2011 version == "Perry doesn't debate well".
----------
Yep. I've thought the same thing. .....Glad these dumbass debates are over for a while. .....Still hoping Perry will prevail.
Posted by: wheatie at December 22, 2011 08:44 AM (wJ+Nv)
The ONE advantage of living in NJ is we have a pizza joint every 1/4 mile...
And in between the pizza joints are hair salons.
Posted by: soothsayer was runnin down the road trying to loosen my load at December 22, 2011 12:42 PM (sqkOB)
And Diners
No wonder Christie is so big.
Posted by: Julie loves sittin on the dock of the bay at December 22, 2011 08:45 AM (O/fK8)
Some want to own you. Some want to stone you.
Posted by: soothsayer was runnin down the road trying to loosen my load at December 22, 2011 12:31 PM (sqkOB)
And all of them want to talk you to death...
I don't know that much about women but I know this - if you want to keep one around, get one with some woman friends. If she doesn't have enough of those she'll want to eat up WAY too much of your time.
Posted by: Reactionary at December 22, 2011 08:45 AM (xUM1Q)
Posted by: nevergiveup at December 22, 2011 08:45 AM (i6RpT)
Christie is big?Posted by: nevergiveup at December 22, 2011 08:46 AM (i6RpT)
Posted by: soothsayer at December 22, 2011 12:26 PM (sqkOB)
Posted by: luaP noR at December 22, 2011 08:47 AM (L50xb)
How many of those who claim they need the $40 even got a vacation this year?
How many of those who claim they need the $40 can afford to go to Hawaii?
Gawd, the GOP is stupid.
Posted by: Jimmuy at December 22, 2011 08:48 AM (hh/BN)
Posted by: Jones at December 22, 2011 08:49 AM (8sCoq)
no, no, no
You listen to Wagner when you're applying the C4 and stringing out the wires on the bridge.
Posted by: soothsayer at December 22, 2011 08:50 AM (sqkOB)
Posted by: garrett at December 22, 2011 12:49 PM (L50xb)
The Cowboys too!
Posted by: Jones at December 22, 2011 08:50 AM (8sCoq)
Posted by: Lincolntf at December 22, 2011 08:51 AM (Qjh0I)
Plus their airport code is FAT.
Just when you thought things couldn't get worse.
Posted by: Cathy at December 22, 2011 08:51 AM (fk15f)
Posted by: Scott J at December 22, 2011 08:51 AM (KC2BE)
You said it. NYC pizza can't be beat. Hubs works for an airline. We went to NYC one day a few years back just to get pizza.
This stuff in Chicago .... yikes.
Posted by: Cathy at December 22, 2011 08:53 AM (fk15f)
True story?
I had no idea that the Dukes of Hazzard tv show was inspired by the movie MOONRUNNERS.
Not a bad flick. A lot of high retro-value.
Posted by: Wickedsoothsayerpinto at December 22, 2011 08:55 AM (sqkOB)
Stay away from the Hippie Crack, boys and girls.
Posted by: garrett at December 22, 2011 12:44 PM (L50xb)
!...true dat!
Posted by: billygoat at December 22, 2011 08:56 AM (xTmUr)
When I was a kid, me and bro used to love heating up a slice of Ellio's frozen pizza after school.
Posted by: Wickedsoothsayerpinto at December 22, 2011 08:56 AM (sqkOB)
300.....I don't know that much about women but I know this - if you want to keep one around, get one with some woman friends.
Yeah, if you want her to stay up on all the lastest tips on how to be bitchy.
If she doesn't have enough of those she'll want to eat up WAY too much of your time.
Just find one who likes to stay busy doing her own shit.
Posted by: wheatie at December 22, 2011 08:58 AM (wJ+Nv)
You listen to Enya when you're making love pizza.
nope. SLAYER.
Posted by: garrett at December 22, 2011 12:52 PM (L50xb)
NINE!!!...RAMMSTEIN!!!
Posted by: Werner at December 22, 2011 08:59 AM (xTmUr)
Posted by: Racefan at December 22, 2011 09:01 AM (D4NEB)
Posted by: Ed Snyder at December 22, 2011 09:16 AM (K2PeQ)
VDH's piece is very poignant. For some reason, the tableau he writes of kept summoning visions of the one described in Atlas Shrugged just before the strike began, when everything was falling apart.
Also reminds me of a Samuel Francis piece circa 10+ years ago when he spoke of "anarcho-tyranny". That is, when criminals remain, increasingly, free as wolves to be predators on the rest of society; while law abiding citizens see THEIR freedoms continually eroding, and often find that in fact THEY are the ones outside the law as they try to go about their business.
Enjoy your writing, Monty, thanks, don't think it goes unnoticed. Merry Christmas.
Posted by: RM at December 22, 2011 09:16 AM (TRsME)
I stay here because of family, but Arizona is only a short drive away....I was thinking of someplace close to an airport, but after being groped by TSA last week, I am reducing my flying whenever possible. (Lots of other people are too apparently. Holiday air travel is down, auto travel up.)
Posted by: PJ at December 22, 2011 09:37 AM (DQHjw)
So he proposes feel-good "pretty" policies even if they fail to produce results?
Yeah... good plan. Sell it to the liberals; but don't be surprised if they already have enough pretty plans that can't produce useful results.
Posted by: gekkobear at December 22, 2011 11:31 AM (gNvaC)
Posted by: Meremortal, thanks for the 4th de-banning! at December 22, 2011 01:23 PM (CawdT)
Yes, thank you for the 5th debanning! Maybe I can get a few posts in before the hammer falls again.
Monty, about the inflation thing. A lot of folks are having trouble understanding the deflation/inflation conundrum. At all times certain things are inflating in value while others deflate. The question is always: "What are most things doing?" We are in deflation and have been for about 3 years. That fact that many items and services are inflating in price is meaningless. The preponderance of things that make up GDP are deflating and have been for some time.
Real estate has deflated mightily in value and still is deflating in many parts of the country. In 2008, 80% of the wealth of the country was held in real estate, so 80% of our wealth is in deflation just for starters. The other 20% doesn't really matter but most of that 20% is in deflation too.
Things that have deflated: Labor costs. Household wealth. Pension funds. Real estate. Credit ratings. Govt revenue. Construction materials. Stock market values are still well under the last high. Employment. Oil has deflated by over 40% from its last high. Natural gas has deflated mightily.
Things that have inflated: Some food items. Healthcare. Commodities (changing now, they are deflating again). Various other products that taken together with those just enumerated don't make up a flea on an elephant compared to the value of what has deflated.
We could not have a 10yr bond below 2% if we were experiencing inflation. It is estimated that the PTB have flooded the money markets with $10 trillion by various means since 2008, to no effect. Such actions would typcially cause wage-push inflation in a hurry. There is no wage-push inflation.
The heavy preponderance of assets, products and services are in deflation. The poor are experiencing more inflation than deflation since the poor don't have assets, they have daily needs, like food. The majority of the population works and has some asssets, which means the majority of people are experiencing overall deflation, mixed with relatively small exceptions of inflation.
If your job pays less, your house is down $100k, and your IRA is down 30%, you are in deflation even though the cost soup and nuts have increased.
Posted by: Meremortal, thanks for the 4th de-banning! at December 22, 2011 01:50 PM (CawdT)
Posted by: deadrody at December 22, 2011 03:14 PM (b2D8X)
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Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) says 'No' to RINO Romney at December 22, 2011 04:51 AM (8y9MW)