Bookworm Room

What the heck does Obama mean by “wee-weed?” “There’s something about August going into September where everyone in Washington gets all ‘wee-weed’ up,” the president said. My first thought was that he was making some bizarre reference to the old children’s rhyme:  “This little pig went to market, and this little pig stayed home.  This [...]

12 Comments »

The Whole Foods boycott is ridiculous, because the boycotters have no clear goal, other than to be mean.  I doubt that they’re demanding that Whole Foods entirely restructure its benefits program, especially since employees seem to like the program.  What’s really going on with this boycott is that the protesters are PO’d that the same [...]

8 Comments »

A Weekly Standard article contrasts the fact that pro-ObamaCare ads attack opponents, while anti-ObamaCare ads attack ObamaCare.  I know which I believe is a more effective approach.  While people in politics believe politics is everything, ordinary people care, not about process, but about product. Here’s an example of an excellent ad, highlighted in the Weekly [...]

1 Comment »

As I hinted this morning, I have a gazillion open tabs on my computer, all crying to be read and disseminated.  I’ll do a laundry list here of those things that interested me, with bold headings so that you can sort through without having to read everything in an undifferentiated mass. Whole Foods boycott:  Apparently [...]

1 Comment »

The current charge from Democrats (who control the White House and both houses of Congress), is that Republican operatives are engaging in fear mongering by sending either complicitous or naive little old men and women to town halls to harrass innocent Congress people with mean questions.  Bad Republicans!  Bad! But really, when it comes to [...]

2 Comments »

Here’s what I’ll be reading today (in addition to all the other stuff I’ve piled up to read and enjoy): Council Submissions Mere Rhetoric – Human Rights Watch Earns Their Saudi Pay, Publishes Another Thinly-Sourced Report Demonizing Israel Right Truth – We have an opportunity to prevent a disaster Soccer Dad – Still stuck on [...]

No Comments »

I’ve missed posting two week’s worth of Watcher’s Winners, so I won’t delay a second longer.  You’ll find the list under the fold:

1 Comment »

I’ve got dozens of articles and ideas lined up for blogging, but I haven’t been able to get off necessary phone calls to make it happen.  I promise to blog this afternoon.  Until then, here’s a an open thread.  Also, I post the list of Watcher’s Council nominations, which should provide for some wonderful reading.

1 Comment »

This is a matched set of stories from the London Times, both about British dental care, and both warning of the travails when the government both controls much (not all, but much) of the market.  The first story involves the horrible teeth British children enjoy under national dental care.  You’ll note that the culprits aren’t [...]

12 Comments »

It’s only because I recognize John Cleese that I’m able to distinguish the Monty Python sketch from the news story.  First, the news story: A former police sergeant who was passed over for a job as a dog handler has claimed that she was discriminated against because she talks in a whisper. Catherine Gilbert told [...]

3 Comments »

I have a question: what are “profits” and why do so many people associate “profit” with something bad? Oh, I understand the envy mentality that says, “if someone is earning profits, it’s unfair and I demand my fair share.” I also understand the entitlement mentality of people that say, “I have a right to food, [...]

6 Comments »

The New York Times had an interesting editorial today, one that managed to speak slightingly of Obama’s handling of the health care issue, even as it regurgitated the false assumptions underlying the plan and the administration’s attacks on just about everybody.  I thought that I’d amuse myself by fisking the editorial.  Chime in with any [...]

6 Comments »

I know reader Lulu is familiar with the American education system, and she might have even better comments on this one than any I can offer.  Nevertheless, I’ll stick take a stab at it.  First, the story: Despite a seventh straight year of improved test scores statewide, results released today show California schools failed to [...]

7 Comments »

I’ve been gone 10 days from my blog (barring some drop-in blogging during vacation) and have returned to discover that nothing, but nothing, has changed in my absence.  The laundry list of news is exactly as it was when I left:  ObamaCare is dropping in the polls; Democrats are hurling insults at voters; the economy [...]

3 Comments »

In a conversation, I mentioned that many in the intelligence community consider London to be Ground Zero for world jihadism.  It’s not the numbers, it’s the mosques.  Mr. Bookworm was outraged:  “Who are these ‘many’?”  How dare I repeat someone else’s opinion as if I know the facts.  I know nothing about terrorism, nor does [...]

35 Comments »

Most of tomorrow I will be in transit. I’ll be back blogging on Wednesday.

6 Comments »

     Since Bookworm seems to have fallen prey to vacation lethargy let me hop in here with a quick question.  It occurred to me after I read the comments to my last post that I had asked the wrong question.  I should have asked what people think is the best strategy for the Republican party [...]

42 Comments »

I actually read the paper (online) today, but I still don’t have anything to say.  I find it very hard to blog on a lap top, since I usually write with an ergonomically sinuous keyboard and a mouse.  The learning curve for my hands in dealing with this little laptop keyboard and a mouse pad [...]

2 Comments »

At least, I think it’s Sunday.  Vacation tends to disrupt my internal calendar. I’m heading off to the pool and don’t see myself blogging today.  You guys should feel free to go to town here.

18 Comments »

I had a fascinating conversation yesterday with a physician who fervently supports the proposed health care plan — at least in theory, as he admitted he didn’t know what was actually in the 1000+ page bill that seems to be the House front-runner. He and I began with a few points of agreement.  He and [...]

73 Comments »

The one thing that Obama supporters are not discussing is the making of a doctor.  The good doctors we have come as the result of a grueling process.  The best and the brightest, rather than leaving college and going off to make money, instead opt for the following: 1.  Four more years of graduate training, [...]

103 Comments »

We have been verbally pistol whipped by Al Gore and his gang of like minded Global Warming-Climate Change-Crap and Trade Thugs. Supermarket items no longer wear the prized badge of the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval.  Instead, these products have been replaced with a ‘green message’ – Buy me and save the world. The familiar [...]

6 Comments »

Barbara Boxer was in Marin County, her home base, to shill her book.  Because the woman, although gifted with a strong feral intelligence that has enabled her to become very powerful, is not very bright, she probably missed how funny (as in foolish) her self-aggrandizing remarks were (emphasis mine): For U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, politics [...]

10 Comments »

Recently, while at work, I listened to a physician discuss why Americans should support Obama’s health care plan. I sat quietly for a while as she assured everyone that there has never been any attempt to compare the results of various health care systems around the world (that is not true) and then declared repeatedly [...]

22 Comments »

How’s this for a perfect piece of dialogue for our modern era? Dad:  Who knows which of our presidents is the only president born in Hawaii? [Long silence] Son:  Obama? Daughter:  No, it wasn’t. Son (10):  Yes, it was. Daughter (11):  No.  Obama was born in Africa.  [At which point Mom turns to Dad and [...]

28 Comments »