tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8993108951931633758.post5444529450085253070..comments2023-08-05T07:24:04.413-05:00Comments on Hope n' Change Cartoons: Fun with Numbers!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8993108951931633758.post-58760269493686522642012-09-13T22:09:26.579-05:002012-09-13T22:09:26.579-05:00@Queso Grande- I agree that 9/11 was our generatio...@Queso Grande- I agree that 9/11 was our generation's Pearl Harbor. It was a sharp dividing line in our history and our lives, after which nothing would be the same. And yet, there was a "Jay Walking" segment with Jay Leno in which he asked people on the street what day 9/11 happened on - and he found people who didn't know. They couldn't even name the month. They didn't even have the intellectual firepower to figure out that 9/11 <i>is</i> the month and day. <i>And they didn't friggin' care</i>.<br /><br />And their votes count every bit as much as yours and mine.Stilton Jarlsberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14503164551782304564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8993108951931633758.post-22734399696486222072012-09-13T17:17:41.910-05:002012-09-13T17:17:41.910-05:00LOL!!! One can only hope your moniker implies no l...LOL!!! One can only hope your moniker implies no lactose intolerance as almost EVERYONE I know would urge you to tell me NOT to say too much.....<br /><br />I lived for years down the street on Long Beach Island from the copilot of flight 175, Michael Horrocks(RIP). Stilton, you have never met a nicer man from a nicer family. My own household was the absolute antithesis of the unity, warmth and 'family' that exuded from each and every member in that house. Even the dogs were outstanding!! I was often jealous of the way they were. <br />I cannot imagine the family's pain.<br />That day WAS my/our generations Pearl Harbor; I am deeply saddened that too many fail to realize that.<br />Keep the faith, fight the good fight!! <br />See you soon.....Queso Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8993108951931633758.post-23889818911259088452012-09-12T22:29:01.639-05:002012-09-12T22:29:01.639-05:00@Anonymous/Queso Grande- I can't think of any ...@Anonymous/Queso Grande- I can't think of any more appropriate reason to get worked up, and I'm sincerely sorry for your loss. I didn't know any of the victims firsthand, but still find 9/11 to be a nearly unbearable day each year. For me, it is not a wound which will ever heal - nor would I want it to.<br /><br />Regarding adding your name to comments, just click on the little button that says "Name/URL" below and it will give you a chance to write your preferred user name. I look forward to hearing from you more often!<br />Stilton Jarlsberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14503164551782304564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8993108951931633758.post-25924470253799918902012-09-12T18:43:25.134-05:002012-09-12T18:43:25.134-05:00SJ, thanks s much for the wise, reasoned discourse...SJ, thanks s much for the wise, reasoned discourse in your response. Having lost someone I knew well that day, I tend to get fairly worked up.<br />I'ma figure out this whole intarwebs, and gonna sign in real ways.....<br /> Love your stuff.<br /><br />Queso Grande<br /> <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8993108951931633758.post-40224260799633480522012-09-12T15:48:09.658-05:002012-09-12T15:48:09.658-05:00@John the Econ & Emmentaler- 9/11's damage...@John the Econ & Emmentaler- 9/11's damage to our country was huge and remains ongoing. The economics and impositions of the TSA are ridiculous, and rules of political correctness (like placing a limit on how many airline passengers of a certain ethnicity can be thoroughly inspected) make the process a very unfunny joke.Stilton Jarlsberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14503164551782304564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8993108951931633758.post-18223689729301221052012-09-12T15:37:32.865-05:002012-09-12T15:37:32.865-05:00Yes @Emmentaler Limburger, the masterminds behind ...Yes @Emmentaler Limburger, the masterminds behind the attacks knew our brainless leaders well, and how they'd react. The billions wasted on the TSA and the harassment imposed upon the honest citizens of this nation was totally unnecessary.John the Econnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8993108951931633758.post-63866982335805073722012-09-12T12:29:19.901-05:002012-09-12T12:29:19.901-05:00@John: A HUGE amen on that. The TSA alone is a mos...@John: A HUGE amen on that. The TSA alone is a most egregiousness offense against our freedoms - particularly in that they prefer to harass those who have little likelihood of being threats in deference to those who clearly fit the pro forma - all to appear to be "fair"... And that's just ONE of the Islamic victories to have come spinning forth from the devastation of the WTC and the Pentagon.Emmentaler Limburgerhttp://pateratic.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8993108951931633758.post-71818751221705481752012-09-12T08:30:25.261-05:002012-09-12T08:30:25.261-05:00If I am emotional about 911, it's not as much ...If I am emotional about 911, it's not as much about the attacks themselves, but to the degree that our country (via our "fearless" leaders) have allowed their agenda to succeed. The collateral damage done to our way of live, economy, and freedom is multitudes greater than the 3000 lives lost and buildings destroyed 11 years ago.John the Econnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8993108951931633758.post-67491776975001097762012-09-11T20:12:08.456-05:002012-09-11T20:12:08.456-05:00@PRY- Glad you're here! It's not like I...@PRY- Glad you're here! It's not like I'm taking attendance, but it really <i>is</i> good to know that the "regulars" are around. The community that this blog has become means a lot to me.<br /><br />@Pete(Detroit)- Truth be told, I'm very emotional about 9/11 today (well, every day - but you know what I mean) and I didn't want to worry about checking the blog or commenting on the political insult du jour. But I couldn't back away entirely - how could I? The issues of 9/11 are very much part of the issues of campaign 2012.<br /><br />And when Barack Obama announced today that the deaths of 9/11 made America "stronger," I about had an aneurysm. <br /><br /><i>There was no goddamn silver lining to the attacks of 9/11</i>, and I don't care to hear empty platitudes from a man who <i>personally</i> endorses a Ground Zero mosque, but uses the "auto-pen" and form letters to express his faux regret for the deaths of our Navy Seals.Stilton Jarlsberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14503164551782304564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8993108951931633758.post-15298103257500803142012-09-11T19:05:44.119-05:002012-09-11T19:05:44.119-05:00And I'm liking that comments are still 'on...And I'm liking that comments are still 'on' on THIS page, for those who know how to deal... Pete(Detroit)noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8993108951931633758.post-10501991245717443042012-09-11T17:19:59.885-05:002012-09-11T17:19:59.885-05:00Great page today, Stilt...I may not comment much o...<br />Great page today, Stilt...I may not comment much of late, just wanted you to know I'm still here every day! Keep up the good work!PRYnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8993108951931633758.post-92143168578938082622012-09-11T17:08:38.812-05:002012-09-11T17:08:38.812-05:00@CenTexTim, John the Econ, & Emmentaler- Great...@CenTexTim, John the Econ, & Emmentaler- Great economic discussion here. I don't have anything intelligent to add; I'm just benefitting from reading what you folks are posting (and I agree, of course).<br /><br />@Ogrrre- Run with that phrase and spread it. I have to admit I even tickled myself.<br /><br />@Anonymous- To be clear, when I say that 9/11 is not a day for politics, I mean "politics as usual" - which tends to be chatter and sometimes a lot of heat and very little light. But 9/11 is a <i>vastly</i> important day for the <i>real</i> politics of thinking about who we are, morally and as a nation, and about what each of us must do to preserve and defend what is best about this nation. I don't want smoking craters created indiscriminately in the middle east (nor am I implying that you do), but to the extent that we can identify our true enemies, I favor bombing until the sand under their feet is green, glowing glass.Stilton Jarlsberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14503164551782304564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8993108951931633758.post-14100012385422502862012-09-11T16:47:49.452-05:002012-09-11T16:47:49.452-05:00You can call me hard cheese but I disagree that 9/...You can call me hard cheese but I disagree that 9/11 is not a day for politics. I do not want reflection, I want smoking craters all over the middle east.<br />There was no Pearl Harbor Memorial until AFTER the war was won.<br />After.<br />Islam delenda est.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8993108951931633758.post-55189836034506077112012-09-11T14:12:54.371-05:002012-09-11T14:12:54.371-05:00"Shinola recognition problems"
I am so s..."Shinola recognition problems"<br />I am so stealing that. It's almost as good as "rectocranial inversion" for which problem Barry and the rest of the commielibs need plastic bellies, so they can see where they are going.Ogrrrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10367747403389258422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8993108951931633758.post-10705657826013770872012-09-11T08:04:38.913-05:002012-09-11T08:04:38.913-05:00@John - saw that show a few years ago while statio...@John - saw that show a few years ago while stationed in C-eh?-N-eh?-D-eh?. I recall a relatively young head-of-family dying from an infection resulting from a simple scratch - pretty much unheard of today - after failing to barter for left-over antibiotics from some travelling group. It was a very sobering show. <br /><br />For the immediate period after such a collapse, ammunition and compatible, functional firing platforms will be of the utmost importance. The PEOPLE who make the ammunition critical, though, likely will not survive in vast numbers - eventually, the balance between need of ammunition for self defense and need of ammunition for the gathering of food will lean back to the food purposes, and less energetic modes of delivery will be usable and sought after - bow and arrow, knives, spears, etc. It will be those who can think strategically and have the knowledge and wherewithal to do for themselves that ultimately pull themselves out of the ditch. Ultimately, it would be an enforced Darwinian self-correction for our species.<br /><br />Pete is absolutely correct that hoarding .22LR cartridges during good times will put him ahead of the survival curve: .22LR and the platforms that use them are absolutely the most plentiful in the world. Next most common cartridge in terms of the <i>world</i> would be the 7.62x39 - the round the AK-47 eats. If you expect, during any scheduled holocaust, to be relocating outside of North America, this would be a good round to hoard; however, though increasing in popularity here, it is still a rather tiny player in the North American market. The 30-06, though probably not the #1 seller in North America, is in the top five and enjoys the added benefit of being in use in every corner of the planet - you will *not* run out of this ammunition. For handguns, the venerable old 9MM Luger is the top handgun cartridge. And you should have a 12Ga shotgun somewhere in your arsenal. Round it out with a few good full-tang knives, a decent recurve or compound bow, and a case each of duct tape and WD-40, and you should be set for just about anything hunting and self defense needs throw at you. If you're planning to go nomad, pack the pistol, a knife or two, and then choose between the rifle or the shotgun. (I'd take the rifle...and a cleaning kit.)<br /><br />Gold? Silver? We - society - place the value on these. If and when society collapses, so will any "monetary" value of gold. Sure, some will still be hoarding it in the hopes because they still believe it valuable, or in the hopes that society will reassert itself and once again place a high value on the stuff, but in the interim, the only value to gold will be its relatively low melting point, high malleability, and its density - perfect for making things like bullets and adding weight to cudgels...Emmentaler "Omega Man" Limburgerhttp://pateratic.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8993108951931633758.post-15799766624145144062012-09-11T05:36:05.540-05:002012-09-11T05:36:05.540-05:00@Pete(Detroit), you are right about what to buy if...@Pete(Detroit), you are right about what to buy if you want to survive the "end of times" scenario. If the economy really does crash to that extreme, gold is not going to do you all that much good. (If you are just buying gold certificates, it really isn't going to do you any good) If and when everything hits the fan, you are going to need stuff to survive, and stuff to exchange with people who need it to survive. Few people will be trading gold. They'll be trading supplies; food, fuel, equipment, and firearms. You can't eat gold.<br /><br />The other day, I watched part of a dismal "pandemic" scenario on the History Channel where billions died, infrastructure collapsed, and eventually America was thrown back to the 1800. The show dramatized a hypothetical LA family caught in the mayhem, showing all of the trails they would face. For the entire program, I kept thinking that most of the problems they had would have been effectively mitigated if they only had a few guns and adequate ammo.John the Econnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8993108951931633758.post-84482709464418428592012-09-11T05:35:49.526-05:002012-09-11T05:35:49.526-05:00Oh yes, @CenTexTim; I remember the '70s well. ...Oh yes, @CenTexTim; I remember the '70s well. Probably too well. And there are plenty of similarities between the '70s and today; A big-government GOP administration followed by a big-government Democrat "reformer" who promised "change". (How many people remember that "Change" was Jimmy Carter's theme as well?)<br /><br />I remember gas lines and wondering what the point of saving money was when inflation robbed it of 1/10th or more of its value every year. Seemed better to spend it on something tangible at the time.<br /><br />As to where we are headed, I wish I could tell you. While I know my brain is more objective than Paul Krugman's, I don't have a crystal ball that's any better than anyone else's. While there are too many similarities to the '70s to make me happy, the world today is also much different than it was 35 years ago. The US isn't the single dominant economic player we once were. Money today is far more liquid, literally moves at the speed of light, and jumps global borders at will. Also, before the '90s, relatively few people had direct control over their investments. Only upper-level types and "the rich" had self-directed vehicles like 401-Ks and IRAs. And, of course, the Federal Government controls far more of the economy than it did in the '70s. All these factors drastically affect volatility and make things far less predictable.<br /><br />Actually, I believe that we've been experiencing inflation for over a decade now; it's just that it manifests differently today than it did generations ago; instead of raising all prices evenly, I believe that inflation now moves in bubbles in sectors of the economy. The housing bubble is a good example; I think that most of the value that evaporated from America's balance sheet in housing that relatively few could objectively afford never really existed in the first place.<br /><br />I think one of the best indications of inflation is oil. Since oil is traded internationally in dollars and everyone everywhere uses it, it's probably the last relatively stable indicator. (I thought it was obvious 5 years ago when oil, the dollar, and the euro diverged)<br /><br />Personally, I was predicting the hyper-inflation hit over 3 years ago. I still believe that we'll see it once the economy really does want to move and people start trying to spend all of these static dollars floating around on real goods and services. Perhaps we're now on the edge of a new kind of stagflation, where every time the economy moves more than a couple of percent, it comes up against a wall of quickly rising commodity prices, unaffordable employee & overhead costs costs, etc, that push it right back. When the geniuses at the Fed start figuring that one out, they'll finally start questioning the "easy money" policy of the last decade.John the Econnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8993108951931633758.post-21052942072489866062012-09-10T23:17:11.337-05:002012-09-10T23:17:11.337-05:00@Pete (Detroit) - I'm with you on the precious...@Pete (Detroit) - I'm with you on the precious metals = brass and lead, although I tend towards a heavier caliber. If you can shoot, you don't need 10k rounds (altho they might be useful for barter).<br /><br />FWIW, if you really are concerned about the SHTF, I wouldn't buy into a gold fund. It's just paper. You don't possess the actual metal.<br /><br />@Emmentaler - thanks for the info. I figured out pretty quick that AMAC was a front for the insurance industry, but at least it isn't a shill for the dems/libs. I'll check out Generation America.<br /><br />@John the Econ - are you old enough to remember stagflation during the Carter years? Do you think we're headed there now? We've got two out of the three necessary conditions - stagnant business activity and high unemployment.CenTexTimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04026518638421849111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8993108951931633758.post-64163806651903877382012-09-10T22:45:18.972-05:002012-09-10T22:45:18.972-05:00@SeaDog- Painfully funny. But mostly painfully tru...@SeaDog- Painfully funny. But mostly painfully true.<br /><br />@John the Econ- I agree with your assessment of what hyper-inflation would do to our poor and middle-class, but I actually subscribe to the anti-colonialism theory advanced by Dinesh D'Souza in "2016" - I don't think Obama give's a rat's ass about either the poor or the middle-class; I think he wants to decimate the United States for the good of the world. How else to explain his eagerness to strap a suicide debt-bomb to Uncle Sam?<br /><br />@REM1875- I think Obama considers himself to be the new King Midas: everything he touches turns to Shinola.<br /><br />@JustaJeepGuy- John the Econ nailed the answer for you. Both conditions would suck, but runaway deflation would really be an impact with an unyielding brick wall.<br /><br />@SeaDog- I need to watch "The Jerk" again. Steve Martin actually makes me happy...and it's been awhile.<br /><br />@CenTexTim- I imagine that "Soylent Gray" would be like bad jerky.<br /><br />@SC- Since I respond to these comments in order, I hadn't seen your note about 2016 until now. But I already mentioned above that I saw the movie (and was already familiar with D'Souza's premise) and think it's extremely plausible.<br /><br />@John the Econ- I've still got a dab of funds in the stock market (for retirement) but don't have much confidence that it's the best place for my waning funds to be. I keep thinking about stocking up on baked beans and cheap whiskey...<br /><br />@Emmentaler- QE3 is coming for sure; the magician has already pulled all the rabbits out of the hat, and so now has to tear out the lining or get off the stage.<br /><br />And geez- Obama didn't make any budget cuts (quite the contrary!) in his first term, so he had to create a superdupercommittee. And the superdupercommittee couldn't come up with any acceptable cuts, so we got stuck with the sequester cuts. But Obama was supposed to report what <i>those</i> cuts would be last Friday, and didn't even bother. It's all an enormous game to these people - and one with an entirely predictable and disastrous end.<br /><br />@Pete(Detroit)- I wish I'd purchased some gold awhile back, but I wouldn't even consider it now. Plus, if the feces really hits the fan, I wouldn't be surprised to see the government confiscate all the privately held gold.<br />Stilton Jarlsberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14503164551782304564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8993108951931633758.post-76744728380562523432012-09-10T20:35:35.300-05:002012-09-10T20:35:35.300-05:00Emmentaller, for YEARS I'm hearing the "e...Emmentaller, for YEARS I'm hearing the "end of days, buy gold / silver" ads on the radio. I'm all Bite THAT!!! Precious metals *I* stock up on are brass and lead...<br /><br />Buddy once asked me what caliber "survival" gun to get - I told him .22 - you can carry both a rifle and a pistol, eff UP a human sized target at 100 yd, and carry 10k rounds in a pack on your back. (yeah, it's heavy - but compare to just 1k rd of .223...) <br />It's also VERY cheap to practice w/... <br /> Pete(Detroit)noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8993108951931633758.post-46308510945514902502012-09-10T20:08:20.487-05:002012-09-10T20:08:20.487-05:00@CenTexTim I'm an AMAC member - I did it more ...@CenTexTim I'm an AMAC member - I did it more for the benefit of liberty, than any benefits they offer. And I mail all of AARP's postpaid membership cards back to them taped to a carefully and lovingly wrapped box of beach sand. My neighbor is a member of Generation America. There are two alternates for you. AMAC, like AARP, is an insurance company. Generation American ain't...<br /><br />And QE3 <i>is</i> imminent - it was pretty much a foregone conclusion when the last jobs report came out as pathetic. And I think that the results of another round "quantitative easing" on our economy will be devastating. Similar "official" expectations may explain why odd departments of our government have been such good customers of the ammunition producers (whom the leftists would ordinarily have been happy to put out of business...)? <br /><br />I will be soooo much happier when 21 January 2013 is behind us. Assuming 6 November is alolowed to occur...Emmentaler Limburgerhttp://pateratic.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8993108951931633758.post-43235206875450260822012-09-10T19:19:15.754-05:002012-09-10T19:19:15.754-05:00Quite true, @SC. The stock market is "doing ...Quite true, @SC. The stock market is "doing well" not because of any change in the fundamentals or outlook, but because it looks like the Fed is going to do another "twist" and/or QE3, and the Democrats are stumping for another phony "stimulus". Inflation is on the way and the smart wealth doesn't want to be stuck in bonds or dollars.<br /><br />The 99%s are going to be taking it in the shorts.<br /><br />Haven't seen 2016, but the destruction of Obama combined with neo-Keynesianism wasn't hard to figure out having studied both economics and the hard left for decades.John the Econnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8993108951931633758.post-526840064721140362012-09-10T18:46:36.130-05:002012-09-10T18:46:36.130-05:00John the Econ said...
It's the very "ric...John the Econ said... <br />It's the very "rich" that stand to benefit since most of their money can be invested in commodities that are certain to hold value relative to the dollar.<br /><br />One of the reasons why the stock market is doing well & holding it’s own and the other is the weakened dollar. <br /><br />Yes, the poor & middle class will get spanked!<br /><br />John the Econ said... Using inflation as "tool of economic leveling" makes little sense ideologically, unless his goal is to totally destroy the economy by destroying the dollar altogether. That, I might believe.<br /><br />Did you see the movie “2016"? Almost exactly the conclusion of the writer. I saw it a couple weeks ago, very interesting and (to the logical, common sense side of me) plausible, therefore, extremely scary.<br />SCnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8993108951931633758.post-67512059718558443952012-09-10T18:18:07.429-05:002012-09-10T18:18:07.429-05:00"Soylent Gray"
You first... :-)
Funny..."Soylent Gray"<br /><br />You first... :-)<br /><br />Funny, sad, and scary all at the same time.CenTexTimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04026518638421849111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8993108951931633758.post-90416837275367373082012-09-10T18:16:47.938-05:002012-09-10T18:16:47.938-05:00@REM1875: Sorta backwards from the Movie The Jerk...@REM1875: Sorta backwards from the Movie The Jerk, when Steve Martin's black father teaches him about 'S*** and Shinola'.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11922968943374559199noreply@blogger.com