Archive for August 2007

Gonzales Resigns, But It No Longer Matters


Ah, the exodus begins as the rats desert a sinking lame duck. The AG was always mere window dressing, a Latino Republican since his days as White House counsel. Even worse, he was always slated to be the fall guy.

At least he has a career to fall back on, unlike his fellow administration scapegoat “Scooter” Libby. If you don’t count Lobbyist, that is.

Gonzales

Weather Sensationalism: Gimme A Break, Please

Heat Index, Wind Chill, BOO! Be afraid, be very afraid!

When they run out of REAL scary weather phenomena to frighten us with, weather salesman resort to HEAT INDEX and WIND CHILL. The “feels like” numbers.

These artificial numbers are designed to keep your thermostats set for the maximum oil use setting (MOUS), summer or winter. This also happens to be the fastest tolerable rate money leaves your wallet.

What, you say? But these are scientific numbers! Read on:

Is The Wind Chill Temperature Accurate?
By: weathersavvy.com

It’s impossible to measure accuracy for such a subjective “feel like” temperature. The formula was designed during World War II to better measure battlefield conditions. In November of 2001 a new wind chill formula was put into use by the National Weather Service. It now has less exaggerated results and the biggest change in the formula is that it takes into account the average winds at 5 feet above the ground instead of 33 feet. The higher in the air you are, the faster the winds. So the old formula using winds at 33 ft. was not a good indication of what we humans were really experiencing. Why 33 ft.? Because that’s the height of many of the anemometers or wind speed & direction measuring devices.

Also…

The wind chill temperature is based on the air temperature and the wind speed assuming you were naked. That’s right naked!

Well! I feel warmer/cooler already!

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Flood, Tornado, Earthquake, War: Let’s Ask The Kids

Blame reality shows, the media, or maybe ourselves. One of the most irritating trends in recent broadcast journalism is interviewing children. Bad enough to give “mike time” to a tot during an episode of Nanny or Makeover, but now every other news story involves getting the perspective of the Young & Restless!

Wow, glad I saw that thoughtful insight! What’s up with THAT?!

Yo! Talk To Me!


Barbie Bandits? No, They’re Bratz Bandits!

As these notorious bandits make their first appearance in a Georgia court, it becomes apparent that they are merely the front women in a four person plot which also involves the bank teller. They were strippers at a local club. One had a tennis scholarship to a college. They did give some of the 11K bank heist to the homeless, but they also bought drugs. Oh my, they seem merely confused.

The tearful parents are making excuses for the media, but let’s face reality. Don’t dis Barbie! These women are BRATZ!

Just Ordinary Bratz


ABC News: Children Have High Blood Pressure; GOP: So What?

It’s nice to know that the GOP is on the right side of the abortion debate, but after birth, it’s tough luck, kid! ABC’s Good Morning America had a feature this morning about an impending child health crisis: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/CardiacHealth/story?id=3507125&page=1

But hey, we wouldn’t want socialized medicine. Live free or die, literally!

Copyright: McClatchy Newspapers
Source: Knight Ridder Washington Bureau (KRT)

“WASHINGTON: Congressional Democrats and state officials are mulling their options on how to counter sweeping new policy changes by the Bush administration that will make it nearly impossible for states to expand a popular health care program for children.

The State Children’s Health Insurance Program was created in 1997 to provide health coverage for kids whose families earn too much to qualify for Medicaid, but not enough to afford private health insurance. The program is administered by the states and the federal government, and it historically targets youngsters from families that earn up to twice the federal poverty level. In 2007, that’s $41,300 for a family of four.

But to help curb the growing numbers of Americans without health coverage, states began expanding the SCHIP’s income eligibility thresholds to include more children from higher-earning families. At least 10 states have adopted or are considering proposals to cover youngsters from families that earn up to three times the poverty level, or roughly $61,950 for a family of four.

About 6.6 million children are covered through the SCHIP program. Of the estimated 9 million uninsured youngsters in the United States, between 5 million and 6 million are eligible for SCHIP coverage.

President Bush and many GOP lawmakers oppose the coverage expansions, saying they go well beyond the low-income children the program was intended to cover. The president also has said that higher program eligibility limits would cause “crowd out,” in which families drop private coverage to enroll their children in the SCHIP plan, which is much less expensive.”

High Blood Pressure?


Muslims Do It Again: That’s Why They’re So Cuddly!

In Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, a Nigerian convert to Islam was thrown in prison for helping a sick female get to a hospital. He got “too close” to an unattended single female.

Muslims STILL wonder what all the fuss the West makes over them is all about!

Whaa?


Woodward Dream Cruise: Not Big Enough!

The nostalgic Woodward Dream Cruise took place again this past Saturday, August 18, and your esteemed Opinionator was there. So was a group called Hands Across Woodward, who attempted the next day to form a 16 mile long human chain [to equal the impact of the 40,000 plus cars and quarter million car loving people in attendance?].

Let’s just say that the HAW event was less than the planners hoped for. The evil, gas guzzling WDC, however, was spectacular.

Then again, if GM ever gets a tire squealing Volt out on the streets anytime soon, all bets are off regarding Oil Futures…

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Attention Children: Stop Eating Your Toys!

So now we have another hapless Chinese executive, calling it quits by his own hand. All because of the continuing bad habit of children ingesting their toys, and consuming any coating on the same. When will the madness stop? I say, follow Darwin. If you put toys in your mouth (as well as parts of your living quarters, and other non-food items), you may die. Are parents or caretakers paying attention? Stupid is as stupid does. ‘Nuff said.

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Rove Resigns, But It No Longer Matters

In a nutshell, he is no longer relevant. Surprised he waited so long, actually. Let’s see which presidential campaign he joins, next.

Rove, Back When It Mattered


Bridges Collapse: Why Is Anyone Surprised?

While the recent Minnesota bridge collapse was a rare event, it is only statistically so. There are many faulty structures ready to fail, as the risk versus reward system is standard procedure in the United States Of America. Cost of structure? Cost of human lives? Never mind. Happens in the military all the time, anyway.

A Bridge Too Far


Profit Forecasts Down: Surprise!?

So US retailers are forecasting gloom to come. Is anyone paying attention to housing and credit? To how much the USA is spending in Iraq? Just print more money! When US consumers finally come out from behind the smoke and mirrors that the Fed has given them since 2001 to prop up the economy, look out. Has this begun? Isn’t the Canadian Dollar gaining on the US Dollar? Uh-Oh! Time will tell.

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Enjoy your visit. I hope it will be enlightening, and cause you to think about your world.


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