An Ol' Broad's Ramblings
Archive for November 2010
It’s The Economy…………And You’re Stupid?
When I hear the word ‘recovery’, my normal response is “Oh, he/she/it is getting better!” and soon, will be back on track in no time. Not so when I hear it reference to the economy. I automatically thinK… “What a flippin’ joke!” A recovery indicates getting better. Where is the economy getting better? Well, the government is sure healthy, with more and more jobs added, and salaries increasing, but I see no indication that out here in the real world. People are still unemployed, they are still losing their homes, they are still scraping to pay bills, and they are worried where their next meal is coming from. Does that sound like ‘recovery’? No, not to me either.
So, when I see a piece in the Commercial Appeal like this, and begin to read, I just want to shake someone.
One of the paradoxical elements of contemporary life is the 24/7 news cycle. It’s paradoxical because, while the format keeps us well informed, it simultaneously sustains a cottage industry of talking heads, the core products of which are the “Breaking News” syndrome and a phenomenon called “availability cascade.”
The simple definition of availability cascade is when we hear so much “Breaking News” about an issue that we begin to accept it as fact and take action based on that belief. Let me remind you of an old story that demonstrates how information can become dangerously disconnected from reality.
Is it just me, or is the author trying to convey that people should quit listening to the news? I suppose we should all just listen to the government officials, and believe their pretty words like the virgin on her first date when the boy tells her, “Of course, I love you! I’m going to marry you!” right before he destroys her world.
A baker saw this headline on a newspaper: “Economy headed for depression.” Reacting to this information, he cut his flour order in half with the local miller. The miller was then compelled to reduce his wheat order from the nearby farmers. The farmers then cancelled their new equipment orders with the local manufacturer, who promptly laid off hundreds of employees. These employees were now unable to afford to eat at the restaurants that purchased the baker’s bread, causing orders for bread to crumble.
As our baker, now out of business, locked his shop for the last time, he happened to notice the paper where he had previously seen the gloomy headline. Looking closer, this time at the date, he realized, too late, that the negative headline was on a newspaper that was 70 years old.
70 years ago, the population of the U.S. was 122,775,046, the highest unemployment rate was in 1934 at 24.9%. Today’s population is somewhere around 310 million, and the unemployment is 9.6%. I can’t imagine why the powers that be keep spouting “the worst economy since the great depression’. All you have to do is look at the number, and KNOW this is not true. Is it bad? Yes, it is. It’s especially bad for those who are doing the suffering. None of those who are working so hard to make it worse with their constant tinkering are hurting. No, they are being padded by your money, so the current economic environment doesn’t affect them one whit.
Availability cascade is made manifest when we, as consumers and business owners, make buying and operating decisions based on hype we hear, rather than facts in front of us.
All I can garner from the column is that we’re stupid, the baker is stupid, and we just don’t know how to discern fact from fantasy. Then again, maybe I’m misreading the author’s intent?
Sad
Shuler Punts on Announcing Run Against Pelosi
Rep. Heath Shuler, D-N.C., refused to commit to a challenge against Nancy Pelosi for Democratic House leader in the next Congress.
He was repeatedly pressed on CNN’S State of the Union about his plans and he refused to make an announcement. Shuler continued to blast the current speaker saying it’s “unacceptable” for Pelosi to remain leader of the Democrats and “not get us where we need to go as a party.”
Isn’t it a shame that a 70 year old woman has a bigger pair than the males of her party?
In God We Still Trust
Psalm 33
12a Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD;
An FYI….contrary to what many have been spreading over the past several years, and recently on Face Book, this was NOT banned from major radio markets.
MUST! READ!
A True Story; my return home from Gulf War I
By Christopher S. Watson
It was sometime in late May of 1991 and I was headed home after my first trip to the “Sand Box” as it was first coined then. The war was over and we had kicked Saddam out of Kuwait. America felt strong again after years of hanging its head low in the wake of Vietnam. Movies like Platoon, Hamburger Hill, Apocalypse Now, and The Deer Hunter had cast a terrible light on the silver screen of my early childhood. Somehow America had begun to blame the soldiers for the failures of its politicians. I knew little about the world at the time, but I did know that this was somehow wrong.
Saturday Afternoon – Ignoring It – Laundry Time
OK, now it’s personal… – Reality Check
New York Times Celebrates FDA’s Graphic War on Cigarettes, Modeled on Ghastly ‘Halloween’ Images – NewsBusters
Are Liberals Just Nuts? – Warning Signs
Liberal Gun Control CAUSES death in Fayetteville, NC – Randy’s Right
Not Just No – HELL No!! – Whiskey. Tango. Foxtrot.
F*** Iran. Bomb California Instead. – The Plantation Nation (asterisks added by….ME 
)
Parents – No Longer Required – Liberal Heretics
Obama’s Priorities – Boots and Sabers
Illinois Woman Arrested For Assault On Police – Support Your Local Gunfighter
Interesting Information: – Bloviating Zeppelin
America spits on the Vietnam Vets AGAIN, under orders of the Obama Regime – Bare Naked Islam
The Collapse of California – American and Proud
No, Nancy, Democrats Lost Because of Your Policies – Gay Patriot
Parable of Why Johnny Can’t Borrow – Maggie’s Notebook
Michelle Malkin Explains Jihad to the Muslim POTUS Obama – Winds of Jihad
Quote of the Day – silent E speaks
A Fleeting Glance Into The Progressive Soul – The Camp Of The Saints
“Abu Hussain! Palestine loves you!!!” – Nice Deb
Veterans Day for the protected class – This Ain’t Hell
OUTRAGE: US Taxpayer Bailed Out GM Soon to be Owned by Kuwait, Saudis – Debbie Schlussel
Obama trips over his ego in Asia – Pundit & Pundette
Addressing TSA Waste….at the Ritz – Big Peace
the 8th of November, 1965 – Southern Sass on Crime
First Mosques in Canadian Arctic & Clarington Ontario Open – Logan’s Warning
You’re Probably Wondering Who The Hell I Am – The Plantation Nation
About Immigration … – Social Sense
Homeland Insecurity – Be Sure You’re RIGHT, Then Go Ahead
Ziggurat of Ur Threatened by Enemy Explosions – War On Terror News
Feds should propose graphic warning labels on small cars they are pushing… – theblogprof
Clearly, we’re setting expectations far too high. – The TrogloPundit
The Left Gives Up On Democracy… Again – Sultan Knish
A morality tale from Little Barry Soetoro’s childhood – I Hate The Media!
Political Professionals Pressure TN Grassroots Activists – Blue Collar Muse
Circumcision Ban May End Up on San Francisco Ballot – Dan Cleary
Did the Dems pass Obamacare for 8,000 people? – American Thinker
A Gentle Reminder – Don’t Assume – Whiskey. Tango. Foxtrot.
Don’t Go Soft on Racist Left – The Black Sphere
Quantitative Easing Explained
I Have To Ask….
Just how do you stuff $80K in your drawers? Seems to me, it would not only be extremely uncomfortable, but rather…..bulgy! 
Rats? Not Rats…..
Bredesen slams Rep. Curry Todd’s immigrant “rats” remark
Gov. Phil Bredesen on Friday said it was a “very poor choice of words” for a Republican state lawmaker to liken pregnant illegal immigrants to rats multiplying.
Yeah…rats isn’t exactly the right critter. Perhaps he should have said cockroaches?
“That’s certainly a very poor choice of words, and I would never refer to any human being in that way,” Bredesen said.
While Bredesen might not (he’s actually an almost tolerable Dem), members of his party have said MUCH worse about their opponents. When said human beings consistently engage in criminal activity daily, like breaking into our home – the U.S., staying without permission, concern for their sensitive feelings goes out the window.
Rep. Curry Todd of Collierville made the comments at a legislative committee meeting earlier this week after being told that federal law requires the state to extend prenatal care to women regardless of their citizenship status because all children born in the U.S. are citizens.
Do said criminal invaders foot their own hospital bills? Doubtful. So, why should we have to? The 14th Amendment (ratified 1868) does NOT state that criminal invaders children should become American citizens automatically, and has, possibly, become one of the MOST misused amendments in our Constitution.
The 14th was designed to ensure that all former slaves were granted automatic United States citizenship, and that they would have all the rights and privileges as any other citizen.
It says NOTHING about granting citizenship to babies of criminals. (And no, it doesn’t say that it’s ok to murder babies either.)
Todd said he still wants to find ways for the state to deny care to illegal immigrants.
“I don’t want to see any child not have care, but I feel they are abusing our system here because they know they can get these kids services, and the taxpayers in Tennessee are the ones having to pay for this,” he told WHBQ.
Why are the taxpayers FORCED to foot the bill for people who don’t give a damn about this country, or her LEGAL citizens? How many children of LEGAL citizens are forced to do without because there just isn’t enough money in the coffers because of so much being spent on the criminals? There’s an old saying…Charity begins at home. We take care of ours….FIRST AND FOREMOST! If there is any left over, we can share. There is never any left over. If a private, charitable organization, funded by private donations, wants to pay the bills, then they are more than welcome to do so. It does not fall to the federal or state government to provide charity! Charity does NOT come from government, it comes from the heart of the individual!
Bredesen said he supports the current rules.
“Why would you ever put any tiny or unborn child into this debate about illegal immigration?” he said. “Let’s not make children pawns in this issue. It’s a grown-up issue.”
Because, Governor, the so called grown ups have thrust these babies into the fray, and use them as pawns! If you support the criminal activities of their parents, then you are just as guilty. If your concern about the babies is genuine, then YOU donate YOUR money to support them.
Immigrant rights group Conexion Americas on Friday called on Todd to respect the “worth and dignity of all people, including immigrants and our children.”
“We are tired of being dehumanized in our own communities,” the group said in an e-mail. “We are tired of politicians who classify our children as less than human.”
There is a HUGE difference between immigrants, those who come through the front door, go through the proper, LEGAL channels, and those who sneak across the border….CRIMINALS! Todd did not say a word about LEGAL immigrants, did he? No. And if these so called immigrant groups support criminal activity, then they, too, are CRIMINALS! You aren’t a legal immigrant, it’s not YOUR community!
Came here legally, as did my grandparents?
WELCOME!
Glenn Beck 11/12/10
Weasel Time
Good Morning, World!
Got my pot of coffee, that I MIGHT share with the Mr, and all set to see what’s going on elsewhere! Heh.
I just might have to read Governor Jindal’s book. From the sound of it, it appears to be a must read for 99.9% of the DC weasels. 
The man may, or may not have, been born in Hawaii. I don’t give a flip anymore. BUT, wouldn’t it be nice if the person jetting around the world as the face of Americans actually had some respect for the country he supposedly represents?
Ah yes! The face of the ever tolerant religion of pieces.
Apparently, Michael Steele has at least one challenger for RNC chair. I’ve thought that Sarah Palin should take on the role, but hey….that’s just me. 
Gosh! You mean Iran doesn’t give a flip about ‘international law’? Color me shocked!
No, the feckless twit should NOT get probation. He should do actual time behind bars! As should ANYONE who hacks into another person’s life!
Obviously, a couple of my cats didn’t get the memo. I wonder who paid for this study?
Finding life on Mars would certainly be interesting, but it’s not exactly a top priority. Although, if Mars could sustain life, I can think of quite a few folks I wouldn’t mind sending in that direction to find out how well it would sustain life. 
Wouldn’t it be novel if the Times, just once, came out and said the Obama White House LIED, and is totally full of caca de toro? I know, I’m asking way too much. sigh….
I don’t think Governor-elect Walker is being unreasonable. Personally, I think he’s just asking the outgoing administration to stop being a horse’s rump. Seems perfectly logical to me.
The man just refuses to admit he’s batting zero.
Why couldn’t that arrogant woman just accept the voters rejection? Personal opinion: A lot of Dems wrote in her name cuz they knew their candidate was going to lose, and they are scared of anyone who supports the U.S. Constitution!
If THIS doesn’t piss you off, then you need to move your sorry ass to a different country!
Leaving Arizona
Study: 100,000 Hispanics Left Arizona After SB1070
A new study suggests there may be 100,000 fewer Hispanics in Arizona than there were before the debate over the state’s tough new immigration law earlier this year.
Do they mean Hispanics who came through the front door, or the ones that snuck in from the back? Since this study comes from Mexico City, it’s really hard to tell. Facts would be nice.
The study released Wednesday also cites Mexican government figures as saying that 23,380 Mexicans returned from Arizona to Mexico between June and September.
Well, at least that’s 23K+ that didn’t move into the rest of the states.
U.S. census figures from 2008 say about 30 percent of people living in Arizona are Hispanic, or about 1.9 million.
Either they are Hispanics, or they are Americans. If they are Hispanics, then this is not their home. If they are Americans, then hey, glad you’re here! Many families were living in the area before Arizona was won in the Mexican-American War. Those same families were there when Arizona became a state. They are Americans!
Immigrants are heavily employed in Arizona’s construction industry, which has suffered — along with the rest of the state’s economy — in the economic downturn.
Once again, are they actually immigrants, who went through the legal process? Or, were they illegal invaders, criminally employed by companies that need to pay the penalty for breaking the law?
The study also predicts that remittances — the money sent home by migrants working abroad — won’t recover their peak value of about $26 billion until 2012 or 2013.
Money that should have been earned by LEGAL American citizens, and kept right here in the U.S. of A.
Remittances are Mexico’s second-largest source of foreign income after oil exports. Nearly all of the money comes from the U.S., where nearly 12 million Mexicans live.
Here’s a novel concept: Why doesn’t Mexico come up with ways to actually PRODUCE something, that will provide jobs for their citizens. I’m fairly sure there are a few entrepreneurs in the country who would be more than happy to create businesses that would provide income for willing workers. I mean, other than corrupt politicians, drug cartels, and violent criminals!
The research center also estimated that remittances were dwarfed by the amount of money Mexican migrants paid in taxes in the United States — about $53 billion in 2008
If they buy food, clothing, etc., of course they pay taxes. However, if they are in the country illegally, how many actually filed federal income tax? The study fails to report how much ILLEGALS actually COST the taxpayer in medical care, public education, prison housing, etc. If illegals are costing the state of Arizona roughly $2.7 BILLION a year, multiply that by 50 states, and you’ve got a number that far exceeds any taxes paid in.
Glenn Beck 11/11/10
Veterans Day Parade – Nashville
When I was a kid, I LOVED parades. My family went to them on a regular basis. In my teens years, I was actually in more than I can remember, so I kind of lost my love for them. In recent years, I walked in quite a few for a variety of candidates, and that was a lot of fun, but I never actually got to watch any of them. And just why do so many parades start before the chickens are even up? Pfft! Ok, slight exaggeration, but we all know, I’m not much of a morning person, so it feels like it.
So, when we realized that we had a bird’s eye view for today’s Veterans Day Parade, the Mr talked to the front desk at the motel and got us a late check out. It’s good to be a ‘platinum member’! Heh.
Chris from Racine said “Take a lot of pictures!” So, I did! Be glad I’m not posting all of ‘em.
My Favorite Veteran
Honestly, I have a lot of favorite vets, many of who are fellow bloggers! But this one was my ALL time favorite. Why? Cuz he’s my dad. Gone nearly 30 years now, but he’ll always be #1 in my book. He was the first hero in my life, and remains so to this day!
Thank you, dad! And to all those who served to keep me safe….
