Mythbusters PSA

I'm a big fan of Mythbusters on the Discovery Channel. With all of the brouhaha in the news about Swine (H1N1) Flu, it seems that Mssrs. Savage and Heineman have been recruited to do a whole series of Public Service Announcements on the various Discovery channels... in their own Mythbusters way.



For more information, go to Discover.com's 5 Myths About H1N1 page.

Quote of the day

The Quote of the Day comes from economist Jagdish Bhagwati, at the World Affairs Journal:

After two and a half centuries of this fascinating debate, I have to say that my own sympathies lie with those who have found markets, on balance, to be on the side of the angels. But I should also add that I find the specific notion that markets corrupt our morals, and determine our ethical destiny, to be a vulgar quasi-Marxist notion about as convincing as that other vulgar notion that ownership of the means of production is critical to our economic destiny.

Feeble Critiques: Capitalism's Petty Detractors

Its Gonna Be Cooooooold This Winter

We had below-freezing temperatures briefly over the weekend. And the next several days aren't going to be much better (though we evidently do warm up to the 60s briefly next week).

I've got a feeling we're going to be in for a long, long, brutal winter.

People who are (or in this case, were) far more deserving of the Nobel Peace Prize #6

Candidate #6:
Ronald Wilson Reagan



Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation
Ronald Reagan Library
The Real Reagan Record -- National Review, August 31, 1992

October 10, 732 AD

Charles de Steuben's Bataille de Poitiers en Octobre 732

On this day in 732 AD, the Battle of Tours took place.

The Battle of Tours is important because it was the decisive turning point in Christianity's struggle against an invasion of Europe by Moorish and Islamic armies. Effectively, it saved Christianity for Europe and prevented Islamic forces from advancing any further then their toe-hold in Spain. Had the Frankish and Burgundian forces not prevailed, it is highly unlikely that any other military force in Europe of any consequence could have been mustered in time to stop the invasion; Europe would have certainly fallen to the Islamic invaders within a few years, and more than likely all of Western Europe would today be Muslim. For that reason, the Battle of Tours is generally regarded as being one of the few instances in which the outcome of history truly did hang in the balance.

People who are far more deserving of the Nobel Peace Prize #5

Candidate #5:
Wei Jingsheng
Another prominent Chinese dissident and activist. Also currently imprisoned.

Wikipedia page: Here.

(suggestion courtesy of Moonbattery blog)

People who are far more deserving of the Nobel Peace Prize #4

Candidate #4:
Hu Jia
Dissident and Democracy activist. A leader of the pro-Democracy movement in China. Currently imprisoned.

Wikipedia page here.

(suggestion courtesy of Moonbattery blog)

Breaking News!

I am in sooooooo much trouble when the in-laws discover this blog...

Around the World, Heads are Being Scratched

Sorry if it sounds like I'm harping on this, but really. It just bugs me that an award designed to honor genuine achievement is being used in such a blatantly political manner. But thankfully, I'm not the only one who is questioning the wisdom of this.

Ruth Marcus, The Washington Post

Michael Tomasky, The Guardian (UK)

Mark Phillips, CBS News

This comes off a lot like winning an Oscar for a movie that hasn't even been released yet. Even more so when you realize that the nominating process for this year's Peace Prize ended on February 1 of this year -- which effectively means that President Obama won the award based on a mere 11 days in office.

Again, do I think President Obama should have turned it down? Nope. If someone were going to give me a prestigious award with a $1.4 Million purse attached, I'd be hard pressed to come up with a reason why I shouldn't take it. But do I think this move diminishes the award? Yes, I do. Of all the people who have ever won the Peace Prize, Obama clearly has received it on the thinnest of justifications. Even among US Presidents who have won, he has done so on little basis more than his campaign theme of Hope and Change; if that were all that was needed to win, then I submit Rod Blagojevich should have won the Peace Prize in 2003.

At best, this award might be viewed as some sort of a mandate when dealing with nutjobs like Ahmadinejad, Chavez, or Kim Jong il. But frankly, I don't think any of those leaders give a rat's ass for the prize; indeed, for some it might even be taken as a sign of weakness, a signal of a willingness to appease rather than confront. Worst cast scenario, it holds Obama's future diplomacy to such impossibly high expectations that no leader can possibly meet them.

Well, what's done is done. The award has been offered and accepted, and all that now remains is to go to Oslo, meet King Harald V, and give a rousing speech. But for the future... ?

ADDENDUM:

Too early. He has no contribution so far,

--Lech Walesa, former President of Poland
1983 Peace Prize Winner

Nobel Committee's Decision Courts Controversy

People who are far more deserving of the Nobel Peace Prize #3

Candidate(s) No. 3:
Col. James Hickey and the members of the 1st Brigade Combat Team of the 4th Infantry Division, US Army

On December 13, 2003, in the town of ad-Dawr in Iraq, this unit captured Saddam Hussein - and did more for World Peace in a scant few minutes than the current administration has done since it took office.

Operation Red Dawn. (Wikipedia)

The Times of London: Obama Peace Prize - WTF?!?!

Even the Times of London questions this award.

Rarely has an award had such an obvious political and partisan intent. It was clearly seen by the Norwegian Nobel committee as a way of expressing European gratitude for an end to the Bush Administration, approval for the election of America’s first black president and hope that Washington will honour its promise to re-engage with the world.

Instead, the prize risks looking preposterous in its claims, patronising in its intentions and demeaning in its attempt to build up a man who has barely begun his period in office, let alone achieved any tangible outcome for peace.

Comment: absurd decision on Obama makes a mockery of the Nobel peace prize - Times Online

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People who are far more deserving of the Nobel Peace Prize #2

Candidate #2
Yon Goicoechea
Dissident student leader in Venezuala.  Outspoken critic of the regime of Hugo Chavez.

Information here.

People who are far more deserving of the Nobel Peace Prize #1

Gonna start an ongoing feature here: People who I think are far more deserving of being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize than Barrack Obama.  People who have actually done things - practical, concrete achievements - that deserve the kind of recognition that the Nobel Peace Prize is suppose to embody.

Candidate No. 1:
Dr. Darsi Ferrer Ramírez

Cuban dissident and outspoken critic of the Castro regime.  Journalist and Medical Doctor.  Arrested in 2001 after publishing a series of scathing attacks in non-Cuban publications on the human rights abuses of the Cuban government.  Currently still in prison.

President Obama Wins the Nobel Peace Prize

While I do think its an honor for the President, I gotta ask: Doesn't anyone think this is a tad bit premature?

He hasn't even been in office for a year, and what has he actually accomplished worthy of the prize?  Made speeches about nuclear disarmament (which is what the Nobel Committee cited)?  Heck, every President since Eisenhower has made that speech!  And the only one to actually make good on them was Ronald Reagen, and the prize committee snubbed him and gave it to the guy who surrendered.

About the only thing I can think of that Obama has done is to make people feel good about themselves -- a transitory state of affairs at best, but one hardly worthy of an award designed to honor those who have made a difference for peace.  If that's going to be your litmus test, then why not nominate the Popular Pop Star of the Moment? There are activists in China, Cuba, and elsewhere who are far, far more deserving.

Not that I think Obama should turn the prize down, no siree.  But awarding the prize for little more than to make some hamfisted political points cheapens the award, and diminishes its stature.  Its becoming the Golden Globes of the International Politics set.

The Power of the Poor

On PBS this week, a welcome rejoinder to the droll propaganda of Comrade Moore:

MESSENGER at Mercury

The MESSENGER space probe is making its third and final swing by Mercury this week.  When next it encounters the planet, it will be going into orbit.

Here's an example of the awesome imagery its sending back:

(click on the image to embiggen it!)

You can find more information about the MESSENGER Mission here.

The benefits of vaccination

Yes, I am Pro-Vax. Vaccinations do NOT cause Autism; that has been proven time and again by medical science.

New ISilicon Graffiti/i Video: Earn Big $$$ The NEA Way!

New ISilicon Graffiti/i Video: Earn Big $$$ The NEA Way!

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Pull List for October 7, 2009

So, what's Doug picking up this week?

• Batman and Robin #5 (DC)
  
• Batman Annual #27 (DC)
• Doom Patrol #3 (DC)
• Justice League: Cry for Justice #4 (DC)
• Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season Eight #29 (Dark Horse)
• The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly #4 (Dynamite)

I've been enjoying Morrison's take on Dick Grayson as Batman.  I know this is probably an unpopular opinion in many quarters, but I for one hope Bruce Wayne stays as far away from returning to Batman as time displacement will allow.  Yes, I think its that good.  The day they return Bruce Wayne back to being Batman is probably the day I will drop the Bat-titles from my pull list.  I've also been enjoying Keith Giffen's new/old take on the Doom Patrol.  Justice League: Cry for Justice is mostly just there, but since I've already started the story with the first three issues, I might as well continue to the end; its only a mini-series, after all.  As for the other two, they've been entertaining for me so I'm sticking with both titles.

Political Prisoners in Chavez's Venezuela

The Washington Post has a good write up on the increasing use of arrests and government intimidation to stifle dissent in Comrade Chavez's Venezuala.

Remember: This marxist asshole is a hero to Oliver Stone, Michael Moore, George Clooney, Barbara Streisand, and Naomi Campbell.