This is a damned depressing week. The bloodlust, the knee-jerk government worship, and the “I’ll kick your ass if you don’t agree with me” attitude about bin Laden’s death remind me (ironically) of the weeks following 9/11 when half the country went insane. I’ll probably have more to say about that, but right now I’m in one of my Deep Thought modes. I’m useless while I’m thinking. So here’s a little more miscellany while my brain churns. More long-time health-and-diet wisdom bites the dust. Pity the poor folks who’ve subjected themselves to tasteless food for years. “Man Raised by Parents…
Category: Money
Posts about being frugal, getting out of debt, staying out of debt, spending practically and splurging joyfully. This category may also contain posts about hard money and what the government is doing to all that “soft money” it creates.
A couple of good (if belated) think-pieces following the iSpy (and everybody else’s phone spies, too) flap: “We are all being tracked now. What should we do about that?” And “Who owns your location?” Bradley Manning is no longer in solitary. Sheesh. If this is what passes for “intelligent” economic commentary in the WashPost, no wonder the MSM is going down the tubes. This dude can’t even effectively knock down his own straw man. If you don’t frown, you don’t feel sad. Dunno if I believe that, but Botox studies point that way. From the same compilation of psychological insights…
I think this is satire. But these days, ya never know. Sometimes it amazes me that the fedgov hasn’t arranged a convenient “accident” or “heart attack” for John Williams to keep him from telling inconvenient truths. Horsefeathers. Provocative horsefeathers, though. The quaintly interesting thing is that the author takes for granted that “government isn’t the problem” and expects readers to share his view — when his own words show otherwise. Okay, we’ve all heard the flap about IKEA. But should we tear our hair over America’s third-world status or cheer along with the politicians for “job creation”? “Is sugar toxic?”…
My living room doesn’t normally look like this … But I just returned from a moving sale with all this loot: swivel recliner and hassock, seven-foot fiberglass step-ladder with paint shelf, wooden folding table, tin snips, two caulk guns, two rolls of self-adhesive drywall tape (unopened), gas can, large full bottle of Rain-X, super-duper adjustable drywall square, baby gate, two rugs, door mat, four-foot bubble level, never-used handmade afghan, doggie bistro, flexi-leash with scoop bag attachment, 100 feet of nylon rope (unopened), heavy-duty extension cord, hacksaw, etc. etc. etc. Oh yeah, and one beach chair with two attachable umbrellas. Looks…
Unexpected work struck today. Oh no! And it’s not even the kind that pays. Still, it’s the kind that has to be done during today’s five-second bursts of sunshine. So just some quick stuff for you: Manhattan-sized manmade floating island. Um … okay. Wonder how far that $50,000 will take the project? Wonder what that whiz-kid actually plans to do with it? Old-timers have seen this script before, but one of these days somebody’s going to succeed with the notion. “The prosecution rests, but I can’t.” Eloquent statement by a victim of “justice.” (Why do people always say they don’t…
I’m going to be busy the next couple of days and might not have much for you. So I thought I’d throw out a question — or rather, repeat a question thrown out some time ago at the Balancing Beauty and Bedlam blog (love that name): Cheap vs frugal? Which is which? It’s an old question, but ever-relevant — and not just because so many freedomistas are also frugalistas, bent on getting value for their FRNs and avoiding messy money entanglements. It’s relevant to me in part because I grew up around somebody who believed himself to be frugal but…
I was always skeptical about Liberty Dollars. But counterfeiting? Terrorism? That’s insane. Kent McManigal has a fervent rant on the guilty verdict against Bernard von Nothaus. (Tip o’ hat to Rational Review News.) OMG. All the embarrassing coincidences! As with nearly everything else, attitude turns out to be more important than tools when it comes to saving energy. Obama is a war monger as well as a war mongering criminal. And a liar. But you knew that. Nothing new here. But if the Nobel Peace Prize committee had any shame (which they don’t and never have), they’d be voting on…
Eighty-five-year-old sniper still has it. Geez, this seems like the last thing anybody should be thinking about right now. Dumb criminal of the day. He does have a point, though. The lady might be armed. (Tip o’ hat to Rational Review News.) Once again, Massachusetts proudly leads the way. Eejits. (Tip o’ hat to S.) Slowly, the states begin to defy the Fed’s funny money. Yeah, this is just a token gesture. But still … (Tip o’ hat to MH.) This is a token gesture, too. But ya gotta love it. ObamaCare waivers. For everybody. Granted this conference took place…
Good news (thanks to P.T.): the first 11 markets where Atlas Shrugged will be released. And a tiny hint of hopeful news (courtesy of Jim. B). Remember Nathan Fillion’s recent comment about wanting to revive Firefly? Well … The secret of long life isn’t what we’ve been told. But it may — no surprise — involve a depressing amount of exercise (NYTimes free subscription link). Whatever it involves, it doesn’t hinge on any “medical establishment” — as this depressing graph makes clear. For more impressive charts, check out Dave’s Friday blog. Silver. Shazam. The FDA pulls 500 prescription cold and…