HYPOCRISY: Obama and the Volcano

Just two weeks ago, First Lady Michelle Obama announced a new FDA food guideline called MyPlate. It was her latest effort in her crusade against obesity. And no one is going to get in her way. Not even her daughters. Mrs. Obama took it upon herself to tell the entire nation about their BMI's because, apparently, we're no longer worried about anorexia killing young girls.

It's been beyond amusing to watch as, without fail, each new diet pronouncement comes with a corresponding food binge. Normally, I wouldn't care what people eat. To each his own. But not only is Michelle recommending what to eat, she's trying to regulate it as well. Which is why it's funny that on a recent trip to Botswana she devoured french fries, fat cakes, and sausages. I'm pretty sure none of that belonged on HerPlate!

Then today President Obama made a surprise stop at Ross's, restaurant in Iowa. Which, according to the Wall Street Journal, is...

...a 24-hour eatery that boasts the Magic Mountain (grilled Texas toast topped with ground beef, French fries or hash browns, homemade cheddar cheese sauce and onions) and the Volcano (the Magic Mountain plus spicy chili on top), according to the White House pool reporter, Carrie Budoff Brown of Politico.

And just listen to what he did!

The president arrived shortly after noon, surprising the lunch crowd — and Ms. Freidhof. “How are you doing? We came to order some food,” said Mr. Obama, who soon was holding a giant cinnamon roll.
“I’m not sure I’m going to be able to eat one of these,” he said. Then came the Mountains and Volcanos. “Anybody who wants one, I will buy it for you,” the president said. “Anybody in the press corps has to eat the whole thing. I already got some takers on the plane though, so we’re going to order four Magic Mountains and two Volcanos.”

Obama became an enabler! Not only is he eating the gargantuan fat gut bomb himself, he's buying them for the people in his press pool! What's next? Supplying guns to drug smugglers? Or hypodermic needles to druggies? Or bailout money to failing banks? I'm telling you, it's a slippery slope from here.

2012: The Winning Combination(s)

As the primary season gears up, almost all contenders (with a few rather major exceptions) for the Republican nod have declared their candidacy. We've got everyone from "soft-spoken" John Huntsman who appears to have a message of "can't we all just get along" to the firebrands like Bachmann to the "he's a CONSERVATIVE?!" Mitt Romney to the "Who?"'s like, sadly, Tim Pawlenty. Oh, and for good measure we have the implosion that was Newt Gingrich (yes he's still running, but the message from his *former* staff appears to be abandon ship).

Then we have the x factors. Rick Perry is seriously considering a run, but we don't know for sure if he's going to toss his hat in the ring. Although I can't imagine why he wouldn't at this point. We'll find out in the next couple of weeks.

And then there's the enigma that is Sarah Palin, on a bus tour to who knows where that is most definitely not a campaign bus, or at least that's what she's telling us. Whether she'll run or not remains to be seen. I honestly don't know how to call this one. With an incredibly crowded field of contenders, it almost seems like she'd rather wait until 2016.

But among all of them, who's the ticket to success? Assuming the two outsiders who might run actually do, here's my thoughts on who would size up against the rather stiff competition. (I'm talking about the media here, not Obama).

My pick to win it all? A PerryorBachmannorPalin/Christie ticket.

Rick Perry (Governor of Texas for those of you living under a rock) has Texas's job growth and economy to tout and contrast with the disastrous job Obama has done with the national economy. He's also not one to back down on the social issues. In a recent speech to the Republican Leadership Conference he chided fellow Republicans for standing down on issues like abortion and marriage.

That's a message that plays well to the Tea Party, who stands to be a major deciding factor in this election (and one of the primary reasons I think Romney will self-destruct several primaries in as his prochoice, Romneycare reputation catches up with him). Not that I think Perry tailors his message to appeal to parties. I just think he has the message that appeals to what is now a major player in the GOP. He's also aggressive, and I don't think he'll have any qualms about attacking President Obama on any and all issues. Whether he runs or not, he needs to make up his mind. He's running out of time.

Michelle Bachmann (Representative from Minnesota) has only been a house representative for one term, but she has a track record in state politics that would make any Tea Partier, or conservative for that matter, beam. She's also a former tax litigation attorney and successful small business owner. She also is not one to back away from the social issues. Some analysts think past statements will come back to bite her during the campaign (she's known for her "gaffes") but so far I've been impressed with her professional matter, even when asked during a live interview if she was "a flake." (Chris Wallace did later apologize for the question in a video and to her personally).

I must admit, I was rather amused with the "I'm announcing that I'll be announcing my announcement for my candidacy for president of the United States," but she has kept the attention on her up, and she's running about neck and neck with Romney, the current front-runner, in Iowa polls. Like Perry, Bachmann's aggressive and not afraid to attack, which will work in her favor.

But all of these candidates are incomplete without New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. He, I believe, more than anyone else, is the key to the White House in 2012. He's managed to get himself elected in the heavily democratic state in 2009, and thus far has been able to get Democrats to work with him to cut taxes and stop spending. His simple message? "We can't do this anymore." Christie is well-liked by the mostly-democrat mayors throughout New Jersey and even some of New York, and he's made friends in high places among the other side of the aisle. He's a little softer on the social issues, but he is strongly pro-life, which is an absolute must for me.

With Christie on the ticket, Republicans can draw support from more centrist leaders without compromising on principles or, God forbid, tapping Huntsman or Romney to take the nomination.

For what it's worth? My money's on a Perry/Christie ticket. We'll see what plays out, but I'd be willing to put money on that.

EDUCATION: Fixing Gender Bias or Screwing With Children's Minds?

Education elites in Stockholm, Sweden have engineered what they claim to be the first totally gender neutral preschool. At Egalia, gone are any mention of male or female, or the use of he, her, him, or she. Teachers instead use gender-neutral "friends."

"Society expects girls to be girlie, nice and pretty and boys to be manly, rough and outgoing," says Jenny Johnsson, a 31-year-old teacher. "Egalia gives them a fantastic opportunity to be whoever they want to be."

The taxpayer-funded school hired "gender pedagogues" to go in and examine the toys, cirriculum, and language to "identify stereotypes."

Director Lotta Rajalin notes that Egalia places a special emphasis on fostering an environment tolerant of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. From a bookcase, she pulls out a story about two male giraffes who are sad to be childless — until they come across an abandoned crocodile egg.
Nearly all the children's books deal with homosexual couples, single parents or adopted children. There are no "Snow White," "Cinderella" or other classic fairy tales seen as cementing stereotypes.

The gender-neutral attitude carries over to playtime as well. Lego blocks are located right next to the kitchen, lest the poor, confused children be brainwashed into thinking cooking is separate from construction. Lotta Rajalin says the teachers constantly try to find ways to "help the children discover new ideas during play."

"A concrete example could be when they're playing 'house' and the role of the mom already is taken and they start to squabble," she says. "Then we suggest two moms or three moms and so on."

I don't know, but to me this seems like an awful lot of work to make sure children stay "natural." If children are really born not knowing any inherent difference between genders, and all of that is just forced upon them by society, it seems like it would be easier to keep them that way.

But I know that's not true. I've been around enough kids (I'm one of five, worked in children's ministries at church and was an LIT at Awana) to know that no matter how hard you try to prevent it from happening, boys are going to run around "shooting" each other. Even if you don't give them a toy gun. It can be a stick, a shoe, their fingers; it doesn't really matter. They're naturally drawn to guns. And cars. And trucks. And construction. And explosions.

How interesting is it that women instantly assume when someone discusses gender differences that it's instantly assumed that person is sexist. We can talk about the differences between a cow and a goat, but we don't instantly assume that we think cows are better, or that blue is better than red or pink because they're different. But if we talk about how boys like cars and girls like dresses, instantly you're assumed to have a deep-seated hatred against women.

We're fine with all races being equal, but we don't try to give everyone the same skin color or heritage. Why is it that when we talk about gender equality we talk about gender homogeny?

(Ok, yes, not ALL girls like dresses and not ALL boys like cars, but those tend to be exception rather than the rule)

In addition, note how director Rajalin stocks books that almost exclusively deal with single or homosexual parents. That signals something here. This school isn't about letting kids discover "who they want to be." This is about molding and shaping kids to what the teachers want them to be. If this was really about supplying all of the options, why not include books about traditional families as well and let kids take that into account?

At least one Swedish person gets it.

"Different gender roles aren't problematic as long as they are equally valued," says Tanja Bergkvist, a 37-year-old blogger and a leading voice against what she calls "gender madness" in Sweden.
Those bent on shattering gender roles "say there's a hierarchy where everything that boys do is given higher value, but I wonder who decides that it has higher value," she says. "Why is there higher value in playing with cars?"

The article notes some parents are concerned the education will leave kids unprepared for life outside of kindergarten. I'd say that's about right.

2012: Rick Perry Gets His Feet Wet

I would say called it, but it was so blatantly obvious that I think even a nincompoop could have figured it out. Rick Perry is trying to figure out the logistics of entering the crowded 2012 Republican primary field, and who is leading it?

The governor "will have to know that there are a lot of people who can raise money on their own," said Mr. Carney. He and another top Perry aide, Rob Johnson, left the campaign of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich earlier this month as part of a mass staff departure.

That's right. Those are the guys who abandoned the sinking Gingrich ship. And they're now on the ground in Iowa and in other locations trying to sort out whether Perry can hold his own in the crowd.

I, for one, am extremely excited to see Perry even considering a run. He's be by far the best challenger to the Romney mainstream juggernaut. He's bold, clear-spoken, and honest. Think Tim Pawlenty with personality.

I had the opportunity to see Perry at CPAC this year. His speech was one of the best (right behind John Bolton in my opinion) because it was funny, insightful, and most of all, aggressive.

For those of you unfamiliar with the man, Perry is the three-time governor of Texas, where he has enjoyed high popularity. He is largely credited for keeping the state from reaching the level of, say, California during the recession. Texas is creating jobs, exporting goods, and has a balanced budget. And because this isn't an essay for school, I can even include the Wikipedia link.

But what probably impresses me most about Perry is his commitment to conservative social issues, an aspect many Republicans have shied away from recently. In a speech Perry gave on Friday at the Republican Leadership Conference, he highlighted his efforts in the abortion and marriage issue, and told Republicans to stop ignoring social issues to make the media happy.

"Our party cannot listen to our loudest opponents on the left," he said, in a subtle dig at Mitt Romney. "They are never going to like us, so it's time we stopped trying to curry favor with them."

Perry definitely sounded like a candidate at the conference, and his speech was the most electrifying I've seen from any candidate or potential candidate. It remains to be seen, though, whether the late entry will be enough of a buzz to propel him to the top, or if he'll fizzle like Fred Thompson (so sad!) in 2008. Just a college student's opinion: he'll become a frontrunner the minute he steps in.

LABOR: NLRB v. Boeing UPDATE

First, an apology for the lack of posts of the last few days. Computer problems persisted longer than I expected, combined with two midterms, but I'm back!

Boeing appeared before a National Labor Relations Board administrative law judge to answer charges their planned relocation of 787 Dreamliner construction to newly constructed plants in South Carolina is retaliation against the unions for past strikes. The judge refused to allow Boeing to subpoena internal NLRB records related to the case, because, of course, that might actually make the court battle fair.

Lawyers for both the machinists union who filed the complaint and Boeing have broken off settlement talks, so it's looking like it's gonna be a long summer for the two of them.

NLRB acting general counsel has suggested Boeing shift the work back to Seattle, leaving the SC plants unused. Boeing spent over $750 million dollars to build the plant and hired over 1,000 employees. And did I mention the NLRB is staffed with Obama appointees? With unemployment at over 9% and the president touting his new jobs-training program to create work, you think he and his appointees would be thrilled someone is creating extra work. I mean, it's not like Boeing is firing the Seattle union employees. They'll still have work. Just not as much.

Boeing employees in South Carolina are furious. They say they'll most certainly lose their jobs should the NLRB rule in favor of the unions. Which would never happen.

The group of three Boeing employees filed a motion Wednesday night to intervene in the NLRB’s complaint against the aircraft maker, saying they have a “direct and concrete stake” in the outcome and ”relevant evidence ” to present in Boeing’s defense.

Boeing's CEO Jim McNerney says he believes his company will win the dispute, but that it might take a while.

"We're in a strong position and are absolutely confident that we will prevail in
terms of the law," he said in an interview at the Paris Air Show. "But it has
the potential to drag out for years."

Perhaps the most amusing part of this story is another complaint filed with the NLRB. This was filed by the National Right to Work Legal Foundation on behalf of a Boeing employee at a plant in SC. The claim alleges the union is illegally sueing Boeing in retaliation of the South Carolina plant decertifying their machinists' union several years ago. Whether that will go anywhere remains to be seen, but it's good to see that even employees understand unions are job killers. If the average line worker gets it, why can't this administration?

HIPSTERCONS: Yet Another "What Now?!"

WHAT NOW?!?!?

This just keeps getting funnier and funnier. First, Palin puts the rest of the world to shame by proving she had a firm grasp on little-known historical details. And now this. When she said there was nothing to hide about the emails, she wasn't kidding.

AOL Weird News took samples of the huge cache of emails released late last week to writing analysts who reviewed, according to the article, over 24,000 pages of Palin's writing. Their conclusion?

"I'm a centrist Democrat, and would have loved to support my hunch that Ms. Palin is illiterate," said 2tor Chief Executive Officer John Katzman.

"However, the emails say something else. Ms. Palin writes emails on her Blackberry at a grade level of 8.5.

"If she were a student and showing me her work, I'd say 'It's fine, clear writing,'" he said, admitting that emails he wrote scored lower than Palin's on the widely used Flesch-Kincaid readability test.

Yeah, that's right. Palin writes at an eight grade reading level. In her personal emails.

"She came in as a solid communicator," said Paul J.J. Payack, president of the Global Language Monitor. The emails registered as an 8.2 on his version of the test. "That's typical for a corporate executive."

"She's very concise. She gives clear orders. Her sentences and punctuations are logical," Payack said. "She has much more of a disciplined mind than she's given credit for."

Most CEO's score much lower, especially if they're dashing them off on a Blackberry. The Gettysburg Address is a 9.1, while the I Have a Dream speech is an 8.8.

In fact, I don't think hardly anybody writes at an 8.5 level when writing emails they think will be private correspondance. I know I don't. And I know my text messaging is even worse, and most of these emails were written on a Blackberry.

So, all you who deride Palin as an idiot, what's your email writing level?

PALIN EMAILS: Another Incriminating Missive

Oh my. My faith in Sarah Palin has been shattered. How could anyone vote for a candidate this vile, this despicable? She sent this email out to family and friends when she found out her youngest son Trig would be born with Down Syndrome.

To the Sisters, Brother, Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, and Friends of Trig Paxson Van Palin (or whatever you end up naming him!):

I am blessing you with this surprise baby because I only want the best for you. I’ve heard your prayers that this baby will be happy and healthy, and I’ve answered them because Ionly want the best for you!

I heard your heart when you hinted that another boy would fit best in the Palin family, to round it out and complete that starting five line-up. Though another girl would be so nice, you didn’t think you could ask for what you REALLY wanted, but I knew, so I gave you a boy because I only want the best for you!

Then, I put the idea in your hearts that his name should be “Trig”, because it’s so fitting, with two Norse meanings: “True” and “Brave Victory”. You also have a Bristol Bay relative with that name, so I knew it would be best for you!

Then, I let Trig’s mom have an exceptionally comfortable pregnancy so she could enjoy every minute of it, and I even seemed to rush it along so she could wait until near the end to surprise you with the news – that way Piper wouldn’t have so long to wait and count down so many days – just like Christmastime when you have to wait, impatiently, for that special day to finally open your gift? (Or the way the Palins look forward to birthday celebrations that go on for three, four days… you all really like cake .) I know you, I knew you’d be better off with just a short time to wait!

Then, finally, I let Trig’s mom and dad find out before he was born that this little boy will truly be a GIFT. They were told in early tests that Trig may provide more challenges, and more joy, than what they ever may have imagined or ever asked for. At first the news seemed unreal and sad and confusing . But I gave Trig’ s mom and dad lots of time to think about it because they needed lots of time to understand that everything will be OK, in fact, everything will be great, because I only want the best for you!

I‘ve given Trig’s mom and dad peace and joy as they wait to meet their new son. I gave them a happy anticipation because they asked me for that. I‘ll give all of you the same happy anticipation and strength to deal with Trig’s challenges, but I won’t impose on you…

I just need to know you want to receive my offer to be with all of you and help you everyday to make Trig’s life a great one.

This new person in your life can help everyone put things in perspective and bind us together and get everyone focused on what really matters . The baby will expand your world and let you see and feel things you haven’t experienced yet. He’ll show you what “true, brave victory“ really means as those who love him will think less about self and focus less on what the world tells you is ”normal“ or ”perfect”. You will grow and be blessed with greater understanding that will be born along with Trig.

Trig will be his dad‘s little buddy and he’ll wear Carhartts while he learns to tinker in the garage. He’ll love to be read to, he’ll want to play goalie, and he‘ll steal his mom’s heart just like Track, Bristol, Willow and Piper did. And Trig will be the cuddly, innocent, mischievous, dependent little brother that his siblings have been waiting for in fact Trig will – in some diagnostic ways – always be a mischievous, dependent little brother, because I created him a bit different than a lot of babies born into this world today.

Every child is created special, with awesome purpose and amazing potential. Children are the most precious and promising ingredient in this mixed up world you live in down there on earth. Trig is no different, except he has one extra chromosome. Doctors call it “Down’s Syndrome”, and Downs kids have challenges, but can bring you much delight and more love than you can ever imagine! Just wait and see, let me prove this, because I only want the best for you!

Some of the rest of the world may not want him, but take comfort in that because the world will not compete for him. Take care of him and he will always be yours!

Trig‘s mom and dad don’t want people to focus on the baby’s extra chromosome. They’re human, so they haven’t known how to explain this to people who are so caring and are interested in this new little Alaskan. Sarah and Todd want people to share in the joy of this gift I’m giving to the Palin family, and the greater Alaska family. Many people won’t understand… and I understand that. Some will think Trig should not be allowed to be born because they fear a Downs child won’t be considered “perfect” in your world. (But tell me, what do you earthlings consider “perfect” or even “normal” anyway? Have you peeked down any grocery store isle, or school hallway, or into your office lunchroom lately? Or considered the odd celebrities you celebrate as “perfect” on t.v.? Have you noticed I make `em all shapes and sizes? Believe me ,, there is no “perfect”!)

Many people will express sympathy, but you don’t want or need that, because Trig will be a joy. You will have to trust me on this.

I know it will take time to grasp this and come to accept that I only want the best for you, and I only give my best. Remember though: “My ways are not your ways, my thoughts are not your thoughts… for as the heavens are higher than the earth, my ways are higher than yours!”

I wrote that all down for you in the Good Book ! Look it up! You claim that you believe me – now it’s time to live out that belief!

Please look to me as this new challenge and chapter of life unfolds in front of you. I promise to equip you. I won‘t give you anything you can’t handle. I am answering your prayers. Trig can’t wait to meet you. I’m giving you ONLY THE BEST!

Love,
Trig’s Creator , Your Heavenly Father

And for those of you too dense to tell, my comments are sarcasm.

2012: Palin Emails -- You're Gonna Have to do Better Than That!

The Daily Beast has an article titled "The 14 Juiciest Palin Emails." Wow, if these are the juiciest, she was right in not being worried about the release. Number one was an email in which she praised Obama's mention of Alaska in a speech:

"We need to take advantage of this a[nd] write a statement saying he's right on," she wrote. In a follow-up email, Palin added that Obama "did say 'yay' to our pipeline. Pretty cool. Wrong candidate."

Number seven was asking God for budget help:

 "I have been praying for wisdom on this ... God will have to show me what to do on the people's budget because I don't yet know the right path ... He will show me though," she wrote in an email to Tom Irwin, a close adviser and senior official at the Alaskan Department of Natural Resources. Palin has referred to the oil pipeline she supported as "God's will."

Number five was denying Bristol was pregnant:

"Flippin' Unbelievable. Wouldn't you think they'd be afraid of being proved wrong when they rumor around the building like that?…hopefully it'll be another reason why reporters and the public can't trust that odd group of strange people." The media has found no email records of Palin rescinding her accusations after learning that Bristol would indeed give birth to her son in December 2008—eight months after the "rumors" began circulating.

I hate to break their hearts, but they're going to have to do a lot better than "Saying Polar Bears weren't endangered," or "being hesitant on social issues." The funny part? Thousands of people spent the better part of a weekend reading through all of those.

And that's what they came up with. A waste of time? I should say so!

LABOR: Viva Boeing

First of all, a disclaimer: my dad works for Boeing, so I'm a little biased, but this is still a great story. Boeing is based out of the Puget Sound area in Washington, and for the longest time, that was where most of the planes were manufactured. But the majority of Boeing's union machinists were located. And the union continued to make more and more demands until it wasn't cost effective to be based in the Puget Sound area any more.

So what did Boeing do? They built an assembly line for their new Dreamliner 787 in South Carolina, a non-union area. This allows them to produce planes cheaper and with more reliability than in Puget Sound, since the machinists union has a history of striking.

The unions retaliated, and the National Labor Relations Board filed a complaint (That's a government agency boys and girls, in case you didn't know). They claimed that Boeing unfairly relocated to South Carolina just to spite the unions. They're asking the federal government to force Boeing to stay in Seattle. There's a hearing scheduled for the next couple of weeks, and Boeing says they will fight this all the way to the Supreme Court if necessary, even if it does cost them millions of dollars and months in lost productivity.

The first thing about this story that jumped out at me is how upset the unions are that Boeing might be "unfairly retaliating" against them by relocating. Well what does that make a strike?

Of coure, that just underscores a fundamental problem I have with unions. They think that the company exists solely to provide their members with employement. But that's faulty thinking. The company exists to make a profit, not to capitulate to their union's ever-increasingly ridiculous demands.

What many unions fail to understand is that if they continue to bite the hand that feeds them, the company will eventually only have two options: fold or move. Either way, they're all out of a job.

Second, who is the government to dictate where a company can and cannot operate? I don't feel like I need to elaborate on that.

It's refreshing to finally see a company willing to put their foot down on the union issue. I only hope it works.

Is Boeing going to win? I hope so. I can't imagine a court allowing that door to open. But then again, I've been wrong before.

The Arsenal

You may have noticed I've added a widget in the upper right hand corner of the blog. It's called The Arsenal, and it's a slideshow of books I think every young person should read. If you mouse over a book you can see the Amazon information about it. Many of them are my absolute favorites. Check it out and do a little shopping if you'd like. Most books are relatively inexpensive.

2012: Abandon Ship!

It's the final nail in the coffin for this candidate. Yesterday Newt Gingrich's top staff walked out in what some are calling the Newtiny. While we don't know all the reasons yet for the mass exodus, there was clearly some friction between the man and his staff.

Aides said they had become increasingly frustrated by what one adviser described as Mr. Gingrich's "cavalier attitude" toward the campaign and his unwillingness to devote the time and energy some staffers thought was needed to win.

The last straw, according to many, was an ill-timed two-week cruise Gingrich and his wife took through the Greek Isles. Apparently aides begged him to stay home and commit desperately needed time to the campaign ahead of the Iowa straw poll, but to no avail.

The mass exodus is just the latest in an unraveling that began almost before Gingrich announced his run. Calling Paul Ryan's healthcare plan "extremist" probably didn't help either. There's very little possibility he can reassemble a staff and get back on track in time to put together a convincing run, especially since it will be such an uphill climb. Gingrich seems to have gambled on the centrist Republican bloc, a huge mistake in a year where the Tea Party is set up to be a major player.

This also creates another shakeup in the Republican primary. While Gingrich wasn't the most compelling of candidates, he assembled a crack team of experts and aides, the same ones that walked out on him yesterday. One of them, former Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue not only walked out on the Gingrich campaign, he defected, going to work for Pawlenty the next day.

The exodus has also caused plenty of speculation. Two of the major Gingrich players that walked out on him, a consultant named Dave Carney and manager Rob Johnson both have ties to Perry. Carney was an advisor to Perry for years, and Johnson managed his gubernatorial campaigns. Could they have abandoned the sinking Gingrich ship to get on board with the Perry express?

Carney insists his departure wasn't because of Perry, but Politico reports:

“There’s no way in my opinion that Governor Perry, if he ever did run, would do so without Carney leading the team,” added a friend of Perry, who asked not to be identified.

Perry has made no secret of his mulling over a presidential run, but the time was never right. After all of the shakeups and announcements people like Daniels, Huckabee, and others weren't running, the path may be clear for him to make a convincing run.

HIPSTERCONS: One More Thing...

I know you're probably getting sick of this story, and trust me, I am too. But I feel I wouldn't do it justice if I didn't include this detail that I just noticed/realized. Then, I promise, I'll put it to rest, unless something else comes up related to the issue.

The question asked of Sarah Palin in the infamous Paul Revere exchange was: "What do you take away from this visit?" Now, I don't know about you, but if I go to see a historical sight, say Mount Vernon, and I come back and my family asks me what I took away from the visit, I'm not going to say "Well, I learned George Washington was the first President of the United States under the Constitution!" I'm going to mention a litte-known or interesting fact that I learned while there. Call me crazy, but I think that's what Palin was doing.

SECURITY: Why Aren't We Doing This Already?

At the International Air Transportation Association expo in Singapore, the organization unveiled a mock-up of futuristic security "tunnels." The AP reports the IATA calls it the "Checkpoint of the Future."

Where passengers separated by security risk would walk through one of three high-tech, 20-foot-long (6.1-meters-long) tunnels that can quickly scan shoes and carry-on luggage and check for liquids and explosives.


"Passengers should be able to get from curb to boarding gate with dignity," IATA Director General Giovanni Bisignani said. "That means without stopping, stripping or unpacking, and certainly not groping."

How does it work? Tiered security rankings for individuals, an idea the TSA has been batting around for some time now (they're starting a pilot program at a few airports based losely on it.)

In the IATA prototype, passengers would be categorized based on the results of a government risk assessment that is put into a chip in a passenger's passport or other identification. An eye scan would then match the passenger to the passport.


Low-risk passengers would walk through a tunnel with their carry-on luggage in just a few minutes -- much quicker than the current average security screening of 35 minutes, IATA said. High-risk passengers would be directed to walk through the tunnel that performs a full body scan while searching for items like explosives.

Their primary reason for unveiling it, though?

Airlines are seeking ways to win back passengers put off by long and irritating airport security measures who have opted to travel instead by train, boat or car. IATA said Monday it expects the industry's profit this year to plummet to $4 billion from $18 billion last year.

Seems like a good alternative to being manhandled by an overweight man who lives in his parents' basement, no?

HIPSTERCONS: Join the Bandwagon

First of all, time to do some follow-up. Palin went on several talk shows this weekend where she was asked about her Paul Revere "flub." But rather than back down and say she misspoke, she stuck to her guns. Palin told Fox News Sunday:

Here's what Paul Revere did. He warned the Americans that the British were coming, the British were coming and they are going to try to take our arms so we have to make sure that we were protecting ourselves and shoring up all of our ammunitions and our firearms, so that they couldn't take them. But remember that the British had already been there, many soldiers, for seven years in that area. And part of Paul Revere's ride, and it wasn't just one ride -- he was a courier, he was a messenger -- part of his ride was to warn the British that were already there that, "hey, you are not going succeed, you are not going to take American arms. You are not going beat our own well-armed persons, individual private militia that we have." He did warn the British, and in a shout-out gotcha type of question that was asked of me I answered candidly. And I know my American history.

And then the world of academia, surprisingly, came to back her up.

Fox News had this tidbit from the Paul Revere House:

Patrick Leehey of the Paul Revere House said Revere was probably bluffing his British captors, but reluctantly conceded that it could be construed as Revere warning the British.

Andrew Malcolm, in an op-ed in the LA Times titled, "You know how Sarah Palin said Paul Revere warned the British? Well, he did. Now, who looks stupid?", wrote:

The well-known fable is Revere's late-night ride to warn fellow revolutionaries that the British were coming. Less known, obviously, is the rest of the evening's events in which Revere was captured by said redcoats and did indeed defiantly warn them of the awakened militia awaiting their arrival ahead and of the American Revolution's inevitable victory.
Palin knew this. The on-scene reporters did not and ran off like Revere to alert the world to Palin's latest mis-speak, which wasn't.
Like a number of famous faux gaffes in American politics, the facts of the situation no longer really matter.
The initial impression was eagerly grabbed by so many, starting with the reporter and millions of others gleefully sharing the story that reinforced their beliefs and/or desires.

Brendan McConville, a history professor at Boston University, told the Boston Herald:

“Basically when Paul Revere was stopped by the British, he did say to them, ‘Look, there is a mobilization going on that you’ll be confronting,’ and the British are aware as they’re marching down the countryside, they hear church bells ringing — she was right about that — and warning shots being fired. That’s accurate.”

 But he still dubbed her statement "lucky." Why? Why can't we accept that Palin might actually be smarter than people give her credit?

Because we have prejudged her. I for one would hate to have my reputation determined by SNL sketches performed by someone who said they would rather leave the planet than live in a country where I was VP.

And of course the media loathes her. I think it's funny that conservatives are so eager to blow off the media on anyone and anything else, yet they cling to every word they say when it comes to Palin.

Recently, a conservative short-film maker named Stephen Bannon released a 30-minute film about Palin titled The Undefeated (Don't snort that coffee out your nose, hipstercons!). Jim Geraghty of National Review was there for the screening.

Before the screening, Bannon mentioned that I and other political reporters were about to watch the “X-rated version,” as opposed to a “XXX-rated version” that he envisions being released on DVD someday. Within the first four minutes, the reason for that cryptic remark was clear, and the X rating is well deserved: The worst sneers, insults, and furious denunciations from Palin’s enemies are presented in their original language, sans any bleeps. (A version in theaters is likely to bleep out the worst ones.) The F word and the C word make multiple appearances. What’s remarkable is that the acidic comments from comedians such as David Letterman, Joan Rivers, Rosie O’Donnell, and Tracey Morgan aren’t really jokes. There’s no punch line per se; calling Palin “slutty” or a “whore,” or offering some other (usually sexual) insult, apparently is supposed to be the punch line.

According to dictionary.com, to prejudge is to:

to pass judgment on prematurely or without sufficient reflection or investigation.

Maybe we've done the same thing with Palin? Are we going to hear any apologies? Nope. Just like the media continues to report Palin said she could see Russia from her house, they'll continue to preach this one as the gospel truth.

REAL RACISM: The Awesome Powers of Foreskin Man

In a city that's fond of making just about everything else legal, a group is pushing to get circumcisions banned. No, not female genital mutilation. Circumcision. A religious practice central to Jewish culture, as well as a hygienic move for many. The San Francisco bill also has a partner Santa Monica bill. And their key spokesperson?



That guy.

Yes, foreskin man is here to save the day! With his blonde hair and blue eyes and homoerotic costume, he is just as Aryian as can be. And his arch nemesis?

Meet "Monster Mohel." Yes, you read that right. MONSTER Mohel. So stereotypically Jewish it's not just unfunny, it smacks of the propaganda the Nazi machine put out prior to WWII. The Anti-Defamation League agrees, calling the comic strips and the bill they campaign for "deeply offensive."

“The comic book portrays mohels — those specially trained to perform the traditional Jewish circumcision ceremony — as rapacious, bloodthirsty and bent on harming children,” said Nancy J. Appel, ADL associate regional director, in a statement. “Some of the imagery calls to mind age-old anti-Semitic canards such as the blood libel, the accusation that Jews ritually murder Christian children. Another comic in the series also calls up more subtle anti-Jewish themes, such as when a character complains that the pro-circumcision lobby has ‘all of the well-connected doctors and lawyers.’

The whole disgusting thing can be read here, if you think you can stomach that much antisemitism in a 16-page booklet. The group claims that many circumcision "victims" suffer the same psychological effects as a woman who as been raped. I guess I missed that part of the post-circumcision trauma.

Regardless of what the group believes, if their idea of a constructive campaign is racial slurs on people groups, they're going to have a problem on their hands.

HIPSTERCONS: Listen My Children And You Will Hear...

...how an idiot butchered the ride of Paul Revere. At least that was my reaction when I first saw the video of Palin touring Revere's home in Boston. "Oh no, now she's really done it," I remember thinking. Hipstercons everywhere rejoice, Palin has shot her mouth off again!





For those of you who don't feel like listening to the video (maybe you're a hipstercon and "hate the sound of her cloying voice") Palin described Paul Revere thusly:

"He who warned the British that they weren't gonna be taking away our arms by ringing those bells and by making sure that as he's riding his horse through town to send those warning shots and bells that we were gonna be secure and we were gonna be free and we were gonna be armed."

Instantly, the correcting started. By everyone. From all sides. USA Today wrote:

Sarah Palin apparently flubbed details of Paul Revere’s famous midnight ride when she visited Boston yesterday.

The former Alaska governor, who may or may not be running for the GOP presidential nomination, thought Revere was warning the British army during the Revolutionary War.

New York Magazine’s Dan Amira’s comment was dripping with snarky sarcasm.

Many Americans think they have a solid understanding of the country’s founding. No taxation without representation, tea party, Boston Massacre, George Washington, all that jazz. But, not surprisingly, Über-patriot Sarah Palin knows more than the average American. In fact, she may have more expertise on the subject than anybody else. For example, yesterday she revealed some heretofore unknown facts about Paul Revere’s midnight ride. Did you know that he was actually warning the British, through the repeated ringin’ of bells?

That's to say nothing of the Facebook posts and comments I've seen over the past 24 hours. I'm not a "Palin-worshiper" as many have accused me, but I felt like someone should have taken her aside and explained not to say anything without thinking it through.


Then I ran accross a couple of blogs. And some historical documentation. Thurns out Revere did actually warn the British that if they attempted to disarm the militia, they would face opposition. According to an account by Revere himself:

I observed a Wood at a Small distance, & made for that. When I got there, out Started Six officers, on Horse back,and orderd me to dismount;-one of them, who appeared to have the command, examined me, where I came from,& what my Name Was? I told him. it was Revere, he asked if it was Paul? I told him yes He asked me if I was an express? I answered in the afirmative. He demanded what time I left Boston? I told him; and aded, that their troops had catched aground in passing the River, and that There would be five hundred Americans there in a short time, for I had alarmed the Country all the way up. He imediately rode towards those who stoppd us, when all five of them came down upon a full gallop; one of them, whom I afterwards found to be Major Mitchel, of the 5th Regiment, Clapped his pistol to my head, called me by name, & told me he was going to ask me some questions, & if I did not give him true answers, he would blow my brains out. He then asked me similar questions to those above.

And then I found this interesting tidbit from International Business Times:

According to a history of the ride by David Hackett Fischer in his 1995 book "Paul Revere's Ride," after Revere awakened the community in Medford, just north of Boston, Revere rode to the house of Captain Isaac Hall, commander of Medford's minutemen, "who instantly triggered the town's alarm system. A townsman remembered that 'repeated gunshots, the beating of drums and the ringing of bells filled the air.'"

According to Fischer's book, the British likewise remembered bells being rung, shots being fired, and signal fires being lit.

Another point of amusement for me was pundits saying she claimed he rode through Boston. She specifically said he rode through town, but didn't specify which town.


I guess that's what happens when you get your history from a poem rather than the facts. News Flash, he also didn't shout "The British are coming!" They were all British at the time, so he probably would have said regulars.


Was the statement completely coherent and concise? No. Was it wrong? No.


Not that any of this matters anyways. Hipsters gonna hate. But the funny thing is, you can hate all you want, but it doesn't change the facts.

PRESIDENCY: Double Whammy Hypocrisy

According to an article from iWatch news, the number of limousines in the owned by the federal government has skyrocketed since Obama took office. When President Bush left office in 2008, the fleet was 238 limos strong. Today the number of government-owned limos is at 412. That's a 73 percent increase, or 174 new limos. Many of them were bought for the State Department.

Each limo costs the taxpayer around $60,000, so the new limo purchases come out to around $1,044,000. That's to say nothing of the fuel, operating, and other maintenance costs. The federal government uses around 963,000 gallons of fuel a day with its fleet of vehicles, and limos are anything but fuel efficient.

I can't decide what's worse about this story: the spending or the environmental hypocrisy. Obama has been talking about businessmen now having to live within their means, with no more trips to Vegas. But apparently those standards don't apply to the federal government.

In addition, Obama is a fanatic for green technology. And last time I checked, a vehicle that gets around 10 miles per gallon is anything but green. Doesn't that fall under gas guzzler?

LIBERALS: ACLU Wants Porn in Prisons

The American Civil Liberties Union is demanding porn be allowed at a prison in Moncks Corner, South Carolina.

Apparently, there were reports that innmates were only allowed to read the Bible. So what's the best way to fix that problem? Why of COURSE! Allow porn!

Officials have claimed the Bible-only reports aren't true, and said they aren't changing the rules no matter what the ACLU wants. They said porn will lead to increased violence and a more hostile environment. Ya think? I'm gonna let you do the simple logic for yourself. This is what lawyers for the prison had to say:

"If they don't like the wording in some of our policies, we'll be happy to try and create better wording for them. But, there are certain issues that we're just not going to be able to bend on," said Sandra J. Senn, an attorney for the Hill-Finklea Detention Center in Berkeley County.

BIAS: Television Insiders Say Sit-Coms Were Slanted--Duh!

The Hollywood Reporter has just released tapes of interviews with influential television producers, including producers of Friends, Golden Girls, and M*A*S*H. In them, the interviewees admit to slanting the show through casting, storylines, and plot points.

Marta Kauffman, co-creator of Friends, said that she put together a staff of largely liberal people. And that suited her just fine.

In one video, Friends co-creator Marta Kauffman says that when she cast Candace Gingrich-Jones, half-sister of Republican former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, as the minister of a lesbian wedding, “There was a bit of ‘f*** you’ in it to the right wing.”

Vin Di Bona, creator of MacGuyver and America's Funniest Home Videos was openly honest about the liberal bias in Hollywood.

When Shapiro asks what he thinks of conservative critics who say everyone in Hollywood is liberal, Di Bona responds: “I think it’s probably accurate, and I’m happy about it.”

The Hollywood elite aren't just liberal. They openly hate conservatives.

Maybe that’s because they’re “idiots” and have “medieval minds.” At least that’s what Soap and Golden Girls creator Susan Harris thinks of TV’s conservative critics.

The interviews were conducted by Ben Shapiro for his book Primetime Propaganda. There are 39 videos, and Hollywood Online is reporting they will be slowly released over the next couple of weeks.

SPENDING: Time for Some New Political Organizations

In the midst of talks about raising the debt ceiling and cutting spending, I think it's time to form some new political parties. I would like to announce the creation of The Ceiling is too. D@mn. Low. party. Our platform? The debt ceiling is too d@mn low. If you don't raise the ceiling, it's going to be a huge problem. Why? Because the ceiling is too d@mn low.

Members of the CTDL party will be fierce opponents of the other major party I am proud to announce: The Spending is too. D@mn. High. party. We need to cut spending, and we need to cut spending NOW. Why? Because spending is too d@mn high. If you don't cut the spending, we're gonna have a crisis on our hands? Why, because the spending is too d@mn high.

And of course, I nominate this man to be president of the party. Which one? It doesn't really matter.

PRESIDENCY: Obama is all fore Memorial Day

I hope he's got a killer golf game

Obama spent Monday morning laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington Cemetary. But that didn't stop him from slipping in yet another round of golf that afternoon. That makes it an even 70 rounds of golf the president has played since being sworn in--the 12th time this year alone. That's around 3 times a month.

Were there plenty of other Americans that went out and played golf on their day off? Sure. Should Obama have played golf? Decidedly no. Nile Gardiner, a reporter for British paper The Telegraph, is one of a handful of media members to write about this. He was not amused.

...it displays extraordinarily bad judgment, not only by Obama himself but also by his advisers. His chief of staff for example should have firmly cautioned against it. President Obama is not just any American but Commander in Chief of the US Armed Forces. The United States is currently engaged in a major war in Afghanistan with over 100,000 troops on the ground, and more than 1,500 have already laid down their lives for their country.

Keith Kofflier, a veteran White House reporter, was equally disgusted. He points out that it was Obama's ninth weekend in a row on the links.

The decision to golf on Memorial Day invites comparison with President George W. Bush, who gave up the game early in his presidency and said he did it out of respect for the families of those killed in Iraq.

Obama went golfing last Memorial Day as well, pausing at 3:00 to "ring a bell or offer a prayer, say a silent thank you, and commit to give something back to this nation," as he exhorted Americans to do.

CULTURE: My Friend Jim

One of "Jim's" Photos

I have a friend. Let's call him Jim, though I and most that know him will figure out who he is by the third paragraph. He and I have been best friends since the early days of high school. Jim is a recent college graduate with a degree in film. He is by no means trendy or cool, and he likes it that way. He's just Jim. He's comfortable in his own skin and he is confident in who he is. He doesn't need the approval or opinion of anyone because he's happy being Jim. No one and no thing can faze him. He doesn't have a girlfriend. He says he's looking, but that he's willing to wait until God brings the right lady into his life.

And perhaps most importantly, Jim loves his work.

Whether it's as captain of a submarine giving tours of the Great Barrier Reef or a guide working with Star Tours, Inc., the most prestigious intergalactic tour company, Jim is energetic and enthusiastic. All day. Every day.

That's not abnormal for Jim. He has a zest for life few could match. If he's passionate about something, he sets out to learn everything there is to know about it. He's sometimes been compared to a Golden Retriever. I don't think he minds the association.

Jim is an employee at the Happiest Place on Earth. Or perhaps more appropriately, Jim is a Cast Member at Disneyland Resort in Southern California. And Jim is in love with the place. Going to the parks with Jim is a highly exclusive treat. Few experience it, which is a shame. He knows everything, literally everything, there is to know about both Disneyland and California Adventure. He can even tell you which light bulbs have been burnt out for over a week. Hand him your day, and he'll plan you a schedule that can get you to over 30 rides and attractions in a single day, almost unheard of in the jam-packed park.

Unlike many tour guides, Jim keeps it light. You actually look forward to every tidbit of information you glean from him, from the special effects on Haunted Mansion to the number of rivets in California Screamin'. And it's all delivered in the same energetic style, chock  full of passion.

On his days off, Jim will go in anyways and wander the park, practicing photography, another skill he's mastering, and riding the rides he works on most of the week. For Jim, Disneyland never gets old.

Obsessed? Perhaps. But I'd like to think Jim's found his true vocation. His highest aspiration is to become an imagineer, someone who designs rides, attractions, and features in the parks. Right now he's working as many hours as he can, building up contacts, and collecting quite an impressive stack of guest recommendations commenting on what an amazing job he does. It's slow going, but he doesn't mind the wait.

As I watch so many of my friends and their parents trudge off every day to work a job they hate, it gets me thinking. Sure the job may be secure and sure they make twice the money. But I'll be happy if I  find a job I'm half as passionate about as Jim is.