A Dubious Number One

You are reading Jiblog, Google's number one search result for "German Kink". I knew I never should have married into a German family.

Brewers' in the Playoffs

That's the first time anyone could say that...since the internet came into existence. I was in a local watering hole when the Mets lost to clinch it for the Brewers, and I enjoyed the small roar that went up. I can barely remember 1982, which is more than a lot of Brewers fans can say. Tonight, I only want two things: One of those ugly assed hats the Crew wore on the field after the game, and a piece of confetti from the stadium.

The Risk of Protecting the Taxpayer

As distasteful as the pending bailout is, I'm hoping that House Republicans understand one thing, and one thing only. Right now they are trying to force a better bill and correctly saying that they are trying to protect the taxpayers. But if they are the reason a plan doesn't get done and things go to hell in a hand basket next week, they will have hurt the taxpayer more than they could have ever imagined.

2006 Wasn't as Fun as I'd Thought It Would Be

I wrote this in 2004:

2006 is going to be a fun year for historians and possibly for the rest of us, as well. Why? 20 million emails from the Clinton years will become available to researchers.

Remember anything from those emails? Nope, me either.

Okay, Maybe One More Political Thought

I was in my car on Wednesday and I was listening to WTMJ. I heard two political ads. In one, it was claimed that John McCain opposed stem cell research. In the other, John McCain's support of stem cell research was trumpeted. I follow politics closely enough to know the back stories. Most people who will vote in November do not, and I honestly wonder what they will be basing their decisions off of with all of this muddled, murky information out there.

Just one Political Thought

And with a big Brewers, Badgers, and Packers weekend on the docket, this may be my only political thought of the weekend: Neither of these Presidential candidates is ready for the America they are going to inherit. Can we have a do over and nominate Romney?

What debate?

I'm beginning to understand how sports like baseball were such a popular diversion in the 1930's. What debate? What economic problems? The Milwaukee Brewers are up a game in the Wild Card chase with two games to go!

Sometimes, it is good to be wrong

And right now, I very much am wrong.

When there are no experts

You know you have a mess on your hands when the number of 'experts' offering their opinion on a topic drops to nearly nil because nobody really understands what the hell is going on for sure.

Uh Oh

This isn't good.

Urgent efforts to lash together a $700 billion rescue plan for the national economy broke apart Thursday night, hours after key lawmakers had declared they had reached a deal.

Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke sped to Capitol Hill to try to revive or rework the proposal that the administration says must be quickly approved by Congress to stave off economic disaster.

Congressional leaders were to meet with the economic chiefs into the night.

This bail out not being done yet wouldn't have been a big deal if not for a cascading series of screw ups. The markets have been very panicky for several weeks now. This week, in an effort to force the bailout through, the rhetoric heated up with calls of pending economic doom, culminating with the President's speech to the nation. If this deal gets done smoothly, the rhetoric isn't a problem. But now that the deal has collapsed, the panic is due to hit a feverish pitch when the markets open tomorrow. And the worst part about it is the panic will be a self fulfilled prophecy from Washington. They have no choice but to find a way to salvage this overnight because they made this deal appear to be the only way to save the economy.

Update
I decided that this post needed one more thought to be more complete. I hope that I'm wrong about how I think the markets will react in the morning. Things like financial panics only require a speck of dust around which to begin quickly crystallizing, though, and this looks like a ripe speck of dust.

Eric Gagne a Good Guy

This is a hell of a nice thing for him to do:

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Eric Gagne bought 5,000 tickets to tonight's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates and plans to give them away.

"Tonight we'll be playing one of the most important games in franchise history, and I can think of no better way to thank the fans than giving families an opportunity to pack Miller Park," Gagne said in a statement released by the team. "No matter what happens over these next four games, I want everyone to know that I think the world of Brewers fans. Three million times they have walked through the gates this year and none of us on the field takes their support for granted. We're going to have some fun out here, and I know that the atmosphere will be electric."

Brewer fans have booed Gagne with a passion this season. He didn't have to do that, and if I had been him, I don't think I would have.

If I had no other reason to not vote for Obama...

...this one reason would still be enough. The %&$#*@^ Teamsters are wearing my %&$#*@^ phone out with all their %&$#*@^ calls on behalf of Barack Obama. At first, it was live calls. After 3 calls, I started hanging up on them immediately. That seemed to make them call more often. We then told them to stop calling. They didn't, so we just stopped answering when the caller ID read 000-000-0000. Then we started getting recorded calls. And surveys. I will say, I stopped the surveys (they had horribly slanted questions) by answering with the most right wing answers I could. They are worse than any telemarketer I experienced before the no call list. They are on my last nerve. And finally, this is the most dogged they've been over the last three elections, and I don't trust the reasons why they are pestering for Obama.

I have no words for this accident

This is an unbelievable accident.

A 6-year-old girl is recovering after surgeons reattached her left hand, severed when it was caught in a loop of jump rope that had snagged on the axle of her mother's car.

Erica Rix underwent 10 hours of surgery after the accident in early September and spent nine days in intensive care before returning home.

Bravo to the surgeons. And as someone who hopes to be a parental type in the next year or two, I now understand even better why my parents were hard asses about the dumb things I did as a kid.

How I helped save the music industry

Hyperbole? I think not. Here is what I wrote on October 13th of last year:

Digital music is certainly a growth sector. People love buying music online. But there is an old school segment of the market that still isn't all that big on the internet. So for them, and for some who are internet savvy but love shopping at bricks and mortar stores, set up kiosks in record stores and big boxes. Partner with flash drive manufacturers, and at these kiosks sell flash drives filled with music that the user can sample and select from on the computer screen.

I had a more primitive version of this concept on May 4, 2006. So what's on the horizon? This.

SanDisk (NASDAQ: SNDK) today announced "slotMusic," an initiative that aims to position its microSD memory cards as a new music medium. The vendor has partnered with the major music labels EMI Music, Sony BMG, Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group to produce microSD cards preloaded with music free of digital rights management (DRM) copy protection.

The cards will be available from both online and retail stores including Best Buy and Wal-Mart, SanDisk said.

You're welcome, music industry (and memory card industry). If you'd have listened to me earlier, you'd be all the richer right now. You may deposit, out of goodwill, a small fee in my checking account at any time.

What is in that waterfall?

This just ain't right.

Nicole Kidman has credited a waterfall with bringing about a flurry of pregnancies - including her own - on the set of one of her films, Australia.

The actress said seven babies had been conceived during production of the film in a small town in Australia's outback.

"There is something up there in the Kununurra water", in which she and six other woman swam, she told The Australian Women's Weekly.

Strangely, all of the babies looked like Michael Phelps.

Rest in Peace, Bill Leinenkugel

Former President of the Leinenkugel Brewing Company, Bill Leinenkugel, passed away at his home Monday at age 87. I heard about this yesterday but did not have the time to put into the post I wanted to write. I never had the opportunity to get to know Bill, but I did get to know one of his sons and a couple of his grandsons. It is no exaggeration to say that his leadership of the company carried it through what was a very tough time for regional breweries and set it up to be what is now a quite strong subsidiary of SABMiller. What won't get mentioned as often over the next several days is the class act family that he helped raise. On behalf of the Ojibway family, I offer my condolences to the Leinenkugel family on their loss.

Wiseacre

I've decided to drop the word 'wiseacre' from my vocabulary. As I wrote it in the post below, I felt myself age 75 years-no mean feat for a 32 year old. And the scary part? Afterwards I went to the outhouse with a copy of the Saturday Evening Post. The lovely Mrs. Jib is going to be pissed in the morning.

Just the same, I wish I had those crazy moving picture skills of kids today, because I'd be the wiseacre posting a parcel to the intertubes. Dagnabbit!

Biden's Spaghetti Bowl History

Maybe this is a just condemnation of the quality of our U.S Senators.

Vice presidential candidate Joe Biden says today's leaders should take a lesson from the history books and follow fellow Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt's response to a financial crisis.

"When the stock market crashed, Franklin D. Roosevelt got on the television and didn't just talk about the, you know, the princes of greed. He said, 'Look, here's what happened,'" Barack Obama's running mate recently told the "CBS Evening News."

Except, Republican Herbert Hoover was in office when the stock market crashed in October 1929. There also was no television at the time; TV wasn't introduced to the public until a decade later, at the 1939 World's Fair.

I'm not a huge fan of jumping on gaffes because we all make them, but only politicians have the camera on them all of the time. This one is particularly absurd, though. I'm not sure Biden controls his mouth...I think it controls him.

I'm betting some wiseacre has a video of Roosevelt on TV in 1929 on YouTube in 5...4...3...

Advanced Notice on Talk Like A Yooper Day

A commenter on an old post asked me when Talk Like a Yooper Day will be this year. Set your calendars for November 30, 2008. That will be this year's Talk Like a Yooper Day as it is the date of the first home Packer game during the Wisconsin gun deer hunt.

And the there is the Milwaukee Brewers...

I remember how desperate I was for Packers' success in the late 1980's and early 1990's. I am nearly as desperate today for Brewers' success. Only with the Brewers, there is no "glory days" to fall back on. And that's why this month is so painful and so damn depressing. It looks like they are going to collapse on themselves to again miss the playoffs. If they do, I'm not sure that it is entirely a bad thing because the way they are playing, a first round sweep is a strong possibility. Unlike the Packers, there is no Ron Wolf, no Mike Holmgren, and no Reggie White for the Brewers. They may yet surprise me this year, but I'm prepared to have a season's worth of hope crushed yet again.

Man Candles? Really?

May God help us.

My foray into the world of "man candles" began almost accidentally. As the smell of fresh, black coffee wafted around my office one morning, I thought to myself, "Someone should make a coffee-scented candle."

Not a cappuccino or hazelnut or mocha candle. Just something that smelled like hot, strong, black coffee. You know, a candle that a dude could be proud to burn.

A quick Google search led me to two eCommerce sites that sell all sorts of man-themed scents -- like campfire, sawdust, pigskin, bacon, stripper and beer.

I just hope they don't come out with "jock strap" or "gym socks."

Hagel Said...Yawn

Chuck Hagel is doing everything in his power to marginalize himself. To wit:

Senior Republican Senator Chuck Hagel has voiced doubts about Sarah Palin's qualifications for the vice-presidency.

John McCain's running mate "doesn't have any foreign policy credentials", Mr Hagel told the Omaha World-Herald.

Mr Hagel was a prominent supporter of Mr McCain during his 2000 bid for the US presidency, but has declined to endorse either candidate this year.

He was opposed to the Iraq War, and recently joined Mr McCain's rival Barack Obama on a Middle East trip.

Hagel might have been a real force for the Democrats if not for the fact that he is canceled out by former Democratic Veep candidate Joe Lieberman.

Who Won't Be Voting for John McCain?

Well, Christopher Cox won't be:

Republican presidential candidate John McCain said on Thursday he would, if elected, fire U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Christopher Cox for failing in his oversight of Wall Street.

"The Chairman of the SEC serves at the appointment of the president and in my view has betrayed the public's trust," McCain told a rally in the electoral battleground state of Iowa. "If I were president today, I would fire him."

The comments by McCain, who portrays himself as a maverick in his bid for the White House, contrasted with the view of fellow Republican President George W. Bush, who appointed Cox to the SEC post in 2005.

Apparently, McCain also decided that there was at least one vote that he didn't need.

RSS Feeds Killed the Blogging Star

First, Let me make this clear. Calling myself a blogging star is a gross exaggeration but it was necessary to make the headline fit the song. Still, in all seriousness, RSS feeds have really contributed to my backslide as a blogger. It used to be I was a blogger first. I read media sources and opinion columns and commented from there.

Then I set up my RSS feed reader.

I began reading other blogs fanatically. At first, this barely made a dent in my blogging. Over time, though, I'd begin seeing posts that were similar to my thoughts on particular topics. I'd tweak my thoughts so they were a bit more unique. Then I started to get lazy. I'd start to Instapundit posts-you know, saying "heh" or "hmm" and then link to other things without any commentary. But that disgusted me, so I began to just let hundreds of topics go by without comment. After a short period of that, I realized that it was pointless for a blog of this size to blog like Glenn Reynolds, so I just withdrew from posting.

Of course, there have been other things that have contributed to my decline as a blogger. The more I devoted my brain to my profession, the harder I found it to switch gears to commentary. I also found that the more involved I got with my hobby of photography, the less creative capacity I had for writing. It has been difficult to shift the brain gears between the three very different mental tasks, but the RSS feeds remain the biggest challenge. RSS feeds have turned me from a blogger to a blog reader.

Given that, do I intend to give up blogging? Hardly. Just the same, I know that my place in the pecking order of blogs has significantly declined, and deservedly so.

Pragmatist

Pragmatist (noun)- 1) A free market capitalist who stands idly by as government gets ass deep in the financial markets knowing that without said intervention, the credit markets would freeze up like the pistons on a 1962 Dodge Lancer. 2) An individual who'd prefer to see an economy slowly float to its bottom like a feather on the wind to one that plunges to the ground like Michael Moore without a parachute.

I must admit, since I enjoy being employed and paying my bills, I'm standing idly by with my mouth firmly shut as the Feds muck around in the economy. Do I think it is a good thing? No, not really. Do I think it prolongs the pain? Certainly. Do I think that there are plenty of unforeseen circumstances to come because of the intervention? Without a doubt. Do I think I'm personally better off if this mess unfolds slowly rather than in a quick, violent seizing up of the economy? I do, and that's why I've yet to complain.

The McCain-Palin Courtship

This is pretty funny.

Great Speech By Sarah Palin

But I'm almost embarrassed to admit to what part relieved me the most. Can you guess just what that was?

Answer? No pants suit.

Airline to charge extra for butts in seats

(JNN) Welter Air today announced a revolutionary new plan to help it cope with high fuel prices. Starting on November 26, 2008, the airline will remove passengers from its flights to reduce the weight of planes, saving untold billions.

In a statement to reporters, Welter CEO Walter Flounder said that this lean operation plan should also reduce crowding on planes and help the airline return to profitability by 2012.

"Many of our loyal customers may see this as a negative, but in reality we are offering an incredible customer service.

"No longer will our customers have to worry about long lines, delays, cancellations, or unpleasant, crowded flights."

The company is assuring customers that pre-paid, checked baggage will make it to their final destination most of the time. Those customers who must actually fly to their destinations will have the option of paying a $300 butt-in-seat fee to be transported to the flight's destination.

Other airlines are closely watching Welter's plan and most are expected to eventually follow suit. Industry experts are hailing the move as a customer service and profitability model that will forever change the airline business for the better.

(This post is satire)

No identity politics here

The lovely Mrs. Jib is peacefully dosing through the Palin speech.

Update
I see Trig Palin is listening with the same rapt attention.

Thank you so much means...

Shhh! I'm ready to talk.

Watching Giuliani...

...and I'm beginning to think that he is a more valuable weapon in this role than he would have been as the Presidential nominee. They never could have turned him loose this way as the nominee.

Wisconsin Factoid

There is an Athens and a Marathon in Wisconsin. Distance, by road, between the two? Only 18.7 miles.

Also, Athens, Wisconsin has never been at war with Sparta, Wisconsin.

Future Lefty Political Attacks

Since the great 'Desperate Housewives political attack of 2008' on Sarah Palin has been snuffed out, I've decided to take a gander at some possible future attacks from those on the left with a very loose grasp on reality. Here are two attacks that I think very well may be forthcoming.

1. A double whammy strikes the Republican ticket. Sarah Palin has actually been possessed by demons, explaining how a woman could possibly be a Republican. At the top of the ticket, we find out that the man that returned from Vietnam isn't the real John McCain. Instead, we learn his real name is John Black when the real John McCain shows up. Interestingly, the real John McCain is a Kerry Democrat. (Days of Our Lives)

2. John McCain is really an alien from a another world who has hit his head so hard that he thinks that he is a U.S. Senator running for President. It is up to Al and Tipper Gore to bring back his memories so he remembers who he is and gives up on the U.S. Senator persona. (Alf)

3.

Palin to be a Grandmother

Guess what? Sarah Palin's 17 year old daughter is five months pregnant:

John McCain's running mate Sarah Palin said Monday that her 17-year-old unmarried daughter is five months pregnant, an announcement aimed at rebutting Internet rumors that Palin's youngest son, born in April, was actually her daughter's.

A statement released by the campaign said that Bristol Palin will keep her baby and marry the child's father. Bristol Palin is five months pregnant, and the baby is due in late December.

Makes that lefty, Depserate Housewives-esque smear look really stupid, doesn't it? Unfortunately for Bristol Palin, she's going to have to grow up in a hurry, because her teenage pregnancy will be the next thing the sewer dogs on the left will be attacking.

Update
Elliot makes an excellent point.

Might the Gulf be Spared?

Am I the only one who is starting to sense that Gustav might not live up to its pre-landfall billing?

I'm getting way ahead of things here as even a category 2 or 3 storm is serious, but logically it would seem that this storm will not be a replay (or worse) of Katrina. That is good. What concerns me is that if it does come ashore as a weaker storm than expected, given the 'storm of the century' buzz it has been getting, a false sense of security will be re-instilled in New Orleans.

Overheard About Sarah Palin

I've had a busy weekend. I've been out and about, and whenever political conversations have started near me, my ears have perked up. I'll be honest, I've eavesdropped on every one of the conversations. I've listened in on conversations at a barber shop, a couple of bars, and a restaurant, and here's what I've learned. In each and every one of those conversations, there has been both universal disbelief at the choice of Palin, and some very serious concerns about her experience. But that's when something interesting happened in each conversation. The topic moved from her inexperience to Obama's. The people in all of the conversations I listened to began to compare Palin's, the Veep nominee, experience to that of Obama, the Presidential nominee. And the reason that is so interesting is that it negates one of the complaints that I've heard that this choice restrains McCain's ability to question Obama's experience. Frankly, if conversations like this are going on across America, he doesn't need to push the experience topic so much anymore. Her presence on the ticket pushes the topic all by itself, and in a a way that involves the voters via their own conversations.

Thoughts on the Republican National Convention

The Republican National Convention has a thorny issue on its hands. While Republicans get ready to celebrate the nomination of a new Veep and Presidential candidate, the gulf coast of the nation is staring down a very powerful hurricane. While the weather in St. Paul will be beautiful this week, it will be very much imprudent to be celebrating a national event like a convention while a sizable portion of the nation is in the throes of a national disaster.

Logistically, the Republican party has little choice but to go forward with the convention, unfortunately. With all of the planning and reservations that go into a huge event like this, it is just not possible to put it on pause and say, "come back next week, everyone." Not only will key venues not be available, hotel rooms would be impossible to come by, and many attendees may not be able to get the time off/travel accommodations to come back at another time.

So if it is a given that a time sensitive event like a convention cannot be postponed, you can fully expect that Democrats and the media will be heavily critical of the Republicans for soldiering on. If the criticism is going to come, then it is up to the leadership of the party to manage the event in such a way as to mute that criticism. If they do not make wholesale changes to the event, they risk sinking the McCain-Palin campaign before it even begins.

The modern convention is part party & celebration, part PR event to launch a campaign with as much excitement as possible. To throw a modern convention next week will display the complete tone-deafness of the party's leadership. Therefore, the only choice is dial back the convention. It must be about the business of the nomination, and it must be done so in rather stoic manner. Parties must be tamped down. Speech schedules should be cut back. The media profile of the event must be reduced. In essence, the event must be about business, not about celebrating.

If the Republican leadership goes ahead with this event as planned while a category 4 or 5 hurricane is blasting into the gulf coast, the election may be lost before it even begins. If the leadership adjusts plans and creates a respectful, happy, yet somber event that is focused on the business of the nation right now, then they may just be able to throw some dirt on the party's Katrina reputation. It won't be easy, but in this situation, expediency is a losing approach.

Palin for VP

Tactically speaking, I like McCain's choice of Sarah Palin.  She just needs to hold her own in the debates against Biden.  There is some risk to this choice as she may not be the most qualified VP candidate in the world, but that is something that the Obama camp will have difficulties taking advantage of without highlighting their own Presidential candidate's experience short comings.

My Favorite Part of the Obama Acceptance Speech

During a portion of the speech when Obama was promising to cut taxes for a huge percentage of Americans while also promising to spend scads of money, the lovely Mrs. Jib said the following:

"Keep blowing that smoke up my ass. I'm still not voting for you."

My absolute favorite part.

"Above My Pay Grade"

I hope the McCain camp understands how powerful those words can be for them. Obama's "Above my pay grade" was a complete cop out, and it was one that opens up for questioning whether the presidency is above his pay grade. The McCain camp wants to show Obama unqualified for the presidency, and Obama gave them a gift with that answer. If they can't capitalize on it, we may be looking at an election where neither candidate deserves the office.

Of course, when Republican VP hopeful Tom Ridge is saying that a pro-abortion VP is acceptable to the Republican base, perhaps we are looking at an election where all common sense is turned on its head. If McCain were to go with Ridge, I'd instantly understand his strategy: Get all conservatives to stay home while trying to win as many Rockefeller Republicans and Democrats as possible. Unfortunately for the Original Maverick, that's a losing strategy.

May God Help Us

Because, apparently, Democrat politics are going Chicago-style:

2008 is the Year of Chicago.

The core of the Democratic Party is shifting to Chicago where our ruthlessly pragmatic style of politics and governing has produced the next presidential nominee. Only our unique political culture where the patronage-fueled organizations traditionally embrace intellectual reformers at the top of the ticket could have allowed a law professor and progressive legislator's campaign to beat the entrenched status quo of the Democratic Party and produce a stronger message to win in November.

The politics and culture of Houston that generated the current president and holds such a disproportionate impact over the nation's political culture is likely giving way to the politics and culture of Chicago.

I hear the zombie vote will be huge in November.

I must admit that I find it amusing that Johnson-Weinberger is so oblivious to the faults of politics in his city that he chose to flaunt it. I'm sure Obama, faced with the choice, will distance himself from Chicago politics as much as he can.

Be proud of your city, Dan. Just be more aware of its shortcomings.

San Francisco, American Bangkok

It seems that San Francisco will have a measure on the fall ballot that will decriminalize prostitution. I respect the fact that rational people can differ on the best means to control prostitution, but it seems this measure has a dangerous loophole for minors.

Yet the San Francisco ballot measure completely ignores the prostitution of children. The measure simply states, "Law enforcement agencies shall not allocate any resources for the investigation and prosecution of prostitutes for prostitution." Astonishingly, there's no exemption that encourages police to enforce the law for minors.

If the measure passes, the city is likely to become an international haven for pimps who peddle girls and boys, and perverts seeking sex with minors.

And where does that leave Bay Area youth? "They want new and young," Jasmine, a former teen prostitute from Oakland who now volunteers for the nonprofit SAGE Project, which fights sexual exploitation, explained to me.

On the one hand, I want to believe that there is no way that San Francisco will pass this measure. On the other hand, it is San Francisco. The city is the capital of unintended consequences. One can only hope that there are enough people in that city who still have a command of logic to defeat this measure.

Weak Criminals

It isn't everyday you hear about a robber armed with a rifle getting overpowered by a female clerk.

A female convenience store clerk wrestled away a robber's rifle Friday night and chased him into a nearby woods near Lake Wissota before police caught up with him a few miles away, according to Chippewa County Sheriff's Department reports.
[...]

The clerk told deputies a man entered the store with a rifle and was dressed in dark clothing and wearing a mask. He confronted her while she was stocking coolers near the rear of the store.

The suspect pointed the rifle at her and demanded money from the cash register. He then pointed the rifle toward a wall and fired a round into a display of soda.

The clerk went to the cash register at the front of the store where the suspect gave her a bag and demanded only paper money. She gave the suspect the bag with the money inside and he turned to leave the store.

As the robber began opening the door, the clerk came out from behind the counter and physically confronted the suspect, who had lowered the rifle to put another round in the gun's chamber.

During the struggle between the two, the clerk removed the man's mask. They continued fighting in the parking lot and the live round the suspect was attempting to put in the rifle fell to the ground.

As the struggle continued, the clerk wrestled the rifle and bag of money from the robber. He picked up the rifle and fled into woods behind the store. The clerk identified Larson with yearbook photos.

I love it. I've been at that convenience store a number of times, and I can envision his butt whupping in my head.

A plurality is not a minority

I hate stories like this because they are just plain stupid.

Ethnic and racial minorities will comprise a majority of the nation’s population in a little more than a generation, according to new Census Bureau projections, a transformation that is occurring faster than anticipated just a few years ago.

The census calculates that by 2042, Americans who identify themselves as Hispanic, black, Asian, American Indian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander will together outnumber non-Hispanic whites. Four years ago, officials had projected the shift would come in 2050.

The main reason for the accelerating change is significantly higher birthrates among immigrants. Another factor is the influx of foreigners, rising from about 1.3 million annually today to more than 2 million a year by midcentury, according to projections based on current immigration policies.

“No other country has experienced such rapid racial and ethnic change,” said Mark Mather, a demographer with the Population Reference Bureau, a research organization in Washington.

This means nothing. Why? Well, because you'll never see all of America's "minorities" line up completely and uniformly against whites. And that kind of unity is the only way you can consider white America a minority. But hell, here's to the elites' dream of putting whitey in his place.

Trip Wires

From Austin Bay:

Moving Georgia’s Iraq force home in US air transports was a reminder of US strategic reach. That was a military option and it has been employed. WHo knows? It may have given Moscow some pause. We’ve already seen at least one quasi-military option employed. Using USAF cargo planes to bring humanitarian supplies is standard policy – but a C-17 is a US military plane. That is a message, a limited, careful, but calculated message, and constitutes a low-risk option that, well, the order has been given and the transports are flying. The presence of US military training forces in Georgia is a message — one Russia chose to ignore. Beefing up the training and support mission is a military option.

Georgia cannot be a member of NATO without significant U.S. presence. Why? Because it is impossible to defend without trip wires that, if tripped, Russia would know would trigger a major conflict. Prior to this event, the U.S. could not have begun to place these trip wires because it would have been castigated for its bellicosity and passive aggression towards Russia. Russia has now given us the cover for setting up those trip wires that will allow for Georgia's admission to NATO. I know that a lot of people are comparing this to the old USSR, but make no mistake, the USSR would have dealt Georgia a quick and fatal blow that would have prevented it from falling within the West's sphere of influence.

If You Are Going To The Democrats' National Convetion...

Watch your ass...

Police confirmed Wednesday that they found about a pound of sodium cyanide in a Denver hotel room where the body of a Canadian man was discovered earlier this week.

Police spokesman John White identified the white powder as sodium cyanide, the crystal form of cyanide. Fire officials say they found a bottle containing about a pound of the white powder, or between a pint and a quart by volume.

An expert told the Denver Post that the amount of cyanide is enough to kill hundreds of people.

I'm not trying to be an jackass here-after all, I passed on a food color joke. Seriously, watch your butts, guys. Same to those of you headed to St. Paul.

Thank you, unnamed campaign!

Dear Unnamed Campaign-

Thank you for inviting me to your conference call today. 15 minutes wasn't a lot of notice for a guy who works for a living, and unfortunately I don't get instant email updates. Perhaps that was what you wanted, who knows?

Sincerely,
Jib

Georgia Left to the Whims of Russia

President Bush warns Russia:

President Bush on Monday demanded that Russia end a "dramatic and brutal escalation" of violence in Georgia, agree to an immediate cease-fire and accept international mediation to end the crisis in the former Soviet republic.

Almost immediately after his return from the Olympics in China, Bush warned Russia in his strongest comments since the fighting erupted over Georgia's separatist South Ossetia region last week to "reverse the course it appears to be on" and abandon any attempt it may have to topple Georgia's pro-western government.

"Russia has invaded a sovereign neighboring state and threatens a democratic government elected by its people. Such an action is unacceptable in the 21st century," the president said in a televised statement from the White House, calling on Moscow to sign on to the outlines of a cease-fire as the Georgian government has done.

Unfortunately, there is little that can be done for Georgia outside of pressure on Russia. Russia can swallow Georgia before any outside defense could be made. Tactically, there is no good place to stage troops. But most importantly, going toe to toe with major, nuclear tipped power like Russia is a recipe for disaster.

Not Enough to be 99.5% Truthful, Either

John Edwards is being challenged to back up his claim that he did not father Rielle Hunter's baby:

The family of John Edwards' former mistress, Rielle Hunter, is challenging the former senator to take a DNA paternity test after his claim that he did not father Hunter's 6-months-old child.

In the first reaction from Hunter's family, her younger sister Melissa told ABC News that Edwards should immediately follow through on his pledge to take a paternity test.

"I would challenge him to do so," the sister said.

"Somebody must stand up and defend my sister," she said. "I wish that those involved would refrain from bad-mouthing my sister."

I see a bidding war between Montel and Maury for the right to televise this one. If it does turn out that Edwards is the father, he'll become more politically radioactive than Gary Hart immediately after "Monkey Business," and if there had been a cabinet position waiting for him in an Obama White House, there won't be any longer.

Things that make you go...W...T...F?

Bizarre, bizarre, bizarre.

A woman who made news around the world when she had five pups cloned from her beloved pit bull Booger looked very familiar to some who saw her picture: She may be the same woman who 31 years earlier was accused of abducting a Mormon missionary in England, handcuffing him to a bed and making him her sex slave.

A paper trail of court documents and jail booking information uncovered by The Associated Press suggests 57-year-old dog-lover Bernann McKinney is Joyce McKinney, who in 1977 faced charges of unlawful imprisonment in the missionary case. She jumped bail and was never brought to justice.

What isn't crazy about this story? The dog's name of Booger was certainly weird. The cloning was strange. The fact that she was so easily recognized after 31 years is unusual. But I think the fact that a woman made a man her sex slave against his will puts this story over the top. The very possibility in the days before Viagra seems beyond logic.

Looking Back on the 4 War

I'm torn. On the one hand, I'm tired of the Brett Favre v. Green Bay Packers '4 War'. Virtually everyone's opinion is set, and nobody seems interested in making adjustments to their opinions. Every conversation on the topic devolves into the same people saying the same things, and I find that tiresome, boring, and tedious (Jiblog, your thesaurus for all things dull).

Still, I do want to look back on some items that I think have escaped attention during all of this. I've narrowed it down to three topics, and I really should do a separate post on each, but I just want to get this over and done with in one post. So bear with the slightly disjointed nature of this post as I look at the fans, the sports media, and the fact that this entire mess was destined to happen.

Okay, first the fans. Overall, I think all Packer fans have the best interests of the team at heart, even though there is a wide variety of opinions as to what those best interests are. I can respect those differences in opinion even in disagreement. Generally speaking, one class of those opinions fall into the area of "Brett was the best thing for this team this season." Of that class, a subgroup has formed. That subgroup is the "Love Favre/Hate Thompson More Than the Franchise" group.

I've come to find that subgroup very disturbing. If the Dan Devine dog murder story had been true (it wasn't), these individuals would have been the ones defending the dog killer. They have lost any grip on rationality, if they ever had one. They seem to enjoy being miserable, angry, and hate-filled more than anything else. In fact, they seem to stew in their own miserable attitudes towards Ted Thompson, Aaron Rodgers, Mike McCarthy, Mark Murphy, and the organization.

What really bothers me is how prevalent and large this subgroup of Packers fans is. Read the comments section to a Packer article, and they are there. Go to your favorite blogs, and they are either the bloggers or the commenters. Your favorite watering hole and water cooler? They are there, too. Packers training camp? They are certainly there. They see nothing wrong with going around puking their putrid attitudes out on anyone and everyone in the organization that they've pinned blame on in their own minds. As a Packer fan, I find myself extremely disappointed by this sizeable and idiotic subset of fans. If I were Ted Thompson, I'd send my dogs out of state, just in case.

***

Next, the sports media. I now have a much clearer understanding of the contempt that news journalists have for sports journalists. The last month has been filled with some of the worst reporting I have ever seen. Some sports journalists played this entire thing straight up the middle, and I'll give them credit for that. Most, however, took a side early on, and their reporting showed it. I can't count the number of times I read, watched, or heard something reported and then thought, "wait, that wasn't what was said/done at all." The reporters who not-so-subtly took sides molded many things to fit their views of what was going on in this mess. They read between the lines of things Brett and the Packers said and created stories out of whole cloth. And when they weren't doing that, they were just plain getting things wrong and also accepting what they were told by their side with blind faith. The communication between Favre and the organization was a mess, but the sports media amplified the issue and made it worse for player, team, and fans.

***

Finally, the ultimate problem in all of this comes down to two things: the Packers brass didn't want to look like asses even though they could look no other way, and they were squishy the entire month because of it; Brett Favre is about the most indecisive man there is off of the football field and that indecision put more roadblocks in his way than anything else. Both sides' biggest enemy in this mess was themselves, and the 4 War was destined to happen because of it. Because of that, demonizing either side is completely pointless.

But the kid is not my son...

I'm guessing John Edwards has been offered a cabinet position in an Obama presidency and is trying to clear his affair from the news well in advance. That baby is going to follow him for quite a while unless they clear up the paternity.

They see a salute...

...I see a hand signal calling Obama a giant a-hole.

On Brett

I was a homer for Packer quarterbacks for most of my first 14 years. By the time I got my temps, I had finally swore off my blind allegiance to Packer QBs. I bought several Packer jerseys since 1992, but I always refused to buy a Favre jersey. And I'm glad I did, despite the temptation over the past sixteen years. I am abundantly thankful for Brett Favre's career in Green Bay, and I have stories from that period that I will eventually annoy the hell out of my grandchildren with. But while Brett performed at a level his predecessors never did, he also ended up harboring a vindictiveness (his adjective) that none of his predecessors ever rose to, either. And I'm glad I never owned his jersey.

I am honest when I say that I wish Brett the best. I can't not offer him good wishes because he brought too much pleasure to me during my early adulthood years. Just the same, I really don't think the Jets are getting the player they think they are, and I think a lot of people are going to have to taste their own feet when it comes to Ted Thompson's decision making.

Thanks for the Memories, Brett (Again)

I've been very displeased with the way Brett Favre has handled himself this off season, but I do wish him the best. I've been confident since this mess began in July that Brett was due for a big drop in his numbers this year because of his motivation for coming back (sticking it to the Packers management), his unwillingness to put in the off season and Mon-Sat work necessary, and the effect of nature on an aging athlete. Having said that, I hope he has a decent season, after all. His days of free passes in Wisconsin are gone. He's a New Yorker now, and that media isn't as friendly as the Wisconsin press.

A Thought from the Awakened

There is a special place in hell for pre-dawn lightning storms.

What will be considered a success for the '09 Packers?

So Brett's back with the Packers. While they are saying there will be a competition for the job, the fact is that it will be the future Hall of Famer's job to lose. Given that, let's look five months into the future. Let us say that the Packers do not win the Super Bowl. If that occurs, was all of this worth putting the future off a year? In other words, is a good season with Brett at the helm enough for you, or does he have to lead this team to the promised land one more time?

If You Use IE 7.0, Sit On It

What do I have to lose, 4 readers? If you use 7.0, you obviously can't read this, but when you can again, do yourself a favor: Drop IE.

In all seriousness, I suspect that Sitemeter will fix whatever the problem is...after all, they are the ones losing as people drop their counters. And since I've afforded myself the luxury of barely ever checking my traffic anymore, I'm going to save myself the trouble of removing the re-adding the code for Sitemeter.

"The Guerilla Congress"

The Republicans who continued the conversation on energy in the House were in the sweet spot of governing. They were doing the right thing, they were being justifiably defiant, and their actions had resonance with the public. I just wish they would have kept it up, because, as is, all too many Americans will remain ignorant of this impromptu "Gorilla Congress."

Wisconsin Sausages Too Big for Japan

For the record, I'm not the one who said that, I'm just passing it along to you, my one remaining reader.

The Post That Will Go Unwritten

After reading this comment at the WSB, I thought up what was a pretty funny scenario for a Brett Favre induced civil war in Wisconsin and the U.P. of Michigan. So I cued up blogger to post it, but then I remembered this and decided that right now, it just wouldn't be very funny.

A Note on The BBA

The BBA has been temporarily suspended because Blogger believes it is a spam blog. I blame Burri. I've requested a review, and I expect it will be running normally again soon.

The Media Love Fest for Obama

One big topic of chatter this week has been the McCain camp's complaint that the media is spending way too much time on the Obama pilgrimage and way too little time on the Sorta-Straight Talk Express. Frankly, the McCain camp should be thankful. For the press, familiarity breeds contempt. The more time they spend with him now means the earlier they'll turn on him like half-starved cannibals.

Two questions for Obama

And they are kind of related.

1. You do know that you aren't running for President of the World, right?

2. How many votes do you think you picked up in Israel and Germany this week?

On the Return of Favre

Most of my commentary on Brett Favre has been confined to the Wisconsin Sports Bar, but I did want to share one little nugget here. I am so confident that Brett's age and decreasing devotion to the little things will lead to a big performance drop off that I don't even really care if he ends up in Minnesota or Chicago. In fact, in a kind of perverse way, I'm almost to the point where I'm welcome it.

Plant Bleg

Mystery Plant
Originally uploaded by Jibby7

I was walking along the river in Waukesha this weekend and I snapped a photo of this plant. Unfortunately, I have no idea what the hell it is. Anyone out there who is sharp at plant identification who can fill me in on this? Your expertise is much appreciated.

Motivations Behind the Iraq Plans

The great debate is on again: When should we leave Iraq? In this corner, we have Barack Obama's 16 month plan. And in this corner, we have John McCain's longer range plan, one that could see a substantial U.S. presence in Iraq for years and basing rights for our children's lifetime and beyond. But really, what are the motivations behind each plan?

For most Americans, the 16 month plan is very seductive. Americans are not a war loving lot despite their willingness to fight for security and liberty. The Long War has been exactly that, and the fatigue in the general populace is palpable.

In addition to fatigue, there is this notion that pulling out now, while Iraq is stabilized, is a chance to make a legitimate claim to victory over the insurgency in Iraq. A quick pull out may very well allow that claim to be staked.

The long range plan proves to be a much more difficult sell. A fatigued public cannot fathom a significant U.S. military presence in Iraq that lasts until 2012 or 2020. Long term military deployments such as this are just not something that Americans have historical experience with.

If you listen to Iraq's Defense Minister, that long range presence is exactly what we will need in order to claim a victory that the history books will recognize. He says that it will be 2012 before Iraq can even handle all of its own internal security, and that it may be 2020 before the country can reliably protect itself from external threats. If his estimates are correct, a 16 month pull out, while possibly giving the U.S. a tenuous claim to victory, would leave the current Iraqi state horribly vulnerable to internal and external calamity.

So which plan is best? Well, the answer just may lay in your motivation. If you have a short term outlook, then getting our troops out of harms way with a veneer of victory is likely the goal. The future of the nation at the crossroads of the Middle East is wrought with peril in this outlook, but it is nothing if not expedient.

On the other hand, if a stable, allied state in the heart of the Middle East is the goal, then there is little choice but to stay until such time that the Iraqi government can successfully provide it's most important service to the Iraqi people: Providing internal and external security for the Iraqi people. Additionally, if Iraq's long term viability and prosperity is a goal, then long range basing rights a la Germany and Japan must be negotiated with the Iraqi government. The presence of a U.S. base(s), while perhaps not always popular, would have a tempering affect on internal Iraqi instability while acting as a very obvious trip wire to deter external threats to the nation.

So when you consider the plans of the competing presidential candidates, ask yourself this: What motivates my support of one plan over another? Do I just want this over because I'm tired of it all, or do I want us to make the effort to do this right so our presence today is appreciated by future generations of Iraqis, not regretted.

Litmus Test for MSM's Obama-Crush

This is rather clever:

This is my proposed Quayle Test. Ask yourself: How each time Obama says something stoopid, would the press would have crucified Dan Quayle for it?

Each day, each new gaffe from Obama, imagine Dear Old (supposedly) Dumbsh*t Dan saying it. Then compare what would have happened to him compared to the response Sen. Obama gets from his cheering gallery in the Press.

It is undeniable that Obama is getting a pass from liberal media sources, and this is a great way of illustrating it.

Bank Run on IndyMac

This blows my mind.

Bovenzi, who oversees bank receiverships for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp, was not surprised to see hundreds of customers waiting outside the bank's Pasadena, California, headquarters Monday morning to withdraw their money, but predicted the anxiety would quickly abate.

"I think what people will see when they go in and get their money is that it's safe," Bovenzi said in an interview outside the newly renamed IndyMac Federal Bank. "There will be some lines until people see that."

Apparently these folks have never taken the time to read the "FDIC Insured" thing. This isn't 1930...not yet, at least. They really didn't need to forgo work to get their money because it was still going to be there after work, or tomorrow, or this weekend.

The Bring Back My $8 Campaign

Since there is a Bring Back Brett Favre campaign that is getting rave reviews on the news, I've decided to start the Bring Back My $8 campaign for all of us who bought that now silly commemorative Brett Favre issue of Sport Illustrated. See the Wisconsin Sports Bar for details. Together, we can get our $8 back.

Tony Snow, 1955-2008

I am saddened by the death of Tony Snow. Snow has done much to further the discourse on the right over the years via his columns, his radio show, and his time on television. While I might not have always agreed 100% with him, I always did respect him. As Press Secretary, he brought a small piece of assertiveness to an administration that did not display very much of its own. My condolences to Snow's family.

Miller Park at Night

Miller Park
Originally uploaded by Jibby7

I've been dying to take this shot of Miller Park for a long time. I had it all thought out in my head...I was going to use a long shutter speed and a smaller aperture so I could get the stadium just right while having a nice, blurred crowd shot. So there was only one problem when I went to shoot it-my tripod was in my trunk, and my car was way over in the general lot. So I had to adjust and do this basically hand held. I like it, but I didn't get as much of a blur on the sidewalk as I had hoped, and the lights on the right really messed with the composition of the entire.

Dumb

I stood underneath a pavilion tonight as a severe thunderstorm blew through. I must admit, that ranks in the top 10 of dumbest things I've ever done. As I held a teammate's aluminum bat with sand and rain blasting my face, I wondered what the hell I was doing.

Bored, Uninspired

By Gawd, I have been a horrible blogger this year, and mostly mediocre last year. I have to admit, 'the process' has left me bored and completely uninspired. Four years ago, I was gung ho for a flawed but respectable candidate. Since then, I've watched the Republican party do everything possible to shear itself from conservatism, and the president utterly fail to lead on domestic issues. I will get back into the swing of things, but 'the process' has left me with no desire to do so. I will do so in spite of everything that is going right now, not because of it. And I can tell you this, I will pull the lever for John McCain, but only because Obama leaves a deep level of distrust deep in my gullet every time I listen to him.

Poor Reporting Skills in Madison

The Capital Times has a story on the odd behavior exhibited by Charles Peterson prior to his murder of Joel Marino. The story is an interesting if shallow look at the killer, but one little piece of the story made me cringe:

Madison police apparently have a database of people who have exhibited strange behavior, the database maintained mainly for the safety of police officers if they need to make contact with the people on the list, but also as an unofficial record of people who might be dangerous.

What a horrible paragraph that is destined to creep people out about big brother. Let's take it apart piece by piece. First, they never should have used "apparently." They are journalists, and they should have asked a question or two that eliminated the need to use apparently, which is vague and uncertain for a story of this type, and thus allows the reader to create false impressions. An opinion piece can use apparently, a news story should only very rarely use it.

Second, if they are talking about what I think they are talking about, it is an in house contact management database that all departments keep, not some mysterious database that tracks your behavior. It really would be little different in action than the contact management databases that the Capital Times reporters and advertising sales reps use to keep track of their own contacts. This contact database allows the department to have an institutional memory of previous contact that they have had with individuals so officers can better prepare for future contacts. The notes in there might run from a mundane complaint to criminal activity.

That one paragraph is an example to me of how unprofessional the Madison media has been at times during these murder cases. They have every right to hold the Madison Police Department's feet to the fire, but for God's sake, report responsibly. Already in the comments to that story people have picked up on the mysterious strange behavior database and think that it is something that it really isn't.

I Forgot My Own Blogiversary

Damn. That's what happens when you get to be one of the 'old' bloggers-you get forgetful. Jiblog began on June 15th, 2004 with a post titled "Opening Salvo," which I could re-print here today and it would still be timely. If it weren't for Wigderson's anniversary, who knows when I would have remembered it.

Happy blogiversary, James. I'm glad I could hop into the fray and blaze the trail for you. You've done okay for yourself, rookie.

The Ten Mysterious Communications from Men

Yahoo tries to decipher men and women for each other on regular basis, and those features never cease to amuse me. Their latest piece, "Man Talk" Translation, is no different. So I've decided to semi-fisk it. Ladies, I'm going to add some context and alternate meanings to their ten pearls of wisdom. Keep in mind, I'm not some cornball dating coach, I'm a married man who is just offering you the real dirt.

1. He starts talking about how crazy all his single friends lives are, and then he tells you that he doesn't miss it at all. What most women will think if they hear this, is that he misses those days. This is not true. He says this because he is looking for confirmation that you feel exactly the same way. He also wants to communicate that he's ready to take the relationship to the next level.

Dude is tired of the dating scene and he is comfortable being out of it with you. Don't assume the ring is just around the corner. He's a guy, so he's pretty literal.

2. Since you recently took him to your family's house for dinner, he can't stop talking about how much fun he had with your brother. What he means here is that he really likes your family, and wouldn't mind being a part of your family.

As it turns out, they like the same beer and sports. They probably drank beer and watched sports. And grunted to each other during timeouts. It doesn't mean he likes your mother, although he might. But he might not.

3. He teases you about things like how clumsy you are or about how you put smiley faces in every one of your emails. What he's really telling you when he does this is that he really likes you a lot. Remember that men are just giant boys... we tease the ones we love and ignore the ones we don't.

He gets this one right, but remember, it has to be good nature teasing. Needling and riding you isn't teasing, and that guy is probably just an asshole.

4. A man tells you he needs his space. So what does this mean to you? It means that you need to ignore him and not call him. Men love the chase. By not calling him, he'll start calling you and wondering what happened.

Methinks the author is throwing his bros a bone here. If he says he needs his space, give it to him, but realize that completely ignoring him may mean that you'll never hear from him again. If so, he ain't that into you, so let him go...but you are free to bash him to all of your friends.

5. A man says that he really wants you to meet his parents. What does this mean in man talk? He's telling you that you are his girlfriend, and that he is ready to take it to the next level by getting you involved with his family. This brings us right to the next bit of man talk.

If you haven't figured out you're his girlfriend by this point, you probably need some remedial classes on "guy signals," and this list is doctorate level stuff for you.

6. When a man calls you and says, "I want you to meet my friends on Friday night," this is as big as meeting his parents. He's introducing you to his pack. It means that he thinks you are attractive and sexy, and he wants to show you off to his friends.

If his "pack" howls at the moon and hunts domesticated animals, be very wary. Seriously though, you'd better hope it means that he's into you. If he's just doing it because he thinks you're sexy and attractive, he may be showing off his trophy, not his gal.

7. After sleeping over at his house several times, he tells you that the next time you sleep over you should bring some things to make you feel more comfortable and a change of clothing. In man talk, that is basically telling you that he's wondering what it would be like to live with you. He also wants your things around.

He certainly could be saying that. He could also be saying that he likes the fringe benefits of you staying over, and he wants to make it easier to enjoy those fringe benefits more often.

8. You have plans with him on a Sunday, and you find out that he passed up floor seats to his favorite basketball team to keep those plans with you. What does that tell you in man talk? It tells you that he's hooked... and that you are his girlfriend.

Ladies, this has even more meaning than the author lets on. It means he is completely whipped and you own him. Try not to take advantage of the poor soul. I love and adore the lovely Mrs. Jib, but c'mon, we're talking floor seats here. This would be like you passing on a 90% off sale on [your favorite product] at [your favorite store].

9. He is watching one of your favorite shows on a night you're not together, and he calls you afterwards to talk about it. In man talk, what does this mean? By doing this, he's telling you that he pays attention to you, and he's interested in learning more about you and sharing more things with you. Men generally do not choose to watch "Project Runway" on their own. If we're watching your TV shows, we really like you.

Stop! The author gets this one completely wrong. He'd have it right if your guy watches the show with you. But if he watches Sex in the City on his own and calls you up to chat about it, he might be your gay best friend, not your boyfriend.

10. He tells you, "I've cleaned today." What this means in man talk is, "I spent the day doing something I dislike more than anything." You need to realize that when a man says this to you, he really likes you. To most men, cleaning the house is just about the worst way he can spend a day.

Partially incorrect. In man talk, he's saying, "I spent the entire day...well, in between beers and ball games...cleaning to impress you. Don't count on me doing this forever, because I didn't even do that great a job, which I'm hoping you'll notice."

I hope this helps, ladies. The dating coach is really good at theory, but he missed some real world things. I'm glad I could fill in some of the holes for you.

How Exploration Can Affect Oil Prices Now

I stumbled across this article at National Review today, and it is very informative. I suggest that you read it and learn a little more about the oil futures markets. This portion of the article is particularly significant.

With that in mind, anything Congress did today that indicated a change in philosophy concerning U.S. oil production would send shockwaves throughout commodities exchanges across the globe.

Just how much of an impact could such a change in policy have? Well, one of the factors involved in prices being determined on futures exchanges is the current disincentive for oil producers to sell their product today rather than months from now, a condition called “contango.”

As of Friday, the New York Mercantile Exchange price for July delivery was $134.86. By comparison, the November contract closed at $136.04, giving producers $1.16 more to hold their product an additional four months.

Commodities experts for years have claimed this contango acts to restrain the immediately available supply as oil companies opt to sell their product more expensively in the future rather than at today’s prices.

The point being an announcement today of vastly increased exploration will remove the financial incentive for oil companies to hold supply for later higher prices. This is actually the piece of the puzzle that has been missing in my mind. Demand has not risen so significantly this year as to justify the run up in price, so there is a supply component involved here. With Saudi Arabia and Iran even saying that there is enough oil out there for oil to be under $100 a barrel, opening up domestic exploration would go a long way to break the speculation bubble and remove any incentives to sell oil "more expensively in the future."

On Those Plug In Cars

I tried to make this point the other day.

But at 25 percent market penetration, we are now talking about a serious strain on the grid, which means more coal, nuclear, or hydro plants — all of which are as popular with California pols as drilling in ANWR. Says Jim Owens of the Edison Electric Institute: “If you continue the scenario (of plug-ins reaching significant market numbers), then you’ll need more capacity. And California isn’t building any new capacity.”

In other words, even if one of the most promising alternatives pans out, we’re facing the same challenges we face now with our “old” technology and supplies: Planning ahead (six years to construct $2.5 billion coal plants, or ten years for $5 billion nuke plants) to develop the resources needed to fuel tomorrow’s energy demand.

Look, it doesn't matter what path we take, we need to expand energy production. Doing so via the electric grid makes sense, but only if we are going to start unshackling ourselves from the bondage imposed by environmental groups. It is time to get over our nuclear phobia and start building more plants. In the mean time, solar and wind technologies can continue to be developed in order that one day they might actually be price competitive.

Sometimes the Dead are the Best Choice

Take Romania:

Romanian villagers have voted to re-elect a dead man as their mayor, to prevent his living rival winning.

Neculai Ivascu - who led Voinesti for almost two decades - died from a liver disease on Sunday, too late to cancel the contest.

The village's loyal residents still gave him 23 more votes than his rival, Gheorghe Dobrescu of the ruling National Liberal Party.

C'mon, like there hasn't been a race where you'd have rather voted for a dead man.

The News You Can Expect: Elian Joins Young Communists

I could have written this in 2000.  Really, anyone could have.  In news that was a matter of when, not if, Elian Gonzalez is used for propaganda.

Elian Gonzalez, the Cuban boy whose two-nation custody battle sparked debate about parental rights versus political freedom and ended with a raid by gun-toting U.S. agents, has joined his homeland's Young Communist Union.

Gonzalez, 14, was among 18,000 people who joined the communist youth group two days ago, said the state-run newspaper Juventud Rebelde. The teenager is quoted as pledging fealty to ex-President Fidel Castro and his brother and successor, Raul Castro.

``Fidel and Raul can count on us,'' Gonzalez said, according to the newspaper. ``We won't let them down.''

Gonzalez may very well have joined of his own volition, but even if not, he was destined to be trotted out as a good little communist.  He is a trophy for the Cuban communist regime, and they are going to show him off every so often as long as the Castros run the island.

The Toyota Gamble

Even if you are a long time member of the UAW, I think you have to give Toyota credit for having a prescient view of the market. They make calculated decisions, and more often than not, they come out smelling like a rose. That doesn't mean that they don't make mistakes-their expansion of Tundra production in the U.S. is beginning to look like a big one. More often than not, their choices work out to their advantage, though, so the fact that they are following GM into the plug-in realm is very significant:

Toyota, rightly or wrongly, is widely considered the greenest automaker, and the company hopes to solidify its hold on the title and move beyond oil through a sweeping plan to produce cleaner, more efficient cars -- beginning with a plug-in hybrid it will produce by 2010.

It's no secret Toyota's been working on a plug-in hybrid to compete against the forthcoming Chevrolet Volt, but Wednesday's announcement sets a firm deadline and makes it clear Toyota has no plans of ceding the green mantle to General Motors. It also underscores how quickly the race to build a viable mass-market electric car is heating up.

Here's the catch. Electricity is not all that different from oil or any other energy source. Supply and demand set the price. So let's consider the electricity production market. Wind and solar are a long, long way off from being significant contributors to our electricity supply because they are just not cost effective. Coal and hydro power are cost effective, but they are stymied at every corner by environmentalists. That leaves one source of abundant, cost effective electricity to meet the explosive demand that popular plug ins would create: Nuclear. Unless the U.S. is willing to start fast tracking new nuclear plants, political pressure from the environmental groups be damned, plug ins will run into the same cost of operation problems that internal combustion engine vehicles already face, only the costs will spread to household and business expenses.

Fort Atkinson Flooding 2008

Fort Atkinson Flood 2008, Vol 2 011
Originally uploaded by Jibby7

Storms this week in southern Wisconsin have lead to historic flooding across the region. It is no different here, but fortunately the lay of the land is such that damage is confined to low laying areas. While horrible for those who live and own businesses in those area, it has confined the Rock River to a certain extent. I've taken some photos in an unobtrusive way as possible, and this one is perhaps my favorite. I suspect that by the time the river crests, this view will show a statue where one little boy is helping the other out of the river itself.

Rest in Peace, Tim Russert

I was a busy guy yesterday, but even with all I had going on, I still had to stop for a moment when I heard the news of Tim Russert's death. Russert was one of those few people in the political realm that was very likable, even when you completely disagreed with him or the way he as conducting an interview. From this recliner, Russert came off as a good guy who knew his stuff. Meet the Press will never quite be the same.

My thoughts and prayers are with his friends and particularly with his family. I know first hand how hard it is to suddenly lose a loved one around Father's Day, and I wish them much comfort during this difficult time

And Then, Finally, They Confiscated Our Sporks

Shocking.  It seems people will kill one another even if they can't get guns:

Britain is redoubling its efforts to stop young people carrying knives, after a volley of fatal teenage stabbings and headlines warning that the country is in the grip of a knife-crime epidemic.

Police have embarked on a stop-and-search operation to retrieve weapons, the government has warned of tougher sentencing for teenage culprits, and a "youth summit" has come up with a $6 million ad campaign to warn of the perils of carrying a knife.

So what does a good, caring, Western nation do?  Well, it starts by confiscating knives from the young.  But it might not stop there.

Another medical expert, Dr. Mike Beckett, argues that it is time to remove sharp knives from kitchens altogether. He says there is no need for the pointed tips that make knives fatal. "What people want in a kitchen knife is the edge," he told the BBC. "The point on the end of the knife actually serves little culinary purpose, but it is the point that kills people."

Next thing you know, you won't be able to own a plastic spork in the UK because of the potentially dangerous tines.  I say why ban objects?  Let's ban fingers instead.

Another McCain Campaign Slogan Idea

I saw this over at Ol' Broad's, and another campaign slogan for John McCain came to mind: Shoot yourself in the foot, not the head. John McCain 2008.

Wisconsin Storms and the Winds of Doom

Round four of storms is here. As I understand it, a good chunk of town is without power. I do not have such a problem in my part of town, but my cable is out. Thankfully, Tivo and the internet aren't out. I'd whine more about my cable being out, but I'm afraid of jinxing myself.

Tornado Look-Alikes

Most of us never see a tornado in our lives, so when storms move in, it isn't unusual for people to mistake non-tornado phenomena like scud (low, fast move clouds) for tornadoes. The National Weather Service has some great pictures of this that are extreme in nature. The photos look like they could possibly be tornadoes in the formation stage. In reality, they are scud that got pulled into a storm updraft. If you are a weather geek like me, check them out.

Storm Report

After things settled down, I decided to head out to get a few items to make life easier/more enjoyable tonight. I was aware that there were reports that a tornado had touched down on Janesville Avenue here in Fort, so I drove down to take a look. If one did touch down, it didn't do any damage. Interestingly, if one did indeed touch down, it is the third tornado Janesville Avenue has seen in the last six years or so.

There really wasn't much of any damage to be seen around town, although there was some minor flooding. I stopped at a grocery store where I talked with a cashier who worked through the storms. She and many others watched the "tornado" from the store, and they saw much the same thing that I did...a low, rotating cloud mass with strong winds at the surface. Base on what I saw, I'm not prepared to call it a tornado, but it is possible, and I'm quite sure a lot of people in town will have stories of the day they saw the Fort tornado.

Summer fun

Most of southern Wisconsin has been under the gun for severe storms this afternoon, and the system finally made its way here. When the tornado sirens sounded, we were quite ready and got move down there quickly. It wasn't too bad, and after it began to look like the storm had cleared us on the radar, I went upstairs to check. I looked out my deck doors and saw some very, very low clouds over us that were swirling. Then, out of no where, the wind was blowing very hard. Needless to say, I wasted that perfectly good pair of clean underwear. I also haven't moved as quickly as I did en route to the basement since I was 19 or so. Good news is that law enforcement never saw anything touch down, although they did see two separate menacing cloud structures move through town.

So to my fellow southern Wisconsin bloggers and readers still under the gun, take care all. These storms don't seem to be creating widespread damage, but they still aren't fun.

Update
Down we go again. The cat is really pissed off at life. We're not pleased with mother nature.

Update 2
All clear. I think I'll have a stiff drink or three.

I don't care who you are, this is funny

Guantanamo Military Judge Sentences September 11 Mastermind To Full Body Wax

Irrational Oil Market

Things are just getting crazy in the oil futures market.  Why do I say this?  Well, because we've gotten to the point that a prediction of higher prices can actually drive prices.

Oil is trading above $134 per barrel on an analyst prediction that prices could hit $150 by July 4.

Prices jumped $6.43 Friday shortly after Ole Slorer of Morgan Stanley released a report saying he expected a "short-term spike in oil prices," on the back of rising demand in Asia, Dow Jones Newswires reported.

Slorer's logic could be dead on, but the fact remains that his prediction is still just that, a prediction.  The market is shorn of actual market conditions, and is now just drifting on the breeze of speculation. 

Race, Gender, and Presidential Politics

Barack Obama has finally sealed up the Democrat nomination for president against Hillary Clinton and much has been written about the first black nominee for president.  There has also been plenty written about the cracks in the "glass ceiling."  I have remained silent on the topic because I don't feel like begrudging minorities or women any feeling of accomplishment that these two candidacies might have provided.  That said, I think I can safely say that I've grown up in a generation where racism and sexism, while not dead, have eroded and withered at steady clip.  Because of that, for me this is all anti-climatic.  I don't really care what gender or race the candidates are, and I'm looking forward to the day those two issues aren't even thought of twice.  So celebrate if you will, but let's get back to the issues, and soon.

"It's designed to cover a small part of your rear end."

Great advice for the next time you plan on slathering your abs with Preparation H.

Space Station Toilet Breaks

That's a real crapper.

The main toilet aboard the International Space Station has broken down, forcing the three crew members to use the loo on the Soyuz escape craft that's permanently attached to the ISS, according to various media reports.

However, the Soyuz head will offer only temporary relief, as its holding tank will quickly fill up.

With all the thought put into redundancies on the space station, nobody thought about the possibility of toilet failure?

The Bush Error

The Wall Street Journal has a piece up today by Douglass Feith entitled "How Bush Sold the War." It is a good piece, but this is the most important part:

But the most damaging effect of this communications strategy was that it changed the definition of success. Before the war, administration officials said that success would mean an Iraq that no longer threatened important U.S. interests – that did not support terrorism, aspire to WMD, threaten its neighbors, or conduct mass murder. But from the fall of 2003 on, the president defined success as stable democracy in Iraq.

This was a public affairs decision that has had enormous strategic consequences for American support for the war. The new formula fails to connect the Iraq war directly to U.S. interests. It causes many Americans to question why we should be investing so much blood and treasure for Iraqis. And many Americans doubt that the new aim is realistic – that stable democracy can be achieved in Iraq in the foreseeable future.

In fairness to the administration, they were taking a beating on WMD, and at that time the shift made sense, but only because they seemingly could not assertively defend themselves as well as their supporters did. They gave up that battle, and in doing so, they did sever the connection to American interests. However history views this war, it will look back on the rhetorical change as the point where the Bush administration began to hamstring itself on the home front.

Happy Memorial Day

Jones Park Baseball 5.25.08 003
Originally uploaded by Jibby7

By all means, take some time today to enjoy the fun and the trappings that come with Memorial Day. Just be sure to remember who and what the true focus of today is, and block out a little time in memorial of them.

On Indy 4: It Was a Major Disappointment.

The lovely Mrs. Jib has been looking forward to seeing Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull for months. This last week, the prospect of seeing it tonight has had a very buoyant effect on her mood as the excitement built. Tonight finally arrived, and we headed down to the local drive in early so we would be sure to get "our spot." Getting our spot was about the only fulfilling part of our evening because, unfortunately, the movie was not good.

We both came into this movie from very different perspectives. For her, this was the culmination of a lot of waiting. For me, I was heading into the movie with muted expectations because of what I had read about the storyline. Despite the different perspectives, as Indiana Jones fans we were both prepared to cut this movie quite a bit of slack. It still was a disappointment.

I don't want to say too much about the plot of the movie and spoil it for those of you still waiting to see it. I do want to touch on a couple of things, though. When I read that this movie had a component about the red scare and a component about aliens, I became concerned, and not for the reasons you'd expect. Those two components indicated to me that this fourth installment of the Indiana Jones series was not about the Indiana Jones legacy, and it certainly wasn't about the fans. It was about George Lucas and Steven Spielberg making a movie for themselves. As I watched it tonight, I feel validated in that preconception because these movie felt like it was a Lucas-Spielberg ego stroke.

The action was good, but it engendered absolutely no excitement, and at times the action actually drags on. The story...well, the story was not very good. It could have been, but it wasn't. The fact that the plot ultimately revolves around aliens is a distraction that completely destroys the 'feel' of an Indiana Jones movie. Overall, the movie was very flat, and if it weren't drawing off of the good will of the previous Indiana Jones movies, it would deserve to be a box office bomb.

If you are a fan of the Indiana Jones movies and you are excitedly awaiting your chance to see it, by all means buy a ticket. Just temper your expectations ahead of time. If you aren't in that boat, I'd suggest waiting until you can rent it.

Emergency Condoms to Burma

Apparently the swingers' scene is really hopping in Burma right now:

The United Nations will send nearly a quarter of a million condoms into cyclone-hit Myanmar to help needy survivors with no access to contraceptives, a UN official says.

So far, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) said it had sent 72 800 condoms to survivors struggling to maintain their family planning after the storm hit in early May.

Well, consider that a lesson learned here.  It is common for mini-baby booms to occur after disasters.  I always thought the boomlets were the result of a deep seated instinct in humans to procreate in the face of tragedy.  Turns out they are just the result of rubber shortages.  My bad.  (HT: Sykes)

 

Oh, and nevermind that whole hierarchy of needs...every good Euro-minded liberal knows that no need comes above sex.  Thank goodness the UN is addressing the greatest needs of the Burmese---sheaths for their swords.

Fire Destroys Fort Atkinson Apartments

If this is the complex that I think it is, the lovely Mrs. Jib almost rented a place here 9 years ago after graduating from college.

A passerby saw flames shooting out of a second story apartment of a 32-unit complex in Fort Atkinson before entering the burning structure, banging on doors and alerting residents who all safely escaped the blaze before it destroyed their homes.

All have been displaced and lost their homes and belongings at 1521 Commonwealth Drive where Fort Atkinson Fire Capt. Mark Schoenleber said the building is considered a total loss today. The American Red Cross is assisting residents with temporary shelter.

By the sounds of it, a passerby and police did an excellent job of ensuring that there was no loss of life.  I wish I could provide further coverage of this story, seeing that I live less than a mile away, but I'm getting codgerly and was asleep by 11 last night.  I never even heard the fire trucks or the helicopter that I'm told hovered and monitored the site early this morning.