Towers of Onyx and Alabaster
[Most Recent Entries]
[Calendar View]
[Friends]
Below are the 20 most recent journal entries recorded in
Balseraph's LiveJournal:
[ << Previous 20 ]
| Friday, October 6th, 2006 | | 5:11 pm |
Will get back to other stuff, but this NEEDS to be covered
To those people who say "I believe in a conservative fiscal policy, and the modern Republicans have abandoned that", I must say: please pay close attention to what's actually happening. http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/10/06/D 8KJ8R2G1.html The deficit is not just down, it's down better than expectations. The tax cuts have generated a HUGE increase in actual tax revenues taken in. Unemployment is virtually non existant. The Dow is hitting record highs. There is not a single compelling figure anywhere in the world of economics or finance that indicates our economy is anything other than nigh - golden age level. The msm tries, they try mightily. For instance, I saw an article in the NYT the other day about rising home prices, but stagnant salaries, and how awful this was. What the article didn't address was 1) salaries in comparison to costs (i.e. with virtually zero inflation, salaries not going up is fine and dandy), 2) average earning per citizen (even if the same job isn't paying more, if people are able to constantly move to better paying jobs [they are], personal income can still go up [it has been]), 3) buying power compared to costs (tax cuts mean that even if your salary doesn't change, you still have more buying power) and, most importantly, AN INCREASE IN THE PRICE OF HOMES MEANS THAT PEOPLE WHO ALREADY OWN HOMES (i.e. a majority of American households) ARE ACRUING REAL GAINS IN PROPERTY AND CAPITAL. Homes are paid at a fixed rate. If the price of the housing market was going down, then yes, it would be easier for people to buy a new / first home... but it would mean that everyone who had ever bought a home (or other property) would be losing money. In other words, even the "bad" news that the New York Times plastered on it's front page is actually GOOD news, just wrapped in deceitful and misleading terms. sheesh. ~thy host~ | | Thursday, October 5th, 2006 | | 1:52 pm |
New rules!
I'm open to debates with anonymous folks. However, if you're going to post, you have to demonstrate that you've actually read what I've said. If you're going to refute a point, you have to actually refute the source. Sorry, d, you've lost debate privlages. Discounting sources with hand wavey gestures based on source publication and without proof, not bothering to read points before you rebutt them, etc. etc.. If you decide you're ready to grow up and debate like an adult, let me know. Until then, I'll be deleting your future posts as fast as you make them, and taking amusement in doing so. Regarding the American Spectator article... I clearly stated that 90% of the content of the article was reprinted from a no longer available Washington Post article, and it was that reprinted material that was the substance of my argument. But apparently our friend couldn't be bothered to trouble himself with educating himself on the actual arguments he was trying to refute. As the host, I reserve the right to knee jerk respond, particularly because if I make a mistake, I cop to it. (c.f. - misstating that Rangle wasn't up for relelection, when what I meant was he wasn't in a seriously contested election, not noticing you were agreeing with me that things are vastly better in Afghanistan in spite of the increased heroin production you brought up) ~your host~ | | Wednesday, October 4th, 2006 | | 6:04 pm |
These things are precious in life:
* Being right, and those who doubted you being wrong. From my anonymous debate partner, in the comments sections of the last two posts: "4) The page's name is still not in the press. So much for the whole 'destroying his credibility'." Except, ta da! Less than 12 hours after you made that post... It now is. Just to be immature for a moment: ~told ya so~ * Other People completely reversing their positions, and saying they've ALWAYS had the new position, when you can prove they're either liars or fools. http://www.frontpagemag.com/blog/printable.asp?ID=729(this is about a Washington Post editorialist) and last (for today), and related to the above but even more delicious: * Blatantly contradicting YOURSELF in two different articles THE SAME DAY! http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/Printable.asp?ID=24741(this is about a New York Times writer, and charges made in Woodward's new book) Intellectual integrity, and self referential coherency, folks. Try them! They're fun! | | Tuesday, October 3rd, 2006 | | 11:02 am |
| | Monday, September 25th, 2006 | | 11:21 am |
Mixed Reactions, disingenuous perspectives
From the Harvard Crimson, about the moderate Mr. Katami who just spoke there. Anyone want to take bets on which groups were most supportive of his visit? Hint: it wasn't the Christians or conservatives. Further: Clinton's meltdown is just entertaining, and Pelosi and Rangle's comments about Chavez struck me as noteworthy and honorable... until Rangle's commented that Chavez deserved praise for making oil available for cheap to poor, and chided oil companies for not doing the same. Considering that this is only possible because Chavez nationalized and stole the refineries and pumping sites in Venezuela FROM those same companies over the last two years, it kind of takes away some of the virtue of the act, donchathink? That, plus Rangle and Pelosi just so happen to NOT be up for re-election, and as such are immunized from their voter base against their comments. Anyone notice if any Dems that ARE up for re-election or campaigning for election made similar comments? -your host | | Saturday, September 16th, 2006 | | 8:50 pm |
| | Monday, September 11th, 2006 | | 5:25 pm |
| | Thursday, August 10th, 2006 | | 1:30 pm |
On the nature of news, and the media
The official death toll from the Qana hit has changed from around 50, to ~four~. And their is indication that even those "kills" were staged. While one might debate motivation, this demonstrates the sheer magnitude of the media fraud, propaganda, and outright lies being perpetrated by Hezballah in the Middle East right now, as does this piece of video, showing the staging and manufacturing of shots of "casualties" being "Rescued" was actually the same unfortunate body being loaded, removed, and reloaded into an abulance again and again. In my previous post, an article for the BBC (practically an official propaganda wing of Hezballah at this point) was referenced, wherein claims were made that palestinians were rounded up by Israelies from their homes, and made to be human shields. The article offered no proof, no evidence, and no commentary from the Israeli military. Further, even if the grandiose claims were entirely accurate, the point is no one died or was even injured. The world does not suck. The world is complicated, and there are bad people in it. However, "moral equivalency" is a ludicrous trap, and cannot ever generate a result other than the propagation and continuation of the worst possible elements of any given society. Recognize virtue, even if it is merely the least of several evils. Support that side. Promote its virtues, condemn its faults without losing sight of what makes it better than the alternatives. Be proactive, and deal with the fact that everything you've been taught (and I mean ACTUALLY taught, not just the illusionary reverse jingoism of Chomsky and the rest who insist that the whole of U.S. society is an orchestrated propaganda machine, which is utter nonsense on stilts) might be deliberately false, and based on ideology, not concrete reality. -Me. In other news, my company has an offer for a lot of money to make a swell game. This a Good Thing. oh, last aside... August 22nd. Things will either get very, VERY bad on that day, or this will all soon calm down, and go back to another artifical "status quo" of random warcrimes against Israel while non jewish middle easterners are kept ignorant and powerless by their criminal, totalitarian leaders. Unless, that is, we stand firm in Iraq, Israel wins, and we support any and all nascent movements towards liberty and actually internal change in that vast fever swamp. Time will tell. | | Monday, July 31st, 2006 | | 2:40 pm |
Qana, and "massacre"
As Article 28 of the 4th Geneva Convention provides:
The presence of a protected person may not be used to render certain points or areas immune from military operations.
This is video of Hezbollah firing rockets from populated, civilian areas, among other fun activities. | | Monday, July 10th, 2006 | | 6:07 pm |
"defending our constitutional liberties"
"[they] are not defending our constitutional liberties when they betray the contract on which those liberties are based. This contract holds us to submitting our political differences to the due process of elections. Sabotage of the war effort – which is what the New York Times has been engaged in – is not criticism; it is sabotage. The violation of American security laws like the Espionage Act is just as much a declaration of war on our democracy as publishing information illegally provided, even if current law doesn’t cover such acts."
http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/Pri ntable.asp?ID=23279 | | Wednesday, June 28th, 2006 | | 2:11 pm |
Golly Jeepers!
So, it seems that the whole DeLay redistricting thing... ...was not only valid, but was found by an easy consensus of the Supreme Court to be a proper rebalancing of the voting districts that were explicitly broken by gerrymandering in 1991 by the Dems. http://www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/05pdf/05-204.pdfAnd, for the record, this wasn't a "Bush appointees stole rigged the court" 5-4 split decision. Some of the key arguments were made by Justices Kennedy, Souter, and Ginsburg - not exactly right wing extremists Bush – o – philes. And before anyone makes reference to the frankly sophomoric critique about the "weird" shapes of the congressional districts, the so called "snake district", etc., allow me to present you with a map of voting districts in.... California: http://nationalatlas.gov/printable/images/pdf/congdist/pagecgd109_ca2.pdfPennsylvania: http://nationalatlas.gov/printable/images/pdf/congdist/pagecgd109_pa3.pdfand that raging hotbed of ultra conservatism, Massachusetts: http://nationalatlas.gov/printable/images/pdf/congdist/pagecgd109_ma2.pdf(EDIT: Whoopsie! reposted the PA link. Link now fixed.) (and, for reference, the Texas map: http://nationalatlas.gov/printable/images/pdf/congdist/pagecgd109_tx2.pdf) So, case done, justice served, DeLay vindicated and exonerated. Looking forward to reporting on the upcoming incarceration of the editorial staff of the New York Times for treason and violation of various espionage acts, Signing off for you, your humble author. | | Friday, June 16th, 2006 | | 9:38 am |
Definitive.
For anyone interested in a comprehensive review of the issues involved in the debate about the powers of freedom of the press, vs. the government's ability to retain secret information, this link leads to testimony originally delivered as prepared remarks to the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence on May 26, 2006. It is rather comprehensive and quite unassailable. http://www.opinionjournal.com/federation/feature/?id=110008511. | | Wednesday, June 14th, 2006 | | 9:29 am |
| | Sunday, June 4th, 2006 | | 7:56 pm |
| | Friday, June 2nd, 2006 | | 10:52 am |
An unexpected offensive; results inconclusive
Karoke and I are two things that really, REALLY, do not belong together. Karoke, eleven shot glasses of scotch, and I is a war crime waiting to happen. If the North invades the south in the next week or so, and claims "outrageous provocation, the detection of a weapon of such horror that it cannot be permitted to exist" as it's justifaction, and the south Korean government lets them in because it agrees, you'll know why. On the other hand, I have a decent growl on Du Hast and Cowboys From Hell. And no, I will never, ever, EVER, do that again. Period. Anyway. Hope you all are doing well. And thank God for Starbucks and Japaneese food. That is all. -Me | | Thursday, June 1st, 2006 | | 10:10 am |
Day Three; Untapped Potential
So, Korea's biggest challenge is pollution. Particularly the "open sewage" smell that kind dominates street level. Other than that, though, it's stunningly clean. It's also very UN Hong Kong or Shanghai like in that it's (comparatively) well spread out, with six lane roads everywhere and traffic that is similar to what you might see in any US urban area - i.e. heavy, but not stupidly heavy. My biggest issue, to be honest is the food. It's essentially inedible. This is a country that, fundamentally, despite being a bourgening first world micronation, is still dining on the same horrors to which they were forced to resort during their 5000 years of being essentially a peninsular vassal state to China (and yes, I know that occasionally Korea invaded and conquered large swaths of China... but come on.) with enemies in every cardinal direction. There is no good reason to eat a chicken's foot, or to have fermented cabbage, drowned in enough chili pepper to kill the taste, as dietary staples. These people drive BMWs and use cell phones that can calculate pi to completion and display entire movies. They just need to realize they can actually step up to eating *just the good parts*, and they will reach a new period of ascended enlightenment. In other news, the project goes kinda well, I've made my first powerpoint presentation, and a swell girl is in Austin waiting for me, and I'm not there. Damnit. bye for now. | | Wednesday, May 31st, 2006 | | 8:45 am |
Conquest of Asia, Day 2
Or, really, the first full day here. I'm on a shared computer at the hotel, in the lobby. fun. I couldn't check my email yesterday, because the computer at the airport featured a lovely keyboard that DIDN'T HAVE AN UNDERSCORE ("_") character. Damnit. Asian tv is weird. They have full nudity, but they blur out ~stuff~. When the Korean who is leading you around the city says "the food at this restraunt is REALLY spicy", believe him. It was tasty, but. Seoul is very, very clean compared to Hong Kong or anywhere in China. It's still moderately scary. Fascinated by how little chineese influence I'm seeing in the culture. I have Starbucks, right now. This is a good thing. It's not even 9 bloody am yet. whee. Might write more later. ta! | | Tuesday, May 30th, 2006 | | 4:32 pm |
Where the hell are the giant robots?
So, Im in Osaka, Japan. And. There is not a single damn giant robot in sight. No transforming robots. No flying robots. Not a single mecha, of any type, anywhere to be seen. And dont even get me STARTED on the ninjas. Only one so far, and Ive been here a whole hour. So far, bitterly dissapointed. BTW, hi. Going to Korea in an hour, be back home in two weeks. And if Asia doesnt start coughing up the otaku goodness..... I might have to get nasty. -Me | | Saturday, March 4th, 2006 | | 2:42 pm |
Party today
BTW, I'm home A party to celebrate Jamie's housewarming / welcome to Texas is today! To make me feel wanted, she's also telling me that it's a welcome home party, but we know what's an actual event to celebrate. When: Saturday Mar 04, 2006 at 8:00 PM (i.e. today!) Where: 3619 B Leafield Drive Austin, TX 78749 http://maps.google.com/maps?q=3619+B+Leafield+Drive,+Austin,+TX+78749hope to see everyone there. | | Thursday, February 16th, 2006 | | 6:59 pm |
yeah yeah...
I know, I suck. No posts in ages and ages. Just to clarify: this is not because I've spontaneously found a good time to be had in Paris. Rather, it's because so little of interest happens that I deem appropriate for public consumption. That, plus the introduction of skype to my world make communication lots easier, so I now do via direct chat what I had been doing via this. Anyway. I'M COMING HOME! Thank God and any other divinities who may have had a part in seeing this little excursion through to a mostly successfull end. Further, one of my ~best~ friends, the unmatchable Miss Maulie, is throwing me a party in Austin. This is ~swell~. I would like everyone to come. you can get in touch with her via here: http://www.myspace.com/miss_maulie It's March 4th, and she's doing the heavy lifiting / arangements on this. Hope to see you all soon! -Me |
[ << Previous 20 ]
|
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
balseraph's journal