Book Of Norm

Obama, in his latest protectionist move, has put a 35% tariff on the import of Chinese tires, which are 17% of all tires sold over here. The move is to protect the united steel workers (not sure why they deal with rubber, but so it goes) who also happen to be the previous employers of Obama's Car Czar. "Open," "honest" government? Not exactly. I cant believe that we are on the path of unionism and protectionism. Did the 20th century really not register at all with US politicians? China, now a member of the WTO and becoming better and more aggressive (pretty much the same story as everywhere else) at using that body to achieve its aims, filed a formal complaint against the move. It also made noises about tariffs on US car imports (that would help the steelworkers union... idiots, did they not expect that?) and US chicken. My feeling is that without something to substantiate it, the WTO will strike down the new US regulation. In other words, I am rooting for a c...

My older brother James has maintained a blog at http://thefourpartland.wordpress.com/ , but he recently launched at new blog (and website is coming) dedicated to the book which he just finished (well, when is a book 'finished'? - the first edit is done, and it looks good). I recommend heading over there http://thefourpartland.com/blog/ and checking out the first part of the story.

This was sent to me by James, a brief and articulate article on the actual problems and legitimate solutions for healthcare in this country. What Obama Should Have Said to Congress Free enterprise is the solution to our fiscal emergency John Stossel | September 10, 2009 I wish President Obama would have said to Congress: Members of Congress, I ask you to address our fiscal emergency. In 1964, President Johnson won a landslide victory—quite similar to mine. His election also brought liberals into Congress. The next year, they created the first government-run health care plan: Medicare. They meant well, but unfortunately, this was the height of fiscal irresponsibility. I know Medicare is popular with the elderly. Of course it is. Everyone likes getting free things. But it is unsustainable. Retirees believe that their Medicare bills are paid from a "trust fund" that was created with deductions from their paychecks. But this is a politician's lie. In truth, ou...

Until today only one country had recognized the membership in the USSR independence of the breakaway Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, and that country was Nicaragua. Which relies on Russia for just about everything, especially its military. Today, el Chavismo declared that Venezuela would also recognize the regions as independent. This is of course tied to the fact that Caracas has a close relationship with Moscow, and will presumably get a nice discount from Putin on some T-72 tanks, Kilo subs, Kalashnikovs or all of the above. Actually, these days its cheaper to get your small arms from China - what Venezuela is buying from Russia is the ability to wage a more advanced war. Which is always a good thing when the buyer is a crazed meglomaniac demagogue dictator with a standing army and that classic sign of a crazy dictator - a second standing army outside of the structure of the regular military. Speaking of countries with two separate militaries (oh wait, and countrie...

From WIRED Fahrenheit 747: World’s Biggest Fire Extinguisher Douses L.A. County * By Jason Paur Email Author * September 1, 2009 | * 6:30 am | * Categories: Air Travel * 747 The deadly fires that have blackened more than 105,000 acres around Los Angeles prompted authorities to call in the world’s largest fire extinguisher — a Boeing 747 that can drop 20,000 gallons of retardant over a swath of land three miles long. The plane made its first-ever drop in the continental United States when fire officials summoned it to the Oak Glen fire east of Los Angeles mid day on Monday. After the successful first drop, the Supertanker was called back into action Monday evening where it made further drops on the massive Station fire north of the city which grew to more than 164 square miles and threatened 10,000 homes. Nearly 2,600 firefighters from as far away as Montana are throwing everything they have at the blaze, and on Monday they called in the biggest tool in their inventory....

According to google suggestions.. the most popular "Who is the?" question is... Who is the stig? Love it (and found it myself, by chance).

Free Office Chair (May Have Been Sat in by Ralph Nader) http://www.craigslist.org/about/best/wdc/1210410010.html Date: 2009-06-07, 8:53PM EDT Yes, that's right. Ralph Nader, perennial Green Party candidate for the U.S. presidency MAY have sat in this very chair! It was used in his Washington, DC campaign headquarters until I purchased it on Craiglist several months ago. It has a nice red, commie upholstery and a sleek black plastic backing. The wheels don't function well, but that is a small price to pay for state control of the means of production. I am giving it away for FREE, in keeping with the utopian ideals of the ass that may have once graced this unassuming little office chair. Pictures available upon request, comrades. Location: 2637 16th St. NW it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests I have a huge bathroom. http://www.craigslist.org/about/best/nyc/907788944.html Date: 2008-11-06, 4:01AM EST I am a female in my mid 60...