The Rosenbergs

Here's a discussion of two recent books about Julius and Ethel Rosenberg.  (I just signed up at the library for "The Brother", about David Greenglass - that traitor!)

Haveil Havalim Time

There's a lot to read at Haveil Havalim #306 — A MishMash, which can be found at Frume Sarah's World. (Per Jack)

Nigerian E-Mail Scam...Wisconsin Style

I got a kick out of this takeoff. (Via Larwyn's Linx.)

The Male Helen Thomas?

Or, Mel Gibson II: "A French newspaper claims to have received a film of John Galliano telling neighbouring customers in a Paris bar that their parents should have been 'gassed'." Now he's suing for defamation. (But why would those customers make up such a story in the first place?) Let's see how many celebrities rush to his defense. And how convenient, right in time for the Oscars!

No Comparison

Instapundit links to this article that compares the faces of today's stars to those of the Golden Age of Hollywood. To that I say, there is no comparison, in looks or in talent. The Golden Age is still unsurpassed.

The State of the Union

What a scary chart!

"May We Drill Now, Please?"

Read Deroy Murdock's column: "Amid all of this, the Obama administration treats America’s domestic-petroleum supply like the Smithsonian’s Hope Diamond: something to be observed and admired, but not touched."

Thanks a Lot, Obama!

Greg Crosby discusses the oil crisis: "Oh yes, you're gonna love pumping $70 or $80 dollars worth of gas into your car every time you fill up…if you're lucky. Remember all those gas lines at the pump way back in the '70's? It's gonna be great. High prices AND gas lines! But remember, all we had to do since then in order to break with our reliance on foreign oil was drill in our own country. Thanks to the liberals and environmentalists, the years ahead could very possibly make us all nostalgic for the good old 1970's. Happy days are here again."

The Final Mission of the Discovery

Check out the spectacular photographs.

The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire: 100 Years Later

All these years later, the remaining victims of the Triangle shirtwaist factory fire have been identified. Amazing, and sad.

September 11 Online Memorial

Take a look at the 9/11 interactive timeline, as seen at the Daily Mail.

Entitlementality

Michael Goodwin describes the worsening entitlement mentality in this country. He calls it "the gimme culture".

"From that willful ignorance, it's perfectly acceptable to demand pay without work, or, almost as insidious, pay and pensions that dwarf those of your neighbors who foot the bill.
It is also perfectly acceptable to assume that, if you have a house you can't afford, the government -- again, your neighbors -- should be dunned to help you keep it. If your business is failing, the government's deep pockets are there to bail you out, no?
Or if your child can't read, it's not your fault. It's the teacher or the school system or the mayor. Any scapegoat will do, as long as it's not you.
This is the noise of the entitlement culture as it plays out every day. It is contagious and so ingrained in how we live and think -- somebody else is to blame and must pay -- that we no longer think twice before demanding total satisfaction and expressing outrage when we don't get it.
We are entitled to it now because we want it, whatever it is. If somebody else has it first, then we have been cheated and are doubly furious.
As for giving it back, or taking less, what are you, a sucker? This is America, man, a free country.
Indeed it is, and that's the problem. We are free to be endlessly selfish, and nobody dares to tell us no."

Correctly Politically Incorrect

The British Daily Mail can be over the top, and too obsessed with tabloid crime and celebrity stories, but when they report on the news, they don't mince words or use politically correct language. Their headline today reads as follows: "Innocent Americans Murdered by Pirates, Kidnappers, Cowards, and DAMNED LIARS".  I'd like to see such a headline in our own newspapers, but I doubt they'd want to offend the pirates.

Grand Rounds

Grand Rounds 7:22 – Read This Quickly offers lots of interesting medical information at The Covert Rationing Blog.

What Next?!

This is outrageous, and the height of gall. This thug actually had the nerve to say,  'I think the American people’s hearts and minds are open to receive Islam as an alternative way of life. We expect thousands to come out and support us.' Oh yes, definitely, especially during this 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks! Maybe the Wisconsin union strikers will come join him, along with media hog/opportunist Jesse Jackson.

Index of Obama Indicators

A great idea from Doug Ross@Journal.

Frivolous Lawsuit of the Day

Besides the insanity in Wisconsin, the news leaves you shaking your head in amazement these days. Here's the latest in irresponsibility: "“Man Sues All-You-Can-Eat Sushi Joint Because He Didn’t Want To Eat Rice. The customer says he has diabetes and should be entitled to scrape the rice off and just eat the fish.".  Obviously, he was forced to go to this particular restaurant! 
And speaking of stupid, here's the latest in excuse-making, from Great Britain: "Schools have been told they have to make special allowances for misbehaving pupils from gypsy and traveller families. Teachers have been warned they could be taken to task under the Equality Act if they discipline or exclude such children from schools." *sigh*

Strikers and "Doctors"

Here's an interesting report on teachers who strike.  Also,  shouldn't they investigate to see if these are real doctors, and this is not just a hoax? It's hard to believe doctors would be this blatantly stupid.

War in Wisconsin

What an outrage this is! "Stacy McCain: On, Wisconsin! 'The unemployed, the under-employed and regular folks trying to pay their bills aren’t likely to have a lot of love for people who (a) have jobs, (b) work at taxpayer expense, (c) get paid more money than the average taxpayer, and (d) go on strike because they don’t want to pay a dime toward their own generous benefits."  Too bad Governor Walker can't do what Reagan did with the air traffic controllers! I just hope the Republicans don't cave in.

Jewish Derangement Syndrome

Can't this woman ever stop? "Former White House correspondent Helen Thomas said the Jews did not have to leave postwar Europe because they weren’t persecuted. In an interview Wednesday on CNN’s 'Joy Behar' program, Thomas told Behar that once World War II ended, the Jews 'didn’t have to go anywhere really, because they weren’t being persecuted anymore. But they were taking other people’s land.'" Can't she talk about anything else?

It's OK By Me!

Here's an interesting article about the origin of the word "OK". I can't imagine writing an entire book on the subject, though!  (Via Metafilter)

Crusing The Web With Betsy

I especially liked the Victor Davis Hanson piece on civility. Civility is a one-way street when it comes to the Democrats; look at how "civilly" Governor Walker is being treated by the protesters in Wisconsin. And we all remember the "civil" Bush = Hitler signs!

Everybody Hates Israel

The U.S. attitude towards Israel at the United Nations makes me sick! From Jennifer Rubin: "Once again, Israel's foes, most especially Iran, can see the daylight between the administration and Israel. How would Israel's opponents not be emboldened by the administration's behavior?" and from Pamela Geller: "The knave state is expected to save the world, bear the brunt of worldwide condemnation from cowards and quislings, and do it .....with no support. We will watch this vote and we will shame those who secretly support savages."

Not Entitled!

I agree with Chris Christie. Why can't the Republicans show the same kind of spine that the British government is finally showing? It's about time we stop letting the entitlement crowd hold the rest of us hostage!

For Shame!

The British Daily Mail has been running an expose on the appalling, disgraceful neglect of the elderly by their National Health Service. Read this and this, along with other articles in various newspapers there, and it will infuriate you. This is yet another reason to be very fearful of Obamacare.

Separated at Birth

Last night's winning terrier at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.

Lou Antonio in "Star Trek".

The Obama State

Here's Michele Bachman on Michelle Obama's latest idea: "Bachmann says she nursed all five of her children. But, 'to think that government has to go out and buy my breast pump for my babies? You want to talk about the nanny state, I think you just got a new definition,' she said." Boy, is she right!

Grand Rounds

Join MedBlogs Grand Rounds 7:21, underway now at GruntDoc.

"The Damage Obama Has Done"

Check out Dick Morris's shocking chart showing "the damage Obama has done". (Of course, it's all Bush's fault.)
Just imagine four more years of this. The Republicans had better start fighting back and showing some spine before it's too late.

Dog Days

I love watching the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. It's interesting to hear the background of each breed, especially the ones that go back to the time of the pharoahs. It's better than anything else on television, and you hear words applied to the dogs that you don't hear applied to people these days, words such as 'elegant' and 'aristocratic'. You know they're not describing the Kardashians!
Also, watching the Dog Show is therapeutic: you don't get angry and want to shout back at the screen the way you do when you see the news, and especially when you see Obama.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Stories like this one help make up for all the bad news!
"He's 93 and she's 90 - and these Queens lovebirds have been happily married for 72 years."

Worthless Trash of the Day

Quick execution is the only fitting punishment for garbage like this. Isn't it a shame that such lowlives aren't born sterile so they can't breed?

Is This Why They're Called Cell Phones?

They ought to bring back rock piles and license plate-making, so that killer like Manson don't have the time to make and receive calls in prison. This is an affront to the victims.

A Foreign Policy Expert Speaks

After reading this professional analysis, I feel MUCH better about the situation in Egypt.

Haveil Havalim Time

Jack has notified us with the news that Haveil Havalim #304, the Blog Carnival Went Bust edition is now online at The Rebbetzin's Husband.

One of My Favorite Movies

Seraphic Secret has a nice post on "How Green Was My Valley".

A Valentine's Day Tradition

What a nice story, from England: "Recycled 69 times, my one and only Valentine: Romantic couple's card returns each year since 1941."

Getting Right to the Point on Obama & Egypt

Andrew L. Jaffee's headline sums up the Egyptian situation very neatly: "Obama’s moron adviser says Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood is 'largely secular'."

A Eulogy for the U.S.Mail

I liked this nostalgic article about sending and receiving mail...the old-fashioned way. Many of us who grew up before computers still miss that simpler time.

Just My Opinion

Why don't they release the name of the Craigslist Woman, who is just as stupid and guilty as ex-Congressman Lee?

The History of Jews and Chocolate

Here's another good excuse for my love of dark chocolate!

The Lights Are Going Out

This same sentiment was expressed during World War 2, and nobody heeded it then, either. Those who forget the past...

Grand Rounds

Grand Rounds Vol.7 No.20 is in progress at Suture for a Living. You can find all sorts of interesting medical posts here, so drop by.

Leonard Pitts on Stupidity

I don't always agree with Leonard Pitts, but he sure got things right in this column when he talks about the dumbing down of America: "No, stupidity crept over the giant with the stealth of twilight, a product less of one abrupt moment than of a thousand moments of complacency, of resting on laurels, of allowing curiosity to be teased and bullied out of bright children, of dumbing down textbooks so kids could get better grades with less work, of using 'elite' like a curse word. And, of behaving as if knowing things, and being able to extrapolate from and otherwise make critical use of, the things one knows, was a betrayal of some fundamental human authenticity -- some need to keep it real.
Stupidity stole over the giant until it could no longer tell science from faith, or conventional wisdom from actual wisdom and in any event, valued ideological purity above them all. Stupidity snaked over the giant until science teachers shrank from teaching science, history books contained history that wasn't history, late-night comics got easy laughs from people on the street who could not say when the War of 1812 was fought, political leaders told outright lies with blithe smiles and no fear of being caught and you would not have been surprised to hear that someone had fixed mathematics, so that 2+2 could now equal 17, thus preserving the all-important self esteem of second-grade kids."
Make sure you read his zinger of a final sentence.

A Real Ass

Vanity, thy name is stupid! I have no sympathy for this fool, who seemed to find "buttocks enhancement" a necessity of life -- and death!

Mah Jongg Mania

I like the title of this story: "The Tiles That Bind".

Topsy-Turvy

It's always nice to come across articles that express your own feelings. This column by Ben Stein is such an article, in which he comments on our upside-down culture: "I am endlessly amazed at how backwards we humans get things in our lives. Just let me give you two very basic examples, one of which is a crime against humanity."

Faking Disease for Profit

"Accused swindlers" is the best this local news channel could do in describing this despicable couple. They not only faked their own child's cancer for money, but they hid the body of the grandfather in order to spend his money. I think "greedy, amoral lowlife" might be more appropriate.

Outrage of the Day

There's been a severe outbreak of the disease that is Bush Derangement Syndrome: "President Bush was forced to cancel a visit to Switzerland, where he was slated to be the keynote speaker at a Jewish Zionist charity gala next week, because he risked getting arrested for torture, Reuters is reporting."

Haveil Havalim Time

Haveil Havalim #303, the best of the Jewish/Israeli blogosphere, is now up at The JackB. Somehow, I missed both Haveil Havalim #301, also hosted by The JackB; and Haveil Havalim #302, hosted by Just Call Me Chaviva. Looks like I have a lot of good reading to catch up on!

Go Packers!

I'd really love it if the Green Bay Packers win the Super Bowl, and Aaron Rodgers makes everyone forget about Brett Favre once and for all.

Question of the Day

Doug Ross @ Journal inquires: "Could some Democrat explain to me why we are the only country on Earth that intentionally restricts our own access to energy?"

Liberal Dictionary

Read this Liberal To English Translation, which was posted along with a terrific cartoon.  We conservatives who are outnumbered by liberals in our daily interactions, and who must endure being forced to listen to liberal-speak, will especially appreciate this. (Via Larwyn's Linx at Doug Ross @ Journal.)

Student Sings Sinatra

What a delightful story! Make sure you watch the video clip, too.

Best One-Liner of the Day

Via Instapundit: "Darrin Moore on Facebook: 'If Obama thinks a leader should step down simply because large crowds of people protest in the streets of the capitol for a week or so, I’ve got an idea.'"

The More Things Change, The More They Remain the Same

Oh well: "But the blame-the-Jews/Israelis game has begun, and, if history is any indicator, will continue to grow and expand until the Arab world’s problems – and eventually, maybe, the whole world’s problems – will be laid, with a violent flourish, at Israel’s door. And Jews worldwide will pay the price." 
Also see this article by Caroline Glick: "If the media reported on the overwhelming Jew hatred in the Arab world generally and in Egypt specifically, it would ruin the narrative of the Arab conflict with Israel. That narrative explains the roots of the conflict as frustrated Arab-Palestinian nationalism. It steadfastly denies any more deeply-seated antipathy of Jews that is projected onto the Jewish state. The fact that the one Jewish state stands alone against 23 Arab states and 57 Muslim states whose populations are united in their hatred of Jews necessarily requires a revision of the narrative. And so their hatred is ignored. But Israelis don't need CNN to tell us how our neighbors feel about us. We know already. And because we know, while we wish them the best of luck with their democracy movements, and would welcome the advent of a tolerant society in Egypt, we recognize that that tolerance will end when it comes to the Jews. And so whether they are democrats or autocrats, we fully expect they will continue to hate us."

Miss Him Yet?

On the occasion of what would have been his 100th birthday, the British Telegraph offers a very nice tribute to Ronald Reagan.

Oscar-Winners

TCM is showing Oscar-winning films all this month. Contrast this masterpiece of fine acting and marvelous music, "A Man For All Seasons", to the garbage in the movie houses today! Let's hope they never dare to remake this one. (Who could possibly surpass Paul Scofield's performance?)

Also, composer John Barry died recently. I loved his music for "The Lion in Winter", another great film.

CAR-TOON

I got such a kick out of this short film when I saw it on TCM last night!

Israel Alone

Here's a good editorial on what Israel is going through -- not that the world cares. "The fear of an Islamist encirclement has reminded Israelis of their predicament in the Middle East. In its relationship with the Palestinians, Israel is Goliath. But in its relationship with the Arab and Muslim worlds, Israel remains David".

Jewish Humor

I got a big kick out of this Craig's List parody from Aish.

It's Not About Democracy

Caroline Glick says that regarding the protests in Egypt,  the Obama administration is "Clueless in Washington". To paraphrase a local talk show host I heard on the radio today, "It's not about democracy. Look at a map of the Middle East, and look at Israel." (Or as Jimmy Durante used to say, "Surrounded by assassins!") And Media Matters is blaming the Jews  for what's going on.

How True!

And how clever!

Grand Rounds

Grand Rounds is in session at HL7 Standards, whose mission is "to engage conversations on healthcare and technology."