Argus Hamilton Quips

Here is his latest take on the news, including this item: "Iran's government claimed the Iranian film's Oscar for Best Foreign Language Movie was a victory of Iran over Zionism because it beat an Israeli film. It's not as big a victory as the Mullahs think. The movie is about Iranian filmmakers fleeing to Tel Aviv to get work."

Melody Map

Isn't this clever?  Neatorama links to this map made up of places names in songs. Itchycoo Park is prominently shown.

Sexual Stealing

Read the comments at The Anchoress about the whining student Sandra Fluke and her demands for free contraceptives at Catholic schools. Among others, I liked this one:  "Where are this girl’s parents? My parents would be beyond humiliated if I gave sworn testimony in Congress that it’s not fair that my mean college refuses to pay for me to have sex consequence free. If my parents found out about the testimony before hand, they would either a) give me a good talking to, about virtue, self control. And if that didn’t work, they would beg me not to embarrass the family on national tv for all posterity going into the Congressional Record." I don't want my taxpayer dollars supporting people like her.

Easy For Them To Say

It's easy for everyone else to condemn Israel for talking about a preemptive strike against Iran. After all, it's not them who's surrounded by people who, on a daily basis, want to kill them!  "General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, said last week that it was 'premature' to think about a military strike against Iran." Why should Netanyahu come to Washington at all if he's going to be treated as dismissively as he's been treated in the past by this arrogant administration?

Haveil Havalim Time

It's time for Haveil Havalim #349 - Happy Adar Edition!, nicely hosted by Ima on (and off) the Bima.

The Return of Calypso Louie

I wish he'd go back to singing: "Near the close of his speech, Farrakhan spent several minutes comparing Obama's political situation to that of Abraham Lincoln, who was assassinated after winning a second term, and suggested an assassination plot against Obama might involve a 'patsy,' a person set up to take the blame for a broader conspiracy." Right.

Big Winners

In case you were wondering, here's a list of Jewish Oscar winners from the Forward.  Woody Allen won another one last night.

Titanic Thoughts

As the 100th anniversary of the Titanic disaster approaches, Smithsonian magazine has an article on "Why The Titanic Still Fascinates Us".

Korancidness

Look at the headline at today's Drudge Report: "2 American Officers Killed in Kabul".  Has Karzai apologized to us for that? And has anyone apologized to the British for the Arab desecration of the graves of British war dead?  There is no excuse for murdering and destroying in the name of Allah.  The new slogan for this administration ought to be "Obama: pandering, surrendering, and apologizing since 2008."

Watcher's Council

Take a look at the latest Watcher's Council winners.

New Sneakers: What a Riot

I guess the economy must be better than I thought, if $200 sneakers are such a necessity: "The shoes cost $220 and on Craigslist, someone offered a car -- a 1996 Cavalier -- for a pair, with others prepared to pay $2,400."

More Stars Than There Were in Heaven

The Telegraph has a side show of Oscars glamour in Hollywood's golden age.  They don't make them like that any more -- they looked great and they sure could act.  The women were glamorous and the men were real men. Now everyone looks alike.

Questions That Will Never Be Asked

You must read this column by Jeff Carter at Points and Figures: "15 Questions The Mainstream Media Would Ask Barack Obama If He Were A Republican".  One of the commenters says Obama's answer to all 15 is "It's Bush's fault."  (As seen at Larwyn's Linx)

Haveil Havalim Time

Good reading is yours when you visit Haveil Havalim #348, hosted by To Kiss A Mezuzah.

What's It All About, Algae?

Charles Krauthammer offers some sarcastic remarks about Obama's new idea.

What Political Correctness Has Accomplished

Unfortunately this is not satire: "Soldiers don fake belly, breasts to better understand pregnant troops' exercise concerns."  Oh, come on!

Most Ridiculous Lawsuit

Here's the first poll of the year. I voted for the drunk driver, who has taken unmitigated gall to a new level.

The Wrong Apologies

How nice of Obama to apologize for the burning of Korans confiscated from Guantanamo Bay terrorists!  Has anyone ever apologized for September 11? Or for the beheading of Daniel Pearl? Let's stop apologizing to Muslims already.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GEORGE WASHINGTON!

Here's an interesting take on The Father of Our Country, from gossip columnist Liz Smith.

It's Just Not Fair

Here's a Thomas Sowell column about the concept of fairness. For Obama, it's always unfair that working taxpayers have money, and non-workers don't, and that some people, by working hard, have more than others. I'm tired of this propaganda.

"Warped Welfare Culture"

"Only in Britain’s warped welfare culture could putting the unemployed to work cause such a furore." Something tells me there'd be quite a "furore" here, too.

Death Penalty License

Dennis Prager has an idea concerning what happens to your killer in the aftermath of your murder: "Americans should be able to declare what they want the state to do on their behalf if they are murdered. Those who wish the state to keep their murderer alive for all of his natural years should wear, let us say, a green bracelet and/or place a green dot on their driver's license or license plate. And those who want their convicted murderer put to death can wear a red bracelet and/or have a red dot on their license." I'm all for it.

When Antisemitism is OK

From Israel Hayom:  "In essence, anti-Zionism has become completely acceptable at the top of the academic ladder, and from there, over time, it has been and will continue to permeate the rest of mainstream society - in leftist churches and synagogues, and the mainstream media in particular."

Online Entitlements

Free broadband, too? This is ridiculous.  Internet access at others' expense is not a right.

Israel Apartheid Week

I just hate this. Former Ambassador to Israel Dore Gold writes, "Anti-Israel hatred on campus crests each year during an event called 'Israel Apartheid Week.' With this ominous name and programs that thrive on ignorance and blind disregard for the facts, tens of thousands of college students are urged to rise up against Israel – painfully evoking the types of racist characterizations of the Jewish people which defined attitudes once heard in Europe in the middle of the last century. Warning: this year’s display will come to a campus near you before the end of February."

Thanks, President Obama!

Keep it up: "Ridiculously High Gas Prices Expected To Hit Major US Cities By Memorial Day".   Keep refusing to build pipelines or drill for oil, and keep shutting down those refineries.  You'll have so many Americans dependent on you by Election Day that you'll win in a landslide. Good going!

"Top 10 Reasons to Elect Anybody But Obama"

From Human Events.  The ten are as follows:

1. Mountain of debt
2. ObamaCare demise
3. Capitalism reasserted
4. Energy myopia
5. Class warfare
6. Judicial nominations
7. Regulatory overkill
8. Union coddling
9. War on terror
10. Leadership deficit

  I'm sure we can think of more.

Book Blunder

I give up. The Reading Copy Book Blog reports that books by Agatha Christie are being "simplified" for people whose first language isn't English. Just get a load of this:

"'There’s a high awareness of Agatha Christie out there but a lot of non-English speakers would find the originals too difficult. The language is quite archaic, the plots are quite difficult, with loads of characters,' said publisher Catherine Whitaker. 'Her grammar is quite complex – which it would be – when you’re speculating you need to use more complex grammar.'"

As a lover of books, I find this to be setting a bad precedent. The language makes the book; if you change the words, then it's not the same book! Here's an idea: if you don't understand something you're reading, either ask someone, or look it up in the dictionary.

"A Great Day for Jews in Europe"

Too bad they can't replace the United Nations with this new organization: "First ever 120-member European Jewish Parliament inaugurated in Brussels, event hailed as 'great day for Jews in Europe'".

Whimsical Walls

Prepare to be amused by these building with faces!

A Matter of Life or Death

Israpundit links to this column by Michael Devolin describing how Jews deal with the daily threat of genocide:

"So please don’t talk to me about 'disproportionate response.'  Don’t talk to me about 'Israeli aggression.' When your country exists proximate to an enemy whose first symptom of war is a complete and infrangible genocide, there can be no trust, no abatement of military deterrence. The unenviable conundrum facing the Jews of Israel today is that if at first they don’t succeed, they are dead. All of them. Simple as that."

Lincredible

I don't know if Jeremy Lin is a flash in the pan or the real thing, but he is doing for basketball this year what Tim Tebow did for football last year: he's made people watch, even people who don't follow the sport. Here's Monica Crowley on the sensation -- and on the sour grapes from other people.

Classical Music

Looking for some good classical music to listen to while you're online? Try Chicago's "Addicted to Radio".

Watcher's Council

Here are the winning Watcher's Council entries from "The Morning After The Night Before" edition. 

Just Blame Everybody Else

As usual, Andrea Peyser cuts through the spin: Whitney Houston is to blame for her own death, just as Elvis was, and Michael Jackson, and Anna Nicole Smith, and many others. They had the money and means to get help -- if they really wanted it. And obviously they didn't really want it. I hate hearing the word "tragedy" used. A tragedy isn't self-inflicted, it's when something is done to you. The news today that the terrific Mets catcher Gary Carter died of brain cancer -- now that's a tragedy!

Nostalgia

If you want to go back in time to the good old days, read and enjoy Remininsce magazine.

Obamanausea

Read this article about Obama by William L. Gensert, then tell me why anyone would vote to re-elect this man. (On Fox's "The Five" tonight, I heard a great line: "The media is a schoolgirl and Obama is Justin Bieber")

Beauty Contest

Great. Now all we need is a tall, dark & handsome Republican nominee "Why Looks Are Everything in a Presidential Election".   I guess this criteria would have eliminated Lincoln from contention.

Model Behavior

When I was a young teen, we all wanted to be Twiggy or Jean Shrimpton -- but particularly Twiggy. And I don't remember any scandals attached to her, either. She's still around,  having aged very well, and selling clothing on HSN.

Reunited

I always enjoy reading stories like this: "Holocaust database unites lost cousins."

What A Scam!

Instapundit asked what happens to the long-term unemployed. Apparently, many of them go on disability! "Half of the benefit recipients suffer from 'mental disorders' and 'musculoskeletal disorders' (such as back pain). 'Mood disorders' alone account for over 10% of this group. And once someone starts receiving these benefits, it's almost impossible to take the off the program. In 2011 only 1% of the recipients lost their benefits because they were no longer deemed disabled. So how much is this program costing the US taxpayer? Apparently quite a bit."

Haveil Havalim Time

Haveil Havalim #347: The Post Tu b'Shevat/Post Primaries Edition is up at Esser Agaroth.  (When I first -- happily -- discovered Soccer Dad's Haveil Havalim, its editions were in the 80s, so it's amazing how many posts have been written since then!)

The Right Words, and the Right Stuff

Dennis Prager writes about Chris Christie, whose words show what it takes to be a leader: "In the few words reported by the Weekly Standard magazine, he said just about everything one needs to know about Israel; about America and Israel; and about American political leadership."

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! ♥

True love! And if you want to do something even more meaningful today, check out  these GOP Valentine's cards!

Obama's CafeteriaCare

Not a joke, this story is a microcosm of Obama's Nanny State.  It's not ObamaCare, it's CafeteriaCare! "A preschooler at West Hoke Elementary School ate three chicken nuggets for lunch Jan. 30 because a state employee told her the lunch her mother packed was not nutritious. The girl’s turkey and cheese sandwich, banana, potato chips, and apple juice did not meet U.S. Department of Agriculture guidelines, according to the interpretation of the agent who was inspecting all lunch boxes in her More at Four classroom that day." (via Lucianne.com)

Every Day, It's Something Else With Obama

From Israpundit: "Former Ambassador and Undersecretary of State John Bolton is predicting that if the Obama Administration feels Israel will take military action, it will make public Israel’s plan of battle. In other words give Iran a leg up in defending itself."

Working for the Resistance

New York Social Diary has a book review about a courageous American woman: "But what is lesser known is that at the same time Mlle Chanel was enjoying Teutonic favors in her sumptuous suite of rooms at the Ritz in Paris, there was another prominent occupant of the storied hotel; a New York native named Blanche Auzello, whose Jewish identity and life-threatening exploits on behalf of the Resistance were kept under wraps throughout the German occupation. An astonishing fact considering the Ritz was headquarters for the Luftwaffe and this hotel denizen was surrounded day and night by high-ranking Nazi officials including Hermann Goering, the head of the German air force."

Go Ahead: Make My Chrysler!

I heard this on Rush Limbaugh's radio show this morning and prefer this takeoff to the original Clint Eastwood Chrysler ad! (Just what happened to Eastwood's voice, anyway?)

Drama on Masterpiece Theatre

These days, people are all a-buzz about "Downton Abbey".  A British series I like even more is the very intelligent, well-acted"Foyle's War". Set in Great Britain during WW2, it stars the wonderful Michael Kitchen, who I first saw in "Enchanted April."

Whitney Houston

I was sorry to hear about the death of Whitney Houston, who had a powerful voice I never really cared for.  But the first thing I thought of when I heard the news last night was, Uh-oh, another star recklessly overdoses on drugs; now there will be yet another crackdown on painkillers for people who actually need and don't abuse them. Plus, the airwaves will be full of the usual endless tabloid journalism that's generated whenever something like this happens. Brace yourself.

Explanation of the Day

What a great video! American Digest links to an explanation by Bill Whittle on why being a conservative is so hard on us.

Watcher's Council

Click here for the winning Watcher's Council posts.  Remember, the Watcher of Weasels is always keeping an eye on the weasels of the world, and there is no shortage of weasels these days.

A Great Nosh

Unfortunately, I completely missed National Bagels and Lox Day the other day.  For me, the best bagels have always been plain and onion. The "yuppie bagels" like cinnamon & raisin I've never considered "real" bagels.

Some Reel Fun

For some comic relief, let's go to the movies with Cindy Adams.

Israel's Staunchest Friend

No, it's not the United States, it's Canada.

Loathing Obama Religiously

I particularly liked the last paragraph of Betsy's post entitled  "What Obamanian liberals believe".  And here's The Anchoress on the Obama political flip-flop regarding the HHS mandate: "Predictably, the media narrative is Obama reconciled this and the story is over. If the bishops object, they’ll blame them."  How anyone, especially Catholics, can continue to trust and support him after this week is beyond me.
(An idle question. Will they force Catholic colleges to stock these contraceptive vending machines next?)

The Priorities of Life

I've heard of publicity stunts, but this one takes the cake: "Israeli fans beg PM to hold off Iran attack over Madonna show". Well, what's more important!

How Insulting!

Here's some respectful advice from the UK: "Elderly people should be encouraged to go back to work and move into smaller homes, one of David Cameron’s key advisers said last night." How about telling young, healthy, able-bodied "work-shy" people to get jobs instead?

You've Got To Be Kidding

WHAT "strengthened pro-Israel credentials" does Obama suddenly have? Once more, the Yiddish expression "in mitten drinnen" comes to mind.

The Minority Rules

So once again, a minority complains, and everyone meekly goes along with it? This time, atheists don't like "In God We Trust" on Army patches. They can go hang themselves, and the Army should not kowtow to them.

Civil War Anniversary

The Atlantic has produced a commemorative issue on the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. A lot of good reading here! (via Metafilter)

Declaration of Dependence

Read Stephen Moore's fairness quiz over at Betsy's Page. She says, "It would make a good script of a RNC campaign ad", and I agree! Among other questions, Moore asks: 

"Is it fair that those who work full-time jobs (and sometimes more) to make ends meet have to pay taxes to support up to 99 weeks of unemployment benefits for those who don't work?
Is it fair that those who took out responsible mortgages and pay them each month have to see their tax dollars used to subsidize those who acted recklessly, greedily and sometimes deceitfully in taking out mortgages they now can't afford to repay?
Is it fair that thousands of workers won't have jobs because the president sided with environmentalists and blocked the shovel-ready Keystone XL oil pipeline?"

No -- it isn't fair at all.  And at Investors Business Daily, John Merline reports that the "Dependency Index Surges 23% Under President Obama".  You wonder how Obama and his supporters will spin these embarrassing facts.

"Beyond Parody"

From Human Events: "White House spokesman: the shrinking workforce is 'an economic positive.'  A failed Administration goes beyond parody." And David Limbaugh lists the reasons why Obama doesn't deserve a second term -- even though Obama himself thinks he does.

Life, Liberty, & The Pursuit of Abortion

I see people are finally waking up to the dangerous agenda of Obama.. The New York Times writes,  “Americans recognize rights not widely protected, including ones to a speedy and public trial, and are outliers in prohibiting government establishment of religion. But the Constitution is out of step with the rest of the world in failing to protect, at least in so many words, a right to travel, the presumption of innocence and entitlement to food, education and health care.” (via Drudge) If Obama had his way, he'd change the Constitution to read "dependency, entitlements, and the pursuit of abortion." The liberal obsession with free and frequent abortions as a right makes me ill, and it's yet another reason we have to defeat Obama in November.
(For some of the best posts on the sickening HHS mandate, visit The Anchoress)

Nordlinger on Israel

From today's Impromptus column: 

"The Associated Press had an article that began, 'Israel’s major allies in the West are working hard to talk it out of a unilateral military strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities . . .'  I’m thinking, 'Major allies, plural?'
The article also said, 'The West is appealing to Israel’s self-interest . . .' Reminded me of one of Obama’s most ignorant, most condescending, most arrogant, and most disgusting moments: when he said that Israel had to 'engage in serious self-reflection.'
As though Israelis were not self-reflective enough. True, not every citizen of Israel has written two memoirs about himself. But, collectively, you won’t find a more self-reflecting, soul-searching, hand-wringing people."

(By the way, I'm surprised that big-mouth Panetta didn't tell Iran what day and what time Israel would strike.)

And remember: we mustn't offend the Muslims! "A website with close ties to Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has outlined why it would be acceptable to kill all Jews and annihilate Israel."

Today's Milestones

Today would have been President Reagan's 101st birthday; and today marks Queen Elizabeth's 60th anniversary as monarch.

Get Rid of the U.N.

The great Melanie Phillips says : "The debacle over the Syria resolution demonstrates that it is time to delegitimise the UN - a noble idea which long ago blew up in the face of the civilised world it is supposed to protect." It's nothing more than an embarrassment now.  (via World Jewish Daily)

Obnoxious Occupiers

I thought I was seeing things, but Instapundit reports that Bill Maher has actually criticized the Occupiers -- and in harsh terms, too! Well, it's about time -- 6 months too late, but maybe people are finally starting to wake up at last. How much longer will these parasites continue their protests? I'm guessing at least until the Presidential election.

Watcher's Council

For a list of the latest winning Watcher's Council posts, click here.

Well, Don't Look At ME!

You've got to be kidding: "The United Nations wants a world tax imposed on all financial transactions to fund a global model of social services that will provide 'needy people' with a basic income, free healthcare, education and housing." (via Drudge)  I have a better idea: tax only the bleeding-heart liberals, since they never seem to mind anyway!

Ugh...Politics!

George Neumayr  writes in American Spectator: "The GOP is signing its own political death warrant by backing [Romney]. Almost two years after energy from the Tea Party swept Republicans back into congressional power, a politician who embodies the antithesis of that spirit stands on the verge of victory. This is regress, not progress, and the GOP will pay a severe price for the Faustian bargain of  'electability' that it entails. A party that chooses power over principle will lose both."
(Back on January 15, I referred to what's happening as "Republican Suicide".)

I thought I was the only one suspicious about the "unexpectedly" good economic news -- but obviously I'm not alone. It's all a bit too conveniently timed, in my opinion, and very hard to believe.

Super Bowl Haimishness

I was rooting for the New England Patriots even before I read this item.

Death and Soccer

Total insanity in Egypt: thugs rioting and killing one another over a soccer game! And even worse, they are blaming Mubarak for it! I'm waiting for them to blame the Jews next...

One-Boy USO

Read about Cody Jackson, the One-Boy USO.  I recently read a touching story about this patriotic 8 year old in the National Enquirer but can't find the link. Several times per month, he goes to the airport to thank the returning troops for their service.

Groundhog Day

Ugh -- 6 more weeks of Obama!

Copying Mona Lisa

I prefer the original, thank you.

Lie of the Day

Oh, brother!: "A DNC spokesman says he never remembers anyone going after Bush during his presidency the way Republicans are attacking Obama." Well, he must be suffering from amnesia then.  (via Nealz Nuze)

Job Creation

I wonder if Obama will proudly tout this "accomplishment", from New York:   "Economic woes have forced at least one city agency into a hiring spree -- adding more workers to process the demand for food stamps and other assistance.
The Human Resources Administration added more than 100 workers last July and plans to hire another 100 to serve the burgeoning number of New Yorkers applying for food stamps and rent assistance at their offices, according to the Daily News." (via Drudge)