Archive for December, 2007
The Big O’s
Monday, December 10th, 2007Go read Ann Althouse’s interpretation of Oprah and Barack’s side show, for that is what I believe it is. It is pure political theater. Oprah is preaching to the choir as it were. Black leaders have chosen sides already.
I still believe the Anchoress is right: Hillary will get it. Barack Obama will make a fine Vice President.
Gift Buying
Monday, December 10th, 2007I’m currently typing on one of these and it is NICE. I highly recommend this keyboard. The old keyboard’s clunkiness was one of the few complaints I had about the old keyboard. This new one is amazing.
I had told everyone I’d link to my favorite things. Well, you can still get your stuff by Christmas if you order now. Here’s some other things I love.
For my iPhone, I wanted something wireless for the car. A recent birthday gift was the Jawbone and it’s fantastic. For me, the ear pieces are important. I have little ears and many ear buds just fall out which is so annoying. The Jawbone has an ergonomic bud that I really like and it stays on the ear. They have different colors, but this is the classic black.
Again, in the tech department (where I like to stay), this is a nice gift for the one you love. Heck, if you’re feeling generous, buy me one.
Any of James Lilek’s books are good conversation starters that are both funny and socially acceptable (as opposed to the Post Secret books which are downers and riské). His latest one covers disgusting cuisine. Buy it for mom!
And buy Post Secret for the gay cousin who thinks he’s still in the closet and that no one knows. Newsflash, bub, they know.
Words to the wise: Don’t buy undergarments, nighties, or any other articles of clothing that someone might deem too personal. Clothing is, in fact, personal. And unless it’s your girlfriend, stay away from lingerie and perfume.
Ann Althouse made the comment one time that presents say a lot about what the person giving them thinks about you. And it is fascinating to analyze the message the gift-giver is sending to the giftee. Keep in mind, that when you send a gift, you’re sending a message. Be self-aware enough to know that.
Stationary is good, unless it seems you’re trying to bully someone into writing. A well-chosen book is always a winner. Tickets to a sporting even or some other life experience can be great.
And don’t be afraid of gift-cards. Really. A well-chosen gift card can mean a lot to someone. (Thanks, sis, for the iTunes gift card.)
For new parents, I’ll share my favorites, too. This is the stroller every parent should have: it’s light, it reclines so the baby can nap, the handles are high enough, it’s sturdy, did I mention that it’s light? It can take a beating, too. Ours has been everywhere from Disney to New York and looks brand new. The wheel mechanism is fantastic. The stroller feels stable for the baby.
Get this accessory, too, as there aren’t cup holders.
When the baby is born, buy this. The Butt Paste is the absolute best for protecting baby’s behind. The stuff lasts and it smells great (watch out, though, the kid might try to eat it.)
I reviewed this before, but I still love it! Love it more, actually, the more I use it. These whisper-quiet clean machines are amazing. Buy one!
My sister has one of these and swears by it. If anyone is feeling generous….. I’d actually like one. They look great.
OK, this is getting longish. Just some ideas. I find picking out gifts to be so much fun. It’s a delight to make the perfect match.
Psychopaths
Monday, December 10th, 2007You know, it’s difficult to comprehend psychopaths. They are wired so completely counter to normal, socialized people that the normal people rationalize and minimize for their own psychological comfort.
Over at Shrinkwrapped, the good doctor discusses sociopathology in regards to Islam. I personally feel that there are some characteristics inherent in Islam that make psychopathology more likely. Shrink touches on this:
Psychopaths are not, in fact, particularly good liars; they spin tales and get away with it because their listeners fail to confront them on the inconsistencies. So, why bring Psychopaths into the mix when discussing the danger from radical Islam? Unfortunately, those who follow the dictates of their Koran (whether it is simply one of many interpretations or the only interpretation, as insisted upon by the Islamists, is immaterial) are explicitly permitted to lie, threaten, cheat, do whatever it takes to dominate the infidel. Whether or not the typical Muslim is a psychopath is not the issue; the issue is that Islam, as practiced in the public sphere, behaves like a Psychopath. Note that it is often the apostate Muslim, most at risk from the reactions of their former co-religionists, who most acutely points out the failures (and questions the existence) of Moderate Islam and Moderate Muslims.
In every era, there people have denied the evidence in front of them, whether it was Stalin or Hitler or Pol Pot or whomever. No one wants to acknowledge such evil because it demands action or reveals the co-dependent person to be weak and stupid.
A large segment of our population simply denies evil exists despite all the evidence to the contrary. It’s easier. Shrink talks about this phenomenon and it’s a worthwhile read.
He links to a website dedicated, of all things, to sociopaths, or rather the people harmed by them. The tales are disturbing and instructive. One thing that is very evident: psychopaths create havoc, confusion, doubt and chaos wherever they go. Energetically, they disturb the force, to invoke Star Wars speak. Nothing is ever settled. Nothing feels solid.
As our recent church and mall killers reinforce once again, there is no innocent to a psychopath. People exist to meet their needs and a psychopath has no problem using them for their own ends. They are liars from the beginning–first to themselves, second to anyone else who might interfere with their aims.
We must avoid denial and face the fact that these people exist. They are able to do great harmed mostly when they steamroll unchecked. Direct confrontation is the only option, as reasoning does not work with these most unreasonable of people. We need to keep that in mind when a lying, pathological regime like Iran claims to have quit pursuing nuclear material. It is ridiculous on it’s face.
Psychopaths don’t go away before their desires are fulfilled. We need to remember that.
More on Race-Baiting
Sunday, December 9th, 2007Gateway Pundit has more on the Jena Six and the notion that America is an unfair place for black people. Do Americans of any color really know lack? They may know lack, but do they know lack of opportunity?
No American knows that lack.
Don’t Save America From The Housing Mess
Sunday, December 9th, 2007Mark Steyn reinforces my opinion. I always like it when people smarter than me agree with me.
Hillary Clinton’s Black Husband
Sunday, December 9th, 2007Can identity politics get any more ridiculous? In trying to establish cred with minorities, civil rights leader Andrew Young says what could be nominated for the most ridiculous quote this electoral season:
In a media interview posted online, Young also quipped that Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton has her husband behind her, and that “Bill is every bit as black as Barack.”“He’s probably gone with more black women than Barack,” Young said of former President Clinton, drawing laughter from a live television audience. Young, 75, was quick to follow his comment on Bill Clinton with the disclaimer, “I’m clowning.”
Are you kidding me?
Imagine if you will, a live televised talk extolling Rudy Giuliani’s prowess with Latino women. Imagine the hew and cry on the Right, never mind the Left. It would be perceived as racist, because, well, it’s racist.
Has the Left completely gone mad? In the search for a colorblind society the standard to measure a leader’s worth is how many black women a man has bedded. This is such a disturbing message on so many levels.
First, it glorifies promiscuity in a community that suffers disproportionately from STDs, HIV, single motherhood, addiction and gang violence. The measure of a black man (or white man who’s more black than a black man) is his education, his work ethic, his dedication to family and friends.
Second, it is patently racist and sexist to define a man’s worth by notches in his belt. Why would this statement elicit giggles from the audience there?
Third, what the hell does this have to do with Hillary? We should vote for her because her husband was/is a slut or more specifically, a bigger slut than Barack Obama was when he was a younger man goes Young’s reasoning.
And the more offensive comments come later:
Young went on to say that Obama needs a protective network that he currently lacks – a quality that could hurt him if he were to be elected. He said Hillary Clinton already has that kind of network, including her husband to back her up.“There are more black people that Bill and Hillary lean on,” Young said. “You cannot be president alone. … To put a brother in there by himself is to set him up for crucifixion. His time will come and the world will be ready for a visionary leadership.”
Do we consider Rudy or Fred or Mike’s spouses as a “wife to back him up”? No, we don’t. And Hillary doesn’t need this kind of help. Young illuminates the obvious. There are many, many people who are voting for Hillary hoping Bill will take the reins. And it’s true, Bill sucks the oxygen out of any room he’s in.
So Hillary is portrayed by her own supporter as someone we should vote for because she has a husband who is a sexual powerhouse and more black than Obama. It makes her look weak both morally (what woman puts up with a slutty husband) and leadership-wise.
Hillary wouldn’t be here for Bill. Oh, and Bill Clinton can’t keep it in his pants. Thanks, Andrew Young for the reminder.
Dyslexia: Deficits Form Foundation For Success
Saturday, December 8th, 2007A new study shows that 39% of American entrepeneurs suffered with dyslexia. It’s an amazing number really, when contrasted with the 1% of people in the business world with the disability. Why would people with this problem turn into successful business people?
One reason that dyslexics are drawn to entrepreneurship, Professor Logan said, is that strategies they have used since childhood to offset their weaknesses in written communication and organizational ability — identifying trustworthy people and handing over major responsibilities to them — can be applied to businesses.
“The willingness to delegate authority gives them a significant advantage over nondyslexic entrepreneurs, who tend to view their business as their baby and like to be in total control,” she said.
I’ve mentioned Temple Grandin before, the autistic woman who has revolutionized American slaughter houses. It seems that these deficits can be channeled and should be. Every autistic person I’ve ever met sees the world in some unique way and has something to give that is special. There needs to be as much focus on using those special traits as finding a cure.
People shouldn’t languish away from the world, when they have something the world needs. In the case of autism though, the world has to go to the autistic person, and that’s the challenge.
Push Presents
Friday, December 7th, 2007Does a woman deserve a present for giving birth? There was a time when child-birth was viewed as a rite of passage, much as the first hunt was for a man. A woman was lavished with gifts of different sorts. And, women were supported by other women.
Society has changed. And then again, it hasn’t. What was old is new again. Women are getting “push presents”–presents for pushing out a baby. Since most women don’t push and barely feel the kid coming at all since they’re drugged up, I find this a funny description, but whatever. In this narcissistic age, women gain weight, lose control of bodily functions and I guess that merits a gift, right?
In a more innocent age, new mothers generally considered their babies to be the greatest gift imaginable. Today, they are likely to want some sort of tangible bonus as well.This bonus goes by various names. Some call it the “baby mama gift.” Others refer to it as the “baby bauble.” But it’s most popularly known as the “push present.”
That’s “push” as in, “I the mother, having been through the wringer and pushed out this blessed event, hereby claim my reward.” Or “push” as in, “I’ve delivered something special and now I’m pushing you, my husband/boyfriend, to follow suit.”
These gifts might just have to do with society now. Women are used to be rewarded for their work–they have careers, get paid, etc. They figure that giving birth shouldn’t be thankless either.
Well, newsflash ladies, motherhood doesn’t pay well. I guess that would be an argument for angling for the biggest gift the hubby will cough up.
Disassociation and Higher Performance
Friday, December 7th, 2007An interesting link between the ability to disassociate oneself from the pain of exercise:
The first thing to know, said Dr. Benjamin Levine, an exercise researcher and a cardiology professor at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, is that no one really knows what limits human performance. There’s the ability of the heart to pump blood to the muscles, there’s the ability of the muscles to contract and respond, there’s the question of muscle fuel, and then, of course, there is the mind.
“How does the brain interact with the skeletal muscles and the circulation?” Dr. Levine said. “How much of this is voluntary and how much is involuntary? We just don’t know.”
But since most people can do better, no matter how good their performance, the challenge is to find a safe way to push a little harder. Many ordinary athletes, as well as elites, use a technique known as dissociation.
Disassociation works.
Climate Sinners
Friday, December 7th, 2007More religious talk from the Global Warming types. Now, the United States, along with Saudia Arabia are the chief sinners.
The only conclusion I can come to is that mankind needs some sort of religion. And since going to church is passé and reading the Bible marginally literally categorizes one as a medieval ignoramus, the only choice is to make up rules, laws, and damnation on the fly.
Enter environmentalism.
You can’t even talk to these people anymore. It’s not enough to renew, recycle and reuse. Oh no! Now we must reduce the number of children, if have any at all. We must reduce our refuse–go on a third-world diet to produce third world amounts of poop. We must downsize everything from our houses to our trucks. We must not light a candle. The list is getting so long and Pharisaical, who needs church? The nightly news is a sermon.
Like all cults, the Environmentalist religion has a shred of truth. It’s a good thing to live modestly and within our means. It’s a good thing to not trash the environment–to dress and keep what we’re given. It’s a good thing to respect all living things, including plants. It’s a good thing to treat animals humanely. These are all good things.
But this condemning language and apocalyptic fervor is going to drive people away from saving the planet. It’s just too….weirdly religious. If environmentalists want to save the environment they could start by saving their message. Make it factual and doable. People will try. Find a way to work with human nature. People will buy it because they want to.
The church lady rarely ever gets listened to.
