"Everyone Lies" - Dr. House...

This just in: Buying gold on TV may not be the great investment that Glenn Beck would have you believe.

I was watching a commercial yesterday.  It talked about a coin that had 99.99% pure 24K gold in it.  This coin was a bargain at $50; especially when you consider that gold is currently over $1,300 an ounce.  It even mentions that there is 14 milligrams of gold in the coin.  Now, I had my calculator at hand and was in the mood for a bit of math.  (I know, I'm a bit of a nerd sometimes).  It turns out that $50 for 14 milligrams of gold is the equivalent of paying $101,000 and ounce!

Elsewhere...

I saw a video on the news this morning that was amazing.  A bomb squad guy in Thailand was investigating a suspicious car.  He was suited up like that guy in The Hurt Locker (a great movie).  Anyway, he touches the car and BOOOOOM!

The car is destroyed and the guy is blown off his feet.  A moment later he gets up and walks away.  I wanted to stand up and clap. (video at end of this blog)

Think about how heroic this person is.  Now think about how our elected officials have turned politics into a sport (<-I got that from a man in Minnesota talking about their government shutdown.)

By the way, I have grown tired of talking about the budget.  I have posted an essay called The Big Lie  so that I don't keep boring you with the same stuff.  If you want, you can find it on the menu bar above.  I will try to restrict myself to "snippets" in the future.

Here is an interesting photo of two spider webs.  The one on the left was made by a youngspider while the one on the right was made by an old spider.  I'm wondering if the older spider is less capable or if it has learned that even an ugly web still catches flies so why bother making it pretty.

I have a question for you:

Which is worse...(a) to rape someone or (b) to falsely accuse someone of raping you?

This maid that is accusing Strauss-Kahn has admitted to lying about being raped in the past.  She also went on to clean the room she was "raped" in after the event.  There are now so many holes in her story that the smart money says this case is going to go away.

If she lied, and that is a big "if", then she has caused the president of the IMF to lose his job.  She has caused the front-runner for the presidency of France to fall out of the race.  She has brought public humiliation to a man who did nothing.

If she lied...

Today in Minnesota, 20,000 public employees lost their jobs.  All of the state parks are closed.

I think the public should have a button that is issued to every voter.  Once 51% of the voters push that button, all of the politicians are thrown out on their ears.

Here is a shout-out to Mark.  He's a friend of mine that keeps taking advantage of the fact that I am an Oakland A's fan and he is a Red Sox fan.  We used to bet every year before I noticed a trend...I always lost.  I still owe him from at least one bet.

Mark, I'll pay up when my interest in baseball returns.  So long as teams are able to buy championships, I'd rather watch ex-movie stars sell purses on QVC.  Thanks for your patience.

Onward...

The military is working on micro-aircraft that can carry cameras.  Can you imagine lettinga bucket full of these things loose in a war zone?  You'd be able to see everything and the enemy would never know you are there.

The NBA has joined the NFL in a lockout.  I can't bring myself to care much about either program.  Millionaires arguing about millions.

Mitt Romney is on the news saying, "I never said that Obama made the recession worse."  Every news channel that shows this statement then goes on to show three clips where Romney says, "Obama made the recession worse."  He plays with the facts almost as much as Michele Bachmann.

Pat Robertson says that Gay Marriage is a warning that God is going to destroy America.  Where do these guys get this stuff?  Is God sending him text messages or is it possible that Pat is just making some of this stuff up.

Have a happy and safe 4th!

Look for my silhouette against the backdrop of fireworks.  I'll be the one with the cape.

Up, up and away...

jim

Here is the bomb video...

http://youtu.be/xBNcYvVytkI

The Denial is not a river in Egypt...

This just in:  The GOP is now openly admitting to holding the Debt Ceiling hostage.

I watched yesterday as they stated that threatening to not raise the debt ceiling was the only "leverage" they had to get the budget concessions they want.  At the same time, they acknowledge that the debt ceiling is otherwise not related to the current budget.

I believe I made this very point over a month ago.

I also said that the "tax break for the rich" portion of the GOP plan was the real issue, not Medicare.  Medicare was just a bit of "misdirection." This has also turned out to be the case.  Medicare, and all entitlements, should be looked at.  But now everyone (but the GOP) is agreeing with me when I say, "Revenue is the issue, not spending."

A quick break for a funny picture...

News Flash:  For months, I have been saying that the Republican Party is intentionally blocking the country's economic progress in order to increase their chances of a victory in 2012.  Yesterday, for the first time, I have heard that same idea suddenly occur to several congressmen and political analysts.

So there you have it.  Here is where you can get tomorrow's news today.

Onward...

Here is a link to comedian Steven Wright's one-liners.

Here are a couple of products I saw advertised on TV within 30 minutes of each other:

WONDERFILE: This is a blanket with pockets in it.  You can unfold it on your desk (covering the entire thing) and see pockets where you can put stuff.  They even show a business man packing up his "blanket" for the night.  I'm wondering why this is better than a briefcase.

PAJAMAJEANS: These are jean-looking pants that are really "comfortable."  They are comfortable because they expand with you.  This will allow you to by a pair of pants at a smaller size and then stretch them over the "real" you.  I would call these SELFESTEEMJEANS.

TOTAL PILLOW: This is a donut shaped pillow that can be twisted into shapes to fit your need.  What caught my attention was the "wait there is more" comment.  By ordering now,you can get a plastic bag filled with a gel.  You can heat this or freeze it and then use it as a compress.  I'm thinking, "How is this different from a bag of water?"  And then they go one to say, you can get two for one if you order now (say quickly ->plus additional shipping and handling.)

Elsewhere...

A study of the 26 states that are the worse off financially have found that for the last decade, they have been spending 2-3 times what they are taking in.  Their debt is made up of 75% pension obligations and 25% bonds.  Last year, unfunded pension obligations rose by 50%.

This has given rise to a new term: State Arbitrage.  As states try to raise revenue, people will simply leave to a neighboring state.  We have seen this in California for years; not so much with people but with companies.   They tax the big employers so they just move elsewhere.  In some cases, they still keep their headquarters here but all of the jobs move to a more friendly place.

On a brighter note: Glenn Beck is gone...

And Bill Clinton likes Michele Bachmann.  This is really pissing off the Republican Party as they know she is not a real candidate.  I really, really want her to be the GOP nominee.  I already have a list of gaffes.  For example, she claims our Founding Fathers fought to eliminate slavery.  When this was pointed out to her as false, she said that Quincy Adams, a small boy at they time, grew up to fight slavery so there...now you shut up.

One last "interesting" picture to get our minds off the economy and politics.

I've noticed a slight drop in readership since school ended.  That's okay.  I will continue to save the world while you are escaping from it.  I'll see you when you get back.

Here is your quote for the day: "Worry is like a rocking chair: it gives you something to do but never gets you anywhere"  Erma Bombeck

Time to get some air.

Up, up and away...

jim