What We Really Need Is Democracy

With a totalitarian party to vote for.

These developments show that the twittering activists of Tahrir Square were incredibly out of touch with their own society—and that their Western cheerleaders were clueless as well. At the beginning of the Arab Spring, Western journalists, academics, and NGO officers predicted the spread of democracy and liberal values throughout the region. Such sunny scenarios seem increasingly farfetched.

Via

It’s Probably Nothing

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and its Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office is getting an “indefinite delivery” of an “indefinite quantity” of .40 caliber ammunition from defense contractor ATK.
U.S. agents will receive a maximum of 450 million rounds over five years, according to a press release on the deal.

RelatedTHEY TOLD ME IF I VOTED FOR JOHN MCCAIN, THEY’D BE SHUTTING DOWN RESEARCH IN THE NAME OF NATIONAL SECURITY. And they were right!

Ethical Oil Vs Blood Banana

Now is the time at SDA when we juxtapose!
The Economist, March 31stThis may have pleased environmentalists, but it infuriated Canadians who depend on the oil industry. A pro-business lobby called EthicalOil.org is urging a boycott of Chiquita’s products that is said to be costing the company a fortune. Chiquita would not quantify its losses.
Washington Post, March 28thLimbaugh’s recovering fortunes may be best exemplified by what hasn’t happened. At the peak of the controversy in early March, two small stations — in western Massachusetts and Hilo, Hawaii — said that they would drop his program. Since then, no other station has said it will take him off the air, dashing the hopes of MoveOn.org, a liberal group whose ongoing petition drive seeks Limbaugh’s removal from 180 stations.
Related: Rush’s ratings up .

Inside The Mind Of The Modern Journalist

Emailing Jeff Davis of Postmedia…

On 3/30/12 7:00 AM, “James MacMaster” wrote:
Dear Mr. Davis,
It is incredible that anyone could hear a story like this without alarm bells going off and red flags flying. Yet not only did you hear it, but you actually committed this blatant BS to print and publication.
It means one of two things: you believed it – in which case you have no brains, or, you did not believe it but chose to print it – in which case you have no ethics or credibility.
You have betrayed the public trust and done a disservice to your fellow journalists.
Yours truly,
Jamie MacMaster


From: JDavis@postmedia.com
To: “James MacMaster”
Date: Fri, 30 Mar 2012 08:51:36 -0500
Subject: Re: Breitkreuz lauded guns for teen girls, student’s mom says
Hi Jamie,
I get many such insulting letters from gun owners – since I am the reporter on this beat – after most articles I write. They tend to be flippant, like this one, are appear to be primarily an attempt to impugn of my professionalism and ethics, rather than debate any particular point.
When something like this is said on the floor of the House of Commons, it becomes news. It’s really that simple. Just because you or I may not agree with that particular point, the fact remains that the accusation was made in the House.
That said, what exactly is your objection to the article? In which way did I demonstrate a lack of credibility or ethics?
Thanks for reading, but I’m frankly getting bored by these messages from the firearms community.
Jeff Davis

Update: Objectivity so deep, it calls for a shovel.

Is There Nothing That Obama Can’t Do?

Atlantic Seismic Exploration Announcement an Empty Gesture

“The administration’s announcement does not put the U.S. on track to produce more of its own energy, and does not make up for three years of failed energy policy,” said Milito. “It continues the pattern of delaying U.S. oil and gas development and supplies until well into the future.”
Milito called the announcement political rhetoric and an attempt to make the Obama administration look like it is doing something on gas prices, “but in reality it is little more than an empty gesture.”
“Without an Atlantic coast lease sale in their five-year plan, the administration’s wishful thinking on seismic research has no ultimate purpose,” Milito commented. “The White house has banned lease sales in the Atlantic for at least the next five years, discouraging the investment and job creation, and ultimately production, which would make seismic exploration valuable.”

h/t Adrian

Pharma Shrugs

I’ve come to the conclusion that the reason most journalists support socialized medicine is the very same reason they’ve barely mentioned the severe problem of continuing drug shortages.

[Patient is hooked up to the monitor. Wide complex bradycardia. Pressure 60/40. Dialysis graft is noticed in his arm.]
“Dialysis patient. He may be acidotic and hyperkalemic. Give him an amp of bicarb STAT.”
“Sorry doc, we’re out. There’s a national shortage.”
“Keep that fluid bolus going. Let’s start some Levophed on him to raise his blood pressure.”
“Sorry, doc. We don’t have any of that either. National shortage.”
“Well let’s at least give him some Vancomycin in case he’s septic.”
“I’d like to, but I can’t. That’s on national shortage, too.”
“Well, he’s not responding very well. At least let’s get him intubated. Can someone push some Rocuronium?”
“Don’t have that, either. National shortage.”
“Vecuronium?”
“Nope. That’s out, too.”
“Pavulon”
“Nope. National shortage.”

They aren’t sick.

This Is Not Your Grandma’s Humane Society

The Guardian;

Britain’s supermarket shelves could be empty of key products within a month as an acute shortage of eggs threatens to have serious consequences for the country’s food chain. New EU rules banning the housing of hens in conventional cages are being blamed for what some in the industry are already labelling a “crisis”, as competition among food manufacturers to source eggs sends prices rocketing. The price of eggs on the EU wholesale market has nearly quadrupled over the past week to more than four euros a kilo.
“It’s now no longer a question of price, it’s a question of supply,” said one industry source who asked to be anonymous. “I estimate that within three to four weeks some companies will be at breaking point.”

France too.

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