Thursday, December 25, 2003

Quoteable Stocking Stuffers

Shonk provides a little gift for your head.

Posted by John Venlet on 12/25 at 07:53 AM
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Christmas Past

Arthur Silber posts a couple of links regarding Christmas Past. The Christmas Truce of 1914.  Merry Christmas and God Bless the Troops in the field.

Posted by John Venlet on 12/25 at 07:47 AM
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Wednesday, December 24, 2003

Christmas Greetings, A Wee Bit Early

Christmas Eve.  10:37 P.M.  Our small group of guests have left.  Melissa, Cami and I are sitting in the living room enjoying the quiet and the tree.  Gifts have been given and received.  To mark the situation as unique, the gifts were wrapped and tended to the material side, but none-the-less were more than that.  Tomorrow I’ll gather up my sons in the A.M. and the festive atmosphere of tonight will spill over us once again.

No snow here in E Grand Rapids, though tiny snowflakes tempt us as they careen in a light breeze.  I prefer a white Christmas, unless I’m in the islands.  There is a lot to be said about a sunrise Christmas morning on Haleakala.

I wish you all the most merry of Christmas.

Posted by John Venlet on 12/24 at 10:35 PM
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The Economist Gets Religion

Well, not really.  The article, entitled The swamis, looks at “Indian spirituality.”  Though the article will not “enlighten” you, it will inform, as it provides some interesting background on some of the Indian religions.

I think organized religions, for the most part, are simply puppet sticks from which most believers are suspended, including their judgment.  Be that as it may, because of my own faith and belief in the sovereignty of the individual, I recommend you roll your own.

Via Arts & Letters Daily.

Posted by John Venlet on 12/24 at 05:04 PM
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It’s as Simple as Wearing a Raincoat

There really is no need for a headline such as this, for any STD.

Vancouver facing worst outbreak of syphilis in the developed world.

Via Drudge.

Posted by John Venlet on 12/24 at 04:53 PM
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Mad Cow Reverberates Already

On December 22nd, Jonathon Wilde, at Catallarchy, posted a link and a bit of commentary regarding a recent Washington Post article that spoke of the renewed success of American cattlemen.  The article purportedly showed that this renewed success was attributable to the popularity of the Atkins and South Beach diets.  THe comment thread associated with Jonathon’s post offers some additional comments and details of Canada’s mad cow disease situation, and, how this may be associated with the success of America’s stockmen.

Now, mad cow disease has reared its encephaletic head here in the U.S.A.  Daniel Medley, over at Lobowalk, jestingly offered a solution for the restaurants with the golden arches, but it is his phone call to a rancher friend that evidences the ramifications, possibly needless, that are being felt already, at word of this development.

Posted by John Venlet on 12/24 at 02:42 PM
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Yeah, but did they understand the book?

Posted by a reader, at Amazon in regards to “Atlas Shrugged.”

Reviewer: A reader from Richmond, VA United States

Go ahead, capitalists, read this awful book and enjoy its laughable message that you are somehow virtuous. Enjoy this fantasy as long as you can because justice will soon be served to you. Howard Dean will become president and you will then pay for your rape of the environment, exploitation of workers and selfish pursuits. No more slaps on the wrists. Jail time will be the norm, as it should be! There’s no place you’ll be able to hide, and no one will be able to save you. Your reign of darkness will come to an end. Mark my word!”

Read a few of the other reviews too.  Crazy.

Via J. Bowen at No Watermelons Allowed via Jonah Goldberg at The Corner.

Posted by John Venlet on 12/24 at 07:18 AM
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Tuesday, December 23, 2003

Appropriate, still

I’m currently reading, right now, the book listed in the sidebar left.  It’s only the second collection of Mencken’s writings I’ve ever read.  Here’s a quote.

“And the issue of Americanism is being murdered by idiots.  Day by day its exponents pile up proofs that to be an American, as they conceive it, is to be a poltroon and an ass.”

H.L. Mencken

Back to the book.

Posted by John Venlet on 12/23 at 08:44 PM
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Observed while Christmas Shopping

This morning, Melissa and I, against my protestations, went to one of the local mega malls to, according to her, finish up some last minute gift purchases.  I went along as more of a bag carrier and receipt pocketer than a shopper, though I did purchase something for my Mum and my Dad.  Our first stop was the Old Navy store, and since it was fairly early, 9 A.M. or so, there were actually more employees, seasonal and otherwise, in the store than consumers.

Melis found what she was looking for in rather quick time, so off to the cashier we went.  As we stood at the checkout counter, no waiting in line either, and Melissa answered the twenty questions they typically throw at you; will that be an Old Navy charge, zip code please, would you like gift receipts, etcetera, etcetera, I noted two young men approaching the mall entrance/exit of the store.  When the gentlemen I observed made it to the front of the store, they both stopped, seemingly waiting, for what I did not know.  I did not need to wait long to find out.

As the young men stood there, a supervisor, at least that’s what the dangling name tag/store pass said, approached the young men.  As said supervisor approached, the young men stripped off their outer clothes.  In each case, a bulky, hooded sweatshirt.  At that point I was able to determine that the young men actually were employees of Old Navy.  Seasonal or fulltime I cannot say.  What got me, was the fact that the supervisor then patted both of the young men down, including their sweatshirts.  Right in front of me.  I almost couldn’t believe it.

I realize that shoplifting and employee theft are a problem in retailing, as this article plainly states, but subjecting employees to these cautions, directly in front of paying customers, seemed to lack good judgement, and, made me wonder if the supervisor was going to consider asking me to remove my heavy leather jacket for a pat down when it came time for me to leave the store.

The linked article states that over $4.7 billion was lost to employee theft and shoplifting in just 25 retail establishmets in 2002.  A number, considering the small amount of retailers, that is rather staggering.  I do not know the methodology followed for determining this number, but, if it is accurate, it would appear that there are more dishonest folks than honest folks.  A supposition that I have a hard time believing.

Posted by John Venlet on 12/23 at 02:55 PM
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A Distinctly Important Question

Billy Beck, upon reading this post of Kim du Toit’s, wherein Kim expresses his dissatisfaction with Bush’s latest health initiative, expresses, clearly, the root problem and asks a distinctly important question.  From the end of Billy’s post.

The essential problem is not that Bush—or anyone else—wants to control your life. The problem is that he can, because of the prevailing conviction that your life doesn’t belong to you. At root, the prevailing conviction is that you belong to “society”.

Well: do you?”

Posted by John Venlet on 12/23 at 02:38 PM
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Taking it in the Arm

Tyler Cowen has a post up at Marginal Revolution titled Liability and flu vaccine which looks at liability law and the possible effect on availability of flu vaccines by linking to a story in the Financial Times on just this subject.  Cowen quotes a portion of the article in his post which, in a single sentence, I think provides the real cause for so called flu vaccine shortages.

But gradually profit margins thinned on vaccines, as the government became a big buyer of them.

Would you manufacture vaccines if there was no money in it or would you do it for the “public good.”

Posted by John Venlet on 12/23 at 08:30 AM
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Higher Education Musing

Aaron Haspel, at God of the Machine, muses on attending college, the follies associated with loyalty to your alma mater, and if the money is well spent.  The post is entitled Contra College.  The first sentence of Aaron’s post,

To understand the absurd seriousness with which Americans treat higher education, look at their cars.

Posted by John Venlet on 12/23 at 07:34 AM
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The World of Submarines

When I was in the service, serving on the USS LOS ANGELES (SSN668), we were the biggest boat on the block.  Well we were until the USS OHIO (SSBN726) went active.  It is a behemoth of a submarine.  Five hundred and sixty feet long versus three hundred and sixty feet long for a 688 class sub.  The first time the OHIO pulled into Pearl, I was flabbergasted at its size.  And amenities, it made the LA, my boat, look like a Motel 6 versus a Sheraton.  Anyway, Anna, at Belligerent Bunny Blog, has posted the fact that they are converting the OHIO to carry all Tomahawk cruise missiles.  154 of them to be exact.  Now that’s a silent, deadly, weapons platform.

Posted by John Venlet on 12/23 at 07:12 AM
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Monday, December 22, 2003

Merry Christmas to the Chinese

China is amending their “constitution” once again.  They are going to recognize human rights, which is kind of a weak amendment, and private property rights for the first time since 1949.  The full article here, as published in The China Daily.

Posted by John Venlet on 12/22 at 05:26 PM
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Fricking Socialists - Bah Humbug

Andy Duncan, over at Samizdata, asks the question What is the point of socialism?”

Posted by John Venlet on 12/22 at 02:20 PM
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