This is Pretty Funny

Check out this product over at Amazon and read the comments. Great stuff.

Slacking at Work Stuff

Have fun!! It’s work safe, too!!!!!

Clinton vs. Obama Deathmatch

Combatting the Delusional Local Politicos

Local politicos and some screwy business leaders are blind to the obvious. They think business will relocate to Wisconsin simply because we have water availability thanks to Lake Michigan. Happily, Patrick McIlheran pointed out the fallacy of this type of thinking in an op-ed piece he wrote in Sunday’s local rag.

Some selected highlights. Any emphasis mine.

I wonder if this was what it felt like to own a polka-records company in 1977, telling yourself that with Elvis dead, the kids would forget rock and come back.

Keep waiting. Meanwhile, we’ve got lots of people saying Atlanta’s drought will be what sends ‘em all scurrying back to Milwaukee.

From the man on the street to essays in political journals, people living on the shores of the world’s largest, most beautiful backwater are figuring that the drift of people, money and power to the Sunbelt will surely end now. They want our water, so they’ll have to come back.

Even serious, thoughtful people say this. “This is a very big economic development tool for the Great Lakes region,” said Todd Ambs to Milwaukee business leaders last month. Ambs runs the water division for the Department of Natural Resources. He knows more about the flow of water than I ever will. The message, he says, is, “you can come back to the Great Lakes.”

Not going to happen, says John Kasarda, who knows more about the flow of economies than I ever will. Kasarda, who researches entrepreneurship and demographics at the University of North Carolina, says there’s simply no evidence that constrictions in water supply alone can torpedo a burgeoning region. Phoenix and Las Vegas, you might recall, thrive. The southeast isn’t short of water. It just doesn’t organize its distribution well - yet.

The people who think Atlanta’s drought will send people back here are buffoons. With telecommunications being what it is today, people can live just about anywhere they want. So, the jobs will go to where capital is welcomed and stay where it is treated fairly. As Kasarda points out:

The lake won’t save us. A new attitude might, suggests Kasarda. What made the Sunbelt as much as air conditioning was a pro-enterprise culture, he says - an encouraging attitude toward growth, a “flexible, non-union environment,” decent taxes. “They put out the red carpet for business,” he says, and it worked.

And here? “The attitude in Milwaukee toward business is awful, and you just don’t see it anywhere else,” Briggs and Stratton CEO John Shiely told a reporter this month. He and other executives had the temerity to say the same in public last winter and were excoriated as wanting “to return to the 19th century.” How dare they mouth off! Don’t they know their place?

Suppose Atlanta were rewound to some prior century - that its growth were halted. It’s gained a million people in six years; where might the next million go instead? Shiely contrasted Milwaukee with the welcoming attitude in Murray, Ky., and that should be a hint: There are lots of other Sunbelt towns. If Atlanta’s got too many people drawing from one little river, that’s solved as people spread to other rivers in the welcoming, low-tax South.

Think the above isn’t true? Guess what? Texas just surpassed New York as the state with the most “Fortune 500″ firms with 58 now in Texas.

Some of that was due to the growth of local firms but more was because of firms that relocated out of the high-tax, anti-business climates of states like the socialist shithole under Pol Pot Doyle Wisconsin. Seems to me Texas is not exactly known for having a lot of water. (As I side note, I paid $4.75/gal for avgas in Texas compared to $5.85/gal here.)

Until the negative attitudes toward business are reversed here, we’ll have plenty of water. No jobs, of course, but plenty of water.

Must Have Been a Hell of a Reception

From the MJS

Newlyweds jailed after brawl at Pittsburgh-area hotel

PITTSBURGH (AP) — A newlywed couple spent the night in separate jail cells - she in her wedding gown - after police said they brawled with each other, then members of another wedding party, at a suburban Pittsburgh hotel.

The fight started Saturday night after a reception when he knocked her to the floor with a karate kick in the seventh-floor hallway of a Holiday Inn - and escalated when she attacked two guests from another wedding party who came to her aid, police said.

The melee moved to an elevator and then to the lobby, where the couple threw metal planters at the two good Samaritans, causing minor injuries, police charged.

“It was pretty wild,” Ross police Sgt. Dave Syska said.

Dentist David W. Wielechowski, 32, of Shaler, and Christa Vattimo, 25, had married a month earlier in the Bahamas but repeated their vows Saturday at a reception for 150 guests. They were checking into their room when the argument began, police said.

Police arrived to find the dentist lying on the lobby floor and his bride, seemingly highly intoxicated, screaming.

Authorities charged each with simple assault, criminal mischief and disorderly conduct, and the bride with an additional count of public intoxication. They face a May 7 preliminary hearing.

A district judge considered issuing a restraining order against Wielechowski, but his new bride declined the measure.

The couple declined comment upon their release Sunday morning.

She left with her father, still dressed in her white gown.

Wielechowski left alone, sporting a swollen eye, tuxedo pants, a bloody T-shirt and one shoe.

Brought One In Today

Your intrepid blogger was up early on 4/26/08 to go out to the western edges of the Upper Midwest to bring in a little kid who needs some surgery. I can’t give any details about the little kid, of course, but the headwinds were over 80mph at altitude making the flight out very bumpy and creating a “crab” angle of about 20-30 degress in AB1.

Not a lot of fun. I’m happy I was alone on the outbound leg since I didn’t need the hassle of anyone getting airsick. I did however, have the foresight for a change to load some bags and airsick medicine for the return leg.

The little kid was at the airport with her parents. Nice people in their late twenties. Dad had to stay behind to work so Mom (a MILF if there ever was one) and the little kid were kind of apprehensive since AB1 isn’t all that big a plane. It didn’t help that we couldn’t find a grounding wire to top off the tanks (you ground the plane when refueling so you don’t have a massive fireball in case of static electricity).

It reminded me again of the bravery of innocence if you will. The little girl knew she was sick but couldn’t be bothered to compare it to anything because she’s always been sick. She also knew that somehow, it would all work out in the end and, since death is a meaningless word at this time in her life, it doesn’t occur to her. The total cynic that is moi is always refreshed by this attitude and makes me realize that the “Big Guy Upstairs” is really looking over all of us all the time. Given my piloting skills, it’s a good thing, too.

Well, the guy found the wire, AB1 got refueled and everyone got settled in. The little kid was bummed she couldn’t use her cell phone but that’s just the way it goes. I did let her do the “gear up” takeoff thing (she really enjoyed that since we picked up about 25 knots and I was able to, literally, stand AB1 on her tail) and the next thing I know, we’re at 9000ft doing about 260 knots pretty smoothly thanks to the tailwind. Weeeeeeeeeeee. AB1 usually maxes out at about 190 knots in calm air.

I leaned the engine to its max (called lean of peak) and let AB1 run. Man, was she happy. Man, were we moving. Pure flying for the fun of it. I took the plane off autopilot about 200 nm from our destination and hand flew her to the airport. Turning into the wind to land was a reminder of how strong the winds were today. I just nailed it, too. Smooth as “buttah”. Not bad since I was in a 19 knot crosswind. In jets, that’s not that big a deal but in a plane like AB1, that’s a lot of crosswind.

Even better, no one got airsick.

Mom and cool little kid got to the hospital OK and when I checked on the little kid everyone was very happy and optimistic. Great stuff and from the little I know, I think she’ll be fine. My only problem is that Mom is happily married and her husband is a great guy.

I know, I’m awful.

Managed to get home in time to see The Crew win one so it was a great day all around.

NOTE: I’ve had a lot of emails asking why I never post pics of the plane and/or me with the plane. They find it odd since photography is one of my hobbies. Most pilots have extensive “shrines to me”.

The simple answer is that I’m superstitious. About 10 years ago, a first officer took a pic of me at night and gave me a bad case of light blindness. I was looking right into the flash at about 2200 hours (hey AB….smile!!!) and was setting up for the final approach. I damn near dumped the plane due to vision problems because of it so no pics, no camera, no nothing around me, AB1, BP1 or any aircraft I’m flying or flying in.

NOTE: To the little kid, best of luck….you’ll be fine. I’m looking forward to taking you home in a few weeks. Bravo Zulu.

Some Thoughts on Wesley Snipes

Well, it’s well-known by now that Mr. Snipes got 3 years in (probably) Club Fed for income tax evasion and willfully failing to file his 1040.

Snipe’s argument was that since he earned the money from an offshore movie shoot, it was exempt from income since, he, as a U.S. citizen and resident did not earn the money in the U.S.

Well, as a former expat and professional ranter against our tax policy, let me say this: ” I’m sorry Snipes got his time but he earned it.” Had I been on the jury, I would have voted “not guilty” at the first available opportunity and held firm. Sadly, the tax law is pretty clear in Mr. Snipes case.

The U.S. is the ONLY country in the world that taxes not-resident income. In other words, if I have a job in Singapore, I have to pay taxes in the U.S. even though I don’t reside in the U.S.(and therefore have no vote in the elections in the House of Representatives which sets tax policy). If my counterpart from, say, England, has the same job and salary, he does NOT have to pay (the onerous) taxes to England. Why? He is not a resident of England. Remember that citizen and resident have separate meanings.

Let’s put it another way. If you live in the Socialist Shithole of Jim Pol Pot Doyle State of Wisconsin, you pay income taxes in The Socialist Shithole of Jim Pol Pot Doyle Wisconsin. If you move to say, Texas, or any other state, you may pay local income taxes because you live there but you don’t live in in the socialist shithole of Jim Pot Pol Doyle State of Wisconsin so you don’t pay taxes in Wisconsin.

I think Snipes got some bad advice from someone in his “posse” and he (Snipes) held fast. Well, that’s a nice trait but you might want to think about getting some tax pros in your posse, Wes. Enjoy the oatmeal.

And next time you have questions like this….address this blog. I probably won’t be able to save you any tax money but I probably CAN give you some life experience that can keep you out of jail.

To Mr. Snipes I say…best of luck. I like your movies. Question the fact that your so-called “friends” in Hollywood have deserted you. Come over to the “dark side”; we conservatives HATE taxes and, I think, could have defended you a lot better than what you got.

What a Loser

Jimmy Carter thinks he can continue to lie to people and get away with it. Who does he think he is, Barrack Hussein Obama?

Following his talks with Meshaal on Monday, Carter said Hamas told him it would recognize Israel’s right to live in peace if a deal is reached and approved by a Palestinian vote.

But Meshaal said later that Hamas would not recognize the Jewish state and would insist on the right of some 4.5 million Palestinian refugees to return to Israel.

Someone should have the guts to revoke this moron’s passport as advocated by Diana West in The Washington Times.

“And it was as such a symbol that the former president, along with wife Rosalynn, the former first lady — visited the grave of Yasser Arafat, the founding father of global terrorism, who, in his time on earth watered it with the blood of innocents, including that of two American diplomats he ordered assassinated in 1973 in Sudan. Did the thought of all this blood temper Mr. Carter’s enthusiasm? Hailing Arafat’s “historic role,” the 39th president of the United States laid a wreath of red-red-roses on the terrorist’s grave, calling him a “dear friend.” Too bad a column can’t come with a sick bag.”

Jimmy Carter is a pathetic excuse for a human being, much less an ex-president.

UPDATE: Of course, that won’t stop some people.

Note: Cartoons from the brilliant Michael Ramirez at Investor’s Business Daily.

This is Pretty Funny

From The Week magazine (sign up may be required).

A British man claiming to be 101 years old finished last week’s London Marathon in a respectable 12 hours, stopping halfway to smoke a cigarette and drink a pint of beer. Buster Martin, who may actually be 94, was trying to set a world’s record for oldest marathoner. He said that whatever his real age, his unusual choice of mid-race sustenance proved a point. “They say [cigarettes] and booze are bad for you, but I’m still here, aren’t I?”

A great way to run a marathon (if you like running 26 miles, that is).

Another Winner!!!!!!!!!!

Big Pilot and I flew another winner home today. Little guy had some kind of heart procedure and was bouncing around more than a check from the Hillary Diane Clinton campaign. Even better was, we didn’t bounce much at all as we took the little guy and his mom home (no turbulence). A fine day in the air.

BP and I alternated legs and we BOTH made “smooth as buttah” landings. A rare occurence.

Like Mazda sez…..zoom, zoom, zoom.

Great stuff. Now that I’m at the home base, let me say this: Celebrating with Dewars is fun!!

Thank You Very Little

Many people have Heath Savings Accounts or HSAs. They’re a very effective way to afford health insurance and, are a staple of small business health plans. If you’re unfamiliar with HSAs, you can see a nice summary here.

As is their wont, the Dims want to end this. Why? They want you to have health insurance only if you buy it from the government. The Wall Street Journal covers it today.

“Democrats have made affordable health care a mainstay of their election agenda, but apparently only if you’re willing to get insurance through the government. Witness their stealthy assault on Americans who prefer the private-sector option of Health Savings Accounts.

This week, the House passed legislation that included a provision to require every HSA transaction be reviewed and verified as a legitimate medical expense. Democrats say this is to ensure that consumers are using their tax-free withdrawals for a knee replacement, rather than a new iPod. In reality it adds a layer of bureaucracy that could sharply reduce the appeal and cost savings of HSAs.

A key player here is Ways and Means Health Subcommittee Chairman Pete Stark, whose main purpose in politics is to give the U.S. a government-run health-care system. He is a known opponent of HSAs – once comparing them to “weapons of mass destruction” – because they introduce more individual choice into the health-care marketplace.”[...]

Honest to God, how do people this stupid keep getting elected? What’s worse, this idiot thinks the Feds are more capable than individual consumers in finding health care that’s best for them.

The WSJ concludes its op-ed with some very good advice.

“Democrats, including Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, decry the high and rising costs of health care, including insurance “overhead.” Mr. Stark and his friends want to impose the same bureaucratic overhead even on spending that consumers do with their own money. The Senate should stop this one dead in its tracks.”

I hope the Senate will stop this one, too but I’m not overly optimistic. The end of HSAs would all but end health care for small businesses. Of course, the goal of the majority party in the Senate is to wipe out all business…corporations, no matter their size, represent pure evil in the eyes of the Dims.