Global warming protests are so 2008… In 2011 it’s Occupy Wall Street

Since the wheels are rapidly falling off the global warming / climate change hoax, where are you going to find your average liberal malcontent?

Occupying Wall Street.

There list of grievances against corporations include:

  • They have perpetuated inequality and discrimination in the workplace based on age, the color of one’s skin, sex, gender identity and sexual orientation.
  • They have poisoned the food supply through negligence, and undermined the farming system through monopolization.
  • They have profited off of the torture, confinement, and cruel treatment of countless nonhuman animals, and actively hide these practices.
  • They have continuously sought to strip employees of the right to negotiate for better pay and safer working conditions.
  • They have held students hostage with tens of thousands of dollars of debt on education, which is itself a human right.
  • They have consistently outsourced labor and used that outsourcing as leverage to cut workers’ healthcare and pay.
  • They have influenced the courts to achieve the same rights as people, with none of the culpability or responsibility.
  • They have spent millions of dollars on legal teams that look for ways to get them out of contracts in regards to health insurance.
  • They have sold our privacy as a commodity.
  • They have used the military and police force to prevent freedom of the press.
  • They have deliberately declined to recall faulty products endangering lives in pursuit of profit.
  • They determine economic policy, despite the catastrophic failures their policies have produced and continue to produce.

I find it interesting that our misguided liberals are protesting things that, for the most part, liberal policies created and liberals in government have supported.

When you look at areas that have seen the most exorbitant inflation, higher education and health care, you find government intervention within those markets.

So, when you see liberals protesting that they are “being held hostage by student loans ” it is amazing to see them going after “big business.”

Who’s fault is it that they take out a $60K student loan? Is it Wall Street’s fault?

And to round out the Occupy Wall Street list of grievances, here are a couple more:

  • They continue to block alternate forms of energy to keep us dependent on oil.
  • They have purposely covered up oil spills, accidents, faulty bookkeeping, and inactive ingredients in pursuit of profit.

I guess they needed to throw a bone to the die hard tree huggers.

Actually, it does matter who we send to the White House and Congress in 2012

I saw this on the Chicago Boyz web page today:

I am thinking more and more that the GOP presidential candidate is a distraction.

Whoever it is will be better much than Mr. Obama, so don’t worry about it. Mr. Obama makes Mitt Romney look like George Washington.

So, what does matter?

Making sure we have a Tea Party Congress in 2012 is the most important thing.

I agree with idea of having a Tea Party Congress. However, to unwind the mess that our government has become we will need a ‘Tea Party’ President as well. Remember, there is a strong possibility that a Supreme Court position will open up after the 2012 elections. So, actually, it does matter who is the Republican nominee.

If you are a regular reader of MCT, you would’ve read about this months ago… July 12th to be precise:

Achievements in the real world are great. In sports, business and in your personal life, achievements are a positive thing and should be celebrated. However, in the political world, specifically in Washington, legislative achievements are usually a negative for “we the people.” Legislative achievements usually involve eroding personal freedom or adding another layer of regulation to our economy.

If you want to nominate the Republican candidate with the greatest legislative achievement, Mitt Romney (with his signature achievement, RomneyCare) is you candidate.

We have had way too many legislative ‘achievements’ come out of Washington for way too long and we are now paying dearly for them.

Much like conservatives jumping on the governance by intellects bandwagon, the idea of supporting candidates who govern well, rather than candidates who will govern least will not get us out of the hole we are in today. As conservatives, we need to focus on a candidates core beliefs, principles and their adherence to the ideals of limited government and not worry about how many significant pieces of legislation a particular candidate has signed their name on.

Just thought I’d point this out.

Cool Video: Synchronization

syn·chro·nize:

[sing-kruh-nahyz] verb, -nized, -niz·ing.

To adjust the periodicities of (two or more electrical or mechanical devices) so that the periods are equal or integral multiples or fractions of each other.

This is cool, in a nerdy sort of way:

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IKEA Introduces a Nursery for Men

The wimpification of men continues:

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The guys in the video look like over-sized children if you ask me.

More about the Ikea “Manland” concept via Core77:

Ikea has converted the Boyfriend Bench into a fully furnished space. Earlier this month the Ikea in Sydney, Australia ran a four-day trial of Manland, a short-term area for males to park themselves while the missus goes shopping unfettered by the unfortunate modern syndrome of Male Whining. Something like a G-rated Man Cave, Manland is stocked with issues of GQ, free hot dogs, X-Boxes, the game on the telly, and gaming tables both electronic and analog.

In the past week, Manland has gotten tons of international positive press. Am I the only one who thinks this idea reeks of the sad and self-willing infantilization of the modern male? The title of this video on YouTube is “Ikea Introduces Nursery for Men.” Perhaps they should hang a gigantic pair of shiny car keys from the ceiling while a servo arm makes it dangle and jangle.

“Am I the only one who thinks this idea reeks of the sad and self-willing infantilization of the modern male?”

No, you are not.

China, India and their long term demographics

I found this to be really interesting. Via RAND:

Demographic contrasts between China and India will become more pronounced in the coming decades, and these differences hold implications for the countries’ relative economic prospects. China’s population is larger than India’s, but India’s population is expected to surpass China’s by 2025. China’s population is older than India’s and beginning to age rapidly, which may constrain economic growth, whereas an increasing percentage of India’s population will consist of working-age people through 2030, giving India an important demographic advantage.

The report expands on this idea:

Reflecting this changing age composition, the two countries will experience different patterns in the percentage of population that is of working age (customarily ages 15–64). In China, this percentage peaked in 2010, at 73 percent, and is beginning to decline; by 2035, it is expected to fall to 60 percent. By contrast, India’s working-age population as a share of the total population is gradually increasing. From its 2010 level of 65 percent, the percentage of people of working age is expected to increase gradually; to crest at about 68 percent around 2030 — the same year that India will surpass China on this statistic; and then to decline slowly.

Demographic Dividend or Drag? What These Differences Imply for Each Country’s Future Economic Prospect

When a growing share of a country’s population reaches working age, conditions may be ripe for that country to reap a “demographic dividend” — that is, to realize income growth and savings because a higher proportion of its population is able to contribute to the economy. From this standpoint, for the next several decades, China’s demographics will not be more favorable for supporting economic growth than they are now. A high ratio of working-age people to dependents contributed significantly to China’s economic growth in the past two decades, but China’s proportion of working-age people is at its peak and will soon begin to decline.

Moreover, China is now entering an era when its rapidly aging population — leading to rising ratios of dependents to workers and rising health costs for the growing cohort of elderly — could constrain economic growth. Savings rates may fall as a larger fraction of the population begins to use savings for retirement, thus reducing the flow of private capital into investments, while the government also diverts more of the budget from public investment to pension and health payments. In addition, the elderly in China (as well as in India) traditionally rely on family members to care for them in old age. If adult children divert more of their time and money toward taking care of their elderly parents rather joining the modern labor force, the forecasted rates of economic growth may not materialize.

In India, by contrast, the demographic window of opportunity is still wide open. India will have an important demographic advantage — an increasing percentage of working-age people — that will produce favorable conditions for a demographic dividend until around 2030, when the ratio of working-age people to dependents is expected to peak.

Something to think about.

Cluelessness Running Wild In DC: The DOE’s Solar Decathlon


What is the Department of Energy Solar Decathlon?

The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon is an award-winning program that challenges collegiate teams to design, build, and operate solar-powered houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient, and attractive. The winner of the competition is the team that best blends affordability, consumer appeal, and design excellence with optimal energy production and maximum efficiency.

The first Solar Decathlon was held in 2002; the competition has since occurred biennially in 2005, 2007, and 2009. The next event will take place at the National Mall’s West Potomac Park in Washington, D.C., Sept. 23–Oct. 2, 2011. Open to the public free of charge, visitors can tour the houses, gather ideas to use in their own homes, and learn how energy-saving features can help them save money today.

The U.S. Department of Energy is sponsoring a contest for colleges from around the world at $100K a piece (I guess the DOE hasn’t gotten the memo that our government is BROKE) to construct cost-effective solar-powered homes.

How much power will the solar-powered homes produce? Via The Weekly Standard:

Teisha Villegas, a fifth year architecture student at CCNY, was a bit cagey with the details, but it looked nice inside! “I’m not sure,” Villegas said when I asked how many kilowatts the 40 solar panels on the roof were bringing in today. “I haven’t had a reading on a bright sunny day.”

The house has the potential to bring in 8 kilowatts of energy (although not on a day like this).

How cost-effective are these homes?

When I asked how much the house cost, Villegas was again slow to reveal the details. “Not one of the cheap ones,” she said, saying that since it was built in New York City it had to meet the city’s strict codes. “I can’t say the price tag because we’re still negotiating with the affordability people.” One element of the competition is to be able to build affordable green energy housing.

Finally, Villegas conceded the price tag came to about $450,000, “which is just parts” since CCNY students did all the labor. Another student from the same team, Yinery Baez, also a fifth year architecture student, said that $500,000 is a more accurate figure, but that they believe the price could be dropped to about $300,000 if it were ever to be mass produced.

I’m not sure these guys have ever heard about the general cost estimating rule of thumb for new home construction: 25% material, 25% labor, 25% land cost, 12.5% builder profit, & 12.5% builder overhead. Using this estimation, the home they built would cost nearly $2,000,000. However,it would be really, really energy-efficient; saving you money on your energy bills.

How much square footage will $500,000 of energy-efficient construction material purchase?

Depending on who you asked, the square the footage of the home is either 650 (Villegas) or 750 (Baez).

I find it surprising that our contestants don’t know how big the structure they constructed is, because the rules are very specific about square footage (and all the calculations required to design the systems for the home):

6-2. Finished Square Footage

The finished square footage, as defined by ANSI Z765-2003, “Square Footage—Method for Calculating,” shall be at least 600 ft2 (55.7 m2), but shall not exceed 1000 ft2 (92.9 m2).

To sum up the ‘Solar Decathlon’ we, the American tax payers, are subsidizing a contest (and teams from China, New Zealand, Canada & Belgium) to develop cost-effective solar-powered homes. And what do we get? Homes barely larger than sheds that would cost nearly $2,000,000 to build.

What a deal.

And, solar-powered houses don’t work so well when it rains.

God has a great sense of humor.

The U.S. Government bans over the counter asthma inhalers to ‘protect the atmosphere’

The Nanny State is running wild:

But the switch to a greener inhaler will cost consumers more. Epinephrine inhalers are available via online retailers for around $20, whereas the alternatives, which contain the drug albuterol, range from $30 to $60.

Don’t forget to add the cost of your office visit (or co-pay) to obtain a prescription for the new, government approved inhalers.

The article continues:

The FDA finalized plans to phase out the products in 2008 and currently only Armstrong Pharmaceutical’s Primatene mist is available in the U.S. Other manufacturers have switched to an environmentally-friendly propellant called hydrofluoroalkane. Both types of inhalers offer quick-relief to symptoms like shortness of breath and chest tightness, but the environmentally-friendly inhalers are only available via prescription.

“If you rely on an over-the-counter inhaler to relieve your asthma symptoms, it is important that you contact a health care professional to talk about switching to a different medicine to treat your asthma,” said Badrul Chowdhury, FDA’s director of pulmonary drug division.

Its not like we are talking about spray paint canisters or hair spray, this is over the counter medication that many people rely on. So, if you like your over the counter inhaler to treat your asthma, you are outta luck.

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Is it 2012 yet?

 

Johnny A: Hip Bone

I love the guitar tone in this song:

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Monday Night Links: The Vintage Racing Bike Edition


I found these photos in a collection at one of my new favorite web sites with the really cool name: Depth Of Speed. Be sure to check out the rest of the photos.

On to the links…

Cynical Synapse: Constitution Day—Our Way of Life is At Risk

‘Bot: Rand Paul Delivers a Smackdown

Conservative Perspective: Time to Fight my Republican Michigan Governor

SJ: Case of the Mundays

CoF: UN To Vote On Palestinian Statehood and Obama Is Trapped In A Catch 22

WWTFT: Time to Get Out of The Dark

theCL: Revenge of the Nerds

Bunker: “What’s more, Obamacare increases the fine for billing errors from $11,000 per item to $50,000 without the government even having to prove intent to defraud”.

RR: President Obama’s Millionaire Taxing Economic Growth and Deficit Reduction Campaign Speech (VIDEO)

Best title of the week goes to TCotS: Benedict Boehner And His Squish Mountain Boys

Liberty At Stake: #ATTACKJWD

Spellchek touches on a subject I’ve been following here at MCT for a while, rare earth materials.

WyBlog: My Weekly Obama Jobs Report, expect the unexpected!

Shane, You are more than welcome: 6 Months of Blogging…A Look Back

The Eye: Astroturfing

FCBZ: Panic Time

Gator: *VIDEO* The Lost Solyndra Grant Proposal (From The Folks Who Brought You ATTACK WAAAAAAATCH!)

CH2.0: Summer Is Over But It’s Getting Hot In The Oval Office

MTTM: Agenda 21 Immediately Recognized For What It Is

TWN: Online ID Verification Plan Carries Risks using RFID Chip and Biometrics to get online.

Interesting Graph: Are you really spending more hours working for the man?

The Adam Smith Institute has this interesting graph illustrating the average working hours in various countries. The trend is unmistakable.

People are spending fewer hours working.

click for larger version

Tim Worstall @ ASI points out:

I can’t see that increase in working hours either. So we’ve one parp in the face of those who keep telling us that we’re getting this work/life balance thing wrong. But we can go further too. Market or paid working hours are only part of the work that we do. We all also do unpaid working hours inside the home, so called household production. The cooking, the cleaning, general maintenance and so on. And hours spent on these activities have been falling even faster than those paid working hours.

The net result of all of this is that we are enjoying ever more leisure time: yes, including even commuting and everything, we’re getting more leisure than any of the previous generations.

Which is of course just as it should be. As we’re generally getting richer (OK, last couple of years apart) then we’re choosing to take some of that greater wealth in more leisure, not just chasing after ever more money for shiny gewgaws.

Data such as this flies in direct conflict with all the leftist / eco-warrior propaganda that tells us that if we stop growing the economy we can have more lesiure time and save the entire planet at the same time.

As pointed out here @ MCT months ago, as we have become richer as a society, we tend work fewer hours, not more.