Since my day job involves writing about finance and economics, I usually stay away from those subjects here. However the following cartoon nails what just happened so precisely I have to share it with you. It's been making the rounds on Wall Street this week. Here is a link to the original.
I'm not totally sure what to make of this very strange video, but it is definitely interesting.
If you are really confused after watching, this may help.
Hat tip to Mark Shea
Hi folks. I'm still on my Blog Break. However the following photo was so touching I had to share it with you.
If only we all had such zeal. More cat missionary photos here.
I must say the members of this new order seem very dedicated. They have a project underway to translate the entire Bible into their language, as well as a philosophical argument for the existence of Ceiling Cat.
Peace and happy summer to all. I'll be back soon.
Forget Obama's Preacher. Hillary Clinton must immediately denounce this man and his sick, evil campaign methods. Four more years of this will destroy America.
You may want to have a barf bag ready before watching the video.
Hat tip: Mark Shea
Over a year ago I posted this picture of Billary Clinton and now it's suddenly getting hits from all over the world. Since everyone seems so interested, here is another version for you to enjoy. Sorry if it gives anyone nightmares.
Positioning yourself as The President of 9/11 appears not to be the best strategy, at least in Iowa and New Hampshire. It will take a miracle to get him back in the race now. This video says it all.
Hat tip: Elizabeth Andrew
A little retrospective humor for New Year's Eve...
Click here if you don't see the video embedded above.
Happy New Year!!
(video via Fr. Erik)
From Andy Borowitz:
Edwards Blasts Obama for Criticizing Hillary’s Claim That Obama Criticized Edwards
Iowans Confused By Charges, Countercharges, Counter-countercharges
An already perplexing Iowa race became even more impenetrable today as former Sen. John Edwards blasted Sen. Barack Obama for criticizing Sen. Hillary Clinton’s claim that Sen. Obama had criticized Sen. Edwards.
At a campaign rally in Cedar Rapids, the former North Carolina senator said that the Illinois senator’s criticism of the New York senator for claiming that the Illinois senator had criticized the North Carolina senator was “an attempt to confuse the voters.”
Mr. Edwards’ comments set off a new round of charges, countercharges, and counter-countercharges between the three Democratic rivals, with Sen. Obama lashing out at Sen. Clinton for supporting Mr. Edwards’ criticism of Sen. Obama’s criticism of Sen. Clinton.
With 6.7 million views on YouTube, this cat named Nora is officially a star. Click here if you don't see the embedded video. There's also a sequel if you want more.
Nora's sublime and thoughtful notes are a vast improvement over most of what passes for music today. Hopefully she will devote all of her nine lives to composition and give us a full symphony.
Hat tip: Sister Mary Martha
If you look at these two images while sitting in front of your monitor, you will see Mr. Angry on the left and Ms. Calm on the right.
Get up from your seat and move back about 12 feet, and they will switch places. Amazing, isn't it?
We've all heard you can't judge a book by its cover. Can we judge people by their expressions? Not always. Sometimes people who look outwardly calm are seething inside. Or they may be hurting, physically or emotionally. Men, especially, are taught in our culture to not show pain, yet hiding the pain does not make it go away. It's a good reason to be kind and loving with everyone we meet. We never know what turmoil they may be feeling inside.
Likewise, when we find ourselves face to face with Mr. Angry, it often helps to remember that he hasn't always been that way. He can change quickly. As in the picture, whether someone is angry or calm often depends on our own position in relation to them. Move closer or farther away, and much can change.
I present a new presidential candidate for your consideration: Mr. Lee L. Mercer, Jr. His platform may be just what America needs. Here is his campaign theme:
The United States Government must regulate government sleepers and government regulations authorized thought, ideas, acts, actions, rights, wrongs, controversies, facts, issues and circumstantial evidence through intelligence research, law research, law enforcement research and criminal law research implementing ROTC communications research innovating education national and international.
There is some concern about the war in Iraq. I know of U.S. government evidence that the war in Iraq is illegal and it can be solved through me representing the United States Government with a peace treaty. I know there are notations in my ROTC Biography of a guarantee from Iraq through me for peace to the war in Iraq and that Mr. Hussein is innocent of his charges.
As usual, the satire of Andy Borowitz hits disturbingly close to the mark.
Fresh on the heels of their reality show “Kid Nation,” in which children are sent to perform hard labor on a ranch with no adult supervision, CBS announced today that it was readying a new reality show in which children are sent to the federal detention camp at Guantanamo.
The new program, called “Kid Detention,” is expected to be ready for broadcast in time for November sweeps, with the following promotional slogan: “One detention camp. Forty kids. No lawyers.”
CBS said that filming would begin as soon as forty children are “randomly rounded up.”
Within hours of its announcement, CBS found itself under fire from the organization Amnesty International, who warned of possible human rights violations if the children are sent to Guantanamo.
In an attempt to rebuff such criticism, CBS spokesperson Carol Foyler told reporters, “Nothing worse is going to happen to those kids than if they were on ‘Two and a Half Men.’”
Ms. Foyler also attempted to dismiss Amnesty International’s complaint that the kids at Guantanamo would not be permitted to have lawyers.
“We want to recreate the experience of being detainees, and of course that means no lawyers,” Ms. Foyler said. “Besides, just like the other detainees, these kids haven’t been charged with any crime.”
If “Kid Detention” takes off in the ratings as expected, Ms. Foyler said, the network was considering launching another series, “Kid Rendition,” in which the children are flown to Egypt for further questioning.
The incoherent blonde who became the temporary Queen of YouTube this week may have the last laugh. I have long doubted the old saw that "all publicity is good publicity" but this incident may make me reconsider.
First a quick apology. This young lady has a name, which is Lauren Upton. While the women in these contests apparently don't mind objectifying themselves, they remain human and I should have regarded her as such and identified her by name. Mea culpa.
Ms. Upton parlayed her stumbling answer into an appearance on the Today Show, where she appeared reasonably intelligent and mature, along with a video feature on the People Magazine web site. It seems that she also has career ambitions and possesses an extensive and, ahem, compelling portfolio of model-type photographs. See an example here.
Given her unique gifts, it will not be at all surprising if Ms. Upton reaches a level of professional achievement far above her fellow beauty pagenat contestants, and indeed greater than most U.S. Americans, even those who can read maps. Let us hope that - unlike some buxom blondes - Lauren's success will be more than skin deep.
The following video is from this weekend's Miss Teen USA pageant. Miss South Carolina is answering a question about education in the USA. Watch it and then weep for the future of our civilization.
Click here if you don't see the video imbedded below.
Hat tip: Catholic Caveman
You might think a blind cat is pretty useless. In fact, many people think ALL cats are useless. Not so. This one taught its owner some very valuable lessons.
Mali was neglected at birth by a Syracuse, NY shop owner and kept in a cage in a storefront. She received little attention or care. When she developed feline herpes, it went untreated and spread to her eyes. She was blinded as a result.
I heard about Mali from an angel of a woman in Syracuse who went out of her way to rescue animals in need. She saw Mali in the store and insisted that the owner surrender the cat. The little calico was taken to a vet and there she stayed in a larger cage, awaiting adoption.
But there were no takers for a blind cat. Truth to tell, Mali was not a great candidate for adoption. Her fur was not kept especially clean and her eyes had frequent discharges. There was concern that, because of these discharges, she could infect other cats with the herpes virus.
So when we were called about Mali--we had already rescued two cats from this woman--our leaning was to take a pass. We didn't want Gina and Ginger to possibly contract the virus.
But, I decided on my own--without telling anyone in the family--to visit Mali.
Back before Michael Jackson got so weird, he created music that remains with us to this day. I doubt, however, that even he envisioned anything quite like this: prisoners in the Philippines getting their morning exercise as Thriller zombies.
