Iraqis Raise Money for San Diego Fire Victims

Hat Tip: D. J. McGuire

Iraqi Army at Besmaya Installation Support San Diego Fire Victims

See? And they didn't even specify that none of the money could go to the Code Pinkos (who had sent aid to the terrorists).

Diesel Fuel from Rocks!

Con Artist in Zimbabwe

Hat Tip: Ace of Spades

Zimbabwean dictator Robert Mugabe fell for a ruse in which a con artist claimed to be able to strike a stick and get refined diesel fuel from a rock.

Jeez, if he didn't destroy his own agricultural sector maybe he could have gotten biodiesel!

Nanny State and Fast Food

Via Bill Hobbs, this is an interesting story about how the Los Angeles City Council wants to ban new fast food establishments from opening in poorer sections of town.

Critics say the efforts are misguided, particularly in inner-city neighborhoods where affordable food may be the biggest concern of some families, and where a safe place to play and exercise is more important than new restaurants.

“Dictating to other groups of people what they should eat or want to eat is about the most patronizing kind of activity I can imagine,” says Barry Glassner, professor of sociology at the University of Southern California, whose campus is located in South L.A.

I would note that I sometimes read the commentary of "Jack Dunphy," the pseudonym of a police officer who writes commentary for National Review Online. Dunphy often points out the counterproductive efforts of the LA City Council and Mayor, and how these efforts do little to thwart crime. Guess who are the biggest victims? The very poor whom the lefty politicians are trying to "save."

Now if the city would get SERIOUS about crime (instead of "sanctuary" policies and other forms of political correctness), then maybe restaurants that serve healthier fare would open up in more areas of the city. Maybe more families would feel safer moving into the city to send their kids to the schools. And it can be done with a reduced tax bill.

Say, why don't these entrenched politicians invest in a healthy food restaurant themselves. With so little alleged competition, they should make a fortune! Maybe the mayor wants to be a cashier (without a gun to defend himself)?

Happy Birthday!

He's seven today! Unfortunately, he does not have a comment for the blog today, as all is relatives have been calling him. I think he's outgrown blogs already!

Education Tax Dollars at Work

New Jersey school district pays $60,000 for a student’s vocational education. In performing arts, of course. Note the $49,000 cost on transportation.

For more than $4,000 per month, can’t they rent the kid’s family an apartment near the school and save on gas? Better yet, why not give the kid a voucher and a choice of where he wants to go (with transportation up to him or her)? With any luck they are also teaching the kid about "global warming."

Imagine all those mean anti-education Republicans who would want to cut such a necessary program!

Blog-iversary!

Today marks one year since I started the Isophorone Blog. It's also my birthday.

I would like to thank all of you who read my occasional postings, and wish you all health, happiness, and success in the coming year.

Happy Birthday!

No, not mine! Our little one turns three today!

Shallow Personals

Hat tip: Zelda

Shallow NYC personals ad, and response.

I thought it was funny, anyway (as much as economics is funny).

UPDATE: Article on $1,000 pizzas and other extravagant New York purchases. For the young woman in question, one of the videos discusses a matchmaker whose clients are rich guys.

Totally Awesome Brownies

Try these: Chipster-topped brownies. I followed most of the tips in the link, though I used Hershey's Raspberry-Creme Dark Chocolate Morsels in the cookie dough layer. My son's class loved them!

Thanks to Hilary at Nosh With Me.

Disin-JAN-uous

Oleszek comes in distant third in two-person debate

Well, I did watch the debate between Senator Ken Cuccinelli (R-37) and his Democratic opponent, Janet Oleszek. It’s pretty clear that Ken gave straightforward answers, while Janet just ducked, bobbed, weaved, evaded, etc. Mostly, she wasted time by having to have questions asked repeatedly. I swear, she was so Clintonesque that I’m tempted to ask her about her interns!

First of all, big kudos to Chris for getting honorable mention on the debate. No one can argue with your facts, that’s for sure. Second of all, Janet Oleszek once again gives us all a “lesson” in what happens when you are poorly prepared for your assignment. Guess what, you just don’t do well. You would think that someone who is on the School Board would know that. Now we know why Janet so strenuously objected to filming the last debate!

It was interesting to us how she shifted her position on immigration ONCE AGAIN. This time, she supported giving sheriffs ICE authority. The first time I heard her, she only mentioned jailers, and seemed to characterize any increased immigration authority as a “slippery slope” for which she had religious objections. Then, last week, she talked about penalizing businesses that hire illegals. Can she give a clear, rather than piecemeal message?

What was amazing was in the last part of the debate how Janet simply ignored Ken’s questions and just shifted the debate from transportation to education. Now I’ve seen non-sequiturs before, but now we’ll have a new term: Oleszequiturs! LOL I guess you can say that Janet’s the kind of “quitur” who never wins? I know, painful!

Ken seemed to have to debate two people, Janet and one of the moderators (George Burke). This Burke was a clear partisan who was trying to lead Janet along as much as possible. Well, Janet’s sniping little Yorkie, er, Jonathan, was not along to hold her answer cards for her.

I showed clips of the debate to my wife (who is not very politically active). Her response? “Janet is not very smart.” “Ken is much better educated than she is.”

One more question: Is it just me, or did anyone else notice how Janet’s voice seemed to go up in pitch every time she was in full evasion mode?