And Now, An Update From Reality

As we head towards either the completely unforced self-immolation of default, or the almost as self-defeating response of belt tightening amidst a recession, it’s worth taking yet one more swing at the piñata:  does the US have a debt/deficit crisis? There are lots of ways to say “no.” Here’s Kthug, debunking yet again the myth [...]

Clowns to the Right of Me…

This does say it all, doesn’t it: Exempting war spending — which goes untouched in Boehner’s plan — the legislation would reduce spending by only $5 billion next fiscal year. And its impact on the deficit is even less — a paltry $1 billion. This provides occasion for yet another penetrating glimpse of the obvious:  [...]

Annals of Stupidity Update–More on the GOP Hates Science beat

I didn’t get around to  flagging this on the day, but I’ve just arrived in Shanghai, and the China connection in the folly below reminded me I’d meant to write on this one. I’m here to take part in a workshop for East Asian journalists on covering climate change, and for science journalism instructors to [...]

It’s Too Damn Hot — Unprovoked ‘Orrible Pun Dept.

Writing about the follies of his lordship, the Third Viscount of Self-Delusion, brought to mind the terrible pun me old mum* used to relish whenever excessive aristocratic pretension loomed. It runs like this: Q:  If a centipede a pint… …And a millipede a quart, How much has the philanthropist? A:  Quite a lot, for he’s [...]

Who’s Taxing Whom

Fair warning: what follows is a bit of a rant and contains nothing particularly new.  But the fiscal follies of our overlords are unhinging me, and as misery loves company, I hope to share my derangement. ———– I’ve been a little obsessed with light bulbs lately, as regular readers know.  I  continue to be dumbfounded [...]

Send in the Clowns: Upper Class Twit Edition

I cannot tell you with what malicious glee I read this in the Guardian. That House has taken the unprecedented step of publishing a “cease and desist” letter on its website demanding that Lord Christopher Monckton, a prominent climate sceptic and the UK Independence party’s head of research, should stop claiming to be a member [...]

Yes, They Really Are That Dumb

So, despite the withering sprays of snark dispensed by both John Cole and myself, the GOPers in the House went off and advanced their defense of crab-bucket environmental destruction. Yup, the liberty train rolled into town today in the form of a voice vote in the House to block funding for the enforcement of the [...]

It Hurts Too Much To Laugh…

…And I’m too old to cry: Via Josh Rosenau’s fine blog Thoughts from Kansas, this video compilation of Miss USA thoughts on evolution seems a perfect comedy/tragedy hit to engross whilst consuming the first of the weekend cocktails: <div align=”center”></div> Miss Connecticut gets the prize for stating the obvious with no fuss or bother.  As [...]

What Do You Call It When A Herd of Pigs Takes Flight? A Wallow of Swine? A Flutter of Trotters?

Via GOS, further signs that the apocalypse is upon us — or at least is descending on the GOP. Yup, Alan Simpson, Catfood Commissionaire Extraordinaire,  he of the milk cow with 310 million tits, has noticed that we might do with a bit more tax revenue just now, not to mention a Republican Party that [...]

And In Other News: GOP Finds New Ways To Say “Its Your Money and We’ll Burn It If We Feel Like It.”

I ran across news of a minor skirmish in the war to save/destroy America, but I guess it’s worth transmitting, since this time the good guys won. Believe it or not, a united House Republican caucus failed in their bid to save ordinary Americans from the tyranny of efficient light bulbs.  With this vote, the [...]