Lotus for Breakfast

seeking Truth

Same shoe, other foot

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In the interest of playground ethics, we should continue stalling as many Obama appointees as possible.

The less work the government gets done, the better.  Besides, 21 bureaucrats is like a drop in the ocean.

Editorial – Call It Obstructionism – NYTimes.com

Written by Mikha'el

Sunday, 28 June 2009 at 1524

Some say new constitution would solve CA woes

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Perhaps, but it is far more likely for a ship-launched nuclear missile from the NorKorComs to solve California’s woes.

Some say new constitution would solve state’s woes

Written by Mikha'el

Sunday, 28 June 2009 at 1520

Support Arizona HB 2439

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The final vote on HB 2439 is expected in the Arizona Senate on Monday, 29th June.

The current version of the bill contains important language that strengthens the penalty for illegal use of a weapon while simplifying the requirements for law-abiding citizens who take seriously their responsibility to defend themselves.

There are several bills before the legislature right now that seek to restore our liberty, but there are only a few days left in a hectic legislative session, and this bill is very close to passing.

Written by Mikha'el

Sunday, 28 June 2009 at 1344

Should Sanford resign?

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Governor Sanford’s admission was truly shocking.  From what I know of him from his public comments and a brief private conversation I once had with him, I believe him to be a follower of Christ.  I respect and admire the man for his clear principles and firm dealing with the state legislature.

But all of us fail.  Sometimes spectacularly.  If we rush to condemn this man, it is we who are guilty of hubris and hypocrisy. Read the rest of this entry »

Written by Mikha'el

Thursday, 25 June 2009 at 2144

Obama resists waste in defence spending bill

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You may remember the F-22 that the Pentagon doesn’t want, but Congress finds necessary from a re-election point of view.  President Obama has done the right thing in threatening a veto of the 2010 defence spending bill if the offending funding is not removed.

House nears vote on $550.4 billion defense bill – Yahoo! News

Written by Mikha'el

Thursday, 25 June 2009 at 2104

Dictators Behaving Badly

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NKorea vows nuke attack if provoked by US

I’m certain a nuclear attack by the NorKorComs would result in a strongly worded rebuke from the UN.  They really don’t want that.  The Dear Leader might get a paper cut. Read the rest of this entry »

Written by Mikha'el

Thursday, 25 June 2009 at 1953

AZ summer coolest in nearly 100 years

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Thursday, however, was the 14th consecutive day to stay below 100 degrees. That’s the longest stretch of its kind in any June since 1913.

Global warming Climate change strikes again.

Written by Mikha'el

Monday, 22 June 2009 at 2247

Posted in Nature

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Maureen Dowd: What the heck?

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President Obama sends a mixed message about nutrition when he puts his organic tea aside and makes a show of heading for the nearest greasy spoon.

Hold the Fries NYTimes.com

Seriously? Slow news month?

Written by Mikha'el

Wednesday, 17 June 2009 at 0129

Mesa man tries to commit suicide using sword, steering wheel

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Written by Mikha'el

Wednesday, 17 June 2009 at 0109

Posted in Life

$17k and the King of Hearts steal the show

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In traditional balloting last month, the voters in Cave Creek could not decide between Mr. Trenk and Mr. McGuire the conventional way, giving each man, even after a recount, 660 votes in a runoff for a seat on the seven-member Council.

So, as the state’s Constitution allows, a game of chance was called to break the deadlock. The two candidates agreed on a card game (alternatives from the past have included rolling dice and, on rare occasions, gunfights).

Election at a Draw, It’s Cut the Deck in Arizona – NYTimes.com

Sweet.  And it is state statute that governs, not the constitution:

If two or more candidates receive an equal number of votes for the same office, and a higher number than any other candidate, whether upon the canvass by the secretary of state or the county board of supervisors, or upon recount by a court, the officer or board whose duty it is to declare the result shall determine by lot and in the presence of the candidates which candidate shall be declared elected.

16 A.R.S. §649(A)

For what it’s worth, I would have preferred the gunfight.

Written by Mikha'el

Tuesday, 16 June 2009 at 2153

Posted in Local

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Who is John Ensign?

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First thought: Who is John Ensign?

Second thought: Is there another kind of affair to be had?  Perhaps one could admit to an XYZ Affair?

Third thought: (Upon wikipedia-ing “John Ensign” and learning that he is a member of the ”Pentecostal International Church of the Foursquare Gospel”)  Good thing you can make up rules as you go in Foursquare.

BBC NEWS | Americas | John Ensign admits extra-marital affair

Written by Mikha'el

Tuesday, 16 June 2009 at 2027

Posted in United States

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Some prudence on Iran

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BBC NEWS | Middle East | Obama refuses to ‘meddle’ in Iran

I generally disagree with Obama’s Middle East policy, but he takes the prudent course here.

I too have my doubts about the Iranian election, but taking action without something more substantive would be just that—meddling.

Furthermore, even if we had incontrovertible proof of electoral malfeasance, we are hardly in the position to take any kind of action.

Related:  The State Department’s request that Twitter delay a scheduled maintenance outage is interesting— aquiet, but effective move to support free speech in Iran.

Written by Mikha'el

Tuesday, 16 June 2009 at 2004

Minding Our Own Business

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This state interventionism, cleverly couched in fear-mongering terms like “too-big-to-fail”, is sickening me.

There have been several great articles recently about this.  At the Wall Street Journal today, Why Government Cant Run a Business details how the government is set up for more failure.  The Economist’s cover story, Three trillion dollars later…, a title reminiscent of apocalyptic horror flicks 28 Days/Weeks Later, point out that today’s intervention makes excess and re-intervention more likely in the future.  And the regrettably not-yet-available-online recent issue of Cato’s Letter, “In defense of doing nothing”, explains how government intervention is at fault for creating this mess in the first place and has been ineffective.

I like the close of the Journal’s opinion piece:

Capitalism isn’t perfect. Indeed, to paraphrase Winston Churchill’s famous description of democracy, it’s the worst economic system except for all the others. But the inescapable fact is that only the profit motive and competition keep enterprises lean, efficient, innovative and customer-oriented.

Written by Mikha'el

Wednesday, 20 May 2009 at 1631

Cheney new face of Republicans? | BBC

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Written by Mikha'el

Wednesday, 13 May 2009 at 1533

Posted in United States

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Russia expels Canadian diplomats

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Secret life goal: getting PNG’d by an oppressive, authoritarian regime.  Great résumé builder.

BBC NEWS | Europe | Russia expels Canadian diplomats

Written by Mikha'el

Wednesday, 6 May 2009 at 0922

Posted in International

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Gov. may present own budget to Legislature

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Gov. Brewer says she’s close to new tack on state budget | Arizona Republic

Arizona is reeling from years of deficit spending under Napolitano, and now Governor Brewer is stuck picking up the pieces.  But she can’t count on any help from her Republican colleagues in the legislature.

When Brewer took over the office Napolitano quit to go to Washington, Napolitano had already presented a worthless excuse for a budget.  Brewer made a speech to let our representatives know how dire the situation really is—she raised the possibility of both service cuts and tax hikes to avoid bankruptcy.

She was ridiculed for the mere suggestion of raising taxes, but she should have been heralded as a brave statesman who put the people’s interests above her own re-election chances. Read the rest of this entry »

Written by Mikha'el

Friday, 10 April 2009 at 2356

Property-Casualty Hit Hard | WSJ

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Written by Mikha'el

Friday, 10 April 2009 at 1257

You gotta love Berlusconi

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This guy sure knows how to play to the media.  After all, he owns it.

Berlusconi offers own homes to quake survivors | Reuters

Written by Mikha'el

Friday, 10 April 2009 at 1028

Posted in International

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What’s in it for Israel?

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Russia has signed a deal to buy Israeli unmanned spy planes to help the country improve its own drones, reports say.

Russia ‘will buy Israeli drones’ | BBC News

Negotiations have been ongoing since at least December.

Why would Israel give military technology to a nation rarely known to stand up for Israel and known to share military technology with Iran?

What did they get in return?  There’s more to this story.

Written by Mikha'el

Friday, 10 April 2009 at 1011

Posted in International

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China follows in Barack’s footsteps

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China Limits Executive Pay | WSJ

The communists think we have a good idea.  This concerns me.

Written by Mikha'el

Friday, 10 April 2009 at 1007