I may not be sure exactly what she's selling, but, I'm pretty sure I'm in the market!
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Sex in Advertising
I may not be sure exactly what she's selling, but, I'm pretty sure I'm in the market!
What Makes Us Human?
Did Descartes have it right? “I think, therefore, I am”? Or maybe Twain’s observation that “humans are the only creatures who blush…or need to”? Fairy tales and speculative fiction are awash with the theme, of what it means to be truly human. Wooden Pinocchio wants to be a real boy. Silicone and steel android Data longs to know what it is to be human, despite the irony that the longing is itself a human emotion. He is curious about what it means to be curious. Curiouser and curiouser! Strange visitors from another planet are raised by humans to embrace a code of decency and honor. Others come and fall in love... does love make us human?
And what of those who, became somehow more than human? Radioactive spider bites, bombardment with gamma radiation, mutations of the human genome…at what point can it be said that a human transcends humanity and becomes homo superior?
Now imagine having those philosophical musings, discussing and arguing the respective points over the course of ten years. College boy conundrums? Speculation at a seminary? Meditations at a monastery?
No. A discussion about...the level of taxes on...toys.
The forthcoming Avengers movie, directed by Joss Whedon and expected May 4 from Walt Disney Pictures, depicts the Marvel superhero group teaming up to save the Earth from utter destruction.
Saving the world is ordinary fare for superheroes, especially teams like the Avengers and the X-Men. But one of the biggest battles ever fought in the Marvel universe took place in the real world, a historic fight that lasted 10 years and crossed America.
The clash ended quietly in 2003, with a monumental, six-figure legal ruling by the U.S. government: The X-Men and many other superheroes simply aren’t human.
Or more precisely, they’re not dolls, which, according to the U.S. Customs Bureau, represent “only human beings.” They’re toys, which represent “animals or non-human creatures.”
What’s the difference? Gazillions of dollars.
Even though it sounds like the sort of discussion the nerds on The Big Bang Theory might discuss, this was big business.
The U.S. government waded into the “mutant or mortal” battle 19 years ago at ports in Los Angeles and Seattle after Customs officials there classified several large shipments of action figures, including the X-Men, as “dolls” instead of “toys.”
But labeling the figures as “dolls” made importing the X-Men nearly twice as expensive as they would have been as “toys,” facing a 12 percent tax rather than a 6.8 percent tax.
...Recognizing the difference between toys and dolls, international trade lawyers Sherry Singer and Indie Singh saw an opportunity to save Marvel a lot of money by getting the X-Men, along with Marvel’s other action figures, including the Hulk, Spider-Man, and Iron Man, reclassified as toys.
At this point, one is hard pressed whether to laugh or cry. To think that for ten years lawyers have been working, on both sides, and expert witnesses have been testifying whether Barbie should be taxed at a higher rate than Wolverine, reminds me of another Bizarro world I read about when I was younger.
Does the government really have a vested interest in whether or not the Human Torch is more human than torch? I know it is in the DNA of every bureaucrat to micromanage every aspect of our lives, but at some point, can't we decide that the government we have is more than we really ever needed? When our toys are categorized, not by weight, or the amount of polystyrene or paint, but by the philosophical backstory of their characters???
I suppose I could have titled this "What is a doll?" But, would that have piqued your human curiosity and caused you to read this far? And would you have had as much of a surprise making the hyperspace leap from comic book heroes to taxes and tariffs?
This is but one more illustration of the bloated bureaucracy that nibbles away at our economic freedoms and attempts to regulate every aspect of our lives. It's way past time to start taking our country back from our wooden headed, would be masters and their arbitrary rules and regulations.
Equal rights for G.I.Joe! In the meantime, before we can roll back this overly burdensome and somewhat ridiculous over regulation, I suggest that Mattel put out a comic book where Barbie, Ken and Skipper all get bitten by radioactive spiders...
The folks at Mattel can show their gratitude to me with a small percentage of the tax savings realized...
Cross posted at LCR, Lady Cincinnatus , Say Anything.
Quote du jour
“President Obama took Michelle out to a steak restaurant for her birthday, marking the first time in months the words ‘Obama’ and ‘well done’ appeared in the same sentence.”
–Jimmy Fallon
Monday, January 30, 2012
Quote du jour
"The most loathsome people in all of politics are the liberals who have careers only because they falsely call other people racists."
-John Hawkins
Sunday, January 29, 2012
The Women of PETA XXIX
Themes Like Old Times
Quote du jour
How can you live in America and not own a gun? That’s like living in France and not owning stinky cheese.
-Frank J. Fleming
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Obama's State of Confusion Address
Folks, I was apparently one of a diminishing number of Americans with the stomach to listen to Barry drone on for an hour on his SOTU speech. But, as a public service to my readers, I did watch it, so imagine my surprise when the guy who gave the speech gets it so terribly wrong!
Saturday Linkaround
Cartoon of the Day – NRO Home page
Occupiers Thanks Church Who Allowed Them To Sleep There By Urinating On a Cross, Stealing Baptismal…
Thomas Sowell: I’ll Take Gingrich over Romney
The Man Who Gave Us Newt –Mark Steyn
Winners and Losers in the Great Recession
Senate Democrats’ 1,000 Days of Debt and Disappointment
John Kerry Breaks Nose Playing Hockey –or else Theresa clocked him!
Former John Kerry staffer John Kiriakou arrested for blowing CIA agents’ cover.
Buffett’s Burlington Northern Among Winners From Keystone Denial
Dems Say Romney “Not Paying His Fair Share” – Seemingly Unaware John Kerry Was Paying a Lower Tax Rate When He Was Their Nominee…
Joe Biden and American Charity - a golden oldie! Compare this to Romney’s giving…
South Carolina Message –Thomas Sowell
Audacity of Hypocrisy: The Essence of Obama’s SOTU
Noted Lincoln Scholar Says Obama misquotes Lincoln
Dem Voter Fraud? “I was paid to register to vote”
Annals of the Nanny-State, Midwest Edition
Tax cheats on the federal rolls
The Sinking of the West –Mark Steyn
Another Stimulus-Backed Energy Company Files for Bankruptcy
Obama Leaves Event Promoting Clean Energy in Motorcade of 22 Gas Hogs (Video)
Krauthammer on the SOTU
(AUDIO) WHY WARREN BUFFETT ISN’T BEING HONEST ABOUT HIS SECRETARY AND HIS TAX RATE! –Tom Sullivan
Bill Whittle Explains The Truth Behind Government Spending -VIDEO
Amazing and moving story of war and love -video
Ron Paul and the pink slip that could decide the election
Maps: Exploiting America's Treasure Trove of Energy, Before and After the Obama Presidency
Rule Five Roundup*:
American Power- Lucy Pinder
The Astute Bloggers -Brigitte Bardot
Caroline Munro
Camp of the Saints - Hump Day Rule Five, Rule Five News
Classic Liberal – Rule 5 – Tattoo
Brooklyn Decker
The Daley Gator – Summer Glau
Dustbury – Fiona Xie
El Opinador Compulsivo – Mystique, 7 in 6, ¿Amerita una señorita?
Eye of Polyphemus – Emma Stone, Adriana Lima
The Feral Irishman -White bikini
Friday Night Babe – Georgia Salpa
Patriots Cheerleader...at the beach!
Guns and Bikinis – Brazilian Babe, Argentine Hottie
Hookers and Booze - Post Weekend
Jake Finnegan – Nazanin Afshin-jam
Maggie’s Notebook – Rule 5 – Ride ‘em cowgirl!
Pirates Cove - Sorta Blogless Sunday Pinup, If All You See…, If All You See…
pitsnipesgripes – Asian Beauties
POH Diaries -Rule 5: Kate Upton
PostalDog -Vanessa Hudgens
Randy’s Roundtable –Midweek Break, Thursday Nite Tart
Reaganite Republican – Photo Finnish
Sex in Advertising - in 3D
Support your local Gunfighter - Busting Out all over
Teresamerica – Rule 5 – Vicky Kaya
The Last Tradition – Vanessa Hudgens Bikini accident
Kelsi
Theo Spark –Bedtime Toddy , Bath night
The Other McCain- Rule 5 Monday
Vintage Babe of the Week – Gloria Talbott
Rule 5 Woodsterman Style : Four Old Italian Ladies
Obligatory Niner Cheerleader, redux
The Women of PETA XXVIII
*By no means comprehensive.
Use the comments as an open thread on any of these topics. If you feel that I’ve neglected a link, news, commentary, humor or Rule Fivage, send a link to the contact email on the sidebar. (All spambots must die!)
Cross posted at Say Anything
Quote du jour
“Sometimes packages get lost in the mail. You’re expecting something wonderful, and you wait and wait and nothing comes. It’s like voting for Obama.”
–Craig Ferguson
Friday, January 27, 2012
Tarmac Tête-à-Tête
Governor Brewer invites Obama to visit the border with her. Obama thinks she said "Borders" and said, "No thanks! I haven't finished reading the book I've got!"
The unintended consequence of this conversation and the president huffing off afterwards, is the increased attention in Gov. Brewer's book:
Prior to the meeting, Brewer’s book was languishing in the annals of the millions of books sold by Amazon. It was sitting at 311,472 overall on Wednesday afternoon. By Thursday morning, the book had moved to number 14.
Apparently there's more than one Amazon in Arizona! Maybe next time, Barry should bring TOTUS with him to every informal meeting?
Quote du jour
We’re the wealthiest country in the world and the world is wealthier because they have become more like us. We’ve transformed humankind. And we have a president who sees all of that as a mistake.
-Rick Santorum
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Vintage Babe of the Week
(*a.k.a. Rule Five Thursday)
Like fine wines, the ladies improve with age!
President Thin-Skin's Brilliant Brewer-Book Stimulus Program
Cross-posted at the Left Coast Rebel
Via Politico:
My clear takeaway from this story is that President Thin-Skin couldn't stand the fact that Governor Real Leader's book has a (passage?) that is slightly less-than-rosy toward Him. They met on the tarmac, sparks of discontent flew, God forbid.It was a tense moment on the tarmac.
President Obama, alighting from the stairs of Air Force One in Phoenix this afternoon, was greeted by Arizona Governor Jan Brewer, who handed him an envelope and the two exchanged what appeared to be some heated sentiments. At one point, she pointed her finger at him.
Asked afterward what happened, Brewer said, “He was a little disturbed about my book, Scorpions for Breakfast.
“I said to him that I have all the respect in the world for the office of the president. The book is what the book is. I asked him if he read the book. He said he read the excerpt,” she said, according to a pool report. “He didn’t feel that I had treated him cordially. I said I was sorry he felt that way but I didn’t get my sentence finished. Anyway, we’re glad he’s here. I’ll regroup.”
In the envelope she had given him was a handwritten letter, Brewer said — “an invitation that I’ve extended to him before with regards to coming to Arizona and going to the border with me. . . . We’ve had a remarkable comeback here and I want to share that with him.”
A White House official confirmed the invitation and described the encounter in more bureaucratic terms: “The President said he’d be glad to meet with her again, but did note that after their last meeting, a cordial discussion in the Oval Office, the governor inaccurately described the meeting in her book. The President looks forward to continuing taking steps to help Arizona’s economy grow.”
The pool reporter, POLITICO’s Carrie Budoff Brown, said the scene was far from the norm. Aside from the pointing, they appeared to talk over each other and he appeared to walk away from her while they were still talking.
But just what did Governor Brewer say in her book?
Quote du jour
"I see libertarianism as an important critique of the Leviathan state, not as a governing principle."
-Charles Krauthammer
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Medal of Honor
Captain James M. Sprayberry
Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Capt. Sprayberry, Armor, U.S. Army, distinguished himself by exceptional bravery while serving as executive officer of Company D. His company commander and a great number of the men were wounded and separated from the main body of the company. A daylight attempt to rescue them was driven back by the well entrenched enemy's heavy fire. Capt. Sprayberry then organized and led a volunteer night patrol to eliminate the intervening enemy bunkers and to relieve the surrounded element. The patrol soon began receiving enemy machinegun fire. Capt. Sprayberry quickly moved the men to protective cover and without regard for his own safety, crawled within close range of the bunker from which the fire was coming. He silenced the machinegun with a hand grenade. Identifying several l-man enemy positions nearby, Capt. Sprayberry immediately attacked them with the rest of his grenades. He crawled back for more grenades and when 2 grenades were thrown at his men from a position to the front, Capt. Sprayberry, without hesitation, again exposed himself and charged the enemy-held bunker killing its occupants with a grenade. Placing 2 men to cover his advance, he crawled forward and neutralized 3 more bunkers with grenades. Immediately thereafter, Capt. Sprayberry was surprised by an enemy soldier who charged from a concealed position. He killed the soldier with his pistol and with continuing disregard for the danger neutralized another enemy emplacement. Capt. Sprayberry then established radio contact with the isolated men, directing them toward his position. When the 2 elements made contact he organized his men into litter parties to evacuate the wounded. As the evacuation was nearing completion, he observed an enemy machinegun position which he silenced with a grenade. Capt. Sprayberry returned to the rescue party, established security, and moved to friendly lines with the wounded. This rescue operation, which lasted approximately 71/2 hours, saved the lives of many of his fellow soldiers. Capt. Sprayberry personally killed 12 enemy soldiers, eliminated 2 machineguns, and destroyed numerous enemy bunkers. Capt. Sprayberry's indomitable spirit and gallant action at great personal risk to his life are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
Capt. Sprayberry: We humbly salute you and thank you for your service.
Hat tip Home of Heroes
There are fewer than a hundred living MoH recipients today. Their names and their stories should not be forgotten. My mission is to honor one of those heroes here each week, and salute them for their courage and sacrifice. In the words of John Fitzgerald Kennedy:
“A nation reveals itself not only by the men it produces, but also by the men it honors; the men it remembers.”
Cross posted at Say Anything
Quote du jour
If they wanted him to close Gitmo they should have put a factory there, or an oil rig.
-Dan McLaughlin, on liberals and Obama
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Obama Quotes Obama for SOTU: Déjà Vu
Is anyone surprised that hardly any of the empty rhetoric we get from Obie is original?
Sex in Advertising
Quote du jour
Despite adopting Occupy Wall Street's message for his State of the Union speech, it's not yet known if the Democrats attending the Joint Session will form a drum circle to emphasize the president's talking points...mostly because it's so hard to beat a drum if your hands are in someone else's pockets.
-Stilton Jahrsberg
Monday, January 23, 2012
Sunday, January 22, 2012
The Women of PETA XXVIII
Obama's Keystone Decision Devastatingly Deconstructed
Blogger Gina Cobb has Passed Away
Just a reminder that none of us lives forever and no one is promised tomorrow. Love 'em while you've got 'em!
The blogosphere is diminished by her passing. Rest in peace, Gina.
Quote du jour
It was a Halloween party. The Press went as Monica Lewinsky, Obama went as Bill...
-Proof, on the Halloween party cover up of 2009
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Former Obama Staffer Busted for Stealing Iowa Secretary of State's Identity
Some political tricks aren't merely dirty, they're filthy!
Barack Obama’s 2008 Iowa New Media Director was arrested Friday for attempting to use the identities of Secretary of State Matt Schultz, and/or his brother Thomas, with the intent to falsely implicate the Secretary Schultz in illegal or unethical behavior. Zach Edwards, 29, of Des Moines, currently works for Link Strategies, a Democrat-affiliated organization with ties to Iowa Senator Tom Harkin. Edwards is the Director of New Media for Link Strategies.
The Secretary of State’s office discovered the alleged crime and reported it to authorities. Edwards turned himself in to the Iowa DCI agents Friday afternoon. He was charged with identity theft, a misdemeanor, and booked into the Polk County jail. Edwards posted $2,000 bail and was released later on Friday. He faces up to two years in prison.
So, a former Obama staffer uses illegal or unethical behavior to try to smear a Republican with... charges of illegal or unethical behavior? Got it. Psychologists call that "Projection".
Stay classy, liberals!
H/T Memeorandum
Cross posted at LCR, Say Anything.
Saturday Linkaround
Cartoon of the Day – NRO Home page
The 11 Other Solyndras
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar Bans Uranium Mining Around Grand Canyon
Holder Uses MLK Day To Blast Republican-Backed Voter ID Laws As Racist…
When Dissent Isn’t Patriotic: How Politico Is Playing Media Matters’ Game to Censor Conservatives
Canadian Prime Minister meeting with China about selling their oil –But, Obama tells us the jobs will still be there if we delay the pipeline, right?
The Real Legacy Of Britain's Iron Lady
Michelle: I’m a 112% ‘er
The Tax System Explained in Beer
How To Think Like A Liberal…
Ron Paul Calls on White House to Empathize with Iran over Assassination of Scientist –FARS News Agency
Newsweak: Why are Obama’s Critics so dumb?
Poor Men Do Not Become President
Obama ad cherry-picks fact checking organization – Gets Three Pinocchios
Bankrupt Solyndra Caught Destroying Brand New Parts
Update: Total Number of Occupiers Arrested Stands At 5,906…
Andrew Klavan Explains How Leftists Pave the Highway to Hell
13 Politically Incorrect Gun Rules
First Obama Campaign Poster
Chuck Norris reveals his choice for Republican nomination
Martin Luther King Day
Rule Five Roundup*:
American Perspective – Taylor Swift
American Power- Saturday Rule Five , Candace Swanepoel, Hot White Bikini Shots
Rule Five Then and Now
Camp of the Saints - Rule Five Saturday, Rule Five News , Sweater vest babe
Classic Liberal – Rule 5 –Kim Kardashian
Motivational
The Daley Gator – Daley Babes, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Angela Sun
Dustbury – Diane Lane
El Opinador Compulsivo – Miss Charlotte...in the locker room...with a camera!
Eye of Polyphemus – Jessica Alba, Olivia Munn, Elizabeth Hurley
The Feral Irishman - Jenyne Butterfly, Wench
Friday Night Babe – Bianca Beauchamp
Weekend Bikini
Guns and Bikinis – Bounce -video
Hookers and Booze -Tuesday
Jake Finnegan – Olivia Munn
Maggie’s Notebook – Rule 5 – Swimsuits
Miss America 2012. Who wore the best swimsuit?
Berenice Bejo
Pirates Cove - Sorta Blogless Sunday Pinup, If All You See…
pitsnipesgripes – Friday’s curves
PostalDog - Eliza Dushku
Randy’s Roundtable – Midweek Break, Thursday Nite Tart, Sweater vest
Reaganite Republican – Miss Bikini International
Sex in Advertising
Soylent Green – Halftime hotness
Support your local Gunfighter – Heather Locklear
The Last Tradition – Beyonce, Miss America
Theo Spark –Bedtime Toddy , Bonus Babe, Saturday Toddy, Sunday Toddy
The Other McCain- Rule 5 Sunday
Three Beers Later – Sweater vests, Cougar and MILF
Vintage Babe of the Week – Bo Derek
Rule 5 Woodsterman Style
Jillian
Obligatory Niner Cheerleaders
*By no means comprehensive.
Use the comments as an open thread on any of these topics. If you feel that I’ve neglected a link, news, commentary, humor or Rule Fivage, send a link to the contact email on the sidebar. (All spambots must die!)
Cross posted at Say Anything
Cindy Crawford's Daughter Models for Versace
Quote du jour
President Obama’s rejection of the Keystone XL pipeline from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico is an act of national insanity. It isn’t often that a president makes a decision that has no redeeming virtues and — beyond the symbolism — won’t even advance the goals of the groups that demanded it. All it tells us is that Obama is so obsessed with his reelection that, through some sort of political calculus, he believes that placating his environmental supporters will improve his chances.
-Robert J. Samuelson
Friday, January 20, 2012
Etta James, R I P
Rest in peace, Ms. James.
H/T Memeorandum
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Vintage Babe of the Week
(*a.k.a. Rule Five Thursday)
Like fine wines, the ladies improve with age!
Actor Mark Wahlberg: I Could Have Single-handedly Fought off Terrorists and Landed the 9/11 Hijacked Plane!
Marky Mark: Real-life, one-man, terrorist-plot-fighter
Cross-posted at the Left Coast Rebel
Some humility from Marky Mark:
Mark Wahlberg claims he could have done what hundreds of other doomed passengers couldn't ... fought off the multiple 9/11 terrorists and saved one of the hijacked planes.
Wahlberg just gave an interview with Men's Journal ... in which he states, "If I was on that plane with my kids, it wouldn't have went down like it did. There would have been a lot of blood in that first-class cabin and then me saying, 'OK, we're going to land somewhere safely, don't worry.'"
Ha! Apparently Mark Wahlberg is having a tough time separating fact from silver-screen fiction.
What is it about today's actors' bloated sense of importance, entitlement, omniscience and elitism?
Is it any wonder that the Hollywood Left has no problem forcing their socialist worldview on all of us?
More and more Americans are on to their gig, refusing to spend their hard-earned dollars to sponsor Hollyweird's twisted, overtly-political crap-fests.
Update (by Proof): Wahlberg has since apologized:
In his apology, Wahlberg said: "I deeply apologize to the families of the victims that my answer came off as insensitive, it was certainly not my intention.”
Quote du jour
I found Obama a sort of Greek cathartic figure — the sum total of a half-century of flawed assumptions that now had inevitably arrived as our collective Greek nemesis.
-Victor Davis Hanson
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Keystone Kop-in-Chief
Remember when President Obama wanted to spend a lot of money and tried to justify it by calling it a "jobs bill"? His mantra for passing the bill was "We can't wait!"
Now, after three years of studies and delays, Obama is asked to just get out of the way of a project that will create tens of thousands of jobs that not only will not cost the government any thing, in fact it will add to government coffers, and Obama says, "Okay. We can wait."
The Obama White House is trying to spin this to make the Republicans at fault for setting an arbitrary, political time line for the President. The fact is, this deal is on the verge of going away and not coming back, as Canada finds another customer for its oil.
Additionally, the White House is crying that those mean, nasty Republicans are trying to rush this project through without a chance to study the alternatives...only, there have been more than three years worth of studies on this pipeline.
This is such a no brainer that many of us are astounded that the Chucklehead-in-Chief is standing in the way of this. It creates real, good paying jobs at no expense to the taxpayer. At a time when Iran, on the threshold of becoming a nuclear power, is threatening to blockade the Strait of Hormuz, the pipeline would provide added energy security in the case of any stoppage of Middle Eastern oil. We would be giving oil revenues to one of our closest allies and trading partner instead of sending them to countries prone to funding terrorism.
It would provide good jobs, union jobs, revenue to the states, to the feds and to tens of thousands of citizens in the time of recession and Obama doesn't want to risk alienating his environmentalist wacko base before the election. Nice.
If there was ever any doubt that the Narcissist-in-Chief cares about anything other than himself, the fact that he is willing to put his own electoral success (and access to a private 747, lavish parties with movie stars, paid vacations and all the golf courses he can dream of) over the welfare and prosperity of the American people should disabuse anyone of that notion.
The Keystone Pipeline would be good for America. Obama is against it. You do the math!
Cross posted at Left Coast Rebel