Monday - May 02, 2005

Minor Little Accounting Error?

Insurance giant American International Group (AIG) just discovered a minor error in their books from the year 2000 to the present. How minor an error was it? Well, the company had to re-state its earnings and all accounts for the last five years and the value of the company was revised downward by $2.5 billion dollars .... yes, that is -2,500,000,000.00 dollars .... and yes, that is a negative sign.

How does a company go about losing $2.5 billion dollars? Those books weren’t cooked .... they were sauteed, twice-baked, broiled and stir-fried in double-dipped batter. $2.5 BILLION DOLLARS!

I’m steadily losing faith in corporate America, folks. The Sarbanes-Oxley Bill, which was passed by Congress after the scandals at Enron and WorldCom, didn’t do very much to stop companies like AIG from dishonest accounting. Guess why? Because the CEO’s hire teams of lawyers, use every numb-buts defense in the books and get off scot-free. White collar crime is not being punished at all. If I stole $2.5 billion dollars what do you think would happen to me? You know very well - life imprisonment in a federal pen somewhere with an oversexed roommate from the Ozarks - that’s what I’d get. What these crooks get is, six months in a country club and six months probation.

Justice? There is no such thing in America any more. There is one set of rules for the rich and another set of rules for the rest of us. When the revolution comes, guess who’ll be the first ones up against the wall (after the lawyers and politicians)?

Posted by The Skipper     on 05/02/2005 at 10:58 AM   
Filed Under: • Crime • Economics •  
• Comments (13) • Trackbacks(0)  Permalink •  

Monday Morning News Bytes

Sometimes the news bites and somedays it just bytes. Or nybbles. Either way it’s the little bits that give us the big picture .. eight bits at a time ....

• MSNBC is changing its name to “NBC News Channel”. They’re taking out the “MS” and replacing it with more “BS”.


• Terry Wilson of the Weekly Standard has the obituary for the mainstream media. Alas, poor Yorick - I news him well.


• The Republican Chairman of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting is ripping PBS a new one for being so liberal and biased. Naturally, the New York Times has its knickers in a wad over the “blatant bias by Republicans”. Bias? What bias? Republicans just naturally hate liars, race-baiters, hypocrites and media outlets with a socialist agenda.


• Paris Hilton says she wants to stop being a sex-starved, drug-overdosed, party animal (and sleazy slut) and become a serious businesswoman. You assignment is to figure out what this news has to do with flying pigs.


• North Korea is now firing missiles toward Japan to intimidate that great bully, the United States. If “Dear Leader” Kim Jong Il doesn’t watch his step he won’t “feel so ronery” much longer, especially after several flights of B-52’s flatten his country to the ground.


• Open warfare between the Poodle and the Hildabeast? It seems the 2008 election is already dividing the Dummycraps - what else is new, eh?


• Question: What’s worse than a Democrat without a conscience? Answer: A Republican without a spine. Both are in abundance in Washington, DC lately.


• Finally, President Bush called the Democrats’ bluff on Social Security last week. This may not be checkmate but the Donks are seeing the endgame approach ....

The Solvency Trap
President Bush calls the Democrats’ bluff on Social Security.

Monday, May 2, 2005 12:01 a.m. EDT

Give President Bush credit for tenacity. Facing nearly total Democratic opposition and low poll numbers, he nonetheless raised the ante on Social Security last week. The President embraced “progressive indexing” of benefits, in the hope of breaking up the political logjam.

As a policy matter, this at least challenges Democrats to honor their own principles. For months they’ve been saying they really do want to do something about Social Security “solvency,” which means shoring up its inevitable financing shortfall. By adjusting the formula for future benefits based on income, Mr. Bush has now embraced the “fairness” claims that Democrats say they hold dear. So are they serious or not?

On first response, not. Democrats immediately opposed Mr. Bush’s proposal--the brainchild of Democratic financier Robert Pozen--as “big benefit cuts.” AARP lobbyist John Rother proved his organization’s lack of sincerity by calling it “an unnecessary and unfair benefit cut on the middle class.”

Sigh. As Daniel Patrick Moynihan and other Democrats once acknowledged, current policy increases real, inflation-adjusted benefits over time. That’s because benefits are tied to growth in wages, rather than to increases in prices (which rise somewhat more slowly). Though Democrats invoke FDR, this wasn’t his idea; guaranteed annual increases were introduced in 1972 as politicians of both parties competed for elderly votes. Reversing this blunder would still protect all seniors from inflation and also go a long way toward addressing Social Security’s financing shortfall.

But Mr. Bush is going further and proposing to keep wage-indexing for the bottom 30% of all workers, which means their benefits will actually increase by about 40% by the time they retire. Other workers would see more of their benefits price-indexed on a gradual basis as their income rose. And in any case, the indexing adjustment would apply only to the current program’s benefits; whatever higher returns workers get from private accounts would be theirs to keep. If Bill Clinton were the President proposing this, Democrats would be doing “fairness” cartwheels.

(thanks to Neal Boortz, Matt Drudge & James Taranto for the leads on these stories)

Posted by The Skipper     on 05/02/2005 at 09:46 AM   
Filed Under: • Democrats-Liberals-Moonbat Leftists • Economics • Hildabeast • International • Media-Bias •  
• Comments (5) • Trackbacks(0)  Permalink •  

Unhealthy Society

This week (May 1-8) is “Cover The Uninsured Week”. There are 45 million people in the US without any kind of health insurance, inlucding 8 million children. Visit the ”CoverTheUninsuredWeek.org” web site and find out what you can do to help.

• Are you looking for information on free or low cost health coverage for kids?

  Visit InsureKidsNow.gov to find out more.

• Are you on a fixed income and looking for ways to lower your prescription drug costs?

  Pfizer’s Helpful AnswersTM program offers Pfizer medicines free or at sigificantly reduced cost. Call 1-866-706-2400 or visit http://www.pfizerhelpfulanswers.com to find out if you are eligible for savings on Pfizer prescription medicines. To find information about programs offering free prescription medicines to the disabled and qualified low-income individuals, visit http://www.disabilityresources.org/RX.html You can learn about patient assistance programs and other programs designed to help those who can’t afford their medicines at NeedyMeds, an online information source. Go to http://www.needymeds.com. Health care providers can find details on pharmaceutical companies’ patient assistance programs that provide prescription drugs for free or at a minimal charge at http://www.rxassist.org.

• Are you interested in volunteering at a local clinic?

  You’ll find contact information for a clinic near you at http://www.freeclinic.net. Just click on the “National Free Clinic Directory” link. If you are already a volunteer or interested in starting a new free clinic, visit http://www.volunteersinhealthcare.org.

Posted by The Skipper     on 05/02/2005 at 08:39 AM   
Filed Under: • Health-Medicine •  
• Comments (16) • Trackbacks(0)  Permalink •  

Last Will & Testament

^{Chuck Asay, Colorado—The Colorado Springs Gazette}

Posted by The Skipper     on 05/02/2005 at 06:19 AM   
Filed Under: • Social-Security •  
• Comments (7) • Trackbacks(0)  Permalink •  

S. P. A. C. E. D. out …

.  I was replying to J. S. Thane about time and space in the comments. Got me to thinking. Always a bad thing that. I decided to go boldly where no man has gone before. Simply said ... I spaced out.

Posted by The Skipper     on 05/02/2005 at 05:45 AM   
Filed Under: • Miscellaneous •  
• Comments (1) • Trackbacks(0)  Permalink •  

   Sunday - May 01, 2005

Some more to think about …

• 1.  Define time without speaking of the measure of it by man.
• 2.  When did time begin and when will it end?
• 3.  Is there a present time?
• 4.  Does time always move forward?
• 5.  Can we ever travel back in time?

Posted by The Skipper     on 05/01/2005 at 10:46 PM   
Filed Under: • Miscellaneous •  
• Comments (20) • Trackbacks(0)  Permalink •  

Canadian Meltdown, Eh?

Whatever will we do when our neighbot to the North falls apart and crumbles into splintered pieces? Notice I said “when” not “if”. Here is an interesting article from the Houston Chronicle that speculates what the fallout might look like ....

A political specter haunts North America—the specter of the world’s next failed state.

We can still call it Canada, at least for a couple years. And who knows, like news of Mark Twain’s demise, my pessimism may be greatly exaggerated.

Our northern neighbor’s polyglot populace of beer drinkers, peaceniks, Mounties and socialists may yet dump their crooked politicians and craft a new, more robust deal with Quebecois separatists.

If you don’t know about Canada’s crooked politicians, you’re not alone. Democracy and free speech are breaking out in Beirut, but they’re both taking a beating in Ontario. The Canadian government has a press clamp on an investigation into the ruling Liberal Party’s “Adscam” kickback scheme. A “judicial publication ban” is the term. It may soon rank with Watergate rhetoric like “modified limited hang-out.” Canadian Prime Minister and Liberal Party leader Paul Martin is implicated in the Adscam fiasco, and he’s starting to look like the northland’s Richard Nixon.

What might a grand Canadian breakup look like? Jim Dunnigan and I, in the 1991 edition of A Quick and Dirty Guide to War, played speculative cartographer and redrew Canada’s political map.

Here’s a thumbnail sketch of that analysis: Say Quebec does become a separate European-style nation-state—a “people” with cultural, linguistic, religious and historical identity (never mind the objections of Mohawk and Cree Indians living in Quebec). Quebec has the people and resources to make a go of it, though the economic price for its egotism will be stiff. British Columbia also has “nation-state” assets: Access to the sea, strong industrial base, raw materials and an educated population.

Oil-producing Alberta might join the United States and instantly find common political ground with Alaska, Louisiana, Texas and Oklahoma. Canada’s struggling Atlantic provinces might find statehood economically attractive and extend the New England coastline. A rump Canada consisting of “Greater Ontario”—with remaining provinces as appendages—might keep the maple-leaf flag aloft. As for poor, isolated Newfoundland: Would Great Britain like to reacquire a North American colony?

Posted by Z Woof     on 05/01/2005 at 04:48 PM   
Filed Under: • Editorials •  
• Comments (11) • Trackbacks(0)  Permalink •  

Batty Has A New Theme Song

A few of our readers objected to the theme song Batty was using, one even saying the music scared the crap out of her. To remedy this situation, we have allowed Batty to choose a new theme song. The little critter was extremely offended that anyone would object to the previous theme song so he chose something that is .... interesting, to say the least. So go ahead and roll your mouse over Batty’s image over there in the top right sidebar. I dare ya ....

Posted by The Skipper     on 05/01/2005 at 01:28 PM   
Filed Under: • Humor •  
• Comments (10) • Trackbacks(1)  Permalink •  

Mid-Term Exam

Here are five tiny little questions to tickle your thoughts as you relax over the weekend ....

• What was here before the universe came into existence?
• What is the difference between a terrorist, an insurgent, and a revolutionary?
• It has been said that when death occurs there is no transitional state - you’re either alive or you’re not alive. Can the same be said about conception and/or birth?
• If you could go back in time and change one thing in your life, what would it be and how would you change it?
• If you woke up tomorrow and every human of your gender had disappeared from the Earth except for you, what or who would you do first?

Posted by The Skipper     on 05/01/2005 at 12:28 PM   
Filed Under: • Philosophy •  
• Comments (20) • Trackbacks(0)  Permalink •  

Fantasy Art Pinups

It has been weeks since I featured Boris Vallejo and Frank Frazetta so I decided to bring you another great fantasy & sci-fi artist this weekend. The artist this week is Julie Bell and she is a protege of Boris Vallejo, learning from him and sharing a web site with him. Here are three of Julie’s select paintings (and a double painting) for your enjoyment. Click on the thumbnail for larger, popup images ....

Posted by The Skipper     on 05/01/2005 at 10:45 AM   
Filed Under: • Eye-Candy •  
• Comments (5) • Trackbacks(0)  Permalink •  

Sunday Funnies

Posted by The Skipper     on 05/01/2005 at 05:41 AM   
Filed Under: • Humor •  
• Comments (1) • Trackbacks(0)  Permalink •  

Everybody Must Get Stoned

^{Rick McKee, Augusta, Georgia, The Augusta Chronicle (GA)}

Posted by The Skipper     on 05/01/2005 at 05:27 AM   
Filed Under: • Democrats-Liberals-Moonbat Leftists •  
• Comments (4) • Trackbacks(0)  Permalink •  

Restaurant At The End Of The Tsunami

If you wanted to build the world’s First All-Glass Undersea Restaurant which spot under the sea would you choose? Off the coast of Greece or Italy? Or maybe off shore from Los Angeles or New York? Wrong! That’s why the Hilton Hotel chain is rich and you’re poor. They are smart enough to build the damned thing less than a hundred miles from the epicenter of the huge earthquake that created the tsunami that destroyed Southeast Asia last December.

The Maldives - 15 April marks the day that the first ever all-glass undersea restaurant in the world opens its doors for business at the Hilton Maldives Resort & Spa. Ithaa will sit five meters below the waves of the Indian Ocean, surrounded by a vibrant coral reef and encased in clear acrylic offering diners 270-degrees of panoramic underwater views.

“We have used aquarium technology to put diners face-to-face with the stunning underwater environment of the Maldives”, says Carsten Schieck, General Manager of Hilton Maldives Resort & Spa. “Our guests always comment on being blown away by the colour, clarity, and beauty of the underwater world in the Maldives, so it seemed the perfect idea to build a restaurant where diners can experience fine cuisine and take time to enjoy the views – without ever getting their feet wet.”

Posted by The Skipper     on 05/01/2005 at 05:00 AM   
Filed Under: • Environment •  
• Comments (6) • Trackbacks(0)  Permalink •  

Paging John Connor

Skynet - Phase I is now complete. Keep an eye out for ”CyberBug” in your local airspace. You are being watched continuously now. Try not to pick your nose ....

If a kite appears to be following you in La Plata, Md., it very well may be. The Charles County Sheriff’s Office recently monitored a gathering of motorcycle riders by launching a remote-control aerial camera to watch for emergencies or troublemakers.

An official said yesterday the battery-powered spy plane was launched as a test run and that he’s not sure whether the agency will buy the craft — but the results were good.

Question: What kind of society needs to be under constant surveillance from eye-in-the-sky cameras, traffic cameras, security cameras, shopping mall cameras, etc., etc.?

Answer: A society that allows themselves to be monitored continuously for activity that is considered “dangerous” by the state or “criminal” by law enforcement, employers and shopkeepers.

Memo to all you “potentially dangerous criminals” out there: Don’t say I didn’t warn you ....

Posted by The Skipper     on 05/01/2005 at 04:42 AM   
Filed Under: • Science-Technology •  
• Comments (7) • Trackbacks(0)  Permalink •  

DISCLAIMER

THE SERVICES AND MATERIALS ON THIS WEBSITE ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND THE HOSTS OF THIS SITE EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF SATISFACTORY QUALITY, MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, WITH RESPECT TO THE SERVICE OR ANY MATERIALS.

Not that very many people ever read this far down, but this blog was the creation of Allan Kelly and his friend Vilmar. Vilmar moved on to his own blog some time ago, and Allan ran this place alone until his sudden and unexpected death partway through 2006. We all miss him. A lot. Even though he is gone this site will always still be more than a little bit his. We who are left to carry on the BMEWS tradition owe him a great debt of gratitude, and we hope to be able to pay that back by following his last advice to us all:

1. Keep a firm grasp of Right and Wrong
2. Stay involved with government on every level and don't let those bastards get away with a thing
3. Use every legal means to defend yourself in the event of real internal trouble, and, most importantly:
4. Keep talking to each other, whether here or elsewhere

It's been a long strange trip without you Skipper, but thanks for pointing us in the right direction and giving us a swift kick in the behind to get us going. Keep lookin' down on us, will ya? Thanks.

THE INFORMATION AND OTHER CONTENTS OF THIS WEBSITE ARE DESIGNED TO COMPLY WITH THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. THIS WEBSITE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND ALL PARTIES IRREVOCABLY SUBMIT TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE AMERICAN COURTS. IF ANYTHING ON THIS WEBSITE IS CONSTRUED AS BEING CONTRARY TO THE LAWS APPLICABLE IN ANY OTHER COUNTRY, THEN THIS WEBSITE IS NOT INTENDED TO BE ACCESSED BY PERSONS FROM THAT COUNTRY AND ANY PERSONS WHO ARE SUBJECT TO SUCH LAWS SHALL NOT BE ENTITLED TO USE OUR SERVICES UNLESS THEY CAN SATISFY US THAT SUCH USE WOULD BE LAWFUL.

Copyright © 2004-2015 Domain Owner