Morning Whip, Jan. 11, 2010

I surf the Web, so you don’t have to!

Travel:
Amtrak “Train From Hell” Delayed Almost 24 Hours [*1] — Could have been in the Global Warming section . . .

Explaining and defending human freedom and liberty:
Where Has the Republican ‘Market’ Gone? Should We Go There? [*2]
Yeah, That Globe Poll Looks Wrong [*3]
Dems Worried About Coakley [*4]
Tucker Carlson is completely out of his mind [*5] — “Jim Treacher” aka Sean Medlock finds a new bloggy home . . .
Red invades Blue [*6]
Jillian Bandes: Palin stays one step ahead of the political class[*7]

More after the “Read More” . . . The reality of Obama and the Democrat leadership as blithering idiots:
Top White House Official Admits Jobs Picture “Still Terrible” …Update: Obama Disappointed His Economic Plan Is a Failure [*8]

Spotlighting and deconstructing (and occasionally ridiculing) Liberty’s enemies–because even blithering idiots can be dangerous:
Wait, I thought Republicans were the party of big business? [*9] — No, the alliance of Big Business and Big Government does NOT advance freedom and liberty, either . . .
Why Are Jews Liberals? Part Two [*10]
Obama Nation: Abandon Ship! [*11] — Monday morning comics . . .
Question of the Day: How do you spot a Concern Troll or Eeyore? [*12]
The Democrats’ Self-Righteous Subterfuge: Accusations of Republican Racism, Sexism, “Homophobia” [*13]
Transparent Fictions [*14] — more evidence that Democrat leaders are more malignant than they are idiotic . . . in fact their idiocy flows directly from their malignancy . . .
An online blueprint of the Left [*15]
Palin derided by top McCain aide, book [*16] — Steve Schmidt is an enemy of freedom, and is just trying to save his sorry excuse for a career in politics . . . it won’t work, unless he’s planning to switch to the Democrats . . .
Blood for Oil Chronicles [*17] — “No Blood For Oil” was a classic Concern Troll strategy . . . the people who chanted that cared not at all about either oil or blood . . . but only about naked political power . . .
Democrats to Repeat GOP’s Winning ‘06 Strategy This Fall [*18]
Oh My– Hillary Accused Obama of Cheating in Primaries [*19]
Republican John Colbert on ‘Congressional Terrorism’ in California [*20]
The Democratic Double-Standard on Race: I’ve Lived It [*21]
Does the Government Own the Whole Economy? [*22] — Collectivists think so . . . if you think you have a claim on somebody else’s income or possessions, then you’re a collectivist. Or a thug (the two differ only in tactics, not in strategy). . .
The Planning States of the 1940s [*23] — “. . . those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it . . . ”

Foreign affairs:
The limits of “surge and run” [*24]
Obama Aids the Enemy He Will Not Name [*25]
Failing to Connect the Plots [*26]

The Economy:
The budget crisis of the states [*27]
Bull market grows up [*28] — Translation: We’re near the top . . .
Oil rises above $83 amid strong Chinese demand [*29]
AP: Obama’s Spending on Roads & Bridges Did Nothing to Curb Unemployment [*30]

“Global warming” aka “Climate change” — or should that be “Climate Reform?”:
The mini ice age starts here [*31] — If you think too much sun is bad, try too much snow . . .
December 2009: Second Snowiest on Record in the Northern Hemisphere [*32]
Mother Nature’s Sucker-Punch [*33]
America slides deeper into depression as Wall Street revels [*34] — Usually, the foreign press sees more clearly into America than most American media does . . .

Health care “reform” aka health insurance “reform” — or should that be health care “change?” Perhaps “Global healthing?:
Insurance mandate starting to become a political albatross [*35]

Media bias–and incompetence:
Study: Newspapers still a step ahead in local news [*36] — The last redoubt?

Sports:
Johnson’s double-double helps No. 4 Tennessee cruise to victory[*37] — Women’s basketball . . .
No. 16 Tennessee upsets No. 1 Kansas 76-68 [*38] — Men’s basketball . . .
Why hasn’t free-throw shooting improved through the years? [*39]
Hard Knox: No. 1 Kansas falls to No. 16 Tennessee [*40]
SDSU men keep it moving[*41]

Science Fiction and Writing:
The Writing Front: Scratching My Head about Story Length [*42]
A Story A Week Challenge: Week One [*43]
Alien Languages – how foreign would they really be? [*44]
On Anachronisms [*45]
How to kill a writing career [*46]
Writing Your Book, part I: Getting Started [*47]

Miscellany:
How to brew a good cup of coffee [*48]
Top ten signs your new year is off to a bad start [*49]

Medary.com – Morning Whip, Jan. 10, 2010

I surf the Web, so you don’t have to!

Explaining and defending human freedom and liberty:
Scott Brown Links [*1]
Live from Scott Brown HQ [*2]
Brown grassroots vs Coakley machine: “I don’t think they play at all fairly” [*3]
Tea Party movement plans auto show protest [*4]
SARAH PALIN’S NINJA THROWING STARS WILL BE NEEDED ONCE MORE TO SAVE THE REPUBLIC! [*5]
Palin and Jews [*6]
Jeff Crouere: Sarah Palin Speech To GOP In New Orleans…Let Presidential Election Begin [*7]
Mass Confusion: Brown Up a Point in One Poll, Coakley Up 15 in Another [*8]
Destination: New Orleans [*9]

More after the “Read More” . . . The reality of Obama and the Democrat leadership as blithering idiots:
President Obama To Sarah Palin: Where You Lead I Will Follow! [*10]
Analysis: Obama’s buck-stopping goes only so far [*11] — And that’s the fundamental problem, isn’t it? He’s supposed to be the President, not the Whiner in Chief–or Captain Grandiose-Self-Image, either.
Harry Reid: Blithering Idiot[*12] — as if you didn’t know that already.
Race and Racism: What’s the Connection? [*13] — Any sin is forgiven, as long as your loyalty is only to The Party. The Party is All. The Party is Mother. The Party is Father.
Bill Clinton 2008 on Obama: A few years ago, this guy would have been getting us coffee [*14] — OK, not so much blithering idiots as hypocritical racist bastards . . .
‘Cadillac Tax’: Has Obama Told a ‘Jaw-Dropping’ Lie About His Position? [*15] — What is “You betcha,” Alex?
The Democrats and the “wimp factor” [*16]

The reality of the Republican leadership as blithering idiots:
Right-wing Nanny State [*17] — Note to Republicans: Freedom is Good. You should be FOR it. So should Democrats, but as you may have noticed, I’ve basically given up on them now.
Poll: 75% of GOP Voters Say Republicans in Congress Have “Lost Touch” With Party’s Base… [*18]
Michael Steele strikes again [*19] — Sarah Palin for RNC Chairman? Now THAT would be entertaining.

Spotlighting and deconstructing (and occasionally ridiculing) Liberty’s enemies–because even blithering idiots can be dangerous:
Judge Personally Ordered a Violation of the Fourth Amendment [*20] — And a reminder for judges: “judge” is not a synonym for “tyrant.”
“Good Enough for Government Work” [*21]
Pointless Hysteria about Terror [*22] — actually, it does have a point, and one that the leftists were making during the Bush administration: people will sacrifice their liberty for security, despite Benjamin Frankln’s warning.[*23] Of course, most leftists aren’t serious about defending the liberty of anybody but themselves, but that’s another argument.
The Who’s Mad At Us Today Report: Saturday Edition [*24] — Toe the Party Line, or Face The Consequences. Is this America, or the Soviet Union?
Network Effects: Liberals and Conservatives in the Academy [*25]
Dem’s 2010 Strategy to Win [*26]

Foreign affairs:
Paul Mirengoff: Why it’s time to return to war against terrorism [*27]

The Economy:
Overthinking the bad loan problem [*28]
China overtakes Germany as biggest exporter [*29]

“Global warming” aka “Climate change” — or should that be “Climate Reform?”:
Its a winter “wonderland”…in Florida[*30]
Lessons to Be Learned in the Climate Alarm Zone [*31]
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2010/01/10/dems_2010_strategy_to_win_99831.html [*32] — funny. Click through to see.

Health care “reform” aka health insurance “reform” — or should that be health care “change?” Perhaps “Global healthing?:
No Public Option? [*33] — We’ve been here before, the Democrats simply lie. They’re lying now. It’s just what they do.
The End of Insurance [*34]

Media bias–and incompetence:
How The Media Have Mangled The Pro-Life Story [*35]
Glass Houses, Ruth. Glass houses. [*36] — people married to politicians or government bureaucrats probably shouldn’t masquerade as objective journalists (*cough*Andrea Mitchell*cough*), or as columnists . . .

Sports:
Jackrabbit women turn back Southern Utah [*37]
Roll Tide: The Universal Greeting [*38]
Jacks complete weekend road sweep [*39]
SDSU men beat Southern Utah by 10 [*40]
Rotert’s double-double lifts SDSU [*41]
What’s wrong with the Jacks? [*42] — Oh Noes! The SDSU women’s basketball team won’t win 30 games this year! The horror!

Science, technology, and space:
Google becoming “giant monopoly” – German minister [*43] — I’ve switched to Startpage[*44] for my web searches, for now.
Patterico Receives Purported DMCA Takedown Notice from Photographer [*45] — I guess this fits under “technology” . . .
8 Percent of Human Genome Was Inserted By Virus, and May Cause Schizophrenia [*46] — and the virus was probably from Mars or somewhere like that . . .

Science Fiction and Writing:
An Interesting Thing Happened on the Way to Oblivion. [*47]
Science fiction: last bastion of the rational? [*48] — actually, a significant chunk of SF contains the same kind of woolly-pated anti-rational mysticism that infests the rest of popular culture, not to mention politics today (viz. “anthropogenic global warming”) . . .
SF in the age of the irrational: Shall we fight? [*49] — News flash: as long as there are humans, there will be irrationalism. The worst sort of irrationalism is that which masquerades as rationalism–viz. collectivism, by any name you care to mention (“progressivism,” “liberalism,” “leftism,” “Democratic Party of the United States,” etc., etc.) Remove the plank in your own eye . . .
Summary: Orson Scott Card’s Intergalactic Medicine Show, 2009 [*50]
Books You Can Live Without [*51] — as the “progressives” start deciding which books to burn . . . with a special place on the bonfire for coffee table picture books . . .
Booklife on Support For Your Writing [*52]
Things Your Writer’s Group Never Told You [*53] — Writer’s group? What is this “writer’s group” thing of which you speak?

Morning Whip, Jan. 9, 2010

One good part about doing a daily post like this is that it burns into my mind the fact that it’s a new year. If I ever wrote checks any more, that would be really great!

Anyway . . .

I surf the Web, so you don’t have to! (Although I really do need to cut back!)

Travel:
This Just in: Collective Ownership of the Means of Mass-Producing Consumer Air Travel Delivers Unsatisfying Results [*1] — “It’s hardly a newsflash that governments don’t run consumer businesses very well. So why do we continue tolerating government ownership in one of the most unpleasant consumer industries there is?”
Bombs Don’t Take Down Airliners — People Take Down Airliners [*2]

More after the “Read More” . . . Explaining and defending human freedom and liberty:
A role model for the GOP [*3]
Four Hundred Years of Dynamic Efficiency [*4]
Hoppe in One Lesson, Illustrated in Welfare Economics [*5]
The National Political Scene [*6] — I wasn’t sure which “blithering idiots” section this should go in, so it wound up here . . .
Atlas Shrugged II [*7]
Democratic Alligned Polling Firm: MA Senate “Has Become A Losable Race For Democrats” [*8]
Targeting the Tea Party [*9]
What Democracy Is Not [*10] — “The defense of liberty is not a romance with anarchy.”
Joy To The World [*11] — “People of the Jewish and Christian faiths are not the proprietors of our civilization, but it’s grossly unfair to deny their pivotal role in shaping it.”
That Massachusetts Senate race is a chance to take down the Death Star [*12]
Should Palin skip CPAC? [*13]
Rush: Thank god Obama didn’t visit me in the hospital [*14] — Possibly should have been in “Miscellany” . . .
A Revolution in Massachusetts [*15]
Kentucky’s Answer to Unconstitutional Federal Actions [*16] — There’s a reason this country is the United STATES of America, after all . . .
Understanding the Democrats’ Scheme [*17] — It is possible that the only thing that will save our liberty is that so many Democrats are in fact blithering idiots, and so their schemes may wind up being too clever by half . . .
A Country Boy and His Dreams [*18] — A “green shoot” peeks up out of the cold snow of this dark night for freedom . . . could a new dawn be approaching?
The Survival of the Republic: A Second Reason for Reading Montesquieu [*19]
Brown is winning the battle of the blogosphere [*20]
Are Dems this worried about losing the Massachusetts special election? [*21]

The reality of Obama and the Democrat leadership as blithering idiots:
Cook: Dems Could Lose The House [*22]
Obama: As Part of My Bold New Strategy For Combating Terror, I Hereby Order Intelligence Agencies to Do Something They Should Have Already Been Doing and Were Doing Under Bush– Following Up on Terrorist Tips [*23]
Obama’s Labor Department Ignores His Executive Order– The Ethics Pledge [*24]
45% would replace Congress with names drawn randomly from the telephone book [*25] — You’ve got the big majorities, Democrats, so it’s all your mess now . . .
Liz Cheney’s group smacks Obama: “100 Hours”; Update: Dems plot to protect Napolitano at hearings [*26]
The White House, Washington… White House, Washington… WHITEHOUSE.[*27] — They were at the White House, I guess . . . the one in Washington, it seems . . .
NEVADA U.S. SENATE POLL: Reid hits new low in poll: Rating is worst in R-J’s surveys for 2010 election [*28]

The reality of the Republican leadership as blithering idiots:
Steele: God has placed me in this role for a reason; Update: Steele fibbing about when he wrote the book? [*29] — For me, every time Steele says something good, he follows up with two utterly ridiculous statements. Therefore he’s probably an apt choice for Chairman of the Stupid Party.

Spotlighting and deconstructing (and occasionally ridiculing) Liberty’s enemies–because even blithering idiots can be dangerous:
Knocking Down The Liberal Lie About Islamic Terrorism [*30]
More Than Zero: Why won’t people who love to make zero-sum arguments about the economy apply their own lessons to government spending? [*31]
The Carnivorous Government [*32] — “Not a man or woman in the Democrat Party has the first clue how to manage the medical needs of the entire nation. No one does. . . The Obama Administration answers every question with a demand for more power, to implement nebulous plans no one is allowed to review.”
Targeting the Tea Party [*9] — “The war against the Tea Party is an extension of the long war against the American middle class.”
WSJ: IRS Takeover of the Tax Preparer Industry [*33] — Stories like this push me toward things like the Fair Tax . . .
Question of the Day: Is there a link between the caliber of TSA agents and the quality of the job they perform? [*34]
Has Anybody Seen A Lefty Pundit Praise Obama For His Performance Yesterday? [*35]
Top academic defender of ObamaCare: Oh, by the way, I’m being paid by the feds [*36]
Democrats playing with dangerous fire: admit to plan to not seat Senator Brown until after Healthcare Rationing vote [*37] — Might qualify for “blithering idiot” if this manages to lose the Massachusetts U.S. Senate seat to Brown . . . but really, they’re Democrats. If you’re surprised by this at this point, you either aren’t paying attention, or all you really care about is power. Here’s it in brief: Democrats are corrupt. All of them. Without exception. To be a Democrat is to be corrupt. If you voted for one of these weasels, then you are an accessory to political corruption on a scale that this nation has never, EVER seen before. Soviet Union, Third-World-level corruption. I hope you’re happy.
Question of the Day: Doesn’t Paul Kirk’s interim appointment in Massachusetts expire January 19th, 2010? [*38]
Iraq confiscates arms in private security crackdown [*39]

Foreign affairs:
Bringing Down Khamenei [*40]
Looking out the window [*41]

The Economy:
Steve Forbes and Ron Paul [*42] — “When it comes to money, the mainstream media like to portray Congressman Ron Paul (R–Tex.) as a gadfly. Let Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke enjoy his Time-ly accolades, because history will judge that Paul had it right when it came to the Fed and its often misbegotten monetary policies.”
Unemployment Holds at 10.0%, But That’s Not the Whole Story [*43]
Unemployment remains at 10.0%; Update: “Unexpectedly” [*44]
STIMULUS! More “unexpected” bad economic news: Employers unexpectedly cut jobs in December [*45]
Prolonging the Recession [*46]
Target tries to attract shoppers with a warehouse-type section [*47]
2 Idaho univ. presidents decry more budget cuts [*48]

“Global warming” aka “Climate change” — or should that be “Climate Reform?”:
Climategate: Here Comes Courage! [*49]
Global Warming Shutting Down China and Britain [*50]
All of Britain covered by snow [*51] — Cold is bad, warm is good . . . got it?
Frigid U.S. Midwest could see more snow [*52]
Peer-to-Peer Review: How ‘Climategate’ Marks the Maturing of a New Science Movement, Part I [*53]
LED Stoplights Failing in Winter [*54]
Winter Storm Warnings [*55] — “The brief warm spell that lasted through most of the 80s and 90s is over.”
Global Lower Tropospheric Temperature Report: December 2009 And For The Year 2009 [*56]

Health care “reform” aka health insurance “reform” — or should that be health care “change?” Perhaps “Global healthing?:
Where U.S. Health Care Ranks Number One: Isn’t ‘responsiveness’ what medicine is all about? [*57]
Health Care Spending – The Government Is NOT The Answer, It’s The Problem [*58] — Correlary: The main problem with the free market is that politicians never, ever let it work. Government is NOT the solution. Government IS THE PROBLEM. “The government is shooting blanks, and a system that is ranked number 1 out of 191 in the world for “responsiveness to the needs and choices of the individual patient” (uh, isn’t that what good medicine is all about?) is about to be downgraded dramatically based on a collection of myths, half-truths and outright lies.”

Media bias–and incompetence:
As Climategate Becomes Pressgate, Questions for the Media [*59]
More on the Media’s Attempts to Disparage Conservatives as Racist; Updated [*60]
Unexpectedly, AP hammers Obama administration on jobless report [*61] — Wow, reporting. Where did that come from?
Looking for Corruption in All the Wrong Places: The failings of the New York Times ethics cops. [*62]
NPR Sorta Acknowledges Tea Bag Cartoon and Claims (Ha-ha) it Doesn’t Reflect Their Values [*63]
NPR: No apology for ‘Tea Bag’ attack cartoon [*64] — “Fudgepackers” in reference to NPR is of course fully in play at this point . . .
NEA, PBS, & The Artful Abuse of Taxpayer Airwaves [*65]

Sports:
Jacks begin road swing at Southern Utah [*66]
SDSU Athletics introduces Ticket Tuesdays [*67]
Baugh to sit for rest of season
Kansas and Tennessee again at a crossroads [*68]
Royals agree with outfielder Podsednik on one-year deal [*69]
A stark stat in Starkville: Zero for 30 [*70] — “Mississippi State is the only SEC program to never have beaten Tennessee.”
Upset bid fizzles against Cornell: Coyotes push Ivy League foe to the limit in 71-65 loss [*71]

Science, technology, and space:
Black Hole is Eating Our Galaxy Slower Than Previously Thought [*72] — Well, at least we don’t have to worry so much about THAT.
Feynman and the Futurists [*73]

Science Fiction and Writing:
‘Book of Eli’ Arrives Jan 15th [*74]
2009: A Year in Review [John’s Take] [*75] — The SF year in review . . .
Science fiction, religion and rationality [*76]
Our complete midseason preview of 31 hot sci-fi/fantasy shows [*77]
5 Simple Rules For Turning Your Cool Idea Into A Screenplay [*78]
Sci Fi Foods We Wish Actually Existed [*79]

Miscellany:
Anti-whaling boat left to sink in Antarctica[*80] — “Whilst I abhor whaling, it does seem that this particular set of tactics have quite a lot of flaws in them, not the least of these is the environmental risk,”
‘Lie to Me’ Lies to Me [*81]
Ready for the cooling! [*82] — Dog. Tire. Snow.
Domino’s executives: Why yes, our pizza is was terrible; Update: Domino’s reviewed! [*83]
For some, 3D movies a pain in the head[*84]

Morning Whip, Jan. 8, 2010

I surf the Web, so you don’t have to!

Explaining and defending human freedom and liberty:
Sarah Palin to Address National Tea Party Convention [*1]
An Interview with Christopher Hitchens, Part I [*2] — I disagree with Hitchens on his strident atheism, but I count him as a defender of liberty nonetheless . . .
Cook Report Moves Massachusetts Senate Race from “Solid Democratic” to “Leans Democratic” [*3]
Palin to Attend Southern Republican Leadership Conference, Not Attend CPAC; Updated [*4]
Tea Party Update [*5]
Petition Circulating to Recall “Louisiana Purchase” Corruptocrat Sen. Mary Landrieu [*6]
Student wins ‘Nobama’ case [*7] — To those of you whose response to criticism of Obama is to say “Shut Up” . . . SHUT UP. Suck on real free speech like the bitter lemon you obviously think it is, when you’re the ones in power.
2010: Our Year of Decision [*8]

More after the “Read More” . . . The reality of Obama and the Democrat leadership as blithering idiots::
Obama: “The buck stops with me” [*9] — “And it only took me two weeks to figure that out, because I’m a frickin’ GENIUS!”
Dorgan: Jumping Before He’s Pushed? [*10]

The reality of the Republican leadership as blithering idiots:
Michael Steele: How Would I Grade Myself As GOP Chair? A “Solid B” [*11]
GOP aides warn RNC: It’s time for Steele to shut up [*12] — It’s possible, I guess, that they’re not all blithering idiots . . .
GOP Insiders Sour On Palin [*13] — “I’m pretty sure the feeling is mutual.” — Glenn Reynolds, the Instapundit [*14]
Conservatives Rule? [*15] — It takes real political skill–of a sort–to take a solid 40% slice of the American public which represents the base of your political party, and alienate them as thoroughly as the Republican leadership has done to their conservative base . . .

Spotlighting and deconstructing (and occasionally ridiculing) Liberty’s enemies–because even blithering idiots can be dangerous:
The Leftist Bullies [*16]
Who Is Wesley Mouch?: Why Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged matters today [*17]
Oh My: Geithner Told AIG to Lie to Public About “Backdoor Bailout” of Big Banks and Investment Houses Through AIG [*18]
Liberals’ Ignorance of Ideas Undergirding American Conservatism [*19]
The needle in the haystack [*20]
Judge Dismisses Frivolous Lawsuit Against Palin [*21]
Boston Globe: that Martha Coakley is kind of a slippery crapweasle who doesn’t want you MA voters to know too much about her and you might just want to consider what that implies [*22] — now, I don’t know for a fact that Martha Coakley is an enemy of liberty, but she’s got a D behind her name, so that’s close enough for now . . .
Obama and the White House Chicago Boys [*23]
Obama’s Progressive Goose and Our Conservative Gander [*24]
Don’t Tax You. Don’t Tax Me. Tax That Guy Behind the Tree! [*25]

The Economy:
KC Fed’s Hoenig says Uncle Sam needs to begin withdrawing support for economy [*26]
Top economics bloggers [*27]

Foreign affairs:
U.S. intel failed to focus resources on al Qaeda threat [*28]
More Christmas Bombing Fallout: Hillary’s Visa Problem [*29]
Empowering Iranians to Dislodge the Mullahs [*30]
The Strange New Friend of the Iranian Demonstrators [*31]

“Global warming” aka “Climate change” — or should that be “Climate Reform?”:
Death To Skeptics [*32]

Health care “reform” aka health insurance “reform” — or should that be health care “change?” Perhaps “Global healthing?:
Figures. Dem Leaders Are Stripping GOP Amendments From Health Care Bill After They Were Approved in Committee[*33]
Medicare and the Mayo Clinic: The famous hospital will no longer take some senior patients. [*34]

Media bias–and incompetence:
Does the Mainstream Media Read? [*35] — and, related:
Palin Scoops Politico [*36]

Sports:
Wolters ties SDSU record in win at UMKC [*37]
South Dakota State outduels UMKC 74-69 [*38]
Bjorklund, Stricklen help Lady Vols cruise in SEC opener [*39]
Summitt delivers heat for players, 79-62 [*40] — Nooooooo!!! Not THE STARE!!!!!
SDSU men win third straight [*41]
Fresh off upset bid, Cornell visits USD [*42]
Foobaw frenzy [*43]

Science Fiction and Writing:
Revisions: A How-To Guide [*44]
The Future of Publishing? [*45]
Wait, what did you say? [*46]
Killing Characters [*47]
Where Do I Send My Masterpiece? [*48]
Learn to Write Good [*49]
helpful hints for bookstore customers, part 9 [*50]
Re-Write Wednesday: And Coming up on the Left, Stuff [*51]
Why is it so important for writers to read a lot? [*52]
The 20 SF Movies We’re Most Excited To See In 2010 [*53]

Science, technology, and space:
Colliding Auroras Produce an Explosion of Light [*54]

Miscellany:
Speeding motorist fined $290,000 [*55]
Tips for living a long life [*56]
Coffee drinkers prove to be calorie-conscious [*57]

Morning Whip, Jan. 7, 2010

A mega-whip this morning–playing catchup after doing a bit of traveling over the past week. I’m sure you’ll agree that this is really, really way, way, too many articles. I really need to cut back. Or the world needs to slow down. Neither is, sadly, likely to happen.

2009, 2010, the 2000’s, and the 2010’s:
The 40 Most Obnoxious Quotes Of 2009 [*1] — “30) ‘If I’m corrupt, it’s because I take care of my district.’ — John Murtha”
In America’s next decade, change and challenges [*2]
American Thinker’s First Six Years [*3]
SFFWorld’s SF Review of 2009 [*4]
Have hope for changing minds. [*5]
The biggest stories of the year? [*6]

Travel:
Full-body scanners to be put in British airports [*7] — with an update below . . .
US Institutes Profiling At Overseas Airports [*8]
Carl’s Cruse Capers and Travel Tips [*9] — more new posts . . .
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/item.aspx?type=blog&ak=13517.blog [*10]
Privacy concerns likely to impede body scanners in Britain [*11]
Best Cruises for Fitness [*12]
“Explosive” at California airport found to be honey [*13]
Luxury Cruise Pricing Goes (Almost) All-Inclusive [*14]
5 Trends that will impact your cruise choices in 2010 [*15]
The Naked Truth About Airport Scanners [*16]

Explaining and defending human freedom and liberty:
Tea Party 2010: Revolution Brewing? Or Is That Some Weak Tea? [*17]
The Contradiction of Being Republican [*18]
Could Democrats capture Tea Party fever? [*19]
For Tea Parties, Bigger Is Not Better [*20]
Whole Foods CEO: From Health Care to Climate Change [*21]
Defending the future from its enemies [*22] — Bill Whittle (a video, very good!)
The man behind RedState.com shakes up the Republican Party [*23]
A Brief 2010 Republican Midterm Platform [*24]
Confessions of an American Thinker Moderator [*25]
The Surprising Popularity of the Non-Existent Tea Party [*26]
KC Fed’s Hoenig: Address “too big to fail” [*27] == “‘In an effective capitalistic system, you have to allow institutions to fail and then have renewal,’ Hoenig said today . . .>
Things I’d Like To See: The 28th Amendment [*28] — “Congress shall make no law that applies to the citizens of the United States that does not apply equally to the Senators and Representatives; and, Congress shall make no law that applies to the Senators and Representatives that does not apply equally to the citizens of the United States.”
Support Scott Brown [*29]
Deregulation Now: A New Year’s resolution for failing state governments. [*30]
Woman Arrested for Throwing Obama Poster in the Garbage [*31] — Dissent Shall Be Suppressed . . .
Reactionary Liberals [*32]
Sarah Palin will headline first-ever Tea Party Convention [*33]
Independents Overwhelmingly Favor Republican in MA Senate Race [*34]
Lonewolf Diaries: Moral Absolutes are for Dumb Conservatives [*35]
Mad and Madder [*36]
Getting Control of Congress, Permanently [*37] — wow, the People, in control of Congress . . . what a concept!
Heads Explode… Dennis Miller Predicts Possible Palin Presidency [*38]
Larry Elder on Governor Palin [*39]
Go directly to jail: Women are the worst perpetrators of verbal violence against men [*40] — don’t get me wrong . . . laws against speech are tyrannical on their face, but . . .
The ascendancy of the non-private person [*41]
Free Banking and Contract Law [*42]
Conservatives Finish 2009 as No. 1 Ideological Group [*43]

The reality of Obama and the Democrat leadership as blithering idiots:
Stimulus Fraud? Where’s “Sheriff Joe”? [*44]
Reckless Spending is Hard [*45]
Face the Voters [*46] — “There is a more basic issue now rumbling through not just conservative circles but also in the mainstream media: can these people be trusted to do much of anything?”
Every time someone crazy and vile comes to the White House, this administration claims “it wasn’t THAT crazy person” [*47]
Harry Reid 2006: I hate when people try to sneak secret special deals into important Senate bills without debate [*48]
Fun Deficit Fact To Start Your Tuesday [*49] — Why make you click through? It’s Thursday, already! — “The Bush Deficit of 2008 is roughly equal to the interest on the Obama Deficit of 2009.”
FIREDOGLAKE: Democratic Strategy in 2010: Run Against George W. Bush Again! [*50]
Calif. watchdog: Historic reviews slow stimulus [*51]
The Spin Factory Goes Haywire [*52]
Administration: Hey, On Second Thought? Now That We Really Think About It? Yeah… Maybe We Won’t Continue Freeing Terrorists to Yemen [*53]
Byron Dorgan (D-ND) Retiring This Year To Spend Time With His Family And Avoid Getting His Ass Kicked But Mostly To Avoid Getting His Ass Kicked [*54]
And another one bites the dust: Democrat Ritter drops out of Colorado guv bid [*55]
Emperor Obama and the Mob [*56]
Banking chief Dodd to leave Senate [*57]
Top Democrats head for the exits [*58] — this is what delinquent kids do after they realize that their playing with matches in their parents’ closet has lit the clothes on fire . . .
Obama’s ‘Amateur Hour’ [*59]
Press corps grills Gibbs: Um, didn’t Obama totally shamelessly lie about C-SPAN? [*60]
Awesome, awesome rumor: Chris Dodd for Treasury Secretary? [*61]
New Dem master plan for North Dakota: Let’s nominate a guy even further left than Byron Dorgan [*62]
No wonder everybody says he looks “tired” [*63]
Obama Lawyers Fined by Federal Court [*64]
The next Democratic senator to retire is… [*65]

The reality of the Republican leadership as blithering idiots:
Introducing a new occasional section of The Whip . . .lest we forget why they’re called the Stupid Party . . .
Support for Big Government a Bad Bet for the GOP [*66]
Steele: I Don’t Know if the GOP Is Ready to Lead (But It Doesn’t Matter, As We’re Not Going to Win Either House of Congress Anyway) [*67]
Does Newt Gingrich Speak for Either Republicans or Tea Partiers? [*68] — Gingrich is really good at thinking up ideas. Some of those ideas are even good. Others, though . . .

Spotlighting and deconstructing (and occasionally ridiculing) Liberty’s enemies–because even blithering idiots can be dangerous:
(. . . so much to spotlight, deconstruct, and ridicule, so little time . . .)
Who wants to be a Democrat? [*69]
NPR Teaches You How to Speak “Tea Bag” [*70] — I look forward with breathless anticipation to the followup on NPR’s site which I am sure is shortly forthcoming: How to Speak Fudge-Packer, about how to screw the American Taxpayer by passing trillion-dollar combination boondoggles and naked power grabs . . .
Another Program FAIL? [*71]
The Census boondoggle: $340 million ad campaign [*72]
George Will on New York’s Eminent Domain Abuse [*73]
There’s a New Law in Town. Actually, Lots of Them. [*74] — yes, “law,” once intended to protect freedom, has largely become the enemy of freedom.
On the Street With Zo: Why Vote Democrat? [*75]
Obama as Greek Tragedy—Part One [*76]
Bush Did It! And, Really, Bush Did It! And Bush Really Did It! [*77] — being the second part of “Obama as Greek Tragedy” . . .
Keynesianism and Socialism [*78]
Steve from ‘Blue’s Clues’ Teaches Kids to Hate Sarah Palin [*79]
C-SPAN Asks to Televise Health Care Negotiations [*80]
The Limits Of Politics [*81]
Obama Flunks His First Year [*82]
If It Moves, Regulate It [*83]
Michael Yon encounters Border Security: Posts on Facebook. [*84]
Airline security idiocy of the day: Milblogger Michael Yon handcuffed, Joan Rivers blocked [*85]
Unionizing TSA Is A Security Mistake [*86]
The Left Goes to War Against Science, Surrenders on Terror [*87]
Historians Against the War: Only Progressives Need Apply? [*88]
Cameron’s ‘Avatar’ Shows Hollywood How to Trash America and Make a Profit Doing So [*89]
It’s War, not a Crime Spree [*90] — “the real nature of the terrorist threat requires a commander-in-chief, not a constitutional law professor.” – Sarah Palin
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Military Blogger Michael Yon Detained, Handcuffed by TSA in Seattle Airport [*91]
Is This What Market Failure Looks Like? [*92]
What the Dems Know: Universal Voter Registration [*93]
Our Second Civil War [*94]
The TSA has gone insane [*95]
Lie, Lie, Lie, Lie, Lie, Lie, Lie, Lie [*96]
And The Answer To Obesity In America? More Government Regulation, Of Course [*97]
Hidden-camera video: “Red Eye” goes inside the Media Matters offices [*98]
The Sheriff Is Coming! The Sheriff Is Coming! [*99]
Coexist? [*100]
Does the State Protect Us? [*101]
Why Are We Closing Guantanamo? [*102]
Lie to me [*103]
Lincoln’s “Retirement” May Be Involuntary [*104]
Has Any Recent Hollywood Movie Offered Positive Portrayal of Conservative Activist? [*105]
The Intellectual Dishonesty of the Democrats [*106]
The apology deficit and the crisis in self-awareness [*107] — “many of these people who blame others for their own errors or incompetence are, sadly, sincere in their finger-pointing” . . .

The Economy:
If you had invested $10,000 on December 31, 1999… [*108]
More on The Coming War Over Public-Sector Pensions [*109]
Downturn hits S.D. industry hard [*110] — “South Dakota’s industrial employment fell 5.4 percent during the past year, and that contraction cost the state 2,809 industrial jobs and 74 manufacturing companies from October 2008 to October 2009, a new survey reports.”
The Lost Decade [*111]
China Is Not America’s Banker [*112]
About That Dependency On Foreign Oil – Get Used To It [*113] — until Bussard/Polywell fusion comes through–or we throw all the Democrats out on their asses . . . ALL of them . . . and quite a few Republicans, too . . .
The Most Negative Leading Economic Indicator [*114]

Foreign affairs:
Iranian government about to collapse? [*115]
Beinart: No, we’re not at war with radical jihadist terrorism [*116]
A Constitutional National Security Crisis of Obama’s Own Creation [*117]
Killing the chicken to frighten the monkey [*118] — you just need to click through to Belmont Club (Richard Fernandez) posts. They’re good . . .
Jordanian Doctor Responsible For Suicide Bomb Attack On CIA Base In Afghanistan [*119] — does it occur to anyone that we just burned Jordanian intelligence here? Did we really want to do that?
A War We Can’t Afford [*120]
Who Is the Enemy? [*121]
Chickens Come Home, Roost [*122] — arguably, this belongs in the Democrats as Blithering Idiots section . . .
What constitutes a successful surge? [*123]
Al Qaeda’s Successful Attack [*124]
France wants to add more countries to “risk list” [*125]
That Attack On The CIA In Afghanistan? Looking Worse And Worse [*126]
Collateral damage [*127]
Air Marshall Surge? [*128] — shouldn’t “marshal” only have one “L?”
Meanwhile, in Iran . . . [*129]

“Global warming” aka “Climate change” — or should that be “Climate Reform?”:
Updated Climate Presentation [*130] — From Warren Meyer who blogs at Coyote Blog . . .
ClimateGate’s Next Phase: False Claims Act Lawsuit [*131]
December UAH global temperature anomaly – down by almost half [*132]
The frigid hit parade – over 1200 new cold and snow records set in the last week in the USA, more in progress [*133] — remember though, as you’re freezing your ass off this week, it’s a Sign of GLOBAL WARMING!
Stat Model Predicts Flat Temperatures Through 2050 [*134]
Climategate: Michael Mann’s very unhappy New Year [*135]
Cold Killing Iguanas [*136] — article title needs to include “is” . . . “cold IS killing iguanas” . . .
Climategate and the Migrating Arctic Tree Line [*137]
Winter kills: Excess Deaths in the Winter Months [*138]

Health care “reform” aka health insurance “reform” — or should that be health care “change?” Perhaps “Global healthing?:
Health Care Reform: Because the IRS Isn’t Big Enough Yet [*139]
Medicare Is Already Rationing Care [*140]
Mayo Clinic dropping Medicare patients [*141]
Beware a Public Health Plan in Private Disguise [*142]
Pelosi says Congress close to health deal [*143] — why are we letting them do this to us?

Media bias–and incompetence:
Really, these people are pathetic [*144]
‘You Are a Bad, Bad, Bad Journalist’ [*145]
Big Journalism [*146] — the Breitbart Empire expands again . . .
“Rush Returns” or “Upsetting the Media” [*147]
Proof Fox News Isn’t A “Real News Orgainization”: Right Wing FNC Hack Wooed By GOP To Run For Senate [*148] — oh, wait, it’s not Fox News, it’s . . .
Liberal Media Bias Shows Up in the Strangest Places [*149]
Big Journalism, local edition [*150]

Sports:
SDSU-UMKC game to air on NBC Universal [*151] — (In South Dakota . . .)
ORU hands Jacks first home league loss [*152]
SDSU suffers tough Summit loss [*153]
Circling the Summit [*154]
UMKC and Southern Utah await Jackrabbits [*155]
KU holds off Ivy League’s Cornell at home[*156]

Science, technology, and space:
Ten Things You Need To Stop Tweeting About [*157]
Study: Spanked Children May Grow Up to Be Happier, More Successful [*158] — c’mon, it’s SCIENCE!
The 5 Best Places To Watch TV On The Internet [*159]

Science Fiction and Writing:
Arthur C Clarke and the end of upbeat futurology [*160]
Calling All Authors[*161]
A Re-Post of Great Importance: How To Write a Novel In 30 Days [*162]
Booklife: Seven Points to Consider When Submitting Short Fiction [*163]
It’s not about the odds. [*164]
Back to the Hugos: Lord of Light by Robert Zelazny [*165] — possibly my all-time favorite book . . .
5 Lies Writers Believe About Editors[*166]
Book Tour Wrap-Up: Did I Learn Anything? Should I Have Learned Anything? [*167]
Beware of Science Fiction [*168]
Wednesday Editorial: The Language of Science Fiction [*169]

Miscellany:
Levi Johnston: A Hollywood Cautionary Tale [*170]
Men Know When They’re Aroused, Women May Not [*171]
Why Modern Music Sucks [*172]
How Disney’s ‘Pocahontas’ Became ‘Avatar’ [*173]
The Secrets to Staying Married[*174]
100 Quotes Every Geek Should Know [*175] — #43: “If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?” – Albert Einstein
Japanese Whaling Ship Destroys Radical Group’s New Space-Age Powerboat (Video) [*176]
Anal-Retentive Anti-Humor People? Yeah, There’s an App For That! [*177]
Limbaugh: How it felt to have a heart-attack scare [*178]
WiFi for passive-aggressives [*179]

Morning Whip, Jan. 4, 2010

Travel:
New U.S. screening for air travelers from 7 nations: report [*1]

On explaining and defending human freedom and liberty:
anonymous, unverifiable, but authoritative? [*2]
GOP should push education and pro-family tax reform [*3] — and with a dissent:
The new Republican agenda — a bridge we can blow up when we get to it [*4]
Congressional Primary Calendar [*5] — here’s where the defense of human freedom and liberty begins . . .
An Open Letter to Democratic Politicians [*6]
GOP cash woes threaten House bids [*7] — if you don’t listen to the people, the people won’t listen to you — or give you money . . .
The Tea Party Movement Does Not Need a Leader! [*8]
Ron Paul’s ideas no longer fringe [*9] — my disagreements with Paul are tactical, not strategic . . .
Menger Explains the Origins of Money [*10] — such a simple thing, but so many people have no idea where money comes from (hint: it’s not the government) . . .

The reality of Obama and the Democrat leadership as blithering idiots:
Associated Press openly scoffs at Democrat’s “jobs bill” [*11]
Dems declare war on Rasmussen? [*12]
Good Lord: “I think it is unfair and, frankly, political to take pot shots at the president as we respond to this failure in our systems that we’ve got to get fixed.” — Sen. Claire McCaskill [*13] — but wait, it gets better . . .
Claire McCaskill 2010: It’s Unfair to Take Potshots at President… Claire McCaskill 2006: Bush Killed Black People on Rooftops [*14]
Question of the Day: What happens socially and politically if “the first black president” remains an enormous failure? [*15]
The limits of self-reference [*16]
Stimulus Cash Went to Nonexistent Zip Code Areas, Too [*17]

On spotlighting and deconstructing (and occasionally ridiculing) Liberty’s enemies–because even blithering idiots can be dangerous:
Confusing Overrepresentation with Domination [*18]
Americans Deserting Democratic Party [*19]
Race In The 21st Century – Another Inconvenient Truth [*20]
Berkeley’s Unbearable Whiteness of Science [*21]
Obama and the ‘Readjustment of Our National Life’ [*22]
Census Bureau kicks off once-a-decade head count — and they’ve even politicized counting people . . .
Fail Away. Taxpayers Pay. [*23]

Foreign affairs:
Unwelcome truths [*24]
Droning on [*25]
Iran blunders again [*26]

“Global warming” aka “Climate change” — or should that be “Climate Reform?”:
Aviation pioneer and master engineer Burt Rutan on Global Warming [*27]
Are You Now Or Have You Ever Fudged The Data? [*28]
Damn Global Warming![*29] — yeah, it is kinda funny how summer heat waves are signs that global warming is inexorable, but that nasty winter cold snaps are always somehow “just isolated weather events” . . .
Climategate: You should be steamed [*30]

Miscellany:
there’s no way to opt out of the in-your-face cycle [*31]
Preposterous products for people with more money than brains [*32]

Science, technology, and space:
2009’s Sleepy Sun Finally Woke Up in December [*33]
In the Year 2019: Five Forecasts for the Rest of the Decade [*34]

Sports:
Oakland Nips IUPUI in Clash of League Unbeatens as Part of Five-Game Saturday Schedule [*35]
No. 12 K State rolls past South Dakota 91-69 [*36]
Kansas State completes nonconference play by blowing out South Dakota [*37] — oddly enough, the report on Sioux Falls TV station KSFY implied that the Coyotes played well. Maybe they did. Made no difference . . .
So far, so good [*38] — re: SDSU basketball . . .

Media bias–and incompetence:
The MSM still doesn’t understand what being a PUMA is all about [*39]
OK… It’s True, Media “Gatekeepers” Really Are Evil! [*40]

Health care “reform” aka health insurance “reform” — or should that be health care “change?” Perhaps “Global healthing?”:
The Ministry of Wellness [*41]

Morning Whip, Jan. 3, 2010

I surf the web, so you don’t have to!

Travel:
Carl’s Cruise Capers and Travel Tips [*1] has new posts up! Again!

2009/the 2000’s In Review, year-end lists, and looking ahead to 2010:
Top Ten Conservative Movies of the Decade [*2]
2010: The Year of the Citizen [*3] — this via:
Tabitha Hale Proclaims the Year of the Citizen [*4] — wherein Stacy McCain highlights the money quote:


So how did we get here again? The short answer is that we got lazy. Quite simply, Americans don’t understand what it’s like to not be free.

Don’t Fear the 2010s [*5] — retorts Reason’s Nick Gillespie . . . actually, I suspect Gillespie would agree 100% with Hale and McCain . . .
The Year in Energy [*6]

On explaining and defending human freedom and liberty:
Value-Free Economics and Political Advocacy [*7] — which contains this Mises quote that quite effectively summarizes my critique of socialism and those, like Democrats, who advocate for it:


Socialism cannot be realized because it is beyond human power to establish it as a social system. The choice is between capitalism and chaos. A man who chooses between drinking a glass of milk and a glass of a solution of potassium cyanide does not choose between two beverages; he chooses between life and death. A society that chooses between capitalism and socialism does not choose between two social systems; it chooses between social cooperation and the disintegration of society. Socialism is not an alternative to capitalism; it is an alternative to any system under which men can live as human beings. To stress this point is the task of economics as it is the task of biology and chemistry to teach that potassium cyanide is not a nutriment but deadly poison.

A reader sends this proposed Amendment to the Constitution [*8] — Instapundit . . .

On spotlighting and deconstructing (and occasionally ridiculing) Liberty’s enemies:
Constitutional principles, practical obstacles [*9]
How to write effective letters to corporations, wealthy people, and anyone you think is terrible. [*10] — If I had an “activism” category this would go there instead . . .
Top Obama advisors: We no longer believe the 2007 NIE on Iran’s weapons program [*11] — You were played by the Democrats–again . . .
Mohammed Cartoonist attacked by Ax-Wielding Muslim [*12] . . . but at least the Democrats aren’t chopping off people’s heads–yet . . .

The reality of Obama and the Democrat leadership as blithering idiots:
The Bush “era of secrecy” is over, the Obama “era of freaking weird labyrinthine secrecy” begins [*13]
Another Drudgtaposition [*14] — I voted “We are so screwed” . . .
Obama’s Decline [*15]
Newsweek: Saudis briefed top Obama official about “underwear bombers” in October; Update: MI5 knew of bomber three years ago [*16] — This might have gone under “Foreign Affairs” but . . . sheesh . . .
It’s Official… Obama Loses More Jobs In One Year Than Any President In Modern History [*17]
Low favorables: Dems rip Rasmussen [*18] — shooting the messenger . . .
Did Bush White House Ever Go After Pollsters? [*19]
History Is Knocking for Obama [*20] — “The Democrats don’t know nothin’ ’bout history, they don’t know nothin’ ’bout jee-ography, and their total ignorance is their source of total confidence.”
When Presidents anger the CIA. Of course, the CIA ran a campaign of leaks against Bush, too. Hope they’re enjoying the result. . . . [*21] — qualifies as Blithering Idiotry, I think . . .
The Joke’s On Us [*22] — unfortunately, those Blithering Idiots are in power, for at least the next eleven months . . .

Foreign affairs:
Putin Continues to Take Advantage of Obama’s Weak Leadership [*23] — would have been in “Blithering Idiots” but unfortunately is too important . . .
Iran and disinformation [*24]
The Jihad Decade Cometh [*25]

“Global warming” aka “Climate change” — or should that be “Climate Reform?”:
Heavy snow brings Beijing to standstill [*26] — say it together: “It’s not climate, it’s just weather!”

The Economy:
Holding government to the same standard as business [*27] — if I had a “general hypocrisy” section this would go there instead . . .
‘The U.S. has no way of avoiding a financial Armageddon’ [*28] — shorter: We Are So Screwed . . .

Miscellany:
10 Ways to Flirt with a Nerd [*29]
An author’s minimalist home of the future [*30] — Heinlein’s home . . .
New ag dean glad to be back at SDSU [*31]
The Way You Wear Your Hat – Listen Up, Hollywood, It’s Important [*32]

SF and Writing:
6 ‘Brilliant’ Movie Scientists (Who Suck At Their Job) [*33]
A Preview of the New Doctor [*34]

Science, technology, and space:
Uranium Is So Last Century — Enter Thorium, the New Green Nuke [*35]
Stephen Hawking: “Why Isn’t the Milky Way Crawling With Mechanical or Biological Life? [*36]

Sports:
Jackrabbits score in bunches to down Centenary [*37]
No. 1 Kansas stays perfect, beats No. 18 Temple [*38]
It’s time to end the charade of athletes as role models [*39] — occasionally, Whitlock careens into a good idea . . .
UMKC defeats Southern Utah 53-50 [*40]
Kansas shows why it’s No. 1 in crushing No. 18 Temple [*41] — the home town paper (well, Kansas City, but close enough) . . .
Jacks hammer Gents in Lamb Bonanza [*42]
SDSU overpowers Gents [*43] — the home town paper (well, Sioux Falls, but close enough) . . .
SDSU routs Centenary [*44] — the home town paper (well, Sioux Falls, but close enough) . . .

Morning Whip, Jan. 2, 2010

I surf the web, so you don’t have to!

Travel:
Captain Underpants and the Illusion of Security [*1] — “Here is what any moron can see as plain as day: our $40 billion dollar post-9/11 airline security net is a total joke – a White Elephant of epic (and potentially tragic) proportions.”
Armed TSA Agents Threaten Travel Journalist [*2]
TSA drops subpoenas issued to bloggers who published security directive (UPDATED) [*3]
Carl’s Cruise Capers and Travel Tips [*4] has new posts up!
Top 10 Ways to Stay Healthy on a Cruise [*5]
Airport pat-downs often ineffective security stop [*6] — I think you can make that “Airport security often ineffective,” actually . . .

2009/the 2000’s In Review, and year-end lists:
Best of the year – the Boob Czar [*7]
A New Year’s resolution: Don’t accept US decline [*8]
A welcome report from the Chief Justice [*9] — a very small pat on the head for the country’s head judge . . .

On explaining and defending human freedom and liberty:
Comes the Revolution… [*10]
Six Straight Weeks at #1 for Going Rogue on the NY Times Best-Seller List for Hardcover Non-Fiction [*11]

On spotlighting and deconstructing (and occasionally ridiculing) Liberty’s enemies:
“I hope he dies.” [*12] — “The people calling for Rush Limbaugh to die are the same people who ask to control your healthcare.”
Come Back With a Warrant doormat [*13]
Executive Order: International Police Granted Full Immunity in US and Not Subject to FOIA Requests [*14]
A question that should have been answered correctly [*15] — “The problems for Erroll Southers — Obama’s nominee to head the Transportation Secruity Administration — aren’t confined to his unwillingness to answer in clear fashion the question of whether he would support collective bargaining for TSA workers. The Washington Post reports that Southers did not testify truthfully to Congress about his past misconduct as an FBI agent.”
2009: The Year the Pretense Died? [*16]
“Citizen Power” [*17]
Tom Hayden: “It’s time to strip the Obama sticker off my car.” [*18]
Rush Is Fine [*19] — and many collectivists are unhappy about that, I’m sure . . .
The Two Wings Of The Party [*20] — “The two wings of the Democrat Party are the Crooks and the Communists . . .”
Health Care and Our Inalienable Rights [*21]
Ironic Quote Of The Day [*22]
The Cornhusker Concussive [*23]

Foreign affairs and National Defense:
Into Thine Hand I Commit My Spirit [*24] — “Only during such times are strong men and women of greatest importance. At all other times we have Hollywood.”
China Sends Armored Vehicles to Iran to Fight Freedom Protesters [*25]
Hundreds of cars torched in France at New Year [*26]
Thousands in new year Hong Kong march for democracy [*27]
Starting the New Year with a Bang [*28]
Dad’s Advice [*29]
Pop Quiz Mr. President: Why Did You Fail? [*30]
Obama ties failed plane attack to al Qaeda [*31]

“Global warming” aka “Climate change” — or should that be “Climate Reform?”:
It Didn’t Start With Climategate [*32] — “. . .the Kyoto protocol was based on fictitious science, exaggerated or fabricated outright for political purposes. . .”
Record cold weather roundup – hundreds of new cold and snow records set in the last week [*33]
The Met Office getting a clue? – “one of the coldest winter in 100 years” [*34]

The Economy:
What Americans might face next: inflation [*35]
As college costs rise, loans become harder to get [*36]
Economic Rebound? What Economic Rebound? [*37]

Health care “change” (called by some “reform”):
Self-Inflicted Health Care Costs [*38]
“VIP” Treatment Under Nationalized Health Care [*39] — “National health care works great… so long as you’re rich enough to afford the premium level of government insurance and to buy multiple additional private policies; so long as you have influential relatives; and so long as you’re willing and able to brazenly bribe the doctors and bureaucrats who run the system.”

Miscellany:
Rush’s Press Conference from Hawaii [*40] (video at link) — Cliff notes: he’s fine.
Fox, Time Warner Cable announce broadcast deal [*41]

SF and Writing:
Goodbye, Doctor Who: David Tennant’s exit interview [*42]
Ways to Trash Your Writing Career: The Wall of Books [*43]
I Have Seen The Future—and It Ain’t Got a Lot of Dead Trees in It [*44]
Top 50 SF Signal Posts for 2009 [*45]

Science, technology, and space:
AT&T Tells FCC It’s Time to Cut the Cord [*46]

Sports:
4 Tenn. basketball players facing gun charges [*47]
UMKC begins important league stretch [*48]