Increase the debt limit or this guy gets it!

Painting The Mice

I had a chance to discuss "climategate" or "stolen-email-gate" as Barbara Boxer prefers to call it with a colleague today at lunch. He didn't think it was too big a deal, and expressed a belief that the behaviors described in the emails were not exceptional, nor evidence of any misconduct. I challenged him on that point, and reminded him of the case of William Summerlin, in the 1970's. Summerlin was a researcher at the Sloan-Kettering Institute who claimed to have solved the allograft rejection problem, which, if true, would have likely won him a Nobel Prize in Medicine. Unfortunately, others were not able to replicate his results. When his boss asked him to show his data, Summerlin apparently painted black patches on white mice. He was caught by a whistleblower. Since that time, "painting the mice" has been a term to describe deliberately fudging scientific data.

Scientific misconduct is not common, and generally takes the form of plagiarism. Actually manipulating data to produce a fraudulent result is probably much less common. Because even the suspicion that something like that has occurred would be disastrous to a scientist's career and reputation, no reputable scientist would ever refuse to show his original data and the methods used to refine the data. No real scientist would destroy his original data, especially after questions arose. The destruction of the original data calls the entire output of the CRU into question. There have always been questions about the alarmism over this issue. The discrediting of the "hockey stick", for example. The extreme claims of Al Gore, and some of the proposals of our current government and the extreme environmentalists can now be seen to have no sound scientific basis, and will inevitably end up as the Piltdown man of this century.

Free market economy vs. government control

In 1986 I visited Cuba as a guest of the Cuban government. On one occasion, I was asked by the Minister of Tourism how they could hope to attract American tourists if the embargo were ever lifted. I gave him an honest answer, that they would have to radically improve the services available, as Americans hate to stand in line. An example I used was the ice cream stand in the park across from my hotel. It was open for about three hours each afternoon. There were three long lines of people in front of the stand. When a customer got to the front of the first line, he paid for his ice cream, and received a ticket. He then waited in the second line. When he got to the front, he turned in his ticket. He then got to stand in the line for ice cream.

I explained that in America, all three lines would be much shorter, and each employee would be scooping up ice cream and taking money. "We don't have that much ice cream" was his response. In effect, the long lines were the means of rationing a scarce commodity. I suggested to him that ice cream is profitable, and that it would be in their best interest to produce more and sell more. That is how it works in a free economy, and is exactly how it doesn't work in a socialist system. There is a lesson here for those who want government health care.

Thank you President Bush

I have many reasons to thank you for your years of service to our country. First, and most important to me, is the fact that thanks to you there have been no terrorist attacks on our soil since 9/11/01. You have shown the countries that have sponsored terrorism against the USA that they do so at their peril, and they haven't done so for seven years and two months. Now that you are leaving office, they may be emboldened to try it again. I hope not, and I pray that your successor will have the fortitude to respond appropriately.

Secondly, I thank you for the prosperity we have enjoyed under your leadership. The recent economic disaster will be blamed on you, but is clearly the result of the Democratic leadership's blocking reforms of FM/FM, and the financial ties of Dodd, Frank and Obama to those corrupt entities.

Finally, thank you for your strength, your commitment to our country, your humanity, and your decency. And thanks to Laura, also, and her support for Letters About Literature and other programs.

Update, Dec. 22, 2008

No thanks for the bailout! Still your friend,

Buck

Time to visit the Hardware Store?

Just thinking that the old toolchest might need a few more slots filled in. Never can tell when a shortage might develop. A few nails to go with the hammer isn't a bad idea. See you at the store.

Joe the doctor

I am Joe. Like Joe the Plumber, I have major differences with the Democrat candidate for President of the United States. Also, like Joe, I have things in my past that I would not necessarily want to see reported on television. That would be one of the reasons I am not running for office. The fact that that is an issue is one of the things that most concerns me about this election. The major networks are so in the bag for Obama, that he gets a total pass on everything in his past, but a citizen who asks a fair question gets "vetted" and everything embarrassing is out there in public.

Where are the questions for Obama? I'll suggest a few. Why are you hiding your actual birth certificate, your college and law school records, your thesis, and your connections with the unrepentant radicals? Here I am referring to Pelosi, Dodd, Reid and Frank, but you might answer about Ayers, Dohrn, Wright, Alinsky, Al Mansour, Klonsky, Khalidi, and Davis, as well. What is your past and current relationship with ACORN? After you give us those answers, I will have a few followup questions. While I wait, let me toss you a few softballs. What is your most significant accomplishment up until today that shows how you are qualified to serve as President? What person close to you has had the most influence on your philosophy of life? What foreign leader, present or past, do you most admire? Which foreign government has done the best job of providing health care for its citizens?

I have been providing care to injured patients without regard to race, creed, color, national origin or ability to pay, for about 43 years. I will continue to do so as long as I am able. I would not be willing or able to do so under a compulsory system of socialized medicine. Look at our current government programs, Medicare, Medicaid and Tricare. Although covering less than half of our population, they cost over half of our annual health care budget, and will have cost overruns in the trillions of dollars even if not expanded as Obama proposes to do. I believe that we need, and deserve, better than that. That is one reason why I am for McCain-Palin.

The most important reason why I am against Obama is his position on our national defense. As a patriot who volunteered to serve our country in two wars, I cannot support a candidate who has said he will ‘cut investments in unproven missile defense systems’; he will ‘not weaponize space’; he will ‘slow our development of future combat systems’; and he will also ‘not develop nuclear weapons,’ pledging to seek ‘deep cuts’ in America’s arsenal, thus unilaterally disabling its nuclear deterrent as Russia and China engage in massive military buildups, and NoKo and Iran are working on nuclear weapons. Yes, I believe that Obama would be tested within six months of his election, and that he would fail the test, to our severe loss. Think before you vote, please.

Armed Self Defense

There is a significant increase in interest in armed self defense in recent years, and now a majority of states permit it. Even after the recent Supreme Court decision, there exist a few jurisdictions that still deny citizens this right. I am still one of the bitter clingers, but you may hope that I will change. There isn't much chance of that, as I just took the course to get my concealed handgun permit. I had one a few years ago, but allowed it to expire, after moving away from the state that issued it. It is a good idea to take a refresher course every few years, as laws change from time to time, and range practice is always a good idea. Here is a link to a great introduction to the subject. I am fortunate to live in a state that permits open carry to all citizens who may lawfully possess a firearm. Only concealed carry requires a permit. I prefer to be discreet, most of the time, so I am getting the permit. When should one carry? Always, with the exception of in places where it is illegal. And most of the time you should avoid those places, because they aren't safe.

Sports Bra Bare Boobs Saves Hiker Stranded in Alps

This story tells how to motivate potential rescuers, in this case lumberjacks. The expectation of bare boobs will do it. I am going to add a bra to my emergency kit, and use it to signal for help if I am ever in a bad jam. I don't think any other article of clothing would have the same effect.