AMF: MiG-29s and iPod Taxes
Hey folks. I was in slightly - slightly - better spirits last night, so here's a regular post.
Russia will give the Lebanese government ten MiG-29 fighter planes as a gift. (Fox, Guardian, BBC, AFP) Here's the thing: Algeria returned fifteen MiG-29s to Russia back in February due to quality control issues. Russia is really starting to become a strategic problem, and not just for us. Speaking of strategic rivals, the Chinese government appears poised to send ships to fight Somali pirates(!). (CNN, BBC, Guardian)
David Paterson, the dude who took over as governor of New York from Elliott Spitzer when the latter was caught whoring, is instituting a four percent tax on music downloads, as well as electronic books, sodas, "taxi rides, petrol, cigars and beer, manicures and massages, and tickets to cinemas and sports arenas." (Guardian, Times) Seriously? Four percent on music downloads (which are interstate trade, so I'm not even sure that's legal) and eighteen percent on sodas? Here's a thought: cut your budget, asshole. This is why you don't elect Democrats to anything. It's a proven historical fact that when you lower taxes, productivity increases, and so does tax revenue. By raising taxes to fill a budget shortfall from the decline in income among Wall Street folks, Paterson is pretty much certain to prolong New York's budget woes. Unbelievable.
There's a Times of London article claiming that Barack Obama is the fittest president-elect in American history. The fittest president-elect in American history? Really? And do they have anything to base that on? Twenty bucks says that President Bush, who works out and isn't a chain smoker, could beat the living daylights out of Barack Obama. Hell, even Bill Clinton didn't smoke. I have a feeling this whole media infatuation with Obama thing is going to get really, really tedious - especially since I read British news sources, they have literally no concept of America or American history, they have a massive chubby for Barack Obama, and they haven't had journalistic standards since Oliver Cromwell beat all those people senseless with an old .303 Lee Enfield rifle.
There are a couple of decent stories from UPI today. First, Bahrain has apparently proposed a massive Middle Eastern body for the purpose of resolving disputes. It's a really cool gesture, for one simple reason: it refrains from excluding Israel. That, friends, is a big deal. Meanwhile, there's another article that suggests what many have been suggesting lately: that Mahmoud Ahmedinejad probably won't get re-elected in 2009. That, friends, is a very good thing, as his figurehead presidency has been a complete and total joke, and a disaster for Iranian foreign policy and economic development - the Iranian people don't deserve to suffer like they're suffering, even if they're leaders are complete and total wankers.
I've talked once or twice about how entertaining it is to me that YouTube users will copy the original ideas of other YouTube users. I've mentioned HotforWords on several occasions. Well, another channel, Psyche Truth, is trying to usurp the Russian wonder's role as the leading word origin hottie on YouTube. Observe.
Unfortunately, while she's hot and doesn't have the semi-troublesome, semi-adorable accent, this girl obviously isn't a philologist like Marina is - as evidenced by her incorrect etymology of the world "vulgar." Too bad. I'll keep watching the vids, though - possibly on mute.
On the lighter side, I ran across XKCD #433 today - I guarantee you that someday, if I find a woman, land mines and crazy will almost certainly be involved. And the most truly ridiculous item of the day? Eddie Murphy as the Riddler. Read on:
Well, so much for that franchise. Of course, they said that Seal was going to be in Casino Royale, and that never happened. Also, how would they have a "cliffhanger" in which Batman's very existence was in question? I mean, come on, he's the franchise. That's the most transparent plotline I've ever heard of. That would be like making Spice World 2, and leaving it up to the viewers' imagination whether it would even star the Spice Girls. Ridiculous. I'd be willing to bet twenty bucks - the twenty bucks that I'll be winning from someone over the Bush/Obama slug fest - that half the crap in that article is unsubstantiated crap. This Nolan guy seems to have learned from the mistakes of the recent Batman movies, and I have a very hard time seeing him pack Robin (Played by Shia Lebeouf? Good grief!), Catwoman (I'm sorry, Rachel Weisz is lovely, but she's no Catwoman), and the Riddler (Eddie Murphy? EDDIE MURPHY!?!) into a single film. Anyway, I guess we'll see.
Alright, that's it for today. Finally, a real post. And it's AMF! I just realized that! Have a great weekend! Let's hope that next week is much better than this crap fest!
Russia will give the Lebanese government ten MiG-29 fighter planes as a gift. (Fox, Guardian, BBC, AFP) Here's the thing: Algeria returned fifteen MiG-29s to Russia back in February due to quality control issues. Russia is really starting to become a strategic problem, and not just for us. Speaking of strategic rivals, the Chinese government appears poised to send ships to fight Somali pirates(!). (CNN, BBC, Guardian)
David Paterson, the dude who took over as governor of New York from Elliott Spitzer when the latter was caught whoring, is instituting a four percent tax on music downloads, as well as electronic books, sodas, "taxi rides, petrol, cigars and beer, manicures and massages, and tickets to cinemas and sports arenas." (Guardian, Times) Seriously? Four percent on music downloads (which are interstate trade, so I'm not even sure that's legal) and eighteen percent on sodas? Here's a thought: cut your budget, asshole. This is why you don't elect Democrats to anything. It's a proven historical fact that when you lower taxes, productivity increases, and so does tax revenue. By raising taxes to fill a budget shortfall from the decline in income among Wall Street folks, Paterson is pretty much certain to prolong New York's budget woes. Unbelievable.
There's a Times of London article claiming that Barack Obama is the fittest president-elect in American history. The fittest president-elect in American history? Really? And do they have anything to base that on? Twenty bucks says that President Bush, who works out and isn't a chain smoker, could beat the living daylights out of Barack Obama. Hell, even Bill Clinton didn't smoke. I have a feeling this whole media infatuation with Obama thing is going to get really, really tedious - especially since I read British news sources, they have literally no concept of America or American history, they have a massive chubby for Barack Obama, and they haven't had journalistic standards since Oliver Cromwell beat all those people senseless with an old .303 Lee Enfield rifle.
There are a couple of decent stories from UPI today. First, Bahrain has apparently proposed a massive Middle Eastern body for the purpose of resolving disputes. It's a really cool gesture, for one simple reason: it refrains from excluding Israel. That, friends, is a big deal. Meanwhile, there's another article that suggests what many have been suggesting lately: that Mahmoud Ahmedinejad probably won't get re-elected in 2009. That, friends, is a very good thing, as his figurehead presidency has been a complete and total joke, and a disaster for Iranian foreign policy and economic development - the Iranian people don't deserve to suffer like they're suffering, even if they're leaders are complete and total wankers.
I've talked once or twice about how entertaining it is to me that YouTube users will copy the original ideas of other YouTube users. I've mentioned HotforWords on several occasions. Well, another channel, Psyche Truth, is trying to usurp the Russian wonder's role as the leading word origin hottie on YouTube. Observe.
Unfortunately, while she's hot and doesn't have the semi-troublesome, semi-adorable accent, this girl obviously isn't a philologist like Marina is - as evidenced by her incorrect etymology of the world "vulgar." Too bad. I'll keep watching the vids, though - possibly on mute.
On the lighter side, I ran across XKCD #433 today - I guarantee you that someday, if I find a woman, land mines and crazy will almost certainly be involved. And the most truly ridiculous item of the day? Eddie Murphy as the Riddler. Read on:
FUNNYMAN EDDIE MURPHY will play The Riddler in the next Batman movie, The Sun can reveal.
The Beverly Hills Cop star, 47, has been signed up by British director CHRISTOPHER NOLAN to reprise the role played by JIM CARREY in 1995’s Batman Forever.
The surprise move follows speculation linking Pirates of the Caribbean star JOHNNY DEPP to the part.
The film, set for a 2010 release, is being developed under the working title Gotham.
Execs have also signed up rising Transformers star SHIA LABEOUF, 22, to play Robin.
CHRISTIAN BALE will return as Bruce Wayne, while MICHAEL CAINE will again play Bruce’s assistant Alfred.
Meanwhile, Brit RACHEL WEISZ is said to be up for the Catwoman role.
Insiders also revealed to The Sun the flick will end on a cliffhanger over whether Batman survives a blast at Wayne Towers.
Well, so much for that franchise. Of course, they said that Seal was going to be in Casino Royale, and that never happened. Also, how would they have a "cliffhanger" in which Batman's very existence was in question? I mean, come on, he's the franchise. That's the most transparent plotline I've ever heard of. That would be like making Spice World 2, and leaving it up to the viewers' imagination whether it would even star the Spice Girls. Ridiculous. I'd be willing to bet twenty bucks - the twenty bucks that I'll be winning from someone over the Bush/Obama slug fest - that half the crap in that article is unsubstantiated crap. This Nolan guy seems to have learned from the mistakes of the recent Batman movies, and I have a very hard time seeing him pack Robin (Played by Shia Lebeouf? Good grief!), Catwoman (I'm sorry, Rachel Weisz is lovely, but she's no Catwoman), and the Riddler (Eddie Murphy? EDDIE MURPHY!?!) into a single film. Anyway, I guess we'll see.
Alright, that's it for today. Finally, a real post. And it's AMF! I just realized that! Have a great weekend! Let's hope that next week is much better than this crap fest!
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