For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.
For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.
For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.
For beautiful hair, let a child run his or her fingers through it once a day.
For poise, walk with the knowledge that you'll never walk alone.
Audrey Hepburn
Pro-Liberty Thought of the Day
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| Via the Independent Institute |
Crony Robber Barons and Their Government Connections
Economic Liberty and the Oscars
I pay scant attention to the Oscars or the Grammies these days; I got tired years ago of actors and singers, whom make money mouthing the words other little-known, lower-compensated people write for them, trying to impress us with some "courageous" politically correct rant during acceptance speeches. It's been years since I've gone to the movies or listened to the radio (I have never liked rap or hip hop which seemed to dominate the top 10, and I think I finally got turned off when the cast of Glee seemed to occupy at least 6 spots on the Hot 100 with remakes). I knew enough about Matthew McConaughey to realize that his shirtless appearances a few years back got a lot of attention. I'm not trying to make light of his skills as an actor, but it's like an actress being better known for her figure than her gravitas. I didn't even read up on the nominated flicks; a recent comic bit noted few people were familiar with the nominated flicks and decided to interview people on the street bluffing outrageous imaginary details.
Still I'm always curious how Ron Howard transcended Opie Taylor, Suzanne Somers shook off her dumb blonde TV character roots to become a successful businesswoman, how Tom Hanks shook off a gimmicky TV sitcom and flicks like "Big" to score a couple big Oscars in the 1990's as well as two of my favorite romantic comedies with Meg Ryan. As soon as I watched the clip below, I immedately knew why. I do believe that it has more to do with the politically correct topic/context (hint: think of the movie "Milk" or Tom Hanks' role in "The Streets of Philadelphia"). I'm not saying that his character isn't nuanced. Nevertheless, there's an important concept in this story about a black market to work around government bureaucratic inertia in drug approvals. When you are a seriously sick, even dying man waiting for Godot as potentially effective drug may not be approved until after the disease has conquered you, there is a pro-liberty message here...
Water Wars
Alan Grayson Earns Yet Another JOTY Nomination
According to the Orlando Sentinel,
According to the petition, Lolita Grayson was preparing to take the couple's two youngest children to a play date when Alan Grayson "showed up, unannounced" and asked to speak with her inside.
After she refused, retrieved his mail and asked him to leave, Alan Grayson "then deliberately and with force pushed [Lolita Grayson] very hard against the front door, causing [her] to fall to the ground as a result," the petition states.
As she was talking to the operator, Alan Grayson told his wife, in the presence of their children, that she "would receive nothing" in their divorce and would be left "in the gutter," the petition states.
Photos filed by Lolita Grayson's attorneys with the petition show large bruises to her left leg and left shoulder.It should be noted as of the time of the story being filed, Grayson has not been charged with a crime, and he has denied the allegations. However, the allegations are consistent with his uncivil behavior in public with political opponents. It's not surprising if this same pattern of behavior manifests itself in personal relationships. I don't doubt there are 2 sides to every story (I'm sure that his wife knows how to pull Alan's all-too-short chain, among other things), but petty gripes like "she started it!" are childish. I would never, ever bad-mouth the hypothetical mother of our children in front of them, and in the past I've had to deal with some utterly obnoxious women without losing my self-control.
Facebook Corner
(Ron Paul). When there are calls to regulate Bitcoin... http://bit.ly/1ld73ig
lol, Ron is the Man! Actually, they have devalued the dollar almost 95% since the early 1900's
and inflation never happened before that?
Oh, my God! Anyone who has studied anything about US monetary history knows that the currency was remarkably stable under the convertible gold/silver standard, cycling from minor inflation and deflation periods. During 20th century war times and the Depression , countries went off a sound money standard. After WWII, the US remained in theory on a gold standard with other currencies pegged to the dollar until with high deficits and runs on American gold reserve (fears the Fed would print money to cover deficits), Nixon abandoned the gold standard, which exacerbated the dollar's decline in purchasing power... Yes, the decline in purchasing power over the Fed's century is not a matter of conjecture, but a scientific observation.
Even if that were so, a lower USD means exports in a global economy. I don't want a strong USD. I want a balanced one.
"I want a balanced dollar, not a strong one." What economic illiteracy! First of all, "beggar thy neighbor" is not a viable option: it's a lose-lose proposition. Our trading partners don't want to subsidize our economy at their own expense. Not to mention a weak dollar lowers our standard of living, increases our costs of goods sold and puts our assets on fire sales. As the de facto world's reserve currency, other countries have to buy/hold dollars; as our dollar depreciates, so do existing foreign investments in American currency and other assets, including corresponding losses on reserves.
Political Humor
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| Courtesy of the Onion |
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| Courtesy of the original artist and Illinois Policy Intitute |
Exile, "Kiss You All Over"
