JawsBlog

Happy New Year to all!

CappyZIP 001
Originally uploaded by joshwiz.

Still in time for Channukah, it’s everyone’s favorite (and cutest) Zionist Infidel Pig–Cappuccino!

He’s posing with blocks that in Hebrew say “Peeig” (transliterated)

Happy Hannukah and New Years to all!

Over at the HuffPo, Thomas de Zengotita has a post up A Book We Need to Think About for the New Year

The book: Expert Political Judgment : How Good is It? How Can We Know?

And from the sounds of it, the thesis is that the common man is better at making predictions about what will happen than “experts”

What would we do without “experts”? eh?

Don’t expect any sort of “year in review” post from me. Besides the fact that I’m too lazy to rehash the last year in total, so many others do it, so I figure why try and recreate what’s already out there.

Nonetheless, one thought that constantly comes to mind about the year in reveiw posts–I’m often suprised to realize , “hey that was this past year? It felt like it was much longer ago”…

Anyone else ever felt that way?

BBC: 100 things we didn’t know this time last year

I’ve yet to go through the whole list and decide my favorites

“I’ve got dreadlocks, so of course I smoke weed…which I noted on the form”–patient in the office today

(No, I’m not talking about my social life–that’s another issue)

Today marks two years since I attended my first Weight Watchers meeting…

Since that time, over fifty pounds of me have dissapeared and well, stayed gone.

smirk

World Champion Liar Crowned in Wisconsin

From Debka’s Headlines:

The Middle East Quartet called on the Palestinian Authority to close future post-election government to groups refusing to recognize Israel

(Link to articles at Google News)

Let’s see, Abbas/Fatah don’t seem to recognize Israel, nor do Hamas and PIJ…

So who would even be eligible to run in an election with such conditions?

From Debka’s Headlines:

The Middle East Quartet called on the Palestinian Authority to close future post-election government to groups refusing to recognize Israel

(Link to articles at Google News)

Let’s see, Abbas/Fatah don’t seem to recognize Israel, nor do Hamas and PIJ…

So who would even be eligible to run in an election with such conditions?

Whither Wonder Bread? (slashfood)

The other ‘Munich’: Israeli spies tell their side

Related: This Dry Bones comic

Now if someone would tell the real story, I’d really go see that movie–multiple times!

Deportation Ordered for Accused Nazi Camp Guard

Anyone got any good suggestions for a durable yet inexpensive umbrella?

I’ve had two umbrellas cave into the pressue of the wind and heavy rain here in the city. I’d like to get something compact and sturdy

U.N. Says No Need for a Re-Vote in Iraq

But where is the world’s “official election monitor” Jiimy Carter in all this?

I’m heading up to Westchester County tomorrow for the day… A field trip of sorts

An interesting post over at Buckeye Politics: “Republican - the new ‘liberal’“?

Now it’s one thing to disguise oneself as a Libertarian if you know that you’re in a heavily Democrat environment, where the mere mention of the word “Republican” would instantly whip the crowd into a frenzy (Sort of like being a Yankees fan in a Boston bar)/

But in all seriousness, I think Tim has a point; many are ashamed to admit that they may be Republicans.

Disclaimer: I’m registered in NY State as a Republican; that being said, I’m not a card-carrying member of the GOP; nor have I given a penny to the National or State GOP.

In identifying myself as a Republican, I think of myself as a small-government conservative; more like Reagan’s beliefs. As for social issues, as I’ve said before, I’ve not really formed much of an opinion about them–and in that, I’m more of an “ambivilitarian” (yes, I made that term up, but you get the idea).

I think it’s safe to say that there’s a lot of dissapointment amongst the rank and file of the GOP with the way the Party’s Leadership in DC (read as the President and Congress) have been leading the country–going against the principles of what the grassroots see as the basics of the Republican party–that is for example the abandonment of ideas like limited gov’t.

As a result, many self-identified Republicans feel embarassed to be associated with the direction that the official “Party” seems to have taken–in as much, we’re reluctant to admit our political affiliations.

I’m curious to hear what others think about this

Today marks the Sister’s 21st Birthday! Unfortunately, she’s back in Cleveland right now, so the festivities here in the Big Apple will have to wait.

A shoutout to The Sister none the less

I saw this little article in the NY Post this morning: ‘No Incentive for HIV Cure’ (link goes to full AP article; no subscript required).

The fact of the matter is that this is true. It’s more likely that an AIDS vaccine will be the product of Gov’t funded research rather than the development of a pharmacutical company.

Why?

Simple–money talks

Imagine you’re the executive of a pharmacutical company, and one of your labs happens to develop an AIDS vaccine after a lot of research (which costs $$). Then think about how much it’s going to cost to run this new drug through FDA trials….(even more $$$)

Then you know when your drug hits the market there’s going to be demand for it. However, since the large majority of those suffering from AIDS live in the Third World or Developing nations, you know that activists will be clammoring for you to provide the drug to these people for way below market cost and/or free.

Now go back to your role as pharmacutical company exec–if that were the case, true you’d be lavished with praise for your discovery, but what would the effects be on your books and bottom line?

That’s one of the reasons the big companiese develop drugs that there are big markets for–like Viagra. They don’t necessarily develop drugs based on importance or medical necessity.

Tonight marks the end of a 35 year run of Monday Night Football on ABC…

Too bad that tonight’s game is a total yawner (Patriots vs. Jets) as it’s not the kind of note MNF should be going out on.

It’s strange to entertain the idea of monday nights sans MNF…eerie