Recommended Reading (And Listening)

Let them drive Buicks! The grotesque results of government-run automobile manufacturing.

Gender divide on Kennedy's ability

Texting in the fast lane becomes illegal on Thursday

Chinese Dairies Agree to Pay $160 Million to Tainted-Milk Victims

Is Oprah's Golden Touch Tarnished?

Baby, 14 pounds, born in US

Track of the Day:

"I've always wanted to make an album that acts as a bridge between the different music worlds," says Waggoner. "I tried to hold on to my classical roots, while also creating a good hook, with lyrics that listeners can relate to."

Warmongers

What do we have to show for the $3 trillion, the 4,200 Americans lives, and the 95,000 Iraqi civilians sacrificed in the Iraq war? The end of a brutal dictatorship, a brighter future in Iraq, a more secure America, and a few barrels of oil? What a terrible price to pay for such trivial things! Democracy isn't worth a single drop of blood, and if we would put up a few windmills and inflate our tires properly, we could do without Iraqi oil. Just think about how many free abortions could have been provided with the money spent killing people in Iraq.

Peace-lovers all over the world have been looking forward to the end of the Bush regime. The day has almost arrived. In a few short weeks, the warmonger-in-chief will be gone forever. But now is not the time to rest on our laurels. We must end the careers and assassinate the characters of all of his warmongering accomplices in order to put an end to their evil machinations. Here are some comments from some of Bush's bloodthirsty friends.

• "In the four years since the inspectors left, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapons stock, his missile delivery capability, and his nuclear program. He has also given aid, comfort, and sanctuary to terrorists, including Al Qaeda members...if left unchecked, Saddam Hussein will continue to increase his capacity to wage biological and chemical warfare, and will keep trying to develop nuclear weapons. Should he succeed in that endeavor, he could alter the political and security landscape of the Middle East, which as we know all too well affects American security." — Hillary Clinton (warmonger), October 10, 2002. We must not allow Hillary Clinton to become Secretary of State!

• "The community of nations may see more and more of the very kind of threat Iraq poses now: a rogue state with weapons of mass destruction, ready to use them or provide them to terrorists. If we fail to respond today, Saddam and all those who would follow in his footsteps will be emboldened tomorrow." — Bill Clinton (warmonger), 1998. Do not contribute to the William J. Clinton foundation or do business with anyone who does (e.g. Bill Gates, Elton John, the Government of Norway, the State of Kuwait, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, & the Alltel Corporation).
  

• "The debate over Iraq is not about politics. It is about national security. It should be clear that our national security requires Congress to send a clear message to Iraq and the world: America is united in its determination to eliminate forever the threat of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction." — John Edwards (warmonger), Oct 10, 2002. Don't let John Edwards out of the doghouse!

• "Iraq does pose a serious threat to the stability of the Persian Gulf and we should organize an international coalition to eliminate his access to weapons of mass destruction. Iraq's search for weapons of mass destruction has proven impossible to completely deter and we should assume that it will continue for as long as Saddam is in power." — Al Gore (warmonger), 2002. Boycott Al Gore's carbon credit scheme.

• "There is no doubt that Saddam Hussein's regime is a serious danger, that he is a tyrant, and that his pursuit of lethal weapons of mass destruction cannot be tolerated. He must be disarmed." — Ted Kennedy (warmonger), Sept 27, 2002. Just say no to Ted Kennedy (and Caroline for that matter).

• "As a member of the House Intelligence Committee, I am keenly aware that the proliferation of chemical and biological weapons is an issue of grave importance to all nations. Saddam Hussein has been engaged in the development of weapons of mass destruction technology which is a threat to countries in the region and he has made a mockery of the weapons inspection process." — Nancy Pelosi (warmonger), December 16, 1998. The speaker of the House must go!
  

More

Miracle: My angry comment was posted on Chrysler's blog. Looks like I'm not the only one.

Time to let John Edwards out of the doghouse? I don't think so.

Rich people apparently love Bill Clinton.

If The Bush Administration Lied About WMD, So Did These People

Sen. Reid in Uphill Re-Election Bid.

Russian Professor Predicts End of U.S.

Obama's Failure

To brace ourselves for the next four to eight years of executive failure, it might be helpful to ask the following question: Which Democratic presidency will Obama's presidency most resemble?  Will Obama be like FDR, bringing unprecedented growth of government and seven years of economic hardship?  Will Obama be more like Jimmy Carter, marching into Washington on grand promises of change, only to get fired after four years of abject failure?  Or will Obama be like Bill Clinton and subject us to an endless parade of scandals?

More

• Arrogant Conceit: I don't think there's much hope for people who can read this article and still support Obama.

• Outrage:  Irresponsible British Channel 4 allowed Ahmadinejad to deliver a hypocritical Christmas message.  "If Christ were on earth today, undoubtedly He would hoist the banner of justice and love for humanity to oppose warmongers, occupiers, terrorists and bullies the world over."

• FDR's policies prolonged Depression by seven years, UCLA economists calculate

• Brace Yourself: Another Great Depression?

• Good news: Blagojevich's Lawyer Wants Obama Staff Subpoenaed

• Viagra helps CIA Win Friends in Afghanistan

• Amazing Photographs.  A Review of 2008...part 2, part 3.

Online Surveys & Market Research

Merry Christmas!

The Meaning of Christmas...

@ Yahoo! Video

Recommended Christmas Music 

Brand New

1. Winter Wonderland - Kate Havnevik
   
2. Why Can't It Be Christmastime All Year - Rosie Thomas 
   
3. Angels We Have Heard On High - Sixpence None The Richer
   
4. Mistletoe - Colbie Caillat
   

5. Silent Night - Priscilla Ahn

Vintage Christmas

1. The Christmas Song - Nat King Cole
   
2. Cool Yule - Louis Armstrong
   
3. There's Frost on the Moon - Artie Shaw
   
4. Christmas Swing - Django Reinhardt
   
5. Looks Like a Cold Cold Winter - Bing Crosby
   
6. What Child Is This - Vince Guaraldi
   
7. Christmas is Coming - Vince Guaraldi
   
8. Greensleeves - Vince Guaraldi
   
9. The Christmas Song - Vince Guaraldi
   
10. Skating - Vince Guaraldi Trio 
    
11. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Ella Fitzgerald
    
12. I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm - Billie Holiday
    
13. O Tannenbaum - Vince Guaraldi

Fresh

1. Wonderful Christmastime - Jars of Clay 
   
2. Carol of The Bells - The Bird and the Bee 
   
3. Hibernation Day - Jars Of Clay
   
4. Put the Lights on the Tree - Sufjan Stevens 
   
5. Once in Royal David's City - Sufjan Stevens 
   
6. Only at Christmas Time - Sufjan Stevens 
   
7. O Little Town Of Bethlehem - Jars Of Clay 
   
8. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Jazz Piano Christmas Album 
   
9. Gabriel's Message - Jars Of Clay 
   

Remixed Classics

1. Happy Holidays - Bing Crosby (Beef Wellington Remix)
   
2. Linus & Lucy - Vince Guaraldi (Pocketknife's Hark the Holler Remix)
   
3. Christmas Time Is Here - Vince Guaraldi Trio (Markus Enochsonremix) 
   
4. All I Want for Christmas - Nat King Cole (MJ Cole remix)
   
5. Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town - Johnny Mercer (Q-Burns Abstract Message Remix) 
   
6. I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm - Les Brown & His Band Of Renown (Psapp's Lady Remix)
   
7. Sleigh Ride - Ella Fitzgerald (The Latin Project remix)
   
8. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer Mambo - Billy May (Malibu Remix)
9. Good Morning Blues - Count Basie & His Orchestra (The Real Tuesday Weld Clerkenwell Remix)
   

High Energy

1. Carol Of The Bells - Cali
   
2. Sleigh Ride - Reliant K
   
3. O Holy Night - Rebecca St. James 
   

Melancholy

1. Merry Christmas, Here's to Many More - Reliant K
   
2. Boxing Day - Relient K
   
3. Blue Christmas - Miles Davis
   
4. Green Christmas - Barenaked Ladies
   
5. It Doesn't Often Snow At Christmas - Pet Shop Boys
   
6. I'll Be Home For Christmas - Sarah McLachlan
   

Off the Beaten Path

1. Get Behind Me Santa! - Sufjan Stevens
   
2. Away in a Manger - Shawn Lee's Ping Pong Orchestra
   
3. Jupiter Winter - Sufjan Stevens
   
4. The Winter Song - Au Revoir Simone
   
5. The Winter Solstice - Sufjan Stevens
   
6. Gary The Green Nosed Reindeer - MC Lars
   

80s Christmas

1. Last Christmas - Wham 
   
2. Christmas Wrapping - The Waitresses 
   
3. Do They Know It's Christmas? - Band Aid
   

Assortment

1. What Child Is This - Kemper Crabb
   
2. O Come O Come Emmanuel - Sufjan Stevens
   
3. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! - Michael Franks
   
4. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear - Sixpence None The Richer
   
5. O Come O Come Emmanuel - Nicole C. Mullen
   
6. Ukrainian Carol - Spencer Brewer
   
7. Faeries - Manheim Steamroller
   
8. Ding Dong - Sufjan Stevens
   
9. Winter Wonderland - Jason Mraz
   
10. Frosty The Snowman - Fiona Apple

Albums

1. Christmas Songs - Jars of Clay
   
2. A Charlie Brown Christmas - Vince Guaraldi Trio
   
3. The Hotel Cafe Presents: Winter Songs 
   
4. Merry Mixmas
   
5. Holiday Lounge - The Christmas Remixes
6. Songs for Christmas - Sufjan Stevens
   

Readers' Recommendations

1. Christmas Canon Rock - Trans-Siberian Orchestra
   
2. O Holy Night - Mario Lanza
   
3. Holly Jolly Christmas - Burl Ives
   

Free Christmas music mp3s. Download now, thank me later.

For the links that take you to Amazon: it's self explanatory. For the links that take you to Audio Muffin or Indie Rock Cafe: download songs by following the links, then right clicking on the song titles when you get to the next page, then clicking on "save target as" or "save link as."

1. Angels We Have Heard On High Sixpence None The Richer (2008)
   
2. Love Came Down At Christmas - Jars Of Clay (2007)
   
3. Carol of the Bells – The Bird and the Bee (2007)
   
4. Winter Wonderland - Kate Havnevik (2008)
   
5. Mistletoe - Colbie Caillat (2008)
   
6. Last Christmas - Leigh Nash (2008)
   
7. Medley - Bela Fleck & The Flecktones (2007)
   
8. O Tannenbaum - Trio West (2007)
   
9. Why Can't It Be Christmastime All Year - Rosie Thomas (2008)
   
10. Joy to the World - Sufjan Stevens (2006)
    
11. Elf's Lament - Barenaked Ladies (2004)
    
12. O Come All Ye Faithful - Lisbeth Scott (2008)
    
13. Good Morning Blues - Count Basie & His Orchestra, The Real Tuesday WeldClerkenwell Remix (2008)
    
14. The Gift Of Sacrifice - Maren Ord (2008)
    
15. White Christmas - Jason Castro (2008)
    
16. Angels We Have Heard On High - Brian Setzer (2008)
    
17. O'Carolan's/Welcome Christmas - Alison Brown Quartet with Joe Craven (2008)
    
18. Christmas Eyes (vocal) - Bob & Hilary James (2008)
    
19. Joy To The World - Symphony Brass of Chicago (1994)
    
20. Christ Is Come - Big Daddy Weave (2005)
    
21. Our December - Thriving Ivory (2008)
    
22. I Saw Three Ships - Dan Fogelberg (1999)
    
23. Silent Night - David Phelps (2008)
    
24. Lady December - The Sweptaways (2007)
    
25. What Child Is This? - Barlowgirl (2008)
    
26. Mele Kalikimaka – Asylum Street Spankers (2001)
    
27. Winter Wonderland - Liz Phair (2003)
    

Do you have any recommendations?

The Solution to All of Our Problems

Our leftist friends have made a compelling case, and I am now convinced that laissez faire economics are the source of most of our financial problems.  So I have a brilliant idea. Since free-market capitalism has been unequivocally proven to be the source of our economic woes, let's introduce new government regulations. The more the merrier. And to introduce these regulations, let's not call in a bunch of economist.  Let's put a few hundred smooth-talking lawyers in charge. We will call these demagogues "congressmen" and "senators." 

We should choose individuals who inspire a great deal of confidence.  Given the importance of the American economy to everyone who lives on this planet, we will need to assemble the most ethical, competent, farsighted, smart and sensible group of people the world has ever seen.  If we are judicious, perhaps we can put together a group that will have a very high approval rating, perhaps around 9%.

These lawyers will draw from their vast business experience and will apply their profound wisdom to all of our perplexing challenges, and will give us the best economic system their legal minds can come up with.  In the process, they will concentrate power in Washington, cater to special interest groups, and pander to the lowest common denominator.  

Doesn't this sound like a recipe for success?  I knew you would agree.

More

• Honest man goes the extra mile.  Government fines man $650 for his honesty...and threatens him with criminal charges.  Let's put Government in charge of everything!

• The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of likely voters found that only nine percent (9%) give Congress good or excellent ratings.

• Chrysler wants to thank you for your involuntary contribution to the bailout.  Chrysler spent $100,000 on a full-page ad in USA Today to tell you how happy they are to have your money.  Tell them what you think on Chrysler's blog.  "Hey Chrysler:  You're not welcome!  Now is not the time for a 'thank you'.  Now is the time for a refund...and an apology."  My comment "has been saved and is pending moderation."  Think it will ever see the light of day?

• Barack Obama is considering abandoning laser-based airborne anti-missile defense.  Obama is an idiot. He is Soros' lapdog, and Soros longs for a weakened America. The 52% of voters who voted for Obama should be ashamed. I am incensed.

• Canada, are you crazy?  Canada offers $3.29 billion auto bailout.  Hey Canada, do you have anything left over to help us out with an anti-missile defense system?

Fascinating vintage cartoon...the secret of American prosperity.

Pay your income tax gladly and proudly!

Leftist Propaganda

Greed in America

There's been a lot of discussion about greed and corruption in America, particularly as it relates to current economic turmoil.  The corporate world is a favorite scapegoat.  Are corporations the most destructive element of greed in our society?  Consider the following:

• Corporations control millions, and in some cases, billions of dollars of wealth.
  
• The U.S. Federal Government makes decisions involving hundreds of billions, sometimes trillions of dollars of wealth.
  
• Corporations depend on voluntary transactions.
  
• The Federal Government confiscates wealth by force.
  
• Corporations are generally expected to provide some kind of product or service for the money they acquire.
  
• Federal officials can do whatever they want with your money.
  
• Corporations held accountable by their stockholders, customers, and in some cases by Congress. They must take these pressures into account on a continuous basis.  If a corporation fails to balance these competing pressures, it faces extinction.  Corruption is swiftly punished.
  
• Federal officials are held accountable by their constituents, but voters are lazy and apathetic.  Elections come along periodically, but voter turnout is generally very low.  In contrast, special interest groups and lobbyists are motivated, organized and energetic.  Corruption is therefore practically guaranteed. 
  
• When greed and corruption suck the life out of a corporation, thousands of lives may be adversely affected.
  
• Greed and corruption in the Federal Government have the potential to drag the entire world into a global economic depression.
  

Looking for the most destructive element of greed and corruption in the world?  Look no further than the Federal Government of the United States of America.

More

Is the honeymoon already over?  Barney Frank (D-Mass) is angry with Obama for choosing Rick Warren to give the inauguration invocation.  He also says that Obama overestimates ability to charm people.  "...The current Republican leadership in the House repudiated George Bush. I don't know why Mr. Obama thinks he's going to have them better than George Bush."

Spain's Gordo Lottery Prize: $3 Billion

Israeli archaeologists find rare gold coins

Meet Mr. Greedy