Spending Is The RESULT Of Economic Growth

This is a critical point that many seem to miss. We can not grow the economy by consuming more, we are able to consume more because the economy grows. We can not spend (or tax) our way to prosperity. [see Book Review: How An Economy Grows and Why It Crashes by Peter Schiff]

Ms. Hiwa Alaghebandian is a very bright young lady.



Related l.inks:
YouTube - The Onerous Compliance Cost of the Internal Revenue Code
Book Review: How An Economy Grows and Why It Crashes by Peter Schiff

When You See Trumka and Locke Together ...

What lesson can you learn from this? When you see AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka and Commerce Secretary Gary Locke together and all chatty, you can be confident that the American consumer is likely getting scr*wed. (pic via WSJ/Getty)

Another little tidbit. A true free-trade agreement would fit on an index card. It could say something like:

"All trade between these two nations will be free of any tariffs, taxes, or restrictions of any kind."

That's literally a real free-trade agreement. When you see these so-called free-trade agreements that are hundreds of pages long, they are the antithesis of free-trade. They are full of special privileges, rules, kick-backs, exceptions, and payouts.

Obama's Trade Contortions - WSJ.com: "Why, besides the Democratic Party's loyalties to the AFL-CIO, is the president not pushing the U.S. free trade agreement with Colombia? In an interview on CNBC's Squawk Box from the Americas Competitiveness Forum in Atlanta two weeks ago, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke was asked if he found it awkward to face the attending Colombians, who have been waiting since 2008 for ratification of their free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States. "Actually," Mr. Locke declared, "there are a lot of intense negotiations going on as we speak, and I've been meeting with some of the ministers and representatives of the government of Colombia here." That was news to my Colombian sources familiar with what happened. They told me that there were no such "intense negotiations." "

Should We Extend Unemployment Benefits?

First, let's look at the question of whether or not unemployment "insurance" shoul exist at the federal level.

1. Is the program Constitutional?
=> I don't believe so, I find nothing the Constitution that permits the program's existence.

2. Is it moral?
=> I say no. In fact I find the policy immoral for two reasons. First, it forces people at gunpoint to participate in something they may not want to participate in. Second, as I believe the overall economic effect to be harmful, it harms the prosperity of all.

3. Is it sound economic policy?
=> Again, no. There is no need to stimulate demand or prime the pump. It's important to understand that we are not prosperous because we consume. We are able to consume because we are prosperous. This point can not be overstated.

For more info, read How An Economy Grows and Why It Crashes by Peter Schiff, in addition to the column linked below.

A final word on this: The best way to get more of anything (unemployment is no exception), be it good or bad, is to reward it. And there's no better reward than a "free" check every couple of weeks.

Paying the Unemployed Does Not Stimulate an Economy - Ideas On Liberty: "Many in Congress as well as the President and some of his economic advisers have argued that extending the period for paying the unemployed will stimulate the U.S. economy out of its sluggish performance. Would any of them consider as valid an argument that giving money out of their own pockets to an unemployed member of their household would promote the financial prosperity of that household? Would they not correctly see such financial contribution as merely a transfer within the household? Would they also not be eager to nudge the unemployed to get up quickly and find a job?"

Additional links:
Unemployment Insurance Doesn’t Work - John Stossel
Safety Net Becomes a Hammock - John Stossel
What's The Best Way To Get More Of Something?
Econ 101: Unemployment Insurance Promotes Unemployment

Today's Quotes: Rand, NY Times, & More

Search the Constitution and you will find no power granted to the legislative branch to make laws governing agriculture, housing, medicine, energy, private ownership or weapons, and a great deal more.
-- John F. McManus

When men get in the habit of helping themselves
to the property of others, they cannot be easily cured of it.
-- New York Times
Source: 1909, commenting on the proposed 16th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

America's abundance was created not by public sacrifices to "the common good," but by the productive genius of free men who pursued their own personal interests and the making of their own private fortunes. They did not starve the people to pay for America's industrialization. They gave the people better jobs, higher wages and cheaper goods with every new machine they invented, with every scientific discovery or technological advance -- and thus the whole country was moving forward and profiting, not suffering, every step of the way.
-- Ayn Rand

Contrary to the Marxists, the Nazis did not advocate public ownership of the means of production. They did demand that the government oversee and run the nation’s economy. The issue of legal ownership, they explained, is secondary; what counts is the issue of control. Private citizens, therefore, may continue to hold titles to property—so long as the state reserves to itself the unqualified right to regulate the use of their property.
-- Leonard Peikoff

Sign Of The Times: Bugatti Veyron Edition

This is pretty amazing when you consider how few were made. What, maybe only 300 total or so? (pic via Wiki)

Veyron Frenzy on James: 42 and counting - James Spotting: "The Bugatti Veyron seems to the one of those invincible hype machine endeavours that never fails to catch the attention of the media, the industry or web-savvy fans around the world, rivalled by possibly only McLaren. Indeed, we’re just as guilty of buying into the Veyron’s hypnotizing allure, as do members of the fairer sex seem to be. But who can blame them? Currently, there are no fewer than 42 different Bugatti Veyrons available on JamesList, with prices going from around €800,000 to over three times that sum."

Tax Sunlight To Solve Our Woes

Wow, who knew it was this easy? If Frédéric Bastiat was alive right now, he would be in a fetal position crying himself to sleep.

"It is time to start doing things the right way, if there is an idea for how to generate income and improve the economy and people's wellbeing, why not do it?" -- Angeles Duran

Spanish Woman Claims She Now Owns Sun: "AFP) - After billions of years the Sun finally has an owner -- a woman from Spain's soggy region of Galicia said Friday she had registered the star at a local notary public as being her property. Angeles Duran, 49, told the online edition of daily El Mundo she took the step in September after reading about an American man who had registered himself as the owner of the moon and most planets in our solar system. There is an international agreement which states that no country may claim ownership of a planet or star, but it says nothing about individuals, she added.
...
Duran, who lives in the town of Salvaterra do Mino, said she now wants to slap a fee on everyone who uses the sun and give half of the proceeds to the Spanish government and 20 percent to the nation's pension fund. She would dedicate another 10 percent to research, another 10 percent to ending world hunger -- and would keep the remaining 10 percent herself. "It is time to start doing things the right way, if there is an idea for how to generate income and improve the economy and people's wellbeing, why not do it?" she asked."

Fountain Pens & Writing Updates: Icon Notebook, Linen Postcards, Letters, & More

I love this icon notebook. (pic via Design Milk)

Icon Notebook - Design Milk: "Brigada Creativa created fun icon stationery that we featured previously and now they have a notebook available in the same icon design. It’s available through their Big Cartel shop or Etsy."

A LOST ART OF DAYS GONE BY - VINTAGE CURT TEICH LINEN POSTCARDS: "I’m crazy for vintage Curt Teich linen postcards. The warm, fuzzy, softness of color, printed (sometimes slightly off register) on the linen-weave stock, of scenes when America had a youthful glow. It makes me yearn for a life and times that I was born too late for, by golly."

Mailed Memories: Your Cherished Letters : NPR: "As the digital age increasingly pushes our correspondence with each other online, we see fewer and fewer pieces of handwritten mail in our mailboxes. But we no doubt all have special pieces -- a faded postcard, a well-worn birthday card, an old love letter -- that we keep tucked away, not needing a computer to savor. Here, some treasured mail you shared with NPR."

Review: Quo Vadis Monthly 4 Planner: "I finally found a Quo Vadis planner that is perfect for me! It's called a Monthly 4 and it's shown here with a lilac 'Club' cover which is textured vinyl. Karen (at Exaclair) had asked me a while back if I would like to pick a new journal for the year and though I'm not typically a planner person, I absolutely *love* 'month at a glance' styled planners. Thanks Karen!"

The Girl with the Moleskine Notebook - Teepoo's Scribbles: "There’s something special about opening up a notebook and seeing the various things written in there. I carry around a day planner, but really I hardly plan my day in it. It’s full of lists, doodles, pictures, notes, and contact info. The Moleskine becomes a book of treasures. Additionally, I think I got remembered as the girl with the Moleskine Notebook."

Unposted: teNeues CoolNotes: "The black notebook. Such a soft after and slightly controversial subject. Some people will try any and all of them ( I fit into this category) and for others there is only one. History, hacks, size and paper quality seem to dominate such a simple analog device. Why is that?"

Palimpsest: Palomino Blackwing, Smooth Operator and Smear King: "Would I use for everyday writing? I have not decided yet. I fear it is too long and too soft. Too heavy and it wears easily. But oh the buttery feel. And the sharpening. And the pressing down of the point on paper and the feeling of wearing down the graphite on every move."

Lamy 2000 Vs Pelikan M200 - Fountain Pen Network: "At last I did it, I am so happy. For the longest time I was dreaming to compare the 2 best pens for under 100$. Again and again arouses this question and at last I got my hand on the 2 leading pens in this category."

A laptop inside a notebook inside a laptop… - Quo Vadis Blog: "Have you guys seen this super clever Dutch notebook video? If not: watch it now, you won’t be disappointed. After that, you can check out some of the other notebook videos that Evelien’s made."

Additional links:
YouTube - Moleskine Neasden Control Centre notebook
YouTube - Stay as you are
'skine.art - Moleskine Art
365 Moleskine Drawings: Year 2
Ink Links - The Pen Addict
Sharpie Pen RT in Orange, Purple, and Green :: OfficeSupplyGeek
Interesting Letterhead Designs
diamine imperial purple water test - seize the dave
notebookism: Found (by James) : Pocket pencils
leuchtturm 1917 – review of a pleasant aquaintance
post No.504 return address luxury - parcel post
Grayson Tighe Matches Me with a Pen

Monday Grab Bag of Links ...

Architecture. (pic via Freshome)
Architizer Blog - Snowtopia
Spectacular Residence on a Cliff Edge Inspired by a Picasso Painting
Dwelling in Avila - CoolBoom
The Star House by AGi Architects
FyF Residence / P-A-T-T-E-R-N-S
Family House in Pozuelo de Alarcón / A-cero
AD Classics: Gamble House / Greene & Greene
Mind-Blowing Apartment in Australia, the Ultimate Bachelor’s Retreat

Photography.
Photo of the Moment: Circling Around Horseshoe Bend, Arizona
Auto Art - Sorrentolens
almost monochrome - lady dandelion
2010 National Geographic Photo Contest
The Frame: Macy's 2010 Thanksgiving Day Parade
The presidency of JFK, 50 years ago - The Big Picture

Computers.
50 Free Apps We're Most Thankful For
Welcome to Aviary
Switching from PC to Mac and back: three lessons learned so far

Watches.
Luxury Watches as an Investment - BusinessWeek

Travel.
World's Most Controversial Vacations
62 Reserve Of Natural Land In South America
Plane views: Bora Bora - velvet escape's blog
Experience Your Colourful Singapore

Liberty / Govt.
Free Speech Fiasco Over Abortion Rights
WikiLeaks Archive - Cables Uncloak U.S. Diplomacy

Cars.
Louwman Collection on Cool Hunting
The Audi Quattro Is Go For Production
STARTECH Land Rover Defender 90 Yachting Edition

Computers.
Aviary’s HTML5 Photo Editor
How To Watch Almost Any Type of Video On Your iPhone, iPad & iPod Touch
Top 10 Registry Tweaks that Power Up Windows

Food.
Try Aspic this Thanksgiving!
Scriblets: Cherry Pie, Billy Boy
The Daring Bakers Make Crostatas
Chocolate and Tea: Chocolate Espresso Pots de Creme
Hot chocolate and marshmallow macarons
The Perfect Banana Bread
Pumpkin Whoopie Pies with Chocolate Cream Cheese Filling
English Russia - Sausage-Making Process From The Inside

Style.
This Just In: F.S.C. Super Shacket: The GQ Eye: GQ
Fantastic Mr. Fox windows at Bergdorf GoodMAN
Put This On • youdontmeet: thisfits: Morning dress ...
Our Executive Rules: Habits, Strategies and Game Plan

Shoes / Boots.
Alden #8 Cap Toe Boots
Bean Boots - Ordeal by Moleskine
Things Is Cool: Carmina for The Armoury
The Trad & His Corgis

Unions.
GM's union recovering after stock sale - Washington Times

Misc.
9 Strange Edison Inventions
Falling TV Subscriptions - Chart Porn
Seven Repurposed Cold War Nuclear Missile Silos
John Hinton combines boat and lawnmower to create amphibious 'Shortcutter'

Thank God These Menaces Are In Custody

Thank God these two threats to public safety are off the streets. At least the kids are safe now.

Woman arrested, charged for allegedly not licensing dog - Democrat and Chronicle: "A Steuben County woman was arrested today and charged for allegedly failing to license her dog. Dianne M. Hatter, 44, of Route 36, Arkport, was arrested after it was discovered during a traffic stop that an arrest warrant had been issued for her by the Dansville Town Court for failing to license her dog, according to the Steuben County Sheriff’s Office."

Willie Nelson charged with pot possession in Texas - Yahoo! News: "SIERRA BLANCA, Texas – A U.S. Border Patrol spokesman says country singer Willie Nelson was charged with marijuana possession after 6 ounces was found aboard his tour bus in Texas."

Only In Govt Is Increased Demand Seen As a Problem

Episode #27,901.

Another great post from Dr. Boudreaux. Click through for the answer.

School Lessons: "The government school system in Fairfax County, Virginia (where I live) is suffering problems because population in that county – as reported in today’s Washington Post – 'is growing swiftly but unevenly.' According to Fairfax County school official Denise James, 'Some schools continue to be overcrowded and others are well under capacity. Neither is a good environment for learning.' Indeed not. But why don’t supermarkets, restaurants, churches, apartment complexes, clothing stores, dog groomers, and other service providers in Fairfax County encounter the same problems that plague the school system? After all, the county is growing just as fast and just as unevenly for these merchants as it is for Fairfax County Public Schools. Yet we never hear that some coffee shops or department stores continue to be overcrowded while others are well under capacity. Why might this be? ..."

Wristwatch Updates: Hans Wilsdorf, IWC Mark XI, Jean Daniel Nicolas, & More!

The vintage Rolex Sub review is great, as is the Wilsdorf bio.

Review of the Rolex small crown James Bond Submariner: "The production of the Rolex Submariner started in 1953 and the watch was first presented to the public at the Basel Fair in 1954 under reference 6204. This watch is generally considered as the first modern diver's watch, together with the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms which was issued the same year."

The Hans Wilsdorf Story (Founder Of Rolex): "2010 represents the 50th anniversary of Hans Wildorf's passing, so I thought it would be a good time to look back and celebrate his amazing lifetime achievements."

Jean Daniel Nicolas 2-Minute Tourbillon Pics ... "Towards the end of summer I had the opportunity to take some pics of Bill's magnificent Jean Daniel Nicolas 2-Minute Tourbillon by Mr. Daniel Roth. Conceived, designed and made by Mr. Roth, this watch is quite simply a masterpiece."

IWC Mark XI: The Ultimate Military Watch As An Alternative To The Almighty J.Crew/Timex Collab?: "The IWC Mark XI is THE military watch. Sure, it's not ludicrously priced like all those Rolex military pieces, but it has true battle-proven history, as part of the British, South African, Aussie, and Kiwi forces, and features a famously robust movement"

My new arrival! Got it just an hour ago..: "My 26300 with 'Newman' dial. What a great watch! The silver dial is magic and almost becomes white in daylight (although it is cloudy here today, snow is approaching)."

The Knitting Clock - How to be a Retronaut: "The 365 knitting clock was made to measure and register time in a three dimensional form to visualise the otherwise invisible time factor that connects us all. Instead of showing time in numbers, the tool we normally use to understand and organise time, the knitting clock shows the philosophical point of the ongoing process of time."

Seiko 200m divers – SKZ323K, SKZ325K & SKZ327K - Yeoman's Watch Review: "The most legible variant would be the SKZ327K. The big rectangular hour markers and board hands really stand out very well in contrast to the black dial. The red trimmed minute of the SKZ325K makes the minute hand look a little thinner and hence I give it second place in terms of legibility."

Additional links:
Hillary Tenzing Explorer.. another project from a friend
JLC - NSA #44 Arrival ...
Wanted: A Beautiful Watch for Minimalist Dandies
Rolex Auction Watch: Lt. Don Walsh’s 1958 GMT – Master
RedSea Dive Watches
Seiko Military Custom via Malenkov in Exile
VDB Vintage Watches
Movement Maker - AHCI
Retail Strategy Keeps MB&F in Demand - NYTimes.com

I Suggest We Call It War Again

From Wikipedia: "The War Department existed from 1789 until September 18, 1947, when it split into Department of the Army and Department of the Air Force and joined the Department of the Navy as part of the new joint National Military Establishment (NME), renamed the United States Department of Defense in 1949."

I think that it might be more honest to once again call the Dept. of Defense the War Department. And don't miss: Defense Spending Is Much Greater than You Think.

Two questions that might help with the decision:

1. What percentage of Defense Dept. dollars are spent on items outside of U.S. borders, or coastlines?
2. What percentage of U.S. military staff/troops are currently deployed to places outside the U.S. borders, including countries/territories who have not declared war with us, nor we with them?
   

Just some food for thought.

Additional links:
Defense Spending Is Much Greater than You Think
Why This Gigantic “Intelligence” Apparatus? Follow the Money
U.S. “Intelligence” Spending: A Whale of a Bad Joke

Can You Help A New Kindle User?

I just downloaded the Kindle app to my iPad, and ordered a new 6" WiFi Amazon Kindle for my dad as a gift. (here's the 3G model) (pic via Wiki)

What are the must-read FAQs and sites for getting up to speed?

How can I send PDFs to the Kindle?

Can I read ePub files on the kindle?

What are your favorite tips/tricks/hacks for the Kindle? Any good blogs I should know about?

I'm not at all averse to reading on my own, links to more info much appreciated. :-)

Thanks VERY much in advance!!

Four Must-Reads For The Weekend

Four great ones for the holiday weekend. All brief, all excellent.

No subsidy for NPR - The Boston Globe: "A BILL pulling the plug on federal funding for National Public Radio was thwarted last week when the lame-duck Democratic majority in the US House of Representatives voted down a Republican effort to bring the measure to the floor. Introduced last summer by Colorado Republican Doug Lamborn, the legislation would bar NPR and its local affiliates from spending federal dollars on NPR programming. Of course there was never any chance that a bill targeting one of the nation’s most prominent left-of-center institutions would pass while Democrats still controlled the House."

Harsanyi: Live free or die! (When the right guy is president) - The Denver Post: "Not so long ago, the left positioned itself as the defender of innocents against the just-one-tiny-step-away- from-fascism of the Bush administration's war on terror. The Constitution was sacred, especially when we faced danger — and even more especially when a Republican was president. It was not long ago that Democrats were regularly quoting Thomas Jefferson, who never actually said, 'Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.' (Every nanny-state initiative in existence exempted, of course.) Yet, today, left-wing pundits, typified by syndicated liberal columnist Ruth Marcus, implore Americans to grow up, become better automatons, get moving, and submit."

Failed Fed - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "Selgin, Lastrapes and White present a convincing case that the Fed likely made the economy worse and not better than it would have been had America been spared a central bank. The first and most obvious issue to examine is the value of the dollar. From 1790 until 1913, the dollar lost 8 percent of its value. Since the Fed's creation in 1913, however, the dollar has lost (so far) an additional 95 percent of its value. Given that one of the Fed's mandates is to maintain price stability, such inflation is hardly evidence of successful performance. Clearly, the Fed has undermined the dollar's value."

Giving thanks for the 'invisible hand' :: Jeff Jacoby: "The activities of countless far-flung men and women over the course of many months had to be intricately choreographed and precisely timed, so that when you showed up to buy a fresh Thanksgiving turkey, there would be one -- or more likely, a few dozen -- waiting. The level of coordination that was required to pull it off is mind-boggling. But what is even more mind-boggling is this: No one coordinated it. No turkey czar sat in a command post somewhere, consulting a master plan and issuing orders. No one rode herd on all those people, forcing them to cooperate for your benefit. And yet they did cooperate. When you arrived at the supermarket, your turkey was there. You didn't have to do anything but show up to buy it"

Markets In Everything: Luxury Pencil Sharpeners

I wonder how many new pencils I can buy for $380? ;-)



Related links:
For the person who has everything: artisanal pencil sharpening

Whom Should The Post Office Serve?

I think there's a fundamental misunderstanding here. (pic: Bridget Caswell for NPR)

Is the intent of the USPS to serve taxpayers and customers? Or is it intended to be a large make-work program and welfare system for cities with decades of failed policies?

Last year the USPS lost $8.5 billion, the year before it lost $3.8 billion. And remember this is with a legally enforced monopoly privilege on first class mail. Makes me yearn for Kiwi.

Post Office Cuts Cause Economic, Emotional Blow : NPR: "Faced with an $8.5 billion loss (for one year!), the U.S. Postal Service has been cutting back: slashing hours, combining routes and closing offices. In East Cleveland, Ohio, the city's only post office has been downsized from nearly 100 employees to just one. The cutback is deeply troubling for the hard-pressed urban community and came as a punch in the gut to people like Robyn Hales. Hales' father delivered mail in East Cleveland. She says her dad's job helped propel her family into the middle class. Her family was the first of what would be many African-American families to move to the block."

Additional links:
Is The Post Office So Bad? Yes, and Try Eating More Kiwi
"We Care" - Really? Poor Timing ...
What Exactly Am I Buying With USPS Insurance?
What If They Run Healthcare Like The USPS?
Losses are getting steeper for U.S. Postal Service

Wristwatch Updates: Prim Czech Watches, Destro SHOM Omega, Japanese Lacquer, & More!

I'm becoming quite interested in these Prim watches from the Czech Republic (more info). Pic courtesy of TZ's Kibi. See many more pics of the Prim at his web site.

How about the SCUBA Watch site for some great vintage dive watches.

Prim Sport I. gen. - some photos: "I photographed this watch as a tribute to Vilem Heckel and others from Huascaran Expedition 1970."

A Destro SHOM Omega: Yes, We're Speaking English, Sort Of - Hodinkee: "The SHOM Seamaster was so named because Omega created this model for France's Service Hydrographique et Océanographique de la Marine (SHOM), a public agency that is charged with documenting and studying the oceans as well as supporting mariners through the publication of charts, maps, guides and almanacs."

Japanese Lacquer Technique Is Applied to Watches - NYTimes.com: "SINGAPORE — The complex Japanese lacquering technique known as maki-e is often found on luxury pens, but only a few companies have applied it to watch dials. Nevertheless, this year Vacheron Constantin, Van Cleef & Arpels and Chopard have all teamed up with Japanese maki-e masters to release limited-edition watches. Maki-e, which translates as “sprinkled picture,” is a traditional multilayered lacquering method in which fine colored or precious metal dust, often silver and gold, is sprinkled to form a design or picture on a lacquer surface while it is still wet."

English Russia - Collection of Soviet Watches: "The set of pictures dedicated to Soviet watches of different brands. People in the Soviet Union wore such watches, and actually their quality is undoubted."

Manufacture Royale Opera Time-Piece Watch: "Beat me with a stick! I just had to plod through Manufacture Royale's nine page long bloody press release - only to have reasserted what they mention in the first few lines; that they are 'unashamedly elitist.' Wipe my brow and hand me an ol' timey hallucinogenic absinthe, because I need to lay back in a hammock on a steamship and read some Jules Verne to appreciate this steampunk mechanaut."

MB&F wins best Concept and Design Watch with HM4 Thunderbolt: "Max Busser has taken his ‘Thunderbolt’ friends on a prize-winning journey. With it’s innovative and extreme design I must admit I wasn’t amazed to hear MB&F’s HM4 Thunderbolt won in the category Concept and Design Watch."

SIHH 2011 Audemars Piguet Millenary Minute Repeater - Perpetuelle: "What — did you think that I was going to let Thanksgiving 2010 go by without serving up something reeeeeeaaaaal nice to go with your turkey and gravy??? Of course not, so go ahead and feast your eyes on a first look at the new Audemars Piguet Millenary Minute Repeater"

Antwerp’s Slaets welcomes us into its horological cave of delights - The Prodigal Guide: "We talk watch. A whole lotta watch a whole lotta the time. Truth is, outside of our personal collections and the odd visit to a retailer or watch fair we – much like you, dear readers – have to satisfy ourselves with watch porn. A whole lotta of it."

Bremont B-1 Marine Clock Hands-On: "The Marine Clock has been 100% developed and built by Bremont... in England. The massive clock is water resistant (to deal with the 'ol sinking ship' problem, and to defend against corrosion), and it will come in a variety of color combo choices per the customers request."

Additional links:
Seiko: First Auto Chronograph Worn In Space?
The Orange Hand Rolex Explorer II
Praesto GMT Watch Review
Heuer Carrera - ATG Vintage Watches Forums
When Diversity meets Poetry, an " Eloge du Temps " by JLC
‘Round the dial with Panerai strap maker Kostas Veni
Jean Dunand Tourbillon Orbital - Orologi di Classe
Watches in Movies
Direct from Paris, it's Memovox HEAVEN!!!
Vacheron Constantin Quai de l’Ile Retrograde Annual Calendar

Friday Grab Bag of Links ...

Architecture.
The 'Origami-Like' Klein Bottle House
patterns: fyf residence
Shobac Cottages
PicoCool - Wild Modernist Home For Sale
Contemporary Home placed among Threatened
Glamorous Villa on the Hills of Los Angeles with an Amazing View
Real-Life Secret Playroom Through a Narnia-Like Wardrobe

Style.
The Answer: What Are the Rules for Tuxedos and Black-Tie Events?
A.P.C. Mac 80′s Coat
Hookless Hangers or How to Save Plenty of Wardrobe Space
Men's Style Fashion Tips - Pattern Mixing with Checks

Shoes / Boots.
The Sartorialist: The Cardigan, Madrid
The Collection - Wolverine 1000 Mile News and Events

Politics.
Why the Tea Party Movement Is Vulnerable to Economic Charlatans, Ignoramuses, and Statists

Education.
Report Cards for Dummies

Food.
King Cube Silicone Ice Cube Trays
YouTube - Altoids Tin Martini Kit
Restaurant Review: Launceston Place in West London

Liberty / Govt.
Pornoscanner CEO flew with Obama to India - Boing Boing
A Libertarian Perspective on Airline Security by Laurence M. Vance

Travel.
The Most Colorful Cities In The World

Economics.
If Stimulus Spending Is The Problem, Why The Mess?
The Return of Stagflation
Apparently It’s Collectivism Only If It Is Pursued as a Means of Privation

History.
Cat's Eyes - History of Flight - Air & Space Magazine
The Great Escape - Air & Space Magazine

Animals.
Novice angler catches monster halibut worth £25,000
Galapagos - The Vimeo HD Channel on Vimeo
Aberbeagle & Fitch — Cute Overload

Photography.
Tension in the Koreas - The Big Picture - Boston.com

Fed.
It's About Time We Politicized the Fed - Reason Magazine

Computers.
50 Free Apps We're Most Thankful For

Fountain Pens / Writing.
Night Owl Paper Goods
Weekly Moleskine
pencil talk - Derwent Onyx pencil
Dave's Mechanical Pencils: Striker Carpenters Mechanical Pencil

Retro.
The Tiny Homemade Trailer – 1937

Misc.
Remembering a Cook Through Her Recipes - NYTimes.com
Scriblets

Happy Thanksgiving!

A couple to get the morning started right.

Happy Starvation Day by John Stossel: "Had today's political class been in power in 1623, tomorrow's holiday would have been called 'Starvation Day' instead of Thanksgiving. Of course, most of us wouldn't be alive to celebrate it. Every year around this time, schoolchildren are taught about that wonderful day when Pilgrims and Native Americans shared the fruits of the harvest. But the first Thanksgiving in 1623 almost didn't happen. Long before the failure of modern socialism, the earliest European settlers gave us a dramatic demonstration of the fatal flaws of collectivism. Unfortunately, few Americans today know it. The Pilgrims at Plymouth Colony organized their farm economy along communal lines. The goal was to share the work and produce equally. That's why they nearly all starved."

The Pilgrims’ Real Thanksgiving Lesson - The Beacon: "Feast and football. That’s what many of us think about at Thanksgiving. Most people identify the origin of the holiday with the Pilgrims’ first bountiful harvest. But few understand how the Pilgrims actually solved their chronic food shortages."

Liberty & Govt. At Work: TSA Radiation, Taliban, GM, & More

The Taliban impostor story is pathetically sad. Keep an eye on the TSA story. Does anyone honestly not believe that if these security procedures were implemented under the Bush regime the left would be out of their minds over it? (pic via The Beacon)

All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.
-- Orwell's 1984

TSA: Some gov't officials to skip airport security - Yahoo! News: "WASHINGTON – Cabinet secretaries, top congressional leaders and an exclusive group of senior U.S. officials are exempt from toughened new airport screening procedures when they fly commercially with government-approved federal security details."

Travelers (Especially Men and Children), Beware: Urgent Warning from Scientists on TSA Machines’ Radiation - The Beacon: "Scientists are calling into question the research cited by—and commissioned by—government officials regarding the relative risks posed to travelers subjected to full body scanners’ radiation. Independent scientists find the actual radiation exposure is 10 times TSA estimates, and argue that the health risks aren’t mathematically worth taking:"

Taliban Leader in Peace Talks Was an Impostor - NYTimes.com: "KABUL, Afghanistan — For months, the secret talks unfolding between Taliban and Afghan leaders to end the war appeared to be showing promise, if only because of the appearance of a certain insurgent leader at one end of the table: Mullah Akhtar Muhammad Mansour, one of the most senior commanders in the Taliban movement. But now, it turns out, Mr. Mansour was apparently not Mr. Mansour at all. In an episode that could have been lifted from a spy novel, United States and Afghan officials now say the Afghan man was an impostor, and high-level discussions conducted with the assistance of NATO appear to have achieved little."

Body scanner makers doubled lobbying cash over 5 years - USATODAY.com: "WASHINGTON — The companies with multimillion-dollar contracts to supply American airports with body-scanning machines more than doubled their spending on lobbying in the past five years and hired several high-profile former government officials to advance their causes in Washington, government records show."

Wearing a Prosthesis? Prepare To Be Manhandled by the TSA: "I am glad to see at least one person on the Left, Glenn Greenwald, debunk the hit job by The Nation today, and I think that Anthony Gregory scores a direct hit. What I find interesting, however, is that the people who claim to stand up for those who are handicapped or have disabilities pay no attention to people with disabilities who not only are assaulted but also publicly humiliated by the TSA."

Are Air Travelers Criminal Suspects? - Ron Paul: "The growing revolt against invasive TSA practices is encouraging to Americans who are fed up with federal government encroachment in their lives. In the case of air travelers, this encroachment is quite literally physical. But a deep-seated libertarian impulse still exists within the American people, and opposition to the new TSA full body scanner and groping searches is gathering momentum."

Health Tyrants by Walter E. Williams: "Should we be surprised when government taxes soft drinks in the name of fighting obesity? Should we be surprised when governments order restaurants not to serve foie gras or cook with trans fats? If you think government has the right to look after our health, how far would you have it go? How about a congressional mandate for morning calisthenics, eight glasses of water a day and eight hours of sleep each night?"

Hornberger's Blog - Bailouts and Occupations: "I’m having trouble deciding which topic to address today: the Pentagon’s announcement that it intends to be occupying Afghanistan into 2014 and beyond or the bailout of the Irish government. I’ll do both. When is enough enough? How long are the American people going to keep putting up with the occupation of Afghanistan? Back in 2001, wouldn’t most people have naturally assumed that the United States was going to get in and get out?"

Why Is there a TSA? - The Freeman: "As protests increase against the offensive pat-downs allegedly designed to make flying safer, we really should not be shocked that government employees are abusing air travelers. Furthermore, it should astonish no one who understands government that what is happening at the nation’s airports is the natural result of giving federal agents near-unlimited power."

The Nation may want to ask someone what the 'L' in the 'ACLU' stands for: "The Nation, that venerable bastion of progressive journalism and commentary, has let known insane person and serial anti-libertarian fantasist Mark Ames (along with partner Yasha Levine) write about–wait for it!–'TSAstroturf: The Washington Lobbyists and Koch-Funded Libertarians Behind the TSA Scandal.' It's an editorial decision on par with having the National Review assign Joe Farah to write about Barack Obama's birth certificate."

Additional links:
The ‘Nation’? Change Its Name to the ‘State’
GM's Bailout Is a Financial Disaster
An American Stasi? - The Freeman
You Don't Need to See His Identification
Air Force Launches Massive, Secret Spy Satellite - CBS News
Senator Rockefeller to TSA Chief John Pistole: “I Think You’re Doing a Terrific Job”
States' rights battles rage in Old Dominion

Is Larry Ellison Beginning To Look Like Mickey Rourke?

From a story in today's WSJ. Pic via Bloomberg/WSJ.

Al Gore Admits To Lying For Political Gain

How can these people and their ilk have a shred of credibility left? Why are they given the benefit of the doubt for even a moment, especially after this and ClimateGate? (pic: Luke Frazza / AFP/Getty Images)

Al Gore's mea culpa for corn ethanol support - U.S. news - Environment - msnbc.com: "ATHENS, Greece — In a mea culpa of sorts, former Vice President Al Gore on Monday said he made a mistake in supporting corn-based ethanol while he was in office, admitting he was more interested in farm votes for his presidential run than what was best for the environment. Like most politicians in the late 1990s, Gore supported huge subsidies for ethanol made from corn — a decision that was later blamed for higher food prices. Total U.S. ethanol subsidies reached $7.7 billion last year, according to the International Energy Industry, and many of those tax credits will soon be up for renewal."

Related links:
ClimateGate Updates: Julian Simon, Lies, & More!
Anything Is Fair-Game When Shilling For the AGW Agenda
Climate Updates: Fraud, Charlatans, & Mountebanks
ClimateGate Updates: Shakedowns, Charlatans, & Royal Mountebanks
ClimateGate Updates: CO2, Consensus, Fraud, & More
ClimateGate Updates: Nature, Shakedowns, Hypocrites, & More
The Science of Global Warming - The Unbroken Window

Wednesday Grab Bag of Links ...

Architecture. (pic via AD)
Pixel House / Mass Studies and Slade
The Valle House by Materia Architecture
15 mind-bending buildings that defy gravity
Triangolo / Sebastian Nagy
The Cubo House by Arquitectura en Movimiento
Parks House in California by Michael Parks
Jungle Species
The Star House by AGi Architects

Photography.
Shanghai apartment fire - The Big Picture - Boston.com

Unions.
Teachers union boss takes in $428K, demands shared sacrifice

Watches.
Breitling, old friend, welcome back: The Navitimer Calibre 01 Limited Edition
British Museum - Mechanical Watch Animation
New Pics of the PanoInverse SS
Introducing the unique Metiers d'Art - Chagall & l'Opera de Paris

Computers.
Photo editor online - Pixlr.com
Understanding AirPlay in Apple's New iOS 4.2
Google Docs Gets Drag-and-Drop Uploads

Retro.
Ads from Architectural Forum - Kitchen & Baths

Style.
Corduroy Blazers, Pants and Suits Get Hip - WSJ.com
Wish List: Harris Tweed Taransay Jacket

Shoes / Boots.
Alden Shoes – 4x4 PTB (LSW) : Leather Soul Hawaii
Welts, Part 1 - The Agatine Eyelet
Leffot Blog - Boot Dressing

Watches.
Review of the Omega Speedmaster
Warship Vasa’s salvor Fälting’s 1959 Rolex Submariner brings in €17k
The new Sarpaneva Korona K2 Kaamos
SalonQP 2010: Foolish highlights - The Prodigal Guide
Review of the Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean
Nixon The Trader Watch
What Would James Bond Do (WWJBD)
Zenith El Primero Tourbillon - Perpetuelle

Fountain Pens / Writing.
Review: Pentel EnerGel Euro Needle-Point Gel Ink Pen 0.35mm Blue
Whatever: Ecosystem Artist Journal Watermelon Large
What’s on Their Desk – Brad Dowdy: Founder of PenAddict.Com
Pocket Blonde: Pictures: Silver Marble Huron Bulb Filler
Pocket Blonde: Guest Review Ecosystem Large Sketchbook
A Dozen Links to Start the Week
sketch diary of Philip Vetter

Liberty / Govt.
City Tickets Drivers for NOT Running Red Lights

Economics.
Bras and other clues on the economy can be found at mall
America’s Depression within a Depression, 1937–39

Gadgets / Gear.
Baxter BLUE STEEL "Not a Replica" Straight Razor
Hunter Trunk
What You Need to Know When Buying an HDTV

Cars.
Clean and Sorted: 1969 VW Karmann Ghia
15 Cars We Really, Really Want to Drive
Why real men drove the Audi Sport Quattro S1
The 9 Best Car Chases in Movies - Videos
Lamborghini V12 Motor Review - Popular Mechanics

Healthcare.
Doctors Are Government Employees
What is it All About?

Food.
Dolcetto Confections: Pasticceria Marchesi
Paradise Dynasty: Really a growth of a dynastic force in Singapore gastronomy

Travel.
Pictures of Denmark : Copenhagen Bikes

Education.
Toronto School Board Wants to Bribe Kids to Read

Misc.
Most Efficient Carpool in the World?
Secret Chamber Found In India National Library

The Best Places To Find Online Deals

Certainly not an exhaustive list, but these are some of the places I like.

Sites.
Ben's Bargains
Fatwallet.com
Buy.com
DealCatcher
Slickdeals.net
Deal Shouter
Overstock.com
Street Prices

Forums.
Hot Deals - AnandTech Forums
[H]ot|DEALS - [H]ard|Forum
Hot Deals - DVD Talk Forum

Additional links:
8 top sites for online shopping deals - MSN Money

Internet Stat Of The Day: Netflix Edition

Wow! We do our share of streaming, but that still amazes me.

Netflix Accounts For 20% Of Peak U.S. Internet Bandwidth: "Netflix represents more than 20% of downstream Internet traffic during peak times in the U.S. -- and is heaviest in the primetime hours of 8 to 10 p.m., according to a new report from bandwidth management equipment vendor Sandvine."

Let's Balance The Budget By Raising Taxes

Yeah, about that ...

Stephen Moore and Richard Vedder: Higher Taxes Won't Reduce the Deficit - WSJ.com: "History shows that when Congress gets more revenue, the pols spend it. The draft recommendations of the president's commission on deficit reduction call for closing popular tax deductions, higher gas taxes and other revenue raisers to drive tax collections up to 21% of GDP from the historical norm of about 18.5%. Another plan, proposed last week by commission member and former Congressional Budget Office director Alice Rivlin, would impose a 6.5% national sales tax on consumers. The claim here, echoed by endless purveyors of conventional wisdom in Washington, is that these added revenues—potentially a half-trillion dollars a year—will be used to reduce the $8 trillion to $10 trillion deficits in the coming decade. If history is any guide, however, that won't happen. Instead, Congress will simply spend the money. In the late 1980s, one of us, Richard Vedder, and Lowell Gallaway of Ohio University co-authored a often-cited research paper for the congressional Joint Economic Committee (known as the $1.58 study) that found that every new dollar of new taxes led to more than one dollar of new spending by Congress. Subsequent revisions of the study over the next decade found similar results."

How About Warning Labels For Governments?

Fantastic observations from the always insightful and brilliant economist Dr. Rizzo. I think pictures like the ones in his post should be included with warnings on every federal government form.

His post is a must-read.

Warning, Government is Hazardous to Your Health - The Unbroken Window: "The #1 killer in the world is poverty. Your government has done more to promote the continuation of poverty than any institution created in the private sector. It does this a bit shrouded by the massive taxation and inefficient redistribution schemes. Even if it wasn’t building bridges to nowhere, the dead weight loss of raising nearly $6 trillion on tax revenues (all levels of government) are probably in the range of $1 to $2 trillion. That’s right, the distortionary effects of taxation mean that this is how much wealth the government destroys every year. So perhaps with your tax bill we should pass laws showing starving children, sickly elderly citizens, and poor families huddling over a garbage can fire in winter?"

Monday Grab Bag of Links ...

Architecture. (pic via DM)
House in Paço de Arcos Portugal by Jorge Mealha
Dixon House by Designgroup Stapleton Elliott
Edge House - CoolBoom
Pixel 57 / Darkitectura
Metal Home Design and Natural Wood
House In Sao Paulo / GrupoSP
Magnificent Artistic Home with an Art Gallery in Brasil
The House of Marlon Blackwell

Art.
Miniature woodworking — The Endeavour

Retro.
How Ping-Pong created the American suburb
Retro Thing: The Talking Datsun

Photography.
National Geographic's Photography Contest 2010
The Frame: Newlyweds in Thames Town, China

Cars.
FIRST 'ALPINE GRAND SPORTS' AT AUCTION
You Park Like an Asshole Helps You Share Your Feelings with Idiot Parkers
Wooden Bargain: 1954 Chevrolet Tin-Top Surf Wagon

Fountain Pens / Writing.
Ink Links - The Pen Addict
Moleskinned Alive - The Source - WSJ
Sue Perkins: The lost art of letter writing
Lifehacker Readers' Favorite Pens
Moleskine Icon with 7 Different Sizes
Platinum Plaisir Fountain Pen: Another Great Option for Your First Fountain Pen
Tale of a Vandal Pen User: Continuing to Evolve

Animals.
Badger cull: Are we silly to be so sentimental?
Bardot the Redtick Coonhound
Gertie the Labrador Retriever
BBC - Earth News - Attack of the rats
Rare warm weather lands pink pelicans in Siberia

Travel.
A stroll through Palma de Mallorca
World's most livable cities - Wikipedia
Seven Alternative Natural Wonders of the World
The World's 18 Strangest Roadways: Gallery - Popular Mechanics
Cafes & Coffee - Visitors - Broadsheet Melbourne
The Banke Hotel in Paris, an artsy place
Taichung - biking (or fooding?!) in Fengyuan

Style.
1950′s BRIONI ROMAN STYLE TAKES TINSELTOWN

Shoes / Boots.
A Suitable Wardrobe: Cordovan Weather
Permanent style: Bespoke shoes at Cleverley: Part 11

Liberty / Govt.
Guilty Pleasure of the Week: Ron Paul
Factbox: Taxpayers in deep water on GM investment - Reuters
American taxpayers officially on the hook for a 1.7 mile tunnel in SF
Where to Report and Discuss TSA Abuses
What Afghans Are Thinking - TIME.com
TSA Investigating ‘Don’t Touch My Junk’ Passenger
Afghans Losing Patience

Food.
The Difference Between Yams and Sweet Potatoes
How to Cook a 900-gram Truffle as Big as a Soccer Ball
Fresh pumpkin coconut pie
‘Natural’ Foods Activist Gets It Wrong
Naked Dove Brewing Company
Schwabl's Restaurant Since 1837
America's Most Bizarre Restaurants
Miniature Food Sculptures by Kim Burke

Economics.
Tariffs of Obama-Nation
Go Ahead, Take the Pledge
Fed takes wrong course - Washington Times

Gadgets / Gear.
Survival Debate: What is the Ultimate Survival Vehicle

Computers.
Yahoo! releases Sketch-a-Search for iPad, update for iPhone
The Presurfer: Four-Inch Computer
10 Ways to Boost Your Wireless Signal

History.
Soviet Naval Triton

Green.
The Climate Cash Cow - Green About Socialism
Unhinged LSU professor gives stemwinding global warming lecture

Watches.
Wrist watch Mekka - Chronopassion in Paris
The Perrelet Turbine XL in action (video)
Heuer Carrera - some photos
Omega: 176.0012 back from spa ...

Misc.
Haiti’s Canal Crews Brave Muck to Help Stem Cholera
Debt collectors utilize Facebook to embarrass those who owe
Hacker Builds Floating Jedi-Training Remote Droid
Jewellery firm awaits Royal order for Welsh gold for Royal wedding
Playmobil’s Checkpoint Strikes Some as Too Real
Grandma's Superhero Therapy (18 photos)

Worst AP Typo Of The Day: Saudi King Abdullah Edition

This morning I awake to this:

Saudi King Abdullah, 86, flying to U.S. for medical test, hospitalized over blood clot - AP - breakingnews.com

This is clearly a typo or editorial mistake, right? Surely if he wanted the best medical care he would be on his way to Cuba, Canada, or even the U.K. or France? The European options are also much closer. What gives, maybe he has some kind of rewards card he wants to use?

Wristwatch Updates: Mühle-Glashütte, Seiko 5, Fifty Fathoms, & More!

I like that Mühle-Glashütte. And while I love the technology in the Bulova Precisionist, I don't care for their cases or dials. (pic via John Holbrook)

REVIEW: The Mühle-Glashütte S.A.R. Flieger Chronograph: "When the rescue pilots from the German Maritime Search and Rescue Service as well as rescue pilots from the German Navy went looking for a robust chronograph with an easy-to-read display they came to Mühle-Glashütte. Mühle-Glashütte is well known in Germany for not only professional grade wrist watches, but for nautical instrumentation and ship's clocks. The S.A.R. Flieger-Chronograph was developed in collaboration with both of these elite rescue units, and released at the March 2010 Basel Watch Fair ..."

Photo review: Seiko 5 Sports – SNZJ21K - Yeoman's Watch Review: "I had the opportunity to handle a new Seiko 5 model that was released recently in Singapore (and other countries). This is another Seiko 5 Sports model that Seiko releases every few months. The model number is SNZJ21K."

Blancpain Tribute To Fifty Fathoms Watch: "The case is in steel, and I believe it is the exact same as on the current Fifty Fathoms watch model. Inside the piece is a Blancpain in-house made calibre 1315 automatic movement with 5 days of power reserve. The retro dial is more minimalist (aside from the no radiation stamp), but it has the same hands as the standard Fifty Fathoms."


It's Time: The Wristwatch Makes A Comeback : NPR: "With clocks being built into almost every digital gadget and machine, wristwatch sales have seen a decline in the past few years. But market analysts say the centuries-old time-telling tool is trying to make a comeback. Wristwatch sales are actually on the rise this year, according to June Rhee, the fashion watch buyer for the Macy's department store chain."

Some Preliminary Accuracy Results with the Bulova Precisionist Claremont Model: "I have been wearing my Bulova Precisionist Clarement now for a little over 4 weeks and decided to do a careful timing of its accuracy over that time in this 'wearing' condition. This accuracy-timing project is planned to go for 8 weeks, but it seemed like a good idea to show what we've found so far."

Seiko, Greubel Forsey, MB&F, and TAG Take Home Big Awards At The Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève - Blog - Hodinkee: "Last night in Geneva, the watchmaking industry held its own version of the Oscars and celebrated the year's achievements with the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève. Notable winners included TAG Heuer with their Caliber 1887 in the La Petite Aiguille category ..."

KronosBlog: At last!: "Let me tell you, it was about time. Soooo many years talking about the singularity of the Speedmaster saga (unfortunately more the past and less the future...) and not owning a Speedy has been going on for too long. No more excuses, I have finally remedied that shortcoming and re-inserted a Speedmaster in my collection with an 'Apollo XI'."

Additional links:
SIHH 2011 Girard Perregaux 1966 Small Seconds
Grand Prix d’Horlogerie: Results and Analysis
Schaumburg AQMII - 1st IMPRESSIONS!
SalonQP 2010: Straight highlights - The Prodigal Guide
The art of enamelling at Cartier - an in-depth look with 42 photos!
The TikTok & LunaTik Take The 'iPod As Watch' Concept To New Heights & Raise Mad
Zenith El Primero Tourbillon - WatchTime.com
Quick and dirty pictures of the new arrival
Revolution - And here are the laureats of the Grand Prix de l'Horlogerie de Genève 2010
Certina DS Action - some photos