argus

James Taranto’s “Best of the Web” over at the Wall Street Journal’s online OpinionJournal section never disappoints — and Wednesday’s version is no exception. The leadoff piece discusses a Jon Stewart “Daily Show” interview with a Democratic author …and ol’ Jon’s honesty and candor really surprised and impressed me, according to the transcript provided. You can follow the above link, assuming it’s still available; if not, I’ve elected to repost the whole bit here for posterity.

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So I read this article today (via Drudge) discussing how we’re looking at around a $0.23-$0.25 gas hike in the next few weeks, thanks to oil suppliers stockpiling oil out of paranoia over the immediate future availability of supplies — even though a recent DOE report pointed out that there is plenty of oil for the time being. Yay. However, one might forgive those suppliers for being jumpy: given the balancing act they are faced with of environmental regulations, innumerable demand for “designer” blend gasoline, refinery shortages, and the overall through-the-roof reaction that would result if there ever was a 70’s-esque gas shortage, I can’t really blame them for wincing when things in the Middle East is bouncy. And when aren’t they, now more so than ever.

And now today, I read that Iran has taken more steps (here and here) towards forcing the responsible countries in the world to do something to forcefully prevent them from developing a nuclear capability. And when you consider that article with this one, in which Iran states that it would retaliate against the oil trade passing through the Strait of Hormuz if any countries were to attack the “peace-loving Islamic Republic of Iran” (there’s a cluster of contradictions), things just get even rosier.

Now I really, really, REALLY wish I either a) lived within biking distance of work or b) still lived close enough to a MARTA station that I could bike to work via the subway. All this after I see an ad over the weekend for the new Honda Accord V6 Hybrid… practically an identical car to my own, but with double the gas mileage.

/salute Murphy Morris salutes Murphy. Ten-hut!

Reading this story about China’s response to the State Department’s annual document (criticizing human rights issues in China, among other things), it sounds as if George Soros, Michael Moore, and Al Sharpton might have been called in to co-author.

“In Florida, the cases of black people being removed from voter registration list or their votes being denied were 10 times higher than people of other races,” [the Chinese report] said.

Why bother with truth? We’ll play the Race Card!

Absurd.

…from my recent work-related travel to Virginia. Although, none of the pictures are actually from Virginia — most of them (all but one) are from the flight back home, and even then they’re just from our approach to Hartsfield …because it took us right over Atlanta. I love flying over stuff I can recognize.

Anyway: http://argus.emthree.org/gallery/WorkTravel-Virginia-Feb2005

..I swear (although if you know my dad, it won’t require any stretch of the imagination to believe it). Thanks to Nichole for sending this to me this morning..

A frog goes into a bank and approaches the teller. He can see from her nameplate that her name is Patricia Whack. “Miss Whack,” he says, “I’d like to get a $30,000 loan to take a holiday. ” Patty looks at the frog in disbelief and asks his name. The frog says his name is Kermit Jagger, his dad is Mick Jagger, and that it’s okay, he knows the bank manager. Patty explains that he will need to secure the loan with some collateral. The frog says, “Sure. I have this,” and produces a tiny porcelain elephant, about an inch tall, bright pink and perfectly formed. Very confused, Patty explains that she’ll have to consult with the bank manager and disappears into a back office. She finds the manager and says, “There’s a frog named Kermit Jagger out there who claims to know you and wants to borrow $30,000 …and he wants to use this as collateral!” She holds up the tiny pink elephant. “I mean, what in the world is this?!”

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