Greenland

Recently I was flying back from Europe and we passed over the southern tip of Greenland. This is the area with some amount of rock as well as the deep glaciated fields of ice. This photo I took in black and white.

The sky was amazingly blue and the colors were vivid. It looked very good out the airplane window and I managed to get none of the window frame in the shot and the glass didn’t seem to interfere with it too much.

Since I figured that it is unlikely that I’ll ever physically touch down in Greenland this would likely be as close as I’d get.

Arrogance

The meldown of old-media credibility continues. Here we have a CNN reporter, covering a “tea party” event, who instead of conducting a normal interview with a participant, debates him, quite rudely (IMNSHO) and in a manner that makes it very clear where her own preferences lie. Be sure to read this unbelievable interchange and, if you have time, also watch the video.

In addition to the obvious lack of objectivity, note also the primitive quality of her arguments…”you’re eligible for a $400…” [stimulus payment, I presume she means], and “did you know that the state of Lincoln gets fifty billion dollars out of these stimulus — that’s fifty billion dollars for this state, sir!” Heck, why not make it five hundred billion and then you’ll really have an unbeatable proposition!

Note also the remarks of Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), who blasted the “tea party” protests as “despicable” and shameful.”

“It’s despicable that right-wing Republicans would attempt to cheapen a significant, honorable moment of American history with a shameful political stunt,” she added. “Not a single American household or business will be taxed at a higher rate this year. Made to look like a grassroots uprising, this is an Obama bashing party promoted by corporate interests, as well as Republican lobbyists and politicians.”

I’ve written about Rep Schakowsky before, in conjunction with the CPSIA issue and her unbelievably obnoxious letter to an individual who has been trying to point out the problems with this badly-drafted legislation and the damage that it is doing to small businesses and to consumers. Apparently, Schakowsky is as irritated by Americans expressing their opinions on economic policy and taxation as she was by a businessperson expressing a knowledgeable opinion about regulatory policy.

I note that Schakowsky’s degree is in elementary education. Nothing wrong with that, but what in her education and/or experience gives her the confidence to believe so absolutely that her ideas about economics are so entirely correct that disagreement with them is “despicable” and “shameful”?

When talking about terrorists and other national security threats, Democrats are all about “nuance” and “shades of gray.” When talking about American citizens who disagree with them on economic matters, the shades of gray go away, and everything must be portrayed in pure primary colors.

(Schakowsky link via Neptunus Lex.)

Dogs In London

The British are famous for their love of dogs. Many prominent breeds came from London and of course the Queen has her retinue of Corgis. Recently I was in London and had the opportunity to view this all close-up.

This picture is blurry but I had to put it in the post. We were walking through London and a guy had this little dog in the front basket of his bicycle while he rode through town and the wee dog had one of those “cones” on his head to stop him from licking his wounds (probably had recently been to the vet).

We were in Regent’s Park and a handicapped man had this dog called “Diesel” who was by his side and then kind of roamed around a bit looking at everyone. He was an Alaskan Malamute. He had one blue and one brown eye, as I captured in this photo while he looked at me. Someone was talking about feeding his dog and the owner shouted “NO NO DON’T WANT HIM TO BECOME A SCROUNGER” which I found to be apt and hilarious.

There was a meeting of the French Bulldogs near the “Honest Sausage” restaurant and I got down to eye level with the dogs to take a look. I like the little guy with the black coat in front giving me the stink eye… but you aren’t so tough with your pink outfit now, are you?

Cross posted at LITGM