Drudge links today to what I consider an interesting article from the UK newspaper The Independent. It’s about Dennis Rader – the Witchita, KS, “BTK killer”. The title is, “How psychopaths hide in plain sight.”
The article is fairly short, so yes: it definitely is “psychology lite” and lacking in details. Still, while reading it I couldn’t help but be reminded of a few other individuals I’ve read about recently. But maybe that’s just me.
In any case: IMO it’s worth a read. As always, YMMV.
A look at our latest “global warming” news.
Gee, just think of how much trouble we’d be in if mankind wasn’t overheating the planet!
. . . plus c’est la même chose.
Russia Boosts Arms, Training for Leftist Latin Militaries
Sounds kinda like “Back to the Future” to me. So, with apologies to Pete Townsend:
Meet the new Rus
Same as the old Rus
So is Jerusalem – along with the rest of Israel, from Golan to Negev.
As in just short of 8 inches of that “global warming” in Jerusalem – 20 cm, per published accounts.
The photos at the above link are worth a look. I especially liked the pictures of the snow-covered palm trees.
But just think how bad it would be without that “global warming” we keep hearing about.
Jonn’s article yesterday got me thinking. And that’s sometimes not such a good thing – as regular TAH readers know all too well. (smile)
So, with appropriate apologies to Paul Simon: an ode to today’s VA.
Still Fudgin’ Numbers All These Years
That VA manager
In his office, right
He seemed indiff’rent and
Petty (though he smiled)
As he grabbed for more resources
To build his empire dear
Been fudgin’ numbers many years
Been fudgin’ numbers many years
He’s not the kind of man
Who enjoys making waves
He loves to live by
His rulebook
And he ain’t no fan of changes
Or reporting bad news clear
Just fudges numbers every year
Just fudges numbers every year
Four in the PM
Nodding, and
Yawning
Droning his life away
He’ll never worry
Why should he?
It’s all gonna fade
Now he’s got that corner office
Plays God every day
He swears he’ll clear that backlog
Some damn way
But he will not be replaced, no
By a more competent peer
Still fudgin’
Yes, fudgin’
Still fudgin’ numbers all these years
I wish I could in good conscience say the above is satire. But after Jonn’s article yesterday – and the recent “secret waiting list” scandals, plus the VA’s longtime covering for hundreds of fake POWs that Jonn’s written about repeatedly – I’m not really sure it is.
Here’s your partial forecast for early tomorrow morning, courtesy of AccuWeather.
Those are projected temps – not wind chill.
According to the AccuWeather story accompanying the photo above, this is the coldest weather in parts of the mid-Atlantic since the 1800s. Lo-temp records for the date may fall as far south as Orlando, FL.
Good thing the planet is warming up, eh? (And yes – that last is sarcasm. Bigtime.)
Among those trying to make a buck by screwing over GIs, add . . . the freaking Girl Scouts???
Well, according to the Girl Scouts – no. Rather, it’s the company with whom they’ve contracted to ship Girl Scout Cookies.
As you might expect, Girl Scout Cookies can now be ordered online. However, if you have them shipped to a “military address”, there’s a slight surcharge – as in $20 per order.
The surcharge applies to military addresses overseas, including AK and HI. Well, I can understand that – to an extent. Shipping to those locations does often cost a bit more.
But the extra fee also applies to military addresses in CONUS.
I wish I was kidding – but I’m not. I’m dead serious.
Talk about an example of pure, outrageous bullsh!t. Think about it: USPS is available at every installation in CONUS. APO service is available overseas. And any reputable shipping company can access US military installations in CONUS, AK, and Hawaii to deliver packages.
Hey, I can see an extra fee for AK/HI/OCONUS. But hell: even in AK and HI, actual cost plus a fixed handling fee should be the norm – not some bogus $20 per order “surcharge”.
Not convinced? OK, then you tell me: why should a package delivered to, say, Fort Hood, TX, cost any more than one delivered to the adjacent community of Kileen?
The answer: it shouldn’t – because it freaking doesn’t. Shippers typically operate on a zone pricing basis. Whoever is adding that extra fee for CONUS military addresses is simply generating profit via screwing over the troops and their dependents.
As I said above: the Girl Scouts are blaming their “shipper” for this blatantly outrageous fee. Maybe that’s actually true.
However, given some of the other stuff I’ve seen lately about the Girl Scouts, their policies, and their political agenda . . . well, let’s just say I wouldn’t be surprised to find out that they’re getting a hefty chunk of that “surcharge”.
By a UK paper, of course. Worth a look IMO.
Oh, and you know that nearly 20 year pause in global warming we keep hearing about? Wanna guess how long solar activity (as measured by the periodic sunspot cycle) has been observed to be in decline?
If you guessed “at least 17 years” – pat yourself on the back.
But cheer up – the forecast for the next 11-year sunspot cycle soon to begin is for a continued decline. That means it could get even cooler.