About Me

Name: Icarus
Biography
Loading...

Create Your Own Blog Find Other Townhall Blogs

Comments

Makes me want to move to Texas



Reminds me of a Robert Heinlein quote, "An armed society is a polite society. Manners are good when one may have to back up his acts with his life."
Email ItEmail It | Print ItPrint It | CommentsComments (0) | TrackbacksTrackbacks (0) | Flag as offensiveFlag as Offensive

Ron Silver: Requiescat in Pace

Ron Silver has passed on to his reward.

I had the pleasure of seeing Mr. Silver at the 2005 Liberty Film Festival, where he presented the documentary "Broken Promises". I am very sorry to hear about his passing. My condolences to Mr. Silver's family.

Email ItEmail It | Print ItPrint It | CommentsComments (0) | TrackbacksTrackbacks (0) | Flag as offensiveFlag as Offensive

11 Most Expensive Catastrophes in History

# 11. Titanic - $150 Million
The sinking of the Titanic is possibly the most famous accident in the world. But it barely makes our list of top 10 most expensive. On April 15, 1912, the Titanic sank on its maiden voyage and was considered to be the most luxurious ocean liner ever built. Over 1,500 people lost their lives when the ship ran into an iceberg and sunk in frigid waters. The ship cost $7 million to build ($150 million in today ' s dollars).


# 11. Tanker Truck vs. Bridge - $358 Million
On August 26, 2004, a car collided with a tanker truck containing 32,000 liters of fuel on the Wiehltal Bridge in Germany . The tanker crashed through the guardrail and fell 90 feet off the A4 Autobahn resulting in a huge explosion and fire which destroyed the load-bearing ability of the bridge Temporary repairs cost $40 million and the cost to replace the bridge is estimated at $318 Million.


# 9. MetroLink Crash - $500 Million
On September 12, 2008, in what was one of the worst train crashes in California history, 25 people were killed when a Metrolink commuter train crashed head-on into a Union Pacific freight train in Los Angeles . It is thought that the Metrolink train may have run through a red signal while the conductor was busy text messaging. Wrongful death lawsuits are expected to cause $500 million in losses for Metrolink.


# 8. B-2 Bomber Crash - $1.4 Billion
Here we have our first billion dollar accident (and we ' re only #7 on the list). This B-2 stealth bomber crashed shortly after taking off from an air base in Guam on February 23, 2008. Investigators blamed distorted data in the flight control computers caused by moisture in the system. This resulted in the aircraft making a sudden nose-up move which made the B-2 stall and crash. This was 1 of only 21 ever built and was the most expensive aviation accident in history. Both pilots were able to eject to safety.





# 7. Exxon Valdez - $2.5 Billion
The Exxon Valdez oil spill was not a large one in relation to the world ' s biggest oil spills, but it was a costly one due to the remote location of Prince William Sound (accessible only by helicopter and boat). On March 24, 1989, 10.8 million gallons of oil was spilled when the ship ' s master, Joseph Hazelwood, left the controls and the ship crashed into a Reef. The cleanup cost Exxon $2.5 billion.


# 6. Piper Alpha Oil Rig - $3.4 Billion
The world ' s worst off-shore oil disaster. At one time, it was the world ' s single largest oil producer, spewing out 317,000 barrels of oil per day. On July 6, 1988, as part of routine maintenance, technicians removed and checked safety valves which were essential in preventing dangerous build-up of liquid gas. There were 100 identical safety valves which were checked. Unfortunately, the technicians made a mistake and forgot to replace one of them. At 10 PM that same night, a technician pressed a start button for the liquid gas pumps and the world ' s most expensive oil rig accident was set in motion.
Within 2 hours, the 300 foot platform was engulfed in flames. It eventually collapsed, killing 167 workers and resulting in $3.4 Billion in damages.


# 5. Challenger Explosion - $5.5 Billion
The Space Shuttle Challenger was destroyed 73 seconds after takeoff due on January 28, 1986 due to a faulty O-ring. It failed to seal one of the joints, allowing pressurized gas to reach the outside. This in turn caused the external tank to dump its payload of liquid hydrogen causing a massive explosion. The cost of replacing the Space Shuttle was $2 billion in 1986 ($4.5 billion in today ' s dollars). The cost of investigation, problem correction, and replacement of lost equipment cost $450 million from 1986-1987 ($1 Billion in today ' s dollars).


# 4. Prestige Oil Spill - $12 Billion
On November 13, 2002, the Prestige oil tanker was carrying 77,000 tons of heavy fuel oil when one of its twelve tanks burst during a storm off Galicia , Spain Fearing that the ship would sink, the captain called for help from Spanish rescue workers, expecting them to take the ship into harbour. However, pressure from local authorities forced the captain to steer the ship away from the coast. The captain tried to get help from the French and Portuguese authorities, but they too ordered the ship away from their shores. The storm eventually took its toll on the ship resulting in the tanker splitting in half and releasing 20 million gallons oil into the sea. According to a report by the Pontevedra Economist Board, the total cleanup cost $12 billion.


# 3. Space Shuttle Columbia - $13 Billion
The Space Shuttle Columbia was the first space worthy shuttle in NASA ' s orbital fleet. It was destroyed during re-entry over Texas on February 1, 2003 after a hole was punctured in one of the wings during launch 16 days earlier. The original cost of the shuttle was $2 Billion in 1978. That comes out to $6.3 Billion in today ' s dollars. $500 million was spent on the investigation, making it the costliest aircraft accident investigation in history. The search and recovery of debris cost $300 million. In the end, the total cost of the accident (not including replacement of the shuttle) came out to $13 Billion according to the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics..


# 2. Chernobyl - $200 Billion
On April 26, 1986, the world witnessed the costliest accident in history. The Chernobyl disaster has been called the biggest socio-economic catastrophe in peacetime history. 50% of the area of Ukraine is in some way contaminated. Over 200,000 people had to be evacuated and resettled while 1.7 million people were directly affected by the disaster The death toll attributed to Chernobyl , including people who died from cancer years later, is estimated at 125,000. The total costs including cleanup, resettlement, and compensation to victims has been estimated to be roughly $200 Billion. The cost of a new steel shelter for the Chernobyl nuclear plant will cost $2 billion alone. The accident was officially attributed to power plant operators who violated plant procedures and were ignorant of the safety requirements needed.


 # 1. 2008 Presidential Election- $800 Billion in the first two months ... and counting.

Email ItEmail It | Print ItPrint It | CommentsComments (0) | TrackbacksTrackbacks (0) | Flag as offensiveFlag as Offensive

Cops shoot "left-wing hippie peace-keeping liberal" in drug raid

I'm sure if they could have gotten away with it, that would have been the headline to this story.

What does the victim's Facebook description have to do with anything? Does this article's writer and editor think that the police researched this guy and targeted him because he calls himself a "left-wing hippie peace-keeping liberal"?

Did the police overreact? Did the victim try to attack the police? Did the victim pose a threat to any one of the police who executed the search warrant? No one knows the answers to these questions ... yet.

But everyone now knows that the guy who was shot was a "left-wing hippie peace-keeping liberal". There is one other thing we know about this guy: He attends a college that does not teach good grammar.

Email ItEmail It | Print ItPrint It | CommentsComments (0) | TrackbacksTrackbacks (0) | Flag as offensiveFlag as Offensive

Fired in Oregon because you don't speak Spanish

It isn't happening at a private company, which can set whatever stupid policy it wants. The folks who are losing their jobs work for the State of Oregon. And these aren't just some mindless, paper-shuffling bureaucrat getting a pink slip for not speaking Spanish. The people finding themselves on unemployment are ... wait for it ... Oregon State Firefighters.

Oh, did I mention that this was happening while the West is suffering from major wildfires?



Why not require all Oregon State Firefighters to speak English?!? Great question indeed.

As the person who alerted me to this clip asked, "Where's the outrage?!?"
Email ItEmail It | Print ItPrint It | CommentsComments (0) | TrackbacksTrackbacks (0) | Flag as offensiveFlag as Offensive

If this were happeneing in Anchorage Public Library ...

how do you the Main Stream Media would report it?

The Seattle Public Library presents: " 'Huck Finn' in or our of school?" - "Two teachers, two students, and a parent discuss the merits and challenges of teaching “Huckleberry Finn” in the schools. Why the continuing controversy around Mark Twain’s classic novel? Does “Huck Finn” belong in curriculum?"

If folks want to have a discussion on this topic, more power to them (just don't dare remove the book from the curriculum). But don't get all bent out of shape and start screaming "CENSORSHIP" when others want to talk about the merits and demerits of teaching Heather has Two Mommies and Daddy's Roommate to to children.

Email ItEmail It | Print ItPrint It | CommentsComments (0) | TrackbacksTrackbacks (0) | Flag as offensiveFlag as Offensive

Book 3 in Robert Ferrigno's Assassin Series

It isn't often that I'm excited about a book release. I confess to looking forward with anticipation to each Harry Potter book as they came out. And announcements of new titles by Neil Gaiman, Tim Powers, James P. Blaylock and John Ringo will make me cut back on the extra hot lattes in order to save some money for the book.

Add to that list of authors Robert Ferrigno's Assassin Series. In August readers will be greeted with the third installment in this trilogy. From Robert's blog comes this enticing description:
"In Heart of the Assassin, time is running out for both nations that once made up the USA --- the Islamic republic and the Bible Belt. Weakened by their division and their own intellectual and moral decay, they are threatened by the expansionist dreams of the Atzlan Empire (Mexico.) The only solution is to somehow reunite the two nations. Time is also running out for the Old One. Over 150 years old, long used to the idea of his own near immortality, he is dying and with him the idea of recreating a world-wide Caliphate. He is not happy."
Every conservative (let alone every fan of thriller fiction) should have this amazing series on his or her bookshelf. I can't wait till August when the book hits the stores. I know I'll be there with bells on to pick up my copy.

Bookmark and keep an eye on Robert's blog since, "In a couple months [he will] post the first chapter of Heart, which features Lester Gravenholtz, one of [his] favorite badguys, skulking in a rundown Neuvo Florida themepark, Castroland!, waiting to kill the Atzlan oil minister. Fun ensues."
Email ItEmail It | Print ItPrint It | CommentsComments (1) | TrackbacksTrackbacks (0) | Flag as offensiveFlag as Offensive

Stop looking for a Conservative George Soros

Average people, building grassroots, populist oriented organizations, are the heart of Liberal-Left causes. Conservatives are nothing more than authoritarians forcing their agenda on the little guy. The odd thing about these claims is that they both come from the Liberal-Left. Something here reminds me of the psychological concept of projection that I learned so much about as an undergraduate and graduate student.

The ideas above are what they want us to think, and by ‘they’ I mean Liberal-Left Politicians, Activists, Hollywood, the Main Stream Media, etc. It is the little guy, they tell us, that want single-payer (i.e., state run) medical care, “progressive” taxation on the “rich”, negotiations with terrorists, nanny state welfare, etc., etc., etc. The truth, however, is exactly the opposite. That is why there will never be a conservative George Soros and conservatives should stop looking for one.

I attended John Ziegler's Media Malpractice Seattle screening on March 4th. In response to a question, John spoke briefly, longingly it seemed, of a conservative George Soros injecting massive amounts of money into various conservative/libertarian causes. When, John wondered, will a conservative multi-billionaire come forward and fund right-wing causes and groups? In a word: Never, because conservatives would not stand for it.

There is nothing grassroots about the Liberal-Left. They were, are and always will not much more than an angry, jealous mob driven from the top down by angry, jealous leaders. From the French Revolution to the October Revolution to the 'Hope & Change' Revolution, the Liberal-Left has been about a handful of radicals forcing their will on a group of mindless followers.

There will never be a conservative version of George Soros because conservatives have been, are and always will be about free individuals exercising their liberty to create true home-grown, grassroots organizations. Case in point: The Boy Scouts of America (BSA). the Liberal-Left hate the Boy Scouts because that group spontaneously arose from local communities and openly professes love of God, country and family. The Liberal-Left, instead of creating their own version of the BSA, funded by multi-billionaires like George Soros, works to destroy the BSA. They drive BSA out of buildings they have used for decades and attack them in courts in order to force the Liberal-Left agenda on Scouting.

Conservative also tend to make up a lion's share of the entrepreneurial class, or those that venture out on the entrepreneurial path become more conservative, at least economically speaking. The Liberal-Left’s love for the Big Government quashes entrepreneurial initiative, and reinforces the growth of massive corporations. How does Big Government and Big Corporation go hand in hand, you might ask. Jonah Goldberg makes this clear in his book, Liberal Fascism. So-called private-public initiatives are a gold mine to Big Corporations, and the Liberal-Left love the idea of public money spent on what it thinks are private goods. You want a new type of energy efficient car built? Hand millions, if not billions, to Big Corporations to get them built. You want more people riding trains? Pass laws that give public money to private corporations to build tracks and put trains on them. That is why conservatives believe that charity begins at home. That is why the call from some for a big money conservative to step up and take on the Liberal-Left hegemony in Hollywood has largely fell on deaf ears. When a conservative with money hears this plea, he or she looks at the individual making the request and sees an intelligent, hard-working person, and says to him or herself, "If you want it bad enough, get up and go do it. Don't expect me to do it for you."

Stop looking for a conservative George Soros. There isn't going to be one. No conservative gazillionaire is going to open a checkbook and write a blank check to someone because that person has the right (pun intended) ideology.

               To my fellow audience members at the Media Malpractice screening who are wondering how to get out this film's message. The answer is: You get up off your behind, get out in front of your neighbors and you tell them about it, because conservatives are the real grassroots movement.
Email ItEmail It | Print ItPrint It | CommentsComments (0) | TrackbacksTrackbacks (0) | Flag as offensiveFlag as Offensive

Pay less taxes - Create a Home-based Business

Most people browsing the blogs at Townhall.com are folks who loath paying taxes. They are smart enough to know that getting a nickle back from every dollar sent to the Leviathan is not a wise investment. Entrepreneurs know that having a business provides the opportunity to spend money before the government can get its greedy, grubby little hands all over it. So what are you doing to become an entrepreneur and pay less taxes?

Sandy Botkin, Attorney, CPA, CEO of Tax Reduction Institute, and author of Lower Your Taxes - Big Time, has stated that "[t]he light at the end of the tunnel… is the financial opportunity that starting your business offers. Every North American taxpayer who works a full-time job and does not have a side business is probably overpaying taxes to the tune of $3,000 to $9,000 a year!”

Several folks are quoted in Michelle Malkin's latest editorial about how they will be doing everything they can to pay less taxes. The opportunity to pay less taxes is available to everyone. Start a home-based business. Contact me today and together we'll take care of our own communities and stop feeding the Leviathan.
Email ItEmail It | Print ItPrint It | CommentsComments (1) | TrackbacksTrackbacks (0) | Flag as offensiveFlag as Offensive

Books, books, books

I'm putting some of my library up for sale. Here are some titles that might be of interest to readers.

 

  



More are available at my Amazon Storefront, and more will be added in the near future. Happy shopping.
Email ItEmail It | Print ItPrint It | CommentsComments (0) | TrackbacksTrackbacks (0) | Flag as offensiveFlag as Offensive

And Now A Word From Our Sponsor

Because I am an unabashed capitalist and entrepreneur, I want to share some information from the company I represent. If you want to know more about these amazing products feel free to contact me at my business website. Enjoy this brief informational time-out. Help me help you to stay healthy and keep the America Free Enterprise system alive and well.


Email ItEmail It | Print ItPrint It | CommentsComments (0) | TrackbacksTrackbacks (0) | Flag as offensiveFlag as Offensive

Pres. Obama, Please take a vacation


Mr. President, wouldn't you rather be here?

It strikes me that when Pres. Barack 'The One' Obama speaks, the Stock Markets tank. Last night The One gave a speech to a joint session of Congress and today the NYSE is down at about 1:30 EST by over 170 points.

I've been hearing that the Left's goal is not to save the economy. Its goal is to destroy it. With The One, Rep. Pelosi and Sen. Reid running the Executive and Legislative branches of Congress, they are well on their way of obtaining their goal.

Email ItEmail It | Print ItPrint It | CommentsComments (0) | TrackbacksTrackbacks (0) | Flag as offensiveFlag as Offensive

Fannie Mae caused this crisis. So why give them $75B?



In 5 months the government has legislated the spending of more then $1.5 Trillion to "save the economy". So where will a big chunk of the money go? To Fannie Mae, of course.

$75 billion is slated to be handed to the very organization that was at the heart of creating the housing & economic crisis in which America now finds itself.

This is "hope and change"? Is anyone paying attention? Anyone? ... Bueller?
Email ItEmail It | Print ItPrint It | CommentsComments (0) | TrackbacksTrackbacks (0) | Flag as offensiveFlag as Offensive

Milton Friedman vs. Phil Donahue

3 guesses who comes out on top. The first two guesses don't count.



HT: Roger Kimball @ Roger's Rules
Email ItEmail It | Print ItPrint It | CommentsComments (2) | TrackbacksTrackbacks (0) | Flag as offensiveFlag as Offensive