Full body scans

Of course this won't happen in the United States.

The revelation that airport security staff are completely abusing any notion of the professionalism promised by authorities by printing out and circulating images of naked body scans should set alarm bells ringing, especially in light of the fact that such images of minors break child pornography laws. British authorities have made it mandatory for travelers to submit to the naked body scanners when asked and have overturned previous rules that prevented under 18’s from passing through the devices.

Good thing they call it climate change (part III)

(click to enlarge)

That's a big increase....

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius takes on Anthem/Blue Cross in California. If the rate increases truly averaged 39% that's a damn big jump. A couple of possibilities come to mind:

1. Anthem/BC is basically doing a bait and switch to bring in customers
2. California added a number of new state mandates requiring coverage for certain procedures/conditions that caused the increase in rates.
3. A combination of 1 & 2

I look forward to Anthem/Blue Cross's response.

Colorado going where the money is

The State of Colorado is considering taxing on-line purchases. There are some privacy issues with the proposed law that I find troubling. They also expect a legal challenge if the law is passed. To show how disconnected they lawmakers are...

If the bill becomes law, fiscal analysts expect it will bring in $4.7 million in the first full year of collections. It won't be pure profit though. The state estimates it will have to spend $40,000 in the first year to pay for the expected lawsuit and $91,584 to pay for two employees -- one to investigate retailers and build a database to track information and the other to help with policy and legal research to respond to the potential lawsuit.

$40,000 for a lawsuit? FORTY THOUSAND DOLLARS? Hell, it would cost that much just to have it thrown out of court. These guys are idiots if the believe that BS. HOW STOOPID DO THEY THINK THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS? (yeah, I know... don't answer that)

Also, two employes cost $91,584? That seems on the low side and doesn't sound like it takes into account benefits like health insurance.

The case for natural gas

I saw this Mad Money interview between Jim Cramer and Congressman John Sullivan (R) from Oklahoma while exercising on the elliptical machine this evening.

Global warming irony

NOAA: Blizzard Rearranges Climate Change Announcement.

Another 20" for Washington, DC.

Alert, someone tell RFK, Jr.

Where is Algore, hibernating?

Lionel and Roger have some tough, but fair questions for the filmmakers of An Inconvenient Truth about inaccuracies in their Academy Award winning film. They've been invited to respond, but so far nothing.

Migrating to lighter beers....

damn, I like the darker stuff.

Aiming at a very narrow slice of the market

Audi that is.

I suspect, though, that Audi was aiming at a very narrow slice of the market — those people who can afford to buy an Audi and who want to achieve the sanctimony of the driver at the end. In that sense, it’s entirely successful. Bear in mind that it’s that narrow market that wants to impose the Green Police solution on the rest of us.

(emphasis added - ed)
Here's a Coloradoan (actually a Longmont residence who should be living in Boulder by the sounds of it), Hunter Livens telling us what a beautiful world it will be when the green thought police take over.

Speaking of a beautiful world...

Needless to say, I can't wait.

Census

Michelle takes on the reckless census spending.

A website called MyTwoCensus.com keeps track of various census idiocy including Michael Steel and the RNC's idiotic fundraising mailer that imitates a census form.

MyTwoCensus.com feels that Michael Steele and the National GOP’s use of a mailer (click here to see a PDF version of what was sent to millions of households) that tries to emulate a 2010 Census form is immoral, unethical, and potentially illegal. And it will come back to bite the GOP in their own butts.

I agree and Erika Stutzman at the Daily Camera also took a deserved swipe at the RNC.

Here's the pdf of the RNC mailer.

Good thing they call it climate change (part II)