NYC “9/11”-style “photo-op”
Air Force One buzzes Manhattan, and we’re told it’s a DOD photo op. And yet, the one photo that’s released is pretty damn crappy. A major case of CYA (usually the way to bet in D.C.), or an attempt at … Continue reading →
Confucius, Œc. Vol.
Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu.
America = the Government
Or so the Post seems to say in the beginning of an editorial on Metro: METRORAIL IS nicknamed “America’s subway,” and with good cause: Forty percent of its rush hour riders are government employees. Sigh. Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent … Continue reading →
Mark Steyn follows the Mandarin
In describing the hard left’s enthusiasm for stifling dissent from their tenets. As usual, he’s very good. So supporting “internationalism,” “multilateralism,” abortion and racial quotas means you’re “moderate” and “nonideological”? And anyone who feels differently is an extreme ideologue? Absolutely. … Continue reading →
Wanna make some money?
Maybe invest with these guys (article via FotG, Dancin’ David Frum), who claim that in the 11,000 or so trading days since 1965, the market has risen fifty times higher on days when Congress is not in session. While that’s … Continue reading →
Happy birthday, F.A. Hayek
One of the Volgi’s major intellectual influences was born in Vienna 110 years ago today. Alles Gute zum Geburtstag, und ruhen Sie in Frieden. (Although I suspect he’s spinning in his grave over today’s economic policies.) Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask … Continue reading →
An old-time hippie bashing
So, for the Czar, Mandarin, and Ghettoputer, all of whom have advocated at various times that hippie beating be made an Olympic sport, happy anniversary of the Hard Hat Riots! Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept … Continue reading →
Europasiegestag
Happy V.E. Day to everyone, and a special thanks to the brave men who liberated Europe. V.E. Day is truly a celebration the heirs of the Allies and the Germans can share, given the spectacular success of the Federal Republic … Continue reading →
Khokkey!
Your Volgi offers a big слава слава слава! shout-out to Nikolai Khabibulin (whom the Volgi has admired since his days with the Jets) and the Hocks, as well as the Czar (and, I’m pretty sure, the Mandarin) and the entire … Continue reading →
Amir Taheri on the Islamic Republic of Iran
Terrific interview. His pointing to the interests of the Iranian nation-state versus the revolutionary ideology of the Islamic Republic is absolutely crucial and correct. And at the moment, the revolutionary strain is in the ascendant. Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent … Continue reading →
The Porto Papacy?
Man, sounds like we almost had the first Papal decampment since Avignon in World War Two. Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →What’s wrong with the new Star Trek?
The Onion is on the case, as the Czar pointed out to me this morning. I’m surprised GorT wasn’t featured. Trekkies Bash New Star Trek Film As ‘Fun, Watchable’ Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. … Continue reading →
I didn’t know there were girls on the Bears!
So I saw this sentence in an article on Caps’ young’un Karl Alzner and figured it might need a little editing. “Of course, he texted a photo of himself holding the ball to his girlfriend and Hershey teammate Sami Lepisto.” … Continue reading →
Re: Michelle, Ma Belle
Has it come to this pass that we have to specifically single out and praise a First Lady for acting like all 44 of her predecessors? Or that silence about a person of the opposite party implies contempt? If so, … Continue reading →
Coming to a hospital near you? (2)
Socialized medicine! It‘s for the children! And poor, helpless old people! Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →The auto mess gets messier.
“Not since Renault teamed up with AMC to bring you Le Car…” Now that’s what you want to hear when you’re talking about an auto plan! Excuse to post a picture of Le Car—or, wait, a Le Car? Un Car? … Continue reading →
Democrats and School Choice
Remember next time they’re trying to sell you “green” energy or socialized medicine “for the children” or “for the little guy.” They don’t care about people, only power over them and the ability to reward client groups. Children? Eff ’em. … Continue reading →
Just to poke the Czar & the Mandarin
Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →Speaking of hockey.
Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →Da Hocks
Since when do the ‘Hawks stink, ‘Puter? Well, since Bill Wirtz was around, but he’s dead ‘n’ gone, they’re even in the second round of the playoffs, and looking like one of the franchises poised to dominate the league for … Continue reading →
Write your own dialogue
Click to embiggen. Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →When they say, “Keep your morals off my science!”
Beware. Via Jonah @ LF. Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →Souter retiring?
Well, that’s a wash. Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →Kate Winslet…
… keepin’ it real, yo. Excuse to post this picture? Hellz yeah. Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →Would You Buy A Used Car Industry from This Man?
Asks Douglas Holtz-Eakin. Let’s turn the clock back to the 2008 campaign and ask the question: If Barack Obama had run for office promising to deliver one-third of the Big Three automakers to the unions and drop another one-third on … Continue reading →
But, wait, I’m self-employed, so that makes…
…ME the villain! Just remember, it’s always the highest-ranking white guy in a suit. Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →Welcome, too…
…to Mike DeSisto, about whom we know little. If Google can be trusted—and it can’t—he could be a square-dance caller, a bathroom renovator, or a deceased Gestalt-based-education guru. The Gormogons admire mysteriousness. Whoever you are, Mike, thanks for your interest … Continue reading →
Tervetuola, Paavo!
The Gormogons, Finnophiles all, extend a welcome to (we think) our first official non-American “follower,” Paavo from Oulu. Terve terve, ystävä! Hope you visit often, and bring some of your beautiful countrywomen with you. The Czar has a thing for … Continue reading →
He shoots…
Photo credit: Pete Silver, Off Wing Photo. Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →Mr. Justice de Vere, Lord Oxford
Ha! Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →Horatio Comments on the News
Via here. Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →Over-educated, dissatisfied…
…and lots of ’em: China Faces a Grad Glut After Boom at Colleges. This can’t end badly. I mean, disaffected intelligentsi have been an unalloyed blessing to, e.g., Russia, Italy, Germany, and the Arab world. Remember, there’s a reason that … Continue reading →
The Press: Scourge of the Powerful!
[White House Press Secretary] Robert Gibbs gave White House reporters a “strong A” Friday for their work over the first 100 days of the new administration. And why wouldn’t he? Evening Newscasts Have Covered Obama More Than Bush & Clinton … Continue reading →
Theodore Dalrymple on Paul Hollander…
…two of my favorite writers. With their memories of the sixties, when to be young was very heaven, they still believe that an oppositional stance in pursuit of perfection is virtuous in itself—indeed, is the prime or sole content of … Continue reading →
But remember children, if you don’t recycle that…
…juicebox, the WORLD WILL END. And your pre-1985 children’s books will KILL YOU! Just ignore this. Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →The end justifies the means
The end: socialized medicine The means: simply imposing it, without having campaigned on it or letting it be debated, much less voted on. That’s the proctalgia you feel. Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →Mark Steyn on TEOTWAWKI
Hey, what’s the big deal? Britain and France have been on the geopolitical downward slope for most of the last century and life still seems pretty agreeable. Well, yes. But that’s in part because, when a fading Britannia handed the … Continue reading →
P.J. doing some quality shtick…
… in Australia. When charming leftists stick their nose into things they don’t understand they become ratchet-jawed purveyors of monkey-doodle and baked wind. They are piddlers upon merit, beggars at the door of accomplishment, thieves of livelihood, envy coddling tax … Continue reading →
Happy ANZAC day to our Antipodean readers
Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives… you are now lying in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore rest in peace. There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets where they lie side by … Continue reading →
KGB up, GRU down
In another manifestation of the KGB ascendancy under Vlad the Bad, the Chekists’ traditional rival in the intelligence community, the GRU [Главвное разведительное управление, “Chief Intelligence Directorate [of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation”] has … Continue reading →
And I.F. Stone worked for the KGB
Once again, the fevered lies of denial are swept away. Hiss, guilty. The Rosenbergs, guilty. Stone, guilty. Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →Happy Earth Day!
Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →Confucius says: You don’t run down your country in front of foreigners.
Is your Œcumenical Volgi’s prècis of Dorothy Rabinowitz’s WSJ article today. Indeed. One of the first moments when your Volgi recalls having to defend an unpopular political position was in Germany in the 1980s when, in a high school, he … Continue reading →
It’s a “Your mother sews socks that smell” for the 21st century!
Via Warming Glow. Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →Yet ANOTHER reason not to stop the F-22 program
Bill Sweetman writes, under the great headline: F35 H4X0R3D ZOMG! The Wall Street Journal reports today that part of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program’s computer network has been penetrated and compromised, most likely by China-based intelligence operatives. Key points … Continue reading →
Professional Catholics®
Kathy Shaidle on Maggie Gallagher‘s demolishing of the incompetents who staff most Catholic political groups: Exactly. Professional Catholics(tm) tend to be simpleminded, two-faced, passive aggressive, incompetent boobs. They do more harm than good and would really help their causes by … Continue reading →
The Amazing Catholic Bullshit Generator
By John Zmirak. Here’s how The Generator works: Presented with a complicated problem that requires balancing the interests of groups with competing claims, it will draw selectively on Biblical references and Church documents to churn out rhetoric that simultaneously:1) Clouds … Continue reading →
Moldova’s Potëmkin riots
From Anne Applebaum. Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →Bear Watching: Moldova again.
Stephen Schwartz also sees it as a bellwether. Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →Coming to a hospital near you?
Families described some neglected patients at the hospital drinking water from flower vases because they were so thirsty — it was apparently beyond the interest or the competence of the nursing staff or any supervisors to get them a glass … Continue reading →
Ever Closer It Comes
Kilmer: Off the Ranch? Is Val Kilmer looking to fill his campaign coffers? The actor, a potential candidate for New Mexico’s governorship, has put his Santa Fe ranch on the market for $33 million. The 6,000-acre ranch, a fishery and … Continue reading →
Forget Britain. We have a new special relationship.
Crap, I won’t even buy gas from Citgo and my president is yukking it up with the hemisphere’s leading anti-American dictator, now that Fidel is ailing. My only hope for a backstory in this picture: …is that Chávez tried to … Continue reading →
Obama’s sermon on the mount…
…or his Recitation? Ghettoputer sent me Powerline’s astringent “Is Obama the Way?” (with the funny pregnant implication that “the Truth, and the Life,” are tacitly understood. What Sayyid Ghiṭṭaww al-Pyûtar pointed out was that Obama’s plan is “built upon five … Continue reading →
Someone got into Sid & Marty Krofft’s stash
A friend of a friend who worked for the Kroffts in the ’70s opined that half the coke in L.A. went through their office. Perhaps these folks were next door. It’s The New Zoo Revue, comin’ right at you… Hmm. … Continue reading →
China building up its navy
Couldn’t be any more upfront. We’ve told you so. And the U.S. Navy continues to shrink. Anchors away? Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →St. Joseph, pray for…that guy.
One of the little neighbor girls was over here the other day and we were talking about selling houses. She told me that she has an uncle who really needed a house to sell one time, and he’d heard something … Continue reading →
GUILTY! GUILTY! GUILTY!
Man, the headline here buries the lead on this one. In the forthcoming bombshell of a book by John Earl Haynes, Harvey Klehr and Alexander Vasseliev, Spies: The Rise and Fall of the KGB In America (Yale Univ. Press, 2009), … Continue reading →
Line of the day
James Lileks. Ghettoputer will be cross-stitching this into a sampler and throw pillow, soon to be available in the official Gormogons shop. Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →The Czar’s new hooptie
Described by the inimitable Reuben Johnson. Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →Snipers as Heroes
The great Stephen Hunter, who knows more about this stuff than you, writes: The three quick shots off the fantail of the USS Bainbridge that terminated the piracy incident in the Indian Ocean early Sunday night made a number of … Continue reading →
For the Czar
“Media Having Trouble Finding Right Angle On Obama’s Double-Homicide” Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →Yeats, Eliot & Steyn
Turning and turning in the widening gyreThe falcon cannot hear the falconer;Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhereThe ceremony of innocence is drowned;The best lack all conviction, while … Continue reading →
Eppur’ esiste.
So a while ago your Volgi off-handedly endorsed breaking up Congo-Kinshasa. Which, you know, he can do in his spare time, if he gets around to it. However, as the Volgi said, he ain’t no Africanist, so he’s not surprised … Continue reading →
Nice Kyrgyzstan update
Crucial times for a teetering democracy worried about Russification. Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →Pirates!
Mackubin Owens agrees with the Gormogons that pirates are hostis humani generis. Though it should go without saying that the Gormogons do not endorse burning Seminole villages. Just to be clear. And CEI says, “Bring back letters of marque!” Confucius, … Continue reading →
On the upside, we probably wouldn’t have to worry about global warming…
…for a few decades. Seems like Jonah’s quest for Airborne Laser Volcano Lancing (ALVL) remains timely. Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →Pirates, terrorists, et al.
In re the Somali pirates’ seizing a U.S.-flagged ship: while this puts more of an onus on us to act, it’s still a universal problem. If there were one thing that the UN, the “international community,” and all the enthusiasts … Continue reading →
Question for the Czar on Korean reunification
So, as in your scenario, North Korea falls apart. Obviously, South Korea is willing, on some level (on a spectrum of enthusiastically to grudgingly), to welcome its co-Hanguks back into the fold and to unify the peninsula under a democratic … Continue reading →
The Czar’s bad feeling.
Your Volgi knows what the Czar means. Your Volgi hopes he doesn’t have to say, “Confucius say: Told you so.” (For more, click the Moldova tag below.) Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →Re: Stupid Idea of the Day for Discussion
Actually, ’Puter, your Volgi would have very little problem in turning North Korea over to China—though why China would want them is another question altogether. Even if it is an encouragement of Chinese imperialism, I think it’s hard to argue … Continue reading →
Conservative gamine…
…NYT employee, and Red Eye regular S.E. Cupp pens a good piece on the Catholic vote in the wake of the Notre Dame contretemps. It’s a good piece, even it it uses “liturgy” where “litany” or simply “politics” might be … Continue reading →
Excellent trend
Courtesy of the estimable Jimmy Akin who reiterates some of the common-sense reason why handguns should be the last weapons you’d want to take away. If you’re a five-foot-one woman being stalked by an ex, or if you’re an eighty-year-old … Continue reading →
This would explain a lot
Brendan Donnelly @ WWTDD: I don’t know if I ever told you guys this but in 1995 at the Palace Hotel in Nidwalden, Switzerland, all the bloggers and traditional media had a meeting and we randomly drew a celebrity name … Continue reading →
The Gormogons will return to the negotiating table.
This is by no means a capitulation to the Iowegian menace, but rather part of a constructive engagement to encourage them to display more responsible behavior in the future. We’re cautiously optimistic that our package of monster-truck-rally tickets a U-Haul … Continue reading →
R.I.P., Mrs. O.
Mike Potemra relays the news that Keith Olbermann’s mother has died. Before Olbermann became a self-important, unhinged lunatic of a newsreader, he was a self-important deadpan sportscaster of genius whose work with Dan Patrick should be taught in Sportscasting School—which, … Continue reading →
The Final Battle: Illicit Sex vs. Licit Arms
Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →She’s in!
Welcome to our newest follower, long-time Friend of the Gormogons, Djinifer. Djinifer is a southern belle partial to One Holy Catholic & Apostolic Church, gourmet cooking, and confining unsuspecting dudes in her Love Dungeon. Though likely not all at the … Continue reading →
So why do they always shoot up schools, churches, and government buildings?
John Lott: Time after time multiple- victim public shootings occur in “gun free zones” — public places where citizens are not legally able to carry guns. The horrible attack today in Binghamton, New York is no different. Every multiple-victim public … Continue reading →
More superfantasticness from Hanzi Smatter
“Co-worker’s tattoo” Q: … She thinks it means “Bitch.”… A: What this woman tattooed 贱女 really means “cheap whore”. Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →Heh.
Funny, if true. Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →This is bad news.
According to Mike Goldfarb, the Missile Defense Agency is on the chopping block. Just in time for the Taepodong launch. Your Volgi doesn’t get this at all. If we need this crazy, giant “stimulus” spend-a-palooza, why can’t we spend on … Continue reading →
Line of the day
Well no shit [Malawi] turned [Madonna’s contested adoption request] down. Madonna is how villages in Africa picture the Devil. An old bony white woman, pale as a ghost, who swoops down from heaven in the belly of a metal bird … Continue reading →
Because nothing says, “I like Ike…
…the Supreme Allied Commander, President of the United States” like a crumpled ball of sheet metal! Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →Russian élite wondering if current arrangements are tenable?
Очень интересно. Свобода! Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →Aux armes, citoyens! [Updated]
Après le petit déjeuner! Belgium 1, France 0. Via Warming Glow. Update: Two more at Film Drunk. Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →Vampire follow-up
So now the original vampire writer guy defends himself in the exchange your Volgi linked to here. Verdict: La Caitlin in a walk. This guy is reading the text, she’s paying attention to the subtext. The subtext doesn’t trump the … Continue reading →
On Vampires
This is a slightly edited piece of personal correspondence in response to this piece and Jonah Goldberg’s post. For a great illustration of the Evil Vampire vs. Sexy Vampire, see this Final Girl post on 30 Days of Night. Also … Continue reading →
The Final Four
Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →No one will believe you’ve seen the winner of the Volgi’s bracket!
You could have cleaned up in Vegas, had you bet on them. Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →Re: Việt Nam
The kind words of the Czar notwithstanding, your Volgi is decidedly not a historian of Southeast Asia or the Vietnam War. And he’s in agreement with the Czar’s argument, in general, though he’d quibble with the word futile, given that … Continue reading →
Shocking upsets in the Volgi’s bracket
Click to enlarge. Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →Việt Nam
While heartily endorsing the Czar’s point here that technocratic methods lose wars, your Volgi will respectfully disagree with the Czar’s account of the Vietnam War, in that his readings seem to indicate that not only was the war winnable—Gen. Creighton … Continue reading →
Well, if you want it all high-falootin’ and, like, well-written…
I suppose you should buy the book under review here. On the other hand, you’ve already heard this argument made chez Gormogon recently. In a brilliant chapter on the history of science, Hart paints a very different picture, one that … Continue reading →
Greece vs. Babylon
Instead of the heartless faces of despots, the marble statue of a young girl playing knucklebones. The always-compelling Roger Sandall via Arts & Letters Daily. Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →BLACKWATERSHIP DOWN!
HOLY FRICKIN’ CRAP. This is completely insane. Also, it may be leading off the Gormogon Film Festival. Who knows. This is either completely appalling or the most incredible thing ever. Alas, it’s Japanese, so we’ll never be able to decide … Continue reading →
DP-J on Iran
A-yup. Whoever drafted President Obama’s public appeal to Iran has little or no idea about the way minds work out there. This gust of hot air spouting from the president of the United States was disconnected from reality, and so … Continue reading →
Ok, I know what “overseas” means.
And I know what a contingency is. And certainly, “operation” is easy enough to understand. But the lamely-labelled “Global War on Terror” is now the “Overseas Contingency Operation.” And that’s close to meaningless. “That thing we do abroad if or … Continue reading →
Tonight, He appeared to me on my TV!
Tomorrow, my tortilla shell! Via Buttle. Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →Danke schoen, as Wayne Newton likes to say
Thanks very much to the Gormogonical readership which, as of yesterday or so, numbers upwards of 54,000 over the life of the site. We know most of you are just here for the pictures of Hello Kitty & Rachel Weisz, … Continue reading →
Pause before taking that “free” socialized medicine and consider…
Fact No. 1: Americans have better survival rates than Europeans for common cancers. Fact No. 2: Americans have lower cancer mortality rates than Canadians. Fact No. 3: Americans have better access to treatment for chronic diseases than patients in other … Continue reading →