What if…

The foundation our government built its financial house of cards on was made of gray painted foam instead of concrete?

Billions of dollars of debt racked up by local Chinese governments during their investment sprees are likely to sour as the projects they finance near completion, Yin Zhongqing, a prominent Chinese lawmaker, said this week.

In an interview with Reuters Insider, Yin said local governments had incurred at least 10 trillion yuan ($1.5 trillion) of “hidden” debt, which they have concealed by creating thousands of investment vehicles that serve as borrowers.

Where is there a modern day Andrew Jackson?

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Insurance Mandate

I’m not talking about homosexual Geico agents.

I’m not even talking Obamacare.

I read something being discussed in the leftosphere after the murders in Tuscon.

He said it made more sense to sidestep the entire gun control controversy and instead pass state laws that require anyone who owns a gun to carry insurance. If they have risk factors (like teenagers in the house), their rates go up. If one of their kids sneaks a gun out of the house and gets caught, or uses it to commit a crime, the insurance gets canceled for some meaningful period of time — say, 10 years.

And if someone steals your gun and you don’t report it in a 24-hour window of you finding out, your insurance is suspended.

If you have a rifle and it’s only used for hunting, low rates. If you have a Glock and you carry it in an open-carry town or state, your rates will be very high — because odds are so much higher that innocent bystanders may get caught in a shootout.

Homeowners could be required to carry gun insurance as long as they’re still paying on a mortgage, because a gun accident or misuse could result in a large legal judgment against the house.

Oh yeah, and you have to buy coverage for each gun you own.

Now, thankfully, it is only being discussed as an “idea” on the leftosphere. But what if Obamacare is found to be hunky-dory constitutionally? These folks do meet with the A-Lister Democrats quite often.

I do like the idea of every home having a safe for their firearms, but there is no way I’d want it mandated. I also think that CCW insurance is a good idea, but likewise, I would not want it mandated.

I lurk at a number of moderate-to-hard leftist blogs and sites regularly. Honestly, I’d estimate the number to be near the number rightosphere sites I visit. I do it to keep an eye out for crap like this.

My biggest source of entertainment/lament this last week has been scrolling through their posts, which have been alternating between “We’re the true defenders of the Bill of Rights” self-congratulation and the calls to restrict individual rights in regards to saving life and defending property.

Posted in The Left is Never Right | 2 Comments

Football Heaven


Wifey, the football fanatic of the family, is in an ecstatic state: giant-screen HD playoffs, viewed supinely from a leather sofabed while sipping champagne and munching various Emeril Lagasse signature dishes, including these amazing barbecued shrimp. The whole experience brings to mind nothing less than a Roman orgy — improved!

Lagasse’s Stadium at the Palazzo is really worth a visit in your lifetime if you’re a sports fan.

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SHOT-to-Be


Watch this space: come Tuesday morning this will be packed solid with people. And this is just the SHOT entry hall…


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Wolfgang Puck can Cook

…or at least create fantastic recipes his hirelings can execute. This flatiron steak was one of the best I’ve tasted; the wife’s spare-rib ravioli tasted just as good as you’d think.


These rave reviews have nothing to do with the fact the Sangria (light and crisp) makes it three drinks I’ve had with dinner; really, it’s all excellent food.

Here, I will prove it by typping a phrase withoyt ussing the backspace key. See!?,: i am not inrvritated at alk.
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Bon Appetit!


On the right, a Lagavulin 16-year-old peaty and smoky but smooth too. Should go well with my steak.

At left, a Glenmorangie 15-year-old. Smooth and sweet. I’m having that with the potato-leek soup! Yum!

The oysters at rear are the wife’s. Rawrr!

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Serenade

We’re dining “al Fresco” in the cavernous faux “open air” underground replica of St Mark’s square in Venice. It’s big enough pigeons live here and fly about!


In the background you can see the violinist and clarinettist performing “Torna a Sorrento” and other classic pieces.
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View From Our Window


We are here at the Palazzo, suite 808 (boom! boom!) on the 26th floor. SHOT Show doesn’t start for a few days, but we are already having fun.

I upgraded the suite this year.


It’s one of the better hotel rooms we’ve stayed in; we are quite pleased.

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A bit of history

and social commentary

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Watch out Hockey fans

Or the New York Times will be calling this “heated, over the top, political rhetoric.”

If you haven’t seen this yet, watch the whole thing.

For everyone else, “the moment” is around 01:30.

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