Chinese Tequila?

I have come to accept that almost everything comes from China. But seriously, are we really ready for Chinese tequila?

I am not a huge fan of tequila (ever since a horrible incident in 1995 involving at least a dozen shots of Cuervo and a similar number of Coronas) but I understand its mystique. I don’t know too many people that would say they really like tequila, but they still drink it (often to excess). There is something about the Mexican origins that invoke our internal images of sweaty bars in tough border towns or crazy nights in Cozumel that makes tequila a top selling liquor in the United States.

Now, Mexican tequila makers are feeling threatened by Chinese makers. While it seems a shame that China might wipe out a Mexican staple export, it also seems unlikely. I have not seen Budweiser sales replaced with Chinese beer. I seriously doubt Chinese tequila will take the place of Mexican tequila. The image of a skanky Chinese bar in Shanghai simply does not fit the image of tequila.

Don’t worry Mexico, you will always be our favorite image of skanky tequila bars here in America.

Your tequila sales are safe.

Firefighters as terrorist hunters?

A new plan is in the works to make firefighters the new detectives in search of potential terrorists in the United States.

One reason is that firefighters do not need warrants to enter a home and conduct a search. Therefore, they can identify a potential terrorist if they see a suspicious book, map, firearms, flight manuals, or little or no furniture other than a bed or mattress. Presumably, this would be during the normal home entry to save lives that they would normally do.

First of all, I would like to point out that training firefighters to be cops is not likely to identify terrorists as much as falsely accuse law abiding gun owners, flight students, and other Americans that should not be harassed. Lets face it, databases are not overly descriptive. When some gung-ho fireman makes a potential terrorist report, is there any real chance that this will not make the big terror suspect databases? That means a lot more non-terrorists will be on watch lists and no-fly lists than would be.

Also, the firefighters should be very wary of this breach of trust with the American people. If they actually stumble upon a real terrorist, odds are the terrorist will not look at them as lifesavers when they enter their home. Now firefighters will have to worry about being attacked or killed by the terrorists when they enter a home to save lives. How will firemen protect themselves? Does this mean firefighters should carry guns too?

Here is the original article.

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**WordPress.com Political Blogger Allianc**

“Friends” revisited again

As many of you know I like to give credit to new links to me and bloggers that take the time to comment on the Brick. I usually do this during a dry spell when I have nothing to write (or just busy) or when I am too frustrated to put it into words. Right now is one of those two times…read the paper, you decide.

Links to the greatest blog on the planet (me):

Gunaticts.com
Patrick Ruffini
Ft. Hard Knox
Paul Fane’s Blog
Future with Ron Paul 2008
U.S. CONSTITUTIONALIST
The Boys Wear Pants, Men Wear Trousers Blog
T
2008 Presidential Election
Future with Ron Paul 2008

Comments:

SexyCoolSuperSpy
DPK Public Relations
oldephartteintraining
Total Diatribe
Absolute Moral Authority
debtprison.net
Fragments of Memories
Thunk Different

Happy Turkey Day

Cartoon found here.

What did the mother turkey say to her disobedient children?

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For answer

Dark Horse declared by GQ

GQ released their list of 2007 Men of the Year honorees. One 2008 Presidential candidate was mentioned… Ron Paul!

He is listed as the “dark horse”, man of the year. I looked up “dark horse” in wikipedia to confirm what it meant…

“A dark horse candidate is one who is nominated unexpectedly, without previously having been discussed or considered as a likely choice.“

So I guess the editors of GQ are making their prediction for the Republican nomination. I knew I liked that magazine.

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**WordPress.com Political Blogger Allianc**

I met a martyr and didn’t know it

Mehdi Shahbazi once pumped Shell Oil gasoline for 37 years for a privately owned gas station in Marina California. After Hurricane Katrina, he recognized that oil companies were making an enormous profit on the backs of consumers. This was what he considered un-earned profits that were taking advantage of the average consumer. He fought back

Mehdi started with a wooded sign at his station that said “Consumers’ pain is Big Oil’s unearned profit! To oppose it see cashier.”

Not surprising, Shell fought back and closed down the pumps (the part they did own) and put a fence around them.

The battle lasted for months. He lost his condo, his business and his savings trying to fight for his freedom of speech and against the corruption of Big Oil. He set up a website to help spread his message to the average consumer called pumpinmad.com.

In a last ditch effort, he began a hunger strike last June. The liquid only diet was tough on the 65-year-old and ended with his death in August.

I personally met him last fall when I stopped in to buy a soda from his store (pumps were closed but he maintained the store). Turned out his power was off so he couldn’t take a credit card. He told me to take the soda and pay him next time I was in town! This from a guy who was living in his van because of near bankruptcy.

Whether you believe in his message and his fight against corporate corruption or not, at least recognize his dedication. He fought to the end.

100% Lead Free

I came across this logo on a website selling toys. Amazing how this is becoming part of the advertising hook…

First of all, I want to say that this is a sad state of affairs that advertisers are using “not made in China” as a selling point. I say it is sad because that means most stuff is still made in China and we should have all stopped buying that crap months ago. I admit, I do it too. I try to see “made in China” as a warning label but then I look at the price tag and they get me.

Although I can’t make you (or me) stop buying Chinese products; I can guarantee that the contents of this blog were not made from Chinese products and is 100% lead free. I don’t even speak Chinese.

Another “what if” for Pakistan

Pakistan is in a bit of turmoil lately…

A declared state of emergency, delayed elections and a general democratic crisis is all over the news. This is important because Washington has backed Musharraf for a few years (since around 2001) and they have nuclear weapons. But what about India?

India and Pakistan have been at odds over their border region for decades. The radical Muslims in Pakistan hate the Hindus even more than they hate other non-Muslims. The radical Hindus aren’t exactly fond of Muslims. They have fought a couple of wars (with real no resolution) over Kashmir region. The most recent was the Kargil War (that took place between May and July 1999 in the Kargil district of Kashmir). There was concern at the time that it could escalate into a nuclear exchange. But that war was over territory only and not over ideology.

What would India do if a radical Muslim government is established in Pakistan? If they see a big enough threat from radicals in Pakistan, they could see it as grounds for preemption. Nuke Pakistan’s nukes before Pakistan can nuke India’s nukes.

And what would the rest of the world do? The same thing we all did the last time Pakistan and India fought a war… not a damn thing.

Green activists missing the point

We all know that Toyota’s Prius is the great green hope for the world with its 48 mpg magic. Now some environmentalists are protesting Toyota for “selling out” because they oppose legislation to mandate better fuel efficiency for all cars and light-duty trucks.

First of all, Toyota is a company with the same goal as every other company on the planet… making a profit. The employees, owners and stockholders expect nothing less. They also should expect little more and anyone else is foolish to think so. Of course they would oppose such a law because it would force every other car maker to muscle their way into Toyota niche market. The Prius owns the hybrid market, but that would be lost if everybody was doing it. It makes no sense for Toyota to support the legislation.

Second, if you want to see better fuel efficiency then you better not complain about high gas prices! The reason it is hard to find a used Prius for sale (I was looking for one a few months ago but settled for something else) is because we are all sick of paying over $50 every time we fill up. As the cost of gas goes up, the demand for good fuel efficiency will rise too. Give it a few years and Detroit will either get it or be replaced by other manufacturers.

So don’t blame Toyota for your disappointment. Blame yourself for believing a corporate automobile manufacturer could be more than what it is.

Ron Paul on Face the Nation

Ron Paul was on Face the Nation this this morning. It was a nice summary of his policies and the campaign.

Really good interview. Here is the link.