Watcher's Council "End of Irrational Exuberance" Edition....by Michael Haltman at TPC

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The Watcher's Council: Over 30 articles from some of the top conservative bloggers around the world and all in one easy to read location!

If it's Wednesday (and sometimes early Thursday) that can mean only one thing! That the time has come for the weekly collection of article nominations at the Watcher's Council to make themselves known!

This week’s Watcher's Council article offerings are dedicated to that other recent offering, the Wall Street bomb aka Facebook that was one of the most anticipated  initial public offerings possibly of all time.

It was an offering so hot and sizzling that the number of shares being sold was raised along with the price to over 400 million and $38 respectively.

Incredibly for some although predictably for others, Facebook is now trading at or close to a 2-handle which, for those who received stock in the offering at $38 and didn't flip it or who paid above that number to get a piece of "internet history", is a quick and significant loss.

Some pundits are calling this deal and the lead underwriter Morgan Stanley an unmitigated disaster due to the stocks performance.

I say isn't it the job of the underwriter to maximize the amount of money received by the company and not to leave money on the table so that the institutional investors can clean-up by flipping the stock at the open?

Damn straight it is!

And now for the exuberance of the Watcher's Council, details of which can be found at The Political Commentator here.

News............

Iran propping up Syria's dwindling cash reserves

Would the HHS mandate have forced Mother Teresa to fund contracept​ion and sterilizat​ion?

Turkey pushes U.S. for sale of drones

If Conservatives were as smart as they thought they were— they’d still be in charge.

Iranians Taking Solace in the Past

Teen whose teacher said he could be jailed for speaking ill of Obama speaks out

The Free Exercise cases Sebelius doesn't know

Afghan NDS breaks up multiple terror plots across Afghanistan

Eurozone warned 'severe recession' looming

EPA Overreach Threatens Entire U.S. Economy

4 witnesses revised accounts in Trayvon Martin case

Tainted Money from Bain Capital?

In Cuba, Mystery Shrouds the Fate of an Undersea Internet Cable

Steak Patents: Coming Soon Courtesy of Oklahoma State University

Air Force One airfare: $179,750 per hour

Are You Ready For “Everybody Blog About Brett Kimberlin Day”, May 25?

How Cash Keeps Poor People Poor, Digital Money Is Future

The Left and Con Men

Total B.S.? Naomi Schaefer Riley on the College Education Scam

The IPO From Hell?

Falklands commemorates 'landing day'

Egypt decides between army and mosque

Angela Merkel 'astonished' by austerity debate as Germany left increasingly isolated on eurobonds

Queen guarded by Canadian Mounties today

Iran and world powers meet hoping to silence 'drums of war' with nuclear talks

Bomb found in Buenos Aires theatre

UK children more likely to be 'illiterate' than Australian or Canadian children, despite higher spending

Canada cannibal says he believed victim was an alien

This is not an exit strategy for Afghanistan, it's a surrender strategy

The Catholic Church has declared war on Obamacare. This could spell the end of Obama

North Korea ramps up work at nuclear site, satellite shows

Emanuela Orlandi 'was kidnapped for sex parties for Vatican police'

Huge Royal Navy warship section sets sail in time-lapse

Sect or Mainstream Movement? The Two Faces of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood

Frenchwoman on plane: I've got a bomb in my body

UN Agenda 21 and the Military

Born in Kenya? Let's tackle this one, shall we?

Belgistan? Sharia Showdown Looms in Brussels

Pensacola Blue Wahoos to add new scoreboard, seats to waterfront stadium

Army Readies Its Mammoth Spy Blimp for First Flight

Wednesday Wenches...........

A guide to the ongoing disaster called Fukushima Reactor 4!....by Michael Haltman at TPC

Seismic Activity Near Fukushima

The Fukushima nuclear power plant is already a Japanese disaster, but the rest of the world is by no means out of the woods!

Recently I posted an article that made the simple statement, "Remembering Fukushima".

Why is it necessary to "remember" a nuclear disaster that surpasses the marker of all nuclear accidents, Chernobyl?

Is it because the danger has passed and it's therefore out of the news, or is it because the potential danger Fukushima Reactor 4 poses is so great that to discuss it would be to create to much fear and anxiety over a problem that may have no reasonable solution?

The use of "terms" can sometimes be an exercise in hyperbole! And then again sometimes not!

• The term "meltdown" is used loosely to describe the mess of the financial crisis in the EU.
• "Potential disaster" is used to describe full implementation of Obamacare or the possibility for an Obama second-term in office.
• "Hopelessness" is rightly used to describe the U.S. economy and level of joblessness.
• Crisis is used to describe the Iranian nuclear weapons program!

Read the reast of the article at The Political Commentator here.

Conservatives Fight Back Against Leftist Intimidation

This story keeps getting bigger.

I have an update today: "Brett Kimberlin Death Threats Against Robert Stacy McCain?"

Follow that link for the latest.


My previous entries are here: "Criminal Attacks on Conservative Bloggers: Update on Brett Kimberlin Intimidation Network," and "Convicted Terrorist Brett Kimberlin and the Left's Political (and Criminal) Intimidation Network."

Lots of activities in the works. See, "Are You Ready For “Everybody Blog About Brett Kimberlin Day”, May 25? (Video)"

IMAGE CREDIT: Dan Collins, "The Big Cojones: Stacy McCain vs. Speedway Bomber Brett Kimberlin."

On the Record: Bibi Passes the Fail-safe Point................from Dan Friedman

[There’s no denying that Bibi has often disappointed us in the past. His word has not necessarily been his bond. But it seems to me, on the matter of Iran, Netanyahu has too much skin in the game to back off now. Either he will be remembered as a great Jewish dissembler, or as a plain-speaking Jew who went all out to save his country and his people. df]

VIA Israel’s Government Press Office:

Following is an excerpt from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's remarks this evening (Monday), 21.5.12, at a Civil Service Commission event:

"In recent weeks, I have heard those who have cast doubt on Iran's intentions. They said that when Iran's leaders declare that they will wipe Israel off the map, they really mean something else in Persian. It would be interesting to hear what they think of the Iranian Chief-of-Staff's remarks yesterday: 'Iran is committed to the complete destruction of Israel.' This is clear and simple. Iran's goals are clear. It wants to annihilate Israel and is developing nuclear weapons to realize this goal.

Iran threatens Israel, peace and the entire world. Against this malicious intention, the world's leading countries must show determination, not weakness. They do not need to make concessions to Iran. They need to set clear and unequivocal demands before it: Iran must halt all enrichment of nuclear material. It must remove from its territory all nuclear material that has been enriched up until now and it must dismantle the underground nuclear facility in Qom. Only thus will it be possible to ensure that Iran will not have a nuclear bomb. This is Israel's position; it has not changed and it will not change."

###

Tax-Men in Black: Higher Taxes are Bad For Will Smith and the Poor

'Men in Black' star Will Smith was asked on French TV about whether he would be willing to pay more taxes, especially at the levels proposed by French President Hollande. Wait until you hear what Smith said about paying a 75% income tax. Zo tells Will Smith why higher taxes are not good for the government or the poor. Hear more.

Hiding in plain sight 1-2-3?...............from Rico

In a classic bit of 'maskirova' (deception) JP Morgan has been admitting a $2 billion trading 'loss' publicly.
- Gee, so honest and forthcoming of JPM's Jamie Dimon to do this, eh? Way to "man up!"

And $2 billion is 'chump change' on Wall Street and in Washington these days, right?
- No sweat. No problem. Nothing to see here. Now move along and just ignore the chalk outline on the sidewalk.

How about if a bigger 'loss' is hiding in plain sight, and this is mere sleight of hand? A distraction?
- Would America's "best run bank"* lie? Say it ain't so! Not Jamie! Not Blythe!

Let's peel this onion 1-2-3:
1. Today's "The Independent" is noting that JPM's 'losses' could have already mushroomed to $7 billion.
2. JPM abruptly stopped its share repurchases today.
3. Page 73 of the recent NY Fed stress test of JPM [attached] implies a statutory loss threshhold of $31.5 billion.
- The highlighted section is the gating condition for how much pain the Fed will permit JPM to have before share repurchases are not allowed because its capital structure is endangered/impaired.

Conclusion? JPM's 'real' potential losses exceed the $31.5 billion loss-limit?
- Nice. Well done lads! Publicly admitting a $2 billion loss which is actually somewhere North of $32 billion in all probability?

Crying from that onion yet?
- What you don't know CAN hurt you....especially if you're a Muppet investing in JPM!

*Barack Obama speaking to the White House stenography corps (aka the MSM) from the shallow end of the gene pool about JPM.

From The Broadside Blog............

Alien Life

H/T DJ Elliott

Late News..........

West Point's standards have really gone to hell...

Inside Baghdad's Sharaf Prison

Romney campaign eyeing Wisconsin if recall flops

Teacher tells students they can be arrested for badmouthin​g Obama

A Moment of Purple Heart Zen...

WaPo/ABC poll shows dead heat between Romney, Obama

Study: USA does well in wealth, not so much in happiness

Inside Job: Facebook I.P.O. Shows the System Is Broken

SpaceX rocket blasts off for space station

Gridlock eases in many metro areas

'Donkey rape' sparks tribal massacre in Yemen

Man Sticks Up Gas Station With Tree Branch

Easter island heads have bodies!??

‘Hologram-​like’ Helpers Materializ​ing at New York-Area Airports Soon

Consent, Revolution, God and Honor

BAE Systems wins £328m submarine contract

Egypt to deploy 150,000 troops to ensure security

Iraq warns Turkey over Kurdistan pipeline deal

Retired Gen. James Cartwright offers a fresh view on defense

Bedtime Totty............

Cartoon Round Up....

Must Reads!!

• IAEA’s Amano expects to sign deal with Iran “quite soon”
• Amitai Etzioni: Why we should beware of “successful” Iran talks
• Senate adopts tougher sanctions against Iran
• GsGf: Yemen Blitz
• WaPo: NATO’s blind spot against intervening in Syria
• Wings Over Iraq: World Updates and daily Defense Briefing
• NATO formally agrees to Afghanistan transition in 2013
• Yemen bombing shows AQAP has expanded its reach
• Chinese counterfeit electronics “flood” US military aircraft
• Navy strains to handle China and Iran at the same time
• Amb. Ryan Crocker and Jeffrey Feltman to step down
• Anders Aslund: Russia’s surprisingly liberal new cabinet

Will Inboden writes: Obama campaigned claiming he would improve America's global image, but his treatment of allies has undermined our nation's credibility. In a way, Obama's international reputation seems to mirror his domestic reputation. At both home and abroad, personal affection for him far exceeds approval for his policies. He has been successful at cultivating his personal image in the world, but in the process America's standing has been diminished. – Shadow Government

Buying a parking spot in NYC? That'll be $1 million please!...by Michael Haltman at TPC

What will $1 million buy in New York City? How about a 12' wide, 23' deep and 15' high parking spot!

Is this merely supply and demand or a case of decadence, thy name is NYC!

This concrete slab is located at 66 East 11th Street in a building where the penthouse apartment will have an asking price of $38.8 million.

The garage will be offered at a price of $1 million and probably sell for well above in a bidding war likely to develop...

Read the story at The Political Commentator here.

Bonus Babe............

Pic Dump.............

Lemon Bucket Orkestra - Balkan Station Romanian Tour 2012

"Seminar" by: Lemon Bucket Orkestra
Live on Air Canada Flight AC 876




H/T Jeff

NewsBusted 5/22/12

News.............

CDR Salamander​: Battleship​: the Review

Egyptian poll: Romney 73, Obama 25

IRAQ VETERAN: 'Have I Thought About Committing Suicide? Yes. I Almost Did Twice'

Could the Dalai Lama really have been poisoned with a scarf?

Fearless meerkats like to stand on photographers' heads

Al Nusrah front claims latest suicide attack in Syria

Experts explain why PSA test is not worth risk

Equality and Natural Rights

Was Columbus secretly a Jew?

Sir, you need to find a bigger towel

Russia 2045's human avatar vs. robot arm helping paralyzed woman drink coffee

Steve Winwood at Hangout Music Festival

Nato sets 'irreversible' roadmap to withdrawing troops from Afghanistan

Up she rises: first woman to command a warship takes post today

Outrage at auction of Ronald Reagan's blood

Mali's interim president beaten unconscious by mob

Yemen cancels military parade after 100 soldiers killed in suicide bombing

New Jersey woman 'too hot' to work at lingerie company

Former Serbian ultranationalist known as the 'undertaker' wins country's presidency

Entire French village finally auctioned off for price of one-bedroomed Paris flat

MoD to control London airspace during Olympics

'Stroke of luck': man survives falling 54 metres over Niagara Falls

Social conservatism? Look to Labour, not the Tories

Tuesday Totty...............

Sexy Bar Refaeli Tops Maxim's Hotties for 2012!

Boy, the dudes at Maxim really went all out on this one.

Bar Refaeli's practically nude!

See: "Whoa! Bar Refaeli Tops Maxim's 2012 Hot 100!"



And Hometown Hotties winner Dominique Storelli topless!

Dharun Ravi sentenced for Thoughtcrime: 30 days, plus homosexual indoctrination

For those of you following the case of Dharun Ravi, the Rutgers University student who "spied" on his roommate via webcam, the judge handed down his sentence this morning.

See WyBlog: Dharun Ravi sentenced to 30 days in jail, and 300 hours of homosexual indoctrination.

FIGHT CLUB! New Trayvon Martin Video Surfaces!

YouTube pulled the user's account where the clip was first discovered, but not before a number of others made screen caps of the account and saved the video to hard drive.

See it here: "Trayvon Martin Fight Club Video."

That's a newly uploaded YouTube clip, and who knows, but that might be taken down since the implications for the George Zimmerman trial are devastating.

Plus: "New Evidence in Trayvon Martin Case."

PJ News Break: Iran Threatens Israel, and Facebook's Zuckerberg gets Hitched

Iran Talks. Munich II or Exodus I ?................by Dan Friedman

From today’s headlines:

World powers hopeful about Iran-P5+1 talks in Baghdad: Obama
-- Press TV, Iran’s government-run news station

'committed to Israel's annihilation,' says top Iranian general
-- Israel Hayom

A worthless piece of paper--Israel Hayom

[The P5+1 talks with the Iranians set for Baghdad on Wednesday are not being held to stop Iran from producing nuclear weapons. They’re being held to declare “encouraging progress” in the talks, making it more difficult for Israel to preemptively attack Iran’s nuclear program. The fear is that Israelis (Jews) will take it upon themselves to save themselves, by themselves, while not asking for anyone’s permission. Such a global panic attack has taken on biblical proportions. Beginning with the Jews enslaved in Egypt, Jews becoming “too strong” is a leitmotif and a pretext for Judeocide that courses through the Torah – and Jewish history.

Anyway, for the present round of talks the fix is in. But the real drama has yet to begin. Will the Jewish State defy the Nations and live, or take the line of least resistance and settle for “life” under the constant threat of annihilation? We should have Israel’s answer before the U.S. elections. df]

100 years of Marine Corps Aviation

Late News.............

Iraq turns to U.S. drones to protect oil platforms

CDR Salamander​: It's OK - Our Navy is There ...

Iran War Dial: Odds of Conflict Now at 37%

Obamateuri​sm of the Day

It's the jacket that makes this really pop...

Breaking: 43 Catholic institutio​ns file suits over HHS mandate

Defects Spotted in Ukrainian Armored Vehicles for Iraq

Iran wants say in Iraqi developmen​t

Ukraine preparing to ship second batch of BTR-4s to Iraq

Winning Battles, Losing Wars

Rethinking the Strait of Hormuz

Walter Duranty Prize for Journalistic Mendacity

Airline Follies

History, science alive at rebuilt Fort Pickens museum

Sand sculptures rise from Pensacola Beach at Fiesta of Five Flags event

James Polehinke, Sole Survivor

Could Romney outraise Obama?

Traces of Marijuana Found in Trayvon Martin’s Body: Does It Matter?

Nato urges Pakistan to reopen supply route

Growing number of hospital patients are malnourished when they die

The young woman who dared to defy the Taliban: Afghan, 22, rebuilding her life in the U.S. after having her nose hacked off in her homeland

Fat in Red Meat and Butter May Hurt Your Brain

The New Castles of Spain: Victims of the Euro Crisis

The Demise of White America

War of 1812 bicentenni​al sites, events all over US

Soldiers show off weapons at "Trail of Honor"

Woman fighting loss of home blows self up, kills 2

Like Warren, Obama Claims Cherokee Ancestry--​But Offers No Proof

Maher Slams 'The Vetting,' Proves Breitbart'​s Point

Media Already Manipulati​ng Polling Data for Obama

No Civilized Country Would Ever Banish Eduardo Saverin

Chicago's traveling Ghetto Gladiator Games carnage continues with weekend totals of 31 shot, 9 murdered, 6 killed in car crashes

Exclusive Document Debunks Myth About Obama's Columbia Years

Attack Me, But At Least Spell My Name Right

9th Circuit Takes Plush Maui Vacation At Taxpayer Expense, As Others Cut Back

Bad Timing for L.O.S.T.

This is what i advocate, stated in a straightforward manner ...

Why are locked room mysteries so popular?

Catholic institutio​ns sue Obama over birth control mandate

and finally.........

Lamb saying YEAH! Taxi Driver Edition

HORSE SOLDIERS OF 9/11 - at the G.I. Film Festival

Feature a Traitor: the Way to Win Support for Your Cause

Bedtime Totty............

Israel Day Parade - Have Your Say.............from Dan Friedman

[As I hope you already know, the “Jewish leaders” who put together the annual NYC Israel Parade (Sunday, June 3) have invited nominally Jewish anti-Israel BDS organizations to march this year. My belief is that the leftist Jewish quislings who made this decision have consolidated their hold on the Jewish organizational world, making them next to impossible to dislodge. But still, there’s no downside to telling them where real friends of Israel stand. For more information about this disgrace click here. df]

Must Reads!!

• P5+1 and IAEA prepare for talks on Iran’s nuclear program
• Fly + Kroenig: On Iran, it’s time to draw lines for military action
• Wings Over Iraq: Monday Internat"l and Daily Defense Briefing
• Supply lines for Afghanistan cast shadow on NATO summit
• GsGf - NATOlicious
• NYT: Charting Obama’s journey to a shift on Afghanistan
• Chinese rights activist Chen Guangcheng arrives in the US
• Talks to free Chen offered rare glimpse into PRC leadership
• Annual report: China’s military getting stronger (download)
• Military planners under orders not to plan for sequestration
• Gen. Mattis’ call for a 3rd carrier group near Iran was rejected
• Egyptian military to redraw powers of presidency before vote

FACEPLANT?................from Rico

Faceplant?

No, I'm NOT talking about last weekend's G-8 sleepover....er, summit at Camp David where polemics, sophistry, boilerplate and empty promises were the only accomplishments (apart from watching a soccer match on TV).
- But wait! Faceplant rather DOES apply to these buffoons!!

I originally intended to 'rebrand' Facebook (FB) as Faceplant after their dismal IPO launch last Friday, where the only buyer at the end of the day was Margin Stanley (MS) the IPO underwriter.

Breaking the IPO price.
- Today, without the freebies from a smarting and embarrassed MS which is not rtificially supporting the IPO price of $38, in the pre-market hours FB slipped below $37 and is sliding. How low can it go?

No, I'm not just talking about FB (which nobody seems to want), but also about the G-8 "leadership" hardy-her-harn(which nobody seems to want either)!

Bikini Heaven: Smokin' Jessica Rafalowski Fashion Video

A great clip.

And there's additional hot links at the post: "Jessica Rafalowski Swimsuit Hottie!"

Saving Aesha: Afghan Woman Starts Fresh in America

What a story.

See: "Aesha Mohammadzai Rebuilding Her Life in America After Being Horribly Disfigured in Afghanistan."

There's video at the link.

Will Harvard Condemn Elizabeth Warren for 'Pow Wow Chow'?

This should be a huge story, but the left's corrupt Democrat-Media-Complex refuses to report factually and honestly.

See: "Ethics Condemnation Follows Elizabeth Warren's 'Pow Wow Chow' Cookbook Revelations."

The Story of Business: Regulations should be Effective, not Excessive

The fifth episode of the Story of Business series centers on Rob Latham in South Carolina. His story is a case study in why we need a regulatory system that's fair, accountable and allows our economy to grow again.

H/T DJ Elliott

Bonus Babe..................