State Department Takes A Hit Of OPM

So, you thought that 20 million in Other People's Money (OPM) was a lot to send Elmo to Pakistan on his failed junket?  If Muppetpalooza wasn't enough for you, how about Muffinpalooza?  Well brace yourselves folks, the same government that brought you $16 muffins have really upped their game.  Ladies and gentleman, may I present the $6600 Kindle!

Don't get me wrong here, the Kindle e-reader is a great device.  Mrs. Crew has one that she loves, and the reading experience on it is top-notch.  However......it's not worth $6600.

The U.S. State Department has decided that the Kindle is the best e-reader to provide to libraries and U.S. friendly schools abroad, and on that I certainly agree with them.  Obama's State Department has awarded a contract to Amazon to provide 2,500 Kindle Touch 3G's to help those abroad learn English and become more familiar with the U.S. and its technology.  Sounds good, right?

Let's do the math.  The Amazon Kindle Touch 3G is selling this morning for $189.  See for yourself.  If the feds buy 2500 of them at $189, that is a total of $472,500.  Let's add $11 per unit for shipping/handling etc, that brings us to a grand total of $500,000.  That's a lot of money folks, but here's the punchline...the federal government is paying Amazon.....wait for it..... 16.5 million dollars for those Kindles.  Let me repeat....for 0.5 million dollars worth of stuff, the feds are spending 16.5 million of your tax dollars!  That works out to a nice tidy $6,600 per Kindle.

The State Department claims the obscene contract is justified because Amazon is also required to provide customer service, provide content wirelessly through its 3G network, and share data on how to access content.  In other words, ALL THE STUFF THEY ALREADY DO FOR EVERY TOM, DICK, AND HARRY THAT BUYS A FREAKING KINDLE FOR $189!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Read the contract specifications here, but please remove all sharp objects from your immediate vicinity before doing so.

If You Want a Palestine, How About Hispanstine?

"Official" Flag of Hispanstine

This weekend I had a lively discussion with a former state department employee who spent 21 years in garden spots like Iraq, Egypt, and Yemen.  His view of our role and status in the world was unsurprising, yet discouraging.

After discussing Iraq, Afghanistan, and Iran (He believes the Iranians are bluffing and really don't want war with Israel.) our conversation turned to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.

Sitting in that converted warehouse watching kids play indoor soccer, the heavens opened up and I had an epiphany.  I have been wrong my entire adult life.  Yes devoted readers, your beloved Sahib has been WRONG.

My previous post about a "Palestinian State?  Just Say No" was misguided and hateful.  It makes no difference that there has never in the history of the world been a Palestine.  Who cares if the British Mandate in Palestine was divided 75% the for Arabs living in that region and 25% for the Jews with the 75% being called Trans-Jordan?  The Palestinian people shouldn't have to move one foot away from where their ancestors lived.  It is irrelevant that genetic analysis suggests that the Palestinians are descendants of Christians and Jews from Southern Levant and that it was not until the Muslim conquests of the 7th century that they "willingly" converted to Islam.  They believe they are a unique and individual people and they deserve their own country exactly where their ancestors lived.  That a large portion of them were nomadic is of no consequence.

My conversion led to another epiphany (I was very epiphanated this weekend).  There is another group of disenfranchised people living much closer to us.  They too deserve.... nay, are ordained by divine right to have their own nation.  I of course are referring to the Hispantinian people.

Today, I start my campaign to begin the annexation of the US states of New Mexico and California for the creation of the new nation of Hispanstine.  I will be submitting my proposal to the United Nations this week. I propose Los Angeles as the capitol.  I mean really... if the Jews shouldn't mind sharing Jerusalem, Hollywood shouldn't mind sharing Los Angeles.  I will also be submitting an application for official refugee status for all Hispanic people living anywhere in the world who can prove (or at least pinkie-swear they are telling the truth) that some relative, at some time, in the past, lived in what is now known as the southern United States.

The United States will be encouraged/pressured/threatened/blackmailed into providing material, medical, and financial support.  Hispantinians will be allowed to work in the United States without interference from the US government.  Allowances will be made for any slight indiscretions made by the Hispantinian people such as rocket attacks, mortar attacks, or suicide bombers perpetrated against their former/current oppressors.

SACSTW followers!  Join me in supporting the brand new nation of Hispanstine, kindred spirits to their brothers and sisters across the world in Palestine!


Please excuse me... *sob*.... just a little emotionally overwhelmed...

Is Obama an Idiot? (about Iran)

I've decided that my oldest son, Sahib Jr., should be the Secretary of State.  Being as he is only 12, we could have potential child labor issues, but he definitely would cut through the crap.  He asked me the other day, "Dad, what's all this stuff about Iran and atomic bombs?"  He did a National History Day project on the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and is interested in the topic.  I outlined the situation and asked his opinion.  He replied, "They're stalling."  I asked him to explain.  He said, "It's like in wrestling when I'm up big on a stronger kid late in the match.  As long as I don't do something dumb and get pinned, I'm gonna win.  So I stall.  That's what they are doing."

And there you have it devoted readers... wisdom from the mouths of babes.  (Please no one tell him I referred to him as a "babe"!)  The question I have is that if a 12 year old (albeit geopolitically brilliant one like his old man) can figure it out, why can't the president backed by the "genius" of the State Department?  I know you lefties out there have changed your mantra of  "Give Peace a Chance!" from the '60s to "Give Sanctions a Chance!" today.  Just one question:  When have sanctions worked?  EVER? Hmmmmmmmmm?

Which can only leave us with one of two conclusions:

1. The President and his advisers are idiots.
2. They have some reason to help Iran stall an attack from Israel until they have a working atomic bomb.

Either of these possibilities scares the peewaden out of me.  Here's to hoping the following video is an analogy for what Israel is about to do to Iran.  The big kid (Israel) restrains himself for fear of getting in trouble with the teachers (US, Europe, Russia, et. al.).  The little a**hole kid (Iran) keeps picking on the big kid (Israel) "knowing" he won't fight back.  Enjoy viewing the results.

Hopefully the "cut the crap" wisdom of kids will trump the politically correct stupidity of adults.