Sex in Advertising

For all you connoisseurs of advertising...



I may not be sure exactly what she's selling, but, I'm pretty sure I'm in the market!

What Makes Us Human?

Did Descartes have it right? “I think, therefore, I am”? Or maybe Twain’s observation that “humans are the only creatures who blush…or need to”? Fairy tales and speculative fiction are awash with the theme, of what it means to be truly human. Wooden Pinocchio wants to be a real boy. Silicone and steel android Data longs to know what it is to be human, despite the irony that the longing is itself a human emotion. He is curious about what it means to be curious. Curiouser and curiouser! Strange visitors from another planet are raised by humans to embrace a code of decency and honor. Others come and fall in love... does love make us human?

And what of those who, became somehow more than human? Radioactive spider bites, bombardment with gamma radiation, mutations of the human genome…at what point can it be said that a human transcends humanity and becomes homo superior?

Now imagine having those philosophical musings, discussing and arguing the respective points over the course of ten years. College boy conundrums? Speculation at a seminary? Meditations at a monastery?
No. A discussion about...the level of taxes on...toys.

The forthcoming Avengers movie, directed by Joss Whedon and expected May 4 from Walt Disney Pictures, depicts the Marvel superhero group teaming up to save the Earth from utter destruction.

Saving the world is ordinary fare for superheroes, especially teams like the Avengers and the X-Men. But one of the biggest battles ever fought in the Marvel universe took place in the real world, a historic fight that lasted 10 years and crossed America.

The clash ended quietly in 2003, with a monumental, six-figure legal ruling by the U.S. government: The X-Men and many other superheroes simply aren’t human.

Or more precisely, they’re not dolls, which, according to the U.S. Customs Bureau, represent “only human beings.” They’re toys, which represent “animals or non-human creatures.”

What’s the difference? Gazillions of dollars.

Even though it sounds like the sort of discussion the nerds on The Big Bang Theory might discuss, this was big business.

The U.S. government waded into the “mutant or mortal” battle 19 years ago at ports in Los Angeles and Seattle after Customs officials there classified several large shipments of action figures, including the X-Men, as “dolls” instead of “toys.”

But labeling the figures as “dolls” made importing the X-Men nearly twice as expensive as they would have been as “toys,” facing a 12 percent tax rather than a 6.8 percent tax.

...Recognizing the difference between toys and dolls, international trade lawyers Sherry Singer and Indie Singh saw an opportunity to save Marvel a lot of money by getting the X-Men, along with Marvel’s other action figures, including the Hulk, Spider-Man, and Iron Man, reclassified as toys.

At this point, one is hard pressed whether to laugh or cry. To think that for ten years lawyers have been working, on both sides, and expert witnesses have been testifying whether Barbie should be taxed at a higher rate than Wolverine, reminds me of another Bizarro world I read about when I was younger.

Does the government really have a vested interest in whether or not the Human Torch is more human than torch? I know it is in the DNA of every bureaucrat to micromanage every aspect of our lives, but at some point, can't we decide that the government we have is more than we really ever needed? When our toys are categorized, not by weight, or the amount of polystyrene or paint, but by the philosophical backstory of their characters???

I suppose I could have titled this "What is a doll?" But, would that have piqued your human curiosity and caused you to read this far? And would you have had as much of a surprise making the hyperspace leap from comic book heroes to taxes and tariffs?

This is but one more illustration of the bloated bureaucracy that nibbles away at our economic freedoms and attempts to regulate every aspect of our lives. It's way past time to start taking our country back from our wooden headed, would be masters and their arbitrary rules and regulations.

Equal rights for G.I.Joe! In the meantime, before we can roll back this overly burdensome and somewhat ridiculous over regulation, I suggest that Mattel put out a comic book where Barbie, Ken and Skipper all get bitten by radioactive spiders...

The folks at Mattel can show their gratitude to me with a small percentage of the tax savings realized...


Cross posted at LCR, Lady Cincinnatus , Say Anything.

Quote du jour

“President Obama took Michelle out to a steak restaurant for her birthday, marking the first time in months the words ‘Obama’ and ‘well done’ appeared in the same sentence.”

–Jimmy Fallon

Quote du jour

"The most loathsome people in all of politics are the liberals who have careers only because they falsely call other people racists."

-John Hawkins

The Women of PETA XXIX

To the delight of some and the chagrin of others, after a long hiatus, we continue with one more tribute to those lovely lasses who would bare their assets to further the cause of PETA. Because the world needs naked, nearly naked and vegetable clad vegetarians!

Themes Like Old Times

Mission Impossible Intro

Quote du jour

How can you live in America and not own a gun? That’s like living in France and not owning stinky cheese.

-Frank J. Fleming

A Little Saturday Night Music

Randy Travis - Three Wooden Crosses

Obama's State of Confusion Address

Folks, I was apparently one of a diminishing number of Americans with the stomach to listen to Barry drone on for an hour on his SOTU speech. But, as a public service to my readers, I did watch it, so imagine my surprise when the guy who gave the speech gets it so terribly wrong!

Saturday Linkaround

Cartoon of the Day – NRO Home page

Occupiers Thanks Church Who Allowed Them To Sleep There By Urinating On a Cross, Stealing Baptismal…

Thomas Sowell: I’ll Take Gingrich over Romney

The Man Who Gave Us Newt –Mark Steyn

Winners and Losers in the Great Recession

Senate Democrats’ 1,000 Days of Debt and Disappointment

John Kerry Breaks Nose Playing Hockey –or else Theresa clocked him!

Former John Kerry staffer John Kiriakou arrested for blowing CIA agents’ cover.

Buffett’s Burlington Northern Among Winners From Keystone Denial

Dems Say Romney “Not Paying His Fair Share” – Seemingly Unaware John Kerry Was Paying a Lower Tax Rate When He Was Their Nominee…

Joe Biden and American Charity - a golden oldie! Compare this to Romney’s giving…

South Carolina Message –Thomas Sowell

Audacity of Hypocrisy: The Essence of Obama’s SOTU

Noted Lincoln Scholar Says Obama misquotes Lincoln

Dem Voter Fraud? “I was paid to register to vote”

Annals of the Nanny-State, Midwest Edition

Tax cheats on the federal rolls

The Sinking of the West –Mark Steyn

Another Stimulus-Backed Energy Company Files for Bankruptcy

Obama Leaves Event Promoting Clean Energy in Motorcade of 22 Gas Hogs (Video)

Krauthammer on the SOTU

(AUDIO) WHY WARREN BUFFETT ISN’T BEING HONEST ABOUT HIS SECRETARY AND HIS TAX RATE! –Tom Sullivan

Bill Whittle Explains The Truth Behind Government Spending -VIDEO

Amazing and moving story of war and love -video


Ron Paul and the pink slip that could decide the election

Maps: Exploiting America's Treasure Trove of Energy, Before and After the Obama Presidency




Rule Five Roundup*:

American Power- Lucy Pinder
The Astute Bloggers -Brigitte Bardot

Caroline Munro

Camp of the Saints - Hump Day Rule Five, Rule Five News

Classic Liberal – Rule 5 – Tattoo

Brooklyn Decker

The Daley Gator – Summer Glau

Dustbury – Fiona Xie

El Opinador Compulsivo – Mystique, 7 in 6, ¿Amerita una señorita?

Eye of Polyphemus – Emma Stone, Adriana Lima

The Feral Irishman -White bikini

Friday Night Babe – Georgia Salpa

Patriots Cheerleader...at the beach!

Guns and Bikinis – Brazilian Babe, Argentine Hottie

Hookers and Booze - Post Weekend

Jake Finnegan – Nazanin Afshin-jam

Maggie’s Notebook – Rule 5 – Ride ‘em cowgirl!

Pirates Cove - Sorta Blogless Sunday Pinup, If All You See…, If All You See…

pitsnipesgripes – Asian Beauties

POH Diaries -Rule 5: Kate Upton

PostalDog -Vanessa Hudgens

Randy’s Roundtable –Midweek Break, Thursday Nite Tart

Reaganite Republican – Photo Finnish

Sex in Advertising - in 3D

Support your local Gunfighter - Busting Out all over

Teresamerica – Rule 5 – Vicky Kaya

The Last Tradition – Vanessa Hudgens Bikini accident

Kelsi

Theo Spark –Bedtime Toddy , Bath night

The Other McCain- Rule 5 Monday

Vintage Babe of the Week – Gloria Talbott

Rule 5 Woodsterman Style : Four Old Italian Ladies

Obligatory Niner Cheerleader, redux

The Women of PETA XXVIII




*By no means comprehensive.

Use the comments as an open thread on any of these topics. If you feel that I’ve neglected a link, news, commentary, humor or Rule Fivage, send a link to the contact email on the sidebar. (All spambots must die!)

Cross posted at Say Anything

Quote du jour

“Sometimes packages get lost in the mail. You’re expecting something wonderful, and you wait and wait and nothing comes. It’s like voting for Obama.”

–Craig Ferguson

Friday Night Babe

Tonight's FNB* is Georgia Salpa!

(*a.k.a. Rule Five Friday)

Tarmac Tête-à-Tête

Governor Brewer invites Obama to visit the border with her. Obama thinks she said "Borders" and said, "No thanks! I haven't finished reading the book I've got!"

The unintended consequence of this conversation and the president huffing off afterwards, is the increased attention in Gov. Brewer's book:

Prior to the meeting, Brewer’s book was languishing in the annals of the millions of books sold by Amazon. It was sitting at 311,472 overall on Wednesday afternoon. By Thursday morning, the book had moved to number 14.

Apparently there's more than one Amazon in Arizona! Maybe next time, Barry should bring TOTUS with him to every informal meeting?

Quote du jour

We’re the wealthiest country in the world and the world is wealthier because they have become more like us. We’ve transformed humankind. And we have a president who sees all of that as a mistake.

-Rick Santorum

Iran Man

"With Great Power, Comes Great Responsibility"

Vintage Babe of the Week

Tonight's Vintage Babe* is Gloria Talbott!
(*a.k.a. Rule Five Thursday)













Like fine wines, the ladies improve with age!

President Thin-Skin's Brilliant Brewer-Book Stimulus Program

Obama and Governor Brewer on the tarmac in Phoenix, Arizona, 1/25/2011 (AP Photo)

Cross-posted at the Left Coast Rebel

Via Politico:

It was a tense moment on the tarmac.

President Obama, alighting from the stairs of Air Force One in Phoenix this afternoon, was greeted by Arizona Governor Jan Brewer, who handed him an envelope and the two exchanged what appeared to be some heated sentiments. At one point, she pointed her finger at him.

Asked afterward what happened, Brewer said, “He was a little disturbed about my book, Scorpions for Breakfast.

“I said to him that I have all the respect in the world for the office of the president. The book is what the book is. I asked him if he read the book. He said he read the excerpt,” she said, according to a pool report. “He didn’t feel that I had treated him cordially. I said I was sorry he felt that way but I didn’t get my sentence finished. Anyway, we’re glad he’s here. I’ll regroup.”

In the envelope she had given him was a handwritten letter, Brewer said — “an invitation that I’ve extended to him before with regards to coming to Arizona and going to the border with me. . . . We’ve had a remarkable comeback here and I want to share that with him.”

A White House official confirmed the invitation and described the encounter in more bureaucratic terms: “The President said he’d be glad to meet with her again, but did note that after their last meeting, a cordial discussion in the Oval Office, the governor inaccurately described the meeting in her book. The President looks forward to continuing taking steps to help Arizona’s economy grow.”

The pool reporter, POLITICO’s Carrie Budoff Brown, said the scene was far from the norm. Aside from the pointing, they appeared to talk over each other and he appeared to walk away from her while they were still talking.

My clear takeaway from this story is that President Thin-Skin couldn't stand the fact that Governor Real Leader's book has a (passage?) that is slightly less-than-rosy toward Him. They met on the tarmac, sparks of discontent flew, God forbid.

But just what did Governor Brewer say in her book?

Quote du jour

"I see libertarianism as an important critique of the Leviathan state, not as a governing principle."

-Charles Krauthammer

Medal of Honor

Captain James M. Sprayberry

Citation:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Capt. Sprayberry, Armor, U.S. Army, distinguished himself by exceptional bravery while serving as executive officer of Company D. His company commander and a great number of the men were wounded and separated from the main body of the company. A daylight attempt to rescue them was driven back by the well entrenched enemy's heavy fire. Capt. Sprayberry then organized and led a volunteer night patrol to eliminate the intervening enemy bunkers and to relieve the surrounded element. The patrol soon began receiving enemy machinegun fire. Capt. Sprayberry quickly moved the men to protective cover and without regard for his own safety, crawled within close range of the bunker from which the fire was coming. He silenced the machinegun with a hand grenade. Identifying several l-man enemy positions nearby, Capt. Sprayberry immediately attacked them with the rest of his grenades. He crawled back for more grenades and when 2 grenades were thrown at his men from a position to the front, Capt. Sprayberry, without hesitation, again exposed himself and charged the enemy-held bunker killing its occupants with a grenade. Placing 2 men to cover his advance, he crawled forward and neutralized 3 more bunkers with grenades. Immediately thereafter, Capt. Sprayberry was surprised by an enemy soldier who charged from a concealed position. He killed the soldier with his pistol and with continuing disregard for the danger neutralized another enemy emplacement. Capt. Sprayberry then established radio contact with the isolated men, directing them toward his position. When the 2 elements made contact he organized his men into litter parties to evacuate the wounded. As the evacuation was nearing completion, he observed an enemy machinegun position which he silenced with a grenade. Capt. Sprayberry returned to the rescue party, established security, and moved to friendly lines with the wounded. This rescue operation, which lasted approximately 71/2 hours, saved the lives of many of his fellow soldiers. Capt. Sprayberry personally killed 12 enemy soldiers, eliminated 2 machineguns, and destroyed numerous enemy bunkers. Capt. Sprayberry's indomitable spirit and gallant action at great personal risk to his life are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.

Capt. Sprayberry: We humbly salute you and thank you for your service.



Hat tip Home of Heroes

There are fewer than a hundred living MoH recipients today. Their names and their stories should not be forgotten. My mission is to honor one of those heroes here each week, and salute them for their courage and sacrifice. In the words of John Fitzgerald Kennedy:

“A nation reveals itself not only by the men it produces, but also by the men it honors; the men it remembers.”

Cross posted at Say Anything

Quote du jour

If they wanted him to close Gitmo they should have put a factory there, or an oil rig.

-Dan McLaughlin, on liberals and Obama