http://www.lewrockwell.com/north/north579.html
What To Learn From Maytag
by Gary North
***Begin Quote***
They did not perceive that the Web would allow bad news to circulate by word of mouse.
***End Quote***
Cute phrase that absolutely captures the meme. The web acts like Paul Revere. Ignore that at your own peril.
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Leave a Comment » | 
Technology | 
Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
Vincent Wright
Staffing Manager, Quoin, Inc.
*** begin quote ***
What Would A Multi-Billion Dollar Linkedin Look Like?
I dare you to repeat that title three times, fast! ?
What would a multi-billion dollar Linkedin look like?
What would a multi-billion dollar Linkedin look like?
What would a multi-billion dollar Linkedin look like?
All kidding aside: In looking at the profile of Linkedin CEO, Dan Nye, there is an ultra-compact but highly powerful one sentence statement describing his current mission: “Leading LinkedIn to become a multi-billion dollar company and the most customer driven company in the world.” ( http://www.linkedin.com/in/danielnye )
SO???…
“a multi-billion dollar company”?
Does it borrow from Facebook? MySpace? Google? Yahoo? eBay? Amazon? Neither?
What do you think a multi-billion dollar Linkedin would look like?
*** end quote ***
It might be able to tell me the last time a person was “active” and it might let me keep some notes about my contacts (i.e., like how I know them — my memory isn’t so good — what was the question?). And, I’ll go way out on a limb here, it might allow me to measure “days outstanding” (i.e., how long since I last interacted with you) and sort by who I need to “freshen up” with.
Now back to reality. Jury is still out -imho- if LinkedIn, Facebook, or even MySpace is anything more than an activity trap!
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Leave a Comment » | LINKEDIN | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
Great Ron Paul video
*** begin quote ***
*** end quote ***
Restore the Republic!
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Leave a Comment » | Political | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
FROM A FRIEND’S (DOTCOMERADEN’S) FACEBOOK
***Begin Quote***
***End Quote***
Now assuming you are a bad guy, would you rather run up against this sovereign individual or that silly girl making vending machine costumes?
Who’s having fun?
Who’s in control of their own destiny?
Who’s intentions will be mistaken?
Note the Cooper’s stance. Not like in the movies.
She’s the progeny of the American Pioneer women!
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Leave a Comment » | LIBERTY | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
What Hillary Would Do As President?
AND How Much More It Will Cost You
By Dick Morris Reports <dickmorrisreports@dickmorris.com>
*** begin quote ***
TAXES
Hillary makes no secret of her intention to roll back Bush’s tax cuts on the ‘wealthy.’ But her definition of ‘rich’ is sufficiently inclusive so as to encompass everyone with a family or household income over $200,000 a year. Clearly she would include the following in the tax cuts she will repeal (or allow to sunset):
o She’d raise the top bracket of the federal income tax, restoring it to 39.6% from its current 35% level.
o She’d increase the capital gains tax, restoring it to 20% – or maybe even go higher. My bet is that she will increase it to 30% or even eliminate special treatment for capital gains altogether, taxing gains as ordinary income (at 40%).
o Hillary will almost certainly roll back much- if not all- of the estate tax reductions of recent years, lowering dramatically the size of estates subject to the levy.
o She’d restore the tax on dividends to 30% from its current 15%.
But her agenda will doubtless go further. She will be much more radical in raising taxes than Bush was in cutting them.
SOCIAL SECURITY TAXES
One of her most important steps will probably be to raise Social Security (FICA) taxes. She won’t raise the rate since that would impact her liberal base. Instead, she’ll raise the threshold of income that subject to taxation, now limited to the first $97, 500 of income.
At a recent candidate forum in Iowa, Hillary played it cute. First, she told the audience that she had nothing ‘on the table’ about Social Security taxes. Then, after the meeting, she privately told Todd Bowman, a schoolteacher who was in the audience, that she would consider imposing FICA taxes on all those who earn more than $200,000. She told Bowman that she would probably keep the current threshold at $100,000, skip the next hundred thousand of income, and then tax all income over $200,000 for Social Security.
So, look forward to some big changes there.
(Of course, she will not remove the cap on benefits, just on taxes).
*** end quote ***
Remember history students, it was the smoot hawley tariff that caused the Great Depression and FDR had to get American into WW2 to get us out of it.
That’s the consistent model: Gooferment creates the problem and then rushes in to “save” us from it.
Personally, I think ONLY Ron Paul beats her.
If it even looks like she’s winning, look for a Stock Market crash that will make all prior look like bumps. And, if she is elected and follows the tax plan that Dick Morris is predicting (which isn’t farfetched for a socialist like Hillary!), then you’ll see a real Depression.
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Leave a Comment » | Political | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
FROM AN EMAIL ABOUT AN ORDER
*** begin quote ***
Dear Valued VistaPrint Customer:
In order to respond to you as quickly as possible, we are sending this automated response to your recent e-mail. At this time VistaPrint only offers customer service by toll-free telephone. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
We invite you to call us toll-free at 1-800-721-6216. Knowledgeable representatives are available to assist you Monday – Friday, from 8 AM to 12 Midnight PM EST.
You can also find answers to many commonly asked questions by visiting our online Help Section at http://www.vistaprint.com/vp/ns/customer_care/help/default.aspx
Thank you for your interest in VistaPrint. We appreciate your business and your patience. We look forward to being of service to you.
Sincerely,
Customer Care
VistaPrint
*** end quote ***
Personally, I think calling any enterprise is a hassle. And, a waste of my time!
NOT RECOMMENDED: VistaPrint
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Leave a Comment » | Ranting | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/21/AR2007102101522_pf.html
From Casinos to Counterterrorism
Las Vegas Surveillance, U.S. Security Efforts Involve Similar Tactics
By Ellen Nakashima
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, October 22, 2007; A01
***Begin Quote***
LAS VEGAS — This city, famous for being America’s playground, has also become its security lab. Like nowhere else in the United States, Las Vegas has embraced the twin trends of data mining and high-tech surveillance, with arguably more cameras per square foot than any airport or sports arena in the country. Even the city’s cabs and monorail have cameras. As the U.S. government ramps up its efforts to forestall terrorist attacks, some privacy advocates view the city as a harbinger of things to come.
***End Quote***
Seems like the gooferment could learn a lot from the casinos. Maybe the casinos should be in charge of the gooferment. At least tyranny would be pleasant?
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1 Comment | INTERESTING | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
FROM A NOTE I WROTE
***Begin Quote***
I think that sadly all too many people go to their grave and take their DIKW — data, information, knowledge, and wisdom — with them. Like the man, who dies, leaving his family without life insurance, is said to “abscond”. So to, those, who leave, taking their thoughts to the grave, have stolen from all of us. It our duty to humanity to point the way. Probably our mistakes are more insightful. Those tell people what didn’t work for us. Remember Edison’s “now I know 10,000 ways how NOT to make a light bulb”. Powerful advice.
***End Quote***
Steven Covey says the word ‘universe” means one song. I hope everyone “sings” their song on the inet where it will be captured hopefully forever.
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Leave a Comment » | Productivity | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
http://www.impactlab.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=13497
***Begin Quote***
Casinos and other sponsors of poker tournaments will be required to report winnings of more than $5,000 to the Internal Revenue Service beginning March 4, 2008, the tax agency said Friday.
***End Quote***
Sigh!
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4 Comments | MONEY | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
http://lifecoachesblog.com/2007/10/19/when-is-someday
When is Someday?
Rick Cook, October 19th 2007
***Begin Quote***
Let’s see, there’s Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday… but when is Someday?
Show me Someday on the calendar. Point it out to me in your daytimer. How long is a month of Somedays? Even blue moons happen once in a while (second full moon in a month), but Someday? The closest day to Someday is Never.
***End Quote***
Excellent question!
Now?
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Leave a Comment » | Productivity | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
http://www.lewrockwell.com/rockwell/land-socialism.html
Land Socialism: Playing With Fire
by Llewellyn H. Rockwell, Jr.
***Begin Quote***
Next we turn to the government’s glorious fire fighting units. As with all government bureaucracies, they resist new technology. They don’t plan for and assess risks. They run around spraying water and chemicals on everything regardless of effectiveness or cost. But meanwhile, they crowd out private fire control efforts. They tell us to flee and then put an antique government bureaucracy in charge and expect us to be happy about it. Finally, when the disaster ends, the federal government dumps billions in aid as a way of placating us. This is an insane approach, or, rather, it is only a sane approach if the goal is to see civilization wiped out and meanwhile expand the state.
***End Quote***
Over, and above, the arguments about “liberty”, I do find some credence in the author’s kvetch about the fire fighting technology.
One would think that that there would be some significant progress in that area.
We know that the gooferment can’t do anything right and that if you throw enough money at something, something will happen.
So cost-effectiveness and technology advances require privitization.
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Leave a Comment » | Technology | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/10/21/news/japan.php
In Japan, refreshing ideas for the fearful
By Martin Fackler
Published: October 21, 2007
***Begin Quote***
TOKYO: On a narrow Tokyo street, near a beef bowl restaurant and a pachinko parlor, Aya Tsukioka demonstrated new clothing designs that she hoped would ease Japan’s growing fears of crime.
With a deft motion, Tsukioka, a 29-year-old fashion designer, lifted a flap on the front of her skirt to reveal a large sheet of cloth printed in bright red with a soft drink logo partly visible. By holding the sheet fully open and stepping to the side of the road, she showed how a woman walking alone could elude pursuers – by disguising herself as a vending machine.
The wearer hides behind the sheet, which is printed with a life-size photo of a vending machine. Tsukioka’s clothing is still in the developmental stage, but she has already created several versions, including one that unfolds from a kimono, and a deluxe model with four sides for more complete camouflaging.
***End Quote***
Neat idea.
Lousy solution.
Sam Colt gave women equality decades ago. The smallest frailest woman is more than a match for the biggest brutish predator. The hand gun.
Yup, easy to conceal, easy to operate, easy to be part of that “well regulated” militia the Constitution talks about.
(For the uneducated, by “well regulated”, the dead old white guys meant being able to hit what you aim at.)
So, instead of disguising yourself as Coke machine and hope the thug is NOT thirsty, our threaten female puts her back to the wall, gets into a Cooper stance, puts her finger on the trigger, and announces tot he world in her best imitation of Clint Eastwood “Well punk are you feeling lucky?”.
I don’t know about you but I would be back peddling as fast as I can and wondering where am I going to find clean shorts.
See, our founding fathers understood that the world is a dangerous place. And, we were responsible for our own protection. And, we could do it quite well.
Crime is a direct result of the gooferment’s war on drugs. No war on drugs would mean low cost drugs that meant addict would not have to steal to support a habit. Also, no turf wars.
So, the amount of crime related violence would be reduced.
Allowing those that want to, to pack heat, would take care of the residual. Sprinkle the population with a few “sheepdogs” and the rest of the sheep can go about their business undisturbed.
So dress like a vending machine or stand up like a free person?
“I know not course others will take, but for me, give me liberty or give me death!”
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Leave a Comment » | LIBERTY | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
Date: Thu, 15 Aug 1996 10:41:09 -0500
From: Cereal Killer
Subject: truck driver and priest <off to layers>
A truck driver used to amuse himself by running over lawyers he would see walking down the side of the road. Every time he would see a lawyer walking along the road, he would swerve to hit him, and there would be a loud “THUMP” and then he would swerve back onto the road.
One day, as the truck driver was driving along he saw a priest hitchhiking. He thought he would do a good turn and pulled the truck over. He asked the priest, “Where are you going, Father?”. “I’m going to the church 5 miles down the road!”, replied the priest. “No problem, Father! I’ll give you a lift. Climb in the truck”. The happy priest climbed into the passenger seat and the truck driver continued down the road.
Suddenly the truck driver saw a lawyer walking down the road and instinctively he swerved to hit him. But then he remembered there was a priest in the truck with him, so at the last minute he swerved back away, narrowly missing the lawyer. However even though he was certain he missed the lawyer, he still heard a loud “THUD”.
Not understanding where the noise came from he glanced in his mirrors and when he didn’t see anything, he turned to the priest and said, “I’m sorry Father. I almost hit that lawyer”.
“That’s okay”, replied the priest. “I got him with the door!
# – # – #
Obviously an urban legend. A priest might be out walking, but a lawyer?!?
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Leave a Comment » | FUN | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Should-ISPs-Forward-Email-When-You-Move-88755
Should ISPs Forward E-mail When You Move?
Miffed AOL user urges FCC to regulate e-mail…
02:21PM Wednesday Oct 24 2007 by Karl
***Begin Quote***
The post office will forward your mail to your new address when you move, and wireless phone carriers are required to port your number to your next provider. So should ISPs be forced to forward your mail to your new ISP? The FCC is exploring the requirement after an AOL customer claims she lost important business revenue when AOL canceled her account due to miscommunication.
***End Quote***
[Disclaimer: I work for an ISP, but not in any capacity other than a technology worker!]
In a word, NO!
I have been on record for a while that you, as an individual, should never be dependent upon anyone’s email address. Not your ISP. Not your boss. Not AOL! Not Yahoo!
Here’s the URL of one of my many pontifications on the subject: http://tinyurl.com/yq5kto
Now, for example, my Web Service Provider 1and1 http://www.1and1.com/?k_id=9113251 offers a package for $48/year that give you NOT ONLY your own domain with lots of web space, but a slew of email addresses.
The forwarding complaint is groundless. It’s completely unnecessary imho.
Even if you want to change your own domain between service providers, then you can just move where YOUR domain name points. There never should be an email interruption.
The belt ‘n’ suspenders crowd can combine that with many of the free redirectors. If you are really paranoid, you’ll never be out due to a name problem, you can redirect thru gmail (i.e., redirector to a gmail account to your domain) and you can be super assured. Then you can worry about a DNS or a GMail failure.
So, getting the gooferment to levy an obsolete requirement on all ISPs is surely a waste of everyone’s time, money, and attention.
That leaves aside the question of why she was running a business on a retail email account. I’m sure AOL’s TOS covered themselves.
Leave the gooferment to mess up the postal mail. It’s such an exemplar of effectiveness and efficiency!
[Disclaimer: Comcast probably has other opinions and certainly doesn’t need my help on this topic!]
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Leave a Comment » | Technology | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
http://www.catb.org/~esr/guns/sheep.html
The Parable of the Sheep
***Begin Quote***
The bold sheep knew that the fangs and claws they possessed had not changed them. They still grazed like other sheep, and raised their lambs in the spring, and greeted their friend the dog as he walked among them. But they could not quell the terror of the flock, which rose in them like some ancient dark smoky spirit and could not be damped by reason, nor dispelled by the light of day.
So they resolved to retain their weapons, but to conceal them from the flock; to endure their fear and loathing, and even to protect their brethren if the need arose, until the day the flock learned to understand that as long as there were wolves in the night, sheep would need teeth to repel them.
They would still be sheep, but they would not be food!
***End Quote***
r u a sheeple or a sheepdog?
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Leave a Comment » | LIBERTY | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
http://www.lewrockwell.com/greenhut/greenhut47.html
The Republican Crackup
The libertarian and conservative factions of the old Reagan coalition are marching to different drummers
by Steven Greenhut
***Begin Quote***
Grover Norquist, a prominent conservative activist from Americans for Tax Reform, called on the reconstitution of Reagan’s “leave us alone” coalition. The members of that group – gun lovers, home-schoolers, small-business owners, taxpayer advocates – didn’t necessarily like each other, he said, but they united in their desire to pursue their lives without excessive meddling from the government. “We don’t have to agree on secondary and tertiary issues,” he said. “Ours is a low-maintenance coalition that wants to be left alone in the zone that matters to them, and that’s what matters.” By contrast, the Democratic coalition is what he calls the “takings coalition – the unions, trial lawyers, the dependency movement, coercive utopians and radical environmentalists” who are promoting “a list of rules slightly longer and less tedious than Leviticus.” These groups can work together as long “as more money is coming into the center of the table.” His solution: Starve the beast through tax cuts and expand the coalition of Americans whose primary goal is to be left alone.
***End Quote***
Sounds like plan. Oppose every tax. Demand reductions. Oppose every debt issue. We can’t even conceive about all the taxes we are paying.
And, that makes us slaves.
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Leave a Comment » | MONEY | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
Gnomic whizdumb
“do, or do not. there is NO try!”
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Leave a Comment » | FUN | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
http://www.happyabout.info/linkedinhelp.php
Book: I’m on LinkedIn — Now What???: A Guide to Getting the Most OUT of LinkedIn
*** begin quote ***
This book is designed to help you get the most out this popular business networking site. With over 12 million members there is a lot of potential to find and develop relationships to help in your business and personal life, but many professionals find themselves wondering what to do once they signup. This book explains the different benefits of the system and recommends best practices so that you can get the most out of LinkedIn.
*** end quote ***
{Disclaimer: I know Jason and have collaborated with him on various topics in the past, and would expect to do so in the future. This is MY opinion. And, anyone who knows me knows it’s not for sale. I have received no consideration for this review. I was given a proof copy to review and sent my feedback to Jason. If my suggestions made it in to the final, that was up to him. Unlike some bloggers, I have my own set of ethics about what I allow to influence my opinion. Now if he wants to send me a stack of hundreds, I can revisit that policy. Till then, nothing you read here is sullied by anything so mundane as money.}
Jason has written a book. Now that it’s out, I can take notice of it. These are my thoughts about it.
A good one, imho!
He gets kudos for turning out a “hit the ground running” tome. I think it’s more useful than the average self-help book.
About the only suggestion I’d make is to create a workbook to help the reader “fill out” forms before getting to the computer. I see people building profiles in “real time”; not realizing that their mistakes are live when they hit save. Beginners need to be a little cautious about creating “future digital dirt”. I know one beginner who was, horsing around, putting in lame entries as place holders. Google came through and swept up the profile and it was enshrined as “him” in their search space. By virtue of his unusual name, he’s having a devil of a time pushing the “lame entries” down in the search results. (Although I did share a secret about back dating content and having the bot believe it. You need a friend with an “old” web site, site map with a Google date stamp on it, and a willingness to do a little forgery. Don’t trust anything on the net completely. Even Google’s bot has some blind spots.)
If the new owners of LinkedIn have any horse sense, they’d offer it with each paid subscription.
And, the LinkedIn Executive Leadership should read it to figure out their value proposition. (The Intelligent Designer knows they have no clue! LinkedIn has some of the characteristics of a schizophrenic. And their changing policies reflect that lack of insight and shifting values.) Then, they should have their employees read it. They all might have some sense of what people are trying to use the site to do.
I have several quibbles about LinkedIn, not the least of which is “12M members”. Which Jason repeats. Some of the others, Jason covers in “shady practices”. Perhaps, in his next book about LinkedIn, he can expose some of the “nuances” of those flaws. Not the least of which is the “shifting sands” of LinkedIn’s policies. But after all, this is intended to be an “entry level” book, and some of these flaws don’t become apparent until you spent a lot of time “shaking the monitor and pounding on the keyboard”. His next book can cover the effects of “pounding”. :-)
A new user can use Jason guidance to use Linkedin. Maybe some understanding will come from that guidance. The book is also useful in finding high quality people, who are open to helping. That’s different from being an “open networker” or a “mega-connector”. Big difference! Using endorsements, the newbie can quickly establish credibility. And, one you are “endorsed”, you have in effect enlisted the endorser in your continued success. Often the leads to non-Linkedin content is, per se, a window into someone’s thinking. When that is your boss, new boss, hiring manager, or even a networking jewel it’s like found gold. Identifying an influential blogger — No, not me, I only have six (3 relatives and 2 friends whim I quiz) faithful readers — from the LinkedIn profiles is like getting a seat in an advanced seminar in a graduate class.
I recommend Jason’s book to every turkey (i.e., FOWG jobseeker) that wanders into my turkey farm (http://tinyurl.com/lxu93) as a fast way to come up to speed on a potentially valuable resource. I say potentially because I think the jury is still out on LinkedIn. Link MySpace, Facebook, Ryze, and the 999 other social networking sites out there, it is hard to say who will “win” in the marketplace, or how stuff will morph.
Until that’s decided, use Jason’s book to get into the current leader in the “business social networking” genre.
You have to be quick because in the technology space change happens quickly. You can stand on Jason’s shoulders and get a leg up in the coopetition (i.e., cooperative competition) that is “networking”.
So, after all these words, for those that need a conclusion, I’ve stamped his book:
RECOMMENDED
Can I be any clearer? From the fellow who recommends very very few things a (job)seeker should pay for, this is one of them.
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For the seretonin rush? I hope to throw the “Hail Mary” pass and radically change my life, from shortages and scarcity to abundance and plenty. Hence, I have some “rules” that I try to abide by.
(1) Don’t chase your losses. What’s gone is theirs.
(2) If you “win”, don’t give it back.
(3) Manage your money — trip limits, session limits, game limits. Frankly any kind of limits I can think off.
(4) Minimize losses; let winning run. (Conflicts with don’t give back!)
(5) Stay calm and unemotional.
(6) The jackpot is NOT on the next spin. Just one more spin. It’s due to hit.
(7) It’s supposed to be “fun”.
(8) Focus on the big hit in the short term; the house edge will break you.
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Leave a Comment » | INTERESTING | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
http://mossblog.allthingsd.com/20071021/free-my-phone
***Begin Quote***
The Soviet Ministry Model
That’s why I refer to the big cellphone carriers as the “Soviet ministries.” Like the old bureaucracies of communism, they sit athwart the market, breaking the link between the producers of goods and services and the people who use them.
To some extent, they try to replace the market system, and, like the real Soviet ministries, they are a lousy substitute. They decide what phones can be used on their networks and what software and services can be offered on those phones. They require the hardware and software makers to tailor their products to meet the carriers’ specifications, not just so they work properly on the network, but so they promote the carriers’ brands and their various add-on services.
Let me be clear: Any company that spends billions to build and maintain a wireless network deserves to be paid for its use, and deserves to make a profit and a return for its shareholders. Not only that, but companies like Verizon Wireless or AT&T Inc. should be free to build or sell phones or software or services.
The Soviet Ministry Model
That’s why I refer to the big cellphone carriers as the “Soviet ministries.” Like the old bureaucracies of communism, they sit athwart the market, breaking the link between the producers of goods and services and the people who use them.
To some extent, they try to replace the market system, and, like the real Soviet ministries, they are a lousy substitute. They decide what phones can be used on their networks and what software and services can be offered on those phones. They require the hardware and software makers to tailor their products to meet the carriers’ specifications, not just so they work properly on the network, but so they promote the carriers’ brands and their various add-on services.
Let me be clear: Any company that spends billions to build and maintain a wireless network deserves to be paid for its use, and deserves to make a profit and a return for its shareholders. Not only that, but companies like Verizon Wireless or AT&T Inc. should be free to build or sell phones or software or services.
***End Quote***
Perhaps, one should realize that the “regulators” are in bed with the “regulated”. The gooferment is in business to (1) feather its own nest; (2) rewards its “friends”; and (3) punish its “enemies”. Our needs and expectations are not even on their radar. If you think it is a “kinder gentler” form of fascism, then I won’t disagree. The FCC, and the “competing” cell phone companies is a sweet cartel. It’s time for the peasants to get out the pitchfork and torches and administer a little “rough justice”.
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Leave a Comment » | Technology | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/22/opinion/22adams.html
Op-Ed Contributor
A Two-Cigarette Society
By DAVID G. ADAMS
Published: October 22, 2007
***Begin Quote***
WHEN it comes to the health of our children, two cigarettes may be better than one. Young smokers who begin their habit with nicotine-laden cigarettes need a cigarette that will not leave them to later fight the ravages of addiction.
***End Quote***
Sigh. More stupidity!
You can NOT stop people from putting “stuff” into their body.
Forget it. Delete it. Purge the concept from your brain.
We have gotten to the mess we are in by memes (ideas, thinking, concepts) like this.
Leave people alone to make their own decisions about what is best for them.
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Leave a Comment » | INTERESTING | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
DISPATCHES: New Jersey’s fiscal mess
Thursday, October 18, 2007 11:20 AM EDT
by Hank Kalet, Managing Editor
*** begin quote ***
New Jersey’s fiscal situation does not appear to be getting any better.
*** end quote ***
It’s not MY problem that the politicians have led the sheeple down a rathole. So why do I have to pay for any of it.
Doesn’t anyone find it humorous or ironic that politicians and bureaucrats have pensions and “free” healthcare benefits when the taxpayers have neither?
Sorry, but I don’t “feel their pain”.
I’d feel bad, but I’d abrogate that social contract! Let them sue. The State’s broke. Can’t get blood out of a stone.
And speaking about Rutgers and all the other gooferment propaganda camps, why is the gooferment in the education business?
Since property taxes are for the most part to support the skoolz, why not just say “sorry skoolz closed”. I did have those children, so why do I have to pay to eddycate them? I don’t buy their clothes, their toys, or their ps2s, so why do I have to pay for their skooling? (And, I get socked more than once for each house I buy!)
NO there’s a gang of thieves that call themselves gooferment and they have been getting away with stuff for too long.
End it now!
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Leave a Comment » | Ranting | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
Top 10 Mysteries of the Mind
http://www.livescience.com/health/top10_mysteriesofthemind-1.html
***Begin Quote***
Consciousness
Cryonics
Mortality
Genes or environment
Laughter
False memories
Biological clock
Amputee’s leg
Sleep
Dreams
***End Quote***
We see through a dark and cloudy window. A window that we know little about?
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Leave a Comment » | INTERESTING | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
FROM AN EMAIL I SENT TO LINKEDIN_BLOGGERS
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Hmm, another web idea “Judge Judy on the inet”! Some one “empanels” a jury, presents their case, the jury renders it’s verdict, and publishes it to the internet. Hmmm! Get ripped off by a big company, get a “moral judgment”, and a grazillion of your closest friends on the inet “help” the company understand its mistake. Sort of like Larry Elder’s Moral Court. (Yeah, I know I watch too much tv. Hey, I liked his book.) Maybe I could be the next ralph nader? I liked my wife’s old corvair. It was kool. I’ll have to start looking at domain names. Or, has it already been done?
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Posted by reinkefj
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/fireblog
Barona Casino defies evacuation order
12:41 a.m.
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Sheriff’s Lt. Phil Brust said Barona Casino was told to evacuate as part of a mandatory evacuation order given earlier Sunday night for Wildcat Canyon Road.
“They said they would ‘shelter in place’ and did not evacuate,” Brust said.
The casino was not under lockdown and patrons could leave if they chose, he said.
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Now that’s interesting. “Mandatory evacuation” doesn’t apply to a casino.
:-)
I don’t think the men with guns in the gang called “california gooferment” will appreciate that attitude.
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Posted by reinkefj
http://www.safehaven.com/article-8633.htm
October 16, 2007
Trading Your Paycheck for a Coin Purse
by The Mogambo Guru
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“The damned government has now ruined the money so badly that the little bit of metal in the old coins is now worth more than the face value of the coin, but the government can’t wiggle out of paying for their sins by letting people not pay…taxes!”
JMR Arlo S. was cheery as he sent a link to Rense.com, whereupon one learns that somebody has figured out how to beat the inflationary destruction of the money by the actions and inactions by the Lying, Cheating Government (LCG) and the Lying, Cheating Federal Reserve (LCFR): Use old coins!
The headline was, “IRS Suffers Staggering Defeat”. In short, the guy paid his employees with old silver dimes, silver dollars and old gold U.S. coins according to their face value. Thus, he could pay his workers with silver dimes, silver quarters, silver dollars and gold coins, and thus the employee made so little money (according to the face value of the coins) that they fell below minimum income reporting thresholds, and thus no income tax was due.
Mr. Rense explains, “In other words, if a worker is paid with such coins, his taxable ‘income’ (if any) can only be the face value indicated upon the coin money paid – i.e., $1.00 for a circulating silver dollar or $50 for a circulating gold U.S. coin.”
The government, on the other hand, argued that the market value of those coins made them very valuable, and thus the employees owed taxes on the true value of their coins, not the paltry pittance of the face value. The IRS argued that, “Obviously, a $20 coin made of gold is worth at least $750, which is the market price of gold!”
So, “The essence of the argument is that under the Constitution, Congress is obligated by law to mint and circulate such coins as demand requires, and must establish the value of coins as they are used as legal tender, but the coins’ market value, arising as valuable personal ‘property,’ is a distinct, separate attribute of such coins, and is of no legal consequence if the coins are used as legal tender.” Hahaha! Fabulous!
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This is earth shaking.
It only works for imho American Eagles. Where the Mint has put a dollar value unrelated to the underlying value of the coin.
http://www.usmint.gov/mint_programs/american_eagles/index.cfm?Action=american_eagle_gold
So one buys American Eagle coins and gives them as a gift or trade. For tax reporting purposes, each coin is Fifty Dollars; not their value of $750 dollars.
A great tax dodge!
While the cited case is used to bypass the income tax laws, I’m always interested in getting around the gift tax limits (i.e., the 12k limit).
By extension:
Silver Eagle = 1 dollar = 13.49 market value = 161,880 gift value
Gold Eagle = 50 dollars = 763.80 market value = 4,582,800 gift value
Platinum Eagle = 100 dollars = 1441.00 market value = 172,920 gift value
Now, I’m neither a doctor, lawyer, accountant, or indian chief; nor do I play one on TV. But, I bet that they have just nuked the “gift taxes”.
I don’t think it will be long before the change the law, rules, and the coins.
But till then, it seems like there is a big hole you can drive a truck thru.
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UPDATE: To all my sharp eyed readers out there. (Zero) My fingers left contact with my brain when I wrote this. The correct number is $183,312.
It doesn’t invalidate the premise since I don’t know too many people who can give away 182k. What it does mean is that the 12k gift limit is temporarily in limbo!
If I had an elderly relative, then some specific planning might be in order.
imho!
NOTE: My usual disclaimer applies. I am not a doctor, lawyer, accountant, or indian chief. Nor do I play one on TV. And, I haven’t stayed in a holiday inn express in recent memory.
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Posted by reinkefj
You are currently browsing the Reinke Faces Life blog archives for October, 2007.
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FJohn Reinke
Consultant at Technology Legacies LLC
Advisor, Computer Governance Committee at Manhattan College
Editor / Publisher at Jasper Jottings
Greater New York City Area
JJ Positraction JJ Endnotes Downsize DC
Philosophy of Liberty
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