POLITICAL: Obama’s Prayer: The Intended Audience

Thursday, July 31, 2008

http://www.americanthinker.com/2008/07/obamas_prayer_the_real_audienc_1.html

July 30, 2008
Obama’s Prayer: The Intended Audience
By Helen Cadogan
Helen Cadogan is the owner of iEdit.

Editor’s note: Publication of this article is suspended. Ma’ariv has backed away from the published story and YA has indicated differences with the published account.

*** begin quote ***

Barack Obama wanted the world to know that he can pray like a Christian. Thus, he penned a ‘note to God’ on stationery from the King David Hotel in Jerusalem, and he generously gave a copy to the “international media even before he put in the Kotel, a short time after he wrote it at the King David Hotel.” Thus says the Ma’ariv spokesman in defense of his newspaper, which may be the subject of a criminal investigation for publishing the ‘note to God’ which Obama gave to the paper. For, interestingly, not only Ma’ariv was a recipient of Obama’s generosity, so was Yediot Ahoronot (YA), the most popular Israeli daily. YA also obtained the ‘note to God’ from Obama but declined to print it, ironically, “to respect Obama’s privacy.”

*** and ***

If Ma’ariv had the note from Obama right after it was written, it could have published it at anytime. However, had Ma’ariv done so, then Obama would have been justly accused of politicizing one of the most sacred places of Judaism, the Western Wall. How, then, is he supposed to avoid such a charge? The logical answer would be to have a supporter temporarily retrieve the note (notice I don’t call it a prayer, which is a private matter), take it to a newspaper, which would then publish it, with this added cachet that vindicates Obama of spiritual crassness — claim it was stolen.

Who was the intended audience for this little passion play? Every speech act has an intended audience, and prayer, a very personal speech act, also has its own. In the normal course of events, God is the intended audience. However, given that Obama released his note for publication immediately after writing it, then God may not be the intended audience. Rather, Obama’s intended audience may be of this world: America’s voting Jews, Christians, and Muslims. To reach them, Obama would have to engage in a tricky balancing act purposed to let each group know that he believes as it does.

*** end quote ***

Wow!

I’m no fan of either political party, either politician, nor any of the gang!

This is something one would expect in a Tom Clancy novel.

It does HOWEVER have the ring of truth to it. Manipulation by politicians, and their helpful lackies in the media, have made me suspicious of EVERYTHING they do.

I have no problem with a black Muslim President. I do have a problem with politicians that hide their stipes and denty their associations until AFTER they are elected. It seems that time after time, we learn AFTER the fact, that we’ve been had.

Bush Senior read my lips. Clinton’s middle class tax cut. Bush Junior’s humbel foreign policy.

Nope, I dislike them both, but O may have set a new bottom if this is true.

What media outlet will dig for the truth?

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WRITING: TEOTWAWKI fiction — It happened in Church – Chapter Eighty Three – The Big Bang

Thursday, July 31, 2008

It happened in Church – October 19, 1962
Chapter Eighty Three – The Big Bang

It Started In Church – October 19, 1962
http://www.itstartedinchurch.com

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FUN: Joke wiith a political message!

Wednesday, July 30, 2008
From the Free State Project Dot Org

From the Free State Project Dot Org


TECHNOLOGY: In memoriam: Ed Foster

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

http://weblog.infoworld.com/gripeline/archives/2008/07/in_memoriam_ed.html

The Gripe Line | Ed Foster » In memoriam: Ed Foster

July 28, 2008 | Comments: (57)
101 votes

In memoriam: Ed Foster

*** begin quote ***

We at InfoWorld are sorry to announce that Ed Foster, InfoWorld’s venerable The Gripe Line blogger died this past Saturday. We are all saddened by Ed’s passing but grateful for his 15 years of consumer advocacy in the field of technology products through The Gripe Line column and blog.

Ed has contributed to InfoWorld and the technology-using community at large in many ways during his 20-year association with us, as a reporter, writer, editor, and columnist at InfoWorld.

We will all miss his passion and professionalism.

Ed’s son, Jeff, wanted to share the following with Ed’s readers:

I’m sorry to inform you all that my dad, Ed Foster, died on Saturday of an apparent heart attack. He was 59. He was very proud of the work he had done and the community he had built here. He was very engaged in what you all had to say, and we had many running instant message conversations about comments or emails people had sent. He was an extremely smart man, and he loved to be mentally stimulated, whether it was a good book, an interesting conversation, or one of the many comments you posted that made him look at something in a slightly different way. As you can probably tell, I’m not half the writer my dad was, and it’s very difficult for me to think of the words to say what I feel (it doesn’t help that when I get stuck on a word or phrase, I think “I know, I’ll ask my dad!”), but I just want everybody to know that this site and the people on it meant a lot to him. I’m going to miss him. More then words could express, even if he was here to help me think of them.

We invite you to post your remembrances of Ed and any other sentiments you’d like to express at this time.

Posted by Galen Gruman on July 28, 2008 05:21 PM

*** end quote ***

I’m stunned. Ed was always taking the technology vendors to task for all sorts of transgressions. A sigh of relief is comming form all the rip off artist in the technology field because Ed’s gone “off duty”. Ed was one of the few columnists that I followed religiously. Over the last eon it feels like, he and I exchanged emails about one scam or another. Some he even used in the column.  Graciously concealing my identity when I was particularly brain dead and blunder into one scam or another. I feel the loss.

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It also points out the unfairness of Social Security, he paid in for three decades and his family has NOTHING to show for it! It’s robbery by the gang in DC.

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POLITICAL: No taxes of any kind on small businesses with 25 or fewer employees.

Monday, July 28, 2008

http://www.blogmaverick.com/2008/07/28/
how-to-jumpstart-the-economy-tax-free-small-businesses/

http://tinyurl.com/622bky

How to Jumpstart the Economy – Tax Free Small Businesses
Mark Cuban
Jul 28th 2008 10:13AM

*** begin quote ***

In today’s climate, its politically expedient to volunteer taxpayer money as a solution to all problems. That’s wrong. Instead, we should open the door to our country’s Intellectual capital and the entrepreneurial energy that separates us from the rest of the world. Make it easy for entrepreneurs to do what entrepreneurs do, and great things happen. Voters and politicians alike seem to have forgotten what has made this country an economic powerhouse.

*** end quote ***

Good idea. But, it accepts the premise that taxation is a “good idea”.

First, “companies” don’t pay taxes; real people do. Tax a “company” and they either mark up their products to cover it or go out of business. So, why should the taxpayer, you an me, put up with this fiction and the discontinuities it introduces. Take for example, any tax on the oil companies. It has a multiple whammy. The oil company raises the price of gas to cover the tax. And, every company, that uses gas, pays more and marks up their prices to cover it. So, it’s a extra whammy!

Second, the politicians have created this crazy world where money has no value. They allow the Fed to print all the money they need to waste in Washington and then are surprised when inflation robs the American people of 97% of its purchasing power in thirty or forty years.

Third, the distinction between employees and contractors is another joke. Benefits tied to employment are tax deductible to the employer but not to the employee. What a joke!

And on and on.

Expecting politicians to do anything ignores their “rules of engagement” — feather their own nest, reward heir friends, and punish their enemies!

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WRITING: TEOTWAWKI fiction — It happened in Church – Chapter Eighty Two – Anti pasto

Monday, July 28, 2008

It happened in Church – Chapter Eighty Two – Anti pasto


It happened in Church – October 19, 1962
Chapter Eighty Two – Anti pasto

It Started In Church – October 19, 1962
http://www.itstartedinchurch.com

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TECHNOLOGY: Four hours and counting to do Jasper Jottings

Sunday, July 27, 2008

Argh, for as quick as it went last week, under an hour, this week is a DISASTER! All sorts of little problems leading up to the big one. 1AND1 tells me some fluff about my page is missing the L in html on the page and that’s why it is pushing the wrong page. Don’t sound right to me? I see all the files in place with the right names. Perhaps an index not updated on their end? Argh!

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PRODUCTIVITY: You need to own your own email!

Saturday, July 26, 2008

http://www.tuaw.com/2008/07/26/
unlucky-1-percent-of-mobileme-email-users-get-some-relief/

http://tinyurl.com/59f66y

Unlucky 1 percent of MobileMe email users may get relief
Posted Jul 26th 2008 9:00AM by TUAW Blogger
Filed under: Bad Apple, .Mac, MobileMe

*** begin quote ***

Apologies are well and good — but considering the MobileMe terms of service, that’s about all you can expect to see, as Apple isn’t liable for lost business or damages due to the outage. If there’s a lesson in this, maybe it’s that mission-critical users should own their own domains and public-facing email addresses, so that they can redirect incoming mail in a crisis. Depending on a single provider for mail (even ones with a reputation for reliability) can bite you.

Written by Michael Rose. Thanks to everyone who sent this in.

*** end quote ***

I’ve ranted and raved about email control. Anyone, who is serious about computer using, needs to “own” this critical entry point into your world.

You need the capability to have a primary and alternate emil address. Buy one and use a free service if money is tight. If your primary goes out, then you need the capability to redirect to the alternative.

Note this means that your domain registrar, website provider, and email provider should NOT be the same entity.

And, you should never allow that all-importnt email address to be controlled by anyone. Companies get sold, go out of business, or just whimsically decide to change their names. You shouldn’t lose your email address because of this.

I made that mistake a long time ago with AT&T as my ISP. Never ever again.

reinke dot cc for me.

(Some day I plan to visit the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, an Australian territory.)

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TECHNOLOGY: LEGACY’s new look doesn’t FF3

Saturday, July 26, 2008

Interesting, in doing my Jasper Jottings, I am often on the LEGACY site picking up obits. In some obits, they force a new sexy front end. Only one problem, it doesn’t FF3. It just goes in an endless loop “loading”. Like the good inet denizen I am, I reported it. Wonder if I’ll ever get a response. Wonder if I’ll ever get a fix. Wonder if anyone other than me cares. P.S. When I hit that particular ‘brick wall’ i go around it by using SAFARI. Interesting?

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POLITICAL: Media “Objectivity”?

Friday, July 25, 2008
http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.
html?id=6e9f4a42-9540-4d99
-aba2-25adc276c25d

http://tinyurl.com/6eptr5

The New Republic
End of the Affair by
Barack Obama and the press break up.
Post Date Thursday, July 24, 2008

Referring to New York Times chief political correspondent Adam Nagourney

*** begin quote ***

Later that afternoon, Nagourney got permission from Times editors to e-mail Sargent a response to the Obama memo. But the episode still grates. “I’ve never had an experience like this, with this campaign or others,” Nagourney tells me. “I thought they crossed the line. If you have a problem with a story I write, call me first. I’m a big boy. I can handle it. But they never called. They attacked me like I’m a political opponent.”

*** end quote ***

The implication being that if one is not a “political opponent”, one is a “political ally”?

Gee, I thought reporters were supposed to at least pretent to be impartial.

I have no dog in this fight. I don’t care for EITHER candidate, but this is “humorous” at best!

Maybe that’s why the NYT is on the rocks financially?

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WRITING: TEOTWAWKI fiction — It happened in Church — Chapter Eighty One — Ant tiss a pation

Friday, July 25, 2008

It happened in Church – October 19, 1962
Chapter Eighty One – Ant tiss a pation

It Started In Church – October 19, 1962
http://www.itstartedinchurch.com

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TECH SERVICE: MUSICMATCH swallowed by YAHOO! BARFed back on the users!! Refund?

Thursday, July 24, 2008

http://weblog.infoworld.com/gripeline/archives/2008/07/yahoo_plays_def.html

The Gripe Line | Ed Foster » Yahoo plays defunct DRM tune
July 24, 2008 | Comments: (0)
Yahoo plays defunct DRM tune

***Begin Quote***

It’s getting to be an old song. This week the Yahoo Music Store sent a message to customers saying they will turn off their DRM servers after September, thus joining MSN Music, Sony’s Connect music store and other online music services in eventually cutting off customers who purchased DRM-wrapped tunes. And readers have no doubt it’s a song the movie, e-book, and software publishers are also going to be singing in the future.

***End Quote***

So, do they give us a refund for DESTROYING a perfectly good working piece of software that they replaced with a POS?

Yeah, like that’s going to happen!

FTC? DOJ? Political help? Yeah, like that’s going to happen!

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FITing: How many miles to recoup the cost?

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Counting things on the head of pin?

Counting things on the head of pin?


RANT: Ron Paul on the Housing Bill 7/23/08

Thursday, July 24, 2008

POLITICAL: Smaller Government?

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

http://bostontea.us

barlow logo

Program of the Boston Tea Party
Adopted in Convention, August 21st, 2006

1. The Boston Tea Party calls for a complete and unconditional withdrawal of US troops from, and a cessation of US military operations against or within, Iraq.

2. The Boston Tea Party supports repeal of the USA PATRIOT Act.

3. The Boston Tea Party calls for an end to the federal prohibition of marijuana and hemp.

4. The Boston Tea Party calls for the immediate repeal of the REAL ID Act and any and all National ID plans.

5. The Boston Tea Party calls for legislation adopting an annual, regularized increase in the personal exemption to the federal income tax of $1,000 or more, and the additional application of said personal exemption to all FICA/Social Security taxes paid by employees and employers.

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WRITING: TEOTWAWKI fiction — It happened in Church – Chapter Eighty – Indian Giver

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

It happened in Church – October 19, 1962
Chapter Eighty – Indian Giver

It Started In Church – October 19, 1962
http://www.itstartedinchurch.com

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LIBERTY: the voice of the people?

Tuesday, July 22, 2008
confusing sentiment

confusing sentiment

While I don’t think drilling on Route 1 will yield much oil, I understand the author’s frustration with the political gang in charge. Any drilling will put the fear into OPEC that we are serious about our National Energey policy. Heck those politician might even get out of the way of folks who want nuclear power.

As far as “support our troops”, if they were mine, they’d be home now.

“Win the war; live in peace” is also confused. What war? Did Congress declare “war” and I didn’t hear about it?

Maybe the person meant all the other “wars” — War on (Some) Drugs, War on Poverty, War on Terror, War on Cigarettes, War on Honest Money, War on Education, War on War, … … think it’s an over used word?

Why don’t the Swiss have such problems? They MYOB!

In 1980, the voters elected Regan for smaller government; bigger government, higher taxes, lower tax rates. In 1988, they elected “No New Taxes” GHW Bush; higher taxes and spending. In 1992, they elected Clinton who promised a middle class tax cut; higher taxes and more spending. In 2000, they elected GW Bush for “compasionate conservatism” and a “humble foreign policy”; we got more government spending than Clinton, war around the globe, and facism here at home. (Been to an airport lately? It like a moive depicting the Nazis!) In 2006, the nation threw out the R’s to get peace; More war! In pre-Presidential primary polling, 70% of the nation wanted an end to the various “wars”; what do both political parties nominate — pro-war candidates.

So, I understand the author’s frustration.

We have to “Gandhi” the political gang in charge. Just laugh at them and call them out for what they are — tyrants, ruling at the barrel of a gun. Don’t think so? Try not paying their tribute or kowtowing to them. You’ll see who is the slave and who is the master really quick.

Hint: It ain’t you!

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LIBERTY: What are you prepared to do about it?

Monday, July 21, 2008

http://www.ncc-1776.org/tle2008/tle477-20080720-02.html

To End War, Prepare For Peace
by L. Neil Smith

Attribute to The Libertarian Enterprise

***Begin Quote***

On the other side of the economic, geopolitical, and military mess we find ourselves in right now (provided, of course, that we survive it), certain things that we have done routinely as a civilization—or that have been done to all of us—must be changed, radically and permanently.

The first is to establish widespread recognition that, in addition to being immoral because it happens to be theft, taxation is the fuel of war. If you remember nothing else from this essay, try to remember that.

Taxation is the fuel of war.

***End Quote***

And the author puts the question to us at the end of the article:

What are you prepared to do about it?

That’s the rubber meets the road question.

How will we oppose the gang with guns who aren’t afraid to use violence? Gandhi gave us the tool non-violent non-cooperation. When 70% wanted us out of the various “wars”, they elected the D’s. And, what did they get, more war.

So the gang puts the TSA at the airports, I try NOT to fly. Since they did it, I’ve only taken two flights — Iowa for fun and Denver for work. Period end of story. Non-violent non-cooperation.

Maybe there will be some more demonstrations.

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QUOTE: Marc Stevens “Adventures In Legal Land”

Monday, July 21, 2008

he’s a man with a gun and costume called a “uniform”

Marc Stevens “Adventures In Legal Land”
Chapter Two – Page Nine – Paragraph 2

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WRITING: TEOTWAWKI fiction –It happened in Church – Chapter Seventy Nine – Chess pieces

Saturday, July 19, 2008

It happened in Church – October 19, 1962
Chapter Seventy Nine – Chess pieces

It Started In Church – October 19, 1962
http://www.itstartedinchurch.com

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LIBERTY: “Low Income” robbery

Saturday, July 19, 2008

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/25609219.html

Posted on Fri, Jul. 18, 2008
N.J. closes low-income loophole
By Jonathan Tamari
Inquirer Trenton Bureau

*** begin quote ***

Braz said she lives in a three-bedroom, 21/2-bath home for about half of what it would cost to rent at market rates. With the benefit of Mount Laurel’s school system and an educational center within the housing development, Braz said her 18-year-old daughter is attending Burlington County College and her 12-year-old is earning all A’s and B’s.

*** end quote ***

So New Jersey’s very wealthy governor knows what is best for the owners of property in New Jersey!

Does anyone else reading this see that the “half” below market rates was stolen from the landloard. And, made that apartment unavailable to some one else who deserved it.

The Guv is in the business of picking winners from those who will vote for him!

Sadly, the gooferment ensures that there is LESS housing on the market by this socialism!

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MONEY: There’s a taxpayer loose in the world!

Thursday, July 17, 2008

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=5394214&page=1

Sen. Levin: Shut Down Giant Swiss Bank UBS
Investigation Reveals Secrecy Tricks Allegedly Used by Swiss Bankers
By BRIAN ROSS, AVNI PATEL, and RHONDA SCHWARTZ
July 17, 2008

*** begin quote ***

Federal regulators should consider revoking the US banking license of the giant Swiss Bank UBS because of its role in helping wealthy Americans evade billions of dollars in taxes, Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI) told ABC News today.

*** end quote ***

Guess the Senator doesn’t have a UBS account. His might be at Citibank, NA, New York, Succursale de Genève, or any of the hundreds of other ones.

Why is he attackign the rich for doing what any normal person would want to do — keep one’s own money. From the theiving politicians!

Here’s the list of “tricks”:

*** begin quote ***

Tax Haven Bank Secrecy Tricks
• Code Names for Clients
• Pay Phones, not Business Phones
• Foreign Area Codes
• Undeclared Accounts
• Encrypted Computers
• Transfer Companies to Cover Tracks
• Foreign Shell Companies
• Fake Charitable Trusts
• Straw Man Settlors
• Captive Trustees
• Anonymous Wire Transfers
• Disguised Business Trips
• Counter-Surveillance Training
• Foreign Credit Cards
• Hold Mail
• Shred Files

*** end quote ***

[Private note to Luddite: Watch out you have a CODE NAME!]

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LINKEDIN: LinkedIn deleting people’s accounts?

Thursday, July 17, 2008

http://www.jibberjobber.com/blog/2008/07/17/linkedin-maintenance-do-this-right-now-or-else

LinkedIn Maintenance: Do This Right Now (or else?)
July 17th, 2008

*** begin quote ***

I got an e-mail from Susan Ireland, at the Job Lounge. She asked me if I knew anything about LinkedIn deleting people’s accounts… I’ve heard a little about this, but mostly just hand-slapping for looking like spammers. Getting an account deleted can be a huge problem, especially as you use LinkedIn more.

*** end quote ***

LinkedIn deleting people’s accounts?

Wow, that’s news!

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WRITING: TEOTWAWKI fiction — It happened in Church – Chapter Seventy Eight – Details Details Detailing

Thursday, July 17, 2008

It happened in Church – October 19, 1962
Chapter Seventy Eight – Details Details Detailing

It Started In Church – October 19, 1962
http://www.itstartedinchurch.com

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RANT: The long “All Star” game or where was Alex anyway!

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Well, one thought that always occurs to me is that the need a rule that ends the game after say the tenth inning.

I’d suggest that the team who scored the run that creates the tie loses. The other team got to the “high water mark” first. Like in a race, I got to my run total before you did.

But, I could live with a “King Me” rule to create drama. Like in checkers, I get to the back row and create a king. When I match your run total, I win.

As I said, I could care less which winner rule MLB would choose, I’d just like to over after ten innings. Watching the Mets over the years, I’ve been in excruciating pain of extr innings many times. Even the player secretly beg for an end.

:-)

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MACBOOKAIR: Apple’s MOBILEME seems to be working

Thursday, July 17, 2008

http://web.mac.com/reinkefj/Site/Blog/Blog.html

I’ve been putting my McBa use items here.

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