GLOBAL: End of the American empire?

Monday, October 19, 2009

http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/economy-a-budget/63005-going-bust-the-end-of-an-age

Going bust: The end of an age
By Bernie Quigley – 10/14/09 09:50 AM ET

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We might consider thinking about the benefits of regionalization, because if the U.S. economy is to contract and consolidate, it might contract within a matrix that makes for better packaging than the internal world-without-walls we have now. Does northern New England really need four farm colleges? One might work better. We might begin to think about tax spending and tax breaks to encourage naturally occurring regional cultures and regional community tier economies. We might feature farming where there are farms and factories where there are or have been factories. Because life in the city is different than the hills and prairies and one size does not fit all in temperament, personality, culture and economics.

And we might begin to ask ourselves, How did we get to where we are? What do we want to be? What have we become?

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Would seem that we have to hunker down. Get “small”. And, maybe secession is a good idea to do that?

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Posted by reinkefj

POLITICAL: Messing with the DOWG’s design

Sunday, October 18, 2009

http://channel-surfing.blogspot.com/2009/10/dispatches-filibuster-filibuster.html

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The issue here is the filibuster itself. It’s time to end this archaic procedure and take away the ability of a group of small-state Senators to hold the American people hostage.

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Herb, herb, herb, … don’t you realize that the Dead Old White Guys feared democracy as mob rule. Hence, they tried to throw road blocks into the “popular will”.

Lifetime appointment for judges and six year term Senators selected by the State Legislature were just two of the roadblocks they put in as ways to be a “republic”.

They were also concerned that large states would overwhelm the little one. Why would a small state support the arrangement where they are always outvoted.

You “liberals” are always willing to change the rules to get your way. Note the Massachusetts change and rechange how to fill Kennedy’s / Kerry’s seat.

The reason that many states are talking secession is that the don’t want to “play along”. In short order, you may find that Vermont, Texas, Montana, and who know who else may seek to “leave the party”.

Leave filibuster alone. Unless you’re prepared to eventually fracture the Union. Remember in 2010, your precious “virtuous” D’s may be in the minority and need the fillibuster to keep the “villainous” R’s from passing this or that. (As if there was any difference between the two.)

Remember the R’s got the two term limit to prevent another FDR and prevented Ike. That gave us Nixon. And, we see how well that worked out.

Don’t mess with the Dead Old White Guys’ design. Can we now repeal the direct election of Senators? That hasn’t worked out so well either!

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Posted by reinkefj

POLITICAL: “Zero Tolerance” for stupidity

Sunday, October 18, 2009

http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2009/10/the_bizarre_con.html

Schneier on Security
A blog covering security and security technology.

October 15, 2009
The Bizarre Consequences of “Zero Tolerance” Weapons Policies at Schools

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The problem, of course, is that the global rule trumps any situational common sense, any discretion. But in granting discretion those in overall charge must trust people below them who have more detailed situational knowledge. It’s CYA security — the same thing you see at airports. Those involved in the situation can’t be blamed for making a bad decision as long as they follow the rules, no matter how stupid they are and how little they apply to the situation.

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Security needs the ability to distinguish between true threats and everything else.

When it can’t, it’s worthless. It gets overwhelmed with “noise” and the bad actors slip by.

Argh!

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Posted by reinkefj

MONEY: Thinking about your paycheck

Saturday, October 17, 2009

http://dailyreckoning.com/your-salary-not-slashed-yet-just-wait-it-could-still-be-offshored/

Your Salary Not Slashed Yet? Just Wait, it Could Still be Offshored
By Rocky Vega

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It’s not an isolated occurrence, as former White House economist Alan Blinder points out, 38 percent of American jobs could ultimately meet this fate. He recommends that measures be immediately taken in anticipation of these extraordinarily tough times.

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In the formula of how much of an emergency fund you need, you better reassess how stable your job is.

The answer is “not very”!

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Posted by reinkefj

POLITICS: “Climate Change”?

Saturday, October 17, 2009

http://www.dailyblogtips.com/blog-action-day-how-bloggers-can-combat-climate-change

Blog Action Day: How Bloggers Can Combat Climate Change
by Daniel Scocco

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Today is Blog Action Day, and I want to talk about how bloggers can act to combat climate change.

But first things first, what is climate change? It is the change in the average weather around the world. In our specific case the weather is getting hotter (hence why people talk about global warming). This charge is partially caused by natural factors (e.g., changes in Earth’s orbit), but the human factor also plays an important role, with the increasing concentration of greenhouses.

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“Climate change”? How have we gone from “Global Cooling” in the 1970’s to “Global Warming” in the 2000’s and end up at “Climate Change” in 2009? Unfortunately, I don’t know if the climate is changing. It has in the past (i.e., Greenland was green). It may in the future. In the cosmic scale, we are a fly on the elephant’s butt. I do know that the same folks who did the “chicken little” on “global cooling” had the same litany of “cures” — higher taxes, more regulations, limitation on freedom. I think that it’s “sensible” to use less of “stuff”; sensible is a synonym for “cost effective”. It’s irrational to think that “I am saving the planet”; it’s smart to cut the electric bill by eliminating wasteful “phantom loads”. I think that bloggers can bring “common sense” to the discussion. We certainly don’t see common sense in the “old media”, politicians, or bureaucrats. Hypocrites abound (e.g., Gore’s carbon footprint; Prince Charles’ jet set life; UN in everything it does). We need to be “smart”!

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Posted by reinkefj

PRODUCTIVITY: Book price war

Friday, October 16, 2009

http://www.resourceshelf.com/2009/10/16/price-war-breaks-out-between-amazon-and-wal-mart-over-10-new-books/

Price War Breaks Out Between Amazon and Wal-Mart over 10 New Books

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In this time of eBook, eBooks and more eBooks we think it’s worth noting that a price war has broken out over 10 pre-order hard cover titles. We wonder if it more books will be added to the list, the price keeps getting reduced, and if other online book providers will join in.

It began yesterday when Wal-Mart announced that they were reducing the price of ten titles to $10 for books purchased on Walmart.com. Then, Amazon.com came back by lowering the price for those same titles to $9. This morning (Friday), Wal-Mart returned the volley and is now selling the books for $9.

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Ain’t capitalism wonderful!

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Posted by reinkefj

RANT: Can’t be a player and umpire at the same time

Friday, October 16, 2009

http://jasonalba.com/2009/10/13/health-insurance-tracks-cost-of-medical-care-bs/comment-page-1/#comment-46036

Affordable Outplacement
Health Insurance Tracks Cost Of Medical Care. BS.
Jason Alba

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That was what I thought the lie was. Based on my summer, with a birth and a surgery, I could not believe the overhead and price inflation caused by insurance companies. You can read about it on my JibberJobber blog, but understand that the hospital bills for the birth of my kid were about 60% discounted because we were self-pay, and we paid up front.

In other words, because we bypassed the health insurance system we were able to avoid 60% of the cost. Unbelievable.

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My observation on the upcoming “Obama-care” where the gooferment will become — in quick order — my “insurance company”. (Yeah, I know what they say. But, I think it’s going to be “Medicare for everyone”. To paraphrase Judge Judy, “I wouldn’t believe you …” (i.e. a congress critter; any politician) “… if your tongue came notarized!”

If my insurance company screws me, I can go to the gooferment for relief. If the gooferment aka my insurance company screws me, to whom do I go to for relief? To the gooferment’s courts?

Just take my screwing and shut up!

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Posted by reinkefj

INTERESTING: Political quiz

Friday, October 16, 2009

http://pewresearch.org/politicalquiz/quiz/index.php

200910160746.jpg

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I’m not surprised. I’m a wonk! It wasn’t very hard.

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TECHNOLOGY: “Smart readers”; too smart?

Friday, October 16, 2009

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/6292809/Smart-meters-could-be-spy-in-the-home.html

Smart meters could be ‘spy in the home’

Smart meters could become a ‘spy in the home’ by allowing social workers and health authorities to monitor households, adding to conce rn at Britain’s surveillance society.

By Alastair Jamieson

Published: 10:30AM BST 11 Oct 2009

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The DECC document adds households could even have their power to some appliances turned off remotely to help the national grid if there is too much demand. It says: “In terms of potentially intrusive non-physical behaviour unrelated to data, smart metering potentially offers scope for remote intervention such as dynamic demand management, which is designed to assist management of the network and thus security of supply. This could involve direct supplier or distribution company interface with equipment, such as refrigerators, within a property, overriding the control of the householder.”

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I always think of what can go wrong.

Turn off the refrig to “save the grid” and the food goes bad.

Turn off the heat to “save the grid” and people die.

Turn off power to politically “wrong” people?

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GOVEROTRAGEOUS: schools and “knives”

Thursday, October 15, 2009

http://www.wten.com/global/story.asp?s=11283345

Eagle Scout suspended from school over pocket knife (10/08/09)
A NEWS10 EXCLUSIVE
By MARK O’BRIEN

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LANSINGBURGH — High school senior Matthew Whalen is the kind of student any parent would want.

He’s an Eagle Scout, on the honor roll, taking Advanced Placement classes, and never been in trouble with the law. He’s received commendations from the City of Troy and the Boy Scouts of America for saving a woman’s life, and this past summer, he completed Army basic training. All of it was accomplished before the age of 17.

“I’m just trying to do what I can while I can,” Matthew says.

His goal is to attend the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, a dream since he was in grade school.

“I have a first-grade yearbook that says I want to be driving tanks in the Army,” Matthew says. “I mean, this is something that I know I’ve always wanted to do.”

But the dream could be in jeopardy, thanks to a two-inch pocket knife that officials at Lansingburgh Senior High School found in Matthew’s locked car last month. The pocket knife was a gift from his grandfather, Robert Whalen, who’s the Hoosick Falls Police Chief. Matthew says he kept the knife in a side compartment and never tried showing it off or threatening anyone with it. Instead it was a part of the survival kit that was his car.

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A stupid rule. (Considering guns in school. Chicago violence. And, all manner of other more important issues.) An illegal search. A kangaroo court. And, the komisars of eddykation with their leftist world views.

The article goes on to comment on a tire iron being a “weapon”. How about the car being its own weapon?

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