Month: April 2010

POLITICAL: No more Vietnams

Published on by reinkefjLeave a comment

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=146437

35 years after fall of Saigon
Posted: April 28, 2010
By Richard Botkin

*** begin quote ***

America’s investment in Vietnam was significant. Aside from the tens of billions of dollars spent to fight the war, 58,000 men paid the ultimate price. Several times that number were wounded, and every man who endured combat has been marked forever by that experience.

*** end quote ***

Even those, who didn’t endure that combat, has been marked forever.

Good “boys”, really men, followed their consciences to Canada or underground. Some of them died as well. Driven from society, their friends, their family, their supporting social circles, their dreams into who knows what type of personal and civil hell. My best friend died in that hell. I didn’t know about it because he was on the wrong side of the law and I had a security clearance. His girl, who in normal times, might have become his wife, drifted on without him. He was a “casualty of war” as much as any man lost in combat.

There were a lot more casualties.

“No More Vietnams” to me means no more welfare / warfare state illusions. George Washington was perceptive about “entangling alliances” and MYOB!

Donna Nobis Pacem!

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INSPIRATIONAL: My father’s sister has passed

Published on by reinkefjLeave a comment

http://www.seefeldfuneral.com/index.cfm

*** begin quote ***

Berniece M. Reinke

(June 14, 1919 – April 21, 2010)

Berniece M. Reinke, age 90, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, April 21, 2010 at Elijah’s Place in Oshkosh. Berniece was born on June 14, 1919, the daughter of the late Jerome and Amanda (Plude) Burbey. She attended school in Dunbar and graduated high school there in 1937. Berniece was married to Robert E. Faehling from May 1937 to 1946. She married Carl E. Reinke in 1947 and he preceded her in death on March 30, 2006.

Berniece was a welder in the Sturgeon Bay shipyard during World War II and later worked for Hudson Company in Oshkosh. She was also employed by Sears in Oshkosh and other locations where her husband Carl was stationed with the Air Force. Berniece was also a volunteer Gray Lady for many years.

Berniece will always be cherished and missed by her daughter, Diane (George) Clark of Oostburg; son, Robert (Evelyn) Faehling of West Bend; seven grandchildren, Michael (Jody) Clark of Monument, Colorado, Todd (Debra) Clark of Stevens Point, Kristen (Kevin) Pisula of Orlando, Florida, Tami (James) Slayton of West Bend, Michelle (Brian) Schraufnagel of West Bend, Chip (Rhonda) Faehling of Kewaskum, Robin Faehling of West Bend; and fourteen great-grandchildren. She is further survived by several nieces, nephews and friends. Berniece was preceded in death by her husband, Carl; parents; four sisters and four brothers-in-law; six brothers and six sisters-in-law; two nieces and two nephews.

Memorial service for Berniece will take place at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 2, 2010 at Seefeld Family of Funeral Chapels, 1025 Oregon Street, Oshkosh. A time of visiting and sharing of support will take place at the funeral chapel on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. until the time of service. Please visit http://www.seefeldfuneral.com to send online condolences to the family.

The family would like to a send a special thanks to the staff of Elijah’s Place, Chaplain Vicki Marxen, and Hospice Care for the kindness and wonderful care they showed our loved one.

*** end quote ***

It’s serendipity that I found this sad news. My Mom just died in April. She always spoke lovingly about “Bernie” and how she helped her, a “Nu Yawker”, with a newborn out on the “frontier”. Strange how fate joins, separates, and rejoins us.

Even though, I didn’t know my father’s family well, I have fond memories of Grandma Reinke and my visit with her in the nursing home when I was enroute to Fairchild AFB.

I feel a little poorer now. “No man is an island, entire of itself … any manʼs death diminishes me”. I am sorry for your loss.

I’ll try to post some pictures later. Or on my blog “Reinke Faces Life”.
photograph

(I’m top row on the right.)

It’s like the “hidden from me” pane of my JoHari window just became a little smaller. I’ve opened a special email address if any of the Oregonians want to communicate with me.

Tonight, I will say a prayer for Aunt Bernie and for all that might have been. Shoulda, coulda, and woulda! They’ll kill you. You have to declare an amnesty after a year, or you’ll drive yourself nuts. Still hard to imagine what would have been possible. Were war time marriages doomed to failure? Does this all have to be chalked up to the casualties of a long ago war?

“In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life. It goes on.” — Robert Frost

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I guess I wasn’t clear enough. Bernice was married to Carl that’s my father’s brother. That makes her my aunt-in-law.

When my Mom and Dad separated, (never divorced; Catholics), it was nasty. And, I had very little contact with my West Coast Oregon Reinke family. Whenever my East Coast Bellew family did something I didn’t like, I’d always declare I was a “Reinke”. My Mom always laughed, but I think she knew it was true. I didn’t share a lot of the East Coast’s values. Still don’t. And, I attribute my “I don’t give an <synonym for excrement>” attitude to my Reinke roots. I remember my Dad wistfully describing how when fishing season came, everyone dropped everything and went fishing. While I don’t fish, (Thanks, to Ferdie, my childhood pet goldfish who died on me!), I do like that meme. Drop everything and go relax!

ROFL!

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POLITICAL: Beck is morphing into a libertarian

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http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=144405

Beck breaks from the pack
Posted: April 23, 2010

*** begin quote ***

But more importantly: good guy Glenn is finally espousing a foreign policy compatible with limited authority and republican virtues.

*** end quote ***

Glenn Beck has been slowly moving toward being a libertarian in thought, word, and deed.

The shift to a “humble foreign policy” is essential to getting our troops home and our “collective nose” out of everyone else’s business.

The question is it real or is it like “Rosie O’Donnell”? Where after the fame is no longer needed, the star rips off the mask and we see the truth.

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RANT: Prayers for Ms. Bullock

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http://www.people.com/people/package/article/0,,20364464_20364640,00.html

EXCLUSIVE: Sandra Bullock Has Filed for Divorce

Wednesday April 28, 2010 07:00 AM EDT

# – # – #

I give not a rat’s tush for Hollywood, its marriages, or its politics.

After Rosie (Queeeen of Nice when she needed us) O’D, I don’t believe any celebrity’s public persona.

I enjoyed Bullock’s movies. Even the bad ones. They were mostly clean and mostly funny.

She conducted her personal life in a dignified and quiet manner.

For her to be ignored by the Hollywood elite for an Oscar somewhat endeared her to me. (The enemy of my enemy is my friend.)

When what’s his face appeared on the Apprentice (Hey Season One was good!) I had no idea who he was and, when I found out, I said “everyone gets to choose their mate”.

When she spoke highly and lovingly of him at the Oscar win, I was impressed.

Then this trash came out.

I felt sorry for her. They say Reagan became the heros that he portrayed in the movies. I wish the same to her. She always (for the most part) played “happy”. I wish her “happiness”.

While she (unlike the rest of us) probably never has to worry about money again, I hope she’s able to overcome the betrayal by this slimy fellow (I’d say that about any man who cheats on his wife. No matter how good he is at golf. We should shun them all. They are untrustworthy and, to me, completely despicable.)

I’ll say a silent prayer for her to rebound. And, unlike Jane Fonda, (an old vet never forgets), I look forward to her next movie.

I hope she rebounds. I hope she uses her platform to cry foul eventually, call on me to grow up, and sneer at all this “sex rehab” stuff.

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POLITICAL: Energy independence and the debt!

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http://dailyreckoning.com/8-very-public-false-starts-for-us-energy-independence

8 Very Public False Starts for US Energy Independence

By Rocky Vega

*** begin quote ***

* In 1974 with 36.1% of oil from foreign sources, President Richard Nixon said

* In 1975 with 36.1% of oil from foreign sources, President Gerald Ford said

* In 1979 with 40.5% of oil from foreign sources, President Jimmy Carter said

* In 1981 with 43.6% of oil from foreign sources, President Ronald Reagan said

* In 1992 with 47.2% of oil from foreign sources, President George Bush said

* In 1995 with 49.8% of oil from foreign sources, President Bill Clinton said

* In 2006 with 65.5% of oil from foreign sources, President George W. Bush said

* In 2009 with 66.2% of oil from foreign sources, President Barack Obama said

*** end quote ***

Who cares what they said!

Look at results.

The power to tax is the power to destroy.

Tariffs are constitutional.

How about a 5% import duty on all “foreign” energy?

That 5% is used to reduce the national debt.

And, at the same time. tie the congress critters salary to the deficit in the prior year. Salary zero if there is any!

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TECHNOLOGY: Security has to be a core value; not an after thought

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http://www.forbes.com/2010/04/20/security-policy-privacy-technology-cio-network-data.html

Commentary
Keeping Data Safe From IT Snoops
Mike Schaffner, 04.21.10, 06:00 AM EDT
How to improve data security and privacy.

*** begin quote ***

If possible, add a formal security role. This job isn’t just about limiting access and changing passwords. It involves looking at all of the processes from the user side as well as within IT. It is important that this role audit compliance and educate users and IT alike about security issues.

*** end quote ***

With all due respect to Forbes and the author, this is indicative of reactive and “after the fact” thinking.

“If possible”?

(Argh!)

Either Information Security, and it’s natural sidekick Business Recovery, are core functions of your infrastructure or they aren’t. If they are, then they are essential components of your Strategic Requirements with resources to accomplish their mission. If not, then this is lipstick on the proverbial pig.

You don’t say: “If possible, we should have a CFO.”!

Customers, Employees, Suppliers, and everyone are quick to pick up the implications of your deeds. Words don’t matter; actions do! Spot one of these “bolt on” “paper over” tactical cover overs and you should be looking for your replacement. Get away before they take you down with them.

What are your requirements? Else your next credit card statement may be delivered to Lagos Nigeria. There’s no substitute for “doing it right”. After the fact can never be right.

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RANT: Recording ANY “public servent” should be allowed anytime!

Published on by reinkefjLeave a comment

http://www.lewrockwell.com/blog/lewrw/archives/56563.html

April 26, 2010
Don’t Film a Cop Pointing a Gun at You
Posted by Karen De Coster on April 26, 2010 05:42 AM

*** begin quote ***

“Turns out there’s a law against audibly recording someone without their consent. It’s a felony.”

The motorcyclist, Anthony Graber, spent 26 hours in jail. Read the rest of this remarkable story here. Carlos Miller has a good website if you have never been to it: Photography is Not a Crime. Thanks to Ymbel Diaz for the link.

*** end quote ***

This has to go to the Supremes.

Absolutely absurd!

Do Maryland police have dash cams?

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POLITICAL: Political Assassination a bad idea when applied to us?

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http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2010/04/the_effectivene_1.html

Schneier on Security
A blog covering security and security technology.

April 20, 2010
The Effectiveness of Political Assassinations

*** begin quote ***

This is an excellent read:

I wouldn’t have believed you if you’d told me 20 years ago that America would someday be routinely firing missiles into countries it’s not at war with. For that matter, I wouldn’t have believed you if you’d told me a few months ago that America would soon be plotting the assassination of an American citizen who lives abroad.

*** end quote ***

Interesting is the “good for the goose; good for the gander” argument. If terrorists start targeting American political leaders, then I can imagine the moral indignation.

Also, interesting is that “letters of marque and reprisal” WAS acceptable to the dead old white guys and provided for in the Constitution. (Not that they’d do it; they’d just give whoever did do it a “get out of jail free” card.) We don’t follow the Constitution about declaring war, the Constitution’s implied isolationism, or the dead old white guys’ often expressed policy of MYOB.

How’s that supposed Chinese curse go? “May you live in interesting times.”

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As a little L libertarian who is pro-life anti-death penalty, fighting an undeclared war, killing civilians, and the indiscriminate assassination of supposed enemies is unacceptable and immoral.

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POLITICAL: Reconnect or repolarize

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http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0410/Obama_seeks_to_reconnectyoung_people_AfricanAmerins_Latinos_and_women_for_2010.html

April 26, 2010
Obama seeks to ‘reconnect…young people, African-Americans, Latinos, and women’ for 2010
Ben Smith

*** begin quote ***

Obama speaks with unusual demographic frankness about his coalition in his appeal to “young people, African-Americans, Latinos, and women who powered our victory in 2008 [to] stand together once again.”

*** end quote ***

Argh!

Was that the demographic groups that put him over the top?

Or was it anyone who believed the “barbara streisand” that he was peddling?

Argh!

Another corrupt Chicago politician that’s feeling the heat after disappointing the voters.

AND, BTW, why had he spent more than 2M$ fighting to keep his paperwork hidden?

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QUOTE: Self-ownership and the implications thereof

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“Once one accepts the principle of self-ownership, what’s moral and immoral becomes self-evident. Murder is immoral because it violates private property. Rape and theft are also immoral — they also violate private property. Here’s an important question: Would rape become morally acceptable if Congress passed a law legalizing it? You say: “What’s wrong with you, Williams? Rape is immoral plain and simple, no matter what Congress says or does!” If you take that position, isn’t it just as immoral when Congress legalizes the taking of one person’s earnings to give to another? Surely if a private person took money from one person and gave it to another, we’d deem it theft and, as such, immoral. Does the same act become moral when Congress takes people’s money to give to farmers, airline companies or an impoverished family? No, it’s still theft, but with an important difference: It’s legal, and participants aren’t jailed.” — Walter Williams

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INSPIRATIONAL: Liberty needs a leader

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http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2010/04/25/
despite_forecasts_freedom_takes_more_than_technology

Despite forecasts, freedom takes more than technology
Jeff Jacoby
The Boston Globe

*** begin quote ***

It is always inspiring to encounter individuals who jeopardize their safety and freedom to speak truth to power, and the dissidents gathered on the campus of Southern Methodist University were no exception. Ahed al-Hendi, a young antigovernment activist seized by the Syrian mukhabarat — the secret police — as he was blogging in a Damascus Internet café, spent 34 days in a 2-by-3-foot jail cell. The Russian dissident Oleg Kozlovsky (who was grounded in Europe and joined the conference via Skype) has been repeatedly arrested and was even drafted by the Russian army in 2007 in order to thwart his prodemocracy activities. As former President Bush put it in opening the conference, these “are people who refuse to take the lack of freedom for granted.’’

*** end quote ***

Sorry, but I don’t see the MLK who will change this country.

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GOVERNACIDE: Gooferment North of the Border kills as well

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http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2010/04/17/13622106.html

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Stranded woman dies despite 911 call

By THE CANADIAN PRESS

Last Updated: April 17, 2010 2:34am

*** begin quote ***

BIG RIVER, Sask. – A woman who died trying to get help for three family members is being called a hero, but the situation has RCMP investigating why their calls to 911 went unheeded.

RCMP said two women and two children had been driving to Loon Lake from Prince Albert when their car got bogged down in mud and water on a poorly maintained road in a remote area near Big River. Records indicate someone in the car called 911 on April 8 but no officers were dispatched.

One of the women tried to get help, walking some 60 kilometres from the vehicle.

*** and ***

There have been several high-profile problems with 911 service in other Canadian cities.

In Calgary, one woman narrowly escaped being killed when she came home last November and found her two children slain. Ying Louie called 911 earlier saying she feared for the safety of her children because her husband wouldn’t let her speak to them. Louie called again about 30 minutes later and talked to a different operator. There was a scream and the line cut off.

In February, a Calgary woman was heard in distress in the background of a 911 call made more than 12 hours before she was found dead by police.

An inquest was held in Winnipeg after two aboriginal sisters — Corrine McKeown, 52, and Doreen Leclair, 51 — were murdered in 2000. They had called police and 911 five times over eight hours to get help. Police responded to the first call and to the last call, when they found the women had been stabbed to death inside Leclair’s home in Winnipeg’s north end.

Morin said the woman was released from hospital Friday. He met with her and the boys, along with the RCMP.

“She was still pretty weak, but the kids were … pretty healthy,” said Morin.

*** end quote ***

Argh! “Dial 911 and die”

Mistakes happen. Fatal mistakes. Avoidable mistakes.

(1) Logging road shortcut.

Are you kidding me? That’s what got that California guy and his family. At least, his excuse was he was following his Garmin. Wasn’t the lack of pavement a clue that they were headed in the “wrong” direction?

(2) Calling 911!

Always a mistake. If lost, call a friend or relative who will care if you are succored or not. A follow up with the donut eating bureaucrats. (Nice of them to conduct an investigation abot the multiple gooferment failures in this story.

(3) Car not equipped for survival.

No 72 hour bag in the trunk. No tools. No survival gear. And these were Native Americans?

(4) 60 click hike

That’s about 40 miles. (That’s a good hike for a Marine.) But doable. Didn’t say how old the lady was, but with properly gear, it has to be do-able. “Four days later” indicates she made ten miles per day. Would seem to be a comfortable pace.

(5) Dead on the side of the road

Natural causes or run over?

(6) 911 Operators

No one knew nothing. No follow up. No use.

(7) 911 History

Only the gooferment can provide an expensive service that fails so badly. No one gets fired. No one is reprimanded. “She’s lucky!”

Where’s the outrage?

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MONEY: ROTH IRA’s tax-free status may NOT be dependible

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http://www.ricedelman.com/cs/pressroom/pressroom_detail?pressrelease.id=1122

Roth IRA Conversion Question
For Immediate Release
April 22, 2010

*** begin quote ***

Question: Regarding Roth IRA conversions, what is there to prevent the government 10, 20 or 30 years from now taking these Roth IRAs and changing rules and making them taxable, either all or in part, or making them subject to the AMT?

Ric: There is nothing preventing Congress from doing that. That is one of our objections to the Roth IRA and specifically to the Roth IRA Conversion.

Congress says Roth IRA withdrawals are tax-free, but we get a new Congress every two years. Planning to retire in 20 years? That’s 10 Congresses from now.

If the government needs more revenue, a future Congress might decide to tax the money held in Roth accounts. You can even argue that this is why Congress allows Roth conversions in the first place: The conversion does not necessarily lower your taxes, but it does accelerate your payment of them. By getting you to convert, Congress gets the tax revenue now. Clever, huh?

Do you trust Congress to honor its promises? The more you do, the more confident you can be about putting money in the Roth IRA. Personally, I am not terribly confident.

*** end quote ***

The out of control congress doesn’t inspire confidence.

As they cast around for “revenue”, the 401ks and IRAs must certainly be attractive.

Watch your wealth it’s hunting season for money in DC!

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INTERESTING: This call may be recorded for quality assurance

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http://www.philly.com/philly/business/20100416_Bankruptcy_judge_orders_taping_documents_produced.html

Posted on Fri, Apr. 16, 2010
Bankruptcy judge orders taping documents produced
By Christopher K. Hepp Inquirer Staff Writer

*** begin quote ***

The auction is central to the company’s reorganization plan, which calls for the senior lenders, including Angelo Gordon & Co., CIT Group, and Credit Suisse, to receive the proceeds from the sale to settle about $318 million in debt. The lenders have said they intend to bid on the company.

The taping incident involves a meeting between company officials and some of its senior lenders at Philadelphia Newspapers’ Broad Street headquarters to discuss a possible negotiated settlement of the company’s debt.

Brian P. Tierney, Philadelphia Newspapers’ CEO, discovered Vincent DeVito, a representative of the CIT Group, taping the meeting. In Pennsylvania, taping a meeting without permission is a crime.

*** end quote ***

Interesting!

This has come up several times. In the context of Acorn. In the context of police actions. And, now this.

Shouldn’t it ALWAYS be legal to tape something that you are a witness to?

Putting on my Judge Judy hat, seems obvious to me.

Besides aren’t we always hearing: “This call may be recorded for quality assurance”?

I don’t get a choice. So what different.

Argh!

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GOVEROTRAGEOUS: SEC, an incompetent regulator

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http://www.cato-at-liberty.org/2010/04/23/sec-incompetence/

SEC Incompetence
Posted by Mark A. Calabria

*** begin quote ***

But the porn charges are the least of the SEC’s worries. Also released was the IG’s report on the SEC’s failure to stop the Stanford Ponzi scheme. The report shows a clear pattern of incompetence at the SEC. Given the SEC’s failure to act on the Madoff scheme, and the repeated warnings about Stanford, one has to wonder how good SEC investogators are at discovering fraud if they don’t even pursue the clear-cut cases brought to them.

*** end quote ***

Government is ALWAYS ineffective and inefficient.

This is a classic example of that.

So, why should we even have an SEC?

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MONEY: Rumors about the pot of trillions in IRAs and 401ks

Published on by reinkefjLeave a comment

http://whiskeyandgunpowder.com/401k-as-dangerous-as-the-dollar/

*** begin quote ***

You’re going to have to pay taxes on those funds eventually anyway, and far better to snatch two-thirds or so of the prize away before it gets dumped into the general fund and is spent on housing for Hamas, the snail darter, uniforms for the Obama Youth, excruciatingly bad modern “art,” or more perquisites for Congress. Even half a loaf will be better than none…if you turn it quickly into objects of intrinsic value, such as gold, silver, diesel oil, and emergency rations.

*** end quote ***

Another doomsday prediction about OBH44 with the congresscritters seizing the 401ks. Makes sense since all they have to do is strong arm all “the custodians”. Like Rooosevelt’s “bank holiday” and gold call in, one day you got and the next day you don’t. I’m no so sure that “cashing out” and paying the tax penalties is a smart strategy either. Sigh! One MIGHT consider NOT putting more into the 401ks or IRAs. If it does get seized, it’s going to be catastrophic to the market confidence. So the stock markets will be going south! So maybe cashing out is a good strategy. You lose either way. So maybe commodities that you can put in your “mad money” jar makes sense. 1 to 10% of your portfolio?

Once you decide to do that, I’d go for 1 ounce silver rounds. And, if you’re into the “band aids, beans, and bullets” philosophy, some bricks of 22’s will be a good commodity.

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FUN: MALE VS. FEMALE AT ATM MACHINE

Published on by reinkefjLeave a comment

FROM LUDDITE (Blame him; not me)

*** begin quote ***

Subject: FW: MALE VS. FEMALE AT ATM MACHINE

-MALE VS. FEMALE AT THE ATM MACHINE <http://groups.yahoo.com/subscribe/enjoythemasti&gt;

A new sign in the Bank Lobby reads:

‘Please note that this Bank is installing new Drive-through ATM machines enabling customers to withdraw cash without leaving their vehicles. Customers using this new facility are requested to use the procedures outlined below when accessing their accounts. After months of careful research, MALE &FEMALE Procedures have been developed. Please follow the Appropriate steps for your gender.’

# – # – #

MALE PROCEDURE:

1. Drive up to the cash machine.

2. Put down your car window.

3. Insert card into machine and enter PIN.

4. Enter amount of cash required and withdraw.

5. Retrieve card, cash and receipt..

6. Put window up.

7.. Drive off.

FEMALE PROCEDURE:

What is really funny is that most of this part is the Truth!

1. Drive up to cash machine.

2. Reverse and back up the required amount to align car window with the machine.

3. Set parking brake, put the window down.

4. Find handbag, remove all contents on to passenger seat to locate card.

5. Tell person on cell phone you will call them back and hang up..

6. Attempt to insert card into machine…

7.. Open car door to allow easier access to machine due to its excessive distance from the car.

8.. Insert card.

9. Re-insert card the right way.

10. Dig through handbag to find diary with your PIN written on the inside back page.

11. Enter PIN.

12. Press cancel and re-enter correct PIN.

13. Enter amount of cash required.

14. Check makeup in rear view mirror.

15. Retrieve cash and receipt…

16. Empty handbag again to locate wallet and place cash inside..

17. Write debit amount in check register and place receipt in back of checkbook.

18. Re-check makeup.

19. Drive forward 2 feet.

20. Reverse back to cash machine.

21. Retrieve card.

22. Re-empty hand bag, locate card holder, and place card into the slot provided!

23. Give dirty look to irate male driver waiting behind you.

24.. Restart stalled engine and pull off.

25. Redial person on cell phone..

26. Drive for 2 to 3 miles.   

27. Release Parking Brake.

SEND THIS TO A MAN WHO NEEDS A LAUGH, <http://groups.yahoo.com/subscribe/enjoythemasti&gt;

AND TO THE LADIES who can handle it…. they need a laugh, too!

Remember this! A lady sent it to me.

She was laughing, too.

*** end quote ***

Email complaints to Luddite (two d’s and one t) at reinke dot cc

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Categories FUN

INTERESTING: Temple restricts everyone’s free speech rights

Published on by reinkefjLeave a comment

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/greg-lukianoff/temple-student-group-plac_b_537916.html

Temple Student Group Placed on Probation for Inviting Me to Speak?
Greg Lukianoff is the president of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE).
Posted: April 14, 2010 04:24 PM

*** begin quote ***

A Temple University student group was notified this morning that it was on probation because of me. Apparently Temple just decided I am either so dangerous or so important that I need security for a lecture on campus tonight (I promise I am neither), but since the group sponsoring me did not request security, it is on probation effective immediately.

*** end quote ***

Interesting!

What happened to “free speech”?

Temple University’s “about” page doesn’t say if it’s public or private. Regardless, it takes Federal funds so it’s a de facto Federal agent. Hence it can’t abridge free speech. So this “security fee”, and the flap over it, is chilling to the free speech rights of everyone.

Argh!

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SERVICE: UofP blows it by not offering alumni email

Published on by reinkefjLeave a comment

*** begin quote ***

A message that you sent could not be delivered to one or more of
its recipients. The following addresses failed:
<xxxxxxxxx@email.uophx.edu>
SMTP error from remote server in greeting:
host email.uophx.edu[204.17.28.37]:
550 Requested action not taken: mailbox unavailable.

*** end quote ***

Interesting! University of Phoenix takes down email when it’s student’s graduate. How short sighted is that?

Obvious, even if I had to cut a deal with Google for Gmail to offer to all my alumni that’s a great marketing ploy.

Future sales. Referrals. References. Social networking. Free advertisign when folks use it. Alumni networking.

Boy, did they blow it.

They may have the next generation in the “education” model, but they still have old thinking at the top.

Traditional schools most flub it as well, but they’re dinosaurs so what would you expect!

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INSPIRATIONAL: Milton Friedman on Capitalism and “greed is universal”; it’s good for the poor too

Published on by reinkefjLeave a comment

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjH4QBSwWlg&feature=player_embedded

Milton Friedman Teaches Phil Donahue
Posted by Karen De Coster on April 14, 2010 07:15 PM

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Sure, Donahue was a boob, even when he was right (such as war), but just 30 years later, can you imagine any television talk show host bringing on an intellectual with the caliber of Milton Friedman? Compare Oprah or Sally Jesse Raphael. Donahue also interviewed Ayn Rand. In light of that, I have many fond memories of the Phil Donahue show. My Mom had his show on all the time, so I watched it, whenever possible, from the time I was about ten years old. I learned much from the debate/discussion on his show.

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Two minutes; Safe For Work. Stunningly inspirational!

In the movie, we learned from the character Gordon Gekko that “Greed is Good”.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7upG01-XWbY

“I am not a destroyer of companies. I am a liberator of them! The point is, ladies and gentleman, that greed, for lack of a better word, is good. Greed is right, greed works. Greed clarifies, cuts through, and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit. Greed, in all of its forms; greed for life, for money, for love, knowledge has marked the upward surge of mankind. And greed, you mark my words, will not only save Teldar Paper, but that other malfunctioning corporation called the USA. Thank you very much.”

Here we learn from Milton Friedman, that it’s not only good for the poor unwashed masses, but that it’s inescapable.

All “leaders” always have clay feet pursuing their own ends. They can’t help but be human.

And, Milton Friedman warns us to trust none of them.

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INTERESTING: I have some anecdotal evidence that I never understood

Published on by reinkefjLeave a comment

http://www.sciencedaily.com/videos/2007/1201-glasses_help_parkinsons_patients.htm

Science Video
Glasses Help Parkinson’s Patients
Podiatrist Invents Device To Make Walking Easier For Parkinson’s Sufferers
December 1, 2007

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The augmented reality glasses simulate an effect called kinesia paradoxa: the triggering of normal walking behavior in akinetic Parkinson’s patients by the placement of physical obstacles at their feet. Sometimes such cues exist naturally, such as black and white tiles placed evenly on a floor. The black tiles appear as objects to avoid, or as guides, and trigger a reflex of landing the feet between the black spaces. Walking up regularly spaced objects like stairs triggers the same effect, and can “un-freeze” a person who otherwise has problems walking with a normal gait. Presenting virtual objects and abstract visual cues moving through the patientýs visual field at speeds that emulate normal walking can also achieve this effect.

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When I read this i had a “Great Brother Jasper’s Ghost!!!” moment.

My Mom has just past. As she aged, she suffered terribly with Parkinson’s.

Growing up, she had spent a lot of money on black and white tiles through out the apartment. Maybe it was her way, even without knowing it, that she was compensating.

Wish I could tell the author. It might help him to another breakthrough.

I find this an interesting explanation.

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RANT: A truly free market requires no license!

Published on by reinkefjLeave a comment

http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2010/04/22/obama-to-scold-wall-street-in-cooper-union-speech/?mod=djemalertNEWS

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“A free market was never meant to be a free license to take whatever you can get, however you can get it,” President Obama will say, according to speech excerpts.

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One thing about OBH44, his speeches are a hoot!

A truly free market requires no license!

It’s a meeting of the minds of two sovereign individuals who agree to an exchange that benefits both of them. (If there was no mutual benefit, why would they do it!)

It requires no Gooferment intervention. Ever!

Force prevention (i.e., physical security) is RESPONSIBILITY of the parties involved. They will probably subcontract that responsibility to who ever rents the space for the exchange to them.

Fraud prevention (i.e., some one breaches the contract) is handled by the marketplace by reputation. Break your word and no one will do business with you.

SO why is a Gooferment bureaucrat (albeit the Head Bureaucrat) trying to mislead us into thinking that some type of “license” is required. At least the highwaymen of olden days just robbed us of our wealth, they didn’t try to confuse us as well!

Argh!

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footnote: I was so argh-ravative by this story that I broke my regular publishing schedule to bring this online. One man’s rant in the blog forest. I doubt anyone will notice. Arghhhhh!

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TECHNOLOGY: MacBookAir decided it needed a power off

Published on by reinkefjLeave a comment

No apparent reason other than it detected an unspecified “problem”.

Upon restarting, it dutifully sent a report off to the Apple Corps Headquarters.

So here we start the MTTR, MTBF, and ELAPSED clocks again.

This is unusual behavior that one would expect of WIndoze, or Microstuff’s Autoupdate?

Perhaps Apple has “clay feet” as well.

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