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

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

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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Posted by reinkefj

POLITICAL: Reconnect or repolarize

Monday, April 26, 2010

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

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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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Posted by reinkefj

QUOTE: Self-ownership and the implications thereof

Monday, April 26, 2010

“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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Posted by reinkefj

INSPIRATIONAL: Liberty needs a leader

Sunday, April 25, 2010

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

Sunday, April 25, 2010

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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Posted by reinkefj

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

Saturday, April 24, 2010

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

Saturday, April 24, 2010

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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Posted by reinkefj

GOVEROTRAGEOUS: SEC, an incompetent regulator

Friday, April 23, 2010

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

SEC Incompetence
Posted by Mark A. Calabria

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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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Posted by reinkefj

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

Friday, April 23, 2010

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

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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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Posted by reinkefj

FUN: MALE VS. FEMALE AT ATM MACHINE

Friday, April 23, 2010

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.’

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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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