RANT: Little L libertarian question Stossel’s thinking

Monday, July 26, 2010

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=181689

Immigrants – good or bad?
Posted: July 21, 2010

*** begin quote ***

Open immigration is dangerous today, however, because some immigrants want to murder us. And now that America is a welfare state, some want to come here just to freeload. That great champion of freedom Milton Friedman said Mexican immigration is a good thing – but only so long as it’s illegal. “Why? Because as long as it’s illegal for people to come, they don’t qualify for welfare and Social Security. So they migrate to jobs.”

*** end quote ***

A little surprised at Stossel.

He wavers on immigration because there are people in the world that want to kill us.

He didn’t pursue that line of thought. Why do they want to kill and hurt us? Because unlike Switzerland, we don’t MYOB. If we would follow George Washington’s advice on “entangling alliances” and kept our politicians and bureaucrats from messing in the affairs of foreigners, then we’d be left alone. No one tries to kill the Swiss. Why is that? And, I’m not saying be an isolationist or a victim. The Constitution recognizes Marque and Reprisal.

If we end the warfare / welfare / Prohibition / non-MYOB state, then things will immediately begin to improve.

And, we’ll need more immigrants regardless of skills — low skill migrants to pick the crops and high skill techno-grants to energize the knowledge economy.

For a temporary admission, “We, The People” should insist on: a heath check, a finger print / DNA id, and a bond equal to the cost of a return ticket. For a permanent admission, the same thing. Sounds simple enough. Keep your nose clean, pay the taxes, and you’ll have no problem here. Get in serious legal trouble, and out you go with no hope of coming back.

Anything less, and we get what we deserve.

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RANT: Recall the Ambassador to Kenya now

Monday, July 26, 2010

http://www.lifenews.com/int1602.html

Obama Ambassador to Kenya Openly Endorses Proposed Pro-Abortion Constitution
from LifeNews.com Pro-Life Headlines by news@LifeNews.com (Steven Ertelt)

*** begin quote ***

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — After initially saying the Obama administration is not technically supporting the proposed pro-abortion constitution in Kenya and insisting it is merely supporting the voting process itself, United States Ambassador to Kenya Michael Ranneberger is now openly supporting it.

*** end quote ***

Excuse me!

Why are “we” taking any position in what any foreign country puts in their “constitution”?

Especially when the issue of abortion is involved.

How dare they use tax money, wealth stolen from taxpayers who find the issue morally abhorrent, to push that abomination in their name!

This ambassador should be recalled immediately and replaced.

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INTERESTING: Remember the “old days” … …

Monday, July 26, 2010

… … when you could drop a tree on an American car and it not kill the occupant?

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QUOTES: “I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore.”

Monday, July 26, 2010

“Network (1976) – Memorable Quotes.” The Internet Movie Database (IMDb). Web. 20 July 2010. <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074958/quotes>.

Howard Beale: I want you to go to the window, open it, stick your head out and yell: “I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore.”

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RANT: Making people into serfs

Monday, July 26, 2010

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=17&articleid=20100723_11_0_IronGa403000&rss_lnk=1

Thousands show up at Tulsa food pantry Friday
By MIKE AVERILL World Staff Writer
Published: 7/23/2010 12:47 PM
Last Modified: 7/23/2010 5:50 PM

*** begin quote ***

The message that was circulating was that the food boxes were free for anyone, however they’re actually restricted to families with children younger than 18 and there is an income restriction as well.

Through the program families can receive one 30-pound food box for each child and one box for every two adults. Families also receive one household box (toilet paper, soap, shampoo, toothpaste) for every two people younger than the age of 18 in the household. Families may receive these boxes each week.

Iron Gate receives 250 food boxes and 125 household boxes each week that it distributes Fridays and Saturdays in conjunction with its regular grocery distribution program. The program runs through September.

*** and ***

“The need seems to be overwhelming, not only in Tulsa but in the surrounding towns. We need to figure out how to better distribute these boxes. Other agencies are sending people to us for food,” she said.

*** end quote ***

Doesn’t anyone see a problem with this?

These people are “welfare farmers”. Now there are probably needy cases in there. But, how many has the Gooferment trained to depend on handouts?

Feed “stray cats” and don’t be surprised when you have more “stray cats”.

These are people, who should be accorded basic human dignity. They need “help”; not a “handout”.

That can’t be done by the Gooferment; it can only be accomplished by an energized empowered community — usually a church or a fraternal organization — who will invest time, money, resources, and most importantly attention to these people as people.

# – # – #

http://www.acton.org/ppolicy/compassion/ppolicy_compassion_olasky.php

Seven Principles from a Century Ago by Marvin Olasky

*** begin quote ***

The crisis of the modern welfare state is a crisis of government, and it is more than that. Too many private charities and foundations dispense aid on the basis of what feels good rather than what works. As a result, they end up providing, instead of points of light, alternative shades of darkness. Too many act like the arrogant individuals criticized by F. Scott Fitzgerald in The Great Gatsby: “They smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness… and let other people clean up the mess they made.”

*** end quote ***

1. Affiliation 2. Bonding 3. Categorization 4. Discernment 5. Employment 6. Freedom 7. God

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GOVERNACIDE: CNN reporting IEDs kill five U.S. troops in Afghan

Sunday, July 25, 2010

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/07/24/afghanistan.us.troops.killed/index.html?section=cnn_latest

Bombs kill five U.S. troops in Afghanistan
By the CNN Wire Staff
July 24, 2010 12:02 p.m. EDT

*** begin quote ***

Kabul, Afghanistan (CNN) — Bombings killed five U.S. troops in southern Afghanistan on Saturday, NATO’s International Security Assistance Force said.

The military did not say precisely where the incidents occurred, but the statement said the troops died in “improvised explosive device attacks.”

*** end quote ***

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INTERESTING: Folksonomy, wisdom of crowds?

Sunday, July 25, 2010

http://vanderwal.net/folksonomy.html

Folksonomy
February 2, 2007

*** begin quote ***

Folksonomy is the result of personal free tagging of information and objects (anything with a URL) for one’s own retrieval. The tagging is done in a social environment (usually shared and open to others). Folksonomy is created from the act of tagging by the person consuming the information.

*** end quote ***

Interesting, I’d never heard of this word before.

The wisdom of crowds?

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TECHNOLOGY: An interesting use of computers on old languages

Sunday, July 25, 2010

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1296214/Computer-program-translates-ancient-language.html

Computers to translate world’s ‘lost’ languages after program deciphers ancient text

By Niall Firth

Last updated at 4:15 PM on 20th July 2010

*** begin quote ***

Scientists have used a computer program to decipher a written language that is more than three thousand years old. The program automatically translated the ancient written language of Ugaritic within just a few hours. Scientists hope the breakthrough could help them decipher the few ancient languages that they have been unable to translate so far.

*** end quote ***

What a great idea and accomplishment. Hard to imagine a better use for computer technology than discovering the ancient secrets. WHo knew there were so many lost languages? And, what about the ones that were just oral?

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GOVEROTRAGEOUS: Add dam building to the list, but then we knew that from Katrina

Sunday, July 25, 2010

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/07/24/iowa.dam.breach/index.html?hpt=T2

Dam fails in eastern Iowa, causing massive flooding
By the CNN Wire Staff
July 24, 2010 7:15 p.m. EDT

*** begin quote ***

Culver told CNN that nearly 10 inches of rain had recently fallen in a 12-hour period in the area and was “too much water for the dam to hold.”

*** and ***

The governor said such a failure had never happened before.

*** end quote ***

Geee, what a great insight. The Gooferment shouldn’t be in the dam building business. The Gooferment shouldn’t be in any business!

Now, us little L libertarians realize that we are going to have to be creative. But someone should OWN the river. Maybe, it’s a corporation whose stock holders are everyone who has a deed for river front property? Then, they’d have a motivation to protect the river and protect people from it.

Clearly the current method doesn’t work.

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FUN: Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

Sunday, July 25, 2010

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/archbishop-fulton-sheen-returns-to-silver-screen-in-new-documentary/

*** begin quote ***

The hour-long documentary, entitled, “Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen: Servant of All,” offers both entertainment and a powerful message of evangelization as it follows the life of the famous archbishop (1895-1979). The video includes the testimonies of dozens of individuals who were touched by the life of the archbishop. It also shows footage from his popular television program, “Life is Worth Living.”

*** end quote ***

Everyone has their own story about meeting or interacting with a famous person. That was the rationale for the “Farley file” of Ike’s campaign as highlighted in the Heinlein story Double Star.

Sigh, those were the days. My younger years.

My “Bishop Sheen” story was that of an obnoxious fat little Good Shepherd grammar school kid focused, as usual, on an absurd little goal.

We were given “boosters” to sell for the “Propagation of the Faith”. Long story short, I happened to be outside the old Polo Grounds in the early evening one Saturday before the Good Bishop was to speak and say Mass for a mod of folks. What better place to find suckers … err I mean the faithful willing to give a wee lad a contribution for Holy Mother Church. So I am peddling my “boosters” to anyone who looks like they have few bucks. Up pulls a limo. Hey hot target I think. So I zip over and get ready to do my spiel. We were give a stock script. But I embellished the close. SO this fellow gets out with two young guys. Black coats all. Buttoned up. That should have been a clue; it wasn’t that cold. But I was into my pitch. “Yada, yada, yada.” And, into my close: “And, of course, I’m going to pray specifically and by name for each person that buys a Propagation of the Faith booster from me. Care to spend a dollar for the Pope?” To which this guy breaks out into a belly laugh. “Certainly, I’ll take five.” He turns to one the young guys with his hand out and a five comes from somewhere. He takes my cardboard booster and writes on it. Rips off his half and says: “Can you do me a favor and fill out the rest?” “Of course, I’m a full service fund raiser.” He asks: “And, why are you doing this? Do you want the Church to suceed?” “Not particularly. That’s good. But I want to get out of homework for a month if I win.” He laughed and said: “That’s a good goal. And, I’ll pray you reach all your goals.” At that point, he patted me on my head and rushed off. I looked at the the stub and it was signed “F. J. Sheen Servant of God”. No one at school believed it, but I had the evidence.

Like stupid kid, I turned the stub in. I should have kept it! Dumb, dumb, dumb.

And, btw, I won. But the Brothers reneged on the “prize”. No Federal Courts for little plantiffs who got screwed. I not only got homework form then on, but I got several punish lessons for the tirade I went on.

Any wonder, why I have no sense of security or confidence when ANY authority figure tells me ANYTHING. Remember Judge Judy!

Argh!

And, you wonder why I hated school?

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FUN: An end to those annoying GEICO commercials?

Sunday, July 25, 2010

201007251026.jpg

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GOVEROTRAGEOUS: No “financial” divorce

Sunday, July 25, 2010

http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/family/articles/2010/07/18/years_and_marriages_later_former_spouses_still_owe_alimony

   * Home /
   * Lifestyle /
   * Family issues

The Boston Globe
Years and marriages later, they still pay
By Bella English
Globe Staff / July 18, 2010

*** begin quote ***

Niro and other men — and women — like him say the state’s alimony law is archaic, reflecting an era when women kept house and men provided. Today, with women making up nearly half the workforce, they say alimony should be a temporary boost, not a lifetime subsidy.

Critics charge that the Legislature has avoided the issue for years in part because drawn-out divorce litigation is lucrative for lawmakers, many of whom are lawyers. Now these critics are working to change the law, a vague statute that gives judges wide discretion over alimony awards. Two bills have been introduced, and a legislative task force is working on a third version.

*** end quote ***

They have several examples of the law’s disastrous effects. Unfair and unjust enrichments. Subsidizing a past spouse’s idleness. And, just crazy randomness.

But why should we be surprised? The Gooferment’s one-size fits all solution that is cast in stone sooner or later is absurd.

(Wonder if those “gay marriages” will get the same treatment?)

Of course, little L libertarians don’t think the Gooferment should be in the “marriage business”. It used racist emotions to get into the business. Expanded it with the WW2 wage and price control “benefits” exception. And used the income tax code to “promote families”.

Argh!

No way that the Gooferment should be picking winners and losers in failed marriages. Partnership law, prenus, postnups, and contract law should be used. Not open ended judicial fiat.

Argh!

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RANT: The fall out from Obamacare begins

Sunday, July 25, 2010

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Some-insurers-stop-writing-apf-1129458619.html?x=0&.v=1

Some insurers stop writing new coverage for kids
Ahead of requirement to cover kids with medical problems, some insurers drop out
Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, Associated Press Writer, On Friday July 23, 2010, 8:03 pm EDT

*** begin quote ***

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida issues about 9,000 to 10,000 new policies a year that only cover children. Vice president Randy Kammer said the company’s experts calculated that guaranteeing coverage for children could raise premiums for other individual policy holders by as much as 20 percent.

“We believe that the majority of people who would buy this policy were going to use it immediately, probably for high cost claims,” said Kammer. “Guaranteed issue means you could technically buy it on the way to the hospital.”

*** end quote ***

Romney care, Obama care, any kind of care … politicians and bureaucrats always make the same mistake — static analysis.

As a fat old white guy injineer, one of the first classes I took was “Static Analysis”. OK tough enough. Immediately followed by “Dynamic Analysis”. Now we let things move. Way way way more difficult.

So to in economics, people react to what is done, or not done, or even what is threatened to be done, and begin to act in their own self-interest. As any reasonable person would do!

That’s why, after the politicians raised the millionaires’ tax in Maryland, suddenly the next year there are a lot less millionaires in Maryland.

Do these politicians and bureaucrats think that they are the only ones who can read the tea eaves, make a plan, and carry it out?

Every beginning hunter learns quickly to lead the target.

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POLITICAL: Follow the money

Sunday, July 25, 2010

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=181549

How Congress makes Americans sick
Walter E. Williams
Posted: July 21, 2010

*** begin quote ***

The Fanjul family of Palm Beach, Fla., a politically connected family, has given more than $1.8 million to both Democratic and Republican parties over the years. They and others in the sugar industry give millions to congressmen to keep high tariffs on foreign sugar so the U.S. sugar industry can charge us higher prices. According to one study, the Fanjul family alone earns about $65 million a year from congressional protectionism.

*** end quote ***

Price supports and price ceiings are political payoffs to someone. You just have to follow the money. Cui bono?

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POLITICAL: Time for the USA, like the USSR, to disintegrate

Saturday, July 24, 2010

http://www.lewrockwell.com/woods/woods149.html

Just Say No
by Shawn Macomber

*** begin quote ***

Thomas Woods: I’m interested in political decentralization as a way of bridging ideological divides, even if I realize that for most on the left federal supremacy is like their bread and butter.… Still, the Kirkpatrick Sales of the left do exist – people who favor farmers markets and say things like ‘Small is Beautiful’ – and there is a growing number on the right who also feel the political scale has gotten too big. That is what needs to be cultivated on both sides. It can be done. You know, I bet I could find some Vermonters who basically want to let Vermont be Vermont.

*** end quote ***

Of all the states that could secede, imho Vermont could be the best suited to going it alone. I made Vermont the destination of the heroic children of my dreams in “CHURCH 10●19●62”. The State is loaded with advantages and people who are pre-disposed to “independence”.

# – # – #

Reinke, Ferdinand J. “Chapter Eighty Six — Rest in Peace.” CHURCH 10●19●62 (978-0-557-08425-8). Vol. 2. Lulu. 279. Print.

“It’s a dangerous world out there. And, we don’t have the luxury of wasting any asset. Life is changing every day. Vermont has to change with it. I see all sorts of changes coming. Children will no longer waste the first 25 years of their lives. Adults will no longer be tossed on the rubbish pile for the last 50 years of their life. Vermont is going to become the economic miracle of the Northeast. It has natural advantages that will make it possible. Think the Switzerland of the New World.”

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SOFTWARE: Ubuntu Live CD for windows trouble

Saturday, July 24, 2010

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/4-reasons-windows-user-ubuntu-live-cd/

4 Reasons Every Windows User Should Have An Ubuntu Live CD
by Justin Pot on Jul. 21st, 2010

*** begin quote ***

Think Ubuntu is useless? Think again. Ubuntu can be an extremely effective tool for repairing and working on computers, even if you consider yourself a Windows purist. This is because Ubuntu is capable of loading completely from a Ubuntu Live CD, giving you access to your computer in ways Windows can’t – or when Windows is completely broken.

For this reason, I suggest every Windows user keeps a copy of Ubuntu on hand, even if they never intend to switch from Windows. Happily, Ubuntu is completely free to aquire. You can download Ubuntu and burn it yourself, but if that sounds like too much work you can request Ubuntu send you a Ubuntu Live CD for free.

*** end quote ***

I’ve used the “live” cd method several times.

In especially bad infestations of malware, I’ve installed Ubuntu then immediately reinstalled windoze. Everyone swore up and down it couldn’t happen but I’ve seen a complete windoze reformat, reinstall, and immediate reinfection. Without a connection to any network. The first thing we did with this “pariah machine” was to isolate it from everything. It had the equivalent a hospital cure-resistant infection. My assumption is that that something bad was written in the Master Boot Record. The disk image was a total loss. The Ubuntu distribution we used, not a “live cd”, actually wrote a new MBR. That eliminated the problem. If I’d been smart, I’d have swapped the drive out and gotten someone to dump the MBR for further study. Maybe I’d have become famous, made a fortune, and gotten thin. Yeah, I know wistful thinking.

Bottom line, you should have the live dc around as insurance.

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GOVERNACIDE: 2 American troops missing in eastern Afghanistan

Saturday, July 24, 2010

http://apnews.myway.com//article/20100724/D9H5H0S00.html

2 American troops missing in eastern Afghanistan
Jul 24, 12:10 PM (ET)
By ROBERT H. REID

*** begin quote ***

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) – Two U.S. troops are missing in eastern Afghanistan, a military official said Saturday. An Afghan official said one may have been killed and the other captured by the Taliban.

*** end quote ***

Prayers that they come home safe!

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POLITICAL: Can’t women stop “war” anytime they get their act together?

Saturday, July 24, 2010

http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig7/glass10.1.html

War, Women, and the Taliban
by Charles Glass

*** begin quote ***

Minerals, new commanders, new local collaborators, new strategies. All are failing, not only to win the war, but to persuade the American and European public to support it. What else is left? Alas, women. Just when you thought there was no reason to prolong the nine-year war in central Asia, along comes a new excuse. A CIA memorandum of 11 March, “Afghanistan: Sustaining West European Support for the NATO-led Mission – Why Counting on Apathy Might Not Be Enough,” (posted on Wikileaks) puts the propagandists’ case: “Afghan women could serve as ideal messengers in humanizing the ISAF [International Security Assistance Force] role in combating the Taliban because of women’s ability to speak personally and credibly about their experiences under the Taliban, their aspirations for the future, and their fears of a Taliban victory. Outreach initiatives that create media opportunities for Afghan women to share their stories with French, German, and other European women could help to overcome pervasive skepticism among women in Western Europe toward the ISAF mission.” Hey, if no one is marching to Washington’s drumbeat on defeating terrorism, why not change the tune to “I Am Woman”?

*** end quote ***

Shouldn’t women always be against war? The initiation of force? And, can’t they stop it anytime they want?

# – # – #

Reinke, Ferdinand J. “Chapter Forty Six — Good woman gets the pic”. “CHURCH 10●19●62 (Volume 1)” 978-0-557-08387-9. M ed. Vol. 2. Lulu. 263. Print.

“No, Miss Marie, in our new world run by women, there will be no sex discrimination. We control the box.” With no hint of self- consciousness or shame. “Dear, that’s not a nice way to say it. And, box is very crude. I’m sorry I used it but I was … incensed that war should happen. Maybe you could say ‘we control the future generations’?” “OK, but those balls will be blue before I let my man start another war.”

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POLITICAL: Stephanopoulos misses the point

Saturday, July 24, 2010

http://blogs.abcnews.com/george/2010/07/obama-vilsack-jumped-the-gun-on-sherrods-ouster.html

George’s Bottom Line
Reporting and Analysis from Anchor of Good Morning America and ABC News Chief Political Correspondent George Stephanopoulos
President Obama Said Sec. Tom Vilsack ‘Jumped the Gun’ on Shirley Sherrod’s Ouster
July 22, 2010 6:49 PM

*** begin quote ***

Interview President Obama said Secretary Tom Vilsack rushed to judgment when he dismissed Shirley Sherrod from the Department of Agriculture amid charges of racism.

“He jumped the gun, partly because we now live in this media culture where something goes up on YouTube or a blog and everybody scrambles,” Obama told consumer correspondent Elisabeth Leamy in an exclusive “GMA” interview.

*** end quote ***

Don’t forget that George is a life long D, a Clinton operative, and committed liberal.

Shouldn’t the media be reporting on a “leadership” and “managerial” failure?

In a high visibility blunder, shouldn’t the Secretary of Agriculture be fired?

And, this bozo — the AgSec — is in the Presidential line of succession. He should be removed ASAP. Should a disaster happen and he’s President, he demonstrated he can’t handle the job. DOn’t we need an Ambassador to Upper Slobobivia? Or Lower WhoCaresIchstan?

That’s if you believe this whole little bit of theater? Or was it a misdirection election tactic?

To quote Judy Judy, my legal tutor and one self-descibed “smart cookie”, “I wouldn’t believe you if your tongue came notarized”!

Remember who the racists are here!

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GOVEROTRAGEOUS: Buying a Kagan vote … … again

Saturday, July 24, 2010

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2010/07/an-obama-administration-job-for-senator-specter.html

Political Punch
Power, pop, and probings from ABC News Senior White House Correspondent Jake Tapper
An Obama Administration Job for Sen. Specter?

*** begin quote ***

Sources tell ABC News that Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Pennsylvania, has informed the White House that he would like to consider remaining in public service after his Senate term ends at the end of this session, and White House officials are keeping an open mind about possible job openings for him.

*** end quote ***

If the Illinois mess doesn’t prove anything to you, then you are a fool.

With Blago, that demonstrates that federal jobs are up for sale to the highest bidder.

Here’s the same thing happening again.
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HARDWARE: 35$ computer is hard to believe

Saturday, July 24, 2010

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/07/23/india.thirty.five.dollar.laptop/index.html?hpt=T2

India unveils $35 computer for students
By Harmeet Shah Singh, CNN
July 23, 2010 8:42 a.m. EDT

*** begin quote ***

New Delhi, India (CNN) — India has unveiled a $35 computer prototype as part of its program to provide connectivity to its students and teachers at affordable prices.

*** end quote ***

Hard to believe?

Can I have ten?

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TINFOILHAT: What is BHO44 hiding?

Saturday, July 24, 2010

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20100713/D9GU01180.html

Republican senator says he backs birther lawsuits

Jul 13, 1:58 AM (ET)

By BEN EVANS

*** begin quote ***

A spokesman for Rep. Charlie Melancon, a Democrat challenging Vitter, called the birth certificate issue “nonsense.” “While Louisiana families are suffering from the biggest man-made disaster in history, David Vitter is trying to score political points by perpetuating a completely debunked conspiracy theory,” spokesman Jeff Giertz said.

*** end quote ***

Sorry, but my tin foil hat tells me that there is a cover up going on. Don’t know why? But, they are hiding something for some reason. And, the truth will always come out.

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FUN: Shitterton Villagers Buy ‘Theft-Proof’ Sign

Friday, July 23, 2010

http://www.impactlab.com/2010/07/23/shitterton-villagers-buy-theft-proof-sign/

July 23rd, 2010 at 5:18 am
Shitterton Villagers Buy ‘Theft-Proof’ Sign
Shitterton strikes back

*** begin quote ***

A village sign has been stolen so many times that residents have clubbed together to buy a stone version cemented in to the ground. Households in Shitterton, near Bere Regis, Dorset contributed £20 each to the new sign after repeatedly falling victim to pranksters. Volunteers then arranged a truck and crane to manoeuvre the stone into place…

*** end quote ***

Guess I’ll have to ask my favorite Brit. Must have lost something in translation coming over the pond. I don’t get the joke. Do you? Please explain it to a fat old white guy injineer. Use little words.

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MONEY: Kickbacks in your 401k

Friday, July 23, 2010

http://www.boston.com/business/personalfinance/articles/2010/07/21/investor_lawsuits_forcing_companies_to_disclose_401k_fees/

Investor lawsuits forcing companies to disclose 401(k) fees
By David Pitt
Associated Press / July 21, 2010

*** begin quote ***

DES MOINES — Workers protesting fees paid out of their 401(k) accounts want to know what the money is used for, who gets it, and proof that the charges are justified. And they’re going to court to get the answers.

*** end quote ***

This “fee” and kickback nonsense has been going on for decades. Let’s get the Gooferment out of retirement savings completely. Repeal the 401k / IRA laws. Then, either forget about the problem (Communist China has NO welfare or social security scams in case you are wondering why they save so much.) or require a tax for anyone, who has NOT purchased a inflation-adjusted retirement annuity equal to the poverty level for their zip code from a reputable insurance company, and buy one for them. Or be like the dreaded Chinese Communists, and just ignore the problem.

If we end the warfare / welfare state, then we’ll have growing thriving society with plenty of voluntary charity for the needy and “market discipline” for the lazy.

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MONEY: The Gooferment’s Long Term Care Insurance in Obamacare

Friday, July 23, 2010

http://www.ricedelman.com/cs/pressroom/pressroom_detail?pressrelease.id=1432

*** begin quote ***

Comparing CLASS to private sector LTC coverage. We’re pleased that the government is attempting to offer long-term care insurance, but CLASS doesn’t eliminate the need for you to buy a policy from private health insurers. First, CLASS’s daily benefit of $50 or $75 is woefully insufficient, considering that the average daily cost of a nursing home is $206, according to the 2010 Genworth Cost of Care survey, and that licensed in-home health aides today cost an average of $19/hour. Making these figures even worse is the fact that they are projected to be $268 and $21, respectively, when CLASS benefits become available in 2016. And unlike long-term care insurance you purchase, the government’s program is not a contract; benefits and costs can change.

*** and ***

In the meantime, do not let the notion of the CLASS program cause you to delay getting your own LTC insurance if your planner has recommended it for you. It’s unlikely that CLASS will meet all your LTC insurance needs, but even if it does, you should buy LTC insurance today to get the protection you need; you can always cancel the policy later, after you sign up for CLASS.

*** end quote ***

IMHO, getting old sucks. Pattie wiped out her little bit of lifetime savings in under a year. My Mom was forking out 10k$/month for “help” as she struggled to stay in her apartment. Anyone listening should have sufficient appropriate insurance.

It’s a funny peculiar calculation. If you have nothing, you need nothing; you get Medicaid. If you have 10M$, you need nothing; you’ll self-insure. Anything in the middle, you HAVE to have insurance. Where the middle starts and ends is arts not science. Argh!  

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TINFOILHAT: A reason why JFK was killed

Friday, July 23, 2010

http://original.antiwar.com/pfaff/2010/05/27/mac-bundy-said-he-was-all-wrong/

Mac Bundy Said He Was ‘All Wrong’
by William Pfaff, May 28, 2010

*** begin quote ***

Goldstein quotes tapes made of Kennedy’s meetings with Bundy, McNamara, and his military adviser, Maxwell Taylor, on October 2, 1963. McNamara and Taylor were just back from Vietnam. They recommended that 1,000 of the 16,000 US military advisers be withdrawn in the following two months, with most of the rest removed by the end of 1965. Bundy asks why. McNamara says, “We need a way to get out of Vietnam. This is a way of doing it.” Bundy disagrees. Kennedy agrees and gives the orders.

Forty-seven days later Lyndon Johnson was president. In July 1964 the South Vietnamese began clandestine operations against the North. These led the following month to the Gulf of Tonkin incident. Lyndon Johnson authorized bombing North Vietnam. The US had entered the war. Bundy had prevailed.

*** end quote ***

TFH! Here’s another reason why the CIA had to do away with him.

We are led by ordinary men exerting tremendous force upon others. And, that’s the fatal flaw in all Gooferment action. It’s rooted in the idea that some one can actually FORCE you to do something. Ever seen a kid being “forced” to eat a plate of unpleasant vegetables? Creative excuses, dawdling, “accidents”, rearranging, and finally even outright insubordination. Now if a little kid can do that, then imagine what an adult can come up with. Sugaring gas tanks, deliberate sabotage, and deliberate delays are the overt acts. Poor attendance, inattention, and attitude are the not so overt. Demoralized workers turned to alcohol in the old Soviet Union.

We can’t make progress until we get back to a “force free” civil society!

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