INTERESTING: Greed?

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

http://www.dickmorris.com/blog/republican-party-benefits-from-obama-errors/

REPUBLICAN PARTY BENEFITS FROM OBAMA ERRORS
By Dick Morris

“The weakness of capitalism is greed. The weakness of socialism is corruption.”

# – # – #

Not sure I agree with Dick on this.

I agree with the Gecko character “Greed is good”. It’s the lubricant that induces crotchety humans to cooperate. By following what they see as their own best interests, they are motivated to work harder. Until we figure out how ants coordinate, we need everyone working intelligently. Once each one gets all they are willing to pay for, there’s a complex calculus that shares the “satisfaction” and “dissatisfaction” roughly equally.

The weakness of capitalism is that the calculus is not obvious. There are no guarantees. Not there are any in life under any system. Or anywhere on the planet.

The weakness of socialism is that it makes promises it can’t keep. That “each according to his needs” nonsense ignores the teachings of the dismal science.

Look at the attempts to “legislate” equality. If you look at truly free markets, it’s like a series of elections in real time. That what “prices” in the marketplace communicate more than we realize. How much is an actor willing to pay while balancing supply with demand. That’s a key fact. It’s both the strength and the weakness.

You can be fooled by promises of “free lunch” and fail to see the market as mechanism to induce cooperation.

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JOBSEARCH: “first, help; then, be helped”

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

http://thedegree360.onlinedegrees.com/features/how-to-network-tailgate-party.html

How to network the tailgate party
By Kirstin Swagman
Sep 30, 2011

*** begin quote ***

5. Focus on what you share, not what you want

A tailgate is a social event not a business one, and students should approach it as such.

“Networking doesn’t have to begin with a business discussion at all,” Machado said. “It could very much be a casual conversation. What they want to do is get to know this person and get to know about this person. Ask the alum about themselves. ‘When did you graduate?’ ‘What did you study?’ ‘What do you do now?’ “

Turner suggests students use the shared college experience as a point of entry into their interests and experiences.

In Turner’s case, “These are individuals that have the University of Michigan as a common connection.” She said, “These are possible points of conversation–talking about what their experiences on campus have been and through that highlighting their skill set.”

Extra points: “Be a good listener,” Machado advises. Networking is a two-way street.

*** end quote ***

Everyone seems to, in the panic to find a “job”, that dictum: “first, help; then, be helped”.

How may I help you?

# # # # #


POLITICAL:

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Jeff Altman – 8:16 AM – Public

What do you think about “Occupy Wall Street?” Good thing? Bad thing? Patriots? Bums? What do you think?

# – # – #

I think they are just dumb. It’s like talking to any wall, a most teenagers, or some women. Talk, or demonstrate, until you’re blue in the face or green at the gills. It isn’t going to make any difference. The problem is in the District of Corruption where crony capitalism distorts the playing field. The rubes in OWS are distracted by the “shiny baubles”. They have to learn to “strike at the root”. That’s in DC. If they want to change the game, then that’s where they should be. IMHO!

# – # – # – # – # 2011-Oct-10 @ 15:01


INSPIRATIONAL: Knowing what to do when something bad happens?

Monday, October 10, 2011

http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/get-over-your-life-%E2%80%93-it-doesn%E2%80%99t-have-to-be-miserable/

Get Over Your Life – It Doesn’t Have to Be Miserable
Written by Marcelina Hardy
Categories: self improvement

*** begin quote ***

Attack, Squash and Move On

Bad things happen to everyone. No one is immune to that. The differences between people who are happy and miserable people are that happy ones know what to do when something bad happens.

They attack it, like a vulture on prey. As soon as something look like it’s about to go awry they are on top of it to squash it.

If they aren’t able to stop the crisis from happening, they do everything in their power to control every part of it until it’s resolved. They take it over and do whatever they have to do to resolve it. Once it’s resolved, they take a deep breath, relax and move on with a smile.

So what does it feel like after an accomplishment like that? Image yourself conquering a crisis with control and strength. Now you know can take on anything life wants to throw your way. You are ready.

*** end quote ***

It’s not all that easy.

Some things are a permanent punch in the gut.

Some times you don’t have choice.

“My love, were it in my power, I would sadly grant thee this boon. But, we have to continue to follow His Plan for us. Let’s go forth and speak no more of this. Who ever is last will be last. It will be His choice; not ours. We’re but humble custodians of His temple on earth. It’s not our place to trump His plan. Whatever that plan be, know that I will be with you to my last breath.” — character “John” in CHURCH 10●19●62 Volume 2 Page 399

But that doesn’t mean being “happy” going forward.

One goes “forward” because there’s really no other choice.

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MONEY: It’s always the money, stupid

Monday, October 10, 2011

http://dumpdc.wordpress.com/2011/10/03/its-the-money-stupid/

It’s The Money, Stupid

*** begin quote ***

The American government is going to die because they screwed up the money. IT’S ALL ABOUT THE MONEY. IT’S THE MONEY, STUPID. And it’s DC’s greed that will be its undoing. Fiat currency…the dollar…is an nonredeemable debt instrument. The dollar-based monetary system is 100% based in debt. Precious metals are money. They are 100% based in value. Redeemability provides stability, which produces predictability. THAT’S how you run an economy.

*** end quote ***

If you distill “our problems” to one essential flaw it’s the money.

How can you play a game, where the “player / banker” participates?

At monopoly, the make introduced credit card to eliminate that flaw.

We need to do the same thing in our mess. (What else can you call the economy / politics / legal framework?

We need a free market in money.

Repealing the “legal tender” laws — it’s money because the Gooferment says it is — would allow “We, The Sheeple” to chose their poison.

# # # # #


WRITING: “Joan d’Arc — Third Vermont Republic”

Sunday, October 9, 2011

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_d_arc_3rd_VT-republic

Joan of Arc — Third Vermont Republic
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Joan of arc)

For other uses, see Joan of Arc (disambiguation).

“Maid of Pownel” redirects here. For other uses, see Jeanne d’Arc (disambiguation).

Joan d’Arc

<<joan_d_arc_sketch1.jpg>>

Self portrait. As an artist, her interpretation of herself.

<<joan_d_arc_sketch2.jpg>>

The only other images of her were the United Nations / United States Federal Bureau of Investigation Most Wanted artist renditions from descriptions. (Centre Historique des Archives Nationales, Brussels, reference La Cour Pénale Internationale — docket number 20XX-0002 – USA / VT)

Born ~2001
New Jersey, USA
Disappeared 01 July 2025 (aged 24)
Pownel, Third Vermont Republic

Joan d’Arc, nicknamed “The Maid of Pownel” (also sometimes referred to as Dolly, or Madison, “No Last Name”, ~2001? – ????), is considered a national heroine of the Third Vermont Republic. A middle class girl born in New Jersey USA. Arrived as a refugee in Vermont during the economic collapse of the dollar sometime between 2014 and 2018. It is believed that she fought in her Uncle’s resistance unit. Assuming command after his death, she developed strategies and tactics which defeated the attempts to return Vermont to the USA after several States seceded. Despite UN involvement, and later total UN control, Vermont successfully resisted as did eventually all of the old USA. She “disappeared” into obscurity and all attempts to discover her real true identity are met with non-cooperation, hostility, and in some cases tar ‘n’ feathers. Some historians doubt the existence of a single individual and call her a composite of folk heros. Survivors of the various Expeditionary Forces into Vermont insist that she is a real single individual who late in the era took particular delight in “taking souvenirs” (i.e., chopping off fingers) and “dispatching returnees” (i.e., slitting throats). She was designated a “war criminal” in 2022 for these and other actions. She is still carried on various War Crimes lists and is actively being hunted. She disappeared from public view in 2025 at the end of hostilities. Since Vermont is not a member of the UN and has limited diplomatic relations, it’s unlikely for her ever to be brought to justice. Billing itself as the “Switzerland of North America”, Vermont has full diplomatic relations with only the Vatican, Switzerland, Israel, and the Free French Republic of Quebec. It is openly hostile to the United Nations and there is currently an active “Act of Marque and Reprisal for War Crimes” against all former, current, and future UN officials. In addition, that War Crimes act also names specifically certain past USA citizens as well as pseudonyms for certain “John Doe’s”.

Contents   

1 Background

2 Life

2.1 Rise

2.2 Leadership

2.3 Strategy

2.4 Tactics

2.5 Disappearance

3 Post-disappearance events

4 Lionization

5 Legacy

6 See also

7 Footnotes

8 References

9 Further reading

10 External links

1. Background

In 2014, the US Dollar aka the Greenback aka the Federal Reserve Banknote became worthless after President Obama was reelected with all sorts of claims of fraud. The result was a collapse of the global economy. The chaos in the world was bad; the affect in the USA was catastrophic. With the collapse, imports to the USA as well as foreign lending ended. The internal economy returned to a subsistence farming level mimicking the 1880s or the 1930s. While politically the USA was run from Washington DC, there was uncontrolled rioting and crime. Since ½ the country was on the dole and ¼ of the country was in “public service”, the remaining productive ¼ was supporting them. When the economy collapsed as a result of the dollar collapse, the productive class could no longer pay the taxes. Anyone with any wealth simply either was robbed or “disappeared”. It’s estimated that ⅓ of the population died in the rioting or the aftermath of the chaos. In 2015, Vermont seceded from the USA. Those in control of the government of the USA had accepted UN conservatorship as a result of that government’s debts to the world. Several States of the USA repudiated this action: Texas, Georgia, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Alaska, and Hawaii. In addition several States fractured, Washington, Oregon, California, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Florida. Several also merged: New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Jersey, and Maryland. As well as many of the boundaries changed as a result of the fighting over the next decade.

2. Life

Her birthplace is unknown. Her parentage or relatives are unknown. It’s believed that she escaped the riots in the Boston to DC corridor with her two younger brothers at age 14.

There is a colorful legend that has her parents dying in a home invasion where she killed the two intruders with a hidden shotgun that had been secretly given to her by her uncle. She then gathered up her brothers and, with her steering and the older brother operating the pedals, she drove from New Jersey to Vermont. Clearly impossible.

Supposedly they thrived at her uncle’s retreat. Riding out the chaos, until the attempted invasions of Vermont by armies of the USA, later the USA armies supplemented by the UN, and eventually just the UN. With a terrain akin to Afghanistan, the resistance movement was spawned by the attempt to “roll tanks into Vermont”. In retrospect, easier said that done.

2.1. Rise

In a 2016 Reuters report, an unnamed man, presumed to be Joan d’Arc’s uncle, was profiled as the leader of the Southeastern Vermont militia. Characterized as “a loon with delusions”, he was in command of irregular forces of “old men, crazy women, young girls, and children”. He’d fought the invaders to a stand still while never fighting an open pitched battle. His primary weapon was sabotage. It is believed that Joan d’Arc was one of these young girls. The report describes one young girl, believed to be her, pedaling her bicycle through the town of Pownel “trolling” for off duty troopers. When they would chase her, just to talk of course, she would lure them into ambushes where they were brutally murdered. This is all unconfirmed. What is confirmed was that casualty rates, in 2015 thru 2017, were a modest ½%. Combatants frequent gave surrendering troops quarter and parole. After 2018 thru 2020, casualty rates were a ⅓. From 2020 to 2023, they were ½. From 2023 until cessation in 2025, it was not uncommon that entire UN units were wiped out to the last man.

2.2 Leadership

In 2018, there was a massacre at Bennington Bridge. While many of the facts and interpretations are in dispute, there certain facts not in dispute. On 04 July 2018, the Government of the USA turned over all peace keeping operations to the United Nations. On 17 July 2018, a battle between UN peace keepers and Vermont irregulars occurred at Bennington Bridge. Unlike past battles, when the Vermont irregulars were defeated and surrendered, the UN general Muammar Gaddafi ordered the execution of all “arrestees”. Joan d’Arc’s uncle was believed to have been shot killing him along with her younger brother. It’s believed that she assumed command Southeastern Vermont militia. At around that time, they began to use the name Wolverines. The level of violence escalated dramatically after that. As a footnote, on 01 July 2019, General Gaddafi was abducted, killed, and his head was put on a pike at Bennington Bridge. That stayed there until it was taken down 01 July 2025 reportedly by Joan d’Arc personally.

2.3. Strategy

Early in the War for Vermont Independence, the strategy was to merely repel intruding armies. After Bennington Bridge, the strategy shifted to annihilating any armed intruder. Before, there was almost an intra-American civility with surrender and parole routinely granted, like a family fight; After, while there still was some surrender with parole for “Americans”, usually there was no quarter for the hated “blue hats” absent some notable UN courtesy to civilians, the wounded, or the dead (i.e., safe conduct to civilians; cease fire for retrieval of the wounded; honorable treatment of remains). After Bennington Bridge, parole was given only after non-surgical removal of the right pinky finger. Joan d’Arc was reported to have used an old native American tomahawk that her uncle had carried. If a parolee was captured again missing a right pinky finger, they immediately had their throat slit.

2.4 Tactics

Early in the conflict, some of the tactics had almost a humorous note to them. Joan d’Arc was reputed to have organized a “Gala Welcoming Ball by the Vermont Tory Woman’s Society” for the First Airborne Brigade deploying into Vermont. She captured all the officers and ½ the non-coms. Accepting parole, they were delivered naked to the US embassy in the Free State of Quebec. Every person, male and female, had a rude word tatted on their forehead and butt.

Later in the conflict, the tactics turned gruesome and even petty. Common decency precludes detailing them. Needless to say torture for information was routine. Torture, as a reprisal was de rigueur when the rules of war were violated.

In addition to the “right pinky finger” tactic, it was not uncommon for genitalia to be combined with dog tags and a blue hat to be staked on the border.

The western Vermont border was not the historical static dividing line. Vermont fought major pitched battles in New York east of the Hudson River. Skirmishes occurred as far west as the Thruway and the Northway. Eventually Vermont’s western border became the Hudson River and was codified in the Saratoga Springs Treaty. It was common knowledge that Seventh Vermont Regulars had to be recalled as a result of that treaty from the outskirts of Albany. There is no confirmation that Joan d’Arc was leading the Seventh and had “Buffalo or bust” chalked on all the equipment.

Similarly, the south Vermont border, with support of the sister republic of New Hampshire, by right of conflict, became the Atlantic Ocean. With the Treaty of Greenwich, Connecticut ceased to exist. Vermont followed the Hudson including the western part of Massachusetts to the Atlantic with New York City becoming part of Vermont; similarly New Hampshire followed the Rhode Island / Connecticut line though Massachusetts to the Atlantic. The old Interstate 91 became the VT / NH border and was renamed “Cooperation Road”. The western southbound side is in Vermont; the eastern northbound side is in New Hampshire. There are no border controls on this road. Massachusetts is essentially Boston and its suburbs. Rhode Island remains as it always was.

2.5 Disappearance

With Sarasota Springs treaty, Joan D’Arc simply “disappeared”. Many foreign news reporters, who were able to get visas, would find themselves “PNGed” (i.e., declared Persona Non Grata, deported, and if lucky not tarred ‘n’ feathered) for merely asking about her. Local news reporters carefully ignored identifying any Vermont Independence coflict leaders because of the outstanding International Criminal Court arrest warrants.

There was one report of Joan d’Arc responding to a question as to “where did she get her ideas on tactics and strategy”? She’s reported as saying: “As a young girl, I read my uncle’s writings extensively. Mostly Post Apocalyptical Fiction. While he was a very peaceful man, he had a vivid imagination and strong opinions about the future. While some of the ideas were grotesque, they had a certain logic about them. Some I stole directly like: maiming parolees to identify returnees, booby trapping common items, and employing fifth generation warfare against Vermont’s enemies. Others I developed from his themes: disguising one’s true intentions in conflicts, extending Vermont’s borders to the water’s edge, freezing the enemy in people’s minds like focusing on the hated blue hats, and never forgetting nor forgiving. He created a monster and his death, and that of my little brother, unleashed my full vengence. Hell hath no fury like a woman who is <past tense synonym for urine output> off!”

In Vermont politics, no one ever speaks of the conflict other than to mourn the dead and decry the suffering. No one speaks of anyone’s role in the “War for Independence”. The only distinction is that those who were in Vermont during the war are addressed a “comrade”; those who have come after are addressed as “citizen”.

Those individuals, who opposed Vermont Independence called Tories, typically didn’t survive the conflict. Those that did generally would not speak on the record for fear of “an act of marque and reprisal” by the Vermont Legislature. Anyone so “marqued” usually doesn’t survive very long. It’s an easy list to get on and one usually quickly falls off.

3. Post-disappearance events

It is believed that Joan D’Arc resumed her life as a simple young woman on her uncle’s retreat / farm. Her older brother is believed to have survived as well. There are some reports of her marrying and having at least six children. They are strong rumors that the children are named Mark, Maci, Mike, Madelyn, Mitch, and Evlynn. But this is unconfirmed by any records searched. No family with such names is believed to exist.

4 Lionization

Depending upon which side of the conflict that you’re on, her role is hotly disputed. From the Vermont side, she’s a patriot. From the USA / UN / World side, she’s gennocidal killer.

In the days after the peace was declared on 04 July 2025, a rock on private property was reported and photographed. In addition to lists of names and dates, it had the following dedication that can be read in the attached picture

<<<vermont_rock_joan_d_arc_farm.jpg>>>

*** begin quote ***

Comrades forever!

We may never see this place again. We may never survive our fight for Vermont. We may never get home, where ever that is to eventually be.

In time, this war, like every other war, will end. But we will never forget, and, in our dreams, we will come back to this place where it all began. Of safe good shelter. Of rest and refit. Of a base to strike out at the vipers who claim our souls. We’ll return often to it. If even only in our mind’s eye. To the safety of our comrades; to honor them in the common cause. Even when, or if, no one else ever does. Sad as that is, we’ll: Never forget. Never surrender. Never forgive.

In the early days of the war for Vermont’s independence, survivors, mostly children, placed their names, and the names of their lost upon this wall. They fought here alone; some gave up their lives. Some for us; some against us. No matter! They are ‘ours’. So that others could go on. They recorded their prayers so they’d not be lost.

We have made our mark. Each in our own way. Some had very short lives. Some suffered greatly; others passed quickly. No matter! Comrades in arms. Comrades in suffering. Comrades in the long cold sleep. If the writing fades, the deeds will speak for themselves! We have promised to each other: our fidelity, our lives, whatever meager fortune we gather, on our honor, to our comrades. Past, present, and in the future.

So say we all.

And, have inscribed our names as follows to this, our promise to each other, originally made on American Independence Day The First Day of July, Two Thousand Fifteen.

And, renewed today, on Vermont’s Independence Day The First Day of July, Two Thousand Twenty Five. The First day of our New Lives.

*** end quote ***

Since this rock is on private property, which is sacrosanct from trespass in Vermont, no further information, even its exact location, is available. All we have is the picture.

5. Legacy

At the four major entry points to the State, an intake building was built with a replica of the Statue of Liberty atop it. Suitable groups of refugees without sponsorship are organized into new clans to meet the sponsorship requirements. An Initiative named for Joan d’Arc will loan them the necessary funds to satisfy the entry requirements and provide sponsorship secured by liens on each individual.

“Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me. I lift my lamp beside the golden door.”

Their statue is now called “Joan d’Arc”.

<<<This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (March 2028)>>>

6 See also

7 Footnotes

8 References

9 Further reading

10 External links

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RANT: Secret U.S. Memo

Sunday, October 9, 2011

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/09/world/middleeast/secret-us-memo-made-legal-case-to-kill-a-citizen.html

Secret U.S. Memo Made Legal Case to Kill a Citizen
By CHARLIE SAVAGE
Published: October 8, 2011

*** begin quote ***

Then there was the Bill of Rights: the Fourth Amendment’s guarantee that a “person” cannot be seized by the government unreasonably, and the Fifth Amendment’s guarantee that the government may not deprive a person of life “without due process of law.”

The memo concluded that what was reasonable, and the process that was due, was different for Mr. Awlaki than for an ordinary criminal. It cited court cases allowing American citizens who had joined an enemy’s forces to be detained or prosecuted in a military court just like noncitizen enemies.

It also cited several other Supreme Court precedents, like a 2007 case involving a high-speed chase and a 1985 case involving the shooting of a fleeing suspect, finding that it was constitutional for the police to take actions that put a suspect in serious risk of death in order to curtail an imminent risk to innocent people.

The document’s authors argued that “imminent” risks could include those by an enemy leader who is in the business of attacking the United States whenever possible, even if he is not in the midst of launching an attack at the precise moment he is located.

*** end quote ***

(1) “Secret”? Argh! What kind of “barbara streisand” is this?

(2) “… may not deprive a person of life without due process of law.” Seems pretty straight forward to me. (Have to like the Dead Old White Guys for saying what they meant!)

(3) Sorry, but this is just wrong!

# # # # #


FUN: Everyone’s losing their job; even the “vasectomized bull”

Sunday, October 9, 2011

http://www.irishcentral.com/news/New-mobile-app-will-show-when-Daisy-the-cow-is-in-heat—130933583.html

New mobile app will show when Daisy the cow is in heat
Irish company set to make millions in US with Moomaster
By JAMES LARKIN, IrishCentral.com Staff Writer
Published Sunday, October 2, 2011, 8:51 AM Updated Sunday, October 2, 2011, 8:51 AM

*** begin quote ***

A new mobile app which shows when cows are in heat has been launched worldwide by Dairymaster an Irish company. It will replace a vasectomized bull for many farmers. It will be launched in the US next week.

*** end quote ***

Guess this could have been filed under “job search advice”, or “software”.

Seriously, there’s such a thing as a “vasectomized bull”?

# # # # #


RANT: What sort indeed … “are there no workhouses?”

Sunday, October 9, 2011

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1831806725674&set=a.1154565315062.2023697.1555570593&type=1&theater

201110080844.jpg

# – # – #

The kind of person who believes that the Gooferment should not be involved in the brainwashing of future voters. Parents had ’em; parents should educate them. Gooferment Skrules are: immoral, ineffective, and inefficient. And, it’s a violation of the First Amendment to push a religion — the worship of the “Father State” as the People’s “savior” and devotion to preservation “Mother Earth”. I don’t pay to feed (except through the charities I freely support), clothe, entertain, house, or anything else for the children that I had no say in deciding to bring into this world; so why do I get to pay some overpaid baby sitters to supposedly educate them?

And lest I be accused of being an Ebenezer, who was right, this policy of “forced reeducation” has so many “unintended consequences” it’s a joke.

(1) Gooferment Skrules were developed by the Prussians to create good soldiers for the Army, pliable factory workers, and a citizenry easily led by the elite. (Sound close to where we are?)

(2) Conditioned parents and children to hand themselves over to a factory that dehumanizes them and dumbs them down to virtual idiots who can’t read, rite, or rithmatic. (Explains where we rank in the world’s education stats!)

(3) Ever hear of the “Stamford Experiment”? Wonder why we have school violence and bullying? Can you see the relation between “school” and a prison?

(4) Can you tell the difference between the segregated schools of the 40’s and 50’s what we have today?

(5) “If the Grand Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan wanted to sabotage black academic excellence, he could not find a more effective means to do so than the government school system in most cities.” — Walter Williams

(6) Funding Gooferment Skrules by property taxes drives senior citizens on fixed incomes from their homes.

(7) The Teachers Unions and politicians have an incestuous relationship. And, it’s the taxpayers, parents, and children who are getting <synonym for the past tense of the procreation act.>!

Argh!

# # # # #


GOVEROTRAGEOUS: Why would any foreign national help us?

Saturday, October 8, 2011

http://bigpeace.com/elcid/2011/10/07/pakistani-doctor-who-helped-us-find-bin-laden-to-be-tried-for-high-treason/

Pakistani Doctor Who Helped US Find Bin Laden To Be Tried For High Treason
Posted by El Cid Oct 7th 2011 at 7:40 am in Espionage, Intelligence, Terrorism
From the UK’s Daily Mail:

*** begin quote ***

Dr. Shakeel Afridi

A Pakistani doctor accused of running a vaccination programme for the CIA to help track down Osama Bin Laden should be put on trial for high treason, a government commission in Pakistan has said.

*** end quote ***

https://reinkefaceslife.com/2009/11/07/goverotrageous-the-usa-always-betrays-its-friends/

Why would any foreign national help us and be left behind?

It just seems so obvious!

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SERVICE: GOOGLEPLUS invite if you want it

Saturday, October 8, 2011

https://plus.google.com/i/dvpVtEu9JJ4:1hsACMsbowE

[JR: GOOGLEPLUS invite for anyone who’s interested.]


INSPIRATIONAL: The 53%

Saturday, October 8, 2011

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/the-53-want-the-99-to-learn-from-their-example/

MEDIA
MEET AMERICA‘S ’53%’ – AND THEY HAVE A MESSAGE FOR THE ‘99%’ PROTESTERS
Posted on October 7, 2011 at 9:52am by Mike Opelka

*** begin quote ***

Meet The 53%. Who are they? The term 53% refers to the people who are actually paying taxes for themselves and the rest of the country.

The 53% is a group of responsible young people organizing across the country. However, this group is not camping out in parks around the country and demanding the entire capitalist system be destroyed. These men and women have jobs (most of them work at more than one job in order to make ends meet), but they are talking about attending the Minneapolis Occupy Wall St. protest scheduled for today – Friday, October 7th.

*** end quote ***

http://the53.tumblr.com/

# # # # #


INTERESTING: Explaining complex systems failures

Saturday, October 8, 2011

http://www.impactlab.net/2011/10/01/why-industries-collapse/

October 1st, 2011 at 10:25 am
Why Industries Collapse
Futurist Thomas Frey
in: Analysis, Breakthrough Thinking, Business, Historical Perspectives, Latest Trend, Science & Technology News

*** begin quote ***

Complex societies collapse because they are too inflexible to respond. From our vantage point, this can seem rather mystifying. Why didn’t they just re-tool and make things simpler? The answer Tainter gives is a simple one: When societies fail to respond with orderly downsizing, it isn’t because they don’t want to, it’s because they can’t.

*** end quote ***

Minimal size organizations are the answer.

It’s that “small, fast, and agile” meme again.

So maybe it’s the path to “salvation”.

# # # # #


FUN: Seniors at Florida Dunkin Donuts

Saturday, October 8, 2011

With full credit for the spam to K

*** begin quote ***

Seniors at Florida Dunkin Donuts

A group of seniors were sitting around talking about all their ailments.

“My arms have gotten so weak I can hardly lift this cup of coffee,” said one.

“Yes, I know,” said another. “My cataracts are so bad; I can’t even see my coffee.”

“I couldn’t even mark an “X” at election time, my hands are so crippled,” volunteered a third.

“What? Speak up! What? I can’t hear you!”

“I can’t turn my head because of the arthritis in my neck,” said a fourth, to which several nodded weakly in agreement.

“My blood pressure pills make me so dizzy!” exclaimed another.

“I forget where I am, and where I’m going,” said another.

“I guess that’s the price we pay for getting old,” winced an old man as he slowly shook his head.

The others nodded in agreement.

“Well, count your Blessings,” said a woman cheerfully – – “thank God we can all still drive.”

*** end quote ***

# # # # #


RANT: White House confirms Secret Panel Can Order Americans Assassinated

Friday, October 7, 2011

http://news.antiwar.com/2011/10/05/white-house-secret-panel-can-order-americans-assassinated/

White House: Secret Panel Can Order Americans Assassinated
Officials Say Process Will Remain a Secret
by Jason Ditz, October 05, 2011

*** begin quote ***

In comments made through the media today, a number of top Obama Administration officials, including White House spokesman Tommy Vietor, confirmed that there is a “secret panel” which exists now that can order American citizens assassinated with no judicial oversight.

Vietor declined to give any information related to the process of how the panel decides who lives and who dies, but officials say as far as they know cleric Anwar Awlaki was the only American they have ordered executed yet.

The only thing officials would say about the assassination process was that the president’s death panel was a “subset” of the National Security Council and that there is no existing legislation governing its operation.

*** end quote ***

Anyone want to try to defend this unconstitutional activity?

# # # # #


POLITICAL: Can We Trust Our Allies?

Friday, October 7, 2011

http://bigpeace.com/jbernard/2011/09/29/can-we-trust-our-pakistani-and-afghan-allies/

Can We Trust Our Pakistani and Afghan Allies?
Posted by John Bernard, 1st Sgt. USMC (ret.), Sep 29th 2011

*** begin quote ***

In the war of ideologies, there is no more frustrating battle than the battle for truth. In the battle for truth, there is no more frustrating effort than trying to enlighten the hard-headed. Our enemy has been telling us for decades who he is and what his intent is. He has shown us over, and over again that he is committed to defeating us and has used every means at his disposal to that end.

*** end quote ***

No!

# # # # #


GUN: Shot the wolf in the head with a 44-Magnum

Friday, October 7, 2011

http://www.nbcmontana.com/news/29401178/detail.html

Idaho Bowhunter Reportedly Kills Charging Wolf
FLATHEAD COUNTY
By Will Wadley
POSTED: 6:44 pm MDT October 5, 2011
UPDATED: 2:11 pm MDT October 6, 2011

*** begin quote ***

KALISPELL, Mont. — Idaho wildlife officials say six wolves have been killed since wolf hunting season started there, but they say one wolf might not have been part of the hunt.

Pictures sent in to NBC Montana show a woman posing next to an adult wolf carcass.

The viewer claims the woman was bow-hunting in Northern Idaho when the wolf saw her and charged. She reportedly dropped her bow and shot the wolf in the head with a 44-Magnum.

*** end quote ***

Yup it’s a dangerous world out there.

Four legged predators.

The hunter becomes the hunted.

And, “God made men and women; Sam Colt made them equal.”

Nice to see that there are some folks in this world that have their heads screwed on straight.

Personally, I trust women to go armed ANYWHERE.

Predators sometimes only have two legs.

That’s what the Second is all about!

I’m sure either variety would have been suitably “impressed” with the 44 Magnum.

# # # # #


RANT: Yankees choked

Thursday, October 6, 2011

MP4B = “Millionaires Playing For Billionaires”

Argh!

Alex strikes out. Over-rated!

# – # – # – # – # 2011-Oct-06 @ 23:43


SERVICE: Verizon Ads

Thursday, October 6, 2011
Dear Valued Customer,                                                                                                                   en español

Your privacy is an important priority at Verizon. We want to let you know that Verizon will soon participate in a program that will improve the ability of advertisers to reach our Verizon Online customers based on your physical address. The goal is to provide online ads that may be more relevant to you.

This program uses your address to determine whether you reside in a local area an advertiser is trying to reach. However, Verizon won’t share your address with advertisers as part of this process. Advertisers won’t know it’s you specifically or where you actually live. If you do not want us to allow advertisers to send you ads based on your geographic area you can let us know by selecting here.

What does this mean for you?

Certain ads you’ll see while browsing the Internet may be directed to you and other Verizon Online customers in your area, so these ads may be of more interest to you. For example, a pizza chain may want to deliver their ad to give a special offer to people living in a particular area. Using this program, national brands and local businesses can tailor their offers, coupons, and incentives to your local area.

Protection of Your Personal Information

Verizon protects your personal information as described in our privacy policy. You can learn about Verizon’s ad practices or let us know that you do not want to participate by selecting here. If you don’t want to participate, you will need your User ID and Password to access the opt-out page. Please note that declining to participate won’t impact the number of ads you see, just their potential relevance to you.

For answers to your frequently asked questions, select here.

Sincerely,

Verizon

# – # – #

“Your privacy is an important priority at Verizon.”

Yeah, right.

Deliver ads?

I don’t use any Verizon “online” services so how are they going to “serve” me ads?

Another confused “offering”?

# # # # #


RANT: Add Freeman to the “Jane Fonda” list

Thursday, October 6, 2011

http://biggovernment.com/bschaeffer/2011/09/30/morgan-freeman-not-so-color-blind-as-i-thought/

Morgan Freeman Not So Color Blind As I Thought
by Brad Schaeffer

*** begin quote ***

Morgan Freeman is a truly gifted actor and a highly intelligent man who has starred brilliantly in a litany of my all-time favorite films from Glory to The Shawshank Redemption, to Unforgiven, just to name a few. But I think when it comes to race relations he is doing a disservice to his country and his own people (I guess we can put his race back on the table after all, 60 Minutes reprimands notwithstanding). He has resorted to the ugly charge of racism because things are not going his way on the political scene. This is all the more disappointing because in this country today we have very real divisions, the roots of which stem from diametrically opposing visions of what sort of nation we wish to be in the future. The last thing we need is to stoke the fires of unsubstantiated race-baiting when it is policy, not pigment, that is at the heart of the growing opposition to Barack Obama’s presidency.

*** end quote ***

Decades ago, after Jane Fonda climbed into the North Viet Nam anti-aircraft gun, I resolved, and have never watched ANYTHING about or by Jane Fonda. She, as does everyone, has the right to free speech. Also, I too have a right to free speech and a right to boycott her.

Over time, I’ve put others on that “list” — Roseanne Barr, Rosie O’Donnell, Alex Baldwin, Janeane Garofalo — of with whom I choose not to support or spend my money on.

For this diatribe, sadly, I’m adding Morgan Freeman to that list!

# # # # #

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/politics-box-office-democrats-republicans-244741

Sean Penn’s just a pinhead. Avatar was a cartoon! Matt Damon and George Clooney aren’t too bad; but Damon is getting close. Anything by Michael Moore or anything he says is suspect as “liberal” (in the bad sense) propaganda.

“Box Office Nightmare: Majority of GOPers Reject Movies Because of Liberal Stars… ” Drudge’s slug doesn’t really reflect the tenor of the article. I clicked over expecting to see folks that should be on my list but aren’t. Didn’t find that.

# – # – # – # – # 2011-Oct-06 @ 23:03


BUCKETLIST: Steve Jobs RIP

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

http://www.ted.com/talks/steve_jobs_how_to_live_before_you_die.html

Donna Nobis Pacem

# – # – # – # – # 2011-Oct-05 @ 20:36

http://www.innovationexcellence.com/blog/2011/10/06/steve-jobs-best-speech-the-2005-stanford-commencement-address

Steve Jobs’ Best Speech – the 2005 Stanford Commencement Address
Posted on October 6, 2011 by Innovation Excellence

*** begin quote ***

I am honored to be with you today at your commencement from one of the finest universities in the world. I never graduated from college. Truth be told, this is the closest I’ve ever gotten to a college graduation. Today I want to tell you three stories from my life. That’s it. No big deal. Just three stories.

The first story is about connecting the dots.

I dropped out of Reed College after the first 6 months, but then stayed around as a drop-in for another 18 months or so before I really quit. So why did I drop out?

It started before I was born. My biological mother was a young, unwed college graduate student, and she decided to put me up for adoption. She felt very strongly that I should be adopted by college graduates, so everything was all set for me to be adopted at birth by a lawyer and his wife. Except that when I popped out they decided at the last minute that they really wanted a girl. So my parents, who were on a waiting list, got a call in the middle of the night asking: “We have an unexpected baby boy; do you want him?” They said: “Of course.” My biological mother later found out that my mother had never graduated from college and that my father had never graduated from high school. She refused to sign the final adoption papers. She only relented a few months later when my parents promised that I would someday go to college.

And 17 years later I did go to college. But I naively chose a college that was almost as expensive as Stanford, and all of my working-class parents’ savings were being spent on my college tuition. After six months, I couldn’t see the value in it. I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life and no idea how college was going to help me figure it out. And here I was spending all of the money my parents had saved their entire life. So I decided to drop out and trust that it would all work out OK. It was pretty scary at the time, but looking back it was one of the best decisions I ever made. The minute I dropped out I could stop taking the required classes that didn’t interest me, and begin dropping in on the ones that looked interesting.

It wasn’t all romantic. I didn’t have a dorm room, so I slept on the floor in friends’ rooms, I returned coke bottles for the 5¢ deposits to buy food with, and I would walk the 7 miles across town every Sunday night to get one good meal a week at the Hare Krishna temple. I loved it. And much of what I stumbled into by following my curiosity and intuition turned out to be priceless later on. Let me give you one example:

Reed College at that time offered perhaps the best calligraphy instruction in the country. Throughout the campus every poster, every label on every drawer, was beautifully hand calligraphed. Because I had dropped out and didn’t have to take the normal classes, I decided to take a calligraphy class to learn how to do this. I learned about serif and san serif typefaces, about varying the amount of space between different letter combinations, about what makes great typography great. It was beautiful, historical, artistically subtle in a way that science can’t capture, and I found it fascinating.

None of this had even a hope of any practical application in my life. But ten years later, when we were designing the first Macintosh computer, it all came back to me. And we designed it all into the Mac. It was the first computer with beautiful typography. If I had never dropped in on that single course in college, the Mac would have never had multiple typefaces or proportionally spaced fonts. And since Windows just copied the Mac, it’s likely that no personal computer would have them. If I had never dropped out, I would have never dropped in on this calligraphy class, and personal computers might not have the wonderful typography that they do. Of course it was impossible to connect the dots looking forward when I was in college. But it was very, very clear looking backwards ten years later.

Again, you can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.

My second story is about love and loss.

I was lucky — I found what I loved to do early in life. Woz and I started Apple in my parents garage when I was 20. We worked hard, and in 10 years Apple had grown from just the two of us in a garage into a $2 billion company with over 4000 employees. We had just released our finest creation — the Macintosh — a year earlier, and I had just turned 30. And then I got fired. How can you get fired from a company you started? Well, as Apple grew we hired someone who I thought was very talented to run the company with me, and for the first year or so things went well. But then our visions of the future began to diverge and eventually we had a falling out. When we did, our Board of Directors sided with him. So at 30 I was out. And very publicly out. What had been the focus of my entire adult life was gone, and it was devastating.

I really didn’t know what to do for a few months. I felt that I had let the previous generation of entrepreneurs down – that I had dropped the baton as it was being passed to me. I met with David Packard and Bob Noyce and tried to apologize for screwing up so badly. I was a very public failure, and I even thought about running away from the valley. But something slowly began to dawn on me — I still loved what I did. The turn of events at Apple had not changed that one bit. I had been rejected, but I was still in love. And so I decided to start over.

I didn’t see it then, but it turned out that getting fired from Apple was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. The heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again, less sure about everything. It freed me to enter one of the most creative periods of my life.

During the next five years, I started a company named NeXT, another company named Pixar, and fell in love with an amazing woman who would become my wife. Pixar went on to create the worlds first computer animated feature film, Toy Story, and is now the most successful animation studio in the world. In a remarkable turn of events, Apple bought NeXT, I returned to Apple, and the technology we developed at NeXT is at the heart of Apple’s current renaissance. And Laurene and I have a wonderful family together.

I’m pretty sure none of this would have happened if I hadn’t been fired from Apple. It was awful tasting medicine, but I guess the patient needed it. Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don’t lose faith. I’m convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You’ve got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don’t settle.

My third story is about death.

When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like: “If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you’ll most certainly be right.” It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: “If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?” And whenever the answer has been “No” for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.

Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure – these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.

About a year ago I was diagnosed with cancer. I had a scan at 7:30 in the morning, and it clearly showed a tumor on my pancreas. I didn’t even know what a pancreas was. The doctors told me this was almost certainly a type of cancer that is incurable, and that I should expect to live no longer than three to six months. My doctor advised me to go home and get my affairs in order, which is doctor’s code for prepare to die. It means to try to tell your kids everything you thought you’d have the next 10 years to tell them in just a few months. It means to make sure everything is buttoned up so that it will be as easy as possible for your family. It means to say your goodbyes.

I lived with that diagnosis all day. Later that evening I had a biopsy, where they stuck an endoscope down my throat, through my stomach and into my intestines, put a needle into my pancreas and got a few cells from the tumor. I was sedated, but my wife, who was there, told me that when they viewed the cells under a microscope the doctors started crying because it turned out to be a very rare form of pancreatic cancer that is curable with surgery. I had the surgery and I’m fine now.

This was the closest I’ve been to facing death, and I hope it’s the closest I get for a few more decades. Having lived through it, I can now say this to you with a bit more certainty than when death was a useful but purely intellectual concept:

No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don’t want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life’s change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be so dramatic, but it is quite true.

Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.

When I was young, there was an amazing publication called The Whole Earth Catalog, which was one of the bibles of my generation. It was created by a fellow named Stewart Brand not far from here in Menlo Park, and he brought it to life with his poetic touch. This was in the late 1960′s, before personal computers and desktop publishing, so it was all made with typewriters, scissors, and polaroid cameras. It was sort of like Google in paperback form, 35 years before Google came along: it was idealistic, and overflowing with neat tools and great notions.

Stewart and his team put out several issues of The Whole Earth Catalog, and then when it had run its course, they put out a final issue. It was the mid-1970s, and I was your age. On the back cover of their final issue was a photograph of an early morning country road, the kind you might find yourself hitchhiking on if you were so adventurous. Beneath it were the words: “Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.” It was their farewell message as they signed off. Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish. And I have always wished that for myself. And now, as you graduate to begin anew, I wish that for you.

Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.

Thank you all very much.

*** end quote ***

# – # – # – # – # 2011-Oct-06 @ 20:44


RANT: The big retailers got a windfall

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

http://www.doughroller.net/banking/5-ways-to-avoid-bank-of-americas-5-debit-card-fee/

5 Ways to Avoid Bank of America’s $5 Debit Card Fee
by DR
in BANKING

*** begin quote ***

In some ways I don’t blame BofA for the move. When Senator Durbin introduced the “Durbin Amendment” into the Dodd-Frank financial reform bill that effectively capped fees large banks could charge retailers that accept their debit cards, everybody in the free world knew exactly what would happen. The big retailers got a windfall, and consumers got the shaft through higher fees. The only irony here is that Senator Durbin is a democrat purportedly looking after the little guy. You can probably guess what I think of the Durbin Amendment.

*** end quote ***

Regulatory capture … “the big retailers got a windfall” … and is there any wonder why the politicians get campaign contributions?

Call it what it is corruption!

# # # # #


GOVEROTRAGEOUS: What’s the proper role of the Gooferment?

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2011/09/27/7-arrested-for-alleged-sat-cheating-ring-at-great-neck-north-high-school/

7 Arrested For Alleged SAT Cheating Ring At Great Neck North High School
Educator: Pressure On Kids Massive; Attorney: District, Not Courts, Should Rule
September 27, 2011 11:58 PM

Related Tags: Carol D’Auria, Great Neck North High School, Jennifer McLogan, Long Island, Mona Rivera, Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice, Peter Haskell, Samuel Eshaghoff, SAT, SAT scam

*** begin quote ***

MINEOLA, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) – Seven former and current students of a prestigious Long Island high school were arrested Tuesday in an alleged SAT cheating ring.

Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice announced that six Great Neck North High School students had paid 19-year-old Samuel Eshaghoff thousands of dollars to take the SAT for them.

Eshaghoff, who graduated from the high school in 2010 and is currently enrolled at Emory University in Atlanta, was paid between $1,500 and $2,500 per student. He has been arrested and charged with scheme to defraud, falsifying business records and criminal impersonation.

*** end quote ***

Hmmm, … I don’t understand.

Why is this any of the Gooferment’s business?

Who was defrauded? A corporation; that’s not a person.

Isn’t this SAT’s problem for poor identification and authentication problem?

Why is it the taxpayers’ problem?

I just don’t understand.

# # # # #


INSPIRATIONAL: Coach Pat Summitt will receive the Maggie Dixon Courage award

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/womens-basketball/news?slug=ap-maggiedixon-summitt

Summitt to receive Maggie Dixon Courage award
By DOUG FEINBERG, AP Basketball Writer

*** begin quote ***

NEW YORK (AP)—Coach Pat Summitt will receive the Maggie Dixon Courage award when she brings her Tennessee Lady Vols to the sixth annual Classic that honors the former Army coach.

*** end quote ***

Praying for Coach Summit.

Into the Valley of Death, rode one tough lady.

# # # # #


NANOWRIMO2011: Singup and setup

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/user/853592

On Tue, Oct 4, 2011 at 3:55 AM, <noreply@nanowrimo.org> wrote:

Dear reinkefj,

We promised we’d send you a mammoth email.

Ta-da! Here it is.

This is part welcome wagon, part instructional manual, and part pep talk. After you read everything, save the email for reference; it’s full of helpful tips!

Before you do anything else, complete your registration by clicking on this link or copying and pasting it in your browser:

{Extraneous Deleted}

After you’re logged in, enter your preferred password. Be sure to hit “Submit” at the bottom of the page to save this information!

Then, you’ll have the opportunity to complete your Author Profile and get to know other participants in the NaNoWriMo forums. To fill out your author profile, just click the “Edit Author Info” link and “Edit Novel Info” links from the My NaNoWriMo page. You upload your photo from the “Edit User Settings” link. Remember to scroll down and hit “Submit” to save your changes.

On November 1, we’ll unlock the novel-excerpt and word-count area of your author profile, so you can post your escalating word count, view your personal stats, and offer an excerpt of your work-in-progress to friends and fans.

When you registered for your account, you had the opportunity to affiliate with a NaNoWriMo region. You can affiliate with more than one NaNoWriMo region, and choose one region to make your Home Region. Many towns have Municipal Liaisons (MLs) to organize NaNo write-ins and get-togethers in October and November, and affiliating with a region will automatically add you to the regional email list for updates about local events. Every region has a special message board called a Regional Lounge that becomes visible to affiliates of that region on the Forums page.

To affiliate with any region, just sign in to the site and click the My Regions link in the left-hand menu on your profile page. When you click that, you’ll see three tabs. The Regions tab lets you affiliate with any of NaNoWriMo regions around the world. Once you’ve affiliated with the region (or regions—you can pick a bunch if you like), you should pick one of them to be your Home Region on that beautiful Home Region tab.

Picking a Home Region will add your word count to your region’s cumulative tally, allowing you to do your part in crushing the spirits of NaNoWriMo authors in rival cities and towns. It also designates any donation you make by check or through our store to your regional donation totals. (Be sure to include your site username when donating, though! That is the only way to attribute your contribution to your Home Region!)

Before you head off to train those typing fingers, we wanted to offer a few bits of advice. You’ll find many great tips in the forums, and we’ll be sending pep talks directly to your inbox during November. But for now, here’s a quick overview of the three-and-a-half things we wish we had known for our first NaNoWriMo:

1) It’s okay to not know what you’re doing. Really. You’ve read a lot of novels, so you’re completely up to the challenge of writing one. If you feel more comfortable outlining your story ahead of time, do it! But it’s also fine to just wing it. Write every day, and a book-worthy story will appear, even if you’re not sure what that story might be right now.

2) Do not edit as you go. Editing is for December and beyond. Think of November as an experiment in pure output. Even if it’s hard at first, leave ugly prose and poorly written passages on the page to be cleaned up later. Your inner editor will be very grumpy about this, but your inner editor is a nitpicky jerk who foolishly believes that it is possible to write a brilliant first draft if you write it slowly enough. It isn’t. Every book you’ve ever loved started out as a beautifully flawed first draft. In November, embrace imperfection and see where it takes you.

3) Tell everyone you know that you’re writing a novel in November. This will pay big dividends in Week Two, when the only thing keeping you from quitting is the fear of looking pathetic in front of all the people who’ve had to hear about your novel for the past month. Seriously. Email them now about your awesome new book. The looming specter of personal humiliation is a very reliable muse.

3.5) There will be times you’ll want to quit during November. This is okay. Everyone who wins NaNoWriMo wanted to quit at some point in November. Stick it out. See it through. Week Two can be hard. Week Three is much better. Week Four will make you want to yodel.

And we’re talking the good kind of yodeling here.

A final word before you head off! NaNoWriMo is a grassroots nonprofit, funded almost entirely by participant donations. If you get something out of NaNoWriMo, we ask that you come by our secure online Donation Station and Store and make a small donation to help keep the program going strong. Even $10 makes a world of difference! http://store.lettersandlight.org

With great well wishes on the noveling month ahead,

The NaNoWriMo Team

# # # # #


JOBSEARCH: What is the break even point on investing in yourself?

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2011/09/27/10-career-lessons-from-julia-child/

10 Career Lessons from Julia Child
Tuesday, 27th September 2011 (by April Dykman)

*** begin quote ***

3. You’re never to old to learn something new. Julia was 36 years old when she started learning a new language. She didn’t enroll in culinary school until age 37. Julia had a constant thirst for knowledge and didn’t rest until she’d mastered or learned whatever it was that piqued her curiosity.

*** end quote ***

I’m not so sure that this is true.

In my case, at age 64 with a “career” of 5 to 7 years at best, what’s the ROI on learning a new language or studying for a new skill?

I heard some one at a job search networking group tell the table that she was so busy working on getting 4 different paper certifications. She had enough skills to get a job; so one has to question the ROI.

imho

Like the kids going to college, for something other than law, medicine, or engineering, taking four years out and spending enough for two houses, ignores the ROI.

What the break even point is I have no idea, but folks are NOT even asking the question.

# # # # #