Month: December 2014

POLITICAL: Andrew P. Napolitano “don’t hold your breath”

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2014-Dec-11

http://www.lewrockwell.com/2014/12/andrew-p-napolitano/arrest-the-cia/

The CIA and Its Torturers
By Andrew P. Napolitano
December 11, 2014

*** begin quote ***

When the head of the CIA’s torture unit decided to destroy videotapes of his team’s horrific work, he unwittingly set in motion a series of events that led to the release this week of the most massive, detailed documentation of unlawful behavior by high-ranking government officials and intentional infliction of pain on noncombatants by the United States government since the Civil War era. Here is the backstory.

*** and ***

What should we make of this report on government torture? In a free society in which the government works for us, we have a right to know what it is doing in our names, and we have a reasonable expectation that the laws the government enforces against us it will enforce against itself. But don’t hold your breath waiting for that to happen.

*** end quote ***

I like the Judge.

And, I respect his opinion.

I’d need more on the alleged “plots stopped” to make a value judgment.

On the face of it, and knowing the Gooferment’s willingness to create “false flags”, as well as lie, cheat, and steal.

I’m more to the Judge’s side of the argument than those who post 9/11 pictures on Facebook.

Not sure that this prevented anything.

If it did, I’d be more “understanding”. Slaps on the wrist rather than condemnation.

But, the USA is in everyone’s business and needs to pull back.

Argh!

Not that anyone listens to one fat old white guy injineer blogger!

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INTERESTING: Home Euthanasia for Pets

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http://www.care2.com/greenliving/a-vets-view-of-home-euthanasia-for-pets.html

A Vet’s View of Home Euthanasia for Pets
Vetsreet.com
December 5, 2014
6:20 am

*** begin quote ***

Nobody says, “I hope I die in a hospital bed in the ICU in a lot of pain.” If you were to query your friends, most people would probably say, “I hope I die at home in my sleep.” (In fact, according to some surveys, as many as 70 percent to 90 percent of people would prefer to die at home.) The uncertainty of knowing when and where we will shrug off the mortal coil is a great source of angst for many of us humans. Dogs and cats have it a little different.

*** end quote ***

Agree. Dying in a hospital is barbaric. Being in a hospital with little hope is pretty bad.

Maybe it’s the time of year or time of my life, but these thoughts are troubling.

Hope people make their pets comfortable.

Losing a pet is hard; losing a spouse hardest think I’ve ever endured.

Argh!

Maudlin.

But this is an excellent idea for the ETHICAL treatment of pets and animals.

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TINFOILHAT: FDR and Pearl Harbor?

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http://www.lewrockwell.com/2014/12/patrick-j-buchanan/did-fdr-provoke-pearl-harbor-2/

Did FDR Provoke Pearl Harbor?
By Patrick J. Buchanan
December 9, 2014

*** begin quote ***

At a Nov. 25 meeting of FDR’s war council, Secretary of War Henry Stimson’s notes speak of the prevailing consensus: “The question was how we should maneuver them (the Japanese) into … firing the first shot without allowing too much danger to ourselves.”’

*** end quote ***

After reading Stinnet’s book “Day of Deceit: The Truth About FDR and Pearl Harbor”   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_of_Deceit, I joined the “Pearl Harbor advance-knowledge conspiracy theory” believers.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pearl_Harbor_advance-knowledge_conspiracy_theory

While we may never know for sure, we can be sure that the Gooferment, and its politicians and bureaucrats, should NEVER be trusted. EVER!

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POLITICAL: Amnesty Costs Exposed

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http://www.judicialwatch.org/press-room/press-releases/judicial-watch-documents-reveal-obama-hhs-paid-baptist-children-family-services-182129786-four-months-housing-illegal-alien-children/

Obama Lawless Amnesty Costs Exposed – Congress AWOL?

*** begin quote ***

Despite all the budgetary pressure impacting vital programs of importance to the American people, the Obama administration apparently feels there’s still plenty of money to go around for illegal aliens. That’s what we learned back on September 9, 2014 when we obtained documents from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that showed the Obama Administration paid Baptist Children and Family Services (BCFS) $182,129,786 to provide “basic shelter care” to 2,400 “unaccompanied alien children” (UAC) for four months in 2014. The BCFS budget included charges for $104,215,608 for UACs at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and an additional $77,914,178 for UACs at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.  

These documents were obtained in response to an August 1, 2014, Freedom of Information Act request seeking BCFS applications for funding, correspondence between the HHS Administration for Children and Families (ACF) and BCFS, and correspondence within ACF relating to BCFS. The records we received include the “Budget Information and Project Narrative portions of the BCFS applications funded in calendar 2014” for both the Ft. Sill and the Lackland AFB facilities. 

*** end quote ***

I don’t know about you but I don’t want to pay for any of this!

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GAMBLING: Lottery retailers “win”

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http://nj1015.com/nj-lottery-probing-report-of-frequent-wins-by-retailers/

[TIP ‘o’ the HAT to: Jim Gearhart on 101.5 radio]

NJ Lottery probing report of frequent wins by retailers
By Townsquare News Staff
December 8, 2014 4:56 PM

*** begin quote ***

Half of New Jersey’s 20 most frequent state lottery winners are either licensed sellers of lottery tickets or their family members, according to an investigative report by the Asbury Park Press.The report, based on the newspaper’s review of lottery wins claimed since 2009, is being looked into by the New Jersey Lottery, which acknowledges similar patterns have drawn its own scrutiny.

The suspicion under investigation is that these “lucky” retailers are purchasing the winning tickets of people whose “child support judgments taxes or other governmental debts” would swallow their winnings if they cashed the tickets themselves, the newspaper reported. As a consequence, they’re willing to transfer their winning tickets to the sellers in return for something like 80 cents on the dollar.

*** end quote ***

Or they examine every “loser”. 

Or they cheat the winners.

Or, in the case of scratch offs, they know when a game is “overdue”.

They have advantages!

Separation of Gambling and State!

Remember when the lottery was to pay for education?

Sucker!

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INSPIRATIONAL: Want your own country?

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http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/nov/14/experience-i-founded-my-own-country?CMP=fb_gu

Life and style Experience
Experience: I founded my own country

Renato Barros
Friday 14 November 2014 09.00 EST

As told to Jennifer Lucy Allan

*** begin quote ***

In 1903, the Portuguese government didn’t have enough money to build a harbour port, so the king sold the land to a wealthy British family, the Blandys, who make Madeira wine. Fourteen years ago the family decided to sell it for just €25,000 (£19,500). It was of no use to them. But nobody else wanted to buy it either. I met Blandy at a party, and he told me about Pontinha. He asked if I’d like to buy the island. Of course I said yes, but I have no money – I am just an art teacher.

*** end quote ***

I love this. 

Why can’t we all have our “own countries”?

Laugh!

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TINFOILHAT: Compressed ultrafast photography (CUP) technique and JFK

Published on by reinkefjLeave a comment

2014-Dec-08

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/worlds-fastest-2d-camera-could-solve-jfk-assassination-magic-bullet-mystery-1477895

World’s fastest 2D camera could solve JFK assassination ‘magic bullet’ mystery
Anthony Cuthbertson By Anthony Cuthbertson
December 3, 2014 18:00 GMT

*** begin quote ***

Using the compressed ultrafast photography (CUP) technique, bullet pathways could be reconstructed in retrospect, once again opening up the Kennedy assassination conspiracy theories.

*** end quote ***

I don’t understand how this will help, but anything that can confirm or refute, I’m interested in.

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INSPIRATIONAL: I think I am a Savvy Donor

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http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=content.view&cpid=419#.VIC216TF-5J

Top 10 Best Practices of Savvy Donors

*** begin quote ***

7. Review Executive CompensationSophisticated donors realize that charities need to pay their top leaders a competitive salary in order to attract and retain the kind of talent needed to run a multi-million dollar organization and produce results. But they also don’t just take the CEO’s compensation at face value; they benchmark it against similar-sized organizations engaged in similar work and located in the same region of the country. To help you make your own decision, Charity Navigator’s analysis reveals that the average CEO’s compensation of the charities we evaluate is almost $150,000. In general, salaries tend to be higher in the northeast and at arts and education charities. Sophisticated donors also put the CEO’s salary into context by examining the overall performance of the organization. They know it is better to contribute to a charity with a well-paid CEO that is meeting its goals than to support a charity with an underpaid CEO that fails to deliver on its promises. (Check out our CEO Compensation Study for more benchmarking data.)

*** end quote ***

That’s one thing that stops me from donating — “Big Charity”.

When the CEO makes more than I do, I’m not needed. Neither is my money.

When the “Charity” spends more on “administration” than “services”, then I’m done.

When the “Charity” shifts it mission to something “eternal”, I’m “mortal”. Example, Mach of Dimes cures polio and shifts to “birth defects”.

When the “Charity” uses funds for things I morally oppose, I’m outraged. Example, Susan B. Koleman funds Planned Parenthood which in turn funds abortions. 

Sigh.

I like the Salvation Army. The General makes peanuts! That’s charity.

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RANT: “Drunk” driving

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https://local.nixle.com/alert/5313506/?sub_id=241886

South Brunswick Twp Police Department
Thursday December 4th, 2014 :: 09:43 a.m. EST

Advisory: “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” statewide campaign. Beginning December 5th continuing through January 2nd

Dear Nixle User,

South Brunswick Police Department will be cracking down on drunk drivers as part of the annual holiday season “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” statewide campaign. Beginning December 5, 2014 and continuing through January 2, 2015, local and state law enforcement officials will conduct saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints looking for motorists who may be driving while intoxicated.

The national “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” effort seeks to raise awareness about the dangers of drinking and driving through a combination of high-visibility enforcement and public education. “We want the holiday season to be a safe and happy time of year. The holiday season has an increased potential for impaired drivers with holiday parties and events being held. We typically see a 10 percent increase in impaired drivers this time of year. We hope the increased police presence will serve as deterrence to anyone thinking of drinking and driving,” said Chief Raymond Hayducka. He added, “In South Brunswick there has been nearly a 40 percent decrease in impaired drivers involved in motor vehicle crashes with injury this year. This latest effort looks to continue the decrease.”

Last year, 22% of all motor vehicle fatalities in New Jersey were alcohol-related. Nationally, more than 10,000 people die each year in drunken driving crashes. The societal cost associated with drunken driving crashes is estimated to be $37 billion annually.

Law enforcement agencies participating in the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over 2014 Year End Holiday Crackdown offer the following advice for holiday season

  • Take mass transit, a taxicab, or ask a sober friend to drive you home.
  • Spend the night where the activity or party is held.
  • If you see an impaired driver on the road, contact law enforcement. Your actions may save someone’s life, and inaction could cost a life. 
  • Always buckle-up, every ride. It’s your best defense against an impaired driver.
  • If you are intoxicated and traveling on foot, the safest way to get home is to take a cab or have a sober friend or family member drive or escort you to your doorstep.
  • Be responsible. If someone you know is drinking, do not let that person get behind the wheel.

Contact Information:
Lieutenant James Ryan
732-329-4646
jryan@sbtnj.net

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OK. Time for my pet peeve.

If this was so dangerous, I would not have survived my high school and college years.

As a little L libertarian, if the driver causes: an accident (not just involved in on), damage, injury, or Heaven Forbid kills someone, then they deserve to “get the book thrown at them“.

In the case of damage or injury, restitution. 

In the case of a death, clearly that can’t be “restored”.

AND, clearly, if this is a subsequent conviction, then clearly drastic measures have to be take to protect society,

ALL THAT BEING SAID!

* Random checkpoints are unreasonable search and seizure.

* Lowering the settings is also unreasonable.

* Driving infractions while under the influence are “driving infractions”.

This goes along with my laissez faire attitude. “No victim; no crime”.

Unfortunately, of the three DUI arrests that I am familiar with this year, all three were bogus.

In one the car was parked. Another the driver was stopped on the side of the road, lost, and trying to read a map. The third, the driver fell asleep at a stop light.

Where is the victim?

And, what about the police causing fatalities under the influence and getting off?

Double standard.

We know it’s all about money.

Argh!

It has nothing to do with safety.

Look at the stories of repeat offenders with 10 convictions or more. There’s the problem!

Argh!

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POLITICAL: Gooferment pensions are a future disaster

Published on by reinkefjLeave a comment

http://online.wsj.com/articles/andrew-g-biggs-public-pensions-need-gamblers-anonymous-1417563447

OPINION
Public Pensions Need Gamblers Anonymous
Retirement funds for Illinois and California hold 75% risky investments. The Texas teachers’ plan: 81%.

*** begin quote ***

Managers of government pension plans counter that they have longer investment horizons and can take greater risks. But most financial economists believe that the risks of stock investments grow, not shrink, with time. Moreover, while governments may exist forever, pensions cannot take forever to pay off their losses: New accounting rules promulgated by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) and taking effect this year will push plans to amortize unfunded liabilities over roughly 15 years. Even without these rules, volatile pension investments translate into volatile contribution requirements that can and have destabilized government budgets.

*** end quote ***

FROM FACEBOOK by O’Connell, Bill (MC1976)

*** begin quote ***

The real solution is to do away with defined benefit pension plans and replace them with defined contribution plans. That way when the individual leaves an organization, he takes with him all that has been contributed on his behalf and the relationship with the organization ends. No more actuarial headaches calculating how long someone will live, how to invest pension contributions to match that, no more shorting the contributions this year with the intent of making it up in the future. Every year should stand on its own. You work, you get a contribution to your retirement; done.

*** end quote ***

Agree.

And, at least in New Jersey, there are many added political scams.

Like part-time jobs that get pension credit. Rightly or wrongly.

Like politicians who get pensions for their “public service”.

Like politicians and bureaucrats who “retire” and go back to work to earn more “pension credits”.

Like politicians and bureaucrats who double dip.

Time to end Gooferment pensions, period.

Try finding a non-Gooferment job with a defined benefit pension plan today.

Argh!

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he real solution is to do away with defined benefit pension plans and replace them with defined contribution plans. That way when the individual leaves an organization, he takes with him all that has been contributed on his behalf and the relationship with the organization ends. No more actuarial headaches calculating how long someone will live, how to invest pension contributions to match that, no more shorting the contributions this year with the intent of making it up in the future. Every year should stand on it’s own. You work, you get a contribution to your retirement; done.

EVLYNN: Thanks, NJ MVC

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You’ve heard me rant that the Gooferment is immoral, ineffective, and inefficient!

Here’s another classic.

Thanks NJ MVC for sending me the renewal for Evelyn’s handicapped placard. 

Now, I know, since there was no money involved, you could care less. (Her social security payment was recaptured within 12 hours of her passing.)

And, there was a NJ estate tax return filed with a copy of the Death Certificate. 

And, there was a NJ Jury Duty notice returned with a copy of the Death Certificate.

And, there was car registration retitled with a copy of the Death Certificate.

And, there was her NJ Drivers’ License renewal returned with a copy of the Death Certificate.

So, I guess you felt it necessary to send me yet another reminder!

Argh!

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RANT: “Rent Control” is the Gooferment using force and fraud on the Free Market

Published on by reinkefj1 Comment

https://www.quora.com/Real-Estate-in-New-York-City/Without-rent-control-would-anyone-outside-of-the-top-1-be-left-in-Manhattan

Real Estate in New York City: Without rent control, would anyone outside of the top 1% be left in Manhattan?

Trey Clark
Trey Clark, Founder, http://www.RealtyShares.com

Rent Control actually increases market rents by removing at-market rental stock from a given city/area.

I live in San Francisco, where roughly 80% of the rental units are subject to rent control. Rents here have spiked approximately 15% in the last 18 months.

Here’s the dynamic: people with below market rents stay in those apartments, because they don’t want to pay market rates. Thus those units tend to stay out off the market. When demand increases, as has happened here in the last 18 months due to increased start-up hiring, there is a reduced inventory of units to absorb that demand. Market rents spike.

The same holds for Manhattan, though I’m not sure as large a share of the apartment stock is rent controlled/regulated. If rent control was removed, market rents would drop, though average rent paid would likely go up (no more renters paying below rents far below market).

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Like most Gooferment actions, it has intended and Unintended Consequences!

The use of force or fraud is always immoral, as well as ineffective and inefficient.

It enriches the politicians and bureaucrats who can extract “tribute” and must be “kowtowed” to. Graft, kickbacks, corruption, bribery, and extortion are all the direct observable effects of “rent control”!

It’s ineffective because it actually raises the rents that poor people must pay. 

It’s inefficient because it incentivizes the wrong behavior. Old pensioners “lock up” large apartments that they don’t “need” and have to heat ’n’ cool the larger space 

Anytime the Gooferment institutes “price controls”, the Free Market is distorted. 

The Free Market’s “invisible hand” allows the maximum happiness and minimum unhappiness without the use of force or fraud. 

The Free Market allows peaceful exchanges that benefit everyone.

Argh!

Seems so simple.

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VETERANS: Burial delays by VA?

Published on by reinkefj1 Comment

[TIP ‘o’ the HAT to: Bugle Blasts December 2014 Vienna VA 22181 Volume 6 Number 7]

Burial delays prompt push for VA oversight in Congress names of the entities that are responsible for the bodies, including local medical examiners, funeral directors, and A bill aimed at decreasing recent delays in veteran burials by giving Congress new VA oversight got a push forward from lawmakers recently. A Senate version requires VA to report any burial delays longer than 30 days. Reports have sprung up around the country that deceased vets are waiting months to be interred in the Department of Veterans Affairs’ system of national cemeteries.

Under the bill, the VA would be required to track and record any burials not completed within a month as well as the county service groups. Data on the burial delays would be collected in an annual report and given to the House and Senate veterans’ affairs committees, according to the bill language.

VA oversees a system of 131 cemeteries and burial rights for veterans. Over the past year, there have been media reports of long delays for deceased veterans at facilities in California and elsewhere.

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Argh!

Goo ferment is immoral, ineffective, and inefficient!

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POLITICAL: “An armed society is a Riotless Society”

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http://www.lewrockwell.com/2014/11/jack-perry/an-armed-society/

An Armed Society is a Riotless Society
By Jack Perry
November 28, 2014

*** begin quote ***

So, when Ferguson got the grand jury ruling they didn’t like, they showed how interested they were in justice by burning down the businesses of people that had nothing at all to do with it. Meanwhile, in the State of Arizona, people showed their solidarity with Ferguson by going to bed. While other major cities held protests, some of which ended up with minor looting, Arizona just did what Arizona does: Conducted business as usual. There was one small protest of about 60 people down in Tempe, close to Phoenix. They argued among themselves, broke into two groups, but then gave up and went home. The next day, businesses were fearlessly open as usual, people were buying early Christmas presents, people were getting ready for Thanksgiving and getting their turkeys. Hmmm…weren’t Phoenix and Tucson two of the major cities that all the Ferguson “direct action” groups listed as scenes of protest? Yet, both these cities pretty much ignored the call to action, as did the entire state. What happened?

*** and ***

It’s the individual armed citizen. People here work hard to build businesses. They put their lives into them and they’re not going to step aside and let someone torch their dreams in an agitator-sponsored temper tantrum and looting-fest masquerading as “outrage”. People here defend themselves, have the weapons to do so, and laws that make it possible. Rioters might make it past the Warlord of Phoenix, if they’re lucky. They might defy the Shogun of Arizona. But they will not make it past the armed citizens defending their homes and businesses. Everyone here knows this. They know a huge riot would become a mass suicide mission for the rioters. Protests happen and everyone is fine with that. But everyone knows there is a line that cannot be crossed—or else. Because it will not be tolerated and people won’t cower and wait for the government to save them. They will save themselves.

*** end quote ***

Question asked and answered.

“An armed society is a polite society. Manners are good when one may have to back up his acts with his life.” — Robert A. Heinlein

Now I’ll add:

“An armed society is a Riotless Society” — Jack Perry 

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