GAMBLING: Lottery retailers “win”

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

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?

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

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

Monday, December 8, 2014

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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HARDWARE: FIOS router required a reboot this morning

Sunday, December 7, 2014

2014-Dec-07

Last used around 5PM on Saturday 2014-Dec-06

Found unresponsive around 1AM on Sunday 2014-Dec-07

Went to backup to do my chore.

Rebooted at 2014-Dec-07 0824

Return to normal.

Strange. Usually rock solid.

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INSPIRATIONAL: I think I am a Savvy Donor

Sunday, December 7, 2014

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

Saturday, December 6, 2014

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

Friday, December 5, 2014

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

Thursday, December 4, 2014

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

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

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?

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

[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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