RANT: Gooferment “welfare” trains people to “starve”

Tuesday, September 26, 2017

From personal experience of four people I know, I have concluded that Gooferment “welfare” is the most destructive and personality eroding program that I have ever seen. It literally gives people enough to make them “lazy” and dependent while not giving them enough to not “starve”. Here in the Pepuls Republik of Nu Jerzee, the “standard amount” seems to be about 12k$ per year — give or take. Apartment rentals are easily that; so they are force into Section 8 or “low income” units. Quality varies all over the spectrum. Since folks are starving, they are “forced” on to “food stamps” and “food banks”.

So what if there was no Gooferment welfare, in both cases I know, the first individual’s family could take care of their relative pretty easily. In the second and third case, they could get jobs. And, in the fourth case, employment would be a challenge.

Would they all be better off? Undoubtedly, imho.

Instead, two “sponge”, the third seeks “off the books” income from the underground economy and small lottery wins, and the fourth is just a lost soul. The fourth is overwhelmed by “poverty thinking”.

It’s so sad. 

Extend that experience to the vast numbers on the public dole, and it is a “human disaster” of epic proportions.

As I have said before, “there are too many in the wagon and to few pulling the wagon”.

Sooner or later, the “makers” will convert to “takers” out of frustration with the “system”. But the “system” is great for creating voters for politicians and bureaucrats who promise and give “free” stuff.

Argh!

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WSJ: How SHOULD it be construed?

Monday, September 25, 2017

2017-Sep-25

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“The absence of our team for the national anthem shouldn’t be misconstrued as unpatriotic.”

A statement from the Tennessee Titans on the team’s not taking the field at all for the national anthem. Players around the NFL demonstrated before games Sunday as part of an escalating feud between President Trump and the professional sports world.

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I’m sorry how SHOULD it be construed?

I thought this was a violation of the NFL rules and contractual arrangements?

Argh!

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SERVICE: Mercedes supports What3Words

Monday, September 25, 2017

Dear Ferdinand,

It has been another epic month at what3words, and I’m delighted to announce that Mercedes-Benz will be the first car manufacturer to support 3 word addresses in their vehicles.

what3words will be built into their next generation infotainment system, launching early next year.

Drivers will be able to get into a new Mercedes-Benz, say a 3 word address, such as “alive caveman bends” and it will navigate them to that precise 3 metre square on the Trollstigen in Norway.

“This Could Be Mercedes’ Next Step Toward a Self-Driving Benz” – Fortune

“Best new in-car tech: 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show” – AutoTrader

“Stunning New System Used By Mercedes” – Forbes

Click here to read more and watch the film.

In other news this month, we received further recognition of our work at Fast Company’s Innovation by Design Awards and spoke at Helsinki Design Week alongside world-renowned architect and designer David Adjaye.

We discussed the difficulties of the UK postcode system with BBC News, and how what3words is now being used by some of London’s emergency services. And 3 word addresses are helping to coordinate rescue teams following the earthquakes in Mexico City.

You can read all about these and more on our site.

********

A great idea that would make life easier globally.

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INTERESTING: In a very sad sort of way

Monday, September 25, 2017

http://collectivelyconscious.net/articles/20-words-that-describes-emotions-we-can-feel-but-just-cant-explain/

*** begin quote *** 

14. Ellipsism:

(n) A sadness that you’ll never be able to know how history will turn out.

*** end quote ***

I recently had this feeling — which I never had; not maybe never recognized — when helping to care for a newborn. When he’s 20, I’ll be 90. When he’s 40, I’d be 120. Unless there is a “miracle of modern medicine”, I won’t be around to see how he makes out. Will he thrice or even survive?

It’s like reading a mystery novel and losing it before you find out who done it.

I think there were a MASH and a HIMYM episode, each like this.

Argh!

Frustrating, but nothing that can be done about it.

Maybe “we” should invent a “reverse time capsule”?

Double Argh!

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MONEY: “Public” pensions should be under scrutiny by both taxpayers and potential recipients

Sunday, September 24, 2017

http://www.jasonstapleton.com/651-this-time-its-different-really/

*** begin quote ***

Great article out of Zero Hedge today covering the current pension crisis in America. If you’ve listened to this show for any length of time, you know the public pension system is wrecked. But this article really went into detail about how it all might shape out in the end. Let’s just say it’s not a rosy picture. Like Mauldin says, “There are no good choices anymore.”

*** end quote ***

An excellent point that BOTH taxpayers and those future “public” pension recipients should be very skeptical and demanding that the politicians and bureaucrats be accountable.

Political promises are worth the paper that they are printed on. (Hint: It’s all oral.)

Forewarned is fore armed.

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WSJ: Gooferment “retirement” promises should be suspect

Thursday, September 21, 2017

FROM WSJ

*** begin quote ***

NUMBER OF THE DAY

$645 billion

The amount U.S. states as a group will need to pay the retiree health benefits they have promised. Under accounting guidelines that apply to most governments, states and cities around the country will book the losses on their balance sheets starting in fiscal 2018—a shift that could potentially lead to cuts in retiree heath benefits.

*** end quote ***

I know some Gooferment employees who assume that their “pensions” are rock solid guaranteed. I try to caution them to be skeptical, but like the “Delphic Oracle” I can sway them.

So sad.

But one very ugly chicken is coming home to roost.

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NUMBER OF THE DAY
$645 billion
The amount U.S. states as a group will need to pay the retiree health benefits they have promised. Under accounting guidelines that apply to most governments, states and cities around the country will book the losses on their balance sheets starting in fiscal 2018—a shift that could potentially lead to cuts in retiree heath benefits.

RANT: Equifax offers but doesn’t make it eay

Monday, September 18, 2017

https://www.equifaxsecurity2017.com/

*** begin quote ***

The company offered free credit file monitoring and identity theft protection to all U.S. consumers, regardless of whether they were definitively impacted.TrustedID Premier includes 3-Bureau credit monitoring of Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion credit reports; copies of Equifax credit reports; the ability to lock and unlock Equifax credit reports; identity theft insurance; and Internet scanning for Social Security numbers.

*** end quote ***

How?

Question unanswered.

Argh!

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RANT: GLASSESUSA doesn’t fix things

Saturday, September 16, 2017

Dear Ferdinand,

Order # 100709412

We understand your concern. But we do not provide this service. You can do it locally.

If you have any questions, feel free to email us at returns@glassesusa.com.

Thank you for choosing to shop with us.

Regards,

Returns Department
GlassesUSA.com

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NOT RECOMMENDED!

Argh!

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RANT: NFL cities versus teams

Monday, September 11, 2017

Watching the “Los Angeles” Chargers!

I guess the cities are disconnected from “their” teams.

Maybe the low ratings are not because of politics but the lack of loyalty to the cities that have “invested” their taxpayers money and the fans that have an emotional connections.

Maybe the “circuses” are losing their appeal to the suckers?

*****


INTERESTING: Voynich manuscript decoded

Saturday, September 9, 2017

https://arstechnica.com/science/2017/09/the-mysterious-voynich-manuscript-has-finally-been-decoded/

MYSTERY SOLVED —The mysterious Voynich manuscript has finally been decoded
History researcher says that it’s a mostly plagiarized guide to women’s health.
ANNALEE NEWITZ – 9/8/2017, 4:10 PM

*** begin quote ***

Since its discovery in 1912, the 15th century Voynich Manuscript has been a mystery and a cult phenomenon. Full of handwriting in an unknown language or code, the book is heavily illustrated with weird pictures of alien plants, naked women, strange objects, and zodiac symbols. Now, history researcher and television writer Nicholas Gibbs appears to have cracked the code, discovering that the book is actually a guide to women’s health that’s mostly plagiarized from other guides of the era.

Gibbs writes in the Times Literary Supplement that he was commissioned by a television network to analyze the Voynich Manuscript three years ago. Because the manuscript has been entirely digitized by Yale’s Beinecke Library, he could see tiny details in each page and pore over them at his leisure. His experience with medieval Latin and familiarity with ancient medical guides allowed him to uncover the first clues.

*** end quote ***

Having had some training in cryptology, I found this interesting and somewhat funny.

I guess no one in 100+ years  ever put together the clues.

Great job by this fellow.

Guess we need an inventory of all the “puzzles” for TV shows to solve for us. Maybe they can solve all our problems.

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