RANT: Social Security is such a scam

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

FROM A FELLOW ALUM’S OBIT

***Begin Quote***

… … died July 16, 2007 in New York. He was 64.

***End Quote***

SO he paid the ultimate “social security tax”. Argh. He paid into one of the most unfair Ponzi scams imaginable. If an Insurance Company offered you such a policy, the executives would all be in jail for theft. Or at least on the various nightly news shows, like “Shame on You”.

For a per centage of your life time earnings,

(Now doesn’t that sound like something you’d expect hear in a movie sequence of a Mafia shakedown?)

you get a modest lifetime disability protection,

(If you are willing to hire a lawyer and spend a lot of money getting it.)

and a less than adequate retirement income

(And they now say social security was never intended to live on … … “barbara streisand”)

that you have to pay taxes on

(That they “promised” would never be taxed … … double “barbara streisand”)

and represents the biggest savings of a poor person’s life

(Economist generally agree it’s a wealth transfer from poor minority men to rich white women!)

that’s ends with no benefit when you die.

(The ultimate in theft!)

Economist generally concede that the most optimistic look at “Social Security Insurance” is that it is a negative 1 to 2 % savings.

In my fellow alumni’s case, it’s nothing but a tax.

What a losing bet!

“Social Security Insurance” is a socialist program that is an absolute disgrace.

At least the gooferment should have the honesty to stop calling it “insurance”.

Argh!

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PRODUCTIVITY: I don’t do Link Exchanges either

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Why I Do Not Do Link Exchanges
Des Walsh
Posted in July 17th, 2007

http://www.thinkinghomebusiness.com/2007/07/17/why-i-dont-do-link-exchanges

***Begin Quote***

There must still be some courses or e-books where people new to blogging are told to email other bloggers and suggest or request an exchange of links. I don’t know what other explanation there would be for the emails I get on a fairly regular basis, out of the blue, from people I don’t know, wanting me to exchange links.

***End Quote***

me2

“I wouldn’t be a member of any club that would have me as a member” Groucho Marx

I don’t do Link Exchanges.

(No one has ever asked me!)

;-)

Just seems … … so conspiratorial … … so yucky.

I put sites in my rolls that I think are worth your time.

Now, if some one would send me a stack of hundreds, then I’d link to them. Never said I couldn’t be bought. But, I’ve never made a dime blogging. I just do it for the sense of moral superiority. :-) (As Rooster C. Leghorn cartoon character of my yuth says “That’s a joke, son.”)

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TECHNOLOGY: “Microsoft Copy Protection Cracked Again” and who’s surprised?

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=2007-07-17_D8QEFI3O1&show_article=1&cat=breaking

Microsoft Copy Protection Cracked Again
Jul 17 01:13 PM US/Eastern
By JESSICA MINTZ
AP Business Writer

*** begin quote ***

SEATTLE (AP) – Microsoft Corp. is once again on the defensive against hackers after the launch of a new program that gives average PC users tools to unlock copy-protected digital music and movies.

The latest version of the FairUse4M program, which can crack Microsoft’s digital rights management system for Windows Media audio and video files, was published online late Friday. In the past year, Microsoft plugged holes exploited by two earlier versions of the program and filed a federal lawsuit against its anonymous authors. Microsoft dropped the lawsuit after failing to identify them.

The third version of FairUse4M has a simple drag-and-drop interface. PC users can turn the protected music files they bought online—either a la carte or as part of a subscription service like Napster—and turn them into DRM-free tunes that can be copied and shared at will, or turned into MP3 files that can play on any type of digital music player.

*** end quote ***

Like an arms race, the DRM folks are spending a lot of cycles on a failing paradigm.

Like putting lipstick on the proverbial pig, it annoys their paying customers and is pretty ugly! Some of my biggest irritations, in my computing career, have been at the hands of “copy protection”. Couple that with bad, or non-existent, support and you have the seeds of a revolt.

I now don’t buy content online — music or other kinds — if it has copy protection. I have a lot of expensive 8 tracks, cassettes, and cds of “content” that are unusable. Add to that “software”, which has stopped working, stopped being supported, or otherwise orphaned.

My most recent experience was with MusicMatch JukeBox being acquired by Yahoo and forced to “upgrade”. This was one of my last purchases, excuse me “licensing” — what “barbara streisand”!! — before my new policy of “no more”.

“No more” locked content. “No more” buying software, excuse me licensing it, from vendors who are one step below used car salesmen. “No more” operating systems that require “activation” and have “self-help” provisions.

I look to the open source software makers and happily “donate” to their projects.

I’m calling out the content makers, “software” licensors, and the entire Microsoft empire as the hucksters they are. At least the snake oil sales men of yesteryear didn’t try and make you “license” the bottle! A plague on all their houses.

Imagine how I’ll be when I get old and crotchety!
fjohn

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INTERESTING: Why They Won’t Impeach

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

http://www.lewrockwell.com/shaffer/shaffer160.html

Why They Won’t Impeach
by Butler Shaffer

***Begin Quote***

The interests of Democratic and Republican officials alike are best served by the maximization of political power. If “government” is defined as an agency enjoying a monopoly on the lawful use of force within a given territory, what politically ambitious person would not want to enjoy as much of that power as he or she can muster? And since such a purpose not only suits the interests of the ruling establishment, but defines its existence, a symbiotic relationship between these two groups is easily fashioned.

***End Quote***

It just exposes the sham of the “two party system”. It’s a system all right. A scam. A racket. Tweedle dum and Tweedle dee.

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TECH SERVICE: Yahoo! Music about Musicmatch Migration

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Promptly a week after I had the problem and they changed the webpage causing the problem. They may be “happy” but it’s not timely.

***Begin Quote***

—–Original Message—–
From: Yahoo! Music Jukebox [mailto:yahoomusicengine-feedback@cc.yahoo-inc.com]
Sent: Tuesday, July 17, 2007 4:35 PM
To: Reinke’s Catch All Email
Subject: Re: Yahoo! Music Jukebox non-tech issue (KMM100278139V4440L0KM)

Hello Reinke’s,

Thank you for writing Yahoo! Music about Musicmatch Migration. We’re happy to help you with this question.

A tool to automatically convert your Musicmatch subscription to Yahoo!
is now available. The Migration Assistant is built into the latest release of the Yahoo! Music Jukebox. Please follow the directions below to download the Jukebox, and the Migration Assistant will walk you through this process step-by-step.

Download and install the new Yahoo! Music Jukebox here:

http://music.yahoo.com/jukebox/mm/ymj/?OEM=29

Important: Even if you already have Yahoo! Music Jukebox, you must install this special version in order to see the Migration Assistant.

When you start the Jukebox, the Migration Assistant should appear.
Follow the instructions on each page (a link to the FAQ is available from most pages).

If you have a Musicmatch On Demand subscription, you will be able to migrate it to a Yahoo! Music Unlimited subscription

If you have unspent Musicmatch Music Store Gift Certificates or Allowances, you’ll be able to convert them to Yahoo! Music Unlimited Gift Certificates

If you wish to transfer your music library, you will be offered this option.

Please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions for more information:

http://help.yahoo.com/l/us/yahoo/music/jukebox/update/update02.html

*if your problem persists please follow the steps below.

We are having difficulty pinpointing the cause of your problem based on the information you’ve provided. If you could provide answers to the questions below in your response, that will help us provide you with more assistance:

1. Can you describe the problem in more detail?
2. What error message(s) are you receiving, if any? Please send us the exact wording of the error message if you see one.
3. Please describe what happened leading up to this problem, and provide as much detail as possible.

For complete Yahoo! Music Jukebox online help, visit:

http://help.yahoo.com/l/us/yahoo/music/jukebox/index.html

Once again, we regret the problem you’re having with Yahoo! Music services. If the solution provided here does not resolve your concern, please reply to this email so we may further assist you. Thank you again for writing Yahoo! Music.

Regards,

Bob
Yahoo! Music Customer Care

For assistance with all Yahoo! services, please visit:

http://help.yahoo.com/

***End Quote***

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Posted by reinkefj

INTERESTING: they’ll bemoan they were just a few votes

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

http://cernigsnewshog.blogspot.com/2007/07/governance-as-theatre.html

Monday, July 16, 2007
Governance as Theatre

***Begin Quote***

I have to congratulate Senator Harry Reid for having the common sense and the uncommon gumption of forcing an actual filibuster on the Reed-Levin amendment on a phased withdrawal of most combat formations from Iraq by April of 2008. The procedure that Sen. Reid will use will require sixty votes to end debate and if the debate is not ended, then at least thirty more hours of debate before another cloture attempt can be made.

***End Quote***

Interesting for the D’s to not realize that they can use this lever. Then, when the elections come, short. Silly, the Constitution vest considerable power in the minority.

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RANT: Hey Governor Corzine … … still wanna hear about state cars? … (continued) …

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

You don’t? TOO BAD!

This morning 17 July at about 645 am edst on Route 295 milepost 51 … …

… … a big white state pickup truck (monster size) TD 10342 … …

… … tailgating the poor peon (me!) in his way (who got the hell out of the way before being pushed out)

… … who never left the left lane (Do you teach them to do that, or is that a qualification for working for the state of nujerzee!?)

Any way I am sure that he was hurrying to get away I assume trenton to protect and serve me.

Or, perhaps to escape the scene of the crime!

Arghhh!

Arghhhhhhh!

P.S.: Dear reader, I don’t write these every day. Just when I ARRIVE early for work, particularly agitated aggravated and have to wait for my employer workstation to get online.

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RANT: currency should be backed by a commodity

Monday, July 16, 2007

A statist, who must like the “inflation tax”:

*** begin quote ***

There is a new comment on the post “Independence Day”.

http://www.homelandstupidity.us/2007/07/04/
independence-day-3/

Author: Ace Duggery
Comment: I want everyone that thinks the United States currency should be backed by a commodity to check the historical prices of gold and silver. The volatility of these commodities is high, so much higher than the dollar that it makes me laugh to listen to your arguments. If our currency was backed by a commodity, you would be complaining about that too.

See all comments on this post here:

http://www.homelandstupidity.us/2007/07/04/
independence-day-3/#comments

*** end quote ***

I think “Ace” that you are missing the point. (And, I think it says something when people need to use an alter ego.)

It really doesn’t matter if it’s backed by a commodity or backed by something like tiki statues on Easter Island. With a non-fiat currency, the gooferment can NOT impose an “inflation tax” on all holders of “money”.

Gooferment wants to have social program, they can’t just print more but have to impose a tax. Gooferment wants to fight a war, they can’t just print more and have to impose a tax.

We want a commodity as money because the gooferment can’t wave it’s magic printing press and make more. Remember that greenbacks were originally redeemable in gold and silver. So the scrap of paper was really a receipt. Since 1970, the value of a dollar as depreciated 95% due to inflation. That’s a hell of a tax! If they tried to impose such, they have been lynched.

Inflation did it silently for them politicians. A commodity money would have prevented that, and made us all wealthier.

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LINKEDIN: FACEBOOK elbows in?

Monday, July 16, 2007

http://segala.com/blog/please-no-more-linkedin-invites/

Please, no more LinkedIn invites
on July 16, 2007 at 10:47 am | By Paul Walsh

*** begin quote ***

LinkedIn Out and Facebook In logo

Ok, for the last time and to put an end to some speculation, I’m no longer updating my LinkedIn profile (full stop).

The reason is simple. I use Facebook as my shop window, into which you can see who I am, who I know, what I stand for, what I’m working on, where I am and anything else I’d like you to know. If I write a blog post, send a twitter or have pictures taken of me talking at an event, you’ll see them via my RSS feeds which are pulled in from various Web sites.

*** end quote ***

Is the bloom off the rose with LinkedIn? I’m not so sure one way or the other, I continue to use both, fwiw.

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RANT: America’s schools aren’t failing

Monday, July 16, 2007

http://www.lvrj.com/opinion/8517012.html

Jul. 15, 2007
VIN SUPRYNOWICZ: Helping students become ‘responsible citizens’?

*** begin quote ***

America’s schools aren’t failing, Gatto discovered. They’re doing precisely what they were re-designed to do between the 1850s and the early 1900s, when America embarked on our current imperial/mercantilist adventure — that is, to churn out little soldiers and factory workers with mindless obedience drilled in and with the higher critical faculties burned out of them through the process of feeding them learning in small unrelated bits like pre-digested gruel, till they neither know how nor feel any inclination to discern higher patterns, which might lead them to challenge the “party line.”

Who dreamed up such a system?

John Dewey and Horace Mann brought this form of “compulsion schooling” home from Prussia, Gatto learned.

*** end quote ***

When will the taxpayers and parents realize what they are doing to their children?

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