POLITICAL: The Seventeenth turned the USA from “these United States”

Sunday, March 8, 2015

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/03/who-should-select-senators/386489/

Who Should Select Senators?
A century after the Seventeenth Amendment transferred that power to the voters, legislatures and governors are devising new ways to retain it for themselves.
GARRETT EPPSMAR 1 2015, 9:18 AM ET

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There are a lot of reasons that I love the Seventeenth Amendment, which transferred the power to elect senators from state legislatures to ordinary voters.

Its passage was one of the most sweeping progressive victories in American history—public fury so intimidated reactionary lawmakers in the Senate that, by approving the Amendment, they in effect voted their own body out of existence.

A second reason is that in the past two decades, new redistricting techniques have allowed state legislatures to create unshakably safe House districts for their members. (Because Republicans controlled a majority of legislatures after the 2010 census, most Republican seats are as safe as Brezhnev’s old spot on the Politburo.) But those techniques are useless when elections must take in the entire state; as a result, a small group of Senate candidates must at least pretend to represent both red and blue voters.

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I OTOH would like to repeal the Seventeenth completely.

Why?

Unintended Consequences!

By removing the State Legislatures from the “State’s Senate choice”, it eliminated a critical feedback loop in the Federalism design of the Dead Old White Guys.

And, as is true with most “improvements” to the Dead Old White Guys’ design, this too is flawed.

Remember, the Dead Old White Guys wanted government as close as possible.

(That movie quote caught the spirit: “Would you tell me please, Mr. Howard, why should I trade one tyrant three thousand miles away for three thousand tyrants one mile away? An elected legislature can trample a man’s rights as easily as a king can.” Mel Gibson as the character Benjamin Martin in the movie The Patriot http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0187393/quotes)

So, the Seventeenth permitted unfunded mandates on the States.

And, basically turned the USA from “these United States” into “the United State”.

Argh!

In addition, the conduct of Senators was closely monitored by the the States. Do something undignified and you were recalled. Do something criminal and you were recalled. Do vote for something that hurt your State and you were recalled.

And, guess what? Hillary becomes the Senator from Pepuls Republik of Nu Jerk. Corzine pays of the D party bosses and becomes the Senator from the Pepuls Republik of Nu Jerzee. Carpet bagging par excellence. All of course voted for by the pee-pull.

Give me a break.

The Seventeenth, like most “progressive” legislation, has given us tyranny!

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GUNS: The Best Gun For Women? One she’ll have with her to use

Saturday, March 7, 2015

http://www.thedailysheeple.com/best-gun-for-women-some-things-to-consider_032015

Best Gun For Women – Some Things To Consider

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IF you’re afraid, then some practice should help.

IF you think you’ll never need it, then I pray you’re right.

IF you think no one should ever have a gun, then you just don’t understand that it’s a dangerous world out there.

“Victim disarmament is the view that it is somehow better to see a woman raped in an alley and strangled with her own pantyhose, than see her with a gun in her hand.” — T.D. Melrose

From your hopefully favorite little L libertarian tin foil hat.

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JOBSEARCH: Don’t be a “source of inconvenient truth”

Friday, March 6, 2015

Surviving (and Thriving) After a Layoff
8 things to know and prepare for–emotionally and professionally
Jan 8th 2015 1:35PM

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I saved this, because I knew it was coming sooner or later.

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*** begin quote ***

1. It is personal. Despite what others may tell you, it really is about you. If you were so essential to the survival of your organization, you wouldn’t have been let go. Accept this as fact and move on.

2. It probably had to do with income. It’s possible that some part of the reason you lost your job is your age, but more than likely it’s because you made more money than your junior colleagues. Employers often figure: Why let go of two lower-paid employees when we can get rid of just a single, senior one? That doesn’t make the loss any sweeter, but it does allow us to keep more of our sense of dignity.

3. Work friendship is fleeting. After you leave the workplace, you’ll miss not only the place and the work (not to mention the steady income and benefits), but also the people. It’s likely that you and your co-workers formed close relationships, especially if you were there for a long time. Be forewarned: often those close relationships are close only through the workplace. You’ll feel ditched by these former friends when they don’t call, write or keep in touch. It happens more often than we like. Two years after my layoff, I still felt hurt when my former friends didn’t reach out or even respond to my calls.

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I think it is MORE than personal.

If you are viewed as a threat to the “establishment” or a more powerful fiefdom, then “downsizing”, “RIF”, or “job elimination” are great excuse to eliminate an “source of inconvenient truth”.

Keep that in mind, and it hurts a little less.

Very little.

If you are, keep your resume updated. And, your eyes clear.

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INSPIRATIONAL: Bishop Egan reminded me of Bishop Sheen

Thursday, March 5, 2015

Cardinal Egan, Former Catholic Archbishop of New York, Dead at 82
Edward Michael Egan, the ninth archbishop of New York, died Thursday afternoon of cardiac arrest, according to the Archdiocese of New York.

He was 82 years old. From 1985 to 1988, he served as auxiliary bishop and vicar for education of the Archdiocese of New York. He served as bishop of Bridgeport, Conn., for 12 years before becoming Archbishop of New York in May 2000.

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I’m not a big Church guy.

I literally ran into him by Saint Pat’s as we were crossing the street by Saint Pat’s.

I immediately recognized him with the simple gold chain.

I sputtered “I’m most sorry Your Eminence”.

He smiled and said: No problem, my child, I am sure we were both absorbed in our Rosaries.” 

To which, I replied: “Fraid not; although do I get partial credit for having mine.” As I whipped mine out of my suit jacket. 

His response: “Well, I think it;s like car keys, you have to use it.”

He touched my forehead with the Bishop’s cross as was on his way.

He was the second Bishop I’d ever met that did that. Do they learn that in “bishop school”?

Funny the things one remembers.

Requiescat In Pacem

With sadness.

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POLITICAL: “(pseudo) War on (some) Drugs” causes accidental poisonings or overdoses

Thursday, March 5, 2015

http://cafehayek.com/2015/02/quotation-of-the-day-1277.html

Quotation of the Day…
by DON BOUDREAUX on FEBRUARY 28, 2015
in DINNER TABLE ECONOMICS, NANNY STATE, SEEN AND UNSEEN

*** begin quote ***

… is from page 16 of Jeffrey Miron’s excellent 2004 monograph, Drug War Crimes:

Under legalization, the incidence of accidental poisonings or overdoses would not be zero, just as it is not zero for currently legal goods such as alcohol. But the rate of such incidents would decline significantly, since consumers would know the potency of the drugs they consume and have far greater confidence that the drugs contained the desired ingredients rather than unknown contaminants.

*** end quote ***

What is imho the biggest Unintended Consequence of the “(pseudo) War on (some) Drugs” is that “children” die.

Yeah, I know they are sort of “young adults”, but in so many ways they are like “children”.

They have been denied the “experiences of life” by our over-protective infantilization of their “life’s non-experiences”. 

Think about what life was like for the American “youth” from the Dead Old White Guys to say 1980’s.

Life was tough. Hard work. Discipline — either self or externally imposed. Dirty work for any wages was valued. 

Now think about since then — undereducated in Gooferment Skrules where feelings count more than results. Virtually unlimited food for just being there. Entertainment to the exclusion of any “earnings”.

So why are we surprised when they die of overdoses and “rat poison” in “kool illegal drugs”?

Ending the war on drug, just as when (Alcohol) Prohibition ended, makes what was “illegal and kool” not so much any more.

Going to buy your “drugs” at Walmart, Walgreens, or RiteAid does quite feel the same. It’s equivalent to in the 50’s going to a strange drug store where no one knew you to buy condoms. (Not that I ever had to do that.) 

But think about “safety”. Do you think that your local Walmart pharmacy will give you “hot shots” or a drug cut with strychnine?

And imagine that it would come with a “health safety warning” that list where you can go for free help to get clean?

And, imaging that it will cost about as much as aspirin. You can have a “habit” and keep a job, just like the pre-drug war days.

Of course, it does bring about the unemployment question — drug lords, drug gangs, police, prison guards, politicians, and bureaucrats will all have to find new lines of work. 

But what’s wrong with that?

Argh!

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POLITICAL: Hilary’s emails

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton made the following statement regarding potential criminal violations of law in Hillary Clinton’s conducting official State Department business using a private email account:

“The latest news that Hillary Clinton, while serving as Secretary of State, conducted all of her official business on a private account may impact nearly a dozen of our Freedom of Information Act lawsuits now active in federal courts as well as dozens of pending FOIA requests. As with what happened when Judicial Watch forced the disclosure of the ‘missing’ IRS emails, I am convinced that these emails would never have been disclosed but for our FOIA lawsuits that broke open the Benghazi scandal and first exposed the scandal of her and Bill Clinton raising money illicitly while she was Secretary of State.

“We are concerned that the Obama administration may have withheld material information and may have purposely misled and lied to Judicial Watch, as well as at least one federal court about these emails.

“One key concern is that these emails must be immediately secured so that they can be searched in response to our lawful FOIA requests. In addition to violations of the Freedom of Information Act, laws governing the preservation of federal records and the handling of classified information also may be implicated in this latest Clinton scandal.”

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Interesting that these emails are not “public records”?

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POLITICAL: Politicians lie — DUH!

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

http://www.judicialwatch.org/press-room/weekly-updates/big-benghazi-news/

DOCUMENTS OBTAINED BY JUDICIAL WATCH REVEAL TOP HILLARY CLINTON ADVISERS KNEW IMMEDIATELY THAT ASSAULT ON BENGHAZI WAS ARMED ATTACK

Documents Obtained by Judicial Watch Reveal Top Hillary Clinton Advisers Knew Immediately that Assault on Benghazi was Armed Attack
FEBRUARY 26, 2015

First “OpsAlert@State.gov” email at 4:07 PM on September 11, 2012, reports, “… diplomatic mission is under attack … 20 armed people fired shots; explosions have been heard as well … Stevens in the compound safe haven”

Email at 6:06 PM September 11, 2012, states terrorist group, “Ansar al Sharia Claims Responsibility.”

(Washington, DC) – Judicial Watch announced today that on February 11, 2015, it uncovered documents from the U.S. Department of State revealing that top aides for then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, including her then-chief of staff Cheryl Mills, knew from the outset that the Benghazi mission compound was under attack by armed assailants tied to a terrorist group. The documents were produced as a result of a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit against the State Department (Judicial Watch v. U.S. Department of State ((No. 1:14-cv-01511). The documents make no reference to a spontaneous demonstration or Internet video, except in an official statement issued by Hillary Clinton. Judicial Watch lawsuit focused on Mrs. Clinton’s involvement in the Benghazi scandal: Any and all records concerning, regarding, or related to notes, updates, or reports created in response to the September 11, 2012 attack on the U.S, Consulate in Benghazi, Libya. 

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SO they lied to protect the BHO reelection campaign.

Did you really believe, do you really believe, ANYTHING they tell you?

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SECURITY: Hillary violated the Records Act

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2015/03/02/hacked-emails-indicate-that-hillary-clinton-used-a-domain-registered-the-day-of-her-senate-hearings/

Hacked emails indicate that Hillary Clinton used a domain registered the day of her Senate hearings
By Philip Bump March 2 at 10:15 PM

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The New York Times reported Monday night that, during her tenure at the State Department, Hillary Clinton never used her official email account to conduct communications, relying instead on a private email account. As the Times notes, only official accounts are automatically retained under the Federal Records Act, meaning that none of Clinton’s email communication was preserved.

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Who goes to jail?

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RANT: Where are the tire shredders at the entrance ramps?

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

http://7ny.tv/17DgFBb

WABC-TV Channel 7 Eyewitness News·

BREAKING UPDATE: Wrong-way driver caused crash that killed another driver on Sprain Brook Parkway in Greenburgh.

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Why don’t “we” have those tire shredders that, while they can “prevent” wrong way entry to roadways, you are not going very far or very fast after running through one? Seems obvious to me!

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RANT: The demise of “the land of opportunity”

Monday, March 2, 2015

http://www.wired.com/2015/02/silicon-gender-bias-trial-kleiner-perkins-says-ellen-pao-skills-succeed/

Nah, it’s not about gender; nor is it about age; nor is it about skills; nor is it about accomplishing stuff.

It’s about who’s “in the club” and who’s not.

Sadly, it’s about our demise as “the land of opportunity”.

imho!

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INTERESTING: “Sproinging”?

Sunday, March 1, 2015

2015-Mar-01

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIPiIMth8WM

Published on Jan 10, 2013

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Sproinging is the act of bouncing on all four legs at the same time. It is believed that sproinging allows the animal to see further afield while moving fast. Deer frequently sproing when fleeing potential predators. Llamas use sproinging as a way of showing off; displaying their ability to lead the herd. Llamas also use play as a means to show off. The Llama Sanctuary

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Hmmm, maybe that what I should be doing more of “spronging”?

Never heard of that word before. You?

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HEALTH: The Gooferment should get out the “heath” business completely

Saturday, February 28, 2015

http://www.newser.com/story/177742/big-problem-with-last-weeks-big-cholesterol-news.html

Big Problem With Last Week’s Big Cholesterol News
THE ONLINE RISK CALCULATOR MAY SIGNIFICANTLY INFLATE RISK
By Kate Seamons, Newser Staff
Posted Nov 18, 2013 7:27 AM CST

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The changes to the way doctors prescribe cholesterol-lowering statins were described last week as “tectonic” and “profound”; today, the New York Times uses the phrase “major embarrassment.” The issue: the online risk calculator introduced by the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology to flag candidates for statins may overestimate risk—hugely. The issue was apparently identified a year ago by two Harvard Medical School professors who had reviewed a draft version; their input never made it to those developing the calculator, and the professors noticed the same errors in the final calculator when it was revealed publicly on Tuesday.

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And, there was the announcement by the Gooferment that dietary cholesterol doesn’t impact blood cholesterol numbers.

Disputing decades of “settled science”.

Then, into my email box drops this gem.

http://nutritionfacts.org/video/optimal-cholesterol-level/

Transcript: Optimal Cholesterol Level

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The optimal cholesterol level, the optimal “bad cholesterol” LDL level, Is 50 to 70. Accumulating data from multiple lines of evidence consistently demonstrate that that’s where a physiologically normal LDL level would be. That appears to be the threshold above which atherosclerosis and heart attacks develop.

That’s what we start out at birth with, that’s what fellow primates have, that’s the level seen in populations free of the heart disease epidemic, but we can also look at all the big randomized controlled cholesterol lowering trials. This is graphing the progression of atherosclerosis versus LDL cholesterol. More cholesterol, more atherosclerosis, but if you draw a line down through the points, you can estimate that the LDL level at which there is zero progression is down around 70. 

*** and ***

Atherosclerosis is endemic in our population in part because the average person’s LDL level is up around 130, approximately twice the normal physiologic level. The reason the federal government doesn’t recommend everyone doesn’t shoot for even just under 100, is that despite the lower risk accompanying more optimal cholesterol levels, the intensity of clinical intervention required to achieve such levels for everyone in the population would financially overload the health care system. Drug usage would rise enormously. But they’re just assuming drugs are the only way to get our LDL that low, but those eating really plant based diets may hit the optimal cholesterol target without even trying. Just naturally nailing under 70.

*** end quote ***

As regular readers know, I’m changing my diet from mostly meat based to mostly plant based.

In part, because of these “scary videos”.

It’s amazing that “We, The Sheeple” have never heard this simple way of avoiding some really nasty health consequences.

I’m sure my maternal Grandmother would have never fed her family “things that would kill them”.

She died of Colon Cancer. If she’d known, maybe she’d have lived to a ripe old age.

So once again, we have the Gooferment mis-informing us either due to stupidity or laziness, or is there a bunch of Crony Capitalists in the woodpile somewhere.

Drugs are expensive and profitable. A vegan diet not so much so. 

I remember one nutritionist on the boob tube pleading that “if your food comes in a box, then you would be better off eating the box!”. 

I laughed at the time, but many a true word is carried in a joke!

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INSPIRATIONAL: “Dif-tor heh smusma”

Friday, February 27, 2015

2015-Feb-27

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/27/arts/television/leonard-nimoy-spock-of-star-trek-dies-at-83.html?_r=1

“Live long and prosper” (from the Vulcan “Dif-tor heh smusma”).

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He inspired my generation.

LLAP, Mister Spock.

Requiescat In Pacem

:-(

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RANT: You can’t clean a Keurig

Friday, February 27, 2015

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/great-k-cup-backlash-every-tech-company-learn/

Keurig: Hero to Zero

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Keurig had the misfortune of being in the news over the past few months for their attempt to add a form of DRM to their coffee makers. In previous versions of the Keurig machine, you put in a small plastic cup that contains coffee grounds, called a K-cup, into the machine. You press a button, wait a moment, and then you have a cup of coffee. It doesn’t get easier (especially for caffeine addicts like me, who don’t generally go for really high-quality coffee).

But with the introduction of the Keurig 2.0, a new step was added: before the machine brews your coffee, it scans the K-cup to make sure that a special code has been printed on it—if it doesn’t see the code, it won’t brew. And who’s the only company who can put that code on the cup? Keurig.

*** end quote ***

And, the article doesn’t mention “biofilms”. You can’t clean a Keurig. Disgusting. 

Mine sits on my kitchen floor, along side my coffee maker — also an uncleanable reservoir — as a I try to figure out what to do with them.

Argh!

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EVLYNN: Yet another bad day

Thursday, February 26, 2015

“Don’t be ashamed to weep; ’tis right to grieve. Tears are only water, and flowers, trees, and fruit cannot grow without water. But there must be sunlight also. A wounded heart will heal in time, and when it does, the memory and love of our lost ones is sealed inside to comfort us.”
― Brian Jacques, Taggerung

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Herding Cats: Texas Independence Faces Challenges From Within

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

In an interesting post, Longcore points out that we need to focus all our attention — laser like — on liberty and property rights. I’d have said “life, liberty, and property” cribbing from the Founding Fathers. But , if you just have to focus on one, to me it’s “liberty”. Hope others among “We, The Sheeple” listen. Especially when the Oligarchy reprised it’s favorite mantra “We have pass these internet regulations for net neutrality, so you mundanes can see what’s in them” yesterday. Argh!

dumpdc's avatarDumpDC

by Russell D. Longcore

Herding Cats Herding Cats

Have you ever thought about herding cats?

Cats are known for their aloof independence. Sure, your cat will curl up in your lap and purr while you pet him, but how often do you see cats sit…or speak…or fetch on demand? Nobody trains guard CATS. There are no Feline Units in your local police department. So the visual image above of cowboys herding cats is meant to be absurd, showing that corralling a bunch of snooty independent cats is a tough job.

“Herding Cats” also accurately describes efforts to get independence-minded patriots to work together. Let me tell you a story that illustrates this phrase well.

Back in the decade of the 2000s, I shifted from being an activist, conservative, Marine Corps-loving, pro-war, pro-gun, rock-ribbed Republican to being a Libertarian. I had read book after book about liberty, and it became quite clear in…

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MONEY: Uncontrolled government debt and unfunded liabilities!

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

http://www.lewrockwell.com/2015/02/no_author/are-you-ready-for-total-war/

Are You Ready For Total Currency War?
By Ron Holland
The Daily Bell
February 19, 2015

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“Are you ready for total war?” “Sind Sie bereit für totalen Krieg?” – Joseph Goebbels

On February 18, 1943, German Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels delivered a rousing speech at the Berlin Sportpalast, asking the German people, “Sind Sie bereit für totalen Krieg?” or “Are you ready for total War?” Germany had planned for Blitzkrieg and a short war and was unprepared for a world war as the combined military forces of the United States, England and the Soviet Union crushed the Reich relentlessly and systematically. Although the people and economy rallied in defense of Germany, total war only prolonged the horrors of war and delayed their inevitable defeat.

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Personally I don’t plan on defending American politicians in Washington from foreign or domestic assault or the central banking cartel and Wall Street investment bankers who ultimately will destroy the world in a sea of debt. But emergency presidential executive orders guarantee we will not be able to protect our retirement funds, savings and investment portfolios from confiscation when the chickens come home to roost on the Washington Empire.

If we have some wealth or property left when the dollar fails, we cannot stop the future “means testing” of our Social Security and Medicare benefits. Much of our domestic real estate holdings may well be stolen by favored groups and individuals when we can’t pay the exorbitant annual property taxes just like much property in the defeated South was taken by northeastern “carpet baggers” after the War Between the States – or lost during the Great Depression, which is a more likely scenario for comparison of what all productive Americans will face in the future.

*** and ***

Americans should take advantage of recent dollar strength to diversify into gold, investments, real estate and safe haven locations outside the US dollar and the United States. Better to be early than too late because eventually the consequences of aggressive military actions, central banking manipulation and uncontrolled government debt and unfunded liabilities will come home to the American people.

*** end quote ***

While I’m a tin foil hat, I do think that this nails two concerns of Joe / Jane Sixpack, every retiree or soon to be retiree, and anyone on a fixed income, poor, or with a family.

DEBT

18T$ that can never be repaid. Unless some Star Trek / Star Wars / Deus Ex Machina arrives to save us.

What’s worse, that level of debt can not be serviced at any historical rate of interest. If we assume 5%, then the debt service is 900M$ a year. Assuming you can keep rolling it over. (It’s called counterparty risk. Who will want the other side of that stinky IOU and at what price?)

LIABILITIES

Gooferment pensions, social security, unsecured bonds are wildly underfunded.

There’s a reason that corporations are dumping defined benefit pension plans and moving to defined contribution plans. No one wants to be on the hook for that “benefit” with the risk of going broke or to jail if it’s not met.

The politicians and bureaucrats that underfunded these liabilities will be long gone when these very ugly big chickens come home to roost.

ACTION

  • Better save more and differently
  • Get “prepared” like the Amish — for hard times. Think the Great Depression on steroids
  • Demand political accountability for spending, deficits, debts, and “entitlements” aka welfare 
  • Diversify and keep a lot in reserve

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POLITICAL: Keystone XL Pipeline Bill

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Obama Vetoes Keystone XL Pipeline Bill

President Barack Obama Tuesday vetoed legislation that would have approved the Keystone XL pipeline, a project that is a top priority for congressional Republicans and a touchstone issue for environmentalists and the nation’s booming energy industry.

The bill would have authorized Canadian company TransCanada Corp. to construct the 1,179-mile pipeline, which has been under review by the Obama administration for more than six years. The bill, which declared the pipeline to have satisfied environmental laws, passed the GOP-controlled Congress earlier this year.

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Not unexpected.

Too bad since not only is it jobs and energy. It’s a safer way to transport the stuff.

Dumb!

Now the battle lines are drawn.

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INSPIRATIONAL: The Art of Intelligent Waiting

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/patience-the-art-of-intelligent-waiting.html

Patience, The Art of Intelligent Waiting
Sara, from Institute of HeartMath
February 15, 2015

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Impatience, it is clear, is not an emotion that befalls only an unfortunate few. It may be true that there is a lot of impatience in some people, but there is a little impatience in all people.

Institute of HeartMath Founder Doc Childre characterizes patience as “the art of intelligent waiting” – waiting with purpose, positive intention and a sincere belief that waiting is an important element in the unfolding of all things.

“Patience is the practice of maintaining a state of inner ease and resilience when you are tempted to be impatient,” Doc says, “especially when the mind wants to force results, rather than remain in flow.

“Impatience is an invitation to frustration, shallow discernment, and faulty choices. With a little heart-focused intention and practice, we can effect a makeover by replacing impatience with patience – the secret sauce in the recipe for flow. When our hearts truly commit to becoming patient, then our minds will cooperate, surrender their resistance and take purposeful steps to manifest it.”

*** end quote ***

What an excellent inspirational meme.

I’ve been told that I am a good “wait-er”.

Probably my Mom’s training — “we” go “shopping” it seemed like all the time — I used to call it “inventorying” cause she rarely bought anything — and I always had a sci fi pocket book to pass the time. Maybe she was just making sure I read a lot? What do nerds do otherwise?

In any event, that was not what this describes.

I have to think about this more since it seems I’m waiting a lot more.

Argh!

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RANT: ‘BIRDMAN’ over ‘SNIPER’

Monday, February 23, 2015

‘Birdman’ Wins Best Picture at Academy Awards

“Birdman” won best picture and best original screenplay at the 87th annual Academy Awards. The movie’s director, Alejandro G. Inarritu, won best director. Julianne Moore and Eddie Redmayne took top acting honors, and J.K. Simmons and Patricia Arquette won the Oscars for best supporting roles.

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You have to be kidding. I saw both in the movies. BIRDMAN was a giant non-sequitur of non-sense.

Guess fat old white guy injineers don’t understand “art”, the problems of an aging actor, or the angst of the creative process.

Waste of money imho.

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POLITICAL: Scrap the tax code

Monday, February 23, 2015

http://thehill.com/policy/finance/232688-rand-paul-scrap-the-tax-code

Rand Paul: Scrap the tax code
By Kevin Cirilli – 02/12/15 04:52 PM EST

*** begin quote ***

“The IRS is too big, too powerful, and we absolutely should scrap the code,” Paul, a prospective 2016 presidential candidate, answered. “Look for my tax plan later this spring.”

Paul was touting his “Audit the Fed” proposal, which has 30 co-sponsors and would allow the comptroller general to audit the Federal Reserve. Fed officials oppose the policy, saying that it’d politicize monetary policy.

*** end quote ***

First thing is to change the incentives from “taxing work” to “taxing consumption”. On the way to not taxing at all.

All Gooferment “services” should be on a take it / pay for it or leave it / don’t pay for it basis.

Education is a classic example of a corrupt boondoggle.

Teachers are represented by “unions” who “bargain” with politicians and bureaucrats. The “unions” contribute money and labor to the politicians. And, everyone, except the taxpayer, gets rich.

First step to disassembling this is to END Gooferment defined benefit plans. Can’t find one in industry any more. Why are they in the “public sector”?

Argh!

We need a “Hercules” to clean the Aegean Stable!

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Posted by reinkefj

INTERESTING: Alecia Faith Pennington “identification abuse”

Sunday, February 22, 2015

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2015/0212/Alecia-Pennington-can-t-prove-she-s-an-American-or-even-exists.-What-would-you-do

USA SOCIETY
Alecia Pennington can’t prove she’s an American – or even exists. What would you do?
To the government, Alecia Pennington doesn’t exist. She has been unable to get a driver’s license, get a job, go to college, get on a plane, get a bank account, or vote. What can she do?
By Samantha Laine FEBRUARY 12, 2015

*** begin quote ***

On Sep. 24, 2014, 18-year-old Alecia Faith Pennington left her family and childhood home with the help of her grandparents. Having been raised in a staunchly Christian, homeschooled family in Texas, she was ready to set off and pursue a new life.

But she quickly realized that would not be possible. While she claims that she was born on Nov. 26, 1995, there is no actual proof of her age or identity, when it comes to the United States government.

Ms. Pennington, who says she’s now 19, has launched a campaign via YouTube and Facebook called “Help Me Prove It.” In the video, she explains her strange circumstance: she was born at home, after which her parents neglected to file for a birth certificate or a social security number; she was homeschooled and therefore has no school records; she has never been to a hospital and is without medical records. Furthermore, she says that her parents have been refusing to help her.

She appears caught in a Kafkaesque bureaucratic web – one that’s been dubbed “identification abuse,” which a small percentage of homeschooled children and adults sometimes experience, often due to the unconventional views held by their parents.

*** end quote ***

It seems that any court of competent jurisdiction could solve this quickly.

*** begin quote ***

For Alecia, Stollar suggests that her best option is to find a lawyer who will be willing to represent her pro bono. Her campaign has at least shed light on a situation that a small but sometimes desperate group of homeschooled children face. And the easiest solution, he notes, would be for Alecia’s parents to cooperate.

*** end quote ***

Shame on the Texas Bar association for not stepping up to the plate?

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probono@texasbar.com

TO: Legal Access Division Pro Bono Department

I’d hope that this prompts your organization to step up to the bar for her.

fjohn

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Posted by reinkefj

FUN: George Carlin “Safe at home”

Saturday, February 21, 2015

http://youtu.be/qmXacL0Uny0

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RIP George. 

You always made me laugh!

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Posted by reinkefj

GUNS: Loaded weapons BEHIND people on the firing line?

Friday, February 20, 2015

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/02/12/american-sniper-chris-kyle-never-had-chance-to-draw-gun-texas-ranger-says/?intcmp=latestnews

REGIONS
‘American Sniper’ Chris Kyle never had chance to draw gun, Texas Ranger says
Published February 12, 2015
FoxNews.com

*** begin quote ***

The body of Chris Kyle, the former sniper killed at a rural Texas gun range in 2013, was located by rangers wearing a loaded 1911-style semiautomatic pistol that was still holstered and with its safety on, a Texas Ranger testified on Thursday.

*** and ***

Tim Moore, an attorney for Routh, said Kyle and Littlefield’s text exchange shows how Routh was spiraling out of control. He told jurors that Routh was suffering from severe mental strain that day and thought he needed to kill the two or they would turn on him.

*** end quote ***

In another earlier report, it was asserted that both men were shot from behind.

I don’t know how the range worked there, but I know how some ranges in NJ and VA operate.

There is a range safety officer, who’s watching what happens. And loaded weapons are NOT allowed BEHIND people on the firing line.

There’s no doubt that is NOT a perfect solution.

But a loaded weapon BEHIND two experienced shooters would have not gone unnoticed.

Just an observation.

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Posted by reinkefj

RANT: I’ll have a farmed fish with a hook in it?

Thursday, February 19, 2015

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/woman-bit-fish-hook-suit-article-1.2111121

Woman bit down on fish and discovered hook was still inside at swanky Central Park South restaurant: suit
Aliona Russo said in Manhattan Supreme Court papers that she ‘felt something unusual’ after taking a bite of the seafood at Villagio’s on Central Park South last August. But a co-owner of the restaurant said she’s lying and trying to extort money from the business. The restaurant plans to file a countersuit.
BY BARBARA ROSS , CORKY SIEMASZKO NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Published: Wednesday, February 11, 2015, 1:21 PM Updated: Wednesday, February 11, 2015, 10:57 PM

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Interesting.

Could a farmed fish have hook in it?

And a 3 inch hook is pretty big not to notice.

Should be a fun jury to be on!

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Posted by reinkefj

JOBSEARCH: The illusion of employment

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

http://www.lewrockwell.com/2015/02/burton-s-blumert/burt-blumerts-life/ 

My Life
By Burton S. Blumert
February 12, 2015

*** begin quote ***

After years of working for Reed’s in the South, there was an opening in the company’s California territory. Moving to a suburb south of San Francisco in 1958 was irresistible. My base was in San Mateo County’s new regional shopping center and nearby was a Coin Shop geared toward collectors. I soon befriended the owner. Within three months I evolved from a coin-collecting customer to becoming his partner. For a while I split my time between both businesses, but I knew I would have to decide upon one or the other. It wasn’t easy deciding between the security of the old-line retail firm or the risk of going on my own. I chose to go out on my own. I never had time to suffer any remorse. Incidentally, the security of Reed’s was an illusion. Two years after I sold my first gold coin, they were out of business.

*** and ***

Burt Blumert (1929-2009) was owner of Camino Coins, president of the Center for Libertarian Studies, chairman of the Mises Institute, publisher of LewRockwell.com, and the author of Bagels, Barry Bonds, & Rotten Politicians.

*** end quote ***

Note the illusion of security by being an “employee” as opposed to “being in your own business”.

It’s a akin to saving your money in bank CD as opposed to investing it in the market (in, of course, a well diversified set of asset classes).

I’ve often pontificated that having 10 ½ day “part time jobs” is much more secure than on better paying full time job. 

And, I’ve warned to income families, where both spouse work for the same firm or are even in the same line of work, about the risk they are taking.

So forewarned is forearmed, and start finding those “part time jobs”.

You never know how things will change.

Especially when your “secure job” goes “bye bye”.

Argh!

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