GOLDBUG: What is a dollar?

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

http://www.lewrockwell.com/murphy/murphy152.html

Defend the Gold Standard
by Bob Murphy

*** begin quote ***

I don’t trust central bankers to stick to a gold standard; that’s why I think the government should get out of the money industry altogether. Suppose we were starting in an initial state of pure laissez-faire in money and banking, and someone said, “Hey I know! Let’s give this Princeton professor – what was your name, sir, was it Ben? – a printing press, but be very stern that he can’t overdo it and allow the gold price to rise more than 1 percent from the day he starts. Does that sound like a good idea?” In response, I would obviously say, “No, that seems rather risky. I think we should stick to the current system, where the market determines how much new money is brought into the economy through gold production.”

*** end quote ***

We fall prey to these bozo bureaucrats when we let them mess with the money supply.

If we tie the value of a dollar to gold, then the Fed can’t just manufacture dollars out of thin air. And, congress critters can’t spend what they don’t take it.

It restores honesty to finances. It disciplines them into husbandry. It forces them to live with in OUR means.

After all in fiat currency, what is a dollar?

A toilet paper alternative?

Argh!

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INTERSTING: RU Women give an inspiring performance

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

http://scarletknights.com/basketball-women/news/release.asp?prID=7609

Rutgers Heads to Fifth Straight Sweet Sixteen, Routs Auburn 80-52
Scarlet Knights Will Take On Sixth-Seed Purdue on Sunday
Posted on 3/23/2009 10:09:30 PM

*** begin quote ***

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers used a balanced scoring attack and a stifling defense en route to an 80-52 victory over Auburn in the second round of the 2009 NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship at the Louis Brown Athletic Center on Monday evening.

*** end quote ***

Frau and I was there.

I like to think that I’m an “honest observer”.

For the first time in a long time, I think the taxpayers of New Jersey got what they were paying for.

Coach Stringer, who I’m have been critical of in the past, and probably will be in the future, out coached Aubrun’s Nell Fortner. (Who has had some yucky things to say about RU in the past. Crow is a great dish!)

Coach Stringer had a game plan that nullified Auburn’s two scoring threats. She had the team focused and energized. She gave the refs hell. (They WERE terrible. Equally terrible.) She used her time outs wisely. And, slowed the game pace at the seven minute to go mark to shorten the game.

The RU seniors obviously wanted to leave the RAC on an upnote.

I have to say it was one of the best games I have ever seen the RU women play.

Now, what have you done for us lately. :-) That’s life. Good job, but that’s now in the past. If they can play like that every night, they could be the champs. Watch out UConn! The RU women were 10 feet tall last night!

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RANT: Obama invited to speak at Notre Dame

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Dear CatholicVote.org Member,

Like many of you, we received the news last Friday that President Barack Obama will deliver the commencement address at the University of Notre Dame this May.

In addition to delivering the address, the President will receive an honorary doctor of laws degree. In short, one of our nation’s premier Catholic institutions will honor the President, and hold out him as an example to its students as someone worthy of emulation!

Given President Obama’s utterly shameful record on life, how could a Catholic university honor him?

The University could have politely and quietly told the White House that their standing invitation to the President of the United States was not available this year. Better yet, they could have said that while they would welcome his contributions to the public debate over how to solve our economic crisis, his regrettable policies in favor of a culture of death make it impossible for them to welcome him.

Notre Dame has regrettably hosted pro-abortion speakers in the past, but President Obama is a champion of the abortion cause.

Sadly, it is now indisputable that our President has become the world’s leading promoter of abortion, embryo-killing cloning and research, taxpayer-funded abortion, and a vigorous opponent of conscience protections for medical professionals. His campaign promises to find ‘common ground’ have sadly been ignored, or perhaps were simply lies. And this Administration has only just begun.

Is there anything a president could do that would disqualify him or her from delivering such a prestigious address?

If there is such a threshold, Barack Obama has not disqualified himself with Notre Dame officials.

And so we must act.

We have spoken with professors, students, and leaders at Notre Dame over the past 48 hours and have concluded that a massive protest will be practically difficult, and even counterproductive. The University has a right as a private school to prevent all protestors from entering campus, and could legally arrest those who violate this rule. Secondly, a protest could create exactly the wrong impression.

Therefore, we are recommending four courses of action.

1) CatholicVote.org has partnered with the Cardinal Newman Society, a dynamic organization dedicated to the renewal of Catholic higher education in establishingwww.NotreDameScandal.com. Together our aim is to collect thousands of signatures and present them to University officials.  Sign the petition now.

2) Contact Notre Dame and charitably express your outrage. CatholicVote.org is large enough to have a major impact, and we urge you to contact Notre Dame President Father Jenkins at (574) 631-5000.

3) Join your fellow CatholicVote.org members in a prayer of reparation on May 17 from 2-4 PM. We encourage you to organize local groups to pray for mercy for the decision by Notre Dame, but also for our nation for continuing to permit the tragedy of abortion.

***If you live in the Midwest, or near Notre Dame University, we invite you to personally join us in prayer at the Grotto on the campus of Notre Dame from 2-4 PM on May 17, where we will be joined by several Notre Dame professors, alumni, and current students. The gathering will be a peaceful and prayerful.

4) Please forward this message to your family and friends. Let them know about Notre Dame’s decision to honor the most pro-abortion President in American history. We must not remain silent over this scandal!

Sincerely,

Brian Burch, President
CatholicVote.org

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Have the people running Notre Dame lost their mind?

A supporter of infanticide invited to speak at a supposedly Catholic institution of higher learning!

I guess it too will join the ranks of “catholic in name only”.

Shame on them.

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RANT: Obama Seeks Expanded Power to Seize Firms

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/23/AR2009032302830_pf.html

U.S. Seeks Expanded Power to Seize Firms
Goal Is to Limit Risk to Broader Economy
By Binyamin Appelbaum and David Cho
Washington Post Staff Writers
Tuesday, March 24, 2009; A01

*** begin quote ***

The Obama administration is considering asking Congress to give the Treasury secretary unprecedented powers to initiate the seizure of non-bank financial companies, such as large insurers, investment firms and hedge funds, whose collapse would damage the broader economy, according to an administration document.

The government at present has the authority to seize only banks.

Giving the Treasury secretary authority over a broader range of companies would mark a significant shift from the existing model of financial regulation, which relies on independent agencies that are shielded from the political process. The Treasury secretary, a member of the president’s Cabinet, would exercise the new powers in consultation with the White House, the Federal Reserve and other regulators, according to the document.

*** end quote ***

Anyone doubt that O is a national socialist?

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GOVEROTRAGEOUS: Charge Wounded Heroes for Treatment

Monday, March 23, 2009

http://news.yahoo.com/s/usnw/20090316/pl_usnw/the_american_legion_strongly_opposed_to_president_s_plan_to_charge_wounded_heroes_for_treatment

The American Legion Strongly Opposed to President’s Plan to Charge Wounded Heroes for Treatment
Mon Mar 16, 5:49 pm ET
Contact: Craig Roberts of The American Legion, +1-202-263-2982 Office, +1-202-406-0887 Cell

*** begin quote ***

WASHINGTON, March 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The leader of the nation’s largest veterans organization says he is “deeply disappointed and concerned” after a meeting with President Obama today to discuss a proposal to force private insurance companies to pay for the treatment of military veterans who have suffered service-connected disabilities and injuries. The Obama administration recently revealed a plan to require private insurance carriers to reimburse the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in such cases.

“It became apparent during our discussion today that the President intends to move forward with this unreasonable plan,” said Commander David K. Rehbein of The American Legion. “He says he is looking to generate $540-million by this method, but refused to hear arguments about the moral and government-avowed obligations that would be compromised by it.”

*** end quote ***

Here come the “liberal” form of government and how it honors “social contracts”. You go fight for the gooferment and, when you come back hurt, that gooferment will bill your insurance company. That won’t make the insurance companies happy. (I’d expect litigation over that bill!)

Just like “federalizing” the National Guard. It’s a racket.

Argh!

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SERVICE: Carbonite Loses Customers’ Data

Sunday, March 22, 2009

http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/03/23/online-backup-company-carbonite-loses-customers-data-blames-and-sues-suppliers/

Online Backup Company Carbonite Loses Customers’ Data, Blames And Sues Suppliers
by Robin Wauters on March 23, 2009

The danger of storing your data in the cloud, part n. VC-backed online backup and storage provider Carbonite has lost data of 7,500+ customers who relied on the company to keep their files safe, The Boston Globe unveiled over the weekend.

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Cloud computing for backups? Not for those 7,500+ people!

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INTERESTING: NCAA graduation rates. Embarrassing!

Sunday, March 22, 2009

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/womens-basketball/news?slug=ap-ncaa-graduation&prov=ap&type=lgns

14 women’s tourney teams have perfect grad rates

By The Associated Press 4 hours, 38 minutes ago

*** begin quote ***

Fourteen women’s basketball teams in the NCAA tournament have perfect graduation rates.

*** end quote ***

NCAA could clean this up in a heartbeat. And, level the playing field. Tie graduation to the scholarships you can give out. One of your team doesn’t graduate or isn’t on schedule, that’s one less scholarship you can give out. Sounds fair to me! Guess coaches will have to focus on selecting players who can make the grade and coaching them in more than basketball. I know that MC focuses on graduation. There has to be some small tolerance for personal decisions, emergencies, and such. Maybe they get 1 free pass or such an allowance. But clearly if your player can’t graduate, can’t read, and has been totally exploited, then they need some protection.

Embarrassing! Or worse.

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LIBERTY: Rutgers violates all women’s Fourth Amendment rights

Sunday, March 22, 2009

After 9/11, Rutgers University instituted “security”. Theater at its best!

DSCN0145.JPG

Some how the Cure Insurance company advertising SUV is allowed to park right outside. And, I see the handicap bus blocked from dropping off at the front door. And, all those folks have to hike in.

DSCN0147.JPG

Patrons have their bags searched. All patrons. Mostly women. Men gat a pass. I’ve put Frau’s bag under my coat when she’s forgotten to leave it home or in the car.

Security theater!

Let anyone forget. RU is NOT a private business. It’s a State- funded “entity”. As such, it’s gooferment.

Note, when we went to Seton Hall, there was no such “bag check”.

How do we get our rights back, once they are taken away by gooferment?

I don’t know. Do you?

And, do get me started about the ongoing policy of selling bottles of soda but removing the cap. Students once threw them on the court.. After a few spills, smart repeat visitors just bring caps from home. Soda manufacturer put the prizes under the cap. I’ve seen the the vendors checking them. I guess they get to keep the caps that win. So they will be real diligent about “seizing ” the caps. Argh!

Students once staged a sit in on the court. We still have the absurd barriers up to prevent that from reoccurring. Hard on the handicapped and elderly who sit down court–side. Of course, there’s now VIP seating on the other side of that barrier.

It’s absurd!

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RANT: Bailouts and Bull**** Pt. 1 of 6

Sunday, March 22, 2009

20/20 – Bailouts and Bull**** Pt. 1 of 6

John S points out the stupidity of the congress critters and the “political class”!


SERVICE: My Yahoo Group wouldn’t post a message last night

Sunday, March 22, 2009

From about 11PM until after 2AM.

Unscheduled maintenance? Component Downtime?

No explanation.

Tell me again about “cloud computing”?

Argh!

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