Reinke Faces Life

http://www.jeffjacoby.com/20903/the-scandal-free-obama-administration-an-urban

The ‘scandal-free’ Obama administration? An urban legend
by Jeff Jacoby
The Boston Globe
March 7, 2018

*** begin quote ***

And he declared that his administration had been scandal-free.

“We didn’t have a scandal that embarrassed us,” Obama said. Sure, there were occasional mistakes and screw-ups, “but there wasn’t anything venal in eight years.”

*** and ***

• Operation Fast and Furious
• Benghazi 
• Veterans Administration 
• The IRS discriminated against politically conservative groups
• The Office of Personnel Management suffered a catastrophic data breach 
• Solyndra
• Letting Hezbollah funnel cocaine into the United States
• Wiretapping AP reporters

*** end quote ***

I’d add a few of my own:

• Eric Holder
• Hillary Clinton’s email servers
• Hillary Clinton’s Foundation pay for play
• Fairview 
• Firing of Shirley Sherrod

It’s really hard to list them all. And, they keep getting revealed in dribs and drabs.

Argh!

# – # – # – # – #

https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/nutria-should-we-eat-invasive-species-swamp-rats-12726054.php

Giant swamp rats are poised to dig into California. Should we eat ’em?
By Filipa Ioannou Updated 5:12 am, Sunday, March 4, 2018

*** begin quote *** 

It’s been about a month since California wildlife officials started sounding the alarm on nutria, invasive South American rodents that look like enormous, 20-pound rats and have the power to devastate wetlands. They’re making a comeback after being eradicated in the 1970s and have been spotted in Stanislaus, Fresno, Tuolumne and Merced counties so far.

*** end quote ***

Turn the hunting community loose on them. 

Have the “Governor’s Prize” for the biggest, the most, and the last one shot in a “season”.

Instead of being against “guns”, put them to use.

Seems obvious to me.

# – # – # – # – #

https://www.wsj.com/articles/big-batteries-are-taking-a-bite-out-of-the-power-market-1518431400?mod=djem10point

Big Batteries Are Taking a Bite Out of the Power Market
Batteries charged by renewable energy are nibbling at power plants that generate extra surges of electricity during peak hours
By Russell Gold
Feb. 12, 2018 5:30 a.m. ET

*** begin quote ***

Overall, it still generally costs 35% more today to provide extra power via a battery compared with a conventional peaker plant, according to energy analysts at SSR LLC. But they estimate that batteries will be less expensive by 2024. Batteries, they add, are better suited to replace peaker plants in warmer areas than in colder climates, where winter peaks can last for longer than four hours.

*** and ***

The American Petroleum Institute, a lobbying group that represents natural-gas producers, applauds batteries but believes they should compete on a level playing field. Storage projects, when paired with renewable energy, currently qualify for a 30% federal investment tax credit, which was left intact in the recent tax overhaul.

“It appears that battery technology is now ready to compete in the market. This means the financial support provided by governments intended to encourage the development and deployment of the technology can be eliminated,” an Institute spokesman said.

*** end quote ***

The Gooferment should not have special tax breaks for their “favorite” Crony Capitalists.

In this case, let solar power stand or fall on its own merits.

Look at the computer marketplace, the “invisible hand” of the truly free market will deliver benefits to everyone without help from the politicians and bureaucrats taking a cut.

Argh!

# – # – # – # – #

https://www.cato.org/blog/trial-penalty

FEBRUARY 9, 2018 9:51AM
The Trial Penalty
By CLARK NEILY

*** begin quote ***

Have you ever heard of the “Trial Penalty”? It is among the most important features of America’s criminal justice system, and yet there is no reference to it in the Constitution, it is not taught in high school civics classes or even law schools, and most lawyers have never heard of it. Nevertheless, the Trial Penalty is the grease that keeps the massive engine of American criminal justice humming along at peak efficiency.

So what is it? Simply put, the Trial Penalty is the array of penalties, paybacks, and repercussions that are inflicted upon criminal defendants who presume to insist upon exercising their Sixth Amendment right to a jury trial—or what Cato Research Fellow Trevor Burrus calls “bespoke justice.”

With more than 10 million arrests last year and the world’s highest incarceration rate, America’s criminal justice system simply cannot afford to provide each and every defendant with an expensive and time-consuming jury trial. Nor do we: These days, about 95 percent of criminal convictions are obtained through plea bargains rather than jury trials. In the federal system, the numbers are even higher—more than 97 percent of convictions come from plea bargains.

Think about that for a moment. The citizen jury is the cornerstone of American criminal justice. It is a historic and hallowed institution. Why would so few people choose to invoke such a precious and fundamental right as the opportunity to challenge the government’s case in court and force the prosecutors to convince a unanimous jury (in most jurisdictions) of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt?

*** end quote ***

Up in NH, I took part in a jury outreach that had two aims:

• get every  defendant to demand a jury trial — when the system was maxed out, the judge was forced to dismiss. The “serious crimes” would push the Marijuana “crimes” down the list and some, if not all, were pushed off and dismissed.
• get every juror to be aware that they could judge the law and the circumstances and vote “not guilty”. Regardless of what the judge said. “Keep quiet and vote to acquit.” Ever heard of Zenger and the reason we have “freedom of the press”? 

Made me feel like I made a contribution to justice.

# – # – # – # – #

https://www.howtogeek.com/trivia/in-the-1930s-there-was-a-craze-to-get-which-of-these-things-tattooed-on-your-body/

*** begin quote ***

In The 1930s, There Was A Craze To Get Which Of These Things Tattooed On Your Body?

• Franklin Roosevelt’s Face
• Social Security Number
• Tube TVs
• Airships

Answer: Social Security Number

*** and ***

Because the program was so new (and favored so strongly by the public), there was a certain excitement surrounding the launch of Social Security. People were instructed to keep their cards safe, but they also needed to keep the number handy at the same time. While some people simply memorized the number, there was a fad of sorts where individuals rushed out to get the number tattooed on their bodies. Some simply had the number itself—as seen here on the arm of Memphis-area engineer Jeon Reese Roofener—while others had the number embedded in a flag, Social Security Administration logo, or other embellishment. Even for those that wished to avoid getting a tattoo, there was a market for Social Security number related products. To this day, you’ll occasionally find signet rings and other jewelry in antique stores with Social Security numbers openly displayed on them.

*** end quote ***

In all the horrors of the Nazi extermination camps, one that stands out was the tattooing of tracking numbers on the poor victims.

Here we have an example of the same thing, except people are doing it voluntarily!

Craziness.

When you realize that current day “identity theft” would not be possible without the “social security number”, you’ll understand how “We, The Sheeple” was fooled.

Hard to believe that it was “(and favored so strongly by the public)”. Guess they didn’t see the Ponzi-like scheme behind the curtain. Like the bull fighter’s sword behind the cape, the politicians and bureaucrats really stuck it to us. Intergenerational theft!

So how do we unwind it?

Demand the politicians and bureaucrats give us back our identites. Maybe the new blockchain technology can do that for us?

Argh!

# – # – # – # – #

https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/NYC-School-Cafeterias-Cited-Violations-Health-Department-Pests-Mice-Roaches-Flies-471957173.html

Roaches, Flies and Mice: Nearly Half of NYC Public School Cafeterias Cited for Critical Violations, Report Finds
Of the 1,150 critical violations found at nearly 700 cafeterias, about half of those inspected by health officials in 2017, most indicated evidence of mice, rats, roaches, flies and other insects in areas where food is prepared and eaten
Published at 2:06 PM EST on Jan 31, 2018 | Updated 6 hours ago

*** begin quote ***

Nearly half of all New York City school cafeterias inspected last year were cited for at least one critical violation for issues that could lead to foodborne illnesses, according to a recently released report.

Of the 1,150 critical violations found at nearly 700 cafeterias, about half of those inspected by health officials in 2017, most indicated evidence of mice, rats, roaches, flies and other insects in areas where food is prepared and eaten, according to the investigation by NYCity News Service, a CUNY University student-powered news service that provides special reports and feeds stories to news organizations.

NYCity News Service based its reporting on data obtained by the Department of Health under the Freedom of Information Act. 

*** end quote ***

It’s a disgusting report. I feel for the children imprisioned there. How would you describe it? There’s no excuse for this but there is an explanation. Politicians and bureaucrats don’t care. Have them eat there and let’s see what happens?

Argh!

# – # – # – # – #

2018-Feb-02

http://www.kob.com/politics-news/new-mexico-legislature-politics-post-high-school-plan-bill/4766980/

New Mexico bill would force students to apply to college
By MARY HUDETZ and MORGAN LEE
January 31, 2018 04:45 PM

*** begin quote ***

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico’s high school juniors would be required to apply to at least one college or show they have committed to other post-high school plans as part of a new high school graduation requirement being pushed by two state lawmakers.
The proposal is scheduled for its first legislative hearing on Thursday. If it eventually becomes law, New Mexico would be the first state to require post-high school plans of students, said Jennifer Zinth, who is the director of high school and STEM research at the Education Commission of the States, a Denver-based group that tracks education policy.

The bill sponsored by Rep. Nate Gentry, a Republican, and Daniel Ivey-Soto, a Democrat, would make it mandatory for public school juniors to apply to at least one two- or four-year college. Exceptions would be made for students who can prove they have committed to military service, a vocational program, or work upon graduation in an apprenticeship or internship. Parents and school guidance counselors would have to approve of the students’ plans.

*** end quote ***

This has to be the dumbest piece of legislation I’ve heard of lately.

As the “college degree” has been generally acknowledged as worthless unless you want to be a doctor, lawyer, engineer, or such. The cost of “college” inflict a huge debt burden on the “student” that is often impossible to repay. The inflation of college cost is linked to the Gooferment, its loan programs, and its subsidization of “state skrules”.

Argh!

# – # – # – # – #

http://keywestlou.com/george-bernard-shaws-caesar-and-cleopatra

A blog post from Petrone, Louis S. “Key West Lou” (MC1957)

*** begin quote ***

You have to admire Iceland. They are always a step ahead.

Following the bank debacle of 2008, they prosecuted and jailed bankers. Those at the top. Something I have been recommending for years we do in the U.S.

They elect women big time. Almost 50 percent of their Parliament is female. They elected a woman Prime Minister in November.

Iceland recently passed a law that allows companies who pay women less than men to be punished. Fined. No jail. A step forward, however.

Equal pay laws have no teeth. They tell the companies females must be paid equal to men. Enforcement lacking. Iceland recognized the problem and moved the step ahead.

It is generally acknowledged the law would not have come into being were it not for the large number of women in Parliament. 

*** end quote ***

Equal pay laws are a joke.

The invisible hand of the free market will quickly, efficiently, and effectively punish companies that underpay women. It’s only logical. If a business systematically underpays anyone, they will leave for someone who will pay them what they are worth.

That brain drain will hurt in numerous ways  — cost of replacement, poor morale, loss of competitive advantage, bad image, impaired reputation.

The Gooferment probably is the worst offender in this regard. Politicians and bureaucrats routinely are exposed for pay disparities, but they always seem to spin their way out of it. Women don’t need “protection” and especially not from the Gooferment! Those “gals” are pretty tough imho.

Now if we could just end Gooferment Skrules, then both the girls and boys would not be brainwashed to think like serfs. Argh!

# – # – # – # – #