Reinke Faces Life

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/04/business/04network.html?ex=1343880000&en=c914b75c2b6c2215&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

What’s Good for a Business Can Be Hard on Friends
Doug McSchooler for The New York Times
By ANGEL JENNINGS
Published: August 4, 2007

***Begin Quote***

But what was set up as a purely business strategy is having an unintentional social effect. It is dividing the people who share informal bonds and bringing together those who have formal networks of cellphone “friends.”

***End Quote***

Not that anyone cares, but I’m on Verizon. :-)

# # # # #

Inspired by the six word memoir, is it possible to spawn a literary form based on that concept?

http://www.liberty-watch.com/volume03/issue05/coverstory.php

RON PAUL REVOLUTION
BY JARRET KEENE

***Begin Quote***

The new face of the freedom movement is Texas Congressman Ron Paul. The credit mostly goes to the Internet for having brought this principled politician into the light. And Paul is perhaps the only individual for whom “principled politician” isn’t an oxymoron. Among nontraditional campaign contributors online, Paul is the Republican presidential frontrunner, having outpaced Sen. John McCain in fundraising. While the mainstream media continues to blackout Paul, he’s setting the Internet ablaze with a firm position against the Iraq War, against taxes and against big government. Ultimately, more and more people every day are saying yes to Dr. No. (Paul earned the nickname because he is a physician and for voting against any and all tax increases, and against any legislation that expands the federal government’s power as a House Representative.)

***End Quote***

I think that’s re-love-ution!

:-)

# # # # #

text

http://www.mises.org/story/2644

How the Shrimp Tariff Backfired
By Aleksandra Dunaeva and Don Mathews
Posted on 8/1/2007

***Begin Quote***

The great Frederic Bastiat (1801-–1850) taught that wealth can be obtained in two ways: it can be produced or it can be plundered. Production is undertaken by entrepreneurs. Plunder is often undertaken with the express assistance of government, taking the form of tariffs, taxes, subsidies, and other interventionist measures justified as policy in the public interest.

But entrepreneurs are not easily thwarted by government intervention. Sometimes entrepreneurs respond so creatively that they render the interventionist measure almost meaningless. A classic example of an entrepreneurial response to state-sponsored plunder is the case of the US anti-dumping tariff on imported shrimp.

***End Quote***

Bottom line: The American consumer got screwed and the politicians, lobbyists, and industry moguls got rich.

And, you think that the gooferment protect you?

# # # # #

text

HILLARY GOOFED IN DEM DEBATE
By Dick Morris and Eileen McGann
July 30, 2007

***Begin Quote***

The polling is in and Hillary made a big mistake in her sharp disagreement with Obama over whether the president should meet with leaders of rogue nations. According to the Rasmussen Poll, Democrats agree with Obama over Hillary by 55%-22%. Without a poll to pretest her comments, Hillary instinctively took the “insider” position that the president should only meet with such leaders after extensive probing by subordinates to assure that the meetings would be productive. But she was wrong. Democrats want the president to meet with leaders of such nations without pre conditions.

***End Quote***

Interesting. I’d think that H would just keep emphasizing that O hadn’t done anything. But, then maybe that’s a two edged sword. Neither has she.

# # # # #

FROM A RECENT EMAIL

>I did just read an article on that asked- Can Ron Paul Really get the Republican Nomination? Interesting article and an interesting guy.

I say “yes”. For those not educated in gooferment skool, the Republican Party up to Bush41 was the party of “settling wars started by the D’s”. The Taft (after Ohio-ian Robert Taft) Wing of the Republic Party was the fiscally-sound morally-pure non-interventionist part of the Party. As opposed to the Rockefeller Wing (Nelson Rockefeller), that was the fiscal-looser socially-liberal interventionist foreign policy side. When Goldwater was badly beaten by LBJ, on the war issue, where that “nuclear commercial” misrepresenting where he stood on the war, (despite the fact that the D’s expanded the Vietnam disaster), the Taft wing was pretty badly beaten up. Ron Paul is from that Taft tradition.

Can he win?

The nomination, quite possibly. He energizes the Taft wing. He’s alone as being solidly against the war, unlike all the R’s and D’s.

He wins the nomination if the people really support him. The power brokers in the Republican party are, at their heart, greedy men. Is it better to be on the winning side of a potentially small government guy who will need you to get anything done. OR, on the losing side, waiting for your turn at the trough in 4, 8, or 12 years? I think if he looks like a winner, they’ll take the Ron Paul side that bet.

The Presidency is a better possibility. Assuming he gets the Republican nomination.

The war may split the D’s vote.

The fiscal discipline of Ross Perot brought out 30% of the vote (20M votes) which represented a substantial part of those who never vote. About 10% R’s, 10% D’s, and 10% of the never voting.

If you you look at the eligible to vote as the whole population (i.e., 100%), about half don’t vote. The D’s get about 50% of the 50% that do vote so they have 25%. The R’s get about 40% of the 50% that do vote so they have 20%. If the D’s split on the war, they could give RP 12.5% and say Hillary 12.5%. If the R’s split, it will be into into the Tafts and the Rockafellers. The Taft R’s should give Ron Paul their whole 10%. The Rockefeller R’s should split 5% to RP and 5% for Hillary. The unwashed 50% are awakened to come out and vote in the same proportion as Perot that give RP say 16%. That gives him 12.5+10+5+16 = 43.5% versus Hillary 17.5% on the high side. If the D’s don’t split it’s RP 10+5+16=31% to Hillary 25%. That doesn’t take into account that Hillary has the highest negatives ever seen (i.e., will people come out just to vote against her?).

> I’m still not sure why he doesn’t just run as an independent and forgo the Republican Party altogether.

As a Republican candidate, unlike when he ran as a libertarian, there’s no “wasted vote” argument. The “wasted vote” argument is a Democratic Party tactic. In a three way race, Ron Paul elects Hillary. Just as Perot elected Clinton. Perot was a democrat before he ran as an independent. The fix was in.

You can see the same scenario setting up now with Bloomberg. He’s a RINO like Perot. He is in title a Republican mayor of a very liberal NYC. He would have ran as a democrat but was block by the Democratic Party Bosses. Since he was the only chance that the Republic Party had at the mayorship, they rolled over an gave it to him. Now, with the Presidential election coming, the Democratic Party can use this “useful idiot” (who is a very smart fellow; little nuts; but a determined veteran of Wall Street. Who I met on two occasions.) to “Perot” the Presidential election.

In a McCRomneyGulliani – Hillary race, Hillary’s high negative might elect a “hold your nose” Republican. Throw a RINO Bloomberg in like a Perot and she wins in a heartbeat! It’s not even close.

>

But, if the Republicans nominate Ron Paul, that RINO Bloomberg strategy does nothing for the Democrats. As a matter of fact, Ron Paul is “deal breaker”. Take all the common wisdom and toss it out the window. He’s a straight shooter with a bullet proof voting record. And, if he energizes just three components to vote for him — the disaffected non-voters, the anti war Democrats, and the fiscally conservative Republicans — then hello, it’s a landslide that will eclipse the all past ones. It could easily be a popular sweep that would unify the country. In 2000 was Bush 271 electors with 50M votes versus Gore 266 electors with 51M votes. I’d predict Ron Paul runs the table with 450 electors leaving Hillary CA=54 + NY=33 for 87 electors. The popular vote would be even worse imho, when the silent majority comes out. Ron Paul 75M, Hillary 25M.

It’s possible. It’s about a candidate who breaks all the molds, rules of thumbs, and past precedents. If he can energizes the anti-war D’s, the fiscal conservative R’s, and get the disaffected to come vote, then he’s the President.

Now watch for the dirty tricks, because neither side — D’s or R’s — wants this racket to end. It will end. The only question is if it can be a “soft landing” with a Ron Paul Presidency, or a “harder landing” when all these “problem” chickens come home to roost.

# # # # #

http://www.knbc.com/entertainment/13779880/detail.html

Broadcaster Tom Snyder Dies At 71
His Smoke-Filled Interviews Were Late-Night Staple
POSTED: 6:14 am PDT July 30, 2007
UPDATED: 7:06 am PDT July 30, 2007

***Begin Quote***

SAN FRANCISCO — Talk show host Tom Snyder, whose smoke-filled interviews were a staple of late night television, has died after a struggle with leukemia. He was 71.

***End Quote***

That’s sad. I always like him. He was from what I call the “Johnny Carson – Pat Sajack” school of broadcasting. Just came across as a nice. never took himself too seriously and remembered his roots. I have no way of knowing if perception matched reality. But I’ll add his name to my “no I lay me down to sleep” list.

# # # # #

http://opinionjournal.com/la/?id=110010381

Robert A. Heinlein’s Legacy
As they say on the moon, “There ain’t no such thing as a free lunch!”
BY TAYLOR DINERMAN
Thursday, July 26, 2007 12:01 a.m. EDT

***Begin Quote***

In 1958, in response to what he saw as a liberal effort to weaken America’s military, he set aside the “Sex and God” book on which he had been working and wrote “Starship Troopers.” This was probably his most controversial book. In it he imagines a future society in which the right to vote must be earned by volunteering for service, including service in the military. In response to claims that the book glorifies the military, he wrote: “It does indeed. Specifically, the P.B.I., the Poor Bloody Infantry, the mudfoot who puts his frail body between his loved home and the war’s desolation–but is rarely appreciated.”

***End Quote***

I read that in high school, and I still think that the “right to vote” should be earned. The book makes the point that only vets understand. Everybody else is “debating society” (quoting from memory). I know one thing. If only vets were voting, then there would be far fewer wars! I’m a legatee of Heinlein. And, I grok liberty!

P.S.: The reviewer forgot the ants quote.

A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.

None of which can be done by any graduates of gooferment schools these days.

# # # # #

FROM AN EMAIL TO THE MEETUP GROUP

*** begin quote ***

Hi Fred, and all the others here at Edison aka Ron_Paul_Edison_MeetUp,

Of course as a little L libertarian, I’m wildly interested in supporting Ron Paul. (I’ve sent him two modest contributions.) However, given that NJ is a solidly “Democratic” state, what can we reasonable expect to accomplish?

The NJ primary is late in the season; so the issue of nomination should be decided by the time we get to vote. I’d suggest that probably the “best” that we achieve is to split the anti-war dems from their machine. We can also probably drive a wedge between the grass roots republicans and their machine. In terms of the electoral map, I don’t see that there’s much that can be done. NJ votes Democratic and there’s not a lot that can be done about that. Even if we split the people on the war issue, AND we could surprise with the vote (That’s a big if!), so what! (If NJ was to go for Ron Paul, then he’s already won by the time it gets to us.) So how can we help get this past where the NJ vote even matters. (If Ron Paul needs NJ to get nominated or elected, he’s probably “duck soup”.)

I’m not a defeatist, “woe is me” type fellow. Just practical.

So what I would propose is that the single most effective thing we can do is fund raise for Ron Paul.

Follow that up by “out reach out of state” to have NJers who are Ron Paul supporters reach out to friends, family, and others OUTSIDE of New Jersey to support Ron Paul. Finally, we can blanket the NY/NJ media, which is part of the media duopoly between LA & NYC, with Ron Paul stuff: email to outlets, letter to the editor, blog comments, other web 2.0 social networking.

That would be my suggestion for NJ Ron Paul 2008 priority efforts:

• Money
• Out state personal exhortations (i.e., Iowa)
• NJ/NY media blitz
• Building grass roots buzz

If we can do that, it might be MORE important than any failed effort to “win” NJ for Ron Paul. The buzz that we create might be a “bigger win”.

IMHO,
a frustrated NJ libertarian,
fjohn

Ferdinand J. Reinke
Kendall Park, NJ 08824

——————————————————————————–
From: ron paul edison nj @ meetup.com] On Behalf Of fred stein
Sent: Tuesday, July 24, 2007 6:54 PM
Subject: Re: [ronpaul edison] Lets get the Ball Rolling

Ron Paul is going to shock America when he wins in New Hampshire.

Fred Stein

# # # # #

http://www.lewrockwell.com/lora/m.lora35.html

Against Cross-Subsidization, Against Socialism
by Manuel Lora

***Begin Quote***

The state makes us pay for things that we either do not want, or do not want as much of as we are made to finance.

***End Quote***

Maybe this is how we reduce the size of gooferment. But we can’t refuse to pay for services we don’t want, can’t use, or are too expensive for us.

Sigh!

# # # # #

The Old Mercantilism and the New
by Gary North
http://www.lewrockwell.com/north/north551.html

***Begin Quote***

There are hints that there is a new form of mercantilism coming. China, meaning the People’s Bank of China, purchased 9.9% of the Blackstone hedge fund in May. It paid $3 billion. The PBOC has set up a rumored $300 billion fund for purchasing foreign equities and other unnamed assets. This is a shift from debt to equity, from foreign governments’ promises to pay to actual ownership of foreign companies and assets.

***End Quote***

Does the USA’s empire end “soon”?

We converted from the Revolutionary War America in 1860 with the War of Northern Aggression. We converted from a peaceful country with a bias for isolationism with WW1 that our political class steered us into. We allowed that political class to shoot us in the foot with the Smoot Hawley tariff and mislead us by calling The Great Depression. We were robbed of our sound money by FDR with his socialist agenda. When even that didn’t work, he shoved us into WW2. With that we became an empire. Fast forward six decades later, the “rewards” of these policies, like the proverbial chickens, are coming home to roost.

Is it China that, to use a poker term, “felts us”?

Are they in such a world of hurt that we’re going to be another unfortunate casualty? Of the monetary war to come.

One can envision some of the disastrous consequences of our past excesses.

• The social security insurance timebomb explodes and the youth can’t afford to pay the claims of the old folks.
• The health care bills zoom even further out of sight as the lifespan increases.
• The Arabs start selling oil in the golden dinar as opposed to fiat currencies.
• The Chinese use their reserves to own the resources everyone needs.

The dollar plummets on a fast track to the bottom. Do we, the American people, just abrogate our agreements and return to Constitutional dollars. It would be an “interesting strategy”. I’m not sure how it really unwinds. Does some future President just declare a bank holiday and “go fishing” after making the announcement that the Federal Reserve bank Note is no longer legal tender in the USA. That’s a good strategy. Let the marketplace figure it out. Maybe the Federal Reserve can figure out how it survives without it’s monopoly on money.

So what does the local savings bank do? Run this play out. Depositors are insured by the FDIC to 100k. If the FRBN is no longer money, then the bank’s dollars are in effect worthless. It probably has stocks and bonds. So the FDIC will have to make good on deposits. But clearly everyone is taking a big haircut.

Think about the ante bellum South where you’re rich with a pocket full of Confederate dollars. Or post WW2 Germany with paper marks. Or post WW1 Germany with paper marks. Or modern day Zaire with 1000% annual inflation.

It’s really hard to envision.

How does one prepare for a fiscal tsunami?

# # # # #

http://www.charmaineyoest.com/2007/07/should_women_fight.php

Women in Combat Debate: Should Women Fight?
July 25, 2007 | By Jack Yoest
My good friend Bob Miller has a compelling article on women in combat that deserves a wide audience.

***Begin Quote***

Man’s unloving use of women in war signals an underlying enormity, a far richer and permeating disintegration of Man as male and female, along with the cultural institutions he inhabits.

***End Quote***

A paradigm challenge that will really twist your shorts or panties!

In Israel, where there is no “front line”, women have no choice when your survival is on the line.

In the USA, where we have the pond to create a protected rear area.

The article challenges our thinking about the proper role of women and the family in a civilized society.

Yesterday, I blogged about how in Iran, they have “fashion police”. I remember seeing Nazi propaganda from pre-WW2 Germany where women had the role model of the Mother of the Reich.

There has to be some way to align the liberty of humanity and a recognition of the essential roles of men and women. The Judeo Christian religious emphasis on the family has shown us the basic building block of human society.

Our challenge is to figure it all out. Just because something CAN be done, does not mean that it is a good idea.

We know that gooferment, and it’s use of force, has bad results and unintended consequences. Having it dictate, or decide, the memes of society, or worse legislate something, is a really really terrible idea.

# # # # #

http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=entertainment&id=5505426

Lindsay Lohan Arrested for DUI, Again
Bail Set at $25,000
KABC ENTERTAINMENT

***Begin Quote***

SANTA MONICA, July 24, 2007 (KABC-TV) – According to the Santa Monica Police Department, Lindsay Lohan was arrested early Tuesday morning for DUI, driving on a suspended license and possession of narcotics.

***End Quote***

In a Libertarian America, this would be between her and her insurance company. If they wanted to indemnify anyone she injures, that would be up to them. I bet that they would be able to “communicate” with her better than the “law” does.

But even in today’s America, possession of narcotics isn’t a crime. You own your body. (And, if you don’t who does?) And, what you put into it is your business. Not mine.

OTOH — DUI, as evidenced by a accident, is threatening harm on others. As such, even to this old little L Libertarian, there has to be restitution and some punitive action to dissuade her from such an initiation of force in the future.

The celebrity community and the media that adores it need to exercise a little “union discipline”. Perhaps an embargo on any stories about a celebrity would be a good place to start. Say a 90 day embargo as agreed by all the media for a first offense. 180 for second; 360 for third. That could be a career killer. These folks need the PR for their Q rating and the big bucks.

OK, I’ll start here. I sentence LL to a 90 day embargo here at my blog. LL will not be mentioned for ninety days. That’ll show her that the media is a force to be reckoned with. ;-)

# # # # #

http://www.lvrj.com/opinion/8648611.html

Jul. 22, 2007
VIN SUPRYNOWICZ: Satanic manipulators of demonic brilliance?
Las Vegas Review-Journal

***Begin Quote***

All mighty empires eventually fall into the hands of idiots. And that’s precisely when the beneficiaries of empire may finally realize how short-sighted they were to sweep aside all those corny old “checks and balances.”

***End Quote***

Local control of small states seems like the best way to prevent empire builders in the first place.

# # # # #

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article2120922.ece

From The Times
July 23, 2007
Looting, panic buying – and a water shortage
undefined
Valerie Elliott

***Begin Quote***

Food and drinking water shortages, panic buying and the threat of looting have followed the worst flooding to hit England in 60 years.

***End Quote***

with the comment:

*** begin quote ***

Instead of spending money on non-essentials, such as cable, video games, big TVs, etc., people should always have stockpiled 2 weeks worth of canned food, DRY milk, 10 gallons of drinking water per person, diapers, etc. for babies, canned formula, batteries, crank radio, candles and matches, large and small plastic bags, smaller garbage cans to use as temporary toilets, and here in the USA be armed to fend off those who would take it from a family. In England, of course, the GOOD people have been disarmed, only the thugs have guns. Here in our USA home, we have enough emergency rations for 4 to 6 weeks, and drinking and flushing water and everything we need. Catastrophes, either natural or man-made can and do happen, and no one should depend on the authorities, but only themselves! The civilized world is becoming a a bunch of wimps who have lost all survival skills.

anne bright, Lyme, USA Connecticut

*** end quote ***

And, evidently, their version of FEMA isn’t doing very well either.

No, the best defense is self-defense.

And, depending upon the gooferment is a good way to get yourself killed.

# # # # #

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article2120922.ece

From The Times
July 23, 2007
Looting, panic buying – and a water shortage
undefined
Valerie Elliott

***Begin Quote***

Food and drinking water shortages, panic buying and the threat of looting have followed the worst flooding to hit England in 60 years.

***End Quote***

with the comment:

*** begin quote ***

Instead of spending money on non-essentials, such as cable, video games, big TVs, etc., people should always have stockpiled 2 weeks worth of canned food, DRY milk, 10 gallons of drinking water per person, diapers, etc. for babies, canned formula, batteries, crank radio, candles and matches, large and small plastic bags, smaller garbage cans to use as temporary toilets, and here in the USA be armed to fend off those who would take it from a family. In England, of course, the GOOD people have been disarmed, only the thugs have guns. Here in our USA home, we have enough emergency rations for 4 to 6 weeks, and drinking and flushing water and everything we need. Catastrophes, either natural or man-made can and do happen, and no one should depend on the authorities, but only themselves! The civilized world is becoming a a bunch of wimps who have lost all survival skills.

anne bright, Lyme, USA Connecticut

*** end quote ***

And, evidently, their version of FEMA isn’t doing very well either.

No, the best defense is self-defense.

And, depending upon the gooferment is a good way to get yourself killed.

# # # # #

http://www.lewrockwell.com/reese/reese379.html

The Republican War
by Charley Reese

***Begin Quote***

The Iraqis are killing us on the cheap with secondhand AK-47s, rifle grenades and homemade bombs created out of old artillery shells. We are using the most expensive weapons in the world, wielded by the most expensive army in the world, to kill them by the small handful. I don’t know what the insurgency has cost, but the Republican War has cost us half a trillion dollars, and all we have to show for it are 3,600 graves, several thousand wounded, a civil war and a corrupt, ineffective civilian government. The Iraqi supply line stretches around the corner; ours stretches 7,000 miles. The Iraqis know what their mission is; our soldiers don’t have the foggiest notion of why they are still there.

***End Quote***

Leave it to an old tank driver to put it bluntly.

I can’t think of a better way to say it.

Get the troops home. Now!

# # # # #

***Begin Quote***

RISKS-LIST: Risks-Forum Digest Thursday 19 July 2007 Volume 24 : Issue 74

ACM FORUM ON RISKS TO THE PUBLIC IN COMPUTERS AND RELATED SYSTEMS (comp.risks)
Peter G. Neumann, moderator, chmn ACM Committee on Computers and Public Policy

***** See last item for further information, disclaimers, caveats, etc. *****
This issue is archived at <http://www.risks.org> as
<http://catless.ncl.ac.uk/Risks/24.74.html>
The current issue can be found at
<http://www.csl.sri.com/users/risko/risks.txt>

{Extraneous Deleted}

Date: Tue, 17 Jul 2007 14:32:42 -0400
From: Fred Reinke <reinkefj@reinke.cc>
Subject: “Microsoft Copy Protection Cracked Again” and who’s surprised?

{Begin Quoting an AP story}

Jessica Mintz, AP, 17 Jul 2007
Microsoft Copy Protection Cracked Again
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=2007-07-17_D8QEFI3O1
<http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=2007-07-17_D8QEFI3O1&show_article=1&cat=breaking> &show_article=1&cat=breaking

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 Quoting an AP story}

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!

Ferdinand J. Reinke, Kendall Park, NJ 08824 http://www.reinke.cc/
blog http://www.reinkefaceslife.com/ http://www.reinkefaceslife.com/

——————————

{Extraneous Deleted}

***End Quote***

Twice in one year! Maybe I’m getting older and wiser. :-) Either that or PGN is getting lax?

# # # # #

What a joy, relatives, in-laws actually have come to visit. They’re big gooferment proponents. They work for the gooferment. So how can the gooferment be bad? They listen to me rant and rave. But, at dinner, with a slew of in-laws, it was amusing to hear them all talk about property taxes. One of the local in-laws pulled out her property tax “statement”, and reported that 63% of the property taxes went to “education”. And, from there the fun began. I got my digs in often about taxes being theft. It was great to see all the statists squabble about high taxes being whose fault. I, of course, mentioned that they should imagine what they could buy if they could keep their own money. People can’t believe that we ever had no taxes. Wow! What fun.

I have to remember the lipstick on the pig. It doesn’t make the pig any prettier and annoys the pig.

# # # # #

http://www.politico.com/blogs/thecrypt/0707/North_to_Alaska.html

July 18, 2007
North to Alaska

***Begin Quote***

Rep. Don Young attacked his fellow Republicans on the House floor Wednesday, as he defended education funds allocated to his home-state of Alaska.

“You want my money, my money,” Young stridently declared before warning conservatives that, “Those who bite me will be bitten back.”

Young took extreme exception to an amendment by Rep. Scott Garrett (R-N.J.) to strike money in a spending bill for native Alaskan and Hawaiian educational programs.

***End Quote***

I think this sums it all up. It’s the politician’s money; not yours!

# # # # #

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCNqgLkAx0g

***Begin Quote***

Yay, let’s all have equal treatment under the government! What would that be like?

***End Quote***

The way America is supposed to be?

# # # # #

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

Monday, July 16, 2007
Governance as Theatre

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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.

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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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http://www.townhall.com/columnists/WalterEWilliams/
2007/07/11/illegal_immigration

http://tinyurl.com/ywxo3u

Illegal Immigration
By Walter E. Williams
Wednesday, July 11, 2007

In this I’m going to try interspersing my comments in the article.

WW> I’d like to raise some ordinary non-rocket-science questions to the pro-amnesty crowd, many of whom are my libertarian friends.
WW>
WW> Do people, anywhere in the world, have a right to enter the United States irrespective of our laws pertaining to immigration?

No, “right” implies that I have a duty. But, it has nothing to do with “laws”.

WW> If your answer is “no,” one does not have a right to enter the U.S. irrespective of our laws, what does that make a person who does so?

Just a person. Maybe they are just lost.

WW>I was summoned for jury duty some years ago, and during voir dire, the attorney asked me whether I could obey the judge’s instructions.

Jury tampering by the system to ensure it gets the verdicts it wants.

WW>Needless to say, I was dismissed from jury duty.

Lucky you weren’t held in contempt! Probably poisoned the whole pool. Good job!

WW>While our immigration laws are overly cumbersome and in urgent need of streamlining, they do not violate human rights and should be obeyed.

Your immigration laws are cruel, immoral, ineffective and inefficient. They clearly are at odds with the founding documents. And, seek to empower and enhance the welfare state.

WW>we can’t prevent every rape and murder

Maybe if we got rid of all the “victimless crime laws” and shrink the gooferment down to Constitutional size, then maybe we could.

WW>People who are here illegally should be denied access to any social service such as Medicaid, public education and food assistance programs.

I’d suggest we end the dole for EVERYONE! It’s only provided by the theft from productive people.

WW>The United States is a nation of immigrants from all over the world.

So, let’s go back to the immigration rules that cherished the Statue of Liberty.

WW>Because there was no welfare state, we were guaranteed that they’d work as opposed to living off the rest of us.

Bingo!

WW>They’ve announced that they seek to take back parts of the U.S. that were formerly Mexico.

Local determination. Peace. Mutual respect. As recognized by the Constitution, and the other great document of civilization.

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Maybe I’m just irritable, but I find this and it’s tone “arrogant”. “You may have heard”? If “markets are a conversation”, these folks are having a monologue. Needless to say, communications like this, reinforce my commitment to Open Source Software whenever and where ever possible. And, are there other kinds of users? Other than “business” that is. Maybe it’s me. Adios, I’m not coming along.

***Begin Quote***

From: Ceryph [mailto:do_not_reply@ceryph.com]
Sent: Friday, July 13, 2007 2:50 PM
To: Ferdinand Reinke
Subject: CmapTools – IHMC discontinues support of business users

You received this email because you are a registered user of IHMC’s CmapTools concept mapping software. If this email reached you in error, please remove yourself from our user list.

As you may have heard, IHMC will no longer provide CmapTools software, upgrades, bug fixes and technical support to business users. See IHMC’s new policy for details.

IHMC and Ceryph have partnered to ensure that business users of CmapTools continue to have access to world-class technical support. Ceryph created a commercial version of CmapTools called “Ceryph Insight” to facilitate this support. Our Insight customers will receive technical support and access to future upgrades through Ceryph.

Visit us at www.ceryph.com or contact sales@ceryph.com to learn more about Insight.

We look forward to serving you.

Bryan Clark
CEO
Ceryph
bryan.clark@ceryph.com
www.ceryph.com

***End Quote***

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http://blog.lewrockwell.com/lewrw/archives/014090.html

July 13, 2007
The Democrats’ Charade
Posted by James Ostrowski at July 13, 2007 10:28 AM

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Let’s be clear on this. The Democrats have the unilateral power to end the war. Don’t believe any of the malarkey such as this article in the Washington Post that suggests they need enough votes to override a veto to end the war. That’s what they want us to think.

The Democrats were elected, not because of their sicko domestic polices, but because people thought they would end the war. Now that they can, they won’t because they don’t want to be blamed for “losing” a war that was lost before it began. That’s right, they continue to fund a war that is killing thousands so they will win future elections and stay in power so they can act like monsters in the future too.

All they need to do is stop the funding, by majority vote, in either house.

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Even Dick Morris agrees. And, he throws in that many R’s will join them.

But the D’s want to get a lock on power and so are content to pretend that they are helpless.

Yeah, right. It’s all a shell game between two side of the same coin.

A pox on them all!

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