RANT: Was this effective in keeping the Jews from killing each other with handguns?

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

http://www.lvrj.com/opinion/17591004.html

VIN SUPRYNOWICZ: ‘If only we were armed before’
Apr. 13, 2008

*** begin quote ***

Back in the 1920s and 1930s, the forward-thinking German “Weimar” republic effectively banned firearms possession by just about anyone but the military, the government police, and the ruling “Junker” class, members of whom were allowed to keep their fancy hunting rifles.

The ban was particularly effective among the ethnic minorities, such as the Jews.

Was this effective in keeping the Jews from killing each other with handguns? Yes!

*** end quote ***

The ability to defend oneself is a basic HUMAN right!

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RANT: a colossal subsidy for JP Morgan

Monday, March 31, 2008

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2008/03/31/cnfed131.xml

Fed eyes Nordic-style nationalisation of US banks
By Ambrose Evans-Pritchard, International Business Editor
Last Updated: 2:58pm BST 31/03/2008

*** begin quote ***

“Shareholders have been able to lobby for a higher share price only because the Fed took over the credit risk on $30bn of the investment bank’s dubious paper. The whole affair also amounts to a colossal subsidy for JP Morgan,” he said.

*** end quote ***

And guess who pays for it … … the taxpayers (i.e., any one who holds a dollar bill pay the “tax” of inflation).

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RANT: Proposed Design for New World Trade Center

Thursday, March 27, 2008

http://www.strategypage.com/humor/articles/20010924a.asp

Proposed Design for New World Trade Center
courtesy of StrategyPage’s Military Jokes and Military Humor

TheNewWorldTradeCenter

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I agree!

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RANT:parents do not have a constitutional right to homeschool their children

Friday, March 7, 2008

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/03/07/MNJDVF0F1.DTL

San Francisco Chronicle
Homeschoolers’ setback sends shock waves through state
Bob Egelko, Jill Tucker, Chronicle Staff Writers
Friday, March 7, 2008

*** begin quote ***

“California courts have held that … parents do not have a constitutional right to homeschool their children,” Justice H. Walter Croskey said in the 3-0 ruling issued on Feb. 28. “Parents have a legal duty to see to their children’s schooling under the provisions of these laws.”

Parents can be criminally prosecuted for failing to comply, Croskey said.

“A primary purpose of the educational system is to train school children in good citizenship, patriotism and loyalty to the state and the nation as a means of protecting the public welfare,” the judge wrote, quoting from a 1961 case on a similar issue.

*** end quote ***

“barbara streisand”

Just whose children are they?

We may have eliminated the plantations. But the slave masters are still in power.

I find the gooferment’s intrusion into “eddycation” particularly onerous and troublesome.

It’s brainwashing the way the gooferment “educates” its future sheeple … err “citizens” … in the love of the gooferment. A self-fulfilling prediction.

Enough is enough. It’s time for the Separation of Education and State!

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RANT: a solitary vaccine-autism concession

Saturday, March 1, 2008

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-kirby/government-concedes-vacci_b_88323.html

Vaccine-Autism Case in Federal Court – Now What?
Posted February 25, 2008 | 12:42 PM (EST)

*** begin quote ***

After years of insisting there is no evidence to link vaccines with the onset of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the US government has quietly conceded a vaccine-autism case in the Court of Federal Claims.

The unprecedented concession was filed on November 9, and sealed to protect the plaintiff’s identify. It was obtained through individuals unrelated to the case.

The claim, one of 4,900 autism cases currently pending in Federal “Vaccine Court,” was conceded by US Assistant Attorney General Peter Keisler and other Justice Department officials, on behalf of the Department of Health and Human Services, the “defendant” in all Vaccine Court cases.

The child’s claim against the government — that mercury-containing vaccines were the cause of her autism — was supposed to be one of three “test cases” for the thimerosal-autism theory currently under consideration by a three-member panel of Special Masters, the presiding justices in Federal Claims Court.

***and***

9) What is the bottom line here?

The public, (including world leaders) will demand to know what is going on inside the US Federal health establishment. Yes, as of now, n=1, a solitary vaccine-autism concession. But what if n=10% or 20%? Who will pay to clean up that mess?

The significance of this concession will unfortunately be fought over in the usual, vitriolic way — and I fully expect to be slammed for even raising these questions. Despite that, the language of this concession cannot be changed, or swept away.

Its key words are “aggravated” and “manifested.” Without the aggravation of the vaccines, it is uncertain that the manifestation would have occurred at all.

When a kid with peanut allergy eats a peanut and dies, we don’t say “his underlying metabolic condition was significantly aggravated to the extent of manifesting as an anaphylactic shock with features of death.”

No, we say the peanut killed the poor boy. Remove the peanut from the equation, and he would still be with us today.

Many people look forward to hearing more from HHS officials about why they are settling this claim. But whatever their explanation, they cannot change the fundamental facts of this extraordinary case:

The United State government is compensating at least one child for vaccine injuries that resulted in a diagnosis of autism.

And that is big news, no matter how you want to say it.

*** end quote ***

I’m still amazed that the sheep still think that the “US Federal health establishment” and / or the “United State government” care about their children!

(Really I’m amazed that anybody would believe that either of those two entities exist. They are merely fictions of our imagination. Like a mental disease or an optical illusion. There are really just people pretending. It would be safe if they were just playing Dungeons and Dragons. In this instance, these folks are pretending to pontificate about science and stuff. Very very dangerous.)

It is interesting that parents KNEW there was a cause and effect relationship between the shots and the disease.

I’d quibble with the writer it ain’t the “gooferment” paying for this. It’s the taxpayer.

Still think the gooferment can protect you? Still think that it can do anything right? Still think that gang is anything more than bigger fancier Mafia?

Do you go “bahhhh” at night when you go to sleep?

Sheeple, just plain old dumb “sheep” that look like people without the common sense that Intelligent Designer gave them.

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RANT: Dr Carlyon said: “It is clear that a termination can have a profound effect on a woman’s life.” How profound!?!

Sunday, February 24, 2008

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/02/22/nartist122.xml

Artist hanged herself after aborting her twins
Last Updated: 12:23pm GMT 24/02/2008
An artist killed herself after aborting her twins when she was eight weeks pregnant, leaving a note saying: “I should never have had an abortion. I see now I would have been a good mum.”

*** begin quote ***

Emma Beck was found hanging at her home in Helston, Cornwall, on Feb 1 2007. She was declared dead early the following day – her 31st birthday.

Her suicide note read: “I told everyone I didn’t want to do it, even at the hospital. I was frightened, now it is too late. I died when my babies died. I want to be with my babies: they need me, no-one else does.”

The inquest at Truro City Hall heard that Miss Beck had split up with her boyfriend, referred to as “Ben” after he “reacted badly” to the pregnancy.

<<<Problem#1 — Sex without love? Bad choice.>>>

She saw her GP before the termination, but missed an appointment at a hospital in Penzance. She then cancelled, but later turned up to an appointment at a clinic at Royal Cornwall Hospital in Treliske. The counsellor was on holiday so a doctor referred Miss Beck to a pregnancy counselling telephone service eight days before carrying out the abortion when she was eight weeks pregnant, the inquest heard.

<<<Problem#2 — gooferment healthcare!>>>

The coroner, Dr Emma Carlyon, ordered that the identities of the doctor who performed the abortion and her lead consultant be kept secret.

<<<Problem#3 — Why? Are they afraid of being publicly excoriated for their “service” to this poor woman?>>>

The inquest heard that Sylvia Beck, the victim’s mother, wrote to the hospital after her daughter’s death, saying: “I want to know why she was not given the opportunity to see a counsellor.

<<<Problem#4 — “Mother” depends upon the gooferment to do her job!>>>

“She was only going ahead with the abortion because her boyfriend did not want the twins.

“I believe this is what led Emma to take her own life – she could not live with what she had done.”

The doctor said: “I discussed Emma’s situation with her, and wrote on the form, ‘Unsupported, lives alone, ex-partner aware’.

<<<Problem#5 — Hey Doc, maybe you needed to do more than “write on a form”!!>>>

“It is normal practice to give a woman the number for telephone counselling when a counsellor is not available.

“I am satisfied that everything was done to make sure that Emma consented to the operation.

She added: “We have since appointed more counsellors so there is more holiday cover.”

<<<Problem#6 — Guess that solves the !DEAD! woman’s problem?>>>

Katie Gibbs, Miss Beck’s GP, told the hearing: “She was extremely distressed by the abortion procedure, and I didn’t think she ever came to terms with it.

“She had a long history of anxiety and depression. Despite my best efforts, she was not willing to see a counsellor after the termination.”

Her boss at the clinic, said: “The time that can be given to a woman by a counsellor is limited in a busy hospital.

“I am satisfied everything was done to make sure Emma was consenting to surgery. I don’t feel there was any gap in the counselling service.

“There were lots of individuals who would be alert to any doubts. The comments made by Emma’s mother are not about a doctor I recognise.”

<<<Problem#7 — Bureaucrat satisfied; woman and children DEAD! Gooferment killed them!>>>

Mrs Beck told the court: “Emma was considered a talented artist, and sold a number of paintings.

“She was pleased when she became pregnant, but Ben reacted badly to the news.”

Recording a verdict of suicide, Dr Carlyon said: “It is clear that a termination can have a profound effect on a woman’s life.

<<<Problem#8 — clueless doctor who can’t see the problem, chooses not to, OR doesn’t want to lose his cushy gig!>>>

“But I am reassured by the evidence of the doctors here.”

<<<Problem#9 — wrong label; should have been “heartless bureaucracy that kills poor women without a feedback loop to their paycheck”!>>>

*** end quote ***

It’s usually bad form to intersperse comments. Sort of like interrupting a story being told. But, in this case, I was really torqued.

How can anyone advocate for the current system of SOCIALISM in the health care system?

I can NOT say for certainty that in a Free Market the result would be different. The poor woman had a history of making “bad choices”. But, let’s postulate that this was happening in a FREE LIBERTARIAN SOCIETY!

First, there would be no “dole”. And, people like the Dead Artist, her sperm donor, and her mom would have the heads in the right place. Or at least a better place! You know “I am responsible for me”, “My family is my support system”, and “I pay my own way”. Perhaps “sperm donor” could keep it zipped if he was going to “react badly” to a pregnancy?

Second, when the Dead Artist had a “problem”, she would pay for such services as she needed. (He who has the gold makes the rules!) And there would have been Doctors, Counselors, and People to help her. (While they may have been motivated by money, since she was paying, she could know for sure that her interests were aligning their interests. Greed is good. It’s makes people serve there fellow man!) Like McDonalds, there is always staffing to serve my needs. No “too bad, everyone’s on vacation!”. I mean “holiday”!

Third, even if she didn’t have money, there would be charity care. (Remember how hospitals always had a charity wing in the bad old days of freedom.) And, if you see any truly charitable organization — not these phony ones like United Way or the various “Big Charity life time employment for highly paid drones” type — think Salvation Army — such as those providing services to unwed mothers — she would have people helping her that truly cared about her. They will make mistakes, but they will be trying their level best to help. Think the Good Nuns in the wards of the old Catholic Charities Hospitals in NYC of yesteryear.

I’d have preferred her chances with FREEDOM rather than her fate at the hands of Socialists.

She’d probably agree now too.

Requiescat In Pacem, Dear Artist.

Here rests a Dead Artist.
Killed by the uncaring bureaucrats of the enslaving socialist state.
Warning to all.

Argh!

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RANT: The Angry White Man owns firearms

Friday, February 22, 2008

LUDDITE asks “Does this sound like anyone you know?”?

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/2008198091324

Aspen Times Weekly Opinion Articles
In election 2008, don’t forget Angry White Man
Gary Hubbell
February 9, 2008

*** begin quote ***

The Angry White Man owns firearms, and he’s willing to pick up a gun to defend his home and his country. He is willing to lay down his life to defend the freedom and safety of others, and the thought of killing someone who needs killing really doesn’t bother him.

*** end quote ***

To which I responded:

*** begin quote ***

Nope. I don’t play golf. And, you’re not a “gun nut”.

Other than golf and calling turkeys, I’m pretty close.

*** end quote ***

?

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RANT: man’s 19th drunken driving conviction

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080220/NEWS01/802200357/-1/CINCI

Man gets 8 years for 19 DUIs
Judge lectures driver; suspends license forever
BY JANICE MORSE | JMORSE@ENQUIRER.COM

*** begin quote ***

HAMILTON – A Hamilton man’s 19th drunken driving conviction earned him eight years in prison and a lecture about his 30-year record, which ranks him among Ohio’s six worst drunken drivers.

“You knew a long time ago that you had a problem with drinking and driving and you’ve never chosen to do anything,” Judge Noah Powers told Stephen W. Wolf in Butler County Common Pleas Court during sentencing Tuesday.

Wolf faced up to 10 years in prison as a result of a hit-and-run crash in Fairfield Township last summer.

*** end quote ***

My only two questions are: (A) why didn’t he get the ten year max? and (B) Nineteen convictions? What a joke.

I’ll be asking my statecritters how bad the problem is here. Ohio might have two with 20, but I’m sure NuJerzee, the home of many bleeding heart liberals, must have more.

Argh!

I’d say one conviction is a mistake as long as no one is hurt. More than that is unacceptable. Multiple convictions, or conviction with an injury resulting, deserves the full Monte.

The “state”, meaning gooferment in general, has really only one purpose Constitutionally and that is to protect individual rights. If it can’t do that, then it has lost its reason for existence.

I’ve seen formulations that say we don’t have a “drinking and driving” problem, but we do have a problem with repeat offenders. So, let’s strike at the root.

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RANT: A Thought Experiment: The Federal Data Administration

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

http://www.lewrockwell.com/walker/walker29.html

Why Computers Work and Health Care Doesn’t
by Bill Walker

*** begin quote ***

Computers work. We complain about them, but that’s because most of the time they work so fast that we don’t even notice them in the background. And they get cheaper by the second. They get cheaper so fast that we can see the prices of memory and processor speed falling even without adjusting for inflation.

Health care, on the other hand, gets more expensive all the time, even for techniques that were invented decades ago. Computers get twice as fast every two years, but technology for carbon-based organisms improves at a snail’s pace. Why? Biology isn’t all that complex. After all, our cells only have the equivalent of about 2.8 gigabytes of (very slow) DNA memory storage. The viruses that kill us often get by with 12 kilobytes. Your cellphone has more memory than most pathogens, and cellphone design mutates more over the course of a year than the flu.

A Thought Experiment: The Federal Data Administration

{And it gets funnier after that!}

*** end quote ***

Priceless and self-evident.

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RANT: but Tennessee doesn’t use that system

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

http://msn.foxsports.com/wcbk/story/7790684/Rutgers-on-clock-flap:-%60We-won-that-game-in-regulation%60?print=true

Rutgers on clock flap: ‘We won that game in regulation’
Associated Press
Updated: February 12, 2008, 8:07 PM EST

*** begin quote ***

The inventor of the timing device used in No. 1 Tennessee’s 59-58 win over No. 5 Rutgers, suspects human error led to the disputed ending of Monday night’s game.

The game clock appeared to pause for more than a second just before reaching zero, and Tennessee made a pair of foul shots with two-tenths of a second remaining.

***and***

Precision Time Systems inventor and president Michael Costabile said there is plenty of room for human error in running the game clock. At issue is whether or not Rutgers’ Kia Vaughn fouled Nicky Anosike before time expired.

“The system works really, really well,” said Costabile, who watched the game on TV. “Have we had somebody hit the wrong button? Yes.”

The Southeastern Conference and Big East said Tuesday that both leagues’ coordinators of officials spoke with the game officials and clock operator.

“The officials discharged their duties properly and there is no indication that anything improperly was done by anyone involved,” the SEC’s statement said. “There will be no further comment on this issue as the leagues, institutions, coaches and teams look to move forward.”

***and***

The Precision Time device, which keeps time for all NBA games and many at the college level, uses small microphones attached to the referees’ whistles that communicate wirelessly to devices worn on the referees’ belts which stop the game clock. When the device picks up sound from the whistle, the clock stops.

The official must hit a button on his belt pack to restart the clock.

At the same time, the official timekeeper manually controls the clock. Whichever signal is picked up first – the sound of the referee’s whistle, the click of the belt pack button or the pressing of the timekeeper’s button – officially controls the clock.

Costabile said because the clock seemed to pause before reaching zero indicates to him that either an official or the timekeeper may have stopped the clock, anticipating Anosike would be fouled, and then restarted it when that wasn’t immediately the case.

“That can take as much as 0.8 seconds to 1.5 seconds,” he said. “That’s telling me people froze up. It’s only as good as someone pushing the button.”

Barbara Jacobs, assistant commissioner in charge of Big East women’s basketball officiating, said the officials were not aware that the clock had stopped.

“I believe that they thought they reviewed it and got it right,” she said. “In other words, they were not aware that the clock had stopped.”

***and***

Costabile said his Bolivia, N.C.-based company offers a system that can track whose whistle or button is responsible for clock stoppage, but Tennessee doesn’t use that system.

“There is a way to track every play. If somebody does something, we know what happens,” Costabile said. “They don’t have it set up there, but I’m certainly going to recommend it to them.”

*** end quote ***

Well clearly, imho, there was SIGNIFICANT human error here.

And for the NCAA and SEC to say in effect “no big deal” is clearly unacceptable.

(Wonder what would be happening if Tennessee had lost? Loose the hounds of hell maybe.)

Clearly, if you’re going to televise it, then I would think that ESPN would want to have VISUAL indications that stuff is happening. Three refs and the clock operator could have little visual cues on the video feed.

But then I’m a techie that hates loose ends.

And, why does the NCAA have a tax and anti-trust exemption anyway?

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