RANT: MP4B, mp4b … why should you even care?

Saturday, July 10, 2010

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-plaschke-lebron-james-20100709,0,5931688.column

On an ESPN show, the King shows up a supportive community.
By Bill Plaschke
July 8, 2010 | 11:27 p.m

*** begin quote ***

If you are going to leave the team where you’ve spent all seven seasons, leave the area where you’ve spent all 25 years, doesn’t decorum dictate that you do it quietly, gently, gracefully? Given that this town hasn’t enjoyed a major sports championship in 46 years, and given that your departure could keep them from winning anything for many more years, don’t you think of them first? Did no part of last season’s $15.8-million salary mandate, you know, manners?

You want to leave this place where you are so beloved, fine. Leave it like a man. Issue a news release announcing your decision and thanking Cleveland for its support. Hold a local news conference with the Cleveland media to reiterate those thanks. Then, and only then, do you appear on a national ESPN show to talk about your decision.

But no, years of coddling have filled James with such narcissism that he no longer sees anyone but himself. While reaping financial rewards as this country’s most successful basketball prodigy, James has paid the price in a failure to develop integrity or character. Hey, if you can dunk on someone, why do you have to be sensitive to them?

*** end quote ***

MP4B = “Millionaires Playing For Billionaires”

This is “entertainment”.

It has nothing to do with humanity (i.e., think the USA 1980 Hockey team), the struggle to attain something (i.e., think the movie RUDY), overcome adversity (i.e., that fellow who without arms or legs swims the English Channel), or the nobility of sport (i.e., Little Leaguers line up to congratulate the winning team; Japanese baseball players salute the umpire, not revile him).

It’s all about the benjamins and extracting them from the booboisie. (1).

There’s something elegant about truly amateur sports. Before the money got into it, women’s college basketball was like that. Young women busting butt for its own sake.

There is no longer “nobility” in Sports. LeBron is just following in the footsteps of Tiger, Kobe, McGwire, Pete Rose, … right down to Marion Jones lying about steroids. Even children, Danny Almonte in Little League; a baseball scandal without the big buxs.

So why should I care?

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(1) booboisie (boob’wa-ze) n. The class of the population composed of the stupid and gullible.

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RANT: Janeane Garofalo, suitable for ostracism

Thursday, July 8, 2010

*** begin quote ***

Janeane Garofalo to take on ‘Criminal Minds’ role

Wednesday, June 30, 2010, 7:01 AM

Janeane Garofalo is considering a deal to join a CBS “Criminal Minds” crime drama spin-off. The actress-comedienne has starred iin “24,” though she’s most well know for her stand-up comedy and her roles in films such as “The Truth about Cats and Dogs.”

*** end quote ***

While everyone has First Amendment right, we have rights too.

She is such a loon. And, I have heard her make disgusting editorials.

So I am exercising my rights to shun her.

So should you!

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RANT: Support the troops; bring them home!

Thursday, July 8, 2010

http://original.antiwar.com/norby/2010/07/06/steele-speaks-the-truth/

Steele Speaks the Truth
by Chris Norby, July 07, 2010

Chris Norby is a freshman Republican state legislator from Orange County, Calif. He previously served on the Orange County Board of Supervisors and as mayor of Fullerton.

*** begin quote ***

“If he [Obama] is such a student of history, has he not understood the one thing you don’t do is engage in a land war in Afghanistan? Everyone who has tried over a thousand years has failed, and there are reasons for that.” In restating this obvious historical fact, Republican Chairman Michael Steele has roused a chorus of neocon critics calling for his resignation.

Instead, they should heed the words of Douglas MacArthur, who warned another young president – John F. Kennedy – in 1961: “Anyone wanting to commit American ground forces to the mainland of Asia should have his head examined.”

*** end quote ***

BHO44 is no student of anything. Except maybe how to fool some of the people some of the time.

Afpak land war? Insane no matter what empire tries it and no matter which party runs it.

Ground forces should be at home. Right smack dab in the US of A.

Argh!

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RANT: The oil spill and “bigger fish to fry”

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703426004575339650877298556.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_sections_opinion

* OPINION
* JULY 2, 2010

Why Is the Gulf Cleanup So Slow?
There are obvious actions to speed things up, but the government oddly resists taking them.
By PAUL H. RUBIN

*** begin quote ***

As the oil spill continues and the cleanup lags, we must begin to ask difficult and uncomfortable questions. There does not seem to be much that anyone can do to stop the spill except dig a relief well, not due until August. But the cleanup is a different story. The press and Internet are full of straightforward suggestions for easy ways of improving the cleanup, but the federal government is resisting these remedies.

*** and ***

One possibility is sheer incompetence.

*** and ***

Another possibility is that the administration places a higher priority on interests other than

*** and ***

Finally there is the most pessimistic explanation—that the oil spill may be viewed as an opportunity, the way White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel said back in February 2009, “You never want a serious crisis to go to waste.”

*** end quote ***

Oh come on now, you couldn’t possibly believe that BHO44 wants to use the spill for political purposes?

I do!

Argh!

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RANT: It’s always about the “something else”

Monday, July 5, 2010

http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/106887-health-law-risks-turning-away-sick

Health law risks turning away sick
By Julian Pecquet – 07/01/10 07:13 PM ET

*** begin quote ***

The Obama administration has not ruled out turning sick people away from an insurance program created by the new healthcare law to provide coverage for the uninsured.

Critics of the $5 billion high-risk pool program insist it will run out of money before Jan. 1, 2014. That’s when the program sunsets and health plans can no longer discriminate against people with pre-existing conditions.

*** and ***

“Along with that, we can work with the states to adjust their benefit structure, the deductibles, the co-pays, the overall plan structure to address some of those cost drivers, again to help the plan make it to 2014, when it will no longer be needed.”

In addition, Popper said, many people won’t be able to afford to participate in the program since premiums will range between about $140 and $900 a month, depending on applicants’ age and where they live. HHS estimates that at least 200,000 people will be in the program at any one time. To be eligible, applicants have to be citizens or nationals of the United States or be lawfully present; have a pre-existing medical condition; and have been uninsured for at least six months before applying for the high-risk pool plan.

*** and ***

If it looks like too many people are signing up — states will get monthly updates on how many people they can cover with the money they have left — there’s always the option of turning people down.

The bill “does give the secretary authority to limit enrollment in the plan … nationally or on a state-by-state basis,” Popper said. “So that is present, but at this point, we’re starting with no one in the plan as of today … so we don’t see that happening anytime soon.”

*** end quote ***

One giant criticism of BHO44 and his Obamacare is that it had muddled objectives. Was it about “health”, “health care”, “health care insurance”, or something else. Us, tin foil hats, believe it’s the “something else”.

By not being specific about their objectives, they don’t have to be specific about their results. We, The People have allowed our elected representatives to get away with this muddled thinking. And, as such, we once again find ourselves faced with a confused mess. Argh!

I believe this is all about “control”. By centralizing one seventh of the economy, the politicians and bureaucrats are in control of our lives. By controlling “health care” and “health care insurance”, they control us.

Remember the three “laws” of political motivation: (1) reward your friends; (2) punish your enemies; and (3) feather your own nest. Clearly, this wins on all three fronts.

By controlling “health care” and “health care insurance”, they create a voting block. Look what Social Security and Medicare has done to create a “senior citizen” voting block for the Democratic Party. Look at Florida. Created by Social Security. That’s the power to reward yor friends — the incumbent politicians. Never mind the endless opportunities for graft, corruption and outright theft for the .

By controlling “health care” and “health care insurance”, they have won a war with the Catholic Church and Right To Life groups over abortion. The “sacrament” of the modern liberal feminist, enshrined by Roe v Wade, will now be fully funded to the abhorrence of Right To Life taxpaying advocates. That’s punishing your enemy — the Religious Right.

By controlling “health care” and “health care insurance”, they have created endless bureaucratic positions. Of course, to be filled by “them”, their friends ‘n’ family, and their supporters. And, created countless opportunities for lobbyists to fill their pockets as they create loopholes, exceptions, and prohibitions. That’s feathering, with some pretty comfortable feathers.

Silly Taxpayer, you didn’t think this was about anything as trivial as helping sick people now did you?

By pulling the Sheeple’s own wool over the Sheeple’s eyes, they are able to sheer the Sheeple some more.

See if the objective was “health”, “health care”, or “health care insurance”, then it would be relatively easy and cheap to address the issue. For “health”, address the root cause of poor health — we have to make it a national priority to find out what that was. (I’d say “gooferment skrules”, but that’s another story.) If it was “health care”, then perhaps better records, uniform forms, or — shocked hush — eliminating medical licensing. If it is was “health care insurance” slash cost, then we could change the tax law to make everyone their own subchapter S copr and make cost of earning a living deductible to all. If it is was “health care insurance” slash cost, then the gooferment could just buy poor people health insurance as part of the federal health insurance system. (Whoopi Goldberg had it right: “What the hell! I just want what you <Congressmen> got. <for health insurance>. Way to nail the issue, Whoopster!)

See it’s always about something else!

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RANT: The Gooferment continues to attack The First!

Sunday, July 4, 2010

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=167845

1ST AMENDMENT UNDER FIRE
Free speech restored at Liberty Bell display
Keeping order isn’t license ‘to deprive an individual of a constitutional right’
Posted: June 18, 2010 8:36 pm Eastern
By Bob Unruh

*** begin quote ***

He also was ordered not to return to engage in “free-speech activities” without first getting permission from the park.

*** end quote ***

Doesn’t anyone find this “amusing”? Like the “free speech zones” at political conventions!

Sorry, but limits are “fire in a crowded theater” and that’s about it.

What other standard could there be that doesn’t gut the First Amendment?

Lysander Spooner was right! ①

# – # – #

① “Inasmuch as the Constitution was never signed, nor agreed to, by anybody, as a contract, and therefore never bound anybody, and is now binding upon nobody; and is, moreover, such an one as no people can ever hereafter be expected to consent to, except as they may be forced to do so at the point of the bayonet, it is perhaps of no importance what its true legal meaning, as a contract, is. Nevertheless, the writer thinks it proper to say that, in his opinion, the Constitution is no such instrument as it has generally been assumed to be; but that by false interpretations, and naked usurpations, the government has been made in practice a very widely, and almost wholly, different thing from what the Constitution itself purports to authorize. He has heretofore written much, and could write much more, to prove that such is the truth. But whether the Constitution really be one thing, or another, this much is certain – that it has either authorized such a government as we have had, or has been powerless to prevent it. In either case, it is unfit to exist.” Lysander Spooner (1808-1887), No Treason (1870) http://praxeology.net/LS-NT-6.htm#no.6

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RANT: Why I Won’t Call It Independence Day Or Recite The Pledge Of Allegiance!

Sunday, July 4, 2010

WHY I WON’T CALL IT INDEPENDENCE DAY or RECITE THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE!

>Happy 4th of July!….

It’s supposedly Independence Day. Why don’t I feel very free?

① The Gooferment taking an obscene percentage of our income and wealth (it’s incalcuable with taxes and fees hidden everywhere). The only true measure of how much wealth we pay in taxes is to consolidate all the gooferment spending on and off the books. (Yes, they keep multiple sets of books!) It stunning when you add it all up. And “We, The People” pay it.

② The Gooferment has the largest prison population (by number and percentage) in the world. (Let’s free all non-violent drug offenders immediately and lower that number by half!)

③ The Gooferment has economically enslaved 52% the people (i.e., the 52/48 split between welfare / work) and has a huge number of gooferment “employees”.

④ The Gooferment has encumbered us and future Americans with an unrepayable national debt and crushing unfunded liabilities while continuing to “give” us “free” stuff (i.e., health care; porkulous; global warming relief) and wage undeclared wars (i.e., Afganistan, Iraq, Pakistan).

⑤ The Gooferment has re-instituted Prohibition. Instead of alcohol, it some other drugs. It has seized control of our bodies; determining what we can and can not put in them. Is not this the essence of freedom and liberty? Along the way, they have destroyed our cities with Drug Prevention, enabled a massive mafia of drug criminals — foreign and domestic, militarized our police, brought corruption to a massive scale, and killed all sorts of people almost at random.

⑥ The Gooferment has, and continues, to indoctrinate children in Gooferment Skrules. It inculcates the future voter into the cult of gooferment worship. It impoverishes us with its costs. And fulfills the Prussian model: cannon fodder for the army, workers for the factory, and useful idiots to be led by the elite. (Where do Presidents and the elite send their children? Not Gooferment Skrules!)

⑦ Since 1970, the dollar has lost 98% of it’s value. The Constitution says only gold and silver are money. The Federal Reserve System is a banker’s monopoly cartel that has allowed the Gooferment unlimited spending. It has created a “rubber yardstick” where money is concerned. All statistics are “inflation adjusted”; thus meaningless.

⑧ The income tax has been a disaster of special interest meddling. The death tax has destroyed more family farms and small business than can be counted. Corporate taxes bury taxes in both every day items and the capital cost of everything that makes stuff. We can’t even guesstimate what we pay in taxes.

⑨ Gooferment welfare has created four generations of “welfare farmers”. Entire families are trapped in the cycle of poverty and despair. Corporatism, or corporate welfare, has done the same thing to our once vibrant economic industries. Shipped overseas to make the elite wealthier. And the Gooferment has disabled America making it a ward of the State unable to do even daily tasks without assistence and direction from the elite.

⑩ The psuedo war on (some) drugs has, first and foremost, allowed the GOoferment to tell us what we can and can’t put in our own bodies. Isn’t this the very essence of freedom and personal liberty? In doing this, they have really hurt us with unintended consequences: empowered our foreign enemies with drug money; destroyed the inner cities and the minority communities with drugs; militarized the police to kill / maim us while trampling on our supposed rights; filled our prisons; killed our youth with bad drugs; AND driven it as a wedge issue between people (i.e., scared people don’t understand it’s about Gooferment control of one’s own body) and making them believe it can be stopped.

It’s hard for me to say “independence” with a straight face.

>I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE

The Pledge is un-American.

Written by an American Nazi who was a flag salesman.

To indoctrinate school children. (The whole American education system is designed to create dummies. Cannon fodder for the Army> Workers for the factories. Designed to be led by the Elite!)

It’s propaganda. Designed to delude people into nationalism.

We, The People don’t need to “pledge” anything.

And, certainly not “allegiance” to an out-of-control corrupt Socialist gooferment.

Remember: Gooferment is the meme that kills. Only Gooferment can commit genocide.

Argh!

So I’d be happy to sing Woody Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land”. Or, “America, The Beautiful” by Katharine Lee Bates – 1913. Or, even Amazing Grace by John Newton 1725-1807.

201007021724.jpg

Before I can, we have to:

  1. Return to Constitutional money of gold and silver;
  2. End the personal and corporate dole;
  3. Phase out gooferment public education;
  4. Stop the various wars — foreign, domestic, and especially drug;
  5. Repatriate the troops — bring them all home now;
  6. Downsize ALL the gooferments — federal, state, and local;
  7. Eliminate all taxes but tariffs and excise;
  8. Empty the prisons of non-violent offenders;
  9. End the death penalty immediately; AND
  10. Payoff the debt and unfunded liabilities.

Then we can truly call ourselves the “Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave”.

Declaration of Independence
(Adopted by Congress on July 4, 1776)

The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America

When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security. –Such has been the patient sufferance of these colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former systems of government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these states. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his assent to laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his governors to pass laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of representation in the legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved representative houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the legislative powers, incapable of annihilation, have returned to the people at large for their exercise; the state remaining in the meantime exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavored to prevent the population of these states; for that purpose obstructing the laws for naturalization of foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migration hither, and raising the conditions of new appropriations of lands.

He has obstructed the administration of justice, by refusing his assent to laws for establishing judiciary powers.

He has made judges dependent on his will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent hither swarms of officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, standing armies without the consent of our legislature.

He has affected to render the military independent of and superior to civil power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his assent to their acts of pretended legislation:

For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by mock trial, from punishment for any murders which they should commit on the inhabitants of these states:

For cutting off our trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing taxes on us without our consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of trial by jury:

For transporting us beyond seas to be tried for pretended offenses:

For abolishing the free system of English laws in a neighboring province, establishing therein an arbitrary government, and enlarging its boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule in these colonies:

For taking away our charters, abolishing our most valuable laws, and altering fundamentally the forms of our governments:

For suspending our own legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated government here, by declaring us out of his protection and waging war against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burned our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large armies of foreign mercenaries to complete the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of cruelty and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow citizens taken captive on the high seas to bear arms against their country, to become the executioners of their friends and brethren, or to fall themselves by their hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavored to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian savages, whose known rule of warfare, is undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these oppressions we have petitioned for redress in the most humble terms: our repeated petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have we been wanting in attention to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, enemies in war, in peace friends.

We, therefore, the representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the name, and by the authority of the good people of these colonies, solemnly publish and declare, that these united colonies are, and of right ought to be free and independent states; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as free and independent states, they have full power to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and to do all other acts and things which independent states may of right do. And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.

New Hampshire: Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Matthew Thornton

Massachusetts: John Hancock, Samual Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine, Elbridge Gerry

Rhode Island: Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery

Connecticut: Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, Oliver Wolcott

New York: William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris

New Jersey: Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark

Pennsylvania: Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George Ross

Delaware: Caesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas McKean

Maryland: Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles Carroll of Carrollton

Virginia: George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton

North Carolina: William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn

South Carolina: Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton

Georgia: Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton

Source: The Pennsylvania Packet, July 8, 1776

Until then … … …

… … … don’t talk to me about Independence!

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RANT: Shool sucks for everyone

Thursday, July 1, 2010

http://www.schoolsucksproject.com/

*** begin quote ***

“School sucks”…is perhaps the most common phrase students use to describe their feelings about public education. Yet this seemingly bitter and reductive slogan is actually quite clever, and perhaps the most accurate and astute synopsis of the system I’ve ever heard. Here’s why:

1. The twelve-year process of an American public education has a dramatic effect on the mind of a child. When we first enter school at age six, many of our best personal attributes are already in place. We are curious, innovative, unique and creative in ways that we will rarely be able to replicate throughout the rest of our lives. But over time, school sucks those essential attributes out of too many of us…and replaces them with predictability, obedience and indifference.

2. The public school system sucks off the productive capacity of hard-working people. In other words, whether public education succeeds or fails (spoiler alert: it fails) at providing real education to the public, the cost goes up every year.

For too long, this sentiment that “school sucks” has existed only as a silent thought, a quiet mumble or a scribble on a notebook. It’s time to project this idea out into the mainstream, and to show how true it actually is. The path towards solutions begins there.

*** end quote ***

Absolutely agree.

I’ve ranted about “gooferment skool” on my blog for a while.

I can’t think of a “more wronger” thing in our society.

Hope this project succeeds!

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RANT: Kagan not kosher; she unacceptable to Pro_lifers as well

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/rabbis-say-kagan-not-a-kosher-supreme-court-nominee/

Rabbis say Kagan not a ‘kosher’ Supreme Court nominee

*** begin quote ***

Alexandria, Va., Jun 27, 2010 / 06:13 pm (CNA).- According to the National Rabbinical Alliance and its more than 850 Orthodox Jewish members, Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan is not “kosher,” or fit to serve, on the court.

*** and ***

Spokesman for the Rabbinical Alliance, Rabbi Yehuda Levin, told Cybercast News Service that most groups are happy when “one of their own” is nominated to such a prestigious position. “A great deal has been made about the fact that she would be the second Jewish woman on the court,” Levin noted. “We want to signal to people across the country that we take no pride in this.”

*** end quote ***

Where is the statement by the Catholic Church in the USA that they oppose the nomination?

Where is the public outrage that this Socialist President will appoint an obviously biased “justice”?

Why can’t we see all the papers that she produced as Clinton’s Solicitor General?

Sorry, but I don’t feel very “represented” in this so called representative government!

Argh!

And, she’s “young”. Can’t BHO44 appoint a nice old judge? Say 75! At least if it’s a mistake we won’t have to suffer very long!

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RANT: Remember Sotomayor? Oppose Kagan!

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Sonia Sotomayor testified that the RKBA was an individual right, then proceeded to vote against it.

Kagan will do the same thing.

Yesterday’s 5-4 is hanging on by a thread!

How dumb are these Senators?

Lied to their face to be approved and then do what you want with a lifetime appointment.

Argh!

Let’s make a rule that SCOTUS nominees must be 75 years old. Sort of a natural form of term limits.

Or, at least they have to be a judge or not a lawyer.

Argh!

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RANT: Animal cruelty leds to human cruelty. Stop it!

Sunday, June 27, 2010

http://www.mindhacks.com/blog/2010/06/treating_people_like.html

June 13, 2010
Treating people like animals

*** begin quote ***

Cruelty to animals has been implicitly recognised as being a sign of behavioural problems in children for some time as it forms part of the diagnosis of conduct disorder, characterised somewhat glibly as ‘kiddie psychopathy’.

However, research has been slowly accumulating over the last few years that animal cruelty is related to lower levels of general empathy and is a signal that the person concerned may have abusive tendencies that extend towards other people.

*** end quote ***

Now, regular readers know I have very little use for the Gooferment. That being stipulated, there is really ONLY ONE legitimate function.

Protect rights!

Here’s a legitimate function and story about how it should be expanded due to scientific evidence behind it.

Animal cruelty appears to signal cruelty to humans.

So, after conviction on animal cruelty charges, there needs to be an investigation into any abuse of any human within their “reach”. As convicts, they need to be carefully “watched” for abuse. With zero tolerance for transgressions.

Like the famous fable of “the scorpion and the frog”, and the line “that’s what scorpions do”, these folks are abusers and need to be watched. Like pet rattlesnake, eventually a bite will occur.

There’s no excuse for not preventing abuse. And, everyone should be very sensitive and alert to the possibility.

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RANT: The joy of graduation; marred by speakers

Friday, June 25, 2010

YESTERDAY I went to a graduation. Entertaining! The “beautiful” children, the happy relatives, the school staff, and at least two politicians.

(The children were all “beautiful”. Different shapes and sizes. Some dressed up; some down. One girl has new high heeled … … sneakers! Another wore what had to be five inch stilettos that were obviously new and she could barely walk in them. One guy had old sneaks; another plaid beach shoes. Funny! They were “beautiful” because they were almost all smiling. Full of joy. Enthusiasm. Party time. Sigh!)

They showed a photo slide show of the school and graduates. No words just music.

(A technical criticism of the “show”. This is VoTech with an “Arts” track. The music was ill-timed. Or mixed. The audience got restless when the music came to a natural end; the photos kept going. Some music rejoined the “show”. When the pictures began to repeat. The show was stopped. And we were left looking at the Windoze logo. The “show” wasn’t run by a student. <Unless students are very old.> So it was evidence of poor execution.)

The next “rudeness”was to leave the audience sitting there, looking around, wondering what was going to happen. A good ten minutes — I timed it — and there were at least five hundred people sitting there. What a waste. It was rude.

So finally some one got their act together, and the graduates paraded in. It was more like a dual column single file dash to the chairs. With gaps and bunches worthy of any freeway. As a vet of many parades, graduations, processions, it was shocking. And, I understand there were at least three practices. (What did they practice?)

Any way, then came the Pledge of Allegiance …

201006241725.jpg

(The Pledge is un-American. Written by an American Nazi who was a flag salesman. TOo indoctrinate school children and make himself a bunch of easy sales. The whole American education system is designed to create dummies; cannon fodder for the Army and the factories. All designed to be led by the Elite! Argh!)

… which always makes me think. But then what did you expect from a gooferment school? Sure didn’t expect them to sing a hymm. However, they are a gooferment school so you have to expect some gooferment worship to be built in.

Then we got to the speeches. (Oh, joy, oh joy!)

First up was an old Board Of Ed fellow. He was almost impossible to hear. Can’t remember anything he said of value.

(How much in taxes have I paid for this school? The taxpayers got weenied. It’s supposed to be a theater. With acoustics and a sound system that stinks. I’d like to follow the money on that one.)

Next up was the politician from the Middlesex County Freeholders. She was at least audible. Unfortunately. (I really wish I had the text of the remarks so that I could adequately report what WAS said. As opposed to what I think I heard.) I heard some praise for the parents. With an assertion about what was the most important in a child’s development. I guess it was the parent’s willingness to send the children to school. (That’s what I think I heard!) Of course, I disagree. … …

(I’d say the most important single factor in a child’s development is really two co-factors. Parents aren’t a single homogeneous unit; they are a man and a woman seeking to propagate the species. — OK, that’s a side effect of the sought after activity — It is the Mom’s unconditional love for the child combined with the Father’s unconditional devotion to the child’s needs. Different, very different, but both essential. Schooling is way down on the list. And, gooferment supplied schooling is a GIANT negative imho.)

… … but that aside, I heard a lot of praise for teachers. Probably, three times as much time spent praising the teachers as the parents and students combined. I attributed it to a campaign speech for the Teacher’s Union support. The whole speech wasn’t overly long. All that was missing was to say “Vote Democratic” in thanks for your child’s education. As if there would be no education without the gooferment.

Moving on to the Salutatorian’s speech. The young lady was obviously nervous. And, we had the lousy acoustics and the lousy sound system, it was hard to hear. What I did hear sounded good. (My criticism was for the school’s bureaucrats for not having enough practice. She engaged in some banter with her mom sitting in front of us which was … … unseemly. They should have coached her to speak up and not to rush.) Again, I have no text so I can’t really comment on what she said. (I wonder if the graduate could even hear her since they didn’t seem to react.)

Moving on to the Valedictorian’s speech. The young lady was not  obviously nervous, but was watching the audience for feedback. She spoke well, despite the lousy conditions. She made some good points about doing one’s best at all times. Again don’t have the text. But was able to hear most of her remarks. (Again not a lot of reaction from the graduates.)

Then, was the obligatory diploma hand out. (More on that later.)

Flip the tassels and march out.

Sigh!

After that it was a disorganized Chinese fire drill. From what I understand the handouts were blanks. The now graduate had to go to a room and find their real ones. (Strange. Disorganized. And chaotic. Why am I not shocked at a gooferment process being so.)

So, upon reflection, I’d have like to have made a speech to the graduates.

*** begin quote ***

I’d like to give you my thoughts on this special day. Success for your generation is: (1) ruthless financial discipline — no bad debt; (2) a life long interest in learning — education — a degree — they can’t take it away from you; (3) a NON-OFFSHORABLE white collar job in order to save big bux; (4) a blue collar skill for hard times — never saw a poor plumber; (5) one or more internet based businesses — your store is always open; (6) develop a second business or avocation – under the radar – start small part-time; (7) a large will-maintained network of people who can “help” you; (8) buy assets that hold their value over time; and (9) emulate the Amish and Mormons for their sense of community, simple thrifty living, and true to core values. Remember the sources of my education: I’m just a fat old white guy injineer with: Law “degree” from watching Judge Judy, Medical “degree” from watching Doctor Phil, Building “degree” from watching “Holmes on Homes”, and Investing “degree” from reading about Bernie Made-off. I wish you the best. May your opportunities be huge, your difficulties minuscule. And, may you remember kindly the old loon who thought you might listen and benefit from his experiences.

*** end quote ***

All I could think about when the principal mumbled something about going on to: a job, higher education, or service in the military. Was he left out “McDonalds and Wahwah if you’re lucky”.

Think that’s too harsh.

Remember that In the United States, 8 million jobs were lost — most of these jobs will never return. And, any “good jobs” are being exported if at all possible. And, boys are clearly falling behind girls in both educational achievement and aspiration. This pattern has vast implications for marital prospects, since women express a strong preference to marry a man of equal or greater educational and professional potential. The collapse of the marriage culture within the working class means poverty in future children’s lives.

It’s the first generation that will have to settle for a lower standard of living than their parents.

And, they are going to be saddled with a permanent recession / depression economy like Japan’s two “Lost Decades”. Add to that debt and unfunded liabilities that they will have to come to terms with. And, it’s not going to be good times. (Unless we old fogies slash the gooferment back to circa 1790 – 1830 Constitutional limits. Argh!)

Instead I wrote “my” graduate this email:

*** begin quote ***

May I suggest that you read this?

Too bad you couldn’t have heard this instead of what you did hear. You did hear it; didn’t you? I wish I had a transcript to blog about. Argh! Sorry, but imho you didn’t get the best of inspiration.

BUTT (there’s always a big but) maybe you can take a lesson from the message’s text. (I have!) I thought this was excellent. Wish I’d heard it at any of my graduations or any that I’ve attended; maybe some of it might have sunk in.

It’s short. In addition to being good.

*** end quote ***

http://www.businessinsider.com/we-are-what-we-choose-2010-6

*** begin quote ***

I will hazard a prediction. When you are 80 years old, and in a quiet moment of reflection narrating for only yourself the most personal version of your life story, the telling that will be most compact and meaningful will be the series of choices you have made. In the end, we are our choices. Build yourself a great story. Thank you and good luck!

*** end quote ***

# # # # #


RANT: BHO44 and the Gooferment abuses

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/politics/Obama_s-thuggery-is-useless-in-fighting-spill-96684389.html#ixzz0rVxfustO

Obama’s thuggery is useless in fighting spill
By: Michael Barone Senior Political Analyst
June 20, 2010

*** begin quote ***

Or the decision to deny Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal’s proposal to deploy barges to skim oil from the Gulf’s surface. Can’t do that until we see if they’ve got enough life preservers and fire equipment. That inspired blogger Rand Simberg to write a blog post he dated June 1, 1940: “The evacuation of British and French troops from the besieged French city of Dunkirk was halted today, over concerns that many of the private vessels that had been deployed for the task were unsafe for troop transport.”

*** end quote ***

A great line!

Unfortunately, there are a lot folks who are suffering while this nonsense is allowed to go on.

Argh!

# # # # #


RANT: Independence Day?

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

A fellow alumni shared his thoughts for the Fourth. I’m not sure if I agree with his “patriotic” take on the day, the vet, and patriotism. I tapped out a response. Maybe it is harsh. But it’s authentic.

>considering some of the problems we Veterans have had in displaying things, I

The flag limitations are outrageous.

>Happy 4th of July!….

It’s Independence Day. But with the Gooferment taking an obscene percentage of our income and wealth (it’s incalcuable with taxes and fees hidden everywhere) and the large prison population (by number and percentage) and the 52/48 split between welfare / work and the huge number of gooferment “employees” and the national debt and the unfunded liabilities, it’s hard to say “independence” with a straight face.

Since 1970, the dollar has lost 98% of it’s value. The Constitution says only gold and silver are money. The income tax has been a disaster of special interest meddling. The death tax has destroyed more family farms and small business than can be counted. The debt and unfunded liabilities make us serfs. Corporate taxes bury taxes in both every day items and the capital cost of everything that makes stuff. And don’t get me started on welfare with its four generations of “welfare farmers”, corporatism, and the disabling of America. Or the psuedo war on (some) drug and how that impacts our “freedom”.

>I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE

The Pledge is un-American. Written by an American Nazi flag salesman. TO indoctrinate school children. The whole American education system is designed to create dummies. Cannon fodder for the Army and the factories. Designed to be led by the Elite! Argh!

>For all of our other military personnel, where ever they may be.

We need to bring the troops home. And, engage in George Washington’s dictum “trade will all; no entangling alliances”. We need to be the Swiss porcupine.

>Support all of the troops defending our Country.

In case we don’t notice, the borders are being over run and the troops are NOT “defending”. At least, not “defending” us.

>our Military who are protecting our Country for our Freedom.

Ditto. With all the gooferment intrusions into civil society, we’ve lost our freedom. Have you noticed: “free speech zones”, “the surveillance society”, traveled through an airport, tried to carry a gun, or plan your finances with what the gooferment leaves you? Freedom, liberty?

>Thanks to them, and their sacrifices, we can celebrate the 4th of July.

They’ve been duped as have we. Doesn’t make them, and their sacrifices, any less noble.

>We must never forget who gets the credit for the freedoms we have,

Dead Old White Guys?

>of which we should be eternally grateful.

The unique American experiment in liberty. Never occurred anywhere else. Lost to the tyranny of “free lunch” socialism.

>I looked at him in uniform;

And was … … sad. Look at how we treat the wounded warriors. It’s a national disgrace.

>had fallen through the years.

In wars made by deceptive stupid politicians. Did I mention I like Heinlein’s idea that “only combat vets can vote and be allowed to hold public office”? Certainly would make for a lot less “wars”. And, all “wars” should be Constitutionally declared; not fought by tacit agreement. Last “war” that was fought was WW2.

>How many died on foreign soil;

Inexcusable!

>how many mothers’ tears?

Absolutely inexcusable!!

>No, freedom isn’t free.

No, it’s been sold in the halls of Congress and we are made serfs by their perfidy and treason!

>When a flag had draped a coffin of a brother or a friend.

Is brought home in the dead of night, hidden by the media when the right flavor of politician is in office, and wasted by these venial corrupt men and women. Where’s the outrage? I think the President, the Senators of that State, and the Congressional Rep, the Govenor, State reps, and mayor should “welcome” every body home and attend EVERY funeral. If that’s all they did, that would be fine. Maybe then they’d get the “message”?

>Enjoy Your Freedom

I don’t feel very “free”!

>God Bless Our Troops.

With enlightenment.

>say a prayer for our servicemen.

Every night. That they get home safe. Now!

>I HOPE THERE ISN’T ANYONE ON MY E-MAIL LIST THAT WON’T KEEP THIS GOING

I hope that everyone practices “intelligent patriotism.

I hope this comes across as I intended it.

250px-Gadsden_flag_large

Let’s get back to the Dead Old White Guys’ design.

Betsy-Ross-flag-icon

Hope this gets passed around as well. Are you feeling “free”? With Obamacare coming soon?

# # # # #


RANT: Messaging on Facebook about “worst”

Sunday, June 20, 2010

http://www.usnews.com/articles/opinion/2010/06/18/mort-zuckerman-world-sees-obama-as-incompetent-and-amateur.html

Mort Zuckerman: World Sees Obama as Incompetent and Amateur
The president is well-intentioned but can’t walk the walk on the world stage
By Mortimer B. Zuckerman
Posted June 18, 2010

*** begin quote ***

The reviews of Obama’s performance have been disappointing. He has seemed uncomfortable in the role of leading other nations, and often seems to suggest there is nothing special about America’s role in the world. The global community was puzzled over the pictures of Obama bowing to some of the world’s leaders and surprised by his gratuitous criticisms of and apologies for America’s foreign policy under the previous administration of George W. Bush. One Middle East authority, Fouad Ajami, pointed out that Obama seems unaware that it is bad form and even a great moral lapse to speak ill of one’s own tribe while in the lands of others.

*** end quote ***

AND I COMMENTED ON FACEBOOK:

Sad to say, but BHO44 IS this generation’s version of Jimmy Carter. But without the redeeming values of honesty and humility. Too bad; the nation invested a lot of hope in his “change”. Unfortunately he’s not up to the challenge. Something we should have anticipated from his lack of accomplishments. Never mind the lack of a birth certificate. What a joke…

WHICH DREW THIS RESPONSE:

wow

everyones got an opinion

how long has the guy even been in office anyway?

isn’t Bush Jr probably gonna remembered as the worst president of all time, what with getting the US involved in a needless war? apologies for him SHOULD BE MADE

AND I REPLIED:

BHO44 has been in long enough to have his lack of any real experience to expose that he’s just not Presidential material. (imho) He’s just a corrupt Chicago politician with a Socialist agenda. Hopefully, we can recover from his deliberate actions and his mistakes.

Well, I think the liberal media has hung the label “needless war” on Shrub. BTW imho, there’s no doubt that the elusive “weapons of mass destruction” went to Syria. They had six months notice to move them adn clean up. All the politicians and bureaucrats, here and around the world, believed Iraq had them and said so. There are some reports that the USA sold Iraq some of the less lethal ones that he used to gas the Kurdish minority. So, imho “needless” is probably not appropriate.

It is FAIR to critique him for: (1) being biased to hit Iraq because of the supposed assassination of Daddy Bush; (2) clearly being unprepared to win (i.e., you break it you own it); (3) falling into IRAN’s trap by taking out their counterweight in the region. So, there’s enough blame to go around, but not for THAT particular reason.

As far as worst, he ain’t even close. Lincoln is far and away worst. And, again imho, Wilson, FDR, and Truman are the next three in line, with little difference between them.

Hope that this comes across in the spirit I intend. I’m just a “blind man” looking for wisdom. :-)

# # # # #


RANT: and all the “little people” are screwed!

Sunday, June 20, 2010

FROM THE DRUDGE HEADLINE:

BP CEO GOES SAILING

OBAMA GOES GOLFING

# – # – #

And all the “little people” just muddle along in their mundane struggle with the mess!

Argh!

And, then “the elite” wonder why, in a French revolution scenario, they are being taken to the guillotines?

Where’s my pitchfork and torch?

It’s frustrating to have a “leader” that is so inept.

# # # # #



RANT: Obama wants 7$ a gallon gas?

Saturday, June 19, 2010

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/opedcolumnists/gallon_gas_9GlF3o1xIcIBelOV3k0RsK#ixzz0rHq4mUET

$7-a-gallon gas?
The folly of O’s oil-spill ‘fix’
By BEN LIEBERMAN
Last Updated: 2:49 PM, June 18, 2010
Posted: 12:02 AM, June 18, 2010

*** begin quote ***

So what does global-warming legislation have to do with the oil spill?

Good question, because such measures wouldn’t do a thing to clean up the oil or fix the problems that led to the leak.

The answer can be found in Obama Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel’s now-famous words, “You never want a serious crisis to go to waste — and what I mean by that is it’s an opportunity to do things that you think you could not do before.”

*** and ***

The logic linking cap-and-trade to the spill in the Gulf should frighten anyone who owns a car or truck. Such measures force up the price at the pump — Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs thinks it “may require gas prices greater than $7 a gallon by 2020” to meet Obama’s stated goal of reducing emissions 14 percent from the transportation sector.

*** and ***

Emanuel was wrong. The administration shouldn’t view each crisis — including the oil spill — as an opportunity to be exploited, but as a problem to be addressed. And America can’t afford $7-a-gallon gas.

*** end quote ***

I think the should pass the cap ‘n’ tax bill.

ASAP!

And, when the economy tanks, and And, folks pay a Cnote for a fill up. And, they can’t afford to go to work.

There will be the revolution that these bozos want. And, like some French aristocrats found out the hard way, they may be the ones removed from the gene pool.

At least their crazy Socialist ideas will get a proper send off.

American will collapse under 7$ per gallon gas. The economy is build on cheap energy.

Will this be the event that collapses us, like the Roman Empire, and all the empires of human civilization?

Argh!

# # # # #


RANT: Pro $ports?

Saturday, June 19, 2010

http://online.wsj.com/home-page?mod=djemalertNEWS

*** begin quote ***

The Los Angeles Lakers won their 16th NBA championship, dramatically rallying from a fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Boston Celtics 83-79 in Game 7 of the NBA finals.

*** end quote ***

Sigh, who cares?

MP4B = “Millionaires Playing For Billionaires”

And, the “after the win” riots. Why encourage this mindless activities? It’s not like the rioters “accomplished” anything.

Even the athletes in these endeavors seem hard pressed to generate enthusiasm in the interviews.

And, when you think of the tax money that subsidizes the “games”, well, that just sends me over the edge.

Sorry, but it’s all just so trivial in perspective imho.

# # # # #


RANT: Verizonwireless makes me rebuy “my” ringtones

Friday, June 18, 2010

—–Original Message—–

From: @reinke.cc
Sent: Thu Jun 17 09:02:05 EDT 2010
To: vzwkanaCustServiceNYNJ@GL.Verizonwireless.com
Cc:

Subject: Other

Message Body: My ringtones that I bought are not shown on the media store. As a matter of fact, the store says I have never bought one. Am I going to have a problem with my upgraded phones?

—–End Message—–

Argh! What “barbara streisand”!! How many times do they want to be paid for the same stuff?

Does any one care? FTC, FCC, State of NJ.

Argh!

See the form letter below. I can just see the person push button number #327. Argh!

(Note to their IT Architect: Do you think you might be able to get Morning and Afternoon correctly. Or maybe it’s afternoon in INDIA! Argh!)

This war isn’t over yet. I’m tired of paying for the same “content” over and over again. I think or all my cassettes of content and I can’t listen to them on my iPod, iTouch, or computers. And they wonder why there’s “piracy”?

Argh!

# # # # #

From: VZW WFM NE IRT <wfmneirt@HQ.VerizonWireless.com>
Date: June 18, 2010 11:44:04 AM EDT
To: @reinke.cc
Subject: RE: Other (WFM61668233)

Good Afternoon Mr. Reinke,

Thank you for contacting Verizon Wireless through our website. My name is Michelle, and I understand that you’re having a problem with the ringtones that you have online. I apologize for the inconvenience. I certainly know the importance of being able to personalize your device with your favorite tones. I’ll be glad to assist you.

Mr. Reinke, I’m glad that I had an opportunity to speak with you today on your mobile number ending in 3625. Per our conversation, I advised you that you can’t transfer ringtones to a new upgrade. I have provided you the information for the Media Retrieval, please remember that the ringtone swill be grayed out and available for re-purchase.

The My Media Retrieval service is a great service for moving Get It Now content to your new wireless phone. The retrieval process is fairly straight forward and easy. Please use the instructions below to retrieve your Get It Now content.

1. Navigate to the Verizon Wireless website, enter the 10-digit mobile number and password then click Sign In. To register, click Register then follow the step-by-step instructions.

2. From the My Services tab, click My Media.

3. Click Get Started.

5. Ensure the desired items are selected then click Retrieve.

6. To continue, ensure I agree to the terms and conditions is checked then click Accept.

7. Download the desired items.

Downloading retrieved ringtones

1. Ringtones retrieved from the website will be sent via a picture message. From the main screen, press the left soft key to choose Message.

2. Select Inbox then press the center of the 5-way navigation pad.

3. Select the desired picture message then press the center of the 5-way navigation pad.

4. Press the right soft key to choose Options.

5. Select Save (As) Ringtone / Save Sound then press the center of the 5-way navigation pad.

6. Enter a name for the file if desired then press the center of the 5-way navigation pad.

-Content unavailable for retrieval will be grayed- out and unable to select. Reasons for unavailability: the subscription has expired, the equipment is not compatible with the application or the application is no longer offered through Get It Now/ Media Center.

-Content not eligible for My Media Retrieval (will be grayed out and unable to select within the My Media Retrieval Screen):

Full track songs

Wallpaper content

Ringback Tones (Ringback tones transfer automatically)

Non-VZW Tones Ringtone content

Premium Messaging Content (PSMS)

Mobile Web applications

V CAST Videos

Expired subscriptions

Incompatible applications (device cannot support application)

Content purchases within 48 hours of ESN change

Content not transferred with any previous ESN change

Applications no longer supported through Media Center

Important Notes:

Non-VZW branded ringtone content will not be supported

MMS charges apply for any ringtone message sent

I hope the information that I have provided for you today regarding your ringtones was helpful.

I make it my personal goal to resolve all of your wireless concerns. I hope I have done that for you today. We appreciate your business and thank you for using Verizon Wireless. Should you have additional questions or feel your concerns are not resolved, please reply to this e-mail.

Sincerely,

Michelle

Verizon Wireless

Data Technical Support

Monday – Friday 6:30am-3:30pm

803-400-4456 x7703

If you have received this e-mail in error or are not the intended recipient, please notify us immediately by replying to this e-mail and deleting it and all copies and backups thereof. If you are the intended recipient and are a Verizon Wireless customer, this response is subject to the terms of your Customer Agreement.

# # # # #


RANT: Perp walks for kids?

Thursday, June 17, 2010

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/opinion/views/os-mike-thomas-juvenile-arrest-06151020100615,0,4905741.column

Handling of ‘abduction’ case involving teen has been absurd
Mike Thomas
COMMENTARY
June 15 2010

*** begin quote ***

I know that in this paranoid world, you never approach a small child who is by herself, take her by the hand and walk out of a store with her in search of mommy.

*** end quote ***

Now I sent this to a budding little L libertarian who thinks highly of the cops.

*** begin quote ***

From: little L libertarian fat old white guy injineer
Subject: Handling of ‘abduction’ case involving teen has been absurd
To: budding little L libertarian
Date: Wednesday, June 16, 2010, 2:22 AM

Cops over reacting and then violating their own rules, laws, and the accused ‘s rights. Argh! And, you like these guys?

*** end quote ***

And the response was:

*** begin quote ***

You have really become over-biased….I read the entire article and there is absolutely nothing wrong here.

*** end quote ***

To which I responded:

*** begin quote ***

Doing a perp walk on a 14 year old?

That’s against the FL “law”, their own regs, and human decency.

For a mistake?

And, at the time if they didn’t know! (No fault there.) But they had a legal and moral obligation to protect BOTH children until the facts were sorted out.

They were so swelled with their own ego. I’m surprised they didn’t have flogging or worse right there. I’m upset by the fact that you see nothing wrong!

*** end quote ***

Argh!

The police are out of control bureaucrats in funny costumes designed to impress us and bluff us in to subservience!

Argh squared!

# # # # #


RANT: ‘Beach House Bailout’

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=165701

OBAMA WATCH CENTRAL
Is insurance industry next takeover target?
Proposal in Congress puts feds in middle of catastrophe claims
Posted: June 12, 2010 9:10 pm Eastern
By Bob Unruh

*** begin quote ***

“The ‘Homeowners’ Defense Act,’ H.R. 2555, dubbed the ‘Beach House Bailout,’ requires taxpayers across the country, and in your district, to subsidize insurance for wealthy homeowners along the Florida coastline,” the letter to members of Congress said. “The bill is structured to assist the state of Florida (and to a much smaller extent, California) through federal assistance.”

*** end quote ***

Never mind take over, who wants to subsidize rich people on the Florida coast in mansions?

Let Donald, Rush, and whomever fund their own risks!

As a matter of fact, why is the gooferment involved in “insuring” floods any way?

Can you spell ‘moral hazard’?

# # # # #


RANT: You ain’t keeping your employer provided healthcare say the gooferment’s own document

Sunday, June 13, 2010

http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article/537208/201006111923/
Keep-Your-Health-Plan-Under-Overhaul-Probably-Not-Govt-Analysis-Concludes.aspx

Keep Your Health Plan Under Overhaul? Probably Not, Gov’t Analysis Concludes
By DAVID HOGBERG AND SEAN HIGGINS, INVESTOR’S BUSINESS DAILY
Posted 06/11/2010 07:32 PM ET

*** begin quote ***

Internal administration documents reveal that up to 51% of employers may have to relinquish their current health care coverage because of ObamaCare.

*** and ***

A White House official told IBD: “This is a draft document, and we will be releasing the final regulation when it is complete. The president made a promise to the American people that if they liked their health care plan, they can keep it. The regulation, when finalized, will uphold that promise.”

*** end quote ***

Yeah, take a politician’s promise to the bank.

Here we have an example of the deceit of the political class!

# # # # #


RANT: Why is Biden in Kenya? Vacation!

Saturday, June 12, 2010

http://www.lifenews.com/int1571.html

Joe Biden Lends Support to Vote Process for Pro-Abortion Kenya Constitution
by Steven Ertelt LifeNews.com Editor
June 9, 2010

*** begin quote ***

Nairobi, Kenya (LifeNews.com) — Vice President Joe Biden campaigned in Kenya today and, although he did not officially endorse the pro-abortion constitution Kenya citizens are considering this summer, he backed the process allowing its consideration. Kenya is one of many African nations that currently protects women and unborn children.

Biden urged the Kenyan government and its people to support the reforms the government wants to implement.

The government is currently supporting the constitution, which expresses support for the legal rights of children before birth but includes a health exception loophole that would essentially allow unlimited legal abortions.

*** end quote ***

Aside from the pro-life question, why is Biden “campaigning” in Kenya?

Shouldn’t he be home, “campaigning” on USA issues? Oil spill, unemployment, and excessive waste in gooferment come to mind!

Argh!

# # # # #


RANT: Without SSN there’d be no such thing as “identity theft”

Friday, June 11, 2010

http://www.wxpnews.com/archives/wxpnews-432-20100608.htm

Vol. 10, #22 – Jun 8, 2010 – Issue #432
Is Google The Biggest Threat Yet to Your Privacy?

*** begin quote ***

Of course, in many cases we don’t have much choice about giving out that personal data. You can’t just tell the doctor’s office “no” when they ask for your social security number and other personal info – not if you want to get treatment. You have to give that info to your bank because you need a bank account in order to pay your bills and cash your paychecks (sure, it’s possible to survive without one, but it’s not very convenient in today’s world).

However, many people also give out a lot of information that it’s not mandatory to reveal. I am also surprised at how many people put their full dates of birth and their cell phone numbers on their Facebook profiles, visible to the public. Date of birth is a piece of information that’s very valuable to identity thieves, and if you don’t have an “unlimited” plan, anyone who has your cell number can “text bomb” you and cost you hundreds of dollars.

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Argh!

Darn FDR and his Social Security Insurance scheme. Like a Ponzi scheme that you’re force to participate in.

It gave the Feds their universal identifier.

How many people remember that the original SSI cards said “Not for identification purposes”?

We are such boobs. The politicians and bureaucrats lied.

And, we bear the brunt of it.

Stupid, stupid, stupid.

You don’t OWN your name or your SSN!

It should be copyrighted, trademarked, or patented. So you can control it.

But most of all we shouldn’t have it at all!

Argh!

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RANT: Obamacare

Friday, June 11, 2010

This morning, in my email box, was one from a high school classmate of mine. I went nuts.

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Fwd: Help Fight Back for our Seniors
Posted by: XXXXXX XXXXXX
Thu Jun 10, 2010 10:55 am (PDT)

Please look this over and think about it.

XXXXXX

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Friend:

Hoping none of you minds this but I received the below email today and thought you might find it interesting. Also you can download a great brochure on how the new health care law affects seniors here:

http://www.medicare.gov/Publications/Pubs/pdf/11464.pdf.<http://healthcareforamericanow.org/page/ic/qxuldywfvvd9gc/SjVDVw8NBVURWl9bQkpjFAFKH0JQUUoCUw0EVxhEUQJL&gt;

Thank you and share this message with anyone else you think would like to learn the facts.

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Dear Supporter:

The Republicans in Congress are attacking the new health care law and their key strategy is to lie about it.[1] How do we fight back? By telling the truth about the concrete ways the new law improves people’s lives.

Yesterday thousands of seniors gathered with President Obama to participate in a national tele-townhall in Wheaton, Maryland to combat the fraud and misinformation being spread about health reform.[2]

Click here to forward this email to 5 people you know so they can learn the facts.

http://healthcareforamericanow.org/fightforseniors<http://healthcareforamericanow.org/page/ic/qxuldywfvvd9gc/SgNfUgsQAFsXQFVbWApBEg&gt;

The truth is that the new law strengthens the financial health of Medicare and reduces unwarranted subsidies that have lined the pockets of insurance company CEOs and Wall Street big wigs. The truth is that it gives seniors more control over their health care and they will save thousands of dollars by closing the Medicare “donut hole,” including the $250 rebate checks mailed this month.[3]

Click here to download a great fact sheet about closing the prescription drug coverage gap and to send it to 5 people you know.

http://healthcareforamericanow.org/fightforseniors<http://healthcareforamericanow.org/page/ic/qxuldywfvvd9gc/SgNfUgsQAFsXQFVbWApBEg&gt;

The insurance industry lobbyists and their Republican lackeys are spreading lies about reform to hijack it and interfere with its implementation.[4] We can never let that happen.

We must fight back! Click here to forward this email to 5 seniors so they can know the truth.

http://healthcareforamericanow.org/fightforseniors<http://healthcareforamericanow.org/page/ic/qxuldywfvvd9gc/SgNfUgsQAFsXQFVbWApBEg&gt;

In Solidarity,

Melinda Gibson

Health Care for America Now

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1. Boehner Ridicules Obama’s Healthcare Town Hall as PR Gimmick —

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/101933-boehner-ridicules-obamas-healthcare-town-hall-as-pr-gimmick<http://healthcareforamericanow.org/page/ic/qxuldywfvvd9gc/SgdaWgQXSVYJXFcYUxdaBAVQXlUZRQpcDxZcBkFHGlVVVA8GUEkEWwBbXlBDSEEIB1BTR1hSFh4NW1MOV0cYDAAEWkELBwdGAB5EWkYLHgkCVVwfVURIQxAUVQpbWVwHDg&gt;

2. The Affordable Care Act: Strengthening Medicare, Combating Misinformation and Protecting America’s Senior —

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/affordable-care-act-strengthening-medicare-combating-misinformation-and-protecting-<http://healthcareforamericanow.org/page/ic/qxuldywfvvd9gc/ShFeUE4UFFEWQB1aVwNaAgYWUVRSWBdXA1teBhtXVBYASFdWF0kVQBdWXlJFDVYPCldXH1lSAVoBWEAGG1daCQcEQlwNA0tZDEBZW1cKQQwCTVldWhoEXQYUQhFZQFAHEQxYUk4&gt;

3. HealthReform.gov: Answers for Families, Seniors and Small Businesses —

http://www.healthreform.gov/about/answers.html#seniors<http://healthcareforamericanow.org/page/ic/qxuldywfvvd9gc/SgRUWhYQSVULQEdQQxYdCRdUXBFHUgtaDUtB&gt;

4. Health Insurance Companies Spent Millions to Fight Reform in First Quarter —

http://healthcareforamericanow.org/site/content/insurance_companies_spent_millions_to_fight_reform<http://healthcareforamericanow.org/page/ic/qxuldywfvvd9gc/ShZfQQZLBVsLR1VbRUpaDxBMQlNaVABsAVZfE1daXAEWOkVFBgoSawhaXFlYCl0SPE1fbVJeAlsWZkAGUFtHCQ&gt;

You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups “By and Large” group.

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Dear XXXXXX,

At the risk of infuriating you and injecting politics in our relatively sedate Yahoo Group, I’d like to respond to the “Obamacare” facing all of us.

The crap that has passed as “law” is imho immoral, ineffective, and inefficient.

Let me be very specific!

(1) Immoral because it:

(1a) Moves the country further from the free market in healthcare. Markets allow humans to cooperate peacefully operating in their own best interest. It’s immoral to institute Socialism in “Medical Care”. I should pay for my needs as you should for you. It’s not fair to force me to pay for yours at the detriment of my needs.

(1b) It further disconnects the consumer from the decision. As we learned in Economics class, medical care is an excellent example of an inelastic demand curve. Demand is nearly infinite at all prices. So it must be “rationed”. For all it’s flaws, price (or cost) is an excellent damper on demand. One can decry the fact that millionaires get better health care than paupers, but that’s life. And even in the worker’s paradise of the USSR or China that is still true.

(1c) Abortion! It forces the pro-life taxpayer like me to fund a morally abhorrent practice of killing babies. There is no moral basis for the State to have any role in killing its citizens. In fact, the DoI says “All men have an inalienable right to life, liberty, and property”. (I like the early Jeffersonian formulation better.) Following that line, the Gooferment has a small role in ensuring the protection of babies after conception and a larger role in protecting them as they get more mature. We never decided when that inalienable right inures.

(1d) Obamacare is immoral because it is knowingly built on several lies. A deliberate deception of the People was perpetrated in the scope, cost, and impact. Scope in that the crafters knew that this was a fundamental change and covered it up with “you can keep your insurance”, “you can keep your doc”, and “business as usual”. They know this is NOT true. Cost was papered over with phony estimates that they knew were not true and they know that political estimates are always off by a factor of 10 to 100. Impact in they knew there would be rationing of care for seniors as in Britain and Canada with NICE panels, reducing Medicare by 500M$ while the number of insured increases by a third, and the Doctor fix would NEVER be passed later. Never mind that the taxes start before benefits. Taxes go for ten years and benefits for five. Start up hides the true cost.

(1e) It’s immoral because like “Social Security” it will be impossible to repeal. We can’t go back when The People recognize it is a mistake. Once people begin to plan it into their lives, it can not be ripped out. There’s no going back. And, even today, the invisible hand of the marketplace is adapting: Employers are planning to drop benefits; Employers are delaying hiring because of uncertainty; People are trying to figure out how their health will change; Doctors are planing retirement; and Student are taking other career choices.

(2) Obamacare is ineffective.

(2a) What is it? Is it about “health”, “heath care”, “health care insurance”, “health care financing”, “health care accessibility”, or something else. One sign of ineffectiveness is when folks can’t define what they are doing and why. The debate on this as well as the labeling shifted all over the lot as politicians sought to whizz one by. It’s ineffective because depending upon what the objective being considered, it by the proponent’s own argument does NOT accomplish it. Let’s take a few! “Lower costs”, no. “Cover everyone”, no. “Single payer”, no. “Reign in insurers”, no. And, on and on.

(2b) Economists have long pointed out that the disconnect between the consumer and the cost leads to bad behavior. Medicare is a classic example. People get “care” without regard to cost. Think old folks would be buying all those “Hover-rounds” if they were footing the bill? We grew up in the old free market. My Mom scrutinized the bill for my appendix operation that she had to pay. She had insurance. But she paid and was reimbursed 80%. My wife was in the hospital for 35 days to the tune of a million bucks. The bill was a foot thick. We had two “insurances” so we didn’t even have to look at it. The old “insurance system” was bad; this will be worse. (It’s not “one old system” since it silently morphs, but for sake of argument let’s consider it one “old” versus “new”.)

(2c) Obamacare does NOTHING to even begin to measure effectiveness. It doesn’t even pretend to try to. How much does “medical care” improve our lives and how will we as a nation measure it. Live births, infant mortality, quality of life, quantity of life. It’s ineffective because we don’t know what effect will look like.

(2d) Obamacare suffers from what the Austrian School of Economics identifies as the “lack of a market”. Like tax policy, it very nebulous how much will “we” spend on Obamacare. The Socialists don’t have market costs to determine how much is enough. If I earn 10K$, 100K$, or 1M$, I know I can’t afford a 10M$ medical bill without help. Each year, there will be a political battle to fund Obamacare. How much is enough? Who gets screwed? What will we cover? How do we cut costs? All because we don’t have individuals deciding how much can I afford, how much do I want to pay, and what are my alternatives. It’s Socialisms unsolvable problems because everything becomes political and different “sides” fight over “the commons”. Politicans love it because they are in the driver’s seat. Essential to this fight.

(3) Obamacare is inefficient!

(3a) It introduces some 300 gooferment entities into healthcare. That’s just what’s on the drawing board. Someone has to pay for all of that. Who? Yup, the taxpayer. And, those dollars won’t go to healing people.

(3b) It replicates the VA Healthcare System, Native American Indian System, Medicaid Heathcare System, and (my personal favorite) the Medicare Healthcare System. These are all models of efficiency! Really, they are perfect models of what we can expect from Obamacare. Fraud, waste, and abuse in Medicare is estimated by the Gooferment itself to be a third to a half of all money spent. Private estimates are higher.

(3c) Massachusetts’ Healthcare System is Obamacare in microcosm. It is already plagues with cost, coverage, delivery, and administrative problems. In the beginning years.

(3d) England, Canada, and most places that have some version of Obamacare are font of illustration of what the problems are. My personal favorite example is the 24 hour MRI billboard at Niagara Falls; for Canadians seeking a life saving MRI before it’s too late. Did you know that a map of GE’s fastest most-expensive newest MRI machines are all along the Canadian border; why is that?

(3e) Obamacare muddies the line between participant and referee. In pre-Obamacare days, “The Serf” (insured) fought with “The Nobel” (insurer) over coverage and could appeal to “The King” (the government) for relief. When in Obamacare, and the gooferment death panel denies you some needed or life-saving medical miracle, to who will you appeal? The Gooferment’s Courts? You’ll die before you get help. But then that is the idea. It’s eugenics all over again. Medical care for those who serve the State. Everyone else can go to hell.

(3f) It takes over charity. It dehumanizes society. It makes the gooferment the arbiter of who lives and die.

Sorry but this fat old white guy injineer thinks that Obamacare is a disaster of our own causing. There ain’t no such thing as free lunch.

I am passionately involved in this because my wife needs her medical care to stay alive for as long as she can. Obamacare, when it rations care, will deliberately deprive her of her life. Silently, in a very academic fashion, it will decide who is worth saving based on “adjusted quality years” (i.e., can you still work and pay taxes or are you collecting Social Security). It’s not going to be pretty. And this may just start the revolution that these Socialists want. They may not be happy with the outcome. Remember what happened in France as the “upper class” went to the guillotine?

Pf-reinke-nstein

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I think the revolution will come. The question is: “Is it too late?”.

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I left out about the Corn Husker Kickback, the Louisiana Purchase, and the various and sundry backroom deals to buy the votes to pass it.

I left out about how it elevates “The King” Gooferment to new levels of power.

I left out how Unconstitutional it is and how right Lysander Spooner was.

I left out how the elite (i.e., the Politicians and Bureaucrats) excluded themselves.

I left out how pissed I am at the whole damned thing! Where’s my pitchfork? Where’s the tar ‘n’ feathers? Where’s the torches? Where’s the Bastille?

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RANT: Deadbeats are deadbeats!

Friday, June 11, 2010

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/01/business/01nopay.html

Owners Stop Paying Mortgages, and Stop Fretting
Wendy Pemberton, a barber in Florida, with a customer, Howard Cook. She stopped paying her mortgage two years ago.
By DAVID STREITFELD
Published: May 31, 2010

*** begin quote ***

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — For Alex Pemberton and Susan Reboyras, foreclosure is becoming a way of life — something they did not want but are in no hurry to get out of.

Foreclosure has allowed them to stabilize the family business. Go to Outback occasionally for a steak. Take their gas-guzzling airboat out for the weekend. Visit the Hard Rock Casino.

*** end quote ***

Deadbeats are deadbeats.

As the taxpayer, why am I financing them?

Just cause you bought high and it’s low now, how is that society’s problem?

Sorry, it’s a private matter. Unless you are claiming fraud, in which case, the gooferment should investigate.

Otherwise, tough love!

I’d like to go to Outback, but I’m “poor”. I have to pay my taxes so they can be subsidized! Argh!

Ditto the boat and the Hard Rock.

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