Reinke Faces Life

http://www.patmedia.net/marklevinson/cool/cool_illusion.html

from The LangaList Standard Edition 2006-05-18

A Free Email Newsletter from Fred Langa
That Helps You Get More From Your Hardware,
Software, and Time Online

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Hello, Fred! Just thought I'd send the link below to you for the Just for Grins section of the newsletter. It's an example of just how most of our brains work. We start out seeing one thing but, upon further inspection, we wind up seeing another. The page is suitable for all ages in all countries of the world. —Bob de Violini

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Sigh, now we can't depend upon what we see because of … evolution?

http://games.myway.com/index.html

Today's jigsaw puzzle the Statue of Liberty with NYC skyline minus the WTC. Sensitive or Insensitive? I'd say "in".

But then, I'm the guy who says we should have a private fund raising drive to rebuild it just a little taller than it was. When a bully knocks you down, you don't roll over and let him kick you.

As an L, I hate the gummamint enslaving us. I'd have said sell the WTC towers because why is a quasi government agency running real estate in the hotest market in the world?

But, when someone kicks over my stuff, the gloves come off.

It's one thing if one of our own rants and raves. It's quite another if comes from the outside in. But then I'd also say we should be minding our own business.

But, this was "not relaxing", which is why I start my day with a modest mental challenge to get the brain going. 

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2006/05/17/a_glimmer_of_hope_on_immigration/?rss_id=Boston+Globe+–+Op-ed+columns

A glimmer of hope on immigration
By Derrick Z. Jackson, Globe Columnist  |  May 17, 2006
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PRESIDENT BUSH slipped just enough humanity into his national immigration address to show this is one issue he sees with complexity. After saying he will send the National Guard to the borders and build new fences and walls, he acknowledged that millions of people are here to stay and millions are still going to try to come here to stay.
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We are no longer welcoming immigrants to the US. "Illegal Aliens" is like Jumbo Shrimp.

If they are draining "our" social program (I didn't institute them), then let's eliminate the welfare. At the very least, require people seeking benefits to prove they are a citizen.

Seems simple to me. Fix the problem. Not bandaid the symptoms. 

The Universe gave me a time out for I guess something I did wrong. It took a day out of my life. Inopportune but not a disaster.

Arghhh, I had to sign up three old folks for Medicare Part D today. PIA! I used the AARP plan since it seemed the "best". Not that I understand the nuances of what's going on. $25.month is like playing the lotto. And, they were talkign about paying penalties if you didn't pick one by today. So it's done. All the old folks hate taking drugs anyway. What part of "non compliant" do these docs not understand. If'n' I was a doc and I had one of these geezers I was tryin' to help, I would not prescribe anything other than once a day in the morning pills. No joke, I had one doc rx my mom with a sequence of pills during the day. First up take a 25, at 11am take a 50, at 3pm take 25, and at bedtime take a 50. I know fromt he drug bills that she's taking ~ one 50 a day. When I brought it do the doc's attention, "no big deal" and "any improvement from the drugs would be marginal at best". Arghhh, I should have made the doc take the pills. Another quick horror story. Another geezer, my aunt, love dearly but would love to strangle sometimes, goes to her regular doc, who KNOWS how she hides pills under her toungue to spit out later. He rxs her with 90 day supply rx that cost 800 $!!!! Those pills are STILL sitting on top the refigerator. Arghhhh!! I hate: the gummamint, docs, and pharmacies! It's a conspiracy. Why do I need to pay a doctor to get a drug. The drug war. It's absurd. It's like having to bring a note from your parents. Mommy Gummamint! What a system.

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2006/05/12/condoleezza_rice_at_boston_college_i_quit/?rss_id=Boston+Globe+–+Op-ed+columns

Condoleezza Rice at Boston College? I quit
By Steve Almond  |  May 12, 2006

An open letter to William P. Leahy, SJ, president of Boston College.

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DEAR Father Leahy,

I am writing to resign my post as an adjunct professor of English at Boston College.

I am doing so — after five years at BC, and with tremendous regret — as a direct result of your decision to invite Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to be the commencement speaker at this year's graduation.

Many members of the faculty and student body already have voiced their objection to the invitation, arguing that Rice's actions as secretary of state are inconsistent with the broader humanistic values of the university and the Catholic and Jesuit traditions from which those values derive.

But I am not writing this letter simply because of an objection to the war against Iraq. My concern is more fundamental. Simply put, Rice is a liar.

She has lied to the American people knowingly, repeatedly, often extravagantly over the past five years, in an effort to justify a pathologically misguided foreign policy.

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Well, this fellow is a great exemplar of Catholic values (i.e., charity, forgiveness, humility, temperence, honesty).

Now I am not so sure that there might NOT be whole bunches of liars in Washington. Socialist and Statists by the boatload sure! But, "liars"? I think one has to be very circumspect about calling anyone a "liar". Now I have no use for politicians of either ilk in general. Having said that, the last time I thought a politician was a "liar" was when Bill Clinton parsed the word "is". And he gave that testimony himself!

If a politician says X Y or Z, then I am inclined to give them the benefit of the doubt as far as lying is concerned. Stupidity, incompetence, and immaturity should be self-evident. Truth is not.

As far as memos and papers and emails and conversations, I am willing to bet that "stuff" gets lost. Leadership in business and government has the attention span of a 4 year old. Get them to read a memo and they zone out. When I make a presentation to them, I try and make it only one slide. AND, even that they'll forget. Tell them your opinion and they'll go right out an do the opposite. We are an error prone species.

Liar? That verdict I'll leave to the accused and the Intelligent Designer.

Too many of the accusers have forgotten Jesus and the adulteress tale.

"Let he, who is without sin, cast the first stone."

It sure isn't me!

Sorry, Steve. I think you're making a mistake and I hope you unemployment checks may teach you a little about humanity.

TO BAD!

Today 11 May 06 at 0710 edst white car sg 20337 zipping down route 1 with what I assume is one state worker commuting to work in a car I am paying for. (Ain't I generous?) Anyway, speeding at I guess 65 to hurry to get to I assume trenton to protect and serve me. Thankfully the driver only got out of the left lane once while I could see it disappearing into the distance. I like the rest of the serfs can't afford a "revenue collection agent" giving me a receipt for services rendered protecting me form the dangers of speeding. No, the rest of the serfs on Route 1 have to pick our way thru West Windsor's routine radar traps. We can't speed like our rulers. But any way, I said "thankfully" because the driver of said state car doesn't signal. Not that unreasonable; no driver signals any more cause, someone will just close up on you. But the efficient police would ticket you if they ever saw a serf do it cause it's a nice "revenue enhancement".

Also, you might inquire of President Bush why also today the driver of Amtrack white truck G63-12513 thought it necessary to speedingly tailgate me in the middle lane. I guess he too, it was a he, was rushing to get to work to make the trains run on time. Of course as a serf, I recognized my place and got out of his way. No seriously, I just thought it was wise when the grill filled my back window. It was until after he zoomed by that I saw the amtrack logo and the white federal plate. I am sure glad I didn't hold up the important work of Amtrack by delaying this dedicated civil servant. There were probably meetings to go to and dougnuts to eat.

Arghhhh!

No I didn't think so. Let them eat cake! Let them drive to the right so the empire can expand. Maybe I can get a state car to go to work? No silly rabbit, that's for the ruling class.

Wife's cardiologist tell us of the two tier med care in India.

Frau's cardiologist related the story of his mominlaw who died in India. May she rest in peace. There are two systems — one government for every one and one you pay for. He relayed the story how mominlaw was in the "better" system. The hospital bill had to be paid each morning. Reviewing her chart, he saw lots of tests, meds, and stuff. He said he could not, as he would expect to be able to, figure out what the medical strategy was. He said we don't know how lucky we have it here in the USA. The college prof husband had died prior and his four month hospitalization leading to his death wiped out their savings. So our doc paid the bill. He didn't say how much. That might have been interesting also.

From my reading about India, I know about the corruption and bureaucracy in their systems. So they have a "free government system" of health care that the doc says is a disaster and a "pay as you go" system that is (slightly?) better. Sound familiar. Like the Canadian and English systems. Considering that India was a colony of England, one can't be surprised.

So, having seen Medicare up close, runing like a KGB spymaster, the affairs of three old folks, it's just as ugly. Can it compare? Maybe; maybe not.

It is CLEAR to me from my personal knowledge that:

(A) Hillary-care or any single payer (i.e., government) health care would be a disaster. We have evidence. There already exists in this country: (1) VA health care; (2) Medicare; and (3) Medicaid. We have Canada and England as foreign exemplars.

(B) The combination of private insurance and a government program "insures" a blizard of paperwork.

(C) When you have multiple private insurances regulated by State and Federal laws and regulations, then be prepared for paperwork, finger pointing, and a lot of mad medical people.

(D) One has to have an organized approach to handling the paperwork on Day 1. You can't catch up. And, you might not even be able to keep up when you're being blitzed.

###

http://www.lewrockwell.com/rockwell/tsa.html

Will the TSA Be Always With Us?
by Llewellyn H. Rockwell, Jr.

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Instead we got the TSA, a Stalinist creation. Everyone please do his or her part to pin this dreadful agency on the Bush administration, which is precisely where the blame belongs.
 
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I am "adapting" to life with the TSA. I don't fly. Unless my job insists, or other such duress, a plague on the airlines for going along with it. They won't get my money voluntarily. Boycott! And, girl cott. Like the line from the movie "War Games" to quoting WOPR, "A strange game. The only winning move is not to play.", I chose not to play!

… … why was state car sg 18760 doing in excess of 75 on 295 around mile marker 51 at 0720 this morning (10 May 06)? At least it was a small car, colored green, if not being "green" and saving gas.

You might also want to ask Hunterdon County government why cg 18180 a big white pickup truck was doing over 80 and tailgating on 295 south in burlington county also this morning? Guess the driver was in a hurry to get to work to serve the taxpayers of his county. Looked like a he in my rear view mirror as he zig zaged thru. Maybe he was turned around since I KNOW Hunterdon is north west of where he was NOT south.

ANd, since you're interested in saving my gas, and I probably paid for some fraction of this waste, perhaps you can ask the GSA about another truck GS63 12513. If they'd be so kind as to not speed on NJ roads, even if they were partially built with federal money, then you'd be happy if they NOT rub the serf's noses in their second class status!

We need a good tax revolt NOW! Why does the gummamint tax gas? So we can watch the State's cars speed by.

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=50094

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It's becoming increasingly obvious that we have two standards of justice in this country – one for you and me and the other for "the commissars" like Kennedy.

This guy was born, not just with a silver spoon in his mouth, but with a get-out-of-jail-free card in his back pocket. Because of their position, their money, their "stature," people like Patrick Kennedy – just as his father did – are able to get away with murder.

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RHIP (Rank Hath Its Privileges)

http://www.theconservativevoice.com/article/14417.html

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But like a lot of well-to-do Cape and Islands landowners and sailing enthusiasts, {Ted} Kennedy doesn't want to share his Atlantic playground with an energy facility, no matter how clean, green, and nearly unseen. Last month he secretly arranged for a poison-pill amendment <polnotes.typepad.com/windfarmblog/2006/04/the_language_in.html>, never debated in either house of Congress, to be slipped into an unrelated Coast Guard funding bill. It would give the governor of Massachusetts, who just happens to be a wind farm opponent, unilateral authority to veto the Cape Wind project. 

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RHIP

It would seem that politicians govern us rather than being "equal in front of the law".

When do the sheep rise up?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/06/AR2006050601336_pf.html

Confident Democrats Lay Out Agenda
Party Plans Probes Of Administration If It Wins the House
By Jonathan Weisman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, May 7, 2006; A01

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Democratic leaders, increasingly confident they will seize control of the House in November, are laying plans for a legislative blitz during their first week in power that would raise the minimum wage, roll back parts of the Republican prescription drug law, implement homeland security measures and reinstate lapsed budget deficit controls.

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As a Big L and a Little L Libertarian, I have no use for EITHER big government party.

But here is an example of the folly of voting for either.

The minimum wage benefits: (1) politicians allowing them to claim they are helping the poor; (2) government workers who all get a raise when the minimum wage goes up; and (3) union workers who all get a raise when the minimum wage goes up.

The minimum wage hurts: (1) the poor who lose those marginal jobs; (2) the young who lose those jobs as trainign for bigger and better things; (3) students who grab those jobs to tide them over; (4) small business people who can't afford to pay the higher wages and on the margin are driven out of business; (5) the consumer who now pays higher prices for the same good or service; and (6) the taxpayer who now has to pay for more expensive government big time, the welfare costs for all the people who are now out of work, and the opportunity costs of all those taxpayers who are now not paying any taxes at all.

So why would any one still advocate for a minimum wage?

(1) Who does the "political class", government workers, and union people ususally vote for?; (2) Their own economic stupidity that they never learned the "economic laws of gravity"; and  (3) The economic ignorence of the voters allows them to fool the people.

I would advote voting Libertarian. If no libertarian is on the ballot opposing a "minimum wager", then write yourself in. It can't hurt! Vote communist. At least you'll get a certifiable fool rather than someone hwo is trying to defraud you!

Fox is ranting about the Social Security Ponzi scheme. How to unwind it? A crisis is looming. Going broke! Again! The gummamint has stolen the cash flow for its own uses.

Un injineers always pride ourselves on recognizing what reality is, defining where we want to go, and building that bridge.

So let's start building a solution.

We can't stop this thing tomorrow because people are depending upon it there. Let's look at how that fellow in Chile unwound their equivalent system. 

http://www.cato.org/pubs/policy_report/pr-ja-jp.html 

He created a three tier system. Current pensioners continued as they were today. Current workers could stay in the system or go out on their own with a "recognition bonds". New workers were automatically in the new private "social security system".

Why can't we do the same?  

http://www.thnt.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2006605050409

Restraining orders work
Home News Tribune Online 05/5/06
By RICHARD KHAVKINE
STAFF WRITER

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Restraining orders work as intended the vast majority of the time: The person against which the order is issued will respect the law and stay away.

More often than not, the fear of serious consequences will sway a person to abide by the order's terms.

"Given the fact that someone has a restraining order against them, they are not a law-abiding person," said Rachel Partyka, an attorney concentrating on family law with Central Jersey Legal Services.

Still, restraining orders, usually secured through the Family Part of the Chancery Division of Superior Court, are useful in the majority of cases, said Sandy Clark, the associate director of the New Jersey Coalition for Battered Women.

"Those are the cases we're not going to see," she said. "They're very useful for many, many women for keeping a batterer at bay."

But, as events in South Amboy early Wednesday morning proved, taking out a restraining order is by no means a guarantee of safety.

"Unfortunately, a piece of paper can't protect you from a butcher knife or a bullet," said Partyka.

On Tuesday, Donna Beckmann-Palladino, 36, secured a final restraining order against her estranged husband, 32-year-old Joseph Palladino. Less than 24 hours later, both were dead.

Before jumping to his death from the Victory Bridge in Perth Amboy, he stabbed and shot his wife, killing her at her mother's South Amboy home, according to law enforcement. Donna Beckmann-Palladino's mother, Mary Jane Beckmann, also was killed.

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Given the anecdotal evidence that the reporter cites, and HNT liberal press bias, the headline is a joke. A more appropriate headline might have been "Restraining orders are not protection", or maybe "Restraining orders are good if everyone obeys", or even "Restraining orders are a bad joke".

If I had an abused daughter and she sought a restraining order, then I'd violate the gun transfer law in the People's Republic of New Jersey and give her my "abusive spouse discouragement device". It has the value of being 100% effective when used. When the abusive spouse came around to do her harm, in violation of the court's order, she'd have an alternative. No, not dial 911 and die! She could defended herself effectively. My advice would be shoot! And, keep shooting till its empty, Then reload and empty it again. (Admitted exaggeration; just slightly!) Problem solved. No 911 call needed; you know the police would be there in record time. Can't have an ordinary citizen doing their job. We might find out we don't need them so much.

When the Court issues a restraining order, the Sheriff's office should: immediately deputize her to enforce the order, escort the woman to the firing range, give her some lessons with practice, and "loan" her the pistol of her choice. We know that they are always confiscating guns, let's put them to good use. Further, the court should give her the PRESUMPTION of innocence in any shooting unless it's can be proved she went "hunting". With this type of a restraining order, any spouse would be wise to be extra sure about "staying away".

My personal recommendation is the good old 1911 Colt 45. While it may hurt the shooter's wrist, arm, or shoulder, the abusive spouse isn't gong to be be doing much of anything after receiving "treatment". It's only in the movies that people get shot and keep on going like the energizer bunny.

The dead old white guys, aka the Founding Fathers, recognized that "All men are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights. Among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." The Second Amendment was enshrined in the Constitution for just such people as Ms. Donna Beckmann-Palladino, Ms. Mary Jane Beckmann, Saoule Ms. Sveltana Moukhametova, and all the abused spouses usually women in New Jersey. They should have been able to protect themselves.

In better days, it was joked that "God made men and women. Sam Colt made them equal." We need to remember that.

Am I worried that it will be like the gunfight at the OK Corral?

No, I trust my fellow New Jerseyians to know when they are being threatened. Any woman who is a afraid is entitled to the full protection of the State. One of those protections is an express trip to the gun store. But, no, here in the People's Republic of New Jersey, all we give people is a piece of paper and expect that to stop an enraged or psychotic spouse. I like Sam Colt's solution better.

The Anti-Gun proponents would like to believe that we live in a peaceful civilized society where laws protect people. Us gun nuts know that the real world is a dangerous place. Two-legged and four-legged predators abound. Abusive spouses and bears come to mind. The article cites abusive spouses. Don't forget in California the jogger killed by a cougar and in Tennessee a child killed by a bear. Lest you think that the street will run red, consider the many jurisdictions where concealed carry is permitted; some without control. Florida was supposed to be where every road rage incident would devolve into shoot out. New Hampshire has had it for while. You know that the press would have dutiful reported even one incident. New Orleans demonstrated that it is the people who enforce a law and order society. When the good folks of NOLA were gone, crime ran rampant. Heinlein, a famous scifi writer, wrote "an armed society is a polite society". And, it is so true.

There are other benefits of an armed society. The value of concealed carry is that you don't have to carry to receive a benefit. If a criminal has 100 potential victims, then he has to pick one. If out of that hundred people ten are packing, then the criminal has a 10% chance of facing an armed victim. "Hmmm" says the criminal who should I pick? The gay guy. Ever hear of the Pink Pistols? The thin spindly blond woman. Agggg, that's Paxton Quigley and she's describing what a center of mass is to me with a laser assist sight. I know. says out hypothetical criminal, the squat little brownish guy with the big mustache, looks like an mexican arab. Ohhh, good day Mr. Massad Ayoob. Yes sir, I'd be happy to put my hands up. See the unarmed sheep are protected when we "salt" the flock with a few armed sheep. The criminal has to guess. Sometimes they will guess wrong …  dead criminal! Don't have to worry about recidivism then. There's reason why burglars choose unoccupied houses. And remember that TV show that ask hardened criminals what they feared most? Not the cops, the courts, or jail. It was an armed potential victim!

There is no magic in a gun. It's just a tool. Dangerous? No more so then so are cars and chainsaws. Handle it with care, of course. Would all these women have survived? I don't know. But I do know they would have had a chance. And I for one would have liked them to have that chance.

So bottom line, I grieve for these women killed by our collective stupidity. We didn't give them the understanding, tools, and training to preserve their own lives. Worse, we fooled them into beleiving we'd protect them. Let's fix that now.

Any abused spouse is welcome to come by and chat!

http://freetalklive.com/wiki/index.php?title=FTL_2006-04-25

Well the FTL boys have certainly outdid themsleves this time. Just when you thought that they could NOT make Big Gummmint look any worse, an unnamed LAPD dummy hands them a softball. I had to check it out 'cuase I thought to myself "no one could be that dumb' but I was wrong. Father State's copy did give the old gal a ticket for "crossing too slowly". What a fool.

http://www.montereyherald.com/mld/montereyherald/news/14341752.htm 

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How could an LAPD officer, as reported Monday in the Daily News, issue a $114 ticket to an elderly woman for struggling to cross a busy five-lane boulevard as the "Don't-walk" signal blinked?

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Will everyone now conceed that we were just fooled by the illusions that the cops are: "our friends", "just here to protect and serve us", and "do a dangerous job that needs doing"?

Sigh.

This is akin to the DC shortening the yellow duration on traffic signals when the installed the "red light" cameras. It's not about safety because accidents skyrocketed. It's about revenue which is automatically extracted from the driving public.

In this case, they must have run out of doughnuts at the police station and this fellow was in a bad mood.

Seriously, was this the proper response?

$114 from a poor old lady.

OK here's my suggestion.

Cop suspended without pay until some citizens determine if he should be prosecuted for misconduct or just fired. His boss ditto. His boss ditto. Up the line, until we reach the mayor.

The Mayor and the Governator should be made to cross that street four times every day for a year. For fun, lets give them those glasses that they use to demonstrate elder eyesight, put gravel in one shoe, and hunch them over with a weight around their neck. Then will give them a cane and a plastic sack with two six packs of ensure.

Betcha that light gets fixed before they ever arrive.

And, lest we forget about the "engineers" who deployed such a system. give them the cop treatment.

If the bathroom can be smart enough to turn the water on when I put my hands by the faucet, do you think the traffic lights at the intersection might be samrt enough to know when someone needs extra time? And, since I have sat at night at traffic lights waiting for the dumb light to give me the green when there is no one insight for miles, do you think maybe it should know that it should change?

See the one size fits all solution of Mommy Goverenment and Father State condems us to endure such stupidity!

You can't make this stuff up! If you did, people would say "can't happen here"!