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.

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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!