POLITICAL: Why do I identify with the underdog?

Thursday, March 9, 2017

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4285968/Epic-battle-British-soldiers-African-tribe.html

What happened AFTER Rorke’s Drift: Remarkable untold story of an epic battle between British soldiers and an African tribe which brought a definitive end to the Zulu War is revealed 140 years after the conflict 

  • Little know (sic) battle between British and Bapedi tribe at Fighting Kopke was a definitive moment in the Zulu War
  • Despite being outnumbered more than three to one and having far less weapons, tribe fought to the very end 
  • Bapedi were finally defeated by Brits and their Swazi allies under the command of Sir Garnet Wolseley in 1879

By Keiligh Baker for MailOnline
PUBLISHED: 07:30 EST, 6 March 2017 | UPDATED: 09:43 EST, 6 March 2017 

*** begin quote ***

The remarkable story of an epic battle between British soldiers and a vastly outnumbered African tribe which brought a definitive end to the Zulu War has been revealed in a new book.

The little known Battle at Fighting Kopke was overshadowed by the story of the British defence of Rorke’s Drift which took place 11 months earlier and was later immortalised in the film Zulu.

Following the British annexation of land north of the Vaal River in South Africa in 1877, the native Bapedi tribe had been at loggerheads for two years with the British.

The conflict came to a head in a fierce four day battle at Fighting Kopke where the Bapedi were finally defeated by British troops and their Swazi allies under the command of Sir Garnet Wolseley in November 1879.

*** end quote ***

Tremendous casualties and everyone “loses”.

Hard to feel sympathy for the British and their Empire. Built over the bodies of their fellow human beings.

For some reason, I empathize with the underdog.

I wonder if someday, Americans will be fighting in their own homeland. Hopelessly against insurmountable odds?

It reminds me of: “And how we burned in the camps later, thinking: What would things have been like if every Security operative, when he went out at night to make an arrest, had been uncertain whether he would return alive and had to say good-bye to his family? Or if, during periods of mass arrests, as for example in Leningrad, when they arrested a quarter of the entire city, people had not simply sat there in their lairs, paling with terror at every bang of the downstairs door and at every step on the staircase, but had understood they had nothing left to lose and had boldly set up in the downstairs hall an ambush of half a dozen people with axes, hammers, pokers, or whatever else was at hand? . . .” — Alexander Solzhenitsyn

Hope I’m wrong, but it might be against our “own” Gooferment someday!

Can’t happen here!

Remember the Japanese internment, Waco, and Ruby Ridge?

# – # – # – # – # 

Leave a Comment » | Political | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

RANT: USPS trying to “help’ — when I really need discard!

Wednesday, March 8, 2017

My USPS® Free Upgrade Offers Preview of Incoming Mail
Example of Informed Delivery on desktop and mobile device

We are excited to announce that the My USPS application will soon be upgraded to offer you more benefits and convenience.

No action is required from you – you will retain your My USPS benefits, but will also have access to Informed Delivery® notifications, a new, free feature that gives you the ability to see a digital preview of your incoming mail. Informed Delivery allows you to view grayscale images of the exterior, address side of your household’s letter-sized mailpieces* on a computer, tablet, or mobile device. This new feature offers the convenience of seeing what is coming to your mailbox – anytime, anywhere.

Now when you log in to your My USPS account, you will be able to track packages and view a preview of your letter-sized mailpieces in one, integrated dashboard. Your dashboard will display mailpiece images for a seven-day period; you can also opt to receive these images via email notification.

To learn more about Informed Delivery notifications, please visit the Informed Delivery FAQs. We are proud to offer you more insight into your mail delivery, and thank you for being a valued USPS customer.

Sincerely,
Your United States Postal Service®

# – # – # – # – # 

Now all I need is a way to discard it — electronically.

# – # – # – # – # 

Leave a Comment » | Ranting | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

RANT: Some charity “leaders” are overpaid

Tuesday, March 7, 2017

FROM WSJ

The Rewards of Charity 

Charities are becoming a lot more generous with pay at the top. The tax-exempt organizations, which include many hospitals and colleges as well as traditional charities, provided seven-figure compensation to roughly 2,700 employees in 2014, our analysis of newly available data shows. The total is higher by a third than in 2011. While many of the big earners ran large enterprises, others were leaders of small charities, such as a couple who run an online ministry. Researchers who study pay at charities say it has been increasing for decades as organizations have grown more professional and adopted pay strategies from the corporate world, where executive compensation has also been on the rise. High pay at charities has drawn scrutiny from some lawmakers because the organizations receive substantial tax breaks for committing to public service.

# – # – # – # – # 

I use the Salvation Army as the exemplar.

And all Big Charity entities (i.e., Red Cross; anything connected with the UN or the Clinton Foundation) as the negative!

Sigh!

# – # – # – # – # 

Leave a Comment » | Ranting | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

INTERESTING: Mushrooms to bricks like the Bible’s straw into bricks

Monday, March 6, 2017

https://hackaday.com/2017/03/05/mycelia-sawdust-house/

MYCELIA + SAWDUST = HOUSE?
Michael Uttmark March 5, 2017

*** begin quote ***

Take a guess. What is the featured picture for this article? If you’re channeling your inner Google image recognition, you might say: “Best guess for this image: rock.” But, like Google, you’d be wrong. Instead, what you see are bricks made out of fungi obtained from tissues of mycelia.

By taking fungi obtained from tissues of mycelia and storing them in a jar filled with a growth medium (usually sawdust), MycoWorks is creating all sorts of materials with exciting properties. In just three to seven days, the fungi and sawdust mixture expands and forms into clumps of material, which are then used to create products like handbags, purses, bricks, you name it. According to co-founder Phil Ross, “production of this material is similar to making ravioli from scratch, and the final product is more resilient than concrete.”

*** end quote ***

Wow, just look at the video, it’s extremely impressive. 

A building material that won’t break in an earthquake!

A simply stunning idea.

Like that college professor who reengineered plywood to make it “bullet proof” (actually flying debris proof; think the movie “Twister”), this could revolutionize the home / office building meme — fireproof and earthquake proof buildings?

Ahh, to be a young injineer again with these “paints” on your “palette”!

# – # – # – # – # 

Leave a Comment » | INTERESTING | Tagged: , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

MONEY: Can the PBGC go broke?

Sunday, March 5, 2017

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-03-03/pension-benefit-guarantee-corporation-running-out-cash-millions-affected

Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation Running Out Of Cash, Millions Affected
by Tyler Durden Mar 3, 2017 5:08 PM

*** begin quote ***

The Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation (PBGC), an entity created to “guarantee” pensions of private corporations, is on the verge of bankruptcy.
Teamsters and other unions are poised to take huge pension hits. Previously, airline employees have taken a hit.

*** end quote ***

Can the Gooferment ever run out of the money it prints?

But that being said this is one of those “unfunded liabilities” in that “the current 18T+ national debt and the guesstimated 200T+ in unfunded liabilities that our posterity will have to deal with” that I grouse about.

Now unless the life span of fat old white guy injineers magically increases, I won’t be around for when the crushing debt and defaults hit. 

Personally, I think the Gooferment politicians and bureaucrats will just inflate the debt away and there goes any savings denominated in dollars. 

# – # – # – # – # 

Leave a Comment » | MONEY | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

POLITICAL: What are the politicians and bureaucrats trying to hide

Saturday, March 4, 2017

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2017/03/california-supreme-court-no-you-cant-hide-public-records-on-a-private-account/#p3

SO MUCH FOR PRIVATE SERVERS —
California Supreme Court: No, you can’t hide public records on a private account
“Open access to government records is essential.”
CYRUS FARIVAR – 3/2/2017, 2:28 PM

*** begin quote ***

The California Supreme Court ruled Thursday that state and local officials must disclose public records even if those “writings” are held on private devices or accounts. The City of San Jose and the County of Santa Clara had argued that such records could be exempted from the California Public Records Act.

*** end quote ***

Makes you wonder, doesn’t it?

That’s why I wouldn’t make a good politician and bureaucrat. I’d put ll my email on the blockchain.

Laugh!

# – # – # – # – # 

Leave a Comment » | Political | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

GOLD: Return to the gold standard to discipline Gooferment spending

Thursday, March 2, 2017

https://www.forbes.com/sites/ralphbenko/2017/02/25/president-trump-replace-the-dollar-with-gold-as-the-global-currency-to-make-america-great-again/2/#66dec3d87314

 

FEB 25, 2017 @ 09:00 AM
President Trump: Replace The Dollar With Gold As The Global Currency To Make America Great Again
Ralph Benko,   CONTRIBUTOR

*** begin quote ***

As Paul-Martin Foss of the Menger Center astutely points out the Federal Reserve Board currently has three vacancies. If Trump were to fill those vacancies with three sophisticated gold standard advocates from the short list of Lewis E. Lehrman (whose eponymous Institute I formerly served), Dr. Judy Shelton (who served as an advisor on his presidential economic transition team), former presidential candidate Steve Forbes, and John Allison, former CEO of BB&T (preferably as vice chairman for regulation) the president would create a super “beachhead team” at the Fed to seriously restore equitable prosperity.

These appointments would be the safe and sure first steps out of economic stagnation for America. Couple these with a White House “Team B” to plan the enactment of the Jack Kemp Gold Standard Act and removal of the regulatory and tax barriers to using gold as currency. Then watch an American economic miracle take place.

Mr. President: “No such thing as a global currency?” The dollar is the global currency. Want prosperity? Heed Chairman Greenspan and do not just view but restore “gold as the primary global currency.” President Trump: replace the dollar with gold as the global currency to make America great again. We have the gold.

*** end quote ***

Politicians are addicted to fiat money — they print as much as they can spend.

The USA will NEVER return to prosperity without fiscal discipline.

Argh!

And the current 18T+ national debt and the guesstimated 200T+ in unfunded liabilities that our posterity will have to deal with will certainly sink this “Titanic”.

Argh!

# – # – # – # – # 

Leave a Comment » | WSJ | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

INTERESTING: Talking about !

Wednesday, March 1, 2017

https://www.ted.com/talks/rose_george_let_s_talk_crap_seriously

Let’s talk crap. Seriously.
By Dan Dennett

*** begin quote ***

Sometimes mentioning the unmentionable is a major step forward. Rose George’s witty, fact-filled talk about the problems we can solve if only we start taking shit seriously is just such a step. Human excrement is not just a major source of disease; it also can be a source of remarkably effective medical treatments, and of energy. Putting poop where it can do good rather than harm is surprisingly easy and inexpensive once we clear away the myths and taboos.

It’s often said that water will be in the 21st century what oil was in the 20th century, and among the most effective ways of preserving and enlarging freshwater supplies worldwide are revolutions in how we dispose of our excrement. It’s mainly social attitudes that stand in the way of adoption of these practices and systems. So here’s a great opportunity for social activists to participate in the meme-spreading that could wipe out the shit-spreading that’s fouling the environment. Don’t preach, don’t teach; reach out, in the ways Rose suggests.

*** end quote ***

When I was a young fat old white guy injineer, there were a lot of jokes about “sanitary engineering”, but we learned how essential it is to human survival.

It’s sad that some MANY children die from “easily” preventable causes.

Argh!

# – # – # – # – # 

Leave a Comment » | INTERESTING | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

GOVEROTRAGEOUS: Time to nuke the DHS; What IS DOD for?

Tuesday, February 28, 2017

https://mises.org/blog/four-agencies-abolish-along-dept-education

Four Agencies to Abolish along with the Dept. of Education
02/23/2017Ryan McMaken 

*** begin quote ***

One: The Department of Homeland Security, $51 Billion

Somehow, the United States managed to get along for more than 225 years before this Department was created by Congress and the Bush Administration in 2002. 

The Department quickly became a way for the federal government to spread federal taxpayer dollars to state and local law enforcement agencies, thus gaining greater control at the local level. The DHS administers a number of grant programs that have helped to purchase a variety of new toys for law enforcement groups including new weapons, and new technologies. Also included in this is the infamous military surplus program which is supplies tanks and other military equipment to police forces everywhere from big cities to small rural towns. The crime-free town of Keene, New Hampshire made sure its police received a tank through this program as have many larger cities. 

When the Orlando gunman opened fire in the Pulse nightclub in 2016, the police eventually rolled up in a tank — which did nothing to stem the bloodshed inside the club. 

Police claim they need these half-million-dollar vehicles from the DHS to deal with civil unrest. Never mind, of course, that every state already has a National Guard force specifically for that purpose. 

While the Department was created in response to the 9/11 attacks, the Department does nothing to address anything like a 9/11-style attack, and all the agencies that were supposed to provide intelligence on such attacks — the FBI for instance — already exist in other departments and continue to enjoy huge budgets. 
DHS also includes agencies that already existed in other departments before, such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the agencies that handle immigration and customs. Those agencies should either be returned to the departments they came from or be abolished. 

And, few would miss the Transportation Security Administration — an agency that has never caught a single terrorist, but has smuggled at least $100 million worth of cocaine. 

*** end quote ***

I guess no one sees the irony of using the word “homeland” which was used throughout the reign of Hitler and throughout World War II.

Doesn’t the “Department of Defense” include the mission of DHS? And if not, why not?

Seems like we could “repurpose a lot of Human Resources” (Isn’t that what corporations say before layoffs?), very quickly and easily.

Time to start with a BIG chopping block.

DHS, and with it TSA, was stupid “knee jerk” reaction to 9/11. And it has proved just how inept a response it was. Argh!

I continually reiterate my favorite question: “Can anyone name a Gooferment program that accomplishes its goals? Never mind how inefficient and ineffective they are, they go one forever — like perpetual motion machines. 

Argh!

# – # – # – # – # 

Leave a Comment » | GOVEROTRAGEOUS | Tagged: , , | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

WSJ: Thinking about celebrities making political statements

Monday, February 27, 2017

TODAY’S QUESTION
Going back to our story above, what do you think about celebrities making political statements at award shows? Send your comments, which we may edit before publication, to 10point@wsj.com. Please include your name and location.

—Compiled by Margaret Rawson

# – # – # – # – # 

I don’t think much about “celebrity” opinions. They are just that “opinions” and like analsphincters, everyone has one.

These “court jesters” mistake there financial success at entertaining with the “fatal conceit” that they know it all.

When Princess Di was out digging up land mines or showcasing children’s charities, she was a “celebrity” whose opinion carried weight and I’d listen to it. Ditto the Dali Lama, Mother Theresa, and a few select others.

When Al Gore and Leonardo DiCaprio jet around and lecture us on “global warming”, “climate change”, or “carbon footprint”, I pay those hypocrites no mind at all.

When the “celebrities” go anti-Trump, I just tune them out.

They’re just noisy losers who can’t remember who pays their salaries.

Argh!

# – # – # – # – # 

# – # – # – # – # 

Leonardo DiCaprio,

Leave a Comment » | WSJ | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

EVLYNN: This day six years ago, my life changed

Sunday, February 26, 2017

1960 00 00 2015 Apr 13 Evy Mahoney

One can help but wonder what might have been?

Requiescat In Pacem

# – # – # – # – # 

Leave a Comment » | EVLYNN | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

INSPIRATIONAL: You Can’t Return to Eden

Saturday, February 25, 2017

http://www.artofmanliness.com/2017/02/20/cant-return-eden/

Brett and Kate McKay | February 20, 2017
A Man’s Life
You Can’t Return to Eden

*** begin quote ***

Unlike in the traditional Christian interpretation of the story in which God wishes to keep Adam and Eve from the tree of knowledge indefinitely, however, in looking at it as a metaphor for maturation, the father knows that his children will eventually partake of its fruit, and he both dreads that day, and yet understands its necessity in their future happiness.

Like all parents, he wrestles with dueling impulses: on the one hand, he wants his kids to stay innocent, safe, and close to him forever; but on the other, he knows that they can’t grow or progress unless they separate from him, gain knowledge, and learn to exercise moral agency on their own. Hence his conflicting commandments: he tells Adam and Eve not to eat the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil…but he also tells them to multiply. Some readers have felt that this latter commandment could not have been fulfilled by Adam and Eve without their first breaking the former, and thus becoming awakened to their nakedness, their sexuality — their desire for each other. Here then is a father who doesn’t want his kids to get older, but knows they must to fulfill their potential, and to follow his pattern in having children themselves. It’s a fractured feeling every parent has experienced: “Don’t grow up!” “Please grow up!”

*** end quote ***

Nor should you want to … …

Honestly, I had never heard or read about this interpretation before today.

It makes perfect sense. 

Now first you have to believe in “God”, “a God”, or such. But bear in mind the early humans were seeking “Eden”.

Even the Dead Old White Guys were some form of Deists.

Not sure that I share the same starting point. But us fat old white guy injineers have to leave that to the Physicists and the Theologians.

Even Mortimer Adler, Great Books of the Western World https://prodigalnomore.wordpress.com/great-books-of-the-western-world-as-free-ebooks/, couldn’t make the “leap of faith”. 

# – # – # – # – # 

 

Leave a Comment » | INSPIRATIONAL | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

WSJ: Noticed an increase in drivers using their smartphones?

Friday, February 24, 2017

FROM 2017-Feb-21 WSJ’s daily briefing is named “The 10-Point” 

*** begin quote ***

TODAY’S QUESTION

Have you noticed an increase in drivers using their smartphones? Send your comments, which we may edit before publication, to 10point@wsj.com. Please include your name and location.

*** end quote ***

Yes I see it. Sometimes I don’t believe it. Like on an interstate at 80 mphs. Other times, who cares like at a red light. Hopefully, the auto will catch up and allow more of us to interact with the phone like we do with the radio — eyes on the road. Personally, I put the phone on the passenger side floor so that even if tempted I can’t peek. I do enjoy listening to Tom Woods or Jason Stapleton podcasts and those keep me focused on the road. And not be lulled into boredom.
 
# – # – # – # – # 

Leave a Comment » | WSJ | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

ECONOMICS: Consider “systematic externalisations of cost” by Gooferment

Thursday, February 23, 2017

http://ncc-1776.org/tle2017/tle910-20170219-03.html

Traditionalism and Free Trade: An Exercise in Libertarian Outreach 
by Sean Gabb sean@libertarian.co.uk
Special to L. Neil Smith’s The Libertarian Enterprise

*** begin quote ***

What is true of national distribution networks is also true at the level of international trade. British and then American control of the seas has made shipping safe from piracy. British and American control of the Middle East has externalised many of the costs of oil drilling and movement. British and American armed interventions stabilised less powerful countries for the sale of our industrial output, and then for the development of manufacturing industry in places where the local ruling classes could be bribed and assisted into making labour both cheap and docile.

These facts go far to explaining why Chinese apples undercut Kentish apples in Kent, and why it is worth concentrating the manufacture of virtually all electronic goods in a few coastal regions of China, and why most of the clothes we buy are put together in Turkish and Bangladeshi sweatshops. It goes far to explaining why, when I drive home every summer from the family trip to Slovakia, I share fabulously expensive motorways with lorries that pay a pittance per mile, and burn diesel at prices—even allowing for taxes—far below the real cost of extraction and transport, and that are carrying goods to places like Manchester and Leeds where once whole armies were employed in their manufacture.

In short, the manufacturing side of the globalisation that traditionalists denounce proceeds from a pattern of comparative advantage that makes sense only on the basis of systematic externalisations of cost.

*** end quote ***

I read this and was literally stunned.

He makes an excellent point that the USA Rust Belt was cause by Gooferment subsidies and interference in free trade. 

While no one likes pirates — except when Johnny Depp is one in the movies — the control of them to enable long distance free trade is a cost that should be absorbed in the competitive marketplace. When Gooferment steals wealth from the USA’s taxpayers to “protect freedom of navigation”, then they are subsidizing imports and exports.

Like the gas tax is impossible to “see” in the price of a can of beans, so to this “protection of sea traffic” is NOT reflect in the market price of imported goods.

That’s a STUNNING realization to me.

So to the Gooferment subsidization of ports, airports, and highways. You can’t see that in competitive purchase decision down at Walmart. If there was a “Made in America” TV, of course it would be at an absurd cost disadvantage because all the “costs” are not in the price tag. 

That’s the realization this article brought to me. 

Argh!

Another case of Gooferment causes the problem and then causes more problems “fixing” the original problem. 

Argh!

# – # – # – # – # 

Leave a Comment » | ECONOMICS | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

RANT: Gates would tax robots? Stupid!

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

https://qz.com/911968/bill-gates-the-robot-that-takes-your-job-should-pay-taxes/

DROID DUTIES
The robot that takes your job should pay taxes, says Bill Gates
Why Bill Gates would tax robots
WRITTEN BY Kevin J. Delaney
February 17, 2017

*** begin quote ***

Robots are taking human jobs. But Bill Gates believes that governments should tax companies’ use of them, as a way to at least temporarily slow the spread of automation and to fund other types of employment.

It’s a striking position from the world’s richest man and a self-described techno-optimist who co-founded Microsoft, one of the leading players in artificial-intelligence technology.

In a recent interview with Quartz, Gates said that a robot tax could finance jobs taking care of elderly people or working with kids in schools, for which needs are unmet and to which humans are particularly well suited. He argues that governments must oversee such programs rather than relying on businesses, in order to redirect the jobs to help people with lower incomes. The idea is not totally theoretical: EU lawmakers considered a proposal to tax robot owners to pay for training for workers who lose their jobs, though on Feb. 16 the legislators ultimately rejected it.

*** and ***

Question: And you’re more on the side that government should play an active role rather than rely on businesses to figure this out?

Well, business can’t. If you want to do [something about] inequity, a lot of the excess labor is going to need to go help the people who have lower incomes. And so it means that you can amp up social services for old people and handicapped people and you can take the education sector and put more labor in there. Yes, some of it will go to, “Hey, we’ll be richer and people will buy more things.” But the inequity-solving part, absolutely government’s got a big role to play there. The nice thing about taxation though, is that it really separates the issue: “OK, so that gives you the resources, now how do you want to deploy it?”

*** end quote ***

So there we have it. Bill Gates is a Big Gooferment socialist or worse. 

Ignoring the fact that taxation is theft and there isn’t a SINGLE Gooferment program that meets its goals in an effective and / or efficient manner, how is giving the Leviathan more wealth a good thing?

Bill should stick to retirement and stop trying to save the world. He’s not very good at it.

I just shake my head at the colossal arrogance of left liberal pontificators.

“Never underestimate the power of human stupidity.” — Robert A. Heinlein

All can say is repeat a great movie line:

Kaffee: [interrupts with game-show buzzer sound] eeehhhhh! I’m sorry, your time’s run out! What do we have for the losers, judge? Well, for our defendants, it’s a life time at exotic Fort Leavenworth! And, for defense counsel Kaffee, that’s right, it’s a court martial! Yes, Johnny! After falsely accusing a highly decorated Marine officer of conspiracy and perjury, Lieutenant Kaffee will have a long and prosperous career teaching… typewriter maintenance at the Rocco Globbo School for Women! Thank you for playing “Should we or should we not follow the advice of the galactically stupid!” — Lt. Daniel Kaffee in A Few Good Men played by Tom Cruise

Argh!

# – # – # – # – # 

Leave a Comment » | Ranting | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

SAD: Missing Maura Murray

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

http://www.irishcentral.com/news/community/maura-murray-still-missing-after-13-long-years?utm_campaign=Best+of+IrishCentral+-+2017-02-18&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=Mailjet”’

Maura Murray: Still missing after 13 long years
James Wilson  @IrishCentral
February 18, 2017 07:02 AM

*** begin quote ***

Thirteen long winters have elapsed since Irish American Maura Murray – a straight “A” nursing student – crashed her car outside a small New Hampshire town, waved away a stranger offering help, and then vanished off the face of the earth.

*** and ***

She has never been seen since. Was she abducted? Did she leave to start a new life? Did she die from exposure in the mountains ? Was it a suicide? No one knows.

*** end quote ***

I don’t know about you but I don’t like unsolved mysteries.

Perhaps, some day we will know the truth, but I suspect foul play in some way.

# – # – # – # – # 

Leave a Comment » | SAD | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

VETERANS: Team Red, White, and Blue — getting vets and civilians together

Monday, February 20, 2017

 

Sounds like a great idea. Have to see if Planet Fitness Keene wants to participate.

# – # – # – # – # 

Podcast #279: Why Exercising in a Group Is the Best Medicine For Vets (and Civilians)

By Brett on Feb 16, 2017 01:35 pm

 

 

In recent years, several new veterans organizations have popped up to help our men and women in uniform transition from the service to civilian life. Instead of providing a place where veterans can get together to drink, these new organizations are looking to offer vets a sense of meaning and mission that they often lose after they hang up their uniform. My guest today is head of one of these new organizations. His name is J.J. Pinter and he’s the Deputy Director of Team Red, White, and Blue (Team RWB for short) — a veterans organization with the goal of getting vets and civilians together to work out.

Today on the show, J.J. and I discuss the issues facing vets that Team RWB is trying resolve, such as getting them reintegrated back into their community and staving off feelings of depression. We then discuss why Team RWB decided to make fitness their primary focus and why exercising with other people is one of the best remedies for melancholy and malaise. Finally, J.J. and I talk about why it’s so important for civilians to interact and connect with our vets and how they can do so through Team RWB.

Show Highlights

  • What is Team RWB? What sets it apart from other veterans organizations?
  • How Team RWB got its start
  • Why organized fitness is filling a need that veterans aren’t getting from other organizations
  • How exercising together helps curb some of the negative effects of PTSD, depression, and other issues that plague veteran’s upon returning home
  • Why so few vets return to their hometown upon returning from service
  • The kind of fitness programs that Team RWB chapters are engaging in
  • Why it’s important to get civilians involved in a veterans organization
  • The benefits that civilians realize when joining a vets organization
  • The community service projects that Team RWB undertakes
  • The importance of community service to a returning veteran
  • Why the original model and vision for Team RWB didn’t work
  • The dearth of good leadership in America, and how veteran’s can help fill that gap
  • The approach that Team RWB takes to leadership development and training
  • How civilians and vets alike can get involved with Team RWB

 

# – # – # – # – # 

Leave a Comment » | VETERANS | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

SURVIVAL: Don’t wait to be told; use your own common sense

Sunday, February 19, 2017

https://survivalblog.com/observations-and-lessons-from-the-oroville-dam-evacuation/

Observations and Lessons from the Oroville Dam Evacuation 
By SurvivalBlog Contributor | February 14, 2017 

*** begin quote ***

At this point in the evening (now about 10:40), the Department of Water Resources is reporting that the water level is now below 901 feet, the level of the emergency spillway, and water is no longer spilling. Now, they are working on a plan to address the failed concrete in the main spillway and get a plan of action together before the next storms begin arriving next Thursday on the 16th of February. North bound highway 99 has now been reopened to traffic. Marysville remains shut down to access at this time. At after 11:00 pm, we are finally getting some comprehensive reports from the various emergency services agencies. I am sure that there will be some questions about why the initial damage to the main spillway that initiated this event was not addressed by the Department of Water Resources when it was first documented about three years ago, when we were in official drought status. Go figure. No doubt a custodian someplace will be the one to lose their job over it; there is always a scapegoat.

Blessings to all. Stay safe, and be prepared. You never know what might happen. – Behind Enemy Lines in the People’s Republik of Kalifornia

*** end quote ***

I have read reports that say there were competent authorities warning about the dam 12 years ago? TWELVE years ago!

Maybe I’m a real tin foil hat but when it comes to the Gooferment, its politicians and bureaucrats, or “spokespersons”, “I wouldn’t believe you, if your tongue came notarized.” … attributed to Judge Marilyn Milian, but may have an earlier history.

Bottom line: Don’t wait for some “official” to tell you what to do. Do it NOW!

# – # – # – # – # 

Leave a Comment » | SURVIVAL | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

POLITICAL: Peaceful “Secession” — an idea who’s time has come

Saturday, February 18, 2017

http://tenthamendmentcenter.com/2017/02/13/california-secession/

California Secession? How it Could Happen in Practice

*** begin quote ***

The following article was written by James R. Rogers and originally published on the Library of Law and Liberty website.

Rumblings of secession talk in California, as in Texas a few years back, raises the question of how, if ever, a state might secede from the Union without war.
The legal issue surrounding secession in the Civil War era concerned whether states might unilaterally secede from the Union under the Constitution. The answer, underscored by force of arms and the U.S. Supreme Court, was a definitive “no.”

That states may not unilaterally secede from the Union, however, does not mean there is no route by which a state might secede peacefully, and even legally. Indeed, the U.S. Supreme Court has said there is, albeit, saying it in dictum. In holding in Texas v. White (1869) that Texas did not truly secede from the Union, Chief Justice Chase, writing for the majority, nonetheless identified two routes by which U.S. states could peacefully secede: “There was no place for reconsideration or revocation [of Texas’s entry in the Union], except through revolution or through consent of the States.”

*** and ***

Much of the commentary related to California’s budding secession movement suggests that a constitutional amendment would be necessary for the peaceful, lawful secession of a state from the union. I don’t think so. Chase’s dictum regarding the “consent of the states” does not suggest the need for constitutional amendment to authorize a state’s secession.

Rather, to implement this route for the legal secession of a state, Congress would need only to adopt enabling legislation spelling out the process by which consent of the states would be obtained. Congress could stipulate the states’ consent would be provided by some proportion of state legislatures – half of them, or two-thirds – adopting a “secession consent” resolution or something. Or Congress could authorize states to consent to a state’s request to secede through special state-level conventions or by direct vote in state-level referenda. Or perhaps Congress could provide state consent through a vote of the Senate, or a vote of the Senate and the House, or some combination of the above.

Whatever process Congress might adopt for secession need not be as onerous as the process required to adopt constitutional amendments: Adoption of enabling legislation need not require a supermajority vote in Congress (as constitutional amendments require). And, at congressional determination, the proportion of states sufficient to provide the “consent of the states” could be fewer than the three-fourths majority required to ratify constitutional amendments.

*** end quote ***

Very interesting.

Now that the Liberal Left in California has learned what “executive power” in the “wrong hands” means, they have become interested in secession.

I’m reminded of a quote: “Would you tell me please, Mr. Howard, why should I trade one tyrant three thousand miles away for three thousand tyrants one mile away? An elected legislature can trample a man’s rights as easily as a king can.” Mel Gibson as the character Benjamin Martin in the movie The Patriot http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0187393/quotes

We’ve seen that the Congress has become corrupt and doesn’t faithfully execute its duties by creating the new Fourth Branch of Gooferment — the REGULATORS!

So perhaps, like the old Soviet Union it’s time to dissolve the Union and let partisans go their own way in peace. If the “blue states” want reform around welfare for all — fine. If the “red states” want to reform around “traditional values”— fine. California should be allowed to go its own way in peace.

Hopefully, it would NOT be like what happened in India and Pakistan initially, but things seem peaceful now. 

So too, can the RED USA and the BLUE USA live in peace together … …  finally.

Dona Nobis Pacem

# – # – # – # – # 

Leave a Comment » | Political | Tagged: , , , | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

GOVEROTRAGEOUS: Bryan Lowman got screwed by the Army

Friday, February 17, 2017

<broken link>

In this link <broken link>, American Legion National Commander Schmidt has made me aware of the plight of Bryan Lowman.

This is unacceptable to me as a vet and an AL member.

I’ve asked my two US Senators and my Congresswomen—

Jeanne Shaheen @SenatorShaheen

Margaret “Maggie” Hassan  @senatorhassan

Ann McLane Kuster @RepAnnieKuster

 

——

— to respond: “Please advise what you plan to do to correct this inequity. FYI I am a registered NH voter and vote religiously. I will be posting this and any response from you on my blog and at any post I visit.”

I’d urge everyone to do the same and let’s see if “We, The Sheeple”can protect this vet.

# – # – # – # – # 

Leave a Comment » | GOVEROTRAGEOUS | Tagged: , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

GOVEROTRAGEOUS: Gooferment “licenses” are unnecessary; some are really absurd

Thursday, February 16, 2017

http://www.forbes.com/sites/instituteforjustice/2017/02/09/nebraska-may-soon-cut-regulations-for-barbers-military-spouses-even-potato-shippers/#3326443a55d7

FEB 9, 2017 @ 05:10 PM

Nebraska May Soon Cut Regulations For Barbers, Military Spouses, Even Potato Shippers
Institute For Justice (We are the national law firm for liberty.)
Nick Sibilla, Contributor

*** begin quote ***

Now more than a dozen licenses are in reformers’ crosshairs. Proposed legislation would lower the number of hours needed to become a licensed barber or cosmetologist from 2,100 hours of training to 1,500. That bill would also halve the required hours for massage therapists, and reduce coursework requirements for nail technicians by at least a third. The one-year experience requirement for title examiners would also be repealed. And separate legislation would allow military spouses with active, out-of-state nursing licenses to apply to practice in Nebraska.

One of the more unusual laws that may be on the chopping block is Nebraska’s license for potato shipping. Since 1945, anyone involved in shipping at least 180,000 pounds of Nebraska-grown potatoes has to obtain a license from the state’s Department of Agriculture. Potato shippers then must pay a tax (no more than two cents) for every 100 pounds of potatoes they transport, raising $75,000 in revenue each year. Only 12 licenses are currently active, according to the Department, and—thankfully—the state hasn’t had to discipline any sinister spud shippers.

Licensing is now one of the biggest issues for Nebraska’s labor markets. Today, one-third of the state’s workforce needs either a license or certificate from the government before they can legally work. All that red tape adds up: the Heritage Foundation found that occupational licensing costs the average Nebraska household over $940 each year.

*** end quote ***

The free market will provide better protection. 

Ever heard of “Underwriters Laboratory”? Try and buy an appliance at Walmart that doesn’t have a UL label. You don’t even have to think about electrical safety. And all without the Gooferment!’

I have a litany of Gooferment bureaucrat stupidity — like the electrical inspector who had failed the state’s own test for electricians, but he was qualified to inspect other licensed electrician’s work. 

When will “We, The Sheeple” recognize that Gooferment “licensing” is Crony Capitalism at work.

Argh!

# – # – # – # – # 

Leave a Comment » | GOVEROTRAGEOUS | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

NOTRECOMMENDED: DYMO label makers

Wednesday, February 15, 2017

http://www.dymo.com/en-US

My LabelManager® Rechargeable Battery – 500TS, WPnP, XTL 300, MobileLabeler— died.

I suspect that the Lithium battery went bad. 

It was an expensive purchase. And the battery is “out of stock”.

Hence I don’t recommend this COMPANY.

This is the same company that dumped the CARDSCAN product, its software, and databases on short notice after acquisition.

Fool me once … … 

So the next one I buy, won’t be from them. 

Argh!

# – # – # – # – # 

 

 

 

Leave a Comment » | NOTRECOMMENDED | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

NOTRECOMMENDED: Logitech Webcam c615 on MAC OSX

Tuesday, February 14, 2017

Despite what the fine print says, it doesn’t work.

MAC OS X 10.12.6 (16D32) doesn’t recognize the camera. 

I have it docked and it’s a bust.

I’ve had ticket #0465 9146 open since the end of January.

Argh!

# – # – # – # – # 

2017-Feb-17

After numerous email, I finally got some specific help. 

*** begin quote ***


 		  
 
 

Dear Ferdinand,

Good day!

To further isolate the issue, please try to do the following:
1. Re-seat to another USB port. Bypass the use of KVM switch boxes, port replicators, docking stations, and USB hubs if any
2. Prefer using USB 2.0 rather than USB 3.0 ports. For additional reference, refer to https://support.logitech.com/en_us/article/38032
3. Download and install the Logitech Webcam Software. 
https://download01.logi.com/web/ftp/pub/video/quickcam/lws220.dmg
4. Test it on a different computer.

Please let us know the result of these recommended steps.

For future reference your case reference number is 04659146. This will allow us to quickly find the contact history when you need additional help. If we do not receive a reply, your support request will eventually be closed and set to “solved”. A survey will be sent to you to gather your feedback.

To contact us by phone or obtain additional information (FAQ’s, Forum, Manuals, etc.) please visit support.logitech.com

Best regards,

Angelica
Logitech Customer Care
support.logitech.com

 

*** end quote ***

So fresh this morning, I took the cover off the big monitor.

I moved the Logitech camera usb directly to the computer. It worked. 

I reattached it to the same USB slot on my monitor. It worked.

Rebooted and it still works.

Explanation?

“Magic”?

Argh!

So ends a 20 day outage?

# – # – # – # – #  2017-Feb-17 @ 09:39  


 		  
 
  Dear Ferdinand,

Good day!

Its good to hear that the webcam is now working.

There may be several reasons (or no reason) for USB ports ceasing to function with no cause. There might be a chance that the webcam was not plugged in properly before. But the good thing is, the device is now working again.

For future reference your case reference number is 04659146. This will allow us to quickly find the contact history when you need additional help. If we do not receive a reply, your support request will eventually be closed and set to “solved”. A survey will be sent to you to gather your feedback.

To contact us by phone or obtain additional information (FAQ’s, Forum, Manuals, etc.) please visit support.logitech.com

Best regards,

Angelica
Logitech Customer Care
support.logitech.com

 

# – # – # – # – #  2017-Feb-17 @ 11:02  

Leave a Comment » | NOTRECOMMENDED | Tagged: , , | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

JOBSEARCH: Tales of unemployment

Monday, February 13, 2017

https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2017-new-unemployment/

At 55, a ‘Rainy Day’ Turns Into a Year
By Jeanna Smialek

*** begin quote ***

“It’s very discriminatory, if you ask me,” Schlager said, explaining that interviewers avoid asking his age or mentioning it, because such discrimination is illegal. He has nothing on his resume that marks his age. “It’s a vicious game, and they do it legally, but there’s that undertow.”

Schlager was making $53 an hour working 35 to 40 hours a week in his last position, but he’s applying to lower-skill, lower-pay positions in logistics as he broadens his job search. There’s a limit as to how far down the ladder he’ll drop, though, because he wants to make sure that he has employer-provided health-care coverage.

Not finding employment isn’t an option. While he has relatively low living expenses, Schlager is dipping into his 401(k), so he’ll need to replace what he’s withdrawn. And, beyond financial motivation, he wants a job for its own sake.

“It just kills me to sit here, and not work, and have the abilities that I do,” he said. “I call it a rainy day that turned into a rainy month that turned into a rainy year.”

*** end quote ***

I have been saying for a long time that there is “age discrimination” out there.

Once you turn 50!!!, you must plan that, if you lose “your job”, then you may never NEVER “work” again.

In self-defense, you must have your Plan B, C, and D ready.

Success for the younger 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) a free time hobby that generates income; and (7) a large will-maintained network of people who can “help” you.

Success for the “older” generation is somewhat similar: (1) financial house in order; (2) develop “streams of income” — can’t depend on “one job”; (3) a blue collar skill — plumbers are ALWAYS in demand; (4) an internet business; (5) An income generating hobby; (6) a network of people; AND (7) most importantly a hunter gather mentality. While you may not be one paycheck from financial disaster, you should be always looking for “opportunities”. They may not seem to be “paying ones”, but you might have a pleasant surprise.

Argh!

# – # – # – # – # 

Leave a Comment » | JOBSEARCH | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

RANT: Unlock what we bought

Sunday, February 12, 2017

http://freeradioonmyphone.org/take-action/

Apparently, the hardware and service providers have chosen to keep the FM chip disabled in the cell phones they sell and support. 

Argh!

Wonder why?

To sell us over priced “music subscriptions”?

Anyone wonder why the Gooferment hasn’t “discovered” this anti-trust action?

$!

Argh!

While I don’t necessarily agree with eh suggested tweet:

*** begin quote ***

@USAgov I want my FM radio! Encourage FM chip activation on all smartphones so I can get lifesaving info for free! #publicsafety #freeradio

*** end quote ***

I do think that ALL “smartphone FM chips should be activated”!

It is a matter of “public safety” and what about that “first sale doctrine”?

After all the manufacturers put it in there. No one forced them too. But since they did, why is it turned off?

# – # – # – # – # 

Leave a Comment » | Ranting | Tagged: , , , | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

CLOUD: Amazon Prime Videos broken?

Saturday, February 11, 2017

2017-Feb-11 1221 

 

Amazon
Your Account Amazon.com
Message From Customer Service
Hello Ferdinand,

I’m sorry to hear that you’re receiving geographical restrictions errors while trying to watch Amazon Videos.

Upon checking our resources, I found that there’s an ongoing issue with this error. Our technical team is working on this issue to fix this at the earliest.

A little patience is all we require from your side while we work on this issue.

We look forward to seeing you soon.
Best regards,
Keerthi U
Thank you.
Amazon.com

 

 

# – # – # – # – #  2017-Feb-11 @ 12:21  

Leave a Comment » | CLOUD | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

« Previous Entries
Next Entries »