GOVERNACIDE: “Federal cyanide trap”?

Monday, March 20, 2017

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/03/17/federal-cyanide-trap-injures-eastern-idaho-boy-kills-dog.html

IDAHO
Federal cyanide trap injures eastern Idaho boy, kills dog
Published March 17, 2017  Associated Press

*** begin quote ***

POCATELLO, Idaho –  An eastern Idaho sheriff says he’s investigating after a cyanide trap placed by federal authorities to kill coyotes injured a 14-year-old boy and killed his dog.

*** end quote ***

While there are a lot of questions still outstanding:

  • was it an accident
  • was the boy tresspassing on private land
  • was it posted
  • were there warning signs

The point remains!

Where in the Constitution does the Federal Gooferment have any authorization to kill anything outside of a declared war?

At best, coyotes are a state level problem. At worst, this is the Federal over-reach and even maybe </tin foil hat> an ‘experiment’ (Yeah, like you never heard of  the Tuskegee Study of Untreated Syphilis in the Negro Male! <tin foil hat/>.

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TECHNOLOGY: Small developers get “Sherlocked”; that’s one word for it.

Sunday, March 19, 2017

https://www.howtogeek.com/297651/what-does-it-mean-when-a-company-sherlocks-an-app/

What Does It Mean When Apple “Sherlocks” an App?

*** begin quote ***

Perhaps you’ve read that F.lux, which reduces eye strain and helps you sleep, is being “Sherlocked” later this month. What does that mean? In short, “Sherlocked” means that macOS will soon offer features that make installing the popular third-party tool F.lux unnecessary. When macOS 10.11.4—the latest update for Sierra—comes out, the “Displays” panel in System Preferences will offer the Night Shift feature that debuted on iPhones last year. For lifelong Apple fans, this term barely needs explanation, but recent converts might feel confused. So, let’s take a look at where the term “Sherlocked” comes from.

*** and ***

In a blog post, Wood said Steve Jobs told him Apple can and will do this to developers on the platform. Here’s Wood paraphrasing a phone call from Jobs himself:

“You know those handcars, the little machines that people stand on and pump to move along on the train tracks? That’s Karelia. Apple is the steam train that owns the tracks.”

*** end quote ***

Well, it’s better to be quick and nimble than slow and stiff.

That’s Apple “slow and swift”. Independent developers aren’t the only one getting <synonym for the past tense of the procreation act.> by Apple. Look at their planned obsolesce strategy and no thought of the Customer when pulling products. (I was particularly “frosted” when they pulled iWeb!)

So be warned and don’t trust anyone (i.e., MicroSloth; RottenApple; even Google) long term.

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WEBSITE: NCAA “bracket challenge” looks like it has a bug to me

Saturday, March 18, 2017

https://bracketchallenge.ncaa.com/?cid=BCG2017_Dedicated_Picks_Offers_031217#bracket?entry_id=1051065&controller=bracket

 
No, I had ark. I was looking a frenchy’s bracket. 
 
Whew.
 
But the brackets say I’m 25\160 and he’s 23\96. The summary has him leading 33 to 26?
 
Looks like a bug to me.
 
And, it’s really annoying me.
 
 
 
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TECHNOLOGY: Why don’t all devices “phone home” or … …

Saturday, March 18, 2017

Why don’t all devices “phone home” or … …

… … record somewhere in the cloud their last know location. 

It would save me a lot of prayers to Saint Anthony!

Argh!

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FINANCIAL: What is the defined-benefit pension plan alternative?

Friday, March 17, 2017

FROM THE WALL STREET JOURNAL “The 10-Point”

*** begin quote ***

Jerome Schmid of South Carolina commented: “Sad to see defined-benefit plans slip away into history. But employers no longer care about employee welfare (despite volumes of acclamations in various mission statements), as once-paternalistic corporations have been reduced to financial schemes, manipulated like exotic derivative securities. It is probably a very good idea to turn over the plans to insurance companies who are staffed with people who are (thought to be) competent risk managers, and who are far more likely be around 10 years from now.”

*** end quote ***

Well, I’m no Ric Edelman, but here’s my suggestion.

Remember the history of defined-benefit plans and take action accordingly.

Remember “benefits” — that is employer supplied and paid for “entitlements” — is a vestige of the World War II wage and price controls. Prior to that, the employer just paid you what you had earned. What you did with it was up to you. To get around the WW2 wage and price control, employers offered “benefits” which were found to not be wages — probably due to Crony Capitalist bribing the politicians. Of course, as an expense to the company they were tax deductible. Unfortunately, if the employee bought the very same “benefits”, then they paid with “after tax dollars”. (That’s how the whole “pre existing conditions” and “health insurance tied to the job” disaster got started! Thanks to the Gooferment.)

So, the defined-benefit pension plan is a fiction. Some companies like AT&T were rigorous in their financial planning for it. To the extent of setting up a completely separate corporate entity, with its own Board of Directors, to manage the funds. (And, to insist that all liabilities be 100% funded.) Other, like Enron forced their pension and 401k plans to hold only Enron stock in the plans. (We all know how that worked out.) Also, look at Dallas where the city my have to file for bankruptcy because of the unfunded liabilities. Other horror stories exist. Like CalPers underfunded by many trillions of dollars. Like some Union pension funds underfunded by 75%. And other pension making risky investments, like Puerto Rican junk bonds, to try and catch up.

My suggestion?

Easy. Take responsibility for yourself and your own future. The Gooferment is NOT your friend. Your employer is NOT your friend. Your insurance agent, your broker, and your banker are NOT your friends. So you have to treat them and their promises like a used car salesman’s as you driving off the lot. (At least, the salesman is “honestly” lying to you.)

You have to hire a “team” — lawyer, accountant, and registered financial advisor — that you WILL pay for out of your own pocket — to help you. Then, you figure out how much you will need in retirement to NOT be eating dog food and choosing between medicine or heat. How much you “discount” the promises of Social Security, Pensions, and Retirement savings is an important calculation. And, finally, you build your own “defined-benefit pension plan” with a well diversified investment portfolio that you save into. 

Hard, not really. Essential, absolutely.

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This is entertainment; not investment advice. Call Ric for help. 1-800-call-ric anytime.

Remember the sources of my education! I’m just a fat old white guy retired injineer who’d now a poor old senior citizen on a fixed income with:
* Law “degree” from watching Judge Judy;
* Medical “degree” from watching Doctor Phil;
* Building “degree” from watching “Holmes on Homes”;
* Investing “degree” from reading about Bernie Made-off;
* Finance “degree”from listening to Ric Edelman;
* sensitively managing Human Resources from watching Chef Ramsey; and
* creating loving / caring human relationships from studying the movie roles of Gunny Ronald Lee Ermey

http://www.recedelman.com

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INTERESTING: The Ingenious Design of the Aluminum Beverage Can

Thursday, March 16, 2017

https://youtu.be/hUhisi2FBuw


The Ingenious Design of the Aluminum Beverage Can

engineerguy 

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Published on Apr 14, 2015

Bill details the engineering choices underlying the design of a beverage can He explains why it is cylindrical, outlines the manufacturing steps needed to created the can, notes why the can narrows near it lid, show close ups of the double-seam that hold the lid on, and details the complex operation of the tab that opens the can. 
☛ Links to additional videos:
Rexam: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dK1VV…
How It’s Made: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7Y0zA…
Anim1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WU_iS…
Anim2:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcsDx…
Drawing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DF4v-…
Redrawing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUAijp…

<>
 

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Absolutely stunning to this fat old white guy injineer.

(I knew a lot of this but never saw it so well explained. 

Reminds me of the great economics text “I, pencil” and the various adaptions of it.

How much we stand on the shoulders of our predecessors and their intellectual discoveries and capital investments.

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FINANCIAL: LC$

Wednesday, March 15, 2017

A menagerie of fallacies
http://www.rationaloptimist.com/blog/statistical-fallacies/

 — via my feedly newsfeed

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Pretty funny stuff.
 
I have seen a lot of “hippos” in my career and completely agree about the coin flip risk — although in my case it’d be 10k$ to 10k$+100 before I’d puke. (I wouldn’t take such a risk unless it was for “life changing money” aka LC$). Hence my play of the lotto when it’s over 400M$. Then, I wouldn’t mind the 50% tax bite.
 
Less than that, shrug! It’s not LC$. Remember 85% of winners of more than 1M$ go bankrupt in 3 years.
 
1M$ at 5% is 50k$ per year forever.
 
Hmmm, maybe I need to lower my definition of LC$? I think I’ll move the selctor dial down to 8M$ — half for taxes, and that 200k$ per year. Have to check with Dan the Finance Man, but that would make different life.
 
Maybe I could afford another additional gal pal, better car, or even a plane.
 
Yup, that’s how folks go broke. Laugh!
 
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RANT: ACA is a national disaster

Tuesday, March 14, 2017
I disagree. The ACA is a national disaster. We were much better off under the old non-system. Hopefully, “We, The Sheeple” can convince you to extract us from the mess that originated in the WW2 wage and price controls (i.e., “benefits” are tax deductable to corporation but not to individuals). While I don’t care for the R’s solution, how about if you champion: (1) tax deductibility for ALL health care; (2) catastrophic health care for the uninsurable; and (3) remanding “health”, “health care”, “health care insurance”, or something else to the States for their programs. NOT EVERYTHING is a “federal” problem. I see nothing in the Constitution that gives Congress any power in this area!
 
fjohn
 
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March 9, 2017

Dear friend,

I’ve been reading the bill that House Republican leadership and President Trump released this week to repeal the Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare) and I’ve got to tell you, it’s a total disaster. Despite their many promises to the contrary, President Trump and House Republicans are pushing a bill that would severely undermine healthcare coverage for millions of Americans. It would also be a devastating blow to our efforts to combat the opioid epidemic. On top of taking health insurance away from millions of Americans, the House Republican plan decimates the Medicaid program, increases premiums for seniors and older Americans, forces the middle class to pay more for less, and defunds vital preventative and reproductive care for women.

Mind you, not everyone is hurt by this bill: Insurance company CEOs get a special tax break. That’s right, hidden in the Republican health care bill is a special tax break that allows Health Care companies to write off CEO pay over $500,000 a year. What’s more outrageous is that this tax break for CEOs is paid for by charging senior citizens an additional $7,000 a year for health care. This bill is a tax giveaway to the wealthy, masquerading as health care reform. It’s shameful.

In dozens of visits to New Hampshire during the campaign, President Trump promised to provide treatment to end the opioid crisis. So why is he pushing for healthcare repeal and many other policies that would take away substance misuse treatment and many other resources that New Hampshire desperately needs to fight the drug epidemic? That’s exactly the question I put to him in a 
letter
last week. In it, I call on the President to keep his promise to communities across New Hampshire that are fighting this epidemic with everything they have. I’ll keep you updated and let you know if President Trump responds.

As I’ve said many times, the Affordable Care Act isn’t perfect, but it has undoubtedly made New Hampshire healthier and has helped expand substance misuse treatment coverage to those who desperately need it. In New Hampshire, the uninsured rate has dropped by 43%. A big part of that reduction comes from the coverage provided through Medicaid expansion. Instead of repealing this progress, House Republicans should be working across the aisle to improve the Affordable Care Act. In the last congress, I successfully improved the law to help small businesses. I’ve proven that bipartisan progress on healthcare is possible. This is the much better route for the health, well-being, and peace of mind of Granite Staters. I’m strongly against this reckless repeal bill and I’ll be urging my colleagues in the Senate to oppose it.

Jeanne Shaheen

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FINANCIAL: “THE TRUTH ABOUT YOUR FUTURE”

Monday, March 13, 2017

http://www.edelmanfinancial.com/promotions/the-truth-about-your-future?mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiTTJNeVl6UXlOVE5sWmpFdyIsInQiOiI4eHFVWWttNkdQdXIyVXNhTFlyVktPUDJXdHZSVnN4Qkh2SVk1MVlabTJ3ekF6N3hQTld1Q3o1NmJIbnd2eExKOEM2djRGM0JmTEsxdFZsb2Zvb0tEZXc5c01nbDNJTFwvRFQ2eGpFQVJpZkhQcEdDWWppR3hMY1wveCtPMUJZWWVIIn0%3D

 THE TRUTH ABOUT YOUR FUTURE

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Full disclosure. I am a fan. And, he’s sending me a book for free.

But I pre-ordered the book so I can share it with those who promise to return it.

On his podcast, he’s be teasing the book and I have  say I’m excited to get his insights on the future.

In the immortal words of my personal poetess laureate Taylor Swift “Everything Has Changed” !

Only the dullest Luddite wouldn’t want to know what he’s predicting.

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GOVEROTRAGEOUS: Berkeley Removes 20,000* Free Online Videos

Sunday, March 12, 2017

https://reason.com/blog/2017/03/07/berkeley-deletes-200000-free-online-vide

Berkeley Removes 20,000* Free Online Videos to Comply with Insane Department of Justice Ruling
In the name of equality, destroy your valuable public resource
Robby Soave|Mar. 7, 2017 8:31 am

*** begin quote ***

The handicappers general in the Department of Justice strike again: the University of California, Berkeley, is deleting a massive amount of free, online content in order to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Berkeley previously housed an online library consisting of more than 20,000 videos of lectures. These videos were free and accessible to the public. But they are free no longer: next week, administrators will withdraw access to anyone who isn’t a Berkeley student or professor.

Why? Because the federal government left them no other choice.

Two employees of Gallaudet University—a school for the deaf in Washington, D.C.—filed a complaint with DOJ alleging that Berkeley’s online content was inaccessible to the hearing-disabled community. After looking into the matter, DOJ determined that Berkeley had indeed violated the Americans with Disabilities Act, according to Inside Higher Ed.

*** and ***

I can’t imagine the authors of the ADA intended to destroy a valuable public resource because it wasn’t perfectly accessible to all, but here we are. Taking the quality out of equality: that’s clumsy federal regulation for you.

*** end quote ***

Hard to imagine the logic that this represents.

The “authors of the ADA” have to bear the brunt of the “Unintended Consequences” of STUPID legislation!

I have heard and blogged about the ADA absurdity — like the drivers exam had to be given in Braille.

We really need a Gooferment department of common sense to review all Gooferment actions that impact the public. Sadly, I hate to ask for more bureaucrats but maybe we could have a blue ribbon panel composed of $1/year grumpy fat old white guy injineers, grade school children, and retired poor old senior citizens on a fixed incomes to “staff” this new “department”.

Argh!

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RANT: The IRS scam now on texts

Saturday, March 11, 2017

*** begin quote ***

WARNING:I.R.S is filing a lawsuit against you, for more information call on +1-2026979175 on urgent basis otherwise your arrest warrant will be forwarded to your local police department and your properties, social benefits and bank accounts will be frozen by the government.

*** end quote ***

I blocked the phone number when I was called this morning. 

How do I block the text messages?

Argh!

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WARNING:I.R.S is filing a lawsuit against you, for more information call on +1-2026979175 on urgent basis otherwise your arrest warrant will be forwarded to your local police department and your properties, social benefits and bank accounts will be frozen by the government.

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TECHNOLOGY: Verizon Fios is changing email providers

Saturday, March 11, 2017

2017-Mar-08

Verizon Fios switching over to AOL Mail Servers

Effective April 06, 2017, we’ll no longer provide verizon.net email service. Other than this change, your Verizon service(s) won’t be affected.

We have two options for you to consider below. Please review both options and take action today to avoid losing access to your email.

Choosing an option is easy.

Click here to sign into your verizon.net email account.
Simply select Keep verizon.net email address or Try any other email provider to complete the setup.

Option 1. Keep your current email address with AOL Mail.

By choosing this option you will:

Keep your verizon.net email address
Migrate to AOL Mail
Retain email, contacts and calendar(s) automatically

Option 2. Try any other email provider.

By choosing this option, you will:

No longer be able to use your current verizon.net email address
Establish an account with a mail provider of your choosing like Outlook.com or Gmail
Manually move your email, contacts and calendar(s)

To confirm this message is valid, visit verizon.com and select Announcements under the Tools section at the bottom of the page.

Have questions? More information can be found at verizon.com/Email.

Take action by April 06, 2017 or you’ll lose access to your verizon.net
email account.

Don’t wait, act now.

We hope you are enjoying AOL Mail. We value
Verizon customers and want to make your
transition as smooth as possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does AOL have a mobile email app?

When it comes to getting your AOL Mail on your mobile device, you have choices – the Alto for Mobile app or the AOL app. To learn more visit the Verizon Move to AOL Mail: Using the Alto for Mobile App and the AOL App help article.

Can I use a third party email program such as Outlook or Thunderbird, to access my verizon.net email with AOL Mail?

Yes, you can use a third party email program such as Outlook or Thunderbird to access your verizon.net email with AOL Mail.

If you previously used a third party program to access your mail, you simply need to update your password to the one you created when you registered with AOL Mail. To update your password settings, follow the instructions in the help article titled, Verizon Move to AOL Mail: Updating your third party email program or mobile device with your new account information (POP3).

If you would like to use an email client with your new AOL Mail account and you ARE NOT currently using an email client configured with POP3, follow the steps in the help article titled, Verizon Move to AOL Mail: Setting up your new AOL account in a third party email program or mobile device (IMAP).

How do I get support for email or if I notice any problems during the move of my email to AOL?

Refer to our AOL Mail for Verizon Customers Help page for articles related to common questions and additional information about AOL Mail. You can also contact Verizon at 1-800-VERIZON or verizon.com/support.

Check out all FAQs

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Privacy Policy | Customer Support
©2017 AOL, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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Another example of why you should not trust any ISP with your email address.

May I suggest that you have your own domain? The common wisdom, or is that common whizdumb, is to own your own name as a domain name. I own “reinke.cc”. (I like saying “sea sea me at reinke.cc”! me@reinke.cc will actually work!) I gives one quite a bit of control. And, it’s very cheap. I know three solutions at 15$/year using wordpressdotcom with gmail, 25$/year email only with 1and1, and 60$/year for domain+email+webspace also at 1and1. My point is not that you should use 1and1. http://www.1and1.com/?k_id=9113251 I could care less which one you use. It’s that getting on to your own domain with email is cheap and easy. And, it’s not hotmail, yahoo, or gmail. It IS your own “personal brand”.

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TECHNOLOGY: Testing WordPress for Google Docs

Friday, March 10, 2017

2017-Mar-08

Now this is a most interesting “feature”.

If it works, then it could make blogging even easier and more “fun”.

We’ll have to test and see.

It claims to carry over everything.

1488932127938207.jpg

INLINE_DRAWING: InlineDrawing

Well, the inline drawing didn’t come over.

Nor the change in font size. Needs some more “testing” but I like it.

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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?

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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®

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

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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.

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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!

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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”!

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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. 

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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!

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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!

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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!

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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!

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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

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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!

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Leonardo DiCaprio,

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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

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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”. 

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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.
 
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