INSPIRATIONAL: So you think you’re so smart? These young ladies put us to shame

Wednesday, November 6, 2024

https://www.livescience.com/physics-mathematics/mathematics/high-school-students-who-came-up-with-impossible-proof-of-pythagorean-theorem-discover-9-more-solutions-to-the-problem?utm_placement=newsletter

High school students who came up with ‘impossible’ proof of Pythagorean theorem discover 9 more solutions to the problem

By Sascha Pare published 2 days ago

<< EDITOR ADDED DATE 2024-10-28>>

*** begin quote ***

In a new peer-reviewed study, Ne’Kiya Jackson and Calcea Johnson outlined 10 ways to solve the Pythagorean theorem using trigonometry, including a proof they discovered in high school.

Two students who discovered a seemingly impossible proof to the Pythagorean theorem in 2022 have wowed the math community again with nine completely new solutions to the problem.

While still in high school, Ne’Kiya Jackson and Calcea Johnson from Louisiana used trigonometry to prove the 2,000-year-old Pythagorean theorem, which states that the sum of the squares of a right triangle’s two shorter sides are equal to the square of the triangle’s longest side (the hypotenuse). Mathematicians had long thought that using trigonometry to prove the theorem was unworkable, given that the fundamental formulas for trigonometry are based on the assumption that the theorem is true.

Jackson and Johnson came up with their “impossible” proof in answer to a bonus question in a school math contest. They presented their work at an American Mathematical Society meeting in 2023, but the proof hadn’t been thoroughly scrutinized at that point. Now, a new paper published Monday (Oct. 28) in the journal American Mathematical Monthly shows their solution held up to peer review. Not only that, but the two students also outlined nine more proofs to the Pythagorean theorem using trigonometry.

*** end quote ***

These young ladies make me feel dumb. Wonder how many hidden young talents are out there? Lost over the decades because humans as a species are really “dumb” too.

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RANT: Our old “friend” shrinkflation is in the news; it’s this a deceptive trade practice

Tuesday, November 5, 2024

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/yourmoney/consumer/article-13998363/kelloggs-cereal-mocked-extreme-lengths-hide-

Kellogg’s ridiculed for drastic efforts to hide shrinkflation: ‘Just laughing at us’
By Tilly Armstrong Assistant Consumer Editor For Dailymail.Com
Published: 08:36 EDT, 28 October 2024 | Updated: 12:09 EDT, 28 October 2024

*** begin quote ***

Kellogg’s is resorting to ‘deceptive’ ways to distract shoppers from its shrinkflation tactics.

A photo shared on Reddit highlights how the brand has made its family-size Special K box taller – while actually reducing the amount of cereal inside. 

Shrinkflation is when products shrink in size or quantity while the price remains the same or even increases. 

*** end quote ***

Unlike “price gouging” that I approve of, “shrinkflation” IMHO is a deceptive trade practice designed to fool “We, The Sheeple”.  As such, it should be actionable.  Companies should not be permitted to defraud the consumer this way.  (Other ways may be permissible?)

At the very least, the FTC should force them to rebrand their packaging.

Maybe as punishment, they should be required to put a “shrinkflation” notice prominently.

—30—

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TECHNOLOGY: Vivaldi, yet another browser with some unique features

Monday, November 4, 2024

https://vivaldi.com/

https://www.makeuseof.com/vivaldi-most-customizable-web-browser-without-extensions/?user=cmVpbmtlZmpAZ21haWwuY29t&lctg=7e6c3cd411d6a815afa18582d54bd455914c43c5f69df1448b8ec20ee4959f71

This Is the Most Customizable Web Browser Without Extensions
By Ali Haider
Published 3 days ago

<< EDITOR ADDED DATE 2024-10-25>>

*** begin quote ***

If you’ve ever felt restricted by your current browser’s customization options, Vivaldi is the solution you’re looking for. It’s highly customizable and packed with a bunch of built-in tools that might easily become your favorite.

1 Interface Customization in Vivaldi

Vivaldi was created with one primary goal: to give users extensive control over how their browsers look and feel. It’s built on Chromium, the same open-source browser used by Chrome and Edge. This means you won’t miss out on essential security features or sacrificing performance.

*** end quote ***

Anyone, who follows this blog or knows me, knows I am a browser junkie.

I have several different browsers installed for when I “support” different people.  Plus one or two just for “fun”.

(I love when tech support people try and blame my “problem” on my browser because I don’t call in  — I hate people  — until I’ve tried it on my big 3 (Firefox, Chrome, and Opera).  Maybe even Arc, Brave, or Edge if I am really a glutton for punishing myself.)

Well here’s one that has a lot of “features” that claims to be “simple”.  We’ll see.  In any event, it’s nice to have another in the stable,

—30— 

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GUNS: A “restraining order” doesn’t “restrain”; an armed citizen is a good “first responder”

Sunday, November 3, 2024

https://bearingarms.com/camedwards/2024/10/26/north-carolina-woman-wont-face-charges-after-shooting-ex-as-he-broke-into-her-home-n1226690

North Carolina Woman Won’t Face Charges After Shooting Ex As He Broke Into Her Home
By Cam Edwards | 8:30 AM | October 26, 202

*** begin quote ***

The local sheriff says Bush had previously violated a protective order on two separate occasions and pled guilty to a misdemeanor charge of breaking and entering as well as violating a domestic violence protective order in April of this year. It’s unclear if Bush was sentenced to any jail time after his guilty plea or was instead placed immediately on probation, but he was back in court in August on another charge of violating a protective order. 

That case was dismissed by a judge when the victim failed to appear in court to testify, despite the objections of local prosecutors. If the local courts had cut Bush a break after his first arrest, I can understand why the woman might have been reluctant to go through the ordeal of testifying against him once more, but without her testimony it might have been impossible for prosecutors to produce any evidence that Bush had committed a crime. 

When the victim failed to appear in court, the judge dropped the domestic violence restraining order against Bush, but the woman successfully applied for a new protective order last month; one that was still active when Bush attempted to break into her home.

This incident not only highlights the importance of domestic abuse victims being able to protect and defend themselves, but also the struggles they face to find justice in the courts. Under North Carolina law, violating a domestic violence protective order is a misdemeanor offense punishable by, at most, 150 days in the local jail. With time off for good credit, that five-month sentence can be cut down to four months behind bars, which means that even if Bush had received the maximum sentence allowed he would have been released from custody long before he showed up at his ex’s home earlier this month. 

*** end quote ***

Good thing for that judge who let him out and about, despite several demonstrations of his “respect” for the “LAW”.

As I’ve blogged before:

“Restraining orders don’t restrain squat!  Give the girl a gun and warn the guy if he gets shot no charges against her will be filed.” https://bit.ly/3Ups95v

And, if she needs a gun, then the sheriff should give her one, “loan” her some bullets, and take her to the range for a short course in safe shooting.

“Victim disarmament is the view that it is somehow better to see a woman raped in an alley and strangled with her own pantyhose, than see her with a gun in her hand.” — T.D. Melrose

—30—

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INSPIRATIONAL: The greatest books of wisdom are available free — a donation would be appreciated

Saturday, November 2, 2024

https://standardebooks.org/ebooks/jean-jacques-rousseau/the-social-contract/g-d-h-cole

The Social Contract
Jean-Jacques Rousseau

  • 56,521 words (3 hours 26 minutes) with a reading ease of 50.91 (fairly difficult)
  • Translated by G. D. H. Cole.
  • Part of the Encyclopædia Britannica’s Great Books of the Western World set.  

*** begin quote ***

In The Social Contract, Jean-Jacques Rousseau presents a political philosophy based on the principle that legitimate authority originates from the consent of the people. Individuals willingly surrender their rights in order to create a collective sovereign, which embodies the general will of the people.

Rousseau examines different forms of government, addresses the challenges of ensuring that a government executes the general will of the people, and addresses the need for safeguards against the abuse of power. He demonstrates that active citizenship and a strong social compact are crucial for maintaining a just and free society.

*** end quote ***

I read this in High School because it was on a summer reading list.  (Those Christian Brothers really knew how to ruin a boy’s summer.  Bless their souls.  It sunk in after one or more decades.) I had to go to the library to read it.  (It was only available in an expensive hard cover.  My money went to comic books.)  At the library I saw a complete set of the Great Books of the Western World from the Encyclopædia Britannica.  I was awed by the row.  Didn’t read them but I could have. (Shoulda, coulda, and woulda!)

It is amazing at the “riches” the net provides if it’s just used properly.

—30—

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GOLDBUG: The shift from dollar-based global economy to something else is glacially slow but you can see it happening

Saturday, November 2, 2024

https://www.gold-eagle.com/article/commodity-currency-revolution

The Commodity Currency Revolution
Alasdair Macleod
Author & Head of Research @ Goldmoney
April 7, 2022

*** begin quote ***

We will look back at current events and realise that they marked the change from a dollar-based global economy underwritten by financial assets to commodity-backed currencies. We face a change from collateral being purely financial in nature to becoming commodity based. It is collateral that underwrites the whole financial system.

The ending of the financially based system is being hastened by geopolitical developments. The West is desperately trying to sanction Russia into economic submission, but is only succeeding in driving up energy, commodity, and food prices against itself. Central banks will have no option but to inflate their currencies to pay for it all. Russia is linking the rouble to commodity prices through a moving gold peg instead, and China has already demonstrated an understanding of the West’s inflationary game by having stockpiled commodities and essential grains for the last two years and allowed her currency to rise against the dollar.China and Russia are not going down the path of the West’s inflating currencies. Instead, they are moving towards a sounder money strategy with the prospect of stable interest rates and prices while the West accelerates in the opposite direction.

The Credit Suisse analyst, Zoltan Pozsar, calls it Bretton Woods III. This article looks at how it is likely to play out, concluding that the dollar and Western currencies, not the rouble, will have the greatest difficulty dealing with the end of fifty years of economic financialisation.

Pure finance is being replaced with commodity finance

*** end quote ***

We’ve seen the price of gold in dollars rise.  ₿itcoin is another example of the little people seeking to save in the face of massive inflation.  And, those ₿itcoiners who are holding on for dear life (aka HODLers) are obviously big winners and just don’t let go.

Some Gooferment just levied a 42% tax on ₿itcoin capital gains.  Good luck collecting that.  That’s why self-custody is almost mandatory.  I can see generations of family practicing tax evasion and avoidance as wealth is transferred inter-generationally by means of ₿itcoin, precious metal “coins” (i.e., rounds), and other hard invisible assets.  

For the “tiny savers”, for whom the price of gold and silver is too big a barrier to entry, ₿itcoin and Goldbacks are low cost ways to enter the market.

Not every seismic change happens quickly like a Tsunami, Earthquake, or Hurricane.  But like small tremors lead up to a big quake, this is happening right before us.

—30—

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WRITING: Poor Joe

Friday, November 1, 2024

 The DNA Database Incident

It was a beautiful sunny day when Joe woke. The birds were singing, the sun was shining, and all was right with the world.

In a joint Google-Apple-Microsoft-IBM data center, they were just preparing to populate the total DNA global database. It was the result of a decade-long project run out of the Human Genome Project. IBM Watson had been given access to the HG project and all available DNA records. It was asked one question: what was the relationship of the human genome to DNA? Scientists had debated nature versus nurture until they were blue in the face. Nothing had emerged, and there was conflicting anecdotal data on both sides.

Watson worked the problem for a month. The operators could see the process meter—which was only there to keep the humans from pulling Watson offline. All cores were running. Finally, Watson deployed a simple function:

“`

IN = F(THGGNA, T)

“`

The scientists were baffled. What that meant was that the entity was a time-based function, and every human was basically unique in an unpredictable way. A clone wasn’t really identical to the original because of the time function. While the individual and clone may be close enough for transplants, one could be identified uniquely. Bottom line: there could be only one Beethoven, and only one in that place in time.

From that, the scientists developed a unique human identification system. The political elite had always wanted unique tags for people that couldn’t be mimicked or duplicated. The computer jockeys set about generating tags, and life was going to change. The generation was started and left in the care of an operational staff.

And like most things, Murphy’s Law was still in effect and very persistent. During the late night shift, during a rousing game of pizza-tinfoil baseball—using the pizza boxes as bats and the tinfoil from under the pizza rolled up as balls—there was a high fly ball. An operator bumped a solid-state disk drive as it was processing Joe’s record.

Poor Joe. He was now not in the DNA database and a non-person as far as the Universe was concerned. On the plus side, he was never charge for anything he stole, since he didn’t exist. On the minus side, he was never able to do anything that required identification. Poor Joe.

—30—

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LIBERTARIAN: I beleive that individuals have a right to do anything that doesn’t impinge on the common-law rights of others

Friday, November 1, 2024

https://internationalman.com/articles/doug-caseys-top-five-reasons-not-to-vote/

Doug Casey’s Top Five Reasons Not to Vote
by Doug Casey

<< EDITOR ADDED DATE 2024-10-31>>

*** begin quote ***

Democracy is vastly overrated.

The national elections this November 5 (Guy Fawkes Day, FWIW) have every chance of turning into a chaotic catastrophe. I’m not, therefore, going to discuss either candidate. Let’s instead talk about principles. That’s something few people discuss these days.

“Democracy” is not like the consensus of a few friends agreeing to see the same movie. Most often, it boils down to a kinder and gentler variety of mob rule, dressed in a coat and tie. The essence of positive values like personal liberty, prosperity, opportunity, fraternity, and equality have little to do with democracy. Those things exist because of free minds, free markets, and limited government.

Democracy, by contrast, focuses people’s thoughts on politics, not production, on the collective, not on their own lives. That’s not good.

*** and ***

A libertarian believes that individuals have a right to do anything that doesn’t impinge on the common-law rights of others, namely force or fraud. Libertarians are the human equivalent of the Gamma rat, which bears a little explanation.

Some years ago, scientists experimenting with rats categorized the vast major ity of their subjects as Beta rats. These are basically followers who get the Alpha rats’ leftovers. The Alpha rats establish territories, claim the choicest mates, and generally lord it over the Betas. This pretty well corresponded with the way the researchers thought the world worked.

But they were surprised to find a third type of rat as well: the Gamma. This creature staked out a territory and chose the pick of the litter for a mate, like the Alpha, but didn’t attempt to dominate the Betas. A go-along-get-along rat. A libertarian rat, if you will.

My guess, mixed with a dollop of hope, is that as society becomes more repressive, more Gamma people will tune in to the problem and drop out as a solution. No, they won’t turn into middle-aged hippies practicing basket weaving and bead stringing in remote communes. Rather, they will structure their lives so that the government—which is to say, taxes, regulations, and inflation—is a non-factor. Suppose they gave a war and nobody came? Suppose they gave an election, and nobody voted, gave a tax, and nobody paid or imposed a regulation, and nobody obeyed it?

*** end quote ***

Credit for the picture to where I found the definition.

https://americanhandgunner.com/our-experts/guncrank-diaries/year-of-the-gamma-rat/

I hope I’m a gamma rat.  Wish we could all be such. 

Dona Nobis Pacem

—30—

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TECHNOLOGY: If you don’t pay for the product, then you get what you pay for … …

Friday, November 1, 2024

https://www.androidauthority.com/dead-android-apps-3491528/

It’s been years, but I still miss these dead Android apps dearly
Not every great Android app stands the test of time.
By Andy Walker 21 hours ago

<< EDITOR ADDED DATE 2024-10-22>>

*** begin quote ***

I’ve used some great Android apps over the years. Many of these still exist and find a home on my home screen to this day. However, a slew of apps have come and gone. Feeling particularly nostalgic, I donned my rose-tinted glasses and took a longing look back at some of the dead Android apps that I still wish were actively developed, listed on the Play Store, or weren’t shuttered by their owners.

*** end quote ***

Well, before I “invest” my time, attention, effort, and dikw (i.e., data, information, knowledge, wisdom) in any application, I consider that if I am not paying for it, it COULD, and likely will, disappear at the most inconvenient moment in time.  And, I could gripe but it would be my own fault.

As an old Info Sec DR practioner, I always worry about backup and recovery (i.e., one is none, two is one, and three is glee).  As well as export and import of my data.  For example, it does me no good to EXPORT my data if there is no way to or no place to IMPORT it too.  

(Anyone ever think of that?  Notably my Apple Contacts app and Google Contacts app.  Both can export and import but something always prevents it.  Argh!  My solution is to keep contacts in a note in a NOTEPAD app.  PIA to update stuff in THREE places.  But, I just shake my head when people complain about losing their data.  Or search their call logs and message log to find a long ago contact.)

FWIW YMMV faiwwypfi (Free Advice Is Worth What You Pay For It! ?zero?)

—30—

 

“A key point to bear in mind: The value of attentiveness varies in proportion to its object. You’re better off not giving the small things more time than they deserve.” — Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

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GOVERNACIDE: The Gooferment has no right to kill anyone … almost never.

Thursday, October 31, 2024

https://www.thefp.com/p/supreme-court-richard-glossip-death-row-oklahoma-republicans

Will the Supreme Court Save Richard Glossip?

  • The fate of the death row inmate—who almost everyone believes is innocent—is finally being decided by the highest court in the land.

By Rupa Subramanya
October 8, 2024

*** begin quote ***

“No matter which side of the Glossip case the Supreme Court ultimately agrees with, state leaders will be forced to answer why Oklahoma has insisted on executing a man without considering new and potentially exculpatory evidence,” Brett Farley, the executive director of Catholic Conference of Oklahoma, which opposes the death penalty, told The Free Press. “It’s simply indefensible.”

*** end quote ***

Sorry but until we can undo a “death sentence” “We, The Sheeple” should NEVER permit the Gooferment to kill.  Humans make mistakes; it’s inevitable.  Thus, “innocence” should always be grounds for an appeal.  I don’t care about the “rules of procedure”.  If one can advance evidence of innocence, then that should always DEMAND a judicial review.

As I have blogged before, the only reason for the Gooferment to be permitted to kill a human is if that human is too dangerous to exist (i.e., a convicted murdered kills a guard).  I like the French’s Devil’s Island.  Surely we have some vacant land out in the wilderness for a version of this?

—30—

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APPLICATION: LASTPASS extendion in firefox not working

Wednesday, October 30, 2024

Subject:

Lastpass externsion stopped working in Firefox

Description:

Something has gone bad. Can’t tell if it is Firefox, MacOsx, or Lastpass. The lastpass icon no longer shows in the area to the right of the browser address bar. Lastpass no longer fills is the credentials for any site.

Case Number:

02734442

# – # – # – # – # 

Update 2024-Oct-31 0909

All now back to sort of normal after numerous restarts and poking / eroding around.

EXCEPT

GMAIL in a FIREFOX window will not reload itself in.  Have “signin” that spawns a new tab.  That has to be pinned and the old pinned tab quit. Argh!

Still don’t understand what happened.

—30—

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SURVIVAL: We can’t explain such animal behavior, but it pays to have a four leggeded companion

Wednesday, October 30, 2024

https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/pets/2024/10/12/hero-dog-elderly-man-broken-hip-washington-forest/75589009007/?utm_placement=newsletter

This dog sat in a road until a car stopped, then led man into woods to save injured human

  • Keith Johnson, 84, could not move after he fell and broke his hip. But his faithful dog Gita sat in the road until a car stopped and she led a deputy deep in the woods to help her injured human

Saman Shafiq
Published 6:03 a.m. ET Oct. 12, 2024 Updated 9:38 p.m. ET Oct. 12, 2024

*** begin quote ***

Gita, 13-year-old rescue dog is being hailed a “true hero” for flagging help after her elderly owner fell and injured his leg in Washington state last month, Stevens County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.

Deputy Colton Wright was patrolling a rural wooded area in Stevens County when he spotted a dog sitting in the middle of the road. With no visible residences nearby, the officer assumed the dog had gone missing and tried to get Gita into his car so he could try to find the owner.

However, Gita firmly refused to get into the vehicle, prompting the deputy to check the surrounding areas.

*** end quote ***

Not sure how to characterize this story.  Not “heroic”; can animals be heroes?  More than “INTERESTING” or “INSPIRATIONAL”.  Maybe best as “SURVIVAL”.  

We can’t explain such animal behavior.  Like when a baby animal seeks out a human to help save the mom.  Or fish entangled in a net seek out a human to save themselves or another fish.  I know that it’s unusual enough to make me wonder  —  is there something we are missing?

I’ll just take note of it when I see it and someday maybe I’ll understand it.

Perhaps, in the after life, I’ll get some resolution.

Until then, everyone should have a loyal dog as their companion.  Make it a rescue; not from a puppy farm.

Dona Nobis Pacem

—30—

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POLITICAL: Did Iran execute an American citizen?

Monday, October 28, 2024

https://nypost.com/2024/10/28/world-news/iran-executes-california-man-jamshid-sharmahd-after-abducting-him-during-international-flight-layover/?utm_source=sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=news_alert&utm_content=20241028?&utm_source=sailthru&lctg=6080ba40747925275a09dcd3&utm_term=NYP%20-%20News%20Alerts

Iran executes California man Jamshid Sharmahd after abducting him during international flight layover, convicting him of terror charges
By Ronny Reyes 
Published Oct. 28, 2024, 1:44 p.m. ET

*** begin quote ***

Iran has executed a California resident after Iranian agents abudcted him during a flight layover in Dubai four years ago, officials said. 

Sharmahd, 69, a German-Iranian dissident who lived in Glendora with his family, was accused by the Islamic Republic of planning a 2008 attack on a mosque that killed 14 people and wounded over 200 others. 

His family disputes the terror charges, claiming Sharmahd is among the many Iranian dissidents who have been kidnapped or tricked into returning to Iran in recent years.

*** end quote ***

Almost regardless of whether he was a US citizen or just a resident, the USA should have stepped up for him.  But we are too busy making enemies in the region.  

Now, at the very least, the USA should PNG some folks.  Maybe aim for the embassy workers.  Make it inconvenient for them.

And we should shut down all the attacks on and rhetoric about Iran.

Dona Nobis Pacem

# – # – # – # – # 

<< EDITOR ADDED DATE 2024-11-01>>

Germany Shutters Iran Consulates

Germany ordered the closure of all three Iranian consulates there yesterday, expelling 32 Iranian diplomats and leaving only Iran’s embassy in Berlin. The move followed Iran’s execution of German-Iranian citizen Jamshid Sharmahd.

Sharmahd, 69, was executed Monday after being sentenced to death last year on terrorism charges. Following his 2020 capture by Iranian forces in Dubai, Sharmahd was accused of leading a US-based Iranian opposition group and planning a 2008 mosque attack in Shiraz, killing 14 people and wounding more than 200 others. The US and human rights groups criticized the trial, alleging Sharmahd was not given proper representation.

The news escalates tensions between the two countries, with relations previously strained by Iran’s nuclear program and human rights abuses and Germany’s support for Israel. Germany halted trade incentives with Iran in 2022, reducing exports to approximately $1.3B in 2023, a 24% decrease from the previous year. Germany is now calling for EU-wide sanctions against those involved in Sharmahd’s execution.

# – # – # – # – # 

[JR: Answers the question that he was not a citizen of the USA.  However, the USA Gooferment should expel someone!  Whatever happened to the Congress using Marque and Reprisal?]  

—30— 

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POLITICAL: Replace “Pick One” with “ranked choice” aka “instant runoff”

Monday, October 28, 2024

https://www.reuters.com/graphics/USA-ELECTION/RANKED-CHOICE/zdpxqrolgvx/?utm_placement=newsletter

An alternate voting method that puts a premium on finding a majority and allows voters to rank all candidates, not just cast a single vote for their favorite.

By Travis Hartman and Tiana McGee
Published Oct. 24, 2024 09:00 AM EDT

*** begin quote ***

In the United States, when only two candidates are on a ballot, the results are normally quite clear — the winner has a majority, or over 50% of the vote. But when there are three or more contenders, the vote can easily split in a way that allows for someone with less than 50% of the vote to win. Which means a majority of the votes were for someone other than the winner. 

*** and ***

Alaska and Maine are currently the only two states that use this style of voting for federal elections, though Hawaii uses ranked choice voting for its special elections.

It is being used by over 50 cities in the United States and has been in place for over 100 years in Australia and Ireland.

*** end quote ***

This seems to be a vast improvement over the current system.  And it eliminates the “wasted  vote” syndrome.  

For example, here in New Jersey, voting for a third party candidate is a waste of time, attention, and effort.  The D’s swamp everything.  Without Ranked Choice Voting, voting for a Libertarian “wastes” a vote.  With it, my vote eventually counts for something.

Think the powers that own this country will ever allow “We, The Sheeple” to express their preferences?  I don’t think so.  But I could be wrong.

Kudos to Reuters for a simple graphic explanation that even a fat old white guy injineer could understand.

—30—

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TECHNOLOGY: Not all USB-C / USB-A cables are the same?

Sunday, October 27, 2024

 

2024-10Oct-27 horsebpower box. 

Interesting that their “usb” won’t power anything else.  And my usual “usbs” won’t charge the scrubber.  Their “directions” say you must use their usb to  charge the scrubber but no reason why is given.

Argh!

So what did they do to screw up the usb?  And, I guess if you damage it or lose it, you have to buy a replacement from them?

Argh!

—30—

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ECONOMICS: “End The Fed” and bring back prosperity

Sunday, October 27, 2024

https://www.lewrockwell.com/2024/10/lew-rockwell/why-equality-is-bad-2/ lewrockwell.com

No Compromise With the Fed! – LewRockwell

By Llewellyn H. Rockwell, Jr.

*** begin quote ***

Some people argue like this: Although the Fed as it now exists is very bad, a nation needs a central bank to regulate its money supply, and the Fed is better than nothing. That being so, we should try to urge the Fed to adopt a non-expansionary monetary policy. In this view, calls to “End the Fed” are mistaken. I’m sure most of my readers already know what I’m about to say, but, just to be clear, that view is disastrously wrong. We do not need a central bank, and to argue in the way indicated is to betray the great Murray Rothbard and the great Dr. Ron Paul, whose slogan “End the Fed” has galvanized so many of us.

*** and ***

The transitional demands, then, must be framed while

  •     always holding up the ultimate goal of liberty as the desired end of the transitional process; and
  •     never taking steps, or using means, which explicitly or implicitly contradict that goal.”

Let’s do every we can to end the Fed now! On this, there can be no compromise.

*** end quote ***

Imagine a world with no Central Banks!  Unimaginable?  Think of the USA before 1913, and you can imagine that.  Where “inflation” was negative.  Real money  —  commodity money  —  circulated freely.   Foreign coins, like the Spanish real, were used along side of gold and silver coins.  Prices were always coming down.  Want to save your old age, put some coins in a jar on the mantle like my paternal grandmother did  — right under her rifle over the mantle.

The best argument against the FED or any central bank that “prints” money is that it allows the Gooferment to inflate the currency to pay for wars.

#ENDTHEFED

We don’t need it and it’s evil.

—30—

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ADHOC: Car thieves steal fobs

Saturday, October 26, 2024

https://local.nixle.com/south-brunswick-twp-police-department

Alert: Crime Alert – Police Warn of Suspects Trying to Steal High-End Cars

# – # – # – # – # 

Breaking into houses to find the fobs.

Comes under the heading of: FAFO.

How long before they eventually break into the house of an armed citizen?

“No law ever written has stopped any robber, rapist or killer, like cold blue steel in the hands of their last intended victim.” —W. Emerson Wright

“I told you that ‘juvenile delinquent’ is a contradiction in terms. ‘Delinquent’ means ‘failing in duty.’ But duty is an adult virtue—indeed a juvenile becomes an adult when, and only when, he acquires a knowledge of duty and embraces it as dearer than the self-love he was born with. There never was, there cannot be a ‘juvenile delinquent.’ But for every juvenile criminal there are always one or more adult delinquents—people of mature years who either do not know their duty, or who, knowing it, fail.”  ― Robert A. Heinlein, Starship Troopers    

I’m a gun owning pro-life pro-choice little L libertarian; not a “victim”.

I’m sorry if a “juvenile delinquent” gets hurt or killed, but that is the price of crime that they have to pay.

Dona Nobis Pacem

—30—

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GOVEROTRAGEOUS: FEMA’s Real Purpose

Saturday, October 26, 2024

https://www.lewrockwell.com/2024/10/brandon-smith/femas-real-purpose-suppressing-americans-and-preventing-civilian-organization/

FEMA’s Real Purpose: Suppressing Americans And Preventing Civilian Organization
By Brandon Smith Alt-Market.us
October 24, 2024

*** begin quote ***

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was founded on April 1st, 1979 under the Jimmy Carter Administration during the height of a nearly decade long stagflationary crisis and the Iranian oil crisis. Under Executive Order 12127, its stated goal was to centralize all disaster related efforts under a single top-down entity. Specifically, FEMA ended the more localized Civil Defense Agency, which was focused on community based emergency response, and it federalized all disaster coordination under a single top-down system controlled by the Oval Office.

*** and ***

We just witnessed a repeat of this behavior from FEMA and the affiliated agencies within their oversight. We saw local EMS being advised to prevent civilians from helping their communities. Supplies were once agaun being blocked, people with drones were being told not to help find survivors, people with helicopters are were threatened for helping save survivors and little aid reached Helene victims for weeks. Elon Musk’s Starlink was even been prevented from providing satellite internet services to affected regions until the story went national and the Department of Transportation was forced to address the problem.

*** and ***

I argue that this is all deliberate. FEMA and the federal government at large are still using Operation Garden Plot-like protocols with two goals in mind…

 

First, they are trying to acclimate the populace to the idea that civilians can’t help themselves and that they should do nothing. They do this by constantly interfering with civilian efforts and disrupting donations. If civilians are working on their own to save US communities from calamity then they might one day realize they don’t need the Federal Government for anything. The establishment NEEDS people to believe that they can’t survive without government aid and protection. Luckily, at least in the aftermath of Helene, it seems that many communities are working on their own to fix the situation.

If civilians start doing things for themselves, the establishment machine becomes obsolete.

Second, I suspect FEMA is testing the waters to see how much they can get away with. Katrina was a clear beta-test for martial law disguised as an emergency response. Katrina was Garden Plot and Rex-84 realized. They want to see what Americans will put up with. Helene is yet another opportunity for these agencies to apply overt control and see if Americans will conform or rebel.

*** end quote ***

Time to end FEMA, DHS, and bunch of other Federal Gooferment agencies.

People need to help each other and send the Federal Gooferment back to their offices.  They just actively interfere with “We, The Sheeple” doing what they have done for eons  —  survive by helping each other.

Argh!

—30—

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TECHNOLOGY: Looking for a cross platform notepad

Friday, October 25, 2024

Looking for a cross platform notepad

  • Tried EVERNOTE  — not free
  • Using Apple NOTE app free but doesn’t share with Android
  • Tried OBSIDEON  — too complex
  • Tried NOTATION  — too complex
  • Trying ANYTYPE  — initial setup was easy across MAC, IOS, and ANDROID 

—30—

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TECHNOLOGY: What is old becomes new again! Pagers have a use case!

Friday, October 25, 2024

https://pagersdirect.net/pages/are-pagers-still-a-thing

Are pagers still a thing?

ARE PAGERS MAKING A COMEBACK…ARE THEY STILL A THING?

What???? Do Pagers even exist anymore?

Who’s still using pagers in 2024 and why?

*** begin quote ***

If you find yourself using a cell phone by itself and it works for you as most people do…That’s great, but if you are like the majority of our clients, you most likely have a specific task that a pager or pager app on a cell phone does even better than just texting or voicemail on their phone. Perhaps you have cell phone signal reception issues in your area or need another way for your IMPORTANT calls to get through and get your attention…whatever the reason, the people using pagers today have found specific niche reasons why a pager or pager app compliments their cell phone and smart watch.

Primarily, a separate pager phone number offers privacy and a means for urgent notifications that stand out above and beyond text messaging and helps differentiate a normal text or phone call from a high priority, urgent phone call.

In 2024, our clients are faced with some unique challenges and situations that didn’t exist even 5 years ago…

One example is robocalls / spam phone calls. Millions of junk phone calls are made daily. Some people are just fed up with getting calls from unknown numbers about their car warranty expiring or other scams and don’t even answer the phone when they see a number they don’t recognize. Today’s latest smartphone operating systems allow smartphones to silence calls from unknown callers and send the calls directly to voicemail. With this enabled, sometimes important calls are missed. 

Another example is the banning of cellphones in schools. Want a simple way to be able to get in touch with your child and let them know of an urgent message such as a schedule change or emergency at home? Perhaps just a positive emotional reinforcement such as a “Good luck, You’ve got this” on the day of a big exam. Give them an alphanumeric pager and simply send a short email to the pager’s email address.

*** end quote ***

I found this “use case” very persuasive.  I was thinking about school shootings.  Schools are banning cell phones, but I don’t agree.  Parents need to know their child is safe!  I think of the victims  — parent and child  — saying “I love you”, “I’m coming for you”, even “Hide!”.  Maybe I just don’t understand the problem.

—30—

2024-09Sep-24

California Schools Must Restrict Phones Under New Law Signed by Newsom

Argh!

—30—

Shawn Hubler, Troy Closson

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NOTRECOMMENDED: LULU open source firewall

Thursday, October 24, 2024

While I like the idea of having a firewall to protect me from the likes of ISPs and Applications, I tried LULU and could get through the install.  Maybe I’ll try again when I have time to waste.

—30—

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QUOTE: “They murdered, … … but they kept the Faith.”

Thursday, October 24, 2024

https://www.lewrockwell.com/political-theatre/motto-for-catholic-protestant-and-orthodox-military-chaplains-and-military-chaplaincies-around-the-world/

Motto for Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox Military Chaplains and Military Chaplaincies Around the World
By Llewellyn H. Rockwell, Jr.
October 15, 2024

“They murdered, they tortured, they maimed, they raped, they hated, they lied, they robbed, they plundered—but they kept the Faith.”  — Fr. Emmanuel Charles McCarthy

https://www.emmanuelcharlesmccarthy.org/

Thank you for visiting this website, which is a compilation of all the work that Fr. Emmanuel Charles McCarthy has done in the last fifty (50) years plus. The purpose of this website is to provide information on the Nonviolent Jesus of the Gospel, which calls for a radical alteration in thought patterns, verbal patterns, behavioural patterns, and emotional patterns.

Rev. Emmanuel Charles McCarthy, born October 9, 1940, is a priest of one of the Eastern Catholic Churches, Byzantine-Melkite, in communion with the Bishop of Rome, the Pope. He has been a Catholic priest for forty years, ordained on August 9, 1981, in Damascus, Syria. He received his Bachelor of Arts Degree with majors in philosophy and English from the University of Notre Dame in 1962.

# – # – # – # – #

I found this quote and it shocked me.  Since VietNam, I’ve always been against war as a strategy or tactic.  I’ve seen the two children of a VietNam vet die prematurely from the effects of Agent Orange on their father.  

The “peace movement” during Nixon’s administration was mostly and astroturfed Communist / Democrat / Leftist attack on the conservative Republicans.  It was inauthentic!  When the D’s came to control the Gooferment, nothing changed.  And, ever since the welfare / warfare state as delivered on what Ike warned about  —  perpetual war for the Military – Industrial – Congressional Complex.  We have the deficits to show for it along with the debt and unfunded liabilities.

Maybe MLK, Gandhi, and Bob Murphy are right.  Non-violence is the path to peace.

—30—

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ECONOMICS: UniParty is responsible for debt, unfunded liabilities, and Gooferment deficit spending

Wednesday, October 23, 2024

https://internationalman.com/articles/david-stockman-on-the-battle-of-the-liars-trump-versus-harris-and-the-folly-of-uniparty-economics/

David Stockman on The Battle of The Liars… Trump Versus Harris and The Folly of UniParty Economics
by David Stockman

<< EDITOR ADDED DATE 2024-10-18>>

*** begin quote ***

The Dem candidate brags about 16 million new jobs on the Harris-Biden watch and Trump claims the Greatest Economy Ever—evidenced in part by low inflation that his successor purportedly blew sky high.

Both are lying. Both ignore crucial matters of context—such as stage of the business cycle, Fed policy actions, forces arising from the $105 trillion global economy in which US growth, jobs and inflation are inextricably rooted and the fact of lag times in transmission of Washington policy into economic outcomes.

*** and ***

In any event, the real culprits are the spenders and money-printers. And not surprisingly, both candidates want more of both.

Editor’s Note: The amount of money the US government spends on foreign aid, wars, the so-called intelligence community, and other aspects of foreign policy is enormous and ever-growing.

It’s an established trend in motion that is accelerating, and now approaching a breaking point. It could cause the most significant disaster since the 1930s.

*** end quote ***

I keep banging the drum on “debt, unfunded liabilities, and Gooferment deficit spending at all levels”.

The UniParty makes picking the “lesser of two evils” a frustratingly failed strategy.

As Tom Woods says “No matter who I vote for I get John McCain”.  Sadly true.

All “We, The Sheeple” can do is prepare for the eventual collapse of the dollar when the debt becomes unrepeatable.  Till then remember the old military directive “get small in your hole”.   

As when I was counseling FOWG “turkeys”  —  Success for your generation is: (1) ruthless financial discipline — no bad debt; (2) a life long interest in learning — education — a degree — they can’t take it away from you; (3) a NON-OFFSHORABLE white collar job in order to save big bux; (4) a blue collar skill for hard times — never saw a poor plumber; (5) one or more internet based businesses — your store is always open; (6) a free time hobby that generates income; and (7) a large will-maintained network of people who can “help” you.

That’s the same advice for dealing with the UniParty’s economic disaster.

—30—

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SURVIVAL: Sometimes you just have to cut your losses; like in this case, your phone or your life?

Tuesday, October 22, 2024

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13985661/NSW-woman-gets-trapped-two-giant-boulders-dropping-iPhone.html

NSW woman gets trapped between two giant boulders after dropping her iPhone

  •     Woman slipped down three-metre crevice  
  •     Rescuers had to move 500kg boulder 

By Antoinette Milienos For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 23:49 EDT, 21 October 2024 | Updated: 01:08 EDT, 22 October 2024

*** begin quote ***

A woman who got wedged between rocks for seven hours after she tried to retrieve her phone has been rescued.

Emergency services were called to bushland in the Hunter Valley wine region earlier this month following reports of a woman being stuck between two boulders.

The NSW woman had tried to retrieve her phone from between the rocks but had slipped, fallen down a three-metre crevice, and was hanging upside down.

*** end quote ***

I’m not sure what the ill effects of hanging upside down trapped for SEVEN hours might be.  Humans aren’t designed for that challenge.  

I hate to be crass  —  or is it cravass  — but who pays for the rescue?  I’ll bet the Taxpayers.

Sigh!

—30—

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RANT: “Click to cancel” is a good rule

Tuesday, October 22, 2024

https://www.androidauthority.com/ftc-click-to-cancel-rule-3491150/

FTC cracks down on subscription tricks with click-to-cancel rule

  • From streaming services to gym memberships, the new rule will make it as easy to cancel as it was to sign up.

By Matt Horne
October 16, 2024

*** begin quote ***

TL;DR

  •     FTC’s new click-to-cancel rule will ensure canceling subscriptions is as easy as signing up.
  •     The rule targets deceptive subscription practices and applies to renewals, free trials, and continuity plans.
  •     Businesses will have 180 days to comply or face a fine.

*** and ***

The broader rule goes on to address misleading advertising practices and provides other protections against deceptive negative option marketing. Most parts of the rule will go into effect 180 days after publication, giving businesses time to comply and avoid potential penalties.

*** end quote ***

Why did it take them so long and why did the Pepuls Republik of Kaliforkneeah have to do it first?

What all does it cover?

Didn’t see that banks and credit cards were included.

Now what about “misleading advertising” by the media as well as politicians and bureaucrats?

—30—

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INSPIRATIONAL: Ultimately, life ends in a loss – the loss of you

Monday, October 21, 2024

https://www.casinocitytimes.com/frank-scoblete/article/quit-when-youre-ahead-68816

casinocitytimes.com
Quit When You’re Ahead
Frank Scoblete 

*** begin quote ***

When it comes to casino games? Here is the truth: You will lose after a few decisions or you’ll lose today or tonight or after a few days or finally at some time or other or after your very first bet never to get to the world of the winner.

The casino knows that too. And you should know that too if you understand how the casino structures the games to give themselves the edge.

Ultimately, life ends in a loss – the loss of you. So, enjoy your time in a sane way and don’t give yourself an impossible criterion to live up to. You have enough crazy things to live up to.

All the best in and out of the casinos!

*** end quote ***

Pretty “inspiring” advice.  But, taken to heart, it makes one not take “stuff” to seriously.

As I reach “the end of my personal trail” as the cowboys say in the old TV westerns, I’m becoming much more “philosophical’.

New tires, sure who cares.  More political “Barbara streisand”, why tolerate it.  Maybe this is the new me?  Look forward to more rants!

—30— 

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