RANT: Fluke was a head fake away from the military retiree’s benefit costs

Thursday, March 8, 2012

http://formerspook.blogspot.com/2012/03/tale-of-two-hearings.html

Monday, March 05, 2012
A Tale of Two Hearings

*** begin quote ***

Never mind that Ms. Fluke’s claims are demonstrably false. There are plenty of places where a struggling college students can obtain contraception, some within a few minutes of the Georgetown campus. And, there’s the little matter of how much protection a student needs and how much it costs (assuming they don’t want to go the “free” route). A month’s supply of generic birth control pills can be purchased at Wal-Mart for $4. Total cost for three years at Georgetown: $144.

Or, if a student prefers condoms, they’re readily available and affordable as well. In fact, the “contraception cost” cited by Ms. Fluke could cover a swingin’ weekend at the Kennedy compound, or for mere mortals, enough protection for five sexual encounters a day for three years (emphasis ours). We’ve heard that law profs try to “bore their students to death” during year three; looks like Ms. Fluke (and her fellow students) have found a new way to beat the boredom during their final semester at good ol’ Georgetown.
But that isn’t the real irony of Ms. Fluke and her contraception plight. That was provided in another hearing room, on another subject, military health care. While the MSM media was atwitter over Ms. Fluke, they largely ignored the latest revelations on healthcare fees for military retirees. Appearing before the House Budget Committee, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta affirmed that out-of-pocket costs for TriCare (the health plan covering military dependents and retirees) will continue to rise.

Just how much? According to California Congressman Buck McKeon, Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, some military retirees will see their TriCare fees increase by as much as 345%. Supporters of the fee hike note that TriCare went more than 15 years without an increase. Critics note that the average military retiree leaves the service as an E-6, with a monthy pension of roughly $1600 (after taxes). While the revised system will be means tested (so higher-ranking retirees pay more), any increase will have a major impact on service members who retire at lower grades.

Of course, that means little to members of Congress (most of whom never served in the armed forces), or the Obama Administration, which is equally lacking in military experience. They have no problem in raising health care fees for military retirees and dependents, while pushing for free, unlimited contraception for those young-skulls-full-of-mush on campus.

Did we mention that the retirees actually earned their benefits, through decades of service and sacrifice? Or that they were promised free, on-base healthcare for life at the time of their enlistment? But then again, retired military members aren’t viewed as a crucial “swing” voting block in this year’s presidential election.

*** end quote ***

Argh!

Once again, “We, The Sheeple” fail to keep our eye on the ball. In this case, military retirees and their problems.

I’m sure the congresscritters won’t have any trouble with their benefits.

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INTERESTING: I pledge $100 donation to the charity of her choice … …

Thursday, March 8, 2012

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/06/taylor-swifts-bikini-australia-photo_n_1323914.html

It’s well know that I have a tremendous amount of respect for Taylor Swift. I’m not some dirty old man; just old. I think she’s got a lot of attributes worth emulating. The recent bikini picture upset me. Not for the suit or that it’s on the net, but she looks anorexic.

So, I pledge $100 donation to the charity of her choice for her to gain ten pounds.

I’ll even take a picture of her eating fast food. (If you listen to the “food police”, that will make you instantly fat.)

You look at pictures of her from 2004 to today and you can see the girl get thinner by the year.

Now she looks like a death camp inmate.

So, I hope she can “plump” up a little. She doesn’t have to become a heifer. Just make it back a few pounds.

Think of all those young girls with body image issues.

Hope her Mom speaks to her frankly.

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Hardware: YouTube is hiccuping

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Maybe I am seeing network issues. It could be Verizon. But both Verizon Filos and Verizon vwbbie (Verizon’s wireless broadband hooked thu the mifi2200) are failing to play Taylor Swift videos. (yes, I know a terrible loss to western civilization!) but could it be a conspiracy to sell ipad3s and 4g service. If I was the cynical type, I suspect Verizon want folks to upgrade to 4g and may have degraded the 3G performance to pop sites. I’m sure that biz, who uses it for DR and salesforce automation, will not have any problems. But that’s cynical. After all, not like anyone would collude to fix prices on ebooks? Or anything else! Argh!

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HARDWARE: stuck cd advice

Thursday, March 8, 2012

On Mon, Mar 5, 2012 at 8:12 AM, XXXX wrote:

Thanks John.    I have another favor of a technical nature. A DVD is stuck in the R-drive. It wants to open, but something is preventing it-sounds like a Twilight Zone story.    Any suggestions?

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Two ideas:

(1) there is usually a hole for “emergency open”. You mae need a magnifying glass and an unbent paper clip to insert.

(2) sometimes the CD doesn’t get flat on the “turntable”. I’ve found that inverting it and then back can sometimes free it. Also, a gentle washing machine agitation — 5 or 10 minutes — just put it on the machines when they cycle. :-) It sometimes will let the cd reset in the “tray”.

Just some things that I’ve done.

BTW the disk and the drive are probably toast. When it attempts to force the drawer open, it knocks the “heads” out of line.

Hope this helps,
fjohn

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POLITICAL: The IRS is politicized?

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

http://www.wnd.com/2012/03/obamas-irs-on-warpath-against-tea-parties

WND EXCLUSIVE
Obama’s IRS on warpath against tea parties
Government requiring names, addresses, contacts, relationships
Published: 12 hours ago
by Bob Unruh

*** begin quote ***

“Basically, we’re objecting to information that the IRS is requesting that is beyond the scope of its legitimate inquiry.”

On the ACLJ website, several questions from the IRS were quoted:

(1) Do you directly or indirectly communicate with members of legislative bodies? If so, provide copies of the written communications and contents of other forms of communications.

(2) Please describe the associate group members and their role with your organization in further detail. (a) How does your organization solicit members? (b) What are the questions asked of potential members? (c) What are the selection criteria for approval? (d) Do you limit membership to other organizations exempt under 501(c)(4) of the Code? (e) Provide the name, employer identification number, and address of the organizations.

(3) Do you have a close relationship with any candidate for public office or political party? If so describe fully the nature of that relationship.

“The quoted requests are merely the tip of the iceberg,” the ACLJ said. “We’re still reviewing the IRS letters and will have more information as we complete our review.”

The report continued, “Critically, the demands we’ve seen are made not in response to complaints of wrongdoing but instead in response to applications for exemption. In other words, the IRS appears to be conditioning the grant of exemptions on the extensive violation of the tea party’s fundamental First Amendment freedoms.”

*** end quote ***

It’s apparent that there’s a Nixon style enemies list.

How does one fight the IRS with a First Amendment argument?

It revolves around the “charitable deduction”. Guess you just have to forego that.

“We, The Sheeple” better wake up. Could be you next!

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GAMBLING: Betting on an RNG trend is the path to poverty

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

FROM LUDDITE:

>1.  First article…. lol

http://scoblete.casinocitytimes.com/article/trend-betting-pure-and-simple-60033

*** begin quote ***

Frank Scoblete: The simple truth about trend betting    The simple truth about trend betting    Scoblete says trend betting does not work in random games. You can’t get an edge over the house by betting for or against the trends you just saw. What happened in the past has no influence on what happens in the future.

*** end quote ***

He’s right, BUT, (and there is always a BIG butt), he doesn’t address the paradigm (the perception) that human beings always see order out of chaos. So we see trends. If UGH the caveman didn’t he was some predator’s lunch. Look at those people who say the Devil’s face in the billowing clouds at the 9/11 attack. Our wetware is hard wired to see <synonym for excrement> that may or may not be there. And the trend is your friend.

So, it’s a meme that if you’re gambling, you can’t “beat the house”. That’s why we do money management.

And, when you find an advantage, like I did when I realized the Riviera’s new loyalty ticket machines gave a slot player a small amount of additional information about the history of the machine (i.e., on a three dollar slot, a loyalty reading of 1 or 2 to go on a machine where the last play was 1 or 2 dollars MEANT that the last player went broke. Did it always pay to play that machine? No, but I’d give it two spins $6 to hit. One of the few times I made a lot of money. I’d have to call Our Girl to come down and wait for the tax papers.

Argh! I was at Comdex and had to go back to work. I got back out there three weeks later and the system had been removed.

I bet the pros realized it and used it. The casino probably lost the pro’s action because the pros would wait patiently for the tourists to “prime the pump”. Casino mistakes are few and far between. Like the Fremont’s repeat roulette number bet.

But he’s right. Betting on an RNG trend is the path to poverty. I’ll still do it in the short run (i.e., jump in the grave).

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RANT: What happened to “I AM WOMAN. HEAR ME ROAR”?

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

http://haemet.blogivists.com/2012/03/05/you-demand-i-buy-your-birth-control-but-
you-don%E2%80%99t-even-require-your-dates-to-buy-you-dinner-before-using-it-discuss/

You demand I buy your birth control, but you don’t even require your dates to buy you dinner before using it.
by Roxeanne de Luca at March 5, 2012 in Liberalism

*** begin quote ***

I have been beating the “young women of the world, have you all lost your minds?” drum for quite some time here at Haemet.  And I will continue to do so.  According to Fluke and the other lefties, the plight of women is so dire that they are left pleading before Congress to pay for the condoms and Pills that their lame-ass sex partners won’t pay for.  Could we humiliate young women any more?

*** end quote ***

We’ve already covered that the “23 old L3 young girl” is not what she appears to be. More “trojan horse”; than “poor student”.

Now let’s pick up this fellow good, but very crudely put, point.

Where is the pride? The self-reliance? The strength?

My paternal grandmother: married at ~13 on the docks in Germany, came steerage to the US, traveled the Oregon Trail, bore 16 children – three died in childbirth, her husband died in a construction accident while she was pregnant with her last — my Dad. Raised them all. I can only imagine what she’d say today about these whiney woman. “Pay for me to have sex.” Or even worse, “I’m powerless to control myself.” She’d have her infamous peach switch out in a heartbeat.

One advantage that the USA has over most of the rest of the world is that they oppress the female population. Barefoot and pregnant thinking. We, OTOH, have women that are powerhouses. Create wealth, Preform Bravely, and add immeasurably to the Commonweal. Not in the socialistic sense, but in that the fruits of their labor enrich everyone.

Let’s just take a quick look — Margaret Thatcher, Mother Teresa, Princess Diana, Madame Curie, Oprah, and on and on.

One of the appeals of Taylor Swift is that she empowers young girls. One of her videos shows here competing with a boy head to head in class. And, she wins. Unabashedly proud. She’s what we want more of. Fair competition makes everyone better.

We need all hands on deck for these struggles.

This “testimony” in front of Congress was so “disempowering” as to be embarrassing.

I have been helped, and helped others, many times in my life. But I can’t ever imagine begging for a handout for a recreational activity.

It disgusts me and it’s an insult to women everywhere. And, it’s an insult to the taxpayers.

I could understand a sick kid testifying that she like R&D into her condition as opposed to welfare / warfare items.

But this is unbelievable.

This is the biggest problem that the USA faces?

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INTERESTING: Infringe on one right; infringe on them all

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Chicago-Police-Take-NBC-Chicago-Photojournalist-
Into-Custody-Warn-1st-Amendment-Rights-Can-Be-Terminated-143105086.html

Police Handcuff NBC Chicago Photojournalist
Police release media members after about 10 minutes
By Zach Christman|  Monday, Mar 19, 2012  |  Updated 6:32 AM CDT

*** begin quote ***

“Your First Amendment rights can be terminated if you’re creating a scene or whatever,” the officer said.

*** end quote ***

Sounds like the kops needs some sensitivity training.

“Released after ten minutes” sounds like some realized the big time screw up!

If they were trespassing, what is the “barbara streisand” about fail to press charges.

Sorry, but this stinks.

We expect that the Fourth Estate, The Press, will give us the facts. Their RIGHTS are as inviolable as ours. An attack on that RIGHT is an attack on all our rights.

What will that kop say to you if he doesn’t like your lack of deference to his exalted status? “Your Right to Life can be terminated any time I choose.”

 

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INSPIRATIONAL: Why be anti-war?

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

http://lewrockwell.com/whitehead/whitehead39.1.html

The Horror! The Horror! Must-See War Films
by John W. Whitehead

*** begin quote ***

Saving Private Ryan: The Invasion Sequence (1998). The long opening sequence of this film is unlike anything in any other Hollywood depiction of war. It’s 25 minutes of barely comprehensible chaos and mutilation. Many veterans have stated that it is the most accurate re-creation of an amphibious assault. Credit for this sequence goes mainly to director of photography Janusz Kaminski – to be shared with editor Michael Kahn, sound designer Gary Rydstrom, writer Robert Rodat and director Steven Spielberg. Beyond this – i.e., the other 150 minutes of the film – Saving Private Ryan is a run-of-the-mill movie.

*** end quote ***

That opening sequence should convince anyone that war is the last option. The next time a politician or bureaucrat urges war, let them lead!

“We, The Sheeple” didn’t learn the lesson of Viet Nam, The Republic of.

55k of our best brightest warriors paid tuition. And ⅓ of the draft population went north or underground. It divided the nation and poisoned our souls.

When I hear them beat the War Drums for Syria, Iran, or whatever <insert name of favorite deity you favor> forsaken place they want our girls and boys to go die in, I get physically ill. In Fifth Grade, a Brother explained the “Just War” doctrine. He fought in the Pacific theater, and would say to us: “You JUST don’t understand. You know, but do not understand.” He was right. Many decades later, I know, but I don’t understand.

Dona Nobis Pacem!

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GUNS: The right’s existence is all the reason needed!

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2012/03/05/md-gun-law-found-unconstitutional/

Md. Gun Law Found Unconstitutional
March 5, 2012 1:29 PM

*** begin quote ***

States can channel the way their residents exercise their Second Amendment right to bear arms, but because Maryland’s goal was to minimize the number of firearms carried outside homes by limiting the privilege to those who could demonstrate “good reason,” it had turned into a rationing system, infringing upon residents’ rights, U.S. District Judge Benson Everett Legg wrote.

“A citizen may not be required to offer a `good and substantial reason’ why he should be permitted to exercise his rights,” he wrote. “The right’s existence is all the reason he needs.”

*** end quote ***

I think New Jersey laws should fall. As with every city and state! It’s a shame that someone has to take on the Gooferment to get their rights.

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