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Wednesday, June 30, 2010

First They Came For The Butchers

SEARCH BLOG: POLITICS

Liberty is a fragile thing. Throughout history, the strong have used government in one form or another to control the weaker.  Then came the grand experiment in the new land.  Representative government directed by a Constitution that could not be changed arbitrarily.

Other nations followed this model, but often failed.  Those nations were quick to exchange their liberty for the promise of security... especially economic security.  And then, not so surprisingly, economic security became economic repression followed by personal repression.

[brief advertisement before video starts ... click below]

[h/t Pat Dollard]

And then the coal miners?

Of course, there is no danger of that in the United States.


2012 IS GETTING CLOSER

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Kagan: I Did Not Mean That Should Apply To ME!

SEARCH BLOG: POLITICS

In another instance of "do as I say, not as I do," Elena Kagan shows why she fits so well into the Obama-mold of government:

WASHINGTON — At the opening of questioning in her Supreme Court confirmation hearing on Tuesday, Solicitor General Elena Kagan quickly backpedaled from her past call for nominees to speak more openly and in specific terms about their constitutional views.


Doug Mills/The New York Times


Ms. Kagan repeatedly refused to offer an opinion about Supreme Court rulings.


Under questioning by the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senator Patrick J. Leahy, Democrat of Vermont, Ms. Kagan said she thought it would be inappropriate for her to talk about how she might rule on pending cases or cases “that might come before the court in the future” — or to answer questions that were “veiled” efforts to get at such issues.


Moreover, she said, she also now believed that “it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to talk about past cases” by essentially grading Supreme Court precedents, because those issues, too, might someday come again before the court. [read more]
Blame the people who voted for the person who nominate that person who will be confirmed by the people who were elected by the people who simply didn't understand what was meant by a "pig in the poke."  Or, to put it another way, "... we have to pass the bill [confirm the nominee] so that you can find out what is in it [her mind]...."

Well, since Ms. Kagan does not feel it is appropriate to let Congress know her views about past and pending Supreme Court cases, how about this for a question:
"Ms. Kagan, given that 1) you are unwilling to comment on past and pending Supreme Court cases, 2) your arguments before the Supreme Court on behalf of Harvard University have been rejected, and 3) you have absolutely no judicial record, why should anyone in this Congress vote to confirm your nomination to the highest court in the land?"

2012 IS GETTING CLOSER

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Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Laws Okay Because Government Will Not Enforce Them

SEARCH BLOG: LAW

We need more of this kind of thinking on our Supreme Court:


[h/t Pat Dollard]

Oh, wait. We already have that. It's called immigration law.

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Monday, June 28, 2010

Bear Arms or Bare Arms

SEARCH BLOG: CONSTITUTION

The Second Amendment’s guarantee of an individual right to bear arms applies to state and local gun control laws, the Supreme Court ruled on Monday in a 5-to-4 decision. [read more]
Apparently, there was a difference in understanding which homophone was in the Constitution.  That's understandable because the longhand version is so much harder to read than the digital version in a nice Arial font.
Here is a question for Elena Kagen: how would you have voted?
Better yet:
Take the last 20 Supreme Court decisions and ask her, under oath, how she would have voted. No equivocation allowed. "Ms. Kagen, how would you have voted on [this] issue?"

If she attempts to answer, "I can't answer that without reading all of the documentation from each case," then she is unprepared and unqualified. Otherwise, let her answers, under oath, reveal her understanding and biases... one way or another.[source]

2012 IS GETTING CLOSER

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Where Is The Reset Button?

SEARCH BLOG: ECONOMY

Just in case you haven't seen this.


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Sunday, June 27, 2010

Contrast This To Tea Party Gatherings

SEARCH BLOG: POLITICS

You can count on the left-wingers to use violence to further their goals:


Toronto, Canada (CNN) -- Police said they were preparing for more disruptions Sunday after groups of protesters burned cars, hurled bricks and smashed windows as they tried to penetrate the fence surrounding the G-20 summit.
"I do not believe that the individuals bent on vandalism and violence in our city have finished with their intent, so we will remain vigilant," Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair said Saturday night.
More than 300 people were arrested Saturday, and 412 have been arrested since June 18, said Jillian Van Acker, spokeswoman for the Integrated Security Unit. There were no reports of serious injuries to either protesters or police, she said.
Blair told reporters that packs of disruptive demonstrators infiltrated peaceful protests in order to cause chaos and distract police.
"These criminals rely on the anonymity of hiding in a larger group of the curious and the naive," he said.
At least four police cars went up in flames and smoke during hours of confrontation. [read more]
Just a different version of the jackbooted Black Panthers at the voting places.

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The Lawlessness Of The Obama Administration

SEARCH BLOG: OBAMA

He has ignored the law of the land and his duty as President when it comes to mass illegal entry to the United States effectively ceding a large portion of the Mexican border to lawless gangs.  Now his hand-picked minions selectively enforce laws against whites, but not minorities.  What else would you expect from this illegitimate pretender to the presidency who can't produce a valid U.S. birth certificate and has two social security numbers?  What else would you expect from a president who treats the Constitution as a arcane suggestion?

More here.

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Saturday, June 26, 2010

Mexican Border Moved Inside Arizona

SEARCH BLOG: IMMIGRATION



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New Approach To Solar Power For Homes

SEARCH BLOG: ENERGY

Electricity from solar power is still in its infancy.  The military is making a big push for low-cost, durable cells [h/t Kathy], but they are purely ugly.  There must be a better way for the civilian world.

I just don't see these solar tarps being draped around the house.  Solar cell drapes?  Solar cell awnings?  Solar cell roofs ... already doing that but do we really want a bunch of reflective roofs twinkling in the sun as we take a walk through the neighborhood?


What I'd like to see is something more practical. Wouldn't it be great if windows on buildings could be turned into electricity generators? Wouldn't it be even better if those same windows also worked the same way as those darkening sunglasses? Of course, the issue is cost as well as technology that is effective and efficient.


Rather than having a translucent or almost-transparent solar film inside of a glass sandwich, the glass itself would be the source of the electricity.  No add-ons; no interference with the view.  I'm sure somewhere someone could come up with a working prototype.  The challenge would be to make it relatively inexpensive, easy to install and replace, and efficient in generating electricity.  The room darkening part?  That's just a plus, so that could be optional.

We may be needing this sooner than later the way the anti-energy clowns in Washington are going.

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Friday, June 25, 2010

Caution: OS4 May Be Bad For Your 3G IPhone

SEARCH BLOG: IPHONE

Not all change may be an improvement.

Apple's new iPhone 4 seems better in many ways than the old 3rd generation iPhones.  Lots of neat features.  But, as reported in so many places, it has not been without its problems.

My own issue with OS4 is that it has made my older 3G iPhone incredibly slow.  I'm guessing that the firmware is simply too complex for the older hardware to handle smoothly.  "Apps" simply stop working or have incredibly slow response.  I'm not alone.

I have not "upgraded" my wife's iPhone to OS4 and will probably not do so based on the experience with my iPhone.

More here.

2012 IS GETTING CLOSER

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Alternative Energy Subsidies

SEARCH BLOG: ENERGY

From the Energy Information Agency in 2007, all energy subsidies were calculated at more than $16 billion.  Subsidies for "renewable energy" sources made up about 30% of the total while generating about 3% of the total electricity.  While overall that might seem small, you must remember that even with the subsidies, the cost of "alternatively" generated energy is more than conventionally generated energy... coal, natural gas, nuclear.

So, how about this... let the marketplace work with one giant incentive.  Call it a bribe, if you will.

Offer $100 billion dollars to whoever comes up with a non-subsidized alternative energy system that can scale up to the nation's total energy needs, connects easily to the existing grid, and costs 25% less per kilowatt hour to generate than the lowest cost method presently used.  After it has been proven out and gets past the Energy Prevention Agency, pay out the award, do not allow a patent, and remove all other subsidies.   
Of course, if anyone or any company could actually create such a technology, they might skip the government incentive and keep the patent for the huge licensing fees around the world.  The accountants could figure that out.  What's in it for utility companies?  Depends on the government, but if utilities were then deregulated, the lower cost producers could make larger profits while offering competitive rates.  Oh, profits, bad word!
The $100 billion makes up for the loss of any patent and licenses.  All electrical energy producers would then have the opportunity to convert their operations to the new technology without fees or subsidies.  The government then gets out of the electrical energy production business except for gradually increasing taxes on all companies that do not fully convert to the new technology... and prohibits simultaneous rate increases.

Hey, there was the Manhattan Project and the Man to the Moon effort, so why not a challenge to develop an alternative energy technology that is a better alternative energy technology?

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Thursday, June 24, 2010

iPhone 4 Frenzy

SEARCH BLOG: IPHONE

My son and nephew were there at 5 AM.  The Apple Store, of course.  They didn't have an iPhone reserved, so they got in the "walk-in" line.  They were about 50th in that line.  By 7 AM when I arrived, the line stretched to several hundred people.  And then there was the line for people with "reservations"... just as long.

When the store opened, everyone in line tensed with anticipation.  "I'm gonna get mine!"  Then the line for people with reservations began to move.  After an hour, the line for people with reservations was moving very slowly into the store.  The "walk-in" line was... not moving.  I was there because I am the "owner" of the family plan and have to sign for changes and upgrades and iPhone Frenzies... whatever... for my son and nephew.  I left at 8 AM and said, "Call me if your line starts to move."  Over an hour later... nothing yet.

Yes, that blue T-shirt has 6-24-10 on the back... the day the iPhone 4 goes on sale.  !!!???
UPDATE 1: It's now 11 AM and the walk-ins are still not walking toward the store.  6 hours in line for a phone?  How about an Android?
Update 2: 3 PM and they finally got their new phones.  A paltry 10-hour wait. 
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The Purpose Of Education

SEARCH BLOG: EDUCATION

From The Detroit News:

“The purpose of education is not diversity,” Arnn says. “It’s truth.” [read more]

2012 IS GETTING CLOSER

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The Answer Is They Don't Have Obama

SEARCH BLOG: ECONOMY

The Fed has held interest rates to nothing citing issues with Europe.  Most people know that Greece is in trouble so what else is going on? 

Here is the quiz:

England is cutting back its spending budget.  The reason this is being done is:
a.  They are a small country with limited resources so they can't afford a large debt 
b. They are a small country with limited population so they don't have very many smart people in the government to run things. 
☺.  They don't have Barack Obama to lead them.
France is cutting back its spending budget.  The reason this is being done is:
a.  They are a small country with limited resources so they can't afford a large debt 
b. They are a small country with limited resources so they don't have very many smart people in the government to run things. 
☺.  They don't have Barack Obama to lead them.
Germany is cutting back its spending budget.  The reason this is being done is:
a.  They are a small country with limited resources so they can't afford a large debt 
b. They are a small country with limited population so they don't have very many smart people in the government to run things. 
☺.  They don't have Barack Obama to lead them.
Spain is cutting back its spending budget.  The reason this is being done is:
a.  They are a small country with limited resources so they can't afford a large debt 
b. They are a small country with limited population so they don't have very many smart people in the government to run things. 
☺.  They don't have Barack Obama to lead them.
Need we go on?

Meanwhile, the U.S. is increasing its budget spending because:
a.  It is a large country with unlimited resources so it can afford a large debt. 
b. It is a large country with unlimited population [due to feeder nations to the south] so it has very many smart people in the government to run things. 
☺.  It has Barack Obama as its leader.
 

2012 IS GETTING CLOSER

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Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Busted Housing

SEARCH BLOG: HOUSING

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The stock selloff accelerated Wednesday after a report showed new home sales plunged nearly 33% in May, falling to their lowest level on record. [read more]
This was reported as "unexpectedly" low sales in various media. Unexpectedly? Come on!

Last month at Carpe Diem, a post touted the economic recovery as exemplified by strong housing sales. I commented there:
May may be a disappointment for those seeking positive reinforcement.


An anecdote: my daughter-in-law's brother was rushing to complete a home purchase. All was set. Then the real estate agent failed to get the paperwork filed in time for the brother to get the tax credit. Deal off.


Despite low sales prices, buyers are just barely qualifying and then stretched themselves to get the tax credit. With that gone, the rush to buy is gone.
5/31/2010 5:55 PM 
As I said, "Unexpectedly?"

2012 IS GETTING CLOSER

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Europe Closes Its Wallet

FORTUNE -- President Obama wants to slow Europe's headlong rush to austerity. But right now he looks like little more than a speed bump for the cutback crowd.

SEARCH BLOG: ECONOMY

From cnn.money.com:
obama_bp_100527.03.jpgObama has sought to use the upcoming meeting of the Group of 20 global finance ministers in Canada this weekend as a rallying cry for . He argues that cutting government spending now risks undermining a fragile recovery in debt-soaked Western economies.  [read more]
See, debt is just a fiction to President Obama.  His view is that it doesn't matter how much you spend because ... because ... because.  Okay, I don't get it.  Apparently, neither does Europe.



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Tuesday, June 22, 2010

No More July 4 Fireworks

SEARCH BLOG: DETROIT

The 4th of July is still more than a week away.  If you are planning to watch traditional parades and fireworks, try someplace other than Detroit.

Detroit used to have 4th of July celebrations, but then as a nod to its neighbors to the south [Canada, look at a map], the date for the fireworks sort of drifted around between Dominion Day [July 1] and Independence Day [July 4].

In the "Change" era, it is no long "cool" to celebrate our history.  So now Target, which sponsors the fireworks, celebrates the "Summer Solstice" instead.

[image from The Detroit News]

Now when some Detroit 4-year old asks, "Why are there fireworks, daddy?" his daddy will answer with "I dunno; just shuddup and watch."

2012 IS GETTING CLOSER

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As oil Conspiracy Theories Go This Is A Stretch

SEARCH BLOG: OBAMA and OIL

I received this today via email:

June 22, 2010 -- Obama knew about Deepwater Horizon 35,000 feet well bore
President Obama and Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar, Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, and Defense Secretary Robert Gates were informed that BP would drill an unprecedented 35,000 feet well bore at the Macondo site off the coast of Louisiana. In September 2009, the Deepwater Horizon successfully sunk a well bore at a depth of 35,055 below seal level at the Tiber Prospect in the Keathley Canyon block 102 in the Gulf of Mexico, southeast of Houston. 
During the September drilling operations, the Deepwater Horizon drill penetrated a massive undersea oil deposit but BP's priorities changed when the Macondo site in the Mississippi Canyon off the coast of Louisiana was found to contain some 3-4 billion barrels of oil in an underground cavern estimated to be about the size of Mount Everest. It was as a result of another 35,000 feet well bore sank by the Deepwater Horizon at the Macondo site that the catastrophic explosion occurred on April 20.
According to WMR's sources within the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Pentagon and Interior and Energy Departments told Obama that the newly-discovered estimated 3-4 billion barrels of oil in the Gulf of Mexico would cover America's oil needs for up to eight months if there was a military attack on Iran that resulted in the bottling up of the Strait of Hormuz to oil tanker traffic, resulting in a cut-off of oil to the United States from the Persian Gulf.
Obama, Salazar, Chu, and Gates green-lighted the risky Macondo drilling operation from the outset, according to WMR's government sources.
WMR learned that BP was able to have several safety checks waved because of the high-level interest by the White House and Pentagon in tapping the Gulf of Mexico bonanza find in order to plan a military attack on Iran without having to be concerned about an oil and natural gas shortage from the Persian Gulf after an outbreak of hostilities with Iran.
BP still has an ongoing operation to drill down to 40,000 feet below sea level at the Liberty field off the north coast of Alaska.
As is always the case when the government is involved in gross negligence or outright culpability, the Obama administration named Kenneth Feinberg, the Special Master of the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund, to administer BP's set-aside fund of $20 billion to compensate those affected by the Deepwater Horizon disaster. Feinberg was also named the chief of the program to dole out executive compensation packages to Wall Street and other companies that received federal bailout money and was the administrator of the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund that compensated those affected by the Virginia Tech shootings in 2007.
Feinberg's role appears to be as the chief insurance claims adjuster for America's disaster capitalism policies.
Sorry, but this is shaky for a number of reasons:

  1. There are plenty of other less risky sources of oil than deep-water Gulf of Mexico if an emergency supply of oil was the goal.
  2. The likelihood of a U.S. attack on Iran is small.  What is more likely is that the U.S. may be building up naval forces in the Persian Gulf area to act as an obstacle to Israeli actions against Iran... which is seen as the real danger by Obama.
  3. The so-called "green light" from Obama and company was nothing more than business-as-usual in the Gulf with shoddy bureaucracy teamed up with shoddy oil drilling.
This Wayne Madsen newsletter is another attempt at deflecting a negative issue away from the Obama administration by trying to show that "mistakes were made in the interest of national security."

BS!


2012 IS GETTING CLOSER

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iPhone OS 4


SEARCH BLOG: IPHONE

I just got done installing the OS4 version of the iPhone software on my 3G phone.  Some features seem to work, others don't.

I tried the multitasking following instructions on a couple of sites... no luck.  I tried to see if the iPhone would pair with my Bluetooth keyboard... no luck... which really disappointed me.  The camera feature to zoom in works, but I already had a free app, Camera Plus, that does that and more.  The "places" feature on the photo library is quite nice.  I can quickly find all of the photos I took in one location.

What seems to be the case is the phone responds more slowly... especially starting up the various apps.

So far, I don't see why all of the excitement.  Maybe it just doesn't function with the 3G phone as well as the newer versions.  We'll see.  I'm going with one of my sons to the Apple store early Thursday morning so he can buy the newest version of the iPhone.

2012 IS GETTING CLOSER

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Monday, June 21, 2010

Too Much Debt

SEARCH BLOG: ECONOMY


2012 IS GETTING CLOSER

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Obama: We Have Met The Enemy

SEARCH BLOG:

The President has spoken:

NEW ORLEANS: President Barack Obama yesterday threatened legal action against those to blame for unleashing the nation’s worst ever oil spill, as BP once again battled to stop the six-week leak.
“If our laws were broken leading to this death and destruction, my solemn pledge is that we will bring those responsible to justice on behalf of the victims of this catastrophe and the people of the Gulf region,” Obama vowed. [source] ... June 2, 2010
Will he break his vow?
Adm. Perry Would Have AgreedAn examination by The New York Times highlights the chasm between the oil industry’s assertions about the reliability of its blowout preventers and a more complex reality. It reveals that the federal agency charged with regulating offshore drilling, the Minerals Management Service, repeatedly declined to act on advice from its own experts on how it could minimize the risk of a blind shear ram failure.
It also shows that the Obama administration failed to grapple with either the well-known weaknesses of blowout preventers or the sufficiency of the nation’s drilling regulations even as it made plans this spring to expand offshore oil exploration. [source] June 21, 2010
Walt Kelly had it right.  

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President Obama Has Been Good For The U.S.

SEARCH BLOG: POLITICS

Despite all of the rancor and extremism coming from the current Administration and Congress, one must understand that President Obama is a good thing for America.  Every once in awhile, the U.S. needs a president such as Jimmy Carter and, now, Barack Obama, to remind us of what America is about... and what it isn't about.

After Jimmy Carter, the U.S. enjoyed a prolonged period of prosperity and strength.  After Barack Obama, the U.S. will return to its more traditional values and the left-wing extremists in power will be consigned to the political dust heap.

It's a painful process, but a necessary one to remind us what makes the U.S. great and what undermines it.  Isn't it ironic that Mr. Carter and Mr. Obama both struggled with how to placate a belligerent Iran.  Of course, that's part of the problem... placating.  No preconditions there.

There is no strength through weakness; there is no moral superiority by groveling before despots.

The next president will reflect the disgust Americans are increasingly feeling with an administration that is so horribly out of touch with what makes America great.  The next president will not grovel before the Mexican president and apologize for having immigration laws... even if they are not enforced.  The next president will not seek to drain the vitality from business and individuals by supporting legislation that creates massive debt, higher taxes, and less resources in the name of "saving" us.  And the next president will probably be willing to show a copy of his birth certificate and other records in a demonstration of "transparency" and "openness."

Sure, things now are a bit like the Orwellian "1984," but doublethink and doublespeak will soon be relics of the past.  It begins this November and then again since...

2012 IS GETTING CLOSER

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Welcome To Summer

SEARCH BLOG: SUMMER

The summer solstice....

2012 IS GETTING CLOSER

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Sunday, June 20, 2010

Who could have predicted this?

SEARCH BLOG: HEALTH CARE

"Congress is playing Russian roulette with seniors' health care," said AMA President Dr. Cecil B. Wilson. "Congress has finally taken its game of brinkmanship too far, as the steep 21% cut is now in effect and physicians will be forced to make difficult practice changes to keep their practice doors open." [source]

I think he means, "You seniors need to vote out the people who caused this mess and we'll try to fit you in for an appointment."


2012 IS GETTING CLOSER

The Argument For Sharia Law

SEARCH BLOG: ISLAM

Islam gets a bad rap in the West.  All of these stories about violence and hatred toward Jews.  Those just try to discredit a great religion and governments based on that religion that provide citizens with a higher level of morality and justice than the West could ever hope to achieve.

But the West has allowed its laws to be corrupted by special interest groups like women and blacks.  In the good old days, men basically owned women and blacks.  But now, these groups have their own voices in politics and law.  How demeaning to men!

Islam now provides an opportunity for the West to restore the proper balance between men and women.  It would restore women to their proper place... under sheets.  We have much to learn from our Arab brethren.
A court in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has convicted an 18 year old girl (”LH”) to one year in prison for “consensual sex.” The UAE court convicted her because she agreed to be alone in the car with a man “YM.”
As previously reported, the teenage girl had previously alleged that she was gang raped by six men. the UAE “The Nation” newspaper reported that LH had “12 bruises ranging from 1cm to 7 cm long on her upper lip, hands, thighs, knee, and behind her left ear.” LH indicated that her brother had beaten her, although the beatings happened at different times. [read more]
No more mister nice guys!  And who says there are irreconcilable differences between Islam and the West?

2012 IS GETTING CLOSER

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Economy Getting Better

SEARCH BLOG: ECONOMY

From Rasmussen Reports:

Among investors 37% say the economy is getting better and 41% believe it is getting worse.
That leaves 22% who could not be reached because their phone service has been disconnected.


2012 IS GETTING CLOSER

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Obama's Next Blunder

SEARCH BLOG: OBAMA

The Justice Department will file suit against the State of Arizona.  From CBS News:

According to President Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder, the Justice Department is currently in the process of deciding whether or not to file suit over Arizona's controversial immigration law, which Mr. Obama has called "misguided" and potentially discriminatory. 
According to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, however, the decision has already been made. 
 "President Obama has spoken out against the law because he thinks that the federal government should be determining immigration policy," she said in an interview with an Ecuadorean television station flagged by The Right Scoop. "And the Justice Department, under his direction, will be bringing a lawsuit against the act."[read more]
Excuse me, but is it immigration policy or is it immigration law?  I may be mistaken, but policies that defy law are illegal... except perhaps for this administration.  I guess the oath of office is just a nice sounding set of words... and The Constitution is just an old piece of paper.

That 41% approval rating the President has now will seem nostalgically high in a few weeks.

... announced on Ecuadorean television!!!???  How surreal can surreal get?

2012 IS GETTING CLOSER

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Federal Government Ponzi Scheme

SEARCH BLOG: ECONOMY

If you are an individual, using your home multiple times as loan collateral can get you in trouble.

However, it now appears he used the same collateral--a motley collection of small rental town houses and his own residence--over and over. Vaughan's $3.25 million home, for example, now has $79 million in mortgages against it. [source]
However, if you are the U.S. Federal government, you can do this without raising an eyebrow.
The U.S. ran a record $1.42 trillion deficit in fiscal 2009. Fiscal years begin Oct. 1. [source]

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Saturday, June 19, 2010

Official Shoots Detroit In Foot... Again

SEARCH BLOG: DETROIT

Every large city has it's problems.  Detroit's stem from the "leaders" chosen by its residents.  First Coleman, then Kwame, and now... Otis.

2012 IS GETTING CLOSER

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Survey Says...

SEARCH BLOG: GLOBAL WARMING

On June 9, I wrote:

Obviously different subsets of the population.  I'm guessing the first group are Federal government employees and college students studying political science... although even the Rasmussen poll shows more people once again believing in human activity as the primary cause of global warming [which may or may not be occurring].
The issue was the widely disparate results of a Stanford poll showing most people believe in man-made global warming when nearly all other polls showed the direct opposite result.  The timing of the poll... just before Congress and the President were making another push for global warming legislation that would cost the economy billions, maybe trillions, of dollars... left the poll suspect in my mind.

Now the head of Pew Research and The Gallup Poll have basically said that the Stanford survey was horribly designed and the questions simply led people to answer in a way that neutral questions would not. [h/t Marc Morano at climatedepot.com]

I'm not a big fan of polls as the arbiters of truth.
Polls show popular sentiment which is politically important, but do not measure scientific merit.  When the polls showed an overwhelming sentiment that human actions were causing global warming, my reaction was "What does the data say?"  The data said that the people were mistaken.
Now that the polls' results show agreement with the data, my response is, "That's nice."

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Friday, June 18, 2010

You Can Fool Some Of The People All Of The Time

SEARCH BLOG: OBAMA

But you can't fool all of the people all of the time:

Overall, 41% of voters say they at least somewhat approve of the president's performance. That’s the lowest level of approval yet recorded for this president. Fifty-eight percent (58%) now disapprove.  6-18-10 [source

2012 IS GETTING CLOSER

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Putting Israel In Perspective

SEARCH BLOG: ISRAEL

International boundaries have changed for as long as there have been boundaries.  It is accepted, even if it is not liked.  Boundaries change for a variety of reasons, but the most common is war.  World Wars I and II changed the map of Europe and parts of Asia.  No one is arguing that the time has come to forget the past and restore old borders and old politics.  Yet that is the case with the countries around Israel.  Israel was attacked and repelled its attackers.  Israel occupied and annexed some land as a result of their victory in war.  The land it kept was seen by Israel as key to preventing similar future attacks.  But those countries that lost the land think they deserve it back.

What happens if Israel is attacked again and loses the war?  Will the world respond that Israel should be restored in 40 or 50 or 60 years?  Not likely.

This post from Joshuapundit provides some interesting perspective on Israel:

Israel's Crucial Security Needs In Any Peace Settlement



People who have never been to Israel have no idea how small the area is that we're talking about, how vulnerable Israel is to attack from hostile neighbors or what the facts on the ground actually look like. This video, from the Jerusalem Center gives you an excellent idea of these factors and what Israel's security needs actually are to ensure any kind of viable and lasting peace.
One more perspective:



Yes, excluding occupied territories, about 10% smaller than the small state of New Jersey.

If that is too much of a threat to 1 billion Muslims, that's not saying much for the Muslims.  Face it, World, you just don't like Jews.  They represent the part of the human spirit that just won't give in to the worst you have to offer.  Ever the small minority in a very hostile world, they continue to find a way to survive and thrive... and contribute mightily to the rest of the world.  No, they are not all from Israel.  These are:


  • Ada E. Yonath, Chemistry, 2009


  • Robert Aumannborn in Germany, Economics, 2005


  • Aaron Ciechanover, Chemistry, 2004


  • Avram Hershkoborn in Hungary, Chemistry, 2004


  • Daniel Kahneman, Economics, 2002


  • Yitzhak Rabin, Peace, 1994


  • Shimon Peresborn in then Poland, now Belarus, Peace, 1994


  • Menachem Beginborn in then Poland, now Belarus, Peace, 1978

  • Shmuel Yosef Agnonborn in then Austria-Hungary, now Ukraine, Literature, 1966


  • That's better than 1% of the total Nobel prizes awarded.  Relative to the world's population of 6 billion people, Israel should have a population of 60 million for that kind of representation.  Israel has an actual population of just a hair more than 1/10th of that... meaning they contribute about 10 times as much in significant contributions to the world than one would reasonably expect for their population.

    Iran appears to have the reverse ratio.

    I'd say the world needs Israel a lot more than it needs Iran.  Perhaps Iran would be willing to part with 8-10,000 square miles as a Palestinian homeland.  That would earn Iran a Nobel prize.

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    There is always an easy solution to every human problem—neat, plausible, and wrong.
    Henry Louis Mencken (1880–1956)
    “The Divine Afflatus,” A Mencken Chrestomathy, chapter 25, p. 443 (1949)
    ... and one could add "not all human problems really are."
    It was beautiful and simple, as truly great swindles are.
    - O. Henry
    ... The Government is on course for an embarrassing showdown with the European Union, business groups and environmental charities after refusing to guarantee that billions of pounds of revenue it stands to earn from carbon-permit trading will be spent on combating climate change.
    The Independent (UK)

    Tracking Interest Rates

    Tracking Interest Rates

    FEDERAL RESERVE & HOUSING

    SEARCH BLOG: FEDERAL RESERVE for full versions... or use the Blog Archive pulldown menu.

    February 3, 2006
    Go back to 1999-2000 and see what the Fed did. They are following the same pattern for 2005-06. If it ain't broke, the Fed will fix it... and good!
    August 29, 2006 The Federal Reserve always acts on old information... and is the only cause of U.S. recessions.
    December 5, 2006 Last spring I wrote about what I saw to be a sharp downturn in the economy in the "rustbelt" states, particularly Michigan.
    March 28, 2007
    The Federal Reserve sees no need to cut interest rates in the light of adverse recent economic data, Ben Bernanke said on Wednesday.
    The Fed chairman said ”to date, the incoming data have supported the view that the current stance of policy is likely to foster sustainable economic growth and a gradual ebbing in core inflation”.

    July 21, 2007 My guess is that if there is an interest rate change, a cut is more likely than an increase. The key variables to be watching at this point are real estate prices and the inventory of unsold homes.
    August 11, 2007 I suspect that within 6 months the Federal Reserve will be forced to lower interest rates before housing becomes a black hole.
    September 11, 2007 It only means that the overall process has flaws guaranteeing it will be slow in responding to changes in the economy... and tend to over-react as a result.
    September 18, 2007 I think a 4% rate is really what is needed to turn the economy back on the right course. The rate may not get there, but more cuts will be needed with employment rates down and foreclosure rates up.
    October 25, 2007 How long will it be before I will be able to write: "The Federal Reserve lowered its lending rate to 4% in response to the collapse of the U.S. housing market and massive numbers of foreclosures that threaten the banking and mortgage sectors."
    November 28, 2007 FED VICE CHAIRMAN DONALD KOHN
    "Should the elevated turbulence persist, it would increase the possibility of further tightening in financial conditions for households and businesses," he said.

    "Uncertainties about the economic outlook are unusually high right now," he said. "These uncertainties require flexible and pragmatic policymaking -- nimble is the adjective I used a few weeks ago."
    http://www.reuters.com/

    December 11, 2007 Somehow the Fed misses the obvious.
    fed_rate_moves_425_small.gif
    [Image from: CNNMoney.com]
    December 13, 2007 [from The Christian Science Monitor]
    "The odds of a recession are now above 50 percent," says Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Economy.com. "We are right on the edge of a recession in part because of the Fed's reluctance to reduce interest rates more aggressively." [see my comments of September 11]
    January 7, 2008 The real problem now is that consumers can't rescue the economy and manufacturing, which is already weakening, will continue to weaken. We've gutted the forces that could avoid a downturn. The question is not whether there will be a recession, but can it be dampened sufficiently so that it is very short.
    January 11, 2008 This is death by a thousand cuts.
    January 13, 2008 [N.Y. Times]
    “The question is not whether we will have a recession, but how deep and prolonged it will be,” said David Rosenberg, the chief North American economist at Merrill Lynch. “Even if the Fed’s moves are going to work, it will not show up until the later part of 2008 or 2009.
    January 17, 2008 A few days ago, Anna Schwartz, nonagenarian economist, implicated the Federal Reserve as the cause of the present lending crisis [from the Telegraph - UK]:
    The high priestess of US monetarism - a revered figure at the Fed - says the central bank is itself the chief cause of the credit bubble, and now seems stunned as the consequences of its own actions engulf the financial system. "The new group at the Fed is not equal to the problem that faces it," she says, daring to utter a thought that fellow critics mostly utter sotto voce.
    January 22, 2008 The cut has become infected and a limb is in danger. Ben Bernanke is panicking and the Fed has its emergency triage team cutting rates... this time by 3/4%. ...

    What should the Federal Reserve do now? Step back... and don't be so anxious to raise rates at the first sign of economic improvement.
    Individuals and businesses need stability in their financial cost structures so that they can plan effectively and keep their ships afloat. Wildly fluctuating rates... regardless of what the absolute levels are... create problems. Either too much spending or too much fear. It's just not that difficult to comprehend. Why has it been so difficult for the Fed?

    About Me

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    Michigan, United States
    Air Force (SAC) captain 1968-72. Retired after 35 years of business and logistical planning, including running a small business. Two sons with advanced degrees; one with a business and pre-law degree. Beautiful wife who has put up with me for 4 decades. Education: B.A. (Sociology major; minors in philosopy, English literature, and German) M.S. Operations Management (like a mixture of an MBA with logistical planning)