Half-baked opinions, served lukewarm.
A broadcast from two years ago talking about the looming recession. If we’re not in one now, then economists don’t know what a recession is. Schiff totally nailed the current economic climate. Does he have a newsletter?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IU6PamCQ6zw
A broadcast from two years ago talking about the looming recession. If we’re not in one now, then economists don’t know what a recession is. Schiff totally nailed the current economic climate. Does he have a newsletter?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IU6PamCQ6zw
Found a superb piece on CNN outlining why trying to “talk things out” with your husband can be a really bad idea, and make your relationship take a nose-dive:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/personal/09/26/o.improve.your.marriage/index.html
Found a superb piece on CNN outlining why trying to “talk things out” with your husband can be a really bad idea, and make your relationship take a nose-dive: http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/personal/09/26/o.improve.your.marriage/index.html
John LaBruzzo recently proposed that low-income women be given $1000 if they are willing to have themselves sterilized, and a tax-incentive program to encourage college-educated people to have more children.
John LaBruzzo recently proposed that low-income women be given $1000 if they are willing to have themselves sterilized, and a tax-incentive program to encourage college-educated people to have more children.
I see a few sides to this.
From a statistical perspective, LaBruzzo may be on to something. The highly-controversial conclusion made by the Freakonomics authors that the Roe V. Wade decision had a profound impact on US crime statistics supports this outlook. If fewer babies are born into high-risk environments, there will be fewer demonstrating behaviors that are a result of that high-risk environment.
From a common-sense perspective, I have to say “WTF are you doing proposing a law like that?” It’s unethical and immoral to target a specific socioeconomic group for cleansing from the gene pool. Personally, I think I’d oppose this measure on these grounds alone. We’re not offering more choices to people this way; we’re taking choice away from them for the prospect of a quick buck.
From an evolutionary perspective, my principal worry is much more about what modern medicine can do to cause people to reproduce who otherwise would have died before reproduction. I see a future in which humanity requires medicine and surgery to simply survive due to propagation of genes which were inhibited under millions of years of selective pressure. I believe the solution will be widespread gene selection, though, not sterilization-based eugenics.
What do you think?
It turns out we didn’t have President Gore in 2000 by only 269 votes:
https://www.msu.edu/~sheppa28/elections.html
In a country of 300 million people, that’s certainly a squeaker. It also makes it the Presidential vote with the smallest total number of popular vote differences between winner and loser in history.
It turns out we didn’t have President Gore in 2000 by only 269 votes:
https://www.msu.edu/~sheppa28/elections.html
In a country of 300 million people, that’s certainly a squeaker. It also makes it the Presidential vote with the smallest total number of popular vote differences between winner and loser in history.
What if we’d had President Gore? Well, I predict that 9/11 would have still happened, we’d never have invaded Iraq, but we’d still be suffering through the greatest financial crisis since the Great Depression. Possibly exacerbated because the capital-gains tax would have remained at 20-25% rather than being reduced to 15%, resulting in more pressure to perform for hedge fund managers, real estate loan officers, and insurance salesmen.
For those of you, like me, who have been somewhat mystified about the series of financial bailouts that don’t really appear to be stopping the financial giants from toppling, read:
http://news.goldseek.com/GoldSeek/1221672153.php
For those of you, like me, who have been somewhat mystified about the series of financial bailouts that don’t really appear to be stopping the financial giants from toppling, read: http://news.goldseek.com/GoldSeek/1221672153.php
This came into my inbox today. I thought I would share it, but not in the way my fellow American apparently intended. It’s not a sober commentary on how much money $85Bn is. It’s more of a commentary on American math skills. Can you spot the problem?
This came into my inbox today. I thought I would share it, but not in the way my fellow American apparently intended. It’s not a sober commentary on how much money $85Bn is. It’s more of a commentary on American math skills. Can you spot the problem?
I’m against the $85,000,000,000.00 bailout of AIG.
Instead, I’m in favor of giving $85,000,000,000 to America in
a We Deserve It Dividend.
To make the math simple, let’s assume there are 200,000,000
bonafide U.S. Citizens 18+.
Our population is about 301,000,000 +/- counting every man, woman
and child. So 200,000,000 might be a fair stab at adults 18 and up..
So divide 200 million adults 18+ into $85 billon that equals $425,000.00.
My plan is to give $425,000 to every person 18+ as a
We Deserve It Dividend.
Of course, it would NOT be tax free.
So let’s assume a tax rate of 30%.
Every individual 18+ has to pay $127,500.00 in taxes.
That sends $25,500,000,000 right back to Uncle Sam.
But it means that every adult 18+ has $297,500.00 in their pocket.
A husband and wife has $595,000.00.
What would you do with $297,500.00 to $595,000.00 in your family?
Pay off your mortgage – housing crisis solved.
Repay college loans – what a great boost to new grads
Put away money for college – it’ll be there
Save in a bank – create money to loan to entrepreneurs.
Buy a new car – create jobs
Invest in the market – capital drives growth
Pay for your parent’s medical insurance – health care improves
Enable Deadbeat Dads to come clean – or else
Remember this is for every adult U S Citizen 18+ including the folks
who lost their jobs at Lehman Brothers and every other company
that is cutting back. And of course, for those serving in our Armed Forces.
If we’re going to re-distribute wealth let’s really do it…instead of trickling out
a puny $1000.00 ( “vote buy” ) economic incentive that is being proposed by one of our candidates for President.
If we’re going to do an $85 billion bailout, let’s bail out every adult U S Citizen 18+!
As for AIG – liquidate it.
Sell off its parts.
Let American General go back to being American General.
Sell off the real estate.
Let the private sector bargain hunters cut it up and clean it up.
Here’s my rationale. We deserve it and AIG doesn’t.
Sure it’s a crazy idea that can “never work.”
But can you imagine the Coast-To-Coast Block Party!
How do you spell Economic Boom?
I trust my fellow adult Americans to know how to use the $85 Billion
We Deserve It Dividend more than I do the geniuses at AIG or in Washington DC.
And remember, The Birk plan only really costs $59.5 Billion because $25.5 Billion is returned
instantly in taxes to Uncle Sam.
Ahhh…I feel so much better getting that off my chest.
Birk T. J. Birkenmeier, A Creative Guy & Citizen of the Republic ; PS: Feel free to pass this along to your pals as it’s either good for a laugh or a tear or a very sobering thought on how to best use $85 Billion!!
This is an entry i posted on my blog, but there isn’t the readership there, i thought i would share it here as well. 🙂
The New York Times has a fun op-ed piece written by Maureen Dowd. The piece is titled Aaron Sorkin Conjures a Meeting of Obama and Bartlet.
This is an entry i posted on my blog, but there isn’t the readership there, i thought i would share it here as well. 🙂
The New York Times has a fun op-ed piece written by Maureen Dowd. The piece is titled Aaron Sorkin Conjures a Meeting of Obama and Bartlet.
It is a great article that definately leaned towards the Dems.
I’ve been doing a little programming in Python lately, and have had the limitations of using my favorite text editor — Vim — highlighted repeatedly. So I went digging on the Internet to see what it would take to turn Vim into a really decent Python editor. And whaddya’ know? Some helpful soul has already put together all the pieces on my behalf:
I’ve been doing a little programming in Python lately, and have had the limitations of using my favorite text editor — Vim — highlighted repeatedly. So I went digging on the Internet to see what it would take to turn Vim into a really decent Python editor. And whaddya’ know? Some helpful soul has already put together all the pieces on my behalf:
http://blog.sontek.net/2008/05/11/python-with-a-modular-ide-vim/
Trying it out now, and the integration of all these various pieces really makes it much easier to program in Python. In particular, being able to pull up pydoc for an object you are placing is a huge benefit.
If you’re a Vim fan who does some Python development, check it out. So far, I’ve only been using the combined tips a few hours, but I’m impressed with how the keybindings and better Python parsing improve my experience.
Found this clip on KSL. What’s eerie to me is how much this lady looks like a particular vice-presidential candidate if she were carrying an extra 20-40 pounds…
http://clips.ksl.com/kickapps/_Everything-Moms-Say-in-24-Hours/VIDEO/90475/5124.html
Found this clip on KSL. What’s eerie to me is how much this lady looks like a particular vice-presidential candidate if she were carrying an extra 20-40 pounds… http://clips.ksl.com/kickapps/_Everything-Moms-Say-in-24-Hours/VIDEO/90475/5124.html
I applaud you, unknown man interviewed on television regarding a fire:
Write up here regarding this legend of Internet infamy.
I applaud you, unknown man interviewed on television regarding a fire:
Write up here regarding this legend of Internet infamy.