Sunday, March 31, 2013

Something to Know - 1 April

Ashley Judd will not run against Mitch McConnell

This is being resent because the links on #2 and #3 did not come through on the first edition.

1.  David Stockman (he of the Reagan budget office -resigned) is offering his analysis of the hugely inefficient and corrupt path that the management of our economy has taken since the days of Dwight Eisenhower.  Nothing is sacred, in his view, and there is really no hope for the way we continue to bury ourselves.  Capitalism, and its insidious characteristics, is so big that it is failing, and Stockmansees no way out:

2.  As Timothy Egan did a few days ago, Paul Krugman carries on with the the theme that the Golden State is far from dead, but coming back to its former self:

3.  Fracking is now on the agenda for California.   With the dangers and lack of oversight learned from other locations (states in the Marcellus Shale region, the Midwest, and plenty of other places), it will be interesting to watch just how this progresses, or does not.   Just to see if we have learned from previous mistakes will be something to watch:

--
Juan

"I got kicked out of ballet class because I pulled a groin muscle. It wasn't mine."
       -- Rita Rudner

Something to Know - 1 April

Ashley Judd will not run against Mitch McConnell


1.  David Stockman (he of the Reagan budget office -resigned) is offering his analysis of the hugely inefficient and corrupt path that the management of our economy has taken since the days of Dwight Eisenhower.  Nothing is sacred, in his view, and there is really no hope for the way we continue to bury ourselves.  Capitalism, and its insidious characteristics, is so big that it is failing, and Stockman sees no way out:

2.  As Timothy Egan did a few days ago, Paul Krugman carries on with the the theme that the Golden State is far from dead, but coming back to its former self:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/01/opinion/krugman-lessons-from-a-comeback.html?ref=opinion&_r=0&pagewanted=print

3.  Fracking is now on the agenda for California.   With the dangers and lack of oversight learned from other locations (states in the Marcellus Shale region, the Midwest, and plenty of other places), it will be interesting to watch just how this progresses, or does not.   Just to see if we have learned from previous mistakes will be something to watch:
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-monterey-shale-20130331,0,32400,print.story

--
Juan

"I got kicked out of ballet class because I pulled a groin muscle. It wasn't mine."
       -- Rita Rudner

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Something to Know - 31 March

Rob Rogers

1.  Consider this a worthwhile reading assignment.   It is from the most recent issue of Rolling Stone, and Matt Taibi is presenting the whole story of California's Three-Strike prison sentencing, which was put to rest in the last election.   What comes to light is that many of those who were imprisoned for sentences of from 25 years to life were for almost absurd law violations, and were mostly those who are drug addicts, homeless, or mentally ill.  Reading this article will acquaint you with the politics of hiding people who society does not want to otherwise deal with:

Something to Know - 30 March


129476 600 Kim Jong Un Crayons cartoons

-- 

Time to dish out those links that I have gathered the past few days.

1.  Here is one suggestion on how to improve the financial health of Medicare, and that is to allow the program to negotiate the cost of pharmaceuticals, like the VA Hospitals.  This was Bush's little gift to Big Pharma (not allowing Medicare to negotiate drug costs) when he signed into law his non-funded program:

2.  Every once in a while, there is an article like this that pushes back on non-Golden State snarky comments about how messed up California is.  Not sure if it is out of jealousy, or perverted envy, but this one fits the bill for now:

3.  Reince Priebus, the guy who runs the Republican Party, delivered his autopsy report of the dead body that lost the election to the Democrats.  The theme was that the GOP had to better respect minorities (ethnic and women) to gain broader appeal and favor, which would turn into winning votes.    Well, that little pep-talk lasted about two days until some GOP legislator dropped this turd:

4.  Albany News Bureau has passed on this article which shows just how much attention is given to what each Justice on the Supreme Court is saying about anything.  Like every utterance is given a historical perspective on comments made in the oral argument presentation.  Now, nothing is really of any consequence until we get the actual decision (favoring and dissenting):

5.  This is an interesting analysis of what the Republican Party is going through.  It is like handicapping a horse race.   There are many factors in play, and everyone has an opinion on what has to be done, who is going to do what, and which side is going to hold steady, and which faction will just bite the bullet.  After reading this, I just wonder what the Tea Party is going to actually do.  There seems to be a feeling that they will just go along with the GOP, but the Tea Baggers are really trying to make a unique presence, and they could be of a mind to make that known in a very non-cooperative display:


--
Juan

"Imitation is the sincerest form of television."
       -- Fred Allen

Friday, March 29, 2013

Something to Know - 29 March

borowitz-scalia-thomas.jpg

WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report)—Justice Antonin Scalia dropped a bombshell on the Supreme Court today, announcing his decision to resign from the Court "effective immediately" and leave the United States forever.

Calling this week "by far the worst week of my life," Justice Scalia lashed out at his fellow-Justices and the nation, saying, "I don't want to live in a sick, sick country that thinks the way this country apparently thinks."

Justice Scalia said that he had considered fleeing to Canada, "but they not only have gay marriage but also national health care, which is almost as evil."

He said the fact that nations around the world recognizing same-sex marriage are "falling like deviant dominoes" would not deter him from leaving the United States: "There are plenty of other countries that still feel the way I do. I'll move to Iran if I have to."

Throwing off his robe in a dramatic gesture, Justice Scalia reserved his harshest parting shot for his fellow-Justices, screaming, "Damn you! Damn each and every one of you to hell! You call yourself judges? That's a good one. You're nothing but animals!"

Breathing heavily after his tirade, he turned to Justice Clarence Thomas and said, "Except you, Clarence. Are you coming with me?"

Justice Thomas said nothing in reply.



Read more: http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/borowitzreport/2013/03/bitter-scalia-leaves-us.html#ixzz2OtYSSFuK


--
Juan

"If it weren't for Philo T. Farnsworth, inventor of television, we'd still be eating frozen radio dinners."
       -- Johnny Carson






Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Something to Know - 27 March

mike032713


1.  Here's the deal:  Big Pharma drug makers pay off those companies who intend to make generic substitutes for sale to the public, so that they don't make and sell them.  Does this sound like free-market Capitalism?  It sounds like the corruption that goes inside Capitalism where the playing field is skewed so that consumers get screwed every time.   This is why government regulation and oversight is needed to police the guys who tilt the playing field in their favor:

2.  David Brooks steps into the morass of the gun violence conversation.  In doing so, he misses the mark totally.   He should be asking questions such as - does it make any sense to register the sale of weapons?  - does it make any sense to ascertain that the person buying a weapon is legally prohibited from buying one? - does it make any sense to make assault weapons available to the general public?   Oh no, instead, he goes on a rhetorical hunt that avoids the issue:

3.  Rand Paul has blossomed on the stage lately for the GOP.   It's like the mascot-of-the-month for that group.  Jindal, Rubio, Cristie, etc.  We get a new one until the next guy (no women allowed) says something that strikes an odd sound that garners much attention.  So, Paul unfurls a sail that gives him instant gravitas with the press and mascot-starved Republicans.   Only problem is that underneath that sail, there is a boat load of stupid stuff:

4.  Maureen Dowd takes you into the world of the US Supreme Court and the give and take of the discussion between the Justices and the lawyers:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/27/opinion/dowd-courting-cowardice.html?ref=opinion&pagewanted=print

--
Juan

"If it weren't for Philo T. Farnsworth, inventor of television, we'd still be eating frozen radio dinners."
       -- Johnny Carson

Monday, March 25, 2013

Something to Know - 26 March

032413-toon-luckovich-ed

I have been a bit behind lately in getting news stories out.  There are several causes, all of which you really should not care about.  However, I must say that I am disgusted with Congress and its lack of concern for the public will.  I am sick of Republicans thinking that they are earnestly re branding their party and fixing what is wrong  (they aren't), and as a result. I am not getting much to be excited about, so not much strikes my fancy to pass on.  However, I have been collecting a few pieces here and there this past week, in hopes that the energy level rises.  So, let's try and see what is going on:

1. Last week was the 10th anniversary of Bush's screw up in Iraq.   So, like many articles asking, what did we learn?: 

2.  So, taking the above discussion to a debate, here are several opinions which concentrate on the worthiness of the United States going to war in Iraq....this gets really disgusting:

3.  If you have not been able to form an opinion from the above two entries, take it from this guy, who really is disgusted with Bush and the whole panel of liars (Rice, Rumsfeld, Cheney, Bush, etc.):

4.  An example of the disgust with the Republicans, is that on one side, they are all Kumbaya with Hispanics and reformation for the Latino vote, and then one of their idiots pulls this stunt.  Their comprehension of their problems is laughable:

5.  The NY Times editorial attempts to lay out the necessity for Immigration Reform in idealistic terms.   However, the Republicans just can't get their arms around the whole concept.   The GOP likes to get all of the benefits from an undocumented work force that gives their constituents cheap and no hassle labor, but does not want to confer any path to legal status.  It scares them.  It scares the Republican Party because it appears that minorities tend to register and vote because they are appreciative of their naturalized status, and they vote for Democrats, and that scares the shit of the the Republicans, so they don't want to let them vote....plain and simple:

6.  This article concerns personal freedoms and laws that seek to curtail behavior to prevent others from harming themselves.   It is a lively subject, and this article dances around the concept of the "nanny state".   However, I firmly believe that at a certain point, it is incumbent that silly, stupid, and harmful behavior which some classify as all okay because it is within range of one's "personal freedom" there has to be a limit.  When one's harmful behavior costs the rest of us money, then we need to enact public policy to minimize the cost of taking care of problems that ne'er-do-wells bring upon themselves.  People who have no health care insurance get really sick and wind up in emergency hospitals, and we really end up paying those costs.   Same with people who are obese and in poor health.....they cost us dearly in the long run:

7.  A great old Democrat, by the name of Tip O'Neil, once said that "....all politics is local", and that really has not changed.   While the PooBahs at the top of the Republican Party extol the virtues of themselves coming to grips and fixing what ails them (even though some of them do not demonstrate that), it is in the local trenches that the Republicans continue to be the party of stupid.   It is disgusting to watch and listen.  Here's on for you:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/richard-cohen-iowa-and-new-hampshire-the-gops-primary-problem/2013/03/25/881c5b0e-9573-11e2-bc8a-934ce979aa74_print.html

--
Juan

"A complex system that works is invariably found to have evolved from a simple system that works."
       -- John Gaule

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Something to Know - 19 March

HOUSTON (The Borowitz Report)—In a sombre ceremony attended by former members of the Bush Administration, the former Vice-President Dick Cheney marked the tenth anniversary of making up a reason to invade Iraq.

The ceremony, held on the grounds of the Halliburton Company headquarters, brought together the former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, the former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, the former Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz, and other key members of the lying effort.


Calling the assembled officials "profiles in fabrication," Mr. Cheney praised them for their decade of dedication to a totally fictitious rationale.

"Making up a reason to invade a country is the easy part," Mr. Cheney told them. "Sticking to a pretend story for ten years—that is the stuff of valor."

Mr. Cheney added that their "steadfast charade had raised the bar for all future Administrations."

"When it is time to invade Iran or Venezuela, will the President have the will to make up an entirely fake reason to do it?" he asked. "That remains to be seen."

The ceremony ended on an emotional note, as Mr. Cheney placed a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown W.M.D.

Former President George W. Bush, who was said to be otherwise engaged, was represented at the event by a nude self-portrait.

dick-cheney-580.jpg

Saturday, March 16, 2013

Something to Know - 17 March

Clay Bennett
1.  If you were up past midnight last night, to celebrate the grand Irish tradition of sharing Guiness and Pub Food till the bars closed, you might feel a bit of the tummy fracking right now....(you know, small explosions, flushed with fluid to break up things, and then the fissures of methane).   From the El Dorado news bureau, we have this good presentation of the more industrial practices of Fracking:

2.  The subject of the very apparent inequality of wealth, opportunity, and standards of expectations of government is borne out in the general will of public opinion.  Where we had an article on the dark sides of Capitalism, we have this article on where the haves and have nots have very different opinions on the role of government.  While this article does not promote either pure Libertarian or pure Socialist principles, it does offer a basis for dialogue.   If this trend of inequality and divergent opinions is not addressed and is resolved, one should look to the history of other regimes and take to heart what happens when the human condition approaches frustration and anger:

3.  Take the concept of Drones as Weapons and add total technology that operates everything.  Very scary.   Upsetting, if you think that the accountability relies on the programmed software.   Is this where we are going next with the Military-Industrial Complex, or does this replace it?   Does this sanitize warfare and make it easier to wage stupid incursions and allow a house of cards excuses for unilateral lethal adventures.   Death by Computer....or can you imagine Drone Strike 4.3, which is an upgrade from the previous version to prevent the killing of innocents waiting for a bus near a high-value target????:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/17/opinion/sunday/keller-smart-drones.html?ref=opinion&_r=0&pagewanted=print

--
Juan

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."
       -- Dr. Seuss