Monday, January 21, 2008

Posting

I seem to to be getting back into stride with posting. I have been holding off on the ECN post because I fould that it had become instead of normal posting instead of in addtion to. I think it will be my rule of thumb not to post an ECN unless I already have a post for the day.

The future dictator of Venezuela continues to show his true colors.


Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has threatened to nationalise farms, in an effort to tackle food shortages.
Government controls keep food prices low in shops to help even the poorest Venezuelans feed themselves.
But some farmers prefer to sell their produce in neighbouring countries where prices are higher, leading to shortages of bread, milk, eggs and meat.


Prices are kept artificially low in an effort to “feed the poor”. If farms sell at that level they will soon be part of the poor. Even I see a whole slew of alternated methods to achieve the same result.

  • Allow the prices to elevate a little and apply an export tax on the food staples. All of the proceeds from the tax could then go to the poor so they could afford the slight increase. This would allow capitalism to work hand in hand with socialism agendas.
  • Simply require a percentage must be sold locally.
  • Tax breaks or other incentives to those who sell locally.


Maybe I can’t see the whole picture but taking away property only makes more people depended on the government and creates a larger class of poor. It is a downward spiral that sunk the USSR ship. Because socialism is unattainable without complete buy-in the entire exercise is doomed to fail eventually. The structure needed to enforce the “sharing” or “all are equal” creates inequality and overburden that can never be balanced against available resources.

Thursday, January 17, 2008

President Bill Clinton leaves his mark

Rather low class and clumsy in delivery, but I can’t say I completely disagree.

That's not true," said Wright. "He did the same thing to us that he did to Monica Lewinsky." Wright was referencing President Clinton's "affair" with a White House intern, an affair that reportedly involved acts of oral sex.
One reason I am not a Democrat is because I believe in fixing problems, not maintaining them. Fixing is always more difficult and expensive in the short term but pays dividends over time. I fix something for $100 or pay $20 every year till I die. Problems don’t go away in four years by themselves and they have a tendency to become bigger the longer they are just maintained. Over time the $20 turns into $25 and then $30 and then $35.

The payment program is exactly what I see President B. Clinton put the nation into during his eight years. The payments just keep getting higher. It was all about what the nation could do for him. He left office with a thank you and a stain left behind.

Expelled

Ben Stein is promoting a new movie, one that actually peaks my interested. Expelled is about the idea that "real" science has painted itself into a corner by absolutely ruling out Intelligent Design and is now suffering.


(CNSNews.com) - Intelligent design theory, or ID, is opening new doors of scientific research, particularly in cancer and other disease research, according to its adherents, but a new movie, "Expelled" starring Ben Stein explores how an "elitist scientific establishment" is apparently muzzling and smearing scientists who publicly discuss ID.
In my opinion worth a look.

A follow up:


If he had known the film’s premise, Dr. Dawkins said in an e-mail message, he would never have appeared in it. “At no time was I given the slightest clue that these people were a creationist front,” he said.

May I am completely bias but this sounds rather closed minded not to talk with those who differ from ones own. Does this movie misquote him or does he mean everything he says in the way it is presented? From that statement it only appears that Dr Dawkins objects to actually talking with ID believers. I can understand why they weren't completely open.
Dr. Dawkins was an obvious choice. An eminent scientist who teaches at Oxford University in England, he is also an outspoken atheist who has repeatedly likened religious faith to a mental defect.

He doesn't come across as a friendly interview to anyone other then those who accept his proclamation.

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Weak Words on an Important Issue

These are weak words:

Critics contend sonar has harmful effects on whales, possibly by damaging their hearing, and other marine mammals worldwide. The council's lawsuit alleges the Navy's sonar causes whales and other mammals to beach themselves.

These are especially weak words when dealing with national security. That is why President sees fit to ignore them even though some disagree.

The president's action is an attack on the rule of law," said Joel Reynolds, director of the Marine Mammal Protection Project at the Natural Resources Defense Council. "By exempting the Navy from basic safeguards under both federal and state law, the president is flouting the will of Congress, the decision of the California Coastal Commission and a ruling by the federal court.

Myself I question the wisdom of the Congress when they passed the law. Did they fully understand the impact of such a law? Did they care? The Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 is what is being refered to and I believe it is section 307 subsection c:

(c)(1)(A) Each Federal agency activity within or outside the
coastal zone that affects any land or water use or natural
resource of the coastal zone shall be carried out in a manner
which is consistent to the maximum extent practicable with
the enforceable policies of approved State management
programs. A Federal agency activity shall be subject to this
paragraph unless it is subject to paragraph (2) or (3).
Is where the exception is occurring.

The big questions I would ask is how necessary is the training, can it be done elsewhere and is there an alternative to method the Navy is using? The smaller question would how actual proof is there that this method and location is causing damage?

Here is the only answer to be found in this article that responds to my questions:

The Navy training exercises, including the use of sonar, "are in the paramount interest of the United States" and its national security, Bush said in a memorandum

Does this make sex number 3?

What part of Public Restroom do they not understand?

The ACLU filed a brief Tuesday supporting Craig. It cited a Minnesota Supreme Court ruling 38 years ago that found that people who have sex in closed stalls in public restrooms "have a reasonable expectation of privacy."
There is a reasonable expectation of privacy when one is performing number one or two because that is what a restroom is designed for. That is the total purpose of the facility. If sex in public areas is against the law (I believe this is a fairly common law in all states) then there is no “right” to perform unlawful acts. It is an abuse plain and simple and any effort to protect such abuses is an attempt to break down social norms.

Who has sex in a Public Restroom? Thrill seeks, cheating spouses, prostitutes, homosexuals (Men normally use Men’s Room and women normally use Women’s Room) and those who for whatever reason just can’t wait to find an actual private spot. This is not behavior that enhances the “common good”. It is a “me” mentality and nobody else matters. Is this really the type of community that is needed in America? People achieve greatness when there is true teamwork. One genus we always be out performed by a group of geniuses even if that one is smarter than every single member of the group.

I may be going off on a tangent but as a society, we should never put the selfish desires ahead in the name of liberty.

Clark Brothers

GIMME SHELTER
GIMME SHELTER


This is yesterday's news but here is the winners of the Next Great American Band. The show was no where as popular as American Idol but it bring a couple of talented bands to national notice. The religious beliefs of the three of the bands, the Clark Brother (winners), Denver and Mile High Band (third place) and Franklin Bridge were openly flaunted.

My favorites throught the entire run did happen to be the Clark Brothers because they were so different then mainstream. How different? They didn't have drums or keyboards the majority of the time (They brought in two additional temp members for one show) but relied on a fiddle, guitar, dobro guitar, mandolin and extremely moving and intense vocals to set them apart.

Are they the Next Great American Band? Unlikely but they should be.

Monday, January 7, 2008

This is the Easy Part

If she thinks the rigors of campaigning is difficult

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. — In perhaps her most public display of emotion of the presidential campaign, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton’s eyes welled with tears, and her voice cracked dramatically on Monday, as she talked about holding up under the rigors of the race and her belief that she is the best candidate for the Democratic nomination.
And she is so tired.
In talking to the women today, Mrs. Clinton mentioned that “as tired as I am, and I am,” she was trying to exercise and eat right and get some sleep when she could. And, about her hair, she said, “luckily on special days you do have help. If you look on some of the Web sites and listen to some of the commentators, they usually catch me when I don’t have help.”
What is she going to do when the difficulties are real? Take a look at the the last three Presidents and tell me it is an easy job. When a president is done they leave office looking like pounded dog crap. If coming in third and getting sniped at by those who disagree with you is such a strain, then she needs to quit now.

If this isn't a made for media moment, then Senator Clinton just showed she doesn't have what it takes to be the leader of the sole remaining superpower. Campaigning is the easy part compared to what is to come, so cracking now would be a big clue she couldn't handle it. Then again, it all could be a way to show she is human and tender instead of a ruthless and conniving politician. My pick, this moment is as fake as Pamela Anderson's chest.