Amazing. Garbage turns into electricity. Your waste paper is turned to sugar, which can power your cell phone.
Japanese Tech
Monday, December 26, 2011
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Monday, October 31, 2011
A response to the comment "you liberals only tolerate those you agree with."
Yeah, in fact, we really don't tolerate conservatives, we do, however, forgive the humans that conservatism has zombie-mind controlled. It's not your fault, you are like the Pod-people in Invasion of the Body Snatchers, or the Mad Hatter. You are not fully in possession of your faculties, substituting anger for action, hate for love, disrespect and snide comments for "conversation," insults for reasons, and you think that violence against other Americans who have already associated themselves with a distaste for guns is "ok," while talking out the other side of your mouth about some divine being named Jesus. You reject peer reviewed science in favor of gobbledy gook nonsense spouted off by just recently politically recognized housewives, half of you think that returning to the Gold Standard is going to resolve the problem of compound interest on non-labor produced capital. You are quick to boot everyone who is "illegal" out of states like Georgia, with no thought of the economic consequences to both that state and the rest of us due to increased food prices. Yeah, we HATE that sort of stuff, but, UNLIKE conservatives, we want to CHANGE you, not declare you traitors and put you in "some other place," even though your ideology, full of "bomb them now," "kill them all," "kill our enemies and sort it out later," poppy-cock sounds a lot like the talk of murderers and cutthroats.
Monday, October 24, 2011
A cogent reminder of why having a central bank isn't so bad
Banking and Finance
The above article clearly enunciates the value of the Fed in the sea of international economic collapse.
The above article clearly enunciates the value of the Fed in the sea of international economic collapse.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Using the Corporate model to solve our Family issues
Often, when watching Republicans talk, I hear "We need to balance the budget because our family has to live within one, and so should any entity, including the government. Government is a business, and like a family, must live within it's means."
Ok. well, thank you. I was confused as to how to run things in my personal life, which is inevitably influenced by and affected as a result of the government. Having considered it, I now realize that I should treat my family and friends like members of a corporation.
From now on, I will view families as companies and my views shall be radically affected by economic as opposed to humanist theories. As a result, here's some advice for folks with large families:
1.If money is getting tight, rather than scrimping on things like movies for yourselves (and maybe your husbands/wives), instead, give the kids less food for lunch. If you have a lot of kids, and they start complaining, cut off the kid that instigates the complaints the most and simply stop feeding him.
2. Regardless of how much they have done, contributed, acted honestly or done their homework, inform your 16 year olds that you need to streamline the family to obtain "more productive hours" and that they can opt for 100 dollars, leave forever and cease attending family functions, or accept half as much food for now, and pay rent, or find themselves out on the street in the former situation. Remind them that, regardless of what they have done or have agreed to, it is your prerogative to disown them at any time.
3.Demand sex from your husbands/wives based on a contractual obligation, rather then "spiritual communion."
4.When things are getting tight, inform your neighbors you are having a "family investment" meeting, in which they can buy stock in your family. Forget about loans, in this strategy, you simply imply to your neighbors that if they invest 10 bucks right now, they MIGHT make 2 more dollars by the end of a calender year! Or, they might lose 4 dollars: who knows!
5.commit crimes that enrich your family, and when the police come, simply announce, "we all did it." And you will be released and pay no fines personally! some examples:
a.Dump oil into the sewer outside your house, polluting the water with viscus oil. When the cops come, say, "we all did it," and invoke your right to Limited Liability.
b.Steal money from the neighbors' piggy banks, when the cops come, say, "the thefts were made at the behest of a family committee, we were simply following our roles as they had been established by the corporate contract contained within marriage."
c.Having followed #4, take that money and give 60% of it to charity, and then declare that you don't owe any taxes! After all, all that money people "invested" in you is money you EARNED (by your slick talk), and so, you DESERVE to not pay taxes by giving it to some "charity" that actually gets barely 20% to the needy parties, the rest going to the folks that run the place, their landlords, etc.
6.When it looks like it's going to be hard to pay both for food and rent and medical bills for all the kids, inform your kids that from now on, if they are not in the house 18 hours of every day, working harder than their European counterparts at their chores , they lose parental health care benefits. In fact, make them co-pay now, and make sure that it is their allowance PLUS a few dollars from their current job outside the house.
See? If we just apply Corporate philosophies to our families, we may come out with a few fewer kids, some angry ones and a few unfair imbalances in terms of fun and entertainment, but so what? I'm sure the same goes for the reverse: applying family values to corporate financial structures is a valid and efficient formula for economic revitalization. NOT.
Ok. well, thank you. I was confused as to how to run things in my personal life, which is inevitably influenced by and affected as a result of the government. Having considered it, I now realize that I should treat my family and friends like members of a corporation.
From now on, I will view families as companies and my views shall be radically affected by economic as opposed to humanist theories. As a result, here's some advice for folks with large families:
1.If money is getting tight, rather than scrimping on things like movies for yourselves (and maybe your husbands/wives), instead, give the kids less food for lunch. If you have a lot of kids, and they start complaining, cut off the kid that instigates the complaints the most and simply stop feeding him.
2. Regardless of how much they have done, contributed, acted honestly or done their homework, inform your 16 year olds that you need to streamline the family to obtain "more productive hours" and that they can opt for 100 dollars, leave forever and cease attending family functions, or accept half as much food for now, and pay rent, or find themselves out on the street in the former situation. Remind them that, regardless of what they have done or have agreed to, it is your prerogative to disown them at any time.
3.Demand sex from your husbands/wives based on a contractual obligation, rather then "spiritual communion."
4.When things are getting tight, inform your neighbors you are having a "family investment" meeting, in which they can buy stock in your family. Forget about loans, in this strategy, you simply imply to your neighbors that if they invest 10 bucks right now, they MIGHT make 2 more dollars by the end of a calender year! Or, they might lose 4 dollars: who knows!
5.commit crimes that enrich your family, and when the police come, simply announce, "we all did it." And you will be released and pay no fines personally! some examples:
a.Dump oil into the sewer outside your house, polluting the water with viscus oil. When the cops come, say, "we all did it," and invoke your right to Limited Liability.
b.Steal money from the neighbors' piggy banks, when the cops come, say, "the thefts were made at the behest of a family committee, we were simply following our roles as they had been established by the corporate contract contained within marriage."
c.Having followed #4, take that money and give 60% of it to charity, and then declare that you don't owe any taxes! After all, all that money people "invested" in you is money you EARNED (by your slick talk), and so, you DESERVE to not pay taxes by giving it to some "charity" that actually gets barely 20% to the needy parties, the rest going to the folks that run the place, their landlords, etc.
6.When it looks like it's going to be hard to pay both for food and rent and medical bills for all the kids, inform your kids that from now on, if they are not in the house 18 hours of every day, working harder than their European counterparts at their chores , they lose parental health care benefits. In fact, make them co-pay now, and make sure that it is their allowance PLUS a few dollars from their current job outside the house.
See? If we just apply Corporate philosophies to our families, we may come out with a few fewer kids, some angry ones and a few unfair imbalances in terms of fun and entertainment, but so what? I'm sure the same goes for the reverse: applying family values to corporate financial structures is a valid and efficient formula for economic revitalization. NOT.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Primary Shmimary...The later the better
Having a primary would give the Right-wing controlled media the ability to make fun of at least four democrats every night. Forget it. The media is controlled by the right in the sense that it does not tend to educate, but to PLAY TO the masses. Since they have no democrats, they have become cannibals, attacking their own candidates. The big, emotion chasing media that is fascinated with Hitler, Nazis, murderers, war and crime thrives also on innuendo, and if you run for office, you are literally offering your name up as a sacrifice to be lied about, demeaned and libeled on. This generally works in the right-controlled media to question the MANHOOD of Democratic candidates. Think about the most visceral images of failed Democratic primary candidates: Mike Dukakis in a tank (subtext: not a real warrior), Kerry in Vietnam: (subtext: not a real warrior), Ted Kennedy (subtext: didn't "own up" to his crime, not a "real" man). Now, without any Democrats to attack, this pathetic attack machine is left with nothing but Republicans, and just look at how they treat them! They are up against the wall...The entire pack of their preferred candidates are so dingbat/wingnut crazy, that just reporting on their antics is an embarrassment. Having to explain/excuse D's in math and econ? Having to directly report on someone announcing that the last storm was an Act of God supporting Republican policies? Having to report that your heroes are denying aid to folks in hurricane zones over ideological mumbo-jumbo? There is just NO democratic anchor to grab onto and to report on that "gives equal balance" to the story. These guys are desperate for a democratic primary; one in which they can report that "candidate B walks his dog a "little too late at night" for my tastes." And other such nonsense. Instead, they follow their inclinations, find as much dirt as they can on their OWN candidates because they have no one else to attack, and they are built around ATTACKING. They don't know any other mode of existence. So, be thankful there is no primary, that Obama/Biden will simply rule for 7.5 years, before they are displaced by even more evil and equally unknown players on the world stage.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Nazism defined: Not exactly Israeli policy
Nazis: different than authoritarians, democratic centralists, absolute monarchists, and oligarchic narco-lords.
Nazis believe in:
1.Immediate and total annihilation of the sub-human races, starting with those that are crippled, diseased or homosexual, and moving on to the Gypsies and the Jews. Next, the Slavs and the Eastern Europeans, the "mud people," followed up by Africans. Why? For Lebensraum: "Elbow room" for the Superior race: the Germans/Nordic race (Aryan).
2.Complete domination of the Euro-Asian land mass, preferably in one lifetime, in order to establish a 1000 year reign of Aryan Supermen, who's existence trumps reason, morals or religious convictions of any sort.
3.Mechanizing the complete extinguishing of races within MONTHS. Achievements so far with this methodology: .5 million Gypsies, 5 Millions Russians, 1 Million Poles, Six Million Jews, all extinguished to the point of significant %'s within the span of 30 months.
4.Total (totalitarian) domination of EVERY media mechanism in society with transgressions against state information punishable BY DEATH. Complete isolation of radio broadcasts from "foreign" sources, along with all print media. Book burning en mass, and the assassination or imprisonment of artists deemed "corrupt" by the Party.
5.Complete abrogation of elected authority, in favor of dictation from the Fuhrer. Total and complete acceptance of Adolph Hitler as your Lord and Savior, to the point of adopting Teutonic rites in lieu of Christian ones.
6.Summary justice for ALL citizens, non jury "trials," without defense or access to witnesses, right up the ladder to the Fuhrer's best friend.
Yes, Israel is by any standard a misguided democratic state, but to bandy about terms like "Nazi" to describe what amounts to a great deal less then what the US has perpetrated on Iraq, seems out of hand. Israel is, like the US, an aggressive democratic state. To try to mix the violence associated with that sort of state with "Nazism" is somewhat simplistic, as there is none of the above occurring within the actual population of Israel, or, for that matter, in Palestine in any appreciable way. Forgive us for parsing words, but I think Nazis have their own very SPECIAL place in hell, and we don't need to be giving them any more air time.
Nazis believe in:
1.Immediate and total annihilation of the sub-human races, starting with those that are crippled, diseased or homosexual, and moving on to the Gypsies and the Jews. Next, the Slavs and the Eastern Europeans, the "mud people," followed up by Africans. Why? For Lebensraum: "Elbow room" for the Superior race: the Germans/Nordic race (Aryan).
2.Complete domination of the Euro-Asian land mass, preferably in one lifetime, in order to establish a 1000 year reign of Aryan Supermen, who's existence trumps reason, morals or religious convictions of any sort.
3.Mechanizing the complete extinguishing of races within MONTHS. Achievements so far with this methodology: .5 million Gypsies, 5 Millions Russians, 1 Million Poles, Six Million Jews, all extinguished to the point of significant %'s within the span of 30 months.
4.Total (totalitarian) domination of EVERY media mechanism in society with transgressions against state information punishable BY DEATH. Complete isolation of radio broadcasts from "foreign" sources, along with all print media. Book burning en mass, and the assassination or imprisonment of artists deemed "corrupt" by the Party.
5.Complete abrogation of elected authority, in favor of dictation from the Fuhrer. Total and complete acceptance of Adolph Hitler as your Lord and Savior, to the point of adopting Teutonic rites in lieu of Christian ones.
6.Summary justice for ALL citizens, non jury "trials," without defense or access to witnesses, right up the ladder to the Fuhrer's best friend.
Yes, Israel is by any standard a misguided democratic state, but to bandy about terms like "Nazi" to describe what amounts to a great deal less then what the US has perpetrated on Iraq, seems out of hand. Israel is, like the US, an aggressive democratic state. To try to mix the violence associated with that sort of state with "Nazism" is somewhat simplistic, as there is none of the above occurring within the actual population of Israel, or, for that matter, in Palestine in any appreciable way. Forgive us for parsing words, but I think Nazis have their own very SPECIAL place in hell, and we don't need to be giving them any more air time.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
A typical Tea Partier:
1.Thinks that 9/11 was an "inside job," but fail to realize, if this is true, the "insiders" were GW and Cheney.
2.Believe that the rich and their wealth (1-3% of the US population), are more important then the Poor and their health (80% of the US population)
3.Receive benefits like Workman's Comp, Medicaid and food stamps (65 million families got them in the US this week), yet call those that fight to keep these programs "socialists."
4.Are jealous of workers that can keep their jobs because of unions, while they fear for their job loss, and can't figure out that that is why they should join a union.
5.Calls earned benefits "entitlements," and refuses to acknowledge that the money is put in their by the same people that receive it through payroll taxes and other government fees. In fact, what TP'r's are really saying is they want to STEAL the government administered savings of the middle and poorer classes, and hand that money to the richest 3%.
6.Thinks that evolution is a crock, science is useless, and that all important questions of science, politics or economics can be resolved with the Bible, while living in a society produced by secularists and agnostics, who's very JOB was to doubt anything they are told, which creates things like flight and radio, both of which were declared impossible and demonic at earlier points in history.
7.Waves a pistol around, declares that the 2nd is the most important amendment (clearly, the first and 5th amendments are not very interesting to this crowd), produces image after image of gun-sites, targets, lotteries of guns being sold (this week in Maricopa county, where Giffords was shot) that are the same as that that killed their enemies (and other innocents), all the while claiming that democrats are "violent" and yet unable to produce one image or story of a democratic rally in which someone actually even had a gun. In fact, I would challenge TP'r's to produce one image of democrats waving guns around at a rally in the last 20 years.
8.Entirely misses the point of brotherhood, Christianity and national unity in favor of bile-soaked invective directed at old ladies and babies. Has never met a political opponent he/she does not wish to personally insult. Has little knowledge of civility either on forums or in public, and for all their talk about Jesus, would not allow a person into their home unless properly introduced.
2.Believe that the rich and their wealth (1-3% of the US population), are more important then the Poor and their health (80% of the US population)
3.Receive benefits like Workman's Comp, Medicaid and food stamps (65 million families got them in the US this week), yet call those that fight to keep these programs "socialists."
4.Are jealous of workers that can keep their jobs because of unions, while they fear for their job loss, and can't figure out that that is why they should join a union.
5.Calls earned benefits "entitlements," and refuses to acknowledge that the money is put in their by the same people that receive it through payroll taxes and other government fees. In fact, what TP'r's are really saying is they want to STEAL the government administered savings of the middle and poorer classes, and hand that money to the richest 3%.
6.Thinks that evolution is a crock, science is useless, and that all important questions of science, politics or economics can be resolved with the Bible, while living in a society produced by secularists and agnostics, who's very JOB was to doubt anything they are told, which creates things like flight and radio, both of which were declared impossible and demonic at earlier points in history.
7.Waves a pistol around, declares that the 2nd is the most important amendment (clearly, the first and 5th amendments are not very interesting to this crowd), produces image after image of gun-sites, targets, lotteries of guns being sold (this week in Maricopa county, where Giffords was shot) that are the same as that that killed their enemies (and other innocents), all the while claiming that democrats are "violent" and yet unable to produce one image or story of a democratic rally in which someone actually even had a gun. In fact, I would challenge TP'r's to produce one image of democrats waving guns around at a rally in the last 20 years.
8.Entirely misses the point of brotherhood, Christianity and national unity in favor of bile-soaked invective directed at old ladies and babies. Has never met a political opponent he/she does not wish to personally insult. Has little knowledge of civility either on forums or in public, and for all their talk about Jesus, would not allow a person into their home unless properly introduced.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
congressional dissatisfaction
When we say we are "dissatisfied" with congress, we are saying we are dissatisfied with parliamentary mechanisms that allow a small minority to threaten and direct the majority into ideologically driven directions. For example, the budget cuts massive amounts, FIVE YEARS from now. So, the Tea Party basically sucks all the money out of government, and then leaves, not even sticking around to take care of the mess. Their agenda is straight up: end the Federal Authority over the States. Their goal, though some may not realize it, is the rebirth of the Confederate States of America, complete with labor laws from 1890 and the deliberate cessation of education for the working classes. This is not some ephemeral enemy, but a real and constant threat, rearranging textbooks so that Joe McCarthy isn't a vampire with blood dripping from his fangs, but rather, an American "hero." ( So what if a lot of innocent people lost their lives or jobs...we had those commies on the run. NO THX.) Or that biology doesn't explain our existence. Or that the best thing that ever happened to the American Indian was Christopher Columbus. These clowns, through massive national and international PAC slush funds, posing as "christians" and "conservatives" are gutting the Nation, getting elected to high office on such platforms as "i'm a housewife," and "I hunt a lot."while tromping around in literally tin-foil hats talking out of one side of their mouth about 911/Bush//Conspiracy and the other side Bush is King! They rationalize Bush holding hands, literally, with the King of Saudi Arabia, a brutal MONARCHY while slamming men who, as teenagers, braved vicious dogs in the South to make it so black men and women were allowed into restaurants! Frankly, such congressmen are repulsive to me, and while I believe in the American system, I am certainly ready to see it work a little better then letting this flotsam and jetsum have it's day warming the congressional benches.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Monday, May 30, 2011
Politics of Medicine changes with Doctors' Jobs
Working for Salaries, Doctors go Left
Inevitably, confronted with corruption and it's impingement on guaranteed salaries, doctors with standardized wages are going to support, like most workers, unlimited torts. Capping Torts is like giving industry a free pass to kill some of us after they figure out the "most" they can lose. Corruption will contribute to a downward spiral on actual doctor's (as opposed to their "managers'") wages. Hence, they will demand that the check of "unknown" tort judgements are the only thing to keep these mega-corporations in line. Once they have a specific amount they have to worry about, they can work around it, at all of our expense.
Inevitably, confronted with corruption and it's impingement on guaranteed salaries, doctors with standardized wages are going to support, like most workers, unlimited torts. Capping Torts is like giving industry a free pass to kill some of us after they figure out the "most" they can lose. Corruption will contribute to a downward spiral on actual doctor's (as opposed to their "managers'") wages. Hence, they will demand that the check of "unknown" tort judgements are the only thing to keep these mega-corporations in line. Once they have a specific amount they have to worry about, they can work around it, at all of our expense.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
The New York Times suggests Making Medical School Free
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/29/opinion/29bach.html
I would add that we should subsidize ALL education so that it is free for the populace at large, and simply educate students based on their abilities.
I would add that we should subsidize ALL education so that it is free for the populace at large, and simply educate students based on their abilities.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Pay bankers their Customers' average total income.
Instead of paying bankers by how much they make for the bank, I think a better system would be that they get paid based on an actuarial table related to savings vs income. In other words, I'm guessing that an average salary per customer can be determined via some sort of accounting calculus. Principal bankers would get paid multiples of the average wage: say, no more then 20x the standard wage of the average customer. So, for example, the Bank of America would have an average wage per customer of say...40,000 bucks, so, most of the bankers would get that much, and the CEO might get 800,000 bucks a year. Basically, all salaries would be tied to customer average salaries, and even bonuses could not exceed 2x the base salary of the employee.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Why I don't believe we will invade Syria, in a nutshell
The reason is far more disheartening then "republican politics" or whatnot. The problem is that Syria is in the heart of the Middle East, and it serves western interests far more effectively to allow a strict dictatorship there than for it to be plunged into civil conflict, like Libya.
The problem is that Syria, like Libya, is filled with discordant factions that are being kept down by dictatorship: Extremist Sunnis, Extremist Shias, Outspoken communists who up until 15 years ago were being paid for by the USSR. Syria was also a Soviet client state, but now is relatively neutral. American involvement would most likely contribute, or succeed, in deposing Assad, but the Baathists are not going to just roll over and die in Syria, as we can clearly see from the present blood bath/detentions that are occurring. Thus, rather then a stable, if thoroughly undemocratic state, a US intervention would simply create more chaos with no resolution in sight, in an area of the world already filled with lawless regions. Syria would become another disaster zone like Iraq quickly.
Recently, Syrian citizens have actually been half-jokingly suggesting that ISRAEL should intervene. I think, in a real way, this sums up the ACTUAL situation on the ground in the Middle East, as opposed to the American view typified by Ladies in Black, that Israel is somehow a devilish Nazi-like state. In fact, the COMMON MAN in the Middle East knows that Israel has a better standard of living, more trustworthy representatives in government, and many of the amenities of the West that none of them have. Rather then "hating the Jews," many Arabs and Persians ENVY them, and that is something the Ladies in Black just don't get. They confuse envy with hate, and "side" with those that are envious!
Despite these glimmerings of real change in the Middle East, the chances of either Israel or America actually entering Syria are nil, as Syria ALREADY represents a hostile power WITH the capability to if not destroy Israel, at least to seriously harm it. Israel has refrained from attacking the nations around it for the main reason that any wars against these powers outside of Israel's borders would be either prosecuted with mass murder, mass deportations (to where?) or both. Israel, while it may be ABLE to do such a thing, is guided by religious and political principles that don't allow it. So, instead, they have built a massive defensive system, and part of that system involves maintaining control of the Golan Heights and at least certain areas of the West Bank and Gaza. But, because these are basically No Man's Lands between warring enemies, those that live there (the Palestinians) get very short shrift from ALL parties involved. Palestinians cannot (at least not until this new wave of chaos) enter Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon or Syria. Like the Israeli checkpoints, Palestinians are abused by the other powers as well.
In conclusion, it is not up to Israel, the US or anyone else, to CONTRIBUTE to the chaos surrounding the VERY poor choices these governments made concerning their own peoples. It is not Israel's, or the US's fault, that 100,000's of folks are dissatisfied with their oppressive governments. It would serve no purpose to rush into Syria with an Israeli/US army, as it would not only bring even more chaos to Syria, but could inspire Iran to military adventurism. We must wait and watch, and grit out teeth, unless, we, as a people, are willing to put ALL of our society's resources to the mettle. If 75 MILLION of us decide that we NEED to save the human race, starting with Syria, then ok, but if anyone is expecting a few 10's of thousands of troops to solve this problem, they are delusional.
The problem is that Syria, like Libya, is filled with discordant factions that are being kept down by dictatorship: Extremist Sunnis, Extremist Shias, Outspoken communists who up until 15 years ago were being paid for by the USSR. Syria was also a Soviet client state, but now is relatively neutral. American involvement would most likely contribute, or succeed, in deposing Assad, but the Baathists are not going to just roll over and die in Syria, as we can clearly see from the present blood bath/detentions that are occurring. Thus, rather then a stable, if thoroughly undemocratic state, a US intervention would simply create more chaos with no resolution in sight, in an area of the world already filled with lawless regions. Syria would become another disaster zone like Iraq quickly.
Recently, Syrian citizens have actually been half-jokingly suggesting that ISRAEL should intervene. I think, in a real way, this sums up the ACTUAL situation on the ground in the Middle East, as opposed to the American view typified by Ladies in Black, that Israel is somehow a devilish Nazi-like state. In fact, the COMMON MAN in the Middle East knows that Israel has a better standard of living, more trustworthy representatives in government, and many of the amenities of the West that none of them have. Rather then "hating the Jews," many Arabs and Persians ENVY them, and that is something the Ladies in Black just don't get. They confuse envy with hate, and "side" with those that are envious!
Despite these glimmerings of real change in the Middle East, the chances of either Israel or America actually entering Syria are nil, as Syria ALREADY represents a hostile power WITH the capability to if not destroy Israel, at least to seriously harm it. Israel has refrained from attacking the nations around it for the main reason that any wars against these powers outside of Israel's borders would be either prosecuted with mass murder, mass deportations (to where?) or both. Israel, while it may be ABLE to do such a thing, is guided by religious and political principles that don't allow it. So, instead, they have built a massive defensive system, and part of that system involves maintaining control of the Golan Heights and at least certain areas of the West Bank and Gaza. But, because these are basically No Man's Lands between warring enemies, those that live there (the Palestinians) get very short shrift from ALL parties involved. Palestinians cannot (at least not until this new wave of chaos) enter Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon or Syria. Like the Israeli checkpoints, Palestinians are abused by the other powers as well.
In conclusion, it is not up to Israel, the US or anyone else, to CONTRIBUTE to the chaos surrounding the VERY poor choices these governments made concerning their own peoples. It is not Israel's, or the US's fault, that 100,000's of folks are dissatisfied with their oppressive governments. It would serve no purpose to rush into Syria with an Israeli/US army, as it would not only bring even more chaos to Syria, but could inspire Iran to military adventurism. We must wait and watch, and grit out teeth, unless, we, as a people, are willing to put ALL of our society's resources to the mettle. If 75 MILLION of us decide that we NEED to save the human race, starting with Syria, then ok, but if anyone is expecting a few 10's of thousands of troops to solve this problem, they are delusional.
Monday, May 9, 2011
New water source!
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090605091856.htm
A fully autonomous (as in, it needs no electricity to work) water absorption and and distribution system! This could mean the end of rainwater collection laws!
A fully autonomous (as in, it needs no electricity to work) water absorption and and distribution system! This could mean the end of rainwater collection laws!
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Interesting Blog with a lot of psyche experiments
http://www.cantorsappsychologyblog.blogspot.com/
http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
Monday, April 25, 2011
A significant discovery in the field of Fuel cells
http://www.wired.com/autopia/2011/04/discovery-makes-fuel-cells-orders-of-magnitude-cheaper/
It reduces the cost of Fuel cells' most expensive component to about a third of it's present cost.
It reduces the cost of Fuel cells' most expensive component to about a third of it's present cost.
Life, explained.
http://www.cracked.com/article_14990_what-monkeysphere.html
Knowledge of the "monkeysphere" could make you a better person.
Knowledge of the "monkeysphere" could make you a better person.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Why a flat tax makes absolutely no sense, and the government is not like our family when it comes to monetary policy
The Republicans are very good at packaging misinformation as truth. For example, they constantly bring up the saw, "well, families have to stay within their budget, why not the government?" A few reasons.
1.Families don't print their own money, set their monetary policy or wage wars on their neighbors.
2.Families don't have to worry that if they don't spend money, their children will die.
3.Families redistribute their wealth without laws to force it. Dad goes out and makes ALL the money (traditionally) and then GIVES it to everyone else in his family. Talk about entitlements! The Government, given it's own perogatives, would NOT give any money to it's "children." Nor does private industry just "give" it's money to it's employees, it must be wrested from them, usually with strikes and union deals.
4.Regressive taxes tax the poor far more then the rich. Here's why. Let's say everyone pays the same tax, and it's only on sales (as opposed to a progressive tax that makes it so the more you have the more you pay). Someone that makes 1000 a month and someone that makes 10,000 go to the store to purchase a doohickey for 100 dollars. There is a 10% flat tax. So, the Rich person pays the same as the the poor person. however, 10$ is 1/100th of person 1's monthly check, and it is only 1/1000th of the other person's income per month. Now, in sales, it would be very complicated to end this sort of regressive taxation of labor, but NOT in the area of INCOME tax, where it is quite easy to avoid such a hyper-unfair system of taxation.
Now, if the economy was set up so there was a relatively even distribution of millionaires to poor folks, this would not be as crucial to maintaining a free, fair and open society. But, that is not the case. Here, 1% owns 48% of the country's wealth, so a flat tax would simply allow this small minority with such vast wealth to just save more of it, spirit it out of the country, and contribute eventually to hyper-inflation, food riots and unemployment (like now). The money is not "theirs" it is the result of worker labor, and when workers are totally alienated and estranged....they revolt.
1.Families don't print their own money, set their monetary policy or wage wars on their neighbors.
2.Families don't have to worry that if they don't spend money, their children will die.
3.Families redistribute their wealth without laws to force it. Dad goes out and makes ALL the money (traditionally) and then GIVES it to everyone else in his family. Talk about entitlements! The Government, given it's own perogatives, would NOT give any money to it's "children." Nor does private industry just "give" it's money to it's employees, it must be wrested from them, usually with strikes and union deals.
4.Regressive taxes tax the poor far more then the rich. Here's why. Let's say everyone pays the same tax, and it's only on sales (as opposed to a progressive tax that makes it so the more you have the more you pay). Someone that makes 1000 a month and someone that makes 10,000 go to the store to purchase a doohickey for 100 dollars. There is a 10% flat tax. So, the Rich person pays the same as the the poor person. however, 10$ is 1/100th of person 1's monthly check, and it is only 1/1000th of the other person's income per month. Now, in sales, it would be very complicated to end this sort of regressive taxation of labor, but NOT in the area of INCOME tax, where it is quite easy to avoid such a hyper-unfair system of taxation.
Now, if the economy was set up so there was a relatively even distribution of millionaires to poor folks, this would not be as crucial to maintaining a free, fair and open society. But, that is not the case. Here, 1% owns 48% of the country's wealth, so a flat tax would simply allow this small minority with such vast wealth to just save more of it, spirit it out of the country, and contribute eventually to hyper-inflation, food riots and unemployment (like now). The money is not "theirs" it is the result of worker labor, and when workers are totally alienated and estranged....they revolt.
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