Many terrorists of any ilk act in the name of an ideology, whether it be religious or political. They think they are doing their cause a favor by killing as many people as possible who don't believe in their cause or just happen to be in the way as they kill their targets.
Many think these terrorists should be executed if caught, with or without a trial, fair or otherwise. But this is just what some of them want – to be martyrs to their cause. An example is former Major Nidal Hassan who has been sentenced to death for shooting and killing thirteen people at Fort Hood. This probably won't happen and really shouldn't happen.
He probably won't be executed because the military hasn't executed any active military personnel for some time and the appeal process can take decades. He shouldn't be executed because this is just what he claimed to want – to be a martyr to his cause.
I don't think terrorists should be subjected to forced watching of similar crimes like that in Stanley Kubrick's "Clockwork Orange". I do think they should be subjected to repeated recitations of the non-violent portions of their beliefs. For example,
“O People of the Book! [Jews, Christians, Muslims] Come to what is common between us and you: That we worship none but God, that we associate no partners with Him, that we erect not, from among ourselves, Lords other than Allah. If then they turn back, say: 'Bear witness that we are bowing to Allah’s will.'" From "The Qur'an and Tolerance of Christianity and Judaism", Islam Online.
The same kind of tolerance can be found in the Talmud and the Bible.
Narrow interpretations or even misinterpretations are found over and over again down through the centuries. Catholics killed Protestants and Jews. Protestants killed Catholics and Jews. Jews killed the worshippers of Ba'al. Christians killed Christians and Muslims in the Crusades. Muslims killed Christians and Muslims in the Crusades. Muslims seem to be killing more Muslims in these times than they are killing Christians. All this despite the fact that the text they hold in common states unequivocally "Thou shalt not kill"! It does not state "That shalt not kill any who believe as you do but thou mayest kill those who believe even slightly differently."
So, if terrorists are jailed and subjected to similar recitations, videos of their listening to these should be made widely available. If the terrorists wish to make any statements recanting their previous beliefs, then these statements should be widely circulated.
I know this is wishful thinking and probably won't happen. But those of us who believe that these three faiths (and others) have many tenets of generosity can avoid general statements of hate and counter those who do spew hate.
Monday, September 30, 2013
Saturday, September 28, 2013
Helpless help desks revisited
Well, for the fourth time this year I've asked for help from a major corporation and for the fourth time I've given them a solution.
The first time was when our DSL from CenturyLink was squirrelly. It would go on and off. The first person I spoke with diddled with some settings from her computer and our speed was up again. The problem returned. On the next few calls, the help desk insisted that I should get a new modem. I did not because I was sure the problem was storm related and in CenturyLink's lines. We still have the old modem and we are getting around 6Mbps on our nominal 7Mbps service. See "Efficiency (or inefficiency) - generalizations do not apply". CenturyLink apparently repaired the lines that I insisted were the problem. Or we haven't had many really windy storms since then.
The second time was when the keyboard locked up on my MacBook Pro. It was still on warranty from Best Buy and so I took it to the Geek Squad. They kept if for a day or two and could find nothing wrong. It wasn't until I had it at home for a day or two that I discovered that it was Microsoft Outlook, which Geek Squad had closed, causing the problem. My database probably had gotten too big and Outlook had an error that was writing outside its area. I compacted the database and the problem went away. See "Computer withdrawal symptoms".
The third time was when the Westinghouse solar shed light would not turn on again after I turned it off. See "Simple questions don't get simple answers from corporate bureaucracies". The light is working fine after I put in newer batteries.
The fourth time was when I found out that our improper time on our cabin answering machine was because I needed a firmware update. None of the friendly folks at Consumer Cellular seemed to understand that the AT&T network was resetting the time. I found this out when I read the answering machine instructions and learned that telephone networks send the time with caller-ID information. When we used a land-line we didn't have caller-ID. Caller-ID is standard with cell phone service. I found that I needed a firmware update from a search of AT&Ts support forums. One user responded to another last month with the solution. I sent email back to Consumer Cellular about this. I wrote that I was tempted to send them an invoice for two hours of Level 2 support work.
I don't expect to have a response from Consumer Cellular until Monday. Meanwhile, I searched the AT&T website for instructions on getting the firmware update. Nada! First, it gave me over 3,000 hits where the first two pages didn't have anything relevant. I searched on the web for the model number and found that the original manufacturer has instructions for upgrading the firmware to the latest level, for those with a Windows computer! I did another peek at the AT&T site and found a page for the "Wireless Home Phone". It had no information at all on updating the firmware!
There are some economists (and many non-economists) who say that the only objective of a corporation should be to provide shareholder value. But to provide shareholder value doesn't a corporation need to provide customer value? At some point a captive customer base may burst their shackles and go elsewhere.
The first time was when our DSL from CenturyLink was squirrelly. It would go on and off. The first person I spoke with diddled with some settings from her computer and our speed was up again. The problem returned. On the next few calls, the help desk insisted that I should get a new modem. I did not because I was sure the problem was storm related and in CenturyLink's lines. We still have the old modem and we are getting around 6Mbps on our nominal 7Mbps service. See "Efficiency (or inefficiency) - generalizations do not apply". CenturyLink apparently repaired the lines that I insisted were the problem. Or we haven't had many really windy storms since then.
The second time was when the keyboard locked up on my MacBook Pro. It was still on warranty from Best Buy and so I took it to the Geek Squad. They kept if for a day or two and could find nothing wrong. It wasn't until I had it at home for a day or two that I discovered that it was Microsoft Outlook, which Geek Squad had closed, causing the problem. My database probably had gotten too big and Outlook had an error that was writing outside its area. I compacted the database and the problem went away. See "Computer withdrawal symptoms".
The third time was when the Westinghouse solar shed light would not turn on again after I turned it off. See "Simple questions don't get simple answers from corporate bureaucracies". The light is working fine after I put in newer batteries.
The fourth time was when I found out that our improper time on our cabin answering machine was because I needed a firmware update. None of the friendly folks at Consumer Cellular seemed to understand that the AT&T network was resetting the time. I found this out when I read the answering machine instructions and learned that telephone networks send the time with caller-ID information. When we used a land-line we didn't have caller-ID. Caller-ID is standard with cell phone service. I found that I needed a firmware update from a search of AT&Ts support forums. One user responded to another last month with the solution. I sent email back to Consumer Cellular about this. I wrote that I was tempted to send them an invoice for two hours of Level 2 support work.
I don't expect to have a response from Consumer Cellular until Monday. Meanwhile, I searched the AT&T website for instructions on getting the firmware update. Nada! First, it gave me over 3,000 hits where the first two pages didn't have anything relevant. I searched on the web for the model number and found that the original manufacturer has instructions for upgrading the firmware to the latest level, for those with a Windows computer! I did another peek at the AT&T site and found a page for the "Wireless Home Phone". It had no information at all on updating the firmware!
There are some economists (and many non-economists) who say that the only objective of a corporation should be to provide shareholder value. But to provide shareholder value doesn't a corporation need to provide customer value? At some point a captive customer base may burst their shackles and go elsewhere.
Thursday, September 26, 2013
An alternative to Hillary mania
I see two strong opposing notions about Hillary Clinton running for president. On one side we have all the Clinton haters who think the Clintons are second only to Obama in being the worst thing that could happen to U.S. politics. On the other side we have those who think we must have a woman for president and that Hillary Clinton is the best choice.
I don't agree with either side. We have had worse presidents than Clinton or Obama. Although I'm not opposed to a woman being president, it doesn't matter to me whether it is sooner or later. And is Hillary Clinton the best possible woman to have as president?
What really bothers me is that we seem to be trending to "elected" hereditary office. Because George H. W. Bush was president, then George W. Bush and Jeb Bush should also be president. Because Bill Clinton was president, then Hillary Clinton should be president.
If you want women for president, I have two better choices and I would vote for them over many, many men: Elizabeth Warren and Kathleen Sebelius. Maybe even a pair - president and vice-president. Pick your order. I lean to Sebelius as president because she has been a governor who could work with the opposition. Warren might be a good campaigner as vice-president because she is being a good "attack dog" in the Senate.
I don't agree with either side. We have had worse presidents than Clinton or Obama. Although I'm not opposed to a woman being president, it doesn't matter to me whether it is sooner or later. And is Hillary Clinton the best possible woman to have as president?
What really bothers me is that we seem to be trending to "elected" hereditary office. Because George H. W. Bush was president, then George W. Bush and Jeb Bush should also be president. Because Bill Clinton was president, then Hillary Clinton should be president.
If you want women for president, I have two better choices and I would vote for them over many, many men: Elizabeth Warren and Kathleen Sebelius. Maybe even a pair - president and vice-president. Pick your order. I lean to Sebelius as president because she has been a governor who could work with the opposition. Warren might be a good campaigner as vice-president because she is being a good "attack dog" in the Senate.
Cable TV: for those who enjoy watching ads
In its wisdom of what clients want, the Essentia Health Fitness Center has put in three large screen TVs. One is on the track and if it is on at all, few if any watch it. One is in the lobby and seems to have cooking programs; more women then men sit in the lobby. The women seem to get ready more quickly than men. But few women seem to be watching it. The third is in the weight machine room. Again few people seem to watch it; thank goodness the sound isn't on. The bubble gum music on the PA would drown it out like it does the sound in ear buds!
But as I'm forced to "watch" the Sport Center (or is it Sport Central?), I've noticed a pattern. It seems to have one minute of some sport event, one minute of two people discussing the event, and one minute commercials (or is it two). My wife looking over my shoulder said it's more like two minutes of commercials.
One insight comes to mind and one question. Seeing all the food commercials for not very nutritious food, its no wonder there are so many people with health problems. If people have such "busy lives" how do they have time to watch four hours of TV a day on average? I grow impatient watching three or four three-minute snippets each day online.
But as I'm forced to "watch" the Sport Center (or is it Sport Central?), I've noticed a pattern. It seems to have one minute of some sport event, one minute of two people discussing the event, and one minute commercials (or is it two). My wife looking over my shoulder said it's more like two minutes of commercials.
One insight comes to mind and one question. Seeing all the food commercials for not very nutritious food, its no wonder there are so many people with health problems. If people have such "busy lives" how do they have time to watch four hours of TV a day on average? I grow impatient watching three or four three-minute snippets each day online.
Corporate assumptions or is it presumptions?
Based on the credit card I didn't ask for ("Corporate efficiency - unwanted, unreceived new card"), Visa is emailing me certificates for "FreeMonee Gifts". "These Gifts are matched to your interests, allowing you to shop at hundreds of stores and restaurants."
The current offer is for $5 off for an online order of Omaha Steaks. Where do they get the idea that I want to buy steaks online? That I used my previous card at some restaurants? How would they know I ordered steak? More likely I had fish or chicken. But I started a plant-based diet two-months ago; see "Serendipity leads to weight loss".
Allowing me "to shop at hundreds of stores and restaurants"? Do I need their permission to shop at any of these stores and restaurants? If I wanted to, would I need their "gift" of five dollars off to do so? What it really means is enticing me "to shop at hundreds of stores and restaurants" that I might not visit otherwise. Oh yes, using my credit card so Visa can collect more fees from the hundreds of stores and restaurants. Adam Smith is correct again about deceiving the public.
What I really use my credit card for is recurring donations or subscriptions so that I don't get caught with an overdraft using my debit card. I also use it for expenses that I didn't expect, like a big car repair. Otherwise, I use cash, check, or debit card, preferring the first two because they save local businesses the card fees.
The current offer is for $5 off for an online order of Omaha Steaks. Where do they get the idea that I want to buy steaks online? That I used my previous card at some restaurants? How would they know I ordered steak? More likely I had fish or chicken. But I started a plant-based diet two-months ago; see "Serendipity leads to weight loss".
Allowing me "to shop at hundreds of stores and restaurants"? Do I need their permission to shop at any of these stores and restaurants? If I wanted to, would I need their "gift" of five dollars off to do so? What it really means is enticing me "to shop at hundreds of stores and restaurants" that I might not visit otherwise. Oh yes, using my credit card so Visa can collect more fees from the hundreds of stores and restaurants. Adam Smith is correct again about deceiving the public.
What I really use my credit card for is recurring donations or subscriptions so that I don't get caught with an overdraft using my debit card. I also use it for expenses that I didn't expect, like a big car repair. Otherwise, I use cash, check, or debit card, preferring the first two because they save local businesses the card fees.
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Helpless help desks
I mean helpless in two senses: they often don't help the customers and they often have no influence on the software or other products.
This summer I bought a Westinghouse solar shed light for the outhouse at our cabin. It's great when stepping into the outhouse from bright sunlight.
I think at some point I forgot to turn the light off and the batteries were drained. I bought new batteries and the light was working OK. But wait a minute. The solar panel charges the rechargeable batteries and I should be able to use the original batteries again.
That seemed to work, but if the light was turned off and then turned on again just a little bit later, the light wouldn't come on, even though it had been bright when turned on.
I emailed the address on the instructions about this problem. Instead of agreement with my analysis or another suggestion, the responder wanted date of purchase, model number (which I thought I had provided), my name and address, an emailed copy of the receipt, my name and address, and I forget what else.
I replied forget it, I'll try the new batteries again.
I was right! The light works much better with the new batteries.
Why didn't Westinghouse International Development Corporation train its people to have a set of helpful answers?
We replaced the landline at our cabin with an AT&T Home Base provided by Consumer Cellular, cutting our phone bill to one-third what it was with Frontier. It works fine, but the time on our answering machine always seemed to be an hour later than the actual time. It was EDT rather than CDT. When we turned on the power and I reset the time, the "spoken" time was given to me as the CDT I set.
I tried resetting the answering machine to have the incorrect minutes. Later on the minutes would be correct but the hour would be one hour off!!
I emailed the friendly folks at Consumer Cellular. They suggested that it was the answering machine and I should reach out to the manufacturer. One person also called me; she was sure that the network didn't set the time. I thanked her and said I would make some tests the next time I was at the cabin.
Today I was at the cabin. When I turned on the power, I did not reset the answering machine clock as I normally do. When the handset had recharged enough to read the screen, the time was a few minutes after midnight; that is, it was the number of minutes since I had turned the power on.
I called the cabin phone with a cell phone. I don't remember if I answered the cabin phone or not. However, when I looked at the time on the handset it was the correct time plus one hour!!! In other words, the network is setting the time, albeit incorrectly.
Since the cell phone is a smart phone, I assume it's time is being set by the Internet. It's time is CDT.
As most people do not turn their answering machines and Home Bases off very often, I'm not too surprised that Consumer Cellular has not heard much about this problem. I wonder if any of the owners have checked what the time stamp is on left messages.
I am considering sending these companies an invoice for my consulting fees. I probably won't find a round tuit to do so, but thinking about it does give me a chuckle. Oh, yeah! I also fixed a problem with my Mac that The Geek Squad couldn't find. See "Computer withdrawal symptoms".
This summer I bought a Westinghouse solar shed light for the outhouse at our cabin. It's great when stepping into the outhouse from bright sunlight.
I think at some point I forgot to turn the light off and the batteries were drained. I bought new batteries and the light was working OK. But wait a minute. The solar panel charges the rechargeable batteries and I should be able to use the original batteries again.
That seemed to work, but if the light was turned off and then turned on again just a little bit later, the light wouldn't come on, even though it had been bright when turned on.
I emailed the address on the instructions about this problem. Instead of agreement with my analysis or another suggestion, the responder wanted date of purchase, model number (which I thought I had provided), my name and address, an emailed copy of the receipt, my name and address, and I forget what else.
I replied forget it, I'll try the new batteries again.
I was right! The light works much better with the new batteries.
Why didn't Westinghouse International Development Corporation train its people to have a set of helpful answers?
We replaced the landline at our cabin with an AT&T Home Base provided by Consumer Cellular, cutting our phone bill to one-third what it was with Frontier. It works fine, but the time on our answering machine always seemed to be an hour later than the actual time. It was EDT rather than CDT. When we turned on the power and I reset the time, the "spoken" time was given to me as the CDT I set.
I tried resetting the answering machine to have the incorrect minutes. Later on the minutes would be correct but the hour would be one hour off!!
I emailed the friendly folks at Consumer Cellular. They suggested that it was the answering machine and I should reach out to the manufacturer. One person also called me; she was sure that the network didn't set the time. I thanked her and said I would make some tests the next time I was at the cabin.
Today I was at the cabin. When I turned on the power, I did not reset the answering machine clock as I normally do. When the handset had recharged enough to read the screen, the time was a few minutes after midnight; that is, it was the number of minutes since I had turned the power on.
I called the cabin phone with a cell phone. I don't remember if I answered the cabin phone or not. However, when I looked at the time on the handset it was the correct time plus one hour!!! In other words, the network is setting the time, albeit incorrectly.
Since the cell phone is a smart phone, I assume it's time is being set by the Internet. It's time is CDT.
As most people do not turn their answering machines and Home Bases off very often, I'm not too surprised that Consumer Cellular has not heard much about this problem. I wonder if any of the owners have checked what the time stamp is on left messages.
I am considering sending these companies an invoice for my consulting fees. I probably won't find a round tuit to do so, but thinking about it does give me a chuckle. Oh, yeah! I also fixed a problem with my Mac that The Geek Squad couldn't find. See "Computer withdrawal symptoms".
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
How do you spell terrorist? C-O-W-A-R-D
A terrorist is a coward who is willing to kill defenseless people because of some grudge he has.
In Nairobi, Kenya, a coward is a member of Al Shabab walking into a shopping mall and killing unarmed men, women and children because he has a grievance with the government of those unarmed people. Ironically Al Shabab claimed that women were not part of the attackers because they shelter their women.
All over the Middle East, a coward is a member of some sub-group of a religious sect that doesn't like even the existence of a competing sect, be it Shia, Sunni, or Christian. This coward believes it is OK to drive a car bomb into a mosque or church killing dozens if not hundreds of unarmed men, women, and children.
A coward is member of a faction or a government who is willing to shell or gas an area where some opposing fighters may be. It doesn't matter if men, women, and children who are not opposing fighters are killed or injured.
A coward is a member of a government who is willing to send drones to bomb suspected terrorists regardless of how many women and children might be in the strike zone.
A coward is a member of government who is willing to send shells or missiles into a populated area to dissuade another government to not do something or other. Men, women, and children will be killed who have little or no say in what that government does.
A coward is a member of a government who is willing to send nuclear missiles to destroy a city of another government because the first government has some dispute with the second government. Again, men, women, and children will be killed who have little or no say in what the second government does.
When will they ever learn, when will they ever learn?
In Nairobi, Kenya, a coward is a member of Al Shabab walking into a shopping mall and killing unarmed men, women and children because he has a grievance with the government of those unarmed people. Ironically Al Shabab claimed that women were not part of the attackers because they shelter their women.
All over the Middle East, a coward is a member of some sub-group of a religious sect that doesn't like even the existence of a competing sect, be it Shia, Sunni, or Christian. This coward believes it is OK to drive a car bomb into a mosque or church killing dozens if not hundreds of unarmed men, women, and children.
A coward is member of a faction or a government who is willing to shell or gas an area where some opposing fighters may be. It doesn't matter if men, women, and children who are not opposing fighters are killed or injured.
A coward is a member of a government who is willing to send drones to bomb suspected terrorists regardless of how many women and children might be in the strike zone.
A coward is a member of government who is willing to send shells or missiles into a populated area to dissuade another government to not do something or other. Men, women, and children will be killed who have little or no say in what that government does.
A coward is a member of a government who is willing to send nuclear missiles to destroy a city of another government because the first government has some dispute with the second government. Again, men, women, and children will be killed who have little or no say in what the second government does.
When will they ever learn, when will they ever learn?
Monday, September 23, 2013
Simple questions don't get simple answers from corporate bureaucracies
I bought a really nifty Westinghouse solar powered light for our outhouse at our cabin. It only cost about $30 and keeps us from stumbling in the dark, especially on a sunny day!!
It started acting up by not turning on again right after it was turned off. I won't give the details of my investigation, but I did send them as email to Westinghouse's distributor, thinking I would get an explanation or an apology for not having an answer. Instead I got a bunch of bureaucratese:
To process your order, I will need the following information:
* Full Name
* Mailing Address
* Contact Phone Number
* Purchase Location
* Purchase date
* Item/Model Number found on the BOX.
* Specific Part Number/Letter
* Copy of your purchase receipt with your order # on the top, sent via email attachment, by FAX or by mail.
They already have my name from my email. I don't know why they need my address and phone number to answer a question, or even where and when I bought it. I threw out the box, the item is essentially one part for purposes of my question, and I threw out or buried the receipt. I thought I had the proper model number from Menards online catalog.
I think I'll just try new batteries and see what happens. If that doesn't work, maybe I'll just ask one of the helpful clerks at Menards the next time I go there.
It started acting up by not turning on again right after it was turned off. I won't give the details of my investigation, but I did send them as email to Westinghouse's distributor, thinking I would get an explanation or an apology for not having an answer. Instead I got a bunch of bureaucratese:
To process your order, I will need the following information:
* Full Name
* Mailing Address
* Contact Phone Number
* Purchase Location
* Purchase date
* Item/Model Number found on the BOX.
* Specific Part Number/Letter
* Copy of your purchase receipt with your order # on the top, sent via email attachment, by FAX or by mail.
They already have my name from my email. I don't know why they need my address and phone number to answer a question, or even where and when I bought it. I threw out the box, the item is essentially one part for purposes of my question, and I threw out or buried the receipt. I thought I had the proper model number from Menards online catalog.
I think I'll just try new batteries and see what happens. If that doesn't work, maybe I'll just ask one of the helpful clerks at Menards the next time I go there.
Thursday, September 19, 2013
If government is so bad then why…
...do so many companies try to get government business?
Privately run prisons
Military contracts
Highway and bridge contracts
Private schools with government vouchers
Sports stadiums with tax money
And to boot they want government to protect their businesses with
Courts to adjudicate disputes among companies
Courts to protect copyrights with large judgments against individuals (what's this about tort reform?)
Enforcement of patents
Trade negotiations
Employees educated and trained at government expense
I'm sure you can think of many more things that governments want from government without paying any taxes to support their wish lists.
Like a little kid, they want the tooth fairy to leave a quarter under their pillow every morning. That's a quarter million or even a quarter billion.
Privately run prisons
Military contracts
Highway and bridge contracts
Private schools with government vouchers
Sports stadiums with tax money
And to boot they want government to protect their businesses with
Courts to adjudicate disputes among companies
Courts to protect copyrights with large judgments against individuals (what's this about tort reform?)
Enforcement of patents
Trade negotiations
Employees educated and trained at government expense
I'm sure you can think of many more things that governments want from government without paying any taxes to support their wish lists.
Like a little kid, they want the tooth fairy to leave a quarter under their pillow every morning. That's a quarter million or even a quarter billion.
Whistleblowers deflate bloated bureaucracies
There are those who think Edward Snowden and Bradley Manning have betrayed trust, and there are those who think they exposed excessive and misguided government actions.
Although an organization depends on all involved following certain rules, what should an honorable person do when he or she feels that the organization is working against the public interest? Will reporting the problem up through the hierarchy eventually solve it? Or will somebody block it?
In more mundane terms, think of all the problems you have had with products and services. If you report them to the company or organization, do you really believe that you will find a champion who will right what you think is wrong? If you think that the reported wrong will be righted, take a peek at support boards of products. There are some problems that have been going on for years and haven't been fixed yet.
For a better look at this problem in far worse situations than inefficient software, see "The Banality of Systemic Evil", Peter Ludlow, New York Times, 2013-09-15.
A bureaucracy develops own set of rules to function "smoothly". Think of the bureaucracy of the Titanic. From the president of White Star Lines to Captain Edward Smith down to deck hands. Each person had a certain set of responsibilities, but almost none of them had all the information they really needed. Were they ready to listen to any warning advice? Was anybody willing to report upward anything that was amiss for a safe voyage?
Did anybody make a big fuss about forward observers not having adequate lights? Did anybody question the command "women and children only" in the partly full lifeboats? Did anyone question the locked doors trapping steerage passengers?
Patriotism is the ultimate "bureaucracy". Not enough of us question why we are using military force. It is considered unpatriotic to question the government in times of war. Amazingly, many "patriots" don't think the government can run a post office or devise regulations to protect the public. But few of them consider that "snafu" is a military term started by the troops. See "Military Slang", Wikipedia.
Some have said true patriots are those who resist supporting military action. I'll leave it to you to decide whether Snowden and Manning are patriots or scoundrels.
Although an organization depends on all involved following certain rules, what should an honorable person do when he or she feels that the organization is working against the public interest? Will reporting the problem up through the hierarchy eventually solve it? Or will somebody block it?
In more mundane terms, think of all the problems you have had with products and services. If you report them to the company or organization, do you really believe that you will find a champion who will right what you think is wrong? If you think that the reported wrong will be righted, take a peek at support boards of products. There are some problems that have been going on for years and haven't been fixed yet.
For a better look at this problem in far worse situations than inefficient software, see "The Banality of Systemic Evil", Peter Ludlow, New York Times, 2013-09-15.
A bureaucracy develops own set of rules to function "smoothly". Think of the bureaucracy of the Titanic. From the president of White Star Lines to Captain Edward Smith down to deck hands. Each person had a certain set of responsibilities, but almost none of them had all the information they really needed. Were they ready to listen to any warning advice? Was anybody willing to report upward anything that was amiss for a safe voyage?
Did anybody make a big fuss about forward observers not having adequate lights? Did anybody question the command "women and children only" in the partly full lifeboats? Did anyone question the locked doors trapping steerage passengers?
Patriotism is the ultimate "bureaucracy". Not enough of us question why we are using military force. It is considered unpatriotic to question the government in times of war. Amazingly, many "patriots" don't think the government can run a post office or devise regulations to protect the public. But few of them consider that "snafu" is a military term started by the troops. See "Military Slang", Wikipedia.
Some have said true patriots are those who resist supporting military action. I'll leave it to you to decide whether Snowden and Manning are patriots or scoundrels.
Monday, September 16, 2013
Corporate efficiency - unwanted, unreceived new card
I received a letter from Elan that my Visa card had been upgraded with all these new "super" features, none of which I really needed or wanted. The letter stated that I should have already received my card and all I needed to do was activate it.
The problem was that I never received the card. If I did, I might have thrown it out knowingly or unknowingly, but I doubt it.
Then I received an email touting all the benefits of the new card. That was ten days ago. I sent email to the local branch manager of the bank that issued the card; she replied she would check on it and asked me to call at the end of the week if I still had not received it. I did not receive the card by Friday
Today I talked with somebody in the main office of the bank and she said they would request a new card for me and I should have it Wednesday. Elan would charge a $15 lost card fee but the bank would give me credit for it.
Now I'm going to have to go through all the organizations that I have authorized to debit my credit card automatically and change my account number. What a nuisance!
So, why did Elan decide I should have something that I didn't ask for? Are they hoping that the "rewards" offered with the card would induce me to spend more? I suppose lots of people will be overjoyed to be upgraded.
I guess the upside is that I can use the points to pay on the balance. The mischievous part of me wants to use it every month. Let's see, a $100 balance would give me 100 points. Would that be a dollar, a dime, or a penny? It reminds me of the people who overpaid charge card bills by one cent because they were not getting any response from the store about a problem. A clerk processing the checks would notice, but a computer processing thousands of electronic payments would probably not notice.
Well, the computer might notice and send a message to somebody, but since so many companies won't allow spaces in a keyed-in card number, would any take the time to put in such a filter?
The problem was that I never received the card. If I did, I might have thrown it out knowingly or unknowingly, but I doubt it.
Then I received an email touting all the benefits of the new card. That was ten days ago. I sent email to the local branch manager of the bank that issued the card; she replied she would check on it and asked me to call at the end of the week if I still had not received it. I did not receive the card by Friday
Today I talked with somebody in the main office of the bank and she said they would request a new card for me and I should have it Wednesday. Elan would charge a $15 lost card fee but the bank would give me credit for it.
Now I'm going to have to go through all the organizations that I have authorized to debit my credit card automatically and change my account number. What a nuisance!
So, why did Elan decide I should have something that I didn't ask for? Are they hoping that the "rewards" offered with the card would induce me to spend more? I suppose lots of people will be overjoyed to be upgraded.
I guess the upside is that I can use the points to pay on the balance. The mischievous part of me wants to use it every month. Let's see, a $100 balance would give me 100 points. Would that be a dollar, a dime, or a penny? It reminds me of the people who overpaid charge card bills by one cent because they were not getting any response from the store about a problem. A clerk processing the checks would notice, but a computer processing thousands of electronic payments would probably not notice.
Well, the computer might notice and send a message to somebody, but since so many companies won't allow spaces in a keyed-in card number, would any take the time to put in such a filter?
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Quote of the day - liberals will win if they vote!
"Notwithstanding the NRA’s win in Colorado in knocking off two gun
control Democratic State Senators for supporting more stringent ‘gun
control’, if Liberals vote they will win. In fact if one analyzes the
Colorado race, Liberals were disinterested and stayed home, something
that must be worked on going forward. Voters must learn that it is their
civic duty to vote every time. [My emphasis] Political engagement must be a
requirement for effective citizenship."
- Egberto Willies, "America Is A Liberal Nation. A Liberal Wins On A Liberal Message".
- Egberto Willies, "America Is A Liberal Nation. A Liberal Wins On A Liberal Message".
Optimism in the Great War (1917-10-13)
My sister-in-law twice sent me a few letters that my mother's uncle,
Myron F. Greed, sent to his brother and our grandfather, Arthur C.
Greed. I think she and my brother were given them by my grandfather or
were found by them among his possessions after he died. He was living
in a retirement home near them in central Ohio. I finally scanned both
sets so that I can pass them on to other family members.
Myron F. Greed enlisted or was drafted into the U.S. Army in or before October 1917. He was in the Sanitary Corps, a group that provided administrative and technical services to military physicians. Myron spent most of his time in Camp McClellan, Anniston AL.
For the most part, his letters are upbeat and he seems to be enjoying camp life.
I will let his words speak for themselves. I will only add commentary about people and places he mentions.
Note the postmark is Oct. 17, 1917, Myron wrote what looks like 1915 on his letter. Note also the addresses of my grandfather on the various envelopes. My grandfather moved a lot all of his life.
"Mother" is Eva Didham Greed Brainard; a widow, she had married for the second time that summer.
"The baby" is my mother, Martha Marie, born April 7.
Others in this series are:
Optimism in the Great War (1918-04-03)
Optimism in the Great War (1918 Spring)
Optimism in the Great War (Summer 1918)
Optimism in the Great War (1918-04-03)
I don't know how many letters Myron wrote since October or if any of them are still around.
"Wife" is my grandfather's wife, Marie Schack Greed. Yes, that is a German name. She supposedly ran away from home because she didn't want to speak German. I have some letters to her from a cousin who married a well-off man and lived on Long Island. The cousin complains about some of the shortages.
"Gertrude" is Myron's and Arthur's sister. I don't know if she had married yet.
"little Martha" is my mother.
"nigger" - sigh! What would they think of how multi-hued his brother's descendants have become or may become? And what would they think of their buddies in future wars?
Others in this series are:
Optimism in the Great War (1917-10-13)
Optimism in the Great War (1918 Spring)
Optimism in the Great War (Summer 1918)
"Wife" is my grandfather's wife, Marie Schack Greed. Yes, that is a German name. She supposedly ran away from home because she didn't want to speak German. I have some letters to her from a cousin who married a well-off man and lived on Long Island. The cousin complains about some of the shortages.
"Gertrude" is Myron's and Arthur's sister. I don't know if she had married yet.
"little Martha" is my mother.
"nigger" - sigh! What would they think of how multi-hued his brother's descendants have become or may become? And what would they think of their buddies in future wars?
Others in this series are:
Optimism in the Great War (1917-10-13)
Optimism in the Great War (1918 Spring)
Optimism in the Great War (Summer 1918)
Optimism in the Great War (Spring 1918)
"next Wed - the 11 or 12" - his "previous" letter was written on Wednesday, April 3. He gives the day of the week for this letter as Tuesday with no day of the month. I'll let you figure out the actual day he wrote this letter and whether this letter was before or after the letter of April 3. It's too confusing to explain my own thoughts about this.
The names of the first group of people are not familiar to me, but A.C. Crocker was considered a cousin of my great-grandmother or great-grandfather. His funeral was the first that I remember going to, probably in the late 1940s. His longer name is Alfred C. Crocker. He was born in England in 1896; his wife Minnie A Didham was born in Chagrin Falls in 1873. She is either a niece of cousin of my great-grandmother. Her given name may have been Mary, and her father was William Didham.
The name Fred Didham is not familiar to me, but he is probably a nephew of my great-grandmother. He was born in Ohio in 1886 or 1887.
Martha was his niece who became my mother twenty years later.
Others in this series are:
Optimism in the Great War (1917-10-13)
Optimism in the Great War (1918-04-03)
Optimism in the Great War (Summer 1918)
Optimism in the Great War (Summer 1918)
This is the last in a series of letters that I am uploading. Previous letters to follow in reverse order.
I have the following letters and cards from Myron F. Greed sent to his brother Arthur C. Greed in the summer of 1918.
Myron died October 6, 1918 in France, probably of flu.
Others in this series are:
Optimism in the Great War (1917-10-13)
Optimism in the Great War (1918-04-03)
Optimism in the Great War (1918 Spring)
I have the following letters and cards from Myron F. Greed sent to his brother Arthur C. Greed in the summer of 1918.
Myron died October 6, 1918 in France, probably of flu.
Others in this series are:
Optimism in the Great War (1917-10-13)
Optimism in the Great War (1918-04-03)
Optimism in the Great War (1918 Spring)
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Syria: Let's you and him fight
Why is it that Arab states that don't like Syria and some of its actions want others to resolve the problem? See "Arab League Endorses International Action", David D. Kirkpatrick, New York Times, 2013-09-01?
Saudi Arabia and Egypt are far stronger militarily than Syria. Could it be that they don't want to be seen as Arab against Arab? Turkey is also stronger militarily than Syria. Could it be that Turkey doesn't want to be seen as Muslim against Muslim? Or would they rather have a Western power deal with Syria so that if things go wrong then they can blame the outsider?
The U.S. has provided billions of dollars in military sales or aid to several military powers in the Middle East, including "the latest air-to-air missiles and precision-guided air-to-ground missiles" - "U.S. Militarization of the Middle East", Seema Luthra, Fellowship of Reconcilation. If Saudi Arabia is so concerned about Syria, couldn't it take out whatever targets in Syria that it chooses? After all, Saudi Arabia's military budget is about 20 times that of Syria.
The attitude of too many in the U.S., that we are a super-power that can police the world, has gotten out of hand. Too many people believe that we can solve their problems and we are too willing to appear that we can.
George Washington warned us over two hundred years ago: "The Nation, which indulges towards another an habitual hatred, or an habitual fondness, is in some degree a slave. It is a slave to its animosity or to its affection, either of which is sufficient to lead it astray from its duty and its interest." - Farewell Address
Saudi Arabia and Egypt are far stronger militarily than Syria. Could it be that they don't want to be seen as Arab against Arab? Turkey is also stronger militarily than Syria. Could it be that Turkey doesn't want to be seen as Muslim against Muslim? Or would they rather have a Western power deal with Syria so that if things go wrong then they can blame the outsider?
The U.S. has provided billions of dollars in military sales or aid to several military powers in the Middle East, including "the latest air-to-air missiles and precision-guided air-to-ground missiles" - "U.S. Militarization of the Middle East", Seema Luthra, Fellowship of Reconcilation. If Saudi Arabia is so concerned about Syria, couldn't it take out whatever targets in Syria that it chooses? After all, Saudi Arabia's military budget is about 20 times that of Syria.
The attitude of too many in the U.S., that we are a super-power that can police the world, has gotten out of hand. Too many people believe that we can solve their problems and we are too willing to appear that we can.
George Washington warned us over two hundred years ago: "The Nation, which indulges towards another an habitual hatred, or an habitual fondness, is in some degree a slave. It is a slave to its animosity or to its affection, either of which is sufficient to lead it astray from its duty and its interest." - Farewell Address
Syria: Fighting evil with evil?
My following letter to the editor of the Duluth News Tribune was published 2013-09-08. I also sent it to President Obama, Senator Klobuchar, and Senator Franken.
Thanks to U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan and the News Tribune for their opposition to an attack on Syria (“Nolan is steadfast against Syria strike,” Sept. 4, and, “Our View: Nolan listening, leading on Syria”).
I read somewhere that evil is treating people as things. Someone in Syria treated 300 or 1,400 people as things with a poison gas attack. The first figure is from some in the opposition; the second is from the U.S. government.
Now the U.S. government is threatening to be evil by treating several hundred or even several thousand people as things. Will the victims of Tomahawk missiles be those who ordered or carried out the gas attack or will they be office workers and pedestrians who were in the wrong place at the wrong time?
Thanks to U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan and the News Tribune for their opposition to an attack on Syria (“Nolan is steadfast against Syria strike,” Sept. 4, and, “Our View: Nolan listening, leading on Syria”).
I read somewhere that evil is treating people as things. Someone in Syria treated 300 or 1,400 people as things with a poison gas attack. The first figure is from some in the opposition; the second is from the U.S. government.
Now the U.S. government is threatening to be evil by treating several hundred or even several thousand people as things. Will the victims of Tomahawk missiles be those who ordered or carried out the gas attack or will they be office workers and pedestrians who were in the wrong place at the wrong time?
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
My TicTacToe Hypothesis
I've long wondered about the relation of the size of a TicTacToe grid and the number of squares to the outcome of a game. For example, a 2x2 grid will always be won by the first player:
The odd numbers are the first player's moves, and the even are the second player's moves.
Part one of my hypothesis is that an n to the nth grid will always be won by the first player. So far, so good!
If we now try a 3x3 (n+1 to the nth+1) grid, we get the following result:
Many people know that in 3x3 TicTacToe game that either the first player will win or a tie will result, especially if the first player always starts from the center. In the above example, we have a tie because neither player has any moves that will lead to a win. The red numbers are blocking moves. The only way player two would lose is by making his or her next move in the lower left corner.
Now let's try a three-dimensional game. If the grid is 3x3x3, then player one can always win with careful play:
Again the red numbers are blocking moves and the green numbers are the winning moves. The second player has only two choices for the fourth move (8), as shown or where the first player made the winning move (9). Neither would have prevented the first player's win.
OK, let's try a 4x4x4 game. After several tries where the first player won, I found one where the second player won, even though the first player kept trying to take the initiative:
The two red X's are the only choices the first player has, either of which still allows the second player to make the winning move. Can you find which move by the second player put the first player on the defensive?
And thus goes my hope of a grand theory of TicTacToe crashing to the ground, pulled down by the weight of contrary evidence. My hypothesis is that I went too long to test my TicTacToe hypothesis and kept getting my hopes higher and higher.
Part one of my hypothesis is that an n to the nth grid will always be won by the first player. So far, so good!
If we now try a 3x3 (n+1 to the nth+1) grid, we get the following result:
Many people know that in 3x3 TicTacToe game that either the first player will win or a tie will result, especially if the first player always starts from the center. In the above example, we have a tie because neither player has any moves that will lead to a win. The red numbers are blocking moves. The only way player two would lose is by making his or her next move in the lower left corner.
Now let's try a three-dimensional game. If the grid is 3x3x3, then player one can always win with careful play:
OK, let's try a 4x4x4 game. After several tries where the first player won, I found one where the second player won, even though the first player kept trying to take the initiative:
The two red X's are the only choices the first player has, either of which still allows the second player to make the winning move. Can you find which move by the second player put the first player on the defensive?
And thus goes my hope of a grand theory of TicTacToe crashing to the ground, pulled down by the weight of contrary evidence. My hypothesis is that I went too long to test my TicTacToe hypothesis and kept getting my hopes higher and higher.
Bye, bye, Democracy!
Today is the primary election for Duluth School Board and City Council.
At 10:30 I was the 36th voter in my precinct. My wife is an election worker in another precinct. At about 11:00 she said they had about 45 voters.
In the 2012 election, Duluth had an average of over 1600 voters per precinct, and that was with a turnout of over 70 percent.
If we can't even show up for local elections, do we deserve a democracy?
And this happens all over the world. George W. Bush was elected because many Democrats didn't show up in Florida in 2000. Morsi was elected in Egypt because many boycotted the elections. North Carolina has a Republican legislature because only 44% showed up in 2012, probably mostly Republican activists.
If you don't vote, please don't complain about potholes, taxes, schools, or anything else that government does.
See also "If you don't vote, you have only yourself to blame", Reader Weekly, 2004-10-28.
At 10:30 I was the 36th voter in my precinct. My wife is an election worker in another precinct. At about 11:00 she said they had about 45 voters.
In the 2012 election, Duluth had an average of over 1600 voters per precinct, and that was with a turnout of over 70 percent.
If we can't even show up for local elections, do we deserve a democracy?
And this happens all over the world. George W. Bush was elected because many Democrats didn't show up in Florida in 2000. Morsi was elected in Egypt because many boycotted the elections. North Carolina has a Republican legislature because only 44% showed up in 2012, probably mostly Republican activists.
If you don't vote, please don't complain about potholes, taxes, schools, or anything else that government does.
See also "If you don't vote, you have only yourself to blame", Reader Weekly, 2004-10-28.
Thursday, September 05, 2013
Gas attack or missile attack: who suffers?
I sent the following webmail to Pres. Obama:
To paraphrase your words: “At what point do we say we need to confront actions that are violating our Constitution?” “I would argue that when I see 400 children subjected to missiles, over 1,400 innocent civilians dying senselessly … the moral thing to do is not to stand by and do nothing.”
What guarantee do you have that each cruise missile will hit a military target? What guarantee do you have that each military target will be occupied by those responsible for the gas attack? Do you know how many civilian workers might be in each target?
A Tomahawk missile has a supposed accuracy of 10 meters. Many streets in Damascus are less than 10 meters wide. Will every military target be more than 10 meters from an apartment building? How far will the debris from a missile explosion go? How many missile explosions will bring neighboring apartments down?
Assume one apartment building has six floors, each floor has four apartments, each apartment has five residents. That's 120 residents in a single apartment building. Do you have any count of how many apartment buildings will be brought down by any misses or near misses or "non-misses"?
If the lethal blast range is 28 meters, then eight neighboring buildings could be brought down. That could mean over 900 residents could be killed by one Tomahawk missile.
If you send ten Tomahawks that could mean over 5,000 Syrians will die for your "message" to Assad. That is a rather high-price for a message for the deaths of 300 or 1400 people.
Oh, by the way, have you considered the repercussions if any missile damages a mosque?
And if the gas attack was perpetrated by Islamic radicals, you really will have been suckered!
To paraphrase your words: “At what point do we say we need to confront actions that are violating our Constitution?” “I would argue that when I see 400 children subjected to missiles, over 1,400 innocent civilians dying senselessly … the moral thing to do is not to stand by and do nothing.”
What guarantee do you have that each cruise missile will hit a military target? What guarantee do you have that each military target will be occupied by those responsible for the gas attack? Do you know how many civilian workers might be in each target?
A Tomahawk missile has a supposed accuracy of 10 meters. Many streets in Damascus are less than 10 meters wide. Will every military target be more than 10 meters from an apartment building? How far will the debris from a missile explosion go? How many missile explosions will bring neighboring apartments down?
Assume one apartment building has six floors, each floor has four apartments, each apartment has five residents. That's 120 residents in a single apartment building. Do you have any count of how many apartment buildings will be brought down by any misses or near misses or "non-misses"?
If the lethal blast range is 28 meters, then eight neighboring buildings could be brought down. That could mean over 900 residents could be killed by one Tomahawk missile.
If you send ten Tomahawks that could mean over 5,000 Syrians will die for your "message" to Assad. That is a rather high-price for a message for the deaths of 300 or 1400 people.
Oh, by the way, have you considered the repercussions if any missile damages a mosque?
And if the gas attack was perpetrated by Islamic radicals, you really will have been suckered!
Tuesday, September 03, 2013
Syria: Popular opinion vs. political opinion
The comments on New York Times articles about Obama's proposal tend to be against any military action with some support for military action. Apparently popular opinion throughout the country is against any military action. Apparently the political leadership in Congress seems to be for military action.
Fortunately, some congresspeople are not following the political crowd. See "Following Classified Briefings, Nolan Will 'Vote and Work Against' U.S. Attack on Syria", Rep. Rick Nolan, 2013-09-03
http://nolan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/following-classified-briefings-nolan-will-vote-and-work-against-us
I added my own little comment to "House Leaders Express Their Support for Syria Strike", Mark Landler, Michael R. Gordon, and Thom Shanker, New York Times, 2013-09-03:
"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."
"[O]nly the dead have seen the end of war."
– George Santayana
No matter what your opinion, be sure to send email to the President, your Representative, and both of your Senators. They might not read your email, but rest assured their staffs are putting them in pro and con "piles".
Oh, yeah! Remember that little incident in Sarajevo? How many millions died because of all the miscalculations?
Fortunately, some congresspeople are not following the political crowd. See "Following Classified Briefings, Nolan Will 'Vote and Work Against' U.S. Attack on Syria", Rep. Rick Nolan, 2013-09-03
http://nolan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/following-classified-briefings-nolan-will-vote-and-work-against-us
I added my own little comment to "House Leaders Express Their Support for Syria Strike", Mark Landler, Michael R. Gordon, and Thom Shanker, New York Times, 2013-09-03:
"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."
"[O]nly the dead have seen the end of war."
– George Santayana
No matter what your opinion, be sure to send email to the President, your Representative, and both of your Senators. They might not read your email, but rest assured their staffs are putting them in pro and con "piles".
Oh, yeah! Remember that little incident in Sarajevo? How many millions died because of all the miscalculations?
Monday, September 02, 2013
Syria: world of laws or a world of men?
Letter to WhiteHouse.gov
John Adams put into the Massachusetts' Constitution of 1780 "a government of laws and not of men".
In 1945 the United States was a promoter and signatory of the United Nations Charter, which includes "to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace". That is, a world of laws and not of men.
Too many times during my lifetime, almost every U.S. President from Harry Truman to George W. Bush have taken unilateral action against another government who they claimed was a threat to the peace. Now a winner of the Nobel Peace Prize has been beating the war drums to take unilateral military action against another member of the United Nations.
What happened to "Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek."
End of letter
Be sure to send your own view on Syria to the President, your senators, and your representative. If you are a citizen of another country, be sure to send your own view to the members of your government.
John Adams put into the Massachusetts' Constitution of 1780 "a government of laws and not of men".
In 1945 the United States was a promoter and signatory of the United Nations Charter, which includes "to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace". That is, a world of laws and not of men.
Too many times during my lifetime, almost every U.S. President from Harry Truman to George W. Bush have taken unilateral action against another government who they claimed was a threat to the peace. Now a winner of the Nobel Peace Prize has been beating the war drums to take unilateral military action against another member of the United Nations.
What happened to "Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek."
End of letter
Be sure to send your own view on Syria to the President, your senators, and your representative. If you are a citizen of another country, be sure to send your own view to the members of your government.
Thursday, August 29, 2013
Facebook comment on Charles M. Blow's editorial on MLK and leadership
I posted a link to Charles M. Blow's New York Times editorial "The Most Dangerous Negro" on my Facebook page with the comment:
"I won't remonstrate if you don't demonstrate,
but I will if you don't put down the remote and vote!"
This was considering that demonstrations sometimes have a better turnout than the elections.
In other words, demonstrate if you will, don't demonstrate if choose not to, but be sure to vote if you demonstrated for a cause. My take on voting turnout in state after state is that many will sign petitions or show up at a demonstration, but their number too often far exceeds the votes actually cast in support of that cause.
"I won't remonstrate if you don't demonstrate,
but I will if you don't put down the remote and vote!"
This was considering that demonstrations sometimes have a better turnout than the elections.
In other words, demonstrate if you will, don't demonstrate if choose not to, but be sure to vote if you demonstrated for a cause. My take on voting turnout in state after state is that many will sign petitions or show up at a demonstration, but their number too often far exceeds the votes actually cast in support of that cause.
Quote of the day - Anti-war stance
"The antiwar cause has always been better served by brave dissenters like La Follette than by political chameleons like Kellogg."
"Frank Kellogg: Before peace prize he was a hawk", Oliver Steinberg, Letter to the Star Tribune, 2013-08-28
"Frank Kellogg: Before peace prize he was a hawk", Oliver Steinberg, Letter to the Star Tribune, 2013-08-28
It's all in the name
A trucker noticed many farmers each driving to town every day with their product. He thought that he could save them money by delivering for them.
He made the rounds and couldn't get a single customer.
He went to a bar and told his tale. One friend looked out at the logo on the driver's truck and said, "Well, Fred Basket, none of them want to put all of his eggs in one Basket!"
He made the rounds and couldn't get a single customer.
He went to a bar and told his tale. One friend looked out at the logo on the driver's truck and said, "Well, Fred Basket, none of them want to put all of his eggs in one Basket!"
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Corporations are efficient…at hiding problems
Admittedly, many corporations are run quite well and are open about their products and their effect on customers and the environment.
But those who extol corporate efficiency over government efficiency should seriously consider the malfeasance and ineptitude of many companies like Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) whose Fukushima nuclear power complex is rapidly poisoning our planet. Talk about externalities being covered in a "free market", not!
Now the Japanese government has taken over management of the containment, citing the among other things TEPCO's "Whack-a-mole" approach, inadequate monitoring, and faulty record keeping. The president of TEPCO, Naomi Hirose said, "We are very grateful that we are getting government support". He didn't mention all the government subsidies to even get the facility started and running.
It's Adam Smith all over again: this "order… has deceived and oppressed the public."
See "TEPCO 'Whack-a-Mole' Means Government Takeover in Fukushima", Yuji Okada, Takashi Hirokawa, and Jacob Adelman, Bloomberg, 2013-08-26.
But those who extol corporate efficiency over government efficiency should seriously consider the malfeasance and ineptitude of many companies like Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) whose Fukushima nuclear power complex is rapidly poisoning our planet. Talk about externalities being covered in a "free market", not!
Now the Japanese government has taken over management of the containment, citing the among other things TEPCO's "Whack-a-mole" approach, inadequate monitoring, and faulty record keeping. The president of TEPCO, Naomi Hirose said, "We are very grateful that we are getting government support". He didn't mention all the government subsidies to even get the facility started and running.
It's Adam Smith all over again: this "order… has deceived and oppressed the public."
See "TEPCO 'Whack-a-Mole' Means Government Takeover in Fukushima", Yuji Okada, Takashi Hirokawa, and Jacob Adelman, Bloomberg, 2013-08-26.
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
World War III or IV has begun!
Email to President Barack Obama via whitehouse.gov.
You are considering what to do about the atrocities committed in Syria, but if history is any guide, you will be fighting the wrong war. You will be fighting an aerial bomb war but somebody has already started an electronic war. Your bomb war will only make the electronic war worse.
The Syrian Electronic Army has already claimed to shut down the New York Times web site twice. What have they done besides annoy a lot of people. We don't know, but they may have stolen passwords and credit card information. We don't know, but they may have planted little viruses that change a story or even plant their own stories. We don't know, but they may spread a virus to the computers of readers of the New York Times. I do know that after attempting to access the New York Times I had more and more difficulty accessing other sites.
How will your aerial bomb war make the electronic war worse? Your bomb war will recruit more electronic warriors on behalf of Syria, and this will happen without any help from the Syrian government. Many of these warriors may not even be in Syria. Are you going to bomb Moscow because the Syrian Electronic Army's site is hosted in Russia?
And the more Syrian Electronic Army Units there are, the more damage they can do. Bring down NASDAQ? It recently had an outage. Was it a coding error? Or was it an attack? What other weevils lurk in the hearts of these men? Instead of stealth bombers, you need to find lots of Shadows!
See also http://magree.blogspot.com/2013/08/syria-letter-to-president-of-united.html.
You are considering what to do about the atrocities committed in Syria, but if history is any guide, you will be fighting the wrong war. You will be fighting an aerial bomb war but somebody has already started an electronic war. Your bomb war will only make the electronic war worse.
The Syrian Electronic Army has already claimed to shut down the New York Times web site twice. What have they done besides annoy a lot of people. We don't know, but they may have stolen passwords and credit card information. We don't know, but they may have planted little viruses that change a story or even plant their own stories. We don't know, but they may spread a virus to the computers of readers of the New York Times. I do know that after attempting to access the New York Times I had more and more difficulty accessing other sites.
How will your aerial bomb war make the electronic war worse? Your bomb war will recruit more electronic warriors on behalf of Syria, and this will happen without any help from the Syrian government. Many of these warriors may not even be in Syria. Are you going to bomb Moscow because the Syrian Electronic Army's site is hosted in Russia?
And the more Syrian Electronic Army Units there are, the more damage they can do. Bring down NASDAQ? It recently had an outage. Was it a coding error? Or was it an attack? What other weevils lurk in the hearts of these men? Instead of stealth bombers, you need to find lots of Shadows!
See also http://magree.blogspot.com/2013/08/syria-letter-to-president-of-united.html.
Syria – A letter to the President of the United States
I posted the following on "Contact Us" at http://www.whitehouse.gov.
Before you were born, the Department of War became the Department of Defense. Unfortunately, several times since the Department of Defense has become the Department of Offense with disastrous results for troops, our citizens, the economy, and other countries' views towards us.
If we are truly to have a Department of Defense, what is the threat that dictators like Assad pose towards the U.S.? Is he going to invade us? If we invade Syria you can rest assured that action will breed terrorists who will invade us.
If Assad is a threat to the region, don't Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait have enough U.S. equipment to take on Assad?
If the U.S. sticks its nose into Syria, it will only give these countries cover to not take action themselves, leaving us as the fall guy when things go badly.
Before you were born, the Department of War became the Department of Defense. Unfortunately, several times since the Department of Defense has become the Department of Offense with disastrous results for troops, our citizens, the economy, and other countries' views towards us.
If we are truly to have a Department of Defense, what is the threat that dictators like Assad pose towards the U.S.? Is he going to invade us? If we invade Syria you can rest assured that action will breed terrorists who will invade us.
If Assad is a threat to the region, don't Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait have enough U.S. equipment to take on Assad?
If the U.S. sticks its nose into Syria, it will only give these countries cover to not take action themselves, leaving us as the fall guy when things go badly.
Saturday, August 24, 2013
Assumptions of a gun slinger
A picture of a man with a gun at his hip accompanies an article about guns at the State Capitol, "Capitol debate triggers show of weapons", Jim Ragsdale, Star Tribune, 2013-08-20. The bearer of the gun said he feels safer with his own weapon.
His first assumption is that he is under threat of bodily harm by somebody. Are any of the state representatives or senators going to threaten him with a gun? Do any of these politicians carry a gun in the State Capitol? Maybe he is afraid Capitol security might throw him out.
His second assumption is that if he is threatened by someone with a gun that he can pull out his gun, take off the safety, aim, disable the other person before that person even fires a shot, and not hit any bystanders. Even police with extensive firearms training can't accomplish that very often. Think of the Fort Hood shooting where a police officer with a marksmanship award was downed before she could hit the shooter.
His third assumption is that nobody will sneak up behind him and grab his weapon. Many police officers have been killed with their own weapons.
His fourth assumption is that he is a "law-abiding" citizen with a permit to carry and therefore should be trusted to use his gun responsibly. "Law-abiding" citizens with permits to carry have deliberately killed others with their guns. The fired employee who killed the father of another hearing witness was such a "law abiding" citizen.
By contrast, Federal law prohibits guns in Federal facilities. The penalty for having "a firearm or other dangerous weapon" in a Federal facility is a fine or up to one year in prison or both. If the Federal facility is a court the prison term can be up to two years. See "18 USC § 930 - Possession of firearms and dangerous weapons in Federal facilities".
Interestingly, the Texas Legislature considers tampons more dangerous than guns. Its guards "confiscated tampons as possible threats to lawmakers’ safety" but waved those with guns through, "Guns at the Capitol? Beware of the recoil", Dennis Anderson, Star Tribune, 2013-08-23.
His first assumption is that he is under threat of bodily harm by somebody. Are any of the state representatives or senators going to threaten him with a gun? Do any of these politicians carry a gun in the State Capitol? Maybe he is afraid Capitol security might throw him out.
His second assumption is that if he is threatened by someone with a gun that he can pull out his gun, take off the safety, aim, disable the other person before that person even fires a shot, and not hit any bystanders. Even police with extensive firearms training can't accomplish that very often. Think of the Fort Hood shooting where a police officer with a marksmanship award was downed before she could hit the shooter.
His third assumption is that nobody will sneak up behind him and grab his weapon. Many police officers have been killed with their own weapons.
His fourth assumption is that he is a "law-abiding" citizen with a permit to carry and therefore should be trusted to use his gun responsibly. "Law-abiding" citizens with permits to carry have deliberately killed others with their guns. The fired employee who killed the father of another hearing witness was such a "law abiding" citizen.
By contrast, Federal law prohibits guns in Federal facilities. The penalty for having "a firearm or other dangerous weapon" in a Federal facility is a fine or up to one year in prison or both. If the Federal facility is a court the prison term can be up to two years. See "18 USC § 930 - Possession of firearms and dangerous weapons in Federal facilities".
Interestingly, the Texas Legislature considers tampons more dangerous than guns. Its guards "confiscated tampons as possible threats to lawmakers’ safety" but waved those with guns through, "Guns at the Capitol? Beware of the recoil", Dennis Anderson, Star Tribune, 2013-08-23.
Quips of the day - boom and hype
Paul Krugman used "prophets of boom" and "hype springs eternal" in his New York Times column of 2002-04-30, "Herd on the Street", also published in "The Great Unraveling", p. 75.
I think Krugman is a master of the English language as well as of economics. Of the latter, his own Cassandra-like predictions have come true more often than not. The people in power didn't listen to his warnings, he was right, and they still don't listen.
I think Krugman is a master of the English language as well as of economics. Of the latter, his own Cassandra-like predictions have come true more often than not. The people in power didn't listen to his warnings, he was right, and they still don't listen.
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Did the flocks get the pox from the phlox?
This silly rhyme came to me as I put a flower stamp on an envelope.
Let's try a haiku for this:
Far too many flocks
Became really sick with pox
Passing over phlox.
Let's try a haiku for this:
Far too many flocks
Became really sick with pox
Passing over phlox.
Corporations are killing the geese that lay the golden eggs
Corporations are sitting on lots of cash but won't hire new employees because there is insufficient demand. There is insufficient demand because too many people don't have enough money to buy as many goods and services as they would like. Because not enough people buy goods and services, corporations won't hire. Because too many people don't have enough money…
Intergenerational payments are not a zero sum game
Many complain that Social Security is taking from the young to pay for the old. That is, this transfer is a zero sum game where the winnings of one are equal to the losses of others.
But consider that we play another zero sum game. Think about those who complain about paying for schools because they don't have children or grandchildren in school.
Now if the older people are paying taxes to support public schools and the younger people are paying taxes for seniors' Social Security payments, isn't the combined system a win-win situation?
And there is more to support this win-win situation.
If older people don't pay for children's education where are the doctors going to come from? Police and fire? Government? Inventors of devices and medicines to prolong life? Sports figures to entertain?
If younger people don't pay for older peoples' retirement and health, might the older people stay working longer, leaving fewer jobs for younger people?
And the list goes on. Older people paid for the infra-structure that younger people use today. Would we have highways, communication systems, buildings, and much else that was paid for in full by people now dead?
But consider that we play another zero sum game. Think about those who complain about paying for schools because they don't have children or grandchildren in school.
Now if the older people are paying taxes to support public schools and the younger people are paying taxes for seniors' Social Security payments, isn't the combined system a win-win situation?
And there is more to support this win-win situation.
If older people don't pay for children's education where are the doctors going to come from? Police and fire? Government? Inventors of devices and medicines to prolong life? Sports figures to entertain?
If younger people don't pay for older peoples' retirement and health, might the older people stay working longer, leaving fewer jobs for younger people?
And the list goes on. Older people paid for the infra-structure that younger people use today. Would we have highways, communication systems, buildings, and much else that was paid for in full by people now dead?
I did something truly unique but "ignored"
As I inserted "ALEC" as a label for "Poster: A warning from the 'Invisible Hand'" Google's Blogger offered the suggestion "ALEC's Bag-Time Band". Oh! That's clever. Oh! I had used it in another blog entry. I did a search for it and received two hits and only two hits! It was for "Republicans are not republicans" that I wrote in May 2012.
The good news is that my phrase was a first and unique. The bad news is that nobody passed it on. No wonder the reverse spammers from Russia and elsewhere make so many hits on my blog:(
The good news is that my phrase was a first and unique. The bad news is that nobody passed it on. No wonder the reverse spammers from Russia and elsewhere make so many hits on my blog:(
Poster: A warning from the "Invisible Hand"
Here is a poster for you to send to any writer or politician who has taken a position for or against corporate influence in public affairs. Drag the poster to your favorite document or mail program and print or send as many copies as you would like. All I ask is that you include the link at the bottom.
A super-efficient corporation
The St. Louis Dispatch published an editorial "ALEC's backers run and hide from Durbin inquiry" on August 14. It was republished in the Star Tribune on August 18.
I sent a thank-you email to Tony Messenger, the editorial page editor of the St. Louis Dispatch, with my usual quote, and he sent a thank-you email one minute later!
It is also good to see that not all members of a group march in lockstep with what some members of that group demand.
I sent a thank-you email to Tony Messenger, the editorial page editor of the St. Louis Dispatch, with my usual quote, and he sent a thank-you email one minute later!
It is also good to see that not all members of a group march in lockstep with what some members of that group demand.
And an over-promising corporation
A pop-up ad for MacKeeper states "Instant Mac cleanup". Does this mean as soon as I click the "Start" or whatever button in MacKeeper that MacKeeper will have cleaned up my Mac? I strongly doubt it. Ten minutes, two hours, longer? I don't know. It really depends on how much data is on a Mac. Backing up via Time Machine or running Norton Anti-Virus can take up to two hours on my Mac. I doubt that MacKeeper will be any faster.
Monday, August 19, 2013
A salmon attacked me!
After seeing the DVD "Forks Over Knives" and related DVDs and reading the books, we have gone to a mostly plant-based diet, losing a bit of weight and having a bit more energy.
About the time we started this diet, a friend sent us some salmon from Alaska. We have often eaten salmon in the past, often as much as once a week. It is a standing joke between us, if there are any bones in the fish, I find them and my wife finds none.
This last serving was the revenge of the salmon! Every bite I took had at least one bone in it if not three! Halfway through my portion I gave up. I was chewing and chewing and picking and picking; it was too frustrating to enjoy the taste.
It won't help that salmon, but a few of its buddies will escape my jaw in the future.
About the time we started this diet, a friend sent us some salmon from Alaska. We have often eaten salmon in the past, often as much as once a week. It is a standing joke between us, if there are any bones in the fish, I find them and my wife finds none.
This last serving was the revenge of the salmon! Every bite I took had at least one bone in it if not three! Halfway through my portion I gave up. I was chewing and chewing and picking and picking; it was too frustrating to enjoy the taste.
It won't help that salmon, but a few of its buddies will escape my jaw in the future.
Sunday, August 18, 2013
Jefferson, Smith, and Large Corporations
Although Thomas Jefferson's Declaration of Independence was written as a complaint against the King of England it really was a complaint about royal and parliamentary support of abusive crown-chartered private corporations.
Similarly, in the same year Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations warned of the corporate control of government and corporate abusiveness towards the British public.
Now we have Paul Krugman warning of the control of government by Delaware-chartered corporations and their abusiveness towards the American public.
And many of these corporations wrap themselves in the flag and Adam Smith!!!
To paraphrase "Where have all the flowers gone?" when will we ever learn?
Similarly, in the same year Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations warned of the corporate control of government and corporate abusiveness towards the British public.
Now we have Paul Krugman warning of the control of government by Delaware-chartered corporations and their abusiveness towards the American public.
And many of these corporations wrap themselves in the flag and Adam Smith!!!
To paraphrase "Where have all the flowers gone?" when will we ever learn?
Thursday, August 15, 2013
Like you haiku?
Haiku an art form
I cannot think how to do.
Once I start oh wow.
Haiku you can do.
Just forget correct grammar.
And write what you think.
In the dark of night
I wrote haiku left and right.
Gone with morning mist.
Impatient patient
Waiting, waiting, and waiting.
Doc will see you now!
I had these haiku (5 syllables, 7 syllables, 5 syllables) in my notes for a few months. It seems it was only that day that haiku just kept popping out of my head. I really haven't thought of any since.
It could be a good thing to do when you can't think of anything else to do.
It is a good thing
To think difficult deep thoughts,
Results could come quickly.
Count so carefully,
Two of the haiku I wrote
Had more syllables.
Now it is bedtime,
But my brain is now working
Overtime darn it!
I cannot think how to do.
Once I start oh wow.
Haiku you can do.
Just forget correct grammar.
And write what you think.
In the dark of night
I wrote haiku left and right.
Gone with morning mist.
Impatient patient
Waiting, waiting, and waiting.
Doc will see you now!
I had these haiku (5 syllables, 7 syllables, 5 syllables) in my notes for a few months. It seems it was only that day that haiku just kept popping out of my head. I really haven't thought of any since.
It could be a good thing to do when you can't think of anything else to do.
It is a good thing
To think difficult deep thoughts,
Results could come quickly.
Count so carefully,
Two of the haiku I wrote
Had more syllables.
Now it is bedtime,
But my brain is now working
Overtime darn it!
Let's get the criminals that really matter
Law enforcement seems to be making the wrong assumptions about who criminals are. See
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-august-13-2013/frisky-business---jessica-williams
and
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/05/14/Sen-Warren-Asks-AG-Holder-Why-No-Wall-Street-Prosecutions
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-august-13-2013/frisky-business---jessica-williams
and
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/05/14/Sen-Warren-Asks-AG-Holder-Why-No-Wall-Street-Prosecutions
Monday, August 12, 2013
Unlimited has its limits
I was considering switching from CenturyLink for phone and internet to Enventis, but the cost would be about the same or maybe even slightly higher; Enventis might not even be available in Duluth.
I couldn't help but smile at
At least I didn't see "The possibilities are limitless!" See "The endless use of 'infinite'" and "Great speech but erroneous mathematics".
I couldn't help but smile at
Unlimited Long DistanceThe asterix points to a paragraph that states "Usage over 5,000 minutes [per month] will be billed at 5¢ per minute" or that Enventis can cancel the service.
• $15.00/mo*
At least I didn't see "The possibilities are limitless!" See "The endless use of 'infinite'" and "Great speech but erroneous mathematics".
Sunday, August 11, 2013
Overperforming corporation, underperforming customer
Long, long ago we were given a screen house and a platform by some friends. See "Legacy Tools". We have ordered parts now and then as needed. But over time, the roof developed pinholes, roof struts had tips break, and the floor rotted. We took the floor boards off and chewed them up in the chipper. This was the year to fix the floor. Yeah! That year went by, and another, and another.
Finally, we hired a handyman to put on another floor and replace some stringers. He gave us an estimate for that. And then we talked and talked with the handyman. The end result was that he completely rebuilt the platform, much better than I would have. We were momentarily shocked when he sent an invoice for twice the original estimate. We quickly realized that we would be paying for what we asked for.
Finally I went to the distributor for the screen tent, Kay Home Products, and ordered the needed parts: a new roof and one strut. The distributors web site gave the usual estimate about shipping time: 7-14 days. Imagine our delight when the parts arrived three days later.
On Friday my wife put a second coat of water seal on the platform, and on Saturday we were ready to reassemble the screen house. That is a story in itself.
When I was ready to insert the new strut, I noticed that it had no tip to hold on to the wire running around the top of the screen house. I carefully looked in all the wrappings and other packing material. No tip!
I used my wife's cell phone to check the parts page in the distributors web site. I was able to enlarge the page to see the items and their numbers. Sure enough, 3 points to "Roof tube only" in the description and 5 points to "Tube tips".
Dear customer, if all else fails, read instructions!
Also think where you put notes: the parts diagram was on my computer in a much larger format that was far easier to read. Since I can't get internet at our cabin, I didn't even think of my computer where I had saved a PDF of the page!!!
I'll place the order for a set of tube tips and assume that they will arrive as speedily as the rest of the order did.
Meanwhile, the missing tube tip is almost a moot point. I did find a forked branch that, cut to size, will go in a roof tube and fit over the wire, at least for awhile. However, the roof still needs lots of stretching to fit over each of the tube tips. Maybe next weekend will be warmer and the roof will be softer.
Speaking of next weekend, it's time for the 31st Annual Brimson Sisu, a "4.4 mile" walk-run. Even if you don't care to run or walk it, come out for lots of good food and get some cool T-shirts and caps. I have a hunch that this is the year of the sky. You can also buy T-shirts and caps for some past years.
If for no other reason, come to buy some of my wife's killer brownies. They may be plant-based this year if she can find a good recipe or alter one in which the brownies were too gooey. If not, she may make them just as she has in the past.
Finally, we hired a handyman to put on another floor and replace some stringers. He gave us an estimate for that. And then we talked and talked with the handyman. The end result was that he completely rebuilt the platform, much better than I would have. We were momentarily shocked when he sent an invoice for twice the original estimate. We quickly realized that we would be paying for what we asked for.
Finally I went to the distributor for the screen tent, Kay Home Products, and ordered the needed parts: a new roof and one strut. The distributors web site gave the usual estimate about shipping time: 7-14 days. Imagine our delight when the parts arrived three days later.
On Friday my wife put a second coat of water seal on the platform, and on Saturday we were ready to reassemble the screen house. That is a story in itself.
When I was ready to insert the new strut, I noticed that it had no tip to hold on to the wire running around the top of the screen house. I carefully looked in all the wrappings and other packing material. No tip!
I used my wife's cell phone to check the parts page in the distributors web site. I was able to enlarge the page to see the items and their numbers. Sure enough, 3 points to "Roof tube only" in the description and 5 points to "Tube tips".
Dear customer, if all else fails, read instructions!
Also think where you put notes: the parts diagram was on my computer in a much larger format that was far easier to read. Since I can't get internet at our cabin, I didn't even think of my computer where I had saved a PDF of the page!!!
I'll place the order for a set of tube tips and assume that they will arrive as speedily as the rest of the order did.
Meanwhile, the missing tube tip is almost a moot point. I did find a forked branch that, cut to size, will go in a roof tube and fit over the wire, at least for awhile. However, the roof still needs lots of stretching to fit over each of the tube tips. Maybe next weekend will be warmer and the roof will be softer.
Speaking of next weekend, it's time for the 31st Annual Brimson Sisu, a "4.4 mile" walk-run. Even if you don't care to run or walk it, come out for lots of good food and get some cool T-shirts and caps. I have a hunch that this is the year of the sky. You can also buy T-shirts and caps for some past years.
If for no other reason, come to buy some of my wife's killer brownies. They may be plant-based this year if she can find a good recipe or alter one in which the brownies were too gooey. If not, she may make them just as she has in the past.
Friday, August 09, 2013
Quote of the day.- Compromise
"Compromise, if you must, on the policy--but never on the truth."
Paul Krugman, End This Depression Now!
Paul Krugman, End This Depression Now!
Thursday, August 08, 2013
Deceiving the public – new data
"[Those who live by profit] have, upon many occasions, both deceived and oppressed [the public]", Adam Smith, Wealth of Nations, 1776.
"The Worst Lies Tech Companies Tell You", Adrian Covert, CNNMoney, 2013-08-07 lists some of these deceptions including internet speeds, battery life, and storage space. The comments are all over the map pro, con, right on, and snide (both towards the author and towards corporations).
See also "The Invisible Adam Smith".
"The Worst Lies Tech Companies Tell You", Adrian Covert, CNNMoney, 2013-08-07 lists some of these deceptions including internet speeds, battery life, and storage space. The comments are all over the map pro, con, right on, and snide (both towards the author and towards corporations).
See also "The Invisible Adam Smith".
Monday, August 05, 2013
The fraudulent campaign against "voter fraud"
"The list of acceptable forms [of voter ID} includes a concealed-handgun license but not a state university student ID. The omission suggests it is not voter fraud but voters unfriendly to the GOP that Abbott and other Texas Republicans are trying to thwart."
"The Republican Push to Make It Harder to Vote", Linda Killian, The Atlantic, 2013-08-02
The same article has a statement from the Libertarian Party:
“Republicans claim to be the party of limited government. Now we see what that term really means: when Republicans say limited government, they apparently mean government limited to them and their supporters.”
What too few people realize is that too many who had only themselves to blame for not voting let Republicans win time after time.
As of 2013-08-04, registration in North Carolina was 2,765,857 Democratic and 1,987,750 Republican. But here is something strange, the vote in 2010 for governor was 1,931,580 for Walter H. Dalton (DEM) and 2,440,707 for Pat McCrory (REP). Does this mean over 500,000 Democrats voted for McCrory? Does it mean that over 800,000 Democrats didn't even show up and Republicans picked up over 400,000 votes from non-affiliated voters? Turnout in 2012 was 68%. 68% of 2,765,857 is 1,880,783. Given that Romney got 50.39% of the vote in 2012, I lean to the notion that lots and lots of Democrats were disappointed in Obama and just didn't show up. How to lose elections in one easy lesson!
Another point, maybe too many Democrats voted for President but left much of the rest of the ballot blank - 2,178,391 Obama and 2,270,395 Romney. Reading these tea leaves is really getting confusing. Obama received more votes than Dalton, but McCrory received more votes than Romney. About the only firm conclusion I can come to it is that at least 21% of the registered Democrats did not vote for Obama and at least 30% of the registered Democrats did not vote for Dalton.
"The Republican Push to Make It Harder to Vote", Linda Killian, The Atlantic, 2013-08-02
The same article has a statement from the Libertarian Party:
“Republicans claim to be the party of limited government. Now we see what that term really means: when Republicans say limited government, they apparently mean government limited to them and their supporters.”
What too few people realize is that too many who had only themselves to blame for not voting let Republicans win time after time.
As of 2013-08-04, registration in North Carolina was 2,765,857 Democratic and 1,987,750 Republican. But here is something strange, the vote in 2010 for governor was 1,931,580 for Walter H. Dalton (DEM) and 2,440,707 for Pat McCrory (REP). Does this mean over 500,000 Democrats voted for McCrory? Does it mean that over 800,000 Democrats didn't even show up and Republicans picked up over 400,000 votes from non-affiliated voters? Turnout in 2012 was 68%. 68% of 2,765,857 is 1,880,783. Given that Romney got 50.39% of the vote in 2012, I lean to the notion that lots and lots of Democrats were disappointed in Obama and just didn't show up. How to lose elections in one easy lesson!
Another point, maybe too many Democrats voted for President but left much of the rest of the ballot blank - 2,178,391 Obama and 2,270,395 Romney. Reading these tea leaves is really getting confusing. Obama received more votes than Dalton, but McCrory received more votes than Romney. About the only firm conclusion I can come to it is that at least 21% of the registered Democrats did not vote for Obama and at least 30% of the registered Democrats did not vote for Dalton.
Thursday, August 01, 2013
Serendipity leads to weight loss
We put a number of Meryl Streep DVDs on our Netflix queue and have enjoyed most of them. One of these was "First Do No Harm" about the frustrations of a mother with an epileptic child. After so many chemicals were injected into him with adverse effects and no sign of benefit, through much research she found that the ketogenic diet was promoted at Johns Hopkins. According to the film, a composite of severals true stories, the diet completely eliminated his seizures. For more details see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...First_Do_No_Harm.
I think, but am not sure, when we selected "First Do No Harm", Netflix recommended "Forks over Knives", a documentary on a plant-based diet, and I added it to my queue. We saw it a few weeks ago, borrowed the book from the library as well as a companion book, "The Engine 2 Diet". You can find out more at http://www.forksoverknives.com. What I liked best in the DVD was the animation of plaque dissolving off the arteries. Since I'm seeing a cardiologist once a year because I have an aortic restriction, I'd love to have the plaque dissolve and for my cholesterol to drop.
Based on the documentary and what we read in the two books, we decided to give the plant-based diet a try. We've cut out dairy and eggs and have all but eliminated meat. We still have some salmon in the freezer.
I've lost a three or so pounds and the "pinch" has gone from an inch to 3/4 inch. I also may have to buy a new belt; I'm on the last hole and have a long tail of belt sticking out.
The rash on my arms that I have attributed to balsam fir at our cabin has almost completely gone. That probably was mostly because I stopped wearing an old work shirt that was 50% polyester. I'll take either explanation.
The Forks Over Knives website has an irony for me. The T-shirt they offer is 90% polyester!!
Most of the recipes, which call for a large variety of fruits and vegetables have been tasty and filling. But we had two disappointments today. Black-bean based brownies were mushy instead of firm and a polenta pizza was mushy instead of crisp. My wife, an artist in the kitchen, will experiment for improvements, but she may switch to other recipes in the other book.
As I talk about "Forks Over Knives" with others, I'm hearing anecdotes that others have been pleased with the results. The most dramatic was a report of a man who lost 80 pounds!
I think, but am not sure, when we selected "First Do No Harm", Netflix recommended "Forks over Knives", a documentary on a plant-based diet, and I added it to my queue. We saw it a few weeks ago, borrowed the book from the library as well as a companion book, "The Engine 2 Diet". You can find out more at http://www.forksoverknives.com. What I liked best in the DVD was the animation of plaque dissolving off the arteries. Since I'm seeing a cardiologist once a year because I have an aortic restriction, I'd love to have the plaque dissolve and for my cholesterol to drop.
Based on the documentary and what we read in the two books, we decided to give the plant-based diet a try. We've cut out dairy and eggs and have all but eliminated meat. We still have some salmon in the freezer.
I've lost a three or so pounds and the "pinch" has gone from an inch to 3/4 inch. I also may have to buy a new belt; I'm on the last hole and have a long tail of belt sticking out.
The rash on my arms that I have attributed to balsam fir at our cabin has almost completely gone. That probably was mostly because I stopped wearing an old work shirt that was 50% polyester. I'll take either explanation.
The Forks Over Knives website has an irony for me. The T-shirt they offer is 90% polyester!!
Most of the recipes, which call for a large variety of fruits and vegetables have been tasty and filling. But we had two disappointments today. Black-bean based brownies were mushy instead of firm and a polenta pizza was mushy instead of crisp. My wife, an artist in the kitchen, will experiment for improvements, but she may switch to other recipes in the other book.
As I talk about "Forks Over Knives" with others, I'm hearing anecdotes that others have been pleased with the results. The most dramatic was a report of a man who lost 80 pounds!
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
I have a negative climate change rating?
I don't fully understand the rating, but my blog "The hoax is that there is no climate change" was given a -0.72 rating by The Carbon Capture Report,
Does this mean that the raters or the rating programs don't understand irony? Many think that climate change is a hoax. So, isn't a way to spoof the idea that there is no climate change is to call the idea of no climate change a hoax?
There I went again! Using convoluted thinking to show an idea is not valid and few understand my meaning. Sigh!
Does this mean that the raters or the rating programs don't understand irony? Many think that climate change is a hoax. So, isn't a way to spoof the idea that there is no climate change is to call the idea of no climate change a hoax?
There I went again! Using convoluted thinking to show an idea is not valid and few understand my meaning. Sigh!
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
There is little original thought on the Internet
This blog is a good example of much of what is available on the Internet is derivative of somebody else's ideas.
My previous entry was "Fox News sells book on Jesus by a Muslim".
I got to that by an entry by the Coffee Party on Facebook. It led me to an entry by Egberto Willies on his web site. That led me to an interview on Fox News with an author of a book on Jesus. The author answering questions about his book could still be considered derivative. That led me to look up more info about his book. Finding the Huffington Post excerpt finally got me to the author's original thoughts. Regardless of what you think about Reza Aslan's thoughts about Jesus, you must say that they are closer to unique thinking about a subject than all the other steps that got me to that excerpt.
My previous entry was "Fox News sells book on Jesus by a Muslim".
I got to that by an entry by the Coffee Party on Facebook. It led me to an entry by Egberto Willies on his web site. That led me to an interview on Fox News with an author of a book on Jesus. The author answering questions about his book could still be considered derivative. That led me to look up more info about his book. Finding the Huffington Post excerpt finally got me to the author's original thoughts. Regardless of what you think about Reza Aslan's thoughts about Jesus, you must say that they are closer to unique thinking about a subject than all the other steps that got me to that excerpt.
Fox News sells book on Jesus by a Muslim
Well, it didn't intend to sell "Zealot: The Life And Times Of Jesus Of Nazareth" by Reza Aslan, but the inept interview of him by Lauren Green led lot of people to be interested in the book. I could not finish watching the interview; it was unduly combative on Green's part. Apparently this interview has gone viral and you can find it many places. The commenters to the Egbertowillies page were mostly in favor the author.
A better contrary commentary on the book is "A (Somewhat) Muslim Perspective: Why Is Reza Aslan's Jesus So Small?" by Rob Asghar, Huffington Post, 2013-07-29.
You can judge for yourself by reading an excerpt from "Zealot" at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/17/zealot-reza-aslan-_n_3605667.html.
A better contrary commentary on the book is "A (Somewhat) Muslim Perspective: Why Is Reza Aslan's Jesus So Small?" by Rob Asghar, Huffington Post, 2013-07-29.
You can judge for yourself by reading an excerpt from "Zealot" at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/17/zealot-reza-aslan-_n_3605667.html.
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