Feb 18, 2010
Feb 17, 2010
We Are So Fucked
News outa California has Well Point ready to raise their rates by as much as 39%. They say the cost of healthcare is jumping up big - it takes a lot to keep somebody in a hospital bed; younger people choose to spend their paychecks on something other than health insurance; people who get laid off can't afford insurance; so the pool of insured people shrinks, and on average, gets older and sicker and cost the insurer more (duh).
So what do we need to do? Let's raise taxes on the middle class. That's what's happening, guys. Say it any way you wanna say it, but the system of mostly private; under-regulated mini-monopolies behaves like any unelected bureaucracy behaves when it's not really accountable to anybody. The Executive Committee takes a look at the marketing numbers, and they decide you've got a few extra bucks that you're currently spending on movies or weekend hobbies or whatever; and they decide you'll prob'ly sit still for an increase in your premiums of about x%. They're taxing you, plain and simple, and you've got nothin' to say about it.
And let's not kid ourselves about how the virtues of the free market will balance things out for us because if one company goes overboard, another will rise to challenge it. Bullshit. Markets in this country are anything but free. They've long since been captured by a few very giant conglomerates. And since SCOTUS decided companies are the same as people, the path is clear for them now to finish the job of taking us back to the good old days of aristocracy and noble entitlement - everything and everywhere is owned by some private entity, with a ruling class making all the laws and all the decisions; and handing down the power and the wealth to their semi-literate offspring.
Welcome back to the 18th century.
So what do we need to do? Let's raise taxes on the middle class. That's what's happening, guys. Say it any way you wanna say it, but the system of mostly private; under-regulated mini-monopolies behaves like any unelected bureaucracy behaves when it's not really accountable to anybody. The Executive Committee takes a look at the marketing numbers, and they decide you've got a few extra bucks that you're currently spending on movies or weekend hobbies or whatever; and they decide you'll prob'ly sit still for an increase in your premiums of about x%. They're taxing you, plain and simple, and you've got nothin' to say about it.
And let's not kid ourselves about how the virtues of the free market will balance things out for us because if one company goes overboard, another will rise to challenge it. Bullshit. Markets in this country are anything but free. They've long since been captured by a few very giant conglomerates. And since SCOTUS decided companies are the same as people, the path is clear for them now to finish the job of taking us back to the good old days of aristocracy and noble entitlement - everything and everywhere is owned by some private entity, with a ruling class making all the laws and all the decisions; and handing down the power and the wealth to their semi-literate offspring.
Welcome back to the 18th century.
Feb 13, 2010
Celebrating Religious Differences
Taoism: Shit happens
Hinduism: This shit happened before.
Islam: If shit happens, take a hostage.
Buddhism: When shit happens, is it really shit?
7th Day Adventist: Shit happens on Saturday.
Protestantism: Shit won't happen if I just work harder.
Catholicism: If shit happens, I deserve it.
Jehovah's Witness: Knock, knock, "Shit happens".
Judaism: Why does this shit happen to me?
Hare Krishna: Shit happens, Rama Rama Ding Dong - here, have a flower.
Atheism: No shit.
Televangelism: Send more shit.
Rastafarian: We should smoke this shit.
Hinduism: This shit happened before.
Islam: If shit happens, take a hostage.
Buddhism: When shit happens, is it really shit?
7th Day Adventist: Shit happens on Saturday.
Protestantism: Shit won't happen if I just work harder.
Catholicism: If shit happens, I deserve it.
Jehovah's Witness: Knock, knock, "Shit happens".
Judaism: Why does this shit happen to me?
Hare Krishna: Shit happens, Rama Rama Ding Dong - here, have a flower.
Atheism: No shit.
Televangelism: Send more shit.
Rastafarian: We should smoke this shit.
Dodge Charger Commercial & Response
If the Opposition Party in Congress could make their SOTU responses like this, we might have a chance to get somewhere.
First the ad that ran during Super Bowl, then the response:
First the ad that ran during Super Bowl, then the response:
Feb 12, 2010
A Quickie
Off the top of my head. Looking at some polling numbers that have Repub Voters ranking their "Leaders" for 2012 (Romney-14%, Palin-11%, McCain-7%, Brown-4%), and wondering if it means anything. Here's what I came up with:
The first thing that popped into my brain was, how the hell did Scott Brown get in there!?! But then, I remembered the narrative built up around their successes in special elections - Governors in VA & NJ, and then the race for Teddy's Senate seat. The repubs were all running around trying to convince us that they were "sweeping towards a Republican resurgence of epic proportion!". Remember that? Now, kinda outa the blue, we get Repub Voters tagging Scott Brown as a major force? I'm thinking the whole 'resurgence' is hollow. There's a feeling of wishful thinking about it - like they really don't have anything but the rhetoric to hold onto - hoping against hope that somebody will ride in and rescue them from the evil clutches of the Democrats.
The danger - if I'm right - is that the Dems will actually wake up, find their balls, and start acting like a ruling party instead of the public servants they're supposed to be. But then, that's usually how it works, so I shouldn't be too surprised.
The first thing that popped into my brain was, how the hell did Scott Brown get in there!?! But then, I remembered the narrative built up around their successes in special elections - Governors in VA & NJ, and then the race for Teddy's Senate seat. The repubs were all running around trying to convince us that they were "sweeping towards a Republican resurgence of epic proportion!". Remember that? Now, kinda outa the blue, we get Repub Voters tagging Scott Brown as a major force? I'm thinking the whole 'resurgence' is hollow. There's a feeling of wishful thinking about it - like they really don't have anything but the rhetoric to hold onto - hoping against hope that somebody will ride in and rescue them from the evil clutches of the Democrats.
The danger - if I'm right - is that the Dems will actually wake up, find their balls, and start acting like a ruling party instead of the public servants they're supposed to be. But then, that's usually how it works, so I shouldn't be too surprised.
The Big Storm III
Some of my posts about this last round of snow storms have been out of order. Here's one that's no exception to that.
The big storm started fairly early Thursday Feb 4, and continued thru about midnite Friday Feb 5. On Saturday the 6th, a plow had managed to make one pass on our road, so we dug out the Durango, thinking we'd do a little sightseeing and bop into town for something to eat.
Fifty yards from our driveway:
Using a couple of bow saws, we hacked thru this one and two others blocking the road.
We did make it into town, but the only places open were a 7-11 and a McDonalds. More than happy to score a couple of cheese burgers at the time.
The big storm started fairly early Thursday Feb 4, and continued thru about midnite Friday Feb 5. On Saturday the 6th, a plow had managed to make one pass on our road, so we dug out the Durango, thinking we'd do a little sightseeing and bop into town for something to eat.
Fifty yards from our driveway:
Using a couple of bow saws, we hacked thru this one and two others blocking the road.
We did make it into town, but the only places open were a 7-11 and a McDonalds. More than happy to score a couple of cheese burgers at the time.
Feb 11, 2010
What Are Your 10 Commandments?
Mike’s 10 Commandments
1) Think and speak of God in your own way and allow others to do the same.
2) Be true to the ideal, not the symbol.
3) Never ask a favor of anyone who will hold you indebted to him for it.
4) Spend part of every day thinking about nothing in particular.
5) Honor those who love you unconditionally; and try to make yourself worthy of it.
6) Never kill indiscriminately; and always with respect.
7) Breaking your promise hurts you more than the one you made the promise to.
8) Know the difference between want and need; and always earn what you get.
9) Lying creates a false representation of reality that can’t be sustained.
10) Make your own decisions about who you are and how you live.
1) Think and speak of God in your own way and allow others to do the same.
2) Be true to the ideal, not the symbol.
3) Never ask a favor of anyone who will hold you indebted to him for it.
4) Spend part of every day thinking about nothing in particular.
5) Honor those who love you unconditionally; and try to make yourself worthy of it.
6) Never kill indiscriminately; and always with respect.
7) Breaking your promise hurts you more than the one you made the promise to.
8) Know the difference between want and need; and always earn what you get.
9) Lying creates a false representation of reality that can’t be sustained.
10) Make your own decisions about who you are and how you live.
Econometrics
It's hard for me to figure out which numbers (or groups of numbers) I should be watching for indications of what's really happening in the economy. I'd like to come up with some kind of Metrics Basket to look at. Any suggestions?
Here're a few from Calculated Risk today:
1) Unemployment Claims ticked down a tiny bit.
2) Home Foreclosures were down some in January, but still 15% above Jan09.
3) A brand new one out of UCLA's Anderson Sch of Mgmt (tracking diesel fuel consumption) shows a scary dip in their numbers.
I dunno.
Here're a few from Calculated Risk today:
1) Unemployment Claims ticked down a tiny bit.
2) Home Foreclosures were down some in January, but still 15% above Jan09.
3) A brand new one out of UCLA's Anderson Sch of Mgmt (tracking diesel fuel consumption) shows a scary dip in their numbers.
I dunno.
The Big Storm III
No school again today. Albemarle Cnty Schools have been closed for 9 out of the last 10 days. The tentative plan is that the year has been extended to June 17; and there's a possibility that seniors will have to be in class for a few days after they actually graduate June 5.
It seems a little silly until you figure the school system can't afford not to collect the bucks they get for having as many kids in class as possible for the full 180-day calendar.
It seems a little silly until you figure the school system can't afford not to collect the bucks they get for having as many kids in class as possible for the full 180-day calendar.
When In Doubt...
...just make some shit up.
Military Tribunals (and access to them in some circumstances) have existed in the US for a couple of centuries. And what makes Crowley think BushCo would've hesitated to send Reid to Gitmo if they tho't it would help them get a conviction?
Or you can smear by innuendo "is Abdulmuhtallab cooperating because he got a plea bargain?"
These people have no soul and no honor.
Military Tribunals (and access to them in some circumstances) have existed in the US for a couple of centuries. And what makes Crowley think BushCo would've hesitated to send Reid to Gitmo if they tho't it would help them get a conviction?
Or you can smear by innuendo "is Abdulmuhtallab cooperating because he got a plea bargain?"
These people have no soul and no honor.
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