Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Silly Question
If you are made Vampire, what happens to your life insurance? Is is now payable because you are dead? or is it still in effect because you are walking and talking?
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Punishment/Reward
We have a very odd set of laws. Generally if you do thing "x" you will get a penalty. I have a friend who actually did jail time for dumpster diving.
I was thinking about this with all the downpours we are having today, and how few people actually turn on their headlights with their windshield wipers. For those of you in the know, it is actually required in many states including Connecticut. And I have to admit, it is actually annoying when a little grey car suddenly appears from behind a wall of water.
Now I do not know how many people have been ticketed for this, but it is certainly damn few.
And comes the question: what should be the fine for hurling a deadly weapon at oncoming traffic? I actually think that a $10 ticket would actually be sufficient. It is annoying enough to have to plead "nolo contendre" and send a certified check to the Superior Court for the first offense. If you can't remember to turn on your wipers after that, then you are ... an idiot and you deserve a harsh punishment.
Traffic inspections could set up for lights and also catch the no lights guys, the no seat-belt guys, the texters, the DWI's, the no insurance guys, and the unsafe/prohibited right on red guys. ( please note, I am using "guys" as a non-gender specific word).
I don't believe this is a quota system. Traffic stops are usually announced in the paper. So the only people that are actually caught are the people who have so little consideration of their community that they can't be bothered to keep up with the local news.
But heaven forbid a Police Union employee be assigned to stand a post in the rain.
And Hartford, please take note: If you are going to pass a law that says something that is just common sense include enforcement rules or else stop wasting my freaking tax dollars talking about stuff over which you choose to take no control.
****
The reason I bring this up, is that there is going to be big election noise about subsidizing alternative energy projects. Isn't it awful that the Government invested taxpayer dollars subsidizing renewal energy sources. It is also my understanding that Big Oil also gets federal funds. Or at least tax breaks in the for of "depleted reserves". Thank you Big Oil for figuring out a way to get the government to help you pay for using up and burning a legacy from the rain forests of the dinosaurs that took millions of years to crush under tectonic pressure. It has been just a little over 100 years since Spindletop gushed crude oil, and it took 30 years to burn all that oil. Even if you are a Creationist,that means that all the oil that God gave us 6,000 years ago is getting burned up in 120 years.
So, how do we organize this in a more sensible way? Our Federal budget is decimated, and cannot afford another Solyndra. Or even a bank bailout.
How about this: we slowly take away the depletion credits, we add a little to the gasoline taxes and add this cash to the general fund. I believe we are approaching peak oil as the world population approaches 7 billion.
Then, let alternative fuel become part of the capitalist system! Let it compete head to head with Big Oil. Reward the good behavior and take away the credits for bad behavior. More cash flow to pay off our debt, and new business to hire people with. Gee gosh golly, you don't suppose Government would work better with positive cash flow? Or at least breakeven?
Where is the downside?
I was thinking about this with all the downpours we are having today, and how few people actually turn on their headlights with their windshield wipers. For those of you in the know, it is actually required in many states including Connecticut. And I have to admit, it is actually annoying when a little grey car suddenly appears from behind a wall of water.
Now I do not know how many people have been ticketed for this, but it is certainly damn few.
And comes the question: what should be the fine for hurling a deadly weapon at oncoming traffic? I actually think that a $10 ticket would actually be sufficient. It is annoying enough to have to plead "nolo contendre" and send a certified check to the Superior Court for the first offense. If you can't remember to turn on your wipers after that, then you are ... an idiot and you deserve a harsh punishment.
Traffic inspections could set up for lights and also catch the no lights guys, the no seat-belt guys, the texters, the DWI's, the no insurance guys, and the unsafe/prohibited right on red guys. ( please note, I am using "guys" as a non-gender specific word).
I don't believe this is a quota system. Traffic stops are usually announced in the paper. So the only people that are actually caught are the people who have so little consideration of their community that they can't be bothered to keep up with the local news.
But heaven forbid a Police Union employee be assigned to stand a post in the rain.
And Hartford, please take note: If you are going to pass a law that says something that is just common sense include enforcement rules or else stop wasting my freaking tax dollars talking about stuff over which you choose to take no control.
****
The reason I bring this up, is that there is going to be big election noise about subsidizing alternative energy projects. Isn't it awful that the Government invested taxpayer dollars subsidizing renewal energy sources. It is also my understanding that Big Oil also gets federal funds. Or at least tax breaks in the for of "depleted reserves". Thank you Big Oil for figuring out a way to get the government to help you pay for using up and burning a legacy from the rain forests of the dinosaurs that took millions of years to crush under tectonic pressure. It has been just a little over 100 years since Spindletop gushed crude oil, and it took 30 years to burn all that oil. Even if you are a Creationist,that means that all the oil that God gave us 6,000 years ago is getting burned up in 120 years.
So, how do we organize this in a more sensible way? Our Federal budget is decimated, and cannot afford another Solyndra. Or even a bank bailout.
How about this: we slowly take away the depletion credits, we add a little to the gasoline taxes and add this cash to the general fund. I believe we are approaching peak oil as the world population approaches 7 billion.
Then, let alternative fuel become part of the capitalist system! Let it compete head to head with Big Oil. Reward the good behavior and take away the credits for bad behavior. More cash flow to pay off our debt, and new business to hire people with. Gee gosh golly, you don't suppose Government would work better with positive cash flow? Or at least breakeven?
Where is the downside?
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Face Book
A quote from Morningstar:
"More than 500 million people use Facebook on a daily basis, spending more time there than any other website, according to most third-party reports."
In 88 days, world population will reach 7 BILLION individuals.
A little quick math tells me that that is a 7% world wide market penetration. And I am actually beginning to believe it. I just got a Facebook Friend request from someone I thought did not even remember me. 20+ years ago, we used to hire nannies for our children. One of the most capable and memorable was a lovely young woman from Åland. (If you don't know, look it up). Most of her timeline is in Swedish, but ... hooray for Face Book, they translate it.
Can it get bigger? Certainly. May there be spoilers? Possibly. But how really immensely hot must the spoiler be to get to 500 million users and growing.
I don't like Face Book, I hate the games. The timeline stuff is weird, and the latest iteration actually posts where you are if you allow it. My first take on it, it was a sort of unconscious voyeurism.
But I use Face Book. Go figure.
"More than 500 million people use Facebook on a daily basis, spending more time there than any other website, according to most third-party reports."
In 88 days, world population will reach 7 BILLION individuals.
A little quick math tells me that that is a 7% world wide market penetration. And I am actually beginning to believe it. I just got a Facebook Friend request from someone I thought did not even remember me. 20+ years ago, we used to hire nannies for our children. One of the most capable and memorable was a lovely young woman from Åland. (If you don't know, look it up). Most of her timeline is in Swedish, but ... hooray for Face Book, they translate it.
Can it get bigger? Certainly. May there be spoilers? Possibly. But how really immensely hot must the spoiler be to get to 500 million users and growing.
I don't like Face Book, I hate the games. The timeline stuff is weird, and the latest iteration actually posts where you are if you allow it. My first take on it, it was a sort of unconscious voyeurism.
But I use Face Book. Go figure.
Friday, August 3, 2012
Falcon Ridge Folk Festival.
I spent 6 days altogether at Dodd's Farm in Hillsdale, NY at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival. I arrive before the gates open to secure a good place in line when the gates open on Wednesday.
Rather than repeat myself, in sum it was the rainiest festival I have been to. And among the most fun.
I had the good fortune to be in great company at Pirate Camp, originated by the late Jack Hardy, and the tradition is dutifully carried forward by Stuart Kabak, a very creative and thoughtful guy in his own right. He and I set up the basic part of the camp and awaited the arrival of a myriad of talented people.
One of the more interesting additions to our camp was Michal Kornfeld, not much of a camper, but a great publicist.and promoter under the sobriquet Acoustic Music Scene. He was able to schedule late night shows in our little tent that drew large crowds and a lot of compliments from nearby campers. And the tent was always open for musicians stopping by and sharing something new. If this is your first look at this festival, there is a "quiet" camping area. And in any case, the music is acoustic only with the occasional battery-powered piano turned low so as not to cover over dulcet voices.
As for the rest of this magical festival, see the web site http://falconridgefolk.com/ and see what you missed!
Maybe I'll see you next year.
Rather than repeat myself, in sum it was the rainiest festival I have been to. And among the most fun.
I had the good fortune to be in great company at Pirate Camp, originated by the late Jack Hardy, and the tradition is dutifully carried forward by Stuart Kabak, a very creative and thoughtful guy in his own right. He and I set up the basic part of the camp and awaited the arrival of a myriad of talented people.
One of the more interesting additions to our camp was Michal Kornfeld, not much of a camper, but a great publicist.and promoter under the sobriquet Acoustic Music Scene. He was able to schedule late night shows in our little tent that drew large crowds and a lot of compliments from nearby campers. And the tent was always open for musicians stopping by and sharing something new. If this is your first look at this festival, there is a "quiet" camping area. And in any case, the music is acoustic only with the occasional battery-powered piano turned low so as not to cover over dulcet voices.
As for the rest of this magical festival, see the web site http://falconridgefolk.com/ and see what you missed!
Maybe I'll see you next year.
Friday, June 29, 2012
California
California has to be the most ridiculous of our states. is it because so many people have lots of money and too much free time? The 99% there are truly suffering. Town after town is going bankrupt essentially shutting down essential services. There are several sub-layers of government that mimic Federal departments and go a long way to making sure their sinecure jobs pay good benefits forever. As near as I can figure, none of these department people are elected. It seems they are appointed by ... guess who .. the elected ones. But if the elected one goes out of favor, the unemployable brother-in-law still has his job at the California EPA.
This gets me to my point. Effective July 1, the sale of Foie Gras is prohibited in California.
The commerce in any foodstuff should be legal. Yes some countries mistreat their farm animals to supply this delicacy, but they are just that ... farm animals. And Foie Gras does not require dramatic force feeding (the French call this gavage). In fact, some wild ducks have been shot that were lucky enough to get into rice fields or some other food rich area .. they develop the extra fat layers that make a a duck's liver make the magical change from normal to distended.
Back to California, what are they going to ban next? Big Macs?
This gets me to my point. Effective July 1, the sale of Foie Gras is prohibited in California.
The commerce in any foodstuff should be legal. Yes some countries mistreat their farm animals to supply this delicacy, but they are just that ... farm animals. And Foie Gras does not require dramatic force feeding (the French call this gavage). In fact, some wild ducks have been shot that were lucky enough to get into rice fields or some other food rich area .. they develop the extra fat layers that make a a duck's liver make the magical change from normal to distended.
Back to California, what are they going to ban next? Big Macs?
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Hello There
Long time, nothing to say. But I am inspired by our President. Mr Obama, believe it or not.
Let us look at one of the more vexing "political" issues that we have on our plate: Same Sex Marriage.
I cannot believe how powerful an issue this has become. A small percentage of our population is into having sex with members of their own sex. This is not new. Greek armies thousands of years ago paired up gay men to go to battle in the belief that they would have a better affinity for their battle partner. And it remains a small percentage of our population. It is not a "learned" thing. And it is not exclusively a human thing. see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_animals_displaying_homosexual_behavior.
So how did it become such a big issue?
I can think of several factors such as: I personally get the creepy crawlies thinking about kissing another man, so I am not surprised that many others get the same feelings. There are the bible thumpers who read the Bible as if it were the last word even though it is really a story told by a father to a son for several generations before it was written down in a dead language, then translated and re-translated to fit political agendas through the ages since ... well forever. So don't tell me that your American English translation is the last word. I won't believe it. And there are those Gay people who were brought up in families that were so repressive, that they are actually married to a member of the opposite sex because it is "expected" of them. Can you say green with jealousy? And there are outrageous fundamentalists who claim "Homosexuality is a moral disorder. It is a moral disease, a sin and corruption... No person is born homosexual, just like no one is born a thief, a liar or murderer. People acquire these evil habits due to a lack of proper guidance and education."* Which of course is just so much crap. In US law there are many forms of murder from the planned premeditated gruesome of taking someone's life to the automobile accident when you are found at fault for someone's death. Tell me, which of these behaviors are "learned" or even "habits"? When I worked retail the most stolen items were candy bars (kids trying to learn a bad habit and often failing) and baby formula (desperate new parents?) with cosmetics a close third (kids again). All of the kids we caught were terrified that we would call their parents. So who was "not guiding" them? As to liars, we are now back to politicians and their promises.
Now let us look at another issue. What is the job of a legislator in a free society? Isn't it to protect those minorities who cannot get a majority vote? I don't care what the popular view is or what the majority thinks. It is like salt-and-pepper couples. Legislators no longer even question the right of mixed race couples even though they are in the minority. And I am sure there is a large underground against it.
Gay people of all kinds have the same rights and freedoms as I do, and they should be free to exercise them. In fact, it shouldn't even be an issue. If a woman wants to marry another woman and become life partners, let them be.
* see http://www.missionislam.com/knowledge/homosexuality.htm
Let us look at one of the more vexing "political" issues that we have on our plate: Same Sex Marriage.
I cannot believe how powerful an issue this has become. A small percentage of our population is into having sex with members of their own sex. This is not new. Greek armies thousands of years ago paired up gay men to go to battle in the belief that they would have a better affinity for their battle partner. And it remains a small percentage of our population. It is not a "learned" thing. And it is not exclusively a human thing. see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_animals_displaying_homosexual_behavior.
So how did it become such a big issue?
I can think of several factors such as: I personally get the creepy crawlies thinking about kissing another man, so I am not surprised that many others get the same feelings. There are the bible thumpers who read the Bible as if it were the last word even though it is really a story told by a father to a son for several generations before it was written down in a dead language, then translated and re-translated to fit political agendas through the ages since ... well forever. So don't tell me that your American English translation is the last word. I won't believe it. And there are those Gay people who were brought up in families that were so repressive, that they are actually married to a member of the opposite sex because it is "expected" of them. Can you say green with jealousy? And there are outrageous fundamentalists who claim "Homosexuality is a moral disorder. It is a moral disease, a sin and corruption... No person is born homosexual, just like no one is born a thief, a liar or murderer. People acquire these evil habits due to a lack of proper guidance and education."* Which of course is just so much crap. In US law there are many forms of murder from the planned premeditated gruesome of taking someone's life to the automobile accident when you are found at fault for someone's death. Tell me, which of these behaviors are "learned" or even "habits"? When I worked retail the most stolen items were candy bars (kids trying to learn a bad habit and often failing) and baby formula (desperate new parents?) with cosmetics a close third (kids again). All of the kids we caught were terrified that we would call their parents. So who was "not guiding" them? As to liars, we are now back to politicians and their promises.
Now let us look at another issue. What is the job of a legislator in a free society? Isn't it to protect those minorities who cannot get a majority vote? I don't care what the popular view is or what the majority thinks. It is like salt-and-pepper couples. Legislators no longer even question the right of mixed race couples even though they are in the minority. And I am sure there is a large underground against it.
Gay people of all kinds have the same rights and freedoms as I do, and they should be free to exercise them. In fact, it shouldn't even be an issue. If a woman wants to marry another woman and become life partners, let them be.
* see http://www.missionislam.com/knowledge/homosexuality.htm
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
I promised. No more rants
I actually have something to say that I wouldn't mind being preserved for posterity, but I promised: no more rants.. So i will just say today is a beautiful day. I have been all over on the motor scooter, and I am looking forward to the first day of fishing.
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