" 10 pm - 2 am PT
Muslim Mafia
" Attorney Galen Cook joins Ian Punnett in the first hour to discuss the D.B. Cooper mystery on the anniversary of the case.
" Then, counter-terrorism specialist David Gaubats will share his insights into the Council of Islamic Relations and Muslim Brotherhood's plans to destroy American society from within. "
(Links are Coast to Coast AM's and are left intact.)
This is a must-listen to show. Seriously.
Visit this page: http://www.coasttocoastam.com/affiliates to see if your local station carries C2C. Also, many of the radio stations listed as affiliates will allow you to stream C2C.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Monday, November 16, 2009
FOUND IT!
Hah! Today is kind of like Christmas Day for me. Why?
Well, some time back, the game CD of my all-time favourite computer game broke ... inside the CD-ROM drive. I turned the computer on, heard a CRUNCH and then a WHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRrr... and thought the worst.
It turns out that the game CD that I'd been using to play the game (which, unfortunately had also been run over by my office chair (Yes, I know you're not supposed to put a damaged disc in the drive. But I love the game)) had broken.
BUT ... the author of the game had recently released the "Gold Version" of the game, which I had purchased.
While it's true I'll have to reinstall off the new CD, I won't lose my saved games. I also found (more on this in a moment) two of my favourite music CDs, and my DVD of Dune (the miniseries, not the movie.) Talk about wonderful news!!
"Found?" Yes, found.
As you're no doubt aware by now if you've been reading for any length of time, I moved not too terribly long ago following a messy and not-too-friendly divorce.
I won't get into details, since even now it's still painful. Suffice it to say that most of what I own is still in boxes. I was going through one of the boxes to find something else and ran into these things ... and I had thought they were in another different box.
So, tonight I'm going to reinstall the game and go back to "blowing shit up." I might also get back onto the game's network (oh, who am I fooling? You know I will) and try to blow them up too.
Note to any 3-letter government agency reading this: This is a computer game where you are trying to destroy your competition. Sometimes you do that by forcing them to resign or by blowing them up. Perhaps if you were as interested in not whitewashing the jihadi ties of Maj. Hasan ...
Well, some time back, the game CD of my all-time favourite computer game broke ... inside the CD-ROM drive. I turned the computer on, heard a CRUNCH and then a WHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRrr... and thought the worst.
It turns out that the game CD that I'd been using to play the game (which, unfortunately had also been run over by my office chair (Yes, I know you're not supposed to put a damaged disc in the drive. But I love the game)) had broken.
BUT ... the author of the game had recently released the "Gold Version" of the game, which I had purchased.
While it's true I'll have to reinstall off the new CD, I won't lose my saved games. I also found (more on this in a moment) two of my favourite music CDs, and my DVD of Dune (the miniseries, not the movie.) Talk about wonderful news!!
"Found?" Yes, found.
As you're no doubt aware by now if you've been reading for any length of time, I moved not too terribly long ago following a messy and not-too-friendly divorce.
I won't get into details, since even now it's still painful. Suffice it to say that most of what I own is still in boxes. I was going through one of the boxes to find something else and ran into these things ... and I had thought they were in another different box.
So, tonight I'm going to reinstall the game and go back to "blowing shit up." I might also get back onto the game's network (oh, who am I fooling? You know I will) and try to blow them up too.
Note to any 3-letter government agency reading this: This is a computer game where you are trying to destroy your competition. Sometimes you do that by forcing them to resign or by blowing them up. Perhaps if you were as interested in not whitewashing the jihadi ties of Maj. Hasan ...
"Safe" versus "Safer"
There probably aren't too many people out there who haven't heard "Be safe" or "Use safe computing practises." But what, exactly, is safe?
'Safe computing' seems to be all the rage these days. There are those that say that if you use a firewall, be careful what you download, be careful what you install, be careful where you surf, and have a good anti-virus, you'll be just fine.
Really?
It's true that you'll be safer. But if the bad guys really are determined to find their way into your system, odds are they'll find a way. It might not even be to do something horrible to you, as odds are they don't know you. Odds are they simply want your computer and your bandwidth. Why is that?
One word: Botnet. Lots of compromised machines all attacking the same spot at the same time. It might not even be that, it could be just to shoot out spam. But I digress.
Safe. The only true "safe" computer is a computer that is completely off the Internet, and that you don't transfer files from the internet onto. For example: Let's say that the "safe" computer only has Windows and a printer. You download a .DOC file from your email, transfer it to diskette (does anybody still use those?) or CD-RW and then open it on your 'safe' computer to print it out.
Unfortunately, even that's not safe as it is possible that the anti-virus on your Internet computer missed the digital nasty within the .DOC file. Possible? Certainly.
Or, you download a game from one of "those" sites, copy it onto a CD-RW and install it onto your "safe" computer. Unfortunately, it came from one of "those" sites and your anti-virus missed the keylogger embedded in it. Granted, a keylogger on a computer that's not connected to the Internet won't be able to phone home, but the fact is that your 'safe' computer just got compromised.
And while I'm very sorry to say this, the simple fact is that there is no such thing as an absolutely safe computer any longer. UNLESS that 'safe' computer sits in the corner unattached to the Internet and all you never transfer files to or from it. In that case, it is safe from Internet attacks. It's also nearly useless.
That's not to say that you can't protect yourself to make it harder for the bad guys to get you.
If you're using a Wi-Fi router (I pray you're not) make sure it's using WPA encryption. Also, get into its settings and change the default password and address range. (Contact the store where you bought it from or the manufacturer of the router for assistance if you need it. Or ask a friend who knows how to do this.) If using a wired router, update its firmware as needed, and don't forget to change the password and default address range.
DISABLE JAVASCRIPT. Let me say that again: DISABLE JAVASCRIPT. Trust me on this one.
And then disable JavaScript. (*) TIP: This is a bit technical, but it will tell you exactly why JavaScript is so horribly broken. Listen to the whole thing. And then disable JavaScript.
Next, while a good anti-virus is not a protection against everything, it is an excellent idea to have one. There are several excellent free ones out there, or you can go with some of the subscription services. In any event, make sure that the definition files are up to date. Many of them will allow you to configure them to update as frequently as you wish.
A firewall is also a good idea, and again, there are many excellent choices out there. Make sure that you block inbound and outbound traffic both and allow only what is needed to reach the Internet. Make sure that it too is kept up to date. If you're using Windows XP SP2 (or Vista or 7) the firewall is on by default. It's better than nothing, but I should not like to depend upon it.
Don't visit "those" sites. And by "those" I mean porn, warez, or any sites similar to those. You never know what you'll get. Stay away from file-sharing software such as WinMX or Kazaa as well. Bad guys (and gals too, let's not forget about them) can easily find their way onto your system from the software itself.
If you do online banking, make sure that the address isn't "http://" but rather "https://" The "s" stands for "secure." Or, rather, more secure; since it too could be broken.
Update your OS. Microsoft Windows 2000, XP, Vista, and 7 all update themselves automatically. If you're comforable letting it do this; great. If you'd rather do it manually, check for updates no less frequently than weekly. Although "Patch Tuesday" is the 2nd Tuesday of each month for Windows, you never know if you'll miss an out-of-cycle patch unless you check.
A quick word about passwords: Make them hard for others to guess. Don't use words or names as these would be subject to dictionary and/or brute force attacks. An ideal password would be between eight and 16 characters in length and would contain numbers, letters (both upper and lower case) and extra characters (@, #, $, and so on.) Try not to use a pattern there either.
That sounds like a lot, I know. But each step you take makes it more likely that the bad guys will pass you over and search for somebody less-well protected. But even these steps cannot and will not guarantee that you're machine won't be compromised. But you'll have made it much harder for the bad people to get into.
And a few final words: Reading security bulletins is an excellent way to stay informed. But if you don't have time to do that, consider downloading Steve Gibson's "Security NOW!" podcast as it contains a wealth of information. "Windows Weekly with Paul Thurrott" likewise contains valuable information.
NOTE: Although there is no formal relationship (working or otherwise) between Steve Gibson, Gibson Research Corporation, Leo Laporte, TWiT, or the TWiT Network and myself, I do subscribe to Mr Gibson's security podcast "Security Now!" as well as to several of Mr Laporte's podcasts.
While it's true that even doing this won't protect you 100 per cent of the time, it's a very good idea to do so.
Time for that full-disclosure thing: While I have donated money to Mr Laporte I have no financial interest in his endeavour (ie: I don't get paid to mention him or the network.) And while I have been a licensed user of Mr Gibson's SpinRite since SpinRite II, I have no financial interest there either. But in the interests of full disclosure, there you go. Perhaps if some politicians were to be so forthright...
(*) - http://www.grc.com/sn/sn-221.htm
Gibson Research Corporation: http://www.grc.com/
Security NOW!: http://www.grc.com/SN/
TWiT Netcast Network: http://twit.tv/
Windows Weekly with Paul Thurrott: http://twit.tv/ww/
'Safe computing' seems to be all the rage these days. There are those that say that if you use a firewall, be careful what you download, be careful what you install, be careful where you surf, and have a good anti-virus, you'll be just fine.
Really?
It's true that you'll be safer. But if the bad guys really are determined to find their way into your system, odds are they'll find a way. It might not even be to do something horrible to you, as odds are they don't know you. Odds are they simply want your computer and your bandwidth. Why is that?
One word: Botnet. Lots of compromised machines all attacking the same spot at the same time. It might not even be that, it could be just to shoot out spam. But I digress.
Safe. The only true "safe" computer is a computer that is completely off the Internet, and that you don't transfer files from the internet onto. For example: Let's say that the "safe" computer only has Windows and a printer. You download a .DOC file from your email, transfer it to diskette (does anybody still use those?) or CD-RW and then open it on your 'safe' computer to print it out.
Unfortunately, even that's not safe as it is possible that the anti-virus on your Internet computer missed the digital nasty within the .DOC file. Possible? Certainly.
Or, you download a game from one of "those" sites, copy it onto a CD-RW and install it onto your "safe" computer. Unfortunately, it came from one of "those" sites and your anti-virus missed the keylogger embedded in it. Granted, a keylogger on a computer that's not connected to the Internet won't be able to phone home, but the fact is that your 'safe' computer just got compromised.
And while I'm very sorry to say this, the simple fact is that there is no such thing as an absolutely safe computer any longer. UNLESS that 'safe' computer sits in the corner unattached to the Internet and all you never transfer files to or from it. In that case, it is safe from Internet attacks. It's also nearly useless.
That's not to say that you can't protect yourself to make it harder for the bad guys to get you.
If you're using a Wi-Fi router (I pray you're not) make sure it's using WPA encryption. Also, get into its settings and change the default password and address range. (Contact the store where you bought it from or the manufacturer of the router for assistance if you need it. Or ask a friend who knows how to do this.) If using a wired router, update its firmware as needed, and don't forget to change the password and default address range.
DISABLE JAVASCRIPT. Let me say that again: DISABLE JAVASCRIPT. Trust me on this one.
And then disable JavaScript. (*) TIP: This is a bit technical, but it will tell you exactly why JavaScript is so horribly broken. Listen to the whole thing. And then disable JavaScript.
Next, while a good anti-virus is not a protection against everything, it is an excellent idea to have one. There are several excellent free ones out there, or you can go with some of the subscription services. In any event, make sure that the definition files are up to date. Many of them will allow you to configure them to update as frequently as you wish.
A firewall is also a good idea, and again, there are many excellent choices out there. Make sure that you block inbound and outbound traffic both and allow only what is needed to reach the Internet. Make sure that it too is kept up to date. If you're using Windows XP SP2 (or Vista or 7) the firewall is on by default. It's better than nothing, but I should not like to depend upon it.
Don't visit "those" sites. And by "those" I mean porn, warez, or any sites similar to those. You never know what you'll get. Stay away from file-sharing software such as WinMX or Kazaa as well. Bad guys (and gals too, let's not forget about them) can easily find their way onto your system from the software itself.
If you do online banking, make sure that the address isn't "http://" but rather "https://" The "s" stands for "secure." Or, rather, more secure; since it too could be broken.
Update your OS. Microsoft Windows 2000, XP, Vista, and 7 all update themselves automatically. If you're comforable letting it do this; great. If you'd rather do it manually, check for updates no less frequently than weekly. Although "Patch Tuesday" is the 2nd Tuesday of each month for Windows, you never know if you'll miss an out-of-cycle patch unless you check.
A quick word about passwords: Make them hard for others to guess. Don't use words or names as these would be subject to dictionary and/or brute force attacks. An ideal password would be between eight and 16 characters in length and would contain numbers, letters (both upper and lower case) and extra characters (@, #, $, and so on.) Try not to use a pattern there either.
That sounds like a lot, I know. But each step you take makes it more likely that the bad guys will pass you over and search for somebody less-well protected. But even these steps cannot and will not guarantee that you're machine won't be compromised. But you'll have made it much harder for the bad people to get into.
And a few final words: Reading security bulletins is an excellent way to stay informed. But if you don't have time to do that, consider downloading Steve Gibson's "Security NOW!" podcast as it contains a wealth of information. "Windows Weekly with Paul Thurrott" likewise contains valuable information.
NOTE: Although there is no formal relationship (working or otherwise) between Steve Gibson, Gibson Research Corporation, Leo Laporte, TWiT, or the TWiT Network and myself, I do subscribe to Mr Gibson's security podcast "Security Now!" as well as to several of Mr Laporte's podcasts.
While it's true that even doing this won't protect you 100 per cent of the time, it's a very good idea to do so.
Time for that full-disclosure thing: While I have donated money to Mr Laporte I have no financial interest in his endeavour (ie: I don't get paid to mention him or the network.) And while I have been a licensed user of Mr Gibson's SpinRite since SpinRite II, I have no financial interest there either. But in the interests of full disclosure, there you go. Perhaps if some politicians were to be so forthright...
(*) - http://www.grc.com/sn/sn-221.htm
Gibson Research Corporation: http://www.grc.com/
Security NOW!: http://www.grc.com/SN/
TWiT Netcast Network: http://twit.tv/
Windows Weekly with Paul Thurrott: http://twit.tv/ww/
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Article: "Chinese greet 'Oba Mao' with flaming statue, fakes."
The link: http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9BUP3J00&show_article=1
" BEIJING (AP) - The Chinese have learned English from his speeches and celebrated the way he rolls up his sleeves. Now President Barack Obama is finally coming, and he's being greeted with "Oba Mao" T-shirts and a statue of him that bursts into flames.
" Sunday's arrival of a U.S. president admired for his charisma is already a source of profit and brief fame for some Chinese.
" Strangest is the burning Obama, tucked away in a Beijing warehouse. Artist Liu Bolin hopes Obama can take time from his visit to drop by. " (Link is Breitbart.com's and is left intact.)
The Chinese did it, but just imagine what would happen if somebody here in the U.S. had done so. The Secret Service would show up in .00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000001
seconds and cordon off the area as a crime scene.
The media would get there moments later and immediately pronounce far and wide that this was a "racist hate crime." Rev. Sharpton and Rev. Jackson would also show up claiming that this was also a "hate crime." Keith Olbermann would immediately have Janeane Garofalo on his show again to show that this was "...racism straight up." Oddly enough, those same people have stayed strangely mute on Maj. Hasan's known ties to a radical Imam.
" One Beijing shop owner wanted to see what Obama could do for sales. Liu Mingjie created "Oba Mao" T-shirts, with the president wearing the uniform of the Red Guards, who caused chaos during the Cultural Revolution in the 1960s. " (Link is breitbart.com's and is left intact.)
'Oba Mao.' Can't do that here in the US (although the Chinese government did order them to stop selling the shirts.) It's politically incorrect here in the States (remember about that mall in North Carolina revoking the lease of a kiosk selling anti-Obama stuff?) The Chinese authorities ordered them to stop selling the shirts because "...there are images of Obama wearing the uniform of the Red Army." (Which, given his socialist agenda, might not be too far off the mark. Remember Van Jones' radical Communist ties?)
I'm going to leave this posting with this. I probably shouldn't post all of it, but here goes:
" There is also the unfortunate side-effect to all the misplaced enthusiasm of the artist and that is the gift the English language has for puns and playing on words. After the initial emotional jolt for the viewer is over, one’s mind starts wandering over the rumors concerning Obama’s preferred sexual orientation (flaming gay), his overseeing of the destruction of America by stripping her of her assets (fire sale), his Apologize-for-America world tours (flaming shame), what the military must be thinking of him right now for his continuous stalling on Afghanistan (burning bastard), his silent, communist, czar-laden coup (blazing lunatic), his desire to push the destructive global warming agenda on us even as we enter a new Ice age (hottest hoax around) and his total disregard for his Presidential oath to uphold, protect, defend and preserve the Constitution of the United States (liar, liar, pants-on-fire).
" Then there are those weekly Wednesday night soirées where Obama parties hardy by scarfing down Kobe beef and vodka martinis while the rest of us tighten our budgetary belts (disco inferno). Of course, there’s Obama’s tardy, weak and politically correct response to the murderous Sudden Jihad Syndrome outburst by a Muslim at Ft. Hood (gun fire) and there’s the total and complete lack of real national security while Obama’s incompetent Secretary of Homeland Security ignores our porous borders (up in smoke) whereby some actual terrorist someday is going to bring in a suitcase nuke driven by the desire to make the real Obama look like his statue (spontaneous incandescence). " (*)
Wow. Talk about incendiary rhetoric. (COULDN'T RESIST!!!)
(*) - http://www.therealitycheck.org/?p=8367
" BEIJING (AP) - The Chinese have learned English from his speeches and celebrated the way he rolls up his sleeves. Now President Barack Obama is finally coming, and he's being greeted with "Oba Mao" T-shirts and a statue of him that bursts into flames.
" Sunday's arrival of a U.S. president admired for his charisma is already a source of profit and brief fame for some Chinese.
" Strangest is the burning Obama, tucked away in a Beijing warehouse. Artist Liu Bolin hopes Obama can take time from his visit to drop by. " (Link is Breitbart.com's and is left intact.)
The Chinese did it, but just imagine what would happen if somebody here in the U.S. had done so. The Secret Service would show up in .00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000001
seconds and cordon off the area as a crime scene.
The media would get there moments later and immediately pronounce far and wide that this was a "racist hate crime." Rev. Sharpton and Rev. Jackson would also show up claiming that this was also a "hate crime." Keith Olbermann would immediately have Janeane Garofalo on his show again to show that this was "...racism straight up." Oddly enough, those same people have stayed strangely mute on Maj. Hasan's known ties to a radical Imam.
" One Beijing shop owner wanted to see what Obama could do for sales. Liu Mingjie created "Oba Mao" T-shirts, with the president wearing the uniform of the Red Guards, who caused chaos during the Cultural Revolution in the 1960s. " (Link is breitbart.com's and is left intact.)
'Oba Mao.' Can't do that here in the US (although the Chinese government did order them to stop selling the shirts.) It's politically incorrect here in the States (remember about that mall in North Carolina revoking the lease of a kiosk selling anti-Obama stuff?) The Chinese authorities ordered them to stop selling the shirts because "...there are images of Obama wearing the uniform of the Red Army." (Which, given his socialist agenda, might not be too far off the mark. Remember Van Jones' radical Communist ties?)
I'm going to leave this posting with this. I probably shouldn't post all of it, but here goes:
" There is also the unfortunate side-effect to all the misplaced enthusiasm of the artist and that is the gift the English language has for puns and playing on words. After the initial emotional jolt for the viewer is over, one’s mind starts wandering over the rumors concerning Obama’s preferred sexual orientation (flaming gay), his overseeing of the destruction of America by stripping her of her assets (fire sale), his Apologize-for-America world tours (flaming shame), what the military must be thinking of him right now for his continuous stalling on Afghanistan (burning bastard), his silent, communist, czar-laden coup (blazing lunatic), his desire to push the destructive global warming agenda on us even as we enter a new Ice age (hottest hoax around) and his total disregard for his Presidential oath to uphold, protect, defend and preserve the Constitution of the United States (liar, liar, pants-on-fire).
" Then there are those weekly Wednesday night soirées where Obama parties hardy by scarfing down Kobe beef and vodka martinis while the rest of us tighten our budgetary belts (disco inferno). Of course, there’s Obama’s tardy, weak and politically correct response to the murderous Sudden Jihad Syndrome outburst by a Muslim at Ft. Hood (gun fire) and there’s the total and complete lack of real national security while Obama’s incompetent Secretary of Homeland Security ignores our porous borders (up in smoke) whereby some actual terrorist someday is going to bring in a suitcase nuke driven by the desire to make the real Obama look like his statue (spontaneous incandescence). " (*)
Wow. Talk about incendiary rhetoric. (COULDN'T RESIST!!!)
(*) - http://www.therealitycheck.org/?p=8367
A Funny Thing Happened ...
... when I walked into the coffee shoppe tonight. (More on this in a moment.) I was greeted with "What the h*ll are you doing here? It's Saturday!" To which I held up the cue ball I'd brought with me (since we got a name yesterday. We actually thought that through. Go figure.)
Those who have been reading this blog for any length of time will have noticed something wrong. First, today is Saturday. Second, our group met today?!?
Yes and no. We met yesterday as well, and decided on the spur of the moment (amid a flurry of late-night emails and text messages (for those that text message. I don't.)) to meet again tonight.
It met with quite a few dropped jaws as we began to arrive at the shoppe. Bill actually brought his wife Nancy, a registered nurse at the local hospital. That marked the first time we'd been joined by a member's family. Since she's also as conservative as we are, she immediately became known as "Cee." (Although I suspect that Bill will be sleeping on the couch tonight.)
I brought this up for a number of reasons. First, it was the first time we'd been joined by a family member. Second, it marked the first time in our group's history we'd met on a Saturday. Third, we found out that many of Nancy's co-workers are vehemently opposed to President Obama's health care initiative.
And I do mean vehemently opposed. Apparently, that as well as various patients is quite the topic in various breakrooms. She named various doctors who had various negative things to say about the President's initiative.
This is in stark contrast to various organizations that state that their doctors are behind the President. Although this was in no way a scientific survey, it's quite telling. Perhaps those big organizations are out-of-touch with what the rank and file as to say ... or they've got an agenda.
God knows we've seen that before.
Those who have been reading this blog for any length of time will have noticed something wrong. First, today is Saturday. Second, our group met today?!?
Yes and no. We met yesterday as well, and decided on the spur of the moment (amid a flurry of late-night emails and text messages (for those that text message. I don't.)) to meet again tonight.
It met with quite a few dropped jaws as we began to arrive at the shoppe. Bill actually brought his wife Nancy, a registered nurse at the local hospital. That marked the first time we'd been joined by a member's family. Since she's also as conservative as we are, she immediately became known as "Cee." (Although I suspect that Bill will be sleeping on the couch tonight.)
I brought this up for a number of reasons. First, it was the first time we'd been joined by a family member. Second, it marked the first time in our group's history we'd met on a Saturday. Third, we found out that many of Nancy's co-workers are vehemently opposed to President Obama's health care initiative.
And I do mean vehemently opposed. Apparently, that as well as various patients is quite the topic in various breakrooms. She named various doctors who had various negative things to say about the President's initiative.
This is in stark contrast to various organizations that state that their doctors are behind the President. Although this was in no way a scientific survey, it's quite telling. Perhaps those big organizations are out-of-touch with what the rank and file as to say ... or they've got an agenda.
God knows we've seen that before.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Friday Coffee Group Gets Name
Well, it's taken a while but our Friday (usually morning) coffee group now has a name. No, it's not 'Friday Coffee Group,' the name given to us by the shoppe's owner is "Corner Pocket" or "The Corner Pocket."
As in "Yeah, they're over there in the corner pocket."
Thanks, Sean.
I think.
As in "Yeah, they're over there in the corner pocket."
Thanks, Sean.
I think.
Fort Hood Massacre Whitewash Gathers Steam
The link: http://www.examiner.com/x-4525-Seattle-Gun-Rights-Examiner~y2009m11d11-Fort-Hood-aftermath-Daley-blames-guns-WA-Times-blames-Clinton
The title should be self-evident: "Fort Hood aftermath: Daley blames guns, WA Times Blames Clinton." The idiocy should also be self-evident.
" “Everyday in society,” [Chicago Mayor Richard M.]Daley said, “somebody is being killed. Unfortunately, America loves guns. We love guns to a point where that, uh, we see devastation on a daily basis. You don’t blame a group. You don’t blame a society, an immigrant community because of actions of one group...one individual. You cannot say that.” (*)
Really? How about the Nazi concentration-camp guards that shot escapees? Don't we already blame (and rightly so!) their ideology about that? So in that case, we do blame the (Nazi) society and the community of the concentration-camp guards. But here, because he was Muslim, well. It just has to be the gun's fault. Really?
" In other words, if I set my firearm down on the table, what does it do? Does the firearm get up, dust itself off, and then grow arms and legs and go out and rob somebody? We live, as most physicists now believe, in a MULTI-verse in which our universe is but one of many. So there might be a universe out there where the firearm really can grow arms and legs and go out and rob somebody. But in this universe, it can't happen. " (**)
But there have also been crimes committed by people using knives. Enter Jack the Ripper (yes, that one.) Tell me; was it the knife's fault?
What about people who commit suicide by driving their cars into lakes (with themselves inside.) Was it the car's fault? How about those who commit suicide by hanging themselves with a bed sheet? Was it the bed sheet's fault? How about those who commit suicide by overdosing on a prescribed medication? Was it the medicine's fault? Some people think so - and that's one of the reasons that medications have warning labels.
But I just love those sleep-aids that contain this warning: "WARNING: may cause drowsiness." You don't say. Yes, this is one of those 'duh' moments.
What about drunk drivers? Was it the car's fault there, too? Frankly, I blame the driver. I know plenty of social drinkers (there are a few in our Friday coffee group) who refuse to have a sip of alcohol and then drive. You read that right ... one sip of alcohol is enough for them to hand somebody else the keys.
" People commit crimes. They use a variety of weapons to do so, but people themselves commit the crimes.
" As I said, it's easy to blame the firearm, the knife, the spork, the stick. Let's not do that anymore. Let's blame the people who commit the crime, not the tools they use. " (**)
(*) - http://www.examiner.com/x-4525-Seattle-Gun-Rights-Examiner~y2009m11d11-Fort-Hood-aftermath-Daley-blames-guns-WA-Times-blames-Clinton
(**) - http://gregb1967.blogspot.com/2008/06/supreme-court-and-2nd-amendment.html
The title should be self-evident: "Fort Hood aftermath: Daley blames guns, WA Times Blames Clinton." The idiocy should also be self-evident.
" “Everyday in society,” [Chicago Mayor Richard M.]Daley said, “somebody is being killed. Unfortunately, America loves guns. We love guns to a point where that, uh, we see devastation on a daily basis. You don’t blame a group. You don’t blame a society, an immigrant community because of actions of one group...one individual. You cannot say that.” (*)
Really? How about the Nazi concentration-camp guards that shot escapees? Don't we already blame (and rightly so!) their ideology about that? So in that case, we do blame the (Nazi) society and the community of the concentration-camp guards. But here, because he was Muslim, well. It just has to be the gun's fault. Really?
" In other words, if I set my firearm down on the table, what does it do? Does the firearm get up, dust itself off, and then grow arms and legs and go out and rob somebody? We live, as most physicists now believe, in a MULTI-verse in which our universe is but one of many. So there might be a universe out there where the firearm really can grow arms and legs and go out and rob somebody. But in this universe, it can't happen. " (**)
But there have also been crimes committed by people using knives. Enter Jack the Ripper (yes, that one.) Tell me; was it the knife's fault?
What about people who commit suicide by driving their cars into lakes (with themselves inside.) Was it the car's fault? How about those who commit suicide by hanging themselves with a bed sheet? Was it the bed sheet's fault? How about those who commit suicide by overdosing on a prescribed medication? Was it the medicine's fault? Some people think so - and that's one of the reasons that medications have warning labels.
But I just love those sleep-aids that contain this warning: "WARNING: may cause drowsiness." You don't say. Yes, this is one of those 'duh' moments.
What about drunk drivers? Was it the car's fault there, too? Frankly, I blame the driver. I know plenty of social drinkers (there are a few in our Friday coffee group) who refuse to have a sip of alcohol and then drive. You read that right ... one sip of alcohol is enough for them to hand somebody else the keys.
" People commit crimes. They use a variety of weapons to do so, but people themselves commit the crimes.
" As I said, it's easy to blame the firearm, the knife, the spork, the stick. Let's not do that anymore. Let's blame the people who commit the crime, not the tools they use. " (**)
(*) - http://www.examiner.com/x-4525-Seattle-Gun-Rights-Examiner~y2009m11d11-Fort-Hood-aftermath-Daley-blames-guns-WA-Times-blames-Clinton
(**) - http://gregb1967.blogspot.com/2008/06/supreme-court-and-2nd-amendment.html
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Article: "Blame game erupts over probe of Fort Hood suspect."
The link: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091110/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_fort_hood_shooting
" WASHINGTON – Finger-pointing erupted between federal agencies Tuesday over Fort Hood shooting suspect Nidal Hasan. Government officials said a Defense Department terrorism investigator looked into Hasan's contacts with a radical imam months ago, but a military official denied prior knowledge of the Army psychiatrist's contacts with any Muslim extremists.
" The two government officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the case on the record, said the Washington-based joint terrorism task force overseen by the FBI was notified of communications between Hasan and a radical imam overseas, and the information was turned over to a Defense Criminal Investigative Service employee assigned to the task force. The communications were gathered by investigators beginning in December 2008 and continuing into early this year. "
Expect the PC whitewashing to begin as well. " The assessment concluded Hasan did not merit further investigation — in large part because his communications with the imam were centered on a research paper about the effects of combat in Iraq and Afghanistan and the investigator determined that Hasan was in fact working on such a paper, the officials said. "
No sh!t. (heavy sarcasm) Does anybody remember the last time an abortion provider was gunned down? Immediately we were informed about his motives. It was hatred, pure and simple. It was because he was an extremist. It was because of (insert whatever you want here).
Now we have Maj. Hasan trying to contact Osama bin Laden's terrorist network, we have his ties to the radical Imam, we have him worshipping in the same radicalized Mosque at the same time as two of the 9/11 hijackers ... and we're not supposed to jump to conclusions about his motives.
Double standard? Be very careful with your answer.
Here's what I wrote directly to the JCS (Joint Chiefs of Staff) about this:
" (extraneous information redacted)
I need to present a few facts to you: Maj. Hasan worshipped at the Dar al Hijrah Centre in Falls Church, VA at the same time as two of the 9/11 hijackers. That, Sirs, is not an opinion, it is a fact.
FACT: One of the former Imams of that Centre, Anwar al Awlaki lead the prayers at the time the two 9/11 hijackers worshipped there. Their names? Nawaf al-Hamzi and Hani Hanjour. Again, this is FACT.
FACT: Maj. Hasan was reprimanded for telling wounded soldiers they need to convert to Islam.
FACT: Over the last 10 months alone, Maj. Hasan makes the 61st arrest of a 'home-grown' terrorist. And according to the FBI (http://www.fbi.gov/terrorinfo/counterrorism/tsc.htm) they've all been Muslim. Let me repeat that for those of you in denial: All of the 61 arrests of 'home-grown' terror suspects have been Muslim.
And the press and the President dare to call me the extremist. I guess that explains why I had to read a United Kingdom paper's website to learn of these links: Links that the US papers are only now beginning to acknowledge.
Sirs, you now have a difficult decision to make. I don't give an overweight rat's rectum for political correctness - I never have. Too many people, including senior military officers, call it "The New Fascism."
Your choice is this: either bow to the blinders of political correctness, or acknowledge that having radical Imams (of the 14 currently in the military, 10 are KNOWN to have been radicalized) in the military is akin to asking Nazis to handle decryption during WWII. Again, that figure is not my opinion it is a FACT.
So ... what, if anything, do you plan to do?
I await what will in all probability be an echoing silence. "
And yes, I wasn't very polite with them, I know that. I'm old enough and respected enough that I don't have to couch my words in politeness. I'm too damned old to take PC sh!t either.
Let's just say that it'll be a very VERY cold day in Hell (and not Hell, MI either) before I'm allowed back into Wa$hington.
Let's take this one step further: " The information obtained from HASAN’s digital files reportedly shows a “pattern of deliberate and willful planning to conduct some type of attack against the U.S. military prior to his deployment” [to Afghanistan], stated this source who requested anonymity as he is not authorized to speak publicly. “The motive behind the massacre appears to be rooted in his ideology, an ideology which was emboldened by online activity,” added this source. " (*)
Still think you're going to hear the truth from the MSM?
Wait: It goes much further and much much deeper into the sewers of political correctness. Quoting again:
" As indicated by a ABC News Online article, intelligence sources reportedly had a level of knowledge that HASAN was in communication with al Qaeda assets abroad. The source speaking to this author confirmed that report but went further, stating that this and information similar but not directly related to such communications became a “political issue” between government agencies and officials “at the policy making levels” of the administration.
" According to this source, the now infamous pre-9/11 walls erected within government agencies have returned, “but this time they are higher and stronger.” “There is an unwillingness to address ‘delicate’ intelligence and security matters by sharing information outside of the beltway, and that directive comes right from the top. That’s all I’m going to say right now,” stated this source. " (Link is the Northeast Intelligence Network's and is left intact.)(emphasis added) (*)
Having quoted that, let me add this: If you think the government, including our own military, isn't now awash in the sewer of political correctness, you'd better wake up.
The radical Muslims want us dead. Pure and simple. I'm not talking about the non-radicalized Muslims you'll note. I used to work with a young woman who had converted to Islam, and we worked closely together for nearly a year before she took a higher-paying job. She was one of the sweetest people you'd ever want to meet. Although she did wear the Hajib and she did fast during Ramadan, you'd never notice anything amiss since she told jokes and hung around with the rest of us.
But that's my point: I'm not pointing the finger of blame at all Muslims. I'm pointing the finger of blame at Radical Islam and those in our government who are too afraid to point out that they do exist and want to kill us.
(*) - http://homelandsecurityus.com/?p=3250
" WASHINGTON – Finger-pointing erupted between federal agencies Tuesday over Fort Hood shooting suspect Nidal Hasan. Government officials said a Defense Department terrorism investigator looked into Hasan's contacts with a radical imam months ago, but a military official denied prior knowledge of the Army psychiatrist's contacts with any Muslim extremists.
" The two government officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the case on the record, said the Washington-based joint terrorism task force overseen by the FBI was notified of communications between Hasan and a radical imam overseas, and the information was turned over to a Defense Criminal Investigative Service employee assigned to the task force. The communications were gathered by investigators beginning in December 2008 and continuing into early this year. "
Expect the PC whitewashing to begin as well. " The assessment concluded Hasan did not merit further investigation — in large part because his communications with the imam were centered on a research paper about the effects of combat in Iraq and Afghanistan and the investigator determined that Hasan was in fact working on such a paper, the officials said. "
No sh!t. (heavy sarcasm) Does anybody remember the last time an abortion provider was gunned down? Immediately we were informed about his motives. It was hatred, pure and simple. It was because he was an extremist. It was because of (insert whatever you want here).
Now we have Maj. Hasan trying to contact Osama bin Laden's terrorist network, we have his ties to the radical Imam, we have him worshipping in the same radicalized Mosque at the same time as two of the 9/11 hijackers ... and we're not supposed to jump to conclusions about his motives.
Double standard? Be very careful with your answer.
Here's what I wrote directly to the JCS (Joint Chiefs of Staff) about this:
" (extraneous information redacted)
I need to present a few facts to you: Maj. Hasan worshipped at the Dar al Hijrah Centre in Falls Church, VA at the same time as two of the 9/11 hijackers. That, Sirs, is not an opinion, it is a fact.
FACT: One of the former Imams of that Centre, Anwar al Awlaki lead the prayers at the time the two 9/11 hijackers worshipped there. Their names? Nawaf al-Hamzi and Hani Hanjour. Again, this is FACT.
FACT: Maj. Hasan was reprimanded for telling wounded soldiers they need to convert to Islam.
FACT: Over the last 10 months alone, Maj. Hasan makes the 61st arrest of a 'home-grown' terrorist. And according to the FBI (http://www.fbi.gov/terrorinfo/counterrorism/tsc.htm) they've all been Muslim. Let me repeat that for those of you in denial: All of the 61 arrests of 'home-grown' terror suspects have been Muslim.
And the press and the President dare to call me the extremist. I guess that explains why I had to read a United Kingdom paper's website to learn of these links: Links that the US papers are only now beginning to acknowledge.
Sirs, you now have a difficult decision to make. I don't give an overweight rat's rectum for political correctness - I never have. Too many people, including senior military officers, call it "The New Fascism."
Your choice is this: either bow to the blinders of political correctness, or acknowledge that having radical Imams (of the 14 currently in the military, 10 are KNOWN to have been radicalized) in the military is akin to asking Nazis to handle decryption during WWII. Again, that figure is not my opinion it is a FACT.
So ... what, if anything, do you plan to do?
I await what will in all probability be an echoing silence. "
And yes, I wasn't very polite with them, I know that. I'm old enough and respected enough that I don't have to couch my words in politeness. I'm too damned old to take PC sh!t either.
Let's just say that it'll be a very VERY cold day in Hell (and not Hell, MI either) before I'm allowed back into Wa$hington.
Let's take this one step further: " The information obtained from HASAN’s digital files reportedly shows a “pattern of deliberate and willful planning to conduct some type of attack against the U.S. military prior to his deployment” [to Afghanistan], stated this source who requested anonymity as he is not authorized to speak publicly. “The motive behind the massacre appears to be rooted in his ideology, an ideology which was emboldened by online activity,” added this source. " (*)
Still think you're going to hear the truth from the MSM?
Wait: It goes much further and much much deeper into the sewers of political correctness. Quoting again:
" As indicated by a ABC News Online article, intelligence sources reportedly had a level of knowledge that HASAN was in communication with al Qaeda assets abroad. The source speaking to this author confirmed that report but went further, stating that this and information similar but not directly related to such communications became a “political issue” between government agencies and officials “at the policy making levels” of the administration.
" According to this source, the now infamous pre-9/11 walls erected within government agencies have returned, “but this time they are higher and stronger.” “There is an unwillingness to address ‘delicate’ intelligence and security matters by sharing information outside of the beltway, and that directive comes right from the top. That’s all I’m going to say right now,” stated this source. " (Link is the Northeast Intelligence Network's and is left intact.)(emphasis added) (*)
Having quoted that, let me add this: If you think the government, including our own military, isn't now awash in the sewer of political correctness, you'd better wake up.
The radical Muslims want us dead. Pure and simple. I'm not talking about the non-radicalized Muslims you'll note. I used to work with a young woman who had converted to Islam, and we worked closely together for nearly a year before she took a higher-paying job. She was one of the sweetest people you'd ever want to meet. Although she did wear the Hajib and she did fast during Ramadan, you'd never notice anything amiss since she told jokes and hung around with the rest of us.
But that's my point: I'm not pointing the finger of blame at all Muslims. I'm pointing the finger of blame at Radical Islam and those in our government who are too afraid to point out that they do exist and want to kill us.
(*) - http://homelandsecurityus.com/?p=3250
Article: "Audio From ACORN Claims Jerry Brown Will Whitewash Investigation."
The link: http://biggovernment.com/2009/11/10/exclusive-audio-from-acorn-claims-jerry-brown-will-whitewash-investigation/
They have the actual audio available online for you to download. " [Local ACORN spokesman David] Lagstein notes that the Attorney General is a “political animal.” He states that he has been in communication with Brown’s office and assures the crowd that “the fault WILL be found with the people that did the video — not ACORN.” "
Just remember folks, no political correctness here. Move along please.
They have the actual audio available online for you to download. " [Local ACORN spokesman David] Lagstein notes that the Attorney General is a “political animal.” He states that he has been in communication with Brown’s office and assures the crowd that “the fault WILL be found with the people that did the video — not ACORN.” "
Just remember folks, no political correctness here. Move along please.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Article: "Lieberman Suggests Army Shooter Was 'Home-Grown' Terrorist"
The link: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125769764441836773.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLETopStories
" A senior U.S. senator on Sunday said the shootings at Fort Hood could have been a terrorist attack, and that he would launch a congressional investigation into whether the U.S. military could have prevented it.
" Sen. Joe Lieberman, an independent from Connecticut who heads the Senate's Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, said initial evidence suggested that the alleged shooter, Army Major Nidal Hasan, was a "self-radicalized, home-grown terrorist" who had turned to Islamic extremism while under personal stress. "
"Suggested?" If you've read my past postings about this, you'll know it wasn't "suggested" it's been PROVEN.
I'm frankly shocked that Sen. Lieberman had the balls to even suggest this. My respect for the man (and I had a great deal of respect before this because he dared to vote his conscience) just tripled. Sadly, I know what his investigation will turn into. It'll be blind-sided by the political correctness that's devoured the Pentagon and Wa$hington and will go nowhere. It'll be a dog-and-pony show ... at best.
" The Army's top officer, Gen. George Casey, wouldn't rule out that the shooting was an act of terrorism, but cautioned against speculation at this point. "We all want to know what happened and what motivated the suspect, but we need to … let the investigation take its course," he told ABC News's "This Week." "
General Casey said we need to let the investigation run its course. I understand, respect, and acknowledge that. It makes sense. But let's not put on the blinders of political correctness ... and that's already beginning!!
" General George Casey Jr., the Army chief of staff, said on Sunday that he was concerned that speculation about the religious beliefs of Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, accused of killing 12 fellow soldiers and one civilian and wounding dozens of others in a shooting rampage at Fort Hood, could “cause a backlash against some of our Muslim soldiers.”
" “I’ve asked our Army leaders to be on the lookout for that,” General Casey said in an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union. “It would be a shame — as great a tragedy as this was — it would be a shame if our diversity became a casualty as well.” " (*) (Link is the New York Times' and is left intact.)
Gotta love the blinders of political correctness, ne? Our diversity is going to suffer if we correctly label him a home-grown terrorist!!
" The major, a 39-year-old psychiatrist, is the American-born son of Palestinian immigrants. He vocally opposed the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and seems to have moved toward more extreme religious beliefs in recent years, according to the investigators. Investigators have tentatively concluded that he acted alone and was not part of a terrorist plot. " (Link is the New York Times' and has been left intact.)
Let's see ... he studied at the same radicalized Mosque as two of the 9/11 hijackers at the same time they were there! You're seriously going to tell me that there is absolutely no connection?!? Come on.
They've " ... tentatively concluded that he acted alone ... " In other words, yet another "Lone wolf." Remember me writing about that as well?
I'm not saying he was part of a greater terrorist plot, I'm saying that the evidence suggests that he could have been. For anybody to rule that out at this part of the investigation is, in my opinion, just as bad as pulling the trigger and killing those innocent people themselves. And for them to blind themselves at this part of the investigation is wrong.
WRONG.
Gotta love political correctness.
(*) - http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/09/us/politics/09casey.html?_r=1
" A senior U.S. senator on Sunday said the shootings at Fort Hood could have been a terrorist attack, and that he would launch a congressional investigation into whether the U.S. military could have prevented it.
" Sen. Joe Lieberman, an independent from Connecticut who heads the Senate's Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, said initial evidence suggested that the alleged shooter, Army Major Nidal Hasan, was a "self-radicalized, home-grown terrorist" who had turned to Islamic extremism while under personal stress. "
"Suggested?" If you've read my past postings about this, you'll know it wasn't "suggested" it's been PROVEN.
I'm frankly shocked that Sen. Lieberman had the balls to even suggest this. My respect for the man (and I had a great deal of respect before this because he dared to vote his conscience) just tripled. Sadly, I know what his investigation will turn into. It'll be blind-sided by the political correctness that's devoured the Pentagon and Wa$hington and will go nowhere. It'll be a dog-and-pony show ... at best.
" The Army's top officer, Gen. George Casey, wouldn't rule out that the shooting was an act of terrorism, but cautioned against speculation at this point. "We all want to know what happened and what motivated the suspect, but we need to … let the investigation take its course," he told ABC News's "This Week." "
General Casey said we need to let the investigation run its course. I understand, respect, and acknowledge that. It makes sense. But let's not put on the blinders of political correctness ... and that's already beginning!!
" General George Casey Jr., the Army chief of staff, said on Sunday that he was concerned that speculation about the religious beliefs of Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, accused of killing 12 fellow soldiers and one civilian and wounding dozens of others in a shooting rampage at Fort Hood, could “cause a backlash against some of our Muslim soldiers.”
" “I’ve asked our Army leaders to be on the lookout for that,” General Casey said in an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union. “It would be a shame — as great a tragedy as this was — it would be a shame if our diversity became a casualty as well.” " (*) (Link is the New York Times' and is left intact.)
Gotta love the blinders of political correctness, ne? Our diversity is going to suffer if we correctly label him a home-grown terrorist!!
" The major, a 39-year-old psychiatrist, is the American-born son of Palestinian immigrants. He vocally opposed the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and seems to have moved toward more extreme religious beliefs in recent years, according to the investigators. Investigators have tentatively concluded that he acted alone and was not part of a terrorist plot. " (Link is the New York Times' and has been left intact.)
Let's see ... he studied at the same radicalized Mosque as two of the 9/11 hijackers at the same time they were there! You're seriously going to tell me that there is absolutely no connection?!? Come on.
They've " ... tentatively concluded that he acted alone ... " In other words, yet another "Lone wolf." Remember me writing about that as well?
I'm not saying he was part of a greater terrorist plot, I'm saying that the evidence suggests that he could have been. For anybody to rule that out at this part of the investigation is, in my opinion, just as bad as pulling the trigger and killing those innocent people themselves. And for them to blind themselves at this part of the investigation is wrong.
WRONG.
Gotta love political correctness.
(*) - http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/09/us/politics/09casey.html?_r=1
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Remember When?
Remember when government was "of the People, by the People, and for the People?" Well....
It doesn't seem that way today, does it?
The link: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1109/29235.html
" Among the highlights: Two-hundred-and-thirty-seven members of Congress are millionaires. That’s 44 percent of the body – compared to about 1 percent of Americans overall. "
Um...wow. I don't know about you, but I'm definitely not a millionaire. That's not to say I couldn't put that money to good use:
1) Pay off bills
2) Ensure the financial well-being of my family
3) Put money into the bank (NOT those that have taken TARP monies) to ensure my future financial well-being, and
4) Donate to charities.
Now let's remember back when Mr McCain was rightly chastised by the Democrats for not remembering how many houses he had. Each of those properties adds to his net worth, as it does for each member who is listed in the report. But to quote again from the report:
" One caveat on those numbers: Federal financial disclosure laws don’t require members to list the value of their personal residences. That information could alter the net worth picture for many lawmakers. " (emphasis added)
It certainly could. Let's use Mr McCain as an example. Let's assume he has a net worth currently of $14 million (for the record, I have no idea what his net worth is. This is a hypothetical situation and I selected the number at random.)
For the sake of this article, let's further assume (again, hypothetically) that he has six houses (residences) and that each of these are valued at $250,000.
Now it's time for more math (sorry!!) 6 x 250,000 = 1,500,000.
Since he's not required to list the value of those residences, let's assume he didn't. His net worth was $14 million, but we've just increased it by $1.5 million.
We've increased his net worth by 9.3%. (14,000,000 / 1,500,000 = 9.333333333)
Again, this is a hypothetical situation using hypothetical numbers. But if we were to add in the residences of many of those members, the numbers given in the article would be even greater.
Again, I don't know about you - but I don't have two houses.
But one quick exit question: Mr Obama wants to increase taxes on the millionaires. Will that include the members listed in the report or not?
If not, why not?
Just asking.
It doesn't seem that way today, does it?
The link: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1109/29235.html
" Among the highlights: Two-hundred-and-thirty-seven members of Congress are millionaires. That’s 44 percent of the body – compared to about 1 percent of Americans overall. "
Um...wow. I don't know about you, but I'm definitely not a millionaire. That's not to say I couldn't put that money to good use:
1) Pay off bills
2) Ensure the financial well-being of my family
3) Put money into the bank (NOT those that have taken TARP monies) to ensure my future financial well-being, and
4) Donate to charities.
Now let's remember back when Mr McCain was rightly chastised by the Democrats for not remembering how many houses he had. Each of those properties adds to his net worth, as it does for each member who is listed in the report. But to quote again from the report:
" One caveat on those numbers: Federal financial disclosure laws don’t require members to list the value of their personal residences. That information could alter the net worth picture for many lawmakers. " (emphasis added)
It certainly could. Let's use Mr McCain as an example. Let's assume he has a net worth currently of $14 million (for the record, I have no idea what his net worth is. This is a hypothetical situation and I selected the number at random.)
For the sake of this article, let's further assume (again, hypothetically) that he has six houses (residences) and that each of these are valued at $250,000.
Now it's time for more math (sorry!!) 6 x 250,000 = 1,500,000.
Since he's not required to list the value of those residences, let's assume he didn't. His net worth was $14 million, but we've just increased it by $1.5 million.
We've increased his net worth by 9.3%. (14,000,000 / 1,500,000 = 9.333333333)
Again, this is a hypothetical situation using hypothetical numbers. But if we were to add in the residences of many of those members, the numbers given in the article would be even greater.
Again, I don't know about you - but I don't have two houses.
But one quick exit question: Mr Obama wants to increase taxes on the millionaires. Will that include the members listed in the report or not?
If not, why not?
Just asking.
Fort Hood Shooter, Update
Some time back, I received Mr Douglas Hagmann's kind permission to link to his website and to quote from it, as long as I don't take it out of context.
Time for that full-disclosure thing: There is no relationship between Mr Hagmann or myself, nor between the Northeast Intelligence Network and myself other than I have conversed with Mr Hagmann on numerous occassions via email. He did not ask me to link to his site, I offered to.
But before I begin, let's consider this FBI statistic: Over the last 10 months alone, this [ Maj. Hasan ] makes the 61st arrest of a 'home-grown' terrorist. All 61 have been Muslim. (*, **)
Again, time for that full-disclosure thing: I do subscribe to streamlink so I can download Coast to Coast AM whenever I wish. Although they are sometimes controversial, they have had numerous mainstream people on: Dr. Peter Ward, Dr. Michio Kaku, Dr. Katherine Albrecht, Dr. Joseph Resnik, Dr. Phillip Plait, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.
But let's return to the subject at hand: " 8 November 2009: As noted by this author in the initial background profile published just hours after the Ft. Hood massacre here, Nidal Malik HASAN was an active member of the Dar al-Hijrah Mosque and Islamic Center in Falls Church, Virginia while stationed in the area in 2001. HASAN participated in mosque activities during the summer of 2001, at the same time as Nawaf al-Hamzi and Hani Hanjour, two of the 9/11 hijackers, were active members. The infamous Dar al-Hijrah Mosque has been on the radar of federal investigators and counter-terrorism investigators long before the 9/11 attacks, and has been described as a “hotbed of terrorist activity” by an FBI agent who has been involved in terrorism investigations that specifically included that mosque.[1] " (Links are the Northeast Intelligence Network's and are left intact. Emphasis added.) (*4)
Let's also consider this: " His [Maj. Hasan's] fellow students complained to the faculty about Hasan's "anti-American propaganda," but said a fear of appearing discriminatory against a Muslim student kept officers from filing a formal complaint. (***)
Ah, the ugly head of political correctness rears itself again. Can't say anything bad about a Muslim (even if true and verifiable) because you must be a bigot. You simply must be.
Let's also consider this: " Other terrorist luminaries, including Sheikh Mohammed al-Hanooti, an unindicted co-conspirator in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, previously served as a prayer leader at Dar la-Hijrah [Maj. Hasan's Mosque.] Other notable former mosque members include HAMAS leader Mousa Abu Marzook, Abdurahman Alamoudi, Randall “Ismail” Royer (former officials of the Council on American Islamic Relations), Ismail Elbarasse, al Qaeda operative Ahmed Omar Abu Ali, and Abdullah bin Laden, Osama bin Laden’s nephew." (*4)
Yes, the same Mosque that Maj. Hasan was at included two former CAIR officials. You don't say. " Despite their self-described depiction as an advocate of Islamic civil rights and contrary to their public position, some CAIR officials and leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood associated with CAIR have endorsed all of the aspects of Sharia law, including those that accept or tacitly approve of Sharia justice. Do not let CAIR, the media, or any government agency or official tell you otherwise. " (*5)
Why is any of this important? Because somebody somewhere should have stopped Maj. Hasan before he murdered innocent people. We now know he was 'on the radar' for at least SIX MONTHS before his murderous rampage. We know that others feared speaking about it because they were afraid of "... appearing discriminatory against a Muslim student ... " (***)
And then there's this: " "The system is not doing what it's supposed to do," said Dr. Val Finnell, who complained to administrators at a military university about what he considered Hasan's "anti-American" rants. "He at least should have been confronted about these beliefs, told to cease and desist, and to shape up or ship out." " (***)
You don't say. And the most damning thing? " "In retrospect, I'm not surprised he did it," Finnell said of the shootings. "I had real questions about what his priorities were, what his beliefs were." " (***)
Gotta love political correctness, ne?
(*) - http://www.fbi.gov/terrorinfo/counterrorism/tsc.htm
(**) - http://www.coasttocoastam.com/show/2009/11/07 (Hour One.)
(***) - http://apnews.myway.com/article/20091108/D9BRD8GO1.html
(*4) - http://homelandsecurityus.com/?p=3246
(*5) - http://homelandsecurityus.com/?p=3209
Time for that full-disclosure thing: There is no relationship between Mr Hagmann or myself, nor between the Northeast Intelligence Network and myself other than I have conversed with Mr Hagmann on numerous occassions via email. He did not ask me to link to his site, I offered to.
But before I begin, let's consider this FBI statistic: Over the last 10 months alone, this [ Maj. Hasan ] makes the 61st arrest of a 'home-grown' terrorist. All 61 have been Muslim. (*, **)
Again, time for that full-disclosure thing: I do subscribe to streamlink so I can download Coast to Coast AM whenever I wish. Although they are sometimes controversial, they have had numerous mainstream people on: Dr. Peter Ward, Dr. Michio Kaku, Dr. Katherine Albrecht, Dr. Joseph Resnik, Dr. Phillip Plait, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.
But let's return to the subject at hand: " 8 November 2009: As noted by this author in the initial background profile published just hours after the Ft. Hood massacre here, Nidal Malik HASAN was an active member of the Dar al-Hijrah Mosque and Islamic Center in Falls Church, Virginia while stationed in the area in 2001. HASAN participated in mosque activities during the summer of 2001, at the same time as Nawaf al-Hamzi and Hani Hanjour, two of the 9/11 hijackers, were active members. The infamous Dar al-Hijrah Mosque has been on the radar of federal investigators and counter-terrorism investigators long before the 9/11 attacks, and has been described as a “hotbed of terrorist activity” by an FBI agent who has been involved in terrorism investigations that specifically included that mosque.[1] " (Links are the Northeast Intelligence Network's and are left intact. Emphasis added.) (*4)
Let's also consider this: " His [Maj. Hasan's] fellow students complained to the faculty about Hasan's "anti-American propaganda," but said a fear of appearing discriminatory against a Muslim student kept officers from filing a formal complaint. (***)
Ah, the ugly head of political correctness rears itself again. Can't say anything bad about a Muslim (even if true and verifiable) because you must be a bigot. You simply must be.
Let's also consider this: " Other terrorist luminaries, including Sheikh Mohammed al-Hanooti, an unindicted co-conspirator in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, previously served as a prayer leader at Dar la-Hijrah [Maj. Hasan's Mosque.] Other notable former mosque members include HAMAS leader Mousa Abu Marzook, Abdurahman Alamoudi, Randall “Ismail” Royer (former officials of the Council on American Islamic Relations), Ismail Elbarasse, al Qaeda operative Ahmed Omar Abu Ali, and Abdullah bin Laden, Osama bin Laden’s nephew." (*4)
Yes, the same Mosque that Maj. Hasan was at included two former CAIR officials. You don't say. " Despite their self-described depiction as an advocate of Islamic civil rights and contrary to their public position, some CAIR officials and leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood associated with CAIR have endorsed all of the aspects of Sharia law, including those that accept or tacitly approve of Sharia justice. Do not let CAIR, the media, or any government agency or official tell you otherwise. " (*5)
Why is any of this important? Because somebody somewhere should have stopped Maj. Hasan before he murdered innocent people. We now know he was 'on the radar' for at least SIX MONTHS before his murderous rampage. We know that others feared speaking about it because they were afraid of "... appearing discriminatory against a Muslim student ... " (***)
And then there's this: " "The system is not doing what it's supposed to do," said Dr. Val Finnell, who complained to administrators at a military university about what he considered Hasan's "anti-American" rants. "He at least should have been confronted about these beliefs, told to cease and desist, and to shape up or ship out." " (***)
You don't say. And the most damning thing? " "In retrospect, I'm not surprised he did it," Finnell said of the shootings. "I had real questions about what his priorities were, what his beliefs were." " (***)
Gotta love political correctness, ne?
(*) - http://www.fbi.gov/terrorinfo/counterrorism/tsc.htm
(**) - http://www.coasttocoastam.com/show/2009/11/07 (Hour One.)
(***) - http://apnews.myway.com/article/20091108/D9BRD8GO1.html
(*4) - http://homelandsecurityus.com/?p=3246
(*5) - http://homelandsecurityus.com/?p=3209
Owens Breaks 4 Campaign Promises in First Hour
The link: http://www.gouverneurtimes.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7623:owens-to-break-campaign-promises&catid=60:st-lawrence-news&Itemid=175 (*)
In fallout that reaches far beyond NY-23, Mr Owens broke 4 campaign promises during his first hour in congress.
That's got to be a record.
You'll remember that the RNC (Republican National Committee) endorsed that liberal in conservative clothing, Dede Scozzafava.
She was a conservative in name only. She was pro-'choice' and quite a few other things that put her at odds with true conservatives.
When she dropped out of the race, she then endorsed the Democrat Mr Owens. Thank you so much, RNC. You poured nearly $1 million dollars into her campaign and then she screwed you (and us) over.
How do you feel now, RNC? Take a moment to read Michelle Malkin's article about it (**, ***) where you'll find rejected RNC donation letters.
This is important because Ms Scozzafava "...shares the same socialist alliances with fellow SEIU/ACORN/New Party/Working Families Party activist Patrick Gaspard, the Obama White House political director who intervened in the race to secure Scozzafava’s endorsement of Owens." (***. Links are Ms Malkin's and are left intact.)
When she dropped out, she endorsed the Democrat Owens, who, as it turns out, broke four of his campaign promises in one damned hour!! Thank you so damn much, RNC. I'm gonna repeat one of the rejected RNC donation letters "NOT ONE MORE PENNY."
So what were the promises that that liar Mr Owens made?
1) He is now in favour of the "Affordable Healthcare for America Act," which is in direct contrast to his earlier position.
2) During the campaign "...he was firmly opposed to cutting Medicare benefits, taxing health care benefits, and increased taxes on the middle class in any way as you can see clearly in the screenshot below, taken directly from Mr. Owens' campaign website. " (*. See that site for the screenshot.) Well, the House "reform bill" contains provisions that will increase taxes on the middle class, tax health care benefits, and cuts Medicare benefits. Thank you so damned much RNC.
3) Mr Osama (er...OBAMA) said that the bill would not contain provisions for illegal immigrants as Mr Owens said he would not support. Said bill does now contain provisions for health care for illegal immigrants. Oops. You'll remember, I hope, that the Damocrats chastised Rep. Joe Wilson for calling Mr Osama (er...OBAMA) a liar, although it now seems true. Pity the Damocrats couldn't chastise their own members who called Mr Bush a liar during one of his State of the Union addresses. This is 'change?' How, exactly, is this different? Smells like the same sh!t as always to me.
4) I don't want to paraphrase the entire article, so I'll leave it to you to find this one.
Here's the end point: Mr Owens lied. He's a politician, so we expect that. But the RNC endorsed Ms Scozzafava over Mr Hoffman, poured nearly a million dollars into her coffers, and then she turned around and screwed the RNC and the conservatives over. How do you feel now, RNC?
Back when Mr Osama (er...OBAMA) was campaigning for the office of President, I sent a colleague of mine a letter to the RNC about ACORN and Freddie Johnson. You'll remember that ACORN pressured Mr Johnson into registering to vote an astonishing 72 times in Ohio!! (*4) The response I got back was "They are aware of the problem." I sent this person another missive asking if the RNC would get off its sorry ass and do anything. This is what I got back: "I was told that they're aware of the problem."
I'm going to be sending this colleague another missive shortly about Dede Scozzafava, Mr Owens, and Mr Hoffman and make it plainly aware to this person that any reply the RNC makes (if they have the guts to reply that is) will be posted here.
To the RNC: NOT ONE MORE DAMNED PENNY UNTIL YOU LEARN WHAT 'CONSERVATIVE' MEANS.
I sent my representative the following email and I'm going to repeat part of it. "I didn't leave the Republican Party, the Republican Party left me. Hopefully, one day you'll see that. Take your rose-coloured glasses off and you'll see a lot clearer."
NOT ONE MORE DAMNED PENNY, RNC. NOT ONE.
(*) - http://www.gouverneurtimes.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7623:owens-to-break-campaign-promises&catid=60:st-lawrence-news&Itemid=175
(**) - http://michellemalkin.com/2009/11/04/making-sure-the-message-sticks-more-rejected-rnc-forms/
(***) - http://michellemalkin.com/2009/11/04/the-gop-elites-1-million-object-lesson-and-the-message-of-ny-23/
(*4) - http://www.nypost.com/p/news/politics/voter_registrations_8dh7PaKRiPc0BFNPZVnGMM
In fallout that reaches far beyond NY-23, Mr Owens broke 4 campaign promises during his first hour in congress.
That's got to be a record.
You'll remember that the RNC (Republican National Committee) endorsed that liberal in conservative clothing, Dede Scozzafava.
She was a conservative in name only. She was pro-'choice' and quite a few other things that put her at odds with true conservatives.
When she dropped out of the race, she then endorsed the Democrat Mr Owens. Thank you so much, RNC. You poured nearly $1 million dollars into her campaign and then she screwed you (and us) over.
How do you feel now, RNC? Take a moment to read Michelle Malkin's article about it (**, ***) where you'll find rejected RNC donation letters.
This is important because Ms Scozzafava "...shares the same socialist alliances with fellow SEIU/ACORN/New Party/Working Families Party activist Patrick Gaspard, the Obama White House political director who intervened in the race to secure Scozzafava’s endorsement of Owens." (***. Links are Ms Malkin's and are left intact.)
When she dropped out, she endorsed the Democrat Owens, who, as it turns out, broke four of his campaign promises in one damned hour!! Thank you so damn much, RNC. I'm gonna repeat one of the rejected RNC donation letters "NOT ONE MORE PENNY."
So what were the promises that that liar Mr Owens made?
1) He is now in favour of the "Affordable Healthcare for America Act," which is in direct contrast to his earlier position.
2) During the campaign "...he was firmly opposed to cutting Medicare benefits, taxing health care benefits, and increased taxes on the middle class in any way as you can see clearly in the screenshot below, taken directly from Mr. Owens' campaign website. " (*. See that site for the screenshot.) Well, the House "reform bill" contains provisions that will increase taxes on the middle class, tax health care benefits, and cuts Medicare benefits. Thank you so damned much RNC.
3) Mr Osama (er...OBAMA) said that the bill would not contain provisions for illegal immigrants as Mr Owens said he would not support. Said bill does now contain provisions for health care for illegal immigrants. Oops. You'll remember, I hope, that the Damocrats chastised Rep. Joe Wilson for calling Mr Osama (er...OBAMA) a liar, although it now seems true. Pity the Damocrats couldn't chastise their own members who called Mr Bush a liar during one of his State of the Union addresses. This is 'change?' How, exactly, is this different? Smells like the same sh!t as always to me.
4) I don't want to paraphrase the entire article, so I'll leave it to you to find this one.
Here's the end point: Mr Owens lied. He's a politician, so we expect that. But the RNC endorsed Ms Scozzafava over Mr Hoffman, poured nearly a million dollars into her coffers, and then she turned around and screwed the RNC and the conservatives over. How do you feel now, RNC?
Back when Mr Osama (er...OBAMA) was campaigning for the office of President, I sent a colleague of mine a letter to the RNC about ACORN and Freddie Johnson. You'll remember that ACORN pressured Mr Johnson into registering to vote an astonishing 72 times in Ohio!! (*4) The response I got back was "They are aware of the problem." I sent this person another missive asking if the RNC would get off its sorry ass and do anything. This is what I got back: "I was told that they're aware of the problem."
I'm going to be sending this colleague another missive shortly about Dede Scozzafava, Mr Owens, and Mr Hoffman and make it plainly aware to this person that any reply the RNC makes (if they have the guts to reply that is) will be posted here.
To the RNC: NOT ONE MORE DAMNED PENNY UNTIL YOU LEARN WHAT 'CONSERVATIVE' MEANS.
I sent my representative the following email and I'm going to repeat part of it. "I didn't leave the Republican Party, the Republican Party left me. Hopefully, one day you'll see that. Take your rose-coloured glasses off and you'll see a lot clearer."
NOT ONE MORE DAMNED PENNY, RNC. NOT ONE.
(*) - http://www.gouverneurtimes.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7623:owens-to-break-campaign-promises&catid=60:st-lawrence-news&Itemid=175
(**) - http://michellemalkin.com/2009/11/04/making-sure-the-message-sticks-more-rejected-rnc-forms/
(***) - http://michellemalkin.com/2009/11/04/the-gop-elites-1-million-object-lesson-and-the-message-of-ny-23/
(*4) - http://www.nypost.com/p/news/politics/voter_registrations_8dh7PaKRiPc0BFNPZVnGMM
Article: Fort Hood Shooter had ties to 9/11 Hijackers
The link: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/6521758/Fort-Hood-shooting-Texas-army-killer-linked-to-September-11-terrorists.html
" Major Nidal Malik Hasan worshipped at a mosque led by a radical imam said to be a "spiritual adviser" to three of the hijackers who attacked America on Sept 11, 2001. "
You don't say.
" Hasan, the sole suspect in the massacre of 13 fellow US soldiers in Texas, attended the controversial Dar al-Hijrah mosque in Great Falls, Virginia, in 2001 at the same time as two of the September 11 terrorists, The Sunday Telegraph has learnt. His mother's funeral was held there in May that year.
" The preacher at the time was Anwar al-Awlaki, an American-born Yemeni scholar who was banned from addressing a meeting in London by video link in August because he is accused of supporting attacks on British troops and backing terrorist organisations. "
Oops. Does anybody else remember me saying that nothing exists in a vacuum? In plainer words, all these "lone-wolf" attacks had to have come from somewhere.
The Fort Dix six? Anybody remember them? How about the shoe bomber?
Do you still think that the radical islamists want anything other than for us to "convert or die?"
So why read about it in a British paper? Two words:
Political Correctness. Can't say anything bad about radical Muslims here. That's taboo.
" Major Nidal Malik Hasan worshipped at a mosque led by a radical imam said to be a "spiritual adviser" to three of the hijackers who attacked America on Sept 11, 2001. "
You don't say.
" Hasan, the sole suspect in the massacre of 13 fellow US soldiers in Texas, attended the controversial Dar al-Hijrah mosque in Great Falls, Virginia, in 2001 at the same time as two of the September 11 terrorists, The Sunday Telegraph has learnt. His mother's funeral was held there in May that year.
" The preacher at the time was Anwar al-Awlaki, an American-born Yemeni scholar who was banned from addressing a meeting in London by video link in August because he is accused of supporting attacks on British troops and backing terrorist organisations. "
Oops. Does anybody else remember me saying that nothing exists in a vacuum? In plainer words, all these "lone-wolf" attacks had to have come from somewhere.
The Fort Dix six? Anybody remember them? How about the shoe bomber?
Do you still think that the radical islamists want anything other than for us to "convert or die?"
So why read about it in a British paper? Two words:
Political Correctness. Can't say anything bad about radical Muslims here. That's taboo.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
V - the new ABC series
Well, it was on Tuesday night. And I think it's going to spell the end of some people's Hollywood (also known as hypocrites-r-us and hollyweird) careers.
Let's take a look first at Ms Morena Baccarin, who plays the alien's leader Ana. She's a wonderful and talented actress. And on top of that, she's beautiful. On top of that, she's smart as a whip. As a person and as an actress, she has many good qualities. Yet I fear that somebody could see her performance in this series and decide she's 'too political.'
The first episode was complete with many thinly-veiled references to the Obama administration. And I too wonder how it got onto network TV, and especially on the All Barack Channel (ABC) which had Obama's infomercial on it not all that long ago.
I loved the first episode and plan to watch the rest of them.
Let's take a look first at Ms Morena Baccarin, who plays the alien's leader Ana. She's a wonderful and talented actress. And on top of that, she's beautiful. On top of that, she's smart as a whip. As a person and as an actress, she has many good qualities. Yet I fear that somebody could see her performance in this series and decide she's 'too political.'
The first episode was complete with many thinly-veiled references to the Obama administration. And I too wonder how it got onto network TV, and especially on the All Barack Channel (ABC) which had Obama's infomercial on it not all that long ago.
I loved the first episode and plan to watch the rest of them.
AARP backs Osama (er ... Obama) Care
I'm sorry, I still keep having trouble with 'the one's' name. Osama - Obama. Such a small difference.
The link: http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/archives/184217.asp
" The AARP, America's largest, most influential organization of older Americans, on Thursday put its weight behind the health care reform plan developed by House Democratic leaders, which includes a public option. "
Now bear a few things in mind: This is from Seattle. The article makes no mention of a few facts.
Fact one: Many in AARP are opposed to ObamaCare. You have only to visit You Tube to learn that.
Fact Two: AARP has a conflict of interest. Visit http://www.gop.gov/policy-news/09/09/22/aarp-helping-seniors-or-helping for the skinny.
" "There's an inherent conflict of interest....They're ending up becoming very dependent on sources of income." - Former AARP Executive Marilyn Moon, quoted in Bloomberg article.
" This week the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced it was investigating Humana for providing "misleading" information regarding the Administration's proposed cuts to Medicare Advantage policies-and prohibited other Medicare Advantage plans from providing similar information on how Democrat health "reform" could take away their current coverage.
" Yet the Administration's edict prohibiting plans from communicating with their beneficiaries failed to include AARP, which sponsors a Medicare Advantage plan but has been a prime advocate of Democrats' government takeover of health care-quite possibly because AARP has been supporting a health care overhaul from which it stands to gain overall handsomely. Even as AARP advocates for cutting Medicare Advantage plans by more than $150 billion, an analysis of the organization's operations reveals that it stands to receive tens of millions of dollars at the expense of seniors' medical care-with Democrats' full approval:
* The Congressional Budget Office has previously estimated that the cuts to Medicare Advantage plans proposed in Democrats' government takeover of health care (H.R. 3200) would cause millions of seniors to lose their current plan and enroll in government-run Medicare.
Because the government-run Medicare benefit is less generous than most private health plans, the independent Medicare Payment Advisory Commission found in June that more than nine in ten seniors not in nursing home settings utilize some form of Medicare supplemental insurance. While many of these individuals currently rely on Medicare Advantage plans for the extra benefits they provide to seniors, many would be forced to purchase supplemental Medigap policies should their existing Medicare Advantage plans be taken away from them due to Democrats' government takeover of health care.
* A review of its financial statements finds that in 2008, AARP received more than half a billion dollars in revenue from selling products like Medigap supplemental insurance policies-$652.7 million in direct "royalties and fees," and an increase of more than 31 percent from the $497.6 million in similar revenue AARP generated in 2007.
* Royalty revenues now comprise more than half-60.3 percent-of all AARP revenues; a Bloomberg news analysis published in December found that in 1999, royalties comprised only 11 percent of the organization's total revenues.
* The Bloomberg article-which highlighted what one observer called AARP's "dirty little secret"-profiled seniors who felt betrayed after paying hundreds of dollars above market price for AARP-branded coverage. One noted that "AARP has great buying power, and people should be able to get the best deal....This is unconscionable, what AARP has allowed to happen." Another disillusioned senior wrote to the organization's leadership asking whether AARP had a "‘special relationship' with [insurance carriers] by which it receives commissions, incentives, rebates, or dare I say ‘kickbacks?'"-and when he arrived at AARP headquarters for a tour, was promptly escorted out of the marble-covered atrium.
* While H.R. 3200 would place strict price controls on Medicare Advantage plans-requiring them to pay out 85 percent of premium revenues in medical claims-Medigap policies face a far less strict 65 percent requirement. In other words, under the Democrat bill, seniors could pay as much as 20 cents more out of every premium dollar to fund "kickbacks" to AARP-sponsored Medigap plans than Medicare Advantage plans. "
Still think AARP has your best interests at heart?
Check out the 60-Plus Association at http://www.60plus.org/
P.S. For those who are wondering - their website has been around since 8-JUL-1996 and is registered to their corporate offices in Woodbridge, VA. In other words, it's not a fly-by-night.
The link: http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/archives/184217.asp
" The AARP, America's largest, most influential organization of older Americans, on Thursday put its weight behind the health care reform plan developed by House Democratic leaders, which includes a public option. "
Now bear a few things in mind: This is from Seattle. The article makes no mention of a few facts.
Fact one: Many in AARP are opposed to ObamaCare. You have only to visit You Tube to learn that.
Fact Two: AARP has a conflict of interest. Visit http://www.gop.gov/policy-news/09/09/22/aarp-helping-seniors-or-helping for the skinny.
" "There's an inherent conflict of interest....They're ending up becoming very dependent on sources of income." - Former AARP Executive Marilyn Moon, quoted in Bloomberg article.
" This week the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced it was investigating Humana for providing "misleading" information regarding the Administration's proposed cuts to Medicare Advantage policies-and prohibited other Medicare Advantage plans from providing similar information on how Democrat health "reform" could take away their current coverage.
" Yet the Administration's edict prohibiting plans from communicating with their beneficiaries failed to include AARP, which sponsors a Medicare Advantage plan but has been a prime advocate of Democrats' government takeover of health care-quite possibly because AARP has been supporting a health care overhaul from which it stands to gain overall handsomely. Even as AARP advocates for cutting Medicare Advantage plans by more than $150 billion, an analysis of the organization's operations reveals that it stands to receive tens of millions of dollars at the expense of seniors' medical care-with Democrats' full approval:
* The Congressional Budget Office has previously estimated that the cuts to Medicare Advantage plans proposed in Democrats' government takeover of health care (H.R. 3200) would cause millions of seniors to lose their current plan and enroll in government-run Medicare.
Because the government-run Medicare benefit is less generous than most private health plans, the independent Medicare Payment Advisory Commission found in June that more than nine in ten seniors not in nursing home settings utilize some form of Medicare supplemental insurance. While many of these individuals currently rely on Medicare Advantage plans for the extra benefits they provide to seniors, many would be forced to purchase supplemental Medigap policies should their existing Medicare Advantage plans be taken away from them due to Democrats' government takeover of health care.
* A review of its financial statements finds that in 2008, AARP received more than half a billion dollars in revenue from selling products like Medigap supplemental insurance policies-$652.7 million in direct "royalties and fees," and an increase of more than 31 percent from the $497.6 million in similar revenue AARP generated in 2007.
* Royalty revenues now comprise more than half-60.3 percent-of all AARP revenues; a Bloomberg news analysis published in December found that in 1999, royalties comprised only 11 percent of the organization's total revenues.
* The Bloomberg article-which highlighted what one observer called AARP's "dirty little secret"-profiled seniors who felt betrayed after paying hundreds of dollars above market price for AARP-branded coverage. One noted that "AARP has great buying power, and people should be able to get the best deal....This is unconscionable, what AARP has allowed to happen." Another disillusioned senior wrote to the organization's leadership asking whether AARP had a "‘special relationship' with [insurance carriers] by which it receives commissions, incentives, rebates, or dare I say ‘kickbacks?'"-and when he arrived at AARP headquarters for a tour, was promptly escorted out of the marble-covered atrium.
* While H.R. 3200 would place strict price controls on Medicare Advantage plans-requiring them to pay out 85 percent of premium revenues in medical claims-Medigap policies face a far less strict 65 percent requirement. In other words, under the Democrat bill, seniors could pay as much as 20 cents more out of every premium dollar to fund "kickbacks" to AARP-sponsored Medigap plans than Medicare Advantage plans. "
Still think AARP has your best interests at heart?
Check out the 60-Plus Association at http://www.60plus.org/
P.S. For those who are wondering - their website has been around since 8-JUL-1996 and is registered to their corporate offices in Woodbridge, VA. In other words, it's not a fly-by-night.
ObamaCare requires monthly premium to fund abortions
I'm not making this up. The link: http://republicanleader.house.gov/blog/?p=666 (Yes, that's the actual URL.) And yes, this is Mr Boehner's site, so keep that in mind.
" Health care reform should not be used as an opportunity to use federal funds to pay for elective abortions. Health reform should be an opportunity to protect human life - not end it.
" Unfortunately, Speaker Pelosi’s 2,032-page government takeover of health care does just that. On line 17, p. 110, section 222 under “Abortions for which Public Funding is Allowed” the Health and Human Services Secretary is given the authority to determine when abortion is allowed under the government-run plan. The Speaker’s plan also requires that at least one insurance plan offered in the Exchange covers abortions.
What is even more alarming is that a monthly abortion premium will be charged of all enrollees in the government-run plan. It’s right there on line 16, page 96, section 213, under “Insurance Rating Rules.” The premium will be paid into a U.S. Treasury account - and these federal funds will be used to pay for the abortion services.
" Section 213 describes the process in which the Health Benefits Commissioner is to assess the monthly premiums that will be used to pay for elective abortions under the government-run plan. The Commissioner must charge at a minimum $1 per enrollee per month. "
"The Commissioner must charge at a minimum $1 per enrollee per month."
What about those who are opposed to abortion on religious grounds? Moral grounds? Ethical grounds? What about those who just plain don't want to?
Remember Mr Osama (OBAMA ... I'm gonna keep having trouble with 'the one's' name, I just know it) saying that ObamaCare wouldn't be used to pay for abortions?
He lied? AGAIN? Say it ain't so, O!!
" Health care reform should not be used as an opportunity to use federal funds to pay for elective abortions. Health reform should be an opportunity to protect human life - not end it.
" Unfortunately, Speaker Pelosi’s 2,032-page government takeover of health care does just that. On line 17, p. 110, section 222 under “Abortions for which Public Funding is Allowed” the Health and Human Services Secretary is given the authority to determine when abortion is allowed under the government-run plan. The Speaker’s plan also requires that at least one insurance plan offered in the Exchange covers abortions.
What is even more alarming is that a monthly abortion premium will be charged of all enrollees in the government-run plan. It’s right there on line 16, page 96, section 213, under “Insurance Rating Rules.” The premium will be paid into a U.S. Treasury account - and these federal funds will be used to pay for the abortion services.
" Section 213 describes the process in which the Health Benefits Commissioner is to assess the monthly premiums that will be used to pay for elective abortions under the government-run plan. The Commissioner must charge at a minimum $1 per enrollee per month. "
"The Commissioner must charge at a minimum $1 per enrollee per month."
What about those who are opposed to abortion on religious grounds? Moral grounds? Ethical grounds? What about those who just plain don't want to?
Remember Mr Osama (OBAMA ... I'm gonna keep having trouble with 'the one's' name, I just know it) saying that ObamaCare wouldn't be used to pay for abortions?
He lied? AGAIN? Say it ain't so, O!!
'The Notes' - Why are they there?
This blog entry (journal entry, whatever) is the first in a long time, I know. I've been busy, and didn't want to devote the time to this blog/journal.
Having said that, there's something I need to say.
Back when I was working for a major wireless provider and even before that at a major computer manufacturer, we had to keep copious notes. Why? Good question, especially since a number of people these days don't bother to read the damn things.
The notes exist for a reason. They're there to make your job (the Customer Service Rep's) job easier. They're there to explain any oddities or special instructions about the account. In the case of payment information, they exist so that if there is a problem with a certain type of payment (cheque or credit card) you can ask for an alternate form of payment.
I actually had this happen: A Customer's debit card went to one account yet his cheque information (Same account mind you) went to another. It was what you could call a "Special Instruction," which is why I notated it as such. That's also another reason why the notes exist. Yet in more than one occassion at the wireless provider, I had my special instruction (ensuring that the Customer's debit card only was used for payment) removed and replaced with 'no obans.' (At the time I worked there, they kept track of accounts by BAN number. And a rep had to check for another ban 'oban (other BAN)' during each call. And they had to note such in the logs.) Now forgive me for being dense, but 'no obans' does not a special instruction make:
1) Each rep was required to check for another BAN (oban)
2) Each rep was required to note any other BANs in the account notes (Either "oban (account #)" or "no obans")
3) Under reasons 1 and 2 above, that was not a special instruction.
Yet I had to appear before an area manager and explain why I was 'causing trouble' in trying to get people to NOT notate special instructions as 'oban' or 'no oban.' Honestly. Talk about the epitome of idiocy.
In not reading the notes, you've managed to waste at least three people's time:
1) Yours
2) The person you're speaking with
3) The person that wrote the notes
4) The person who added to the notes (if anybody did)
This then would be the epitome of two things: Idiocy and inefficiency.
Yet these are the same people who bitch when in the checkout que at the store because the cashier is 'taking too long.' Or they're talking with the Customers and are 'wasting time' according to management and/or other Customers.
But these are the same 'Customer Service Reps' that can't bother to read the damn notes.
This is not rocket science, folks. It honestly isn't.
I promise that the next person that calls here that doesn't read the notes is gonna be pointed right back to this entry. And then they're gonna get ripped a new one.
The notes are there for a reason. If you can't be bothered to read them, you deserve what you get.
Having said that, there's something I need to say.
Back when I was working for a major wireless provider and even before that at a major computer manufacturer, we had to keep copious notes. Why? Good question, especially since a number of people these days don't bother to read the damn things.
The notes exist for a reason. They're there to make your job (the Customer Service Rep's) job easier. They're there to explain any oddities or special instructions about the account. In the case of payment information, they exist so that if there is a problem with a certain type of payment (cheque or credit card) you can ask for an alternate form of payment.
I actually had this happen: A Customer's debit card went to one account yet his cheque information (Same account mind you) went to another. It was what you could call a "Special Instruction," which is why I notated it as such. That's also another reason why the notes exist. Yet in more than one occassion at the wireless provider, I had my special instruction (ensuring that the Customer's debit card only was used for payment) removed and replaced with 'no obans.' (At the time I worked there, they kept track of accounts by BAN number. And a rep had to check for another ban 'oban (other BAN)' during each call. And they had to note such in the logs.) Now forgive me for being dense, but 'no obans' does not a special instruction make:
1) Each rep was required to check for another BAN (oban)
2) Each rep was required to note any other BANs in the account notes (Either "oban (account #)" or "no obans")
3) Under reasons 1 and 2 above, that was not a special instruction.
Yet I had to appear before an area manager and explain why I was 'causing trouble' in trying to get people to NOT notate special instructions as 'oban' or 'no oban.' Honestly. Talk about the epitome of idiocy.
In not reading the notes, you've managed to waste at least three people's time:
1) Yours
2) The person you're speaking with
3) The person that wrote the notes
4) The person who added to the notes (if anybody did)
This then would be the epitome of two things: Idiocy and inefficiency.
Yet these are the same people who bitch when in the checkout que at the store because the cashier is 'taking too long.' Or they're talking with the Customers and are 'wasting time' according to management and/or other Customers.
But these are the same 'Customer Service Reps' that can't bother to read the damn notes.
This is not rocket science, folks. It honestly isn't.
I promise that the next person that calls here that doesn't read the notes is gonna be pointed right back to this entry. And then they're gonna get ripped a new one.
The notes are there for a reason. If you can't be bothered to read them, you deserve what you get.
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