COLLECTIVE MADNESS


“Soft despotism is a term coined by Alexis de Tocqueville describing the state into which a country overrun by "a network of small complicated rules" might degrade. Soft despotism is different from despotism (also called 'hard despotism') in the sense that it is not obvious to the people."

Thursday, August 11, 2011

When it comes to curbing unemployment, President Obama "will not rest" until everyone looking for a job can find one, White House spokesman Jay Carney said Wednesday.


62 comments:

  1. In Nairobi, on the way to the Mesai Mara, where we went on safari, our driver David pointed out the U.S. Embassy where 258 people died in a tragic terrorist bombing in 1998, just a few hundred yards from our hotel. He made it clear that Kenya had since taken no chances with our lives.

    ...

    I also asked David about President Obama’s Kenyan roots. “We had a national holiday the day after he was elected because we thought he was Kenyan,” he said. “But since then we realized he isn’t a Kenyan President. He’s just another American President.”

    ...

    In the end, Obama was just another president—a smart man doing his best under trying circumstances, but not categorically better or different for the color of his skin. I had been disappointed by his promise to get us out of Iraq and then his redoubling our troop commitment to Afghanistan.


    My Own Racism

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  2. I'm afraid our boy is going to be plumb tuckered out by the time this term is up, then.

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  3. President Obama is engineering the decline of America. He’s whining and moaning all the time , blaming George Bush and now he is blaming the Tea Party.

    He inherited a AAA rating and unemployment of 5.7 percent. Now he is blaming the referees for the low AA+ rating.

    Thanks to Obama, we now have a lower rating than France!

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  4. Isn't he at Martha's Vineyard or somewhere for a ten day 'break'?

    I learned another thing today - if you breed a Western saddle with an English saddle what you get is an Australian saddle, so maybe we'll compromise on that.

    Instead of shooting hoops Big O ought to take up horsemanship - there's more to it, in my view.

    b

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  5. Australian Saddles


    You can't jump in a Western saddle. Saddle horn will get you in the gut.

    b

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  6. Republican Speaker of the House John Boehner stated that he got 98 percent of what he wanted during the debt ceiling negotiations. That means that 98 percent of the American people did not get what they wanted.

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  7. Some of those Australian saddles do seem to have a saddle horn and some don't.

    She's got him stopping on a dime with the simple word 'whoa' now.

    They get along well but you don't want to jump bareback, she tells me, unless both you and the horse really know what you are doing.



    b

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  8. Remember, boob, what happened to Superman when he was jumping horses.

    Broke his neck, he did.

    Not on the cross country course, either. No, Superman was in the stadium. The "easier" portion of the Three Day Event.

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  9. A body at rest, tends to stay at rest.
    A body in motion, it tends to stay in motion.

    President Obama, he is going through the motions.

    If he really were King, well, he could dictate a solution. But he is not, nor will he be, a King.

    No, he just "another" American President, like David says.

    Fettered by Congress, for better or worse. Depending upon one's perspective of the challenges we face and the solutions thought to be "best".

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  10. The slow-motion train wreck in Europe is highlighting how financial risks haven’t disappeared from the economy. Several European sovereigns like Greece, Italy, Spain, and Portugal face a high likelihood of at least partial default. As e21 has repeatedly emphasized, the capital losses of such events will not only impact the European economy, but will also affect American financial institutions holding credit default swaps, as well as money market funds holding European debt.
    It’s also clear that the reforms envisioned in Dodd-Frank do not go far enough in preventing financial losses from generating broader crises as in 2008. More needs to be done to effectively reform the financial sector.

    Using market-based indicators and smarter capital would go a long way to fix problems in the financial sector. Instead of relying on simple estimates of credit ratings, market estimates provide real-time indications of financial distress. For instance, financial experts judging the odds of a European crisis look to the market price for insuring Italian and Greek debt in judging the riskiness of those sovereign debts – not the credit rating that those countries receive. Regulators need to do the same thing and force banks to adequately provision capital in light of market realities. Banking decisions to view sovereign debt as implicitly “safe” is the whole reason that European periphery debt has the potential to turn into broader financial problems in the first place.

    Banks also need more capital – in particular “smart” capital that can convert to equity in times of crisis. If banks were required to hold convertible capital in addition to capital reserves, they would have an additional buffer that would serve as a firewall to absorb credit shortfalls before they turn into broader economy-wide problems.

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  11. Obama doesn't know what to do. You can see it in his face. He wreaks of fear. His speech about the downgrade was right out of the iconic scene from any B war movie where the men in the foxhole realize the second lieutenant is clueless. We are reduced to a situation where the best hope is joke-cracking wrinkled-uniform, SSGT Joe Biden, Mrs' Biden's boy from Scranton.

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  12. What lovely 'good morning' thoughts by the yob from Phoenix, as usual.

    b

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  13. Joe can drink his way through any 'crisis'.

    b

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  14. "When it comes to curbing unemployment, President Obama "will not rest" until everyone looking for a job can find one, White House spokesman Jay Carney said Wednesday."

    He's going to approach the problem from the other end. If he can lower the numbers of people looking for jobs, then official unemployment numbers will go down just in time for the election.

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  15. Some of those Australian saddles do seem to have a saddle horn and some don't.

    Xena's saddlehorn looks mighty suspicious.

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  16. Why, Miss T, I'm blushing.

    Moving day for daughter.

    See ya

    Out

    b

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  17. As per his norm, boob discounts realities that are not part of his presupposed program.

    Jumping horses, over fences, is an extremely dangerous proposition, for the amateur rider.

    Even if one buys good horses and has expert coaches, jumping a horse is an extremely dangerous diversion.

    Superman had great coaches and a really good horse. The best equipment money could buy.

    He broke his neck, when the horse balked at the fence. An amateur rider, into the sport well above his skill level.

    The results, as could be expected by anyone that knew the real risks involved in the activities he was taking part in.

    Ignorance is bliss, boob. It is telling that you work so hard at staying happy.

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  18. Mounted shooting is so much safer, by comparison to riding over fences.

    The difference in the risk assessment, like that of night and day.

    Black and white.
    Not even a shade of gray.

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  19. If she insists, boob, make sure you buy an inflatable riding vest for her. Make sure to buy one that supports the neck when inflated.

    That is if you care about her well being, more than your checkbook balance.

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  20. You have no idea of the real risks involved, boob.

    None at all, to have discounted the warning, so cavalierly.

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  21. Wrecks over fences
    Novice to experts, hitting the standards, as the horse balks at the fence. Falling forward, into the jump. Neck breaking experiences.

    Falling like Superman.

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  22. Research Review
    Spinal injuries resulting from horse riding accidents


    J R Silver

    Injuries sustained as a result of horse riding are common. Serious injuries to the nervous system are the most dangerous.

    An analysis has been made of 11 papers, new figures produced by surveying Stoke Mandeville, Oswestry and Odstock spinal units and by searching the internet to determine their frequency and distribution.

    Head injuries outnumber spinal injuries by five to one.

    In contrast to other sporting accidents, there are more lumbar and thoracic than cervical injuries and more women are injured than men (though this may just be a reflection of the fact that there are more women riders than men).

    Of all horse riding activities, jumping is most likely to produce a spinal injury.

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  23. If you look at the video, you'll see that the riders come forward, off the horse and then hit the fence, often face first.

    You'll see it at the show grounds and in the backyard arena.

    More so than just falling off a horse the rider risks impact with lumber, when going over fences.

    At every skill level and locale that is imaginable.

    Falling like Superman.

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  24. The number one cause of death of Cowboys was "falling off horses."

    And, they had just about the shortest life expectancy in the history of the world.

    Horses are inherently dangerous.

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  25. I would encourage "barrel racing." Lots of fun, get to wear cool clothes, and a lot safer riding around a barrel than trying to get a horse to jump over it.

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  26. Mounted shooting, rufus, is even safer than barrel racing.

    The horse lopes along and you shoot at balloons. Lots of fun and camaraderie amongst the group.

    Need a couple of .45 Colt single action pistols and at the next phase, a long gun in .45 Colt, too.

    Some go with lever action, others favor revolving rifles. Real old school look to that.

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  27. Hmm, I've never been around any of that, Rat.

    Sounds a little like "bear roping," to me. Drunk Cowboys, loaded rifles, and horses - Whut could go wrong?

    :)

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  28. A nice calm market, today. Whew, it's been a hell of a week.

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  29. Even with that, rufus, it is safer than jumping.

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  30. The 'jumping' she does is about, maybe, two feet high. The horse could step over it. What she is into is dressage, and they have classes at the new stables.

    I do, truly, appreciate your concern.

    I am getting her a neck brace, she has a helmet, had never heard of an inflatable vest, but will look into it, that sounds good as well.

    b

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  31. Unless of course, you are George Custer, who once shot his horse in the back of the head with his SAA long Colt .45 at full gallop as he was closing in on a buffalo.

    Had to walk a half a day back to camp carrying his trooper's saddle.

    In Indian country.

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  32. A good example of what they called, "Custer Luck."

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  33. Why Illinois Can't Afford its Poor Dead

    The state of Illinois has reached a new level of broke. Come Monday, it won't have enough cash to bury its indigent dead.

    Illinois officials sent a letter to more than 600 funeral directors around the state to let them know there's no money for funerals for individuals on public assistance.

    "We got that letter," said Jonathon Szykowny, owner and director of Szykowny Funeral Home. "I'm extremely upset by it. ... I would be very concerned that during extreme economic times that some families can't provide the necessary funds to bury their loved ones. Sometimes God doesn't call during the best economic times and families can't afford to pay for a funeral and need help"

    In the past, the state has reserved about $13 million to help pay for an estimated 12,000 funerals for individuals who relied on public aid. Participating funeral homes were alloted $1,100 for funerals and $552 for the burial.

    The 2011 budget, however, accounts for just $1.9 million.

    The Illinois Department of Human Services letter said it can only guarantee payments for pauper funerals through August 15.

    Funeral directors have been advised to look for money from city or county governments, and to advise families in morgues until funding can be secured.

    "Now the only viable option --- I don't mean to make light of it -- is to leave the body at the medical examiner office," Szykowny said. "After 60 to 90 days they'll take the body to what's called a potter's field and bury it in a numbered grave."



    No kidding, I've read that one of the factors among many that lead to the Christians gaining a foothold in the old pagan cities was they'd help the poor bury there dead.

    Things is tough, out there.

    b

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  34. their dead. Additionally they'd try to help medically with the tools of the times -not much- and give food and other aid if they had it.

    People remember kindnesses.


    b

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  35. Gag Reflex said...
    A good example of what they called, "Custer Luck."


    Riding on a horse at full gallop, 1/2 a day away from friendly's lands?

    and then you shoot your horse our from under you chasing a buffalo?

    I'd call that a cluster fuck

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  36. JAKARTA, Aug. 11 (UPI) -- Indonesia's BPMigas oil and gas regulator says that national fields are in decline.

    Let them use fish oil!

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  37. Police are being given more tools to tackle disorder, British PM David Cameron told lawmakers, including curfews and the power to ask suspects to remove masks.

    "Please Mr. Looter remove your mask"

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  38. This isn't the first time people have tried to get Sesame Street to "out" the Muppets.

    Last year, a message sent from the Sesame Street's Twitter account from Bert said his mohawk was more "mo" than "hawk" -- suggesting to some that it was a coded admission that he was gay.

    Bert and Ernie are roommates on the popular kids show and were first screened to children in 1969.

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  39. If Bert and Ernie got married, who would be 'the dominant partner'?

    Daughter says Bert.

    b

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  40. Last week’s Security Weekly discussed the important role that grassroots defenders practicing situational awareness play in defending against terrorist attacks by individuals and small cells, what we refer to as grassroots militants. Anyone who reads STRATFOR’s security and terrorism material for any length of time will notice that we frequently mention the importance of situational awareness.

    ...

    First and foremost, it needs to be noted that being aware of your surroundings and identifying potential threats and dangerous situations is more of a mindset than a hard skill. Because of this, situational awareness is not something so complex and difficult that only highly trained government agents or specialized corporate security countersurveillance teams can practice it.

    ...

    People typically operate on five distinct levels of awareness. There are many ways to describe these levels (“Cooper’s colors,” for example, is a system frequently used in law enforcement and military training).


    Making a Nation Safe

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  41. “These wild swings create tremendous opportunities to buy into your favorite companies at levels below their actual worth,” advises The Motley Fool. “Since we feel confident the market will recognize its error over time, holding onto those once-cheap shares as the market recognizes their true value can generate some healthy and relatively easy profits.”

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  42. Newt Gingrich just hung Chris Wallace out to dry.

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  43. U.S. War with China "Inevitable"

    The PLA staff published a paper in 2000 that made clear China's anticipation of war in the western Pacific, "its turf".

    Of course, the carrier is or shortly will be as obsolete as the battleship was in WWII. Space is the final frontier and arbiter of strategic dominance (that would include IT).

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  44. Deuce,

    Give me another 3 sentences on Gingrich/Wallace.

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  45. An unmanned hypersonic glider developed for U.S. defense research into super-fast global strike capability was launched atop a rocket early Thursday but contact was lost after the experimental craft began flying on its own, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency said.

    ...

    Minotaur 4 is part of the Minotaur rocket family. There have been 22 Minotaur launches since 2000 — a 100 percent success rate.

    The price of a single flight ranges from $15 million to $30 million depending on the rocket style, according to the company.

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  46. Newt Gingrich has had just about enough of these process questions.

    Asked to address concerns that his campaign has been "a mess" that reflects badly on his leadership abilities, the former House speaker hurled the question back at moderator Chris Wallace.
    Continue Reading

    "I took seriously Bret’s injunction to put aside the talking points. And I wish you would put aside the gotcha questions," Gingrich said, vowing again that he'd forge ahead with his campaign: "Like Ronald Reagan, who had 13 senior staff resign … and his new campaign manager laid off 100 people … I intend to run on ideas.”

    Wallace pressed Gingrich, saying he had to be responsible for his own record.

    Gingrich swatted back: “There’s too much attention paid by the press corps to the campaign minutiae," and not enough attention "to the basic ideas that distinguish us from Barack Obama.”

    Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0811/61156.html#ixzz1UmKs4znR

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  47. The violence in England’s streets is no working-class insurrection but the uprising of the non-working, anti-working, would-do-anything-sooner-than-work class.


    I say, just as 'work is the curse of the drinking class', so too is 'work the curse of the yobbo class'.

    (neither my wife nor my daughter had ever heard of the yobbos)

    The drinking class and the yobbo class UNITE!


    b

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  48. Shattered glass, human flesh, blood and police uniforms littered the area after the bomb.

    Imtiaz Shah, another police official, said a group of schoolboys had been in the area when the bomb exploded.

    "A 12-year-old boy has also been killed," he said.


    - In Peshawar

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