Friday, July 03, 2009
Palin
Lots of speculation about Palin's sudden resignation. Some makes sense, some doesn't. One comment that doesn't make sense from Amy Holmes at NRO:
Nope, Holmes has it backwards. The deepest problem with our political class right now is that they are not quitters. They only want to stay in office, regardless of whether their presence contributes anything to their constituents or their state. Sanford is the perfect example.
We need more quitters, more politicians and celebrities who know when to hold 'em and when to fold 'em, know when the public would be better served by someone else.
Without quitters, we get the current pack of zombies. Walking dead, mechanically following in the random shuffling footsteps of demented senile "leaders" like Emperor Teddy and Manchurian Candidate McCain.
More seriously: When you've lost all credibility, or when events have gone beyond your comprehension, or when you're burned out, you cannot perform an important job. If you stay in your office after these turning points, you are a danger to the public. ¶ 2:56 PM
No way around it. She has just labeled herself a "quitter." Someone who doesn't finish what she started. What in the world is wrong with Republican governors? One self-absorbed politician after the next. Governors: "It's not all about you!"
Nope, Holmes has it backwards. The deepest problem with our political class right now is that they are not quitters. They only want to stay in office, regardless of whether their presence contributes anything to their constituents or their state. Sanford is the perfect example.
We need more quitters, more politicians and celebrities who know when to hold 'em and when to fold 'em, know when the public would be better served by someone else.
Without quitters, we get the current pack of zombies. Walking dead, mechanically following in the random shuffling footsteps of demented senile "leaders" like Emperor Teddy and Manchurian Candidate McCain.
More seriously: When you've lost all credibility, or when events have gone beyond your comprehension, or when you're burned out, you cannot perform an important job. If you stay in your office after these turning points, you are a danger to the public. ¶ 2:56 PM
Wanna get really, really pissed off?
Continuing this week's (unintentional) canine theme.
Big story in Spokane. And rightfully a big story. Human civilization depends on dogs, and this evil featherless biped has violated the basic dog-man "social contract" by behaving like an Arab.
Seems like the kind of story that would go national, but I doubt that it will. The vicious entity who committed this atrocity is an Authentic African-American (i.e. a gangster with a long criminal record) so the national media won't be able to digest the story. Our enemy-controlled media have a strongly enforced official line: "Only whites can do evil. Southern Christian whites do nothing but evil. Authentic African-Americans are incapable of doing bad things." ¶ 6:54 AM
Big story in Spokane. And rightfully a big story. Human civilization depends on dogs, and this evil featherless biped has violated the basic dog-man "social contract" by behaving like an Arab.
Seems like the kind of story that would go national, but I doubt that it will. The vicious entity who committed this atrocity is an Authentic African-American (i.e. a gangster with a long criminal record) so the national media won't be able to digest the story. Our enemy-controlled media have a strongly enforced official line: "Only whites can do evil. Southern Christian whites do nothing but evil. Authentic African-Americans are incapable of doing bad things." ¶ 6:54 AM
Thursday, July 02, 2009
California sinking
Dreher asked for comments from Californians on the ridiculous fiscal condition of that state. One commenter named JerryS mentioned the low property taxes.
I hadn't realized just how unbelievably low they are!
I responded in that blog with a comparison, and I want to repeat the basic math here for easy reference.
Jerry said that his property is worth about $1.4 million at current realistic valuation, and his Cal property tax is $1300 per year.
My house here in Spokane is valued at about $60,000 by the county. (It wouldn't sell for that much, but we're talking about official valuation here.) My property tax is $600 per year, which is quite manageable even on my tiny income; doesn't feel excessive or outrageous at all.
So:
My WA house is 1/20 of Jerry's CA house.
My WA tax is 1/2 of Jerry's CA tax.
In proportion, I'm paying 10 times as much property tax as Jerry.
Another Wash commenter had a much higher house value but the very same proportion: Wash tax is 10 times the California tax.
No damn wonder California is going bankrupt.
And still their governor can't get serious. Scheissenesser can't decide what to do, can't bring himself to offend any of the Important People, doesn't understand the purpose of governing. ¶ 2:00 PM
I hadn't realized just how unbelievably low they are!
I responded in that blog with a comparison, and I want to repeat the basic math here for easy reference.
Jerry said that his property is worth about $1.4 million at current realistic valuation, and his Cal property tax is $1300 per year.
My house here in Spokane is valued at about $60,000 by the county. (It wouldn't sell for that much, but we're talking about official valuation here.) My property tax is $600 per year, which is quite manageable even on my tiny income; doesn't feel excessive or outrageous at all.
So:
My WA house is 1/20 of Jerry's CA house.
My WA tax is 1/2 of Jerry's CA tax.
In proportion, I'm paying 10 times as much property tax as Jerry.
Another Wash commenter had a much higher house value but the very same proportion: Wash tax is 10 times the California tax.
No damn wonder California is going bankrupt.
And still their governor can't get serious. Scheissenesser can't decide what to do, can't bring himself to offend any of the Important People, doesn't understand the purpose of governing. ¶ 2:00 PM
What's wrong with these people?
A pet peeve, not highly important but highly annoying.
I often listen to "money talk" programs (e.g. Dave Ramsey), because they're the only live-talk shows that aren't simply brand-R or brand-D parrots.
Almost every hour of such shows includes one call along these lines: "I'm 52 years old, need about $70 K per year to live on. I have $3 million in an IRA. Should I be distributing this differently? Should I put some of this money in a variable-term annuity? I'm afraid I may have to keep working until I'm 70 if I can't find the best possible return."
And the "adviser" always answers the specific question about variable-term annuities or municipal bond funds or whatever.
The "adviser" never gives the correct advice, which would be: "Listen here, dummy. You could put that $3 million under your mattress and pull out $70 K each year until you're 92. You don't need to worry about finicky details of investments, you just need to retire NOW. The R in IRA stands for Retirement, not Work Forever and Worry Forever. Retire now, dammit!"
= = = = =
Sidenote: I really wonder if some of those callers are simply lying, talking big to massage their giant egos. Why? Because I can't imagine how you could earn and accumulate several millions without being well-informed and decisive. ¶ 11:48 AM
I often listen to "money talk" programs (e.g. Dave Ramsey), because they're the only live-talk shows that aren't simply brand-R or brand-D parrots.
Almost every hour of such shows includes one call along these lines: "I'm 52 years old, need about $70 K per year to live on. I have $3 million in an IRA. Should I be distributing this differently? Should I put some of this money in a variable-term annuity? I'm afraid I may have to keep working until I'm 70 if I can't find the best possible return."
And the "adviser" always answers the specific question about variable-term annuities or municipal bond funds or whatever.
The "adviser" never gives the correct advice, which would be: "Listen here, dummy. You could put that $3 million under your mattress and pull out $70 K each year until you're 92. You don't need to worry about finicky details of investments, you just need to retire NOW. The R in IRA stands for Retirement, not Work Forever and Worry Forever. Retire now, dammit!"
= = = = =
Sidenote: I really wonder if some of those callers are simply lying, talking big to massage their giant egos. Why? Because I can't imagine how you could earn and accumulate several millions without being well-informed and decisive. ¶ 11:48 AM
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
Meanwhile, back в Родину....
As America descends farther into abject enslavement to the Wall Street Mafia, as our formerly omnipotent industrial sector continues to evaporate, leaving nothing but bets and debts ... Russia is taking the upward road.
A new law eliminates casino gambling except in a few tourist-riddled zones.
Russia is changing laws to make oil production easier, as we prostrate ourselves before The Planet Goddess Gaia in a whirling frenzy of self-immolation.
Most interestingly, the Romanov Dynasty is being 'rehabilitated', symbolically undoing the most basic transformation of the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution; and the Orthodox Church is being welcomed back into schools and government, trending toward a theocracy.
¶ 8:31 PM
A new law eliminates casino gambling except in a few tourist-riddled zones.
Russia is changing laws to make oil production easier, as we prostrate ourselves before The Planet Goddess Gaia in a whirling frenzy of self-immolation.
Most interestingly, the Romanov Dynasty is being 'rehabilitated', symbolically undoing the most basic transformation of the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution; and the Orthodox Church is being welcomed back into schools and government, trending toward a theocracy.
¶ 8:31 PM
Flogging meat
Weirdest crime story of the year. For the last three years this guy has been supporting his dope habit by stealing fresh meat from grocery stores, stuffing it in his pants, taking it to bars and selling it to drunks. He's pulled in about $60,000 per year, and apparently has some helpers.
Aside from the super-yuk factor and the ample material for dirty puns, there are some serious questions. Why would anyone buy uncooked meat from a stranger in a bar? How did the grocery stores allow that much theft?
The whole thing has an old WW2 feel, as in this 1943 Fibber episode. When "official" meat is rationed, you get this kind of black market activity. It doesn't make sense in an unrationed economy. ¶ 7:48 PM
Aside from the super-yuk factor and the ample material for dirty puns, there are some serious questions. Why would anyone buy uncooked meat from a stranger in a bar? How did the grocery stores allow that much theft?
The whole thing has an old WW2 feel, as in this 1943 Fibber episode. When "official" meat is rationed, you get this kind of black market activity. It doesn't make sense in an unrationed economy. ¶ 7:48 PM
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Trice-cream
A few minutes ago I heard the familiar fake-calliope tune of the ice-cream vendor, always a sure sign of summer. The tune sounded different this year, so I peeked out the door and saw that the ice-cream man is pedaling a tricycle! Has a big cooler box on the back, presumably unrefrigerated. This wouldn't work in seriously hot places but it's probably OK in Spokane where the typical July day hits 85 degrees.
I'll bet he has an edge over the Cushman-driving competition because his overhead will be much lower: no insurance, no gasoline, no engine repairs.
Adds a nice old-timey feel to the neighborhood. Hope he succeeds! ¶ 3:32 PM
I'll bet he has an edge over the Cushman-driving competition because his overhead will be much lower: no insurance, no gasoline, no engine repairs.
Adds a nice old-timey feel to the neighborhood. Hope he succeeds! ¶ 3:32 PM
"Methane first" proposed
Interesting change of viewpoint in the latest issue of New Superstitionist mag.
In an editorial article, Kirk Smith (Prof of "Global Environmental Health" at Berkeley) proposes tackling methane before CO2. He makes most of the usual wildly false assumptions, but skips the false assumption that CO2 is the sole representative of Satan.
Yes, idiot, it's the major nutrient for plants in case you hadn't noticed, and humans need plants.
Polistra doubts that this change will happen, because the carbon ball is already rolling too fast to stop; also because the Wall Street Mafia stands to make zillions and quillions of dollars from the next bubble in "offset derivatives"; also because the real money driver behind Gaia is the natural gas industry. And what is natural gas? Methane.
Still, this change would be a vast improvement. Given that the government is bound and determined to do something big to sate the blood fetish of the Gaians, I'd much rather have them working on methane. Much better to reduce an actual poison that really does kill people, instead of reducing a molecule that keeps the earth alive. Best of all, it would force governments to work harder to eliminate termites, since termites are the greatest source of methane!
¶ 12:46 PM
In an editorial article, Kirk Smith (Prof of "Global Environmental Health" at Berkeley) proposes tackling methane before CO2. He makes most of the usual wildly false assumptions, but skips the false assumption that CO2 is the sole representative of Satan.
Only about half the warming that has occurred up to now is due to CO2. The rest is caused by other greenhouse gases, particularly methane, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, and black carbon particles (soot). Similarly, less than half of the total warming expected over the next 20 years will be caused by CO2. ... Recent modeling shows the way to have the biggest impact ... is to immediately reduce emission of these gases. ... Another important consideration is the impact on human health. Of all the greenhouse gases, CO2 is one of the least damaging.
Yes, idiot, it's the major nutrient for plants in case you hadn't noticed, and humans need plants.
Why, then, are methane and [others] not more prominent in discussions over global warming? One reason is that the official weighting scheme is out of date.
Polistra doubts that this change will happen, because the carbon ball is already rolling too fast to stop; also because the Wall Street Mafia stands to make zillions and quillions of dollars from the next bubble in "offset derivatives"; also because the real money driver behind Gaia is the natural gas industry. And what is natural gas? Methane.
Still, this change would be a vast improvement. Given that the government is bound and determined to do something big to sate the blood fetish of the Gaians, I'd much rather have them working on methane. Much better to reduce an actual poison that really does kill people, instead of reducing a molecule that keeps the earth alive. Best of all, it would force governments to work harder to eliminate termites, since termites are the greatest source of methane!
¶ 12:46 PM
Monday, June 29, 2009
RIP Var
Lots of celebrities dying this week.
This is the most important one. None of those other celebrities saved lives. ¶ 8:58 PM
This is the most important one. None of those other celebrities saved lives. ¶ 8:58 PM
Madoff goes down
NRO has a good discussion of deterrence in the Madoff sentence. Jonah Goldberg says:
The last point is important, but the rest shows inadequate understanding of the criminal mind.
Length of sentence is not the major factor in deterrence. Professional criminals, whether white-collar or plain old robbers, have a solid sense of their odds of being caught. The ones who arrogantly believe they're too smart to get caught don't last long. Successful crooks know how to estimate the competence and crookedness of the police, and know how to find the blind spots.
In this case the odds of being caught are still extremely low, because the SEC and other supposed watchdogs are still asleep. Obama hasn't followed FDR's example, hasn't cleaned out the old system from top to bottom. The supposed watchdogs had decades of warnings about Madoff and did nothing. We don't know at this point if they were just asleep, or if Madoff was feeding them tasty treats to keep them sweet. In either case, the same tranquilized hounds are still in place.
= = = = =
Later: I see another NRO commenter finally reached the same point. ¶ 2:53 PM
The minds of very smart criminals are probably very complex, if for no other reason than the fact that crime is generally a stupid thing to get caught up in (which is why you very rarely see guys with perfect SAT scores screaming at the camera on "COPS"). Conveying a sense that the system will have no respect for you and your station, that if you get caught the system will be cold to your plight, seems to me a worthwhile message to send, even if it's of only marginal utility. It's also a good message to send to people further down the socioeconomic station who believe that the system is rigged against them.
The last point is important, but the rest shows inadequate understanding of the criminal mind.
Length of sentence is not the major factor in deterrence. Professional criminals, whether white-collar or plain old robbers, have a solid sense of their odds of being caught. The ones who arrogantly believe they're too smart to get caught don't last long. Successful crooks know how to estimate the competence and crookedness of the police, and know how to find the blind spots.
In this case the odds of being caught are still extremely low, because the SEC and other supposed watchdogs are still asleep. Obama hasn't followed FDR's example, hasn't cleaned out the old system from top to bottom. The supposed watchdogs had decades of warnings about Madoff and did nothing. We don't know at this point if they were just asleep, or if Madoff was feeding them tasty treats to keep them sweet. In either case, the same tranquilized hounds are still in place.
= = = = =
Later: I see another NRO commenter finally reached the same point. ¶ 2:53 PM
Sunday, June 28, 2009
No green bark
Always harder to notice something that's missing, the dog that doesn't bark. As I'm listening to innumerable political ads from both sides of health care reform, the usual type that ends with "call your congressman", I realized there were NO ADS FROM EITHER SIDE on the cap-n-trade bill. It's the largest government power-grab in decades, and the most atrocious government action in this century; surely the various pressure groups understood its importance. So why no ads?
I have to conclude that the fix was completely predetermined. Wall Street wants cap-n-trade, and China wants cap-n-trade. Thus the entire ruling class of this unfortunate land wants it. All present and accounted for. Thus no need for even the pretense of discussion. ¶ 9:20 AM
I have to conclude that the fix was completely predetermined. Wall Street wants cap-n-trade, and China wants cap-n-trade. Thus the entire ruling class of this unfortunate land wants it. All present and accounted for. Thus no need for even the pretense of discussion. ¶ 9:20 AM
Saturday, June 27, 2009
May Ear, My Ear
Professor Polistra wonders why everyone is pronouncing Sotomayor as "soh-toh-may-ear" or "soh-toh-my-ear".
Dumb pronunciations are forgivable in the case of obscure languages, but most Americans are familiar enough with Spanish to know that O is always pronounced O.
Is this Ear leaking through from a memory of Golda Meir? Unlikely. Meir has been dead and gone for a long time. ¶ 9:58 AM
Dumb pronunciations are forgivable in the case of obscure languages, but most Americans are familiar enough with Spanish to know that O is always pronounced O.
Is this Ear leaking through from a memory of Golda Meir? Unlikely. Meir has been dead and gone for a long time. ¶ 9:58 AM
