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August
19, 2004
The views
expressed are written on the run, sweeping across the Great Plains, and
don't necessarily reflect the views of this publication, its sponsors,
the wagon master, party captain, or other people racing along this highway!
To read the rest of the news, click
here.
1- 'Homeland
Security 101' new university course near you?
Wired
This is certainly the case: my junk mail and spam both have a lot of ads
for these classes in them: it is often the usual culprits -the kind that
make big bucks repackaging government regulations and publications for
resale, and then offer seminars on them for prices pushing $500 PER DAY
plus travel expenses. It's a nice racket, and one more way OUR taxmoney
is getting squandered - as state and local agencies head for these. One
example: "Security Issues and Concerns for Small Water Districts"
is being offered by the American Water and Waste Water Association, for
ONLY $250 per day ($200 for members of AWWA).
2- More
Americans questioning wisdom of Iraq war
Billings Gazette
Hindsight is 20-20, and nowhere is that more obvious than in polling.
And while I wish that the numbers had been more like this BEFORE the US
attacked Iraq, it is done. The thing is, can this change in attitude be
translated into support for resolving the mess we have now?
3- U.S.
auto-safety ninnies to keep safety information from public
Arizona Daily Star
Lots of things are fishy about this decision, including the claim that
supposedly this data was never public in the first place. Is it too much
to hope that moles within the agency will be able to release the data
anyway?
4- Soldier
sues U.S. military over stop-loss enslavement
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
I certainly welcome a lawsuit like this, but fear the man has very little
case: he signed the contract voluntarily and had it explained to him in
language designed for a fifth grader to understand (even though the army
isn't taking anyone but HS grads) - "stop-loss" is no more slavery
than any other employment contract, or, for that matter, than a wedding
vow "until death do us part."
Mama's
Note: Now, wait a minute! They didn't sign up for life! They signed up
for a definite limited period and being forced to stay after that time
is up most certainly IS slavery. Show me where they signed up for an indefinite
time.
5- U.S.
medicrats engaging in antibiotic-nannying malpractice?
Forbes
As the article points out, it is not just the medicrats pushing this -
many doctors have voluntarily and independently come to the same conclusion
- that increasing resistance to antibiotics can be slowed or reduced by
using fewer antibiotics. What this points out is that an M.D., no matter
how many additional specialties they have garnered, are NOT necessarily
the experts that they wish they were, even in their own field. If this
economist's arguments are indeed shown to be sound, this could join the
AMA's dismal record on gun-control as an example of intelligent stupidity.
Mama's
Note: This 'economist' knows nothing about medicine or the free market,
so this whole article is mostly junk. The only answer to any of the problems
is the free market and government getting out of it altogether. Don't
use any anti-biotic unless it is to treat a truly life threatening infection.
A head cold is caused by a virus and anti-biotics are worse than useless,
yet it's the most common reason antibiotics are used - especially in children.
I have
not had a cold or flu in over 25 years. Write
to me if you'd like to know why.
6- Homeland
Security bungles computer upgrades, mergers
GovExec.com
Excuse me, but the agencies WITHIN an existing government department (such
as DoD or USDA) can't get their act together enough to let their systems
properly integrate. So no surprise that DHS can't do it. Fortunately -
an efficient government would be as great a danger to freedom as smart
terrorists or intelligent criminals are.
7- Costco
sued for gender discrimination
San Francisco Chronicle
Nothing earthshattering about this news, as the wage surveys and other
documents show that women are often discriminated against by private business
(and by government and non-business enterprises as well - look at the
US Cabinet or your own state's cabinet for an example). But this reminds
me that the Bill of Rights doesn't apply to private business, but only
to the federal government (and via the 14th Amendment, to the state governments
and their agencies). Anytime you prohibit discrimination, however wrong
it is, you further reduce the freedom that all people should have - a
"right of free association" IMPLIES a "right to not associate."
BTW - I'm
going to use this to air a private beef of mine - the substitution of
the word "gender" for the word "sex" - Objects (electrical
components, furniture components, etc.) have "gender" but people
come in two sexes: male and female. "Gender discrimination"
is part of the SF Chronicle and other media's attempts to politically
purify our language, but it is just plain bad English.
8- Suing
spoofers a new tactic in curbing spam
Internet News
This appears to be a legitimate private attempt to resolve a serious problem
without involving government, and I wish the ISIPP the best - as long
as they leave government out of their mix, at least until there is a clear
case of fraud or theft to prosecute.
9- Google
tosses cold water on its IPO
Reuters
Google is probably wise in doing this, as IPOs are so emotion-laden and
subject to rumors. (Like the entire stock market, where the day's headlines
seem to be far more important in pricing shares than whether a company
is actually making money or not.)
10- Earth
observation benefits 'unlimited'
Bradenton.com
I am not the one to knock the tremendous benefits that observation from
space offers, but want to inject a very large word of caution. The more
we grow dependent on the benefits of near-earth orbit or Clarke orbit
either one, as long as government agencies are the near-sole-source of
entry into those orbits, the more we find ourselves dependent on those
governments. As Proverbs says, "Put not your trust in princes,"
and that is just what we are doing if our business, for example, finds
GPS (global positioning system) essential.
11- NYC
mayor tries to bribe GOP convention protesters
Newsday
Do the blue pins spook anyone else? Identifying yourself as a "bribed
protester" might be a bit unsafe, given the intensity of some of
those planning to protest, according to various articles, but identifying
yourself as a protester to NYC's "finest" standing army might
not be too hot, either. Of course, maybe they are RFID units and you don't
need to actually "wear" them for NYC to benefit from the plan.
The rest seems simply straight-forward: if you spend your afternoon at
the "Museum of Sex" you won't be out on the street getting underfoot
12- New
Hampshire town to nanny shops on closing times?
Nashua Telegraph
Such mandatory closing laws for ALL businesses (not just food and liquor
establishments) used to be very common, and I would wait to see if this
is reflecting a new trend or not. While we tend to call these "Blue
laws" as mandatory closing on Sunday was the most common restriction,
other limits to "protect workers" or "avoid public disturbances"
were imposed as well.
13-
Minneapolis police won't charge MD who wouldn't draw blood
Duluth News Tribune
Good for this doc! In a profession known for its statist tendencies and
nannying ways, it is good to see someone stick up for his own professional
rights and obligations, and tell government to take a hike.
14- Los
Angeles pols push plan to ban Silly String
Los Angeles Daily News
If this weren't from LA, you'd think it was just a typical Silly Season
story, but in LA, it is ALWAYS the Silly Season. Over the years, everything
from Slinkies to HoolaHoops - dozens of fads - have been banned and not
just in Boston. Perhaps too many "Hollywood celebrities" are
getting tired of the mixture of toilet paper and Silly String on their
trees on 1 NOV each year. Perhaps LA should also ban TP during that time.
15- Indiana
county tries again to force no-smoking regs on citizens
Indy Star
Hopefully the citizenry will again see through this fraudulent "compromise"
which will hit them all in their pocketbooks.
16- Fort
Lauderdale's 'finest' may face charges after softball brawl
Sun-Sentinel
Yes, let us set an example for the citizenry. And just who responds to
a brawl between cops?
17- Texas
city voters to okay Cowboys' stadium welfare?
Houston Chronicle
Par for the course for the middle part of the Dalworthington Metro Complex
- Arlington is well known for its liking for all kinds of corporate welfare,
especially if associated with the entertainment industry.
18-
Seattle marijuana initiative working well
Seattle Times
Although hardly a typical city in which to test something like this for
nationwide adoption, it is still nice to hear, once again, that the fearmongering
is without merit.
19-
Detroit home-inspection regulatory scam uncovered
Detroit Free Press
The city council may never have approved the guidelines, but you can bet
they approved of the revenue, direct and indirect (through campaign contributions)
which came to them!
20- Florida
county commissioners agree to buy land from nonowner
Bradenton.com
Doesn't this just smell bad to begin with? This is another new American
innovation - how to raise profiteering to a new level.
21- Montana
police receive payoffs from drug busts
Billings Gazette
You know, many western states require that all traffic fines go, not to
courts or police, but to the local school district, in an attempt to reduce
the potential for corruption just like this - profiting from questionable
enforcement of questionable laws.
22- Salt
Lake educrats won't let kids learn in cool
Salt Lake Tribune
A buro-rat with a threat to his power can come up with any number of reasons
why NOT to do something -which is one reason so many like the "war
on terrorism." How hard can it be for a window to be made secure
around a swamp-cooler?
Mama's
Note: The most efficient place for a water type cooler is in the roof
anyway. Window placement means you lose at least 1/2 the cooling potential.
I have not had a terrorist come in through my roof cooler in just ages
now. <G>
23- Bush
okays more Colombia drug-war welfare
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Funny - I didn't know there were that many GOP or Independent voters in
Columbia, to get on the president's giveaway list this close to election
time. This additional grant also comes on the heels of testimony that
the money spent so far in Columbia has done little or nothing to reduce
drug exports from Columbia to the US.
24- Venezuelan
recall referendum vote to be audited
Sun-Sentinel
There are already stories circulating that electronic systems were completely
compromised and gave a completely false claim of a nearly 60-40 "victory"
for this budding dictator.
25- Moscow
court gives Yukos double blow
Moscow Times
The word is obviously out to the "independent judiciary" that
Yukos is dead meat - and as oil futures and spot prices continue to reach
new highs, I'm sure a lot of profits are being made under the table.
26- Israeli
Defense Force investigated for Palestinian abuse
Haaretz
It is a phenomenal number, indeed, but at least complaints are possible
and being pursued, rather than just being swept under the table.
27- So
much for global warming worldwide
Globe and Mail
Maybe, just maybe, some work on more theories is needed?
Mama's
Note: Maybe they just all need to go and find real jobs...
28- Iraq
gov issues ultimatum to Najaf fighters
Reuters
Hmmm. Has this defense minister been listening to his American trainers
or what? A lesson that they'll never forget! Too bad most of them will
continue to ignore him and everyone not in their gun sights.
29-
Police state Switzerland?
SwissInfo
To me, with a High Court decision like this one (that private remarks
are illegal, regardless of the lack of action), the question is not whether
Helvetia is moving towards a police state, but how FAST it is galloping
towards one.
Mama's
Note: Seems to me they already got there. What a shame.
Nathan Barton is writing this with the aid of his older son (also a libertarian)
today, as they travel across the Sand Hills of Nebraska. Your comments
on the comments are welcome!
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