Cell Phone Madness

This %$###@%^ nanny state bullshit just keeps flowing. Last statistic I could find was 2008. Per the Department of Transportation, there are over 196,165,666 licensed driver in the USA. Some will always be knuckleheads. Defensive driving, people. So here is the latest self important airhead wanting to further restrict our freedoms:

"According to NHTSA, more than 3,000 people lost their lives last year in distraction-related accidents", said Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman. "It is time for all of us to stand up for safety by turning off electronic devices when driving."

"No call, no text, no update, is worth a human life."

Can we find people in government service who at least pass reality once or twice a day in the hall?

The fundamental problem is government people—pointy-headed bureaucrats—telling people what to do. There is an environment in this city of people unwilling to admit their mistakes and move ahead. The attitude toward rule-making has been so curtailed that common sense recommendations now take years and years.

— James Hall, NTSB, 1996

I am for hands free cell phone usage and no texting; even a scofflaw like me can change. Given the need, I will even learn to use the Bluetooth ear piece I bought four years ago.

Want to knock the economy down? Make people less productive and business less efficient. That time I’m in a vehicle, during business hours, is lost time. Any portion used productively is a boon. How well I remember the four D Cell pagers pulling down my pants, the frustration in finding a working pay phone, and the dangerous places I found a pay phone. Cell phones forever!

The illustration that accompanied the article with Ms. Hersman”s remarks? A black revolver on the left, a red blood splatter on the right with a black cell phone super imposed on the splatter.

Too bad this statistic wasn’t included:

The accidental gun death rate has been falling since 1930 and US accidental gun deaths per year were down to 613 by 2007, out of the 301,579,895 people in the USA, according to the CDC. For comparison, there were 29,846 accidental deaths by poisoning in 2007, again according to the CDC.

These are accidental deaths. Murder and suicide are not accidents. From Wikipedia:

The real percentage of suicides among car accidents is not reliably known; studies by suicide researchers tell that "vehicular fatalities that are suicides vary from 1.6% to 5%".[32] Some suicides are misclassified as accidents, because suicide must be proven; "It is noteworthy that even when suicide is strongly suspected but a suicide note is not found, the case will be classified an 'accident.'"[33]
Some researchers believe that suicides disguised as traffic accidents are far more prevalent than previously thought. One large-scale community survey (in Australia) among suicidal persons provided the following numbers: "Of those who reported planning a suicide, 14.8% (19.1% of male planners and 11.8% of female planners) had conceived to have a motor vehicle “accident”... Of all attempters, 8.3% (13.3% of male attempters) had previously attempted via motor vehicle collision."[34]

Might I suggest Ms. Twit and her staff focus on this? Oh, sorry; hard work involved.

Bullshit Squared

The Lightbringer, in addition to transparency, promised to attack waste and fraud. One of his speeches highlighted the issue.

http://www.mainjustice.com/2010/03/10/obama-speech-on-health-care-waste-and-fraud/

Tedious to wade through, I assure you, but if the lying crook directed the agencies under his control to accomplish a fraction of what he promised, we would see some help for our economic crises. How much? Try $23.7 billion in 2007 alone.

http://www.insurancefraud.org/medicarefraud.htm

How about the Defense Department? Billions upon billions.

http://www.federaltimes.com/article/20110203/ACQUISITION03/102030303/

John McCain, has said we can’t, won’t, and don’t, attack fraud and waste. Bloviating Zeppelin posted one McCain’s speeches where McCain says as much, about 2 minutes into his speech.

http://bloviatingzeppelin.blogspot.com/2011/07/down-to-wire-its-tea-partys-fault.html

May be the only honest thing he has said in years.

Medicare and Medicaid fraud has been documented and exposed over and over. Why is nothing done? Like wise the Defense Department. Yes, I understand $800 toilet seats are a way of funding “black” programs.

May I suggest, campaign contributions? During the Roaring 20’s, the bootleggers paid off the police and judges. Still happens. Want to bet the big operators in the fraud industry are also big campaign contributors?

When the honest men and women in government service raise the issue (Whistleblowers) they get hammered.

Great. The ones thieving from us, payoff the ones who should be looking out for our interests, so all of them can profit.

Term limits, damnit! Vigilantes, anyone?

Hope TO Change

Many of you have probably received this as an email and been asked to pass it on. Will try to use the VAST readership of this blog to do just that.

THE PRESIDENCY
SOME WILL APPRECIATE THIS AND SOME WILL NOT.
HOWEVER, ALL OF IT IS TRUE.

After two years of Obama ...
Here's your change!
January 2009 TODAY % chg Source
Avg.. Retail price/gallon gas in U.S. $1.83 $3.44 84% 1
Crude oil, European Brent (barrel) $43..48 $99..02 127.7% 2
Crude oil, West TX Inter. (barrel) $38..74 $91..38 135.9% 2
Gold: London (per troy oz.) $853.25 $1,369.50 60.5% 2
Corn, No.2 yellow, Central IL $3.56 $6.33 78.1% 2
Soybeans, No. 1 yellow, IL $9.66 $13..75 42.3% 2
Sugar, cane, raw, world, lb. Fob $13..37 $35..39 164.7% 2
Unemployment rate, non-farm, overall 7.6% 9.4% 23.7% 3
Unemployment rate, blacks 12.6% 15.8% 25.4% 3
Number of unemployed 11,616,000 14,485,000 24.7% 3
Number of fed. Employees 2,779,000 2,840,000 2.2% 3
Real median household income $50,112 $49,777 -0.7% 4
Number of food stamp recipients 31,983,716 43,200,878 35.1% 5
Number of unemployment benefit recipients 7,526,598 9,193,838 22.2% 6
Number of long-term unemployed 2,600,000 6,400,000 146.2% 3
Poverty rate, individuals 13.2% 14.3% 8.3% 4
People in poverty in U.S. 39,800,000 43,600,000 9.5% 4
U.S.. Rank in Economic Freedom World Rankings 5 9 n/a 10
Present Situation Index 29.9 23.5 -21.4% 11
Failed banks 140 164 17.1% 12
U.S.. Dollar versus Japanese yen exchange rate 89.76 82.03 -8.6% 2
U.S.. Money supply, M1, in billions 1,575.1 1,865.7 18.4% 13
U.S.. Money supply, M2, in billions 8,310.9 8,852.3 6.5% 13
National debt, in trillions $10..627 $14..052 32.2% 14

Just take this last item: In the last two years we have accumulated national debt at a rate more than 27 times as fast as during the rest of our entire nation's history.
Over 27 times as fast. Metaphorically speaking, if you are driving in the right lane doing 65 MPH and a car rockets past you in the left lane.
27 times faster, it would be doing 7,555 MPH!
Sources:
(1) U.S. Energy Information Administration; (2) Wall Street Journal; (3) Bureau of Labor Statistics; (4) Census Bureau; (5) USDA; (6) U.S. Dept. Of Labor;
(7) FHFA; (8) Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller; (9) RealtyTrac; (10) Heritage Foundation and WSJ; (11) The Conference Board; (12) FDIC;
(13) Federal Reserve; (14) U.S. Treasury
So, tell me again, what is it about Obama that makes him so brilliant and impressive? Can't think of anything? Don't worry. He's done all this in 29 months -- so you'll have one year and five months to come up with an answer. Every statement in this email is factual and directly attributable to Barrack Hussein Obama. Every bumble is a matter of record and completely verifiable.
EVERYONE SHOULD READ THIS...
I WONDER HOW MANY WILL FORWARD THIS ?

Political Payback???

John Edward’s prosecution is puzzling. Many of the “experts” think the government’s case is weak and may even be tossed by a judge. Whatever the outcome, he is feeling some pain. One wonders if this isn’t some payback from the Obama camp for being a candidate or other political transgressions? Could it be a warning to others considering opposing Obama? Could cause some to rethink their plans.

I was an early Edwards supporter. Part was the “lesser of several evils” position. More likely, a personal interest in an ardent Edwards supporter. This was when I was active in the Democratic Party - pre Obama.

Another line of thought. What would be the outcome if the MSM looked at Obama with the same intensity of the check stand tabloids? Think that will ever happen?

I still admire anyone who has the guts to run for public office, knowing they will face a shitload of aggravation, as part of the process.

An addition from a recent email. Stark reminder of the kind of person that is our president.
http://caucusforamerica.com/

On the Road + Obama Mentality

Another week away from the computer, blogging, and reading blogs. Our client wants new test cycles and routes with a new prototype after the current one is back in their hands. Will be a nice break in routine. Will also be a great opportunity to live up to the blog name. Need to avoid that.

The great thing about this trip is being solo; not leading a group and being responsible for them. I’m getting too grouchy to be herding cats.

Rubin Reports has one of the better explinations I've read about Obama, et al. Worth the time.

http://pajamasmedia.com/barryrubin/2011/04/29/yes-virginia-obama-foreign-policy-is-ignorance-and-stupid-rather-than-a-conspiracy/?singlepage=true

Defunding

The need for laws would go away if we all followed the Golden Rule. As a species, we don’t, so laws are made to get us to act the right way and penalize us when we don’t. With this as a starting point, our cleverness has produced a nearly infinite variation of the same theme.

The current political rhetoric in this country shows how angry many are with the prevaricators at the controls of our institutions. Yes, I know, Captain Obvious.

One tactic used is defunding. Don’t want a law enforced? Stop funding the administration of that law. Courtesy of the gun grabbers, check out Question 7.

http://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/general.html

Courtesy of the eight years of the Bush Administration? Defunding the financial regulators. When Bush left office, 71 bank examination positions for the FDIC were unfilled. I have no idea how many agencies had similar situations.

Lots of proposals out there. All would cause some loss of power by those who now have power. They are not likely to willingly relinquish that power. Again, Captain Obvious. So, term limits, and not just for elected officials. There needs to be accountability of career bureaucrats, swift and sure.

I see a 2nd Amendment solution coming; one that would weaken us and make us more vulnerable to our world enemies. I hope I’m wrong.

Hammer the Hammer

Ah, the Hammer gets hammered. Tom Delay, guilty of money laundering. One more in a dreary line of sleazy slickers. The man who so lowered the bar on bipartisanship, he paved the way for Pelosi and fellow travelers.

What a legacy. His efforts to gerrymander Texas resulted in Democrat legislators fleeing the state to prevent a quorum and shutting down the legislature (I’m not a Texan; maybe this was a good thing).

The blatant flouting of rules with the likes of Abramoff so soured public opinion, he probably ended up getting more Democrats elected than Republicans.

Readers of this blog know I am no fan of Obama. Other than national defense, I see nothing to praise Bush. DeLay is the poster boy for the whole sleazy mindset of the GOP (and Dem versions of RINOs) during the eight years we were robbed.

Just my opinion. Your mileage may vary.

Walker, KS Lesson

Small town Kansas has many fine churches. This one is in Walker, about twelve miles East of Hays and just off Interstate 70.

Once this was a thriving town, able to support a parochial school. Imagine the effort, dedication, and pride that went into making all this happen. Now the people are gone because the jobs are gone.

The state of USA agriculture, and the social impact changes have brought, has been analyzed by much more qualified people than me. We had waves of immigrants that came here for a better life. That life started with a JOB.

Today, the jobs can be moved to the people, and not in the USA. What happened to Walker, KS, is happening to this country as a whole. While taking the photos, a resident came over and talked to me. Nice man, and hungry for something novel, if only a stray tourist. Bad teeth, high starch consumption complexion, submissive body language, and wearing his Wal Mart work shirt. We talked for several minutes and I learned he is a fourth generation resident. I doubt his present is the future his forefathers wanted for him.

Recently, the GPS in my vehicle rerouted me through parts of Birmingham, AL. Block after block of burned out houses. Sullen, defeated people walking the sidewalks. Nothing cheerful in sight. What a challenge to make a life and raise children in that environment.

Folks, this is your children, grand children, and great grand children’s future if things don’t change. One of my jokes is the difference between a Republican and a Democrat is this; the Republican is focused on how the pie is divided and the Democrat is focused on making sure there is a pie.

Wealth gainfully earned I respect. Our government should not hinder those activities that make it possible. Unfortunately, greed and power follows, allowing the haves to exercise dominion over the have nots and exclude new players. We need referees, keeping the playing field level. That is the function of government. That is why we need the 2nd Amendment; so we wage slaves don’t become literal slaves. Google “Ludlow Massacre”.

So, how to create change? Get involved, at the local level, in politics. Talk to people who don’t agree with you. Try to find some common ground. Don’t be a passive victim; raise hell. It is something like contact sports. You will get bruised but they will know you were there and probably will avoid provoking you. Give thanks for what you have and thank those who do good to/for you. As an example, at a state highway rest stop, the worker cleaning the place was in the lobby. I went up to him and thanked him; that it was great to have a clean place to use. My thanks was sincere. If the place was filthy, I would have no problem finding out who supervises the facility, contacting them, and making my feelings known. It just takes a little effort.

I read a lot of conservative blogs. I also read leftist blogs. Each has one common detonator and that is nasty name calling. No respect for the oppositions viewpoint and personal disrespect freely given. If problems are going to be solved, we need to get back to being a civil society. Now it is who has power to ram it down the other throat. We are all in the same boat. If we can’t find ways to row in the same direction, we may all end up swimming.

Hey Barack, Get a Clue

You are the most unprepared President since Carter. You have surrounded yourself with the intellectual elite who are masters of budget meetings and academic turf battles. Solving real life, complex problems; not so much so.

Call on our ex-Presidents for advice. Do it privately so public confidence isn't further damaged. Put aside your ego and LISTEN to them. It will shorten your on the job training time. Personally, I don't think much of any of them but they have been there, done that.

Or, resign. Even that idiot Biden is better prepared.

Incompetents

Dixie Lee Ray, PhD, 1914-1994, was a one term governor (D) of Washington State elected in 1976. Many attributed her winning to the 8% of the electorate who voted for the OWL Party (Out with Logic, On with Lunacy), a group of patrons of a Tumwater Bar who discovered you needed only $25 to register as a candidate for a statewide office and be published in the official election guide.

I admired the woman for proving, convincingly, women can be just as incompetent as men in high public office.

Now we have Barrack Hussein Obama, J.D. who used the Internet to sway disenchanted voters. Anybody not see where this posting is headed? If not, leave a comment and I will finish it.

B.S. To The Tenth Power

Our small city recently built a new library. No problem there; the old one was about 1,800 square feet and noisy. The new facility is well designed and well constructed. The parking lot has several handicapped parking spots next to the entrance sectioned off from general parking with a sidewalk and dedicated entry and exit. No problem there; the design stops impulse parking. What gets my temper flaring are the six spots nearest the entry (see the photographs).

Having an inquiring mind, I sent an email to the patrol captain asking about the legal basis for these signs and fines for parking there. His reply was, in essence, WTF; we don't know but we will look into it.

My guess is some self important busy body got these installed. Public money was spent on those signs. The parking lot is public, not private, property. To some people, my gripe may seem petty. To me, this is an example of civil employees thinking they have the power to make rules and regulations. NOT!!! Elected representatives make rules and regulations. Civil employees administer rules and regulations. They are not free to use their positions to push their own agenda. We, as citizens, need to keep calling them out. My opinion; your mileage may vary.