Monday, February 23, 2009

Adversarial parties get nothing done.

I was thinking about political parties and their asshattery. The only problem ours have is their ridiculous adversarial ways. They fight and disagree on just about everything each other has to say. That's all fine and dandy, disagreeing on things, but disagreeing on everything is retarded. They both have the same goals, just different ways of getting things done. It's stupid that they have to blast each other for the way they believe in doing things. They need to take a quick lesson from general Buddhism and learn the idea of a 'Middle Way.' If they found their common ground and worked on that, they may begin to get things done. In the process they might start agreeing on things they used to disagree on, therefore getting things done much more smoothly. They simply need to get it out of their head that they're adversaries. They're in the same country in the same political system. They need to learn to work together or get the fuck out.

Just a small incomplete thought.

Friday, February 20, 2009

So, I've just about had it...

I have little sympathy for people who vilify Israel for what they did in the Gaza Strip. They always use the phrase, "Israel butchered men, women and children." And personally, it's getting irritating. The Palestinians need to learn that any violence or acts of terrorism gives the Israeli government the excuse they need to execute a military operation. What the Palestinians need to learn, actaully, who the Palestinians need to learn from are people like Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. They need to learn that these people achieved the impossible without a single use of violence. Once they do what those two did in their respective countries, the Israeli government will no longer have an excuse, and look like an ass for pulling off military action. And maybe, just maybe, there will be a Palestine on the map.

Because I'm behind Israel all the way when they shoots a bitch. Only when the Palestinians are non-violent will I cease to be behind Israel's right to defend its people against the asshattery of a select group of Palestinians.

Saturday, February 7, 2009

The Great Compromise

Now, here's my commentary on the stuff they compromised on in the stimulus bill.

(Got this one from CNN too).

Also, I was bored and lazy, so I didn't do a lot of writing. So piss off, I'm the Queen.

Partially cut:

• $3.5 billion for energy-efficient federal buildings (original bill $7 billion)

At least they kept half of this one. It really is a needed stimulus.

• $75 million from Smithsonian (original bill $150 million)

Again, at least they kept half of this one. It's not much of a stimulating thing, but it is needed.

• $200 million from Environmental Protection Agency Superfund (original bill $800 million)

The EPA always needs cash for its superfund. I just don't know what it'll do.

• $100 million from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (original bill $427 million)

I wonder what NOAA will do with this money?

• $100 million from law enforcement wireless (original bill $200 million)

Wireless? So they have wireless capabilities? What? Explain what they will do with these things please.

• $300 million from federal fleet of hybrid vehicles (original bill $600 million)

This is good, at least they kept half of it. Not nearly enough to stimulate the hybrid vehicle market, but still a good thing.

• $100 million from FBI construction (original bill $400 million)

Construction, ey? I thought the other things was FBI salaries. Also, I thought all of the FBI buildings were already built. But, I guess, if you need to renovate, by all means do so.

Fully eliminated

• $55 million for historic preservation

This could create jobs (not for unemployed Americans) but for preservationists. I always think it's good to preserve things, but this needed to be put into another bill.

• $122 million for new Coast Guard polar icebreaker/cutters

Alright, I figured this one would go. Needs to be put into another bill.

• $100 million for Farm Service Agency modernization

I want to know how far back these people are before I say that this could have stayed.

• $50 million for CSERES research

Cut it, but what was it for? What the hell does the acronym stand for?

• $65 million for watershed rehabilitation

They don't like environmental protection, both Democrats and Republicans I see.

• $30 million for SD salaries

SD, SD, SD, what does it stand for? I'm too tired to think. I thought salaries were a good thing. Pay people money so they can spend it on stuff.

• $100 million for distance learning

Hmmm... Well I don't think this should be in this bill.

• $98 million for school nutrition

Education bills is where this junk belongs.

• $50 million for aquaculture

Aquaculture? Great word. But I thought if we protected the oceans, they would do our aquaculture for us.

• $2 billion for broadband

Well, cut it. Yeah, we can do this one later.

• $100 million for NIST

I didn't know NIST needed it...

• $50 million for detention trustee

Again, I didn't know these people needed it. A lot of this stuff really need their own bills, and to be put into other bills that they would fit better in.

• $25 million for Marshalls Construction

Lawl, this one could indeed be cut.

• $300 million for federal prisons

Our prisons are already one of the most comfortable systems of detention centers in the world. I really do think rehabilitation is bullshit, and we need more medieval dungeon in our prisons. I bet that would rehab people real quick.

• $300 million for BYRNE Formula

Cut. Anther bill, another time.

• $140 million for BYRNE Competitive

Cut. Another bill at another time.

• $10 million state and local law enforcement

Too damn little already. Put it in another bill some other time.

• $50 million for NASA

NASA needs to focus back on our oceans. We know more about space than our own ocean.

• $50 million for aeronautics

What? These are for other bills.

• $50 million for exploration

Yeah, really. Cut if for another time.

• $50 million for Cross Agency Support

Eh, another bill, indeed.

• $200 million for National Science Foundation

Not stimulating, all these things need to be in other bills.

• $100 million for science

Science is good, but these need to be in education stimulating bills.

• $1 billion for Energy Loan Guarantees

Eh. I was indifferent this one.

• $4.5 billion for GSA

I'm becoming a broken record. Other bills.

• $89 million GSA operations

And I repeat myself.

• $50 million from DHS

This one is actually needed. the DHS is rather underfunded in my opinion. But yeah, I repeat myself.

• $200 million TSA

Kill them, security theatre isn't my cup of tea. I prefer real security.

• $122 million for Coast Guard Cutters, modifies use

This should be in another bill with the Ice Breaker money.

• $25 million for Fish and Wildlife

Is it job creating? If it's not, it needs to be here.

• $55 million for historic preservation

I copied and pasted this from CNN, they fail at proofreading.

• $20 million for working capital fund

Bahhhh... Die.

• $165 million for Forest Service capital improvement

Other bills.

• $90 million for State and Private Wildlife Fire Management

No.

• $1 billion for Head Start/Early Start

Education bills, not stimulus bills.

• $5.8 billion for Health Prevention Activity

Health bills, bahhh...

• $2 billion for HIT Grants

Good.

• $600 million for Title I (NCLB)

Bah....

• $16 billion for school construction

Education bills, but yes, this can stimulate the construction business. But put it in the education bill...

• $3.5 billion for higher education construction

As I said above.

• $1.25 billion for project based rental

Beh...

• $2.25 billion for Neighborhood Stabilization

Useful, but other bills.

• $1.2 billion for retrofitting Project 8 housing

Stimulate the construction industry. But yeah, it could have been here or in another bill.

• $40 billion for state fiscal stabilization (includes $7.5 billion of state incentive grants)

These things definitely need to be put in other bills.

So yeah, they did an alright job getting rid of this stuff out of the stimulus bill. They kept half of of some of the good stuff, and got rid of that that needed to be in other bills.

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Cannabis Sativa

So you've no doubt heard that some asshat took a photo of Phelps taking a hit off of a bong, and that he's been suspended from competitive swimming for three months and lost a sponsor. I just want to find the asshat that took the photo and let it out. With marijuana still illegal to basically look at, it's not smart to take photos of people smoking it. Anyways, I don't doubt he really was smoking ganja (could have been tobacco, who knows?). I just think the fact he had to come right out and say he was wrong, that just proved he did smoke marijuana. The fact that people are making a big deal out of it is stupid, lay off the guy. I don't know why we have to set the dogs on anyone who smokes the stuff...

...Which is a lot of Americans. I know a retired drug enforcement officer that smokes it, a lot of my friends are leisure smokers, a lot of my parents' friends are, and that huge host of Americans who smoke it, this is a lot of people. I've never smoked it directly (been in a hot boxed room), gives me a migraine-like headache, so I stay away from it. My only request is blow the smoke out the window or go outside. I think it's stupid that it's a criminal act to be connected to it. The huge base of Americans that smoke it is a huge untapped tax base.

I still advocate the decriminalization of it and the legalization of growing it. Farms of the stuff can grow up (creating jobs, a hee hee) and be a taxable base. We can turn the exclusive marijuana cartels into legitimate businesses, just import the stuff and put an eight or ten percent tariff on it. More revenue, because a lot of Americans smoke it. Put the same tax on it that we put on these decrepit cigarettes (which are deadlier than ganja). I see benefits compared to cigarettes (which are basically filled with death).

This is a lot of revenue. More money for a government that needs it, and an economic situation that needs stimulating.

So, here's my idea:

(You might want to read this first, it's a .pdf).

So, that said that about 14 million Americans use the stuff. Tax base. Marijuana might have several things that can harm the human body, but this is all natural stuff. Cigarettes have a host of junk in them that the manufacturing process puts into them. Now:

Six bucks for 12 marijuana blunts multiplied by 14 million is: 84 million. Now only a dollar and a half of that is tax, so: two million one hundred thousand. Also, people buy more than one box of cigarettes, so it'll definitely be more.

That's just the tax from directly buying the blunts. Tariffs on importing the stuff could be massive money makers. Probably more than that. I don't know they exact amount of ganja illegally imported so I can only speculate on how much it would be. But I figure it would be a lot.

If its growth is legalized, it can be taxed through growth and interstate transport. There can be farming jobs, and processing jobs, and (I bet) it could be processed to be less harmless with the same effects.

Here in Washington we have Liquor Stores run by the government (I think) to get the taxes directly. We could just put the marijuana through the same store. Also, we could license dealers to sell it in their own stores. A lot of revenue to be made, to be sure.

Yeah, that's just a simple idea.

Also, I have to say this. You can't make the argument that the 'marijuana culture' is worse than the 'alcohol culture' or the 'prescription drug culture.' In my opinion, the latter of those three is the worst because it is legal. Marijuana is far less worse than these prescription drugs people abuse.

Pay caps and asshats.

Most of America (at least on the hardcore liberal side) are behind the recent pay cap proposal. It sounds like a good idea, and it probably is. I like to hear CEOs and executives complaining that there shouldn't be pay caps and what not, but I'm not going to listen to them. They're the asshats trying to cover their back. Even if they're good at their job, that doesn't mean that they deserve ridiculous bonuses and huge salaries. A five-hundred thousand dollar pay cap isn't bad, you're still making more than almost all Americans, and you still have all that money you earned before the pay cap. That should be enough to make them shut up and deal with it, even if the only thing the pay cap does is make Americans happy.

Either way, I'd lke to see pay caps for rich bastards that took on too much risk. Anyways...

The only American people (besides the exects) that I've seen against this like to think they're purely capitalist. That's fine and dandy, but you aren't living in a pure capitalist country. If it were, there would be a host of large companies (or just one) that owned all services offered by killing off all the other competitors. But that doesn't happen in America, we have Anti-Trust Acts and laws to prevent monopilizing. Monopolies aren't bad to me, as long as the don't raise prices beyond their fair market value, because I don't want to pay fifty bucks for toothbrush.

Also, I bet you all the loser Socialists are for this pay cap. Socialism isn't bad (neither is Communism), but it just doesn't work. People are too greedy. That's one of the reasons why the housing market fell, and banks started going under. It's not the only reason, but it's a big one.

Yeah, I'm done.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

How is this wasteful?

So the Republicans have released a list of what they call wasteful spending. Now, I agree on some, but here's commentary on all of them:

(I got this one off CNN.com, by the way).

• $2 billion earmark to re-start FutureGen, a near-zero emissions coal power plant in Illinois that the Department of Energy defunded last year because it said the project was inefficient.

I don't see this as too bad, but I still think coal is an outdated power source myself. We shouldn't be investing in a coal plant, but research to find that alternative fuel that could finally replace these deficient fossil fuels. Just change this to 'Two billion to the person who finds the miracle solution."

• A $246 million tax break for Hollywood movie producers to buy motion picture film.

Movies are a part of revenue and job creation. Takes a lot of people to work on a movie. I don't see how this, a tax break that Republicans all so love, would be wasteful...

• $650 million for the digital television converter box coupon program.

Truthfully, this can be considered a part of national security. Lots of people still get their information from radios, but the television is another useful tool to get information to people who need it. If that goes away, what happens then?

• $88 million for the Coast Guard to design a new polar icebreaker (arctic ship).

This can be viewed either way. Ice breakers break ice for research purposes, and to make shipping lanes (and because it's fun). If it helps them make a shipping lane through ice more efficiently, then why not? 88 million may be a bit much, but this could be needed, or it couldn't. It's teetering, really.

• $448 million for constructing the Department of Homeland Security headquarters.

Just no. There's enough buildings for them to occupy, no need to give them nearly 448 million to build a new one. Cut it by two thirds and let them retrofit an existing building to fit their purpose and needs.

• $248 million for furniture at the new Homeland Security headquarters.

Wow, I agree, that is wasteful... Ever hear of Value Village people?

• $600 million to buy hybrid vehicles for federal employees.

This one is genius. It does two things, helps economic growth. You're putting 600 million into whichever car company you choose, and you're killing emissions from big clunky vehicles they already use.

• $400 million for the Centers for Disease Control to screen and prevent STD's.

Prevent disease, die from it. Natural selection works much better at getting rid of disease. Just because people are stupid doesn't mean we should help them with their gonorrhea.

• $1.4 billion for rural waste disposal programs.

Create jobs, I bet you. Rural waste is the same as city waste. It needs to be moved and sent out, though I really don't think 1.4 billion is enough for all the ruralness here in America. So yeah.

• $125 million for the Washington sewer system.

As well, creates jobs. Or at least maintains them (along with the sewer system all those Republicans shit into). I don't see why you would try and get rid of this. I want a Republican senator to go without a working sewer system for a month and see how they like it.

• $150 million for Smithsonian museum facilities.

This is trademark Republican asshattery. The Smithsonian is an institution to further the learning of people. It just seems so Republican to try and kill learning centers and arts.

• $1 billion for the 2010 Census, which has a projected cost overrun of $3 billion.

I'm sure there's a lot of jobs that'll be created to take this census report. If it's going to overrun, why not tackle it now instead of wait? Doesn't seem right to me to put shit like this off until the last minute.

• $75 million for "smoking cessation activities."

I think people should just die from their smoking and leave it at that. But if you insist on putting in anti-smoking junk, you actually kill a lot of people's livelihoods. Especially the tobacco farmers.

• $200 million for public computer centers at community colleges.

As I said before, trademark Republican asshattery.

• $75 million for salaries of employees at the FBI.

They should have a bake sale in my opinion. But this is like the census thing, if we put this kind of thing off, what happens?

• $25 million for tribal alcohol and substance abuse reduction.

We fucked them up enough, so I figure this is the least we could do for them.

• $500 million for flood reduction projects on the Mississippi River.

I think the people who get flooded should build their houses on higher ground. Flood plains were meant for farming in civilization, not living on. But yeah, this is one of those things that could create jobs. A lot of money is needed to fix levee systems and the like, and a lot of people (and dirt). Also, this is nowhere near enough.

• $10 million to inspect canals in urban areas.

I don't think many places have canals here in the US, there's very few of them. Even so, I still don't think 10 million would be enough to do anything about them if they were found to be in danger. Which they probably are.

• $6 billion to turn federal buildings into "green" buildings.

Why not? Fucking Republicans. This could stimulate a part of the economy that needs some stimulation in my opinion. Fuck off you fucking Republicans.

• $500 million for state and local fire stations.

If this is taken out, I hope their houses burn down due to lack of funding. But this isn't enough obviously.

• $650 million for wildland fire management on forest service lands.

Usually the forest burns, then regrows. I see little point in this one. Though I don't know what exactly they'd do with the money.

• $1.2 billion for "youth activities," including youth summer job programs.

I need this. You probably need this. Anyone without a job needs this. Especially the ones without job experience. The Republicans need to learn that people need activity funding, and job finding funding. Because people with money, will spend the money, therefore stimulating economy. Though it all really depends on what will be done with the little funding here.

• $88 million for renovating the headquarters of the Public Health Service.

Tell them to renovate the way they raise money. Have a bake sale. I know this is a needed institution, but what does it say when their building needs renovation? Tooooooo late.

• $412 million for CDC buildings and property.

Hmmm, this can be good or bad. It might help stimulate a small portion of the economy, but it might not. Either way, this one can stay or go.

• $500 million for building and repairing National Institutes of Health facilities in Bethesda, Maryland.

Who says this is wasteful? It might be a bit much, if they haven't taken bids for it yet, but it does have a point. If this is taken out they can just charge more for healthcare.

• $160 million for "paid volunteers" at the Corporation for National and Community Service.

'Paid volunteers.' That's a great phrase. I figure if you have money, you will spend money, therefore stimulating whichever part of the economy they wish to stimulate.

• $5.5 million for "energy efficiency initiatives" at the Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration.

Lolz, the VA already shits on veterans, they don't need "energy efficiency initiatives." Though they might, I don't know. You be the judge.

• $850 million for Amtrak.

I didn't know Amtrak was in any trouble. But yeah, it doesn't seem useful to me because I don't know what the money would go towards. But if they really need it, by all means, let the rail industry thrive.

• $100 million for reducing the hazard of lead-based paint.

Yes, lets do that. I figure we can take lead out of gasoline, why not paint as well? I think they should ask the Chinese government for a little help on this one.

• $75 million to construct a "security training" facility for State Department Security officers when they can be trained at existing facilities of other agencies.

Yeah, it could stimulate the construction industry which is hurting, but they can be trained at the other existing facilities.

• $110 million to the Farm Service Agency to upgrade computer systems.

Yes, upgrade your computers because one day it may matter. I wonder what would happen if their system went offline....

• $200 million in funding for the lease of alternative energy vehicles for use on military installations.
Not enough. This really should be added to the 600 million for government hybrid vehicles. It could work.

Yeah, that's my two bits.

Monday, February 2, 2009

Global Warming? Or is it Global Cooling?

Well, anyone with a brain will realize that it's a global climate trend that leads to the warming of temperatures worldwide and to extreme seasons in places they were never extreme before.

I always enjoy reading things that say, "There's lots of snow in (usually England at the moment) so global warming can't be true!" Yeah, well, just because there's a lot of snow in England during the Winter doesn't mean global warming isn't true. England is between latitude degrees 51 and 59, basically between Calgary, Canada and half way North in the middle of the Hudson Bay. These places get a lot of snow as a general observable rule. The little things called the Gulf Stream, North Atlantic Drift, and the Canary current are the thermostat for the Temperate climate of England and most of Eastern Europe. It's not the atmosphere that heats up during global warming (don't get me wrong, it does heat up) it's the oceans. Since the oceans are really big heat gobbling machines (yes, they are machines. That's why currents move). When a currents go a little astray, so does the climate.

Ever see "Day After Tomorrow?" Yeah, shitty movie, but it gives you a two hour look at a possibility. The currents aforementioned get fucked up when too much fresh water disrupts the salinity and therefore the flow of the current and bam, the Eastern United States and Europe go cold. You stop that current, shit goes cold simple as that. Now, I've never seen "An Inconvenient Truth" and I'm not sure I want to. It's just a movie after all, a documentary of sorts. I prefer actual scientific shows and talks with Climatologists (not Meteorologists, they don't study long-term climate change). Most of them tell me that the Earth goes through trends of warming and cooling (Medieval Warm Period, Mini-Ice Age in the early 1800s). Yes, we agree on that? They know this because they can take ice core samples from Antarctica from a long way back and analyze the atmosphere trapped within tiny bubbles. Simple thing, no? Don't try and refute it, it has, and still does happen. But anyways, new paragraph:

While the Earth may go through normal warming and cooling periods, that's the Earth doing it itself. No help from humans. Let me put it to you simply: All we are doing is putting about (gimme a break, I'm guessing) a million-plus years of natural carbon dioxide (and therefore methane) discharges, what would have normally been released by volcanic activity (which leads to the methane) and shoving that into about 400 years. One million, to four hundred. 400 is .04% of one million. That's no time at all in geologic time. But yeah, what we're doing is the speedy version of extreme natural warming. That's what humans want, right? Speedy outcomes to things? We have no patience, correct? Instant gratification global warming.

Okay, so, guess what brings us out of global warming? That's right, the oceans. They dilute the carbon dioxide in their waters (which can lead to a stagnate ocean) and help bring the temperature down. That's why this would take a million years I estimate, because the oceans would say, "oh no no no no no," and absorb the portions of carbon dioxide that they could. And yes, it will probably be the oceans that bring us out of this global warming. But not fast, the Earth takes her time when she balances out. She's got nothing pressing to do like us polluting species. So yeah, when the Earth balances when the warming trend is over, either because we stopped it, or it stopped us, it will work that balance until something sets it into another trend. That's the way of the world.

I'm not advocating the stop of our greenhouse gas emissions, oh no. It would be nice, yes. But I like to be the one that says, "I told you so." when shit hits the fan.