Happy Independence Day!

Happy Independence Day.

And we can look forward to a happy energy independence day, although I think we first need to have an Obama independence day this November.

Comments

[Sara]

Not to mention that America was still under English rule at that time and not the United States of America.

[Stephanie]

Frances Scott Key Fitzgerald was a second cousin, three times removed.

He's my husband's great great great great (I think it's 4) uncle. We named our son after him. Small world!

[Jim,MtnView,Ca,USA]

I find the Social Security Trust Fund confusing. Do low, low interact rates bring insolvency closer?
http://brucekrasting.blogspot.com/2012/07/bernanke-my-goal-is-to-destroy-social.html

[narciso]

Between that, and the permanent payroll cut, that seems to be the end result, all the while
they pose as defenders of the system,

[Sara]

The Capitol Fourth on PBS is spectacular. Whew!

[Porchlight]

Frances Scott Key Fitzgerald was a second cousin, three times removed.

He's my husband's great great great great (I think it's 4) uncle. We named our son after him. Small world!

I think you are talking about two different people, yes? F. Scott Key and his namesake the novelist?

[Danube of Thought]

"...you must think all Irish people are long bearded revolutionaries sitting in smokey pubs plotting against the English."

I don't. I think they're mawkish, maudlin, largely drunken people whose heroes are all acclaimed for murdering innocents and being marched off to be justly hanged for it. They have offered the world no reason to admire them, and many reasons to hold them in contempt, and the world has responded accordingly.

DuDa himself has established his own body of work here in recent weeks. If anything he has said has evoked a single spark of admiration from any reader, I am unaware of it. He has disclosed to us exactly who he is and what he is made of. He is a low worm of a man, sullen, besotted, envious of his betters, and resentful of their successes.

And of course he is a Democrat.

[Stephanie]

Duh. What I get for posting and drinking.

I guess I didn't read the Fitzgerald part. Or had a brain fart after all the posting about the SSB and FSK and just glossed over it.

Never mind/ emily litella

[Beasts of England]

Happy Independence Day! The blessings of liberty...

[JM Hanes]

Ann!

I can't believe I missed you by a mere 10 minutes, Sis -- especially when we were clearly transmitting on the same frequency. Dad's flag is hanging in its appointed place again this year; there's a certain poignancy in the fact that it has proved so durable, when you can almost see right through it.

Hope you've had a wonderful Independence Day. My house would love to see you too! XOXOX.

[daddy]

For those mentioning new BBC programs and also the upcoming Roger Ailes slam, here's a fairly harsh look at new Leadership at the BBC from the UKTelegraph:

Yet another dismal repeat at the top of the BBC

"Surprisingly often, the BBC gives the impression that it does not care for Britain."

"one of the reasons why Mark Thompson, the outgoing director-general, has been on the whole such a failure at his post is his lack of knowledge of the world, allied to hostility or at best incomprehension towards any value system which lies outside the experience of the gilded, self-selecting media elite."

"The new director-general is a clone of the old one - a far cry from the values of Lord Reith."

Sound familiar?

[AL]

“At the time of a discovery, the company gets a patent, which produces revenue for 17 years.”

US patent gives inventor exclusive rights on the invention for 17 years from the time of patent FILING.

For pharmaceutical industry, it takes at least 12 years to go through clinical trials and FDA approval to actual sales of the drug. In most cases the window of exclusive right for particular drug is 2-3 years, and sometimes no time at all.

P.S. How do you manage to be completely ignorant of this?

[clarice]

hit, tell her to go to King Arthur Flour's site. Go to recipes and type in "Lemon squares".

[Jane - Get off the couch your country needs you!]

Hi Clarice,

Are you spending the summer in France? What fun!

[rse]

Jane-Red and I had an interesting conversation last night watching the nd of Independence Day. She said something about it not being big when it came out but being iconic with her generation. I was confused as I remember it being a big hit. Anyway she said from the Presidents speech on, that was the America her generation wants but most have no idea how to get it. They don't know enough history to really get what makes America special. But that speech makes it Feel special. They want that America.

Sad but interesting. Not Red's problem or the other kids. They grew up with history as that was my major and I love the stories.

Who would have thought that's the America her generation wants? Maybe there's a way for the Tea Party to reach the young if they appreciate that craving and can get around the media misportrayals.

[glasater]

When I saw ManTran's lovely photo I thought the rainbow may have been a Sun Dog that photographers love to find in the heavens.
The sky was so clear around the rainbow made me think of that phenomena. I've photographed Sun Dogs a few times and they mostly seem to show up high in the sky rather than close to the horizon so think I'm off on that one.

And I tried to take fireworks photos again this year and came up with a batch of "flowers" showing some relation with the ground.

Hope ManTran continues posting more of his pictures. They're lovely! And where he lives is just beautiful this time of year.

[Jane - Get off the couch your country needs you!]

RSE,

How old is Red?

[AliceH]

mockmook: Parse away. I still do not and will not look to politicians or leaders to rally me to do what is right. I still think people other than me look/want/expect more of this quality than seems necessary to me. Neither of these contentions means I do not welcome or appreciate the people who DO lead and inspire.

Coming at it another way, the whole of my point being take 100 politicians, one or two will be someone we'd both agree has those qualities. I think finding more than two is a really pleasant surprise. Complaints or worries about McConnell lacking this quality (which was the context to these posts) makes no sense unless one thinks a far greater number of politicians/leaders ought to possess this extra quality than I do.

I failed twice to get my point across already (or is it three times?). Whatever. This is my last attempt, since either it will clear things up, or I'll have irrefutable evidence that I am incapable of doing so. Thanks.

[cathyf]

Of course, they're still fools, because high drug prices would be the first thing cut when the money gets tight, and Democrats would lead the charge, since doctors and hospitals have more votes.

But the difference is that under Obamacare the drug companies will get paid 100s of trillions for drugs that are already paid for. Whereas if we continue under our current system of adversarial relationships between insurers, providers & insured, the drug companies have to spend 100s of trillions on drug development costs to earn 100s of trillions in revenues.

Sure, after we consume all of our seed corn we starve, but that's two decades into the future. A corporation can't give up 100s of trillions in current revenue in order to get tens of trillions of profits in the far future -- see the term "discount rate." Stockholders will (quite rationally) take their money away from the birds in the bush in order to get the birds in hand.

[pops]

I just have to say, why is it that in the media no one story ever relates to any other story in a meaning full way, they want to compartmentalize everything otherwise they all look like huge hypocrites.

It struck me this week with all the talk about Obamas fundraising and how he's not doing as well as he needed to especially with Romney supporting super pacs.

But no reporter ever says...Why does this matter at all, surely Obama could just borrow the Billion dollars needed for his campaign, I mean he's already borrowed 5 Trillion to run the country, why not simply borrow his way to prosperity...err, victory?

[cathyf]

US patent gives inventor exclusive rights on the invention for 17 years from the time of patent FILING.

For pharmaceutical industry, it takes at least 12 years to go through clinical trials and FDA approval to actual sales of the drug. In most cases the window of exclusive right for particular drug is 2-3 years, and sometimes no time at all.

P.S. How do you manage to be completely ignorant of this?

How can you be completely ignorant that the actual numbers are basically irrelevant to the gist of the argument? Most drug patents have NO period of payoff because of the simple fact that most drugs don't actually work.

The point of the patent system is that the government offers a quid pro quo to producers of intellectual property: exclusive (i.e. monopoly) rights to the revenues from the property for some limited time, and then the property moves into the public domain. There is an enormous history of discussion of the fine-tuning of the system -- what is the optimal amount of time for the patents, and exact rules, a lot of this is dependent upon the specifics, blah, blah. In medical technology, drugs are a little different than devices (one of the main differences being that virtually all drugs are virtually free to produce, whereas devices sometimes cost a bit for parts and manufacturing.)

But the basic fact is that the patent system offers a trade between huge risky investments in the present, and if they pay off, a large amount of revenue, with the expected payout being driven down to the interest rate. Similar industries are gambling and oil exploration. The Obamacare system is about paying a huge bribe to the drug companies now (forcing "insurance" companies to pay out patent drug prices for generic drugs) in exchange for taking away all of the hard-won eked-out profits of the future decades away. Of course a rational drug company has to take the bribe, close down their R&D operations (because after the insurance system is replaced by government single-payer crony capitalism there won't be money in the future for paying for expensive drugs), and take in as much revenue on their overpriced drugs as they can.

And of course the bonus is that bankrupting insurance companies with the overpriced drugs is the express lane to converting the insurance companies into fascist crony client administrators of the inevitable government single-payer system.

[rse]

Jane--she is 18 and starts college in the fall. She also though knows much about the military. She was going on about some weapons system and I told her she was going to know more than the ROTC kids. When she was a sophomore she went with her brother to something down at Benning to blow things up on a citizens appreciation day.

I do think there's a means of getting at that generation with that insight and the right marketing campaign. I think we also saw it the night of OBL raid celebration. The emotions of patriotism are there, but there are few facts to attach to.

[Melinda Romanoff]

rse-

God help those who tempt Red with a prank war.

[rse]

I have a missing comment responding to Jane.

In the meantime, everything cathy is writing is consistent with my experience as GC of a healthcare company. It also reflects why insurance execs get pulled in about as often as defense contractors and utility execs to be the face of business to argue for yet another crony relationship as Good for Business.

Cathy--I have an sil who refuses to believe that Obamacare will make things worse as she has a daughter with CP and is bitter and all the expenses etc and how Medicaid works. SIL has a blood disease and qualified for a transplant. Asked me what to do. I told her she needed to assume healthcare would never again be this good. That I knew she did not want to hear that but everything I knew professionally supported that and I would not be doing her a favor not passing it on. She had the procedure.

[NK]

DuDu?-- please don't take his mutterings seriously, he is a drunkard;

McSorley's-- no whiskey? OK-- it is after all an "Ale House", says so right on the sign. It never occurred to me that I never had liquor in McSorley's despite the fact it was the first drinking establishment I ever set foot in as a 16yo back in the day. I hope the place lasts forever.

[NK]

Happy Independence Day for all-- belatedly.

[Jim Eagle]

I told her she needed to assume healthcare would never again be this good

rse,

Somewhere in that statement is the bumper sticker of this year's POTUS campaign. It is the understated reality of what has happened and will happen. And it is the people who are the cheerleaders who will be the first to be affected.

[narciso]

Since I'm more used than not to be understood, AliceH, let me take a crack at it,
Reagan was inspirational, he knew what he had to do, and could communicate it, there's a reason a generation is named after him.the Bushes, Poppy and W, were genuinely decent, but they didn't understand what was at stake,
The last had a burden of the 10 year war, and a press that was deranged and exponentially worse than Nixon's era,

[narciso]

As for Nixon, not surprisingly he gets a bad press, but for the wrong things. Johnson had left him a rotten cake, but wage and price controls, coupled with Arthur Burns uplift
made it worse,

[Ignatz]

Way off topic and I have no idea what it portends economically, if anything, but I spent Sunday, Monday and Wednesday marking trees on our Yosemite area property. It is served by a paved road which is not a main thoroughfare by any means but there is normally something going on.
I was within earshot of the road all three days and heard one car Sunday, three Monday, one of which was a commercial vehicle and none yesterday. There is ordinarily some or usually several locals camped down by the creek on any holiday weekend and there have been none.
Not sure what's going on but everybody seems to be staying home.

[Captain Hate]

Lots of new JEF ads in Ohio contrasting Bain "outsourcing" with SCoaMF "insourcing". I'm not sure what out of work people are buying into this "insourcing" garbage but I hope team Romney skewers this new meme.

[narciso]

I see that the JEF will be North of you, today, Captain, I guess celebrating the forty
grams of chocolate rations,

http://hotair.com/archives/2012/07/05/adp-report-estimates-176k-private-sector-jobs-added-in-june/

[NK]

OT-- F&F; I've been reading more background stuff and the critiques of the Eban article in Fortune. Voth is a cover-up artist. He encouraged dealers to sell to criminals, knowing that the weapons would't be tracked after the sale. It's clear why he is using this Eban person to cover up the public record. the only question at this point is who in the DOJ knew Voth and other ATF agents were helping create these illegal sales. Contempt for Holder was clearly appropriate, the AG runs the DOJ and has been caught in making misleading and probably perjurious statements to Congress. When the DOJ turns over, the dirty truth will spill out. There will be an orgy of pardons Next December.

[narciso]

Yes, that was a bogus story, but of course Min True's financial division would print it,

http://dailycaller.com/2012/07/03/another-document-shows-possible-fast-and-furious-cover-up/

[rse]

Yes jib. When the focus moves from treating deficits to pushing positive wellbeing for all which is the initiative, it will not take care of those with chronic conditions like CP as well. But people wanted to believe there was a magic way for all to get as much high quality healthcare as they needed. I tried to tell them we had a UK sub for a reason. People paying out of pocket to get around NHS and get imaging to see what was wrong quickly.

I have a different relative who is a failed transplant specialist. Yet another option that is not likely to remain.

I paid $50 for a book earlier in week which about killed me because I try to buy used. It appeared to make seminal links so I bought it and it is so detailed as to precisely what is going on in health and education and changing the economy. It was written to tell fellow implementers how everything fit.

Now they have told me. Once again more than I ever thought I could fully prove.

Frederick looked so cute yesterday. Cherish these days. I was telling my youngest what her brother was like when he was 8. She doesn't really remember him before he was 12 or so. And now he has such an intense do not mess with me presence.

But he still loves old fashioned grits when he is around. Still his favorite comfort food.

[centralcal]

I have a different relative who is a failed transplant specialist.

That reads a little strange, rse - lol! Perhaps you might have worded it a little bit differently? Ah, the images that come to mind.

[Jane - Get off the couch your country needs you!]

I think we also saw it the night of OBL raid celebration.

Not me, I was sleeping on a boat in France. WE found out at breakfast. I was almost happy I was away.

[Ignatz]

Agree with everything in your 9:54 NK.
What's pathetic is reading lefty blogs where this Voth crap is eaten up without hesitation.
That's what prompted my allusion to the equivalent action being Eban asking G Gordon Liddy if he was aware of any shenanigans going on at the Watergate and accepting his denial as gospel.

[Captain Hate]

More like to the west of me, narc, where he'll pretend to be concerned about the strong winds that hit last week and blame it on glowbull worming. Unless I've somehow overlooked a bus stop.

[narciso]

No, mind you, he's this close to be being a trivia question on Jeopardy, wth happened to Kurt Andersen?

http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2012/07/figures-on-independence-day-ny-times-bashes-liberty-and-individual-rights/

[rse]

Yes cc. He is very good at it which is why he gets called in when the previous procedure failed. I was concentrating on not giving too much detail but also recognize our good outcomes are in part due to an unsustainable level of specialization that relied on the private insurance market being destroyed.

My mind is definitely on all the links that getting ever tighter or just now giving me that distinct thread to start pulling.

Back into the Labyrinth.

[Jim,MtnView,Ca,USA]

HJTA.org points to this article on the estimated effect of CA's cap and trade law on the state's economy.
http://www.californiacitynews.org/2012/07/new-report-says-ab-32-leading-st-down-costly-path-billions-lost-revenue-local-govt.html

The model is sponsored by an industry group and no doubt it puts errs on the side of badness. Still, the impact looks pretty awful
HJTA gives these highlights:
- Cumulative costs: $135.8 billion
- Annual AB 32 direct costs in 2020: $35.3 billion
- Gross state product (GSP): reduced by $153.2 billion (a loss of 5.6%)
- California job loss: 262,000
- Household energy prices: increase by $2,500 per year for the average family
- State and local tax revenue: reduced by over $7.4 billion

[NK]

Ig@10:13-- I appreciate your heads up last week about the Fortune article. Less than an hour of research showed how misleading the article was. I kind of feel sorry for Voth-- he was in so deep at F&F that he needs to cover his tracks, but he's not a Once loyalist so no pardon for Voth. Voth's in a tough spot-- he'll turn when the Admins change.

[Jane - Get off the couch your country needs you!]

Does anyone else think that every elected official who got a Countrywide Friends of Angelo loan should step down?

And I say that before I have seen the list.

Anyone know where I can find it?

[NK]

Jibberish Joe Biden out? No public events planned for JULY! Doesn't sound like an active VP candidate to me (see link below). Maybe 'Bam makes Chris Rock his VP candidate! http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/joe-biden-takes-rest-week_648135.html

[NK]

Friends of Angelo-- step down? they should be prosecuted.

[NK]

PS: I haven't seen the list either-- I don't care who's on it.

[narciso]

James Johnson, at BoA, and Franklin Raines, were two of the obvious ones.

[narciso]

Captain did you send me some a message last night,

[Janet]

Here is an article with names.

Christopher Dodd, former Fannie Mae CEOs James Johnson and Franklin Raines, former HUD director Henry Cisneros, CNN commentator Paul Begala,...

[pagar]

While this link shows some Congressional figures in the Angelo list the real mess is the number of Fannie Mae employees shown.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angelo_Mozilo#.22Friends_of_Angelo_.28FOA.29.22_VIP_program

"Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi's son, Paul Pelosi, Jr., also received a loan with Countrywide. Barbara Boxer, Adam H. Putnam, Richard C. Holbrooke, James E. Clyburn, and Donna Shalala are also among those with mortgages from Countrywide.

"CBS News has obtained the following list of then-Fannie Mae employees whose names have been turned over to investigators as having received VIP loans from Countrywide"

[NK]

Friends of Angelo-- the Raines, Johnson, Mudd VIP loans have been public for a while-- but they are no less infuriating. Those bastards paid themselves Millions - tens of millions in raines' case-- in Taxpayer subsidized bonuses, caused the biggest financial crack up in history, and had the chutzpah to hit up Angelo for cut rate mortgages-- PIGS! This is the East India Trading Company cronyism all over again 250 years later.

[Ignatz]

--This is the East India Trading Company cronyism all over again 250 years later.--

Guess that makes you a commie. :)

[Porchlight]

Stephanie, I still think it's super cool that you named your son after Scott Fitzgerald. Used to drive by his former home in St. Paul pretty often when I lived up there.

[narciso]

Foreman's Georgiana, has a fair bit on Burke's crusade against Hastings, but this is more like the South Sea bubble of 1722, that
David Liss fictionalized, in Conspiracy of Paper, or what Twain was writing about in 'Golden Age'

[Jane - Get off the couch your country needs you!]

This should make TK's day:

If Barack Obama has an immediate eligibility problem, it is more likely to derive from the Social Security Number he has been using for the last 25 years than from his birth certificate.

Ohio private investigator Susan Daniels has seen to that. On Monday, July 2, she filed suit in Geauga County (Ohio) Common Pleas Court demanding that Jon Husted, Ohio secretary of state, remove Obama’s name from the ballot until Obama can prove the validity of his Social Security Number.
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Daniels, who has vetted thousands of Social Security Numbers for numerous other clients, has done her homework. In her filing, she thoroughly documents her contention “that Barack Obama has repeatedly, consistently, and with intent misrepresented himself by using a fraudulently obtained Social Security Number.”

To acquire appropriate standing in court, Daniels has gone to the trouble of establishing herself as a valid write-in candidate for president. Before she is through, this 70-something mother of seven, who has been a licensed Ohio PI since 1995, may cause Obama more trouble than the Romney campaign.

Read the whole thing

[Janet]

Countrywide VIP loans...there's a story that faded away.

Here is more -

"Six current and former members of Congress were named in the report, but their names had already been known, according to AP. Those members include Former Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd, D-Conn; Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad, D-N.D; Rep. Howard "Buck" McKeon, R-Calif., chairman of the House Armed Services Committee; Rep. Edolphus Towns, D-N.Y., former chairman of the Oversight Committee; Rep. Elton Gallegly, R-Calif.; and former Rep. Tom Campbell, R-Calif.

Former Housing and Urban Development Secretaries Alphonso Jackson and Henry Cisneros also received discounted loans, as did former Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala."
and -
"Former Fannie Mae officials James Johnson, Daniel Mudd and Franklin Raines received discounts, according to AP. Indeed, Fannie employees were the most frequent recipients of VIP loans, AP reported."

bold mine. All Fannie employees that got VIP loans should also be identified. David Gregory's wife worked at Fannie...did she get one?

[Porchlight]

I hope the place lasts forever.

Some friends and I have been daydreaming about opening a McSorley's type establishment. Two kinds of beer, light and dark, at a cheap price. Two kinds of lower budget snacks. Older building with huge oak bar that spans the length of the room. A few tables and lots of chairs. That's it.

It would be so refreshing in the midst of all the cocktail and craft beer and gourmet fanciness.

[Janet]

**Jamie Gorelick: Fannie Mae Vice Chair**

[NK]

Porch-- if you keep college students out I'd go. The NYU students at McSorey's don't add any local color as far as I'm concerned.

[centralcal]

Redneck Resort, Redneck Games, Redneck Olympics - they exist!! I looked and looked and couldn't find the Redneck Beauty Salon - which we all know also exists.

[Jim,MtnView,Ca,USA]

The Obama SS# story was debunked by Snopes some while ago.
Doesn't mean it isn't true, but do dig deeper before passing it along uncritically.
http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/birthers/ssn.asp

[dublindave]

The 7-year War, or French & Indian War, or French War as you called it, was really a minor part of the larger French & English War being fought on the Continent of Europe.

Sigh.You do know that the '7 year war' was just one in a number of Franco/American conflicts that were fought over economic and religous tensions.Sure,tensions that originated in Europe,but were pertinent to the interests of the colonists.The bottom line is the British weren't your oppressors, they were your partners and you screwed them.After depleting their resources and weakning their military might by asking them to protect you, you bravely began a war with them.

Sure,i'm an uneducated drunk,i've conceeded this point on many occasions,but I can see that the war of independance was premised on the idea of an elite few refusing to pay their fair share of taxes.

Sound familiar?

[Bill in AZ sez it's time for Obama/Holder murder trial in Mexico]

Ignatz: "Not sure what's going on but everybody seems to be staying home."

Seeing similar here this year. We have normally done 15-20 SAR missions by this time of year. We are at 7 for the year, though for some reason several of them have been particularly difficult, remote, with a couple all-nighters for good measure.

[centralcal]

Zimmerman bail set at $1 Million by judge.

Also, per Ed Henry on Twitter, it appears Jesse Jackson, Jr's condition is more "serious" than first thought and he will need continuing medical treatment.

[LouP]

You know, DublinDave, I really don't see what your mistaken view of history has to do with why Obama surrogates have been saying in the last week that the penalty/tax/not-a-tax/ mandate is ONLY to be imposed on 1% (3.116 million), i.e., the "freeloaders," which term is defined to be people who go to the ER and don't have healthcare insurance, and who by-and-large are the illegal immigrants, "poor people," and young, healthy adults.

You do realize, don't you, that Sandra Fluke is not going to like you if your only reponse to her is to pay her freaking taxes - because she has defective DNA (a racist statement, if ever I heard one).

[Chubby]

narciso, I think you've touched the heart of it. the only thing I would add is that Reagan's followers were more than capable of doing right on their own. Indeed that is why his right message resonated with them, and rallied them.

[Ignatz]

--but I can see that the war of independance was premised on the idea of an elite few refusing to pay their fair share of taxes--

Read The Theme is Freedom by M Stanton Evens and you'll have the tools to stop making such a fool of yourself.
Whether you use them is up to you.

BTW, as others have pointed out doofus, it's "independence".

[NK]

7 Years War? dear God DD really is drunk now. The 7 Years war-- primarily an Anglo - Euro Continent Power fight about shipping ( there was a North American component-- Britain seizing greater Quebec from the French)depleted the British Treasury. George's Chancellor first raised taxes in Britain -- leading to tax revolts there. The Chancelor then turned to the American colonists and imposed oppressive taxes to pay back the Crown's debts. All while protecting George's landed Lords and the East India Trading Co from taxation -- you know George's cronies who benefitted from the war. The colonists rebelled-- they naturally refused to pay George's debts while his Tory buddies escaped taxes. There are unfortunately parallels to today-- BarryI like George III has run up unsustainable debt -- the debt will be paid-- but by whom? We know what Bam is doing-- he cut $500B Medicare for retired WORKERS, he imposed $400B in taxes on workers without insurance, and he wants to raise $80B/year from families earning $250,000/year -- for what? To pay for Medicaid for besotted moochers like you. No thanks-- the Tea Party is for workers, not moochers or 'Bam's cronies.

[Jim,MtnView,Ca,USA]

"Ignatz: "Not sure what's going on but everybody seems to be staying home."

Silicon Valley is mostly bustling. Still....my Fortune-500 employer is concerned about the macro economy. We have a hiring freeze and no replacement for people who leave. We had a shutdown this week, forced vacation (or, optionally, no pay for 4 days, Wed was a paid holiday of course). By closing the facilities power bills are reduced, etc, and they don't have to pay salaries, paychecks instead are paid from money stashed in a separate account as vacation balances accrue.

[Captain Hate]

<>Captain did you send me some a message last night,

I don't think so; has my email been hit by a virus again?

[Jane - Get off the couch your country needs you!]

Supposedly they now have 100 named recipients of Countrywide largess. I want to see all of them!!!

[Chubby]

((and the East India Trading Co from taxation))

are you sure that wasn't the East India Solar Panel Trading Co.?

[narciso]

No, that's the Weyland Corporation, the evil Company in the Alien series,

[NK]

East India Trading/ Solyndra/ Weyland-- whether it's 250 years in the past, today or the future, the story remains the same, tyrants and cronies are allied against the honest working man/woman. Every inside deal should be audited as tightly as the Halburton contracts, and those relationships publicized rerpeatedly so that in the end the crony doesn't want to do business with the government. That's the lesson the Founders learned the hard way-- never let the People lose sovereignty of their own lives to "the government" and its cronies. Under BarryI we are perilously close to that today.

[dublindave]

"7 Years War? dear God DD really is drunk now. The 7 Years war-- primarily an Anglo - Euro Continent Power fight about shipping ( there was a North American component-- Britain seizing greater Quebec from the French)"

So the North American "component" of the 7 year war was relegated to a 'takeover of Quebec' by the French forces and nothing else?

Interesting rewrite of History,Sir.

The battles in Ohio between the 13 colonies and 'New France' never occured,along with he thwarting of French forces on the Ohio river by Americans?George Washington's heroic battle with the french in an effort to succeed where the British had failed in building forts in pitsburgh was completely imagined,along with all the other battles fought and won with US/british forces against French foes?

I could go on and cite all the battles that the US colonists had fought in, in a 7 year battle with the french,including the first American President,George Wshington,but alas...it never happened.










[edit] War in Europe (1756–59)

[NK]

Below is a link to the GZ bond story. If there is a writen decision, it would be a help if TomM reposted here. IF THE STORY IS ACCURATE, Judge Lester is proving himself to be a rational actor. Basically, this is Lester saying how he would have ruled in April if he knew all of the financial and passport facts. As TomM said earlier this week, Lester has proved his point to GZ and his lawyer and released GZ, BUT at higher financial cost and restrictions. Doesn't this at least implicitly mean Lester believes the State's Murder 2 case is weak? http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-57466693-504083/trayvon-martin-case-george-zimmerman-bond-set-at-$1-million/

[LouP]

I really, really hate to agree with DublinDave, but maybe he has a point: those "freeloading" citizens who go to the ER without health insurance really should pay their freaking taxes. It's only fair. It's called leveling the playing field on the tax-paying field.

I wonder how many low information voters realize that all those new IRS agents being hired are going to examine their proof-of-insurance like everyone else's, and that they will be equally on the hook to defend themselves from penalties. Until this concept is understood, the Democrats will hood-wink them yet again into thinking the Democrats have their best interests at heart, all the while knowing that low income, middle income and high income dollars look the same in the government coffers.

[Porchlight]

Duda, your source was wrong AGAIN on GZ bond.

[jimmyk]

Doesn't this at least implicitly mean Lester believes the State's Murder 2 case is weak?

No, it only means he doesn't see the evidence as overwhelming. $1M bond seems high if he really thinks the case is total BS.

[Porchlight]

I think NK's 12:42 is probably right.

[dublindave]

I really, really hate to agree with DublinDave, but maybe he has a point: those "freeloading" citizens who go to the ER without health insurance really should pay their freaking taxes. It's only fair. It's called leveling the playing field on the tax-paying field.

And it's origianlly a "republican" idea which explains why you're having so much difficulty railing against it.kudos to team obama for such a brilliantly savy political move that boxes in Republicans and forces them,for at least the 15 th time in 4 years, to stand against something they originally believed in.

It's painful to agree with a drunken idiot like meself, but sometimes you just have to let your prejudice go and recognize that you already pay the health costs of the uninsured, whether you want to or not, so why not force them to pay their fair share and lessen the financhial burden on you?

[NK]

The major cost to Britain of the 7 Years War can be summarized with 3 words "Subsidies" and the "Royal Navy". George was paying the Prussians to fight the French on the Continent, and was operating the Royal Navy in the Mediterrean, The South Atlantic Coast of Africa, the English Channel, the Caribbean, and North Atlantic coast of America. The land troops that kicked butt against French- Canadians was a relatively minor cost to George. Those troops were very cost-effective, Britain gained all of NA east of the Missisippi, but George's debts were racked up in Europe and on the seas. Have another drink DD.

[dublindave]

Duda, your source was wrong AGAIN on GZ bond.

Wrong again?It's the first time deep-ass has stumbled in all the years i've known him.He called the ACA being upheld by a 5/4 vote with Roberts siding with liberal justices........in all the media outlets of all the world,my soucrce is the only one who called that correctly.

He says something fishy went on with the Zimmerman case but orignially the judge had denied bail.It takes a week for a judge to decide on a bond?Since when?I stil have faith in deep-asses ability to tell me what's going on.

[dublindave]

ps....he tells me 'peepaw' is Romney's vp pick...100 per cent correct.

[derwill]

Don't know whether it survived in the final bill, but during one ObamaTax's incarnations, the IRS was given the power to access your bank account and take the tax without a warrant, or even having to notify you that they're doing it. Also, they can garnish your wages.

ObamaTax doesn't hurt the rich at all. Sure their health insurance rates will go up like everybody else's, but the bite will be a lot smaller percentage of their overall income. And if they elect to pay the tax, rather than carry insurance, the bite will be pocket change to them. As for the long waiting lines, denial of care, and shortage of life-saving drugs that the poor and middle class will face--the rich will have their concierge doctors. And if the coming death panels should deny them a particular procedure, (doubtful since the rich and connected never get denied anything) they'll just fly to Switzerland and get their medical care done there.

Poor easily duped liberals. Not only will their health care not be free, but it won't even be good health care. And those evil rich fat cats will still have it better than they do.

[NK]

jimmyK-- $1M bond? I was shocked when Lester imposed only $150K in April, $15,000 cash cost of that bond was awfuly low for a Murder 2 case. The $100,000 cost of this bond is commensurate with GZ's ability to pay. Remember, under Fla.s Const. there is no guaranty for Bond in a Murder 2 care-- the Court has to evaluate the underlying case in decising whether to give Bond at all. Lester has now granted Bond-- TWICE. I'd like to see his written decision.

[Porchlight]

He called the ACA being upheld by a 5/4 vote with Roberts siding with liberal justices........in all the media outlets of all the world,my soucrce is the only one who called that correctly.

Bull. Find the comment where you stated that exact prediction (5-4 to uphold with Roberts voting with libs). I looked all over JOM archive - nowhere.

I did find this where you said he predicted that the court found the entire law Constitutional: http://justoneminute.typepad.com/main/2012/06/zimmerman-the-video.html?cid=6a00d83451b2aa69e2017615b1f53f970c#comment-6a00d83451b2aa69e2017615b1f53f970c

WRONG - Medicaid provision struck down, mandate ruled unconstitutional, survives as tax. Entire law NOT Constitutional.

[jimmyk]

I'll have to wait for cboldt to chime in here. My recollection is that while bond isn't guaranteed for Murder 2, the threshold for granting it isn't "The charges are obviously BS" (as they are in this case), but more like "The state doesn't have a slam-dunk case." Given the weak evidence, the behavior and character of GZ, I can't believe the bond would have been higher than $500,000 even if Lester had been fully apprised of the defense fund. $1M is going to soak up a good chunk of that money. I think it's punitive.

[dublindave]

WRONG - Medicaid provision struck down, mandate ruled unconstitutional, survives as tax. Entire law NOT Constitutional.

But the main guts of the law were found to be constitutional and most people recognize that.Look,striking down the medicaid- expansion was a big blow to progressives and to be honest,we're just hanging on to the ledge of a victory ciff after the SC ruling.

But do we really believe that states with millions of uninsured poor folk are going to refuse free federal money to insure those people on ideological grounds?Really?Do we have the phone number of the various hospitals who are going to have to pick up the tab for "Tea party stupidity"?

But my source did predict a 5/4 ruling with Roberts in the majority upholding ACA and i'll find it later.

[jimmyk]

mandate ruled unconstitutional, survives as tax.

I've heard this phrase a lot, but I don't get it. Isn't it more accurate to say that the mandate was ruled constitutional as a tax? Intrade's market was on "Event: Individual Mandate to be ruled unconstitutional by the US Supreme Court," and they are saying that this event has not occurred (hence the price dropped from around $80 to $2).

[Porchlight]

But my source did predict a 5/4 ruling with Roberts in the majority upholding ACA and i'll find it later.

You do that. If it helps in your googling, you also said he predicted the decision would come down on a Friday.

[NK]

jimmyK-- yeah it is punitive-- Lester is PO'd that GZ sat there and let his wife lie to the Court, and on the motion for a new Bond offered no explanation of why he didn't correct her lies in his testimony. Lester's decision says this decision has no bearing on the charge-- yeah right. If Lester thought GZ could be convicted, and given how PO'd he is at GZ, IMO he would have denied Bond altogether and let him rot in pre-trial detention.

[Ignatz]

--Poor easily duped liberals. Not only will their health care not be free, but it won't even be good health care. And those evil rich fat cats will still have it better than they do.--

Yes, but the results of their idiotic schemes are always secondary to their making the grand gesture of supposed concern and empathy.
I have no doubt many a liberal would attain great satisfaction sitting in a long line for substandard care knowing they had scored one off the fat cats, in appearances even though not in substance.

[LouP]

Well, there's a surprise. DublinDave agrees that the Obama administration has been playing a smoke and mirrors con game designed to fool the masses into thinking they weren't going to be screwed like everyone else. And he agrees that the roughly 50% who don't pay taxes are not paying their fair share.

Which leads to my point, if we want to kill this ACA monstrosity, we have to somehow get the word out that everyone's going to get screwed. (The MSM sure ain't going to do it.)

[LouP]

There you go again...

"But do we really believe that states with millions of uninsured poor folk are going to refuse free federal money to insure those people on ideological grounds?"

Federal money isn't free. And the law is designed to withhold more and more of this "free" money from the states as time marches on. In other words, it's another liberal con game.

[rse]

The book narciso mentioned upthread called A Conspiracy of Paper by David Liss is a great read for anyone who likes well told historical mysteries.

[pagar]

"if we want to kill this ACA monstrosity, we have to somehow get the word out that everyone's going to get screwed."

http://www.independentsentinel.com/2012/07/obamacare-fraud-will-be-unprecedented/
-------------------------------------------
Here are the people who are supposed to handle the money in ObamaTAX.

"The auditors made a shocking discovery: IRS employees were, in fact, encouraged to overlook indications of fraud".

"Here's a return right here, We've got a $10,300 refund for 9 neices and nephews"
------------------------------------------
"President Obama's Budget adds 3,690 new IRS bureaucrats for a total of 96,203 full-time employees available to enforce Obamacare."

Read more: http://www.atr.org/president-obama-add-irs-bureaucrats-enforce-a7019#ixzz1zlxBCIdn

Just think how much more fraud can be created with all the new IRS agents.

[Annoying Old Guy]

Who would have thought that's the America her generation wants? Maybe there's a way for the Tea Party to reach the young if they appreciate that craving and can get around the media misportrayals.

I suspect this is what the Occupational Losers were tapping in to until it became clear to the youth that Occupied America wasn't anything like what they wanted.