Seems like the US State department's passport data base is leaky, at least Barack Obama's, Hillary Clinton's and John McCain's passport files have been looked at by unauthorized personnel. Is nothing air tight? Stores have repeatedly let customer records slip out of their data bases into the hands of identity thieves.
Does anyone want their medical records revealed to insurance companies, employers, or political enemies? Vote in universal health care and all our medical records will go into a federal data base. And from there, by accident, by hook, or by crook, they will be made public.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
A democrat's wish list Part 3
Still working from Rahm Emanuel's op-ed piece. "Third, we must support the development of new energy efficient technologies that will make energy less expensive for consumers and businesses, help protect the environment, create millions of green collar jobs, and make our nation energy independent."
And a chicken in every pot.
With crude oil above $100 a barrel, furnace oil and gasoline approaching $4 a gallon, the private sector, the public sector and every Tom Dick and Harry in the land have all the incentive needed to save fuel or find new sources. Government subsidies aren't needed, the price of fuel will do the trick.
I note that Congressman Emanual is from Illinois. Want to bet he favors federal subsidies for ethanol from corn?
And a chicken in every pot.
With crude oil above $100 a barrel, furnace oil and gasoline approaching $4 a gallon, the private sector, the public sector and every Tom Dick and Harry in the land have all the incentive needed to save fuel or find new sources. Government subsidies aren't needed, the price of fuel will do the trick.
I note that Congressman Emanual is from Illinois. Want to bet he favors federal subsidies for ethanol from corn?
Friday, March 21, 2008
Smart Fortwo is a minicar
WSJ has a short review of a tiny weird looking two seat minicar from Daimler. Also has a weird name. No back seat, it's as tall as it is wide, tiny little wheels, a rolling joke for looks.
OK, so it's wierd, does it save on gas? Not really. Reviewer reports 32.4 MPG. Hell, my Cadillac Deville gets 27, what kind of gas milage is 32.4?
Is it fun to drive like the old VW bug? Apparently not, despite an advertised 70 horsepower (double that of the old VW) the reviewer complains of inadequate top speed. Then he explains that the automatic transmission (slushbox) doesn't select the right gear all the time. For a parting shot the reviewer laments the lack of power steering. Wimp.
Cost $12,235. I bought the Deville (used, but a creampuff) for $9000. What would you rather drive?
OK, so it's wierd, does it save on gas? Not really. Reviewer reports 32.4 MPG. Hell, my Cadillac Deville gets 27, what kind of gas milage is 32.4?
Is it fun to drive like the old VW bug? Apparently not, despite an advertised 70 horsepower (double that of the old VW) the reviewer complains of inadequate top speed. Then he explains that the automatic transmission (slushbox) doesn't select the right gear all the time. For a parting shot the reviewer laments the lack of power steering. Wimp.
Cost $12,235. I bought the Deville (used, but a creampuff) for $9000. What would you rather drive?
A democrat's wish list Part 2
The next wish on Rahm Emanual's list is universal health care, or if universal is too pricey, a half way step of health care for children.
Make more tax money available for health care and we will spend it, all of it, and cry for more. The US spends 16 percent of GNP on health care which is four times military spending. American made products cost 16% more just to pay the worker's health care. We already spend too much on health care. The cost is wrecking the US economy.
As recently as 1980, US health care was only 8 % of GNP. Is our health any better in 2008 after doubling the money put into it? I think not. Rather than pouring more money into the health care sector we need to cut the cost back to where it was in 1980. Or even lower.
Fingers have been pointed at the legal community for malpractice suits, the drug companies for outrageous prices, legislatures for loading health insurance with mandatory coverages and forbidding competition, and health insurance companies for paperwork that makes the La Brea tar pits look transparent.
So far the doctors and their union have escaped much criticism, but they bear a substantial responsibility for the explosion of cost. They prescribe expensive treatments freely, thinking that the insurance companies will pay. They demand expensive technology that does little, such as the fetal heart rate monitors which have done nothing to improve infant mortality.
Make more tax money available for health care and we will spend it, all of it, and cry for more. The US spends 16 percent of GNP on health care which is four times military spending. American made products cost 16% more just to pay the worker's health care. We already spend too much on health care. The cost is wrecking the US economy.
As recently as 1980, US health care was only 8 % of GNP. Is our health any better in 2008 after doubling the money put into it? I think not. Rather than pouring more money into the health care sector we need to cut the cost back to where it was in 1980. Or even lower.
Fingers have been pointed at the legal community for malpractice suits, the drug companies for outrageous prices, legislatures for loading health insurance with mandatory coverages and forbidding competition, and health insurance companies for paperwork that makes the La Brea tar pits look transparent.
So far the doctors and their union have escaped much criticism, but they bear a substantial responsibility for the explosion of cost. They prescribe expensive treatments freely, thinking that the insurance companies will pay. They demand expensive technology that does little, such as the fetal heart rate monitors which have done nothing to improve infant mortality.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
A democrat's wish list
US Rep Rahm Emanuel (D-Illinois) writing on the OP ed page of yesterday's Wall St Journal said, "In an era in which you earn what you learn, Americans should no longer be allowed to drop out of school at age 16."
Oh really? Do you remember doing high school? I do. It was cool. Hanging out with buddies, flirting with, going steady with, girls. Cruising American Grafitti style for real. Making out. Football. wood shop and photography and auto shop. Drag racing. Wouldn't miss it for the world. Best time of my life.
So, given the enormous attractiveness of US high school, a kid who wants to dropout is not getting much out of the experience. Is forcing that kid to sit thru another two years of something he doesn't like going to help him? or help the school? or the broader society? I think not. Sixteen is old enough for a kid to make up his own mind about his future. Especially if his parents consent.
At sixteen a kid is old enough to work construction, work the family farm, drive a delivery truck, work a production line, fix cars, build computers, do a lot of things. If later in life that kid figures out he needs the high school diploma, he can get a GED for putting in a moderate effort.
So, we should counsel the kid, explain the benefits of a diploma, urge him to reconsider, follow up on the kid after he does drop out. But for a kid that wants out, especially if he is going to work, or even if he is just heading out to deal drugs, forcing him/her to stay in school is bad. Bad for the kid, bad for the school. Liberty means letting people do what they want. Sixteen is old enough for liberty.
Oh really? Do you remember doing high school? I do. It was cool. Hanging out with buddies, flirting with, going steady with, girls. Cruising American Grafitti style for real. Making out. Football. wood shop and photography and auto shop. Drag racing. Wouldn't miss it for the world. Best time of my life.
So, given the enormous attractiveness of US high school, a kid who wants to dropout is not getting much out of the experience. Is forcing that kid to sit thru another two years of something he doesn't like going to help him? or help the school? or the broader society? I think not. Sixteen is old enough for a kid to make up his own mind about his future. Especially if his parents consent.
At sixteen a kid is old enough to work construction, work the family farm, drive a delivery truck, work a production line, fix cars, build computers, do a lot of things. If later in life that kid figures out he needs the high school diploma, he can get a GED for putting in a moderate effort.
So, we should counsel the kid, explain the benefits of a diploma, urge him to reconsider, follow up on the kid after he does drop out. But for a kid that wants out, especially if he is going to work, or even if he is just heading out to deal drugs, forcing him/her to stay in school is bad. Bad for the kid, bad for the school. Liberty means letting people do what they want. Sixteen is old enough for liberty.
Ford's latest better idea
Picture of the new Ford Flex, a 7 seat SUV shows one really ugly car. It combines the worst looks of the Honda Element (a mini Hummer) and the retro Austin mini car. For extra class we have two tone paint (blue body, white roof) , the Gillette razor blade grill, and fore and aft sheet metal crinkles in the doors.
The article discusses Ford's new advertizing campaign, and shows some graphs comparing saleability of Ford, Chevy and Toyota. Ford and Chevy are close, but way behind Toyota.
The car is so ugly that it's gonna take one hell of an advertising campaign to sell it.
The article discusses Ford's new advertizing campaign, and shows some graphs comparing saleability of Ford, Chevy and Toyota. Ford and Chevy are close, but way behind Toyota.
The car is so ugly that it's gonna take one hell of an advertising campaign to sell it.
Rocket Man
Townhall has a full page color picture of Iranian president Amadinejad standing in front of a brand new rocket. The photo is sharp and clear, and the English language labels on the rocket can be read. "SUPPORT HERE", "SUPPORT BAND" and the access hatches neatly numbered "16" and "13". How come an Iranian rocket is labeled in English? Did they buy the whole thing from an English speaking supplier? and who might that be? Pakistan? Surely Russians, North Koreans, French, Germans etc, would have stenciled the labels in their own language? Or could the rocket be home built by a bunch of Iranians who learned their technology and their English at American universities? I have no answers, just interesting questions.
Amadinejad, wearing a light suit and turtleneck, is posed in front of 16 other guys, likely the development team for the rocket project. They all have beards, and half of them are wearing dark glasses. There are three military officers, in uniform, one in a white naval officer's cap, an Army man in olive drab but dressy fatigues, and a pilot in a green flight suit. Got a couple of guys in tribal dress and turbans, and the rest are wearing suits or sports coats, shirts open at the neck.
Photo, courtesy of AP/ISNA/Mehdi Ghasemi is well composed, well lit, nice camera angle (low, looking up to emphasis the height of the rocket. Diameter of the rocket appears to be only 3 foot, no bigger than the ancient German V2, but it looms tall and imposing in the picture. Does ISNA stand for Iran State News Agency? AP has been burned in the recent past by fauxtographs from Al Queda photographers. Makes you wonder just how this picture got from Iran into AP's hands.
Amadinejad, wearing a light suit and turtleneck, is posed in front of 16 other guys, likely the development team for the rocket project. They all have beards, and half of them are wearing dark glasses. There are three military officers, in uniform, one in a white naval officer's cap, an Army man in olive drab but dressy fatigues, and a pilot in a green flight suit. Got a couple of guys in tribal dress and turbans, and the rest are wearing suits or sports coats, shirts open at the neck.
Photo, courtesy of AP/ISNA/Mehdi Ghasemi is well composed, well lit, nice camera angle (low, looking up to emphasis the height of the rocket. Diameter of the rocket appears to be only 3 foot, no bigger than the ancient German V2, but it looms tall and imposing in the picture. Does ISNA stand for Iran State News Agency? AP has been burned in the recent past by fauxtographs from Al Queda photographers. Makes you wonder just how this picture got from Iran into AP's hands.
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