Saturday, September 23, 2006
Duh…
For those two of you who visit here, and don’t visit Kos the NYTimes has an interesting headline, Spy Agencies Say Iraq War Worsens Terror Threat
You’ll have to read the article, which really isn’t news to anyone this side of deranged, which apparently is anywhere outside of the Beltway or Faux Snews. DemFromCT tries to give the American people too much credit in the “I wanna love my pResident too” dept. Sort of like Rangel’s defense of W from the verbal assualts of the UN.
In fact it is demonstrative of the failure of the West in general to come to terms with it’s own shortcomings in reasoning, ably demonstrated recently by the Pope’s remarks on Islam. The problem remains; the west has extensive thinking ability without the necessary thinking capabilities, much like the computer you are reading this on.
Update: Not to forget that Laura at War and Peace was on top of the story too.
USA- Ultimate Spying Authority or Fascist Forward?
via CIO;
A U.S. House of Representatives Committee has approved a controversial bill that would broaden the U.S. government’s ability to conduct electronic surveillance on U.S. residents by making it easier for federal law enforcement officials to get court-issued warrants.
The Electronic Modernization Surveillance Act, opposed by several privacy groups, would also allow federal law enforcement officials to spy on U.S. residents for up to 90 days without a court order in the period after a terrorist attack. The House Judiciary Committee approved the legislation Wednesday by a 20-16 vote, with all committee Democrats present voting against the bill.
The bill, sponsored by Representative Heather Wilson, a New Mexico Republican, would reduce the amount of information required from federal agents applying for a wiretapping warrant from the U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. The bill would clarify that the U.S. government can seek wiretaps on any type of electronic communication, not just telephone- or radio-spectrum-based communication.
The Times They are a Changin’
From the Asia Times Online; in the first of a five part series looking at Russia and your favorite drug addiction, oil.
On January 28, 1992 during his first State of the Union address after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Bush said:
I mean to speak tonight of big things, of big changes and the promises they hold, and of some big problems and how together we can solve them and move our country forward as the undisputed leader of the age. We gather tonight at a dramatic and deeply promising time in our history, and in the history of man on earth. For in the past 12 months, the world has known changes of almost Biblical proportions. And even now, months after the failed coup that doomed a failed system, I am not sure we have absorbed the full impact, the full import of what happened. But communism died this year.
Much good can come from the prudent use of power. And much good can come of this: a world once divided into two armed camps now recognizes one sole and pre-eminent power – the United States of America. And they regard this with no dread. For the world trusts us with power – and the world is right. They trust us to be fair and restrained; they trust us to be on the side of decency. They trust us to do what’s right.
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA…
Be courageous, and may your heart be strong
Psalms 31
In you, O Jehovah, have I taken refuge. O may I never be ashamed. In your righteousness provide escape for me. incline to me your ear. Deliver me speedily. Become for me a rocky stronghold, A house of strongholds to save me. For you are my crag and my stronghold; and for the sake of your name you will lead me and conduct me. You will bring me out of the net that they have hidden for me, For you are my fortress. Into your hand I entrust my spirit. You have redeemed me, O Jehovah the God of truth.
I do hate those paying regard to worthless, vain idols; But as for me, in Jehovah I do trust. I will be joyful and rejoice in your loving-kindness, In that you have seen my affliction; You have known about the distresses of my soul, And you have not surrendered me into the hand of the enemy. You have made my feet stand in a roomy place.
Show me favor, O Jehovah, for I am in sore straits. With vexation my eye has become weak, my soul and my belly. For with grief my life has come to an end, And my years in sighing. Because of my error my power has stumbled, And my very bones have become weak. From the standpoint of all those showing hostility to me I have become a reproach, And to my neighbors very much so, And a dread to my acquaintances. When seeing me out of doors, they have fled from me. Like someone dead [and] not in the heart, I have been forgotten; I have become like a damaged vessel; For I have heard the bad report by many, Fright being on all sides. When they mass together as one against me, It is to take away my soul that they do scheme.
But I—in you I have put my trust, O Jehovah. I have said: “You are my God.” My times are in your hand. Deliver me from the hand of my enemies and from those pursuing me. Do cause your face to shine upon your servant. Save me in your loving-kindness. O Jehovah, may I not be ashamed, for I have called on you. May the wicked ones be ashamed; May they keep silent in She´ol. May false lips become speechless, That are speaking against the righteous one, unrestrainedly in haughtiness and contempt.
How abundant your goodness is, which you have treasured up for those fearing you! [Which] you have rendered to those taking refuge in you, in front of the sons of men. You will conceal them in the secret place of your person From the banding together of men. You will hide them in your booth from the quarreling of tongues.
Blessed be Jehovah, For he has rendered wonderful loving-kindness to me in a city under stress. As for me, I said when I became panicky: “I shall certainly be exterminated from in front of your eyes.” Surely you have heard the voice of my entreaties when I cried to you for help. O love Jehovah, all YOU loyal ones of his. The faithful ones Jehovah is safeguarding, But he is rewarding exceedingly anyone showing haughtiness.
Be courageous, and may YOUR heart be strong,
All YOU who are waiting for Jehovah.
Monday, September 18, 2006
So you want a job?
What’s Really Propping Up The Economy
Since 2001, the health-care industry has added 1.7 million jobs. The rest of the private sector? None
Emphasis theirs.
For years, everyone from politicians on both sides of the aisle to corporate execs to your Aunt Tilly have justifiably bemoaned American health care — the out-of-control costs, the vast inefficiencies, the lack of access, and the often inexplicable blunders.
But the very real problems with the health-care system mask a simple fact: Without it the nation’s labor market would be in a deep coma. Since 2001, 1.7 million new jobs have been added in the health-care sector, which includes related industries such as pharmaceuticals and health insurance. Meanwhile, the number of private-sector jobs outside of health care is no higher than it was five years ago.
Sure, housing has been a bonanza for homebuilders, real estate agents, and mortgage brokers. Together they have added more than 900,000 jobs since 2001. But the pressures of globalization and new technology have wreaked havoc on the rest of the labor market: Factories are still closing, retailers are shrinking, and the finance and insurance sector, outside of real estate lending and health insurers, has generated few additional jobs.
ht/ The Big Picture
Terraformed 