April 13, 2009
Article from CNN: Where heroes come from
When I heard about the take over of the cargo ship last week, with US crew members on board, I could not help but think about how this story would develop. When the US Navy came about a day or two later and the hostage captain was being held on the life boat, I could not help to start thinking about the covert operations which were being noodled on the USS Bainbridge – behind closed doors. My guess is the SEALS were flown in for this operation around the time the Bainbridge got on location. In any case, we are starting to learn about the details of the heroic escape and rescue of the captain and it appears the SEALs “sniped” the pirates who were left on the life boat (one pirate was apparantly negotiating on the Bainbridge when this all went down. Lucky him). How fricking hard must that of been? I suspect they shot from a sizable distance and from a swaying boat aimed at another swaying boat, three targets? Incredible, anyway you cut it. And what do you think our negotiators said to the pirate negotiatior when all was said and done, “Oh, by the way, you are under arrest. There will be no more negotiations, you are fucked.”
Navy Seals
Commentary from the article about Navy SEALS:
Joe says: “”Extraordinary dedication” is probably the simple phrase to describe a SEAL! Focus, teamwork and skill are their capabilities that we should all appreciate … and maybe practice in our own lives! GREAT WORK Gentlemen (SEALS), in this pirate fiasco!”
Pete says: “I hope that this country begins to idolize men like the SEALs and other people who show valor, courage and integrity. There is a false idolization of movie stars, rappers, and sports athletes in this country that is contributing to a moral decline. When we honor people for their wealth and fame instead of their character, we teach our children the wrong values. Instead, let’s teach our children that selfless dedication, honor, integrity and courage are values to aspire too, not notoriety on YouTube.”
Chris says: “Thanks Bob – Lest we forget, we are forever in the debt to our men and women in uniform, across the globe. I am always reminded of a Winston Churchill quote at a time like this….
“We sleep soundly in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm.” – Winston Churchill”
March 27, 2009
Article from CNN: Obama is flunking economics
The rhetoric is thick, I think I’m choking to death. Seriously, this Ruben Navarette Jr. fella is totally clueless or all about driving the Republican “denial” machine. Let’s break it down for people who get it…
“Many Americans are so emotionally invested in the Obama presidency that they consider it too historic to fail.
They won’t tolerate any criticism of the president or his administration, finding it easier to simply attack critics. And whatever goes wrong that they can’t defend or deflect, they just blame on George W. Bush.
But to many of the rest of us, it’s clear that President Obama is flunking economics. He is trying to do too much at once, and so he is not doing any of it well. He vows to cut the federal deficit while proposing an avalanche of new spending that will — says the Congressional Budget Office — increase it by as much as $9.3 trillion over the next decade.”
You are absolutelty right about one thing, we are emotionally invested and we should not want Obama to fail, regardless of your political preference. But to be sure, it is OK to criticize the Obama administration. Constructive criticize should hit the mark. However, the criticism from the Right is based on principles which have failed us. It is OK to bash Bush because he failed us. Wake up Navarette, eight years of Bush – only two of which had Democratic majority in Congress, have lead our country to the brink of no return.
Flunking economics? Sir, I’m not sure what math you are doing, but if I inherited this debt and was asked to fix it when people are losing their jobs quicker than people are getting jobs = less tax income to spend, then drastic measures must be taken. Remember, we have a failing education system, health care, infrastructure, and everything else Bush overlooked the last eight years. The system is so flawed we have no choice but to fix the problems. This means big spending. The great thing is, if you get it right it will save you tons of money in the future. If we do nothing, which is what Bush did for eight years, the system continues to crumble and costs us exponentially more to fix once we figure out we should have done something in the first place.
WE still have yet to hear from the Right on a great solution to spend less and make our dollars go further – to address health care, infrastructure, etc. It is about time the critics on the Right huddle and come up with a plan worthy of Obama’s attention. If you are not going to be a part of the solution you should keep your fucking mouth shut.
“It’s become more common for people to say that they want President Obama to fail. I don’t want him to fail. I want him to succeed. I just don’t see how we get there from here.”
My point made. You have no idea where to go, so let Obama right the ship and go back to your hole. Or offer a plan, a solution, which can reduce spending and re-build our failing systems.
March 25, 2009
Article from CNN: Legalize drugs to stop violence
The status quo must die. The War on Drugs is the single biggest failure of the 20th and 21st centuries. Thank you President Reagan. Legalization and regulation of illicit drugs is the best way to address a slew of problems facing our country.
1) Economy – try and wrap your head around the numbers here: This year, to date, the powers that be in the US (local, state, and federal government) have spent nearly 12 billion dollars fighting the War on Drugs. The illegal drug trade will send anywhere between 10 to 25 billion dollars back to Mexico, this year alone. This number does not include what is being sent elsewhere. Does this eqaute to fixing our economy? No. But think about what the US could make in drug profits if it legalized and regulated the drug trade. This number could easily be 100 billion per year.
2) Crime – I have discussed this before. Our prisons are over-crowded with non-vilent drug offenders. The problem is, the prison industry is growing exponentially and there is big money to be made creating new places to store our “criminals.” If drugs were legal these people would not be covered by the taxpayers. How about giving them jobs in federal drug stores – punching out ration cards, distributing, or educating people about what these drugs will do to them.
3) Social Issue – legalizing drugs does not mean we create more problems. If you choose not to use drugs, then dont. Trust me, your kids will get their hands on drugs regardless of the legalities. Why not control the industry and profit, rather than fight a losing a battle against ever more brazen cartels who will kill your kids for getting in the way of a deal.
Commentary: I want to share a couple reponses from people who responded to the article linked above: legalize drugs to stop the violence.
James says: “Rape hurts people too. Should we legalize that also?”
James, I’m just going to point out the obvious for you…You are an idiot. Comparing Rape to legalizing drugs is the stupidest connection anyone can make. If I choose to do drugs, responsibly, does not mean I am more or less likely to rape someone. Rape isa violent crime which directly affects another person. Legalization of drugs is not even in the same category. Incredible.
Andrea says: “Any of you people who think this is a good idea are naive and have never dealt closely with addicts or addiction. Sure you trade violence for the total decay of the fabric of families and functioning society.”
Andrea, sweetheart, do you think addicts would cease to be addicts if drugs were legalized? Wake up.
Chris says: “Obviously you live under a rock. Legalization of drugs just makes it easier for young adults to buy them and that brings about a whole slew of other problems. Drug violence may decrease but what about people who think they’re Superman when they’re high?”
Chris, you are the one living under the rock. Laws about usage, being “high” in public, etc. would mirror the current laws on alcohol. Some people will still think they are superman, thats the break regardless of the legality.
March 12, 2009
Article from CNN: Loners, Losers, and…Killers
This article reminds of the saying, “Guns dont kill people, people kill people.” And it’s true. There is no doubt gun violence is associated with the majority of murders and suicides in the U.S. However, if guns did not exist does this mean the violence would go away? Guns are just one way to an end, a means to an end if you will. If you take away guns, then we must remove knives, machetes, pills, ropes, peoples hands, and whatever else one could use to cause harm on an individual or self.
And quit blaming society or video games for the problems of our youth. Where are the parents? Where are the parents of the kids who act out like this. These kids must be screaming for help and if the signs are subtle why arent parents noticing? From WiKipedia, there is good knowledge to soak in…
Parenting is the process of raising and educating a child from birth, or before, until adulthood. Usually, parental figures provide for a child’s physical needs, protect them from harm, and impart in them skills and cultural values until they reach legal adulthood, usually after adolescence.
Providing physical security refers to a safety of a child’s body, safety of a child’s life. Developing a child physically refers to providing appropriate conditions for a healthy growth of a child. Intellectual security refers to the conditions, in which a child’s mind can develop. If the child’s dignity is safe, that is nobody encroaches upon a child physically or verbally, then he is able to learn. Intellectual development means providing opportunity to a child to learn – to learn about laws of nature and moral laws. To provide security to a child is to help protect and shield the child’s fragile psyche. It is to provide a safe loving environment, give a child a sense of being loved, being needed, welcomed. Emotional development refers to giving a child an opportunity to love other people, to care, to help.
February 25, 2009
Article from CNN: Galaxy may be full of ‘Earths,’ alien life
The world was not created 10,000 years ago. There was no Adam and Eve. Humans evolved, just like every other lifeform on our planet. Only the strong or most adaptable beings live on today. Do not be afraid of the truth, embrace it. Realize books – written by humans, even ones based on true stories, are only perceptions of those who lived in those times and were motivated by what they felt or what they were taught.
This does not mean your God does not exist. On the contrary, as evidence attempts to explain who we are and where we come from, it only deepens our understanding of how immesely wonderful the universe we live in actually is. We may never understand completely what it all means, but to dispel science and the theories which try to explain our place in the universe is not an open-minded position. If you chose to base your beliefs solely on faith and through religion as an explanation of who we are and what God is, then you are choosing to be manipulated by those who created these beliefs systems to control you.
Morality and science are not mutally exclusive. One can chose to treat others as you would like to be treated without living in fear. Science allows us to answer many questions, questions which will fly in the face of your beliefs. Rather than shoot down the truth, question those who hold God over your head as a threat to your chances of flourishing in the afterlife – if there is in fact an afterlife. And remember, faith is based upon a belief of something which has roots in explanations of our ancestors, convincing others something actually exists without proof. Only their story has been misconstrude and bastardized over generations. Why not use science as a tool to better understand the world around you? Open your mind to what we can prove and find a place for God which questions your religion rather than dispel science because your faith is being questioned. It really is ok to believe in God and believe in what science is telling us.
If you continue to believe in what your religious leaders tell you, then you will forever be manipulated by those who use your fear of God as a vehicle to their power.
These scientists are not wating their time, I encourage you to read the linked article above. At the very least consider the quoted text offered below…
“Researchers at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland constructed a computer model to create a synthetic galaxy with billions of stars and planets. They then studied how life evolved under various conditions in this virtual world, using a supercomputer to crunch the results.
In a paper published recently in the International Journal of Astrobiology, the researchers concluded that based on what they saw, at least 361 intelligent civilizations have emerged in the Milky Way since its creation, and as many as 38,000 may have formed.
Duncan Forgan, a doctoral candidate at the university who led the study, said he was surprised by the hardiness of life on these other worlds.
“The computer model takes into account what we refer to as resetting or extinction events. The classic example is the asteroid impact that may have wiped out the dinosaurs,” Forgan said.
“I half-expected these events to disallow the rise of intelligence, and yet civilizations seemed to flourish.”
Forgan readily admits the results are an educated guess at best, since there are still many unanswered questions about how life formed on Earth and only limited information about the 330 “exoplanets” — those circling sun-like stars outside the solar system — discovered so far.”
