Wow this is interesting expert predicting the future. And these were the best in their fields at the time boy were they way wrong.
Expert Predictions
"The bomb will never go off. I speak as an expert in explosives." --Admiral William Leahy, U.S. Atomic Bomb Project
"There is no likelihood man can ever tap the power of the atom." --Robert Millikan, Nobel Prize in Physics, 1923
"Computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons." --Popular Mechanics magazine, forecasting the relentless march of science, 1949
"I think there is a world market for maybe five computers." --Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943
"I have traveled the length and breadth of this country and talked with the best people, and I can assure you that data processing is a fad that won't last out the year." --The editor in charge of business books for Prentice Hall, 1957
"Man will never reach the moon regardless of all future scientific advances." --Dr. Lee DeForest, "Father of Radio & Grandfather of Television"
"But what ... is it good for?" --Engineer at the Advanced Computing Systems Division of IBM, 1968, commenting on the microchip
"This 'telephone' has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication. The device is inherently of no value to us." --Western Union internal memo, 1876
"The wireless music box has no imaginable commercial value. Who would pay for a message sent to nobody in particular?" --David Sarnoff's associates in response to his urgings for investment in the radio in the 1920s
"The concept is interesting and well-formed, but in order to earn better than a 'C,' the idea must be feasible." --A Yale University management professor in response to Fred Smith's paper proposing reliable overnight delivery service. (Smith went on to found Federal Express Corp.)
"I'm just glad it'll be Clark Gable who's falling on his face and not Gary Cooper." --Gary Cooper on his decision not to take the leading role in Gone With The Wind
"A cookie store is a bad idea. Besides, the market research reports say America likes crispy cookies, not soft and chewy cookies like you make." --Response to Debbi Fields' idea of starting Mrs. Fields' Cookies.
"We don't like their sound, and guitar music is on the way out." --Decca Recording Co., rejecting the Beatles, 1962
"Heavier-than-air flying machines are impossible." --Lord Kelvin, president, Royal Society, 1895
"If I had thought about it, I wouldn't have done the experiment. The literature was full of examples that said you can't do this," --Spencer Silver on the work that led to the unique adhesives for 3-M "Post-It" Notepads
"Drill for oil? You mean drill into the ground to try and find oil? You're crazy." --Drillers who Edwin L. Drake tried to enlist to his project to drill for oil in 1859
"Stocks have reached what looks like a permanently high plateau." --Irving Fisher, Professor of Economics, Yale University, 1929
"Airplanes are interesting toys but of no military value." --Marechal Ferdinand Foch, Professor of Strategy, Ecole Superieure de Guerre, France
"Everything that can be invented has been invented." --Charles H. Duell, Commissioner of the U.S. Patent Office, 1899
"The supercomputer is technologically impossible. It would take all of the water that flows over Niagara Falls to cool the heat generated by the number of vacuum tubes required." --Professor of Electrical Engineering, New York University
"I don't know what use any one could find for a machine that would make copies of documents. It certainly couldn't be a feasible business by itself." --the head of IBM, refusing to back the idea, forcing the inventor to found Xerox
"Louis Pasteur's theory of germs is ridiculous fiction." --Pierre Pachet, Professor of Physiology at Toulouse, 1872
"The abdomen, the chest, and the brain will forever be shut from the intrusion of the wise and humane surgeon." --Sir John Eric Ericksen, British surgeon, appointed Surgeon-Extraordinary to Queen Victoria 1873
"There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home." --Ken Olson, president, chairman and founder of Digital Equipment Corp., 1977
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Court ruling on Marine dad is shameful
Are you fucking kidding me? What in the hell is wrong with this country? More bullshit from dumb ass protesters.
Editor's note: John Ellsworth's son, Marine Lance Cpl. Justin M. Ellsworth, died in November, 2004, as a result of enemy action in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. John Ellsworth is a command sergeant in the Wolverine Lake Police Department in Michigan. His lawsuit with Yahoo! to recover his son's wartime e-mails made headlines in January and February of 2005. He is one of the founding members and chairman of Families United, a nonprofit organization that honors the fallen in war and supports their families.
(CNN) -- The recent ruling of a federal appeals court requiring the family of fallen hero Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder to pay the legal expenses of Fred Phelps and his misguided followers at Westboro Baptist Church is unconscionable.
Like Matthew's father, Albert, I am all too familiar with the hardships associated with losing a son in combat, having lost my son Justin in 2004. It is a tragedy that the thanks given the Snyder family in return for the life of their son is a court order to repay the legal expenses of the hate group that protested at his funeral with signs such as "thank God for dead soldiers."
Beyond simply insulting though, this decision by the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals is a slap in the face for every Gold Star family that has lost a loved one in combat. It also represents an egregious misuse of the judicial system; one that sets a dangerous precedent for how the memory of our fallen heroes will be treated. The Supreme Court should immediately move forward with this case and stand up for those who have stood in the face of danger for all Americans.
The legal maneuvers that brought Albert Snyder and his family to this point are enough to make any American shake his or her head in disgust. After Snyder lost his life in 2006, Fred Phelps and his followers showed up at his funeral to spread their message of hate.
Mind you, they didn't know Matthew, and thus had no understanding of the enormous sense of loss his family was feeling; they simply decided that the Snyder family's vulnerability presented an easy platform for their own agenda.
To his credit, Albert Snyder sued the group and won an $11 million judgment against them. However, that award was reduced to $5 million on one appeal and overturned altogether this week by the appeals court.
In fact, not only did the court overturn the original ruling, but it decided to add to the pain and suffering of the Snyder family by imposing more than $16,000 of court fees. Perhaps the judges had forgotten that without the sacrifices of brave soldiers and their families, the American judicial system would have been a long-distant memory.
Beyond the inherent injustice of the court's decision is the message it sends to the thousands of families around the country that have received a tightly wrapped flag and heard the words, "On behalf of a grateful nation ..."
When the Snyder family sued to protect the common decency we should provide to all grieving families, their efforts were met with court orders to pay the legal bills of those who caused their family so much needless pain.
Surely, this is not the kind of thing that Lance Cpl. Snyder or my son, Justin, gave their lives to protect. Has our nation learned nothing from our treatment of returning Vietnam veterans? What would have been the reaction to Fred Phelps and his repugnant actions during World War II? Our veterans and the families of those who didn't return deserve better than this.
Looking ahead, as engagements in Afghanistan draw on and our soldiers answer the call to defend freedom around the world, this case could have a dangerous effect on morale and willingness to serve.
It is time for the Supreme Court to take up this case, not only for families like Albert Snyder but for the families who will bear the ultimate price of freedom in the future. The justices should strike down the ruling of the Virginia court that brushed aside the sacrifice of Lance Cpl. Snyder and restore common sense and basic decency to the way we honor our fallen heroes.
Snyder fought on behalf of all of us, and now his father fights on his behalf. I can only hope that the Supreme Court will restore some measure of justice and dignity to a family so richly deserving of the best the United State has to offer.
The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of John Ellsworth.
Editor's note: John Ellsworth's son, Marine Lance Cpl. Justin M. Ellsworth, died in November, 2004, as a result of enemy action in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. John Ellsworth is a command sergeant in the Wolverine Lake Police Department in Michigan. His lawsuit with Yahoo! to recover his son's wartime e-mails made headlines in January and February of 2005. He is one of the founding members and chairman of Families United, a nonprofit organization that honors the fallen in war and supports their families.
(CNN) -- The recent ruling of a federal appeals court requiring the family of fallen hero Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder to pay the legal expenses of Fred Phelps and his misguided followers at Westboro Baptist Church is unconscionable.
Like Matthew's father, Albert, I am all too familiar with the hardships associated with losing a son in combat, having lost my son Justin in 2004. It is a tragedy that the thanks given the Snyder family in return for the life of their son is a court order to repay the legal expenses of the hate group that protested at his funeral with signs such as "thank God for dead soldiers."
Beyond simply insulting though, this decision by the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals is a slap in the face for every Gold Star family that has lost a loved one in combat. It also represents an egregious misuse of the judicial system; one that sets a dangerous precedent for how the memory of our fallen heroes will be treated. The Supreme Court should immediately move forward with this case and stand up for those who have stood in the face of danger for all Americans.
The legal maneuvers that brought Albert Snyder and his family to this point are enough to make any American shake his or her head in disgust. After Snyder lost his life in 2006, Fred Phelps and his followers showed up at his funeral to spread their message of hate.
Mind you, they didn't know Matthew, and thus had no understanding of the enormous sense of loss his family was feeling; they simply decided that the Snyder family's vulnerability presented an easy platform for their own agenda.
To his credit, Albert Snyder sued the group and won an $11 million judgment against them. However, that award was reduced to $5 million on one appeal and overturned altogether this week by the appeals court.
In fact, not only did the court overturn the original ruling, but it decided to add to the pain and suffering of the Snyder family by imposing more than $16,000 of court fees. Perhaps the judges had forgotten that without the sacrifices of brave soldiers and their families, the American judicial system would have been a long-distant memory.
Beyond the inherent injustice of the court's decision is the message it sends to the thousands of families around the country that have received a tightly wrapped flag and heard the words, "On behalf of a grateful nation ..."
When the Snyder family sued to protect the common decency we should provide to all grieving families, their efforts were met with court orders to pay the legal bills of those who caused their family so much needless pain.
Surely, this is not the kind of thing that Lance Cpl. Snyder or my son, Justin, gave their lives to protect. Has our nation learned nothing from our treatment of returning Vietnam veterans? What would have been the reaction to Fred Phelps and his repugnant actions during World War II? Our veterans and the families of those who didn't return deserve better than this.
Looking ahead, as engagements in Afghanistan draw on and our soldiers answer the call to defend freedom around the world, this case could have a dangerous effect on morale and willingness to serve.
It is time for the Supreme Court to take up this case, not only for families like Albert Snyder but for the families who will bear the ultimate price of freedom in the future. The justices should strike down the ruling of the Virginia court that brushed aside the sacrifice of Lance Cpl. Snyder and restore common sense and basic decency to the way we honor our fallen heroes.
Snyder fought on behalf of all of us, and now his father fights on his behalf. I can only hope that the Supreme Court will restore some measure of justice and dignity to a family so richly deserving of the best the United State has to offer.
The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of John Ellsworth.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Has Boobs, Reads Comics: How do you say, "Nice ass" in Klingon?
OK I got this off a friends blog and had to share. Too funny
Has Boobs, Reads Comics: How do you say, "Nice ass" in Klingon?: "How do you say, 'Nice ass' in Klingon?
Are you a geek looking for love? Well look no further! No, not at me. At this advertisement for a new geek-dating reality show!
It was bound to happen. Geeks are the new cool kids now. 'Casting new Cosplay Dating Show - Looking for Singles in S. California!!! Are you a fan of Ben Bova? Speak Klingon? Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Marvel Comics?' Must be 18 or older. Interested participants should email cosplaydatingshow@yahoo.com very soon as they are looking to start filming right away.
Now, before you get too excited let me just say, I don't know how legitimate this 'reality show' really is. I can't find any official site and there's no production company or even a contact NAME listed. If you show up and unwittingly sign an agreement saying you'll be in geek porn, don't blame me. They have a Facebook page though so, you know, totally legit.
I wonder if Geek Love is a working title? I can think of a few others: Looking for...I know, Roll for Charisma, My Lois/My Clark, Pon Farrther for Love, Undateable.
AddThis
Posted by The Nerdy Bird at 1:45 AM
Labels: comics, geek, geek love, geeks, klingon, lord of the rings, pon farr, reality show, star wars"
Has Boobs, Reads Comics: How do you say, "Nice ass" in Klingon?: "How do you say, 'Nice ass' in Klingon?
Are you a geek looking for love? Well look no further! No, not at me. At this advertisement for a new geek-dating reality show!
It was bound to happen. Geeks are the new cool kids now. 'Casting new Cosplay Dating Show - Looking for Singles in S. California!!! Are you a fan of Ben Bova? Speak Klingon? Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Marvel Comics?' Must be 18 or older. Interested participants should email cosplaydatingshow@yahoo.com very soon as they are looking to start filming right away.
Now, before you get too excited let me just say, I don't know how legitimate this 'reality show' really is. I can't find any official site and there's no production company or even a contact NAME listed. If you show up and unwittingly sign an agreement saying you'll be in geek porn, don't blame me. They have a Facebook page though so, you know, totally legit.
I wonder if Geek Love is a working title? I can think of a few others: Looking for...I know, Roll for Charisma, My Lois/My Clark, Pon Farrther for Love, Undateable.
AddThis
Posted by The Nerdy Bird at 1:45 AM
Labels: comics, geek, geek love, geeks, klingon, lord of the rings, pon farr, reality show, star wars"
Wal-Mart customer: 'I can't go back in'
OK I agree this was not funny but really your not going to go back in because of it i doubt it.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/03/18/walmart.racial.customers/index.html?eref=igoogle_cnn
http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/03/18/walmart.racial.customers/index.html?eref=igoogle_cnn
Thursday, February 25, 2010
What I Learned from watching movies.
What I Learned from watching movies
Things you would never know if it weren't for the movies.
Large, loft apartments in New York City are plentiful and affordable, even if the tenants are unemployed.
One of a pair of identical twins is always evil.
Should you decide to defuse a bomb, don't worry about which wire to cut. You will always choose the right one.
It doesn't matter if you are greatly outnumbered in a fight involving martial arts. Your enemies will wait patiently to attack you one by one, dancing around in a threatening manner until you have dispatched their predecessors.
When you turn out the light to go to bed, everything in your bedroom will still be clearly visible but slightly blue.
If you are blonde and pretty, it is possible to be a world-famous expert on nuclear fission, dinosaurs, hieroglyphics, or anything else, at the age of 22.
Honest and hard-working policemen are usually gunned down a day or two before retirement.
Rather than wasting cheap bullets, megalomaniacs prefer to kill their enemies using complex machinery involving fuses, deadly gasses, lasers, buzz saws and hungry sharks, all of which will give their captives at least 20 minutes to escape, and they (and their henchmen) never have time to watch your demise.
During all crime investigations, it is necessary to visit a strip club at least once.
All beds have special L-shaped covers that reach up to the armpits of a woman but only to the waist of the man lying beside her.
All grocery shopping bags contain at least one loaf of French bread and one bunch of carrots with leafy tops.
It's easy to land a plane, providing there is someone in the control tower to talk you down.
If you are beautiful, your makeup never rubs off, even while scuba-diving or fighting aliens. However if you are overweight or ugly, your mascara will run and your lipstick will smear.
The ventilation system of any building is the perfect hiding place. No one will ever think of looking for you in there, and you can travel to any other part of the building without difficulty, without getting dirty, and without being heard.
You're very likely to survive any battle in any war unless you make the terrible mistake of showing someone a picture of your sweetheart back home.
Should you wish to pass yourself off as a German officer, it is not necessary to speak the language. English spoken in a cheesy German accent will do.
A man will show no pain while taking the most horrific beating, but will wince when a woman tries to clean his resulting wounds.
If staying in a haunted house, women must investigate any strange noises in their most diaphanous underwear, which is what they happened to be wearing when the car broke down.
If someone says "I'll be right back," they won't.
Even when driving down a perfectly straight road, it is necessary to turn the steering wheel from time to time.
All bombs are fitted with electronic timing devices with large red readouts so you know exactly when they're going to go off.
A police detective can only solve a case after he has been suspended from duty.
If you decide to start dancing in the street, everyone around you will be able to mirror all the steps you come up with, and can hear the music in your head.
Police departments give their officers personality tests to make sure each is assigned a partner who is their total opposite.
When they are alone, all foreigners prefer to speak English to each other.
Things you would never know if it weren't for the movies.
Large, loft apartments in New York City are plentiful and affordable, even if the tenants are unemployed.
One of a pair of identical twins is always evil.
Should you decide to defuse a bomb, don't worry about which wire to cut. You will always choose the right one.
It doesn't matter if you are greatly outnumbered in a fight involving martial arts. Your enemies will wait patiently to attack you one by one, dancing around in a threatening manner until you have dispatched their predecessors.
When you turn out the light to go to bed, everything in your bedroom will still be clearly visible but slightly blue.
If you are blonde and pretty, it is possible to be a world-famous expert on nuclear fission, dinosaurs, hieroglyphics, or anything else, at the age of 22.
Honest and hard-working policemen are usually gunned down a day or two before retirement.
Rather than wasting cheap bullets, megalomaniacs prefer to kill their enemies using complex machinery involving fuses, deadly gasses, lasers, buzz saws and hungry sharks, all of which will give their captives at least 20 minutes to escape, and they (and their henchmen) never have time to watch your demise.
During all crime investigations, it is necessary to visit a strip club at least once.
All beds have special L-shaped covers that reach up to the armpits of a woman but only to the waist of the man lying beside her.
All grocery shopping bags contain at least one loaf of French bread and one bunch of carrots with leafy tops.
It's easy to land a plane, providing there is someone in the control tower to talk you down.
If you are beautiful, your makeup never rubs off, even while scuba-diving or fighting aliens. However if you are overweight or ugly, your mascara will run and your lipstick will smear.
The ventilation system of any building is the perfect hiding place. No one will ever think of looking for you in there, and you can travel to any other part of the building without difficulty, without getting dirty, and without being heard.
You're very likely to survive any battle in any war unless you make the terrible mistake of showing someone a picture of your sweetheart back home.
Should you wish to pass yourself off as a German officer, it is not necessary to speak the language. English spoken in a cheesy German accent will do.
A man will show no pain while taking the most horrific beating, but will wince when a woman tries to clean his resulting wounds.
If staying in a haunted house, women must investigate any strange noises in their most diaphanous underwear, which is what they happened to be wearing when the car broke down.
If someone says "I'll be right back," they won't.
Even when driving down a perfectly straight road, it is necessary to turn the steering wheel from time to time.
All bombs are fitted with electronic timing devices with large red readouts so you know exactly when they're going to go off.
A police detective can only solve a case after he has been suspended from duty.
If you decide to start dancing in the street, everyone around you will be able to mirror all the steps you come up with, and can hear the music in your head.
Police departments give their officers personality tests to make sure each is assigned a partner who is their total opposite.
When they are alone, all foreigners prefer to speak English to each other.
Friday, February 5, 2010
YOU WILL NEVER SEE THIS HAPPEN AGAIN..
YOU WILL NEVER SEE THIS HAPPEN AGAIN..
THIS IS THE WAY IT SHOULD BE..........
Harry Truman was a different kind of President. He probably
made as many, or more important decisions regarding our nation's
history as any of the other 42 Presidents preceding him. However,
a measure of his greatness may rest on what he did after he
left the White House.
The only asset he had when he died was the house he lived in, which
was in Independence Missouri . His wife had inherited the house
from her mother and father and other than their years in the
White House, they lived their entire lives there.
When he retired from office in 1952, his income was a U.S. Army
pension reported to have been $13,507.72 a year. Congress,
noting that he was paying for his stamps and personally licking
them, granted him an 'allowance' and, later, a retroactive
pension of $25,000 per year.
After President Eisenhower was inaugurated, Harry and Bess
drove home to Missouri by themselves. There was no
Secret Service following them.
When offered corporate positions at large salaries, he declined,
stating, "You don't want me. You want the office of the President,
and that doesn't belong to me. It belongs to the American people
and it's not for sale."
Even later, on May 6, 1971, when Congress was preparing to
award him the Medal of Honor on his 87th birthday, he refused
to accept it, writing, "I don't consider that I have done
anything which should be the reason for any award,
Congressional or otherwise."
As president he paid for all of his own travel expenses and food.
Modern politicians have found a new level of success in
cashing in on the Presidency, resulting in untold wealth.
Today, many in Congress also have found a way to become
quite wealthy while enjoying the fruits of their offices.
Political offices are now for sale. (sic. Illinois )
Good old Harry Truman was correct when he observed, "My
choices in life were either to be a piano player in a whore house
or a politician. And to tell the truth, there's hardly
any difference!
I say dig him up and clone him!!
THIS IS THE WAY IT SHOULD BE..........
Harry Truman was a different kind of President. He probably
made as many, or more important decisions regarding our nation's
history as any of the other 42 Presidents preceding him. However,
a measure of his greatness may rest on what he did after he
left the White House.
The only asset he had when he died was the house he lived in, which
was in Independence Missouri . His wife had inherited the house
from her mother and father and other than their years in the
White House, they lived their entire lives there.
When he retired from office in 1952, his income was a U.S. Army
pension reported to have been $13,507.72 a year. Congress,
noting that he was paying for his stamps and personally licking
them, granted him an 'allowance' and, later, a retroactive
pension of $25,000 per year.
After President Eisenhower was inaugurated, Harry and Bess
drove home to Missouri by themselves. There was no
Secret Service following them.
When offered corporate positions at large salaries, he declined,
stating, "You don't want me. You want the office of the President,
and that doesn't belong to me. It belongs to the American people
and it's not for sale."
Even later, on May 6, 1971, when Congress was preparing to
award him the Medal of Honor on his 87th birthday, he refused
to accept it, writing, "I don't consider that I have done
anything which should be the reason for any award,
Congressional or otherwise."
As president he paid for all of his own travel expenses and food.
Modern politicians have found a new level of success in
cashing in on the Presidency, resulting in untold wealth.
Today, many in Congress also have found a way to become
quite wealthy while enjoying the fruits of their offices.
Political offices are now for sale. (sic. Illinois )
Good old Harry Truman was correct when he observed, "My
choices in life were either to be a piano player in a whore house
or a politician. And to tell the truth, there's hardly
any difference!
I say dig him up and clone him!!
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
This Country is in Trouble
We are in trouble....
The population of this country is 300 million.
160 million are retired.
That leaves 140 million to do the
work.
There are 85 million in school.
Which leaves 55 million to do the work.
Of this there are 35 million employed by the federal
government.
Leaving 20 million to do the work.
2.8 million are in the armed forces preoccupied
with killing Osama Bin-Laden.
Which leaves 17.2 million to do the work.
Take from that total the 15.8 million people who work for state and city Governments.. And that leaves 1.4 million to do the work.
At any given time there are 188,000 people in hospitals.
Leaving 1,212,000 to do the work.
Now, there are 1,211,998 people in prisons..
That leaves just two people to do the
work.
You and me.
And there you are,
Sitting on your ass,
At your computer, reading jokes...
Nice. Real nice.
We are in trouble....
The population of this country is 300 million.
160 million are retired.
That leaves 140 million to do the
work.
There are 85 million in school.
Which leaves 55 million to do the work.
Of this there are 35 million employed by the federal
government.
Leaving 20 million to do the work.
2.8 million are in the armed forces preoccupied
with killing Osama Bin-Laden.
Which leaves 17.2 million to do the work.
Take from that total the 15.8 million people who work for state and city Governments.. And that leaves 1.4 million to do the work.
At any given time there are 188,000 people in hospitals.
Leaving 1,212,000 to do the work.
Now, there are 1,211,998 people in prisons..
That leaves just two people to do the
work.
You and me.
And there you are,
Sitting on your ass,
At your computer, reading jokes...
Nice. Real nice.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Libertarians respond to State of the Union address
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 28, 2010
Contact: Wes Benedict, Executive Director
E-mail: wes.benedict@lp.org
Phone: 202-333-0008 ext. 222
Libertarians respond to State of the Union address
WASHINGTON - Libertarian Party (LP) Chairman William Redpath issued the following statement today in response to President Barack Obama's State of the Union address:
"Tonight's speech was a reminder that, for decades, the policies of Republicans and Democrats alike have failed. Libertarians are asking people to take matters into their own hands. Instead of just complaining, we're encouraging ordinary Americans to step up and run for Congress on the Libertarian Party ballot line.
"I can say exactly the same thing about President Obama's speech tonight that I said about George W. Bush's State of the Union speech in January 2008: 'Tonight's State of the Union address went much as expected. Instead of calling for a more limited role of the federal government in American society, the President laid out plans that would only increase the government's intervention into the realm of economics, health care, education and foreign policy.'
"I am weary of the President's unspoken premise that only government--indeed, only the federal government--can accomplish good in our society.
"President Obama seems to be totally blind to the concept that government can cause problems rather than solve them. His speech was filled with 'More': more handouts, more spending, more programs, more bailouts, more regulations. We Libertarians want less government, not more.
"Not to be outmatched by the Democrats, the Republican Party conveyed its lack of seriousness in addressing this nation's government spending problems by having Bob McDonnell, Virginia Governor for eleven (11) days, deliver its rebuttal to the President. If they were really serious about addressing the dire fiscal circumstances of this nation, they would have had Paul Ryan, a six-term congressman from Wisconsin, who has proposed the most serious plan of anyone in the two older parties to keep us from going off a fiscal cliff.
"Last week, Alan Auerbach, Professor of Economics and Law at UC Berkeley and US government fiscal policy expert, said that the Democratic and Republican parties are in a 'death embrace' with their government spending. The only political party that is rationally and forthrightly addressing the need to cut government spending and end our culture of ever expanding entitlements is the Libertarian Party.
"As Americans lose hope in Obama, we Libertarians are warning voters against running back to the Republicans who got us into such big messes in the first place. Republicans started the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Republicans made the false intellectual case for bailing out banks and car companies. Republicans argued that deficits don't matter. Republicans gave us the giant Medicare expansion bill.
"The President's suggestion of a 'spending freeze' was especially ludicrous and insulting to the intelligence of Americans. The amounts involved are minuscule, and Congress won't accept them anyway. Will Obama sign the spending bills that ignore his 'freeze'? You bet he will. Instead, the President should demand across-the-board cuts in all areas, including entitlements.
"The President talked a lot about jobs. Unfortunately, the policies he supports are responsible for most of the unemployment we see today. High taxes, minimum wage laws, hiring regulations, firing regulations, mandatory unemployment benefits, and other government interference make it much more difficult for businesses to hire and keep employees. As expected, the President's prescription is to increase the dosage of this government poison.
"While our nation is declining dangerously right now, a turnaround could be straightforward and simple with steps like these: 1. Bring our troops home from Iraq and Afghanistan; 2. Stop rewarding failed companies with bailouts; 3. Cut taxes and spending and let the free market work.
"Finally, on the matter of political rhetoric, I call upon the two older parties to stop spoon feeding politics to the American people as if we are a bunch of overgrown children. These are difficult times that call for more than rhetorical flourish or positioning a group of diverse people around a politician. Older party politicians need to be specific about their proposed policies, as Libertarians are.
"And, I know I'm probably just wasting electrons, but can't we go back to the days in which the President sent a copy of his speech to Congress and left it at that. The speech last night took 1/7000th of an entire year. I think the vast majority of the American people would agree that we have better ways to spend our time."
William Redpath has served as the Chairman of the Libertarian Party since 2006.
For more information, or to arrange an interview, call LP Executive Director Wes Benedict at 202-333-0008 ext. 222.
The LP is America's third-largest political party, founded in 1971. The Libertarian Party stands for free markets and civil liberties. You can find more information on the Libertarian Party at our website.
January 28, 2010
Contact: Wes Benedict, Executive Director
E-mail: wes.benedict@lp.org
Phone: 202-333-0008 ext. 222
Libertarians respond to State of the Union address
WASHINGTON - Libertarian Party (LP) Chairman William Redpath issued the following statement today in response to President Barack Obama's State of the Union address:
"Tonight's speech was a reminder that, for decades, the policies of Republicans and Democrats alike have failed. Libertarians are asking people to take matters into their own hands. Instead of just complaining, we're encouraging ordinary Americans to step up and run for Congress on the Libertarian Party ballot line.
"I can say exactly the same thing about President Obama's speech tonight that I said about George W. Bush's State of the Union speech in January 2008: 'Tonight's State of the Union address went much as expected. Instead of calling for a more limited role of the federal government in American society, the President laid out plans that would only increase the government's intervention into the realm of economics, health care, education and foreign policy.'
"I am weary of the President's unspoken premise that only government--indeed, only the federal government--can accomplish good in our society.
"President Obama seems to be totally blind to the concept that government can cause problems rather than solve them. His speech was filled with 'More': more handouts, more spending, more programs, more bailouts, more regulations. We Libertarians want less government, not more.
"Not to be outmatched by the Democrats, the Republican Party conveyed its lack of seriousness in addressing this nation's government spending problems by having Bob McDonnell, Virginia Governor for eleven (11) days, deliver its rebuttal to the President. If they were really serious about addressing the dire fiscal circumstances of this nation, they would have had Paul Ryan, a six-term congressman from Wisconsin, who has proposed the most serious plan of anyone in the two older parties to keep us from going off a fiscal cliff.
"Last week, Alan Auerbach, Professor of Economics and Law at UC Berkeley and US government fiscal policy expert, said that the Democratic and Republican parties are in a 'death embrace' with their government spending. The only political party that is rationally and forthrightly addressing the need to cut government spending and end our culture of ever expanding entitlements is the Libertarian Party.
"As Americans lose hope in Obama, we Libertarians are warning voters against running back to the Republicans who got us into such big messes in the first place. Republicans started the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Republicans made the false intellectual case for bailing out banks and car companies. Republicans argued that deficits don't matter. Republicans gave us the giant Medicare expansion bill.
"The President's suggestion of a 'spending freeze' was especially ludicrous and insulting to the intelligence of Americans. The amounts involved are minuscule, and Congress won't accept them anyway. Will Obama sign the spending bills that ignore his 'freeze'? You bet he will. Instead, the President should demand across-the-board cuts in all areas, including entitlements.
"The President talked a lot about jobs. Unfortunately, the policies he supports are responsible for most of the unemployment we see today. High taxes, minimum wage laws, hiring regulations, firing regulations, mandatory unemployment benefits, and other government interference make it much more difficult for businesses to hire and keep employees. As expected, the President's prescription is to increase the dosage of this government poison.
"While our nation is declining dangerously right now, a turnaround could be straightforward and simple with steps like these: 1. Bring our troops home from Iraq and Afghanistan; 2. Stop rewarding failed companies with bailouts; 3. Cut taxes and spending and let the free market work.
"Finally, on the matter of political rhetoric, I call upon the two older parties to stop spoon feeding politics to the American people as if we are a bunch of overgrown children. These are difficult times that call for more than rhetorical flourish or positioning a group of diverse people around a politician. Older party politicians need to be specific about their proposed policies, as Libertarians are.
"And, I know I'm probably just wasting electrons, but can't we go back to the days in which the President sent a copy of his speech to Congress and left it at that. The speech last night took 1/7000th of an entire year. I think the vast majority of the American people would agree that we have better ways to spend our time."
William Redpath has served as the Chairman of the Libertarian Party since 2006.
For more information, or to arrange an interview, call LP Executive Director Wes Benedict at 202-333-0008 ext. 222.
The LP is America's third-largest political party, founded in 1971. The Libertarian Party stands for free markets and civil liberties. You can find more information on the Libertarian Party at our website.
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10 songs that will make your IT day go faster
Matching music to tedious IT tasks is a popular way to lighten the load. Here are 10 songs that groove well into IT’s underbelly.
No matter how frustrating or boring a particular task happens to be, a good song can usually make it bearable. Rick Vanover shares some of the tunes that help get him through the day.
Artist: Jimmy Eat World
Artist: Rob Zombie
Artist: Nelly Furtado
Artist: Amy Lee and Seether
Artist: Fugazi
Artist: Linkin Park
Artist: Daniel Powter
Artist: Aretha Franklin
Artist: Gorillaz
Artist: KC & The Sunshine Band
Author: Rick Vanover
No matter how frustrating or boring a particular task happens to be, a good song can usually make it bearable. Rick Vanover shares some of the tunes that help get him through the day.
#1: You’re trying to solve a problem that you don’t think is solvable
Song: “The Middle”Artist: Jimmy Eat World
#2: You’re overworked and managing way too many tasks
Song: “Living Dead Girl”Artist: Rob Zombie
#3: You’ve completed a big project and feel really good about things (for now)
Song: “I’m Like a Bird”Artist: Nelly Furtado
#4: You’ve taken a new job and look forward to shaking off the technical shackles of your previous job
Song: “Broken”Artist: Amy Lee and Seether
#5: You’re doing a repetitive task for the 100th time and think you’re going crazy
Song: “Turnover”Artist: Fugazi
#6: You’re showing someone else how to do something for the 100th time and think you’re going crazy
Song: “One Step Closer”Artist: Linkin Park
#7: You messed up! Something didn’t happen like it should have…
Song: “Bad Day”Artist: Daniel Powter
#8: Your mind is numb from hours of copying and pasting the same thing
Song: “Here We Go Again”Artist: Aretha Franklin
#9: You know how to do it, but you can’t do it that way (red tape, forbidden technology, you’re surrounded by inferiors…)
Song: “Feel Good Inc.”Artist: Gorillaz
#10: This Internet policy applies to me, and me only
Song: “That’s the way I like it”Artist: KC & The Sunshine Band
Author: Rick Vanover
TRIBUTE TO THE UNITED STATES
We should appreciate this one. This, from a Canadian newspaper, is
worth sharing.
Widespread but only partial news coverage was given recently to a remarkable editorial broadcast from Toronto by Gordon Sinclair, a Canadian television commentator.
What follows is the full text of his trenchant remarks as printed in the Congressional Record:
"This Canadian thinks it is time to speak up for the Americans as the most generous and possibly the least appreciated people on all the earth. Germany, Japan and, to a lesser extent, Britain and Italy were lifted out of the debris of war by the Americans who poured in billions of dollars and forgave other billions in debts. None of these countries is today paying even the interest on its remaining debts to the United States.
When France was in danger of collapsing in 1956, it was the Americans who propped it up, and their reward was to be insulted and swindled on the streets of Paris. I was there. I saw it.
When earthquakes hit distant cities, it is the United States that hurries in to help. This spring, 59 American communities were flattened by tornadoes. Nobody helped.
The Marshall Plan and the Truman Policy pumped billions of dollars into discouraged countries. Now newspapers in those countries are writing about the decadent, warmongering Americans.
I'd like to see just one of those countries that is gloating over the erosion of the United States dollar build its own airplane. Does any other country in the world have a plane to equal the Boeing Jumbo Jet, the Lockheed Tri-Star, or the Douglas DC10? If so, why don't they fly
them? Why do all the International lines except Russia fly American Planes?
Why does no other land on earth even consider putting a man or woman on the moon? You talk about Japanese technocracy, and you get radios. You talk about German technocracy, and you get automobiles. You talk about American technocracy, and you find men on the moon-
not once, but several times-and safely home again. You talk about scandals, and the Americans put theirs right in the store window for everybody to look at.
Even their draft-dodgers are not pursued and hounded. They are here on our streets, and most of them, unless they are breaking Canadian laws, are getting American dollars from ma and pa at home to spend here.
When the railways of France, Germany and India were breaking down through age, it was the Americans who rebuilt them. When the Pennsylvania Railroad and the New York Central went broke, nobody loaned them an old caboose. Both are still broke.
I can name you 5,000 times when the Americans raced to the help of other people in trouble. Can you name me even one time when someone else raced to the Americans in trouble? I don't think there was outside help even during the San Francisco earthquake.
Our neighbors have faced it alone, and I'm one Canadian who is damned tired of hearing them get kicked around. They will come out of this thing with their flag high. And when they do, they are entitled to thumb their nose at the lands that are gloating over their present troubles. I
hope Canada is not one of those."
Stand proud, America!
Makes you proud to live here doesn't it??
worth sharing.
TRIBUTE TO THE UNITED STATES
America: The Good Neighbor.Widespread but only partial news coverage was given recently to a remarkable editorial broadcast from Toronto by Gordon Sinclair, a Canadian television commentator.
What follows is the full text of his trenchant remarks as printed in the Congressional Record:
"This Canadian thinks it is time to speak up for the Americans as the most generous and possibly the least appreciated people on all the earth. Germany, Japan and, to a lesser extent, Britain and Italy were lifted out of the debris of war by the Americans who poured in billions of dollars and forgave other billions in debts. None of these countries is today paying even the interest on its remaining debts to the United States.
When France was in danger of collapsing in 1956, it was the Americans who propped it up, and their reward was to be insulted and swindled on the streets of Paris. I was there. I saw it.
When earthquakes hit distant cities, it is the United States that hurries in to help. This spring, 59 American communities were flattened by tornadoes. Nobody helped.
The Marshall Plan and the Truman Policy pumped billions of dollars into discouraged countries. Now newspapers in those countries are writing about the decadent, warmongering Americans.
I'd like to see just one of those countries that is gloating over the erosion of the United States dollar build its own airplane. Does any other country in the world have a plane to equal the Boeing Jumbo Jet, the Lockheed Tri-Star, or the Douglas DC10? If so, why don't they fly
them? Why do all the International lines except Russia fly American Planes?
Why does no other land on earth even consider putting a man or woman on the moon? You talk about Japanese technocracy, and you get radios. You talk about German technocracy, and you get automobiles. You talk about American technocracy, and you find men on the moon-
not once, but several times-and safely home again. You talk about scandals, and the Americans put theirs right in the store window for everybody to look at.
Even their draft-dodgers are not pursued and hounded. They are here on our streets, and most of them, unless they are breaking Canadian laws, are getting American dollars from ma and pa at home to spend here.
When the railways of France, Germany and India were breaking down through age, it was the Americans who rebuilt them. When the Pennsylvania Railroad and the New York Central went broke, nobody loaned them an old caboose. Both are still broke.
I can name you 5,000 times when the Americans raced to the help of other people in trouble. Can you name me even one time when someone else raced to the Americans in trouble? I don't think there was outside help even during the San Francisco earthquake.
Our neighbors have faced it alone, and I'm one Canadian who is damned tired of hearing them get kicked around. They will come out of this thing with their flag high. And when they do, they are entitled to thumb their nose at the lands that are gloating over their present troubles. I
hope Canada is not one of those."
Stand proud, America!
Makes you proud to live here doesn't it??
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