"News that's not known, or not known enough."
Helen & Harry Highwater's cranky weblog of news and opinion.
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"News that's not known, or not known enough." Helen & Harry Highwater's cranky weblog of news and opinion. |
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Low to mid 10,000s by Marlene Sunday, July 13, 2008 PERMANENT LINK Re Connecting the dots: The mind-numbing stupidity of GM and the American auto industry by Mr. Chuckles In the mid 1980s, as my Ford Granada was on its last legs (tires?), I barely made it to my nearest Chevy dealer, NOT in the mood to be stuck with car payments again, however, bought the cheapest new car on the lot: a Chevy Sprint. Talk about basics! This car didn't even have a radio at the time of my purchase. (I later had one installed by a friend.) I remember my 12-year-old daughter's vain self throwing a tantrum and not wanting this car because the passenger's side visor didn't have a mirror, and I had to listen to yack, yack, yack all the way home. This car wound up being the best car I ever had. It got almost 50 miles per gallon, so, yes, the technology is there and has been there for at least 20 years. I think the goal of this administration is to bankrupt as many "middle class" people as it can until we become a nation of the ultra-rich and, of course, their Mexican slaves. My only real question is how low does the Dow have to go before a false-flag war with Iran begins and Bush will "need" to declare martial law in response to all the "terror attacks" that occur because of it? I'm thinking low to mid 10,000s. Marlene My boss's real agenda by Leon Fisher Sunday, July 13, 2008 PERMANENT LINK The Capitalist pig I work for is typical of the Wall St fat cats who are ruining the Country. He and his family not only own the business I work in, but also own quite a bit of real estate which they rent or lease. They are loaded! When business gets slow, as it is now, they immediately throw the working man to the dogs to cut costs. That's right, the same working man who, by the sweat of his brow, created the wealth in the first place. How quickly they forget this when the crunch comes down. This Capitalist bastard and his son, both of whom who have contributed to the economic disaster which is coming down upon us as we speak by voting for and supporting the pro free trade Republican political traitors and Democratic turncoats all these years, think they can avoid this disastrous turn of events by sacrificing me to their god of greed are sadly mistaken. That might have worked in the old days but it does not work anymore, they are going to go down as well. Leon Fisher (leonjfisher@webtv.net) Did you get laid off or do you just see it coming? Either way, our prayers. Helen & Harry
 IndyMacaroni by SirJ Sunday, July 13, 2008 PERMANENT LINK Re A trillion here, a trillion there by SirJ The FDIC took it over. They couldn't find any sap willing to buy it! Depositors with under $100,000 in that bank are fully insured. If you had over $100,000 ... well... you get all of your first $100,000 back and some but not all of the amount over $100,000. Failed Bank Information for IndyMac Bank, F.S.B., Pasadena, CA
I believe the last line i.e. FDIC declared a 50% advance dividend means you are guaranteed at least 50% of any amount over $100,000. The taxpayers will pay for some of the mess, the depositors will pay for some, but the crooks who caused the problem with the ridiculously sloppy lending practices will pay nothing. SirJ Abandon fear and invite fortitude by Herb Ruhs, MD Sunday, July 13, 2008 PERMANENT LINK Re Israeli military jets reportedly in Iraq by The Canadian Congratulations on your court deciding that US service personnel fleeing being forced to commit war crimes deserve to be given shelter. Of course on the same day, I think, your police arrested one such person for the trivial violation not promptly reporting an address change, so it seems the issue is not settled. Our police forces tend to ignore our courts as well. Focused EMP weapons are operational, it is true. But what I am talking about is a poor man's option. If all you have is a few obsolete nuclear weapons, the best option for their use against a more sophisticated and massively better funded force once your back is to the wall, is to just loft them into near space and use the old fashioned form of EMP. That's what I am hoping anyway. We know our leaders are insanely stupid and there is little to argue that the leadership of North Korea or Pakistan or some as yet unidentified owner of a few old nuclear bombs will be smart enough to do the obvious thing, but we can hope. Jeffrey seems to have completely understood my drift. Thank you, Jeffrey. Being understood is the greatest of gifts. As an aside, the sudden onset of dependence on primitive means of survival will, in my opinion, only differ from the fate we are relentlessly being driven to by our insane ruling class by degrees. The Universe seems to have a pretty perky sense of humor about these things. The industrial western world, led this last century by the US, has been deliberately bombing, enslaving, cheating and manipulating much of the world's population "back to the stone age." Turnabout seems only fair play. It seems to be a failing of our species to depend on suffering to cure our stupidity. Plus there are numerous recent examples of societies being forced to deal with sudden loss of sustenance. Cuba for one, and the former Soviet Union for another. In both cases the industrial western world was midwife to their suffering. They managed. So will we. We have just been conditioned to the idea that we are weak and powerless and hence dependent on the powers that be. It was always a lie. Our mistake to believe it. What goes around, comes around. Check your pulse and practice slow, deliberate deep breathing with forced exhalation for a couple of minutes. Then check your pulse again. See, you can control your fear. Abandon fear and invite fortitude. You will need it. Herb Ruhs, MD Net neutrality by Marshall S. Sunday, July 13, 2008 PERMANENT LINK Climate testimony cover-up alleged
These guys think they can get away with anything. They're right.
Is the FCC taking a position in favor of Net Neutrality? Marshall S. You ask, Is the FCC taking a position in favor of net neutrality? In a word, nope. FCC Chair Kevin Martin is a Bush crony to the core, so this news is not what it appears. Much more likely, Martin is "seeking enforcement" against Comcast in order to ensure that the matter has been 'investigated' and closed, making this old and settled business as a new administration takes power. Expect a wrist slap at worst for Comcast, a tiny fine or more likely a written rebuke and no fine at all. Helen & Harry
Anti-American by Rebecca Sunday, July 13, 2008 PERMANENT LINK Court rejects quick reversal of ruling that White House visitor logs are public records Government lawyers are arguing, seriously, that White House visitor logs are not public records. Think about that. There's just nothing about open, honest, democratic government that Bush and Cheney don't abhor. Talk about anti-American. Rebecca Rachel Maddow fans by Mr. Chuckles Sunday, July 13, 2008 PERMANENT LINK Re FYI: A humanitarian email by Mr Chuckles Yes. Prior to last week Maddow appeared almost daily on Olbermann's show. Last week she was the show — Olbermann on vacation, I think. If you haven't seen her, she is literally rolling in charisma. And she is very attractive, in spite of her boyish good looks. Compared to Keith Olbermann, Maddow is a young pup with potential to become a Champion and Olbermann is a dirty old dog who chases cats and drools Mr. Chuckles Rachel Maddow has long been AirAmerica Radio's bright light, the only show that my husband and I both make it a point to never miss. Without cable we've never seen her television work, but I can certainly vouch that she's spectacular at what she does — obviously very intelligent but without ever being over the audience's heads, funny without ever seeming to be scripted, and genuinely liberal but fair yet firm with conservatives, middle of the roaders, and even the ever-present false liberals. Helen & Harry
The cover-up continues by Fucked by Father John Sunday, July 13, 2008 PERMANENT LINK Re A trillion here, a trillion there by SirJ Why can't these big shots learn that the days of covering up sexual abuse by Catholic priests are over?Maybe because it's not at all over. Nowhere near over. The cover-up continues, and even with all the revelations about clergy rapists, there's no reason to believe that more than a fraction of the abuse has been uncovered. Sign me, Fucked by Father John |
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