Tuesday, October 31, 2017

Halloween Cover Song Video

Thriller- Michael Jackson (1930s Jazz Cover) ft. Wayne Brady


The 'Postmodern Jukebox Band' itself is scheduled to appear at the 'Santander Performing Arts Center' in Reading, Pennsylvania on Wednesday, November 22, 2017 at 7:30 PM.

Regular tickets are $32.50-$49.50. The highest are $105-$135 for front row seating.

This is not a paid advertisement

Sunday, October 29, 2017

Fact Free Tweets From The Donald

Well it's another weekend of Golf (every weekend in October)--time for more of Donald's fact free tweets.

First off it's Trumpcare. This after taking several executive actions against it. "Soon"? Anyone really believe that? It's been 10 months Chances are Donald's definition of "soon" may be in two years after coming into office. This may not be how others see the word "soon". Some may question if ever.



Well actually in 1992 the " JFK Assassination Records Collection Act" required the National Archives to release the files by October 26, 2017. Prior to that act they weren't suppose to be released until 2029. So what Donald seems to imply it was he rather then George H.W. Bush and congress who should receive credit. Course Donald could have blocked them. Should Donald be given credit for their release in so choosing not to do so? This tweet at best is misleading.



"Forced To Close"--lie much? Back in May it was announced the show was scheduled to run 12 full weeks until October 22, 2017. That's exactly how long it ran. It's not unusual for Broadway shows to announce limited engagements ahead of time. Even shows that have scheduled unlimited runs have many stars appear when they first open and will only appear for whatever period.

The show took in $4.2 M. Not a bad chunk of change considering his film "Trumpland" grossed only $151,500. On the other hand his 2012 film "Fahrenheit 9/11" was the highest-grossing documentary of all time. Grossing over $200 million. "Capitalism: A Love Story"- $14.4M. "Sicko"- $24M.

So Donald you may not like Moore's politics but I wouldn't call him "sad". He seems to be doing alright for himself. He may not always hit it out of the park with his endeavors but at least he's never filed a bankruptcy.


Gosh sakes Donald fact checking you and POX FOX News every day is exhausting--even for the hardiest fact checkers.



Friday judge former judge Jeanine Pirro went off (again)
She hasn't sat on the bench for almost 25 years


Sheesh-- False Outrage Much?


Is she still pissed she lost against Hillary's run for the Senate in 2006 when she dropped out after polling only 30% to Hillary's 62%? Maybe she's still angry being federally investigated for allegedly illegal wiretapping her then husband. OR the $1million IRS fine he racked up in 2000 damaging her career prospects. Could all these make her the infuriated woman she seems to be?
SOURCE

Now about that video (see the link). I'm not going to exhaust myself disputing every detail, but here's a whopper. Obama and Hillary DID NOT "APPROVE 1/5TH OF OUR URANIUM TO RUSSIA". None of it can be exported because 'Uranium One' does not have an export license. It's absolutely 100% false Russia can sell "OUR" uranium to our enemies (Iran).



We don't know yet what Mueller's investigation has uncovered, Must be pretty threatening for the former judge to want the firing of Sessions, Mueller and locking up dozens others she deems threatening. Seems to me if she's calling the whole Trump thing bullshit she should have nothing to worry about letting it play out in the courts she once represented. Me thinks thou protest too much. Why?

Saturday, October 28, 2017

Immigrants Taking Jobs A Good Thing

February 2017

Anyone who is concerned about losing businesses to Mexico need to think twice. Either these workers will pick crops here or in Mexico if our farms go out of business. Same goes with the meat and dairy farms. Which do you think will end up being cheaper? Which do you think would make us less dependent? The answers should be obvious.

Friday, October 27, 2017

Two Absolute BS Arguments That Annoy Me

Donald Trump--"Remember that Hillary Clinton gave Russia 20 percent of American uranium." No matter how may times he or FOX News repeats this won't make it true.
Forbes (10/27/2017)
Russia can’t export any uranium they produce in the U.S. anyway. They do not possess a Nuclear Regulatory Commission export license... The real reason Russia wanted this deal was to give Rosatom’s subsidiary the Uranium One’s very profitable uranium mines in Kazakhstan - the single largest producer of commercial uranium in the world.
We can argue all day long what Hillary's role was or wasn't BUT the actual fact is we (the United States) did not give away our uranium. I wish he and FOX News would stop misleading (if not outright lying).



The War On Drugs

Trump Says A Border Wall Will Solve Our Drug Problems



WRONG again Donald





The truth is this problem is never going to be solved by walls, policing or finger pointing. We have to face facts the real problem with drugs is us. If there weren't a demand for illicit drugs the problem wouldn't exist. As long as there' a huge demand suppliers will always find a way to enrich themselves off of it.

If this problem is ever to go away we first have to acknowledge no politician nor any amount of enforcement is going to resolve this I don't care how many people get locked up.

It starts with education. The young should be shown videos and visit hardcore addicts without sugar coating it no matter the risk of traumatizing them. Secondly those addicted aren't going to be turned around by simply locking them up. Those jailed should receive intense bold therapy. Third-- we need to dry up the supply much as humanly possible. Doctors who over prescribe and pharmacies need to be held accountable both financially and in some cases face jail time. Drug manufactures seeing usually large orders should also be held accountable.

Maybe utilize something like a Megan's Law where upon prior users are released and constantly monitored with home and car searches as well as repeated drug testing. If found readmitted to intense bold therapy through confinement. Not jailed--confined.

Donald the other day declared a "health emergency" not a "national emergency". Which means no additional funding for these kind of things. Which means we're not taking this serious enough.

I may not have all the right answers but walls, lockups and property seizures have been tried since the 60's and it's not working. In fact gotten worse. If we spent as much on these ideas as Donald wants to spend on that wall ($10B-$20B) perhaps it would be more usefully spent trying to eliminate the demand in the first place.

Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Marketing Our National Parks

Looking to make a couple more buck$ off our national parks the NPS announced plans to over double admittance fees during peak seasons--and that ain't all.

According to the online National Park Service Fact Sheet they are soliciting public comments from 10/24/2017 to 11/23/2017. Although I'm not sure how much weight it will carry in their decision.

The site links to THIS PDF FACT SHEET which says at 17 parks--during peak-season, the entrance fee will be $70 per private, non-commercial vehicle, $50 per motorcycle, and $30 per person. The $80 annual pass that permits entrance into all federal parks would keep the same price tag.

So let's say mom and pop bring their 2 kids 16 years or older by car into the park. That means it will cost them $190 just to get in the place during peak seasons. That may not be the whole story. Different parks may have guided excursions or special programs which would not be included.

Then There's This Press Release
Secretary Zinke Announces Largest Oil & Gas Lease Sale in U.S. History
March 2018 sale to offer 76.9 million acres in Gulf of Mexico
.
Date: October 23, 2017

NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke today announced that the Department is proposing the largest oil and gas lease sale ever held in the United States --76,967,935 acres in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico, offshore Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. The proposed region-wide lease sale, offering an area about the size of New Mexico, is scheduled for March 2018 and includes all available unleased areas on the Gulf’s Outer Continental Shelf, surpassing last year’s region-wide lease sale by about one million acres.
I only posted part of it above. Point is the fee increases alone are expected to bring in between $199.99M-$268.5 million annually-- an increase of 34.3% over fiscal Year 2016. That's a pretty steep increase in one shot. Throw in $100's of millions more from the oil and gas leases we're looking at a serious chunk of change.

Think about this. 87% of the state of Nevada is federally owned public land. In September 2017 lawsuits were filed to prevent further drilling permits issued for them. This means Nevada has little say. It's like relegating Nevada to being only a 13th of a whole state. Not saying Clive Bundy was right to graze his cattle on public land, but that kind of narrowed down his and other ranchers options didn't it? So now what--is the land just sitting their getting weeded up? Shouldn't Nevada have a greater say in what it's state's lands should be used for?


April 2017

Donald, Nevada doesn't get to "control" nor
any other state where federal lands or
coastal waters are located and allowed to drill
by the federal government.


The Point Is
I'm not thrilled with this latest announcement of drilling over 150 million acres of what is supposed to be pristine waters set aside. This defeats the very purpose why they were first created. These were never intended to become cash cows for neither the government nor fossil fuel industry.

Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Something Really Suspect Going On In Puerto Rico

"For the sprawling effort to restore Puerto Rico’s crippled electrical grid, the territory’s state-owned utility has turned to a two-year-old company from Montana that had just two full-time employees on the day Hurricane Maria made landfall...

Whitefish said Monday that it has 280 workers in the territory, using linemen from across the country, most of them as subcontractors...

The hourly rate was set at $330 for a site supervisor, and at $227.88 for a “journeyman lineman.” The cost for subcontractors, which make up the bulk of Whitefish’s workforce, is $462 per hour for a supervisor and $319.04 for a lineman. Whitefish also charges nightly accommodation fees of $332 per worker and almost $80 per day for food."

Paid over $227-$462 an hour--THAT'S PLAIN NUTS !!!


If I had the ultimate power (or if congress were so inclined) I'd tell the "state owned" already bankrupt utility to go stuff it. They're the reason Puerto Rico's electric grid was such a mess even before the storm. Instead I'd set up a temporary federal commission headed up by proven successful engineers from electric companies here on the mainland. After work was completed sell it (or pieces of it) off to each of the highest bidders within that group. While I was at it put a cap on how much they could pay per hour.

Here in the states we have many choices for our electric suppliers. Puerto Rico's citizens shouldn't be under the thumb of any one monopoly. Now would be the perfect opportunity since it's starting all over from the ground up.

Either this or inquire whether existing power producers would be interested in expanding there in whole or part of the areas.

Anybody but the current Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA)
PREPA has a $9 billion debt load and filed for bankruptcy earlier this year (2017). Hell if they couldn't run it even in good weather imagine how this is going to turn out. Course when your paying each worker over $1,800-$3,000+ a day with another $400+ for meals and lodging I have a pretty good hunch. Somebody's going to get screwed. Gee I wonder who?

Published on Oct 24, 2017

Monday, October 23, 2017

EPA Cancels Climate Change Conference


"EPA officials have not explained why the three agency scientists were pulled from the conference, but the move has raised alarm among those who believe the agency is silencing scientists conducting climate change research.... The EPA said in a statement that the EPA scientists are still attending the conference: “They simply are not presenting; it is not an EPA conference.”

Could this be the reason?


"Methane molecules trap roughly 30 times more heat than carbon dioxide over a century, and the gas comes from agriculture, coal and gas production, and landfills. Nitrous oxide, known as laughing gas, trap about 300 times more heat than carbon dioxide; it’s emitted by soil fertilizers and chemical production....

The U.S. could be responsible for up to 60 percent of the global spike in human-caused atmospheric methane emissions since 2002, a Harvard University study found last year. The researchers said there was too little data to identify specific sources, but the increase tracked the boom in shale oil and gas production across the country, which leaks large amounts of methane from wells and pipelines."


Yeah let's not talk about this. Maybe it'll go away if we ignore it.

The 'Sea Shepherd' Is Not A Pirate Ship

Far too many people--including myself--misunderstood what the "Sea Shepard" mission is. Most of us have only seen them interfering with fishing vessels on TV. Myself included assumed they were a rogue bunch of extreme environmentalists attacking fishing ships purely for their own beliefs. This is not the case.

Rather think of them as cops upholding international laws that nations across the world ignore. Though many nations made such agreements they are failing to live up to their promises to enforce them. That's where the "Sea Shepard" comes in. Under the U.N. World Charter for Nature, it isn’t up to one country or entity to protect our seas, it’s everyone’s responsibility. That’s where Sea Shepherd comes in. This diverse crew of volunteers from around the world literally put their lives on the line to enforce international conservation law against the illegal fishing industry.


According to their website--'Sea Shepard Global--Sea Shepherd was founded in 1977 by Paul Watson, one of the original members of Greenpeace. Since its grassroots beginnings it has grown into an unstoppable global movement with independent groups established in over 20 countries.

Sea creatures have enough problems--global ocean warming--garbage patches--oil spills. Because of these threats over fishing should be recognized as one more. Not only migratory wildlife but we as well will be impacted if our oceans become lifeless. 100,000's are employed in the industry (including those on fishing ships). Some island nations peoples entire lives depend on fishing for their subsistence.

It's a damn shame nations fail to enforce themselves. If they did (including the United States) there would be no need to depend on the crew of "Sea Shepard" to risk their lives for what nations are failing to do on their own. For that that the "Sea Shepard" organization needs to be commended..

One More Thing
It's all nice and touchy feely for the U.N. and it's members to agree to such laws--but without appropriating money or enforcement of such agreements they might as well have opened an umbrella on a sunny day or tossed a cup of water into the air thinking somehow that'll make it rain.

Sunday, October 22, 2017

FOX News Is Disgusted By Lack Of Respect For Trump




Hey Donald you forget to mention...


My advice--man up.
It goes with the office.
Quit being dotard.


Sarah Sanders on FOX NEWS Sunday:
Never Before Seen the Level of ‘Hostility’ That Trump WH Gets from the Press

Yeah you too need to wake up and smell the coffee.

Racism Is Very Real

In the previous post to this I featured Harry Belafonte who fought his whole life against racism. Many would have you believe it's fiction--the work of leftists playing the race card. I'm here to tell you it's not the case. Over the last year or two racism has become more pronounced. Blame it on politicians or what you will--the fact is racism has had a resurgence.

I offer the following examples.

10/20/2017- Coatesville [Pa.] Students Leave School to Protest Racist Pumpkin Carvings

10/21/2017-- Police: 3 men made Nazi salutes, shot at protesters after Richard Spencer event
CNN


10/21/2017-- Virginia police investigating video that shows middle schoolers simulating sex, shouting racist remarks

10/19/2017-- Racist patients often leave doctors at a loss.
Dorothy R. Novick is a pediatrician in Philadelphia. “I don’t want some spic doctor, I want the other lady!” The patient was 6 years old. He leaned back on the chest of his father, who nodded silently and then agreed: “He would feel more comfortable.” My colleague, a physician-in-training who is from Colombia, stepped out and I took over."

African-American cadets at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado were targeted with racial slurs. Lt. Gen. Jay Silveria, the school's superintendent, made a powerful speech to the academy with an important message.
CBS Evening News
Published on Sep 29, 2017


This didn't help (Sept. 2016)



There was a time when presidents faced racism head on



Point Is...
Racism is very much alive and well and has remerged it's ugly head. It's not some made up BS by the so-called liberals. Now more then ever we need someone with courage having great voice to come forward and speak against it like some of those in the past. Good lord knows we need inspiration now more then ever !

1995



The White House 2010






Change Starts With Each Of Us...



I realize this post was very large--but I thought it deserved all the attention I could give it when it comes to racism and the kind of hatred we're seeing today.

Harry Belafonte No Fan Of Donald Trump

The Guardian
Harry Belafonte tells crowd at likely last public appearance: 'We shall overcome'
Harry Belafonte appeared dazed, struggling to stand with a cane as an aide guided him slowly to his place on stage. Having caught his breath, the 90-year-old singer and civil rights activist warned the crowd at Carnegie Music Hall [Pittsburgh] on Friday night [10/20/2017] that this was likely his last public appearance.

He also made a startling statement. In electing Donald Trump, he said, “the country made a mistake and I think the next mistake might very well be the gas chamber and what happened to Jews [under] Hitler is not too far from our door.”

Harry Belafonte on racism, patriotism & war, 1967



Tuesday, July 3, 2012 Interview



Saturday, October 21, 2017

Trump Fixes Air Force Pilot Shortage Problem

USA TODAY
Air Force could recall as many as 1,000 retired pilots to address serious shortage
WASHINGTON — President Trump signed an executive order Friday allowing the Air Force to recall as many as 1,000 retired pilots to active duty to address a shortage in combat fliers, the White House and Pentagon announced.... "We anticipate that the Secretary of Defense will delegate the authority to the Secretary of the Air Force to recall up to 1,000 retired pilots for up to three years," Navy Cdr. Gary Ross, a Pentagon spokesman, said in a statement.... But the executive order itself is not specific to the Air Force, and could conceivably be used in the future to call up more officers and in other branches.

The Air Force needs about 1,500 pilots more than it has. Bonus programs and other incentives have not made up the shortfall.
See and you thought Donald wasn't thinking about military families before heading out to golf TODAY (Sat. 10/21/2017) in Virginia.

Donald and his entire family (none which served a day in the military) get to spend all the time they want lavishing with him at the White House and golf resorts--this while 1,000 others who already put their time in risk their lives once again. There's just something so wrong with this.

Reduce Your Income If Spending More Then You Make

The New York Post
US Budget Deficit Hits $666B
The US budget deficit grew to $666 billion in the 2017 fiscal year that ended on Sept. 30, according to data released Friday, after lawmakers took a step toward enacting $1.5 trillion in tax cuts.

The deficit increased by 13.6 percent, or $80 billion, over the prior fiscal year.

“Growth in spending outpaced growth in tax receipts for the second year in a row as a result of historically subpar economic growth,” the Treasury Department said in releasing the figures.

Three ways this could go.
(1) Federal government ignores our 20T debt and hopes the U.S. Dollar holds value.
(2) The old switcheroo: So-called tax cuts end up not being cuts after all.
(3) The shit rolls down hill theory: Cut funds to states, local governments and social needs programs.

Hell maybe all three...Why not!

Punishment Before Trial

That's what this bill amounts to.


govtrackinsider.com
The Control Unlawful Fugitive Felons Act would discontinue Social Security and retirement benefits to those with an outstanding arrest warrant
It only applies to those people facing federal or state felony charges subject to at least one year in prison

Labeled H.R. 2792 in the House, it was introduced in June by Rep. Kristi Noem (R-SD0).

“I reject proponents’ claims that this bill only targets fugitive felons. In reality, current law terminates benefits for fugitive felons,” Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL7) said on the House floor. “This bill strikes the current restriction against fugitive felons and instead expands the benefit cutoff beyond those who are actually fleeing to encompass everybody who had some unresolved run in with the justice system based on allegation, not conviction.

The bill passed the House on September 28 by a 244–171 vote. It now goes to the Senate Finance Committee.

There' There's another problem I didn't see mentioned in the article. It could take away a possibility of someone being able to afford an attorney to represent their guilt or innocence at trial. We all know the person who usually wins is the one with the most money. A defendant having little or nor resources is a sitting duck.

Prosecutors are already at an advantage. It's not uncommon for prosecutors to seize assets before a trial if they have good reason. It skews things in their favor making a defendant less able to hire a team of lawyers to fight charges.

Everyone heard the expression about traveling down a slippery slope. In my opinion this a further step in that direction.

Friday, October 20, 2017

White House Chief Of Staff John Kelly Lied

I honestly don't know what posses these people once they join the Trump train. Time and again things are said that are easily proved to be utter BS. Why can't they realize the so-called fake media has proof to backup what they say. See there's this new technological innovation capable of taking video and then being able to record it. Source: CNN
HE SAID...
"And a congresswoman stood up, and in a long tradition of empty barrels making the most noise, stood up there in all of that and talked about how she was instrumental in getting the funding for that building, and how she took care of her constituents because she got the money, and she just called up President (Barack) Obama, and on that phone call, he gave the money, the $20 million, to build the building, and she sat down," Kelly said. "And we were stunned, stunned that she'd done it. Even for someone that is that empty a barrel, we were stunned."

SHE SAID
"I was not even in Congress in 2009 when the money for the building was secured," the Florida Democrat said Friday on CNN's "New Day." "So that's a lie. How dare he. However, I named the building at the behest of (then-FBI Director James Comey) with the help of (then-House Speaker John Boehner), working across party lines. So he didn't tell the truth."
Both of them can't be right. Somebody's fabricating the truth. This is where a Florida newspaper comes in. Check it out... The South Florida Sun Sentinel video from 2015 shows the full speech of Congresswoman Frederica Wilson at the dedication ceremony of a new FBI building in Miramar, Florida, named for two slain FBI agents. Turns out the video proves she's right.

Speaking of lying...

New York Magazine--The congresswoman told WPLG Local 10 News in Miami that she listened to the entire call on speakerphone while she was riding in a limousine with Johnson’s family to meet his casket at the airport.

Facts Matter
In other words Trump called the limo she was riding in with the family. Not on the widow's cell phone. The driver put it on speakerphone. In addition Trump said he had people in his office at the time of the call also listening. Nothing secret nor a personal one on one conversation by any means.

Look it doesn't matter to me very much how he took what he said or the congresswoman's interpretation of it. What is important are the actual facts.(1) There was nothing secretive about any of this. (2) Chief of Staff John Kelly found the need to lie about her FBI speech.

Once again everything got blown way out of proportion. Shame goes to everyone involved. The president, his chief of staff and the media. This seems to be always the way things turn out when Donald's involved. That day in the White House Rose Garden Trump could have simply said he was allowing the widow appropriate time to grieve and move on. Instead had to drag everybody else into this trying to make himself look good. By doing so he's now playing the victim overshadowing that of the widow whom I'm positive wanted no part to play in any of this.

Now everybody needs to shut up, drop this and move on... including me after speaking my piece.

Thursday, October 19, 2017

Trump's Promises 10 Months In

Let's Check Them Out...
Healthcare Reform--Nope, In Progress
New Trade Deals--Nope, In Progress
New Immigration Policy--Nope, In Progress
Tax Reform--Nope, In Progress
International Conference To Defeat ISIS--Nope, In Progress
Create Private White House Veterans Hotline--Nope, In Progress
Invest $550 Billion In Infrastructure--Nope, In Progress
Eliminate Common Core--Nope, In Progress
Hiring Freeze On Federal Employees--Nope, In Progress
Cancel Global Warming Payments To The UN--Nope, In Progress
Renegotiate The Iran Deal--Nope, In Progress
End the Defense Sequester--Nope, In Progress
Move U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv to Jerusalem--Nope, In Progress
Reverse Barack Obama's Cuba Policy--Nope, In Progress
Rebuild The Marine Corps To 36 Battalions--Nope, In Progress
Reverse China's Entry Into The World Trade Organization--Nope, In Progress
Build A Wall And Make Mexico Pay For It--Nope, In Progress
Cancel All Funding Of Sanctuary Cities--Nope, In Progress
Use U.S. Steel For Infrastructure Projects--Nope, In Progress
End birthright Citizenship--Nope, In Progress
Balance The Federal Budget --Nope, In Progress
Enact 5-Year Ban On White House And Congressional Officials From Lobbying-- Executive order places 5-year lobbying ban on White House officials, leaves out Congress

SOURCE:
POLITIFACT

To be fair I did many keyword searches trying to find any major legislation passed by congress then sent to the president. I found none. If you have any please link them in the comments below.

Otherwise it seems...

Got A Flat? Too Bad About That

New York Daily News
Nearly 30% of new cars don't include spare tires
"All told, 28% of 2017 model cars do not come with a spare tire as standard equipment. Instead, some vehicles include tire-inflator kits that can temporarily repair small punctures. But that does little to help a blown-out tire. “Also, tire-inflator kits can cost up to 10 times more than a tire repair and have a shelf life of only four to eight years,” according to AAA."

Come on--what did you expect for $20,000. The good thing is with GPS on-board you can call a garage telling them exactly where you are. Then wait a couple of hours for someone to come out and sell you one. Then on the other hand I'm not too hot on changing a flat on the side of a highway the way people drive these days.

Maybe I watch too many cop shows but I'd think might we be better off driving a couple of miles on the rims. Why not? The tire is shot any way. Beats getting hit.

You'd think with all the new technology around someone could come up with something better then filling a tire with air.

Member For 44 Years Had Trouble Finding Senate Chamber

According to 'Politico' 79 Year Old Mississippi GOP Sen. Thad Cochran appeared frail and at times disoriented during a brief hallway interview on Wednesday... at one point, needed a staffer to remind him where the Senate chamber is located. He started to walk into a first-floor room — though the Senate chamber is on the second floor.

On one amendment, Cochran voted “yes” despite being told by an aide to vote “no.” The staffer tried to get the senator to switch his vote, but Cochran kept flashing the “thumbs up” sign, even walking over to the clerk tallying the vote and doing so. GOP floor staffers repeatedly told him the leadership wanted a "no" vote. Several more moments passed before Cochran realized he was voting the wrong way and then changed his vote.


Unlike the private sector all anyone needs to qualify for government office is get more votes then their opponent. No aptitude/skill tests, physicals, drug test nor a employee probationary period. So if the military rejects you and companies consider you unemployable running for office just might be the ticket.

Wednesday, October 18, 2017

Such A Thing As Borrowing Your Way Out Of Debt?

Pennsylvania seems to think so.

WFMZ
Pennsylvania House OKs new deficit package
"It's built around borrowing $1.5 billion against Pennsylvania's share of the 1998 multistate tobacco settlement and extending the state sales tax to purchases in online marketplaces to raise about $50 million."

Borrow 1.5b-- Well that's one way to balance the budget.
Isn't that one of the leading causes of bankruptcy?

I knew this fella who laughed off the $100,000's he owed saying screw em'-- they can't collect when I'm dead and gone. Problem here is after these legislators are dead and gone those of us still among the living in Pennsylvania will be paying for their financial recklessness.


Hey who knows--maybe some of these legislators once voted out of office may move to some other place where the grass is greener.

Always good to have a backup plan, right?

Trumpcare In Pennsylvania Going Up 30.6%


SOURCE: media.pa.gov
Harrisburg, PA - Acting Insurance Commissioner Jessica Altman today announced the approval of 2018 individual and small group health insurance rates. Because of President Trump’s deliberate disruption of the individual market by discontinuing cost-sharing reduction payments to insurers and Congress’s inaction to appropriate these funds, rates will increase by an average 30.6 percent in the individual market. Original projections indicated an increase of 7.6 percent.

“It is with great regret that I must announce approved rates that are substantially higher than what companies initially requested,“ said Acting Commissioner Altman. “This is not the situation I hoped we would be in, but due to President Trump’s refusal to make cost-sharing reduction payments for 2018 and Congress’s inaction to appropriate funds, it is the reality that state regulators must face and the reason rate increases will be higher than they should be across the country.”

Governor Wolf, Acting Commissioner Altman, and Former Insurance Commissioner Miller have warned President Trump and administration officials about the potential impacts of failing to make a long-term commitment to paying cost-sharing reductions. If the Trump Administration had committed to making payments for cost-sharing reductions and alleviated uncertainty regarding the individual mandate, rates would have increased by an average of 7.6 percent rather than 30.6 percent. Small group market rates sold to employers with 50 or fewer employees will increase by an average of 7.6 percent for 2018.

“The president’s deliberate action and Congress’s failure to appropriate these funds despite repeated requests is forcing large rate increases on consumers in Pennsylvania and around the country, but my department is doing what we can to help our consumers understand their options and hopefully shield them from these rate increases,” said Acting Commissioner Altman.

Under the Affordable Care Act, plans are available at four levels – platinum, gold, silver, and bronze. These levels represent different levels of cost-sharing based of monthly premiums and total out-of-pocket costs. A bronze plan will normally have the lowest premium but could have the largest out-of-pocket costs, whereas a platinum plan would have the highest monthly premium but lowest deductible. Because cost-sharing reductions are only available on silver plans, rate increases necessitated by the non-payment of these cost-reductions will be limited to silver plans. On-exchange bronze, gold, and platinum plans and off-exchange silver plans will not be impacted by these disproportionate increases.

Premium subsidies are calculated based on the cost of silver plans in each rating area, and subsidies increase in connection with rate increases. Because rates are rising on silver plans due to cost-sharing reduction non-payment, premium subsidies may be generous enough to allow an individual who qualifies to purchase a gold-level plan that has more favorable cost-sharing at a lower price than previous years.

Acting Commissioner Altman strongly encouraged individuals who do not qualify for premium subsidies to consider off-exchange options. The department worked with each of Pennsylvania’s five marketplace health insurers to ensure they would offer an off-exchange only option that is not impacted by the disproportionate rate increases for on-exchange silver plans. Off-exchange plans must be purchased directly through one of Pennsylvania’s five marketplace insurers or through an agent or broker licensed by the department to sell on behalf of these companies.

The Pennsylvania Insurance Department is partnering with Consumers’ Checkbook again this year to create a shopping tool that allows consumers to compare both on-exchange and off-exchange plans available in Pennsylvania. Consumers can enter their income to see what subsidies may be available to them and estimate the monthly premium and total annual cost of plans in their area. If consumers find a plan they would like to buy, the plan comparison tool will take them to either Healthcare.gov or the company’s website to make a purchase. Consumers can visit https://pa.checkbookhealth.org to use the plan comparison tool.

Open enrollment for 2018 health insurance runs from November 1 until December 15 – a change from previous years. Consumers must sign up by December 15 in order to have coverage effective January 1. The open enrollment period may be the only time consumers can enroll for 2018, and those who do not purchase a plan may be subject to a penalty as well as being uninsured for the year. On-exchange plans can be purchased at Healthcare.gov. Consumers who need assistance enrolling may visit localhelp.healthcare.gov to find free resources in their area.

“While there has been much conversation this year regarding the Affordable Care Act’s future, it remains law. The benefits, consumer protections, and financial assistance that law provides are still available,” said Acting Commissioner Altman. “I strongly encourage all Pennsylvanians who need coverage to use our plan comparison tool to find the best plan for them and protect their and their family’s health by enrolling in coverage for 2018.”

For more information on 2018 rates and resources for shopping for health insurance, visit www.insurance.pa.gov.

MEDIA CONTACT: Ali Fogarty - 717-787-3289

No Worries
Yesterday afternoon 'The New York Post' reported 2 Senators Strike Deal on Health Subsidies That Trump Cut Off. Donald Trump seemed to be in favor of it saying--“It’ll get us over this intermediate hump,” the president said at a Rose Garden news conference, describing it as “a short-term solution so that we don’t have this very dangerous little period.”.... “For a period of one year, two years, we will have a very good solution,” Mr. Trump said. “But we’re going to have a great solution, ultimately, for health care.”


Never Mind.. The Wind Has Shifted.
Looks like only a few hours later Trump changed his mind. CNN: Trump blasts bipartisan deal--"The key to all of this: President Donald Trump. Period. And he just dropped a bomb on this whole process with this tweet:...

Behind the scenes, told [Senator] Alexander in several personal phone calls that he not only supported what he was negotiating, but urged him to reach a final deal. In fact, Alexander told CNN Tuesday Trump's personal urging was crucial to reaching a deal... All eyes on now remain on Trump -- he's taken about 6 different positions on this in the last 18 hours, so even though the tweet was about as unequivocal as it gets, who knows where he'll end up.

The one certainty you can always count on with Trump is his uncertainty. You don't know one hour to the next whether he has taken the blue or the red pill.

Monday, October 16, 2017

Trump's Version Of Draining The Swamp

Bernie Sanders/The Guardian (UK)
The Republican budget is a gift to billionaires:
it's Robin Hood in reverse
This budget cuts Medicaid by more than $1 trillion over 10 years – which would throw some 15 million Americans off of the health insurance they currently have... a $473 billion cut to Medicare, despite Trump’s campaign promises not to cut these programs.

A recent Pew Foundation poll finds that 85% of Republicans and 94% of Democrats want to either maintain or increase funding for Medicare. And 60% of Americans oppose slashing Medicaid, according to a recent Quinnipiac poll...

The Republican budget would give the richest family in America, the Walton family of Walmart, a tax cut of up to $52bn by repealing the estate tax... But, if you are a lower-income senior citizen you and over 700,000 other families may not be able to keep your home warm in the winter because of a cut of about $4bn to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program...

This budget says that if you are the second-wealthiest family in America, the Koch brothers, you will see a tax break of up to $33bn. But if you are a working-class student trying to figure out how you could possibly afford college, your dream of a college education could evaporate along with 8 million other students because of more than $100bn in cuts to Pell Grants and other student financial assistance programs...

This budget gives members of the Trump family a tax cut of up to $4bn, but if you are a low-income pregnant woman you and over 1.2 million new moms, babies, and toddlers may not be able to get the nutrition you need thanks to a $6.5bn cut to the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program...





When Donald said he wanted to drain the swamp I bet most didn't think it was us.

Kinda thought it would be them rich folk up on the hill.








More headlines for your reading pleasure...

The New York Post
Trump adds welfare reform to his already full plate

TPM
Trump: I Think Dems ‘Will Be Blamed’ For My Decision To Sabotage O’Care

Mediaite
Trump on Stalled Legislative Agenda: ‘I Am Not Going to Blame Myself’

Fevers Are Good For Your Health

Flu and cold season will soon be here along with accompanying fever. This is when most people start popping temperature reducing over the counter drugs. Unless one's temperature exceeds 104 degrees for a length of time it is exactly the wrong thing to do. While it makes someone more comfortable it slows down recovery. This is also true when someone is taking antibiotics which of themselves cause temperature rise. It's part of how they fight infection.

"Fever isn’t an illness. It’s the body’s attempt to fight illness. So when we treat fever with antipyretics, like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen, we only handcuff an important part of our immune response. Although it might seem counterintuitive, several studies have now shown that antipyretics increase the severity of infections."
Sweat It Out
I figured this out for myself. Several times I went to bed fully clothed under the electric blanket turned up high. Daytime I put on a heavy coat indoors. Most times after a day or two I felt much better, Before I tried massive doses of vitamin C and cold medications to little avail. For me what always worked best is just sweating it out.


A Word Of Caution
Like I mentioned it's not a good idea for an adult to let their temperature rise over 104 degrees for more then a few hours. If it should rise to that level for too long taking medication will help bring it down to safer levels. Somewhere between 100-102 degrees is normal for a fever.






I call this blog "Lehigh Valley Clancularius Introspectives" for a reason. It's because you'll never know what I come up with next. Please follow me via email (right sidebar) or through an RSS feed. Even if it's only one or two items you find of interest to you.
Thanks, LVCI

Sunday, October 15, 2017

Gov. Kasich Should Have Been Elected President

Although Kasich flamed out in the Republican primaries--as far as I'm concerned--he would have made a much better president then the one we have now.

Sunday, October 15, 2017
Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) joined Meet the Press

I'm certain many on today's right would label him a RINO after seeing this. There's two things to keep in mind however.

(1) In the last presidential election Donald Trump received 46.1% of the popular votes, Hillary 48.2%. Meaning--whoever ended up elected shouldn't ignore half of this country's views. This would be true if either ended up in office. By ignoring half the country it's little wonder why so little is getting done. Call Kasich a RINO if you will but it's the president's job to represent everyone even those who didn't vote for them. Being the reasonable kind of person Kasich is he recognizes this fact.

(2) Kasich may not be quite as liberal as you think. How do we know this? Because Kasich (unlike Trump) has a political record we can examine. One which doesn't look exactly liberal as Democrats would see it.
Wikipedia--Political Positions And Record
*** Abortion--Kasich is a "firm abortion opponent" and describes himself as pro-life. He says abortions should only be performed in cases of rape, incest, and when the mother's life is in danger.

*** Climate change, energy, and environment--In a speech in April 2012, Kasich acknowledged that climate change is real and is a problem. In the same speech, however, Kasich said that the Environmental Protection Agency should not regulate carbon emissions and that instead states and private companies should be in charge of regulating coal-fired power plant emissions.

*** Kasich formerly supported fracking in Ohio state parks and forests, signing legislation in mid-2011 authorizing him to appoint a five-member commission to oversee the leasing of mineral rights on state land to the highest bidder... Kasich is a supporter of the Keystone XL oil pipeline project

*** Executive clemency--He has the lowest clemency rate of any Ohio governor since at least the 1980s, when records began to be kept.

*** State budgets and taxation--During Kasich's tenure, the state has eliminated a budget shortfall that his administration has estimated at $8 billion,.. Ohio also increased its "rainy day fund" from effectively zero to more than $2 billion... Kasich "closed the budget shortfall in part by cutting aid to local governments, forcing some of them to raise their own taxes or cut services... Kasich signed a state budget in 2011 which eliminated the state's estate tax effective January 1, 2013.

*** Labor Issues--On March 31, 2011, in his first year as governor, Kasich signed into law Senate Bill 5, a controversial labor law which restricted collective bargaining rights of public employees, such as police officers, firefighters, and teachers. The legislation, championed by Kasich, prohibited all public employees from striking and restricted their ability to negotiate health care and pension benefits

*** Education--During Kasich's tenure as governor, he pushed to expand charter schools, increase the number of school vouchers that use public money to pay for tuition at private schools, implement a "merit pay" scheme for teachers, and evaluate teachers by student standardized test scores in math and reading

*** Foreign and defense policy--Kasich opposed the landmark 2015 international nuclear agreement with Iran, and in September 2015 was one of fourteen Republican governors who sent a letter to President Obama stating "that we intend to ensure that the various state-level sanctions [against Iran] that are now in effect remain in effect," despite the agreement

*** Immigration and refugees--In 2010, while running for governor, Kasich expressed support for amending the U.S. Constitution to abolish the Fourteenth Amendment's guarantee of jus soli (birthright) citizenship for people born in the United States.

YE GADS--HOW MUCH MORE REPUBLICAN DO YOU WANT THIS GUY TO BE !
Yet he was (and still is being) resoundingly rejected by today's right for service in Washington


Of course I don't agree with many of his policies and others I haven't listed because many of my views stand in opposite. Even so if the election would have came down to either Hillary or John I wouldn't have hesitated for a second to cast my vote for him.

The reason?
I believe he's totally honest and forthright. Well spoken. Respectful to opposing views. Greatly informed and has a good head on his shoulders. Something Hillary doesn't have and most certainly Donald Trump least of all never will.

Saturday, October 14, 2017

Donald's Healthcare Plan (He Doesn't Have One)

10/13/2017

After all these executive signings it's no longer Obamacare. Stop calling it that.

Donald trashed the Democrats healthcare plan. Now he expects them to fix it for him. Course if they could he'd take all the credit. This is like someone taking their car to the garage for repairs because it wasn't quite running right. The mechanic rips out some parts resulting in the car barely working at all The mechanic then turns around and tells that customer they should junk it since he doesn't have a clue how to repair it. Even has the nerve to hand them a bill for it.

Another analogy--Donald's like a kid told to stop taking apart the toys you give him. When the kid doesn't listen he blames everybody else when he can't make them work. Then the kid keeps complaining and complaining they weren't any good in the first place. Get me new ones.


Some Members of Congress Have Alzheimer’s?

The New York Post
Pharmacist hints some members of Congress have Alzheimer’s
A pharmacist who fills all the scrips for members of Congress says he’s given Alzheimer’s drugs to lawmakers — who may be running the country while losing their marbles.
This could explain why some of them forgot why they were elected.

Sonic Noise Cuba Says It Didn't Do It

AP
Cubans Doubt U.S. Sonic Attacks Claims
A bizarre string of attacks on diplomats in Havana has sent Cuban-American relations to their lowest point in decades, with the Trump administration virtually closing its embassy here and expelling Cuban officials from Washington. But few people on this communist-run island believe a word of the U.S. allegations.
New York Daily News-- HEAR IT: The 'sonic weapon' Americans heard during Cuba attacks

False flag?
Who knows One thing is for sure--the U.S. isn't going to make nice any time soon nor in the foreseeable future. Donald always was against Obama's warming up our relationship with Cuba.

Boy Scouts Piss Off Girl Scouts

New York Post
Girl Scouts tear into Boy Scouts: Their house is on fire
Discord between the two organizations has been brewing since August, when Girl Scouts president Kathy Hopinkah Hannan sent a scathing letter to the Boy Scouts formally requesting that they stop their “covert campaign to recruit girls,” calling it “reckless” and “unsettling.”
Worried it's gonna cut into your cookie sales?

Interesting how we're talking about females having equality with males but when given the means are aghast. Look how about this--you both merge into one organization called "The Scouts". Yeah I didn't think so.

So now the ball's in the Girl Scouts court. Either they leave boys in or continue as they are. Let kids decide for themselves.

Your Kid Is A Bully Go To Jail

AP
Parents Of Kid Bullies Face Jail Time
This city just north of Buffalo [New York] is getting attention for a new law that lets authorities send parents of bullies to jail for up to 15 days and fine them up to $250.
While I do see the logic I also can see downsides if this is applied excessively without commonsense. I'm thinking in terms of what hardships it could be on a single working parent. So too some brat teenager who figures out how he/she can hold parents hostage if they don't like their punishment.

This can really mess a family up especially if only one of the kids are a brat. Imagine some parent not showing up to work for 15 days Another trying to find someone to watch their others kids while they're locked up. We may have a perfectly good parent stuck with a brat who ends up getting punished more then the kid.

What kind of message does this send a kid? Do whatever you want. You won't be held accountable. Seems to me if someone wanted to make a new law the kid should be locked up for 15 days not the parent. Fined yes. Locked up no. Only lock the parent up if they fail to pay the fine. To me this makes more sense.

Firing Out The Back Door--Hiring In The Front

The Philadelphia Inquirer
Inquirer, Daily News staffers offered buyouts while newsroom plans to hire others
Philadelphia Media Network, owner of the Inquirer, the Daily News, and Philly.com, is seeking to eliminate 30 to 35 newsroom positions through buyouts and warned that it could lay off employees if it fails to reach that target. At the same time, the company is hiring 10 employees with digital-related skills... to modernize the newsroom and expand its audience on Philly.com.
It's an old story. Out with the old. In with the new. I bet cheaper too.

I wonder if they got the usual spiel about how much their experience and dedication was valued...BUT...

Friday, October 13, 2017

Loophole In 2nd Amendment?

Slate.com
Two Guns Per Person
The 27 words of the Second Amendment don’t say anything about how many guns someone can own in America. Neither do the other 7,564 words in the Constitution.... The Constitution certainly doesn’t mandate that Americans be allowed to own an unlimited number of guns....

Under such a two-guns-per-person law, would anyone be prevented from owning a firearm to defend themselves in their home? Clearly not. Whether or not you agree with this idea, it’s plainly correct that neither the Second Amendment nor any other part of the Constitution stands in the way of policy proposals like this one.

Yeah well as logical as that may be don't expect the NRA to endorse it. They'd sooner be shot then give an inch.

So to speak :-)

Trump Continues Dismantling ACA



Reuters 10/13/2017
Trump ends key insurance subsidies, vows to dismantle Obamacare
Frustrated by the failure of his fellow Republicans who control Congress to repeal and replace Obamacare, Trump has taken this and several other steps to chip away at it...

The administration will not make the next payment to insurers, scheduled for Wednesday...

“It’s step by step by step, and that was a very big step yesterday,” Trump said. “And one by one, it’s going to come down, and we’re going to have great healthcare in our country.”




Let me see--you Donald break it then expect Democrats to go fix it after you kicked the legs out from under it.

Sounds an awful lot like political blackmail to me.


See the problem is once you start screwing with the plan it is no longer Obama's plan. It becomes...



Well if what you say is true I don't see why you'd need Democrats' help. You seemed to have taken charge. Meaning--you now own it. Work it out. This is on you.



OK Donald go for it big boy. Show us what you can do. BUT you better come through. Your supporters are counting on you.

Uploaded on January 17, 2017



Found this patch on the floor after a Trump rally

Anyone know who it belongs to?




Want to know the real reason Donald did it?
Because they didn't lick his boots.

So in other words Donald's future tax breaks (to help prop up their stocks) only go to those who will kiss his behind. Those losing healthcare doesn't seem like his greatest priority. Instead a pawn in a game of brinkmanship over Donald's constant need for adoration. Who's next?

Seniors Getting A Social Security Increase in 2018

YEAH!
Social Security Announces 2.0 Percent Benefit Increase for 2018

BOO!
According to 'The Chicago Tribune'--"Medicare has the right to impose that charge, so long as the amount that seniors receive from Social Security isn't reduced in the process. So, the program is expected to ask older adults who paid $109 this year to pay $134 for Part B coverage next year an increase of $25 a month."

So actually what this means is most of us ain't getting diddly-squat. Myself included.

Trump Continues To War With Truth



Aired Thursday 10/12/2017



CBS Thursday 10/12/2017






No wonder Trump hates the press "bigly".







I call this blog "Lehigh Valley Clancularius Introspectives" for a reason. It's because you'll never know what I come up with next. Please follow me via email (right sidebar) or through an RSS feed. Even if it's only one or two items you find of interest to you.
Thanks, LVCI

Thursday, October 12, 2017

$1.3M Skatepark Planned For Allentown

Micah Shapiro, lead designer for Seattle-based Grindline Skateparks Inc., leads a meeting Oct. 11, 2017, at the Alternative Gallery in Allentown on plans for a new two-phase, $1.3 million skateboarding and BMX park spanning about 18,000 square feet in Allentown’s Jordan Park


Source: Kurt Bresswein | For lehighvalleylive.com


I'm sure many of us here in Allentown are excited for this creative use of our tax dollars.

Speaking as a senior citizen on a fixed income I know I am.

MAGA
Make Allentown Great Again

Wonderful World Of Computers

Reuters is reporting Equifax takes down web page after report of new hack--Equifax Inc said on Thursday it has taken one of its customer help website pages offline as its security team looks into reports of another potential cyber breach..

As far as 'Equifax' is concerned--I'd think it best to ignore them completely. I think they've pretty much established their reliability. Might as well toss a stone in the air and hope it doesn't land on your head.


'PC Gamer' is also reporting Windows 10 update sends some PCs into a BSOD boot loop-- A troublesome Windows update that was rolled out to PCs running the Windows 10 is causing some systems to spit out a blue screen of death (BSOD) error. Worse yet is that these rigs end up caught in an endless reboot, making them unusable for the time being.

Silly me but I have this belief that some windows updates are more a problem then the malware it's intended to protect against. One of the best pieces of advice I was given was wait a week or two after a new update. Let the rest of the suckers find out what happens first :-)

Then there's my cable modem. It works great for several months. Then from time to time (like it has over the last week) drops my internet 4 or 5 times a day for no reason. All my signals check out 100%. I gone through this several times. Most likely in a week or two (or whenever it feels like it) everything will be fine again for a few months.

My digital TV plays funny tricks too. The 3 HDMI inputs decided to quit for no reason. I reconnected my component cables instead. Other times it thinks certain HD channels don't exist. A few hours later it decides they do.








Ok I think I'm starting to get it..








Grim's Orchard Hit With Zoning Violations

'The Morning Call'--"The township emphasized its support of local agriculture, but it stood by its decision to cite the orchard for hosting activities outside of the bounds of the zoning rules."

I'm not going to pretend to know all the ins and outs on this issue. I may be reading this all wrong, but (1) Various local governments are spending lots of loot on trying to save farmland. Here's a family trying to do just that. Seems to me they should receive encouragement rather the discouragement.

(2) If the Grim family decided they probably could sell off their land for warehouses or home development like the Jaindl's making more money then spending years of growing season after season could ever bring in without assuming the risks.

(3) A couple weeks out of the year with traffic seems to be less a burden then year round truck and/or home development would bring in. Nor require the infrastructure

(4) Warehouses and homes pay taxes. Is that what the township is looking at?

Like I said I may be reading this all wrong, but family owned farms in my book should receive all the encouragement we can give them. Too many of their next generations are giving up farm life. I further believe the government should exempt all family owned farms from inherited estate taxes. Unless people want to depend on imports from some not so friendly polluted foreign nations these polices should change. MAGA


I call this blog "Lehigh Valley Clancularius Introspectives" for a reason. It's because you'll never know what I come up with next. Please follow me via email (right sidebar) or through an RSS feed. Even if it's only one or two items you find of interest to you.
Thanks, LVCI

Why Trump Hates The Media

Because it won't let Donald get away with his BS lies

While Donald continues to zero in on the so-called "Fake Media" feast on the following videos.

Uploaded Thursday 10/11/2017
This is what FEMA and military are doing in Puerto Rico



Uploaded Wednesday 10/10/2017


See Here's The Problem Donald...
Even if you were able to shut down the media there will always exist the internet. A source that if far larger then any broadcaster could ever hope to be. Hey Donald--you think these people are "fake" too?


Yo Donald--at the rate they're moving forever might not be long enough.

Aired Monday 10/09/2017



Uploaded Thursday 10/11/2017



The Truth Always Wins
Donald for 70 years you have gotten away with this BS. Not in today's world. Not anymore. There's way too many other resources available. The truth's coming for you. Donald--you can't stop it no matter how hard you try. Not in the media, on the internet or in congress...

Maxine Waters Thursday 10/12/2017



10/12/2017



I don't know what world Donald is living in.
It bears little resemblance to the one the rest of us are in.


VOX is reporting-- "We found reports of a total of 81 deaths linked directly or indirectly to the hurricane. Of those, 45 were the deaths certified by the government. The remaining 36 deaths were confirmed by local public officials or funeral directors, according to the reports. We also found another 450 reported deaths, most of causes still unknown, and reports of at least 69 people still missing."


I call this blog "Lehigh Valley Clancularius Introspectives" for a reason. It's because you'll never know what I come up with next. Please follow me via email (right sidebar) or through an RSS feed. Even if it's only one or two items you find of interest to you.
Thanks, LVCI

Tuesday, October 10, 2017

Latest House Budget Resolution Passed

Fiscal 2018 Budget Resolution
Vote Passed (219-206, 9 Not Voting)
It would assume the repeal of the 2010 health care overhaul law.

It also would propose reducing spending on mandatory programs such as Medicare and Medicaid and changing programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (also known as food stamps)

It would call for restructuring Medicare into a “premium support” system beginning in 2024.

Rep. Charlie Dent voted NO


Here's Where I Stand
I'm with Dent. I'm against "repeal of the 2010 health care overhaul law". Against the "reducing spending on mandatory programs such as Medicare and Medicaid and changing programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (also known as food stamps)."

I'm also against "restructuring Medicare into a “premium support” system beginning in 2024."

Anyone who supports screwing American taxpayers who paid into Medicare or Medicaid these many years deserve to be jailed for bait and switch in perpetuating this kind of fraud. People worked their whole lives for these. How dare these crooks deny people what they paid for. If it were wall street bankers they be fined possibly going to jail for it.

I'm angry as hell. I'm sure I'm not alone. How dare these people in congress screw over Medicare and other people most vulnerable in their critical time of need.

How are we suppose to support a government who doesn't respect or support it's own people?

How Easily Our Perceptions Are Fooled

This is meant to be a follow-up to my two previous posts just before this one.






Ok enough. I'm done perpetuating
My hopes are at this point anyone reading these posts will at least give these due consideration. Further as a result people need not treat others or their own lives with absolutes to the determent of either themselves or others.

In other words...
     DON'T WORRY SO MUCH. LIFE MAY BE JUST AN ILLUSION.
     Enjoy it while you can for as long as possible.


Whatever life's illusion is--we're all in this together




I call this blog "Lehigh Valley Clancularius Introspectives" for a reason. It's because you'll never know what I come up with next. Please follow me via email (right sidebar) or through an RSS feed. Even if it's only one or two items you find of interest to you.
Thanks, LVCI

The Brain Hallucinates Our Conscious Reality

This is meant to be a follow-up to the one I posted yesterday just prior to this.

Neuroscientist Anil Seth

17 Minutes

Political Differences And Other Opinions
This clearly explains why so many people obstinately insist on their point of a view over that of another.

Criminal Minds
Why some people commit all sorts of horrible acts others would never think of doing. It also clarifies why mass killers do what they do.



My Thoughts
Some have "open minds". Others have "closed minds". This varies from only slightly to impenetrable. Are some brains hardwired at birth to reject conflicting information while others are open to it? If so--is it even possible to retrain the computer like brain born that way to process information differently?

Can brain altering chemicals help overcome the brain's hard-wiring at birth? We certainly know how chemicals used in bath salts, LSD and other drugs can really mess up one's perception of reality. So if we accept this as fact this leads us to question whether society is growing further apart and becoming more violent because of the synthetic chemicals we've introduced over the years. Could the explanation be simple as that?

Which leaves us the keyword word "perception".
Everything we think we are, who we believe others to be or the world around us is left up to our computer like brains to interpret for us. When the brain becomes stymied it falls back on faith or some other means like expressing anger for what it finds inexplicable out of frustration. Hence I think it would serve each of us well to accept our fallibility realizing our "perceptions" can't be entirely trusted.

Reality--What Reality?
More importantly. Life itself could be one great big grandiose illusion with our limited brains themselves playing a part.

Now go look at my post from yesterday :-)



I call this blog "Lehigh Valley Clancularius Introspectives" for a reason. It's because you'll never know what I come up with next. Please follow me via email (right sidebar) or through an RSS feed. Even if it's only one or two items you find of interest to you.
Thanks, LVCI

Monday, October 9, 2017

DNA The Future Of Data Storage?


Doesn't This Also Imply Our Creator Also Did So And Has Yet To Be Discovered


The Future?
What do ya mean!
DNA already contains data

We're living proof.
'The Sun (UK): Elon Musk claims humanity is living inside a simulation which will soon END--"The billionaire has previously spoken of his belief that we exist in a fake world designed by superintelligent developers."

Just What If?
Although Elon made the statement somewhat tongue-in-cheek it does cause someone to wonder. Let's take a few moments to consider this hypothesis.

It's an absolute fact data stored in strands of DNA forms all the cells in the human body. This is true from our toenails, to all our organs including the brain itself. Let's focus on the brain. All of us are born with a brain that already knows how to control the muscles in our heart, lungs, intestines and other vital organs. In a few weeks our vocal cords and eyesight begins to be further refined. Preprogrammed as it were.

So here we are now with a basic data unit in our head. With at least rudimentary information a human will need to get started. After that everything anyone will ever see, touch, smell or experience lie external to the grey blob residing in darkness within our skull. Everything it relies on for information comes only to it through external sensory inputs. I called it a grey blob because that's all it is. It's entirely dependent on data coming in from outside itself. It's entire function is to process those signals into something that makes sense.

Now let's go off the rails with this far out hypothesis
Let's suppose someone wishes to create a artificial intelligence of some kind made up of biological material. The first step might be to form strands of chemicals (DNA) that would replicate and create the individual parts necessary to make it a self functioning unit. One that not only had intelligence but the capability of reproducing other units like itself so you didn't have to fret about storing your society's history and information. It could be possible our DNA contains hidden messages from our designers yet to be discovered. This until they felt the time would be be appropriate to reveal itself.

A important consideration. You'd want it to be intelligent but not too much so that it could become a threat and over take it's designers. In other words you would give it limited capacity. Even if it were capable of recognizing it's own existence it wouldn't be much more capable beyond that. Hopefully not either destroying themselves before such a time humans evolved enough enabling them to decode their creators' hidden messages. Could our purpose be to store information for beings currently beyond our comprehension?

Just for a hoot let's take this a step further
You could design it's algorithms (brain) to support it's hypothesizes. In other words if enough of these organic units imagined something might exist it would become so due to it's in-common design. Oh let's say like a incomprehensively large unending universe or endlessly smaller masses disappearing into what only can be described as quantum theories. These are all so-called things it could conceive then perceive as it's physical reality.

Human understanding has always questioned reality and it's place in it. Perhaps this hypothesis can explain some of these mysteries. Scholars throughout the ages hinted all answers lie within. This most certainly would clarify what they were trying to tell us, wouldn't it?.

Crazy Talk?
Perhaps--but as per usual I'll leave you some videos to ponder..









After millions of years why is it only in the last 30 or 40 years humans advanced this rapidly?
Could all be revealed soon?




I call this blog "Lehigh Valley Clancularius Introspectives" for a reason. It's because you'll never know what I come up with next. Please follow me via email (right sidebar) or through an RSS feed. Even if it's only one or two items you find of interest to you.
Thanks, LVCI