A blog about Business & Finance, Politics, and Schools & Education.
|
Business Question Poison, Perverts and the Devil, Oh My! What do we do with criminals? Edwards Airshow Now What Do I Do With This Ark I built? Rocket Launch to be Visible From Bakersfield Tomorrow I'm Ready to Start a Coup - Let's Play USA B-17 Over Bakersfield? An Eye for an Eye Space Shuttle Landing Likely at Edwards Today March 09 April 09 May 09 June 09 July 09 August 09 September 09 October 09 November 09 
RSS 2.0    Share!
|
|
|
A friend of mine is interested in opening a retail store in town. Are there any local resources available that can help budding entrepreneurs write business plans and connect with more experienced folk? Thanks. I'm a skeptic and never been too fond of Halloween or the idea of giving the neighborhood kids, who annoy you all year round free treats for tearing up your yard and ringing your doorbell off the hook/hollering at you and disturbing the dogs. I've noticed a lot of genuine fear surrounds Halloween, and the adults are more afraid than the children. I remember all my unwrapped candy being taken away as a child and the caveat about poison candy. Later it was gangs of devil worshipers sacrificing babies, and today it's sex offenders. I liked the devil worship myths best (all those sacrifices--scary!). So I did a little research and found a few answers to the things that scare parents more then ghouls and goblins. A preview...little need to worry about poison, razor blades, perverts, or (my favorite) baby sacrificing Manson wannabes. What should you worry about? Cars, drunk drivers, and general carelessness. Here are the links: Poison candy: http://mommymythbuster.word... Perverts: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id... Perverts2: http://www.lynn.edu/about-l... A general list of myths. I love the one about being mummified and set on fire: http://www.salon.com/life/f... Poison candy: http://chicagoist.com/2009/... Halloween isn't Satanic: http://altreligion.about.co... Your pets: http://tucsoncitizen.com/sa... Another general list: http://www.life123.com/holi... Cool website for parents: http://mommymythbuster.word... Still, I think it's prudent to supervise children and to take away all the best candy, just in case it is actually poisoned by sex offending devil worshipers. Devil worshipping pervs (secretly read: I) prefer the Kit Kats and Special Darks...
The issues of crime and punishment have long been of great interest to me, coming from a family of law enforcement professionals. I’ve had enjoyable and sometimes intense discussions with family and friends on the various related subjects and often learn new things myself. I’ve pretty much come to some conclusions of my own, but I’d like to hear the community’s opinion before posting some thoughts of my own in detail. This is not a trick question, I’m looking for some genuine well reasoned opinions and whys for what you believe is best. Here is my question: What should we do with convicted felons who are released back into society? Do we 1) Provide them with treatment, training, education, employment and other social services to reintegrate them into society? (A “progressive” notion). 2) Do nothing but supervise them on parole and imprison them if they violate their terms. They are on their own to reintegrate. (This is with minor exception, the status quo). 3) Bullets are cheap… (Draco’s society. Suggesting that felons should be disposed of by means of lifetime incarceration or death--broad lifetime sanctions if released). So what do you think?
I enjoyed the airshow at Edwards AFB and wish to commend the personnel and all those involved in making the event so amazing. I am difficult to impress, but I found myself feeling so on multiple occasions, which proves my tax dollars are being put to impressive (even if not practical) use. :-) Practicality is debatable. I will sleep a hell of a lot better at night after seeing the airshow. We've got some impressive equipment and some very skilled pilots and crews. The only detractor to the experience was the horrible traffic snarl when it came time to leave. I spent over 90 minutes on the lakebed waiting to move less than 100 yards. It took over four hours to get from the tarmac to the north gate; 3 PM to 7PM! Any idea what happened there? Is it always like that? Anyway, great show, Edwards. Glad you're on my side.
I was expecting a deluge of biblical porportions to hit Bakersfield today. Instead, we got a taste of the dust bowl. Did I err in building an ark?
Tomorrow, Thursday at 11:38 AM exactly, a Delta II rocket will be launched from Vandenberg AFB on the coast. The launch will be visible from Bakersfield. There is a chance the launch may be delayed due to technical difficulties, but at this time everything is a go with weather expected to be perfect for the launch. To view the event, look to the south-southwest at 11:38 AM. Within one minute, the rocket will rise above the horizon and become visible to us in Bakersfield. The rocket itself will be too far away to be seen, but you may see the flames from the exhaust and it will leave a vapor trail that will quickly dissipate. If you do not see anything by 11:40 AM, you have either missed it or the launch is somehow delayed. The unmanned rocket will be launching an Earth imaging satellite for a private corporation. Good luck and happy hunting. This is a semi-rare treat that only occurs about 3-4 times per year.
Have you heard the master plan, one nation under Disneyland? Let's play USA... & nbsp; --Let's Play USA, Peter Schilling. Wow, a German got it right. Peter Schilling's critique of American culture in the 80's in the song, "Let's Play USA" was a frightening statement about where we were during the time and a prediction about where we're headed. I encourage everyone here to listen to it or read the lyrics.
Forty seven percent of all Americans will pay no taxes this year. At least anywhere from 10-25 percent of all Americans have no access to health coverage so that s single doctor visit will force them into destitute bankruptcy. Almost ten percent of all Americans are unemployed, and that figure does not count the unemployable, discouraged, underemployed, and the ones who have simply dropped off the charts. Our financial institutions claim they are close to bankruptcy while bilking the taxpayers for billions which they are not returning in the form of credit but using to improve share prices. And, the American public is becoming increasingly polarized over how to resolve these issues.
We cut education but abhor cuts in prisons and would prefer more of them with yet longer sentences. Rehabilitation programs are cheaper and more effective, and education is even better, but our prison lobby is quite mighty. Our byzantine legal system and tax system are the source of countless complaints yet no reform is possible. Our political system is fatally flawed and can only sit and spin. Neither the Republicans nor Democrats can accomplish anything and they spend considerable time blaming the other side.
Frankly, I am well ashamed of what my country's become. I'm a patriot, but I am also sad.
I think as a start we're all going to have to get used to a generally lower standard of living. We cannot live like we have been living as a people. The 90's are now a decade past, what a great time to grow up and live, but the party's over.
Second we're going to have to overhaul all of our major systems. Our political system needs a shakeup, our laws need reform, our educational system must become a priority and our overseas ambitions need to be put into realistic perspective. We must revise our tax code. Finally, we must create social programs that employ people even if it's in menial labor. We must provide a minimum standard of living for all Americans while protecting the rewards of those who work hard and invest.
I just cannot see this without some kind of revolution in our country. It does not have to be bloody, but there will have to be a coup of some sort. I have little faith the system as it is can deliver any solutions anymore.
...won't it be a lot of fun every man will own a gun shoot the ones whose point of view makes a point that bothers you...
Ibid.
I am fairly certain I observed a B-17 over Bakersfield this morning! Time was about 8:35 Am and the aircraft had a blue tail. I was too far away to see what subtype it was. Anyone have any more information? What a treat! On a recent blog our of our community asked about the concept of an eye for an eye for criminals. An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind --Gandhi. An eye for an eye justice comes from the law code of Hammurabi, and was itself a legal reform, replacing mandatory death penalties for most offenses. However, it is punitive draconian justice, and when the innocent is accused and convicted, the results can be horrific. For example, if a builder constructs a house and it collapses and kills the inhabitant's son, the builder's son is also killed! This is not the system we ought to aspire to. It may appear satisfying to kill killers, rape rapists, and steal from thieves. There must be such a comforting release of negative energy when these things happen, catharsis, if you will, that it is a tempting perspective. But if we do these things, we become no better than the people who do these deeds to others. After all, we condemn these acts because of their heinous nature in the first place. If we engage in the same behavior, we lose all authority to regulate it, as we become the killers, rapists, and thieves ourselves. I would strongly encourage a civilized view when it comes to justice. We left barbarian ways behind millenia ago for good reason! I believe we will be/are judged by how we treat the least people in our society. This means the worst of the worst have to be treated better than they did their victims. Not as satisfying (for some), but righteous nonetheless and a noble protection for the innocent. With bad weather in Florida and a determination to land the shuttle today, there is a very good chance shuttle Discovery will land at Edwards today. Landing should be just at 5:53 PM PDT, if I did the math right.
|
