Daily Archives: August 12, 2010

08/12/10

The System Says You’re Not Here

By: T F Stern
The Moral Liberal

We live in a world dependent on computers; heaven help us when they have a glitch. Sometimes the inconveniences are just that, minor setbacks which can be overcome in a matter of minutes; others take a little longer.

Take for example a story on MYFOXNY dot COM about Ruth and Karl Hess, a couple married for 53 years. A computer error made for an interesting day.

“Ruth Hess got a call from her husband’s doctor’s office telling her that Medicare had declined payment to the doctor. Why? Because they mistakenly thought her husband Karl had died.”

“Ruth Hess said, “That’s strange. We are sitting here having lunch and he just played tennis.”’

“Medicare told the Hess’ that they couldn’t handle trying to prove that Karl was still alive. They referred him to the Social Security Administration.”

The long and the short of it; Hess spent the rest of the day on the phone trying to get someone to accept the fact that he was alive. He had to get through the computer generated phone systems we all look forward to, “For English punch 1, Espanol 2, if you are calling for a problem with billing punch 3, for results of a medical test punch 4, for a chance to win a 60” flat screen television punch 5…”

Eventually it boiled down to one digit of his Social Security number having been entered incorrectly; the computer had declared Karl Hess dead. He was able to convince a human being that rumors of his death were premature.

Continue reading →

08/12/10

Financial News Update – 08/12/10

Blame Ireland For The Big Euro Crackup Today

YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT HITS RECORD HIGH

Here We Go: Spain Is Considering A Reversal Of Planned Spending Cuts

Goldman: Here Are 3 Reasons The Economy Is About To Get Weak

David Rosenberg: I’m Not Saying It’s The 1930s All Over Again, But…

“It Costs Our Company $74,000 To Pay An Employee $59,000–Of Which She Keeps $44,000”

PIMCO: Basically The Fed Move Was Only Good For Blowing More Bubbles

Economist Rogoff Breaks Down What Happens To Economies That Hit 90% Debt-To-GDP Ratio

Taleb: Bet On A Bond Collapse, And Hedge Against Imminent Inflation

Bernanke Boxes Himself Into A Corner: What Does He Do Now?

REMEMBER: In 1930, They Didn’t Know It Was “The Great Depression” Yet

Three Reasons Why Jobs Have Gone AWOL

HUD Just Announced A Homeowner Bailout

JOBLESS CLAIMS JUMP TO HIGHEST SINCE FEB

California can’t pay bills — may use IOUs for August payments

DEFICIT ADDS $165,040,000,000.00 — IN ONE MONTH!

Homes lost to foreclosure up 6% from last year

NEW WORLD ORDER: BAILOUTS HELPED FOREIGN FIRMS

US Unemployment Out of Control?

Stocks plunge as U.S. trade deficit is wider than expected

Goldman Predicts Gold May Rally to Record $1,300

Poll: Most Fear Economic Worst Is Yet to Come

Economists Whack Their Growth Estimates, But They’re Still Too Optimistic

Morgan Stanley: There’s A Massive Short Position In The Dollar Right Now

Firing the school super won’t end government handouts

GM’s Whitacre Steps Down as CEO

SEC Plan to Pry Open Corporate Boards May Face Challenge

Foreclosure Crisis Spreads Across U.S.; Idaho Defaults Mount

Peter Schiff: “We’re in the Early Stages of a Depression” (Hat Tip: Brian B.)

We Want Our IOUs (Hat Tip: Brian B.)

Morning Bell: The Dodd-Frank Bailout is Already Here

Another Recession, Already?

Morning Bell: Under Obamanomics, Government Workers Win, You Lose (Hat Tip: Brian B.)

$26.1 Billion Union Bailout Went to States that Didn’t Need it

Obama July Deficit of $167 Billion Tops Bush Deficit For Entire Year of 2007

Treasury Dept’s New Charge: Muslim Outreach??

SurvivalBlog:

Why Gold and Silver Seem Stuck

Chorus of QE calls is deafening.

Double Dip Depression Will Lead Us Into War

Fed Looks to Spur Growth by Buying Government Debt

Wal-Mart Prices Are Rising: JP Morgan Study

Productivity Falls 0.9% in Second Quarter

Stocks Cut Losses on Fed’s Economic Stimulus Plan

GOP Destroyed American Economy

Geithner’s Claptrap About “The Recovery” Exposed

Gold Thefts Prompt Police to Monitor Sellers

San Fran Fed: Significant Chance Of Recession Next Two Years

A Democratic Panic Attack? Rumors of an “August Surprise”

Side Effect of the New Frugality: Happiness

08/12/10

Weekly Featured Profile – Neil Abercrombie

By: Trevor Loudon
KeyWiki

Neil Abercrombie

Neil Abercrombie was a covertly socialist Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives 1st district of Hawaii until he resigned in early 2010 to seek the Governorship of Hawaii. While attending the University of Hawaii in the early 1960s, Neil Abercrombie was part of a circle that included Barak Obama and Stanley Ann Dunham, the parents of future U.S. President, Barack Obama. Abercrombie has been a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus from as early as 1998 to the present. The Council for a Livable World, founded in 1962 by long-time socialist activist and alleged Soviet agent, Leo Szilard supported him in his successful run as U.S. Representative for Hawaii.

DSA Controversy: Following evidence that Abercrombie had been a member of the Democratic Socialists of America circa 1990, his office made a statement denying the assertion, stating: “Neil has never been part of any socialist or communist organization.” This denial was followed by a further piece of evidence making it clear that Abercrombie was in fact a member of the Marxist-based DSA. Abercrombie’s wife was a member of the DSA’s Feminist Commission. In 1990 he was listed as a “DSAer Democrat” and in 1992 he delivered an “extemporaneous, impassioned speech” to an explicitly D.S.A. organized “Socialist Caucus.” Also speaking at the conference were confirmed DSA members, Cornel West, Bob Fitrakis and Ed Vargas. In 2006 he spoke alongside Dennis Kucinich and former DSA National Director, Christine Riddiough, at a DSA Political Action Committee meeting for Bernie Sanders, at the home of Stewart Mott.

(more…)

08/12/10

An Interview with 12 Yr-Old Author of a New Patriotic Coloring Book

By: Trevor Loudon
New Zeal

Patrick Torma has recently finished illustrating a coloring book entitled the Alphabet for American Children Coloring Book – and he’s just 12 years old. This is not your average color-in-animated-Disney-characters coloring book that you pick up in the dollar store. Young Patrick has instead created a coloring book which he hopes other young Americans will use not only to learn the alphabet but also to reinforce American history. Patrick feels it is important to teach children that American History is fun.

We asked Patrick a few questions…

Why is it important for American children to know their history?

“It is important for us to know history because we do not wish to repeat the bad parts. Sometimes it is hard to find the real history in school. Sometimes you have to work to learn it for yourself.”

Why is it so important that we uphold the Constitution?

“The Constitution is what keeps us from landing in Anarchy or to the other side Tyranny. It keeps us close to Anarchy, but not too close and hopefully far away from Tyranny. It is neat how the Founding Fathers wrote a perfect document for freedom.”

If you became President of the United States, what is one law you would change and why?

“If I was President, I would not have Obamacare. I do not think the government can run health care. Government seems to make a mess of things that companies can do better. If I was President I would try to make government smaller, not bigger.”

Who (living today) is your hero?

“My hero is my Mom. She cared enough to make me watch Glenn Beck so I could learn more about history and she insists that I read. I am reading the 5000 Year Leap right now. She also makes the best Chicken Intercontinental (my favorite dinner). Glenn Beck, Michele Bachmann and Steve King are also heroes. They are working to save our country. We will be attending the 8/28 rally in DC in a couple of weeks. Glenn Beck is going to have some heroes speak. I can’t wait to go.”

Who is your favorite founding father – and why?

“I like George Washington because he was honest and a great leader. My mom suggested my next coloring book be about advice from the Founding Fathers. George Washington wrote a book about manners when he was young.”

If only a few more elected representatives in the United States would think along the same lines as Patrick, America would not be in the sad situation it is in now.

Patrick has attended almost every event in DC since the 9/11 march in 2009.

Glenn Beck helped inspire Patrick to illustrate the coloring book. When his mom was looking at creating a coloring book for children, she came up against a brick wall; some of the images were copyrighted and would not be able to be published. So she asked Patrick to illustrate the coloring book.

Patrick and his mom have kindly provided us with an excerpt from his book which you can download for free here.

Buy Patrick’s coloring-book at Amazon.com and either color it in yourself… or pass it on to children you know who would love it.