Miscellaneous Thoughts Part 16

• If according to the Left, labor unions are supposed to protect the working man from oppressive management then why does gov't need them then?
• The faster you go the harder you'll hit the wall.
• Many a men have died trying to lift a boulder.
• Randomness is the mother of complexity.
• Total randomness leads to paranoia. Total order leads to boredom. Complexity is in between which makes life interesting.
• There are a thousand smiles in one laugh.
• Life is full of randomness. You never know when a cow is going to wander off into your backyard.
• Fractals is the reason why Humpty Dumpty could not be put back together again.
• There is an insane corner in the mind of the sanest person.
• There are three sides to every story. Side A, side B & somewhere in between lies a very interesting plot for a movie.

The Plan of The Muslim Brotherhood

The following plan is from the book Muslim Mafia (2009) by P. David Gaubatz and Paul Sperry. The Muslim Brotherhood is a militant Islamic group. 

1. Establishment of an elite Muslim leadership, while raising taqwa, or Islamic consciousness, in the Muslim community.

2. Creation of Islamic institutions the leadership can control, along with the formation of autonomous Muslim enclaves.

3. Infiltration and Islamization of America's political, social, economic, and educational systems, forming a shadow state within the state. Escalation of religious conversions to Islam,. Manipulation of mass media, and sanitization of language offensive to Islam.

4. Openly hostile public confrontation over US policies, including rioting, and militant demands for special rights and accommodations for Muslims.

5. Final conflict and overthrow (jihad).

Actually, the Brotherhood (and let's admit other groups like them) wants this plan not only implemented in just America but all countries around the world. The most scary parts of the plan are phases three on up. 

What's interesting this plan is eerily similar to the progressives plan for world gov't. But both have different type of religions. So, there will be a conflict between the two ideologies. Who will win the conflict? Probably the fanatical Muslims. They are not afraid to die, while the Left are afraid of their own shadows. Plus, the Left will try to appease the Islamists and get killed in the process. Whoever wins freedom is the real loser. 

Hold fire, earn a medal

From Navy Times.com (May 12):

U.S. troops in Afghanistan could soon be awarded a medal for not doing something, a precedent-setting award that would be given for “courageous restraint” for holding fire to save civilian lives.

A spokesman for the 2.2 million-member Veterans of Foreign Wars, the nation's largest group of combat veterans, thinks the award would cause confusion among the ranks and send a bad signal.

“The self-protections built into the rules of engagement are clear, and the decision to return fire must be made instantly based on training and the threat,” said Joe Davis, a spokesman for the Veterans of Foreign Wars. “The enemy already hides among noncombatants, and targets them, too. The creation of such an award will only embolden their actions and put more American and noncombatant lives in jeopardy. Let's not rush to create something that no one wants to present posthumously.” [read more]

I can understand a police department having this policy, but the military? This is war the US is fighting and should be treated as such. The military really doesn't not want kill or would civilians that's for sure. But if a person is firing at you're not supposed to fire back? I just hope that rule of engagement does not get more of our fighting men killed. The enemy we are fighting (crazy Muslims--yea I said it) are not like the enemies of the past. They don't care about rules of engagement.

'Smart dust' aims to monitor everything

From CNN.com:

Palo Alto, California (CNN) -- In the 1990s, a researcher named Kris Pister dreamed up a wild future in which people would sprinkle the Earth with countless tiny sensors, no larger than grains of rice.

These "smart dust" particles, as he called them, would monitor everything, acting like electronic nerve endings for the planet. Fitted with computing power, sensing equipment, wireless radios and long battery life, the smart dust would make observations and relay mountains of real-time data about people, cities and the natural environment.

Now, a version of Pister's smart dust fantasy is starting to become reality.

The latest news comes from the computer and printing company Hewlett-Packard, which recently announced it's working on a project it calls the "Central Nervous System for the Earth." In coming years, the company plans to deploy a trillion sensors all over the planet.

The wireless devices would check to see if ecosystems are healthy, detect earthquakes more rapidly, predict traffic patterns and monitor energy use. The idea is that accidents could be prevented and energy could be saved if people knew more about the world in real time, instead of when workers check on these issues only occasionally. [read more]

A Racial Profiling Double-Standard

Bernard Goldberg made an interesting point on The O'Reilly Factor. He said that if Arizona's illegal immigration policy is racial profiling then what do you call affirmative action? Racial profiling right? Affirmative action is selecting one gender or race over another for a job. If you are trying to fill a quota by looking at someone's appearance for a job then you could claim that is profiling. And who created affirmative action--the gov't of course.  

Obama said that if a Latino takes his son to get ice cream he would be targeted by the police in Arizona under their illegal immigration policy. Not true. The law says there has to be "lawful contact" for that to happen. So, unless the father has just robbed a bank he has nothing to worry about. Besides in most states if you are stopped by the police because of a traffic violation you have to show your id. 

I wonder if North Dakota had the similar policy that Arizona has about illegal immigrants would that be racial profiling? I mean if people by the thousands were crossing over from Canada into N. Dakota would the Left be saying that Canadians could be potentially harassed? I don't think so, because most Canadians are white.  It would be basically the same situation.

I don't care what country you are from--respect America's laws--don't trespass. Ring our "door bell" and introduce yourself. That way we know who you are.

One last thought. Why was the Hispanic question separated from the rest of races on the census form? Isn't that some form of racial profiling? Why have that question separated anyway? Actually, questions about gender and race are not required by the Constitution. I am surprised the gov't didn't ask about religious and political orientation.

Brains, Worms and Computer Chips Have Striking Similarities

ScienceDaily (Apr. 23, 2010) —

An international team of scientists has discovered striking similarities between the human brain, the nervous system of a worm, and a computer chip. The finding is reported in the journal PLoS Computational Biology.

They found that all three shared two basic properties. First, the human brain, the nematode's nervous system, and the computer chip all have a Russian doll-like architecture, with the same patterns repeating over and over again at different scales.

Second, all three showed what is known as Rent's scaling, a rule used to describe the relationship between the number of elements in a given area and the number of links between them. [read more]

Interesting but weird. That self-similar repeating pattern the article mentioned is also known as a fractal. A lot of objects in nature has that pattern.

How Not to Be Conned

Here are some tips from Straight Shooter.net about how not to be taken in by con artists.  

First, beware of the person who says, "I'll never steal from you," when discussing the "plan." That's like saying, "I'll never throw food in your face." If they feel the need to bring this up, it means they are actually imaging the act of throwing food in your face - or stealing from you. Responsible, honest people wouldn't even think the thought.

 Or the person could say "I'll never con you." or "I'll never do you wrong," basically the same thing. Also, a person could say "I'll never spend you tax dollars foolishly." Or "I'll never raise anyone's taxes over $250,000." Or even "My administration will open and transparent." You get the point. 

Second, beware of the person who says, "We're almost there," over and over and over and over, or any variation of this concept, such as "Any day now," "We've got to get this show on the road," "Next month, I'm going to....", "My big check will be here any day"...The con artist will stretch this anticipation out as long as you will tolerate it. When the con man suspects you have finally had enough, he will spring his trap and disappear with your money. 

Or "Just give this government program a chance we just need more tax dollars to make it work." Or how about this one: "If you stick with our party you will get social justice. Just hang in there."

Third, the con artist will attempt to gain control of your thinking so that you won't use your common sense. He may even become belligerent at times in the hopes of intimidating you into compliance. He will never do this at the beginning of the scam before he gains your confidence. He will wait till the end when you are tiring of the excuses or procrastination. He will attempt to make you feel like a traitor to the "cause" or a fool who doesn't have the patience to wait just a little longer to make a lot of money.

Another example is when a president of a country is belligerent toward a TV news network or a group of  Americans protesting high taxes.

Fourth, the essence of a con or scam is that the con artist has nothing to lose and everything to gain and you, the victim, have everything to lose and only the promise of gain. There is no middle ground. Carefully analyze the proposal, "deal", relationship, plan, etc. that the con artist is offering you. What can you lose - your life savings, your job, your reputation, your house, your car, your credit. What can he gain? Possibly, all of the above, except your reputation and your job.

If you are a naive politician that voted for any bill that hurts the US economy you could lose your job too. Especially, if the president doesn't even care if he loses his next election as long as he gets the "change" he wanted. 

There is actually thirteen tips in all but I didn't want to reprint the whole article again. I just wanted to hit the points I thought were important. I hoped you learned something.

Molecular computer mimics human brain

From MSNBC.com (April 26):

A super thin computer just two molecules thick can solve complex problems and, somewhat like the human brain, can evolve to improve and perform many operations simultaneously.

This molecular processor can also heal itself if there is a defect, researchers added. [read more]

Interesting, but a little unnerving.

You Might Be a Marxist...

You might be a Marxist...

• If you have a picture of Karl Marx on your wall.
• If you think Fidel Castro and/or Hugo Chavez are cool.
• If you think Communism is a utopia.
• If you like to use the terms "dialectical materialism", "bourgeoisie", and "proletariat" around friends and family.
• If you believe people hang around each other on the basis of class.
• If you believe profit is legalized robbery.
• If you believe that religion is the "opiate of the masses."
• If you believe that Jesus advocated wealth redistribution or social justice.

If most of the above fits you then congrats. You probably are a Marxist. 

Miscellaneous Thoughts Part 15

• For a government conspiracy to be pulled off it would mean the gov't would actually have to be competent. Only in novels do you see that.
• He who hesitates will get run over by a car.
• Those virgins that homicide bombers get are either crazy, desperate, or inebriated (or maybe all three). I mean what normal woman is turned on by a guy who blows himself up?
• Light and matter cannot escape a black hole. Does that mean the soul or spirit of a person cannot escape either?
• Laughter is the best medicine for constipation.
• That "hunger" creature on the Weight Watchers commercials could be handy if you are stranded on a desert island. You would never go hungry. But I wonder if he can conjure up beverages?
• Is it me or does "planned parenthood" sound similar to "planned economy?"
• The original colonists wanted to crown George Washington king but he declined the offer. Obama would have probably have gladly accepted the offer.
• Socialized medicine is like killing a cockroach with a steamroller. The cockroach is dead, but you could have just easily killed it with your foot.
• Pure democracy without rule of law is like ten cannibals and five missionaries voting on what's for dinner.

Terrorists ban school bells in Somali town

From OneNewsNow.com (April 18):

MOGADISHU, SOMALIA - Residents and a school official say militants in Somalia have banned school bells in one southern town because they say they are un-Islamic.

One resident in the town of Jowhar, Mohamud Aw-Abdi, says the terrorist group al-Shabab told school principals the bells sound like church bells. No churches are known to operate openly in Somalia.

One school principal says teachers now beat tables and doors to signal the start or end of class. [read more]

Well, that's different. A school bell freaking out militant Jihahists. Although, it does sort of make sense. Christian churches use bells in steeples, so naturally they would think a bell from a school would be like a Christian church. Psychologists call that classical conditioning. I wonder if the terrorists would have the same reaction if they heard London's Big Ben?

That might be interesting test to see if a Muslim is a militant Jihadist or not. Ring a bell in front of them and see if they react negatively. If they do they might be a militant Jihadist. Since classical conditioning is more or less a reflex action it would be hard not to fake a reaction.

Surviving and Government Dependency

In his 2009 book The Survivors Club (which I read), Ben Sherwood says people fall into three different categories during a crisis: 10% of the people just go crazy or freak-out, 80% have a deer in the headlights reaction, and 10% pull themselves together, act decisively and survive. Those deer-in-the-headlights people are usually waiting for an authority figure to tell them what to do. Meanwhile, each minute or second their survival decreases. 

This 10-80-10 rule is exactly what happened during Katrina disaster. Ten percent of the people left the city, while the rest stayed put. Even some waited for the government to save them--the 80%. Guess what: the government, the police or any other authority figure may not get to you in time to save you. When it comes down to it you have to save yourself. Heck, the mayor of New Orleans did not help anyone by taking their guns away from them and not using empty school buses to help rescue people. What if the authority figures are part of that 80% or even the first 10%? After all they are people too. A crises is an event that separates leaders from true leaders. 

To survive a person has to be like the last 10%. In his 2003 book Deep Survival (I read this book too.), Laurence Gonzales talks about twelve rules of surviving a crises. One of which is to be a rescuer, not a victim. I worry that the more the Left instills the belief into people that Big Gov't can save them (the rescuer) and the everyday person does not have to think for himself (the victim) the worse off America will be. What will happen if some major crises happens all around America like a big solar storm that fries our power grid? It has happened before in the 1800's. It could happen again. I hope if that happens there will be more Americans in that last 10%. Or else the country might not survive.

One final thought. Isn't that 10-80-10 rule similar to the Bell Curve? Just an observation.

Did FDR End the Depression?

From WSJ.com (April 12):

It's a myth. FDR did not get us out of the Great Depression—not during the 1930s, and only in a limited sense during World War II.

Let's start with the New Deal. Its various alphabet-soup agencies—the WPA, AAA, NRA [the author might meant the NIRA] and even the TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority)—failed to create sustainable jobs. In May 1939, U.S. unemployment still exceeded 20%. European countries, according to a League of Nations survey, averaged only about 12% in 1938. The New Deal, by forcing taxes up and discouraging entrepreneurs from investing, probably did more harm than good.

What about World War II? We need to understand that the near-full employment during the conflict was temporary. Ten million to 12 million soldiers overseas and another 10 million to 15 million people making tanks, bullets and war materiel do not a lasting recovery make. The country essentially traded temporary jobs for a skyrocketing national debt. Many of those jobs had little or no value after the war. [read more]

Not stated in the article, right after FDR died the Congress passed a presidential term-limit law. Why? Because he accumulated way too much power.

Just think during his campaign Senator John McCain said this president he admired. Then he wonders why he lost the election. McCain still would have been better president than Obama.