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Friday, October 9. 2015

Grateful immigrant: North Korean defector Yeonmi Park on her traumatic escape and adjusting to a new life

Only people like her can fully appreciate what freedom from government is like

´What do you mean no-one has been to Mars?´Scores of people believe blockbuster movie The Martian is based on a true story

Berlin, 1945, In Color - video

A High-End Camera in a Small Package (h/t Insty)

A THIRD OF VEGETARIANS OWN UP TO EATING MEAT ON NIGHTS OUT

Mocking Americans as Obese May Have to Become a Thing of the Past in Europe

Behavioral Economics Nudges Regulators to Err:

When sellers manipulate you, that's bad: It's phishing for phools. When the government nudges you, that's good: It's behavioral economics for the benefit of the public.

Zero correlation between state homicide rate and state gun laws

How Government Unions Undermine Upward Mobility

Actually, You Can Discharge Student Debts and the Feds Want to Make It Easier

Then lenders will scrutinize their loans more closely, then government will give them lending mandates. Same thing happened with mortgages. The government's playbook is to screw something up, then to appear to fix what they did with even more rules and constraints. A downward spiral.

"From the 11, 994 papers, 32.6 per cent endorsed AGW, 66.4 per cent stated no position on AGW, 0.7 per cent rejected AGW and in 0.3 per cent of papers, the authors said the cause of global warming was uncertain."

Diversity Is Now The Be All End All of Academia

‘Interrupting Whiteness’: National Education Conference to Blame White Teachers and Students for School Woes

‘Two students . . .sought counseling because they had seen a mouse in their off-campus apartment.’

CBS News Slams Rathergate Film: 'It's Astounding How Little Truth There Is In TRUTH'

CBS
News Slams Rathergate Film: 'It's Astounding How Little Truth There Is
In TRUTH' - See more at:
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/tim-graham/2015/10/08/cbs-news-slams-rathergate-film-its-astounding-how-little-truth-there#sthash.T12QA45F.sqhxOuHy.dpuf

Hating Ben Carson

If the thought of President Ben Carson didn’t scare you already, try this

Fair critique. Trump similarly uninformed.

Hillary: I Went Shopping Once

Hillary! promises to eliminate the business cycle

Hillary the Strongman? A fantasy for the authoritarian left.

Refugees, migrants, infiltrators

Iraq Gives Up On America And Asks Russia To Rescue It From IS

Tattered American Strategy In War-torn Mideast Will Take Time To Darn

Obama Admin’s Iran Point Man Promotes Anti-Israel Conspiracy Theories

PA shown to pay each convicted terrorist serving time in Israeli prisons hundreds of thousands of shekels, Israel Radio reports.

Testing China’s aggression

How is the South China Sea an American domain?

Religious marketing: Saudi Cleric: Faithful Men Will Be “Ripping Hymens” in Holy Muslim Paradise

If not before...

Posted by Bird Dog in Hot News & Misc. Short Subjects at 05:00 | Comments (29) | Trackback (1)

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Mocking Americans as Obese May Have to Become a Thing of the Past in Europe

The new "in" thing is slim shaming {in the US} anyway.
Absolute persecution if you are in shape and muscular, especially if you are female.

Sloth, the new virtue.

#1 fjord on 2015-10-09 07:08 (Reply)

Return of Kings isn't backing down. Taking it to a new (perhaps over the top) level with "Fat shaming week"

http://www.returnofkings.com/19009/always-take-photos-of-fat-women

#1.1 DrTorch on 2015-10-09 08:51 (Reply)

Re: Fair critique of Carson. I'm not an econ prof (obviously), but isn't the debt limit considered legislation and therefor a matter of Congress? I have no problem with a president sending debt limit legislation back to the people that wrote it, even if it increases the possibility of default.

Besides, no man will be an expert at everything arriving at the president's desk. That's why he has a cabinet. Cruz (or several others) may have understood the question better, but not because he is smarter or more qualified. Even though Cruz is a good guy, he's part of the problem. Cruz and others have spent their lives building a career in politics. Our type of government can't function like that for long.

Now Trump, like Carson, is a citizen first and politician last, but he wouldn't have understood the question either. Not without an expert explaining it to him first, anyway. One difference b/w Trump and Carson, is that if Trump doesn't understand the question he goes into Jerk Mode.

#2 Jack Walter on 2015-10-09 07:49 (Reply)

Honestly, is their one politician in D.C., that understands a debt limit? We are almost $20 trillion dollars in debt, and it is not enough for the current president!

#2.1 Ben Hammer on 2015-10-09 09:06 (Reply)

I agree with your sentiment, but there are plenty of people in Congress that are finance experts. They just don't care. Barney Frank, for example, could run a bank inside his head, but did that stop him from helping to collapse the housing and mortgage industries?

#2.1.1 Jack Walter on 2015-10-09 09:45 (Reply)

My first rule whenever I read something in Salon is that it's most likely garbage, but you never know... Even a blind hog finds an acorn now and then. The author seems to be concerned that Carson doesn't want to borrow more money to pay existing debts.

My understanding is that the "debt limit" is the level of debt the government is allowed to carry by law. Raising it has nothing to do with paying existing debts unless debt service is the only line item in the budget. Not raising it simply means that the government can't increase the amount of borrowing and therefore, reductions of spending or increases of income would be required. I don't see where Carson got that wrong.

I guess the author was sleeping when when Obummer said that raising the debt limit was a sign of leadership failure.

I think that blind hog is going hungry.

#2.2 mudbug on 2015-10-09 09:39 (Reply)

mudbug: Not raising it simply means that the government can't increase the amount of borrowing and therefore, reductions of spending or increases of income would be required.

If you don't raise the debt ceiling without passing legislation to cut spending by an appropriate amount, then it results in credit default. You can't say, by law, that you will pay Peter and Paul, then refuse to issue the funds. You can't order the services, then skip out on the check without being considered a deadbeat.

#2.2.1 Zachriel on 2015-10-09 13:54 (Reply)

It's clear from the article that Carson was answering the question about raising the debt ceiling within the context of his being president. In that case, it seems to be a reasonable assumption that it would be with respect to budget negotiations.

Your point (and possibly the author's), I believe, is with respect to the immediate debt ceiling issue, in which case you - and the author - could be correct. I'm left to wonder how the current budget was passed and signed by the president if it breaks the debt limit.

The author does not quote the original question nor does he offer any context for the question. Since the overriding context is the presidential campaign, Carson's context makes sense. Saying his answer is stupid is at least hyperbolic, if not stupid in and of itself.

#2.2.1.1 mudbug on 2015-10-09 14:15 (Reply)

mudbug: In that case, it seems to be a reasonable assumption that it would be with respect to budget negotiations.

Sure. But while the budget negotiations are proceeding the debt limit will be reached. At that point, it's not clear whether Treasury has the authority to triage payments, but some bills would not get paid, meaning default.

mudbug: I'm left to wonder how the current budget was passed and signed by the president if it breaks the debt limit.

Virtually no other country has a debt limit. They pass budgets, and borrow any shortfall. Due to the vagaries of history, the U.S. has to pass a second bill to increase the debt limit as required. Keep in mind that spending is always ongoing. Those jet fighters you ordered ten years ago are now being delivered and payment required.

It's as if the bank says they'll increase your credit limit — no problem —, you just have to sign the limit increase, but you and your partner are arguing about spending, and meanwhile breach your existing credit limit and money stops flowing to your creditors. Worse, your partner and you walk into the bank, and he's loudly threatening to default if he doesn't get his way. It's makes bankers very nervous.

#2.2.1.1.1 Zachriel on 2015-10-09 15:22 (Reply)

The budget should account for those jet fighters, as well as everything else should be accounted for in the budget. That's what the budget is for! Congress is given the 'power of the purse' as part of the balance of powers between the three branches of government. If the president is able to just spend more than allocated by Congress, that makes no sense in that context.

The debt ceiling is not just a 'vagary of history', it is designed to restrain the spending impulse of government because it was thought was that constantly voting to raise the debt ceiling would be unpopular. Yet another method of budgetary restraint that does not work (since so many people enjoy spending other people's money).

Here's a video that explains the debt limit pretty well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Li0no7O9zmE

#2.2.1.1.1.1 mudbug on 2015-10-09 15:41 (Reply)

mudbug: The budget should account for those jet fighters, as well as everything else should be accounted for in the budget.

Of course, but Congress can't order jet fighters, then refuse to pay for them when they are delivered, without being considered in default.

mudbug: If the president is able to just spend more than allocated by Congress, that makes no sense in that context.

We're not talking about the President unilaterally spending, but Congress passing laws that require expenditures, then threatening not to pay the bill when it comes due.

#2.2.1.1.1.1.1 Zachriel on 2015-10-10 10:40 (Reply)

" . . . wouldn't have understood the question either."

Interestingly, the "question" in question is actually missing from that article. Sure, the author paraphrases what the question was; but, the whole thing comes across, to me, as a "gotcha" question.

The news media loves to do this with Republicans; but, doesn't seem to do it much with Democrats.

I see Carson was asked about the debt (I don't care much for what the actual question was) and he answered that we need to STOP spending money we don't have. Who cares if he (or any politician) is going to or not going to answer the technical aspect of it; how debt is handled by the government.

Carson has said - STOP spending money we don't have. But, that apparently isn't a "good enough" answer for the Gotcha reporters.

#2.3 charles on 2015-10-09 10:20 (Reply)

Thank you, Jack! I get sick and tired of good candidates being declared 'unfit' for the presidency because they aren't experts in law, foreign policy, banking, history, etc. What about OTHER candidates not being experts in the human body? How dare Cruz, Graham, Kasich (insert name here) even consider running for president without a medical degree? How would they know anything about running the CDC or making health policy???

This is the kind of lunacy that happens when someone decides the candidate they don't like isn't expert enough in their area of concern.

I am more interested in a president who can make good judgments about whom to hire, fire and put in charge. Guess who has the most experience in those areas? Trump, Fiorina and Carson.

Also, I find Carson to have one leg up on Trump and Fiorina because he is calm under pressure...as any brain surgeon would need to be.

I am not saying I voting for Carson and he's 'my guy,' but I think this type of criticism is silly. What about his POLICIES? What would he do as president? That is what I'm more interested in.

#2.4 MissT on 2015-10-09 13:33 (Reply)

Re: your first para. Barry would be unfit then, as he remains, but the lap dog media was and is in full don't-care mode.

#2.4.1 Sam L. on 2015-10-09 16:15 (Reply)

Ref Light camera

With all that fascinating tecnology, why on earth did they use a cell phone form factor?! That is one of the poorest shapes to hold well, and we only tolerate it in phones for convenience.

Additionally with a back screen, useful at times, it seems to lack an eye level finder, absolutely essential for serious photo composition (especially in bright sun. Maneuvering a camera 2 feet in front of your face is not a good approach.

#3 Jay on 2015-10-09 08:56 (Reply)

The South China Sea is an international domain. a vital seaway for the world's shipping. and in addition China is claiming dominance over areas hundreds of miles from its coast that are in the maritime territories of. for example, the Phillipines and Vietnam. China's building of islands and siting runways on them for Chinese fighter planes is a naked act of aggression to exert dominance over its neighbors and to rob its neighbors of carbon and mineral deposits. It is therefore an international responsibility to keep the seaways open, of which the US is a vital player along with the area nations who are also stepping up their sea power significantly. The US would be grossly irresponsible to just pull out. especially before other nations can step in. and also by the US removing itself from the scene in a shameful withdrawal the US would be encouraging other nations and China to enter into armed conflicts that will affect world commerce. -- Once again, ignorant head in sand irresponsible isolationist wisecracks are dangerous for us and the world's peace and prosperity.

#4 Bruce Kesler on 2015-10-09 09:11 (Reply)

Agreed Bruce.

We are treaty bound to defend Taiwan, S. Korea and Japan if they are attacked.

It's a whole different kettle of fish than the mid-east where we were/are fighting for people that hate our guts and want to kill us.

Of course the $64k question is, would this administration honor our commitments if put to the test? I wouldn't bet on it.

#4.1 feeblemind on 2015-10-09 11:13 (Reply)

Aren't we obligated to defend the Ukraine also? Poland too?

#4.1.1 annieoakley on 2015-10-09 21:31 (Reply)

Poland yes. They are in NATO. Ukraine no. They are not.

#4.1.1.1 feeblemind on 2015-10-10 00:26 (Reply)

Headline from 1915:

‘Two students . . .sought cat counseling because they had seen a mouse in their off-campus apartment.’

#5 JK Brown on 2015-10-09 09:32 (Reply)

counseling because of mice in apartment
The gated article in the WSJ is really just a short excerpt from a longer article in psychology today [url] (https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/freedom-learn/201509/declining-student-resilience-serious-problem-colleges) [/url], and it suffers from lack of context.
But I would add in addition that even though today's students may have had all of their problems dealt-with by parents, the scathing disdain that their parents have for people in different social and economic classes has still been learned quite well.
I suspect that the mouse was not feared as a mouse, it was more that the mouse (unbeknownst to itself) was a signifier of something far more terrible related to socioeconomic standing in society.
(c.f.: "telephone sanitizer")

#6 Douglas2 on 2015-10-09 09:38 (Reply)

IIRC, one of the reasons for the failed agreement to keep troops in Iraq was because the Iraqis insisted on reserving the right to prosecute American soldiers for killing Iraqi civilians.

I wonder if they will hold the Russians to the same standard?

#7 feeblemind on 2015-10-09 11:05 (Reply)

"I wonder if they will hold the Russians to the same standard?"

Of course not.

Because the Russians would tell them where to go and how to get there.

Beggars can't be choosers.

#7.1 JJM on 2015-10-09 12:45 (Reply)

Zero correlation between state homicide rate and state gun laws

A number of commenters who do not agree with the above have linked to this: VOX: Gun violence in America, in 17 maps and charts:America's unique problem with gun violence. One of the article's points is as follows.

QUOTE:

America has 4.4 percent of the world's population, but almost half of the civilian-owned guns around the world

But the Vox article, while providing us with the percentage of civilian-owned guns in the world, doesn't bother to provide us with information about how America's high incidence of civilian owned guns translates into murders. For that information, I went to Wikipeida: List of countries by intentional homicide rate, most recent year. From this we find that worldwide, there were 436,720 murders annually. In the United States, there were 14,827 murders. Which is to say that with 4.4% of the world's population, and almost half of the civilian-owned guns in the world, the United States has 3.4% of the world's murders. That doesn't sound to me like a good argument against civilian ownership of guns. Thank you Vox, for selective reporting of the facts.

#8 Gringo on 2015-10-09 15:59 (Reply)

The U.S. (4.7) is high compared to other developed nations, such as Germany (0.8) or Japan (0.3), but low compared to many underdeveloped nations, especially those having recently suffered bouts of political instability, such as El Salvador (41.2) or Colombia (30.8).

#8.1 Zachriel on 2015-10-10 10:46 (Reply)

You conveniently left Russia out of the list, which has a murder rate of 9.2/100,0000- about two times the US murder rate.

Regarding comparing the US and Western Europe, I am reminded of Milton Friedman's reply to those who pointed out that Sweden's poverty rate was lower than that of the US. Friedman's reply: The poverty rate in the US of people of Swedish descent is lower than the overall poverty rate of the US. Track the murder rate of European descendants in the US, and you will see what I mean.

In any event, VOX's claim that the US, since it has half of the civilian-owned guns in the world, is a horribly murderous place, is a narrative that doesn't fit the facts. I repeat: half of the civilian owned guns, but 3.4% of the world's murders with 4.4% of the population.

Moreover, if you correlate gun ownership versus murder rate in Europe[I got 39 countries] , the correlation is -0.32. Not exactly support of the VOX claim that increased civilian gun ownership results in skyrocketing murder rates.

Your"developed" claim relies on selecting the points that fit your argument.

#8.1.1 Gringo on 2015-10-10 21:47 (Reply)

Gringo: You conveniently left Russia out of the list

We didn't provide a list, but a few examples. Russia is another country that has recently undergone political turmoil, and has yet to achieve post-industrialization.

Gringo: I repeat: half of the civilian owned guns, but 3.4% of the world's murders with 4.4% of the population.

We repeat, the U.S. (4.7) is high compared to other developed nations, such as Germany (0.8) or Japan (0.3), but low compared to many underdeveloped nations, especially those having recently suffered bouts of political instability, such as El Salvador (41.2) or Colombia (30.8).

#8.1.1.1 Zachriel on 2015-10-11 09:06 (Reply)

A High-End Camera...
Yeah, that's what we need - not just more selfies - but higher resolution selfies. Why do people think a camera designed to be held in possibly the least stable position available is a good thing?

Diversity is Now...
Well, sure - it's much easier than educating someone, you just recruit by Color and Religion (anything but White, anything but Christian) problem solved.

Students and Mice...
I've said it time, and time again; helicopter parents, awards for showing up, special little snowflakes, feelings are all that matter - it will all result in one thing: Contact with reality will turn those infantalized idiots into blubbering quivering piles of jello.

#9 Vince on 2015-10-09 23:13 (Reply)

VqRNVEkUjCzJnmZPoJ 5595

#10 IkcDrhgVADjaeAr (Link) on 2015-10-11 21:13 (Reply)

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Friday, October 9. 2015

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