Steve

Here's a great discussion on search engines and Facebook. Did you know that these sites track your computer and then tailor the search results of your searches instead of giving you the most important results? You and your friend could type "Korea" in the Google search engine and each get totally different results. Google itself track something like 57 different types of info on you including your I.P. address, what kind of computer you have, and how long you hover over a link. Facebook deleted 2 of the speaker's friends without his asking. The reason: he didn't click on them enough. Google wants to intrude an app called Google Wallet which you track what you spend your money on. http://www.democracynow.org/2011/5/27/eli_pariser_on_the_filter_bubble

http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/daily-ticker/risks-enormous-why-morgenson-rosner-worried-152700730.html Too Big to Fail: Now, Even Bigger! "We have even more 'too big to fail' institutions; more politically interconnected, very deep and wide institutions that could create another systemic event," says Morgenson, a Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist at The New York Times. "It's almost as if the situation that brought us to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac having to be bailed out has now been squared or quadrupled. It's worse, not better." Rosner, an analyst at Graham Fisher, wholeheartedly agrees. "The risks are enormous" because there's even more concentration of assets among the biggest banks, which are "too big to analyze and manage," he says. If the financial system was a "house of cards" before the crisis, the situation is worse today because back then investors had "some sense the numbers being given in annual reports and quarterly filings were accurate," Rosner says

The only possible way I'll vote for a Republican in the next Presidential election is if Ron Paul is the candidate. Hell, I'll volunteer to help his campaign...answer calls, mail letters, etc. As I've said before. I don't agree with some stuff and there are some stuff I would not want to see come to fruition and I don't think would. Too 'radical' for most Americans. However, the number one thing missing from politics is integrity. A guy who honestly believes in doing what he thinks is right and can't be bought or scared off by the powers that be. The Bush years soured me from the Republicans for the time being. At least on the national level. I'd go for a Republican statewide or local if the rihgt guy ran. Its the hypocracy that grates me. When they're not in office they want to balance the budget, cut spending and waste, etc. but as soon as they get in they find some reason to spend money. Usually defense. I also don't believe in the 'trickle down' theory. I'm all for lower taxes across the board. My issue in specific tax cuts for the wealthy under the guise of job creation is that I can't see how cutting someone like Paris Hilton's tax bill creates jobs? Some wealthy aren't job creators or at least not enough to warrant a huge tax cut. Those living on inheritances like Paris or others (although she makes her own money these days but you get my point). How does the salary for a svp or ceo who make a multi million dollar salary create jobs? Their companies do but I mean them pesonally? How does an athlete making 10 mil a year create jobs if his tax bill is cut? Or an entertainer? Okay, they hire a publicist and/or manager but is the return worth it? They save hundreds of thousands if not millions and pay someone 60k a year? I can definitely understand cutting for small businesses. I used to believe cutting it for corporations was a good thing but my 'commie, pinko red' thinking nowadays tells me that corporations aren't patriotic. They don't want to hire people, they want to make money for the stockholders. Nothing wrong with that. That kind of thinking made us number one economically. But helping corporations make money by moviing production, jobbs, overseas isn't what I call job creation. Cutting taxes if they create jobs within the U.S. I can see. I have a shed load of problems with the Dems. Always have. I know what I will get. I don't like a lot of it but at least there are no real big surprises. Frankly, I have no friggin' idea what a Republican will do in national office these days. Its a complete wildcard. Something will happen, something I don't like but its something I am not prepared for. Then there is the religious influence and social conservatism. I'm a Christian. Not a good one admittedly. My membership here is proof of that with you heathens...hahaha...(I love you guys though :nahnah: ). I'm a firm believer in separation of church state. Reasonable separation (complaining about 'In God We Trust' on money is a bit over the top by atheists. Who gives a shit? No one even notices that shit). What happened to keeping government out of our private lives? Its the complete opposite. I also don't want the government defining what makes a good American, what is patriotic and the Republicans keep preaching that. Doing what the f*ck you want to do as long as not violating the laws is what an American can do. I may not like it. I also wouldn't want the power to make my personal issues about something illegal as well. These days the pols do. I only hear what the Dems and Obama are doing wrong. Not until recently have we heard any coherent, specific ideas and those that got met with outrage. Its taken this long to come up with something. The choices are all bought and paid for by special interest. Its all bullshit. On both sides. If the Republicans were serious and really wanted to send a signal, they'd show some love to the Ron Pauls of the party.

These Penna. judges were taking kickbacks for sending kids to juvenile detention some for extremely minor offenses. No wonder we have 2% of the population in jail.

Time out for a minute or two while I stop convulsing with laughter. .........Okay' date=' while you are certainly entitled to your opinion, you need to stop "listening" to what Obama says and analyze what he actually does/promotes. You need to consider his entire history. If you think that tigers will change their stripes...that's another story and there's no hope for you. 55555 Of course the GOP would do things differently...particularly with economic and social issues on the home front. With respect to foreign policy, I'm quite certain the GOP would rather have the world "afraid" of the U.S. than have it the laughing stock of the planet...and that is just what Obama (our Nobel Peace Prize winner) has created. Everybody loves a kinder, more gentle U.S.A. They will continue to do so until one day they wake up and find their tits in a wringer and send out an SOS. HH[/quote'] I find Obama a disappointment and won't vote at all in the next election, but not for the reasons you cite Hugh. The maintaining of troops in Afghanistan (which I don't support), the maintaining of Gitmo (don't support), Libya (ehhh), killing Bin Laden (do support, but think it's much ado about nada beyond symbolism) -- all of these things don't jive with the 'wimp' portrait you draw. Sometimes wimp ain't bad. And you want to talk about laughingstock of the world, we really don't need to walk back a few years eh? I'd still take Obama over Bush -- but if the right had a decent guy/girl... hey. Republicans are fucking up a lot though. They're putting nobody out there who will draw anyone but their hardcore folks. Hell, those people would vote for a piece of dog poop if it was the conservative candidate. Getting their support means nothing. But the other folks, they're just saying: WTF. Still a ways to go, but it's not looking good for 2012 right now - re: conservatives. Not the way it could. Hiya HH! How ya doing?! I know you see him as much far left than I do. One of my brothers (and I have several) is a staunch, conservative and says I've become a pinko red commie (he speaks in threes)..lol. I've lost my faith in both parties. I am not happy with a lot of what Obama "hasn't done" than with what he has done. Dave, you echo a lot of my feeling. He's NOT done some things I thought he'd do. The world hasn't feared us for a while I think and second, I'm not so sure I want them to. I'm not saying we should be pussies but I don't think we should be in some parts of the world. Its not our job. And its a thankless job. We get shit for it. Lets spend that money at home. Its sorely needed.

I'm particularly disappointed in Obama given his social activism background. However, the same stance would have been taken by McCain. Its how the powers that be in Washington DC think. Those expecting Obama to govern as an outsider to shake things up are disappointed. In my opinion he's governed as a centrist for the most part. No crime but its not far enough progressive enough for some Dems and he's the wrong party for Repubs. My question is would the Republicans be any different? A true outsider like Ron Paul would do something about it.

Is this a great new progressive way of employers to give employees more down time since Americans are overworked or is it a corporate ploy to take away our time honored vacation? http://finance.yahoo.com/career-work/article/112776/name-your-own-vacation-wsj?mod=career-worklife_balance Name Your Own Vacation You can name your own price on vacation hotels or car rentals. Now, companies are asking employees to set their own vacations, by naming how many days off they should take. Dominic Orr, president and CEO of Aruba Networks, a wireless-networking company, adopted what he termed a "no-vacation" policy two years ago for all North American employees. Orr told New York Times columnist Adam Bryant that instead of giving each person a set number of weeks off each year, the standard approach to vacation planning, Orr requires them to take responsibility for scheduling their own paid vacation time any time they want -- as long as they and their managers agree they are reaching their job objectives...

Article about a Sarah Palin tell all book to come out. I'm no fan of Palin at all but the little that was said about her was not earth shattering. I'm waiting for the 'good stuff'. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110523/ap_on_re_us/us_palin_book#mwpphu-container

I'm well aware of him. Both are true I think from what I know of him. I don't like the 'you have to grow up black to understand or help blacks' thinking of some. As a president you have to be EVERYONE's president. Most things are a 'human' issue. I don't have to be jewish to understand and empathize with the holocaust for example. I would also suggest to Cornell West that Obama living in different communities (non black Hawaii, Chicago, etc.) has made him a better person and someone and someone who can understand thew world better. I recall not wanting to go to the HS I went to and being worried about being an outsider, etc. and my dad saying 'You're not going to be living in a world that looks like North Philly, Steve, you better learn to get along with all types of people now'. He as soooooo right. Had a great time as well.

The far left and the far right amounts to the same thing. Telling me what I can't do or takes away my civil liberties. Exremism robs me of my freedom.

I know know much about than the basic info about Chavez but I am not aware of anything congroversial or specifically anti American or racist about his history to say he shouldn't have a Navy vessel named after him. Doing so is causing a wee bit of controversy. Mexican american groups are gonna cry foul. Any thoughts? http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_upshot/20110518/pl_yblog_upshot/navys-plan-to-honor-cesar-chavez-irks-lawmaker

Lottery winner still qualifies and gets food stamps..HAHAHAHA http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_localdtw/20110518/ts_yblog_localdtw/2m-michigan-lottery-winner-defends-use-of-food-stamps Second shocker....he's white! haha...sorry, had to go there. Don't lie and say you didn't think the person was going to black like I did. :nahnah:

Its no surprise he cheated. In fact, I'd go as far as to say I'd be surprised if he wasn't cheating. He's a known womanizer. I assumed he was womanizing as governor. I wouldn't hold it against him if he did as long as state money and resources aren't involved. Its his private life. The cynic in me says the only reason why it came out now was because the money to the mother either stopped or he was asked for more and wouldn't give it.

I'm no fan of Condie (although I give her big points for loyalty) but O'Donnell conducted a bad interview. Aggressive to the point of being rude and nasty.

I know many of us think when the term police state is used its a bit over the top. However, I wlll say this. Many of the rights we were afforded to and who many people throughout our glorious history died and went to jaill for are no longer available to us. Some if not all the rights in our constitution and bill of rights are no longer applicable. We no longer enjoy these rights and freedoms so does it matter if the country is not at the level of the dictionary (or rather wikipedia) term of a police state? We are no longer the same free republic. The ones we should really blame are ourselves collectively. We have become either lemmings, are too fearful of the repurcussions or beaten down so badly emotionally, financially and politically that we have no fight in us left. Those that are brave enough to fight the good fight are labeled 'conspiracy theorists or conspiracy nuts' or 'political activists' or 'right wing nut jobs' or 'left wing or liberal nut jobs' or 'unpatriotic'.

Even if the officer thought she was saying not needed under duress, its always regarded as that there is nothing he can do about it more than offer her a business card and warn the husband. Your home has no sanctity anymore. I continue to say we don't have any rights anymore. The local, state and federal governments in some cases like privacy, violate it routinely where its common and then in court cases have the balls to say we have no expectation of privacy because the state has been violating it routinely to the point where its common so we already know they will. Confused? Its complete and utter BS and I honestly do believe we're at the point now where EVERY word I've just written is in some data bank somewhere as well as my ISP and when I turn up at an airport or apply for some government job if I ever do, there will be some unknown reason for denial. The republic is almost over and the vast majority of us are lemmings who only support those that will keep the status quo...and that is both parties. Even something that started out as an independent idea like the tea party has been usurped. Surprised at the speed it was done by.

As you are well aware I don't trust the governmnt for sh*t. Just saying that could put me on the no fly list (imagine that, free speech, a crime). With regards to this Bilderberg thingy, I've not heard of it before and wiki'd it as well as some other sites. Interesting to say the least. Assuming it has some veracity, then it makes Obama part of it as well then doesn't it? He was an outside in the primary so assuming it has some legs, it makes him part of the 'establishment' which being President automatically makes you one could say, right? I wonder if its possible to become President and remain a maverick?

More CS rants. I've said a while back that law enforcement are now used as a revenue generating agency than a 'serve and protect' agency using the LAPD's motto. That motto really ought to be changed. The woman in this link got a $835 ticket on her car for illegaly parking on grass. The asst. city attorney for this small city arrogantly and smugly talks about it as a legitmate deterrent for people to park there because the $15 fines before didn't stop it. What a dick. http://news.yahoo.com/video/politics-15749652/835-parking-ticket-leaves-woman-furious-25211337

Does Glenn Beck go to far by going after women of political families? Even the mafia had a code for not going after women and family members. http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_theticket/20110512/ts_yblog_theticket/mccain-ladies-feud-with-glenn-beck He made fun of McCain's fat daughter who was doing a PSA ad against cancer. Its kinda low to make fun of someone doing a public service to fight cancer. That's too far in my humble opinion. Glad to see the McCain women fighting back.

From a political view, banning this on the federal level is such a no brainer for me. I wonder why Obama hasn't done it. Its so unpopular that I don't think any Republicans saying its soft on terrorism would get any one agreeing. I stopped supporting long ago when airport terrorism experts from Isreal, who are the best in the world, said it was all for show. They don't even do it (they did profiling and only searched those that seemed ideal candidates). He could do that as well. Visa versa, Republicans could get brownie points for asking for it to stop. They are known as the ones that are the most vigilant against terrorism (not true but they have the reputation for being strong defense advocates) so that would win over some independents possibly or help sway support.

I've posted a few times a church is one of the last great tax shelters and businesses to get into. You guys really should thank us Christians for that. The government hates going after religions. They give you a wide berth. You really have to try to get into trouble as a church. You can send yourself on 'missionary' trips to Thailand and have it all paid for tax free. 'Missionary'..hehehe..just thought of the play on words...hehehe...sorry, in a silly mood tonight.

I was a former SEAL. I have the pics from Mrs. Jeffers 2nd grade class show to prove it.

Rather than start a new thread and risking the ire of all you anti Americanistas..hehe..I'll put it here. http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_thelookout/20110509/us_yblog_thelookout/local-pastor-made-up-elaborate-navy-seal-tale Local pastor made up elaborate Navy SEAL tale Moats told his church for five years that he was a former SEAL, and even once wore the elite program's gold Trident medal around town. He elaborated on that tale when his local paper contacted him last week as it was reporting a story about the rigors of SEAL training in the wake of the SEAL raid on Osama bin Laden's compound. Among other things, Moats said he was subjected to waterboarding when he trained at Little Creek Amphibious Base in Virginia Beach in 1971 and was assigned dishwashing duty for his bad attitude. "I had almost no discipline. I was as wild as they came. That was my nemesis," he told the paper. "They weren't looking for a guy who brags to everyone he is a SEAL. They wanted somebody who was ready but had an inner confidence and didn't have a braggadocio attitude." Several former SEALs wrote into The Patriot-News casting doubt on the reverend's account of his service. "We deal with these guys all the time, especially the clergy. It's amazing how many of the clergy are involved in those lies to build that flock up," said retired SEAL Don Shipley. Shipley also speculated the waterboarding and kitchen details came from the action depicted in "Under Siege." that part made me laugh.

A while back I asked in one of my meandering diatribes about government if anyone was as distrustful as I am if I were a retired city or state government worker (even Federal) and I was on a lifelong pension. How confident are you that the money will be paid out? I thought it would be paid but it would be reduced greatly over time by the powers that be taxing it more, reducing it or doing something that would take more money out. This is a list of states that are in the most trouble with their pension funds. http://finance.yahoo.com/retirement/article/112640/states-pensions-public-sector-247 1. Kentucky 2. Illinois 3. New Hampshire 4. New Jersey 5. Oklahoma 6. Kansas 7. Massachusetts 8. Colorado 9. Maryland 10. Pennsylvania A few states surprised me by being on the list as well as a few states that weren't on the list that I thought would be. Surprised to see New Hampshire on the list. Thought those New England states had their act together. Especially NH and Vermont which I always envisioned as states with yankee strictness. Surprised California and New York are not on there. Also, more states from the deep south like Alabama and Mississipi or Arkansas. They have a fairly large number of poor, etc. so I thought their tax revenues would be fairly low.

Was gonna put this in the sports section but no one would have read it...lol...probably still won't here. :nahnah: While I agree the BCS is a mess and the ONLY reason it is the only college sport that doesn't have a play off system is because of one thing and one thing only...MONEY. I agree with the BCS exec in the article that the government should have better things to do than investigate this stuff (throw in steroid use amongst athletes as well, let the governing bodies of the sports handle that). Seems the congress is investigating at the behest of Sen. Hatch of Utah, who is pissed BYU never gets invited. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110504/ap_on_sp_ot/us_bcs_justice_department;_ylt=AiI2..IxBuSdCYIdvqGU2OcLMxIF;_ylu=X3oDMTJxcHBscTdoBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMTEwNTA0L3VzX2Jjc19qdXN0aWNlX2RlcGFydG1lbnQEY3BvcwMxBHBvcwMyBHNlYwN5bl90b3Bfc3RvcnkEc2xrA2p1c3RpY2V0b25jYQ-- In a letter this week, the department's antitrust chief, Christine Varney, asked NCAA President Mark Emmert why a playoff system isn't used in football, unlike in other sports; what steps the NCAA has taken to create one; and whether Emmert thinks there are aspects of the BCS system that don't serve the interest of fans, schools and players. "Your views would be relevant in helping us to determine the best course of action with regard to the BCS," she wrote. "Serious questions continue to arise suggesting the current Bowl Championship Series system may not be conducted consistent with the competition principles expressed in the federal antitrust laws," Varney said. Hatch's involvement: in response to a statement from Sen. Orrin Hatch, a Utah Republican and BCS critic. Hatch called the BCS a "mess" and said that "privileged conferences" have tremendous advantages over the unprivileged. "And I just hope that you'll continue to follow up on that particular issue," he said. "It's an important one, I think." Also Obama is interested as well: Before he was sworn in as president, Barack Obama said in 2008 that he was going to "to throw my weight around a little bit" to nudge college football toward a playoff system. I do agree with the BCS people on this: Bill Hancock, the BCS executive director, was confident the current system complies with the law. "Goodness gracious, with all that's going on in the world right now and with national and state budgets being what they are, it seems like a waste of taxpayers' money to have the government looking into how college football games are played," he said.