From time to time I like to post stories and clips that have nothing to do with politics, but help us understand and appreciate life a little better. Via my good friend Duane, this is one of those clips ...
- Mark
- Mark
Friday, September 21, 2012
Thursday, September 20, 2012
REPUBLICANS FORGET 9/11 ... AGAIN
You would think that the Republicans "Just Say No" to President Obama strategy could take a breather when it comes to America's veterans. Think again.
Yesterday Senate Republicans once again used the power of the filibuster (which requires 60 votes to proceed to vote) to reject a bill that would provide money to employ our returning warriors. They would have been employed as police officers, firefighters, and park workers.
The vote was 58-40. Citing bogus budget control technicalities (the cost of the bill was offset with new revenues), every "nay" vote was Republican.
Yes, this is the same party that told America to "Never Forget 9/11" ... but then forgot to fund the health costs of First Responders because it interfered with their tax cuts for millionaires & billionaires program.
This is the same party that debates and encourages conflict and confrontation (now in Iran) ... but then turns a blind eye to how we force our warriors into endless "backdoor drafts" with a stop-loss policy that keeps them in harms way years beyond their tours of duty were scheduled to be over (which I discuss here).
There's much more our veterans and their families have to deal with (record high suicides, mortgage foreclosures, etc.), so you would like to think that the GOP would put away the politics to help our troops get a job.
Think again..
- Mark
Yesterday Senate Republicans once again used the power of the filibuster (which requires 60 votes to proceed to vote) to reject a bill that would provide money to employ our returning warriors. They would have been employed as police officers, firefighters, and park workers.
The vote was 58-40. Citing bogus budget control technicalities (the cost of the bill was offset with new revenues), every "nay" vote was Republican.
Yes, this is the same party that told America to "Never Forget 9/11" ... but then forgot to fund the health costs of First Responders because it interfered with their tax cuts for millionaires & billionaires program.
This is the same party that debates and encourages conflict and confrontation (now in Iran) ... but then turns a blind eye to how we force our warriors into endless "backdoor drafts" with a stop-loss policy that keeps them in harms way years beyond their tours of duty were scheduled to be over (which I discuss here).
There's much more our veterans and their families have to deal with (record high suicides, mortgage foreclosures, etc.), so you would like to think that the GOP would put away the politics to help our troops get a job.
Think again..
- Mark
Monday, September 17, 2012
ROMNEY, TOO CLUELESS TO BE PRESIDENT ...
After saying that the middle class earns between $200,000 and $250,000 per year Mitt Romney tells us what he really thinks about ordinary working Americans who support President Obama. In a few words, he thinks Obama supporters are free loaders ...
Here's the video clip ...
- Mark
Here's the video clip ...
- Mark
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
ROMNEY SHOOTS HIMSELF IN FOOT (again) ... A CHRONOLOGY
Most of you probably recall GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney shooting himself in the foot during his Olympic timed trip to Britain and Poland. It was a complete disaster, which I wrote about here.
Well, if you're a supporter of Mitt Romney hold on to your tin foil hats. It appears that Romney has solidified his credentials in embarrassing and inept diplomacy by shooting himself in the foot (again).
It all starts with conservative nut and U.S pastor Terry Jones promising to promote a cheap online "video" during a hate-Muslim fest scheduled in Florida. This should have been enough to warn Romney to stay away. But it wasn't. Here's short chronology of recent events, and Romney's bumbling ...
* In an "International Judge Mohammad Day" event in Florida U.S. pastor Terry Jones - the same idiot who inflamed passions in 2010 by threatening to burn a Koran - is scheduled to participate, with events that include a symbolic trial of the Prophet Mohammad. This is scheduled for September 11th.
* The decidedly anti-Islamic film, Innocence of Muslims, is scheduled to be shown on "Judge Muhammad" day. The Grand Mufti of Egypt condemns the film on September 9.
* On September 10, before the "International Judge Muhammad Day" event, pastor Terry promotes says he will screen the decidedly anti-Islamic film, Innocence of Muslims.
* Egyptian media mogul fans the flames by calling for protests and demonstrations outside the U.S. Embassy in Cairo.
* The U.S. Embassy in Cairo - acting on its own and without clearance from the Obama administration - issued a condemnation of the film on September 11th ...
The Embassy of the United States in Cairo condemns the continuing efforts by misguided individuals to hurt the religious feelings of Muslims – as we condemn efforts to offend believers of all religions. Today, the 11th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, Americans are honoring our patriots and those who serve our nation as the fitting response to the enemies of democracy. Respect for religious beliefs is a cornerstone of American democracy. We firmly reject the actions by those who abuse the universal right of free speech to hurt the religious beliefs of others.
* Protests in Cairo, Egypt and demonstrations in Benghazi, Libya lead to the murder of U.S. Ambassador in Libya, Chris Stevens.
Following all of this - and rather than staying away from the mess - GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney decides to double down on his trip abroad stupidity by attacking President Obama's comments, in spite of the fact that "his comments" were actually issued independently by the U.S. Embassy in Egypt before the Ambassador was murdered.
Romney called the embassy's comments - which he attributed to President Obama - as "disgraceful" because of how President Obama "sympathized" with the murderers ... even though the embassy's comments were issued before the murder of the U.S. ambassador in Libya.
If you're having trouble following the convoluted logic behind Romney's comments, you're not alone.
Former Reagan speech writer, Peggy Noonan, made it clear that Romney wasn't helping himself and should have stayed quiet. Former George W. Bush pollster Mathew Dowd jumped in and tweeted, "Romney react feels a lot like ready, fire, aim."
Incredibly, Romney still managed to hit himself in the foot.
Rather than disavow or move away from his comments this morning Romney decided to double down on the stupidity, and walked away from the podium a happy and content man.
I'm sure there's more to come, but I'll leave you with this ...
- Mark
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
CONFIRMATION BIAS EXPLAINED (and why it's dangerous)
If you're wondering what confirmation bias looks like the following should help.
In spite of having no supporting scholarly evidence (or links) to support his case, a FB friend of mine decided to post this "Letter from Pontius Pilate to Tiberius Caesar." According to the chain-like FB post, proof of the letters existence lies somewhere in the Library of Congress.
The supposed letter from Pontius Pilate describes Jesus as some kind of Prince Valiant golden child.
This is some great find because neither biblical scholars nor academics have developed any proof of, let alone consensus on, what Jesus looks like. Here's part of Pontius Pilate's Hallmark card-like description of Jesus ...
My FB friend bought into the description. We shouldn't be surprised. These kind of descriptions have been around and supported by those who want to believe things about Jesus that simply can not be proven. Unfortunately, these descriptions have even drifted towards confirming the existence of an Aryan Jesus.
While it's often better to leave this stuff alone, some times it's good to confront this kind of ignorance head on. Here's my FB response to my friend ...
(In the FYI department, the "Nor give heed ..." quote is in the Bible, Timothy 1: 4.)
Here's the problem with believing and promoting this type of evidence. It leads people to embrace only information that reaffirms what they believe, or want to believe. Over time, it replaces fact and carries a certain degree of truth and reality for people who ultimately are intellectually lazy.
This is the essence of "confirmation bias."
Now, to be sure, confirmation bias might be good for children who want to believe in, say, Santa Claus. But in adults it prevents them from seeing the truth, or keeping an open mind. Worse, when confirmation bias is applied in this "Aryan Jesus" context it can help to create or sustain twisted caricatures of Jesus that simply are not there ...
The point is confirmation bias leads people to believe only information that confirms their beliefs, which is dangerous because of how it distorts public discussion and undermines policy debates. If the focus is on acquiring and remembering information selectively the discussion becomes an exercise in futility. No one likes repeating the same information, again and again, only to have the other person rolling around in cul-de-sacs of ignorance.
So, to take this lesson a step further (and to it's illogical extreme), if someone is inclined towards believing Jesus was a blonde haired golden child, who would have been opposed to something like the Affordable Care Act, they might also be inclined to embrace this historical interpretation of Jesus ...
I know, I know, but the point remains. People who search for "information" that verifies their belief system rather than the truth will believe just about anything ... as long as it fits their world view.
And that, my friends, is why confirmation bias can be a dangerous thing ...
- Mark
In spite of having no supporting scholarly evidence (or links) to support his case, a FB friend of mine decided to post this "Letter from Pontius Pilate to Tiberius Caesar." According to the chain-like FB post, proof of the letters existence lies somewhere in the Library of Congress.
The supposed letter from Pontius Pilate describes Jesus as some kind of Prince Valiant golden child.
This is some great find because neither biblical scholars nor academics have developed any proof of, let alone consensus on, what Jesus looks like. Here's part of Pontius Pilate's Hallmark card-like description of Jesus ...
... His golden colored hair and beard gave to his appearance a celestial aspect. He appeared to be about 30 years of age. Never have I seen a sweeter or more serene countenance. What a contrast between Him and His bearers with their black beards and tawny complexions! ... I say that such a man who could convert water into wine, change death into life, disease into health; calm the stormy seas, is not guilty of any criminal offense and as others have said, we must agree -- truly this is the Son of God.
My FB friend bought into the description. We shouldn't be surprised. These kind of descriptions have been around and supported by those who want to believe things about Jesus that simply can not be proven. Unfortunately, these descriptions have even drifted towards confirming the existence of an Aryan Jesus.
While it's often better to leave this stuff alone, some times it's good to confront this kind of ignorance head on. Here's my FB response to my friend ...
It's a miracle,_________... You've uncovered what the Bible and religious scholars have not. The fact that Jesus had golden hair, and did not exhibit that "tawny complexion" so evident in his inferiors must make this true. How about this one ... "Nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification ..."? You'll find this in the Bible, if you ever bother to pick one up.
(In the FYI department, the "Nor give heed ..." quote is in the Bible, Timothy 1: 4.)
Here's the problem with believing and promoting this type of evidence. It leads people to embrace only information that reaffirms what they believe, or want to believe. Over time, it replaces fact and carries a certain degree of truth and reality for people who ultimately are intellectually lazy.
This is the essence of "confirmation bias."
Now, to be sure, confirmation bias might be good for children who want to believe in, say, Santa Claus. But in adults it prevents them from seeing the truth, or keeping an open mind. Worse, when confirmation bias is applied in this "Aryan Jesus" context it can help to create or sustain twisted caricatures of Jesus that simply are not there ...
The point is confirmation bias leads people to believe only information that confirms their beliefs, which is dangerous because of how it distorts public discussion and undermines policy debates. If the focus is on acquiring and remembering information selectively the discussion becomes an exercise in futility. No one likes repeating the same information, again and again, only to have the other person rolling around in cul-de-sacs of ignorance.
So, to take this lesson a step further (and to it's illogical extreme), if someone is inclined towards believing Jesus was a blonde haired golden child, who would have been opposed to something like the Affordable Care Act, they might also be inclined to embrace this historical interpretation of Jesus ...
I know, I know, but the point remains. People who search for "information" that verifies their belief system rather than the truth will believe just about anything ... as long as it fits their world view.
And that, my friends, is why confirmation bias can be a dangerous thing ...
- Mark
Monday, September 10, 2012
Friday, September 7, 2012
ROMNEY FAMILY ACCEPTED WELFARE RELIEF?
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney likes to talk about being a rugged individualist, and not getting help from the government. Cuentame.org helps us see that before setting the world on fire the Romney's needed a few matches from the American taxpayer to get things started. Here's Mitt's Mom, Lenore Romney, recounting the Romney family history ...
The money quote begins at 0:50 into the clip.
All of this adds spirit to Jon Stewart's clip, "Mitt Romney: A Human Being Who Built That" ...
And Kudos to Magda for locating the Romney welfare post ;-)
- Mark
The money quote begins at 0:50 into the clip.
All of this adds spirit to Jon Stewart's clip, "Mitt Romney: A Human Being Who Built That" ...
And Kudos to Magda for locating the Romney welfare post ;-)
- Mark
Thursday, September 6, 2012
YES, THE GOP HAS PREVENTED MORE THAN 1 MILLION AMERICANS FROM GETTING A JOB
The good people at FactCheck.org took a look at former President Clinton's convention nomination speech. They called it a "fact checker's nightmare" because - get this - it required "lots of effort to run down his many statistics" which turned out to be factually correct.
Put more simply, there was a lot of fact checking work but little for them to write about.
To be sure, they pointed out that there was some rhetorical exaggerations (it was a convention speech). But when it came to the numbers - like his budgets - President Clinton got his arithmetic right (41:50 in the speech).
As far as I'm concerned, what stood out for me was when President Clinton reminded everyone that Republicans have blocked more than 1 million potential new jobs from being created during the Obama administration. FactCheck.org wrote that Clinton's jobs blocking claim "checked out too" and added:
So, yeah, if anything, President Clinton understated the GOP's job killing numbers. But the point remains, not only did the stimulus work but our unemployment numbers would have been much worse were it not for President Obama's initiatives.
I especially enjoyed President Clinton reminding us about congressional Republicans turning their backs on the American worker because - as I've been arguing for a long long time - the GOP has been deliberately sabotaging the advancement of our nation to score cheap political points.
Today they've fine tuned their strategy to make President Obama look bad.
And, yes, that means making sure millions of Americans remain unemployed so they can point fingers.
- Mark
Put more simply, there was a lot of fact checking work but little for them to write about.
To be sure, they pointed out that there was some rhetorical exaggerations (it was a convention speech). But when it came to the numbers - like his budgets - President Clinton got his arithmetic right (41:50 in the speech).
As far as I'm concerned, what stood out for me was when President Clinton reminded everyone that Republicans have blocked more than 1 million potential new jobs from being created during the Obama administration. FactCheck.org wrote that Clinton's jobs blocking claim "checked out too" and added:
Two independent economists — Mark Zandi of Moody’s Analytics and Joel Prakken of Macroeconomics Advisers — had estimated that Obama’s proposed American Jobs Act would add more than 1 million jobs. Zandi claimed it would add 1.9 million jobs; Prakken 1.3 million. Senate Republicans blocked the $447 billion measure, and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell denounced it as “a charade that’s meant to give Democrats a political edge” in 2012.
So, yeah, if anything, President Clinton understated the GOP's job killing numbers. But the point remains, not only did the stimulus work but our unemployment numbers would have been much worse were it not for President Obama's initiatives.
I especially enjoyed President Clinton reminding us about congressional Republicans turning their backs on the American worker because - as I've been arguing for a long long time - the GOP has been deliberately sabotaging the advancement of our nation to score cheap political points.
Today they've fine tuned their strategy to make President Obama look bad.
And, yes, that means making sure millions of Americans remain unemployed so they can point fingers.
- Mark
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT POVERTY (and why Gina Rinehart is this week's Village Idiot)
Last week the LA Times reported that the world's richest woman, Australia's Gina Rinehart, had some recommendations for the poor.
If you're jealous of those with more money, don't just sit there and complain ... Do something to make more money yourself -- spend less time drinking or smoking and socialising, and more time working.
As the Times' piece suggests, this is akin to the petulant "let them eat cake" line/attitude often attributed to France's Queen Marie Antoinette.
Here's the problem I have with this kind of stupidity.
According to the Bible there are at least four causes for poverty. Laziness, or what conservatives in the United States (and Gina) would refer to as a lack of personal responsibility, is just one of the causes.
The Bible also speaks about people wronged and impoverished through fraud, falsehoods, and famine (or sickness). You can't speak about poverty and make broad generalizations about "personal responsibility" when people are ripped off, are wrongly judged/accused, or are thrown into a condition or unemployed through no fault of their own.
When the game is rigged the causes behind poverty are made even worse.
Our conservative friends - like Gina - seem to have no sympathy for, nor a clue about, any of this.
And, for the record, like America's Walton and Koch brothers' families, Gina Rinehart did not create her $30 billion iron ore fortune. She got it the old fashioned way. She inherited it.
So, yeah, she's an idiot.
- Mark
UPDATE: Here's something else the rich seem to have skipped during Bible studies ... http://sojo.net/blogs/2012/08/30/caring-poor-governments-biblical-role ... Hat tip to my friend Leonel for bringing both articles to my attention.
Saturday, September 1, 2012
THINGS TO PONDER ON LABOR DAY
As we begin to enjoy our Labor Day Weekend, let's not forget why protecting the rights of labor is important for a balanced economy and a strong society...
And let's not forget which political party is doing their level best to undermine American labor by encouraging corporations to ship jobs overseas by giving U.S. firms taxpayer dollars for doing so ...
All the senators on this list voted against SB 3364, which would have saved American jobs by encouraging (and rewarding) firms for staying in the United States.
Happy Labor Day.
- Mark
And let's not forget which political party is doing their level best to undermine American labor by encouraging corporations to ship jobs overseas by giving U.S. firms taxpayer dollars for doing so ...
All the senators on this list voted against SB 3364, which would have saved American jobs by encouraging (and rewarding) firms for staying in the United States.
Happy Labor Day.
- Mark
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