Economics wakeup from Hillaryville

Silicon Valley voters backed Mrs. Clinton big time. Valley employers want more H1b visas so more immigrants can take jobs Americans won’t do. You know, those $160,000 a year jobs?

“’I didn’t become a software engineer to be trying to make ends meet,’ said a Twitter employee in his early 40s who earns a base salary of $160,000. It is, he added, a ‘pretty bad’ income for raising a family in the Bay Area.”

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/feb/27/silicon-aa-cost-of-living-crisis-has-americas-highest-paid-feeling-poor

Oh, and there is that threat to free speech from President Trump:

The Twitter dude “was one of several tech workers, earning between $100,000 and $700,000 a year, who vented to the Guardian about their financial situation. Almost all of them spoke only on the condition of anonymity, or agreed only to give their first names, fearing retribution by their employers for speaking publicly about their predicament.”

Okay, so it isn’t Trump directly, but he has lots and lots of money, and tech employers have as much money as does Trump, so what one does the others also do, right?

And a real boo-hoo to the poor baby making $700,000 a year, yet bitches because his “more mundane day-to-day costs” include “spending $8 on a bagel and coffee or $12 on freshly pressed juice.”

The writer throws in a few comments on how bad the techs feel because they walk past homeless people every day and those guys with the real money ought to be spending some on social issues.

Link at http://maggiesfarm.anotherdotcom.com/

Hey, let’s go rob that dude in a police uniform

Or, One removed from gene pool.

“One man is dead after an officer-involved shooting Friday evening in Little Rock (AR).

“Little Rock Police Chief Kenton Buckner said that a uniformed off-duty Little Rock officer in an unmarked car was approached by at least three people trying to rob the officer.

“Buckner says there was an exchange of gunfire between the suspects and the officer. One witness described the suspect vehicle pull up behind the police car and at least one suspect ran up to the car when the gunfire erupted.

“At least one suspect was shot and killed in the parking lot. The police officer was not injured. Two other suspects have reportedly been captured.

“The officer was working security at a business when the attempted robbery occurred.”

http://lawofficer.com/tactics-weapons/suspect-shot-after-attempting-to-rob-uniformed-police-officer/

Link at http://thisainthell.us/blog/?p=70555


(I don't like that "officer-involved shooting." The way most news organizations use the term, it always seems to place blame on the police.)

What is news, what is not

These days, the term “fake news” is as common as ticks on a stray dog. Especially so on TV news programs. “Fake news” comments, not ticks.

I used to think fake news as something made up. Years ago I would say, “That’s horse hockey. Nobody believes that.”

As the air waves and space waves become more and more filled with more and more electronic voices, though, the world’s billions face more facts and more horse hockey. A lot of that horse hockey reinforces bull hockey political thoughts and movements, so a lot of it is believed. More stuff spoken plus more ears to hear equals more stuff taken as truth.

Much of what is labeled “fake news” contains facts, maybe even truths. That is the way of effective propaganda – a smidgen of facts is required.

Another web site the other day had a piece on how to recognize opinioned news. The easiest way is watch CNN or MSNBC or Fox panel programs. Or PBS, NPR, BBC, RU TV or a legion of others.

Recognition comes from differentiating fact from a writer’s bias.

Here is an example, taken from a piece at moonbattery dot com, about the European Parliament giving its president authority to end live broadcasts if a member says racist things in a speech. The AP story:

“With the specter of populism looming over a critical election year in Europe, the European Parliament has taken an unusual step to crack down on racism and hate speech in its own house.”

There is one news fact in that sentence – this is an election year in Europe. All the rest of it is opinion – “the specter of populism,” “critical election year,” “unusual step,” “crack down on racism and hate speech …”

Moonbattery has three paragraphs of the AP story. Almost all of the story is opinion, not news reporting.

http://hotair.com/archives/2017/02/27/european-union-parliament-moves-to-censor-offensive-speech/

A few days ago, a CNN anchor led off an interview by mentioning “President Trump’s racist statements, anti-woman actions and anti-Muslim laws.” Nothing opinionated there.

1905 photograph with man talking on cell phone

http://www.shorpy.com/node/21753?size=_original#caption

Caption: “Hoboken, New Jersey, circa 1905. ‘Holland America Piers with Manhattan across Hudson River.’”

At lower right are three men. Two are sitting on the steps of a building, the third man is standing holding something in his right hand, against his cheek and ear. His pose is the same as anyone today talking on a cell phone.

Echoing why the Democratic Party lost

UC San Diego has invited the Dalai Lama as principal commencement speaker.

The Chinese Students and Scholars Association is threatening to do something. The Association said in a statement: “(I)f the university insists on acting unilaterally and inviting the Dalai Lama to give a speech at the graduation ceremony, our association vows to take further measures to firmly resist the university’s unreasonable behavior. Specific details of these measures will be outlined in our future statements.”

http://www.thecollegefix.com/post/31303/

Or, “Our definition of diversity and inclusiveness is the proper definition. Anybody else’s definition sucks, and we won’t listen.”

Other students “firmly resisted” in Tiananmen Square. Fortunately for the UCSD students, their firm resistance will happen here, and not in their homeland.

Link at maggiesfarm.

Amnesty International attack on Hungary about what was expected

Attack by “pro-migrant” NGO “financed by George Soros” only to be expected, Civic Alliance official says.

Balazs Hidveghi, the CA spokesman, is right. By standing up for the rights and safety of its citizens, Hungary has come under condemnation by non-governmental organizations and by the European Commission.

Amnesty International claimed populist movements are “taking politics by storm” and “use scapegoating and fearmongering for propaganda purposes.” AI also blasted Hungary for its “crackdown on NGOs.”

As for Civic Alliance, Hidveghi said the party will remain resolute even in the face of attacks on Hungarian politics “from international organisations stuffed with foreign monies.”

http://dailynewshungary.com/amnesty-international-report-critical-hungary/

There's not been much going on

I want to talk about. Still planning a Wheel of Fortune application video. Going to spit in a vial and send off to ancestry.com. Last time I did that, I got an email saying they couldn't pull any DNA from my donation. So, maybe I'm not really here. I figured the result would have been: Your primary DNA match is coffee. Oh, well.

Confusion in Arkansas

Arkansas has 15 populated places and one ghost town named Midway. One Midway is a town; the other 14 are unincorporated communities.

The town named Midway is in Hot Spring County. The town was incorporated on May 3, 2000, and has a population of around 200.

NOTE: Hot Spring County is not where the city of Hot Springs is located. Hot Springs is in Garland County. Before there was a Garland County, Hot Springs was in Clark County, as was the area now known as Hot Spring County.

Other places of confusion in Arkansas include the town of Searcy, which is in White County and not in Searcy County. The City of Searcy is about 70 miles southeast of Searcy County. Searcy City population was around 24,000 three years ago, while Searcy County had a 2010 census population of 8,195.

And others: Benton, Arkansas, is in Saline County, not in Benton County. The town’s population was 33,625 in 2014. Benton County’s 2010 population was 221,339. For some Arkansas-logic reason, the county seat of Benton County is Bentonville.

As adjudged by the federal government, Benton County is part of the Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers-AR-MO Metropolitan Statistical Area. You can go to Northwest Arkansas and tell the people there that the federal government considers them and Missouri-across-the-mountains people all the same. Just be ready to argue, to duck, or just go ahead and run.

(Statistics and such from various Wikipedia entries.)

Something wrong here

An internet link to "Best tofu and broccoli in the world."

No meat for you, climate assassin

“This is a landmark moment for school food. We were so excited to see how the data showed that we could reduce our carbon and water footprint by serving healthy, delicious food –– like the vegetarian tostadas with fresh made in-house salsa, that kids absolutely love –– all while saving money.”

http://dailycaller.com/2017/02/15/california-schools-cut-meat-cheese-from-lunches-to-fight-global-warming/#ixzz4YrdziRK3

That “kids absolutely love” part? Like staff officers and company commanders telling a battalion commander, “Yes, sir, the men will love that."

Five-mile road march Oh, you betcha! More PT? Bring it on!

No hamburger at school? Uh ...

Links at https://pjmedia.com/instapundit/257439/

And http://maggiesfarm.anotherdotcom.com/

Licensed kayaks & canoes will bring in more revenue

"If you take a walk, I’ll tax your feet." -- Lennon and McCartney.

Florida group considers tax (licensing) on non-motorized things that ply the waters. “No more than $20,” says one proponent.

Right. And how much the next year?

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/politics/os-paddling-boats-licensing-controversy-20170127-story.html

Links at http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/Florida-Could-Require-License-for-Canoes-Kayaks-Report-412425523.html

http://maggiesfarm.anotherdotcom.com/

1971 MLB draft

First five: Danny Goodwin, White Sox; Jay Franklin, Padres; Tommy Bianco, Brewers; Condredge Holloway, Expos; and, Roy Branch, Royals.

No. 29 pick, George Brett, Royals.

No. 30 pick, Mike Schmidt, Phillies.

Also in the Hall of Fame: Jim Rice, pick 15, Red Sox.

Not in the Hall of Fame, but hit .296 over a 17-year career and had a .994 fielding average at first base, picked at No. 776 in the 42nd round – Keith Hernandez. Also the lowest pick to make the majors.

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/draft/baseball-draft.php?yr=1971

Don’t take an electric drill to a gun fight

This Ain’t Hell put it this way:

“About 7:45 a.m., a man was doing maintenance on a residence in the 1400 block of Marion, near North Nellis and East Washington, when the suspect attempted to attack the homeowner with a knife and an electric drill, according to Metro Lt. Grant Rogers.

“’The homeowner pulled out his firearm and shot the suspect once in the leg,’ Rogers stated in a text. ‘The suspect took off running and neighbor called 911. The suspect was transported to UMC with nonlife-threatening injuries.’”

http://thisainthell.us/blog/?p=70310

Some of what happens in Vegas does not stay in Vegas.

It must be true, Wikipedia says so

In an article on Salina, Okla.:

“Kylie Arthurs and Braden Jackson started dating in early 2016.”

There is no footnote, so believe it or don’t.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salina,_Oklahoma]

Save refugee women and children! There aren’t any? Oh.

“In between cooking and chatting on their smartphones to relatives back home, these men told me they were utterly convinced that, as long as they kept trying, they would soon be enjoying free housing and all the attendant benefits of Western Europe. No one I spoke to was fleeing war or imminent death.

“Instead, they were simply hellbent on reaching ‘rich’ countries where they believe they will be miraculously provided with a life beyond their wildest dreams.”


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4213822/The-EU-country-cracked-Muslim-migrants.html

Link at http://gatesofvienna.net/2017/02/gates-of-vienna-news-feed-2112017/#more-42186

St. Francis – smaller and smaller

St. Francis, Ark., is in Clay County, way up in northeast Arkansas and smack against Missouri.

In 2001, the city’s population was 250. In 1920, 501 people lived in St. Francis. Population declined just about each decade, reaching a low of 201 in 1990.

Racial makeup of the city is about 97% white, a little more than 1% native American, and 2% of two or more federally-recognized ethnicities. Living below the federal-defined poverty level are about 17% of families, 20% of the overall population, 25% of those younger than 18, and 38% of those 65 and older.

About two miles upriver of St. Francis is the ghost town of Chalk Bluff. The town was destroyed during the Civil War.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Chalk_Bluff

City-data.com says St. Francis’ population is 55.4% women and 44.6% men. Median house value is $61,433, with Arkansas’ median $120,700.

Historical tornado activity is near the state average, or 90% above average for the United States. Historical earthquake activity is also near state average, or 72% smaller than U.S. average, even though the New Madrid fault is not far away.

Percentage of households with unmarried partners is a full 1% above state average, but with a small population, percentages sometimes don’t mean so much.

In the latest presidential election, 73% of the votes went to Donald J. Trump, 23% to Hillary R. Clinton, and 4% to “other.”

There’s a lot more information here: http://www.city-data.com/city/St.-Francis-Arkansas.html

Some of it doesn’t mean much.

Milfay, Oklahoma, where almost 15% of the population is not from around there

Milfay is an unincorporated community in Creek County. Creek County is northeast of Oklahoma City and southwest of Tulsa, just a little nearer Tulsa. The 2010 census counted of 69,967 people in Creek County.

Milfay got a post office in 1911. Its Zip Code is 74046. Other nearby small places include Ritts Junction, Gypsy, Iron Post and Micawber. Wikipedia and Podunk both say Milfay was named after two railroad officials, Charles Mills and Edward Fay.

Bestplaces says Milfay’s population is 138, up 23 from the 2000 census. By count, 82.6% of the population is white, 2.9% native American, while 0% are Hispanic, Asian, African-American, Asian or of two or more races. That means 14.5% are of non-Earth origin, since all Federal ethnic and racial designations were used in determining origin. Somebody should look into that.

Bestplaces also says:

Women outnumber men 55% to 45%. Hey, that equals 100%!

The largest single age grouping is 45-54, almost 24%.

Here are some numbers that might be questioned:

Married: 42.16%; single, 57.84%.

Never married: 28.43%. Divorced, 25.53%.

Married, with children: 0%; single, with children, 44.12%; single, no children, 0%.

Three years ago a natural gas pipeline exploded out in the middle of nowhere.

http://www.newson6.com/story/24374594/pipeline-explosion-causes-large-fire-near-milfay

Here are pictures from near Milfay, including some of overgrown US 66.

http://trip-suggest.com/united-states/oklahoma/milfay/

Milfay was where Ben Hawkins joined up with Carnivale. That might explain why almost 15% of the population does not fit in any federally-recognized ethnic group.

‘This decision will not stand’

Airport Authority suspends Orthodox Jew five days because she took off last two days of Passover. Federal court uphold suspension.

We all know – “If she were Muslim …”

http://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/265737/stunning-court-decision-approves-passover-edwin-black

Put down food or drink before reading

In 2015 a woman ran a London marathon during her cycle and not wearing a feminine hygiene product.

“Gandhi found fame while running the London Marathon in 2015 as she let her period flow down her athletic pants for 26 miles. As she and her stained self crossed the finish line, feminists praised her ‘courage’ and ‘resilience’ for running without a tampon.”

http://townhall.com/columnists/michellemalkin/2017/02/08/hillarys-future-is-female-femmeagoguery-n2282921?utm_source=TopBreakingNewsCarousel&utm_medium=story&utm_campaign=BreakingNewsCarousel

That’s a big “euw” or however it’s spelled.

Innocent pigs in Berlin

“Near Berlin's Tegel airport, an errant herd of wild boar attacked several people, injuring three on Saturday, police announced.

“At about 2 p.m. the panicked herd attacked people at Kurt-Schumacher-Platz before bolting into the nearby Volkspark Rehberge, a 78-hectare (193 acres) lightly forested memorial garden.

“There they attacked a woman and two men. By this stage police had arrived to control the situation.

“Local media reported that it took authorities 18 shots to down one 200-kilogram boar, while the rest of the herd escaped.”

http://www.dw.com/en/german-wild-boars-go-on-the-rampage/a-37318755

Yes, the link alleges the “wild boars” went “on the rampage,” but the story takes the side of the pigs. Descriptives of pigs: “errant herd” and “panicked herd.”

Injuries must have been the fault of humans in the lightly forested memorial garden.

Somebody teach the Berlin police to shoot better. Eighteen shots to kill one pig?

Link at http://jungletrader.blogspot.com/

China’s territorial development plan

“China has issued its first strategic plan for territory development and preservation, outlining the protection of arable land reserves and islands.”

http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/china/2017/china-170205-pdo02.htm?_m=3n%2e002a%2e1932%2eye0ao05v9c%2e1ryi

One of those things that, in literal sense, can mean anything to any reader. Could be a plan in “This is what we would like to do” or “This is what we will do” to “Get out of the way, unless you have tons of tourist or development dollars.” Might even be “We are no longer playing around with capitalist ideas.” Could be “Make China Great Again.”

Wiesensteig, Germany, postal code 73349, scene of witch executions

Population 31 December 2010: 2,138. Largest-ever population: 27 May 1970 --2,632.

First mentioned in 861, concerning a Benedictine monastery.

“Count Ulrich XVII of Helfenstein (1524-1570) and his brother Sebastian († 1564) introduced in 1555 the Lutheran confession in Wiesensteig. 1562/63 in the rule Wiesensteig a great witch-hunt took place in which at least 63 women and men were executed.”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiesensteig

Another site says 67 women were executed for sorcery. Ulrich von Helfenstein signed the warrants of execution. He was “originally Catholic, a Lutheran during the trial and converted to Catholicism in 1567, which thereby also turned the religion of the city. Wiesensteig experienced more witch trials in 1583 (25 dead), 1605 (14 dead), 1611 (5 dead).”

Wiesensteig in that time “suffered from religious turmoil, war, severe hail storms and epidemics.” Helfenstein blamed witches.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiesensteig_witch_trial

Here is another account, typos and all:

“Although poorly documented, the witch-hunt in the small southwestern German territory of Wiesensteig was one of the first in the great wave of witchhunting that swept Germany in the second half of the sixteenth century. In 1562, Wiesensteig was a Lutheran territory ruled by Count Ulrich vetn Helfen-stein. After a severe hailstorm on August 3, 1562, von Helfenstein had several women arrested as witches. Under torture, they implicated others, including several people from the neighboring city of Esslingen who they claimed to ha’e seen at the sabbat. Much to the chagrin of von Helfenstein and Esslin-gen’s Lutheran preacher Th(tmas Naogeorgius, this disclosure was not followed by a witch-hunt in Esslingen. Wiesensteig itself, where von Helfenstein cooperated with the local Lutheran leader Leonhard Cuimann, was a different story, of course, and a sensationalistic pamphlet dated 1563 claimed that Wiesensteig had executed hy burning no less than 63 witches. Under outside pressure, von Hclfcnstein converted to Catholicism in 1567, and nineteenth-centtiry German historians spent much time armiinp whether Wiesensteig was Catholic or Pn,)testant at the time of the witch-hunt. Althoufth it seems clear that durin, tt this hrst Wiesensteig witch-hunt the state and church were Lutheran, the hahit C)f witch-hunting survived von Helfenstein’s and the territory’s return to the Catholic fold. There were suhseeiuent flare-tips in 1583 (about 25 dead), 1605 (14 dead) and 1611 (5 dead).”

REFERENCE; H. C. Erik Midelfort. Witch-Hunting in Southivestern Hcrmany, 1562-1684- Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1972.

http://www.worldhistory.biz/sundries/42796-wiesensteig-witch-hunt.html

Here's an internet poster that makes sense

I'd rather be tired than broke.

Somebody wrote somewhere: What colleges should teach -- You want to help people? Get a degree in something that will allow you to make lots and lots of money. You will help people.

Don’t mess with old people

It’s quite simple. We know we can’t outrun or out fight young dudes bent on robbery and such. That’s why we carry guns.

“Billy Dean Dickerson, 19, of St. Louis died Thursday morning when he and Perry A. Richardson, 23, tried to rob a 70-year-old man who was dropping off a friend at her house in the 200 block of Abbott Street in Venice, police said. The man is a Vietnam War veteran from St. Louis.

“The veteran and his friend were sitting in his car when Dickerson pulled his vehicle up next to the driver’s side, police said.

"Richardson, who was sitting in the passenger seat, pulled out his gun and demanded money.

“The veteran pulled out his gun and fired, hitting Dickerson in the head and Richardson in the arm and chest.”

http://thisainthell.us/blog/?p=70107

Longer story: http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/would-be-robber-charged-with-murder-in-metro-east-after/article_0319ba21-4914-560c-985d-26ef050af2d5.html

Well, that’s nice of you to keep your problems out of my face

Internet poster: “Emotionally: I’m in pain. Mentally: I’m depressed. Spiritually: I’m stressed. Physically: I smile.”

Me: I really don’t care. Find a solution.

And another, which I title “Let’s Keep It That Way.”

“My parents will never know how suicidal I am.”

An inadvertent funny on my screen

At The People’s Cube -- overlaid on a story entitled “Neo-Kulaks In Need Of Liquidation” is an ad for “Premium Tours to Russia.”

Yeah, I’ve heard that come-on before. Sign up here receive an open-ended, all-expense paid tour of a Siberian gold mine.

Dudes, Stalin died 64 years ago. (And most kulaks were murdered 90 years ago.)

So, thanks. But no thanks.

Coming after a rodeo near you

They got Ringling Brothers, now PETA is after rodeos. Zoos will be next. And then animal "owners."

http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2017/01/31/peta-urges-rodeo-boycott-after-horses-deaths-in-fort-worth/

Link from maggiesfarm and moonbattery.com