thepeoplechoose's Blog

Banks in Trouble? Nah! Just Change the Rules.

2009-11-06T18:13:11Z

Still chuggiing away at lightspeed in that alternate universe, headed for a black hole. What Fun!!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/05/civil-war-in-corporate-am_n_347704.html

FBI Charges of Insider Trading Shaking Wall Street Tech Sector

2009-11-06T14:23:13Z

Most people take it for granted that there is a lot of information on Wall Street that spreads via a grapevine of contacts. A broad investigation has ended in resignations of some high profile persons with charges pending. I don't know if it's even possible to clean up the sewer of Wall Street. Here is the latest.

http://news.cnet.com/14-more-charged-with-insider-trading/2100-1014_3-6250228.html

Auto Execs Urge Tax on Fuel of Up To $8.00

2009-11-06T09:30:51Z

Now why on earth would anyone listen to auto execs in matters of finance or management?

Not to mention this implies some serious government intervention into the marketplace and looks to me to be a tax which will be directly handed over to auto manufacturers and most assuredly to big oil as well. It's not like corporations haven't shafted American citizens enough. They keep coming back for seconds and thirds and ... who knows.

This would spur the use of mass transit which is already straining because people are increasingly changing to mass transit for their work commute. If this happens I can envision a real train wreck. It would take some heavy investment in mass transit to accommodate all those who would have no choice except to use mass transit.

Read about this insanity here.

Italian Court Sentences 23 Americans for Renditions

2009-11-04T17:29:38Z

This is an odd twist of fate. For justice be be served for infractions committed by officials or agents of the U.S. Government it seems as though that justice is obtainable in a foreign court of our allies. Now all we gotta do is see if we can get the Italian authorities to take on the case of Bush vs the world for lying the U.S. and their allies into a war under a false premise. If they gave these agents up to eight years for an illegal rendition they ought to be able to give Bush and Cheney what they deserve.

http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSTRE5A33QB20091104?feedType=RSS&feedName=politicsNews

Fake Web Sites - Beware

2009-11-04T16:51:04Z

Appearing completely legit, there is a new crop of web sites popping up that are giving the cops and regulators fits. The article suggests they have been quite successful running their scam.

http://redtape.msnbc.com/2009/11/latest-web-trap-for-consumers-the-fakeosphere.html

The FTC is investigating etc.

I wonder if we could get the FTC to investigate congress for fraudulent marketing activities by trading on the trust of Americans and for running a bait and switch scheme with the healthcare legislation. There must be AT LEAST ONE federal agency looking out for Americans.

The Law of Unintended Consequences

2009-11-02T18:32:10Z

Apple has a new iMac 27 inch screen system that is quite snazzy. However there seems to be a problem with the video. It is causing some grief for users of Snow Leopard. Quite amazingly, loading boot camp and Windows 7 the problems aren't present. This is absolutely funny.

http://www.tgdaily.com/software-features/44501-snow-leopard-glitch-means-windows-7-runs-faster-on-macs

I'm sure the Apple fan boys are apoplectic over this one.

Job Opening for Forklift Driver - Must Relocate - A Joke

2009-11-02T18:16:49Z

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/02/epic-forklift-crash-in-mo_n_341960.html

Senate / House Scumsuckers Working on Internet Neutrality

2009-10-31T14:56:09Z

With FCC Chair Julius Genachowski working to assure that major carriers can't tie up the Internet, the usual suspects are up to doing the bidding of the major corporations. John McCain, as per the lying asshole he is, has introduced into his caucus a bill he has feloniously named Internet Freedom Act of 2009. Could he possibly be a bigger liar? Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) has introduced legislation in the house called, Real Stimulus Act of 2009. This is another laugher of a lie. This article also contains a very nice graphical depiction of global Internet cost / speed relationships. As you might imagine U.S. customers are definitely getting screwed in this globally competitive marketplace. Nothing new with that. You can read about it here.

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2009/10/house-senate-get-separate-bills-to-kill-net-neutrality.ars

Internet 40 Years Old on 29 October - Happy Birthday

2009-10-27T12:34:28Z

In human terms the Interent is definitely entering middle age. The 29th of October marks the day. For a trip through a day in the life, click the link. Somewhat esoteric but also informative you can read a description of the first two computers connected and how long it took to get the ball rolling to where it is today. For instance, as recently as 1994 there were only 623 websites on the entire Interent. I didn't know the first usable browser came in 1993. I actually started using the Internet myself in 1989. First with a 1200 then 2400 then 9600 baud telephone modem. And yes, people still use dial-up today.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/oct/23/internet-40-history-arpanet

World Chart Depicting Internet Speed / Cost by Country

2009-10-27T12:16:44Z

Here is a neat chart showing average Internet speed available across a range of countries and the cost for Interent service at that rated speed in each. Unfortunately the U.S. isn't in the top ten for either metric. We can do better and have to if we want to compete. For those who make fun of France their average speed is triple that of the U.S. at half the cost. Last laugh.

http://files.redux.com/images/b3a38a65dc1991703826b71ef1d2e752/raw

After a Year, We Have NO Financial Regulation in Sight

2009-10-27T04:40:14Z

The battle being waged to get our healthcare system in order is crucial to the health of Americans, our economy and nation. We have witnessed first hand the difficulty of changing such a massive system. Opponents of reform continue to fight even though studies like this continue to punch holes in their argument.

What then of the near total meltdown of the world financial system?

What will that battle for financial reform look like?

Can there be any doubt congress isn't looking forward to this fight?

Can there be any doubt it'll be bloodier than the healthcare battle?

Can there be any doubt a central issue is 'corporate personhood'?

Can there be any doubt hunreds of millions of campaign dollars will be an extremely contentious issue?

Can there be any doubt principals of the failed system have no business being major players under the current or any future system?

Can there be any doubt that financial industry lobbyists have been hard at work trying to head off reform?

Can there be any doubt proponents of non-regulation have been proven wrong (again)?

Can there be any doubt that here, here, here, here, here, here, here and many more there is substantial examination revealing how serious this is?

Can there be any doubt if this doesn't get truly and properly fixed, the law of the land will be notably characterized by an undisguised inclination to official corruption?

Can there be any doubt the liars will raise the bar to new heights when this battle gets underway?

Can there be any doubt we, as in all citizens, will have to hammer our reps into submission, repeatedly and in very clear language if we expect anything to come of this?

For all of us here who are members of the soon to be over the hill, pushing up daisies gang, this will be the battle of our lives. One last really big one. Get ready. We can't go out without a fight. After all, we are in part responsible for having screwed this pooch. We need to get our pooper scoopers out and clean up the mess before we go home. If we can.

Clarence Thomas, No Questions = No Answers = No Truth = No Justice

2009-10-25T09:13:24Z

Clarence Thomas has spoken, apparently for the first time, about his reluctance to ask questions during oral arguments and in fact has never asked a question. I guess I don't grasp his rationale. I cannot imagine a condition where a complex issue is under examination where questions would not arise.

More particularly I do not agree with his thinking where he states that the justices already know their positions and thus have no need of questions. This effectively eliminates any need to examine an issue beyond whatever their perspectives already are.

Where Justice Thomas's logic is exceedingly flawed is it nullifies the purpose for and is a judicial corruption of the idea of accepting a case to the court. His rationale means the only reason to accept a case is to change existing law where they are in disagreement with a prior ruling.

Never before has a justice specified a so clearly flawed rationale for departing from the long standing reluctance of the court to revisit existing rulings. Where that departure gives the appearance of being solely about asserting their judicial or ideological view is simply wrong.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/24/clarence-thomas-to-other-_n_332464.html

Another Sign of Regressive Economic Policy - Broadband

2009-10-19T10:55:03Z

Here you can see in the numbers that U.S. Broadband policy is regressive. We have gone markedly backward in the value of broadband service in the U.S. while our global competition has moved markedly in the opposite direction. It would be incorrect to not acknowledge that this is again a condition inappropriately influenced by corporate America. It is coincident with most other economic indicators where the trends from a consumer perspective are disadvantageous but are supportive of corpoarte profits. The more negative aspect is felt with the consequence of resticting economic growth and activity.

http://www.betanews.com/article/Study-Cabletelco-competition-brings-North-America-slowest-costliest-broadband/1255734941

I'm a Glutton, I Just Can't Help Myself

2009-10-18T09:46:31Z

With the dawn of each new day I ravenously, voraciously and unashamedly look forward to watching Obama mindfuck republicans into subisssion. With each word and phrase I just love to watch the subtle humiliation drip, drip, drip onto the sweating brow of wingers far and wide. In living memory I cannot recall having observed such a level of self destruction having been inflicted by just one person. To watch him insert his wondrous tool into their brains of mush and observe the meltdown informs me there is indeed justice in this upside down world. Dispatched swiftly, mercilessly and darkly upon the foe. To watch the fat pig of eib swoon in the delightful torture is without equal. To see the foxy denizens pursue only to be eluded time and again is a treat beyond compare.

To be sure, never in my lifetime have we had an orator of this skill and refinement in our midst. No other practitioner of oratory is in the same league. To have such a weapon in our arsenal and to see it so skilfully deployed is a once in a lifetime occurrence. I'm not one to spend money on entertainment but I am thinking, though the cost is steep, those not watching the show are missing a superb performance.

Bush / Obama Wiretap Saga Continues

2009-10-17T09:59:58Z

I don't see how the wiretapping saga can ever be resolved unless the government submits to a full and critical examination of the events and a determination made if laws were circumvented or not. If that doesn't happen how can citizens be assured their rights were upheld?

Our legal system is rendered completely useless if because of political wrangling or other undue influence it is impossible to determine that persons observed the law or not. Even in the case where national security is at issue there has to be a structural devisement that defines the process that has to be followed. Whatever the current state of that process at any given time, it's the one which must be followed. That it might be inadequate relative to an unforseen event cannot be used as justification to circumvent the law. Doing so introduces the potential for the subjective nullification of the law. Such a scheme cannot possibly ever work in conjunction with the constitution. The obvious question is how can you have a system that introduces contention that cannot be resolved?

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1009/28364.html