Words from the President on Iran's Unrest

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With Iran in the middle of widespread unrest, I think it is important to look at what our President has said on the issue.

"All who live in tyranny and hopelessness can know: the United States will not ignore your oppression, or excuse your oppressors. When you stand for your liberty, we will stand with you.
Democratic reformers facing repression, prison, or exile can know: America sees you for who you are: the future leaders of your free country.
"The rulers of outlaw regimes can know that we still believe as Abraham Lincoln did: "Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves; and, under the rule of a just God, cannot long retain it."
"The leaders of governments with long habits of control need to know: To serve your people you must learn to trust them. Start on this journey of progress and justice, and America will walk at your side."

Those are some powerful sentiments, and statements.  This is the kind of thing that the defrauded voters in Iran need to hear from us, and badly.

The quote above is from George W. Bush in his second inaugural address.

Obama hasn't been so supportive of freedom in this case.  I guess that's the difference between a President who has the balls to do and say what he thinks is right, rather than what will make him look good on TV.

Warcraft Economics - Auctions, Profiteering, and Helping Others

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I love to play World of Warcraft.  Questing, killing beasties, gaining achievements, and Player vs Player are just entertaining things to do on a nice relaxing evening. One of the great things about WoW, as it is known, is that there are so many different ways to play the game.  One of my most enjoyable things to do, though, is profiteering.  I farm expensive materials, gather sellable quest items, and pick up items from vendors in my travels for resale.

My favorite way to find things to sell, though, is to scan the auction house for items that are, frankly, being sold too cheaply.  I buy them at the seller's asking price, and immediately place them back up for sale at a higher price.  The price I sell for more closely matches the price that the market will bear.  Sometimes, I can multiply my investment several times on one item.

Stimulate Me - How Obama Could Win the Economic War

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Now that we're starting to get an idea of what President Obama's economic knowledge is like, it's starting to get a little worrisome. Taxpayer money is being thrown at hundreds of projects, like museums, sidewalks, libraries, and a trolley in Puerto Rico.  Pushes for more "green energy" projects will do more to raise energy costs, which tends to hurt the economy as that cost is reflected in the price of milk and bread.  Even Obama's so-called tax cut is designed to cause hardship, as taxes aren't being cut.  When your income tax withholding is reduced, but the actual tax rates are not adjusted, it isn't a tax cut at all.  It's a deferred payment, because you'll either have to pay the money back in April 2010, or have your refund reduced.

So ... is there a stimulus plan that could work?  Is there an idea that could put an immediate cash infusion into the American economy?  Could we, with one or two quick decisions, take action to put our economy on the fast-track again, while costing no more than the estimated one to three-and-a-half trillion dollars that Obama and the Democrat-controlled Congress have allocated so far?

Yes.

Interesting Self-Quote from 1991 BBS Post

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4/60: new portable computers with color VGA
Name: Lockjaw The Ogre #31 @9955
Date: Mon Jul 08 11:22:54 1991

i am watching a story on CNN right now about new portable computers with flat 
color vga monitors. they look great, with awesome color capabilities. the 
screen is made up of loads of tiny transistors that control the color, rather 
than the picture tub. only one american manufacturer is making them, dolch, 
but toshiba and nec are making them elsewhere.

Interesting how times change.

Anti-Israel Protesters - I Don't Get It. Yes I Do.

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A violent street gang, over the course of months, randomly fires bullets at houses in a populated residential area.  For months, the city asks politely for them to stop.  Over time, the mayor begins to suggest that the gang has gone too far.  Eventually, the police move in and strike at the leaders, and begin to return fire on gang members who are seen firing weapons into neighborhoods.  Local college students protest against the city and the police.

On the southern border of the United States, a paramilitary organization based in Mexico begins firing explosive projectiles into the southern areas of New Mexico and Arizona.  Some shells land in highly populated areas of Tuscon, killing more than a few civilians.  This goes on for months. The governments of the affected states and the United States tell them to stop.  Eventually, after thousands of shells have been fired, the US Military moves across the border and takes action against the group, killing their leaders and anyone found operating the weapons in question.  Protesters across America come out to protest the US actions against the killers.

To think that someone would protest against the city or the US for striking back in the above situations seems stupid on its face.    Why would anyone protest against those who are trying to stop the attacks on innocent civilians?

Hamas fired over 2600 explosive missiles from the Gaza Strip into Israeli populated areas over the course of months.  Israel worked diplomatically to try to bring it to a halt, but with no effect.  Finally, they respond in kind, attacking the military leaders of Hamas responsible for the rocket fire.  If they find caches of rockets, smuggling routes for the rockets, or anyone firing a rocket, they move against them as well.  In response, protesters around the world are chanting anti-Israel slogans and calling for Israel to stop its actions.

If you try to think about the protests as being about what's right and wrong, it will cause headaches.  Somehow, I think it's more about the fact that it is Israel than about the actual situation.

This stuff has been going on for many years.  Israel has been asking its neighbors to be allowed to live in peace.  Hamas and its allies have been asking Israel to die.  I know which one I want to win.  If the protesters want peace, then they should be protesting Hamas, not Israel.

Do they really want peace?

Merry Christmas

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As I wake this morning, before loading the car for the day's travels, I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas.

Because the opposite of Merry Christmas isn't "Happy Holidays," "Happy Festivus," or "There is no God."  The opposite of Merry Christmas is, "I hope your dog craps on your face to wake you up on December 25th."

I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

Merry Christmas!

How to Save the US Auto Industry

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As the arguments have gone on about how to bail out the US auto industry, I've thought a lot about it myself.I believe that the US auto industry can be saved with some rather simple steps.  Primarily, these include such common-sense things as un-crippling the automakers, reforming the automotive market, and trying some innovative experimental tax reform.

You Should Read - "Why Liberals Hate Us"

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Great post over on Pink Elephant Pundit about Why Liberals Hate Conservatives. It's a well-considered presentation of differences between left and right, and why the left is so often driven to hate-speech when speaking of conservatives. As a former liberal who decided hate wasn't a good enough reason to choose a political stance, this post appealed to me. Good read. Head on over and check it out.

Joining the Dark Side - I Got an iPhone

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Last week, my wife and I finally upgraded our phones.  We knew we needed more from our phones, so I spent some time looking at the options.  I'm crazy like that.  When we first got our cellphones four years ago, I spent 2-3 months talking to everyone who had a cellphone about their plan, their service, and their phone.  I wanted to make the right decision, without hassle.  I gathered the evidence myself, and made the decision.  I did the same with this purchase.

I prepared for a few days beforehand, browsing apps in the iTunes App Store, and grabbing a collection of apps that looked useful, so I could jump right in when I got the phone.  Finally, the day before Thanksgiving, the wife and I drove down to make our purchase.

Advice for President-Elect Obama: International Policy

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As the latest in my ongoing series of posts advising President-Elect Obama, I'd like to approach international issues.  This may be a moot point, since Obama already has many international ties.  Regardless, I'll try to hit some high points.

I won't bother with advising on interactions with the palestinians, since Obama has ties to the palestinians; already. Likewise, he seems to have good ties with Kenya. Heck, some think Obama was born in Kenya, including his own grandmother who says she was in the hospital at the time.

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