Through a glass darkly...

There are few films which accurately portray the terror, boredom and camaraderie of armed conflict.  Many movies, even the documentaries, provide a significant slant or bias on their presentation.  We have seen a plethora of movies about soldiers in the last few years, certainly since the start of armed conflict in Afghanistan.  HBO's documentary, Generation Kill, has been lauded and lambasted.  I have not seen this presentation.  I truly enjoyed Gunner Palace, a well made film with little editorializing. 

 

The experience of combat (to which I have only remote experience) is a truly individual experience.  The behavior in combat of a nation's armed forces is reflective upon the nation's values and the upbringing of their citizenry.  There is widespread agreement, even among strong anti-war / military groups, that the behavior of the United States military has continued to set new standards for behavior, adherence to rules of conflict and protection of innocent citizenry. 

 

It is with this in mind that I share the attached information about an upcoming documentary.  At no time in our history have we been able to review the recent past with such clarity.  Thousands of hours of recorded video, audio and millions of pages of documents exist chronicling our actions in the current conflicts.  It is our responsibility as engaged citizens to examine this record, objectively, to determine the successes and opportunities for our military forces and by extension our foreign policy. 

---

From: info106@info.govdelivery.com [mailto:info106@info.govdelivery.com] On Behalf Of American Forces Press Service
Sent: Monday, February 23, 2009 12:52 PM
Subject: Documentary Depicts Commitment, Sacrifice of Soldiers, Families

Documentary Depicts Commitment, Sacrifice of Soldiers, Families
Mon, 23 Feb 2009 11:47:00 -0600

Documentary Depicts Commitment, Sacrifice of Soldiers, Families By John J. Kruzel American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Feb. 23, 2009 - On location in the Middle of Nowhere, Iraq, filmmaker Jake Rademacher focuses his lens on a unit of young reconnaissance troops with whom he's embedded. David Scantling, chief executive officer of private equity firm Scantling Technology Ventures; Producer Norman S. Powell; Army Capt. Isaac Rademacher, actor Gary Sinese and filmmaker Jake Rademacher pose for photos after an advance screening of "Brothers at War," a film that documents Jake Rademacher's experience in Iraq as he sought to understand what motivates his two military brothers. The sneak preview took place Feb. 20, 2009, at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. The film releases at theaters across the country March 13. DoD photo by John J. Kruzel (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. For five days they wait in the desert near Syria, watching idly for smugglers bringing weapons, cash or foreign fighters across the border. Conversation is the only thing that colors the monotony of the blank horizon. One soldier says he joined the ranks to make his father proud. Another is confident his duty will benefit posterity. And a crew-cut junior enlisted troop says through a wad of chewing tobacco he's not sure why wears the uniform. "If you find out, let me know," he tells Rademacher. At the heart of Rademacher's documentary "Brothers at War" are the kind of open-ended questions many civilians have about what U.S. servicemembers do and why. Using his own family as a microcosm, Rademacher paints an intimate portrait that seeks to understand the commitment and sacrifice attendant to military service. The Rademacher clan represents a compelling cross-section, with two of Jake's brothers, Isaac and Joe, serving as active-duty soldiers. The film follows Jake to Iraq, where he shadows Isaac, a captain in the Army's 82nd Airborne Division, on his second deployment in Mosul. Jakes also walks a mile in the shoes of Joe -- a 23-year-old staff sergeant sniper and Army Ranger also in the 82nd Airborne -- when he joins snipers at "hide sites" in the Sunni Triangle. The culmination of Rademacher's multiple journeys to Iraq amounted to 35 interviews, 25 missions and 400 hours of tape, which he distilled into a feature-length film. Brothers at War releases nationally on March 13. "I wanted to dive right into the front lines," Rademacher said at the National Press Club here last week after an advance screening of the film. "And I learned about my brothers through their brothers in arms." On the home front, the documentary illustrates the effects that repeated deployments have on spouses and children. But the film is far from a social commentary, and there is a distinct absence of a political or moral agenda. After the Feb. 20 screening, Isaac revealed that Jake's motivation for making the film was two-fold. He wanted to document Isaac's life as a memento for his young daughter, Hunter, in case Isaac didn't return from duty. Jake also wanted to open the eyes of the American public to the reality of the front lines, Isaac said. "I've never seen anything that shows so much truth and then steps away," he added. Gary Sinese, one of the film's executive producers, attended the screening along with a group of soldiers recovering at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center here. Sinese was eager to sign onto the project after it was screened for him last year, he said. "Brothers at War presents such a positive depiction of military families," he said. "It's a great American documentary that speaks my language." Army Sgt. 1st Class Jorge Pineiro, a liaison for wounded troops recovering at Walter Reed, said he could see the emotion worn on the faces of the 10th Mountain Division soldiers with him at the screening. "Rademacher did an excellent job representing what the soldiers go through while stationed in Iraq," Pineiro said. "And you could see it on the faces of the soldiers over here. "Some of them you could see some emotion, some of them were reliving what they went through over there," he said. "It was pretty emotional."

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If nothing else comes from Iraq...

A model of opportunity for women in Iraq is being delivered.  In Iran, a burgeoning set of freedoms for women was derailed by the Islamic Revolution.  Although women still enjoy some freedoms, in neighboring countries this is not the case.  Don't even get me started on the treatment of homosexuals.  The culture of many nations under Islamic influence is severely restricted in the category of human rights, equality and freedom.  In the case of Pakistan, the Pakistani government agreed to enforce Sharia in order to mitigate the influence of Taliban militants.  Let me be clear, any religion, government or system of laws in which a portion of the population is treated unequally due to class, gender, faith, race, personal orientation (providing it's not sociopathy) or other "uncontrollable" aspect is wrong and should be challenged.  Proposition 8 in California is a bad example in the United States.  However, there is much work to be done in the rest of the world.  The UN, not my favorite organization - but better than Sea Shepherd - even codifies these beliefs in their Human Rights charter.  It is politically tough to address these issues as a government when we must "play nice" with our neighbors and "respect cultural differences".  At times we must stand firm on our principles, while not ignoring our own shortcomings, and place the scrutiny clearly where it belongs.   

 

Initiative Improves Iraqi Women's Quality of Life
Wed, 18 Feb 2009 10:14:00 -0600

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Initiative Improves Iraqi Women's Quality of Life By Army Spc. Debralee P. Crankshaw Special to American Forces Press Service CAMP VICTORY, Iraq, Feb. 18, 2009 - A rash of suicide bombings by women in Iraq in 2008 led officials to create a program to empower Iraqi women by fostering equality and the ensuring their basic human rights are met. Army Capt. Jennifer Glossinger, Women's Initiative program coordinator, speaks with a woman about issues Iraqi women face near Baghdad, Feb. 16, 2009. Courtesy photo (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. The first component of the three-part Women's Initiative Program is to reverse the trend in female suicide bombings, which increased from seven in 2007 to 38 last year, officials said. "The thought behind it is that the women have lost so many of the men in their families -- fathers, brothers, husbands, friends," said Army Capt. Jennifer Glossinger, Women's Initiative coordinator for the 10th Mountain Division's 413th Civil Affairs Battalion. "What happens to so many is they become very vulnerable, because they don't have many resources. A lot of times they're left with many [children] to take care of. They may not be able to read or write. "The Women's Initiative looks to fill in the gaps and provide some of those basic needs to mitigate some of those female suicide bombings," she said. The second part of the initiative is economic development. "Eighty percent of employment comes from the agricultural sector in [the Multinational Division Center area of operations]," Glossinger said. "Seventy percent of that work force is composed of women. Women do just about all of the work." The initiative works with provincial reconstruction teams and agriculture teams, which can include women's programs at extension centers. "The extension center's main goal is to create a place where people can come and learn about new technology," Glossinger said. "They can come together and pool their money to buy equipment or work as a team and help strengthen each other." Glossinger said she also would like to see youth programs and a promotion of literacy at the extension center. While rural areas are the main focus of the program, the initiative also encourages women in urban areas to obtain grants to start businesses. The initiative's third area of focus is human rights. One way to ensure these rights is to encourage women to help other women. "In Dhi Qar there are 12 women lawyers, and they are talking about opening a women's center there and providing legal services to women," Glossinger said. The initiative's goal is to provide information and support to better assist Iraqi women. "Our main goal is not to change the culture, but to strengthen what they have in terms of employment and education," Glossinger said. "I think it's important to be realistic in what you focus on. Most of the women in the [Multinational Division Center] area are rural and need the most basic things like jobs and education." (Army Spc. Debralee P. Crankshaw serves in Multinational Division Center.)

Related Sites: Multinational Corps Iraq

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No to EFCA...

Folks should take some time to educate themselves about the EFCA. This is a dangerous, union developed, piece of legislation which will effectively eliminate any privacy, discussion and freedom regarding an individual's right to organize. Imagine your workplace placed under the bargaining agreement of a union, without a fair hearing or vote. Think it can't happen? Take a look at some of the targets outlined by the AFL-CIO, SEIU and others.


From: chamber_list@mailmanager.net [mailto:chamber_list@mailmanager.net] On Behalf Of Bill Miller, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 2009 4:32 PM
Subject: Action Alert: No to EFCA - the Time is Now

The time has come. The Employee Free Choice Act is here. As Roll Call reported this morning, labor unions are staging a theatrical event on the Hill tomorrow, and EFCA is expected to be introduced in the House of Representatives this week. The preliminaries are over, this is the main event--and as we continue to hear from you--our economy can't afford a defeat. Union leaders want to change the rules of how unions are recognized by encouraging legislators to do away with the proven practice of holding free and fair secret ballot elections. By forcing workers out of the voting booth and subjecting them to a public 'card check' scheme, the bill would take privacy, power, and choice away from America's workers. Save the Secret Ballot, Save the Economy. Join our Virtual March on Washington, and join the fight. Write to your Congressmen now and tell them to say No to EFCA and protect secret ballots for America's workers.

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Sinupret, con or cure...

There is a wave of marketing on television, in print and over the internet of an “herbal remedy” called Sinupret.  Sinupret is a concoction of a German company named Bionorica.  Sinupret falls into the grey area of a supplement, largely unregulated by the FDA.  There is no guarantee of standardization of dosage and the rules for efficacy are non-existent as compared to OTC (over-the-counter) medications.  Ironically, a pan European court ruled Sinupret “superfluous” and “ineffective” as early as 1992.   

 

Some have spent some time pondering the possible negative effects of the  "herbal remedy".  The product itself is 8% alcohol and many are under the mistaken impression that this is a homeopathic medicine, which it is not.  I am always very wary of any company claiming to have a “proprietary” claim on their ingredients.  This product is clearly an herbal, akin to St. John’s Wort and other herbs which have proven to be problematic for individuals when combined with other medicines. 

 

Sinupret is marketed by Dr. Bob Sears, a paid physician spokesman on Bionorica’s staff.  He carefully excludes any claims of efficacy and dances around the edges as to exactly what the mechanism of action is behind the drug.  Much like the bally hooed Head-On product, it is likely that any review of the product’s capabilities will come up far short.

 

Parents who administer this product to their children do so with good intent.  However, the lack of oversight, trials and data supporting even the most benign claim puts their children at risk.  There is no scientific data supporting the claims of stronger immune systems.  A stronger immune system is best enhanced by a healthy diet, good hygiene and rest.  Children who are stressed from too little of the aforementioned and placed in close contact (i.e. school or preschool) with other similar germ factories are likely to get colds.

 

In a world where the Snugli can sell more than 40 million units in a few months, a slickly promoted bottle of snake oil, pushed by the fears of millions of parents, can gain equal, if unearned profits. 

 

At least the Snugli will keep you warm.

 

Caveat emptor.

 

 

An ill wind...

I get a lot if ideas for posts, and then something comes along to distract me, like my real job.  I enjoy blogging, it’s a one sided conversation that I feel like I win every time I post.  For those few readers who know me in “meatspace”, I am a bit argumentative.  I have been known to take an opposing view just for the sake of the argument. 

 

Yes, I was a debater in high school.   It is an extracurricular activity which would benefit every young person, in my opinion.  But I want to talk about an extracurricular activity which would be a detriment to the nation as a whole.  That is Rep. Charlie Rangel idiotic legislation to reinstate the draft.

 

Rangel is a leading Democrat from New York who was a decorated Korean War veteran.  He vehemently opposes the Iraq conflict and believes (erroneously) that lower income people bear the burden of military service and thus service.  Rangel’s original legislation was thought to provide a social commentary about the disproportionate level of service in the nation.  I do agree with this argument to some degree.  There is too much disconnect from the military to the general population.  However, this is true for many careers.  Most people do not know a farmer personally.  They do no know an investment banker or a politician.  This makes for an increased lack of understanding of this person’s role and impact on society.

 

The American public has become used to a no risk, push button military able to deliver stunning victories with almost zero loss of life.  The conflict in Iraq is an overwhelming success on any military measure.  In the past six years, the number of casualties is staggering low.  It is often argued that no conflict is worth an American life, to that I counter the arguer believes that America has no value.

 

The American military is the second largest in the world.  It is the most professional and sophisticated.  It is the most honest and able of ANY military service.  A recent GAO report put forth the following;

 

The active duty force has undergone several demographic changes since

the end of the draft and the advent of an all-volunteer force in 1973. It

has become older and better educated, it has experienced increases in

the representation of minority and female service members, and a greater

proportion of its service members are married and have children.

Recognizing that a family’s satisfaction with military life can influence

retention, Congress and DOD have responded by establishing and

increasing support services for military families. However, opportunities

exist to further improve benefits in this area.

 

The military has grown, improved and continues to shape itself to meet the needs of the changing world.  I do not believe any serving member, when asked directly, would want to serve alongside someone who is there against their will.  We, as Americans, value individual liberty (rightly, I believe) above all other rights.  It was Milton Friedman, President Nixon’s economist, who correctly labeled the draft as "slavery".  Rarely will you find a direct link to an antiwar site, however, the point is critical. 

 

Rangel, a descendant of slaves would have our nation burdened with a slave class again. 

 

Be sure to let him know how you feel.

 

 

 

 

There is no science in Scientology...

Jett Travolta dies in the Bahamas under suspicious circumstances. His cremated remains are being returned to the family compound in Ocala, Florida. The loss of a 16 year old boy is a tragedy for any family. A life cut short so early is a loss to all. John Travolta and Kelly Preston are Scientologists – different from the medically averse Christian Scientists. However, the tenets of their beliefs may have had some impact on Jett’s life, and even his death. John’s brother, Joe, is an autism activist. Truthfully, I don’t know whether he is on the fringes with the lunatic Jenny McCarthy or mainstream. That’s for another post.

Scientology is a dangerous, controlling cult. It operates a global network dedicated to controlling its members, suppressing opposition and accumulating wealth. It holds bizarre beliefs and opposes mental health treatments in all its forms.

I now offer a primer for the unmitigated. Below is paraphrased from other sources, most notably Gawker.

Scientology, which questionably calls itself a new "religion", is the brainchild of 1950's science fiction writer, occult enthusiast and former Naval officer (*sigh*) L. Ron Hubbard. The organization, by means of Hubbard's self created psychotherapy technique called "Dianetics", claims to be able to help rid members of any and all mental constraints including but not limited to emotional scarring (from this and "past" lives) due to "engrams" (past negative experiences stored in our unconscious mind), psychological disorders and chemical imbalances (the solution is to convince members that these things don't actually exist) and drug dependence (including legally prescribed psycho pharmaceuticals which counteract the effects of psychological disorders Scientologists believe to be nonexistent). Their "treatment" of substance abuse includes little more than massive, often dangerous doses of vitamins and unhealthy extended sessions in a sauna.

[en.wikipedia.org] - Dianetics review: [dir.salon.com], [www.time.com] [www.cs.cmu.edu] [www.nypress.com]

Scientology is most certainly NOT a religion. In fact, one of the only reasons they enjoy "tax exempt status" on religious ground in the United States is because they bullied the IRS into a "deal" through extremely aggressive barratry (which is the offense of persistently instigating groundless lawsuits) against said government agency and its officials, and arranged to drop all 2,500 frivolous lawsuits only when an "agreement" was reached. In addition, Scientology's lawyers hired private investigators to dig up any "dirt" on IRS agents which was then used to blackmail or publicly smear all "vulnerable" agents. It was an all-out WAR that Scientology had waged against the IRS, and was even described as such by Scientology's "CEO", David Miscavige, in his 1993 speech to the International Association of Scientologists.

[legalminds.lp.findlaw.com], [www.lermanet.com], [www.factnet.org], [www.cs.cmu.edu]

The official Scientology organization is composed of a number of "levels". One begins as a "preclear" and works their way up. One must purchase virtually every service crucial to advancement directly from the "church" and at staggering prices. "Auditing", for example, is purchased in 12½ hour blocks, costing anywhere from $200-$750 for introductory sessions to between $8,000 and $9,000 for advanced sessions. Basically, Scientology claims to possess exclusive knowledge of the path to religious redemption and then charges obscene amounts of money for every tiny incremental step towards this end. Visit this link to see how $380,000 is a conservative estimate for the total cost of moving all the way up the Scientology hierarchal ladder:

[www.xenu.net]

These are the total costs for auditing alone:

[en.wikipedia.org]

Here's an explanation of what "auditing" is:

[answers.yahoo.com]

At level OT III (Operating Thetan Level 3), some very strange and fiercely guarded secrets are imparted upon worthy members who have paid enough money to advance to such a level (and no, this isn't a joke): The evil alien ruler Xenu killed millions of aliens (Thetans) from around the universe by kidnapping them, bringing them to earth in golden DC-8 "space-planes", stacking them around volcanoes and blowing them up by dropping "h-bombs" into the volcanoes. Scientologists believe the souls of these aliens (these souls are "Body Thetans") were captured, brainwashed and released; they then attached themselves to our ancestors (and according to Scientology's belief in Thetan immortality, they also attached to us during "past lives") and cause many of our mental and physical ills to this day. Auditing is said to "clear" us of these Body Thetans as well as the "mental implants" they supposedly impose on our minds.

[www.spaink.net], [sf.irk.ru], [xenu.net], [www.cs.cmu.edu]

Scientology has taken a very hostile stance towards psychiatry and psychiatric drugs irrespective of the fact that some people require medication to remain adequately functional during everyday life. It doesn't recognize legitimate conditions like autism, epilepsy, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or ANY neurological disorder / chemical imbalance at all, and the "church" has been known to withhold prescription pharmaceuticals from members (often with harmful and deadly results). The "Church" blames psychiatry for the Holocaust, as well as school shootings and even September 11th. It's been suggested that Hubbard's vehement opposition was born of the psychiatric community's rejection of his "tech" as a valid treatment method, but it's also possible that Hubbard chose psychiatry as a scapegoat. Organizations like Scientology are notorious for villainizing a specific out-group because their "stand against the enemy" fosters cohesion within said organization, and psychiatry was an effective rallying point considering many people already distrust and oppose the mental health profession.

[www.anti-scientologie.ch], [www.lacitybeat.com], [dir.salon.com], [perkinstragedy.org]

L. Ron Hubbard, the man behind the creation of Scientology, was and still is a controversial figure. Biographies and lists of personal accomplishments differ greatly between Scientology and non-Scientology publications as the "church" tends to exaggerate and outright lie about his early life, his education, his travels, his achievements etc, preferring to paint a distorted, flattering picture. Several books and articles present facts which flatly contradict these church-published accounts (links to free online copies of these books and articles are provided below), showing conclusively that he was NOT the brilliant, accomplished figure revered by Scientologists. During his autopsy, the sedative Vistaril™ was present in his body, which several of his assistants would later attest was only one of many psychiatric and pain medications Hubbard ingested over the years. It had also been said by many who knew Hubbard personally that at the end of his life he was "a psychopathic insane person screaming about BT's [Body Thetans]…"

[www.apologeticsindex.org], [www.cs.cmu.edu], [www.clambake.org], [lisatrust.bogie.nl]

To be blunt, Scientology is a cult. It employs semi-legitimate psychotherapy and self-help methods to keep people loyal and convinced of its merit while it simultaneously sucks them dry financially and attempts to keep them far away from ANYONE, even friends and family, who would dissuade them from remaining in such a harmful situation. It bullies all known critics, opponents, "enemies", etc, often through malicious litigation and character assassination. It's a particularly greedy as well as manipulative and dangerous cult that takes its anti-psychiatry fanaticism to deadly limits.

[www.solitarytrees.net], [www.factnet.org], [www.garloff.de], [www.sptimes.com], [www.xenu.net]

* 1 month ago

Source(s):

Watch this very revealing video that will, in about 5 minutes, show you EXACTLY what Scientology is all about: [theunfunnytruth.ytmnd.com]

This is an hour long special report on Jeremy Perkins, the mentally disturbed son of Scientologist parents who refused to put him on the anti-psychotic drugs that would have stabilized him and prevented him from killing his own mother: [www.scientomogy.com]

Is Scientology a cult? Yes, and this is why:[answers.yahoo.com]
Scientology in relation to God, Jesus and Christianity:[answers.yahoo.com]
This is how they sell their cult to others:[answers.yahoo.com]

*** This shows how dangerous the cult really is: *** (important!)

[answers.yahoo.com], [xenu.net] aka Operation Clambake [clambake.org], [www.philosoraptor.com], [en.wikipedia.org], [www.modemac.com], [www.scientology-kills.org]
[www.scientology-lies.com], [www.cs.cmu.edu], [www.holysmoke.org], [www.watchman.org]
[www.whyaretheydead.net], [holysmoke.org], [www.rollingstone.com], [www.time.com]

Cult information - [www.cultinformation.org.uk]
Official site - [www.scientology.org]

Here ends the lesson.

Sleep tight !

Resolve this...

It is one resolution worth doing for 2009. 

 

Go and see Slumdog Millionaire. 

 

This movie, filmed in the reality of the emerging world that is Mumbai, India, is tough to watch, stunning and as good as all the hype surrounding it.  I will not bore you with the details of the plot or the Bollywood / Hollywood analogies.  There are far better sites for that.  Let me just share with you my impressions.  I have an indirect connection with the leading country of the subcontinent.  It is perhaps the nation which is the birthplace of the majority of my non-USA friends.  During an earlier assignment, I was responsible for establishing operations there to support products being imported to the United States.  India presents a lens in which the whole of human struggle and aspiration can be viewed.  It is a multicultural nation fraught with problems and promise.  It has a population which is fiercely competitive and ingenious.  It has the vestiges of British Imperial governance to shape its masala like population.  It is deeply religious and secular at the same time.  The nation also is awash in artistic talent and expression, perhaps only equaled by the United States. 

 

I have a fascination with this nation of a billion or so people.  It has sustained itself despite overwhelming odds against itself.  It created the "green revolution" by which it fed itself when a whole continent to its West can not do so.  What can we learn from India?  Surely it is not the pop psychology of its most famous expats (Deepak Chopra and a host of gurus and swamis).  It is not the tenets of Hinduism, which are fraught with as much contradiction as Christianity and violence as Islam.  It is, I believe, their adaptability and embrace of change.  At the end of the 19th century and for much of the 20th, India was an agrarian, balkanized society.  British governance brought many of the states under unified control and laid the foundation for its infrastructure.  But it was the dawn of the technological age which propelled the nation into preeminence. 

 

One of it's distinct advantages was a strong civil service and a cadre of fluent English speakers.  Despite the vast cultural differences between the west and India, their population was able to leverage this gift of communication into viable business opportunities.  Couple this with an increasingly capable education system and India's best resource, its people, stormed onto the world stage with a vengeance.  The Indian diaspora has also made a positive impact on the globe.  They have adopted the necessary cultural aspects of their new nations and retained the core beliefs of their native one.  As such, Indian communities are strong, vibrant and generally lacking the negative aspects of many other nations expatriates.

 

In this spirit I saw the film.  I was eager to get another look at the Indian self image.  I was not disappointed.  What transpired for the young protagonist, Jamal Malik, is a lesson for all of India.  The fact that his religion and that of his love interest appeared to be polar opposites only underscored the hopefulness of the movie.

 

Resolve to see this film.

 

 

Free choice with fries...

If anyone doubted the Labor Agenda and its potential negative impact on our economy, you need do nothing more than read Andy Stern's anti-McDonald's missive.  McDonald's is a large company which provides solid entry level jobs, decent benefits and flexible working arrangements for its employees.  No one is forced to work there - there are a host of entry level positions available - not as many with flexible hours though.  McDonald's offers management training, ownership opportunities and contributes of strong social programs across the country.  They are many of our first experiences of work. 

 

What the SEIU is trying to do is bully McDonalds employees into becoming a member of their union.  The disparity of CEO pay to base employee compensation is a matter for a responsible compensation board and the 770x multiple is misleading as it takes into account stock options (which may be worth zero at any given moment).   McDonald's provides simple food (one can make any case about nutritional value - it's about OUR choices) that people want.  I would be very interested to know exactly what benefits SEIU would offer organized members.  It was partly labor's intransigence which led the United States automobile industry, textile industry, steel industry and electronics industry overseas. 

 

Will their efforts cripple McDonald's as well?

 

---

From: Michael Whitney-SEIU.org [mailto:info@seiu.org]
Sent: Wednesday, December 17, 2008 2:47 PM
Subject: Go to McDonald's tomorrow at noon

Dear, Last week we told you that McDonald's wasn't lovin' free choice at work. Several thousand of you stood up and told the company what you think about their efforts to stop their employees' free choice. Now we're kicking our campaign into high gear. We want to speak directly with McDonald's employees about what it's like to work for a CEO who is paid 770 times what his workers earn, leaving working families with barely enough to afford the "Dollar Menu." We're organizing events at McDonald's locations around the country for TOMORROW at NOON. Can you take an hour tomorrow to go to your local McDonald's to educate McDonald's employees about free choice? Click here to find an event at a McDonald's near you and RSVP now. If you can't find an event near you, you can plan your own - it's easy, quick, and we provide all the materials you need. According to published reports, the fast food giant is organizing its store owners to oppose the Employee Free Choice Act. McDonald's has reportedly even formed an "internal response team...to actively participate in the opposition to the Employee Free Choice Act." The Employee Free Choice Act gives workers the free choice to join unions so they can bargain for better wages, benefits, and retirement security. But it's apparent that McDonald's doesn't want its employees to see any of that. It's time for McDonald's to give workers more of the wealth they help create, and it's up to us to tell them how to do so. Find or plan an event at a McDonald's near you TOMORROW at NOON to tell employees why they need free choice at work. Click here to RSVP. Thank you for your support of McDonald's employees and workers everywhere. In Solidarity, Michael Whitney Change that Works SEIU.org   PAID FOR BY SEIU. WWW.SEIU.ORG. THIS COMMUNICATION IS NOT AUTHORIZED BY ANY CANDIDATE OR CANDIDATE'S COMMITTEE.   SEIU 1800 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036 Unsubscribe

Protect your Visa card online...

My father will be 80 years old this year.  He was born in 1929, prior to the stock market crash.  He has lived through an extraordinary life and continues to do so.  I can truly say that he is someone whom I admire deeply and would list as my top hero.  It is, perhaps, with age that we appreciate the contribution of our parents to who we are.  One thing I admire about my father is his ability to connect with people.  He carries with him some surprising biases, but he maintains a courtesy and civility to everyone which (I think) truly reflects his feelings.  This courtesy, alas, also extends to the internet. 

 

A couple of years ago we set him up with a computer.  He is interested in genealogy and we though this may be a good way to get him moving on his projects.  Like me, my dad has a variety of interests and often starts projects with good intentions, only to see them idle on a shelf.  Family history has remained a constant, if inconsistent, pursuit.  In his introduction to the internet, he has met every Nigerian bank officer, deposed dictator, European heiress and other e-mail persona hucksters and con artists care to offer.  I am not sure he has a skeptical bone in his body.  Worse, these e-mails are becoming more sophisticated.  Social engineering techniques and phishing sites are creating more compelling messages designed to part us from our identity, cash or both!  

 

The message below arrived in my inbox today and I though of dad.  Aside from the horrible English, the message appears legitimate - save that any contact from your Visa card would have at least two or three personal identifiers.  My dad is not alone, there are a host of individuals on the net who - with complete innocence - respond to suspicious e-mails and enter far too much information on websites.  Who we are is one of the last elements that remains protected.  Even the Lifelock CEO, who promotes his program by using his social security number, has found himself the victim of fraud and deceit.

 

---

From: VerifiedbyVisa [mailto:protect@protectvisa.com]
Sent: Wednesday, December 10, 2008 2:33 AM
To: undisclosed-recipients
Subject: Protect your Visa card online with a personal password
Importance: High

Protect your Visa card online with a personal password

Solution

Create an additional password to protect your existing card for online purchases

We are proud to announce that Visa Europe in association with all European and U.S. banks launch a new campaign against online fraud and reward all participants with a 50,00 Euro bonus just for enroll and secure your card. Your personal bonus code is VISA-884AM-4423-2008 ( after you use the code please delete the email or keep it private, conform our privacy  and policy you cannot use your code twice, for more info please visit our Privacy and Policy )

Please enroll now by clinking the Global Visa Site select your country and follow the easy steps for a better security on your card.

 Global Visa Sites (CHANGED FROM SCAM SITE IN ITALY)

Do not be the next victim and fight with us against credit card fraud. 

The overwhelming amount of deception and trickery on the web is not simply confined to attempts to steal your identity.  A host of individuals who promote their own agenda or worldview make their home in the ether, complete with seemingly authentic endorsements, credentials and "facts".  Most recently, Deepak Chopra quoted Wikipedia for a count of civilians killed in the Iraq war.  Never mind that this figure is hotly debated by expert agencies, to quote Wikipedia is akin to saying;

 

"I heard it from my cousin's, brother-in-law's step sister."   

 

There is a lot of good research and information on Wikipedia, but all of it must be validated and no one will take a Wikipedia reference as a valid source.  No matter your cause, you can find support on the web.  Denizens of Lemuria among us, Chemtrails, Illuminati control of the banking system, suppression of real news (Ken McCarthy's BrasscheckTV is a purveyor of such bunk), anti-Vaccination / Autism adherents (Jenny McCarthy is a dedicated mom and a passable actress - but she is no scientist), and the list goes on forever.  In fact, take this challenge.  Make something up.  Google it.  I would be willing to bet that your neophyte idea is on the web - even if only in satirical form. 

 

Trouble is, like these compelling e-mails, it takes time, energy and a skeptical approach to sort the truth from the lies.  Most people either don't care, don't have the time or skills to dig a little deeper.  Do you read all the terms on that credit card application you just filled out?  Do you realize the introductory rate is null and void if you are more than 15 days late on a payment?  Do you know the new rate will be the maximum allowed by law, sometimes as high as 31% APR? 

 

Read the fine print.

 

Check the sources.

 

Dig a little deeper.

 

Know the bias.

 

Doubt.

Musings...

Famed author and thinker Sixpack Chopstix, also known as Deepak Chopra, has been featured on a number of television shows (including CNN and Larry King) saying that the attacks in Mumbai are the product of America's war on terror.  To this I politely offer to Mr. Chopra, you are out of your mind.  The tension between India's minority Muslims and their Hindu cohabitants has been simmering since prior to America's existence.  This greatest divide crystallized in the separation of Pakistan and India and the battle over Kashmir.  The brutal attacks were not against American interests, only icons of Indian prosperity.  Hotels, train stations, a hospital and other "quality of life" targets.  These are classic soft targets easily placed at risk by even the smallest group of attackers.  Think about how American schools "lock down" every time there is an armed crime in their vicinity.

 

Truth is, I like Deepak.  I like his philosophy and his beautiful ability to convey complex ideas.  I have heard him speak in person several times and own a couple of his books, even getting a few autographed.  Most of what he offers is "quantum flapdoodle", a coined phrase courtesy of Richard Feynman.  But I take it metaphorically.  Deepak may believe in all the things he says and writes, but I view his work as a message that we are all interdependent in this world.  Connected in our lives here on spaceship Earth. 

 

The assault on Mumbai is a perfect example.  This was an attack by the ignorant and hateful on all that humanity hopes to achieve.  India may still be a terrifically poor nation, but it has a spirit and vitality to it unmatched on the planet.  It is a nation struggling to get better.  The terrorism of the past few days was designed to throw it back to a darker period of caste segregation, religious persecution and intolerance.  For those readers who subscribe to a post-modernist, relativist view of our world, I ask this question.  What, exactly, was the grievance of these attackers?  They left no note, no manifesto of concerns and to date no one has claimed responsibility.  Even the Muslim Council of India has asked that their bodies not be buried - in recognition of their heinous crime. 

 

There is evil in the world.  It is bred in fear, ignorance and intolerance.  It feeds upon hateful ideology and is spread by gullible people willing to carry a satchel charge into a hospital or an automatic weapon into a train station.  It must be met with defiance and determination.  It can be co-opted but it must be crushed.   

The spiel...

I am on the list for GM suppliers.  I found this message very interesting.  Much like the financial crisis, little is understood about the problems plaguing the automotive industry.  Like it or not, a sizable portion of our economy relies on this industry.  We depend on it for mobility, jobs and upstream and downstream industries.  I thought it best to share to give some additional insight as to how our nation relies on the free flow of capital.

---

From: GM Supplier Discount [mailto:GM_Supplier_Discount@email.generalmotors.bfi0.com]
Sent: Tuesday, November 18, 2008 10:02 PM
Subject: An urgent message to GM suppliers

	Because our futures are linked, I want you to know that General Motors is doing everything possible to deal with the impact the financial crisis is having on the domestic auto industry. Yet despite our successful efforts to restructure, reduce costs and enhance liquidity, we are facing an uphill battle with the current administration and Congress in securing a bridge loan. That's why we need your help now. Simply put, we need you to join us to let Congress know that a bridge loan to help U.S. automakers also helps strengthen the U.S. economy and preserve millions of American jobs. Despite what you may be hearing, we are not asking Congress for a bailout but rather a loan that will be repaid. The consequences of the domestic auto industry collapsing would far exceed the $25 billion loan needed to bridge the current crisis. According to a recent study by the Center for Automotive Research: • One in 10 American jobs depends on U.S. automakers • Nearly 3 million jobs are at immediate risk • U.S. personal income could be reduced by $150 billion • The tax revenue lost over 3 years would be more than $156 billion Discussions are now underway in Washington, D.C., concerning loans to support U.S. carmakers. I am asking you to support this vital effort by contacting your representatives. Please take a few minutes to call your representatives by dialing 1-866-471-5332. Just state your name and address, and your message will reach your legislators. You can review a script that will help you state your support at gmfactsandfiction.com. Under the "Mobilize Now" section, click on "I'm a Supplier." If you would rather e-mail your representatives, use the link "I'm a Concerned American." Please share this information with friends and family using the link on the site. Thank you for helping keep our economy viable. Sincerely, Troy Clarke
	The marks of General Motors, its divisions, slogans, emblems, vehicle model names, vehicle body designs and other marks appearing in this email are the trademarks and/or service marks of General Motors Corporation, its subsidiaries, affiliates or licensors. ©2008 GM Corp. Buckle up, America! General Motors Corporation 100 Renaissance Center 482-A00-MAR Detroit, MI 48265

None dare call it Conspiracy...

My good friend (okay, she’s a blog –bug) Lana Walker has made good on a little wager we had in February.  During the cold, dark winter of the primary season our wager consisted of her assertions that the media was “blocking” information on Ron Paul and that once the election was over a huge public backlash would ensue.  Who would have guessed that the global economy would be on the brink of collapse due to actions taken by the Carter administration in 1977?

 

Well, I simply made the assertion that no conspiracy existed.  I follow a simple rule, no secret can exist which is known by more than one person.  The alternate corollary is that the ONLY way to keep a secret between two people is to make sure one of them is dead.  In the interests of fair play, and full disclosure, my predictions are here.  What was my killing line? 

 

“There is a real risk the economy will improve”

 

I think I need to return my MBA.  Clearly, I don’t know what I am talking about.  But enough about me, let’s talk about conspiracies.

 

These are the stuff of legend, whether it is the uncaring gods, toying with our lives, or the hidden puppet masters of a clandestine world government, we love to imagine someone has got their hand on the tiller.  The internet is a rich feeding ground for all the various fantasies of the population of the planet.  You can find conspiracies about almost anything.  There are Coca-Cola plots, sinister “chemtrails” saturating our atmosphere, Lemurian myths, Big Pharma (or oil, or the military industrial complex, or the RIAA, or anyone!) working to suppress the “true” nature of whatever it is someone is supporting.

 

There are NO areas exempt from good on a little wager conspiracy theories.  I would submit that most organized religion is an extrapolated form of conspiracy theory.  However, that’s beside the point.  The reality is that conspiracy theories are just that, guesses and predictions to explain circumstances and situations.  They may be driven by a kernel of truth or they may simply be paranoid delusions brought about my mental illness.  What has proven itself time after time is that they simply don’t exist. 

 

Some more astute readers will Google various “true” conspiracy theories and present them, smugly, as fact.  The CIA’s MKULTRA mind control experimentation is credited by many to be proof that these things exist.  The reality is far from compelling.  It represented a small program, sanctioned by the government, in which individuals were subjected to LSD and other drugs in the quest for a perfect truth serum or mind control chemical.  The project was indeed secret, however, its overall influence was small.  Finally, its eventual discovery and exposure eliminates the underpinning framework that conspiracists promote, that these programs are “undiscoverable”.

 

Whatever your take, I would encourage you to apply Occam’s Razor to the posits of anyone promoting an alternate view to current events of contemporary history.  First ask yourself, which is the most likely occurrence?  Second, how likely would the alternate possibility be able to remain concealed from view?  Finally, what motivates the promoter of these views.  A frank and objective answer to each of these questions will guard you against falling for most of the ensnaring hogwash running rampant in our society.

 

Now excuse me, I need to order one of those  free Amish Heaters!