Brad Spangler has volunteered for a good waterboarding. And he wants it taped. No, he's not going to sell it. He's going to give it away to show people just what the U.S. government is doing to "detainees" in the "War on Terror." This is the sort of thing that could wake people up to the futility of torture as an intelligence-gathering mechanism.
Peace,
Tor
Wednesday, October 4, 2006
Big Pharma and Bribes for Doctors
The Bangor Daily News has an editorial today against the practice of doctors receiving "gifts" from pharmaceutical manufacturers.
First of all, I'm not defending Big Pharma here, since they are using their corporate power (enforced by Big Government) to obtain seemingly endless patents on their pharmaceuticals. In a left-libertarian world, more medicines would be available more cheaply, and sooner than in the current scheme.
But there are some good consequences of doctors' receiving free samples. Just last winter, at a time when I was without health insurance and therefore would be paying for medicine out of pocket, I needed some antibiotics to battle an infection in my lungs. My doctor's first question was whether I had insurance. When I replied in the negative, she went right to her cabinet to fetch a week's worth of free samples for me.
I'm worried that any prohibitions on doctors' receipt of free medicine samples will tend to hurt their poorest patients. Let's not let that happen. Let's inject free market principles into our health care and pharmaceutical systems. Let's not add more regulations that will only drive prices up and restrict availability.
Peace,
Tor
Tagged as:
Pharma medicine
According to the article, nearly 90 percent of the $21 billion marketing budget of the pharmaceutical industry is directed at physicians. That $19 billion outlay paid doctors for free meals, travel and other expenses and fees for attending lectures and conferences, for their time spent at such meetings, provision of ghostwriting services, grants for research projects, and consultation services, the authors wrote.
They cited a survey showing that in the year 2000 the industry sponsored 314,000 events specifically for physicians. They said, "The purpose behind such industry contacts is unmistakable: Drug companies are attempting to promote the use of their products."
Free samples also would be barred, on the ground that they tend to bias physicians and patients in favor of expensive medications when cheaper alternatives may be just as effective.
First of all, I'm not defending Big Pharma here, since they are using their corporate power (enforced by Big Government) to obtain seemingly endless patents on their pharmaceuticals. In a left-libertarian world, more medicines would be available more cheaply, and sooner than in the current scheme.
But there are some good consequences of doctors' receiving free samples. Just last winter, at a time when I was without health insurance and therefore would be paying for medicine out of pocket, I needed some antibiotics to battle an infection in my lungs. My doctor's first question was whether I had insurance. When I replied in the negative, she went right to her cabinet to fetch a week's worth of free samples for me.
I'm worried that any prohibitions on doctors' receipt of free medicine samples will tend to hurt their poorest patients. Let's not let that happen. Let's inject free market principles into our health care and pharmaceutical systems. Let's not add more regulations that will only drive prices up and restrict availability.
Peace,
Tor
Tagged as:
Pharma medicine
How Gas Turbines Work
If you've ever wondered how a gas turbine works, check out this site.
You'll learn about the compressors, combustion systems and turbines, the different types of gas turbines and how the modules of a turbofan work together.
It's easy to get drawn into this well-designed educational website. They've also got an equally enticing section on fuel cells.
Peace,
Tor
Tor has been paid to blog about the above topic via PayPerPost. If you are a blogger who would be interested in being paid to blog, please sign up at PayPerPost and fill in tor at torsrants dot com as your referral.
You'll learn about the compressors, combustion systems and turbines, the different types of gas turbines and how the modules of a turbofan work together.
It's easy to get drawn into this well-designed educational website. They've also got an equally enticing section on fuel cells.
Peace,
Tor
Tor has been paid to blog about the above topic via PayPerPost. If you are a blogger who would be interested in being paid to blog, please sign up at PayPerPost and fill in tor at torsrants dot com as your referral.
A Scientologist on the Amish Killings
Creative Expressions has an interesting take on the Nickel Mines School killings.
If you can't guess, the blogger is a Scientologist. Don't let that stop you from checking out the blog. Despite its overwhelmingly Scientologist-related content (not that there's anything wrong with that -- indeed, it's very interesting!), there are many good morsels, like this post on the Duplessis Orphans. Yes,it all fits into the anti-psychiatry Scientologist Weltanschauung, but it's interesting to me as a left-libertarian due to its portrait of Canadian bureaucracy out of control.
Peace,
Tor
Tagged as:Scientology psychiatry
The American public and the rest of the world has a right to know what psychiatric drugs Charles Carl Roberts was on that drove him to commit such atrocities.
One for one crimes like this have been tied to these drugs, yet they are still promoted in our magazines and prescribed to us by our family doctors who have bought pharma PR that they are safe.
If you can't guess, the blogger is a Scientologist. Don't let that stop you from checking out the blog. Despite its overwhelmingly Scientologist-related content (not that there's anything wrong with that -- indeed, it's very interesting!), there are many good morsels, like this post on the Duplessis Orphans. Yes,it all fits into the anti-psychiatry Scientologist Weltanschauung, but it's interesting to me as a left-libertarian due to its portrait of Canadian bureaucracy out of control.
Peace,
Tor
Tagged as:
Scientology psychiatry
Know Your Customer
Inspired by a rant over at An Indian Summer, I thought I'd give my few experiences with being carded. Oh, that was so long ago for me. My wife, who is slightly older than I, actually got carded very recently. Guess I'm not aging well.
The first time I got carded was when I was still eighteen. Dateline: Brunswick, Maine. A cashier (who was obviously not a native of Maine, or even a resident of any length of time), asked for ID when I tried to buy a six-pack of Moxie. Click through the link, and tell me how anyone could imagine that it's a beer can. I had to have a manager summoned to explain to the cashier that Moxie is just a soda.
Oddly enough, the first time I ever actually bought anything alcoholic (not at the same store), after I was 21, the cashier didn't ask to see my ID. I started to offer it to her anyway, but she waved me off. "It's okay, I've seen your ID before." Except for the fact that I'd never shown it to anyone, except for checkwriting purposes, I would have believed her.
Peace,
Tor
The first time I got carded was when I was still eighteen. Dateline: Brunswick, Maine. A cashier (who was obviously not a native of Maine, or even a resident of any length of time), asked for ID when I tried to buy a six-pack of Moxie. Click through the link, and tell me how anyone could imagine that it's a beer can. I had to have a manager summoned to explain to the cashier that Moxie is just a soda.
Oddly enough, the first time I ever actually bought anything alcoholic (not at the same store), after I was 21, the cashier didn't ask to see my ID. I started to offer it to her anyway, but she waved me off. "It's okay, I've seen your ID before." Except for the fact that I'd never shown it to anyone, except for checkwriting purposes, I would have believed her.
Peace,
Tor
VOIP 101
Voice Over Internet Protocol, or VOIP, is a burgeoning field of communications. It holds the promise of revolutionizing voice communications by providing nearly limitless calls worldwide for a pittance. We'll have to wait and see how that works out in the long run.
In the short run, most of us have more questions than answers about VOIP. Here's a site on the subject that should clear up some of the issues on VOIP.
They've got an excellent write up on VOIP myths, for instance. They show, for instance, that the overall expense of VOIP phone systems is lower than the circuit-switched systems that most businesses have. That's because most of the intelligence is in the phone unit itself, giving a seemingly higher cost for the VOIP phone. But that disregards the high expense of the line cards for the traditional method of switching. Business owners should definitely check out this site.
Peace,
Tor
Tor has been paid to blog about the above topic via PayPerPost. If you are a blogger who would be interested in being paid to blog, please sign up at PayPerPost and fill in tor at torsrants dot com as your referral.
In the short run, most of us have more questions than answers about VOIP. Here's a site on the subject that should clear up some of the issues on VOIP.
They've got an excellent write up on VOIP myths, for instance. They show, for instance, that the overall expense of VOIP phone systems is lower than the circuit-switched systems that most businesses have. That's because most of the intelligence is in the phone unit itself, giving a seemingly higher cost for the VOIP phone. But that disregards the high expense of the line cards for the traditional method of switching. Business owners should definitely check out this site.
Peace,
Tor
Tor has been paid to blog about the above topic via PayPerPost. If you are a blogger who would be interested in being paid to blog, please sign up at PayPerPost and fill in tor at torsrants dot com as your referral.
Maine's Sex Offender Registry
One thing that really gets me about the efforts to change Maine's sex offender registry law is that the major impetus was the killing of two men who were on the list this past Easter.
So, we want to make sure only the really bad guys get killed when we release them from prison? Is that it?
Don't get me wrong. I think folks like Joseph Tellier shouldn't be allowed back into society. Ever. I don't care how many psychologists sign off on it.
But if the law says that you've served your term for your crime, and you're free to go, but you have to register with us so any disturbed individual with an internet connection can hunt you down, that's just crazy. Anyone about to be released from prison who will be required to be on such a list should have the option of staying in protective custody indefinitely. Or they should have round-the-clock security underwritten by the state. The lawmakers involved seem to be implicitly approving of vigilantism to rid society of the sex offenders that they don't want to lock up. That's just wrong. Not as wrong as the crimes that sent the folks to prison, but wrong still.
Peace,
Tor
One began on Easter Sunday, when Stephen Marshall used the online registry to find and kill two men he didn't know. One of the victims was William Elliot of Milo, who was convicted of a misdemeanor sex assault after having sex with his girlfriend when she was 15 and he was 20.
Committee members questioned whether Elliot should have been listed with other more dangerous offenders.
"William Elliot was not a risk to re-offend, and there's probably a lot of others in that category," Rep. Gary Plummer, R-Windham, said Tuesday.
So, we want to make sure only the really bad guys get killed when we release them from prison? Is that it?
Don't get me wrong. I think folks like Joseph Tellier shouldn't be allowed back into society. Ever. I don't care how many psychologists sign off on it.
But if the law says that you've served your term for your crime, and you're free to go, but you have to register with us so any disturbed individual with an internet connection can hunt you down, that's just crazy. Anyone about to be released from prison who will be required to be on such a list should have the option of staying in protective custody indefinitely. Or they should have round-the-clock security underwritten by the state. The lawmakers involved seem to be implicitly approving of vigilantism to rid society of the sex offenders that they don't want to lock up. That's just wrong. Not as wrong as the crimes that sent the folks to prison, but wrong still.
Peace,
Tor
Another Cool Blog
I've come across a fairly new blog that covers a very intriguing niche of political activity: Initiative is a Good Thing. Its pseudonymous author, Helen Langora, describes it as "Petition drives, ballot access, citizen initiatives: A conservative covers the news, the controversies, the key players, and the inside stories."
One of the stories the blog is covering right now is TABOR, the "Taxpayers' Bill of Rights" initiative, here in Maine.
Initiative also delves into the meta-issues of citizens' petitions and related matters, not just the particular initiatives that are currently in the spotlight. There's a good post on "astroturf" campaigns. Despite being a self-described conservative, "Helen" doesn't mind giving kudos to the Democratic Underground.
This blog falls into the category of "Why didn't I think of that?"
Peace,
Tor
Linking to the following blogs with open trackback posts: Third World County, Diane's Stuff, Jack of All Trades, TMH's Bacon Bits
One of the stories the blog is covering right now is TABOR, the "Taxpayers' Bill of Rights" initiative, here in Maine.
Initiative also delves into the meta-issues of citizens' petitions and related matters, not just the particular initiatives that are currently in the spotlight. There's a good post on "astroturf" campaigns. Despite being a self-described conservative, "Helen" doesn't mind giving kudos to the Democratic Underground.
This blog falls into the category of "Why didn't I think of that?"
Peace,
Tor
Linking to the following blogs with open trackback posts: Third World County, Diane's Stuff, Jack of All Trades, TMH's Bacon Bits
A Fun Radio Kit for Kids
Edmund Scientific's Electronic AM/FM Radio Kit will give any young budding electronics hobbyist several hours of fun learning about diodes, capacitors and resistors. Even if you're not so young, the fact that you can learn about simple electronic components without plugging in a soldering gun is a great plus.
It all starts with this plastic template into which you insert some small springs.
These are the only tools you'll need. Actually, you'll need a slightly smaller screwdriver than the one in this picture. My bad. But the important thing is no soldering. That's why this is safe fun for a young electronics experimenter. The box says it's safe for ages eight and up, but that would be a pretty intelligent eight-year-old. I'd recommend adult supervision.
First we check all of the parts against the list in the instructions.
The next part doesn't require any tools. It's just putting the springs into the holes. The instructions recommended using a ballpoint pen or somesuch to get the springs firmly down into their holes, but I had no problem using just my fingers.
Each time a spring is inserted, you have to mark the other side with the correct number, so you'll be able to do the wiring correctly in later steps. I wondered why they didn't just do this ahead of time for the kit, but then I realized that it's good practice for a young electronics experimenter to mark off what's what when they're doing it. That's the way it works in the real world. Anyone who's had to remove all their spark plug wires at once will know what I'm talking about.
Now it's time to start inserting electronic components into the board. The young experimenter will learn how to identify many different parts, such as diodes, capacitors and resistors.
The actual connections for the electronic components are made on the back side of the plastic and cardboard template. That's why it was so important to label which hole was which.
Here's a view of the back of the kit after most of the components have been installed.
Then things get neatened up a bit with the wire cutters.
Now we have to add the battery and the FM tuning board.
Here's the fully assembled project, with the antennae added on the front.
At this point, the radio is configured to receive FM signals. It just takes a few easy wiring changes on the front of the panel to change it to an AM radio receiver.
Completing this project was a lot of fun, and the kit is an extremely cheap way to gather all the components necessary for learning about assembling a basic radio receiver. One oversight in the directions that I'd like to point out is that there isn't a good description of what's required to tune in different AM stations. I knew to slide the AM antenna coil along its bar due to my experience with electronics in general and with crystal radios in particular, but most folks using the kit probably wouldn't have known that.
If you're looking for more fun science toys and experiments, visit Edmund Scientific. I notice they've got a sweet deal on an electricity usage monitor, and a cool robot kit.
I'll be reviewing several other products soon. Check out my earlier review of the Megazooka!
Peace,
Tor
Tor has been paid to blog about the above topic via PayPerPost. If you are a blogger who would be interested in being paid to blog, please sign up at PayPerPost and fill in tor at torsrants dot com as your referral.
Monday, October 2, 2006
Automatic Writing
If this book of poetry was truly dictated by God, why isn't God's name on the front cover?
I mean, really, shouldn't the front cover say, "by God, as told to Elizabeth Haldane Sawtelle", or even leave her name totally off of it? I think God would let her have her name on the acknowledgements page as the transcriptionist, but her claim of authorship might make her a good person to stay away from during Donnerwetter.
Automatic writing is indeed an intriguing subject. I've often spoken without awareness of what I'm saying (just ask my wife), but I can't imagine writing like that.
Peace,
Tor
Reached at her home last week, Sawtelle says God usually wakens her in the middle of the night and compels her to create "automatic writings." Sadly, the Lord is often frustratingly short on details.
"I get messages on love and the importance of understanding each other and understanding other faiths and walking together and having respect and not judging," Sawtelle says. "This is basically what most of the poems’ messages are about."
I mean, really, shouldn't the front cover say, "by God, as told to Elizabeth Haldane Sawtelle", or even leave her name totally off of it? I think God would let her have her name on the acknowledgements page as the transcriptionist, but her claim of authorship might make her a good person to stay away from during Donnerwetter.
Automatic writing is indeed an intriguing subject. I've often spoken without awareness of what I'm saying (just ask my wife), but I can't imagine writing like that.
Peace,
Tor
Penobscot Place Names
The Bangor Daily News has done a great thing in making available online (in pdf form) its recent Naming Places: The Penobscot Way.
I didn't know this about Millinocket:
Folk etymology let us down again.
Peace,
Tor
I didn't know this about Millinocket:
Millinocket also is named for its meaning - lake of various-shaped islands.
"Millinocket has nothing to do with the fact it's got a mill there," Francis said. "It's actually named for the lake. If you look at Millinocket Lake, there's actually dozens of islands of various shapes."
Folk etymology let us down again.
Peace,
Tor
A Fun Blog about Trivia
Since I'm a Latin Snob First Class, I do know that the word "trivia" literally means "things you talk about where three roads meet." That is, small talk.
The Aviva Trivia Blog is full of trivia, and you'll only have to travel on the information superhighway to find it.
Check out this post on weird jobs. I'll sign up for laughter therapist. Oh, that doesn't mean we get to ridicule the clients? Nevermind.
Dig deep into the archives to find this excellent post about the statistics of how you might die. A quick excerpt:
You'll be regaled by other totally useless facts. Might as well have called the blog "Grot" (I mean that affectionately!)
I do recommend this well-written blog.
Peace,
Tor
Tor has been paid to blog about the above topic via PayPerPost. If you are a blogger who would be interested in being paid to blog, please sign up at PayPerPost and fill in tor at torsrants dot com as your referral.
The Aviva Trivia Blog is full of trivia, and you'll only have to travel on the information superhighway to find it.
Check out this post on weird jobs. I'll sign up for laughter therapist. Oh, that doesn't mean we get to ridicule the clients? Nevermind.
Dig deep into the archives to find this excellent post about the statistics of how you might die. A quick excerpt:
So what are the odds of death by natural disasters? Studies show that you are more likely to commit suicide or fall to your death than to be killed by a natural disaster, such as tsunamis. The odds of a tsunami are around 1-in-50,000 for those residing in coastal areas; however, given that most people don’t live near the coast; the chances are less likely, about 1 in 500,000 to nothing at all.
You'll be regaled by other totally useless facts. Might as well have called the blog "Grot" (I mean that affectionately!)
I do recommend this well-written blog.
Peace,
Tor
Tor has been paid to blog about the above topic via PayPerPost. If you are a blogger who would be interested in being paid to blog, please sign up at PayPerPost and fill in tor at torsrants dot com as your referral.
Maine Christian Civic League Won't Get Its Day at the Supreme Court
The Maine Christian Civic League's lawsuit to ask for the right to free speech has been dismissed by the U.S. Supreme Court.
As I've said before, the League and I come down on different sides of the question of gay marriage, as we do on most questions. But like Voltaire, I'll defend their right to buy advertising in opposition to it to the death. Here's hoping the League gets a better test case next time around, and SCOTUS is willing to step in.
Peace,
Tor
The FEC and key lawmakers in Congress said the group's appeal is moot because the preliminary injunction sought last spring would no longer have any effect. The league asked for the injunction against "electioneering communication" provisions of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002.
As I've said before, the League and I come down on different sides of the question of gay marriage, as we do on most questions. But like Voltaire, I'll defend their right to buy advertising in opposition to it to the death. Here's hoping the League gets a better test case next time around, and SCOTUS is willing to step in.
Peace,
Tor
Eight Pieces To Go...
I've just got eight pieces left to finish the PayPerPost puzzle. Just my luck, someone else will get it two seconds before I do.
Update: I came across this announcement, just as I had only three pieces to go. Rats. Congratulations, tomorrow's blog.
Update to the Update: tomorrow's blog completed the puzzle, but was a dite too late. Congratulations, esl.
Peace,
Tor
Update: I came across this announcement, just as I had only three pieces to go. Rats. Congratulations, tomorrow's blog.
Update to the Update: tomorrow's blog completed the puzzle, but was a dite too late. Congratulations, esl.
Peace,
Tor
The Fifth Column
Check out The Fifth Column, this week's blog renter. You'll find a quick take on why Hillary is joining the fray on her husband's anti-Osama efforts, as well as a report on pro-war Buddhist monks. Yikes! Like something out of A Fish Called Wanda!
Peace,
Tor
Peace,
Tor
A PayPerPost Puzzle
Here's another of PayPerPost's ways to make money for bloggers: they're releasing information about a big announcement through a puzzle. Here's piece no. 28:
I guess the only way to get all the puzzle pieces is to scour blogs all around the web with the phrase "payperpostbignews." Or you could just hack into their servers and find all the puzzle pieces. I already tried the obvious url modification, but they're too clever. Curses!
Peace,
Tor
Tor has been paid to blog about the above topic via PayPerPost. If you are a blogger who would be interested in being paid to blog, please sign up at PayPerPost and fill in tor at torsrants dot com as your referral.
I guess the only way to get all the puzzle pieces is to scour blogs all around the web with the phrase "payperpostbignews." Or you could just hack into their servers and find all the puzzle pieces. I already tried the obvious url modification, but they're too clever. Curses!
Peace,
Tor
Tor has been paid to blog about the above topic via PayPerPost. If you are a blogger who would be interested in being paid to blog, please sign up at PayPerPost and fill in tor at torsrants dot com as your referral.
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Should Picky Eating Be Treated as a Disease?
Most folks who know me rank me as a picky eater. That's why this Washington Post story on adult picky eaters caught my eye:
Smell is usually the reason I won't eat something. I can't stand the smell of lobster, for instance. To me, it's like boiled vomit. I can't stand to be in the same room with it. Coffee is similarly noisome. I have had to take coffee for its stimulant in emergency situations, but my preferred caffeine vehicle is diet cola.
And believe me, I know what this guy is talking about when he nixes coconut:
Coconut actually produces a gag reflex in me, when it's still crossing the threshold of my lips.
I'm not nearly so extreme as some of the folks mentioned in the article, who can't even go to restaurants. I just have to make sure that no pickles or green peppers are included in my sandwiches.
The article takes an interesting turn when it talks about folks who seek treatment for their picky eating.
Illness and depression due to picky eating? When there are so many other good reasons to be ill and depressed? My food pickiness hasn't affected my life, other than to irritate some family and friends (to whose irritation I'm usually oblivious), so it's hard for me to comprehend.
Peace,
Tor
Linking to the following blogs with open trackback posts: Common Folk Using Common Sense, RightLinx, Planck's Constant, Renaissance Blogger, Signaleer, Third World County
Pass them on the street and you'd never know the quirks they harbor. But invite them over for a meal or join them at a restaurant and the truth emerges. Some find pasta and oysters too slimy. Others can't bear chewy meats, gritty berries, rubbery cheese or mushy tomatoes.
There are those who shun "foreign" or spicy foods as a category, or all produce with seeds (especially okra, which when overcooked marries seeds with slime, making it a true picky-eater nightmare). There are the dairy-averse (ice cream is often a notable exception) and condiment-phobes, who wouldn't consider defiling their food with mustard, ketchup, mayonnaise or relish.
Some finicky eaters will not mix foods on the same plate, or they insist on finishing one item entirely before starting the next. Others refuse to eat anything at all with their hands, whether a sandwich, peanuts or pizza.
Smell is usually the reason I won't eat something. I can't stand the smell of lobster, for instance. To me, it's like boiled vomit. I can't stand to be in the same room with it. Coffee is similarly noisome. I have had to take coffee for its stimulant in emergency situations, but my preferred caffeine vehicle is diet cola.
And believe me, I know what this guy is talking about when he nixes coconut:
Anti-hunger crusader Shore occasionally forces down spinach or corn when dining with some of the nation's top chefs who support his charity. But at a friend's wedding dinner last week, he ignored the gazpacho, ate only nuts and cheese from the salad, enjoyed the steak but nixed the German chocolate cake because "I've never been able to stand coconut."
Coconut actually produces a gag reflex in me, when it's still crossing the threshold of my lips.
I'm not nearly so extreme as some of the folks mentioned in the article, who can't even go to restaurants. I just have to make sure that no pickles or green peppers are included in my sandwiches.
The article takes an interesting turn when it talks about folks who seek treatment for their picky eating.
Although it is not known how many American adults are picky eaters, a growing number are seeking treatment, says Bradley C. Riemann, clinical director of obsessive-compulsive disorders at Milwaukee's Rogers Memorial Hospital, which treats numerous patients with eating issues.
"All of a sudden, in the past six months to a year, it is bursting out more than I have seen in my entire 18-year career, partly because there is so much public awareness of obsessive-compulsive disorder," or OCD, Riemann says. "Typically, this is not OCD-related but there is a fear reaction [to specific foods], disgust, and it is affecting their lives."
But picky eaters can become seriously ill or depressed, says Riemann. "The line between food preferences and disordered eating is whether it hurts their quality of life."
Illness and depression due to picky eating? When there are so many other good reasons to be ill and depressed? My food pickiness hasn't affected my life, other than to irritate some family and friends (to whose irritation I'm usually oblivious), so it's hard for me to comprehend.
Peace,
Tor
Linking to the following blogs with open trackback posts: Common Folk Using Common Sense, RightLinx, Planck's Constant, Renaissance Blogger, Signaleer, Third World County
Maine Public Spending Research Group
The Brunswick Times Record's Victoria Wallack reports on Monday's public gathering hosted by the Maine Public Spending Research Group.
You'd think that, by this point, most would be in agreement that Maine's tax burden needs to go down. Nay nay, said one participant:
Of course, since all taxes go through the Appropriations Committee, any diminution of taxes levied will lessen Brannigan's importance and power over his fellow human beings. That's why I think it really doesn't matter whether you have a government controlled by Democrats (as it is in Maine) or Republicans (as it is at the national level). When folks are given the unchecked power of taxation over their fellow citizens, they will inevitably be corrupted by that power, and over time come to believe that they are entitled to that money.
Brannigan's ire was also raised by comparisons between Maine and New Hampshire.
While I have no connection to the Maine Public Spending Research Group, I can assume that they only picked New Hampshire due to the facts that it's a state right next door, it has very similar demographics, and it seems to be doing so much better than our own state. Perhaps Mr. Brannigan feels that comparisons with California or New York would be more appropriate.
It's just another indication that the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights is woefully needed, despite the fact that it's likely unconstitutional.
Peace,
Tor
This is this week's open trackback post. You may trackback on most any subject, provided you link to this post. Click here and here and here for more info on open trackbacks.
Tagged as:TABOR New Hampshire NH
You'd think that, by this point, most would be in agreement that Maine's tax burden needs to go down. Nay nay, said one participant:
The group is devising a set of measurements to help residents better understand public spending, with the goal of moving Maine from the unenviable position as one of the most taxed states in the nation to somewhere in the middle of the pack.
That mission didn't sit well with everyone at the conference in Hallowell, where some said Maine's willingness to take care of it citizens is what makes the state special.
"You say you're nonprofit and nonpartisan. It's too bad you're not non-prejudiced," said Rep. Joe Brannigan, D-Portland, who was on a panel as co-chairman of the Appropriations Committee. Brannigan also runs a social service agency — Shalom House in Portland for people with severe mental illness — and took issue with the group's focus on the state's tax burden.
Of course, since all taxes go through the Appropriations Committee, any diminution of taxes levied will lessen Brannigan's importance and power over his fellow human beings. That's why I think it really doesn't matter whether you have a government controlled by Democrats (as it is in Maine) or Republicans (as it is at the national level). When folks are given the unchecked power of taxation over their fellow citizens, they will inevitably be corrupted by that power, and over time come to believe that they are entitled to that money.
Brannigan's ire was also raised by comparisons between Maine and New Hampshire.
"Why did you choose New Hampshire?" Brannigan asked. "To make us look bad?"
While I have no connection to the Maine Public Spending Research Group, I can assume that they only picked New Hampshire due to the facts that it's a state right next door, it has very similar demographics, and it seems to be doing so much better than our own state. Perhaps Mr. Brannigan feels that comparisons with California or New York would be more appropriate.
It's just another indication that the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights is woefully needed, despite the fact that it's likely unconstitutional.
Peace,
Tor
Tagged as:
TABOR New Hampshire NH
Friday, September 22, 2006
Cheap Magazine Prices
I know the readers of this blog are avid magazine readers and subscribers, too. Now, there's a single place you can go to for the lowest available price on over 2500 magazines from 24 different sites: MagazinePriceSearch.com. Readers of my religious and freethinking rants might be interested in Parabola and Free Inquiry. My libertarian readers will want to check out the super low price for a year of Reason.
When you search for a magazine, by title or category, you will find a chart that highlights the best deals for each subscription length, and also the best overall value. If there's a coupon code for a certain website, it's listed right there for you to copy and paste. Couldn't be easier.
Peace,
Tor
Tor has been paid to blog about the above topic via PayPerPost. If you are a blogger who would be interested in being paid to blog, please sign up at PayPerPost and fill in tor at torsrants dot com as your referral.
When you search for a magazine, by title or category, you will find a chart that highlights the best deals for each subscription length, and also the best overall value. If there's a coupon code for a certain website, it's listed right there for you to copy and paste. Couldn't be easier.
Peace,
Tor
Tor has been paid to blog about the above topic via PayPerPost. If you are a blogger who would be interested in being paid to blog, please sign up at PayPerPost and fill in tor at torsrants dot com as your referral.
Cocoa Beans, Storage Mites and Allergies to Dust Mites
My lovely wife Rowan has just been informed by an allergist that chocolate can be a source of storage mites, to which she is allergic. According to the doctor, only Godiva chocolate has escaped this problem, since its origin isn't Central America.
The good doctor did say that finding info on this on the internet would be difficult. So far, the closest thing I've found is this report on the handling of coffee and cocoa beans. Apparently, also according to the doctor, one of the large companies you'd associate with chocolate is trying to develop a birth-control hormone for the mites that could be sprayed on the goods and be harmless to humans, but in the meantime they're keeping things hush-hush. If you're allergic to dust mites, talk with your allergist about whether chocolate can be tied into it. Anyone with better documentation of this, please pass it on.
Peace,
Tor
Tagged as:allergies chocolate
The good doctor did say that finding info on this on the internet would be difficult. So far, the closest thing I've found is this report on the handling of coffee and cocoa beans. Apparently, also according to the doctor, one of the large companies you'd associate with chocolate is trying to develop a birth-control hormone for the mites that could be sprayed on the goods and be harmless to humans, but in the meantime they're keeping things hush-hush. If you're allergic to dust mites, talk with your allergist about whether chocolate can be tied into it. Anyone with better documentation of this, please pass it on.
Peace,
Tor
Tagged as:
allergies chocolate
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