Category: government

Penn Jillette is one smart dude

On By Rick McIn government, health & fitness, product endorsementsLeave a comment

Penn Jillette is an eloquent spokesman for libertarianism (people should be free to do whatever they wish with their person or property, as long as they do not infringe on the same liberty of others).

By eloquent, I should caution, I mean clear and emphatic. Penn is very profane, as well. If you don’t believe that “profanity is part of a good vocabulary”, you may be offended by the Penn and Teller Bullsh*t video series.

To see a sample — making the argument that the war on drugs is bullsh*t — click PLAY, or watch the 30min video on Google Video.

Penn & Teller - Bullsh*t - The Complete Third Season

Penn & Teller – Bullsh*t – The Complete Third Season

Bahrainis use Google Earth to spy on royals’ palaces

On By Rick McIn good news, government, internet, IslamLeave a comment

It was in China in 1998 when it first dawned on me that the internet would bring down that totalitarian regime.

I expect China to suddenly (and surprisingly to some) move to democracy by 2010.

Why?

Because totalitarianism is inherently unfair. It’s a system where those in control stuff as much RMB into their pockets at the expense of those not in control. This kind of injustice is not sustainable once those being robbed find out what’s going on. Every day it gets harder to keep the masses ignorant.

After China, the rest of the non-democratic nations of the world will go the same way. Even the Kingdom of Bahrain.

How happy are the Bahrainis with their Royals once this kind of information get circulated widely?

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Boing Boing: Bahrainis use Google Earth to spy on royals’ palaces

movie – The Corporation

On By Rick McIn economics, government, moviesLeave a comment

UPDATE:

If you have not seen The Corporation, a torrent download is available for free or donation. This is a legal download by the makers of the documentary. (Might be a good chance for you to find out what bitorent is if you have never used it.)

This film is of particular interest to cold-hearted, atheist economists.

details on the download – Torrent Freak

“The Corporation” is a surprisingly rational and coherent attack on capitalism’s most important institution.” – Economist magazine

I expected a confused left-wing mishmash of fact and exaggeration. But the documentary is well done and very thought provoking.

The conclusion is that you cannot trust corporations (even Google) as they are true only to the bottom line of the next quarter. Corporations will cheat, steal, lie and sell their mothers at any opportunity.

All true. This is the capitalist system. I like it far better than alternatives where, for example, totalitarian governments do exactly the same thing with far less incentive to do right by the population.

The Corporation makes no attempt at finding solutions to the problems of our corporate model. But does an excellent job at laying out the abuses.

Me? I am far less worried about corporate wrongdoing than the producers of this movie. I feel technology increasingly will keep companies honest. Insiders with cell-phone cameras are busting to post a “scoop” on their blogs. Millions want to be listed high on Digg.com by breaking a scandal.

For example: Lockheed Martin whistleblower uses YouTube to get the word out

There are ways we can hold corporations to account. If you believe Nike takes advantage of child labour in Asia, do not buy their shoes.

If you disagree with how Wal-Mart is changing the world of retail, do not shop there.

Simple.

The vulnerability of corporations is their greed. “The rich man will sell you the rope to hang himself”. – Michael Moore

The Corporation

Canada, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

On By Rick McIn blogs, economics, governmentLeave a comment

Dana tipped me to the blog of “enviro girl” in Sweden.

Hey — it’s none other than Adrianne Begg, one of her former gymnasts and coaches at Marian Gymnastics in Saskatoon.

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Regarding Canada and Kyoto …

I am embarassed and ashamed of Canada’s New Government today. This is bordering on changing the way I feel about being a Canadian… I really never thought that I would say that, not in a million years, but I feel so let down by our government that I feel completely separate from it. The New Canadian Government has been working counter to the best interests of the people in our country on the issues of the Environment and Climate Change in particular. …

It is absolutely appalling that Canada will be the only country to BACK OUT of the Kyoto Protocol. …

I am absolutely shocked at the action taken by the Environment Minister Rona Ambrose at the Kyoto Negotiations in Nairobi. Her statements at the UN meetings have embarrassed Canada, and shown disrespect to the rest of the international community, as well as the Canadian people themselves. …

Canada, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

Adrianne’s pretty ticked at Rona Ambrose. But who is she? I don’t know the name.

OH NO! She’s a controversial politician from … Alberta.

Yeesh. Another right-wing politician who takes Ayn Rand too seriously. Named Minister of the Environment?

The press looks almost unanimously negative about what she is doing for Canada internationally.

I’d better add Rona Ambrose to my death watch list, along with that crook Bev Oda.

And I’ll subscribe to Adrianne’s blog. She’s following this issue closely.

I don’t know enough about Kyoto vs. alternatives to have formed an opinion myself.

Lastly — I sent this blog post to Rona Ambrose’s office.

Treehugger: Defining Hypocrisy, Canadian Style

On By Rick McIn bad news, economics, government, health & fitnessLeave a comment

Canada does not do very well vis-a-vis our Kyoto commitment.

So here we are in Canada, which along with the States and Australia was laughed out of Nairobi for its attitudes to climate change and Kyoto, and we are off to mail a letter and what is on the current stamp from Crown Corporation Canada Post? Wind turbines. With mountains in the background. Where are the smokestacks for the coal burning power plants? Where are the giant trucks digging up the tarsands?

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Treehugger: Defining Hypocrisy, Canadian Style

BBC – who stole the Baghdad billions?

On By Rick McIn audiocasts, bad news, government, IslamLeave a comment

Billions of dollars are missing in Iraq.

Where are they?

This 2-part audiocast is a shocker. I’ve listened to it several times.

Iraq has become a vast financial black hole.

Since the war began in 2003, the Americans have spent around $30 billion of their money – and at least $20 billion of Iraq’s own money – in rebuilding the country. But where has it all gone?

Mark Gregory has followed the money trail from Iraq to Washington via a kebab shop in Jordan.

He discovers that there have been allegations of fraud, mismanagement and corruption on such a gigantic scale that much of the money is now untraceable. …

The US-led administration, talking shortly before the return of sovereignty, offered a vision of a country in which the lights worked and clean water flowed from the taps.

But two-and-a-half years after the handover, many Iraqis say their lives are getting worse despite the vast sums allocated for rebuilding.

Mark Gregory explains how profiteering, corruption, bad management and the strength of insurgency have all paid a part in the failure to rebuild Iraq.

BBC results for Baghdad billions

Read a summary on the BBC website: Baghdad’s ‘missing’ billions

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video – Alive in Baghdad

On By Rick McIn government, Islam, videocastsLeave a comment

The runaway winner in the first annual Vloggie awards (Vlog is another bad name for video casts) was Alive in Baghdad.

(That was a surprise to me as they did not have anywhere near the viewership of Rocketboom or other mainstream shows.)

Alive in Baghdad was formed to counter the sound-bite driven, “Live From” news model. Through the work of a team of Americans and Iraqi correspondents on the ground, Alive in Baghdad shows the occupation through the voices of Iraqis. Alive in Baghdad brings testimonies from individual Iraqis, footage of daily life in Iraq, and short news segments from Iraq to you.

The CNN news model which got so popular during the first gulf war is limited at best. I much prefer to hear what the people in Iraq have to say.

See for yourself: AliveinBaghdad.org

To see an interview with the founder click PLAY, or watch the clip on YouTube.

Dalai Lama and I agree, again

On By Rick McIn governmentLeave a comment

After 2008, China will move quickly to democracy.

(OK, I’m paraphrasing.)

Tibet’s spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, told a Japanese opposition party politician that democratization would make China a more predictable neighbor, a news report said Saturday.

Newsvine – Report: Dalai Lama Seeks China Democracy

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movie – Munich

On By Rick McIn books, government, Islam, movies, philosophyLeave a comment

Munich (Full Screen Edition)Just saw the film Munich , the Hollywood version of the story of Israeli retaliation after the kidnapping and murder of 11 athletes at the 1972 Olympics.

Steven Spielberg directed and the quality is excellent.

I thought it was remarkably unbiased. Both the Palestinian terrorists and the amateur Israeli retaliation team are shown as people, not heroes or villains.

Spielberg focuses on “the cyclic nature of revenge and the moral price of violence”.

Everyone is a loser in this film.

The True Story of an Israeli Counter-Terrorist TeamI might have liked the movie better if I had not read the book on which it is based, Vengeance: The True Story of an Israeli Counter-Terrorist Team by George Jonas.

Jonas attempted to document the true story of one of the Israelis, Yuval Aviv, who is played by Eric Bana in the movie.

In the book the assassinations of people on a list who may or may not be involved in Munich was much uglier than in the film.

Well … the movie is “inspired by the true story”. The book criticized as being inaccurate regarding the true story. The facts are muddled.

But one thing is clear to everyone. Assassination and counter-assassination do not work, long-term.

I recommend both film and book.

12,000 Turks march against radical Islam

On By Rick McIn government, IslamLeave a comment

I believe in a separation of Church and State. Theocracy is bad government. We’ve seen that time and time again.

But Islamic secularists are reluctant to voice this view. Perhaps they fear repercussions.

200px-Ataturk23.jpgHere’s an exception. Inspired by Ataturk (who should be a great hero of Islam) brave people took to the streets.

ANKARA, TURKEY — Thousands of nationalist Turks marched in the capital Saturday, vowing to defend the secular regime against radical Islamic influences and urging the government not to make too many concessions in order to gain European Union membership.

Some 12,000 people from more than 100 pro-secular associations waved Turkish flags as they marched to the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey. “Turkey is secular and it will remain secular,” they chanted during a march broadcast live on some TV channels.

Newsvine – 12,000 Turks March Against Radical Islam