Friday, November 26, 2004

So, What Reasons, Do They Teach, As To Why the Pilgrims Came to America?

“Students Free to Thank Anybody, Except God"

"Young students across the state read stories about the Pilgrims (search) and Native Americans, simulate Mayflower (search) voyages, hold mock feasts and learn about the famous meal that temporarily allied two very different groups.

But what teachers don’t mention when they describe the feast is that the Pilgrims not only thanked the Native Americans for their peaceful three-day indulgence, but repeatedly thanked God."

Via Drudge.

Posted by John Venlet on 11/26 at 04:51 AM
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Cooperator, Defector or Shunner?

Interesting study, out of UCLA, which looked into the evolutionary roots of altruism and moral outrage.  Two traits that only humans exhibit.  Utilizing Game Theory, the study researchers utilized the following players.

*“Cooperators," or people who always contribute to the public good and who always assist individual community members in the group with the favors that are asked of them.
*“Defectors," who never contribute to the public good nor assist other community members who ask for help.
*“Shunners," or hard-nosed types who contribute to the public good, but only lend aid to those individuals with a reputation for contributing to the public good and helping other good community members who ask for help. For members in bad standing, shunners withhold individual assistance."

A telling finding from the study.

"But without individuals willing to mete out punishment, we have a hard time explaining how societies develop and sustain cooperative behavior. Our model shows that as long as it is socially permissible, withholding help from a deadbeat actually proves to be in an individual’s self-interest."

So, what are you?  Me, I’m in the Shunner camp.

“UCLA study points to evolutionary roots of altruism, moral outrage"

Link via Gary Cruse.

Posted by John Venlet on 11/26 at 04:34 AM
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Thursday, November 25, 2004

Dressing Up for Thanksgiving

Richard Nikoley shares a Thanksgiving greeting.

Posted by John Venlet on 11/25 at 09:59 AM
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Bitheads Thanksgiving Message

What, exactly, is Thanksgiving all about?  Is it about turkey and all the trimmings?  Is it about gathering around the table with family and friends?  Is it about being thankful for everything in your life?  Is it about reflection on those that came to this great country, America, before us?  Well, it’s about all that, and more.  Bithead has considered this subject and has a post which shares his thoughts on this day.  It’s titled “What is Thanksgiving all about?"

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

Posted by John Venlet on 11/25 at 05:37 AM
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The Problem With Kittens

The problem with kittens, is that they grow up into cats.  Be that as it may, the series of kitten photos, at this link, are absolutely wonderful.

Via Fred Lapides.

Posted by John Venlet on 11/25 at 05:24 AM
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Wednesday, November 24, 2004

Post Election Selection Trauma (PEST) - Update

On the 16th of this month, in a post titled “Get A Frickin Life, You Fools," I noted the newfangled psychiatric disorder PEST, which is part of the title to this post.

The update:

"Barbi Weiner, a third grade teacher currently on disability, is suing the Republican party for having taken an active role in returning George Bush to the White House, a circumstance that resulted in Ms. Weiner suffering a nervous collapse last Nov.8th as she crossed West 72nd Street."

What a wiener.

“Stranger Than Fact: The PESTy Election"

Via an enterprising reader who spotted the story at FrontPageMag.com.

Posted by John Venlet on 11/24 at 12:47 PM
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Careful There, Scalia

Justice Scalia, in recent remarks at an Orthodox synagogue, seems to be advocating State support of religion.  While I do not think religion should be driven underground, it definitely should not be mandated by the State.

“Scalia in shul: State must back religion"

Bad idea.

Some additional links noting this.

Posted by John Venlet on 11/24 at 08:46 AM
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Collectivism Didn't Work Then, Nor Will It Work Now

Governor William Bradford’s, that Pilgrim, thoughts on collectivism.  Provided as “A Thanksgiving Lesson" by Alex Taborrak at Marginal Revolution.

"[Ending corn collectivism] had very good success, for it made all hands very industrious, so as much more corn was planted than otherwise would have been by any means the Governor or any other could use, and saved him a great deal of trouble, and gave far better content. The women now went willingly into the field, and took their little ones with them to set corn; which before would allege weakness and inability; whom to have compelled would have been thought great tyranny and oppression.

The experience that was had in this common course and condition, tried sundry years and that amongst godly and sober men, may well evince the vanity of that conceit of Plato’s and other ancients applauded by some of later times; that the taking away of property and bringing in community into a commonwealth would make them happy and flourishing; as if they were wiser than God. For this community (so far as it was) was found to breed much confusion and discontent and retard much employment that would have been to their benefit and comfort. For the young men, that were most able and fit for labour and service, did repine that they should spend their time and strength to work for other men’s wives and children without any recompense. The strong, or man of parts, had no more in division of victuals and clothes than he that was weak and not able to do a quarter the other could; this was thought injustice. The aged and graver men to be ranked and equalized in labours and victuals, clothes, etc., with the meaner and younger sort, thought it some indignity and disrespect unto them. And for men’s wives to be commanded to do service for other men, as dressing their meat, washing their clothes, etc., they deemed it a kind of slavery, neither could many husbands well brook it. Upon the point all being to have alike, and all to do alike, they thought themselves in the like condition, and one as good as another; and so, if it did not cut off those relations that God hath set amongst men, yet it did at least much diminish and take off the mutual respects that should be preserved amongst them. And would have been worse if they had been men of another condition. Let none object this is men’s corruption, and nothing to the course itself. I answer, seeing all men have this corruption in them, God in His wisdom saw another course fitter for them."

Bradford’s thoughts were garnered from The Founder’s Constitution, Chapter 16, Document 1.

Posted by John Venlet on 11/24 at 05:06 AM
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Tuesday, November 23, 2004

Charging the Incorrect Target

PrestoPundit points to Hugh Hewitt’s charge against Target for disallowing Salvation Army bell ringers and their kettles.

Memo to Hugh, you should be attacking the National Labor Relations Board, and unions.

"Generally, an employer that enforces otherwise lawful no-solicitation/no-distribution rules against union solicitation, while permitting other similar kinds of solicitation activities, violates Section 8(a)(1) of the Act. However, an employer may lawfully permit a small number of isolated beneficent acts as exceptions to a valid no-solicitation/no-distribution rule.1 In determining whether certain beneficent acts fall within this exception, the Board evaluates the “quantum of . . . incidents” involved.2 Although the Board has not defined the exact number of incidents necessary to find unlawful discrimination, it has found that three incidents of employer condonation of charitable solicitation was permitted.3 On the other hand, the Board has found discriminatory enforcement of otherwise valid no-solicitation/no-distribution rules where the incidents of charitable solicitation occurred frequently and/or for an extended duration of time.4"

Link to NLRB memo via The Corner.

Posted by John Venlet on 11/23 at 12:36 PM
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Satellite Radio in the Sky

On June 18th, of this year, in a post titled “Just Thinking and Wondering Aloud," I noted a good friend’s purchase of Sirius stock.  On that day the stock was trading at $3.09 a share.

Today, Sirius marked their 800,000th subscriber and the stock is hovering around $6.74, plus or minus, a share.  My friend Pfeif is not doing too bad, so far.

“Sirius Tops 800,000 Subscribers, Stock Up"

Posted by John Venlet on 11/23 at 11:56 AM
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The Bad, The Ugly and The Good

We hear, or read, all the negative stories coming out of Iraq, and Afghanistan, and because of their bad, or ugly, nature, the stories carry far, and are repeated, over and over again, to ears thirsting for failure.  Yet the good stories are mostly lost, like a voice crying loudly in an virtually empty amphitheater, with three or four uninterested observers, who shrug their shoulders, and two or three interested observers, who share the tale they have been told, but are ignored.

“Marine sacrifices his life for others in grenade blast"

There are still heroes in this world.

Via PrestoPundit.

Posted by John Venlet on 11/23 at 11:28 AM
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Why You Shouldn't Have Sex With a Cat

“Cat rapes woman after performing oral sex on her"

That is whacked!

Via Pravda.

Posted by John Venlet on 11/23 at 05:06 AM
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Eyeball on the Free Market

The State would have individuals believe that they are the gatekeepers to a smoothly functioning economy.  That the State knows what is best, and can best provide individuals with cost effectiveness for goods and services via central planning.  An example that chops that idea right off at the knees.

"Laser eye surgery has the highest patient satisfaction ratings of any surgery, it has been performed more than 3 million times in the past decade, it is new, it is high-tech, it has gotten better over time and… laser eye surgery has fallen in price.  In 1998 the average price of laser eye surgery was about $2200 per eye.  Today the average price is $1350, that’s a decline of 38 percent in nominal terms and slightly more than that after taking into account inflation.

Why the price decline in this market and not others?  Could it have something to do with the fact that laser eye surgery is not covered by insurance, not covered by Medicaid or Medicare, and not heavily regulated?  Laser eye surgery is one of the few health procedures sold in a free market with price advertising, competition and consumer driven purchases.  I’m seeing things more clearly already."

Via Alex Tabborak at Marginal Revolution.

Posted by John Venlet on 11/23 at 04:43 AM
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Monday, November 22, 2004

Letter from Fallujah

A letter home, from a Marine, to his father.  I cannot vouch for the veracity of the letter, but, as it mentions Chuck Yeager’s grandson by name, some enterprising individual can probably either bolster the letter, or shoot it down.

Dear Dad,..."

It is an interesting read, and not just bravado.  Thanks, soldier.

Via Andrew Sullivan.

Posted by John Venlet on 11/22 at 04:10 PM
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From India, to Britain, With Love

I don’t agree with everything Rashmee Z Ahmed writes in his recent column for The India Times titled “Blair’s nanny govt leaves little choice," but, for the most part, I like the way he’s thinking.  A couple of his thoughts.

"So where are we at? Labour, the most nannying government in British history, has begun a campaign to re-brand the very word choice. Like ‘Animal Farm’, choice now means ban. Or a command issued by the ‘servants of the people’ for the greater common good. When Blair’s government recently issued a White Paper on public health, ‘choice’ was mentioned twice in the title and 35 times within the document."

And his concluding statement.

"But it cannot and must not be government business to tell a people what to eat, how much to drink; where and with whom to have sex. Dressing it up as nirvana for the nation’s soul is just a thinly-disguised tyranny."

Posted by John Venlet on 11/22 at 01:12 PM
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