DumbDonald's Latest Fail

So, all you people who have put your faith in DT, his latest appointment to head the EPA is shocking in its ignorance. If he didn't understand how much work the Presidency is, he certainly doesn't understand what the EPA does.

DT has appointed a man who is, “a leading advocate against the EPA’s activist agenda.” It's called "Environmental Protection Agency" because it protects Nature ... because Nature has to be defended against the ravages of Big Biz. When Big Biz coal company doesn't control its waste well enough, floods of mud cover the area like a huge tsunami - and homes and people are destroyed.

The EPA makes Big Biz pay up and fix things when they dump barrels of toxic substances in a local creek. The EPA declares places like "Love Canal" as unsuitable for human habitation because Big Nuclear Biz failed to prevent a melt-down at their power plant. The EPA tries to make sure that wetlands and forests are kept in good shape because we need these things to keep Nature running well. The EPA is not the big bad boogeyman. And, remember that it was Nixon, a Republican, who created the EPA. Even he could see that Big Biz pollutes whenever and wherever it can!

This is just the latest of DT's boneheaded decisions. It's like watching a slow motion trainwreck. The Dems can see it coming, and we're warning you that things will get worse. Unfortunately, they won't admit their mistake until it's too late.

NewsWeek - Outrage Over Trump's EPA Nomination 
http://www.newsweek.com/environmentalists-outraged-over-trumps-epa-nomination-529446

Trump & Worker's Rights

I cringe every time I hear people 'splainin away DonnieTrouble's latest utterance. I cringe because these people are attributing him with an intelligence that is not there. The people in his camp must surely know by now that the man ignorant and a compulsive liar. In fact, I think it's the lying that will finally catch up with him. Just look at how he bragged about "saving" 1,000 jobs in Indiana. I just wanna know - how is it "saving" people's jobs if their employer basically got paid to keep them on? The tax breaks that DT gave the company will come straight out of the pockets of people; not Carrier, and not the Government. The whole deal smells like rotten fish to me.

DT bragged about saving those jobs during his first Victory Tour over and over again. Then the head of the labor union says the number wasn't 1,000; it was closer to 700. Instead of DT saying' "Sorry, my bad", he goes on a Twitter warpath with the head of the labor union. That's classy, DT, real classy. Character assassination by a soon-to-be-president.

Democrats are getting pummeled right now for not capitulating DT's win and for their crybaby attitudes. Like the GOP ever really got behind Obama. Just have a quick look at their birther stories, false flag conspiracies, charges of 2nd Amendment violations, etc. The GOP certainly didn't accept Obama's presidency and their goal from Day One was to not work with Obama. Their obstructionist policies wanted Obama out of office - ASAP. You could say that Dems are simply doing what the GOP has been doing for the past 12 years, but you'd be wrong with that assumption.

One of the reason that Dems are so upset with DT is that they can see him for what he really is: an ignorant, idiotic blowhard who does not have the ability to understand the consequences of his actions. He's also too stupid to know whether someone's advice is good or bad. DT is a megalomaniac and you need to be careful with those types because, when they go off the rails, the results are not pretty. Just look at how he's using character assassination against the leader of a labor union. He castigates the very people he's supposed to be representing! First he was bashing Carrier and probably caved in to their tale of woe, which probably included the assertions that it was the wages of union members that was forcing Carrier to move to Mexico. Yeah, because we all know how hard big businesses bend over backwards to accommodate the workers. We all know that Big Biz wants their workers' loyalty, but they don't offer any loyalties in return.

It was labor unions that fought for good working conditions, fair pay, insurance, and pensions. Before labor unions existed, children worked in factories, work conditions were dangerous, and pay was so low that many people had to sleep in some small corner of the building in which they worked. Labor unions used their collective voices to protest when they were taken advantage of. But you rarely hear about them any more. I wonder why that is.

Labor unions are no longer as powerful as they once were because of Reagan. Air traffic controllers had a union and they went on strike for better pay and conditions. Their strike immediately affected the airlines' ability to cover their routes and thousands of flights were cancelled. Reagan gave the striking workers 48 hours to get back to work, or he'd bust the union. (http://www.motherjones.com/mixed-media/2014/08/reagan-fires-patco-air-traffic-controllers) Reagan successfully busted the union and the GOP has been working to shut unions up since then. Almost every Rep state governor has worked to kill unions since then. In light of what is about to happen with DT as president, it's time for unions to get strong again. Big Biz is the reason that people can't buy homes. Big Biz is the reason that wages remain static. Big Biz is the reason that women and people of color get lower wages from men. And, if you don't think that is true, just look who's being hired to fill positions at outsourced locations? Women and minorities! Big Biz takes advantage of the fact that workers have fewer rights in India or Mexico or China, because that suits them just fine. More money in the CEO's pocket.

It's time for workers to rise up. And, when they realize that DT is siding with Big Biz over workers, his supporters will rise up and shout "Liar! Liar!" I'm praying that the scales will fall from the eyes of DT's supporters soon - very, very soon.

What to say to employers when you're looking for a job

I can think of no earthly reason why companies would refuse to even interview someone who currently has no job. Maybe they think that the currently unemployed are the dregs of the earth and that the collapsed economy was entirely their fault. If you can't tell already, I have no respect for HR personnel. ... especially those who have been unemployed themselves for any period of time. (And there are LOTS who fit in that category!) The HR person may make lame statements such as: "That's the direction we got from the boss and there is nothing we can do about it." My answer to that: "Total bullshit." YOU are the one tasked with filling the position with the best possible candidate. How do you know that the unemployed person you just rudely turned away was not the perfect fit for your company? You didn't even look at his resume."

I found this article on the InterTubes and thought it was a good answer for a bad situation. Try saying this the next time an HR person stuck in the Middle Ages asks you if you are currently employed:

"I'm not working now. But if you'll tell me what you want a new hire to accomplish in the first six weeks on this job, I'll outline right now how I'll do it for you. Of course, I welcome you to shape my approach. And if you hire me and I don't succeed in six weeks, then I'll quit. I'm willing to make a commitment to deliver the work you need to have done."
(from: Ask the Headhunter: The Right Way to Search for Jobs When Unemployed | The Business Desk with Paul Solman | PBS NewsHour | PBS:)

If the HR person STILL says, "I'm sorry but you don't meet our requirements", you can end the call by saying: "BULLSHIT".

Good Luck and Good Night
da penguin

The Power of the Ocean Powers Homes in Maine

First Tidal Power in U.S. Starts Flowing to the Grid

The ocean is a wonderful place, full of life! I'm happy to see that my home is able to help people, too.

An offshore turbine is finally spinning in the United States! It's not the kind you're imagining, but this is a milestone nonetheless: The Ocean Renewable Power Company announced that its TidGen tidal turbines have started providing power to a utility grid owned by Bangor Hydro Electric Company. This marks the first time that any offshore power generation facility has fed electricity back to a utility grid in the United States.

ORPC completed installation of one of its tidal power devices earlier this summer in Cobscook Bay, part of the bigger Bay of Fundy, off the Maine coast. The TidGen has a peak power output of 180 kilowatts, enough to power around 25 to 30 homes. The company plans on installing another two turbines in the same location in the fall of 2013, possibly scaling up after that to 5 megawatts of power. That would be enough to power around 1200 homes.

MAKE THE BANKS LEND MONEY AGAIN!

The Penguin's answer to the recession/depression woes? Make the banks (and other lending institutions) LEND MONEY!!

I'm extremely distressed that the money-holders (banks, etc.). They are the main reason we are all in trouble: we can't get credit. No one can lay their hands on money. We can't get houses, small businesses can't improve themselves, we can't buy new cars, we put off buying consumer products. It's difficult for new businesses to start up, and established businesses can't expand, so jobs are hard to find.

We are in a period of economic stagnation. Banks made some incredibly stupid mistakes and say they have been burned and are afraid to lend money, lest they get burned again. They forget that the situation was of their own making! The banks are loathe to lend money again until/unless they get free money or guarantees from the government! Banks created this huge, historical mess and no one has gone to jail over it. (Sarbanes-Oxely in not being enforced.) This ludicrous situation has created a new class of the population: The Entitled. They are "entitled" to their money and everyone else be damned. They are sitting on huge stockpiles of money. Did you know that CEOs of financial companies make greater than 300% more than their average employee?? That's more than any other industry, at any other time in history, in any country in the world.

Consider this scenario: Imagine that the H/VAC industry created and developed a new product that was going to revolutionize air conditioning. However, the CEOs and other principals within the industry knew there were huge problems with the new product. But they promoted and sold the hell out of it nonetheless. Everyone, everywhere bought the new product. The product was touted in everywhere, by everyone, and people clamored for it. H/VAC companies jumped for joy as untold amounts of money started flowing in.

But, the flaws in the product were exposed and they were bad - really bad. 

Lawsuits loomed large and the industry knew they had to pay the piper. H/VAC companies lost huge amounts of money and faced the enormous backlash from people who were duped. However, the companies would be able to write off a certain amount of their debt on their taxes. The industry knew that asking for a government to bailout would be unacceptable, so they did not ask for help. It was their mistake that created the problem, plain and simple, so why ask others to shoulder the blame? They took their chances and they lost. Yes, they made lots of money in the beginning, but they had to pay out when the problem couldn't be solved. There were congressional inquiries and new regulations imposed so this wouldn't happen again.

Yes, there are huge differences between the financial industries and air conditioning technologies, but didn't the lending institutions do the same thing (created a new product that was extremely flawed and they knew about it)? But, instead of having to pay for their mistakes, the banks have gotten away with murder. They are holding America hostage and no one (save for the Occupy Movement) is making a fuss about it.

If you look at any other period where the country experienced huge downturns in the economy (the Great Depression included), it was the ability for people to obtain credit that made the difference. Why isn't that happening now? There are any number of academic papers on the subject that bear me out, but no one is paying attention.

(See 

http://www.clevelandfed.org/research/workpaper/2012/wp1214.pdf) As much as I hate for the banks to get away with what they've done, the government needs to create incentives for banks to make the money flow again. I see no other solution. Not that I believe in trickle-down economics, but it's true that, when people have money, they spend money. And, when people spend money, businesses and the economy flourish.

This is what I learned in high school economics and it's a solid model:
* Joe's Schmoes is a company employing 10 people.
* The bank increases Joe Schmoes' line of credit so it can increase production on a product that is quite popular and selling well.
* Joe's Schmoes can afford to hire ten more person to help with the increase in production, due to the help from the bank.
* Adam is one of the new employee at Joe's Schmoes.
* With Adam's job, he and his wife can finally have the child they've wanted so long, but felt they couldn't afford it.
* With a steady income, Adam can buy the baby furniture he needs.
* With a steady income, Adam can trade in his old car and buy a new one.
* With a steady income, Adam can now buy more products at the local grocery store.
* With the increase in sales from the new employees at Joe's Schmoes, the grocery store can hire a new stock boy.
* With the increase in sales from the new employees at Joe's Schmoes, the local Wal-Mart (where Adam bought the baby furniture) can afford to hire a new employee.
* With the increase in the number of people living in Adam's town (due to the increase in employment opportunities that started with Joe's Schmoes), a number of apartments are rented that had been empty for almost a year.
* With the increase in the number of renters, more property owners are able to pay their mortgages and not go into foreclosure.
* With the increase in renters, the property owners can now afford to pay their property taxes.
* With the increase in property taxes, the town can fix the streets.
* The streets need to be fixed, so the town hires a local contractor to do the job.
* Since the contractor needs new hires, more people have jobs, which increases the amount of money flowing directly into local businesses.
* With the new money flowing, the banks are optimistic and approve loans for new businesses, business improvements/expansions, new homes, and car sales.
* ... and so on, and so on, and so on...

This is not just the American Dream, it is an economic certainty. Make The Banks Lend Again!!

NSA Doin' Some Crazy Ass Shit

NSA - Secret Program
I am not a crazy person. I am not standing on a street corner, yelling at passersby. I don't seek the spotlight. I do not believe in conspiracy theories. I don't believe in alien abductions and am not part of a crazy militia.

I am a patriot. I worked for the government and have kept it's secrets secret. But, there is an unspoken secret that I feel people need to understand. The NSA is building Timelines of us that is much more insidious than Facebook's Timeline. The NSA is actively spying on Americans who have done nothing wrong.

Their program, referred to by some as "Stellar Wind", is something that the KGB, STASI, and various dictators of the world would have loved to have had: a complete snapshot of everyone living in this country. You think your credit reports are examples of gross invasions of privacy? Don't like Google tracking your web browsing? Does Amazon's "recommendations" creep you out a bit? That's nothing.

NSA's program builds profiles of you, what you do, who you interact with, and draws in connections to everyone around you, creating profiles of building residents, neighborhood connections, and representations of entire communities, cities, and regi

ons. If your community was identified (for whatever reason) as "danger" to the government, by association you would be included in that profile. This type of collection of intelligence and the level of granularity has always been ILLEGAL in America - until now. I cannot stress how much like "Big Brother" our government is becoming, by allowing the NSA to collect and assemble this data.

I know you are saying to yourself that there is nothing secretive about you; that your life is an open book, that you've done nothing wrong. I say that to myself at times and it's a natural reaction. However, you need to ask the question from a different perspective. Ask WHY, if you've done nothing wrong, does the government/NSA NEED to have all this data about you? What do they hope to accomplish by keeping files on you?

Remember J. Edgar Hoover's infamous secret (FBI) files on people? Those files were used indiscriminately to badger people. Information in those files were used to destroy people; to tear their lives apart, even when the files were full of lies, mistruths, misconceptions, and downright common errors. If it was scary for a single person (J. Edgar) to have such files and to wield such power, then WHY IS IT OK for the NSA to keep even more detailed files on people who have done nothing?

I know if I continue this diatribe too much longer, you will stop reading this. (Hurray if you've already gotten this far and Thank You!) The "legalities" of the NSA's program are due to expire in December of this year. You can help to start the ball rolling by contacting your Senators and asking them to vote NO - no more NSA Stellar Wind (or anything similar)! Sixteen Senators have already signed up to say NO. (I will post more about them later on.)

You can watch this video about of an NSA whistler blower to get a better idea of what's going on and what we need to fight against. I personally know some of the people in this video and can state that they are good, upright, honest citizens. They are trying to get our attention. So am I. We apparently have so little power to change anything nowadays, so the only thing I can see to do is to start small and to try to keep the ball rolling.

Please repost, retweet, respond:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/23/opinion/the-national-security-agencys-domestic-spying-program.html?emc=tnt&tntemail0=y

New Oklahoma Law Will Put Details Of All Abortions Online

New Oklahoma Law Will Put Details Of All Abortions Online: 
A new Oklahoma law will require the details of every abortion to be posted on a public website. Proponents say this will prevent abortion — apparently by shaming and burdening women and doctors.


The law (HR 1595?? Need verification.) mandates that a 34-item questionnaire be filled out by abortion providers for each procedure. The questionnaire doesn't include the woman's name or "any information specifically identifying the patient," but it does ask for age, race, level of education, marital status, number of previous pregnancies, and the county in which the abortion was performed, information which opponents of the bill argue would be enough to identify a woman in a small town."

Electronic Voting Easily Hacked. And You're Surprised???

Why the hell are states such as Alabama going out of their way to make it difficult for poor illiterate voters to vote? Looks like it's a lot easier to just hack all their votes anyway!


The H Security - US e-voting system cracked in less than 48 hours:"Within 48 hours of the system going live, we had gained near complete control of the election server"

Long Live The Queens in Britain

Mary Ann Sieghart: Be glad you live in Britain, not the US, if you're gay or a woman "Contraception is free and uncontroversial, sex education sensible and gay relationships are becoming normalised"


(I'm hoping the headline is enough to make Congress-Pimples and Senate-Whores to stay away from one of my favorite island-countries! Long Live The Queens!)

Soldiers Forgetting About OpSec??

Geotagging Poses Security Risks: "A deployed service member's situational awareness includes the world of social media. If a Soldier uploads a photo taken on his or her smartphone to Facebook, they could broadcast the exact location of their unit, said Steve Warren, deputy G2 for the Maneuver Center of Excellence, or MCoE."