Tuesday, January 15, 2013
When Did Collaboration Become a Dirty Word?
Tom Friedman looks at how the inside-out unreal DC politician's view of things is totally at odds with what is well-proven and works elsewhere.
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Pentagon Sinkhole III
The giant money sucking sound that is the Pentagon continues. This time they have invented a new term for "pour even more money on us" --- "lack of maturity" when describing the hapless F-35 fiasco....the plane pilots won't fly, the Canadians have bailed on and apparently no one wants to put any guns on yet.
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Gun Buybacks and "Logic"
There are a few scattered gun buy back programs being announced or pursued by local governments and law enforcement, primarily because Washington DC is in its usual paralyzed state...largely by the torrent of NRA money flowing through the halls of Congress. This is bringing out some people who don't mind showing their ignorance...of either simple mathematical probability or logic, or both.
It is impossible to gauge the effectiveness of a gun buyback program in advance because it is not possible to tell if a particular gun belongs to a nut case, or will be stolen by or belong to one in the future. It is impossible to gauge the effectiveness of a buyback after the fact, because once a gun is destroyed...the probability is absolutely zero that it will ever be used to take a life or multiple lives.
Likewise, it is dangerous to assume cause and effect afterwards. Australia had a quite successful gun buy back after a mass shooting outraged the country (and their politicians actually work for the people they represent). They have not had a mass shooting since...but can the two be linked? Not necessarily nor with any certainty, although they also outlawed semi-automatic assault weapons permanently at the same time so there are multiple factors at work here.
The only unassailable truth is that if the 'right' gun is part of a buy back, it can save many, many lives. If Nancy Lanza had decided that she really didn't need to own a death-dealing assault-style semi-automatic weapon in time, not only would many innocent children and adults be alive...but she might be as well although it seems there were plenty of other weapons in easy reach of Adam Lanza.
People who try to equate through logic or probability the effects of a gun buy back are the same gullible idiots who keep the casinos in Las Vegas so profitably afloat. It doesn't matter how many times you have flipped a coin and how many results have been the same -- every flip is still a 50/50 proposition.
It is impossible to gauge the effectiveness of a gun buyback program in advance because it is not possible to tell if a particular gun belongs to a nut case, or will be stolen by or belong to one in the future. It is impossible to gauge the effectiveness of a buyback after the fact, because once a gun is destroyed...the probability is absolutely zero that it will ever be used to take a life or multiple lives.
Likewise, it is dangerous to assume cause and effect afterwards. Australia had a quite successful gun buy back after a mass shooting outraged the country (and their politicians actually work for the people they represent). They have not had a mass shooting since...but can the two be linked? Not necessarily nor with any certainty, although they also outlawed semi-automatic assault weapons permanently at the same time so there are multiple factors at work here.
The only unassailable truth is that if the 'right' gun is part of a buy back, it can save many, many lives. If Nancy Lanza had decided that she really didn't need to own a death-dealing assault-style semi-automatic weapon in time, not only would many innocent children and adults be alive...but she might be as well although it seems there were plenty of other weapons in easy reach of Adam Lanza.
People who try to equate through logic or probability the effects of a gun buy back are the same gullible idiots who keep the casinos in Las Vegas so profitably afloat. It doesn't matter how many times you have flipped a coin and how many results have been the same -- every flip is still a 50/50 proposition.
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Susan Cain on Bloomberg Law
I am going to read Susan Cain's book which I received for Christmas as soon as I finish a couple of library books I am into. I want to give her book my full attention once I start and am really anticipating a meaningful and informative read.
This is Susan in an appearance earlier on Bloomberg Law - she was a Wall Street lawyer (of all things) for several years, and she talks about how she 'discovered' the high number of introverts in law (of all professions). A very interesting discussion - Happy Thinking!
This is Susan in an appearance earlier on Bloomberg Law - she was a Wall Street lawyer (of all things) for several years, and she talks about how she 'discovered' the high number of introverts in law (of all professions). A very interesting discussion - Happy Thinking!
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Republicans Really Are From Mars
I was trying during the election stupid season to find reasons for the Repubs' seeming intent on self-destruction and losing elections. But I guess maybe...they really are from somewhere else, because they sure don't get it!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/wp/2013/01/03/a-katrina-echo-in-sandy-anger/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/wp/2013/01/03/house-republicans-block-violence-against-women-act-remain-determined-to-ignore-women/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/wp/2013/01/03/a-katrina-echo-in-sandy-anger/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/wp/2013/01/03/house-republicans-block-violence-against-women-act-remain-determined-to-ignore-women/
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