Rebane's Ruminations

Ruminations – 16may13 (updated 18may13)

George Rebane

The flowering Obamagate scandals are simply “controversies” as National Propaganda Radio spent a great deal of time this morning assuring its audience.  Nothing special here, the President always comes out to the formally prepared East Room in the evenings to remark on little kerfuffles or differences of opinion.  Everyone go back to sleep.

Pioneer aviator Lyman Gilmore was celebrated yesterday at the school of his name.  There was a big ceremony for students and speakers to recognize Nevada County’s contribution to early aviation.  The event included an organized overflight by a large group of local aviators, some of  them with national reputations.  The flight was comprised of 18 private aircraft led by Jim Booth in his now familiar yellow AT-6 warbird followed in close formation by three members of the Ryder Flight.  Getting all those airplanes in the air, oriented and lined up, and then back on the ground on a very windy day was a grand feat of organization and heads up piloting by all participants – H/T to our own Bob Hobert (Ryder Flight leader and RR reader, who also sent me the pic) for organizing and getting everyone briefed and debriefed.  I was happy to be invited by Jim to again fly in the rear seat of the T-6.

“Untruth” versus lie.  The media, led by Fox News, seems to have some problem with those terms.  Even the conservative Dr Charles Krauthammer (around our house known as ‘The Bonze’), their most noble of nationally syndicated commentators, dripping with gravitas, can’t bring himself to call a lie a lie – well, he did once last night.  On the air politicians aren’t lying, they’re telling “untruths”.  For us with simpler minds, an untruth is any statement that is not true independent of the intent behind its utterance – misreading a clock and then falsely reporting the time is an untruth.  A lie is a known untruth told with intent to deceive.  Most politicians are inveterate liars, it’s part of the job requirements – let’s call a spade a spade when their lies are obvious to the whole country.

Rosa Koire will present an update on Agenda21, and how this UN inititiative has been making progress ‘Behind the Green Mask’.  Here’s the info –

When:  Tuesday May 21, 2013, 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Where: Grass Valley Veterans Hall, 225 S. Auburn Street, Grass Valley
Admission: $20 at the door; $15 in advance
Advance tickets: BriarPatch Co-op, online at www.cabpro.net (special events tab) or by calling CABPRO (530) 478-1331

Those of us a bit paranoid about government training guns on its own citizens (aka us), should keep their eye peeled on the first steps that our military has now taken in this direction.  Obama’s Pentagon has “unilaterally” granted itself powers to aid local law enforcement agencies to curb “civil disturbances” by changing some wording in the US Code covering ‘Defense Support of Civilian Law Enforcement Agencies’ (more here).

[update]  New  speech codes will be sweeping the nation starting with the college campuses and the revision of what consists of sexually harrassing speech.  This will not stop with either the campuses or sexual harrassment.  All the while our astute progressives are protesting, 'What new regulations? there're no more new regulations.  And let's talk about Bush instead.'  Obama's fundamental transformation is on a roll.  (more here).

[18may13 update]  Well, it looks like it's CYA time in embassy land, at least in the mid-eastern part of the world.  Now that everyone's attention is on the Benghazi debacle, tragedy, and cover-up, no ambassador in that part of the world is going to be left behind in alerting the mother temple (aka Foggy Bottom) that threats to their embassies and consulates are increasing.  (more here)  For sure Kerry is not going to hang on to Hillary's hand as he helps Obama throw her under the bus.  So we are sure to see some visible muscle deployed closer to where the action is anticipated.  And playing his cards right, maybe ol' John can emerge out of all this as the new, improved, and heroic hopeful for 2016.  Crazier things have happened.

Teach them to code (addended)

[This is the addended transcript of my regular KVMR commentary broadcast on 19 April 2013.]

OK, those of you out there in radio land who want to help a young person find an awesomely interesting and well-paying career, pay close attention to what follows.  The jobs in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, or STEM areas, going unfilled number in the millions, and are growing at a rate three times that of non-STEM jobs according to the Dept of Commerce.

Our ability to fill those American jobs continues to sag because our teachers lack the skills to teach and motivate students to enter STEM fields.  We have to remember that it is the STEM fields that provide the country’s major sources of wealth and ability to remain competitive in global markets.  And by any and every measure applied, today we simply are not cutting it.  When a STEM job is created in the United States, it has a shelf life that measures in the months and not years.  If it doesn’t get filled by an American, it gets filled by a foreign national, or worse, it goes overseas.

The fundamental skill that enables rapid progress in a STEM curriculum and in the STEM job markets is the ability to program a computer, to write computer code, or simply to code in one or more of the popular programming languages.  Computers can do nothing without executing some piece of code, and today computers do everything in our society.  Put it all together, it’s not hard.

We need to encourage more pre-teens to start writing code for fun and profit.  And it is fun to see what you have conceived, typed into a text editor, and then executed to perform some interesting task or graphic display that before was just the result of a mysterious process that followed the click of a mouse.  Coding requires learning to reason and think logically, and to conceive of processes in our minds that don’t yet exist – in short, coding requires creativity on steroids.

The easiest and most practical stepping stone to writing your first code is learning the basics of using a spreadsheet program.  Why the spreadsheet?

‘Breaking Bread’ on NCTV (updated)

George Rebane

Late yesterday afternoon we finished ‘taping’ the first installment of ‘Breaking Bread’ (BB), a new series that is to air over the coming months on NCTV Channel 11.  BB is a roundtable discussion of ideas, happenings, and current issues of broad national interest.  It is based loosely on the historical French salons which were hosted by ladies of high social rank and means during the so-called Enlightenment period that lasted from around 1740 to the start of the French Revolution in 1789.

These salons were stimulating affairs where the latest ideas in the sciences, politics, arts, religion, philosophy, and literature were presented and discussed.  The invitees were the great thinkers, artists, writers – new and established – of the age, many of whom looked forward to these sessions as much for the nourishment of their bodies as of their minds.  A salon always offered some of the finest foods and spirits with which the hostess could afford to ingratiate herself in the eyes of society.  To be invited to attend a salon was a great honor, and you can imagine the competition of who was attending which salon(s) when and with whom.

(Versions of these classic salons were continued and expanded throughout Europe and America during the 19th century.  In the late 1970s Jo Ann and I joined with a number of other couples to establish a 20th century dinner version of the salon that featured a prepared presentation of a thesis, sometimes rebutted by ‘the loyal opposition’, and then dissected by everyone until the early hours.  These dinner salons went on for years and included some very interesting people and topics.)

The most recent inspiration for BB came from our own Reinette Senum and Patricia Smith, local activists and community leaders of known repute.  After some preliminary plenary sessions under the able leadership of NCTV’s Access Coordinator Teri Hicklin, who will also direct the tapings, the program’s format was adopted and the first installments selected.  BB will be a monthly one-hour offering, (co)hosted by one or two regular hosts, and featuring two or three invited guests.  The program will consist of a civil discussion – not a debate – of the subject du jour between the host(s) and the guests.

The inaugural tranche of BB hosts are Patricia Smith (medicinal marijuana activist), Paul Emery (KVMR News Director already known to RR readers), Reinette Senum, Eric Tomb, and yours truly.   As determined by a program’s host(s), one of the other hosts may also fill a guest role on a future program.

BB’s charter is to present definitive ideological viewpoints (ranging from crisp to outrageous?) on the selected issues – equivocation will be eschewed, i.e. no daisy talk – in such a manner that a landscape can emerge from which common ground may be identified, or an understanding of what notions, ideas, values, etc still stand in the way of our coming together.  Of course, there will always be an effort to reach and identify some areas of consensus, no matter how minimal.

Yesterday’s launch was titled ‘Language and Labels’, and was moderated by Eric Tomb, a well-known bookseller, intellectual, and man about town in Nevada County.  The program’s objective was to introduce the BB hosts, outline the show’s format and future, and give a sampling of it through a discussion of how language and labels guide and constrain our perspectives and perceptions.  The airing times of this installment will be announced by NCTV.

The first Breaking Bread with guests will be ‘taped live’ on 1 May next.  The subject will be the Second Amendment, and it will be co-hosted by Paul Emery and me.

[update]  The first episode 'Language and Labels' was broadcast on 7 April 2013, and may be streamed from the NCTV archives from this page under Breaking Bread. 

April Fun and Foolishness

George Rebane

Nevada County poet Molly Fisk, who is also a regular essayist on KVMR and a fine lady of the liberal persuasion, and I were asked to trade our commentaries for today.  The idea was to have listeners maybe raise an eyebrow or two in fun as they heard familiar voices deliver unfamiliar monologues.  Each of us wrote a piece to be read by the other which was broadcast today.

Here is the piece that I wrote on Calvin Coolidge for Molly to read.

Ruminations - 19feb13

George Rebane

TV weathercasters will soon need AGW certification if they want to talk about climate change on the air, according to a new initiative started by a South Carolina meteorologist.  On National Propaganda Radio this morning was a segment on climate change lamenting that it’s not getting much traction in the public mind lately.  The piece made clear that there was only science behind promoting the ‘reality’ of AGW, and just “disgruntled” troglodytes who refuse to accept truth.  Nowhere was there a hint that the debate is not over, or that there were any material weaknesses in the popularized AGW case (here).

So, to bring the public around to a more compliant stance on AGW, there is work afoot for broadcast weathercasters to get certified on climate change before they can talk about it on their weather forecasts.  Of course, certification will require that you swallow Team Gore’s version of the UN’s IPCC reports hook, line, and sinker.  As for the public, we recall the song from South Pacific, “… they must be carefully taught.”

Public debate, as often reflected in the blogs, seldom leads one away from heat to light.  In the 19feb13 WSJ’s section on healthcare you can see blaring examples of dysfunctional discussions.  For example, “Should all women over 40 get annual mammograms?” is answered YES with “catching cancer early improves odds of beating it”, and NO with “the benefits are small but the costs can be great.”  Now there’s a case of apples and oranges that is oh so common in the public round.  The winner of such debates will be determined by hyperbole, emotion, and repetition.  And some idiot legislator will then introduce a bill to get government involved at great cost to most, with resulting benefits to the fewest.

No one, it seems, can gather their wits and ask ‘what objective are we trying to achieve with mammograms?’  A quantifiable answer to that would definitely refine the responses and expose the charlatans in the ensuing discussion.  But that kind of process makes it much harder to manage the sheeple.  (For more, google ‘Principled Negotiation’ or here on RR.)

Tonight at the Grass Valley Veterans Center is the Oathkeepers presentation given by co-founder Stewart Rhodes that I reported on last Friday.

Administrivia – I’m now in the heat of finalizing the test and solution versions of TechTest2013 that always requires a lot of equations and figures (see past tests here).  The test will be given at NUHS on 23 March 2013.   Until this effort is put to bed, I may be a bit tardy in my usually pithy comment responses, and also infrequent in new postings of the high quality RR readers have come to expect ;-)

A Growing Worry in the Land (updated 18feb13)

George Rebane

[This is the linked transcript of my regular KVMR commentary broadcast on 15 February 2013.]

Today everyone knows that we are a polarized nation and becoming more so by the day.  I want to talk about the reaction of a large segment of Americans who see their country slipping away.  This perception did not start yesterday and has been some decades in the making.  But where before it was seen as an erosion that slowly ate away bit by piece at what we hold dear, since Barak Obama’s election that process has accelerated to what many now see as a runaway train headed in the wrong direction and toward a cliff.

If we ignore his campaign pronouncements, President Obama’s ‘08 election promised much.  It was a coming of age when we finally filled the last branch of government with an eloquent speaker full of big ideas who was not lily white.  But we could not discount his words because they accurately foretold of the fundamental transformation of America that he had promised.  It was only the ‘you don’t have to worry’ assurances about his new regime that we could discount and do so totally.

Cirino’s Nevada City, RIP

George Rebane

The Progressive Plague that has ravaged California for some years, and with every passing day is becoming even more virulent, struck down a local landmark establishment.  In Nevada City Cirino’s Bar & Grill is shutting its doors according to owner Jerry Cirino because “The state and federal government has taken the most valuable asset of a business (employees) and made it a liability.  They have disrupted, irreparably, the triangular relationship between customer, employee, and employer.”  (reported in the 3jan13 Union)

In these pages I have evangelized that important relationship and its financial implications to a business, especially a small business.   The target audience for these soap box lectures has been the independent reader who is not yet convinced about the contributions of capitalism and free enterprise to his wellbeing.  The pushback on these clarifications has always been from the progressivists who are beyond redemption (aka butt stupid), and now cover the land like locusts destroying every shred of wealth creating commercialism that they can.  And in the dust and debris of their plunder they leave unemployed workers who are among the most needy, workers who must now become wards of the state and learn quickly on which side their bread is buttered.

One more tombstone in California's Business Cemetery.  And what again is the alternative to the Great Divide?

Administrivia – taking leave of The Union

George Rebane

All good things must come to an end, and the addition of some new responsibilities required me to drop something.  On 4 December 2012 I sent the following email – titled ‘Rebane’s column, -86-‘  -  to The Union’s publisher and managing editor.  I appreciated their cordial replies, and now look forward to being an Other Voice sans deadlines.

Dear People – Due to other mounting commitments, my run as a regular columnist for The Union must now end.  On reflection, I should have withdrawn immediately after the management changeover earlier this year so that you could better remake the paper in its new image, and not have to deal with clinging barnacles from the past.  From time to time I will continue to submit Other Voices articles which you may publish at your pleasure.  Thank you for having allowed me to share my views with your readership.

RL Crabb, Heeeelp!!

George Rebane

Well, my cover is finally blown.  RR has often been accused by our Lefties as trying to pass itself off as an ‘oh so smart’ blog.  But no more.  My nemesis came this morning when I opened the Tuesday Union to its op-ed page to enjoy Bob’s regular ‘It Takes a Village Idiot’ offering that I share with readers below.

After some considerable study and consultation with my beloved cooking wench, we both came away puzzled, and more importantly, embarrassed.  We didn’t have a clue as to what the Crabb Man was telling us.  As a devoted fan of crabbisms, crabbastications, and divers crabbophilia in general, this was most distressing.  Clearly the graphic intends to convey a deep message to the broad audiences that regularly peruse The Union’s pages for local wisdom and goings on.  And now suddenly I found myself left out, and scratching my shiny pate.

So I’m appealing to Sir Robert himself and any other kind-hearted RR readers to explain, as gently as possible, the meaning of a throng of people bearing torches, pitchforks, and claiming some mandate while assaulting a windowless castle that flies the banner of the (formerly) Almighty Dollar, and is the repository and bastion of something or someone in need of such a formidable redoubt.  To amplify my question mark, I see an occupant wearing a military style hat peering down from the ramparts.

Having now confessed, and hopefully soon in possession of the clarifying explanation, I thereby appeal for reinstatement as a member in good standing of Nevada County's broad audiences and general public.

Voter fraud getting into full swing? (updated 2nov12)

George Rebane

Let me start by inviting our progressive pals to post links to reports of rightwing instigated voter fraud because nationwide the left is off and running.  The latest comes from Las Vegas where the unions are stuffing ballot boxes, voting for the old and infirm, and hauling their own members off their jobs to cast supervised votes.  Meanwhile legions of loyal lefties surround polling places (at minimum distances?) to do some last minute campaigning.

SEIU and ACORN (renamed) are prominent in the ‘vote early and often’ efforts.  And one candidate running for the state senate was told that he couldn’t vote because he had already voted – that was news to him.  More here. 

But the interesting part is the Left’s continued denial that any voter fraud is taking place by citing the dearth of successful court cases dealing with voter fraud.  Most readers know that bringing an obvious voter fraud case to court is difficult and expensive.  And if you make it, the Left’s justice system will seek to prosecute you as likely as the fraudsters.  Besides, why should an individual care, voting is a commons, and no one feels personally aggrieved – the pain is diluted over all of us.  We all recall the Black Panther squad during the last election threatening with clubs all whites who dared to approach a polling place frequented by blacks.  The whole thing was caught on video, and our Sec 8 Attorney General threw the case out.