Best Of Homespun Bloggers January 2nd, 2004
The Redhunter
"Stingy"?
By now many others have written about how, far from being stingy, we are quite generous in our aid. Much has been written elsewhere about the substantial US aid sent to other parts of the world. Yet we get little credit for these things.
I'd just like to add two more things we should get credit for but do not, things that I haven't seen yet elsewhere:
Collecting My Thoughts
685 The value of a human life
“Consider that there are nearly 121 million people living in low lying areas within 4km of the shoreline of the Indian Ocean. According to TAOS/MIDGARD model projections made late on the 26th, 18 million people live in the tsunami impact area. Assuming a 5% casualty rate, that’s 900,000 injured in some way (probably 250k seriously). Assuming a 1 in seven fatality rate, that’s 128 thousand dead. I hope and pray it’s not that high, but it’s a realistic possibility.” Satellite photos here, at a site by Chuck Watson, many photos obscured now by smoke.
Bunker Mulligan
Cannon Fodder No More
Nearly a year ago I wrote about the differences between people who are smart and those who are simply intelligent. I went back to read that post again this morning because of something that came to mind after hearing Lago mention he would have MajorDad on with him this morning by phone. Jim says he was impressed with a post on minimum wages which he considered to be definitive.
MuD&PHuD
Tsunami And God
Let me start by saying that none of the following discussion means a thing compared to what happened to those people who were unfortunate enough to be caught in the path of the tsunami. It's all too easy to forget individual lives that were destroyed by that huge wall of water. My thoughts and prayers go out to each and everyone effected by this disaster.
[For anyone wanting to help out, go to The Command Post and do what you can.]
That being said, I am going to add my two cents.
Musing
Gun control measures serve no useful purpose
John Lott's latest op / ed looks at the findings of a blue ribbon National Academy of Sciences panel on gun control. Both Lott's op/ed and the NAS panel's report expose gun control measures as a farce; pure symbolism over substance.
Despite the overwhelming support for gun control by panel members and an open disdain for research showing the beneficial aspects of owning firearms, the NAS panel still could not show how gun control laws had accomplished anything, with regard to reducing crime or injury.
"Stingy"?
By now many others have written about how, far from being stingy, we are quite generous in our aid. Much has been written elsewhere about the substantial US aid sent to other parts of the world. Yet we get little credit for these things.
I'd just like to add two more things we should get credit for but do not, things that I haven't seen yet elsewhere:
Collecting My Thoughts
685 The value of a human life
“Consider that there are nearly 121 million people living in low lying areas within 4km of the shoreline of the Indian Ocean. According to TAOS/MIDGARD model projections made late on the 26th, 18 million people live in the tsunami impact area. Assuming a 5% casualty rate, that’s 900,000 injured in some way (probably 250k seriously). Assuming a 1 in seven fatality rate, that’s 128 thousand dead. I hope and pray it’s not that high, but it’s a realistic possibility.” Satellite photos here, at a site by Chuck Watson, many photos obscured now by smoke.
Bunker Mulligan
Cannon Fodder No More
Nearly a year ago I wrote about the differences between people who are smart and those who are simply intelligent. I went back to read that post again this morning because of something that came to mind after hearing Lago mention he would have MajorDad on with him this morning by phone. Jim says he was impressed with a post on minimum wages which he considered to be definitive.
MuD&PHuD
Tsunami And God
Let me start by saying that none of the following discussion means a thing compared to what happened to those people who were unfortunate enough to be caught in the path of the tsunami. It's all too easy to forget individual lives that were destroyed by that huge wall of water. My thoughts and prayers go out to each and everyone effected by this disaster.
[For anyone wanting to help out, go to The Command Post and do what you can.]
That being said, I am going to add my two cents.
Musing
Gun control measures serve no useful purpose
John Lott's latest op / ed looks at the findings of a blue ribbon National Academy of Sciences panel on gun control. Both Lott's op/ed and the NAS panel's report expose gun control measures as a farce; pure symbolism over substance.
Despite the overwhelming support for gun control by panel members and an open disdain for research showing the beneficial aspects of owning firearms, the NAS panel still could not show how gun control laws had accomplished anything, with regard to reducing crime or injury.
<< Home