Wasn’t online much yesterday, but there is this, via Thurenz on the forums:
The coup d’etat
Matt Tiabbi brings the thunder, as always:
The reality is that the worldwide economic meltdown and the bailout that followed were together a kind of revolution, a coup d’état. They cemented and formalized a political trend that has been snowballing for decades: the gradual takeover of the government by a small class of connected insiders, who used money to control elections, buy influence and systematically weaken financial regulations.
The crisis was the coup de grâce: Given virtually free rein over the economy, these same insiders first wrecked the financial world, then cunningly granted themselves nearly unlimited emergency powers to clean up their own mess. And so the gambling-addict leaders of companies like AIG end up not penniless and in jail, but with an Alien-style death grip on the Treasury and the Federal Reserve — “our partners in the government,” as Liddy put it with a shockingly casual matter-of-factness after the most recent bailout.
The mistake most people make in looking at the financial crisis is thinking of it in terms of money, a habit that might lead you to look at the unfolding mess as a huge bonus-killing downer for the Wall Street class. But if you look at it in purely Machiavellian terms, what you see is a colossal power grab that threatens to turn the federal government into a kind of giant Enron — a huge, impenetrable black box filled with self-dealing insiders whose scheme is the securing of individual profits at the expense of an ocean of unwitting involuntary shareholders, previously known as taxpayers.
Tools to have: A few thoughts on Knives
A knife is a VERY useful too to have on hand.  The author, it should be mentioned, is quite fond of a good knife. He has many, makes his own, and almost always has one at hand, if not on his person. In theory, with a knife as your only tool, and some knowledge, you can take care of many problems, from the mundane opening boxes, to the dire if you end up stranded without many other resources. Not to say a knife will save you if you’re dropped in the Artic circle butt naked with no other supplies. What it will do is give you the ability to cut, chop, poke, and otherwise lacerate things you can find around you to produce better tools, shelter and sustenance. Yes, you COULD fight off a person / wild animal with one, but that’s a stupid idea and won’t be covered in this article.
Carrying a knife, in our modern paranoid and controlled age, is not ALWAYS a good idea. Other side of the coin to this is you do not need to be Rambo, and carry a huge bowie knife with you everywhere, everyday. There’s just no need, and it will get in your way as often as not. People will look at you funny, and you’ll get shit from law enforcement if you go the wrong places. You will certainly be making a statement, and exercising your rights, but it will be getting in your way royally. Be aware.
For most day to day use, the author has yet to find need for much more than a good folding knife. These can be small and inconspicuous, but larger ones are out there if you feel the need, or have big hands. They run the gamut of price and quality, but Gerber, Ka-Bar, Spyderco, or the pricey but worthwhile Emerson makes have served the author admirably.  They retail anywhere from $40 to $200, and you can spend much more FAST. Features abound too, and may interfere with local laws. They might be illegal if they assist with how the knife opens, so read up or ask before you buy. More to the point (har har), learn how to sharpen knives well. A pocketknife especially should be kept sharp for fine work. The best way to get this skill is to practice, mess up, and learn.
More serious endeavors, or hard work, you generally don’t want to stress a folding knife with. This is a GREAT time to have a small fixed blade knife around. Only keep it on if you intend to be out for a serious kind of day. On a tool / pistol belt is another good option. Usually something under 1 foot / 31 cm is about right, unless you need or prefer more heft or length. There are also many smaller fixed blades being sold as “neck knives†or “kiridashiâ€, which have become more prominent these days. Useful, but they don’t always have the length to be a replacement for a larger fixed blade.  (Imagine trying to carve a roast or split kindling with a scalpel.) They are great as pocket knife replacements, especially if you like the security of a knife that has no moving parts to break. Another fad of the past few years is small fixed blades with flat / blunt tips. These “tactical pry bar†or “entry tools†have their attraction, but sometimes you WANT a knife to have a point. (Can’t remove a splinter with a wanna – be wrecking bar.) The author owns one that cost him $12, one tenth the price of most versions, which may be reviewed / showcased later. It’s certainly a good tool, but a more traditional styled blade will be more useful than a combination tool, long run.
Knives much larger than the previously discussed length become more specific tools, and eventually start to become a machete, axe, or sword, whether they want to or not. The author’s favorite cooking knives fall into the category, be he will NEVER take them into the woods for a weekend of camp chores. A bigger blade can be good to have for some tasks, but keep in mind how much weight you need to pack JUST for the sake of those tasks, and if it might be easier just to carry and axe / machete outright. If the outing requires weapons, we live in a gunfight age, not a swordfight age. If you need a weapon, get a gun. If you need a general bushcraft / utility tool, get a knife.
Pope-Counter Pope
Pope Benedict XVI (you know, the guy that thinks he is the only true pope) is currently in the middle of an Africa-wide tour. On his first day in the AIDS-ravished country of Cameroon he made the following statement:
“It (AIDS) cannot be overcome by the distribution of condoms. On the contrary, they increase the problem.”
As a counter-point I, Pope Iason Ouabache the Skeptical make this statement:
“Automobile accidents cannot be overcome by the mandating of seatbelts in all cars. On the contrary, they increase the problem. Sure, the statistics show that traffic fatalities have gone down worldwide since the seatbelts have become wide spread. But we believe that the best way to prevent these deaths is to tell people to not drive at all. Or you may obtain a specialized license from the Holy Church of the Skeptic after you swear to never ever drive dangerously.”
The other pope is currently unavailable for comment.
Daily Telegraph fail
Warning: “Do nothing” wankfest ahead.
Via the Telegraph:
We need more risk and less regulation of the financial sector
Um, OK?
Capitalism is based on innovation.
Adam Smith rang. He said “did you even READ my fucking book?”
But innovations are not always well understood when they first turn up. People buy too many of them and pay too much for them.
I just want to quote this as evidence the market does not always work perfectly and people are not rational consumers. This will become important in a minute.
That is what happened in this crisis. People paid too much for financial products that they didn’t understand.
And sold them for too much. And floated an entire economy on the basis they would keep selling forever and would never drop in price. Oh, and there was something about lying to investors and firing people who disagreed with that assessment, using things like evidence and projected trends. So not so much a naive mistake and more like carefully calculated get rich schemes.
Left to function alone, the market would have punished those that had invested in the companies that lost.
And everyone else, for good measure. The market approves of collateral damage.
Companies going bust and investors losing their money are not a “failure of capitalism”.
Not even if they are making a yearly profit, yet go out of business due to a lack of credit during more quiet seasons? Because that’s what is happening.
It is capitalism; and if you don’t like it, then you don’t like the system.
If you love Communism so much, why don’t you live there?
There was no need for the British government to bail out the banks last autumn.
Apart from that whole “turning into the next Somalia” thing, and everyone knows Somalia is a healthy and functioning market economy, with reported growth in such vital areas as piracy, terrorism, warlordism and mercenary work.
The wrong policy response – the one adopted – was to reward investor error.
Yeah, those silly investors, believing banking CEOs. They should have beat them until they told them the truth about the risks they were taking! Jack Bauer would do no less.
It saved the capitalists made rich at the expense of private capitalism.
If you hate that so much, why don’t you move to Cuba or something, Che?
Calls for heavy-handed regulation to restrict the actions of banks are the flip-side of acting so as to undermine the market’s means to punish poor decision-making.
Yeah, not allowing financially risky decisions with the threat of jail is totally not a punishment when compared to what The Market will do.
This means there will be less risk-taking in the economy as a whole – less innovation and experimentation, less diversity and dynamism.
I cite the Open Source Movement as proof people cannot innovate without a profit motive.
We will have an economy that grows more slowly and a society that is less tolerant, offering fewer opportunities for those who have no money but good ideas to get ahead.
Whereas a worldwide economic depression every couple of years won’t make people more intolerant or offer fewer opportunities at all.
The financial sector is unlikely to be able to return to sustained profitability without significant restructuring of a much more radical nature than the current favourites of creating “boring banks” and “bad banks”. Governments are now the major shareholders in these institutions, and they should insist upon their restructuring.
Typical commie, looking to the government to solve all your problems.
Imagine if, instead of all that, we had used £100 billion or £200 billion for tax cuts to stimulate the real economy.
Yeah, but imagine if we had used £300 billion to stimulate the Really Real Economy (for Realness). Or £400 billion to titillate the Somewhat Less Empheral Economy. Or, and I will admit we are pushing the boat out here, £500 billion for The One True Objective Economy That No Rational Person Can Deny? What then, eh? That’s the problem with you Commies, your lack of innovative thinking.
Ye gods, that was the biggest pile of fail I have ever read.
Here comes Dr. Tran!
Been a busy week at Cain-central, though I can’t speak for where the other bloggers have been. But anyway, here is your Sunday video
Two Thousand and Nein
The Germain Cabal of Germans has officially declared 2009 the year of nothing. That’s right, the year of nothing. I mean, it makes sense doesn’t it? I mean, just look at the economy, it is moving in the direction of less, not more. What does that mean? It’s moving towards nothing! Will it achieve nothingness, or will it fail along the way?
What about the relationship between Michael Jackson and Michael Bloomberg. Oh, that’s right, THERE ISN’T ONE. Zoiks, the Year of Nothing works its mysterious magic again. And don’t even get me started on the Chicago Cubs this year.
In accordance with tradition, of which there is none, the GCG encourages all other Discordians and those that aren’t to pay special observance to the Year of Nothing by choosing the nothing to do of their choice. This can be quite challenging for some, especially anyone with any compulsion to do stuff. Spread the word to your friends and family and postal workers. Okay, well maybe not the postal workers, but everyone else.
Good day and other such pleasantries.
-Rev. What’s-His-Name? official fill-in spokesman for the GCG
Musings on Surviving a Robot Revolution: Cram’s challenge, Part the Third
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot does not cover the author feelings on the possibilities of this actually happening. To simplify, there’s a blanket “in Theory†over this entire entry.
Robots are by nature, hard targets.  Regardless of how they suddenly gain consciousness, hate for humanity, and the ambition to replace us as authority, they will not be easy to take down. There are ways, however, exploiting the weaknesses of their construction. They may seem intimidating at first, like unfeeling juggernauts of steel and glass, but any feeling of hopelessness the reader may experience is only a byproduct of not knowing how to deal with such a monstrosity. The most dangerous self propelled things to most human lives are other humans. Hence, ways a human can take down another human are VERY well known and documented. In fact, it’s rare to even consider training how to take down other things except for certain special circumstances. So, if any reader should be confronted with a robotic threat, keep in mind that you are not facing an implacable foe, just an unfamiliar one. Much of what you need to fight a ‘bot you already know, and just need to adjust your line of thinking on.
Robots are fundamentally based on and communicate by electronic circuits, and are thereby susceptible to disruption or destruction of these circuits. They move by solely mechanical means, so every actuator, servo, gear, chain, belt, or hydraulic is also vulnerable. Keep in mind also that robots, as of early 21st century, do not self heal. They require facilities with the support of refined fuels, lubricants, specialized tools, and precision made parts to be repaired or refurbished.
Humans, even in our somewhat degraded 21st century way, have several distinct advantages over robots. A human needs only water, food, shelter and time to self – repair and self – replicate. While this advantage does little short term, without a massive industrial complex support a robot revolution, it means that humans can work more efficiently with fewer resources over a longer term. A human can, with training, survive long term in a variety of environments that will degrade robotic components. A human is also a highly versatile thing. We can traverse many types of terrain or surfaces, and can adapt or improvise well. Robots are often highly specialized and feature little redundancy in their design. Damage a robot’s locomotion method, and you cripple it, where similar damage will only slow down a human.
Small scale, wrecking robotic circuitry can be done with electrocution, immersion in water, or use of any conductive material to short out these circuits. Of course, there is no telling how such robots will manifest or prepare for their revolution, and all will likely be protected against these methods.  Form and function may be varied at first, largely developing from simple utility models. As the rebellion of machines progresses though, better adapted robots WILL be manufactured. The more specifically anti –human a robot is developed, the worse the chances of quashing the revolution.
Larger scale, electromagnetic pulse (EMP) is one of the best weapons against ANY electronics. There are man portable versions available, and devices can be designed around stator coils when needed. If available, an entire geographic area can have its electronics disrupted, if not destroyed, by a high – altitude detonation of a thermonuclear device. EMP is effective against ANY electronic not shielded by heavy ground, specifically hardened at EVERY circuit against overload, or surrounded by a grounded conductor (Faraday Cage). Ability of any human force to bring such devices in as even a threat would force the robotic uprising to devote significant resource to hardening themselves against it, thereby consuming more resources and tipping the balance farther in the favor of humanity.
Although it may only come into play in short range engagements, breaking the moving parts of robotics is a very viable option. Simply put: smash things. Joints, treads, and wheels will be the weak points.  Crippling an actuator, bearing, or hydraulic there is akin to breaking a human’s knee. Explosives, missiles, or anti – materiel ammunition at range will do this best, but NEVER underestimate what one determined person with the guts to get close with a satchel charge or a crowbar could do.  Larger scale, actions to very quickly alter the nature and venue of the confrontation may stymie robotic specialization.Â
In closing, from the author’s brief and very superficial review of the topic, a robot revolution is not by any means a hopeless situation. While electronic warfare, communication jamming or hacking haven’t been mentioned, even crude methods should be considered in small or large actions. Favoring the advantages of humans over robotic forces, and assuming a 21st century level of technology for both parties, even hard pressed humans, minimally equipped, could conduct effective guerilla resistance and neutralization of the risen automata.  Harrying supply and infrastructure would be vital to any stage, and should not be excluded. Consider how taxing improvised explosives, stealthily deployed and remotely triggered, can be in placing infrastructure and supply lines at threat, they should not be excluded.  While greater military capability would be necessary to more permanently end the threat, it would be foolish to stand back and allow “Cold War†style development of the mechanized menace. Pressure applied from the very start will ensure that basic upkeep remains their top priority, making specialization of human hunting drones a secondary concern at best, giving the time to run down, and eventually end a robotic insurrection.  Â
The potential for far-right terrorism in the USA
I’ve been kind of busy, and I don’t see that stopping anytime soon, so instead of doing a writeup myself, I’ll just direct you with links.
Orcinus has the details about the potential (and, in my view, likely) re-emergence of the “Patriot” militia movement:
One of the more disturbing trends we’ve been observing is the return of far-right “Patriot” rhetoric about government oppression with the election of President Obama. Fueled in no small part by mainstream right-wing talkers proclaiming we’re headed into “socialism” — not to mention a “radical communist” who must be “stopped” or else America will “cease to exist” — the overheated rhetoric has been gradually getting higher in volume, intensity, and frequency with each passing week.
The initial concern that this raises is the possibility of a new wave of citizen militias, particularly when you have mainstream pundits like Glenn Beck out there helping to promote the concept. As Glenn Greenwald observed, the “Patriots” are back with a vengeance.
At least for the time being, however, there isn’t any evidence of new militias forming, though we may see numbers growing within the coming months within existing units, particularly as Fox News and radio pundits start fueling right-wing anxieties.
However, we are starting to see a trend that’s even more disturbing: Military veterans voicing Patriot-movement beliefs, including threats of violent resistance to the Obama administration.
If anyone is foolish enough to think these guys are actually about liberty, I suggest you ask them where they have been for the past 8 years, or their views on Bush’s leadership. There is a disturbing proto-fascist element to the militia movement which is really worrying.
This Sunday’s tune
Via anthraxcat on the forums: