From: owner-roc-digest@lists.xmission.com (roc-digest) To: roc-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: roc-digest V2 #231 Reply-To: roc-digest Sender: owner-roc-digest@lists.xmission.com Errors-To: owner-roc-digest@lists.xmission.com Precedence: bulk roc-digest Tuesday, April 20 1999 Volume 02 : Number 231 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 16 Apr 1999 19:34:34 -0700 From: Kenneth Mitchell Subject: check out _this_link I just came across a _very_ interesting link for those of us with previous time in the Armed Forces. I'm once again glad that I had nothing to do with Desert Storm. http://www.jerrypournelle.com/REPORTS/JERRYP/gulfsyn.html - ------------------------------------------------------------------- Ken Mitchell Citrus Heights, CA kmitchel@gvn.net 916-955-9152 (vm) 916-729-0966 (fax) - --------------http://www.gvn.net/~creative/------------------------ "The constitutions of most of our States assert, that all power is inherent in the people; that they may exercise it by themselves, in all cases to which they think themselves competent, ... or they may act by representatives, freely and equally chosen; that it is their right and duty to be at all times armed; that they are entitled to freedom of person, freedom of religion, freedom of property, and freedom of the press." "The Living Thoughts of Thomas Jefferson", pp.46 - 47, Presented by John Dewey - -------------------------------------------------------------------- Buy This Stamp! http://www.usps.gov/images/stamps/99/ayn_rand.htm - -------------------------------------------------------------------- Worried about the "Good Times" or "AOL4FREE" viruses? Check out the Urban Legends page at http://urbanlegends.miningco.com/ for the facts! - - ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 16 Apr 99 23:51:57 PST From: roc@xpresso.seaslug.org (Bill Vance) Subject: Please Vote: Fwd: Gun Law Poll (fwd) On Apr 16, CR Howard wrote: [-------------------- text of forwarded message follows --------------------] >Date: Fri, 16 Apr 1999 13:28:06 -0700 >From: "Arnold J. Gaunt" >Subject: Gun Law Poll > >Please vote in the following poll pertaining to the shooting yesterday >in Salt Lake. You may have to page down just a bit to see it on the >right hand side. We were losing just now. Please forward along to your >mailing lists. > >http://deseretnews.com/dn [------------------------- end of forwarded message ------------------------] - -- - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ***** Blessings On Thee, Oh Israel! ***** - ----------------+----------+--------------------------+--------------------- An _EFFECTIVE_ | Insured | All matter is vibration. | Let he who hath no weapon in every | by COLT; | -- Max Plank | weapon sell his hand = Freedom | DIAL | In the beginning was the | garment and buy a on every side! | 1911-A1. | word. -- The Bible | sword.--Jesus Christ - ----------------+----------+--------------------------+--------------------- - - ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 17 Apr 99 11:11:12 PST From: roc@xpresso.seaslug.org (Bill Vance) Subject: S L I C K - List of POWs (fwd) On Apr 17, RichSlick@aol.com wrote: [-------------------- text of forwarded message follows --------------------] Anyone who can confirm or deny this list, is asked to respond to RichSlick@aol.com Staff Sgt. Andrew A Ramirez, 24 of Los Angeles 1. Jeremiah Wheeler, Norfolk, Virginia 2. Brad Wheeler, St Augustine, Florida 3. Barbara Wheeler, St Augustine, Florida 4. Bambie Kunz, St Augustine, Florida 5. Kay Neff, St Augustine, Florida 6. Wayne Neff, St Augustine, Florida 7. Marcia Garrett, Brimfield, Indiana 8. Jack Garrett, Brimfield, Indiana 9. Bob Prinselaar, Fresno, California 10. John Adams, York, Pa. 11. Cheryl Boswell, Denham Springs, Louisiana 12. Gordon Boswell, Denham Springs, Louisiana 13. Brett Boswell, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 14. Fara Allen, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 15. Vic Vilionis, Montreal, Canada 16. Joan Samuelson, Houston, TX 17. Beverly Haire, Punta Gorda, Fl. 18. Kimberly Thomas-Bowles, Florida 19. Sandy Easton-Long Beach, California 20. Debbie Withrow-Lusby, Maryland 21. Jim and Em Nicholson, Woodbridge, Virginia 22. Steve & Sheila Whapham Washington, Indiana 23. Willie Dougherty, Austin, Tx 24. Joe Oliver, Houston, TX 25. Shonda M. Ponder, Houston, TX 26. Gene R. Ritter, Houston, TX [------------------------- end of forwarded message ------------------------] - -- - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ***** Blessings On Thee, Oh Israel! ***** - ----------------+----------+--------------------------+--------------------- An _EFFECTIVE_ | Insured | All matter is vibration. | Let he who hath no weapon in every | by COLT; | -- Max Plank | weapon sell his hand = Freedom | DIAL | In the beginning was the | garment and buy a on every side! | 1911-A1. | word. -- The Bible | sword.--Jesus Christ - ----------------+----------+--------------------------+--------------------- - - ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 18 Apr 99 10:58:45 PST From: roc@xpresso.seaslug.org (Bill Vance) Subject: Re: S L I C K - List of POWs (fwd) Sorry about the confusion folks, and thanks to those who helped track this one down. Now we all know that USCMike1 is not to be trusted, whatever his affiliations..... On Apr 17, David Gonzalez wrote: >Folks, this is just more of USCMike1 (Michael Johnson)'s bullsh*t! Please >look at the list carefully---out of 28 "service-people held captive in >Yougoslavia", what is the possibility of there being no fewer than FIVE >married couples? (Numbers 2&3, 5&6, 7&8, 11&12, and a double on 21) > >One of the names on the list, "Shonda Ponder", supposedly sent this list >to USCMike1, but he--being a sloppy government agent provocateur--didn't >bother to do his research. The list is merely a group of people who have >agreed to form a PRAYER CHAIN to offer prayers for Messrs. Rameriz, >Gonzales, and Stone! > >USCMike1 just co-opted the list and used it for his own purposes, which >were to further advance rumors about subterranen FEMA death-camps and >poisonous sticky white jet contrails! > >(Original message from USCMike1 available on request) > >David M. Gonzalez, Troglodyte >Wheeling, Illinois > >Replies/Abuse: gonzalez@mcs.com > > >On Sat, 17 Apr 1999, Bill Vance wrote: > >> On Apr 17, RichSlick@aol.com wrote: >> >> [-------------------- text of forwarded message follows --------------------] >> >> >> Anyone who can confirm or deny this list, is asked to respond to >> RichSlick@aol.com >> >> Staff Sgt. Andrew A Ramirez, 24 of Los Angeles >> >> 1. Jeremiah Wheeler, Norfolk, Virginia >> 2. Brad Wheeler, St Augustine, Florida >> 3. Barbara Wheeler, St Augustine, Florida >> 4. Bambie Kunz, St Augustine, Florida >> 5. Kay Neff, St Augustine, Florida >> 6. Wayne Neff, St Augustine, Florida >> 7. Marcia Garrett, Brimfield, Indiana >> 8. Jack Garrett, Brimfield, Indiana >> 9. Bob Prinselaar, Fresno, California >> 10. John Adams, York, Pa. >> 11. Cheryl Boswell, Denham Springs, Louisiana >> 12. Gordon Boswell, Denham Springs, Louisiana >> 13. Brett Boswell, Baton Rouge, Louisiana >> 14. Fara Allen, Baton Rouge, Louisiana >> 15. Vic Vilionis, Montreal, Canada >> 16. Joan Samuelson, Houston, TX >> 17. Beverly Haire, Punta Gorda, Fl. >> 18. Kimberly Thomas-Bowles, Florida >> 19. Sandy Easton-Long Beach, California >> 20. Debbie Withrow-Lusby, Maryland >> 21. Jim and Em Nicholson, Woodbridge, Virginia >> 22. Steve & Sheila Whapham Washington, Indiana >> 23. Willie Dougherty, Austin, Tx >> 24. Joe Oliver, Houston, TX >> 25. Shonda M. Ponder, Houston, TX >> 26. Gene R. Ritter, Houston, TX >> >>[------------------------- end of forwarded message ------------------------] - -- - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ***** Blessings On Thee, Oh Israel! ***** - ----------------+----------+--------------------------+--------------------- An _EFFECTIVE_ | Insured | All matter is vibration. | Let he who hath no weapon in every | by COLT; | -- Max Plank | weapon sell his hand = Freedom | DIAL | In the beginning was the | garment and buy a on every side! | 1911-A1. | word. -- The Bible | sword.--Jesus Christ - ----------------+----------+--------------------------+--------------------- - - ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 18 Apr 1999 15:04:28 -0700 From: "Lew Glendenning" Subject: RE: Fratrum: Eagle Forum Kosovo Petition (fwd) The flaw in Tuchman's book is the idea that you can have policies which are not folly, except by accident. We live in a world far too complex for predictions to be any better than weather predictions, and for the same reasons -- A) we don't know the equations controlling the systems to better than rough approximations; B) we don't know the initial conditions in enough detail; C) The equations are non-linear with 'chaotic' feedback; and D) There isn't enough computer power in the universe (and won't ever be) to solve the equations even if A nd B weren't true. Most of us still have a Newtonian view of the Universe -- Chaos theory and computational complexity are not part of our gut-level understanding. Consequently, we think we can predict the future, and no number of counter-examples convinces us that we are wrong. (Even without personal and institutional incentivies to assume the reverse -- how many economists and bureaucrats would be out of work if they admitted they couldn't see the future?) Tuchman's book would have been much better (I though it was pretty boring -- didn't finish it) had she taken 6 examples of government policies where were universally judged to be sound, but which turned out disastrously. (I can't think of any just now -- disastrous results is easy, but "sound in the eyes of contemporaries is the tough part.) Individuals face the same problems, but have lots more detailed information, and play with much smaller stakes. Even failures provide information to our fellows playing in the economic-social evolutionary system we are part of. We have, therefore, statistics. Also, much stronger feedback systems (failure hurts for individuals), and therefore a real incentive to be as rational as possible Governments don't have so many examples, much less feedback and much delayed feedback, and consequently less incentive to be rational, as opposed to political. One must conclude that govs shouldn't have economic, social or foreign policies. There is simply no evidence that anyone has predictive abilities in any of these areas. If you can't predict, you shouldn't prescribe. Lew > -----Original Message----- > From: owner-roc@lists.xmission.com > [mailto:owner-roc@lists.xmission.com]On Behalf Of Harry Barnett > Sent: Friday, April 16, 1999 8:44 PM > To: roc@lists.xmission.com > Subject: Re: Fratrum: Eagle Forum Kosovo Petition (fwd) > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Lew Glendenning > To: roc@lists.xmission.com > Date: Friday, April 16, 1999 5:09 PM > Subject: RE: Fratrum: Eagle Forum Kosovo Petition (fwd) > > > > >However, the fundamental is that nations appear to be VERY VERY bad at > >knowing > >their own self-interest, at least what is best for the great majority, as > >opposed to some elites. > > > >Viet Nam is a fine example > > See Barbara Tuchman, _The March of Folly_ for six more "fine examples". > These six examples she uses were chosen because they fulfilled > two criteria: > (1) The courses chosen by governments were perceived as folly by > contemporaries; (2) The governments persisted in their chosen course in > spite of this foreknowledge. > Thus, the title to the book. > > Harry E. Barnett > harryb@hbbse.com http://www.hbbse.com > -- > It isn't what we don't know that hurts us. It's what we know that isn't > o. --Will Rogers > > > - > - - ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 18 Apr 99 16:37:27 PST From: roc@xpresso.seaslug.org (Bill Vance) Subject: US GROUND TROOP DEPLOYMENT (fwd) On Apr 18, 206140826@worldnet.att.net wrote: [-------------------- text of forwarded message follows --------------------] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 16, 1999 INHOFE SAYS BALKAN DEPLOYMENT OF U.S. GROUND TROOPS HAS BEGUN Says Move is Illegal; Decries Clinton Dishonesty; Will Travel to See Troops in Albania Next Week WASHINGTON U.S. Sen. James M. Inhofe (R-Okla.), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness, said today that the deployment of ground troops into the Yugoslavian combat zone has already begun, despite denials from the White House that the administration is even contemplating such a move. For all practical purposes, the debate about ground troops is over, Inhofe said. As I predicted months ago, and as I warned at the outset of the air campaign, President Clinton has always wanted U.S. ground troops in Kosovo, they always knew that air power alone would not work, and now the initial deployments are going on as we speak. The announcements this week, that 4800 soldiers are being dispatched to staging areas in Albania to support our Apache helicopters and that up to 33,000 guard and reserve troops are being activated, tell the story. Why are all these 4800 troops going in? Not simply to fly the Apaches that are being deployed. A typical Apache battalion numbers fewer than 400 troops. So why are the other 4000 and more troops there? Because this is a dangerous environment, with no support infrastructure, that poses great risk to our forces on the ground. Indeed, the President this week declared Albania and other areas surrounding Kosovo as an official combat zone for military pay purposes. And I am convinced this is only the beginning. In my judgment, this deployment is not only a mistake, it a clear violation of the law. The Roberts Amendment to the Defense Appropriations bill specifically prohibits such troop deployments to Albania and other named countries in the Balkans before a series of conditions are met and notices are given to the Congress. This provision has not been fully complied with regarding the troop transfers with the Apaches. Six months ago on CNN, Inhofe predicted that President Clinton would deploy ground troops to respond to the Kosovo situation and now it is happening. Most troops in this initial deployment will be on the ground by next Thursday, when Inhofe is planning to arrive in the area on a special trip to assess the situation. He said he wants to especially examine the potential risks that will exist to the lives of our forces there on the ground. Inhofe emphasized that this troop deployment and the combat zone designation were ordered this week directly by the President in his role as Commander-in-Chief. These actions were taken during the very week the President maintained in public statements that he has no intention to deploy ground troops. Inhofe said this kind of deception and dishonesty continues to undermine the President s credibility with the public and with other countries throughout the world. Inhofe expressed concern for the safety and welfare of U.S. troops and emphasized that his statements today were motivated solely by a concern that the deployments to the Yugoslavian theater would serve to weaken the military s ability to defend America and America s truly vital security interests around the world. | The Senator's Home Page | Biography | Committees | Offices | Constituent Services | | Press Releases | Newspaper Columns | Legislation | Floor Statements | Other Links | U.S. Senator James M. Inhofe (R - Oklahoma) [------------------------- end of forwarded message ------------------------] - -- - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ***** Blessings On Thee, Oh Israel! ***** - ----------------+----------+--------------------------+--------------------- An _EFFECTIVE_ | Insured | All matter is vibration. | Let he who hath no weapon in every | by COLT; | -- Max Plank | weapon sell his hand = Freedom | DIAL | In the beginning was the | garment and buy a on every side! | 1911-A1. | word. -- The Bible | sword.--Jesus Christ - ----------------+----------+--------------------------+--------------------- - - ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 18 Apr 1999 18:16:31 -0700 From: skip Subject: Re: US GROUND TROOP DEPLOYMENT (fwd) You do recognize this as partisan propaganda, right Bill? No difference from the well-spun White House lies. Skip - - ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 18 Apr 99 22:09:32 PST From: roc@xpresso.seaslug.org (Bill Vance) Subject: Re: US GROUND TROOP DEPLOYMENT (fwd) On Apr 18, skip wrote: >You do recognize this as partisan propaganda, right Bill? > >No difference from the well-spun White House lies. > >Skip It came from DC didn't it? It's allways best to take that stuff with a grain of salt, but in this sort of instance, I'm not so sure it's needed. - -- - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ***** Blessings On Thee, Oh Israel! ***** - ----------------+----------+--------------------------+--------------------- An _EFFECTIVE_ | Insured | All matter is vibration. | Let he who hath no weapon in every | by COLT; | -- Max Plank | weapon sell his hand = Freedom | DIAL | In the beginning was the | garment and buy a on every side! | 1911-A1. | word. -- The Bible | sword.--Jesus Christ - ----------------+----------+--------------------------+--------------------- - - ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 19 Apr 1999 07:38:44 -0500 (CDT) From: Paul M Watson Subject: DC Waco Memorial 4-18-99 (fwd) - ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Fri, 16 Apr 1999 19:29:51 -0400 From: Carol Moore To: A-Waco List from Subject: DC Waco Memorial 4-18-99 Because I've been so busy organizing against the Balkans war, I haven't had a chance to finish my latest Waco update which does have some good news! Hopefully soon. Come on by if you are in D.C. area. Below the press release is info on the 4-19-99 Davidian Survivor Memorial outside of Waco. =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D COMMITTEE FOR WACO JUSTICE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Carol Moore 202/635-3739 Alan Forschler 202/797-9877 WACO VIGILERS WARN: CLINTON DESTROYS KOSOVO AND SERBIA LIKE HE DID BRANCH DAVIDIANS IN 1993 Washington, D.C.--On Sunday, April 18th from noon to 3 p.m the Committee for Waco Justice will erect 82 crosses in the northwest quadrant of the Ellipse, south of the White House for Davidians killed by the FBI on April 19, 1993. The Committee also will display a banner reading "FBI Killed a Village and Its Children" and carry signs linking Clinton's aggression against Davidians and in the Balkans today. Carol Moore, coordinator of the Committee and author of the mass market paperback The Davidian Massacre, asserts that Clinton is "wagging the dog" with the U.S.-led NATO bombings on Kosovo and Serbia. She states, "Clinton's bombings of Iraq, Sudan and Afghanistan coincided with initial allegations of adultery, his admission of adultery, the House of Representatives' vote on impeachment and the televising of Juanita Broaddrick's credible rape allegation. Although Clinton escaped impeachment, he continues to face jeopardy: leaked FBI files that he raped and assaulted other women; reporters hounding these women to speak out; federal investigators interrogating former Clinton business partners and Chinese government-linked campaign contributors; a forthcoming Congressional report on Clinton's laxity in stopping Chinese government spying at U.S. weapons facilities; reports that Clinton allowed China to legally import nuclear weapons manufacture equipment." Similarly in 1993, after a brutal February 28 BATF attack that killed six Davidians and a 51-day standoff due to FBI mismanagement of negotiations, Clinton was eager to end an embarrassing situation. Therefore he approved a dangerous FBI plan to assault a multiracial church filled with 23 children, 36 women and 34 men with gas and military tanks. He knew that the building was a firetrap filled with flammable fuels and lighted lanterns. During the April 19, 1993 attack a tank knocked over a lantern, causing a fire; 76 people trapped by tank debris or frightened of being shot by FBI snipers burned to death. The next day President Clinton claimed "some religious fanatics murdered themselves." Former White House FBI agent Gary Aldrich revealed in an October, 1998 speech: "Bill Clinton was embarrassed that he was not able to figure out what to do about David Koresh and Waco. It was becoming his hostage situation. He was being compared to Jimmy Carter. And so they wanted the Department of Justice to get rid of the mess...But the President told me to my face that he felt so bad about this =91mass suicide.'" The Academy Award nominated film "Waco: The Rules of Engagement," details evidence that BATF shot from helicopters, that FBI tanks started the fire and that federal agents shot at Branch Davidians during the fire. (Http://www.waco93.com) Clinton's bombing of Serbia and Kosovo has prompted Serb attacks on Kosovoan Albanians and the exodus of a million refugees. NATO bombings have killed hundreds of Albanians and Serbs and may yet lead to accidental or intentional nuclear war between Russia and the U.S. The Committee for Waco Justice, which has held over 20 protests in D.C. in the last six years, informs America that Waco was just a warning of the kind of Holocaust that may face the world because of Clinton's selfishness and recklessness. Call the numbers above for more information. - -- Carol Moore in D.C. CarolMoore@kreative.net http://www.kreative.net/carolmoore/Davidian-massacre.html http://www.kreative.net/carolmoore/C&C-news.html =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D MT. CARMEL SURVIVOURS SIXTH ANNUAL MEMORIAL SERVICE 9:00 A.M. Monday, APRIL 19, 1999 AT 1785 DOUBLE EE RANCH Rd. (Off FM 2491) MT. CARMEL, WACO, TEXAS Contact: (254) 799-7556 for more information. Directions and Map to the Mount Carmel Site... http://domain.flash.net/~wyla/events.htm =3D=3D=3D Directions To Mount Carmel: 1785 Double EE Ranch Road east if Waco. Take I-35 into Waco, Texas. Get Off at North Loop 340 (also known as: Lake Shore Dr.) Head East until you get to Farm Rd 2491. Turn Left onto Farm Road 2491. Go 8 to 9 miles until you get to the "Y" in the road. Veer Left at the "Y" and continue about 1`/2 mile to two blue water tanks. Turn Left onto EE Ranch Road. - - ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 19 Apr 99 15:33:44 PST From: roc@xpresso.seaslug.org (Bill Vance) Subject: About Politics (fwd) On Apr 19, Don Loftus wrote: [-------------------- text of forwarded message follows --------------------] I got this from a friend of mine and thought the folks here on the list would appreciate it. Don Loftus Gainesville, Fl - --------------------- Teach Your Child About Politics by Joseph Sobran Because I write about politics, people are forever asking me the best way to teach children how our system of government works. I tell them that they can give their own children a basic civics course right in their own homes. In my own experience as a father, I have discovered several simple devices that can illustrate to a child's mind the principles on which the modern state deals with its citizens. You may find them helpful too. For example, I used to play the simple card game WAR with my son. After a while, when he thoroughly understood that the higher ranking cards beat the lower ranking ones, I created a new game I called GOVERNMENT. In this game, I was Government, and I won every trick, regardless of who had the better card. My boy soon lost interest in my new game, but I like to think it taught him a valuable lesson for later in life. When your child is a little older, you can teach him about our tax system in a way that is easy to grasp. Offer him, say, $10 to mow the lawn. When he has mowed it and asks to be paid, withhold $5 and explain that this is income tax. Give $1 to his younger brother, and tell him that this is "fair". Also, explain that you need the other $4 yourself to cover the administrative costs of dividing the money. When he cries, tell him he is being "selfish" and "greedy". Later in life he will thank you. Make as many rules as possible. Leave the reasons for them obscure. Enforce them arbitrarily. Accuse your child of breaking rules you have never told him about. Keep him anxious that he may be violating commands you haven't yet issued. Instill in him the feeling that rules are utterly irrational. This will prepare him for living under democratic government. When your child has matured sufficiently to understand how the judicial system works, set a bedtime for him and then send him to bed an hour early. When he tearfully accuses you of breaking the rules, explain that you made the rules and you can interpret them in any way that seems appropriate to you, according to changing conditions. This will prepare him for the Supreme Court's concept of the U.S. Constitution as a "living document". Promise often to take him to the movies or the zoo, and then, at the appointed hour, recline in an easy chair with a newspaper and tell him you have changed your plans. When he screams, "but you promised!", explain to him that it was a campaign promise. Every now and then, without warning, slap your child. Then explain that this is defense. Tell him that you must be vigilant at all times to stop any potential enemy before he gets big enough to hurt you. This, too, your child will appreciate, not right at that moment, maybe, but later in life. At times your child will naturally express discontent with your methods. He may even give voice to a petulant wish that he lived with another family. To forestall and minimize this reaction, tell him how lucky he is to be with you the most loving and indulgent parent in the world, and recount lurid stories of the cruelties of other parents. This will make him loyal to you and, later, receptive to schoolroom claims that the America of the post modern welfare state is still the best and freest country on Earth. This brings me to the most important child-rearing technique of all: lying. Lie to your child constantly. Teach him that words mean nothing - or rather that the meanings of words are continually "evolving", and may be tomorrow the opposite of what they are today. Some readers may object that this is a poor way to raise a child. A few may even call it child abuse. But that's the whole point: Child abuse is the best preparation for adult life under our form of GOVERNMENT. [------------------------- end of forwarded message ------------------------] - -- - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ***** Blessings On Thee, Oh Israel! ***** - ----------------+----------+--------------------------+--------------------- An _EFFECTIVE_ | Insured | All matter is vibration. | Let he who hath no weapon in every | by COLT; | -- Max Plank | weapon sell his hand = Freedom | DIAL | In the beginning was the | garment and buy a on every side! | 1911-A1. | word. -- The Bible | sword.--Jesus Christ - ----------------+----------+--------------------------+--------------------- - - ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 19 Apr 99 22:46:28 PST From: roc@xpresso.seaslug.org (Bill Vance) Subject: Fw: EIA Communique - 4/19 (fwd) On Apr 19, Kevin McGehee wrote: [-------------------- text of forwarded message follows --------------------] - -----Original Message----- From: EducIntel@aol.com To: EducIntel@aol.com Date: Monday, April 19, 1999 2:27 PM Subject: EIA Communique - 4/19 The Education Intelligence Agency COMMUNIQU=C9 =97 April 19, 1999 Now on the Web at http://members.aol.com/educintel/eia + Measure for Measure: A Magnified Look at Standardized Test Scores is already receiving significant press attention. Rachel Smolkin of Scripps Howard News Service was the first to file, and stories have subsequently appeared in the Houston Chronicle, Rocky Mountain News, Bradenton Herald, Boston Herald and Albuquerque Journal. There's something for everyone in = it. Single copies are free and quickly available (although not electronically, I'm afraid) by contacting EIA. + NEA and AFT, as with most business and labor entities, usually see to = it that their rhetoric and revenue coincide. When they are at odds, it helps= to keep quiet about it and hope no one notices. Last week's item about NEA a= nd Nike was one example and this week, in the interest of fairness, we have = one for AFT. AFT has a business arrangement with BATNET, a full-service Internet provider. Through the company's "Affinity Marketplace," AFT members can s= hop on-line and receive a rebate for anything purchased in the members-only commerce area. BATNET has partnerships with a number of vendors. For each sale to a member, AFT receives a commission. Last week, OfficeMax, Inc. announced that it will be the exclusive office products retailer to BATNET's partners, including AFT. With 852 st= ores in 49 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, it's hardly surpri= sing that OfficeMax should be a front-runner for AFT's business. Nor is it surprising that AFT should enter into an agreement to supplement dues inc= ome. What may be surprising is that AFT would accept a commission on sales fro= m a company with 39,000 employees -- not a single one of whom is subject to a collective bargaining agreement. + EIA also detects some union schizophrenia on the topic of distance learning. Technological advances have created a boom in "virtual college" courses and training. And, as is usually the case, the technology has outpaced the rules and regulations governing its uses. The unions are evidently worried that on-line courses could lead to a reduction in the teaching force. AFT commissioned a study by the Institute for Higher Education Policy which concluded the rapid growth of on-line learning is not justified by = the results achieved thus far. "We think a lot of it is vendor-drive, not educator-driven," said AFT spokesman Jamie Horwitz. AFT then placed newsp= aper ads questioning distance learning. This prompted a San Francisco Chronicl= e editorial criticizing AFT for "big- money ad campaigns aimed at nonexiste= nt foes." NEA also got into the act, mailing a CD-ROM to its higher education members which is critical of distance learning. The union offers a comedi= c vision of "the market driven future" in which "MacCollege Inc." leases sp= ace in local malls and hires on-line faculty situated in the "low-wage Maquiladora area of Mexico." Other colleges have faculty members who hire "Screen Actors Guild agents to handle their appearances and negotiate the= ir residuals." But while NEA is yukking it up, some of its affiliates are embracing distance learning. The Ohio Education Association is offering two on-line courses for graduate credit through Ohio State University. The courses ar= e "Strategies for Daily Survival" and "Successful Grant Writing Procedures.= " The California Teachers Association announced, with much fanfare, a new partnership with OnlineLearning.net. The company will provide continuing higher education courses through UCLA. "Expanding the professional development opportunities for our members is a major priority for CTA," s= aid CTA President Lois Tinson. "We looked to OnlineLearning.net and UCLA Extension as leaders in this field to provide our members with top-qualit= y, relevant, and accessible development opportunities." + There isn't expected to be any problem getting the necessary votes to merge from the NEA and AFT affiliates in Florida. Most delegates are high= ly supportive of the plan. But even here, affiliation with the AFL-CIO remai= ns the biggest concern of those who aren't entirely sure. Officials of the Florida Teaching Profession-NEA have spent a great deal of time at region= al hearings trying to dispel that concern. Citing AFL-CIO's history, FTP-NEA claims its negative image is some sort of plot by, well, who else? "Through the media, management and administration interests have spotlighted a negative public view of the AFL-CIO and all unions," wrote FTP-NEA President Maureen Dinnen. "I believe such interests want to aboli= sh collective bargaining so they can dictate to employees." The union is als= o using an intriguing argument for AFL-CIO affiliation, saying "The unions = in AFL-CIO are made up of members who are the parents of our students." It's hard to see the point of that argument, since "the parents of our students" also include CEOs, right-wingers and evangelical Christians= -- not to mention that of every seven workers in America, six do not belong = to a union. Platitudes contributed to the defeat of national merger last year. Florida doesn't seem to have learned that hard lesson. + During his election campaign, California Gov. Gray Davis emphasized hi= s service in the military. Now, he's displaying what he learned during his = Army years -- for one thing, his understanding of the word "volunteer." Davis proposed that all students of the state's colleges and universities be required to perform voluntary community service. While generally supporti= ve of the idea, some union organizers are concerned that it may become a sou= rce of cheap labor. Attorneys, on the other hand, are already thinking about = the benefits of possible litigation. The Education Law Association recently published a book by Ronald T. Hyman entitled "Mandatory Community Service= in High School: The Legal Dimension." + The Charleston County (SC) School Board paid the IRS $550,000 in penal= ties over the last three years because it did not spend school bond money fast enough. In 1994, the board issued bonds for school construction and renovation, but did not spend the money within the two-year time limit. Federal law institutes a time limit to prevent districts from issuing bon= ds and then collecting interest on the money while it sits in the bank. "Everyone now is very much aware that we need to pay these bonds as quick= ly as possible," Jerry Hartley, director of business services, told the Charleston Post-Courier. + Quote of the Week: "People want change. I don't think they know exactl= y what that means." -- Milwaukee Teachers Education Association Executive Director Sam Carmen to Education Week, after all five union-backed candid= ates lost school board elections. # # # The Education Intelligence Agency conducts public education research, analysis and investigations. Director: Mike Antonucci. Ph: 916-422-4373. = Fax: 916-392-1482. E-Mail: EducIntel@aol.com [------------------------- end of forwarded message ------------------------] - -- - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ***** Blessings On Thee, Oh Israel! ***** - ----------------+----------+--------------------------+--------------------- An _EFFECTIVE_ | Insured | All matter is vibration. | Let he who hath no weapon in every | by COLT; | -- Max Plank | weapon sell his hand = Freedom | DIAL | In the beginning was the | garment and buy a on every side! | 1911-A1. | word. -- The Bible | sword.--Jesus Christ - ----------------+----------+--------------------------+--------------------- - - ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 20 Apr 99 09:37:10 PST From: roc@xpresso.seaslug.org (Bill Vance) Subject: URGENT: New online petition for privacy! (fwd) On Apr 19, List Manager wrote: [-------------------- text of forwarded message follows --------------------] URGENT: New petition for privacy now online! * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * You are receiving this URGENT BULLETIN because you registered at the DefendYourPrivacy.com web site and asked us to keep you informed. To remove yourself from our list, simply hit REPLY and put the word "unsubscribe" in the SUBJECT field. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Our online campaign against the FDIC's proposed "Know Your Customer" rule was an incredible success! More than 250,000 public comments were filed against this assault on financial privacy -- enough to stop it dead in its tracks. And, more than two-thirds of those comments were generated via http://www.DefendYourPrivacy.com. Thank you! However, the battle isn't over yet. As you probably have already discovered, the Federal Reserve's Bank Secrecy Act Compliance Manual pressures banks to develop policies similar to Know Your Customer -- policies that over 88% of banks have begun to implement. After the heat dies down, the Federal Reserve Board hopes that they can simply repackage Know Your Customer as "policy guidelines" instead of "regulations". We can't allow this to happen. Congressman Ron Paul has introduced two bills that would put an end to Know Your Customer once and for all: * The Know Your Customer Sunset Act (HR 516), which would prohibit Federal Banking agencies like the FDIC from implementing any form of Know Your Customer regulation. It already has over 50 cosponsors. * The Bank Secrecy Sunset Act (HR 518), which would sunset the reporting requirements of the Bank Secrecy Act -- the underlying legal authority for Know Your Customer regulations. . If enough Representatives cosponsor these bills, Congress will be forced to schedule public hearings. Given the broad-based opposition to Know Your Customer, there is a real chance of enacting at least one of the bills into law -- if we act now! We've launched a new online petition at http://www.DefendYourPrivacy.com to help build public opposition to Know Your Customer and pressure members of Congress to cosponsor HR 516 and HR 518. Like before, people who visit the site can sign an email petition, which will be immediately sent to their U.S. Representative, and their two U.S. Senators. They can also get additional information about Know Your Customer, The Bank Secrecy Act, HR 516, and HR 518; arrange to forward copies of the letter below to their friends and family; and read press releases and news articles about the regulation and the growing campaign to repeal it. We need you to do two things right now to make this campaign a success, and persuade members of Congress to cosponsor HR 516 and HR 518: 1) Please visit http://www.DefendYourPrivacy.com and sign the petition. 2) Forward the letter below to your friends and family. By triggering a chain reaction on this issue, we can generate hundreds of thousands of emails to Congress, and repeal Know Your Customer once and for all. While it is important that you forward this letter to anyone who might be interested, it is also important that we not engage in indiscriminate spamming. If at all possible, please address each message to the individual you're sending it to and put your name on it. Thank you for participating! - - - - - PLEASE SEND THE MESSAGE BELOW TO YOUR FRIENDS - - - - - - - I'm participating in an Internet campaign to repeal regulations from the federal government which will force your bank to spy on you, and I'd like to invite you to join me. Please forward this message to any friends, family, co-workers, neighbors, or other people you know who may be interested, then go to http://www.defendyourprivacy.com and sign the petition. It will be submitted directly to your Representative in the U.S. House. Plus, a copy will be sent to both your U.S. Senators. In December 1998, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) proposed a so-called "Know Your Customer" rule. If enacted, Know Your Customer would have required banks to monitor your checking and savings account, and report any "unusual transactions" to the federal government. This frightening threat to your financial privacy would have forced your bank to: * Discover your source of funds * Determine your "normal and expected transactions" * Report any "suspicious activity" to federal investigators However, in the face of overwhelming public opposition, generated in large part by an Internet campaign like this one, the FDIC withdrew their proposed Know Your Customer regulation. However, the battle isn't over yet. It turns out that the Federal Reserve's "Bank Secrecy Act Compliance Manual" pressures banks to develop policies similar to Know Your Customer, policies that over 88% of banks have begun to implement. After the heat dies down, the Federal Reserve Board plans to repackage Know Your Customer as "policy guidelines" instead of "regulations". The government claims it is trying to thwart money launderers and drug dealers. But what this law does is turn every bank teller into a government informer and everyone with a bank account into a criminal suspect. In a free society, the government has no business asking where you get your money or how you spend it -- and politicians have no right to force your bank to monitor your account. Know Your Customer doesn't need to be "repackaged" -- it needs to be repealed. Congressman Ron Paul has introduced the Know Your Customer Sunset Act (HR 516) and the Bank Secrecy Sunset Act (HR 518) that together will repeal existing Know Your Customer reporting requirements, and prevent any new KYC rules from being implemented. Together, these two bills will guarantee that our financial privacy will be respected. Over 250,000 outraged Americans flooded the FDIC with e-mails, letters, and faxes during Know Your Customer Round One -- and the FDIC backed down! Now we need to make sure Congress finishes the job by passing HR 516 & HR 518. Let's keep up the pressure! Please forward this e-mail to everyone you know who might be interested in helping. But please don't send it indiscriminately -- spam will only hurt our campaign. Then go to http://www.DefendYourPrivacy.com and sign the petition. Thank you. [------------------------- end of forwarded message ------------------------] - -- - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ***** Blessings On Thee, Oh Israel! ***** - ----------------+----------+--------------------------+--------------------- An _EFFECTIVE_ | Insured | All matter is vibration. | Let he who hath no weapon in every | by COLT; | -- Max Plank | weapon sell his hand = Freedom | DIAL | In the beginning was the | garment and buy a on every side! | 1911-A1. | word. -- The Bible | sword.--Jesus Christ - ----------------+----------+--------------------------+--------------------- - - ------------------------------ End of roc-digest V2 #231 *************************