JJG Journal

but in science we have a way of deciding whose theory about the world around us is closer to the truth: It’s called the Scientific Method whose hallmark is the comparison of predictions to the actually observed results. So if you have a World View that consistently predicts events that conflict with actually observed facts on the ground you need to discard or modify that World View. Thus if, for example, you predict that you can overthrow the government of a nation militarily, that you will in fact be welcomed...Continue Reading »

Conflict resolution starts with an understanding of what motivates both parties. According to President Obama, the U.S. motivation in Afghanistan is “National Security”. He closed his address on 1 December 2009 at West Point with this:

…So, no, I do not make this decision lightly. I make this decision because I am convinced that our security is at stake in Afghanistan and Pakistan…President Obama, 1 December 2009 at West Point.

During his speech the President conflated Al Qaeda (of which there are less than 100 in Afghanistan at...Continue Reading »

The above refers to the so-called Financial Sector in our economy. By Financial Sector I mean Banks and other lending and trading institutions and the Stock markets whose sole purpose is to efficiently aid the flow of capital within society. Efficient allocation of capital and resources is important for the production of good and services that improve the lives of all citizens within an industrial society. Today, the welfare of the Banks is of paramount importance to our government. Big Banks must not fail, but it is ok for the U.S. car manufacturing sector to go down. There is a revolving door...Continue Reading »

Old enough to remember the Iran-Contra scandal? You’ll enjoy this clip…wait until the end….

For obvious reasons, apart from children and the mentally retarded no one watches commercial TV anymore. My son told me he tried to watch “Borat” on commercial TV once, but due to FAA censorship it was a completely different movie than the original. I can well believe that. Some good material is broadcast via commercial TV but if you are going to sit through hours of commercials to catch minutes of your favorite show, you desperately need a life or brain. Best show on commercial TV at this point has to be the Jon Stewart Show. This clip is particularly funny

Have not updated this journal for a while due to a) temporary loss of interest in blogging, b) several programming projects, c) too much sex. One of these reasons is made up. But anyway, my son plays guitar in a local band (see this for more), and his almost new Fender Frontman 212 amp blew out recently. I did not have the time to take it apart for a couple of days and thus ordered a used, vintage ...Continue Reading »

America Is Becoming Less Christian, Less Religious.

The state of Israel is committing moral suicide by adopting Nazi-style methods of aerial bombing of civilian populations and subsequent collective punishment. Not easy to watch a democratically elected government behave like this. The recent Israeli election has seen the country shift further to the right, with Radical extremist Avigdor Lieberman emerging as the kingmaker in forming the next Israeli government. His agenda: bombing Iran, crushing Hamas in Gaza, stopping negotiations and cracking down on Israeli Arabs...Continue Reading »

Jon Stewart and the writers of his show do just that…