Who picks what is cut by "Sequestration 2013"?

Huffington Post sent me an amazing list of cuts in Maryland that “Sequestration 2013” would bring. Who picks some of these utterly dumb cuts? Is there not something more worthy of the ax?

Can the mighty US really crumble into pieces because of an $85bn lowering of its budgeted growing fiscal expenses? It could be, because from what I read everywhere, they seem to be intent to cut many of the last things that should be cut.

Call 1-877-JOE-4-OIL

If there are Venezuelans going through horrible darkness, as surely there are, and they can't find a job, and the prices of the essentials only go up, perhaps they should give a little call, asking for a little help, to former United States Senator Joseph P. Kennedy II, at 1-877-JOE-4-OIL

The JOE that, by way of a “Citizens Heating Energy Program”, is dedicated to a fabulous job of helping the poor in various American cities.

On the website of that organization we find, for example, the following testimonials:

Laura Austin: "Throughout the entire process I found a staff who was attentive and able to listen to our misfortunes and always ready with helping hands."

Tonya Wilson: "God uses people and organizations like yours as a blessing to those in need and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thanks to you, we are able to stay warm on cold winter nights."

Karin Paine: "Four days ago, I ran out of oil. Two days later, I received my voucher. It brought tears to my eyes because now I can continue to recover from very serious surgery and not worry about how to stay warm."

However, the point is that according to the expensive television spots that are broadcast every so often, this program is announced as financed by Citgo, the Venezuelan people and by the currently absent Cacique on duty... and that last thing makes me angry. Even when you accept that Citgo may have an advertising interest, when it comes down to it, the program is financed exclusively by the Venezuelan people.

The absent Cacique, as a Venezuelan citizen, what he has put in is only about a thirty millionth part of our barrels and, the Venezuelan people, everything, everything else. So, what right does that Cacique have to do so much publicity for himself with what belongs to others?

Am I complaining about that JOE? Not! He also takes advantage of this program for personal advertising, but who can complain about someone helping their own, even when is is done at the expense of others.

During the week Venezuela has devalued the official rate of the bolivar, which is not the same as a devaluation of the bolivar, since that presumes that such official rate was a reflection of the real value of our bolivar, and that is not. The bolivar rate is the result of dividing all the bolivars used in Venezuela by all the dollars purchased. The fact that we do not know that rate, because some do not want it to be known, does not make it any less certain. Moreover, reducing what is given away via the official rate may even result in a revaluation of the real bolivar.

And another lie that circulates is the one that says that the poor are the ones who will suffer the most from the devaluation of the official rate, and as if the poor were the ones who would have benefited the most from an exchange system, which could have been justified. in a moment of acute crisis, it is maintained only on account of its usefulness to extort favors, and allow enrichment that is definitely not that of the poor.

I had always been a defender that the country should operate with its own currency, since not doing so would mean sacrificing a very useful monetary policy instrument in times of crisis. However, the continued ineptitude of our governments has led me to think that perhaps we should become dollarized, or since the dollar may also be somewhat doubtful, distribute our oil results in gold morocotas among the citizens.

Translated from El Universal

https://www.citizensenergy.com/meet-the-team

 

The Nobel Prize Committee should do an ego check on the candidates.

Perhaps the Nobel Prize Committee should previously to awarding the Nobel Prize do an ego check. If the candidate is going to be humbled by the prize that is Ok but, if this is going to inflate his ego too much, it might better refrain from awarding him the prize. 

When I look around I find it amazing how often Nobel Prize winners, with egos inflated by the Nobel Prize so often opine straight bullshit, on issues completely outside of what made them be Nobel Prize winners, and even so are listened to, only because they are Nobel Prize winners. 

And this clearly creates more dangers than the benefits implicit in recognizing big minds.

Alternatively the Nobel Prize Committee should reserve itself the right to ask for the return of the Nobel Prize, though not the prize money.