Chicago violence.

Let's see what I find on the 'net.

So someone thinks Chicago should be patrolled by the National Guard.  Not surprising though none of this has, so far, made the Chicago news.  The police superintendent and the mayor have been trying to convince everyone that violent crime is really down but the news undercuts that message.  We general listen very closely when the statistics are touted because you have to understand exactly what the numbers mean.  After a very nasty weekend over the 4th the police spokespeople assured everyone that murders were down year over year.  They gave the impression that all violent crime was down.  Not necessarily.   But I am very ambivalent about having military units exercising police power.  I don't like the continuing militarization of our society.

I love the Olde Crone's twist on an old joke.  Enjoy the giggle.

Why don't we hear that some Senators are proposing that Head Start or Medicaid be exempted from the effects of the sequester?

I saw the stories last year pitting Dr. Oz and Dr. Besser (CBS expert) on the questions of how much arsenic was in apple juice and the potential damage such juice posed, especially to children.  At the time the experts agreed to disagree and advocate more study.  I guess the FDA finally decided to establish the same standards for the juice as for water.

So the Chinese are going to try to do something about the pollution around Beijing.  I am interested in seeing how that turns out since demanding that heavily polluting industries cut their emissions 30% over the next three years.  China's GDP growth has slowed since 2008.  I wonder how they are going to balance economic growth with cutting pollution.

Oh, my!!  Does this mean the IRS targeted left wing/liberal groups as well as the Tea Party/right wingers???  Sounds like they don't like any politically active groups much.

I find it amazing how easily companies get extensions for complying with laws.  Earlier this month companies were given till the end of next year to comply with the Obamacare regulations and now foreign banks have another six months to give up records of Americans who may be sheltering assets from the tax man.  Some animals are more equal than others.

I remember reading The Descent of Woman a very long time ago.  The author, Elaine Morgan, died at age 92.  The book was fascinating.  The notion that she pissed off a lot of male anthropologists was absolutely wonderful.

Saw something about this on BBC this morning.  Makes sense.  Technology always has downsides no matter how much convenience they provide.  Evidently the Kremlin isn't the only proponent of old tech.  Old manual typewriters that use fabric ribbon are selling like hotcakes and those who repair them are doing great business.

Remember what I said about carefully examining statistics.  This article reinforces that.  There is a big difference between creating 195k "jobs" and creating full-time bread winner jobs.  As my dad always said: figures don't lie but liars sure can figure.