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Libertarian Saturday!
Author: TriSec    Date: 01/19/2008 11:25:54

Good Morning!

Well, if it's before 7am on a Saturday, that can only mean one thing. Your Loyal TriSec is off to donate platelets.
The separation of individual blood components is done with a specialized centrifuge (see apheresis). The earliest manual forms of plateletpheresis are done by the separation of platelets from multiple bags of whole blood collected from donors or blood sellers. Since each blood bag (usually 250 ml or 500 ml) contains a relatively small number of platelets, it can take as many as a dozen blood bags (usually from 5 to 10 bags, depending on the size of the blood bags and each donor's platelet count) to accumulate a single unit of platelets (enough for one patient). This greatly increases the risks of the transfusion. Each unit of platelets separated from donated whole blood is called a "platelet concentrate".

Modern automatic plateletpheresis allows the blood donor to give a portion of his platelets, while keeping his or her red blood cells and at least a portion of blood plasma. Therefore, no more than three units of platelets are generally harvested in any one sitting from a donor. Most donors will donate a "single" or "double" unit, however the occurence of "triples" has been increasing as more suitable donors are recruited.

Because platelets have a life-span of just 5 days, more platelet donors are always needed. Some centers are experimenting with 7 day platelets, but this requires additional testing and the lack of any preservative solutions means that the product is far more effective when fresh.

Even though red blood cells can also be collected in the process, most blood donation organizations do not do so because it takes much longer for the human body to replenish their loss. If the donor donates both red blood cells and platelets, it takes months, rather than days or weeks, before they are allowed to donate again (the guidelines regarding blood donation intervals are country-specific).

In most cases, blood plasma is returned to the donor as well. However, in locations that have plasma processing facilities, a part of the donor's plasma can also be collected in a separate blood bag (see plasmapheresis).

I've been a longtime blood donor, and was just starting on my fifth gallon when I switched over to platelets...if you're already donating, why not give it a try?



In other news, you heard about the $800 or $1600 that the 'president' wants to give everyone in the hopes that we'll all go out and buy HDTVs with that, right? Well, that's not much of a stimulus package, is it?
Washington, D.C. - A $145 billion dollar stimulus package called for by President Bush is more for show than solving current economic woes, says the Libertarian Party. "The President's economic stimulus plan fails to address the real mechanisms for economic growth," says Libertarian Party Executive Director Shane Cory.

"The proposed package is nothing but a multi-billion dollar dog and pony show," says Cory. "It's a cash advance on taxes not yet paid, which passes the debt to future taxpayers. It's not good for the economy, and it won't help."

The proposed economic stimulus package provides tax rebates with the hope that the money is injected into the economy by consumer spending. Bush has called the package a "short-term" solution to economic troubles. The price tag of the stimulus package is expected to range between $140 to $145 billion dollars.

"The government operates much too slowly for these so called 'short-term' solutions to have any impact," says Andrew Davis, national media coordinator for the Libertarian Party. "By the time the government acts, their reason for acting has come and gone. Instead, the government should be focusing on long-term stimuli like reduction in personal income taxes or capital gains taxes, which truly encourage business investment and growth."

The Libertarian Party suggests that cutting taxes that discourage business investment is the best solution to an economic slowdown. However, the Libertarian Party says that cuts in spending must match tax cuts, or else the government will continue to take on debt. Under the Bush administration, this has yet to happen.

"What we don't want to see is the government scrambling for solutions that make the problems worse," Cory concludes. "We should be focused on real solutions and not just window dressing."


How about this....say we cut the payroll tax so that I take home $1600 more in my paycheck, and so we don't lose any revenue, we shift that tax to the top 2%, who won't even notice the difference?



Let's drift the bus close to the ditch today and do a little 'witnessing for Liberty'...you've probably been railing against government intrusion into your life for quite some time now, and I bet you're looking for a good candidate that will start to roll this back. But pay attention to their language. Are they really saying anything different? Well, you can. Just think of how much more sinister and chilling things would sound if you called them the "government sector" instead of the "public sector". It sure helps to illustrate the government intrusion into our lives, doesn't it?
Words matter. That's why defenders of Big Government choose the words they do.

Words make a difference in what we think and how we think about it. They affect our attitudes toward the subject.

Take the word "public." It has several different meanings. It can mean "open to all." Or a group of people -- as in "the public."

But "public" is also used as a synonym for "government." And this meaning and use of the word "public" is designed to make us feel better toward government and its actions.

Private sector businesses are funded by private investments. They are not funded by taxes or run by government. If private sector businesses go belly-up, the investors lose their money. And workers lose their jobs. If they make a profit, their investors make money -- and workers keep their jobs.

Public sector institutions and activities are different. They are owned and operated by government. Given government privileges and protections against private competitors. They are funded by taxes.

Walmart stores, 7/11 stores, and other retail businesses are open to the public. Anyone can come in and buy stuff. But they're privately owned and operated. They're not owned or operated by government. Not funded by taxes.

Public schools are different. They are open to the public. But they are tax-funded and government-run. Regulated and managed by government. Books, curriculum, teachers, and rules are all decided by governmental bodies.

"Public" does not correctly describe government institutions and activities. Does not accurately portray the government-run, government-franchised, or tax-funded nature of these institutions and activities. Does not fairly present institutions not funded and supported by voluntary choice and free exchange. The exact word, the correct word is "government."

Let's call a rose a rose. And a thorn a thorn.

Call it "the government sector," NOT "the public sector." Correctly define the alternatives: government sector or private sector.

Call them "government employees," NOT "public service employees."

Call it "government service," NOT "public service."

Call it "a government-held business," NOT a "publicly-held business."

Some well-worn, common phrases are harder to shift from "public" to "government."

It's very hard to change "public schools" to "government schools." I've tried and tested a number of different ways to shift from "public" to "government" and I've found one way that works pretty well. The most effective phrasing is "government-run public schools." The second best is "government-run, tax-funded public schools."

It's also hard to change "public utilities" to "government utilities." Try "government-run public utilities."

But don't just change the word from "public" to "government." Tell your listeners why. Tell them the difference between private sector businesses that are open to the public and government sector institutions that are open to the public.

Contrast "privately-held" and "government-held." Contrast "privately-funded" and "government-funded, i.e., tax-funded."

Ask if your distinctions make sense to those you talk with. Then ask them why.

Over time, many of the people you talk with will adopt your terminology. They will substitute "government" for "public" in their conversations. They will explain why. And they will open their listeners' minds to an accurate understanding of Big Government.

Big Government has earned its reputation of waste, wreck, and ruin. Help them reap what they've sowed.

That's one way to help the public grasp the true costs and consequences of the government sector.




We'll leave it at that today...

After blood this morning, I'm heading out with the Cub Scouts to see an undefeated local sports team. (You wish!) It's the Bentley Falcons, who will be taking on Saint Rose College this afternoon across the river from our humble abode.


 

44 comments (Latest Comment: 01/20/2008 19:13:01 by Raine)
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Comment by BobR on 01/19/2008 14:12:46
Ah... Libertarian Saturday... A small dose of common-sense. The perfect accompaniment to a cup of joe... :coffee:

Comment by velveeta jones on 01/19/2008 16:53:34
Morning all.

Velveeta will be in and out today, working on some film editing for a small project - with hopes/dreams of it becoming a large project in the future. Rendering the film takes awhile. zzzzzzz.



Great blog TriSec. I have never donated blood platelets and I should (bad me). At our local Red Cross, each person can lay in a comfy bed and watch a DVD while doing it. Not too bad, I suppose.



Comment by Mondobubba on 01/19/2008 17:04:38
g'morn/afternoon mon brogger pleeps.

Comment by livingonli on 01/19/2008 17:23:08
*Grunt* Stumbles out of bed.



I conked out at 2:30 last night and pretty much laid in bed until 11 AM.

Comment by velveeta jones on 01/19/2008 17:47:50
Hmmm, cheese!

This afternoon will be: Grafton Village Classic Reserve 2 year old cheddar and Meadow Farms Mountaineer artisan cheese. Hmmmmmm, Cheeeeese......

Comment by TriSec on 01/19/2008 19:25:49
Passing through on the way to Bentley...



I have it on good authority that members of the Atlanta contingent are front and center at an Edwards rally as I type this!!!



Surely, there will be pictures later?? :modbat:





Comment by livingonli on 01/19/2008 20:00:33
Someone can always drop a few gentle hints and pokes.

Comment by velveeta jones on 01/19/2008 20:42:51
OH. MY.GAWD (or XENU)

Does anyone else know this true story of scientology? Weird shit:









Comment by livingonli on 01/19/2008 21:28:06
Quote by velveeta jones: OH. MY.GAWD (or XENU)

Does anyone else know this true story of scientology? Weird shit:









From the South Park episode: I think a lot of it is.



But still notning as funny as everyone trying to get Tom (and John Travolta) to come out of the closet.

Comment by Mondobubba on 01/19/2008 21:28:55
Quote by TriSec: Passing through on the way to Bentley...



I have it on good authority that members of the Atlanta contingent are front and center at an Edwards rally as I type this!!!



Surely, there will be pictures later?? :modbat:









The Atlanta contingent says pictures were sent to a certain blog member for posting, but I don't see anything yet. :modbat:





re: My Subaru question you can either phone me of post to the blog. I'm not picky.

Comment by livingonli on 01/19/2008 22:04:42
And Shillary has won the Nevada caucus.

Comment by velveeta jones on 01/19/2008 23:46:49
Quote by livingonli: And Shillary has won the Nevada caucus.








Comment by Raine on 01/20/2008 00:00:49
:banana: I got to touch him!!1 YES YES YES!!!! we were right there in the front. his campaign took my friends Lainas name and Mine for photos referance later!



PLUS!!!!!!!!! Laina got to ask John edwards a question about NCLB... It was filemed by the local media!!!







Comment by Raine on 01/20/2008 00:03:19
The man is SOOOO presidential, so well spoken and so very very inspiring!



(plus, he wears jeans VERY nicely) we figure thee crowd in the union hall was 4-500 people -- even though it was snowing all day in the atl~!!!!!!



CNN was there adn we watched his speech on the TV all over again!

Comment by BobR on 01/20/2008 00:25:59
Pictures, as promised:



http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa213/FourFreedoms/edwardsspeech2_a.jpg






Comment by BobR on 01/20/2008 00:26:21
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa213/FourFreedoms/edwardsspeech1_a.jpg


Comment by BobR on 01/20/2008 00:27:02
After giving his speech, he waded out into the crowd to shake hands....



http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa213/FourFreedoms/edwardsincrowd_a.jpg


Comment by BobR on 01/20/2008 00:28:18
He came back out for a media interview. Most of the people had left at this point. After I took this picture, I stood almost directly behind him and held up my sign while he did the media thing....



http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa213/FourFreedoms/edwardsinterview_a.jpg


Comment by Raine on 01/20/2008 00:34:45
Serious F*cking question here... how can John edwards who polled at 27% 2 days ago in nevada only be getting 4%?????





Comment by Raine on 01/20/2008 00:38:23
I have been dancing and singing ... I got to tOUch him, I got to meet him!!! :banana:

Comment by Raine on 01/20/2008 00:45:53
Names Redacted, link here.

Edwards supporters bullied in Nevada

1/19/2008 at 5:30 PM EST



The night before the Nevada caucus, the Clinton Precinct Captain stopped by my home. She said she knew I was leaning towards John Edwards.



She went on to say that the Edwards people were already pulling out and asked that I join Hillary because, like Richardson, Edwards would not be a viable candidate. (Imagine - she actually compared John to Richardson) The Hillary supporter also said that she didn't think our precinct had a captain for Edwards.



Yet, I knew John would not be giving up. The Hillary people have a lot of nerve pretending that John is not even in the race. He easily won the debate. Nevada should have showed him more support. Instead, I wonder how many people decided to support Hillary or Barack only because they were told that John didn't have a chance. I know this was happening because my own mother fell into this category. She ended up supporting Edwards only because I called and told her she shouldn't support one of the other candidates merely because she didn't think John would win. The caucus system would take care of that. Others may not have given him a chance, due only to people spreading lies.



When me and my husband arrived at the caucus sight, we were surprised that there was no section set up for uncommitted voters. I wanted to talk to the uncommitted people and tell them how we need John to represent us, the American people. Instead, I had to put up with Hillary and Barack supporters booing and yelling and making ugly comments as I attempted to find out if there were any undecideds among them. I did indeed find some, but it was very difficult to sway anyone, or even attempt to sway anyone, surrounded by these other candidates' supporters. By the way, our precinct only needed 8 people for John to be a viable candidate. I strongly believe that we would have had a chance to get those 8 if there had been an uncommitted section.



The worst part of the caucus was having to leave the John Edwards section and move over to the Obama section. I truly believe John is the right man for the job, but Obama was the best second choice. Still, it was hard to give up. For some, it was even more difficult. Me and my husband had already decided our second choice, while others had not. For those among the Edwards supporters who had not made up their minds for a second candidate, the Clinton and Obama supporters made their decision extremely difficult. One lady was completely surrounded by members of both groups and successfully driven to tears. She ended up leaving without turning in her preference slip.



Lastly, after moving, I stood next to an Obama supporter who was practically laughing at the aforementioned Edwards supporter, for being overcome by emotion. It made me nauseous. But, she said something that made me chuckle. She said that she, the Edwards supporter, should have known this was coming and made up her mind. She said she should have known from watching tv! I told her that some people don't believe everything the tv tells them. Her response - "How did you find out about the caucus then?"



In the end, I thought the caucus was an ugly experience and I wish John well in other states. Nevada is definitely driven by the media. It sounds like tv ads may have been the way to go, in Nevada.




:grumble: Why am I not surprised?

Comment by Raine on 01/20/2008 00:50:50
Comment by Raine on 01/20/2008 00:56:10
Fred woke up and is giving a speech on CNN

Comment by Raine on 01/20/2008 00:59:23
I am so dissapointed in Bill Clinton.

Just minutes before local voters entered one of the controversial casino-based caucus sites at the Mirage resort Saturday morning, former president Bill Clinton made a surprise visit to personally lobby voters on behalf of his wife and to accuse her pro-Barack Obama union opponents of deliberately intimidating and misdirecting potential caucusers



The former president then entered the caucus site ballroom setting off a polarized, passionate exchange of shouts and chants between supporters of his wife Hillary Clinton and those of Obama, bringing forth charges from some voters that it was Clinton himself who was engaged in intimidation.



As caucusers lined up outside the Mirage ballroom, Clinton mingled with the crowd hugging whomever was in reach and avidly urging those present to support Hillary Clinton. He told The HuffPost that his wife's campaign staff had been "flooded" with complaints from hotel workers throughout the city that they have been "rescheduled" and "reassigned [by the union] and told they could not vote until November."



In dialog with the HuffPost, Clinton charged at least three times that the Culinary Workers Union, which endorsed Obama, was deliberately trying to suppress votes of pro-Clinton union members. "We hope there won't be so much of this that she won't be competitive," he said, referring to his wife's chances of winning today's Democratic caucus.


Comment by Mondobubba on 01/20/2008 01:13:49
Quote by Raine: I got to touch him!!1 YES YES YES!!!! we were right there in the front. his campaign took my friends Lainas name and Mine for photos referance later!



PLUS!!!!!!!!! Laina got to ask John edwards a question about NCLB... It was filemed by the local media!!!











:squels like a middle school girl: Ohh don't evey wash that hand again! :cracks gum, flips hair: Ohhhh maah gawd!

Comment by livingonli on 01/20/2008 01:20:19
What the fuck is with the Clintons? Not only do they support Republican policies but they seem to be embracing Republican tactics to win the nomination. Are they following the Karl Rove playbook? If she gets the nomination, we might as well have four more years of Republican rule. Fuck her.

Comment by BobR on 01/20/2008 01:28:44
Tweety interviewing Romney on the TV. We just recorded this off of the TV:







Red star??? WTF???

Comment by starling310 on 01/20/2008 03:16:02
Ummm....if it ends up being a Clinton/McCain race, I would ask that someone expeditiously put a gun to my head.



Comment by Raine on 01/20/2008 03:20:24
The local Fox news is going to do a report on edwards vist! they said and I quote: "coming up next, large crowds attendJohn edwards in Atlanta." !!!!! :banana:

Comment by Raine on 01/20/2008 03:21:12
but first... the local Fox weather guy who looks like a pedophile...

Comment by Raine on 01/20/2008 03:22:57
Quote by BobR: Tweety interviewing Romney on the TV. We just recorded this off of the TV:







Red star??? WTF???


Hey... this shot of mitt looks like the devil took his soul... they say the cameria adds 10 pounds, but I thik the camera relveals the sellout of ones soul.... :P

Comment by Raine on 01/20/2008 03:24:28
Quote by starling310: Ummm....if it ends up being a Clinton/McCain race, I would ask that someone expeditiously put a gun to my head.

we must make sure that this does need to EVER be considered.



Comment by livingonli on 01/20/2008 03:31:29
Quote by starling310: Ummm....if it ends up being a Clinton/McCain race, I would ask that someone expeditiously put a gun to my head.



If worse comes to worse, there's always Canada. :canada:

Comment by Raine on 01/20/2008 04:12:23
John made the local CBS station as well!!!

Comment by livingonli on 01/20/2008 04:17:22
Woo-Hoo!

Now if we could just get the rest of the M$M to stop deciding who our candidates should be.

Comment by Raine on 01/20/2008 04:35:02
If you migh tlike to see... This is almost what we got to hear in the ATl..



It is a bit different than what John has been saying, and totally more ispiring...







Comment by livingonli on 01/20/2008 16:06:59
Edwards is on CNN right now with Wolf Blitzer.

Comment by Raine on 01/20/2008 16:56:03
Comment by velveeta jones on 01/20/2008 17:21:16
Morning all,

I attempted to post a Sunday blog.........with no luck.

I IM'd you, Raine, also with no luck.





Comment by Raine on 01/20/2008 17:22:38
Tick tick tick.... Countdown to 3 o'clock!!!



What is the temp in NE today?

Comment by Raine on 01/20/2008 17:23:34
Quote by velveeta jones: Morning all,

I attempted to post a Sunday blog.........with no luck.

I IM'd you, Raine, also with no luck.



OH no!



Hang on!



Comment by livingonli on 01/20/2008 17:25:00
BTW, Raine, the Rangers and Bruins are on NBC at 12:30 PM.

Comment by Raine on 01/20/2008 17:29:58
My IM is on and working!

Comment by Raine on 01/20/2008 19:13:01
Sunday Blog is up, and it where I will be at 3 pm!!!