A Right Old Mess!

“Fight Against Stupidity And Bureaucracy”

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It seems there is no end to the political hypocrisy that has taken over our well surveilled world.

I wrote a post a few days ago about the Belgian government wanting Skype to hand over confidential customer data. I called it ‘Taking A Swipe At Skype’ (if you want to read it click here )

In a previous post called, ‘What Is The German Word For Hypocrite?’ (if you want to read that one click here) I had a bit of rant against the hypocrisy of Germen Chancellor Angela Merkel who professed great anxiety publicly about the Americans snooping in on her phone calls while she and her intelligence agencies were in cahoots with the US to spy on other European countries.

Now a week or so later the two stories have merged with yet another piece of hypocrisy, this time by the Belgians who have announced that they are starting an official investigation into allegations that Belgium’s telecommunications networks were spied on by a consortium of German and American intelligence agencies.

In other words, it is okay for the Belgians to snoop on Skype users, but not okay when someone else wants to snoop on the Belgians.

If that’s not another good example of hypocrisy I don’t know what is.

Specifically the targets in Belgian sights are the United States National Security Agency and Germany’s Bundesnach-richtendienst (BND) and an operation that they referred to as ‘EIKONAL’.

The Belgians found out about the snooping when Austrian politician Peter Pilz blew his whistle at a press conference in Bern, Switzerland, saying that EIKONAL had targeted European telecommunications carriers for at least four years, from 2005 to 2008.

Spokesmen for the Belgian government have said that if the alleged espionage is confirmed, it would have “not only legal implications, but will also affect relations between Belgium, Germany and the US”. It also threatened to “take appropriate action” but didn’t specify what that would be – they probably don’t know yet.

Needless to say, the governments of Switzerland and the Netherlands were not amused by the revelations either and immediately launched their own investigations into this thing called ‘EIKONAL’.

It’s all turning into what they call “a right old mess”.

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The Government Just Doesn’t Get It – “Affordable” Means You Can Actually Afford It!

“Fight Against Stupidity And Bureaucracy”

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The Sunday Sermon

So there are more difficulties plaguing the implementation of the Affordable Care Act.

Now there’s a shocker folks!

I’ve already highlighted the mess that the government has made in trying to bring it’s computer systems online to enable enrollment in the new program. (See “What Am I” post from about a month ago)

Now people who thought they were already adequately insured are finding that this may not be the case, at least not for much longer. The private insurance issue is affecting lots and lots of people all over America, particularly those who were trying to be responsible and had adequate insurance for themselves and their families.

Most of them bought their insurance on the open market. Obama promised that would still be secure after his new Affordable Care Act was implemented.

He said, “If you like your health care plan, you can keep your health care plan.”

He lied.

Obama’s new law actually outlaws all but a small percentage of “grandfathered” individual insurance policies and requires carriers to instead offer coverage that is more comprehensive.

And there’s more trouble ahead. In 2018, an Obamacare tax on high-cost insurance plans kicks in and could cause upheaval in that part of the market as well.

The truth is that the law was designed to gradually eliminate the old system altogether.

The result?

All across the country those who thought they had adequate insurance are being issued with notices from insurers explaining that their plans are ending. Ending thanks to the Affordable Care Act.

It has understandably caused confusion, fear, anxiety and a great deal of anger.

Losing health insurance can be a terrifying possibility in America. Particularly as one gets older and policies are more difficult and expensive to replace.  

So is this the last of the Obamacare problems?

I think it would be a very safe bet to say no it won’t.

Affordable Health Care is a laudable goal. I’ve always said that. But the way to tackle it is to make the existing system more affordable by curbing the excessive profiteering of drug companies and medics, not burdening this and future generations of ordinary Americans with another government white elephant that the country can’t afford.

Unfortunately the government just doesn’t get it – “affordable” means you can actually afford it!

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More Stuff You Maybe Didn’t Know

“Fight Against Stupidity And Bureaucracy”

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It’s fascinating fact day on the fasab blog.

Another random selection of stuff you maybe didn’t know and possibly didn’t know you didn’t know.

But now you will.

Enjoy.

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The fight scene on top of the train in Skyfall

was actually filmed on top of a real moving train

and Daniel Craig did not use a stunt double

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The last Woolly Mammoths lived at the same time

as the Egyptians were building the pyramids

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Because metal was scarce during World War II,

it wasn’t the acting but the Oscars given out that were wooden.

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Mexico City sinks about 10 inches a year

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In 2001 Beaver College changed its name

to Arcadia in part because anti-porn filters

blocked access to the school’s website.

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On average, 100 people choke to death

on ball-point pens every year.

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Negative emotions such as anxiety and depression

can weaken your immune system.

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“Entomophagy” is the name used to describe the fact that people eat insects,

a practice that has been going on for centuries throughout

Africa, Australia, Asia, the Middle East, and North, Central and South America,

because many bugs are both protein-rich and good sources of vitamins, minerals and fats.

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One in fourteen women in America is a natural blonde.

Only one in sixteen men is.

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Next Bugatti SuperVeyron will reach 60 mph in 1.8 seconds

at a maximum speed of 288 mph or 463 km/hr

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98% of all murders and rapes are by a

close family member or friend of the victim.

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The H Bomb leaves no blood when it is used,

only a 20 km radius of radioactive ash.

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British People Are Drunk in 76% of Facebook Photos

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Bats always turn left when exiting a cave.

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Men grow ear hair as they get older, women don’t

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An ant always falls over on its right side when intoxicated.

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Bananas contain a natural chemical that can make a person happy.

This is the same chemical found in Prozac.

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Boeing 747’s wing span is longer than the Wright brother’s first flight.

The Wright brother’s invented the airplane.

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Tigers have striped skin, not just striped fur.

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The United States sent 813 men, 27 helicopters and

nuclear capable bombers to cut down a tree in the Korean DMZ.

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If It Exists You Can Be Sure Somebody Will Be Afraid Of It, Phobias Part Three

“Fight Against Stupidity And Bureaucracy”

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Another amusing yet astonishing list of the phobias that some people have to the most ordinary and mundane things. The title really is true, if it exists you can be sure somebody will be afraid of it. 

Today we have ‘D’ to ‘G’. 

Although if you have Diarrheaphobia, Dystychiphobia and Dromophobia and the nearest toilet is across the street then you may be in trouble. Read on and you’ll find out why.

Enjoy.

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Decidophobia ………. fear of making decisions.

 

Defecaloesiophobia ………. fear of painful bowels movements.

 

Deipnophobia ………. fear of dining or dinner conversations.

 

Dementophobia ………. fear of insanity.

 

Demonophobia or Daemonophobia ………. fear of demons.

 

Demophobia ………. fear of crowds. (Agoraphobia)

 

Dendrophobia ………. fear of trees.

 

Dentophobia ………. fear of dentists.

 

Dermatophobia ………. fear of skin lesions.

 

Dermatosiophobia or Dermatophobia or Dermatopathophobia ………. fear of skin disease.

 

Dextrophobia ………. fear of objects at the right side of the body.

 

Diabetophobia ………. fear of diabetes.

 

Diarrheaphobia ………. fear of getting diarrhea, usually accompanied with the fear of not being able to get to a bathroom in time, and of making a mess.

 

Didaskaleinophobia ………. fear of going to school.

 

Dikephobia ………. fear of justice.

 

Dinophobia ………. fear of dizziness or whirlpools.

 

Diplophobia ………. fear of double vision.

 

Dipsophobia ………. fear of drinking.

 

Dishabiliophobia ………. fear of undressing in front of someone.

 

Disposophobia ………. fear of throwing stuff out. Hoarding.

 

Domatophobia ………. fear of houses or being in a house.(Eicophobia, Oikophobia)

 

Doraphobia ………. fear of fur or skins of animals.

 

Doxophobia ………. fear of expressing opinions or of receiving praise.

 

Dromophobia ………. fear of crossing streets.

 

Dutchphobia ………. fear of the Dutch.

 

Dysmorphophobia ………. fear of deformity.

 

Dystychiphobia ………. fear of accidents.

 

Ecclesiophobia ………. fear of church.

 

Ecophobia ………. fear of home.

 

Eicophobia ………. fear of home surroundings.(Domatophobia, Oikophobia)

 

Eisoptrophobia ………. fear of mirrors or of seeing oneself in a mirror.

 

Electrophobia ………. fear of electricity.

 

Eleutherophobia ………. fear of freedom.

 

Elurophobia ………. fear of cats. (Ailurophobia)

 

Emetophobia ………. fear of vomiting.

 

Enetophobia ………. fear of pins.

 

Enochlophobia ………. fear of crowds.

 

Enosiophobia or Enissophobia ………. fear of having committed an unpardonable sin or of criticism.

 

Entomophobia ………. fear of insects.

 

Eosophobia ………. fear of dawn or daylight.

 

Ephebiphobia ………. fear of teenagers.

 

Epistaxiophobia ………. fear of nosebleeds.

 

Epistemophobia ………. fear of knowledge.

 

Equinophobia ………. fear of horses.

 

Eremophobia ………. fear of being oneself or of loneliness.

 

Ereuthrophobia ………. fear of blushing.

 

Ergalilektriphobia ………. fear of power tools or using power tools.

 

Ergasiophobia ………. 1) fear of work or functioning. 2) surgeon’s fear of operating.

 

Ergophobia ………. fear of work.

 

Erotophobia ………. fear of sexual love or sexual questions.

 

Euphobia ………. fear of hearing good news.

 

Eurotophobia ………. fear of female genitalia.

 

Erythrophobia or Erytophobia or Ereuthophobia ………. 1) fear of redlights. 2) blushing. 3) red.

 

Febriphobia or Fibriphobia or Fibriophobia ………. fear of fever.

 

Felinophobia ………. fear of cats. (Ailurophobia, Elurophobia, Galeophobia, Gatophobia)

 

Francophobia ………. fear of France or French culture. (Gallophobia, Galiophobia)

 

Frigophobia ………. fear of cold or cold things. (Cheimaphobia, Cheimatophobia, Psychrophobia)

 

Galeophobia ………. fear of sharks

 

Gatophobia ………. fear of cats.

 

Gallophobia or Galiophobia ………. fear France or French culture. (Francophobia)

 

Gamophobia ………. fear of marriage.

 

Geliophobia ………. fear of laughter.

 

Gelotophobia ………. fear of being laughed at.

 

Geniophobia ………. fear of chins.

 

Genophobia ………. fear of sex.

 

Genuphobia ………. fear of knees.

 

Gephyrophobia or Gephydrophobia or Gephysrophobia ………. fear of crossing bridges.

 

Germanophobia ………. fear of Germany or German culture.

 

Gerascophobia ………. fear of growing old.

 

Gerontophobia ………. fear of old people or of growing old.

 

Geumaphobia or Geumophobia ………. fear of taste.

 

Glossophobia ………. fear of speaking in public or of trying to speak.

 

Gnosiophobia ………. fear of knowledge.

 

Graphophobia ………. fear of writing or handwriting.

 

Gymnophobia ………. fear of nudity.

 

Gynephobia or Gynophobia ………. fear of women.

 

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