About terrorism experts

Glenn Greenwald spares no mercy when condemning "terrorism experts":

That has to be the single most amusing phrase ever to appear unironically in the Paper of Record: Twitter terrorism. And, of course, the authority cited for this menacing trend is that ubiquitous sham community calling itself “terrorism experts,” which exists to provide the imprimatur of scholarly Seriousness on every last bit of inane fear-mongering hysteria. That cottage industry (like the government’s demands for greater power and Endless War) remains vibrant only if Terrorism does (that is, Terrorism by Muslims: a propagandistic redundancy). Thus, with Osama bin Laden dead, a full decade elapsed since the last successful Terrorist attack on U.S. soil, and the original Al Qaeda group rendered inoperable, these experts are now warning the nation about lurking sleeper tweets.
Consider, too, this gem from a BBC documentary called "The Power of Nightmares":
In the past, the power of politicians promised to create a better world. They had different ways of achieving this, but their power and authority came from the optimistic visions they offered their people . . . Politicians were seen simply as managers of public life. But now they have discovered a new role that restores their apparent authority. Instead of delivering dreams, politicians now promise to protect us . . . from nightmares.
Because we have bought the nightmares, we have bought endless warmongering at a price of $2 Billion/week in Afghanistan alone:
The disastrous legacy of the Iraq War extends beyond treasure squandered and lives lost or shattered. Central to that legacy has been Washington's decisive and seemingly irrevocable abandonment of any semblance of self-restraint regarding the use of violence as an instrument of statecraft. With all remaining prudential, normative, and constitutional barriers to the use of force having now been set aside, war has become a normal condition, something that the great majority of Americans accept without complaint. War is U.S.

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The problem with 401K plans

Dan Solin warns us of the huge problems involving 401K plans:

Here is the harsh reality: 401(k) plans are a false crutch for employees. They simply don't work, if you define "work" as providing funds that will permit retirement with dignity -- if at all. According to Fidelity Investments, average balances in 401(k) plans as of March 31, 2011 were $74,900. Those 55 and older had saved $233,800 on average. Given increased life expectancy, it is understandable that another study found that 61 percent of those surveyed said they were more scared of outliving their assets than they were of dying.

I have just finished reading Solin's new book, The Smartest Portfolio You'll Ever Own: A Do-It-Yourself Breakthrough Strategy. Lots of intriguing numbers that run counter to much of the hype you hear from "financial advisers" on TV. Most important part of his book is the Solin gives you the recipe for assembling your own portfolio based on passively managed funds with low fees. He is one of the relatively few well-known financial advisers who steers you wide of brokers who claim that they can pick stocks. Solin essentially calls these people frauds, based upon decades of numbers.

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Quotes on tolerance

A reader named Mike Baker handed me a huge collection of quotes, organized by topic. Here are the quotes he collected on the topic of tolerance: "Human diversity makes tolerance more than a virtue; it makes it a requirement for survival." ~ René Dubos Without tolerance, our world turns into hell. ~ Friedrich Durrenmatt Anger and intolerance are the twin enemies of correct understanding. ~ Mohandas Gandhi I have learnt silence from the talkative, toleration from the intolerant, and kindness from the unkind; yet strange, I am ungrateful to these teachers. ~ Kahlil Gibran (1883 - 1931) Tolerance and celebration of individual differences is the fire that fuels lasting love. -- Tom Hannah The remarkable thing is that we really love our neighbor as ourselves: we do unto others as we do unto ourselves. We hate others when we hate ourselves. We are tolerant toward others when we tolerate ourselves. We forgive others when we forgive ourselves. -- Eric Hoffer I never will, by any word or act, bow to the shrine of intolerance or admit a right of inquiry into the religious opinions of others. -- Thomas Jefferson "Tolerance implies no lack of commitment to one's own beliefs. Rather it condemns the oppression or persecution of others." -- John F. Kennedy Tolerance is the positive and cordial effort to understand another's beliefs, practices, and habits without necessarily sharing or accepting them. -- Joshua Liebman No human trait deserves less tolerance in everyday life….. than intolerance. -- Giacomo Leopardi Let us not speak of tolerance. This negative word implies grudging concessions by smug consciences. Rather, let us speak of mutual understanding and mutual respect. -- Father Dominique Pire We should therefore claim, in the name of tolerance, the right not to tolerate the intolerant. -- Karl Popper "If civilization is to survive, we must cultivate the science of human relationships - the ability of all peoples, of all kinds, to live together, in the same world at peace." -- Franklin Roosevelt Tolerance is the oil which takes the friction out of life. -- Wilbert E. Scheer In every country and every age, the priest had been hostile to Liberty. ~Thomas Jefferson

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