Another Random Act of Verbiage...

Sen. Mike Lee Uses One Simple Photo to Argue That We’ve Become a Nation of Regulations

Mon, 13 Jan 2014 17:16:31 -0800

Sen. Mike Lee Uses One Simple Photo to Argue That We’ve Become a Nation of Regulations:

Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) believes the United States has become a nation of regulations. And although Congress was historically unproductive in 2013, according to certain media outlets, most notably MSNBC, the folks responsible for drafting the nation’s federal regulations were plenty busy. How busy? Take a…

This is extremely disturbing.

If anyone would like to offer an evening of romance, I would...

Sun, 12 Jan 2014 19:41:57 -0800

If anyone would like to offer an evening of romance, I would gladly turn off my cell phone.

500+ Examples of Obama's Crimes, Lies, and Corruption (MASSIVE List)

Sun, 12 Jan 2014 14:51:24 -0800

500+ Examples of Obama's Crimes, Lies, and Corruption (MASSIVE List):

whatiscapitalism:

Here’s a well-sourced list of over 500 crimes, lies, frauds, and examples of corruption from Barack Obama.

This is… insane. And probably the only “list” post that SHOULD go viral.

I donated platelets today.

Sun, 12 Jan 2014 12:58:53 -0800

Pics or it didn’t happen. ;)

That is awesome! How did it go?

happy-dreamer-niki: Pure Innocence!!!! Before the...

Sun, 12 Jan 2014 12:28:53 -0800

happy-dreamer-niki:

Pure Innocence!!!!

Before the internet…

I’ve taken a week off of running (but not eating…) and my belly is showing it! And I’m going...

Sun, 12 Jan 2014 11:05:29 -0800

I’ve taken a week off of running (but not eating…) and my belly is showing it!

And I’m going to have pizza for lunch.

Truth.

Sun, 12 Jan 2014 10:14:51 -0800

Truth.

About that unemployment rate...

Sat, 11 Jan 2014 23:57:06 -0800

poorrichardsnews:

Yes, I know we’ve covered this already (monthly, it seems), but it bears repeating: The sole reason that the unemployment rate is declining is because people are dropping out of the work force altogether. Last month, nearly 350,000 people left the work force. That’s 350,000 people who are no longer counted.

From The Federalist:

According to new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released this morning, the U.S. economy last month added 74,000 new payroll jobs, while the unemployment rate fell to 6.7 percent from 7.0 percent. Good news, right? Not really.

Yes, the unemployment rate has fallen significantly from its high of 10 percent in October of 2009. But it turns out the unemployment rate has been falling for a pretty depressing reason: people dropping out of the labor force. Last month, 347,000 workers dropped out, effectively sending the message that it wasn’t even worth looking for work anymore.

…To understand how the labor force numbers affect the unemployment rate, it helps to understand how the unemployment rate is calculated. First, BLS determines who is a member of the civilian non-institutional population: people who are 16 years of age or older who are not inhabitants of institutions (prisons, mental institutions, etc.) and not active duty members of the U.S. military. Next, BLS determines what percentage of those individuals are members of the labor force: that roughly consists of people who are either working or are looking for work. Then, BLS determines how many individuals within the labor force are employed. Subtracting the number of employed persons from the labor force gives you the number of unemployed, and dividing the number of unemployed by the total labor force gives you the unemployment rate.

If you hold total employment constant and increase the size of the labor force, the number of unemployed persons will increase, as will the unemployment rate. A shrinking labor force, however, can completely mask a serious job shortage by excluding those who stop looking for work altogether from the calculation of unemployed persons.

Read the Rest (H/T Ace)

Don’t let you eyes glaze over. It’s important that we fully grasp what’s happening here.

In short, if there are ten eligible workers in a room but 2 of them aren’t working, the unemployment rate is 2 ÷ 10, or 20%. If one of those 2 unemployed gets fed up with trying to find a job and finally gives up, that leaves 9 eligible workers with only 1 not working. This is 1 ÷ 9, or 11.1%. In this example, 8 people were working the entire time but the unemployment rate fell from 20% to 11.1%. Yay, economy.

But that’s not all! There’s the matter of the U-6 unemployment rate (AKA the “real” unemployment rate). What’s that, you ask? It’s defined as the ”total unemployed, plus all marginally attached workers plus total employed part time for economic reasons, as a percent of all civilian labor force plus all marginally attached workers.”

Ouch.

What does this mean? The economy is horrible. Numbers don’t lie.

That picture is too adorable.

Sat, 11 Jan 2014 23:04:16 -0800

That’s what I’m all about.

Hanging out with Ivy. :)

Sat, 11 Jan 2014 21:36:28 -0800

Hanging out with Ivy. :)

Photo

Sat, 11 Jan 2014 19:29:52 -0800

Physics classes at UW are starting to use deceleration as well...

Sat, 11 Jan 2014 18:59:10 -0800

Jerks. It’s all gone to crap since I left.

Be contrary, never use deceleration.

Sat, 11 Jan 2014 17:58:07 -0800

Be contrary, never use deceleration.

My calculus book continuously uses 'deceleration'.

Sat, 11 Jan 2014 17:08:13 -0800

Your calculus book is wrong.

How do you feel about deceleration vs. accelerating in the negative direction

Sat, 11 Jan 2014 16:36:03 -0800

There is no such thing as deceleration.

My answer would be yes. Also, you're kinda cute when you look like a wet dog ;)

Sat, 11 Jan 2014 12:57:43 -0800

I would like to stop.

Heh, well thank you, that’s the look I was going for.

I am soaked through to the bone after playing a pre-Seahawks...

Sat, 11 Jan 2014 12:38:03 -0800

I am soaked through to the bone after playing a pre-Seahawks game of football. I’m not sure I was this wet after Tough Mudder!

I'm very proud of you for trying.

Sat, 11 Jan 2014 12:24:39 -0800

Thanks, trying is important I guess. Fear of rejection is stupid.

eretzyisrael: This morning, Israel’s former Prime Minister...

Sat, 11 Jan 2014 08:54:44 -0800

eretzyisrael:

This morning, Israel’s former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon passed away at the age of 85.

May his memory be blessed.

יהי זכרו ברוך

Shalom.

Well? Verdict?

Fri, 10 Jan 2014 23:41:45 -0800

It’s a no-go. Apparently she is seeing someone. Oh well, at least I tried.