America's Crazy Gun Violence Algorithm

while (Insanity == true)
{
    Have_a_massacre_using_military_grade_automatic_weapon();
    
    Issue_sentiments_about_thoughts_and_prayers();
    
    Say_too_soon_to_talk_about_the_problem();
    
    Lower_US_flag_at_half_mast();

    while (Story_still_in_headlines) {
        Allow_time_to_pass_while_doing_nothing();
    }
    
    Still_too_soon_to_talk_about_it();

    Never_a_good_time_to_talk_abou_it();
    
    Status_quo_inaction_achieved();
    
    // http://fortune.com/2018/02/15/nra-contributions-politicians-senators/
    Elect_the_same_NRA_bought_politicians();
}
    

The Effectiveness of a Wall and Mexico Paying For It

Taking Donald Trump's southern border wall proposal at face value, I haven't heard anyone make a rational case for how the wall would work and actually be effective (and worth the money) in the long run.

Has there been a study on this? I'm serious. As a taxpayer, I don't want my tax dollars being wasted on something that isn't going to achieve its purported goal of stopping drug dealers and illegal aliens from sneaking in.

And this is even before getting into how Mexico is going to pay for it, assuming people who voted for Trump actually hold him to his campaign promise. If he tries to do it via an import tax, that won't help as the price of goods coming into the USA from Mexico will simply be increased, passing the cost on to the American consumer.

The Thankless Job of being a Negative Nabob

Too many engineers suffer from "technology is always good" bias. I see it all the time in my line of work. There are very few "devil's advocate," when it comes to weighing the pros/cons of technological ideas. The fact that no one thought to consider the pool of ALL users before deploying this "map" shows the bias and/or lack of imagination.

Of course, engineers who are the voice of "but what about" are not popular in meetings where engineers are fawning over each other for the "greatest idea." Companies don't award engineers who avoid problems that never materialize because of their foresight.

The Positive Power Of Negative Thinking Paperback – September 3, 2002 by Julie Norem (Author)

https://www.amazon.com/Positive-Power-Negative-Thinking/dp/0465051391

First Term Presidents Expect too much Credit for their first year

I ignore ALL presidents who claim any economic credit (or receive blame) in their first year.

A president doesn't submit his own first budget until later in the year (~October) of his inauguration year. So, it isn't even logical to think a president's inauguration year has anything to do with economic improvement or decline.

Furthermore, the recent tax cuts (for Trump) that just kicked in January 2018 and won't actually be realized/recognized until February at the earliest ... so there really isn't any way to tie cause-and-effect except to make a general statement about people possibly behaving differently based on expected future tax savings.

Which, even if valid, is not measurable and therefore isn't something that could be touted if one were being honest. But that won't keep shameless Trump from taking credit.

Separation of Church and State

It's that time of year again when fragile Christians get their panties in a bunch when government does not sufficiently recognize their religion and public displays thereof. *sigh*

To that I say only the insecure need the power of government to enforce their fragile faith. Not sure why alleged proponents of religious liberty want to carve out special favors of recognition.

Churches abound in America. But, apparently that's not enough. Nativities and the like have to be erected in public spaces. And the lie of hiding behind "religious liberty" is exposed when non-Christians also choose to erect their own displays in public spaces.

Here's a novel idea: No religious displays in public spaces for ANYONE and be done with it. No favoritism. No bias. No one excluded. You have your churches and homes to display your religious inclinations. Why isn't that enough?

Weather (Nature) Happens

Praying in the midst of nature's fury (for survival) is as meaningless as finding divine will or purpose in nature's fury. Weather happens. Nature happens. It doesn't have to make sense. It's random. Good, bad. Young, old. Inhabited or desolate. It doesn't matter to nature. The sun shines and the rain fails on all alike. Only humans seek to impose purpose or meaning on random weather patterns. To me, this misses the point of using it as an opportunity to be in awe of nature, learn from it, and prepare for it - rather than waste time on bended knee or trying to find meaning in it all. 

Actions (Inactions) have Consequences

RE: Small Virginia island in desperate need of saving even after choosing to rely on God and Trump alone to save them.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/why-sen-kaine-wants-to-save-trump-country-from-sinking-into-the-chesapeake/2017/09/02/906d0016-8695-11e7-961d-2f373b3977ee_story.html?utm_term=.3da99d82fb53

I believe in personal responsibility and actions (or inactions) having consequences. 
 
If you want to believe Trump will save you and trust his (arrogant) assertion that a small island off of Virginia will definitely be around centuries hence. Fine. 
 
If you want to believe prayer works and God will deliver you. Fine. 
 
But when none of the above works, don't come begging to others to save your island. 
 
That's not being heartless. That's holding people accountable and making them responsible for their own choices. 
 
On the other hand, if the inhabitants of this island had worked hard to deal with their slowly sinking home applying fact-based ideas and attempted over time to solve this problem head-on applying scientific and engineering knowledge, I'd have no problem (as a taxpayer) offering a helping hand to pull them the rest of the way. 
 
But ignorance and inaction will get no sympathy from this hard-working taxpayer who thinks humans should make a go of solving our own problems using the knowledge and experience acquired over centuries. Failing that, we can reach out to Zeus or whatever deity we wish to help us. Just don't reach out to politicians, who are only interested in solving problems insofar as it will make them look good.