NC Media Watch

Welcome to 2006

We want to wish all our readers a Happy New Year!

Liberal deception by ususal suspect

Russ Steele

Buck Stoval makes rambling charges in Full Veterans Rights, December 31, 2005

In Iraq, it is another non threat we began warring over, and then like now, we are eager to be deceived.

Is the war on terror really a non threat?  Look at this list and then read Major General Vernon Chong analysis of the facts in the pdf below.

This war did not start on September 11, 2001. We just started to fight back under President Bush. All of the following attacks on US Citizens were by Muslium males. 

* Iran Embassy Hostages, 1979;
* Beirut, Lebanon Embassy 1983;
* Beirut, Lebanon Marine Barracks 1983;
* Lockerbie, Scotland Pan-Am flight to New York 1988;
* First New York World Trade Center attack 1993;
* Dhahran, Saudi Arabia Khobar Towers Military complex 1996;
* Nairobi, Kenya US Embassy 1998;
* Dares Salaam, Tanzania US Embassy 1998;
* Aden, Yemen USS Cole 2000;
* New York World Trade Center 2001;
* Pentagon 2001.

Now, remind me again how we are deceiving ourselves in this war on terror.  The General Notes that during the period from 1981 to 2001 there were 7,581 terrorist attacks worldwide.  Full details here.

The war on terror is real

Russ Steele

Major General Vernon Chong is a retired Air Force Surgeon and the past Commander of Wilford Hall Medical Center in San Antonio, who is also active in Veterans Affairs.  He has some interesting thoughts on our current war on terror, which are worth your time to read and think about. This War is for Real Download MG_Chong.pdf is an important read for liberals, or conservatives, and Republicans, or Democrats. However, it is only for those willing to think!

via the Veterans Journal

Predictions for 2006

Russ Steele

The Union ask the Readers Board for some predictions for 2006. It will be interesting to see if my list makes it past editorial review:

1)  Grass Valley and County will still be talking about “affordable housing,” with no concrete action to solve problem by years end.

2)  At the end of 2006, none of the four SDA issues will be resolved.

3) More housing  projects will be delayed due to unreasonable concerns over traffic congestion by no-growth neighborhood organizations.

4)  Nevada County will be no closer to funding the Dorsey Drive overpass by years end.

5)  The Union will still be seeking ways of attracting 18-24 old readers by years end.

6)  The Union will become embroiled in a nasty political campaign conflict, editor’s job in-doubt.

7)  John Spencer will be reelected District 3 Supervisor.

8)   Stasis and conflict with grow at the Grass Valley City Council, as 2006 election approaches

9)  Research will reveal California’s greenhouse gas reduction policies are truly based on junk science.

Shopping at Banned Stores

Russ Steele

The no-growthers and stasis cult have banned WalMart and Target from our community.  But, some local citizens may have been using their computers to shopping at these banned stores.  At least this is what the latest shopping numbers are tell us. I wonder how much local traffic congestion was reduced by this covert on-line shopping at banned stores?

Internet Sales Show Big Gains Over Holidays
By MICHAEL BARBARO
Online retailers, whose growth was expected to level off after a decade of dizzying gains, experienced a stellar holiday season, according to two preliminary reports released yesterday, as traditional stores like Wal-Mart and Target cemented their place on the Web.
Consumer spending online reached $18.1 billion in November and December, a 25 percent increase over 2004, according to the research firm ComScore Networks.

Full Internet sales story here.

A must read speech on complexity

Russ Steele

Michael Crichton, State of Fear author, gave  a speech on Fear, Complexity, & Environmental Management in the 21st Century at the Washington Center for Complexity and Public Policy.  This is a must read. Download a pdf of his presentation here. 

Agenda distorts the facts

Russ Steele

John Keane wants us to Fight for the soldiers, but really has a different agenda. December 29, 2005

It's good to hear that our wounded soldiers in military hospitals are on the mend and that they are in good spirits. But little do we hear of the impending Veterans Administration budget cuts that threaten to compromise their continued good care. We stand poised to reap the harvest of our Middle Eastern adventure, i.e., the return of thousands of wounded, traumatized soldiers and this is not the time to reduce V.A. funding.

Lets look a the facts, and you see if his claim of reduce funding holds up.  You can check the numbers your self at the Department of Vets Affairs here.

Under the Department of Veterans Affairs 2006 budget Vet's would see discretionary spending rise $880 million to $33.4 billion, including revenue from fees collected for some medical services. Most discretionary spending at the VA goes to health care, and the department expects to provide care for 5.2 million patients in fiscal 2006.

This budget would double prescription drug co-payments for about 2.37 million non-disabled, higher-income veterans, however only about only about 1.2 million of whom actually use the VA health care system. As a non disabled vet, I am OK with this increase.

Here are the Budget facts:

Total Approbation in
2004 $63,466,917,
2005 $69,811,269,
2006 $70,177,299

Mandatory Funding
2004 $32,607,347,
2005 $37,112,00
2006 $36,737,617

Discretionary Funding
2004 $30,859,570
2005 $32,699,268,
2006 $33,439,682

Note it is the discretionary funding the provides the medical care, and we see an increase.  So, what do you think Mr Keane's agenda was?

Where is the evidence?

Russ Steele

Donna Day has some Final thoughts on park, December 28, 2005

This whole trailer park issue is about how capitalism works.  George Rebane has a serious discussion on the Blunt Truth in Renting.

Ms. Day accuses the BOS of being on the take, this is a very serious charge.

And did the money ever talk to the Board of Supervisors?

The writer does not present any evidence the BOS was paid off, or unduly influenced.  Lacking any concrete evidence, the writer may want to check with her lawyer about the liability of making unsubstantiated charges.

Creativity in Nevada County - You should know!

Russ Steele

In 1907 Lyman Gilmore , an inventor and aviation pioneer established an aircraft design works in Nevada County. Gilmore turned down a $50,000 offer by Charlie Hill, a Carmichael banker, and six other wealthy valley investors, to move his Iowa Hill aircraft development facility to Sacramento and to build an airfield. He choose instead to move his aviation design works to Grass Valley, building the country’s first commercial airport. Gilmore wanted a location with fewer foggy day to impede flying operations.  Plus, Gilmore had mining connections in Grass Valley, where the local mine owners offered to finance his aircraft projects. They had visions of flying their gold directly to the San Francisco Mint.      

An interesting question

Russ Steele

Don Pierce asks an interesting question of The Union How come?, December 27, 2005

Why are only the negative events of the Iraq war front reported? We have several local support groups for the troops and local military men and women who could provide your readers with many other viewpoints of what is transpiring in Iraq, but you only carry the AP & Reuters spin.

There are a number of bloggers who provide alternative sources of information. They are ex-military or embedded with military units in Iraq or Afghanistan.  The command center for military blogs is the Mudville Gazette: http://mudvillegazette.com. This blog is run by an active duty serviceman who hosts blogs for other service personnel.  My favorites are post by MajorK: http://www.strengthandhonor.typepad.com/ and Michael Yon: http://michaelyon.blogspot.com/   Black Five: http://www.blackfive.net was the Military Blog of 2004.

The military blog are direct from the field to your browser, with no AP or Reuters editors to put a twist on the story.

UPDATE: Bill Roggio, Threats Watch,  has some first hand knowldege on how the Washington Post distorts the news.