Reality Show on Mars Could Fund Manned Colony by 2023

Reality Show on Mars Could Fund Manned Colony by 2023 | Mars One | Space.com

This article presents a very interesting concept for putting humans on Mars -- do you think it will work?  

http://www.space.com/16300-mars-one-reality-show-colony.html

The concept is very thought provoking, and I keep thinking about it -- For example:

• Would you want to go to Mars to live, knowing you would never return?
• Lets see, who would we like to see go to Mars and never be able to come back?  
• Send some serial killer?  Some political despot?  Give criminals a reprieve if they volunteer to go into training for the job?
• How will they select people to go?
• Would they select young people, who would have to live for a long time there? --Are Grandchildren Kris & Julia ready to start training?  
• Or old folks who wouldn't live as long and require resupply for 60 years?   -- Where do I go to sign up?
• Old folks wouldn't be as interesting on TV?  --Or would we be more interesting?
• If you were selected, would you worry that the company could go bankrupt after you got there and quit sending supplies? 
• I can see how the world would be interested in the "reality TV" for a while --but how long would it last?

Billionaires behind Mitt Romney

Right-Wing Billionaires Behind Mitt Romney | Politics News | Rolling Stone

I heard about billionaires who were backing the Republican candidates--but I didn't realize there were so many of them.  I also was interested that each of them have a personal business motivation for "investing" in the Republicans.  A "small" investment of their political donation, in most cases, will reap a huge benefit in profit.

Right-Wing Billionaires Behind Mitt Romney | Politics News | Rolling Stone:

GREENHUT: More privileges for our government masters : North County Times - Californian

Government officials in California want to hide the place they live from the public.  They have proposed AB2299 to allow their names to be hidden on public property records.  This is supposedly to prevent nuts from finding out where they live and demonstrating in front of their homes, or, even worse, causing injury or property damage to them.   Steven Greenhut put together a good editorial in today's North County Times Perspective Section.

GREENHUT: More privileges for our government masters : North County Times - Californian:

It is clear that this would contribute to much more mischief in the Government.  Also, I can envision many more groups asking for the same protection.  Should a military officer be protected?  Should bill collectors?  CPA/Auditors?  Building inspectors?  Whenever people in public positions have to hide, or hide information about themselves, the Country is in trouble.

Bonnie Dumanis masked her thugs when they broke into Marijuana Collectives, so the owners and customers couldn't see the faces of their neighbors who were destroying their livelihood and causing the customers pain and suffering.  It's clear that when that happens then, again, the country  has a serious problem.

Everyday garbage, not tsunami trash, is the bigger problem - latimes.com

We heard about the immense amount of stuff that is floating in the Pacific Ocean from the Japan Tsunami.  The news seemed to say that it was headed for the West Coast and the estimate of the size seemed to vary by an order of magnitude.  This article sounds a little more reasonable about the tsunami debris -- but clearly explains how we are killing the ocean with our plastic...

Everyday garbage, not tsunami trash, is the bigger problem - latimes.com:

Israeli Spying in the United States » Counterpunch: Tells the Facts, Names the Names

I'm often told that Israel is the best ally the US has in the world.  Sometimes the statement is changed to say "the best ally in the Middle East.
However, I haven't heard of the US arresting any spies from any Middle East countries except Israel.  Israel spies on our Government and our companies and steals any technology that they can get their hands onto.
Israeli Spying in the United States » Counterpunch: Tells the Facts, Names the Names

Why does the US put up with this treatment?  What do we do about it?  We provide Israel the largest per capita aid program of around a $1B/year, and we provide aid to their neighboring countries (Egypt, Jordan etc) to prevent them from responding to Israel's many misguided attacks on Palestinians and Citizens of neighboring Lebanon.  What do we get in return?  Spies!

Africa refugees in Israel face ugly, sometimes violent backlash - latimes.com

It sounds to me that Israel is now treating the Africans worse than the Palestinians and Christians.  They've been driving out the Christians for years as has been described on many recent articles, and an episode on 60 minutes.  They have been mistreating the Palestinians among them and those in their compounds, such as the Gaza Strip.  Now they are showing again that they want to be "Ethnically Pure" -- and are treating the African refugees very badly.

Africa refugees in Israel face ugly, sometimes violent backlash - latimes.com:

California Oil Severance Tax

I've believed for years that California should charge a much higher severance tax on all oil, gas and any other mineral removed from the state.  We now charge around 10cents per barrel  Here's an article from LA Times several years ago that explains why we still don't collect more tax.
There's revenue in those hills -- and offshore - latimes.com:

Alaska has a "negative" income tax based upon the revenue it earns from oil.  It charges between 25% and 50% of the well-head value.  For $100/barrel oil, that would be $24-$50/ barrel.  Many other states make huge amounts from their oil and gas. Here's a link to a table that shows all of the states: http://www.ncsl.org/issues-research/energyhome/oil-and-gas-severance-taxes.aspx   California's Severance Tax is determined by the State of California Department of Conservation.  Here's their report: Why doesn't California charge more?  I think the reason is that the Republicans receive so much in contributions from the industry that they will not pass that bill.  Of course the environmentalists are now also at fault.  Yes, oil and gas drilling and pumping could have an accident.  However it is much safer than 30 years ago.  With proper inspections, controls, emergency procedures, rapid response clean up ready and available, I think the problem is a non-issue, from an environmental standpoint.