DOES PRISON DECREASE CRIME? In “Mass Incarceration Hasn’t Made Us Safer” [DesNews Apr 22, 2012] Jess Rigelhaupt: a) – claims incarceration does not decrease crime, but his only evidence is that crime in America rose steadily with incarceration, while some European nations saw incarcerations and crime rates rise less. No allowance for possibly laxer laws in Europe, poorer enforcement, or unreliable statistics. Legalized marijuana, heroin, etc. automatically decreases crime and incarceration. He further: a) – cites disproportionate numbers of blacks and Latinos in prison as proof they are being discriminated against. No mention of actual crime rates per race, or any studies of same; b) – claims illegal drug problems in rural areas exceed those in large cities, with no numbers to support that c) – claims because bigger proportionate numbers of whites than blacks sell illegal drugs as proof that more whites use them, proportionately; and without authority for the first “fact”. Much of his article seems prejudice, that is opinion without visible means of support.

DON'T RE-LAUNCH ASTRONAUTS PROGRAM

DON'T RE-LAUNCH ASTRONAUTS PROGRAM Charles Krauthammer and former moon astronauts believe (DesNews 4/22/12) America can’t afford discontinue manned space flights. We can understand hero astronauts over-stating their own importance but pundit Krauthammer gives little reason for his claim that America becomes a third rate nation because the shuttles quit flying. Why do we need to re-discover that the moon has sand and rocks just like the earth. Talk about colonies on the moon and sending someone to Mars simply lacks reason beyond the explanation of the mountain climber – it’s because "they are there". But those climbers didn’t cost the rest of us $billions. How many tens of thousands of babies’ lives in the third world could be saved by that kind of money added for their inoculations and medical health? I’m no Obama fan, but he got this one right. Krauthammer seems to welcome any limb out on which to climb to take shots at Obama.

Rhine castles, Nuremburg, Dachau

Anne and I had just returned day before from our 3 –day train tour beginning with the BD Shipping boat ride on the Rhine from _____ to Bacharach with a wonderful stop at Marksburg Castle for 3 hours -- the only medieval ages castle in Germany that is still as it was when built and improved over those years. It sits atop a high, wooded hill commanding a long curve in the river. Its floors, ramps, and multi-stairways are mostly carved right out of the rock of the mountain. One room has a collection of some eighteen full suits of armor used from 400 BC to 1500 AD and the guide popped one can-shaped helmet on the head of a boy and asked how he would like to fight from that.

The castle has a knights dining hall where a whole ox can be roasted with a notched wheel to turn it with – giving rise to the German expression “turn it up a notch”. It never suffered was capture, Napoleon and other armies passing it by rather than try to attack such a well-fortified castle on a high hill. The dungeon has a torture room with all the old devices you have nightmares about, including neck/wrist clamps, stretching bed with weights and chains, an iron mask and stocks, The toilet jutted out from the wall near the chapel, had a lock-able iron door because it was open beneath for the sewage to fall into the woods and was a weak spot for attacks. One could get stuck in there for some time if enemies were around, and they had a special knock signal to unlock the door.

The Rhine was the chief center of all commerce, and the multi-castles built along it testify to the greed of the various families contesting control. The city of Pfalz laid a huge chain across the river which prevented ships passing until they had paid the taxes. They became very wealthy from the taxes, Pope Pius the II demanded they be destroyed and inspired army to try, but Pfalz prevailed. We stayed the 1st night at Bacharach which has a seven tower Roman wall and vineyards on the steep hill surrounding it. Wine making and transporting dominated their economy then and now.

How different does Germany appear? Stuttgart stay.

GERMANY: most populous, largest economy of all the Eruo nations; What differences manifest in shor stay getting acquainted with the place & people:

a) not so friendly/outgoing as the Italians & Spanish

b) asking directions: some simply ignore you. Und ich spreche Deutsch fur fragen.

b) absence of chlldren and presence of smokers

c) highways better designed, maikntained -- more needful, more densely populated
Surprising when so many eschew auto owning, and bike.

d) subways/trains likewise generally superior.

e) restaurants: more pricey, smaller portions, rely on long stays many drinks

f) traffic, pedestrians more heavily regulatedm e,g.fines for standing w/ motor going, more tickets for not getting out of fast lane.

g) recycling like a religion. More critical w/ dense population.

h) houses (private, this neighborhood) sturdier, tighter, securer. Not nearly so convenient, many stairs - due to high land values.

i) racial diversity -- much more than formerly, still not approaching U.S.

"Visiting Solitude Schloss, Ludwigsburg, Germany

Carl Eugen's hunting lodge-become-palace circa 1750, overflows with real gold filigree, trim, brocade & furbelos. Huge; housed hundreds of guests, stabled 300 horses with hounds; separate ornate bedrooms for mistresses and for wife; heroic size paintings of family members, busts, ornate vases filling every room, wall and ceiling. Special rooms for gaming, sculpture, vases, throne, ladies' powder, balls, concerts, receptions, rallying the hunt, banquets. Duke Carl no doubt proud of his multi-million mark patronizing the arts. Notorious diletante, philanderer, horseman, dandy, who essentially bankrupted the dukedom with his extravagance. He had hidden passages opening inside the fireplace to hide the servants from view of the anointed.

This one of the largest and most famous roccocco style palaces in the German countries. Breathtaking its exterior beauty and setting atop a high hill; sweeping grounds and then the deep, luxuriant German woods. But not a room in which one could relax or feel comfortable -- too busy, bright, mirrored, golden, for the eye or spirit to find rest. For solitude, the woods alone far superior.

How would such an one report back to his maker -- what he did with what he was given, considering the poverty, disease, and starvation suffered regularly by thousands of his subjects.

Time's Tali Sharot on man's brain . . .woefully short.

Time magazine chimes in with another attempt to explain man’s character and tendencies by the physical structure and chemistry of brains. This and most of the popular science articles analyzing brains to understand man’s nature and tendencies, remind of the nothing so much as the ancient alchemists – each convinced that he could or would discover secrets of gold and how it is made.

Someone already made all these things, with unique attention to man, and the accounts of the making he has provided are so devoid of chemistry, physics or physiology as to put the thoughtful person on notice that the most important origins, elements and purposes of man do not appear in the test tube, the microscope, or the space probe.

Perhaps William Cowper said it best: “Blind unbelief is sure to err and scan his works in vain. God is his own interpreter and he will make it plain.” “Eye hath not seen nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” — I Corinthians 2:9.

Salt Lake County didn't play fair.

SALT LAKE COUNTY people led on a man who fell on their ice by helping him to an anambulance, and paying his medical bills for one year. At year end he had failed to give written notice of claim, relying on their promises, and they cut him off, just when he needed surgery. When we filed in court for him, they then moved to dismiss for failure to make the timely written claim. The judge ruled no dismissal, saying "The county cannot behave this way." See Website: mysandylawyer.com for more about personal injury recoveries.
Moral: It makes no difference whether you're a county or business, if you cheat a claimant, the court can set you straight.

JUST FOR FUN: IN Africa, every morning a gazelle awakens knowing that it must outrun the fastest lion if it wants to stay alive. Every morning a lion wakes up knowing it must run faster than th slowest gazelle or it will starve to death.
Moral: It makes no difference whether you are a gazelle or a lion: When the sun comes up you had better be hauling booty.