LIBERTY: no service or product should be provided at the barrel of a gun

Friday, February 29, 2008

http://www.adventuresinlegalland.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=21&Itemid=99999999

The Government Hoax
Written by Marc Stevens
Tuesday, 21 November 2006

***Begin Quote***

The government hoax is probably the oldest, most pervasive and stubborn of hoaxes. It’s the belief in non-existent “states” and “nations” and that “government” is both legitimate and necessary. In the geographic area of the North American continent commonly referred to as the “United States,” it’s claimed only “government” can provide the service of protecting “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.” This is nonsense if only for the reason “government” has no duty to protect anyone and their property.

Another reason is: no service or product should be provided at the barrel of a gun. It’s that simple. There are no exceptions unless one believes people have no rights. If one believes people have no rights then “government” is not “necessary” to “protect” what doesn’t exist. If you believe people have rights, then you don’t “protect” them without their freely given consent. Also, protection is not submission to the violent unaccountable control of another nor is violent domination a legitimate method of doing business. Would you hire people who don’t acknowledge you have property, to protect your property? I wouldn’t:

“The ultimate ownership of all property is in the State; individual so-called “ownership” is only by virtue of Government, i.e., law, amounting to mere user; and that use must be in accordance with law and subordinate to the necessities of the State.” Senate Resolution #62, April 1933.

***End Quote***

Gooferment is the meme (i.e., an idea is like a gene; mental model; belief) that can kill you, enslave you, or just make you miserable. Even if you don’t realize it.

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TECH SERVICE: Google Sites as part of Google Apps

Thursday, February 28, 2008

FROM GOOGLE to admins of domains using google apps

***Begin Quote***

Greetings admins!

Today, we’re excited to announce the introduction of Google Sites as part of Google Apps.

Google Sites makes creating a team web site as easy as editing a document. You can quickly gather a variety of information in one place — including videos, calendars, presentations, attachments, and gadgets — and easily share it for viewing or editing with a small group, your entire organization, or the world.

As of today, Google Sites is enabled for reinkefaceslife.com, which means your users can get started immediately. To help you announce this new offering to your users, we’ve included a template message below that you’re welcome to use.

You can learn more about Google Sites at http://www.google.com/a/help/intl/en/users/sites.html.

To find more information or get in touch, visit our Help Center at http://www.google.com/support/a. Please do not reply to this email; replies are not monitored.

Sincerely,

The Google Apps Team

——————————————————-

Google has just released a new product called Google Sites, and you can start using it today!

What is Google Sites?
It’s an online application that makes creating a team web site as easy as editing a document. You can quickly gather a variety of information in one place — including videos, calendars, presentations, attachments, and gadgets — and easily share it for viewing or editing with a small group, their entire organization, or the world.

* Anyone can do it — Building a site is as simple as editing a document, and you don’t need anyone’s help to get started.
* Share from one place — Create a single place to bring together all the information your team needs to share, including docs, videos, photos, calendars and attachments.
* Work together — Invite co-workers, classmates, or your entire organization to edit your site with you to keep it fresh and up-to-date. And let as many or few people view your site as you want.

Take a look at some example sites to see how you might use Google Sites:
* Company intranet — http://sites.google.com/a/organic-city.com/intranet/Home
* Team project — http://sites.google.com/a/altostrat.com/project-eggplant/Home
* Employee profile — http://sites.google.com/a/altostrat.com/jkraus/Home
* Classroom — http://sites.google.com/a/googleclassrooms.org/mrs-richau/Home
* Student club — http://sites.google.com/a/googleuniversity.org/ski-club/Home

To start using Google Sites, go to http://sites.google.com/a/reinkefaceslife.com

If you have questions, visit the Google Sites Help Center at http://www.google.com/support/sites.

***End Quote***

Interesting!

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INTERESTING: If IP Is Property, Where Is the Property Tax?

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/02/27/0018224&from=rss

If IP Is Property, Where Is the Property Tax?
Posted by kdawson on Tuesday February 26, @08:36PM
from the making-the-world-safe-for-mickey dept.
Government

***Begin Quote***

nweaver writes “In a response to the LA Times editorial on copyright which we discussed a week ago, the paper published a response arguing: ‘If Intellectual Property is actually property, why isn’t it covered by a property tax?’ If copyright maintenance involved paying a fee and registration, this would keep Mickey Mouse safely protected by copyright, while ensuring that works that are no longer economically relevant to the copyright holder pass into the public domain, where the residual social value can serve the real purpose of copyright: to enhance the progress of science and useful arts. Disclaimer: the author is my father.”

***End Quote***

Interesting question. Is there such a thing as “intellectual property”?

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text


INTERESTING: catnaps may improve performance

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7254555.stm

Six-minute nap ‘may boost memory’

***Begin Quote***

Even the shortest of catnaps may be enough to improve performance in memory tests, say German scientists.

***End Quote***

Maybe this reinforces the American student cramming in an “all nighter” for the test, which requires the recall of lots of irrelevant factoids. That’s what passes for eddykation in the gooferment skoolz.

So maybe the students “discovered” this independently and passed the meme along in folk lore?

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GOLDBUG: Why buy and hold gold?

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

In one of our semi-regular meetings of the old foggies’ society, I was trying to defend my love of the shiney metal to Luddite and Frau Reinke. Luddite’s wife stayed out of the fray; she’s the strong silent type. You know! The type that hangs back, listens carefully, and then forms her own opinion.

So why gold?

(1) It’s the only currently available “store of value”. Remember the dismal science’s (Economics) formulation of “money”? The first one was store of value that didn’t rot, erode, or get eaten by rats. Today’s fiat currencies are eaten by the gooferment rats.

(2) It’s not subject to the gooferment’s inflation tax. If you think about it, the gooferment funds its current version of guns and butter by debt to the Chinese, inflating / printing money, and taxes. If there was only a hundred dollars, and the gooferment prints five more, then you could understand that your dollar was worth less. The market place quickly adjusts prices to reflect reality. (In actuality, when more “money” is availble to pay for something, the price will rise due to the action of competing interests.

(3) It’s really an “off the books” investment. While it doesn’t throw off interest, what do you call the increase in purchasing power due to inflation?

[As an aside, you really have to laugh when the gooferment charges you a “capital gains tax” on the inflated value of an asset. If inflation is, for example, 5%. (Some commentators guesstimate it is as high as 18%!) So you buy a hundred dollar stock, in a year it goes up $5 and you cash out. Of your 5$ gain, 15% is paid in tax to the federal gooferment — 75 cents.  And the kicker is that your 105$ is really — if inflation is 12% — only worth 92.5 as measured in the prior year dollars. It compounds annually. Do you really think that a Kendall Park NJ house that was 12k new in 1950 is magically worth 330k in 2007? What did they use golden nails? No the dollars are depreciating and all things held in non-dollars are being repriced to reflect reality.]

(4) There are some interesting  nuances in holding American Gold Eagle, which are produced by the gooferment (i.e., the Treasury Department’s Mint), and are asserted to be dominated in dollars. The one ounce gold American Eagle is stamped 50 “dollars”. AND, it is really worth ~940 “dollars” in Federal Reserve Notes. (There’s a recent tax case where the employer declared his employees earnings in “dollars” as represented on the Eagles he gave them. Everyone paid less taxes.)  Does my estate executor report any coins I don’t give away to my heirs prior to my death in the metal value OR the “face” value.

<< IMHO — this bears on gift taxes, inheritence taxes, and anything where one has to report value.>>>

(5) When one wants to give a gift, you are limited to 12k without reporting it to the gooferment. So, if I give Eagles at face value, that’s 240 ounces. Or,  ~225k$ in Federal Reserve Bank Notes (Those funny green peices of paper).

(6) When one is at the end of one’s life, and the death taxes are facing you, you give a few coins to each visitor. No tax due!

In short, I think you have to think about gold differently.

Now Luddite brought up that in TEOTWAWKI (The End Of The World As We Know It) scenario, gold will be useless.

I disagree. You will be able to trade gold for stuff. You’ll need tools to keep what you have (like a gun). But, gold has a demonstrated history of being the “money of last resort”. In turbulent times, gold is highly valued.  His argument was that an ounce of gold was too much to pay for a loaf of bread. (Depends upon how hungry you are.) But Eagles come in different weights half, quarter, and tenths of an ounce. So just as today, you’ll need “change”. (Try buying a loaf of bread with a hundred dollar bill!)

I don’t give much credence to the TEOTWAWKI  scenario that trading gold for stuff will be difficult. I think that is the low probablility scenario. But gold does have value as part of portfolio and financial plan. (The coins; not gold stocks,  not gold IRAS,  not any kind of paper representing gold!)

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POLITICAL: what is more difficult than getting elected president

Monday, February 25, 2008

OBAMA’S REAL EXPERIENCE: HIS CANDIDACY
By DICK MORRIS & EILEEN MCGANN
Published on DickMorris.com on February 25, 2008.

*** begin quote ***

The best evidence of Obama’s readiness to lead the nation is th e ability with which he has run for president. After all, what is more difficult, complicated, or challenging than getting elected president? What other life experience better illustrates one’s qualification to hold the office than a manifest skill in seeking it. For anyone who has ever been elected president, the race that sent them to the White House was the single most important event in their lives and dwarfs any other experience they might have had before running.

*** end quote ***

Well, Dick, I would respectfully disagree. As currently configured, the President is a much tougher job than the Founding Fathers’ intended and is arguably an impossible job!

What is more difficult than “getting elected”?

I believe running a F500 company in the current times is harder than getting elected. Being President is much like being CEO of a global enterprise. Except the President doesn’t have external market signals to guide to.

As original intended being President was easier. MYOB. Don’t spend a lot on the Navy. And, keep foreign people from killing Americans.

I think that Obama and Clinton are both uniquely UNQUALLIFIED to be President. What has either accomplished?

Don’t think I like the guy who slipped away from the Keating 5 conviction any better, He’s demonstrable wrong on McCain Feingold and a bunch of other things.

So, we again have very poor candidates to choose from. Maybe we should just stay home. It doesn’t seem like anything ever changes.

Sigh!

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Understanding


POLITICAL: Representatives DON’T do much more than hustle

Monday, February 25, 2008

http://www.lewrockwell.com/bovard/bovard54.html

*** begin quote ***

Even when representative government works tolerably well, it is difficult to inspire the representatives to do much more than hustle for their own reelection.

*** end quote ***

We have entirely too many levels.

We should just vote locally and let it cascade upward. We would then have a local “hostage” to torture about all the abuses above that level. Cut out all the nonsense.

So for example, each house or apartment would hold and election for a “representative”. That rep would vote for all the folks they had. All the house reps on a street would vote for a street rep. Street rep rolls up to hods. Hoods to towns. Towns to county. Counties to state. State to National. Real simple.

Bet we’d see real change then.

At the very least there’d be less high paying political jobs. And pensions? What pensions.

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MONEY: gooferment regulators and the entities they regulate — an incestuous liaison and very dangerous

Monday, February 25, 2008

http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig8/whitney8.html

It’s Time to Dump the Federal Reserve
by Mike Whitney

***Begin Quote***

“Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored.”
~ Aldous Huxley

The credit storm which began in July when two Bear Stearns hedge funds were forced to liquidate, has continued to intensify and roil the markets. Last week the noose tightened around auction-rate securities, a little-known part of the market that requires short-term funding to set rates for long-term municipal bonds. The $330 billion ARS market has dried up overnight pushing up rates as high as 20% on some bonds – a new benchmark for short-term debt. Auction-rate securities are now headed for extinction just like the other previously-vital parts of the structured finance paradigm. The $2 trillion market for collateralized debt obligations (CDOs), the multi-trillion-dollar mortgage-backed securities market (MBSs) and the $1.3 asset-backed commercial paper (ABCP) market have all shut down, draining a small ocean of capital from the financial system and pushing many of the banks and hedge funds closer to default.

***End Quote***

This is the poster child for a disastrous gooferment program. Created in secret in 1913, it’s just flat out unconstitutional. Andrew Jackson must be saying “I told you so!”.

Constitutionally, there is nothing that permits the Congress to create a banking cartel and turn over the nation’s money to it. If it ain’t gold or silver, it ain’t money. And, no amount of “legal tender” laws can make it so. See Huxley quote above. The Dead Old White Guys made a mistake. The SHOULD have not mentioned money in the Constitution and left it to the marketplace to figure it out. But then, they thought the Tenth Amendment would cover any omissions. Silly Dead Old White Guys!

Strategically, the FED is supposed to regulate the banking industry. We’ve seen how well that works. The Germans had National Socialism; The Russians has Communism; America has Corporatism. The gooferment regulators and the entities they regulate are in an incestuous corrupt relationship. We should end this by ending regulation. The invisible hand of the marketplace is a far more honest regulator than any gooferment agency.

Tactically, the Fed has mismanaged and misregulated the whole mess. If for no other reason alone, it should be terminated with extreme prejudice.

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GUNS: The world is a dangerous place

Monday, February 25, 2008

http://www.impactlab.com/2008/02/24/how-not-to-release-a-bear

February 24th, 2008 at 6:46 am
How Not To Release A Bear
in: Photo Perspectives

Some day, silly humans will realize that the world is a dangerous place. For this bureaucrat to be with a bear’s reach during release is the height of stupidity. Luckily the fellow wasn’t killed. Note he had no side arm (i.e., a nice 1911 45 “bear discouragement device”) and no backup (i.e., someone with a big shotgun). I just shake my head.

“Attention KMart shoppers! The world is a dangerous place. Predators, of the two legged and four legged varieties, abound.”

I’d add some of those predators dress up as politicians, bureaucrats, and “law enforcement”. But no one would be listening any way.

Argh!

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TECH SERVICE: BLOGLINES stops updating

Sunday, February 24, 2008

http://www.bloglines.com

As an RSS reader, I liked it a little better than Google’s. Until it stop working today.

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LIBERTY: The US Supreme Court refused

Sunday, February 24, 2008

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Supreme-Court-Refuses-To-Hear-Wiretap-Case-92011

Supreme Court Refuses To Hear Wiretap Case
Offers no comment or justification of decision
08:49AM Wednesday Feb 20 2008

***Begin Quote***

The US Supreme Court refused without comment the ACLU’s appeal of a lower court ruling that blocked the group from suing over the Bush administration’s warrantless wiretap program. The appeals court has blocked the case from proceeding because complainants couldn’t prove they were being tapped, yet they couldn’t prove they were being tapped because claims of national security block further investigation.

***End Quote***

AND, you EXPECT the gooferment court to even hear the suggestion that the gooferment infringers are WRONG.

What space time continuum are you in?

Remember Mao? Power comes from the barrel of the gun. They gottem; you don’t!

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PRODUCTIVITY: My ideal for meetings

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Good meeting discipline

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RANT: Dr Carlyon said: “It is clear that a termination can have a profound effect on a woman’s life.” How profound!?!

Sunday, February 24, 2008

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/02/22/nartist122.xml

Artist hanged herself after aborting her twins
Last Updated: 12:23pm GMT 24/02/2008
An artist killed herself after aborting her twins when she was eight weeks pregnant, leaving a note saying: “I should never have had an abortion. I see now I would have been a good mum.”

*** begin quote ***

Emma Beck was found hanging at her home in Helston, Cornwall, on Feb 1 2007. She was declared dead early the following day – her 31st birthday.

Her suicide note read: “I told everyone I didn’t want to do it, even at the hospital. I was frightened, now it is too late. I died when my babies died. I want to be with my babies: they need me, no-one else does.”

The inquest at Truro City Hall heard that Miss Beck had split up with her boyfriend, referred to as “Ben” after he “reacted badly” to the pregnancy.

<<<Problem#1 — Sex without love? Bad choice.>>>

She saw her GP before the termination, but missed an appointment at a hospital in Penzance. She then cancelled, but later turned up to an appointment at a clinic at Royal Cornwall Hospital in Treliske. The counsellor was on holiday so a doctor referred Miss Beck to a pregnancy counselling telephone service eight days before carrying out the abortion when she was eight weeks pregnant, the inquest heard.

<<<Problem#2 — gooferment healthcare!>>>

The coroner, Dr Emma Carlyon, ordered that the identities of the doctor who performed the abortion and her lead consultant be kept secret.

<<<Problem#3 — Why? Are they afraid of being publicly excoriated for their “service” to this poor woman?>>>

The inquest heard that Sylvia Beck, the victim’s mother, wrote to the hospital after her daughter’s death, saying: “I want to know why she was not given the opportunity to see a counsellor.

<<<Problem#4 — “Mother” depends upon the gooferment to do her job!>>>

“She was only going ahead with the abortion because her boyfriend did not want the twins.

“I believe this is what led Emma to take her own life – she could not live with what she had done.”

The doctor said: “I discussed Emma’s situation with her, and wrote on the form, ‘Unsupported, lives alone, ex-partner aware’.

<<<Problem#5 — Hey Doc, maybe you needed to do more than “write on a form”!!>>>

“It is normal practice to give a woman the number for telephone counselling when a counsellor is not available.

“I am satisfied that everything was done to make sure that Emma consented to the operation.

She added: “We have since appointed more counsellors so there is more holiday cover.”

<<<Problem#6 — Guess that solves the !DEAD! woman’s problem?>>>

Katie Gibbs, Miss Beck’s GP, told the hearing: “She was extremely distressed by the abortion procedure, and I didn’t think she ever came to terms with it.

“She had a long history of anxiety and depression. Despite my best efforts, she was not willing to see a counsellor after the termination.”

Her boss at the clinic, said: “The time that can be given to a woman by a counsellor is limited in a busy hospital.

“I am satisfied everything was done to make sure Emma was consenting to surgery. I don’t feel there was any gap in the counselling service.

“There were lots of individuals who would be alert to any doubts. The comments made by Emma’s mother are not about a doctor I recognise.”

<<<Problem#7 — Bureaucrat satisfied; woman and children DEAD! Gooferment killed them!>>>

Mrs Beck told the court: “Emma was considered a talented artist, and sold a number of paintings.

“She was pleased when she became pregnant, but Ben reacted badly to the news.”

Recording a verdict of suicide, Dr Carlyon said: “It is clear that a termination can have a profound effect on a woman’s life.

<<<Problem#8 — clueless doctor who can’t see the problem, chooses not to, OR doesn’t want to lose his cushy gig!>>>

“But I am reassured by the evidence of the doctors here.”

<<<Problem#9 — wrong label; should have been “heartless bureaucracy that kills poor women without a feedback loop to their paycheck”!>>>

*** end quote ***

It’s usually bad form to intersperse comments. Sort of like interrupting a story being told. But, in this case, I was really torqued.

How can anyone advocate for the current system of SOCIALISM in the health care system?

I can NOT say for certainty that in a Free Market the result would be different. The poor woman had a history of making “bad choices”. But, let’s postulate that this was happening in a FREE LIBERTARIAN SOCIETY!

First, there would be no “dole”. And, people like the Dead Artist, her sperm donor, and her mom would have the heads in the right place. Or at least a better place! You know “I am responsible for me”, “My family is my support system”, and “I pay my own way”. Perhaps “sperm donor” could keep it zipped if he was going to “react badly” to a pregnancy?

Second, when the Dead Artist had a “problem”, she would pay for such services as she needed. (He who has the gold makes the rules!) And there would have been Doctors, Counselors, and People to help her. (While they may have been motivated by money, since she was paying, she could know for sure that her interests were aligning their interests. Greed is good. It’s makes people serve there fellow man!) Like McDonalds, there is always staffing to serve my needs. No “too bad, everyone’s on vacation!”. I mean “holiday”!

Third, even if she didn’t have money, there would be charity care. (Remember how hospitals always had a charity wing in the bad old days of freedom.) And, if you see any truly charitable organization — not these phony ones like United Way or the various “Big Charity life time employment for highly paid drones” type — think Salvation Army — such as those providing services to unwed mothers — she would have people helping her that truly cared about her. They will make mistakes, but they will be trying their level best to help. Think the Good Nuns in the wards of the old Catholic Charities Hospitals in NYC of yesteryear.

I’d have preferred her chances with FREEDOM rather than her fate at the hands of Socialists.

She’d probably agree now too.

Requiescat In Pacem, Dear Artist.

Here rests a Dead Artist.
Killed by the uncaring bureaucrats of the enslaving socialist state.
Warning to all.

Argh!

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PRODUCTIVITY: Everybody, I guess, needs a mokki.

Sunday, February 24, 2008

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/21/garden/21mokki.html?ex=1204347600&en=a7ebad4fcb301ed6&ei=5070title

NO VISITORS
The author spent a year building a backyard retreat for himself, hiding the nature of the project from his wife.
By PHILIP BESONEN
Published: February 21, 2008

***Begin Quote***

I also had a very particular cottage in mind. I wanted something like the little buildings called mokkis (rhymes with hokey) that I had seen while visiting my relatives in Finland. Mokkis were relatively small and nothing special to look at, but they were invariably off by themselves near lakes or trees, in settings where you could find peace. The feeling of serenity was the most striking thing about them.

***End Quote***

Where’s yours? Where’s mine? Sigh!

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LIBERTY: irate, tireless

Saturday, February 23, 2008

“It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless
minority keen to set brush fires in people’s minds.” — Samuel Adams

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FUN: whether weather wether

Saturday, February 23, 2008

http://www.dailywritingtips.com/wether-weather-whether/

*** begin quote ***

The farmer wondered whether the adverse weather had affected his wether.

*** end quote ***

LOL!

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PRODUCTIVITY: If it takes less than 2 minutes

Saturday, February 23, 2008

http://lifecoachesblog.com/2007/05/28/7-power-wounds

***Begin Quote***

5) Procrastination.

Putting off things you could have done and chucking them on a growing pile of to-do lists only adds to the clutter and worry in your life. Imagine having a to-do on your mind that could have been done…6 weeks ago. And it’s still lingering at the back of your mind, now.

If it takes less than 2 minutes to do, polish it off! If not, dump it, stuff it and deal it.

***End Quote***

Seems like a good habit.

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GUNS: I wonder when Americans will stop blaming guns

Saturday, February 23, 2008

http://duckdown.blogspot.com/2008/02/thoughts-on-school-shootings.html

***Begin Quote***

I wonder when Americans will stop blaming guns for the deaths of Americans in school shootings and start seeking out root cause. Consider the simple fact that in Canada, they have even more liberal gun laws than in the United States yet you don’t hear of school shootings there.

***End Quote***

Perhaps, we have school shootings BECAUSE they are “gun free”.

(Like passing a law EVER prevented anything. A determined human being is unstoppable.)

So, does the school janitor have tools. The teachers have rulers. Principals have pens.

A gun is a tool.

And, we don’t have to arm everyone. Just create uncertainty.

Those that want to can “pack heat”. Those that don’t benefit by the illusion that they might be.

Then when the nut jobs show up on campus and start shooting — as we know they will — they MIGHT get a surprise BEFORE they get off their first shot. At the very least, when they reload or are not looking, surprise surprise.

America was supposed to be a “free to carry your gun” zone.

Maybe that’s why we don’t have shooting at police stations, gun clubs, and GOA meetings!

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WRITING: others could see their prosperity

Saturday, February 23, 2008

Life was good.

True, they had come thru the end times that had killed so many. The farm was prospering with lots of hard work. Unrelated good folks pulling together under horrible conditions were making it so. They thought they had problems with weather, shortages, the complete absence of some critical things, thieves, predators, and sometimes it seemed the fates.

But!

The crops looked good; the animals were breeding; they had not only survived, but were succeeding. They had enough for themselves going into winter, enough to sell, enough to gift. Enough to tithe if there had been a church. But gifting to the widows and orphans took the tithe. Eliminated the middleman and the handling fee. They had even laid aside a portion for the Seven Years.

Unfortunately, others could see their prosperity.

In an office far away, “It’s time to bring the sheeple to heel, General. Apply the Force to them.” “Yes, Guv. Right away!”

During the night a small drone flies quietly over the target dispersing its deadly cargo.

By the end of the week, the farm’s folks were dead in their boots. First thing Monday morning, the convoy rolls up to take over. A brand new Colonel and his command installed themselves to operate the farm for the “people’s benefit”. We know that means the Guv’s.

Funny thing, but it’s different when it’s yours.

SO, by the end of the next season, the farm was worthless. And, the Guv and the General executed the Colonel for crimes against the State. They never figured out it was their meme that was wrong.

In the end, there are no problems. Just our fellow man. We, the race, are our own problem.

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TECH SERVICE: Western Union money transfer — NOT RECOMMENDED

Friday, February 22, 2008

http://wumt.westernunion.com

***Begin Quote***

Why do I have to call to complete my transaction?
See answer
For security reasons, we need to speak with you to confirm that your transaction is valid. We apologize for inconvenience.

***End Quote***

It’s a disaster.

NOT RECOMMENDED

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RANT: The Angry White Man owns firearms

Friday, February 22, 2008

LUDDITE asks “Does this sound like anyone you know?”?

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/2008198091324

Aspen Times Weekly Opinion Articles
In election 2008, don’t forget Angry White Man
Gary Hubbell
February 9, 2008

*** begin quote ***

The Angry White Man owns firearms, and he’s willing to pick up a gun to defend his home and his country. He is willing to lay down his life to defend the freedom and safety of others, and the thought of killing someone who needs killing really doesn’t bother him.

*** end quote ***

To which I responded:

*** begin quote ***

Nope. I don’t play golf. And, you’re not a “gun nut”.

Other than golf and calling turkeys, I’m pretty close.

*** end quote ***

?

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PRODUCTIVITY: depression happens when our life doesn’t match up to the expectations

Friday, February 22, 2008

http://lifecoachesblog.com/2008/02/20/new-anthony-robbins-video-interview

***Begin Quote***

I’m loving this new 12 minute interview of Tony Robbins on The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos.

Some highlights; around 3:40 minutes into the video he talks about how depression happens when our life doesn’t match up to the expectations of what we think it should be.

***End Quote***

Interesting. A few gems to take away!

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TECHNOLOGY: Being Declared Dead Ruins Life

Thursday, February 21, 2008

http://www.wsmv.com/news/15315424/detail.html?taf=nash

Woman Says Being Declared Dead Ruins Life
Laura Todd Says She’s Been Dead On, Off Again For 8 Years
Reported By Nancy Amons
POSTED: 5:10 pm CST February 15, 2008
UPDATED: 4:59 pm CST February 16, 2008

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A Nashville woman said that having to prove she’s alive over and over is ruining her life.

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It’s technology because it is poorly designed.

Just shaking my head.

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POLITICAL: Lessig May Run

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/02/20/lessig-may-run

Lessig May Run

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Erick reported February 15 that a Facebook group was trying to draft Stanford Law professor and free culture champion Lawrence Lessig to run for Congress. It took 5 days but they may get their way with Lessig announcing Lessig ‘08, a site that will host an introduction to his “Change Congress Movement,” (video above) as well as his yet to be announced decision as to whether he’ll run or not.

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Well, you couldn’t do any worse then the “professional congresscritters”. I’m not sure that I agree with your “progressive” label. I’d call your attention to Jim Babka’s DOWNSIZEDC DOT ORG and Carla Howell’s SMALLGOVERNMENT DOT ORG as examples of trying to make a difference. I certainly support anyone trying to change the system. You might even be a little L libertarian in disguise.

One detail I know I disagree with you on is the “public financing of campaigns”. I would suggest that a better answer would be that a candidate can ONLY raise money directly from voters in their district. It would be a measure of their support. Taxes are basically theft. Public campaign and election financing from those stolen funds is wrong. If voters voluntarily give you money in support of your campaign that makes it untainted.

imho, go for it.


RANT: man’s 19th drunken driving conviction

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080220/NEWS01/802200357/-1/CINCI

Man gets 8 years for 19 DUIs
Judge lectures driver; suspends license forever
BY JANICE MORSE | JMORSE@ENQUIRER.COM

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HAMILTON – A Hamilton man’s 19th drunken driving conviction earned him eight years in prison and a lecture about his 30-year record, which ranks him among Ohio’s six worst drunken drivers.

“You knew a long time ago that you had a problem with drinking and driving and you’ve never chosen to do anything,” Judge Noah Powers told Stephen W. Wolf in Butler County Common Pleas Court during sentencing Tuesday.

Wolf faced up to 10 years in prison as a result of a hit-and-run crash in Fairfield Township last summer.

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My only two questions are: (A) why didn’t he get the ten year max? and (B) Nineteen convictions? What a joke.

I’ll be asking my statecritters how bad the problem is here. Ohio might have two with 20, but I’m sure NuJerzee, the home of many bleeding heart liberals, must have more.

Argh!

I’d say one conviction is a mistake as long as no one is hurt. More than that is unacceptable. Multiple convictions, or conviction with an injury resulting, deserves the full Monte.

The “state”, meaning gooferment in general, has really only one purpose Constitutionally and that is to protect individual rights. If it can’t do that, then it has lost its reason for existence.

I’ve seen formulations that say we don’t have a “drinking and driving” problem, but we do have a problem with repeat offenders. So, let’s strike at the root.

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FUN: forward this to at least X number of people in the next Y minutes

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

FROM LUDDITE’S WIFE (who is one of those people who forwards funny stuff along, but not the rumor of the day)

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For those of you who are sick of getting emails that tell you to forward it to at least X number of people in the next 15 minutes so that wonderful things and miracles will happen if you do, or there will be serious consequences if you don’t,then you will enjoy this.

This is hilarious! (and it’s ABOUT TIME someone did this!)

http://info.org.il/irrelevant/may02-smilepop-soapbox4.swf

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AND, absolutely true. EXCEPT they did leave out all the emails offering to make something bigger, longer, or grow faster!

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