This is a battle that must be won at all costs.
"The blog" (notice the arrogance) is a blog ran by Cube. Not me, but a person who as decided to steal my namesake. He is now a professed enemy of mine, and most be removed.
I will probably just post random insults in his comments aimed at his heritage, until he changes his name.
cube (the real cube)
Thursday, June 30, 2005
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
Zach and Love In Action Update
Latest news in the TN investigation into Zach's plight of being in a school, that is trying to make him ungay.
Source:"Tennessee officials closed an investigation into a so-called ex-gay ministry because of a lack of evidence to support child abuse allegations. But the Memphis organization that says instilling Christian beliefs can keep gays from acting on their homosexual desires continues to be the center of controversy.
I wonder what the Memphis blogsphere will do now. They got the attention of the authorities, but then the authorities told them there was nothing to see or do. The liberal section of the Memphis blogsphere might miss this news item because it was on drudge, heh.
Previous Posts
More on Zack and Love In Action
cube
Source:"Tennessee officials closed an investigation into a so-called ex-gay ministry because of a lack of evidence to support child abuse allegations. But the Memphis organization that says instilling Christian beliefs can keep gays from acting on their homosexual desires continues to be the center of controversy.
I wonder what the Memphis blogsphere will do now. They got the attention of the authorities, but then the authorities told them there was nothing to see or do. The liberal section of the Memphis blogsphere might miss this news item because it was on drudge, heh.
Previous Posts
More on Zack and Love In Action
cube
Paranoia
I made a poem about Paranoia.
twelve o'clock
two o'clock, twelve o'clock, ten...
twelve o'clock four o'clock, twelve o'clock, eight...
twelve o'clock
Who is watching my six?
twelve o'clock
two o'clock, twelve o'clock, ten...
twelve o'clock four o'clock, twelve o'clock, eight...
twelve o'clock
Who is watching my six?
I like it.
cube
twelve o'clock
two o'clock, twelve o'clock, ten...
twelve o'clock four o'clock, twelve o'clock, eight...
twelve o'clock
Who is watching my six?
twelve o'clock
two o'clock, twelve o'clock, ten...
twelve o'clock four o'clock, twelve o'clock, eight...
twelve o'clock
Who is watching my six?
I like it.
cube
Send them emails or just send the spam
Tell the mayor of New London and its developer that what they’re doing is wrong! Click on the links below to e-mail the City Council and Corcoran Jennison what you think about condemning private property for private profit. Remember to be thoughtful, intelligent, and tasteful.
cube
Mayor Jane L. Glover
kente219@aol.com
Deputy Mayor William S. Morse
Billmorse1956@hotmail.com
Councilor Jason Catala
Jason_CatalaBOE@yahoo.com
Councilor Margaret Mary Curtin
pegcurtin@snet.net
Councilor Gerard J. Gaynor
Gjgdeacon@aol.com
Councilor Robert Pero
pero6_98@yahoo.com
Councilor Elizabeth Sabilia
Sabilia@sdwllc.com
Corcoran Jennison
scorcoran@corcoranjennison.com
Marty Jones, President of Corcoran Jennison
MJones@corcoranjennison.com
cube
It is because they are smarter than you....
"SPIELBERG CONFUSED BY DECREASE IN UFO SIGHTINGS"
"Oscar-winning director STEVEN SPIELBERG is baffled that fewer UFO sightings are made now than were made twenty years ago - because the technology to record would-be aliens is so commonplace today."
It is because the aliens have been monitoring us and they know that our cameras cannot be fooled by their limited technology any more, so they have started using their invis-Shields. Secondly, after their close calls and almost being exposed in the mid-50s they got a lot better at not crashing in the desert.
"Spielberg says, "There are millions of video cameras out there and they're picking up less videos of UFOs, alleged UFOs, than we picked up in the 1970s and 1980s. There's 150 per cent more cameras, so why are we getting less from up there?"
It is because they are smarter than you.
via drudge
cube
"Oscar-winning director STEVEN SPIELBERG is baffled that fewer UFO sightings are made now than were made twenty years ago - because the technology to record would-be aliens is so commonplace today."
It is because the aliens have been monitoring us and they know that our cameras cannot be fooled by their limited technology any more, so they have started using their invis-Shields. Secondly, after their close calls and almost being exposed in the mid-50s they got a lot better at not crashing in the desert.
"Spielberg says, "There are millions of video cameras out there and they're picking up less videos of UFOs, alleged UFOs, than we picked up in the 1970s and 1980s. There's 150 per cent more cameras, so why are we getting less from up there?"
It is because they are smarter than you.
via drudge
cube
John F. Kerry
John F. Kerry's open letter to the world. Let the fisking begin.
"The Bush administration is courting disaster with its current course - a course with no realistic strategy for reducing the risks to our soldiers and increasing the odds for success."
I guess training Iraqis to do the work our soldiers do is not a "realistic strategy for reducing the risks to our soldiers". Of course, I do not know if that would increase our odds for success, but I sure as hell know that it reduces the risks to our soldiers.
"The reality is that the Bush administration's choices have made Iraq into what it wasn't before the war - a breeding ground for jihadists. Today there are 16,000 to 20,000 jihadists and the number is growing."
I doubt that. First Iraq cannot be considered a breeding ground when many of those "jihadists" were not born and raised in Iraq. Secondly, he must not have read reports of Red-on-Red action (and that is not racist American Indian porn, that is the enemy fighting the enemy). That alone would keep the number from growing.
"Our mission in Iraq is harder because the administration ignored the advice of others, went in largely alone, underestimated the likelihood and power of the insurgency, sent in too few troops to secure the country, destroyed the Iraqi army through de-Baathification, failed to secure ammunition dumps, refused to recognize the urgency of training Iraqi security forces and did no postwar planning. A little humility would go a long way - coupled with a strategy to succeed."
Same sort of talk that lost him the election in the first place.
"The president must also announce immediately that the United States will not have a permanent military presence in Iraq. Erasing suspicions that the occupation is indefinite is critical to eroding support for the insurgency."
Hmmm...I would have thought that if you pointed out that we have had military bases in South Korea for nearly half a century and that we are not leaving that maybe they would just give up. Secondly, I really do not have a problem with having a "permanent military" presence in Iraq. They border Iran, an irate nuclear power, kind of like North Korea. We can just close some bases in the US, Europe, and move them to Iraq where they can actually do some good.
"We're doing our part: our huge military presence stands between the Iraqi people and chaos, and our special forces protect Iraqi leaders."
Wait, I thought you said we did not have enough troops in Iraq. You did, in THIS article. I quote, "...sent in too few troops to secure the country...” We have probably about the same or maybe a little bit less troops in Iraq than when we took the place over. This is not counting the Iraqis that have trained and which we have added to the resource pool. If anything it is the Iraqis themselves who stand between their selves and chaos, not us.
"If Iraqis adopt a constitution and hold elections as planned, support for the insurgency should fall and Iraqi security forces should be able to take on more responsibility. It will also set the stage for American forces to begin to come home."
What of this have we not done? They only part we are missing is the constitution, we have already had elections. So bush is already doing what Kerry is suggesting.... odd
"The administration must work with the Iraqi government to establish a multinational force to help protect its borders. Such a force, if sanctioned by the United Nations Security Council, could attract participation by Iraq's neighbors and countries like India."
So now Iraq should ask the UN for help. The UN could have helped anywhere from 1980 to present if it wanted to, but did not.
"The deployment of capable security forces is critical, but it alone will not end the insurgency, as the administration would have us believe. Hamstrung by its earlier lack of planning and overly optimistic predictions for rebuilding Iraq, the administration has failed to devote equal attention to working with the Iraqi government on the economic and political fronts. Consequently, reconstruction is lagging even in the relatively secure Shiite south and Kurdish north. If Iraqis, particularly Sunnis who fear being disenfranchised, see electricity flowing, jobs being created, roads and sewers being rebuilt and a democratic government being formed, the allure of the insurgency will decrease."
I actually agree with the general idea of this statement. Though I think that it would be better to get the economy up and going and then fix the things as the Iraq government has the cash. It will cost us less in the long run and Iraq will be stronger because of it. Then again, certain things need to be rebuilt, especially the ones that we blew up.
via drudge
cube
"The Bush administration is courting disaster with its current course - a course with no realistic strategy for reducing the risks to our soldiers and increasing the odds for success."
I guess training Iraqis to do the work our soldiers do is not a "realistic strategy for reducing the risks to our soldiers". Of course, I do not know if that would increase our odds for success, but I sure as hell know that it reduces the risks to our soldiers.
"The reality is that the Bush administration's choices have made Iraq into what it wasn't before the war - a breeding ground for jihadists. Today there are 16,000 to 20,000 jihadists and the number is growing."
I doubt that. First Iraq cannot be considered a breeding ground when many of those "jihadists" were not born and raised in Iraq. Secondly, he must not have read reports of Red-on-Red action (and that is not racist American Indian porn, that is the enemy fighting the enemy). That alone would keep the number from growing.
"Our mission in Iraq is harder because the administration ignored the advice of others, went in largely alone, underestimated the likelihood and power of the insurgency, sent in too few troops to secure the country, destroyed the Iraqi army through de-Baathification, failed to secure ammunition dumps, refused to recognize the urgency of training Iraqi security forces and did no postwar planning. A little humility would go a long way - coupled with a strategy to succeed."
Same sort of talk that lost him the election in the first place.
"The president must also announce immediately that the United States will not have a permanent military presence in Iraq. Erasing suspicions that the occupation is indefinite is critical to eroding support for the insurgency."
Hmmm...I would have thought that if you pointed out that we have had military bases in South Korea for nearly half a century and that we are not leaving that maybe they would just give up. Secondly, I really do not have a problem with having a "permanent military" presence in Iraq. They border Iran, an irate nuclear power, kind of like North Korea. We can just close some bases in the US, Europe, and move them to Iraq where they can actually do some good.
"We're doing our part: our huge military presence stands between the Iraqi people and chaos, and our special forces protect Iraqi leaders."
Wait, I thought you said we did not have enough troops in Iraq. You did, in THIS article. I quote, "...sent in too few troops to secure the country...” We have probably about the same or maybe a little bit less troops in Iraq than when we took the place over. This is not counting the Iraqis that have trained and which we have added to the resource pool. If anything it is the Iraqis themselves who stand between their selves and chaos, not us.
"If Iraqis adopt a constitution and hold elections as planned, support for the insurgency should fall and Iraqi security forces should be able to take on more responsibility. It will also set the stage for American forces to begin to come home."
What of this have we not done? They only part we are missing is the constitution, we have already had elections. So bush is already doing what Kerry is suggesting.... odd
"The administration must work with the Iraqi government to establish a multinational force to help protect its borders. Such a force, if sanctioned by the United Nations Security Council, could attract participation by Iraq's neighbors and countries like India."
So now Iraq should ask the UN for help. The UN could have helped anywhere from 1980 to present if it wanted to, but did not.
"The deployment of capable security forces is critical, but it alone will not end the insurgency, as the administration would have us believe. Hamstrung by its earlier lack of planning and overly optimistic predictions for rebuilding Iraq, the administration has failed to devote equal attention to working with the Iraqi government on the economic and political fronts. Consequently, reconstruction is lagging even in the relatively secure Shiite south and Kurdish north. If Iraqis, particularly Sunnis who fear being disenfranchised, see electricity flowing, jobs being created, roads and sewers being rebuilt and a democratic government being formed, the allure of the insurgency will decrease."
I actually agree with the general idea of this statement. Though I think that it would be better to get the economy up and going and then fix the things as the Iraq government has the cash. It will cost us less in the long run and Iraq will be stronger because of it. Then again, certain things need to be rebuilt, especially the ones that we blew up.
via drudge
cube
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Big money ideas
A TV show that expects you to pause.
With the advent of TiVo's and other similar technology, I suspect a new form of TV show\movie\game might evolve. I do not know the exact form that this will come out in. A few possible ideas. A detective show that tells you to pause before the killer is caught During the pause you are supposed to figure out who done it. If this show was leveraged with HD technology, you could even expect the users to pause during the show to examine evidence that would not be seen on a normal TV show. You could have parties to watch the show, it could be social TV.
Pants that are waterproof on the inside to keep the urine to soaking through.
I know this happens to you to, so do not try to deny it. This could really save your butt if you are in an interview situation where you pants need to be urine free, but you do not have time to do a complete shake.
Toilets with arm rests
They do not have to be really comfortable, they can be built a lot like airline seat arm rests: Not comforatable, but they get the job done.
cube
With the advent of TiVo's and other similar technology, I suspect a new form of TV show\movie\game might evolve. I do not know the exact form that this will come out in. A few possible ideas. A detective show that tells you to pause before the killer is caught During the pause you are supposed to figure out who done it. If this show was leveraged with HD technology, you could even expect the users to pause during the show to examine evidence that would not be seen on a normal TV show. You could have parties to watch the show, it could be social TV.
Pants that are waterproof on the inside to keep the urine to soaking through.
I know this happens to you to, so do not try to deny it. This could really save your butt if you are in an interview situation where you pants need to be urine free, but you do not have time to do a complete shake.
Toilets with arm rests
They do not have to be really comfortable, they can be built a lot like airline seat arm rests: Not comforatable, but they get the job done.
cube
Friend's email
I have got a friend who is working in Kenya for the summer he sent this email to me and several other people.
Hello everyone,
I’ve been in Kenya for three weeks now and I wanted to update everybody. The transition has been smooth, so far. My flight went well, I have a nice place to stay, and work has been great. I want to tell you all about work, but unfortunately the nature of the work I am doing at IJM Kenya keeps me from saying too much. Most of what I am doing deals with child victims of rape. A statistic that I heard before I came to Kenya is that, in the developing world, 40% of women
will be sexually abused before they reach the age of 18. With a problem this pervasive, we are obviously limited as to how much we can do, but we are working everyday to bring as many perpetrators to justice as we can. There are two stories I want to share with you that really highlight the problems Kenyans are facing as they try to create a more just and prosperous society.
My second week here, I had the opportunity to visit a Kenyan jail. I expected to find dilapidated conditions and overcrowding, which I did. What I did not expect to find was a cordial relationship between the guards and the prisoners. When we walked into the prison there were eight of us; six from IJM, the commandant of the prison, and one guard. We came to a courtyard to find hundreds of prisoners just sitting around, waiting to be taken to court. They were not handcuffed or restrained in any way, and only two guards secured them. I was overwhelmed--the prisoners had the numbers to overpower us and do whatever they wanted with us. The Kenyans, on the other hand, just walked calmly through the mass of prisoners. I later found that the guards were sympathetic to the plight of the prisoners. Backlog is a huge problem in Kenyan courts, so most prisoners can expect to wait one to two years before their cases go to trial. Many were in jail for minor crimes, but they couldn’t afford bail, so they waited in jail until the court found time for them. The guards talked openly about how most of the prisoners had no business being in the jail. The guards even joked around with the prisoners. The facility we visited was built for 2,000 people yet it housed over 5,000, and only 800 of
them had actually been convicted. Somehow, in these conditions, the guards and the prisoners were able to forge a bond that one would never find in an American jail.
The second story comes from one of my trips outside of Nairobi. I went with the director of my office to visit a children’s officer in one of Kenya’s 9 provinces. In this particular province there are 4.5 million people, but there are only 9 children’s officers. That means only one children’s officer for every 500,000 people. In addition, there is only one vehicle between the 9 officers. Many officers have to take buses to get to the victims they are trying to help. There are many
compelling cases about which the officers can do nothing merely because they do not have the means to get to the child. The children’s officer we met had a heart to help every child in Kenya, but was increasingly frustrated because there was so little she could do. She complained about how hard it was to keep a children’s officer because the job was so emotionally overwhelming. Most of the officers leave within one or two years.
As you can see, Kenya faces a lot of problems. But the number of people trying to effectuate change has really struck me. There are so many Kenyans who want to make Kenya a better place; they just need the resources to do it. This email turned out longer than I wanted, but it
could have been ten times as long. I would appreciate your prayers in the coming weeks for me and for the hundreds of millions of people who are suffering from oppression across the world."
God bless,
Cube's friend
Hello everyone,
I’ve been in Kenya for three weeks now and I wanted to update everybody. The transition has been smooth, so far. My flight went well, I have a nice place to stay, and work has been great. I want to tell you all about work, but unfortunately the nature of the work I am doing at IJM Kenya keeps me from saying too much. Most of what I am doing deals with child victims of rape. A statistic that I heard before I came to Kenya is that, in the developing world, 40% of women
will be sexually abused before they reach the age of 18. With a problem this pervasive, we are obviously limited as to how much we can do, but we are working everyday to bring as many perpetrators to justice as we can. There are two stories I want to share with you that really highlight the problems Kenyans are facing as they try to create a more just and prosperous society.
My second week here, I had the opportunity to visit a Kenyan jail. I expected to find dilapidated conditions and overcrowding, which I did. What I did not expect to find was a cordial relationship between the guards and the prisoners. When we walked into the prison there were eight of us; six from IJM, the commandant of the prison, and one guard. We came to a courtyard to find hundreds of prisoners just sitting around, waiting to be taken to court. They were not handcuffed or restrained in any way, and only two guards secured them. I was overwhelmed--the prisoners had the numbers to overpower us and do whatever they wanted with us. The Kenyans, on the other hand, just walked calmly through the mass of prisoners. I later found that the guards were sympathetic to the plight of the prisoners. Backlog is a huge problem in Kenyan courts, so most prisoners can expect to wait one to two years before their cases go to trial. Many were in jail for minor crimes, but they couldn’t afford bail, so they waited in jail until the court found time for them. The guards talked openly about how most of the prisoners had no business being in the jail. The guards even joked around with the prisoners. The facility we visited was built for 2,000 people yet it housed over 5,000, and only 800 of
them had actually been convicted. Somehow, in these conditions, the guards and the prisoners were able to forge a bond that one would never find in an American jail.
The second story comes from one of my trips outside of Nairobi. I went with the director of my office to visit a children’s officer in one of Kenya’s 9 provinces. In this particular province there are 4.5 million people, but there are only 9 children’s officers. That means only one children’s officer for every 500,000 people. In addition, there is only one vehicle between the 9 officers. Many officers have to take buses to get to the victims they are trying to help. There are many
compelling cases about which the officers can do nothing merely because they do not have the means to get to the child. The children’s officer we met had a heart to help every child in Kenya, but was increasingly frustrated because there was so little she could do. She complained about how hard it was to keep a children’s officer because the job was so emotionally overwhelming. Most of the officers leave within one or two years.
As you can see, Kenya faces a lot of problems. But the number of people trying to effectuate change has really struck me. There are so many Kenyans who want to make Kenya a better place; they just need the resources to do it. This email turned out longer than I wanted, but it
could have been ten times as long. I would appreciate your prayers in the coming weeks for me and for the hundreds of millions of people who are suffering from oppression across the world."
God bless,
Cube's friend
Compromise
I think this is a winnable political strategy for the bush administration, but also a strategy that short changes the young worker.
"The fact that hard choices might have to be made has kept most of the politicians from tackling the issue head on even though a sensible compromise already exists and has been introduced. The DeMint plan - for the legislation's chief sponsor, Sen. Jim DeMint, R-SC -- recognizes the reality that the only way to keep Washington from spending our Social Security money is to take it away from them. The only real way to take it away from them is to put it into personal accounts.
With personal accounts, we, the working people, would own and control those accounts, and Congress wouldn't be able to touch the money. And with a safe mix of stocks and bonds, we would see real rates of return of at least 5 percent, and more likely 7 or 8 percent.
We would begin, slowly at first, to accumulate real wealth and start on the road to a secure, prosperous retirement. This approach is gradual and would give ample time for the financial markets to react and tweak administrative problems that may arise. Down the road, if things go smoothly, the accounts could be expanded to reform the entire program. In the short term, Congress is blocked from raiding any more of our money while workers can begin making a down payment on their future prosperity.
It's also good politics and it's good for the people, both current and future retirees. It doesn't make sense not to do it."
I agree with the phasing in idea. Markets do not like change. A large influx of cash could drive up prices and make things a little unstable. That would hurt the chances of keeping accounts private and people who would lose money in the unstable market. So I agree that the private accounts should be phased in, though I think 3-5 years is enough time to give the markets time to adjust.
While I would like for me to get all of my social security money back, I realize there is a small chance that would happen. If the above proposal is all I can get, I will take it.
cube
"The fact that hard choices might have to be made has kept most of the politicians from tackling the issue head on even though a sensible compromise already exists and has been introduced. The DeMint plan - for the legislation's chief sponsor, Sen. Jim DeMint, R-SC -- recognizes the reality that the only way to keep Washington from spending our Social Security money is to take it away from them. The only real way to take it away from them is to put it into personal accounts.
With personal accounts, we, the working people, would own and control those accounts, and Congress wouldn't be able to touch the money. And with a safe mix of stocks and bonds, we would see real rates of return of at least 5 percent, and more likely 7 or 8 percent.
We would begin, slowly at first, to accumulate real wealth and start on the road to a secure, prosperous retirement. This approach is gradual and would give ample time for the financial markets to react and tweak administrative problems that may arise. Down the road, if things go smoothly, the accounts could be expanded to reform the entire program. In the short term, Congress is blocked from raiding any more of our money while workers can begin making a down payment on their future prosperity.
It's also good politics and it's good for the people, both current and future retirees. It doesn't make sense not to do it."
I agree with the phasing in idea. Markets do not like change. A large influx of cash could drive up prices and make things a little unstable. That would hurt the chances of keeping accounts private and people who would lose money in the unstable market. So I agree that the private accounts should be phased in, though I think 3-5 years is enough time to give the markets time to adjust.
While I would like for me to get all of my social security money back, I realize there is a small chance that would happen. If the above proposal is all I can get, I will take it.
cube
Saturday, June 25, 2005
Road Trip
I will be going home this weekend, tune in Monday or Tuesday. Stay safe and watch you six.
cube
cube
If you make it they will buy it....
...Or not.
Source:"PC makers and distributors are holding back from buying the new alternative version of Windows XP that Europe's competition commissioner ordered Microsoft Corp. to offer as part of the punishment in the software maker's long antitrust battle with the European Union. Windows XP N was released to distributors last week in English, French, German, Italian and Spanish and will be available to the public in the next few weeks. Versions in 10 additional languages will be released in July. The world's largest software maker had to change its Windows operating system after EU antitrust regulators ruled last year that it abusively wielded its Windows monopoly and locked out competitors. Microsoft was fined a record euro497 million ($608 million)."
Microsoft got fined, had to develop brand new software, sell that software, and now no one wants to buy it. Next thing, Europe is going to make Microsoft remove Internet explorer from XP. Which to get IE you will have to download it from Microsoft.
cube
Source:"PC makers and distributors are holding back from buying the new alternative version of Windows XP that Europe's competition commissioner ordered Microsoft Corp. to offer as part of the punishment in the software maker's long antitrust battle with the European Union. Windows XP N was released to distributors last week in English, French, German, Italian and Spanish and will be available to the public in the next few weeks. Versions in 10 additional languages will be released in July. The world's largest software maker had to change its Windows operating system after EU antitrust regulators ruled last year that it abusively wielded its Windows monopoly and locked out competitors. Microsoft was fined a record euro497 million ($608 million)."
Microsoft got fined, had to develop brand new software, sell that software, and now no one wants to buy it. Next thing, Europe is going to make Microsoft remove Internet explorer from XP. Which to get IE you will have to download it from Microsoft.
cube
Putin
Source: "MOSCOW -- Lawmakers are considering an electoral amendment next week that could open the way for President Vladimir Putin to run for a third term, prompting the opposition to accuse his supporters of trying to cling to power.
Putin has repeatedly said he will not change the constitution, which bars presidents from serving more than two consecutive terms."
previous post:"What is the over\under on Putin declaring a state of emergency and extending his presidency past the term limit?"
This is bad news.
cube
Putin has repeatedly said he will not change the constitution, which bars presidents from serving more than two consecutive terms."
previous post:"What is the over\under on Putin declaring a state of emergency and extending his presidency past the term limit?"
This is bad news.
cube
Kelo - the future fight
The battle for property rights has been lost at the national level. While this is not surprising considering the case history concerning the topic of eminent domain, it is still disheartening. There are several things that this ruling has impressed on me.
First, judicial nominees are important. I now support whatever action the republican want to take to keep the nominees flowing. Especially, nominees appointed directly to the Supreme Court.
Secondly, I now support term limits on all elected positions and all appointed positions. This problem stems from the fact that men like power and do not give it up easily. You have an old name suffering from CANCER on the Supreme Court, for crying out loud. Is he going to die in office? There is no way the supreme court can react to the public pressure when public out cry over topics like these falls on deaf (literally) ears.
Thirdly, the fight has now gone to the state level. Stronger laws must be passed at the state level. Say Uncle offers this advice, "The fight isn’t over, it just got local. We need to press local and state officials to pass laws that restrict eminent domain. That’s the way you win this one. And it will be a long haul that will probably take decades."
I have a few comments to make to about Uncle's statement. I agree that we will have to take gains on this issue wherever we can. If we can make local laws against it, fine, but we should concentrate on getting laws passed at the state level. I think that is where they will do the most good and protect the most people. Finally, this ruling is going to leave some people out in the cold, but in this case only those who fight it can be saved and only you can fight for yourself. I, also, have a serious problem fighting fights I should not have to fight at the state level. Though we do have a few friends in TN.
Fourthly, there is going to be an upsurge of cases like this because many towns were waiting on this ruling to decide if what they were doing was legal or not. Once that initial boom dies down, the rate of seizures will decline. I think they will then slowly start to rise as developers and cities being to position their selves to take advantage of this ruling.
Fifthly, Say Uncle also says this:
"Also, to my gunblogger buddies who are stating it’s time to hoist the black flag, quoting Jefferson, and calling for revolution: Put up or shut up. Unless you’re on your way to Connecticut right now, the rhetoric will do more harm than good. Actually, being on your way to Connecticut will probably do more harm than good. That’s not to say I don’t appreciate or understand the sentiment, but the fact is that it’s not going to happen and if it did happen, it wouldn’t work. People will shake their heads, nay-say, and bitch but nothing will be done when the bulldozers level Suzette Kelo’s home. People won’t even defend their dogs when the state comes to take them by force . Sure, I made a half-hearted comment about sending guns to Connecticut but its pointless because I can’t send them balls.
Folks can entertain these fantasies of a group of freedom fighters engaging the bureaucratic machine but you will lose. You will die or be imprisoned. Period. The cause needs you to be alive andfree not in jail."
I would agree that now is not the time to fight, but it is the time for political action. Though I fully believe that people will be shot over this eventually, it is just a matter of time. You can screw over a lot of people, but when you start messing with their homes (and by extension their families who live in the homes) they will get real upset very quickly. Eventually, the ones wronged will seek revenge.
As a corollary, to the idea of fighting, how much injustice are you willing to watch before you actually step up and take action? The local government can remove you from you land and give it to another private person, legally. I would suggest now would be a good time to buy that gun you don't own, but support in theory. You should also draw a line in the sand on how far is too far for the government to go. My next gun purchase was going to be a shotgun; I think I am going to get a good rifle.
Sixthly, It is time to remember you history lesson.
"The charges of usual offices have been greatly increased; and, new, expensive and oppressive offices have been multiplied.
The judges of admiralty and vice-admiralty courts are empowered to receive their salaries and fees from the effects condemned by themselves. The officers of the customs are empowered to break open and enter houses without the authority of any civil magistrate founded on legal information.
.
.
.
Humble and reasonable petitions from the representatives of the people have been fruitless.
.
.
.
.
By several acts of parliament made in the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth years of your majesty's reign, duties are imposed on us, for the purpose of raising a revenue, and the powers of admiralty and vice-admiralty courts are extended beyond their ancient limits, whereby our property is taken from us without our consent, the trial by jury in many civil cases is abolished, enormous forfeitures are incurred for slight offences, vexatious informers are exempted from paying damages, to which they are justly liable, and oppressive security is required from owners before they are allowed to defend their right.
The political wars we are about to fight have already been fought, just no one remembers.
cube
First, judicial nominees are important. I now support whatever action the republican want to take to keep the nominees flowing. Especially, nominees appointed directly to the Supreme Court.
Secondly, I now support term limits on all elected positions and all appointed positions. This problem stems from the fact that men like power and do not give it up easily. You have an old name suffering from CANCER on the Supreme Court, for crying out loud. Is he going to die in office? There is no way the supreme court can react to the public pressure when public out cry over topics like these falls on deaf (literally) ears.
Thirdly, the fight has now gone to the state level. Stronger laws must be passed at the state level. Say Uncle offers this advice, "The fight isn’t over, it just got local. We need to press local and state officials to pass laws that restrict eminent domain. That’s the way you win this one. And it will be a long haul that will probably take decades."
I have a few comments to make to about Uncle's statement. I agree that we will have to take gains on this issue wherever we can. If we can make local laws against it, fine, but we should concentrate on getting laws passed at the state level. I think that is where they will do the most good and protect the most people. Finally, this ruling is going to leave some people out in the cold, but in this case only those who fight it can be saved and only you can fight for yourself. I, also, have a serious problem fighting fights I should not have to fight at the state level. Though we do have a few friends in TN.
Fourthly, there is going to be an upsurge of cases like this because many towns were waiting on this ruling to decide if what they were doing was legal or not. Once that initial boom dies down, the rate of seizures will decline. I think they will then slowly start to rise as developers and cities being to position their selves to take advantage of this ruling.
Fifthly, Say Uncle also says this:
"Also, to my gunblogger buddies who are stating it’s time to hoist the black flag, quoting Jefferson, and calling for revolution: Put up or shut up. Unless you’re on your way to Connecticut right now, the rhetoric will do more harm than good. Actually, being on your way to Connecticut will probably do more harm than good. That’s not to say I don’t appreciate or understand the sentiment, but the fact is that it’s not going to happen and if it did happen, it wouldn’t work. People will shake their heads, nay-say, and bitch but nothing will be done when the bulldozers level Suzette Kelo’s home. People won’t even defend their dogs when the state comes to take them by force . Sure, I made a half-hearted comment about sending guns to Connecticut but its pointless because I can’t send them balls.
Folks can entertain these fantasies of a group of freedom fighters engaging the bureaucratic machine but you will lose. You will die or be imprisoned. Period. The cause needs you to be alive and
I would agree that now is not the time to fight, but it is the time for political action. Though I fully believe that people will be shot over this eventually, it is just a matter of time. You can screw over a lot of people, but when you start messing with their homes (and by extension their families who live in the homes) they will get real upset very quickly. Eventually, the ones wronged will seek revenge.
As a corollary, to the idea of fighting, how much injustice are you willing to watch before you actually step up and take action? The local government can remove you from you land and give it to another private person, legally. I would suggest now would be a good time to buy that gun you don't own, but support in theory. You should also draw a line in the sand on how far is too far for the government to go. My next gun purchase was going to be a shotgun; I think I am going to get a good rifle.
Sixthly, It is time to remember you history lesson.
"The charges of usual offices have been greatly increased; and, new, expensive and oppressive offices have been multiplied.
The judges of admiralty and vice-admiralty courts are empowered to receive their salaries and fees from the effects condemned by themselves. The officers of the customs are empowered to break open and enter houses without the authority of any civil magistrate founded on legal information.
.
.
.
Humble and reasonable petitions from the representatives of the people have been fruitless.
.
.
.
.
By several acts of parliament made in the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth years of your majesty's reign, duties are imposed on us, for the purpose of raising a revenue, and the powers of admiralty and vice-admiralty courts are extended beyond their ancient limits, whereby our property is taken from us without our consent, the trial by jury in many civil cases is abolished, enormous forfeitures are incurred for slight offences, vexatious informers are exempted from paying damages, to which they are justly liable, and oppressive security is required from owners before they are allowed to defend their right.
The political wars we are about to fight have already been fought, just no one remembers.
cube
More on Zack and Love In Action
Back ground here.
An major update to this story happened when "Tennessee has began an investigation in response to allegations of child abuse at Love in Action, a Memphis facility that advertises homosexual conversion therapy for adolescents, according to the state department of health."
The Memphis blogsphere has succeeded in getting this story in the mainstream. Congratulations. Of course if the investigation discovers nothing, I wonder if they will shut up. Of course if the investigation ends up fining, sanctioning, or even shutting down Love in action, they would have succeeded in their goal. I actually think they did an impressive job of mobilizing support and getting the story heard, and by doing that has won a major victory. The rest is really our of their hands.
I first heard about this on the news this morning where it stated that a complaint was filed an anonymous person. I doubt that person actually had anything to do with love in action, but they have succeeded in their goal of getting an investigation.
What is important about this story is that this is the first case I have seen of a local group of bloggers (which I read and follow, but don't know any) actually push a story by brute force into the spotlight. After hearing the report on the news this morning, which left out any mention of blogers, I suspect this might be happening a lot.
cube
An major update to this story happened when "Tennessee has began an investigation in response to allegations of child abuse at Love in Action, a Memphis facility that advertises homosexual conversion therapy for adolescents, according to the state department of health."
The Memphis blogsphere has succeeded in getting this story in the mainstream. Congratulations. Of course if the investigation discovers nothing, I wonder if they will shut up. Of course if the investigation ends up fining, sanctioning, or even shutting down Love in action, they would have succeeded in their goal. I actually think they did an impressive job of mobilizing support and getting the story heard, and by doing that has won a major victory. The rest is really our of their hands.
I first heard about this on the news this morning where it stated that a complaint was filed an anonymous person. I doubt that person actually had anything to do with love in action, but they have succeeded in their goal of getting an investigation.
What is important about this story is that this is the first case I have seen of a local group of bloggers (which I read and follow, but don't know any) actually push a story by brute force into the spotlight. After hearing the report on the news this morning, which left out any mention of blogers, I suspect this might be happening a lot.
cube
Friday, June 24, 2005
Kelo et al v. City of New London, 04-108
Kind of like the death of a friend. I do not have much to say, but I thought the supreme court was going to fall on the right side on this one. I guess I had misplaced my faith in that group of people.
Say Uncle - who have been covering this story and others like it for as long as I have been reading his blog.
"How a private development could possibly be justified as public use is beyond me. Worth noting that the conservative judges came down on the right side of things.
Nashville files - this was the first report I read of the decision.
"More: Quotes of initial reactions from people talking to me...
I am not much of a flag burning, property devastating (and when I say devastate, I mean making it total unlivable, undevelopable for as long as I humanly can, and making the clean up cost nearly unbearable for whoever owns the property.), though I am getting really pissed off recently.
cube
Say Uncle - who have been covering this story and others like it for as long as I have been reading his blog.
"How a private development could possibly be justified as public use is beyond me. Worth noting that the conservative judges came down on the right side of things.
Fuckers."
Nashville files - this was the first report I read of the decision.
"More: Quotes of initial reactions from people talking to me...
"Time for blood to water the trees, baby!"
"We've now turned into a communistic state!"
"This, if anything, is deserving of a bullet to someone's head.""
I am not much of a flag burning, property devastating (and when I say devastate, I mean making it total unlivable, undevelopable for as long as I humanly can, and making the clean up cost nearly unbearable for whoever owns the property.), though I am getting really pissed off recently.
cube
Thursday, June 23, 2005
American political parties and their inconsistencies surrounding evolution
Over the years the political parties of America have staked out their political positions on nearly all aspects of American life. Some of those positions have involved the teaching of evolution. Evolution has been a hotly debated topic for the past 80 years. To this day schools are still arguing over how it should be taught (The schools lost the battle of it should be taught or not.)
This post is not meant to be a history lesson, but just a big highlighter pointing out areas in which the different parties are inconsistent and could realign their views on certain issues to be more ideology consistent across a wider range of issues. I will state the party and then the party’s position. These will be grossly over simplified for times sake. I assume my readers will catch the inconsistencies.
Evolution in Schools
Democrats - For the teaching of evolution
Republicans - Against the teaching of evolution, or at a minimum wants stickers on books stating that evolution is a theory. Kind of like the theory of gravity.
Evolution in the natural environment
Democrats - Against any species dieing because it cannot evolve (i.e. pandas, who will not screw to save their species). Don't adapt and humans will make sure you survive somehow.
Republicans - For evolution in the natural environment (i.e. spotted owl). Adapt or die.
Evolution in business
Democrats - Against natural progression of business. Don't adapt and allow the government to support you and\or bail you our (i.e. airlines).
Republicans - For the natural progression of business with limited governmental intervention. Adapt or die.
Evolution in abortion
Democrats - For the human (unnatural) control of the birth process.
Republicans - For the natural control of the birth process, even to the extreme of not using birth control in some cases.
Evolution in Lifestyle choices
Democrats - Against anything you can do that might kill you, if you are stupid enough to do it to fast or do to much of it (i.e. Driving to fast, using guns, eating, and smoking)
Republicans - All for allowing people to do what ever they want, even if they do somthing stupid and it kills them.
Evolution in View of life
Democrats - Democrats view life as an easy trip where you get lots of vacations and many things are given to you because it is your right.
Republicans - Life is short and hard like a bodybuilding elf, and if you do not do something stupid you will most likely live though it still will require work.
Evolution in Education
Democrats - Everyone must learn, even if that means the smart ones are never taught anything they did not already know. The government pays for education.
Republicans - If you are too stupid to learn, you do not go to college. If you do go to college, pay for it yourself and hope that you make enough money that you are able to pay it back at some point in time.
Evolution in medical care
Democrats - Everyone gets free medical care
Republicans - You get medical care if you can pay for it. You can pay for it, if you make lots of money. You can makes lots of money if you went to a school and did well enough to get a job.
Feel free to add your own in the comment section.
cube
This post is not meant to be a history lesson, but just a big highlighter pointing out areas in which the different parties are inconsistent and could realign their views on certain issues to be more ideology consistent across a wider range of issues. I will state the party and then the party’s position. These will be grossly over simplified for times sake. I assume my readers will catch the inconsistencies.
Evolution in Schools
Democrats - For the teaching of evolution
Republicans - Against the teaching of evolution, or at a minimum wants stickers on books stating that evolution is a theory. Kind of like the theory of gravity.
Evolution in the natural environment
Democrats - Against any species dieing because it cannot evolve (i.e. pandas, who will not screw to save their species). Don't adapt and humans will make sure you survive somehow.
Republicans - For evolution in the natural environment (i.e. spotted owl). Adapt or die.
Evolution in business
Democrats - Against natural progression of business. Don't adapt and allow the government to support you and\or bail you our (i.e. airlines).
Republicans - For the natural progression of business with limited governmental intervention. Adapt or die.
Evolution in abortion
Democrats - For the human (unnatural) control of the birth process.
Republicans - For the natural control of the birth process, even to the extreme of not using birth control in some cases.
Evolution in Lifestyle choices
Democrats - Against anything you can do that might kill you, if you are stupid enough to do it to fast or do to much of it (i.e. Driving to fast, using guns, eating, and smoking)
Republicans - All for allowing people to do what ever they want, even if they do somthing stupid and it kills them.
Evolution in View of life
Democrats - Democrats view life as an easy trip where you get lots of vacations and many things are given to you because it is your right.
Republicans - Life is short and hard like a bodybuilding elf, and if you do not do something stupid you will most likely live though it still will require work.
Evolution in Education
Democrats - Everyone must learn, even if that means the smart ones are never taught anything they did not already know. The government pays for education.
Republicans - If you are too stupid to learn, you do not go to college. If you do go to college, pay for it yourself and hope that you make enough money that you are able to pay it back at some point in time.
Evolution in medical care
Democrats - Everyone gets free medical care
Republicans - You get medical care if you can pay for it. You can pay for it, if you make lots of money. You can makes lots of money if you went to a school and did well enough to get a job.
Feel free to add your own in the comment section.
cube
Boy survives four-day ordeal in Utah mountains
I heard the kid had put on about five pounds. I also heard that the kid was almost finished with his village and had gained five wives though trade and commerce.
I also heard he raided the villages with the homemade weapons he had made.
""He [the boy scout] had two thoughts going through his head all the time," she said. "Toby's always told him that 'If you get lost, stay on the trail.' So he stayed on the trail. We've also told him don't talk to strangers ... when an ATV or horse came by he got off the trail ... when they left, he got back on the trail.""
This kid got lucky. Glad he was found.
cube
I also heard he raided the villages with the homemade weapons he had made.
""He [the boy scout] had two thoughts going through his head all the time," she said. "Toby's always told him that 'If you get lost, stay on the trail.' So he stayed on the trail. We've also told him don't talk to strangers ... when an ATV or horse came by he got off the trail ... when they left, he got back on the trail.""
This kid got lucky. Glad he was found.
cube
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
Jobs that Mexicans can do
In order to do my small part to help the global economy, I have decided to dedicate this post to "Jobs that Mexicans can do". Before I delve into the details, I would like to do a bit of explanation concerning the title of this post.
For one, "Jobs" means work in which you get paid legally for and is a legal job by a person who can work in the united states legally. Secondly, "Mexicans" is really an all inclusive term to refer to all unskilled workers that are in the states legally or illegally and do not speak English or even read well (This group would include most highschool drop outs).
Airline Stewardesses - first the ability to speak English is really only needed if you are doing the whole safety demonstration. Which in many cases that demonstration is done by video with bad computer graphics anyways. I would think that you would only need one head stewardess who could speak English to handle this part of the flight.
In all other areas, Mexicans would be superior to the overpaid stewardesses. For one Mexicans are smaller than average so they would save on fuel, space, and be able to walk through the aisles easier. Secondly, we all know when it comes to manual labor Mexicans work about twice as fast as normal humans. Which pushing the cart down the aisle is basically light manual labor, so Mexicans might be able to do the job 4 to 5 times as fast. Thirdly, Do you ever talk to you stewardess? I don't. To me that shows that the ability to speak English on flights is overrated. As long as Mexicans understand the word "Coke" and other simple words, I think that is all the English skills that they will need.
Mailmen - Do you need to read to deliver the mail or even speak English? Here Mexicans are competing on a level playing ground with other Americans. Their numbers are the same as ours, so addresses, which are composed mostly of numbers, are easy for them to read. Anything they cannot figure out, they will have to spend a little extra time looking for. Which since they did all the other mail twice as fast, they will have plenty of time to find the one house they missed. Secondly, while the first few days as a mailman might be rough for our new immigrant postal employees, over time the job will grow easier, because the houses do not move, for the most part.
To help American please send me more ideas to post.
cube
For one, "Jobs" means work in which you get paid legally for and is a legal job by a person who can work in the united states legally. Secondly, "Mexicans" is really an all inclusive term to refer to all unskilled workers that are in the states legally or illegally and do not speak English or even read well (This group would include most highschool drop outs).
Airline Stewardesses - first the ability to speak English is really only needed if you are doing the whole safety demonstration. Which in many cases that demonstration is done by video with bad computer graphics anyways. I would think that you would only need one head stewardess who could speak English to handle this part of the flight.
In all other areas, Mexicans would be superior to the overpaid stewardesses. For one Mexicans are smaller than average so they would save on fuel, space, and be able to walk through the aisles easier. Secondly, we all know when it comes to manual labor Mexicans work about twice as fast as normal humans. Which pushing the cart down the aisle is basically light manual labor, so Mexicans might be able to do the job 4 to 5 times as fast. Thirdly, Do you ever talk to you stewardess? I don't. To me that shows that the ability to speak English on flights is overrated. As long as Mexicans understand the word "Coke" and other simple words, I think that is all the English skills that they will need.
Mailmen - Do you need to read to deliver the mail or even speak English? Here Mexicans are competing on a level playing ground with other Americans. Their numbers are the same as ours, so addresses, which are composed mostly of numbers, are easy for them to read. Anything they cannot figure out, they will have to spend a little extra time looking for. Which since they did all the other mail twice as fast, they will have plenty of time to find the one house they missed. Secondly, while the first few days as a mailman might be rough for our new immigrant postal employees, over time the job will grow easier, because the houses do not move, for the most part.
To help American please send me more ideas to post.
cube
Saturday, June 18, 2005
Do I smell like dog.
During the month of July, I will be securing the premises that dogs live in for at least two weeks out of the month.
The first security session will be with the original pair of dogs that I am familiar with. The thing I am not looking forward to the most with that pair is the getting woken up early in the morning. The thing I am looking forward to most is hosing them down with water then taking the for a run until the are real tired and do not wake me up in the morning.
The second security session will be with one of these guys: English Bulldogs.
"also poor eyesight, very susceptible to heat stroke in warm weather or hot rooms and cars."
Wow, I am glad that I read this. I would not leave a dog in a car, but I might have taken him for a longer walk than he was used in the July heat. Though it sounds like he is my type of dog.
"Its digestive system is very active and may be offensive to people with sensitive noses."
I take that back.
Living Conditions The English Bulldog is good for apartment life. They are very inactive indoors and will do okay without a yard. This breed is an indoor dog. Bulldogs do best in temperate climates as the breed can chill easily in cold weather and have trouble cooling off in very hot weather.
How can this dog be good for small places, if it farts more than I do.
Exercise some adult Bulldogs would just as soon not take any exercise, while others are full of energy. In any case all Bulldogs will stay fitter if given some regular. Fit English Bulldogs are capable of moving very quickly for short periods of time.
Though I am starting to like this breed
While doing research on dogs I found several "relationship" issues with the last dogs that I provided security for. The dogs do not respect me as an "Alpha Dog". Though I am not quite sure those two dogs realize that they are dogs, and not just hairy humans.
For a laugh check out this breed: French Bulldogs.
cube
The first security session will be with the original pair of dogs that I am familiar with. The thing I am not looking forward to the most with that pair is the getting woken up early in the morning. The thing I am looking forward to most is hosing them down with water then taking the for a run until the are real tired and do not wake me up in the morning.
The second security session will be with one of these guys: English Bulldogs.
"also poor eyesight, very susceptible to heat stroke in warm weather or hot rooms and cars."
Wow, I am glad that I read this. I would not leave a dog in a car, but I might have taken him for a longer walk than he was used in the July heat. Though it sounds like he is my type of dog.
"Its digestive system is very active and may be offensive to people with sensitive noses."
I take that back.
Living Conditions The English Bulldog is good for apartment life. They are very inactive indoors and will do okay without a yard. This breed is an indoor dog. Bulldogs do best in temperate climates as the breed can chill easily in cold weather and have trouble cooling off in very hot weather.
How can this dog be good for small places, if it farts more than I do.
Exercise some adult Bulldogs would just as soon not take any exercise, while others are full of energy. In any case all Bulldogs will stay fitter if given some regular. Fit English Bulldogs are capable of moving very quickly for short periods of time.
Though I am starting to like this breed
While doing research on dogs I found several "relationship" issues with the last dogs that I provided security for. The dogs do not respect me as an "Alpha Dog". Though I am not quite sure those two dogs realize that they are dogs, and not just hairy humans.
For a laugh check out this breed: French Bulldogs.
cube
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