This shows the CPI from 1665 to 2005. You can view the link here if you have IE, if you are using Firefox (and you should be!) you are just gonna have to open IE. Sorry, it cant be helped. What you will see is a graph of the CPI, or Consumer Price Index, from 1665 to 2005. Note how in 1913, 1933 and 1973 is where the spikes begin.
What happened?
1913 = Creation of the Fed. Still on Gold Standard
1933 = Gold outlawed by Citizens. Dollar still attached to Gold, value is floating
1973 = Completely off Gold standard. Value of dollar not tied to anything.
The fun thing to remember is that the CPI #s are cooked and have been for many years now. If the true CPI (TCPI) values were used then the graph would be even steeper.
The research is by Oregon State
Monday, January 09, 2006
Saturday, January 07, 2006
Baby-Ticker
I saw this over at Birdie's blog and figured I just had to have one! umm, the ticker at the top of the page that is!
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
Dissenting Opinions
You see, I dont mind if people disagree with me. In fact I expect it. Why? Because the majority of people have not put any effort in deciding what they believe and instead parrot their favorite group(s) or speaker(s). This is a problem that is common to the entire political spectrum (or any other issue where reasonable people might disagree.)
If you have reasons for believing what you do and have something other than your own opinion to back it up then I am willing to hear it. If you care to post on this blog be ready to back up what you say. Or you can continue to post odd things that will simply give me a chuckle, as laughter is appreciated too.
If you have reasons for believing what you do and have something other than your own opinion to back it up then I am willing to hear it. If you care to post on this blog be ready to back up what you say. Or you can continue to post odd things that will simply give me a chuckle, as laughter is appreciated too.
IP Addresses
Heidi asked a question about IP Addresses and how to tell if similar addresses are the same user. Well I tried to fit an answer in the comments section but it is bigger than will really fit so I am going to post it.
The current addressing scheme is called IP4. It has 4 groups (octets) of 8 bits. Those 8 bits can equal 000 to 255. In theory then, an address can be between 000.000.000.000 and 255.255.255.255 Thus one might have an address that looks like this. 12.93.27.195 Theory is nice and all, reality is pretty much always different.
Reserved Numbers
There are several ranges of Addresses that are reserved. the whole 000.x.x.x and 001.x.x.x ranges are reserved for the military. 10.x.x.x and 192.168.x.x are reserved for private use. 240.x.x.x to 255.x.x.x are all reserved for expirementation (what a HUGE waste!) The remaining addresses are Public addresses
With the above ranges taken out there are still a lot of addresses left. But today, need for physical addresses far exceeds actual addresses. This causes us to use various methods of tweaking to get addresses to each computer, and those methods may be covered in a later post, and cause what is seen by an IP tracker (such as Sitemeter) to only see one IP address for an entire business or even an entire ISP. For example, I may have 200 or 2000 computers at my business but only one Public IP address. So if John and Sally from BigEvilCorp comes to see your blog they will show up as the same IP address even if they are on different computers.
So if you see an address that is similar, say 11.111.123.32 and 11.111.123.64 you are seeing two different companies/ISPs that could actually be half a world apart.
The current addressing scheme is called IP4. It has 4 groups (octets) of 8 bits. Those 8 bits can equal 000 to 255. In theory then, an address can be between 000.000.000.000 and 255.255.255.255 Thus one might have an address that looks like this. 12.93.27.195 Theory is nice and all, reality is pretty much always different.
Reserved Numbers
There are several ranges of Addresses that are reserved. the whole 000.x.x.x and 001.x.x.x ranges are reserved for the military. 10.x.x.x and 192.168.x.x are reserved for private use. 240.x.x.x to 255.x.x.x are all reserved for expirementation (what a HUGE waste!) The remaining addresses are Public addresses
With the above ranges taken out there are still a lot of addresses left. But today, need for physical addresses far exceeds actual addresses. This causes us to use various methods of tweaking to get addresses to each computer, and those methods may be covered in a later post, and cause what is seen by an IP tracker (such as Sitemeter) to only see one IP address for an entire business or even an entire ISP. For example, I may have 200 or 2000 computers at my business but only one Public IP address. So if John and Sally from BigEvilCorp comes to see your blog they will show up as the same IP address even if they are on different computers.
So if you see an address that is similar, say 11.111.123.32 and 11.111.123.64 you are seeing two different companies/ISPs that could actually be half a world apart.
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Not Groking The Subject At Hand
Found: a blog whose sole purpose is (apparently) to discuss global warming. Oddly enough, she doesnt understand how plants work.
A much bigger concern in regards to global warming isnt what man is doing, it is what our sun is doing. Other planets are heating up (Mars) but we ignore that in favor of blaming America for all the worlds ills
Although I have studied sciences since I was young, I never quite understood why it is that trees are supposed to be good for the environment. As far as I know, they absorb CO2 during the day and release Oxygen, and do the opposite at night. If that is true, wouldn't these two processes cancel each other out? And, wouldn't the amount of O2 and CO2 vary depending on how many hours of day light there are? (i.e. there would be lots of O2 released in the summer- because of more daylight hours-, and more CO2 released in the winter- because of more night hours).It is quite well known that plants take in CO2 and metabolize it and "breathe out" oxygen (O2.) Now it is true that plants will respire at night (put out CO2) but they put out far more oxygen than carbon dioxide. They also "scrub" the air by taking in extra carbon and use that as food/fuel thereby removing emissions from cars and industry and volcanoes.
A much bigger concern in regards to global warming isnt what man is doing, it is what our sun is doing. Other planets are heating up (Mars) but we ignore that in favor of blaming America for all the worlds ills
Liberty Dollars
Why Liberty Dollars? Why use a different form of currency when everyone already takes greenbacks? Whats the point?
First of all, what IS a Liberty Dollar? a Liberty is fully backed by a specific amount of Silver. As the price of Silver in Greenbacks (hereafter "GB") goes up, the value of the Liberty goes up. Currently the $10 Liberty is backed by 1 ounce. Should the GB price go over $10 than the Liberty will "float" to a value of $20, this keeps the bill slightly ahead of inflation.
So inflation is really the primary reason to use the Liberty over the GB. Another reason is that it raises awareness that the FED isnt the only player in currency. The other, perhaps more compelling reason to use them is that you can get them at a discount over their face value. An Associate gets them for 20% less than face value. So a $10 bill would cost you $8. Then you spend that $10 and have made a $2 GreenBack profit.
Becoming an Associate is a total of $250, you get $100 in Libertys (yes that is the correct spelling) $100 goes to the person who signed you up, and $50 is for the mint (paperwork + profit.) Now at a 20% profit it would take a total of $750 Libertys spent to make up that difference. Now I dont know about you, but I go through an awful lot of money each month and getting 20% could be a huge bonus, and even if you have a fantastic deal on your credit card you would only be geting 5% back.
First of all, what IS a Liberty Dollar? a Liberty is fully backed by a specific amount of Silver. As the price of Silver in Greenbacks (hereafter "GB") goes up, the value of the Liberty goes up. Currently the $10 Liberty is backed by 1 ounce. Should the GB price go over $10 than the Liberty will "float" to a value of $20, this keeps the bill slightly ahead of inflation.
So inflation is really the primary reason to use the Liberty over the GB. Another reason is that it raises awareness that the FED isnt the only player in currency. The other, perhaps more compelling reason to use them is that you can get them at a discount over their face value. An Associate gets them for 20% less than face value. So a $10 bill would cost you $8. Then you spend that $10 and have made a $2 GreenBack profit.
Becoming an Associate is a total of $250, you get $100 in Libertys (yes that is the correct spelling) $100 goes to the person who signed you up, and $50 is for the mint (paperwork + profit.) Now at a 20% profit it would take a total of $750 Libertys spent to make up that difference. Now I dont know about you, but I go through an awful lot of money each month and getting 20% could be a huge bonus, and even if you have a fantastic deal on your credit card you would only be geting 5% back.
Blogosphere Tidbits
In perusing the web I have come across some things that might interest you all.
A new blog to check out, the Haiku Movie Review you just might find yourself something to watch there.
Ian has a revelation about how we treat other believers, and how our Lord and Savior views that treatment.
Arielle makes an interesting comparison between Squatter's Rights and the Right of the Unborn.
Birdie writes of a day in the life of a homeschooling mom.
If one is needing to brush up on their Calculus, or even learn it, Triton University is now open (sidenote: Triton, you should put up some permanent links to your more scholarly stuff like Calc and "Nukaler" reactors)
I stumled across the blog of Dadasays. He is decidedly a gold bug. Lots of good info on the current happenings of the gold market (FYI it is $523 as of this writing, up $4 from this morning.)
Also of interest and likely something I will be blogging on soon, is NORFED and their currency which is fully backed by gold and silver.
A new blog to check out, the Haiku Movie Review you just might find yourself something to watch there.
Ian has a revelation about how we treat other believers, and how our Lord and Savior views that treatment.
Arielle makes an interesting comparison between Squatter's Rights and the Right of the Unborn.
Birdie writes of a day in the life of a homeschooling mom.
If one is needing to brush up on their Calculus, or even learn it, Triton University is now open (sidenote: Triton, you should put up some permanent links to your more scholarly stuff like Calc and "Nukaler" reactors)
I stumled across the blog of Dadasays. He is decidedly a gold bug. Lots of good info on the current happenings of the gold market (FYI it is $523 as of this writing, up $4 from this morning.)
Also of interest and likely something I will be blogging on soon, is NORFED and their currency which is fully backed by gold and silver.
Monday, January 02, 2006
Declaration Of Independence, II
The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
He has refuted his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good. Assent to Laws is allowing self-governance, the Crown was in effect reserving the right to overrule any law they tried to pass. Take a look at what is happening in our nation. Are the Several States allowed to create their own laws? Or does the FedGov override them at its pleasure?
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them. What we have now is a system of activist judges and a Congress that believes their laws to be the highest and will overrule any State that passes legislation against their will.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only. The "right" or representation in our current Legislature is a joke. It doesnt exist if you arent well-heeled
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures. No need for this as the FedGov simply forces or blackmails the States to do its bidding.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people. Today such groups are simply ignored, partly because what passes for "rights" these days is nothing more than libertinism.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected, whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within. The dangers we see now are terrorism against which the only defense, as proven by Israel, is an armed populace. We are denied that by some 20,000 laws against various firearms and their carriers.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands. Today we simply invite them over by lack of a border. No need to naturalize them, simply put them to workat the lowest pay possible and then pretend the problem doesnt exist.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers. Really now, who needs judges when they simply rubberstamp what the Gov wants? Or better yet, create new powers by penumbras.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries. Somehow activists judges are able to retain their positions, but rule against the gov and you will find yourself without a job or a prospect of getting one elsewhere.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance. Can anyone even begin to name all the different government departments there are? There are some 40 Million such jobs in the U.S.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures. Standing armies are expressly prohibited in the Constitution. This is why their budget is never more than 4 years out even tho the remainder of the budget is 10 years.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power. Hasnt happened in a widespread way, but every year a poll is done to determine the attitude of our Military and whether or not they would act against Citizens. Each year that poll goes more and more against us, the Citizens
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation: How many treaties? Uncountable. The U.N., LOST, Carnivore, etc etc.
For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us: Again, standing armies. Could also be construed as local police.
For protecting them, by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States: Wow, can a cop ever be tried? 99 out of 100 walk with paid leave even.
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world: Idiotic protective tariffs. Steel, Cotton, Sugar. We pay three times the world average for sugar because of our Gov. We also pay extra for milk for the same reason.
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent: IRS anyone? Amendment 16 did not pass, and even if it did it didnt confer any new power on the Gov to tax. Yet it continually attempts to tax us.
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury: Now we have a system wherewith most Citizens get to appear in front of a District Attorney, or a fake court like the US Tax Court.
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences: We just transport them now in an attempt to keep prisoners from having any Rights.
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies The FedGov has created a "Federal Territory" that resides in the exact same boundaries as does the State. The Territory also happens to have the same name, only spelled in all Caps. i.e. Colorado becomes COLORADO, or the proper abbreviation Colo. to CO
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments: We are now a democracy. The Constitution demands that we have a representative republic. It is this no longer.
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever. Not suspended, it again comes down to coersion and blackmail
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us. The USA PATRIOT ACT (I &II), Carnivore, the IRS. Against these we have no protection. The courts side with the Government, Congress sides with the Government and so does ourPresident
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people. While the LOST treaty could cover for #1, #s 2&3 our pretty much out tho we should remember WACO and Ruby Ridge. The destroying of lives is ongoing. Onerous regulation, back-breaking taxation, the recent Kelo decision by SCOTUS...
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation. Not too many mercs inside this country and if they are here they sure are quiet.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands. Really inapplicable at this time. The FedGov is not openly fighting against its Citizenry.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions. Not the "savage" Indians but rather the savage Muslims who also kill all ages sexes and conditions.
In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. We The People has been petitioning for Redress for years now. I am one of those petitioning. We have recieved no answer back, altho we have been lied to on several occasions. What we get instead, is silence at best, or illegal tricks in the Courts.
A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people. I dare say that a government so marked is unfit to be ruler of a free people, not just a prince.
He has refuted his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good. Assent to Laws is allowing self-governance, the Crown was in effect reserving the right to overrule any law they tried to pass. Take a look at what is happening in our nation. Are the Several States allowed to create their own laws? Or does the FedGov override them at its pleasure?
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them. What we have now is a system of activist judges and a Congress that believes their laws to be the highest and will overrule any State that passes legislation against their will.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only. The "right" or representation in our current Legislature is a joke. It doesnt exist if you arent well-heeled
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures. No need for this as the FedGov simply forces or blackmails the States to do its bidding.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people. Today such groups are simply ignored, partly because what passes for "rights" these days is nothing more than libertinism.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected, whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within. The dangers we see now are terrorism against which the only defense, as proven by Israel, is an armed populace. We are denied that by some 20,000 laws against various firearms and their carriers.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands. Today we simply invite them over by lack of a border. No need to naturalize them, simply put them to workat the lowest pay possible and then pretend the problem doesnt exist.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers. Really now, who needs judges when they simply rubberstamp what the Gov wants? Or better yet, create new powers by penumbras.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries. Somehow activists judges are able to retain their positions, but rule against the gov and you will find yourself without a job or a prospect of getting one elsewhere.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance. Can anyone even begin to name all the different government departments there are? There are some 40 Million such jobs in the U.S.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures. Standing armies are expressly prohibited in the Constitution. This is why their budget is never more than 4 years out even tho the remainder of the budget is 10 years.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power. Hasnt happened in a widespread way, but every year a poll is done to determine the attitude of our Military and whether or not they would act against Citizens. Each year that poll goes more and more against us, the Citizens
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation: How many treaties? Uncountable. The U.N., LOST, Carnivore, etc etc.
For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us: Again, standing armies. Could also be construed as local police.
For protecting them, by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States: Wow, can a cop ever be tried? 99 out of 100 walk with paid leave even.
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world: Idiotic protective tariffs. Steel, Cotton, Sugar. We pay three times the world average for sugar because of our Gov. We also pay extra for milk for the same reason.
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent: IRS anyone? Amendment 16 did not pass, and even if it did it didnt confer any new power on the Gov to tax. Yet it continually attempts to tax us.
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury: Now we have a system wherewith most Citizens get to appear in front of a District Attorney, or a fake court like the US Tax Court.
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences: We just transport them now in an attempt to keep prisoners from having any Rights.
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies The FedGov has created a "Federal Territory" that resides in the exact same boundaries as does the State. The Territory also happens to have the same name, only spelled in all Caps. i.e. Colorado becomes COLORADO, or the proper abbreviation Colo. to CO
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments: We are now a democracy. The Constitution demands that we have a representative republic. It is this no longer.
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever. Not suspended, it again comes down to coersion and blackmail
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us. The USA PATRIOT ACT (I &II), Carnivore, the IRS. Against these we have no protection. The courts side with the Government, Congress sides with the Government and so does ourPresident
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people. While the LOST treaty could cover for #1, #s 2&3 our pretty much out tho we should remember WACO and Ruby Ridge. The destroying of lives is ongoing. Onerous regulation, back-breaking taxation, the recent Kelo decision by SCOTUS...
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation. Not too many mercs inside this country and if they are here they sure are quiet.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands. Really inapplicable at this time. The FedGov is not openly fighting against its Citizenry.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions. Not the "savage" Indians but rather the savage Muslims who also kill all ages sexes and conditions.
In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. We The People has been petitioning for Redress for years now. I am one of those petitioning. We have recieved no answer back, altho we have been lied to on several occasions. What we get instead, is silence at best, or illegal tricks in the Courts.
A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people. I dare say that a government so marked is unfit to be ruler of a free people, not just a prince.
Labels:
Law
Declaration Of Independence
The document that got us on the road to freedom from British tyranny was the Declaration Of Independence. Most all of us have read it but few remember anything past the opening of the second paragraph. I encourage you all to read it here. I wanted to update it just a bit, or rather to tie it to modern events.
We hold these truths to be self-evident,
These truths are pre-existing and do not depend upon a government granting or upholding them
that all men are created equal,
This has been changed to uphold the Rights of certain classes/groups of people above others
that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,
Our Government believes they are the grantor of these Rights
that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
Life and Liberty are now both rutinely denied while Happiness is contsrued as libertine-ism
That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men,
Governments are to "secure" Rights,
deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,
It has rightly been said that ALL governments are consented to, even dictatorships, this does not imply that our Gov' has actual consent. Consent under duress is not consent.
That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government,
Is there any doubt that our own Government is destructive to these ends? Perhaps the only Right the Gov now allows us is the Right to not quarter soldiers, perhaps simply because it has never suited the needs of the Gov to abbrogate that one.
laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
Obviously we see with the so-called Civil War that our Gov doesnt abide by this either.
Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.
Think tyranny. No tyrant could rule if the people found the evil too much to bear, they would rise up and overthrow him.
But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.
Our Founding Fathers viewed it as our Moral Imperative to stand against such acts.
Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government.
Now was their time to rise up, having endured the overbearing British rule
We hold these truths to be self-evident,
These truths are pre-existing and do not depend upon a government granting or upholding them
that all men are created equal,
This has been changed to uphold the Rights of certain classes/groups of people above others
that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,
Our Government believes they are the grantor of these Rights
that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
Life and Liberty are now both rutinely denied while Happiness is contsrued as libertine-ism
That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men,
Governments are to "secure" Rights,
deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,
It has rightly been said that ALL governments are consented to, even dictatorships, this does not imply that our Gov' has actual consent. Consent under duress is not consent.
That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government,
Is there any doubt that our own Government is destructive to these ends? Perhaps the only Right the Gov now allows us is the Right to not quarter soldiers, perhaps simply because it has never suited the needs of the Gov to abbrogate that one.
laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
Obviously we see with the so-called Civil War that our Gov doesnt abide by this either.
Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.
Think tyranny. No tyrant could rule if the people found the evil too much to bear, they would rise up and overthrow him.
But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.
Our Founding Fathers viewed it as our Moral Imperative to stand against such acts.
Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government.
Now was their time to rise up, having endured the overbearing British rule
Labels:
Law
The Road to Revolution
I came across a little quiz on the PBS site called The Road to Revolution
It gives a brief history of the events of the revolution. The quiz itself is not very detailed but it has plenty of links to keep you occupied for a bit.
It gives a brief history of the events of the revolution. The quiz itself is not very detailed but it has plenty of links to keep you occupied for a bit.
Labels:
Law
dream
I found myself flying a small 4 seater plane (actually one seat removed so three, also it was a high-wing so it looked somewhat like a Cessna 172 but with open cargo aren behind the seats) trying to find the right radio band for ATC (Air Traffic Control) for this particular airport in Canada. There were two ladies on the flight with me and the girl in the co-pilot seat was trying to show me the map and help me find the proper air field. Well we were heading for this open airport that was totally deserted. Not a plane, car or person to be seen. Still looking for the correct radio band while coming in for a landing. One should never be looking at a map when landing but here I was... Found that darn radio, it is 1540, we were on 1530A. Change the radio and we start hearing ATC but then the dream pans out to distant 3rd person and the plane is landed, in roughly 20-30 feet (Talk about short field!)
Next thing I remember clearly is being out in the mountains somewhere in Ontario, Canada, somwhere in the same time zone as Toronto (Ok, I realize that in THIS world there are no mountains in Ontario) Here I am, at someone's house out in some seriously gorgeous country, sandwiched between some foothills. And I have to be at work. So I am awake at about 3:50 AM cuz I have to be at work for a 6AM-6PM shift for the holiday (this one matches our reality as I do indeed need to be here) but the problem is my plane is no where near and I need to load up stuff into the plane and have someone else (the owner of the house?) fly us back.
Now my mom is apologizing and saying she is sorry and that it is her fault I am late to work and I am trying to get some cell phone reception so I walk over to the split-rail fence. I call in to work but cant really get reception and the 800# for work isnt working cuz I am in Canada. When I do get into work using the toll # they cant transfer me to my department cuz I was the only person scheduled and so there isnt anyone to take my call! GRRR. I had royally screwed things up at this point.
My Beloved had left me a note in the bathroom to make sure that some baby something or other was loaded into the plane (Beloved was now with me, maybe had been the whole dream?) Well for the plane ride back we also had to get some stuff ready for the baby, just in case. So here we were discussing the best method for storing milk on the flight and preparing bottles for baby... yeah. This plane happened to be a low wing (beech?) that carried smoke (not skywriting smoke, more the stuff used during airshows) Sometime during the flight the pilots son (sitting in the last seat back) asked him to turn it on. They then began a discussion on air flow. Fun stuff.
All this to say I didnt sleep very well for worrying I wasnt going to get to work on time. But I did enjoy the flying.
Next thing I remember clearly is being out in the mountains somewhere in Ontario, Canada, somwhere in the same time zone as Toronto (Ok, I realize that in THIS world there are no mountains in Ontario) Here I am, at someone's house out in some seriously gorgeous country, sandwiched between some foothills. And I have to be at work. So I am awake at about 3:50 AM cuz I have to be at work for a 6AM-6PM shift for the holiday (this one matches our reality as I do indeed need to be here) but the problem is my plane is no where near and I need to load up stuff into the plane and have someone else (the owner of the house?) fly us back.
Now my mom is apologizing and saying she is sorry and that it is her fault I am late to work and I am trying to get some cell phone reception so I walk over to the split-rail fence. I call in to work but cant really get reception and the 800# for work isnt working cuz I am in Canada. When I do get into work using the toll # they cant transfer me to my department cuz I was the only person scheduled and so there isnt anyone to take my call! GRRR. I had royally screwed things up at this point.
My Beloved had left me a note in the bathroom to make sure that some baby something or other was loaded into the plane (Beloved was now with me, maybe had been the whole dream?) Well for the plane ride back we also had to get some stuff ready for the baby, just in case. So here we were discussing the best method for storing milk on the flight and preparing bottles for baby... yeah. This plane happened to be a low wing (beech?) that carried smoke (not skywriting smoke, more the stuff used during airshows) Sometime during the flight the pilots son (sitting in the last seat back) asked him to turn it on. They then began a discussion on air flow. Fun stuff.
All this to say I didnt sleep very well for worrying I wasnt going to get to work on time. But I did enjoy the flying.
Friday, December 30, 2005
Baby Gear, Diapers etc.
Okay all you Mommies and Daddies, I need your advice.
What diapers are best, and why? Also if you happen to know of where to get the best price that would be good also. As some of you know our little one is due on Feb 4th, so we are trying to stock up now. Not just diapers, but a little of everything really. What did you find most "essential"? Was it a swing or a bouncy seat or using your parents as a baby sitter?
What diapers are best, and why? Also if you happen to know of where to get the best price that would be good also. As some of you know our little one is due on Feb 4th, so we are trying to stock up now. Not just diapers, but a little of everything really. What did you find most "essential"? Was it a swing or a bouncy seat or using your parents as a baby sitter?
Refrigeration
Getting ice from the machine at work today and it got me thinking on how those things work and I thought I would share that with y'all in case you had wondered the same thing.
First of all the cooling system relies upon a gas. A modern fridge uses ammonia, older fridges used Freon (a Chloro-Flouro-Carbon, or CFC) So we moved from something that is dangerous to the atmosphere (CFC) to something that is dangerous to you. But it is more efficient so I guess that works. The system works like this, the gas flows thru the cooling tubes in the freezer (and fridge) then goes into a compressor which compresses it into a liquid before it goes out the tubes that are on the back of the fridge.
So how does that work? The gas runs thru the tubes and draws away heat from the compartment causing that compartment to be cooled. That gas then goes into the compressor. The compressor raises the pressure to put out liquid ammonia. But compressing the gas raises the temperature of the ammonia. So now it needs to be cooled off and this is done by sending it thru the coils on the back of the fridge.
The final stage is to get the ammonia cold again. This is accomplished by depressurizing the liquid so it can go back to gas again. The depressurization causes a temperature drop.
So: cold gas, pressurize (and heat) to liquid, bleed off heat then depressuize (and cool) to gas.
First of all the cooling system relies upon a gas. A modern fridge uses ammonia, older fridges used Freon (a Chloro-Flouro-Carbon, or CFC) So we moved from something that is dangerous to the atmosphere (CFC) to something that is dangerous to you. But it is more efficient so I guess that works. The system works like this, the gas flows thru the cooling tubes in the freezer (and fridge) then goes into a compressor which compresses it into a liquid before it goes out the tubes that are on the back of the fridge.
So how does that work? The gas runs thru the tubes and draws away heat from the compartment causing that compartment to be cooled. That gas then goes into the compressor. The compressor raises the pressure to put out liquid ammonia. But compressing the gas raises the temperature of the ammonia. So now it needs to be cooled off and this is done by sending it thru the coils on the back of the fridge.
The final stage is to get the ammonia cold again. This is accomplished by depressurizing the liquid so it can go back to gas again. The depressurization causes a temperature drop.
So: cold gas, pressurize (and heat) to liquid, bleed off heat then depressuize (and cool) to gas.
Modesty
I feel I need to apologize for my lack of modesty lately. First Heidi noticed my tin-foil hat and now Ted noticed my slip*. I'll try to do better y'all.
*on the Speed of Light vs. Molasses post.
*on the Speed of Light vs. Molasses post.
Thursday, December 29, 2005
Econ & You
Then, with this wicked little grin on his face, Mr. Blumen goes on to say that another scam is "to make money pay a negative nominal interest rate, by imposing some type of 'carry tax' on currency and deposits. A tax or fee on Reserve deposits of 1 percent per month, for example, would mean that those deposits, in effect, pay a nominal interest rate of roughly minus 12 percent."Think Economics doesnt apply to you? This is just one of the tricks up
Need more convincing?
"The third principle of Bernankeism is the necessity of 'unconventional measures.' The reader of the Fed’s papers and speeches will find a series of increasingly exotic plans for the dollar. From beginning to end, these methods range from the merely unsound to the bizarre and terrifying."
Well, how about, for example, "money rains", whereby the Fed would "give money away either through directly disbursing currency to the public or by disbursing it through the banking system." By this time I am sure your heart is beating like a trip-hammer, boom boom boom at the very thought of such monetary sinfulness!
Now what have we learned about creating money? It causes inflation! Inflation is always always ALWAYS bad. But then giving it away to those who havent worked for it?
I am finding it easier to understand why the Mogambo (whom I cited here today) gets so worked up. I got so worked up that I gave that first example first even tho it should have been second as it naturally follows the second as it is also one of those "bizarre and terrifying" methods.
Once more we should look to the words of Thomas Jefferson
The central bank is an institution of the most deadly hostility existing against the Principles and form of our Constitution. I am an Enemy to all banks discounting bills or notes for anything but Coin. If the American People allow private banks to control the issuance of their currency, first by inflation and then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around them will deprive the People of all their Property until their Children will wake up homeless on the continent their Fathers conquered.
Astronomy
Ever wonder how an astronomer can declare what the make up is of another planets atmosphere without ever getting a probe to take a sample? This always mystified my because it really doesnt make a whole lot of sense to point a telescope at Neptune and state that the gases of that planet are X, Y, & Z. Well let me unravel that mystery for you.
As you know, light is the only thing that astronomer has to go off of. Radiation actually, but that is what light is. That light comes from the sun, bounces off the distant planet and makes it back here to a telescope. As you know everything absorbs some sunlight and bounces others. Well it turns out that everything has its own "fingerprint" and will absorb some portions of the spectrum and those portions will therefore be missing when that light comes back to the telescope. By analyzing the spectrum from substances here in closed labs we are able to definitively say what gases make up the atmosphere of a distant planet.
As you know, light is the only thing that astronomer has to go off of. Radiation actually, but that is what light is. That light comes from the sun, bounces off the distant planet and makes it back here to a telescope. As you know everything absorbs some sunlight and bounces others. Well it turns out that everything has its own "fingerprint" and will absorb some portions of the spectrum and those portions will therefore be missing when that light comes back to the telescope. By analyzing the spectrum from substances here in closed labs we are able to definitively say what gases make up the atmosphere of a distant planet.
Speed of Light vs. Molasses
While on the topic of the speed of light over at Triton's I came across this article from the Harvard University Gazette about a group of physicists slowing a beam of light to 38 MPH (down from 186,000 Miles Per Second***)
It's a pretty cool expirement. They inject sodium into a vacuum (well, it was a vaccuum up to that point) and then use a laser to get all the atoms moving in one direction. Then they use lasers to get all the atoms to clump together in the middle with next to no movement. No movement equals energy equals temperature (basically) so no movement equals no temperature. In this case it was a fraction above absolue zero (minus 459.7 degrees F, colder than most of space) This formed what is known as an Einstein-Bose "condensate". This condensate acts as one big cell and presents huge resistance to the light wave which enabled the University to observe light at a mere 38 MPH (I've gone faster than that on my bike!) Their next project is to perfect the technology and get the speed down to a whopping 1 centimeter per second
*** Edited Changed from 186,000 MPH to MPS. Thanks Ted
It's a pretty cool expirement. They inject sodium into a vacuum (well, it was a vaccuum up to that point) and then use a laser to get all the atoms moving in one direction. Then they use lasers to get all the atoms to clump together in the middle with next to no movement. No movement equals energy equals temperature (basically) so no movement equals no temperature. In this case it was a fraction above absolue zero (minus 459.7 degrees F, colder than most of space) This formed what is known as an Einstein-Bose "condensate". This condensate acts as one big cell and presents huge resistance to the light wave which enabled the University to observe light at a mere 38 MPH (I've gone faster than that on my bike!) Their next project is to perfect the technology and get the speed down to a whopping 1 centimeter per second
*** Edited Changed from 186,000 MPH to MPS. Thanks Ted
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Stolen: Nun Bun
That is right people, the Nun Bun is gone. It was stolen straight from its protective glass case. At thie time no one knows what has become of the Nun Bun but we can all hope that it will show it's "face" again soon.
For those unfamiliar with the Nun Bun it is a cinnamon roll (which my wife can tell you just how important those are to me) that bears the visage of the Mother Theresa. Truly, this is a sad day for bakers everywhere.
For those unfamiliar with the Nun Bun it is a cinnamon roll (which my wife can tell you just how important those are to me) that bears the visage of the Mother Theresa. Truly, this is a sad day for bakers everywhere.
Monday, December 26, 2005
Free West Alliance
I am sure many of my readers have heard of the Free State Project. FSP is an attempt to take one state, remove many of the onerous laws and return freedom to one state and thereby be a bright shining star of freedom pointing the way for America and indeed the whole world. One small problem. They chose the wrong state. FSP held a vote and came up with New Hampshire. A gorgeous state with many things going for it including a more western attitude and a coast. The problem is that to affect New Hampshire politics they would need a minumum of 20,000 libertarian-leaning voters to move there.
A better state exists, Wyoming (which just so happened to be a close second in the FSP vote). Also a gorgeous state (Yellowstone anyone?) and one great benefit: only 5000 people needed to swing the state politically. This spawned a FSP-West for those who thought they could make a change faster. Having looked into this a bit more I have found that there is another movement afoot. The Free West Alliance. Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. For those of you already in the west or considering a move to the west, consider a move to one of these States (unless you are a commie, then go back to California or New York)
(The site has had a rough year with being hacked several times and as a result it isnt as complete as it should be.)
A better state exists, Wyoming (which just so happened to be a close second in the FSP vote). Also a gorgeous state (Yellowstone anyone?) and one great benefit: only 5000 people needed to swing the state politically. This spawned a FSP-West for those who thought they could make a change faster. Having looked into this a bit more I have found that there is another movement afoot. The Free West Alliance. Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. For those of you already in the west or considering a move to the west, consider a move to one of these States (unless you are a commie, then go back to California or New York)
(The site has had a rough year with being hacked several times and as a result it isnt as complete as it should be.)
Christmas to me
Suppose for a moment that there was this really great Hindu holiday where everyone gets together and decorates their houses and throw parties and such, and then they stand on their heads to pray to Krishna. Among their various decorations are their prayer mats and little statues of people standing on their heads. All in all, a good time is had by all. Now imagine that Christians wanted to take part in this holiday. The Christians might come up with a story about how Jesus turned the whole world on its head, and that is why we stand on our heads.
Is this now a Christian holiday? How does one get past the pagan roots and symbolism of that holiday? If one similarly decorates ones home, nay, exactly the same decorations are put out, is it really a different celebration than the original? Does saying "but we dont pray to Krishna" really sanctify this event enough to please G-d? Or rather has G-d called us to be separate and holy (as He is Holy)?
Wouldn't G-d rather that we followed His commdands? He has after all commanded us to observe several feasts, yet Christians would rather attempt to take from other religions than celebrate the Feasts that He has given us. Hhat a sad sad state that is.
Is this now a Christian holiday? How does one get past the pagan roots and symbolism of that holiday? If one similarly decorates ones home, nay, exactly the same decorations are put out, is it really a different celebration than the original? Does saying "but we dont pray to Krishna" really sanctify this event enough to please G-d? Or rather has G-d called us to be separate and holy (as He is Holy)?
Wouldn't G-d rather that we followed His commdands? He has after all commanded us to observe several feasts, yet Christians would rather attempt to take from other religions than celebrate the Feasts that He has given us. Hhat a sad sad state that is.
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