What is the militia talked about in the Constitution?
The Second Amendment says ". . . a well regulated militia", does that mean the National Guard? No. The militia as originally intended by the founders was every able body voter, not convicted of a crime (felons can't vote) is in.
A few sites to check out, here, here and here.
Video from Israel on a training accident between an A-4 and an F-15. The planes had a mid air collision. The A-4 was destroyed. The F-15 made it back to base and found the entire right wing gone. The plane was able to fly while missing one of its wings. As the pilot said "If I had known the extent of the damage, I would have ejected".
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070227/ap_on_re_us/gore_electric_bill;_ylt=ArIJshqxTJCqv6P8UXGc9mbMWM0F
So recently a conservative think-tank group attacked Gore by saying that he currently pays on average about $1.2k a month for his electricity bill. The Gore camp fired back by saying:
1) That's a cheap shot. Shoot the message, not the messanger
2) Gore lives a "Carbon Neutral" lifestyle by buying "Green Power"
So this so-called "Green Power" that Gore is purchasing isn't *really* "Green Power." Supposedly, Gore is taking money and investing it in companies that do research in renewable energy and enviromentally-friendly technology. In this way, Gore is "offsetting" his massive use of energy produced by carbon-based processes by investing in companies that will, in theory, produce green technology in the future.
Now, I will agree with the Gore camp that shooting the messenger is kind of cheap. But this whole "Carbon Neutral" thing is complete crap. I'm sorry, but you can't "offset" carbon emissions with investments in companies trying to invent some new "green" technology. Simple illustration (simple because I deem this issue only worthy of mocking, not serious discussion):
Bob's use of energy produces 400 lbs. of carbon a year. Bob's currently investing in GreenTech to offset his carbon emissions (let's ignore the fact right now that the carbon-to-investment math is complete BS). Unfortuantely, GreenTech's new technology won't be ready for deployment for 10 years. So that's 4000 lbs. of carbon that's now in the air. GreenTech's new technology doesn't take carbon out of the air, it just reduces the amount pushed into the air after it's deployed. So the 4000 lbs. of carbon that's been produced over the past 10 years is STILL THERE!!! Where's the friggin' offset?!?! I suppose one could argue that the offset comes in the fact that 10 years later, you're now using 400 lbs. of carbon less than you were before, but that doesn't really offset the 10 years of carbon emissions you helped to produce.
And the problem with the "offset" mentality is that you're assuming that the company you're investing in will actually bear fruit. Chances are it'll bomb. You can't offest your SUV's tailpipe by investing in future technology. If you feel guilty, drive a small car, move into a smaller house, install solar panels, do something that actually lowers your energy consumption! Change your behavior! Stop this "Carbon Neutral" crap because it's not helping!!!
Ever wonder why California passed Prop 13 back in 1976/7?
A little back ground. California's legislature has been relatively liberal since at least 1970 and maybe earlier. They acted like the money earned by CA citizens belonged to the State and it was only by the goodness of the Legislature that the "people" were allowed to keep any of it.
In the mid 1970's California saw home prices increase at a fast rate (similar to the late 1980's and the last few years). Well property taxes were assessed on the market value of one's home regardless of when they purchased it. So someone who purchased their home for $15,000 in 1946 in Manhattan Beach would have to pay real estate tax on the market rate of their house in 1975 (say $50,000.00). Now this person is retired and on a fixed income and can't afford to pay the tax, although they did pay off the mortgage) and were forced to move. At the time, California had a large ($8 billion) surplus in tax revenue, while property taxes were increasing and forcing people out of their homes.
The people finally said enough is enough and since the Legislature can't or won't fix the problem, we will do it for them and prop 13 was passed by the citizens. The Legislature and Counties and Cities were horrified, their ability to raise property taxes were limited and therefore spending was limited. All sorts of disasters were predicted but we survived. Now prop 13 is not perfect and parts should be changed, but the citizens of CA are unlikely to allow any changes because the government has not been able to show itself trust worthy to fix the problems without trying to get rid of the protections needed.
All of that is to say, in Florida, where they don't have protection like prop 13, the local county administrators are upset that the county Budget Advisory Committee even suggested holding the line on spending for one year.
From 2005 to 2006, property taxes increased by 16%. Think about that for a moment. You live in your house and pay $5,000 in property taxes in 2005 (many other states pay higher property taxes then Cal) and the next year you see the tax bill increase to $5,800. If your on fixed income, the extra $800 may not be affordable. And remember that is for one year only.
If the county commissioners are not careful, they may find the citizens (remember those, the people you work for, Commissioners) doing a Prop 13. Yes its a blunt instrument when a knife might be better, but when the politicians don't listen, then we the people have to use the tools we have to get their attention and tell them in detail what to do because the politicians have proven again they have forgotten they work for us, not we work for them.
Hat tip Lucianne.com
What a difference a month can make.
In January we had 39 posts, in Feb so far, this will be the 10th. Ok, I was out of commission for over a week and a half and then been trying to get caught up and the boss is posting less then usual. Thank goodness for the newest contributor or we would have been in real trouble.
Anyway, here are a few stories that caught my interest today. Hat tip for all Lucianne.com
Good news about Iraq and its from the NY Times. Did hell freeze over? Read the article.
Prince Charles calls for the banning of McDonald's for the children. Yes, the problem of childhood obesity is solely due to McDonald's. I think parents have something to do with it.
The US Marines are buying armored vehicles from Israel. Good thing too, they know about IED's.
And finally another attempt to take away redistricting from the California Legislature. I don't know if this plan will work, but am just about to try anything as it can't be worse then what we have now.
Is it the beginning of the end for Mugabe?
We can only hope the 83 year old fool who has taken the bread basket of Africa to an impoverished state will have to step down and someone who cares about the country rather then their own power (like a G Washington or T Jefferson) and can put it back together.
Hat tip Lucianne.com
This is the real reason cell phone head sets were invented.
Cartoon by Chip Bok at Townhall.com
As if we don't have enough to worry about, with Identity Theft, on line fraud and terrorist running around, but now I see that our locks are not nearly as secure as we were led to believe.
The Bump Key will allow a person to get past most locks on our front doors and it only takes seconds to do so. This includes dead bolts.
Of course this was news about 18 months ago but the MSM just got around to mentioning it. Google has 1.05 million hits on the subject.
Two articles are a good background on the subject and what locks are vulnerable.
Article 1
Article 2
PDF on the subject, technical reading. All from Google.
After reading a few articles on the "non-binding" resolution crap coming out of the House, I realized something: out political leaders have no belief. I'm not talking about religion (though many are lacking this as well). I'm talking about believing in an idea, a vision. Belief in an idea gives one conviction. And conviction gives one the will to do what is necessary, to take a stand, to do something truly great.
Ronald Reagan had belief. His belief is what gave him the will to get the US through the Cold War and win, even though we faced massive debt due to his spending measures. If Reagan did not have this strong belief, his conviction, then he would not have pushed our nation as hard as it needed to. If the Cold War was a drag-race, he would have flinched before the finish line.
Yes, belief, conviction, can be dangerous. We see that in Al-Qaeda and other terrorist organizations. But without belief, all you can achieve is mediocrity.
I look at the political candidates on the field for the 2008 election, and I don't see a single believer among them. They're all smart, savvy, and have potential. But none of them look like believers to me. Why? Because they watch the polls and sway with them. Take Senator Hillary Clinton. In order to appease the far-left of her party for the 2008 nomination, she's been making her mad dash to the anti-war crowd, but refuses to say that her vote for the war was a mistake. She tries to play both sides. A politically savvy move, but ultimately it shows her weakness. Hillary has no courage, no will, no conviction, because she doesn't believe in anything.
Joe Lieberman believed, that's why he stuck with his war vote in the face of growing anti-war rhetoric in his own party. That got him kicked out of Democratic party. But he still believed, and ran as an independent to beat the upstart, Lamont.
If the people in the House and the Senate believed their anti-war rhetoric, they'd cut off funding for the war in Iraq right now. But they're afraid of being called "doves," being seen as soft and not supporting the troops. They have no will. They have no vision that they truly believe in other than having a cushy job on the Hill.
America's time in the spotlight is over, because our leaders believe in nothing.
Ok, I know its early to be talking about this, but The Australian has an interesting article and their conclusion is Condi Rice should run. It would be interesting but she isn't likely to run, who needs the pain and suffering. And now, I will refrain from talking about presidential politics for the next few months.
Hat tip Lucianne
Yeah, that title looks strange. Cars depreciate not appreciate in value.
But I have a 2004 Toyota Prius with the California HOV stickers on them. That means I can drive by myself in the car pool lane without getting a ticket.
In yesterdays (Sunday) paper there was a story that California has run out of stickers and anyone applying for them now will be turned down. So anyone who buys a hybrid now will not be able to use the car pool lane unless there is more then one person in the car (like everyone else).
So my car with only 25K miles on it with those stickers just went up in value as I'm sure there are those who want the car pool stickers but didn't get them. So the question is, do I sell my car at a profit and buy a new Prius without the stickers or keep my car. Since I do not normally drive the freeway, the stickers are of limited value to me. What to do? Any suggestions from our 1 or 2 readers?
My sister-in-law (number 2 of 6) asked sister-in-law (1 of 6) if she would PLEASE pre-order a copy of the Harry Potter book from Amazon. The reason 2 of 6 needs two copies is because 2 of 6 and her daughter both want to read the book and can't wait for one to finish for the other to start. When book 6 came out, they had to share a book and 2 of 6 was annoyed because her daughter kept commenting on the book.
Yes Potter mania will reign in the sisters and in the nieces and nephews for the next few months, along with speculation on who will die, live and how it will all end.
Of course the book is being released the week of my finals so I will have to ignore it until after words and then start listening to the book.
With the war in Iraq, problems with Iran and Syria, political issues etc., what is the most important story of the week?
Why the release date of the next Harry Potter book of course. My oldest niece started reading the first book when she was 7 and now she is a senior in high school and yes to her and many of her friends, this is way more important then what is happening in the Middle East, Washington, the Superbowl or American Idol.
The hardest part is after the book is released to avoid all the bums who will read the ending and post the spoilers on the web and other places.
