My Gadsden Flag On Display
posted 2009 Jul by Posterous
Wilson Park Yesterday
posted 2009 Jul by Posterous
Here's a composite photo of the Independence Day event at Wilson Park.
Wilson Park
posted 2009 Jul by Posterous
Disneyland
posted 2009 Jul by Posterous
Disneyland
posted 2009 Jul by Posterous
Disneyland
posted 2009 Jul by Posterous
Good Morning!!
posted 2009 Jul by Posterous
My Thoughts on Cap & Trade
posted 2009 Jun by Posterous
The problem is that oil company C can't afford to lose 30% of its profits, so it'll go out of business or be bailed out (of course, bailouts would be very likely if A and B took out default swap insurance policies on C going under, who itself netted out swaps on A and B going under, obviously).
Another problem is it raises the bar for oil company D to enter the market. So, yes, big oil likes Cap & Trade because it makes competition scarce. All big energy providers want Cap & Trade so they can "stabilize" their market. But really, "stabilization" is code for what I call "a fettered market."
So are you willing to act in defiance of Cap & Trade? Clearly, since the system doesn't work, we should work outside the system. If the market is regulated, we need an unregulated alternative. The advantage we have is that we don't have to worry if it's "green" or not.
As an example, one way to do this would be to buy a whole-house electrical generator that can run on multiple types of fuels (not very green sounding, which is good). My grandfather installed one of these in his previous residence, and it was pretty cool. I believe it could be configured to run on gasoline, propane, and natural gas. The natural gas option meant he could theoretically run it indefinitely.
Obviously, this would require a change in life style. Merely installing a generator isn't a silver bullet. But if the economics work out, it could be a smart move.
My grandfather got this generator because the place he lived would have frequent power failures in the winter. He wasn't thinking of political defiance. Nonetheless, having a way to go off grid or partially off grid would create competition for the electric company who is itself (voluntarily) hindered by Cap & Trade. In addition, the ability to run on propane also opens the possibility for "alternative" methods of trade.
For most, it could come down to a mere matter of economics. Is it really more cost effective to produce your kilowatt hour for yourself or allow the regular fettered market to do under heavy tax. If the cold hard numbers are the only thing anyone looks at, it may or may not be enough to justify the act. But it might be good to also go one step beyond the math and looking at this alternatives as a form of defiance.
i void warranties
posted 2009 Jun by Posterous
I say it's no longer a free country, so stop saying it is.
posted 2009 Jun by Posterous
Everything we do is governed even though we're supposed to be the "land of the free." We are not free. We haven't been for quite a while. No, having the right to vote does not make anyone free. Having free speech doesn't either. Those things are nice to have. But if voting was really effective, they would have banned it long ago.
If you have the choice to vote for a pile of crap on the right and a pile of crap on the left, guess what? That's not freedom. If you have the right to voice your opinion but you can't act upon it, that's not freedom either.
But even free speech is being eroded. Just search for "first amendment" on YouTube. I first started doing that in 2007 and I was shocked even back then and it's only getting worse.
What kind of tolerance should we have for the loss of freedom? Is it alright to lose 1%? 2%? What percentage are you willing to lose? 50%? I think any amount of freedom anyone is willing to lose is proof of forfeiture of all freedom.
Think of it this way. How much of your child are you willing to lose? 1%? 2%? Is that a finger or a toe of your baby? If you are willing to part with a piece of your own flesh and blood, you don't love them. You don't deserve them at all.
How do you feel when a cop is driving right behind you? Do you feel safe? Be honest, it's anxiety. That anxiety is what just a little lack of freedom feels like. Our government is good at one thing. It's good at trying to show people how to keep from feeling anxiety as long as they obey. That's not freedom either.
A person in a free society would only feel anxiety from protectors if he or she has harmed another person. But you and I feel anxiety from law enforcement even without harming another person. This is because we know laws no longer require a personal victim. Since laws allow society to be victims, we are all guilty. In a free society, cops only bother criminals who harm people, not society.
This is because society cannot be a victim. Only people can be victims. A victim or advocate of the victim must be able to face the one being accused. A victim should be a party that can be sued if a false accusation is made. Society cannot be a victim because no one can put society on trail. Since it can't work both ways, it can't work.
Fifty percent of your wage is taken by taxation, if you count all forms of taxation. And the price of everything is at least twice what it would be if corporations didn't have all their tax breaks (aka corporate welfare). Economically, we are nowhere near freedom.
Can you eat a peanut-butter sandwich without breaking some law? Somewhere? Guess what, you can't. There is a law against eating peanut-butter sandwiches, but you never knew it. You would actually have to research this in order to know when and where it is appropriate.
Here's another example. Can you eat oranges in your bathtub without breaking some law somewhere? Nope. It's illegal somewhere. But where?
These are silly examples, I know. However, a serious approach to deal with this is for law abiding citizens who try to proactively avoid breaking the law. They think they can just get a permit to eat their peanut-butter sandwiches or oranges in their bathtub. Great idea, right? If there's a law, surly they wouldn't issue a permit.
But if you have to ask for a permit, that's just like asking for permission. In a free society, nobody asks for permission. In a free society, you have responsibility for your actions and deal with the ramifications without needing law to guide anyone. We can no longer do this, therefore, we are no longer free.
The exception in a free society to asking for permission is when you're on private property. But private property is a total fiction today if government can tell you not to smoke on private property. If they really have jurisdiction on private property, then that's just proof it's not private property.
The truth is, unlike most of the world and most of history, we are as free as we want to be, here in the US. Apparently we just don't want to be free because when freedom is outlawed, only outlaws will have freedom. Most people want to be law abiding, so there goes that. But there are unjust laws. In fact, most laws are unjust by their very framing.
So just ignore your rights and they'll go away.
Just Layin' Around
posted 2009 Jun by Posterous
Please Bolt The Door
posted 2009 Jun by Posterous
Anatidaephobia - the fear that somewhere, somehow, a duck is watching you.
posted 2009 Jun by Posterous
Question Digested
posted 2009 Jun by Posterous
Here's another question I asked with a very long answer in reply. My question is just a pun. I switch "Oracle" with "Ocular." Comedy ensues.
The answer is a clever and detailed parody of a digest for The Internet Oracle. So basically, it's an in-joke for people who get into this deeper than the average "question-asker." Don't feel bad if you don't get it.
The Internet Oracle has pondered your question deeply. Your question was:
Hi, I'm The Internet Ocular. I keep getting e-mails intended for you. It doesn't happen too often, so it's not a bother. How do you want to go about dealing with this? I could just forward them to you when I get them or would you like me to just collect them together into a digest?
And in response, thus spake the Oracle:
From: Internet Ocular
Subject: Internet Ocular #0001-01
Selected-By: Tim #1 (aka tim) <tim@tim.tim>
The Internet Ocular has pondered your question deeply.
Your question was:
> The other day I saw a pirate dog, you know with a patch
> and a wooden leg. My sister said, "Look at that dog with
> one eye!" So I covered one eye and looked at it, but it
> didn't really look all that different than when I viewed
> it with one eye. What gives?
And in response, thus spied the Ocular:
} I see. Next time swagger up to the dog and say in your
} best John Wayne voice, "Pilgrim, I know who done shot yer
} Pa."
}
} You must see about giving The Ocular a salty dog, hold the
} the scurvy.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 06 Feb 12 13:43:55 -0500
From: Internet Ocular
Subject: Internet Ocular #0001-02
Selected-By: Tim #2 (aka tim) <timtim@timtim.tim>
The Internet Ocular has pondered your question deeply.
Your question was:
> How does one get black eyed, peas?
And in response, thus spied the Ocular:
} Usually by fighting over chick peas.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 06 Feb 12 13:43:56 -0500
From: Internet Ocular
Subject: Internet Ocular #0001-03
Selected-By: Tim #2 (aka tim) <timtim@timtim.tim>
The Internet Ocular has pondered your question deeply.
Your question was:
> How can I catch the eye of that cute guy in Math class?
And in response, thus spied the Ocular:
} Practice your fly fishing and hook him in one of his big
} blue peepers.
}
} You must see your way to giving the Ocular a nightcrawler.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 06 Feb 12 13:43:58 -0500
From: Internet Ocular
Subject: Internet Ocular #0001-04
Selected-By: Tim #2 (aka tim) <timtim@timtim.tim>
The Internet Ocular has pondered your question deeply.
Your question was:
> Deer InteRNUT Ocular,
>
> What doo you say to A man with A glass EYe named JOberinski?
And in response, thus spied the Ocular:
} Ask him what his other eye is called.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 06 Feb 12 13:43:59 -0500
From: Internet Ocular
Subject: Internet Ocular #0001-05
Selected-By: Tim #1 (aka tim) <tim@tim.tim>
The Internet Ocular has pondered your question deeply.
Your question was:
> I tried getting my husband some glasses, but he's still
> not seeing things my way. What can I do?
And in response, thus spied the Ocular:
} Get an Eye-vorce.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 06 Feb 12 13:43:100 -0500
From: Internet Ocular
Subject: Internet Ocular #0001-07
Selected-By: Tim #1 (aka tim) <tim@tim.tim>
The Internet Ocular has pondered your question deeply.
Your question was:
> The sun! It's blinding me! I've been
> decapitated and I'm face up in a wicker bucket!
> What can I do?
And in response, thus spied the Ocular:
} Squint, while you're a head.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 06 Feb 12 13:43:101 -0500
From: Internet Ocular
Subject: Internet Ocular #0001-08
Selected-By: Tim #1 (aka tim) <tim@tim.tim>
The Internet Ocular has pondered your question deeply.
Your question was:
> What did the law pupil say to the judge?
And in response, thus spied the Ocular:
} Iris my case.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 06 Feb 12 13:43:102 -0500
From: Internet Ocular
Subject: Internet Ocular #0001-09
Selected-By: Tim #2 (aka tim) <timtim@timtim.tim>
The Internet Ocular has pondered your question deeply.
Your question was:
> I C U!
And in response, thus spied the Ocular:
} Me too.
}
} You must see your way to giving the Ocular a AOL CD.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 06 Feb 12 13:43:103 -0500
From: Internet Ocular
Subject: Internet Ocular #0001-10
Selected-By: EYE N. Davis (aka end) <end@it.now>
The Internet Ocular has pondered your question deeply.
Your question was:
> Can I wear glasses when I play contact sports?
And in response, thus spied the Ocular:
} Why not? People with only one bottom play tennis.
}
} Wait, that. Hmm. Sorry, I just got back from NYC.
} I flew in on the Red Eye and boy are my arms covered
} with vitreous fluid. Thank you! Thank you! I'll be
} here all week! Be sure and tip the waitresses!
===================================================
end
This American Life :: The Watchmen #endthefed
posted 2009 Jun by Posterous
I guess everyone is having a tough time economically. TAL (This American Life) is asking for donations from its listeners to cover their bandwidth costs. I can't say I feel that obligated to give them money, so instead, I'll help them out by hosting this episode on another server so they don't get hit by my review. This is a link to the episode, but if you listen to the episode on this page, it won't cost them anything. So there.
Anyway, there have been a few episodes of TAL about the economy that are noteworthy. This one has to be the best so far. They do an excellent job of explaining, in plain English, that the global economic collapse was in fact not caused solely by lack of regulation. In fact, once the problem started to snowball, it was the existence of certain regulations that prevented the market from being able to move with agility. You could say that market regulations made things worse.
I'm not a fan of regulation in the free market, but we don't have a free market, do we? Saying regulations would have prevented the snowball from forming in the first place is incorrect as well. Regulations imply regulators. The TAL folk do a good job of explaining why the regulators aren't solely to blame either.
Then there are the rating agencies and Congress. There's enough blame to spread around. But what TAL does not explain is that the "liquidity crisis" was not caused by any of these things. It was caused by the existence of excess liquidity in the first place. It's like blaming the cracks in the dam when the sheer amount of water is the problem.
Download now or listen on posterous
Sam Kicked Out of Jail #fsp #tlot #tvot #tcot #freekeene #liberty
posted 2009 Jun by Posterous
Here is Sam's victory call, right after he got kicked out:
Hello free staters! This is SamIam and the jail has just thrown me out. The forced me to agree to PR terms that I’m already in violation of, I told them I did not understand. That I did not agree to them. I did not sign them. I requested my attorney who’s going to be here in 10 minutes. And they pushed me out the door, in the orange close. I guess I get to keep them. And gave me all my stuff. I was escorted out. They would not explain anything or put anything in writing. They were told just to release me and so I’m out of jail. Thank you guys for everybody who’s helped me, sent letters, cards, emails, done all the things you had to do to support me along the way and I’m looking forward to getting back to life and challenging a lot of this in court. Thank you, glad to be out, looking forward to talking all soon. Goodbye.
PR stands for "Persona Recognizance." When Sam said he was already in violation of the PR terms, he was referring to the fact that the terms required that he not own fire-arms, for example. He could not agree to the terms because it would immediately result in his violating the terms upon agreement. He was unable to magically disown the guns he owned by agreeing to the terms, therefore, it would have been a violation.
The officials in the prison could not get him to sign the agreement so they read it to him and asked if he understood. Sam told them he did not understand, so he did not agree to the terms.
I've heard of release terms like this. Some require that the prisoner "agrees to obey all of the laws." How can anyone agree to that, especially someone who was originally in jail for civil disobedience? Sam risked being held longer if he didn't agree to the terms. Instead, they just kicked him out.
WOW! Way to stand your ground, Sam! If you'd like to read more of my writings about Sam, click here.
Unarmed, non-violent mentally-ill man beaten for taking a walk
posted 2009 Jun by Posterous
Ronnie Holloway's eyes were still black and blue one week after he was allegedly beaten by a Passaic, N.J., police officer -- an attack that was inadvertently caught on a video surveillance camera.
Holloway, who is on medication for schizophrenia, joined more than 80 others outside that community's city hall Saturday to demand that Officer Joseph R. Rios III be fired.
The tape shows Holloway, 49, waiting outside Lawrence's Grill and Bar restaurant in Passaic when a police cruiser pulled up and a female officer asked him to zip up his sweatshirt. Holloway appears to comply, but Rios jumps out and begins hitting him with his fists and a baton.
The scene shows baby strollers and other pedestrians walk by in the downtown retail section of this community of immigrants and working poor.
Holloway does not appear to resist, and at one point, Rios seems to stand him back up and then slam him into the police cruiser.
"These cops know him," said Holloway's lawyer Nancy Lucianna of Fort Lee, N.J. "He's lived in the town for 25 years, does the same routine every night. He goes out after dinner, takes a walk, and paces back and forth."
So my theory is how this can or cannot be legal. Can it be legal for police to act this way? Can it be illegal? I think the request for him to zip up his sweatshirt is evidence of a loophole. A police officer can arrest anyone who does not obey. If you fail to follow the exact orders of law enforcement to their liking, it can be grounds to legally hurt you.I don't think this is a far fetched theory. Take a look at this unrelated video:
That's the pastor who got tazed in Arizona by border patrol (50 miles north of the border). So the "peace officer" ordered the pastor out of the car. That was the order he didn't follow. But why was he being ordered out of his car? Because he was being arrested. Why was he being arrested? Because he didn't follow the order to get out of his car. Why was he being given an order to get out of his car? Because he was being arrested.
The coversation in the video was not with border patrol. It was with the "peace officer" who was called out to the scene. It seems that the officer did not witness the dog alert. Supposedly a dog indicated the presense of some kind of situation that caused the border patrol to want to invesitgate further but border patrol could not extract the pastor from he vehicle. But I question the idea that a dog could be reliable when there's someone in the car.
Anyway, that's where we are. If you don't follow all orders issued by cops, no matter how nonsenseical, incoherent, or illogical the order is to you, expect to get hurt if you don't obey.
Mah plug
posted 2009 Jun by Posterous
