Date: Apr 22, 2009
EARTH DAY and Tea Parties
Current mood: confident
April 22nd 2009
Today in commemoration of Earth Day I contemplated a way to cap all the active volcanoes in the world since they are the single greatest warmer of the planet! All those florocarbons and hydroflorocarbons and upper atmosphere particulates!!! They have done more to raise the temperature of the Earth that all the automobiles, cans of Aqua Net and cow herds in history COMBINED!! Those evil, EVIL volcanoes, how dare they! THEY MUST BE STOPPED!!!! Of course, truth be told, we've been below our global average for a good 1750 ... so we are just rising back up to "average"... psst .. but don't tell the Global Warmers that!! Try Googling "Maunder Solar Minimum"... interesting stuff!!!.... In short... low sunspots, low temps... rising sunspots, rising temps... simple. There's a much closer corelation to the number of solar sunspots and global warming/cooling than anything else... can't do much about the sunspots so I'll work on the volcanoes.
April 16, 2009
Party like it’s 1773!
I’m so proud of myself! J I just shoveled our walks for the second time. Being that we live on a corner lot, I am very very proud of myself. This morning it was a very slushy snow that had the consistency of a 7-11 Slurpie, but this afternoon it was more of a spring snow perfect for packing into snowmen, snowforts, and snowballs! I remembered longingly of when Chaz and Zach were kids and we’d go out in a snowfall like this and have fun!!
The Denver Tea Party
As you can imagine, I was down at the Capital steps with thousands of other peaceful, patriotic Americans – all ten-feet Uncle Sam of me! It’s interesting the various “take-aways” and reporting of the event(s) the mass media is giving. From my vantage point four feet above the majority of folks, I estimated 1500-2000 people. The media said it was around 1000 and thee Denver Police said the crowd was over 4000, so take the estimate that most suits you.
The other great distortion of the major media is the characterization of the attendees. They’ve tried to paint a picture of small extremist groups filled with right-wing, Timothy McVeigh militia fanatics who were basically sheep for Halliburton, big Oil, big business and hired by CEO’s to protect ‘tax cuts for the rich.’ They couldn’t be more off the mark! I didn’t see ANY six-figure types carrying signs, chanting with us, or dressing up as patriots, oversized pigs, Guy Fawkes, or (like me) Uncle Sam. Nor did I speak with anyone who had been contacted by millionaires through voicemail, email or texting saying, “Show up and save my tax cuts!” Quite to the contrary, there were as many people against corporate greed out there as there were folks who were outraged at a bloated, over-reaching, out-of-touch bureaucrats in Washington.
And if anyone tries to tell you the gatherings were filled with ignorant hicks, ask them if they can relate the history of the Federal Reserve Bank. These folks could. They could compare the administrations of Teddy Roosevelt and Franklin Roosevelt, the similarities between Wilson and Carter and the dissimilarities of Hoover and GW Bush. CAN YOU DO AS MUCH?? Can you compare the actions of the Obama administration to those of Hoover, FDR, and Carter (with references)?? I can’t begin to tell you how many folks at the tea party – just normal everyday citizens, not professors, political hacks, or politicians - knew exactly the legalities and illegalities, the foundations and unconstitutional aspects of the FED. They could tell you how Andrew Jackson treated the FED (most people can’t even tell you that Jackson is on the $20 bill!)
These people were well read and well informed. They are well versed in BOTH sides of the argument and were not shills or Dittoheads as the media is attempting to portray them! The diversity was HUGE! Folks of all colors, political parties, “agendas”, men and women, kids and elderly, vets and pacifists, you couldn’t find more diversity if you tried… even at a Star Wars cantina! There was one unifying factor – all felt the federal government was too big and too out-of-touch with the everyday citizen! Almost as to prove their point, President Obama’s press release about the Tea Parties said he was unaware of the Tea Parties. How perfect! Not sure which is worse, politician’s ignorance or their apathy –they don’t know about us and don’t care.
Also in contrast to the media caricature of the right-wing extremist militia types, I didn’t encounter a single mean, grump, angry, or violent individual. In fact in the nearly 1000 tea parties nationwide with somewhere between 200,000 and 400,000 in attendance I didn’t hear of a single arrest, fistfight, burned car or gunshot. There were no smashed windows, no bloody noses, no CS or tear gas deployment, no tazer shots… NOTHING like that! But we’re a buncha’ Tim McVeigh’s looking to gather our fully automatic weapons and overthrow the government??? Apparently not.
Although we were certainly squeezed in and were sardine’d in, the people we encountered were kind, friendly, accommodating and very pleasant. It was such a uplifting experience to find others that know their history… that know the founders wisely formed a country of LIMITED government… that know Socialism has NEVER worked… in Germany, The Soviet Union, North Korea, China, Cuba and countless thugocracies in Central and South America… they know that the more Socialist a country has drifted, the less productive it has become… again, they know their history. It was WONDERFUL!!
And I learned SO much about the Federal Reserve that I never knew before!! Check out www.endthefed.us
I also firmed up my support for a consumption tax (also known as a “fair tax” or national sales tax”) I would LOVE to see the IRS eliminated, and the other benefit is, with a fair tax the rich still get “soaked” but in a much fairer way. Obviously, a wealthy person will pay more taxes on a Ferrari than you will on your Geo Metro… so, the rich still pay more, but in a fairer way. And best of all, the government couldn’t play favorites with tax breaks, tax incentives, and tax credits… which is probably why the power hungry bureaucrats will never let it pass. “Green” companies would get any tax breaks, Labor Unions couldn’t get sweetheart tax deals, the Federal Government couldn’t punish tobacco companies or oil refiners. It would take a GREAT deal of power and leverage out of the hands of the Federal Government, and they won’t give up that power without a fight.
We are in historic times! The amazingly drastic restructuring of the Government/Market relationship that has just taken place over the last few weeks is mindblowing! The United States is not the same country it was just six months ago! The massive “borrow and spend” actions of the Congress are unprecedented. President Bush (“W”) pushed the limits of government intervention, spending, and growth as no President before, and in just 2 months, President Obama has blown those expansions out of the water. To compare the two Presidents would be to compare a Piper Cub to a supersonic jet, or comparing Harris and Kleybold to Jim Jones… there really is just no comparison!
I am fondly reminded of the 1770’s when the populace was reaching the end of (as Jefferson wrote) “the patient sufferance” of long usurpations. To continue with that incredible Jeffersonian creation…
“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.”
Hopefully our absentee Representatives and Senators won’t make the same egregious mistake of ignoring us the way the Parliament of the 1700’s did.
Currently reading:
An Inconvenient Book: Real Solutions to the World's Biggest Problems
By Glenn Beck
Release date: 2009-05-12
9:15 PM - 0 Kudos - 0 Comments - Add Comment - Edit - Delete
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Saturday, April 04, 2009
Through The Looking Glass
Date: Apr 4, 2009
Through the looking glass
Current mood: quixotic
Wow! It's been quite awhile since I posted here and subsequently at my public blog,( http://charlesking.blogspot.com/ called "A Pax Americana and other fun stuff") There have just been SOOOO many things going on, I really didn't know where to start.... the rise of Facism in America? Socialism takes hold? Assigned to Afghanistan? The passing of my dear friend (and mom)?... where to start, where to start?
February 13th, 2009
Mom passed away of an overwhelming systemic failure following years of declining health. I thank God I was there for all but the last 2 hours of her last day. By the time I left, she was unresponsive and she was for the most part already gone. But the morning hours and night before she died were incredible in so many ways. It was an experience that ratified every belief I have in the hereafter. She was obviously standing with one foot in this world and one in the next.
The conversations we had in those final hours were surreal but so meaningful. She knew it was her time and was in a hurry to get where she needed to go. She would stand up next to her bed and demand "I need to go...NOW!" The first time she did this, I guided her to the restroom. Ooops! We got there and she said - rather impatiently- "I don't need to use the restroom!"
"But mom, you said..."
"No I said I need to go!"
"Go where, Mom?"
"Heaven! [of course!]"
She then had conversations with Dad, Uncle Harry, Nannie, Her dad... passing on messages and all the things they were telling her... It was truly amazing! About half way through, I realized that I was witnessing this all by myself, and I asked the nurse to get Cath (who was in the lobby) so she could share in the magical conversations taking place.
About 4 in the morning, Mom sat on the edge of her bed for the last time. After that, she laid down, and to my knowledge never got up again. I held her hand as we said a rosary at 7AM before I left. Although her eyes never opened and she never spoke, from the time I began the Apostles' Creed to the final "Hail Holy Queen" her grip on my hand was noticably tighter.
By the time I got home, she had passed. Not only do I miss my mom, but a dear friend and fellow conversationalist. One of her final statements to me will remain in my heart and mind forever. "Do you know what happy is? It's love. That's it. Happiness is love...PERIOD!"
Amen!
___________________________
THE GUARD
Things are as unpredictable as ever, although I LOVE the group I'm with ("The Rear Guard"). We number about 30 soldiers who didn't go over with the other 70 to Baghdad. They (the forward guard) are assisting the 30th in Iraq while the rest of us will be sent over to Bagram with our parent Batallion (the 86th) for a COIN mission tentatively leaving for Pre-Mobilization on October 10th.
I've been talking to guys who just got back with the 220th, and I'm definately happier to be heading to Afghanistan where I can do some seriously meaningful COunterINsurgency service. Iraq is completely winding down, with most of the heavy lifting being done by the Iraqis.
Overall, this is GREAT! Every individual who said it would never work, or that peace and liberty couldn't be brought at the end of an M16, or (like Harry Reid) said the war was lost - must now eat their own words! IT WORKED! IRAQ is free! They have a democracy. Granted it's not a Jeffersonian democracy in the image of the US - but if it WAS then we would be guilty of "imposing our culture" on the Iraqis. It is a democracy formed in the image of the Iraqis. So much for that "imperical America" accusation. Anyway, I drift.... in Afghanistan, there is still a war to be fought and won, and I can be a part of that, which is why I rejoined in the first place. In Iraq, the interrogators will be interviewing the same scores of individuals who have been interviewed a dozen times before... the missions in Afghan will be unique sources and gather truly important intel... I'm looking forward to that!!!
_______________________
Tess' and My Wedding
We just started the classes for being married in the Catholic Church... it's really happening!! lol! That's kinda' the way we felt during our first class... "Oh Boy! This is really going to happen!!" Scary, exciting, exhilerating and breathtaking. August 8th is coming up REALLY quick!
________________________
America Bashing
I hafta' be careful here... can't speak badly of my Commander and Chief, ya' know... Let me just say this. If America is "arrogant" it is because we have done more to help others than any other country in the history of the world. If there is an earthquake or a tsunami, Americans are the first there and spend more than most other countries combined. America has given more to the victims of AIDS in Africa and elsewhere than all other contributors combined... when "The UN" flies in to "rescue" some oppressed people, it's actually Americans carrying the weapons, spilling their blood, and nutralizing the perps. In Vietnam, Somalia, Iraq, Kosovo, and most other UN "rescues" when the UN turned tail and ran, it was the American who had to stay behind and pick up the pieces. -ADHD moment - When are those American troops coming home from Kosovo that Clinton promised would be back by Christmas in the '90's??---
Most countries :::::::coughcanadacough::::::::: don't even NEED a military because they know "Those horrible yanks" will defend them. I don't apologize for being an American! I don't apologize for being part of the country that brought freedom to Europe not once, but twice... to the South Pacific, Indionesia, North Africa, Iraq and 'coming soon' Afghanistan. I don't apologize for being part of the culture that has advanced medicine and technology far more than any other civilization in history. I'm not the first to say this, read what a Canadian had to say about America - Gordon Sinclair circa 1972 -http://www.snopes.com/politics/quotes/sinclair.asp
And what is Washington DC (particularly the Congress) doing to preserve the most productive, most successful, most advanced, most free civilization ever created on the planet? The country that has lead the rest of the world for the majority of it's 200 year history? They are trying to turn it into France... into the EU... into the same failed system that created the Soviet Union, Cuba, North Korea, China... such wonderful role models. How stupid do you have to be to realize you can't spend your way out of debt?!?!?!?!?!?! "Duh! My credit cards are maxed out... so let me get another credit card and transfer the ballances and put intrest onto intrest .." Yeah! There's a winner of an idea!
Well, they wanted change and they got it in spades! Let's see how they like them apples in 2, 4, or 10 years when intrest skyrockets, when the massive printing of paper money has devalued the dollar, and inflation comes back in double digits! We didn't get Bush's 3rd term, we got Carter's 2nd term... God help us!
Currently watching:
The Dark Knight (Two-Disc Special Edition + Digital Copy)
Release date: 2008-12-09
Through the looking glass
Current mood: quixotic
Wow! It's been quite awhile since I posted here and subsequently at my public blog,( http://charlesking.blogspot.com/ called "A Pax Americana and other fun stuff") There have just been SOOOO many things going on, I really didn't know where to start.... the rise of Facism in America? Socialism takes hold? Assigned to Afghanistan? The passing of my dear friend (and mom)?... where to start, where to start?
February 13th, 2009
Mom passed away of an overwhelming systemic failure following years of declining health. I thank God I was there for all but the last 2 hours of her last day. By the time I left, she was unresponsive and she was for the most part already gone. But the morning hours and night before she died were incredible in so many ways. It was an experience that ratified every belief I have in the hereafter. She was obviously standing with one foot in this world and one in the next.
The conversations we had in those final hours were surreal but so meaningful. She knew it was her time and was in a hurry to get where she needed to go. She would stand up next to her bed and demand "I need to go...NOW!" The first time she did this, I guided her to the restroom. Ooops! We got there and she said - rather impatiently- "I don't need to use the restroom!"
"But mom, you said..."
"No I said I need to go!"
"Go where, Mom?"
"Heaven! [of course!]"
She then had conversations with Dad, Uncle Harry, Nannie, Her dad... passing on messages and all the things they were telling her... It was truly amazing! About half way through, I realized that I was witnessing this all by myself, and I asked the nurse to get Cath (who was in the lobby) so she could share in the magical conversations taking place.
About 4 in the morning, Mom sat on the edge of her bed for the last time. After that, she laid down, and to my knowledge never got up again. I held her hand as we said a rosary at 7AM before I left. Although her eyes never opened and she never spoke, from the time I began the Apostles' Creed to the final "Hail Holy Queen" her grip on my hand was noticably tighter.
By the time I got home, she had passed. Not only do I miss my mom, but a dear friend and fellow conversationalist. One of her final statements to me will remain in my heart and mind forever. "Do you know what happy is? It's love. That's it. Happiness is love...PERIOD!"
Amen!
___________________________
THE GUARD
Things are as unpredictable as ever, although I LOVE the group I'm with ("The Rear Guard"). We number about 30 soldiers who didn't go over with the other 70 to Baghdad. They (the forward guard) are assisting the 30th in Iraq while the rest of us will be sent over to Bagram with our parent Batallion (the 86th) for a COIN mission tentatively leaving for Pre-Mobilization on October 10th.
I've been talking to guys who just got back with the 220th, and I'm definately happier to be heading to Afghanistan where I can do some seriously meaningful COunterINsurgency service. Iraq is completely winding down, with most of the heavy lifting being done by the Iraqis.
Overall, this is GREAT! Every individual who said it would never work, or that peace and liberty couldn't be brought at the end of an M16, or (like Harry Reid) said the war was lost - must now eat their own words! IT WORKED! IRAQ is free! They have a democracy. Granted it's not a Jeffersonian democracy in the image of the US - but if it WAS then we would be guilty of "imposing our culture" on the Iraqis. It is a democracy formed in the image of the Iraqis. So much for that "imperical America" accusation. Anyway, I drift.... in Afghanistan, there is still a war to be fought and won, and I can be a part of that, which is why I rejoined in the first place. In Iraq, the interrogators will be interviewing the same scores of individuals who have been interviewed a dozen times before... the missions in Afghan will be unique sources and gather truly important intel... I'm looking forward to that!!!
_______________________
Tess' and My Wedding
We just started the classes for being married in the Catholic Church... it's really happening!! lol! That's kinda' the way we felt during our first class... "Oh Boy! This is really going to happen!!" Scary, exciting, exhilerating and breathtaking. August 8th is coming up REALLY quick!
________________________
America Bashing
I hafta' be careful here... can't speak badly of my Commander and Chief, ya' know... Let me just say this. If America is "arrogant" it is because we have done more to help others than any other country in the history of the world. If there is an earthquake or a tsunami, Americans are the first there and spend more than most other countries combined. America has given more to the victims of AIDS in Africa and elsewhere than all other contributors combined... when "The UN" flies in to "rescue" some oppressed people, it's actually Americans carrying the weapons, spilling their blood, and nutralizing the perps. In Vietnam, Somalia, Iraq, Kosovo, and most other UN "rescues" when the UN turned tail and ran, it was the American who had to stay behind and pick up the pieces. -ADHD moment - When are those American troops coming home from Kosovo that Clinton promised would be back by Christmas in the '90's??---
Most countries :::::::coughcanadacough::::::::: don't even NEED a military because they know "Those horrible yanks" will defend them. I don't apologize for being an American! I don't apologize for being part of the country that brought freedom to Europe not once, but twice... to the South Pacific, Indionesia, North Africa, Iraq and 'coming soon' Afghanistan. I don't apologize for being part of the culture that has advanced medicine and technology far more than any other civilization in history. I'm not the first to say this, read what a Canadian had to say about America - Gordon Sinclair circa 1972 -http://www.snopes.com/politics/quotes/sinclair.asp
And what is Washington DC (particularly the Congress) doing to preserve the most productive, most successful, most advanced, most free civilization ever created on the planet? The country that has lead the rest of the world for the majority of it's 200 year history? They are trying to turn it into France... into the EU... into the same failed system that created the Soviet Union, Cuba, North Korea, China... such wonderful role models. How stupid do you have to be to realize you can't spend your way out of debt?!?!?!?!?!?! "Duh! My credit cards are maxed out... so let me get another credit card and transfer the ballances and put intrest onto intrest .." Yeah! There's a winner of an idea!
Well, they wanted change and they got it in spades! Let's see how they like them apples in 2, 4, or 10 years when intrest skyrockets, when the massive printing of paper money has devalued the dollar, and inflation comes back in double digits! We didn't get Bush's 3rd term, we got Carter's 2nd term... God help us!
Currently watching:
The Dark Knight (Two-Disc Special Edition + Digital Copy)
Release date: 2008-12-09
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