What in the world?

Very moving art video

2009-08-22T20:10:00.000-04:00

Turn speakers on...

Weekend off

2009-08-08T13:16:00.002-04:00

I've got the weekend off. Not really sure what I'm going to do. There will be walks, I'm sure. Possibly there will be a visit to my friend the tattoo artist. I'm not really sure.

I got another complaint about my dog. Apparently he barks at the window when people are out front. I thought that's what dogs were supposed to do. Maybe I'm wrong.

Coolest thing

2009-08-03T23:29:00.003-04:00

I saw the coolest thing last night.

Taking the dog out for a "before bedtime" walk and I saw a firefly hovering. It's kind of strange to see a firefly hover, especially if it is not blinking. Upon further investigation I see the firefly is caught in a spiders web and the spider is wrapping him up with it's web. What an absolutely wonderful and beautiful sight! Nature taking it's course.

A restaurant review ( Meat in a Box )

2009-07-27T20:45:00.002-04:00

Now I know this is a little bit out of the norm for this blog, but I'm willing to accept a departure.

Today I went to a very new restaurant called Meat in a Box. The eatery opened a few days ago. Since I'm very interested in Kabab style food, I decided to try it. Here is my report:

Upon entering the storefront I was greeted with a gigantic smile from a very lovely lady. I truly felt welcomed. I glanced at the basic menu overhead and was greeted with a few of the regular type dishes; hummus, stuffed grape leaves, baklava and such. Instead of ordering from that menu, I simply asked the woman for her suggestion. So I got the ground beef kabab. My meal was prepared swiftly.

The kabab was served rolled in fresh unleavened bread, and inside that bread was a wonderful Persian "salsa" comprised of tomato, onion and parsley. Served alongside the two kababs is a small dish of a yogurt sauce. My first bite of the kabab was greeted with mildly spiced ground beef with just enough "hot" to warm my tastebuds. The most surprising element was a wonderful clean bitterness of the parsley which lingered after the bite. Just an amazing use of parsley in my humble opinion. The bread was firm but not tough and had a wonderful taste and texture that just simply cannot be equalled in freshness.

The portion (two wrapped kababs) was more than ample.

My comments: My own preference with spiced beef kababs is that they be less mild and more outstanding. However, if taking into account the tomato, onion, parsley condiment, the spice was just right for most people as none of the flavors were overpowering.

For a first time visit, I give this restaurant a B+. Why not an A? Because I think over the next few months this restaurant will develop more of a personality and really develop and tailor itself to it's clientele.

Really cool video

2009-07-22T10:17:00.000-04:00

I saw this posted on one of the forums I visit. Super cool video, IMO.

The Unluckiest Mouse

2009-05-18T02:08:00.003-04:00

The unluckiest mouse came into my life a few nights ago. I was up late playing Perfect World International, as I often do and out of the corner of my eye I saw a small dark shadow dart across the room.

Many of you know that I live in a condo complex, and on the third floor of this complex. Those of you who don't know, do now. I mention this because my first reaction to seeing a small flitting dark shadow was one of amazement and shock. "What the fuck?" was my reaction to this. How did a mouse get inside a concrete and brick building, and further; how in hell did it get into MY CONDO? I think that's a normal reaction.

So rather than panic, I turned on every available light and retrieved the flash light. I shined the light under the love seat, hoping and praying that it was, indeed, a mouse and not a rat.

Well my original assessment was correct, it was indeed a mouse. A cute little one. Personally I think this rodent was suicidal. It was attempting to perform the mouse version of "Suicide by Cop." Since I have two hunters that live in my house, I knew this particular infestation would last 3-4 hours at most. (I am currently owned by a wonderful old cat and a fearless squirrel, rabbit, chipmunk, and deer hunting Pharaoh Hound.

Well, as I shone the light upon this critter, it ran from under the sofa, behind the night stand, and under the bed. After that it had to have gone into the walk in closet. At that point I decided that it was pointless for me to chase the mouse so I woke up my tireless hunters saying loudly and commandingly "There's a mouse in here, go take care of it." I swear to you that my cat rolled her eyes at me. The dog stretched, got up and went into the living room to "his" chair and went back to sleep-obviously not realizing the gravity of the situation.

I decided to try and get some sleep, hoping that some hint of inspiration, some blind hunters luck would occur. After tossing and turning with visions of a mouse crawling into bed with me, I heard a thumping and a rustling from the closet. I got up and turned the light on, hoping that this ordeal was over. It wasn't. But to give credit where credit is due, the cat was in full hunt mode, not even registering the fact that I was there. "This is a good sign!" I thought.

I went back to bed only to hear more thumping and a little scuffle. Then I heard, from the foot of the bed, a painful mewing sound. It was the cat, and bathed in the blue glow from the television was a mouse, laying on it's back, not moving. The cat, proudly sitting over top of it. She batted it once, then twice. No movement, the mouse was still prostrate.

She batted the mouse a third time and it rolled over and ran for the security of the love seat area. The cat jumped into action, up and over the loveseat, into a small void in the corner. More thumping and scuffling sounds ensued. I laid back down but sleep wouldn't come. I heard another plaintive mew sound, and this time it was more of a "It's over" type of sound.

I glance to the floor at the foot of the bed and there is the cat, standing over top of The Unluckiest Mouse. Veni, Vedi, Vici. The Unluckiest Mouse had departed from the world of the living. The dog finally came and sniffed the mouse with feigned interest. I took a dustpan and tossed his lifeless body to the leafy ground and said my good bye to this honorable mouse, who in the end decided that seppuku was less honorable than the thrill of the chase.

And that, my friends, is the story of The Unluckiest Mouse.

Follow up to the previous post...

2009-04-27T01:42:00.002-04:00

I think it's important that I supply something very important to my last post. That is why I am quoting The Declaration of Independence in this post. Please do yourself the favor and actually READ what it says. Ask yourself this questions: Are those things worth fighting for in this day and time?

Declaration of Independence

Here is the complete text of the Declaration of Independence.
The original spelling and capitalization have been retained.

(Adopted by Congress on July 4, 1776)
The Unanimous Declaration
of the Thirteen United States of America

When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bonds which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, 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. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. 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. --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. 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 refused his assent to laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

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.

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.

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.

He has dissolved representative houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

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 meantime exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavored to prevent the population of these states; for that purpose obstructing the laws for naturalization of foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migration hither, and raising the conditions of new appropriations of lands.

He has obstructed the administration of justice, by refusing his assent to laws for establishing judiciary powers.

He has made judges dependent on his will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent hither swarms of officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, standing armies without the consent of our legislature.

He has affected to render the military independent of and superior to civil power.

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:

For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by mock trial, from punishment for any murders which they should commit on the inhabitants of these states:

For cutting off our trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing taxes on us without our consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of trial by jury:

For transporting us beyond seas to be tried for pretended offenses:

For abolishing the free system of English laws in a neighboring 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 in these colonies:

For taking away our charters, abolishing our most valuable laws, and altering fundamentally the forms of our governments:

For suspending our own legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated government here, by declaring us out of his protection and waging war against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burned our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large armies of foreign mercenaries to complete the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of cruelty and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the head of a civilized nation.

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.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavored to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian savages, whose known rule of warfare, is undistinguished destruction of 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. 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.

Nor have we been wanting in attention to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, enemies in war, in peace friends.

We, therefore, the representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the name, and by the authority of the good people of these colonies, solemnly publish and declare, that these united colonies are, and of right ought to be free and independent states; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as free and independent states, they have full power to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and to do all other acts and things which independent states may of right do. And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.

Another 80*F that brings no sleep

2009-04-27T00:53:00.004-04:00

It's another hot night, yes there seems to be a concurrent theme with hot nights and my blogging. I realize that there are some continuing themes within my blog. With good reason folks. With good reason.

I've taken time off of real live to play a silly little browser game called Ogame. I'm done with it now. I built an account from nothing and made it into the top 5% of the server I played on. Pretty good for a noob, or so I'd like to think. Enough of that though.

The truth is, I really did put my life on hold to play that game. I stopped reading, writing, writing music and even taking long hikes with the dog.

I'm glad to say that in the 30 hours since I've quit the game, I have re-read a book (Prey by Micheal Crichton,) gone on two short walks (it was close to 90*F here today) and now I'm blogging. It's another step in the right direction. I also went through my bookshelf and decided to read a collection of essays by Joan Didion entitled "Slouching Towards Bethlehem." Interestingly enough Didion took her title from a line by Yeats in the poem The Second Coming (Slouching towards Bethlehem.)

W.B Yeats

Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.
Surely some revelation is at hand;
Surely the Second Coming is at hand.
The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out
When a vast image out of Spritus Mundi
Troubles my sight: somewhere in the sands of the desert.

A shape with lion body and the head of a man,
A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,
Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it
Reel shadows of the indignant desert birds.
The darkness drops again; but now I know
That twenty centuries of stony sleep
were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,
And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,
Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?

And what rough beast, it's hour come round at last,
Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?

Indeed.

Even more telling is the opening line in her essay of the same title: "The center was not holding."

The CENTER was NOT holding. This can be interpreted in many different ways, and I've interpreted it in many ways that are viable and can be discussed at length, but today I will discuss one interpretation as it applies to April 26, 2009.

The USA has become a land of black and white, left and right, believer and skeptic, zealot and anti-zealot. In many ways the commonweal has lost it's true appropriation for truth, has lost it's desire to become wise, to do work, to sweat. Instead, it seems, that reason has been supplanted by innovation and ease. That hard work has been demonized in favor of higher profits and respectability. In short; we are dividing ourselves so that we can become conquered.

It's been happening for a long time. Don't fool yourself. You are just as likely to throw your hands up and say "I am not in charge, don't blame me" as you are to completely ignore the situation and walk away. The problem with doing that, is that YOU are in charge. You are in charge of this country. You are in charge of your state. You are in charge of your local government. You are in charge of your own life. To an extent, I believe you are self-determined.

The problem is that the Media outlets, the news flashes, the sound bits, the tweets and diggs have you convinced that you are not in charge. They have you convinced that Joe The Plumber won the campaign. They have you convinced that the only way out is from a government handout.

Every corporation starts out with an idea, a plan and a mission statement. The United States of America The United States of America has a mission statement, it's called the Declaration of Independence. The United States of America has policies and guidelines as well. That document is called the Constitution. Have you ever read it? It's important. It tells us how we got here, where we came from and where we want to go from here. It gives it's citizens purpose, and a reason to hold our heads high.

For now, I don't see unity. I don't see the pride we once had. I don't even see how we call ourselves Americans, other than by geographical birthright. We allow our government to rule us as they see fit, not to do as we see fit. We fall prey to knee-jerk legislation that destroys the very fabric of our ideals. We sit back and allow it to happen, blissfully expecting that when the bell on the microwave oven rings, we'll open up the door and find that our financial woes are finished. We can serve them up on a plate and pretend everything is just fine as we eat dinner in front of the latest "must see" television program.

Oh my friends, though Didion wrote her piece during the mid 1960's, her visual message is one that we resemble all too closely. You see it is us. US. We are the ones "Slouching Towards Bethelehem." Our center is not holding. We've lost sight of it.

That twenty centuries of stony sleep
were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,
And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,
Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?

It is us, and our actions are despicable at worst, ignorant at best. We've committed the greatest crime of all: indifference.

Slouching towards Socialistic Fascism: The opening phase.

2008-10-07T10:50:00.010-04:00

In this current era, I am watching with great interest the socio-political machinations of the United States. It seems that there are many events occurring simultaneously that have greater implications long term than the short term problems that they seek to solve. America, the people, is asleep during this entire process. There are a few Patriots that seek to put a stop to these actions, but they are silenced quickly and without fanfare. The machinations I speak of include the War in Iraq, the demise of the US dollar, the failure of the economic system, and the elimination of the Bill of Rights from the US Constitution, which, according to George W. Bush, is "just a piece of paper."

First and foremost, in my opinion, is the response by the executive branch of the federal government to the attacks of September 11, 2001. Whether these attacks were genuinely carried out by "terrorists" or not does not matter in this discussion. What matters is the response to them. The response has been utter disregard for the freedoms that our forefathers argued for, fought and died for...those freedoms we like to address as "The Bill of Rights."

I'm not surprised that most of the United States isn't really paying much attention to the usurpation of our Rights. After all, Britney's vagina and American Idol are much more important to us. We even trust our newsmen-though we shouldn't. From the very beginning we have been conditioned to watch the television. It's a convenient babysitter for Mom, a nice escape for Dad, and a wonderful method of hypnosis for the masses.

It is my opinion that this long slouch towards fascism started 50 or more years ago, but we're nearing the endgame as I write this. To use a chess term, the "endgame" starts when the "midgame" is over. The "midgame" is the strategic placement of pieces. The endgame begins with the exchanging of pieces. Usually pawns are the first sacrificed-and those pave the way towards bishops, knights, rooks, the queen and eventually, the king and checkmate.

The first steps towards fascism began in the early 20th Century with the establishment of the Federal Reserve and the Internal Revenue Service. These two entities overhauled a financial system that worked. The next great step forward occurred with the passing of the Montgomery G.I. Bill-which allowed servicemen returning from WWII to attend Universities on the US Government's dime. Later our baby boomer generation was conditioned to fear outside republics, and to practice this fear by hiding under their desks once a week at school. Then when JFK was assasinated, Walter Cronkite stepped in and became a member of everyone's family-the uncle that they trusted, a faithful dinner companion.

Just those occurrences alone could have primed the pump for fascism and socialism, but they weren't quite enough for those in power. Those who could exercise power allowed the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment, and while I agree that women are born with and have the same rights as men, this amendment was another button on the uniform of the fascist regime that is to come. Soon after the ERA was passed, a "gas crisis" or a "crisis of confidence" (whichever you prefer to call it) led to the weakening of the US dollar and forced many mothers to go to work to help maintain a livable family income.

Now the children were alone and impressionable after school, if only for 2 or 3 hours. But that was 5 days a week, for several months at a time. That's more than enough time for the media to do it's work upon the impressionable minds. Coincidentally, MTV premiered soon after.

As you can see, the stage was set slowly and carefully. From start to finish, the opening of the game was pretty much flawless.

Scientists baffled by giant shrimp in Ukraine

2008-09-15T11:15:00.001-04:00

Scientists baffled by giant shrimp in UkrainePond life... mystery shrimp is 20cm long
May 29, 2008, 14:12
Scientists baffled by giant shrimp in Ukraine
Tests are being carried out on a strange creature caught in the Donetsk region of western Ukraine. Images of the weird shrimp-like animal were first captured on a mobile phone camera.

Scientist failed to identify the creature immediately but suspect it could be related to the tadpole shrimp.

These creatures inhabit every continent and can live in virtually any watery area, including puddles.

However, the tadpole shrimp, one of the oldest animals on Earth, does not usually grow bigger than 5-6 centimetres, while the creature caught in Ukraine was almost 20 centimetres long.

Something Big is Going On

2008-07-03T12:06:00.001-04:00

Taken from http://www.campaignforliberty.com/blog/?p=115

Something Big is Going On

Update: Digg it! Let’s get this onto the front page of digg.com and spread the message.

The following statement is written by Congressman Paul about the pending financial disaster. He will introduce this statement as a special order and insert it into the Congressional Record next week. Fortunately, we have the opportunity to debut it first on the Campaign for Liberty blog. It reads as follows:

I have, for the past 35 years, expressed my grave concern for the future of America. The course we have taken over the past century has threatened our liberties, security and prosperity. In spite of these long-held concerns, I have days—growing more frequent all the time—when I’m convinced the time is now upon us that some Big Events are about to occur. These fast-approaching events will not go unnoticed. They will affect all of us. They will not be limited to just some areas of our country. The world economy and political system will share in the chaos about to be unleashed.

Though the world has long suffered from the senselessness of wars that should have been avoided, my greatest fear is that the course on which we find ourselves will bring even greater conflict and economic suffering to the innocent people of the world—unless we quickly change our ways.

America, with her traditions of free markets and property rights, led the way toward great wealth and progress throughout the world as well as at home. Since we have lost our confidence in the principles of liberty, self reliance, hard work and frugality, and instead took on empire building, financed through inflation and debt, all this has changed. This is indeed frightening and an historic event.

The problem we face is not new in history. Authoritarianism has been around a long time. For centuries, inflation and debt have been used by tyrants to hold power, promote aggression, and provide “bread and circuses” for the people. The notion that a country can afford “guns and butter” with no significant penalty existed even before the 1960s when it became a popular slogan. It was then, though, we were told the Vietnam War and a massive expansion of the welfare state were not problems. The seventies proved that assumption wrong.

Today things are different from even ancient times or the 1970s. There is something to the argument that we are now a global economy. The world has more people and is more integrated due to modern technology, communications, and travel. If modern technology had been used to promote the ideas of liberty, free markets, sound money and trade, it would have ushered in a new golden age—a globalism we could accept.

Instead, the wealth and freedom we now enjoy are shrinking and rest upon a fragile philosophic infrastructure. It is not unlike the levies and bridges in our own country that our system of war and welfare has caused us to ignore.

I’m fearful that my concerns have been legitimate and may even be worse than I first thought. They are now at our doorstep. Time is short for making a course correction before this grand experiment in liberty goes into deep hibernation.

There are reasons to believe this coming crisis is different and bigger than the world has ever experienced. Instead of using globalism in a positive fashion, it’s been used to globalize all of the mistakes of the politicians, bureaucrats and central bankers.

Being an unchallenged sole superpower was never accepted by us with a sense of humility and respect. Our arrogance and aggressiveness have been used to promote a world empire backed by the most powerful army of history. This type of globalist intervention creates problems for all citizens of the world and fails to contribute to the well-being of the world’s populations. Just think how our personal liberties have been trashed here at home in the last decade.

The financial crisis, still in its early stages, is apparent to everyone: gasoline prices over $4 a gallon; skyrocketing education and medical-care costs; the collapse of the housing bubble; the bursting of the NASDAQ bubble; stockmarkets plunging; unemployment rising;, massive underemployment; excessive government debt; and unmanageable personal debt. Little doubt exists as to whether we’ll get stagflation. The question that will soon be asked is: When will the stagflation become an inflationary depression?

There are various reasons that the world economy has been globalized and the problems we face are worldwide. We cannot understand what we’re facing without understanding fiat money and the long-developing dollar bubble.

There were several stages. From the inception of the Federal Reserve System in 1913 to 1933, the Central Bank established itself as the official dollar manager. By 1933, Americans could no longer own gold, thus removing restraint on the Federal Reserve to inflate for war and welfare.

By 1945, further restraints were removed by creating the Bretton-Woods Monetary System making the dollar the reserve currency of the world. This system lasted up until 1971. During the period between 1945 and 1971, some restraints on the Fed remained in place. Foreigners, but not Americans, could convert dollars to gold at $35 an ounce. Due to the excessive dollars being created, that system came to an end in 1971.

It’s the post Bretton-Woods system that was responsible for globalizing inflation and markets and for generating a gigantic worldwide dollar bubble. That bubble is now bursting, and we’re seeing what it’s like to suffer the consequences of the many previous economic errors.

Ironically in these past 35 years, we have benefited from this very flawed system. Because the world accepted dollars as if they were gold, we only had to counterfeit more dollars, spend them overseas (indirectly encouraging our jobs to go overseas as well) and enjoy unearned prosperity. Those who took our dollars and gave us goods and services were only too anxious to loan those dollars back to us. This allowed us to export our inflation and delay the consequences we now are starting to see.

But it was never destined to last, and now we have to pay the piper. Our huge foreign debt must be paid or liquidated. Our entitlements are coming due just as the world has become more reluctant to hold dollars. The consequence of that decision is price inflation in this country—and that’s what we are witnessing today. Already price inflation overseas is even higher than here at home as a consequence of foreign central bank’s willingness to monetize our debt.

Printing dollars over long periods of time may not immediately push prices up–yet in time it always does. Now we’re seeing catch-up for past inflating of the monetary supply. As bad as it is today with $4 a gallon gasoline, this is just the beginning. It’s a gross distraction to hound away at “drill, drill, drill” as a solution to the dollar crisis and high gasoline prices. Its okay to let the market increase supplies and drill, but that issue is a gross distraction from the sins of deficits and Federal Reserve monetary shenanigans.

This bubble is different and bigger for another reason. The central banks of the world secretly collude to centrally plan the world economy. I’m convinced that agreements among central banks to “monetize” U.S. debt these past 15 years have existed, although secretly and out of the reach of any oversight of anyone—especially the U.S. Congress that doesn’t care, or just flat doesn’t understand. As this “gift” to us comes to an end, our problems worsen. The central banks and the various governments are very powerful, but eventually the markets overwhelm when the people who get stuck holding the bag (of bad dollars) catch on and spend the dollars into the economy with emotional zeal, thus igniting inflationary fever.

This time—since there are so many dollars and so many countries involved—the Fed has been able to “paper” over every approaching crisis for the past 15 years, especially with Alan Greenspan as Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board, which has allowed the bubble to become history’s greatest.

The mistakes made with excessive credit at artificially low rates are huge, and the market is demanding a correction. This involves excessive debt, misdirected investments, over-investments, and all the other problems caused by the government when spending the money they should never have had. Foreign militarism, welfare handouts and $80 trillion entitlement promises are all coming to an end. We don’t have the money or the wealth-creating capacity to catch up and care for all the needs that now exist because we rejected the market economy, sound money, self reliance and the principles of liberty.

Since the correction of all this misallocation of resources is necessary and must come, one can look for some good that may come as this “Big Even” unfolds.

There are two choices that people can make. The one choice that is unavailable to us is to limp along with the status quo and prop up the system with more debt, inflation and lies. That won’t happen.

One of the two choices, and the one chosen so often by government in the past is that of rejecting the principles of liberty and resorting to even bigger and more authoritarian government. Some argue that giving dictatorial powers to the President, just as we have allowed him to run the American empire, is what we should do. That’s the great danger, and in this post-911 atmosphere, too many Americans are seeking safety over freedom. We have already lost too many of our personal liberties already. Real fear of economic collapse could prompt central planners to act to such a degree that the New Deal of the 30’s might look like Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence.

The more the government is allowed to do in taking over and running the economy, the deeper the depression gets and the longer it lasts. That was the story of the 30ss and the early 40s, and the same mistakes are likely to be made again if we do not wake up.

But the good news is that it need not be so bad if we do the right thing. I saw “Something Big” happening in the past 18 months on the campaign trail. I was encouraged that we are capable of waking up and doing the right thing. I have literally met thousands of high school and college kids who are quite willing to accept the challenge and responsibility of a free society and reject the cradle-to-grave welfare that is promised them by so many do-good politicians.

If more hear the message of liberty, more will join in this effort. The failure of our foreign policy, welfare system, and monetary policies and virtually all government solutions are so readily apparent, it doesn’t take that much convincing. But the positive message of how freedom works and why it’s possible is what is urgently needed.

One of the best parts of accepting self reliance in a free society is that true personal satisfaction with one’s own life can be achieved. This doesn’t happen when the government assumes the role of guardian, parent or provider, because it eliminates a sense of pride. But the real problem is the government can’t provide the safety and economic security that it claims. The so-called good that government claims it can deliver is always achieved at the expense of someone else’s freedom. It’s a failed system and the young people know it.

Restoring a free society doesn’t eliminate the need to get our house in order and to pay for the extravagant spending. But the pain would not be long-lasting if we did the right things, and best of all the empire would have to end for financial reasons. Our wars would stop, the attack on civil liberties would cease, and prosperity would return. The choices are clear: it shouldn’t be difficult, but the big event now unfolding gives us a great opportunity to reverse the tide and resume the truly great American Revolution started in 1776. Opportunity knocks in spite of the urgency and the dangers we face.

Let’s make “Something Big is Happening” be the discovery that freedom works and is popular and the big economic and political event we’re witnessing is a blessing in disguise.

2008-06-05T22:05:00.000-04:00

The famed nipple shot!

New Tat...Eye of Seth

2008-04-16T15:44:00.002-04:00

I just got an Eye of Seth done to compliment my Eye of Ra tattoo on my chest.

To those that don't know about being tattooed, it hurts. On the chest it hurts in a very unique way. Sometimes the vibration of the needle makes one's toe vibrate, sometimes the chin, sometimes one can feel it in their fingers. It's an altogether unique experience.

कूल सीते

2008-03-31T21:01:00.001-04:00

Cool site
http://s1.gladiatus.us/game/c.php?uid=23974

What's Happening to my sky?

2008-03-02T08:43:00.003-05:00

Now I'm not a pilot, nor a meteorologist. This morning while I was out walking the boy, I looked up. I saw some things that probably shouldn't be there. I also saw some things that should have been there.

I saw some contrails and I saw some things that looked like they were supposed to be contrails, but they weren't. I took some pictures of both of them. I've noticed these before but never took any photos. On some mornings I've seen my sky look like a grid pattern.

You decide what you think.

This is a normal contrail. The plane making it was at around the same altitude as the rest of the airplanes in this series.

The second photo is another contrail. Notice that a contrail dissipates soon after the plane flies off. It looks like a tail, but one that stays about the same length.

The next few photos show some contrail like phenomena, but they stretch across the sky for miles and miles.

I also shot a short video of two planes spraying or creating these trails.

2008-02-26T14:50:00.001-05:00

Here's a picture of the boy dog Xerxes. He's a looker, I tell ya.

Some music for the enlightened....

2008-02-10T23:27:00.001-05:00

Odd craft??

2008-01-15T16:40:00.002-05:00

2008-01-13T09:14:00.000-05:00

www.zeitgestmovie.com

You'll be amazed at what it says.

Eye of Ra and Anubis Head Tattoos

2007-11-25T09:54:00.000-05:00

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Tattoos!!!! Woohoo!

Yup I've got a few now and I'm wanting more and more. They are addictive!

Here's some pics...hope you enjoy!

Both done by Morgan

Death Star Super Lazer

2007-09-03T20:37:00.000-04:00

Now that I've gotten your attention, I'd like to apologize for not writing that often. I'll come back to it soon. I promise.

A couple of videos for the masses...

2007-09-03T20:33:00.000-04:00

A few days down the road

2007-04-17T21:23:00.000-04:00

A few days down the road and I feel old sometimes. I have grown to like the chill in the morning air, the stars in the cloudless sky and the sounds of quiet. There are days when I don't even listen to music as I drive. For days at a time actually. I know I'm getting old when that happens.

I know I'm getting old when I long for just the touch of another's hand or a warm embrace from a friend, both of which make me feel alive. I know I'm getting old when I look at those around me and I see them aging, when I feel with my knees and ankles that the rain is coming, and when I make excuses for my aches and pains. I know I'm a few days down the road.

I still fantasize that I can regain the physical condition of my youth, but have yet to realize that dream. I don't have the drive anymore. It's more important to me that the laundry be done, the dogs walked, the cat fed and the lights aren't on when I leave in the morning. Where has time gone?

A few days down the road and my eyes aren't as strong as they used to be, my hands aren't as steady and my legs not so strong. The taste of cold water is more refreshing to me than a beer, the warmth of the shower penetrates me to the bone and the sun sears my eyes. And yet I drive further, I drive a few days down the road.

Silly little blog....

2007-01-20T22:01:00.000-05:00

sorry, I was boiling green beans in the second batch of broth (because one is never enough) and forgot about them. I'd have started a horrible green bean fire. It could have been worse than the hindenburg...Oh the humanity. But lucky for humanity I was able to make a quick leap off my fat as$ and turn off the stove. Yes, again I am a hero. They should make a TV show out of my life. It would be called Mundane and the Ordinary-subtitled Living with the Pharaohs.

The best part of the show would be the Pup-arazzi always following the real stars...oh the scandals..."Did you see the way Gaia looked at that other bitch?" Oh my! And Xerxes, he walks around so brazenly...(and all the alternative lifestyle hounds would be saying.."Did you see that? He looks like a horse!" or "He could be my D0minant male anytime!!!!"

But the old women would feel sorry for our hapless hero, who stands brave in the face of countersurfing danger-and buckles down and steam cleans up the remains of yesterday's and last week's gourmet dinners. They would pity him and email in cleaning hints and recipes. Young ladies would fall in love with our bumbling protaganist-all to their chagrin. For it is not the ladies he would share his bed with, no, it is young men-much like himself. Young men that would walk the perilous path of pet partnership, young hot men who would much rather snuggle with another and share the hot sweaty passion of the "love that dare not speak it's name." Oh Scandal. Oh Scandal why must you ring so true? Is this not love I see before me? Or it is and passion? Where could those intimate moments have gone?

Somewhere between the countersurfing canine self-catering and the feline felicity our hero lost his capacity to love another human being. Oh say it isn't so. Please no. The tabloids and dime store novels ring true, even today. Even by today's standards. There will be no more Tom Cruises, only Doogie Hausers, and Danny Aiellos. Everyone will be out, and everyone will be outed. Sad sad truth of life and love. And the old women sobbed and dabbed their tears with kleenex and then changed the channel to hear the inspiring words of Oprah.

And so it ends.

9 months is a long time, but it's not

2006-12-01T19:16:00.000-05:00

I'm tired, my eyes are in pain and I've got a headache. The tv is on in the background, I'm wearing dirty work clothes and my pits are stinky. There are two dogs and a cat behind me and I'm starting a blog.

9 months ago I posted my St. Patricks day blog. I've recieved various responses to it, but nary a comment. I wish I had something enlightening to say but I don't. Perhaps there is a word or two that will issue forth and strike a chord with someone in some place.

Since I don't know what to say I'll talk about television commercials for a minute. I love the Geico commercial that shows the caveman in the airport, he sees the Geico ad on the airport wall, and starts to look very pleased with himself, yet also a bit shy about it. I think this is one of the best commercials I've seen for Geico. The caveman route had me confused at first though. But it's grown on me.

I'm really appreciative of the agency that has been putting the Geico ads together for the last few years. The Gecko is one of my all time favorite spokes-animals. To give him a British accent makes it so much more tolerable. After all afixxing a British accent to anything automatically lends credibility. I'm not sure why that is so. But would you rather your neurosurgeon have a British accent or a Texas Drawl?

"Way-ull, ya see that there dark sumbich in that MRI scan, that there is a fibrous cyst that is applying pressure to the medulla oblongata and the way it's growin' way-ull let's just say it's fixin' to spread to this here optic nerve and you ain't gonna be seein' much if that li'l of a tumor has it's way."

Oh yeah, I want you to cut open my head. Please do it now.

But a British accent, he could tell you anything and you'd believe it. "Quite roight, sir. This oddly shaped mass is growing at an alarming rate. Forthwith I think we should expedite the excision and get on with it."

I don't understand what you just said, but please, please keep talking.

So yeah, I'm a punk for not blogging. But I think I'll do it more often.