Guess what time it is...

It's Monday, October 14th. It has come to the point in the year when we bash of Chris Columbus. This is what Columbus did...

1. He did not discover America, neither did the Vikings or Native Americans. America was discovered tens of thousands of years ago by hunter gatherers from the Asian continent. We don't know exactly where they came from but they did spawn the great civilizations that would eventually populate North and South America.

2. He did not start slavery in the Americas. Spain already had slaves from the African continent 500 years, at least, before Columbus was born. It was a natural extension of an already existing institution. The Dutch, British, French and Spanish all had a hand in the African-American slave trade. You can't blame one man for the sins of a whole continent.

3. Columbus did not discover a direct route to Asia. While his mission was a failure, he did find two new continents to explore, yes, and to exploit. It was generations of men who followed that led to the European expansion.

We should really leave the dead man alone. Columbus Day is just a holiday in October to give the banks and federal employees a day off. Deal with it!

What did Columbus do? Why, he sailed the ocean blue in 1492...

Division

Everyone talks about division. It’s a fact of our current human condition. We love to divide individuals into groups with similar characteristics. We conveniently ignore that we are all the same species and that is the most important factor we share. It does not matter if you are white, black, or yellow. It means little if you are Anglo-American, Afro-American, Sino-American or any other hyphenated description you want to invent. You would only be different if you were the “Man from Mars” in Blondie’s Rapture. It makes little difference if you are Christian, Jew, Muslim, atheist, pagan or worshiper of the Great Individual Raindrop. Why does it matter? All it does is separate us! I am sick of gay, lesbian, bisexual and x/y chromosome confusion syndrome.  Of course, this would not be complete without normal, abnormal, crazy, “different,” or strange. Do we really have to continue this?

Of course, if you are an American, it all started when “all Men are created equal” was put to paper.  Are we illiterate enough to not understand what that means? Well for those who don’t know, the Enlightenment use of the term Man or Men refers to the human species or Homo sapiens. It did not mean the male of the species. The Founding Fathers had a vision and knew what they were doing. They were planning ahead. Jefferson believed it! He knew that the time was not right to fully force the belief of equality for all. It took the Civil War to knock down a barrier that kept slaves from being equal to their masters. It took Women’s Suffrage to remove the barrier that kept women from being equal to men. It took nearly five decades for the full recognition that all humans are equal.

 Yes, we are still having a few issues. The new issues are not easily discernible. Gender identity issues come to mind. You can no more tell the difference between gay and straight than you can tell the difference in German and Austrian. You can’t tell by looks. You can’t tell by language. You can’t even tell by their family name. So really, what difference does it make? NONE! You treat the individual as an individual and carry on. Why are we really concerned? Yes, I am ignoring the social conventions about differences, but those aren't real! They are something we made up. A proof in “made up” is the equality of animals to Man. No matter how you put it, there is and always will be a difference.

Okay, I’m a dreamer. What can I say? We will eventually get to a point in our existence that division is no longer desirable. I can tell you exactly when that is going to happen. It will happen the day we play out the opening ten minutes of The Day the Earth Stood Still. That monumental event will remove any division within the human species. We will finally be knocked off our individual pedestals and stand as one species on Earth.  Your neighbor of a different religion, ethnic background, and sexual orientation will be standing next to you and you both will understand there is no division.

VA comments on shutdown

You have seen how the politicians have pointed fingers at those they think is to blame for the government shutdown. The Veterans Administration has done the same. The VA's website blames Congress. I believe it is inappropriate for a government agency to comment on who's to blame for political made on the hill. It is not the place of any government agency to officially blame any agency.

VA Appropriations Lapse Plan

Dear Starbucks...

No Starbucks coffee shall pass through my lips. I refuse to allow myself to be uncomfortable just so others can be comfortable. I shall honor your request and not bring a gun into Starbucks. Sorry, but that means I won't be coming in either.

Need a crazed serial killer?

I have been watching Criminal Minds for about a year and I'm starting to get caught with episodes. This morning I caught the last ten minutes of "Our Darkest Hour" and found Tim Curry starring as the villain. Man, I do mean villain! I have been a fan of Tim Curry's for years and first saw him in Rocky Horror Picture Show. As he gets older, Curry refines his art. He really does have a knack for the bad guys. His performance in Criminal Minds shows he has taken 'bad' to a crazier level.

"Angels, Aliens & UFOs"

For a logical thinker, it is difficult to digest some of the tripe that is produced on "film."  The heading of this post is a Ken Klein production. You have to watch this for yourself. He has appeared on Coast-to-Coast so I am immediately concerned that that connection means this video is just the kind of tripe I mentioned.

This production is broken down into segments about mysterious figures in lights and shadow, orbs with faces and other paranormal phenomena. I see nothing that cannot be explained by logical reasonable study of the natural, known world.

The first segment demonstrates the images taken and later seen when the images are reviewed. Take any photo from your collection and give it a good look. I mean a REAL good look. Do you see any shadowy figures or animals? The odds are that if you let your mind wonder a bit, you can make out shapes in trees, bushes made by the light and shadow. Trees frequently reveal faces in the leaves and branches. This sort of things are highlighted in the first segment of the video. You have to decide if you are seeing real faces or something creates by the human brain. More often than not, your mind will pick out shapes that aren't really there. This is called pattern recognition. No real mystery.

The second segment is describing the well known, well disproved spirit orbs. Fuzzy, out of focus balls floating around in photographs have been proven to be dust motes. If you zoom in on the fuzz balls, you can see faces. These faces are caused by two things, pattern recognition and light refraction. Moving fuzz balls are dust motes lifted by air currents.people make so much over common things.

The rest of the video shows examples of over active imaginations, wild guesses, and just plain bad "science." People see things all the time and recognize naturally occurring events because they have a good understanding of the world around them. Fewer people see fantastic things because they do not have a good understanding of their surroundings. These people drive me crazy

Why so big?

I'm a huge fan of science. I have always had to ask why is this what causes that. The hallmarks of a true scientist. Recently, I have been participating in a few projects at Zooniverse primarily in astronomy. Looking at all the stars and galaxies millions of light-years away makes me wonder, "Are we alone?" My answer is, "we can't be!" I mean, look at the shear volume of the universe! All those stars with sooo many planets!

Without getting in too deep of a religious discussion, why did God great such a horrendously huge place just for Man? It's mindbogglingly! I'm not so much asking the Almighty why, but I think that it is part of human nature to ask that question. I mean, we have made such a mess of this place and he gave us so much more to play in?!?! You would think that we could do what we needed to do in a star system sized universe. Why so big?

Here's an example...

 
In this picture of the Hubble Ultra Deep Field, every fuzzy spot is a galaxy. This is looking back as far as we can see with current technology. Now, try and convince me we are alone in the universe.

More Newsworthy Than the Zimmerman/Martin Affair

The news media have spent so much time on the Zimmerman trial that Americans have not been clued to more crimes that would be more newsworthy. I have a few to share. You can look them up.

• Wisconsin man found guilty of killing his three daughters. His trial started in March and he is awaiting sentencing. (Just heard about this today!)
• Dzhokhar Tsamaev was arraigned for the four deaths in Boston during the Boston Marathon. There have been a few motions and he has plead "Not Guilty." I've seen 10 minutes of coverage on this.
• Aaron Hernandez has been charged with murder and under investigation for more. Apparently, he wasn't as big a start as OJ. The news coverage suddenly dropped on this one, much like a quarterback with butter fingers.
• There have been 59 murders in Kansas City. Has no one outside of Missouri heard about this? Seems newsworthy to me. I know, the majority of victims were black males so apparently no one cares. 
• The number of homicides in Chicago has reached 200 and NONE of them have rated national coverage. In one night, two kids were killed! A whopping 80% of the victims were black and that isn't worth of national news!

Come on folks! Do you want the news or circuses? The new media is more likely to provide little in the way of REAL news. They focus on what causes the greatest tension, unrest or shock 'n awe.

There was a time in America

Oh America, America...

Paula Deen has been "fired" from major retail stores because she allegedly called someone a "Nigger" nearly 3 decades ago. Liberals were outraged!

The vice president of the National Education Association (NEA), Lily Eskelsen Garcia allegedly said that gun supporters are going to Hell. Silence from Liberals.

Lil Wayne was filmed allegedly dancing on the US flag.  According to FoxNews, Lil Wayne said the flag never touched the ground. That is not what the video shows. Again, Silence from the Liberals.

It is okay, according to liberal thinking, for a person to die in their home at the hands of a criminal. The conservatives disagree, saying one should be able to defend their home by any means necessary.

There is such a wide gap between what is considered left and right opinions. While Lil Wayne is free to express himself, it should not be done at the expense of everything that gives him that right. Ms Garcia (I really don't know if is Miss, Mrs, Ms or what) can have all the opinion she wants, but I bet she scream and hollers when the Westboro Baptist Church says homosexuals are going to Hell. Paula Deen uttered something she shouldn't have 27 years ago. She was given no chance that she could have tempered her language since then.

I am all for having differences in opinions. I am not for opinions are are totally inflexible and hurtful. Name calling and condemnation is not how adults act and do nothing but cause problems. As a nation, we need to grow thicker skins. We need to realize that all the "accept all, love all, equality all" is a fantasy. Humans are genetically engineered to notice differences and to treat differences cautiously. Just because we want to cast away our feelings, it just doesn't work. We relish in our differences! We exalt differences. Unfortunately, we still have the little biological baggage to content with. Man can work together with differences like tools in a socket set. Each piece is different, but each serve their own function and all are necessary to get a job done.

Ancient Aliens on TV

In a few posts, I have been critical of Ancient Aliens on the History Channel. I must admit that I do watch the show and look forward to new episodes. It's enjoyable and requires to ask questions about our world. However, any one watching Ancient Aliens should be cautious about some of the claims made. Do not take content at face value. It is important to do research about the topics covered. You must ask questions to fully understand what is being presented. I recently watch a show on YouTube called Ancient Aliens Debunked. This focuses on the "factual" information put forward by the producers of the show. Many of the claims on Ancient Aliens are challenged and it raises the question, "Are they for real?"

There are people who actually believe everything purported by ancient alien supporters. They believe aliens have visited Earth like others believe in God. They are just as adamant about their beliefs and any Christian. The beliefs are different yet just as valid as any other belief. In fact, they offer much more in the way of evidence that Christians are able to produce. There are thousands of photos of "flying saucers" but not one  of God. You can laugh, but it is true.

Do your own research. Have an open mind whether you are on one side or the other. You just can't call someone crazy without knowing what they are talking about.

Words of UFOlogy

When watching television programming like Ancient Aliens, and recently America's Book of Secrets, there are a few words that you need pay attention to when spoken. These select words and short phrases provide clues to the ethereal nature of UFOlogy and the proof of alien visitation on Earth.Let's get started...

"I think" 

Well, if you ever heard someone say "I think it's raining" only to look out a window and see that it wasn't, then you understand the usage of "I think." The usage of "I think" provides no evidence of truth. NONE! If you walk outside in July in Tennessee, you will think it is hot and muggy. You ave making a decision based on what you perceive as local atmospheric conditions with no empirical data. However, you can go get a thermometer and a hygrometer to measure how hot and muggy it is. Yet, you don't "know" until you measure it. Say, you are in the backyard one evening and see a curious light in the sky. If you think you are seeing a flying saucer, you are making a decision without any evidence. In fact, you are making that decision on, to plainly put it, ignorance.

Of course, it does get muddles when someone has read books, seen pictures and videos about aliens and their technology. The information being presented has to be weighed with filters to make sure the the information provided is based on fact and not what other people think. If you accept what someone else thinks without looking at their evidence, then you are doing so blindly. For instance...several years ago, the Vatican released a story that the existence of alien life does not contradict the belief in God. A comment was made on a television production that the reason the Vatican made this move was to get ahead of the information curve when the secret about the existence of life elsewhere in the universe AND it was prefaced by "I think." Was the thought based on information made available from the Pope or was the comment made with an assumption without direct evidence to why the Vatican made the announcement?

"Has to be" or "Had to be"

"I went fishing one time and I caught what had to be the biggest bass ever caught." How many times have your heard that one. Do you have a database of bass records and a measuring tape? Unless you do, you have no idea if you caught "the biggest bass ever." Of course, it makes excellent story telling. That's it. There is absolutely no proof that you did catch that huge fish. Let's say that again substituting a few words..."I was in my yard and I saw what had to be a flying saucer." Just how many flying saucers have you seen? Never seen one? It is kind of hard to determine something is a flying saucer if you have never seen one. To be fair, if you see a literal "flying saucer," it is entirely within the realm of possibility. But, wouldn't one say, it was a flying saucer instead of saying it "had to be"?

"Possible"

Any thing is possible. Any thing! However, not all things that are possible are probable. There is a possibility that a meteor is doing to crash down on my head the next time I walk out the door. Fortunately for me, the probability of that happening are very low. It is entirely possible, and probable, that life exists elsewhere in the universe. Yet, there is absolutely no evidence that life does exist beyond our solar system. It is important to understand the difference between what is possible and what is probable.

"IF...then"

It has been speculated that "if" is one of the most commonly used words in the English language. When you couple "then" with "if," you have guesses or assumptions.You will commonly hear, "If there is alien life in the universe, then they would visit Earth." Really? On what information do you base that statement? There are many factors to determine whether or not an alien race would visit. They could be more backward that we are. They could not care about Earth and the creatures living on it. So, naturally, that "If...then" statement is based on no evidential facts. That statement is based on arrogance.

"Suggests"

Finally, we hear statements like "the evidence suggests" this or that.The two words don't really go together. If the evidence is there, then it would do more than suggest. Evidence shows proof of something happening and would not suggest anything. If there were evidence of alien visitation, then there would be no need for suggestion. We would know, by default, that we have been visited by aliens.

I know. This topic is one for debate. Some people use words like "I think" and use "if...then" statements to convince others of their beliefs. Somethings you can take for granted because of knowledgeable personal experience. Other things we can take at face value because of documented evidence. Somethings, like alien spacecraft visiting us, takes a little more evidence than what can be suggested to.

Keep looking up. I do!


The photo is copyrighted material from The Guardian newspaper.

Martyrs don't run

Mr Snowden,

We appreciate your sharing the information about the IRS using it's resources to pry into American lives. However, it is time for you to come home. The role of a martyr means that you have to sacrifice yourself. You've done your deed. Now, you must come home and face judgement. You wanted to show your bravery  by whistle blowing. Martyrs don't run. Martyrs aren't cowards.

If you want to dance, you must pay for the music.

Criminals?

I found this interesting and wanted to share.

We all have opinions about politicians. To some, they work diligently for their constituents and, in reality, do. Others feel that politicians are a bit shady, taking kickbacks and gifts for pet projects, and, in reality, do. Some believe politicians are corrupt money makers who think only for themselves and not for the public trust. In reality, that is the way some politicians are. I think there are in a broad spectrum from honest, hard working people to lazy, "what's in it for me" politicians. Politicians are human just like everyone else. You can't fault them for that.

However, if any of the information above is true (I didn't not go digging around to verify the information), then the people on that list should not be in public office. There is something obviously 'shady' about politicians that have been "charged" and/or convicted of a crime. Not just convictions, but had warrants taken out and the court process entered. "Where's there's smoke..." IF Pat Ahumada has been "arrested three times" for DUI then there is something out of whack. Was he DUI? The citizens of Brownsville should step back and look at who they elect as Mayor. Richard Corkery? Child pornography (I did look into this one. Google him!)? Should I say more about this?

Again, I am NOT saying that any of the information is correct. I am merely presenting the information. I do urge that ALL CITIZENS look at your politicians and see if they are who you want doing your business. It doesn't matter whether you are a Republican, Democrat, or from the Flower Picker Party, be responsible and vote for politicians who really care and are not criminals.

I am not a member of Gunowners Against Illegal Mayors or the Second Amendment Foundation. However, I do support the Second Amendment as part of my rights as an American guaranteed by the Founding Fathers.

Tennesseans at war

The first European to travel through what would become Tennessee was Hernando de Soto in 1540. Tennessee played a key roll in the defeat of the British during the Revolutionary War when a thousand volunteers crossed the Smoky Mountains to fight at King's Mountain, South Carolina. Tennesseans volunteered again to marched to New Orleans to save it from the British in 1815. Later during the Texas Revolution in 1836, several noted Tennesseans, David Crockett and Sam Houston, stood with Texans at the Alamo. During the Civil War, Tennessee provided more troops that any state, both North and South. Some of the most costly battles in terms of the human toll were fought in Tennessee. Tennessee hosted the most military engagements during the Civil War than another state west of the Appalachian Mountains. The First Regiment of Tennessee was the most decorated state unit during the Spanish-American War.

During the 20th Century, a Tennessean became the most decorated soldier of World War I. Alvin York was awarded The Congressional Medal of Honor and the Distinguished Service Cross which require extreme circumstances of gallantry, courage and sacrifice. York was honored for gallantry by France, Italy and Montenegro. During World War II and beyond, Tennesseans served in distinction and with gallantry. In 1941 during the "Tennessee Maneuvers," George S Patton led troops in one of the largest training maneuvers held on U.S. soil in the 20th Century. Tennesseans are serving in Afghanistan, Kuwait and on the Great Horn of Africa.

All states are represented by their brave men and women who left their homes to fight in combat. All Americans owe a debt of gratitude to those who served. Tennessee is singular in that it is my home.

Bill Gates, Kiss my ASS!

Microsoft Irks Entire Military Community With Xbox One

This is the biggest crock I have ever seen! You can fight for Microsoft's right to exist, but you can't play on our new XBOX One. They better back up on this one!!

Hair?

OMG! This exactly how I feel every time I see one of those commercials advertising hair removal products featuring men. Especially, when they are shown shaving their legs and forearms. Then, there are those who show women who prefer men with hair 'here' and 'there.' So, let her want hair 'here' and 'there,' but what she wants isn't what she should get! I grew up with the idea that 'true beauty is on the inside.' It is very apparent that men should bow to the likes of their would be mates. Dude, if you shave your legs for her now, you are going to be locking a collar around your neck. Have some self-respect and refuse.

Being a man is about standing on your two feet. I will include gay men in this too. There is no way a man should change his body for another person. It does not matter if it is shaving your chest, getting piercings or tattoos. If you want to shave your chest, go for it! If you want a tattoo, go for it! If someone really loves you, they will not ask you or, worst, require you to shave. If you do like having day old stubble on your legs, go for it.

DO NOT give away your manhood! What if she asks you to cut your nuts off???

Haul up Ole Glory

Today is Flag Day! If you got it, flaunt it!!

Google Calender FAIL

For years Microsoft has pretty much ran the calendar world with Outlook. Businesses have come to depend on it. Google sneaks in with a suite of web based tools to challenge Office. At first, Microsoft and Google worked well together until Google decided to throw in the proverbial monkey wrench. You were about to share your Google Calendar with Outlook as simply as copy and paste for free. Now Google has their own suite of business tools and slap, bang, Bob's your uncle, it's costs money. Unless you want to pay Google, you can no longer sync your Google calendar with Outlook.

For some people, like me, I don't have a business but have been using Microsoft Outlook for so long, we have gotten very, very comfortable with it. It has become like your favorite hammer or chair. You just simply have to have it. No other calender programs provides the same set up as Outlook. I love it. Thunderbird fails because it's arrangement does not provide for a starting point like "Outlook Today." Evolution is slowly, painfully so, to Windows. It does provide some similarities to Outlook, but they are not the same. I look at it like this...if you love red delicious apples and have to eat a granny smiths. VMware has Zimbra up and coming, but like Google it's cloud based. I'm not sure about the cloud yet.

My solution to how to get Google and Outlook to play together is awkward, but not prohibitively so. I have made my Google Calender an RSS feed which I can pick up with Outlook. Then, I just copy the information. If there's a will, right? As I said, it isn't a easy as syncing your Gmail with Outlook but it works until something comers along.



Duh, you know the products mentioned about and who owns them.

Curse the Snake

A few caveats before I get into this.

1. I lived a great deal of my childhood years either living on the country or at my grandparents farm;
2.. I grew up hunting and fishing. I know my animals;
3. I have read the Bible and I am a fundamentally, conservative Christian.

Why do we hate snakes? I have seen people swerve on the road to run over a snake. Not just poisonous snakes, like rattlesnakes or copperheads, but the 'beneficial' snakes like king snakes and chicken snakes. We go out of our way to miss skunks, deer buzzards and other animals, yet the snake is a target. People get axes and hoes and lop off the heads of snakes they find in their yards, all snakes. I get annoyed when people tell stories of the snakes the kill in the yard and they exclaim they didn't know what kind it was. Sounds like ignorance. Outdoors men, who should know their snakes, are not immune to this ignorance.

Is this mania because of the Bible? Genesis gives the account of how the Serpent lured Eve to taste the forbidden fruit. Yes, God told the Serpent that people and animals will fear snakes. Does that mean we have to kill every snake we have the opportunity to kill? My take on this is...God instilled the fear in snakes to protect us from the beguiling color and pattern on snakes. The warning is to be cautious of beauty and high promises. That is what the Serpent promised Eve! There was even a gentle truth wrapped up in the lie. The Serpent said, "Ye will not surely die." Eve tasted the fruit and did not "die," physically. Be cautious is the meaning of the expulsion from Eden.

Snakes, like some of the other animals in the world are misunderstood. Some are very poisonous, while others give a nasty bite that hurts and get infected. Snakes have a poison for the purpose of obtaining food. It is no different than fearing sharks because they have big teeth (I stay out of murky over the knee seawater.). Other snakes have powerful constricting muscles to strangle their prey. There is no need for any human to be afraid of non-poisonous snakes. They will bite, but everything else harmful is your fear. The the majority of poisonous snakes in the United States can kill a human. These deaths are caused by improper or no medical treatment. Yeah, the poison hurts, causing swelling, infections and other complications. Terrible effects for sure but not deadly.

When will I kill a snake? I will kill a snake when it can't be helped, such as on the highway. I will not go out of my way to kill one. As a general rule, I do not kill non-poisonous snakes. The situation would be dire. I can tell the difference. If I am out hunting or fishing, I will not kill a poisonous snake as long as they go there way and are not danger to me. I will kill a poisonous snake in my yard where it threatens my family or my pets. I let black racers race away in through my yard. There is no reason to kill any animal you are not going to eat or is not causing a threat. We don't kill foxes in the yard unless they are after the chickens. They can be ran off easily.

The Bible's story of Adam and Eve being kicked out of the Garden of Eden is not a cart blanche to kill snakes. Yet, many use that as an excuse. I'm not Jewish so I do not know if snakes are Kosher (I really doubt they are). That doesn't mean that because you can't eat it means should kill it. Being afraid of snakes is not much of an excuse in my book. If you see a snake stay away from it. Killing shows a weakness on your part (LOL). If you live in an area where snakes are common, educate yourself. If not, you could be killing a natural mouse exterminator. Think about what you are doing before you do it. Easy on the knee jerks.

"The belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God."

With the latest news regarding the rape of American freedoms, Now, we have Verizon-gate  The breaking of the secret court order demanding Verizon to turn over cell phone records sounds shocking. As far as I know, all major wireless communications providers have been ordered to supply the government with data from their users. So, if you are a Verizon customer, don't feel you are being picked on. Yet, that doesn't make anyone feel better. No one wants the government intruding into our daily lives. After all, what we do is our business. Right?

The list of what you can't do and what the government can do has grown over the last 25 years. Terrifyingly so since 2001. The government can use infrared cameras to inside your house for suspicious activity (there are some restrictions). You cannot expect privacy in your yard IF the police are in a helicopter or, recently, drones. In some states, you can no longer own certain firearms. The government tells your kids what to wear to school and what they say (Don't let you kids talk about the positives of gun ownership.) even how they act (No playing "good guy, bad guy.") The government requires you to pay for a service you don't want or don't need. There are other things, but these are the ones that come to mind. 

The immortal words of JFK have been turned on us. In his inaugural speech, Kennedy said, "And yet the same revolutionary beliefs for which our forebears fought are still at issue around the globe - the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God." Americans have come to believe that our rights are given and taken away by the government. In the last 50 years, our rights have been turned on their ears. It's not an Obama thing. It's not a Democrat thing. It's become an American thing. WE MUST CHANGE THIS!!!

America is in a Mental Health Crisis!! DUH!!

Mr Obama hit the nail on the head when he said that the United States is in a mental health crisis. Unfortunately, there are more people needing mental health on the liberal side of the fence than on the conservative side. Loonies are on all sides of the political arena. I know that isn't fair. I'm not really looking to be fair, politically, but I am going to point out a few things that should have made the President realize what he said and someone in the audience should have shouted, "Duh!" I have a few instances to point out.

When people say, "I hear voices," that is a clue that something isn't right somewhere. We all hear, or think we hear, things all the time. That's a normal genetic awareness in survival. However, when an individual tells you that the government is sending microwave messages directly into your brain and he can't decode it until he sleeps, there's a problem. If one has to change their lifestyle to avoid being "texted" then one needs help. There are quit a few people in the US that have this problem but do not seek help because the medical community is 'in' on it.

I really guess we are uber-paranoids. I'm not talking about the normal, run-of-the-mill paranoia that we all have. This is different. People get polarized license plate covers because they don't want the traffic cameras to tagged their plates. I personally know an individual who keeps his cellphone off until he/she wants to make a call. If you want to call him/she, you are out of luck because the phone is not turned on. Do you own a GPS receiver in your car like a Garmin or TomTom? A few people don't because the government can track their locations using some kind of feedback system. Gun registration is a big topic, but some take it to extreme. Some of these folks need help. People with severe paranoia kill other people. It's a known fact.

The National Geographic Channel has a show called "Taboo."  Watch it if you get a chance. Some are in need of mental help assistance. A woman who believes she needs to be handicapped. She has asked a doctor to handicap her so she can be complete. She has a handicapped parking placard. People who believe their dog is human. Furries! People dress up in animal costumes and do things dog do (sniffing butts, etc.). Furries have also been featured on CBS' CSI. The guy that treats balloons like humans. The list goes on. These are the ones that stick in my mind.

These people have problems. Some serious to where they effect their families. Yes, I'll say it again, "These people have problems." I make no apologies. We need to look at aberrational behavior with a different light than just accept it. We are ignoring the fact that there are people who are just, well, crazy!  There is nothing normal about wanting to have the nerves in your lower body severed so you can be handicapped. This should be disdained for what it is. Sex change operations? Yep, people believing their are a man in a woman's body or vice versa are crazy. They need help. We should not be accepting of this behavior.

Naturally, there are degrees. Worrying about the government taking away our guns is a real danger. It is happening in some states monthly. Seeing ghosts? Thinking one sees a ghost now and again is not too far off center. When someone sits down with them and has dinner, there is an issue. UFOs? Sure we all see things in the sky from time to time that we cannot explain. When someone points out a common place, logical explanation for something and you still believe in the ethereal explanation, there is a problem.

We need to stop accepting someone as being 'odd.' Mental illness can destroy a family and lives if we don't look at 'craziness' as what it is. We laugh. We poke fun. We ignore the real issue. Help people who need it. Don't ignore it. Don't say, "each to his own." Permissiveness does more harm than good. Yes, Mr President, like Houston, we have a problem.

Giving Away Our Social Benefits

Fox News ran a story last night (June 2, 2013) about a Cuban refugee in Florida who came to the US 20 years ago and social security ever since. Wait a minute? How can you be eligible for social security and not work a day? Something is missing. Illegal aliens* getting social security is not some half cocked scare tactic by racist white people. It's a fact! What I found particularly disturbing is that this illegal alien is working to convince other illegal aliens to get on social security. Florida was wanting to expand their public programs by $1 billion using FEDERAL money!! Not, "needing to" but "wanting to." Who's gonna pay for it?

In the same news story, Fox News reported that in Florida, you can use Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards at casinos and strip clubs. Strip clubs? I did some checking. You can use your EBT cards in liquor store in Michigan and California. There is a place called "99 Cent Plus Wine & Beer" in Mesa, Arizona. If you have an EBT and are in Ft Wayne, Indiana, you can shop at "Grillmaster Choice Meats, Inc." If you are traveling with your RV or camper, you can stop by at the "Space Station" RV park in Beatty, Nevada or at "Fabulous Freddy's Car Wash" in Vegas. And, to be fair, I did not see one casino listed. A household does not need to shop at a liquor store. They definitely don't need to be shopping at strip clubs. Shopping for 'choice meats?" That's questionable. Hopefully, they sell some not-so choice foods as well.

If you are on a social subsistence program, you do not need to be going to liquor stores, strip clubs or casinos! Especially, if you have kids to take care of and a certain amount of your benefits belongs to them. THIS IS FREAKING RIDICULOUS! Social programs are available as a last resort and are not designed to put individuals or families in a better lifestyle. Are you are a single mom with two kids and just lost your job? Sure, get social benefits until you can get a new job and move on. Most states will give you money for a babysitter while you look for a new job. Please don't use the system for 5-10 years! Don't misunderstand me. I'm not hating on "normal" people who get down on their luck. But, let's be reasonable.

Tell me what the problem is and why people should be allowed to be on social security when they have not paid one cent into the system. When people ask why there is no money in the social security system, now you can give them an example of why social security system is broke. The welfare system is getting silly ridiculous.



* Cuban refugees are technically illegal aliens. Due to political "necessity" they were given sanctuary. They did have to apply for citizenship. It was not given "just because."

OMG! Wal-Mart Racist!!

We all talk about how bad Wal-Mart is. It's actually a favorite topic along with the weather, the 'how are you's and the like. There are good things and bad things about Wal-Mart, just like another business. This I noticed today...

We were shopping at the Wal-Mart in Paris, TN and I noticed something that stuck me funny. I'm sure you noticed the ethnic foods all lumped together. I'm sure it is, and my wife assured me it was so, for convenience. Well, look at it another way. Ethnic foods are organized by the general grouping by what we call 'race.' The Kosher food in one section. The Mexican/Hispanic food is in one section. The Asian food is in one section. Isn't that food separated by race? Doesn't that make Wal-mart racist to organize food to suit the taste of specific ethnic background? It's also insulting. Are Asians unable to find their ethnic food organized along general merchandising sections? I know that the re-fried beans are made from frijoles. I mean, people look for beans in the bean aisle. If you are looking for gefilte fish, wouldn't you look in with the tuna, salmon or mackerel?

I know Wal-Mart would never do anything to insult an ethnic group. I'm not saying that Wal-Mart is really racist. It just appears that way in an underlying, subconscious level. Other businesses do the same thing. Yet, does that make it right? You decide.

But, I've got a pair...

The latest, greatest thing from Hollywood is 3D*. I really can't get into the 3D movies. The extra dimension takes away from the story the filmmaker is trying to tell. It's distracting. I think it is down right annoying. The ideal technology is to have the flick in 3D without a requirement for special eye wear. That has been a long time coming and will continue to be a long time coming. The idea of holographic movies died out in the 80s as a dismal failure. That technology has been abandoned for the more likely technology of "beaming" the movie into your brain, not too unlike "The Box" in Batman Forever.

Of course, there is the age old dilemma for prescription glasses wearer. You either wear your prescription specs with your 3D glasses and miss part or all of the effect, or you take off your specs and only wear the 3Ds and miss the detail. Of course, if you wear contacts, there problem is eliminated. Again, a device similar to "The Box" mentioned above would solve that problem.

Here's the important part...when you go to a 3D movie, you get those nice, sharp looking Wayfarer, sunglasses knockoffs. Oh, after you PAY for them. When you leave the movie, you are tempted to take them home and take them to your next 3D movie event. When you go see your next fantastic 3D masterpiece, you are charged extra for a new pair of "Wayfarers." You pull the ones from your previous outing from your pocket and show them to the cashier. SURPRISE!! You have to buy a new pair! This continues ad nauseum. You end up being stuck with 200 pairs of 3D glasses that you have paid for but can't reuse.

Now, the kicker...When you leave the movie house, there is a nice little box for you to recycle your 3D glasses, that you paid for. They take those glasses out of the boxes, disinfect them, put them in nice little bags and SELL THEM TO YOU AGAIN!!! AND AGAIN!!! AND AGAIN!!! AND AGAIN!!!  It is entirely possible (yes, unlikely) that every time you go see a 3D movie, you are buying the same glasses over and over and over. I'm telling you it's a racket!!!

Well, besides, the deal with the glasses, I'm not too fond of 3D movies. Yeah, Jaws 3-D was way cool. It was something different. Actually, without 3D, the movie kinda sucks. 3D movies have become the norm. They lack the "wow" effect that all commonly used technology does. You give me good actors and a great story and you don't need fancy effects. Tell a story for Pete's sake!!



* 3D is nothing new. It's been around for nearly a hundred years. William Castle used 3D as a great gimmick for his campy horror films in the 50s. The technology was only 'groundbreaking' when used as novelty. The only thing I remember about Captain EO was the very beginning and it lasted under 5 minutes (sorry, so spoiler).

"Lessons of My Father"

I want to share a video this morning. It's available on YouTube. It is part of a series and you can find the rest if you want to.

Are you a father? Have you taught your kids the right way to be? This video talks about the concerns of not passing down what is important in life. When was the last time you sat down with your son and said, "This is how your granddaddy taught me to ...(you fill in the blanks)."

It doesn't matter if you agree with Nutnfancy or not. What matters is how we teach our children to live.

The Life of a Slave

"Freedom is an illusion," as the song goes. I've contemplated on that idea. Looking back of the last 50 years, I see that as much as Americans scream of being free, we aren't. It's an empty promise that we have been forced to believe has been fulfilled. If you look, you can see the degrees that freedom has been given, taken away with the illusion that they have been returned. We have become dependent on others for our lives.

After the ratification of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, Americans were the most free they have ever been. There is the exception that not all men are truly made equal. Until after the Civil War, Blacks living in the United States were slaves by most definitions. After the surrender at Appomattox. freedom was taking away from some Americans and given to others. There can be little argument that the Reconstruction deprived many Southern Americans from freedoms they had enjoyed before the war.

With the coming of the railroads, America spanned the continent. White Americans seized the opportunities to press Chinese laborers in to deep holes in the ground in which to run the tracks. There was no freedom for them. Likewise, the Mexicans became second class citizens in the region their Spanish ancestors had taken. There was no freedom for them either. The immigrants from Europe felt the harsh reality of being free in America. They were treated with contempt and forced to do jobs 'beneath' others. Black Americans were still forced to live under a thinly, veiled belief in freedom, only to be denied it's full meaning.

The Great Depression brought huge engineering works. In the Tennessee River valley, the government forced thousands of families away from their homes so dams could be built. Generations of farming families were forced to relocate, some against their will, into cities or to unfamiliar farm land. The freedom won by their ancestors at King's Mountain was taken away from the very government it created.

Now, we have the internet. We just can't live without it. We are forced by the government to pay for garbage collection that we do not want. The money saved in Social Security accounts is being used by the government as a carte blanche to fund wars, while the money put away for retirements is being given to those who have not earned it. The rights of States noted so importantly in the Constitution have been replaced with the larger, non-localized federal bureaucracy that has lost touch with the individual. The government is taking land under the guise of immanent domain for the general good. You can't drill for water on  your own land.

We are no longer free men. We have become slaves to our government. The country that has given us freedom from one tyrannical government for another. We have become slaves.

Take a moment at 12:01

Today is Memorial Day in the United States. Unfortunately, Memorial Day has become the heralding of the summer season. It is the first party day of summer. A good many of Americans where I live spend it on the rivers and lakes around the area. Some never give a thought about what Memorial Day is about.

Memorial Day is set aside as a national holiday to mourn, celebrate and to give thanks to those brave souls who died in the service of their country. It does not matter if the conflict was popular or not, these men and women took up the challenge. They volunteered, or were drafted, the did what they considered  their patriotic duty.

Today, Monday, May 27, 2013, take a moment at 12:01 pm and give a moment of silence to those men and women who gave all they had. 

I did find it interesting about some numbers of soldiers serving in Vietnam. The draft called over 2 million Americans to serve in Vietnam. An additional 8 million volunteered. Whether they were drafted or the volunteered, many returned to subsequent tours.

Love your family

We all have events in our lives that we wish we could have done differently. I know I certainly have, in spades!

A close family member has been in the hospital. My household has been visiting daily. Some visit regularly  Other close family members have visited once but not returned.

I missed opportunities in my past that I don't wish to repeat. Please, love your family and visit or talk to them regularly. A time will come that you will no longer be able to.

Anonymous

Anonymous comments are no longer accepted (or shouldn't be). No vulgar comments. They will be removed. If you post a comment sharing a link to porn or any off topic website will be deleted. Links advertising "teen" porn will be reported to the owner of blogger.com.

However, you are free to comment. LOL!

F.A.M.I.L.Y.

Recently, a family member posted this on Facebook about what the letters of the word 'family' means and that they follow it.


F-forgiving
A-affectionate
M-meaningful
I-irreplaceable 
L-loving
Y-years of laughter

I see it! I get it! However, what they failed to admit that they do not follow it. Here's an example...

A senior family member is in the hospital. This person only visits once. Using the meaning posted about family, They can take out the "affectionate" and "loving." If you have love someone, and it is possible to visit them in the hospital, you should visit. Visiting them in the hospital shows that they are "forgiving" and have affection for the sick. The sick do not hold much meaning to them because this person don't call or visit. Oh, a promise was made to come back and visit but never did. The senior family member has been replaced.

Modesty forbids me from telling what I have done.

The proof is in the pudding about how you feel about family. No, no one is perfect. Still! Don't boast about something you don't do.

Free Choice

No private organization should be forced or coerced into changing their beliefs. Furthermore, no organization should change it's beliefs based on public opinion. The Supreme Court ruled in Boy Scouts of America vs Dale that private organizations can have restrictive membership based on the Fist Amendment of the Constitution. In these cases, membership rules. Changes in membership of an organization is done from the inside but not from outside. Recently, the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) have changed their long standing membership restriction to non-homosexuals. This seems to be a reaction to outside groups trying to interfere in BSA business.

Several groups have kowtowed to the fist of socialist liberals besides the BSA. Outside pressure forces compliance to the socialist agenda. The Augusta National Golf Club has allowed women membership. This was only after a hail storm of criticism from women rights groups because those silly green jackets weren't given to women. Several religious organizations has changed their beliefs so that women are equally eligible for the priesthood. Once again, someone from the outside wanted in but ran into opposition from the status quo. More religious organizations made changes to allow openly homosexual individuals into the priesthood. In this case, pressure mounted from the outside forcing organizations to change. If an organization wants to make changes from the inside I have NO problem. I object to outside forces creating an atmosphere of fear and hate forcing an organization to change.

I think that one reason people dislike the Westboro Baptist Church is that they refuse to change what they believe. Conspiracies abound about Masons because they refuse to open their doors to general membership. There are still some churches that believe that homosexuality is a sin and refuse to adopt a more permissive stance. Individuals are harassed daily for their beliefs. Why? I can tell you why. The socialist agenda does not like and cannot tolerate exclusiveness. Yes! It is all about restricting the individuals right to free speech, religion and association.

To me, it would have been better for the BSA to close it's doors than cave to those outside it's membership. No group is worth having if it does not stand up for what it believes.

Mars? We were promised the Moon!

When I was growing up, I was captivated by the Apollo missions and their visitations to the Moon. It was to lead up the establishment of a base on our satellite as a jumping off point to the other planets. Movies showed us what living on the Moon would be like and how they would be built. The science fiction TV shows of the time, Space: 1999 and U.F.O., showed moon bases, where people lived and worked. At the time, I knew I would never get to go to the Moon, but I had hopes that my children would. Well...

The Moon has taken a back seat. Now, everything is focused on Mars. I have thought up a few reasons why the Moon should be colonized before there was an attempt to land Man on Mars. I'm not a planetary scientist or an astronaut so don't get hyped up if I make an error.

Obviously, the Moon is close. It is possible to reach the Moon in nine hours. The New Horizons probe made that trip. It was unmanned and it would take a manned vessel under ninety-six hours. If there was a human presence on the Moon and an emergency arose, it is possible to mount a rescue operation before the crew was lost. Resupply would not be an issue either. Unmanned vehicles have been supporting the International Space Station for years and the Soviets supplied Mir the same way. This is a scientific principle that is well known and completely doable.

The Moon is an excellent science platform. Because there is no atmosphere on the Moon, it would make a great location for telescopes operating through all the bandwidths. The lack of atmosphere would be good for telescopes using the visible part of the spectrum. Wouldn't the Moon make an fantastic place to use radio telescopes. On the dark side, there would no interference from radio noise from nearby sources. Since the Moon is inhabited, any repair work that was needed for equipment would be easily made. SETI would benefit, also, because the radio noise leaking from Earth would be negligible.

Defense. The Moon is practical for a defensive platform. One would automatically assuming that I mean 'aliens.' As far as we know, there is no need to defend Earth from an 'alien' attack. Naturally, that could change without warning. I was really thinking of using the Moon to detect near Earth asteroids. Once again, because of it's lack of atmosphere, the Moon would be an ideal location for the detection of near Earth Objects. If necessary, the Moon would be a good platform for mounting an operation to prevent earthly impacts.

The catch? It would be expensive. Maintaining living conditions on one or several moon bases. It has been proposed that Moon contains the requirements for the production of energy, atmosphere and water. In time, a moon base would be able to manage it's own existence for ordinary subsistence. The base would still have to be supplied from Earth, but only monthly (eventually).

Small steps. All explorers have a base between the starting point and destination. There has always been the 'last outpost' in human exploration. I think of the frontier forts of the Americas westward expansion. On the journey west, pioneers left their homes and headed for the starting points like St Joseph and Independence, Missouri. As Americans moved west, they built new starting points.

The Moon should be the new starting point for Man's outward movement into space.

The Truth and Justice Matter

Former Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton has been quoted as saying, "What difference, at this point, does it make?!" during hearings over the killing of American ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans in Benghazi on September 11, 2012. I have to question Hillary's motives for making such a statement.

In the United States, the people expect the government to be press for justice for the victims of their fellow citizens killed in service to the country. That is the difference Hillary! We deserve and demand justice for the four Americans killed by terrorist in Libya. We expect the U.S. government to use every means 'legal' and possible for justice. If you commit a crime in the United States, the federal, state and local law enforcement agencies are expected to bring perpetrators to justice. For the crime of murder, those agencies work very hard to find, apprehend and prosecute criminals. This is no different. We demand justice!

It remains to be seen whether or not there is a conspiracy to cover-up mistakes made by the Obama administration in the matter. We want to know the truth. We can even handle the ugly truth. I hope justice, integrity and the truth do not become political ammunition for either Democrats or Republicans. Stand up and take your medicine if you made mistakes.

Hillary, it makes a great deal of difference to the American people about what happened in Benghazi.

Am I a monster?

The easy answer is no. I am not a monster. As the title of this blog plainly states, I am an ordinary person living a somewhat ordinary life in a small town in America. This does not make me a monster. However, there are those who would make me out to be a creature of disdain, often hatred and horror. Here's how...

I am part of the 75% percentile of Americans who have some religious faith. I am a Christian and puts in the majority of religious beliefs in this country. Even narrowing it down further, I'm a conservative Christian. I self-identify as a fundamentally conservative Christian. Oppss! There's a nerve! I believe in the inerrancy of the Bible, the literal interpretation of the Bible, and the other tenants that fundamental Christians hold true. I am not a Bible thumping Christian. I keep my religious beliefs to myself, but occasionally express my beliefs. Expression in the form of a quiet voice and a willing audience. Do I have the answers to the frequently asked questions? No. There are many things about faith and religion I do not understand.

Am I a monster? To some, just believing in the Bible is a very narrow minded view. Fundamental Christianity beings up images of the Westboro Baptist Church in Kansas. That is a narrow minded view. The only thing I have in common with Fred Phelps is the belief in God and Christ's death on the Cross. I don't rant and rave about singular sin and the downfall of the United States. I don't condemn an individual for his actions. I do believe that sins, as described in the Bible, will be punished at the reckoning of the soul. If this makes me a monster, so be it.

There are some meat an potatoes to the argument some would say makes me a monster. I'll lay it out. I believe homosexuality is a sin. It is listed as such in the Bible. I won't mince words about it, either. However, I won't stand on a street corner wearing signs condemning homosexuals or gay marriage. Killing another is a sin. Cheating on your wife is a sin. Stealing money from your companies 'kitty' fund is a sin. They are all equal and have the same consequences. One cannot be singled out for judgement because of a singular sin. You have to read the Bible to understand this position. If you believe differently, I won't say much about it unless asked. I will stand my ground on my beliefs.

I believe that all men, naturally woman, are created equal. Every person has the same rights as guaranteed in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Let me say that again, "Every person has the same rights as guaranteed in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights." It makes no difference the color of ones skin, one's sex, what country one is from, or even who they sleep with at night. I must, however, insert a caveat, equal rights unless someone breaks the legal agreement between the individual and the State. Don't understand? As long as a person does not violate the law, they are free to move about this Nation and live in peace. Violators of the law are subject to punishment.

Now, to some, I am a monster. If you disagree with what I have said, well too bad. There is the First Amendment and I will exercise it in accordance with the law (as long as I don't violate the user agreement of Blogger.). If you want to exercise your First Amendment rights, please do as long as you don't violate the law (and the user agreement).

I have been known to call liberal Christians hypocrites. Well, I have stopped doing that. It is not constructive to their faith, nor mine. I seldom, after much thought, tell someone is 'wrong' for their beliefs. If asked, yes, I will tell you that your interpretation maybe in error. I will show examples in the Bible and leave it to those concerned. I think that is fair. Jump up and down, condemning a contrary interpretation to my views.

So there, I am an ordinary person living life as best I can. You think I'm a monster? That's fine. However, it is unfair to lump select individuals with others without the proper framework. I am an individual. Free to make choices.

Yo no habla espanol

This is short, but sweet. I refuse to learn Spanish. You go to France, you speak French. You go to China, you speak Chinese. I don't see that the United States is any different. Is that racist? No! Is it stubborn? I can be. Some things I learn, some things I won't.

Equality

Equality is for everyone or no one!

History is History

There is a man that lives in Atlanta. He has a petition to have the Confederate War memorial removed from Stone Mountain. As far, the petition has a 93% vote to keep the monument.

The monument features Jefferson Davis, General Robert E Lee and Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson. Completed in 1972, the monument is owned by the State of Georgia. 

Open letter to the President and Congress

April 26, 2013,

Mr Obama, Mr Biden, and members of Congress

As a veteran, thank you for your service to our nation and to the people you represent.

As even you must confess, gun ownership has been a staple of American society since the 1600s. It is extremely doubtful that the American colonies would have prevailed in the early endeavors of pre-Revolution pioneers to make a foothold on this continent. The personal ownership of firearms was pivotal in the independence of our great nation. Firearms have enabled Americans to defend their homes against invaders who would have otherwise been deprived of their lives and property. Still, the ability to defend family and home are still important to our society.

There are hundreds of thousands of Americans who legally own firearms. I am included in those numbers, as are my family, extended family and a good majority of my friends. None of us, not even one, have used their firearms to commit a crime, or even to threaten bodily harm. We own rifles, shotguns, pistols of all descriptions including AR-15s and their derivatives, AK-47 derivatives, and high capacity magazines. We shoot for fun. We shoot for food. We shoot for sport. And, though none of us has needed to, we have the ability to defend our homes. We are fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters of our nation. We are hard working people. Many of us are veterans.

There are those of us who do not live in metropolitan areas. Many live where a call for help by law enforcement would take 30-40 minutes. Indeed, I have lived where a police response might take over an hour. If there is a need, an unarmed citizen would have to wait defenseless and helpless during a criminal invasion. An unarmed family would have to submit to whatever devices an intruder could devise. Ownership of firearms still keeps Americans free. Like myself, many people would stand in front of their families with gun in hand, in defense of their loved ones.

Does it take one bullet to stop an attack? Does it take 15 bullets to stop an attack? Not even the FBI and the US Military can answer that question. If there was such a magic bullet that would stop an attack with one shot there would be no need for more than one. Multiple rounds may be necessary to stop an attacker. What if there were more than one attacker? Those with criminal intent often and do, are not alone. “Home invasions” may take three or four criminals. At times, only a threat with a firearm is enough to stop an intrusion. Naturally, being armed does not guarantee freedom from criminal abuse.

There are firearm regulations on the books that prevent certain individuals from purchasing firearms. There are current laws that criminalize those who attempt to fraudulently purchase firearms. We have laws that enhance punishments for crimes committed with a firearm. These laws do work. Unfortunately, there are those who are able to buy firearms illegally. There will be those who do not need to be in possession of firearms. Newer, more stringent gun laws and bans would not stop those few that should not own a firearm.

It isn't firearms that endanger Americans. A firearm is merely a tool. The danger is in the individual who feels the need to commit violence. Hammers are useful tools, yet they are used to commit crimes. The ordinary kitchen knife is a tool and it has been used to commit crimes. More people are killed annually from the use of alcohol than from firearms. An individual is still more likely to be killed by a car than to be a victim of gun violence. In 2009 (depending on where you get your figures), more people died from the use of illicit drugs than from homicide with a firearm. The Boston Marathon bombings (the initial attack) were not committed with firearms. Three people were killed by fireworks and pressure cookers in Boston. Common, everyday items that can be found in a good many homes in America.

The focus on firearm ownership should be shifted to the punishment of those who use firearms to commit a crime. Responsible firearm ownership is the key to preventing gun crime. If a gun owning family knows that there is a family member that has a form of mental illness or brain related conditions, then the family should make special effort to prevent the use of those guns. This is a suggestion that the mother of Adam Lanza knew he had such a condition but still kept firearms in the household. Since Mr Lanza was an legally an adult, Mrs Lanza is not solely responsible for his actions. However, she could have done more.

I believe in personal responsibility. If I am a law abiding citizen and have no criminal background, then I should be free from government oversight and be allowed to own what ever firearm I wanted. When I violate the law, I, and I alone, are responsible for my actions. I do not expect others to have their rights infringed on. In fact, the rights of others should be strengthened against government intrusion, such as the requirement from the Miranda case. No, the actions of an individual are the sole responsibility of that individual and not an excuse to place that responsibility on society. Do not punish generally for the actions of a single individual.

I, and so many more Americans believe that when it is your time to die, there is no escape from that eventuality. Whether one chooses to call it fate or the “Will of God,” we are here on this Earth until it is 'our' time. Nothing can change it. If it my time to die, it makes no difference whether I turn left or right or go straight at an intersection. The events leading up to my death have already been set in motion and beyond the control of an individual or government.

On a rainy night in 1988 (I believe. I have forgotten the date.), I was involved in an accident that resulted in a fatality. For years, I wrestled with the possibilities that I might have prevented the accident. If I had left for my destination two minutes earlier or two minutes later, could I have prevented the accident? Obviously, that is a question that can never be answered. Events were already in motion. I was but part of the equation to put me in that location, at that time. Once elements of an event are put into place, there is nothing no one can do. No amount of legislation will prevent it.

I do not believe that more gun legislation will prevent incidents like those in Newtown, CT, Aurora, CO, or Tucson, AZ. History has shown that when a person is truly committed to taking life, that person will find a way. In 1955, Jack Graham put a bomb in his mothers suitcase before she boarded a plane. Forty-four were killed when the bomb exploded over Colorado. In 1990, Julio Gonzalez killed 87 by burning down the occupied Happy Land 'social club.' Man does not need a semi-automatic, high capacity firearm to commit mass murder. Juan Manuel Alvarez, killed eleven and injured nearly 200 when he caused two trains to collide in southern California. Man will kill Man. As they say, “if there's a will...”

Again, I am glad for your continual service to America. I hope this finds you and your family well.

With Regards and Respect,

Kevin D White

McKenzie, TN

Lazy Americans

Can you guess how lazy Americans have come? They are so lazy....actually, according to some survey numbers, American are more willing to give up some degree of personal freedom to fee safer. This has swung the opposite direction since 9/11. Incidents like incidents in Tuscon, Aurora, Sandy Hook and Boston help Americans (some) ready to give up their Constitutional rights and let the government become more obtrusive. Consider the following questions and see if you are willing to make such a departure:

Allow unarmed drones to patrol the skies allowing MORE intrusion into your backyards,

Allow law enforcement to arrest and detain an American citizen without a warrant, an appearance in court, or contact with family.

Allow law enforcement to question citizens without first advising them of their Constitutional rights.

Allow law enforcement to enter your home without warrant.

Allow law enforcement to confiscate legally owned firearms from your home without probable cause.

Allow law enforcement to restrict your freedom of speech without due process.

I certainly hope not many of you feel that the government knows what is better for you than you do. They do not live your life. Stand up for your personal freedoms and do not let the government take them away.

The Possum has passed

Defy the King! Electrifying speech at Pro-Gun rally in CT (VIDEO)

Defy the King! Electrifying speech at Pro-Gun rally in CT (VIDEO)

8th Grader Suspended, Arrested for Wearing NRA T-Shirt (VIDEO)

I have seen kids suspended for wearing KKK shirts, Budweiser shirts, even "Christian" themed crosses. This deserves a "WTF" moment!!


8th Grader Suspended, Arrested for Wearing NRA T-Shirt (VIDEO)

AVANTASIA - Dying For An Angel (feat. Scorpions' Klaus Meine)

Your Morning Metal

Lead Sponsor of Federal High Capacity Ban Was Unaware Magazines Could Be Reloaded (VIDEO)

It's not every day that you bear a law maker show their stupidity. When dealing with constitutional matters, it is preferable to have those that sponsor bill KNOW WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT!!! It does not matter which side you are on with gun control, but you should be said to know that our politicians are idiots.


Lead Sponsor of Federal High Capacity Ban Was Unaware Magazines Could Be Reloaded (VIDEO)

An English Gillian.

I am an X-Files fan. I did not know that Gillian Anderson grew up in Britain until she appeared in the 2011 Graham Norton Christmas Show. When she started talking with a 'natural' English accent did I know. That accent adds to her aura.

What is 'oxymoron?'

If you need an example of 'oxymoron'...Diane Feinstein as Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee.

A foreigner named Piers

I did not serve my country, defending it from the Soviet Union then terrorists, just to have my rights abused by Piers Morgan, a foreign national working in the U.S.

I will

I served in a combat zone willing to kill for people I never heard of. Don't you think I'm more willing to kill a home invader threatening those I love!