Quote of the Day

"It is the duty of the patriot to protect his country from his government." Thomas Paine

Memorial Day?

We wouldn't need to honor fallen soldiers had our government not sent them off to be killed in far-off lands for no good reason in the first place. The following I found on Lew's Blog.

War in any of its aspects is never something to genuflect before or honor. It is the systematic killing and domination of other human beings who, by the very nature of war, have not been found guilty of a crime beyond being born on one patch of ground and not another. Stop honoring troops who occupy foreign lands by force of arms, who create global instability, and hide behind vicious concepts like patriotism and the need 'to spread 'democracy'.

Hold every U.S. soldier responsible for his or her choice to continue pointing a gun at human beings who are simply trying to live in their own country. Let Iraq solve its own problems as every nation must.

Guilt

I don't feel guilty about slavery. I don't feel guilty about the fate of Native Americans. In fact, I don't feel guilty about anything that happened prior to the date of my birth.

I never owned a slave or desired to, nor did I ever shoot an Indian and steal his land. I say this because there are a lot of special-interest groups trying to lay guilt trips on Americans of European ancestry. That is nothing more than a con game. All we inherit from our ancestors are genes.

This life, right here and right now, is all you're going to get. You'd better smell the roses while you can, because you and the roses will disappear sooner than you might think. All that junk, all those honors and awards you worked for, will be left behind for the living to pick over and discard. You will be forgotten, as indeed we all will. Therefore, if you aren't enjoying what you're doing, then don't do it.

The Buddhists have it right that neither the past nor the future exists. We spend our entire lives living in one present moment after another. It's a very bad idea to waste any of those moments dwelling on what's already happened and can't be changed or, for that matter, worrying about what may or may not happen down the road.

Enjoy the moment. Let the dead converse with the dead. We have the living for our companions – at least for a little while.

Vaccines & Autism

More proof that vaccines cause autism:

American researchers have revealed that 85 per cent of samples taken from autistic children with bowel disorders contain the virus. The strain is the same as the one used in the measles, mumps and rubella triple vaccine.

Parents say their children were developing normally until they had the MMR jab, given when a child is between 12- and 18-months-old. The children now suffer from regressive autism.

1 YEAR

I launched this blog one year ago today. I'm surprised I haven't gotten bored with it yet. Until then, I'll keep on keepin' on. I'm thinking about starting a new blog this coming football season. More details to come.

Check out this extra-special one year anniversary article on Homer.

G. Edward Griffin

THE QUIGLEY FORMULA
A Conspiratorial View of History As Described by The Conspirators Themselves
Caroll Quigley was a highly respected professor at Georgetown University. One of his former students was President Clinton, who acknowledged that he was indebted to him for what he had learned. Quigley taught collectivism with a flair for practical politics. He taught that both major political parties must be led by men of common purpose and follow a common political philosophy, but they must put on a great show of competition in order to convince the masses that there is a genuine conflict between them – a phony wrestling match in which the contestants take turns appearing to pulverize each other to excite the spectators. That way, voters can jump from one party to another to "throw the rascals out" every few years but never really change anything important. The ruling elite, he said, must arrange political affairs in such a way as to make voters think they are participating in their own political destiny, but that is merely an illusion to keep them content and to prevent them from meddling into the important affairs of state. G. Edward Griffin presents this amazing plan of deception as explained in Quigley’s own words, and shows how it has been implemented with great success by the political scientists who have applied it.

THE ULTIMATE SOLUTION
An Idea Who's Time Has Come
In this presentation, Mr. Griffin describes a strategy for re-capturing control of our lives and our world – including the so-called two-party political system. There is no point in knowing the cause of our continuing loss of freedom if there is nothing we can do about it. Knowledge without a plan to change the course of history leads only to despair and apathy. We may have the knowledge but, as long as enemies of freedom have the power, we will continue to lose. Many programs have been launched to reverse the tide of totalitarianism but, after decades of effort, none of them have worked. In this presentation, Mr. Griffin tells us why; and the reason is so simple it will astound you. Once we clear away that single barrier, the plan falls quickly into place. It can be done, but the time for armchair patriotism is over. The strategy is pro-active, not defensive. Instead of reacting to the programs of others, it calls for creating programs of our own. There have been many calls to action, but never one like this. It is the missing piece of the puzzle.

Truths

Truth: The People are “endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights.”

Truth: The People instituted government “to secure these Rights,” no more or less.

Truth: The People instituted written constitutions to prohibit government from doing more or less.

Truth: The People have a Right to hold government accountable to these written constitutions.

Truth: The People have a “Right to Petition the government for Redress” of constitutional torts.

Truth: The People have a Right of Response from government to these Petitions for Redress.

Truth: The People have a Right to “alter the government” when it fails to respond to such Petitions.

Truth: The People have a Right of Enforcement of their Rights.

Truth: The People have a Right to retain their money until their grievances are Redressed.

The truths etched above form nothing less than the cornerstone upon which our form of governance exists and which distinguish it from every other form of government ever designed by man. Indeed, it is solely through these Founding Principles that men can peacefully enjoy their natural dominion over servant governments and keep safe the blessings of Liberty...

Liberty Dollars in NYC

This is from Stephen Gordon over at HOT:

The NY Sun article went on to cover other private currencies, both local and historical. While I’m not a Liberty Dollar buff, I’m finding the increased use of them around the country interesting. When I was in Austin, a whole lot of businesses accepted them, and now I see that some in NYC do, as well. While I’m not dumping my greenbacks for silverbacks quite yet, I’ll be watching to see how this trend develops.

Muffins of Mass Destruction

Police State USA, a long-time in the making, has officially arrived. I'm sure a lot of you have heard the national news story about the prankster who gave pot muffins to some faculty at my alma mater, Lake Highlands High School in Dallas.

You would think this would be a matter for the school and/or local police to handle, right? Nope, now the FBI is involved, the Joint Terrorism Task Force has been deployed, and they might even consider these muffins a Weapon of Mass Destruction. So basically any crime that's committed from here on out is considered an act of terrorism. Thanks Bush administration. Watch the video.

1-800-FREE411

I got an email about this and figured it was b.s., but apparently it's not. Verizon charges me $1.49 for 411 Connect, this one is free.

Check it out

www.free411.com

Skull & Bones

A Yale University historian has uncovered a 1918 letter that seems to lend validity to the lore that Yale University’s ultra-secret Skull and Bones society swiped the skull of American Indian leader Geronimo.

According to Skull and Bones legend, members — including President Bush’s grandfather, Prescott Bush — dug up Geronimo’s grave when a group of Army volunteers from Yale were stationed at the fort during World War I. Geronimo died in 1909.

Only 15 Yale seniors are asked to join Skull and Bones each year. Alumni include Sen. John Kerry, President William Howard Taft, numerous members of Congress, media leaders, Wall Street financiers, the scions of wealthy families and agents in the CIA.

Members swear an oath of secrecy about the group and its strange rituals, which are said to include an initiation rite in which would-be members kiss a skull.

Dollar Down

Ron Paul:

Remember, gold is static. Gold isn’t going up, the dollar is going down. And it’s going to continue until the American people demand an end to deficit spending by Congress and unrestrained creation of new dollars by the Federal Reserve and Treasury department.

A sharply rising gold price is really a vote of “no confidence” in Congress’ ability to control the budget, the Fed’s ability to control the money supply, and the administration’s ability to bring stability to the Middle East.

Our federal government’s huge debt and voracious appetite for deficit spending make our economy dependent on the actions of foreign governments and central bankers. Yet few Americans realize the extent to which their own government has sold out American sovereignty by borrowing money overseas.

The consequences of a rapidly declining dollar are not yet fully understood by the American public. The long-term significance has not sunk in, but when it does there will be political hell to pay in Washington.

Privacy Nut

Excuse me if I rather not have the government reading my emails and listening to my phone calls.

That's why they call it totalitarianism – because they want access to everything. The totality of your life must be available at the touch of a button. Remember "Total Information Awareness," the scheme cooked up by John Poindexter and Donald Rumsfeld that Congress ordered dismantled? Well, the "data-mining" business is it: Rummy, it appears, just embedded the program in a different bureaucratic rat-hole, and they've been pursuing their quest for omniscience ever since, without the knowledge or oversight of Congress. This usurpation has so riled Sen. Arlen Specter, Republican of Pennsylvania, and 50 other members of congress, that there will be a congressional investigation into the matter.

UT Football Player in Trouble

The best part about the story is how he called the cops himself and gave them permission to search his car, which had several ounces of weed and a loaded .40 caliber inside. Classic.

City of Austin Election

At the monthly business meeting on April 4, the TCLP took the following positions on the City Charter Amendments on the ballot for the May 13 election:

Prop 2 - Save Our Springs - AGAINST
Prop 3 - Changing the dates council terms start - FOR
Prop 5 - Increase (i.e., relax) campaign finance limits - FOR
Prop 7 - Increase municipal court judge terms - AGAINST

You can read more about the election here.

Be sure to vote for Wes Benedict for Place 2.

OMG

Gold hits a new 25-year high, up to $725/ounce. Oh snap!

I Hate the Taxman

"I Hate the Taxman" by Harrison & Thornton (2006)

The revised lyrics change the "voice" of the song from that of an obnoxious tax collector on a power trip to that of a Rothbardian tax protester:

(One, two, three, four, one two)

Let me tell you how it will be
There's none for you, its all for me
'Cause I hate the taxman
Yeah, I hate the taxman

Even five percent appears too large
I'm determined to keep it all
'Cause I hate the taxman
Yeah, I hate the taxman

(If you tax my car car) I'll take to the streets
(If you tax my sit sit) I'll kick your seat
(If you tax my heat heat) I'll knock you cold
(If you tax my feet feet) I'll kick your @#$%^&*(&^%$#$!!!

Taxman!

'Cause I hate the taxman
Yeah, I hate the taxman

Don't ask me what I want it for
(Ah, ah, Mr. Cheney)
So don't you try to take some more
(Ah, ah, Mr. Bush)
'Cause I hate the taxman
Yeah, I hate the taxman

Now my advise for those who try
(Taxman!)
I'll stick these pennies in your eyes
(Taxman!)

'Cause I hate the taxman
Yeah, I hate the taxman

And you're working for no one, says me
(Taxman!)

Lew's Latest

In this one Lew rips Bush for handing over airport security to the government. Pretty funny.

It's hard to know which Bush policies – every day, another disaster – will most immortalize this administration. But on this day, in this hour, I'm going to suggest that his name should be forever mud for his catastrophic decision to nationalize airline security after 9-11.

There is war, spending, and missed opportunities all around, but generations hence might still be suffering at the hands of the Transportation Security Administration. It was hardly opposed by any mainstream voice of opinion. But anyone with a brain cell of economic understanding knew that airline socialism was not the best way to deal with the hijacking threat...

Get Yourself A Gun

To George Clooney and the other Americans who demonstrated and demanded that the U.S. intervene in the Darfur region of Sudan, I have a simple and clear message: Buy yourself a gun and plenty of ammunition, and go intervene yourself.

Today's liberals are made of softer stuff. They don't want to fight or get shot at. They are too wealthy and live too comfortable a life. They want some poor American kid making $1,200 a month to go to the African desert and get killed.

It's a heck of a note when rich people can salve their conscience by sending poor kids to fight and die instead of going themselves. Granted, Clooney would have to do without his personal assistant, script, air-conditioned trailer and stunt people, but who knows, he might find real combat exhilarating.

Lew's Latest

The problem with American conservatism is that it hates the left more than the state, loves the past more than liberty, feels a greater attachment to nationalism than to the idea of self-determination, believes brute force is the answer to all social problems, and thinks it is better to impose truth rather than risk losing one soul to heresy. It has never understood the idea of freedom as a self-ordering principle of society. It has never seen the state as the enemy of what conservatives purport to favor. It has always looked to presidential power as the saving grace of what is right and true about America.

For my part, I'm hoping that the whole conservative movement will go down in flames with the decline and fall of the Bush administration. The red-state fascists have had their day and instead of liberty, they gave us the most raw and stupid form of imperial big government one can imagine. They have given America a bad name around the world. They have bamboozled millions. They have looted and bankrupted the country. They have killed tens of thousands.

If they don't crack up on their own, we must do what we can to discredit them and their ideology forever.

Top 5 Situation Comedies

A slight improvement to my last list.

5. The War At Home (FOX, Sunday 7:30)
4. Two and a Half Men (CBS, Monday 8:00)
3. How I Met Your Mother (CBS, Monday 7:30)
2. The Office (NBC, Thursday 8:30)
1. The Simpsons (FOX, Sunday 7:00)

US World Cup Roster

USA ALL THE WAY!!!

Notably absent: Taylor Twellman (we need goal scorers)

Bush Roast

by Stephen Colbert

Poker

It's a Libertarian game. Maybe that's why I like it so much.

Microsoft vs. Google

Don't run crying to The State, like Netscape, when things get tough. Be innovative says Lew.

There is also the matter of property rights. MS does own Windows and it will own its successor too. It also owns Internet Explorer. It also owns its search engine. How it bundles those products must be left to the owner. The alternative is to get the government involved in designing and managing how software is built, managed, and marketed. Google is a company that has always thrived on its independence and innovative strategies. Government intervention is not in Google's long-term interest either. A government big enough to punch out Google's competitors is big enough to punch out Google too.

Rumors have abounded for years that someday Google will come up with an operating system that runs off its own servers and provide a serious competitive alternative to Microsoft. That may yet happen, in which case Google needs to be free to compete without having to jump through regulatory hoops.

Top 5 TV Shows

I believe this is the first list I've ever posted on this blog. I haven't been able to get in to a new television show since Seinfeld went off the air in 1998, simply because there hasn't been anything good on. Well now there is to my surprise. Here's a list of my top 5 for your viewing pleasure:

5. The War At Home (FOX, Sunday 7:30)
4. Two and a Half Men (CBS, Monday 8:00)
3. How I Met Your Mother (CBS, Monday 7:30)
2. The Sopranos (HBO, Sunday 8:00)
1. The Simpsons (FOX, Sunday 7:00) You can't beat The Simpsons, it will always be #1 to me.