Random Thoughts this Sunday

Liberal Logic:

You're against abortion? Don't get one.

You don't want to buy government mandated health insurance? We'll fine you and send you to prison.

Pope Benedict stated yesterday:

Beauty ... can become a path toward the transcendent, toward the ultimate Mystery, toward God.

The Feds are telling banks they need more capital. That's understandable given the losses banks have incurred in the current economic crisis. What is not understandable is that the Feds are many times refusing to approve banks' plans to do just that. What could be the reason for that?

Scheduled to arrive on Wednesday: the new Star Trek movie on Blu-ray.

Also scheduled to arrive on Wednesday are two books: End The Fed by Ron Paul and Going Rogue: An American Life by Sarah Palin.

Speaking of Ron Paul, I finished his The Revolution: A Manifesto. Excellent book. I highly recommend it! It expresses my political philosophy about as close as I've seen it in print. Should he run in 2012 he will have my vote.

If you would like some information on free market economics and philosophy I suggest you take a look at the Ludwig von Mises Institute. They have a wealth of articles, online books and books for sale. They are headquartered in Auburn, AL which is one of the most beautiful places on Earth.

Another place for information on freedom is Campaign for Liberty.

Ron Paul on Health Care:



More evidence that my Olympic dreams are over. I carried the old HDTV downstairs and out to my car without taking a breather. It seems like a minor physical accomplishment. It couldn't have weighed more that 70 pounds. There was a day when I could have made that trip with 150-200 pounds. Oh, well.

I find MRI machines are much less intimidating when I'm passed out from a couple of Diazepams.

Al Gore is a pompous ass.

Why do people think they have a right to health care? How about air conditioning in the Summer? Healthy food on the table three times a day?

Church of Global Warming engaged in deceit?

Fox News posted an article today titled Climate Skeptics See 'Smoking Gun' in Researchers' Leaked E-Mails which alleges the Church of Global Warming crowd might be full of hot air. From the article:

Hackers broke into the servers at a prominent British climate research center and leaked years worth of e-mail messages onto the Web, including one with a mysterious reference to a plan to "hide the decline" in temperatures.

The Internet is abuzz about the leaked data from the University of East Anglia's Climate Research Unit (commonly called Hadley CRU), which has acknowledged the theft of 61MB of confidential data.

Climate change skeptics describe the leaked data as a "smoking gun," evidence of collusion among climatologists and manipulation of data to support the widely held view that climate change is caused by the actions of mankind. The files were reportedly released on a Russian file-serve by an anonymous poster calling himself "FOIA."

Also see an article from the Telegraph titled Climategate: the final nail in the coffin of 'Anthropogenic Global Warming'?. This article has some excerpts from the hacked emails.

Both articles are a good read.

Global Warming pushes women into Prostitution

What a headline!

Climate change pushes poor women to prostitution.

Thomas and I

It's no secret that I have greatly enjoyed Ron Paul's The Revolution: A Manifesto.

This morning I was surprised when I came across a quote of Thomas Jefferson:

Whensoever the General Government assumes undelegated powers, its acts are unauthoritative, void, and of no force. - Thomas Jefferson, Draft Kentucky Resolutions, 1798. The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, (Memorial Edition) Lipscomb and Bergh, editors, ME 17:380

It would seem Thomas Jefferson and I have more in common politically than I previously realized.

(HT: Walter Williams)

Random Thoughts

I think I've discovered why the White House, particularly (outgoing communications director) Anita Dunn, dislikes Fox News so much. I offer the following photographic evidence (in no particular order).










Of course, it's a judgment call but the evidence seems overwhelming that there may be just a touch of jealously.

Why do we in the United States think we have the right to determine who may, and may not, have nuclear power and/or weapons?

Still looking for the Constitutional authority for Congress to take over health care, banking, the automotive industry, public transportation, etc...

I finished reading Ron Paul's The Revolution: A Manifesto. I really like this guy! He and I share a very similar political philosophy.

Every few weeks I read that Congress is expected to raise the debt ceiling yet again. At what point do the American citizens get concerned?

I joined the NRA.

Former President Carter is in Asia building homes for the poor. If only he would stay there.

Imagine if we had waiting periods on exercising our Constitutional right to free speech or assembly. One waiting period I could appreciate would be to require babies to sign off on their being aborted.

Several years ago, after their dad passed away, a brother and sister inherited a small bit of land. Even though real estate values have declined drastically since then, they recently sold the property for 587.5% more than another relative offered them not a week after their dad died. In other words, they sold the property for 6.875 times what their other relative offered them. It is a shame that greed takes over people when loved ones die, much more so when they try to take advantage of widows and children left behind. Shameful.

Big Brother is alive and well in England. "Health and safety inspectors" will now be allowed to enter homes to determine whether or not the parents have made the house safe enough for the children.



It will be interesting to see how the President handles the unconstitutional health care bill currently before the Senate. Two months ago, addressing a joint session of Congress, President Obama said:

One more misunderstanding I want to clear up -- under our plan, no federal dollars will be used to fund abortions.

You may recall that Joe Wilson, the congressman from South Carolina, interrupted the President during his address, shouting:

You lie!

What will the President do? One thing is certain, he will support the the unconstitutional health care bill currently before the Senate.

R.C. Sproul and the Internet - an example for me to follow

If it's good enough for R.C., it's good enough for me!




(HT: Justin Taylor at Between Two Worlds)

The King James Version is of the Devil!

Some knucklehead attempted to leave a comment which was more of a rant against the NIV, TNIV and other modern translations asserting they are of the Devil.

Because of this, I did a little research and found mathematical proof that it is the King James Version that is of the Devil!

Here's proof:

1. Write "King James Version" as separate words.
2. Transliterate the result into Hebrew: כנג ימיס וירסיאן. Numerical values for Hebrew letters are found here.
3. Alternately add and subtract the numerical values of the letters in each word. Add together the numerical values of each word, then take the absolute value of the result. This gives the following: (Remember that Hebrew is normally written right-to-left)

   כ

   נ

   ג

   י

   מ

   י

   ס

   ו

   י

   ר

   ס

   י

   א

   ן

   ( 20 +

   50 -

   3) +

   ( 10 +

   40 -

   10 +

   60) +

   ( 6 +

   10 -

   200 +

   60 -

   10 +

   1 -

   700)

4. The result is 666! Don't be deceived! Now you have absolute PROOF that the King James Version is of the Devil!
   

DC Tyrants to citizens: Buy insurance or go to jail?

So the health care bill before Congress has a fascist slant to it:

Buy insurance or go to jail.

I have an idea for Congress:

Follow the Constitution or YOU go to jail!

This little experiment has gone on long enough. I keep hearing calls for revolution. The latest came from the best looking member of Congress, Michele Bachmann (R-Minn).

She organized a protest on the Capital lawn yesterday. Included in the thousands of angry protesters was my little sister.

Interviewed on Hannity last night Bachmann referred to the initial shot that was heard around the world.

Granted, I have taken the quote out of context. However, earlier this year she is reported to have said:

I want people in Minnesota armed and dangerous on this issue of the energy tax, because we need to fight back. Thomas Jefferson told us, having a revolution every now and then is a good thing. And the people -- we the people -- are going to have to fight back hard if we're not going to lose our country.

She may have "clarified" that comment after the fact. I, personally, am happy with the comment as it stands.

In August, Senator Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) stated:

We're almost reaching a revolution in this country.

And we have Thomas Jefferson's words:

The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.

How long will we the people allow Washington to make laws which violate the Constitution and threaten us with prison and fines if we do not comply?

Random Thoughts

Newspeak (or possibly just stupidity) is alive and well in 2009. Consider Nancy Pelosi's comment the morning after this year's election in which the Democrats lost both races for Governor and almost lost to a third party candidate. Pelosi's response: We won last night.

If Nancy Pelosi considers the election a victory for Democrats, what are we to make of her statements regarding projected savings from the health care legislation?

In New York, a "Republican" dropped out of the race the weekend before the election. She then endorsed the Democratic candidate. Newt Gingrich supported the "Republican" rather than the third party candidate who was apparently an actual conservative. Gingrich gave us an example of putting politics above principle.

Generally, or so it would seem, the Saudi justice system involves penalties that are not commensurate with the crime. A few days ago I read of a case in Saudi Arabia where the sentence fit the crime almost perfectly. For raping five children, the government will behead and crucify the bastard. I am very confident that the recidivism rate for criminals so punished is extremely low.

How is the President's war on Fox News going? I haven't heard anything of late.

Has anyone else noticed that some in government and the medical profession are maligning parents who don't want their children getting vaccinated for the Swine Flu?

Good news regarding race relations in the United States: I recently saw a headline that said Blacks were denied access to Chicago bar. Perhaps you saw it. If not, google it. Personally, I found encouragement. Not in the story but in what thought first came to mind. How can Chicago discriminate against "black" people who want to become lawyers?! Of course, it would actually be the Illinois (not the Chicago) Bar in that case but that's not the point.

If you don't understand the previous paragraph, try reading it again.


A Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader went to a Halloween party in blackface. I wonder how many little girls across the country dressed up as a Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader this Halloween? It seems Whitney Isleib should have gone as herself.


Moving right along...

I saw my first bare bear this week (in a photograph not in person).

Ron Paul's book The Revolution: A Manifesto is still making a lot of sense. I have read enough of it to be able to recommend it highly!

What America really needs is a vaccine for the Health Care Bill. Our resistance to this unconstitutional usurpation of personal freedom must increase!

Speaking of vaccines, I think it's funny that the government will be providing H1N1 vaccinations to the Guantanamo detainees. That is vaccinations to the SWINE flu.

When I was about three years old I inadvertently scared my parents big time. I was sleeping one afternoon and rolled right off my bed. I then managed to rolled underneath the bed. My parents thought I had wandered off somewhere into unknown parts of the city. I can't remember their reaction when they found me. After all, I was just waking up from a long, and seemingly adventuresome, nap.

It angers me that Congress takes money out of my pocket and gives it to other Americans in the form of a first-time homebuyer tax credit. I'm actually paying on a home loan. Yet, I'm being forced to contribute taxes to make it easier for someone else to buy a house. I'm sure everyone would like to get a "free" check to help them make purchases. The problem here is that, like everywhere else, there is no free lunch. Somebody is paying for it. In this case it's other taxpayers. This is just one more reason we should abolish the income tax and go with something like the Fair Tax. At a minimum we should abolish ALL tax deductions and credits. Period. Americans should not be robbed so other Americans can lessen their tax burden.

Some scientists believe that a gazillion or so years ago a bunch of particles were bouncing around and "Poof!" Life came into being. This has resulted, they would have us believe, in things like DNA, the human conscience and self awareness, the eye, humor, blood clotting, sexual reproduction and everything else related to life. Yet they (some scientists) mock Christians who believe God created all that exists by saying they (the Christians) believe in fairy tales. Hmmm.

Brett Favre is my favorite quarterback of all time.

People in "house churches" would do well to consider Proverbs 11:14 (ESV) which reads: Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.

Carrie Prejean and the Miss USA pageant have dropped their lawsuits against each other. She wanted a million dollars. They wanted to be reimbursed for her breast, ahem, augmentation. She should have been happy with her boob job and gotten on with her life. Filing a million dollar lawsuit comes off as disingenuous, kind of like her boobs.

Florida Governor Charlie Crist is a knucklehead.

New Gun Purchase: Glock 21SF .45ACP (13+1)

My latest firearm purchase was an exciting experience. I considered a number of different weapons:

• Henry Repeating Rifle
• Sniper Rifle
• Benelli or Remington Shotgun
• FN SCAR (too expensive)
• Colt M4 (6940)
• Kimber 1911 (.45ACP)
• Sig Sauer P238 (.380)
• Glock 36 (.45ACP)
• Glock 21SF (.45ACP)
• Kel-Tec Sub-2000

Alas, I chose the Glock 21SF. With a magazine holding 13 rounds of .45ACP and the feel of a custom grip in my hand, it seemed the logical choice.

Several features that distinguish it from the (regular) Glock 21:

• full MIL-SPEC 1913 Picatinny rail system
• ambidextrous magazine release
• slimmer grip which is much more comfortable in my hand, even more so than the single-stack Glock36

I haven't had a chance to try it out yet but from what I read it is a pleasure to fire.

Between my new pistol and my older Glock 19 (9mm, 15 round magazine), I'm in pretty good shape for multiple carry scenarios. When circumstances allow for more flexibility I will carry the 21SF. When I need something smaller, the 19 will be perfect.

My gun shop of choice is Shoot Straight in Apopka, FL (near Orlando). Mike L. took the time to show me everything multiple times. I am a slow, deliberate shopper and Mike was extremely patient with me just as he was last year with my previous purchase. I told him I would be making this an annual tradition. The more the merrier!

See Frank Borelli's review of the Glock 21SF.

Planned Parenthood Director Resigns after Watching a Baby Dismemberment Procedure via Ultrasound

According to KBTX.com (Bryan / College Station, TX):

Planned Parenthood has been a part of Abby Johnson's life for the past eight years; that is until last month, when Abby resigned. Johnson said she realized she wanted to leave, after watching an ultrasound of an abortion procedure.

"I just thought I can't do this anymore, and it was just like a flash that hit me and I thought that's it," said Jonhson.


She handed in her resignation October 6. Johnson worked as the Bryan Planned Parenthood Director for two years.

According to Johnson, the non-profit was struggling under the weight of a tough economy, and changing it's business model from one that pushed prevention, to one that focused on abortion.

"It seemed like maybe that's not what a lot of people were believing any more because that's not where the money was. The money wasn't in family planning, the money wasn't in prevention, the money was in abortion and so I had a problem with that," said Johnson.

Johnson said she was told to bring in more women who wanted abortions, something the Episcopalian church goer recently became convicted about.

"I feel so pure in heart (since leaving). I don't have this guilt, I don't have this burden on me anymore that's how I know this conversion was a spiritual conversion."

Johnson now supports the Coalition For Life, the pro-life group with a building down the street from Planned Parenthood. Coalition volunteers can regularly be seen praying on the sidewalk in front of Planned Parenthood. Johnson has been meeting with the coalition's executive director, Shawn Carney, and has prayed with volunteers outside Planned Parenthood.

Bella the movie

From the National Catholic Register:

LOS ANGELES — Like many of Jason Jones’ best ideas, this one came in the middle of the night.

A member of the production team that put out the pro-life hit movie of 2006, Bella, Jones’ previous nocturnal brainstorm had instigated Bella Hero, a campaign devoted to putting a copy of the film in the hands of every visitor to a crisis-pregnancy center in the United States.

Next came Bella on Campus, which raises funds to pay for college screenings.

Now, because of a chance meeting with a New York City beggar, drug addict and ex-con to whom he had given a ticket to the movie the day before, he had a new idea and a new target market.

He instantly called up Tracy Reynolds, one of his key partners in Bella Hero, and pitched it: “Why don’t we screen Bella in prisons?”

On Sept. 30, 56 inmates of Gatesville Women’s Prison in Gatesville, Texas, kicked the new program off with a viewing that had many in tears. Recounts Reynolds: “One woman, who was in a wheelchair, said, ‘I’ve been here 27 years, and this is the best day of my life.’”

Jones’ idea relates to the fact that Bella is more than just the story of Nina, a young woman struggling to make ends meet in New York City and contemplating an abortion; it also tells how Jose, a once promising soccer player devastated by having killed a young girl through careless driving, and being jailed for it, turns his life around by persuading Nina to bear her child. He not only saves the child, he adopts her — and changes his own and Nina’s life in the process...

Jones says more than 100 women have credited the movie for their decision to bear their unborn children, and another 75 credit the Bella Hero program. He is keeping his word to his former girlfriend. Lately, he has heard from her: She is ready to go public in the pro-life ministry.

(HT: Les Prouty)

Cell Size and Scale

OK. This is really cool.

The graphic below is from The University of Utah. It gives you a glimpse into the lilliputian world around us.

Click on that graphic and it will take you to The University of Utah website. Once there, slowly slide the scale (at the bottom of the graphic) from left to right. You will be amazed!




(HT: William Dembski)

Random thoughts on health care and the federal government (updated Nov. 01, 2009)

If you consume more calories than you burn you WILL gain weight. Period. People too stupid to understand that should be institutionalized. They definitely should NOT be allowed to vote.

Dietary information on vending machines. Really? I don't think people buy snacks from vending machines to enhance their overall health. They know they are buying junk food and that's fine. People too stupid to understand that should be institutionalized. They definitely should NOT be allowed to vote.

General welfare is often used as an excuse for Congress to get involved in health care. The commerce clause is another one. Since Congress is hoping to force every American to buy health insurance, why stop there? Why not require every American to buy a new car every two years? A house with at least 900 square foot per resident? A working pistol, rifle and shotgun for every citizen? An HDTV in every home? A fishing boat? All of these items would contribute to much general welfare and all would fall under the commerce clause if you listen to the thieves in Washington.

If someone has $20 million in cash do they really need health insurance?

If someone does not want health insurance, who do the thieves in Washington think they are to force such a one to purchase it?

The enemy in Washington already forces us to pay taxes for Social Security and Medicare. Now they want to force us to buy health insurance. Are Americans feisty enough to tell our illegitimate government to jump in a lake?

It would save money if people were allowed to go to the pharmacy and buy the medicine they wanted without having to get a prescription from a doctor. In fact, it's obscene that we're not allowed to do so currently.

Some people would not be comfortable making medical decisions without a doctor. Some people would be too stupid to do so. I should not be forced to pay for other people's discomfort and/or stupidity.

Lawyers who file frivolous lawsuits should be banished from the United States. Their assets should be seized and used to reduce the federal debt. This should lower health care costs.

Politicians who propose and support legislation that violates the Constitution should be tried for treason and executed if found guilty. This should encourage responsible governance.

Americans should not be taxed to send aid to foreign countries, especially while we're in debt.

Any year in which the federal government has a budget deficit, everyone in (federal )public office should have one arm or leg amputated. If such office holder has already had two limbs amputated for budget deficits, the next deficit shall result in their head being removed by guillotine.This should encourage responsible governance.

Congressmen should be required to live in dormitories the sewers with the other rats while serving in office.

All citizens should be taxed at the same rate. A consumption (or sales) tax is preferable to an income tax as not all Americans earn income. There should be NO tax breaks, exclusions or rebates for any reason.

Except for the truly infirmed, anyone receiving welfare (public assistance) will be an indentured servant of the government until such time as they can live independently.

Anyone found guilty of defrauding the government by pretending to be infirmed shall have both legs amputated and have the words Tax Cheat tattooed on their forehead. They will be permanently banned from receiving public assistance.

UPDATE: Two readers have jokingly suggested I run for President. That's two more than supported me in all previous elections combined. All in good fun, I have a prepared response for anyone else who wants me to run for President:

Thank you for your support but I'm afraid I'll be banished to some island at the end of a bridge to nowhere.

Pelosi offers babies aborted at taxpayer expense for Halloween

Nancy Pelosi has seen fit to offer for consideration the Affordable Health Care for America Act. It comes in at 1,990 pages.

Under SEC. 222. ESSENTIAL BENEFITS PACKAGE DEFINED (pp. 109-110):

(e) ABORTION COVERAGE PROHIBITED AS PART OF
MINIMUM BENEFITS PACKAGE.—
(1) PROHIBITION OF REQUIRED COVERAGE.— The Health Benefits Advisory Committee may not recommend under section 223(b), and the Secretary may not adopt in standards under section 224(b), the services described in paragraph (4)(A) or (4)(B) as part of the essential benefits package and the Commissioner may not require such services for qualified health benefits plans to participate in the Health Insurance Exchange.

(2) VOLUNTARY CHOICE OF COVERAGE BY PLAN.—In the case of a qualified health benefits plan, the plan is not required (or prohibited) under this Act from providing coverage of services described in paragraph (4)(A) or (4)(B) and the QHBP offering entity shall determine whether such coverage is provided.

(3) COVERAGE UNDER PUBLIC HEALTH INSURANCE OPTION.— The public health insurance option shall provide coverage for services described in paragraph (4)(B). Nothing in this Act shall be construed as preventing the public health insurance option from providing for or prohibiting coverage of services described in paragraph (4)(A).

(4) ABORTION SERVICES.—
(A) ABORTIONS FOR WHICH PUBLIC FUNDING IS PROHIBITED.—The services described in this subparagraph are abortions for which the expenditure of Federal funds appropriated for the Department of Health and Human Services is not permitted, based on the law as in effect as of the date that is 6 months before the beginning of the plan year involved.
(B) ABORTIONS FOR WHICH PUBLIC FUNDING IS ALLOWED.—The services described in this subparagraph are abortions for which the expenditure of Federal funds appropriated for the Department of Health and Human Services is permitted, based on the law as in effect as of the date that is 6 months before the beginning of the plan year involved.