FFQF Compatriots

Don't have much opportunity to blog today, but I did desire to direct you to the small (but growing) little group participating in the Favorite Founder's Quote Friday postings. I am very impressed with the blogs participating. Please be sure to pay a visit if you have a moment.

Yeah, Right by AkaGaga: It sounds like baby talk but this blog is anything but. In need of solid food? Go here.

Meet the Founders: My friend Hercules Mulligan hosts the group. He also has a great deal of other outstanding websites.

New York Traveler: a travel website with a slight bent for American history.

Consider joining. It's worthwhile time spent, and fun, had by all.

Exporting "Democracy"

This is so good, it's due a repeat.

Theophobe sent me a real ringer... we all know how much disgust I have for President Bush's forcible "democracy" exports. For one, the United States of America is NOT a democracy (we are a representative republic), and two, Bush is not exporting anything but colonial terrorism.

So here's the photo.


Good one, man, good one.

FFQF: Thoughts on Government, by John Adams

I'm doing my FFQF eleven hours early. I have a lot of writing assignments and need to dedicate my hours toward them tomorrow. Therefore, today I'll slide in this wonderful quote by John Adams. He wrote this himself in Thoughts on Government, in 1776. He was a brilliant thinker, despite his pugilistic nature.

"Government is instituted for the common good; for the protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness of the people; and not for profit, honor, or private interest of any one man, family, or class of men; therefore, the people alone have an incontestable, unalienable, and indefeasible right to institute government; and to reform, alter, or totally change the same, when their protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness require it."

How the times and beliefs of government's role have changed! Not for the better, either.

Mathematics and the Lottery

I've been waiting for this, waiting to see when this would happen:

Has Couple Found Formula to Win Lottery?

Verlyn Adamson, an accountant, said earlier in the week that he's a big fan of math puzzles. He claims he developed a formula for lottery picks, but his winnings have been small until now.

Thompson said the Adamsons are "exploring patent protection" for the equation.

But Steven Post, a mathematics professor at Edgewood College in Madison, said there is no way to devise a strategy for finding the winning numbers in a game that uses randomly generated numbers to determine the winning combination.

The only proven strategy would be to "buy all the tickets," he said.

The Adamson couple raked in $1.4 million dollars. That's quite a fluke, if you go by what professor Post said. I've often thought about strategies with random numbers/playing the lottery. I never really pursued any strategies, but I am gratified to see that others have. I look forward to seeing the formula. I have an inkling that a great number of people will suddenly become interested in the branch of mathematical science, and determine if this experiment is repeatable and observable, heh.

FFQF: The Incredible Samuel Adams

It's Friday!

I saw the HBO series "John Adams" this week. It was very well done, but sadly, there is a lot of "poetic license" involved with the film, which does John Adams great disservice. It is thoroughly ironic that in the movie, Adams himself derails the idea behind poetic license, when rebuking Jon Trumbull for his painting "The Signing of the Declaration of Independence." Grossly ironic, to say the least...

The part of the movie where Jefferson penned the Declaration reminded me of Samuel Adams' writing, "The Rights of the Colonists." He wrote it in 1772, and Jefferson's words of the Declaration bear striking resemblance to Adams' work. So my choice for FFQF this day is an excerpt from Adams' brilliant document. Read and enjoy!

Among the natural rights of the Colonists are these: First, a right to life; Secondly, to liberty; Thirdly, to property; together with the right to support and defend them in the best manner they can. These are evident branches of, rather than deductions from, the duty of self-preservation, commonly called the first law of nature.

All men have a right to remain in a state of nature as long as they please; and in case of intolerable oppression, civil or religious, to leave the society they belong to, and enter into another.

When men enter into society, it is by voluntary consent; and they have a right to demand and insist upon the performance of such conditions and previous limitations as form an equitable original compact.

Every natural right not expressly given up, or, from the nature of a social compact, necessarily ceded, remains.

All positive and civil laws should conform, as far as possible, to the law of natural reason and equity.

As neither reason requires nor religion permits the contrary, every man living in or out of a state of civil society has a right peaceably and quietly to worship God according to the dictates of his conscience.

"Just and true liberty, equal and impartial liberty," in matters spiritual and temporal, is a thing that all men are clearly entitled to by the eternal and immutable laws of God and nature, as well as by the law of nations and all well-grounded municipal laws, which must have their foundation in the former.

You can read the document in its entirety here. I recommend it-- it is enlightening and refreshing.

Go here for more FFQF goodness.

China "Holds" Bibles for "Smugglers"

The Chi-Coms are so thoughtful and helpful. When they "discovered" 300 Bibles in American suitcases, they offered to "hold" them.

The Bibles were taken from the group's checked luggage after they landed at the airport in the city of Kunming, said Pat Klein, head of Vision Beyond Borders. The group, based in Sheridan, Wyoming, distributes Bibles and Christian teaching materials around the world to "strengthen the persecuted church," according to its Web site.

The group arrived in China on Sunday and had intended to distribute the Bibles to people in the city, Klein told the AP in a telephone interview while still at the airport.

"I heard that there's freedom of religion in China, so why is there a problem for us to bring Bibles?" Klein said. "We had over 300 copies and customs took all of them from us."

Guess you were wrong, Klein.

"We don't want to go without taking those books. It cost us a lot of money to bring them here," Klein said. "They're saying that it's illegal to bring the Bibles in and that if we wanted to, we had to apply ahead of time for permission."

...The officer, who would only give her last name, Xiao, denied confiscating the Bibles. She said authorities were just "taking care" of them and provided no further details.

That's not freedom. Don't be fooled.

She's a Professor?!

There's a screwy story at WKTV: Hamilton College Professor Back From Beijing. Dr. Hong Gang Jin, who I am not familiar with, founded the college's Chinese studies program several years ago. She went to the Olympics in her home country, and returned. This is what she says, and more importantly, this is how she said it:

The professor says some Olympians in China start preparing at the age of three. Many at young ages head off to training centers. "Well I think people look at it differently because it's a profession and in a competitive country, if somebody has a chance starting at three, parents would probably think it's ok for them to get started as early as three while they get regular education," Jin said.

And there have been some reports in China of athletes who make the olympics [sic] being given gifts, some have been given homes. "I guess you know the government is using all types of incentives for people to work harder," Jin said. "I guess they use capitalist incentives to get golds and silvers."

Yes, I'd say people "look" at it differently. The children are forced into a state-chosen career, and the parents "would probably" think it's OK? What if some parents DON'T think it's OK? May the children stay home with their parents?

And I find it unconscionable that this Hamilton College Professor proclaims that China is using "capitalist incentives" for athletes to get gold and silver medals. There is NOTHING capitalist about forcing (or, strongly emphasizing, as the Chi-Coms "would probably" say) little kids into highly-competitive state-run systems and then bribing them with houses or cars.

Bribery (or rewards as the Chi-Coms "would probably" say) is not capitalism. Capitalism is the earned acquisition and ownership of PROPERTY (goods, services, real, etc) and the freedom to make a profit-- and keep it-- in a free market system as the property owner sees fit.

It is highly offensive that this Hamilton College professor smears the liberties of honest capitalism by comparing it with the slavery and bribery of Communist China.

I Entirely Concur

"I entirely concur in the propriety of resorting to the sense in which the Constitution was accepted and ratified by the nation. In that sense alone it is the legitimate Constitution. And if that is not the guide in expounding it, there may be no security "

James Madison (letter to Henry Lee, 25 June 1824)

This is part of the Favorite Founder's Quote Friday sponsored by Hercules Mulligan at Meet The Founders. I encourage you to participate.

Godless

An excellent and fun article at Copious Dissent today. It's so succinct that I am going to take the liberty of repeating it here. Please do visit the website, it's full of numerous tidbits like this.

You Might Be a Democrat If You Believe:

1) The New York Times should be your trusted source for politics.

2) We can solve our energy crisis by inflating our tires.

3) That the government can stop the sun from warming the earth and can set the global thermostat by raising taxes and restricting freedom.

4) Plastic bags are ruining the environment.

5) The only profits are windfall profits.

6) Government controlled health care based on rationing is better than health care based on choice.

7) Capitalism is evil unless you make millions writing a book attacking it.

8) The United Nations can cure poverty and hunger.

9) We should follow everything Europe does except flat taxes and nuclear power.

10) Killing a chicken is morally equivalent to killing a human.

I would ask just one question: why do liberal Democrats believe thus? Theophobe commented by saying that those who believe this way do not believe in God or that God will hold a person accountable. People do tend to look at issues in bits and pieces, and the things in this list are bits and pieces of a mathematical equation. The equation itself cannot be ignored. There is a humanist worldview that lies behind these bits and pieces.

Not a King, But a God! And He Has Spoken!

I read this at an "energy" blog.

As presumed Presidential nominee Barrack Obama taught us this week, it is vitally important for everyone to inflate their tires this weekend, and on a regular basis as well.

...If making sure your tires are inflated is equal to that amount, between the Republican solution (drilling), and the Democrat solution (inflating tires), we could lower our dependence on foreign oil by 30%-40% in 5-10 years. That is great progress! Way to go political leaders!

Barack Obama has "taught" us to check our tires? Where have I BEEN?! I've been checking my tires all these years without Barack Obama's permission! GOOD GOD, people! Repent ye! For the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!!

And these liberals are the same people that are so terrified of a Christian theocracy?

NY Thumbs Nose at Taxpayers

JUST when I had considered-- the tiniest glint of hope-- that maybe, eventually, at some point in the very distant future that New York State was going to change, I see this:

State Senate Passes Indian Tobacco Tax

This isn't punishing the Indians or making anything more "fair." This proposed law punishes-- once again, ad nauseum-- we the New York State taxpayers.

How dare we not pay tax on something!

Honeywell Hightails It

Honeywell, a "major" manufacturer in Upstate New York (these days, a "major" manufacturer in New York is now a manufacturer with 100+ employees) is leaving. For China.

"The time has come by which our competitive position will really be weakened if we don't make the right business decision and move forward," said Kevin Jost, Honeywell Vice President of Security Strategy.

Honeywell currently employees approximately 580 people in the area. The 300 manufacturing jobs are moving to China. Officials say they will work to provide severance packages and assist those employees as the search for new jobs.

The Very Junior Senator from New York, Sir Hillary Rodham Clinton, had this to say about the situation:

"I am deeply concerned about the Central New York economy, and Honeywell's announcement to send nearly 300 jobs overseas is alarming and harmful to this community of hardworking New Yorkers. It is unclear if the State of New York or the people of Skaneateles Falls were given a chance to make their case, but it is very clear that the workers whose jobs are on the line deserve to be heard. Tomorrow I will send a letter to the CEO of Honeywell requesting a meeting to discuss how and why this decision was made, what can be done to secure an alternative to this drastic decision, and Honeywell's long-term plan for the 250 jobs that remain at the Skaneateles facility. During this time of economic distress and uncertainty, it is imperative that we not only protect our workforce from moving overseas, but innovate and create new jobs."

Lady, if you don't know the "why" and "how" by now, you are either evil or retarded. It's TAXES, TAXES, TAXES! New York State sucks! We've been saying that around here for some 30-odd years, now! Hello?

Hillary, Where Are You?

Hillary, OH HILLARY! Where ARE you? [Cato bangs shoe on table]

Will the Very Junior Senator from New York please come forward? Remember New York and all her morons who voted you in office? Where oh where has that little dog gone?

Who Do They Think They Are-- Jack Bauer?!

Good heavens. The FBI is at it again. Aggressive tactics!

Before killing himself last week, Army scientist Bruce Ivins told friends that government agents had stalked him and his family for months, offered his son $2.5 million to rat him out and tried to turn his hospitalized daughter against him with photographs of dead anthrax victims.

The pressure on Ivins was extreme, a high-risk strategy that has failed the FBI before. The government was determined to find the villain in the 2001 anthrax attacks; it was too many years without a solution to the case that shocked and terrified a post-9/11 nation.

Proof once again that the U.S. Constitution does not reign in this country-- the "North American Bureaucracy" does.

The Government Wants Your Womb

Babies are a drag on the economy, government says.

FORGET those plans to have a third child for the country because further increases in the birth rate could harm the economy, the nation's productivity watchdog has warned.

A major analysis of the nation's increasing fertility rate said it was at its highest level for 25 years - but the Productivity Commission yesterday warned further increases may aggravate rather than solve the problem of the ageing [sic] of the population.

This is because it will shift women out of the workforce while they care for babies, depressing labour supply and reducing the taxation base as our population ages, the Daily Telegraph reported.

I think the tyrannical government is a drag on the economy. How about a loving abortion? How about we start a new policy: Every politician a wanted politician?

These politicians have far too much time on their hands, money in their pockets, and stupid thoughts in their heads. Never once does it cross their addled brains that maybe THEIR POLICIES are a drag on the economy?

Who Needs Principle When You've Got Sports?

What we'll tolerate for sports. Incredible.

Chinese police clamp down on city

China blames Islamic terrorists for threats and tensions

Police state in Beijing, for "security's" sake

Toxic smog worries athletes (but doesn't stop them from appearing)

Chinese border assault kills 16

American cyclists arrive in black masks

And these are just readily-available headlines; I didn't dig very deep to find the information.

I do not understand the mentality, "We're against what China is doing but we'll play along anyway." What the &@*$ is a mask in black supposed to do?!

On a sidenote: it is quite amusing to study in school how the ancients worshiped gods of wood, gold, silver, and stone. The students and professors titter and giggle and roll their eyes at how immature and silly those ancients were.






Mmmmmhmmm.

Why I am So Suspicious

"Is the relinquishment of the trial by jury and the liberty of the press necessary for your liberty? Will the abandonment of your most sacred rights tend to the security of your liberty? Liberty, the greatest of all earthly blessings - give us that precious jewel, and you may take every things else! Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect every one who approaches that jewel."

-- Patrick Henry (Speech to the Virginia Convention, 1788)

Another NY Radical Blogger

I've come across another great New York radical blogger (another Upstate blogger-- where are all those in Manhattan with backbone?). Not surprisingly, she's a grandma and a Christian. Here's what she had to say today:

About a month ago, I went out on a limb and posted that, sooner rather than later, we will be at war with Iran. Today, Think Progress posted an article stating that Cheney recently had a meeting in his office, looking for ideas on how to provoke a war with Iran that "the people" will support. The information came from Seymour Hersh, a Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist for The New Yorker:

HERSH: There was a dozen ideas proffered about how to trigger a war. The one that interested me the most was why don’t we build — we in our shipyard — build four or five boats that look like Iranian PT boats. Put Navy seals on them with a lot of arms. And next time one of our boats goes to the Straits of Hormuz, start a shoot-up.

Might cost some lives. And it was rejected because you can’t have Americans killing Americans. That’s the kind of — that’s the level of stuff we’re talking about. Provocation. But that was rejected.

Hersh argued that one of the things the Bush administration learned during the encounter in the Strait of Hormuz was that, “if you get the right incident, the American public will support” it.

“Look, is it high school? Yeah,” Hersh said. “Are we playing high school with you know 5,000 nuclear warheads in our arsenal? Yeah we are. We’re playing, you know, who’s the first guy to run off the highway with us and Iran.”

Like Mein Kampf, Operation Northwoods, PNAC, and others, all the dastardly plans of global domination are in print and readily available to the public eye. And it's all one of the reasons why I think the events of September 11 were inside jobs. Hold on to your hats, people-- do you think American world domination is going to occur without a draft of American men, without any cost to us "slaves" in the American economy?