tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20266450999344689292024-03-13T06:10:32.359-05:00It's like skinny dippin in a secret garden...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05098127331684338857noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026645099934468929.post-73351745034725690142015-01-08T08:14:00.001-06:002015-01-08T08:14:52.858-06:00The Frost Garden<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQXdMfTa3u_luY7uGoC7BQPW7RwjitGUiikfdc6YEly98bc3Tx8iDmbPxlJahzZYSXE0rPPwHKHmLiF-i-uK_29yM4eGFYIh7Y9l9sfxcNz1ZAfBsai84clekkJ05TFeYxM1T-FH4Bmz3/s1600/FrostWeed2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQXdMfTa3u_luY7uGoC7BQPW7RwjitGUiikfdc6YEly98bc3Tx8iDmbPxlJahzZYSXE0rPPwHKHmLiF-i-uK_29yM4eGFYIh7Y9l9sfxcNz1ZAfBsai84clekkJ05TFeYxM1T-FH4Bmz3/s1600/FrostWeed2015.jpg" height="280" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">The frost garden blooms once a year. If you camp in it, tell me the sounds these ice ribbons must make at the moment of formation. I was lazy and missed the magic event, but I did get up early enough to see the results in the moon light. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">For you, the best I can do for a night shot is to use the flash. Pictures after dawn will be better. </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05098127331684338857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026645099934468929.post-3103995575337207242014-12-03T18:26:00.003-06:002014-12-04T01:10:36.047-06:00The Last Days of Fall in the Garden<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn-ZChXkXEVSXtZVRECUIJ7LEwQqfkmUREOrpxq4alvWuYDbcAatPb6ZTJkX9fkF9p4t8SA3m9W-E12AFdHl1bPy4-M997PkYmv-EU53J2s6t14dImRh2IFnqEzJwNx2X5diq7iom2fy_y/s1600/20141202_154246.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn-ZChXkXEVSXtZVRECUIJ7LEwQqfkmUREOrpxq4alvWuYDbcAatPb6ZTJkX9fkF9p4t8SA3m9W-E12AFdHl1bPy4-M997PkYmv-EU53J2s6t14dImRh2IFnqEzJwNx2X5diq7iom2fy_y/s1600/20141202_154246.jpg" height="207" width="368" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fall signals its last days with blankets of leaves on the water</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Row row row your boat, gently down the stream ... merrily merrily merrily merrily, life is but a dream. Life is like a dream, and it is much less scary if one can perceive the whole situation from outside their little canoe. My head seems like a little canoe. I'm on the river and I can't see around the next bend. I can sometimes hear the rapids coming but I never know if these are the ones that are going to do me in or not. One glimpse from outside the dream is all I needed to be comforted about the river, the scary bends, and this dream I am living. No matter what happens, everything is going to be OK. I have full permission to relax and enjoy the ride because that's the best way to go down the river. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Life was meant to be enjoyed, but sometimes I ride down the rapids like a child who is terrified on a roller coaster. Yet, all I have to do to enjoy life is relax and have fun. There is no reason to be afraid of anything because we all have the ability to see the river from outside the boat anytime we want. It's as simple as letting go of the perspective from inside the boat for a little while. Well, that is harder for some than others. </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Seeing that there is more to existence than this dream we call life </span>is worth the effort for all to be comforted. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsoW-xDtcCKURKS4o5t1wfhNQziX1ABkoJCH42BtdlsZ8Shp4ClIgHCMKRDLmcLE_fofzq6diN9XijCArOT-LmiY4mLDaodQNFJ9T28biJkK55yVjD316Z60z91XF4IKrlHxPuaig50YVl/s1600/20141203_164421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsoW-xDtcCKURKS4o5t1wfhNQziX1ABkoJCH42BtdlsZ8Shp4ClIgHCMKRDLmcLE_fofzq6diN9XijCArOT-LmiY4mLDaodQNFJ9T28biJkK55yVjD316Z60z91XF4IKrlHxPuaig50YVl/s1600/20141203_164421.jpg" height="207" width="368" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One puffy north wind will soon unveil the Christmas decorations</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">There is no real effort required other than to let go of the thoughts that normally occupy our attention. Those thoughts are the only perspective of awareness that make the dream of life seem real. Those logical thoughts make us afraid of living because they make us think that the end of the ride is the end. There is no end. No one needs to believe that. One only must relax for a bit and let go of all thoughts altogether for a few minutes. This task is quite difficult for some, but it is doable. When the human brain is finally "really" silent, one's normal sense of awareness will begin to comprehend that its reference point has always been from inside the canoe. Only when the mind is quiet, one can experience for themselves that their normal perspective is but a small component of their whole self. I wish for everyone to invest the time and effort it takes to learn to perceive one's human experience from the perspective of their whole being. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It doesn't matter if someone is an atheist and they want to label what they will find as "multiple personalities". Nor does it matter if someone is a religious person and chooses to label what they will find as their soul. Everyone will find a great reward and comfort in their life if they take the time to get to know the whole of their own being. The gardens are beautiful and not much effort to tend what one will enjoy most.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05098127331684338857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026645099934468929.post-10629935012349092832014-11-09T09:39:00.000-06:002014-11-09T13:57:13.134-06:00Good Feeling Cold<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;"> James is wishing for wizardry with words to better describe his experience this morning. As he drifted off from his normally meaningless musing of the morning, he took a moment to contemplate: "I actually like the cold. I just like to be busy in the cold. Don't ask me to sit still in a room that is at 68 degrees fahrenheit; that is like the dead of a hungry winter to me! Why it could be 25 degrees outside and then it is a 'Good Feeling Cold'". </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3zZEDas0TzISBXba0B6FokAKdGzLrvKDTB08EJmKoAoanzR5qdWRSXIymNo_uVxGPnADbfu6hxL2iZXoa3EjemA5ua49bgMg6zau-Woc1WUGG1tjE4nI8DmQnEEC2VKCzRSCpgvxgPYDs/s1600/SDC10208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3zZEDas0TzISBXba0B6FokAKdGzLrvKDTB08EJmKoAoanzR5qdWRSXIymNo_uVxGPnADbfu6hxL2iZXoa3EjemA5ua49bgMg6zau-Woc1WUGG1tjE4nI8DmQnEEC2VKCzRSCpgvxgPYDs/s1600/SDC10208.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">And then he drifted off into a little trance. He experienced what he meant by a good feeling cold. He felt what it was like when last he experienced 25 degrees, riding up the ski-lift for the first snowboard run of the day. That's a good feeling cold when you are so excited that you don't even feel it. You unbutton your jacket in the wind to experience all that good feeling cold swash around your body, and your soul soaks it up and enjoys that cold air just as eagerly as it does the sun on the first day of spring.</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05098127331684338857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026645099934468929.post-67852445766237371502014-10-16T14:16:00.000-05:002014-10-20T12:16:57.093-05:00Forget learning about how to be a good human...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;">...that's an advanced study course, and you're still in pre-school. Your job is to remember how to be a good animal before you can be a good human. Yesterday, you learned how to pick a tree to climb, how to climb it, how to lay on its branch and take a nap. Today you will learn to eat a fruit.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFIJPVWDtORnpulS9k4TbnkzpwPzearHORboCh-A-Xr8Lpe716gfv-Or_epKEFsZOmpR8x5zpCm1AQvP4cGFJbWklqGLTrUO06CNk1xEBt0zobp92f4WdYMc_YKaf9BOmPsX4bR_lN8AY6/s1600/racoon+eating.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFIJPVWDtORnpulS9k4TbnkzpwPzearHORboCh-A-Xr8Lpe716gfv-Or_epKEFsZOmpR8x5zpCm1AQvP4cGFJbWklqGLTrUO06CNk1xEBt0zobp92f4WdYMc_YKaf9BOmPsX4bR_lN8AY6/s1600/racoon+eating.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">When a hungry animal tears into a succulent piece of fruit, </span><span style="font-size: large;">he does</span><span style="font-size: large;">n't devour it instantly to satisfy his hunger. He takes the time to appreciate the perfect union of hunger and bounty. He licks the inside of the fruit so gently that only his saliva is mixing with the tasty sugars inside. And on the next lick he has a little more sugar and a little more sugar. He doesn't have to worry about the seeds or the thorns because he is just tasting it for now. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hunger was meant to be savored. As a wise parent will teach a child, eat slowly and give your tummy time to know when it is full. It takes about 20 minutes for your tummy to tell your brain that it is full. The lesson should go further, even for those of us who have healthy weight. Eating can be a spiritual experience. Eating fruit with the Creator is like eating a meal with a gourmet chef who is sitting there explaining to you exactly how best to enjoy his creation. You can taste the juicy inside as it was meant to be enjoyed, in the perfect way, at the perfect moment. And, as you lick the inside of the fruit, your physical body will experience the perfect flavor, and even the perfect texture.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXMh9kZhqF4lWsLvEf2LmXDrtL1B7aOP46OpmDQqw4JHvWq2i4eo9bKarbpbbB4qfhFyrARfO6LcBGdzwGWx6yHir6nf1GunmJGJMToaubn7qTNnhWkR5gZBaeLpdoAb781Qsdpl7o0RSx/s1600/1054CG-Huey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXMh9kZhqF4lWsLvEf2LmXDrtL1B7aOP46OpmDQqw4JHvWq2i4eo9bKarbpbbB4qfhFyrARfO6LcBGdzwGWx6yHir6nf1GunmJGJMToaubn7qTNnhWkR5gZBaeLpdoAb781Qsdpl7o0RSx/s1600/1054CG-Huey.jpg" height="216" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Today was the first day that I've experienced eating a piece of fruit in this way ever before in my life. It was awesome! I never would have guessed that prickly pear fruit could taste so perfect. One lesson is this: focus less on eating the fruit and more on enjoying it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I've oddly decided to renovate a section of the secret garden. I'm not sure if the area I have chosen is historically part of the secret garden or adjacent to it, but this section was in particular need. The exhaust from one of those 'artificial' water retention ponds was washing a trench into this spot. I've only recently, and still tentatively, volunteered myself as a steward to this area. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/00Mb5USr6-AvUKe1sfAyRSkoc7wfG9XUIUKt4Ka0zec=w1338-h929-no" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/00Mb5USr6-AvUKe1sfAyRSkoc7wfG9XUIUKt4Ka0zec=w1338-h929-no" height="222" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">This area, along the bend of an often dry creek, has a new and deeper feeling for me. It seems as if some significant historical event happened here. I'd be so curious to know.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This garden has become the most beautiful place on earth to me as I've taken the time to notice each new flower. And even more exciting are the beautiful insects, like a pair of red dragon flies I saw flying in formation as miniature red barons. Unfortunately, my personal camera skills where not sufficient to capture the airshow. Shown above are flowers similar in color to the dragon flies, minus some cool black pent stripping. The flowers will sit still for a photo op, and so we can all appreciate their patience!</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rO8zIw06GZs/VDMM7aA2ljI/AAAAAAAAGuw/_u70u8IH7eY/w883-h497-no/20141006_155142.jpg" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="There is a snake in the garden" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">What garden would be complete without a snake? I met the owner of this on the trail this afternoon. </span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6GuptLfPNH8/VDMM7YdXLTI/AAAAAAAAGuw/MK9Zi-27xs0/w883-h497-no/20141006_155459.jpg" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">He was there on the trail, enjoying the sun and warming up after shedding his skin in the water. That is until I came up and scared him into a natural silt screen.</span></span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6GuptLfPNH8/VDMM7YdXLTI/AAAAAAAAGuw/MK9Zi-27xs0/w883-h497-no/20141006_155459.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a></div>
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<tr><td><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-npJsrFBlgag/VDMM7TshCPI/AAAAAAAAGuw/QBAJL5azCAI/w883-h497-no/20141006_155658.jpg" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Well now I'm a bit reluctant to sit in that cool stone chair that sits just under the brush piles that the snake likes to hang out in. I'm glad I noticed him before he slithered past me while I'm sitting down there.</span></span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QxnFb6Okj9w/VDMD__eN4BI/AAAAAAAAGqw/3iP7RDkhMtc/w523-h929-no/20141006_154909.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eJaE3R6tme4/VDMVN_hbxbI/AAAAAAAAFA4/ppFLZ9h26h4/w755-h668-no/20140107_124259.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eJaE3R6tme4/VDMVN_hbxbI/AAAAAAAAFA4/ppFLZ9h26h4/w755-h668-no/20140107_124259.jpg" height="283" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-size: large;">Remember there was a television sitcom where the plot was about a flower fanatic? The neighbor was growing a flower that will only bloom in the middle of the night, do you remember? Maybe it was Mr. Wilson? One must stay up all night to see the flower. So it is that this secret garden has a flower like that. It's called frost weed and it blooms on the first "cold as shit" night of winter. One must stay up all night to actually see it bloom because the ice usually pops out of the plant as the temperature drops far below freezing in the middle of a Texas winter's night. This 'ice' flower is a beautiful ribbon of frost. If you miss the moment of violent creation, you must at least get your lazy butt down to the garden before the winter sun (in Texas) melts the ribbons.</span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QxnFb6Okj9w/VDMD__eN4BI/AAAAAAAAGqw/3iP7RDkhMtc/w523-h929-no/20141006_154909.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QxnFb6Okj9w/VDMD__eN4BI/AAAAAAAAGqw/3iP7RDkhMtc/w523-h929-no/20141006_154909.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here, what looks a bit like a weed, I've highlighted some of them with rocks. Hopefully when it blooms this winter in a dazzling display of ice, I will have a nice picture with a neat rocky background. For now, the honey bees are enjoying the frost-weeds summertime foliage. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QQxMjweXehk/VDMM7YEq3dI/AAAAAAAAGuw/SQVtwregUNU/w883-h497-no/20141006_155229.jpg" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Meanwhile, I will continue to enjoy the flowers that are currently in full bloom also.</span></span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QQxMjweXehk/VDMM7YEq3dI/AAAAAAAAGuw/SQVtwregUNU/w883-h497-no/20141006_155229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Next time you eat a perfectly ripened fruit, imagine that you are a hungry young monkey discovering the taste of sweet fruit for the first time. This is how eagerly we should enjoy every moment of life. Here in the garden, beauty-berry bushes grow wild.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BeautyBerry</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">While the fruit is not sweet, it is edible. I've never eaten anything as bright of purple as this beauty-berry in all my life. Best of all, the leaves make a natural mosquito repellent that actually works better than "DeepWoods Off". Although, there is a strange side effect that the juice from the leaves also seems to attract flies. At least the flies don't bite, and you have a second mosquito repelling mechanism at work for you ... your hands swatting at the flies also keeps the mosquitoes away.</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05098127331684338857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026645099934468929.post-62780673891667048642014-04-17T17:56:00.002-05:002014-04-17T18:22:41.666-05:00The Mind - Body Connection<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyKkxLREgaJezkXm3U54FrwbnjkFzQOcwH3V5jg_5ctakR-nIJTbcDju4SxAt36H_Ve2Cl-f4yOrkevip4lZ1OHBpwS7I7CdleNNFfU8RtfY4vDWwl8xISewS0AlgTMzEH2L3Xx2GDE-W0/s1600/MindBody.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyKkxLREgaJezkXm3U54FrwbnjkFzQOcwH3V5jg_5ctakR-nIJTbcDju4SxAt36H_Ve2Cl-f4yOrkevip4lZ1OHBpwS7I7CdleNNFfU8RtfY4vDWwl8xISewS0AlgTMzEH2L3Xx2GDE-W0/s1600/MindBody.jpg" height="170" width="480" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This post is for anyone who believes that all new age mumbo-jumbo about the "Mind / Body" connection is bull-corn. This is a non-mumbo-jumbo presentation based on common medical data about how the human body works. I will frame all points in a context where anyone can experiment for themselves.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">To start, you will need two pairs of extremely comfortable socks. Go buy some new fancy socks now if you don't have a pair that just feel awesome. In one pair, cut out a dime sized hole in the toe, right where your big toe goes. Now, put the "holed" sock on and then shoes. Go about the rest of your day and keep a little journal of your mood. If that hole doesn't annoy you, please stop reading immediately and consult Jeff Foxworthy, because you might be a redneck. At the very least, that dime sized hole will catch your attention more than a little too often!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, at risk of being too dumb, I want to point out simply that discomfort in the body does get communicated all the way up to our brains, and that can absolutely affect our mood. Clearly there are obvious channels of communication that go from mind to body (clinching one's fist) and from body to mind (feeling annoyed by a hole in one's sock).</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We've all heard about comfort foods. My favorite is Skinner macaroni noodles smothered with a whole loaf of molten Velveeta. The next time you feel stressed, try this experiment: Cook up a whole bag of noodles and drench them with cheese. Fill up a full sized plate and stack it with as much as you can get on there. Sit at the table and spend 5 minutes writing about your mood before you eat. Then enjoy the food, and after you finish that plate, take a moment to savor how you feel. You are home, you are in a shelter, you are safe for the moment, your belly feels good, and you are just about to go eat another whole plate full of cheese smothered noodles. Just take a moment to notice how different your situation feels, and if its not any better ... I'm sorry, if that plate of mac-n-cheese doesn't make you feel better, then your problem is way serious. You have my condolences. Here's my point though: Our bodies, in response to what we eat, do send messages to our brains that affect our mood and how we experience life. And, even though we are often oblivious, there are rich streams of data that flow from our bodies to our minds all the time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Our normal daily thoughts would be completely overwhelmed if every part of our bodies kept in touch as loudly as a big toe in the hole of a sock, and we would be beyond "annoyed" 24/7 if we noticed every part of our body that much and that often. Our minds naturally train themselves to grow accustomed to those signals, but the signals are still being sent 24/7 and we are capable tuning our senses to any one signal. Like anything else, with practice, we can get better and better at detecting all the subtle little messages that our bodies constantly report to our minds.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We should also remember that much information within the body is transmitted via chemical reactions ... like the release of adrenaline as an obvious example. Chemical reactions take longer to propagate through the body to be processed by our brains. So, the importance of that is to understand that there may be a long delay between the time when you punished your body doing something stupid, and the moment when you realize that you hurt yourself, like a hangover for example. Many signals are more subtle than a hang over. Some signals from body to mind are more difficult to detect, harder to know what is the proper corrective action, and easier to lead to chronic harm. These are the bad habits which we refuse to quit, in part because we fail to comprehend the connection between:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="color: #783f04;"><b>1. a barrage of, "Help me, this makes me hurt!" signals coming from our bodies after we eat an Ultimate Cheeseburger at 2 AM</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> AND</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="color: #783f04;"><b>2. how that can affect our mind and/or mood in a negative way at 10 AM the next day</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Try and open your mind to confusion. Sometimes an Ultimate Cheeseburger "IS" just what you needed at 2 AM ... so your body sends you "Happy" signals ... but then other times the same food will illicit "Not-so-Happy" signals after you eat it. How does one sort all of this out?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is where meditation comes in. For starters, when you shut off the mindless chatter inside your head, it is easier to notice the more subtle signals being transmitted around in your body. Try putting your favorite pair of socks back on, the ones without a hole. Take the time to notice exactly how the tip of your toe feels with a good sock. Seriously, spend 15 minutes just focusing on the tip of your toe with the good sock on. Probably normally you would never give it a thought. Give it a try because this is good practice for your mind, and it is a form of meditation. The purpose is to exercise your mind so that you get better at recognizing the signals that your body constantly transmits, good or bad. When you learn to detect more of these signals, you will become more aware of the condition that your body is really in. You will become more aware of foods that you need to eat and activities that you need to do in order to make your body "feel" better. You will also become more "body aware" in general, and in some cases you will notice posture or other habits that adversely affect your health. You will also understand better about what you need to do to get the results that you want. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's simple advice really; take a moment to notice all the little details, the subtleties about the way everything feels. It doesn't hurt to apply the same technique to data that streams in from outside as well. There is a wealth of information constantly available to our conscious minds all around us all the time. There is nothing spooky about it. All we have to do to make use of that information is slow down and take the time to notice it. To get better, practice noticing those subtle streams of information. That's all meditation is ... time spent noticing data that you are normally oblivious to.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now, I believe it is without argument that data communication between mind and body is "two-way". Obviously we can send electrical signals down to our hands to form fists. Probably you have noticed that when you get stressed out, your mental situation alone makes your stomach hurt. My only suggestion is that you have the ability to communicate with more parts of your body than you've ever previously taken the time to notice. Again, remember that when communications span over longer distances, it happens at a slower pace than the speed of thought. Sometimes the communication of data is not complete until a long chain of chemical reactions occur and diffuse throughout. Awareness is not an instant event in the body; it happens more slowly. This is why it is helpful to slow down, clear the mind, give the body time to process, and learn to focus on the subtleties of how we feel ... "inward reflection" as they say in mumbo-jumbo-ese. There is nothing magical or superstitious about it. The simple fact is that the streams of information available to our minds have more depth and complexity than we can handle all at once. When we shut down the normal dialog that we have in our head, close our eyes, and find a quiet place, then we will have more attention for noticing the less obvious mind/body connections that we all have.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">If you would like to give it a try, there are tons of guided meditations that you can follow on YouTube. I'm too busy for all this new age crap too, but I find that some of the meditations do help me sleep better. Some of the sound tracks are are just white noise, while others are designed to help you dream more. There are many choices and no reason not to experiment to see if any of them will help you feel better and/or help you achieve your goals in life and health.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05098127331684338857noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026645099934468929.post-56416803778079611892014-01-22T12:36:00.003-06:002014-01-22T13:02:22.684-06:00...a rebuttal to "Ancient Aliens" suggestion that rapid technological advancements started with alien intervention<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;">In legend, credit for the invention of the Samurai sword is somewhat given to spirits. Even today some people will give credit for a moment of inspiration to a god or prayer. The show "Ancient Aliens" attempts to give credit for human progress to alien visitors. I get somewhat offended by that message in general which I hear as: "Your human mind is too weak and feeble to invent these great new technologies. Of course the humans of ancient civilizations would not have been intelligent enough to do this on their own." Frankly, the first part of that message pisses me off. When I hear that message from religious sources, it pisses me off even more. I want to send this message to the world: "YOUR MIND IS FREAKING AWESOME. YOUR MIND IS AN INCREDIBLY POWERFUL TOOL. YOUR MIND IS OPTIMIZED AND READY TO CREATE AMAZING ADVANCEMENTS AND NEW CREATIONS!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">To state my point bluntly to "Ancient Aliens" and those who would believe this way: you don't need no stinkin' aliens, or gods, to explain the advancements of mankind along the way. We're freaking awesome dudes and dudettes; we have the brain power to do whatever we are motivated to do.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Inspiration is not even particularly remarkable. We all have moments of inspiration. We all think: "...dang, if only I had some little dilly-dally that was shaped to fit that thingy there I want..." and we get a little visual or some impression in our minds of what might solve our little problem. It happens all the time and yet most of the time we don't give those seeds of an idea a second thought because we are so busy executing our normal routines of meeting daily needs. Now, we put our-self in the Japanese blacksmith's shoes ... instead of blacksmiths, imagine the task is whatever you are best at ... even if what you are best at is skateboarding. The point is that the innovation which often happens is in a person's field of expertise; they are already good at it. If you aren't good at anything, go learn how to do something, anything well --- others do all the time, its not hard if you work at doing anything in particular ... "YOU CAN DO THAT" ... you can learn how to do something well; this is within your human capability.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Next, we want to imagine that we are going through the same process that the blacksmith went through. What if we lock ourselves in a room and brainstorm for 7 days straight with an equally intelligent partner? If we did nothing but eat, sleep, and drink "skateboarding", would we not come up with some freaking awesome new ideas to try? If our game happened to be blacksmith-ing, and we are already well known and respected blacksmiths, would we not have the ability to come up with some ideas on how to make the steel better? If anyone doesn't understand this, they need to think about their passion. What would they most love to do? What would they think is a blessed vacation to be locked away from the rest of the world for a week doing? Actually, for the blacksmith, it was more like he spent a week "thinking" about what he was going to do for the next month. This is what we call a brainstorming session and it is not that remarkable. The only thing remarkable about the invention of the samurai sword is that their society was advanced enough for a tradesman to save up enough resources to dedicate 7 days to "thinking". Actually, let's be even more realistic, he spent that time with his dedicated assistant, so that's actually 14 days invested in "thinking". There are countless examples of awesome ideas coming out of such brainstorming sessions. It is not remarkable and any human is just as capable of such feats if:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">1. You dedicate the time and effort to learn a trade.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">2. You become good enough at your trade and produce enough value such that you have the resources to dedicate 14 days "thinking" with an equally dedicated partner.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now getting back to the story of the samurai sword. After the 7 days of "prayer", the blacksmith and his assistant then spent the next 31 days trying the ideas they came up with. Since he was with his assistant, that represents an investment of 62 days. How many people can afford to take off "work" for 2 and 1/2 months (counting brainstorm time) to work on some new invention? There's nothing remarkable about the invention, what is remarkable is that his society and his part in the society had enabled him to invest so much time and effort into a new invention. In our modern world this happens all the time. People work on the trades they work on. They build up a "shop" around them; they make the tools of their trade a part of their daily life and they are passionate about the work they do. Our modern inventors frequently get to a point where they have the resources to invest in ideas, and then they make beautiful new things that we all enjoy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And finally, getting back to my overall reason for picking a fight with "Ancient Aliens", my goal is to make everyone aware of this message that we see all around us: "You can't do this, you're not smart enough to invent the samurai sword, no humans are capable of such amazing invention; you need a god or an alien for that." That message is HORSE-SHIT. Please!!! Stop believing that message, conveying that message, or worse, letting that message get to you and make you believe that you are not capable of amazing creations! We are all human, we all have incredible minds, there is no excuse for mediocrity. Be passionate my friends!</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05098127331684338857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026645099934468929.post-90667722188914919502013-09-27T10:53:00.001-05:002013-09-27T10:53:42.005-05:00It does matter if your state will recognize gold and silver as legal money!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;">We live in a world where our central government does immensely more than it is authorized to do. Lawyers are creative rascals though, and masters at using natural human behavior to manipulate people to get what they want. The tool that they use best is money! Politicians know that all they need to do to gain more control is this: make up really good excuses to raise taxes and then give the money back. Giving the money back in the form of popular programs that appeal to people's sense of fairness makes it constantly easier to make up more excuses to raise more taxes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In some cases, this was a good deal for people too because the government could operate with an economy of scale and produce many results for lower costs than any other organization. We got good things like cheap electricity from the Hoover Dam and Social Security for our elderly. When the government made good decisions, the whole country shared the success and we were acquiescent when they came asking for higher and higher percentages of our money. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Slowly, the rule makers in Washington D.C. figured out that they could easily attach requirements to the money as they gave it back. This tactic worked on both individuals and smaller autonomous units of government like states, counties, and cities. An example is the wide spread adoption of zoning laws and building codes. Cities are required to adopt certain standards in order to get grant money for expansion projects. People easily forget that if their own money wasn't taken away in taxes, they would be able to afford their own expansion projects locally. They wouldn't need the grant money or the "cookie-cutter" rules that come with the money; rules which may or may not be beneficial for local circumstances.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The bottom line also comes down to the fact that the feds are taking more than they are giving now. What started out as a great deal, with everyone sharing in the benefit, has become pitted with corruption, waste, and bad decisions. In some cases the power shift that has occurred has led to outright abuse of some citizens. It is in our best long term interest to subject the power brokers to competition for that power. Even if we can't take the power away, we can force them to give us a better deal. We can force them to clean up some of the corruption, and we can hold them more accountable for bad decisions. We can use money as a tool to control them just as easily as they use it as a tool to control us!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">What does all this have to do with gold or silver?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">US dollars are owned and controlled from the federal power structure. The more dollars are used and the more people depend on them, then the more effective the "strings" --attached to the dollars-- are at controlling us. We have given away our autonomy in exchange for our own money to be given back. Tax reform, federal government reform, and fiscal policy reform would all be the best way to deal with the problems we endure, but how often do oppressors suddenly have a virtuous change of heart? Another strategy to take our power back is to simply stop using US dollars. We set ourselves free from the "strings" when we no longer want what the strings are attached too. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The only federally legal replacement for US dollars is gold and silver. It is yet another last resort tool that our founding fathers gave us to use to escape oppression. So, please, I implore you, use gold and silver as a tool to reduce your need for USD and all those strings. Support movements in your state to recognize gold and silver as money. Save silver coins under the oak tree rather than imaginary dollars in a bank account. If you control a business, accept payment in silver or gold. For the states that already accept silver and gold as money, pay your taxes in that. Starve the beast! US dollars can go worthless overnight, so this is in your personal best interest anyway.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Lastly, there is another form of money that is currently legal to use. It is the "gold" of the internet: Bitcoin. Google Bitcoin, learn about trading it <a href="http://crypto-daytrader.blogspot.com/">here</a>, starve the beast, and benefit yourself and your family in the process!</span><br />
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<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05098127331684338857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026645099934468929.post-76840139878161798352013-06-04T16:25:00.001-05:002013-06-04T16:36:48.586-05:00The Rise and Fall of Crappers<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Sometimes you just need a quiet moment to relax and unwind; and that's kinda hard to get when the office crapper has more foot traffic than 6th street on a Saturday night. For the lucky ones of us "Office Space" types, there are often other options. In my office space world, the place to go when you "have to go" was the 4th floor john on the opposite side of the building. It was just outside some lawyer office, and those guys had the good shit when it comes to shitters. I may not swim with sharks, but it was kinda nice shitting with those snakes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">It was always a little bit of a walk, but they had freakin' Bed Bath & Beyond hand soaps in there. The fixtures and tile were all new, and if you went in right at 2, you could often be the first to soil the soily. It was the place to be, like an awesome plush bar that not everyone knew about yet. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Time happens though. When you got a good thing goin' people find out about it. People come far and wide, and people make "the place to be" turn into the place to be cliché. In some cases they make it worse, as in the place to be stanked upon. If you have discerning tastes when it comes to bathroom accommodations, you must always be on the hunt. A good john is hard to find, and a good john is even harder to keep. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">You can never rule anyplace out though. Just remember, like any dive bar, a crapper is only one renovation away from a grand opening with new upscale clientele. Fortunately, as the 4th floor bastion of waste descended into the sewer, the 3rd floor pooper room got a new look. What once invoked thoughts of fear and, "I'm not gonna sit down here!" is now the newest, un-smelliest, most lightly traveled place to park your poop hole in the whole office building complex.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05098127331684338857noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026645099934468929.post-25901632750958466472013-05-29T15:26:00.001-05:002013-05-29T15:28:47.561-05:00The First All Night Dance Party<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There's nothing like a weekend long music festival to help you reconnect with your ancient roots, especially when your tent gets flooded by rain on the first night ... and after 12 hours of <strong style="background-color: white; color: #777777; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; outline: none;"><a href="http://www.pureperceptionrecords.org/newreleases/welcome-to-pangea-pt-6/">psychedelic music</a>, </strong></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">even I began to see visions of times past.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I saw nomadic tribes of humans; I saw the first tribe large enough to have elders with saving wisdom, musicians, children, and mothers. I could see the evening starting with the elders sitting around the camp fire. You see, they know before anyone else that a rain storm is coming. They know that the children will soon be frightened by a distant thunder, and they know to build the main fire up extra warm this night.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Having pitched a tent myself the night before, making new friends, sharing food and drink, I easily imagined the routine of all the families. Many of them, like me, were unprepared for a change in the weather. Still, what a wonderful way to spend the evening, laughing with new friends, <i>high</i> in the mountains. Even off at their own little camp sites, everyone can hear the steady beat from the drums at the main fire.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As word of the approaching storm makes its way around camp, some know to take a nap while the napping is good. Others head up to the main fire for stories, chants, drums, and dance. The night is still normal save for the fire is warmer, the winds stronger, and the drums louder. At Pangea Pt. 6 "The New Age of Atlantis," I was one of the nappers ... that is until the rains came through my tent. When the beds get wet, and all the little fires go out, that is when the whole tribe joins the dance party!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's warm there around all the other people. Everyone joins in, young and old; well, everyone with wet beds joins in the dance. The dancing keeps us feeling alive and the trance like state from the drums makes us feel oddly rested when the morning light comes. New friendships become stronger and the fear of cold and hunger fade away. </span><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/eB7Nq5rmtio?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It was funny watching certain members of my new tribe and how instinctively they acted at dawn. I can only imagine that throughout time there were always a few who dropped everything at dawn to tidy the main camp. Others, less inspired like me, joined in simply because of the good example that was being set. And so a new day begins with a new set of toils and dangers. Those of us who danced all night are better prepared to face it than those who grew sick in their cold wet beds.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If the sun comes up, we dry our tents and sleep, but if the rains stay; we do it all again.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05098127331684338857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026645099934468929.post-59571963339999012982013-05-02T09:12:00.000-05:002013-05-02T13:06:17.881-05:00How to tell if giving someone money is the right thing to do<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Suppose your child, or friend, or a stranger on the street asks you for some money. What do you do? What do you ask yourself? How do you justify either giving them money, or denying their request?<br />
<br />
Some of the questions that swirl through my head are: "Why did they let themselves get into this position?", or "Why does this person always need help?". I'm fixated on the person and their need and how if they took better care of themselves, then they wouldn't be bothering me right now.<br />
<br />
I find myself giving the bum a $1 because I think he needs it, and I give it grudgingly because I think he shouldn't need it. Surely this is a warped way to view an experience of giving and receiving. <br />
<br />
So, I've decided that there is a better way to think in this situation. I will change my focus from the requester's need, to the requester's ambition. If the beggar has any ambition, I simply ask myself: "is the ambition good, and will this gift help enable that ambition?"<br />
<br />
Of course, there are those folks who just don't seem to have any ambition at all. Perhaps the question for that is, "Which action will stir up the most ambition in this person, giving money, or withholding it?"</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05098127331684338857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026645099934468929.post-66487915774213132532012-11-13T22:05:00.000-06:002012-11-13T22:53:54.961-06:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Here is a good example of how assumptions make for bad policy. The lady who wrote this poem is as thin and healthy as you can get. By the sound of this poem, she doesn't stay that way by eating a government recommended diet:</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>No
“Thanks” for Thanksgiving Dinner (2014?)</b></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><b>A
timely piece of poetry by Cari Bieter</b></i></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Thanksgiving
Day is coming</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
And
I can easily wait!</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The
tofu turkey’s in the oven,</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
So
I’ll be good and late!</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
How
times have changed, my darlings—</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
As
I remember well</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Aromas
from the kitchen,</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Oh,
how I loved that smell!</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Mom
was in her apron,</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
All
day fixing stuff!</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Pumpkin
pies and candied yams—</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I
could never get enough!</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
A
great big bowl of dressing</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Was
stuffed into the bird.</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I
watched her pop it in the oven</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Without
saying a word!</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Our
relatives would pile in,</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The
house was such a clutter!</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I
could hardly wait to taste</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Those
rolls with lots of butter!</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Our
table would be <i>groaning</i></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
With
sweets and fatty food!</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
No
one cared—we dug right in</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Because
it tasted good!</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Heaps
of mashed potatoes</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
with
gravy thick and tasty;</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Drumsticks
plump and juicy,<br />
<span style="text-align: left;"> Pumpkin’
pies & pastry!</span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiap9HZRTpKjg-M6mFp4qIIBdYNKSdQrC2h3twFP5FU0tntRz_g4pjqXXLL1kHGAM_SK8RcDYC_Xh5vjQ1pPFvrM2uqpMOuvvxtt22laf6JU1p2FN6wxrpQv8YqiHS86x2ZSlEERrIDdlMr/s1600/RoundPumpkinPie2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiap9HZRTpKjg-M6mFp4qIIBdYNKSdQrC2h3twFP5FU0tntRz_g4pjqXXLL1kHGAM_SK8RcDYC_Xh5vjQ1pPFvrM2uqpMOuvvxtt22laf6JU1p2FN6wxrpQv8YqiHS86x2ZSlEERrIDdlMr/s320/RoundPumpkinPie2012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Alas,
those days are over,</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
My
taste buds dormant now.</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The
tofu turkey’s roasting,</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
And
I shall take a vow:</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I
shan’t enjoy my dinner</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
On
this Thanksgiving Day!</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Without
the buttered, candied yams</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
And
mincemeat pies—no way!</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Here
comes Uncle Herbert</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
A
bottle under his arm.</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Is
it wine? Or champagne?</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
No!
They might do us harm!</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Bottled
water is my gift—</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
A
welcome change of pace!”</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
We
sit down at the table,
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
No
smile on my face!!</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The
government has told us</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
In
no uncertain terms—</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
To
gain an ounce is evil,</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
As
bad as getting germs!</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
No
sweets, no fat, no real meat,</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
And
butter is the devil!</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I’ll
fixate on the good old days,</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
In
those memories I shall revel!</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Tofu
turkey, sprouted bread,</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Organic
veggies too.</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
And
for dessert? There’s no dessert—</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Sugar
is taboo!!</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
******</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Happy
Thanksgiving, my dears!</b></i></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05098127331684338857noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026645099934468929.post-17801167464782083462012-11-09T23:45:00.001-06:002012-11-10T08:19:32.811-06:00Elections are over and my choices didn't win.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;">Post vote challenge:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Are you disgruntled that your vote didn't count for as much as you wanted it too? Are you worried that the election is over and the country is still doomed for more decline? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Here's an easy way to make a difference. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">It will take even less effort than driving to the polling station and waiting in line for 30 minutes to cast your vote. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Do you really care enough to make our country better for the average tax paying citizens? Here's what you can do:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1. Go to www.congress.org</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWdp5S8qV-Jb6pX1R99ot_zG4NpzKGvSqHRnfIpI9w4veU_agro_oFE4o0En7DU_e4MGPR1awGryYrj89RmgNIGRgs5pv87bGSVOai60V6B4y7_odgE6bsUd2eOXgF1LqyJQCgUq8__96_/s1600/VoterChallenge1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWdp5S8qV-Jb6pX1R99ot_zG4NpzKGvSqHRnfIpI9w4veU_agro_oFE4o0En7DU_e4MGPR1awGryYrj89RmgNIGRgs5pv87bGSVOai60V6B4y7_odgE6bsUd2eOXgF1LqyJQCgUq8__96_/s400/VoterChallenge1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">2. Select the option to write to your representatives, remembering that they are supposed to represent you whether you voted for them or not.</span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcUi0lVOLgBjxyk48WJQEh0PWZos8vqVGDo0HTEkpwrMpi3NYWMOnMifyFdifj5kMDDAdpyMdcihLBxCdmnQi2MaLNDL5P_DX_cXn_3iN-_DVuNZ5CxYUXAUeDDLP5B5qi3yKnAWZQnZCq/s1600/WriteThemPoliticians.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcUi0lVOLgBjxyk48WJQEh0PWZos8vqVGDo0HTEkpwrMpi3NYWMOnMifyFdifj5kMDDAdpyMdcihLBxCdmnQi2MaLNDL5P_DX_cXn_3iN-_DVuNZ5CxYUXAUeDDLP5B5qi3yKnAWZQnZCq/s400/WriteThemPoliticians.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">3. Drop them a quick note to let them know that you are watching them, even if it is a bluff. Here's what I sent to my reps:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Dear Representative,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I ask simply for your support when writing and passing laws. I encourage you to always put the interests of individual Americans ahead of the interests of those who petition you constantly via lobbyists. We the people have been neglected for a while now and the whole country is suffering for it. Please empower us to succeed and we will help the whole country succeed. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">As requests are made by lobbyists, please take the time to consider the real impact those requests will have on individual Americans. Will the policy in your consideration help one group at the expense of another, or at the expense of individuals? The lobbyists will always make it seem fair, but I'm asking you to see through their persuasions.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We need a break, and I'm counting on you to give it to us. What is best for the MPAA, GM, Exxon, Boeing, and Goldman Sachs, is NOT best for the country. The last few years have proven that. Please represent the people for a while at least. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I voted, I care, and I'm watching how you represent me.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Sincerely,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">4. Fill out your name and address and the website will send your letter to your correct representatives.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This will have more impact for the good of the county than your vote did, and it will take you less time than it did to drive down to the voting station and wait in line.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05098127331684338857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026645099934468929.post-749129866203637392012-08-11T12:56:00.000-05:002012-08-20T13:50:43.875-05:00Travesty of a Failed Traffic Stop<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;">At 10:35PM on Interstate 35, a routine traffic stop went horribly awry. Williamson County Deputies, Johnny Ray B. and Billy Bob M., stopped a car for a moving violation. They claimed that the driver failed to give a turn signal prior to changing lanes. In actuality, the officers suspected the driver of being intoxicated because he was only going 73 mph in a 75 mph speed zone.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDox3GiQbW0irt5bPi6nZijO1PBmy1C1tvDyYNiIiVYY_JbROiIaZOIgiWhzy0G-iHVcpwK8h_KbC0Jn6vRVrANYr1Slus18suZvlwykADgdyc86oUTpmz1InTfjBHsbVwMEZeKGAQ_cyY/s1600/PoliceCarFar.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDox3GiQbW0irt5bPi6nZijO1PBmy1C1tvDyYNiIiVYY_JbROiIaZOIgiWhzy0G-iHVcpwK8h_KbC0Jn6vRVrANYr1Slus18suZvlwykADgdyc86oUTpmz1InTfjBHsbVwMEZeKGAQ_cyY/s320/PoliceCarFar.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">Upon approaching the vehicle, the officers noticed absolutely nothing as being out of place. The driver appeared to be completely clear headed and there was no smell of liquor on his breath. They spoke to the young man, asking him where he had been, where he was going, and why was he driving so slow. Unsatisfied, officers B. and M. began to direct their questions more specifically about exactly what did the young man have for dinner. The driver grew agitated and appeared suspicious when officer Johnny Ray B. informed him that "fries" were not a particularly healthy choice to go along with his chicken fried steak entree. The deputies then admonished the driver for not getting steamed vegetables instead, and then ordered him: "Please step out of the car, sir."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The driver reluctantly complied with the politely stated command and stepped out of his car. To the growing dissatisfaction of the officers, the driver walked perfectly normal, and his demeanor was calm and collected. The officers then proceeded to question him further, getting in his face a little and watching to see if he would stumble backwards. Officer B. went back to the cruiser to run the license and registration while Officer M. proceeded to question the suspect. "Sir, how often exactly do you go to Twin Peaks for dinner? ...and why has it taken you until approximately 11pm to get headed home? ... are you hiding something from me son? ...do you have any drugs in your car? ...are you sure you didn't have one drink with your dinner? If you're hiding something, it'd be a wholes lot better if you just go on ahead and tell me right n...."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Officer B. returned with an imperative look on his face, and then he began to interrogate the driver. "Our records show that you have two drivers licenses, this one you gave me from Florida, and another expired Texas license on file. Do you realize that it is illegal to have two licenses ...you care to explain why you have two drivers licenses for me son?" </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The young man began to explain,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">"I just moved back to Texas, but working full time and studying for a very important exam, I haven't had a chance to take yet another day off work to get my Texas drivers license renewed. I thought that I only needed to turn in my old license and then get a new Texas license, but after the 3rd trip to the DMV, I was told to bring in either a birth certificate or US passport. Then they also said I would have to schedule an 'in-car' driving test." </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Officer B. replied,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">"Son, you've got to do what you've got to do, but just remember that I'm gonna be watchin' you. Comprende? I'm going to give you a warning this time, but if I catch you again with that Florida license, it's gonna be bad. I'll give you until Monday to get that taken care of, sir."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDkMF4RJuxGufbxGnzpsooW85IA72_2p11FMdXXMg1p7yH12saV_3PCY3jnyxLrrGahhrW1xKh7535WeiL-xLlmFRJw3Qm4rWM8ONrzb5ZZCTgX1OTdbwnjf7jVKAlWT2PWKI1e_4yKIpR/s1600/PoliceCarClose.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDkMF4RJuxGufbxGnzpsooW85IA72_2p11FMdXXMg1p7yH12saV_3PCY3jnyxLrrGahhrW1xKh7535WeiL-xLlmFRJw3Qm4rWM8ONrzb5ZZCTgX1OTdbwnjf7jVKAlWT2PWKI1e_4yKIpR/s320/PoliceCarClose.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">The officers nodded and gave the driver a warning ticket for failing to change lanes in a safe manner and then they left. The young man was still nervous as he got back into his car. The whole event was quite unsettling. But, he managed to merge back onto the freeway and get home. He was still shaking as he got home and removed a small box from his car. He carried it in and sat it on the table in front of him. The anxiety and fear from the traffic stop swelled in his veins as he lifted what was in the box up to his head. With shaking hands, he placed one end of what he had in the box into his mouth and spun the cylinder on his favorite pistol ... lighter. He took a deep breath and drew the flame in from the other end of that rolled up paper that he just gotten safely home with. He thought, "whew, that was close," and laid down giggling. Later in the night, he had an uncontrollable urge to heat up a frozen pizza and eat the whole thing himself. Then, he fell asleep, full and happy.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">If only those officers had done a better job, that young man could have been saved from his pizza binge happy evening. If only it were customary for every vehicle to be searched at every traffic stop, not just vehicles driven by Mexicans; this travesty could have been prevented. That young man could have been arrested and thrown in jail as he rightfully deserved. His car could have been confiscated and sold by the county, and thousands of dollars in fines could have been raised for the county as well. That's not even to mention the lost opportunity to have this young man's record permanently tainted so he would have problems finding and keeping jobs. Such travesty, all because officers B. and M. were not quite diligent enough to discover the hidden contraband.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Well, no worries; deputy Billy Z. has a new prospect. They just pulled over a Mexican looking woman because it appears that her rear license plate light is not sufficiently illuminating. Deputy officers B. and M. are almost as happy as a fat man taking a dump because this girl is about to crack. Deputy Johnny Ray is lookin' for his flashlight; they gonna get to put somebody in jail tonight!</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05098127331684338857noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026645099934468929.post-38655637221915742042012-05-25T15:12:00.000-05:002012-05-25T15:12:13.784-05:00The cost of banking fraud and the butterfly effect<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;">Let's talk about shooting yourself in the foot, or rather, avoiding that uncomfortable limp. Please open your mind to the impossible. Let's talk about how "always" and "never" almost always have exceptions. For example, we might think that catching a burglar is "always" a good thing, right? Well, let's consider the possibility that allowing a crook to rob a bank might be good for us all in the long run.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><iframe bordercolor="#000000" frameborder="0" height="200" hspace="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/N7433.148119.BLOGGEREN/B6534887.1188;sz=200x200;ord=[timestamp]?;lid=41000000000342669;pid=1011453;usg=AFHzDLu0Km6Ix7sdWNR9aMcWkEx0q8O-0g;adurl=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.kohls.com%252Fupgrade%252Fwebstore%252Fproduct_page.jsp%253FPRODUCT%25253C%25253Eprd_id%253D845524892896988%2526mr%253AtrackingCode%253D683FFF1E-C472-E111-9D2A-001517B188A2%2526mr%253AreferralID%253DNA;pubid=545923;imgsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.kohls.com.edgesuite.net%2Fis%2Fimage%2Fkohls%2F1011453%3Fwid%3D500%26hei%3D500%26op_sharpen%3D1;width=200;height=200" vspace="0" width="200"></iframe></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">To understand the concept that is about to be presented, as it applies to the banking industry, please first consider the value of the internet and the value of our recent digital revolution to the banking industry. Computers and online banking systems save banks from needing as many tellers, agents, and other staff. Depending on the size of the bank, their Information Technology department (IT) might save them 50 million dollars per year in employee costs. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Also, that same infrastructure might drive new profit for the bank, possibly another 50 million per year. Out of this windfall profit/savings of 100 million, the bank might spend 40 million per year on IT services and hardware. That leaves the bank 60 million ahead thanks to their IT department.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><iframe bordercolor="#000000" frameborder="0" height="200" hspace="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/N7433.148119.BLOGGEREN/B6535997.677;sz=200x200;ord=[timestamp]?;lid=41000000005217789;pid=21670639;usg=AFHzDLuS4UIbsxxHpWHoJojK6pmxNaoEVg;adurl=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.officemax.com%252Foffice-supplies%252Fpens-pencils-markers%252Fmarkers%252Fcounterfeit-detection%252Fproduct-prod2240102%253Fcm_mmc%253DPerformics-_-Office%252520Supplies-_-Pens%252C%252520Pencils%252C%252520and%252520Markers-_-Markers%2526ci_src%253D14110944%2526ci_sku%253D21670639;pubid=545923;imgsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.officemax.com%2Fcatalog%2Fimages%2F397x353%2F21670639i_01.jpg;width=200;height=177" vspace="0" width="200"></iframe></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Every year, the bank evaluates the performance of their IT department and the profitability of their online banking services. They might discover that they can spend 50 million on IT and make an extra 100 million dollars as a result. Now the bank is 150 million ahead.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> <iframe bordercolor="#000000" frameborder="0" height="200" hspace="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/N7433.148119.BLOGGEREN/B6534932.590;sz=200x200;ord=[timestamp]?;lid=41000000005617196;pid=8085437;usg=AFHzDLulzJnCsAIOqIcJDP5UFmsmpU1ucw;adurl=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.finishline.com%252Fstore%252Fcatalog%252Fproduct.jsp%253FproductId%253Dprod693999%2526INVICTA%253D%2526003%253D17163257%2526010%253D693999;pubid=545923;imgsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.finishline.com%2Fstore%2Fimages%2Fproducts%2Fxl9335invk05.jpg;width=200;height=200" vspace="0" width="200"></iframe></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Now let us consider cyber fraud. With no security, the online banking system could not function at all. Crooks would steal all the money, duh. Cyber-security is just as important to the operation of online banking as the computer systems that process all the financial transactions. No security system is perfect however, and losses due to fraud will continue at some rate. A bank might spend 10 million per year on cyber security and still lose 50 million per year on fraud. That still leaves the bank 90 million ahead vs. if computers and the internet did not exist.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Are you following this? <iframe bordercolor="#000000" frameborder="0" height="200" hspace="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/N7433.148119.BLOGGEREN/B6535997.619;sz=200x200;ord=[timestamp]?;lid=41000000005217789;pid=23305068;usg=AFHzDLu0msg4ajAjTE5Oy4LH8ebmY4p_Aw;adurl=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.officemax.com%252Ftechnology%252Fcomputers%252Flaptop-computers%252Fproduct-prod3940448%253Fcm_mmc%253DPerformics-_-Technology-_-Computers-_-Laptop%252520Computers%2526ci_src%253D14110944%2526ci_sku%253D23305068;pubid=545923;imgsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.officemax.com%2Fcatalog%2Fimages%2F397x353%2F23305068i_01.jpg;width=200;height=177" vspace="0" width="200"></iframe></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">If not, here is a chart of what we have described so far:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Profitability from internet +200 million</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">IT costs - 50 million</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Security costs - 10 million</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Fraud costs - 50 million</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">_________________________________</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Net profitability 90 million</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Now suppose that the bank spent 1 million more on IT security and only lost 30 million from fraud as a result. The bank would do this because it leaves them 19 million better off at the end of the year, getting their total back up to 109 million per year. This is their net benefit from Information Technology (IT / "the internet").</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">To summarize the free market approach:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Profitability from internet +200 million</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">IT costs - 50 million</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Security costs - 11 million</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Fraud costs - 30 million</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">__________________________________</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Net profitability 109 million</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Easy as pie, right?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The same bank might try to spend 2 million more the next year on security, and find that they are still losing 30 million to fraud. That would leave them with a profitability of only 108 million now, so they decide it is best to stay at 11 million on security spending for now.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The point of this whole example is simple: <b>A bank plus computers and the internet is way more profitable than a bank without these. </b>Keep in mind that when all businesses </span><span style="font-size: large;">in an industry</span><span style="font-size: large;"> profit more, as long as there is healthy competition, those profits eventually find their way back to you and I in the form of better services and lower costs. Of course the numbers are relative to the size of the bank and other factors; so please think about the logic here rather than the actual numbers.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> <iframe bordercolor="#000000" frameborder="0" height="200" hspace="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/N7433.148119.BLOGGEREN/B6535997.650;sz=200x200;ord=[timestamp]?;lid=41000000005217789;pid=23277874;usg=AFHzDLtyZil6Nigg6YAIjtKscksWSh1w9w;adurl=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.officemax.com%252Ftechnology%252Fcomputers%252Flaptop-computers%252Fproduct-prod3830194%253Fcm_mmc%253DPerformics-_-Technology-_-Computers-_-Laptop%252520Computers%2526ci_src%253D14110944%2526ci_sku%253D23277874;pubid=545923;imgsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.officemax.com%2Fcatalog%2Fimages%2F397x353%2F23277874i_01.jpg;width=200;height=177" vspace="0" width="200"></iframe></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Now let us look at a regulatory approach. We often focus on the negatives in a situation, like that 30 million those nasty thieves are stealing from the bank. After all, those costs are being passed on to we customers in the form of higher fees and lower interest payouts. We forget that we are still many times better off than before IT, even with the rampant robbery. So, we decide that we need the government to lock down the internet, make it "secure", and catch all the bad guys. It sounds like the fair and just thing to do, but it ends up making the world a worse place for all of us. Here is how:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The government passes regulations that were lobbied by IT security firms and the law says that our bank must have top notch IT security spending of 15 million per year. We already know that the bank has figured out that the extra spending won't benefit them much, so now their profitability is down to 105 million. There's just an extra 4 million padding the pockets of the lobbyists and executives at the IT security firms now.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> <iframe bordercolor="#000000" frameborder="0" height="200" hspace="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/N7433.148119.BLOGGEREN/B6535997.625;sz=200x200;ord=[timestamp]?;lid=41000000005217789;pid=10002374;usg=AFHzDLtLvvoY-dFEmXub1S3QLoVym53ycw;adurl=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.officemax.com%252Foffice-supplies%252Fpens-pencils-markers%252Fpens%252Ffine-writing%252Fproduct-ARS20116%253Fcm_mmc%253DPerformics-_-Office%252520Supplies-_-Pens%252C%252520Pencils%252C%252520and%252520Markers-_-Pens%2526ci_src%253D14110944%2526ci_sku%253D10002374;pubid=545923;imgsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.officemax.com%2Fcatalog%2Fimages%2F397x353%2F10002374i_01.jpg;width=200;height=177" vspace="0" width="200"></iframe></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Also in the new regulations, the government is required to form an agency to enforce bank compliance, and that might cost another 5 million for that bank. There goes another 5 million of profitability in the form of tax increases and so we are down to 100 million. The train wreck of regulation does not end there. The bank must form a department to ensure compliance and communicate proof of compliance to the government agency. That might cost another 5 million annually, and so now our bank is down to 95 million in profitability.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Of course, the government will also form a task force to investigate and arrest the criminals. that might reduce fraud costs (proportionately for the bank in our example) by 10 million per year, but cost we the people 20 million for the task force. So, now we the people are out millions to subsidize the bank's security whether we bank there or not. That's money out of our pockets directly, but let's just charge that cost against the bank's profitability for now. The net effect here is a decrease of another 10 million in profitability.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Now we have to jail the criminals, another 5 million loss to we the people in the form of taxes, and we're down to 80 million. </span><span style="font-size: large;">And consider the losses of freedom of all internet users because of the extra security. There's no way to begin to figure that out, but just say it's another 10 million and that leads us down to 70.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">So, to summarize the regulatory course of action:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Profitability from internet +200 million</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">IT costs - 50 million</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Security costs - 15 million</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Fraud costs - 20 million</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Compliance costs - 5 million</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Govt. enforcement (bank facing) - 5 million</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Govt. enforcement (people facing) - 20 million</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Incarceration - 5 million</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Loss of opportunity on internet - 10 million</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">_______________________________________</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Net profitability 70 million
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Well that sucks, especially when you consider that some of the costs above come out of our pockets whether we us a bank or not. We were better off letting the banks decide how much the crooks were costing them and subsequently how much they should spend to counteract the thievery.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Let's not forget where the butterfly effect comes in. Consider the chance that we arrest a teenage prodigy who might have otherwise grown up and revolutionized security or the banking industry itself by developing <a href="http://mrmoneyhustler.blogspot.com/2011/06/future-of-banking-finance-and-monetary.html">Bitcoin</a> II. We might just accidentally prevent technology that was scalable, secure, and capable to handle worldwide transactions for free. Please see that freedom can be invaluable and it might have tripled the profitability of the bank in our example to 600 million. When we promote creativity and motivation, there will be benefits for all in the long run. The alternative is to choose government regulation, security, </span><span style="font-size: large;">justice, </span><span style="font-size: large;">and mediocrity for all.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The information technology industry and the internet are shining examples of why freedom works best. The growth, opportunity, job creation, and improvement to everyone's standard of living all occurred without government regulation. People were free to be creative, productive, and to profit mightily for their efforts. That environment proved that freedom generates more benefit for us all than does regulation. The last great example before that was the rise of American prominence in the world. We went from nothing to the greatest nation on earth because of a void in regulation and government intimidation, rather than because of it. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We should focus on information rather than regulation. When information becomes available that there is a better way of doing something, the people and businesses who adapt to the new information will succeed. Regulations merely force everyone to follow a particular course of action whether it is the best action or not. Regulations hinder progress; only freedom and creativity advance progress. The only time regulations contribute to progress is when they drive people to be creative about how they get around the regulations.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Disclaimer: The </span><span style="font-size: large;">numbers above are completely fictional. There is no way to project reality. For example, there is no way for a bank to determine how much they would have made one year without the use of computers. Suffice it to say, they would not have to because they would not be competitive enough to stay in business without computers. While my numbers are fake, please agree: values and projections made by those who advocate more government regulation are equally </span><span style="font-size: large;">fallible</span><span style="font-size: large;">. I'm merely offering a picture of the costs and benefits of two particular courses of action: freedom vs. regulation.</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05098127331684338857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026645099934468929.post-70415187344837078782012-05-22T21:32:00.001-05:002012-05-22T21:56:23.505-05:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">I saw mayhem today! </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-size: large;"><br style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;" /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Her left front blinker, hanging by its wires, first caught my attention. As her Volvo passed me, weaving, I could see the driver paying more attention to her journal than to the view outside of the windshield. I watched with anticipation as her car rolled inches from the curb and then swerved back to the left. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-size: large;"><br style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;" /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">About the time I noticed that the left blinker still worked, because it was blinking, she turned to the right. Ah, and to my amusement but not surprise, I could see that the metal cover over her gas cap had become afraid some time ago and ran away.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-size: large;"><br style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;" /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18px;">That was the closest thing to the commercial I've ever witnessed live!</span>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05098127331684338857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026645099934468929.post-20982841427852259382012-05-01T12:12:00.000-05:002012-05-01T12:19:07.555-05:00What Do We Want?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;">Peace! When do we want it? Now! Who will give us peace? Ron Paul!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://2.gvt0.com/vi/N8U_sB9AOWY/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/N8U_sB9AOWY&fs=1&source=uds" />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">There was just a little bit of excitement as over 6000 people gathered near LBJ fountain on the University of Texas campus to hear Ron Paul speak. As an active supporter of Ron Paul, it was very nice to see so many other people of like mind. Maybe there is hope for our country after all. Ron Paul has been criss-crossing the state of Texas to get out his message of liberty and hope. He's having to spread his message, 6000 people at a time, because the main stream media is doing everything they can to downplay this movement. People are catching on anyway; after all, the principles that Ron Paul teaches are the same as those that led to the formation of the most successful nation throughout all history. Ron Paul teaches the principles of individual liberty, of peace, of doing the right thing and following the law of our land. These are the principles of our Constitution!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The speech was a great one, and he covered topics ranging from "raw milk" and individual liberty, to war and why we need to end the Federal Reserve system. I got to see him make the funniest joke that I've ever heard out of the man. Right after the crowd finished chanting, "End The FED!!!" he says, "Why yes, I agree, that's a great idea, let's do that." ...you had to be there:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/LDLz277z9Hg?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">As soon as I finish breaking his speech up into specific topics, I will post them here. Then everyone can just watch the parts of his speech that they are most interested in without having to watch the whole 40 minute presentation. So, please come back soon with your liberty hats. More Ron Paul 2012 action to come!</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05098127331684338857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026645099934468929.post-46740517491580155942012-04-15T16:59:00.001-05:002012-04-15T17:01:28.009-05:00Austin Really is Weird<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OIUkKhmQBEw/T4s10LlJ1MI/AAAAAAAAAKE/GLW9OGyggq0/s1600/HiddenHouse10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OIUkKhmQBEw/T4s10LlJ1MI/AAAAAAAAAKE/GLW9OGyggq0/s320/HiddenHouse10.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">As mentioned in the previous entry, I've been ranging into new areas of the forest behind my work ... due to "NO TRESPASSING" signs in my usual "work break walk route." My most recent discovery has re-affirmed the notion that it is always good to try a new path. I discovered something that I had been driving past for over two years now. Here's a picture of it from the road; do you see anything? It's underneath that big oak tree there behind my mirror.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">When I made this discovery, I was walking underneath that power line that you see there. Below is a picture from the angle of my first approach. The thing I noticed first was that post there holding up that branch. That just didn't make any sense to me why someone would have put that there in the middle of nowhere. That is what made me stop to look closer, but do you see my discovery there in the background?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_s6CnXoVse0WVF8671bUyT_Vuz3z9Q2owFps6NIqcSltJXMYKLNa3KroocnCcLHZF9GvXEUk54dlLGrvGpRzigpRT1jHQsRrHkJ5Okr4mR0PnrZx0vBL3X4JVXsCO6aDkJRQaST5Yc3X3/s1600/HiddenHouse1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_s6CnXoVse0WVF8671bUyT_Vuz3z9Q2owFps6NIqcSltJXMYKLNa3KroocnCcLHZF9GvXEUk54dlLGrvGpRzigpRT1jHQsRrHkJ5Okr4mR0PnrZx0vBL3X4JVXsCO6aDkJRQaST5Yc3X3/s320/HiddenHouse1.JPG" width="320" /></a> </div><br />
Yeah, me neither. In fact, I got so close before I saw anything that the old saying is true: "If it were a snake it would have bit me." The purpose of the post did become apparent; it was to hold that tree up and out of the way of a path up into this hidden area. I still didn't see anything particularly interesting. Do you?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGVSOkKD_5w38e-TKFGQsu2lhEXMj4AaBn_Z5mk1tKkNEnhzvPbMk5_ZwZBsGsVyTgt5n7ffEVVDZKoPgN3vbeR3bai6zvWU4ukbwRLBA5iGD65o1nBJwQc_FdIXV1SkuWpnydHfAtmjKI/s1600/HiddenHouse3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGVSOkKD_5w38e-TKFGQsu2lhEXMj4AaBn_Z5mk1tKkNEnhzvPbMk5_ZwZBsGsVyTgt5n7ffEVVDZKoPgN3vbeR3bai6zvWU4ukbwRLBA5iGD65o1nBJwQc_FdIXV1SkuWpnydHfAtmjKI/s320/HiddenHouse3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Ok, well, then I turned the corner and what is this? It's a freaking house. It is made of cedar posts that form a lean up structure, but they are secured with wire all around to keep animals out. Then, on the ends, it's got welded up steel grates and a door with a padlock to keep people out. In the yard, there is a bucket to either sit on or collect water. Also, there is a little feeder for the animals.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhck0I2aHs5-NeW-GE6f47baDq-RU5dkw5hbUXDbZA_pTdmNgdrIIaZpXks4lA-Lc7q_1eHVmloNe093dv9UfAWsdQ8FjeR5Xs7MbEwrHsAx7xr3Jabozr1ZzKdWO71kqxq0f7rAPCKTxwH/s1600/HiddenHouse4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhck0I2aHs5-NeW-GE6f47baDq-RU5dkw5hbUXDbZA_pTdmNgdrIIaZpXks4lA-Lc7q_1eHVmloNe093dv9UfAWsdQ8FjeR5Xs7MbEwrHsAx7xr3Jabozr1ZzKdWO71kqxq0f7rAPCKTxwH/s320/HiddenHouse4.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The plaque over the door says that this house was established in 1994. Whoever built it has some animal bones and horns to keep the evil spirits away. Inside, there is a small tent to keep the sleeping area clean and dry. I just had to imagine for a moment how much money I could save if I lived in a structure like this since it was so close to my work. I could use the shower in the gym at work, and I could eat breakfast and lunch at the little cafe in my office building. All I would need is a bicycle to get to all sorts of places to hang out at in the evenings. Heck, I could even dress up as a homeless guy and panhandle some very popular nearby intersections.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaXHprx4Blq03bFNWhwTZDBPbaBOnB8j10YLg60WdRwHNDBR6bWiOESpzfITwkoj8MapDN2xFLFkkofYVAJL03eoStxBTEUFilBoBWK4U19onFPQc_4Hk-3qAkstRa7FSsVglzRWga-WVn/s1600/HiddenHouse7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaXHprx4Blq03bFNWhwTZDBPbaBOnB8j10YLg60WdRwHNDBR6bWiOESpzfITwkoj8MapDN2xFLFkkofYVAJL03eoStxBTEUFilBoBWK4U19onFPQc_4Hk-3qAkstRa7FSsVglzRWga-WVn/s320/HiddenHouse7.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
This has been literally under my nose for the last two years ... and I've been out in these woods exploring. All the people driving are totally oblivious, even if they almost drive into it, as someone apparently did. If you look close at the picture below, you can see car parts from where someone ran off the road and crashed into the brush at the back side of this house. I just bet that even though they were only 10 feet from this structure, that they had no clue it was there. The things you find in this town, Austin really is weird!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHwiJtlCaAfVfbMOjFFu0BG_oL5KPGKbGMY7HFp4hHzdSBWtaYjsDpxJvsiXNgAVY0bgiu7QmOKT4MymtMyl84LacDeAlCXthLOtPUj7ZnXkaEuODzdo06045cswdV-4L67qDGu1zMol3V/s1600/HiddenHouse8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHwiJtlCaAfVfbMOjFFu0BG_oL5KPGKbGMY7HFp4hHzdSBWtaYjsDpxJvsiXNgAVY0bgiu7QmOKT4MymtMyl84LacDeAlCXthLOtPUj7ZnXkaEuODzdo06045cswdV-4L67qDGu1zMol3V/s320/HiddenHouse8.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Close up view from road side, and where a car came to rest recently.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05098127331684338857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026645099934468929.post-87898876455776889092012-04-15T14:45:00.000-05:002012-04-15T14:45:30.679-05:00I'm Never Going to be "Nice" Again!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I've been hiking around in different areas of the woods behind my work lately. One of my favorite places has been marked off, "NO TRESPASSING." Before you judge, it wasn't me that inspired the signs. Some other folks whom I have not met have been enjoying my secret garden. I know this because they have been leaving behind large quantities of beer cans for some time now. In fact, they act as if it were their secret garden, leaving behind chairs and other trash as well.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TUN8-zdWJec/T4sem8bpXWI/AAAAAAAAAJk/ZtavK7PAr-A/s1600/Stash1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TUN8-zdWJec/T4sem8bpXWI/AAAAAAAAAJk/ZtavK7PAr-A/s320/Stash1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>The other day I was walking through and I came upon a blue tarp that was wrapped neatly around something. As you can see, even though they put this tarp behind a landscape wall, they didn't even do a very good job of hiding it. Anybody walking through the area could plainly see it, and who wouldn't be curious about what is under there? So, of course I checked under the tarp.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W5RQNzdojrQ/T4sfk3n46xI/AAAAAAAAAJs/v997xeY2Yf4/s1600/stash2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W5RQNzdojrQ/T4sfk3n46xI/AAAAAAAAAJs/v997xeY2Yf4/s320/stash2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Sweet, these guys have gotten too lazy to carry all of their booze in and out of the woods. What do we have here, only a 5 minute walk from my desk at work? Ahhhh, half a bottle of rum, half bottle of tequila, plastic beer chugging tube with funnel, cups and beer pong balls. Hmmm, whatever could be in the cooler?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7OlVjuAmuZM/T4sfr1HSNRI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/qQwSISM5Iio/s1600/stash3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7OlVjuAmuZM/T4sfr1HSNRI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/qQwSISM5Iio/s320/stash3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> Beeeeeeerrrrr!!!! Cheap beer, hot beer, but potentially free beer. I swear, this is like a year's supply of cheap beer for me. As tempting as it was to load all this stuff up into my truck after work, alas, I'm a "nice" guy. I'm not going to deprive these messy, but creative folks of their good time. So, I wrapped everything back up as I found it and went back to work.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PkW_qin-UCI/T4sfvkOtsDI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/64SzHBBCLjU/s1600/stash4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PkW_qin-UCI/T4sfvkOtsDI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/64SzHBBCLjU/s320/stash4.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Now, in the course of time, a rain storm came and the creek below swelled with water. I could still get to area from work, but I surmise that the owners of the beer were cut off from their stash by the high water. I refrained for several days, walking by and seeing that the hidden treasure was undisturbed. There were a couple of days at work when I just wanted to carry a glass of ice and coke out there and at least enjoy some of that rum. But, I'm a "nice" guy and I'm not going to steal from somebody's supply like that.<br />
<br />
Imagine my disappointment when I went out to the secret garden one day only to find a construction crew clearing brush and picking up trash. I wish I could have been there when they opened up that tarp. That must have been a nice surprise for them. I wonder if they were smart enough to hide the find from their boss. Oh well, the messy people taking over the secret garden didn't get to have their party, nor did I. And, now there are "No Trespassing" signs everywhere too. So, that's it, next time I find a pile of beer in the woods, it's going straight to my truck!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05098127331684338857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026645099934468929.post-67164084488626610792012-01-18T10:46:00.000-06:002012-01-18T10:46:00.516-06:00Please write your representatives today -- NO to SOPA<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-size: large;">Today is a great day to register at <a href="http://www.congress.org/">www.congress.org</a>. In one fell swoop, you can send a letter like this to all of your representatives:<br />
<br />
Dear <website inserts="" name="">,<br />
<br />
The internet has grown into a massive provider of jobs, services, and a richer life experience for people all over the world. The freedom of communication has created opportunity for poor and rich alike. There are countless ways for anyone to derive revenue by providing services on the internet. <br />
<br />
Since there are so few rules, a person only has to worry about providing a good service. The bar for business entry is low. Commerce on the internet is thriving because of this. If we increase regulations, fewer people will benefit from commercial activity, this is a simple but absolute fact. It will be more difficult for the average citizen who you represent to derive revenue.<br />
<br />
There are liars among us who claim that they are "losing" money because of the internet and the freedom of exchange of digital media. This is a ridiculous argument because without the success of the internet, a hugely lower percentage of people would ever even know that their media existed. Profit in media is derived from audience size. Which would you rather have, a penny from 5 billion people, or $10 from 100,000 people? If some businesses are losing money, it is because they need to adapt their business model, NOT because the internet needs to be regulated. <br />
<br />
Please, I implore you, protect the freedom that exists on the internet. People in every corner of the world are counting on your opposition to SOPA and PIPA.</website></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05098127331684338857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026645099934468929.post-6229675950042354942012-01-17T12:47:00.002-06:002012-01-17T13:12:44.528-06:00Redneck Art?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GE-eKIt2Yj8/TxXBF2tYriI/AAAAAAAAAJE/THYm38sJWvs/s1600/RedneckArt.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GE-eKIt2Yj8/TxXBF2tYriI/AAAAAAAAAJE/THYm38sJWvs/s320/RedneckArt.JPG" width="185" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Worshiping the beer gods?</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;">It is colorful. It is eye-catching. Hell, I'd even go so far as to say it's provocative ... or, maybe I'm easily entertained, but I did stop to take a picture. Some might say it's trash, or maybe a redneck version of a totem pole. Is it art? Who am I to judge ... though I must say that I have a preference for <a href="http://jdat747.blogspot.com/2011/05/guerilla-art-in-austin-tx.html">angles carved into rock.</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7lTlkIQ0_2E/TxXH8sqeI3I/AAAAAAAAAJM/4iU_VicXZA4/s1600/RedneckArt2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7lTlkIQ0_2E/TxXH8sqeI3I/AAAAAAAAAJM/4iU_VicXZA4/s320/RedneckArt2.JPG" width="264" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">My secret garden is kind of an interesting social experiment now. It's like a little "un-controlled" park. More have been coming to enjoy this place lately, and I'm happy for that. Unfortunately, people are freaking messy. There are beer cans and trash everywhere now. This is odd to me; people come because the garden is a pretty place to hang out, but people leave their trash everywhere and make it NOT a pretty place anymore. Oh well, at least I know that if I'm ever homeless and destitute, I can come here for a steady supply of aluminum cans to cash in.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I'd give anything to hear the thought processes that led up to the decorated tree. "...damn, Bubba-John, this place looks like shit. We oughtta try fixin' it up a little or somethin'." "...yeah, that dead tree over there depresses the hell outta me ... it needs some beer-corations."</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05098127331684338857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026645099934468929.post-7833819415679864732012-01-02T21:56:00.000-06:002012-01-02T21:56:44.230-06:00Ron Paul 2012 - Phone From Home Volunteering<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-size: large;">If you really want to get involved in politics this year, please consider joining Ron Paul's phone from home army. You can sign up for it here: <a href="http://phone.ronpaul2012.com/">http://phone.ronpaul2012.com</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I just finished my first session. It's pretty easy, and you can even play games on your laptop while you do it because very few people actually answer the phone. Most of the time you are just sitting there listening to a phone ring. I definitely recommend a headset though. My old elbow got tired pretty quick while holding a flip phone.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I only found 2 people to complete the survey. One guy was firmly voting for Newt, and another lady was undecided. I was sad about her because she said that she lost a cousin in Iraq. She was also firmly convinced that we need to keep Iran from getting nukes. That made me even more sad because now someone else is going to lose a cousin. Many more people in Iran are going to lose cousins, and that makes me even more sad.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Couldn't we at least try leaving them alone, and just see if they leave us alone? I know 9/11 was what got all of this started, but where does it stop? Someone I think a lot of once said, "If an angry person backhands you up side the head, take a moment to think about why they did that." It is hard to swallow one's pride and admit that the anger was deserved, but that is the only path to peace. The world expects nothing less of a strong man, or a strong nation. We must acknowledge our wrongs, even if we did not personally commit the crimes against others. America has brought much death to the Middle East over the last few decades; this cannot be denied.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">It is time to leave the Middle East. It does not matter if our armies occupy their lands because of oil or because of our good intentions. Their people believe that we are there for our own benefit, not theirs. We can never avoid the conflict of interest or the appearance of evil as long as our troops occupy their soil. If they bring war to us, we have the right and the duty to defend ourselves. We do not have the right to bomb a people just because they won't succumb to our will.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">P.S.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">You don't ever have to hang up your phone once you start making calls. It took me a bit to figure that out. If no one answers, the system will automatically disconnect you and call the next person. If you get an answering machine, there is a button to click for that. Then you click 'leave a voice message' when you hear the 'beep'. The computer gets confused if you hang up, so always let it disconnect you and then it will call the next person. When you need to take a break, there is a little check box you can click when you confirm the results of the call.</span><br />
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05098127331684338857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026645099934468929.post-91462853316329066302011-11-28T18:53:00.002-06:002011-11-28T19:01:43.901-06:00Protect IP Act<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">It appears that my one letter failed to change any minds and "OUR" representatives are still planning to vote to support corporate interests at the expense of free communication of the people. Perhaps if a few thousand more people write in?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">Please go to </span><a href="http://www.congress.org/" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.congress.org</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"> and set up your profile there. Once you do, it makes it easy to write your reps. on any issues that you care about .... and you can hit them all with one fell swoop.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">If you care about preventing censorship on the internet, here's a quick letter you can cut-n-paste and send to your reps. (lol, i promise not to sue if you copy my letter exactly): </span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">[</span><a href="http://www.congress.org/" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.congress.or<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">g</span></a><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"> puts the appropriate header for you]<br />
<br />
As a citizen who you represent, I respectfully ask you to oppose the "Protect Intellectual Property Act" in all forms.<br />
<br />
Free communication on the internet is an incredibly valuable addition to the human experience for nearly everyone. We should be very careful to protect that freedom from any form of censorship.<br />
<br />
It is understandable that content providers have a right to protect their content, but that protection should not come at the expense of free communication for all people. When companies experience pirating losses, they should have every right to sue and attempt to recover losses. They should not, however, have the right to create censorship on the internet without due process.</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">**************************************************************</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">Here's the eloquent response I got to explain why the interests of the people should be ignored:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">**************************************************************</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">Dear Friend:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"> Thank you for contacting me regarding S. 968, the PROTECT IP Act. I welcome your thoughts and comments.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"> Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) introduced the PROTECT IP Act on May 12, 2011. The legislation is in response to concerns about online copyright infringement and sale of counterfeit goods. The bill would allow the Justice Department to seek federal court injunctions to halt online promotion of illegal activities.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"> I believe copyright protection is a foundation for innovation. Intellectual property is the creative core of the information age. Patent and intellectual property ownership laws offer needed protection for the economic and other interests of inventors, entrepreneurs, performers, and other creative thinkers. These protections are also important to future growth and employment in important U.S. industries.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"> Protecting intellectual property is more challenging than ever before. Among other things, high speed broadband enables access to the entire catalog of movies, music, books, television, and technology.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"> Online promotion of counterfeit goods by foreign entities is also a growing concern. How to protect copyright, patent, and intellectual property rights — and do so without infringing on consumers’ legitimate interests — requires dealing with a complex series of problems.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"> The PROTECT IP Act has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Although I am not a member of that committee, please be assured that I will keep your views in mind should this bill or related legislation be reported for action by the full Senate.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"> I appreciate hearing from you, and I hope that you will not hesitate to contact me on any issue that is important to you.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">Sincerely,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">Kay Bailey Hutchison</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">United States Senator</span><br />
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05098127331684338857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026645099934468929.post-85345792261268073832011-10-27T11:38:00.003-05:002011-10-27T17:38:01.951-05:00Occupy Wall Street -- OWS<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Sometimes you just know you're getting screwed. You don't necessarily understand who did it or why, but one thing you are sure of, you got the short straw. Is that why this OWS thing has gotten so popular? A lot of people have been getting screwed for a long time. Are they talking back and forth, "Oh really? You got screwed too? D@mn, I thought it was just me. Well, we got to do something about this BS." </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Normally, I would not agree with the OWS way of thinking. Normally, I would say that rich people got that way because they worked hard and they deserve the fruit of their labor. Their wealth is "honest" wealth. The only reason that I'm siding with the OWS folks is because too many people get rich today by taking advantage of others. Worse, they use monetary influence in the political process as one of their tools for always making sure that they get the long straw. I hope the OWS crowd will make the distinction between "corrupt" wealth and "honest" wealth.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Honest wealth is what we should all be striving for. It is a natural result of the efficient production of goods and services that others want and need. This type of productive behavior should always be freely encouraged and supported. Unfortunately, many of the most successful people have an unfettered lust for even more wealth and power. They see competition as a threat to their status, and so they create laws (via lobbyists and a compliant congress) to stifle competition. They always have a more "noble" reason for the laws, but the true purpose is to secure wealth and power for the 1%. Of course, there is a lot of outright fraud these days as well. If it's sophisticated enough, no one can figure out "how" it was fraud, and so you just get away with it. There certainly is plenty of "corrupt" wealth going around these days.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> I hope the the OWS folks figure out that freedom does the best job at equalizing opportunity. It's counter-intuitive, but it works. I fear that they want to have more rules to "make" the rich people play fair. Unfortunately, this will never work because the 1% will always buy off a congressman to slip in some clever loophole. We have been trying to use the law to make people play fair for ages. Complex laws don't work. Complex laws only serve to restrict competition, and consequently the opportunity of the 99%.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> There are some even more obvious solutions to making the world more fair: for one, stop giving money away to people who are already in the 1% club. Corporate welfare should be the first target of the OWS crowd. Corporate welfare permeates American society now from local cities trying to get a Walmart or Home Depot to the FED bailing out Bank of America, to the CIA and US military subsidizing British Petroleum by controlling the rulers of oil producing countries. All of this must stop! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Large corporations already have huge advantages, yet small businesses still thrive. If we cut the unfair flow of money, we will create more space for small businesses, green energy, and individual opportunity to grow like flowers after a spring rain. Mega corporations' profits will fall, and their CEO pay will follow. There will still be ultra rich folks, but that's OK, if they've earned it.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Lastly, sound money is key to individual prosperity. Average citizens need to be able to save a little money and have it hold its value. That's how people can save and start their own businesses. That's how people can save to buy a house in cash, rather than pay a bank interest for all their life. Sound money won't happen with the FED freely printing money and giving it away to the "already" rich and powerful 1%. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Please OWS, if you want a real change to empower the 99% to succeed, become a Blue Republican. Hold your nose and register to vote in the GOP primary. Ron Paul is the only candidate truly dedicated to help the 99% rise up.</span><br />
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05098127331684338857noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026645099934468929.post-39812568066779826242011-10-19T21:28:00.002-05:002011-10-19T21:34:48.569-05:00"...and I had the best answer..."<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">That was the last audible phrase from the Vegas GOP debate. I'll have to give credit to Michele Bachmann and Newt Gingrich; they both tried to stand up for Dr. Paul when he wasn't given time to answer the last question of the debate. Of course, both of them had to fight for a chance to answer as well. The debate was definitely dominated by Cain, Romney, and Perry.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Unfortunately, the way the debate was structured, candidates who have lied or flip-flopped in the past got the most time to talk. When one candidate tried to call another candidate out on a lie or hypocrisy, the candidate of questionable honesty got 30 seconds to refute and explain how they didn't actually mean that fallacy. Consequently, Cain, Perry, and Romney got to talk the most.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It was disheartening to watch how refined Romney was ... given that I think he is a 'Yes-Man-Corporatist' and the last thing this country needs for a President. The crowd was eating him up though. He was perfect at saying what people want to hear, laughing off criticism of his past decisions, and in general coming off like the good guy who wants to follow the rules. It was too much to bear for the other candidates; they couldn't help interrupting him as he convincingly recreated the truth. It's so annoying that the mark of a good politician is that they actually believe their lies as the lies leave their mouth. More annoying still, that such masterful lying passes the built in lie-detectors that most humans have. One would have to have done research to know the difference between fact and fiction in such instances.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Now, here is another odd fact about human behavior; we hate it when someone is "right" all the time. Maybe it's the way people who are right rub it in; but for some reason, we will often go with the best sounding person who says what we want to hear. Unfortunately, this sets us up to be taken advantage of. My only hope is that people have been lied to so much lately that they are willing to do a little extra effort to figure out what is in their best interest.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">OK, I have to break here ... too funny ... Mark McGuire, hitting coach for St. Louis Cardinals, World Series ... he looks like a parrot the way he eats sun flower seeds.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Now, back to politics ... try to keep up! What does the federal government do for you? Seriously, what is the value of "federal" government activity to you personally? Was it worth $11,500 to you last year? That's what they have cost every man, woman, and child in 2010. What do they really do for you? I guess they spend a little on the roads, but most of that goes towards pulling us over to let us know that our front license plate is not correctly attached. Besides that, the feds have cost anyone who has a job more than that in taxes. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Who is getting all the money that they are spending? Not me, that's for sure. Is it you? Well, if so, you should probably vote for either Obama or Romney. Either of them will do for you. But, if you are taking the time to account for the depreciation of your savings account due to inflation, perhaps you would want to give Ron Paul a second thought. He's the only one offering to shake things up. He's the only only one calling the shots like he sees them, and needless to say, he didn't have to spend much time explaining why he changed his mind. Ron Paul is a grumpy old man, but like grandpa when there's big trouble, he's on your side. Please, take the time to figure it out.</span><br />
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</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05098127331684338857noreply@blogger.com0