Election November 2012
Troop withdrawal September 2012
Why not now?
Thursday, June 30, 2011
The-Specials
Not quite sure what to make of it. The cynic in me is always worried about exploitation.
http://www.the-specials.com/
http://vimeo.com/6390357
http://www.the-specials.com/
http://vimeo.com/6390357
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
RantsAndRaves pt 4b
Why do I pick on pseudoephedrine so much? 2 reasons. First I, my son and occasionally my wife need it for allergies.
Second, it is a sign of a much bigger issue. It highlights just how much the United States Government has invaded our lives.
Is it highly toxic? No. It can cause a bloody nose, dizziness; anxiety; elevated blood pressure. Does it impair judgement? No. Does it help clear sinuses? Yes. Is it a stimulant? Yes and that is what has the government so worried. You see it is used to synthesize Methamphetamine. It does not adversely effect the air, water or soil and is stable. But, again, it is used in the syntheses of Meth. Therefor we must do all we can to keep it out of the hands of the meth labs.
Here's a better idea... Stop taking kickbacks from the meth labs and close them down.
Second, it is a sign of a much bigger issue. It highlights just how much the United States Government has invaded our lives.
Is it highly toxic? No. It can cause a bloody nose, dizziness; anxiety; elevated blood pressure. Does it impair judgement? No. Does it help clear sinuses? Yes. Is it a stimulant? Yes and that is what has the government so worried. You see it is used to synthesize Methamphetamine. It does not adversely effect the air, water or soil and is stable. But, again, it is used in the syntheses of Meth. Therefor we must do all we can to keep it out of the hands of the meth labs.
Here's a better idea... Stop taking kickbacks from the meth labs and close them down.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
RantsAndRaves Pt 4a Big Brother
The moment everyone has been waiting for... My first real rant about Big Brother and how they know what's best for us.
Whoever named the Patriot Act was laughing hysterically, I hope. While maybe not ironic it is certainly far from the truth. Patriotism is NOT about kowtowing to the government. It is a devotion to one's country. This means you love where you live and will defend it from invaders and naysayers. It does NOT mean that you can not disagree with the government.
Nowhere does it say in the Constitution that you can not disagree with the government as long as you do not advocate the violent (note the adverb) overthrow of the government. The confederates advocated the violent overthrow of the government.
So where was I? Oh yeah Big Brother... In the name of Patriotism the government has declared its right to wiretap without a warrant. They can determine how much psuedoephedrine you are allowed to purchase (regardless of how many people in your household have allergies mind you). The pointless searches at airports. The things you can or can not bring onto an airplane- what do they have to do with sneaker bombs? Don't be someone who has the same name as a known terrorist even if you're 6 years old.
My belief is that the role of government is to defend its citizens and to stand up for those who can not stand for themselves. Have recent, the last 11 years of, government regulations made you safer? Richer? Given you MORE individual rights? if you answered yes to any of those questions you are amongst the elite. How are your tax rates doing? Keeping more or less of your hard earned money? Guess what! Exxon doesn't pay corporate taxes. How does that make you feel?
I am not saying get rid of the Democrats in favor of the Republicans or vice versa. I am saying it is time to throw the sorry lot out on their ears, rip up the entire federal regulations including and especially the tax code and go back to the basic Constitution. Clean it up while we are at it, I mean what is the point of keeping Amendment 18 if it was repealed by 21?
Lets go back to the ideals this country were built on: "establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity" (first line of the Constitution)
No more government telling you what you can and can't purchase. No more government telling you what you can and can not say or do. No more Big Brother watching over us.
Whoever named the Patriot Act was laughing hysterically, I hope. While maybe not ironic it is certainly far from the truth. Patriotism is NOT about kowtowing to the government. It is a devotion to one's country. This means you love where you live and will defend it from invaders and naysayers. It does NOT mean that you can not disagree with the government.
Nowhere does it say in the Constitution that you can not disagree with the government as long as you do not advocate the violent (note the adverb) overthrow of the government. The confederates advocated the violent overthrow of the government.
So where was I? Oh yeah Big Brother... In the name of Patriotism the government has declared its right to wiretap without a warrant. They can determine how much psuedoephedrine you are allowed to purchase (regardless of how many people in your household have allergies mind you). The pointless searches at airports. The things you can or can not bring onto an airplane- what do they have to do with sneaker bombs? Don't be someone who has the same name as a known terrorist even if you're 6 years old.
My belief is that the role of government is to defend its citizens and to stand up for those who can not stand for themselves. Have recent, the last 11 years of, government regulations made you safer? Richer? Given you MORE individual rights? if you answered yes to any of those questions you are amongst the elite. How are your tax rates doing? Keeping more or less of your hard earned money? Guess what! Exxon doesn't pay corporate taxes. How does that make you feel?
I am not saying get rid of the Democrats in favor of the Republicans or vice versa. I am saying it is time to throw the sorry lot out on their ears, rip up the entire federal regulations including and especially the tax code and go back to the basic Constitution. Clean it up while we are at it, I mean what is the point of keeping Amendment 18 if it was repealed by 21?
Lets go back to the ideals this country were built on: "establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity" (first line of the Constitution)
No more government telling you what you can and can't purchase. No more government telling you what you can and can not say or do. No more Big Brother watching over us.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Yosh was back to his old self in less than half an hour
Less than half an hour after leaving the dentist's office Yosh was back to his old self. Better than that he was hugging and kissing and saying I love you repeatedly on the car ride home.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Yosh is having 4 teeth pulled tomorrow
I probably should have started freaking out earlier, but this is what I do. Here it is less than 17 hours before Yosh, my 9yo son with Down Syndrome, will have 4 teeth extracted under local anesthesia.
Step 1, I, the abba, will have the 'privilege' of holding him down during the entire process
Step 2 after care
Yosh does not communicate very well nor does he eat (he gets most of his nutrition from a bottle)nor does he take medicine. We are not sure how much he understands.
Will he take his bottle through which we can give him pain medicine and antibiotics or are we going to have to force it in? Will he 'play' with the blood clot because I am positive he will not keep gauze in his mouth?
Step 1, I, the abba, will have the 'privilege' of holding him down during the entire process
Step 2 after care
Yosh does not communicate very well nor does he eat (he gets most of his nutrition from a bottle)nor does he take medicine. We are not sure how much he understands.
Will he take his bottle through which we can give him pain medicine and antibiotics or are we going to have to force it in? Will he 'play' with the blood clot because I am positive he will not keep gauze in his mouth?
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Yosh's fan club ( a file from Life lessons from my son)
My sons fan club grows everyday. Twice a week volunteers come to our house to play with Yosh, my 9yo son with Down Syndrome. Yesterday the Friendship Circle had an evening of recognition for the many volunteer high school students who spend time with children with special needs. Of course, there is a wall with tons of pictures of the volunteers and the ones with special needs. I overheard some volunteers pointing out all the pictures of Yosh to their friends. My son is a rock star.
How did he become a rock star? Why does his fan club grow everyday? The answer is simple enough, doing it oneself is difficult.
Bring joy to people's lives. Say hi just because. Smile at people. Don't do it because you want to make friends, do it because you love people and you too can be a rock star like my 9 year old son with Down Syndrome.
How did he become a rock star? Why does his fan club grow everyday? The answer is simple enough, doing it oneself is difficult.
Bring joy to people's lives. Say hi just because. Smile at people. Don't do it because you want to make friends, do it because you love people and you too can be a rock star like my 9 year old son with Down Syndrome.
Presumption of Innocence (Libertarian non-sequitor)
The European Union, Canada, France, Brazil, even the U.N (that most Democratic of institutions) Russia and South Africa have written into their constitutions the presumption of innocence. We do not. Yes there was a court case Coffin v United States where the Supreme Court in 1895 stated
"The principle that there is a presumption of innocence in favor of the accused is the undoubted law, axiomatic and elementary, and its enforcement lies at the foundation of the administration of our criminal law."
I ask you this... Why can you not plead innocent in this country? Why are your choices guilty or not guilty?
While it is not impossible to prove a negative (as there is a positive statement implied in every negative one) it is certainly very difficult. Of course, you will tell me this puts the burden of proof on the accuser or prosecution. If you were to say "I AM INNOCENT!" You will be fined for contempt of court.
"The principle that there is a presumption of innocence in favor of the accused is the undoubted law, axiomatic and elementary, and its enforcement lies at the foundation of the administration of our criminal law."
I ask you this... Why can you not plead innocent in this country? Why are your choices guilty or not guilty?
While it is not impossible to prove a negative (as there is a positive statement implied in every negative one) it is certainly very difficult. Of course, you will tell me this puts the burden of proof on the accuser or prosecution. If you were to say "I AM INNOCENT!" You will be fined for contempt of court.
Friday, May 20, 2011
63 years later
If I were tossed from my country, and especially if I left voluntarily, in the hopes that my side wins, I would hope that 63 years later my grandchildren would have jobs in our new country.
Would anyone expect the country they fled- and refused to defend- to welcome them back? Especially if it was the 'enemy' who won? Why is Israel expected to allow 4.7 million cowards into their country? To dilute the mere 7.4 million current population? To allow criminals and terrorists into their midst with open arms?
Then there are the indefensible borders of Israel pre 1967. The whole point of the arabs attacking Israel then was in the hopes of destroying them due to their indefensible borders. How can a country be asked to go back to that.
Obama said "...with the assumption of Palestinian security responsibility in a sovereign, non-militarized state." How can a country have security responsibility in a non-militarized state? Countries have had a military since at least Ancient Egypt and armed police forces since at least Ancient Babylon. what Obama seems to be advocating is Anarchy and Anarchy simply does not work except in very small tribal communities.
78% of the Jewish vote went to Obama in 2008, 20% went to McCain. I would hope 2012 would result in a reversal. Personally I voted Libertarian.
Would anyone expect the country they fled- and refused to defend- to welcome them back? Especially if it was the 'enemy' who won? Why is Israel expected to allow 4.7 million cowards into their country? To dilute the mere 7.4 million current population? To allow criminals and terrorists into their midst with open arms?
Then there are the indefensible borders of Israel pre 1967. The whole point of the arabs attacking Israel then was in the hopes of destroying them due to their indefensible borders. How can a country be asked to go back to that.
Obama said "...with the assumption of Palestinian security responsibility in a sovereign, non-militarized state." How can a country have security responsibility in a non-militarized state? Countries have had a military since at least Ancient Egypt and armed police forces since at least Ancient Babylon. what Obama seems to be advocating is Anarchy and Anarchy simply does not work except in very small tribal communities.
78% of the Jewish vote went to Obama in 2008, 20% went to McCain. I would hope 2012 would result in a reversal. Personally I voted Libertarian.
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Psuedoephedrine
So, why are my civil liberties being, once again, infringed upon? Why can I not buy any amount of psuedoephedrine that I desire and can pay for? How is allowing me to purchase only 3.6 grams/day or 9.0/grams a month justified? Because it makes it harder to get it into the meth labs? Not good enough. We need to go after the people creating the illegal drugs not allergy sufferers. What if more than one person in a household has allergies? This is one of the most ridiculous laws I have ever heard. How much of the illegal drug market comes from psuedoephedrine purchased in your local supermarket or pharmacy? If someone can show me a direct correlation between those two things I will declare them a genius. Please don't hand me a stat of fewer meth lab seizures since the law took effect, that is NOT a correlation, even IF it was true.
This is simply the government, once again, sticking their noses where they don't belong.
This is simply the government, once again, sticking their noses where they don't belong.
Monday, April 18, 2011
A file from Life lessons from my son
The continuing saga of Nets basketball and my family. Earlier this basketball season my wife and I tried to take Yosh to a Nets game. Unfortunately my wife got hurt before the game. The point of this though... rarely does my son get upset. He is one of the most joyful people the world has EVER known. When my wife got hurt, I was not there and he was going up an escalator with a stranger holding him so he wouldn't fall. He was beside himself. He was so upset and scared he couldn't get any air into his lungs with which to scream. As soon as he saw me at the top of the escalator he started to calm down. Within two minutes he was fine and was enjoying himself. Here comes the point... don't worry about anything but getting lost (whether physically or spiritually) everything else will be ok. Getting lost is scary though.
From the Cynic Within Me Part 1
Who knows who is to be believed. There is a trolley park in Easton Pa, or should I say there used to be. According to bushkillpark.com, the supposed official homepage "The owners of Bushkill Park are working hard to repair the damage that has been done by the floods and other means." According to bushkillpark.org "..." well you just have to read it for yourself. http://www.bushkillpark.org/
Every where I look there are references to trying to clean it up and repair it to re-open the park after several floods starting in 2006 forced it to close. Walt Reiss seems like the more forthcoming of the two main protagonists. Neal fehnel however does not seem to respond to anything. Maybe its just that Walt is more angry, maybe its Neal who has stuff to hide. Who knows, all I know is there is a hundred plus year old park that is not open because of probable stupidity and maliciousness.
You gotta love human greed.
Friday, April 8, 2011
A file from Life lessons from my son
My son Yosh, Yehoshua Binyamin, has Down Syndrome, he also has a very special soul. Now I know I'm the abba, Hebrew for father, and I am supposed to say that, however if you read the stuff I am going to write about him you will begin to understand...
On Monday April 5th, 2011 I took Yosh to a Nets game. At half time I asked him if he wanted home or more game. He signed wait (basically he wiggle his fingers- close enough to the real sign for most people to understand). After a minute or two he signed and said home; car. So, we went home. The lesson here is think before you make a decision. Even though he clearly wanted to stay, he weighed the pros and cons. It was already past his bed time and he knew (or so I assume) that he would get tired soon and when he gets tired he gets cranky. Crankiness of course would have ruined the evening.
Another lesson I learned occurred earlier in the game. There was a child behind us with those hit sticks, basically plastic filled with air that when struck together make a loud noise. He was of course banging them together constantly. At one point Yosh looked back at the kid, saw he was not doing it just to annoy us, turned back around and enjoyed the rest of the game. Lesson: live and let live even if the other person is an annoyance.
On Monday April 5th, 2011 I took Yosh to a Nets game. At half time I asked him if he wanted home or more game. He signed wait (basically he wiggle his fingers- close enough to the real sign for most people to understand). After a minute or two he signed and said home; car. So, we went home. The lesson here is think before you make a decision. Even though he clearly wanted to stay, he weighed the pros and cons. It was already past his bed time and he knew (or so I assume) that he would get tired soon and when he gets tired he gets cranky. Crankiness of course would have ruined the evening.
Another lesson I learned occurred earlier in the game. There was a child behind us with those hit sticks, basically plastic filled with air that when struck together make a loud noise. He was of course banging them together constantly. At one point Yosh looked back at the kid, saw he was not doing it just to annoy us, turned back around and enjoyed the rest of the game. Lesson: live and let live even if the other person is an annoyance.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
This is going to tick a lot of people off: RantsAndRaves Pt 3
A big thank you to all smokers for smoking where the rest of us have to breathe.
Smokers have to be the most self-centered people in the world. Yes I know I have a blog pretty self-centered myself expecting people to read this. However, thank you for leaving cigarette butts on my balcony; thank you for leaving burning cigarette butts on the sidewalk; thank you for throwing them out your car window; just thank you.
Would it kill you (pun intended) to kill yourself without killing everyone around you including your supposed loved ones?
The casino industry in AC yelled and screamed bloody murder as did the restaurant industry in New York when laws were passed about smoking in casinos and restaurants. They said they would lose revenue. Well the casinos won they can allow smoking. The restaurants however 'lost' and smoking is not permitted. Let me ask the restaurant owners: how's business? Doing better than ever you say. That might be because now non-smokers can enjoy a non-filthy dinner while the smokers have to live without a cigarette for an hour. So who won and who lost?
Live long and question
Smokers have to be the most self-centered people in the world. Yes I know I have a blog pretty self-centered myself expecting people to read this. However, thank you for leaving cigarette butts on my balcony; thank you for leaving burning cigarette butts on the sidewalk; thank you for throwing them out your car window; just thank you.
Would it kill you (pun intended) to kill yourself without killing everyone around you including your supposed loved ones?
The casino industry in AC yelled and screamed bloody murder as did the restaurant industry in New York when laws were passed about smoking in casinos and restaurants. They said they would lose revenue. Well the casinos won they can allow smoking. The restaurants however 'lost' and smoking is not permitted. Let me ask the restaurant owners: how's business? Doing better than ever you say. That might be because now non-smokers can enjoy a non-filthy dinner while the smokers have to live without a cigarette for an hour. So who won and who lost?
Live long and question
RantsAndRaves Pt 2 Greed sucks
My apologies to Gekko... Greed sucks. As a Libertarian I am all for profits. When those profits become excessive however, it is time to sit up and say hhhmmm. How did GE, which earned $10.3 billion (yes billion with a b) not pay income tax and actually get $1.1 billion (once again yes a b as in a billion) in tax benefits? My favorite though is Exxon which pays no taxes because it goes into research and development. This from the company who has sworn they will never research alternative fuels.
Put this into contrast lower and middle class pay 10-28 % of their taxable income. When was the last time you got a $1.1 billion tax benefit? $400/household lets get real. Instead of bailing out the banks they could have given $10,000 (yes thats ten thousand) to every man woman and child in the country. A family of four could have received $40,000. How much economic stimulation could you have caused with $40,000? Even if all you did was pay off your credit card debt, that would have helped. Heck it would have ended up going to the banks, but this way the middle class instead of the CxO would have received the benefit.
Who is running the government that is supposed to be by, of and for the people?
Put this into contrast lower and middle class pay 10-28 % of their taxable income. When was the last time you got a $1.1 billion tax benefit? $400/household lets get real. Instead of bailing out the banks they could have given $10,000 (yes thats ten thousand) to every man woman and child in the country. A family of four could have received $40,000. How much economic stimulation could you have caused with $40,000? Even if all you did was pay off your credit card debt, that would have helped. Heck it would have ended up going to the banks, but this way the middle class instead of the CxO would have received the benefit.
Who is running the government that is supposed to be by, of and for the people?
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Yosh makes an informed decision
Yesterday I took Yosh to a Nets game- just him and I. The game started at 7:05, Yosh's bedtime is 8:00. At half time- around 8:15- I asked Yosh if he wanted to go home or if he wanted more game, to stay. He actually told me wait- using his sign for it. A few minutes later he said, and signed, home; car. The entire walk back to the car, the drive home and even after we got home he was excitedly talking, as Yosh talks, about the game. We got home around 8:35 and he spent about 5-10 minutes talking to mommy about it. Mommy then said its night-night time, she changed him and I put him in bed at pretty much 9:00 on the dot. When i came back in the room, literally two minutes later he was out cold. The next morning he was still excited about it.
Did he make the right decision? Did I make the right decision in taking him to the game? In giving him the choice to stay or go (I was going to abide by his decision either way)?
Did he make the right decision? Did I make the right decision in taking him to the game? In giving him the choice to stay or go (I was going to abide by his decision either way)?
So who am I? (pt 1)
I am the very proud abba (Hebrew for father) of a soon to be 9yo son with Down Syndrome. That should tell you a picture's worth. I will tell you about the joys of being the abba of my son (along with some of the trials and tribulations).
I am a Libertarian. About the only things I don't agree with the major libertarian party is gun control and abortion. I believe there should be major gun control, but not outright banning of most weapons. I also believe in the right of the unborn child. Most of my Rants and Raves are going to be about the incredible amount of legislation we have in this country. That is NOT to say I am anti government, I am not an anarchist, but rather a minimalist.
I am a crank. Meaning I get easily upset over stupidity.
I am a Libertarian. About the only things I don't agree with the major libertarian party is gun control and abortion. I believe there should be major gun control, but not outright banning of most weapons. I also believe in the right of the unborn child. Most of my Rants and Raves are going to be about the incredible amount of legislation we have in this country. That is NOT to say I am anti government, I am not an anarchist, but rather a minimalist.
I am a crank. Meaning I get easily upset over stupidity.
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