A Dying Spider
15 years ago
Monday, April 30, 2012
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Disappropriationessity
(I originally asked this in a politics forum to someone working for the census bureau but never received a reply.)
"Here's something that's bothering me. Illegal aliens get counted in the census. However, they are not legally allowed to vote. If there is no way to determine who's legal and who isn't by the census, aren't the census numbers skewed when determining representatives for an area?
It seems people who live in an area with heavy illegal concentrations will have more influence over those with less. (E.g. 1 U.S. rep / 690,000 people. If 1/3 of the people in a given district are illegal and can technically not vote, doesn't that give the other 2/3 greater influence than areas that have almost no illegals?)"
"Here's something that's bothering me. Illegal aliens get counted in the census. However, they are not legally allowed to vote. If there is no way to determine who's legal and who isn't by the census, aren't the census numbers skewed when determining representatives for an area?
It seems people who live in an area with heavy illegal concentrations will have more influence over those with less. (E.g. 1 U.S. rep / 690,000 people. If 1/3 of the people in a given district are illegal and can technically not vote, doesn't that give the other 2/3 greater influence than areas that have almost no illegals?)"
Monday, May 25, 2009
Happy Memorial Day
I again find myself wondering about the use of the word "Happy" to preceed "Memorial Day" in greeting.
I still contend that it is not only proper but appropriate as well.
This year I am going to "go one further." Other countries should be wishing us a happy Memorial Day. Especially those who we have "invaded."
We have made extraordinary efforts to keep civilian suffering to a minimum in Iraq and Afghanistan and often to our detriment. Countries that have been touched by American Servicemen in the last one hundred years are among the most prosporous and free in the world.
I will admit, there are exceptions. These are not the fault of our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines. These are the fault of politicians and a public so woefully ill-informed. These are the fault of moral cowards.
We have the ability to destroy cities from a far but instead remove our enemies by hand.
I know that there will be few outside of the United States that wish us a Happy Memorial Day. Instead of focusing on them, or on politicians, or journalists, or anyone else, I will choose to remember the fallen and be grateful that there are still free men who will die in our defense.
I still contend that it is not only proper but appropriate as well.
This year I am going to "go one further." Other countries should be wishing us a happy Memorial Day. Especially those who we have "invaded."
We have made extraordinary efforts to keep civilian suffering to a minimum in Iraq and Afghanistan and often to our detriment. Countries that have been touched by American Servicemen in the last one hundred years are among the most prosporous and free in the world.
I will admit, there are exceptions. These are not the fault of our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines. These are the fault of politicians and a public so woefully ill-informed. These are the fault of moral cowards.
We have the ability to destroy cities from a far but instead remove our enemies by hand.
I know that there will be few outside of the United States that wish us a Happy Memorial Day. Instead of focusing on them, or on politicians, or journalists, or anyone else, I will choose to remember the fallen and be grateful that there are still free men who will die in our defense.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Saturday, March 21, 2009
The Gospel According to Obama
I originally chuckled a bit at this. As I was writing it, though, it became less funny…
From the Gospel According to Obama:
14 For the kingdom of me is as a man travelling into a far country, who considers all his own servants, and counted unto them their goods.
15 And one had five talents, another had two, and another had one; every man had according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
16 Then he that had the five talents went and traded with the same, and made himself another five talents.
17 And likewise he that had two, he also gained another two.
18 But he that had one went and digged in the earth, and hid his money.
19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
20 And so he that had five talents came and brought another five talents, saying, I had owned me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
21 His lord said unto him, hmmm, thou greedy and unpatriotic servant: thou hast been stingy over many things, I will make thee ruler over fewer things: suffer thou the wrath of thy lord.
22 He also that had two talents came and said, I had owned me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
23 His lord said unto him, hmmm, thou greedy and unpatriotic servant; thou hast been stingy over many things, I will make thee ruler over fewer things: suffer thou the wrath of thy lord.
24 Then he which had the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art a wonderful man, bringer of thine light, and giver of great wealth:
25 And I was rapturous, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
26 His lord answered and said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord:
27 Thou oughtest therefore to borrow more money from the exchangers, and then at my coming we should all have more.
28 Take therefore the talents from the others, and give it unto him which hath one talent.
29 For unto every one that hath shall be redistributed to, and they shall have great abundance: but from those that have been redistributed from shall be taken away even that which he hath.
30 And cast ye the profitable servants into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
From the Gospel According to Obama:
14 For the kingdom of me is as a man travelling into a far country, who considers all his own servants, and counted unto them their goods.
15 And one had five talents, another had two, and another had one; every man had according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
16 Then he that had the five talents went and traded with the same, and made himself another five talents.
17 And likewise he that had two, he also gained another two.
18 But he that had one went and digged in the earth, and hid his money.
19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
20 And so he that had five talents came and brought another five talents, saying, I had owned me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
21 His lord said unto him, hmmm, thou greedy and unpatriotic servant: thou hast been stingy over many things, I will make thee ruler over fewer things: suffer thou the wrath of thy lord.
22 He also that had two talents came and said, I had owned me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
23 His lord said unto him, hmmm, thou greedy and unpatriotic servant; thou hast been stingy over many things, I will make thee ruler over fewer things: suffer thou the wrath of thy lord.
24 Then he which had the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art a wonderful man, bringer of thine light, and giver of great wealth:
25 And I was rapturous, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
26 His lord answered and said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord:
27 Thou oughtest therefore to borrow more money from the exchangers, and then at my coming we should all have more.
28 Take therefore the talents from the others, and give it unto him which hath one talent.
29 For unto every one that hath shall be redistributed to, and they shall have great abundance: but from those that have been redistributed from shall be taken away even that which he hath.
30 And cast ye the profitable servants into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
Survivors of the Virus - Forums Update
I am building the forums for Survivors of the Virus and should have it and the blog engine integrated within the week. The ads are still a bit problematic but that is really only a problem for me.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Survivors of the Virus
One of the projects that I have been working is a fictional story:
Survivors of the Virus
It is a post-apocalyptic novel heavily inspired by the fictional worlds created by Richard Matheson (I am Legend), Steven King (The Stand), Terry Hayes (Mad Max series), among others.
I am still working through some of the technical issues with Wordpress, advertizing engines, and the layouts. (It is meant to be read as a story in a weblog format but the oldest entries appear at the bottom.) I am correcting these issues while posting the story.
My release schedule for entries tentatively is Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.
Anyone interested should read the entries in the following order:
Author’s Note
Narrator’s Note
The Worst Call
Bags
He’s Still Not Here
No title
Worldly Possessions
I will link them when I have the permalinks working. In the mean time, they can be read by going to http://www.survivorsofthevirus.com/wp_app/
The oldest is at the bottom. To read them as intended, you will need to scroll down then up as you finish each entry.
Cheers,
Shawn McManus
Survivors of the Virus
It is a post-apocalyptic novel heavily inspired by the fictional worlds created by Richard Matheson (I am Legend), Steven King (The Stand), Terry Hayes (Mad Max series), among others.
I am still working through some of the technical issues with Wordpress, advertizing engines, and the layouts. (It is meant to be read as a story in a weblog format but the oldest entries appear at the bottom.) I am correcting these issues while posting the story.
My release schedule for entries tentatively is Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.
Anyone interested should read the entries in the following order:
Author’s Note
Narrator’s Note
The Worst Call
Bags
He’s Still Not Here
No title
Worldly Possessions
I will link them when I have the permalinks working. In the mean time, they can be read by going to http://www.survivorsofthevirus.com/wp_app/
The oldest is at the bottom. To read them as intended, you will need to scroll down then up as you finish each entry.
Cheers,
Shawn McManus
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
