Gathering and Sharing

...or was it Borrowing and Sharing? One lament from the Hobbits in the Shire was that when the communists, I mean Saruman, took over, his henchment - called Gatherers and Sharers - did more gathering than sharing.

Here is another one from Hillary talking about taking the property of others:

"The same -- the same is true with energy independence. The Democrats know what needs to be done. Again, we're working to try to push this agenda forward. The other day the oil companies reported the highest profits in the history of the world. I want to take those profits and I want to put them into a strategic energy fund that will begin to find alternative smart energy, alternatives and technologies that will begin to actually move us toward the direction of independence!"

The Democrats do not know what needs to be done - or rather if they do know, are not going to do it. We have oil, coal, and several other energy alternatives that are so highly regulated that to implement them would be illegal and/or unprofitable. The only way the Democrats would lift these regulations is if they could benefit politically from it. If they are lifted with a Republican president, then he might look good and they believe that will make them look bad. Lifting them and attaining energy independance would also mean that government would have to come up with another reason for "gathering."

Cultured

Just a quick jab at Pelosi and her "culture of corruption" hypocrisy. So far she has

1. Changed rules on eliminating taxes. This is corrupt in that it does not require existing laws to be respected or removed by a traditional procedure. That may not be a problem in some countries but not here. This is corrupt in the same way that changing the rules in the middle of a game so that one can win is corrupt.
2. Violated Congressional ethics standards with her family charity involvement.
3. Pressured the DoD to give her an Air Force plane at the tax payers expense with full amenities. This is the most corrupt, in my opinion, so far. I see the need for the Speaker to have a secure military jet in times of national emergency. However, this smacks of fraud, waste, and abuse.

And I Voted This < radio edit > Back into Office?

Gov. Rick Perry signed an executive order requiring girls entering into sixth grade to get the HPV vaccination. This is wrong on so many levels and the fact that he was the "conservative" candidate just makes it all the worse.

My response: "Hey Governor Perry! Go Pound Sand!"

Apparently, the same crowd that caws "keep your laws off my body" about abortion were in favor for this.

My Senator, Jane - I couldn't ask for better - Nelson, was quick to respond with diplomatic common sense.

My daughter, in sixth grade this year, will not be getting this vaccine. There are so many reasons not to do so. If that means I am breaking the law, sobeit. I may get in to the reasons for Why This Is Bad later. In the mean time, if I happen to see Gov. Perry, I'll congratulate him on winning the election and his many impressive accomplishments. Then I'll kick him in the nuts.

UPDATE: Apparently I'm not breaking the law. He is still a nincompoop for it though. I will definitely have to get in to the reasons for it but for now, Gov. Perry, your nuts are safe.

Lesser of Two Evils

An interesting question was posed on a thread I read the other day as to which was worse: genocide or civil war. It reminded me of the Taxi episode when Rev. Jim was filling out a cab license form and one of the other characters asked him, "narcotics or drug addiction?" Jim replies, "Wow. That's a tough choice."

Without knowing anything else, I would say that civil war is the lesser evil.

This is not to confuse genocide with politicide. If marxist terrorists are committing atrocities in the jungles, it is perfectly acceptable to rid the world of them - or at least rid the world of them for the time being. They will always return as a course of political evolution.

But when one group A does not harm any one from any other groups and is then identified by another group or groups for extinction, certainly group A should fight them. My problem is when group B does harm as a matter of policy other groups and then when the other groups fight them, they call it "genocide."

I was looking at the list from genocidewatch.org and thinking "these guys are way off of the mark." They have a very good process - not perfect but very good - for identifying what genocide is. Then they name several perpetrators of genocide who are not committing genocide. I ask, "Do they not even know what their own criteria is?" They even say the"stage" of the genocide but do not justify it.

They list Israel and Palestine as committing genocide against each other. While there are some in the governments of both, most notably the now very dead Arafat, who wanted nothing more than the complete annihilation of the other, they do not have an active policy (stage 7) of killing each other.

The worst example is that of Shiites, Sunnis, and Kurds being genocidally massacred by the U.S. I can say with absolute certainty than no one is being given the order to kill Shiites, Sunnis, and Kurds because they are Shittes, Sunnis, and Kurds. They also include "collaborators" on the list of those being killed. Here is a clue for GenocideWatch.org: If military men kill you because you are killing them, that is not genocide!

There ideas regarding how to stop it are a bit unrealistic, impractical, incomplete or all three. However, I am digressing from the point of this post.

Someone in the forum argued that using armed force in trying to stop a recognized government that is committing genocide is ineffectual and counter productive. That instead of stopping this government, it only angers them, furthers their atrocities, and others suffer as a result. It also allows for said government to tell the world that they are fighting rebels instead of committing genocide.

However, armed resistance is more likely (not guaranteed though) to get military aid to fight a murderous regime and unarmed resistance is likely to get an "Awww. We're so sorry." from the international community.

Liberals tend to equivocate what is evil and what is righteous. I am a fortunate one in that I know the difference between the them. In the case of the evil killing the righteous, I will help the righteous in their civil war any day.

Supreme Irrelevancy

I've heard that there may be an odd chance that the USSC may hear a case to determine whether or not the 2nd Amendment may be relevant today.

First: If the 2nd Amendment is irrelevant, it is up to Congress and the States to decide this through the Amendment Process.

Second: Regardless of what the USSC says and even what may be brought through the nullification of the 2nd Amendment through a "legitimate" process, people, both criminals and the otherwise law abiding, will still carry guns.

If you are someone who falls into the latter category from above, I encourage you to do so regardless of what your local laws may be.

Samuel Jackson may be turning in his grave, but the USSC does have a limited ability to enforce its rulings. However, since Kelo, I have had little regard for the opionions of the Supreme Court.

I'll jump in too

I saw this on Kim du Toit's site and figured I'll jump off the bridge too.

BOLD = I’ve done it at least once.

01. Bought everyone in the bar a drink - however there weren't many of us there.
02. Swam with wild dolphins - nope. probably not gonna either.
03. Climbed a mountain - hiked up a few but nothing that would count as a "real" mountain.
04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive - driven a friends around but never convinced a salesman to hand over the keys.
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid - Been on some lesser Pyramids. Didn't even think one could go "in" them or at least that they were open to tourists.
06. Held a tarantula - nope. probably not gonna either.
07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone - of course!
08. Said “I love you” and meant it - of course!
09. Hugged a tree - Yup. Only becaused I used to climb trees a lot and not out of any particular affect felt toward the tree.
10. Bungee jumped - Yup. Nanaimo, B.C. - 140 feet - converted for the Americans.
11. Visited Paris - A long layover actually. Walked from Arc d' Triomphe to the Eiffel Tower.
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea - Was stationed on board ship. Saw the storm but it was less impressive than the "lightning showers" in the West Texas deserts.
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise - a time or two.
14. Seen the Northern Lights - on the Things To Do Before I Die list.
15. Gone to a huge sports game - not much of a spectator but have attended a few 40k+ events.
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa - Didn't think it could even be walked.
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables - My grandparents, yes, but not my own.
18. Touched an iceberg - nope.
19. Slept under the stars - both in and out of the Corps.
20. Changed a baby’s diaper - lots and still doing it.
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon - nope. sounds cool though.
22. Watched a meteor shower - nope. another "sounds cool."
23. Gotten drunk on champagne - some other beverages may have been involved - I can't remember.
24. Given more than you can afford to charity - not unless you include property and income tax.
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope - yup. I had a pretty decent one and my older kid and I would look every now and then.
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment - raucious laughter maybe but no giggling.
27. Had a food fight - had an enormous one when I was 13.
28. Bet on a winning horse - nope. nor any other horse for that matter.
29. Asked a total stranger out - Yup. Married one of them.
30. Had a snowball fight - Several, although it only snows one or two days a year in TX so I'd make the most of them.
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can - often and still do. Usually just for fun.
32. Held a lamb - not one that wasn't already cooked.
33. Seen a total eclipse - nope. The stars were never aligned.
34. Ridden a roller coaster - several and likely will again.
35. Hit a home run - and made it to home base. ;^)
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking - I've actually done this sober. Hell, I even line danced in Mexico City although that time may have involved alcohol.
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day - only because I though it would help the furriners around me understand me a bit better. I wasn't trying to fool anyone.
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment - several times.
39. Had two hard drives for your computer - with mirroring and striping and sometimes just for the extra space.
40. Visited all 50 states - I might but have no inclination to do so.
41. Taken care of someone who was drunk - A time or three.
42. Had amazing friends - Yup. Some of which even fit into the last category.
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country - Yup. See that line dancing in Mexico thing above.
44. Watched wild whales - Was station in Monterey, CA for a while. They'd swim near the beaches and into the harbor on occasion.
45. Stolen a sign - probably a scavenger hunt. It was a while ago.
46. Backpacked in Europe - Dragged a bunch of suitcases without wheels around Europe though.
47. Taken a road-trip - bunches.
48. Gone rock climbing - in Canada, California, Oregon, and even a bit in Texas.
49. Midnight walk on the beach - in Monterey, Pacific Grove, Carmel.
50. Gone sky diving - this is officially on the Things To Do Before I Die list.
51. Visited Ireland - I have a sister named Shannon and had dinner at her house. Never the city though.
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love - no. It may be a sexist thing to say but that's silly for a man.
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them - in a few crowded cafeteria style restaurants, the dining cars on trains, if she was cute...
54. Visited Japan - Not sure if "visit" is the right word. I kinda lived there.
55. Milked a cow - eaten a few...
56. Alphabetized your CDs - all of the CDs I've ever owned would fit into both hands. I'm not a music junkie.
57. Pretended to be a superhero - not really but sometime I pretend to be a mere mortal.
58. Sung karaoke - several times as well. Devil Went Down to Georgia is my favorite.
59. Lounged around in bed all day - the kids really put a limit to this but there have been times when working for several days (and a few times a couple of weeks) straight that I'd crash and not wake up for 12 hours, then take a nap, then go to bed early.
60. Played touch football - because of my size and speed (bigger and faster than the average bear) I prefer tackle.
61. Gone scuba diving - not since I lived in Japan unfortunately. Very good fun though.
62. Kissed in the rain - may have even hugged a bit too.
63. Played in the mud - both in and out of the military.
64. Played in the rain - see the "kissing" in #62.
65. Gone to a drive-in theater - not for many years but I have.
66. Visited the Great Wall of China - but seen one on TV.
67. Started a business - several and will likely start several more.
68. Fallen in love and /not/ had your heart broken - and still falling too.
69. Toured ancient sites - the Teotihuacanos Sun & Moon pyramids in Mexico, cathedrals in Estonia (although that is still during recorded history).
70. Taken a martial arts class - both in and out of the military.
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight - huh?
72. Gotten married - of course!
73. Been in a movie - was an extra in "Dangerous Curves" when they were filming at a hotel where I worked.
74. Crashed a party - it's usually bad enough inviting me...
75. Got divorced - nope.
76. Gone without food for 5 days - SERE school courtesy of the USMC.
77. Made cookies from scratch - usually w/ wife & kids.
78. Won first prize in a costume contest - was 8 years old when I wore one of six costumes made by a professional constume maker. I was a Jawa from Star Wars. Chewbacca was there to represent as well.
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice - or have even been to Venice.
80. Gotten a tattoo - and yet have no feelings of emptiness for not having done so.
81. Rafted the Snake River - no but I've tubed the Guadalupe!
82. Been on television news programs as an “expert” - no but I was an extra in "Dangerous Curves"!
83. Got flowers for no reason - neither given nor received.
84. Performed on stage - was the lead in "Computerized Christmas" for my 5th grade Christmas pagent.
85. Been to Las Vegas - and have a kid to prove it!
86. Recorded music - not my own.
87. Eaten shark - in Japan. You know how they are said to cut off the fin and throw the rest back? I think I had the "rest".
88. Kissed on the first date - and gone for a midnight walk too.
89. Gone to Thailand - courtesy of the USMC too. I played volleyball without using my hands.
90. Bought a house - a couple of times.
91. Been in a combat zone - ironically no.
92. Buried one/both of your parents - fortunately no.
93. Been on a cruise ship - not unless grey ones with "U.S.S." in their names count.
94. Spoken more than one language fluently - no but I'm illiterate in many.
95. Performed in Rocky Horror - see #23 above.
96. Raised children - The sources of my greatest frustrations and joys.
97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour - nope. Never gonna either unless my wife or kids start singing professionally.
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country - what's an exotic bicycle? Ferrari has "branded" bikes but I didn't think they made them.
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over - joined the Corps but I don't really count that.
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge - just the pedestrian section of it. I honestly can't remember if any of it went out to the bridge or if it was just near it.
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was
looking - and without shame too.
103. Had plastic surgery - but I've had some metal work done.
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived - not sure if this is worded correctly but I have been in some accidents that could have been fatal.
105. Wrote articles for a large publication - nope. Probably not gonna either.
106. Lost over 100 pounds - I lost over 40 pounds in one week from one accident that I had and the subsequent surgeries.
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback - no but I've worked with people who may have been.
108. Piloted an airplane - while this is on the list of Things To Do Before I Die, I hope it isn't the Last Thing I Do Before I Die.
109. Touched a stingray - in an aquarium petting zoo. They were small.
110. Broken someone’s heart - I believe I have to answer "yes" to this - sad to say.
111. Helped an animal give birth - no but it does sound interesting.
112. Won money on a T.V. game show - no but I won a can of Coke in a bingo game when I was seven at the local YMCA.
113. Broken a bone - not any of my own anyway.
114. Gone on an African photo safari - I'd love to do this as well as a hunting safari.
115. Had a facial part pierced other than your ears - I haven't had my ears pierce ever either.
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol - a time or three.
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild - never smoked any of them though.
118. Ridden a horse - and I'm from Texas too. Imagine that.
119. Had major surgery - see #104 and #106 above. Among other things my abdomen wall was torn 1/4 of the way around my waist and my spleen was ruptured. No broken bones though.
120. Had a snake as a pet - no but I've eaten snakes.
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon - barely even been to AZ.
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours - oh yeah, usually as the result of recovering from several days / weeks of hard labor.
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states - this might be something that I'll do in the future but right now I'm at about a 2:1 ratio.
124. Visited all 7 continents - on my list of Things To Do Before I Die. Right now, I'm at 4.
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days - just close - 1.5 days.
126. Eaten kangaroo meat - ostrich, snakes, 'gators, lizards, snails, no 'roos though.
127. Eaten sushi - lots and fairly frequently.
128. Had your picture in the newspaper - a few times for grade school art work and athletics.
129. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about - yes on multiple accounts. Most of these are a bit too personal for my blog though.
130. Gone back to school - several times.
131. Parasailed - I actually thought this was boring. I was just hanging there. After the view got "old" was ready to get down. I imagine hang gliding would be much more fun for me.
132. Touched a cockroach - both living and dead.
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes - despite living in the south, I haven't.
134. Read The Iliad - I haven't and I even have a copy (leather bound, inherited from a relative). Shame on me.
135. Selected one “important” author who you missed in school, and
read - Yup. George Orwell. 1984 scared me more than anything Stephen King ever wrote.
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating - I'm not including fish here. I've never actually been hunting despite being an avid shooter.
137. Skipped all your school reunions (so far) - just the 10yr. Haven't had any others.
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken
language - seems everytime I leave the U.S. I do.
139. Been elected to public office - Nope. I'd rather be a tyrant who came to power by bloody coup.
140. Written your own computer language - This isn't entirely true. I've written many parsers and interpretors. I've written a mark up language for wireless devices.
141. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream - I don't own a G550 and 80' Hatteras yet.
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care - Not yet but getting pretty close.
143. Built your own PC from parts - just to see if I could. I may do it again depending on how much I can save and what I want.
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you - nothing that could be considered "traditional artwork" anyway.
145. Had a booth at a street fair - it was my wife's actually, who has sold her artwork (craftwork) to folks she didn't know.
146. Dyed your hair - never could find the right shade of purple.
147. Been a DJ - nope. Haven't even burned a CD of "hit" songs.
148. Shaved your head - if boot camp counts.
149. Caused a car accident - both caused them and been affected by them. Never hurt anyone else in one though.
150. Saved someone’s life - once for sure and a couple of Would Have Been Really Bads.

Muslim Taxi Drivers

It was never my intent to use this blog to gripe about Muslims (at least entirely) but I do not get to post very often and when I do, there is usually something Muslim related flying across my radar.

I have been hearing more and more about Muslim taxi drivers refusing service to people with dogs, usually blind people with dogs but I am sure other people who travel with dogs need taxis every now and then too, or people with alcohol. The incidents that involve alcohol have all been "nice" in nature in that there was never any interrogation by the driver nor violence involved.

While I usually treat other religeons (or cultures but Islam makes no distinction) with some regard, I must say that if one's beliefs prevent him from providing services in a service-related industry, he needs to find new work. This is especially true if denying these services is in violation of local laws - such as the case with discriminating against the handicapped. Of course, this is ripe for false-analogy arguments so I leave it at this: In the case of taxi drivers, if dogs or alcohol will prevent you from taking a fare, either find a different line of work or stay out of queues where people with dogs and alcohol frequent.

There may be some analogies that, at least in part, apply:

What if Muslim drivers carried this over to how people were dressed? I do not think there is anything in Islamic law preventing the transport of inappropriately dressed women but I am not certain.

What if Muslim drivers refused to take people to parts of town they do not find "respectable"? (E.g. "There are bars within a mile of here that serve alcohol or clubs where people take their clothes off!") *

What if taxi drivers with olfactory sensitivities refused to carry Indians because they smelled of curry? The reason for refusal is not religious but borders on the medical.

Conversely, what if non-Muslim drivers started refusing to carry anyone in a head scarf or turban? There are actually some modern religeons that do frown on head coverings.

I support businesses to refuse service to whomever they choose for any reason whatsoever. A taxi is a business whether it is a single cab or fleet. If the driver chooses to refuse a fare, he has that right. However, the taxi company has the right to fire him without compensation. The airports, hotels, and other businesses have the right to bar both the driver and the taxi company from their queues. If they choose not to bar the taxi, they still have the option of sending the driver to the back of the queue.

* On a side note: Something similar happend to me in Mexico City. I was going to the airport and the driver was not authorized to pick up fares at the airport. Given the time of day and traffic to and fro, he refused service to me. The solution was simple: He was out $40 and I took another cab.