things I right

No point turning corners if they're always the same direction and you come full-circle

Sat, 01 Aug 2009 00:49:21 GMT

One step forward, two steps back. As you do.

Sun, 26 Jul 2009 02:49:44 GMT

So it goes...

Sun, 19 Jul 2009 23:05:18 GMT

Maybe I'm conducive to the fortune, to the blame...

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 21:42:09 GMT

Hadn't seen these guys or listened to their stuff in quite some time.

Last night had to be the best (and by best I mean worst) possible night to hear this, which is still my favorite song of theirs.

Government: It's worse than you think.

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 04:44:26 GMT

If you call that balance...

Sat, 23 May 2009 04:05:29 GMT

Two main points to today:

1- have THE job interview of interviews on Tuesday.

2- Car decided today would be a good day to start making noises and give me trouble.

Like I'm not already perpetually exhausted.

I live on facebook, but I can't say this there.

Thu, 14 May 2009 03:59:23 GMT

A friend took this "Which famous theologian are you?" quiz.

"____ took the Which famous theologian are you? quiz and the result is John Wesley

Wesley lived from 1703-91. He taught justification by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, as understood by Scripture alone. He differed from other Protestants like Luther, Calvin, and Edwards in saying that we ultimately choose God (free will), rather than the idea that He chose us (predestination). Wesley strongly emphasized personal piety."

My take?

Now I know who to blame for all the over-simplified crap people believe in (not that Luther, Calvin or Edwards were any better).

Gwn Mi Wn

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 00:03:37 GMT

Gruff Rhys, of the band Super Furry Animals, showing what a modern one man band can do when he has the right equipment.

Funny Money Math Time

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 18:47:08 GMT

Let's assume our entire economy is 10 Trillion dollars.

Then, we decide to cover 1.5 Trillion of "debt" (a mess unto itself) by simply printing more dollars. We're going to pay off this "debt" by printing the money to cover it.

This increases the money supply. This devalues the dollar.

What was 1.5 Trillion in "debt" in the old economy of 10 Trillion is now 1.725 Trillion in the new economy of of 11.5 Trillion.

It's the same ratio. It does NOTHING.

At best, if the entire rest of the economy magically covered itself, held constant and immune to the inflation at play, like this whole new money/debt exchange is just some side pot, we'd still be creating 1.5 Trillion dollars to pay off 1.725 Trillion, meaning we're still 225 Billion in the red.

That's our best case scenario. It won't happen. Everything gets its value readjusted (rather, would, if we could accurately monitor and control these things, but we can't, so now it's more like throwing darts and we're making an even bigger mess). So, the 1.5 Trillion we just printed isn't paying off anything. It's merely taking up the same space that 1.3 Trillion used to. Meanwhile, our new "debt" is 1.725 Trillion and yet to be collected.

All we did was devalue our dollar. Our "debt" is the same percentage of the economy it used to be, but it's a higher number because the dollar isn't worth as much.

The only way to pay down a debt is for the debtor to earn money and pay the creditor.

Not even shrinking the money supply will help. That's deflation. The dollar value goes up, there are fewer dollars to go around, but the "debt" still sits there.

We must first acknowledge what "debt" is owed to whom and then decide what to do about it. If government owes money to itself, does it really owe anything? On the balance sheets it does. If government is split into two parts, each has a budget of $100 and an operating cost of $100, we're null-set, but if A borrows $10 from B to help cover $110 of cost, B is still left to cover its own $100 of cost with only $90. In order to actually pay it back, A needs to get another $10 from someplace else, but it needs to be an already existing $10. Creating $10 out of nowhere does nothing.

Government has two options for getting rid of debt: increasing taxes on the producers (in other words, swallowing up more of the economy) or decreasing its own spending. Choice A hurts the rest of the economy. Choice B does not.

Our "debt" is really our government's debt. It's our government printing money until its valueless and still spending it faster than it prints it. It's digging a hole, deeper and deeper. Then they try to dig out of the hole.

We need to stop printing money.
We need to shrink the government.
We need a constant trade value for the dollar.
We need government to fill the hole, not make it deeper.

Once the revenue in to the government is able to cover a lower operating cost and fill the gaping hole, we can keep government at that level and decrease the taxes on the actual workers. Then we'll have a limited, fiscally sound government and a growing economy.

Anything else just keeps us going down the same road we're on.

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 07:03:43 GMT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0eQB78P97s

Not embeddable.

It's Starsailor. Doing a cover. Of what? Let's just say this video brings everything together about everything in the past two weeks.

16 Signs That You Live In A Tyranny

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 06:16:44 GMT

16 Signs That You Live In A Tyranny Published on March 7, 2009 by Jon_Roland

Tyranny is an important phenomenon that operates by principles by which it can be recognized in its early emerging stages, and, if the people are vigilant, prepared, and committed to liberty, countered before it becomes entrenched. The methods used to overthrow a constitutional order and establish a tyranny are well-known. However, despite this awareness, it is surprising how those who have no intention of perpetrating a tyranny can slip into these methods and bring about a tyranny despite their best intentions. Tyranny does not have to be deliberate. Tyrants can fool themselves as thoroughly as they fool everyone else. Here are the top 16 signs that you are living in a tyranny or heading that way. Many thanks to Jon Roland for submitting this list.

1 Signs 1 - 5

1. Control of public information and opinion: It begins with withholding information, and leads to putting out false or misleading information. A government can develop ministries of propaganda under many guises. They typically call it “public information” or “marketing”.

2. Vote fraud used to prevent the election of reformers: It doesn’t matter which of the two major party candidates are elected if no real reformer can get nominated, and when news services start knowing the outcomes of elections before it is possible for them to know, then the votes are not being honestly counted.

3. Undue official influence on trials and juries: Nonrandom selection of jury panels, exclusion of those opposed to the law, exclusion of the jury from hearing argument on the law, exclusion of private prosecutors from access to the grand jury, and prevention of parties and their counsels from making effective arguments or challenging the government.

4. Usurpation of undelegated powers: This is usually done with popular support for solving some problem, or to redistribute wealth to the advantage of the supporters of the dominant faction, but it soon leads to the deprivation of rights of minorities and individuals.

5. Seeking a government monopoly on the capability and use of armed force: The first signs are efforts to register or restrict the possession and use of firearms, initially under the guise of “protecting” the public, which, when it actually results in increased crime, provides a basis for further disarmament efforts affecting more people and more weapons.

Just paying the bills…

2 Signs 6 - 10

6. Militarization of law enforcement: Declaring a “war on crime” that becomes a war on civil liberties. Preparation of military forces for internal policing duties.

7. Infiltration and subversion of citizen groups that could be forces for reform: Internal spying and surveillance is the beginning. A sign is false prosecutions of their leaders.

8. Suppression of investigators and whistleblowers: When people who try to uncover high level wrongdoing are threatened, that is a sign the system is not only riddled with corruption, but that the corruption has passed the threshold into active tyranny.

9. Use of the law for competition suppression: It begins with the dominant faction winning support by paying off their supporters and suppressing their supporters’ competitors, but leads to public officials themselves engaging in illegal activities and using the law to suppress independent competitors. A good example of this is narcotics trafficking.

10. Subversion of internal checks and balances: This involves the appointment to key positions of persons who can be controlled by their sponsors, and who are then induced to do illegal things. The worst way in which this occurs is in the appointment of judges that will go along with unconstitutional acts by the other branches.

3 Signs 11 - 16

11. Creation of a class of officials who are above the law: This is indicated by dismissal of charges for wrongdoing against persons who are “following orders”.

12. Increasing dependency of the people on government: The classic approach to domination of the people is to first take everything they have away from them, then make them compliant with the demands of the rulers to get anything back again.

13. Increasing public ignorance of their civic duties and reluctance to perform them: When the people avoid doing things like voting and serving in militias and juries, tyranny is not far behind.

14. Use of staged events to produce popular support: Acts of terrorism, blamed on political opponents, followed immediately with well-prepared proposals for increased powers and budgets for suppressive agencies. Sometimes called a Reichstag plot.

15. Conversion of rights into privileges: Requiring licenses and permits for doing things that the government does not have the delegated power to restrict, except by due process in which the burden of proof is on the petitioner.

16. Political correctness: Many if not most people are susceptible to being recruited to engage in repressive actions against disfavored views or behaviors, and led to pave the way for the dominance of tyrannical government.

Contributor: Jon_Roland

Because meeting the Pope is more important to Pelosi than being honest.

Sat, 14 Feb 2009 23:34:26 GMT

Where's my burrito!?!? Where's my burrito!?!?

Sat, 07 Feb 2009 21:32:42 GMT

Let me get this straight. This says the Senate is nearly set to approve a bill for $827 Billion, which is $8 Billion HIGHER than what the House passed, and yet it's still being lauded for the cuts made which kept it from being even HIGHER? So we're congratulating the Senate for only adding $8 Billion to a bloated, wasteful spend-a-thon? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

http://news.aol.com/main/obama-presidency/article/economic-stimulus-advisory-panel/332125

Glenn Beck on the devalued dollar

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 06:05:53 GMT

...

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 19:12:34 GMT

Spend-a-thon update

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 03:14:55 GMT

Just before I left for school, the final vote was taken on HR 1.

The total amount capped out at $819 Billion (at least according to C-SPAN).

It passed 244 to 188. http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll046.xml

Going by this count, there was one not voting (Ginny Brown-Waite, a Republican) and 2 seats still vacant.

177 of 178 Republicans voted against it along with 11 Democrats.

So, last post's figures were off. There are 255 Democrats and 178 Republicans, but no Independents, according to this roll call. That's Democrats with nearly 59% of the House and 2 seats still vacant. If they get them both, that's 257 or a definite 59%.

Why we're doomed.

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 23:00:39 GMT

President Obama's $825 (maybe more) Billion Spending Debacle is about to pass the House.

In this, the 111th Congress, Democrats have a 79 vote advantage (if you include the two "independents" who basically vote with Democrats anyway), 257 to 178, over Republicans.

A simple majority in the House is 218.

This means NO bill can pass the House without at least SOME Democrats on board: Period.

In debating the 2009 spend-a-thon, an amendment was offered up by Jeff Flake of Arizona. After Ron Paul, Flake's probably the most Constitutional member in the House. Not only did his amendment fail, but 61 Republicans voted AGAINST it.

A 2/3 majority in the House is 290. Democrats barely need to siphon 33 Republicans to get to 2/3. They got 61, nearly double that, to vote against Flake.

The only opposition a Democrat agenda MIGHT see in the House is on something need a 3/4 majority.

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 06:40:24 GMT

http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/01/14/ryan-adams-announces-split-from-the-cardinals-hiatus/

http://www.ryanadamsarchive.com/showthread.php?t=14397

Treasury-to-be didn't file his taxes

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 16:47:26 GMT

http://news.aol.com/main/obama-presidency/article/obamas-treasury-pick-didnt-pay-taxes/305709

WASHINGTON (Jan. 14) - A Capitol Hill grilling is likely for Timothy Geithner, President-elect Barack Obama's pick to head the Treasury Department, after public revelations he failed to pay $34,000 in taxes several years ago.

Now, spot the bias:

"...newly released information about the tax goofs by Geithner,..."

"...did so after Obama's transition team found that Geithner had made the same tax mistake his first two years at the IMF as the one the IRS found he made during his last two years there."

"Obama's transition team told Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., and senior Republican Charles E. Grassley of Iowa of the tax problems in early December,..."

'"These errors were not intentional; they were honest mistakes," Baucus said after the session.'

"Grassley, who pressed for the irregularities to be made public, hasn't said whether he considers them grounds for opposing Geithner's nomination."

"Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., dismissed the events as "a few little hiccups," and said he was "not concerned at all" about the impact."

They're "goofs" or "mistakes" or "tax problems", even "hiccups" if you want to listen to Harry Reid, yet other people have GONE TO PRISON for these things. Some have at least gone to local jail for FAR LESS.

They don't even mention that it's a crime (I know- I disagree with the income tax on Constitutional grounds, but it's not like Geithner was making a principled stand, so, stay with me here), regardless if his penalty amounts to simply paying what he owes and then some. Other people would be labeled as "tax cheats" or "tax evaders".

Why you fail at job

Mon, 12 Jan 2009 05:33:59 GMT

What Your Voice Says About You
http://jobs.aol.com/article/_a/what-your-voice-says-about-you/20080825161009990001?ncid=AOLCOMMjobsDYNLprim0001

I'm not slow, fast, high, nasal or gravely. Pass.

What Your Handshake Says About You
http://jobs.aol.com/article/_a/what-your-handshake-says-about-you/20080604144809990002

I'd say I'm standard, though I often fall prey to receiving the Terminator from others, which makes it difficult. Bastards.

"No Timewasters." "No. Money Down."

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 18:47:28 GMT

Your Word is "Why"

You see life as complicated and intriguing. The only thing you know for sure is that you haven't figured it all out yet.

You question everything and believe very little. And whatever you believe is likely to change.

You are interested in theories, philosophies, and religions... even if you don't buy into any of them.

You are also fascinated by how things work. You'd like to understand as much in the world as possible.

What's Your Word?

Your result for The Pop Culture Archetype Personality Test...

The Wizard

Ninja, Robot, Zombie, Cowboy

The self-confidence of the wizard is often mistaken for arrogance, but it is a confidence rooted in expertise. The perfectionist wizards focus on specialized knowledge, and are willing to work at things and improve until they are masters of their domain. They know what they know, and they know what they don't know. Yet wizards are not all about logic; they combine intuition and imagination with reliability, and turn everything they work on into a personal moral cause. To this end, they will disregard authority if it suits their purposes, even pretending to conform while secretly working in their own unconventional, opportunistic ways. Anything is possible, and paradoxes are seen as a source of amusement, not an obstacle. With people, wizards have no tolerance for slackers, and their lack of appreciation for social rituals, small talk and flirtation means that personal relationships are their Achilles heel. They are deeply private and impassive, and their unempathetic self-confidence and expectation for directness means that they turn off many, leaving them with only a few close friends.

Wizards are prone to Schizotypal behaviors, wherein they feel extreme discomfort in close relationships and often experience strange cognitive and perceptual experiences and eccentric appearance and behavior. They may see chance happenings as being related to their own experiences, and react with odd, magical beliefs and thinking. Their paranoid, suspicious natures leave them with few close friends, and their odd speech and inappropriate behaviors often drive away others, leading to increased anxiety in social situations.

Famous wizard types include Dan Akroyd, Augustus Caesar, Chevy Chase, Arnold Schwarzenegger and John F. Kennedy.

Take The Pop Culture Archetype Personality Test at HelloQuizzy

But that's only if I follow the INTJ model and go Cowboy-Ninja-Robot-Zombie. I'm actually rather borderline between Robot and Monkey (T or F). Change Robot to Monkey and...

Your result for The Pop Culture Archetype Personality Test...

The Monk

Ninja, Monkey, Zombie, Cowboy

Monks are humanitarian prophets and seers with deep convictions about weighty matters and clear insights into good and evil. They are idealistic champions of the oppressed and downtrodden, seeking good things for all (and poetic justice when wrongs are done) without any thoughts of personal glory or power. Fluent in languages and nonverbal communication, their complex characters and depth of personal talent brings them into contact with many. Yet they are not easily fooled, and are suspicious of others motives, being highly selective about the close friends they make. Both empathic and enigmatic, they often withdraw into themselves to focus on abstract theories and think about the inner workings of their minds and emotions. Their desire to share feelings and conclusions with others generally keeps them bonded to at least a few allies, but they prefer to do much of their true thinking quietly, often becoming so absorbed in thought that they ignore physical reality altogether.

Monks are often plagued by Avoidant behavior, feeling intense social discomfort and timidity due to a fear of negative feedback about their actions. Easily hurt by criticism, they turn away from all but a few close friends, and avoid all others unless they are sure of being liked. They avoid social activities and are shy when forced into them, and fear embarrassment if they show emotion or anxiety in front of others. They will go so far as to exaggerate difficulties in performing ordinary activities in order to avoid them, yet yearn for acceptance and attention while avoiding those very things that might bring them what they crave.

Famous monk types include Jimmy Carter, Mother Teresa, Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr. and Carrie Fisher.

Take The Pop Culture Archetype Personality Test at HelloQuizzy

But the description for Zombie is kind of crap and leaves me inclined to opt for Punk instead, so
Cowboy-Ninja-Robot-Punk

Your result for The Pop Culture Archetype Personality Test...

The Tinker

Ninja, Robot, Punk, Cowboy

The solitary tinker is detached from the world at large, forever deep in thought analyzing or inventing something. They are fond of games, puzzles, mathematics and language, with the task they are performing secondary to the mastery of the logic involved. They are relatively easygoing and likable enough, but when their beliefs are trod upon they become outspoken and inflexible, and while they do not want to make a spectacle of themselves they will defend their point of view vociferously. They are quite critical, of themselves and others, and they will correct imprecise language or thought, and consistently second guess themselves, often predicting impending failure. This lack of trust (in themselves and others) leads them to pursue solitary careers, leaving them aloof and detached, lost in the workshop of their own mind.

Tinkers often fall into Schizoid behavioral patterns, with an indifference to social relationships and a limited range of emotional expression. They take pleasure in only a few solitary activities, and keep only a few close friends (often relatives), pushing aside all others and things. This emotional frigidity leaves them detached and indifferent to praise and criticism.

Famous tinkers include Socrates, Descartes, Newton, C.G. Jung and Albert Einstein.

Take The Pop Culture Archetype Personality Test at HelloQuizzy

Cowboy-Ninja-Monkey-Punk

Your result for The Pop Culture Archetype Personality Test...

The Druid

Ninja, Monkey, Punk, Cowboy

Druids are filled with a dramatic sense of wonder, viewing the world through rose-colored glasses as they watch everything come to life, from flora and fauna to mundane objects. They see the good in almost everyone and everything, yet struggle with the idea of ethical perfection (or lack thereof). They tend to turn away from the world and toward essence and ideal, and while they are concerned with all people and creatures, those things are valued only in that they are part of a greater whole; in this, they often struggle to find their place in things, and need to feel a part of whatever they are involved with. Fluent with language, they are keen to pick out patterns in people and things, although their somewhat otherworldly focus on the larger picture can lead them to seem somewhat absentminded. Nevertheless, they have a knack for explaining complex things quite simply.

Druids are often beset by Histrionic behavior, craving attention, reassurance and praise in everything they do. Emotionally exaggerated and often sexually charged, they become concerned with physical appearance, and grow uncomfortable when they are not the center of attention. Their emotions are subject to rapid shifts, and their actions are entirely self-centered, with no tolerance for delay in getting what they want. Their speech often lacks detail as their shallow emotions carry across into their dealings with others.

Famous druid types include Homer, Shakespeare, Dick Clark, Jackie Onasis and Julia Roberts.

Take The Pop Culture Archetype Personality Test at HelloQuizzy

So, which is most accurate? Maybe a blend of all (except not so much on that last one)?

Your result for The Great Minds Advice Test...

Live Life to the Fullest

33% Wilde, 8% Franklin, 25% Freud, 17% Teresa, and 17% Leonardo!

“To get back my youth I would do anything in the world, except take exercise, get up early or be respectable.”- Oscar Wilde

Oscar Wilde is one of the most iconic figures from late Victorian society. Enjoying a meteoric rise to the top of society. His wit, humour and intelligence shine through his plays and writings. For his sexuality he suffered the indignity and shame of imprisonment. For a long time his name was synonymous with scandal and intrigue. However with changing social attitudes he is remembered with great affection for his biting social criticism, wit and linguistic skills.

Taking advice from Wilde you should live life to it's fullest. Put art in your life and in your soul. Do something creative - but don't just sit around, actually enjoy yourself!

Take The Great Minds Advice Test at HelloQuizzy

Your result for The Brain Game Test...

Disciplined Analyzer

69% Careful Thinker!

People who have a predominantly Left-brain Abstract thinking style thrive on careful analysis of all pertinent factors before making any decisions. Their style is naturally systematic and detail-oriented, characterized by the pursuit of logic, predictability and discipline. They may appear distant and aloof at times, as they prefer to listen rather than talk. They tend to stick to the rules and stay within the confines of their orderly world.

When holding conversations you may give more information than what people actually are looking for. However, you tend to be more introverted than extroverted. You prefer not to interact with groups of people if at all possible. You would like to steer more toward speaking about things that are intelligent and not emotionally oriented.

You tend to take things more seriously and tend to stick more to rules and guidelines. You have an innate ability to stay on task when doing a job.

People may find you to be a bit distant and aloof, but you may just tend to listen instead of talk as you are processing information that is being given to you before giving an opinion.

You tend to have a lot of book knowledge, and may have an interest in science or history. People could benefit from your knowledge.

Take The Brain Game Test at HelloQuizzy

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:14:07 GMT

Great leaders inspire greatness in others.

Belief is not a matter of choice, but of conviction.

Easy is the parth to wisdom for those not blinded by themselves.

A plan is only as good as those who see it through.

The best confidence builder is experience.

Trust in your friends, and they'll have reason to trust in you.

You hold onto friends by keeping your heart a little softer than your head.

Heroes are made by the times.

Ignore your instincts at your peril.

Most powerful is he who controls his own power.

That's not change. That's more of the same.

Sat, 03 Jan 2009 20:03:25 GMT

A quick summary of recent goings-on:

New York Times tries to blame President Bush for President Clinton's mess:
http://news.aol.com/political-machine/2008/12/27/new-york-times-blames-president-bush-for-president-clintons-mes/

Reid won't let Blagojevich get his way and the GOP might use it against Franken:
http://news.aol.com/political-machine/2009/01/03/gop-to-play-by-harry-reids-rules-with-al-franken/
...because, no, the Minnesota mess isn't settled yet, though it may be by the end of the day:
http://news.aol.com/political-machine/2009/01/03/live-blogging-the-minnesota-recount/
http://politicalblogs.startribune.com/bigquestionblog/

Just look at the mess of laws going into effect in various states, such as California making it illegal to text message while driving:
http://news.aol.com/article/new-year-brings-new-state-laws/291721

Tesco's looking to make a larger push to rival, and possibly overtake, Wal-Mart:
http://money.aol.com/news/articles/_a/bbdp/britains-tesco-makes-inroads-in-us/289788

Illegal aliens are living in public housing while citizens remain homeless and the federal government "requires only that illegal immigrants share a home with at least one family member who is in the country legally and pay their share of the rent." In other words, they condone squatting by foreigners (and it's squatting because they're not even legally in the COUNTRY).
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090101/ap_on_re_us/public_housing_immigrants

Lastly; can anyone tell me WHY Kathy Griffin was on CNN's New Year's Eve coverage? For as stupid and worthless as she is, I'm, for obvious reasons, particularly bothered by her, reportedly, referring to Glenn Beck as a "heroin addict Mormon." WTF did that have to do with ANYTHING anyway?
http://www.popeater.com/television/article/after-ball-drops-griffin-drops-a-d-bomb/291752

Sat, 27 Dec 2008 09:16:05 GMT

Only have 4 Athenaeum songs on this computer.

They, and they alone, have been repeating for going on 3.5 hours now.

Happy Christmas from Coldplay and Simon Pegg

Wed, 24 Dec 2008 19:03:06 GMT