Just the Facts M'am/and/or Sir

The Sunrise Powerlink project in California is a complete boondoggle and scam, as I've tried to explain several times here. Groups have raised money and have it being fought in courts at this point. In truth, Sempra/SDGE shouldn't have a leg to stand on. Most know that courts are often less than impartial and above board, so who knows.

Today a little get together in a Lakeside park was scheduled to raise funds, get attention, the usual. My band members own property which would be adversely affected in a number of ways, should this system of towers be built. Fire is one very real threat. There was a small fire in the area(East SD County) a few weeks ago. It got put out, lucky for 8 hikers caught in the middle of it. The nature of the land is such that fire was headed their way from all sides, no escape.

Had the proposed powerlink been in place, the aircraft which were used to dump water on the fire could not have flown in there. This would have wiped out the hikers and several nearby homes. It is easy to see on aerial photos.

OK. The thing today. Much to my dismay, and to the chagrin of some of the more active people in this battle, a guy running for Congress somehow usurped the event, making it into a campaign opportunity while pretending otherwise. He planted himself as MC, made up numbers and then acted like the big solution here was his list of tax paid programs which do nothing but move the money SDGE is trying to steal into the control of his gang.

They had a few alleged experts in various aspects of this power plan speak. Holy smoke, it turns out they are running for other offices. All of them spun a valid initiative to fight a very corrupt damaging plan into a pitch for why more tax money should be used to prop up their pet businesses. One guy proudly admitted he was involved with several of them. All "green" of course. It was a sickening display, but very instructional. This is how they play the game.

Somehow they seemed to assume that anyone opposed to the powerlink must be an environmental militant and a democrat. I assure I am neither.

It only makes sense for power to be generated close to point of use as much as possible. I even suggested that a college I attended many decades ago use the science department to organize student projects so that the end result was at least partial self sufficiency. It is not a new idea.

My motive is to free one's self from government controlled monopolies and the down time and trouble inherent in the use of overhead wires for electric power. Ice storm= lines down. Never fails.

Of course back then it was actually illegal to be self sufficient. I knew a mill that was forbidden from using their mill race and existing generator to augment their power and save money. Same people made those rules who are trying to coopt the self sufficiency ideas.

So, if you want off grid because you are a freedom loving, authority despising citizen who doesn't like complicated bs utility bills, they've set things up so you would be placed in the militant green, let's-force-everyone to-pay-and-play under-our-control statist big government, semi-socialist camp.

It's a trick. Just like today.

Oh, I couldn't believe it--this guy's supporters had tee shirts with his face printed on them in the same style as the famous Che logo, except it had his name down the side. The inspiration couldn't be missed.

Now if I hadn't been asked to play some tunes with the band, and I did not already know the inside scoop, I'd have thought this was a political picnic of some kind. I would have taken one look and kept going. In the name of "bringing awareness" and all the other happy horseshit cliches, this guy and his pals are actually hurting the cause. Out here is not overwhelmingly Obama country, so playing this game may really harm the legitimate effort. It is a very serious infringement on property rights and a big theft based on big lies in the larger scope of the powerlink. These demagogues are not a benefit in my view.

I was fascinated watching it, and watching the people just not have the cajones to make them take down campaign tables and such, and stick to the original purpose.

There are the enviro goons who make cases based on animal inconvenience that for the most part I think is made up. Too bad because the real argument is that they cannot show a need, it is a severe fire hazard in more than one way, and it will increase power costs, not reduce it. And it is set up to link to Mexican power plants using petroleum products. So wtf? Can't do it here but we can go way down there and bring it in through my back yard?

To me the best thing is to make them prove the need. Their own studies demonstrated it is not needed but the utilities board ignored that after pressure from Ahnold. and others.

See I'm bi-partisan, metro-political. I can give good cases to deport people from both parties.

Tey decided to do a march down Lakeside Main street--maybe a mile round trip--at most. No way I could convince myself to join in even though my friends did. For one thing I do not respond well to people with megaphones telling me what to chant, and I do not carry signs, except under rare occasions I have yet to experience, and I certain don't want to be associated with a candidate whose philosophy I dislike. Not to mention the goofs with the not quite Che shirts on.

Che shirts, but with Ray Lutz's face. Too much, really.

Freedom's Just Another Word for Don't Listen to the Hype

That Kristofferson line in Bobby McGee about "another word for nothin left to lose" never did set well with me. I think I get it, but still don't like it much.

Anyway, the oldest man is 114. From what I read he is not out of it or ultra frail. Maybe it is worth living as if all the stereotypical stuff we're fed is just so much drivel. Ignore it. At least for me, that is the only course other than planning an early demise. And for God's sake, quit with the terminology. Senior this, those zany seniors, blablabla. I really think it is slave state talk and mentality that convinces people to assign themselves into stupid blocks like that.

Either you are a child or an adult Beyond that forget it. Even the concept of retirement is sort of an industrial age invention. In the family based agrarian world I guess people took on tasks they could and if they couldn't they did other things.

Certainly they did not hold up a calendar and say, "OK, you are now 65 and time to sit down and shut up. Well, maybe people didn't live so long, but the point stands. Those Russian yogurt people lived a long time and they were not industrial regimented types who called one another senior citizens and all that.

It's nice that people could work for a set time then call it quits and receive a pension, however the system got to be somewhat peculiar I think. Government involvement is largely a scam. But it is so entrenched that many wonder what would we do without their programs and care. Never mind that life would be somewhat different if they hadn't become involved, hadn't instituted income tax and complicated hoops through which we jump. People are different so some at 60 are like others at 95. Can't manufacture a cookie cutter model like is pushed on us.

There are a number of people who don't fall into any media concept of private or public sector. We are private but not under the company-pays-my-wages model. And not under the model of someone who does an independent thing for years. (Although, those people are rarer and rarer due to the BS they endure for the "privilege" of being their own boss. Rarer in crafts type fields, instruction and such. I wouldn't be a piano teacher in today's environment. You could get accused of anything and go to hell before clearing your name.) Vagabonds of a sort are the ones somewhat like me. Little of this, little of that, but never got married to any job for the xyz corporation for life. And don't get government aid. Unless we lied, we probably wouldn't qualify. I don't think I could wait in line then deal with a condescending clerk anyway. Just slit my throat instead.

In my case, I still have faith that I will find the inspiration and energy to launch one or more schemes that pay off. I hope to avoid ever taking a dime from a government program. Some people have to, that is how it is set up. Not dissing them, just expressing my wish for myself. It is hard to avoid as it is almost a requirement in certain circumstances.

My idea of proper redistribution of wealth is this; I give you a good honest reason to pull money from your pocket and place it in mine. All voluntarily, of course. I'm a huge fan of that model of wealth redistribution.

I figure my best bet for good income is advising parents on the ins and outs of raising children. Someone who has actually raised children is too close to the issue. Outsiders like myself are the best ones to give advice. Besides, there are cases in which the kid should be shipped off to a deserted island and left there with maybe a pocket knife, a candle and some chewing gum. Abandon the miscreant. Best thing for his teachers, friends, neighbors, etc. You know such demons yourself, but it takes a detached clinician to state the facts so boldly.

Maybe I'll put out a book and include the audio version from the get go. In many cases the kid would learn better values and receive a better education marooned on a deserted island than in his present environment. Kind of makes me envious. Wish my parents had been astute enough to do that for me.

Great for West of the Rockies, but how to cool the humid east?

This company (coolerado.com) has a great design for A/C in the low humidity West, as their first stage heat exchanger relies on evaporative cooling for much of its function.

There must be a way to work with nature to air condition Miami without huge power company bills. The humidity is the big culprit to be overcome. These things pique my interest. Got to be a way.

Anything that decreases dependence upon the grid, government and utility monopolies, in general is a worthy thing to pursue. It only makes sense anyway. The idea is to increase standard of living at lowest possible cost.

I guess I will add it to my list of such things I ponder from time to time over the years. I am still stuck on how to design the ultimate mobility vehicle for wheelchair bound people; something that achieves access to cabinets, stairs, wilderness, etc, and hauls ass.



Or This


this guy doesn't appear to be having fun
I think his issue is more mental illness than physical disability
He's wondering how he got there, frozen with fear

Maybe this is not exactly it, but it looks closer than some powered chairs I've seen.


That is an industry which needs to advance by leaps and bounds. Due to relatively low demand it has been stuck in primitive designs forever. The difficulties daily encountered by chair bound people in conducting basic life tasks are not always obvious to those of us without the same roadblocks. The way people get treated when we think they are sick or in need may also limit imagination in this field.

Inadequate mobility machinery somewhat adds insult to injury when all about them they see technology advancing by leaps and bounds.

Just think how much easier it is to type a letter now that we have delete buttons etc. Some of you may remember typewriters and carbon paper, and what a thrill it was when white-out came on the scene.

I still think the money spent renovating buildings could have been put toward R&D to design devices that overcome the obstacles, which would serve the handicapped individual better in the long run. Ramps are good but the whole thing became ridiculous, like most public projects.

That is what it is. I'd love to figure out this engineering problem. Someone will. I research it from time to time but never have found that one answer that hits the spot and covers all the functions I think modern technology could do.

With luck, nano technology, molecular engineering in the medical field will be able to solve many of the ills which render people confined to a chair.

I hope the ultimate, kickass, 40 mph, do-it-all wheelchair design comes to me someday soon. That is a project I could sink my teeth into. It would be a fun obsession and just the kind of workaholic endeavor I need.

Here's an example of How it Works: Oakland marijuana

OK, so now the Teamsters have managed to organize workers of a marijuana growing outfit. The biggest one I guess, or the biggest California-legal one. Feds still think they have the right to tell states how to deal with that issue. (Yay CA for ignoring the overreaching feds--for once) But, that aside, is it not obvious that unions are merely businesses who worm in under completely bogus pretense?

I assure you, no workers in the marijuana factory are angry and feel victimized. There is a payoff for the company though. That brings us to part 2.

Part 2 is that the city of Oakland has decided to issue 4, count em, Four, permits to commercial pot growers. Right now that covers the medicinal marijuana industry. I do not know the ins and outs, but people commission outfits like the unionized place to manufacture their pot for them. Plenty of cancer patients have no realistic ability to cultivate it themselves. Besides, in my mind it is just natural trade.

OK. So why are there only four permits, or permits at all? You know if it gets to be legal all around, the competition is going to be wicked--high quality, low prices, yipee! Maybe not.

The Oakland model which is reminiscent of many business boondoggles throughout history, guarantees a dearth of competitors, higher prices and to make it tougher, they'll let the union have a say directly or indirectly. The union being as superfluous a player as the Oakland City council. I'm sure they'll also manage legislation which prevents outsiders from competing by bringing in product from Alpine, for example.

If this decision, regarding who, out of the dozens and dozens of applicants, will get the coveted permit, doesn't reek of corruption to you, then someone's been drinking the koolaid far too long. They are pretending to look at all these noble parameters, but that is always the way they play the corruption game.

The Oakland/teamsters example appears so transparently corrupt and sleazy to me, I had hoped that pointing it out might cause people to consider other issues which have been similarly handled.

Although cloaked in nobility, the result is to lock out the competition, individual honest entrepreneurs, and make money dishonorably. It really does happen a lot. All due to the simple process of ignoring the question, "Does this really need to be under government's thumb to this extent, or at all?". Unions only get these extortion opportunities because government backs them. But the union part is minor. Just a piece of the puzzle.

You know they are in bed with the commissioner responsible for deciding who gets to do business. And it is one big orgy between the mobster pot companies, union and government. If a pot company wasn't mobster, by the time they play ball with the union and government, they will be by default.

The point is not the product, but the dynamic. All kinds of industries and businesses have followed this path. It is what has lead to many societal problems and economic strangeness over the years, Also to wars, I venture to say. Because no one insists on answering the above stated question, and the additional question; "where in the Constitution is this right granted to government?" Simple as that.

From most statements out of Obama and other politicians I can see that they have somehow decided the functions of government cover any that may appeal to them on a given day. That is where it goes awry.

West'll Get You

Sometimes I look around out here, just driving to the PO Box or wherever, and wonder would I ever be happy anywhere that did not have an escape into scenery and such like this. In no time you can be out away from the madding crowd. Of course where I live it is less than no time because I live out where people are more scarce than rabbits and coyotes. So is paving.

The legal and law aspect of the state annoys me greatly but until I make reasonable money that is no issue. Must be the way illegals feel. It is to their detriment to attempt to be legal up to a point. In the old days you weren't punished for initiative. Now you are and unless you really make it to a substantial level the process runs you ragged. If you are too poor to matter you don't see it. Very stupid way to do things.

But it is such a pleasant place geographically and climate-wise. Something about the West, its history, I don't know. It gets into you and going back to small country seems un-enticing. Somehow the world just looks bigger in the west. It starts in west Texas or thereabouts and goes from there. I miss places that did not constantly worry about fire or bears, but damn. What can you do?

At the same time I miss parts of the South and the fact that the Atlantic Ocean is not cold like the Pacific--most of the time. The beaches here, as far as the beach itself, could spoil you. They are all OK.

No doubt about it, the only way to bring inner peace is to make some dough and have the mobility and dwelling angle worked out so I can spend time as I wish in about five or six spots around the country. If I achieved that, I bet I'd spend the Lion's share in Colorado, but you never know.

The grandeur, that one might not notice unless he came in fresh as I did, is such that when you get away from the traffic and el cajon highway patrol, you can't help but believe there is much in life to grab, and that life is good whetheryou participate in it or not. I really do want to be a participant, and hope to eventually feel a part of it the majority of the time rather than just once in awhile, like now.

My landlord has a plaque by her front door, near the basket where I leave the rent. It says "joy is a choice". That's it. It fits the place and the lady of that house. I never noticed that until last week when I paid rent. I really believe that is true.

Flags and I'm Either Confusing Myself or I'm On to Something

Many things that people consider patriotic in the sense of revering and honoring the concept of a free nation which honors the idea that the individual owns his own life and property may be just the opposite. Considering that the Pledge of allegiance was not put in place right off the bat, and I believe motivated toward reinforcing to new settlers what country they were in, I'm not sure its modern usage is always in concordance with the principles of a nation whose rights are granted by the people rather than visa versa. Also the "under God" phrase was not in the original pledge -- not a huge issue to me, but obviously it has been used to squander tax money in the courts.

According to flag rules the order of flags, if flown on the same pole or in a procession always place country supreme. I wonder, since the national authority is supposed to derive from the people, then the states if the order should not be reversed; city most prominent, then state, then country. In matters of international nature, then country should be first.

If one holds to the philosophy of the national authority only setting certain limits on all government within its boundaries but then having no rights to meddle in local affairs which do not step on the hard and fast rights of individuals, I wonder if the symbolism of constantly subjugating local and individual autonomy to the whim of the federal authorities has not been somewhat destructive. Destructive here meaning a contributor in the erosion of individual liberties, and the increasing burdens placed on citizens at the national level.

Many would argue that it took federal action to abolish slavery therefore leaving things to local authorities is bad. I would argue that slavery violated the spirit of the principles which were to be observed by all and that it was a big flaw from the beginning. They are throwing the baby out with the bath water. Slavery retards the development of any society and no good comes of it. In matters of public works and how taxes are spent, the least centralized control is generally the most effective while also allowing for maximum individual choice and freedom. We lost that.

I don't know, it just makes me wonder. Many of the conventions, pledges, under God mottos and such came about in the 1900's and served more as a conditioning for a national conformity reminiscent of vowing allegiance to a king. I do not believe it would have been so easy to deploy military forces to places which most of us had to look up on a map because we never heard of them, and still have questions about the real reasons for the action. The Guard was supposed to be the state militia, not something the president could order overseas when they spread the military too thin. That went out the window. I do not approve of that.

A vow to defend the Constitution is a vow to defend liberty of the citizens. That is different than the Pledge of Allegiance and makes more sense to me. I had to take that vow in my fringe military adventure. It is easier to swallow that vow because the Constitution is a document which was designed in hopes of preventing tyranny, and limiting the scope, authority and growth of the federal government. Most lawmakers have violated that oath from the mid 1800's on.

A blind pledge of allegiance discounts the duty set out in the Declaration of Independence to buck authority when it oversteps too far.

These things are what I wonder about. I'd be happy to see the people now in power get voted out, but I am highly suspicious of those who may replace them. The thing on their side is that many are not life long politicians. I would vote out all career politicians, and certainly encourage any new ones to repeal all provisions which give elected officials health care, pensions and other perks which make no sense for people claiming to sacrifice for public service.

The main worry is that in defrocking the Islamic movement for what it is, people get all wound up trying to attach religion of other sorts to politics, and that is a huge mistake. For one thing they will end up clouding their reasonable fiscal policies and attention to other substantive matters will be lost. Got to go on reason and principle which would not infringe on their ability to practice their religion. I'm afraid one side will lay down and let lunatics really make a religious problem in communities while the other will give fuel to it by reinforcing the notion of a holy war. I say you screw with rights of others you get squashed. And if you try to make mini religious states within our boundaries, with practices that violate our laws, you get nailed. Simple as that.

Anyway, I'd like to feel less under the thumb. I do hear more and more talk of repealing the 16th amendment and disbanding the IRS which is nice, and this from groups and people not generally maligned as wackos. I know Homeland security suggests anyone who touts the Constitution or suggests the IRS is bad is a terror possibility. But I consider Homeland security department to be as big a threat of domestic terror as any we have. And they have a track record of it.

Yea. Maybe we think upside down. The highest authority should be the individual, then his community, and on down the line to the national authorities. The idea being that we voluntarily grant rights to these entities, and agree to be represented in the larger bodies; city, state, etc., but only to the degree that such organization must exist. Their power is from the people, and their rights are privileges granted by us, in theory. Our rights are automatic and anything not forbidden is fair game. And there is supposed to be a big limit on what can be forbidden or demanded by government.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't see it at this point.

I do realize that my idea of what is right, and what I most would love to see enacted would be a system which probably goes a little beyond what we started with in this country in regard to installing severe limits on the power of government and the whim of the majority and any authorities.

More About The Northwest

At long last I finished the biography of John McLoughlin. I mentioned previously, in a post that may have been too long and opinionated for anyone to read, that missionaries had been most ungrateful and holy men stole his land out from under him.
(in fairness, it should be noted that the Catholics played it straight with him)

That part is true, however the rest of the story restored my faith in America. The territorial legislature in Oregon could not override the federal land decree which had a specific clause robbing John of that which was his. However, they knew he was right and managed to avoid enforcing it. When they became a state they found ways to restore a good portion of it to him and his family. He was out of life before it was all settled but it was in the works.

Not only that but they issued some sort of thing naming him the father of the Oregon territory or something to that effect. He saved countless lives through his generosity and general ability to act in a crisis. They also have a statue of him in DC. Each state gets two. Oregon chose him and the missionary who was closest to being his loyal friend, although that guy wimped out when he should have really stood up. I guess that guy had some redeeming qualities. I'd have chosen someone else but I wasn't there and even now I do not live in Oregon or Washington--the two places whose beginnings he influenced.

If nothing else this man's life was one of pure perseverance. He definitely had a temper and that is what landed him with the fur trading companies. Long story but it involved a very just smacking down of an arrogant British officer who mistreated a woman. In that day, if you weren't in a higher station in life, knocking an officer down in the mud was trouble for you whatever the reason. In some ways life hasn't changed when you consider the M.O. of the El Cajon branch of California Highway Patrol.

Anyway, to some degree justice prevailed and to the benefit of surviving family, the man is remembered as a hero and cornerstone of settlement in the Northwest. It is also possible he prevented another war between the Brits and the USA. At the least he made it less likely at a highly tense time.

Good to see some recognition given a guy who did what was right even though he royally irked his employer, the Hudson's Bay Company, and at times local settlers, in the bargain.

i forgot

There was a great idea. I was eager to write about it. Then I got together with G2 for a half band practice. Now I don't know.

It was not so long as the last one and less politically incorrect and revolutionary. But what was it? I don't know

Oh well

Maybe Age Is What Makes Things More Interesting

Many years ago, getting interested in Northwest American history due to reading a rather scholarly biography of Dr John McLoughlin, would be somewhat unlikely. Now that I think of it, I believe that was because I had not yet learned to compensate for whatever it was that made reading tedious and almost physically painful. In school I faked it, and because retention of what I could finish on tests was high, I scored as if I could read well and had read a lot. So much for tests, they often miss the boat. Then again, many of my friends were relative illiterates so I guess it is all according to scale.

One thing this latest reading brings up is my view that people and culture have changed. Corruption, skullduggery and the like have been with us a long long time, but other behaviors were not so prevalent or acceptable as they are today, in my opinion. People were, in the main, tougher and had a stronger code of personal values. At times those values included not so valuable tenets but a code is a code. We are whinier. And way more sissy in that people sue if they fall down or something breaks or they spill coffee, or if the operation has complications (Thanks John Edwards, you worm head)

It is interesting that this biography by necessity contains a lot about the Hudson's Bay company and other fur trading concerns of early 19th century and beyond, as well as life in the Northwest before the US and the Brits could decide on boundaries. They both had access to ports, such as they were, and regional governments were not in the picture until just prior to the gold rush. Even then they were minimal, as all government should be. There was more inter dependence and voluntary interaction between local tribes and traders than is probably thought. It was an interesting dynamic all the way around. But when more people came, and Oregon became a territory, there were some real slime ball maneuvers. Not that all was roses prior but now they did it "legal".

To many of the churchy folks it may be a surprise. Not to me. The most two faced and treacherous of the people were the missionaries. Even the good ones failed to completely stand up to their greedy thieving brethren.

Those holy impostors were helped, given land, basically rescued because they arrived so haggard, yet when opportunity arose they really put the screws to their benefactor for personal gain and power. Lawyers took advantage as well, as soon as things went under US jurisdiction. They lied about certain matters and got some sucker to pass ill informed bills in Wash DC, and by the time the news got back to affected parties, it was too late to set the record straight.

Slooowww turn around time on communication.

Same tactics are in play today. Although some methods have changed. No wonder they want control of the internet and cry about bloggers.

Which reminds me that newspapers wanted federal bailout. haven't heard much about it in a few months. What a crock. There'd certainly be no barrier to dissent and honest reporting by organizations funded by government.

There are too many thought provoking items which this history provides to list at the moment. I can't help ranting on about some of them.

Biting the hand that fed you is a syndrome we see daily. Much of the dialog which labels "the rich" as villain is just that. Most families making 250 grand are not in any way exploiting those of us who make less, and they are already paying way more tax than I do. That BS that existing tax cuts gave them a bigger break than your average resentful worker is simply false.

All previous cuts did was rape them with a somewhat smaller organ, reducing the pain slightly. It's still rape, so those who buy into class envy and hatred can continue to feel good even if they cut taxes a little more.

I'm so sorry most people fail to understand the concept of federalism(or think it is irrelevant to them), why states were supposed to be more autonomous and the difference between true state rights and violation of basic individual rights. Just because an issue goes under a particular label does not make that label accurate or legitimate.

For example, I disagree with Lincoln's view regarding states having the right to secede from the union, however no one has a right to force other humans into involuntary servitude. Slavery is not why that war was fought. It was a bizarre factor used more as a military tactic. Territories ready to become states were ready to fight rather than be slave states. Like always, kernels of truth cloaking bushels of lies. But on the point of secession--this ain't the damned Mafia. is it? When you can't quit the club without someone pulling a gun, you know you're in the wrong club. What a dilemma at that point.

Why do we trade with slave states and give them power in the UN? Maybe because now, like then, wars and policy are motivated by something other than ideals and a sense of right and wrong, (yet claims of idealism are often made as these activities go forward). The UN is an unworkable bullshit concept anyway. It ignores the reality of over centralization; that it leads to diminishing returns and exceedingly increased corruption, tyranny, and death. Since the inception of that corporation we have never quit being at war. Except we didn't call it that in all cases.

So hard to accept the truth of it. If you say a war is or was a scam and not noble, it casts a shadow over the sincere soldiers who gave it all for their country, many of whom performed nearly super human acts of heroism. But that emotional loyalty and empathy for good people in the military clouds the truth; which is that unscrupulous people in government have been abusing their position to use the armed forces for purposes other than the defense and security of the nation. I think most people know that is true, deep down, but admitting it has many tough psychological ramifications. They need to come to grips because this conduct on the part of those who control national defense will ruin this nation as much as the other abuses they are committing.

Back to slave state issues.

In modern times I've heard people promote what amounts to involuntary servitude under the label "volunteerism". You are forced into that in order to graduate high school right here in SD county. Isn't it an oxymoron when you are required to volunteer?

In today's environment the states which promote nullification (refuse to enforce federal laws which exceed the constitution) are actually promoting freedom and individual rights. So, here's a case of state's rights which is used to promote liberty, in contrast to times when that label was used to limit it. The latter case was a faulty one because states are bound by the bill of rights, and rationalizing doesn't change their meaning.

On the federal level having three branches to check and balance one another was one defense against a government whose power would never cease to grow. A further check, not generally discussed is the duty of states to not enforce any law which goes beyond the constitutional right of the feds. This was done way back in the 1800's by states that refused to cooperate with runaway slave legislation--they would not capture and return people who escaped slavery and were in their state. It was against constitutional authority to force them to do so. It was a measure put in by the forerunners of today's democrat party whose main forming principle was the perpetuation of slavery. I'd suggest they continue to spearhead the movement against individual liberty and unhampered rights to choose one's own destiny.

Republicans have certainly helped them along, but give credit where credit is due, the dems have led the way overall. It does sicken me to realize what a joint effort it has been. I can't in good conscience support either team. Makes it hard to be a sports fan. Those two aberrant organizations play the game of treating my life as if it is a privilege granted by government. I don't recognize that as a legitimate game at all. It goes against all that is right, moral, holy, natural or decent.

This view will either land me in big trouble one day, or maybe it is a more widespread outlook than I think and it will simply land me on a team I can back in a game I find appealing.

Odd that various superiority buffs who fancy themselves elite thinkers (know what's best for everyone else) swore that I'd outgrow my "unrealistic" passion and idealism by the time I reached 30 or so. That started to happen but then I found myself totally unable to take the view that any gain was good no matter what the source, as long as it was marginally legal.

Legal and right have no relation to one another in many cases. Like the guy who has grants to teach uncircumcised men in Africa how to clean their willy after sex. That is tax money. WTF? Why not pay dancing girls to go door to door willy washing right here at home? It would provide economic stimulation and relief, in this country, where it is sadly needed.

This is why I refuse to apply for grants. I have yet to think of anything that I feel everyone in America should pay for involuntarily. If I have a project I believe in, I will seek private, voluntary donation or investment only. It may be naive, but it is honorable. The present system does not encourage honor, and is not honorably administered. Unfortunately most of the academic world is totally dependent upon this set up, so they rationalize and scheme to not only maintain it but enlarge it---meaning take more tax money you may or may not want to spend on their projects.

afterthought re missionaries and holy men/women/hermaphrodites:
regardless of religion, there is almost always the attitude among the religious leaders that they are entitled to special treatment and claim on your wealth. They see themselves as above those who produce and trade in order to earn a living. Much like career politicians. They often have such a distorted sense of logic that they easily rationalize when it comes to deceptions which increase their power influence and wealth. When they want to get in partnership with government or gain the public stage in political issues, watch out. Not to be trusted. Although I question the overall national reaction and attention the NY imam is getting, I believe without reservation that he is talking out of both sides of his mouth and he is not motivated in any humanitarian love everyone mode of belief. One story to the english speaking press, another to the arabic.
Still, I remain of the view that it is NY's issue and problem. They have chosen how to handle it. Or their typically sleazy officials have. All about zoning and local government. Until, of course, tax money is used to sport him around the world for unknown purpose.

Beat Goes On

Finally, a song I started in Memphis is taking shape with my mountain buddies of Copper Creek--our band name. They voted down changing Creek to Creak.

Anyway it is a song reminiscent of Miami days and else. Definitely an escapist theme and less the usual pattern of my stuff which is, down and out in Hell and somehow find salvation and a way back to the land of the living.

The most recent verses of it had slipped my mind but the guys had copies of it and one had been fooling with the tune for months. I remembered what I wrote three or four years back, at least, but not the part from the last year. I actually like what was added and find I like the tune a lot. When your own song runs through your mind like other songs do, and they get stuck there for a day or two, I figure it is a good thing. Anyway, it is fun and I look forward to doing it in public. When is a question. Soon various members will be out of town for varying reasons.

I'd love to have a bunch of Caribbean percussionists on this. One of those things where you can't have too many congas and rattles and vocals. It's loose enough that it will never be done twice the same way. But I don't know what I ever do the same way except the national anthem and doe ray me scale.

Not much harmonica in the song. I may just leave it out and play some sort of percussion instead. Maybe those shaky things with beans inside.

If I did not have this small outlet for music and merriment I think I'd be in far worse condition than I am. Since I don't really think I am an ace musician, I'm always surprised when I like something I wrote as well as lots of things that I hear in the real world.