I went fishing the other day and ran into a sign warning of infestation of an "invasive species" of diatom called rock snot or Didymosphenia geminata and how it was ruining my favorite recreational activity. We have this crucial election coming up which will determine the fate of the nation and now we have to worry about rock snot. Oh joy!
Anyway, my curiosity (as with all things) led me to the internet to find out as much as I can about this "new" menace. Apparently, there is much concern around the world with nearly all the "experts" placing the blame squarely on human recreational activity as the "primary" transport mechanism.
Why indict human activity? It's claimed that it only takes a single cell to start an infestation. Only a single cell, so what about waterfowl? To date, I've only found a single one that even mentions waterfowl as a possible means of spreading the organism and nothing in any of the damnations of human recreation to even suggest those cute ducks and geese of committing such an atrocity.
The funny thing is that there's another invasive species called the water chestnut and it's well known to be transported by waterfowl, but not even considered for rock snot by most folks? Hmmm.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Sunday, July 24, 2011
The Clean Regime
The Lonely Conservative discusses a documentary by Thet Sambath about the killing fields of the Khmer Rouge in Kampuchea, "Enemies of the People". Thet spends three years trying to get the truth out of the second in command of the Khmer Rouge, Nuon Chea, the man who asked Pol Pot to run the party.
According to Chea, the Khmer Rouge was a “clean regime… a peaceful regime,” until they were “sabotaged” by “enemy spies.”
According to Chea, the Khmer Rouge was a “clean regime… a peaceful regime,” until they were “sabotaged” by “enemy spies.”
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Sultans of Swat
In regards to "natural" or "inalienable" rights, there is a very disturbing trend of the increasing use of swat teams across the country even against non-violent offenders of civil laws or agency regulations.
The main point is that these raids are becoming routine especially against non-violent offenders such as participants in food co-ops and that recent one in California for the suspected fraud on student loans. Why on earth would anyone authorize use of a swat team for something like that? That is the question everyone should be asking our elected officials.
John Whitehead sums it up nicely in SWAT Team Mania: The War Against the American Citizen at the Rutherford Institute. (h/t to Publius Huldah for the link who also has an interesting post about Cut, Cap, and Balance at that link which is worth a read)
The main point is that these raids are becoming routine especially against non-violent offenders such as participants in food co-ops and that recent one in California for the suspected fraud on student loans. Why on earth would anyone authorize use of a swat team for something like that? That is the question everyone should be asking our elected officials.
John Whitehead sums it up nicely in SWAT Team Mania: The War Against the American Citizen at the Rutherford Institute. (h/t to Publius Huldah for the link who also has an interesting post about Cut, Cap, and Balance at that link which is worth a read)
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
What the Hell are Rights Anyway?
That's all we hear these days: Rights, freedom of speech, right to life, right to bear arms, liberty, natural rights, religion, 4th amendment rights, etc. My rights, your rights... Rights.
Imagine this… A right is the ultimate fiction, nothing more than an abstract idea propagated by men along with “the law” to control men and induce them to act in a certain way within a society. There are no rights in the natural world, only constant struggle. You are endowed by your creator or nature not with rights, but only your five senses and various characteristics or skills such as speed, agility, endurance, and intellect to assist you in that struggle. Life exists only as long as you can successfully use those senses and apply those characteristics in struggle or join with others to avoid or ward off conflict with anything bigger and badder that has a compulsion or desire to deprive you of it.
The Constitution is nothing more than a pact between mere mortal men to collaborate in a group effort to protect each other’s lives, liberty and property from those forces, both foreign and domestic, wishing to deprive them. It has been and always will be under attack and is only as good as our mutual continued support to engage in the struggle to defend it to preserve equality, justice, and fairness for all.
An intriging parallel can be drawn between the Battle at Kruger in the embedded video below and the concept of rights and the struggle of interactions between the federal and state governments and the people. Watch it, think, and then let's discuss.
Imagine this… A right is the ultimate fiction, nothing more than an abstract idea propagated by men along with “the law” to control men and induce them to act in a certain way within a society. There are no rights in the natural world, only constant struggle. You are endowed by your creator or nature not with rights, but only your five senses and various characteristics or skills such as speed, agility, endurance, and intellect to assist you in that struggle. Life exists only as long as you can successfully use those senses and apply those characteristics in struggle or join with others to avoid or ward off conflict with anything bigger and badder that has a compulsion or desire to deprive you of it.
The Constitution is nothing more than a pact between mere mortal men to collaborate in a group effort to protect each other’s lives, liberty and property from those forces, both foreign and domestic, wishing to deprive them. It has been and always will be under attack and is only as good as our mutual continued support to engage in the struggle to defend it to preserve equality, justice, and fairness for all.
An intriging parallel can be drawn between the Battle at Kruger in the embedded video below and the concept of rights and the struggle of interactions between the federal and state governments and the people. Watch it, think, and then let's discuss.
(Updates )
17 Mar 2013 - Adding this link The Right to Life - From the blog of Philip Schuyler. Interesting thoughts worth a look.
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Public Unions, the War on Smokers, and ACORN - What Do They Have In Common?
Daniel Bice over at the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel Online informs us that, "Firefighters union throws cold water on 9-11 float". (h/t Bot for spreading the news)
The reason behind this union decision is the sponsor of this particular float, Matt Gorniak, has opted out of the union as allowed by a provision in his contract in that employees may elect to pay only their fair share of the union dues which are used for the associated costs of negotiating contracts. Under Wisconsin state law, employees do not have to pay the portion of dues that funds the union's political lobbying, social, and ideological activities to the labor organization, but may instead donate that portion to a charity. This applies as long as such a provision is approved by referendum under the bargaining unit agreement with the employees.
I've said before that we shouldn't judge all teachers (or cops or firefighters for that matter) by the spectacle of the union protests in Madison. Many were silent for obvious reasons and it's a good development to see some start opting out and speaking out. It warrants repeating:
The reason behind this union decision is the sponsor of this particular float, Matt Gorniak, has opted out of the union as allowed by a provision in his contract in that employees may elect to pay only their fair share of the union dues which are used for the associated costs of negotiating contracts. Under Wisconsin state law, employees do not have to pay the portion of dues that funds the union's political lobbying, social, and ideological activities to the labor organization, but may instead donate that portion to a charity. This applies as long as such a provision is approved by referendum under the bargaining unit agreement with the employees.
I've said before that we shouldn't judge all teachers (or cops or firefighters for that matter) by the spectacle of the union protests in Madison. Many were silent for obvious reasons and it's a good development to see some start opting out and speaking out. It warrants repeating:
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
What Woke You Up?
Meet a few of the Paulbots, as the MSM and supporters of the party-line of either party like to call practically anyone who says anything in support of Ron Paul, among other more derogatory terms. A few of their stories are below, more can be found here.
cstuerke:
cstuerke:
"I got back from Afghanistan in 2005 within a couple months my 4 years in the Marine Corps was up. I quickly realized I could not handle the US. I was mad at the world. I flew off the handle constantly. I went for help. I lasted about 5 min in the shrinks office and he was trying to give me drugs. I told him I didnt want drugs I wanted to be the old me. I decided to move. While in the Marine Corps I traveled all over Asia. I enjoyed Thailand the most and decided to move there. Fast forward to the last election. Sitting in Bangkok screaming at the TV watching the Fox News debate listening to the war mongering. Out of no where....."Just come home". Who is this guy I thought. I started to do research Dr. Paul and the libertarian philosophy. I started to look at people as individuals, unique in their own way. I wasn't mad at people anymore. Things made sense. I traveled back to the US about 10 months ago. I did it cause I believed in the cause of Liberty. I wanted to join the fight. I owe Ron Paul so much. I will be doing everything I can to see him get elected."
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The Law (da, da, da, dummmm)
The Law's true essence is aptly captured by this comic strip created by two Danes, Mikael Wulff and Anders Morgenthaler. All of their creations certainly will not appeal to America's prurient standards, but their humor is sure worth a look.
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