Hillary Sucks. And came in 3rd in Iowa.

AND

Silence! I kill you!

I found this video months ago on another video service. I was thinking about it today so I wanted to find it and share it.



And looking back to the enjoyment of the holiday season...

First post of 2008, recovery efforts in progress

It has been a rough start to the new year. I am suffering from a common disease reportedly of Chinese origin. This comes as a result of a Christmas gift I was given. I got a cold from a four year old this Christmas. Last week I started the sniffles, followed by full head congestion, which lasted all weekend. By Tuesday, I was totally run down, had a full chest cold going, and my ribs hurt from coughing. I got an early bed time on Tuesday night, which really helped me for yesterday's return to work. I have been hacking up yellow and green slime from my lungs for days, sometimes more clear.

I used to get severe bronchitis and pneumonia each winter. This happened each and every winter for years. Fortunately for me, the past five years or so, I managed to escape the bronchitis thing and colds in general. I still got a few head colds, but nothing major. Today I got in to see my doctor who put me on an antibiotic, as much as I don't want to have to take one, and an inhaler to help open the lung passageways.

I am actually doing better as far as volume of phlegm and coughing both yesterday and today, but I typically have lingering bronchial infection after a chest cold. Hopefully this congestion and cold will go away soon.

This is why The Patriots Pub exists

This cartoon is so appropriate and accurate. This is the very reason why I do The Patriots Pub with two other patriots each week.

Infidel alert

For those who do not know what the Koran teaches about us infidels, take note. Never forget that the reason we have terrorism is that the perpetrators are radical Muslims, not because we have troops in the Middle East. That is one area where I differ from Ron Paul (there are a few). I still would rather have Paul as president than the rest of the lame field of candidates, though.

A toboggan is NOT a hat!

PLEASE, all Southerners, STOP calling knit hats toboggans. They are hats, tooks, or some other name, but NOT a toboggan. A toboggan is a wooden sled. I have no idea what bonehead decided to give a hat a sled's name, but one of my pet peeves here in the South is the calling of hats toboggans.

When I first moved to North Carolina, I worked for NCSU Public Safety, a full police department. I remember listening to the police frequency (I did fire and rescue for the same department) and hearing about a suspect in a larceny that was wearing a toboggan on his head. I thought that it should be easy to find someone carrying around a big wooden sled on his head in an area that has no snow.

Just yesterday at Christmas, the little boy that I am spending time with was given a hat and scarf set with his name on them. He was told that he was given a toboggan. I quipped that it was a funny looking sled and to not even try to convince me that it was the name of a hat.

Canadians and northern Yankees know that the term "took" (long oo rather than the past tense of take) is acceptable, eh? A knit hat. Anything but a sled.

So what about private property rights?

You know that you have no private property rights when a court rules that someone can be on your property in order to exercise their free speech rights. One mall in California (no surprise there) found out that very thing.

The California Supreme Court has ruled that shopping malls can't stop protesters from urging the boycott of stores while on mall property.

In a 4-3 decision Monday, the justices ruled that the Fashion Valley mall in San Diego violated California's free speech laws when it kicked out demonstrators in 1998.

Members of a workers' union at the San Diego Union-Tribune newspaper were forced out of the mall for distributing leaflets urging the boycott of the Robinsons-May store.

The union was involved in a dispute with company management and wanted to hurt Robinsons-May's business because it advertised in the newspaper.

The high court ruled that California's free speech laws protect such demonstrations.

This is just plain wrong. A company should be able to determine who gets to be on their property and who does not. It is not a matter of free speech. It is a matter of private property rights and this court is just wrong in their decision. Free speech does not mean total access to any private property upon which people wish to trod and exercise said speech. There is no guarantee of freedom of speech on private property, only that the government shall not infringe upon that right. The 1st Amendment certainly does not guarantee a right to be heard or that your speech rights trump the rights of private land owners. I do not know California laws, as stated in the article. However, if their laws can be interpreted so as to squash the rights of property owners, the laws are wrong and need to be either repealed or declared unconstitutional.

Wonder why our tax rate is the way it is?

If we did not have to send to much money to Washington DC or Raleigh, we would have more local dollars available to spend on local issues. I am all for paving roads and such, but there are some things on which I do not think we should spend taxpayer dollars. It is not a hard concept, folks. Small spending amounts, when added together, make many billions of dollars. In Florida, just as in Alaska, there are representatives who are adept at bringing federal dollars to their area for funding pet projects.

Want to see where your tax dollars are being spent in Florida? Remember, it is YOUR money taken from YOU. You might as well find out why you are heavily taxed under threat of loss of freedom or property and income if you don't pay the burden.

A great day to be around children

As I blogged earlier, I have been hanging out with a four year old boy lately named John. I met with his mom and him this afternoon. I took the boy to see "Alvin and the Chipmunks" at the theater. He is ALL boy, plays rough, and loves to be physical. He can also be very sweet. On the way to the theater, "Mr. Troy, I love you." He and I have gotten to be good buddies already and we are able to play just as rough as he wants, laugh at farts, make all the funny noises together that boys make for fun, give wedgies, have tickle fights, and laugh a lot.

Earlier in the day, I got to spend some time with my friend, Dave and his wife, who are foster parenting three lovely young girls, ages 2, 4, and 6. I am friends with their mother. We had lunch together at Ryan's Steakhouse. I was loving every minute of it. They seemed to honestly enjoy me, and I did them. I have always wanted a girl and I kept thinking that "I have got to get me one of these!" Each of the girls gave me hugs before we left the restaurant, and I was in kiddie Heaven. My heart has yearned for this all my adult life.

Today was a great day for me, full of joy, laughter, love, and desire to have my own. I am thankful for the opportunities today. Some things have gone so well for me lately, I find myself crying tears of joy, like right now.

I know it has been a while since I did topics of politics and the like

Quite honestly, I have been preoccupied with other things in life the past few months. I know that sounds lame, maybe even trite, but it is true none the less. I have been spending more time upon relationships and people than I have upon writing. Even my columns in the newspaper have been a bit more removed from my regular topics concerning local happenings, but I have an idea that this is going to change with my next column. I have also not been doing so much of my internet talk show lately because I have dedicated my time to other things and people recently. I recently blogged about one reason why.

Last night I went with a close friend to see The Trans-Siberian Orchestra in concert in Raleigh at The RBC Center. The show was great. The light show and effects alone were worth the price of admission. I am not a huge fan of much of their original music, since they often are concept albums and "rock opera" like. I do, however, thoroughly enjoy their Christmas songs, modern interpretations of classical music, and the like. I really enjoy Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, and Bach arrangements done with electric guitars and modern drums. I always have.

One development is the anticipated release of their latest CD project, Night Castle. I was doing research online and found that they have been promoting this CD project for a while, but it is way behind schedule because of the group's perfectionism. Follow that link for more. I am looking forward to that CD. Just today, I ordered the CDs I do not have in my collection that they do already have out.

The Christmas story that they narrate is a bit lame in the show and on their CD. Also, as long as you do not get your theology from a concert or a CD, it is tolerable, sort of like the "Left Behind" series or anything from Frank Peretti.

Anyway, I loved the performance. Great music, great pyrotechnics, great laser and light show. The group did preview one song from their upcoming "Night Castle" project. They featured the band's rendition of "O Fortuna" from Carl Orff's Carmina Burana. They had an awesome version of the song. I loved it. I have heard an "O Fortuna" snippet in Sean Hannity's opening theme music on his talk show for years, but TSO's version was great. I downloaded a copy of the song and have been playing it over and over again all day, but obviously not the TSO version, to which I look forward with eager anticipation.

I don't think he stands a chance against David Price, but I sure wish he would beat Price

I am no fan of the liberal David Price. Fortunately, I am no longer in his district, but then again, I have to tolerate Bob Etheridge.
From my friend Katy's blog:

Someone new in my life as of today

For years I have wanted children. It has been at least two decades since I was around children for any appreciable amount of time because of distance from family and having been married to a social retard for 13 years. Whenever I have been around children, especially younger ones, I have a blast. Provided that they are not total sissies, I tend to get along splendid with little boys. Little girls often cling to me like Velcro, such as my cousin's daughter, McKensie.

This evening (I am still counting this as the previous day since I have not been to bed yet), I was introduced to a youngster with whom I am going to be developing a relationship in a "big brother" or "father figure" type roll. For years, I have considered joining the Big Brother/Big Sister program or something like it. I had even contacted a similar type agency that was looking for volunteers.

Through a dear friend of mine, I know a single mother who has a four year old named John. We met this evening and got along great. He is smart, loving, affectionate, and just a wonderful child. He is missing a few things in life, such as a bit more stability that can be offered through a strong relationship with a man. Our first meeting had the two of us playing with toy guns, watching The Flintstones and Scooby Doo, having dinner, and spending time under the supervision of his mother. By the time I was going to leave, he was climbing in my lap and giving me big hugs. His mother said that he has never done that with anyone else before.

Quite honestly, I was almost scared to death about this meeting, but figured it would go well. I had no idea it would go this well. I am looking forward to a long and prosperous relationship with little John.

To all anonymous comment posters

If you do not have the common courtesy and courage to own your comments, I will delete them. I really do not care if you disagree with me or are critical. I welcome dissent, but do not welcome cowardice. I take credit for my comments without fear. And, go get yourself a sense of humor, loser.

Here is why I have a Ron Paul sign on my house

For anyone who has ever done voice over work, this is too accurate and funny

The dumbest rationalization for illegal immigrants attending our college system I have heard thus far

I am amazed how people can explain things away or make excuses for an agenda. How can anyone say that they believe that we have a problem, need to do something about it, but then turn around and say that we might as well reward problematic behavior since we may have some esoteric benefit therein?

From The Smithfield Herald, regarding allowing illegal aliens to attend our publicly funded colleges here in North Carolina:

Common sense would go a long way

We have seen no evidence that immigration issues matter to people who actually vote. If they did, presidential hopeful Tom Tancredo would be polling at better than 2 percent among GOP voters.

Still, this country has some immigration problems, and it seems to us that a little common sense would go a long way toward solving them.

Common sense, for example, says that America needs to seal its borders against people who would enter here illegally. We don’t know that this country has the inclination or the ability to round up all illegal aliens and send them home. But if it did so tomorrow, the exercise would be futile because an equal number of illegals would cross our now-porous borders to replace those sent home.

Common sense says also that America needs to increase the number of work visas it grants every year. Whether the jobs are high skill or low skill, America isn’t producing enough workers to fill them, businesspeople say. Put another way, does it make common sense for people to have to enter this country illegally to get legal jobs that industries need to fill?

As for whether North Carolina community colleges should admit illegal immigrants, common sense says they should — that an educated workforce is better than an ignorant one. In any event, it will take time to adequately secure this country’s borders and then to deport illegals or put them on some path to citizenship. In the meantime, does it make sense to deny an education to people who want one and are willing to pay for it?

Finally, this country’s immigration debate could use some compassion too. Which is to say that we couldn’t put an illegal mom on a bus and watch her wave goodbye to her legal children and husband. And we’re not sure we want to meet anyone who could.

Sorry, Scott, this is NOT common sense.

Will it be better than "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe"?

If someone told me 20 years ago I was going to do this, I would have said they were nuts.

Today I bought concert tickets for two different concerts at the RBC Center. As I grow older, I become more eclectic in my music taste. In my CD collection and on my iPod, I have praise and worship music, Johnny Cash, classical, show tunes, heavy metal, 80's pop, Sinatra, Manilow, new stuff like Daughtry, Maroon 5, and others. Today I forked out for tickets to see Trans-Siberian Orchestra on Dec. 20th and Barry Manilow on Jan. 20th.

I have a friend I am going to take to see Trans-Siberian Orchestra and probably the same friend will accompany me to see Manilow, even though my friend is not that familiar with either.

Quite honestly, I have a hard time relating to not being familiar with Barry Manilow, considering that the was probably the most prolific song writer of the 70's and 80's. He was the one who made us "stuck on Band-Aids 'cause Band-Aids stuck on me" and "would like to teach the world to sing". Within the last year, I bought The Essential Manilow CD collection and have been listening to a lot of stuff I heard 30 years ago.

Manilow bothered me recently in his dissing of Elisabeth Hasselbeck, but not enough to pass up the opportunity to see a music legend in concert. Tickets ranged from $10 to $200. I could not get my choice seats, but still got decent ones for $100 each. Trans-Siberian Orchestra tickets, by comparison, were half that. Manilow, being who he is, can command that much for tickets, though.

True cartoon

My laugh for the day

Just replace the freaking bridges

Johnston County has the oldest stretch of I-95, since the interstate was begun here. We also have the lowest bridges as a result. Overpasses are often being hit by trucks and closed. The bridges get repaired and then get hit again. Instead of replacing the bridges, the Department of Transportation, in their infinite wisdom, is going to pay to raise the bridges so that they do not get hit any more. We are going to pay almost $4 million to raise a few bridges one foot. Why not just replace the doggone bridges now? It will cost more, but we are also talking about the oldest bridges on the interstate! After the bridge collapse in Minnesota a while back, bridge maintenance and repair has been getting a lot of attention. We have old, banged up bridges, and instead of replacing them with wider, newer, better engineered bridges at the same time, we are going to just raise the old ones. This is abject stupidity to me and a waste of tax payer money. This is one instance where I firmly believe that we should spend more money now to save some later. Either way, it is our tax dollars, whether they are coming from the feds or the state.

From The Smithfield Herald:

The state plans to raise four bridges over Interstate 95 in Johnston County and install an over-height-protection system at another to prevent trucks from hitting them.

The $3.8 million in projects will likely begin next summer and wrap up by next fall, said Ricky Greene, a division engineer with the N.C. Department of Transportation.

The bridges scheduled to be jacked up are on U.S. 701 at Four Oaks, Hockaday Road near Four Oaks, Pittman Road at Micro and Bagley Road near Kenly, Greene said. Each bridge will be raised two feet, he said.

The U.S. 701 bridge is the lowest at 14 feet 2 inches, Greene said. The others are up to 14 feet 11 inches. "There are low-clearance issues over 95 on these bridges," Greene said.

The DOT will remove the over-height protection system at the bridge on U.S. 701. When oncoming trucks are too tall, a beam triggers flashers to alert drivers, Greene said. "Even with the over-height protection, we have had some hits on that bridge," he said.

Greene said the system will be moved to the Truck Stop Road bridge near Kenly. It's cheaper than raising the bridge, he said.

Johnston bridges have been struck about three times so far this year, said Bobby Lewis of the DOT. Compared to surrounding counties, the numbers are usually high, Greene said. "Yes, Johnston County definitely has more of a problem because we have more bridges that are lower," he said.

The most recent hit was at Brogden Road, where a piece of equipment on a flatbed trailer struck the bridge, forcing the DOT to close it for about four days.

The state raised that bridge to 15 feet 6 inches a few years ago, Greene said. Now the bridge needs repairs, he said.

The number of bridge hits in Johnston might be related to age, Greene said. Usually, the lowest bridges are the oldest ones, because construction standards 40 or 50 years ago were different than they are today, he said.

The bridge projects won't occur at the same time, and interstate traffic will have to be re-routed, Greene said. Each project may take a few days, he said.

In 2006, it took a couple months for the DOT to jack up the U.S. 70 Business bridge in Smithfield, Lewis said. Drivers struck that bridge five times in 2005, Greene said.

Money for the projects is coming from $24 million in federal funds, Greene said.

This is SOOO applicable for today

On the side of my blog, you will find a widget that will play for you the latest episode of The Patriots Pub. I am one of the three co-hosts who does that particular podcast. I really enjoy reading the notes by James Madison that were taken during The Constitutional Convention in 1787. One of things we covered this week was a letter submitted by Benjamin Franklin. Franklin was rather aged (about 81) during this convention. He said, "He said that being very sensible of the effect of age on his memory, he had been unwilling to trust to that for the observations which seemed to support his motion, and had reduced them to writing..."

Sir.

It is with reluctance that I rise to express a disapprobation of any one article of the plan for which we are so much obliged to the honorable gentleman who laid it before us. From its first reading I have borne a good will to it, and in general wished it success. In this particular of salaries to the Executive branch I happen to differ; and as my opinion may appear new and chimerical, it is only from a persuasion that it is right, and from a sense of duty that I hazard it. The Committee will judge of my reasons when they have heard them, and their judgment may possibly change mine. -I think I see inconveniences in the appointment of salaries; I see none in refusing them, but on the contrary, great advantages.

Sir, there are two passions which have a powerful influence on the affairs of men. These are ambition and avarice; the love of power, and the love of money. Separately each of these has great force in prompting men to action; but when united in view of the same object, they have in many minds the most violent effects. Place before the eyes of such men, a post of honour that shall be at the same time a place of profit, and they will move heaven and earth to obtain it. The vast number of such places it is that renders the British Government so tempestuous. The struggles for them are the true sources of all those factions which are perpetually dividing the Nation, distracting its Councils, hurrying sometimes into fruitless & mischievous wars, and often compelling a submission to dishonorable terms of peace. And of what kind are the men that will strive for this profitable pre- eminence, through all the bustle of cabal, the heat of contention, the infinite mutual abuse of parties, tearing to pieces the best of characters? It will not be the wise and moderate; the lovers of peace and good order, the men fittest for the trust. It will be the bold and the violent, the men of strong passions and indefatigable activity in their selfish pursuits. These will thrust themselves into your Government and be your rulers. -And these too will be mistaken in the expected happiness of their situation: For their vanquished competitors of the same spirit, and from the same motives will perpetually be endeavouring to distress their administration, thwart their measures, and render them odious to the people.

Besides these evils, Sir, tho' we may set out in the beginning with moderate salaries, we shall find that such will not be of long continuance. Reasons will never be wanting for proposed augmentations. And there will always be a party for giving more to the rulers, that the rulers may be able in return to give more to them. -Hence as all history informs us, there has been in every State & Kingdom a constant kind of warfare between the governing & governed: the one striving to obtain more for its support, and the other to pay less. And this has alone occasioned great convulsions, actual civil wars, ending either in dethroning of the Princes, or enslaving of the people. Generally indeed the ruling power carries its point, the revenues of princes constantly increasing, and we see that they are never satisfied, but always in want of more. The more the people are discontented with the oppression of taxes; the greater need the prince has of money to distribute among his partizans and pay the troops that are to suppress all resistance, and enable him to plunder at pleasure. There is scarce a king in a hundred who would not, if he could, follow the example of Pharoah, get first all the peoples money, then all their lands, and then make them and their children servants for ever. It will be said, that we don't propose to establish Kings. I know it. But there is a natural inclination in mankind to Kingly Government. It sometimes relieves them from Aristocratic domination. They had rather have one tyrant than five hundred. It gives more of the appearance of equality among Citizens, and that they like. I am apprehensive therefore, perhaps too apprehensive, that the Government of these States, may in future times, end in a Monarchy. But this Catastrophe I think may be long delayed, if in our proposed System we do not sow the seeds of contention, faction & tumult, by making our posts of honor, places of profit. If we do, I fear that tho' we do employ at first a number, and not a single person, the number will in time be set aside, it will only nourish the foetus of a King, as the honorable gentleman from Virginia very aptly expressed it, and a King will the sooner be set over us.

It may be imagined by some that this is an Utopian Idea, and that we can never find men to serve us in the Executive department, without paying them well for their services. I conceive this to be a mistake. Some existing facts present themselves to me, which incline me to a contrary opinion. The high Sheriff of a County in England is an honorable office, but it is not a profitable one. It is rather expensive and therefore not sought for. But yet, it is executed and well executed, and usually by some of the principal Gentlemen of the County. In France, the office of Counsellor or Member of their Judiciary Parliaments is more honorable. It is therefore purchased at a high price: There are indeed fees on the law proceedings, which are divided among them, but these fees do not amount to more than three per Cent on the sum paid for the place. Therefore as legal interest is there at five per Ct. they in fact pay two per Ct. for being allowed to do the Judiciary business of the Nation, which is at the same time entirely exempt from the burden of paying them any salaries for their services. I do not however mean to recommend this as an eligible mode for our Judiciary department. I only bring the instance to shew that the pleasure of doing good & serving their Country and the respect such conduct entitles them to, are sufficient motives with some minds to give up a great portion of their time to the public, without the mean inducement of pecuniary satisfaction.

Another instance is that of a respectable Society who have made the experiment, and practised it with success more than an hundred years. I mean the Quakers. It is an established rule with them, that they are not to go to law; but in their controversies they must apply to their monthly, quarterly and yearly meetings. Committees of these sit with patience to hear the parties, and spend much time in composing their differences. In doing this, they are supported by a sense of duty, and the respect paid to usefulness. It is honorable to be so employed, but it was never made profitable by salaries, fees, or perquisites. And indeed in all cases of public service the less the profit the greater the honor.

To bring the matter nearer home, have we not seen, the great and most important of our offices, that of General of our armies executed for eight years together without the smallest salary, by a Patriot whom I will not now offend by any other praise; and this through fatigues and distresses in common with the other brave men his military friends & Companions, and the constant anxieties peculiar to his station? And shall we doubt finding three or four men in all the U. States, with public spirit enough to bear sitting in peaceful Council for perhaps an equal term, merely to preside over our civil concerns, and see that our laws are duly executed. Sir, I have a better opinion of our Country. I think we shall never be without a sufficient number of wise and good men to undertake and execute well and faithfully the office in question.

Sir, The saving of the salaries that may at first be proposed is not an object with me. The subsequent mischiefs of proposing them are what I apprehend. And therefore it is, that I move the amendment. If it is not seconded or accepted I must be contented with the satisfaction of having delivered my opinion frankly and done my duty.

The writing is a direct copy and paste of Madison's notes, as published online. The published notes are a direct transcription of the original notes, as taken by Madison, so any spelling or grammar errors are Madison's alone.

Franklin had great insight upon the effects of money, power, government, and human nature. This written monologue is fantastic. I wish that people would think this way today.

The Trans-Siberian Orchestra is going to be in Raleigh Dec. 20. I would love to go see them.

NC community colleges required to take illegal aliens. Fred Smith has common sense. Your tax dollars hard at work.

From ALIPAC

The N.C. Community College System decided this month to require all system schools to admit illegal immigrants, altering a 2004 decision to leave that admissions decision up to the individual colleges.

The rights of illegal immigrants have become a hot topic in North Carolina, which has one of the highest illegal immigrant populations in the country.

Chancy Kapp, assistant to the president for external affairs for the NCCCS, said system attorney David Sullivan conducted a study that prompted the decision.

"In his opinion the system had been misinterpreting the open-door policy - we were not allowed to put nonacademic barriers to applicants," Kapp said.

About 300 illegal immigrants are currently enrolled in the state's 58 comprehensive community colleges and pay out-of-state tuition, Kapp said. Total system enrollment in full-time programs is nearly 200,000.

Most of the schools already admit illegal immigrants, but the recent decision has forced some, like Wake County Technical Community College, to revise their admissions policy.

"We don't have a choice, so now we're going to abide by what the state board is requiring us to do, and that's fine," said Laurie Clowers, the college's public relations director.

This is the formal press release from State Senator and gubernatorial candidate Fred Smith about this issue.

Statement by State Senator Fred Smith - Republican Candidate for Governor on Community Colleges Decision

November 29, 2007 —

Raleigh, NC (FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE)

We are a nation that is sustained under the rule of law. Without these laws, our freedom and order is compromised. Our citizens can't just pick and choose which laws they will obey. The directive issued by the North Carolina Community College System to mandate all community colleges across our state admit illegal immigrants as students simply ignores our immigration laws. If we ignore these laws, what other laws should we consider as unnecessary to obey?

How can a state government organization take the position that some laws just don't count? If we disagree with the laws, then we work to get them changed. We don't simply ignore them. The legislature should act quickly, setting politics aside, and address this important issue. I believe in sharing our freedom and opportunities with those who desire to come to the United States, but I believe those who come should respect our laws and make the effort to come to our country legally. We can't continue to ignore our laws by providing new incentives to come to North Carolina illegally.

I call upon Governor Easley, Lt. Governor Purdue, and Attorney General Roy Cooper to recognize the importance of this action by the Community College System and the message that is being sent by simply ignoring the federal laws and fact these individuals are in our state illegally. They should take appropriate action including the call of a special session of the General Assembly if necessary to rectify this improper decision.

A comment via email from the founder of The Coalition Against Illegal Immigration:

Fred has "Uncommon Sense"

From a great book by Barry Goldwater

"The turn will come when we entrust the conduct of our affairs to the men who understand that their first duty as public officials is to divest themselves of the power that they have been given. It will come when Americans, in hundreds of communities throughout the nation, decide to put the man in office who is pledged to enforce the Constitution and restore the Republic. Who will proclaim in a campaign speech: 'I have little interest in streamlining government or in making it more efficient, for I mean to reduce its size. I do not undertake to promote welfare, for I propose to extend freedom. My aim is not to pass laws, but to repeal them. It is not to inaugurate new programs, but to cancel the old ones that do violence to the Constitution, or that have failed in their purpose, or that impose on the people an unwarranted financial burden. I will not attempt to discover whether legislation is "needed" before I have first determined whether it is constitutionally permissible. And if I should later be attacked for neglecting my constituents' "interests," I shall reply that I was informed their main interest is liberty and that in that cause I am doing the very best I can.'"

Barry Goldwater, The Conscience of a Conservative, 1960: Victor Publishing Company, Shepherdsville, Ky., p. 17.

Waiting for the arrival of my new toy

TT33. It has been a little while since I bought a new toy.

My amusement for the day

Late night

Here it is almost one in the morning. I am sitting in a cable system in Jacksonville working on getting a video server back up and running and trying to stay awake. I am waiting for a software process to run its course and it takes a while for it to happen. I want to try to stay awake for a little while longer, but I may end up logging out of the time clock system and napping for a while before hitting the road when this problem is solved. I dragged along my laptop and found the cable modem, so I have been able to keep connected to work and the internet.

These past four months have been so surreal. I know that I have said that several times, but things keep changing. My life is rather fluid lately. I have had people come and go from my life quite a bit. Out: the wife. Out: 2 cats In: a new friend I made a few weeks ago Out: the same friend after three weeks. There are a few others that I am not at liberty to divulge just yet, but today I did meet someone that wants to change my life radically.

I do miss my friend whom I met just a few weeks ago. That person is an awesome individual and I find him/her amazing. You know who you are. Keep in touch, please.

I am supposed to meet two people tomorrow morning. One to work on his computer for just a few minutes. Memory upgrades are quick and easy. Ten minutes and he will be gone. Another is a friend of mine who wants to get together for lunch. I just realized it is tomorrow morning already. OK, later today, in less than seven hours for the first visit. I don't know how awake I will be, since I won't get home before 4 AM, most likely.

There is a lot of stuff I want to say, but I can't for various reasons. When I am at liberty to share more, I will. Anyway, I have to go shut up the alarm on this one server before it drives me nuts and I will never be able to nap once this problem is solved on another server.

www.teaparty07.com

Huckabee wants to give scholarships to illegal aliens?

What is he thinking? They already drain our economy, now he wants to give them our tax dollars to get an education when our own citizens don't get the opportunities he is espousing. What is he thinking? He lost any support I would have given him.