Archive for October, 2009

tulips

Saturday, October 31st, 2009

I dug a 40′ trench that we planted full of flower bulbs. After a long winter of ice, snow, cold and muck, the nifty row of tulips and daffodils by our driveway entrance will put hundreds of smiles on our faces regardless of any stink coming from politicians or the economy they destroyed.

Forty bucks combined with a couple hours of playing in the sunshine and soil is an excellent investment in a bright, cheerful Spring. While easy to overlook, the emotional pantry ought to be considered from time to time.


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just a quotation

Friday, October 30th, 2009

“When you see that trading is done, not by consent, but by compulsion — when you see that in order to produce, you need to obtain permission from men who produce nothing — when you see money flowing to those who deal, not in goods, but in favors — when you see that men get richer by graft and pull than by work, and your laws don’t protect you against them, but protect them against you — when you see corruption being rewarded and honesty becoming a self-sacrifice — you may know that your society is doomed.”
– Ayn Rand
(1905-1982) Author
Source: Atlas Shrugged, p. 413
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stealth wins water war

Thursday, October 29th, 2009

Over the last century or so, the rulers in Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas divvied up the water from the Colorado and Rio Grande rivers. Water that used to flow through Mexico into the gulfs on either side were replaced with dry river beds in one case and a completely changed shadow of its former self in the other.

This theft from downstream neighbors would have resulted in outright war among equals or near-equals. After a couple of losses to a young USA, Mexico was in no position for a military contest to a much bigger and more belligerent neighbor.

So they let the matter die…. or did they?
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Constitutional conundrum

Wednesday, October 28th, 2009

I vacillate between the dream of a political solution that takes us nonviolently back to a Constitutional Republic and the suspicion that power once attained will never be voluntarily relinquished. The accelerating destruction of life, liberty and property by the players in Washington DC make the nonviolent solution seem further and further away.

Were a wave of my magic wand able to return the USA to the government of 1786, I’d gleefully wave away. Heck, that would probably provide liberty for the lifespans of my childrens’ children. That’s a whole lot more hope than I can imagine in our current climate.
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alternate reality

Saturday, October 24th, 2009

Tonight I passed two cars in a row with video panels anesthetizing the rear seat passengers. It set me thinking about my own travels around town, through the countryside or on trips as a child, then as a parent. This new way is horrid.
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coins, bars or rounds

Friday, October 23rd, 2009

Which is better to buy and to have on hand for both investment purposes and to use for money/trade in the future. Would it be wise to buy pre-1964 U.S. dimes and quarters or to buy .999 silver bars (5/10 gram) or 1ounce silver rounds from silver manufaturers?
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Wednesday, October 7th, 2009

In a discussion group one post expresses the majority opinion regarding Democrats or Republicans doing things we disagree with: ” … It means that they’re sincere in their intentions… “.

This poster’s signature line was so appropriate I quoted it at the top of my response.

“What gets us into trouble is not what we don’t know, it’s what we know for sure that just ain’t so.” –Mark Twain
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taking public goods

Monday, October 5th, 2009

just curious about your stance on some things:

do you take advantage of public roadways, built with public funds (local, state and federal)?

do you use the Federal Postal system? At one time, I believe that was federally funded

I know you take advantage of the internet which, I believe, was created in part with federal funds.

do you, or have you, enrolled in Medicare.

do you, or have you, received Social Security benefits, myself, I received “survivor” benefits after my mom died when I was a kid and perhaps I might even get some in the future should the system not imploded.

did you take advantage of any public education? even private education gets some amount of local, state or federal funds, even if it is not being taxed.

The point I am trying to refer to (and no, it isn’t the one on my head), is that nowadays, “no man is an island”. If nothing else, I’ll bet you received the benefit of the defense of this country by its forces and law enforcement as well.
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