-- by Ed Naile
The Story of Middle Earth and the Coming of EZ Pass
The Lord of the Tokens is the epic journey to destroy the Final Token, which symbolizes individual freedom and power - and this is very clear when you understand that the Final Token not only confers this individual power but also imposes serfdom on the possessor. The one who wields The Final Token becomes a slave of Sauron, Creator of the Transponder.
In the words of the Lord of Drivendell, Ayotte,
"We cannot use any of the Tokens especially the Final Token. That we now know too well. It belongs to Sauron, “Creator of the Transponder” and was made by him alone, and is altogether evil. Its strength is too great for anyone to wield at will, save only those who have already a great power and small change of their own. But for them it holds an even deadlier peril. The very desire of it's discount corrupts all who attempt to use it. If any of the Wise of The Chamber should with this Transponder overthrow the Lord of Mordor Vehicles, using his own arts, he would then set himself on Sauron's throne, and yet another Dark Lord would appear. And that is another reason why all the Tokens should be destroyed: as long as they are in the world it will be a danger even to the Wise of The Chamber. For nothing is evil in the beginning. Even Sauron was not so. I fear to take the Final Token to hide it. I will not take the Final Token to wield it."
Responded Govdalf, weak Underlord of the Shire,
"No! With that power I should have power too great and terrible. And over me the Final Token would gain a power still greater and more deadly! Do not tempt me! For I do not wish to become like the Dark Lord himself. Yet the way of the Tokens to my heart is by pity, pity for weakness and the desire of strength to do good and right. Do not tempt me! I dare not take responsibility, not even to keep them safe, unused. Please leave me in peace, undisturbed. I would sooner let them go into the hands of the Orcs and be done with this."
And the Hobbits of the Shire were left with their Tokens and shouted,
For many long years we have pondered what we might do, should the Final Token come into our hands, and behold! The time has now arrived. The evil transponder that was devised long ago and has invaded so many lands beyond The Shire works on in many ways, whether Sauron himself stands or falls. Would not have been a noble deed to set to the credit of our Tokens in the Chamber of The Wise? Our cowardly Underlord hides beneath his table as much as the ancient media who protect him. Alas The Shire lives under the shadow of the transponder in confusion and despair.”
1.29.2006
Ruminations
By Ron Dupuis
We taught them how to hold free democratic elections as we do in this country. Sadly, as in the Presidential election of 2000, we taught them how to react when unhappy with the results. Unfortunately instead of using litigation and lawyers in order to resolve their differences as we do, they use bombs and bullets. Both are “scorched earth” solutions, one more deadly than the other. Hopefully, in the future, they will ascend to our type of protocol rather than us descending to theirs.
___
“terrorism (n), The unlawful use or threatened use of force or violence by a person or an organized group against people or property with the intention of intimidating or coercing societies or governments, often for ideological or political reasons.”
The Palestinian people have made a clear choice. In a democratic election they chose the terrorist group Hamas to run their government. They even elected a woman who proudly sent three of her sons on suicide missions and stated she will send her other children if asked.
Blowing up innocent women and children in order to gain political influence has not been a problem with any sort of fringe elements of Hamas. It is clearly written in their charter of 1988. They all believe in “jihad”, or, war on nonbelievers. If we were to extrapolate the number of Islamist in Palestine who believe in jihad and apply that percentage to the number of Islamist around the world (one billion 12), it’s easy to understand why many of us feel that the world is in a dangerous place.
___
On a lighter note; I never cared for AARP. Under the guise of helping our elderly, they try to sell us everything from insurance policies at inflated cost/ benefit rates, to vacation packages for the senile. What clear thinking seasoned citizen wants to travel 1500 miles in a stainless steel “Airstream” toaster in order to view the LaBrea tar pits for any length of time.
This week my wife and I had planned to spend all day Saturday doing those silly romantic things that we haven’t done since our courtship over twenty five years ago. A hand in hand walk along the beach that we always enjoyed in another time; a romantic candle light dinner at our favorite restaurant ; hot brandy beside a cozy fire at home and perhaps a little romance later; all was possible. That is “all was possible” until the mail was opened. My wife was reminded that she is now eligible to join AARP. Ten month before her actual 50th birthday, I might add.
“I’m too tired to go out” she declared.
“What about our “Day”’ I cried?
“You expect me to walk along the beach in this weather at my age?”
“Get my bathrobe, turn up the thermostat, and clear the snow off the driveway like you where going to do yesterday.” “After your finished that, go pick up some Chinese food for me.” she continued.
“Are we going to at least have hot brandy by the fire” I asked.
“No” she said emphatically!
“But that reminds me.” “Get me a six pack of Budweiser while you’re out.”
Thanks AARP!
We taught them how to hold free democratic elections as we do in this country. Sadly, as in the Presidential election of 2000, we taught them how to react when unhappy with the results. Unfortunately instead of using litigation and lawyers in order to resolve their differences as we do, they use bombs and bullets. Both are “scorched earth” solutions, one more deadly than the other. Hopefully, in the future, they will ascend to our type of protocol rather than us descending to theirs.
___
“terrorism (n), The unlawful use or threatened use of force or violence by a person or an organized group against people or property with the intention of intimidating or coercing societies or governments, often for ideological or political reasons.”
The Palestinian people have made a clear choice. In a democratic election they chose the terrorist group Hamas to run their government. They even elected a woman who proudly sent three of her sons on suicide missions and stated she will send her other children if asked.
Blowing up innocent women and children in order to gain political influence has not been a problem with any sort of fringe elements of Hamas. It is clearly written in their charter of 1988. They all believe in “jihad”, or, war on nonbelievers. If we were to extrapolate the number of Islamist in Palestine who believe in jihad and apply that percentage to the number of Islamist around the world (one billion 12), it’s easy to understand why many of us feel that the world is in a dangerous place.
___
On a lighter note; I never cared for AARP. Under the guise of helping our elderly, they try to sell us everything from insurance policies at inflated cost/ benefit rates, to vacation packages for the senile. What clear thinking seasoned citizen wants to travel 1500 miles in a stainless steel “Airstream” toaster in order to view the LaBrea tar pits for any length of time.
This week my wife and I had planned to spend all day Saturday doing those silly romantic things that we haven’t done since our courtship over twenty five years ago. A hand in hand walk along the beach that we always enjoyed in another time; a romantic candle light dinner at our favorite restaurant ; hot brandy beside a cozy fire at home and perhaps a little romance later; all was possible. That is “all was possible” until the mail was opened. My wife was reminded that she is now eligible to join AARP. Ten month before her actual 50th birthday, I might add.
“I’m too tired to go out” she declared.
“What about our “Day”’ I cried?
“You expect me to walk along the beach in this weather at my age?”
“Get my bathrobe, turn up the thermostat, and clear the snow off the driveway like you where going to do yesterday.” “After your finished that, go pick up some Chinese food for me.” she continued.
“Are we going to at least have hot brandy by the fire” I asked.
“No” she said emphatically!
“But that reminds me.” “Get me a six pack of Budweiser while you’re out.”
Thanks AARP!
1.28.2006
$2,000 Robot Dog Sent To "The Farm"
---by Micheal
Sony just announced that they will stop production of their $2,000 robot dog, "Aibo." You may recall that back before Christmas I was railing about our culture's apparent excess disposable income with Sony's Aibo as the posterchild for pointless expensive consumer goods.
Sony sold over 150,000 of the yappy-dog sized little robots. At $2,000 a pop, that's over $300,000,000. Three hundred million dollars spent by consumers on a product which no one needs, and which does very little beyond making your friends say, "Gawww-leee". You could wad up and swallow a hundred dollar bill in front of them and get pretty much the same wide-eyed reaction. BUT, you'd have $1,900 left with which to do something practical.
So, was Sony's decision to send Aibo to "the farm," a resurgence of common sense? Sadly, no. New management decided to cancel some of its product lines in order to concentrate on their core business. They want to concentrate on different expensive consumer products.
And, as if to prove that common sense is still locked in the basement, Aibo fan clubs (there really are such things) are up in arms that Sony dared cancel their product. How dare Sony take away their outlet for absurd extravagant spending! Now where are these thousands of people (with waaay too much money) going to squander all that extra cash? Will they get a real dog?
Of course, two thousand dollars would buy a very nice computer for a local public library. Two grand would buy a ton of groceries for a local food pantry our soup kitchen. That much money would buy some financially-struggling college kids a lot of books.
Why is it, that when we have excess disposable income, our first impulse is to waste it on self-indulgent foolishness? If not Aibo, we'll just find something else. Maybe microchipped climate-controlled butter dishes.
Someone needs to let common sense out of basement. There's waaay too much stupid going on up here.
Sony just announced that they will stop production of their $2,000 robot dog, "Aibo." You may recall that back before Christmas I was railing about our culture's apparent excess disposable income with Sony's Aibo as the posterchild for pointless expensive consumer goods.
Sony sold over 150,000 of the yappy-dog sized little robots. At $2,000 a pop, that's over $300,000,000. Three hundred million dollars spent by consumers on a product which no one needs, and which does very little beyond making your friends say, "Gawww-leee". You could wad up and swallow a hundred dollar bill in front of them and get pretty much the same wide-eyed reaction. BUT, you'd have $1,900 left with which to do something practical.
So, was Sony's decision to send Aibo to "the farm," a resurgence of common sense? Sadly, no. New management decided to cancel some of its product lines in order to concentrate on their core business. They want to concentrate on different expensive consumer products.
And, as if to prove that common sense is still locked in the basement, Aibo fan clubs (there really are such things) are up in arms that Sony dared cancel their product. How dare Sony take away their outlet for absurd extravagant spending! Now where are these thousands of people (with waaay too much money) going to squander all that extra cash? Will they get a real dog?
Of course, two thousand dollars would buy a very nice computer for a local public library. Two grand would buy a ton of groceries for a local food pantry our soup kitchen. That much money would buy some financially-struggling college kids a lot of books.
Why is it, that when we have excess disposable income, our first impulse is to waste it on self-indulgent foolishness? If not Aibo, we'll just find something else. Maybe microchipped climate-controlled butter dishes.
Someone needs to let common sense out of basement. There's waaay too much stupid going on up here.
1.23.2006
School Choice News
By Rep. Lee Slocum
There have been some significant developments on the School choice front in recent weeks. There is a new voucher bill, of course, but there is always a new voucher bill! However, this one is different. HB 1707 is different from other voucher bills submitted in New Hampshire in two respects. First, it is immune from the outcome of the Londonderry lawsuit. The value of a voucher is defined as the money available from the state for a student in a local district, including the money raised locally by the statewide property tax. If Londonderry wins its lawsuit, the amount available for vouchers would be the same throughout the state. If Londonderry loses, the value would be different for each district.
Second, the HB 1707 voucher program would only apply to growing districts. This restriction answers the concerns expressed by some that a voucher program would take away money from a district. Under HB 1707, districts would not shrink because of vouchers. Conceivably, districts would not have to grow either. Growth would be handled in the private sector for a fraction of the cost to taxpayers, that is, approximately $3,500 versus the average cost of a public school education of $11,000.
Another significant development involves SB 131, a voucher bill that was submitted during 2005 and was retained by the Senate. The Senate Finance Committee changed the bill into a tax credit bill. The bill was recently passed by the Senate, 14-9, and comes into the House with considerable momentum. Under SB 131 the state would set up a non-profit corporation similar to Healthy Kids or LCHIP that would have the authority to issue vouchers. The state would initially fund the corporation with up to $2 million, but most money would come from companies or individuals giving contributions. Credits on Business Enterprise Taxes would be given to corporations in exchange for company contributions. Credits on Interest and Dividends taxes would be given to individuals.
With both HB 1707 and SB 131, vouchers are given to the parents of a student and mailed to the school. The parent goes to the school and endorses the check over to the school. This is the Supreme Court tested method for ensuring that government is not providing support directly to religious schools. However, the SB 131 tax credit approach seems to provide a little more isolation in this regard. SB 131 also appeals to some because it does not involve use of Education Trust Fund money. It does use other state money, of course, but at substantial savings overall to the public.
A great article which deals with the pros and cons of tax credits versus a more direct approach can be found at http://www.hillsdale.edu/imprimis/2001/july/default.htm.
The governor has indicated that he will not look with favor towards a normal voucher bill. But, there is reason to believe he may be more sympathetic towards a tax credit bill. Stay tuned, we may have more choice available for New Hampshire students this year!
There have been some significant developments on the School choice front in recent weeks. There is a new voucher bill, of course, but there is always a new voucher bill! However, this one is different. HB 1707 is different from other voucher bills submitted in New Hampshire in two respects. First, it is immune from the outcome of the Londonderry lawsuit. The value of a voucher is defined as the money available from the state for a student in a local district, including the money raised locally by the statewide property tax. If Londonderry wins its lawsuit, the amount available for vouchers would be the same throughout the state. If Londonderry loses, the value would be different for each district.
Second, the HB 1707 voucher program would only apply to growing districts. This restriction answers the concerns expressed by some that a voucher program would take away money from a district. Under HB 1707, districts would not shrink because of vouchers. Conceivably, districts would not have to grow either. Growth would be handled in the private sector for a fraction of the cost to taxpayers, that is, approximately $3,500 versus the average cost of a public school education of $11,000.
Another significant development involves SB 131, a voucher bill that was submitted during 2005 and was retained by the Senate. The Senate Finance Committee changed the bill into a tax credit bill. The bill was recently passed by the Senate, 14-9, and comes into the House with considerable momentum. Under SB 131 the state would set up a non-profit corporation similar to Healthy Kids or LCHIP that would have the authority to issue vouchers. The state would initially fund the corporation with up to $2 million, but most money would come from companies or individuals giving contributions. Credits on Business Enterprise Taxes would be given to corporations in exchange for company contributions. Credits on Interest and Dividends taxes would be given to individuals.
With both HB 1707 and SB 131, vouchers are given to the parents of a student and mailed to the school. The parent goes to the school and endorses the check over to the school. This is the Supreme Court tested method for ensuring that government is not providing support directly to religious schools. However, the SB 131 tax credit approach seems to provide a little more isolation in this regard. SB 131 also appeals to some because it does not involve use of Education Trust Fund money. It does use other state money, of course, but at substantial savings overall to the public.
A great article which deals with the pros and cons of tax credits versus a more direct approach can be found at http://www.hillsdale.edu/imprimis/2001/july/default.htm.
The governor has indicated that he will not look with favor towards a normal voucher bill. But, there is reason to believe he may be more sympathetic towards a tax credit bill. Stay tuned, we may have more choice available for New Hampshire students this year!
1.22.2006
Tidbits
-- by Ed Naile
Some of the back-room proponents of the Pennichuck Waterworks takeover by the city of Nashua seem to be staring down into their empty tea cups. This power grab at a private municipal water company by local politicos looking for feather beds will soon wind up on the scrap heap. All that is left is the legal bills and some dead, wheel greasing, eminent domain legislation offered by Rep. Scanlon of Bedford..
The movement to take Justice David Souter's mother's place on Cilley Hill Rd in Weare has been delayed for a year by some publicity hound from California. The NH press, in desperately helping Souter keep his abandoned, paint and maintenance starved “homestead” in Weare are using this out-of-state non-entity to divert attention from the fact that a properly worded warrant article presented to Weare voters does have a chance to pass. Just ask all the once again quoted local leaders who are brushing off the possibility. They were all wrong two years ago about dumping the out of control police chief Miles Rigney for an elected chief with a citizens warrant article. Weare voters jumped at the chance. It has worked like a charm. Bye, bye Rigney.
It looks more and more like the DRA and the Board of Tax and Land Appeals are trying to help Avitar, the states largest assessing firm, create a usable Computer Assisted Software System - that works. In town after town Avitar's software has come up short. Short as in unusable for some thing as important as land values in some instances. No matter. The BTLA comes to the rescue with a chance to have another go at it in the years to come. Taxpayers are left holding the bag for the re-assessment costs and bad values used for taxation placed on their homes. The elected officials in most cases are willing victims who would rather accept in most cases an unlawful assessment than admit they were taken.
Jaffery has a hot issue with their town manager. For those who are not aware, town managers are often blessed with a Napoleon complex that would make Bonaparte blush. Its the old “how stupid can people be syndrome” developed by eggheads who run a municipal anything. They are forced to repeat the basics of municipal government day after day to people who could give a rats flatulence as long as they can walk out with some public document they came in for. You see, many people consider going to town hall like another form of shopping - youse ask fo yo stuff and youse gets whats youse wants. Taxpayers are mistaken though. When you are facing the standard town manger you are in the presence of “true leadership” - check their degree - it says so. In any case, the Jaffery Town Manager has ruffled a few feathers. And beaks are being sharpened.
The “Little Governor Who Might” passed up on a no-lose issue last week in his weak SOS speech. When pray tell are we going to take up the no cost, tourist attracting, overdue, tasteful tribute to “The Old Man In The Mountain?” Check our www.cnht.org web site for details on the plan to erect a seventy-foot memorial to our state symbol. What, does the phrase “privately funded” scare Governor Not Benson?
Some of the back-room proponents of the Pennichuck Waterworks takeover by the city of Nashua seem to be staring down into their empty tea cups. This power grab at a private municipal water company by local politicos looking for feather beds will soon wind up on the scrap heap. All that is left is the legal bills and some dead, wheel greasing, eminent domain legislation offered by Rep. Scanlon of Bedford..
The movement to take Justice David Souter's mother's place on Cilley Hill Rd in Weare has been delayed for a year by some publicity hound from California. The NH press, in desperately helping Souter keep his abandoned, paint and maintenance starved “homestead” in Weare are using this out-of-state non-entity to divert attention from the fact that a properly worded warrant article presented to Weare voters does have a chance to pass. Just ask all the once again quoted local leaders who are brushing off the possibility. They were all wrong two years ago about dumping the out of control police chief Miles Rigney for an elected chief with a citizens warrant article. Weare voters jumped at the chance. It has worked like a charm. Bye, bye Rigney.
It looks more and more like the DRA and the Board of Tax and Land Appeals are trying to help Avitar, the states largest assessing firm, create a usable Computer Assisted Software System - that works. In town after town Avitar's software has come up short. Short as in unusable for some thing as important as land values in some instances. No matter. The BTLA comes to the rescue with a chance to have another go at it in the years to come. Taxpayers are left holding the bag for the re-assessment costs and bad values used for taxation placed on their homes. The elected officials in most cases are willing victims who would rather accept in most cases an unlawful assessment than admit they were taken.
Jaffery has a hot issue with their town manager. For those who are not aware, town managers are often blessed with a Napoleon complex that would make Bonaparte blush. Its the old “how stupid can people be syndrome” developed by eggheads who run a municipal anything. They are forced to repeat the basics of municipal government day after day to people who could give a rats flatulence as long as they can walk out with some public document they came in for. You see, many people consider going to town hall like another form of shopping - youse ask fo yo stuff and youse gets whats youse wants. Taxpayers are mistaken though. When you are facing the standard town manger you are in the presence of “true leadership” - check their degree - it says so. In any case, the Jaffery Town Manager has ruffled a few feathers. And beaks are being sharpened.
The “Little Governor Who Might” passed up on a no-lose issue last week in his weak SOS speech. When pray tell are we going to take up the no cost, tourist attracting, overdue, tasteful tribute to “The Old Man In The Mountain?” Check our www.cnht.org web site for details on the plan to erect a seventy-foot memorial to our state symbol. What, does the phrase “privately funded” scare Governor Not Benson?
1.21.2006
Ruminations
By Ron Dupuis
In a recently released tape bin Laden stated he is preparing his organization to attack us…again.
I believe him. I also believe if he had a nuclear bomb or some massively infectious biological agent he would have no qualm about using them in order to divide our country and destroy our way of life.
Thank you Mr. Bin Laden sir.
Your words have reaffirmed to this American that the Bush administration can and should monitor my overseas phone conversations, my library selections, my hardware store purchases, and my pizza delivery habits.
Hopefully they will learn early that my dull life poses no threat to our way of life and move on to people with profiles like the nineteen sub-human friends of yours who caused the horrific devastation of 9/11.
__
I’m not making this up.
French President Jacques Chirac, while giving a speech at a French nuclear submarine base, intimated that any terrorist attack on his country could trigger nuclear retaliation from France.
“The leaders of states who would use terrorist means against us, as well as those who would consider using in one way or another weapons of mass destruction, must understand that they would lay themselves open to a firm and adapted response on our part. This response could be a conventional one. It could also be of a different kind."
Given the French history of warfare I can imagine the scenario now; drop a nuclear bomb on Iraq then surrender to Iran.
__
I’ve been speaking with health care officials ever since the parental notification question was argued before the Supreme Court. Now that the opinion has been handed down, here is my take on the entire situation. The pro abortion group is not concerned at all with the health and life of any fourteen year old girl. All they want is for un-emancipated young girls to have access to an abortion without their parents knowing. Every health care professional I’ve spoken to in the last few month, including hospital presidents, policy writers and emergency room physicians, have given me the same answers; if an un-emancipated child enters an emergency room with a life threatening injury and her parents cannot be notified, the attending doctor has “perceived permission” to do whatever it takes to save her life. Abortion providers want us to believe the being pregnant is a life threatening situation and want that “perceived permission.”
Of course my take is entirely “In My Humble Opinion.”
In a recently released tape bin Laden stated he is preparing his organization to attack us…again.
I believe him. I also believe if he had a nuclear bomb or some massively infectious biological agent he would have no qualm about using them in order to divide our country and destroy our way of life.
Thank you Mr. Bin Laden sir.
Your words have reaffirmed to this American that the Bush administration can and should monitor my overseas phone conversations, my library selections, my hardware store purchases, and my pizza delivery habits.
Hopefully they will learn early that my dull life poses no threat to our way of life and move on to people with profiles like the nineteen sub-human friends of yours who caused the horrific devastation of 9/11.
__
I’m not making this up.
French President Jacques Chirac, while giving a speech at a French nuclear submarine base, intimated that any terrorist attack on his country could trigger nuclear retaliation from France.
“The leaders of states who would use terrorist means against us, as well as those who would consider using in one way or another weapons of mass destruction, must understand that they would lay themselves open to a firm and adapted response on our part. This response could be a conventional one. It could also be of a different kind."
Given the French history of warfare I can imagine the scenario now; drop a nuclear bomb on Iraq then surrender to Iran.
__
I’ve been speaking with health care officials ever since the parental notification question was argued before the Supreme Court. Now that the opinion has been handed down, here is my take on the entire situation. The pro abortion group is not concerned at all with the health and life of any fourteen year old girl. All they want is for un-emancipated young girls to have access to an abortion without their parents knowing. Every health care professional I’ve spoken to in the last few month, including hospital presidents, policy writers and emergency room physicians, have given me the same answers; if an un-emancipated child enters an emergency room with a life threatening injury and her parents cannot be notified, the attending doctor has “perceived permission” to do whatever it takes to save her life. Abortion providers want us to believe the being pregnant is a life threatening situation and want that “perceived permission.”
Of course my take is entirely “In My Humble Opinion.”
1.18.2006
1.15.2006
Ruminations
By Ron Dupuis
“Let’s Pretend.” You’re a police officer. You receive a call of a disturbance and there is no other information available. When you arrive you find a man whose home has been broken into for the third time this month. All his valuables have been stolen, T.V., stereo, jewelry, and even his brand new car. The victim is on the front porch screaming at his neighbors because of what he perceives as lack of interest or concern.
“Nobody cares.” he screams. “Not my neighbors, not the police, not the courts, and most of all, not the politicians’ downtown.”
“I’m going to shoot the next person I feel is going to rob me” he says as he reveals a holstered 9mm hand gun under his jacket. Further investigation reveals that the victim here is licensed to carry a concealed weapon.
What do you do?
If your answer is anything less than immediately confiscating that weapon, license or not, then you would be wrong.
The right to “keep and bear arms” is guaranteed by the 2nd Amendment. I only wish our founding fathers had the foresight to have added the word “responsibly”
__
“Those who would give up essential Liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.”
Ben Franklin
Profound words? Of course they are. For a period in our history when the entire population of the thirteen colonies was a mere two and a half million.
In today’s “real world” that many of our citizens lives could be snuffed out with one suitcase nuclear bomb or biological attack. Where Franklin alive today I’m sure he would rather us use on of his less famous quotes such as “Nothing bring more pain than too much pleasure; nothing brings more bondage than too much liberty.”
___
I have some good news and I have some bad news. First the good news. Last week President Bush signed into law the Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act. While the original bill was well written and needed, a clause was added, somewhere along the line, that makes it against the law to send someone an annoying e-mail without using your real name.
(type http://news.com.com/Create+an+e-annoyance%2C+go+to+jail/2010-1028_3-6022491.html in your browser to read article)
The penalties range from fines to jail time.
Here at IMHO we have dedicated our lives annoying people, mostly Democrats. Fortunately we use our real names. Or do we?
“Let’s Pretend.” You’re a police officer. You receive a call of a disturbance and there is no other information available. When you arrive you find a man whose home has been broken into for the third time this month. All his valuables have been stolen, T.V., stereo, jewelry, and even his brand new car. The victim is on the front porch screaming at his neighbors because of what he perceives as lack of interest or concern.
“Nobody cares.” he screams. “Not my neighbors, not the police, not the courts, and most of all, not the politicians’ downtown.”
“I’m going to shoot the next person I feel is going to rob me” he says as he reveals a holstered 9mm hand gun under his jacket. Further investigation reveals that the victim here is licensed to carry a concealed weapon.
What do you do?
If your answer is anything less than immediately confiscating that weapon, license or not, then you would be wrong.
The right to “keep and bear arms” is guaranteed by the 2nd Amendment. I only wish our founding fathers had the foresight to have added the word “responsibly”
__
“Those who would give up essential Liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.”
Ben Franklin
Profound words? Of course they are. For a period in our history when the entire population of the thirteen colonies was a mere two and a half million.
In today’s “real world” that many of our citizens lives could be snuffed out with one suitcase nuclear bomb or biological attack. Where Franklin alive today I’m sure he would rather us use on of his less famous quotes such as “Nothing bring more pain than too much pleasure; nothing brings more bondage than too much liberty.”
___
I have some good news and I have some bad news. First the good news. Last week President Bush signed into law the Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act. While the original bill was well written and needed, a clause was added, somewhere along the line, that makes it against the law to send someone an annoying e-mail without using your real name.
(type http://news.com.com/Create+an+e-annoyance%2C+go+to+jail/2010-1028_3-6022491.html in your browser to read article)
The penalties range from fines to jail time.
Here at IMHO we have dedicated our lives annoying people, mostly Democrats. Fortunately we use our real names. Or do we?
1.12.2006
Blinded by the Light
-- by Ed Naile, CNHT
Many legislators and elected officials love to tell you what they are doing for their constituents. Most don't want you to see HOW they do it. That is why we have a Right to Know Law (91-A) which is an extension of our Part I Article Eight NH Constitutional right to attend public meetings...but not for long if HB 626 is any indication.
This bill is the brainchild of one of those popular “commissions” stacked with partisans with a plan. In this case it was to gut the Right to Know law with language just fuzzy enough to sound intelligent but on the other hand not likely to trigger outright laughter.
They have found the perfect formula, “outside meetings.”
It sounds great to elected officials to not have to show up at meetings any longer and to from now on be able to conduct public business by email on your laptop. So many public officials are for this bill.
Lawyers should also be for this bill as it will create a deluge of suits seeking public records on personal computers when:
One member of the secret email meeting gets his nose out of joint and surrenders all the confidential public documents he has saved to the public as an act of revenge.
Several members of a public body discover a small cabal of members of their group is making decisions on the side.
An internet provider glitch causes one or two members of the new “outside meetings” to not get all the secrete public documents everyone else has.
Or just as a vote is to be taken after months of meetings some member says, “When did we discuss that issue. I was never informed?”
As a taxpayer activist I have the position this time of being in a no lose position. CNHT has repeatedly warned people about this bill. If it passes we will have in very short order a new issue comparable to eminent domain and the view tax. This issue will go right to the heart of local government where we do business. It serves only the people most likely to abuse it. And it will divide the good from the bad on zoning boards, school boards, select boards and committees.
Where are the state's illustrious news organizations when their access to public records is in trouble? Are they planning a free link to the outside meetings by email? Or will they have to go out and hire reporters who are as good at digging up public records as the activists I work with. Good luck!
One more bonus.
Can a taxpayer request access to all emails on an elected official's personal computer once he or she is found to have violated the Right to Know Law? Remember how the Exeter School District erased all their requested computer records to avoid complying with a court ruling against them?
I can't wait to find out. I recommend pumping up the “legal” line item on the town and school warrants this year.
And don't forget to thank The NH Municipal Association for finding the perfect attorneys to create this bill. One is Peter Smith of Durham who was on the Durham Town Council in 2003 when they were caught using email over an eleven hour period to hire a new employee. It was reported in Fosters Daily Democrat that Attorney Smith was going to get together with NHMA and work on the Right to Know law. It seems their idea of fixing the law is in the same fashion you would “fix” a male cat.
Another Right to Know “fixing” NHMA toadie is Attorney John Lassey of Deering. Anyone interested in reviewing some astonishing zoning nitwittery need only look at the history of the Deering Zoning Board since this legal mind became chairman of it.
I wonder if HB 626 will have a recorded vote in the House? I guess we will see. Or not.
Many legislators and elected officials love to tell you what they are doing for their constituents. Most don't want you to see HOW they do it. That is why we have a Right to Know Law (91-A) which is an extension of our Part I Article Eight NH Constitutional right to attend public meetings...but not for long if HB 626 is any indication.
This bill is the brainchild of one of those popular “commissions” stacked with partisans with a plan. In this case it was to gut the Right to Know law with language just fuzzy enough to sound intelligent but on the other hand not likely to trigger outright laughter.
They have found the perfect formula, “outside meetings.”
It sounds great to elected officials to not have to show up at meetings any longer and to from now on be able to conduct public business by email on your laptop. So many public officials are for this bill.
Lawyers should also be for this bill as it will create a deluge of suits seeking public records on personal computers when:
One member of the secret email meeting gets his nose out of joint and surrenders all the confidential public documents he has saved to the public as an act of revenge.
Several members of a public body discover a small cabal of members of their group is making decisions on the side.
An internet provider glitch causes one or two members of the new “outside meetings” to not get all the secrete public documents everyone else has.
Or just as a vote is to be taken after months of meetings some member says, “When did we discuss that issue. I was never informed?”
As a taxpayer activist I have the position this time of being in a no lose position. CNHT has repeatedly warned people about this bill. If it passes we will have in very short order a new issue comparable to eminent domain and the view tax. This issue will go right to the heart of local government where we do business. It serves only the people most likely to abuse it. And it will divide the good from the bad on zoning boards, school boards, select boards and committees.
Where are the state's illustrious news organizations when their access to public records is in trouble? Are they planning a free link to the outside meetings by email? Or will they have to go out and hire reporters who are as good at digging up public records as the activists I work with. Good luck!
One more bonus.
Can a taxpayer request access to all emails on an elected official's personal computer once he or she is found to have violated the Right to Know Law? Remember how the Exeter School District erased all their requested computer records to avoid complying with a court ruling against them?
I can't wait to find out. I recommend pumping up the “legal” line item on the town and school warrants this year.
And don't forget to thank The NH Municipal Association for finding the perfect attorneys to create this bill. One is Peter Smith of Durham who was on the Durham Town Council in 2003 when they were caught using email over an eleven hour period to hire a new employee. It was reported in Fosters Daily Democrat that Attorney Smith was going to get together with NHMA and work on the Right to Know law. It seems their idea of fixing the law is in the same fashion you would “fix” a male cat.
Another Right to Know “fixing” NHMA toadie is Attorney John Lassey of Deering. Anyone interested in reviewing some astonishing zoning nitwittery need only look at the history of the Deering Zoning Board since this legal mind became chairman of it.
I wonder if HB 626 will have a recorded vote in the House? I guess we will see. Or not.
America, the over-the hill singer?
---by Micheal
The increasing numbers of 'remakes' is a sure sign that American creative momentum is slowing down. America, it seems, has had all its good ideas.
We appear to be entering a new era -- the Era of Looking Back. All of our creative zeal and imagination seems to have fizzled out. Instead of creating new and fresh products, designs, literature and art, we've begun that depressing slide into repeats, much like an over-the-hill singer who tours ever smaller venues, continuing to sing his (or her) "big hits" of yesteryear, to ever thinning audiences.
For example: Chrysler made a big splash with the PT Cruiser -- a modern remake of a 40s sedan. Ford closely follows suit with a remake of their 50s Thunderbird. General Motors (lately the last to gear up) issued their own copy of the PT Cruiser idea, the Chevy HHR. (A copy of a remake? That's pretty low on the originality scale).
At this year's LA Auto Show, GM unveiled it's hot concept car. Something Jetsons-esque? A bubble-topped hover-thing? No. A remake of their late 60s Camero. In Detroit, it seems that all the good ideas have already been done. There's nothing left to do but repeat former "big hits." Much like the aging singer, however, they're finding the audiences dwindling.
The same thing happens in Hollywood. The recent King Kong movie is just the latest example of opting to do a technically slicker version of an already-been-done idea. That slide began back in the late 70s with Jaws II, and the inexaustable Rambo or Rocky lines. Don't fuss over new ideas, just keep making sequels until the turnip is completely dry. Are there no creative people in Hollywood who can write new material? Have all the good ideas been done?
It's looking like American Genius has grown fat and tired, content to tour small gigs and sing the old "glory days" hits.
Or, is the problem with the audience? Has the American consuming public become fat and tired and only wants to hear the old hits? Has innovation become frightening, such that people retreat into the comfort of nostalgia?
For nearly a hundred years, America has been the innovator. As Europe pulls its act together, and China is gearing up, the comfort of nostalgia may be the last thing America should be indulging in.
The increasing numbers of 'remakes' is a sure sign that American creative momentum is slowing down. America, it seems, has had all its good ideas.
We appear to be entering a new era -- the Era of Looking Back. All of our creative zeal and imagination seems to have fizzled out. Instead of creating new and fresh products, designs, literature and art, we've begun that depressing slide into repeats, much like an over-the-hill singer who tours ever smaller venues, continuing to sing his (or her) "big hits" of yesteryear, to ever thinning audiences.
For example: Chrysler made a big splash with the PT Cruiser -- a modern remake of a 40s sedan. Ford closely follows suit with a remake of their 50s Thunderbird. General Motors (lately the last to gear up) issued their own copy of the PT Cruiser idea, the Chevy HHR. (A copy of a remake? That's pretty low on the originality scale).
At this year's LA Auto Show, GM unveiled it's hot concept car. Something Jetsons-esque? A bubble-topped hover-thing? No. A remake of their late 60s Camero. In Detroit, it seems that all the good ideas have already been done. There's nothing left to do but repeat former "big hits." Much like the aging singer, however, they're finding the audiences dwindling.
The same thing happens in Hollywood. The recent King Kong movie is just the latest example of opting to do a technically slicker version of an already-been-done idea. That slide began back in the late 70s with Jaws II, and the inexaustable Rambo or Rocky lines. Don't fuss over new ideas, just keep making sequels until the turnip is completely dry. Are there no creative people in Hollywood who can write new material? Have all the good ideas been done?
It's looking like American Genius has grown fat and tired, content to tour small gigs and sing the old "glory days" hits.
Or, is the problem with the audience? Has the American consuming public become fat and tired and only wants to hear the old hits? Has innovation become frightening, such that people retreat into the comfort of nostalgia?
For nearly a hundred years, America has been the innovator. As Europe pulls its act together, and China is gearing up, the comfort of nostalgia may be the last thing America should be indulging in.
1.06.2006
Culture of Terror
---Micheal
Saddam is on trial for ordering the killing of hundreds of people in a town that upset him. Much of the western world are repelled by such acts. Saddam the criminal. Saddam the arch villain. Justice is needed.
The trouble is, Saddam is not an aberration. He's actually a pretty typical example of his culture. Insurgent groups have carried on the cultural custom of killing each other en masse.
Social apologists try to explain Saddam's tendency to kill his own people in droves resulted from the corruption of dictatorial power. The insurgents kill because they feel they have too little power. Apparently social-political power -- the having or not having of it -- is NOT the key. They don't kill for lack of wealth or social opportunity. Saddam was mega rich. Occupation or "the war" is not the key. Saddam killed thousands during "peace" time.
There appears to be a long-standing culture of killing to get one's way. Kill big to intimidate those who oppose you. Arabs will continue to kill in hopes of getting their way, whether US forces or any other forces are present. Saddam is looking less like a horrible exception, than he is as a typical example of the region's culture of terror.
We should not be fooled into thinking that putting Saddam behind bars for life will end it. If Saddam leaves, or the US leaves, it won't matter. The culture of killing and terror will remain.
No one can force the Iraqis (or the Afghans or the Palestinians) to stop killing whoever they dislike. Their own forces of civilization must get the upper hand. Hopefully, the formation of a new parliamentary government will begin the supplanting of the age-old culture of killing. There needs to be an alternative. To abandon Iraq before civilization is given a chance to get its legs, is to leave the culture of killing alive, well, and in-charge.
Saddam is on trial for ordering the killing of hundreds of people in a town that upset him. Much of the western world are repelled by such acts. Saddam the criminal. Saddam the arch villain. Justice is needed.
The trouble is, Saddam is not an aberration. He's actually a pretty typical example of his culture. Insurgent groups have carried on the cultural custom of killing each other en masse.
Social apologists try to explain Saddam's tendency to kill his own people in droves resulted from the corruption of dictatorial power. The insurgents kill because they feel they have too little power. Apparently social-political power -- the having or not having of it -- is NOT the key. They don't kill for lack of wealth or social opportunity. Saddam was mega rich. Occupation or "the war" is not the key. Saddam killed thousands during "peace" time.
There appears to be a long-standing culture of killing to get one's way. Kill big to intimidate those who oppose you. Arabs will continue to kill in hopes of getting their way, whether US forces or any other forces are present. Saddam is looking less like a horrible exception, than he is as a typical example of the region's culture of terror.
We should not be fooled into thinking that putting Saddam behind bars for life will end it. If Saddam leaves, or the US leaves, it won't matter. The culture of killing and terror will remain.
No one can force the Iraqis (or the Afghans or the Palestinians) to stop killing whoever they dislike. Their own forces of civilization must get the upper hand. Hopefully, the formation of a new parliamentary government will begin the supplanting of the age-old culture of killing. There needs to be an alternative. To abandon Iraq before civilization is given a chance to get its legs, is to leave the culture of killing alive, well, and in-charge.
1.03.2006
Speaking of The NH Primary...
-- by Ed Naile
Don't believe all the hype that New Hampshire will lose its much-vaunted Presidential Primary Election. As a NH taxpayer activist, I am afraid we are stuck with the damned thing.
But then, so are the Democrats.
If you put all the managed news stories, professional political commentary and expertise aside, the last primary election here in the Granite State was nothing more than geographical with two exceptions I will point out later.
In 2004 hard left Howard Dean, whose only claim to fame was he had managed to become a Vermont governor for a time, used that feeble position to run for president. But he is after all a native New Yorker from a big bucks family so that is no surprise over there in the Queen Mountain State where the locals sold their souls to the highest socialist bidder long ago. A dead giveaway as to the political reality in Vt. is when you are in the middle of “farm” country and you walk into a general store – you know the type, two gas pumps, live bait - and you find stacks of New York Times, Boston Globes, and Hartford Courants by the door waiting to be picked up by the local “farmers.”
Then we have Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts, another hard left candidate from a state where he has never had to run a real campaign. Like Dean, Kerry's only fear would be an even more liberal challenger in a Democrat primary in his own state. Other than Dean having to make some small consideration to gun owners in Vermont, neither has ever had to pay any serious attention to a pro-life, family values opponent as would be the case in a national election. (Dean has actually managed a state budget and Kerry has no record of doing anything as a Senator, so there is that small difference as well)
Now take a map of NH after the last waste of everyone's time primary and you will notice Dean won just about every town that touched or was close to Vermont and Kerry did likewise with the NH towns adjoining Massachusetts and Maine.
The only towns that stick out on that primary map are two towns in southeastern NH, Durham and Newington - college student towns! These two towns are former Governor Jean Shaheen territory, who was by the way Kerry's campaign manager for NH.
It seems college student voters are not good followers.
NH Assistant Attorney General “Bud” Fitch who would be the likely person to investigate voter fraud in NH has done nothing to prevent non-resident college voters from swelling our voter lists that I can see. In fact, it looks as though he is more interested in playing politics with his position.
Our last voter list purge was in 2000 and since then thousands of students have registered here in NH where their vote “counts” rather than in their home state. Some are still here, some have left for greener pastures leaving their names on the checklists for anyone to use. Even a non-resident student who won a House seat took off. NH has no voter ID laws. The Coalition of NH Taxpayers tracks their numbers with the limited resources we have and by our estimates they are now the tipping point in our statewide elections.
In a Democrat primary, which we will be having in 2008, non-resident and resident college voters will be the only game in town. Win them and you win NH along with a week or two of good press.
I must say it will be interesting to see what unelectable left-wing candidate the kids will pick for the Democrats this time as well as to watch my NH Democrat friends have their votes watered down by unruly non-resident activists with their own agendas.
Do the resident NH Democrats give up on picking a candidate for their own party or do they jump over on the Republican side as “unregistered” for the day and try to pick
a liberal Republican like McCain again? Are 18-22 year old voters loyal to “Her Highness Hillary” or will they go with a sexy new face?
Beats me. All I want is Hillary to win. (Remember, Hillary voted for the war because she is a brilliant political strategist.)
Don't believe all the hype that New Hampshire will lose its much-vaunted Presidential Primary Election. As a NH taxpayer activist, I am afraid we are stuck with the damned thing.
But then, so are the Democrats.
If you put all the managed news stories, professional political commentary and expertise aside, the last primary election here in the Granite State was nothing more than geographical with two exceptions I will point out later.
In 2004 hard left Howard Dean, whose only claim to fame was he had managed to become a Vermont governor for a time, used that feeble position to run for president. But he is after all a native New Yorker from a big bucks family so that is no surprise over there in the Queen Mountain State where the locals sold their souls to the highest socialist bidder long ago. A dead giveaway as to the political reality in Vt. is when you are in the middle of “farm” country and you walk into a general store – you know the type, two gas pumps, live bait - and you find stacks of New York Times, Boston Globes, and Hartford Courants by the door waiting to be picked up by the local “farmers.”
Then we have Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts, another hard left candidate from a state where he has never had to run a real campaign. Like Dean, Kerry's only fear would be an even more liberal challenger in a Democrat primary in his own state. Other than Dean having to make some small consideration to gun owners in Vermont, neither has ever had to pay any serious attention to a pro-life, family values opponent as would be the case in a national election. (Dean has actually managed a state budget and Kerry has no record of doing anything as a Senator, so there is that small difference as well)
Now take a map of NH after the last waste of everyone's time primary and you will notice Dean won just about every town that touched or was close to Vermont and Kerry did likewise with the NH towns adjoining Massachusetts and Maine.
The only towns that stick out on that primary map are two towns in southeastern NH, Durham and Newington - college student towns! These two towns are former Governor Jean Shaheen territory, who was by the way Kerry's campaign manager for NH.
It seems college student voters are not good followers.
NH Assistant Attorney General “Bud” Fitch who would be the likely person to investigate voter fraud in NH has done nothing to prevent non-resident college voters from swelling our voter lists that I can see. In fact, it looks as though he is more interested in playing politics with his position.
Our last voter list purge was in 2000 and since then thousands of students have registered here in NH where their vote “counts” rather than in their home state. Some are still here, some have left for greener pastures leaving their names on the checklists for anyone to use. Even a non-resident student who won a House seat took off. NH has no voter ID laws. The Coalition of NH Taxpayers tracks their numbers with the limited resources we have and by our estimates they are now the tipping point in our statewide elections.
In a Democrat primary, which we will be having in 2008, non-resident and resident college voters will be the only game in town. Win them and you win NH along with a week or two of good press.
I must say it will be interesting to see what unelectable left-wing candidate the kids will pick for the Democrats this time as well as to watch my NH Democrat friends have their votes watered down by unruly non-resident activists with their own agendas.
Do the resident NH Democrats give up on picking a candidate for their own party or do they jump over on the Republican side as “unregistered” for the day and try to pick
a liberal Republican like McCain again? Are 18-22 year old voters loyal to “Her Highness Hillary” or will they go with a sexy new face?
Beats me. All I want is Hillary to win. (Remember, Hillary voted for the war because she is a brilliant political strategist.)
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