Tuesday, May 23, 2006
I PUT NO STOCK IN RELIGION.
Current mood: disappointed
Category: Religion and Philosophy
I put no stock in religion. By the word religion, I've seen the lunacy of fanatics of every denomination, cult, whatever, be called the will of "God" or whatever you want to call it, he, she, whatever. (I just used whatever 3 times in one sentence.) Holiness is in right action. And courage on behalf of those that cannot defend themselves. And goodness, what God desires is in your mind and heart, and what you decide to do every day, you will be a good man, or not.
Here are some really cool sites to visit:
Dennis Leary vidoe: Asshole http://www.youtube.com/watch.php?v=6WiV2fyvRbs
Funny Asshole video (Not vulgar.) :http://filmstripinternational.com
Colorgenics: http://www.paulgoldinresearch.com/cg/index.htm
Deep Thoughs by Jack Handey: http://farstrider.net/DeepThoughts/Handey.htm
Ripley's: http://www.ripleys.com/
Web Junk: http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/webjunk_20/series.jhtml
Flaming text: http://www3.flamingtext.com/net-fu/jobs/200512886.html
Chuck Norris Facts: http://www.chucknorrisfacts.com/index.html
Read this book: http://www.atlasshrugged.tv/
Objectivism: http://www.objectivism.net/
Ayn Rand: http://www.ayn-rand.com/
http://www.aynrand.org/site/PageServer
Libertarianism: http://www.libertarianism.com/
Libertarianism-A Primer: http://www.libertarianism.org/
Try this game. It gets more fun after a while: http://www.winterrowd.com/maze.swf
Boys Beware: http://youtube.com/watch?v=A5VNe9NTOxA&search=homosexual
Exploding cigar: http://www.explodingcigar.com/
Offbeat news: http://www.cnn.com/offbeat/
MSN Spaces: http://spaces.msn.com/cliffcoultas/
Independent Puppies and Kittens: http://www.superlaughecards.com/1/independent2.htm
The Laughing Psycho Kitty: http://www.superlaughecards.com/1/catnip.htm
The Ebonics Translator: http://www.joel.net/EBONICS/translator.asp
Jive turkey: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=jive turkey&b=1
Daily Rotten: http://www.dailyrotten.com/
Homestarrunner: http://homestarrunner.com/
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/coultas777
Department of Humor Analysis: http://tbshumorstudy.com/main.html
Guzer: http://www.guzer.com/
Junior Brown: http://www.juniorbrown.com/
Brian Setzer: http://www.briansetzer.com/
Steve Vai: http://vai.com/
12:42 PM - 1 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment - Edit - Remove
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Does anyone really care?
Current mood: blah
Category: Religion and Philosophy
Why do I exist? Does my life have any real significance? If you are reading this, you may be a representative af the human dimension and you wrestle, as some of us do, with the great questions of life. What in the world is life all about anyway? What are we doing spinning around on this planet at almost 1,000 miles per hour, tilted at a 23 degree axis? Is gravity really all there is to believe in? Certainly, alot of us have asked ourselves these questions. But only a few of the human race are card carrying members of the "Search of the Meaning of Life Club." Pondering the questions of the human dilemma and struggling for the right answers in a world that seems bent on hiding the truth about the here, the now, and the hereafter. The fact is, many do not know why they are here and what they are here for. They are living a meaningless life, simply existing. What a sad way to live. There is more to live for than merely satisfying the physical and even intellectual needs of the body and mind. Should you live your life for a higher purpose than just for pleasing yourself? I believe that we all have a reason to exist-a wonderful cosmic purpose for life-but you have to be objective and open minded. Plus you have to have a functional brain and want to care. Common sense and common decency. We are all born with this and you know what I am talking about. Any normal kid knows that it is bad to throw rocks at cars. But some of us, inclucing myself, have done this anyways. But I knew it was wrong. And I felt bad for it for obvious reasons unless you are one of "The Others". Those who choose to deny logic at their own wants, devious natures, and desires, etc. But I am talking about the ones that are not clinically psychotic, neurotic, or anything. You cannot fully protect yourself from these inferior creatures. But they ar there and they are for real. So watch out. That is the definition of true evil. They keep throwing rocks metaphorically speaking. And who are they to cast the first stone?
6:42 AM - 4 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment - Edit - Remove
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
My mom and dad/Blogroll
Does anyone remember the days before romote controls were common in every house hold? Well I was the remote control. My dad would call me out of the bedroom: "Hey Cliffy! Come out here and see if the ball game is on yet! Okay see what's on channel 9. Okay switch it back to 25 and get me a beer." I love my dad. He passed away about three years ago. We had some really wonderful times together. He and my mom Bonnie, who passed away about 2 years before him, adopted me when I was 7 months old because my dad killed my mom. I am greatful to have had them as my parents and greatful for the person that I am today and owe alot of that to them. But I was just thinking about them. I really miss my mom. I could tell her anything. We would go shopping together and go to cool resturaunts. CRABLEGS! She really helped my to become more cultured. But the remote control things makes me laugh. I know my dad worked hard all his life, a Senior Master Sergent in the Air Force and then drove a city bus for 20 some years. But when he was at home he was waited on hand and foot. Mom really took care of him and when she passed away he was lost. I felt so sorry for him. I love you mom and dad and I miss you guys very much. Thanks for everything.
Here are some really cool sites to visit:
Dennis Leary vidoe: Asshole http://www.youtube.com/watch.php?v=6WiV2fyvRbs
Funny Asshole video (Not vulgar.) :http://filmstripinternational.com
Colorgenics: http://www.paulgoldinresearch.com/cg/index.htm
Deep Thoughs by Jack Handey: http://farstrider.net/DeepThoughts/Handey.htm
Ripley's: http://www.ripleys.com/
Web Junk: http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/webjunk_20/series.jhtml
Flaming text: http://www3.flamingtext.com/net-fu/jobs/200512886.html
Chuck Norris Facts: http://www.chucknorrisfacts.com/index.html
Read this book: http://www.atlasshrugged.tv/
Objectivism: http://www.objectivism.net/
Ayn Rand: http://www.ayn-rand.com/
http://www.aynrand.org/site/PageServer
Libertarianism: http://www.libertarianism.com/
Libertarianism-A Primer: http://www.libertarianism.org/
Try this game. It gets more fun after a while: http://www.winterrowd.com/maze.swf
Boys Beware: http://youtube.com/watch?v=A5VNe9NTOxA&search=homosexual
Exploding cigar: http://www.explodingcigar.com/
Offbeat news: http://www.cnn.com/offbeat/
MSN Spaces: http://spaces.msn.com/cliffcoultas/
Independent Puppies and Kittens: http://www.superlaughecards.com/1/independent2.htm
The Laughing Psycho Kitty: http://www.superlaughecards.com/1/catnip.htm
The Ebonics Translator: http://www.joel.net/EBONICS/translator.asp
Jive turkey: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=jive turkey&b=1
Daily Rotten: http://www.dailyrotten.com/
Homestarrunner: http://homestarrunner.com/
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/coultas777
Department of Humor Analysis: http://tbshumorstudy.com/main.html
Guzer: http://www.guzer.com/
Junior Brown: http://www.juniorbrown.com/
Brian Setzer: http://www.briansetzer.com/
Steve Vai: http://vai.com/
4:08 PM - 2 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment - Edit - Remove
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Kaitlin
She did it again and my heart is broken again. It figures. She really fucked with me this time. Long story.
8:37 PM - 3 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment - Edit - Remove
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Chuck Norris
Chuck Norris doesn't teabag people. He potato sacks them.
http://www.chucknorrisfacts.com/index.html
Guns don't kill people. Chuck Norris kills People.
There is no theory of evolution. Just a list of animals Chuck Norris allows to live.
Chuck Norris does not sleep. He waits.
The chief export of Chuck Norris is Pain.
There is no chin under Chuck Norris' Beard. There is only another fist.
Chuck Norris has two speeds. Walk, and Kill.
The leading causes of death in the United States are: 1. Heart Disease 2. Chuck Norris 3. Cancer
Chuck Norris drives an ice cream truck covered in human skulls.
Chuck Norris is my Homeboy.
Chuck Norris doesn't go hunting.... CHUCK NORRIS GOES KILLING
Page 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8
When the Boogeyman goes to sleep every night, he checks his closet for Chuck Norris.
Chuck Norris doesn't read books. He stares them down until he gets the information he wants.
There is no theory of evolution. Just a list of creatures Chuck Norris has allowed to live.
Outer space exists because it's afraid to be on the same planet with Chuck Norris.
Chuck Norris does not sleep. He waits.
Chuck Norris is currently suing NBC, claiming Law and Order are trademarked names for his left and right legs.
Chuck Norris is the reason why Waldo is hiding.
Chuck Norris counted to infinity - twice.
There is no chin behind Chuck Norris beard. There is only another fist.
When Chuck Norris does a pushup, he isnt lifting himself up, hes pushing the Earth down.
Chuck Norris is so fast, he can run around the world and punch himself in the back of the head.
Chuck Norris hand is the only hand that can beat a Royal Flush.
There is no such thing as global warming. Chuck Norris was cold, so he turned the sun up.
Chuck Norris can lead a horse to water AND make it drink.
Chuck Norris doesnt wear a watch, HE decides what time it is.
Chuck Norris gave Mona Lisa that smile.
Chuck Norris can slam a revolving door.
Chuck Norris does not get frostbite. Chuck Norris bites frost
Remember the Soviet Union? They decided to quit after watching a DeltaForce marathon on Satellite TV.
Contrary to popular belief, America is not a democracy, it is a Chucktatorship.
8:04 PM - 2 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment - Edit - Remove
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
Rack 'em up!
I have played pool for years but I have heard of several different ways to rack for 8 and 9 ball. Does anyone out there know the proper ways to rack a game for 8 and 9 ball games?
6:18 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Edit - Remove
Saturday, March 25, 2006
Libertarian stuff/other
This taken from one of my 360 friends. I just wanted to share it with mine.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Just a Girl in Short Shorts Talking About Whatever
What is on Becky's mind today?
Libertarian Basics
The key concepts of libertarianism have developed over many centuries. The first inklings of them can be found in ancient China, Greece, and Israel; they began to be developed into something resembling modern libertarian philosophy in the work of such seventeenth- and eighteenth-century thinkers as John Locke, David Hume, Adam Smith, Thomas Jefferson, and Thomas Paine.
(1) Individualism. Libertarians see the individual as the basic unit of social analysis. Only individuals make choices and are responsible for their actions. Libertarian thought emphasizes the dignity of each individual, which entails both rights and responsibility. The progressive extension of dignity to more people -- to women, to people of different religions and different races -- is one of the great libertarian triumphs of the Western world.
(2) Individual Rights. Because individuals are moral agents, they have a right to be secure in their life, liberty, and property. These rights are not granted by government or by society; they are inherent in the nature of human beings. It is intuitively right that individuals enjoy the security of such rights; the burden of explanation should lie with those who would take rights away.
(3) Spontaneous Order and the Civil Society. A great degree of order in society is necessary for individuals to survive and flourish. It's easy to assume that order must be imposed by a central authority, the way we impose order on a stamp collection or a football team. The great insight of libertarian social analysis is that order in society arises spontaneously, out of the actions of thousands or millions of individuals who coordinate their actions with those of others in order to achieve their purposes. Over human history, we have gradually opted for more freedom and yet managed to develop a complex society with intricate organization. The most important institutions in human society -- language, law, money, and markets -- all developed spontaneously, without central direction. Civil society -- the complex network of associations and connections among people -- is another example of spontaneous order; the associations within civil society are formed for a purpose, but civil society itself is not an organization and does not have a purpose of its own.
(4) The Rule of Law. Libertarianism is not anarchy or hedonism. It is not a claim that "people can do anything they want to, and nobody else can say anything." Rather, libertarianism proposes a society of liberty under law, in which individuals are free to pursue their own lives so long as they respect the equal rights of others. The rule of law means that individuals are governed by generally applicable and spontaneously developed legal rules, not by arbitrary commands; and that those rules should protect the freedom of individuals to pursue happiness in their own ways, not aim at any particular result or outcome.
(5)Limited Government. To protect rights, individuals form governments. But government is a dangerous institution. Libertarians have a great antipathy to concentrated power, for as Lord Acton said, "Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely." Thus they want to divide and limit power, and that means especially to limit government, generally through a written constitution enumerating and limiting the powers that the people delegate to government. Limited government is the basic political implication of libertarianism, and libertarians point to the historical fact that it was the dispersion of power in Europe -- more than other parts of the world -- that led to individual liberty and sustained economic growth.
(6) Free Markets. To survive and to flourish, individuals need to engage in economic activity. The right to property entails the right to exchange property by mutual agreement. Free markets are the economic system of free individuals, and they are necessary to create wealth. Libertarians believe that people will be both freer and more prosperous if government intervention in people's economic choices is minimized.
(7)The Virtue of Production. Much of the impetus for libertarianism in the seventeenth century was a reaction against monarchs and aristocrats who lived off the productive labor of other people. Libertarians defended the right of people to keep the fruits of their labor. This effort developed into a respect for the dignity of work and production and especially for the growing middle class, who were looked down upon by aristocrats. Libertarians developed a pre-Marxist class analysis that divided society into two basic classes: those who produced wealth and those who took it by force from others. Thomas Paine, for instance, wrote, "There are two distinct classes of men in the nation, those who pay taxes, and those who receive and live upon the taxes." Similarly, Jefferson wrote in 1824, "We have more machinery of government than is necessary, too many parasites living on the labor of the industrious." Modern libertarians defend the right of productive people to keep what they earn, against a new class of politicians and bureaucrats who would seize their earnings to transfer them to nonproducers.
(8) Natural Harmony of Interests. Libertarians believe that there is a natural harmony of interests among peaceful, productive people in a just society. One person's individual plans -- which may involve getting a job, starting a business, buying a house, and so on -- may conflict with the plans of others, so the market makes many of us change our plans. But we all prosper from the operation of the free market, and there are no necessary conflicts between farmers and merchants, manufacturers and importers. Only when government begins to hand out rewards on the basis of political pressure do we find ourselves involved in group conflict, pushed to organize and contend with other groups for a piece of political power.
(9) Peace. Libertarians have always battled the age-old scourge of war. They understood that war brought death and destruction on a grand scale, disrupted family and economic life, and put more power in the hands of the ruling class -- which might explain why the rulers hve not always shared the popular sentiment for peace. Free men and women, of course, have often had to defend their own societies against foreign threats; but throughout history, war has usually been the common enemy of peaceful, productive people on all sides of the conflict.
It may be appropriate to acknowledge at this point that it may be your suspicion that libertarianism seems to be just the standard framework of modern thought -- individualism, private property, capitalism, equality under the law. Indeed, after centuries of intellectual, political, and sometimes violent struggle, these core libertarian principles have become the basic structure of modern political thought and of modern government, at least in the West and increasingly in other parts of the world.
However, three additional points need to be made: First, libertarianism is not just these broad principles. Libertarianism means action and actually applies these principles fully and consistently, far more so than most modern thinkers and certainly more so than any modern government. Second, while our society remains generally based on equal rights and capitalism, every day new exceptions to those principles are carved out in Washington and in Albany, Sacramento, and Boston (not to mention London, Bonn, Tokyo, and elsewhere). Each new government directive takes a little bit of our freedom, and we should think carefully before giving up any liberty. Third, society is resilient; it can withstand many burdens and continue to flourish; but it is not infinitely resilient. Those who claim to believe in libertarian principles but advocate more and more confiscation of the wealth created by productive people, more and more restrictions on voluntary interaction, more and more exceptions to property rights and the rule of law, more and more transfer of power from society to state, are unwittingly engaged in the ultimately deadly undermining of civilization.
Becky
Friday March 24, 2006 - 02:32am (EST) Permanent Link | 5 Comments
Yahoo Censorship?
I am new to blogging and relatively new to Yahoo. I am aware that Yahoo is a liberal corporation (as most Internet corporations are). I am told that in particular they are anti-gun.
I have heard quite a bit about Yahoo censorship. One astounding story was told to me by a woman who posted a picture of her braless wearing a sweater. I saw the picture and I don't even think that it would be rated PG. Nonetheless the Censors snatched it.
Though I admitedly am a bit of a tease I have not been censorsed (so far) on those grounds. I am concerned about what appears may be a subtle form of of political censorship.
I posted two blog articles entitled "Right to Bear Arms" and "Becky Loves Our Military." On both of these I indicated that they be higlighted so that they appear in the table of contents in the form of a hyperlink to the right of the blog articles. One day both of these hyperlinks disappeared and no matter what I do I am unable to get them listed.
At first I thought I might be paranoid and that this was simply a software glitch. However, many people have told me that they think it is censorship. I can not say for sure but I am more than suspicious. It may not be the company as a whole--perhaps just one wacked out employee. But, it has become apparent to me that they do personally review the blogs on a regular basis (note the case of the braless sweater picture) and are not afraid to strike.
The articles are still there. However to find them one has to scroll through the entirety of the articles I have posted. No one will know it is there unless they are looking for it or am so keenly interested in my ramblings that they scroll through them all. Effectively my articles have been removed.
So Becky is not too happy about this. If you have been the victim of Yahoo censorship please make a comment.
Becky
Thursday March 23, 2006 - 02:18pm (EST) Permanent Link | 3 Comments
Transfer of Wealth
An analysis of reports published by the Congressionl Budget Office reveals that the major function of the federal government is no longer ensuring that our rights are protected, national defense, coining money, or any other of its enumerated constituitonal duties.
No, the biggest function of the federal government is now income redistrubition. Fully 60% of the federal budget (predicted to be 75% within the lifetimes of our children) is devoted to extracting income from one portion of the body politic and giving it to another portion. These "transfer" programs include Social Security, Medicare, family assistance, business and agricultural subsidies and the like.
One could engage in endless philosophical debates regarding the morality of these income-redistribution schemes. However, there is one consequence of these programs that is seldom debated or even acknowledged. These programs do much more than transfer wealth; they transfer power from the individual to the state.
Bismark recognized this fact when he introduced social security into Germany. He acknowledged that making people dependent on the state ensures that they will be more accepting of government control. Bismark would be pleased to see how well his vision has worked in the United States.
Under the rubric of income re-distribution, our government's primary activity is the expansion of dependency while reducing individual liberty, individual responsibility and self-reliance.
It is little wonder that our once voluntary civil society is being transformed into a coercive and corrupt welfare state with eroding consitutional safeguards.
Becky
Wednesday March 22, 2006 - 04:13pm (EST) Permanent Link | 2 Comments
Crows Are Not "Birdbrained"
Anyone who has watched crows, jays, ravens and other members of the crow family will know they're anything but "birdbrained."
For instance, I have read, jays will sit on ant nests, allowing the angry insects to douse them with formic acid, a natural pesticide which helps rid the birds of parasites. Urban-living crows have learned to use road traffic for cracking tough nuts. They do this at traffic light crossings, waiting patiently with human pedestrians for a red light before retrieving their prize.
Most hunters have observed the intelligence of crows. Crows will not fly away if approached by an unarmed person. However if you are carrying a rifle or shotgun they will scurry away. I once tested this with a walking stick. If I used the walking stick normally the crows did not fly away. However, when I carried it over my shoulder, like a gun, off they went!
Yet crows may be even more clever than has been thought. A study suggests their cognitive abilities are a match for primates such as chimpanzees and gorillas. A study by the journal "Science" was co-authored by Nathan Emery and Nicola Clayton, from the departments of animal behavior and experimental psychology at Cambridge University, England.
They say that, while having very different brain structures, both crows and primates use a combination of mental tools, including imagination and the anticipation of possible future events, to solve similar problems. They base their argument on existing studies.
The authors wrote "These studies have found that some corvids(crow family) are not only superior in intelligence to birds of other avian species but also rival many nonhuman primates."
Increasingly, scientists agree that it isn't physical need that makes animal smart, but social necessity. Group living tends to be a complicated business, so for individuals to prosper they need to understand exactly what's going on. So highly social creatures like dolphins, chimps, and humans tend to be large-brained and intelligent.
The study notes that crows are also social and have unusually large brains for their size. "It is relatively the same size as the chimpanzee brain," the authors said.
It is time we give crows the respect that has been denied them.
I am pro-crow!
Becky
Tuesday March 21, 2006 - 08:32pm (EST) Permanent Link | 6 Comments
Tinkering With the Machinery of Death
In 1994 United States Supreme Court Justice Blackmun wrote in his dissent to Collins v. Callins:
"From this day forward, I no longer will tinker with the machinery of death.For more than 20 years I have endeavored -- indeed, I have struggled, along with a majority of this Court -- to develop procedural and substantive rules that would lend more than the mere appearance of fairness to the death penalty endeavor... Rather than continue to coddle the Court's delusion that the desired level of fairness has been achieved and the need for regulation eviscerated, I feel morally and intellectually obligated simply to concede that the death penalty experiment has failed.It is virtually self-evident to me now that no combination of procedural rules or substantive regulations ever can save the death penalty from its inherent constitutional deficiencies.The basic question -- does the system accurately and consistently determine which defendants `deserve' to die?-- cannot be answered in the affirmative... The problem is that the inevitability of factual, legal,and moral error gives us a system that we know must wrongly kill some defendants, a system that fails to deliver the fair, consistent and reliable sentences of death required by the Constitution. The time is long past when our country should acknowledge that it is no longer proper for us to be alone in the Western World in the use of capital punishment. It has become a "cruel and unusual" punishment in violation of the Constitution.I have long found the concept of a state after great deliberation putting a person to death in a cool and calculated manner to be repugnant to our basic sense of moral decency, regardless of the sinful and disgusting acts of that person."
In this entry I will hit upon some of my basic beliefs in this regard although not as eloquently as Justice Blackmun did.
I concede that perhaps the United States does have the most fair legal system. But, I know first hand its failings. I graduated from law school and worked as a prosecutor for a number of years. Disillusioned with the failings of the legal system I went back to my first love—teaching and being a mother. The legal system is flawed because it is made of fallible people. It is also a reflection of the those classes of people that control our society. The downtrodden are not, despite the attempts at safeguards, truly represented in the structure of our legal system. Furthermore, I have found that a large number of lawyers are not simply infallible but are incompetent. In many states these incompetent lawyers are the ones who are appointed to represent the indigent criminal defendants in capital cases. These defendants stand little chance in a system that is weighed heavily toward the controlling elements of society, represented at best by marginal attorneys, accused of horrific crimes that disgust and rightly prejudice anyone of decent sensibilities, and stuck with an appeals system that in most cases is bound by factual determinations of the trial court.
Persons on death row have been found to be completely innocent. This was not discovered through the legal system. If it had been allowed to grind on undisturbed most of them would have eventually been executed. Rather it was discovered by the work of volunteer groups of lawyers and ordinary citizens who struggled to find the truth through such endeavors as the "Innocence Project". Scores and hundreds of people have been completely exonerated and freed. Governor Thompson of Illinois, not recognized as an icon of liberalism, commuted all of the death penalty cases in his state prior to leaving office. His primary reason was the appalling number of innocent people that had been previously discovered on death row in Illinois and other states. There is no worldly appeal from death. Our legal system because it is made of fallible people should not have the ability to pass final sentence on a life.
The unfairness and fallibility of the application of the death penalty extends not only to the factual determination of guilt but to the imposition of sentence as well. The U.S. Supreme Court in an attempt to make the penalty fair has mandated a bifurcated trial in capital cases. In the second phase of the trial the jury considers mitigating and aggravating circumstances in determining death. Unlike a determination of factual guestions of guilt, these considerations are by nature subjective. It is quite certain that in identical situations equally competent juries from the same localities could reach different conclusions on sentencing. This would be tolerable if the sentence was not so ultimately final—as death is. No amount of tinkering with rules of procedure and fairness can erase or eliminate this subjective unfairness.
Some of my friends tell me that The Bible commands "an eye for an eye ... etc". The Old Testament does say that. But as Christians know that is not the end of the story. In fact we still await the final end of the story. But, it does not seem possible to me that Jesus Christ, who died through execution by legal process, would ever have condoned the killing of people by the state. As Christians recognize Christ came to complete the revelation of The Lord. His message was one of forgiveness, life and love. As difficult as it is this must be extended even to those who are most evil in our society—many of those who reside on death row today. What would I do if one of these revolting individuals was to do something to one of my kids? I admit I would be tempted to take them out with one of my own guns or even rip their heart out through their throats. I hope that I would have the Christian decency to refrain. But this is a different situation then one where society has years to contemplate and weigh the matter of death or life ---which hinges on subjective determinations, technicalities and subtleties in our law. After such a prolonged deliberate process it seems to me barbaric to exact redemption and revenge in this cool and calculated manner.
In recent years many states have opted to change the means of death. Now instead of the gallows, electric chair and gas chamber we have lethal injection. This was initially instituted by death penalty proponents to head off arguments that our means of death was constitutionally cruel. In many ways I find the sterile method of injection even more repugnant. Its antiseptic application is an attempt to sanitize what we are doing—the taking of a human life. It underlines the deliberateness and calculation with which the sentence is determined and carried out. It really does make me ill.
It is time that our country stands up and stops the tinkering with and utilization of the machinery of death. The State should not be in the business of homicide.
Becky
4:14 PM - 1 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment - Edit - Remove
Friday, March 17, 2006
Oh the luck.
Current mood: crappy
Category: Life
Well I get home last night and there is broken glass out front. No nights on and when we get to Jakes room, Jake is our singer, guitarist, drummer, etc., the doors are all open a window busted and there was a fire. His two guitars, amplifier, and suitcase were taken. But the owner of the place started saying that Jake purposely started the fire. This other jive turkey named rudy got in my face and I just told him where he could put it. He was trying to accuse Jake of setting the fire himself. We were gone the whole night at our bass players house. Well there may be a lawsuit. Oh how lucky we are.
1:02 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment - Edit - Remove
Saturday, March 11, 2006
10 reasons to date a guitar player.
Current mood: creative
10 Reasons To Date A Guitar Player
1. We keep going even though it hurts
2. We can perform in various positions
3. We are very familiar with the G string
4. We do it right or we don't do it at all
5. We have strong and flexible fingers
6. We can tap to the beat
7. We know how to use both hands and our mouth at the same time
8. We know how to make you scream for more
9. We are so skilled we don't have to watch what we're doing
10. We're open to performing for groups
8:50 PM - 2 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment - Edit - Remove
Thursday, March 09, 2006
Dark Night of the Soul
Current mood: accomplished
Anyone who knows the things that I have been through in the past several years knows that I have been through what you can call a dark night of the soul. I do not regret the experience, for I will become stronger and have learned ALOT. Although things have happened that hurt me ALOT. Things are finally looking up although I am far from attaining that happiness and with time being my enemy, things can always change. But I am generally an optimist and I believe that with a good effort, hard work, and keeping my code of honor, the code of chivalry and all that is good, I will be happy within a short period of time considering the fact that I am immortal. I am dammit! Anyway, things have been happening to me recently and certain poeple, or person, has been talking to me again. It has caused me to think alot about my spirituality again. The whole mess made me think about it all over again. I remain Agnostic, an Objectivist, libertatian, hopeful deist, and I don't see why, anyone that had looked for the answers to life like me could not be. But I respect other peoples opinions and whatever makes them happy. I do think that religions are made up by man and that a person has to seek god on their own. I think It is all the same thing. The thing that we pray to and all that. He is just omnipotent and we cannot put a label on Him or whatever it is or even come to know what It is like. We are separated. You know what I mean. But I do believe in that magic. For things have happened to me, especially between me and that other person, that could be coincidental, but I prayed and things have happened. Are they merely coincidence? I do not know and if so then oh well but I think that it is arrogent to think that this is all coincidence. I think that there is something though watching after all of us. But we will never know what it is until we die. But I do have faith. I pray all the time. And things happen. You know what I mean. But this person I have spoken to has changed me forever. Caused me to rethink a great deal about things. Although they have hurt me alot I still love this person and have grown alot because of our relationship. I hope that I have had some affect on them also. Well I know I have but just how much. You cannot change people or try to make tham another you but all you can do is help them to try and solve their problems and hope for the best. Whatever the outcome. It has been kind of lonely for me. I have yet to find anyone with a mind like me. I guess I would just like there to be another person alot like me somewhere to talk to and we can agree with everthing we say and nod our heads. It has taken me a long time to become who I am. Read alot of books on many sujects and stories. This has been my main source of knowledge besides driving a taxi and personal experience. But I am grateful for who I am and who I have become. I am morally and ethically balanced with a great philosophy and outlook on life. I AM a great addition to mankind. And I don't need anyone to tell me that I am smart, wise, intelligent. I just know that I have made alot of effort perfecting who I am to become, cared enough about the world as a whole to start this journey of truth justice and well...the objective way. I am better than most peaople cause most people don't care as much as me or put in the effort to become a better person. I have always been one to search for the answers to life. For years I felt alone. Wondering if there was anyone out there that felt the same way that I do. This search led me to Objectivism and the libertarian way of life. And now I know that I am not alone. America is fucked up like that. Consume consume. Watch TV. Nascar (Small minds and fast cars.), eat crap, sit on your ass, complain that the government should do somthing about it all. If people would just get up and give a fuck and try to become better as individuals then maybe we can work on our unity. Why are people so hard-headed and uncaring? Sometimes I think that I was not meant to be in a worls like this. I hate to say it but most people are fucked up. I thought for years that there wasn't anybody out there who felt like me. Common sense and common decency. A is A not B. Objectivism opened the door for me. I now I know that I am not alone. But we few of the elite are far and few between and we hold no real power except that in out hearts and spirits. And hopefully when I die I will be rewarded handsomely. I hope you all know what I am trying to say. Anyway I knew this girl who was a stripper and into Wicca. Thank God she quit stripping. But you can see previous blogs about my objective views on stripping. And Wicca. I did not write then but you get the idea. I feel so bad about her degrading herself like that. Not that I never went to a strip club but when it is someone you love and care for it is different. As for her Wiccan beliefs well.... I just hope that she grows out of it. I don't think that people can control by rituals, spells, or burning candles etc. any more than I control things pissing in a toilet. It's like believing in Greek mythology. Or Christianity for that matter. It's just that Christianity has been around for so long and you have a hard time fining historical evidence for it. But why am I not a Christian? Because God is not such an asshole that he would comdemn people to Hell simply because they do not believe in Jesus Christ. Even if he is the God that is explained in the Bible. And given the circumstances and the world that we live in why would he? You must belive or make yourself belive or you go to Hell. I tried. I tried to make myself believe. But it is like this. Hey man I don't believe in ghosts, UFO's, etc. I am not a mystic. But I know God. I pray all the time. We have gone around and around for a long time now. He knows me and knows that I am a good person. And I know that I will be rewarded when I die. I believe in the magic. I can just feel it. I have prayed and things have happened. Is it all just a coincidence. Maybe be so. But if it is I know that he is there looking out for me and stuff. Things have happened between me and this certain person that I cannot just dismiss it. And I don't need anyone to tell me that I am a smart, wise, intelligent person. I have a great philosophy and outlook on life. I have always tried to live my life the best possible way. I have worked hard on this for many years. Read many books. My main source of information besides driving a taxi and personal experience. (Good name for a book: Personal Experience.) I have worked hard to become who I am today. To perfect who I am to become. I have put alot into it and I know that I am better than most people because I care enough to put in the effort to become a better person. An ideal man. A great addition to mankind. I know God, It, Whatever likes that. But to put a label on it and make up a religion. You are just being controlled and putting your resources where they are not helping a damn thing but the elite right wing or some other scheme. Socialism. We need to work on our individuality and then we can work on out unity. You want to care. Get a fucking decent job. Read and learn things. Try to become a better person. Help fight diseases. Help a lady across the street. Fight for liberty. Fight for the poor children who have been neglected and abused. Wirte a peom or a song. Learn right from wrong. Work on your bad attitude. Learn about morality and be moral. Create something aesthetic and helpful. Try to help make the world a better, more beautiful, and better functioning place. Etc. But be objective. 1 is 1. Not 2.
I could say alot more and none of this is really worded right but I am not writing a book. Yet. I am gonna go try some spells now. Let ya know how it turns out.
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