Just what it says. I've been playing the demo for the past 2 days, and I dig it.
Far Cry was the epitome of awesome. But it looked cartoony. And a lot of the action was cartoony. It was fun as all get-out, but it wasn't realistic.
Crysis is like Far Cry crossed with Half-Life 2. You get Far Cry with realism.
The environment is beautiful, the day-change is subtle but amazing. I love the draw-distance, and being able to shred trees is fun. Reloading an empty rifle nets you a mag's worth of ammo, but reload halfway through a mag, and you get a mag+1, just like in real life. Using a vehicle as a bomb is cool, and the ability to destroy your enviroment is quite unique.
I've got 2 complaints only.
1.I realize it forces me to go for the headshot, but nobody's body armor stands up to 10 7.62x39 slugs. My bullets should do more damage.
2.The powersuit (or whatever) feels like a gimmick. And unless it's upgradable, it is. Cloak and speed don't last for nothing, and I can't detect anything that armor does. Strength is useful only for mega jumps, and the incredibly satisflying upclose enemy grab.
Other than those 2 points, the game is perfect. Congrats, Crytek, you just got $60 of mine.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Friday, October 26, 2007
House Passes Thought-Crime Bill
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h110-1955
Scary. Just plain scary. We now know for absolutely-damn-certain that the Founding Fathers would be rotting in gaol were they here today.
And then people wonder why I want an arsenal to match Venezuala's, and cash & handguns buried around the nation...
Scary. Just plain scary. We now know for absolutely-damn-certain that the Founding Fathers would be rotting in gaol were they here today.
And then people wonder why I want an arsenal to match Venezuala's, and cash & handguns buried around the nation...
House Passes Thought-Crime Bill
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h110-1955
Scary. Just plain scary. We now know for absolutely-damn-certain that the Founding Fathers would be rotting in gaol were they here today.
And then people wonder why I want an arsenal to match Venezuala's, and cash & handguns buried around the nation...
Scary. Just plain scary. We now know for absolutely-damn-certain that the Founding Fathers would be rotting in gaol were they here today.
And then people wonder why I want an arsenal to match Venezuala's, and cash & handguns buried around the nation...
USPC Update
I've been carrying my USPC in an Uncle Mike's Sidekick since Sunday (I think). Carries beautifully, and I don't have to worry about the darn thing falling down my pants leg. I'd tell y'all where I've gone with it, but that'd be copping to a misdemeanor. :-)
Friday, October 19, 2007
Rod Stewart - No Holding Back
I'm probably dating myself here, but I VIVIDLY remember when the album this next song is from (Vagabond Heart) came out. That were a LONG time ago.
A friend of mine called up
Said "I finally had some luck
Could I have a minute of your time
I met a girl last night
And try as I might
I can't get her off of my mind
She walked through the room and right then I knew
I finally found somebody for me
But to tell you the trut
I don't know what to do
Should I go ahead or wait and see"
I said "Give it all you got
No Holding Back
Let a light in your soul
Ain't it better to lose in love
Than to never love at all
Than to never love at all"
Now I'm the kind of guy
Who's normally quite shy
On romance I don't know a thing
But when she led me to the floor
I'd never danced before
Suddenly my feet had wings
I know that she wants me
I want her too
But I'm so confused I can't think straight
I feel so alive but on the other side
Should I go ahead or should I wait
I said "Give it all you got
No Holding Back
Let a light in your soul
Ain't it better to lose in love
Than to never love at all
Ain't it better to lose in love
Than to never love at all
Than to never love at all"
So when the music starts to flow from your hearts
Like the coming of an early spring
When the river starts to flow
Between you soul to soul
May no man ever come between
Die in her arms if she wants you to
Be thankful for each passing day
When your eyes collide
Let your spirits fly
And pray to God it's here to stay
And I said "Give it all you got
No Holding Back
Let a light in your soul
Ain't it better to lose in love
Than to never love at all
Give it all you got
No Holding Back
Let a light in your soul
Ain't it better to lose in love
Than to never love at all
Than to never love at all
Than to never, never love at all
Ain't it better to lose in love
Than never love at all
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Short answer is no. Looks like we've got time for the long answer. Hell no.
A friend of mine called up
Said "I finally had some luck
Could I have a minute of your time
I met a girl last night
And try as I might
I can't get her off of my mind
She walked through the room and right then I knew
I finally found somebody for me
But to tell you the trut
I don't know what to do
Should I go ahead or wait and see"
I said "Give it all you got
No Holding Back
Let a light in your soul
Ain't it better to lose in love
Than to never love at all
Than to never love at all"
Now I'm the kind of guy
Who's normally quite shy
On romance I don't know a thing
But when she led me to the floor
I'd never danced before
Suddenly my feet had wings
I know that she wants me
I want her too
But I'm so confused I can't think straight
I feel so alive but on the other side
Should I go ahead or should I wait
I said "Give it all you got
No Holding Back
Let a light in your soul
Ain't it better to lose in love
Than to never love at all
Ain't it better to lose in love
Than to never love at all
Than to never love at all"
So when the music starts to flow from your hearts
Like the coming of an early spring
When the river starts to flow
Between you soul to soul
May no man ever come between
Die in her arms if she wants you to
Be thankful for each passing day
When your eyes collide
Let your spirits fly
And pray to God it's here to stay
And I said "Give it all you got
No Holding Back
Let a light in your soul
Ain't it better to lose in love
Than to never love at all
Give it all you got
No Holding Back
Let a light in your soul
Ain't it better to lose in love
Than to never love at all
Than to never love at all
Than to never, never love at all
Ain't it better to lose in love
Than never love at all
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Short answer is no. Looks like we've got time for the long answer. Hell no.
My State Surrenders To Socialism
Late this evening, after a partisan battle over the state budget that lasted more than a third of a year, my state inched ever closer to socialism.
The tax on cigarettes got bumped up an extra buck, and we've now got socialized medicine for all children and disadvantaged people. Plus 30mil for anti-smoking programs.
No idea how we're going to pay for a billion plus dollar socialist medical program. No damn clue.
And people think I'm joking when I say that I'm not going to get out of this state ASAP.
The tax on cigarettes got bumped up an extra buck, and we've now got socialized medicine for all children and disadvantaged people. Plus 30mil for anti-smoking programs.
No idea how we're going to pay for a billion plus dollar socialist medical program. No damn clue.
And people think I'm joking when I say that I'm not going to get out of this state ASAP.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
North American Currency
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0710/08/lkl.01.html
I won't fisk it, but the transcript says that the Mexican President and our President consider the "Amero" (a unified North American Currency) to be a long term goal.
I'm starting to think that the Second Amendment isn't the most trampled part of the Constitution. It's A1S8. We get to own some guns, but they ignore that sucker completely.
I won't fisk it, but the transcript says that the Mexican President and our President consider the "Amero" (a unified North American Currency) to be a long term goal.
I'm starting to think that the Second Amendment isn't the most trampled part of the Constitution. It's A1S8. We get to own some guns, but they ignore that sucker completely.
Clinton Proposes 401(k)s, Matching Funds
Clinton Proposes 401(k)s, Matching Funds Oct 9 12:49 PM US/Eastern
By NEDRA PICKLER
Associated Press Writer
WEBSTER CITY, Iowa (AP) - Every citizen could get a 401(k) retirement account and up to $1,000 in annual matching funds from the government under a plan offered Tuesday by Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton. Article 1, Section 8 lists all the things government can spend money on. Passing this would be felony treason.
At a cost of $20 billion-$25 billion a year, the plan is Clinton's largest domestic proposal other than her plan for universal health insurance. The New York senator said it would be paid for by taxing estates worth more than $7 million per couple and would help narrow the gap between the rich and those who don't have enough savings for retirement. More "punish the rich" economics. $25 billion a year, paid for by taxing people who make more than $7 million. Income tax was only supposed to be paid for by 1% of the population, remember? This is yet another reason to die penniless...having spent all your money on gold, the hiding place of which is known to your children.
At the same time, Clinton said she has given up another idea for a savings incentive—giving every baby born in the United States a $5,000 account to one day pay for college or a first home. Stake out one vampire, and another one rises. This is like playing Whackamole with dumb*ss legislation.
She made that suggestion last month before the Congressional Black Caucus, saying it was just an idea and not a policy proposal. The idea was criticized by Republicans, and she told The Wall Street Journal in an interview published Tuesday that it's off the table.
The campaign of her Democratic rival John Edwards suggested it was an example of Clinton setting her positions by polls. "Apparently, new polling data seems to have pressured the Clinton campaign to throw out the baby bond with the bathwater," said Edwards spokesman Chris Kofinis. John Edwards seems to think that printing up money to issue every child in this country roughly $19 grand at age 18 is a good idea. Brilliant idea, you moron. Ever hear of the national debt? Devaluing currency?
As for the retirement accounts, Clinton said during a campaign stop in small-town central Iowa, "They will begin to bring down this inequality that is eating away at our social contract." She said, "This is a major commitment to how I believe we can begin to right the balance again."
She said that for every $7 million estate that gets taxed, at least 5,000 families would receive the matching funds. There isn't supposed to BE a "balance." Nothing's promised here. You work for success, for prosperity, it isn't handed to you.
Clinton said she wants to create "American Retirement Accounts" in which everyone could put up to $5,000 annually in a 401(k) plan. The federal government would provide a tax cut to match 100 percent of the first $1,000 for anyone who makes less than $60,000 a year and 50 percent of the first $1,000 for those who make $60,000-$100,000. So despite this plan to give everyone retirement accounts, those who take care of themselves shoulder even more of a tax burden. What happens to those making more than $100k? They get nothing?
She said she would encourage employers to have direct deposit from paychecks into the accounts.
The federal and state governments already reach into my paycheck before I even get it and take about 20-30%. Then in April, I have to pay in even more. The thought of an employer being forced to take even more is simply repulsive.
Clinton said less than half the families in the United States have retirement savings accounts and those who have them aren't saving enough. She said she often meets people working even into their early 80s because they don't have enough savings.
"We don't have much of a nest egg to fall back on," she said.
Who is this "WE." She does, and I sure will. It is NOT the job of the government to redistribute the wealth of the industrious or the just plain lucky to take care of others.
Although the money would be intended mainly for retirement, she said people should also be able to use the savings to buy a house or pay for college and the government should consider letting workers use a portion for hard times like an illness or accident. So...people will be able to get this money prior to retirement? Will government have to approve each and every use for it? If not, how do we keep people from using it to buy platinum grills and coke?
Clinton said the accounts should not be used to replace any part of Social Security and that she is committed to addressing the long-term challenges of that program. Social Security payouts on a 1=1 scale AND government mandated 401ks. And somewhere I got the silly notion that buying votes was illegal...
"We have to fight and finally bury the idea of privatizing Social Security," she said. Let's not privatise it. Let's stake the damn thing out like a vampire. The system is completely untenable.
By NEDRA PICKLER
Associated Press Writer
WEBSTER CITY, Iowa (AP) - Every citizen could get a 401(k) retirement account and up to $1,000 in annual matching funds from the government under a plan offered Tuesday by Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton. Article 1, Section 8 lists all the things government can spend money on. Passing this would be felony treason.
At a cost of $20 billion-$25 billion a year, the plan is Clinton's largest domestic proposal other than her plan for universal health insurance. The New York senator said it would be paid for by taxing estates worth more than $7 million per couple and would help narrow the gap between the rich and those who don't have enough savings for retirement. More "punish the rich" economics. $25 billion a year, paid for by taxing people who make more than $7 million. Income tax was only supposed to be paid for by 1% of the population, remember? This is yet another reason to die penniless...having spent all your money on gold, the hiding place of which is known to your children.
At the same time, Clinton said she has given up another idea for a savings incentive—giving every baby born in the United States a $5,000 account to one day pay for college or a first home. Stake out one vampire, and another one rises. This is like playing Whackamole with dumb*ss legislation.
She made that suggestion last month before the Congressional Black Caucus, saying it was just an idea and not a policy proposal. The idea was criticized by Republicans, and she told The Wall Street Journal in an interview published Tuesday that it's off the table.
The campaign of her Democratic rival John Edwards suggested it was an example of Clinton setting her positions by polls. "Apparently, new polling data seems to have pressured the Clinton campaign to throw out the baby bond with the bathwater," said Edwards spokesman Chris Kofinis. John Edwards seems to think that printing up money to issue every child in this country roughly $19 grand at age 18 is a good idea. Brilliant idea, you moron. Ever hear of the national debt? Devaluing currency?
As for the retirement accounts, Clinton said during a campaign stop in small-town central Iowa, "They will begin to bring down this inequality that is eating away at our social contract." She said, "This is a major commitment to how I believe we can begin to right the balance again."
She said that for every $7 million estate that gets taxed, at least 5,000 families would receive the matching funds. There isn't supposed to BE a "balance." Nothing's promised here. You work for success, for prosperity, it isn't handed to you.
Clinton said she wants to create "American Retirement Accounts" in which everyone could put up to $5,000 annually in a 401(k) plan. The federal government would provide a tax cut to match 100 percent of the first $1,000 for anyone who makes less than $60,000 a year and 50 percent of the first $1,000 for those who make $60,000-$100,000. So despite this plan to give everyone retirement accounts, those who take care of themselves shoulder even more of a tax burden. What happens to those making more than $100k? They get nothing?
She said she would encourage employers to have direct deposit from paychecks into the accounts.
The federal and state governments already reach into my paycheck before I even get it and take about 20-30%. Then in April, I have to pay in even more. The thought of an employer being forced to take even more is simply repulsive.
Clinton said less than half the families in the United States have retirement savings accounts and those who have them aren't saving enough. She said she often meets people working even into their early 80s because they don't have enough savings.
"We don't have much of a nest egg to fall back on," she said.
Who is this "WE." She does, and I sure will. It is NOT the job of the government to redistribute the wealth of the industrious or the just plain lucky to take care of others.
Although the money would be intended mainly for retirement, she said people should also be able to use the savings to buy a house or pay for college and the government should consider letting workers use a portion for hard times like an illness or accident. So...people will be able to get this money prior to retirement? Will government have to approve each and every use for it? If not, how do we keep people from using it to buy platinum grills and coke?
Clinton said the accounts should not be used to replace any part of Social Security and that she is committed to addressing the long-term challenges of that program. Social Security payouts on a 1=1 scale AND government mandated 401ks. And somewhere I got the silly notion that buying votes was illegal...
"We have to fight and finally bury the idea of privatizing Social Security," she said. Let's not privatise it. Let's stake the damn thing out like a vampire. The system is completely untenable.
Sunday, October 07, 2007
Life Of Vincent
Last night was Homecoming Night for the majority of local schools. As such, we had a groups of people moving the store in funny clothes. The guys are dressed like crap mostly, the girls to the nines.
Last night across this city, hundreds if not thousands of kids around my age were out celebrating. Opposite genders on each others arm, if not in love with each other, then very much in like, dressed in expensive finery, partying, enjoying being alive young animals.
Kinda gnaws on me. Not only did I never do that, I'm out of school now and not in a school where such things occur. I'm not ever gonna know what that's like.
Instead of being "out" I sat in the basement and loaded rifle rounds (1500 of them, to be precise) into 30cal spam cans from 11pm til 1am, while watching Saving Private Ryan.
If I hadn't been melancholy enough, my funk only deepened around 1am when I'm stacking the boxes in the workroom. I look at this big pile of boxes, 45ACP on the left, thousands upon thousands of rifle rounds on the right, and the thought flashes through my head: "Who will I be when I open these boxes?"
I buy what I shoot. I've got 2000rds per rifle right now, soon to be decreased to 1000 per with the addition of 3 new rifles. This is purely backstock. I have no intention of shooting any of it. It's there just to have. From now on, I'll buy a K or 2 per year, shoot that. I have no plans for shooting any of the stuff I have packed away.
Which means those boxes won't be opened for years.
Who will I be when I open those boxes and load up guns from the contents?
Will I be moving them into a house of my own? Will I be selling off that ammuntion for extra money? God forbid, will I be handing it over to someone? The next time I open those boxes, will it be under duress?
Each and every round is packed by hand, alternating every other round, stacked one upon another. The pile of boxes in the workroom is representative of hours and hours of my time. I'm 21 now. When will I be handling those rounds next?
Why will I be handling those rounds next?
Last night across this city, hundreds if not thousands of kids around my age were out celebrating. Opposite genders on each others arm, if not in love with each other, then very much in like, dressed in expensive finery, partying, enjoying being alive young animals.
Kinda gnaws on me. Not only did I never do that, I'm out of school now and not in a school where such things occur. I'm not ever gonna know what that's like.
Instead of being "out" I sat in the basement and loaded rifle rounds (1500 of them, to be precise) into 30cal spam cans from 11pm til 1am, while watching Saving Private Ryan.
If I hadn't been melancholy enough, my funk only deepened around 1am when I'm stacking the boxes in the workroom. I look at this big pile of boxes, 45ACP on the left, thousands upon thousands of rifle rounds on the right, and the thought flashes through my head: "Who will I be when I open these boxes?"
I buy what I shoot. I've got 2000rds per rifle right now, soon to be decreased to 1000 per with the addition of 3 new rifles. This is purely backstock. I have no intention of shooting any of it. It's there just to have. From now on, I'll buy a K or 2 per year, shoot that. I have no plans for shooting any of the stuff I have packed away.
Which means those boxes won't be opened for years.
Who will I be when I open those boxes and load up guns from the contents?
Will I be moving them into a house of my own? Will I be selling off that ammuntion for extra money? God forbid, will I be handing it over to someone? The next time I open those boxes, will it be under duress?
Each and every round is packed by hand, alternating every other round, stacked one upon another. The pile of boxes in the workroom is representative of hours and hours of my time. I'm 21 now. When will I be handling those rounds next?
Why will I be handling those rounds next?
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Shooty Goodness
Took the new USPC 9mm out to the range today. I've decided to christen it the "Jim Doyle" model, because it's my concealed weapon of choice.
So, Doyle and I went out to the range. The first 30 rounds were seated, resting slow-fire, with the grip steadied on a sandbag, taking my time at 15 yards. I'd never shot the gun before, and I had a feeling it was going to frustrate me - I'm a passable pistol shot to begin with, and with a 3 1/2 inch barrel, I just KNEW I was going to be all over the place.
The first 30 rounds netted 27 on an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper, and the majority of them close in to the middle, in a circle about the size of a new roll of duct tape. Definitely minute of chest, and almost certainly minute of dead.
Then came 20 rounds offhand standing. I think I got about 13 out of 20 there. Low, but still on the paper, and getting higher as I adjusted to the sights. I know there's a trick to those sights...perhaps the dot covers the target as opposed to being centered under it. There's something about H&K sights.
Next I did a magazine of doubletaps, 5 of them to be exact. Still minute of chest, but not great. Netted a good group when I fired three rounds as fast as possible to finish the trip out.
I love this gun. The paddle mag release isn't nearly as bad as I thought, and it's more accurate than I am. Seriously, I usually don't do that good with full-sized guns, and this carry pistol is a full inch and 3/4 shorter. The recoil is a bit snappy for a 9mm, with a good deal of upward motion, but definitely controllable.
Lovin' it. As a matter of fact, it's on my hip right now.
So, Doyle and I went out to the range. The first 30 rounds were seated, resting slow-fire, with the grip steadied on a sandbag, taking my time at 15 yards. I'd never shot the gun before, and I had a feeling it was going to frustrate me - I'm a passable pistol shot to begin with, and with a 3 1/2 inch barrel, I just KNEW I was going to be all over the place.
The first 30 rounds netted 27 on an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper, and the majority of them close in to the middle, in a circle about the size of a new roll of duct tape. Definitely minute of chest, and almost certainly minute of dead.
Then came 20 rounds offhand standing. I think I got about 13 out of 20 there. Low, but still on the paper, and getting higher as I adjusted to the sights. I know there's a trick to those sights...perhaps the dot covers the target as opposed to being centered under it. There's something about H&K sights.
Next I did a magazine of doubletaps, 5 of them to be exact. Still minute of chest, but not great. Netted a good group when I fired three rounds as fast as possible to finish the trip out.
I love this gun. The paddle mag release isn't nearly as bad as I thought, and it's more accurate than I am. Seriously, I usually don't do that good with full-sized guns, and this carry pistol is a full inch and 3/4 shorter. The recoil is a bit snappy for a 9mm, with a good deal of upward motion, but definitely controllable.
Lovin' it. As a matter of fact, it's on my hip right now.
Hillary Proposes Giving Every Baby $5000
www.abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=3668781&page=1
Clinton Floats $5,000 Baby Bond
Proposal Would Create Nest Egg for Future Costs of College or Buying a Home
Clinton's Friday remarks to the Congressional Black Caucus were not the first time that she has voiced her support for the concept of using the power of compound interest to close the country's asset gap.
While speaking to the centrist Democratic Leadership Council in 2006, she discussed the idea of giving every child born in America $500.Has Hillary even READ the Constitution?
Today was, however, the first time that she has floated the idea of giving every child born in America the larger sum of $5,000.Where is this money going to come from, exactly? Where does she think she can get off redistributing tax money in this way? With welfare, at least the redistribution is "based" on some supposed "need." This is just theft.
Asked if she had now settled on a larger "baby bond," Clinton campaign spokesman Phil Singer said, "It's not a formal policy proposal but an idea under consideration."
Presuming that approximately 4 million children are born in the United States each year, a $500 "baby bond" would only cost roughly $2 billion per year. A $5,000 "baby bond" would cost the government $20 billion per year.Again, where is the money coming from? Maybe we can tax the rich more! I know, I know! Like the income tax, which was only supposed to be applied to 1% of the population!
The idea floated by Clinton was rebuked Friday by the Republican National Committee, which called it a "budget busting baby fund," and by Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani who called it evidence that Clinton is running a campaign "based on pandering."Finally, Rudy opens his mouth and something comes out besides fecal matter. Call the Times.
The idea, however, has strong support from those who believe that economic disparities in the United States must be addressed by focusing on assets and not solely wages.Yes, the economic disparities must be addressed by taking the assets of some people at gunpoint and giving them to everyone else. Brilliant idea.
The vice president of a Washington, D.C., think tank at the forefront of pushing the "baby bond" concept welcomed Clinton's Friday remarks.
"I'm pleased that Sen. Clinton keeps talking about 'baby bonds,' whether $500 or $5,000 at birth," said Ray Boshara, the vice president of the New America Foundation. Boshara, who has worked with Clinton's policy staff on the concept, did not see the different dollar figure floated by Clinton on Friday as reflecting a definite policy change. Rather, he saw it as an affirmation of her excitement with the concept and expects her to continue to work out the details when she develops a formal proposal.
"I think Sen. Clinton is very, very excited about accounts at birth and hasn't settled on the right combination between initial deposits and matching deposits until 18," said Boshara. "She and her staff told me in the next several months we'll work on the details. . . . When we work out the details, we'll figure out the best way to get to around $20,000 at 18 --that's what matters."
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A few thoughts:
1.It is a measure of just how badly Bush & Co. have ruined the Republican party that we're actually staring down the barrel of mandatory government health care and mandatory redistribution of wealth on this scale. It's like watching two cars play chicken and wondering if someone's going to be smart enough to get the hell out of the way. I'm astounded and dismayed that not only are my countrymen so ****ing dumb that the majority of them are taking this in stride, and many of them think its a good idea.
2.Will the parents of rich kids receive $5000 dollars for their little snookums, or will there be a scale of income, with more prosperous families receiving less? That is the only way this could possibly get any worse?
3.Will they be checking citizenship before handing over my money? If not, is this a desparate ploy to pull in the criminal alien anchor-baby vote?
4.Will the money be given as a lump sum check to be invested as the parents see fit, or will it be socked away in government managed accounts? If the former, what will we do about the millions of urban parents who spend it on "rims" and gold chains and crack? If the latter, what will the mechanics be for accessing that money, either by the parents or the child?
5.There's no point in even bringing up constitutional issues here. This bitch is so far past any understanding or respect for our highest law I believe there's a good chance she'll get struck by lightening if she ever hits the "Defend the Constitution" bit of Oath Of Office. God forbid that she does.
Clinton Floats $5,000 Baby Bond
Proposal Would Create Nest Egg for Future Costs of College or Buying a Home
Clinton's Friday remarks to the Congressional Black Caucus were not the first time that she has voiced her support for the concept of using the power of compound interest to close the country's asset gap.
While speaking to the centrist Democratic Leadership Council in 2006, she discussed the idea of giving every child born in America $500.Has Hillary even READ the Constitution?
Today was, however, the first time that she has floated the idea of giving every child born in America the larger sum of $5,000.Where is this money going to come from, exactly? Where does she think she can get off redistributing tax money in this way? With welfare, at least the redistribution is "based" on some supposed "need." This is just theft.
Asked if she had now settled on a larger "baby bond," Clinton campaign spokesman Phil Singer said, "It's not a formal policy proposal but an idea under consideration."
Presuming that approximately 4 million children are born in the United States each year, a $500 "baby bond" would only cost roughly $2 billion per year. A $5,000 "baby bond" would cost the government $20 billion per year.Again, where is the money coming from? Maybe we can tax the rich more! I know, I know! Like the income tax, which was only supposed to be applied to 1% of the population!
The idea floated by Clinton was rebuked Friday by the Republican National Committee, which called it a "budget busting baby fund," and by Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani who called it evidence that Clinton is running a campaign "based on pandering."Finally, Rudy opens his mouth and something comes out besides fecal matter. Call the Times.
The idea, however, has strong support from those who believe that economic disparities in the United States must be addressed by focusing on assets and not solely wages.Yes, the economic disparities must be addressed by taking the assets of some people at gunpoint and giving them to everyone else. Brilliant idea.
The vice president of a Washington, D.C., think tank at the forefront of pushing the "baby bond" concept welcomed Clinton's Friday remarks.
"I'm pleased that Sen. Clinton keeps talking about 'baby bonds,' whether $500 or $5,000 at birth," said Ray Boshara, the vice president of the New America Foundation. Boshara, who has worked with Clinton's policy staff on the concept, did not see the different dollar figure floated by Clinton on Friday as reflecting a definite policy change. Rather, he saw it as an affirmation of her excitement with the concept and expects her to continue to work out the details when she develops a formal proposal.
"I think Sen. Clinton is very, very excited about accounts at birth and hasn't settled on the right combination between initial deposits and matching deposits until 18," said Boshara. "She and her staff told me in the next several months we'll work on the details. . . . When we work out the details, we'll figure out the best way to get to around $20,000 at 18 --that's what matters."
---------------------------------------------------------------------
A few thoughts:
1.It is a measure of just how badly Bush & Co. have ruined the Republican party that we're actually staring down the barrel of mandatory government health care and mandatory redistribution of wealth on this scale. It's like watching two cars play chicken and wondering if someone's going to be smart enough to get the hell out of the way. I'm astounded and dismayed that not only are my countrymen so ****ing dumb that the majority of them are taking this in stride, and many of them think its a good idea.
2.Will the parents of rich kids receive $5000 dollars for their little snookums, or will there be a scale of income, with more prosperous families receiving less? That is the only way this could possibly get any worse?
3.Will they be checking citizenship before handing over my money? If not, is this a desparate ploy to pull in the criminal alien anchor-baby vote?
4.Will the money be given as a lump sum check to be invested as the parents see fit, or will it be socked away in government managed accounts? If the former, what will we do about the millions of urban parents who spend it on "rims" and gold chains and crack? If the latter, what will the mechanics be for accessing that money, either by the parents or the child?
5.There's no point in even bringing up constitutional issues here. This bitch is so far past any understanding or respect for our highest law I believe there's a good chance she'll get struck by lightening if she ever hits the "Defend the Constitution" bit of Oath Of Office. God forbid that she does.
Monday, September 24, 2007
Life Of Vincent
Last Wednesday, we took one of our pet rats to the vet to have a tumor removed. Rats are much beloved by the medical research community because they get all sorts of strange and unexplainable tumors. Little Abbie got a big one.
Our vet charged us $120 for the tumor removal (which was about the same size she was), antibiotics and pain meds, and a stay at the vet's house overnight. The vet is a GREAT person.
Abbie was doing fine, and we decided to try introducing her back into the same cage as her sister Lilly. They got along well, Lilly didn't try to take Abbie's stitches out, and everything seemed great.
Then, we got complacent. We left the two of them together too long, and at about 3pm on Saturday, Lilly chewed all of Abbie's external stitches open. It was still stitched up internally, but open on the outside.
We immediately separated them, and tried to stop Abbie's leaking. She wasn't bleeding so much as leaking bloody fluid. But she still had a hole the length of her leg in her side, and that's not a good thing. We couldn't get the leaking to stop, so at 11pm, we took her to an all-night vet clinic.
$252 and 5 hours later, we brought her home. She wasn't leaking, but she was drugged to the point where every few minutes we had to run her face to make her blink, and she'd drop her head into her rat litter (pelletized paper shreds that make up the "carpet" in all our rate cages) and get her nose stuffed up and have trouble breathing, which she was too drugged to correct.
At about 8am yesterday I lay down to get some sleep. About 9:30am, my mom woke me up to tell me Abbie was trying to pull her stitches out. From about 9:30am to 3pm, I did nothing except sit on the couch with this rat and try to annoy her enough that she wasn't concentrating on her stitches. From about 9:30am to 3pm, my mom freaked out.
My dad got home sometime around 3pm, and Abbie immediately took a liking to him. (She's never shown any affection to anyone except me and mom). He lined a laundry basket with a towel, put her in there, and watched TV all afternoon. She spent all that time curled up next to his hand, apparently thinking it was her sister. He got her to eat and drink when no one else could...dad saved her life yesterday.
He sat with her until two in the morning, when he got me and had me take over. I slept from maybe 10pm until 2am this morning. I took Abbie downstairs and watched an entire disc of The Black Donnellys. At 5:15am, I got my mom up to take over for me, since that's near to the time she gets up anyway. From 5:45am to about 8:30am, I slept.
This evening I will have gone nearly 76 hours on nearly 8 hours of sleep. One more day like this, and I will have matched my personal insomniatic best. Oh yeah and, in that time, I also wrote two papers and annoyed at least 2 European liberals who want to invade Iran.
I cannot wait for tonight. When school gets out at 6:30pm, I'm going home, opening a Coke, and watching Prison Break, Kville, and CSI:Miami straight through.
By the way, have you ever tried to flirt when you're running on 4 hours of sleep in 48? It sucks, and I'm bad at it to start with
Our vet charged us $120 for the tumor removal (which was about the same size she was), antibiotics and pain meds, and a stay at the vet's house overnight. The vet is a GREAT person.
Abbie was doing fine, and we decided to try introducing her back into the same cage as her sister Lilly. They got along well, Lilly didn't try to take Abbie's stitches out, and everything seemed great.
Then, we got complacent. We left the two of them together too long, and at about 3pm on Saturday, Lilly chewed all of Abbie's external stitches open. It was still stitched up internally, but open on the outside.
We immediately separated them, and tried to stop Abbie's leaking. She wasn't bleeding so much as leaking bloody fluid. But she still had a hole the length of her leg in her side, and that's not a good thing. We couldn't get the leaking to stop, so at 11pm, we took her to an all-night vet clinic.
$252 and 5 hours later, we brought her home. She wasn't leaking, but she was drugged to the point where every few minutes we had to run her face to make her blink, and she'd drop her head into her rat litter (pelletized paper shreds that make up the "carpet" in all our rate cages) and get her nose stuffed up and have trouble breathing, which she was too drugged to correct.
At about 8am yesterday I lay down to get some sleep. About 9:30am, my mom woke me up to tell me Abbie was trying to pull her stitches out. From about 9:30am to 3pm, I did nothing except sit on the couch with this rat and try to annoy her enough that she wasn't concentrating on her stitches. From about 9:30am to 3pm, my mom freaked out.
My dad got home sometime around 3pm, and Abbie immediately took a liking to him. (She's never shown any affection to anyone except me and mom). He lined a laundry basket with a towel, put her in there, and watched TV all afternoon. She spent all that time curled up next to his hand, apparently thinking it was her sister. He got her to eat and drink when no one else could...dad saved her life yesterday.
He sat with her until two in the morning, when he got me and had me take over. I slept from maybe 10pm until 2am this morning. I took Abbie downstairs and watched an entire disc of The Black Donnellys. At 5:15am, I got my mom up to take over for me, since that's near to the time she gets up anyway. From 5:45am to about 8:30am, I slept.
This evening I will have gone nearly 76 hours on nearly 8 hours of sleep. One more day like this, and I will have matched my personal insomniatic best. Oh yeah and, in that time, I also wrote two papers and annoyed at least 2 European liberals who want to invade Iran.
I cannot wait for tonight. When school gets out at 6:30pm, I'm going home, opening a Coke, and watching Prison Break, Kville, and CSI:Miami straight through.
By the way, have you ever tried to flirt when you're running on 4 hours of sleep in 48? It sucks, and I'm bad at it to start with
Friday, September 21, 2007
Light Posting
The reason for the light posting is that to use a metaphor, all the bills came due at once. I've working, looking after recovering-from-surgery rat, writing, and staying out of the way of the counter-fitters, carpenters, and other people necessary to facillitate the installation of our new stove.
Fitting with the general theme of this house, nothing is up to code, requiring much MacGyvering of the installation.
I'm hoping to get back to some Tales From Retail and Random Reflections in the near future though
Fitting with the general theme of this house, nothing is up to code, requiring much MacGyvering of the installation.
I'm hoping to get back to some Tales From Retail and Random Reflections in the near future though
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Fall Is Here
It's safe to say that cold temperatures have joined us. In the span of 3 days, the temperature has dropped from mid eighties to mid fifties, and at night the wind is biting. The sky is overcast, and everything looks gray. I don't look forward to this and worse for the next nine months.
The USP is HOME!
Picked up my USP Compact 9mm last night. Great little gun. Fits my hand perfectly, points like my finger, and I love the safety setup on it. It probably won't be replacing my Sig220 as my nightstand gun, but it definitely joined it.
I've carried it concealed since I got up this morning. As long as I'm on my property, I'm not doing anything illegal, and I figure this is great training for when(if) I do get a CCW license. I'm getting used to it being on my hip all the time, getting used to not checking it every five seconds.
I'm not surprised to announce that I don't feel any different. I thought carrying a gun would make you feel different. It doesn't, anymore than my Spyderco did.
I've carried it concealed since I got up this morning. As long as I'm on my property, I'm not doing anything illegal, and I figure this is great training for when(if) I do get a CCW license. I'm getting used to it being on my hip all the time, getting used to not checking it every five seconds.
I'm not surprised to announce that I don't feel any different. I thought carrying a gun would make you feel different. It doesn't, anymore than my Spyderco did.
Sunday, September 09, 2007
Bon Jovi - Walk Like A Man
He said 'sit down son, we gotta talk'
I said 'it’s my life, I’m gonna do what I want
I’m not gonna crawl, I'm gonna walk
Walk right out that door'
He said 'I used to be a lot like you
Theres nothing you’ve done that I didn’t do'
I laughed and said 'Dad I’m bullet proof
We’ve been through this before'
I couldn’t believe it
There was a tear in my old man’s eye
When I was leaving
He tried to say goodbye
He said
Stand tall when you stumble
Stay proud when you’re humbled
The lessons you learn won't be the ones you plan
Every step up that mountain
Will be more than worth counting
But when you walk through the valley
May you Walk Like A Man
I’ve seen a couple of miles on a gravel road
Been taught a couple things that I didn’t know
Now I even got a kid of my own
Starting to sound a lot like me
I learned a little thing called sacrifice
Given up on dreams, lost a couple fights
All anybody wants is a better life
And something to believe
Stand tall when you stumble
Stay proud when you’re humbled
The lessons you learn won't be the ones you plan
Every step up that mountain
Will be more than worth counting
But when you walk through the valley
May you Walk Like A Man
(guitar solo)
I couldn’t believe it
When the tears came to my eyes
It isn’t easy
Standing on the other side
I said 'sit down son, we gotta talk
Hey it’s your life, you’re gonna do what you want
I won't say crawl before you walk
Cause I heard my old man in my mind saying'
Stand tall when you stumble
Stay proud when you’re humbled
The lessons you learn won't be the ones you plan
Every step up that mountain
Will be more than worth counting
But when you walk through the valley
May you Walk Like A Man
And when you go on without me
Walk Like A Man
Walk on
(guitar solo)
-----------------------------------------------------
Fantastic song. In an age where fathers (and men) are denigrated and derided as outmoded, stupid, lustful, and out of touch, and honor is no longer considered to be worthy of a second's thought, it's nice to hear a song about a meaningful father/son relationship that imparts some profound wisdom.
Reminds me of my dad. He told me on a car trip once:"Don't worry about making people happy. What other's think of you doesn't matter. Your mom and I, not so much. Anybody else, not at all. What matters is what you think of yourself."
May we all have the courage to walk like men.
I said 'it’s my life, I’m gonna do what I want
I’m not gonna crawl, I'm gonna walk
Walk right out that door'
He said 'I used to be a lot like you
Theres nothing you’ve done that I didn’t do'
I laughed and said 'Dad I’m bullet proof
We’ve been through this before'
I couldn’t believe it
There was a tear in my old man’s eye
When I was leaving
He tried to say goodbye
He said
Stand tall when you stumble
Stay proud when you’re humbled
The lessons you learn won't be the ones you plan
Every step up that mountain
Will be more than worth counting
But when you walk through the valley
May you Walk Like A Man
I’ve seen a couple of miles on a gravel road
Been taught a couple things that I didn’t know
Now I even got a kid of my own
Starting to sound a lot like me
I learned a little thing called sacrifice
Given up on dreams, lost a couple fights
All anybody wants is a better life
And something to believe
Stand tall when you stumble
Stay proud when you’re humbled
The lessons you learn won't be the ones you plan
Every step up that mountain
Will be more than worth counting
But when you walk through the valley
May you Walk Like A Man
(guitar solo)
I couldn’t believe it
When the tears came to my eyes
It isn’t easy
Standing on the other side
I said 'sit down son, we gotta talk
Hey it’s your life, you’re gonna do what you want
I won't say crawl before you walk
Cause I heard my old man in my mind saying'
Stand tall when you stumble
Stay proud when you’re humbled
The lessons you learn won't be the ones you plan
Every step up that mountain
Will be more than worth counting
But when you walk through the valley
May you Walk Like A Man
And when you go on without me
Walk Like A Man
Walk on
(guitar solo)
-----------------------------------------------------
Fantastic song. In an age where fathers (and men) are denigrated and derided as outmoded, stupid, lustful, and out of touch, and honor is no longer considered to be worthy of a second's thought, it's nice to hear a song about a meaningful father/son relationship that imparts some profound wisdom.
Reminds me of my dad. He told me on a car trip once:"Don't worry about making people happy. What other's think of you doesn't matter. Your mom and I, not so much. Anybody else, not at all. What matters is what you think of yourself."
May we all have the courage to walk like men.
Saturday, September 08, 2007
Found Elsewhere On The Internet: The Liberal World-view
There is no right or wrong, just the inability to get along. Therefore you must either agree with me or be accused of causing an argument.
It takes two to make a fight, so stop fighting me.
If you don’t have anything nice to say about me, you must refrain from criticizing anything I choose to do to you.
If anything I do to you makes you angry, it proves you are a hateful person.
If you cannot accept what I do to you, it means you are closed-minded.
If you don’t give me what I want, it proves you are materialistic and selfish.
It takes two to make a fight, so stop fighting me.
If you don’t have anything nice to say about me, you must refrain from criticizing anything I choose to do to you.
If anything I do to you makes you angry, it proves you are a hateful person.
If you cannot accept what I do to you, it means you are closed-minded.
If you don’t give me what I want, it proves you are materialistic and selfish.
Great Quotes
"When a man spends his own money to buy something for himself, he is very careful about how much he spends and how he spends it. When a man spends his own money to buy something for someone else, he is still very careful about how much he spends, but somewhat less what he spends it on. When a man spends someone else's money to buy somethingfor himself, he is very careful about what he buys, but doesn't care at all how much he spends. And when a man spends someone else's money on someone else, he doesn't care how much he spends or what he spends it on. And that's government for you." --Economist and Nobel Laureate Milton Friedman
It is an ironclad law of economics that if you want more of something, subsidize it; if you want less of something, tax it. But liberals were shocked and bewildered to discover that when they subsidized illegitimacy, they got more of it. --- Ann Coulter
It is an ironclad law of economics that if you want more of something, subsidize it; if you want less of something, tax it. But liberals were shocked and bewildered to discover that when they subsidized illegitimacy, they got more of it. --- Ann Coulter
...And Rudy Does Too!
"Freedom is about authority. Freedom is about the willingness of every single human being to cede to lawful authority a great deal of discretion about what you do and how you do it." - Rudy Giuliani
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Can anyone read this and not be scared? Here is a man, who according to all polls stands an excellent chance of being our next president - saying that war is peace, freedom is slavery, the whole ******* Orwellian doublespeak dictionary.
Note to the world: 1984 WAS NOT an instruction manual.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Can anyone read this and not be scared? Here is a man, who according to all polls stands an excellent chance of being our next president - saying that war is peace, freedom is slavery, the whole ******* Orwellian doublespeak dictionary.
Note to the world: 1984 WAS NOT an instruction manual.
John Edwards Likes Using Force
This:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070902/ap_on_el_pr/edwards_2
TIPTON, Iowa - Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards said on Sunday that his universal health care proposal would require that Americans go to the doctor for preventive care.
Require? As in, threaten someone with death or jail if they don't comply? That kind of require?
"It requires that everybody be covered. It requires that everybody get preventive care," he told a crowd sitting in lawn chairs in front of the Cedar County Courthouse. "If you are going to be in the system, you can't choose not to go to the doctor for 20 years. You have to go in and be checked and make sure that you are OK."
If you can read this paragraph and not want to drag this man into the and kick him, you're not a real American.
He noted, for example, that women would be required to have regular mammograms in an effort to find and treat "the first trace of problem." Edwards and his wife, Elizabeth, announced earlier this year that her breast cancer had returned and spread.
Edwards said his mandatory health care plan would cover preventive, chronic and long-term health care. The plan would include mental health care as well as dental and vision coverage for all Americans.
...and what do you think Democrat-endorsed, government-run-and-required psychologists will say when you answer that you own guns and don't really trust or like the government?
"The whole idea is a continuum of care, basically from birth to death," he said.
The former North Carolina senator said all presidential candidates talking about health care "ought to be asked one question: Does your plan cover every single American?"
"Because if it doesn't they should be made to explain what child, what woman, what man in America is not worthy of health care," he said. "Because in my view, everybody is worth health care."
Edwards said his plan would cost up to $120 billion a year, a cost he proposes covering by ending President Bush's tax cuts to people who make more than $200,000 per year.
$120,000,000,000 as an estimate? He's going to pay for this by wiping out the tax cuts that have rejuvinated our economy? What's he going to do when his plan runs double what he "proposes."
Edwards, who has been criticized by some for calling on Americans to be willing to give up their SUVs while driving one, acknowledged Sunday that he owns a Ford Escape hybrid SUV, purchased within the year, and a Chrysler Pacificia, which he said he has had for years.
"I think all of us have to move, have to make progress," he said. "I'm not holyier-than-thou about this. ... I'm like a lot of Americans, I see how serious this issue is and I want to address it myself and I want to help lead the nation in the right direction."
He said he would not buy another SUV in the future.
The Ford Escape, the first hybrid SUV on the market, gets an estimated 36 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway.
Brings to mind this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mozambique_Drill
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070902/ap_on_el_pr/edwards_2
TIPTON, Iowa - Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards said on Sunday that his universal health care proposal would require that Americans go to the doctor for preventive care.
Require? As in, threaten someone with death or jail if they don't comply? That kind of require?
"It requires that everybody be covered. It requires that everybody get preventive care," he told a crowd sitting in lawn chairs in front of the Cedar County Courthouse. "If you are going to be in the system, you can't choose not to go to the doctor for 20 years. You have to go in and be checked and make sure that you are OK."
If you can read this paragraph and not want to drag this man into the and kick him, you're not a real American.
He noted, for example, that women would be required to have regular mammograms in an effort to find and treat "the first trace of problem." Edwards and his wife, Elizabeth, announced earlier this year that her breast cancer had returned and spread.
Edwards said his mandatory health care plan would cover preventive, chronic and long-term health care. The plan would include mental health care as well as dental and vision coverage for all Americans.
...and what do you think Democrat-endorsed, government-run-and-required psychologists will say when you answer that you own guns and don't really trust or like the government?
"The whole idea is a continuum of care, basically from birth to death," he said.
The former North Carolina senator said all presidential candidates talking about health care "ought to be asked one question: Does your plan cover every single American?"
"Because if it doesn't they should be made to explain what child, what woman, what man in America is not worthy of health care," he said. "Because in my view, everybody is worth health care."
Edwards said his plan would cost up to $120 billion a year, a cost he proposes covering by ending President Bush's tax cuts to people who make more than $200,000 per year.
$120,000,000,000 as an estimate? He's going to pay for this by wiping out the tax cuts that have rejuvinated our economy? What's he going to do when his plan runs double what he "proposes."
Edwards, who has been criticized by some for calling on Americans to be willing to give up their SUVs while driving one, acknowledged Sunday that he owns a Ford Escape hybrid SUV, purchased within the year, and a Chrysler Pacificia, which he said he has had for years.
"I think all of us have to move, have to make progress," he said. "I'm not holyier-than-thou about this. ... I'm like a lot of Americans, I see how serious this issue is and I want to address it myself and I want to help lead the nation in the right direction."
He said he would not buy another SUV in the future.
The Ford Escape, the first hybrid SUV on the market, gets an estimated 36 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway.
Brings to mind this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mozambique_Drill
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