Dr. Paul Broun

Recently elected as the Congressman for Georgia's 10th District. Dr. Broun has promised to use a 4 point test on all proposed legislation.
Those are:
1. Is it constitutional and a proper function of government?
2. Is it morally correct?
3. Is it something that we really need?
4. Is it something that we can afford?

Dr. Broun is the founding president of the Georgia Republican Assembly.

Dr. Broun's election adversary, Jim Whitehead, did touch my heart by describing the University of Georgia as "a bunch of liberals who ought to be bombed". The home of UGA, Athens, is in the 10th District.

Clearly our man is on the right track to have offended the greatness of Esquire Magazine.

Everywhere, Republicans are questioning their purpose. Well, that is, everywhere except Georgia's 10th District, where voters are going to the polls today in a special election to fill the seat vacated by the untimely death of Rep. Charlie Norwood.

Politicians are prone to saying whatever will get them elected, so the jury is still out. If this man is true to is word, then Jeff Flake will have an ally in Congress.

Otis Wilson

Born: 9/15/1957, in New York, NY.
First round draft choice from Louisville in 1980, played at Syracuse.
Linebacker for the Chicago Bears, 1980 through 1988.
Member of the famed Buddy Ryan defense that won the 1985 Super Bowl.
Playing alongside Mike Singletary and Wilbur Marshal made up one of the fastest, fiercest sets of linebackers in NFL history.
When asked for a description of Otis's play, Mike Ditka offered this when comparing Otis to the Tampa's 2002 strong side linbackers.

"Al Singleton's good, but I had this conversation with somebody the other day about Otis. He was good, period. He was strong, he played in Buddy Ryan's defense about as good as you could. He didn't get the acclaim because we had Mike Singletary in the middle and Wilber Marshall on the other side."

North Korean Clapper

Both Clinton and Bush should have recognized the technology.

“With clapper technology, Mr. Kim will be able to restart the reactor instantly by simply clapping his hands,” the source said. “We have known for years that Mr. Kim has deployed a brigade of North Korean soldiers to order clapper units by phone each time the TV commercial airs. Now we know why.”

Scott Ott has always got it right, go to the link for the full story.

Happy Birthday Barry

Today Mr. Bonds turns 43, within a week or two will pass Mr. Aaron for the all-time MLB home run title.

These are some things Barry has had to say over the years:

It's called talent. I just have it. I can't explain it. You either have it or you don't.

and

Baseball is just my job.

Typically truculent with the media and dismissive of fan opinion. The way the press is treating him, he will surely be voted into the HOF on the first ballot. Not on my ballot, he does not pass the steroid stink test. For letting his friend be in prison is enough reason for him to be jailed.

Godfadah

For years I have droned on and on about how good the Godfather series of movies is. Guess is doesn't take with today's youngsters. My son hates it, maybe this was the episode that he saw.

Vicktimized

Last night the local news interviewed patrons of a Buckhead restaurant. Requesting opinion on the pending Vick arrest. The opinions , unfortunately, were eerily similar to what we experienced during the Simpson murder trial. Black opinion centered on presumed innocence and unnecessary Federal prosecution. White opinion presumed guilt and leaped to the need for getting a quarterback that could throw the damned ball. In effort to appear positive, many more blacks were interviewed than whites, an odd sampling for any Buckhead establishment.
I do not know if the man is guilty or innocent. Dead dogs were found on the Virginia estate property and there are witness accounts of Vick gambling at the dog fights. The Federal government is not prone to prosecuting cases it cannot win. Mike Vick does have the financial resources to obtain the best possible defense. It is unlikely that a jail sentence is in the Vicktim's future.

• Go to the link and read the comments, there is no prejudice there!

Doctors Debate ALS-Statin Connections

Recently, a report from the World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre for International Drug Monitoring caused a stir in the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) community and the pharmaceutical industry by suggesting that widely prescribed cholesterol-lowering drugs might raise the risk of developing ALS.

• Statin medications, include Lipitor, Mevacor and Zocor.

Short Lived Political Opinions

"I should like to adopt political doctrines that would live longer than my dog."

James Garfield

• I wish John Henry could live for another 40 years.

Lean Up Here

Usually, John Henry is the one who is leaning up against us.

iPhone

If you want a consumer opinion on the new iPhone, look here.
Too funny.

Positive Publications

Today there were two editorials, written directly to me.

• The first was at the Wall Street Journal web site, titled "Libertarians and the War" written by Professor Randy E. Barnett of Georgetown University. Mr. Barnett explains the how libertarians disagreed over the necessary actions to be applied in Iraq as a result of the 9/11 attacks. Following the terrorist attacks and subsequent reaction, I found the public stance of Libertarian leadership to be distasteful. Leaders Harry Brown and Ron Paul took positions accurate to published party philosophy. That position was, this is not a domestic problem, only defensive posture should be applied, furthermore they claimed one of the contributing factors was US involvement in middle eastern politics prior to 9/11. To me, these position were inadequate, disengagement and defensive reactive posture did not address the activities of Islamoterrorists. My political self-image morphed into a mixed Domestic Libertarian + Foreign Policy Republican. Like Mr. Barnett says, we Pro-Invasion Libertarians are still rooting for success. Please follow the link to read.
• The second was in the AJC, a syndicated column by William Kristol, editor or the Weekly Standard. With the headline "Bush's tenure is heading for success", Kristol describes General Patraeus as President Bush's Ulysses S. Grant, a man who is leading progress in Iraq. Predicting the start of a draw down by mid-2008. Terror attacks have been thwarted in our homeland. Kristol argues that in retrospect Bush will be viewed as a successful president. The economy has been steadily improving since the 2003 tax cuts, deficit spending is now lower than it was before the tax cuts were passed. The Supreme Court appointee's by all accounts are true to the promises candidate Bush made leading up to his first election. I could not find a web link to this article, try the Weekly Standard in a couple of days.

Is That and Inch Worm?

Donated by Patricia.

Game

On "The Wealth of Nations"

The book just finished is a review by P.J. O'Rourke on another book "The Wealth of Nations" which was written by the Scottish scholar Adam Smith.
In this short 217 page book, including an appendix, the author applies witticisms and modern situational reference to Smith's theories on morals, government, and notably economic. O'Rourke’ style is enjoyable and I came away with the impression that Adam Smith was a rare man of practically applied and vast intellect.
Economically Smith believed that men act in their own fiscal best interest. The merchant does not sell goods to help the community he sells to benefit himself.
Speaking of government Smith hypothesized that it evolved as royalty and feudal systems went into decline and as mercantile communities grew. Government was needed only to protect those with possessions, to maintain the status quo. Furthermore Adam Smith was clearly of a mind that any government business is by design wasteful; all things worth doing are better done when motivated by profit.
Smith advocated less taxation on trade, a later day supply-sider. As a Glasgow taxman, he increased collections over 400%.
On imperialism, Smith saw that Britain restricted trade by placing extra taxation on colonies. He advocated either bringing the colonies into the empire as equal citizens, or permitting the colonies to form their own nations.
Smith spoke on many things:

The fair-sex who have commonly much more tenderness than ours, have seldom so much generosity.

And

I have no great faith in political arithmetic

And

The beggar, who suns himself by the side of the highway, possesses the security which kings are fighting for.

On a scale of 1 to 10, I rate this book at 7.

Paraskavedekatriaphobia

Friday will be the 13th, I have always been curious of the origin.

Christian:
Over the past millennia Christians have long believed that Friday was unlucky because it was the day when Jesus was crucified. Also, there were 13 people at The Last Supper. Additionally, Eve tempted Adam with the forbidden fruit, on a Friday; the Great Flood began on a Friday; the builders of the Tower of Babel were tongue-tied by God, on a Friday; and the Temple of Solomon was destroyed on a Friday.

Norse:
Thirteen was considered a sinister number in Norse mythology. An evil god, Loki, crashed a party for 12 at Valhalla, a banquet hall of the gods, becoming the 13th guest. This caused the death of Balder, god of light, joy, and reconciliation. Loki tricked the blind god Hod, Balder's brother, into throwing mistletoe at Balder. Mistletoe was the only thing on Earth fatal to Balder.

France:
On Friday, October 13, 1307, King Philip IV ordered the arrests of Jaques de Molay, Grand Master of the Knights Templars and sixty senior Templar knights in Paris. Thousands of suspected supporters were arrested elsewhere in the country. Torture techniques were applied to compel the knights and sympathizers to "confess" wrongdoing, most were executed.

Britain:
HMS Friday was launched on Friday the 13th, captained by Jim Friday. The ship was never heard from again. Since then, ships are not usually launched on that date. Also, Friday was execution day in Britain. Some of the sites that I viewed suggested this this is a myth, I could not identify the exact year.

Egypt:
To the ancient Egyptians, life was a quest for spiritual ascension which unfolded in stages, 12 in worldly life, the next being eternal afterlife. The number 13, external life, symbolized death.

Pagan:
The solar calender is represented by a 12 month calender. The lunar calender is represented by a 13 month calender. The lunar calender is associated to female cycle, in pagan relics, the female is considered dominant. A carving of the "Earth Mother of Laussel," a 27,000-year-old relic found in France, is considered as a symbol of matriarchal spirituality. This carving depicts a female figure holding a crescent-shaped horn bearing 13 notches. The solar calendar triumphed over the lunar calendar with the rise of male-dominated civilization. With this development, the 12 base system gained dominance over the 13 base system, making the number 13 taboo.

Upcoming Fridays to worry about:
2008 June, 2009 February, March, November, 2010 August, 2011 May, 2012 January, April, July, 2013 September, December, 2014 June, 2015 February, March, November, 2016 May, 2017 January, October, 2018 April, July, 2019 September, December, 2020 March, November

• Fear of the number 13 is called Triskadekaphobia
• The fear of Friday the 13th is called Paraskavedekatriaphobia

Live Earth

There was no way in hell I was going to watch any of that Bob Geldolf inspired crap. A late night comedian offered this that expresses my sentiments.

Did you watch the Live Earth concert against global warming? Neither did I! I was shoveling coal into my Styrofoam factory, enjoying roast penguin.

Craig Ferguson

Think About

COWS:
Is it just me, or does anyone else find it amazing that our government can track a single cow born in Canada almost three years ago, right to the Stall where she sleeps in the state of Washington? And, they tracked her calves right to their stalls. But they are unable to locate 11 million illegal aliens wandering around our country. Maybe we should give each of them a cow.

THE CONSTITUTION:
They keep talking about drafting a Constitution for Iraq. Why don't we just give them ours? It was written by a lot of really smart guys, it has worked for over 200 years, and we're not using it anymore.

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS:
The real reason that we can't have the Ten Commandments posted in a courthouse is this: You cannot post "Thou Shalt Not Steal," "Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery", and "Thou Shall Not Lie" in a building full of lawyers, judges and politicians. It creates a hostile work environment.

Compliments of my bride.

Beatles Birth

Friday will be the 50th anniversary of when Paul McCartney met John Lennon.
In 1957, 15-year-old Paul was at a church picnic in a village near Liverpool, where he met 16-year-old John.
John Lennon had already formed a band, the Quarrymen, which was playing at the event. During breaks, McCartney played a few songs on guitar for the band, and shortly after was invited to join.
The group became popular and developed a loyal following. The group's name was changed to Johnny and the Moondogs and recruited Paul's friend guitarist George Harrison. Bassist Stu Sutcliffe joined, and the Moodogs changed their name to the Silver Beetles. The Silver Beetles was then modified to the Beatles.
Drummers rotated in the early years, Tommy was replaced by Pete Best in 1960 and Ringo Starr found his palce in 1962.
Sutcliffe left the band in 1961 to become an artist and passed away that same year to a brain hemorrhage.
The band played is first U.S. tour in1964 to crazed audiences.
From 1964 to 1970 the Beatles had 20 Billboard #1 hits.
In 1970 the band broke apart because of artistic differences.
In 1980, John Lennon's unfortunate demise ended any hope for reuniting the band.

Jeez, 50 years is long time. I vaguely remember watching the 1964 shows on Ed Sulllivan.