Shocking

The new federal minimum wage will not apply to American Samoa.

Why?

Gee. I don't know.

Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss.

Republican Discontent

Joe Scarborough in a commentary shows the crumbling of Republican political strength.

It's been coming for quite some time. Listen to how critical people like Newt Gingrich and Pat Buchannan have been lately.

This is an opportunity for Libertarians. Republicans tell me all the time how I should vote for their guy, since they are more like Libertarians than the Democrats. I've responded that they are all Statists.

It's starting to get through to some of them. So we have an opportunity, that the Republican party has been in the past the more libertarian party. Maybe it's time to throw some weight behind Ron Paul, or someone other than McCain.

Dumb NASCAR move of the month

They decided to limit the use of the 'Past Champion's Provisional'. A good move, I would say.

But this quote got me:

“As NASCAR seeks to place more emphasis on competition, we have decided the time is right to limit the number of provisionals allowed,” said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition.

“We believe this revision brings the provisional policy in line with the continued growth of the sport.”

Why? Because the first 35 starting spots in every race are held for the top 35 in points. You know. Provisionals. So there are 7 (or 8 if no past champ is eligible) spots where you get in on speed. You know. Competition.

Like that Patriot Act, do you?

How are you going to like it when Hilliary can pick U.S. Attorneys without Senate scrutiny?

Because that's what's happening now.

And thier priorities under the current adminstration? Why, pornography and online gambling.

Because if you see boobies and play poker, the terrorists win.

It's not what you think

I didn't stop training again. I'm just dealing with that inflammation in my back, probably caused by the way I sit in my car and drive long distances, coupled with inactivity, specifically the weakening of my abdominals.

It's getting better, but still bugs me a little. I know that some prudence now will get me farther later. I'm doing some stretching and bodyweight stuff at home, but nothing worth talking about. I'll probably go to the gym and do some upper body work later in the week, then get back to my planned training on Monday.

I don't know that I'll do another 'prep' phase or just get to it, probably should keep working on conditioning and form. We'll see.

Conservtive Morals

This post just about says it all about the morals of Conservatives.

Now, would I approve of American soldiers beating these terrorist? No. Would I prefer that these Iraqi soldiers didn't beat the terrorists? Yes, because it's unprofessional and even if these guys deserve it, if you get into the habit of delivering beatings, the next person may not.

On the other hand, am I going to pretend that my heart's breaking because the Iraqi troops beat the hell out of some insurgents? No way. They deserved everything they got and much, much, more. Heck, if anything, it was great to see the Iraqi troops in the lead and showing some enthusiasm for their jobs.

PS: However, I will say this, our troops should have made sure that the embeds didn't film this. That was a mistake.

Due process? Freedom of the press? Not on my watch. Yes, this is the Conservative movement in 2007. I don't think I want to have anything to do with this. Do you?

Great quote

I have to attribute it to a commenter at Hit and Run.

At the root of all evil is the desire to control others.
At the root of all good is the desire to control oneself.

It's a party, Friday Night.

I'm getting old. No secret, no suprise I suppose. I'm not a club guy, never have been. I don't like crouds, I don't like club music, and I don't like paying $4.00 for a warm Coors Light in a plastic cup.

So when Mrs Stagg called me Friday night and suggested we go to Looney's with some friends of ours, I was a bit apprehensive. Now, Looney's isn't clubby, it's a busy bar, younger crowd, OK music, if a little loud. But I went.

No where to sit, of course, which is OK, but the age gap got to us. We decided to go across the street to Granite, which is a bit more upscale, a bit older.

And it was. Until about 11pm. At 11, the lights go down, the music comes up, and they take all the barstools, chairs, and tables away. They cover the large windows, break out the plastic cups, and the place transforms into a lame interpretation of trendy club.

I know there's a market for it, but I don't see why in this particular place (Canton) there is a draw for folks to come in from the burbs and 'dance', when there are plenty of big places to do that out there. Keep the cool upscale vibe, give us drinks in glasses, and let us be grownups. Leave the clubbing for downtown and the burbs.

But then, I don't own a bar/restaraunt, so what do I know. I guess they make more money this way. But not from me. We left.

You can't force freedom

An excellent article by Lew Rockwell on why US Iraq policy is a failure. It stems from the typical misunderstanding of statists that the national 'state' they define isn't necessarily what the people want.

This is what cannot be done, and the very possibility of a new central state is precisely what has set off the bloodshed. It is not the case that the groups in Iraq cannot get along. What they cannot do is get along under a central state ruled by some other group. This is the basis of the bloodshed.


So what should happen? The US should abandon Baghdad. It should, in effect, allow the country to "fall apart" in the same way that Gorbachev let his empire dissolve. Iraq would split into many states, some of them noncontiguous. Governing units of all shapes and sizes would appear. The main reason for the ghastly killing – fear of the rule by one group over another – would vanish. Here is the highest hope for peace in Iraq.

So long as the US insists that Iraq be a single nation under one government, it will inspire chaos and killing. Bush was wrong, but in a way that is usually not understood. His mistake was not in overthrowing the state but in hoping to create and control a new one.

I don't think abandoning Baghdad is the answer, but I do think letting the people of Iraq split up the country as they see fit is.

How far will this go?

I'm not much for watching TV any more. I like Dirty Jobs, and the Food Network is cool, but I've never seen the show Grey's Anatomy.

I also, generally, don't pay attention to Hollywood news. I don't care who Britney showed her genitals to, or who is divorcing whom.

However, the story about an actor on Grey's Anatomy using the word 'faggot' struck me as odd. Not so much that an enlightened thespian would utter such a horrid attack, but the reaction (his) to it. Apparently, he's going into residential counseling. Because he called a gay guy a faggot.

Seriously?

I'm not a fan of the word, or disparaging hurtful language toward any particular group. But residential counseling? That's what you do when you won't stay on your meds and keep trying to kill yourself, not what you do when you call someone a name.

What if you say something worse?

What a ridiculous overreaction.

Found the zone

A number of lifters describe themselves when training as being different people, or in different places. I don't really experience that (which is part of why I don't have impressive numbers). Tonight I did. I'm not sure who I was, but I wasn't Paul.

1/24/2007 ME Bench
Warmup: 1x15 of face pull, pushup, ext rotation, 45 degree back raise

Floor press
45x15
95x5
135x5
185x3
225x3
245x1
3x1 @ 265

Close grip incline
3x5 @ 155

Side lateral raise
3x8 @ 30

Hammer Strength Seated row
45/side x 5
2x5 @ 135/side

HS pulldown
2x10 @ 90/side
Hammer curls
2x15 @ 30
Light band pressdown (2 hands)
2x15
Cuff stuff

You'll notice I skipped a workout. My back is getting better, and I didn't want to put it at risk under suboptimal conditions - lots of driving, not good eating.

I also think I'm going to do another 3 weeks of a prep phase before I really get going. My conditioning and work capacity is coming up, but I'd like to get a bit more.

End of week two

Finished up on a positive note. Today was one of those days... I didn't feel like going, and was a bit out of sorts. But once i got to the gym, I felt great. I flew thruogh the session, and felt more energetic than I have since starting back.

1/21/2007 DE Bench

Warmup: 1x15 face pulls, pushups, ext rotations, 45 deg extensions

Bench Press
2x15 @ 45
2x5@95
20x3 @ 135
Did these with less than 45 secs rest. Felt great.

DB Ext
4x10 @ 25

Rear lateral raise
3x10 @ 20

CSR
45x5
90x5
3x5 @ 160

Cable Rows
2x8@150
Hammer curls
3x6@40
Pressdowns
2x15@150
Situps
2x15

All done in under an hour, too. I may go ahead and squat tomorrow, although I should take a day more to rest, I really feel like I could do it. We'll see. I'm out in the field tomorrow and Tuesday.

Ouch.

Been dealing with some back pain. Looks like just some imflammation, so we're doing 800mg of ibuprofen 3 times a day (that's prescription strength, so I hope the government isn't looking). Moved the workout to today as my chiropractor did a number on me yesterday

Eating has been decent, but not great. I'm now at 5 non compliant meals for the week (missed two on Thursday, lunch and dinner on Thursday were also non comlpiant, and I had a non compliant meal yesterday.) I'm trying not to get obsessive about it.

1/20/2007 DE Squat
Warmup: 5 mins elliptical, level 10

Box Squat
2x6 @ 45
2x3 @ 95
20x3 @ 135
Did them in under 18 minutes.

Pull thru
3x10 @ 120

Pull Down abs
2x15 @ 150

Good mornings
3x10 @ 95
See: Back pain

Pullups
2x6

HS Seated hamsting curl
2x15 @ 45
Smith Shrug
barx15
+90x12
+180x8

Stretching and out.

Turns out, Corrosion of Conformity's Wiseblood is outstanding for more than just cardio.

Pop/Rap is not. Ever. For anything.

Ahhhh... Freedom

In Arizona, not only can your car be siezed if you are accused of being drunk and/r driving on a suspended license, but if you transport an illegal alien, say, to the hospital.

According to the U.S. Border Patrol, those drivers are committing a crime by transporting illegal immigrants.
"It doesn't make any difference whether you're taking them to the grocery store or taking them from the desert to the hospital," said Jesus Rodriguez, a spokesman for the agency's Tucson sector. "There is no free pass."

You mean, there is no freedom. Your government in action. Read the following, and tell me if this is how you want to live.

"Are they saying we're supposed to check somebody's immigration status?" asked Cecilia Gutierrez-Arce, a real estate agent and legal permanent resident whose extended family includes U.S. citizens, illegal immigrants and a Border Patrol agent.
"It's like McCarthy days. Are we supposed to be spying on our neighbors? On our relatives?"
Absolutely, according to Chris Simcox of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps.
He said people have a "civic duty" to check the immigration status of passengers and alert authorities if they suspect someone is in the country illegally.
"It would certainly have a chilling effect on employers," he said.
The debate on transporting illegal immigrants was set to play out during the trial of Daniel Strauss and Shanti Sellz, two 23-year-old volunteers with the aid group No More Deaths who were arrested in 2005 while driving three illegal immigrants from the desert to a medical clinic in a Tucson church.
But a federal judge in Tucson dismissed the charges last month. The government had given No More Deaths volunteers reason to believe their actions were legal, and therefore could not prosecute them, U.S. District Judge Raner C. Collins ruled. He did not address the legality of their action.
"That issue must wait for another day," Collins wrote.
Lawyers for Sellz and Strauss argued that the two were innocent because they were trying to get medical aid for the three men and were not transporting them "in furtherance of" illegal entry into the United States, as required by federal statute.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the district of Arizona declined to discuss the specifics of the law.

Declined to discuss. Nice.

Hat tip: Hit and Run

Good Wal Mart News!

Yet another court struck down Marylands asinine 'Wal Mart' bill.

Of course, if you read The Sun, you get the impression this is just a minor setback.

Maryland's first-in-the-nation law to compel Wal-Mart to spend more on employee health care suffered another setback yesterday, providing fresh incentive for legislative leaders in Annapolis to explore ways to boost insurance coverage that do not involve the retailing giant.

Nah, they aren't letting editorial content sneak into news reporting.

With the future of the so-called Wal-Mart law in doubt, state legislators are planning to resurrect a host of other possible health care solutions during the 90-day legislative session that began last week, including an expansion of the Medicaid program to low-income adults, a reduction in insurance premiums for small businesses and a requirement that the state's highest paid workers buy insurance coverage.

They just don't get it. 50 years of creeping Socialism, and the 'problems' still need 'solutions'.

Coming along nicely

I like my gym. But sometimes the environment is just tough to take. Today, we has skinny guys flexing in the mirror, Britney Spears blaring, and awful form. Thank the FSM for MP3 players and Pantera.

On to the workout!

1/17/2007 ME Bench
Warmup: 1x15
Face pull, pushup, ext rotation, 45 degree back raises

Floor press
45x12, 12
95x5
135x5
155x5
185x5
203x3
2x3 @ 225

Close Grip Incline
45x6
95x6
3x6 @ 145

Lateral raise
3x8 @ 30

Hammer Strength Row
45x6
3x6 @ 115 per side

HS Pulldown
2x8 @ 90 per side
OH EZ bar ext
2x10 @ 40
EX bar curl
barx 10
+20x10
+40x6

Work capacity is coming up, this felt kinda easy. Diet has been 100% compliant so far this week. Tomorrow will have at least one non compliant meal.

The Constitution is not confusing.

Yet Congress has a hearing on data mining.

Mr. Leahy warned that the potential for abuse requires oversight. "A mistake can cost Americans their jobs and wreak havoc in their lives and reputations that can take years to repair," he said.

This is why the Constitution clearly states the Federal Government can't do it.

Former Rep. Bob Barr, a Georgia Republican who recently became an activist for the Libertarian Party, told the panel that data mining poses a "serious threat" to the First, Second, Fourth and Fifth amendments to the Constitution.
"That is nearly half of the Bill of Rights," he said.
"Adding insult to injury, there is no scientific proof that data mining to identify terrorists even works. No scientist has ever demonstrated that the government can predict who will commit an act of terror at some future time. Yet the government spends tens of billions of taxpayers' dollars on data-mining programs each year -- collecting, manipulating, retaining and disseminating the most personal and private information on unknowing American citizens and others," Mr. Barr said.
James Jay Carafano, a senior research fellow with the Heritage Foundation, defended the practice of data mining but agreed oversight is needed.
"The federal government's use of data-mining technology should be strictly limited to national security-related investigations," Mr. Carafano said. "Congress should also require agencies to report on their intent to establish data-mining programs and require annual reports on their implementation, as well as their compliance with federal guidelines."

There is no exception for 'National Security' in the Constitution.

Sad news

Benny Parsons died today at 65.

He was the voice of racing to nearly a generation of fans.

Spontanious solutions

Don Boudreaux on why markets work, in spite of people who make irrational choices.

If you don't let people make irrational choices, there is no incentive for them to correct them, is there? Let the system work. It does.

Look who's coming to dinner

Obama says he's running for President.

From one perspective, I like that someone who is apparently not a career polititian is running for President. I'd rather see someone come out of industry who has no political background, but I doubt I'll see that in my liftetime.

However, from a political standpoint, I think this is a bad move for a number of reasons. He's going to lose. Yes, he's charismatic. He's smart. He's a regular guy. Whatever. He's not going to be able to get through the Democratic primary and win in a General Election. If he stays in the Senate for another 4-8 years, he'll have a chance to replace someone who will probably make our current President look spectacular. Further, he will have been able to build a resume of creating consensus (if that's possible), he'll have a bit more political credibility.


It also shows he's really not in this for us. He just wants to be President. If he's in it for us, he would be much more effective 'brining people together' as a leader in the Senate than as president.

Week Two of Prep Phase

Stating out at 216 pounds, feeling good. Got in today before the resolutionists.

1/15/2007 ME Squat
Warmup: Elliptical

Low Box Squat (hole 2)
2x5 @ 45
95x5
135x5
185x5
2x3 @ 225

RDL
45x8
135x7
4x7 @ 205

Spread Eagle Situp
4x8

45 degree back raise
4x8 @ +25

Pulldowns
2x8 @ 160

Leg Ext
2x15 @ 50
Calf Raise
2x15 @ 200
Lying leg raise
2x8

Stretching and out

Brutally humid, I think I sweat out a pound. All meals today compliant.

If by progress you mean making something worse..

Then yes, you could call it enormous progress.

If progress means:
Destabilizing the Middle East
Taking out Osama's enemy for him
Creating an Islamic State
Starting a civil war
Getting 3000 US troops killed
Getting 600,000 Iraqis killed
And not making anyone in the United States safer...

Then yeah.

A good first week

Training and nutrition all went fairly well. 28 meals (so far) 3 non compliant (so far). I haven't used tobacco since last Monday, and I haven't beaten anyone (yet). Did some benching today.

1/14/2007 DE Bench

Warmup: 1x15
Face pull, pushup, ext rotation, 45 degree back extension

Bench press
2x10 @ 45
2x3 @ 95
20x3 @ 135.
Less than a minute between sets. This wasn't so bad, but it's boring.

DB Extensions
20x12
30x12, 6
20x12

Rear lateral raise
3x10 @ 20

CSR
45x5
90x5
3x5 @ 135

DB Flye
2x8 @ 30

Hammer curl
2x12 @30

Pressdown
3x15 @ 100

Getting thru a little better. ME Squat tomorrow.

There's always next year

Boy, this was a bad time for the Ravens' offense to come out flat. But they did, and thus a 15-6 loss to the Colts.

I thought this might be the game that healed those old wounds; a win would satisfy those of us old enough to remember, and finally take the city past it.

As usual, the defense did what they had to do. I guess it's encouraging that much of the same team is returning next season, so there will be another shot.

Three in a row!

Yes, three training sessions in a row... it's like a record or something. I'm out of shape, and struggling a bit to get through them, but that's the point of a preparation phase. The real work comes in a couple of weeks.

1/12/2007 DE Squat
Warmup - elliptical

Box Squat
2x3 @ 45
2x3 @ 95
20x3 @ 135, less than one minute between sets.

This is harder than you would think... mosttly because I'm out of shape.

Pull thru
3x12 @ 100

Pull down abs
2x15 @ 100

Good morning
3x12 @ 45

Yes, 45. I was exhausted, and I didn't think I could actually put any weight on the bar.

Chins
2x5

Stretching and out

My lower back is tight as hell - I need to stretch a couple of times a day to get it loosened up; I have a chiro visit scheduled on Wednesday.

Eating continues to go well.

Records?

Brandon Berg has a nice easy reading post at Catallarchy on why record profits and record Dow Jones levels really don't mean all that much; and how easy it is to use 'records' in a story to make it sound more meaningful or more sinister than it really is.

Another point in light of what Congress is probably going to do to Evil Big Oil by taxing 'windfall' profits... consideration of return on investment and profit margins should be paramount. All we hear is 'record profit of 89 bazillion dollars,' we don't hear that's the same profit margin as pretty much every other successful company out there.

Second day of prep phase

Eating is going well. So far, all of my meals (14) have been compliant. One of my 3 non compliants will probably be later today... my sister had a baby today (number 4), and we'll be off to see her later.

On to the training!

1/11/2007 ME Bench
Warmup: 1x15 face pull, pushup, ext rotation, 45 deg back raise

Floor Press
45x15
95x5
135x5
155x5
175x5
2x5 @ 185

Close grip incline press
45x6
95x6
135x6,4,4,3

Lateral raise
20x8
3x8 @ 30

Hammer Strength Row
3x8 @ 90

Not too bad; about where I expect to be. DE squatting either tomorrow or Saturday, depending on work tomorrow.

A quick lesson

If what you do is worth less than the new minimum wage, what happens?

Hint: You don't make the minimum wage.

The good news: a very small percentage of workers and business owners will be affected by a minimum wage increase (because so few workers actually make that little). Those who are, however, face catastrophe.

Economics is simple, yet the vast majority of people don't get it.

Day 1

Back at it. I can't make fun of the resolutionists this year, since I seem to be one of them. I decided not to do a before/after photo and not to track bodyfat and weight, mostly because I'll know success when I see it (in the mirror and on the lifting platform), and, frankly, you don't need to see my pasty fat photo. We all know what works.

I did change my diet (as of today), I'm using Precision Nutrition as my template. It's pretty easy, Berardi has written about it a great deal.

Eat every 2-3 hours
Eat complete lean protein at every meal
Eat a vegatable at every meal
Do not eat other carbs (wheat, sugar, etc) other than meals immediately preceeding or following training.
No drinks with calories (booze, cola, juice)
Fruit anytime.

I adjust it a bit - one glass of wine a day is OK, and I will drink V8 to get vegatables in (in a pinch).

It's ok to break the rules 10% of the time. For me, that's 3-4 meals a week that I can skip, or eat bread, or have a cocktail.

Anyway, on to the training.

ME Squat
Warmup - 5 mins elliptical, level 10
Low close stance box squat
45x5
95x5
135x5
2x5 @ 185
Shold have used smaller jumps

RDL
45x8
135x8
4x8 @ 185

Spread eagle situps
4x8

45 degree back raise
4x8

Pulldowns
2x8 @ 150

Stretching.

Other than being weak, not too shabby. Benching tomorrow.

Huge!

Ravens vs Colts next Saturday. All the Colts history aside, this is a heck of a matchup.

But the way the Colts are playing, I'm not sure they'll put on much of a show.

Ravens 27, Colts 20.

Abandon Ship!!

Pat Buchanan on the Neocons leaving President Bush holding the bag.

Is he responsible? Sure. But so are they.

This just in: Wolves vote to eat sheep

An alternative title: Poll shows 78% of the people in California aren't particularly smart.

A poll shows that 78% of Californians support forcing companies to provide health insurance to employees, or to pay into a state fund to provide health insurance.

How is it so many people don't understand the following:

Health care is not a right
Health care is expensive
Employers provide health care benefits as an incentive to attract employees.

If we are going to mandate this, why not go all the way and mandate salaries, too?

Read this

As predicted, the government is trashing the Constitution via the Patriot Act. Here's an example.

Not only does it cost us our rights, now it's costing the taxpayers damages.

Today is the warmest day in the last week...

Clearly, a sign of global warming.

But wait, you say. That's silly. You can't make such a determination based on just a day in a week.

Actually, you can. And the U.K. government weather forcasting division has.

Because the only thing that matters is the last 160 years. The 10 warmest of those years have all been in the last 12. No matter the previous several million.

Thing is, this sort of thing hurts their cause, because it makes people like me (certainly a minority) more skeptical.

As Predicted

The Democratic control of the legislature has inspired the President to suggest not spending so much.

Too bad he didn't do that for the last 6 years.

Q: What is the best way to make a free newspaper worth what you charge?

A: Hire Michael Olesker.

Yes, the alternative to The Sun has hired ex Sun columnist and apparent plagiarist and known fact maker upper Olesker to write 4 columns a week.

We already don't take The Examiner seriously, now we can just pick it up from the front door and put it directly in the trash without bothering to do the Soduku.

Don't quit!

Lew Rockwell makes the case for Libertarian hope.

He's right, of course. Classical Liberalism has stemmed the tide of the State, and will continue to do so. We are all responsible to make it so.

First. Round. Bye.

The Ravens did what they had to do, beating the Bills, sewing up a 2nd seed and a bye next week.

They still get no respect, though. It's all about how good the Colts are. They aren't. They have a virtually unstoppable pass offense, and one of the most talented QBs ever. But they don't have a great running game, and the defense is awful.

At home, outside, the Ravens defense is better than the Colts offense. That's assuming the Colts win next week, which isn't a lock.

I'm more concerned about New England than anyone else. But I think the Ravens can go all the way.

Happy New Year!

We did more than we usually do, and it was a heck of a lot of fun. I'm not one for crowds and the whole New Year's Eve thing - been there, done that, I'll leave it to the youngsters now. But we did want to have a nice dinner, and spend some time with friends, so out we went.

First, we got gussied up and went to dinner at Charleston. Now, I'm not Spamwise, but I do want to give you a run down of what I had and what it was like.

I had 'The Season' tasting menu, with wine pairings. $150. (Mrs. Stagg had 'The Sea'.)

Amuse Bouche

Green Lentil Soup with Gamebird Stock

Champagne, Pommery "Brut Royal" NV

It's like a spoonful of soup and 3 ounces of bubbly. What I found interesting is they were fantastic together.

First Course

Phesant and Rabbit Terrine with Torchon of Foie Gras, Roasted Walnuts

Vouvray Moellus "Le Mont" Gaston Huet 1997

My first Foie Gras. WOW. The wine with the food was like an explosion of flavor (all good).

Second Course

Grilled Hearts of Romaine with a Reggiano Tuile and Sweet Garlic

Trebbiano d'Abruzzo, Marram "Anima" 2004

Again, the wine and the salad were just perfect

Third Course

Pan Roasted Duck Breast with Root Vegatables, 50 year old Balsamico

Rioja, Valsacro 2001

Duck medium rare, again, the wine was perfect. Interestingly, neither the wine or the duck blew me away on their own, but together, fantastic.

Fourth Course

Frilled Lamb Rack Chop with Prot Wine Reduction, Pommes Puree, Black Truffle

Zinfandel, Surh Luchtel 2004

Again, outstanding. I loved both the lamb and the wine on their own.

Dessert

Chocolate Trio: Chololate Baked Alaska, Bloor Orange Tart, Chololate-Caramel Creme Brulee

Banyuls M Chapoutier 2004

Decadent.

I'm usually not particularly expirimental with my food - I'm a Ceasar Salad, Rare Tuna, Steak eating kinda guy. I rarely eat duck, and had never eaten rabbit or Foie Gras. Cindy Wolfe makes being a little experimental with food fun and nearly risk free, helping folks like me open up to new things.

9.5 out of 10.

Afterwards we came home, walked the dog, and went to K's house for a little more food and drink with friends. Then to Gecko's, where I ran into two old friends, folks I hadn't seen in years. We planned to either go back to K's or back home to see the fireworks at midnight, but stayed - we were just having to much fun with everyone else. The bar wasn't too crowded, yet lively enough to make it a heck of a lot of fun.

Off to my parents' today for some of mom's cookin' and football.

2007

I'm not generally one to make a big deal about a year. It's just an arbitrary period of time, and my goal setting tends to be in both shorter and longer periods of time, and I typically don't use January 1 as a meaningful date.

However, 2006 was such a poor year for goals, I think maybe there's value in taking a few minutes as we move into a new year to take a look at where I am and where I want to go.

My life gets kinda broken into buckets. There's Work. There's Lifting. Then there's the most important one, Life.

Of course, they all kind of mix together, but you can see the distinction. And if you can't, tough. Get your own blog.

Work

I'm a winner. I'm more talented than the vast majority of people in my position, and, in fact, than the vast majority of people at my level in the organization. This works in my favor. However, I also can't relocate, which makes moving up to the next level a bit of a challenge, as there aren't many more field positions out there in this area... in order to climb the corporate latter, someday we'll have to move.

That's OK, though. I've been in this job for 28 months, and I have the opportunity this year to show that I am not only more talented, but I'm the best performer. (An important distinction. The best performer in this role is far less talented than I.) To that end, I'm resolving (ugh) to really focus on executing my business plan, to taking it seriously, and to putting the effort in necessary to get results out at the end. No more 3/4 throttle.

To do this, I need to get better at planning, and get better at focusing on work when I'm working. Time management is critical, as is ensuring that anything I do gets me closer to success, thus removing those things I do that don't add value.

I'm lucky in that my job allows a great deal of flexibility. (I can work from home, I'm out on the road a lot, so I don't spend much time in a cube. This can be a blessing and a curse.) I need to better leverage that to help me with the other two buckets.

Lifting

As you may have noticed, lifting was simply not a priority this year. There are lots of reasons, lots of excuses. Given my generally positive outlook, I'm taking a positive from 2006: I don't like being normal. I love lifting, I love the effects, I love having it as part of my life. I think it took a long period where it wasn't (and there are good things about that) to recognize that while not going to the gym is nice, I miss it.

As usual, I have a plan. I have a canned 12 week plan to start out, but the keys, as usual, for me are to stay consistent. Is it tough sometimes with my work schedule? Sure. But it's a priority.

Goals for this year?
Get/Stay healthy
Lift in a meet
Make progress
Get jacked

That's about it. I don't really know where I am, so it's hard to say where I want to be. The good thing is that I didn't really lose too much mass or anything, so I think my lifts should come back pretty quickly.

As an aside, nutrition will be a big part of my lifestyle as well. I'll be following the PN plan, and working hard to use lifting and nutrition to better my health. I am getting older, you know. That said, it won't stand in the way of enjoying the finer things...

Life

This bucket is more about my relationships and my lifestyle. Obviously I want to continue to build my relationship with my wife, although we are a damn happy couple. I'm also going to ensure we do more entertaining. Not just to eat and drink, but to foster relationships with some friends that I've not really seen for a while.

Of course, I do want to appreciate the finer things. I'm building an interest in wine, and building more of an interest in food, so I expect to spend a little more time and money exploring the two.

I'm getting a new car.

I'm also going to focus on health. As I said above, I need to improve my nutrition, and lifting is good for me. I also need to stop self destructive behavior, be it smoking, drinking to excess, not sleeping enough, whatever. Smoking is done. Everything - cigarettes, cigars, whatever. No dip, either. There is absolutely no redeeming value, in my opinion, of the use of tobacco.

I'm also going to work on better running my life, so I have time to do all the things I want to do, as well as get the rest I need to get to be productive the next day. Planning and time management are critical here, but I think I have that down.

I'd like to write more, too. Set some time aside every day to put pen to paper, or keyboard to internet, whatever.

I really want to expand my mind. While I read a lot of news stuff, and I'm up to date on Economics and Classical Liberal Political Theory, I don't read enough (fiction or non). My parents got me a book called Stout Fellow that was all about the Nero Wolfe series of novels and novellas by Rex Stout. I started reading them when I was in middle school, and love them to this day... yet I haven't read them all. I should, given I tore through that book in a day. Satisfactory, Mom and Dad. That just shows me that I need to spend a little more time reading, a habit I've all but lost. (I do read, just I read newspapers, magazines, and the internet... which is fine, but it's not a book.)

Now that our house is pretty much done (save a couple of projects that aren't time sensitive), I'm really looking forward to finding ways to enjoy my life. We've been fortunate and hard working enough to be in a financial position to not worry much (she still worries a little, which keeps me out of a Ferrari, but what are you going to do?) I think now we need to focus on getting to retirement age (55!) happy and healthy so we can just enjoy the fruits of our hard work.

Finally, I always strive to give more back. To the lifting community, I'll continue trying to point new lifters in the right direction. To my local community, I'll continue to watch out for my neighbors, and pour some time and effort into working with kids (I'm teaching personal finance to kids in middle school through the Youth Dreamers this year.) To the broader community, I'll continue to support SPCA, Playing for Peace, and the Special Olympics (and some others). Politically, I'll keep speaking for Liberty.

I'm pretty excited about the new year, I think it will be the best yet. I hope it is for you.

Worst news of the year

Corey Maye lost his motion for a new trial.

Radley Balko (who should be the blogger of the year, for both his coverage of this and of SWAT raids on non violent people) gives the details.

Kinda takes the wind out of your sails. I hope this isn't the end of the road, though.

I'm Two!

Today, my blog is two.

Just upgraded to the new version of Blogger, so I can now put posts in categories, and the template is easier to work with.

Lucky

Sometimes, I don't realize how good I've got it.

But some days I do.

There is nothing better than sitting in my new house, surrounded by my nice things, sipping a Grey Goose Martini, listening to Classical Music on the Sonos, looking at my incredible wife in that incredible black top with the zipper, the long skirt, and black boots.

I even get to pet a dog.

Blogs can't be far behind bumper stickers

The FEC 'admonished' NASCAR driver Kirk Shelmerdine for having a Bush/Cheney bumper sticker on his race car in 2004.

In a decision announced Tuesday, the FEC sent an “admonishment letter” to Kirk Shelmerdine Racing. Kirk Shelmerdine, a former pit boss for the late Dale Earnhardt, has been an unsuccessful, underfunded and undersponsored driver. He has never finished higher than 26th.

So back in 2004, in a move perhaps designed to draw some attention to his car, he placed a “Bush-Cheney ’04” decal on his rear quarter panel, which was otherwise unencumbered by advertising. Democratic activist Sydnor Thompson complained to the FEC, and the agency found that Shelmerdine “may have made an unreported independent expenditure or a prohibited corporate expenditure.”

I told you it's coming. Chavez is taking out a TV network. Are we really that far behind?

And you think you want them to control your health care?

A letter in the WaPo from the Comptroller General of the United States.

The largest employer in the world announced on Dec. 15 that it lost about $450 billion in fiscal 2006. Its auditor found that its financial statements were unreliable and that its controls were inadequate for the 10th straight year. On top of that, the entity's total liabilities and unfunded commitments rose to about $50 trillion, up from $20 trillion in just six years.

If this announcement related to a private company, the news would have been on the front page of major newspapers. Unfortunately, such was not the case -- even though the entity is the U.S. government.

Shouldn't Sarbaines Oxley apply to the government?

A good quote

Credited to both Davey Crockett and President Ford

A government that is big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take away everything you have.

You might want to stew on that for a while.

Training Update

And other stuff.

Things slowly get back to normal. For the weeks leading up to the holidays, we busted tail to get the house ready to host Christmas Dinner (which went pretty well, I have to say).

Alas, now, there is calm.

I've been catching up on sleep and work stuff, but I think I might just go to the gym this weekend. As noted in a post below, I'm looking forward to not being normal.

Footblogging

Another romp of the Steelers. If nothing else, that's a mark of a successful season. With the Colts loss (HA!) the Ravens can lock up a bye and a home game with a win against Buffalo.

I have tickets to the theater on Superbowl Sunday. Normally, this is fine, given I can live without wathcing the Superbowl, and it will be a good day to go out to dinner.

Unless the Ravens are in the Superbowl.

Discussions with Mrs. Stagg are underway.

A year of progress

This post is a little over a year old.

Has anything changed, other than the body count?

Anybody know what 'victory' is?

Sometimes it's fun being right. Other times it's sickening that people continue to die because of other people's criminal acts.

Required Reading

Yes, I'm an Economics Geek. But I can also pick up the back end of a car, so it's not so bad.

Don Boudreaux explains why creating jobs isn't hard to do, but it also isn't necessarily helpful.

Learn something today.

Party City

Just an observation: wouldn't you think the employees at a place called Party City would be pretty festive?

They aren't.

Footblogging

Ravens are in the Playoffs.

I'm rooting for Cinci tonight. A loss by the Colts opens up the number 2 seed and a bye. Plus, of course, I always root against the Colts.

The start of a movement?

Bob Barr joins the Libertarian Party, and makes a big deal of it.

This is a great thing, to have recognizable names move to the party. (I would be thrilled to see Ron Paul do it). I sure would like to see it more often.

Telling

The other day I said 'I used to lift'.

Thing is, lifting encourages other positive habits - I eat well, I make sure I get enough sleep, I don't drink much, etc. when I'm training regularly.

So now, I'm eating like crap, I don't get enough sleep, I drink too much. I started smoking regularly again.

On one hand, I kind of needed the break, not only to get things done, but to remind myself that I don't like living like a normal person. I like living the lifestyle of a lifter, and I miss it.

A Note to Baltimore City.

You are an idiot. One giant colletive moron. Why?

Flashing blue lights in Fells Point.

Some time ago, Baltimore got some Federal bucks to further infringe on the rights of the individuals, and started putting up police cameras. They said they would only go on 'known drug corners' or 'high crime areas'. In a fit of brilliance, they decided to affix a blue strobe light to the top of the camera, so that everyone would know exactly where the camera is. Which essentially moved the known drug corners to other corners, and of course leads to more flashing blue lights.

I was driving through Fells Point a couple of weeks ago... I don't go to Fells Point as often as I used to since we moved to Canton. I noted a flashing blue strobe light at the corner of Aliceanna and Broadway.

Probably the least likely drug corner in the city.

That corner is, however, the hub of a bustling trendy touristy neighborhood. So it makes sense, I guess, to the City of Baltimore to put a flashing blue light that says 'stay out, with your money and your huge development plans! We don't want no property appreciation here!'

Morons. Seriously.

Fantastic summary

Of why big government always fails, regardless of the party running it at Coyote Blog.

Great stuff. Take note.. you won't be any happier when Hilliary can listen to your phone calls without a warrant than the Dems are when you spend money on YOUR pet interest.

Is this how you wish to live?

Radley Balko (The Agitator) links to a photo of a paramilitary police officer standing guard while a child uses the toilet during a drug raid. A raid that turned up nothing.

Balko makes the appropriate point - that no one in their right mind would think this is where the 'land of the free' would be in 2006. Yet, somehow, we are. And we somehow think it's ok to use this level of force to show people we're serious about drugs.

Kid looks like he could bust a cap in yo' ass, huh? I wonder how he's going to end up, what with all the trust in authority he must have now.

Updates coming

I've got a couple of things to post about, just not an opportunity to get to them.

In the meantime, compare and contrast the Baltimore Ravens and the Indianapolis Colts.

Who's going deeper in the playoffs and why.

Please show your work.

Um, whoops?

WJZ, one of the local TV stations here in Baltimore, 'broke' the story that Michael Richards had appeared in blackface at a roast for Whoopie Goldberg, just a few weeks after his, um, tirade at an LA comedy club.

Their source: Dateline Hollywood

I understand the WSJ is going to use The Onion as a source on foriegn policy.

Sorry for the tease

I can't put up the consumer alert just yet.

Probably soon.

If you are planning on buying appliances, send me an e-mail.

Tomorrow

I may have the most valuable post in teh history of this blog tomorrow. I'll be in court in the morining, hopefully settling what is, by far, the worst experience I've ever had with a company... for those of you in the Baltimore area, don't buy any appliances until you check in.

You won't be happy..

When you letting the government do this comes back to haunt you.

You'll wonder how we got here when it's one of your neighbors, or the guy who writes anti government speech on his blog instead of a brown guy who looks like he must be a terrorist.

Sucks when you have to follow your own stupid rules.

A Federal Judge ruled that the US discriminates against blind people because all US paper currentcy looks the same (HA!) to a blind person.

Robertson was ruling on a lawsuit filed by The American Council of the Blind against the U.S. Treasury Department. The council accused the department of violating the Rehabilitation Act, which was passed by Congress to ensure that people with disabilities can maximize their independence and "inclusion and integration into society."

"It can no longer be successfully argued that a blind person has 'meaningful access' to currency if she cannot accurately identify paper money without assistance," Robertson wrote in a 26-page order.

"Of the more than 180 countries that issue paper currency, only the United States prints bills that are identical in size and color in all their denominations," he wrote.

The American Council of the Blind had proposed several possible changes to U.S. currency including different size bills for different denominations, embossed dots and raised printing.

The U.S. government said such changes would be expensive, could render currency more vulnerable to counterfeiting and could undermine international acceptance of the U.S. dollars -- an argument the judge dismissed as "fairly absurd."

Actually, the law is what is absurd, but the government has to obey it.

Enjoy your mutli colored variably sized bills, and the rediculous cost of producing them, America!

Life gets in the way

Sorry for the gap in posts. Again work has just been overwhelming. And again I think I'm getting a handle on it, but we'll see.

I haven't been training. If it weren't for the dog, I wouldn't get any movement at all. I keep promising myself that I'll get back into the habit, yet I can't seem to get there.

Rock on.

Well, they listened

FOX pulls the plug on the OJ deal.

Good thing.

Footblogging

WOW!! 8-2, with a pretty dominant performance over the Falcons.

We might need to start talking about not only home field, but a first round bye!

Fox Boycott

The OJ Simpson book is being published by a subsidiary of News Corp, and of course, all the hype is over the interview that will be on Fox (shocking).

Buy th ebook and give him money, know you are a scumbag.

Promote him for your own profit? The only words I can think of I won't put on my blog.

I wonder how outraged the Fox pundits will be (Bill O', are you listening?)

Why I don't bother with World Net Daily

They post this story about Fox news paying terrorists $2Million to release two of their employees.

They don't mention that Fox News is part of a publicly traded company, and that their books are pretty much required to be open, and a $2Million ransom payment would probably get an auditors attention.

Sad day

Milton Friedman died today at age 94

Another outstanding blog

One I just stumbled across via Clublife.

It is not at all worksafe, due to language, but it's fantastic!

Stacked

Look out for the walrus

This has me in tears.

Brilliant.

Footblogging

7-2. Biggest comeback in Ravens history, and the first time to this record.

Looked flat in the first half, but put it together against a suprisingly good team.

3 games up.

The best possible thing to happen to Republicans

Happened on Tuesday.

Maybe now they'll remember how they got power in the first place.

For those of us who actually want to be free, however, Tuesday was also a good day on the Federal level, assuming the two sects of the mega party can't play in the sandbox together.

Here's hoping for some gridlock.

On a local note - If you voted for O'Malley, be proud that you are responsible for the coming increase in sales and property taxes. Because that's how you help the poor.

Don't take anything too seriously.

At least you aren't laying naked on a tree stump masturbating with a screwdriver up your ass.

Hey, it's in the newspaper, it has to be worksafe.

How does one explain this when friends/family/boss read the paper?

By the way, I would like to publicly thank my parents for raising me well enough that I know to avoid just this situation.

Republicans make this so easy...

By so clearly pointing out where they are completely wrong.

From an Op/Ed in the USA Today by Ken Mehlman, the GOP chairman. Hey, he wrote it...

Today, the Republican Party has learned the lessons of Sept. 11, and understands the importance of using every single tool at our disposal to win this war — but some Democrat leaders would take those tools away. Democrats in the House and Senate voted against re-authorization of the USA Patriot Act.

The UNCONSTITUTIONAL Partiot Act. The Democrats are just holding up their oaths of office. Score one for the Dems.

The overwhelming majority of House Democrats voted against legislation to make it easier to intercept terrorist communications. Democrats voted against tribunals that will help us get the information we need, and have time and again voted against missile defense.

Again, reference the Constitution, which doesn't say anything about who gets rights, just that we are all born with them, and clearly says everyone, even enemy combatants, get due process, and says the government can't listen to their phone calls without a warrant.

War on terror and Iraq

Even more dangerous is that Democrats truly seem to believe that Iraq is completely separate from the greater war on terror.

Gee, I don't know, because it had nothing to do with global terrorism?

Al-Qaeda's leaders are not confused about the importance of Iraq to their goal of global jihad. Osama bin Laden's No. 2, Ayman al-Zawahiri, has said his goal is to use Iraq as a base to launch further attacks, with the goal of creating a new caliphate in the Middle East.

Of course, had the US not removed Saddam from power, the terrorists would be launching exactly zip from Iraq, since Saddam and Osama didn't exactly get along. But let's not let facts get in our way, right?

On Tuesday, we must ask ourselves: Would surrendering Iraq to the enemy so they can use it as a base from which to launch attacks make us more or less safe?

Too late.

Voters face another choice Tuesday: Republicans have cut taxes every year since George W. Bush was elected president. Democrats, on the other hand, have said outright that they plan to raise your taxes. If you're a typical American family with two kids earning $30,000 a year, the Democrats would raise your taxes by more than $2,000. They'd raise your gas taxes just as gas prices are finally coming down. Where would it end? Well, the man who would be in charge of tax policy in a Democrat-controlled House came right out and said it: No tax increase will be out of bounds.

We'll concede this point, although our friend leaves out the inability of the Republicans to stop SPENDING.

What the GOP wants

Republicans want to eliminate the death tax once and for all. Democrats want to bring it back. Republicans want to explore new sources of energy to bring gas and heating prices down. Democrats want to block domestic exploration. Republicans want small businesses to be able to band together to provide health care to their employees at a reasonable cost. Democrats don't believe entrepreneurs and their employees should have that freedom. Republicans want all parents to be able to choose where they send their kids to school. Democrats would limit that choice to the rich and powerful. The list goes on and on.

Really? Then why do the Republicans continue to enforce stupid CAFE standards? Why do they continue to expand the role of government in health care? Why have they yet to eliminate the Dept of Education, as they promised way back in 1994?

There is one more choice voters face Tuesday: The Senate has approved two superb new Supreme Court justices, John Roberts and Sam Alito. Republicans supported Justices Roberts and Alito because they understand that judges need to interpret the law, not invent it. Many Democrats, on the other hand, vocally fought — and then voted against — Justices Roberts and Alito. Why? Because they depend on activist judges to hand them the victories they can't win at the ballot box.

Or, it's because those two justices reinterpret the Constitution to expand federal government power how the Republicans like it, which isn't a good idea?

Tuesday, Americans will have the opportunity to choose between a party that wants to use every tool to keep us safe, or one that would take those tools away; between a party that wants to let you keep more of your own hard-earned money, or one that believes that money belongs to Washington; between a party that understands judicial restraint, or one that wants activist judges to fight its battles.

Two very different visions for America, and one very strong reason for the American people to help Republicans make history and maintain our majorities in Congress.

Actually, I see far more similarity than difference, and the difference I see is that the Democrats are closer to leaving me alone.

No one has been able to make the case otherwise.

Brilliant

This vid is fantastic. Show the government how stupid they are by following the stupid rule. Plus, they irritate the sheep.

Via Catallarchy.

Endorsements

The official Libertarian Lifter Endorsements for the 2006 election.

Like you care.

MD Senator:
Hold your nose, and vote for Kevin Zeese (G-L-P). Yes, he's mostly a Green, but the Libertarian, Green, and Populist parties all agreed to nominate him. It's a protest vote. Certainly there's no way I can vote for Cardin or Steele. A big part of me is pulling for Cardin, if only to ensure Republicans don't gain any ground in the Senate.

MD Governor:
Hold your nose again, but this time, you have to vote for Bob Ehrlich (R). Yes, he's a big government Republican. Yes, he raised taxes... but the possibility of Martin O'Malley as governor in this state at this time is horrifying.

District 3 House of Representatives:
Your nose is turning pink. Hold it yet again, and vote for John White (R). Yes, there is a 'Libertarian' running, but that 'Libertarian' is for raising the minimum wage and forcing people to use energy other than oil. I'm not sure how that happened, but since it did, this is a protest vote against the Libertarians, who continue to shoot themselves in the collective foot. Yes, I know we want the Democrats to take control of Congress, but I can't vote for Sarbaines. Sorry.

Comptroller:
Anne McCarthy (R), only because Franchot is a jerk.

Attorney General:
Abstain. There's no reason to vote for anyone.

MD State Senate, district 46
Hold that nose again, and vote for Keith Losoya (R). Feel good that you are one of about 12 people who do. We need to try to get rid of the rediculous power the Democrats have in this state.

MD House of Delegates district 46 (vote for 3)
Only vote for one. Peter Kimos (R). See above.

Against all Questions. Because that's how we roll.

The process makes my cynical, especially when my own damn party can't produce a single worthy candidate.

How did I miss this?!?!

I don't know how I went this long without having seen Clublife, but I'm glad I'm reading it now.

Absolutley fantastic. I can't wait for the book.

Footblogging

6-2, baybee, and 2 games up on Cincinatti.

Sweet!

BlogBerry

This post sent from my BlackBerry handheld.

Just what I needed

Update

As usual, work has me all turned around.

I finally got a Blackberry. Addicted already.

Training isn't happening. I read something inspiring today, hopefully it will stick.

Post Gap

Sorry. Had a few things that have kept me from blogging.

1) Work. Been busy. Real busy. At the beginning of this year, I took on more responsibility (more territory). I thought it would be no problem, and it's not, really, but I have weeks that feel like I spend all my waking hours working, except for the few that I have a cocktail and read a newspaper.

2) Wedding. Not mine. My mother in law got married this weekend. An out of town thing, we were in a hotel from Thursday to Sunday. Lesson learned: Don't put my wife and her sister in a flying metal tube without the means for one of them to get out. Otherwise, there WILL be an argument in the rental car. The guy she (my MIL) married is a good guy, and his kids and their families are good people. All in all, it was a nice time.

A note on training: I haven't been, again... due to 1 and 2 above, as well as that nasty cold I had a couple of weeks ago. This week at work is going to be tough again, but I'm going to train on Weds and Fri, and get the ship pointed in the right direction.

Or I'll take up mall walking or something.

Stupid? I think so.

I also think stupid is funny, so I'm sharing.

Some nitwit, namely David Perfect (David.Perfect@Jacobs.com) from Jacobs Engineering, sent the crack young staff at the Hatemongers Quarterly some feedback on an old post.

From his work e-mail.

Now, I do not pretend to be the smartest guy in the world. Top 5%, certainly, but not the smartest. But exactly how stupid do you have to be to send:

F*** you for your comments on miss [sic] Rohe

from your WORK e-mail address, and not think it just might get posted on Al Gore's World Wide Web, along with your real name and your e-mail address.

And that people like me, noting the stupidity, might further the spread of that information.

Who doesn't have a personal e-mail now? I've got 2 with my name (hotmail and gmail), one for the blog (libertarianlifter at gmail dot com), and one that's totally annonymous. All free, all easy as pie to set up and check. Sure, I get a lot of spam (especially at my hotmail address, which I now pretty much use as a spam dump), but no one will ever see my work e-mail address posted on the internet after I send a nasty little e-mail.

Perhaps I should send Mr. Perfect a gmail invite.

Keeping you safe from coins?

The Federal government is cracking down on the maker and user of Liberty Dollars.

Now, I want to make sure everyone understands this scenario: someone produces a coin (a round thing made of metal), and backs it with gold and silver. I buy some. I find someone who will take these coins in return for a service, and we voluntarily exchange the 'coins' for the service.

Why would this be illegal? Who, exactly, are we hurting?

Via Lew Rockwell at Mises.

US says, 'we own space.'

The Bush Administration's National Space Policy makes it pretty clear that, at least from a weapons deployment standpoint, Space belongs to the United States.

"Consistent with this policy, the United States will preserve its rights, capabilities and freedom of action in space … and deny, if necessary, adversaries the use of space capabilities hostile to U.S. national interests."


In other words, analysts say, don't expect the United States to sign any new treaties that try to keep weapons from being launched.


"Star Wars"-type programs, while hotly debated by policy wonks, have mostly been far-off notions. Most Americans have heard about Defense Department experiments with exotic weapons, but it's hardly been a front-burner issue.


Craig Eisendrath, a former State Department official who worked on the first treaty to keep space free of military activity in 1967, says things are changing.


"We're going to be testing weapons toward the end of this year," he says. "Deployment will follow. It's not that far away."

This raises an interesting question - who does own space? Typically, for a resource or property with no clear owner, the person who first lay claim and develop or use the resource owns it. But space is a pretty big place, yes?

I'm also wondering why we have a National Space Policy, but then, they regulate how much water I use when I flush.

I said, 'health care is not a right!'

Don Boudreaux says it better.

It's clear that with free access to food, too many people would take too much food, leaving many others with no food at all. Government would soon realize that food storehouses are emptying faster than expected. In response, it might hike taxes even higher to produce more food - raising the price that society pays for nutrition.

Stocking stores with more food, though, won't solve the problem. With food free at the point of delivery, consumers would take all that they can carry. People would quickly learn that if they don't grab as much food as possible today, the store might run out of the foods that their families need tomorrow. This creates a vicious cycle of moral hazard that unwittingly pits neighbor against neighbor.

Eventually, to avoid spending impossibly large chunks of society's resources producing food, government would start restricting access to it. Bureaucrats would enforce rations, such as "two gallons of milk per family per week." There might be exceptions for those with special needs, but most of us would be allowed to take only those foods that officials decide we need.

Food would be a universal entitlement in name only. In practice, it would be strictly limited by government rules.

Replace the word 'food' with 'health care'.

Remarkably Well.

That's Vice President Cheney's opinion of how things are going in Iraq. Even though this has lasted almost as long as WWII. Even though there's no end in sight (2010? Ha!)

The transcript is here.

Required Reading

Linda Schrock Taylor, and the One Question Test.

In 1812, the literacy rate (defined as 'read and do numbers well'), was 99.96%. Before public education. Before school lunches.

What is it now? Why doesn't anyone ask the question?

Welcome to your police state

And say good by to your human rights. President Bush signed into law the Military Commissions Act of 2006

Please read this carefully...

`(a) Jurisdiction- A military commission under this chapter shall have jurisdiction to try any offense made punishable by this chapter or the law of war when committed by an alien unlawful enemy combatant before, on, or after September 11, 2001.

`(b) Lawful Enemy Combatants- Military commissions under this chapter shall not have jurisdiction over lawful enemy combatants. Lawful enemy combatants who violate the law of war are subject to chapter 47 of this title. Courts-martial established under that chapter shall have jurisdiction to try a lawful enemy combatant for any offense made punishable under this chapter.

`(c) Determination of Unlawful Enemy Combatant Status Dispositive- A finding, whether before, on, or after the date of the enactment of the Military Commissions Act of 2006, by a Combatant Status Review Tribunal or another competent tribunal established under the authority of the President or the Secretary of Defense that a person is an unlawful enemy combatant is dispositive for purposes of jurisdiction for trial by military commission under this chapter.

This bill says that the President can call you an enemy combatant. That's the rule. As such, you can be tried in a military tribunal, under unconstitutional rules, insted of in the Constitutionally established justice system.

I don't see how this can pass any judicial review test, but I'm not sure it will ever be tested, since the people it will apply to don't get to use the usual justice system. Nice.

Keep saying 'oh, they'll never abuse that power'. That will serve you well. Every day, we become more like our enemies.

Footblogging

I didn't see Sunday's game, but a tough loss to a great team. Good to see the offense put some points on the board.

I don't get the firing of Jim Fossel... I think the offense is starting to come together, and I don't think he's the problem, I think execution is. But then, I don't get paid to run a football team.

Electing a whiner?

Yesterday, the two major party candidates for Governor of Maryland squared off in two debates. One will be shown tomorrow night, one was shown live last night.

I'm no fan of Bob Ehrlich. I think he's just another big government Republican. A likeable guy, down to earth, and honest, but his politics and mine don't really jive. That said, I don't see how anyone could possibly vote for Martin O'Malley.

He was either whining or pontificating, with absolutely no substance during the debate shown last night. While Ehrlich made some points in his down home, talk radio manner, O'Malley blamed him for Enron (?!). Mr. O'Malley did seem quite proud of the Baltimore City School System's 50% graduation rate.

Wow.

The thing is, I think O'Malley will win.

Because if you play poker, the terrorists win

This bill is the reason I won't vote for a single Republican for Congress, and highlights once more the total lack of any spine of the current President... as he signs the port security internet gambling ban into law. You know, because online poker has so much to do with boats and stuff.

Everything that's wrong is wrapped up in one tidy little package.

Footblogging

Ravens lose to Denver on MNF. As expected, the defense was fantastic, with only a couple of (costly) mistakes. The offense needs to step it up. As was said at the beginning of the season, if the offense can put 13 points on the board, the defense can win the game.

Thing is, just one of three big mistakes (the interception at the end of the first half, the 10 yard punt, or the interception that lead to the Denver touchdown) don't happen, and I think I'm gloating about being 5-0.

On MNF coverage... this is the first Monday Night game I've watched. Is it just me, or are the commentators terrible? I can't really put my finger on what it is I don't like.

Carolina next week - another tough team. It's a big game, in that the Ravens need a strong showing against a tough opponant to really get momentum for the rest of the year.

The Yellow

Or 'Sweet B and the Yellow'. Or 'SFB'. Or 'What's Left of Unprovoked Moose Attack'.

Whatever their name, they rock. A wall of sound. Iggy Pop shoving Coltrane down the stairs (I wish I could say I came up with that, but it's from their myspace). Anger and jazz and noise and fuzz. The 20something girls with their Miller Lites dug it just as much as the old guy with the ponytail.

And I'm not just saying this because my brother is in the band. This is the real deal.

Check out their myspace.

People don't want spinach that makes them sick.

And they don't need the FBI to make sure that doesn't happen. Lew Rockwell puts it nicely here.

The companies that grow and distribute spinach have a vested interest in making sure that food is safe. Otherwise, they won't sell it. The government, on the other hand, only has a vested interest in getting more power. Who do you want regulating the spinach you eat?

The truth is that the people who buy and sell are far more interested in the well being of the public than lifetime bureaucrats who have no professional stake in the outcome of the enterprising process than the man in the moon. Their one and only interest is protecting their power and position. Increasingly, they seize on any and every headline to whip up public frenzy.

This is government in the Bush age, in which every turn of events becomes a matter for federal goon squads to crack skulls. People often claim that the government used 9/11 as an excuse to do what they wanted to do in any case, which was to trample on the Constitution's protections against violations of our personal liberty. Not only is that true; the government is now using even the smallest and most petty excuses to do the same.

But you might say: at what cost? What is the big deal as to whether the FDA and the FBI are involved in the great spinach case or not? Surely the only result will be that merchants will become more careful about guarding the health of consumers.

Actually, I don't think that is a foregone conclusion. Many more people die per day on government highways than became sick in this spinach scare, and I see no hysteria to prosecute road builders or bureaucrats at the Transportation Department. Far from protecting people, the government has a special skill associated with perpetually endangering people such as American soldiers in hostile foreign lands, not to speak of civilians. It is not at all obvious that government has the interests of our health at heart when it regulates and controls us.

There is also an ideological cost here. Whenever government demonizes merchants, it encourages the view that we must be forever on the lookout for dishonest business people who are seeking to make us sick, and from whom only the great civil servants in government can protect us.

This feeds right into the zero sum fallacy - that in order for a big mean corporation to have a profit, someone has to lose. Which, if you made it through ECON 101, you know is incorrect.

Right? You do know that, don't you?

Rockwell also nicely points out how much free enterprise has helped us, and compares it to the 'help' the government provides.

These sorts of investigations actually encourage the view that free enterprise is a source of danger and a health hazard rather than our source of service and health enhancement. After all, a century ago, people would have found it to be nothing short of a miracle that greens could survive a cross-country trek and land on your dining table in pretty much the same state as when they were picked.

Leftists will say the only reason it arrives safe is because of the government, which, is hogwash. it arrives safe because spinach producers make a profit doing it, and they know that killing their customers is generally bad for business. The government, on the other hand, doesn't have to worry about customers. Which makes the killing easier.

Hey, let's have a protest

Generally speaking, I am not a fan of our President. He mislead everyone into war, he's signed into law a number of bills that erode the Constitution (Patriot Act, REAL ID), has overseen grotesque government growth (TSA, anyone?), and he represents the socialist wing of the Republican party.

That said, there was a 'day of protest' yesterday, with people protesting everything from global warming to Iraq. I think it might be more effective to just pick on thing, but what do I know?

"We are turning the corner in bringing forward a mass movement of resistance to drive out the Bush regime," said organizer Travis Morales with the activist group World Can't Wait.

Some dressed in costume, including a hooded prisoner in an orange jumpsuit, a devilish rendition of President Bush and two grim reapers. One man wore a red cheerleader outfit with "Radical" emblazoned on the jersey.

This is how you get taken seriously, I guess. Of course, the White House response is equally stupid.

White House spokeswoman Nicole Guillemard defended the administration's Iraq policy.

"Our constitution guarantees the right to peacefully express one's views. The men and women in our military are fighting to bring the people of Iraq these same rights and freedoms," she said. "The president believes it is important to stay on the offense in Iraq."

May I suggest Ms. Guillemard read what the Iraqi Constitution says.

Good analysis of the internet poker ban

I. Nelson Rose on the internet poker ban legislation.

You know, the legislation those small government Republicans attached to a port security bill so if you voted against it you were against secure ports, the legislation the comittee never read... yeah, that legislation.

I'm actually looking forward to Democratic control of at least one of the houses of Congress.

Required Reading - Farm subsidies

Daniel Griswald at Cato writes about what farm subsidies really mean to the 98% of us who are not farmers in the United States. He nicely points out that not only is there an awful lot of money invovled, but these subsidies (that both Democrats and Republicans seem to love so much) harm the environment and raise the cost of food.

Trade barriers and domestic price supports also force tens of millions of families to pay higher food prices. According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, U.S. farm programs transferred an average of $10.5 billion a year from U.S. food consumers to producers from 2003 through 2005. That amounts to an annual food tax of $140 for a family of four — a regressive tax that falls most heavily on poor families that spend a larger share of their budgets on food.

Artificially high food prices also drive up production costs for the U.S. food processing firms, reducing their competitiveness and jeopardizing jobs. A recent report from the U.S. Commerce Department shows that import quotas have cost thousands of American jobs in sugar-using industries. Tens of thousands of U.S. bakeries, restaurants, and other businesses suffer lost sales and reduced profitability because of artificially high prices they must pay for food commodities.

This is why government intervention = bad. Even when you think the outcome is good.

You do not have a right to health care

You can not have a right that requires someone give you something.

Put nicely by Bart Hinkle

Footblogging

Ravens are 4-0.

This
Team
Can
Win.

The defense did what had to be done. The offence sputtered, against what could be the best defense in the NFL. The last drive, though, showed this team has what it takes to win, even if it isn't pretty.

That's what matters.