Paul for President!

No, not me.

Ron Paul. He's announced he's running.

Paul, a nine-term congressman who represents a district just south of Houston that includes Galveston and stretches along the Gulf Coast nearly to Corpus Christi, describes himself as a lifelong Libertarian running as a Republican.

Paul has spent most of his career outside the GOPs traditional circles. He limits his view of the role of the federal government to those specifically laid out in the U.S. Constitution. As a result, he sometimes casts votes that appear at odds with his constituents and other Republicans.

Paul, for example, was the only Republican congressman to vote against Department of Defense appropriations for fiscal year 2007, which he opposed because of the war in Iraq — a war he says is "not necessary for our actual security."

He once described President Bush as "not a constitutional president" and voted against a resolution declaring that the United States would win the war on terror.

He acknowledges that the national Republican Party has largely shunned him despite his nine terms in office under its banner. He gets little money from the GOP's large traditional donors, but benefits from individual conservative and Libertarian donors outside Texas.

Will he win? Of course not. With rampant Statism the order of the day in both parties, certainly a Classical Liberal has no chance. What his candidancy will do, however, is bring to light the differences between people who say they are for smaller government, and people who really are for smaller government.

Of course, this wasn't covered anywhere by the national media... it's an AP story that I found on a couple of Libertarian type sites, and local Texas newspapers. Meanwhile, Chuck Hagel's lack of an announcement got national press. Go figure.

Oh, and to John McCain: Please don't have me arrested. This is not a campaign contribution.

Wiretapping you is secret. So you can't prove we are wiretapping you illegally.

Unless, of course, we accidentally send you a copy of the report. And you are representing a group we think are terrorists.

This is the case that has the best chance against the government, as it's the only one where the plaintiff can prove the wiretapping happened.

For those keeping score: The government tracked these calls between a lawyer and a group they think are terrorists. Then they sent them a report telling them so.

Because that's how you win against terrorists.

Spamalot

Quick review:

Not as good as the movie. Not as good as everyone seemed to think.

However, it's funny, and worth going to see.

Good gun news

A Federal court ruled that the DC ban on having a gun in your home is a clear violation of the Constitution.

It took a while, but they got to the right place. I heard briefly on the news last night that Maryland is considering loosening the very restrictive carry laws.

The most impressive argument was from a grandmother who didn't think it right that rich white guys who carry a lot of money can carry, but a poor black grandmother raising her 3 grandkids in a questionable neighborhood can't protect herself.

Sweet. Everyone has a little Libertarian in them.

Divine Presidency.

Radley Balko on God in the White House.

I had a similar conversation with a coworker over some cocktails one night last week. Rights and morality can indeed come from your humanity. I know plenty of atheists who I hold in much higher regard from a moral standpoint than believers.

The 10 Commandments pretty much sum up property rights, don't they?

The New Scientific Method

From JunkScience: The IPCC Report.

Please note:

Changes (other than grammatical or minor editorial changes) made after acceptance by the Working Group or the Panel shall be those necessary to ensure consistency with the Summary for Policymakers or the Overview Chapter.

So, the science must be approved by the politicians prior to publication.

Yeah, I'm running right out to get my Prius.

Meet the Press, For Idiots

Now this is funny.

Airport Security: Still indeed a joke.

On Monday, I flew out of BWI Airport. (I was unfortunately not delayed heading to 4 days of meetings in Atlanta). I performed the government required completely unconstitutional security procedure, including showing my ID, taking off my shoes, and putting my laptop in a plastic container, because that's clearly better than leaving it in a briefcase. Or something.

Not a problem.

Leaving Atlanta on Thursday (after having rushed to the airport to get on an earlier flight to avoid the tornadoes), I encounter an issue. My bag is stopped in the x-ray machine.

Perhaps the pins in the new shirt set it off.

No.

Crack TSA Employee: Sir, is there anything in here that might stick me?

Me, trying to put on my highly dangerous and subversive shoes: Just some pins in a new shirt

Crack TSA Employee: That's no problem. Please do not touch the bag while I am going through it... what's this? Hmmmm... toiletries. Sir, do you have a clear plastic quart bag?

Me, realising this man is about to take my highly dangerous hair gel, toothpaste, and shaving cream: No, I thought that clear zipper bag would be acceptable.

Crack TSA Employee, sternly: Sir, these must be in a clear plastic ziplock bag. I'll have to take them, unless you go get a bag.

Me, looking forward to blogging about this: I think I'll pass going back out and getting a bag. Does it have to be Ziplock, or will any brand do? And just so we are clear, the only reason you are taking those is that they are not in a clear Ziplock bag - if they were, there would be no issue at all, right?

Crack TSA Employee: Yes.

Me, gathering my stuff: Do you guys realize just how stupid that is?

What bothers me the most, beside the stupidity and the violation of basic rights, is that they still are not consistent! The same bag, with the same stuff, went right through at BWI.

Been a while

I was out of town last week, and took the weekend off from the internet (mostly to keep myself from working.)

I was out in the field today, just got home and online. I have a few posts bouncing around in my little head, including my experience with crack airline security and an update on my planning/goals post from the beginning of the year.

You'll see training posts start back up on Wednesday.

Taking on the important issues

Via Boing Boing, we find a Maryland Legislator who wants to ban truck nuts.

If this is what Republicans in Maryland bring up, it's no wonder they have so few people in the legislature.

Government healthcare sucks, so lets make sure we have government run healthcare

In the news this week is the startling revelation that care in military/veteran hospitals is sub par. At ThinkProgress, they opine about how awful the establisment is.

Why then are you trying to increase government involvement in health care?

Is it just me? Or is this just really, really stupid?

Great stuff!

George Takei has a message for Tim Hardaway.

I love seeing people not take themselves so seriously, and have fun with otherwise ugly stuff.

Process design

So I've done a little process (re)design in my career. So I thought this was funny.

Frighteningly true, too.

But then, in the business world, I've seen similar flow charts.

Heavy

Sleep. Dragonaut.

How many more people have to die?

Radley Balko wonders.

I'm scared, too, buddy.

"You are there, with air conditioning, entertaining yourself, while we are here in hell."

I just sat down this eveing with a dry vodka martini to read my Weekend Journal (the weekend edition of the WSJ.) After reading the article about high paid executives having higher brickbreaker scores than I do, I read an article by an Iraqi reporter, living in the United States.

It's called, "Missing in Baghdad: My Father". Find it and read it. If you still think what the US did was a good idea, you deserve every bit of tyrrany our government can impose on you.

I'm trying to find links online now, but I had to post this. Nothing. NOTHING has moved me more than this article, and I was against the invasion from the git go.

Edit: You have to be a subscriber, if you are and missed it, here's the link. I'm going to see if I can find text online. If not, I'll see if I can get permission to type it in myself.

I saw this coming

It was just a matter of time before insurance companies started getting out of states where the companies were forced to cover losses for which they did not collect premiums.

State Farm announced today that they are done in Mississippi.

"It is no longer prudent for us to take on additional risk in a legal and business environment that is becoming more unpredictable," Bob Trippel, senior vice president of the largest home insurer in the United States, said in a statement.

...

"Current legal and business environments ... are becoming untenable," said Trippel in a letter to Mississippi Insurance Commissioner George Dale

Insurance companies said the same things as they were getting out of California after the state decided that all homes were to be insured at replacement cost, even though they were not paying for it (and were grossly underinsured).

I know what I would do.

The governor of Wisconsin has floated the hairbrained idea of an additional tax on oil profits, which somehow they want to make sure isn't 'passed along' to consumers.

If I were big oil, I would do simply this: Call the governor of Wisconsin, and tell him if they want to tax my profits, I will not sell my product in their state. The residents of Wisconsin can go get gas in another state.

Simple, I think.

If you have some time today

Give this a listen.

It's quite something.

Via Rich, the Canadian math teacher

Edit/Update: Here's his blog

He's not the only one..

But no one has done this with Hilliary yet.

Person I just met: "So, do you have kids?"

Me, looking for the bar: "No. Do you?"

Person I just met, who has immediately judged me as pathetic or selfish: "Yes. 2. Would you like to see photographs?

"Soooo... why don't you have kids.?"

Me, wanting to smack that look off his face: "Don't want them. Why do you?"

Person I just met, confused, because they don't know the answer: "Isn't this shrimp wrapped in bacon excellent?"

This happens pretty regularly with my wife an I when we meet new people. Via Ron Smith, here's a good article on women deciding just not to have kids.

My wife and I make the choice together. We love our lives. We travel at will. We read. We go out on a whim. We also love all of the children around us.

So stop thinking we're pitiful and we're selfish, and turn the question on yourself.

Where there's smoke...

The AMA, as well as a recent poll of US adults, wants to slap an 'R' rating on any film showing smoking.

I mentioned we weren't far away from this a year and a half ago.

We keep on sliding towards emulating those we wish to not emulate.

Well, some of us wish to not emulate.

Quick training update

My back (SI joint) is getting better. I think I have identified the problem: sitting on a stool in my kitchen hunched over and general inflexibility. I'm taking one more lower body day off (today), then getting back on schedule Wednesday. I'm going to take the next few weeks to do some GPP stuff, not really structured, to get back into it, then at the beginning of March I'll restart the program in ernest.

Do you really want these people taking care of your health care?

When they can't even keep track of parking regulations.

Deja Vu

Amadinejad says he doesn't fear a US invasion. Hussien didn't, either.

A couple of things of note in that article. Not only are the Iranian leaders insane if they think the US won't invade, and won't wipe them out, because, of course, they will. However, they are wise to note that due to being mislead about Iraq, Congress and the public won't let this (or any other) administration attack another country without a metric assload of proof.

Which is yet one more little bit of damage done by this Administration by attacking Iraq. Not only are resources tied up that could be used to attack/defend against a legitimate enemy (and Iran very well may be), but when they try it, no one is going to believe them.

Pelosi's Plane

The noise on this one is just fantastic. I get to listen to Glenn Beck on the drive up to Philly, and he was going nuts about this story yesterday, and it was incredibly entertaining.

Frankly, I'm not suprised at all, and was encourged to see some consistency from the White House. Goodness knows they don't want to keep anyone in Congress from spending more money.

What I think is more important is the assumption that she needs to be safer than I do. I'm also concerned, what with all the money and violation of basic rights involved in the current security for commercial aircraft, that is still isn't secure enough for the Speaker of the House.

Also, how is it that stopping for fuel in a military plane is a security risk. They do still stop at Air Force bases, right? Isn't that where they keep the fighter planes and stuff?

Education vs. Schooling

There's a difference. This is a nice read on the subject.

The only way I can see after spending 35 years in and around the institution (53 if I count my own time as inmate) is to put full choice squarely back into the hands of parents, let the marketplace redefine schooling - a job the special interests are incapable of - and encourage the development of as many styles of schooling as there are human dreams. Let people, not bureaucrats, work out their own destinies. That's what made us a great country in the first place.

That sure seems like a good idea to me.

Superbowl

For the first time that I can remember, I did not watch the Superbowl. We have season tickets to the Hippodrome Theater, and we had tickets for Wicked last night.

I'm not really into musical theater. Ok. I'm not at all into musical theater.

But the show was really cool. For those of you who don't know, it's the back story of the witches from the Wizard of Oz. Funny in places, touching in others. If you get a chance, go ahead. It won't hurt you. (During intermission, my Blackberry and I were very popular with the other menfolk).

No dinner out beforehand, as it's restaurant week. (Bicycle on Wednesday, Oceanaire on Friday). We did go to Vaccaro's at the Canton Square after. Chocolate cannoli cake and coffee.

Stand up States

Maine, Georgia, Wyoming, Montana, New Mexico, Vermont and Washington. All appear to be standing up to the Federal Government against the Real ID act. You remember that, the one that couldn't pass on it's own, so the Bush Administration and Republican Leadership got it tacked on to a military funding bill.

The issue may be moot for states if Congress takes action.

Republican Sen. John Sununu of New Hampshire, along with Democratic Sen. Daniel Akaka of Hawaii, filed a bill last year to repeal the law. Sununu expects similar legislation will be introduced soon.

"The federal government should not be in charge of defining and issuing drivers' licenses," Sununu said in a statement.

You'd think they would have thought of that when they voted for it.

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.