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by ontheropes

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.

This is page 2 of the discussion. Read the opening post

379 replies

by absolutely

But I do not know when I will find some more irony of equal or greater entertainment value. Until then, if you're ever in town, I promise to buy you a bottle of water.

:D

PS The placement of your message makes it hard to tell which joke you meant, but whichever one you meant, I'm glad you enjoyed it. Again, sorry about the bottle of water.

:(

by absolutely

That avatar blinking is cute -- once, but it doesn't encourage me to read your posts! Blech!

by ontheropes

What's the name of my avatar/picture?

Who else did something similar in the past and was successful??
I have zero expectations but I like my picture. For now anyways :^0
Everybody laugh g'head but keep thinking.

What does my picture look like when opened with TheGIMP . Is there any place to insert text? What about "Save As"?

Don't forget to tell your loved ones that you care...

How much do you really know about me and my past? How much do you just assume you know?

Edited to add the avatar:

by ontheropes

to a guy I know in person here and I lost my contact point with him. I dropped the link along with my real-life address on his virtual doorstep and I damnsurehopeheunderstands.

I'll yank the avatar after he gets his fat ass over here pronto and pdq. Not before. Sorry all.

Edit: Updated profile.

by absolutely

:0

For the TR 'shocked' emoticon & similar trinkets:

http://articles.techrepublic.com.com/5100-22_11-5269527.html

[edit: Moved 'shocked' emoticon from title to message body, where, hopefully, it will actually emote. In the title, it just looks like punctuation & a capital 'O'.]

[edit 2: That was wrong. The emoticon guide page shows a capital letter 'O', but to actually emote, the emoticon must instead use the numeral '0', as with the 'laugh' emoticon, as noted in another recent discussion I began.
X-(
I'll have to retract my message of satisfaction with TR's management, as their rectification was limited to the one emoticon I specifically called out. Are these features not worthy of proper QA? Uh, no, they're not, but good for small laughs!]

by ontheropes

The fact that you promised is enough for me. I wouldn't force you and I ferdamnsure appreciate ya'.

by ontheropes

Throw a break tag after the emotes and they'll usually emote WhereTF they're s'posed to emote.

by dadspad

in the url, after the techreublic.com.com/ change the 5208 to 5218 and enter. This should get you directly to ther reply to message. That is how I did this.

Dad

Thanks, again to Absolutely for this info

by absolutely

https://www.techrepublic.com.com/5208-6230-0.html?forumID=102&threadID=222970&messageID=2236469

by apotheon

I'm thinking of getting some cement, mixing it up, and fixing a couple small potholes in the parking lot here in the middle of the night, when nobody's watching. Since the parking lot is asphalt, I'll have to make sure to pour the cement a little bit shallower than the pothole.

by apotheon

I'm not 100% sold on the idea that any governmental services are "absolutely necessary" -- but in general, I have an idea of what I think government should provide. That has a very, very simple beginning:

The role of government should be, first and foremost, to avoid initiating force; second, to provide defense for those who fail to effectively defend themselves from initiations of force; third, to prevent those who have initiated force against others from doing so again; and fourth, to otherwise stay the hell out of the way (which really brings us back to the first requirement again).

Note: By "force", I mean violence, threat of violence, and fraud.

Anything that is not directly related to the above should be considered outside government's purview and illegal for anyone to pursue as a government functionary. Period.

by absolutely

[i]I'm not 100% sold on the idea that any governmental services are "absolutely necessary"[/i]

Not even courts to try the guilty, I mean the accused?

by ontheropes

Absolutely and Apotheon just crack me up. True patriots, both of them. Good job my friends :^0
Awesome, for some reason I can't even begin to explain here.
Still laughing. Too cool. B-)

I'll remember ya'.

by ontheropes

...that it looks like investing cash in brass and plastic for protection against hard times is a damm good idear. What was it that I read a long time ago about brass and plastic having a lower shelf-life than it used to have? :(
Check your various metals and consumer products for expiration dates :^0
Mountain-top real-estate paid for in cash and blood, sweat and tears equity might be a good investment too. Wish I had some. I've got plenty of blood sweat and tears. Especially tears.

I'm a tadbit pissed off too.

by w2ktechman

there are other services the government should supply.
1. Provide Law and Order
2. Provide Defense for the citizens
3. Work for the Citizens benefit.
4. Provide details for trade with foreign nations.
5. Manage the currency of the nation.

I am sure that I missed a thing or 2 but I am heading to a BBQ and am already late.

by hmmmm...

No single source references. I for one am glad to see that you thought that thinking was important enough to make you late for a BBQ.

by apotheon

"[i]1. Provide Law and Order[/i]"
That's covered by "second, to provide defense for those who fail to effectively defend themselves from initiations of force; third, to prevent those who have initiated force against others from doing so again". Any instance where that doesn't cover it is an instance where government damned well shouldn't be meddling in my life.

"[i]2. Provide Defense for the citizens[/i]"
That, too, is covered by "second, to provide defense for those who fail to effectively defend themselves from initiations of force; third, to prevent those who have initiated force against others from doing so again".

"[i]3. Work for the Citizens benefit.[/i]"
That's overly broad and prone to abuse (much like that asinine bit of "general welfare" nonsense in the Constitution that gets us in so much trouble by giving Congress the idea that it has the right to legislate and micromanage every single little detail of our lives). Perhaps you'd like to narrow that down a bit.

"[i]4. Provide details for trade with foreign nations.[/i]"
Details? What details?

"[i]5. Manage the currency of the nation.[/i]"
That's unnecessary. Let the best private currency systems rise to the top, and to hell with a governmentally defined currency. Just look at the havoc wreaked by the vesting of the power to mandate currency in the Federal Reserve.

by apotheon

Maybe we should all just align ourselves with the Libertarian Party and vote for Ron Paul in 2008, then. Just sayin', y'know.

by ontheropes

You can just say whatever you want to say and maybe I'll agree, maybe I won't. Words, thoughts and ideas have proven to me that they can have a powerful impact on the road I take.

You gave me a lot to mull over:

The role of government should be, first and foremost, to avoid initiating force; second, to provide defense for those who fail to effectively defend themselves from initiations of force; third, to prevent those who have initiated force against others from doing so again; and fourth, to otherwise stay the hell out of the way (which really brings us back to the first requirement again).

Note: By "force", I mean violence, threat of violence, and fraud.

Anything that is not directly related to the above should be considered outside government's purview and illegal for anyone to pursue as a government functionary. Period.

I might find myself repeating the italicized portion of this reply. My first take on it? HELL YES!!!

I'd probably take time to post something witty in response but I'm hungry so...

Good to see you and I'm going to hit you with an emoticon, B-)

by apotheon

Thanks for the compliments. Quote my words all you like -- I'd like to see that idea about what's right and proper for government become more well-known and more widely accepted.

. . . and that idea (summed up in the so-called "non-aggression principle", or NAP, which states that initiation of force is unethical) is the main reason I want Ron Paul to win the next Presidential election. For that to happen, though, he needs to gain a whole lot of support in the Republican Party before the primaries start at the beginning of next year.

I'm hopeful, but still concerned, about his chances in the primaries. The Republican Party leadership probably hates him more than the Democrats.

by ontheropes

Like I could/would stop them. :^0

I just don't have an agenda and my posts reflect my genuine, real-life known to be true concern, that people think.

edited for comma

by dadspad

when I click the 'view all posts' I cannot reply to any 'you have reached your maximum level' message. However changing the 5208 to 5218 in the url takes me straight to the reply to post. Technet needs to fix this part, I don't mind viewing all posts. But at least this works

Thanks Absolutely

Dad

by dadspad

I am proud to have made your aquaintance

Dad

'We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.'

by tig2

You made me cry.

Embarrassing when that happens.

And both cats were in the room, too!

The Preamble is one of my favourite pieces of writing. It clearly defines it's goal and clearly defines it's desire.

If only people could remember it...

Dad, you make me proud.

by dadspad

'For me, it's probably the age thing. I'm not as sharp as I never was.'

It may have been a typo, but it was too close to me. :^0 :D

Dad

by tig2

How your reply has touched me. I am daily amazed that I still find people like yourself- loving, feeling, THINKING people who just have a capacity for seeing the good in the world. You truly "go placidly amidst the noise and haste" and desire to see the greatness in individual effort. I wish that I had your point of view. Somehow, and perhaps with time and desire, I will.

Your job as a father is to manage to your children's expectations. You won't do that, but you'll try. My fiance and his son have what I thought to be an odd relationship. What I have learned is that they love each other very much but they don't demonstrate that in the way I expect. So who has the wrong expectations? Well, me, obviously. I love my father very much. I have tried telling him that but still have no idea if he knows. I'm an old fart now, but am plagued with not knowing if my father understands how much I love him. And yes, he got his share of blank looks when I was younger.

I have some real fear about the RFID thing. It sits on two fronts. They ARE doing it today with the theory that it will be a boon to Alzheimer's patients. Perhaps it will. But I see other and more sinister uses of the technology. And starting there has the value of insuring that the practise will not be questioned closely- after all, it will HELP these people. Oddly enough, I know a quadriplegic that wouldn't put up with being tagged like that... even if it would "help" him.

President Carter proved this week that you may not dissent against this administration. When pressed for his opinion, he finally gave it, "I think that this administration is the worst in history". His personal opinion, nothing more. Nothing with teeth, an opinion reluctantly given. For his effort, he has been shredded by the White House for having an opinion, along with rather personal attacks on HIS presidency.

Now I don't think that Carter was a great President. I thought he was ineffective on a great many fronts. I think that people were hungry for change and thought that he would bring that.

I also think that Carter is a person of great integrity. He is a man of values that I can respect, and principles that I understand. He is the guy who, in his private life, has contributed greatly to a program that serves as a hand up, not a hand out. He only wants to serve his fellow man and has demonstrated that in many ways on many occasions.

But he disagreed with the White House and was therefore marginalised.

Do I think that this current administration is wrong? You bet. But they are the only game in town just now and go along to get along is the order of the day.

Complete change here...

I try really hard to stay off the pity pot where my health is concerned. I have had my share of hard times and want desperately to believe that they are over. What I want to believe and what I DO believe are often dissimilar. I wonder if there is a cure, but care less about a cure than awareness. At the Komen walk on Mother's Day, someone remarked that I stood out in all my pink ribbons. I said "Good!. If you can't see me, I can't raise your awareness."

Breast cancer has long been thought to be a "woman thing". Not so, but who cares? The number of men who die of this disease is far reaching. I know one male survivor on this board, met another recently, walk with a third.

I often have to stop the critical bus when I see peers making t!t jokes. I have to remember that the joke is normal, I am not. I have to have some openness to reality. (Not the best turn of phrase, but I need more coffee)

I can't tell you how much I appreciate the support I get from people like yourself. I walk to make you aware, you make ME aware by your support. WOW!

I know that things have been worse. But if I didn't believe that they could get better, I would have given up long ago. I believe they can and am willing to do all that I can to MAKE things better.

What Ropes did in opening this conversation was to encourage critical thinking- something that is widely discouraged in the world I live in. I was headed in the same path with the "What kind of World" thread. Ropes did it better. The world I want will cost some, but has a better return on investment than what I am living in.

I know it has been worse. I just want better. I'm scared of what could happen next based on the morons that run my country.

by ontheropes

But I never received a voicemail but don't worry... I have caller ID...

GG must be pretty busy cuz I never received her pm. Seems her email settings are hosed or something...

by ontheropes

Isn't technology great! :|
It's incredible that for YEARS I've been able to call my answering machine from any phone in the world, if I remember the code, to retrieve my messages and still leave them on the device for review at home. I need a better device tho'. I can't change the code on this one...

by ontheropes

WTF is up with all of the dehumanizing (to me) "reality" shows that are provided for "entertainment" purposes? I have to ask myself is that what I like to see? How did they get to be so popular to sheople err... I mean certain people?

by dadspad

Heart.

Fairy tales can come true, it can happen to you
If you're young at heart.
For it's hard, you will find, to be narrow of mind
If you're young at heart.

You can go to extremes with impossible schemes.
You can laugh when your dreams fall apart at the seams.
And life gets more exciting with each passing day.
And love is either in your heart, or on it's way.

Don't you know that it's worth every treasure on earth
To be young at heart.
For as rich as you are, it's much better by far
To be young at heart.

And if you should survive to 105,
Look at all you'll derive out of being alive!
And here is the best part, you have a head start
If you are among the very young at heart.

:X

Dad

by gadgetgirl

just one helluva time for someone to try obnoxious things with the main East Coast broadband router...bloody typical. I am sooooo bored. Connections are horrendous at best and non existent at worst.

Sorry, Ropes, sent you same email from 4 different accounts - I stupidly assumed you'd get one of 'em! That's 6 today that have disappeared into the ether (dammit, and one was about a job, too...... :( .....

oh well. will continue resting while I have the chance..... grandson's ETA 40 minutes - i.e. 40 minutes till the riot starts....! :D

Will pm you - again! - when the system is more stable.... this is the longest it's let me stay online all bloody day....GRRRRRRRRRRR!

GG

by ontheropes

I digress: That's the guy, Arson Investigator, ex-Marine, (2 tours?) retired LEO I wanted to look at the video and rip it apart.

I stopped by there today, S.O.P.

He was up almost all night last night he was so worried.



Seems he had this tiny 2 week old kitten that kept him up all night worried about it. Had.



I call him Oscar. :)

I wonder how long it'll take before my wife notices him. :^0
Oscar is keeping my Yorkie in his cage for me. Too funny.

Mean ol' LEO and Yorkie too.

by tig2

If the kit is 2 or 3 weeks old, it still needs queens milk. KMR is available at your local pet store or call me- you know the number. I have extra from all the shelter kitties.

I can also pack out some kitten food, when the baby is old enough.

Let me know.

by ontheropes

Edited to add text. Dontya' just love the picture they had of Jimbob when the media reported the story. Big ol' frowny face. :^0
(I'd call him Jimbob to his face and I'll bet ya he'd laugh about it.)
I was talking with one of my millionaire buds yesterday. Eighty-two years old and he looks like he's Jimbob's clone. Decorated vet, blah, blah blah. He can look mean for a second or so but mostly yesterday we just wandered around his huge spread just looking at birds and deer and stuff for a few hours. I scooped up and drank the water straight from his pond too. Beat the hell out of treated water. Didn't cost me anything either.

Told me that some big Agri-Corp offered him millions for his place but he'd laughed and said he'd never sell it for billions, neither would his son or his son's son. I have a feeling, hunch, suspicion that big Agri-Corp will be back to offer him some more money. :^0

I hope I'm there if they do.

What was he telling me about Woodrow Wilson?

I remember and I'll never forget... true patriots! Never!

by ontheropes

Hate when that happens. I decided to have a personal, "random act of kindness day" everyday. My idea of a random act of kindness is for me give everyone I interact with a random act of kindness if I can. What do I have to lose?

My dignity? :^0 :^0 :^0

So let's see... what did I do today. I waved and smiled at people I don't even know, about the only ones who waved back were the big-truck drivers. We're used to doing that though so I wasn't too surprised there.

What else. I passed a guy on foot just when it started sprinkling. I turned around, went back and asked if he needed a lift but he was alright. Thanked me for it. (For what ? -I didn't even do anything.) :0

Pulled up to a guy whose pick-up truck was sitting in the road and asked if he needed help. He said it'd be nice if I could help him push it further off the road. I looked it over for a second, said I'll try. Pulled in and parked my ride, unstuck Oscar from my shirt, laid my good hand on the truck and away we went. While we were doing that two other guys came up and helped the two of us. Strangers all.

I haven't seen violent action on anyones part locally all day.

Makes me wonder.

Note to Apotheon: Sheesh dude - I hate it when you make me think.

by apotheon

I consider inspiring people to think to be right up there with any act of kindness I might offer. When someone tells me I "made" them think, I consider it a good day's work.

So . . . thanks.

by absolutely

It was there a couple days ago. but I guess somebody decided we already had too many options and should not carry on our conversations more than 6 'levels' in from the original post.

Humbug!

by apotheon

I can't stand to look at it long enough to work out the Morse code. It gives me a headache -- so I try to arrange for it to be scrolled off-screen while I read your posts.

by ontheropes

Oscar's cool. I double-checked, triple-checked even. I wasn't correct on the amount of weeks old.

:)

by w2ktechman

but every time I dig a bit, I come up with more issues.....
really, just little 'other' things to add to the pile. Maybe I am looking in the wrong places, but there is a lot to take in on short notice. I must have been ignorant of many things before. They are revealing themselves everytime I get on the Internet all of a sudden. just a few searches using random keywords...
In fact, I just pulled up a site that listed in some places, how a person is considered a terrorist. Like publicly dis-agreeing with anything the govt. is 'for'. If the wrong people see or hear you, you are now in a database listed as a possible terrorist!!!
yes, lots of looking up I have been doing. First it was to try to disprove some things in the video, but that did not lead anywhere except more questions. I am afraid that this may take more time than I had originally thought...

The funny part, I was trying to disprove some of the 'smaller' accusations from the video rather than the large ones. This is because usually in these types of shows, the smaller stuff is not researched well and/or can be easily dis-proven. Te larger issues are usually well documented on both 'Pro' and 'Con' sides.
Anyway, usually I form my own opinions and do not chat too much about it anyway until others are ready as well. But in this case, I have not found a starting point.....except....paranoia!
And from what I have been reading, the income tax thing is not nearly as big an issue as some of the others... But it would be a good start on reversing some of the bigger issues.

by ontheropes

but they're losing it. :0
All too soon :)
to meet the requirements.

So? It'll get worserer (w) before it gets betterer.

I'm the deciderer

What does China think of it all?

Where TF did I leave my gleeful Chinese dude emote?

Won't post anything (maybe) to my profile until... I see a guy I know.

Chinese people are cool. Who leads them?

by ontheropes

Spin - Did Rosie quit? What does she say about losing her job? Why would she get fired? Does she know something about anything or was she just talking/raising awareness? I know the answers... does anyone else?

by techexec2

.
Good to see that you have corrected your Morse code. Your avatar used to be signalling S-M-S.

P.S. I noticed... :-)

by ontheropes

to be one of those brainiac types and I'm REAL glad to see you over here. Let me get you a bottled water. :|
Free to you.

by absolutely

Oh, not what you meant?

In court, for anything more serious than a parking ticket, I swear with my left hand on the Constitution.

And I'll consider it a great day when I'm half as cool as apotheon.

by apotheon

That's either a heck of a compliment or a funny bit of sarcasm. Either way -- thanks!

by hmmmm...

You ain't seen nuthin' yet... To paraphrase what SleepinDawg (whatever) says: just cuz you're paranoid doesn't mean that they're not out to get ya'.

Use google to check out eco-terrorist's for just one thing. There's big money in it. follow the money.

by hmmmm...

your soapbox under a fictional table how can I ever make any sense out of anything these piles of garbage I see that are...

by hmmmm...

http:/www.truehealthfacts.com/

http://www.wanttoknow.info/operationnorthwoods

http://www.wanttoknow.info/warcoverup

http://www.wanttoknow.info/warisaracket

by ontheropes

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=457934&in_page_id=1770&ct=5

by ontheropes

It's also disturbing to me that I live in the first in the United States where a University study was done on every citizen in the and federal funds have continued funding the project until the present date. What's distressing to me about it is that I can't find any of the results of the study anywhere. Just that a study was and is being done on the citizens, regardless of their current location. The incentive to voluntarily participate was and is cash that amounts to substantial incentive for a few minutes time.

Talk about picking a crappy for individuals rights and privacy. :0

I'm not a part of that study but family members are. Though it may be perfectly innocent I would think that the results of studies should be freely and completely available to the people A. Participating
B. If tax dollars are used the results should be made available to those who paid the tax.

by ontheropes

I'm also hmmm... I used an old TR account to log-in. I couldn't get here with OTR ? Oh well, yeah bring it on you got me started thinking and for some reason I can't stop :^0
I do plan to slow it down later with selections from the Benjamin Franklin approved food group.

by apotheon

What I recall is that Hugo Black was a lawyer who was also a member of the KKK. In a trial where he was a defense attorney for another KKK member who killed someone, he discredited (almost?) all the prosecution witnesses by starting his questioning with something like "Are you a Catholic?" (Catholics were very unpopular in Alabama in those days.)

He then went on to secure a position for himself in the US Senate. A while later, he was nominated to the Supreme Court by FDR (another of the many dubious things FDR did) -- after a failed attempt at stacking the Supreme Court with his own nominees as I recall (yet another of the many dubious things FDR did). I seem to recall that Hugo Black was a pioneer in that he was the first Senator appointed to the Supreme Court or to an executive office and was not automatically approved without debate -- in fact, his nomination was challenged on (probably spurious) Constitutional grounds, something related to the fact that the Supreme Court got an increase in retirement benefits while Hugo Black was in office as a Senator.

Ultimately approved and sworn in, I think it was shortly thereafter (when he couldn't be removed from the position for any reasons that didn't involve violation of the law) that it was discovered he was (formerly?) a member of the KKK. I think a reporter got the Pulitzer for his work in uncovering the evidence of his KKK membership, but I do not for the life of me remember for sure, nor do I recall the reporter's name.

His career in the Supreme Court was a long and influential one, as I recall -- something like thirty or forty years as an Associate Justice. He was well-known as a "textualist", in that (despite being in the Democratic Party) his interpretation of the law was always based on what he claimed was a literal interpretation of the Constitution. Unfortunately, he was one of those knuckleheads that seemed to have problems understanding the logical necessities of certain clauses in the Constitution. For instance, he didn't seem to think that the Fourth and Fifth Amendments amounted to any protection of privacy. Then again, no other Supreme Court Justices have seen the "right to privacy" implied there, either -- in cases where a "right to privacy" was read by Supreme Court Justices, I seem to recall mostly that it was read as proceeding from the Ninth and Fourteenth Amendments. His opposition to a right of privacy went so far as to attempt (and fail, thankfully) to uphold a conviction for the use of contraceptives.

He also favored expansion of federal power, as I recall -- something of an insane policy, in my estimation, for anyone to hold at any time following the Civil War. To that end, I seem to recall, Hugo Black was instrumental in reversing long-standing Supreme Court policy to the effect that the Commerce Clause should be interpreted narrowly and strictly. His KKK history showed through here, too, though -- he took a non-Federalist stance on some decisions where one would expect a former KKK member to take such a position, such as in opposing the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which was enacted to protect the voting rights of black citizens. He most notably (as far as I know) departed from Federalist sympathies in his last year in the Supreme Court, when he authored a majority decision that established the policy of Younger Abstention (named after the Younger party of a court case heard by the Court -- I don't recall who the other party was). In other words, it seems he was a Federalist most of the time (generally a bad side of the debate to be on, in my estimation), but went anti-Federalist when it was least reasonable to do so.

Not all was doom and gloom in the realm of Hugo Black's "textualist" interpretation of the Constitution, however. For example, I recall that during the Red Scare he broke with the majority in certain cases related to "anti-communist" legislation on Constitutional grounds, such as when he dissented from the approval of laws that required labor union leadership to officially separate themselves from the Communist Party because such laws violated the First Amendment. In general, the First Amendment was his foundation for a lot of opposition to "anti-communist" legislation in Supreme Court decisions where he was generally in the minority, as I recall. His anti-Catholic sentiments as a former KKK member seem to have fortuitously lent to his strict stance on separation of Church and State (funny how these days the modern equivalents of the KKK are fighting for integrating concerns of church and state). Similarly, despite the problems of his "textualist" policy of interpreting the Constitution, there were good effects such as his opposition to segregation laws and his famed quote in relation to the First Amendment "No law means no law." This is the main reason some people have defended Hugo Black's position on the separation of Church and State as being unrelated to latent bigotry. Personally, I'm inclined that both textualism and bigotry played a part in his zeal to defend the First Amendment from all comers, and welcome that zeal even if some of the reasons for it were of reprehensible origins. Judging by his opinions on, and interpretation of, First Amendment matters during his Supreme Court tenure, I rather suspect he would have really torn a new one in the Bush Administration's policies of limiting speech for reasons of "national security". Unfortunately, he has taken strictly Federalist stances on a couple of "free speech" issues as well, proving that even in the defense of the First Amendment he was willing to bend from time to time just to be a bastard (apparently). For instance, he opposed flag burning (claiming it wasn't "speech") and giving speeches on government property freely (that one's [b]really[/b] hard to defend from the perspective of his otherwise strict defense of the First Amendment).

Perhaps the single most important [b]positive[/b] policy of Hugo Black as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court was that of universal application of the Bill of Rights not only to the Federal government, but to the State governments as well. That alone may make up for most of his other poor decision-making as a Supreme Court Justice. Of course, being the "textualist" that he was, he only supported that view based on the Fourteenth Amendment, completely failing to understand the context of the terms of the Bill of Rights itself.

Ultimately, while I would otherwise sympathize with someone who favored a strict reading of the Constitution in ruling on law, I find myself generally in opposition to his policies. His policies were such that, so long as the current fad in how one interprets the use of words was observed, any interpretation of the Constitution is valid -- but must take into account [b]all[/b] of the Constitution and not contradict any part of it. In other words: yes, he's a Constitutional "textualist" -- but no, that doesn't mean that the meaning of the text should necessarily be understood from one generation to the next. I suppose that, on those grounds, we should assume that if "speech" is understood colloquially to mean only radio speech thirty years from now, the First Amendment would no longer apply to print media, television, or conversations in private (especially considering his assumption that there's no "right to privacy").

Hugo Black's policies of jurisprudence apparently influenced Justice Antonin Scalia (a name I'm sure most, if not all, even vaguely politically-aware people have heard of).

. . . and that's all I really remember about Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black. Alas, I don't feel like looking up any source material to support my statements at this time.

by w2ktechman

most of last week. To read most posts I had to be logged in as Anonymous User. To comment I had to log in as myself and try repeatedly, sometimes it took more than 10 minutes to NOT get 'page not found' errors.
I emailed SMORTY about it but did not receive a reply.

by w2ktechman

1 & 2 were thrown in there just because they were on my list. The others were thrown in as additions.

3. It is broad and should be. This is a very general statement. The government should work for the benefit of its citezens. It should not try just to benefit the few and screw everyone else. It should be re-worded though, however I was bringing up some missed points.

4. What details... Hmmm. How about how to set tarriffs. Which nations to trade with. How much to import, etc..

5. Let the private currency systems rise to the top??? Is not that what is already happening? The Federal Reserve is a private bank, not controlled by our government.

by apotheon

"[i]3. It is broad and should be. This is a very general statement. The government should work for the benefit of its citezens. It should not try just to benefit the few and screw everyone else. It should be re-worded though, however I was bringing up some missed points.[/i]"

Well . . . taking that in a positive sense, I'll just say that my explanation of what government should and shouldn't do pretty much cover how it should work to benefit every citizen, then.

"[i]4. What details... Hmmm. How about how to set tarriffs. Which nations to trade with. How much to import, etc.[/i]"

Set tariffs: If that can be done such that it doesn't initiate force, and is done for the purpose of defending others from initiations of force, then it's covered. If not, it shouldn't be within government's power.

Which nations to trade with and how much to import: Government [b]absolutely should not interfere with market forces[/b]. That constitutes an initiation of force, and causes more harm than good.

"[i]5. Let the private currency systems rise to the top??? Is not that what is already happening? The Federal Reserve is a private bank, not controlled by our government.[/i]"

No, that's not what's already happening. The Federal Reserve acts under the auspices of government power (as does the IRS), despite being a supposedly private organization (as is the IRS), and the fiat currency system of the US is mandated by law. Go ahead -- try to circulate a different currency and call it "money" or "currency", and see how quickly you end up in court trying to defend yourself.

by ontheropes

http://pressesc.com/01180202266_eevs

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/052707Y.shtml

Let's see besides the umptyumpt dozens of resumes I've faxed, hand delivered and emailed I have applied at burger restaurants, gas stations, bix-box stores, Mom and Pop stores all nogo. The best one was when I got turned down for a job shoveling cow-shlt. No kidding.

If the department of Homeland Hysteria knows where there are any slavish low-wage, high insurance cost, jobs I'm sure they'll help me out.

I'm hoping for peace to suddenly break out so that things get better for everyone everywhere.

So, while I'm looking for a better paying job I'm volunteering my time helping others anyway I can, where it makes sense to me to help.


Edited: If I was paranoid... Nahhh... There just aren't any jobs. I'm definitely not going to move and start that whole debt/credit cycle all over again. Uhuh. Nope. Ain't gonna.

When you can't even get a job shoveling cow-shlt you know there aren't any jobs. I'm a huge fan of right-sized government and doing the legally correct and honest thing.

by ontheropes

From: http://rense.com/general76/lekth.htm
"It is for this reason that Thomas Jefferson is my all-time favorite American patriot." - Mine too. B-)

Well... Him and one other rogue character...

I gotta go watch... something... :0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqxmPjB0WSs

Crank your speakers up all the way ya' Lazeeboy bistards

Please

I ask you to simply not dismiss me, (messenger/message) without hearing what I have to say even if, (especially if) it's via www proxy.

Woohoo - 3 hots and a cot. Don't forget me.

Edit. I don't know why I bought a grill. Shoot, yesterday I had 2 mini-bagels with whipped cream cheese.

The day before I had half-a sausage on two slices of bread with mustard.

I run my well water through the same grounds in my single-cup coffeemaker up to 4 times before I change the grounds and I foregoe using cream and sugar even.

I'm going to call it, "The Patriot Diet Plan", or something else.

My exercise program is going good too. I find myself walking a lot more than I used to. Pacing and thinking some too.

Strange thing? I feel free and alive and ready to take on my countries worst enemies.

C'mon let's go. I'll lead from the front. All y'all in the rear just try to keep up.

NBC ROCKS!

Keith does too

I'll remember his sorryass.

by ontheropes

You've got a bulldozer and I can install small networks. We trade. Both of us feel we got a good deal. Maybe I'll do the same thing for anyone with a bulldozer, maybe I won't but I get to decide not somebody else.

Am I missing something here?

Re: #5. (slaps forehead) Doh!

by ontheropes

Just off of the top of my head - THX for your reply, :( :| :) ;) :) :^0

I thank you Sir. Much more than I can ever explain.

If you ever want/need anything just give me a shout. I'll be the guy in the parking lot.

by ontheropes

This thread may be lacking active participants today because I'm certain that many US citizens are enjoying the Memorial Holiday. My mood swings up when I see the troops who aren't in peril on TV and swings down when I think of all of the unnecessary War deaths in all countries that have occurred and continue to occur since 1913 for no good reason other than to raid the wealth of the nations people at war..

I feel that people have generally stopped thinking that there are any meaningful results that they can conclude from the links and thoughts provided here.

Speaking from my perspective, hopefully everyone on Holiday is spending it with their families and having a good time. I hope they'll give some thought to others who may not be as fortunate and continue to think of the troops; folks exactly like you and I; long after it's fashionable to do so and a lot longer after our government "decider" plans for us to remember "anything".

Buck Fush! All of 'em!!! I know what I think. What do you know about what you think?

My wife and daughter have spent three days all day selling items they create at a local area flea market and even though they are very low cost items, people just don't seem to be buying. In the economic situation we find ourselves in every little-bit helps keep the lights on.I've been painting my barn roof because the price of gas prevents me from socializing at will.

I'm of the opinion that many have lost sight of some true values and substituted ideas that possessions define their worth as individuals meaning that people generally seem to want the biggest, best, fastest, sleekest, latest, new ?thing? whatever the ?thing? may be and are willing to go into debt to get it.

As a result I think that I may be somewhat better off than many because I enjoy the possessions I have and will only spend cash after thinking long and hard about it.

I think I see a debtor nation; one where people have just accepted because they were told that they must be thin, coiffed, polished and have every type, several types of ointment/treatment for every body part so that they look "good" and then they teach or allow someone else to teach their children the same concepts.

Think about it. Something as simple as lawns.

I think that a lot of folks spend far too much money on having a perfect lawn. It's gotten to the point where there are fines in some governmental districts and those fines are in the form of a ridiculous amount you'll have to pay to the governmental district if they send someone out to mow your lawn to an "acceptable" height. I call that a Lawn tax.
People will throw bag after bag of chemicals on their lawn so that it looks as good or better than the neighbors lawns and then they'll work for hours taking care of green grass instead of doing something truly useful. They become slaves to their lawns without really thinking about it. Or they'll pay someone else to do that and then look down on them because they're in the service industry and don't earn as much. Gas, mowers, leave whackers, rakes, vaccuums, blowers; you name it. Gotta have it. Go in debt to get it so that they can slavishly work and worry if they killed the last dandelion. Ridiculous, if you ask me.

What industry are you in.
Hmmm...
I know what the odds are if you're an American.

Your service business isn't anchored to the soil like a manufacturing business.

When someone else will provide the same service you provide and they'll do it for less money what's the decision going to be? After all we're conditioned not to expect employee loyalty by the company to the employee so why should you expect any services you offer to keep you at the same income level.

Meanwhile there are many people who are just like them really (without the lawns and toys and extended credit/debt) who deserve a voice in this world as much as anyone else does. In many places they're actually happier with much less than many Americans I see who rush to and fro like lemmings to get to a job they hate, to work for a boss they despise doing something they'd rather not do so they can spend their money on things that will make them ?feel better? about themselves and be somehow, in only their own eyes, better off.

Then the cycle repeats itself on and on while the garbage mountains continue to grow, filled with yesterdays ?must have? item.

I'm concerned that people won't focus on the real issues this country faces, that they too in fact face, that they won't vote and really understand what they're voting for from more than one source if they do vote.

I can see what's happening in Venezuela happening here too. If you can't, that's fine, maybe you haven't thought about it as much as I have. Maybe you don't care what happens in Venezuela because it's not happening to you. Maybe you don't care what happens to me as long as it doesn't happen to you. That's fine.

I can see myself being incarcerated for no reason, much like the Jewish people during WWII, having to work at hard labor with the exception that nothing will be done by anyone to help me because after all, the thinking would go, I was arrested so it follows that I must have done something wrong.

I am probably one of the most law abiding people I know. I believe in peace for everyone everywhere. And not the peace I choose for them but the peace that they choose for themselves.

I also think that few are ever going to listen or completely read this entire discussion encouraging them to think because it's not presented with sound bytes, graphics, music and video in an entertaining format packaged for the consumer on the go. That, to me, is very sad because all I want is for my fellow Americans to think of what has become of their country and the world because their attention was focused elsewhere. All I want is for myself and my fellow American to be free in the country that I love that was originally paid for in blood because the thoughts and ideas of a few people joined together made a difference.

Follow your own money. Where does it always end up eventually?

In a bank.

Edited: Guess I wasn't done. :0
You pay for your new technology when your older tech worked well enough.

For example: A small open wood fire cooks food quite well but we don't cook that way outside much anymore.

You'll do like I just did and buy a barbecue grill only you'll get the more expensive model because that's what your neighbor has.

You'll judge a person as possibly unworthy because they drive an old beat to crap pickup truck like Sam Walton often did while you're driving a Lexus or Mercedes that you'll never own because it "makes more sense" for you to lease it :^0
instead of paying $1500.00 cash for a beater that gets you everywhere you need to go. You're the smart one cuz you got the Lexus. :^0 :^0

Sorry. :|

Where does the money go?

Buy something and stick with it. Drive it 'til the wheels fall off.

Instead of throwing it out learn how to recover your furniture yourself with the time you save not slaving over your lawn.

But then you probably don't have a lot of free-time because making all of your payments on stuff you don't really own until it's paid for, which is when it will likely wear out, takes up most of your day.
That and all of the taxes you have to pay can wear a body out besides seeing the rising cost of food, in part caused by the ethanol program that you may not think you're supporting but in fact are supporting because you didn't read what the issues are but accepted what you were told because it's trendy to be eco-friendly and you may not have been aware of your representatives views and the issue itself if you even bothered voting.

Oh that's right, you were taking the kids to where they could learn from someone else instead of talking to them yourself to see what's really going on in their lives and if they're really learning anything useful and creative. That's the schools job. NOT!

I guess it turned into a rant but puhleeze consider that what you think you know about anything may not be all there is to know and what you don't know can really hurt you in the long run.

That's all for now. Thanks for listening and hopefully thinking.

If anyone doesn't like my opinion I'm going to blame Apotheon first, Absolutely, very close running second and Tigger/tryten/w2ktechman/TE2/Daddoode/DuctTape guy/ all tied for third place. :)

by tig2

Third place??? I only get third place????? In a multiple tie???

You're smegged now, buddy. I can find your tail. I have your IP and an attitude problem!

Seriously, you make a hell of a lot of sense.

We have placed the wrong importance on the wrong things. Why? I don't have the first clue. I have never lived that way, but someone who stole my identity taught me how to survive.

There is legislation coming in my state against pan-handlers. You've all seen them- a cardboard sign that says "help me" on the side of the freeway- or in my metro, accosting people for money.

I agree with this legislation whole heartedly. A local news team followed a pair of pan-handlers back to their $350,000 house with the two cars and a truck plus boat and asked some searching questions. And were told that begging was more lucrative than their jobs.

Wish I had thought of that. NOT!!!

When I was in need, I called on friends for temporary support... when they could give it... not often... but depended on me. Just me.

If I slept "outside", oh well. At least I slept.

Let me tell you about chemo while you are trying to find/work a job. Or not. Mostly because it is fricking depressing.

I could list hundreds of points. Why?

There are serious things wrong with the way this country values things. I can list many. What the hell, I have already pissed off Max, I am sure that I can find many to refute me.

Cut off welfare spending. Do it now. Offer work re-engagement programs. Good ones that have an attached career path.

Quit with the Lindsey Lohan/Paris Hilton/Brittany obsession. They are cute. They have no brains. They should be OVER.

Consider that stealing money from my pocket (can we all say IRS?) is a crime. How you fund your pets is YOUR issue.

And while we're here, WHY are we funding many of these programs? I get the one about medical care. I get the ones about support. But there are NUMEROUS programs in between that have little to no value.

And just a thought... why are we paying out to a guy wearing more bling than Mr.T for NOT killing the mother of his numerous babies (that are his income ticket, after all)and not working... and oh, paying her too???

I get to be first in line on the blame train. I have even more that you haven't seen yet.

by absolutely

I spend a lot of time in the TR top 10, and I'm much more abrasive than you are, Tig! That makes me noticeable. Or, impossible to ignore, depending on one's goal.

:D

You know I agree with all the content of your post, but I want to zero in on "the Lindsey Lohan/Paris Hilton/Brittany obsession" because I personally object to the stereotype that pretty = stupid. Of course, it applies very well to many people who are paid [b]only[/b] to be pretty. And, a lot of people who [b]have nothing else going for them[/b] are paid only to be pretty, because there is an audience for pretty faces which never say anything [b]challenging[/b]. That, to me, is what is irritating about studio pop stars, not their pleasant looks. I may go to your "what kind of world" thread and post a summary of this. It would be something about welcoming, or relishing, challenges. Cancer survivors seem to "get it" more consistently than any other demographic, in my experience, so you may be able to find the right words before I do. Either way, keep up the great work!

by ontheropes

for the right reasons and I don;t consider those reasons to be the same ones you've posted because I seriously wonder if you've given the backtrail enough reasonable thought and objective viewing.

Let me put it like this, of the third ranking opinions I'll put you in the lead 'cuz you're still here.

Now think some more afore I come over there and shine a big ol' spotlight right in your eyes and holler at you. :x

I wonder where GG is and I swear I hope they're alright over there.

You did follow my links didn't you Tigger? For yourself, you should. For my country you must and then I just ask you to think on them!

by absolutely

[i]I feel that people have generally stopped thinking that there are any meaningful results that they can conclude from the links and thoughts provided here.[/i]

We think along similar lines, Ropes, but you've provided a lot of information to process in a short time. You've challenged a lot of stupid ideas that a lot of people hold for no better reason than habit. No bad habit is easy to break, even habits of thinking stupid thoughts. Give us time.

by ontheropes

I'll lead from the front not from behind some comfy desk where I'd be surrounded by lobbyists and special interest groups who would be willing to pay me virtually anything to go against the will of the very people whose voices I represent.

Not going to happen.

I said that I hope the people in the rear would try to keep up and I meant it.

Stay tuned.

In lieu of looking at something I might say tune in Montel, what's his background? I mean besides being a former Navy intelligence officer. I know that I like what he's doing. I believe he's a true patriot and it's a damnshame that I can't send him email. Why is that?

Likes and dislikes aside, I really hope and pray that Rosie gets her own show. I'll tune it in everyday.
Just saw her in her big ol' PEACE t-shirt. Too cool.

by gadgetgirl

and you should have FINALLY received your pm......

On top of everything else, my lappie BSOD'd me on Saturday night, too..... spent all damn day rebuilding yesterday.....

Miffed.

Need new gadget.

GG

]:)

by ontheropes

Just now? Union workers wage cuts, longer hours for the same pay and seniority buyouts in another manufacturing plant.

Why do I often hear people working in the service industry blitching that their manufacturing industry buyout money didn't go very far. I think I know, having given it some thought.

Edited for this link

http://youtube.com/watch?v=I4s0nzsU1Wg

by ontheropes

"These facts have been in the news...

Facts?! You're bumming me out Dad.

My minds made up. Don't confuse me with the facts.

What recently happened to whistle-blower laws? Who changed them? Why? I think I know. Do you?