Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Monday, November 28, 2011
Word UP!
You can find the best explanation of it and the current lists for 2010 and 2011 from Word Play Masters website here.
Here are the winners: (this is the 2009 list)
1. Cashtration (n.): The act of buying a house, which renders the subject financially impotent for an indefinite period of time.
2. Ignoranus: A person who is both stupid and an ass****.
3. Intaxicaton: Euphoria at getting a tax refund, which lasts until you realize it was your money to start with.
4. Reintarnation: Coming back to life as a hillbilly.
5. Bozone (n.): The substance surrounding stupid people that stops bright ideas from penetrating. The bozone layer, unfortunately, shows little sign of breaking down in the near future..
6. Foreploy: Any misrepresentation about yourself for the purpose of getting laid.
7. Giraffiti: Vandalism spray-painted very, very high.
8. Sarchasm: The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn’t get it.
9. Inoculatte: To take coffee intravenously when you are running late.
10. Osteopornosis: A degenerate disease. (This one got extra credit.)
11. Karmageddon: It’s like, when everybody is sending off all these really bad vibes, right? And then, like, the Earth explodes and it’s like, a serious bummer.
12. Decafalon (n.): The grueling event of getting through the day consuming only things that are good for you.
13. Glibido: All talk and no action.
14. Dopeler Effect: The tendency of stupid ideas to seem smarter when they come at you rapidly.
15. Arachnoleptic Fit (n.): The frantic dance performed just after you’ve accidentally walked through a spider web.
16. Beelzebug (n.): Satan in the form of a mosquito, that gets into your bedroom at three in the morning and cannot be cast out.
17. Caterpallor (n.): The color you turn after finding half a worm in the fruit you’re eating.
The Washington Post has also published the winning submissions to its yearly contest, in which readers are asked to supply alternate meanings for common words.
And the winners are:
1. Coffee (n.) The person upon whom one coughs.
2. Flabbergasted (adj.) Appalled by discovering how much weight one has gained.
3. Abdicate (v.) To give up all hope of ever having a flat stomach.
4. Esplanade (v.) To attempt an explanation while drunk.
5. Willy-nilly (adj.) Impotent.
6. Negligent (adj.) Absentmindedly answering the door when wearing only a nightgown.
7. Lymph (v.) To walk with a lisp.
8. Gargoyle (n.) Olive-flavored mouthwash.
9. Flatulence (n.) Emergency vehicle that picks up someone who has been run
over by a steamroller.
10. Balderdash (n.) A rapidly receding hairline.
11. Testicle (n.) A humorous question on an exam.
12. Rectitude (n.) The formal, dignified bearing adopted by proctologists.
13. Pokemon (n.) A Rastafarian proctologist.
14. Oyster (n.) A person who sprinkles his conversation with Yiddishisms.
15. Frisbeetarianism (n.) The belief that, after death, the soul flies up onto the roof and gets stuck there.
16. Circumvent (n.) An opening in the front of boxer shorts worn by Jewish men.
Here are the winners: (this is the 2009 list)
1. Cashtration (n.): The act of buying a house, which renders the subject financially impotent for an indefinite period of time.
2. Ignoranus: A person who is both stupid and an ass****.
3. Intaxicaton: Euphoria at getting a tax refund, which lasts until you realize it was your money to start with.
4. Reintarnation: Coming back to life as a hillbilly.
5. Bozone (n.): The substance surrounding stupid people that stops bright ideas from penetrating. The bozone layer, unfortunately, shows little sign of breaking down in the near future..
6. Foreploy: Any misrepresentation about yourself for the purpose of getting laid.
7. Giraffiti: Vandalism spray-painted very, very high.
8. Sarchasm: The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn’t get it.
9. Inoculatte: To take coffee intravenously when you are running late.
10. Osteopornosis: A degenerate disease. (This one got extra credit.)
11. Karmageddon: It’s like, when everybody is sending off all these really bad vibes, right? And then, like, the Earth explodes and it’s like, a serious bummer.
12. Decafalon (n.): The grueling event of getting through the day consuming only things that are good for you.
13. Glibido: All talk and no action.
14. Dopeler Effect: The tendency of stupid ideas to seem smarter when they come at you rapidly.
15. Arachnoleptic Fit (n.): The frantic dance performed just after you’ve accidentally walked through a spider web.
16. Beelzebug (n.): Satan in the form of a mosquito, that gets into your bedroom at three in the morning and cannot be cast out.
17. Caterpallor (n.): The color you turn after finding half a worm in the fruit you’re eating.
The Washington Post has also published the winning submissions to its yearly contest, in which readers are asked to supply alternate meanings for common words.
And the winners are:
1. Coffee (n.) The person upon whom one coughs.
2. Flabbergasted (adj.) Appalled by discovering how much weight one has gained.
3. Abdicate (v.) To give up all hope of ever having a flat stomach.
4. Esplanade (v.) To attempt an explanation while drunk.
5. Willy-nilly (adj.) Impotent.
6. Negligent (adj.) Absentmindedly answering the door when wearing only a nightgown.
7. Lymph (v.) To walk with a lisp.
8. Gargoyle (n.) Olive-flavored mouthwash.
9. Flatulence (n.) Emergency vehicle that picks up someone who has been run
over by a steamroller.
10. Balderdash (n.) A rapidly receding hairline.
11. Testicle (n.) A humorous question on an exam.
12. Rectitude (n.) The formal, dignified bearing adopted by proctologists.
13. Pokemon (n.) A Rastafarian proctologist.
14. Oyster (n.) A person who sprinkles his conversation with Yiddishisms.
15. Frisbeetarianism (n.) The belief that, after death, the soul flies up onto the roof and gets stuck there.
16. Circumvent (n.) An opening in the front of boxer shorts worn by Jewish men.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Thursday, November 17, 2011
November 17 is currently observed as a holiday in Greece for all educational establishments
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athens_Polytechnic_uprising
The Athens Polytechnic uprising in 1973 was a massive demonstration of popular rejection of the Greek military junta of 1967-1974. The uprising began on November 14, 1973, escalated to an open anti-junta, anti-US and anti-imperialist revolt and ended in bloodshed in the early morning of November 17 after a series of events starting with a tank crashing through the gates of the Polytechnic.
Legacy
Diomedes Komnenos, only 16 when he was killed, is one of the youngest victims of the junta crackdown.
November 17 is currently observed as a holiday in Greece for all educational establishments; commemorative services are held and students attend school only for these, while some schools and all universities stay closed during the day. The central location for the commemoration is the campus of the Polytechneio. The campus is closed on the 15th (the day the students first occupied the campus on 1973). Students and politicians lay wreaths on a monument within the Polytechneio on which the names of Polytechneio students killed during the Greek Resistance in the 1940s are inscribed. The commemoration day ends traditionally with a demonstration that begins from the campus of the Polytechneio and ends at the United States embassy.
The student uprising is hailed by many as a valiant act of resistance against the military dictatorship, and therefore as a symbol of resistance to tyranny. Others believe that the uprising was used as a pretext by Brigadier Dimitrios Ioannides to put an abrupt end to the process of ostensible liberalisation of the regime undertaken by Spiros Markezinis.
The Athens Polytechnic uprising in 1973 was a massive demonstration of popular rejection of the Greek military junta of 1967-1974. The uprising began on November 14, 1973, escalated to an open anti-junta, anti-US and anti-imperialist revolt and ended in bloodshed in the early morning of November 17 after a series of events starting with a tank crashing through the gates of the Polytechnic.
Legacy
Diomedes Komnenos, only 16 when he was killed, is one of the youngest victims of the junta crackdown.
November 17 is currently observed as a holiday in Greece for all educational establishments; commemorative services are held and students attend school only for these, while some schools and all universities stay closed during the day. The central location for the commemoration is the campus of the Polytechneio. The campus is closed on the 15th (the day the students first occupied the campus on 1973). Students and politicians lay wreaths on a monument within the Polytechneio on which the names of Polytechneio students killed during the Greek Resistance in the 1940s are inscribed. The commemoration day ends traditionally with a demonstration that begins from the campus of the Polytechneio and ends at the United States embassy.
The student uprising is hailed by many as a valiant act of resistance against the military dictatorship, and therefore as a symbol of resistance to tyranny. Others believe that the uprising was used as a pretext by Brigadier Dimitrios Ioannides to put an abrupt end to the process of ostensible liberalisation of the regime undertaken by Spiros Markezinis.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Friday, November 11, 2011
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Sunday, October 23, 2011
"oops! I popped the next bubble."
A derivative instrument is a contract between two parties that specifies conditions—in particular, dates and the resulting values of the underlying variables—under which payments, or payoffs, are to be made between the parties.
Derivatives can be used for speculating purposes ("bets") or to hedge ("insurance"). For example, a speculator may sell deep in-the-money naked calls on a stock, expecting the stock price to plummet, but exposing himself to potentially unlimited losses. Very commonly, companies buy currency forwards in order to limit losses due to fluctuations in the exchange rate of two currencies. (from wikipedia's description)
There is a reason why Vegas exists and survives in a bad economy. If you bet long enough the house always wins. Back in 07'08' AIG's collapse was not bad insurance deals it was a 18 billion dollar derivative swap that went wrong i.e. lost the bet and a long line of other deals they had were about to collapse so the government stepped in with a bailout for their stupid series of mistakes. All the banks were losing there bets and the U.S. Government deemed them too big to fail and bailed them out with liquid cash that they printed. This too seems logical until you realize what the extra trillion dollars (give or take a 100bil or so) went into the money supply and made every dollar out there less valuable.
So you would think that we learned our lesson after we bailed out wall street and the cries for more regulations I hear from so many people. Regulations just to have regulations are not effective. Bad regulations written by lobbyists in the same industry that they are regulating given to a congressmen or senator who is on their donation list is BAD REGULATION. Doesn't this sound like FRAUD? Well that is how things are currently in place.
So you would think that we learned our lesson after we bailed out wall street and the trillions of dollars that bailed out insurance companies and wall street. The shell game answer is they paid back their bailouts with interest. Some yes but after a partial audit of the Federal Reserve it was shown that the bailout was more than what the media was letting us know about. Trillions even going out to foreign investment banks to cover their yes "bad derivatives" you see the world banks are also too big to fail. If a true market existed. The banks would fail and sound banks smaller banks would of filled the void and the big bank would go out of business and liquidate.
so you would think that we learned our lesson after we bailed out wall street and the trillions of dollars gambled on derivatives.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2008/10/17/600-000-000-000-000.html
nope we currently have a 600Trillion dollar derivative market! nobody disputes the number. cuz it's actually higher.
from the above article "The total world market value of derivatives—the money these promises are actually worth today—is more in the neighborhood of $15 trillion. That is still huge, slightly larger than the U.S. economy. And it's growing fast: the derivatives market has been doubling in size every two or three years for the last decade, for many reasons. Increasingly sophisticated computers make it easier to create and price complicated derivatives. Another is the continuing rise of "quants," math geniuses who Wall Street began recruiting in the mid-1980s, precisely to invent exotic new financial products. Top universities smelled the money, and now most have graduate programs in financial engineering."
"With that growth comes the continued potential for a blow-up, in large part because there is no clearinghouse for trading in most kinds of derivatives. Such an institution would make trades and risk more transparent, which is why many government officials as well as experts like George Soros and Robert Reich are pushing for it. Until then, the $55 trillion question is whether controls can be put in place before the CDS market explodes, again."
We need to protect the 99.9% because as we learned before we all have skin in the game eventually when the power brokers in wall street screw up and "ooops I popped the bubble" happens or we could let the market just let the morons gambling trillions go out of business as it happens and not bail them out but if we put regulations in place let's make them laws instead and if there is fraud. Let's use those things we call "JAILS" this time. So far nobody is in jail yet from the meltdown. One conviction of a banker. still no jail time yet. There's these guys called lawyers for the uber rich involved.... oh don't get me started on that right now.
Derivatives can be used for speculating purposes ("bets") or to hedge ("insurance"). For example, a speculator may sell deep in-the-money naked calls on a stock, expecting the stock price to plummet, but exposing himself to potentially unlimited losses. Very commonly, companies buy currency forwards in order to limit losses due to fluctuations in the exchange rate of two currencies. (from wikipedia's description)
There is a reason why Vegas exists and survives in a bad economy. If you bet long enough the house always wins. Back in 07'08' AIG's collapse was not bad insurance deals it was a 18 billion dollar derivative swap that went wrong i.e. lost the bet and a long line of other deals they had were about to collapse so the government stepped in with a bailout for their stupid series of mistakes. All the banks were losing there bets and the U.S. Government deemed them too big to fail and bailed them out with liquid cash that they printed. This too seems logical until you realize what the extra trillion dollars (give or take a 100bil or so) went into the money supply and made every dollar out there less valuable.
So you would think that we learned our lesson after we bailed out wall street and the cries for more regulations I hear from so many people. Regulations just to have regulations are not effective. Bad regulations written by lobbyists in the same industry that they are regulating given to a congressmen or senator who is on their donation list is BAD REGULATION. Doesn't this sound like FRAUD? Well that is how things are currently in place.
So you would think that we learned our lesson after we bailed out wall street and the trillions of dollars that bailed out insurance companies and wall street. The shell game answer is they paid back their bailouts with interest. Some yes but after a partial audit of the Federal Reserve it was shown that the bailout was more than what the media was letting us know about. Trillions even going out to foreign investment banks to cover their yes "bad derivatives" you see the world banks are also too big to fail. If a true market existed. The banks would fail and sound banks smaller banks would of filled the void and the big bank would go out of business and liquidate.
so you would think that we learned our lesson after we bailed out wall street and the trillions of dollars gambled on derivatives.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2008/10/17/600-000-000-000-000.html
nope we currently have a 600Trillion dollar derivative market! nobody disputes the number. cuz it's actually higher.
from the above article "The total world market value of derivatives—the money these promises are actually worth today—is more in the neighborhood of $15 trillion. That is still huge, slightly larger than the U.S. economy. And it's growing fast: the derivatives market has been doubling in size every two or three years for the last decade, for many reasons. Increasingly sophisticated computers make it easier to create and price complicated derivatives. Another is the continuing rise of "quants," math geniuses who Wall Street began recruiting in the mid-1980s, precisely to invent exotic new financial products. Top universities smelled the money, and now most have graduate programs in financial engineering."
"With that growth comes the continued potential for a blow-up, in large part because there is no clearinghouse for trading in most kinds of derivatives. Such an institution would make trades and risk more transparent, which is why many government officials as well as experts like George Soros and Robert Reich are pushing for it. Until then, the $55 trillion question is whether controls can be put in place before the CDS market explodes, again."
We need to protect the 99.9% because as we learned before we all have skin in the game eventually when the power brokers in wall street screw up and "ooops I popped the bubble" happens or we could let the market just let the morons gambling trillions go out of business as it happens and not bail them out but if we put regulations in place let's make them laws instead and if there is fraud. Let's use those things we call "JAILS" this time. So far nobody is in jail yet from the meltdown. One conviction of a banker. still no jail time yet. There's these guys called lawyers for the uber rich involved.... oh don't get me started on that right now.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Steve Jobs 1955 - 2011
Today one of my customers who is Blind and provides IT services for visually impaired organizations told me the impact of Steve Jobs on his life and others like him.
The iPhone has been a revolutionary device for all blind people. There is a visually impaired voice control function in the standard iphone OS. Normally special features like this cost hundreds of dollars more. Apple includes it in the phone. Because of Apple other phone manufacturers are following their lead. My friend from New Jersey said that Steve Jobs will always have an eternal place in the hearts of the visually impaired!
The iPhone has been a revolutionary device for all blind people. There is a visually impaired voice control function in the standard iphone OS. Normally special features like this cost hundreds of dollars more. Apple includes it in the phone. Because of Apple other phone manufacturers are following their lead. My friend from New Jersey said that Steve Jobs will always have an eternal place in the hearts of the visually impaired!
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Is it me or am I just out of my mind?
It seems like lately. I've been so busyminded! I know that it's supposed to be two words. Busy minded. But, I mean busyminded! My brain is moving at a gazillion miles an hour and life seems like it is moving in a flash. Yet not really getting anywhere. That is what I'm trying to change.
You know how in the matrix 1 minute goes by as a second of motion occurs. WELCOME TO MY WORLD!
You know how in the matrix 1 minute goes by as a second of motion occurs. WELCOME TO MY WORLD!
Monday, September 19, 2011
The Optimists Creed by Christian D Larson
Promise Yourself....
To be strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness,and prosperity to every person you meet.
To make all your friends feel that there is somehting worthwhile in them.
To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.
To think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about you own.
To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful expression at all times and give a smile to every living creature you meet.
To give so much time to improving yourself that you have no time to criticize others.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.
To think well of yourself nd to proclaim this fact to the world, not in loud words, but in great deeds.
To live in the faith that the whole world is on your side , so long as you are true to the best that is in you.
To be strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness,and prosperity to every person you meet.
To make all your friends feel that there is somehting worthwhile in them.
To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.
To think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about you own.
To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful expression at all times and give a smile to every living creature you meet.
To give so much time to improving yourself that you have no time to criticize others.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.
To think well of yourself nd to proclaim this fact to the world, not in loud words, but in great deeds.
To live in the faith that the whole world is on your side , so long as you are true to the best that is in you.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Is It God's Gift to Mankind?
I like to believe that God is Omnipotent and well... very very smart. I would say his grace was a huge gift to mankind. I would assume it safe to say that God giving up of himself to send his son to earth to die on the cross for the sins of mankind is a huge gift. All the incredible things God created from the earth, animals, even Sex {(between husband and wife, of course;-)} What about Free Will? Is Free will a Gift or a curse? God gave us the ability to choose our actions. Whether you believe in predestination or not. Free will is perplexing and Ironically up to you if it really is a gift or a curse. The path you take with your thoughts and actions decide if it is a curse or not. Free Will is the one thing and the only thing that God gave you that you have complete control over. So you have this Ginormous thing that God has given you and what you do with it is up to you. Curse or Gift?
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Too Blessed To Be Stressed!
One of my favorite things that My father in law says is Too Blessed to be Stressed. I'm not sure if he has conditioned himself or if he truly is too blessed to be stressed. But if you reflect on your emotions throughout the day how close to "Too blessed, to be stressed" are you?
Monday, September 5, 2011
What's your story?
When driving down the street you see a handful maybe hundreds even thousands of people. What's their story. Where are they going? What is going on in their life? Happy, Sad, struggling or glad? Do you ever wonder about it?
Kind of like the scene in Evan Almighty where the Jim Carrey character can't get all the noises of people praying simultaneously out of his head. It would be unfathomable to make sense of all the information that is there.
Here is the thing though. Each person has a story behind them and until you are brought into the bubble that is their life you will never really have a reason to care. Sure you can care about the people in Haiti or Japan suffering from a natural disaster or that kid who gets shot whose story is told on the news. You are touched by their troubles as more of their story is revealed to you. Maybe you are moved to give financially or even volunteer your time. Sometimes you will just pray or feel sad for that person or even worse instead of empathy or sympathy you show apathy and just don't care.
It's your prerogative to give a crap or not.
The interesting thing is your story is what defines you and until you share your story people don't really know what is going on in your life. Your struggles, desires, concerns and loves. Your likes and dislikes and your expectations of your future.
Until you know someone else's story be slow to judge. I'm sure you don't enjoy it when people misjudge you during a trial. Think long and hard next time you see someone. Look them in the eyes and see past the façade that we put up in our lives and even If you only have a moment ask them. What's your story? Maybe don't be so blunt but heck.. Why not. Don't be offended if they have no desire to let you in the circle. But you might be surprised what comes off the situation. Take my wife Pam as an example. Here is the post my wife made yesterday after talking to a old blind man walking down the street.
Incredible morning. After leaving Rotary Hill, but before reaching Last Fling madness, an old blind man stopped me to chat for awhile. We had an amazing conversation about his WWII service, his wife of 58 yrs who passed away, his daughter who passed away 2 yrs ago, his other kids who don't care about him, and Jesus. And Heaven. It. was. awesome. ♥
You can make an impact with something as simple as a 5 minute conversation. Even if your husband and kids are waiting in the wings. We lived and are better for it.
I've heard so many stories from people telling me that a simple gesture of a few minutes time and a listening ear and heart has transformed their own hearts into caring for someone they didn't even know.
Once you hear the story behind someone it gives you a huge privilege to pray for that person or praise their success or accomplishment.
What a better way to live your life by being a part of peoples stories.
Kind of like the scene in Evan Almighty where the Jim Carrey character can't get all the noises of people praying simultaneously out of his head. It would be unfathomable to make sense of all the information that is there.
Here is the thing though. Each person has a story behind them and until you are brought into the bubble that is their life you will never really have a reason to care. Sure you can care about the people in Haiti or Japan suffering from a natural disaster or that kid who gets shot whose story is told on the news. You are touched by their troubles as more of their story is revealed to you. Maybe you are moved to give financially or even volunteer your time. Sometimes you will just pray or feel sad for that person or even worse instead of empathy or sympathy you show apathy and just don't care.
It's your prerogative to give a crap or not.
The interesting thing is your story is what defines you and until you share your story people don't really know what is going on in your life. Your struggles, desires, concerns and loves. Your likes and dislikes and your expectations of your future.
Until you know someone else's story be slow to judge. I'm sure you don't enjoy it when people misjudge you during a trial. Think long and hard next time you see someone. Look them in the eyes and see past the façade that we put up in our lives and even If you only have a moment ask them. What's your story? Maybe don't be so blunt but heck.. Why not. Don't be offended if they have no desire to let you in the circle. But you might be surprised what comes off the situation. Take my wife Pam as an example. Here is the post my wife made yesterday after talking to a old blind man walking down the street.
Incredible morning. After leaving Rotary Hill, but before reaching Last Fling madness, an old blind man stopped me to chat for awhile. We had an amazing conversation about his WWII service, his wife of 58 yrs who passed away, his daughter who passed away 2 yrs ago, his other kids who don't care about him, and Jesus. And Heaven. It. was. awesome. ♥
You can make an impact with something as simple as a 5 minute conversation. Even if your husband and kids are waiting in the wings. We lived and are better for it.
I've heard so many stories from people telling me that a simple gesture of a few minutes time and a listening ear and heart has transformed their own hearts into caring for someone they didn't even know.
Once you hear the story behind someone it gives you a huge privilege to pray for that person or praise their success or accomplishment.
What a better way to live your life by being a part of peoples stories.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Public Debt Enslaves US ---- We Were Warned!!!
We must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt. We must make our election between economy and liberty or profusion and servitude. If we run into such debt, as that we must be taxed in our meat and in our drink, in our necessaries and our comforts, in our labors and our amusements, for our calling and our creeds...[we will] have no time to think, no means of calling our miss-managers to account but be glad to obtain subsistence by hiring ourselves to rivet their chains on the necks of our fellow-sufferers... And this is the tendency of all human governments. A departure from principle in one instance becomes a precedent for[ another]... till the bulk of society is reduced to be mere automatons of misery... And the fore-horse of this frightful team is public debt. Taxation follows that, and in its train wretchedness and oppression. ----Thomas Jefferson
Sunday, August 14, 2011
The Declaration of Independence
WHEN in the Course of human Events, it becomes necessary for one People to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the Powers of the Earth, the separate and equal Station to which the laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent Respect to the Opinions of Mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the Separation.
We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights , that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness---That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its Foundation on such principles, and organizing its Powers in such Form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness, Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient Causes;and accordingly all Experience hath shown, that Mankind are more disposed to suffer, while Evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the Forms of which they are accustomed. But when a long Train of Abuses and Usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object, evinces a Design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their Right, it is their Duty, to throw off such Government and to provide new Guards for their future Security Such has been the patient Sufferance of these Colonies;and such is now the Necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The History of the present King of Great-Britain is a History of repeated Injuries and Usurpations, all having in direct Object the Establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid World.
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most whole-some and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their Operation til his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the Accommodation of large Districts of People, unless those People would relinquish the Right of Representation in the Legislature, a Right inestimable to them, and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together Legislative Bodies at Places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the Depository of their public records, for the sole Purpose of fatiguing them into Compliance with his Measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly Firmness his Invasions on the Rights of the People.
He has refused for a long Time, after such Dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the Dangers of Invasion from without, and Convulsions within.
He has endeavored to prevent the Population of these States;for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their Migrations hither, and raising the Conditions of new appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice , by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their Offices, and the amount and Payment of their Salaries.
He has erected a Multitude of new Offices, and sent hither Swarms of Officers to harass our People, an eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in Times of Peace,Standing Armies, without the consent of our Legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a Jurisdiction foreign to our Constitution and unacknowledged by our Laws, giving his Assent to their Acts of Pretended Legislation.
For Quartering large Bodies of Armed Troops among us:
For protection them, by a mock Trial, from Punishment for any murders which they should cimmit on the inhabitants of these States:
For Cutting off our Trade with all Parts of the World:
For imposing taxes on us without our consent:
For depriving us, in many Cases, of the Benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighboring province, establishing theirin an arbitrary Government, and enlarging its Boundaries , so as to render it at once an Example and fit Instrument for introducing the same absolute Rule into these Colonies:
For Taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments.
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with with Power to legislate for us in all Cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging war against us.
He has plundered our Seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our Towns, and destroyed the Lives of our People.
He is, at this Time, transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the Works of Death, Desolation, and Tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty and Perfidy, scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous Ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized Nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the Executioners of their Friends and brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic Insurrections amongst us, and has endeavored to bring on the Inhabitants of our Frontier, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known Rule of Warfare, is an undistinguished Destruction, of all Ages, Sexes and conditions.
In every stage of these Oppressions we have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble Terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated Injury. A Prince, whose Character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the Ruler of a free People.
Nor have we been wanting in Attentions to our British Brethren. We have warned them from Time to Time of Attempts by their Legislature to extend an unwarrantable Jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the Circumstances of our Emigration and Settlement here. We have appealed to their native Justice and Magnanimity, , and we have conjured them by the Ties of our common inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. they too have been deaf to the Voice of justice and of Consanguinity, We must, therefore, acquiesce in the Necessity, which denounces our Separation and hold them, as we hold the rest of Mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace, Friends.
We, Therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the World for the rectitude of our Intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly Publish and Declare, That these Colonies are, and of right ought to be, Free and Independent States; that they are absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political Connection between them and the State of Great-Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances , establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. --- And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm Reliance on the Protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.
John Hancock. Fran. Lewis.
Samuel Chase. Lewis Morris.
W. Paca. Rich. Stockton.
Tho. Stone. Jn. Witherspoon.
Charles Carrol of Carrollton. Fra. Hopkinson.
George Wythe. John Hart.
Richard Henry Lee. Abra Clark.
Th Jefferson. Josiah Bartlett.
Benj. Harrison W. Whipple
Tho.Nelson Jr. Sam Adams.
Francis Lightfoot Lee. John Adams.
Carter Braxton. Rob Treat Paine.
Rob Morris. Elbridge Gerry.
Benjamin Rush. Step Hopkins.
Benj. Franklin. William Ellery.
John Morton. Roger Sherman.
Geo Clyner Sam Huntington.
Ja Smith. W Williams.
Geo. Taylor. Oliver Wolcott.
James Wilson. Matthew Thornton.
Geo Ross. W Hooper
Caesar Rodney Joseph Hewes.
Geo Read. John Penn.
Tho M: Kean Edward Rutledge.
W Floyd. Tho Heyward Jun.
Phil Livingston. Thomas Lynch Jun.
Arthur Middleton. Lyman Hall.
Button Gwinnett. Geo Walton.
We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights , that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness---That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its Foundation on such principles, and organizing its Powers in such Form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness, Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient Causes;and accordingly all Experience hath shown, that Mankind are more disposed to suffer, while Evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the Forms of which they are accustomed. But when a long Train of Abuses and Usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object, evinces a Design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their Right, it is their Duty, to throw off such Government and to provide new Guards for their future Security Such has been the patient Sufferance of these Colonies;and such is now the Necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The History of the present King of Great-Britain is a History of repeated Injuries and Usurpations, all having in direct Object the Establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid World.
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most whole-some and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their Operation til his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the Accommodation of large Districts of People, unless those People would relinquish the Right of Representation in the Legislature, a Right inestimable to them, and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together Legislative Bodies at Places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the Depository of their public records, for the sole Purpose of fatiguing them into Compliance with his Measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly Firmness his Invasions on the Rights of the People.
He has refused for a long Time, after such Dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the Dangers of Invasion from without, and Convulsions within.
He has endeavored to prevent the Population of these States;for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their Migrations hither, and raising the Conditions of new appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice , by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their Offices, and the amount and Payment of their Salaries.
He has erected a Multitude of new Offices, and sent hither Swarms of Officers to harass our People, an eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in Times of Peace,Standing Armies, without the consent of our Legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a Jurisdiction foreign to our Constitution and unacknowledged by our Laws, giving his Assent to their Acts of Pretended Legislation.
For Quartering large Bodies of Armed Troops among us:
For protection them, by a mock Trial, from Punishment for any murders which they should cimmit on the inhabitants of these States:
For Cutting off our Trade with all Parts of the World:
For imposing taxes on us without our consent:
For depriving us, in many Cases, of the Benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighboring province, establishing theirin an arbitrary Government, and enlarging its Boundaries , so as to render it at once an Example and fit Instrument for introducing the same absolute Rule into these Colonies:
For Taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments.
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with with Power to legislate for us in all Cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging war against us.
He has plundered our Seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our Towns, and destroyed the Lives of our People.
He is, at this Time, transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the Works of Death, Desolation, and Tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty and Perfidy, scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous Ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized Nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the Executioners of their Friends and brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic Insurrections amongst us, and has endeavored to bring on the Inhabitants of our Frontier, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known Rule of Warfare, is an undistinguished Destruction, of all Ages, Sexes and conditions.
In every stage of these Oppressions we have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble Terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated Injury. A Prince, whose Character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the Ruler of a free People.
Nor have we been wanting in Attentions to our British Brethren. We have warned them from Time to Time of Attempts by their Legislature to extend an unwarrantable Jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the Circumstances of our Emigration and Settlement here. We have appealed to their native Justice and Magnanimity, , and we have conjured them by the Ties of our common inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. they too have been deaf to the Voice of justice and of Consanguinity, We must, therefore, acquiesce in the Necessity, which denounces our Separation and hold them, as we hold the rest of Mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace, Friends.
We, Therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the World for the rectitude of our Intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly Publish and Declare, That these Colonies are, and of right ought to be, Free and Independent States; that they are absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political Connection between them and the State of Great-Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances , establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. --- And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm Reliance on the Protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.
John Hancock. Fran. Lewis.
Samuel Chase. Lewis Morris.
W. Paca. Rich. Stockton.
Tho. Stone. Jn. Witherspoon.
Charles Carrol of Carrollton. Fra. Hopkinson.
George Wythe. John Hart.
Richard Henry Lee. Abra Clark.
Th Jefferson. Josiah Bartlett.
Benj. Harrison W. Whipple
Tho.Nelson Jr. Sam Adams.
Francis Lightfoot Lee. John Adams.
Carter Braxton. Rob Treat Paine.
Rob Morris. Elbridge Gerry.
Benjamin Rush. Step Hopkins.
Benj. Franklin. William Ellery.
John Morton. Roger Sherman.
Geo Clyner Sam Huntington.
Ja Smith. W Williams.
Geo. Taylor. Oliver Wolcott.
James Wilson. Matthew Thornton.
Geo Ross. W Hooper
Caesar Rodney Joseph Hewes.
Geo Read. John Penn.
Tho M: Kean Edward Rutledge.
W Floyd. Tho Heyward Jun.
Phil Livingston. Thomas Lynch Jun.
Arthur Middleton. Lyman Hall.
Button Gwinnett. Geo Walton.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Plato's Republic
For let me tell you, Socrates, that when a man thinks himself near death, fears and cares enter into his mind which he never had before; the tales of a world below and the punishment which is exacted there of deeds done here were once a laughing matter to him, but how is tormented with the thought that they may be true: either from the weakness of age, or because he is now drawing nearer to that other place, he has a clearer view of these things; suspicions and alarms crowd thickly upon him, and he begins to reflect and consider what wrongs he has done to others. And when he finds that the sum of his transgressions is great he will many a time like a child start up in his sleep for fear, and he is filled with dark forebodings. But to him who is conscious of no sin, sweet hope, as Pindar charmingly says , is the kind nurse of his age:
'hope,' he says 'cherishes the soul of him who lives in justice and holiness and is the nurse of his age and the companion of his journey; -hope which is mightiest to sway his restless soul of man.'
How admirable are his words! And the great blessing of 'riches, I do not say to every man, but to a good man, is, that he has had no occasion to deceive or to defraud others, either intentionally or unintentionally and when he departs to the world below he is not in apprehensions about offerings due to the gods or debts which he owes to men.
'hope,' he says 'cherishes the soul of him who lives in justice and holiness and is the nurse of his age and the companion of his journey; -hope which is mightiest to sway his restless soul of man.'
How admirable are his words! And the great blessing of 'riches, I do not say to every man, but to a good man, is, that he has had no occasion to deceive or to defraud others, either intentionally or unintentionally and when he departs to the world below he is not in apprehensions about offerings due to the gods or debts which he owes to men.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Humility - The second you think you have it - you've lost it.
Humility means to let go of all ego; pride, fear and desire. It is therefore one of the most difficult, yet essential attitudes for spiritual growth because only then are we able to tune in to the Inner Being (intuition) within us. Humility is both a prerequisite for, as well as the end result of, spiritual growth. To be humiliated is a great gift indeed because it gives us a great opportunity to be truly humble.
Today, the programming we receive from tv, music, the internet and other media tends to show us the exactly opposite idea – that pride and being praised is a good and desirable thing. But filled with pride there is hardly any room for any real Love to exist. By letting go of that pride, either through being humiliated or having the attitude of letting go (being humble), our attention is directed to what’s going on around us and we will have the opportunity to really Love Unselfishly and thus really care for others, which in our experience is the essence of true spirituality.
http://justhelga.wordpress.com/2010/11/17/humility/
Today, the programming we receive from tv, music, the internet and other media tends to show us the exactly opposite idea – that pride and being praised is a good and desirable thing. But filled with pride there is hardly any room for any real Love to exist. By letting go of that pride, either through being humiliated or having the attitude of letting go (being humble), our attention is directed to what’s going on around us and we will have the opportunity to really Love Unselfishly and thus really care for others, which in our experience is the essence of true spirituality.
http://justhelga.wordpress.com/2010/11/17/humility/
Monday, June 27, 2011
Seriously People Relax!
An old man once said, "There comes a time in your life, when you walk away from all the drama and people who create it. You surround yourself with people who make you laugh. Forget the bad, and focus on the good. Love the people who treat you right, pray for the ones who don't. Life is too short to be anything but happy. Falling down is a part of life, getting back up is living."~
Don't Worry, Be Happy!
Don't Worry, Be Happy!
Sunday, June 26, 2011
God Bless America!!
"God Bless America" is an American patriotic song written by Irving Berlin in 1918 and revised by him in 1938, as sung by Kate Smith (becoming her signature song).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_Bless_America
While the storm clouds gather far across the sea,
Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free,
Let us all be grateful for a land so fair,
As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer.
God bless America,
Land that I love.
Stand beside her, and guide her
Through the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans, white with foam
God bless America, My home sweet home
God bless America, My home sweet home.
Originally, the final two lines of the song were, God bless America my own sweet home, my home sweet home.
Many renditions of the song omit the first stanza, beginning with "God bless America..."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_Bless_America
While the storm clouds gather far across the sea,
Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free,
Let us all be grateful for a land so fair,
As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer.
God bless America,
Land that I love.
Stand beside her, and guide her
Through the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans, white with foam
God bless America, My home sweet home
God bless America, My home sweet home.
Originally, the final two lines of the song were, God bless America my own sweet home, my home sweet home.
Many renditions of the song omit the first stanza, beginning with "God bless America..."
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
John 3:16 day
I heard someone talking about this on Klove this morning.
Today should be official John 3:16 day! I love that song BannerMan by Steve Taylor.
You got my vote.
John 3:16 (New International Version, ©2011)
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Today should be official John 3:16 day! I love that song BannerMan by Steve Taylor.
You got my vote.
John 3:16 (New International Version, ©2011)
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Happy Valentines Day!
It's time for me to admit that I do actually like the mushy stuff on Valentines day. I've been married for 17 years and a month and half. I think Pam already knows that I've got a soft spot for sentimental things. Funny thing is that William seems to be the same way!
I'm really struggling these days keeping my thoughts straight as the economy seems to tighten up our future even more. The stress is just crazy and it shouldn't be. God has seen us through so much why would he stop now?
Well I pray for some insight in what the future will bring. Praying for a break in our finances as well. I know that what we are going through is nothing compared to the trials of others. God knows what we need and when we need it.
I'm really struggling these days keeping my thoughts straight as the economy seems to tighten up our future even more. The stress is just crazy and it shouldn't be. God has seen us through so much why would he stop now?
Well I pray for some insight in what the future will bring. Praying for a break in our finances as well. I know that what we are going through is nothing compared to the trials of others. God knows what we need and when we need it.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
What makes it so hard to Blog?
First I get this feeling that nobody is reading it. Second If I have that feeling why am I doing it? Third I seem to get lost in my daily life and never get around to it. But I will once again make some attempt at writing a few snippets from time to time.
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