"Illegal Immigrant" term offensive now...

Well, as usual, the media of America is trying to make policy vice report it.

Over on theblaze website, the story was posted a couple of days ago (December 28th) where the Diversity Committee of the Society for Professional Journalists (SPJ) are now "calling on news reporters nationwide to drop the term “illegal immigrant” from their news coverage in an effort to “inform and sensitize” people on how “offensive” the phrase is to Latinos." The original opinion piece was actually posted September 22nd, 2010. Sometimes news gets around slow when important and life-altering news like Lindsay Lohan, Jennifer Annistion and Brad Pitt seem to dominate the headlines (or worse yet, Lady Gaaaagaaaaa - the sound I get in my throat whenever I hear that cross between Elton John and Hobo the clown spew whatever liberal drivel drools out of the corner of her mouth.

Full article here: http://www.theblaze.com/stories/journalist-group-complains-illegal-immigrant-term-is-offensive-to-latinos/

Merry Christmas

Been busy this week, with holidays, teenagers, etc...

So just wishing everyone a safe and happy holiday season. You/We/I might not always have lots of money and gifts, but if you have family, friends, memories, and hopes for the future, those can bring a smile to your face, and a tear to your eye, sometimes all at the same time.

Cheers!

The "N" word ("Nappy-headed")

So today, the commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) declared that "FREE internet is a civil right for every nappy headed child". You can't make this stuff up...

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/free-internet-a-civil-right-for-every-nappy-headed-child-fcc-commissioner-clyburn/

First and foremost, the concept of "free" is lost on this illiterate idiot. Nothing is free, someone, somewhere has to pay for it, and in the situation specified, it would be the American tax-payer (in addition to paying for their own internet). For those not paying attention, that's called "welfare". Can you say "welfare"? I knew you could...

I pay almost $100/month for internet, but my kids are white, so they have fewer civil rights than "nappy headed children"? Why does this racist think the offspring of ethnically similiar individuals to her should get for free, what others pay for? And when did the internet become a CIVIL RIGHT???

Check your head, er, credit union!

Found this link the other day, so you can search for credit unions in your area, and see where they stand as far as holding troubled assets, compared to the national median.

http://banktracker.investigativereportingworkshop.org/credit-unions/

I bring that up, because over on zerohedge, there was an article today regarding legislation that was passed in the Senate recently (S. 4036).

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s111-4036

Nothing that major, but if you read the article on zerohedge, alot of it begins to make sense. It seems as if Credit Unions, will be able to be bought up by too-big-to-fail banks, after the Credit Union converts to a Mutual Savings Bank, then before ever operating as a stand alone bank of this type, convert to a bank and be bought up.

http://www.zerohedge.com/article/what%E2%80%99s-going-credit-unions

So if you use a credit union, you may want to check the strength of your Credit Union, and others in your area, and make sure you are in a safe one, that is not likely to be bought out (or even fail).

Don't ask, don't tell OR hear no evil, see no evil...

So today, by a vote of 65-31, the Senate repealed the military's policy of "Don't ask, don't tell".

http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/12/18/senate.dadt/index.html?hpt=T1

Since this is one more step towards the moral degradation of society, implemented by unqualified lawmakers, who will not have to live with the fallout of this legislation, I can only hope, the military makes at least ONE right decision, and allows all members currently serving, a chance to get out of the military as a conscientious objector, with honorable discharge, no strings attached, if they feel they cannot live with this new policy. Lives are at stake, not just one historically unpopular Congress' approval rating, but real men and women, husbands, wives, children, parents. If this is going to be the new law of the land, a game-changing rule, mid-game, then let the players have a chance to opt out before it comes crashing down. At least then, you will have members who chose to stay and assume the difficulties presented by the new legislation, and then can work to make it work at the deckplate level, where lawmakers fear to tread.

Here are some fundamental issues that our legislature and the military are going to have to address (in the long-standing spirit of our government passing laws first, then figuring out how to implement them and deal with the consequences later).

A little holiday seriousness...

Now that I've shown the lighter side of TSA airport abuse, er, security...

This mother was detained for over an hour, missed her flight, and was threatened with arrest, for requesting a TSA approved, alternative screening of her breast milk (she did not want to pass it through the x-ray machine).

The video is about 10 mins long, and sped up in places to compress for time.

A little holiday humor...

A friend emailed me a link for a toy on Amazon.com, not for the toy, but for the comment below it...

Here is the picture:

And here is the text of the customer review of the product...

Finally, a judge that understands!

Today, a federal judge finally ruled that the government exceeded it's constitutional authority when it passed a provision of the healthcare bill, requiring citizens to purchase insurance, starting in 2014.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101213/ap_on_bi_ge/us_health_care_overhaul_virginia

My favorite part of the article, besides of course, the fact maybe now we can start chipping away at this unsustainable, illegal and outright idiotic legislation, is the following paragraph:

White House health reform director Nancy-Ann DeParle said the administration is encouraged by the two other judges who have upheld the law. She said the Justice Department is reviewing Hudson's ruling.

Ya think???

Also, what kind of title is "White House Health Reform Director" anyways? Sounds like a very specific job which may go *POOF* if this legislation is gutted. I wonder how many other "waste of taxpayer money" type jobs this and previous administrations have floating around...

But I'm getting sidetracked, apologies! I'm just so excited to see a judge doing something downright constitutional and in the spirit of liberty, instead of:

Wealth and taxes...

On one of the forums I frequent http://www.survivalistboards.com/ a discussion has sort of arisen regarding taxation, and whether or not to raise everyones taxes (poor, middle-class, rich) or just the rich.

One misguided individual said:

 "If you're not upper-class, you SHOULD NOT BE defending them."

My response to that is simple and to the point...

I am far from upper-class (closer to lower middle-class) but I defend their right to have their money because it is just that... THEIR money.

Ron Paul new head of subcommittee!

Short and to the point... Ron Paul is now the head of the Monetary Sub-Committee!

Ben Bernanke better keep his ducks in a row now...

http://www.zerohedge.com/article/its-official-ron-paul-head-monetary-policy-subcommittee

Putting the "axe" back in "taxes"

So, if the "Bush era tax cuts" expire at the end of this year, does that mean we are returning to the "Clinton era tax increase"? Or was his increase, actually a repeal of the "Reagan era tax cuts"? Or was that a cutting of the <insert president name> era tax increase before him?

It's all semantics. What really matters, is that our House, Senate, President, and even our State Legislators, need to take the tax code, income brackets, and tax rates, and make them ours.

I don't care which president raised or lowered taxes in the past. Taxes are a fact of life in civilized society but so are the things that justify them. What I care about today, is not only what are my taxes going to be, but  more importantly, what value am I getting for those tax dollars? Do I get a more secure nation? Are the roads I drive on better? Do my kids have a decent education available to them? Will all the dollars I've paid (and am going to pay) into Social Security be wasted, because the program may not be there for me later?

The cover-up begins...

Recently, the University of Missouri sent a letter to all employees, stating that our health insurance premiums would be going up on January 1st, 2011. They gave several reasons (increased costs, no increases in a couple of years prior, etc) but also cited several of the new provisions of the government passed health care bill, that take effect this upcoming year as well. The exact quote from the email:

As a result of state-mandated changes and regulations enacted under National Health Care Reform, UM will provide  coverage for dependents not previously covered under the UM Plan, as well as provide benefits for conditions not previously covered.  As of Jan. 1, 2011, faculty and staff will be able to cover adult children up to age 26.

Of course, I quickly fired off an email to our illustrious Senator that voted for this bill (Claire McCaskill) who had defended it tooth-and-nail when I previously had emailed asking her not to endorse it. I forwarded the University of Missouri email to her showing our rate increase.

Egg on the Senate's Face!

Received in my inbox today from megavote@mailmanager.net (a very nice once-per-week email update of how your Representatives and Senators voted on issues in the previous week) was this update, regarding the "FDA Food Safety Modernization Act" (S. 510) which I discussed and opposed on an earlier blog.

FDA Food Safety Modernization Act - Vote Passed (73-25, 2 Not Voting)

The Senate passed this bill to overhaul the nation's food safety rules. Shortly after passage, it was pointed out the bill contains revenue raising provisions and the constitution requires bills that raise revenue to originate in the House. At this time, the strategy to move the bill forward was unclear.

Sen. Christopher Bond voted Not Voting
Sen. Claire McCaskill voted YES

The red highlight, was of course, added by myself for effect...

DHS + WalMart = BigBrother

http://www.dhs.gov/ynews/releases/pr_1291648380371.shtm

Washington, D.C. - Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today announced the expansion of the Department's national "If You See Something, Say Something" campaign to hundreds of Walmart stores across the country - launching a new partnership between DHS and Walmart to help the American public play an active role in ensuring the safety and security of our nation.

Yup, just like the KGB in Russia, or the SS in Germany... our government it resorting to having friends, family, neighbors, and community members turn in "suspicious" behaviour.

S. 3804 Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeit Act (COICA)

This is pending legislation that would give the U.S. Government (more specifically, the Attorney General) authority to shut down a website or domain (foreign or domestic) allegedly because the website is engaging in activities that the government considers copyright infringement (file sharing).

The bill sounds good on the outside, I mean after all, copyright infringement is a crime. Oh wait, IT IS ALREADY A CRIME!!!! So why do we need another law against it, this one giving precedent setting powers to the federal government?

Here is a link to the pending legislation:
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s111-3804

Advertisements

So when I started this blog, one of the options available was running small adds on the side by AdSense... I figured it was small, off to the side, and they said it was targeted advertisements based on blog content.

Having seen numerous blogs with APMEX adds to buy silver, kitco.com, berkey water filters, and other adds pertaining to my interests and blog content, I thought "why not"?

Well, a few days ago I bashed Missouri's idiot Senator, Claire McCaskill. She's a rank and file Democrat who does not listen to the desires of her constituents, but rather votes as she see's fit.

TODAY I log on, to check some comments, and what do I see? An add from AdSense, encouraging people to contact Claire McCaskill and SUPPORT the DREAM act... I promptly removed their gadget from my blog.

Parents the enemy...

Found this story with videos on the web, via some forums I frequent. Very disturbing and even more disheartening, if you consider that grown adults are interrogating children in school without legal counsel present. I couldn't speak on my minor son's behalf in Municipal court, because I'm not a lawyer, even if he gave me permission, but a teacher, a school counselor, and a Childrens Protective Services (CPS) agent can INTERROGATE a young child with impunity, and then take that child's word as law and launch an inquisition against the parents???

I will leave the link to the story I found, and the mother's incredible job at dealing with CPS, rather than narrate it, and then follow that link with my own personal experiences with this abusive and seemingly limitless extension of government intrusion (with the best intentions) into the lives of good and law-abiding citizens.

Congress regulating "Interstate Commerce"

So one of the few powers actually granted to the Congress of the United States, was the ability to regulate interstate commerce.

The U.S. Constitutuion (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3) states that "The Congress shall have power... To regulate Commerce with Foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes."

The "among the several States" part is what I am discussing today.

Basically, Congress has, with the approval of the Supreme Court over the past century, expanded "interstate commerce" to apply to virtually every aspect of American life. How? Let's go back to a 1942 Supreme Court ruling in the case of Wickard V Filburn.

Man evicted from his own 32 acres

 

So what is the reason? No water, power, sewage? Sounds like a permanent vacation to me!

They'll probably say something like "it's unsanitary not having sewage facilities" but I'm pretty sure even if he did, those horses and dog aren't using them, and they can out-poop a person a million ways to Sunday...

S. 510 FDA Food Safety Modernization Act

Big Brother is at it again... this time no less than NINETY senators approved this Senate bill...
Here is a link to how your Senators voted: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/vote.xpd?vote=s2010-257

Here is a link to the bill summary : http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s111-510&tab=summary

And, here is the link to the FDA's actual website... After you read all this stuff they are supposed to now be doing to protect us from ourselves... go see what they already do and ask if this bill is even necessary???
http://www.fda.gov/

Here is the first section (Section 101) summary -

Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) to expand the authority of the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to inspect records related to food, including to: (1) allow the inspection of records of food that the Secretary reasonably believes is likely to be affected in a similar manner as an adulterated food; and (2) require that each person (excluding farms and restaurants) who manufactures, processes, packs, distributes, receives, holds, or imports an article of food permit inspection of his or her records if the Secretary believes that there is a reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to such food will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.

Missouri's clueless Senator, Claire McCaskill

Recently, I received an email from the University of Missouri (as did all it's employees) stating that are health insurance premiums are going up next year, in part, due to the new healthcare bill.

Of course, I forwarded this to our illustrious Senator (Claire McCaskill) who voted for this bill, again, against the wishes of nearly a 2/3 majority in this state. She of course, claimed the bill would make healthcare more affordable... yeah, ocean front property, Arizona, yada-yada...

Sooooo.... here is a portion of the email I received from the Univesity, followed by Claire McCaskill's response to me... just to show how out of touch and clueless some of our elected representatives are.

Sorting coins as a hobby

Years before I was born, the government quit making coins out of silver, and began making them out of copper and nickel. Various coins had different years before the silver was gone, but today, almost all coins in circulation are the cheaper versions of their formerly glorious selves.

 The following link demonstrates one persons philosophy on coinage, and actually suggests saving up nickels now, betting they will make them cheaper in the near future as well. As always, remember to take anything on the internet with a grain of salt, but hey, it's something to read!

http://www.survivalblog.com/nickels.html

The following is a list of coins and the year you are looking for:
Quarters/Dimes** - 1964 and older (these coins are 90% silver).
Franklin Half-Dollars - 1963 and older
Kennedy Half-Dollars - 1964 (key year, still 90% silver)
Kennedy Half-Dollars - 1965-1970 (40% silver... not as good as they were, but still silver)
Eisenhower Silver Dollar - 1971-1976 (40% silver)
Nickels - 1942-1945: These are called war nickels, because nickel was needed for armor during WWII, so they made them out of silver during this short period. Their mint mark (P-Philadelphia, D-Denver, S-SanFrancisco) is on the reverse side of the coin, above the dome of Monticello. See the following image for an example:

Quantitative Easing Explained

America monetizes debt (QE2)

So for my next trick! I mean, blog...

Continuing on the topic of quantitative easing and monetization of debt, this month (November, 2010) "The FED" aka Federal Reserve Bank, began purchasing $600 Billion of U.S. Bonds.

http://www.dailyfinance.com/story/credit/qe2-day-one-fed-buys-7-3-billion-in-treasuries/19714617/

From the Article:

"With the government's fiscal stimulus expired, and with little hope of additional stimulus spending being approved by Congress in the near future, the Fed had to take action in an attempt to reduce the high U.S. unemployment rate and avert deflation.

But with benchmark interest rates near zero, and after an earlier program to buy $1.7 trillion worth of securities failed to reduce unemployment, the Fed announced last week its unconventional monetary easing plan of buying $600 billion worth of longer-term bonds through June. The plan has been highly criticized."

Establishing a background

My first few posts will be used to build a foundation and establish a frame of reference so-to-speak, for future discussions.

Currently, the American and World economies are hurting. A few months ago, the European Union (EU) had to bail out Greece (111 Billion Euro - $145 Billion). This week, the same EU (with input from the IMF - International Monetary Fund) approved a 85 Billion Euro (roughly 111 Billion US Dollars) bailout for Ireland.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010/nov/29/ireland-bailout-fails-to-excite-markets

That article states that the U.S. Stock market is down 1% so far today and that Andrew Lim, head of financials research at Matrix, said: "The Irish bailout doesn't solve the euro problem … We are looking at Portugal then Spain next."

Welcome!!!

Welcome to Xelera's "Nos Populus" (or "We the People").

My main goal is to address current events, government, politics and of course, to lighten the mood by periodically discussing hobbies and interests of mine. That includes cooking/grilling, chess, and other miscellaneous interests.

Yes, this is my first blog, and I am only about a decade behind the millions of others who have embarked on the weblog journey. Please be respectful of other's opinions. Remember that my viewpoints, yours, and theirs, were formed from a lifetime of experience, and not subject to change lightly. Keep it civil and let's discuss life and what not!