T-about 3.5 hours and counting.....

The "First Beam" of the Large Hadron Collider should be fired in about four hours. I'll be sawing logs around that time so I hope the world doesn't end....

:-P

Meanwhile, the webcast starts at 0830 CEST. By the way, as of 2220 CDT, it's 0520 CEST.

Nighty-night, folks!

It was sure to come....

Bob Barr speaks about the Fannie/Freddie bailout



" 2.4 Government Finance and Spending

All persons are entitled to keep the fruits of their labor. We call for the repeal of the income tax, the abolishment of the Internal Revenue Service and all federal programs and services not required under the U.S. Constitution. We oppose any legal requirements forcing employers to serve as tax collectors. Government should not incur debt, which burdens future generations without their consent. We support the passage of a "Balanced Budget Amendment" to the U.S. Constitution, provided that the budget is balanced exclusively by cutting expenditures, and not by raising taxes."

-from the National Platform of the Libertarian Party Adopted in Convention, May 2008, Denver, Colorado (http://www.lp.org/platform)

Olive Garden doesn't see us visiting that often, but they did this evening. Many folks equate Italian food with spaghetti and meatballs and lasagna and the like. There's a great deal more to Italian food. I had this and IT WAS yummy! Of the places we've lived, we enjoyed Biaggi's in Davenport, IA and Mangia Cafe in Clifton Park, NY (unfortunately it's gone now but there's one in Slingerlands, NY).....

Why would the Republican Party sue Bob Barr?

Bob Barr Sued by McCain's GOP



" 2.3 Energy and Resources

While energy is needed to fuel a modern society, government should not be subsidizing any particular form of energy. We oppose all government control of energy pricing, allocation, and production."

-from the National Platform of the Libertarian Party Adopted in Convention, May 2008, Denver, Colorado (http://www.lp.org/platform)

I'm sure it's old news to most folks, but check out one of the US Navy's most recently christened ships. This ship is going to be an amphibious dock transport ship and will be named the USS New York. Appropriately, it is named in honor of the NYC victims of 9/11. A portion of the twisted steel remnants from the World Trade Center attacks (24 tons worth) has been used in the ship's construction and it is scheduled to be commissioned next year on September 11th in New York City.

I often decry excessive government secrecy here (and point out spots online like http://www.cryptome.org). One of the nation's most secretive agencies (often with good reason but abuse can occur) makes The World Factbook available as a website and a download. I like information....

Peace, y'all!

Are your papers in order, comrade?

" 2.2 Environment

We support a clean and healthy environment and sensible use of our natural resources. Private landowners and conservation groups have a vested interest in maintaining natural resources. Pollution and misuse of resources cause damage to our ecosystem. Governments, unlike private businesses, are unaccountable for such damage done to our environment and have a terrible track record when it comes to environmental protection. Protecting the environment requires a clear definition and enforcement of individual rights in resources like land, water, air, and wildlife. Free markets and property rights stimulate the technological innovations and behavioral changes required to protect our environment and ecosystems. We realize that our planet's climate is constantly changing, but environmental advocates and social pressure are the most effective means of changing public behavior."

-from the National Platform of the Libertarian Party Adopted in Convention, May 2008, Denver, Colorado (http://www.lp.org/platform)

Now for your viewing pleasure, here are some recent CRS reports.

I'll be waiting to see/hear Bob's response to the rumored government takeover of Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac...

Fannie & Freddie Bailout Bad for Taxpayers -Barr on FXN 7/14



"2.1 Property and Contract

Property rights are entitled to the same protection as all other human rights. The owners of property have the full right to control, use, dispose of, or in any manner enjoy, their property without interference, until and unless the exercise of their control infringes the valid rights of others. We oppose all controls on wages, prices, rents, profits, production, and interest rates. We advocate the repeal of all laws banning or restricting the advertising of prices, products, or services. We oppose all violations of the right to private property, liberty of contract, and freedom of trade. The right to trade includes the right not to trade — for any reasons whatsoever. Where property, including land, has been taken from its rightful owners by the government or private action in violation of individual rights, we favor restitution to the rightful owners."

-excerpt from the National Platform of the Libertarian Party Adopted in Convention, May 2008, Denver, Colorado (http://www.lp.org/platform)

Here's another thing....

This is a two hour radio show (one can normally listen locally via NPR) called Democracy Now. If you don't like that video, there's an interview in the included audio stream via archive.org. Amy Goodman's interview of Bob Barr starts at about 1 hour, 46 minutes, 15 seconds. It didn't take too long to load to that point for me, but I'm using cable, so......



The interview transcript is available from this page on democracynow.org.

I'll bet y'all thought I forgot today's daily dose of liberty......

Here goes...

I will start with BunZo's. The food was very good. There was a slight miscommunication/bad assumption on the part of the waitress, but we'll definitely be going again. I figure we'll give them a little time to iron out any kinks (a month, tops) and check it out again. I definitely recommend this place......

Anyway, here's what Bob Barr has to say about John McCain's Iraq strategery:

Bob Barr on John McCain's Iraq Strategy



" 2.0 Economic Liberty

A free and competitive market allocates resources in the most efficient manner. Each person has the right to offer goods and services to others on the free market. The only proper role of government in the economic realm is to protect property rights, adjudicate disputes, and provide a legal framework in which voluntary trade is protected. All efforts by government to redistribute wealth, or to control or manage trade, are improper in a free society."

-excerpt from the National Platform of the Libertarian Party Adopted in Convention, May 2008, Denver, Colorado (http://www.lp.org/platform)

The wife unit (1 each) occasionally meets some folks from in and around Huntsville for lunch.....

As today was my day off, I had the chance to go as well. What was the venue today?

Soul Burger

I'd heard good things about this burger joint before. I must say that the food was really good. I had a monstrosity of a burger (the Double Big Daddy). I definitely recommend this place. Just a warning....

If you're going for lunch, the place stays busy and is kind of small, so you might wait a bit for a table. That's just a testament to the food. If you tell the folks that you're new, they'll ring a bell for you and yell "We've got a virgin!"

I tried to get by without that happening, but was foiled by one of my wife's usual lunch crew. The woman who I believe owns the place will occasionally come out and take orders from folks waiting in line and always has a "How ya' doin', (sweetheart|cutie petootie|sweetie|honey)?" for visitors.

Tonight, it's BunZo's Seafood for dinner. This place is right near Sakura and Mama Mia's Pizza along County Line Road. Here's what Mike Kaylor (dining/night life writer for the Huntsville Times) had to say about the place......

Yeah, I watched McCain speak this evening....

He gave a decent speech but I'm still bucking the major parties.....

After the convention coverage, the local news was on. They did a fluff story near the end of the broadcast talking about a church sign from Blacklick, OH. Hmmmmmmmmm.... What do you think?


More story here.....

Lest I forget.....

I was doing some research last night. I wondered if the old campaign site for Sarah Palin's run for governor was up here in the aether. The web site was http://www.palinforgovernor.com. Oddly enough, if you visit there now, you are redirected to http://www.johnmccain.com. Drat!

Oh, the wonder of the intertubes. It's not exactly "recordificated", but there's always the "Internet Archive Wayback Machine". Here, for instance, is a mapping of the various iterations of the http://www.palinforgovernor.com site for the past couple of years.....

Oh yeah, a video.....

" 1.6 Self-Defense

The only legitimate use of force is in defense of individual rights — life, liberty, and justly acquired property — against aggression. This right inheres in the individual, who may agree to be aided by any other individual or group. We affirm the right to keep and bear arms, and oppose the prosecution of individuals for exercising their rights of self-defense. We oppose all laws at any level of government requiring registration of, or restricting, the ownership, manufacture, or transfer or sale of firearms or ammunition."

-excerpt from the National Platform of the Libertarian Party Adopted in Convention, May 2008, Denver, Colorado (http://www.lp.org/platform)

OK, OK, OK......

I DO NOT SUPPORT Barack Obama... or John McCain.

http://www.bobbarr2008.com

However, there are more silly half truths about Obama floating around the internets than I care to mention...

One of them I noticed recently talks about "Obama's 143 days" and dredges up snippets (out of context, of course) from his books.


Regarding the book quotes, either read the book for yourself, or at least see more of the full quotes at a place like http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/ownwords.asp

As for the 143 days thing, maybe that count is accurate (at least for the time span that was given) or maybe not. Whatever the case may be, from the time he was sworn in (109th Congress), he has sponsored or cosponsored MORE legislation than John McCain during the same period. Don't believe that?

Compare the numbers at http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/d109/sponlst.html#sM and http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/d110/sponlst.html#sM

It's rare that an outright lie is invoked in the run-up to the national elections....

However, the truth is definitely stretched sometimes. That's where factcheck.org comes in....

I had posted a link to the press release archives of the Alaska governor earlier...

I had only given it a cursory glance, but on further review, I noticed something interesting. I saw Obama somewhere on the page. Looking a little further, I was surprised to see the following headline under August, 2008:

Palin Pleased with Obama's Energy Plan

All in all, the press release doesn't really mean that much and the end of the release mentions her questioning how some of Obama's plan would be funded. I just thought it interesting that there's one positive statement about Obama on the potential Republican VP's press release page while there is ZERO mention of McCain's vision for the future of the country.

Bob Barr discusses Executive Power and its Constitutional limitations....

For those interested in that kind of thing, here is the page from the House Judiciary Committee regarding the referenced hearing with the prepared statements of those who spoke.

What does the Libertarian platform have to say about crime and justice?

" 1.5 Crime and Justice

Government exists to protect the rights of every individual including life, liberty and property. Criminal laws should be limited to violation of the rights of others through force or fraud, or deliberate actions that place others involuntarily at significant risk of harm. Individuals retain the right to voluntarily assume risk of harm to themselves. We support restitution of the victim to the fullest degree possible at the expense of the criminal or the negligent wrongdoer. We oppose reduction of constitutional safeguards of the rights of the criminally accused. The rights of due process, a speedy trial, legal counsel, trial by jury, and the legal presumption of innocence until proven guilty, must not be denied. We assert the common-law right of juries to judge not only the facts but also the justice of the law."

-from the National Platform of the Libertarian Party Adopted in Convention, May 2008, Denver, Colorado (http://www.lp.org/platform)

Speaking of other folks in the lineup for the general election, check out the list of press releases from the Alaska governor's office since Sarah Palin was the occupant. Nothing spectacular really....

She took the office with reform and ethics in mind and it truly looks like she lives by what she says. You might not agree with her politics (I'm definitely not for everything she stands for), but the record is seemingly squeaky clean.....

Check out the newest offering from the mammoth from Mountain View....

Google Chrome

I've downloaded it and given it a spin. It won't be my default browser yet (that's currently Firefox) because I use funky colors in my setup and Chrome doesn't appear to be able to support that. It's a beta, so I'm certain that it will improve.....

Mavericks: Bob Barr on HDNet 7-29-08



Now for the one thing I disagree with the Libertarian Party on....

" 1.4 Abortion

Recognizing that abortion is a sensitive issue and that people can hold good-faith views on all sides, we believe that government should be kept out of the matter, leaving the question to each person for their conscientious consideration."

-from National Platform of the Libertarian Party Adopted in Convention, May 2008, Denver, Colorado (http://www.lp.org/platform)

I disagree because the mainstream LP agrees that the government can make and enforce basic laws such as prohibitions against murder. I don't believe that science will ever definitively answer a central question to this debate ("When does life begin?"). Given the dilemma, I'd much rather fail safe with the stated LP principle of "life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness". I'm all for choice.... BEFORE CONCEPTION. In situations where not all parties were willing participants or a mother's life is in question or a few other very limited conditions, I'm absolutely willing to allow exception, but the bulk of procedures are not performed for those reasons.....

OK, I know I'm just contributing to the hype (the linked video has over half a million hits).......

But, check out the rap video about the Large Hadron Collider. I enjoy material about scientific endeavor and the LHC has some folks scared out of their wits about the end of the world. This is a humorous introduction about the basics of the newest machine from CERN (home of the world's first web site and web server).

And for today's daily dose....

" 1.3 Personal Relationships

Sexual orientation, preference, gender, or gender identity should have no impact on the rights of individuals by government, such as in current marriage, child custody, adoption, immigration or military service laws. Consenting adults should be free to choose their own sexual practices and personal relationships. Government does not have the authority to define, license or restrict personal relationships."

-from the National Platform of the Libertarian Party Adopted in Convention, May 2008, Denver, Colorado (http://www.lp.org/platform)

YUCK (at least as of 08-31-08)!!!!!!!!

Source: http://www.goes.noaa.gov/GSSLOOPS/ecir.html









Java must be enabled for radar loops to display.


In Netscape:
Select: Edit -> Preferences -> Advanced
Check "Enable Java" and "Enable Javascript"


In Internet Explorer
Select: Tools -> Internet Options -> Security tab
Select the Internet zone and set the Security level for the zone to "Medium"


You may need to restart your browser after making these changes.

Bob Barr: DC Gun Ban Decision is Great for America

" 1.2 Personal Privacy

We support the protections provided by the Fourth Amendment to be secure in our persons, homes, and property. Only actions that infringe on the rights of others can properly be termed crimes. We favor the repeal of all laws creating "crimes" without victims, such as the use of drugs for medicinal or recreational purposes."

-National Platform of the Libertarian Party Adopted in Convention, May 2008, Denver, Colorado (http://www.lp.org/platform)

Other links for information about Bob Barr and/or his candidacy:

http://www.bobbarr2008.com/
http://www.myspace.com/bobbarr2008
http://www.facebook.com/bobbarr
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Barr
http://www.lp.org/barr-root