Monday, April 19, 2010

CongressDude Matheson Shows His True Colors

I received another newsletter from "my congressman", Jim Matheson. Though I seldom agree with the content of his newsletters, this one just got to me, especially in the context of having just completed my tax-filing.
(OT: I used Turbo-tax online which I've done for 11 years. New this year: I got to pay some unknown 'bank' $30 extra without being notified that making the choice to have the $90 deducted from my federal tax return would actually cost me $120. Showing such lack of integrity in fee assessment makes me wonder if they are unethical in their tax software. So, No More Turbo-Tax For Me. But I'm not going to miss much, because in previous years, they imported much of my tax return into the new year so I had much less to enter. That kept me as a customer because it made filing so convenient. That didn't happen this year, so my final reason for keeping them is gone.)
Back to the topic at hand...


Here's a quote from his newsletter:
Dear Friend,

Federal income taxes due on April 15th are lower for nearly all working Utahns, because of the tax relief included in the federal Recovery Act that passed in 2009.

On average, working Utahns received $1,128 from the tax breaks in the legislation

So, since that got under my skin, because it's so blatantly false, I went to his website on the federal government servers, and entered the following:

I just received and read today's email newsletter. Receiving $1128 in incentives, or as you put it, "tax breaks" is misleading. Why? Because NOT A SINGLE TAX WAS REDUCED. One-time payments to citizens (soon to be subjects) does not constitute a tax break, but rather more dole from mommy-government.

I cannot vote for you because you are obviously part of the progressive lie, not part of the solution which will give me back liberties this government has stolen by ignoring the constitution.

So, take it for what it's worth, and I could/should have said it stronger, but hey, I'm writing for someone who doesn't get it, so using stronger language will just close the little brain more, won't it?

I'm:
---
Karl Pearson

Owner/Administrator of the sites at
http://ourldsfamily.com
---
"To mess up your Linux PC, you have to really work at it;
to mess up a microsoft PC you just have to work on it."
---
Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have
for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.
--Benjamin Franklin
---
Children seldom misquote you. In fact, they usually
repeat word for word what you shouldn't have said.
---

Friday, April 16, 2010

A Failed Left Turner...

I am helping my realtor son, Glenn, get my mother's home in a bit better condition so it will sell easier. We did some work on it yesterday, then came home.

As we got off the freeway in Lehi, Utah at about 6:20pm, I noticed a car coming straight towards us. I flashed my brights a few times because hey, driving off the freeway and seeing a car coming up the off-ramp isn't my idea of a good way to meet people.

The other car didn't do anything. As a matter of fact, the other car was stopped at the intersection at the bottom of the off-ramp, left turn signal flashing, and oblivious to anything else. Glenn took a picture and sent it to me so I could post it.


If you look closer (click to enlarge the image), you'll notice her left turn signal is lit as Glenn caught the picture as it went on. Nice work, huh? The red car to the left of the white car in front of us was in the 'real' left turn lane. Notice the double orange 'dividing' line between the two cars? The red car got there after we had been at the light for a bit.

So, should the Lehi City Police Department enlarge this picture and find the driver and cite her for reckless endangerment or something? Too bad the picture isn't clear enough to see the plate.

After the traffic from the right was gone, the turn signal for the cards from our left came on, and they had to drive around her into the right lane.

All in all, I'd say this is A FAILED LEFT TURN. Wouldn't you?

Yes, I'm Karl, and thank goodness she was turning left and not going straight.

Oh, and go take a look at Glenn's realty page at UtahRealtyZone.com

Monday, April 12, 2010

The Current State of "Science"

Last evening, I watched with interested disappointment, a science channel program displaying and discussing the field of earthquake forecasting. As the program unfolded, it became obvious that there is no consensus on whether earthquakes can be predicted with any degree of certainty. Okay, there is no consensus among the progressives who think they are scientists.

They discussed several types of predictions that have, or are being studied. They included animal activity prior to earthquakes, and also some newer research being done on the forces within a fault-zone which actually results in the creation of electricity. This phenomenon is being studied by one scientist using mega-ton presses. He's largely funded the million dollar effort himself because of lack of interest in the general scientific community. As the program discussed his findings, it was obvious that what he said made good sense, was measurable and also being tracked. One small earthquake in California was preceded by a couple of weeks data indicating higher electrical charges in just the rock surrounding the area where the quake occurred.

Yet, the thrust of the program seemed to be driven by nay-sayers and frankly, liberal idiots. They had an agenda, which is typical of the liberal/progressive scientific world (remember global warming? Since the earth has been cooling for over a decade, they now force us to call it global climate change. It's not about the climate, it's about progressivism, or governmental control and secular humanism). One 'scientist' said, "We shouldn't be worrying about predicting earthquakes. We should quit buying guns and buy better cement." while a colleague stated, "Predicting earthquakes will cause more people to die as they stampede out of cities to escape a falling building that if not told about the earthquake, they would remain in the building and it wouldn't fall anyway because we know so much better how to build earthquake-proof buildings." They used Haiti as an example. It is obvious that many people died there because of the government's failures to build safe buildings. Government is their god, thus is able to provide everything necessary to protect us. Okay, I disagree; heartily.

They do not believe it is appropriate to waste money figuring out how to predict earthquakes, but rather just let people live through them because government can protect them. That is the ultimate display of "Government Will Take Care of You", or "Government as Mommy" and should raise the hackles of every liberty-minded person.

The first comment, about guns, shows a political agenda that isn't worth considering, other than to lament the poor fool's state of mind. The second comment, however, reminds me of the following poem:

A Fence or an Ambulance
[A poetic case for the value of prevention]

'Twas a dangerous cliff, as they freely confessed,
Though to walk near its crest was so pleasant;
But over its terrible edge there had slipped
A duke and full many a peasant.

So the people said something would have to be done,
But their projects did not at all tally;
Some said, "Put a fence 'round the edge of the cliff,"
Some, "An ambulance down in the valley."

But the cry for the ambulance carried the day,
For it spread through the neighboring city;
A fence may be useful or not, it is true,
But each heart became full of pity

For those who slipped over the dangerous cliff;
And the dwellers in highway and alley
Gave pounds and gave pence, not to put up a fence,
But an ambulance down in the valley.

"For the cliff is all right, if you're careful," they said,
"And, if folks even slip and are dropping,
It isn't the slipping that hurts them so much
As the shock down below when they're stopping."

So day after day, as these mishaps occurred,
Quick forth would those rescuers sally
To pick up the victims who fell off the cliff,
With their ambulance down in the valley.

Then an old sage remarked: "It's a marvel to me
That people give far more attention
To repairing results than to stopping the cause,
When they'd much better aim at prevention.

Let us stop at its source all this mischief," cried he,
"Come, neighbors and friends, let us rally;
If the cliff we will fence, we might almost dispense
With the ambulance down in the valley."

"Oh he's a fanatic," the others rejoined,
"Dispense with the ambulance? Never!
He'd dispense with all charities, too, if he could;
No! No! We'll support them forever.

Aren't we picking up folks just as fast as they fall?
And shall this man dictate to us? Shall he?
Why should people of sense stop to put up a fence,
While the ambulance works in the valley?"

But the sensible few, who are practical too,
Will not bear with such nonsense much longer;
They believe that prevention is better than cure,
And their party will soon be the stronger.

Encourage them then, with your purse, voice, and pen,
And while other philanthropists dally,
They will scorn all pretense, and put up a stout fence
On the cliff that hangs over the valley.

Better guide well the young than reclaim them when old,
For the voice of true wisdom is calling.
"To rescue the fallen is good, but 'tis best
To prevent other people from falling."

Better close up the source of temptation and crime
Than deliver from dungeon or galley;
Better put a strong fence 'round the top of the cliff
Than an ambulance down in the valley.

-- Joseph Malins (1895)

Mr. Malins puts it very well indeed. The scientists who apparently created the program for the science channel I was watching are the ones who would fight for an ambulance down in the valley. It's not a perfect fit, but I think you get the gist.

My thoughts became more concrete on this matter when I read the following 'Linux Fortune' from my own server:

Once, when the secrets of science were the jealously guarded property of a small priesthood, the common man had no hope of mastering their arcane complexities. Years of study in musty classrooms were prerequisite to obtaining even a dim, incoherent knowledge of science.

Today all that has changed: a dim, incoherent knowledge of science is available to anyone.

-- Tom Weller, "Science Made Stupid"

A Dim Incoherent Scientist is also available on your television, fighting for progressivism and government control. The colleges and universities, as temples of secular humanism, have been working tirelessly propounding the gospel of no-god, and their cultists are among us, spouting foolishness for a living.

I'm Karl

Thursday, April 8, 2010

A Myriad Of [powerful, essential . . .] Meanings

Setting a standard for future Public Service Ads, the following Youtube video is a powerful reminder of many things, including staying safe through prevention, the power of a family's love and a few other things you can think up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-8PBx7isoM

I'm Karl