3/17/10
3/13/10
Alice Grace Kitchens [update]
My daughter, Alice Grace Kitchens, was born yesterday at 4:44 in the afternoon. She weighed 6 lbs, 4 oz, and was 19" long.
My wife did an awesome job.
Both are healthy and doing well.
UPDATE: I had previously written that Alice was 4 lbs, 6 oz. I'm sleep deprived (and maybe dyslexic). She was born 6 lbs, 4 oz. She is still doing fine.
My wife did an awesome job.
Both are healthy and doing well.
UPDATE: I had previously written that Alice was 4 lbs, 6 oz. I'm sleep deprived (and maybe dyslexic). She was born 6 lbs, 4 oz. She is still doing fine.
3/9/10
The Depravity of Washington
Congressman Eric Massa resigned his position Monday in the wake of allegations that he sexually harassed his staff members.
His defense is that this is a conspiracy in which Democrats forced him out of office with these accusations because he did not vote for health care reform. He even claims that Rahm Emanuel intimidated him in a naked confrontation in the men's locker room at the congressional gym.
So, the public is asked to believe that either Massa is a power-driven, ego-maniac pervert with a pattern of harassing his underlings or that our "law-makers" lie, intimidate, and blackmail to get what they want.
I think the most rationale choice is that government--by its nature as force and war--is a corrupt organization, and corrupt people occupy this institution*.
At any rate, when we've come to this point where our government is deciding who is the least of the most dirty politicians, one must ask how much longer this ridiculous charade can go on before the system will collapse.
__________
*One could argue that corrupt men occupy a corrupt system, or perhaps, said another way-- corrupt men develop and maintain a corrupt system. Others argue that the system corrupts its occupants. Either way, it is corrupt.
His defense is that this is a conspiracy in which Democrats forced him out of office with these accusations because he did not vote for health care reform. He even claims that Rahm Emanuel intimidated him in a naked confrontation in the men's locker room at the congressional gym.
So, the public is asked to believe that either Massa is a power-driven, ego-maniac pervert with a pattern of harassing his underlings or that our "law-makers" lie, intimidate, and blackmail to get what they want.
I think the most rationale choice is that government--by its nature as force and war--is a corrupt organization, and corrupt people occupy this institution*.
At any rate, when we've come to this point where our government is deciding who is the least of the most dirty politicians, one must ask how much longer this ridiculous charade can go on before the system will collapse.
__________
*One could argue that corrupt men occupy a corrupt system, or perhaps, said another way-- corrupt men develop and maintain a corrupt system. Others argue that the system corrupts its occupants. Either way, it is corrupt.
3/8/10
Syllogism Propaganda and A Commercial for Loving Liberals and War-mongering Neocons
I saw this commercial this morning.
Let's follow that syllogism:
- Iran supports terrorists. (Just like Iraq had WMDs, right?)
- Iran is largely funded by selling oil.
- You use oil.
- Therefore, you support terrorism...especially if you are against an energy bill.
This is the kind of commercial that any war-mongering neo-con would love. There is the finger pointing at the terrorists, the ever-building momentum to invade Iran, and a protectionist attitude--no foreign goods.
It is also the same kind of ad that a loving liberal would admire. It labels anyone unwilling to give up more of the market to government regulation (under the guise of a clean-energy bill) as a terrorist-supporter.
Terrorism has to be the single most productive resource for the State. Anytime, something needs to be done--whether that is control information on the internet or pass an energy bill, blame the terrorist and accuse the nay-sayers to be with the enemy.
It seems like I have heard of this strategy before.
3/7/10
Tragedy in the News. Solution?
Today's Patriot News has a terrible story about a 7-year old Russian boy who was adopted and then murdered by his foster parents. This act is disgusting in every possible way. Apparently, they hid the abuse for years. The adoption agency checked on the boy and his twin sister. (My understanding that this type of thing is fairly standard for adoption). The family was also visited by government agencies. All of these "checks" never detected any kind of abuse, and as a result, this boy is dead. Tragic, sick, and very sad.
What's the solution? The Patriot suggests that the failure occurred on many levels, but the main cause highlighted over and over again in the article is that this family home-schooled the children. The 'problem' is that PA only mandates school attendance by age 8. Public 'educators' "act as a safety net to spot abuse," according to the Patriot.
So, let me get this straight. Numerous "safety guards" failed to detect the abuse. A government agency specifically assigned to detect abuse and protect adopted children failed to protect this boy. So, the solution is that we should (a) take children from their parents earlier (after all, home-schooling is a good way to hide abuse*) and (b) trust more government programs and agencies to protect children.
This is madness! Whenever any tragedy occurs, the knee-jerk reaction is always that government should make some law or use stricter enforcement of the current laws. Time after time, government fails. It fails to protect children, it fails to educate children, it fails to prevent crime, poverty, and more. Despite all of this, the only solution must be the loving and "omnipotent" hand of government.
Indeed, the suggestion here is that the cause of this failure is that the children were not under the watchful eye of government enough. Kids should be sentenced to government schools before the age of 8. If parents want to home-school their kids, be suspicious. After all, any parent who doesn't rush their kids to government school as soon as they can manage their own toileting needs by themselves must be up to no good.
Let's ignore the obvious problem here--these people are disgusting! These people didn't "accidentally" have kids, and in moments of frustration, economic struggle, or whatever, engage in child abuse. Not in any way would that excuse the act, but consider the contrast. These people sought to adopt children. They went out of their way to acquire children. Then, they abused the children they were given (for years?), and were able to (cleverly?) hide the abuse from agencies charged with protecting children from abuse. These people are outliers. They are an abnormal sect of society. This should not be a call for more government protection (nor can I ever think of a case that it would be).
It is a very sad story. It is a very tragic event. Let's not make it any more tragic by imposing more government, and for sure, let's not criminalize and demonize home-schooling. Government schools are certainly not a safe haven.
_____________
*This was suggested in the longer/paper version of the Patriot--by Susan Richman, the editor of PA Homeschoolers magazine no less! She said, "Generally, home-school families work really hard at being attached to a community, but if you want to be out from anyone's observation, this would be a good way to go."
What's the solution? The Patriot suggests that the failure occurred on many levels, but the main cause highlighted over and over again in the article is that this family home-schooled the children. The 'problem' is that PA only mandates school attendance by age 8. Public 'educators' "act as a safety net to spot abuse," according to the Patriot.
So, let me get this straight. Numerous "safety guards" failed to detect the abuse. A government agency specifically assigned to detect abuse and protect adopted children failed to protect this boy. So, the solution is that we should (a) take children from their parents earlier (after all, home-schooling is a good way to hide abuse*) and (b) trust more government programs and agencies to protect children.
This is madness! Whenever any tragedy occurs, the knee-jerk reaction is always that government should make some law or use stricter enforcement of the current laws. Time after time, government fails. It fails to protect children, it fails to educate children, it fails to prevent crime, poverty, and more. Despite all of this, the only solution must be the loving and "omnipotent" hand of government.
Indeed, the suggestion here is that the cause of this failure is that the children were not under the watchful eye of government enough. Kids should be sentenced to government schools before the age of 8. If parents want to home-school their kids, be suspicious. After all, any parent who doesn't rush their kids to government school as soon as they can manage their own toileting needs by themselves must be up to no good.
Let's ignore the obvious problem here--these people are disgusting! These people didn't "accidentally" have kids, and in moments of frustration, economic struggle, or whatever, engage in child abuse. Not in any way would that excuse the act, but consider the contrast. These people sought to adopt children. They went out of their way to acquire children. Then, they abused the children they were given (for years?), and were able to (cleverly?) hide the abuse from agencies charged with protecting children from abuse. These people are outliers. They are an abnormal sect of society. This should not be a call for more government protection (nor can I ever think of a case that it would be).
It is a very sad story. It is a very tragic event. Let's not make it any more tragic by imposing more government, and for sure, let's not criminalize and demonize home-schooling. Government schools are certainly not a safe haven.
_____________
*This was suggested in the longer/paper version of the Patriot--by Susan Richman, the editor of PA Homeschoolers magazine no less! She said, "Generally, home-school families work really hard at being attached to a community, but if you want to be out from anyone's observation, this would be a good way to go."
