Plinking - Ruger 10 22 - Death of a Hard Drive

Today was the fist time I was able to take my Ruger 10 22 out for a little fun. We also took a pink cricket out as well, but I forgot the gun lock for the cricket, so the girls were unable to shot it.

This is what a .22 can do to a hard drive. A couple of these shots were done by my 9 year old daughter (Punk #2). I thought that maybe the .22 would not be able to penetrate the steel, but as you can see it made the drives unusable. (This is the first of a series of posts, I will do in the future called "Death of a Hard Drive"


This is Punk #3 shooting the Ruger 10 22. She had a hard time lifting it by herself for more than a few shots, so I helped her some.

This is a picture of me helping Punk #3 (our 7 year old) shoot the Ruger 10 22.

This is Punk #2 (my nine year old daughter) shooting the Ruger 10 22. She is actually a pretty good hit, and from watching me was able to handle the gun well. She really enjoyed shooting. Notice the pink cricket in the gun case.

And of course, we picked up all of our spent shells, and a bunch of other ones we found laying around. We like to leave our shooting area clean after we leave it.

We go shooting just behind our house a ways. Keep coming back to the blog to see other ways we are going to Kill Hard Drives. I have a whole pile of them that are waiting for destruction. I am hoping to see what a larger caliber will do.

American Clean Energy and Security Act - Already killed trees...

Cap and Trade (American Clean Energy and Security Act) passed the house on Jun 26th, 2009 at 7:17PM with a vote of 219 to 212, with 3 representatives not voting. You can see the voting record by going to house.gov.

The bill itself is (HR2454) is a total of 1092 pages. Lets assume that all the 431 representatives that voted on the bill actually printed the bill out. That is a total of 470,652 pages of paper that were printed on the 26th for the passage of this one bill (sounds environmentally friendly to me). That is a total of 942 REAMS of paper. If I were to go down to Office Max and buy that much paper, I could by it for $2.99 per ream of paper (a REAM is 500 sheets). And that is on sale, and is the cheap paper. That comes to a total of $2,817 just in paper costs. It is also estimated that it costs $.015 to print one page of paper. So it cost a total of $7,060 just in toner and printer costs. That brings the grand total to $9,877 just to print the documents for the house to review. This total is also assuming that only one copy was printed per representative. Remember, there were two version of the bill, so it was probably printed more than once. $9,877 may not sound like a big number, but just imagine what you could do with $9,877 additional income every day. That then puts it in prospective.

I think it is funny that the name of the bill was American Clean Energy and Security Act which is suppose to help use save the environment, and they used at least 470,000 pieces of paper in the process of passing it. Now that the bill has passed, there will probably be a lot more copies printed, bound and published.

This is just something to think about.

James Madison Quote

The house of representatives...can make no law which will not have its full operation on themselves and their friends, as well as the great mass of society. This has always been deemed one of the strongest bonds by which human policy can connect the rulers and the people together. It creates between them that communion of interest, and sympathy of sentiments, of which few governments have furnished examples; but without which every government degenerates into tyranny.

James Madison
Federalist No. 57, February 19, 1788

From James Madison Quote from FoundingFatherQuotes.com

After watching the House pass the Cap and Trade bill (which will increase all our expenses considerably), I thought of this quote by James Madison. I believe that this has happened, and that we are now in a state of tyranny. If you need examples of how the laws passed by our representatives do not also apply to the ones representing us, just look at he news headlines. How many of Obama's cabinet members either were not appointed, or dropped out because of tax evasion issues. How many senators and representatives are in trouble for bribery and extortion charges? But what happens to them? They get out of the charges, or are given a small fine. If a normal citizen of the United States did some of the stuff they get away with, we would be spending time in jail, and have our assets taken from us.

How many of them do you actually will have to pay for the tax that was just passed on energy? Will federal buildings also have to abide by the Cap and Trade policies? Only time well tell, but if it is like any other law, they will either be exempt, or will not be held liable when they fail to enforce it on themselves.

Metal Storm - Future Weapons.

Check out this video.... Video is 3:23 in length.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLNuBq0NQJE

I would of embeded it, but Discovery Channel does not allow that through YouTube.

Benjamin Franklin - On the Constitution

Before the Constitution of the United States was signed, Benjamin Franklin made one final speech on the subject. In his speech, he encourages all of the delegates to sign. Stating that there are some points he does not agree with but that it is the most correct form of government, and should be put into effect. Here are a few other quotes from the speech he made to the Convention on September 17, 1787. [Full Text Here]

...there is no Form of Government but what may be a Blessing to the People if well administred; and I believe farther that this is likely to be well adminstred for a Course of Years, and can only end in Despotism as other Forms have done before it, when the People shall become so corrupted as to need Despotic Government, being incapable of any other.

For when you assemble a Number of Men to have the Advantage of their joint Wisdom, you inevitably assemble with those Men all their Prejudices, their Passions, their Errors of Opinion, their local Interests, and their selfish Views. From such an Assembly can a perfect Production be expected? It therefore astonishes me, Sir, to find this System approaching so near to Perfection as it does; and I think it will astonish our Enemies, who are waiting with Confidence to hear that our Councils are confounded, like those of the Builders of Babel, and that our States are on the Point of Separation, only to meet hereafter for the Purpose of cutting one anothers Throats.

Much of the Strength and Efficiency of any Government in procuring and securing Happiness to the People depends on Opinion, on the general Opinion of the Goodness of that Government as well as of the Wisdom and Integrity of its Governors. I hope therefore that for our own Sakes, as a Part of the People, and for the sake of our Posterity we shall act heartity and unanimously in recommending this Constitution, wherever our Influence may extend, and turn our future Thoughts and Endeavours to the Means of having it well administred.

You can read more quotes from Benjamin Franklin on foundingfatherquotes.com

Benjamin Franklin - Role of God in Constitution

In a speech given to the Continental Convention on Jun 28, 1787, Benjamin Franklin lets everyone know what he thinks the role of GOD was and needs to be in congress. [Full Text of speech]

He first talks about how they are getting no where because they "are producing as many Noes as Ayes, methinks a melancholy Proof of the Imperfection of the Human Understanding." He then goes on to say, that "In the beginning of the Contest with Britain, when we were sensible of Danger, we had daily Prayers in this Room for the Divine Protection! Our Prayers, Sir, were heard; and they were graciously answered. All of us, who were engag'd in the Struggle, must have observ'd frequent Instances of a Superintending Providence in our Favor."

He then goes on to say that God governs the Affairs of Men! "And if a Sparrow cannot fall to the Ground without his Notice, is it probable that an Empire can rise without his Aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings, that “except the Lord build the House, they labor in vain that build it.” I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring Aid, we shall succeed in this political Building no better than the Builders of Babel:..". Notice he is quoting scripture as well.

He then makes the following comment in closing: "That henceforth Prayers, imploring the Assistance of Heaven, and its Blessing on our Deliberations, be held in this Assembly every Morning before we proceed to Business; and that one or more of the Clergy of this City be requested to officiate in that Service. "

They did not start saying Prayers at this point (but sometime later they did start the practice, and it is continued to this day). And the reason was because they did not have the money to pay a Clergy of the city to officiate.

WARNING... RANT BELOW....

Did you catch that? The reason they did not was because they could not find someone to officiate the payer without being PAID to do so. That is one of the major problems that I have with paid clergy. Shouldn't it be enough to serve your fellowmen and help move the work of GOD? Why is it required that someone be paid to offer a prayer on a daily basis? Does not receiving payment change the reason why you are being a clergy. It makes it no longer about serving God and helping your fellowmen, it is all about MONEY. This is the same reason why I agree with Franklin with not paying public officials. It should be a service to the public, not a way to profit from the hard labor of the public or your congregation.

END OF RANT.....

Here are some other quotes by Benjamin Franklin that show his views on God.

God helps them that help themselves
Poor Richard's Almanack

GOD: I conceive for many reasons that he is a good being; as I should be happy to have so wise, good, and powerful a being my friend, let me consider in what manner I shall make myself most acceptable to him.
"Articles of Belief and Acts of Religion" (20 Nov. 1728)

Let me, then, not fail to praise my God continually, for it is his due, and it is all I can return for his many favors and great goodness to me; and let me resolve to be virtuous, that I may be happy, that I may please him who is delighted to see me happy.
"Articles of belief and Acts of Religion" (20 Nov. 1728)

Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God
Pennsylvania Evening Post (14 Dec. 1775)

I hope our people will keep up their courage. i have not doubt of their finally succeeding by the blessing of GOD, nor have I any doubt that so good a cause will fail of that blessing
Letter to an unknown correspondent (25 Oct. 1776)

You can find more quotes at foundingfatherquotes.com

Benjamin Franklin - Silence Dogood No. 6

Ben starts out in his 6th Silence Dogood letter saying, "Pride. It is acknowledg’d by all to be a Vice the most hateful to God and Man. Even those who nourish it in themselves, hate to see it in others. The proud Man aspires after Nothing less than an unlimited Superiority over his Fellow-Creatures." The full text of the letter can be found on franklinpapers.org.

He talks about pride and how evil it is and what problems is causes. But he also talks about how Pride of Apparel has this effect, "By striving to appear rich they become really poor, and deprive themselves of that Pity and Charity which is due to the humble poor Man, who is made so more immediately by Providence."

But then he starts talking about hoop-petticoats. Which is the real reason for the letter. In conclusion he writes that they should "consider, Whether they, who pay no Rates or Taxes, ought to take up more Room in the King’s High-Way, than the Men, who yearly contribute to the Support of the Government."

I think he was just ticked off that he got stuck behind some women while walking down the street and could not get around them because of their hoop-petticoats. That is just my opinion, but his warning on Pride should also be taken to heart.

Benjamin Franklin - Salaries and Public Office

I have been toying with the idea of getting involved in local government. And I keep getting asked why I want to donate my time and energy in public office. I think that this speech given by Benjamin Franklin expresses one of the main reasons why. I am going to give a summary of his speech, and then explain why it illustrates one of the reasons I want to get involved in local government. He speech was given on June 2, 1787, and the full text of the speech can be found here: franklinpapers.org.

Ben starts of by identifying the two main motivators that influence the affairs of Men. They are "Ambition and avarice; the Love of Power, and the Love of Money." And he says that if you give a man both, then they will "move Heaven and Earth to obtain it".

He then discusses why this is a bad idea. Instead of having "wise and moderate, the lovers of Peace and good Order, the men fittest for the Trust", you will attract the "Men of strong Passions and indefatigable Activity in their selfish Pursuits". Not only will you attracted the type of people you don't want as public servants, but you will then also create competitors that will "perpetually be endeavoring to distress their Administration, thwart their Measures, and render them odious to the People."

Have we not seen this. We now have politicians that are not considered patriots, but they bash each other as much as possible, and try to move themselves up the ladder above their fellow public officers. Instead of building the country, they are trying to build their Wealth and Power.

He then talks about how once these people are in power (for the lust of money and power), they will not want to leave. And in the process, they will never be "satisfied, but always in want of more." He states, "we may set out in the Beginning with moderate Salaries, we shall find that such will not be of long Continuance." (Look into the packages that government have given themselves. They can retire as kings after serving one term in congress. They have a very generous retirement plan, and medial plan. Just look at it, they are saying that the CEOs are greedy, but they do have some nice golden parachutes.) Then to get more, they will then have to tax the people heavily. And in turn the people will become "discontented with the Oppression of Taxes", and will then start to resist. And to keep their power, they will then need to raise more money to "pay the Troops that are to suppress all Resistance." These may not be physical troops, but money spent to keep people in stations that require them to give them their basic needs (we now call them entitlement programs).

Now this is the part that I think hits home the most with me and my desire to serve in local government. If you take away the salaries, and limit the power, then why do people want to serve in public offices? Ben answers this question with this statement: "that the Pleasure of doing Good and Serving their Country, and the Respect such Conduct entitles them to, are sufficient Motives with some Minds to give up a great Portion of their Time to the Public, without the mean Inducement of pecuniary Satisfaction."

He gives several examples of offices that do not get salaries, or that cost the office holder money. And he then concludes talking about the recent revolutionary war. He states that the "General of our Armies, executed for Eight Years together, without the smallest Salary, by a Patriot whom I will not now offend by any other Praise." He then goes on to say "I have a better Opinion of our Country. I think we shall never be without a sufficient Number of wise and good Men to undertake and execute well and faithfully the Office in question."

To answer the question I posed at the first of this post. I want to be one of those men that find Pleasure in doing Good and Serving my Country and Community.

Benjamin Franklin - Silence Dogood, No. 5

In the 5th of the Silence Dogood letters, Ben hits a topic head on. The topic of this letter is the difference between the Male and Female Vices. An individual sends a letter to the Courant telling Mrs. Dogood to "begin with your own sex first; let the first volley of your resentments be directed against Female Vice". I don't know if the letter he is responding to is also fictitious like the pen name he is using, or if someone really did write to the Courant. But for him to attack the equality of sexes in 1722 is pretty bold.

There are a couple of points that he makes as Silence Dogood that I would like to point out. He claims that most of the vices that females have are because of males or perpetuated by males. He says this about Idleness of Women.

"Men are commonly complaining how hard they are forc’d to labour, only to maintain their Wives in Pomp and Idleness, yet if you go among the Women, you will learn, that they have always more Work upon their Hands than they are able to do; and that a Woman’s Work is never done, &c."

He then concludes the letter with the following statement:

"Upon the whole, I conclude, that it will be impossible to lash any Vice, of which the Men are not equally guilty with the Women, and consequently deserve an equal (if not a greater) Share in the Censure. However, I exhort both to amend, where both are culpable, otherwise they may expect to be severely handled"

I believe his main point is that Men and Women are equal and that it is impossible to blame one or the other for any vice. And that if you are to say they are not equal, then the Men are responsible for causing the division.

Benjamin Franklin - Silence Dogood, No 4.

After talking to her Reverend Boarder about Educating her Son William (BTW, Benjamin Franklin later did have a son named William). Silence takes a walk and sits by an apple tree (not the same one George Washington supposedly cuts down) and dreams a dream. This letter is about the dream she dreamed.

After the dream, Benjamin then summarizes what the dream meant.

I reflected in my Mind on the extream Folly of those Parents, who, blind to their Childrens Dulness, and insensible of the Solidity of their Skulls, because they think their Purses can afford it, will needs send them to the Temple of Learning, where, for want of a suitable Genius, they learn little more than how to carry themselves handsomely, and enter a Room genteely, (which might as well be acquir’d at a Dancing-School,) and from whence they return, after Abundance of Trouble and Charge, as great Blockheads as ever, only more proud and self-conceited.

While I was in the midst of these unpleasant Reflections, Clericus (who with a Book in his Hand was walking under the Trees) accidentally awak’d me; to him I related my Dream with all its Particulars, and he, without much Study, presently interpreted it, assuring me, That it was a lively Representation of Harvard College, Etcetera. [Source: franklinpapers.org]

During the course of his dream, you learn that poverty, idleness and ignorance are the main reasons why people never make it to sit with Learning.

Study in socialism

An economics professor at Texas Tech said he had failed very few students, but had once failed an entire class. That class had insisted that socialism worked and that no one would be poor and no one would be rich, a great equalizer.

The professor then said, "Ok, we will have an experiment in this class on socialism. All grades will be averaged and everyone will receive the same grade meaning, obviously, no one will receive an A." They all agreed to this.

After the first test the grades were averaged, everyone got a C. The students who studied hard were upset and the students who studied little were happy.

But, as the second test rolled around, the students who studied little studied even less; and the ones who studied hard decided they wanted a free ride too, so they studied little. The second test average was a D! No one was happy.

When the 3rd test rolled around the average was an F. The scores never increased as bickering, blame and name calling all resulted in hard feelings and no one would study for the benefit of anyone else.

To their great dismay the professor failed them all. Then he sent all of them this note: "A socialistic government will also ultimately fail -- because when the reward is great, the effort to succeed is great, but when government takes all reward away, no one will try to succeed."

Superbowl - Obama Redistribution

Steelers to Lose Three Super Bowl TrophiesPittsburgh, PA. The Super Bowl XLIII Champion Pittsburgh Steelers, the only team to win six titles, will soon be losing half of those trophies. After a meeting between NFL Commissioner Rodger Gadel and President Barack Obama, Obama decided to redistribute half of their Super Bowl victories and trophies to less fortunate teams in the league.

“We live everyday in the country that invented the Super Bowl.” said Obama “We are not about to lose this Great American tradition in the wake of these difficult times.” Obama’s plan calls for the Steelers, who are a successful NFL team, to give half of their Super Bowl trophies to teams that are not successful, or have not been as successful as the Steelers. “The Detroit Lions are just as much a part of the same fiber of the NFL as the Steelers and they should, no rather, "will" be entitled to a Super Bowl Trophy as well.”

The Pittsburgh Steelers, by virtue of hard work, excellent team play, stellar draft choices, responsible investing in free agents, careful hiring of coaches and excellent community service and commitment to their fans, has prospered greatly during the past 30 years and have won six Super Bowl Trophies. But President Barack Obama’s plan calls for the Pittsburgh Steelers to carry the larger burden of the NFL’s less successful teams. Obama went on to further proclaim, “In these difficult times we are all in this to work together. We must reclaim the NFL Championship Dream for every team, for every city and for every fan.”

“My plan will not affect 31 of the 32 teams in the league.” Obama assures -- over 95 percent of the teams in the NFL will not have to worry about losing any Super Bowl Trophies. “The worst teams in the NFL and the teams that can’t seem to get a break and win a championship will no longer have to worry about going without a title.” Obama promises. “We are a country and league of hope. We all need to make a change. It does not matter the color of the teams uniforms, the personal decisions that the teams make or their performance, but rather if they are a member of this great American league.”

The Super Bowl XLIII trophy will be redistributed to the 0-16 Detroit Lions. Through no fault of their own incompetence, the Lions could not manage a victory all season and this trophy will help ease the pain of their lack of performance and give them hope once again. The redistribution of Super Bowl XL trophy will go directly to the Steeler’s division rival the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals who also have fallen on hard times have never won a Super Bowl. This victory will bring a smile to hundreds of Bengal fans all over the world as they can now celebrate. Finally, one of the Steeler’s two Super Bowl victories over the Dallas Cowboys will go back to the Cowboys since the league needs to provide hope in the face of difficulty and provide hope in the face of uncertainty. "This is a heavy burden for the Steelers, but together we can all prosper."

All hope is not lost for Pittsburgh fans, Obama has another plan in mind. Obama has met with MLB commissioner Bud Selig on a similar plan. The New York Yankees will redistribute two of their world series trophies to the Pittsburgh Pirates in recognition of their 16 straight losing seasons. This plan will help stimulate the Pirates and enable them to regain the American Dream. Barack Obama will be meeting with the NHL and Michael Phelps in the upcoming weeks as this issue is high on his agenda for “Hope and Change.”

NOTE: This is a joke, that was emailed to me by a co-worker. But I really got a kick out of it.

Benjamin Franklin - ... Management of the Poor

In an essay entitled "On the Price of Corn and Management of the Poor" published in 1776 (cool year to publish stuff). Ben talks about how taxes and tariffs are hurting the farmers. He discusses how if Corn is not allowed to be exportable, then other items should also not be exportable. Why keep the price of one item low, and allow another item to go up due to heavy supply. You can read the full essay at founding.com.

The main point I want to bring out is his idea of welfare and how to treat the poor among us. He states:

"For my own part, I am not so well satisfied of the goodness of this thing. I am for doing good to the poor, but I differ in opinion of the means. I think the best way of doing good to the poor, is not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of it. In my youth I travelled much, and I observed in different countries, that the more public provisions were made for the poor, the less they provided for themselves, and of course became poorer. And, on the contrary, the less was done for them, the more they did for themselves, and became richer. There is no country in the world where so many provisions are established for them; so many hospitals to receive them when they are sick or lame, founded and maintained by voluntary charities; so many alms-houses for the aged of both sexes, together with a solemn general law made by the rich to subject their estates to a heavy tax for the support of the poor. Under all these obligations, are our poor modest, humble, and thankful; and do they use their best endeavors to maintain themselves, and lighten our shoulders of this burthen? On the contrary, I affirm that there is no country in the world in which the poor are more idle, dissolute, drunken, and insolent. The day you passed that act, you took away from before their eyes the greatest of all inducements to industry, frugality, and sobriety, by giving them a dependence on somewhat else than a careful accumulation during youth and health, for support in age or sickness. In short, you offered a premium for the encouragement of idleness, and you should not now wonder that it has had its effect in the increase of poverty. Repeal that law, and you will soon see a change in their manners. St. Monday, and St. Tuesday, will cease to be holidays. SIX days shalt thou labour, though one of the old commandments long treated as out of date, will again be looked upon as a respectable precept; industry will increase, and with it plenty among the lower people; their circumstances will mend, and more will be done for their happiness by inuring them to provide for themselves, than could be done by dividing all your estates among them."

What I believe he is saying is that you need to make it uncomfortable for the poor, or they will remain poor. If they have to pull themselves up, then they will. It is in the best interest of society to not enable the poor. This also relates to a previous post I made entitled "Benjamin Franklin - Pleasure and Pain". Everything we do is driven by pain or being uncomfortable. If we make welfare a comfortable state (which current and passed policies have done), then there is no reason for action. But if we make being poor uncomfortable, or painful, the we as humans will resort to action to minimize or eliminate the unprofitableness of it.

To many programs for the poor, keep the poor poor. A welfare state has never encouraged anyone to become more than a welfare state.

Benjamin Franklin - "A Modest Enquiry into the Nature and Necessity of a Paper Currency"

Benjamin wrote an anonymous pamphlet entitled "A Modest Enquiry into the Nature and Necessity of a Paper Currency" that was published in April 1729. I am not going to go into detail about this pamphlet, but want discuss just one aspect of it. Since I am not a great American economist, most of it I have a hard time understanding. So if you want to read the entire pamphlet, and read someone else's commentary on it, you can by going to Virginia.edu.

The point that this pamphlet brings up, that I want to talk about, is the idea that paper currency should not be backed by Gold or Silver, but should be backed by the peoples labor.

"For many Ages, those Parts of the World which are engaged in Commerce, have fixed upon Gold and Silver as the chief and most proper Materials for this Medium; they being in themselves valuable Metals for their Fineness, Beauty, and Scarcity. By these, particularly by Silver, it has been usual to value all Things else: But as Silver it self is no certain permanent Value, being worth more or less according to its Scarcity or Plenty, therefore it seems requisite to fix upon Something else, more proper to be made a Measure of Values, and this I take to be Labour."

I don't know if I completely understand what he says, but what I get from it is that he thinks that items should be based on how long they take to produce them, not based on their Scarcity or Plenty.

"By Labour may the Value of Silver be measured as well as other Things. As, Suppose one Man employed to raise Corn, while another is digging and refining Silver; at the Year's End, or any other Period of Time, the compleat Produce of Corn, and that of Silver, are the natural Price of each other; and if one be twenty Bushels, and the other twenty Ounces, then an Ounce of that Silver is worth the Labour of raising a Bushel of that Corn. Now if by the Discovery of some nearer, more easy or plentiful Mines, a Man may get Forty Ounces of Silver as easily as formerly he did Twenty, and the same Labour is still required to raise Twenty Bushels of Corn, then Two Ounces of Silver will be worth no more than the same Labour of raising One Bushel of Corn, and that Bushel of Corn will be as cheap at two Ounces, as it was before at one; ceteris paribus. "

My understanding of what he is saying is that if it takes 12 days (or any other time frame) to produce a bushel of corn, and 12 days to mine 6 ounces of silver, then a bushel of corn should be worth 6 ounces of silver. I don't think that this would work in our current society. We have a society where a person is paid for an honest days labor, and someone is paid through welfare programs to not produce an honest days labor.

But, if you did an honest days labor, and everyone else did an honest days labor, then everyone pooled the outcome of that labor, and you were given what you needed from that pool, then it would work. Then you would be being paid for your talent, and your days labor. Sounds kinda familiar to me... Wonder where I have heard of that idea before?


NOTE: One interesting point is that after this pamphlet was written, more money was printed and Benjamin Franklin's press was employed to print it.

Benjamin Franklin - Silence Dogood No. 3

The third Silence Dogood letter talks about having the foundation built and getting ready to "raise the Building". But in the first two paragraphs, Ben as Silence makes the following statements that I think are profound and should be internalized.

"It is undoubtedly the Duty of all Persons to server the Country they live in, according to their abilities.."

"I have from my Youth been indefatigable studious to gain and treasure up in my Mind all useful and desirable Knowledge, especially such as tends to improve the Mind, and enlarge the Understanding."

As always, Ben makes some really good points.

Full text can be found at: franklinpapers.org

History - politicized and substandard education system based on pop culture

Momzoo and I (mostly Momzoo) in an attempt to protect our children from the progressive movement, have started to home school on of our punk kids. And in the process we have been looking for good history books that actually teach history instead of political agendas. We thought we had found such a book. The series is "A History of US", in the first book, "The First Americans - Prehistory--1600" there is a statement that proves we may have made the wrong choice. Here is the statement:

In fact, so many animals go killed that some of them became extinct. (that means they all died out.) But, in most cases, their disappearance wasn't because of hunters.... More than 100 species of animals became extinct between 6,000 and 10,000 years ago. No one knows why all of them died. Perhaps they were infected by germs carried by humans. Maybe hunters killed to many of some species.

That was to bad, because there was so much food on the land that people could make choices: to catch fish or dig for clams and oysters or gather nuts and berries and roots.. [pg. 20.]

See my point here. This HISTORY book talks about extinct animals, and then states that it was not because of hunters. But then says that it is sad that hunting was bad because of the other food sources (I guess fish, clams and oysters don't count).

In a recent article in the Pravda (a Russian newspaper), there was an editorial written that talks about the fall of the US into Marxism. I quote, "First, the population was dumbed down through a politicized and substandard education system based on pop culture, rather then the classics. Americans know more about their favorite TV dramas then the drama in DC that directly affects their lives. They care more for their "right" to choke down a McDonalds burger or a BurgerKing burger than for their constitutional rights. Then they turn around and lecture us about our rights and about our "democracy". Pride blind the foolish. " [Source: pravda.ru]

This is a perfect example of teaching the pop culture instead of the classics. Instead of the history book just identifying the facts, an opinion was added. And that opinion is a POP CULTURE opinion, that of Eating Meat is bad and will lead to the extinction of a species.

If the Russians can see this, why are we as Americans so blind to it.

The article also then goes on to point out that our "faith in God was destroyed", read the newspapers and you can see that is the case. We are trying to take God out of everything in public view. And then they point out that "spending and money printing" will also cause our down fall.

Wake up America...

Benjamin Franklin - Silence Dogood, No. 1 & 2

Introduction to Silence Dogood

In 1722 Benjamin Franklin wrote several editorial letters to the New-England Courant. The first two were published April 2, 1722, and April 16, 1722. He is writing them under the name of Silence Dogood, because he knew his brother (James Franklin) would not allow him to write in the paper. James was the owner of the press and the paper at the time.

In the first two papers, he introduces himself, and lets the readers know that he will only be publishing a few letters, and they will be spread out over time. There were a total of 14 papers published over a 7 month period of time.

Here is how he introduces Silence Dogood (I think the name also has meaning)

1. Her father died celebrating her birth. "for as he, poor Man, stood upon the Deck rejoycing at my Birth, a merciless Wave entred the Ship, and in one Moment carry’d him beyond Reprieve"
2. She was then raised by the Country Minister, a good natured young Man and Bachelor, that "labour’d with all his Might to instil vertuous and godly Principles into my tender Soul"
3. Her mother died two years later, leaving her with no "Relation on Earth".
4. She kept "the best of Company, Books".
5. The Minister then "began unexpectedly to cast a loving Eye upon Me"
6. They were then married. "This unexpected Match was very astonishing to all the Country round about, and served to furnish them with Discourse for a long Time after; some approving it, others disliking it, as they were led by their various Fancies and Inclinations."
7. They had two girls and a boy.
8. The Minister died a sudden and unexpected death soon after.
9. She is currently in a "State of Widowhood", but "I could be easily persuaded to marry"

Now with that background, it will be easier to understand what Ben or Silence Dogood was trying to say in her letters published in the New-England Courant. In the second letter Ben or Silence Dogood closes with the following:

Know then, That I am an Enemy to Vice, and a Friend to Vertue. I am one of an extensive Charity, and a great Forgiver of private Injuries: A hearty Lover of the Clergy and all good Men, and a mortal Enemy to arbitrary Government and unlimited Power. I am naturally very jealous for the Rights and Liberties of my Country; and the least appearance of an Incroachment on those invaluable Priviledges, is apt to make my Blood boil exceedingly. I have likewise a natural Inclination to observe and reprove the Faults of others, at which I have an excellent Faculty. I speak this by Way of Warning to all such whose Offences shall come under my Cognizance, for I never intend to wrap my Talent in a Napkin. To be brief; I am courteous and affable, good humour’d (unless I am first provok’d,) and handsome, and sometimes witty, but always, Sir, Your Friend and Humble Servant.

I believe that the last paragraph tells volumes of what Ben actually believed. I am going to enjoy reading the rest of the Silence Dogood letters.

Full text of the letters can be found here:

Silence Dogood No. 1
http://franklinpapers.org/franklin/framedVolumes.jsp?vol=1&page=008a

Silence Dogood No. 2
http://franklinpapers.org/franklin/framedVolumes.jsp?vol=1&page=011a

Benjamin Franklin - Pleasure and Pain

One of the papers that Benjamin Franklin wrote was titled "A dissertation on Liberty and Necessity, Pleasure and Pain". He wrote this paper in 1725 in London. Only 100 copies were made. He distributed several of them to friends, and the burned all but one. But due to the modern marvel of technology, we have a copy of it. The full text can be found at http://www.historycarper.com/resources/twobf1/m7.htm. I have to admit that I do not understand everything that he is saying in this paper. It amazes me that he was such a thinker at the age of 19.

But I wanted to point out his viewpoint on pleasure and pain. Here are a few quotes from this paper.

One of the points he makes is that Pain and Uneasiness is what causes us to live.

It is this distinguishes Life and Consciousness from unactive unconscious Matter. To know or be sensible of Suffering or being acted upon is to live; and whatsoever is not so, among created Things, is properly and truly dead.

All Pain and Uneasiness proceeds at first from and is caus'd by Somewhat without and distinct from the Mind itself. The Soul must first be acted upon before it can re-act. In the Beginning of Infancy it is as if it were not; it is not conscious of its own Existence, till it has receiv'd the first Sensation of Pain; then, and not before, it begins to feel itself, is rous'd, and put into Action; then it discovers its Powers and Faculties, and exerts them to expel the Uneasiness. Thus is the Machine set on work; this is Life. We are first mov'd by Pain, and the whole succeeding Course of our Lives is but one continu'd Series of Action with a View to be freed from it. As fast as we have excluded one Uneasiness another appears, otherwise the Motion would cease. If a continual Weight is not apply'd, the Clock will stop. And as soon as the Avenues of Uneasiness to the Soul are choak'd up or cut off, we are dead, we think and act no more.

He also then goes on to say if we don't experience Pain, then we cannot experience Pleasure.

The Thing is intirely impossible in Nature! Are not the Pleasures of the Spring made such by the Disagreeableness of the Winter? Is not the Pleasure of fair Weather owing to the Unpleasantness of foul? Certainly. Were it then always Spring, were the Fields always green and flourishing, and the Weather constantly serene and fair, the Pleasure would pall and die upon our Hands; it would cease to be Pleasure to us, when it is not usher'd in by Uneasiness.

Basically, Ben is saying that everything we do is driven to stop pain or uneasiness and that moving from the pain is what allows us to find pleasure. He also says that the harder the pain, the greater the pleasure.

You have a View of the whole Argument in a few familiar Examples: The Pain of Abstinence from Food, as it is greater or less, produces a greater or less Desire of Eating, the Accomplishment of this Desire produces a greater or less Pleasure proportionate to it. The Pain of Confinement causes the Desire of Liberty, which accomplish'd, yields a Pleasure equal to that Pain of Confinement. The Pain of Labour and Fatigue causes the Pleasure of Rest, equal to that Pain. The Pain of Absence from Friends, produces the Pleasure of Meeting in exact proportion.

Benjamin Franklin - Freedom of Speech

I am currently reading the book called The Real Benjamin Franklin (American Classic Series) In the first couple of chapters, it mentions that Ben wrote some letters to the New-England Courant as a Widow called Silence Dogood. In No. 8 of the Dogood letters, he writes about Freedom of Speech. You can find the full text of the Silence Dogood letters at http://www.franklinpapers.org/.

Freedom of Speech

Without Freedom of Thought, there can be no such Thing as Wisdom; and no such Thing as publick Liberty, without Freedom of Speech; which is the Right of every Man, as far as by it, he does not hurt or controul the Right of another: And this is the only Check it ought to suffer, and the only Bounds it ought to know.

This sacred Privilege is so essential to free Goverments, that the Security of Property, and the Freedom of Speech always go together; and in those wretched Countries where a Man cannot call his Tongue his own, he can scarce call any Thing else his own....

...That Men ought to speak well of their Governours is true, while their Governours deserve to be well spoken of; but to do publick Mischief, without hearing of it, is only the Prerogative and Felicity of Tyranny: A free People will be shewing that they are so, by their Freedom of Speech.

Well said Benjamin Franklin. I am planning on reading all of the Silence Dogood letters, and will put points up from them on this BLOG from time to time.