Out of Kilter

Bad Guys

2006-10-11T11:20:00.000-05:00

Forum trolls:

mikajackson@lycos.com
mikajackson@charter.net

Lovetoeat10@hotmail.com

Moraccan Hackerz

2006-07-26T13:19:00.000-05:00

I fail to see why you think you are helping your cause. You hack a bulletin board?? You could have signed on to the boards and stated your case. If your case is sound you would have changed some minds.

Instead you proved yourself to be merely a bully. And, like all bullies, you are a coward.

I have less respect for Islam now because of you.

Ayn Rand

2006-05-11T14:45:00.000-05:00

My philosophy, Objectivism, holds that:

1. Reality exists as an objective absolute—facts are facts, independent of man's feelings, wishes, hopes or fears.

2. Reason (the faculty which identifies and integrates the material provided by man's senses) is man's only means of perceiving reality, his only source of knowledge, his only guide to action, and his basic means of survival.

3. Man—every man—is an end in himself, not the means to the ends of others. He must exist for his own sake, neither sacrificing himself to others nor sacrificing others to himself. The pursuit of his own rational self-interest and of his own happiness is the highest moral purpose of his life.

4. The ideal political-economic system is laissez-faire capitalism. It is a system where men deal with one another, not as victims and executioners, nor as masters and slaves, but as traders, by free, voluntary exchange to mutual benefit. It is a system where no man may obtain any values from others by resorting to physical force, and no man may initiate the use of physical force against others. The government acts only as a policeman that protects man's rights; it uses physical force only in retaliation and only against those who initiate its use, such as criminals or foreign invaders. In a system of full capitalism, there should be (but, historically, has not yet been) a complete separation of state and economics, in the same way and for the same reasons as the separation of state and church.

Weighing in on the immigration problem

2006-05-07T20:37:00.000-05:00

What we do with respect to our immigration "laws" is tantamount to saying to your fourteen year old daughter who hates school and loves her boyfriend: "Darling, if you get pregnant it will mean you're a lawbreaking hussy tart. It's wrong to get pregnant at your age. BUT if you do happen to get pregnant we'll buy you a house and a car and you can stay home and not go to school."

We tell foreigners that it's illegal to enter the country the way they are doing it BUT we reward them for their efforts.

They're the criminals.

We're the idiots.

We need to stop being politically correct and start being smart.

Missed our chance

2006-05-01T22:14:00.000-05:00

Well, there they all were, parading in the streets on Beltane.

Illegal, and proud of it.

Why didn't we show up with guns and cattle cars?

Beats me.

Merry Season

2005-12-23T21:26:00.000-05:00

What the bloody hell is wrong with everybody?

Seems no matter what good wishes you issue somebody wants to take offense.

So listen up. If somebody says "Merry Christmas" to you and you, like me, aren't Christian don't get your knickers in a knot. Why take offense when none is meant?

And if some store employee wishes you a "happy holiday" there's no need to bark at him that it's Christmas and he can bloody well say "Merry Christmas" because, in fact, he can't - because there's some other imbecile just like you on the other side of the issue that will bark at him if he does.

WHY A BOYCOTT WILL NOT CHANGE THE RESULTS IN ARUBA AND ONLY NEW EVIDENCE WILL

2005-09-16T12:09:00.000-05:00

Governments that have a separation of powers like the United States and Aruba attempt to protect the judiciary from the force of public opinion or other influences. When the results are abhorrent to the public, changes usually come from a change in leadership, legislation or a process of judicial review.

When OJ Simpson was tried for murder, prosecutors had the bodies, blood, DNA evidence, a prime suspect and the American media behind them. Still, they could not carry the case. No amount of public pressure could alter the result. In the end, it was the quality of the evidence, its presentation and a jury who had the final word.

No one asked for the mayor’s ouster. There were no boycotts of Los Angeles. And the Goldman family found justice in a civil case.

In our system the Kalpoes and Joran would have been charged and tried. But the result would have been very uncertain.

Public pressure rarely changes the course of the judiciary in an open system. The Dutch system is opaque. No jury and the judge must weigh all evidence BEFORE a trial rather than during a trial. It is an exacting and, for Americans, exasperating system.

Still the economic burden of a boycott will only serve to hurt thousands of Arubans who have done nothing wrong. And will have no influence on the courts. Most of these people supported Beth and the family and still do. They want the same result - justice for the family.

THE TRUTH IS:

The case was flawed. It was difficult to make after what appears to be errors in pursuing evidence quickly. But, with varying stories, and no confession or body, they were stymied.

You can blame the system. You can blame the prosecutor and the judge. But you cannot claim that there was corruption or collusion. And you cannot ask for the “government” to intervene, anymore than President Bush would tell a federal judge to get a conviction on a case “or else.”

There is an injustice here that hopefully will be righted over time. But asking for a boycott will solve nothing, only evidence will.

from arubatruth.com

Evangelical Scientists Refute Gravity

2005-09-15T06:34:00.000-05:00

KANSAS CITY, KS—As the debate over the teaching of evolution in public schools continues, a new controversy over the science curriculum arose Monday in this embattled Midwestern state. Scientists from the Evangelical Center For Faith-Based Reasoning are now asserting that the long-held "theory of gravity" is flawed, and they have responded to it with a new theory of Intelligent Falling.

The full article

World's dumbest post:

2005-09-05T19:46:00.000-05:00

From the NH forum - the subject was the dif between Holland and the Netherlands. The post from the dumb American:

holland, dutch, netherlands... well why is it called dutch law? and you speak dutch? why not just say you speak netherlandeese or something? all of this confuses my brain.... it's like how when you're in spain, it's espania, but when you're in the us, it's called spain... or how in spain, it's los estados unidos, but when you're here, it's the united states.... i dont understand why it's not universal!!!!

Geezy Peezy

2005-09-04T14:29:00.000-05:00

Why the hell were there so many people in the path of Katrina when they WERE TOLD TO LEAVE ????

I really don't understand.

Common sense

2005-09-02T09:53:00.000-05:00

As far as I'm concerned if you build your house on coastal land which is six feet below sea level you do so at your own peril.

Will I be sending money for disaster relief to New Orleans? Already have - they call it taxes. They also call it insurance premiums, which are sky high due to the probability of claims by people with NO common sense.

It never ceases to amaze

2005-08-29T11:39:00.000-05:00

The idiots on NataleeHolloway.net appear to think that they can somehow solve the crime from their seat at the keyboard.

They think they're helping the family, somehow.

Oy!

Quote for today

2005-07-23T18:36:00.000-05:00

The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts.

-Bertrand Russell, philosopher, mathematician, author, Nobel laureate (1872-1970)

The ignorance of some people

2005-07-21T22:01:00.000-05:00

Boggles the mind:

http://nataleeholloway.net

Sheeple.

Is pacifism flagrantly immoral?

2005-06-06T12:30:00.000-05:00

In his book "The End of Faith" Sam Harris says:

"...Pacifism is ultimately nothing more than a willingness to die, and to let others die, at the pleasure of the world's thugs."

They're doing it again

2005-06-05T23:50:00.000-05:00

The Christians are holding prayer vigils for the safe return of Natalee Holloway.

They want to tell god what to do.

They don't trust their god.

Nation of Sheeple

2005-05-15T14:56:00.000-05:00

What is it with restaurants not taking reservations?

Seems to me that it evidences a cavalier attitude towards customers' time.

Of course, in this nation of sheeple, folks will stand in line for an hour at Outback.

I guess they'll stand in line for their National ID card as well.

Anti Christian Rant

2005-03-24T15:15:00.000-05:00

When one considers the centuries of oppression and fear, the sale of indulgences, the book burning, the immorality of the popes, the acceptance of pedophiles as priests, the highhanded ways of the clergy, the pogroms, the appalling attitude toward women -- that anyone could still support such an organization boggles the mind. At least it boggles this mind.

Melinda and Melinda

2005-03-23T19:28:00.000-05:00

Just *yawn* awful

Three of us attended this film and all three were bored.

We found the film both confusing and dull, which is a strange combination indeed.

The idea is a good one to be sure but the story lines were unnecessarily confusing. Did the tragic Melinda kill her husband? Then
why was he still fighting for total parental control?

The acting was stiff - except for Melinda herself who was over the top. Every word out of Will's mouth seemed like it ought to have come from
Woddy's.

I'm a real Woody Allen fan but he missed the mark on this one.

Amazing Cosmos

2005-03-21T08:30:00.000-05:00

I make a daily trip to Astronomy Picture of the Day.

We inhabit an awesome universe. It's too easy to forget that.

Tired of shredding ?

2005-03-14T08:56:00.000-05:00

Opt out of those credit card offers that come in the mail every other day:

Got this link from PBS - If you're tired of shredding, opt out. Type (or copy/paste) the following link in your browser.
https://www.optoutprescreen.com/

Please note: you do not have to enter your social security number. It is not a required field.

It will stop only those solicitations which use Equifax etc. to check your credit -- but that's actually MOST of the solicitations.

(And, with respect to SS numbers, the credit checking companies already have your SS number if you have a credit card or a home mortgage. I suspect they ask for the number to further confirm they have the right person.)

Agreed

2005-03-09T09:49:00.000-05:00

I cannot believe in a God who wants to be praised all the time.

-Friedrich Nietzsche, philosopher (1844-1900)

She must be talking about Letterman

2005-01-25T09:38:00.000-05:00

"I'm always amazed that people will actually choose to sit in front of the
television and just be savaged by stuff that belittles their intelligence."
-Alice Walker, writer (1944- )

Federalist view - Education

2005-01-24T14:05:00.000-05:00

"Even under Republican leadership, primary and secondary education in America has remained essentially a socialist enterprise: Government owns the major means of production. As in all socialist regimes, this one redistributes wealth in perverse ways. ... Parents who struggle to scrape together the tuition to send their children to religious schools are now doubly taxed locally and federally -- to support government-owned schools they do not like and do not use. When 'moderate' Bob Dole was the Republican presidential candidate in 1996, he ran on a platform calling for abolition of the federal Department of Education because the Constitution does not grant the federal government a role in primary and secondary education. Conservatives in Congress should fight to kill Bush's new federal education spending plan and return to the principles of the Dole platform and the U.S. Constitution. If every American family cannot instantly be given sole ownership of their children's schooling, at least they shouldn't have to pay twice for the schools the government insists on owning." --Terence Jeffrey

BlogExplosion Ratings

2005-01-24T08:51:00.000-05:00

It's not clear to me why anybody would much care what their BE rating was and yet I'm very careful on the few occasions I rate a blog.

Sometimes I rate for appearance, sometimes for content, never do I rate something on whether I agree with the opinion or not. ALWAYS I leave a comment on the blog that I've rated saying what the score was and why.

How about you? Have a rating system of your own?

Deja Vu

2005-01-22T09:44:00.000-05:00

If this had been taken in the Sixties I probably would have been in the shot.
I was wrong then, as I think they are now.
Still, I'm glad somebody is still acting on their beliefs.

Prayer as Petition

2005-01-21T22:10:00.000-05:00

There's a concept I've never understood.

Do the prayerful think God does not know what they want?

They must explain to God what is best for them, I suppose.

Would not the true believer see no need for prayer as petition? Would not the true believer trust God to know what ought to happen next?

Making the hard decisions

2005-01-21T08:43:00.000-05:00

There's been a lot of talk recently about Bush's approval rating. It needs to be said that approval ratings will always drop once someone has

1. Made the hard decisions -- As soon as you make a hard decision, like sending troops abroad, your approval rating will drop.
2. Declared a policy -- As long as you keep quiet and refuse to say on which side of a controversy you stand (gay right to marriage, death penalty - whatever) your approval rating will be high. As soon as you declare, some people will not approve.

That's not an opinion; that's historical fact, most recently demonstrated by Colin Powell.

It's all in a name

2005-01-21T00:38:00.000-05:00

People should stop making up reasons to take offense to what we call them. "Oriental" is not an insult. In another five years will they decide that "Asian" is an insult? Who decides this stuff anyway?

Supporting Dr. Summers

2005-01-20T10:58:00.000-05:00

Here's the scoop, people. Men are different from women in critical ways. Races of humans differ from one another in crucial ways. Different cultures emphasize different values and thus the folks who are immersed in those cultures are different from folks from other cultures. Stereotypes have come into being because of those differences. You can be as politically correct as you want but we Irish will always be gabby and will always like our evening pint. Being politically correct does not mean you are correct. It does mean you are not observant.