Sunday, December 16, 2012
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Until the next random demon pops up amongst us what can we reflect upon?
That America was historically a land of settlers who used guns to protect themselves, and to form militias to defend freedom against authoritarian tyranny. That close to half a million died in the civil war fought to protect the perceived righteous freedoms on both sides. That ultimately one side's definition of freedom no longer counts in the modern world where America elected the first half-black and half-white president.
That in the last two hundred years guns like all other technology have advanced quite a lot. That we have advanced bombs and nuclear weapons we did not have then. That no one is clamoring for an individual's rights to manufacture and own bombs to form well-organized militias against the all powerful government. That we have faith in our 911 and police and army to protect us, not to go out of control against us.
Can we be a free people and still have the authoritarian government not mind their business but tell us to buckle up when we can do no harm to anyone else by not doing so?
Can we be a free people and still have the authoritarian government tell us to buy insurance, coax us to not smoke, protect us from harmful foods and drinks, make us pay our taxes, arrest us for walking naked on the streets?
If we can still be a shining statue of liberty, I don't see a reason why we cannot be a free nation even when the government does not allow, or severely restrict, the use of lethal semi-automatic and automatic guns that can kill dozens in minutes.
That America was historically a land of settlers who used guns to protect themselves, and to form militias to defend freedom against authoritarian tyranny. That close to half a million died in the civil war fought to protect the perceived righteous freedoms on both sides. That ultimately one side's definition of freedom no longer counts in the modern world where America elected the first half-black and half-white president.
That in the last two hundred years guns like all other technology have advanced quite a lot. That we have advanced bombs and nuclear weapons we did not have then. That no one is clamoring for an individual's rights to manufacture and own bombs to form well-organized militias against the all powerful government. That we have faith in our 911 and police and army to protect us, not to go out of control against us.
Can we be a free people and still have the authoritarian government not mind their business but tell us to buckle up when we can do no harm to anyone else by not doing so?
Can we be a free people and still have the authoritarian government tell us to buy insurance, coax us to not smoke, protect us from harmful foods and drinks, make us pay our taxes, arrest us for walking naked on the streets?
If we can still be a shining statue of liberty, I don't see a reason why we cannot be a free nation even when the government does not allow, or severely restrict, the use of lethal semi-automatic and automatic guns that can kill dozens in minutes.
Friday, December 14, 2012
Chronicle of an Illustrious Illumination.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/13/arts/music/ravi-shankar-indian-sitarist-dies-at-92.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/13/arts/music/ravi-shankar-indian-sitarist-dies-at-92.html
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Retina display is indeed powerful. After reading so much on my tired old iphone I could feel the strain on my eyes and after weighing the ipad mini versus ipad went with retina display ipad. Far too many form factors to juggle with in life, but I am glad I did go with the bigger screen and it is light enough (though not handy enough but I decided not to carry it anywhere out of the home). The screen quality is so good I am thinking I should be able to read all the books, magazines and news I want on it. After spending half hour on it the laptop screen seems blurry and fuzzy.
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
So why did one lose and the other win? Why did the voters vote for someone they felt was lesser qualified with economy even when economy was the top priority?
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/07/opinion/friedman-hope-and-change-part-two.html?ref=todayspaper
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/07/opinion/friedman-hope-and-change-part-two.html?ref=todayspaper
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Crossed 48 hrs and counting to get the electric power back. Grateful to have hot and cold running water and cooking gas. Goldilocks temps 40s and 50s not too cold to live without heating and not too warm to have the refrigerator food spoil immediately. No major damages but so many others in NJ and NYC not so fortunate.
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