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"I can do all the interviews I want, but at the end of the day, the
fight is what gives me my paycheck, and you have to remember that." Rich Franklin
There are no Twitter wars involving Rich Franklin. No trash-talking battles, cringe-worthy comments, or scandals of any sort. In other words, the former UFC middleweight champion is drama-free, and that's just the way the he wants it to stay.
"I definitely fall way short of a perfect standard by any stretch of the imagination, so don't think that, but me and my wife, we're the kind of people who don't get involved in that drama stuff, especially in a public forum, and I really shy away from it," said Franklin, one of professional sports' true gentlemen. "It doesn't do any good and it will never solve anything. All it does is draw negative attention towards you and so we avoid it. I use my Twitter specifically for motivational quotes and nutrition quotes and things like that. I have absolutely zero interest in that, so I steer clear of it one hundred percent and always have."
It's the way you hope all people in the public eye would behave, and while the aforementioned behaviors can be entertaining for a spell, it's not something that's good for young and impressionable minds to see, especially when it comes from those they look up to as heroes. Franklin, at 38, is well aware that his every move, like those of his peers in the upper echelon of MMA, is being watched, and though that could be a burden to carry, it's something he dealt with even before putting the gloves on.
"My career prior to fighting was being a teacher, and as a teacher, though on a much smaller scale, you are in the public eye with the way you conduct yourself in front of your students or at school functions," said the former high school math instructor. "Parents see and hear these kinds of things and you actually take classes concerning these topics when you're in college. So I don't want to say I've been trained to act properly, but I'm very aware and sensitive to those kinds of things and I understand the repercussions. I'm a thinker and then a doer, and a lot of people, they do and say before they think about what they've done and said."
Maybe that's why Franklin has become the go-to guy for the UFC, not just for high-profile but short notice fights, but to be the fighter who helps introduce international markets to the sport. He's done it in Canada, Northern Ireland and Ireland, Germany, and has done so again in China, in the lead-up to his main event battle with Cung Le on Saturday. And why not? He's clean-cut, intelligent, articulate, owner of undergraduate and master's degrees, and before and during fight week, you will see no tabloid reports of him getting any trouble of any sort. He's going to talk to the media, make weight, and show up to fight. Again, with Franklin, there's no drama.
"I do believe that thought is in the back of their minds for sure, if not the forefront," he said. "They know that there won't be any drama when they put me on the card internationally. And aside from the drama, I can also present the UFC in a very positive manner to foreign markets that are unfamiliar with mixed martial arts. And every time we go into a foreign market, that's exactly what we're doing. We went into Germany and we were educating the German people about MMA, and when we went into Ireland it was the same thing. When we went into Canada for the first time, it was the same thing, and even though there were fans in Canada, there's still some convincing to do on the legislative side of things with the government. And when the UFC has me talking to the press, they don't have to worry about what I'm going to say. I believe that's part of the reason why they sent me to China and why they had me do some of the PR in India while we were over in China the last time. So having me help present mixed martial arts and explain it to the press is very beneficial."
It can be a draining process, both before and after the event, with the fight itself sometimes being the most stress-free part of the process. But after more than 13 years as a professional, with a good part of nine years spent in the UFC, Franklin has got everything down to a science, never losing sight on the most important part of his fight camp is.
"I can do all the interviews I want, but at the end of the day, the fight is what gives me my paycheck, and you have to remember that," he said. "I can do ten times as many interviews as the next guy, but if I don't win fights, then those interviews are all for nothing. So you have to make sure you have your priorities in order when you're doing this kind of stuff."
As a for instance, Franklin describes the day of our interview. With a UFC production crew coming into his hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio, "Ace" got up an hour and a half earlier than usual to hit the treadmill. Next were interviews with the UFC crew and the local newspaper before he hit the doctor's office to finish up his medicals just before his first training session of the day. Driving home for lunch after that session, he conducted this interview, and after eating it was back to Jorge Gurgel's school for more production interviews and another training session that was filmed. All this and the afternoon wasn't even over. And as Franklin pointed out, "I'm seven minutes behind schedule."
It's a remarkable juggling act, but Franklin has done it consistently through his arrival as the Next Big Thing after beating Ken Shamrock in 2005, his 2005-06 championship reign, and his subsequent status as a main eventer taking on a consistent and seemingly endless line of big names. And though there was never a public crack in the foundation, did he ever lose his way behind the scenes as he dealt with going from being a math teacher to one of the faces of mixed martial arts?
"I don't there was a time where it ever got away from me, but I think there was a time when I was heading down that path and I didn't realize it at the time," he said. "Looking back now, I can see that. When I won the title, I went from 0 to 100 in the blink of an eye, and it's everything from friends that you used to hang out with that suddenly you don't have time for, to realizing that you're having conversations where it's normal for someone to say 'oh, so you're heading to Singapore this week and you're gonna do a couple weeks of training there before you head over to Macao,' and then I sit down with my family and I'm like 'yeah, I leave for Singapore Sunday, and in two weeks I'll fly out to Macao and fight that fight, and then next day we're going to jump on a plane and head over to Beijing and see the Great Wall over there before we come home.' And people in the normal world, they don't do these things on a daily basis. (Laughs) For somebody to see the Great Wall of China is a bucket list thing, and I'm like 'yeah, I'm just gonna swing over there while I'm on that side of the world.' So you find out how different your lifestyle is from everybody else and it really puts things in perspective. But I never let it get away from me. I never got to the point where I was the guy showing up at the family reunion with a Ferrari or something like that. (Laughs) But your life goes from 0 to 100 so quickly that you're learning how to adapt to that on the fly, and it's a very difficult transition. It puts a lot of strain on every personal relationship you have, from friends to family to everything in between."
Yet Franklin survived a key part of being in the public eye that few get a glimpse of until it's too late. By then, there are highly-publicized meltdowns, a lack of focus that leads to a downfall on the field or the stage, and that person everyone loved at one time turns into a cautionary tale. That didn't happen to Franklin, and with wins over Chuck Liddell and Wanderlei Silva in two of his last three fights, with the only loss being a close decision defeat to Forrest Griffin, he's still doing okay for himself heading into the bout with Le, another intriguing matchup in a career packed with them.
And though explaining the sport and recapping his background is a constant in interviews leading up to a fight like this in China, a place the UFC is visiting for the first time, Franklin remains a student of the game who hasn't lost sight of why he is in Macao this week. And in Le, he will have an interesting puzzle to decipher.
"It's a style I haven't seen in the cage, but I'll say this: most people don't realize that I started in traditional martial arts prior to doing mixed martial arts," said Franklin. "I have my black belt in Shorin-Ryu karate and there's not anything flashy like Cung's style, but in training for that, you become very familiar with those traditional styles of fighting. So I believe I'm equipped with the tools that I need to defeat a guy like Cung. That's not a worry of mine. The problem with Cung, he is the kind of person that is very unorthodox. He does bring a style to the table that is different than 90+ percent of the fighters in the MMA game and he has several techniques that are very tricky and sneaky, and things that he can catch you with. So if you're not executing your game plan, you can get caught. But if I were fighting Anderson (Silva) or fighting Cung or fighting Wanderlei, I can't sit there and worry about what they're going to do; I can't control that. All I can control is my training, my preparation, and my reactions when I get in the Octagon. And as long as I perform to my capabilities, then I don't have any worries and I'll be just fine in that cage."
29 wins don't lie, and if Le becomes number 30, he'll join a distinguished crew of fighters that Franklin has vanquished over the years that includes Liddell, Wanderlei Silva (twice), Matt Hamill, Travis Lutter, Yushin Okami, Shamrock, Jason MacDonald, David Loiseau, Nate Quarry, Evan Tanner (twice), and Jorge Rivera. Add in his work outside the Octagon as an ambassador for the sport of mixed martial arts, and that's a pretty impressive legacy that he's building. It's not something he's really concerning himself with at the moment though.
"I'm not sure if I'll ever be the guy who thinks about legacy or accolades or any of that kind of stuff," said Franklin. "I'm not the type of person who lives in yesterday at all. I live for the now and plan for the tomorrow, and I don't dwell on the past, whether it's victories or defeats. I rarely look back at things, and I definitely don't pat myself on the back. I don't have any kind of ego wall at my house, I don't have my belts displayed, and I have very few pictures of me hanging on my wall that are fight related. The ones that are hanging are up only because (his wife) Beth put them up, and it's just the way that I am.
"But I know one thing," he continues. "I woke up this morning, and I won't say I was excited to get on the treadmill, but when I put things in perspective, I was definitely more excited to get on the treadmill than I would be if I had to wake up and drive to a bank and work there for eight hours. I'm living in the moment a bit, and I really enjoy doing what I do. I enjoy the competition, and I think that my legacy, and my accolades, and my accomplishments, and all that kind of stuff will be for the fans to talk about, and I try to walk as humbly as I can. When I sit back and think about the things that I've accomplished or the impact that I've had, it's the emails that I get that say 'hey, I read your interview and I really appreciate your walk for Christ,' or 'recently I've been following you on Twitter, and since then I've been following your nutritional advice and I've lost 30 pounds,' or 'I really appreciate you working with the disabled American vets.' And I've realized as I've gotten older that I don't put a lot of weight in things like the belts that I have or the fights that I've won or the things that are for me because at the end of the day, I put more value on the impact that I have on other people or the things I do for other people."
UFC 300 Embedded | All Episodes

subset: commoncrawl


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Credit Card Consolidation Johnston IA
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When considering credit consolidation, you should turn to specialists at sites such as Johnston credit card consolidation for an appointment. There are numerous credit consolidating issuers and banks that wish to help you with your request in Johnston. Make sure you do your research in Johnston so that when you consolidate debt in Johnston, you are certain you are making a decision in Johnston that is profitable to you. Ensure there aren't any hidden easy quick money loan charges that various credit relief loans plans may have. Doing your research in Johnston can save your cash for the future in Johnston.


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Don't Be Rash: 7 Ways Summer Can Irritate Your Skin
Most causes of skin irritation are harmless, but some cases can put a damper on your summer fun if not properly...
Read moreFind possible causes of symptoms and get recommendations on what to do next. It's fast FREE and confidential
Find possible causes of symptoms and get recommendations on what to do next. It's fast FREE and confidential
Help patients book appointments with you on Solv. It's free!
No paperwork for breezy booking, with texts to keep you up-to-date.
Snap a photo of your insurance card to see your benefits ahead of time.
Great healthcare professionals who treat you like a neighbor (because they are).
The price charged at an urgent care, whether in Syracuse or elsewhere, will be based on the location, and there are no actual standard costs between the clinics. Assuming you are paying with cash, you might come across an urgent clinic that charges you $50 while another situated some mile away charges you $100 for the same services. The standard cost in urgent care where insurance cover is not involved ranges from $100 to $125. This price is generally the standard price of a visit before extra services. There are a couple of additional care services that could make your appointment to an urgent care costly including x-rays and lab tests, medications and injections (such as immunization), casting broken bones, as well as stitches and splints. If you have a viable insurance plan in place, the standard pay will be between $20 – 50 depending on your insurance coverage and whether you are in contact with the provider.
Most primary care doctor offices are open during routine work hours, Monday thru Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Conversely, most of the urgent care centers in Syracuse are available after hours, on weekends, and many holidays. Typical urgent care hours are 8:00 am to 8:00 pm daily, although location-specific hours may vary.
Historically, urgent care centers were strictly an on-demand, walk-in healthcare service mode. More recently, as consumer behaviors and expectations have evolved, many urgent care clinics have begun offering book ahead visits, allowing consumers to select a same-day or next-day time that works best for their schedule. Use Solv to find a Syracuse urgent care center that offers advanced bookings (or appointments) and book online.
Solv allows Syracuse residents and visitors to book urgent care visits online with just a few taps. Same-day and next-day visit times are generally available, and you can search for real-time availability clinics.
Solv allows you to find any of the urgent care and walk-in clinics in Syracuse, many of which accept most major commercial insurances. Just browse the clinics page to see if your carrier and plan is listed. If you are still unsure, it is best to contact the urgent care center directly for clarification.
Many urgent care centers, including those in Syracuse, now offer virtual visits or telemedicine for residents and visitors throughout the state. Virtual urgent care visits are generally booked online whether in advance or on-demand. Clinics that do offer virtual care have a video icon on their profiles.
While it would be easy to provide a list of urgent care centers in and around Syracuse, 'best' is a challenging term to qualify. For some consumers, that could mean the closest location whereas other people may prioritize patient reviews, service costs, availability, or whether or not the provider accepts their insurance. With the list of locations above, use the filters provided to narrow the results to find the best urgent care for your needs.
Urgent care are available to assist patients that are looking for immediate, convenient medical care. In that manner, they are similar to an emergency room. The difference, however, is that ERs are meant to treat major, life-threatening injuries and illnesses while urgent care centers manage life's minor bruises and bumps. In simple terms, an urgent care is seen as a walk-in health center that focuses in offering non-emergent health care conditions, including the treatment of the typical illnesses and injuries such as fractures and sprains, cuts and burns, scrapes, stings and bites, flu and cold symptoms, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, and much more. Most urgent care facilities offer both diagnostic and preventive care such as well visits, immunizations, STD testing and annual physicals. For regular visits and check-ups on these clinics, you should expect to pay between $20 and $100. The good thing is that most urgent care clinics will accept major PPOs and insurance cover, Medicare, as well as self-pay in the form of credit cards or cash. Urgent care clinics are located in most parts of the country in various regions to offset emergency room visits and provide a gap in healthcare services. They take patients during all hours of operations, which offer a significant convenience to most people who have and continue to undergo the need for sudden and immediate medical attention.
Urgent care in Syracuse is your best option for non-life threatening, quality medical care when you need it. Many urgent care centers in Syracuse offer walk-in appointments during extended hours and on weekends. Solv even has clinic partners in the Syracuse-area that offer online scheduling, allowing you to book a visit convenient to your schedule and skip the wait.
Walk-in clinics provide a convenient, fast alternative to emergency rooms—even primary care providers—treating minor injuries and illnesses including strep throat, infections, cold and flu symptoms, allergies, rashes, burns, bites, and more. Additionally, most offer preventative care including annual well exams, lab testing, and vaccinations.
When you're in need of medical care for a non-life threatening condition, trust the urgent care providers nearby. And whenever possible, make it easier by scheduling and managing your visit with Solv.
In a recent survey conducted with the Urgent Care Association, Solv found that patients were waiting an average of 24 days for appointments with their primary care provider. In a world of instant gratification, consumers demand more. They demand now. If you want to watch a movie, you download it in minutes or stream it instantly. If you need groceries, you can pick up your phone and have them delivered to you within the hour. If you need restaurant reservations, you find one with availability, book online, walk in minutes later and sit right down. Healthcare shouldn't be any different.
That's why urgent care has been growing at a faster pace than any other healthcare service in the United States. And it is why healthcare consumers search for "urgent care" more than 5x more than "primary care" or "family doctor," combined. These consumers are highly actionable, searching with high intent terms like "urgent care near me." They want same day access to quality healthcare providers when they are sick or injured - after hours, one weekends and on holidays - without the cost and inconvenience of the emergency room.
Urgent care centers typically treat minor illnesses like the flu, sinus infections and strep throat, as well as injuries like bone fractures and sprains, cuts, scrapes and burns, making these clinics ideal for diagnosing and treating non-emergent healthcare needs. And at a growing rate urgent care clinics are offering preventative care services including annual physicals and well visits, flu shots and other immunizations and vaccines, taking on the role of primary care provider for the tens of millions of consumers that don't have one.
For kids there are special pediatric urgent care centers, usually open after hours for patients between the ages of 1 and 18.
Urgent care centers, which are part of the walk-in clinic healthcare category, are a convenient resource for consumers needing treatment for minor illnesses and injuries. Services that you would normally receive at your primary care office are usually available at an urgent care including annual and school physicals, flu shots and immunizations, treatment for illnesses including colds, flu stomach pains, sinus and ear infections and more. You can also be seen for injuries such as burns, bites, sprains and breaks - things that you might first thing to go to the emergency room vs urgent care, but you'll have a shorter wait and smaller bill at the urgent care. As for cost, without insurance, you should expect between $100-140 for your visit, plus the cost of any labs, tests or images. With insurance, urgent care will be similar to seeing a specialist with applicable co-pay.
Nearly all urgent care centers take commercial insurance and many (if not most) will take medicare. As such if you have insurance coverage, you can expect the financial experience to be similar to visiting a specialist where you have a co-pay, usually $35-50, due at the time of the visit. Any additional lab work, x-rays or other tests performed will be billed against your insurance first and any supplemental balance due will be invoiced to you after the fact. Without insurance, you'll pay a visit fee between $100-140 at the time of your visit. This is typically 25-50% more than your primary care provider, but usually the convenience is well worth the additional cost. If you are interested in a telehealth or video visit, your cost could be as much as 50% less than an urgent care, you could be diagnosed and prescribed medication and you'll never have to leave your home.
Every urgent care center - even those part of the same group or brand - may have different hours. While they are meant to be conveniently accessible during times when your primary care provider is not, that's subjective and highly variable. A traditional formula, however, is that an urgent care is open 6 to 7 days a week usually between the hours of 8 am to 8 pm. That could shift to nearly any 8-12 hour period between 7 am and 10 pm. You'll even find some clinics open 24 hours a day, similar to an emergency room. As for wait time, most patients report waiting between 15-45 minutes on average, but that can certainly vary, as well. It's usually best to find an urgent care near you to either confirm the hours online, or call the clinic directly to verify. Or, you can book a same day doctor appointment online with Solv.
Updated on Jun 25, 2023
Tips, advice, news—your resource to stay healthy and safe while improving your experience with healthcare providers when you need them.


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A recent Chromium build added a new internal page that lets you enable some advanced features:
"Tabpose is currently the only lab on Mac, tabs-on-left the only lab on Windows. about:labs should not be visible on the stable channel. Labs that were enabled on the dev channel should not be enabled on the stable channel."
Tabs-on-the-left is especially useful on widescreen monitors, while tabposé is a Mac-only feature that adds Exposé for tabs.
Both features can also be enabled by adding command-line flags to a Chrome shortcut: --enable-vertical-tabs for side tabs and --enable-expose-for-tabs for tabposé. After enabling vertical tabs using the command-line flag, right-click on a tab and select "use side tabs".


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Other than skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men, according to the American Cancer Society. About 238,590 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed this year.
According to the National Cancer Institute, approximately 29,720 men will die from prostate cancer in 2013. However, more than 2.5 million men in the United States who have had prostate cancer at some point are still alive today. The death rate is decreasing, in part because of early detection.
During September's Prostate Cancer Awareness month,Trident Health will be offering three free prostate cancer screenings at its medical centers throughout the Lowcountry. To register for any of these free screenings, please call Consult-A-Nurse at 843-797-FIND (3463).
5-7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 12 at Moncks Corner Medical Center
5-7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 17 at Summerville Medical Center
5 -7p.m. Tuesday, October 1 at Trident Medical Center
5-7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 17 at Summerville Medical Center
5 -7p.m. Tuesday, October 1 at Trident Medical Center
Trident Health is an HCA hospital system comprised of two acute care hospitals – Trident Medical Center and Summerville Medical Center – as well as Moncks Corner Medical Center. The Joint Commission recently named Trident Health to their list of the nation's top hospitals for quality and safety. In 2012, Trident Health provided almost $40 million in charity and uncompensated care and contributed $27 million in taxes. Accredited by The Joint Commission, Trident Health is committed to providing quality health services along with wellness information and opportunities to the communities it serves. For more information about Trident Health, please visit our website at www.tridenthealthsystem.com or call 843.797.7000.


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By Olga Kharif – Oct 30, 2013
Commercial drones will soon be populating U.S. airspace, and venture capitalists like Tim Draper are placing their bets.
Draper, an early investor in Hotmail, Skype and Baidu Inc., is now backing DroneDeploy, a startup that's building software to direct unmanned aircraft on land mapping and the surveillance of agricultural fields. Draper even expects drones to one day bring him dinner.
"Drones hold the promise of companies anticipating our every need and delivering without human involvement," Draper, 55, wrote in an e-mail. "Everything from pizza delivery to personal shopping can be handled by drones."
Venture investors in the U.S. poured $40.9 million into drone-related startups in the first nine months of this year, more than double the amount for all of 2012, according to data provided to Bloomberg News by PricewaterhouseCoopers and the National Venture Capital Association. Drones are moving from the military, where they've been used to spy on and kill suspected terrorists, to a range of civilian activities.
Congress has directed the Federal Aviation Administration to develop a plan to integrate drones into U.S. airspace by 2015 and to move faster on standards for drones weighing less than 55 pounds.
It's not just startups that are anticipating the changes. ConocoPhillips says that drones could be used to monitor ice floes and marine mammals in the Arctic. Entrants could also include established drone makers AeroVironment Inc. (AVAV), Boeing Co. (BA)'s Insitu unit and Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. in Tel Aviv, according to Bloomberg Government.
Growth Coming
Sales of civilian unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs, will reach $8.2 billion within the decade, up from nothing today, according to Phil Finnegan, director of corporate analysis at researcher Teal Group, which tracks aerospace and defense.
"There's going to be a lot of growth in this market," Finnegan said.
While the capital invested in drone-related startups has surged, it's still concentrated in just a few companies. Three startups account for all of the money raised in the first nine months of this year, compared with five in all of 2012.
Draper backed DroneDeploy through his Menlo Park, California-based firm, Draper Fisher Jurvetson. Airware, a startup in Newport Beach,California, raised $13.3 million earlier this year from investors including Andreessen Horowitz, Google Ventures and First Round Capital to develop customizable autopilots for UAVs that cost about $4,500 to $7,500, according to the company's website.
Airware found it much easier to attract the attention of venture capitalists this year after testing the product with customers, said Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Downey.
Funding Environment
"We'd looked at raising money last year, and it was very different," said Downey, who plans to move the company to San Francisco in January.
The business of drones still carries plenty of risks. UAVs will have to occupy parts of the airspace not used by airplanes, and investors don't yet know what the rules will be. Concerns over privacy are most notable given the history of drones as tools used by the government and military.
The American Civil Liberties Union has warned of the possibility of a "surveillance society" spurred by drones. "The only way to avoid this dystopian future and prevent mass, suspicionless searches of the general population is to ensure that information collected by drones for one purpose cannot be used for another purpose," Allie Bohm, a strategist for the ACLU, wrote in an August blog post.
Declining Costs
Andy Wheeler, a partner at Google Ventures, said drones are moving into the mainstream because of the steep drop in the cost of sensors, which have been mass produced for smartphones. The plunge in costs helped convince Google Ventures to invest in Airware as well as another drone-related startup, Wheeler said, declining to say which one.
"We are talking orders of magnitude lower than military technology," Wheeler said, referring to the prices for commercial equipment.
While DroneDeploy is building software and Airware is developing systems, some startups are focusing on services. Matternet Inc., funded by Andreessen Horowitz, aims to use drones for delivery of items such as mail and medical supplies.
Bloomberg LP, the parent of Bloomberg News, is an investor in Andreessen Horowitz.
Firefighters and law enforcement officials are likely to be some of the early beneficiaries of the drop in costs, said Kent Goldman, a partner at First Round Capital in San Francisco.
"I see a bright future for non-military applications," he said.
To contact the reporter on this story: Olga Kharif in Portland at email@example.com
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Pui-Wing Tam at firstname.lastname@example.com
Tags: AeroVironment Inc., Airware, AVAV, BA, Boeing Co., commercial drones, ConocoPhillips, cost of sensors, Draper Fisher Jurvetson, drone-related startups, DroneDeploy, information collected by drones, U.S. airspace, UAVs, unmanned aircraft, venture capitalists


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Okay. Let's go. There's the gate. Wow. I can't believe how much they charge for parking. No, Frank, I have no idea what those people are protesting or boycotting or whatever. Just ignore them.
Really? Cash? How much will you pay for my tickets? Hey honey, wanna sell them to a scalper? Sorry, I can't. My wife just said she'll emasculate me if I do.
Already, Marie? Christ, why didn't you go at home? Okay, there's one over there. You're hungry, too? All of you are? Didn't we give you Goldfish Crackers in the car? Fine. We'll get some food before we find our seats.
Okay, 5 hot dogs, some nachos. Frank, can you help me carry this? Thanks. Good thing the bank has an office here, so I could take out a home equity loan to pay for the food. I never thought I'd see the day where Disneyland food looked cheap.
Don't spill the Diet Cokes, Frank, or you'll die. We're over in "special section" G-17, whatever that means. I think it's over there.
Here we are. Hold my tray so I can show the guy our tickets.
Great. Okay. Let's take that table over there.
You're done with your hot dog Craig? Go get another one. The free buffet is over there. I don't care if you're not hungry. We're gonna get our money's worth.
Marie, don't wear the foam finger on your head during the national anthem.
Oooh, there's that new cardiologist, the hot blond lady, at the Coke machine... And some of the cute family practice residents are over at that table by the nachos... No dear, I'm just reading the scoreboard.
Crap. Dr. Loud is here. He's so obnoxious. He's making the rounds, too. I hope he doesn't come to our table.
I'm going for another hot dog. No, Frank, I don't care if you're full. Go get some more nachos. We may not feed you for another week.
OMG! That cute little family practice resident doesn't shave her pits! Don't think I wanted to see that...
Marie, have some more popcorn and peanuts. No, I don't care. Shut up and eat. Find room.
Dr. Loud is at the table next to us. Crap. I don't want to talk to him. I hope he doesn't come sit with us next. Kids, don't look at him. His hideous shirt may blind you.
Grumpyville is down 5 to 1 in the 3rd inning. This isn't looking good.
No, Marie, I don't know when, or if, they're going to put dessert out. Go have another hot dog, and bring some back for your brothers.
Honey, how many of these hot dogs do you think you can fit in your purse? We could have some for dinner tomorrow, too.
Gang, you know the rules of baseball. You don't cheer wildly every freaking time somebody on either team hits the ball. That doesn't always mean something good.
The other team scored again. I'm going to go get some more nachos.
Oh, there's the hot blond cardiologist down on the concourse. Looks like she brought her sister to the game.
They're making out. I'm starting to think that's not her sister.
The other team scored again.
Frank, Craig, go have another hot dog. I'll be damned if I let the stadium come out ahead on this deal.
Where's Marie? Oh, she went to go ask when they're putting out dessert.
Where did Dr. Loud go? He's over there now. Good. I hope he skips our table. I can't stand him.
Frank, if you hit that lady with your foam finger again, she's going to punch you out, and I won't blame her, either.
The other team scored again... What all that noise?
Holy crap! Soomebody's kid is attacking the food-service guy who's taking care of the hot dog trays!
Shit! That's MY kid! MARIEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm sorry, sir. I really am. Here's a tip. Sorry. MARIE! Go sit over there!
Marie, you can't start kicking the waiter just because he told you that there's no dessert coming.
The other team scored again.
Hey! Dr. Loud is leaving! WTF? Hey, you fat slob! You schmoozed with every other damn table here EXCEPT MINE? What's up with that? Me and my family aren't good enough for you? What an obnoxious prick.
Let's go, people, this game is pathetic. Grumpyville is down 9-2 in the 5th inning. Everyone grab 2 hot dogs. We're gonna live off this stuff for the rest of the week. And some of those relish packets, too.
No, we are NOT buying ice cream on the way out.
Where the hell did we park?


text:
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
David Icke Debunked
I've been recommended this 2 1/2 hour documentary 3 times already this week and finally got around to watching it. David Icke Debunked is fantastic, really well presented/researched and absolutely essential viewing for anyone who's ever heard of David Icke. If you don't have time to watch the whole thing, at least watch the final half-hour as it gets into how/why David Icke and other "conspiracy heroes" are being used as a controlled-opposition leaders, preparing us for certain future events and ideologies. Here's the transcript from what I'd deem the most important/interesting part of the documentary:
Let me suggest a possible x factor that people like Bill Cooper have suggested, and one that I think without question we are being prepared for by the global elite, and have been for at least 70 years. That is an extra-terrestrial presence being discovered. I realize that there are many documents that reveal a plan of the new world order to use an alien threat to cause the patriotism needed for a world government. After all people would no longer view themselves and separate countries but instead a world family, this would also create the need for a world bureaucracy to deal with the threat. But I think that based on the propaganda of Hollywood and the occult writings that this might not be presented as a threat at all, but rather as them posing as a savior to a world that will be war torn. They will claim to be saving us from ourselves. They will claim to have genetically created mankind, and they would claim that they used to be like us and that we are on the verge of an evolution. Suspend disbelief for a moment as I explain how this would serve as Icke's x factor and the catalyst for his Utopia and the real new world order to begin all at the same time.
It would accomplish the primary thing that Icke says we need to do in order to shift with the planet, that is to destroy religion of all types. All over the world religions would be in turmoil. Here are these aliens and they are claiming to have created us, that means they are claiming to be our God in a sense. Overnight the programming that Icke says is too powerful, the religious programming, that is holding us back from the shift, would be shattered. All the religions would be forced to reconsider their ideas.
Secondly, it would finally get the idea of a possible evolution to the entire world, everyone across the world, from the smallest village to the largest city would have a really good reason to believe that they too could be evolved, they could become like the aliens, they could become actual gods. Overnight the x factor could turn the entire world into little David Ickes believing their evolution was just around the corner.
And of course the world government utopia would be possible then, but it would be even better if what after a time of war like when Alice Bailey said The new world order must be appropriate to a world which has passed through a destructive crisis and to a humanity which is badly shattered by the experience. Here is why:
We need to be convinced that the utopia that we will be asked to join is totally different than the old system. For us truther types we will need to be convinced that the new world order has been defeated in order to trust such a utopia…the regular people will only have to be convinced that the new system, since it will be based on non-religious ideas, now because the aliens showed us that the religions were wrong, will be one where there will be no more wars; that will be the promise…the war that we are saved from initially must be made to look like the epitome of religious wars, it will be something that pins the Jews against Muslims which will draw in the so called Christians…the world will be convinced that the previous wars were about religion…this will be the way that the genocide starts ... It's like the treaty of Versailles times 100.
Only universal disaster could have brought men to a state of mind wherein such propositions and solutions could be presented. The general recognition that the old order has lamentably failed is most valuable. – Alice Bailey
The new world order will seem to have been defeated, we will rejoice in our new hope of utopia we will badly need it, we will be told to await out new found powers, but when they don't come we will be told that it is because there are still among us that are keeping us from it, those that are still hanging on to the old age.
"But we're now seeing the last throes of a dying system, where the Illuminati in their box, they're believing they're crashing the system to create something else, when it's actually crashing really, for another reason." -David Icke
Understand what he is saying, he is admitting that they are crashing the system to create something else. This idea should be common knowledge to all of us who study them, they are going to be the solution to a problem they created. And Icke of course knows this, after all he is Mr. problem-reaction-solution.
But listen to what he is saying…he believes his utopia will arise out of their ashes and for some reason their phoenix wont rise… in effect he is saying when the system crashes…he is expecting his utopia to rise but they are expecting a utopia to rise too…how are we supposed to know that the utopia we get after the crash is the one that Icke is talking about instead of the one they have been planning to bring about for so long…or probably the bigger question is… are theses utopias one in the same, they certainly sound the same.…What a dangerous game this is.
They will say that there are still people who don't trust the new utopia, (these people will primarily be Christians because there are prophecies specifically mention a great deception that will seem to offer peace but it will only last a 3.5 years before it shows its true colors) All the other religions will find it easy to agree to the new system. This in addition to the propaganda that Christianity is behind all the wars of the past will convince the entire world of theses words of Aleister Crowley who was given this message from a being claiming to be an Egyptian god.
I want to encourage people to look into some of the things that we have been constantly told are true in the Truth Movement. For example we have always been told that the Bible was changed by the illuminati, but if you see my video "was the bible written or changed by the illuminati" you will see that this claim is easily disputed. Or that Christians were behind the crusades and other wars, see my video "religious wars, fact or fiction." Or as I mentioned the Zeitgeit version of history. Watch the video "Zeitgeist Refuted" final cut or check out any of the links at the website zeitgeistchallenge.com If you're really concerned about truth, watch that film, or go to my youtube channel where I have 336 uploads and other videos I have made like this one, and consider the possibility that you have been brainwashed as I once had been, to hate Christians and Jews. Is it so hard to believe knowing Satanists are behind this?
Here we have been told by Icke, a man definitely possessed by something, that if we worship the God of the bible we are worshiping the reptilians.
"When you worship, you project energy, you are feeding this force by thinking you are worshipping this force when you are worshipping these!" -David Icke
He has changed his mind in every book he has written about which way to tell you not to look toward Jesus and not to look at the Bible. His entities have told him to tell us that demons don't exist. The voice that talked to him for 5 hours in Brazil went on quite a tirade about how demons don't exist how could they if everything was an illusion.
There is fabulous reason why this misdirection is happening, because the real agenda is being played out like a military system. These demons are influencing people to prepare the way for what the new world order calls its phoenix. And what the theosophical society calls the world teacher, their Christ, what I would call the antichrist. A genuine satanist knows that this has been the plan all along, they are awaiting something they call the black awakening when this system will begin.
"The widespread expectation that we approach the "age of Maitreya," ... when the World Teacher and present head of the spiritual Hierarchy, the Christ, will reappear among humanity to sound the keynote of the new age … There are millions of mentally alert men and women in all parts of the world who are on rapport with the Plan and work to give it expression.. They provide opportunity for cooperation with the spiritual evolution of humanity… there is no group so likely to ensure that humanity achieves this most difficult goal as the men and women of goodwill … requiring only courage… to initiate action to prepare for the New World Order." -Alice Bailey
All the conspiracies are leading up to one event. There is an ancient Angel that has been working on a system that would allow him to actually control the world to such a degree that he could force them to worship him as God… and unfortunately for the first time in history the technology is capable of doing that, I believe that the implantable microchip could actually play a role in this. And he is the General in this, that is why you find Satanism behind every door you kick down in the investigation of the new world order, that is why you find his demons telling people to go out on a word stage and teach a doctrine that will lead them right into his hands, to an elitist mindset seeking the luciferic initiation of the light bringer, Prometheus, Lucifer… they have always been preparing you for the Him…their agenda has never changed…but we have been so brainwashed to hate Christianity that the bible is the last place we would look for the truth.
Jesus spoke of the time that's coming, he said:
"Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be delivered."
It interesting that here is a guy that not even his enemies can find a good reason to accuse him. He is entirely just and sincere, and humble, in the Bible, yet for some unknown reason, what he said is absolutely true, we will be hated for his name's sake. This hate has to come from a third party, the illuminati perverts the Bible to make you think that religion is equal with Jesus so that you will reject Him. I submit to all of you that Jesus was the most anti-religious person that ever walked the face of the earth. He had nothing but compassion for sinners of even the worst kind…the only harsh things he ever said was to the clergy of his day…oh and the bankers.
30 comments:
- muzuzuzus said...
HAh, as I began reading the transcript, I quickly guessed who was maker of this video. I clicked on video and was right--/nowheretorun1984'
I have communicated with this dude. On time last year I commented on his video critiquing it and he invited me on his podcast. WELL he must have interviewed me for bout three hours, it was late--i lost MY voice but he was like on speed with his warbally-like voice still in action lol
I will give him that he has a passion. I like how he exposes much of the new age BS, and David Icke... BUT he doesn't dig the meaning of the patriarchy and how HIS religion, Christianity, is a big part of that.
Instead of seeing how 'badness' is inevitably inherent in a belief system that posits 'all-goodness'--When bad thing obviously happen in Christian history like the Inquisition etc he will blame other forces at work NOT HIS belief system. This is his massive blindspot, and thers no getting through to him. In typical Christianized manic fashion he proposes a DIRE apocalyptic 'end'---and keepin us all tuned into the patriarchal linear grind of a linear sense of time---that 'soon all will be made right and good with Christ's second coming'
It is a paranoid vision. Understand that saying this I am not claiming that the globalists mean well--what with their so-called transhumanist dreams---but that the roots are deeper than this dude is showing or knows about.
AND final point. Notice how he wont admit he doesn't REALLY know. He will instead assume that aliens are either 'demons' and/or secret black ops designed to entrap us. I would love to know how he ACTUALLY knows this. I distrust such all-knowing. I think he gets this from his role model the 'all-good all-knowing father'. - December 15, 2010 at 2:03 AM
- Eric Dubay said...
Thanks for that Muz. Good points. I see where you're coming from about the staunch, seemingly unbending dichotomies in Christianity, but isn't that more the Roman, politicized, controlled version of Christianity than it is the actual teachings of Jesus? Certainly Jesus wouldn't have advocated the Crusades or Inquisitions or the ideologies leading to them, nor did he advocate creating a religion out of his life/teachings in the first place! As for the filmmaker not admitting he doesn't really know, I agree with you there. Everyone should be able to modestly concede our subjective understandings of truth. I'll also admit that I don't KNOW the objective metaphysical truth of reality, but I've researched/discerned/intuited a lot, and like most of us I'm on a fairly concrete, semi-fluid, gnostic journey leading me towards greater and greater understandings. At the moment, it seems to me that we're being prepared for a UFO/alien world event designed to deceive us into thinking they are our creators, disarming the populace in the name of world peace, creating a world government with Venus Project-like control grids, and a micro-chipped population. It just so happens that this exact scenario was put to paper about 2,000 years ago, and Jesus was the man who described it... that lends some serious credibility in my eyes, but sure, nobody really knows, and in all honesty we'll just have to wait and see, keep our wits about us, our vibrations high, and be present during these "future" events. Peace (but not so-called "world peace" :) rather, inner peace for everyone in the world)
- December 15, 2010 at 3:01 AM
- muzuzuzus said...
"Good points. I see where you're coming from about the staunch, seemingly unbending dichotomies in Christianity, but isn't that more the Roman, politicized, controlled version of Christianity than it is the actual teachings of Jesus? Certainly Jesus wouldn't have advocated the Crusades or Inquisitions or the ideologies leading to them, nor did he advocate creating a religion out of his life/teachings in the first place!"
Hi man --REALLY enjoy your reponse
"Good points. I see where you're coming from about the staunch, seemingly unbending dichotomies in Christianity, but isn't that more the Roman, politicized, controlled version of Christianity than it is the actual teachings of Jesus? Certainly Jesus wouldn't have advocated the Crusades or Inquisitions or the ideologies leading to them, nor did he advocate creating a religion out of his life/teachings in the first place!"
Nowheretorun's beliefs depend on the actual literal/historical belief in an actual person who was the 'Son of God', was crucified and died for our sins. Now--there is a big problem with this premise. There is actually no evidence for a Jesus of Nazareth.
HOWever, when we look at a bigger picture within which the Christian myth can be understood--ie., the pagan mythos, we see correlations. For example if you look at the mythology of Dionysos.
As John M. Allegro reveals in his book The Sacred Mushroom and the Cross, the story and meaning of Dionysos and Jesus are very much similar.
Cutting straight to the chase---OK--It was the Orphic mystical school which influenced Christianity. They themselves had taken over a more earth-based Dionysian entheogenic religion, and substituted the idea that nature is bad and we must 'purify' ourselves to return to our 'true home of the spirit'. Compare with the Christian goal of 'return to the Father'. hence they were world-denying. They want to escape.
The Roots: Dionysos was name of the actual entheogenic vegetation the Celebrants would eat, and SO--for the initiates of the Essenes and early Christian churhs was 'Jesus'. So we are NOt talking about a man in historical time but an actual experience which is ETERNAL.(not sure of word limit so--end of part 1) - December 15, 2010 at 3:45 AM
- muzuzuzus said...
part 2---So yes, both Dionysis and jesus were really--according to Allegro--referring to sacred mushrooms that experiencers would imbibe and 'become god'--become 'possessed' by the god/plant--one of Dionysos' names was 'god of nature'--so you get the idea?
Intyersting to note that somehow the Greek term meaning what happens when you would eat sacred fruit is our word enthusiasm (Greek"enthousiasmos ("having the god in us"--also 'inspired')
So---what happenes with the CHRISTIAN myth in its political form--used for Roman Empire is the historical version is insisted on via punishment of death.
But deeper than that and I have talked about it here:
Psychedelic, Mythology, and Madness (Part 1)
Part 2, Psychedelic, Mythology and Madness: The Patriarchal Expropriation of the Sacred Fruit of the Goddess
That even in its inner circle initiatory phase, the Christian myth following its orphic mentor tends to interpret and use entheogens in a world-denying way. So for example, unlike the pagan 'god@man entheogenic plants which were associated with the Goddess's son/lover--the ever-living, ever-dying, ever-regenerating--meaning eternal nature and our nature--in the CHRISTIAN myth there is the 'jesus' LEAVING nature, and returning to a disembodied 'father' not connected with the cycles of nature. So the myth is dissociative--divisive. - December 15, 2010 at 4:02 AM
- muzuzuzus said...
hmm m sorry i must have cone the html wrong for 2nd link:
Part 2, Psychedelic, Mythology and Madness: The Patriarchal Expropriation of the Sacred Fruit of the Goddess - December 15, 2010 at 4:04 AM
I'll keep this comment short but hopefully interesting.
Part of this chap's thesis is that Icke is possessed by demons who fancy themselves as gods and who'll style themselves as our saviors. Those demons must be invited into your life, to guide you etc. His solution is for us to invite the god Jesus to lead our lives and we'll be saved. Anyone else see the problem here? - December 15, 2010 at 4:14 AM
- Eric Dubay said...
Haha, nice one Anonymous, I thought the same thing while watching! And thanks to Muz for that response. I'll check out your links soon. I've read Allegro's book and quoted it extensively in The Atlantean Conspiracy. I was just pondering the other day that Jesus may very well be a real entity, but non-physical and only "visible" through the use of entheogens. Perhaps in the ancient world when entheogen use was more evolved, we were able to make repeated, communal contact with actual non-physical beings like Jesus, Buddha, Krishna etc. and while in the altered state "they" would teach us things, heal us etc. This would explain many of the seemingly impossible feats/miracles. Their "perfect" other-worldly examples might have sprung whole traditions and religions into existence, which over time became dogmatic, physicalized, and historicized.
Or, along the lines of anonymous' comment, pardon my hypothetical blasphemy, but perhaps Jesus is a demon too, and no matter which entity you "invite into your soul," you are being possessed by something you'd be better off without. Lots to consider. Keep the comments coming. Peace. - December 15, 2010 at 4:28 AM
The true 'GODHEAD' or Jesus (or Christ or Krsna or whatever), in it's absolute form is actually the very STATE OF BEING IN FOCUS (ie right here right now).
It has nothing to do with anybody or anything or any other entity past, present, or future...
The truest purest state of being is right now, within all of us,THAT'S IT.
Any talk outside of the ORIGINAL FOCUS which we all have is purely secondary and meaningless as it's just referring to an 'other' that is not part of this PURE STATE.
Now the trick is to STAY IN THIS PLACE OF FOCUS as CONSTANTLY as we can.
It gets mighty hard when we're subjected to the given RAT RACE everyday, but that is what our Natural Medicinal Herbs are tools for, BRINGING US BACK INTO THIS PURE FOCUS despite the severe brainwashing that goes on on a daily basis.
Now when we are there (IN FOCUS), WE NEED TO START CREATING within that space (paint,music,dance), these very creations are then as PURE as they can be, and this is what is completely opposed to the given system (ie anti-individuality)
(what's more simple and pure than the whirling dervishes spinning for hours on end for example)
Anyway, all these buffoons are pure entertainment and should be kept as such, and even the words of Jesus, though they are some of the purest words around, the fact that they are still words makes them nothing to be worshipped, nor anyone else's words...
Take what's good out of them, then move along, BUT STAY IN YOUR FOCUS...
(and drink some juice while your at it too! ;) - December 15, 2010 at 6:27 AM
- muzuzuzus said...
"I was just pondering the other day that Jesus may very well be a real entity, but non-physical and only "visible" through the use of entheogens. Perhaps in the ancient world when entheogen use was more evolved, we were able to make repeated, communal contact with actual non-physical beings like Jesus, Buddha, Krishna etc. and while in the altered state "they" would teach us things, heal us etc. This would explain many of the seemingly impossible feats/miracles. Their "perfect" other-worldly examples might have sprung whole traditions and religions into existence, which over time became dogmatic, physicalized, and historicized."
Yeah, I think that Jesus is a very powerful 'archetype' using Jungian terminology for want of a better term. A character that seems into the group imaginal realm. After all the literal story IS very powerful and moving, and many people--including indigenous peoples round the world--have had this story told them since being children.
It is very interesting that in NDE reports often it is the western reports that feature 'Jesus' who meets them in light etc, whereas in Eastern countries they may meet the Lord of Death. So it is clear that in the Imaginal Realm (again for want of a better term?) what we 'expect' we may experience.
Now, I read a very deep account from someone who had taken Ayahuasca and had a powerful healing experience, and he says he met Jesus.
I have read UFO/ET experiencers claim to have seen 'Jesus'. One recent one said he was surprised he didn't look like the usual depictions but had very black hair---etc
So yes, I agree. We could meet all manner of entities. In a very powerful OBE I had I met two entities a male and female, and later in the experience i met people very close to me, and later they took those MASKS off and underneath were Satyrs!! So ANYHTING is possible in these deeper dimensions. And like you say---the trouble is when these visionary experiences becomes set down in text and historicized.
"Or, along the lines of anonymous' comment, pardon my hypothetical blasphemy, but perhaps Jesus is a demon too, and no matter which entity you "invite into your soul," you are being possessed by something you'd be better off without. Lots to consider. Keep the comments coming."
Well say we listen to music. Aren't we letting the spirit of the music into our soul? When we eat food we do the same--if you like me understand plants and all reality to be full of spirit. So how much more so the plants that INSPIRE so very deeply. What is the deeper meaning is what interests me.
I think it is wise to always keep in mind that authentic mythology (before manipulators try and use it to divide us from soul and nature and community) is song, poetry, dance, metaphor. So if say we are told the sacred plant is a god, and one of the names is god of nature---then surely this is metaphor for the deeper extraordinary feeling we have when we eat 'him' and sense an expansion of our being as interelation with nature. Isn't this wonder-full? NOW we are experiencing eternity---but not as in conflict with 'time'. We are seeing deeper into the omplimentarity of so-called opposite---nature and spirit, good and bad, female and male, light and dark, humour and seriousness, life and death, etc. We want to sing, poeticize, dance, laugh, and love~~ :) - December 15, 2010 at 6:28 AM
- muzuzuzus said...
I would like to add that we ALSO experience the feelings we normally try and avoid, and doing so realize that letting ourselves embrace what we fear is healing. This says what I mean better:
"Hekate teaches us that the way to the vision that inspires renewal is to be found in moving through the darkness. As we enter into Hekate's realm, we must confront and come to terms with the dark, unconscious side of our inner nature. If we are to receive her gift of vision and renewal, we must face this Dark Goddess within ourselves, honor, praise, and make our peace with her. By giving her our trust as guardian of our unconscious and surrendering to her process, we can allow ourselves to grow into an awareness of the rich realm of our personal underworld."
Christianity popularly has demoninzed all of that consigning that realm to the 'Devil', YET even so there is a myth of the Harrowing of Christ where he spends time in 'Hell'--so in a way it is saying something similar - December 15, 2010 at 6:35 AM
To follow my previous comment, (sorry I forgot to identify myself) there is another similarity, and I think it is more important.
Both the invitation to Jesus and the invitation to demons are acts of faith and submission. Whatever else there may or may not be, this is what you are letting into your life — a faith or belief which will guide your values and actions. It is faith that transforms you; as Paul writes in Ephesians 2:8 "you have been saved, through faith."
The conspiracy movement is very much about beliefs. Part of our work is to find our way through the complex minefield of erroneous beliefs that have been constructed in order to manipulate and control us.
My purpose in this comment is not to argue against any belief system, but simply to advise caution. Always look beyond the belief to see how it will effect you and other people. Truths are constructed.
Nonoun - December 15, 2010 at 6:54 AM
- Eric Dubay said...
Excellent comments guys. Lots to think about. Thanks.
- December 15, 2010 at 7:13 AM
Hit the books, it isn't very constructive to gather main data from popular researchers, they work to be able to hit information quick and bring it into public or relative public knowledge, but "indepth" data is only achieved by deep documentary and if you're willing to, field investigations, physic and chemistry scientists can quickly bring you precise results given the correct reference data, non scientific books are best at teaching you general history of society, today we are simply repeating history once again, maybe within a more complex society than past ones, but social phenomenons happen everyday, we simply forget too fast, keep the knowledge flowing people, accumulate knowledge, knowledge is power and there is still a lot to know.
- December 15, 2010 at 2:42 PM
I have seen David speak. I have watched a lot of his videos and spent time on his website. He doesn't need to be debunked because he speaks the truth.
- December 15, 2010 at 11:49 PM
- Eric Dubay said...
He doesn't need to be debunked because he speaks the truth.
Oops. Forgot Icke was infallible. My bad. :) Peace. - December 15, 2010 at 11:53 PM
"He doesn't need to be debunked because he speaks the truth."
I think this is a wonderful statement, and I don't mean that sarcastically.
The most striking thing is that it is a statement of faith. One could substitute the references to David Icke, with references to Jesus, Darwin, or George W. Bush.
It demonstrates that what we call truth is not objective but subjective, our belief.
Rob quoted the famous motto "knowledge is power," scientia est potentia, often attributed to Francis Bacon. It should be the motto of the truth movement, our liberté, égalité, fraternité. But we need to understand it's claim.
Most people, I have found, interpret "knowledge is power" to mean that knowledge is a source of power, but the motto is more profound.
What we call knowledge, like what we call truth, is our belief; "I know this is true." Some people argue, for example, that if what a person knows isn't true then it isn't knowledge. This is to confuse knowledge with truth in the absolute sense. Our knowledge can be wrong.
Bacon's "knowledge is power" doesn't mean that knowledge leads to power, rather it means that knowledge, our beliefs about what is true, is power.
Knowledge => Power
Knowledge = Power
Power = knowledge.
To express it another way, knowledge (what we believe to be true) creates power; power creates what we believe to be true.
What we continually discover in the truth movement is that what we know, what we call knowledge, is not true, but rather a constructed reality designed by power to deceive us. Our religions, our economic system, our legal system, these are just some examples. This, for me, is the central insight of the truth movement. If we grasp that knowledge and what we call truth are constructs, then we can begin to clear our minds of the programming we have received.
The argument in the film is that we should leap from the knowledge constructed by Icke to the knowledge constructed by Jesus and his followers. But I would argue that we must be suspicious of all claims about knowledge and truth, even our own claims. After all we have learnt, to base our life on knowledge and truth claims seems to me absurd, to have learnt no lessons. Rather, I suggest that values may provide us with a surer surface to stand upon. - December 16, 2010 at 2:16 AM
- muzuzuzus said...
"What we continually discover in the truth movement is that what we know, what we call knowledge, is not true, but rather a constructed reality designed by power to deceive us. Our religions, our economic system, our legal system, these are just some examples. This, for me, is the central insight of the truth movement. If we grasp that knowledge and what we call truth are constructs, then we can begin to clear our minds of the programming we have received.
The argument in the film is that we should leap from the knowledge constructed by Icke to the knowledge constructed by Jesus and his followers. But I would argue that we must be suspicious of all claims about knowledge and truth, even our own claims. After all we have learnt, to base our life on knowledge and truth claims seems to me absurd, to have learnt no lessons. Rather, I suggest that values may provide us with a surer surface to stand upon".
This has given me excuse to share with you this amazingly inspiring interview I listened to last night, and also a video I watched to day which should se watched after listening to the interview. Both speakers compliment each other in such a deep way.
This goes right to the heart of it for me because the central controlling myth IS of our consciousness--via their myths which are really negative propaganda. They use words and mannerism and of course force and coercion and drugs and ECT etc to entrap us on many different levels. Anyway please take time to checkout these links:
Therapy for psychosis with Daniel Mackler: Madness Radio (One of the MOST inspiring interviews I have ever heard!)
Mental Health Medication Side Effects & Psychiatry, Psychology John Breeding - December 16, 2010 at 3:55 AM
Hi Muzuzuzus,
Those videos offer excellent illustrations of my thesis. Thanks so much. I really enjoyed listening to them.
Best wishes
Nonoun. - December 16, 2010 at 5:41 AM
The Stanely Milgram experiment.
Nonoun - December 17, 2010 at 7:55 AM
I have heard David Icke in an interveiw with Freeman. He explains that an alien invasion would be a hoax to unite mankind under one world government. He explains that the Illuminati (aliens in his stance) could still fake an alien invasion. The two things are not mutually exclusive. Aliens can exist and also fake an alien invasion by some invented rogue race.
Also, when I heard Icke speak, he never called for an end to world religions. In his own words, I will quote "I beleive a person should be able to do anything that person wants to do, as long as it doesn't infringe upon the rights of another person. "
If you are a Muslim, Jew, Christian, Taoist, and you do no harm or oppression to others,this would be totally in line with his philosophy. Maybe not how he would choose to live his own life, but still in line with his philosophy.
Finally, he is constantly saying to 'do your own research', find your own truth, be unique'.
I understand that you do not agree with an alien presence, and perhaps you do not see the potential of human evolution. Fair enough. But the accusations against Icke seem unsupportable and unprovable. Perhaps you should disagree with his stance, rather than his person?
-Andrea - December 17, 2010 at 10:07 AM
@Andrea: the potential of human evolution -> the lesser people (~ 98% of world population) will evolve into corpses, and THEY into gods. I can't wait :))
How can you believe in their earnestness? THEY have killed and maimed countless people, they enjoy creating false enemies and see the people kill each other. Nevertheless, they want the good of us... - December 18, 2010 at 5:52 AM
- Unknown said...
The entire conspiracy movement is hijacked from the beginning. I don't mean just a part of the movement....the ENTIRE MOVEMENT itself is a pawn in a greater game that not even its members are totally aware of.
Unfortunately - Jesus does not exist, as there has been plenty of sun gods you can pick and choose from in the ancient time of illusory antiquity (which is now). Furthermore - there is more to Hollywood and television series than meet the eye...just because they are talking about aliens or cover-ups on the surface, does not mean they are not saying something else in a deeper, more subliminal manner. This is the ultimate deception and cause of human ignorance - and their inability to connect to WISDOM and AWARENESS which is RIGHT NOW...in the ETERAL MOMENT OF THE NOW.
Furthermore - there are no aliens, no god, no angels, and no demons - just an illusory concepts of god, angels, demons, aliens, and so-called, "conspiracy theorists" who have self-styled themselves as heroes of utter adoration and cult-like status of personality-hero-worship and demogagory. The new elite of the conspiracy movement is the NEW WORLD ORDER.
We don't need to worry about a so-called microchip either, because we have already taken it...(i.e. you THINK you are real in the 3D sense - that somehow you must save the 3D world from destruction - let the world be destroyed - the sooner it ends, the better, and the less I have to care about it - because it is NOT REAL).
This hopefully clears up all this intellectual nonsense that has been going on around here for so long now.
Xinyu Hu - January 9, 2011 at 5:07 PM
- new world order discussion said...
yes all these guys are shills, even zeitgeist was more than likely made by the elite.
but zeitgeist is the real answer - its just they are hijacking the idea to use it against us without you even knowing it. they want you to follow the zeitgeist movement which will manipulate the RSB into how they want it, with them still being the shadow eye at the top.
RSB and zeitgeist is the 100% truth to everything,THEY know this, and they realize more and more people have been figuring it out, thats why they made such a powerful film and movement that would truly catch the bulk of the audience.
and about religion and the bible - it might have had some relevance at its very first existence, but all were manipulated way before documentation. Even if it was genuine - it is still just stories of random travels and encounters of animals and other people perhaps, with some astrological observations.
religion has detached people from reality of their true surroundings. It provides no answers, solutions, knowledge, and it can be deciphered or interpreted a hundred different ways.
It's useless - March 17, 2011 at 5:16 AM
i agree with Hu alot except the fact that the 3D earth will be moving to a higher frequency (scientist say they cant explain y the earth's frequency has changed drastically since the 80's) when that happens who will be left maybe none of us.. not like we deserve to stay....but i could be wrong
dave - April 27, 2011 at 8:42 AM
Why then was David Icke one of the first people to come out publicly about the world conspiracy knowing full well he would be ridiculed (and still is by some). The world is waking and thinking more clearly and he has a lot to do with this. I understand what you are saying about false leaders, but I truly believe that David Icke has nothing but good intentions. This is not a man out to do harm, quite the opposite.
- December 25, 2011 at 8:15 AM
Just so fed up with defensive and not thinking christians..
- February 5, 2012 at 6:35 AM
The esoteric is the fact that Jesus was despised by worldly governments! Remember he is a King! Now, forsake the empire and SEEK THE KINGDOM! ! !
State means family. (estate)
Where all are free souls under God! Join a network of Kingdom seekers. HHC is a good start. Jesus died being faithful to His Father's Government on earth, at hand. Truth is a man's name. ( : - August 6, 2012 at 7:21 PM
David Icke always came off to me as this freak that was just laughable. I read a few pages of one of his books and it just sounded funny as hell, like someone was baiting people into believing a load of crap. The stuff about reptilian aliens and hollow moon with laser beams is hard to take seriously without laughing.
And the reason I never thought he was real is because he's still breathing. Look at Gary Webb and Bill Cooper. They died for the truth. Icke gets to travel all over the world and give 7 hour lectures.
Besides Icke and Jones, what do you think of Jesse Ventura? I found him laughable too, actually worse than I did the other two. He had a show called Conspiracy theorists where he's like a detective and figures everything out so fast. He does provide interest stuff like them all, but it feels like he's been misdirected and a puppet. Just like Alex Jones too, all his supporters follow him and think he's some hero when he's portraying them exactly how the elite want them to, as crazy psychopaths. - February 8, 2013 at 12:39 PM
- Eric Dubay said...
I couldn't agree more Gary. Thanks for the comments!
- February 9, 2013 at 6:53 AM
David Icke belongs to the 'red team'
in the NWO.
The 'Blue Team' affirms life, love,
The 'Red Team' affirms death, despair
and deception.
Ickes' co-conspirators are:
The Church of Scientology
Duncan Roads of Nexus magazine
Robert Pash of New Dawn magazine
David Hatcher Childress
Zecharia Sitchin
Marcus Allen of Nexus UK / UFO
conspiracy promoter.
Mark Koernke, Timothy McVeigh associate.
The Australian League of Rights,
The Confederate Action Party,
Ron Owen, Jeremy Lee, Aldis Ozols,
Dennis Stevenson, Peter Sawyer,
the Inverell Forum, Joe Vialls,
The New Citizen newspaper,
Tony Pitt, Perry Jewell,
Bill Kaiser, Dr Jim Saleam,
many, many other 'tools'.
Where these people go, deception,
despair and injustice follow.
- June 1, 2013 at 10:07 AM


text:
Welcome to the "I'm a Natural Parent — BUT..." Carnival
This post was written for inclusion in the carnival hosted by The Artful Mama and Natural Parents Network. During this carnival our participants have focused on the many different forms and shapes Natural Parenting can take in our community.
There's no one definition for what makes a natural parent, which can leave most of us feeling like everyone's probably more natural than we are. Well, I'm here to relieve your minds that while it might be true for me, the reverse is likely not true for you. Read on for Hobo Mama's shocking (!), shameful (!!) confessions…
Probably the biggest area where I differ with a lot of my crunchy friends is in the subject of food. People devote so much energy to what they can and can't eat, and what their kids are allowed. I admire this energy. I don't have it, though. We eat a pretty normal diet. (Purists would call it a SAD diet.) After listening to umpteen friends share recommendations about the best gluten-free bakeries and which stores sell items that are dairy- and soy-free, I'm avoiding any form of food intolerance testing, because I don't want to know. I'm currently looking forward to Sam bringing me home from the office some Junior Mints that he squirreled away for me at Christmas, and I will promptly eat the whole boxful. Sugar haters, look away!
Then there are the areas where I'm just so. much. lazier with my second child. I prefer to think of it as "relaxed," though. Elimination communication? Eh, when I think of it. Mikko was so particular about his elimination that he kind of demanded it, but Alrik's so easygoing it's simpler just to change the diaper when he's wet and be done with it. I still love EC as a practice and a philosophy, and I'm trying to incorporate it into our routines more, but I'm not beating myself up about days when I've missed every single pee for the salient fact that I never brought out the potty.
This is related, too, in that Alrik is a much better sleeper than Mikko was. So since I don't have to change him or potty him in the night to get him back to sleep when he wakes to nurse, I … shh … used to put a disposable on him. Those things absorb. Holy moly. They'd be twice the size and three times the weight when he got up. Now that his peeing frequency has diminished from newborn levels, we have enough diaper service diapers and backups from my stash to double-cloth-diaper him at night with a wool cover, which relieves my green guilt a bit and keeps him just as comfortable — actually more so. But I'll never forget the pangs of guilt I felt at carrying disposables to the checkout line.
I've lost all our reusable shopping bags. Every one. Where are they? Please, if you see them, tell them to come home.
Speaking of plastic-bag atrocities, that's what we use as wetbags when we're out. Sam heard that the city of Seattle has voted to ban plastic bags, and his first impulse was to hoard as many as possible so we don't run out. I've decided I need to make us some wetbags.
I keep seeing and hearing about labor conditions in China and really do feel distressed that not all my clothes are sweatshop-free. I haven't quite figured out where to go with this one in terms of budget, selection, and time (for shopping secondhand stores or sewing new outfits).
I chose a non-VOC paint for our kitchen cabinets, since I was pregnant when we began painting and for the general environmental aspects. I felt so superior to our neighbors, whose stinky paint choice had wafted through our unit for weeks. Then I read more about latex paint and cabinets and realized we'd have to seal them all with polyurethane, the cans of which sport bold labels warning of dire birth defects. Sigh. Alrik seems all right so far…
I love diet soda. Love. There are days where the sweet caffeine and carbonation make life worth living.
Again with the being more relaxed this time, Alrik has an assortment of pacifiers, which started for use in the car when I was driving and he was screaming. They have since morphed into being used for weddings, church, and, most notably, calming him at night when I don't want to be or am not attached to him at the nip. Sam has this routine perfected where he gets him to sleep on his chest. It's amazing, really, and makes me wonder why I didn't let him try out his super dad powers more on Mikko. Speaking of which, Alrik takes a bottle, for occasional errands and outings I make without him. This doesn't happen often, but it happened a grand total of zero times with Mikko, until he started preschool. I feel surprisingly unguilty about this change from exclusive at-breast feeding. There was a lot of baggage I was dealing with from Mikko's horrible start to breastfeeding, so I know why I felt such an antipathy at the time to bottles. I have to say, I'm enjoying the fact that I can go out with friends or with Mikko alone or take a class or whatever and not feel bad about it, knowing my son or sons are being cared for well by their father or my sister-in-law.
We tried to be perfect baby-led-weaners with Mikko, to the point where I felt like I was cheating if I gave him something like yogurt or mashed cauliflower that was already pureed. I'd still do it, because it was so much easier for him to eat, but I'd feel guilty. You know what? Enough already with the guilt, and the slavish adherence to what someone else says is the only right way to parent. (Yes, to anyone, even to me; you are free to disregard anything I say that doesn't resonate with you, promise.) I don't like gagging in babies who are learning to eat solid foods. I know it's not the same as choking, but I don't like it. So I usually give Alrik teensy pieces of food to eat. His sporadic manual dexterity would generally just knock tiny pieces to the ground, so I pop them in his mouth for him. I still follow BLW in spirit, I believe, because I'm very conscious of not giving him anything he doesn't want, of following his cues, of offering whole foods (in the sense of the types of foods, not in the size of the bites), of giving him pieces of what we're eating as a family, and letting him experiment with holding his own larger-size pieces of food when it's convenient and feels safe. I also even bought him some purees of veggies that have iron (like spinach), because I wanted to be sure he was getting iron in his diet, and meat's tough for a little guy with only one tooth. So far, so good. He eats like a champ — enthusiastically (much more so than his much larger brother ever did) and still on his own terms.
Speaking of that much larger brother, once Mikko was a year old, thirty-five pounds, and showing no signs of walking yet, we reluctantly began using a stroller in addition to babywearing. He loved it. Kind of like that scene in Away We Go. Since we had bought the cheapest umbrella stroller merely as a backup, we got a better one off craigslist when he was three and showing no signs of outgrowing riding in one. We finally just kicked him out onto his own two feet after he turned four and I had another baby to carry around.
I'm going to write about this a little more soon, but I am also a no-'poo dropout. I'm back to my old hairwashing routine (admittedly, with just organic conditioner), and I am so much happier. Whew.
I use family cloth, cloth menstrual pads, and cloth diapers — but I have yet to switch over to hankies.
I would love to have two shelves of natural, open-ended, wooden playthings. Instead, we have a riot of plastic nonsense, much of it battery-operated. So it goes.
My housekeeping is dreadful. Although I do mostly use vinegar. When I clean. Which is almost never. Dirt's natural, right?
I love my kids and unschooling and taking them to fun places. I also love writing and being a blogger. This means I spend a lot of time in front of a computer screen, and my kids see that. I admire people who use the computer only when their kids are asleep or away, but I am not that person.
In related news, I prefer to be indoors most of the time.
I get uneasy with how much TV my son watches, though I have to say two things about that: (1) TV isn't called a babysitter for nothing. Oh, the stuff I can get done while he's glued to the set! and (2) I love TV myself. Love it. If you combine my passions, there's nothing like relaxing on the couch next to Sam with a show on Tivo, a
There are a ton of ways I am natural and crunchy and attachment-minded and whatever, so I won't list them all here to try to redeem myself at this point, but that doesn't mean I do everything by the natural parenting book. And I'm ok with that.
What are your natural parenting confessions? Spill. Spill.
This carnival was created by The Artful Mama and Natural Parents Network. We recognize that "natural parenting" means different things to different families, and we are dedicated to providing a safe place for all families, regardless of where they are in their parenting journeys.
Please take time to read the submissions by the other carnival participants:
(This list will be live and updated by afternoon February 26 with all the carnival links.)
- My kid is a technophile — Jenn at Monkey Butt Junction hasn't turned in her natural parenting card yet, even though her son prefers electronic toys
- I'm a Natural Parent, but...I use medicine! — Adrienne at Mommying My Way admits that while she hesitates to do so, sometimes she does give her son some medicine when his symptoms get really bad.
- I'm Only Half Planning a Natural Birth — Shannon at The Artful Mama discloses how she is planning her semi-natural hospital birth and still dares to call herself a Natural Parent.
- Why we aren't rear facing — Shannon at Pineapples & Artichokes talks about her decision to turn her one-year-old daughter's carseat around, and how the argument always given for extended rear facing makes her feel.
- Musings of an Almost Crunchy Momma — Valerie at Momma in Progress re-examines her list of natural parenting litmus tests.
- Natural Parenting Does Not Equal Perfect Parenting — Jennifer at Hybrid Rasta Mama admits to several not-so-natural parenting and lifestyle practices.
- 10 Reasons to Revoke My Natural Parent Card — Laura at WaldenMommy: Life Behind the Red Front Door discusses why some of her less-than-crunchy practices are better for her family.
- I'm a Natural Parent - BUT... MacNCheese is Awesome. — Jennifer at True Confessions of a Real Mommy reveals her penchant for some far from healthy eating, cheap food recipes.
- Crunchy on the Inside — Wolfmother at Fabulous Mama Chronicles muses about how the stereotype of a natural parent does not do justice to the very dynamic group that this parenting philosophy attracts.
- My Reality — Megan from The Other Baby Book confesses a few things about her parenting.
- I'm Crunchy But... — Christy at Mommy Outnumbered shares confessions on all of her "non" crunchy ways.
- I'm A Natural Parent, But...it took me awhile — It took Kerry at City Kids Homeschooling awhile before fully understanding and appreciating Natural Parenting.
- I Am Not a Perfect Natural Parent — Momma Jorje shares her dirty little secrets as a mostly natural parent.
- Crunchy, But Not Crunchier Than Thou — Instead of comparing yourself to others, Dionna at Code Name: Mama encourages you to give yourself permission to be as crunchy as you can for right now.
- I'm a natural parent but…I love bedtimes — Terri at Child of the Nature Isle would never let her children cry-it-out, but she has a selection of other methods to encourage early bedtimes.
- I'm a Natural Parent - BUT... — Lani at Boobie Time Blog believes that following the principles of Natural Parenting doesn't mean you fit a stereotypical mold of societal view.
- Confessions of a Low Supply Mom — Mandy at Living Peacefully with Children confesses her insecurities about being a low supply mom.
- I'm a natural parent, but. . . — Not eating her placenta is just one of the ways Ashley at Mama Raw falls short at being a natural parent.
- I'm a Natural Parent But...I have a Few Confessions — Kat at Loving {Almost} Every Moment strives to be a Natural Mama, but wait, she has a few confessions!
- I'm a Natural Parent BUT — Carrie at LoveNotesMama confesses her gratitude for disposable diapers.
- Intestinal Dissection — Melissa from White Noise talks about how imperfection can be beautiful when it is buffered with love.
- How much sugar is too much? — Tat at Mum in Search shares how her no-sugar policy evolved into a balancing act, with the balance point not where she'd like to see it.
- I'm a Natural Parent, but. . . — Amyables at Toddler In Tow talks about three of her parenting habits that are not super "natural."
- Minus Ten Crunchy Points — Joella at Fine and Fair discusses how some of her parenting choices seen as "too crunchy" by those she knows in real life could get her kicked out of the crunchy mom clubs online.
- The Natural Parent "Model" — Kym at Our Crazy Corner of the World talks about her love for not-so-natural cosmetics and beauty products.
- Nice to meet you. — Eileen at Love & Greens talks about how being a natural mama means something different to her every day.
- I'm a natural parent…BUT… — Ashley at Daisy Pedals touches on several natural parenting topics; from cloth diapers to cleaning with natural cleaners.
- I'm a natural parent, but you'd be surprised — Lauren at Hobo Mama confesses to liking diet soda and TV and having lost all her reusable shopping bags.
- I'm a Natural Parent, but…. I don't shop local — Luschka at Diary of a First Child confesses one of her greatest 'natural' failures - she doesn't shop local and support her community, despite wishing she could.
- Who You Callin' Natural? (a Carnival of Natural Parenting Contribution) — A bit of premise exposition, some tongue-in-cheek filler, and a photographic list of all the ways Embrita Blogging cheats at being natural.
- Dirty Secrets of a Green & Natural Mama (and Why I'm Not Afraid to Share Them!) — Charise at I Thought I Knew Mama shares her definition of what it means to be a perfect mama as well as a few of her dirty little secrets.
- Green Mommy Guilt — Jen at Jen and Joey Green talks about how being a perfect Green Mom is overrated.
- Life Coping Devices — Amy at Anktangle discusses two ("non-AP") coping strategies her family has used for getting through difficult times with her son: the pacifier and the stroller.
- We use disposable diapers. There. I said it. — The mama at Our Muddy Boots shares a bed, nurses her 4 year old, is vegetarian, and is committed to homeschooling; but Pampers adorn her child's bottom. Ugh!
- Committed to Cloth, but... — Sheila at A Living Family affirms her love of cloth diapering, despite the draw of disposables.
- Natural Parenting as a Doorway to Deep Truths — Amy from Peace for Parents guest posts at Natural Parents Network and shares how for her "natural parenting" is much less about a definition and much more an avenue to explore truths of life.
- Chicken No-nos — Jessica at Pace Family Place strives to live naturally but feeds her oldest son some not-so natural things


text:
Harrisburg Patriot-News
Democrats not allergic to arithmetic must know the cost of their "fiscal cliff" victory. When they flinched from allowing all of George W. Bush's tax rates, especially those on middle-class incomes, to expire, liberalism lost its nerve and began what will be a long slide into ludicrousness.
Those temporary rates were enacted in 2001, when only 28 House Democrats supported them, and in 2003, when only seven did. But with the "American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012" – did liberals think about that title? – 172 House Democrats voted to make the Bush income-tax rates permanent for all but 0.7 percent of taxpayers – individuals earning more than $400,000 and couples earning more than $450,000.
Liberals could have had a revenue increase of $3.7 trillion over 10 years. Instead, they surrendered nearly $3.1 trillion of that. They cannot have repeated bites at this apple. They cannot now increase government revenues as a share of GDP through tax reform because Republicans insist that the Taxpayer Relief Act closed the revenue question. And because tax reform is dead for the foreseeable future, so are hopes for a revenue surge produced by vigorous economic growth.
No numerate person thinks today's entitlement state, let alone the steady expansion of it that is liberalism's aspiration, can be funded by taxing the income of the 0.7 percent of taxpayers whose rates were just raised. Or the 2 percent whose rates would have been raised had liberals and their president simply allowed the automatic increase of rates for individuals earning more than $200,000 and couples earning more than $250,000.
Because 82 percent of American earners pay more in payroll taxes than income taxes, no politically conceivable or economically feasible middle-class tax rate can fund the entitlement state. And America's political culture rules out funding it with new consumption or energy taxes. By rescuing almost everyone from restoration of Clinton-era rates, liberals abandoned any pretense of paying for their program of ever-expanding entitlements. Instead, they made trillion-dollar deficits their program.
From 1950 to 2000, economic growth averaged 3.6 percent; since then it has averaged less than 2 percent. Liberals think today's correlation between the slow economic growth and rapid governmental growth – including under George W. Bush – is a coincidence. Conservatives do not. And they note some recent actions, done in December's bright light of public attention and fiscal anxiety, which indicate that this government's indiscipline is incorrigible and shameless. Consider one detail in the Taxpayer Relief Act, and an issue pertinent to the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.
Years ago, Congress decided that, to save the planet, there should be tax credits to bribe Americans to buy electric cars. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., believes it only fair that buyers of electric motorcycles, some of which are made in Oregon, not get left out of the bribery business. Thanks to the Taxpayer Relief Act, they won't.
People who choose to live in places vulnerable to flooding believe it would be unfair that the cost of their property insurance fully reflect this risk. So government subsidizes their insurance, and hence their decision to live where there is increased risk of property damage that, when it happens, the government helps pay to rebuild.
Today's government, whose railroad, Amtrak, lost $834 million over the last 10 years just on its food service, has neither wit nor will to stop subsidizing electric motorcycles or to reform flood insurance. Hence Republicans should rally 'round one of several well-refined constitutional amendments requiring balanced budgets. Such an amendment would be popular everywhere, but especially in six states important in 22 months.
Republicans need to gain six seats to win Senate control in 2014, when Democrats will be defending 20 seats, Republicans only 13. Six Democratic incumbents represent states in which Barack Obama received less than 42 percent of the 2012 vote – Montana's Max Baucus (41.7), Alaska's Mark Begich (40.8), Louisiana's Mary Landrieu (40.6), South Dakota's Tim Johnson (39.9), Arkansas' Mark Pryor (36.9) and West Virginia's Jay Rockefeller (35.5).
Sixty-seven Senate votes are needed to send a proposed amendment to the states for ratification. There are 45 Republican senators. There are nowhere near 22 Democrats who would vote for an amendment Republicans could support. Still, Republicans, whose divisions cause Democratic gloating, could use a balanced budget amendment to divide Democrats who threw the remnants of their fiscal self-respect off the cliff.
Read more: http://www.pennlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2013/01/op-ed_a_rally_cry_to_tame_spending.html


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== Getting started with Wiki-stuff == | == Getting started with Wiki-stuff == |
Revision as of 22:06, 19 April 2012
Welcome to the University of Wisconsin Math Department Wiki
This site is by and for the faculty, students and staff of the UW Mathematics Department. It contains useful information about the department, not always available from other sources. Pages can only be edited by members of the department but are viewable by everyone.
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