JOKE RACING
Curmudgeonly & Skeptical presents Boned Jello: Jeff Gordon announcement
Mooresville, NCJeff Gordon announced today that he was firing his entire pit crew.
This announcement followed Gordon's decision to take advantage of President Obama's stimulus scheme for employing Black Harlem teenagers.
The decision to hire them was brought about by a recent documentary on how welfare-drawing black street gangs from Harlem were able to remove a set of wheels in less than 6 seconds without proper equipment, whereas Gordon's existing crew could only do it in 8 seconds with thousands of dollars' worth of high tech equipment. It was thought to be politically correct and a bold move by Gordon's management team, as most races are won or lost in the pits.
UPDATE Gordon, however, got more than he bargained for. At the crew's first practice session, not only was the inexperienced black crew able to change all 4 wheels in under 6 seconds, but within
9 seconds they had repainted it, altered the VIN number, and sold the car to Dale Earnhardt, Jr., for 10 cases of Bud, a bag of weed, and some photos of Jeff Gordon's wife in the shower.
Friday, July 11, 2014
Thursday, July 10, 2014
Do you know this simple way to make super-strong, but easy-to-remember passwords? | Page 4 | Komando.com
Do you know this simple way to make super-strong, but easy-to-remember passwords? | Page 4 | Komando.com
J0e._D._R0$e_1228
J0e._D._R0$e_1228
J0e._D._R0$e_1228
J0e._D._R0$e_1228
J0e._D._R0$e_1228
J0e._D._R0$e_1228
J0e._D._R0$e_1228
J0e._D._R0$e_1228
J0e._D._R0$e_1228
J0e._D._R0$e_1228
J0e._D._R0$e_1228
J0e._D._R0$e_1228
Wednesday, July 09, 2014
Tuesday, July 08, 2014
Monday, July 07, 2014
Sunday, July 06, 2014
Wednesday, July 02, 2014
Daughter of the King, What do you think about abortion?
Daughter of the King, What do you think about abortion?: I’m for the abortion of abortion.
Friday, June 27, 2014
Wednesday, June 25, 2014
AMERICAN DIGEST Essays, News, Notes, and Quotes
AMERICAN DIGEST Essays, News, Notes, and Quotes: Col. Jessep: Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinburg? I have a greater responsibility than you could possibly fathom.... You don't want the truth because deep down in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall, you need me on that wall. We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said thank you, and went on your way, Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon, and stand a post.
A Few Good Men
A Few Good Men
Tuesday, June 24, 2014
Monday, June 23, 2014
Sunday, June 22, 2014
Saturday, June 21, 2014
Tuesday, June 17, 2014
Monday, June 16, 2014
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
Monday, June 09, 2014
Heinlein’s Razor
AMERICAN DIGEST Essays, News, Notes, and Quotes:
Heinlein’s Razor in reference to the dean of science fiction writers, Robert Heinlein
"Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity, but don't rule out malice."
Heinlein’s Razor in reference to the dean of science fiction writers, Robert Heinlein
"Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity, but don't rule out malice."
Saturday, June 07, 2014
Saturday Uninformed Voter Joke | Grouchy Old Cripple
Saturday Uninformed Voter Joke | Grouchy Old Cripple: Saturday Uninformed Voter Joke
Glenn sent me this week’s uninformed voter joke.
A bartender is sitting behind the bar on a typical day, when the door bursts open and in come four exuberant uninformed voters. They come up to the bar, order five bottles of champagne and ten glasses, take their order over and sit down at a large table. The corks are popped, the glasses are filled and they begin toasting and chanting, “51 days, 51 days, 51 days!”
Soon, three more uninformed voters arrive, take up their drinks and the chanting grows. “51 days, 51 days, 51 days! ” Two more uninformed voters show up and soon their voices are joined in raising the roof. “51 days, 51 days, 51 days! ” Finally, the tenth uninformed voter comes in with a picture under her arm. She walks over to the table, sets the picture in the middle and the table erupts. Up jumps the others, they begin dancing around the table, exchanging high-fives, all the while chanting “51 days, 51 days, 51 days!
“The bartender can’t contain his curiosity any longer, so he walks over to the table. There in the center is a beautifully framed child’s jigsaw puzzle of the White House. When the frenzy dies down a little bit, the bartender asks one of the uninformed voters, “What’s all the chanting and celebration about?
The uninformed voter who brought in the picture pipes in, “Everyone thinks that uninformed voters are dumb and they make fun of us just because we voted for Obummer. So, we decided to set the record straight. Ten of us got together, bought that puzzle and put it together…the side of the box said 6-10 years, but we put it together in 51 days!”
Glenn sent me this week’s uninformed voter joke.
A bartender is sitting behind the bar on a typical day, when the door bursts open and in come four exuberant uninformed voters. They come up to the bar, order five bottles of champagne and ten glasses, take their order over and sit down at a large table. The corks are popped, the glasses are filled and they begin toasting and chanting, “51 days, 51 days, 51 days!”
Soon, three more uninformed voters arrive, take up their drinks and the chanting grows. “51 days, 51 days, 51 days! ” Two more uninformed voters show up and soon their voices are joined in raising the roof. “51 days, 51 days, 51 days! ” Finally, the tenth uninformed voter comes in with a picture under her arm. She walks over to the table, sets the picture in the middle and the table erupts. Up jumps the others, they begin dancing around the table, exchanging high-fives, all the while chanting “51 days, 51 days, 51 days!
“The bartender can’t contain his curiosity any longer, so he walks over to the table. There in the center is a beautifully framed child’s jigsaw puzzle of the White House. When the frenzy dies down a little bit, the bartender asks one of the uninformed voters, “What’s all the chanting and celebration about?
The uninformed voter who brought in the picture pipes in, “Everyone thinks that uninformed voters are dumb and they make fun of us just because we voted for Obummer. So, we decided to set the record straight. Ten of us got together, bought that puzzle and put it together…the side of the box said 6-10 years, but we put it together in 51 days!”
Monday, June 02, 2014
The Top 40: Comment on Our food-stamp program has many problems,
The Top 40: Comment on Our food-stamp program has many problems,
Davey Crockett on spending Govt money
NOT YOURS TO GIVE
From The Life of Colonel David Crockett, compiled by Edward S. Ellis
(Philadelphia: Porter & Coates, 1884)
David Crockett
Member of Congress 1827-31, 1832-35
One day in the House of Representatives, a bill was taken up
appropriatingmoney for the benefit of a widow of a distinguished naval
officer. Several beautiful speeches had been made in it's support. The
Speaker was just about to put the question when Crockett arose:
"Mr. Speaker-- I have as much respect for the memory of the
deceased, and as much sympathy for the suffering of the living, if
suffering there be, as any man in this House, but we must not permit our
respect for the dead or our sympathy for a part of the living to lead
us into an act of injustice to the balance of the living. I will not go
into an argument to prove that Congress has no power to appropriate this
money as an act of charity. Every member upon this floor knows it. We
have the right, as individuals, to give away as much of our own money as
we please in charity; but as members of Congress we have no right so to
appropriate a dollar of the public money. Some eloquent appeals have
been made to us upon the ground that it is debt due the deceased. Mr.
Speaker, the deceased lived long after the close of the war; he was in
office to the day of his death, and I have never heard that the
government was in arrears to him. Every man in this House knows it is
not a debt. We cannot, without the grossest corruption, appropriate
this money as the payment of a debt. We have not the semblence of
authority to appropriate it as a charity. Mr. Speaker, I have said we
have the right to give as much money of our own as we please. I am the
poorest man on this floor. I cannot vote for this bill, but I will give
one week's pay to the object, and if every memeber of Congress will do
the same, it will amount to more than the bill asks."
He took his seat. Nobody replied. The bill was put upon its
passage, and, instead of passing unanimously, as was generally supposed,
and as, no doubt it would, but for that speech, it received but few
votes, and, of course, was lost.
Later, when asked by a friend why he had opposed the appropriation, Crockett gave this explanation:
"Several years ago I was one evening standing on the steps of the
Capitol with some other members of Congress, when our attention was
attracted by a great light over in Georgetown. It was evidently a large
fire. We jumped into a hack and drove over as fast as we could. In spite
of all that could be done, many houses were burned and many families
made homeless, and besides, some of them had lost all but the clothes
they had on. The weather was very cold, and when I saw so many women
and children suffering, I felt that something ought to be done for them.
The next morning a bill was introduced appropriating $20,000 for their
relief. We put aside all other business and rushed it through as soon
as it could be done.
"The next summer, when it began to be time to think about the
election, I concluded I would take a scout around among the boys of my
district. I had no opposition there, but, as the election was some time
off, I did not know what might turn up. When riding one day in a part
of my district in which I was more of stranger than any other, I saw a
man in a field plowing and coming toward the road. I gauged my gait so
that we should meet as he came to the fence. As he came up, I spoke to
the man. He replied politely, but, as I thought, rather coldly.
"I began: "Well, friend, I am one of those unfortunate beings called candidates, and----'
"Yes, I know you you are Colonel Crockett. I have seen you once before,
and voted for you the last time you were elected. I suppose you are
out electioneering now, but you had better not waste your time or mine. I
shall not vote for you again.'
"This was a sockdolager....I begged him to tell me what was the matter.
"Well, Colonel, it is hardly worth-while to waste time or words upon
it. I do not see how it can be mended, but you gave a vote last winter
which shows that either you have not capacity to understand the
Constitution, or that you are wanting in honesty and firmness to be
guided by it. In either case you are not the man to represent me. But I
beg your pardon for expressing it in that way. I did not intend to
avail myself of the privilege of the constituent to speak plainly to a
candidate for the purpose of insulting or wounding you. I intended by
it only to say that your understanding of the Constitution is very
different from mine; and I will say to you what, but for rudeness, I
should not have said, that I believe you to be honest.... But an
understanding of the Constitution different from mine I cannot overlook,
because the Constitution, to be worth anything, must be held sacred,
and rigidly observed in all its provisions. The man who wields power
and misinterprets it is the more dangerous the more honest he is.'
"'I admit the truth of all you say, but there must be some mistake
about it, For I do not remember that I gave any vote last winter upon
any constitutional question.'
"'No, Colonel, there's no mistake. Though I live here in the back
woods and seldom go from home, I take the papers from Washington and
read very carefully all the proceedings in Congress. My papers say last
winter you voted for a bill to appropriate $20,000 to some suffers by
fire in Georgetown. Is that true?'
"'Well, my friend, I may as well own up. You have got me there. But
certainly nobody will complain that a great and rich country like ours
should give the insignificant sum of $20,000 to relieve it's suffering
women and children, particularly with a full and overflowing Treasury,
and I am sure, if you had been there, you would have done just as I
did.'
"'It is not the amount, Colonel, that I complain of; it is the
principle. In the first place, the government ought to have in the
Treasury no more than enough for its legitimate purposes. But that has
nothing to do with the question. The power of collecting and disbursing
money at pleasure is the most dangerous power that can be intrusted to
man, particularly under our system of collecting revenue by tariff,
which reaches every man in the country, no matter how poor he may be,
and the poorer he is the more he pays in proportion to his means. What
is worse, it presses upon him without his knowledge where the weight
centers, for there is not a man in the United States who can ever guess
how much he pays to the government. So you see, that while you are
contributing to relieve one, you are drawing it from thousands who are
even worse off than he. If you had the right to give anything, the
amount was simply a matter of discretion with you, and you had as much
right to give $20,000,000 as $20,000. If you have the right to give to
one, you have the right to give to all; and, as the Constitution neither
defines charity nor stipulates the amount, you are at liberty to give
to anything and everything which you may believe, or profess to believe,
is a charity, and to any amount you may think proper. You will very
easily perceive what a wide door this would open for fraud and
corruption and favortism, on the one hand, and for robbing the people on
the other. No, Colonel, Congress has no right to give charity.
Individual members may give as much of their own money as they please,
but they have no right to touch a dollar of the public money for that
purpose.If twice as many houses had been burned in this county as in
Georgetown, neither you nor any other member of Congress would have
thought of appropriating a dollar for our relief.
There are about two hundred and forty members of Congress. If they
had shown their sympathy for the suffers by contributing each one week's
pay, it would have made over $13,000. There are plenty of men in and
around Washington who could have given $20,000 without depriving
themselves of even a luxury of life.. The congressmen chose to keep
their own money, which, if reports be true, some of them spend not very
creditable; and the people about Washington, no doubt, applauded you for
relieving them from the necessity of giving by giving what was not
yours to give. The people have delegated to Congress, by the
Constitution, the power to do certain things. To do these, it is
authorized to collect and pay moneys, and for nothing else. Everything
beyond this is usurpation, and a violation of the Constitution.
"'So you see, Colonel, you have violated the Constitution in what I
consider a vital point. It is a precedent fraught with danger to the
country, for when Congress once begins to stretch it's power beyond the
limits of the Constitution, there is no limit to it, and no security for
the people. I have no doubt you acted honestly, but that does not make
it any better, except as far as you are personally concerned, and you
see that I cannot vote for you...'
"I tell you I felt streaked. I saw if I should have oppostion, and
this man should go talking, he would set others to talking, and in that
district I was a gone fawn-skin. I could not answer him, for the fact
is, I was so fully convinced that he was right, I did not want to. But I
must satisfy him, and I said to him:
"Well, my friend, you hit the nail upon the head, when you said I
had not sense enough to understand the Constitution. I intended to be
guided by it, and thought I had studied it fully, I have heard many
speeches in congress about the powers of the Congress, but what you have
said here at your plow has got more hard, sound sense in it than all
the fine speeches I ever heard. If I had ever taken the view of it that
you have, I would have put my head into the fire before I would have
given that vote; and if you will forgive me and vote for me again, if I
ever vote for another unconstitutional law I wish I may be shot.'
"He laughingly replied: "Yes Colonel, you have sworn to that once
before, but I will trust you again upon one condition. You say that you
are convinced that your vote was wrong. Your acknowledgment of it will
do more good than beating you for it. If, as you go around the distict,
you will tell people about this vote, and that you are satisfied it was
wrong, I will not only vote for you, but will do what I can to keep
down opposition, and perhaps, I may exert some little influence in that
way.'
"'If I don't,' said I. "I wish I may be shot; and to convince you
that I am in earnest in what I say I will come back this way in a week
or ten days, and if you will get up a gathering of the people, I will
make a speech to them. Get up a barbeque, and I will pay for it.'
"'No Colonel, we are not rich people in this section, but we have
plenty of provisions to contribute for a barbeque, and some to spare for
those who have none.. The push of crops will be over in a few days, and
we can then afford a day for a barbeque. This is Thursday; I will see
to getting up on Saturday week. Come to my house on Friday, and we will
go together, and I promise you a very respectable crowd to see and hear
you.'
"'Well, I will be here. But one thing more before I say good-by. I must know your name.'
"'My name is Bunce.'
"'Not Horatio Bunce?'
"'Yes.'
"'Well, Mr. Bunce, I never saw you before though you say you have
seen me, but I know you very well. I am glad I have met you, and very
proud that I may hope to have you for my friend.'
"It was one of the luckiest hits of my life that I met him. He
mingled but little with the public, but was widely known for a heart
brimful and running over with kindness and benevolence, which showed
themselves not only in words but in acts. He was the oracle of the
whole country around him, and his fame had extended far beyond the
circle of his immediate acquaintance. Though I had never met him before,
I had heard much of him, and but for this meeting it is very likely I
should have had opposition, and had been beaten. One thing is very
certain, no man could now stand up in that district under such a vote.
"At the appointed time I was at his house, having told our
conversation to every crowd I had met, and to every man I stayed all
night with, and I found that it gave the people an interest and a
confidence in me stronger than I had ever seen manifested before.
"Though I was considerably fatigued when I reached his house, and,
under ordinary circumstances, should have gone early to bed, I kept up
until midnight, talking about the principles and affairs of government
and got more real, true knowledge of them than I had got all my life
before.
"I have known and seen much of him since, for I respect him --- no,
that is not the word -- I reverence and love him more than any living
man, and I go to see him two or three times a year; and I will tell you
sir, if everyone who professes to be a Christian, lived and acted and
enjoyed it as he does, the religion of Christ would take the world by
storm.
"But to return to my story. The next morning we went to the
barbecue, and, to my surprise, found about a thousand men there. I met a
good many whom I had not known before, and they and my friend
introduced me around until I had got pretty well acquainted---at least,
they all knew me.
"In due time notice was given that I would speak to them. They
gathered up around a stand that had been erected. I opened my speech by
saying: "Fellow-citizens --- I present myself before you today feeling
like a new man. My eyes have lately been opened to truths which
ignorance or prejudice, or both, had heretofore hidden from my view. I
feel that I can today offer you the ability to render you more valuable
service than I have ever been able to render before. I am here today
more for the purpose of acknowledging my error than to seek your votes.
That I should make this acknowledgement is due to myself as well as to
you. Whether you will vote for me is a matter for your consideration
only.'
"I went on to tell them about the fire and my vote for the
appropriation and then told them why I was satisfied it was wrong. I
closed by saying:
"And now, fellow-citizens, it remains only for me to tell you that
the most of the speech you have listened to with so much interest was
simply a repetition of the arguments by which your neighbor, Mr. Bunce,
convinced me of my error.
"'It is the best speech I ever made in my life, but he is entitled
to the credit for it. And now I hope he is satisfied with his convert
and that he will get up here and tell you so.'
"He came upon the stand and said:
"'Fellow-citizens --- It affords me great pleasure to comply with
the request of Colonel Crockett. I have always considered him a
thoroughly honest man, and I am satisfied that he will faithfully
perform all that he has promised you today.'
"He went down, and there went up from that crowd such a shout for Davy Crockett as his name never called forth before.
"I am not much given to tears, but I was taken with a choking then
and felt some big drops rolling down my cheeks. And I tell you now that
the rememberance of those few words spoken by such a man, and the
honest, hearty shout they produced, is worth more to me than all the
reputation I have ever made, or shall ever make, as a member of
Congress.
"Now, sir," conluded Crockett, "you know why I made that speech yesterday.
"There is one thing now to which I will call your attention. You
remember that I proposed to give a week's pay. There are in that House
many verywealthy men-- men who think nothing of spending a week's pay,
or a dozen of them, for a dinner or a wine party when they have
something to accomplish by it. Some of those same men made beautiful
speeches upon the great debt of gratitude which the country owed the
deceased -- a debt which could not be paid by money --- and the
insignificant and worthlessness of money, particularly so insignificant a
sum as $10,000, when weighed against the honor of the nation. Yet not
one of them reponded to my proposition. Money with them is nothing but
trash when it is to come out of the people. But it is the one great
thing for which most of them are striving, and many of them sacrifice
honor, intergrity, and justice to obtain it."
Davey Crockett on spending Govt money
NOT YOURS TO GIVE
From The Life of Colonel David Crockett, compiled by Edward S. Ellis
(Philadelphia: Porter & Coates, 1884)
David Crockett
Member of Congress 1827-31, 1832-35
One day in the House of Representatives, a bill was taken up
appropriatingmoney for the benefit of a widow of a distinguished naval
officer. Several beautiful speeches had been made in it's support. The
Speaker was just about to put the question when Crockett arose:
"Mr. Speaker-- I have as much respect for the memory of the
deceased, and as much sympathy for the suffering of the living, if
suffering there be, as any man in this House, but we must not permit our
respect for the dead or our sympathy for a part of the living to lead
us into an act of injustice to the balance of the living. I will not go
into an argument to prove that Congress has no power to appropriate this
money as an act of charity. Every member upon this floor knows it. We
have the right, as individuals, to give away as much of our own money as
we please in charity; but as members of Congress we have no right so to
appropriate a dollar of the public money. Some eloquent appeals have
been made to us upon the ground that it is debt due the deceased. Mr.
Speaker, the deceased lived long after the close of the war; he was in
office to the day of his death, and I have never heard that the
government was in arrears to him. Every man in this House knows it is
not a debt. We cannot, without the grossest corruption, appropriate
this money as the payment of a debt. We have not the semblence of
authority to appropriate it as a charity. Mr. Speaker, I have said we
have the right to give as much money of our own as we please. I am the
poorest man on this floor. I cannot vote for this bill, but I will give
one week's pay to the object, and if every memeber of Congress will do
the same, it will amount to more than the bill asks."
He took his seat. Nobody replied. The bill was put upon its
passage, and, instead of passing unanimously, as was generally supposed,
and as, no doubt it would, but for that speech, it received but few
votes, and, of course, was lost.
Later, when asked by a friend why he had opposed the appropriation, Crockett gave this explanation:
"Several years ago I was one evening standing on the steps of the
Capitol with some other members of Congress, when our attention was
attracted by a great light over in Georgetown. It was evidently a large
fire. We jumped into a hack and drove over as fast as we could. In spite
of all that could be done, many houses were burned and many families
made homeless, and besides, some of them had lost all but the clothes
they had on. The weather was very cold, and when I saw so many women
and children suffering, I felt that something ought to be done for them.
The next morning a bill was introduced appropriating $20,000 for their
relief. We put aside all other business and rushed it through as soon
as it could be done.
"The next summer, when it began to be time to think about the
election, I concluded I would take a scout around among the boys of my
district. I had no opposition there, but, as the election was some time
off, I did not know what might turn up. When riding one day in a part
of my district in which I was more of stranger than any other, I saw a
man in a field plowing and coming toward the road. I gauged my gait so
that we should meet as he came to the fence. As he came up, I spoke to
the man. He replied politely, but, as I thought, rather coldly.
"I began: "Well, friend, I am one of those unfortunate beings called candidates, and----'
"Yes, I know you you are Colonel Crockett. I have seen you once before,
and voted for you the last time you were elected. I suppose you are
out electioneering now, but you had better not waste your time or mine. I
shall not vote for you again.'
"This was a sockdolager....I begged him to tell me what was the matter.
"Well, Colonel, it is hardly worth-while to waste time or words upon
it. I do not see how it can be mended, but you gave a vote last winter
which shows that either you have not capacity to understand the
Constitution, or that you are wanting in honesty and firmness to be
guided by it. In either case you are not the man to represent me. But I
beg your pardon for expressing it in that way. I did not intend to
avail myself of the privilege of the constituent to speak plainly to a
candidate for the purpose of insulting or wounding you. I intended by
it only to say that your understanding of the Constitution is very
different from mine; and I will say to you what, but for rudeness, I
should not have said, that I believe you to be honest.... But an
understanding of the Constitution different from mine I cannot overlook,
because the Constitution, to be worth anything, must be held sacred,
and rigidly observed in all its provisions. The man who wields power
and misinterprets it is the more dangerous the more honest he is.'
"'I admit the truth of all you say, but there must be some mistake
about it, For I do not remember that I gave any vote last winter upon
any constitutional question.'
"'No, Colonel, there's no mistake. Though I live here in the back
woods and seldom go from home, I take the papers from Washington and
read very carefully all the proceedings in Congress. My papers say last
winter you voted for a bill to appropriate $20,000 to some suffers by
fire in Georgetown. Is that true?'
"'Well, my friend, I may as well own up. You have got me there. But
certainly nobody will complain that a great and rich country like ours
should give the insignificant sum of $20,000 to relieve it's suffering
women and children, particularly with a full and overflowing Treasury,
and I am sure, if you had been there, you would have done just as I
did.'
"'It is not the amount, Colonel, that I complain of; it is the
principle. In the first place, the government ought to have in the
Treasury no more than enough for its legitimate purposes. But that has
nothing to do with the question. The power of collecting and disbursing
money at pleasure is the most dangerous power that can be intrusted to
man, particularly under our system of collecting revenue by tariff,
which reaches every man in the country, no matter how poor he may be,
and the poorer he is the more he pays in proportion to his means. What
is worse, it presses upon him without his knowledge where the weight
centers, for there is not a man in the United States who can ever guess
how much he pays to the government. So you see, that while you are
contributing to relieve one, you are drawing it from thousands who are
even worse off than he. If you had the right to give anything, the
amount was simply a matter of discretion with you, and you had as much
right to give $20,000,000 as $20,000. If you have the right to give to
one, you have the right to give to all; and, as the Constitution neither
defines charity nor stipulates the amount, you are at liberty to give
to anything and everything which you may believe, or profess to believe,
is a charity, and to any amount you may think proper. You will very
easily perceive what a wide door this would open for fraud and
corruption and favortism, on the one hand, and for robbing the people on
the other. No, Colonel, Congress has no right to give charity.
Individual members may give as much of their own money as they please,
but they have no right to touch a dollar of the public money for that
purpose.If twice as many houses had been burned in this county as in
Georgetown, neither you nor any other member of Congress would have
thought of appropriating a dollar for our relief.
There are about two hundred and forty members of Congress. If they
had shown their sympathy for the suffers by contributing each one week's
pay, it would have made over $13,000. There are plenty of men in and
around Washington who could have given $20,000 without depriving
themselves of even a luxury of life.. The congressmen chose to keep
their own money, which, if reports be true, some of them spend not very
creditable; and the people about Washington, no doubt, applauded you for
relieving them from the necessity of giving by giving what was not
yours to give. The people have delegated to Congress, by the
Constitution, the power to do certain things. To do these, it is
authorized to collect and pay moneys, and for nothing else. Everything
beyond this is usurpation, and a violation of the Constitution.
"'So you see, Colonel, you have violated the Constitution in what I
consider a vital point. It is a precedent fraught with danger to the
country, for when Congress once begins to stretch it's power beyond the
limits of the Constitution, there is no limit to it, and no security for
the people. I have no doubt you acted honestly, but that does not make
it any better, except as far as you are personally concerned, and you
see that I cannot vote for you...'
"I tell you I felt streaked. I saw if I should have oppostion, and
this man should go talking, he would set others to talking, and in that
district I was a gone fawn-skin. I could not answer him, for the fact
is, I was so fully convinced that he was right, I did not want to. But I
must satisfy him, and I said to him:
"Well, my friend, you hit the nail upon the head, when you said I
had not sense enough to understand the Constitution. I intended to be
guided by it, and thought I had studied it fully, I have heard many
speeches in congress about the powers of the Congress, but what you have
said here at your plow has got more hard, sound sense in it than all
the fine speeches I ever heard. If I had ever taken the view of it that
you have, I would have put my head into the fire before I would have
given that vote; and if you will forgive me and vote for me again, if I
ever vote for another unconstitutional law I wish I may be shot.'
"He laughingly replied: "Yes Colonel, you have sworn to that once
before, but I will trust you again upon one condition. You say that you
are convinced that your vote was wrong. Your acknowledgment of it will
do more good than beating you for it. If, as you go around the distict,
you will tell people about this vote, and that you are satisfied it was
wrong, I will not only vote for you, but will do what I can to keep
down opposition, and perhaps, I may exert some little influence in that
way.'
"'If I don't,' said I. "I wish I may be shot; and to convince you
that I am in earnest in what I say I will come back this way in a week
or ten days, and if you will get up a gathering of the people, I will
make a speech to them. Get up a barbeque, and I will pay for it.'
"'No Colonel, we are not rich people in this section, but we have
plenty of provisions to contribute for a barbeque, and some to spare for
those who have none.. The push of crops will be over in a few days, and
we can then afford a day for a barbeque. This is Thursday; I will see
to getting up on Saturday week. Come to my house on Friday, and we will
go together, and I promise you a very respectable crowd to see and hear
you.'
"'Well, I will be here. But one thing more before I say good-by. I must know your name.'
"'My name is Bunce.'
"'Not Horatio Bunce?'
"'Yes.'
"'Well, Mr. Bunce, I never saw you before though you say you have
seen me, but I know you very well. I am glad I have met you, and very
proud that I may hope to have you for my friend.'
"It was one of the luckiest hits of my life that I met him. He
mingled but little with the public, but was widely known for a heart
brimful and running over with kindness and benevolence, which showed
themselves not only in words but in acts. He was the oracle of the
whole country around him, and his fame had extended far beyond the
circle of his immediate acquaintance. Though I had never met him before,
I had heard much of him, and but for this meeting it is very likely I
should have had opposition, and had been beaten. One thing is very
certain, no man could now stand up in that district under such a vote.
"At the appointed time I was at his house, having told our
conversation to every crowd I had met, and to every man I stayed all
night with, and I found that it gave the people an interest and a
confidence in me stronger than I had ever seen manifested before.
"Though I was considerably fatigued when I reached his house, and,
under ordinary circumstances, should have gone early to bed, I kept up
until midnight, talking about the principles and affairs of government
and got more real, true knowledge of them than I had got all my life
before.
"I have known and seen much of him since, for I respect him --- no,
that is not the word -- I reverence and love him more than any living
man, and I go to see him two or three times a year; and I will tell you
sir, if everyone who professes to be a Christian, lived and acted and
enjoyed it as he does, the religion of Christ would take the world by
storm.
"But to return to my story. The next morning we went to the
barbecue, and, to my surprise, found about a thousand men there. I met a
good many whom I had not known before, and they and my friend
introduced me around until I had got pretty well acquainted---at least,
they all knew me.
"In due time notice was given that I would speak to them. They
gathered up around a stand that had been erected. I opened my speech by
saying: "Fellow-citizens --- I present myself before you today feeling
like a new man. My eyes have lately been opened to truths which
ignorance or prejudice, or both, had heretofore hidden from my view. I
feel that I can today offer you the ability to render you more valuable
service than I have ever been able to render before. I am here today
more for the purpose of acknowledging my error than to seek your votes.
That I should make this acknowledgement is due to myself as well as to
you. Whether you will vote for me is a matter for your consideration
only.'
"I went on to tell them about the fire and my vote for the
appropriation and then told them why I was satisfied it was wrong. I
closed by saying:
"And now, fellow-citizens, it remains only for me to tell you that
the most of the speech you have listened to with so much interest was
simply a repetition of the arguments by which your neighbor, Mr. Bunce,
convinced me of my error.
"'It is the best speech I ever made in my life, but he is entitled
to the credit for it. And now I hope he is satisfied with his convert
and that he will get up here and tell you so.'
"He came upon the stand and said:
"'Fellow-citizens --- It affords me great pleasure to comply with
the request of Colonel Crockett. I have always considered him a
thoroughly honest man, and I am satisfied that he will faithfully
perform all that he has promised you today.'
"He went down, and there went up from that crowd such a shout for Davy Crockett as his name never called forth before.
"I am not much given to tears, but I was taken with a choking then
and felt some big drops rolling down my cheeks. And I tell you now that
the rememberance of those few words spoken by such a man, and the
honest, hearty shout they produced, is worth more to me than all the
reputation I have ever made, or shall ever make, as a member of
Congress.
"Now, sir," conluded Crockett, "you know why I made that speech yesterday.
"There is one thing now to which I will call your attention. You
remember that I proposed to give a week's pay. There are in that House
many verywealthy men-- men who think nothing of spending a week's pay,
or a dozen of them, for a dinner or a wine party when they have
something to accomplish by it. Some of those same men made beautiful
speeches upon the great debt of gratitude which the country owed the
deceased -- a debt which could not be paid by money --- and the
insignificant and worthlessness of money, particularly so insignificant a
sum as $10,000, when weighed against the honor of the nation. Yet not
one of them reponded to my proposition. Money with them is nothing but
trash when it is to come out of the people. But it is the one great
thing for which most of them are striving, and many of them sacrifice
honor, intergrity, and justice to obtain it."
Sunday, June 01, 2014
Friday, May 30, 2014
(65 unread) - jdr1228 - Yahoo Mail
(65 unread) - jdr1228 - Yahoo Mail: Kent Rose
Today at 11:11 AM
To
Joe Rose
CR5 can pump @ JCAMP is pumping:
1bbl/3.33min = 432.432432bbl/day
@90#
This pump has been in service for years so is probably significantly less efficient than a new one.
Today at 11:11 AM
To
Joe Rose
CR5 can pump @ JCAMP is pumping:
1bbl/3.33min = 432.432432bbl/day
@90#
This pump has been in service for years so is probably significantly less efficient than a new one.
Thursday, May 29, 2014
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
The 50s and Beyond Workout: EXERCISE
The 50s and Beyond Workout: Men's Health.com
SPLIT YOUR WORKOUT LIKE THIS
Flexibility: 20 minutes
Strength: 20 minutes
Cardio: 20 minutes
FLEXIBILITY
Foam rolling: 10 minutes
Kneeling hip flexor stretches: 10
Lateral squats: 10
Wall hamstring stretch: 10
Doorway pec stretches: 10
Bridges: three 10-second holds
Bosu-ball drills: progress to one leg
STRENGTH
Pushups: 3 sets of 10 to 20
Split squats: 3 sets of 12; add dumbbells when you master the form
Lunges: 3 sets of 12
Front pulldowns: 3 sets of 12
CORE
Planks: 3 reps; hold for 30 to 60 seconds
Side planks: 3 reps; hold for 10 seconds on each side
CARDIO
Alternate running, rowing, and bicycling intervals. Start with a
5-minute warmup; then do five 60-second sprints, with 2 minutes rest.
Mix in steady-state days during which you just bicycle, row, or run for
20 minutes at a pace slower than 70 percent of your maximum heart rate.
SPLIT YOUR WORKOUT LIKE THIS
Flexibility: 20 minutes
Strength: 20 minutes
Cardio: 20 minutes
FLEXIBILITY
Foam rolling: 10 minutes
Kneeling hip flexor stretches: 10
Lateral squats: 10
Wall hamstring stretch: 10
Doorway pec stretches: 10
Bridges: three 10-second holds
Bosu-ball drills: progress to one leg
STRENGTH
Pushups: 3 sets of 10 to 20
Split squats: 3 sets of 12; add dumbbells when you master the form
Lunges: 3 sets of 12
Front pulldowns: 3 sets of 12
CORE
Planks: 3 reps; hold for 30 to 60 seconds
Side planks: 3 reps; hold for 10 seconds on each side
CARDIO
Alternate running, rowing, and bicycling intervals. Start with a
5-minute warmup; then do five 60-second sprints, with 2 minutes rest.
Mix in steady-state days during which you just bicycle, row, or run for
20 minutes at a pace slower than 70 percent of your maximum heart rate.
Monday, May 26, 2014
Sunday, May 25, 2014
Sunday, May 18, 2014
Saturday, May 17, 2014
The Top 40: Comment on Dear Class of 2014: Thanks for Not Disinviting Me
The Top 40: Comment on Dear Class of 2014: Thanks for Not Disinviting Me:
I was not born for comfort,
I was not born to be a bore.
I was born for reasons still unknown,
Perhaps to be unique, to seek and soar.
I was not born for comfort,
I was not born to be a bore.
I was born for reasons still unknown,
Perhaps to be unique, to seek and soar.
Friday, May 16, 2014
The Carbon Dating Game
The Carbon Dating Game: Here's how tree-ring dating works: A core-drill is used to get a small portion of the width of a tree, then the rings of the tree are counted. Each ring is supposed to count as a year, so if they count 100 rings, then the tree is supposed to be 100 years old.
This, however, ASSUMES the rings are "annual." That has never been proven. In fact, many trees throughout the world have been demonstrated to produce more than one ring per year.
(See: Dr. Gerald E. Aardsma, "Tree-Rings Dating and Multiple Growth Ring Per Year," Creation Research Journal [CRSQ], Vol. 29, No. 4, March, 1993)
This, however, ASSUMES the rings are "annual." That has never been proven. In fact, many trees throughout the world have been demonstrated to produce more than one ring per year.
(See: Dr. Gerald E. Aardsma, "Tree-Rings Dating and Multiple Growth Ring Per Year," Creation Research Journal [CRSQ], Vol. 29, No. 4, March, 1993)
Thursday, May 15, 2014
The Top 40: Comment on Islam's War on Women Rolls On
The Top 40: Comment on Islam's War on Women Rolls On
Churchill
votaries! Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man
as hydrophobia in a dog, there is this fearful fatalistic apathy. The
effects are apparent in many countries. Improvident habits, slovenly
systems of agriculture, sluggish methods of commerce, and insecurity of
property exist wherever the followers of the Prophet rule or live. A
degraded sensualism deprives this life of its grace and refinement; the
next of its dignity and sanctity. The fact that in Mohammedan law every
woman must belong to some man as his absolute property, either as a
child, a wife, or a concubine, must delay the final extinction of
slavery until the faith of Islam has ceased to be a great power among
men. Individual Moslems may show splendid qualities - but the influence
of the religion paralyses the social development of those who follow it.
No stronger retrograde force exists in the world. Far from being
moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant and proselytizing faith. It has
already spread throughout Central Africa, raising fearless warriors at
every step; and were it not that Christianity is sheltered in the strong
arms of science, the science against which it had vainly struggled, the
civilisation of modern Europe might fall, as fell the civilisation of
ancient Rome.”
Sir Winston Churchill, from The River War, first edition, Vol. II, pages 248-50 (London: Longmans, Green & Co., 1899).
Churchill
Comments: Islam's War on Women Rolls On
“How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on itsvotaries! Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man
as hydrophobia in a dog, there is this fearful fatalistic apathy. The
effects are apparent in many countries. Improvident habits, slovenly
systems of agriculture, sluggish methods of commerce, and insecurity of
property exist wherever the followers of the Prophet rule or live. A
degraded sensualism deprives this life of its grace and refinement; the
next of its dignity and sanctity. The fact that in Mohammedan law every
woman must belong to some man as his absolute property, either as a
child, a wife, or a concubine, must delay the final extinction of
slavery until the faith of Islam has ceased to be a great power among
men. Individual Moslems may show splendid qualities - but the influence
of the religion paralyses the social development of those who follow it.
No stronger retrograde force exists in the world. Far from being
moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant and proselytizing faith. It has
already spread throughout Central Africa, raising fearless warriors at
every step; and were it not that Christianity is sheltered in the strong
arms of science, the science against which it had vainly struggled, the
civilisation of modern Europe might fall, as fell the civilisation of
ancient Rome.”
Sir Winston Churchill, from The River War, first edition, Vol. II, pages 248-50 (London: Longmans, Green & Co., 1899).
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
Stop Being Black � Taxicab Depressions
Stop Being Black � Taxicab Depressions
Another night I was driving Dante home again, talking politics and
current events, and somehow race got injected into the discussion,
though I don’t recall the context. Dante said to me, “What are you,
man?”
I wasn’t sure what he meant, and I said, “A taxi driver?”
“No, man… what are you?”
I still wasn’t following him. “A conservative?”
“No, man, what ARE you?”
I thought for a moment and I said, “An American? A father? A husband?
A taxpayer? An artist?” Dante was shaking his head. “I dunno what you
are asking. What are you?”
Dante said, “I’m a black man.”
I was a little taken aback… Dante seemed truly surprised that I
didn’t self-identify by race. I said, “So fucking what? We are both men…
we are both Americans… why would you lock yourself in a prison of skin?
Why do you view the world through the prism of skin color? Why would
you let something that superficial stand in the way of making a better
life for you and your babies? You talk like you have some physical
disability, like you were born without legs or something. Black men have
risen to the top of every field in America… why not you? Does your
black skin somehow prevent you from being Head Chef, or even owning your
own restaurant, if you work for it? Tell me you don’t really believe
that bullshit, Dante…”
Dante just said something like, “I don’t know, man…” but he seemed
very thoughtful as he got out of the car. I don’t think a white man had
ever spoken to him like that before. I regret that I haven’t seen Dante
since… I hope he landed a better job, and that’s why I don’t see him
anymore.
After he got out of the car, I asked myself, Why don’t you self-identify as a white man?
And the response came to me almost instantaneously: Because I wasn’t raised that way.
Racism is a learned behavior.
Another night I was driving Dante home again, talking politics and
current events, and somehow race got injected into the discussion,
though I don’t recall the context. Dante said to me, “What are you,
man?”
I wasn’t sure what he meant, and I said, “A taxi driver?”
“No, man… what are you?”
I still wasn’t following him. “A conservative?”
“No, man, what ARE you?”
I thought for a moment and I said, “An American? A father? A husband?
A taxpayer? An artist?” Dante was shaking his head. “I dunno what you
are asking. What are you?”
Dante said, “I’m a black man.”
I was a little taken aback… Dante seemed truly surprised that I
didn’t self-identify by race. I said, “So fucking what? We are both men…
we are both Americans… why would you lock yourself in a prison of skin?
Why do you view the world through the prism of skin color? Why would
you let something that superficial stand in the way of making a better
life for you and your babies? You talk like you have some physical
disability, like you were born without legs or something. Black men have
risen to the top of every field in America… why not you? Does your
black skin somehow prevent you from being Head Chef, or even owning your
own restaurant, if you work for it? Tell me you don’t really believe
that bullshit, Dante…”
Dante just said something like, “I don’t know, man…” but he seemed
very thoughtful as he got out of the car. I don’t think a white man had
ever spoken to him like that before. I regret that I haven’t seen Dante
since… I hope he landed a better job, and that’s why I don’t see him
anymore.
After he got out of the car, I asked myself, Why don’t you self-identify as a white man?
And the response came to me almost instantaneously: Because I wasn’t raised that way.
Racism is a learned behavior.
What Good Shall I Do This Day? | The Art of Manliness
What Good Shall I Do This Day? | The Art of Manliness: It’s the 1970s. A 30-something man makes his way across the Golden Gate Bridge. He’s passed by pedestrians and cyclists, and steps around tourists taking pictures of Alcatraz, Angel Island, and the channel of water below that runs between San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean. He gazes up at the reddish-orange towers soaring above, and then climbs over the bridge’s four-foot safety railing. He steps out onto a 32-inch wide beam known as “the chord,” pauses, takes one last long look out at the bay, and then jumps. His body plummets 220 feet and violently hits the water at 75 mph. The impact breaks his ribs, snaps his vertebrae, and pulverizes his internal organs and brain. The Coast Guard soon arrives to recover his limp, lifeless body.
When the medical examiner later located and searched the jumper’s sparse apartment, he found a note the man had written and left on his bureau. It read:
“I’m going to walk to the bridge. If one person smiles at me on the way, I will not jump.”
When the medical examiner later located and searched the jumper’s sparse apartment, he found a note the man had written and left on his bureau. It read:
“I’m going to walk to the bridge. If one person smiles at me on the way, I will not jump.”
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
70 Hip Surgeons and Specialists to Know
70 Hip Surgeons and Specialists to Know: William Long, MD (Dorr Arthritis Institute, Los Angeles). Dr. Long is a trauma and total joint reconstruction surgeon at the Dorr Arthritis Institute at Good Samaritan Hospital. He is currently a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the California Orthopaedic Association. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Long is completing research on topics such as metal-on-metal hip replacement, hip replacement in young patients and computer-assisted knee replacement. He earned his medical degree from the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and completed his residency at the former King/Drew Medical Center in Los Angeles. Dr. Long's additional training includes a fellowship in arthritis and joint replacement with the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles and the USC Center for Arthritis and Joint Implant Surgery at University Hospital.
70 Hip Surgeons and Specialists to Know
70 Hip Surgeons and Specialists to Know: Joel Matta, MD (Saint John's Health Center, Santa Monica, Calif.). Dr. Matta is founder and director of the Hip & Pelvis Institute at Saint John's Health Center. He has previously served as founder and director of the Anterior Total Hip Arthroplasty Collaborative and director of The Emile Letournel Institute in Santa Monica. Dr. Matta is a member of several professional organizations, including The Hip Society. During his career, Dr. Matta has also been involved in research related to hip surgery and replacement. His most recently published articles are on topics such as acetabulum fractures in older patients, the simultaneous bilateral supine anterior approach to total hip arthroplasty and the table-skeletal fixation as an adjunct to pelvic ring reduction. Dr. Matta has designed orthopedic instrumentation and implants, such as the Matta Pelvic System for pelvic and acetabular plating. Dr. Matta earned his medical degree from the Oregon Health & Science University in Portland.
Sunday, May 11, 2014
Saturday, May 10, 2014
Confessions of a Public Defender | American Renaissance
Confessions of a Public Defender | American Renaissance: However, my experience has also taught me that blacks are different by almost any measure to all other people. They cannot reason as well. They cannot communicate as well. They cannot control their impulses as well. They are a threat to all who cross their paths, black and non-black alike.
I do not know the solution to this problem. I do know that it is wrong to deceive the public. Whatever solutions we seek should be based on the truth rather than what we would prefer was the truth. As for myself, I will continue do my duty to protect the rights of all who need me.
Prejudice?
I do not know the solution to this problem. I do know that it is wrong to deceive the public. Whatever solutions we seek should be based on the truth rather than what we would prefer was the truth. As for myself, I will continue do my duty to protect the rights of all who need me.
Prejudice?
Friday, May 09, 2014
The Civil War . The War . Historical Documents . Sullivan Ballou Letter | PBS
The Civil War . The War . Historical Documents . Sullivan Ballou Letter | PBS
My very dear Sarah:
The indications are very strong that we shall move in
a few days—perhaps tomorrow. Lest I should not
be able to write again, I feel impelled to write a few
lines that may fall under your eye when I shall be no
more . . .
I have no misgivings about, or lack of confidence in
the cause in which I am engaged, and my courage does
not halt or falter. I know how strongly American Civilization
now leans on the triumph of the Government and how great
a debt we owe to those who went before us through the
blood and sufferings of the Revolution. And I am willing—perfectly
willing—to lay down all my joys in this life,
to help maintain this Government, and to pay that debt
. . .
Sarah my love for you is deathless, it seems to bind
me with mighty cables that nothing but Omnipotence could
break; and yet my love of Country comes over me like
a strong wind and bears me unresistibly on with all
these chains to the battle field.
The memories of the blissful moments I have spent
with you come creeping over me, and I feel most gratified
to God and to you that I have enjoyed them for so long.
And hard it is for me to give them up and burn to ashes
the hopes of future years, when, God willing, we might
still have lived and loved together, and seen our sons
grown up to honorable manhood, around us. I have, I
know, but few and small claims upon Divine Providence,
but something whispers to me—perhaps it is the
wafted prayer of my little Edgar, that I shall return
to my loved ones unharmed. If I do not my dear Sarah,
never forget how much I love you, and when my last breath
escapes me on the battle field, it will whisper your
name. Forgive my many faults and the many pains I have
caused you. How thoughtless and foolish I have often
times been! How gladly would I wash out with my tears
every little spot upon your happiness . . .
But, O Sarah! If the dead can come back to this
earth and flit unseen around those they loved, I shall
always be near you; in the gladdest days and in the
darkest nights . . . always, always, and if there be
a soft breeze upon your cheek, it shall be my breath,
as the cool air fans your throbbing temple, it shall
be my spirit passing by. Sarah do not mourn me dead;
think I am gone and wait for thee, for we shall meet
again . . .
Sullivan Ballou was killed a week later at the first
Battle of Bull Run, July 21, 1861.
Born March 28, 1829 in Smithfield, R.I., Ballou was
educated at Phillips Academy in Andover, Mass.; Brown
University in Providence, R.I. and the National Law
School in Ballston, N.Y. He was admitted to the Rhode
Island Bar in 1853.
Ballou devoted his brief life to public service. He
was elected in 1854 as clerk of the Rhode Island House
of Representatives, later serving as its speaker.
He married Sarah Hart Shumway on October 15, 1855, and
the following year saw the birth of their first child,
Edgar. A second son, William, was born in 1859.
Ballou immediately entered the military in 1861 after
the war broke out. He became judge advocate of the Rhode
Island militia and was 32 at the time of his death at
the first Battle of Bull Run on July 21, 1861.
When he died, his wife was 24. She later moved to New
Jersey to live out her life with her son, William, and
never re-married. She died at age 80 in 1917.
Sullivan and Sarah Ballou are buried next to each other
at Swan Point Cemetery in Providence, RI. There are
no known living descendants.
Ironically, Sullivan Ballou’s letter was never
mailed. Although Sarah would receive other, decidedly
more upbeat letters, dated after the now-famous letter
from the battlefield, the letter in question would be
found among Sullivan Ballou’s effects when Gov.
William Sprague of Rhode Island traveled to Virginia
to retrieve the remains of his state’s sons who
had fallen in battle.
My very dear Sarah:
The indications are very strong that we shall move in
a few days—perhaps tomorrow. Lest I should not
be able to write again, I feel impelled to write a few
lines that may fall under your eye when I shall be no
more . . .
I have no misgivings about, or lack of confidence in
the cause in which I am engaged, and my courage does
not halt or falter. I know how strongly American Civilization
now leans on the triumph of the Government and how great
a debt we owe to those who went before us through the
blood and sufferings of the Revolution. And I am willing—perfectly
willing—to lay down all my joys in this life,
to help maintain this Government, and to pay that debt
. . .
Sarah my love for you is deathless, it seems to bind
me with mighty cables that nothing but Omnipotence could
break; and yet my love of Country comes over me like
a strong wind and bears me unresistibly on with all
these chains to the battle field.
The memories of the blissful moments I have spent
with you come creeping over me, and I feel most gratified
to God and to you that I have enjoyed them for so long.
And hard it is for me to give them up and burn to ashes
the hopes of future years, when, God willing, we might
still have lived and loved together, and seen our sons
grown up to honorable manhood, around us. I have, I
know, but few and small claims upon Divine Providence,
but something whispers to me—perhaps it is the
wafted prayer of my little Edgar, that I shall return
to my loved ones unharmed. If I do not my dear Sarah,
never forget how much I love you, and when my last breath
escapes me on the battle field, it will whisper your
name. Forgive my many faults and the many pains I have
caused you. How thoughtless and foolish I have often
times been! How gladly would I wash out with my tears
every little spot upon your happiness . . .
But, O Sarah! If the dead can come back to this
earth and flit unseen around those they loved, I shall
always be near you; in the gladdest days and in the
darkest nights . . . always, always, and if there be
a soft breeze upon your cheek, it shall be my breath,
as the cool air fans your throbbing temple, it shall
be my spirit passing by. Sarah do not mourn me dead;
think I am gone and wait for thee, for we shall meet
again . . .
Sullivan Ballou was killed a week later at the first
Battle of Bull Run, July 21, 1861.
Born March 28, 1829 in Smithfield, R.I., Ballou was
educated at Phillips Academy in Andover, Mass.; Brown
University in Providence, R.I. and the National Law
School in Ballston, N.Y. He was admitted to the Rhode
Island Bar in 1853.
Ballou devoted his brief life to public service. He
was elected in 1854 as clerk of the Rhode Island House
of Representatives, later serving as its speaker.
He married Sarah Hart Shumway on October 15, 1855, and
the following year saw the birth of their first child,
Edgar. A second son, William, was born in 1859.
Ballou immediately entered the military in 1861 after
the war broke out. He became judge advocate of the Rhode
Island militia and was 32 at the time of his death at
the first Battle of Bull Run on July 21, 1861.
When he died, his wife was 24. She later moved to New
Jersey to live out her life with her son, William, and
never re-married. She died at age 80 in 1917.
Sullivan and Sarah Ballou are buried next to each other
at Swan Point Cemetery in Providence, RI. There are
no known living descendants.
Ironically, Sullivan Ballou’s letter was never
mailed. Although Sarah would receive other, decidedly
more upbeat letters, dated after the now-famous letter
from the battlefield, the letter in question would be
found among Sullivan Ballou’s effects when Gov.
William Sprague of Rhode Island traveled to Virginia
to retrieve the remains of his state’s sons who
had fallen in battle.
Thursday, May 08, 2014
7 Lessons From the Donald Sterling Circus – LewRockwell.com
7 Lessons From the Donald Sterling Circus – LewRockwell.com
Before I get started, let me say at the outset that I’m
not defending Donald Sterling. He doesn’t need me or anyone else to
defend him, because he’s entitled to think and say whatever he wants to —
anywhere, anytime, and certainly in his own home. Whether he’s a saint
or a sinner is irrelevant to me.
Unfortunately for those who demand that Donald Sterling be tarred and
feathered in front of the Staples Center at high noon, it’s not likely
to happen. Dorky Adam Silver (commissioner of the NBA) jumped at the
opportunity to play the role of tough guy for the Robespierre-crazed
masses, but it was mostly for show. As an attorney, he certainly must
know that there is nothing in the NBA’s bylaws that comes close to
covering what an owner can and cannot say in his own home.
If Article 13 (the
provision that deals with termination of an owner’s franchise) of those
bylaws is what Silver is counting on to force Sterling out of the
league, he’s going to look quite foolish if The Donald pulls out all
legal stops and starts filing lawsuits en masse, which history tells us
he is wont to do.
Even if Sterling is a “racist” — a word I put in quotes because its
meaning has become so diluted as a result of shameless overuse by those
(both in and outside of the government) who continually profit by
stirring up ill will among races — there’s nothing in the termination
clause of the NBA bylaws that allows the league to force him to sell his
team because one person, or even one million people, are offended by
something he said in the privacy of his home.
Donald Sterling is no Boy Scout, to be sure, but his remarks were nothing compared to the daily rants of race hustlers like
Al Sharleton (credit Chris Plante), Jesse Jackson, Harry Reid, Joe
Biden, Jeremiah Wright, Spike Lee, and a growing number of professional
athletes.
If everyone is going to be punished for every offensive comment they
make, either in or outside of their home, we’re all in big trouble.
Back in 2001, I recall negotiating a business deal over the phone with a
doctor from Kentucky who, at one point during our discussion, casually
said to me, “Look, I don’t want you to think I’m trying to Jew you down,
but …”
First of all, I wasn’t recording him. Second, while his remark
caught me by surprise, I let it pass, said my goodbyes, and decided not
to deal with him again. No fuss … no muss … next subject. Would the
same people who are calling for Donald Sterling’s head demand that the
American Medical Association strip that Kentucky doctor of his license
to practice medicine?
While his remark was a turnoff to me, I believe he has every right to
say whatever he wants, and let the marketplace decide his fate — i.e.,
let individuals choose whether or not they want to use his medical
services, do business deals with him, or be involved with him socially.
The marketplace is the only perfect arbiter on earth.
And how about Daniel Snyder’s refusal to refrain from using the word
“Redskins” as his team’s nickname? Can the NFL’s other owners vote to
force him to sell his team if they believe his attitude is racist?
Where does it stop?
In any event, I’m not interested in opining on the merits or lack
thereof of Donald Sterling’s case. That will be up to the courts and
the race-fixated mobs who roam the country in search of the next great
“social-justice” issue. (Yes, the mobs will have a big influence on the
outcome of any such court proceedings, just as they always do in the
United States of Lawlessness.)
Personally, whenever there’s a big media blitz about some perceived
wrongdoing, I prefer to ignore the hysteria and think about what I can
learn from the situation that could be useful to me. Off the top
of my head, following are a handful of lessons that I believe are worth
gleaning from the Sterling media circus — lessons that you can use to
improve yourself and your own life.
their fundamental beliefs, no matter how misguided you may think they
are. Why? Because you will fail, and you’ll waste a lot of valuable
time in the process. It’s called opportunity cost.
Use your time to focus on your own life. The only person over whom you have total control is you. Put
your efforts into purifying your own life, and forget about the Donald
Sterlings of the world and the rabble-rousers who live for the thrill of
trying to destroy them.
7 Lessons From the Donald Sterling Circus
May 8, 2014
Before I get started, let me say at the outset that I’m
not defending Donald Sterling. He doesn’t need me or anyone else to
defend him, because he’s entitled to think and say whatever he wants to —
anywhere, anytime, and certainly in his own home. Whether he’s a saint
or a sinner is irrelevant to me.
Unfortunately for those who demand that Donald Sterling be tarred and
feathered in front of the Staples Center at high noon, it’s not likely
to happen. Dorky Adam Silver (commissioner of the NBA) jumped at the
opportunity to play the role of tough guy for the Robespierre-crazed
masses, but it was mostly for show. As an attorney, he certainly must
know that there is nothing in the NBA’s bylaws that comes close to
covering what an owner can and cannot say in his own home.
If Article 13 (the
provision that deals with termination of an owner’s franchise) of those
bylaws is what Silver is counting on to force Sterling out of the
league, he’s going to look quite foolish if The Donald pulls out all
legal stops and starts filing lawsuits en masse, which history tells us
he is wont to do.
Even if Sterling is a “racist” — a word I put in quotes because its
meaning has become so diluted as a result of shameless overuse by those
(both in and outside of the government) who continually profit by
stirring up ill will among races — there’s nothing in the termination
clause of the NBA bylaws that allows the league to force him to sell his
team because one person, or even one million people, are offended by
something he said in the privacy of his home.
Donald Sterling is no Boy Scout, to be sure, but his remarks were nothing compared to the daily rants of race hustlers like
Al Sharleton (credit Chris Plante), Jesse Jackson, Harry Reid, Joe
Biden, Jeremiah Wright, Spike Lee, and a growing number of professional
athletes.
If everyone is going to be punished for every offensive comment they
make, either in or outside of their home, we’re all in big trouble.
Back in 2001, I recall negotiating a business deal over the phone with a
doctor from Kentucky who, at one point during our discussion, casually
said to me, “Look, I don’t want you to think I’m trying to Jew you down,
but …”
First of all, I wasn’t recording him. Second, while his remark
caught me by surprise, I let it pass, said my goodbyes, and decided not
to deal with him again. No fuss … no muss … next subject. Would the
same people who are calling for Donald Sterling’s head demand that the
American Medical Association strip that Kentucky doctor of his license
to practice medicine?
While his remark was a turnoff to me, I believe he has every right to
say whatever he wants, and let the marketplace decide his fate — i.e.,
let individuals choose whether or not they want to use his medical
services, do business deals with him, or be involved with him socially.
The marketplace is the only perfect arbiter on earth.
And how about Daniel Snyder’s refusal to refrain from using the word
“Redskins” as his team’s nickname? Can the NFL’s other owners vote to
force him to sell his team if they believe his attitude is racist?
Where does it stop?
In any event, I’m not interested in opining on the merits or lack
thereof of Donald Sterling’s case. That will be up to the courts and
the race-fixated mobs who roam the country in search of the next great
“social-justice” issue. (Yes, the mobs will have a big influence on the
outcome of any such court proceedings, just as they always do in the
United States of Lawlessness.)
Personally, whenever there’s a big media blitz about some perceived
wrongdoing, I prefer to ignore the hysteria and think about what I can
learn from the situation that could be useful to me. Off the top
of my head, following are a handful of lessons that I believe are worth
gleaning from the Sterling media circus — lessons that you can use to
improve yourself and your own life.
- People say negative things behind your back all the time. If you
don’t already know that, wake up! If you do know it, don’t let it
bother you. Whenever I hear that someone has said something
unflattering about me, I opt to take the rationally selfish approach and
do my best to ignore it — especially when I know it’s patently false. I
hope, for your sake, that you do the same. - Don’t buy into the hate-speech scam. People have opinions, some of
which you may like, some of which you may not like. Best to leave all
that nonsense up to the PC Police, who achieve mental orgasms by
harassing (perceived) evil speakers. You don’t have time to get bogged
down in group protests if you’re interested in bettering your life. - “They” say that hate speech is bad, but what’s worse is the idea
that someone actually believes he has the moral authority to decide what
constitutes hate speech in the first place. Of course, if someone
hurls a remark directly at you, and you, in your sole judgment, consider
it to be “hateful,” that’s your prerogative. As an individual, you
have a right to make a determination about speech that is aimed
specifically at you. But before you get yourself all worked up over it,
remember what mom taught you about sticks and stones. - Learn to reject hypocrisy and hypocrites. In the Sterling saga, the
hypocrisy is so thick it’s stifling, as you already know if you’ve been
following the story at all. The world is full of hypocrites,
especially in politics (which is really what hate speech is all about).
Best you focus on policing yourself to make sure that you are not
guilty of hypocrisy. - Never forget that friends and sweethearts have a way of becoming
enemies. Make sure your mouth understands that. Talk is not cheap. On
the contrary, it has proven to be quite capable of destroying lives.
Think before you open your mouth. - In the same vein, be vigilant about not making The Big Mistake. We
all make little mistakes on a daily basis, but be careful about making a
mistake so big that it can threaten your very survival.In Donald
Sterling’s case, maybe he’s a terrible person — I have no idea — but I
suspect his remarks (which, while not nearly as bad as those that have
been made by some of his most vocal critics) were nothing more than the
angry rants of an old guy who was mad at his middle-school
girlfriend.This is where mom’s advice comes in handy again: If you
can’t say something nice about someone, don’t say anything at all.
There’s a reason why aphorisms like this have been around forever:
They’re true. Instead of wasting time fretting over Donald Sterling’s
remarks, concentrate on what comes out of your mouth. - The best protection against becoming Sterlingized (a form of
sterilization performed by the loud crowd) is to follow a simple rule:
Live every moment as though the whole world were watching and write
every e-mail as though the whole world were going to be reading it —
something politicians never seem to learn.
their fundamental beliefs, no matter how misguided you may think they
are. Why? Because you will fail, and you’ll waste a lot of valuable
time in the process. It’s called opportunity cost.
Use your time to focus on your own life. The only person over whom you have total control is you. Put
your efforts into purifying your own life, and forget about the Donald
Sterlings of the world and the rabble-rousers who live for the thrill of
trying to destroy them.
Wednesday, May 07, 2014
Sunday, May 04, 2014
Saturday, May 03, 2014
(126 unread) - jdr1228 - Yahoo Mail
Practical home remedies
|
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
What Happened to All the Laughter? Altucher Confidential
What Happened to All the Laughter? Altucher Confidential: Here’s what I’ve listened to this past week (I see on my Youtube history) that I thought was funny:
“Bo Burnham’s best vine videos”
“The Lonely Island – Spell it Out”
“Louis CK sums up a bad relationship perfectly”
“Lip-sync battle with Joseph Gordon Levitt, Stephen Merchant, and Jimmy Fallon”. Particularly the Stephen Merchant part.
“Marina Funny Bits” -”Ellen Degeneres Here and Now”.
“Bo Burnham’s best vine videos”
“The Lonely Island – Spell it Out”
“Louis CK sums up a bad relationship perfectly”
“Lip-sync battle with Joseph Gordon Levitt, Stephen Merchant, and Jimmy Fallon”. Particularly the Stephen Merchant part.
“Marina Funny Bits” -”Ellen Degeneres Here and Now”.
Jesus And The Dimocrat | Grouchy Old Cripple
Jesus And The Dimocrat | Grouchy Old Cripple
A Republican, in a wheelchair, entered a restaurant one
afternoon and asked the waitress for a cup of coffee. The Republican
looked across the restaurant and asked, “Is that Jesus sitting over
there?”
The waitress nodded “yes,” so the Republican requested that she give Jesus a cup of coffee, on him.
The next patron to come in was a Libertarian, with a hunched
back. He shuffled over to a booth, painfully sat down, and asked the
waitress for a cup of hot tea. He also glanced across the restaurant and
asked, “Is that Jesus, over there?”
The waitress nodded, so the Libertarian asked her to give Jesus a cup of hot tea, “My treat.”
The third patron to come into the restaurant was a Dimocrat
on crutches. He hobbled over to a booth, sat down, and hollered, “Hey
there honey! How’s about getting me a cold mug of Miller Light?” He too
looked across the restaurant and asked, “Isn’t that God’s boy over
there?”
The waitress nodded, so the Dimocrat directed her to give Jesus a cold beer.
“On my bill,” he said loudly.
As Jesus got up to leave, he passed by the Republican,
touched him, and said, “For your kindness, you are healed.” The
Republican felt the strength come back into his legs, got up, and began
to praise the Lord.
Jesus passed by the Libertarian, touched him, and said, “For your kindness, you are healed.”
The Libertarian felt his back straightening up, and he raised his hands, and he too began to praise the Lord.
Then, Jesus walked towards the Dimocrat, just smiling. The
Dimocrat jumped up and yelled, “Don’t touch me … I’m on disability.”
For Those Who Understand, No Explanation Is necessary.
For Those Who Do Not Understand, No Explanation Is Possible.
A Republican, in a wheelchair, entered a restaurant one
afternoon and asked the waitress for a cup of coffee. The Republican
looked across the restaurant and asked, “Is that Jesus sitting over
there?”
The waitress nodded “yes,” so the Republican requested that she give Jesus a cup of coffee, on him.
The next patron to come in was a Libertarian, with a hunched
back. He shuffled over to a booth, painfully sat down, and asked the
waitress for a cup of hot tea. He also glanced across the restaurant and
asked, “Is that Jesus, over there?”
The waitress nodded, so the Libertarian asked her to give Jesus a cup of hot tea, “My treat.”
The third patron to come into the restaurant was a Dimocrat
on crutches. He hobbled over to a booth, sat down, and hollered, “Hey
there honey! How’s about getting me a cold mug of Miller Light?” He too
looked across the restaurant and asked, “Isn’t that God’s boy over
there?”
The waitress nodded, so the Dimocrat directed her to give Jesus a cold beer.
“On my bill,” he said loudly.
As Jesus got up to leave, he passed by the Republican,
touched him, and said, “For your kindness, you are healed.” The
Republican felt the strength come back into his legs, got up, and began
to praise the Lord.
Jesus passed by the Libertarian, touched him, and said, “For your kindness, you are healed.”
The Libertarian felt his back straightening up, and he raised his hands, and he too began to praise the Lord.
Then, Jesus walked towards the Dimocrat, just smiling. The
Dimocrat jumped up and yelled, “Don’t touch me … I’m on disability.”
For Those Who Understand, No Explanation Is necessary.
For Those Who Do Not Understand, No Explanation Is Possible.
Mark Cuban calls Donald Sterling’s comments “abhorrent,” endorses maximum league punishment | Dallas Morning News
Mark Cuban calls Donald Sterling’s comments “abhorrent,” endorses maximum league punishment | Dallas Morning News
Here is more of what Mark Cuban had to say:
What Donald said was wrong,” Cuban said. “It was abhorrent.
There’s no place for racism in the NBA, any business I’m associated
with, and I don’t want to be associated with people who have that
position.
“But at the same time, that’s a decision I make. I think you’ve got
to be very, very careful when you start making blanket statements about
what people say and think, as opposed to what they do. It’s a very, very
slippery slope.
“Again, there’s no excuse for his positions. There’s no excuse for
what he said. There’s no excuse for anybody to support racism. There’s
no place for it in our league, but there’s a very, very, very slippery
slope.
“If it’s about racism and we’re ready to kick people out of the
league, OK? Then what about homophobia? What about somebody who doesn’t
like a particular religion. What about somebody who’s anti-semitic What
about a xenophobe?
“In this country, people are allowed to be morons.”
http://mavsblog.dallasnews.com/2014/04/mavericks-owner-mark-cuban-calls-donald-sterlings-comments-abhorrent-endorses-maximum-league-punishment.html/
Here is more of what Mark Cuban had to say:
What Donald said was wrong,” Cuban said. “It was abhorrent.
There’s no place for racism in the NBA, any business I’m associated
with, and I don’t want to be associated with people who have that
position.
“But at the same time, that’s a decision I make. I think you’ve got
to be very, very careful when you start making blanket statements about
what people say and think, as opposed to what they do. It’s a very, very
slippery slope.
“Again, there’s no excuse for his positions. There’s no excuse for
what he said. There’s no excuse for anybody to support racism. There’s
no place for it in our league, but there’s a very, very, very slippery
slope.
“If it’s about racism and we’re ready to kick people out of the
league, OK? Then what about homophobia? What about somebody who doesn’t
like a particular religion. What about somebody who’s anti-semitic What
about a xenophobe?
“In this country, people are allowed to be morons.”
http://mavsblog.dallasnews.com/2014/04/mavericks-owner-mark-cuban-calls-donald-sterlings-comments-abhorrent-endorses-maximum-league-punishment.html/
Monday, April 28, 2014
AMERICAN DIGEST Essays, News, Notes, and Quotes
AMERICAN DIGEST Essays, News, Notes, and Quotes: Stop choosing grey men who seem comfortable, but fail to change the system. The Left is brittle and a little mass resistance will go a long way. But, don't fool yourself, without active resistance there will be no change. This habit of retreating from The Left will ruin us all, you included. Putting off this fight only increases the numbers of us that must fight and the destruction from that fight
Sunday, April 27, 2014
AMERICAN DIGEST Essays, News, Notes, and Quotes
AMERICAN DIGEST Essays, News, Notes, and Quotes: “There is another class of colored people who make a business of keeping the troubles, the wrongs, and the hardships of the Negro race before the public.
Having learned that they are able to make a living out of their troubles, they have grown into the settled habit of advertising their wrongs — partly because they want sympathy and partly because it pays. Some of these people do not want the Negro to lose his grievances, because they do not want to lose their jobs.... as the disease holds out they have not only an easy means of making a living, but also an easy medium through which to make themselves prominent before the public.” - Booker T. Washington, 1911
Having learned that they are able to make a living out of their troubles, they have grown into the settled habit of advertising their wrongs — partly because they want sympathy and partly because it pays. Some of these people do not want the Negro to lose his grievances, because they do not want to lose their jobs.... as the disease holds out they have not only an easy means of making a living, but also an easy medium through which to make themselves prominent before the public.” - Booker T. Washington, 1911
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
The Pig Trap � Taxicab Depressions
The Pig Trap � Taxicab Depressions: One million seconds ago was eleven days ago.
One billion seconds ago was 1982.
One trillion seconds ago was 30,000 BC. Mankind was eating worms and the paleolithic equivalent of roadkill, the assault weapon of the day was a stone axe or a really strong pointy stick, and we had not yet domesticated the dog.
And we have NINETY TRILLION DOLLARS in bills to pay
One billion seconds ago was 1982.
One trillion seconds ago was 30,000 BC. Mankind was eating worms and the paleolithic equivalent of roadkill, the assault weapon of the day was a stone axe or a really strong pointy stick, and we had not yet domesticated the dog.
And we have NINETY TRILLION DOLLARS in bills to pay
Sunday, April 20, 2014
Regarding “The Pig Trap” � Taxicab Depressions
Regarding “The Pig Trap” � Taxicab Depressions: But as I once heard David Codrea say, “If you have ever filled out a 4473, you are already on a list.”
lists
lists
Saturday, April 19, 2014
Stewardship.pdf
John Wesley “
Do all the good you can,
By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can
”
Do all the good you can,
By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can
”
Daily Meditations with Fr. Alfonse: Luke 12:39-48 Entrusted With So Much
Daily Meditations with Fr. Alfonse: Luke 12:39-48 Entrusted With So Much: " I sometimes imagine that at the end of my life I will be handed a few lists outlining all the things I complained about; all the time I wasted; all the excuses I made, and all the things (throughout my life) I considered to be very important. I fear that moment may be a bit embarrassing - not so much for what is on my lists - but when I compare it to God’s immense love and mercy I received throughout my life."
I fear this as well. I imagine God showing me all the people I could have helped and how their lives would have been changed if I cooperated with His grace to help them or serving them by a small act of love and didn't! Or all the times I complained to Jesus about my troubles, or what I thought was important, or what I loved more than HIm and see the fullblown "bad fruits" of it. The veil will be lifted. I am terrified..
I fear this as well. I imagine God showing me all the people I could have helped and how their lives would have been changed if I cooperated with His grace to help them or serving them by a small act of love and didn't! Or all the times I complained to Jesus about my troubles, or what I thought was important, or what I loved more than HIm and see the fullblown "bad fruits" of it. The veil will be lifted. I am terrified..
Luke 12:48 But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.
Luke 12:48 But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.: Matthew 13:12
Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.
Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.
Luke 12:48 But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.
Luke 12:48 But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.: New Living Translation
But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.
But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.
Friday, April 18, 2014
Thursday, April 17, 2014
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Saturday, April 12, 2014
Friday, April 11, 2014
Wednesday, April 09, 2014
MRSA AMERICA & BEYOND™
MRSA AMERICA & BEYOND™
GARLIC
GARLIC
Garlic contains
a substance that is particularly effective in encounters with even the
hardiest bacterial strains. A young researcher at the University of
Copenhagen will soon be defending his PhD thesis on the positive
properties of the malodorous plant.
a substance that is particularly effective in encounters with even the
hardiest bacterial strains. A young researcher at the University of
Copenhagen will soon be defending his PhD thesis on the positive
properties of the malodorous plant.
Aggressive
multi-resistant infections constitute an increasing health problem all
over the world. Bacteria are developing resistance at an alarming pace,
so new pharmaceuticals that can combat this threat are in great demand.
"We
know that there is a potent chemical compound in the garlic plant that
neutralises resistant bacteria by paralysing their communication system.
My PhD thesis demonstrates that ajoene -- the substance present in
garlic -- specifically prevents the bacteria from secreting the toxin
rhamnolipid which destroys white blood cells in the body. White blood
cells are indispensable because they play a crucial role in the immune
defence system, not only warding off infection, but also killing
bacteria," explains Tim Holm Jakobsen, PhD Student at the Faculty of
Health and Medical Sciences, who will be defending his thesis on 21
February.
A tough sheath of biofilm
When
bacteria clump together in what is known as biofilm -- where they
surround themselves with a tough film of organic materials -- they
become resistant to antibiotics. Researchers have been devoting much of
their attention to Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria, which cause
infections in patients with chronic leg ulcers, for example, and in the
lungs of patients suffering from cystic fibrosis.
"Ajoene
supports and improves treatment with conventional antibiotics. We have
clearly demonstrated this on biofilm cultivated in the laboratory and in
trials involving mice. When we add antibiotics to biofilm they have
very little effect, and ajoene alone barely makes any difference. It is
only when the two are combined that something significant happens,"
explains Tim Holm Jakobsen.
Combination treatment with ajoene and antibiotics kills more than 90 per cent of the normally virulent biofilm.
From
a technical perspective, the ajoene blocks the communication system --
known as Quorum Sensing -- in the bacteria, which is used for purposes
including creating infection.
Chemists outstrip nature
A
large number of natural substances have proved extremely effective as
medicines; taxol from the yew tree is used to treat breast cancer, for
example, while artemisinin from sweet wormwood is effective against
malaria. However, to improve on the original substances from nature --
and to assure sustainable pharmaceutical production -- researchers are
working to augment natural materials through chemical synthesis.
"Garlic
contains so little ajoene that you would need to eat around 50 a day to
achieve the desired effect. This means we have to pick up the ball from
Mother Nature and run with it," says Tim Holm Jacobsen, who hopes that
the pharmaceutical industry will be quick to turn its attention to
producing of the natural substance to which the research group currently
holds the patent.
"There's a lot of money in pharmaceuticals for
treating chronic illnesses such as diabetes, but if we are to win the
race against bacteria, we need to bring new antibiotics into play.
Nature is a great starting point for developing medicines -- two-thirds
of all new pharmaceuticals are based on natural substances," concludes
Tim Holm Jakobsen.
multi-resistant infections constitute an increasing health problem all
over the world. Bacteria are developing resistance at an alarming pace,
so new pharmaceuticals that can combat this threat are in great demand.
"We
know that there is a potent chemical compound in the garlic plant that
neutralises resistant bacteria by paralysing their communication system.
My PhD thesis demonstrates that ajoene -- the substance present in
garlic -- specifically prevents the bacteria from secreting the toxin
rhamnolipid which destroys white blood cells in the body. White blood
cells are indispensable because they play a crucial role in the immune
defence system, not only warding off infection, but also killing
bacteria," explains Tim Holm Jakobsen, PhD Student at the Faculty of
Health and Medical Sciences, who will be defending his thesis on 21
February.
A tough sheath of biofilm
When
bacteria clump together in what is known as biofilm -- where they
surround themselves with a tough film of organic materials -- they
become resistant to antibiotics. Researchers have been devoting much of
their attention to Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria, which cause
infections in patients with chronic leg ulcers, for example, and in the
lungs of patients suffering from cystic fibrosis.
"Ajoene
supports and improves treatment with conventional antibiotics. We have
clearly demonstrated this on biofilm cultivated in the laboratory and in
trials involving mice. When we add antibiotics to biofilm they have
very little effect, and ajoene alone barely makes any difference. It is
only when the two are combined that something significant happens,"
explains Tim Holm Jakobsen.
Combination treatment with ajoene and antibiotics kills more than 90 per cent of the normally virulent biofilm.
From
a technical perspective, the ajoene blocks the communication system --
known as Quorum Sensing -- in the bacteria, which is used for purposes
including creating infection.
Chemists outstrip nature
A
large number of natural substances have proved extremely effective as
medicines; taxol from the yew tree is used to treat breast cancer, for
example, while artemisinin from sweet wormwood is effective against
malaria. However, to improve on the original substances from nature --
and to assure sustainable pharmaceutical production -- researchers are
working to augment natural materials through chemical synthesis.
"Garlic
contains so little ajoene that you would need to eat around 50 a day to
achieve the desired effect. This means we have to pick up the ball from
Mother Nature and run with it," says Tim Holm Jacobsen, who hopes that
the pharmaceutical industry will be quick to turn its attention to
producing of the natural substance to which the research group currently
holds the patent.
"There's a lot of money in pharmaceuticals for
treating chronic illnesses such as diabetes, but if we are to win the
race against bacteria, we need to bring new antibiotics into play.
Nature is a great starting point for developing medicines -- two-thirds
of all new pharmaceuticals are based on natural substances," concludes
Tim Holm Jakobsen.
Clostridium difficile - Google Search
Clostridium difficile - Google Search:
Clostridium difficile
Bacteria
Clostridium difficile, also known as CDF/cdf, or C. diff, is a species of Gram-positive spore-forming bacteria that is best known for causing antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Wikipedia
Scientific name: Clostridium difficile
Higher classification: Clostridium
Rank: Species
Clostridium difficile
Bacteria
Clostridium difficile, also known as CDF/cdf, or C. diff, is a species of Gram-positive spore-forming bacteria that is best known for causing antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Wikipedia
Scientific name: Clostridium difficile
Higher classification: Clostridium
Rank: Species
Monday, April 07, 2014
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