The Great A-Mexican Chocolate Bar

READ THIS story about the relocation of the Hershey factory from Reading, PA to Mexico. From the article:

"While declining to talk about the plant's operation, Hershey spokesman Kirk D. Saville did say the company appreciated the professionalism of its employees, The Patriot-News said.

"This change was difficult for all of us, but was necessary to ensure the long-term competitiveness of our company," Saville said. "

I wonder how "professional" all the unemployed workers feel now? I wonder if this change was equally "difficult" for all. I wonder if they will come out with a new jingle?

BEWARE of HR 45 - Blair Holt Firearm Licensing & Record of Sale Act of 2009

I've tried to read and absorb the legalese of HR 45 - you can too if you go (CLICK) here, or here or maybe here.

A summary:
Would make it illegal to own a firearm - any rifle with a clip or ANY pistol unless:
It is registered.
You are fingerprinted.
You supply a current Driver's License.
You supply your Social Security #.
You will submit to a physical & mental evaluation at anytime of their choosing.

Each update - change or ownership through private or public sale must be reported and costs $25 - Failure to do so you automatically lose the right to own a firearm and subject you to up to a year in jail.

There is a child provision clause on page 16 section 305 stating a child-access provision. Gun must be locked and inaccessible to any child under 18.

They would have the right to come and inspect that you are storing your gun safely away from accessibility to children and fine is punishable for up to 5 yrs. in prison.

Perhaps this snippet from the bill says it all:
"SEC. 801. INAPPLICABILITY TO GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITIES.

2 This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall not apply to any department or agency of the United States, of a State, or of a political subdivision of a State, or to any official conduct of any officer or employee of such a department or agency."

How do those who've sworn an (CLICK) oath to the U.S. Constitution square this attack on our inalienable rights with these words (from Wikipedia):

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God."

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Snopes says HR 45 "TRUE"
Prof turns in student - then...
CIVIL UNREST? WHY?

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UPDATE MAY 11, 2009 Assault Weapons Ban - Misnomer made law

A Map of WWII Europe - Something to ponder...

Please watch the video below from the classic "World at War" series produced by the BBC. Pay special attention to the map of Europe at time=3:49.



Do you notice something odd about the untouched area in the center of the black area defining Nazi territory? Given the fanatical efforts (almost 1 million men, 2,093 aircraft, 2,758 tanks) lost during Operation Barbarossa alone) by the Nazis - to take on anyone in their way - why was the country in the middle spared? Perhaps Hitler didn't want to destroy the factories making Swiss Army Knives?

I've often heard that bankers are behind wars. These claims are usually swept aside as the ramblings of conspiracy theorists. For that reason I will not consider Swiss banking as a factor in keeping the area in the center of the black map "neutral." But I can't help but wonder what blessed this precious plot of land. Are there powers in the world so ruthless that war is simply a for-profit-exercise where feeding sons and daughters into meat-grinders is a "cost of doing business?"
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Interesting article
Reuters - Swiss Banks under scrutiny
Update March 14, 2009 Swiss Banks to release info
Banks attacked in Greece
UPDATE APRIL 9, 2009 HALLIBURTON + Swiss Bank account = Bribe?
UPDATE APRIL 11, 2009 Goldman Sachs goes after critical blogger
UPDATE MAY 11, 2009 (CLICK) Bank robberies reversed

Does "Intelligent Design" trump Evolution this time?

Now and then I come across things that make me wonder how Evolution/Natural Selection can explain something like (CLICK)this story where an extinct animal is resurrected from extinction by - yes - intelligent design. In this case - by man.

"(Newser) – Scientists have used frozen skin samples from a Spanish ibex to create the first clone of an extinct species, reports the Telegraph. The ibex, a wild mountain goat native to the Pyrenees, died out in 2000. Scientists were able to extract DNA from preserved cells and implant it in the egg of a domestic goat, using a technique known as nuclear transfer."

While alive, doesn't this now-made-non-extinct (via human design) ibex present a contradiction to the process of natural selection? Now wait - it was already extinct so "out of the gene pool" - removing it from the discussion of the Theory of Evolution -or do I have this wrong? The extinct Ibex is condemned to history by natural selection - then all of the sudden we have a live one-thanks to the intelligent design of human scientists.

Please consider (CLICK) this article by Garcia regarding Darwin. The scientist/author of linked article does a fine job discussing history, facts, and typical sticking points in the ongoing discussion about how the cosmos and its inhabitants came about.

It seems to come down to science vs. religion. Let me say up front I consider myself a spiritual person, not religious - but rely on science for answers. I am not a religion-basher. But I acknowledge fair criticism toward religion regarding geo-political conflict. I prefer to differentiate spirituality and religion.

Can we remain faithful to scientific rigor while acknowledging that human needs demand adjoining rooms for both science and spirituality? Remember that simply by asking "WHY?" the asker can always get the last word. Plato wrote that the limits of science lie within the mind because first principles, or the laws we call facts, are based only upon the impressions they leave in our mind. So science still requires human interpretation, which relies on our intuition, which means it is subject to any error or bias introduced by intuition. Is it possible that science isn't the be-all end-all of everything? Can we both retain our sense of wonder and our dignity while applying our scientific toolbox?

Isn't woman's (and man's) imagination ( pure fantasyland ) the origin of all human output - including science?

Is the return from extinction of the Ibex better explained by "intelligent design" rather than evolution?
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UPDATE Feb 17, 2009 Babu G. Ranganathan
UPDATE APR 13, 2009 Another article to ponder
UPDATE VIDEO NOVEMBER 24, 2009

Here we go again-This time Ammo

As was predicted by the American public - here come the gun grabbers to take away the right to bear arms by any means possible - including infringement. Yes - now they'll take away the ammo. If eliminating access to ammunition for legal arms doesn't infringe on firearms use I don't know what does. It seems obvious that a gun is useless without ammo. But try telling that to a dictator.

Despite a landmark ruling overturning years of gun ban in Washington, D.C. they will try (CLICK)new angles of attack to eliminate the "problem" of gun ownership in America. The second amendment has nothing to do with sports - it has to do with being the last ditch effort against tyranny. Yes - it really is that simple. Two following videos discuss such matters - make sure to listen through to the second half of the second video.

But always remember as you are disarmed by the very government (see #59) set up to protect your rights outlined in the Bill of rights - that if the US government thinks someone needs shooting - there are (CLICK) lots of guns'n'ammo for that!




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UPDATE FEB 21, 2009 PCR on more attacks on Bill of Rights
FEB 26, 2009 Americans give up 2nd Amend. rights to make Mexico safer?

Pakistan Gun Market Video -Look before you leap.

Please watch this short video. It will take a lot to "control" this place - would you agree?
Perhaps when (CLICK) Americans arrive they will greet us with flowers?


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UPDATE FEB 2, 2009 (CLICK) Now look at the US "protected" by the second amendment - what a joke
UPDATE FEB 2, 2009 MAKE SURE to listen to the second half

What's Wrong with this Picture?

Independent, Republican, or Democrat - please look at these two stories and contemplate our situation.
(CLICK) For record profits at Exxon - nothing wrong with that I agree but...

(CLICK) here to see life in Detroit - can we all at least agree that there has to be some middle ground here in America?
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UPDATE Feb 26, 09 Exxon sticks it to Alaskans like they do to everybody - except themselves

Time's Up Obama - Yes Already - on Torture

Obama was elected to restore America's place as our world's beacon of Hope. Will he? I suppose it depends on what one hopes for. Let's start with torture. Torture is sick. Torture (CLICK) doesn't work. Torturers who've stained America must be brought to justice. I hope those who've chosen torture will be brought to justice by Barack Obama - immediately. Failure to act resolutely and swiftly with actions demonstrating that America is better than torture will be part of a myriad of small cuts that eventually bleed America to death.

This is easy - torture is not an American value. I don't care what the reason, circumstance ... anything - not only is torture something Americans don't do - torture is something Americans (CLICK)sacrifice their lives to prevent and stop! Did you hear that? Torture is contrary to everything American starting with the Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution:

"Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted."

Can we find precedents from American history to demonstrate our founders really meant what they said by backing it up with action? Perhaps a snippet from (CLICK)A Military Journal During the American Revolutionary War, from 1775 to 1783 by James Thacher M.D. would help show that torture is un-American (not to mention sick) from page 67:
"A number of Hessians and Waldeckers have fallen into our hands. The German officers and soldiers, by a finesse of the British, to increase their ferocity, had been led to believe that Americans are savages and barbarians, and if taken, their men would have their bodies stuck full of pieces of dry wood, and in that manner burnt to death. But they were very agreeably disappointed, and much pleased, on meeting civil and kind treatment. "

So even during the Revolutionary war there was no need to torture prisoners. But there is now? Why?

Perhaps a more recent (CLICK) reference would be helpful. In this piece from Raw Story we find:
"A few weeks ago, George Washington University Constitutional Law professor Jonathan Turley, while appearing on MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann, essentially said that the Obama administration would "own" any war crimes -- such as the reported waterboarding of 9/11 suspect Khalid Sheikh Mohammed -- if it chose to look the other way."


I've heard from Obama supporters I know personally how smart Obama is regarding law. Time to show us how smart you are Barack! Show us what a great leader you are. Show us how you will bring change we can believe in. Actions, not words, are needed to show not only Americans, but the world, that America will not stand for human rights violations.


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UPDATE Jan 28, 2009
(CLICK) Torture strengthens our "enemies'" resolve
UPDATE Jan 28, 2009 Raw Story...Holder made deal not to prosecute for torture?
UPDATE Jan 28, 2009 Cernig: Nixon's Lawyer Are We Civilized Enough to Prosecute for Torture?
UPDATE Feb 1, 2009 (CLICK) Link from reader Ian - thanks Ian
Detainees continue to rot
Ridge says torture was wrong - defends endless undefinable "War on Terror"
UPDATE MARCH 9, 2009 Thomas R. Eddlem from AntiWar.com
UPDATE MAR 16, 2009 Red Cross graphic report: Torture methods explained
UPDATE APRIL 10, 2009 Hope Abandoned - Obama prevents access to torture memos
UPDATE APRIL 16, 2009 Obama will do NOTHING
UPDATE APRIL 17, 2009 BUSH admin used Bugs to torture? SICK - Obama does NADA
UPDATE APRIL 17, 2009 W - The Torture Decider - McGovern