Greetings from Grants NM. Wow it seems like ages since I sat down to update the blog. I guess itrsquos because I drove another 455 miles today and had the most unusual event occur this evening since Irsquove been RVing. But Irsquom getting ahead of myself. Let me see if I can slow down my brain and fill you in.When we last lsquotalkedrsquo I was alongside Route 66 just outside of Sh
Whanganui River Journey
In Taumaruni begannen wir mit unserem ersten kleinen Abenteuer Dem Whanganui River JourneyMit dem Kanu fuhren wir 5 Tage ca. 150 km durch den Whanganui River in der Hoffnungdass sich Gollum in einer Felssplate verstecken knnte. Vorher campten wir eine Nacht vor dem Hausdes Kanubetreiber und fuhren dann am nchsten Tag endlich los.Insgesamt kenterten wir 4 mal und konnten uns mit einigen Blessur
Where in the Hell is the MOON
Greetings from TokyoWinston and I are a little fuzzy right now as I really have no sense of time since the last time I saw darkness was at 530AM Sunday morning on my way to LGA. I think in the last 16 hours I have crosses all kinds of time zones and somehow the sun did not set in nare a one. Winston is my travel monkey you'll be seeing a lot of him cheesie I know but he reminds me of 12 my
Top notch pickers
Big fat hello to everyoneI'm officially freezing my melons off on this crazy island of the devil Wow had no idea it got so stupidly cold Trevor does his best to keep us both warm he is a Starwagon Express but a coold metal van none the less Right what stories can i frantically scribble in 10 minutes Been a while since my last blog i know but we've been picking like ninjas lately just f
madikeri mangalore
hisorry still no photos damn internet so slow i cannot upload.so just a quick update as i do get very annoyed with clunky internet....we spent one night in madikeri and the next day went to a town called Kushalangar which has two main features nearbythe first is an elephant camp for retired forestry commission elephants. i am not sure what they do for the forestry commission but i beleve they
A fairytale castle and long necked people
When I woke up feeling a little bit better after my cold I decided to try and sort my life out a little. I paid a visit to the mall in Chiang Mai and got a replacement battery for my phone as well as buying a new camera as I couldn't live without one. Then I went to see our pharmacist friends in the 5 Les Meridien that they'd got for their final night as a treat. They went out to the night marke
Here there and everywhere
It's been a long time coming but finally it is hereSince my last blog I have been through Vietnam into Cambodia back in Thailand a short trip to Burma spent time in Malaysia and am now sat in Indonesia. After North Vietnam I travelled south to a town called Da Nang. It was Chinese New Year at th time and everywhere was closed all the Vietnamese were with their families eating and drinking
Western Australia
A Different CountryIt was really easy with us being collected from the airport by Jen and Mark the lovely people who own the motorhome we are going to be borrowing. They took us to their home near Rockingham where we were introduced to our home for the following three weeks. It is a converted Transit van a bit smaller than ours and a bit smaller. We found it a bit poky in comparison.However it
Guatemala City
Well here we are in Guatemala City.We did not do much yesterday apart from travel. 9.5 hours to Miami nearly 4 hours lay over 2.5 hours to Gautemala City. Hotel Posada Belen is lovely comfortable friendly very helpful staff. We had some beers some soup and bed. Up early this morning for an excellent breakfast eggs beans melon and cheese with coffee and toast. Then we searched long
The bucket list
It was not an auspicious beginningThe future neither could seeI hadn't thought no booze was easterMy friend hadn't bought duty freeThings didn't get any betterAs we set off in hire car AbdulThe whales didn't want to be spottedThe weather remained pretty dullWe set off to do some trampingThe New Zealander word for a hikeThe views were truely gorgeousBut the blisters sure started to biteMy friend wa
An island in the sun
Ilha GrandeOn the move we left Rio for island life We took a bus to Angra dos Reis and from here we took a boat to the beautiful island of Ilha Grande. We had pre booked Pousada da Cachoeira I later found out that Cachoeira means waterfall. It was a beautiful Pousada set in the jungle by a small waterfall with hammocks and cats to keep us entertained. This is paradise We did a few treks whi
Kayla Elizabeth Issever
Hi AllI know it's taken a while but as you can imagine life has been a little busy this last week or so I know you have probably seen a few pictures on facebook and from mum but here are a few more from us.For those of you who we haven't caught up with yet. This time labour was very quick... We had an appointment at the hospital for our 40 week check up and discovered I was already 3cms dialated
HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL ADVISER Migraines are not the same as headaches – Detroit Free Press
HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL ADVISER Migraines are not the same as headaches Detroit Free Press If your headaches are bad enough to keep you out of work, you should get a medical evaluation. But know that diagnosing migraines can be tricky. ... |
Research on Stem Cells Shows a Ray of Hope – TopNews United States
 Boston Globe | Research on Stem Cells Shows a Ray of Hope TopNews United States Dr. Joshua Hare, Director of the Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute at the University Of Miami Medical School stated that adult stem cells are more ... Research into stem cells of adults stirs hopesMiamiHerald.com Vatican to fund adult stem cell research in America: "This is unprecedented"Beliefnet.com (blog) Vatican Finances Research on Adult Stem CellsChronicle of Higher Education (subscription) (blog) Baltimore Sun (blog) -Washington Post (blog) -ABC News all 419 news articles » |
Geert Wilders and Freedom Party issue Pre-Election Manifesto: Drastic spending cuts, and welfare restrictions
From Eric Dondero:
Geert Wilders, leader of the libertarian-leaning Freedom Party in the Netherlands, held a major press conference at The Hague on Friday. He issued the Party's Manifesto heading into June elections.
From Radio Netherlands:
ECONOMICS
Referring to the economic crisis affecting the Netherlands, the Freedom Party is proposing drastic cuts. Mr Wilders expects to be able to save 21,000 million euros. His main targets are what he refers to as "left-wing hobbies". Development aid [to foreign nations], for instance, should be limited to emergency aid. Drastic cuts are suggested in contributions to the EU budget, and in defence spending. Child support paid to parents whose children do not live in the Netherlands should be cut, and the number of public broadcast channels should be minimised.
FOREIGN POLICY/DEFENSE
The Freedom Party wants to make Dutch foreign policy subservient to the Netherlands' interest, to the exclusion of other considerations. Fighting Islam should be a central tenet, the Freedom Party election manifesto says. The Netherlands should be less involved in international military missions, and the savings which that yields can be transferred to the national police, to fight what the party calls "Moroccan street terrorists" in the Netherlands. The PVV also says that the Netherlands should leave the European Union if Turkey becomes a member state. Another remarkable point is the plan to refer to Jordan as Palestine, because, says the PVV, that country has been the de facto independent Palestinian state since 1946.
Radio Netherlands also reports that Wilders vowed he would not enter into a coalition government with leftwing parties under any circumstances. He did make the concession, that if PVV prevails without a clear majority, or if the Party finished 2nd or 3rd, he'd be willing to work with the Center Right Christian Democrats to form a government.
H/t LR reader Mike Zeldis
Ayaan Hirsi Ali defends Free Speech rights of South Park creators
CNN WITH ANDERSON COOPER
Ali compares the threats to the brutal death of her friend, and partner Theo van Gogh, in the Netherlands in 2004. She says, "This is clearly a threat." Cooper seems to agree calling it a "chilling affect" on free speech rights.
Redlich wins Libertarian Nomination for NY Gov: Kristin Davis campaign consultant Roger Stone responds
LR FOLLOW-UP
Warren Redlich, Upstate Attorney and Republican Town Councilman, has secured the Libertarian nomination for Governor of New York. Redlich also plans to seek the Republican nomination for Governor challenging four other candidates, including former Congressman Rick Lazio.
From a Redlich campaign press release:
Redlich was chosen over Sam Sloan of New York City by a margin of 27 to 17 in a vote at the LP state convention. Kristin Davis (the Manhattan Madam) had previously expressed interest. She did not attend the convention and her name was not placed in nomination.
The convention was held on Saturday at the Hilton Garden Inn in Albany.
For his part, Roger Stone told Libertarian Republican:
"Redlich is the biggest asshole Ive met in 35 years and 8 Presidential campaign. A leaping, bounding screaming asshole. A self important turd. A short bald ugly little man. No wonder he can't get elected to anything. Who would vote for this swine?"
Kristin Davis issued a press release before the convention stating her strong desire to run with the endorsement of the NYLP but also expressing her intention to run for Governor under the Free Libertarian Party label if that would not be forthcoming. From the release:
My campaign manager Roger Stone is a longtime Libertarian and has written in favor of gay marriage, supply-side tax cuts, legalization of drugs, and abortion rights. He is hardly the toast of New York elitist RINOs. He knows how to win 50,000 votes for my campaign. I am the candidate. I have no other agenda other than winning 50,000 votes to send a shockwave through Albany.
Now, obscure attorney Warren Redlich, who is seeking the Republican nomination for Governor and also wants to be the NYLP nominee, has publicly called me a ‘whore.’ I ran an escort service. I never worked as a prostitute. I was a business women engaged in an illegal business. I paid a penalty for my offense but I do not need to be slandered by Mr. Redlich.
Because Mr. Redlich’s attacks on me appeared in the Albany Times Union, I have instructed my attorney to file suit against Mr. Redlich for defamation. Name calling has no place in public political discourse between candidates.
As an attorney, Mr. Redlich knows this slander is actionable. I really believe he owes me and every Libertarian an apology for his boorish and offensive behavior. I would be honored to be the NYLP candidate for Governor. I am prepared to finance the petition drive for myself and the entire NYLP ticket. I believe I can raise and spend up to $1 million to communicate our Libertarian agenda and win 50,000 votes.
I will petition an entire slate on to the ballot as the FREE LIBERTARIAN PARTY which was the name of the NYLP but was abandoned after 1972.
Note - the Sec. of State of New York, required the Libertarian Party to list itself on the ballot as the "Free Libertarian Party," for the first years of its existence, so as not to create confusion with the States' longstanding Liberal Party. Both were abbreviated as "LIB".
Georgia Republicans reach deal on Transportation budget increase; Libertarians blast away, and rightly so
by Eric Dondero
This is why we need the Libertarian Party. I'm often chided by my mainline Republican friends for maintaining my longstanding membership in the LP, and even openly supporting Libertarian Party candidates on occasion.
It's precisely because of the role of agitator the Libertarian Party plays on the GOP. They have magnificently displayed this role with the current Georgia transportation budget increase.
From WSB:
After three years of wheeling and dealing to come up with a solution to help fund transportation, the Georgia General Assembly has approved a funding plan that would let residents vote whether to tax themselves to pay for needed improvements.
House lawmakers voted 141-29 for passage of the bill after the Senate voted 43-8 to let regions decide whether to increase the 4-cent sales tax by one penny to pay for roads, bridges and transit. The bill – HB277 – now moves to Gov. Sonny Perdue for his signature, which would give voters the final say in the 2012 presidential primary.
The response from the Libertarian Party of Georgia (via Peachtree Corners Weekly Online):
Libertarian Party of Georgia Chairman Daniel N. Adams says, "Republicans have given Georgians more than enough evidence in the last four months to prove that they are the pro-tax party in this state. They are only fiscally conservative when it's politically convenient, not when it matters."
"As the Republican-controlled legislature continues to increase taxes and fees, the silence from Tea Party leaders is stunning," says Jason Pye, Legislative Director of the state Libertarian Party. "There has been only one protest against these hikes, and that was more than a month ago. There have been no promises to primary members, in fact, the local and state Tea Party leaders have endorsed legislators that voted for these hikes."
In fairness, the GA LP ignored Democrats entirely. Ironically the Dems are attacking the Republicans just as harshly for not allowing for even more tax increases.
Continuing from WSB:
Despite the measure's supporters, Democrats assailed the plan. They say it will be four years at least before Georgia ever sees any additional money and that the legislation failed to do enough to help MARTA, Atlanta's struggling mass transit system.
But that's no excuse. Republicans in the Legislature shouldn't have even considered such a tax hike. And if the GOP in the State suffers at the polls at the hands of Libertarian candidates in November, who pick off 2, 3, 4 or even 5% from their margin this November, they have only themselves to blame.
UK Conservatives back on top, Lib-Dems climb stalled
UK ELECTIONS
David Cameron and the Tories have regained the momentum. Some have credited Cameron's performance in the second live debate.
From the UK Daily Mail:
David Cameron's Conservative Party is continuing its fightback according to the latest poll, while Labour has slumped to a six-month low.
The Tories are up two points at 35 per cent, the Liberal Democrats are up one on 31 per cent while Labour is down two on 26 per cent, an ICM survey for the Sunday Telegraph shows.
Mr Cameron is beginning to open up a clear lead, but the poll appears to show they are still well short of where they need to be to win an overall majority.
From MerCo press "Tory leader Cameron gains gound in latest debate, according to polls":
a YouGov poll for The Sun showed 36% thought that the Tory leader had performed best, against 32% for the Lib Dem leader and 29% for Brown.
Cameron shrewdly lifted some of Clegg’s tactics from the first debate, lumping the Lib Dems and Labour together as the “other two parties” and, like Clegg, warning of old politics.
Even establishment Conservatives feeling nagged by ObamaCare’s nanny-ism
"Mary Poppins Syndrome" gone Mad!
From Eric Dondero:
Michael Gerson is the ultimate insider establishment Republican. Some might even call him a dreaded "NeoCon." Gerson served in various capacities in the Bush administration, including a stint as the President's chief speechwriter. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He is currently a columnist for the Washington Post.
But Gerson is starting to feel the "socialist creep" of big government. From his latest WaPo column, "With health care reform, it's nag, nag, nag".
I can hardly be called a libertarian. Legalizing drugs is a foolish idea because addiction robs people of liberty. Restaurant smoking bans have improved my life and my appetite. But freedom implies some leeway for personal risk and minor, pleasurable foolishness. Democrats in particular seem to be afflicted with Mary Poppins Syndrome: They will not rest until Americans are practically perfect in every way.
This tendency has added relevance because of the passage of health-care reform. When the provision of health insurance to every American becomes a direct responsibility of government, nearly every health matter becomes a public matter. Why not regulate tanning at beaches? Wouldn't mandatory, subsidized sunscreen save billions in health costs? Why not a jelly doughnuts tax? Why not make saturated fat a controlled substance? Shouldn't children on tricycles be required to wear safety helmets?
For some of us, the problem is not the tyranny but the nagging.
Of course, we libertarians would argue that the problem is both the nagging and the tyranny. Regardless, it's nice to have Mr. Gerson on board.
