Vote for true conservatives this November Payson Roundup inDoc=/legtext/49leg/1r/bills/hcr2014h.htm It is imperative that this amendment pass if we are going to preserve our medical freedom here in Arizona. ... |
Russell doctor, Salina foundation donate to new medical school program – Salina.com
Russell doctor, Salina foundation donate to new medical school program Salina.com For years, Merkel and his wife, Kathleen, have endowed a scholarship at the University of Kansas, especially for medical students from western Kansas, ... School of Medicine to open site in SalinaUniversity Daily Kansan New gifts total $300000 for KU Med's Salina expansionLawrence Journal World |
Kitt Nightmare
Jason leads the rescue of adult Kittiwakes 
Battered but alive - an adult Kittiwake in a bagTuesday 30th March comments:
Mother Nature wasn’t messing today – she threw everything at us including the kitchen sink. Backed by the highest spring tide (at a whopping 5.2 metres – we normally have tides of 4 metres), it was dramatic. The easterly gale battered us all day long and the rain never stopped. There were areas of the island under water which have never been underwater and its been an interesting introduction to island life for the new lads amongst the team.
Mother Nature wasn’t messing today – she threw everything at us including the kitchen sink. Backed by the highest spring tide (at a whopping 5.2 metres – we normally have tides of 4 metres), it was dramatic. The easterly gale battered us all day long and the rain never stopped. There were areas of the island under water which have never been underwater and its been an interesting introduction to island life for the new lads amongst the team.
The breeding birds were present all day – Puffins were on the islands in vast numbers – probably escaping the brutal storm that was raging out to sea, whilst Shags were clinging onto whatever nest structures remained. However its been a difficult day for Kittiwakes. The shear strength of the storm and brutal driving rain appeared to have weakened the condition of a lot of adults (and probably prevented them from feeding) but up step the warden team – led by Senior Warden Jason Moss.
A total of eight adult Kittiwakes, battered and bruised by the raging north sea were rescued from a narrow gut on Inner Farne. The birds were literally dragged from the surf where they were being battered and placed in boxes to dry and preen. The birds have remained with us overnight in the Pele Tower and fingers crossed for a safe outcome tomorrow morning. For everyone rescued, its frightening to think how many have been lost. Its been a deadly storm and we may be counting the cost for some time to come.
On a positive note, news was breaking that the first Shag eggs were discovered on the very early date of 28th March – although I'm not sure if they have survived the storm today. We’ll wait for conditions to calm and then we’ll pick up the pieces or what is left. Until then, we'll just wait and help where we can.
Highlights: Shoveler 2 pairs in the Kettle, Snipe 2, Sandwich Tern 3, Dunnock 2, Robin 16+ - major influx – this is just an Inner Farne count, Black Redstart 2, Ring Ouzel male, Fieldfare 2, Song Thrush 2, Chiffchaff 5, Goldcrest 2, Chaffinch 2, Common Redpoll male showed well all day.
Indiana’s 5th District Republican Primary – Brose McVey and a Constitutional Convention Should Scare You
The Republican Primary is coming up and there are some interesting candidates in the field who desire to unseat long-serving 5th District Congressman Dan Burton. Certainly, many would say he has served far too long, has a tarnished image and maybe isn’t the kind of leader they would like to see.
Those people may have some points; but, at the end of the day Burton’s voting record is far better than most other members of Congress and he often gets credited with having a pretty decent staff. Perhaps there is room for improvement; but, for those who are looking for another option, there MAY be a good choice in that race but Brose McVey does not appear to be it.
Here are the main things that have led me to have concerns about McVey’s candidacy:
Strike I:
I had the opportunity to meet Brose McVey at a Washington Township GOP Club Meeting and asked him about his stance on restructuring the tax code from one based on income to one based more on consumption like The FairTax would do. I was told that he (Brose) was concerned that the government might not have enough power to tax in that circumstance so he would support keeping some kind of income taxes while ALSO empowering the Federal Government to levy sales taxes. Seriously? Grant the government an additional power of taxation?
The presumption here is that there would be some way to prevent the combination of these from being just as, or more, oppressive as the current system. Think about that, granting the government a power to tax your purchases without ensuring that its power to tax your income was taken away. Brose, a lawyer, feels his idea is better than the one some Ivy League economists and $20 million in research developed leading to the sales to tax reform advocates of millions of books? I believe a sarcastic Dr. Evil, “Riiiiigggghhhhttt…..” is appropriate here.
When pressed, his concern is for the government’s ability to forcibly extract revenue regardless of economic conditions with no consideration for ensuring that people have a right to their property and the fruits of their labors. So in essence, although he might not see it this way, he believes government has a “first claim” on what you trade your life for (wages after all are exchanging the best hours of the best years of your life in exchange for money). We need politicians who are on the side of the people not government.
Strike II:
A friend of mine is at a Carmel, Indiana business gathering and Brose McVey is there shaking hands and campaigning. My friend, who is in the real estate business, is engaged in a serious conversation when McVey interjects himself into their space and discussion to introduce himself while shoving his campaign card at my friend. I’m told the card was immediately handed back with the admonition of, “Hey, I’m having a conversation here buddy!”
My friend was incensed and felt that it was rude and arrogant to not wait until an appropriate stopping point in his conversation to have a business card and handshake shoved at him.
Strike III:
Apparently, Brose supports the idea of a Constitutional Convention. He actually wants each state to pluck political appointees out of their partisan ranks and send them somewhere to open up, alter and re-write our Constitution? We have a process for this. It’s called “amendments” and at least a few of them like the 16th, 17th, 18th and 23rd were really bad ideas.
He posted this on a social networking site for professionals:
“It’s time for a Constitutional Convention, called by THE STATES. Balanced Budget Amendment, Term Limits, reaffirmation of limits on federal” [the message ended there but presume he meant "power"?]
Now, as a member of and participant in numerous political discussion and e-mail groups I can tell you that a lot of people in the conservative and libertarian political community are terrified by that idea. No one believes that very many wise men of great pro-liberty conviction like Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, George Mason or James Madison would be sent to alter our founding documents in appropriate ways. Anyone appropriately plugged in to the pro-liberty movement in any number of libertarian or conservative forums would have already been privy to and able to engage in the arguments for and against this over the past year or two.
A Constitutional Convention does not mean that just people you agree with would be showing up to participate! In Indiana, with the Democrats in charge of the State House what kind of representative do you think would get selected to represent us at such a Convention? In fact, many believe we’d end up with the same kind of circus we currently see in Congress and it would result in something granting the federal government near unlimited power to do whatever it wants. Sure, there are a few things that could be changed in the document (see below*) but for the most part, the document itself is fine – it is the courts, bureaucrats and the politicians that are the problem.
I responded to Mr. McVey that opening up the Constitution to the current crop of big government Democrats and Republicans that stock our halls of government might not be the best idea. He responded with:
“The risk of opening this sacred document to the people is now much less that allowing the tireless march of Washington politicians to continue unchecked. I regret that we may disagree on this critical point, but you can bet that my position will remain firm.”
Instead of engaging in a discussion, instead of asking questions about why or what the concerns are, how he perceives it would really be okay and that our rights would be safe, I got a rather arrogant, “…my position will remain firm.” Really? No new facts, no input from others, no discussion on the subject could possibly alter your position? We may give politicians grief when they do a John Kerry “flip flop” but I don’t know many people who believe the exact same things at 40 that they did at 20. Being open to new ideas, information, wisdom and debate is what shapes and hones our understandings.
The whole idea that a Constitutional Convention would end up with government more securely restrained than it was supposed to be in the original document is unbelievably naive. It’s kind of like folks who are increasingly calling for their state to secede from the Union. I understand where they are coming from; but, to assume that your state legislators and governor would suddenly put together some kind of libertarian government is also a little naive. Doesn’t mean it might not be a whole heck of a lot better than being under the thumb of the Feds (how could it not be better?) but don’t be deluded into thinking you’d get something you’re really probably not gonna.
So, on the whole, in Mr. McVey I see no firm grounding in any kind of ideology that concerns itself with protecting the natural rights of individuals or restoring the rule of law under our current Constitution. Even if his intentions are good, the lack of consideration for the impact, potential harm caused by or likely future abuse of some of the things he would seem to support is frightening. We’ve got enough know-it-all bozos in Washington with bad, short-sighted, misinformed or under-informed opinions – we don’t need more.
Oh, and on this you can bet that my position will remain firm. 
—
*A few things in the Constitution that might be worth altering (by no means an exhaustive list):
The commerce clause could be more specifically defined to meaning only what was originally intended, “making regular the free trade between the states”. (research: 1942 Wickard vs. Filburn Supreme Court case)
We should just nuke the welfare clause out completely to avoid it being construed as an excuse to steal from one group of people on behalf of another. (significant usurpation especially the 1937 Steward Machine Company vs. Davis court decision)
The power to raise armies should be strictly limited to ensure only voluntary induction to the military (as anything else is involuntary servitude and presumes that you are the property of the government to dispose with as they see fit).
A requirement to use zero-based budgeting might not be a bad idea.
Penalties for government agents (elected or otherwise) who pass laws, regulations or act in ways that violate the natural rights of people should be in place – otherwise the document itself has no power over those who would ignore it. The document needs claws. Congress will pass unconstitutional laws and then let the courts sort it out. But, the courts are partisan so what’s the point?
Absolutely we would scratch the phrase, “A well regulated militia,” from the 2nd Amendment since the anti-self defense folks like to try and use that to disarm people.
Congress should be equally subject to all laws, regulations, restrictions and programs that get passed and never allowed to exclude themselves. (this has been previously proposed over the years as one possible 28th Amendment)
So, sure, there are some things that could be adjusted but the document really is not the problem. Politicians, judges and an apathetic population are really the problem when they have no respect for the natural rights of people and will interpret any document to mean whatever they want it to mean to serve their own agendas. Does anyone think if we have Constitutional Convention any of the above listed things are likely to make it through? Doubtful at best.
Libertarian Party of Indiana Leadership Appears on Abdul in the Morning
State Chairman Sam Goldstein, Executive Director Chris Spangle, and Hamilton County Chairman Mike Kole appeared recently on Abdul in the Morning to discuss the importance of third parties and the growth of the Libertarian Party in the last year. Spangle used to serve as producer to Abdul’s show before taking on his role Executive Director.
Listen Here:
Get to Know Your Visitors
Every day, we spend countless hours visiting Web sites. What you may not realize is that the pages you see — updates to them, new pages on related topics, etc. — are determined by how often you use them. This follows the commonly known law of supply and demand: If someone wants it, someone else will be there to supply it. When you’re creating content, the question becomes, “What do visitors want?” Knowing what to supply is a matter for sophisticated programs to turn into simple graphs and pretty charts for us. That information makes up what we call Web stats.
Why Are Web Stats Important?
Countless Web sites, blogs and books are dedicated to Web stats, so instead of spending hours on a comprehensive review of the topic, the answer to the question of importance can best be summed up via the following sentence:
“If you spend time or money promoting your Web site, and if your business decisions are influenced by your Web site’s performance, you need to arm yourself with the most accurate and useful data available.”
There are a multitude of choices in the world of Web stats, also referred to as the “Web analytics industry.” You may have heard names like Omniture, Webtrends, Coremetrics, Urchin, Google Analytics, AWStats, Webalizer and IndexTools … Those are only the tip of the iceberg. They are some of the more popular stats packages in the market today, and each has its own distinct feature set and price point.
Note: Every single stats package on the market is a log file analyzer. SaaS/ASP/hosted stats programs like Omniture and Google Analytics create a log file of special tracking gifs, whereas standalone software programs like Urchin store the tracking gif directly in the Web server log file.
What Is Urchin?
In April of 2005, Google acquired San Diego-based Urchin Software Corp. At the time, Urchin had two main products:
- Urchin Software – downloaded and installed on customers’ servers
- Urchin On Demand – a SaaS version of Urchin
Google added some features to Urchin On Demand shortly after the acquisition, and the product was relaunched as Google Analytics a few months later. In the meantime, the Urchin Software project was shelved for approximately two years while development resources were obtained. Finally in April 2008, Google launched a new version – Urchin 6.
Urchin 6 is a software package. You download and install it on one of your servers, and the software generates reports by reading your Web server log files. Urchin can be scheduled to provide new reports whenever you choose – daily, hourly, weekly or at a custom interval – and you view reports with any Web browser.
Hardware & Software Requirements
Urchin 6 is designed to play nicely with other applications. Because Urchin is a database-driven application, you can improve performance by throwing hardware at it. Here are some rough guidelines for Urchin’s hardware and software needs:
- RAM: From 100 MB (with geolocation disabled) to 2 GB (geolocation enabled)
- CPU: The most common bottleneck, Urchin is not multi-processor aware and will only use one processor when processing data. This is one of the reasons why Urchin plays nicely with other applications. Starting with v6.601, both 64-bit and 32-bit processors are supported.
- Disk: Urchin needs 5 percent of the raw Web log file size for storage, and the app files are approximately 200 MB (800 MB if you’re using the geolocation feature)
- Operating System: Urchin runs on Windows, Linux and BSD
- Database: The application config settings are stored in mySQL or PostgreSQL, one of which must be present prior to installing Urchin.
Urchin can run directly on your Web server when it’s only tracking a few sites. If you have several Web sites or are running frequent reports on high-traffic sites, you may want to consider putting Urchin on another server. Obviously, you don’t want to impact your site’s performance in the name of getting Web stats for that site.
Urchin 6 Features
Urchin 6 has a TON of features, the most impressive of which are listed below:
- Data Privacy: Urchin runs on your server and doesn’t send report data back to Google. The only people who can see your stats are those who are explicitly granted access.
- Full Visitor Clickpaths: See the full clickpath for each visit to your site, as well as historical clickpaths for return visitors.
- Marketing Campaigns: Track search engine keywords, banner ads, emails, text links, press releases, offline campaigns, and more.
- AdWords & YSM Integration: Automatically download cost data from your Google AdWords and Yahoo! Search Marketing accounts.
- ROI Reports: Import cost data from anywhere and Urchin will calculate an ROI for that marketing initiative.
- Conversion Goals & Funnels: Ensure you’re attracting the right type of traffic to your Web site by examining aggregate behavior for specific activities like e-commerce transactions, lead form completions and file downloads.
- Historical Data Import: If you have five years of historical Web server log files, Urchin can read them and generate reports.
- Geolocation: View the country, state/province and city of each Web site visitor.
- IT Reports: See page errors, robot and spider crawl patterns, “non-standard” user agents and every file delivered by your Web site.
- Data API: The Urchin 6.6 release includes a powerful API that allows you to access the underlying profile datamap from the command line.
- Heavily Customizable: Advanced users can automate setup and customize reports, edit the user interface and process operations.
How to Buy and Where to Learn More
Urchin 6 is available in a 1000-profile package on all of The Planet’s dedicated hosting servers for only $10 per month. You can select the Web Analytics option in our shopping cart or contact a sales representative via ticket, live chat or phone to get it added to your account.
Some Urchin-related Web sites you might want to check out:
- http://www.urchin.com – Google’s site for Urchin
- http://www.urchintools.com – Urchin portal site, includes help articles and free tools
- http://www.urchinexperts.com – Another Urchin portal site with support information
A free 30-minute Urchin 6 webinar is run a few times a month by an authorized Urchin partner called ActualMetrics. Dates and times of upcoming Urchin 6 webinars can be found here:
http://www.actualmetrics.com/products/urchin-6-software/demo/
Take a little time to get to know your visitors. Urchin 6 can be a great way to start that process.
-Mark
Related Posts:
DVD Documentary Film Review: Afghan Star
An extraordinary documentary about an American Idol-like TV show that manages to capture the volatile mix of history, religion, and pop culture in contemporary Afghanistan.
DVD Feature Film Review: An Education
An alluring coming-of-age drama that provided a multi-textured study of the power and poignancy of human desire.
Notice: Libertarian Party of Indiana Bylaw changes due April 16th
Changes to the Libertarian Party of Indiana Bylaws are brought to the floor of the annual convention each year. If there are any bylaw change proposals, please submit those to Executive Director Chris Spangle via email at lpinhq@lpin.org by April 16th. The proposed change must be in the proposed language.
Nominations for Libertarian Party of Indiana Awards are Now Open
Every year we recognize the hard work and passion of those involved in growing the party. Awards are presented at the Libertarian Party of Indiana convention each year. With the exception of one award all winners are granted their award by a vote of the LPIN membership at the convention.
We need your nominations! Below, you’ll find an explanation of the awards, and previous winners. To nominate someone for an award, please email Chris Spangle at lpinhq@lpin.org with their name, and an explanation of why they should win the award. Please submit all nominations before April 16th.
Dr. Barbara Bourland Light of Liberty Award: The recipient is honored as the person most responsible for the growth of the party and dedication to the libertarian cause.
Past winners include:
2009 – Dan Drexler (LaPorte)
2008 – Timothy Maguire (Marion)
2007 – Mike Kole (Hamilton)
2006 – Greg Kelver (LaPorte)
2005 – Rex Bell (Wayne)
2004 – Phil Miller (Hancock)
2003 – Rebecca Sink-Burris (Monroe)
2002 – Sam Goldstein (Marion)
2001 – Mark Rutherford (Marion) & Andy Horning (Marion)
2000 – Kurt St. Angelo (Marion)
1999 – Steve Dillon (Marion)
Susan Bell Officeholder of the Year Award: Awarded to a current elected officeholder of the Libertarian Party that best promotes libertarian principles and values through public service.
2009 – Susan Bell (Wayne)
2006 – Ed Dilts (Johnson)
Ken Bisson Outreach Award: Awarded to a party member who has worked exceptionally hard to spread the message of libertarian principles to as many potential voters as is possible.
2009 – Doug Horner (Allen)
2006 – Mike Sylvester (Allen)
Joe Hauptmann Campaign Leadership Award
Steve Dasbach Chairman’s Award for Extraordinary Service: Awarded to an individual that has helped grow the Libertarian Party of Indiana in extraordinary ways over many years. This award is not voted on by LPIN membership, and it is the sole privilege of the Chair of the LPIN to award it to the recipient.
2009 – Andrew Horning (Owen)
2007 – Mark Rutherford (Marion), Mike Runnebohm (Shelby)
2006 – Brad Klopfenstein (Marion), Cindy Kirkpatrick (Marion), Kenn Gividen (Bartholomew)
With no elections in 2009, there will be no Phil Miller Candidate of the Year or Joe Hauptmann Campaign Leadership award.
Book Excerpt: The Beliefnet Guide to Islam
Hesham A. Hassaballa and Kabir Helminski on the practice of praying five times a day.
South Carolina’s Andre Bauer: America’s New Libertarian Republican SuperStar!
Calls for Constitutional Convention to overturn ObamaCare
by Eric Dondero
In 2006, libertarian Republicans Sarah Palin and Butch Otter won their elections for Governor in Alaska and Idaho.
In 2008, longtime GOP libertarian Tom McClintock was elected to the US Congress from California.
Now, in 2010, a new libertarian Republican superstar has burst upon the scene: South Carolina Lt. Governor Andre Bauer.
He's held office for a few years already, elected on the ticket with Governor Mark Sanford in South Carolina. But he was under the radar until a month or two ago.
Lt. Governor Andre Bauer got himself in some hot water with the liberal media, in South Carolina and nationally, for suggesting back in December that welfare was not a right, and that those who needed governmental assistance should eventually seek private alternatives, rather than spending a lifetime on the public dole.
These are the comments that garnered him national attention:
"My grandmother was not a highly educated woman, but she told me as a small child to quit feeding stray animals. You know why? Because they breed. You're facilitating the problem if you give an animal or a person ample food supply. They will reproduce, especially ones that don't think too much further than that. And so what you've got to do is you've got to curtail that type of behavior. They don't know any better," Bauer said. "You see, for the first time in the history of this country, we've got more people voting for a living than we do working for a living."
He was immediately labeled a "Social Darwinist." To his great credit he didn't back down. And while liberal media talking heads and leftwing bloggers jeered, libertarians, including Libertarian Republican blog, jumped to his defense. He became a hero of sorts to many on the Right, not only among libertarians, but also many social conservatives.
See our original article on Bauer from Jan. 24: "Social Darwinist Republican? SC Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer makes some stunningly libertarian statements against Society's Moochers"
Bauer in addition to serving as Lt. Governor is also a candidate for the Governorship. The most current poll has him just behind the frontrunner for the GOP nomination, in a field of 5 strong candidates. The field includes Rep. Nikki Halley, also a favorite among libertarian Republicans.
Now, Bauer has just taken his increasing libertarian Republican popularity to a new level.
Appearing on Greta last night on Fox, Bauer presented his idea for a Constitutional Convention of 34 States to overturn ObamaCare.
Two other States' Lt. Govs already on board with Bauer's proposal
Excerpted Transcript from Greta:
Well, the people I talk too in SC believe that the federal government is running roughshod over our personal rights and liberties, and we want them back quite frankly.
I've been calling legislators throughout the country, talked to several Lt. Governors... asking them to join us. It would take 34 states to actually have a constitutional convention, 38 states to ratify it... I talked to David Dewhurst in Texas yesterday, he was excited about it. I talked to Peter Kinder over in Missouri. He was excited about it.
I know people realize that here in South Carolina we're extremely conservative, and we've watched what the federal government has done. And we've moved towards socialism. People are scared. They don't want it! We know that only 20% of the entire country want it. So, I fell very confident it will pass in SC and many other states, as well.
I sure don't want to give up on this battle. What we're losing 1/6th of the entire economy was socialized last week. I can't think of a battle more important than stopping what's happening in Washington right now.
The federal government shouldn't be involved in the health care business in the first place. I'm a free market individual. I don't think the government ought to be involved in this. It shouldn't be mandating who has health care coverage. We are way over-stepping what our founding fathers ever dreamed of.
Bauer also expressed skepticism that the route taken by many Republican State AGs of overturning the state mandate, would actually work. But he did express his support for their efforts.
Watch the full video interview at Breitbart.com
Photos - Peter Kinder MO Lt. Gov. left, David Dehurst TX Lt. Gov. right.
Palin announces endorsements of Military Vets for Congress: Two of them Libertarian Republicans
From Eric Dondero:
Sarah Palin announced on her Facebook page late yesterday three endorsements for US Congress. The three Republicans include: Adam Kinzinger in Illinois, Allen West in Florida and Vaughn Ward in Idaho.
Both Kinzinger and West have been featured here at Libertarian Republican on numerous occasions. Both come solidly from the libertarian wing of the GOP. The third Vaughn Ward is more standard conservative, but was once described by the Idaho Statesman as coming from the "Sarah Palin wing of the GOP."
All three are Veterans of the United States Military.
Ward in Idaho, Kinzinger in Illinois & West in Florida
Excerpts:
The first is Major Vaughn Ward, a fourth-generation Idaho native who grew up on his family’s farm in Shoshone and is running in Idaho’s 1st Congressional District. Coming from a family with a proud military tradition, Vaughn joined the Marine Corps after college and was finishing up his service when the September 11th attacks occurred. He put his life on hold and heeded his country’s call – serving first as a CIA Operations Officer and later volunteering with the Marine Corps for a combat tour in Iraq, during which he was awarded the Bronze Star with Combat V. After returning from Iraq, Vaughn went to work for the McCain/Palin campaign. I was grateful for his support then, and I’m happy to support him now...
Vaughn knows that real job growth comes from the private sector, not government. He believes in free market reforms, tax relief for families and small businesses, and a return to a constitutionally limited government that lives within its means. He’ll carry the conservative banner to Washington and will rein in the reckless growth of government to get it back on our side.
The second veteran is Captain Adam Kinzinger, a decorated special-operations pilot who flew combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. Adam is running for Illinois’ 11th Congressional District against a freshman incumbent congresswoman who seemed to pull a bait and switch on voters to get elected. She sounded like a blue dog on the campaign trail, but didn’t vote like one in Washington. Instead, she voted in lockstep with the Pelosi agenda – on Obamacare, the stimulus, cap-and-tax – and the list goes on.
The third veteran is Lieutenant Colonel Allen West, a decorated war hero who’s served with distinction in combat zones in Iraq and Afghanistan. Many of you may have heard of Allen from a speech he gave last year that became a viral video on YouTube with over 2 million viewers. Allen’s personal story is a testament to the commonsense conservative belief that our nation’s greatness is rooted in freedom, because with freedom comes equal opportunity, and that, coupled with hard work, leads to success. Allen is a small government fiscal conservative running against a leftwing ideologue who’s marched to the beat of Nancy Pelosi on every issue from cap-and-tax to the stimulus, TARP, and, of course, Obamacare.
All Three serving their Country in more ways than One
Palin went on to comment:
I believe that these great veterans will fight for us in D.C. to uphold and defend our constitution as courageously in the halls of Congress as they did on the field of battle field.
Of note - Vaughn is running in a 3-way primary for the opportunity to challenge incumbent Democrat Rep. Walt Minnick. Ironically, Minnick is the only Democrat in the entire US House with any libertarian-leanings. Kinzinger and West already have their respective nominations.
allenwestforcongress.com
Kinzinger for Congress electadam.com
vaughwardforcongress.com
Calling BS! on TPM’s coverage of Texas Board of Education decision on Jefferson
Top-rated Liberal Blog claimed Rightwingers tried to remove him
From Eric Dondero:
Here's how this story was first reported by the ultra-liberal TPM on March 12:
"In all honesty, it was a debacle for public education," says Dan Quinn of the Texas Freedom Network, a liberal watchdog that tracks the board.
Here's a rundown of the highlights of the new draft standards, according to media reports and the Texas Freedom Network:
•The board added a requirement that economics students "analyze the decline of the U.S. dollar including abandonment of the gold standard." Students must also learn about Austrian economist Friedrich von Hayek, author of libertarian urtext The Road to Serfdom.
•According to TFN: "the board stripped Thomas Jefferson from a world history standard about the influence of Enlightenment thinkers on political revolutions from the 1700s to today. In Jefferson's place, the board's religious conservatives succeeded in inserting Thomas Aquinas and John Calvin. They also removed the reference to 'Enlightenment ideas' in the standard, requiring that students should simply learn about the influence of the 'writings' of various thinkers (including Calvin and Aquinas)."
Of course this was picked up by just about every Christian-bashing leftwing blog in the blogosphere under headlines such as, "Christian majority removes Jefferson from History Textbooks."
Conservatives heart libertarian hero Jefferson
Now, here's what really happened as explained by Board Chairwoman Gail Lowe who is a member of the conservative majority on the 15 member board:
"The only individual mentioned more times in the curriculum standards than Thomas Jefferson is George Washington,” said Gail Lowe, chairwoman of the 15-member board. “We expect students at the elementary level, in middle school and in high school to study the Founding Fathers and to be well versed in their contributions to our country. That includes Thomas Jefferson and his legacy," she said.
Although Jefferson had been listed in a World History standard, the board removed his name from a list of European Enlightenment philosophers that included John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, Voltaire, Charles de Montesquieu and Jean Jacques Rousseau.
“This was inappropriate placement of Jefferson’s name,” said Lowe of the World History proposal. “Jefferson was not himself an Enlightenment philosopher, although he was heavily influenced by the writings of these individuals. But to say the State Board of Education has removed him from the TEKS is inaccurate and irresponsible,” said Lowe.
Lowe continued, “Jefferson not only penned the words of the Declaration of Independence, served as the third president of the United States and was father of the University of Virginia, but his promotion of the ideals of a limited federal government and states’ rights also permeated our nation for generations. No study of American history would be complete without his inclusion,” she said.
H/t Texas AFP
In St. Louis, Art with a Rightwing message not Protected Free Speech
In 2007, the City of St. Louis told property rights activist Jim Roos to take down his mural citing code violations against large signs. Roos, a property owner, has been battling the city for years over eminent domain.
He argued that his political statment was art. He got the libertarian Institute for Justice to take his case.
Yesterday, the court ruled against Roos and the Institute. From St. Louis Today:
Monday, U.S. District Judge Henry Edward Autrey rejected that argument, saying the mural — which featured the addresses of two affiliated websites — is a "classic example" of the definition of a sign.
"The painting is outside and is used to advertise, identify, direct and attract attention to what petitioners believe is eminent domain abuse. It advertises online addresses for more information," Autrey wrote. "It attracts attention to the perceived eminent domain abuse."
Autrey also ruled that the city's sign ordinance is constitutional because it is "content neutral" — restrictions on signs are based on size and place, not subject
Roos was represented by the Institute for Justice, an Arlington, Va.-based libertarian advocacy group. Lawyers for the group seized on a clause in the city's sign code that exempts art, as well as flags and fraternal crests, from the restrictions on signs.
Roos and the Institute for Justice intend to appeal the ruling.
Further info - Institute for Justice, http://www.ij.org
Three Cheers for Idaho and Gov. Butch Otter – Standing up to Federal Mandates on Health Care
Good ole' fasioned Cowboy Conservatism
by Paul Jacob
By hook and by crook — ignoring the constitution and twisting parliamentary rules — the president and his congressional allies are succeeding in imposing command-and-control health care on all Americans.
If the new law is allowed to stand, the scraps of freedom we still enjoy in matters of health care will dwindle as provisions of the bill kick in. And that’s only the prequel. Pelosi and other Democrats promise to introduce even more constrictive legislation once Obamacare Round One has been rammed through.
Friends of freedom aren’t giving up. There’s an election in 2010, for one thing. But many state governments aren’t waiting for that. The Idaho legislature just passed the Idaho Health Care Freedom Act, which states, in part, that “every person within the state of Idaho is and shall be free to choose or decline to choose any mode of securing health care services without penalty or threat of penalty.” Governor Otter is signing the Act because, in his view, health care laws should treat people as individuals “rather than as an amorphous mass whose only purpose in this world is to obey federal mandates.”
Idaho is the first state to pass such a measure, but similar legislation has been proposed in 22 others. Such declarations will most likely have only symbolic significance if Obamacare remains in effect and other legal challenges on the grounds of federalism get beaten down. But those are two big ifs. Americans aren’t ready to surrender to the health care commissars just yet.
Paul Jacob is the former National Director of the Libertarian Party, fmr. President of US Term Limits and fmr. National Petition Drive Coordinator for Property Rights and Spending Limits. His blog is ThisisCommonSense.com
Cosmic Collisions
National Geographic is running a series called Known Universe. The series consists of six-parts and the first one premieres Thursday, April 1st at 10 pm ET/PT
From how to find micro-meteors on your roof (yes I am going to try it) to the collision between the Milky Way and Andromeda, the first episode looks at cosmic collisions of all sorts.
The part about gravity waves I found to be too short, but that’s just because I am fascinated by them. You will find out how gravity waves are produced. Oh and the measurement of gravity waves suing LIGO are briefly explained – accurate to 1/1000th of a proton.
Be sure to check it out, record if you have to it’s good stuff.
Shell Eco-Marathon: That’s All Folks | Discoblog
The last-minute repairs, friendly competition, racing out to the track to get in that last run that might just be the one—that’s all over. And the dancing of the “Electric Slide” in the awards banquet hall has begun.
It was an up-and-down day. Penn State’s hydrogen fuel cell, HFV, drove like a champ and achieved the equivalent of 1,803 miles per gallon. But they couldn’t quite claim the number one spot. “We kept going back and forth with Cicero” says team member John Bearer, referring to the fuel cell champion Cicero North-Syracuse High School. Bearer wasn’t too disappointed, though, as the competition is far from cutthroat: At the very end, Northern Arizona gave up its final spot in line to Cal Poly, whose crew yearned to take a last shot at a better mileage number.
The fuel cell car from Missouri, however, never managed to finish the 10-lap race and get a number on the board. They were on pace for 300 MPG equivalency, but halfway through runs, the computer system registered errors and the car shut down. In a nice nod, though, the Tigers took home the “perseverance in the face of adversity” award.
Canadian team Université Laval won the overall prize for all the cars, excluding solar, with 2,488 MPG. One of the cars by team Rose-Hulman, who we profiled earlier, won third in prototype combustion engines with just more than 1,800 MPG. But the Purdue Polaris, which we profiled yesterday, achieved a best result of 4,548 MPG equivalency. It also took home the People’s Choice Award with nearly 100,000 votes, and the design and communication awards.
You can see all the results here. And tomorrow we’ll be bringing you a slideshow of the best images from Shell Eco-marathon 2010.
Shell Eco-Marathon: All the Aerodynamics You Can Muster, Mister | Discoblog
Time is short. Only two windows of urban concept racing time remain, and though Louisiana Tech’s last run in its blue car jumped the score from 173 miles per gallon up to 251, they still lag behind leader Mater Dei High School of Evansville, Indiana. So it’s time to pull out all the stops.
In the “garage,” Tech crew members count down the time until they must be back out on the track. In the waning minutes, crew member Beau Downey tells me all they can do to try to close the gap on the MPG leaders is streamline how air flows around the car. First, he says, they’re trying to smooth out the car’s undertray. While the overall carbon fiber body cuts through the air nicely, he thinks the air coming under the car gets caught and causes drag.
Louisiana Tech has sheets of plastic they brought down in case they needed to redo the car’s tinted windows. But in these last few moments it’s time to forget about that and cut the sheets into shells that cover the wheel wells, with the idea that passing air won’t be able to get in there, either.
Missouri, too, is feeling the heat. As we mentioned in our first post yesterday, the Tigers had quite an ordeal just getting a working car to Houston. During test runs yesterday, however, a connection came loose after just five of the 1o laps. Back in the shop, they’ve found the faulty connection, and race to repair so they can hit the road this afternoon and get a score on the board before competition ends in the evening.
Shell Eco-Marathon: How to Drive the Car of the Future | Discoblog
These Shell Eco-marathon cars are aiming for ultra-high mileage, so to be frank, driver comfort takes the backseat. Or, rather, it would if these cars had a backseat.
Having a car come high up off the ground raises air resistance, so the prototypes are low and sleek. Blaine Castongia of Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Indiana, whose transparent car in seen here, says suspension gets the ax, too: It’s just wasted energy.
As a result, Rose-Hulman drivers Bethany Brisco and Barbara Arrowsling get a rough ride. The steering controls are right by their hips, so moving right or left means swaying one’s hips out of the way to make room. The two women say it’s easy to see where they’re going despite the low angle, unless they’re sitting still.
What’s not easy, they say, are the race conditions. The team is accustomed to testing its cars on closed courses with smooth surfaces. This year’s Shell Eco-marathon, however, forces them to drive the on Houston streets, which can be a little unpleasant even if you had suspension and were more than a few inches off the ground. The two Rose-Hulman drivers also say that racing with other cars on the track reflects more of the haphazard nature of real driving. You might have a desired route in mind to reduce mileage, but if another car cuts you off and forces you outside, too bad.
Danica Patrick caused a flurry of excitement when she entered the high ranks of professional racing, but here at the eco-marathon, female drivers are the norm. Women get the glamor spot in the cockpit of many if not most of the cars, as teams seek to reduce as much weight as possible.
So Brisco and Arrowsling are the ones putting Rose-Hulman’s driving strategy in place. The team’s two cars, running on lawn string trimmer’s engines and using only 15 mL of fuel per run, are among the best in the field. One has exceeded 1,800 MPG. Castongia says he hopes to break the team’s own record of 1,972 MPG, though that might be a long shot. With another 20 MPG in the afternoon run, though, Rose-Hulman could break back into second place.
If they get better, the drivers probably deserve the thanks. Louisiana Tech driver Joseph Nealy says he got the team’s blue car up from 173 MPG to 251 by using a better driving strategy: ditching the preconceived plan of when to accelerate, and ignoring the speedometer, which lags a few seconds behind anyway. “This time it was driven completely by ear,” he says.
Racing finishes in the late afternoon. We’ll keep you updated when the final scores come in.
