I Think Therefore I Am

CatsFive's photostream

2013-01-24T17:26:00.001-08:00

CatsFive's photostream on Flickr.

Bro

2012-08-23T12:48:00.001-07:00

Bro , a photo by Needle&Thread on Flickr.

Little Girl

2012-08-23T12:46:00.001-07:00

Little Girl, a photo by Needle&Thread on Flickr.

THE SURVIVALIST BLOG

2010-05-28T10:55:00.000-07:00

M.D. Creekmore over at the The Survivalist Blog – a survival blog dedicated to helping others prepare for and survive disaster – with articles on bug out bag contents, survival knife choices and a wealth of other survival information is giving away a Go Berkey Water Filter System (a $139.00 value)! To enter, you just have to post about it on your blog. This is my entry. Visit The Survivalist Blog for the details.

********************

I absolutely love his site and I look forward to his emails that are always full of advice. I have implemented many of his suggestions.
A " Go Berkey Water Filter System " would be just fantastic to add to my survival kit.

Soooo... go and visit " The Survivalist Blog "

NO NO NO NO NO

2010-05-01T10:45:00.000-07:00

I am a LIBERTARIAN not a liberal. I'm for the drastic reduction of government control. I'm more of a Constitutionalist. Google has placed a flaming liberal ad on my blog and I have no idea how to get rid of it. Is anybody out there that can help me with that? This ad deeply offends me.

THE SURVIVALIST BLOG

2010-03-21T19:07:00.000-07:00

M.D. Creekmore over at the The Survivalist Blog – a survival blog dedicated to helping others prepare for and survive disaster, is giving away a The Tactical Advantage book and DVD set by Gabriel Suarez and a copy of Don’t Get Caught With Your Pantry Down by James Talmage Stevens! To enter, you just have to post about it on your blog. This is my entry. Visit The Survivalist Blog for more information.

I've been reading his blog for a couple of weeks now and can't believe how much I have learned in such a short time. M.D. Creekmore is a good writer and does explain things in simple terms for beginners to understand. And I am definitely a beginner even though I've been wanting to do this for a long time. Unfortunately, many other sites expect you to invest a lot of money and jump in with both feet, not so with M.D. Creekmore. You advance at your own speed. His attention to detail is outstanding; Creekmore doesn't come at you with words that aren't part of your vocabulary, yet.

Go check out his site, you won't regret it.

http://www.thesurvivalistblog.net/

2009-08-07T08:35:00.001-07:00

An animal on the attack is cautious almost to the point of cowardice!

2009-08-06T14:07:00.001-07:00

A Little Rebellion Now and Then Is a Good Thing

By John W. Whitehead
August 6, 2009

"I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical....It is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government."--Thomas Jefferson to James Madison (Jan. 30, 1787)

Here's a breaking news alert for all Americans: if you take part in protest rallies, voice your discontent through picket signs, or disrupt events with yelling or intermittent shouts, then you are likely a right-wing extremist or a member of an angry mob, and you must be silenced.

At least that's the chilling message coming from the Democratic National Committee. It's the same "you're either with us or against us" attitude that George W. Bush loved to trot out. This time, however, the bone of contention is health care and it's Democrats who are trying to drown out any opposition.

Responding to the increasingly vocal protests of Americans who are concerned about the Obama administration's plans to overhaul health care, the DNC has released "Enough of the Mob," a web ad that attacks the constitutionally protected right to protest. "The Right-wing extremist Republican base is back," proclaims the ad. "Desperate Republicans and their well-funded allies are organizing angry mobs... This mob activity is straight from the playbook of high level Republican political operatives. They have no plan for moving our country forward, so they've called out the mob. Call the Republican Party. Tell them you've had enough of the mob."

President Obama has taken this chilling message one step further, actually encouraging Americans to report on those who are spreading "disinformation about health insurance reform." As the White House blog states, "These rumors often travel just below the surface via chain emails or through casual conversation. Since we can't keep track of all of them here at the White House, we're asking for your help. If you get an email or see something on the web about health insurance reform that seems fishy, send it to flag@whitehouse.gov." This is the official message coming out of the White House.

Bear in mind, this is the same administration whose Department of Homeland Security not long ago issued a report defining rightwing extremists as individuals and groups "that are mainly antigovernment, rejecting federal authority in favor of state or local authority, or rejecting government authority entirely." That same report used the words "terrorist" and "extremist" interchangeably in describing dissenting Americans. In other words, voicing what the government would consider to be unfavorable views about its policies is tantamount to being a terrorist.

Months ago, I warned that the government would be targeting for surveillance those who disagree with the administration politically. Now we see it unfolding before our very eyes. The Obama administration is trying, none too subtly, to put down a resistance movement.

Thomas Jefferson, that revolutionary patriot who advocated rebellion every 20 years or so in order to remind the government that a spirit of resistance flourished among the people, must be turning over in his grave.

After all, the people who fomented the American Revolution did so using the same tactics as those protesting Obama's health care plan and the nation's mounting debt. They spoke out at rallies, distributed critical pamphlets, wrote scathing editorials and took to the streets in protest. They were rebelling against a government they saw as being excessive in its taxation and spending. For their efforts, they, too, were demonized and painted as an angry mob, extremists akin to terrorists, by the ruler of the day, King George III.

It's a sad statement on the political bias of many within the civil liberties arena that few outside conservative circles have spoken out against these overt attempts to quell constitutionally protected speech. Had it been George Bush attempting something similar, the outcry among liberals would have been tremendous.

So where is the outrage?

No matter what your political persuasion may be, every American has a First Amendment right to speak their mind, gather together and protest against government programs with which they disagree. And there's a lot to be concerned about. For example, the secretive nature of Obama's administration and his seeming disregard for civil liberties has some on both sides of the aisle asking what happened to the change they were promised. Congressional corruption is rampant: 17 lawmakers are currently under investigation for allegedly breaking ethical standards. Government spending is out of control: the House of Representatives actually approved nearly $200 million to buy themselves three deluxe jets. This list goes on and on.

It should be noted that much of the so-called mob's ire is being directed at lawmakers who are back home during Congress' summer recess. As one newspaper reported, "Concerns over the pace and breadth of health care reform have birthed a fiery wave of activism during the congressional recess as fearful citizens make their voices heard with resounding vigor."

Finally, Americans are taking the time to voice their concerns at town hall meetings and elsewhere, and that's as it should be.

This is democracy in action, and it's about time.

WC: 842

This commentary is available online at www.rutherford.org

Constitutional attorney and author John W. Whitehead is founder and president of The Rutherford Institute. His new book The Change Manifesto (Sourcebooks) is now available in bookstores and online. He can be contacted at johnw@rutherford.org. Information about The Rutherford Institute is available at www.rutherford.org

John W. Whitehead’s weekly commentaries are available for publication to newspapers and web publications at no charge. Please contact marketing@rutherford.org to obtain reprint permission.

Click here to download a
print quality image of
John W. Whitehead.

Post Office Box 7482
Charlottesville, VA
22906-7482
Phone: 434-978-3888
Fax: 434-978-1789

General Inquiries: staff@rutherford.org

Legal Assistance:
tristaff@rutherford.org

Technical Comments:
webmaster@rutherford.org

2009-07-22T08:12:00.000-07:00

I think this is a great little video. Very relaxing to watch. So enjoy.

2009-07-22T08:06:00.001-07:00

2009-07-21T07:35:00.000-07:00

Well, a lot has happened in the last 3+ months.
I moved clear across the country to the east coast. Lots of rain, everything is green, I love it, but I don't like the mosquitoes. As I look out the window I have a clear view of the river that is just a mere 1/2 block away. And of course the Atlantic Ocean is only about 1 mile from the house.

2009-03-06T15:50:00.000-08:00

Blogging isn't as easy as I thought it would be. Don't know what to write about.
I started another blog under a different name to post my progress of my sculpting adventure.
I'm having a hard time with that. Just not coming out as I want it to. But with repeated work I'll get it right.
Well, better get off of my butt and cook... the twins are always starving when they get home, so I have to have food ready for them.

What to say

2009-01-22T12:47:00.001-08:00

One of the very few times I was able to take a picture with all of my kids together. This was taken more than 20 years ago.

New Hampshire In Winter

2008-11-23T10:43:00.001-08:00

PORTSMOUTH, NEW HAMPSHIRE

2008-10-17T07:33:00.000-07:00

New Hampshire is definitely the place I want to move to.

She Is Back

2008-07-23T17:11:00.001-07:00

WOOHOO!!!! She's back.

California Coast

2008-07-20T13:51:00.000-07:00

What Happened To The Land Of The Free?

2008-07-19T10:46:00.000-07:00

Something a bit different, well... very different.
I found this in an article and it struck a cord with me.

"...Barry Goldwater comes along and says something like "A government strong enough to give you what you want is strong enough to take it all away," people shout him down as a fascist, heartless, or right-wing extremist (though Goldwater was, contrary to commonly held perceptions of him, quite libertarian-oriented)."

I must say, he (Barry Goldwater) was absolutely correct. The more so-called "help" we get from our government, the more control it has over our actions, over our private lives.

Sooo... let's all try to stand on our own two feet and use our hands for work instead of holding them out for some hand-out from our government. And yes, things may be tough for a while, but if we really try hard we can make it on our own. Let's remember and find again the American Spirit of Independence, I think it got lost on the way to the land of "entitlements"

I See

2008-07-08T11:08:00.000-07:00

I found this on the internet and thought it was worth sharing here.

In a small village a hundred years ago, a father gave each of his two young daughters a live chicken. He said to them, “Take the chicken where no one can see and kill it and bring it back here.” The one daughter returned in fifteen minutes with the dead chicken. The other daughter returned an hour later with her live chicken. When the father asked what happened, the daughter said, “Wherever I went, the chicken saw and I saw.”

So, no matter what you do, if you are totally alone or not, somebody is going to SEE what you are doing. EVEN IF IT IS JUST YOU!!! You will see, and no amount of rationalizing will change the fact that YOU will see what you have done. And it will always be with you.

wow !! what a house!

2008-06-25T23:42:00.001-07:00

FLAG THIS IMAGE

Self Education!!

2008-06-25T15:19:00.000-07:00

"The reading of all good books is indeed like a conversation with the noblest men of past centuries who were the authors of them, nay a carefully studied conversation, in which they reveal to us none but the best of their thoughts." -- Rene Descartes

"I believe people should study a little bit every day. It should become habitual, like brushing your teeth, combing your hair, having a shower or getting dressed. Study the mind, the laws of the universe and paradigms. There's enough information on those subjects to keep a person studying forever." -- Bob Proctor

"If you think education is expensive, try ignorance." -- Derek Bok

But my thoughts are, self education really isn't that expensive, it just takes time and effort. Well, college education takes time and effort, too... but also A LOT OF MONEY!

2008-06-22T23:22:00.000-07:00

In April, Maya Angelou was interviewed by Oprah on her 70+ birthday.

Oprah asked her what she thought of growing older.

And, there on television, she said it was "exciting."

Regarding body changes, she said there were many, occurring every day...like her breasts.

They seem to be in a race to see which will reach her waist, first.

The audience laughed so hard they cried. She is such a simple and honest woman, with so much wisdom in her words!

Maya Angelou said this:

I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow."

"I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights."

"I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life."

"I've learned that making a 'living' is not the same thing as 'making a life'."

"I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance."

"I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back."

"I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision."

"I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one."

"I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone.

People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back."

"I've learned that I still have a lot to learn."

"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

If only.............

2008-06-22T21:11:00.000-07:00

I so agree that it would teach a better lesson, for Mrs Drew, to have to work on a teen suicide crisis center. I wonder if she really appreciates what she did? I suspect that she is the type that sees herself as the victim. I also would LOVE to see people who drinks and drives, work in a morgue to see what death looks like. Or work in a rehab center. There life should change, as well as for them to learn something.

Megan's Suicide

2008-06-22T07:24:00.000-07:00

One of my daughters had a good idea what to do with this Drew person, and I refuse to call her "woman" because she isn't mature enough to be considered a woman.
The Drew person should be made to do community service, and lots of it. Perhaps working with teenagers (under total supervision of course).
I'd like to add one of my own ideas to that, this Drew person should be made to take classes in humanity, child psychology, and whatever other courses are out there to teach this person to become a human being. For that matter so should all teachers and school administrators, and they should be going through psychological tests to make sure that they don't have those bullying tendencies.
Prison has never been proven to change anybody to the better, usually they have the exact opposite effect. People get worse and taxpayers are paying for that. As far as I'm concerned Community Service is one of the better answers, at least for most.

Megan Suicide

2008-06-21T22:37:00.000-07:00

I would like to go back to that blog, and add my two cents.

I think the Mother displayed a real lack of judgement. Perhaps the jail term was excessive, but not in my opinion unwarranted. Depression in young people of course is not rational. Nor in adults for that matter. But in young people, when they have no experience to call upon they they simply don't make the right decisions at times of crisis. And as I know from personal experience, parents do not always read the signs well.
The Drew lady I feel should have been tested for her mental stability, as what she did showed real lack of mature behaviour. What kind of example is this setting, if all mother's behave this way, for her daughter, or for that mater, other girls of that age. It concerns me greatly the lack of judgement that parents are now showing. It seems that parents today don't want their children to have disappointments, it's success at all costs. Since when does does this reflect real life?
It is not unusual for young teens to be on a high and low with their relationship with their parents, I sure was, and so were my boys. Then you add their inexperience, and you have nothing but problems.
In an ideal world this kind of think would not happen, but it does happen. And at times the consequents are devastating. For both families. Frankly, because of my personal experience with teachers and students bullying, I am tired of it. And I want accountability.
I understand your concerns about the movement for internet control. But, I think there does have to be some rules for net users who abuse it. However, like you, I don't want my free speech monitor.
I wish I had answers to your questions, and I wonder who does.

I Think Therefore I Am

CatsFive's photostream

Bro

Little Girl

THE SURVIVALIST BLOG

NO NO NO NO NO

THE SURVIVALIST BLOG

A Little Rebellion Now and Then Is a Good Thing

By John W. WhiteheadAugust 6, 2009

What to say

New Hampshire In Winter

PORTSMOUTH, NEW HAMPSHIRE

She Is Back

California Coast

What Happened To The Land Of The Free?

I See

wow !! what a house!

Self Education!!

If only.............

Megan's Suicide

Megan Suicide

By John W. Whitehead
August 6, 2009